839 research outputs found
Beyond the local approximation to exchange and correlation: the role of the Laplacian of the density in the energy density of Si
We model the exchange-correlation (XC) energy density of the Si crystal and
atom as calculated by variational Monte Carlo (VMC) methods with a gradient
analysis beyond the local density approximation (LDA). We find the Laplacian of
the density to be an excellent predictor of the discrepancy between VMC and LDA
energy densities in each system. A simple Laplacian-based correction to the LDA
energy density is developed by means of a least square fit to the VMC XC energy
density for the crystal, which fits the homogeneous electron gas and Si atom
without further effort.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. Let
Synthesis, structural and physical properties of -FeSe
We report on synthesis, structural characterization, resistivity, magnetic
and thermal expansion measurements on the as yet unexplored -phase of
FeSe, here synthesized under ambient- (AP) and high-pressure (HP)
conditions. We show that in contrast to -FeSe, monophasic
superconducting -FeSe can be obtained in off-stoichiometric
samples with excess Fe atoms preferentially residing in the van der Waals gap
between the FeSe layers. The AP -FeSe sample studied here
( 8.5\,K) possesses an unprecedented residual resistivity ratio
RRR 16. Thermal expansion data reveal a small feature around
90\,K, which resembles the anomaly observed at the structural and
magnetic transitions for other Fe-based superconductors, suggesting that some
kind of "magnetic state" is formed also in FeSe. %indicative of a fluctuating
magnetic ordering. For HP samples (RRR 3), the disorder within the
FeSe layers is enhanced through the introduction of vacancies, the saturated
magnetic moment of Fe is reduced and only spurious superconductivity is
observed.Comment: 7 pages, 8 figures, published versio
Modeling and simulation of microstructure in metallic systems based on multi-physics approaches
The Single-Particle density of States, Bound States, Phase-Shift Flip, and a Resonance in the Presence of an Aharonov-Bohm Potential
Both the nonrelativistic scattering and the spectrum in the presence of the
Aharonov-Bohm potential are analyzed. The single-particle density of states
(DOS) for different self-adjoint extensions is calculated. The DOS provides a
link between different physical quantities and is a natural starting point for
their calculation. The consequences of an asymmetry of the S matrix for the
generic self-adjoint extension are examined.
I. Introduction
II. Impenetrable flux tube and the density of states
III. Penetrable flux tube and self-adjoint extensions
IV. The S matrix and scattering cross sections
V. The Krein-Friedel formula and the resonance
VI. Regularization
VII. The R --> 0 limit and the interpretation of self-adjoint extensions
VIII. Energy calculations
IX. The Hall effect in the dilute vortex limit
X. Persistent current of free electrons in the plane pierced by a flux tube
XI. The 2nd virial coefficient of nonrelativistic interacting anyons
XII. Discussion of the results and open questionsComment: 68 pages, plain latex, 7 figures, 3 references and one figure added
plus a few minor text correction
A Note on D-brane - Anti-D-brane Interactions in Plane Wave Backgrounds
We study aspects of the interaction between a D-brane and an anti-D-brane in
the maximally supersymmetric plane wave background of type IIB superstring
theory, which is equipped with a mass parameter mu. An early such study in flat
spacetime (mu=0) served to sharpen intuition about D-brane interactions,
showing in particular the key role of the ``stringy halo'' that surrounds a
D-brane. The halo marks the edge of the region within which tachyon
condensation occurs, opening a gateway to new non-trivial vacua of the theory.
It seems pertinent to study the fate of the halo for non--zero mu. We focus on
the simplest cases of a Lorentzian brane with p=1 and an Euclidean brane with
p=-1, the D--instanton. For the Lorentzian brane, we observe that the halo is
unaffected by the presence of non--zero mu. This most likely extends to other
(Lorentzian) p. For the Euclidean brane, we find that the halo is affected by
non-zero mu. As this is related to subtleties in defining the exchange
amplitude between Euclidean branes in the open string sector, we expect this to
extend to all Euclidean branes in this background.Comment: 14 pages, LaTeX, 2 eps figures. v2: a reference and some clarifying
remarks added; v3: Considerably revised version; halo unaffected by plane
wave background for Lorentzian branes, but Euclidean branes' halo is modifie
Protection of Visual Functions by Human Neural Progenitors in a Rat Model of Retinal Disease
BACKGROUND: A promising clinical application for stem and progenitor cell transplantation is in rescue therapy for degenerative diseases. This strategy seeks to preserve rather than restore host tissue function by taking advantage of unique properties often displayed by these versatile cells. In studies using different neurodegenerative disease models, transplanted human neural progenitor cells (hNPC) protected dying host neurons within both the brain and spinal cord. Based on these reports, we explored the potential of hNPC transplantation to rescue visual function in an animal model of retinal degeneration, the Royal College of Surgeons rat. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Animals received unilateral subretinal injections of hNPC or medium alone at an age preceding major photoreceptor loss. Principal outcomes were quantified using electroretinography, visual acuity measurements and luminance threshold recordings from the superior colliculus. At 90–100 days postnatal, a time point when untreated rats exhibit little or no retinal or visual function, hNPC-treated eyes retained substantial retinal electrical activity and visual field with near-normal visual acuity. Functional efficacy was further enhanced when hNPC were genetically engineered to secrete glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor. Histological examination at 150 days postnatal showed hNPC had formed a nearly continuous pigmented layer between the neural retina and retinal pigment epithelium, as well as distributed within the inner retina. A concomitant preservation of host cone photoreceptors was also observed. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Wild type and genetically modified human neural progenitor cells survive for prolonged periods, migrate extensively, secrete growth factors and rescue visual functions following subretinal transplantation in the Royal College of Surgeons rat. These results underscore the potential therapeutic utility of hNPC in the treatment of retinal degenerative diseases and suggest potential mechanisms underlying their effect in vivo
