760 research outputs found
Interaction of Fe+ with the C-60 surface: A study about the feasibility of endohedral doping
No full textThe feasibility of endohedral iron doping of C-60 is studied using a mass selected ion beam to create an Fe+ beam with variable energy (60-380 eV, 1.2x10(-3) C) which is directed at a C-60 thin film. The surface is characterized by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and oxidation of the samples is used to discriminate between Fe@C-60 and carbides. The fullerene cages are damaged during the irradiation, and participate in direct Fe-C bond formation. The reaction with oxygen indicates the absence of sizable amount of Fe@C-60. Comparison with reference samples composed of iron and damaged fullerene layers (by Ar+ irradiation) supports this interpretation. The experiment serves as a model study for the investigation of different metal-fullerene combinations. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics
Reply from Authors re: Arthur L. Burnett. Erection Rehabilitation After Radical Prostatectomy: Definite Purpose, Indefinite Strategy. Eur Urol 2014; 65: 597-8 Although Erection Rehabilitation After Prostatectomy Remains Indefinite, the Most Effective Treatment, the Earliest Recovery, and the Preservation of Erectile Function Remain a Definite Goal
No full textmmunohistological studies on neoplasms of female and male Onchocerca volvulus: Filarial origin and absence of Wolbachia from tumor cells
No full textUp to 5% of untreated female Onchocerca volvulus filariae develop potentially fatal pleomorphic neoplasms, whose incidence is increased following ivermectin treatment. We studied the occurrence of 8 filarial proteins and of Wolbachia endobacteria in the tumor cells. Onchocercomas from patients, untreated and treated with antibiotics and anthelminthics, were examined by immunohistology. Neoplasms were diagnosed in 112 of 3587 female and in 2 of 1570 male O. volvulus. The following proteins and other compounds of O. volvulus were expressed in the cells of the neoplasms: glutathione S-transferase 1, lysosomal aspartic protease, cAMP-dependent protein kinase, alpha-enolase, aspartate aminotransferase, ankyrin E1, tropomyosin, heat shock protein 60, transforming growth factor-beta, and prostaglandin E2. These findings prove the filarial origin of the neoplasms and confirm the pleomorphism of the tumor cells. Signs indicating malignancy of the neoplasms are described. Wolbachia were observed in the hypodermis, oocytes, and embryos of tumor-harbouring filariae using antibodies against Wolbachia surface protein, Wolbachia HtrA-type serine protease, and Wolbachia aspartate aminotransferase. In contrast, Wolbachia were not found in the cells of the neoplasms. Further, neoplasm-containing worms were not observed after more than 10 months after the start of sufficient treatment with doxycycline or doxycycline plus ivermectin
Tunga penetrans : molecular identification of Wolbachia endobacteria and their recognition by antibodies against proteins of endobacteria from filarial parasites
No full textIn search of Wolbachia in human parasites, Wolbachia were identified in the sand flea Tunga penetrans. PCR and DNA sequencing of the bacterial 16S rDNA, the ftsZ cell division protein, the Wolbachia surface protein (wsp) and the Wolbachia aspartate aminotransferase genes revealed a high similarity to the respective sequences of endosymbionts of filarial nematodes. Using these sequences a phylogenetic tree was generated, that indicates a close relationship between Wolbachia from T. penetrans and from filarial parasites, but possibly as a member of a new supergroup. Ultrastructural studies showed that Wolbachia are abundant in the ovaries of neosomic fleas, whereas other, smaller and morphologically distinct, bacteria were observed in the lumen of the intestine. Wolbachia were labeled by immunohistology and immunogold electron microscopy using polyclonal antibodies against wsp of Drosophila, of the filarial parasite Dirofilaria immitis, or against hsp 60 from Yersinia enterocolitica. These results show that as in filariasis, humans with tungiasis are exposed to Wolbachia. Furthermore, antisera raised against proteins of Wolbachia from arthropods or from filarial parasites can be immunologically cross-reactive
Motoneurons of twitch and nontwitch extraocular muscle fibers in the abducens, trochlear, and oculomotor nuclei of monkeys
No full textEye muscle fibers can be divided into two categories: nontwitch, multiply innervated muscle fibers (MIFs), and twitch, singly innervated muscle fibers (SIFs). We investigated the location of motoneurons supplying SIFs and MIFs in the six extraocular muscles of monkeys. Injections of retrograde tracers into eye muscles were placed either centrally, within the central SIF endplate zone; in an intermediate zone, outside the SIF endplate zone, targeting MIF endplates along the length of muscle fiber; or distally, into the myotendinous junction containing palisade endings. Central injections labeled large motoneurons within the abducens, trochlear or oculomotor nucleus, and smaller motoneurons lying mainly around the periphery of the motor nuclei. Intermediate injections labeled some large motoneurons within the motor nuclei but also labeled many