956 research outputs found
Influence of a Feshbach resonance on the photoassociation of LiCs
We analyse the formation of ultracold 7Li133Cs molecules in the rovibrational
ground state through photoassociation into the B1Pi state, which has recently
been reported [J. Deiglmayr et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 133004 (2008)].
Absolute rate constants for photoassociation at large detunings from the atomic
asymptote are determined and are found to be surprisingly large. The
photoassociation process is modeled using a full coupled-channel calculation
for the continuum state, taking all relevant hyperfine states into account. The
enhancement of the photoassociation rate is found to be caused by an `echo' of
the triplet component in the singlet component of the scattering wave function
at the inner turning point of the lowest triplet a3Sigma+ potential. This
perturbation can be ascribed to the existence of a broad Feshbach resonance at
low scattering energies. Our results elucidate the important role of couplings
in the scattering wave function for the formation of deeply bound ground state
molecules via photoassociation.Comment: Added Erratum, 20 pages, 9 figure
Diagnostic Medical Errors: Patient\u27s Perspectives on a Pervasive Problem
Introduction. The Institute of Medicine defines diagnostic error as the failure to establish an accurate or timely explanation for the patient\u27s health problem(s), or effectively communicate the explanation to the patient. To our knowledge, no studies exist characterizing diagnostic error from patient perspectives using this definition.
Objective. We sought to characterize diagnostic errors experienced by patients and describe patient perspectives on causes, impacts, and prevention strategies.
Methods. We screened 77 adult inpatients at University of Vermont Medical Center and conducted 27 structured interviews with patients who experienced diagnostic error in the past five years. We performed qualitative analysis using Grounded Theory.
Results. In the past five years, 39% of interviewed patients experienced diagnostic error. The errors mapped to the following categories: accuracy (30%), communication (34%) and timeliness (36%). Poor communication (13 responses) and inadequate time with doctors (7) were the most identified causes of errors. Impacts of errors included emotional distress (17 responses), adverse health outcomes (7) and impaired activities of daily living (6). Patients suggested improved communication (11 responses), clinical management (7) and access to doctors (5) as prevention strategies. For communication, patients rated talk to your doctor highest (mean 8.4, on 1-10 Likert scale) and text message lowest (4.8).
Conclusions/Recommendations. Diagnostic errors are common and have dramatic impact on patients\u27 well-being. We suggest routine surveillance to identify errors, support for patients who have experienced errors, and implementation of patient and provider checklists to enhance communication. Future studies should investigate strategies to allow care providers adequate time with patients.https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/comphp_gallery/1246/thumbnail.jp
A filled duration illusion in music: Effects of metrical subdivision on the perception and production of beat tempo.
This study replicates and extends previous findings suggesting that metrical
subdivision slows the perceived beat tempo (Repp, 2008). Here, musically trained participants produced the
subdivisions themselves and were found to speed up, thus compensating for the
perceived slowing. This was shown in a synchronization-continuation paradigm
(Experiment 1) and in a reproduction task (Experiment 2a). Participants also
judged the tempo of a subdivided sequence as being slower than that of a
preceding simple beat sequence (Experiment 2b). Experiment 2 also included
nonmusician participants, with similar results. Tempo measurements of famous
pianists’ recordings of two variation movements from Beethoven sonatas revealed
a strong tendency to play the first variation (subdivided beats) faster than the
theme (mostly simple beats). A similar tendency was found in musicians’
laboratory performances of a simple theme and variations, despite instruc-tions
to keep the tempo constant (Experiment 3a). When playing melodic sequences in
which only one of three beats per measure was subdivided, musicians tended to
play these beats faster and to perceive them as longer than adjacent beats, and
they played the whole sequence faster than a sequence without any subdivisions
(Experiments 3b and 3c). The results amply demonstrate a filled duration
illusion in rhythm perception and music performance: Intervals
containing events seem longer than empty intervals and thus must be shortened to
be perceived as equal in duration
Categorical tendencies in imitating self-produced isolated vowels.
Abstract. An earlier experiment requlrlng literal imitation of synthetic isolated vowels from [uJ-[iJ and [iJ-[a=J continua (Repp &
Cognitive loading affects motor awareness and movement kinematics but not locomotor trajectories during goal-directed walking in a virtual reality environment.
