Electronic structure and x-ray magnetic dichroism in random substitutional alloys of f-electron elements

The Koringa-Kohn-Rostoker —coherent-potential-approximation method combines multiple-scattering theory and the coherent-potential approximation to calculate the electronic structure of random substitutional alloys of transition metals. In this paper we describe the generalization of this theory to describe f-electron alloys. The theory is illustrated with a calculation of the electronic structure and magnetic dichroism curves for a random substitutional alloy containing rare-earth or actinide elements from first principles

Quantum signatures in laser-driven relativistic multiple-scattering

The dynamics of an electronic Dirac wave packet evolving under the influence of an ultra-intense laser pulse and an ensemble of highly charged ions is investigated numerically. Special emphasis is placed on the evolution of quantum signatures from single to multiple scattering events. We quantify the occurrence of quantum relativistic interference fringes in various situations and stress their significance in multiple-particle systems, even in the relativistic range of laser-matter interaction.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, LaTeX, revtex

Progression of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia to cervical cancer: interactions of cytochrome P450 CYP2D6 EM and glutathione s-transferase GSTM1 null genotypes and cigarette smoking.

The factors that determine progression of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are unknown. Cigarette smoking is an independent risk factor for cervical neoplasia, suggesting that polymorphism at detoxicating enzyme loci such as cytochrome P450 CYP2D6 and glutathione S-transferase GSTM1 may determine susceptibility to these cancers. We have studied the frequencies of genotypes at these loci in women suffering low-grade CIN, high-grade CIN and SCC. A non-cancer control group was provided by women with normal cervical histology suffering menorrhagia. Comparison of the frequency distributions of the CYP2D6 PM, HET and EM genotypes (G-->A transition at intron 3/exon 4 and base pair deletion in exon 5) revealed no significant differences between the menorrhagia and SCC groups. Frequency distributions in the menorrhagia group, however, were significantly different (P < 0.04) from those in the low- and high-grade CIN groups. Thus, the proportion of EM was significantly larger (P < 0.03) and of HET generally lower. We found that the frequency of GSTM1 null in the menorrhagia and case groups was not significantly different. Interactive effects of enzyme genotypes with cigarette smoking were studied by comparing the multinomial frequency distributions of CYP2D6 EM/GSTM1 null/smoking over mutually exclusive categories. These showed no significant differences between the menorrhagia group and SCC or low-grade CIN groups. The frequency distribution in high-grade CIN, however, was significantly different to that in the menorrhagia group and in both SCC and low-grade CIN groups. This study was identified, for the first time, an inherited characteristic in women with high-grade CIN who appear to be at reduced risk of SCC. Thus, women with CYP2D6 EM who smoke have increased susceptibility to high-grade CIN but are less likely to progress to SCC, possibly because they effectively detoxify an unidentified chemical involved in mediating disease progression

Exploring Spirituality in Teaching Within a Christian School Context Through Collaborative Action Research

This article reports on a collaborative action research project conducted in New Zealand, during 2012, exploring spirituality in teaching within a Christian school context. The experienced primary school teacher participant chose to take action around the issue of personal fear and insecurity which were believed to be hindering professional growth and relationships. Through self-directed inquiry, critical reflective journaling, Bible study, fellowship and prayer with trusted friends, the teacher experienced a renewed sense of peace and freedom in Christ. This personal transformation was believed to be influential on subsequent professional practice, assisting the teacher to become more relational, responsive and compassionate. The findings provide a rich description of the participant’s spirituality, the lived reality of a person’s spiritual life. This report will be of interest to teachers, teacher-leaders and teacher-educators who desire to explore Christian spirituality through practitioner-led inquiry

Relativistic confinement of neutral fermions with a trigonometric tangent potential

The problem of neutral fermions subject to a pseudoscalar potential is investigated. Apart from the solutions for $E=\pm mc^{2}$, the problem is mapped into the Sturm-Liouville equation. The case of a singular trigonometric tangent potential ($\sim \mathrm{tan} \gamma x$) is exactly solved and the complete set of solutions is discussed in some detail. It is revealed that this intrinsically relativistic and true confining potential is able to localize fermions into a region of space arbitrarily small without the menace of particle-antiparticle production.Comment: 12 page

Susceptibility to multiple cutaneous basal cell carcinomas: significant interactions between glutathione S-transferase GSTM1 genotypes, skin type and male gender.

The factors that determine development of single and multiple primary cutaneous basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) are unclear. We describe a case-control study firstly, to examine the influence of allelism at the glutathione S-transferase GSTM1 and GSTT1 and cytochrome P450 CYP2D6 loci on susceptibility to these tumours and, secondly, to identify interactions between genotypes and relevant individual characteristics, such as skin type and gender. Frequency distributions for GSTM1 genotypes in cases and controls were not different, although the frequency of GSTM1 A/B was significantly lower (P = 0.048) in the multiple BCCs than in controls. We found no significant differences in the frequencies of GSTT1 and CYP2D6 genotypes in cases and controls. Interactions between genotypes were studied by comparing multinomial frequency distributions in mutually exclusive groups. These identified no differences between cases and controls for combinations of the putatively high risk GSTM1 null, GSTT1 null, CYP2D6 EM genotypes. Interactions between GSTM1 A/B and the CYP2D6 PM and GSTT1-positive genotypes were also not different. Frequency distributions of GSTM1 A/B with CYP2D6 EM in controls and multiple BCCs were significantly different (P = 0.033). The proportion of males in the multiple BCC group (61.3%) was greater than in controls (47.0%) and single BCC (52.2%), and the frequency of the combination GSTM1 null/male gender was significantly greater in patients with multiple tumours (P = 0.002). Frequency distributions of GSTM1 null/skin type 1 were also significantly different (P = 0.029) and the proportion of subjects who were GSTM1 null with skin type 1 was greater (P = 0.009) in the multiple BCC group. We examined the data for interactions between GSTM1 null/skin type 1/male gender by comparing frequency distributions of these factors in the single and multiple BCC groups. The distributions were almost significantly different (exact P = 0.051). No significant interactions between GSTT1 null or CYP2D6 EM and skin type 1 were identified. Comparisons of frequency distributions of smoking with the GSTM1 null, GSTT1 null and CYP2D6 EM genotypes identified no differences between patients with single and multiple tumours

