1,031 research outputs found
Novel Reconstruction mechanisms: A comparison between group-III-nitrides and "traditional" III-V-semiconductors
We have studied the driving forces governing reconstructions on polar GaN
surfaces employing first-principles total-energy calculations. Our results
reveal properties not observed for other semiconductors, as for example a
strong tendency to stabilize Ga-rich surfaces. This mechanism is shown to have
important consequences on various surface properties: Novel and hitherto
unexpected structures are stable, surfaces may become metallic although GaN is
a wide-bandgap semiconductor, and the surface energy is significantly higher
than for other semiconductors. We explain these features in terms of the small
lattice constant of GaN and the unique bond strength of nitrogen molecules.Comment: 13 pages, 5 figure
H2A.Z facilitates access of active and repressive complexes to chromatin in embryonic stem cell self-renewal and differentiation.
SummaryChromatin modifications have been implicated in the self-renewal and differentiation of embryonic stem cells (ESCs). However, the function of histone variant H2A.Z in ESCs remains unclear. We show that H2A.Z is highly enriched at promoters and enhancers and is required for both efficient self-renewal and differentiation of murine ESCs. H2A.Z deposition leads to an abnormal nucleosome structure, decreased nucleosome occupancy, and increased chromatin accessibility. In self-renewing ESCs, knockdown of H2A.Z compromises OCT4 binding to its target genes and leads to decreased binding of MLL complexes to active genes and of PRC2 complex to repressed genes. During differentiation of ESCs, inhibition of H2A.Z also compromises RA-induced RARα binding, activation of differentiation markers, and the repression of pluripotency genes. We propose that H2A.Z mediates such contrasting activities by acting as a general facilitator that generates access for a variety of complexes, both activating and repressive
ZnSe Heteroepitaxial Growth on Si (100) and GaAs (100)
The early stages of ZnSe heteroepitaxy on Si(100), Si(100):As and GaAs(100) are compared and contrasted, based on results of scanning tunneling microscopy and photoemission spectroscopy. High Se reactivity with the substrate constituents leads to bulk phase formation which is detrimental to heteroepitaxy. As-termination of Si(100) not only passivates the surface, but also provides an ideal buffer for ZnSe overgrowth. Lacking a similar buffer layer, stoichiometric control of the GaAs(100) surface is investigated to find a means for controlled heteroepitaxy
Why is the bandwidth of sodium observed to be narrower in photoemission experiments?
The experimentally predicted narrowing in the bandwidth of sodium is
interpreted in terms of the non-local self-energy effect on quasi-particle
energies of the electron liquid. The calculated self-energy correction is a
monotonically increasing function of the wavenumber variable. The usual
analysis of photo-emission experiments assumes the final state energies on the
nearly-free-electron-like model and hence it incorrectly ascribes the non-local
self-energy correction to the final state energies to the occupied state
energies, thus leading to a seeming narrowing in the bandwidth.Comment: 9 page
Structure analysis of the Ga-stabilized GaAs(001)-c(8x2) surface at high temperatures
Structure of the Ga-stabilized GaAs(001)-c(8x2) surface has been studied
using rocking-curve analysis of reflection high-energy electron diffraction
(RHEED). The c(8x2) structure emerges at temperatures higher than 600C, but is
unstable with respect to the change to the (2x6)/(3x6) structure at lower
temperatures. Our RHEED rocking-curve analysis at high temperatures revealed
that the c(8x2) surface has the structure which is basically the same as that
recently proposed by Kumpf et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 86, 3586 (2001)]. We found
that the surface atomic configurations are locally fluctuated at high
temperatures without disturbing the c(8x2) periodicity.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figures, 1 tabl
Resting myocardial perfusion quantification with CMR arterial spin labeling at 1.5 T and 3.0 T
