108 research outputs found
Plasmon signatures in high harmonic generation
High harmonic generation in polarizable multi-electron systems is
investigated in the framework of multi-configuration time-dependent
Hartree-Fock. The harmonic spectra exhibit two cut offs. The first cut off is
in agreement with the well established, single active electron cut off law. The
second cut off presents a signature of multi-electron dynamics. The strong
laser field excites non-linear plasmon oscillations. Electrons that are ionized
from one of the multi-plasmon states and recombine to the ground state gain
additional energy, thereby creating the second plateau.Comment: Major revision, 12 pages, 5 figures, submitted to J. Phys. B (2005),
accepte
Frank's constant in the hexatic phase
Using video-microscopy data of a two-dimensional colloidal system the
bond-order correlation function G6 is calculated and used to determine the
temperature-dependence of both the orientational correlation length xi6 in the
isotropic liquid phase and the Frank constant F_A in the hexatic phase. F_A
takes the value 72/pi at the hexatic to isotropic liquid phase transition and
diverges at the hexatic to crystal transition as predicted by the KTHNY-theory.
This is a quantitative test of the mechanism of breaking the orientational
symmetry by disclination unbinding
Two-photon ionization of Helium studied with the multiconfigurational time-dependent Hartree-Fock method
The multiconfigurational time-dependent Hartree-Fock method (MCTDHF) is
applied for simulations of the two-photon ionization of Helium. We present
results for the single- and double ionization from the groundstate for photon
energies in the non-sequential regime, and compare them to direct solutions of
the Schr\"odinger equation using the time-dependent (full) Configuration
Interaction method (TDCI). We find that the single-ionization is accurately
reproduced by MCTDHF, whereas the double ionization results correctly capture
the main trends of TDCI
Carbon Dioxide Capture from Ambient Air Using Amine-Grafted Mesoporous Adsorbents
Anthropogenic emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) have been identified as a major contributor to climate change. An attractive approach to tackle the increasing levels of CO2 in the atmosphere is direct extraction via absorption of CO2 from ambient air, to be subsequently desorbed and processed under controlled conditions. The feasibility of this approach depends on the sorbent material that should combine a long lifetime with nontoxicity, high selectivity for CO2, and favorable thermodynamic cycling properties. Adsorbents based on pore-expanded mesoporous silica grafted with amines have previously been found to combine high CO2 adsorption capacity at low partial pressures with operational stability under highly defined laboratory conditions. Here we examine the real potential and functionality of these materials by using more realistic conditions using both pure CO2, synthetic air, and, most importantly, ambient air. Through a combination of thermogravimetric analysis and Fourier transform infrared (TGA-FTIR) spectroscopy we address the primary functionality and by diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT) spectroscopy the observed degradation of the material on a molecular level
Setting and analysis of the multi-configuration time-dependent Hartree-Fock equations
In this paper we motivate, formulate and analyze the Multi-Configuration
Time-Dependent Hartree-Fock (MCTDHF) equations for molecular systems under
Coulomb interaction. They consist in approximating the N-particle Schrodinger
wavefunction by a (time-dependent) linear combination of (time-dependent)
Slater determinants. The equations of motion express as a system of ordinary
differential equations for the expansion coefficients coupled to nonlinear
Schrodinger-type equations for mono-electronic wavefunctions. The invertibility
of the one-body density matrix (full-rank hypothesis) plays a crucial role in
the analysis. Under the full-rank assumption a fiber bundle structure shows up
and produces unitary equivalence between convenient representations of the
equations. We discuss and establish existence and uniqueness of maximal
solutions to the Cauchy problem in the energy space as long as the density
matrix is not singular. A sufficient condition in terms of the energy of the
initial data ensuring the global-in-time invertibility is provided (first
result in this direction). Regularizing the density matrix breaks down energy
conservation, however a global well-posedness for this system in L^2 is
obtained with Strichartz estimates. Eventually solutions to this regularized
system are shown to converge to the original one on the time interval when the
density matrix is invertible.Comment: 48 pages, 1 figur
