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Vitamin B12 measurements across neurodegenerative disorders.
Background:Vitamin B12 deficiency causes a number of neurological features including cognitive and psychiatric disturbances, gait instability, neuropathy, and autonomic dysfunction. Clinical recognition of B12 deficiency in neurodegenerative disorders is more challenging because it causes defects that overlap with expected disease progression. We sought to determine whether B12 levels at the time of diagnosis in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) differed from those in patients with other neurodegenerative disorders. Methods:We performed a cross-sectional analysis of B12 levels obtained around the time of diagnosis in patients with PD, Multiple System Atrophy (MSA), Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB), Alzheimer's disease (AD), Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD), or Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). We also evaluated the rate of B12 decline in PD, AD, and MCI. Results:In multivariable analysis adjusted for age, sex, and B12 supplementation, we found that B12 levels were significantly lower at time of diagnosis in patients with PD than in patients with PSP, FTD, and DLB. In PD, AD, and MCI, the rate of B12 decline ranged from - 17 to - 47 pg/ml/year, much greater than that reported for the elderly population. Conclusions:Further studies are needed to determine whether comorbid B12 deficiency affects progression of these disorders
7-Li(p,n) Nuclear Data Library for Incident Proton Energies to 150 MeV
We describe evaluation methods that make use of experimental data, and
nuclear model calculations, to develop an ENDF-formatted data library for the
reaction p + Li7 for incident protons with energies up to 150 MeV. The
important 7-Li(p,n_0) and 7-Li(p,n_1) reactions are evaluated from the
experimental data, with their angular distributions represented using Lengendre
polynomial expansions. The decay of the remaining reaction flux is estimated
from GNASH nuclear model calculations. The evaluated ENDF-data are described in
detail, and illustrated in numerous figures. We also illustrate the use of
these data in a representative application by a radiation transport simulation
with the code MCNPX.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figures, LaTeX, submitted to Proc. 2000 ANS/ENS
International Meeting, Nuclear Applications of Accelerator Technology
(AccApp00), November 12-16, Washington, DC, US
Elastic properties of cubic crystals: Every's versus Blackman's diagram
Blackman's diagram of two dimensionless ratios of elastic constants is
frequently used to correlate elastic properties of cubic crystals with
interatomic bondings. Every's diagram of a different set of two dimensionless
variables was used by us for classification of various properties of such
crystals. We compare these two ways of characterization of elastic properties
of cubic materials and consider the description of various groups of materials,
e.g. simple metals, oxides, and alkali halides. With exception of intermediate
valent compounds, the correlation coefficients for Every's diagrams of various
groups of materials are greater than for Blackaman's diagrams, revealing the
existence of a linear relationship between two dimensionless Every's variables.
Alignment of elements and compounds along lines of constant Poisson's ratio
, ( arbitrary perpendicular to ) is
observed. Division of the stability region in Blackman's diagram into region of
complete auxetics, auxetics and non-auxetics is introduced. Correlations of a
scaling and an acoustic anisotropy parameter are considered.Comment: 8 pages, 9 figures, presented on The Ninth International School on
Theoretical Physics "Symmetry and Structural Properties of Condensed Matter",
5 - 12 September 2007, Myczkowce, Polan
Study of the nucleon-induced preequilibrium reactions in terms of the Quantum Molecular Dynamics
The preequilibrium (nucleon-in, nucleon-out) angular distributions of
Al, Ni and Zr have been analyzed in the energy region from
90 to 200 MeV in terms of the Quantum Moleculear Dynamics (QMD) theory. First,
we show that the present approach can reproduce the measured (p,xp') and (p,xn)
angular distributions leading to continuous final states without adjusing any
parameters. Second, we show the results of the detailed study of the
preequilibrium reaction processes; the step-wise contribution to the angular
distribution, comparison with the quantum-mechanical Feshbach-Kerman-Koonin
theory, the effects of momentum distribution and surface refraction/reflection
to the quasifree scattering. Finally, the present method was used to assess the
importance of multiple preequilibrium particle emission as a function of