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The magnetic resonance technique of arterial spin labeling (ASL) allows myocardial perfusion to be quantified without the use of a contrast agent. This study aimed to use a modified ASL technique and <it>T</it><sub>1 </sub>regression algorithm, previously validated in canine models, to calculate myocardial blood flow (MBF) in normal human subjects and to compare the accuracy and repeatability of this calculation at 1.5 T and 3.0 T. A computer simulation was performed and compared with experimental findings.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Eight subjects were imaged, with scans at 3.0 T showing significantly higher <it>T</it><sub>1 </sub>values (<it>P </it>< 0.001) and signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) (<it>P </it>< 0.002) than scans at 1.5 T. The average MBF was found to be 0.990 ± 0.302 mL/g/min at 1.5 T and 1.058 ± 0.187 mL/g/min at 3.0 T. The repeatability at 3.0 T was improved 43% over that at 1.5 T, although no statistically significant difference was found between the two field strengths. In the simulation, the accuracy and the repeatability of the MBF calculations were 61% and 38% higher, respectively, at 3.0 T than at 1.5 T, but no statistically significant differences were observed. There were no significant differences between the myocardial perfusion data sets obtained from the two independent observers. Additionally, there was a trend toward less variation in the perfusion data from the two observers at 3.0 T as compared to 1.5 T.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This suggests that this ASL technique can be used, preferably at 3.0 T, to quantify myocardial perfusion in humans and with further development could be useful in the clinical setting as an alternative method of perfusion analysis.</p
Surface energy and stability of stress-driven discommensurate surface structures
A method is presented to obtain {\it ab initio} upper and lower bounds to
surface energies of stress-driven discommensurate surface structures, possibly
non-periodic or exhibiting very large unit cells. The instability of the
stressed, commensurate parent of the discommensurate structure sets an upper
bound to its surface energy; a lower bound is defined by the surface energy of
an ideally commensurate but laterally strained hypothetical surface system. The
surface energies of the phases of the Si(111):Ga and Ge(111):Ga systems and the
energies of the discommensurations are determined within eV.Comment: 4 pages RevTeX. 2 Figures not included. Ask for a hard copy (through
regular mail) to [email protected]
Association of retinoic acid receptor genes with meningomyelocele.
BACKGROUND: Neural tube defects (NTDs) occur in as many as 0.5-2 per 1000 live births in the United States. One of the most common and severe neural tube defects is meningomyelocele (MM) resulting from failed closure of the caudal end of the neural tube. MM has been induced by retinoic acid teratogenicity in rodent models. We hypothesized that genetic variants influencing retinoic acid (RA) induction via retinoic acid receptors (RARs) may be associated with risk for MM.
METHODS: We analyzed 47 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that span across the three retinoic acid receptor genes using the SNPlex genotyping platform. Our cohort consisted of 610 MM families.
RESULTS: One variant in the RARA gene (rs12051734), three variants in the RARB gene (rs6799734, rs12630816, rs17016462), and a single variant in the RARG gene (rs3741434) were found to be statistically significant at p \u3c 0.05.
CONCLUSION: RAR genes were associated with risk for MM. For all associated SNPs, the rare allele conferred a protective effect for MM susceptibility
Direct Minimization Generating Electronic States with Proper Occupation Numbers
We carry out the direct minimization of the energy functional proposed by
Mauri, Galli and Car to derive the correct self-consistent ground state with
fractional occupation numbers for a system degenerating at the Fermi level. As
a consequence, this approach enables us to determine the electronic structure
of metallic systems to a high degree of accuracy without the aid of level
broadening of the Fermi-distribution function. The efficiency of the method is
illustrated by calculating the ground-state energy of C and Si
molecules and the W(110) surface to which a tungsten adatom is adsorbed.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Electronic structure of the MO oxides (M=Mg, Ca, Ti, V) in the GW approximation
The quasiparticle band structures of nonmagnetic monoxides, MO (M=Mg, Ca, Ti,
and V), are calculated by the GW approximation. The band gap and the width of
occupied oxygen 2p states in insulating MgO and CaO agree with experimental
observation. In metallic TiO and VO, conduction bands originated from metal 3d
states become narrower. Then the partial densities of transition metal e_g and
t_2g states show an enhanced dip between the two. The effects of static
screening and dynamical correlation are discussed in detail in comparison with
the results of the Hartree-Fock approximation and the static Coulomb hole plus
screened exchange approximation. The d-d Coulomb interaction is shown to be
very much reduced by on-site and off-site d-electron screening in TiO and VO.
The dielectric function and the energy loss spectrum are also presented and
discussed in detail.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figure
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