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Background: The received wisdom among clinicians has been Provisional Tic Disorder (PTD)—tics now but never a year or more ago—is generally short-lived and mild, includes few tics, and rarely includes complex tics, premonitory phenomena or comorbid illnesses. However, such conclusions come from clinical experience. Objective: To test these views with thorough, prospectively acquired data. Methods: Prospective study of 89 children with tics starting 0-9 months ago (median 4); follow-up at 12 (± 24, 36, 48) months after the first tic. Results: Most had an anxiety disorder (54), ADHD (39), OCD (17) or enuresis (25). ASD symptoms were not overrepresented (SRS T-score 50.3 ± 10.0). After initial history, PI was confident of a past-week tic in only 49 of 59, but after extended observation all had 2+ current tics and a lifetime total of 6.7 ± 4.2 motor and 2.2 ± 1.7 phonic tics. 42 had had a complex tic and 69 had some tic suppression. Total tic score was > 13 in 61/89, impairment was ≥ 20 in 13/88, and 53/62 had recent or planned doctor visits for the tics. At 12 months, 79 returned, and 78 still had tics. However, most (67) had no current plans to see a doctor for tics. Most who returned at 2-4 years still had tics known to child and family, but medical impact was low. Conclusion: Our results are consistent with previous observations but overturn clinical lore.

We study ultrafast charge transfer processes as a function of interfragment separation in dissociating iodopropane molecules using time-resolved site-selective ionization with intense extreme-ultraviolet (XUV) light.

We present analytical expressions of momentum-resolved core-level photoemission time delay in a molecular frame of a heteronuclear diatomic molecule upon photoionization by a linearly polarized soft x-rays attosecond pulse. For this purpose, we start to derive a general expression of photoemission time delay based on the first order time dependent perturbation theory within the one electron and single channel model in the fixed-in-space system (atoms, molecules and crystals) and apply it to the core-level photoemission within the electric dipole approximation. By using multiple scattering theory and applying series expansion, plane wave and muffin-tin approximations, the core-level photoemission time delay $t$ is divided into three components, $t_{\rm abs}$, $t_{\rm path}$ and $t_{\rm sc}$, which are atomic photoemission time delay, delays caused by the propagation of photoelectron among the surrounding atoms and the scattering of photoelectron by them, respectively. We applied single scattering approximation to $t_{\rm path}$ and obtained $t_{\rm path}^{(1)}(k,��)$ with polarization vector parallel to the molecular axis for a heteronuclear diatomic molecule, where $��$ is the angle of measured photoelectron from the molecular axis. $t$ is approximated well with this simplified expression $t_{\rm path}^{(1)}(k,��)$ in the high energy regime ($k\gtrsim 3.5\,\, {\rm a.u.}^{-1}$), and the validity of this estimated result is confirmed by comparing it with multiple scattering calculations for C 1$s$ core-level photoemission time delay of CO molecules. $t_{\rm path}^{(1)}(k,��)$ shows characteristic dependence on $��$, it becomes zero at $��=0$, exhibits EXAFS type oscillation with $2kR$ at $��=��$, where $R$ is the bondlength, and gives just the travelling time of photoelectron from the absorbing atom to the neighbouring atom at $��=��/2$., 7 pages, 2 figures

The activity of multiple organelles must be coordinated to ensure cellular lipid homeostasis. This includes the peroxisomes which metabolise certain lipids and lipid droplets which act as neutral lipid storage centres. Direct organellar contact between peroxisomes and lipid droplets has been observed, and interaction between proteins associated with the membranes of these organelles has been shown, but the functional role of these interactions is not clear. In Drosophila cells, we identified a novel localization of a subset of three transmembrane Peroxin proteins (Peroxin3, Peroxin13, and Peroxin14), normally required for peroxisome biogenesis, to newly formed lipid droplets. This event was not linked to significant changes in peroxisome size or number, nor was recruitment of other Peroxin proteins or mature peroxisomes observed. The presence of these Peroxin proteins at lipid droplets influences their function as changes in the relative levels of Peroxin14 associated with the lipid droplet surface directly affected the presence of regulatory perilipin and lipases with corresponding effects on triglyceride storage.Summary statementInteractions between peroxisomes and lipid droplets is thought to help coordinate management of cellular lipids. Peroxin proteins are required for peroxisome biogenesis. A spectrum of effects on triacylglyceride storage was seen when each of the 12 conserved Peroxins are knocked down in the Drosophila fat body with Peroxin14 knockdown having the largest effect. When Drosophila S2 cells were cultured in excess oleic acid, Peroxin3, Peroxin13, and Peroxin14, but not other Peroxins were localized to lipid droplets independently of other peroxisome markers. The presence of Peroxin14 at the lipid droplet surface altered recruitment of perilipin and lipase proteins.

In the context of correlated insulators, where electron–electron interactions (U) drive the localization of charge carriers, the metal–insulator transition is described as either bandwidth- or filling-controlled1. Motivated by the challenge of the insulating phase in Sr2IrO4, a new class of correlated insulators has been proposed, in which spin–orbit coupling (SOC) is believed to renormalize the bandwidth of the half-filled jeff = 1/2 doublet, allowing a modest U to induce a charge-localized phase2,3. Although this framework has been tacitly assumed, a thorough characterization of the ground state has been elusive4,5. Furthermore, direct evidence for the role of SOC in stabilizing the insulating state has not been established, because previous attempts at revealing the role of SOC6,7 have been hindered by concurrently occurring changes to the filling8–10. We overcome this challenge by employing multiple substituents that introduce well-defined changes to the signatures of SOC and carrier concentration in the electronic structure, as well as a new methodology that allows us to monitor SOC directly. Specifically, we study Sr2Ir1−xTxO4 (T = Ru, Rh) by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, combined with ab initio and supercell tight-binding calculations. This allows us to distinguish relativistic and filling effects, thereby establishing conclusively the central role of SOC in stabilizing the insulating state of Sr2IrO4. Most importantly, we estimate the critical value for SOC in this system to be λc = 0.42 ± 0.01 eV, and provide the first demonstration of a spin–orbit-controlled metal–insulator transition.

Background Preoperative nutritional and inflammation indexes have been shown to be associated with postoperative complications and the prognosis of patients with a malignant tumor. We evaluated several clinicopathological prognostic factors in patients with resected esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Methods Seventy-eight patients who underwent curative resection for ESCC were included in this retrospective study. The associations of body mass index (BMI), the prognostic nutritional index (PNI), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and protein-albumin ratio (CAR) with various clinicopathological factors were evaluated. Results In multivariate analyses, only low PNI (

When weakly-bound complexes are multiply excited by intense electromagnetic radiation, energy can be exchanged between neighboring atoms through a type of resonant interatomic Coulombic decay (ICD). This decay mechanism due to multiple excitations has been predicted to be relatively slow, typically lasting tens to hundreds of picoseconds. Here, we directly measure the ICD timescale in resonantly excited helium droplets using a high resolution, tunable, extreme ultraviolet free electron laser. Over an extensive range of droplet sizes and laser intensities, we discover the decay to be surprisingly fast, with decay times as fast as 400 femtoseconds, and to only present a weak dependence on the density of the excited states. Using a combination of time dependent density functional theory and ab initio quantum chemistry calculations, we elucidate the mechanisms of this ultrafast decay process where pairs of excited helium atoms in one droplet strongly attract each other and form merging void bubbles which drastically accelerates ICD.

© 2017. The Liquefaction Experiments and Analysis Projects (LEAP) is an international effort to produce a set of high quality test data and to then use it in a validation exercise of existing computational models and simulation procedures for soil liquefaction analysis. A validation effort (LEAP-GWU 2015) was undertaken using a benchmark centrifuge model of a sloping deposit tested in a rigid-wall container. This article presents and discusses the shear stress-strain responses and effective stress paths of the LEAP-GW 2015 centrifuge tests and numerical predictions (including an assessment of the effects of the rigid boundaries).

