1,451 research outputs found
A thermodynamic approach to obtain materials properties for engineering applications
With the ever increases in the capabilities of computers for numerical computations, we are on the verge of using these tools to model manufacturing processes for improving the efficiency of these processes as well as the quality of the products. One such process is casting for the production of metals. However, in order to model metal casting processes in a meaningful way it is essential to have the basic properties of these materials in their molten state, solid state as well as in the mixed state of solid and liquid. Some of the properties needed may be considered as intrinsic such as the density, heat capacity or enthalpy of freezing of a pure metal, while others are not. For instance, the enthalpy of solidification of an alloy is not a defined thermodynamic quantity. Its value depends on the micro-segregation of the phases during the course of solidification. The objective of the present study is to present a thermodynamic approach to obtain some of the intrinsic properties and combining thermodynamics with kinetic models to estimate such quantities as the enthalpy of solidification of an alloy
Finite temperature effects in Coulomb blockade quantum dots and signatures of spectral scrambling
The conductance in Coulomb blockade quantum dots exhibits sharp peaks whose
spacings fluctuate with the number of electrons. We derive the
temperature-dependence of these fluctuations in the statistical regime and
compare with recent experimental results. The scrambling due to Coulomb
interactions of the single-particle spectrum with the addition of an electron
to the dot is shown to affect the temperature-dependence of the peak spacing
fluctuations. Spectral scrambling also leads to saturation in the temperature
dependence of the peak-to-peak correlator, in agreement with recent
experimental results. The signatures of scrambling are derived using discrete
Gaussian processes, which generalize the Gaussian ensembles of random matrices
to systems that depend on a discrete parameter -- in this case, the number of
electrons in the dot.Comment: 14 pages, 4 eps figures included, RevTe
Development of Photonic Crystal Fiber Based Gas/ Chemical Sensors
The development of highly-sensitive and miniaturized sensors that capable of
real-time analytes detection is highly desirable. Nowadays, toxic or colorless
gas detection, air pollution monitoring, harmful chemical, pressure, strain,
humidity, and temperature sensors based on photonic crystal fiber (PCF) are
increasing rapidly due to its compact structure, fast response and efficient
light controlling capabilities. The propagating light through the PCF can be
controlled by varying the structural parameters and core-cladding materials, as
a result, evanescent field can be enhanced significantly which is the main
component of the PCF based gas/chemical sensors. The aim of this chapter is to
(1) describe the principle operation of PCF based gas/ chemical sensors, (2)
discuss the important PCF properties for optical sensors, (3) extensively
discuss the different types of microstructured optical fiber based gas/
chemical sensors, (4) study the effects of different core-cladding shapes, and
fiber background materials on sensing performance, and (5) highlight the main
challenges of PCF based gas/ chemical sensors and possible solutions
Universal Correlations of Coulomb Blockade Conductance Peaks and the Rotation Scaling in Quantum Dots
We show that the parametric correlations of the conductance peak amplitudes
of a chaotic or weakly disordered quantum dot in the Coulomb blockade regime
become universal upon an appropriate scaling of the parameter. We compute the
universal forms of this correlator for both cases of conserved and broken time
reversal symmetry. For a symmetric dot the correlator is independent of the
details in each lead such as the number of channels and their correlation. We
derive a new scaling, which we call the rotation scaling, that can be computed
directly from the dot's eigenfunction rotation rate or alternatively from the
conductance peak heights, and therefore does not require knowledge of the
spectrum of the dot. The relation of the rotation scaling to the level velocity
scaling is discussed. The exact analytic form of the conductance peak
correlator is derived at short distances. We also calculate the universal
distributions of the average level width velocity for various values of the
scaled parameter. The universality is illustrated in an Anderson model of a
disordered dot.Comment: 35 pages, RevTex, 6 Postscript figure
Adjusting a cancer mortality-prediction model for disease status-related eligibility criteria
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Volunteering participants in disease studies tend to be healthier than the general population partially due to specific enrollment criteria. Using modeling to accurately predict outcomes of cohort studies enrolling volunteers requires adjusting for the bias introduced in this way. Here we propose a new method to account for the effect of a specific form of healthy volunteer bias resulting from imposing disease status-related eligibility criteria, on disease-specific mortality, by explicitly modeling the length of the time interval between the moment when the subject becomes ineligible for the study, and the outcome.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Using survival time data from 1190 newly diagnosed lung cancer patients at MD Anderson Cancer Center, we model the time from clinical lung cancer diagnosis to death using an exponential distribution to approximate the length of this interval for a study where lung cancer death serves as the outcome. Incorporating this interval into our previously developed lung cancer risk model, we adjust for the effect of disease status-related eligibility criteria in predicting the number of lung cancer deaths in the control arm of CARET. The effect of the adjustment using the MD Anderson-derived approximation is compared to that based on SEER data.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Using the adjustment developed in conjunction with our existing lung cancer model, we are able to accurately predict the number of lung cancer deaths observed in the control arm of CARET.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The resulting adjustment was accurate in predicting the lower rates of disease observed in the early years while still maintaining reasonable prediction ability in the later years of the trial. This method could be used to adjust for, or predict the duration and relative effect of any possible biases related to disease-specific eligibility criteria in modeling studies of volunteer-based cohorts.</p
