72 research outputs found
Experimental investigation of cut-off phenomena in non-linear photonic crystal fibers
The modal cut-off is investigated experimentally in a series of high quality
non-linear photonic crystal fibers. We demonstrate a suitable measurement
technique to determine the cut-off wavelength and verify it by inspecting the
near field of the modes that may be excited below and above the cut-off. We
observe a double peak structure in the cut-off spectra, which is attributed to
a splitting of the higher order modes. The cut-off is measured for seven
different fiber geometries with different pitches and relative hole size, and a
very good agreement with recent theoretical work is found.Comment: 3 pages including 1 table and 4 figures. Accepted for Optics Letter
Molecular mode-coupling theory for supercooled liquids: Application to water
We present mode-coupling equations for the description of the slow dynamics
observed in supercooled molecular liquids close to the glass transition. The
mode-coupling theory (MCT) originally formulated to study the slow relaxation
in simple atomic liquids, and then extended to the analysis of liquids composed
by linear molecules, is here generalized to systems of arbitrarily shaped,
rigid molecules. We compare the predictions of the theory for the -vector
dependence of the molecular nonergodicity parameters, calculated by solving
numerically the molecular MCT equations in two different approximation schemes,
with ``exact'' results calculated from a molecular dynamics simulation of
supercooled water. The agreement between theory and simulation data supports
the view that MCT succeeds in describing the dynamics of supercooled molecular
liquids, even for network forming ones.Comment: 22 pages 4 figures Late
Dynamics in a supercooled molecular liquid: Theory and Simulations
We report extensive simulations of liquid supercooled states for a simple
three-sites molecular model, introduced by Lewis and Wahnstr"om [L. J. Lewis
and G. Wahnstr"om, Phys. Rev. E 50, 3865 (1994)] to mimic the behavior of
ortho-terphenyl. The large system size and the long simulation length allow to
calculate very precisely --- in a large q-vector range --- self and collective
correlation functions, providing a clean and simple reference model for
theoretical descriptions of molecular liquids in supercooled states. The time
and wavevector dependence of the site-site correlation functions are compared
with detailed predictions based on ideal mode-coupling theory, neglecting the
molecular constraints. Except for the wavevector region where the dynamics is
controlled by the center of mass (around 9 nm-1), the theoretical predictions
compare very well with the simulation data.
Direct Observations of Oxygen-induced Platinum Nanoparticle Ripening Studied by In Situ TEM
This study addresses the sintering mechanism of Pt nanoparticles dispersed on a planar, amorphous Al2O3 support as a model system for a catalyst for automotive exhaust abatement. By means of in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the model catalyst was monitored during the exposure to 10 mbar air at 650 degrees C. Time-resolved image series unequivocally reveal that the sintering of Pt nanoparticles was mediated by an Ostwald ripening process. A statistical analysis of an ensemble of Pt nanoparticles shows that the particle size distributions change shape from an initial Gaussian distribution via a log-normal distribution to a Lifshitz-Slyozov-Wagner (LSW) distribution. Furthermore, the time-dependency of the ensemble-averaged particle size and particle density is determined. A mean field kinetic description captures the main trends in the observed behavior. However, at the individual nanoparticle level, deviations from the model are observed suggesting in part that the local environment influences the atom exchange process
Anaphylaxis in Elderly Patients-Data From the European Anaphylaxis Registry
Background: Elicitors and symptoms of anaphylaxis are age dependent. However, little is known about typical features of anaphylaxis in patients aged 65 years or more.
Methods: The data from the Network for Online Registration of Anaphylaxis (NORA) considering patients aged â„65 (elderly) in comparison to data from adults (18â64 years) regarding elicitors, symptoms, comorbidities, and treatment measures were analyzed.
