215 research outputs found
Comparison of Iteration Schemes for the Solution of the Multidimensional Schrödinger-Poisson Equations
We present a fast and robust iterative method for obtaining self-consistent solutions to the
coupled system of Schrödinger's and Poisson's equations in quantum structures. A simple
expression describing the dependence of the quantum electron density on the electrostatic
potential is used to implement a predictor – corrector type iteration scheme for the solution
of the coupled system of differential equations. This approach simplifies the software
implementation of the nonlinear problem, and provides excellent convergence speed and
stability. We demonstrate the algorithm by presenting an example for the calculation ofthe
two-dimensional bound electron states within the cross-section of a GaAs-AlGaAs based
quantum wire. For this example, six times fewer iterations are needed when our predictor – corrector
approach is applied, compared to a corresponding underrelaxation algorithm
Theory of semiconductor quantum-wire based single- and two-qubit gates
A GaAs/AlGaAs based two-qubit quantum device that allows the controlled
generation and straightforward detection of entanglement by measuring a
stationary current-voltage characteristic is proposed. We have developed a
two-particle Green's function method of open systems and calculate the
properties of three-dimensional interacting entangled systems
non-perturbatively. We present concrete device designs and detailed, charge
self-consistent predictions. One of the qubits is an all-electric Mach-Zehnder
interferometer that consists of two electrostatically defined quantum wires
with coupling windows, whereas the second qubit is an electrostatically defined
double quantum dot located in a second two-dimensional electron gas beneath the
quantum wires. We find that the entanglement of the device can be controlled
externally by tuning the tunneling coupling between the two quantum dots.Comment: 16 pages, 13 figures, RevTex4 two-column format, to appear in Phys.
Rev.
Spin-Orbit Based Coherent Spin Ratchets
The concept of ratchets, driven asymmetric periodic structures giving rise to
directed particle flow, has recently been generalized to a quantum ratchet
mechanism for spin currents mediated through spin-orbit interaction. Here we
consider such systems in the coherent mesoscopic regime and generalize the
proposal of a minimal spin ratchet model based on a non-interacting clean
quantum wire with two transverse channels by including disorder and by
self-consistently treating the charge redistribution in the nonlinear
(adiabatic) ac-driving regime. Our Keldysh-Green function based quantum
transport simulations show that the spin ratchet mechanism is robust and
prevails for disordered, though non-diffusive, mesoscopic structures. Extending
the two-channel to the multi-channel case does not increase the net ratchet
spin current efficiency but, remarkably, yields a dc spin transmission
increasing linearly with channel number.Comment: 23 pages, 7 figures; to be published in Chemical Physic
Spectral Decorrelation of Nuclear Levels in the Presence of Continuum Decay
The fluctuation properties of nuclear giant resonance spectra are studied in
the presence of continuum decay. The subspace of quasi-bound states is
specified by one-particle one-hole and two-particle two-hole excitations and
the continuum coupling is generated by a scattering ensemble. It is found that,
with increasing number of open channels, the real parts of the complex
eigenvalues quickly decorrelate. This appears to be related to the transition
from power-law to exponential time behavior of the survival probability of an
initially non-stationary state.Comment: 10 Pages, REVTEX, 4 PostScript figure
Dendritic cell generation and CD4+CD25HIGHFOXP3+ regulatory T cells in human head and neck carcinoma during Radio-chemotherapy
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Regulatory T cells (Treg) and dendritic cells (DC) play an important role in tumor immunity and immune escape. However, their interplay and the effects of anti-cancer therapy on the human immune system are largely unknown.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>For DC generation, CD14<sup>+ </sup>monocytes were enriched by immunomagnetic selection from peripheral blood of advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients and differentiated into immature DC using GM-SCF and IL-4. DC maturation was induced by addition of TNFα. The frequency of CD4<sup>+</sup>CD25<sup>high</sup>F0XP3<sup>+ </sup>Treg in HNSCC patients was analyzed before and after radio-chemotherapy (RCT) by four-color flow cytometry.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In HNSCC patients, the frequency of Treg (0.33 ± 0.06%) was significantly (p = 0.001) increased compared to healthy controls (0.11 ± 0.02%), whereas RCT had variable effects on the Treg frequency inducing its increase in some patients and decrease in others. After six days in culture, monocytes of all patients had differentiated into immature DC. However, DC maturation indicated by CD83 up-regulation (70.7 ± 5.5%) was successful only in a subgroup of patients and correlated well with lower frequencies of peripheral blood Treg in those patients.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The frequency of regulatory T cells is elevated in HNSCC patients and may be modulated by RCT. Monocyte-derived DC in HNSCC patients show a maturation deficiency ex vivo. Those preliminary data may have an impact on multimodality clinical trials integrating cellular immune modulation in patients with advanced HNSCC.</p
