4,238 research outputs found
Local origins impart conserved bone type-related differences in human osteoblast behaviour
Osteogenic behaviour of osteoblasts from trabecular, cortical and subchondral bone were examined to determine any bone type-selective differences in samples from both osteoarthritic (OA) and osteoporotic (OP) patients. Cell growth, differentiation; alkaline phosphatase (TNAP) mRNA and activity, Runt-related transcription factor-2 (RUNX2), SP7-transcription factor (SP7), bone sialoprotein-II (BSP-II), osteocalcin/bone gamma-carboxyglutamate (BGLAP), osteoprotegerin (OPG, TNFRSF11B), receptor activator of nuclear factor-κβ ligand (RANKL, TNFSF11) mRNA levels and proangiogenic vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) mRNA and protein release were assessed in osteoblasts from paired humeral head samples from age-matched, human OA/OP (n = 5/4) patients. Initial outgrowth and increase in cell number were significantly faster (p < 0.01) in subchondral and cortical than trabecular osteoblasts, in OA and OP, and this bone type-related differences were conserved despite consistently faster growth in OA. RUNX2/SP7 levels and TNAP mRNA and protein activity were, however, greater in trabecular than subchondral and cortical osteoblasts in OA and OP. BSP-II levels were significantly greater in trabecular and lowest in cortical osteoblasts in both OA and OP. In contrast, BGLAP levels showed divergent bone type-selective behaviour; highest in osteoblasts from subchondral origins in OA and trabecular origins in OP. We found virtually identical bone type-related differences, however, in TNFRSF11B:TNFSF11 in OA and OP, consistent with greater potential for paracrine effects on osteoclasts in trabecular osteoblasts. Subchondral osteoblasts (OA) exhibited highest VEGF-A mRNA levels and release. Our data indicate that human osteoblasts in trabecular, subchondral and cortical bone have inherent, programmed diversity, with specific bone type-related differences in growth, differentiation and pro-angiogenic potential in vitro
Approximate ab initio calculation of vibrational properties of hydrogenated amorphous silicon with inner voids
We have performed an approximate ab initio calculation of vibrational
properties of hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) using a molecular
dynamics method. A 216 atom model for pure amorphous silicon (a-Si) has been
employed as a starting point for our a-Si:H models with voids that were made by
removing a cluster of silicon atoms out of the bulk and terminating the
resulting dangling bonds with hydrogens.
Our calculation shows that the presence of voids leads to localized low
energy (30-50 cm^{-1}) states in the vibrational spectrum of the system. The
nature and localization properties of these states are analyzed by various
visualization techniques.Comment: 15 pages with 6 PS figures, to appear in PRB in December 199
Leading the evaluation of institutional online learning environments for quality enhancement in times of change
This paper reports on findings from a nationally funded project which aims to design and implement a quality management framework for online learning environments (OLEs). Evaluation is a key component of any quality management system and it is this aspect of the framework that is the focus of this paper. In developing the framework initial focus groups were conducted at the five participating institutions. These revealed that, although regarded as important, there did not appear to be a shared understanding of the nature and purpose of evaluation. A second series of focus groups revealed there were multiple perspectives arising from those with a vested interest in online learning. These perspectives will be outlined. Overall, how evaluation was undertaken was highly variable within and across the five institutions reflecting where they were at in relation to the development of their OLE
Experimentally Constrained Molecular Relaxation: The Case of Glassy GeSe2
An ideal atomistic model of a disordered material should contradict no
experiments,and should also be consistent with accurate force fields (either
{\it ab initio}or empirical). We make significant progress toward jointly
satisfying {\it both} of these criteria using a hybrid reverse Monte Carlo
approach in conjunction with approximate first principles molecular dynamics.
We illustrate the method by studying the complex binary glassy material
g-GeSe. By constraining the model to agree with partial structure factors
and {\it ab initio} simulation, we obtain a 647-atom model in close agreement
with experiment, including the first sharp diffraction peak in the static
structure factor. We compute the electronic state densities and compare to
photoelectron spectroscopies. The approach is general and flexible.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure
The H1 Forward Track Detector at HERA II
In order to maintain efficient tracking in the forward region of H1 after the
luminosity upgrade of the HERA machine, the H1 Forward Track Detector was also
upgraded. While much of the original software and techniques used for the HERA
I phase could be reused, the software for pattern recognition was completely
rewritten. This, along with several other improvements in hit finding and
high-level track reconstruction, are described in detail together with a
summary of the performance of the detector.Comment: Minor revision requested by journal (JINST) edito
Inclusion of Experimental Information in First Principles Modeling of Materials
We propose a novel approach to model amorphous materials using a first
principles density functional method while simultaneously enforcing agreement
with selected experimental data. We illustrate our method with applications to
amorphous silicon and glassy GeSe. The structural, vibrational and
electronic properties of the models are found to be in agreement with
experimental results. The method is general and can be extended to other
complex materials.Comment: 11 pages, 8 PostScript figures, submitted to J. Phys.: Condens.
Matter in honor of Mike Thorpe's 60th birthda
Mechanisms limiting the coherence time of spontaneous magnetic oscillations driven by DC spin-polarized currents
The spin-transfer torque from a DC spin-polarized current can generate
highly-coherent magnetic precession in nanoscale magnetic-multilayer devices.
By measuring linewidths of spectra from the resulting resistance oscillations,
we argue that the coherence time can be limited at low temperature by thermal
deflections about the equilibrium magnetic trajectory, and at high temperature
by thermally-activated transitions between dynamical modes. Surprisingly, the
coherence time can be longer than predicted by simple macrospin simulations.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figure
Time-Resolved Spin Torque Switching and Enhanced Damping in Py/Cu/Py Spin-Valve Nanopillars
We report time-resolved measurements of current-induced reversal of a free
magnetic layer in Py/Cu/Py elliptical nanopillars at temperatures T = 4.2 K to
160 K. Comparison of the data to Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert macrospin simulations
of the free layer switching yields numerical values for the spin torque and the
Gilbert damping parameters as functions of T. The damping is strongly
T-dependent, which we attribute to the antiferromagnetic pinning behavior of a
thin permalloy oxide layer around the perimeter of the free layer. This
adventitious antiferromagnetic pinning layer can have a major impact on spin
torque phenomena.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure
Towards device-size atomistic models of amorphous silicon
The atomic structure of amorphous materials is believed to be well described
by the continuous random network model. We present an algorithm for the
generation of large, high-quality continuous random networks. The algorithm is
a variation of the "sillium" approach introduced by Wooten, Winer, and Weaire.
By employing local relaxation techniques, local atomic rearrangements can be
tried that scale almost independently of system size. This scaling property of
the algorithm paves the way for the generation of realistic device-size atomic
networks.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figure
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