498 research outputs found
Vanishing Loss Effect on the Effective ac Conductivity behavior for 2D Composite Metal-Dielectric Films At The Percolation Threshold
We study the imaginary part of the effective conductivity as well as its
distribution probability for vanishing losses in 2D composites. This
investigation showed that the effective medium theory provides only
informations about the average conductivity, while its fluctuations which
correspond to the field energy in this limit are neglected by this theory.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, submitted to Phys.Rev.
Theoretical study of the structural stability, electronic and magnetic properties of XVSb (X Fe, Ni, and Co) half-Heusler compounds
The structural, electronic and magnetic properties of half-Heusler compounds
XVSb (X Fe, Co and Ni) are investigated by using the density functional
theory with generalized gradient approximation (GGA), and Tran-Blaha modified
Becke-Johnson (TB-mBJ) exchange potential approximation. It is found that the
half-metallic gaps are generally reasonably widened by mBJ as compared to the
GGA approximation. The magnetic proprieties of XVSb (X Fe, Co and Ni) are
well defined within mBJ with an exact integer value of magnetic moment. The
band gaps given by TB-mBJ are in good agreement with the available theoretical
data. The FeVSb exhibits a semiconductor nature. The CoVSb and NiVSb present
half-metallic behaviour with total magnetic moment of and
in good agreement with Slater-Pauling rule. These alloys seem
to be a potential candidate of spintronic devices.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figure
Percolation and finite size scaling in seven dimensions
Numerical investigation of critical exponents on a hypercubic with L^d random
sites with L up to $33 and d up to 7 show that above the critical dimension the
phase transitions in Ising model and percolation are not alike.Comment: 5 pages including 4 figures, for Int.J.Mod.Phys.
Correlation between the microscopy and qPCR methods (SYBR Green) to detect and quantify Rhizophagus irregularis in grapevine roots
For an easier identification and quantification of R. irregularis in grapevine, a molecular tool was developed so that each DNA concentration calculated would relate to the degree of root system colonization. To correlate the results obtained by qPCR and microscopy, a different approach for the visualization technique was chosen. It combined the detailed standard method of evaluation on microscopic slides with the global magnifying glass evaluation method in the grids. The global assessment sampling was closer to the qPCR sampling that was made on a representative fraction of the whole root system. This fact became the base of successful correlation between microscopy and qPCR. The result of these measures were the attribution of an average qPCR value to each level of colonization defined as five different classes. Around 0.66 ng·µL-1, the DNA concentration corresponded to the first contacts between the fungus and the grapevine roots (class M1), while around 42 ng·µL-1 it accounted for the beginning of the mycorrhizal symbiosis (class M2). A satisfactory mycorrhization level could be concluded from a 258 ng·µL-1 DNA concentration (class M3), while all values above 563 ng·µL-1 (class M4) showed a full mycorrhization level. The development of this qPCR tool allowed the fast and accurate evaluation of the mycorrhization level in the root system without having to realize any microscopic observation
Monte Carlo simulation of the transmission of measles: Beyond the mass action principle
We present a Monte Carlo simulation of the transmission of measles within a
population sample during its growing and equilibrium states by introducing two
different vaccination schedules of one and two doses. We study the effects of
the contact rate per unit time as well as the initial conditions on the
persistence of the disease. We found a weak effect of the initial conditions
while the disease persists when lies in the range 1/L-10/L ( being
the latent period). Further comparison with existing data, prediction of future
epidemics and other estimations of the vaccination efficiency are provided.
Finally, we compare our approach to the models using the mass action
principle in the first and another epidemic region and found the incidence
independent of the number of susceptibles after the epidemic peak while it
strongly fluctuates in its growing region. This method can be easily applied to
other human, animals and vegetable diseases and includes more complicated
parameters.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures, 1 table, Submitted to Phys.Rev.
Localization and Absorption of Light in 2D Composite Metal-Dielectric Films at the Percolation Threshold
We study in this paper the localization of light and the dielectric
properties of thin metal-dielectric composites at the percolation threshold and
around a resonant frequency where the conductivities of the two components are
of the same order. In particular, the effect of the loss in metallic components
are examined. To this end, such systems are modelized as random networks,
and the local field distribution as well as the effective conductivity are
determined by using two different methods for comparison: an exact resolution
of Kirchoff equations, and a real space renormalization group method. The
latter method is found to give the general behavior of the effective
conductivity but fails to determine the local field distribution. It is also
found that the localization still persists for vanishing losses. This result
seems to be in agreement with the anomalous absorption observed experimentally
for such systems.Comment: 14 page latex, 3 ps figures. submitte
Relative Hypocalcaemia and Muscle Cramps in Patients Receiving Imatinib for Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumour
Purpose. Imatinib treatment causes muscle cramps in up to 40% of patients, but their pathogenesis is unknown. We present a case series illustrating an association between imatinib, relative hypocalcaemia, and the development of cramps. Patients. The index patient developed muscle spasms and cramps after receiving imatinib for gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) for 5 months. The adjusted serum calcium had dropped to the lower limit of normal. The low serum calcium and muscle cramps improved on stopping imatinib and recurred on rechallenge. We reviewed the medical records of 16 further patients. Results. Two patients reported muscle cramps (12%). There was a rapid and sustained reduction in adjusted serum calcium in the first 6 months from 2.45 ± 0.11 mmol/L (mean ± SD) to 2.30 ± 0.08 mmol/L (p = 0.025). Conclusion. Imatinib treatment of GIST is associated with reduction in serum calcium which may explain the development of neuromuscular symptoms. In patients receiving imatinib, serum electrolytes should be monitored and muscle cramps treated by correction of serum calcium, or an empirical trial of quinine sulphate
A giant occipital encephalocele: A case report
Occipital encephalocele is a rare congenital anomaly that is characterized by herniation of brain tissue through a defect in the skull. Because of their enormous size, they pose a surgical challenge. Occipital encephalocele is the commonest of all encephalocele; the management of encephalocele defects requires immediate surgical closure. The author reports a case of a five months old female baby who presented a progressively increasing swelling over the occipital region. This swelling was present since birth. Surgery was planned to reduce the size of the swelling as well as its contents. The sac was excised and reduced sufficiently enough to accommodate the healthy-looking brain tissue. This infant did well postoperatively
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