274 research outputs found
One-Center Charge Transfer Transitions in Manganites
In frames of a rather conventional cluster approach, which combines the
crystal field and the ligand field models we have considered different charge
transfer (CT) states and O 2p-Mn 3d CT transitions in MnO octahedra.
The many-electron dipole transition matrix elements were calculated using the
Racah algebra for the cubic point group. Simple "local" approximation allowed
to calculate the relative intensity for all dipole-allowed and
CT transitions. We present a self-consistent description of
the CT bands in insulating stoichiometric LaMnO compound with the
only Mn valent state and idealized octahedral MnO centers
which allows to substantially correct the current interpretation of the optical
spectra. Our analysis shows the multi-band structure of the CT optical response
with the weak low-energy edge at 1.7 eV, associated with forbidden
transition and a series of the weak and strong
dipole-allowed high-energy transitions starting from 2.5 and 4.5 eV,
respectively, and extending up to nearly 11 eV. The most intensive features are
associated with two strong composite bands near eV and
eV, respectively, resulting from the superposition of the dipole-allowed
and CT transitions. These predictions are in good
agreement with experimental spectra. The experimental data point to a strong
overscreening of the crystal field parameter in the CT states of
MnO centers.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figure
Single-vehicle data of highway traffic - a statistical analysis
In the present paper single-vehicle data of highway traffic are analyzed in
great detail. By using the single-vehicle data directly empirical time-headway
distributions and speed-distance relations can be established. Both quantities
yield relevant information about the microscopic states. Several fundamental
diagrams are also presented, which are based on time-averaged quantities and
compared with earlier empirical investigations. In the remaining part
time-series analyses of the averaged as well as the single-vehicle data are
carried out. The results will be used in order to propose objective criteria
for an identification of the different traffic states, e.g. synchronized
traffic.Comment: 12 pages, 19 figures, RevTe
Changing Selective Pressure during Antigenic Changes in Human Influenza H3
The rapid evolution of influenza viruses presents difficulties in maintaining the optimal efficiency of vaccines. Amino acid substitutions result in antigenic drift, a process whereby antisera raised in response to one virus have reduced effectiveness against future viruses. Interestingly, while amino acid substitutions occur at a relatively constant rate, the antigenic properties of H3 move in a discontinuous, step-wise manner. It is not clear why this punctuated evolution occurs, whether this represents simply the fact that some substitutions affect these properties more than others, or if this is indicative of a changing relationship between the virus and the host. In addition, the role of changing glycosylation of the haemagglutinin in these shifts in antigenic properties is unknown. We analysed the antigenic drift of HA1 from human influenza H3 using a model of sequence change that allows for variation in selective pressure at different locations in the sequence, as well as at different parts of the phylogenetic tree. We detect significant changes in selective pressure that occur preferentially during major changes in antigenic properties. Despite the large increase in glycosylation during the past 40 years, changes in glycosylation did not correlate either with changes in antigenic properties or with significantly more rapid changes in selective pressure. The locations that undergo changes in selective pressure are largely in places undergoing adaptive evolution, in antigenic locations, and in locations or near locations undergoing substitutions that characterise the change in antigenicity of the virus. Our results suggest that the relationship of the virus to the host changes with time, with the shifts in antigenic properties representing changes in this relationship. This suggests that the virus and host immune system are evolving different methods to counter each other. While we are able to characterise the rapid increase in glycosylation of the haemagglutinin during time in human influenza H3, an increase not present in influenza in birds, this increase seems unrelated to the observed changes in antigenic properties
Glomerular injury induced in mice by intraperitoneal injection of Shiga-like toxins
Background and Objectives: Shiga-like toxins I and II (Stx1 and Stx2) play an important role in the pathogenesis of renal disease by causing renal microvascular injury. A murine model was used to study glomerular lesions produced by Stx1 and Stx2. Methods: Swiss albino mice of the Rockefeller strain were inoculated intraperitoneally with LD(50) doses of endotoxin-free Stx1 of Stx2 and observed for signs of disease. Samples of renal cortical tissue from mice were examined with the electron microscope. Results: the mice developed systemic and neurological symptoms including hind limb paralysis and generalised convulsions. Renal arteriolar damage and glomerular endothelial cytoplasmic swelling, vacuolation, lysis and intravascular coagulation were present and resembled the microangiopathy seen in renal biopsies from patients. Interpretation and Conclusions: these experiments establish the role of Stx1 and Stx2 in glomerular vascular injury and provide a model for studying the pathogenesis of Shiga-like toxin related microangiopathy
The functional neuroanatomy resource (FNAR) at Weill Cornell Medicine
INTRODUCTION. Computer assisted instruction has long proven useful in teaching of neuroanatomy, particularly when accompanied by traditional lecture presentations that present image and text data to students. The work describes the functional neuroanatomy resource (FNAR) innovation created at Weill Cornell Medicine – the first homegrown functional neuroanatomy teaching application developed for iPads by a medical school, including the learning options actively utilized by students and plans for continued development of the app. RESOURCES. Previously the teaching of functional neuroanatomy has relied heavily on gross brain and histological material created at the medical college and presented through computer technology initially server-based and then web-based. When the institution decided to move students to mobile devices, all students were provided with iPads. The functional neuroanatomy faculty and educational computing team accepted the challenge to make the FNAR content available through an iPad app. DESCRIPTION. This first local FNAR app integrates and indexes an image database along with various text resources. The app utilizes mouse-over and overlay technology, allowing users to easily highlight and select different areas of the brain and spinal cord and their related structures; it allows students to access the self-assessment tools onto the image overlays so that students can test their knowledge as they progress. CONCLUSIONS. A recent student evaluation reflects students rating the overall quality and usefulness of the FNAR as “excellent” (3.85 on a 4-point scale). Future plans include incorporating radiographic images and an “on-the-fly image set” technology, allowing students to query the database specifically designed to answer their questions
