74 research outputs found
The role of occupied d states in the relaxation of hot electrons in Au
We present first-principles calculations of electron-electron scattering
rates of low-energy electrons in Au. Our full band-structure calculations
indicate that a major contribution from occupied d states participating in the
screening of electron-electron interactions yields lifetimes of electrons in Au
with energies of above the Fermi level that are larger than
those of electrons in a free-electron gas by a factor of . This
prediction is in agreement with a recent experimental study of ultrafast
electron dynamics in Au(111) films (J. Cao {\it et al}, Phys. Rev. B {\bf 58},
10948 (1998)), where electron transport has been shown to play a minor role in
the measured lifetimes of hot electrons in this material.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev.
Cosmology of the Lifshitz universe
We study the ultraviolet complete non-relativistic theory recently proposed
by Horava. After introducing a Lifshitz scalar for a general background, we
analyze the cosmology of the model in Lorentzian and Euclidean signature.
Vacuum solutions are found and it is argued the existence of non-singular
bouncing profiles. We find a general qualitative agreement with both the
picture of Causal Dynamical Triangulations and Quantum Einstein Gravity.
However, inflation driven by a Lifshitz scalar field on a classical background
might not produce a scale-invariant spectrum when the principle of detailed
balance is assumed.Comment: 23 pages. v2: one reference and one equation added, main conclusions
unchanged; v3: matches published version, discussion improved, typos
correcte
Noether symmetry approach in matter-dominated cosmology with variable G and Lambda
In the framework of renormalization-group improved cosmologies, we use the
Noether symmetry approach to get exact and general integration of the
matter-dominated cosmological equations. This is performed by using an
expression of Lambda=Lambda(G) determined by the method itself. We also work
out a comparison between such a model and the concordance LambdaCDM model as to
the magnitude-redshift relationship, hence showing that no appreciable
differences occur.Comment: 22 pages, 2 figure
Theory of inelastic lifetimes of low-energy electrons in metals
Electron dynamics in the bulk and at the surface of solid materials are well
known to play a key role in a variety of physical and chemical phenomena. In
this article we describe the main aspects of the interaction of low-energy
electrons with solids, and report extensive calculations of inelastic lifetimes
of both low-energy electrons in bulk materials and image-potential states at
metal surfaces. New calculations of inelastic lifetimes in a homogeneous
electron gas are presented, by using various well-known representations of the
electronic response of the medium. Band-structure calculations, which have been
recently carried out by the authors and collaborators, are reviewed, and future
work is addressed.Comment: 28 pages, 18 figures, to appear in Chem. Phy
The geology and geophysics of Kuiper Belt object (486958) Arrokoth
The Cold Classical Kuiper Belt, a class of small bodies in undisturbed orbits beyond Neptune, are primitive objects preserving information about Solar System formation. The New Horizons spacecraft flew past one of these objects, the 36 km long contact binary (486958) Arrokoth (2014 MU69), in January 2019. Images from the flyby show that Arrokoth has no detectable rings, and no satellites (larger than 180 meters diameter) within a radius of 8000 km, and has a lightly-cratered smooth surface with complex geological features, unlike those on previously visited Solar System bodies. The density of impact craters indicates the surface dates from the formation of the Solar System. The two lobes of the contact binary have closely aligned poles and equators, constraining their accretion mechanism
A case study of an individual participant data meta-analysis of diagnostic accuracy showed that prediction regions represented heterogeneity well
The diagnostic accuracy of a screening tool is often characterized by its sensitivity and specificity. An analysis of these measures must consider their intrinsic correlation. In the context of an individual participant data meta-analysis, heterogeneity is one of the main components of the analysis. When using a random-effects meta-analytic model, prediction regions provide deeper insight into the effect of heterogeneity on the variability of estimated accuracy measures across the entire studied population, not just the average. This study aimed to investigate heterogeneity via prediction regions in an individual participant data meta-analysis of the sensitivity and specificity of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 for screening to detect major depression. From the total number of studies in the pool, four dates were selected containing roughly 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of the total number of participants. A bivariate random-effects model was fitted to studies up to and including each of these dates to jointly estimate sensitivity and specificity. Two-dimensional prediction regions were plotted in ROC-space. Subgroup analyses were carried out on sex and age, regardless of the date of the study. The dataset comprised 17,436 participants from 58 primary studies of which 2322 (13.3%) presented cases of major depression. Point estimates of sensitivity and specificity did not differ importantly as more studies were added to the model. However, correlation of the measures increased. As expected, standard errors of the logit pooled TPR and FPR consistently decreased as more studies were used, while standard deviations of the random-effects did not decrease monotonically. Subgroup analysis by sex did not reveal important contributions for observed heterogeneity; however, the shape of the prediction regions differed. Subgroup analysis by age did not reveal meaningful contributions to the heterogeneity and the prediction regions were similar in shape. Prediction intervals and regions reveal previously unseen trends in a dataset. In the context of a meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy, prediction regions can display the range of accuracy measures in different populations and settings
Ellipsoidal InAs quantum dots observed by cross-sectional scanning tunneling microscopy
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The role of contrasuppressor T cells in the adoptive transfer of contact sensitivity responses to picryl chloride
Radiotherapy for pelvic nodal recurrences after radical prostatectomy: patient selection in clinical practice.
There is no general consensus on the optimal treatment for prostate cancer (PC) patients with intrapelvic nodal oligorecurrences after radical prostatectomy. Besides androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) as standard of care, both elective nodal radiotherapy (ENRT) and stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) as well as salvage lymph node dissection (sLND) are common treatment options. The aim of our study was to assess decision making and practice patterns for salvage radiotherapy (RT) in this setting.
Treatment recommendations from 14 Swiss radiation oncology centers were collected and converted into decision trees. An iterative process using the objective consensus methodology was applied to assess differences and consensus.
PSMA PET/CT was recommended by 93% of the centers as restaging modality. For unfit patients defined by age, comorbidities or low performance status, androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) alone was recommended by more than 70%. For fit patients with unfavorable tumor characteristics such as short prostate-specific antigen (PSA) doubling time or initial high-risk disease, the majority of the centers (57-71%) recommended ENRT + ADT for 1-4 lesions. For fit patients with favorable tumor characteristics, there were low levels of consensus and a wide variety of recommendations. For 1-4 nodal lesions, focal SBRT was offered by 64% of the centers, most commonly as a 5-fraction course.
As an alternative to ADT, ENRT or SBRT for pelvic nodal oligorecurrences of PC are commonly offered to selected patients, with large treatment variations between centers. The exact number of lymph nodes had a major impact on treatment selection
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