282 research outputs found
Kerr effect as a tool for the investigation of dynamic heterogeneities
We propose a dynamic Kerr effect experiment for the distinction between
dynamic heterogeneous and homogeneous relaxation in glassy systems. The
possibility of this distinction is due to the inherent nonlinearity of the Kerr
effect signal. We model the slow reorientational molecular motion in
supercooled liquids in terms of non-inertial rotational diffusion. The Kerr
effect response, consisting of two terms, is calculated for heterogeneous and
for homogeneous variants of the stochastic model. It turns out that the
experiment is able to distinguish between the two scenarios. We furthermore
show that exchange between relatively 'slow' and 'fast' environments does not
affect the possibility of frequency-selective modifications. It is demonstrated
how information about changes in the width of the relaxation time distribution
can be obtained from experimental results.Comment: 23 pages incl. 6 figures accepted for publication in The Journal of
Chemical Physic
Collective and single-particle excitations in the photoyield spectrum of Al
Using angle- and energy-resolved photoyield spectroscopy, we investigate the properties of the multipole plasmon excitation. At higher energies, a systematic dependence of the photoyield on the photon angle of incidence is observed and explained on the basis of classical Fresnel theory, indicating the possibility of obtaining information about optical constants from such measurements. A feature above the multipole plasmon is assigned to the excitation of a bulk plasmon by the photon field
Photoinduced plasmon excitations in alkali-metal overlayers
Collective surface excitations in alkali-metal overlayers are observed using photoyield spectroscopy. Spectra for Na and K on Al(111) reveal a multipole surface plasmon and bulklike overlayer plasmon. In contrast, Li on Al exhibits only the multipole mode. In the submonolayer regime, all three alkali metals provide evidence for the threshold excitation. Time-dependent density-functional calculations for realistic alkali-metal overlayers agree well with these observations
Ketogenic Diet Treatment of Defects in the Mitochondrial Malate Aspartate Shuttle and Pyruvate Carrier
The mitochondrial malate aspartate shuttle system (MAS) maintains the cytosolic NAD+/NADH redox balance, thereby sustaining cytosolic redox-dependent pathways, such as glycolysis and serine biosynthesis. Human disease has been associated with defects in four MAS-proteins (encoded by MDH1, MDH2, GOT2, SLC25A12) sharing a neurological/epileptic phenotype, as well as citrin deficiency (SLC25A13) with a complex hepatopathic-neuropsychiatric phenotype. Ketogenic diets (KD) are high-fat/low-carbohydrate diets, which decrease glycolysis thus bypassing the mentioned defects. The same holds for mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC) 1 deficiency, which also presents neurological deficits. We here describe 40 (18 previously unreported) subjects with MAS-/MPC1-defects (32 neurological phenotypes, eight citrin deficiency), describe and discuss their phenotypes and genotypes (presenting 12 novel variants), and the efficacy of KD. Of 13 MAS/MPC1-individuals with a neurological phenotype treated with KD, 11 experienced benefitsâmainly a striking effect against seizures. Two individuals with citrin deficiency deceased before the correct diagnosis was established, presumably due to high-carbohydrate treatment. Six citrin-deficient individuals received a carbohydrate-restricted/fat-enriched diet and showed normalisation of laboratory values/hepatopathy as well as age-adequate thriving. We conclude that patients with MAS-/MPC1-defects are amenable to dietary intervention and that early (genetic) diagnosis is key for initiation of proper treatment and can even be lifesaving.