Ubiquitous organic molecule-based free-standing nanowires with ultra-high aspect ratios
ごくありふれた有機分子からナノ細線をつくり立たせて埋めつくす --立体電子回路や超高感度センサーへ--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2021-06-30.The critical dimension of semiconductor devices is approaching the single-nm regime, and a variety of practical devices of this scale are targeted for production. Planar structures of nano-devices are still the center of fabrication techniques, which limit further integration of devices into a chip. Extension into 3D space is a promising strategy for future; however, the surface interaction in 3D nanospace make it hard to integrate nanostructures with ultrahigh aspect ratios. Here we report a unique technique using high-energy charged particles to produce free-standing 1D organic nanostructures with high aspect ratios over 100 and controlled number density. Along the straight trajectory of particles penetrating the films of various sublimable organic molecules, 1D nanowires were formed with approximately 10~15 nm thickness and controlled length. An all-dry process was developed to isolate the nanowires, and planar or coaxial heterojunction structures were built into the nanowires. Electrical and structural functions of the developed standing nanowire arrays were investigated, demonstrating the potential of the present ultrathin organic nanowire systems
Cellular automata approach to three-phase traffic theory
The cellular automata (CA) approach to traffic modeling is extended to allow
for spatially homogeneous steady state solutions that cover a two dimensional
region in the flow-density plane. Hence these models fulfill a basic postulate
of a three-phase traffic theory proposed by Kerner. This is achieved by a
synchronization distance, within which a vehicle always tries to adjust its
speed to the one of the vehicle in front. In the CA models presented, the
modelling of the free and safe speeds, the slow-to-start rules as well as some
contributions to noise are based on the ideas of the Nagel-Schreckenberg type
modelling. It is shown that the proposed CA models can be very transparent and
still reproduce the two main types of congested patterns (the general pattern
and the synchronized flow pattern) as well as their dependence on the flows
near an on-ramp, in qualitative agreement with the recently developed continuum
version of the three-phase traffic theory [B. S. Kerner and S. L. Klenov. 2002.
J. Phys. A: Math. Gen. 35, L31]. These features are qualitatively different
than in previously considered CA traffic models. The probability of the
breakdown phenomenon (i.e., of the phase transition from free flow to
synchronized flow) as function of the flow rate to the on-ramp and of the flow
rate on the road upstream of the on-ramp is investigated. The capacity drops at
the on-ramp which occur due to the formation of different congested patterns
are calculated.Comment: 55 pages, 24 figure
Impact of cigarette smoking on the relationship between body mass index and coronary heart disease: a pooled analysis of 3264 stroke and 2706 CHD events in 378579 individuals in the Asia Pacific region
BACKGROUND: Elevated levels of body mass index (BMI) and smoking are well established lifestyle risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke. If these two risk factors have a synergistic relationship, rigorous lifestyle modification may contribute to greater reduction in cardiovascular burden than previously expected. METHODS: A pooled analysis of individual participant data from 38 cohorts, involving 378,579 participants. Hazards ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for BMI by cigarette smoking status were estimated using Cox proportional hazard models. RESULTS: During a mean follow-up of 3.8 years, 2706 CHD and 3264 strokes were recorded. There was a log-linear, positive relationship of BMI with CHD and stroke in both smokers and non-smokers with evidence of a synergistic effect of smoking on the association between BMI and CHD only: HRs (95% CIs) associated with a 2 kg/m2 higher BMI were 1.13 (1.10-1.17) in current smokers and 1.09 (1.06-1.11) in non-smokers (p-value for interaction=0.04). CONCLUSION: Smoking amplifies the positive association between BMI and CHD but not stroke. If confirmed, these results suggest that effective strategies that target smoking cessation and weight loss are likely to have a greater impact than anticipated on reducing the burden of CHD.published_or_final_versio
Criterion for traffic phases in single vehicle data and empirical test of a microscopic three-phase traffic theory
A microscopic criterion for distinguishing synchronized flow and wide moving
jam phases in single vehicle data measured at a single freeway location is
presented. Empirical local congested traffic states in single vehicle data
measured on different days are classified into synchronized flow states and
states consisting of synchronized flow and wide moving jam(s). Then empirical
microscopic characteristics for these different local congested traffic states
are studied. Using these characteristics and empirical spatiotemporal
macroscopic traffic phenomena, an empirical test of a microscopic three-phase
traffic flow theory is performed. Simulations show that the microscopic
criterion and macroscopic spatiotemporal objective criteria lead to the same
identification of the synchronized flow and wide moving jam phases in congested
traffic. It is found that microscopic three-phase traffic models can explain
both microscopic and macroscopic empirical congested pattern features. It is
obtained that microscopic distributions for vehicle speed difference as well as
fundamental diagrams and speed correlation functions can depend on the spatial
co-ordinate considerably. It turns out that microscopic optimal velocity (OV)
functions and time headway distributions are not necessarily qualitatively
different, even if local congested traffic states are qualitatively different.
The reason for this is that important spatiotemporal features of congested
traffic patterns are it lost in these as well as in many other macroscopic and
microscopic traffic characteristics, which are widely used as the empirical
basis for a test of traffic flow models, specifically, cellular automata
traffic flow models.Comment: 27 pages, 16 figure
Pesquisa do antígeno circulante de Cryptococcus neoformans em líquido cefalorraqueano pelo teste de coaglutinação
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