3,224 research outputs found
Isotropic magnetometry with simultaneous excitation of orientation and alignment CPT resonances
Atomic magnetometers have very high absolute precision and sensitivity to
magnetic fields but suffer from a fundamental problem: the vectorial or
tensorial interaction of light with atoms leads to "dead zones", certain
orientations of magnetic field where the magnetometer loses its sensitivity. We
demonstrate a simple polarization modulation scheme that simultaneously creates
coherent population trapping (CPT) in orientation and alignment, thereby
eliminating dead zones. Using Rb in a 10 Torr buffer gas cell we measure
narrow, high-contrast CPT transparency peaks in all orientations and also show
absence of systematic effects associated with non-linear Zeeman splitting.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Residual entanglement of accelerated fermions is not nonlocal
We analyze the operational meaning of the residual entanglement in
non-inertial fermionic systems in terms of the achievable violation of the
Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt (CHSH) inequality. We demonstrate that the quantum
correlations of fermions, which were previously found to survive in the
infinite acceleration limit, cannot be considered to be non-local. The
entanglement shared by an inertial and an accelerated observer cannot be
utilized for the violation of the CHSH inequality in case of high
accelerations. Our results are shown to extend beyond the single mode
approximation commonly used in the literature.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures; v2: minor changes, reference and section headers
adde
Grade 1 spondylolisthesis and interspinous device placement: removal in six patients and analysis of current data
This is the published version. Information that is created by or for the US government on this site is within the public domain. Public domain information on the National Library of Medicine (NLM) Web pages may be freely distributed and copied. However, it is requested that in any subsequent use of this work, NLM be given appropriate acknowledgment.In the treatment of patients with Grade 1 spondylolisthesis, the use of interspinous devices has been controversial for nearly a decade. Several authors have suggested that Grade 1 spondylolisthesis be considered a contraindication for interspinous device placement.
Methods:
We removed interspinous devices in six symptomatic Grade 1 spondylolisthesis patients and analyzed pertinent literature.
Results:
All six patients reported an improvement in symptoms following device removal and subsequent instrumented fusion. One patient who had not been able to walk due to pain regained the ability to walk. Several articles were identified related to spondylolisthesis and interspinous devices.
Conclusions:
Regarding patients receiving interspinous devices for symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis, several high-quality studies have failed to demonstrate a statistical difference in outcomes between patients with or without Grade 1 spondylolisthesis. Nevertheless, surgeons should have a high degree of suspicion when considering use of interspinous devices in this patient population
Structure of HLA-A*0301 in complex with a peptide of proteolipid protein: insights into the role of HLA-A alleles in susceptibility to multiple sclerosis
The structure of the human major histocompatability (MHC) class I molecule HLA-A*0301 (HLA-A3) in complex with a nonameric peptide (KLIETYFSK) has been determined by X-ray crystallography to 2.7 Ă
resolution. HLA-A3 is a predisposing allele for multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. The KLIETYFSK peptide is a naturally processed epitope of proteolipid protein, a myelin protein and candidate target for immune-mediated myelin destruction in MS. Comparison of the structure of HLA-A3 with that of HLA-A2, an MHC class I molecule which is protective against MS, indicates that both MHC class I molecules present very similar faces for T-cell receptor recognition whilst differing in the specificity of their peptide-binding grooves. These characteristics may underlie the opposing (predisposing versus protective) associations that they exhibit both in humans and in mouse models of MS-like disease. Furthermore, subtle alterations within the peptide-binding groove of HLA-A3 and other A3-like MHC class I molecules, members of the so-called A3 superfamily, may be sufficient to alter their presentation of autoantigen peptides such as KLIETYFSK. This in turn may modulate their contribution to the associated risk of autoimmune disease
Mechanical testing ontology for digital-twins: A roadmap based on EMMO
The enormous amount of materials data currently generated by high throughput experiments and computations poses a significant challenge in terms of data integration and sharing. A common ontology lays the foundation for solving this issue, enabling semantic interoperability of models, experiments, software and data which is vital for a more rational and efficient development of novel materials. This paper is based on the current efforts by the European Materials Modelling Council (EMMC) on establishing common standards for materials through the European Materials & Modelling Ontology (EMMO) and demonstrates the application of EMMO to the mechanical testing field. The focus of this paper is to outline the approach to develop EMMO compliant domain ontologies
The effect of scoliotic deformity on spine kinematics in adolescents
Background
While adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) produces well characterized deformation in spinal form, the effect on spinal function, namely mobility, is not well known. Better understanding of scoliotic spinal mobility could yield better treatment targets and diagnoses. The purpose of this study was to characterize the spinal mobility differences due to AIS. It was hypothesized that the AIS group would exhibit reduced mobility compared to the typical adolescent (TA) group.