Introduction: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia, characterized by a progressive decline in cognition and function. Current treatment options for AD include the cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) donepezil, galantamine, and rivastigmine, as well as the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist memantine. Treatment guidelines recommend the use of ChEIs as the standard of care first-line therapy. Several randomized clinical studies have demonstrated the benefits of ChEIs on cognition, global function, behavior and activities of daily living. However, patients may fail to achieve sustained clinical benefits from ChEIs due to lack/loss of efficacy and/or safety, tolerability issues, and poor adherence to the treatment. The purpose of this review is to explore the strategies for continued successful treatment in patients with AD. Methods: Literature search was performed for articles published in PubMed and MEDLINE, using pre-specified search terms. Articles were critically evaluated for inclusion based on their titles, abstracts, and full text of the publication. Results and Conclusion: The findings of this review indicate that dose up-titration and switching between ChEIs may help to improve response to ChEI treatment and also address issues such as lack/loss of efficacy or safety/tolerability in patients with AD. However, well-designed studies are needed to provide robust evidence.

Background/Aims: Obesity and diabetes are intimately interrelated, and are independent risk factors for kidney disease. Overactivation of mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) is implicated in end organ damage of both pathologies. But the underlying mechanism of MR activation in kidney remains uncertain. We explored the involvement of Rac1, which we previously identified as a ligand-independent MR activator, in renal MR activation in vitro and in vivo. Methods: We evaluated the MR activity and Rac1 activity under high-glucose stimulation using luciferase reporter system and glutathione S-transferase pull-down assay in cultured mesangial cells. To elucidate the role of Rac1 in vivo, we employed KKAy, a mouse model of obesity-related type 2 diabetes, which spontaneously developed massive albuminuria and distinct glomerular lesions accompanied by increased plasma aldosterone concentration. Results: High-glucose stimulation increased Rac1 activity and MR transcriptional activity in cultured mesangial cells. Overexpression of constitutively active Rac1 activated MR, and glucose-induced MR activation was suppressed by overexpression of dominant negative Rac1 or Rac inhibitor EHT1864. In KKAy, renal Rac1 was activated, and nuclear MR was increased. EHT1864 treatment suppressed renal Rac1 and MR activity and mitigated renal pathology of KKAy without changing plasma aldosterone concentration. Conclusion: Our results suggest that MR activation plays an important role in the nephropathy of KKAy mice, and that glucose-induced Rac1 activation, in addition to hyperaldosteronemia, contributes to their renal MR activation. Along with MR blockade, Rac inhibition may potentially be a preferred option in the treatment of nephropathy in obesity-related diabetic patients.

Adrenocortical carcinomas are extremely rare aggressive tumors arising from the adrenal cortex. Histopathologically, differential diagnosis between adrenocortical carcinoma and pheochromocytoma is often difficult. We report two autopsy cases of adrenocortical carcinoma. The first case was a 20-year old man. He had abdominal discomfort and increasing swelling of the lower legs. Computer tomography (CT) detected a tumor of 16 cm in diameter at the right retroperitoneum space and multiple liver nodules. Although he was treated with chemotherapy, he died of the cardiovascular failure accompanying inferior vena cava tumor embolism after 4 days of initial chemotherapy. The second case was a 57-year old woman. She felt easy fatigability. Abdominal ultrasonography and CT detected a tumor of 20 cm in diameter at the left retroperitoneum space and multiple liver nodules. She was also treated with chemotherapy and mitotane. However, she died 13 months after the initial diagnosis. Autopsies were conducted in both cases. Histologically, both tumors were composed of polygonal shaped cells with marked atypia. Immunohistochemically, both showed positive for synaptophysin, carletinin, inhibin, melan A and steroidogenic factor 1 and negative for chromogranin, suggesting that both tumors were adrenal cortex origin. Moreover, both cases were categorized into malignancy according to Weiss criteria. Thus, we diagnosed both cases were aderenocortical carcinoma. We report here two autopsy cases of aggressive advanced adrenocortical carcinoma, emphasizing the utility of the immunohistochemical panel.