Rare earth contributions to the X-ray magnetic circular dichroism at the Co K edge in rare earth-cobalt compounds investigated by multiple-scattering calculations

The X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) has been measured at the Co K edge in Co-hcp and R-Co compounds (R=La, Tb, Dy). The structure of the experimental XMCD spectra in the near-edge region has been observed to be highly sensitive to the magnetic environment of the absorbing site. Calculations of the XMCD have been carried out at the Co K edge in Co metal, LaCo$_5$ and TbCo$_5$ within the multiple-scattering framework including the spin-orbit coupling. In the three systems, the XMCD spectra in the near-edge region are well reproduced. The possibility to separate and quantitatively estimate the local effects from those due to the neighboring atoms in the XMCD cross section makes possible a more physical understanding of the spectra. The present results emphasize the major role played by the $d$ states of the Tb ions in the XMCD spectrum at the Co K edge in the TbCo$_5$ compound.Comment: 34 pages, revtex, 10 eps figures included with epsf, after referee revie

From social contract to 'social contrick' : the depoliticisation of economic policy-making under Harold Wilson, 1974–75

The 1974-79 Labour Governments were elected on the basis of an agreement with the TUC promising a redistribution of income and wealth known as the Social Contract. However, the Government immediately began to marginalise these commitments in favour of preferences for incomes policy and public expenditure cuts, which has led the Social Contract to be described as the 'Social Contrick'. These changes were legitimised through a process of depoliticisation, and using an Open Marxist framework and evidence from the National Archives, the paper will show that the Treasury's exchange rate strategy and the need to secure external finance placed issues of confidence at the centre of political debate, allowing the Government to argue there was no alternative to the introduction of incomes policy and the reduction of public expenditure

Prostate cancer risk: associations with ultraviolet radiation, tyrosinase and melanocortin-1 receptor genotypes

Exposure to ultraviolet radiation may reduce prostate cancer risk, suggesting that polymorphism in genes that mediate host pigmentation will be associated with susceptibility to this cancer. We studied 210 prostate cancer cases and 155 controls to determine whether vitamin D receptor (VDR, Taql and Fokl variants), tyrosinase (TYR, codon 192 variant) and melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R, Arg151Cys, Arg160Trp, Val92Met, Asp294His and Asp84Glu variants) genotypes are associated with risk. UV exposure was determined using a questionnaire. MC1R Arg160/Arg160 homozygotes were at increased risk (P = 0.027, odds ratio = 1.94) while TYR A2/A2 homozygotes were at reduced risk of prostate cancer (P = 0.033, odds ratio = 0.48). These associations remained significant after correction for UV-exposure. Stratification of cases and controls by quartiles of exposure, showed that the protective effect of TYR A1A2 (P = 0.006, odds ratio 0.075) and A2A2 (P = 0.003, odds ratio 0.055) was particularly strong in subjects who had received the greatest exposure. Our data show for the first time, that allelism in genes linked with skin pigment synthesis is associated with prostate cancer risk possibly because it mediates the protective effects of UV. Importantly, susceptibility is associated with an interaction between host predisposition and exposure. © 2001 Cancer Research Campaign  http://www.bjcancer.co

Correlation of interfacial bonding mechanism and equilibrium conductance of molecular junctions

We report theoretical investigations on the role of interfacial bonding mechanism and its resulting structures to quantum transport in molecular wires. Two bonding mechanisms for the Au-S bond in an Au(111)/1,4-benzenedithiol(BDT)/Au(111) junction were identified by ab initio calculation, confirmed by a recent experiment, which, we showed, critically control charge conduction. It was found, for Au/ BDT/Au junctions, the hydrogen atom, bound by a dative bond to the Sulfur, is energetically non-dissociative after the interface formation. The calculated conductance and junction breakdown forces of H-non-dissociative Au/BDT/Au devices are consistent with the experimental values, while the H-dissociated devices, with the interface governed by typical covalent bonding, give conductance more than an order of magnitude larger. By examining the scattering states that traverse the junctions, we have revealed that mechanical and electric properties of a junction have strong correlation with the bonding configuration. This work clearly demonstrates that the interfacial details, rather than previously believed many-body effects, is of vital importance for correctly predicting equilibrium conductance of molecular junctions; and manifests that the interfacial contact must be carefully understood for investigating quantum transport properties of molecular nanoelectronics.Comment: 18 pages, 6 figures, 2 tables, to be appeared in Frontiers of Physics 9(6), 780 (2014