Resonant Raman Scattering by quadrupolar vibrations of Ni-Ag Core-shell Nanoparticles

Low-frequency Raman scattering experiments have been performed on thin films consisting of nickel-silver composite nanoparticles embedded in alumina matrix. It is observed that the Raman scattering by the quadrupolar modes, strongly enhanced when the light excitation is resonant with the surface dipolar excitation, is mainly governed by the silver electron contribution to the plasmon excitation. The Raman results are in agreement with a core-shell structure of the nanoparticles, the silver shell being loosely bonded to the nickel core.Comment: 3 figures. To be published in Phys. Rev.

Counting Points on Genus 2 Curves with Real Multiplication

We present an accelerated Schoof-type point-counting algorithm for curves of genus 2 equipped with an efficiently computable real multiplication endomorphism. Our new algorithm reduces the complexity of genus 2 point counting over a finite field (\F_{q}) of large characteristic from (\widetilde{O}(\log^8 q)) to (\widetilde{O}(\log^5 q)). Using our algorithm we compute a 256-bit prime-order Jacobian, suitable for cryptographic applications, and also the order of a 1024-bit Jacobian

Framework for 3D TransRectal Ultrasound

Prostate biopsies are mainly performed under 2D TransRectal UltraSound (TRUS) control by sampling the prostate according to a predefined pattern. In case of first biopsies, this pattern follows a random systematic plan. Sometimes, repeat biopsies can be needed to target regions unsampled by previous biopsies or resample critical regions (for example in case of cancer expectant management or previous prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia findings). From a clinical point of view, it could be useful to control the 3D spatial distribution of theses biopsies inside the prostate. Modern 3D-TRUS probes allow acquiring high-quality volumes of the prostate in few seconds. We developed a framework to track the prostate in 3D TRUS images. It means that if one acquires a reference volume at the beginning of the session and another during each biopsy, it is possible to determine the relationship between the prostate in the reference and the others volumes by aligning images. We used this tool to evaluate the ability of a single operator (a young urologist assistant professor) to perform a pattern of 12 biopsies under 2D TRUS guidance

Efficient Doubling on Genus Two Curves over Binary Fields

In most algorithms involving elliptic and hyperelliptic curves, the costliest part consists in computing multiples of ideal classes. This paper investigates how to compute faster doubling over fields of characteristic two. We derive explicit doubling formulae making strong use of the defining equation of the curve. We analyze how many field operations are needed depending on the curve making clear how much generality one loses by the respective choices. Note, that none of the proposed types is known to be weak – one only could be suspicious because of the more special types. Our results allow to choose curves from a large enough variety which have extremely fast doubling needing only half the time of an addition. Combined with a sliding window method this leads to fast computation of scalar multiples. We also speed up the general case

Proenkephalin A 119-159 (Penkid) Is an Early Biomarker of Septic Acute Kidney Injury: The Kidney in Sepsis and Septic Shock (Kid-SSS) Study

Introduction: Sepsis is the leading cause of acute kidney injury (AKI) in critically ill patients. The Kidney in Sepsis and Septic Shock (Kid-SSS) study evaluated the value of proenkephalin A 119-159 (penkid)—a sensitive biomarker of glomerular function, drawn within 24 hours upon intensive care unit (ICU) admission and analyzed using a chemiluminescence immunoassay—for kidney events in sepsis and septic shock. Methods: The Kid-SSS study was a substudy of Adrenomedullin and Outcome in Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock (AdrenOSS) (NCT02393781), a prospective, observational, multinational study including 583 patients admitted to the intensive care unit with sepsis or septic shock and a validation cohort of 525 patients from the French and euRopean Outcome reGistry in Intensive Care Units (FROG-ICU) study. The primary endpoint was major adverse kidney events (MAKEs) at day 7, composite of death, renal replacement therapy, and persistent renal dysfunction. The secondary endpoints included AKI, transient AKI, worsening renal function (WRF), and 28-day mortality. Results: Median age was 66 years (interquartile range 55–75), and 28-day mortality was 22% (95% confidence interval [CI] 19%−25%). Of the patients, 293 (50.3%) were in shock upon ICU admission. Penkid was significantly elevated in patients with MAKEs, persistent AKI, and WRF (median = 65 [IQR = 45–106] vs. 179 [114–242]; 53 [39–70] vs. 133 [79–196] pmol/l; and 70 [47–121] vs. 174 [93–242] pmol/l, all P < 0.0001), also after adjustment for confounding factors (adjusted odds ratio = 3.3 [95% CI = 1.8–6.0], 3.9 [95% CI = 2.1–7.2], and 3.4 [95% CI = 1.9–6.2], all P < 0.0001). Penkid increase preceded elevation of serum creatinine with WRF and was low in renal recovery. Conclusion: Admission penkid concentration was associated with MAKEs, AKI, and WRF in a timely manner in septic patients

