Local and nonlocal contributions to the linear spectroscopy of light-harvesting antenna systems

In this paper the circular dichroism and absorption spectra of the LH2 complex of Rhodopseudomonas acidophila, for which the atomic structure is known, are analyzed. We show that an analysis based on the distribution of the excitations in real space, and their correlations, to unravel the relation between the atomic structure of the light-harvesting complex and its excitonic properties, is particularly successful. Starting from molecular expressions for the linear susceptibility, we demonstrate that linear spectra can be viewed as originating from the product of coherence correlation functions and geometric structure factors. Effects of homogeneous and inhomogeneous broadening can be incorporated in a natural way and lead to a definition of exciton length as the distance over which coherence correlation functions decay. 1

Linear dichroism of CdSe nanodots: Large anisotropy of the band-gap absorption induced by ground-state dipole moments

We measured the electric field induced linear dichroism for a wide range of sizes of CdSe nanocrystals. Large ground-state dipole moments were observed, especially for the smallest crystals. In these, we found a very large anisotropy of the absorption and most of the dipole strength is along the direction of the ground-state dipole moment. For the anisotropy, we propose a mechanism for intensity borrowing from intraband transitions, induced by the field of the ground-state dipole moment. © 2008 The American Physical Society

Bank debt and trade credit for SMEs in Europe: firm-, industry-, and country-level determinants

This paper examines differences in the ability to obtain capital—bank loans and trade credit—between firms, industries, and countries using survey data on European small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from 2009 to 2014. The results show that firm age and firm size are positively linked to SMEs’ access to bank loans, but only firm size is positively related to the provision of trade credit. The results also provide em- pirical support for a complementary rather than a sub- stitutive effect between bank loans and trade credit. Manufacturing SMEs have a significantly higher likeli- hood of receiving bank loans and trade credit than non- manufacturing SMEs. We find differences across coun- tries in terms of the relevance of firm age and firm size for obtaining capital. In addition, we point at specific country-level variables that explain why obtaining credit is easier in some countries. We perform additional anal- yses to confirm our baseline results and provide direc- tions for future research.Coherent privaatrech

Do Surgical Interventions Influence Psychosexual and Cosmetic Outcomes in Women with Disorders of Sex Development?

Clinical practice developed to promote psychosexual well-being in DSD is under scrutiny. Although techniques for genital surgery have much improved lately, long-term studies on psychosexual functioning and cosmetic outcome on which to base treatment and counseling are scarce. We studied 91 women with a DSD. Feminizing surgery was performed in 64% of the women; in 60% of them, resurgery in puberty was needed after a single-stage procedure. Both patients and gynecologists were satisfied with the cosmetic appearance of the genitalia. However, forty percent of these females experienced sexuality-related distress and 66% was at risk for developing a sexual dysfunction, whether they had surgery or not. Recognizing the difficulty of accurate assessment, our data indicate that feminizing surgery does not seem to improve nor hamper psychosexual outcome, especially in patients with severe virilization

Predictors of self-perceived cultural responsiveness in entry-level physiotherapy students in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand

Background: Ensuring physiotherapy students are well prepared to work safely and effectively in culturally diverse societies upon graduation is vital. Therefore, determining whether physiotherapy programs are effectively developing the cultural responsiveness of students is essential. This study aimed to evaluate the level of self-perceived cultural responsiveness of entry level physiotherapy students during their training, and explore the factors that might be associated with these levels. Methods: A cross sectional study of physiotherapy students from nine universities across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand was conducted using an online self-administered questionnaire containing three parts: The Cultural Competence Assessment tool, Altemeyer’s Dogmatism scale, and the Marlowe-Crowne social desirability scale- short form. Demographic data relating to university, program, and level of study were also collected. Data was analysed using one-way ANOVA, t-tests and multiple regression analysis. Results: A total of 817 (19% response rate) students participated in this study. Overall, students had a moderate level of self-perceived cultural responsiveness (Mean (SD) = 5.15 (0.67)). Fewer number of weeks of clinical placement attended, lower levels of dogmatism, and greater social desirability were related to greater self-perceived cultural responsiveness. Additionally, fourth year undergraduate students perceived themselves to be less culturally responsive than first and second year students (p < 0.05). Conclusions: These results provide educators with knowledge about the level of self-perceived cultural responsiveness in physiotherapy students, and the factors that may need to be assessed and addressed to support the development of culturally responsive practice

Virilization Due to Androgen Hypersecretion in a Patient with Ovarian Leydig Cell Tumor: Diagnostic and Psychosocial Implications