Keywords:
mitochondrial disease; epilepsy; hepatopathy; aspartate glutamate carrier 1 deficiency; AGC1; citrin deficiency; Citrullinemia; treatment; modified Atkins diet; serin
Electronic structure of cubic gallium nitride films grown on GaAs
The composition, surface structure, and electronic structure of zinc blendeâGaN films grown on GaAs (100) and (110) by plasmaâassisted molecular beam epitaxy were investigated by means of core and valence level photoemission. Angleâresolved photoelectron spectra (photon energy 30â110 eV) exhibited emission from the Ga 3d and N 2s levels, as well as a clear peak structure in the valence band region. These peaks were found to shift with photon energy, indicative of direct transitions between occupied and unoccupied GaN bands. By using a free electron final band, we are able to derive the course of the bands along the ÎâX and ÎâKâX directions of the Brillouin zone and to determine the energy of critical points at the X point. The relative energies of the Ga 3d and nitrogen 2s bands were also studied, and a small amount of dispersion was detected in the latter. The resulting band structure is discussed in relation to existing band structure calculations
Investigation of Living Cells in the Nanometer Regime with the Scanning Force Microscope
Membrane structures of different types of cells are imaged in the nanometer regime by scanning force microscopy (SFM). The images are compared to those obtained with a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The SFM imaging can be done on the outer cell membrane under conditions that keep the cells alive in aqueous solutions. This opens up the possibility of observing the kinematics of the structures that determine the interaction of a cell with its environment. Therefore, STM observations, together with information obtained with the electron microscope, open up new ways of studying the development of biological structures. With the currently possible resolution, the SFM gives access to processes such as antibody binding or endo- and exocytosis, including processes correlated to the infection of cells by viruses
Endometriosis as a risk factor for Ovarian or Endometrial Cancer â Results of a hospital based case control study
Delivery of non-viral naked DNA vectors to liver in small weaned pigs by hydrodynamic retrograde intrabiliary injection
Hepatic gene therapy by delivering non-integrating therapeutic vectors in newborns remains challenging due to the risk of dilution and loss of efficacy in the growing liver. Previously we reported on hepatocyte transfection in piglets by intraportal injection of naked DNA vectors. Here, we established delivery of naked DNA vectors to target periportal hepatocytes in weaned pigs by hydrodynamic retrograde intrabiliary injection (HRII). The surgical procedure involved laparotomy and transient isolation of the liver. For vector delivery, a catheter was placed within the common bile duct by enterotomy. Under optimal conditions, no histological abnormalities were observed in liver tissue upon pressurized injections. The transfection of hepatocytes in all tested liver samples was observed with vectors expressing luciferase from a liver-specific promoter. However, vector copy number and luciferase expression were low compared to hydrodynamic intraportal injection. A 10-fold higher number of vector genomes and luciferase expression was observed in pigs using a non-integrating naked DNA vector with the potential for replication. In summary, the HRII application was less efficient (i.e., lower luciferase activity and vector copy numbers) than the intraportal delivery method but was significantly less distressful for the piglets and has the potential for injection (or re-injection) of vector DNA by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
Using automated texture features to determine the probability for masking of a tumor on mammography, but not ultrasound
oMEGACat I: MUSE spectroscopy of 300,000 stars within the half-light radius of Centauri
Omega Centauri ( Cen) is the most massive globular cluster of the
Milky Way and has been the focus of many studies that reveal the complexity of
its stellar populations and kinematics. However, most previous studies have
used photometric and spectroscopic datasets with limited spatial or magnitude
coverage, while we aim to investigate it having full spatial coverage out to
its half-light radius and stars ranging from the main sequence to the tip of
the red giant branch. This is the first paper in a new survey of Cen
that combines uniform imaging and spectroscopic data out to its half-light
radius to study its stellar populations, kinematics, and formation history. In
this paper, we present an unprecedented MUSE spectroscopic dataset combining 87
new MUSE pointings with previous observations collected from guaranteed time
observations. We extract spectra of more than 300,000 stars reaching more than
two magnitudes below the main sequence turn-off. We use these spectra to derive
metallicity and line-of-sight velocity measurements and determine robust
uncertainties on these quantities using repeat measurements. Applying quality
cuts we achieve signal-to-noise ratios of 16.47/73.51 and mean metallicity
errors of 0.174/0.031 dex for the main sequence stars (18 mag 22 mag) and red giant branch stars (16 mag 10
mag), respectively. We correct the metallicities for atomic diffusion and
identify foreground stars. This massive spectroscopic dataset will enable
future studies that will transform our understanding of Cen, allowing
us to investigate the stellar populations, ages, and kinematics in great
detail.Comment: 27 pages, 18 figures, 3 tables, accepted for publication in ApJ, the
catalog will be available in the online material of the published articl
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