4,037 research outputs found
Quantum phase transition in an atomic Bose gas near a Feshbach resonance
We study the quantum phase transition in an atomic Bose gas near a Feshbach
resonance in terms of the renormalization group. This quantum phase transition
is characterized by an Ising order parameter. We show that in the low
temperature regime where the quantum fluctuations dominate the low-energy
physics this phase transition is of first order because of the coupling between
the Ising order parameter and the Goldstone mode existing in the bosonic
superfluid. However, when the thermal fluctuations become important, the phase
transition turns into the second order one, which belongs to the
three-dimensional Ising universality class. We also calculate the damping rate
of the collective mode in the phase with only a molecular Bose-Einstein
condensate near the second-order transition line, which can serve as an
experimental signature of the second-order transition.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures, published version in Phys. Rev.
Role of microenvironment in the mixed Langmuir-Blodgett films
This paper reports the pi-A isotherms and spectroscopic characteristics of
mixed Langmuir and Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films of non-amphiphilic carbazole
(CA) molecules mixed with polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and stearic acid (SA).
pi-A isotherm studies of mixed monolayer and as well as also the collapse
pressure study of isotherms definitely conclude that CA is incorporated into
PMMA and SA matrices. However CA is stacked in the PMMA/SA chains and forms
microcrystalline aggregates as is evidenced from the scanning electron
micrograph picture. Nature of these aggregated species in the mixed LB films
has been revealed by UV-Vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopic studies.
The presence of two different kinds of band systems in the fluorescence spectra
of the mixed LB films have been observed. This may be due to the formation of
low dimensional aggregates in the mixed LB films. Intensity distribution of
different band system is highly sensitive to the microenvironment of two
different matrices as well as also on the film thicknessComment: 11 pages, 5 figure
Robotic Surgery for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Pulmonary resection has been a cornerstone in the management of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) for decades. In recent years, the popularity of minimally-invasive techniques as the primary method to manage NSCLC has grown significantly. With smaller incisions and a lower incidence of peri-operative complications, minimally-invasive lung resection, accomplished through keyhole incisions with miniaturized cameras and similarly small instruments that work through surgical ports, has been shown to retain equivalent oncologic outcomes to the traditional gold standard open thoracotomy. This technique allows for the safe performance of anatomic lung resection with complete lymphadenectomy and has been a part of thoracic surgery practice for three decades. Robotic-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATS) represents another major advancement for lung resection, broadening the opportunity for patients to undergo minimally invasive surgery for NSCLC, and therefore allowing a greater percentage of the lung cancer population to benefit from many of the advantages previously demonstrated from video assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) techniques. RATS surgery is also associated with several technical advantages to the surgeon. For a surgeon who performs open procedures and is looking to adopt a minimally invasive approach, RATS ergonomics are a natural transition compared to VATS, particularly given the multiple degrees of freedom associated with robotic articulating instruments. As a result, this platform has been adopted as a primary approach in numerous institutions across the United States. In this chapter, we will explore the advantages and disadvantages of robotic-assisted surgery for NSCLC and discuss the implications for increased adoption of minimally invasive surgery in the future of lung cancer treatment
Gold nanoparticles enlighten the future of cancer theranostics
Development of multifunctional nanomaterials, one of the most interesting and advanced research areas in the field of nanotechnology, is anticipated to revolutionize cancer diagnosis and treatment. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are now being widely utilized in bioimaging and phototherapy due to their tunable and highly sensitive optical and electronic properties (the surface plasmon resonance). As a new concept, termed “theranostics,” multifunctional AuNPs may contain diagnostic and therapeutic functions that can be integrated into one system, thereby simultaneously facilitating diagnosis and therapy and monitoring therapeutic responses. In this review, the important properties of AuNPs relevant to diagnostic and phototherapeutic applications such as structure, shape, optics, and surface chemistry are described. Barriers for translational development of theranostic AuNPs and recent advances in the application of AuNPs for cancer diagnosis, photothermal, and photodynamic therapy are discussed
Epitaxial lateral overgrowth of AlN on self-assembled patterned nanorods
We report an inexpensive nanoscale patterning process for epitaxial lateral overgrowth (ELOG) in AlN layers grown by metal organic vapour phase epitaxy (MOVPE) on sapphire. The pattern was produced by an inductively coupled plasma etch using a self-assembled monolayer of silica spheres on AlN as the lithographic mask. The resulting uniform 1 [small mu ]m length rod structure across a wafer showed a massive reduction in threading dislocations (TDs) when annealed at 1100 [degree]C. Overgrowing homoepitaxial AlN on top of the nanorods, at a temperature of 1100 [degree]C, produced a crack free coalesced film with approximately 4 [small mu ]m of growth, which is formed at a much lower temperature compared to that typically required for microscale ELOG. The improved crystal quality, in terms of TD reduction, of the AlN above the rods was determined by detailed weak beam (WB) electron microscopy studies and showed that the threading dislocation density (TDD) was greatly reduced, by approximately two orders of magnitude in the case for edge-type dislocations. In situ reflectance measurements during the overgrowth allowed for thickness coalescence to be estimated along with wafer curvature changes. The in situ measurements also confirmed that tensile strain built up at a much slower rate in the ELOG AlN layer compared to that of AlN prepared directly on sapphire
Panic Anxiety in Humans with Bilateral Amygdala Lesions: Pharmacological Induction via Cardiorespiratory Interoceptive Pathways
We previously demonstrated that carbon dioxide inhalation could induce panic anxiety in a group of rare lesion patients with focal bilateral amygdala damage. To further elucidate the amygdala-independent mechanisms leading to aversive emotional experiences, we retested two of these patients (B.G. and A.M.) to examine whether triggering palpitations and dyspnea via stimulation of non-chemosensory interoceptive channels would be sufficient to elicit panic anxiety. Participants rated their affective and sensory experiences following bolus infusions of either isoproterenol, a rapidly acting peripheral β-adrenergic agonist akin to adrenaline, or saline. Infusions were administered during two separate conditions: a panic induction and an assessment of cardiorespiratory interoception. Isoproterenol infusions induced anxiety in both patients, and full-blown panic in one (patient B.G.). Although both patients demonstrated signs of diminished awareness for cardiac sensation, patient A.M., who did not panic, reported a complete lack of awareness for dyspnea, suggestive of impaired respiratory interoception. These findings indicate that the amygdala may play a role in dynamically detecting changes in cardiorespiratory sensation. The induction of panic anxiety provides further evidence that the amygdala is not required for the conscious experience of fear induced via interoceptive sensory channels
Renormalization Group Flow for Noncommutative Fermi Liquids
Some recent studies of the AdS/CFT correspondence for condensed matter
systems involve the Fermi liquid theory as a boundary field theory. Adding
B-flux to the boundary D-branes leads in a certain limit to the noncommutative
Fermi liquid, which calls for a field theory description of its critical
behavior. As a preliminary step to more general consideration, the modification
of the Landau's Fermi liquid theory due to noncommutativity of spatial
coordinates is studied in this paper. We carry out the renormalization of
interactions at tree level and one loop in a weakly coupled fermion system in
two spatial dimensions. Channels ZS, ZS' and BCS are discussed in detail. It is
shown that while the Gaussian fixed point remains unchanged, the BCS
instability is modified due to the space non-commutativity.Comment: 27 pages, 2 figures, section 3.2 and conclusions were change
Ultra-high-density arrays of defect-free AlN nanorods: a "space-filling" approach
Nanostructured semiconductors have a clear potential for improved optoelectronic devices, such as high-efficiency light-emitting diodes (LEDs). However, most arrays of semiconductor nanorods suffer from having relatively low densities (or “fill factors”) and a high degree of nonuniformity, especially when produced by self-organized growth. Ideally an array of nanorods for an optoelectronic emitter should have a fill factor close to 100%, with uniform rod diameter and height. In this article we present a “space-filling” approach for forming defect-free arrays of AlN nanorods, whereby the separation between each rod can be controlled to 5 nm due to a self-limiting process. These arrays of pyramidal-topped AlN nanorods formed over wafer-scale areas by metal organic chemical vapor deposition provide a defect-free semipolar top surface, for potential optoelectronic device applications with the highest reported fill factor at 98%
p75 neurotrophin receptor regulates energy balance in obesity
Obesity and metabolic syndrome reflect the dysregulation of molecular pathways that control energy homeostasis. Here, we show that the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) controls energy expenditure in obese mice on a high-fat diet (HFD). Despite no changes in food intake, p75NTR-null mice were protected from HFD-induced obesity and remained lean as a result of increased energy expenditure without developing insulin resistance or liver steatosis. p75NTR directly interacts with the catalytic subunit of protein kinase A (PKA) and regulates cAMP signaling in adipocytes, leading to decreased lipolysis and thermogenesis. Adipocyte-specific depletion of p75NTR or transplantation of p75NTR-null white adipose tissue (WAT) into wild-type mice fed a HFD protected against weight gain and insulin resistance. Our results reveal that signaling from p75NTR to cAMP/PKA regulates energy balance and suggest that non-CNS neurotrophin receptor signaling could be a target for treating obesity and the metabolic syndrome
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