Dot

En Kabylie (d'après G. Laoust-Chantreaux) Le calcul qui permet de fixer le montant de la dot, en Kabylie, obéit à un véritable rituel bien décrit par G. Laoust-Chantereaux pour la période qui précéda la deuxième Guerre mondiale. Bien qu’il ait été déjà arrêté entre les deux familles, le montant doit être débattu devant témoins après un repas offert chez le père de la jeune fille mais aux frais des parents du jeune homme. Le déroulement de la cérémonie est invariable : le père de la jeune fill..

Global attractor for a nonlinear oscillator coupled to the Klein-Gordon field

The long-time asymptotics is analyzed for all finite energy solutions to a model U(1)-invariant nonlinear Klein-Gordon equation in one dimension, with the nonlinearity concentrated at a single point: each finite energy solution converges as time goes to plus or minus infinity to the set of all ``nonlinear eigenfunctions'' of the form \psi(x)e\sp{-i\omega t}. The global attraction is caused by the nonlinear energy transfer from lower harmonics to the continuous spectrum and subsequent dispersive radiation. We justify this mechanism by the following novel strategy based on inflation of spectrum by the nonlinearity. We show that any omega-limit trajectory has the time-spectrum in the spectral gap [-m,m] and satisfies the original equation. This equation implies the key spectral inclusion for spectrum of the nonlinear term. Then the application of the Titchmarsh Convolution Theorem reduces the spectrum of each omega-limit trajectory to a single harmonic in [-m,m]. The research is inspired by Bohr's postulate on quantum transitions and Schroedinger's identification of the quantum stationary states to the nonlinear eigenfunctions of the coupled U(1)-invariant Maxwell-Schroedinger and Maxwell-Dirac equations.Comment: 29 pages, 1 figur

Origin of Shifts in the Surface Plasmon Resonance Frequencies for Au and Ag Nanoparticles

Origin of shifts in the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) frequency for noble metal (Au, Ag) nanoclusters are discussed in this book chapter. Spill out of electron from the Fermi surface is considered as the origin of red shift. On the other hand, both screening of electrons of the noble metal in porous media and quantum effect of screen surface electron are considered for the observed blue shift in the SPR peak position.Comment: 37 pages, 14 Figures in the submitted book chapter of The Annual Reviews in Plasmonics, edited by Professor Chris D. Geddes. Springer Scinec

The proangiogenic capacity of polymorphonuclear neutrophils delineated by microarray technique and by measurement of neovascularization in wounded skin of CD18-deficient mice

Growing evidence supports the concept that polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) are critically involved in inflammation-mediated angiogenesis which is important for wound healing and repair. We employed an oligonucleotide microarray technique to gain further insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying the proangiogenic potential of human PMN. In addition to 18 known angiogenesis-relevant genes, we detected the expression of 10 novel genes, namely midkine, erb-B2, ets-1, transforming growth factor receptor-beta(2) and -beta(3), thrombospondin, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2, ephrin A2, ephrin B2 and restin in human PMN freshly isolated from the circulation. Gene expression was confi rmed by the RT-PCR technique. In vivo evidence for the role of PMN in neovascularization was provided by studying neovascularization in a skin model of wound healing using CD18-deficient mice which lack PMN infi ltration to sites of lesion. In CD18-deficient animals, neo- vascularization was found to be signifi cantly compromised when compared with wild- type control animals which showed profound neovascularization within the granulation tissue during the wound healing process. Thus, PMN infiltration seems to facilitate inflammation mediated angiogenesis which may be a consequence of the broad spectrum of proangiogenic factors expressed by these cells. Copyright (c) 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel