Domain structure dynamics of amorphous Fe64Co21B15 and Co77B23 ribbons studied by three-dimensional neutron depolarization

Relaxation phenomena related to domain structure dynamics in amorphous ferromagnetic Fe64Co21B15, and Co77B23 samples were studied by time-resolved three-dimensional neutron depolarization and a conventional magnetic induction technique. Different initial domain structures were induced either by applying external stresses or by stress annealing. A theoretical model was developed to describe the observed time dependence of neutron depolarization upon passage through such samples. It is shown that the domain structure approaches the equilibrium state with stable domain wall positions at a rate that depends essentially both on the sample composition and on the induced magnetic anisotropy. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-8979(99)01402-4].8521043104

Infective Endocarditis: Predictive Factors for Diagnosis and Mortality in Surgically Treated Patients

Background: Diagnosis of infective endocarditis (IE) often is challenging, and mortality is high in such patients. Our goal was to characterize common diagnostic tools to enable a rapid and accurate diagnosis and to correlate these tools with mortality outcomes. Methods: Because of the possibility of including perioperative diagnostics, only surgically treated patients with suspected left-sided IE were included in this retrospective, monocentric study. A clinical committee confirmed the diagnosis of IE. Results: 201 consecutive patients (age 64 ± 13 years, 74% male) were finally diagnosed with IE, and 14 patients turned out IE-negative. Preoperative tests with the highest sensitivity for IE were positive blood cultures (89.0%) and transesophageal echocardiography (87.5%). In receiver operating characteristics, vegetation size revealed high predictive power for IE (AUC 0.800, p < 0.001) with an optimal cut-off value of 11.5 mm. Systemic embolism was associated with mortality, and N-terminal prohormone of B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) had predictive power for mortality. Conclusion: If diagnostic standard tools remain inconclusive, we suggest employing novel cut-off values to increase diagnostic accuracy and accelerate diagnosis. Patients with embolism or elevated NT-proBNP deserve a closer follow-up

Computational Study of the Human Dystrophin Repeats: Interaction Properties and Molecular Dynamics

Dystrophin is a large protein involved in the rare genetic disease Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). It functions as a mechanical linker between the cytoskeleton and the sarcolemma, and is able to resist shear stresses during muscle activity. In all, 75% of the dystrophin molecule consists of a large central rod domain made up of 24 repeat units that share high structural homology with spectrin-like repeats. However, in the absence of any high-resolution structure of these repeats, the molecular basis of dystrophin central domain's functions has not yet been deciphered. In this context, we have performed a computational study of the whole dystrophin central rod domain based on the rational homology modeling of successive and overlapping tandem repeats and the analysis of their surface properties. Each tandem repeat has very specific surface properties that make it unique. However, the repeats share enough electrostatic-surface similarities to be grouped into four separate clusters. Molecular dynamics simulations of four representative tandem repeats reveal specific flexibility or bending properties depending on the repeat sequence. We thus suggest that the dystrophin central rod domain is constituted of seven biologically relevant sub-domains. Our results provide evidence for the role of the dystrophin central rod domain as a scaffold platform with a wide range of surface features and biophysical properties allowing it to interact with its various known partners such as proteins and membrane lipids. This new integrative view is strongly supported by the previous experimental works that investigated the isolated domains and the observed heterogeneity of the severity of dystrophin related pathologies, especially Becker muscular dystrophy

Interactive Energy Management Tool (IEMT) for Arkansas Companies

To benefit small and medium industries located in Arkansas, the Engineering Technology Department at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR) is currently developing an Interactive Energy Management Tool (IEMT) for Arkansas Companies. This tool is a web-based software resource, which can be accessed from any remote web-browser. The goal of the IEMT is to provide users (industries) with customized recommendations with regard to energy conservation based on their specific inputs (data) to the software. In the interview mode the software will guide the user through a set of queries, in response to which the IEMT will make specific recommendations for energy savings, complete with cost analysis for implementation. The goal of the paper is to present the details with regard to how the energy website is built, how users can benefit from using this tool and finally to showcase the energy tool's capabilities

Domain Structure Dynamics Of Amorphous Fe64co21b 15 And Co77b23 Ribbons Studied By Three-dimensional Neutron Depolarization

