892 research outputs found
An importance sampling algorithm for generating exact eigenstates of the nuclear Hamiltonian
We endow a recently devised algorithm for generating exact eigensolutions of
large matrices with an importance sampling, which is in control of the extent
and accuracy of the truncation of their dimensions. We made several tests on
typical nuclei using a correlated basis obtained from partitioning the shell
model space. The sampling so implemented allows not only for a substantial
reduction of the shell model space but also for an extrapolation to exact
eigenvalues and E2 strengths.Comment: A compressed file composed of a text in latex of 19 pages and 9
figures in p
A Novel Broadband Forcecardiography Sensor for Simultaneous Monitoring of Respiration, Infrasonic Cardiac Vibrations and Heart Sounds
The precordial mechanical vibrations generated by cardiac contractions have a rich frequency spectrum. While the lowest frequencies can be palpated, the higher infrasonic frequencies are usually captured by the seismocardiogram (SCG) signal and the audible ones correspond to heart sounds. Forcecardiography (FCG) is a non-invasive technique that measures these vibrations via force sensing resistors (FSR). This study presents a new piezoelectric sensor able to record all heart vibrations simultaneously, as well as a respiration signal. The new sensor was compared to the FSR-based one to assess its suitability for FCG. An electrocardiogram (ECG) lead and a signal from an electro-resistive respiration band (ERB) were synchronously acquired as references on six healthy volunteers (4 males, 2 females) at rest. The raw signals from the piezoelectric and the FSR-based sensors turned out to be very similar. The raw signals were divided into four components: Forcerespirogram (FRG), Low-Frequency FCG (LF-FCG), High-Frequency FCG (HF-FCG) and heart sounds (HS-FCG). A beat-by-beat comparison of FCG and ECG signals was carried out by means of regression, correlation and Bland–Altman analyses, and similarly for respiration signals (FRG and ERB). The results showed that the infrasonic FCG components are strongly related to the cardiac cycle (R2 > 0.999, null bias and Limits of Agreement (LoA) of ± 4.9 ms for HF-FCG; R2 > 0.99, null bias and LoA of ± 26.9 ms for LF-FCG) and the FRG inter-breath intervals are consistent with ERB ones (R2 > 0.99, non-significant bias and LoA of ± 0.46 s). Furthermore, the piezoelectric sensor was tested against an accelerometer and an electronic stethoscope: synchronous acquisitions were performed to quantify the similarity between the signals. ECG-triggered ensemble averages (synchronized with R-peaks) of HF-FCG and SCG showed a correlation greater than 0.81, while those of HS-FCG and PCG scored a correlation greater than 0.85. The piezoelectric sensor demonstrated superior performances as compared to the FSR, providing more accurate, beat-by-beat measurements. This is the first time that a single piezoelectric sensor demonstrated the ability to simultaneously capture respiration, heart sounds, an SCG-like signal (i.e., HF-FCG) and the LF-FCG signal, which may provide information on ventricular emptying and filling events. According to these preliminary results the novel piezoelectric FCG sensor stands as a promising device for accurate, unobtrusive, long-term monitoring of cardiorespiratory functions and paves the way for a wide range of potential applications, both in the research and clinical fields. However, these results should be confirmed by further analyses on a larger cohort of subjects, possibly including also pathological patients
Complete breakdown of the Debye model of rotational relaxation near the isotropic-nematic phase boundary: Effects of intermolecular correlations in orientational dynamics
The Debye-Stokes-Einstein (DSE) model of rotational diffusion predicts that
the rotational correlation times vary as , where
is the rank of the orientational correlation function (given in terms of the
Legendre polynomial of rank ). One often finds significant deviation from
this prediction, in either direction. In supercooled molecular liquids where
the ratio falls considerably below three (the Debye limit),
one usually invokes a jump diffusion model to explain the approach of the ratio
to unity. Here we show in a computer simulation study of a
standard model system for thermotropic liquid crystals that this ratio becomes
much less than unity as the isotropic-nematic phase boundary is approached from
the isotropic side. Simultaneously, the ratio (where is
the shear viscosity of the liquid) becomes {\it much larger} than hydrodynamic
value near the I-N transition. We have also analyzed the break down of the
Debye model of rotational diffusion in ratios of higher order rotational
correlation times. We show that the break down of the DSE model is due to the
growth of orientational pair correlation and provide a mode coupling theory
analysis to explain the results.Comment: Submitted to Physical Review
Proton-Neutron Interaction near Closed Shells
Odd-odd nuclei around double shell closures are a direct source of
information on the proton-neutron interaction between valence nucleons. We have
performed shell-model calculations for doubly odd nuclei close to Pb,
Sn and Sn using realistic effective interactions derived from
the CD-Bonn nucleon-nucleon potential. The calculated results are compared with
the available experimental data, attention being focused on particle-hole and
particle-particle multiplets. While a good agreement is obtained for all the
nuclei considered, a detailed analysis of the matrix elements of the effective
interaction shows that a stronger core-polarization contribution seems to be
needed in the particle-particle case.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, Proccedings of the International Conference
"Nuclear Structure and Related Topics", Dubna, Russia, September 2-6, 2003,
to be published in Yadernaia Fizika (Physics of Atomic Nuclei
Modified conjugated gradient method for diagonalising large matrices
We present an iterative method to diagonalise large matrices. The basic idea
is the same as the conjugated gradient (CG) method, i.e, minimizing the
Rayleigh quotient via its gradient and avoiding reintroduce errors to the
directions of previous gradients. Each iteration step is to find lowest
eigenvector of the matrix in a subspace spanned by the current trial vector and
the corresponding gradient of the Rayleigh quotient, as well as some previous
trial vectors. The gradient, together with the previous trail vectors, play a
similar role of the conjugated gradient of the original CG algorithm. Our
numeric tests indicate that this method converges significantly faster than the
original CG method. And the computational cost of one iteration step is about
the same as the original CG method. It is suitably for first principle
calculations.Comment: 6 Pages, 2EPS figures. (To appear in Phys. Rev. E
INTRA-DUODENAL RELEASE OF A BITTER COMPOUND DECREASES CALORIC INTAKE IN HEALTHY VOLUNTEERS
Background and aim: α-gustducin and bitter taste receptors (T2R) are
expressed both in the oral cavity and in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Experimental
data showed that bitter tastants induce the release of gut hormones
from enteroendocrine cells in the gut, suggesting a possible role of bitter taste
receptors in the control of food intake and GI functions. We aimed to test the
effects of a bitter taste receptor agonist on food intake and GI feelings.
