1,161 research outputs found
Interacting electrons on a quantum ring: exact and variational approach
We study a system of interacting electrons on a one-dimensional quantum ring
using exact diagonalization and the variational quantum Monte Carlo method. We
examine the accuracy of the Slater-Jastrow -type many-body wave function and
compare energies and pair distribution functions obtained from the two
approaches. Our results show that this wave function captures most correlation
effects. We then study the smooth transition to a regime where the electrons
localize in the rotating frame, which for the ultrathin quantum ring system
happens at quite high electron density.Comment: 19 pages, 10 figures. Accepted for publication in the New Journal of
Physic
Measuring oxygen transfer efficiency (OTE) at the Eindhoven WWTP using real-time off-gas analysis in circular aeration tank
Nondeterministic self-assembly with asymmetric interactions.
We investigate general properties of nondeterministic self-assembly with asymmetric interactions, using a computational model and DNA tile assembly experiments. By contrasting symmetric and asymmetric interactions we show that the latter can lead to self-limiting cluster growth. Furthermore, by adjusting the relative abundance of self-assembly particles in a two-particle mixture, we are able to tune the final sizes of these clusters. We show that this is a fundamental property of asymmetric interactions, which has potential applications in bioengineering, and provides insights into the study of diseases caused by protein aggregation.Winton Programme for the Physics of Sustainability, Gates Cambridge, Oppenheimer PhD studentship, NanoDTC Cambridge (Grant ID: EP/L015978/1), Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (Grant ID: EP/L504920/1), Royal SocietyThis is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from the American Physical Society via http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.94.02240
Flight investigation of cockpit-displayed traffic information utilizing coded symbology in an advanced operational environment
Traffic symbology was encoded to provide additional information concerning the traffic, which was displayed on the pilot's electronic horizontal situation indicators (EHSI). A research airplane representing an advanced operational environment was used to assess the benefit of coded traffic symbology in a realistic work-load environment. Traffic scenarios, involving both conflict-free and conflict situations, were employed. Subjective pilot commentary was obtained through the use of a questionnaire and extensive pilot debriefings. These results grouped conveniently under two categories: display factors and task performance. A major item under the display factor category was the problem of display clutter. The primary contributors to clutter were the use of large map-scale factors, the use of traffic data blocks, and the presentation of more than a few airplanes. In terms of task performance, the cockpit-displayed traffic information was found to provide excellent overall situation awareness. Additionally, mile separation prescribed during these tests
Quantification of fluoroquinolone uptake through the outer membrane channel OmpF of Escherichia coli
This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from the publisher via the DOI in this record.Decreased drug accumulation is a common cause of antibiotic resistance in microorganisms. However, there are few reliable general techniques capable of quantifying drug uptake through bacterial membranes. We present a semiquantitative optofluidic assay for studying the uptake of autofluorescent drug molecules in single liposomes. We studied the effect of the Escherichia coli outer membrane channel OmpF on the accumulation of the fluoroquinolone antibiotic, norfloxacin, in proteoliposomes. Measurements were performed at pH 5 and pH 7, corresponding to two different charge states of norfloxacin that bacteria are likely to encounter in the human gastrointestinal tract. At both pH values, the porins significantly enhance drug permeation across the proteoliposome membranes. At pH 5, where norfloxacin permeability across pure phospholipid membranes is low, the porins increase drug permeability by 50-fold on average. We estimate a flux of about 10 norfloxacin molecules per second per OmpF trimer in the presence of a 1 mM concentration gradient of norfloxacin. We also performed single channel electrophysiology measurements and found that the application of transmembrane voltages causes an electric field driven uptake in addition to concentration driven diffusion. We use our results to propose a physical mechanism for the pH mediated change in bacterial susceptibility to fluoroquinolone antibiotics.This work was supported by a European Research Council (ERC) Grant (261101
Passmembrane) to UFK. JC acknowledges support from an Internal Graduate Studentship, Trinity
College, Cambridge, and a Research Studentship from the Cambridge Philosophical Society. SP
was supported by the Leverhulme Trust through an Early Career Fellowship. TM acknowledges
support from the Konrad-Adenauer Foundation and the German National Merit Foundation. HB,
YB and MW are part of the TRANSLOCATION consortium and have received support from the
Innovative Medicines Joint Undertaking under grant agreement 115525, the European Union’s
seventh framework program (FP7/2007-2013), and European Federation of Pharmaceutical
Industries and Associates companies in-kind contribution
Mass measurements near the -process path using the Canadian Penning Trap mass spectrometer
The masses of 40 neutron-rich nuclides from Z = 51 to 64 were measured at an
average precision of using the Canadian Penning Trap mass
spectrometer at Argonne National Laboratory. The measurements, of fission
fragments from a Cf spontaneous fission source in a helium gas catcher,
approach the predicted path of the astrophysical process. Where overlap
exists, this data set is largely consistent with previous measurements from
Penning traps, storage rings, and reaction energetics, but large systematic
deviations are apparent in -endpoint measurements. Differences in mass
excess from the 2003 Atomic Mass Evaluation of up to 400 keV are seen, as well
as systematic disagreement with various mass models.Comment: 15 pages, 16 figures. v2 updated, published in Physical Review
Peptidylarginine deiminase isoforms expressed in the synovial membrane of rheumatoid arthritis patients
Aspirin and extended-release dipyridamole versus clopidogrel for recurrent stroke
Background
Recurrent stroke is a frequent, disabling event after ischemic stroke. This study compared
the efficacy and safety of two antiplatelet regimens — aspirin plus extendedrelease
dipyridamole (ASA–ERDP) versus clopidogrel.
Methods
In this double-blind, 2-by-2 factorial trial, we randomly assigned patients to receive
25 mg of aspirin plus 200 mg of extended-release dipyridamole twice daily or to receive
75 mg of clopidogrel daily. The primary outcome was first recurrence of stroke.
The secondary outcome was a composite of stroke, myocardial infarction, or death
from vascular causes. Sequential statistical testing of noninferiority (margin of 1.075),
followed by superiority testing, was planned.
Results
A total of 20,332 patients were followed for a mean of 2.5 years. Recurrent stroke
occurred in 916 patients (9.0%) receiving ASA–ERDP and in 898 patients (8.8%) receiving
clopidogrel (hazard ratio, 1.01; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.92 to 1.11). The
secondary outcome occurred in 1333 patients (13.1%) in each group (hazard ratio for
ASA–ERDP, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.92 to 1.07). There were more major hemorrhagic events
among ASA–ERDP recipients (419 [4.1%]) than among clopidogrel recipients (365
[3.6%]) (hazard ratio, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.00 to 1.32), including intracranial hemorrhage
(hazard ratio, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.11 to 1.83). The net risk of recurrent stroke or major
hemorrhagic event was similar in the two groups (1194 ASA–ERDP recipients [11.7%],
vs. 1156 clopidogrel recipients [11.4%]; hazard ratio, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.95 to 1.11).
Conclusions
The trial did not meet the predefined criteria for noninferiority but showed similar rates
of recurrent stroke with ASA–ERDP and with clopidogrel. There is no evidence that either
of the two treatments was superior to the other in the prevention of recurrent
stroke. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00153062.
Persistent Currents in Small, Imperfect Hubbard Rings
We have done a study with small, imperfect Hubbard rings with exact
diagonalization. The results for few-electron rings show, that the
imperfection, whether localized or not, nearly always decrease, but can also
\emph{increase} the persistent current, depending on the character of the
imperfection and the on-site interaction. The calculations are generally in
agreement with more specialized studies. In most cases the electron spin plays
an important role.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure
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