2,137 research outputs found
Optical contrast in near-field techniques
In this paper results of experiments with a scanning near-field optical microscope with shear-force feedback are presented. The setup will be described and the shear-force signal as function of distance is shown. Images of latex spheres and Langmuir- Blodgett layers of pentacosa-acid with about 100 nm lateral resolution are presented which show a true optical contrast due to fluorescence and polarization
Solidification of liquid metal drops during impact
Hot liquid metal drops impacting onto a cold substrate solidify during their
subsequent spreading. Here we experimentally study the influence of
solidification on the outcome of an impact event. Liquid tin drops are impacted
onto sapphire substrates of varying temperature. The impact is visualised both
from the side and from below, which provides a unique view on the
solidification process. During spreading an intriguing pattern of radial
ligaments rapidly solidifies from the centre of the drop. This pattern
determines the late-time morphology of the splat. A quantitative analysis of
the drop spreading and ligament formation is supported by scaling arguments.
Finally, a phase diagram for drop bouncing, deposition and splashing as a
function of substrate temperature and impact velocity is provided
Adding a subjective dimension to an ICF-based disability measure for people with multiple sclerosis: development and use of a measure for perception of disabilities
OBJECTIVE: The subjective dimension of disability, the perception of disability, is a dimension missing from the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), and from health-related quality of life (HRQOL) instruments. However, it is a highly relevant dimension for clinical practice as perceived disability may identify care needs. We therefore developed a measure for this subjective dimension of disability in multiple sclerosis (MS) and examined the contribution of this dimension to QOL. METHOD: A measure named the Multiple Sclerosis Impact Profile-Disability Perception (MSIP-DP) was developed to reflect a person's perception of disabilities reported using the original MSIP-disability (MSIP-D) items. MS patients (n=530) completed both MSIP sections, the medical outcome study short form questionnaire (SF-36), the World Health Organisation Quality Of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) and questions concerning disease severity. The contribution of disability perception (DP) to QOL in MS was estimated using hierarchical multiple regression analyses after controlling for MS severity. RESULTS: Confirmative factor analysis confirmed the hypothesised disability perception domains that correspond with the related disability domains in the MSIP. DP scales yielded sufficient reliability. DP explained a unique and substantial part of the variance in QOL, particularly the perception of impairments in mental functions. DISCUSSION: Results indicated that the subjective dimension of functioning and health operationalised in the MSIP-DP is a relevant concept in explaining QOL in MS. In clinical practice psychological interventions addressing a patient's perception of disability, particularly of impairments in mental functioning, may contribute to QOL
Temperature dependent transport characteristics of graphene/n-Si diodes
Realizing an optimal Schottky interface of graphene on Si is challenging, as
the electrical transport strongly depends on the graphene quality and the
fabrication processes. Such interfaces are of increasing research interest for
integration in diverse electronic devices as they are thermally and chemically
stable in all environments, unlike standard metal/semiconductor interfaces. We
fabricate such interfaces with n-type Si at ambient conditions and find their
electrical characteristics to be highly rectifying, with minimal reverse
leakage current (10 A) and rectification of more than . We
extract Schottky barrier height of 0.69 eV for the exfoliated graphene and 0.83
eV for the CVD graphene devices at room temperature. The temperature dependent
electrical characteristics suggest the influence of inhomogeneities at the
graphene/n-Si interface. A quantitative analysis of the inhomogeneity in
Schottky barrier heights is presented using the potential fluctuation model
proposed by Werner and G\"{u}ttler.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure
Request for clarification from Ruiter et al regarding ‘Risk of cancer in patients on insulin glargine and other insulin analogues in comparison with those on human insulin: results from a large population-based follow-up study’. Reply to Carstensen B [letter]
Peroxisomes in intestinal and gallbladder epithelial cells of the stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus L. (Teleostei)
The occurrence of microbodies in the epithelial cells of the intestine and gallbladder of the stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus L., is described. In the intestine the organelles are predominantly located in the apical and perinuclear zone of the cells and may contain small crystalline cores. In gallbladder epithelial cells the microbodies are distributed randomly. The latter organdies are characterized by the presence of large crystalloids. Cytochemical and biochemical experiments show that catalase and D-amino acid oxidase are main matrix components of the microbodies in both the intestinal and gallbladder epithelia. These organelles therefore are considered peroxisomes. In addition, in intestinal mucosa but not in gallbladder epithelium a low activity of palmitoyl CoA oxidase was detected biochemically. Urate oxidase and L-α hydroxy acid oxidase activities could not be demonstrated.
Global cropland and greenhouse gas impacts of UK food supply are increasingly located overseas
Funding This work was supported by a University of Aberdeen Environment and Food Security Theme/the James Hutton Institute PhD studentship, and contributes to the Scottish Food Security Alliance-Crops and the Belmont Forum supported DEVIL project (NERC fund UK contribution: NE/M021327/1). J.M. and R.B.M. acknowledge funding from the Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services, Scottish Government. T.K. acknowledges funding from the European Research Council Grant ERC-263522 (LUISE).Peer reviewedPostprin
An Electrostatic Energy Barrier for SNARE-Dependent Spontaneous and Evoked Synaptic Transmission
Multifrequency Study of The Radio Galaxy NGC326
We present the results of a multi-frequency study of the inversion symmetric
radio galaxy NGC326 based on Very Large Array observations at 1.4, 1.6, 4.8,
8.5 and 14.9 GHz. The morphological, spectral and polarization properties of
this peculiar object are studied at different levels of spatial resolutions.
The interpretation of the data will be discussed in forthcoming papers.Comment: 15 pages, 15 ps figures, accepted by A&
Low Motor Assessment: A Comparative Pilot Study with Young Children With and Without Motor Impairment
Most of the developmental instruments that measure cognitive development in children rely heavily on fine motor skills, especially for young children whose language skills are not yet well developed. This is problematic when evaluating the cognitive development of young children with motor impairment. The purpose of this study is to assess the need for a Low Motor adapation of a standardized instrument when testing children with motor impairment. To accomplish this, we have adapted the procedures, item instructions and play material of a widely used and standardized instrument, the Bayley Scales of Infant Development-Second Edition (BSID-II, Bayley 1993). The Original and the Low Motor versions were administered to 20 children experiencing typical development and 19 children with motor impairment within a period of two weeks. Results showed that children with motor impairments scored significantly higher on the Low Motor version of the Bayley Mental Scale than on the Original version: a difference of between 5 and 10 points when the score is expressed in terms of a developmental index score. Results from children with typical development support the assumption that item content and difficulty remain unchanged in the Low Motor version
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