Material and methods: We enrolled 19 healthy subjects (9 males, age 27±7,
BMI 24±6) in a double-blind placebo controlled study. Each subject randomly
received an acid-resistant capsule containing placebo or 18 mg of quinine
HCl. 60 minutes after capsule administration, the subjects underwent to an ad
libitum test, until the maximum satiation. Meal test was composed by white
bread, cheese and meat cream (89 kcal/portion: 50% carbohydrate, 31% fat,
19% protein). Caloric intake, meal duration and satiation levels, scored on a
Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were calculated at the end of the meal test. A
questionnaire assessing GI sensations (bloating, fullness, nausea, epigastric
discomfort and hunger) was administered before and at the end of the test.
Data (mean ± SD) were compared by using paired t test.
Results: No oral bitter sensation or side effects was observed both with
quinine HCland placebo. No significant differences in terms of GI sensations
and hunger feelings were observed between the two sessions of the study. The
amount of calories ingested was significantly lower when subjects received
quinine HCl than placebo (564±262 vs 667±278 kcal; p=0.02). Conversely,
quinine HCl did not affect the meal duration (14.4±4.2 vs 16.6±4.6 min;
p=NS) and the satiationintensity (82 vs 82 mm; p=NS).
Conclusions: The intra-duodenal release of a bitter compound significantly decreases
caloric intake in an ad libitum test meal without affecting GI sensations
and hunger feeling. As the bitter compound does not influence meal duration,
we hypothesize that quinine HCl decreases the caloric intake by affecting the
rate of meal portions consumption. Evaluation of gut hormones kinetics and
studies with other bitter taste receptor agonist are needed to establish the role
of gastrointestinal bitter taste receptor in the control of food intak
Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis in Childhood Vasculitis: A Perspective Comparative Pilot Study
Kawasaki disease (KD) and Henoch–Schönlein purpura (HSP) are the most frequent vasculitis in childhood. For both, a multifactorial mechanism has been hypothesised, with an abnormal immune response in genetically predisposed children. Gut microbiota (GM) alterations might trigger the hyperimmune reaction. Our aim was to explore the GM in KD and compare it with the GM of HSP and febrile children. Children diagnosed with KD, HSP and non-KD febrile illness (F) were enrolled. GM was profiled by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and compared with the profiles of healthy children from previous studies. We enrolled 13 KD, 10 HSP and 12 F children. Their GM significantly differed from controls, with an overall reduction in the relative abundance of beneficial taxa belonging to the Ruminococcaceae and Lachnospiraceae families. Potential KD and HSP signatures were identified, including smaller amounts of Dialister in the former, and Clostridium and Akkermansia in the latter. Notably, the GM structures of KD, HSP and F patients stratified by abdominal involvement, with more severe dysbiosis in those suffering from intestinal symptoms. This is the first study analysing GM in a mostly Caucasian cohort of KD and HSP children. Our data could open up new opportunities for childhood vasculitis treatment
Long term control of luteinized thecoma with sclerosing peritonitis with leuprorelin and tamoxifen treatment
Bonn Potential and Shell-Model Calculations for 206,205,204Pb
The structure of the nuclei 206,205,204Pb is studied interms of shell model
employing a realistic effective interaction derived from the Bonn A
nucleon-nucleon potential. The energy spectra, binding energies and
electromagnetic properties are calculated and compared with experiment. A very
good overall agreement is obtained. This evidences the reliability of our
realistic effective interaction and encourages use of modern realistic
potentials in shell-model calculations for heavy-mass nuclei.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, submitted to Physical Review
Application of the Kerman-Klein method to the solution of a spherical shell model for a deformed rare-earth nucleus
Core-particle coupling models are made viable by assuming that core
properties such as matrix elements of multipole and pairing operators and
excitation spectra are known independently. From the completeness relation, it
is seen, however, that these quantities are themselves algebraic functions of
the calculated core-particle amplitudes. For the deformed rare-earth nucleus
158Gd, we find that these sum rules are well-satisfied for the ground state
band, implying that we have found a self-consistent solution of the non-linear
Kerman-Klein equations.Comment: revtex and postscript, including 1 figure(postscript), submitted to
Phys.Rev.Let
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