4,125 research outputs found
Direct observation of a hydrophobic bond in loop-closure of a capped (-OCH2CH2-)n oligomer in water
The small r variation of the probability density P(r) for end-to-end
separations of a -CH2CH3 capped (-OCH2CH2-)n oligomer in water is computed to
be closely similar to the CH4 ... CH4 potential of mean force under the same
circumstances. Since the aqueous solution CH4 ... CH4 potential of mean force
is the natural physical definition of a primitive hydrophobic bond, the present
result identifies an experimentally accessible circumstance for direct
observation of a hydrophobic bond which has not been observed previously
because of the low solubility of CH4 in water. The physical picture is that the
soluble chain molecule carries the capping groups into aqueous solution, and
permits them to find one another with reasonable frequency. Comparison with the
corresponding results without the solvent shows that hydration of the solute
oxygen atoms swells the chain molecule globule. This supports the view that the
chain molecule globule might have a secondary effect on the hydrophobic
interaction which is of first interest here. The volume of the chain molecule
globule is important for comparing the probabilities with and without solvent
because it characterizes the local concentration of capping groups. Study of
other capping groups to enable X-ray and neutron diffraction measurements of
P(r) is discussed.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
Exact Phase Solutions of Nonlinear Oscillators on Two-dimensional Lattice
We present various exact solutions of a discrete complex Ginzburg-Landau
(CGL) equation on a plane lattice, which describe target patterns and spiral
patterns and derive their stability criteria. We also obtain similar solutions
to a system of van der Pol's oscillators.Comment: Latex 11 pages, 17 eps file
Lithium Diffusion & Magnetism in Battery Cathode Material LixNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2
We have studied low-temperature magnetic properties as well as
high-temperature lithium ion diffusion in the battery cathode materials
LixNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 by the use of muon spin rotation/relaxation. Our data
reveal that the samples enter into a 2D spin-glass state below TSG=12 K. We
further show that lithium diffusion channels become active for T>Tdiff=125 K
where the Li-ion hopping-rate [nu(T)] starts to increase exponentially.
Further, nu(T) is found to fit very well to an Arrhenius type equation and the
activation energy for the diffusion process is extracted as Ea=100 meV.Comment: Submitted to Journal of Physics: Conference Series (2014
Turbulence near cyclic fold bifurcations in birhythmic media
We show that at the onset of a cyclic fold bifurcation, a birhythmic medium
composed of glycolytic oscillators displays turbulent dynamics. By computing
the largest Lyapunov exponent, the spatial correlation function, and the
average transient lifetime, we classify it as a weak turbulence with transient
nature. Virtual heterogeneities generating unstable fast oscillations are the
mechanism of the transient turbulence. In the presence of wavenumber
instability, unstable oscillations can be reinjected leading to stationary
turbulence. We also find similar turbulence in a cell cycle model. These
findings suggest that weak turbulence may be universal in biochemical
birhythmic media exhibiting cyclic fold bifurcations.Comment: 14 pages 10 figure
Magnetic Ordering in V-Layers of the Superconducting System of Sr2VFeAsO3
Results of transport, magnetic, thermal, and 75As-NMR measurements are
presented for superconducting Sr2VFeAsO3 with an alternating stack of FeAs and
perovskite-like block layers. Although apparent anomalies in magnetic and
thermal properties have been observed at ~150 K, no anomaly in transport
behaviors has been observed at around the same temperature. These results
indicate that V ions in the Sr2VO3-block layers have localized magnetic moments
and that V-electrons do not contribute to the Fermi surface. The electronic
characteristics of Sr2VFeAsO3 are considered to be common to those of other
superconducting systems with Fe-pnictogen layers.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, To appear in JPSJ 79 (2010) 12371
An evaluation of a refresher training intervention for HIV lay counsellors in Chongwe District, Zambia
To address a severe shortage of human resources for health, the Zambian Ministry of Health has begun to make use of lay counsellors for HIV counselling and testing. However, their skills and knowledge rarely have been reviewed or refreshed. We conducted a two-day refresher workshop for lay counsellors to review their performance and refresh their skills and knowledge. The objective of this study was to evaluate the refresher training intervention for HIV lay counsellors in the rural district of Chongwe in Zambia. The two-day refreshertraining workshop was held in November 2009. Twenty-five lay counsellors were selected by District Health Office and participated in the workshop. The workshop included: the opening, a pre-training exercise, lectures on quality assurance with regard to testing and safety precautions, lectures on counselling, filling the gap/Q&A session, and a post-training exercise. In both the pre- and post-trainingexercise, participants answered 25 true/false questions and tested 10 blood panel samples to demonstrate their knowledge and skill on HIV counselling and testing. The average overall knowledge test score  increased from 79% to 95% (p<0.001). At the baseline, knowledgetest scores in topic of standard precaution and post-exposure prophylaxis were relatively low (58%) but rose to 95% after the training (p<0.001). The per cent agreement of HIV testing by lay counsellors with reference laboratory was 99.2%. Participants’ knowledge was improved during the workshop and skill at HIV testing was found to remain at a high level of accuracy. Relatively weak knowledge of standard precautions and post-exposure prophylaxis suggests that lay counsellors are at risk of nosocomial infections, particularly in the absence of refresher training interventions. We conclude that the refresher training was effective for improving the knowledge and skills of lay counsellors and provided an opportunity to monitor their performance
Renormalization Group Theory for a Perturbed KdV Equation
We show that renormalization group(RG) theory can be used to give an analytic
description of the evolution of a perturbed KdV equation. The equations
describing the deformation of its shape as the effect of perturbation are RG
equations. The RG approach may be simpler than inverse scattering theory(IST)
and another approaches, because it dose not rely on any knowledge of IST and it
is very concise and easy to understand. To the best of our knowledge, this is
the first time that RG has been used in this way for the perturbed soliton
dynamics.Comment: 4 pages, no figure, revte
Near-infrared spectroscopy and plasma homovanillic acid levels in bipolar disorder: a case report
Misdiagnosis of bipolar disorder is a serious, but not unusual problem for patients. Nevertheless, there are few biomarkers for distinguishing unipolar and bipolar disorder. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a noninvasive and useful method for the measurement of hemoglobin concentration changes in the cortical surface area, which enables the assessment of brain function. We measured NIRS and plasma monoamine metabolite levels in a patient with bipolar disorder. A 22-year-old man was admitted due to major depression. At admission, NIRS findings showed oxygenated hemoglobin reincrease in the posttask period, which is characteristic of schizophrenia. After treatment with paroxetine, he became manic with psychotic symptoms. His plasma level of homovanillic acid just before the manic switch was ten times higher than that just after paroxetine initiation. Treatment with lithium and antipsychotics was successful, and plasma homovanillic acid decreased after treatment. In this case, the NIRS findings may predict a possible risk of a manic switch, which is likely induced by paroxetine. NIRS may be able to help distinguish unipolar and bipolar disorder in clinical settings
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