X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) are the only sources currently able to produce bright few-fs pulses with tunable photon energies from 100 eV to more than 10 keV. Due to the stochastic SASE operating principles and other technical issues the output pulses are subject to large fluctuations, making it necessary to characterize the x-ray pulses on every shot for data sorting purposes. We present a technique that applies machine learning tools to predict x-ray pulse properties using simple electron beam and x-ray parameters as input. Using this technique at the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS), we report mean errors below 0.3 eV for the prediction of the photon energy at 530 eV and below 1.6 fs for the prediction of the delay between two x-ray pulses. We also demonstrate spectral shape prediction with a mean agreement of 97%. This approach could potentially be used at the next generation of high-repetition-rate XFELs to provide accurate knowledge of complex x-ray pulses at the full repetition rate., Comment: 12 pages, 8 figures

Contains fulltext : 71132.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Closed access) In vivo microdialysis was used to study the effects of the locally applied GABA B receptor antagonist 2-hydroxysaclofen and GABA B receptor agonist baclofen on the basal dopamine efflux as well as on the endomorphin-1- and endomorphin-2-induced dopamine efflux in the nucleus accumbens of freely moving rats. 2-Hydroxysaclofen (100 and 500 nmol) increased basal dopamine efflux. Baclofen (2.5 and 5 nmol) failed to affect basal dopamine efflux. 2-Hydroxysaclofen (1 and 10 nmol) which did not alter the basal dopamine efflux, enhanced the endomorphin-1 (25 nmol)-induced dopamine efflux. Baclofen (2.5 and 5 nmol) failed to affect endomorphin-1 (25 nmol)-induced dopamine efflux, but it counteracted the 2-hydroxysaclofen-induced increase of the endomorphin-1-elicited dopamine efflux. Neither 2-hydroxysaclofen (10 nmol) nor baclofen (5 nmol) affected the endomorphin-2 (25 nmol)-induced dopamine efflux. The doses mentioned are the total amount of drug over the infusion period that varied across the drugs (25 or 50 min). These results suggest that accumbal GABA B receptor plays an inhibitory role on the basal as well as the endomorphin-1-elicited accumbal dopamine efflux. The present results support our earlier reported notion that endomorphin-1 and endomorphin-2 increase accumbal dopamine efflux by different mechanisms. Finally, it is suggested that a decrease of endogenous accumbal GABA reduces the accumbal GABA B receptor-mediated GABA-ergic inhibition, enhancing thereby the accumbal dopamine efflux.

We have investigated magneto-transport properties in a single crystal of pyrochore-type Nd2Ir2O7. The metallic conduction is observed on the antiferromagnetic domain walls of the all-in all-out type Ir-5d moment ordered insulating bulk state, that can be finely controlled by external magnetic field along [111]. On the other hand, an applied field along [001] induces the bulk phase transition from insulator to semimetal as a consequence of the field-induced modification of Nd-4f and Ir-5d moment configurations. A theoretical calculation consistently describing the experimentally observed features suggests a variety of exotic topological states as functions of electron correlation and Ir-5d moment orders which can be finely tuned by choice of rare-earth ion and by magnetic field, respectively.

We have measured the vibrationally resolved partial cross sections \sigma_{v_1^{\prime}} and asymmetry parameters \beta_{v_1^{\prime}} for C K-shell photoionization of the CO2 molecule in the Σu shape resonance region above the C K-shell ionization threshold. The positions of both the maxima of \sigma_{v_1^{\prime}} and the minima of \beta_{v_1^{\prime}} move towards the C K-shell threshold with increasing symmetric stretching vibrational excitation v'1 in the C 1s single-hole state. Calculations employing the relaxed-core Hartree–Fock approach reproduce the observed vibrational effects.

