1,054 research outputs found
Thermal denaturation of fluctuating finite DNA chains: the role of bending rigidity in bubble nucleation
Statistical DNA models available in the literature are often effective models
where the base-pair state only (unbroken or broken) is considered. Because of a
decrease by a factor of 30 of the effective bending rigidity of a sequence of
broken bonds, or bubble, compared to the double stranded state, the inclusion
of the molecular conformational degrees of freedom in a more general mesoscopic
model is needed. In this paper we do so by presenting a 1D Ising model, which
describes the internal base pair states, coupled to a discrete worm like chain
model describing the chain configurations [J. Palmeri, M. Manghi, and N.
Destainville, Phys. Rev. Lett. 99, 088103 (2007)]. This coupled model is
exactly solved using a transfer matrix technique that presents an analogy with
the path integral treatment of a quantum two-state diatomic molecule. When the
chain fluctuations are integrated out, the denaturation transition temperature
and width emerge naturally as an explicit function of the model parameters of a
well defined Hamiltonian, revealing that the transition is driven by the
difference in bending (entropy dominated) free energy between bubble and
double-stranded segments. The calculated melting curve (fraction of open base
pairs) is in good agreement with the experimental melting profile of
polydA-polydT. The predicted variation of the mean-square-radius as a function
of temperature leads to a coherent novel explanation for the experimentally
observed thermal viscosity transition. Finally, the influence of the DNA strand
length is studied in detail, underlining the importance of finite size effects,
even for DNA made of several thousand base pairs.Comment: Latex, 28 pages pdf, 9 figure
A Quantitative Comparison of Opacities Calculated Using the Distorted- Wave and -Matrix Methods
The present debate on the reliability of astrophysical opacities has reached
a new climax with the recent measurements of Fe opacities on the Z-machine at
the Sandia National Laboratory \citep{Bailey2015}. To understand the
differences between theoretical results, on the one hand, and experiments on
the other, as well as the differences among the various theoretical results,
detailed comparisons are needed. Many ingredients are involved in the
calculation of opacities; deconstructing the whole process and comparing the
differences at each step are necessary to quantify their importance and impact
on the final results. We present here such a comparison using the two main
approaches to calculate the required atomic data, the -Matrix and
distorted-wave methods, as well as sets of configurations and coupling schemes
to quantify the effects on the opacities for the and ions.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figure
Nitrogen K-shell photoabsorption
Reliable atomic data have been computed for the spectral modeling of the
nitrogen K lines, which may lead to useful astrophysical diagnostics. Data sets
comprise valence and K-vacancy level energies, wavelengths, Einstein
-coefficients, radiative and Auger widths and K-edge photoionization cross
sections. An important issue is the lack of measurements which are usually
employed to fine-tune calculations so as to attain spectroscopic accuracy. In
order to estimate data quality, several atomic structure codes are used and
extensive comparisons with previous theoretical data have been carried out. In
the calculation of K photoabsorption with the Breit--Pauli -matrix method,
both radiation and Auger damping, which cause the smearing of the K edge, are
taken into account. This work is part of a wider project to compute atomic data
in the X-ray regime to be included in the database of the popular {\sc xstar}
modeling code
Decay Properties of K-Vacancy States in Fe X-Fe XVII
We report extensive calculations of the decay properties of fine-structure
K-vacancy levels in Fe X-Fe XVII. A large set of level energies, wavelengths,
radiative and Auger rates, and fluorescence yields has been computed using
three different standard atomic codes, namely Cowan's HFR, AUTOSTRUCTURE and
the Breit-Pauli R-matrix package. This multi-code approach is used to the study
the effects of core relaxation, configuration interaction and the Breit
interaction, and enables the estimate of statistical accuracy ratings. The
K-alpha and KLL Auger widths have been found to be nearly independent of both
the outer-electron configuration and electron occupancy keeping a constant
ratio of 1.53+/-0.06. By comparing with previous theoretical and measured
wavelengths, the accuracy of the present set is determined to be within 2 mA.
Also, the good agreement found between the different radiative and Auger data
sets that have been computed allow us to propose with confidence an accuracy
rating of 20% for the line fluorescence yields greater than 0.01. Emission and
absorption spectral features are predicted finding good correlation with
measurements in both laboratory and astrophysical plasmas.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figures. Submitted to A&A. Electronic Table 3-4 available
at http://lheawww.gsfc.nasa.gov/users/palmeri/patrick.htm
Atomic data for the K-vacancy states of Fe XXIV
As part of a project to compute improved atomic data for the spectral
modeling of iron K lines, we report extensive calculations and comparisons of
atomic data for K-vacancy states in Fe XXIV. The data sets include: (i) energy
levels, line wavelengths, radiative and Auger rates; (ii) inner-shell electron
impact excitation rates and (iii) fine structure inner-shell photoionization
cross sections. The calculations of energy levels and radiative and Auger rates
have involved a detailed study of orbital representations, core relaxation,
configuration interaction, relativistic corrections, cancellation effects and
semi-empirical corrections. It is shown that a formal treatment of the Breit
interaction is essential to render the important magnetic correlations that
take part in the decay pathways of this ion. As a result, the accuracy of the
present A-values is firmly ranked at better than 10% while that of the Auger
rates at only 15%. The calculations of collisional excitation and
photoionization cross sections take into account the effects of radiation and
spectator Auger dampings. In the former, these effects cause significant
attenuation of resonances leading to a good agreement with a simpler method
where resonances are excluded. In the latter, resonances converging to the K
threshold display symmetric profiles of constant width that causes edge
smearing.Comment: 18 pages, 8 figures, submitted to Astronomy & Astrophysics 200
Radiative and Auger decay data for modelling nickel K lines
Radiative and Auger decay data have been calculated for modelling the K lines
in ions of the nickel isonuclear sequence, from Ni up to Ni. Level
energies, transition wavelengths, radiative transition probabilities, and
radiative and Auger widths have been determined using Cowan's Hartree--Fock
with Relativistic corrections (HFR) method. Auger widths for the third-row ions
(Ni--Ni) have been computed using single-configuration average
(SCA) compact formulae. Results are compared with data sets computed with the
AUTOSTRUCTURE and MCDF atomic structure codes and with available experimental
and theoretical values, mainly in highly ionized ions and in the solid state.Comment: submitted to ApJS. 42 pages. 12 figure
Evaluation of the burden of HPV-related hospitalizations as a useful tool to increase awareness: 2007–2017 data from the sicilian hospital discharge records
In light of the implementation of human papillomavirus (HPV) prevention strategies, epidemiological studies in different geographical areas are required in order to assess the impact of HPV-related diseases. The purpose of the present study was to describe the burden of HPV-related hospitalizations in Sicily. A retrospective observational study estimated 43,531 hospitalizations attributable to HPV from 2007 to 2017. During the observed period, there was a decrease for all HPV-related conditions with a higher reduction, among neoplasms, for cervical cancer (annual percent change (APC) = −9.9%, p < 0.001). The median age for cervical cancer was 45 years old, with an increasing value from 43 to 47 years (p < 0.001). The age classes with greater decreases in hospital admissions for invasive cancers were women aged 35 years or more (APC range from −5.5 to −9.86) and 25–34 years old (APC = −11.87, p < 0.001) for women with cervical carcinoma in situ. After ten years for vaccine introduction and sixteen years for cervical cancer screening availability, a relatively large decrease in hospital admissions for cervical cancer and other HPV-related diseases in Sicily was observed. Some clinical characteristics of hospitalization, such as increasing age, are suggestive clues for the impact of preventive strategies, but further research is needed to confirm this relationship
POSTURE AND POSTUROLOGY, ANATOMICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL PROFILES: OVERVIEW AND CURRENT STATE OF ART
Background and aim of work: posture is the position of the body in the space, and is controlled by a set of anatomical structures. The maintenance and the control of posture are a set of interactions between muscle-skeletal, visual, vestibular, and skin system. Lately there are numerous studies that correlate the muscle-skeletal and the maintenance of posture. In particular, the correction of defects and obstruction of temporomandibular disorders, seem to have an impoact on posture. The aim of this work is to collect information in literature on posture and the influence of the stomatognatich system on postural system. Methods: Comparison of the literature on posture and posturology by consulting books and scientific sites. results: the results obtained from the comparison of the of the literature on posture and posturology by consulting books and scientific sites. Some studies support the correlation between stomatognatich system and posture, while others such a correlation. Conclusions: further studies are necessary to be able to confirm one or the other argument. (www.actabiomedica.it
Flow discharge measurement by a linear width contraction device
In this paper, the outflow process of a linear width contraction device for a free-flow condition is modeled using the dimensional analysis and the incomplete self-similarity condition. The proposed theoretical stage-discharge relationship is tested using measurements available in the literature. The proposed power stage-discharge equation is characterized by a value of the exponent close to 2 and a coefficient depending on the angle of the device sides with the channel bank. The proposed flume is characterized by simple construction, easy installation, low cost, and a good accuracy of the measured discharge (errors in the estimate ranging from - 3.84 to 1.9%). The deduced stage-discharge equation is characterized by errors in the estimate of discharge lower than or equal to & PLUSMN; 3% for 93.7% of the investigated cases. The main result of this paper is a stage-discharge relationship giving an accurate estimate of discharge but, at the same time, having the advantage of working regardless of the discharge coefficient estimate
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