peripheral motoneurons. Distal injections labeled small and medium-large peripheral neurons strongly and almost exclusively. The peripheral neurons labeled from the lateral rectus muscle surround the medial half of the abducens nucleus: from superior oblique, they form a cap over the dorsal trochlear nucleus; from inferior oblique and superior rectus, they are scattered bilaterally around the midline, between the oculomotor nucleus; from both medial and inferior rectus, they lie mainly in the C-group, on the dorsomedial border of oculomotor nucleus. In the medial rectus distal injections, a "C-group extension" extended up to the Edinger-Westphal nucleus and labeled dendrites within the supraoculomotor area. We conclude that large motoneurons within the motor nuclei innervate twitch fibers, whereas smaller motoneurons around the periphery innervate nontwitch, MIF fibers. The peripheral subgroups also contain medium-large neurons which may be associated with the palisade endings of global MIFs. The role of MIFs in eye movements is unclear, but the concept of a final common pathway must now be reconsidered. J. Comp. Neurol. 438:318-335, 2001. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc
Pressure dependence of the solubility of Ar and Kr in melts of the system SiO2-NaAlSi2O6
No full textThe solubilities of Ar and Kr in supercooled melts in the system SiO2-NaAlSi2O6 have been studied at temperatures of 1200 degrees C (SiO2), 1000 and 750 degrees C (NaAlSi3O8), and 800 degrees C (NaAlSi2O6) at pressures from 200 to 6000 bar. Gas sorption experiments were performed in an internally heated pressure vessel, and noble gas concentrations in quenched samples were analyzed by absolute analytical techniques [gas chromatography (GC), and thermogravimetry (TG), gravimetry]. Comparison of the results from this study with other absolute techniques (Rutherford-backscattering, mass spectrometry) is possible for silica and exhibit excellent agreement. This agreement leads us to conclude that our silica glasses with an Ar concentration of 1.02 wt% and a Kr concentration of 0.54 wt% are suitable as standard materials. Solubility increases linearly with increasing pressure for all three compositions. In SiO2 the solubility of Ar and Kr increases with pressure with nearly parallel slopes, whereas Ar and Kr exhibit diverging slopes in NaAlSi3O8 and NaAlSi2O6. The linear relationship between fugacity and dissolved gas below 2-3 kbar, indicates that Henry's law constants (in units of 10(6) bar) for Ar in SiO2, NaAlSi3O8, and NaAlSi2O6 are 0.94, 3.15, and 5.71, respectively, and for Kr are 1.38, 5.69, and 9.28, respectively. The experimental results can be modeled by two alternative thermodynamic approaches. First, assuming mixing of noble gases with the network of the melt, partial molar volumes (in cm(3)/mol) can be calculated in SiO2, NaAlSi3O8, and NaAlSi2O6 for Ar as 25.9 +/- 1.3, 21.1 +/-. 1.6, and 21.1 +/- 0.7, respectively and for Kr as 24.3 +/- 1.8, 27.6 +/- 0.8, and 24.7 +/- 0.9, respectively. Second, assuming the volume change upon solution to be zero, a Langmuir Isotherm can be applied yielding saturation levels M (in units of 10(20) sites/cm(3) melt) in SiO2, NaAlSi3O8, and NaAlSi2O6 for Ar as 3.82 +/- 0.6, 1.33 +/- 0.2, and 0.72 +/- 0.08, respectively and for Kr as 3.49 +/- 0.7, 0.56 +/- 0.05, and 0.42 +/- 0.06, respectively. Highest solubility is observed in all three melts for Ar. Solubility decreases with increasing substitution of Si4+ by Na+ + Al3+. Th, dependence of solubility on composition supports the structural model for melts along the join SiO2-NaAlSi2O6, based on a stuffed tridymite-like structure
Diffusivity and solubility of He in garnet: An exploratory study using nuclear reaction analysis
No full textWe have used the nuclear reaction He-3(d,p)He-4 in an exploratory study of the diffusivity and solubility of He in the mineral garnet. The garnet samples analyzed were single crystals which had been loaded with He-3 at 7000 bar pressure and temperatures of 900, 950 and 1000 degrees C. From the He-3 depth profiles measured we could deduce diffusion coefficients and solubility values. For the diffusivity the Arrhenius parameters D-0 = 7.5 x 10(9) cm(2)/s and E-a = 500 kJ/mol were found. An estimate of 11.5 at ppm was obtained for the apparent solubility, which comprises volume solubility and dislocation solubility, and an upper limit of 3 at ppm for the volume solubility. Furthermore, out-diffusion of He at room temperature occurring faster than to be expected from the high-temperature diffusivity was observed. The results are compared to those of a preceding study in which a bulk technique for measuring He-4 had been used. It can be concluded that the NRA technique is well suited to the problem in question. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved
Gold cluster formation on a fullerene surface