It is a long-standing dream of scientists to capture the ultra-fast dynamics of molecular or chemical reactions in real time and to make a molecular movie. With free-electron lasers delivering extreme ultraviolet (XUV) light at unprecedented intensities, in combination with pump-probe schemes, it is now possible to visualize structural changes on the femtosecond time scale in photo-excited molecules. In hydrocarbons the absorption of a single photon may trigger the migration of a hydrogen atom within the molecule. Here, such a reaction was filmed in acetylene molecules (C2H2) showing a partial migration of one of the protons along the carbon backbone which is consistent with dynamics calculations on ab initio potential energy surfaces. Our approach opens attractive perspectives and potential applications for a large variety of XUV-induced ultra-fast phenomena in molecules relevant to physics, chemistry, and biology., Comment: 21 pages, 3 figures, submitted

To define the basis for faulty granulopoiesis in patients with severe congenital neutropenia (SCN), the expression of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor receptor (G-CSFR) in primitive myeloid progenitor cells and their responsiveness to hematopoietic factors were studied. Flow cytometric analysis of bone marrow cells based on the expression of CD34, Kit receptor, and G-CSFR demonstrated a reduced frequency of CD34+/Kit+/ G-CSFR+cells in patients with SCN. The granulocyte-macrophage colony formation of CD34+/Kit+/G-CSFR+ cells in patients was markedly decreased in response to G-CSF alone and to the combination of stem cell factor, the ligand for flk2/flt3, and IL-3 with or without G-CSF in serum-deprived semisolid culture. In contrast, no difference in the responsiveness of CD34+/Kit+/G-CSFR− cells was noted between patients with SCN and subjects without SCN. These results demonstrate that the presence of qualitative and quantitative abnormalities of primitive myeloid progenitor cells expressing G-CSFR may play an important role in the impairment of granulopoiesis in patients with SCN.

We have performed X-ray two-photon photoelectron spectroscopy (XTPPS) using the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) X-ray free-electron laser (FEL) in order to study double core-hole (DCH) states of CO2, N2O and N2. The experiment verifies the theory behind the chemical sensitivity of two-site (ts) DCH states by comparing a set of small molecules with respect to the energy shift of the tsDCH state and by extracting the relevant parameters from this shift., Comment: 11 pages, 2 figures

To search for novel spin-charge coupled phenomena in the strongly correlated electron system on a frustration lattice, charge transport and dynamics have been investigated for the hole-doped spin-glass (Mott) insulator (Y$_{1-x}$Cd$_{x}$)$_{2}$Mo$_{2}$O$_{7}$ with pyrochlore structure. Coincident with the disappearance of spin-glass state by hole doping, a diffusive metallic transport with strongly renormalized electron mass shows up with no long range spin order, which is caused by strong antiferromagnetic spin fluctuation due to the geometrical frustration., Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures

The effects of chemical treatment on the luminescence of ZnO were investigated by cathodoluminescence. For this purpose, ZnO ceramics and O- and Zn-terminated faces of ZnO single crystals were studied. The samples were dipped in KOH and HCl solutions as well as pure H2O for 3 min. H2O and HCl treatments of ZnO ceramics can increase or decrease the initial ultraviolet (UV) intensity depending on the location examined, and induce an increase of the UV intensity under e-beam irradiation. HCl treatment of the Zn-face of ZnO single crystals slightly affects the surface morphology and the luminescence. HCl treatment of the O-face etches the surface to hexagonal pyramidal features. In addition, the initial UV intensity is always lower for the HCl-treated than for the untreated O-face, while the UV intensity increases at the beginning of e-beam irradiation. These results suggest that the UV intensity is influenced by the surface and bulk reactions of H+ with ZnO.