Methods
Eleven adolescents with right thoracic AIS, apices T6-T10, and eleven age- and gender-matched TAs moved to their maximum bent position in sagittal and coronal plane bending tasks. A Trakstar (Ascension Technologies Burlington, VT) was used to collect position data. The study was approved by the local IRB. Using MATLAB (MathWorks, Natick, MA) normalized segmental angles were calculated for upper thoracic (UT) from T1-T3, mid thoracic (MT) from T3-T6, lower thoracic (LT) from T6-T10, thoracolumbar (TL) from T10-L1, upper lumbar (UL) from L1-L3, and thoracic from T1-L1 by subtracting the standing position from the maximum bent position and dividing by number of motion units in each segment. Mann Whitney tests (Îąâ=â0.05) were used to determine mobility differences.
Results
The findings indicated that the AIS group had comparatively increased mobility in the periapical regions of the spine. The AIS group had an increase of 1.2° in the mid thoracic region (pâ=â0.01) during flexion, an increase of 1.0° in the mid thoracic region (pâ=â0.01), 1.5° in the thoracolumbar region (pâ=â0.02), and 0.7° in thoracic region (pâ=â0.04) during left anterior-lateral flexion, an increase of 6.0° in the upper lumbar region (pâ=â0.02) during right anterior-lateral flexion, and an increase of 2.2° in the upper lumbar region during left lateral bending (pâ<â0.01).
Conclusions
Participants with AIS did not have reduced mobility in sagittal or coronal motion. Contrarily, the AIS group often had a greater mobility, especially in segments directly above and below the apex. This indicates the scoliotic spine is flexible and may compensate near the apex
SigurĂ°ar saga fĂłts (The Saga of SigurĂ°r Foot): A Translation
This is the first English translation of the short Icelandic romance SigurĂ°ar saga fĂłts, with an introduction presenting the evidence for its dating and immediate literary context. Like most Icelandic romances, SigurĂ°ar saga is a bridal-quest story; the support of a foster-brother is key to the hero winning the bride; and the foster-brothers start out as opponents before recognising their mutual excellence and swearing foster-brotherhood. Uniquely, however, the men who become foster-brothers begin by competing for the same bride (SignĂ˝): the eponymous SigurĂ°r fĂłtr wins SignĂ˝ only because Ăsmundr gives her to him in exchange for foster-brotherhood. Ăsmundrâs decision can be read as demonstrating with unusual starkness the superior importance in much Icelandic romance of homosocial relationships over heterosexual ones, giving the saga a certain paradigmatic status. Translating the saga in an open-access forum and reconstructing its literary context will, we hope, encourage further analyses
SigurĂ°ar saga fĂłts (The Saga of SigurĂ°r Foot): A Translation
This is the first English translation of the short Icelandic romance SigurĂ°ar saga fĂłts, with an introduction presenting the evidence for its dating and immediate literary context. Like most Icelandic romances, SigurĂ°ar saga is a bridal-quest story; the support of a foster-brother is key to the hero winning the bride; and the foster-brothers start out as opponents before recognising their mutual excellence and swearing foster-brotherhood. Uniquely, however, the men who become foster-brothers begin by competing for the same bride (SignĂ˝): the eponymous SigurĂ°r fĂłtr wins SignĂ˝ only because Ăsmundr gives her to him in exchange for foster-brotherhood. Ăsmundrâs decision can be read as demonstrating with unusual starkness the superior importance in much Icelandic romance of homosocial relationships over heterosexual ones, giving the saga a certain paradigmatic status. Translating the saga in an open-access forum and reconstructing its literary context will, we hope, encourage further analyses
- âŚ