Temperature-Dependent X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy of Colossal Magnetoresistive Perovskites

The temperature dependence of the O K-edge pre-edge structure in the x-ray absorption spectra of the perovskites La(1-x)A(x)MnO(3), (A = Ca, Sr; x = 0.3, 0.4) reveals a correlation between the disappearance of the splitting in the pre-edge region and the presence of Jahn-Teller distortions. The different magnitudes of the distortions for different compounds is proposed to explain some dissimilarity in the line shape of the spectra taken above the Curie temperature.Comment: To appear in Phys. Rev. B, 5 pages, 3 figure

Direct Observation of High-Temperature Polaronic Behavior In Colossal Magnetoresistive Manganites

The temperature dependence of the electronic and atomic structure of the colossal magnetoresistive oxides $La_{1-x}Sr_{x}MnO_{3}$ (x = 0.3, 0.4) has been studied using core and valence level photoemission, x-ray absorption and emission, and extended x-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy. A dramatic and reversible change of the electronic structure is observed on crossing the Curie temperature, including charge localization and spin moment increase of Mn, together with Jahn-Teller distortions, both signatures of polaron formation. Our data are also consistent with a phase-separation scenario.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, revte

Robust 3D pose estimation and efficient 2D region-based segmentation from a 3D shape prior

©2008 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. The original publication is available at www.springerlink.com.Presented at the 10th European Conference on Computer Vision, Marseille, France, October 12-18, 2008.DOI: 10.1007/978-3-540-88688-4_13In this work, we present an approach to jointly segment a rigid object in a 2D image and estimate its 3D pose, using the knowledge of a 3D model. We naturally couple the two processes together into a unique energy functional that is minimized through a variational approach. Our methodology differs from the standard monocular 3D pose estimation algorithms since it does not rely on local image features. Instead, we use global image statistics to drive the pose estimation process. This confers a satisfying level of robustness to noise and initialization for our algorithm, and bypasses the need to establish correspondences between image and object features. Moreover, our methodology possesses the typical qualities of region-based active contour techniques with shape priors, such as robustness to occlusions or missing information, without the need to evolve an infinite dimensional curve. Another novelty of the proposed contribution is to use a unique 3D model surface of the object, instead of learning a large collection of 2D shapes to accommodate for the diverse aspects that a 3D object can take when imaged by a camera. Experimental results on both synthetic and real images are provided, which highlight the robust performance of the technique on challenging tracking and segmentation applications

A Quantitative 3D Motility Analysis of Trypanosoma brucei by Use of Digital In-line Holographic Microscopy

We present a quantitative 3D analysis of the motility of the blood parasite Trypanosoma brucei. Digital in-line holographic microscopy has been used to track single cells with high temporal and spatial accuracy to obtain quantitative data on their behavior. Comparing bloodstream form and insect form trypanosomes as well as mutant and wildtype cells under varying external conditions we were able to derive a general two-state-run-and-tumble-model for trypanosome motility. Differences in the motility of distinct strains indicate that adaption of the trypanosomes to their natural environments involves a change in their mode of swimming

Temperature dependent evolution of the electronic and local atomic structure in the cubic colossal magnetoresistive manganite La1-xSrxMnO3

We have studied the temperature-dependent evolution of the electronic and local atomic structure in the cubic colossal magnetoresistive manganite La{sub 1-x}Sr{sub x}MnO{sub 3} (x= 0.3-0.4) with core and valence level photoemission (PE), x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), x-ray emission spectroscopy (XES), resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS), extended x-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy and magnetometry. As the temperature is varied across the Curie temperature T{sub c}, our PE experiments reveal a dramatic change of the electronic structure involving an increase in the Mn spin moment from {approx} 3 {micro}B to {approx} 4 {micro}B, and a modification of the local chemical environment of the other constituent atoms indicative of electron localization on the Mn atom. These effects are reversible and exhibit a slow-timescale {approx}200 K-wide hysteresis centered at T{sub c}. Based upon the probing depths accessed in our PE measurements, these effects seem to survive for at least 35-50 {angstrom} inward from the surface, while other consistent signatures for this modification of the electronic structure are revealed by more bulk sensitive spectroscopies like XAS and XES/RIXS. We interpret these effects as spectroscopic fingerprints for polaron formation, consistent with the presence of local Jahn-Teller distortions of the MnO{sub 6} octahedra around the Mn atom, as revealed by the EXAFS data. Magnetic susceptibility measurements in addition show typical signatures of ferro-magnetic clusters formation well above the Curie temperature

Bi-allelic loss-of-function variants in PPFIBP1 cause a neurodevelopmental disorder with microcephaly, epilepsy, and periventricular calcifications

PPFIBP1 encodes for the liprin-β1 protein, which has been shown to play a role in neuronal outgrowth and synapse formation in Drosophila melanogaster. By exome and genome sequencing, we detected nine ultra-rare homozygous loss-of-function variants in 16 individuals from 12 unrelated families. The individuals presented with moderate to profound developmental delay, often refractory early-onset epilepsy, and progressive microcephaly. Further common clinical findings included muscular hyper- and hypotonia, spasticity, failure to thrive and short stature, feeding difficulties, impaired vision, and congenital heart defects. Neuroimaging revealed abnormalities of brain morphology with leukoencephalopathy, ventriculomegaly, cortical abnormalities, and intracranial periventricular calcifications as major features. In a fetus with intracranial calcifications, we identified a rare homozygous missense variant that by structural analysis was predicted to disturb the topology of the SAM domain region that is essential for protein-protein interaction. For further insight into the effects of PPFIBP1 loss of function, we performed automated behavioral phenotyping of a Caenorhabditis elegans PPFIBP1/hlb-1 knockout model, which revealed defects in spontaneous and light-induced behavior and confirmed resistance to the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor aldicarb, suggesting a defect in the neuronal presynaptic zone. In conclusion, we establish bi-allelic loss-of-function variants in PPFIBP1 as a cause of an autosomal recessive severe neurodevelopmental disorder with early-onset epilepsy, microcephaly, and periventricular calcifications

PERSPECTIVAS DEL PROCESO DE GLOBALIZACIÓN Y SU INFLUENCIA SOBRE LOS DERECHOS HUMANOS ECONÓMICOS, SOCIALES Y CULTURALES

El escenario internacional se encuentra en constante transformación debido a lo que se ha denominado el proceso de “globalización”. Este afecta las relaciones internaciones interestatales e influye en la vida cotidiana de los individuos. El Derecho Internacional y más específicamente el Derecho Internacional de los Derechos Humanos no es ajeno a este proceso. La investigación afirma que nos encontramos frente a una etapa de transnacionalización de los Derechos Humanos, que permite que los individuos cuenten con mayor protección en ámbitos supranacionales. También hace especial mención a los derechos Económicos Sociales y Culturales, analiza el debate sobre el pluralismo jurídico y la eficacia diferencial. En la metodología empleada se revisan fuentes documentales y se realiza un análisis de algunos derechos particulares previstos en el Pacto de Derechos Económicos, Sociales y Culturales. Los planteamientos permiten afirmar que el proceso de globalización ha determinado la transnacionalización de los Derechos Humanos, surgiendo de dicho fenómeno consecuencias positivas y negativas en cuanto a su cumplimiento