Results: We identified 1,123 elderly anaphylactic patients. Insect venoms were the most frequent elicitor in this group (p < 0.001), followed by drugs like analgesics and antibiotics. Food allergens elicited less frequently anaphylaxis (p < 0.001). Skin symptoms occurred less frequently in elderly patients (77%, p < 0.001). The clinical symptoms were more severe in the elderly (51% experiencing grade III/IV reactions), in particular when skin symptoms (p < 0.001) were absent. Most strikingly, a loss of consciousness (33%, p < 0.001) and preexisting cardiovascular comorbidity (59%, p < 0.001) were more prevalent in the elderly. Finally, adrenaline was used in 30% of the elderly (vs. 26% in the comparator group, p < 0.001) and hospitalization was more often required (60 vs. 50%, p < 0.001).
Discussion and Conclusion: Anaphylaxis in the elderly is often caused by insect venoms and drugs. These patients suffer more often from cardiovascular symptoms, receive more frequently adrenaline and require more often hospitalization. The data indicate that anaphylaxis in the elderly tends to be more frequently life threatening and patients require intensified medical intervention. The data support the need to recognize anaphylaxis in this patient group, which is prone to be at a higher risk for a fatal outcome
Wellbeing and resilience:Mechanisms of transmission of health and risk in parents with complex mental health problems and their offspringâThe WARM Study
The WARM study is a longitudinal cohort study following infants of mothers with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression and control from pregnancy to infant 1Â year of age.
Background:
Children of parents diagnosed with complex mental health problems including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression, are at increased risk of developing mental health problems compared to the general population. Little is known regarding the early developmental trajectories of infants who are at ultra-high risk and in particular the balance of risk and protective factors expressed in the quality of early caregiver-interaction.
Methods/Design:
We are establishing a cohort of pregnant women with a lifetime diagnosis of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder and a non-psychiatric control group. Factors in the parents, the infant and the social environment will be evaluated at 1, 4, 16 and 52Â weeks in terms of evolution of very early indicators of developmental risk and resilience focusing on three possible environmental transmission mechanisms: stress, maternal caregiver representation, and caregiver-infant interaction.
Discussion:
The study will provide data on very early risk developmental status and associated psychosocial risk factors, which will be important for developing targeted preventive interventions for infants of parents with severe mental disorder
Integrated analysis of environmental and genetic influences on cord blood DNA methylation in new-borns
Epigenetic processes, including DNA methylation (DNAm), are among the mechanisms allowing integration of genetic and environmental factors to shape cellular function. While many studies have investigated either environmental or genetic contributions to DNAm, few have assessed their integrated effects. Here we examine the relative contributions of prenatal environmental factors and genotype on DNA methylation in neonatal blood at variably methylated regions (VMRs) in 4 independent cohorts (overall nâ=â2365). We use Akaikeâs information criterion to test which factors best explain variability of methylation in the cohort-specific VMRs: several prenatal environmental factors (E), genotypes in cis (G), or their additive (Gâ+âE) or interaction (GxE) effects. Genetic and environmental factors in combination best explain DNAm at the majority of VMRs. The CpGs best explained by either G, Gâ+âE or GxE are functionally distinct. The enrichment of genetic variants from GxE models in GWAS for complex disorders supports their importance for disease ris
Integrated analysis of environmental and genetic influences on cord blood DNA methylation in new-borns
Epigenetic processes, including DNA methylation (DNAm), are among the mechanisms allowing integration of genetic and environmental factors to shape cellular function. While many studies have investigated either environmental or genetic contributions to DNAm, few have assessed their integrated effects. Here we examine the relative contributions of prenatal environmental factors and genotype on DNA methylation in neonatal blood at variably methylated regions (VMRs) in 4 independent cohorts (overall n = 2365). We use Akaikeâs information criterion to test which factors best explain variability of methylation in the cohort-specific VMRs: several prenatal environmental factors (E), genotypes in cis (G), or their additive (G + E) or interaction (GxE) effects. Genetic and environmental factors in combination best explain DNAm at the majority of VMRs. The CpGs best explained by either G, G + E or GxE are functionally distinct. The enrichment of genetic variants from GxE models in GWAS for complex disorders supports their importance for disease risk
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