7,043 research outputs found
Undulatory swimming in fluids with polymer networks
The motility behavior of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans in polymeric
solutions of varying concentrations is systematically investigated in
experiments using tracking and velocimetry methods. As the polymer
concentration is increased, the solution undergoes a transition from the
semi-dilute to the concentrated regime, where these rod-like polymers entangle,
align, and form networks. Remarkably, we find an enhancement in the nematode's
swimming speed of approximately 65% in concentrated solutions compared to
semi-dilute solutions. Using velocimetry methods, we show that the undulatory
swimming motion of the nematode induces an anisotropic mechanical response in
the fluid. This anisotropy, which arises from the fluid micro-structure, is
responsible for the observed increase in swimming speed.Comment: Published 1 November 2013 in Europhysics Letter
Universal Heat Conduction in YBa_2Cu_3O_6.9
The thermal conductivity of YBa_2Cu_3O_6.9 was measured at low temperatures
in untwinned single crystals with concentrations of Zn impurities from 0 to 3%
of Cu. A linear term kappa_0/T = 0.19 mW/K^2.cm is clearly resolved as T -> 0,
and found to be virtually independent of Zn concentration. The existence of
this residual normal fluid strongly validates the basic theory of transport in
unconventional superconductors. Moreover, the observed universal behavior is in
quantitative agreement with calculations for a gap function of d-wave symmetry.Comment: Latex file, 4 pages, 3 EPS figures, to appear in Physical Review
Letter
Symmetries of differential-difference dynamical systems in a two-dimensional lattice
Classification of differential-difference equation of the form
are considered
according to their Lie point symmetry groups. The set represents the
point and its six nearest neighbors in a two-dimensional triangular
lattice. It is shown that the symmetry group can be at most 12-dimensional for
abelian symmetry algebras and 13-dimensional for nonsolvable symmetry algebras.Comment: 24 pages, 1 figur
Combining and optimizing NIRS and EEG to study interictal epileptic discharges
We describe our ongoing application of NIRS-EEG to the study of inter-ictal discharges in adult epilepsy. We discuss optimizing NIRS-EEG data acquisition and analysis and we present preliminary NIRS-EEG results for an epileptic patient. © 2012 OSA
Angular position of nodes in the superconducting gap of YBCO
The thermal conductivity of a YBCO single crystal has been studied as a
function of the relative orientation of the crystal axes and a magnetic field
rotating in the Cu-O planes. Measurements were carried out at several
temperatures below T_c and at a fixed field of 30 kOe. A four-fold symmetry
characteristic of a superconducting gap with nodes at odd multiples of 45
degrees in k-space was resolved. Experiments were performed to exclude a
possible macroscopic origin for such a four-fold symmetry such as sample shape
or anisotropic pinning. Our results impose an upper limit of 10% on the weight
of the s-wave component of the essentially d-wave superconducting order
parameter of YBCO.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figure
Relating spatial perspective taking to the perception of other's affordances: providing a foundation for predicting the future behavior of others
Understanding what another agent can see relates functionally to the understanding of what they can do. We propose that spatial perspective taking and perceiving other's affordances, while two separate spatial processes, together share the common social function of predicting the behavior of others. Perceiving the action capabilities of others allows for a common understanding of how agents may act together. The ability to take another's perspective focuses an understanding of action goals so that more precise understanding of intentions may result. This review presents an analysis of these complementary abilities, both in terms of the frames of reference and the proposed sensorimotor mechanisms involved. Together, we argue for the importance of reconsidering the role of basic spatial processes to explain more complex behaviors
Recovery of adrenal insufficiency is frequent after adjuvant mitotane therapy in patients with adrenocortical carcinoma
Mitotane is a steroidogenesis inhibitor and adrenolytic drug used for treatment of adrenocortical cancer (ACC). Mitotane therapy causes adrenal insufficiency requiring glucocorticoid replacement in all patients. However, it is unclear whether chronic therapy with mitotane induces complete destruction of zona fasciculata and whether hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis can recover after treatment cessation. Our objective was to assess the HPA axis recovery in a cohort of patients after cessation of adjuvant mitotane therapy for ACC. We retrospectively reviewed patient files with stage I-II-III ACC in two referral centers in Canada and Italy. Data on demographics, tumor characteristics, hormonal profile, and HPA axis were collected. Data from 23 patients with pathologically proven ACC treated with adjuvant mitotane for a minimum of two years were analyzed. Eight patients were males and 15 were females and the median age was 41 years old (range 18 to 73). After mitotane cessation, 18/23 (78.3%) patients achieved a complete HPA axis recovery while 3/23 (13.0%) were unable to tolerate glucocorticoid withdrawal despite having normal hormonal test values and 2/23 (8.7%) never achieved recovery. The mean time interval between mitotane cessation and HPA axis recovery was 2.7 years. A high proportion of patients achieved HPA axis recovery following cessation of mitotane adjuvant therapy. However, complete recovery was often delayed up to 2.5 years and regular assessment of the hormonal profile is required
Incremental and Predictive Validity of the Antisocial Process Screening Device in a Community Sample of Male and Female Ethnic Minority and Caucasian Youth
The Antisocial Process Screening Device (APSD) is a well-supported tool for assessing psychopathic features in youth. However, most research with the APSD has been derived from clinical and forensic samples comprised mainly of male Caucasian and African American adolescents. In this prospective study, the incremental and predictive validity of the self-report APSD for violent and non-violent offending was examined in an ethnically diverse community sample of male and female youth (N = 335) aged 12 to 14. High-school students from a moderate sized city in Western Canada completed the self-report APSD and then completed the Self-Report of Offending 6 months later. Receiver Operating Characteristics analysis indicated that APSD total and subscale scores were predictive of violent and non-violent offending at 6-month follow-up with moderate to large effect sizes. In addition, total scores on the APSD added incremental predictive utility above and beyond traditional criminogenic predictors of youth offending (i.e., prior offending, delinquent peer affiliation, poor school achievement, substance use, low parental monitoring). Although sex differences emerged in the predictive utility of the Impulsivity subscale of the APSD vis-à-vis violent offending, sex did not moderate the relationship between APSD total, Narcissism, or Callous/Unemotional scores and offending. In addition, the predictive utility of the APSD did not vary as a function of the youth’s ethnic background. These findings suggest that: (1) the self-report APSD may have utility for risk or threat assessment with normative school populations, (2) APSD findings from higher risk samples generalize to a lower risk sample of high-school youth, and (3) predictive utility of APSD total scores do not differ across male and female Caucasian and ethnic minority youth.  
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