The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of cognitive loading on movement kinematics and trajectory formation during goal-directed walking in a virtual reality (VR) environment. The secondary objective was to measure how participants corrected their trajectories for perturbed feedback and how participants' awareness of such perturbations changed under cognitive loading. We asked 14 healthy young adults to walk towards four different target locations in a VR environment while their movements were tracked and played back in real-time on a large projection screen. In 75% of all trials we introduced angular deviations of ±5° to ±30° between the veridical walking trajectory and the visual feedback. Participants performed a second experimental block under cognitive load (serial-7 subtraction, counter-balanced across participants). We measured walking kinematics (joint-angles, velocity profiles) and motor performance (end-point-compensation, trajectory-deviations). Motor awareness was determined by asking participants to rate the veracity of the feedback after every trial. In-line with previous findings in natural settings, participants displayed stereotypical walking trajectories in a VR environment. Our results extend these findings as they demonstrate that taxing cognitive resources did not affect trajectory formation and deviations although it interfered with the participants' movement kinematics, in particular walking velocity. Additionally, we report that motor awareness was selectively impaired by the secondary task in trials with high perceptual uncertainty. Compared with data on eye and arm movements our findings lend support to the hypothesis that the central nervous system (CNS) uses common mechanisms to govern goal-directed movements, including locomotion. We discuss our results with respect to the use of VR methods in gait control and rehabilitation
Strong polarization-induced reduction of addition energies in single-molecule nanojunctions
We address polarization-induced renormalization of molecular levels in
solid-state based single-molecule transistors and focus on an organic conjugate
molecule where a surprisingly large reduction of the addition energy has been
observed. We have developed a scheme that combines a self-consistent solution
of a quantum chemical calculation with a realistic description of the screening
environment. Our results indeed show a large reduction, and we explain this to
be a consequence of both (a) a reduction of the electrostatic molecular
charging energy and (b) polarization induced level shifts of the HOMO and LUMO
levels. Finally, we calculate the charge stability diagram and explain at a
qualitative level general features observed experimentally.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figure
The contribution of the pericanalicular matrix to mineral content in human osteonal bone
This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Elsevier via the DOI in this record.The osteocyte lacunar-canalicular network (LCN) penetrates bone and houses the osteocytes and their processes. Despite its rather low volume fraction, the LCN represents an outstanding large surface that is possibly used by the osteocytes to interact with the surrounding mineralized bone matrix thereby contributing to mineral homeostasis. The aim of this study was to quantitatively describe such contributions by spatially correlating the local density of the LCN with the mineral content at the same location in micrometer-sized volume elements in human osteons. For this purpose, 65 osteons from the femur midshaft from healthy adults (n = 4) and children (n = 2) were structurally characterized with two different techniques. The 3D structure of the LCN in the osteons was imaged with confocal laser scanning microscopy after staining the bone samples with rhodamine. Subsequent image analysis provided the canalicular length density, i.e. the total length of the canaliculi per unit volume (μm/μm3). Quantitative information on the mineral content (wt%Ca) from the identical regions was obtained using quantitative backscattered electron imaging.
As the LCN-porosity lowers the mineral content, a negative correlation between Ca content and network density was expected. Calculations predict a reduction of around −0.97 fmol Ca per μm of network. However, the experiment revealed for 62 out of 65 osteons a positive correlation resulting in an average additional Ca loading of +1.15 fmol per μm of canalicular network, i.e. an accumulation of mineral has occurred at dense network regions. We hypothesize that this accumulation happens in the close vicinity of canaliculi forming mineral reservoirs that can be utilized by osteocytes. Significant differences found between individuals indicate that the extent of mineral loading of the reservoir zone reflects an important parameter for mineral homeostasis.German Federal Ministry of Education and ResearchAUVA (Research Funds of the Austrian Workers Compensation Board, Austria)WGKK (Viennese sickness insurance funds, Austria)
Influence of magnetic fields on magneto-aerotaxis
The response of cells to changes in their physico-chemical micro-environment is essential to their survival. For example, bacterial magnetotaxis uses the Earth's magnetic field together with chemical sensing to help microorganisms move towards favoured habitats. The studies of such complex responses are lacking a method that permits the simultaneous mapping of the chemical environment and the response of the organisms, and the ability to generate a controlled physiological magnetic field. We have thus developed a multi-modal microscopy platform that fulfils these requirements. Using simultaneous fluorescence and high-speed imaging in conjunction with diffusion and aerotactic models, we characterized the magneto-aerotaxis of Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense. We assessed the influence of the magnetic field (orientation; strength) on the formation and the dynamic of a micro-aerotactic band (size, dynamic, position). As previously described by models of magnetotaxis, the application of a magnetic field pointing towards the anoxic zone of an oxygen gradient results in an enhanced aerotaxis even down to Earth's magnetic field strength. We found that neither a ten-fold increase of the field strength nor a tilt of 45° resulted in a significant change of the aerotactic efficiency. However, when the field strength is zeroed or when the field angle is tilted to 90°, the magneto-aerotaxis efficiency is drastically reduced. The classical model of magneto-aerotaxis assumes a response proportional to the cosine of the angle difference between the directions of the oxygen gradient and that of the magnetic field. Our experimental evidence however shows that this behaviour is more complex than assumed in this model, thus opening up new avenues for research
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