Virilisasi akibat kelebihan hormon androgen yang terjadi pada wanita akan menimbulkan tanda-tanda seperti pembesaran klitoris, perubahan suara, tumbuhnya rambut di wajah dan tubuh yang menjadi ciri khas laki-laki. Virilisasi yang disebabkan oleh tumor ovarium tidak lebih dari 0,5% dari seluruh penyebab. Kami melaporkan kasus virilisasi akibat tumor sel Leydig pada ovarium kiri wanita usia 36 tahun. Kesalahan interpretasi, informasi medis yang saling bertentangan dan saran dari dokter sebelumnya membuat kebingungan dari pasien tersebut. Kami melakukan evaluasi diagnostik yang meliputi gambaran klinik, hormon, pencitraan, pemeriksaan patologi, molekuler serta pemeriksaan psikologi. Pemeriksaan hormon menunjukkan kadar testosteron yang sangat tinggi. Adanya tumor pada ovarium terdeteksi dari pemeriksaan laparoskopi. Biopsi pada ovarium kiri dilakukan oleh karena pasien menolak dilakukan pengangkatan ovarium. Hasil pemeriksaan patologi menunjukkan tumor sel Leydig tanpa adanya tanda keganasan. Pengelolaan menjadi kurang optimal karena faktor sosial budaya yang menghambat walaupun telah dilakukan konseling secara mendalam. Tumor sel Leydig pada ovarium dicurigai apabila terjadi virilisasi pada wanita usia reproduktif disertai peningkatan hormon androgen, massa ovarium pada pemeriksaan pencitraan dan dibuktikan dengan hasil biopsi. Hal ini penting sebelum memberikan saran maupun pengobatan kepada pasien. Kata kunci: diagnostik work up, virilisasi, sel tumor Leydig. ABSTRACT Virilization due to hyperandrogenism in women causes male signs and symptoms such as swelling of the clitoris, deepening of the voice, facial hair and increase in body hair. Virilization is caused by less than 0.5% of all ovarian tumors. Here we report a case of virilizing Leydig cell tumor of the left ovary in a 36 year old woman. Misinterpretation of symptoms, conflicting medical information and advice from previous doctors had confused the patient. We performed a diagnostic evaluation including clinical, hormonal parameters, imaging, anatomical pathology examinations, and psychological assessment. Blood analysis showed a high testosterone level. The presence of an ovarian tumor was confirmed by laparoscopy. Since the patient refused ovariectomy, a biopsy of the left ovary was performed. Pathology showed a Leydig cell tumor without histological signs of malignancy. In spite of extensive explanation and psychological counseling, cultural barriers prevented appropriate treatment. An ovarian Leydig cell tumor should always be considered for a woman in the reproductive age with symptoms of virilization. The diagnosis is suspected on the basis of an ovarian mass on examination and further investigation and should be proven by biopsy. Key words: diagnostic work up, virilization, Leydig cell tumor

The impact of urea-induced unfolding on the redox process of immobilised cytochrome c

We have studied the effect of urea-induced unfolding on the electron transfer process of yeast iso-1-cytochrome c and its mutant K72AK73AK79A adsorbed on electrodes coated by mixed 11-mercapto-1-undecanoic acid/11-mercapto-1-undecanol self-assembled monolayers. Electrochemical measurements, complemented by surface enhanced resonance Raman studies, indicate two distinct states of the adsorbed proteins that mainly differ with respect to the ligation pattern of the haem. The native state, in which the haem is axially coordinated by Met80 and His18, displays a reduction potential that slightly shifts to negative values with increasing urea concentration. At urea concentrations higher than 6 M, a second state prevails in which the Met80 ligand is replaced by an additional histidine residue. This structural change in the haem pocket is associated with an approximately 0.4 V shift of the reduction potential to negative values. These two states were found for both the wild-type protein and the mutant in which lysine residues 72, 73 and 79 had been substituted by alanines. The analysis of the reduction potentials, the reaction enthalpies and entropies as well as the rate constants indicates that these three lysine residues have an important effect on stabilising the protein structure in the adsorbed state and facilitating the electron transfer dynamics

Application of the New Classification on Patients with a Disorder of Sex Development in Indonesia

Disorder of sex development (DSD) patients in Indonesia most often do not receive a proper diagnostic evaluation and treatment. This study intended to categorize 88 Indonesian patients in accordance with the new consensus DSD algorithm. Diagnostic evaluation including clinical, hormonal, genetic, imaging, surgical, and histological parameters was performed. Fifty-three patients were raised as males, and 34 as females. Of 22 patients with 46, XX DSD, 15 had congenital adrenal hyperplasia, while in one patient, an ovarian Leydig cell tumor was found. In all 58 46, XY DSD patients, 29 were suspected of a disorder of androgen action (12 with an androgen receptor mutation), and in 9, gonadal dysgenesis was found and, in 20, severe hypospadias e.c.i. Implementation of the current consensus statement in a resource-poor environment is very difficult. The aim of the diagnostic workup in developing countries should be to end up with an evidence-based diagnosis. This is essential to improve treatment and thereby to improve the patients' quality of life

Hydrodynamic fluctuations in the Kolmogorov flow: Linear regime

The Landau-Lifshitz fluctuating hydrodynamics is used to study the statistical properties of the linearized Kolmogorov flow. The relative simplicity of this flow allows a detailed analysis of the fluctuation spectrum from near equilibrium regime up to the vicinity of the first convective instability threshold. It is shown that in the long time limit the flow behaves as an incompressible fluid, regardless of the value of the Reynolds number. This is not the case for the short time behavior where the incompressibility assumption leads in general to a wrong form of the static correlation functions, except near the instability threshold. The theoretical predictions are confirmed by numerical simulations of the full nonlinear fluctuating hydrodynamic equations.Comment: 20 pages, 4 figure

Ageing and entrepreneurial preferences

Previous research on age and entrepreneurship assumed homogeneity and downplayed age-related differences in the motives and aims underlying enterprising behaviour. We argue that the heterogeneity of entrepreneurship influences how the level of entrepreneurial activity varies with age. Using a sample of 2566 respondents from 27 European countries we show that entrepreneurial activity increases almost linearly with age for individuals who prefer to only employ themselves (self-employers), whereas it increases up to a critical threshold age (late 40s) and decreases thereafter for those who aspire to hire workers (owner-managers). Age has a considerably smaller effect on entrepreneurial behaviour for those who do not prefer self-employment but are pushed into it by lack of alternative employment opportunities (reluctant entrepreneurs). Our results question the conventional wisdom that entrepreneurial activity declines with age and suggest that effective responses to demographic changes require policy makers to pay close attention to the heterogeneity of entrepreneurial preferences