2,278 research outputs found
Molecular Fine Structure from Water Window X-rays
Postprint (published version
Submicrometric Films of Surface-Attached Polymer Network with Temperature-Responsive Properties
Temperature-responsive properties of surface-attached
poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) network films with well-controlled
chemistry are investigated. The synthesis consists of cross-linking and
grafting preformed ene-reactive polymer chains through thiol--ene click
chemistry. The formation of surface-attached and cross-linked polymer films has
the advantage of being wellcontrolled without any caution of no-oxygen
atmosphere or addition of initiators. PNIPAM hydrogel films with same
cross-link density are synthesized on a wide range of thickness, from
nanometers to micrometers. The swelling-collapse transition with temperature is
studied by using ellipsometry, neutron reflectivity, and atomic force
microscopy as complementary surface-probing techniques. Sharp and high
amplitude temperature-induced phase transition is observed for all
submicrometric PNIPAM hydrogel films. For temperature above LCST,
surface-attached PNIPAM hydrogels collapse similarly but without complete
expulsion of water. For temperature below LCST, the swelling of PNIPAM
hydrogels depends on the film thickness. It is shown that the swelling is
strongly affected by the surface attachment for ultrathin films below 150
nm. For thicker films above 150 nm (to micrometers), surface-attached polymer
networks with the same cross-link density swell equally. The density profile of
the hydrogel films in the direction normal to the substrate is confronted with
in-plane topography of the free surface. It results that the free interface
width is much larger than the roughness of the hydrogel film, suggesting
pendant chains at the free surface.Comment: in Langmuir, American Chemical Society, 2015, LANGMUIR, 31 (42),
pp.11516-1152
Nonverbal communication in health settings
The goal of the present chapter is to provide an overview of the existing literature on nonverbal communication in the medical encounter. After introducing the different functions of nonverbal behavior and its importance in the medical context, we present empirical evidence showing how physician nonverbal behavior relates to different patient outcomes such as satisfaction, trust, or adherence. We then present different models and assessment tools with which nonverbal behavior in the medical encounter can be studied. The physician's ability to pick up and correctly interpret the patient's nonverbal cues (interpersonal sensitivity) and its impact on patient outcomes will be reviewed. We close the chapter by providing a summary of the main results and an outlook on open questions in the field
DNA methyltransferase-3-dependent nonrandom template segregation in differentiating embryonic stem cells.
Asymmetry of cell fate is one fundamental property of stem cells, in which one daughter cell self-renews, whereas the other differentiates. Evidence of nonrandom template segregation (NRTS) of chromosomes during asymmetric cell divisions in phylogenetically divergent organisms, such as plants, fungi, and mammals, has already been shown. However, before this current work, asymmetric inheritance of chromatids has never been demonstrated in differentiating embryonic stem cells (ESCs), and its molecular mechanism has remained unknown. Our results unambiguously demonstrate NRTS in asymmetrically dividing, differentiating human and mouse ESCs. Moreover, we show that NRTS is dependent on DNA methylation and on Dnmt3 (DNA methyltransferase-3), indicating a molecular mechanism that regulates this phenomenon. Furthermore, our data support the hypothesis that retention of chromatids with the old template DNA preserves the epigenetic memory of cell fate, whereas localization of new DNA strands and de novo DNA methyltransferase to the lineage-destined daughter cell facilitates epigenetic adaptation to a new cell fate
Attosecond Streaking in the Water Window: A New Regime of Attosecond Pulse Characterization
We report on the first streaking measurement of water-window attosecond
pulses generated via high harmonic generation, driven by sub-2-cycle,
CEP-stable, 1850 nm laser pulses. Both the central photon energy and the energy
bandwidth far exceed what has been demonstrated thus far, warranting the
investigation of the attosecond streaking technique for the soft X-ray regime
and the limits of the FROGCRAB retrieval algorithm under such conditions. We
also discuss the problem of attochirp compensation and issues regarding much
lower photo-ionization cross sections compared with the XUV in addition to the
fact that several shells of target gases are accessed simultaneously. Based on
our investigation, we caution that the vastly different conditions in the soft
X-ray regime warrant a diligent examination of the fidelity of the measurement
and the retrieval procedure.Comment: 14 Pages, 12 figure
Beyond "one size fits all": Physician nonverbal adaptability to patients' need for paternalism and its positive consultation outcomes
In this study, we tested whether physicians' ability to adapt their nonverbal behavior to their patients' preferences for a paternalistic interaction style is related to positive consultation outcomes. We hypothesized that the more physicians adapt their nonverbal dominance behavior to match their patients' preferences for physician paternalism, the more positive the patients perceive the medical interaction. We assessed the actual nonverbal dominance behavior of 32 general practitioners when interacting with two of their patients and compared it with each of their patients' preferences for paternalism to obtain a measure of adaptability. Additionally, we measured patient outcomes with a questionnaire assessing patient satisfaction, trust in the physician, and evaluation of physician competence. Results show that the more nonverbal dominance the physician shows towards the patient who prefers a more paternalistic physician, as compared to towards the patient who prefers a less paternalistic physician (i.e., the more the physician shows nonverbal behavioral adaptability), the more positive the consultation outcomes are. This means that physicians' ability to adapt aspects of their nonverbal dominance behavior to their individual patients' preferences is related to better outcomes for patients. As this study shows, it is advantageous for patients when a physician behaves flexibly instead of showing the same behavior towards all patients. Physician training might want to focus more on teaching a diversity of different behavior repertoires instead of a given set of behaviors
Transcriptional interference by RNA polymerase III affects expression of the Polr3e gene.
Overlapping gene arrangements can potentially contribute to gene expression regulation. A mammalian interspersed repeat (MIR) nested in antisense orientation within the first intron of the Polr3e gene, encoding an RNA polymerase III (Pol III) subunit, is conserved in mammals and highly occupied by Pol III. Using a fluorescence assay, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated deletion of the MIR in mouse embryonic stem cells, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays, we show that the MIR affects Polr3e expression through transcriptional interference. Our study reveals a mechanism by which a Pol II gene can be regulated at the transcription elongation level by transcription of an embedded antisense Pol III gene
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