RosettaScripts: A Scripting Language Interface to the Rosetta Macromolecular Modeling Suite
Macromolecular modeling and design are increasingly useful in basic research, biotechnology, and teaching. However, the absence of a user-friendly modeling framework that provides access to a wide range of modeling capabilities is hampering the wider adoption of computational methods by non-experts. RosettaScripts is an XML-like language for specifying modeling tasks in the Rosetta framework. RosettaScripts provides access to protocol-level functionalities, such as rigid-body docking and sequence redesign, and allows fast testing and deployment of complex protocols without need for modifying or recompiling the underlying C++ code. We illustrate these capabilities with RosettaScripts protocols for the stabilization of proteins, the generation of computationally constrained libraries for experimental selection of higher-affinity binding proteins, loop remodeling, small-molecule ligand docking, design of ligand-binding proteins, and specificity redesign in DNA-binding proteins
Acyl-CoA synthetase 3 promotes lipid droplet biogenesis in ER microdomains
Control of lipid droplet (LD) nucleation and copy number are critical, yet poorly understood, processes. We use model peptides that shift from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to LDs in response to fatty acids to characterize the initial steps of LD formation occurring in lipid-starved cells. Initially, arriving lipids are rapidly packed in LDs that are resistant to starvation (pre-LDs). Pre-LDs are restricted ER microdomains with a stable core of neutral lipids. Subsequently, a first round of “emerging” LDs is nucleated, providing additional lipid storage capacity. Finally, in proportion to lipid concentration, new rounds of LDs progressively assemble. Confocal microscopy and electron tomography suggest that emerging LDs are nucleated in a limited number of ER microdomains after a synchronized stepwise process of protein gathering, lipid packaging, and recognition by Plin3 and Plin2. A comparative analysis demonstrates that the acyl-CoA synthetase 3 is recruited early to the assembly sites, where it is required for efficient LD nucleation and lipid storag
Balancing, Proportionality, and Constitutional Rights
In the theory and practice of constitutional adjudication, proportionality review plays a crucial role. At a theoretical level, it lies at core of the debate on rights adjudication; in judicial practice, it is a widespread decision-making model characterizing the action of constitutional, supra-national and international courts. Despite its circulation and centrality in contemporary legal discourse, proportionality in rights-adjudication is still extremely controversial. It raises normative questions—concerning its justification and limits—and descriptive questions—regarding its nature and distinctive features. The chapter addresses both orders of questions.
Part I centres on the justification of proportionality review, the connection between proportionality, balancing and theories of rights and the critical aspects of this connection.
Part II identifies and analyses the different forms of proportionality both in review, as a template for rights-adjudication, and of review, as a way of defining the scope and limits of adjudication
Salivary Gland NK Cells Are Phenotypically and Functionally Unique
Natural killer (NK) cells and CD8+ T cells play vital roles in containing and eliminating systemic cytomegalovirus (CMV). However, CMV has a tropism for the salivary gland acinar epithelial cells and persists in this organ for several weeks after primary infection. Here we characterize a distinct NK cell population that resides in the salivary gland, uncommon to any described to date, expressing both mature and immature NK cell markers. Using RORÎłt reporter mice and nude mice, we also show that the salivary gland NK cells are not lymphoid tissue inducer NK-like cells and are not thymic derived. During the course of murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infection, we found that salivary gland NK cells detect the infection and acquire activation markers, but have limited capacity to produce IFN-Îł and degranulate. Salivary gland NK cell effector functions are not regulated by iNKT or Treg cells, which are mostly absent in the salivary gland. Additionally, we demonstrate that peripheral NK cells are not recruited to this organ even after the systemic infection has been controlled. Altogether, these results indicate that viral persistence and latency in the salivary glands may be due in part to the presence of unfit NK cells and the lack of recruitment of peripheral NK cells
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