In vitro chemosensitivity of head and neck cancer cell lines
BACKGROUND: Systemic treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) includes a variety of antineoplastic drugs. However, drug-resistance interferes with the effectiveness of chemotherapy. Preclinical testing models are needed in order to develop approaches to overcome chemoresistance. METHODS: Ten human cell lines were obtained from HNSCC, including one with experimentally-induced cisplatin resistance. Inhibition of cell growth by seven chemotherapeutic agents (cisplatin, carboplatin, 5- fluorouracil, methotrexate, bleomycin, vincristin, and paclitaxel) was measured using metabolic MTT-uptake assay and correlated to clinically-achievable plasma concentrations. RESULTS: All drugs inhibited cell growth in a concentration-dependent manner with an IC50 comparable to that achievable in vivo. However, response curves for methotrexate were unsatisfactory and for paclitaxel, the solubilizer cremophor EL was toxic. Cross-resistance was observed between cisplatin and carboplatin. CONCLUSION: Chemosensitivity of HNSCC cell lines can be determined using the MTT-uptake assay. For DNA-interfering cytostatics and vinca alkaloids this is a simple and reproducible procedure. Determined in vitro chemosensitivity serves as a baseline for further experimental approaches aiming to modulate chemoresistance in HNSCC with potential clinical significance
Peripheral Immune Cell Gene Expression Predicts Survival of Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Prediction of cancer recurrence in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) currently relies on the assessment of clinical characteristics including age, tumor stage, and smoking history. A better prediction of early stage cancer patients with poorer survival and late stage patients with better survival is needed to design patient-tailored treatment protocols. We analyzed gene expression in RNA from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of NSCLC patients to identify signatures predictive of overall patient survival. We find that PBMC gene expression patterns from NSCLC patients, like patterns from tumors, have information predictive of patient outcomes. We identify and validate a 26 gene prognostic panel that is independent of clinical stage. Many additional prognostic genes are specific to myeloid cells and are more highly expressed in patients with shorter survival. We also observe that significant numbers of prognostic genes change expression levels in PBMC collected after tumor resection. These post-surgery gene expression profiles may provide a means to re-evaluate prognosis over time. These studies further suggest that patient outcomes are not solely determined by tumor gene expression profiles but can also be influenced by the immune response as reflected in peripheral immune cells
Effect of high-fat diet on the formation of pulmonary neutrophil extracellular traps during influenza pneumonia in BALB/c mice
Obesity is an independent risk factor for severe outcome of influenza infection. Higher dietary fat consumption has been linked to greater morbidity and severe influenza in mouse models. However, the extent of generation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs or NETosis) in obese individuals during influenza pneumonia is hitherto unknown. This study investigated pulmonary NETs generation in BALB/c mice fed with high-fat diet (HFD) and low-fat diet (LFD), during the course of influenza pneumonia. Clinical disease progression, histopathology, lung reactive oxygen species, and myeloperoxidase activity were also compared. Consumption of HFD over 18 weeks led to significantly higher body weight, body mass index, and adiposity in BALB/c mice compared with LFD. Lethal challenge of mice (on HFD and LFD) with influenza A/PR/8/34 (H1N1) virus led to similar body weight loss and histopathologic severity. However, NETs were formed at relatively higher levels in mice fed with HFD, despite the absence of significant difference in disease progression between HFD- and LFD-fed mice.Peer reviewedVeterinary Health Science
Electronic properties and charge control of δ-doped GaAs/Al0.3Ga0.7As and In0.53Ga0.47As/InP core–shell nanowires
Quantitative modeling of the temperature-dependent internal quantum efficiency in InGaN light emitting diodes
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