2,767 research outputs found
Probability distributions of the work in the 2D-Ising model
Probability distributions of the magnetic work are computed for the 2D Ising
model by means of Monte Carlo simulations. The system is first prepared at
equilibrium for three temperatures below, at and above the critical point. A
magnetic field is then applied and grown linearly at different rates.
Probability distributions of the work are stored and free energy differences
computed using the Jarzynski equality. Consistency is checked and the dynamics
of the system is analyzed. Free energies and dissipated works are reproduced
with simple models. The critical exponent is estimated in an usual
manner.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures. Comments are welcom
Dialogical self strategies of self-organization: psychotherapy and restructuring of internal management
A identidade tem sido um conceito central na literatura em psicologia e na forma como as diferentes abordagens terapĂȘuticas tĂȘm concebido os processos de mudança. Entre as inĂșmeras perspectivas desenvolvidas sobre essa dimensĂŁo do ser humano, destacamos o paradigma dialĂłgico que tem vindo a influenciar de forma crescente a teoria e prĂĄtica em psicoterapia. Segundo esta perspectiva, a funcionalidade psicolĂłgica estĂĄ relacionada com o modo como os indivĂduos conseguem articular e colocar em diĂĄlogo produtivo as suas vĂĄrias vozes ou posiçÔes de identidade. Neste artigo apresentamos uma revisĂŁo da literatura sobre as estratĂ©gias que subjazem a essa capacidade auto-organizadora do sistema identitĂĄrio e sobre as diretrizes que poderĂŁo orientar uma intervenção terapĂȘutica dialĂłgica quando essa capacidade se torna disfuncional.Self-concept has been playing a crucial role in psychological literature and in the way the different therapeutic approaches conceive the processes of change. From the diverse perspectives developed about this human dimension, we emphasise the dialogical paradigm that has been increasingly influential in the psychotherapeutic theory and practice. According to the dialogical perspective the psychological well-being is dependent on the way individuals articulate and maintain productive dialogues between the different voices of the self or âI-Positionsâ. In this paper we present a review of the literature on the strategies that underlie this self-regulatory ability of the self-system and the guidelines of the dialogical therapeutic intervention that could be used when these self-regulatory strategies become dysfunctional.(undefined
The prognostic value of the hypoxia markers CA IX and GLUT 1 and the cytokines VEGF and IL 6 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma treated by radiotherapy ± chemotherapy
BACKGROUND: Several parameters of the tumor microenvironment, such as hypoxia, inflammation and angiogenesis, play a critical role in tumor aggressiveness and treatment response. A major question remains if these markers can be used to stratify patients to certain treatment protocols. The purpose of this study was to investigate the inter-relationship and the prognostic significance of several biological and clinicopathological parameters in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) treated by radiotherapy ± chemotherapy. METHODS: We used two subgroups of a retrospective series for which CT-determined tumoral perfusion correlated with local control. In the first subgroup (n = 67), immunohistochemistry for carbonic anhydrase IX (CA IX) and glucose transporter-1 (GLUT-1) was performed on the pretreatment tumor biopsy. In the second subgroup (n = 34), enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine pretreatment levels of the cytokines vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in serum. Correlation was investigated between tumoral perfusion and each of these biological markers, as well as between the markers mutually. The prognostic value of these microenvironmental parameters was also evaluated. RESULTS: For CA IX and GLUT-1, the combined assessment of patients with both markers expressed above the median showed an independent correlation with local control (p = 0.02) and disease-free survival (p = 0.04) with a trend for regional control (p = 0.06). In the second subgroup, IL-6 pretreatment serum level above the median was the only independent predictor of local control (p = 0.009), disease-free survival (p = 0.02) and overall survival (p = 0.005). CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, we are the first to report a link in HNSCC between IL-6 pretreatment serum levels and radioresistance in vivo. This link is supported by the strong prognostic association of pretreatment IL-6 with local control, known to be the most important parameter to judge radiotherapy responses. Furthermore, the combined assessment of CA IX and GLUT-1 correlated independently with prognosis. This is a valuable indication that a combined approach is important in the investigation of prognostic markers
