2,222 research outputs found
catena-Poly[[bis(N,N-dimethylformamide-κO)zinc]-μ2-oxalato-κ4 O 1,O 2:O 1′,O 2′]
In the crystal structure of the title compound, [Zn(C2O4)(C3H7NO)2]n, the ZnII ion is situated on a twofold rotation axis and has a distorted octahedral coordination geometry defined by the O atoms of two dimethylformamide molecules and four O atoms of two bidentate oxalate ligands. The oxalate anion is located on an inversion centre and bridges two metal ions, resulting in a polymeric structure with infinite zigzag chains extending parallel to [010]
Theoretical study of electronic Raman scattering of Borocarbide superconductors
The electronic Raman scattering of Borocarbide superconductors is studied
based on the weak coupling theory with -wave gap symmetry. The low energy
behaviors and the relative peak positions can be naturally understood, while
the explanation of the detailed shape of the peak seems to require a
strong inelastic interaction not present in the weak coupling theory.Comment: Revtex 4 file, 9 pages and 5 figure
Blockchain-Based Transaction Validation Protocol for a Secure Distributed IoT Network
Funding Agency: 10.13039/501100010418-Institute for Information and Communications Technology Promotion (IITP), Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT); 10.13039/501100003621-Korea Government;Peer reviewedPublisher PD
Motional Squashed States
We show that by using a feedback loop it is possible to reduce the
fluctuations in one quadrature of the vibrational degree of freedom of a
trapped ion below the quantum limit. The stationary state is not a proper
squeezed state, but rather a ``squashed'' state, since the uncertainty in the
orthogonal quadrature, which is larger than the standard quantum limit, is
unaffected by the feedback action.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures, to appear in the special Issue "Quantum
Correlations and Fluctuations" of J. Opt.
Supersymmetric quantum mechanics with nonlocal potentials
We consider supersymmetric quantum mechanical models with both local and
nonlocal potentials. We present a nonlocal deformation of exactly solvable
local models. Its energy eigenfunctions and eigenvalues are determined exactly.
We observe that both our model Hamiltonian and its supersymmetric partner may
have normalizable zero-energy ground states, in contrast to local models with
nonperiodic or periodic potentials.Comment: 4 pages, REVTeX, Minor revisions for clarificatio
Varying disc-magnetosphere coupling as the origin of pulse profile variability in SAX J1808.4-3658
Accreting millisecond pulsars show significant variability of their pulse
profiles, especially at low accretion rates. On the other hand, their X-ray
spectra are remarkably similar with not much variability over the course of the
outbursts. For the first time, we have discovered that during the 2008 outburst
of SAX J1808.4-3658 a major pulse profile change was accompanied by a dramatic
variation of the disc luminosity at almost constant total luminosity. We argue
that this phenomenon is related to a change in the coupling between the neutron
star magnetic field and the accretion disc. The varying size of the pulsar
magnetosphere can influence the accretion curtain geometry and affect the shape
and the size of the hotspots. Using this physical picture, we develop a
self-consistent model that successfully describes simultaneously the pulse
profile variation as well as the spectral transition. Our findings are
particularly important for testing the theories of accretion onto magnetized
neutron stars, better understanding of the accretion geometry as well as the
physics of disc-magnetosphere coupling. The identification that varying hotspot
size can lead to pulse profile changes has profound implications for
determination of the neutron star masses and radii.Comment: 12 pages, 5 figures and 3 tables; accepted to MNRA
Comparative analysis of thermophilic and mesophilic proteins using Protein Energy Networks
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Thermophilic proteins sustain themselves and function at higher temperatures. Despite their structural and functional similarities with their mesophilic homologues, they show enhanced stability. Various comparative studies at genomic, protein sequence and structure levels, and experimental works highlight the different factors and dominant interacting forces contributing to this increased stability.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In this comparative structure based study, we have used interaction energies between amino acids, to generate structure networks called as Protein Energy Networks (PENs). These PENs are used to compute network, sub-graph, and node specific parameters. These parameters are then compared between the thermophile-mesophile homologues.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The results show an increased number of clusters and low energy cliques in thermophiles as the main contributing factors for their enhanced stability. Further more, we see an increase in the number of hubs in thermophiles. We also observe no community of electrostatic cliques forming in PENs.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In this study we were able to take an energy based network approach, to identify the factors responsible for enhanced stability of thermophiles, by comparative analysis. We were able to point out that the sub-graph parameters are the prominent contributing factors. The thermophiles have a better-packed hydrophobic core. We have also discussed how thermophiles, although increasing stability through higher connectivity retains conformational flexibility, from a cliques and communities perspective.</p
A community-based health education programme for bio-environmental control of malaria through folk theatre (Kalajatha) in rural India
BACKGROUND: Health education is an important component in disease control programme. Kalajatha is a popular, traditional art form of folk theatre depicting various life processes of a local socio-cultural setting. It is an effective medium of mass communication in the Indian sub-continent especially in rural areas. Using this medium, an operational feasibility health education programme was carried out for malaria control. METHODS: In December 2001, the Kalajatha events were performed in the evening hours for two weeks in a malaria-affected district in Karnataka State, south India. Thirty local artists including ten governmental and non-governmental organizations actively participated. Impact of this programme was assessed after two months on exposed vs. non-exposed respondents. RESULTS: The exposed respondents had significant increase in knowledge and change in attitude about malaria and its control strategies, especially on bio-environmental measures (p < 0.001). They could easily associate clean water with anopheline breeding and the role of larvivorous fish in malaria control. In 2002, the local community actively co-operated and participated in releasing larvivorous fish, which subsequently resulted in a noteworthy reduction of malaria cases. Immediate behavioural changes, especially maintenance of general sanitation and hygiene did not improve as much as expected. CONCLUSION: This study was carried out under the primary health care system involving the local community and various potential partners. Kalajatha conveyed the important messages on malaria control and prevention to the rural community. Similar methods of communication in the health education programme should be intensified with suitable modifications to reach all sectors, if malaria needs to be controlled
The inhibition of inflammatory molecule expression on 3T3-L1 adipocytes by berberine is not mediated by leptin signaling
In our previous study, we have shown that berberine has both anti-adipogenic and anti-inflammatory effects on 3T3-L1 adipocytes, and the anti-adipogenic effect is due to the down-regulation of adipogenic enzymes and transcription factors. Here we focused more on anti-inflammatory effect of berberine using real time RT-PCR and found it changes expressions of adipokines. We hypothesized that anti-adipogenicity of berberine mediates anti-inflammtory effect and explored leptin as a candidate mediator of this signaling. We studied this hypothesis by western blot analysis, but our results showed that berberine has no effect on the phosphorylations of STAT-3 and ERK which have important roles on leptin signaling. These results led us to conclude that the anti-inflammatory effect of berberine is not mediated by the inhibition of leptin signal transduction. Moreover, we have found that berberine down-regulates NF-κB signaling, one of the inflammation-related signaling pathway, through western blot analysis. Taken together, the anti-inflammatory effect of berberine is not mediated by leptin, and berberine induces anti-inflammatory effect independent of leptin signaling
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