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For the study of ferromagnetic materials which are compatible with group-IV semiconductor spintronics, we demonstrate control of the ferromagnetic properties of Heusler-alloys Fe_3-xMn_xSi epitaxially grown on Ge(111) by tuning the Mn composition x. Interestingly, we obtain L2_1-ordered structures even for nonstoichiometric atomic compositions. The Curie temperature of the epilayers with x ~ 0.6 exceeds 300 K. Theoretical calculations indicate that the electronic structures of the nonstoichiometric Fe_3-xMn_xSi alloys become half-metallic for 0.75 < x < 1.5. We discuss the possibility of room-temperature ferromagnetic Fe_3-xMn_xSi/Ge epilayers with high spin polarization., 5 pages, 4 figures

Journal URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/03796779

Reports on arsenic phytoextraction by biodegradable chelating ligands are limited. The synergistic influence of biodegradable chelating ligands (other than EDTA) on the increase of iron bioavailability and arsenic phytoextraction is investigated with the research approach to increase arsenic and iron availability to the plant using biodegradable chelating ligands.

The water fern (Azolla pinnata L.) was grown in culture solution with arsenate (As(V)) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMAA). Arsenic concentrations were measured in tissues of the plant after harvest. Plant of control and solution having lower phosphate concentration accumulated significantly higher amount of arsenate compared to that of higher phosphate solution. The Azolla pinnata L. accumulated about 7 folds arsenate than that of DMAA when the plants were grown in solution containing 4.0 µM of arsenate and no phosphate. With the increase of phosphate concentration in culture solution the arsenate uptake into the plant decreased significantly (p 0.001). The arsenate accumulation in Azolla pinnata L. decreased by 40% for the addition of 100 µM of phosphate in the solution. However, the Azolla pinnata L. accumulated 0.034±0.005 µmol g-1 dry weight of DMAA from solution having 4.0 µM of DMAA and no phosphate. The phosphate concentration did not affect DMAA uptake into the plant significantly. Arsenate uptake was clearly correlated with iron and phosphate uptake into the water fern though DMAA uptake was not. The results suggest that arsenate uptake in the macrophytes might be dependent on phosphate and iron uptake while DMAA was independent thereof.

We present experimental evidence for pronounced electron transfer from C to F+ happening during the breakup of CH3F+ ions in gas phase produced by resonant photoemission following F 1s to 6a1* core excitation of CH3F. We measured the momentum of the ionic fragments in coincidence with the F KVV Auger electrons that show a Doppler shift reflecting the motion of the F nucleus. The correlation between Doppler shift and ion momentum is opposite for the F+ and the CH2+ fragments, indicating that CH2+ is produced by electron transfer from C to F+, after the Auger electron emission from excited moving F. This finding is rationalized by calculations of the potential energy curves of the main states involved in the excitation and decay processes.

The effect of iron plaque formation on plant surfaces and chemical species on arsenic uptake in Spirodela polyrhiza L. were investigated. Arsenate [As(V)] or arsenite [As(III)] concentration in S. polyrhiza L. was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than that of methyl arsenic species (MMAA or DMAA). In particular, the concentrations of As(V) and As(III) in CBE-extracts of plants with Fe-plaque were about 43% and 58% respectively higher then plants without Fe-plaque,. On the other hand, the As(V) and As(III) concentrations in tissues of plants with or without Fe-plaque remained almost unchanged. The results suggest that a significant amount of arsenate and arsenite were adsorbed on the Fe-plaque of S. polyrhiza L. surfaces. The concentrations of MMAA and DMAA in tissues and on CBEextracts of S. polyrhiza L. were not significantly affected (p > 0.05) by the Fe-plaque on plant surfaces. These results indicate that methyl arsenic species might not be adsorbed on Fe-plaques. However, the significantly higher concentration of MMAA into the plant tissues than that of DMAA suggests that MMAA is more bioavailable to this plant. The ratios of As/P and As/Fe were significantly higher in tissues and CBE-extracts of plants exposed to inorganic arsenic species than plants exposed to methyl arsenic species. The results indicate enhanced uptake and adsorption of As(V) and As(III) than MMAA and DMAA in relation to phosphate and iron.

