2,793 research outputs found
Interface relaxation in electrophoretic deposition of polymer chains: Effects of segmental dynamics, molecular weight, and field
Using different segmental dynamics and relaxation, characteristics of the
interface growth is examined in an electrophoretic deposition of polymer chains
on a three (2+1) dimensional discrete lattice with a Monte Carlo simulation.
Incorporation of faster modes such as crankshaft and reptation movements along
with the relatively slow kink-jump dynamics seems crucial in relaxing the
interface width. As the continuously released polymer chains are driven (via
segmental movements) and deposited, the interface width grows with the
number of time steps , (--,
which is followed by its saturation to a steady-state value . Stopping the
release of additional chains after saturation while continuing the segmental
movements relaxes the saturated width to an equilibrium value ().
Scaling of the relaxed interface width with the driving field , remains similar to that of the steady-state width. In
contrast to monotonic increase of the steady-state width , the relaxed
interface width is found to decay (possibly as a stretched exponential)
with the molecular weight.Comment: 5 pages, 7 figure
Adjuvant chemoradiotherapy for high - risk pancreatic cancer
ABSTRACT Introduction: The role of adjuvan
NMR studies of Successive Phase Transitions in Na0.5CoO2 and K0.5CoO2
59Co- and 23Na-NMR measurements have been carried out on polycrystalline and
c-axis aligned samples of Na0.5CoO2, which exhibits successive transitions at
temperatures T = 87 K (= Tc1) and T = 53 K (= Tc2). 59Co-NMR has also been
carried out on c-axis aligned crystallites of K0.5CoO2 with similar successive
transitions at Tc1 ~ 60 K and Tc2 ~ 20 K. For Na0.5CoO2, two sets of three NMR
lines of 23Na nuclei explained by considering the quadrupolar frequencies nuQ
~1.32 and 1.40 MHz have been observed above Tc1, as is expected from the
crystalline structure. Rather complicated but characteristic variation of the
23Na-NMR spectra has been observed with varying T through the transition
temperatures, and the internal fields at two crystallographically distinct Na
sites are discussed on the basis of the magnetic structures reported
previously. The internal fields at two distinct Co sites observed below Tc1 and
the 591/T1-T curves of Na0.5CoO2 and K0.5CoO2 are also discussed in a
comparative way.Comment: 7 pages, 10 figures, submitted to J. Phys. Soc. Jpn, correction is
made in right colum of p6 (35th line) as K0.5CoO2-->Na0.5CoO
59Co-NMR Knight Shift of Superconducting Three-Layer NaxCoO2.yH2O
The superconducting state of NaxCoO2.yH2O with three CoO2 layers in a unit
cell has been studied by 59Co-NMR. The Knight shift measured for a peak of the
NMR spectra corresponding to the external magnetic field H along one of the
principal directions within the CoO2 plane, exhibits a rapid decrease with
decreasing temperature T below the superconducting transition temperature Tc,
indicating that the spin susceptibility is suppressed in the superconducting
phase, at least, for this field direction. Because differences of the
superconducting properties are rather small between this three-layer
NaxCoO2.yH2O and previously reported NaxCoO2.yH2O with two CoO2 layers within a
unit cell, the present result of the Knight shift studies indicates that the
Cooper pairs of the former system are in the singlet state as in the latter,
for which the spin susceptibility is suppressed for both directions of H
parallel and perpendicular to the CoO2 plane.Comment: 5 page
Transport and Magnetic Studies on the Spin State Transition of Pr1-xCaxCoO3 up to High Pressure
Transport and magnetic measurements and structural and NMR studies have been
carried out on (Pr1-yR'y)1-xAxCoO3 {R'=(rare earth elements and Y); A=(Ca, Ba
and Sr)} at ambient pressure or under high pressure. The system exhibits a
phase transition from a nearly metallic to an insulating state with decreasing
temperature T, where the low spin (LS) state of Co3+ is suddenly stabilized.
For y=0, we have constructed a T-x phase diagram at various values of the
external pressure p. It shows that the (T, x) region of the low temperature
phase, which is confined to a very narrow region around x=0.5 at ambient
pressure, expands as p increases, suggesting that the transition is not due to
an order-disorder type one. For the occurrence of the transition, both the Pr
and Ca atoms seem to be necessary. The intimate relationship between the local
structure around the Co ions and the electronic (or spin) state of Co3+ ions is
discussed: For the smaller unit cell volume or the smaller volume of the CoO6
octahedra and for the larger tilting angle of the octahedra, the temperature of
the transition becomes higher. The role of the carriers introduced by the
doping of the A atoms, is also discussed. By analyzing the data of 59Co-NMR
spectra and magnetic susceptibilities of Pr1-xCaxCoO3 the energy separations
among the different spin states of Co3+ and Co4+ are roughly estimated.Comment: 15 pages, 15 figures, 2 tables, submitted to J. Phys. Soc. Jp
IL-33 ameliorates Alzheimer’s disease-like pathology and cognitive decline
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a devastating condition with no known effective treatment. AD is characterized by memory loss as well as impaired locomotor ability, reasoning, and judgment. Emerging evidence suggests that the innate immune response plays a major role in the pathogenesis of AD. In AD, the accumulation of β-amyloid (Aβ) in the brain perturbs physiological functions of the brain, including synaptic and neuronal dysfunction, microglial activation, and neuronal loss. Serum levels of soluble ST2 (sST2), a decoy receptor for interleukin (IL)-33, increase in patients with mild cognitive impairment, suggesting that impaired IL-33/ST2 signaling may contribute to the pathogenesis of AD. Therefore, we investigated the potential therapeutic role of IL-33 in AD, using transgenic mouse models. Here we report that IL-33 administration reverses synaptic plasticity impairment and memory deficits in APP/PS1 mice. IL-33 administration reduces soluble Aβ levels and amyloid plaque deposition by promoting the recruitment and Aβ phagocytic activity of microglia; this is mediated by ST2/p38 signaling activation. Furthermore, IL-33 injection modulates the innate immune response by polarizing microglia/macrophages toward an antiinflammatory phenotype and reducing the expression of proinflammatory genes, including IL-1β, IL-6, and NLRP3, in the cortices of APP/PS1 mice. Collectively, our results demonstrate a potential therapeutic role for IL-33 in AD
