618 research outputs found
Direct induction of layered tissues from mouse embryonic stem cells: potential for differentiation into urinary tract tissue
The original publication is available at http://link.springer-ny.com.ArticleCELL AND TISSUE RESEARCH. 331(3): 605-615 (2008)journal articl
Tuning the 4f-state occupancy of cerium in highly correlated CeSi/ Fe multilayers: a study by x-ray absorption spectroscopy
Spectra of x-ray absorption and magnetic circular dichroism were measured at
M4,5(3d) and L2,3(2p) edges of Ce in multilayers [Ce(1-x)Six/Fe]xn, with x
between 0.1 and 0.65. The study uncovers the highly correlated nature of this
layered system. An alpha-phase like electronic configuration of Ce is observed,
with ordered magnetic moments on the 4f and 5d electrons induced by the
interaction with Fe. Increasing the Si content reduces the strength of the
hy-bridization between the 4f and conduction-band states which is reflected in
a growing occupation and magnetic polarization of the 4f states. Variations of
the shape and intensity of the L2,3-edge dichroism spectra, discussed in a
simple phenomenological model, show the importance of the exchange interaction
between the Ce-4f and 5d electrons, spin polarized by the interaction with Fe
at the interfaces, for the electronic structure of Ce at high Si concentration
and low temperature. A model of the band structure of rare-earth
transition-metal compounds permits to argue that magnetic order on the Ce 4f
electrons in the multilayers is due to different mechanisms: to hybridization
of the Ce-4f with the Fe-3d states at low Si concentration and to intra-atomic
4f-5d exchange at high Si concentration. This is at variance with magnetic
order in the intermetallics CeSi2-delta and CeSi which results from interaction
between the localized 4f magnetic moments mediated by the Si-derived (s,p)
conduction electrons, in competition with the Kondo effect.Comment: 31 pages, 9 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.
Reversal of the Charge Transfer between Host and Dopant Atoms in Semiconductor Nanocrystals
We present ab initio density functional calculations that show P (Al) dopant
atoms in small hydrogen-terminated Si crystals to be negatively (positively)
charged. These signs of the dopant charges are reversed relative to the same
dopants in bulk Si. We predict this novel reversal of the dopant charge (and
electronic character of the doping) to occur at crystal sizes of order 100 Si
atoms. We explain it as a result of competition between fundamental principles
governing charge transfer in bulk semiconductors and molecules and predict it
to occur in nanocrystals of most semiconductors.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures (3 in color), 2 table
Theory of periodic swarming of bacteria: application to Proteus mirabilis
The periodic swarming of bacteria is one of the simplest examples for pattern
formation produced by the self-organized collective behavior of a large number
of organisms. In the spectacular colonies of Proteus mirabilis (the most common
species exhibiting this type of growth) a series of concentric rings are
developed as the bacteria multiply and swarm following a scenario periodically
repeating itself. We have developed a theoretical description for this process
in order to get a deeper insight into some of the typical processes governing
the phenomena in systems of many interacting living units. All of our
theoretical results are in excellent quantitative agreement with the complete
set of available observations.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figure
Gauge Symmetry Breaking through Soft Masses in Supersymmetric Gauge Theories
Effects of soft breaking in N=1 supersymmetric gauge theories are studied.
For N_f < N_c, we include the dynamics of the non-perturbative superpotential
and use the original (s)quark and gauge fields. For N_f > N_c +1, we formulate
the dynamics in terms of dual (s)quarks and a dual gauge group SU(N_f-N_c). The
mass squared of the squarks can be negative triggering spontaneous breakdown of
flavor and color symmetry. The general condition for stability of the vacuum is
derived. We determine the breaking pattern, determine the spectrum and argue
that the masses vary smoothly as one crosses from the Higgs phase into the
confining phase, thus exhibiting complementarity.Comment: Contribution to Inauguration Conferference of Asia Pacific Center for
Theoretical Physics, 4-10 June, 1996, Seoul National University; LaTeX, no
macros neede
Spatio-selection in Expanding Bacterial Colonies
Segregation of populations is a key question in evolution theory. One
important aspect is the relation between spatial organization and the
population's composition. Here we study a specific example -- sectors in
expanding bacterial colonies. Such sectors are spatially segregated
sub-populations of mutants. The sectors can be seen both in disk-shaped
colonies and in branching colonies. We study the sectors using two models we
have used in the past to study bacterial colonies -- a continuous
reaction-diffusion model with non-linear diffusion and a discrete
``Communicating Walkers'' model. We find that in expanding colonies, and
especially in branching colonies, segregation processes are more likely than in
a spatially static population. One such process is the establishment of stable
sub- population having neutral mutation. Another example is the maintenance of
wild-type population along side with sub-population of advantageous mutants.
