2,125 research outputs found
Non-equilibrium thermodynamical framework for rate- and state-dependent friction
Rate- and state-dependent friction law for velocity-step and healing are
analysed from a thermodynamic point of view. Assuming a logarithmic deviation
from steady-state a unification of the classical Dieterich and Ruina models of
rock friction is proposed.Comment: 12 pages, 5 figure
Development of natto with germination-defective mutants of Bacillus subtilis (natto)
The original publication is available at www.springerlink.comArticleAPPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY. 82(4):741-748 (2009)journal articl
Dynamics of Multiferroic Domain Wall in Spin-Cycloidal Ferroelectric DyMnO
We report the dielectric dispersion of the giant magnetocapacitance (GMC) in
multiferroic DyMnO over a wide frequency range. The GMC is found to be
attributable not to the softened electromagnon but to the electric-field-driven
motion of multiferroic domain wall (DW). In contrast to conventional
ferroelectric DWs, the present multiferroic DW motion holds extremely high
relaxation rate of s even at low temperatures. This
mobile nature as well as the model simulation suggests that the multiferroic DW
is not atomically thin as in ferroelectrics but thick, reflecting its magnetic
origin.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
The adverse effects of albendazole and praziquantel in mass drug administration by trained schoolteachers
Eastern and Southern Africa Centre of International Parasite Control (ESACIPAC) conducted stool examinations for soil transmitted helminthiases (STH) and Schistosoma mansoni, among school children in Mwea Division, Central Kenya where both infections are endemic. Mass drug administrations (MDAs) were then conducted in 2004 and 2005 using schoolteachers trained on how to administer treatment, physically and psychologically prepare the children to take the medication, have them eat before treatment, handle minor and refer serious side effects to local health facilities. Local health workers were on standby to help manage severe side effects. This study examined side effects of the drugs and the teachers’ preparedness to handle the children when such effects occurred. No serious side effects requiring referral to the health centre occurred and the minor ones observed were temporal. In 2005 children in Mwea schools were treated with albendazole 400mg and praziquantel 40mg/kg body weight while those of Ndia, a neighboring division treated with only albendazole 400mg since there was low S.mansoni prevalence. Monitoring of side effects was done in two schools of Ndia and in three of Mwea through a questionnaire distributed to grade three pupils a week after treatment. Of 73 pupils from Mwea, 49.7% reported incidences of stomachache, vomiting/nausea, headache and dizziness whereas 39.2% of 186 from Ndia experienced incidences of cough, stomachache and headache. This shows that more pupils from Mwea, (albendazole and praziquantel) than from Ndia (albendazole alone) experienced minor side effects. These results show that both drugs have temporary, minor side effects, which can be managed by trained schoolteachers by ensuring that the school children do not swallow the drugs on an empty stomach and rest immediately after swallowing the drugs but should be closely monitored by health personnel. In this study, one trained schoolteacher could administer treatment to three hundred children in one day, which makes the approach cost effective and should be adopted nationally.Keywords: albendazole, praziquantel, soil transmitted helminthiasis, schistosomiasi
Short-range Charge and Spin Superstructures in Doped Layered Co Perovskites
We have investigated cobaltite relatives of the layered perovskite cuprates
and nickelates, PrCaCoO () and
LaSrCoO (), using elastic neutron scattering. We have
discovered doping-dependent incommensurate short-range ordering of charges and
magnetic moments, which in cobaltites occur in the range of heavy doping, . The charge order exists already at room temperature
and shows no change on cooling. The incommensurability of its propagation
vector, , roughly scales with the concentration
of Co ions, . Magnetic order is only established
at low T K and has twice larger periodicity, indicating a dominant
antiferromagnetic correlation between the nearest Co spins.Comment: 4 pages 4 figure
Recommended from our members
MicroRNA-383 located in frequently deleted chromosomal locus 8p22 regulates CD44 in prostate cancer.
A major genomic alteration in prostate cancer (PCa) is frequent loss of chromosome (chr) 8p with a common region of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at chr8p22 locus. Genomic studies implicate this locus in the initiation of clinically significant PCa and with progression to metastatic disease. However, the genes within this region have not been fully characterized to date. Here we demonstrate for the first time that a microRNA component of this region-miR-383-is frequently downregulated in prostate cancer, has a critical role in determining tumor-initiating potential and is involved in prostate cancer metastasis via direct regulation of CD44, a ubiquitous marker of PCa tumor-initiating cells (TICs)/stem cells. Expression analyses of miR-383 in PCa clinical tissues established that low miR-383 expression is associated with poor prognosis. Functional data suggest that miR-383 regulates PCa tumor-initiating/stem-like cells via CD44 regulation. Ectopic expression of miR-383 inhibited tumor-initiating capacity of CD44+ PCa cells. Also, 'anti-metastatic' effects of ectopic miR-383 expression were observed in a PCa experimental metastasis model. In view of our results, we propose that frequent loss of miR-383 at chr8p22 region leads to tumor initiation and prostate cancer metastasis. Thus, we have identified a novel finding that associates a long observed genomic alteration to PCa stemness and metastasis. Our data suggest that restoration of miR-383 expression may be an effective therapeutic modality against PCa. Importantly, we identified miR-383 as a novel PCa tissue diagnostic biomarker with a potential that outperforms that of serum PSA
Extra dimensions and invisible decay of orthopositronium
We point out that some models with infinite additional dimension(s) of
Randall-Sundrum type predict the disappearance of orthopositronium (o-Ps) into
additional dimension(s). The experimental signature of this effect is the o-Ps
-> invisible decay of orthopositronium which may occur at a rate within three
orders of magnitude of the present experimental upper limit. This result
enhances existing motivations for a more sensitive search for this decay mode
and suggests additional directions for testing extra dimensions in non
accelerator experiments.Comment: 3 pages, to appear in Phys. Rev.
Recommended from our members
Keratoconus and granular dystrophy
Concurrent bilateral keratoconus and granular dystrophy is reported in a 32 year old patient with decreased vision. Initially contact lenses were attempted unsuccessfully to treat the conditions. There are a handful of other reports of these combined pathologies in the literature, and the likelihood of a chance cause or possible genetic linkage between the conditions is discussed
- …