Indoor air quality in a restaurant kitchen using margarine for deep-frying
Indoor air quality has a great impact on human health. Cooking, in particular frying, is one of the most important sources of indoor air pollution. Indoor air CO, CO2, particulate matter (PM), and volatile organic compound (VOC) concentrations, including aldehydes, were measured in the kitchen of a small establishment where a special deep-frying margarine was used. The objective was to assess occupational exposure concentrations for cooks of such restaurants. While individual VOC and PM2.5 concentrations were measured before, during, and after frying events using active sampling, TVOC, PM10, CO, CO2, temperature, and relative humidity were continuously monitored through the whole period. VOC and aldehyde concentrations did not increase to considerable levels with deep-frying compared to the background and public indoor environment levels, whereas PM10 increased significantly (1.85 to 6.6 folds). The average PM2.5 concentration of the whole period ranged between 76 and 249 μg/m3. Hence, considerable PM exposures could occur during deep-frying with the special margarine, which might be sufficiently high to cause health effects on cooks considering their chronic occupational exposures.Dokuz Eylul University (BAP-2011.KB.SAG.017
Disruption of mouse Slx4, a regulator of structure-specific nucleases, phenocopies Fanconi anemia
International audienc
GDNF Secreting Human Neural Progenitor Cells Protect Dying Motor Neurons, but Not Their Projection to Muscle, in a Rat Model of Familial ALS
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal, progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by rapid loss of muscle control and eventual paralysis due to the death of large motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. Growth factors such as glial cell line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) are known to protect motor neurons from damage in a range of models. However, penetrance through the blood brain barrier and delivery to the spinal cord remains a serious challenge. Although there may be a primary dysfunction in the motor neuron itself, there is also increasing evidence that excitotoxicity due to glial dysfunction plays a crucial role in disease progression. Clearly it would be of great interest if wild type glial cells could ameliorate motor neuron loss in these models, perhaps in combination with the release of growth factors such as GDNF.Human neural progenitor cells can be expanded in culture for long periods and survive transplantation into the adult rodent central nervous system, in some cases making large numbers of GFAP positive astrocytes. They can also be genetically modified to release GDNF (hNPC(GDNF)) and thus act as long-term 'mini pumps' in specific regions of the rodent and primate brain. In the current study we genetically modified human neural stem cells to release GDNF and transplanted them into the spinal cord of rats over-expressing mutant SOD1 (SOD1(G93A)). Following unilateral transplantation into the spinal cord of SOD1(G93A) rats there was robust cellular migration into degenerating areas, efficient delivery of GDNF and remarkable preservation of motor neurons at early and end stages of the disease within chimeric regions. The progenitors retained immature markers, and those not secreting GDNF had no effect on motor neuron survival. Interestingly, this robust motor neuron survival was not accompanied by continued innervation of muscle end plates and thus resulted in no improvement in ipsilateral limb use.The potential to maintain dying motor neurons by delivering GDNF using neural progenitor cells represents a novel and powerful treatment strategy for ALS. While this approach represents a unique way to prevent motor neuron loss, our data also suggest that additional strategies may also be required for maintenance of neuromuscular connections and full functional recovery. However, simply maintaining motor neurons in patients would be the first step of a therapeutic advance for this devastating and incurable disease, while future strategies focus on the maintenance of the neuromuscular junction
Proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic detection of oligomannosidic n glycans in alpha-mannosidosis: a method of monitoring treatment
In Alpha-mannosidosis (MIM 248500) the patients accumulate mainly unbranched oligosaccharide chains in the lysosomes in all body tissues, including the brain. With ensuing therapeutic modalities in man (BMT and ERT) non-invasive methods of monitoring the effect of treatment are needed. Paramount is the possible effect of the treatment on the brain, since this organ is regarded as difficult to reach because of the blood-brain barrier. We therefore performed proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) of the brain in two untreated patients, and a 16-year-old patient treated with BMT at the age of 10 to assess whether this non-invasive method could be applied in the monitoring of the accumulation of abnormal chemicals in the brain of patients. We found an abnormal peak that was not present in the treated patient. A similar pattern was also found in MRS of urine from patients, reflecting the concentration of oligosaccharides in serum and tissues. We therefore conclude that MRS can be a useful method to monitor the effect of treatment for Alpha-Mannosidosis
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