Relaxation phenomena related to domain structure dynamics in amorphous ferromagnetic Fe64Co21B15, and Co 77B23 samples were studied by time-resolved three-dimensional neutron depolarization and a conventional magnetic induction technique. Different initial domain structures were induced either by applying external stresses or by stress annealing. A theoretical model was developed to describe the observed time dependence of neutron depolarization upon passage through such samples. It is shown that the domain structure approaches the equilibrium state with stable domain wall positions at a rate that depends essentially both on the sample composition and on the induced magnetic anisotropy. © 1999 American Institute of Physics.85210431049Sato Turtelli, R., Vinai, F., (1990) Rev. Bras. Fis., 20, p. 203Allia, P., Beatrice, C., Mazzeti, P., Vinai, F., (1986) J. Magn. Magn. Mater., 54-57, p. 273Allia, P., Vinai, F., (1986) Phys. Rev. B, 33, p. 422Kronmüller, H., (1983) Philos. Mag. B, 48, p. 127Allia, P., Beatrice, C., Mazzetti, P., Vinai, F., (1987) Appl. Phys. Lett., 51, p. 142Allia, P., Vinai, F., (1990) Philos. Mag. B, 61 (4), p. 763Drabkin, G.M., Zabidarov, E.I., Kasman, Ya.A., Okorokov, A.I., (1969) J. Exp. Theor. Phys., 29, p. 261Veider, A., Badurek, G., Grössinger, R., Kronmüller, H., (1986) J. Magn. Magn. Mater., 60, p. 182De Jong, M., Köszegi, L., Sietsma, J., Rekveldt, M.Th., Van Den Beukel, A., (1996) J. Magn. Magn. Mater., 152, p. 326Sinnecker, J.P., Sato Turtelli, R., Grössinger, R., Riedler, P., Badurek, G., (1995) Nanostructured and Non-Crystalline Materials, 1, p. 562. , edited by M. Vázquez and A. HernandoSinnecker, J.P., Badurek, G., Grössinger, R., Riedler, P., Sato Turtelli, R., (1995) J. Magn. Magn. Mater., 140-144, p. 331Maleev, S.V., Ruban, V.A., (1972) Sov. Phys. JETP, 35, p. 222Rosman, R., Rekveldt, M.Th., (1990) Z. Phys. B, 79, p. 61Rekveldt, M.Th., (1973) Z. Phys., 259, p. 391Hochhold, M., Leeb, H., Badurek, G., (1996) J. Phys. Soc. Jpn., 65 (SUPPL. A), p. 292Badurek, G., (1981) Nucl. Instrum. Methods, 189, p. 543Polak, Ch., Sinnecker, J.P., Grössinger, R., Knobel, M., Sato Turtelli, R., (1993) J. Appl. Phys., 73, p. 5272(1995) 1st-Year Progress Report of PECO-COPERNICUS Programme, p. 49. , Contract: CIPA-CT93-0239Kronmüller, H., (1981) At. Energ. Rev. Suppl., 1, p. 25

Development of fast helium beam emission spectroscopy for plasma density and temperature diagnostics

For developing a novel electron density and temperature diagnostics based on fast He beam emission spectroscopy, experiments have been performed at the ASDEX Upgrade tokamak (AUG) in Garching and the JET tokamak in Culham. The measured He I emission profiles were compared with model calculations which are based on a collisional-radiative model developed by the ADAS group. For exploratory measurements at AUG one of the heating beam sources has been operated with pure helium. The beam emission profiles show satisfactory agreement with profiles modelled using density and temperature profiles from other diagnostics. At JET and recently also at AUG a small amount of helium was added to one standard deuterium ion source in order to produce a ''doped'' helium/deuterium beam. The respective measurements were performed using groups of identical pulses. In total, 11 different He I lines were investigated at JET with respect to their dependence on plasma density and temperature. Seven lines were found to have sufficient intensity but measurements suffer from the limited bandwidth of the spectrometer used. Good beam emission profiles could be obtained from recent AUG measurements showing a scatter of 9%. (author)SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:3829.715695((00)13) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo