190 research outputs found
Exploration of Resonant Continuum and Giant Resonance in the Relativistic Approach
Single-particle resonant-states in the continuum are determined by solving
scattering states of the Dirac equation with proper asymptotic conditions in
the relativistic mean field theory (RMF). The regular and irregular solutions
of the Dirac equation at a large radius where the nuclear potentials vanish are
relativistic Coulomb wave functions, which are calculated numerically.
Energies, widths and wave functions of single-particle resonance states in the
continuum for ^{120}Sn are studied in the RMF with the parameter set of NL3.
The isoscalar giant octupole resonance of ^{120}Sn is investigated in a fully
consistent relativistic random phase approximation. Comparing the results with
including full continuum states and only those single-particle resonances we
find that the contributions from those resonant-states dominate in the nuclear
giant resonant processes.Comment: 16 pages, 2 figure
Particle-unstable nuclei in the Hartree-Fock theory
Ground state energies and decay widths of particle unstable nuclei are
calculated within the Hartree-Fock approximation by performing a complex
scaling of the many-body Hamiltonian. Through this transformation, the wave
functions of the resonant states become square integrable. The method is
implemented with Skyrme effective interactions. Several Skyrme parametrizations
are tested on four unstable nuclei: 10He, 12O, 26O and 28O.Comment: 5 pages, LaTeX, submitted to Phys. Rev. Let
Temperature dependent BCS equations with continuum coupling
The temperature dependent BCS equations are modified in order to include the
contribution of the continuum single particle states. The influence of the
continuum upon the critical temperature corresponding to the phase transition
from a superfluid to a normal state and upon the behaviour of the excitation
energy and of the entropy is discussed.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev.
Shell model in the complex energy plane and two-particle resonances
An implementation of the shell-model to the complex energy plane is
presented. The representation used in the method consists of bound
single-particle states, Gamow resonances and scattering waves on the complex
energy plane. Two-particle resonances are evaluated and their structure in
terms of the single-particle degreees of freedom are analysed. It is found that
two-particle resonances are mainly built upon bound states and Gamow
resonances, but the contribution of the scattering states is also important.Comment: 20 pages, 9 figures, submitted to Phys.Rev.
Ab-Initio Calculation of Molecular Aggregation Effects: a Coumarin-343 Case Study
We present time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations for
single and dimerized Coumarin-343 molecules in order to investigate the quantum
mechanical effects of chromophore aggregation in extended systems designed to
function as a new generation of sensors and light-harvesting devices. Using the
single-chromophore results, we describe the construction of effective
Hamiltonians to predict the excitonic properties of aggregate systems. We
compare the electronic coupling properties predicted by such effective
Hamiltonians to those obtained from TDDFT calculations of dimers, and to the
coupling predicted by the transition density cube (TDC) method. We determine
the accuracy of the dipole-dipole approximation and TDC with respect to the
separation distance and orientation of the dimers. In particular, we
investigate the effects of including Coulomb coupling terms ignored in the
typical tight-binding effective Hamiltonian. We also examine effects of orbital
relaxation which cannot be captured by either of these models
Reduced dielectric screening and enhanced energy transfer in single and few-layer MoS2
We report highly efficient non-radiative energy transfer from cadmium
selenide (CdSe) quantum dots to monolayer and few-layer molybdenum disulfide
(MoS2). The quenching of the donor quantum dot photoluminescence increases as
the MoS2 flake thickness decreases, with the highest efficiency (>95%) observed
for monolayer MoS2. This counterintuitive result arises from reduced dielectric
screening in thin layer semiconductors having unusually large permittivity and
a strong in-plane transition dipole moment, as found in MoS2. Excitonic energy
transfer between a 0D emitter and a 2D absorber is fundamentally interesting
and enables a wide range of applications including broadband optical
down-conversion, optical detection, photovoltaic sensitization, and color
shifting in light-emitting devices.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figure
Prognostic significance of MRI-detected extramural venous invasion according to grade and response to neo-adjuvant treatment in locally advanced rectal cancer A national cohort study after radiologic training and reassessment
