Phase transition in odd-N isotopes 99,101,103 Pd are investigated via the E-GOS (E-Gamma Over Spin) curves, which strongly suggest a structure evolution from vibration to rotation along the yrast lines with increasing spin. Theoretical calculations have been performed for the ground state bands of 99,101,103 Pd in the framework of the cranked shell model (CSM) and the alignment properties observed experimentally are analyzed employing this model. The results show that the phase transition in the ground state bands of 99,101,103 Pd can be interpreted as the valence nucleons start to occupy the g 9/2 proton orbitals with increasing spin which would polarize the core to a small, but rigid quadrupole deformation.
We studied the picosecond time-resolved fluorescent spectroscopy of 1-anilino-8-naphthalene sulfonate (ANS), which binds to the staphylococcal nuclease (SNase) of the wild-type (WT) and the molten globule (MG) state. Three ANS emission bands at approximately 530nm, approximately 495nm, and approximately 475nm are resolved, corresponding to three ANS states: the free ANS in solution and associated form adsorbing to surface sites and binding to active sites. The surface hydrophobicity of the WT is moderate and different from the MG state, as shown both in the position of the bands and by the concentration dependent ANS fluorescent decay. For MG, the decay of two blue bands accelerated with the increment of the ANS concentration, whereas the WT did not show this dependency. However, when pdTp, an inhibitor, was attached to the active site of the MG state, band 2 decay was also independent of the ANS concentration. These results indicate that the protein hydrophobic sites have two types of interactions with ANS.
Surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) have sparked enormous interest on nanophotonics beyond the diffraction limit for their remarkable capabilities of subwavelength confinements and strong enhancements. Due to the inherent polarization sensitivity of the SPPs [transverse-magnetic (TM) polarization], it is a great challenge to couple the s-polarized free-space light to the SPPs. Here, an ultrasmall defect aperture (<(2)/2) is designed to directionally couple both the p- and s-polarized incident beams to the single SPP mode in a broad bandwidth, which is guided by a subwavelength plasmonic waveguide. Simulations show that hot spots emerge at the sharp corners of the defect aperture when the incident beams illuminate it from the back side. The strong radiative fields from the hot spots are directionally coupled to the SPP mode because of the symmetry breaking of the defect aperture. By adjusting the structural parameters, both the unidirectional and bidirectional SPP coupling from the two orthogonal linear-polarization incident beams are experimentally demonstrated. The polarization-free coupling of the SPPs is of importance in circuits for fully optical processing of information with a deep-subwavelength footprint.
We manufactured polarizing polymer solar cells (PSCs) utilizing a liquid crystalline polymer (i.e., pol y(2,5-bis(3-dodecylthiophen-2-yl) thieno[3,2-b] thiophene) (PBTTT)) as an electron donor material and a material that selectively absorbs polarized light. The oriented PBTTT films prepared using a self-organization process exhibited a high dichroic ratio of ca. 6.35 at the absorption peak. The polarizing PSCs based on oriented PBTTT-PC71BM photoactive layers exhibit an anisotropic photovoltaic effect under polarized illumination along the two orthogonal axes. The polarizing PSCs have a larger power conversion efficiency under parallel-polarized illumination than that of isotropic PV devices under unpolarized illumination. Based on picosecond fluorescent spectra, the parallel excitation produces a slower ground state recovery and a longer exciton lifetime than perpendicular excitation for PBTTT molecules in a uniaxially oriented arrangement. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) belong to a class of ubiquitous pollutants and are possibly associated with adverse health effects. In this study, we aimed to assess PAH exposure by measuring the hydroxylated metabolites (hydroxy-PAHs) in urine samples of a rural population from the North China Plain and to explore the possible associations between PAH exposure and oxidative stress indicated by urinary malondialdehyde (MDA) and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG). High levels of urinary hydroxy-PAHs were observed, with the geometric mean concentrations of 0.57, 2.2, 5.0, 7.0, and 16.6 mu g g(-1) creatinine for 1-hydroxypyrene, hydroxyphenanthrenes, hydroxyfluorenes, hydroxybiphenyls, and hydroxynaphthalenes, respectively. Particularly in the winter season, the exposures were 2.3-6.0-fold of those in the spring. Corresponding to PAH exposure, levels of urinary MDA were positively associated with hydroxy-PAHs after controlling for confounders in the linear regression models (p < 0.05). An estimation indicated 21.3-39.3 % increment of urinary MDA per one-fold increase of hydroxy-PAHs. In contrast, no significant correlation was found between urinary 8-OHdG and hydroxy-PAHs; alternatively, living at the e-waste recycling site was found a significant factor on this oxidative DNA damage. These results provide evidence on high PAH exposure and the induction of oxidative stress on lipid peroxidation for this rural population.
How geographical neighboring competitors influence the strategic price behaviors of universities is still unclear because previous studies assume spatial independence between universities. Using data from the National Center for Education Statistics college navigator dataset, this study shows that the price of one university is spatially autocorrelated to its neighboring competitors and such neighborhood structure induces cooperation Nash equilibrium in a spatial price game. In the spatial price game of universities the possibility of the cooperation solution is about 76%, while that of the defeat solution is about 24%. This study demonstrates that the relation between price difference and geographical distance of universities is an inverse U-shaped curve rather than a line.
Background: Although coronary heart disease (CHD) is one of the major cardiovascular diseases, risk factors associated with the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of CHD patients remain unclear. The present study was designed to determine the profile and significant factors of the HRQoL in CHD patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in rural communities of Fangshan District, Beijing, China. Socio-demographic, lifestyle, and comorbidity information of CHD patients were collected by a structured questionnaire and medical records. HRQoL was measured using European Quality of Life 5-dimensions (EQ-5D) scale and EQ Visual Analog Scale (EQ-VAS). Multiple linear and logistic regressions were performed to explore the association of potential risk factors with HRQoL scores and each EQ-5D, respectively. Results: Totally, 1928 CHD patients (mean age 61.64 +/- 9.24 years; female:male = 2.4:1) were enrolled in the study. The mean score of EQ-5D index and EQ-VAS were 0.889 +/- 0.172 and 71.56 +/- 17.65, respectively. Multiple linear regression revealed that marital status, physical activity, moderate alcohol drinking, and familys population were positive independent correlates of EQ-VAS, whereas diabetes mellitus and stroke were negative independent correlates (all P < 0.05). Age and stroke were negatively while physical activity, moderate alcohol drinking, familys population and household income were positively correlated with EQ-5D index (all P < 0.05) independently. In addition, each of the five HRQoL dimensions had various specific determinants, including obesity, underweight, smoking or education. Conclusions: Findings of the study highlight certain socio-demographic, lifestyle factors, and comorbid stroke or diabetes mellitus as correlates of HRQoL in Chinese CHD patients. Large-scale cohort studies should be carried out to confirm our results in the future.
