553 research outputs found
On the decay of deformed actinide nuclei
decay through a deformed potential barrier produces significant
mixing of angular momenta when mapped from the nuclear interior to the outside.
Using experimental branching ratios and either semi-classical or
coupled-channels transmission matrices, we have found that there is a set of
internal amplitudes which are essentially constant for all even--even actinide
nuclei. These same amplitudes also give good results for the known anisotropic
particle emission of the favored decays of odd nuclei in the same mass
region.
PACS numbers: 23.60.+e, 24.10.Eq, 27.90.+bComment: 5 pages, latex (revtex style), 2 embedded postscript figures
uuencoded gz-compressed .tar file To appear in Physical Review Letter
Macroscopic superpositions via nested interferometry: finite temperature and decoherence considerations
Recently there has been much interest in optomechanical devices for the
production of macroscopic quantum states. Here we focus on a proposed scheme
for achieving macroscopic superpositions via nested interferometry. We consider
the effects of finite temperature on the superposition produced. We also
investigate in detail the scheme's feasibility for probing various novel
decoherence mechanisms.Comment: 12 pages, 2 figure
Identifying Epstein-Barr virus EBNA-1 sequence variation using 454 FLX technology in Multiple Sclerosis patient samples
No abstract availabl
Evolving Identification of Blood Cells Associated with Clinically Isolated Syndrome: Importance of Time since Clinical Presentation and Diagnostic MRI
It is not clear how the profile of immune cells in peripheral blood differs between patients with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) and healthy controls (HC). This study aimed to identify a CIS peripheral blood signature that may provide clues for potential immunomodulatory approaches early in disease. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected from 18 people with CIS, 19 HC and 13 individuals with other demyelinating conditions (ODC) including multiple sclerosis (MS). Individuals with CIS separated into two groups, namely those with early (â€14 days post-diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); n = 6) and late (â„27 days; n = 12) blood sampling. Transitional B cells were increased in the blood of CIS patients independently of when blood was taken. However, there were two time-dependent effects found in the late CIS group relative to HC, including decreased CD56bright NK cells, which correlated significantly with time since MRI, and increased CD141+ myeloid dendritic cell (mDC2) frequencies. Higher CD1c+ B cells and lower non-classical monocyte frequencies were characteristic of more recent demyelinating disease activity (ODC and early CIS). Analysing cell populations by time since symptoms (subjective) and diagnostic MRI (objective) may contribute to understanding CIS
Multiple Sclerosis Patient Sequence Variation In Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigen 1
No abstract availabl
Levinson's Theorem for Non-local Interactions in Two Dimensions
In the light of the Sturm-Liouville theorem, the Levinson theorem for the
Schr\"{o}dinger equation with both local and non-local cylindrically symmetric
potentials is studied. It is proved that the two-dimensional Levinson theorem
holds for the case with both local and non-local cylindrically symmetric cutoff
potentials, which is not necessarily separable. In addition, the problems
related to the positive-energy bound states and the physically redundant state
are also discussed in this paper.Comment: Latex 11 pages, no figure, submitted to J. Phys. A Email:
[email protected], [email protected]
Special Libraries, October 1922
Volume 13, Issue 8https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/sla_sl_1922/1007/thumbnail.jp
Aesthetics and literature : a problematic relation?
The paper argues that there is a proper place for literature within aesthetics but that care must be taken in identifying just what the relation is. In characterising aesthetic pleasure associated with literature it is all too easy to fall into reductive accounts, for example, of literature as merely "fine writing". Belleslettrist or formalistic accounts of literature are rejected, as are two other kinds of reduction, to pure meaning properties and to a kind of narrative realism. The idea is developed that literature-both poetry and prose fiction-invites its own distinctive kind of aesthetic appreciation which far from being at odds with critical practice, in fact chimes well with it
Identifying Patient-Specific Epstein-Barr Nuclear Antigen-1 Genetic Variation and Potential Autoreactive Targets Relevant to Multiple Sclerosis Pathogenesis
Background: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection represents a major environmental risk factor for multiple sclerosis (MS), with evidence of selective expansion of Epstein-Barr Nuclear Antigen-1 (EBNA1)-specific CD4+ T cells that cross-recognize MS-associated myelin antigens in MS patients. HLA-DRB1*15-restricted antigen presentation also appears to determine susceptibility given its role as a dominant risk allele. In this study, we have utilised standard and next-generation sequencing techniques to investigate EBNA-1 sequence variation and its relationship to HLA-DR15 binding affinity, as well as examining potential cross-reactive immune targets within the central nervous system proteome.
