We analyze the Ce3+-Pr3+:Y2SiO5 emission spectra obtained under selective excitation of the two Ce3+ sites in Y2SiO5 and we show clear evidence of direct energy transfer from Ce3+ to Pr3+. Energy transfer microparameters were calculated from the experimental spectral overlap between the Ce3+ emission and the Pr3+ and Eu3+ absorptions from which, the transfer mechanisms Ce3+-> Pr3+ are concluded to

A general approach to the modifications of the spectrum of a laser pulse interacting with matter is elaborated and used for spectral diagnostics of laser wakefield generation in guiding structures. Analytical predictions of the laser frequency red shift due to the wakefield excited in a capillary waveguide are confirmed by self-consistent modeling results. The role of ionization blue shift, and no

Background: The clinical and demographic variables defining the heterogeneity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are unclear. A post-hoc analysis of five randomised studies in patients with a history of previous exacerbations examined the clinical and demographic characteristics describing moderate-to-very-severe COPD. Methods: Factor analysis was performed on all continuous baseline

The exact role of fluid mechanics in the patho-physiological process of atherosclerosis has been a research topic over many years, yet without clear conclusive result. One has observed that morphological manifestations of the disease are found at some well-defined locations: certain vessel bifurcations and in curvatures. The flow in these regions is characterized by unsteadiness and often separati

Using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, thermal desorption spectroscopy, and scanning tunneling microscopy, we show that upon keV Xe+ irradiation of graphene on Ir(111), Xe atoms are trapped under the graphene. Upon annealing, aggregation of Xe leads to graphene bulges and blisters. The efficient trapping is an unexpected and remarkable phenomenon given the absence of chemical binding of Xe to Ir

In this review, we summarize a series of experimental studies of the swelling of zwitterionic lamellar phospholipid and phospholipid-cholesterol systems using a novel double twin calorimeter. With this method, one can obtain simultaneous measures of the partial molar free energy and the partial molar enthalpy, and the experimental studies thus provide a complete thermodynamic characterization of t

Intra--arterial thrombolysis has become the most important minimal--invasive treatment option to treat acute lower limb ischemia. Although hemorrhagic stroke is a dreaded complication, it is considered beneficial to many fragile and elderly patients where vascular surgery is not an option. This review outlines current results after intra--arterial thrombolysis with low dose recombinant tissue plas

Diverse physiological processes are regulated differentially by Ca2+ oscillations through the common regulatory hub calmodulin. The capacity of calmodulin to combine specificity with promiscuity remains to be resolved. Here we propose a mechanism based on the molecular properties of calmodulin, its two domains with separate Ca2+ binding affinities, and target exchange rates that depend on both tar

Based on the Constructal Theory, parallel-flow and counterflow microchannels heat sinks with bifurcations are put forward to manage the temperature nonuniformity and further reduce the temperature of microchannel heat sinks bottom plates. Several models with different lengths of bifurcations are designed, and the corresponding laminar fluid flow and heat transfer of all models have been investigat

With rising concentrations of both atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and tropospheric ozone (O-3), it is important to better understand the interacting effects of these two trace gases on plant physiology affecting land-atmosphere gas exchange. We investigated the effect of growth under elevated CO2 and O-3, singly and in combination, on the primary short-term stomatal response to CO2 concentration

The aim of this short article is to question the archaeological classification of the Neolithic archaeological cultures, and to raise questions about how to understand the fragmentary material culture in terms of social agency and cultural expression. e settlement of Jonstorp in southern Sweden as a case of the south Scandinavian Pitted Ware complex presents theoretical and methodological implicat

We discuss new diffractive mechanism of central exclusive production of W+W- pairs in proton-proton collisions at the LHC. We include diagrams with intermediate virtual Higgs boson as well as quark box diagrams. Several observables related to this process are calculated. Predictions for the total cross section and differential distributions in W-boson rapidity and transverse momentum as well as WW

Strong field laser-matter interaction is intrinsically a sub-cycle phenomenon, which is clearly illustrated by the generation of attosecond pulses through the high-order harmonic process. Therefore, to control strong field processes the structure of the field driving the generation has to be controlled on a sub-cycle level. One approach is to use phase stabilized few-cycle driving pulses and vary