European Paediatric Formulation Initiative workshop report: Improving the administration of oral liquid medicines in paediatrics using dosing syringes and enteral accessories
Accurate dosing of the right medicine to the right patient is a key element of safe and efficacious pharmacotherapy, yet prone to technical challenges and human error when dosing involves the administration of small volumes of liquid medicines. For this reason, the topic has gained increased attention over the last decade from multiple stakeholder parties e.g. academia, hospital pharmacy, the medical device and pharmaceutical industry, and regulatory agencies. It is now well acknowledged that spoons and cups are not suitable for the measurement of small volumes of oral liquid medicines and that syringes are a better alternative, but syringes for parenteral use should not be used for oral dosing in order to avoid accidental parenteral delivery of oral products. However, dosing accuracy of very small volumes of liquid medicines to young children, and especially pre-term neonates, is still not sufficiently ensured. A workshop was organised in 2018 by the European Paediatric Formulation Initiative to reflect on current status and challenges (first part) and possible strategies to improve the present situation (second part). A voting system (n = 24) was used to consider the most favourable solutions. The harmonisation and/or standardisation of the technical design of oral syringes (including e.g. female/male connection) was considered a key priority
'I-I' and 'I-me' : Transposing Buber's interpersonal attitudes to the intrapersonal plane
Hermans' polyphonic model of the self proposes that dialogical relationships can be established between multiple I-positions1 (e.g., Hermans, 2001a). There have been few attempts, however, to explicitly characterize the forms that these intrapersonal relationships may take. Drawing on Buber's (1958) distinction between the 'I-Thou' and 'I-It' attitude, it is proposed that intrapersonal relationships can take one of two forms: an 'I-I' form, in which one I-position encounters and confirms another I-position in its uniqueness and wholeness; and an 'I-Me' form, in which one I-position experiences another I-position in a detached and objectifying way. This article argues that this I-Me form of intrapersonal relating is associated with psychological distress, and that this is so for a number of reasons: Most notably, because an individual who objectifies and subjugates certain I-position cannot reconnect with more central I-positions when dominance reversal (Hermans, 2001a) takes place. On this basis, it is suggested that a key role of the therapeutic process is to help clients become more able to experience moments of I-I intrapersonal encounter, and it is argued that this requires the therapist to confirm the client both as a whole and in terms of each of his or her different voices
Structure of the fibrin protofibril.
We identified the two-stranded fibrin protofibril and studied its structure in electron micrographs of negatively stained specimens. Based on these images and on considerations of symmetry, we constructed a model of the protofibril in which the two strands of trinodular fibrin molecules are related by a two-fold screw axis between the strands and two-fold axes perpendicular to them. The two strands are held together by staggered lateral contacts between the central nodules of one strand and outer nodules of the other. The molecules within a strand are joined by longitudinal contacts between outer nodules. This interpretation of the structure of protofibrils is supported by images of trimer complexes whose preparation and structure are described here, in which the central nodule of a fibrin monomer is attached to the crosslinked outer nodules of two other molecules. We conclude that the association of protofibrils to form thicker fibers must involve a second type of lateral contact, probably between outer nodules of adjacent, in-register strands. In total, we identify three intermolecular contacts involved in the polymerization of fibrin
Whole Genome Sequencing Identified a 16 Kilobase Deletion on ECA13 Associated with Distichiasis in Friesian Horses
BACKGROUND: Distichiasis, an ocular disorder in which aberrant cilia (eyelashes) grow from the opening of the Meibomian glands of the eyelid, has been reported in Friesian horses. These misplaced cilia can cause discomfort, chronic keratitis, and corneal ulceration, potentially impacting vision due to corneal fibrosis, or, if secondary infection occurs, may lead to loss of the eye. Friesian horses represent the vast majority of reported cases of equine distichiasis, and as the breed is known to be affected with inherited monogenic disorders, this condition was hypothesized to be a simply inherited Mendelian trait.