Nonequilibrium Evolution of Correlation Functions: A Canonical Approach
We study nonequilibrium evolution in a self-interacting quantum field theory
invariant under space translation only by using a canonical approach based on
the recently developed Liouville-von Neumann formalism. The method is first
used to obtain the correlation functions both in and beyond the Hartree
approximation, for the quantum mechanical analog of the model. The
technique involves representing the Hamiltonian in a Fock basis of annihilation
and creation operators. By separating it into a solvable Gaussian part
involving quadratic terms and a perturbation of quartic terms, it is possible
to find the improved vacuum state to any desired order. The correlation
functions for the field theory are then investigated in the Hartree
approximation and those beyond the Hartree approximation are obtained by
finding the improved vacuum state corrected up to . These
correlation functions take into account next-to-leading and
next-to-next-to-leading order effects in the coupling constant. We also use the
Heisenberg formalism to obtain the time evolution equations for the equal-time,
connected correlation functions beyond the leading order. These equations are
derived by including the connected 4-point functions in the hierarchy. The
resulting coupled set of equations form a part of infinite hierarchy of coupled
equations relating the various connected n-point functions. The connection with
other approaches based on the path integral formalism is established and the
physical implications of the set of equations are discussed with particular
emphasis on thermalization.Comment: Revtex, 32 pages; substantial new material dealing with
non-equilibrium evolution beyond Hartree approx. based on the LvN formalism,
has been adde
An Epididymis-Specific Secretory Protein HongrES1 Critically Regulates Sperm Capacitation and Male Fertility
Mammalian sperm capacitation is an essential prerequisite to fertilizion. Although progress had been made in understanding the physiology and biochemistry of capacitation, little is known about the potential roles of epididymal proteins during this process. Here we report that HongrES1, a new member of the SERPIN (serine proteinase inhibitor) family exclusively expressed in the rat cauda epididymis and up-regulated by androgen, is secreted into the lumen and covers the sperm head. Co-culture of caudal sperms with HongrES1 antibody in vitro resulted in a significant increase in the percentage of capacitated spermatozoa. Furthermore, the percentage of capacitated spermatozoa clearly increased in rats when HongrES1 was down-regulated by RNAi in vivo. Remarkably, knockdown of HongrES1 in vivo led to reduced fertility accompanied with deformed appearance of fetuses and pups. These results identify HongrES1 as a novel and critical molecule in the regulation of sperm capacitation and male fertility
Proneoplastic effects of PGE2 mediated by EP4 receptor in colorectal cancer
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Prostaglandin E<sub>2 </sub>(PGE<sub>2</sub>) is the major product of Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in colorectal cancer (CRC). We aimed to assess PGE<sub>2 </sub>cell surface receptors (EP 1–4) to examine the mechanisms by which PGE<sub>2 </sub>regulates tumour progression.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Gene expression studies were performed by quantitative RT-PCR. Cell cycle was analysed by flow cytometry with cell proliferation quantified by BrdU incorporation measured by enzyme immunoassay. Immunohistochemistry was employed for expression studies on formalin fixed paraffin embedded tumour tissue.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>EP4 was the most abundant subtype of PGE<sub>2 </sub>receptor in HT-29 and HCA7 cells (which show COX-2 dependent PGE<sub>2 </sub>generation) and was consistently the most abundant transcript in human colorectal tumours (n = 8) by qRT-PCR (ANOVA, p = 0.01). G0/G1 cell cycle arrest was observed in HT-29 cells treated with SC-236 5 μM (selective COX-2 inhibitor) for 24 hours (p = 0.02), an effect abrogated by co-incubation with PGE<sub>2 </sub>(1 μM). G0/G1 arrest was also seen with a specific EP4 receptor antagonist (EP4A, L-161982) (p = 0.01). Treatment of HT-29 cells with either SC-236 or EP4A caused reduction in intracellular cAMP (ANOVA, p = 0.01). Early induction in p21<sup>WAF1/CIP1 </sup>expression (by qRT-PCR) was seen with EP4A treatment (mean fold increase 4.4, p = 0.04) while other genes remained unchanged. Similar induction in p21<sup>WAF1/CIP1 </sup>was also seen with PD153025 (1 μM), an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor, suggesting EGFR transactivation by EP4 as a potential mechanism. Additive inhibition of HCA7 proliferation was observed with the combination of SC-236 and neutralising antibody to amphiregulin (AR), a soluble EGFR ligand. Concordance in COX-2 and AR localisation in human colorectal tumours was noted.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>COX-2 regulates cell cycle transition via EP4 receptor and altered p21<sup>WAF1/CIP1 </sup>expression. EGFR pathways appear important. Specific targeting of the EP4 receptor or downstream targets may offer a safer alternative to COX-2 inhibition in the chemoprevention of CRC.</p
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