Background: Detection of grade 3–4 extra mural venous invasion (mrEMVI) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is associated with an increased distant metastases (DM)-rate. This study aimed to determine the impact of different grades of mrEMVI and their disappearance after neoadjuvant therapy.Methods: A Dutch national retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted, including patients who underwent resection for rectal cancer in 2016 from 60/69 hospitals performing rectal surgery. Patients with a cT3-4 tumour ≤8 cm from the anorectal junction were selected and their MRI-scans were reassessed by trained abdominal radiologists. Positive mrEMVI grades (3 and 4) were analyzed in regard to 4-year local recurrence (LR), DM, disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Results: The 1213 included patients had a median follow-up of 48 months (IQR 30–54). Positive mrEMVI was present in 324 patients (27%); 161 had grade 3 and 163 had grade 4. A higher mrEMVI stage (grade 4 vs grade 3 vs no mrEMVI) increased LR-risk (21% vs 18% vs 7%, <0.001) and DM-risk (49% vs 30% vs 21%, p < 0.001) and decreased DFS (42% vs 55% vs 69%, p < 0.001) and OS (62% vs 76% vs 81%, p < 0.001), which remained independently associated in multivariable analysis. When mrEMVI had disappeared on restaging MRI, DM-rate was comparable to initial absence of mrEMVI (both 26%), whereas LR-rate remained high (22% vs 9%, p = 0.006). Conclusion: The negative oncological impact of mrEMVI on recurrence and survival rates was dependent on grading. Disappearance of mrEMVI on restaging MRI decreased the risk of DM, but not of LR.</p
Prognostic significance of MRI-detected extramural venous invasion according to grade and response to neo-adjuvant treatment in locally advanced rectal cancer A national cohort study after radiologic training and reassessment
Background: Detection of grade 3–4 extra mural venous invasion (mrEMVI) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is associated with an increased distant metastases (DM)-rate. This study aimed to determine the impact of different grades of mrEMVI and their disappearance after neoadjuvant therapy.Methods: A Dutch national retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted, including patients who underwent resection for rectal cancer in 2016 from 60/69 hospitals performing rectal surgery. Patients with a cT3-4 tumour ≤8 cm from the anorectal junction were selected and their MRI-scans were reassessed by trained abdominal radiologists. Positive mrEMVI grades (3 and 4) were analyzed in regard to 4-year local recurrence (LR), DM, disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Results: The 1213 included patients had a median follow-up of 48 months (IQR 30–54). Positive mrEMVI was present in 324 patients (27%); 161 had grade 3 and 163 had grade 4. A higher mrEMVI stage (grade 4 vs grade 3 vs no mrEMVI) increased LR-risk (21% vs 18% vs 7%, <0.001) and DM-risk (49% vs 30% vs 21%, p < 0.001) and decreased DFS (42% vs 55% vs 69%, p < 0.001) and OS (62% vs 76% vs 81%, p < 0.001), which remained independently associated in multivariable analysis. When mrEMVI had disappeared on restaging MRI, DM-rate was comparable to initial absence of mrEMVI (both 26%), whereas LR-rate remained high (22% vs 9%, p = 0.006). Conclusion: The negative oncological impact of mrEMVI on recurrence and survival rates was dependent on grading. Disappearance of mrEMVI on restaging MRI decreased the risk of DM, but not of LR.</p
Evaluation of National Surgical Practice for Lateral Lymph Nodes in Rectal Cancer in an Untrained Setting
Background: Involved lateral lymph nodes (LLNs) have been associated with increased local recurrence (LR) and ipsi-lateral LR (LLR) rates. However, consensus regarding the indication and type of surgical treatment for suspicious LLNs is lacking. This study evaluated the surgical treatment of LLNs in an untrained setting at a national level. Methods: Patients who underwent additional LLN surgery were selected from a national cross-sectional cohort study regarding patients undergoing rectal cancer surgery in 69 Dutch hospitals in 2016. LLN surgery consisted of either ‘node-picking’ (the removal of an individual LLN) or ‘partial regional node dissection’ (PRND; an incomplete resection of the LLN area). For all patients with primarily enlarged (≥7 mm) LLNs, those undergoing rectal surgery with an additional LLN procedure were compared to those undergoing only rectal resection. Results: Out of 3057 patients, 64 underwent additional LLN surgery, with 4-year LR and LLR rates of 26% and 15%, respectively. Forty-eight patients (75%) had enlarged LLNs, with corresponding recurrence rates of 26% and 19%, respectively. Node-picking (n = 40) resulted in a 20% 4-year LLR, and a 14% LLR after PRND (n = 8; p = 0.677). Multivariable analysis of 158 patients with enlarged LLNs undergoing additional LLN surgery (n = 48) or rectal resection alone (n = 110) showed no significant association of LLN surgery with 4-year LR or LLR, but suggested higher recurrence risks after LLN surgery (LR: hazard ratio [HR] 1.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.7–3.2, p = 0.264; LLR: HR 1.9, 95% CI 0.2–2.5, p = 0.874). Conclusion: Evaluation of Dutch practice in 2016 revealed that approximately one-third of patients with primarily enlarged LLNs underwent surgical treatment, mostly consisting of node-picking. Recurrence rates were not significantly affected by LLN surgery, but did suggest worse outcomes. Outcomes of LLN surgery after adequate training requires further research.</p
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