RESULTS: A genome wide association study (GWAS) was performed using the Axiom 670âk Equine Genotyping array (MNEc670k) utilizing 14 cases and 38 controls phenotyped for distichiasis. An additive single locus mixed linear model (EMMAX) approach identified a 1.83âMb locus on ECA5 and a 1.34âMb locus on ECA13 that reached genome-wide significance (pcorrectedâ=â0.016 and 0.032, respectively). Only the locus on ECA13 withstood replication testing (pâ=â1.6âĂâ10ââ5, cases: nâ=â5 and controls: nâ=â37). A 371âkb run of homozygosity (ROH) on ECA13 was found in 13 of the 14 cases, providing evidence for a recessive mode of inheritance. Haplotype analysis (hapQTL) narrowed the region of association on ECA13 to 163âkb. Whole-genome sequencing data from 3 cases and 2 controls identified a 16âkb deletion within the ECA13 associated haplotype (ECA13:g.178714_195130del). Functional annotation data supports a tissue-specific regulatory role of this locus. This deletion was associated with distichiasis, as 18 of the 19 cases were homozygous (pâ=â4.8âĂâ10ââ13). Genotyping the deletion in 955 horses from 54 different breeds identified the deletion in only 11 non-Friesians, all of which were carriers, suggesting that this could be causal for this Friesian disorder.
CONCLUSIONS: This study identified a 16âkb deletion on ECA13 in an intergenic region that was associated with distichiasis in Friesian horses. Further functional analysis in relevant tissues from cases and controls will help to clarify the precise role of this deletion in normal and abnormal eyelash development and investigate the hypothesis of incomplete penetrance
Precise determination of low energy electronuclear Hamiltonian for LiYHoF
We use complementary optical spectroscopy methods to directly measure the
lowest crystal-field energies of the rare-earth quantum magnet
LiYHoF, including their hyperfine splittings, with more
than 10 times higher resolution than previous work. We are able to observe
energy level splittings due to the and
isotopes, as well as non-equidistantly spaced hyperfine transitions originating
from dipolar and quadrupolar hyperfine interactions. We provide refined crystal
field parameters and extract the dipolar and quadrupolar hyperfine constants
and
, respectively. Thereupon we determine all crystal-field
energy levels and magnetic moments of the ground state manifold,
including the (non-linear) hyperfine corrections. The latter match the
measurement-based estimates. The scale of the non-linear hyperfine corrections
sets an upper bound for the inhomogeneous line widths that would still allow
for unique addressing of a selected hyperfine transition. e.g. for quantum
information applications. Additionally, we establish the far-infrared,
low-temperature refractive index of LiYHoF.Comment: 9 pages, 6 Figures, 3 Table
Carbon-Fiber Microelectrodes Modified with 4-Sulfobenzene Have Increased Sensitivity and Selectivity for Catecholamines
Elliptical and cylindrical geometries of carbon-fiber microelectrodes were modified by covalent attachment of 4-sulfobenzenediazonium tetrafluoroborate following its electroreduction. Elliptical electrodes fabricated from Thornel P-55 carbon fibers show the highest amount of 4-sulfobenzene attached to the electrode. Fast-scan cyclic voltammetry was used to compare the response to dopamine and other neurochemicals at these modified carbon-fiber microelectrodes. The grafted layer causes an increased sensitivity to dopamine and other positively charged analytes that is due to increased adsorption of analyte in the grafted layer. However, this layer remains permeable to negatively charged compounds. Modified electrodes retain the increased sensitivity for dopamine during measurements in mouse brain tissue
Nonuniversal Effects in the Homogeneous Bose Gas
Effective field theory predicts that the leading nonuniversal effects in the
homogeneous Bose gas arise from the effective range for S-wave scattering and
from an effective three-body contact interaction. We calculate the leading
nonuniversal contributions to the energy density and condensate fraction and
compare the predictions with results from diffusion Monte Carlo calculations by
Giorgini, Boronat, and Casulleras. We give a crude determination of the
strength of the three-body contact interaction for various model potentials.
Accurate determinations could be obtained from diffusion Monte Carlo
calculations of the energy density with higher statistics.Comment: 24 pages, RevTex, 5 ps figures, included with epsf.te
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