The evolution of the vibrational intensity distribution of the singly ionized A 2PI state in CO is experimentally examined for photon energy detunings below the adiabatic 0-0 transition of the O 1s-->2pi resonance. We have found a strong suppression of the entire vibrational fine structure of this state, leading to its almost complete quenching for certain excitation energies, followed by a partial restoring for larger values of negative photon energy detuning. Our observation, that cannot be rationalized by the known model of a vibrational collapse for energy detuning, may be explained in terms of a Fano interference between the direct and resonant photoionization channels in the presence of strong lifetime vibrational interference.

Vibrationally resolved spectra have been obtained for the lowest-lying cationic states X(2B1), A(2A1) and B(2B2) of the water molecule reached after participator resonant Auger decay of core-excited states. The angular distribution has been measured for the first four vibrational components of the X-state in the photon energy regions including the O1s->4a1 and the O1s->2b2 core excitations, and for different portions of the vibrational envelope of the B-state in the photon energy region including the O1s->2b2 core excitation. For the X-state, a large relative spread in beta values of the different vibrational components is observed across both resonances. For the B-state, a very different trend is observed for the high binding energy side and the low binding energy side of the related spectral feature as a function of photon energy. A theoretical method based on the scattering K-matrix has been used to calculate both the photoabsorption spectrum and the beta values, by taking both interference between direct and resonant photoemission and vibrational/lifetime interference into account. The numerical results show qualitative agreement with the trends detected in the experimental values and explain the conspicuous variations of the beta values primarily in terms of coupling between direct and resonant photoemission by interaction terms of different sign for different final vibrational states.

All symmetry allowed couplings between the 4f^2-electron ground state doublet of trivalent praseodymium in PrRu4P12 and PrFe4P12 and displacements of the phosphorus, iron or ruthenium ions are considered. Two types of displacements can change the crystal lattice from body-centred cubic to simple orthorhombic or to simple cubic. The first type lowers the point group symmetry from tetrahedral to orthorhombic, while the second type leaves it unchanged, with corresponding space group reductions Im3 --> Pmmm and Im3 --> Pm3 respectively. In former case, the lower point-group symmetry splits the degeneracy of the 4f^2 doublet into states with opposite quadrupole moment, which then leads to anti-quadrupolar ordering, as in PrFe4P12. Either kind of displacement may conspire with nesting of the Fermi surface to cause the metal-insulator or partial metal-insulator transition observed in PrFe4P12 and PrRu4P12. We investigate this scenario using band-structure calculations, and it is found that displacements of the phosphorus ions in PrRu4P12 (with space group reduction Im3 --> Pm3) open a gap everywhere on the Fermi surface., 6 pages

In this article, we report the temperature dependence of spin-lattice relaxation rates at two Pt sites and one Si site in CePt3Si with a non-centrosymmetric structure center. 1/T1 for both Pt sites between 2 K and 300 K and 1/T1 of Si above 3 K might be explained by the contributions from the low-lying crystal-electric-field level and the quasiparticle due to the hybridization between the ground state and conduction electrons. Just below Tc no remarkable enhancement in 1/T1 was observed. The estimated value of superconducting gap is about 2Delta = 3kBTc., Comment: 2 pages with 2 EPS figures. uses phb-proc4-auth.cls. Accepted for publication in Physica B

This is the first review on superconducting MgB2 thin films as far as we know., Comment: 34 pages, 16 figures, 6 tables. Studies of high temperature superconductors, in press. Previous versions of this paper had font display problems

The temperature and high magnetic field dependence of the longitudinal soundwave mode c_{11} in the two dimensional dimer system SrCu_{2}(BO_{3})_{2} is presented. c_{11}(T) shows anomalies due to strong interdimer spin-strain coupling. We can quantitatively interpret the temperature dependence of c_{11}(T) together with the magnetic susceptibility $\chi_{m}(T)$ with a molecular field approximation of coupled dimer triplets. The sound velocity up to 50T shows very sharp softening between the magnetization plateaus at low temperature. We argue that these pronounced effects arise from a resonant interaction between the phonons and the magnetic excitations which show softening between the plateaus.