Understanding such processes in bacterial colonies is an important subject by
itself, as well as a model system for similar processes in other spreading
populations
HLA Genes, Islet Autoantibodies and Residual C-Peptide at the Clinical Onset of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus and the Risk of Retinopathy 15 Years Later
HLA genes, islet autoantibodies and residual C-peptide were studied to determine the independent association of each exposure with diabetic retinopathy (DR), 15 years after the clinical onset of type 1 diabetes in 15-34 year old individuals.The cohort was identified in 1992 and 1993 by the Diabetes Incidence Study in Sweden (DISS), which investigates incident cases of diabetes for patients between 15 and 34 years of age. Blood samples at diagnosis were analyzed to determine HLA genotype, islet autoantibodies and serum C-peptide. In 2009, fundus photographs were obtained from patient records. Study measures were supplemented with data from the Swedish National Diabetes Registry.The prevalence of DR was 60.2% (148/246). Autoantibodies against the 65 kD isoform of glutamate decarboxylase (GADA) at the onset of clinical diabetes increased the risk of DR 15 years later, relative risk 1.12 for each 100 WHO units/ml, [95% CI 1.02 to 1.23]. This equates to risk estimates of 1.27, [95% CI 1.04 to 1.62] and 1.43, [95% CI 1.06 to 1.94] for participants in the highest 25(th) (GADA>233 WHO units/ml) and 5(th) percentile (GADA>319 WHO units/ml) of GADA, respectively. These were adjusted for duration of diabetes, HbA(1c), treated hypertension, sex, age at diagnosis, HLA and C-peptide. Islet cell autoantibodies, insulinoma-antigen 2 autoantibodies, residual C-peptide and the type 1 diabetes associated haplotypes DQ2, DQ8 and DQ6 were not associated with DR.Increased levels of GADA at the onset of type 1 diabetes were associated with DR 15 years later. These results, if confirmed, could provide additional insights into the pathogenesis of the most common microvascular complication of diabetes and lead to better risk stratification for both patient screenings and DR treatment trials
Lepton Masses and Mixing in a Left-Right Symmetric Model with a TeV-scale Gravity
We construct a left-right symmetric (LRS) model in five dimensions which
accounts naturally for the lepton flavor parameters. The fifth dimension is
described by an orbifold, S_1/Z_2 times Z'_2, with a typical size of order
TeV^{-1}. The fundamental scale is of order 25 TeV which implies that the gauge
hierarchy problem is ameliorated. In addition the LRS breaking scale is of
order few TeV which implies that interactions beyond those of the standard
model are accessible to near future experiments. Leptons of different
representations are localized around different orbifold fixed points. This
explains, through the Arkani-Hamed-Schmaltz mechanism, the smallness of the tau
mass compared to the electroweak breaking scale. An additional U(1) horizontal
symmetry, broken by small parameters, yields the hierarchy in the charged
lepton masses, strong suppression of the light neutrino masses and accounts for
the mixing parameters. The model yields several unique predictions. In
particular, the branching ratio for the lepton flavor violating process mu^-
--> e^+ e^- e^- is comparable with its present experimental sensitivity.Comment: 21 pages, 1 figure, references added, discussion on the
predictiveness of the model in the generic non-universal case added, to
appear in PR
Successful management of refractory pleural effusion due to systemic immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis by vincristine adriamycin dexamethasone chemotherapy: a case report
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Refractory pleural effusion in systemic immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis without cardiac decompensation is rarely reported and has a poor prognosis in general (a median survival of 1.6 months). Moreover, the optimum treatment for this condition is still undecided. This is the first report on the successful use of vincristine, adriamycin and dexamethasone chemotherapy for refractory pleural effusion due to systemic immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis without cardiac decompensation.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We report the case of a 68-year old Japanese male with systemic immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis presenting with bilateral pleural effusion (more severe on the right side) in the absence of cardiac decompensation that was refractory to diuretic therapy. The patient was admitted for fatigue, exertional dyspnea, and bilateral lower extremity edema. He had been receiving intermittent melphalan and prednisone chemotherapy for seven years. One month before admission, his dyspnea had got worse, and his chest radiograph showed bilateral pleural effusion; the pleural effusion was ascertained to be a transudate. The conventionally used therapeutic measures, including diuretics and thoracocentesis, failed to control pleural effusion. Administration of vincristine, adriamycin, and dexamethasone chemotherapy led to successful resolution of the effusion.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Treatment with vincristine, adriamycin, and dexamethasone chemotherapy was effective for the refractory pleural effusion in systemic immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis without cardiac decompensation and appears to be associated with improvement in our patient's prognosis.</p
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