projectile energy up to 1 GeV.Comment: 22pages, Revex is used, 10 Postscript figures are available by
request from [email protected]
The 2016 Reactivations of Main-Belt Comets 238P/Read and 288P/(300163) 2006 VW139
We report observations of the reactivations of main-belt comets 238P/Read and
288P/(300163) 2006 VW139, that also track the evolution of each object's
activity over several months in 2016 and 2017. We additionally identify and
analyze archival SDSS data showing 288P to be active in 2000, meaning that both
238P and 288P have now each been confirmed to be active near perihelion on
three separate occasions. From data obtained of 288P from 2012-2015 when it
appeared inactive, we find best-fit R-band H,G phase function parameters of
H_R=16.80+/-0.12 mag and G_R=0.18+/-0.11, corresponding to effective component
radii of r_c=0.80+/-0.04 km, assuming a binary system with equally-sized
components. Fitting linear functions to ejected dust masses inferred for 238P
and 288P soon after their observed reactivations in 2016, we find an initial
average net dust production rate of 0.7+/-0.3 kg/s and a best-fit start date of
2016 March 11 (when the object was at a true anomaly of -63 deg) for 238P, and
an initial average net dust production rate of 5.6+/-0.7 kg/s and a best-fit
start date of 2016 August 5 (when the object was at a true anomaly of -27 deg)
for 288P. Applying similar analyses to archival data, we find similar start
points for previous active episodes for both objects, suggesting that minimal
mantle growth or ice recession occurred between the active episodes in
question. Some changes in dust production rates between active episodes are
detected, however. More detailed dust modeling is suggested to further clarify
the process of activity evolution in main-belt comets.Comment: 21 pages, 9 figures, accepted by A
The Complex Wind Torus and Jets of PSR B1706-44
We report on Chandra ACIS imaging of the pulsar wind nebula (PWN) of the
young Vela-like PSR B1706-44, which shows the now common pattern of an
equatorial wind and polar jets. The structure is particularly rich, showing a
relativistically boosted termination shock, jets with strong confinement, a
surrounding radio/X-ray PWN and evidence for a quasi-static `bubble nebula'.
The structures trace the pulsar spin geometry and illuminate its possible
relation to SNR G343.1-2.3. We also obtain improved estimates of the pulsar
flux and nebular spectrum, constraining the system age and energetics.Comment: To appear in the Astrophysical Journal. 15pp, 4 figures in 7 file
Particle-hole state densities with non-equidistant single-particle levels
The correct use of energy-dependent single-particle level (s.p.l.) densities
within particle-hole state densities based on the equidistant spacing model
(ESM) is analysed. First, an analytical expression is obtained following the
convolution of energy-dependent excited-particle and hole densities. Next, a
comparison is made with results of the ESM formula using average s.p.l.
densities for the excited particles and holes, respectively. The Fermi-gas
model (FGM) s.p.l. densities calculated at the corresponding average excitation
energies are used in both cases. The analysis concerns also the density of
particle-hole bound states. The pairing correlations are taken into account
while the comparison of various effects includes the exact correction for the
Pauli exclusion principle. Quantum-mechanical s.p.l. densities and the
continuum effect can also match a corresponding FGM formula, suitable for use
within the average energy-dependent partial state density in multistep reaction
models.Comment: 29 pages, ReVTeX, 11 postscript figures, submitted to Phys.Rev.
High-pressure structural, elastic and electronic properties of the scintillator host material, KMgF_3
The high-pressure structural behaviour of the fluoroperovskite KMgF_3 is
investigated by theory and experiment. Density functional calculations were
performed within the local density approximation and the generalized gradient
approximation for exchange and correlation effects, as implemented within the
full-potential linear muffin-tin orbital method. In situ high-pressure powder
x-ray diffraction experiments were performed up to a maximum pressure of 40 GPa
using synchrotron radiation. We find that the cubic Pm\bar{3}m crystal symmetry
persists throughout the pressure range studied. The calculated ground state
properties -- the equilibrium lattice constant, bulk modulus and elastic
constants -- are in good agreement with experimental results. By analyzing the
ratio between the bulk and shear modulii, we conclude that KMgF_3 is brittle in
nature. Under ambient conditions, KMgF_3 is found to be an indirect gap
insulator with the gap increasing under pressure.Comment: 4 figure
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