3,280 research outputs found
The Partnership for Rural Improvement: An Approach to Inter-Institutional Outreach
Rural educators point to the need for increased inter-institutional collaboration - partly in response to scarce resources but also in response to the complex problems faced in many rural areas. This article examines some of the experience gleaned from ten years\u27 work in interinstitutional collaboration directed by the Partnership for Rural Improvement
Theory of imaging a photonic crystal with transmission near-field optical microscopy
While near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) can provide optical
images with resolution much better than the diffraction limit, analysis and
interpretation of these images is often difficult. We present a theory of
imaging with transmission NSOM that includes the effects of tip field,
tip/sample coupling, light propagation through the sample and light collection.
We apply this theory to analyze experimental NSOM images of a nanochannel glass
(NCG) array obtained in transmission mode. The NCG is a triangular array of
dielectric rods in a dielectric glass matrix with a two-dimensional photonic
band structure. We determine the modes for the NCG photonic crystal and
simulate the observed data. The calculations show large contrast at low
numerical aperture (NA) of the collection optics and detailed structure at high
NA consistent with the observed images. We present calculations as a function
of NA to identify how the NCG photonic modes contribute to and determine the
spatial structure in these images. Calculations are presented as a function of
tip/sample position, sample index contrast and geometry, and aperture size to
identify the factors that determine image formation with transmission NSOM in
this experiment.Comment: 28 pages of ReVTex, 14 ps figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.
Interleukin-1 induces rapid and transient expression of the c-fos proto-oncogene in isolated pancreatic islets and in purified β-cells
AbstractThe effect of interleukin-1β (IL-1) on expression of c-fos mRNA in isolated rat pancreatic islets was examined. Accumulation of c-fos mRNA was demonstrable after 30 min of exposure to IL-1, peaked by 60 min, and declined thereafter. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) of dispersed islet cells was employed to localize the accumulation of c-fos mRNA to the β-cell. Cycloheximide did not influence the induction of c-fos mRNA by IL-1. Accumulation of c-fos mRNA therefore appears to be an early signal transduction event in the β-cell and a component of the cellular mechanism(s) by which IL-1 influences β-cell function
Correlated defects, metal-insulator transition, and magnetic order in ferromagnetic semiconductors
The effect of disorder on transport and magnetization in ferromagnetic III-V
semiconductors, in particular (Ga,Mn)As, is studied theoretically. We show that
Coulomb-induced correlations of the defect positions are crucial for the
transport and magnetic properties of these highly compensated materials. We
employ Monte Carlo simulations to obtain the correlated defect distributions.
Exact diagonalization gives reasonable results for the spectrum of valence-band
holes and the metal-insulator transition only for correlated disorder. Finally,
we show that the mean-field magnetization also depends crucially on defect
correlations.Comment: 4 pages RevTeX4, 5 figures include
Interleukin-1 inhibits glucose-induced Ca2+ uptake by islets of Langerhans
AbstractRecombinant interleukin-1 (rIL-1) is known to inhibit glucose-induced insulin secretion by islets of Langerhans, a novel target tissue of cytokine. We have investigated whether rIL-1 pretreatment affects biochemical mechanisms known to be involved in the regulation of Ca2+ homeostasis during glucose-induced insulin secretion. Glucose-induced Ca2+ uptake by intact islets through the plasma membrane was dramatically inhibited (96%) by rIL-1 (2 nM). rIL-1, however, did not affect Ca2+ uptake by, or Ins 1,4,5-P3-induced Ca2+ efflux from, the endoplasmic reticulum in digitonin-permeabilized islets, although glucose-induced accumulation of inositol trisphosphates was inhibited (38%). These results suggest that perturbation of intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis in islets is involved in inhibition of insulin secretion by rIL-1
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Kinetics of gas-phase reactions relevant to the chemical vapor deposition of indium compounds
Compounds containing indium are of interest for electronic and optical applications. These compounds include III-V semiconductors such as InP and InAs used in both electronic devices and solar cells, and indium tin oxide, which can be used for optical memory and antireflection coatings. Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) techniques can be used to deposit these materials on a variety of substrates. At the temperatures typically employed (550--900 K), gas-phase chemical reactions involving the indium-containing precursor can occur. The kinetics of trimethylindium pyrolysis are investigated in a flow reactor equipped with a molecular-beam mass-spectrometric sampling system. Data are analyzed using a new computational approach that accounts for heat and mass transport in the reactor. The measured activation energy, 46.2 kcal/mol, is in good agreement with previously reported values
Mesoscopic molecular ions in Bose-Einstein condensates
We study the possible formation of large (mesoscopic) molecular ions in an
ultracold degenerate bosonic gas doped with charged particles (ions). We show
that the polarization potentials produced by the ionic impurities are capable
of capturing hundreds of atoms into loosely bound states. We describe the
spontaneous formation of these hollow molecular ions via phonon emission and
suggest an optical technique for coherent stimulated transitions of free atoms
into a specific bound state. These results open up new interesting
possibilities for manipulating tightly confined ensembles.Comment: 4 pages (two-columns), 2 figure
What Makes Theatrical Performances Successful in China's Tourism Industry?
This study aims to explore the factors affecting the success of a popular tourist product, namely, theatrical performance, within the context of China's tourism industry and develop a model based on previously successful productions. Using qualitative software, 22 Chinese-language articles on theatrical performances are analyzed to generate a list of success factors, classified as internal and external. The internal factors are storyline and performing, market positioning and marketing strategy, investment and financial support, operation and management, performing team, outdoor venue, indoor/outdoor stage supporting facilities, continuous improvement, and production team. The external factors are collaboration between cultural industries and local tourism, government support, privatization, and social and cultural effect. This study also provides suggestions for the future development of theatrical performances in China
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