Magnetic and Metal-Insulator Transitions in beta-Na0.5CoO2 and gamma-K0.5CoO2 -NMR and Neutron Diffraction Studies-
Co-oxides beta-Na0.5CoO2 and gamma-K0.5CoO2 have been prepared by the Na
de-intercalation from alpha-NaCoO2 and by the floating-zone method,
respectively. It has been found that successive phase transitions take place at
temperatures Tc1 and Tc2 in both systems. The appearance of the internal
magnetic field at Tc1 with decreasing temperature T indicates that the
antiferromagnetic order exists at T < Tc1, as in gamma-Na0.5CoO2. For
beta-Na0.5CoO2, the transition temperatures and the NMR parameters determined
from the data taken for magnetically ordered state are similar to those of
gamma-Na0.5CoO2, indicating that the difference of the stacking ways of the
CoO2 layers between these systems do not significantly affect their physical
properties. For gamma-K0.5CoO2, the quantitative difference of the physical
quantities are found from those of beta- and gamma-Na0.5CoO2. The difference
between the values of Tci (i = 1 and 2) of these systems might be explained by
considering the distance between CoO2 layers.Comment: 8 pages, 14 figures, 1 Tabl
Ultrasound-guided retrieval of lost intrauterine devices using very fine grasping forceps: a case series
Aim: To assess the efficacy of a novel ultrasound-guided procedure for the retrieval of intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUDs) when the threads are not visible at the external cervical os (‘lost threads’). / Methods: This was a prospective cohort study of consecutive women referred for ultrasound examination because of lost IUD threads. The procedures were performed under local anaesthesia in the outpatient setting. After injection of local anaesthetic, the anterior cervical lip was grasped with a vulsellum forceps. A 5Fr hysteroscopy grasping forceps was introduced transcervically into the uterine cavity under continuous transabdominal ultrasound guidance. The IUD was then grasped and removed from the uterus. Patients’ demographic data, gynaecological history, ultrasound findings, duration of procedure, success rate and pain score were recorded. / Results: Twenty-three consecutive women were included in the study. Ultrasound examination showed an IUD correctly sited in the centre of the uterine cavity in 20/23 (87%), in 2/23 (9%) it was partially embedded in the myometrium and in 1/23 (4%) the IUD was partially sited in the cervical canal. In 8/23 (35%) women the IUD threads were not visible on ultrasound scan. Removal of the IUD was successful in 22/23 (96%) cases with a median operating time of 3 (interquartile range 1.25–4.75) minutes. 15/23 (65%) women experienced no or minimal pain (pain score ≤3), 4/23 (17%) reported moderate pain (pain score 4–6) and 4/23 (17%) described the pain as severe (pain score 7–10). No complications were recorded during or immediately after the procedure. / Conclusions: Ultrasound-guided retrieval of lost IUDs using fine hysteroscopy grasping forceps is a highly successful technique and is well tolerated by women
Structure and Dynamics of Superconducting NaxCoO(2) Hydrate and Its Unhydrated Analog
Neutron scattering has been used to investigate the crystal structure and
lattice dynamics of superconducting Na0.3CoO2 1.4(H/D)2O, and the parent
Na0.3CoO2 material. The structure of Na0.3CoO2 consists of alternate layers of
CoO2 and Na and is the same as the structure at higher Na concentrations. For
the superconductor, the water forms two additional layers between the Na and
CoO2, increasing the c-axis lattice parameter of the hexagonal P63/mmc space
group from 11.16 A to 19.5 A. The Na ions are found to occupy a different
configuration from the parent compound, while the water forms a structure that
replicates the structure of ice. Both types of sites are only partially
occupied. The CoO2 layer in these structures is robust, on the other hand, and
we find a strong inverse correlation between the CoO2 layer thickness and the
superconducting transition temperature (TC increases with decreasing
thickness). The phonon density-of-states for Na0.3CoO2 exhibits distinct
acoustic and optic bands, with a high-energy cutoff of ~100 meV. The lattice
dynamical scattering for the superconductor is dominated by the hydrogen modes,
with librational and bending modes that are quite similar to ice, supporting
the structural model that the water intercalates and forms ice-like layers in
the superconductor.Comment: 14 pages, 7 figures, Phys. Rev. B (in press). Minor changes + two
figures removed as requested by refere
Curie Temperatures for Three-Dimensional Binary Ising Ferromagnets
Using the Swendsen and Wang algorithm, high accuracy Monte Carlo simulations
were performed to study the concentration dependence of the Curie temperature
in binary, ferromagnetic Ising systems on the simple-cubic lattice. Our results
are in good agreement with known mean-field like approaches. Based on former
theoretical formulas we propose a new way of estimating the Curie temperature
of these systems.Comment: nr. of pages:13, LATEX. Version 2.09, Scientific Report :02/1994
(Univ. of Bergen, Norway), 7 figures upon reques
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