No full textThe growth of Au clusters on a fullerene thin film was investigated by in situ photoelectron spectroscopy in the ultraviolet (UPS) and x-ray (XPS) regime. Due to its highly corrugated surface fullerene films provide a wide range of bonding sites which could be exploited as molecular templates and serve to create a cluster superstructure. To gain insight into the fullerene-Au interaction two types of experiments were performed: (i) the deposition of Au on a fullerene surface, and (ii) the deposition of fullerenes on a Au surface. In both experiments an island growth mode is observed. The deposition of submonolayer amounts of C-60 onto a gold film showed that the main interaction of the two species is due to chemisorption of the first C-60 monolayer. In addition a constant band bending in the fullerene film is detected, but the UPS valence-band spectra show that there is no charge transfer from the Au to the C-60 lowest unoccupied molecular orbital. In the reverse experiment, the cluster growth of Au on the corrugated C-60 surface, the analysis of the Au core level does not reveal a specific bonding or nucleation site for Au atoms and clusters. This is in contrast to observations with Si clusters, which prefer to reside in the troughs between the fullerene molecules. The Au clusters grow continually from a size of about 55 atoms for the early stages of growth up to 150 atoms for the deposition of a nominal coverage of 1.5 nm. These data are derived from an analysis of the d-band splitting and the Au 4f core-level shift due to delayed photohole relaxation. The thermal stability of the Au-clusters-covered fullerene film was investigated by annealing in situ up to temperatures of 650 degrees C. For temperatures up to 450 degrees C a continuous growth of the clusters is detected, which is accompanied by a slight drop in Au concentration in the range of XPS for annealing temperatures higher than 350 degrees C. This may be due to a ripening of the clusters. The presence of Au apparently delays fullerene sublimation. The film shows a very good thermal stability and even after annealing at 650 degrees C there is still a fullerene film detectable in the photoelectron spectroscopy spectra. (c) 2005 American Institute of Physics
Changes in the electronic structure of gold particles upon thiol adsorption as a function of the mean particle size
No full textWe studied the interaction of adsorbed thiol molecules with gold nanoparticles as a function of the mean particle size. The results obtained from MXPS (monochromated X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy) measurements showed that attachment of the thiol sulfur headgroup onto the cluster surface leads to a positive binding energy shift in the Au 4f core-level. The absence of line width broadening upon adsorption indicates that these changes affect the whole particle and not only the particle surface, where the actual Au-S bond is located. The positive binding energy shift depends on the cluster size and increases with decreasing diameter. A maximum shift of 0.41 eV could be measured for the smallest particles (similar to 1 nm). The valence band exhibited positive binding energy shifts similar to the Au 4f core-levels, but smaller in absolute values. Changes in the valence band shape were interpreted as re-hybridization of Au 5d electrons due to the creation of Au-S bonds. Furthermore, we observed a disappearance of the Fermi edge upon thiol adsorption, which we attribute to a sulfur-induced metal-insulator-transition of the gold cluster. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved
Emergent spatial patterns of competing benthic and pelagic algae in a river network: A parsimonious basin-scale modeling analysis
No full textAlgae, as primary producers in riverine ecosystems, are found in two distinct habitats: benthic and pelagic algae typically prevalent in shallow/small and deep/large streams, respectively. Over an entire river continuum, spatiotemporal patterns of the two algal communities reflect specificity in habitat preference determined by geomorphic structure, hydroclimatic controls, and spatiotemporal heterogeneity in nutrient loads from point- and diffuse-sources. By representing these complex interactions between geomorphic, hydrologic, geochemical, and ecological processes, we present here a new river-network-scale dynamic model (CnANDY) for pelagic (A) and benthic (B) algae competing for energy and one limiting nutrient (phosphorus, P). We used the urbanized Weser River Basin in Germany (7th-order; ~8.4 million population; ~46 K km2) as a case study and analyzed simulations for equilibrium mass and concentrations under steady median river discharge. We also examined P, A, and B spatial patterns in four sub-basins. We found an emerging pattern characterized by scaling of P and A concentrations over stream-order ω, whereas B concentration was described by three distinct phases. Furthermore, an abrupt algal regime shift occurred in intermediate streams from B dominance in ω≤3 to exclusive A presence in ω≥6. Modeled and long-term basin-scale monitored dissolved P concentrations matched well for ω>4, and with overlapping ranges in ω<3. Power-spectral analyses for the equilibrium P, A, and B mass distributions along hydrological flow paths showed stronger clustering compared to geomorphological attributes, and longer spatial autocorrelation distance for A compared to B. We discuss the implications of our findings for advancing hydro-ecological concepts, guiding monitoring, informing management of water quality, restoring aquatic habitat, and extending CnANDY model to other river basins
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