Diffusion and Transport Coefficients in Synthetic Opals

Opals are structures composed of the closed packing of spheres in the size range of nano-to-micro meter. They are sintered to create small necks at the points of contact. We have solved the diffusion problem in such structures. The relation between the diffusion coefficient and the termal and electrical conductivity makes possible to estimate the transport coefficients of opal structures. We estimate this changes as function of the neck size and the mean-free path of the carriers. The theory presented is also applicable to the diffusion problem in other periodic structures.Comment: Submitted to PR

Symmetry characterization of eigenstates in opal-based photonic crystals

The complete symmetry characterization of eigenstates in bare opal systems is obtained by means of group theory. This symmetry assignment has allowed us to identify several bands that cannot couple with an incident external plane wave. Our prediction is supported by layer-KKR calculations, which are also performed: the coupling coefficients between bulk modes and externally excited field tend to zero when symmetry properties mismatch.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, submitted to Physical Review

Braggoriton--Excitation in Photonic Crystal Infiltrated with Polarizable Medium

Light propagation in a photonic crystal infiltrated with polarizable molecules is considered. We demonstrate that the interplay between the spatial dispersion caused by Bragg diffraction and polaritonic frequency dispersion gives rise to novel propagating excitations, or braggoritons, with intragap frequencies. We derive the braggoriton dispersion relation and show that it is governed by two parameters, namely, the strength of light-matter interaction and detuning between the Bragg frequency and that of the infiltrated molecules. We also study defect-induced states when the photonic band gap is divided into two subgaps by the braggoritonic branches and find that each defect creates two intragap localized states inside each subgap.Comment: LaTeX, 8 pages, 5 figure

Superconductivity in Fullerides

Experimental studies of superconductivity properties of fullerides are briefly reviewed. Theoretical calculations of the electron-phonon coupling, in particular for the intramolecular phonons, are discussed extensively. The calculations are compared with coupling constants deduced from a number of different experimental techniques. It is discussed why the A_3 C_60 are not Mott-Hubbard insulators, in spite of the large Coulomb interaction. Estimates of the Coulomb pseudopotential $\mu^*$, describing the effect of the Coulomb repulsion on the superconductivity, as well as possible electronic mechanisms for the superconductivity are reviewed. The calculation of various properties within the Migdal-Eliashberg theory and attempts to go beyond this theory are described.Comment: 33 pages, latex2e, revtex using rmp style, 15 figures, submitted to Review of Modern Physics, more information at http://radix2.mpi-stuttgart.mpg.de/fullerene/fullerene.htm

Wiring of Photosystem II to Hydrogenase for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting.

In natural photosynthesis, light is used for the production of chemical energy carriers to fuel biological activity. The re-engineering of natural photosynthetic pathways can provide inspiration for sustainable fuel production and insights for understanding the process itself. Here, we employ a semiartificial approach to study photobiological water splitting via a pathway unavailable to nature: the direct coupling of the water oxidation enzyme, photosystem II, to the H2 evolving enzyme, hydrogenase. Essential to this approach is the integration of the isolated enzymes into the artificial circuit of a photoelectrochemical cell. We therefore developed a tailor-made hierarchically structured indium-tin oxide electrode that gives rise to the excellent integration of both photosystem II and hydrogenase for performing the anodic and cathodic half-reactions, respectively. When connected together with the aid of an applied bias, the semiartificial cell demonstrated quantitative electron flow from photosystem II to the hydrogenase with the production of H2 and O2 being in the expected two-to-one ratio and a light-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency of 5.4% under low-intensity red-light irradiation. We thereby demonstrate efficient light-driven water splitting using a pathway inaccessible to biology and report on a widely applicable in vitro platform for the controlled coupling of enzymatic redox processes to meaningfully study photocatalytic reactions.This work was supported by the U.K. Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/H00338X/2 to E.R. and EP/G037221/1, nanoDTC, to D.M.), the UK Biology and Biotechnological Sciences Research Council (BB/K002627/1 to A.W.R. and BB/K010220/1 to E.R.), a Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowship (PIEF-GA-2013-625034 to C.Y.L), a Marie Curie International Incoming Fellowship (PIIF-GA-2012-328085 RPSII to J.J.Z) and the CEA and the CNRS (to J.C.F.C.). A.W.R. holds a Wolfson Merit Award from the Royal Society.This is the final version of the article. It first appeared from ACS Publications via http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jacs.5b0373

Оптимизация лечебно-диагностического процесса у пациентов с первичной открытоугольной глаукомой

PURPOSE: To create an optimal scientifically based system of management of diagnosis and treatment process (diagnosis, follow-up, rational medication treatment, surgical treatment) in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma. METHODS: The final protocol of combined analytical research and clinical multicenter study conducted from July to November 2015 included data from 591 patients (824 eyes). Age, disease duration, disease stage, IOP level and visual field parameters during treatment and treatment regimens were analyzed. Regimen included various combinations of medical, laser and surgical treatment used in the disease management. RESULTS: Average patients' age at the time of diagnosis establishment was 64.3 (57.5; 70.4). Mean disease duration was 4.1 years (2.0; 7.1). The administered regimen was considered to be effective when IOP level was below 20 mm Hg. The IOP level between 21 and 25 mm Hg was considered to be a sign of reduced treatment effectiveness and need for change of the regimen. 8 regimen changes were analyzed in total, though 90% of cases had 1-5 regimen changes. The first three regimens were used for 1.2 (0.4; 2.6), 1.3 (0.5; 2.5) and 1.1 years (0.5; 2.4) respectively. B-blockers and prostaglandin analogues monotherapy was used as a first-line therapy in 40.1% and 20.8% of cases respectively. Treatment was started with combination therapy in 27.82% of cases. Proportion of surgical treatment was 9.9% in regimen 2 and achieved 73% in regimen 5. Laser treatment was started from regimen 3 though the frequency of administration did not exceed 20%. Combination treatment using 3 and more components was found starting from regimen 5 (57.3%). CONCLUSION: First line therapy choice is still not rational in many cases. Laser and surgical treatment are used ineffectively after 3-4 years from the diagnosis.ЦЕЛЬ. Создать оптимальную научно обоснованную систему управления (диагностика, динамическое наблюдение, рациональная фармакотерапия, хирургическое лечение) лечебно-диагностическим процессом у пациентов с первичной открытоугольной глаукомой. МЕТОДЫ. В итоговый протокол комбинированного аналитического научно-клинического многоцентрового исследования, проведенного в июле-ноябре 2015 года, были включены данные 591 человека (женщин - 352 (59,6%), мужчин - 239 (40,4%); 824 глаза). Были проанализированы: возраст, анамнез, стадии заболевания, уровни офтальмотонуса и характеристики поля зрения на фоне лечения и лечебная тактика (режимы назначений от момента обнаружения заболевания). Под понятием «режим» понимались различные варианты медикаментозного, лазерного и хирургического лечения, использованные в тактике лечебно-диагностического процесса. РЕЗУЛЬТАТЫ. Средний возраст пациентов на момент диагностирования глаукомы (все стадии, без деления на гендерные группы) составил 64,30 (57,50; 70,40) года, а на момент включения в исследование - 68,80 (64,10; 75,60) года. Средний анамнез заболевания составил 4,10 (2,00; 7,10) года. Назначенный режим лечения оценивался исследователями как эффективный при показателях офтальмотонуса не выше 20 мм рт.ст., при этом за понижение эффективности лечения и необходимость перевода на другой режим принимались показатели ВГД в диапазоне от 21 до 25 мм рт.ст. Всего было проанализировано 8 смен схем режимов, при этом в режимах 1-5 были проанализированы более 90% всех назначений. Продолжительность использования первых последовательных трех режимов составила: первого - 1,20 (0,40; 2,60) года, второго - 1,30 (0,50; 2,50) года, третьего - 1,10 (0,50; 2,40) года. Доля бета-адреноблокаторов в монотерапии в первом режиме составила 40,1%, значительно снизившись ко второму - до 3,16%, и полностью отсутствовала в последующих назначениях. Доля аналогов простагландинов в монотерапии также уменьшается от режима к режиму: на старте их применяют в 20,8% случаев, а при режиме № 3 - в 6,7% (снижение в три раза). В лечебной тактике второго режима начинает использоваться хирургический компонент (9,9%). Наиболее наглядно выглядят компоненты, использованные в режиме № 5. Действительно, активное применение схем комбинированной терапии, включая применение трех и более компонентов, было установлено начиная с режима № 5 (57,3%). В это же время в 9,6% случаев становится актуальным повторное хирургическое лечение. ЗАКЛЮЧЕНИЕ. Учитывая, что продвинутые стадии заболевания превалируют при обнаружении глаукомы, следует обратить внимание на нерациональную тактику выбора терапии первой линии у таких лиц. Недостаточно эффективно применяется лазерное и хирургическое лечение, которое становится актуальным только в режимах №№ 3-4, т. е. после 3-4 лет от обнаружения болезни