Methods: Sanger sequencing was performed on DNA isolated from peripheral blood samples from 73 Western Australian MS cases, without requirement for primary culture, with additional FLX 454 Roche sequencing in 23 samples to identify low-frequency variants. Patient-derived viral sequences were used to predict HLA-DRB1*1501 epitopes (NetMHCII, NetMHCIIpan) and candidates were evaluated for cross recognition with human brain proteins.
Results: EBNA-1 sequence variation was limited, with no evidence of multiple viral strains and only low levels of variation identified by FLX technology (8.3% nucleotide positions at a 1% cutoff). In silico epitope mapping revealed two known HLA-DRB1*1501-restricted epitopes (âAEGâ: aa 481â496 and âMVFâ: aa 562â577), and two putative epitopes between positions 502â543. We identified potential cross-reactive targets involving a number of major myelin antigens including experimentally confirmed HLA-DRB1*15-restricted epitopes as well as novel candidate antigens within myelin and paranodal assembly proteins that may be relevant to MS pathogenesis.
Conclusions: This study demonstrates the feasibility of obtaining autologous EBNA-1 sequences directly from buffy coat samples, and confirms divergence of these sequences from standard laboratory strains. This approach has identified a number of immunogenic regions of EBNA-1 as well as known and novel targets for autoreactive HLA-DRB1*15-restricted T cells within the central nervous system that could arise as a result of cross-reactivity with EBNA-1-specific immune responses
Experiences of stigma in healthcare settings among adults living with HIV in the Islamic Republic of Iran
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>People living with HIV (PLHIV) sometimes experience discrimination. There is little understanding of the causes, forms and consequences of this stigma in Islamic countries. This qualitative study explored perceptions and experiences of PLHIV regarding both the quality of healthcare and the attitudes and behaviours of their healthcare providers in the Islamic Republic of Iran.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In-depth, semi-structured interviews were held with a purposively selected group of 69 PLHIV recruited from two HIV care clinics in Tehran. Data were analyzed using the content analysis approach.</p> <p>Results and discussion</p> <p>Nearly all participants reported experiencing stigma and discrimination by their healthcare providers in a variety of contexts. Participants perceived that their healthcare providers' fear of being infected with HIV, coupled with religious and negative value-based assumptions about PLHIV, led to high levels of stigma. Participants mentioned at least four major forms of stigma: (1) refusal of care; (2) sub-optimal care; (3) excessive precautions and physical distancing; and (4) humiliation and blaming. The participants' healthcare-seeking behavioural reactions to perceived stigma and discrimination included avoiding or delaying seeking care, not disclosing HIV status when seeking healthcare, and using spiritual healing. In addition, emotional responses to perceived acts of stigma included feeling undeserving of care, diminished motivation to stay healthy, feeling angry and vengeful, and experiencing emotional stress.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>While previous studies demonstrate that most Iranian healthcare providers report fairly positive attitudes towards PLHIV, our participants' experiences tell a different story. Therefore, it is imperative to engage both healthcare providers and PLHIV in designing interventions targeting stigma in healthcare settings. Additionally, specialized training programmes in universal precautions for health providers will lead to stigma reduction. National policies to strengthen medical training and to provide funding for stigma-reduction programming are strongly recommended. Investigating Islamic literature and instruction, as well as requesting official public statements from religious leaders regarding stigma and discrimination in healthcare settings, should be used in educational intervention programmes targeting healthcare providers. Finally, further studies are needed to investigate the role of the physician and religion in the local context.</p
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