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G Wortmann

Publications and source records attributed to G Wortmann.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

Phonon density of states of iron up to 153 gigapascals.

We report phonon densities of states (DOS) of iron measured by nuclear resonant inelastic x-ray scattering to 153 gigapascals and calculated from ab initio theory. Qualitatively, they are in agreement, but the theory predicts density at higher energies. From the DOS, we derive elastic and thermodynamic parameters of iron, including shear modulus, compressional and shear velocities, heat capacity, entropy, kinetic energy, zero-point energy, and Debye temperature. In comparison to the compressional and shear velocities from the preliminary reference Earth model (PREM) seismic model, our results suggest that Earth's inner core has a mean atomic number equal to or higher than pure iron, which is consistent with an iron-nickel alloy.

Journal Article↗

Density of phonon states in iron at high pressure

The lattice dynamics of the hexagonal close-packed (hcp) phase of iron was studied with nuclear inelastic absorption of synchrotron radiation at pressures from 20 to 42 gigapascals. A variety of thermodynamic parameters were derived from the measured density of phonon states for hcp iron, such as Debye temperatures, Gruneisen parameter, mean sound velocities, and the lattice contribution to entropy and specific heat. The results are of geophysical interest, because hcp iron is considered to be a major component of Earth's inner core.

Journal Article↗

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Journal Article↗

Long-term efficacy and immune responses following immunization with the RTS,S malaria vaccine.

The malaria sporozoite vaccine candidate RTS,S, formulated with an oil-in-water emulsion plus the immunostimulants monophosphoryl lipid A and the saponin derivative QS21 (vaccine 3), recently showed superior efficacy over two other experimental formulations. Immunized volunteers were followed to determine the duration of protective immune responses. Antibody levels decreased to between one-third and one-half of peak values 6 months after the last dose of vaccine. T cell proliferation and interferon-gamma production in vitro were observed in response to RTS,S or hepatitis B surface antigen. Seven previously protected volunteers received sporozoite challenge, and 2 remained protected (1/1 for vaccine 1, 0/1 for vaccine 2, and 1/5 for vaccine 3). The prepatent period was 10.8 days for the control group and 13.2 days for the vaccinees (P < .01). Immune responses did not correlate with protection. Further optimization in vaccine composition and/or immunization schedule will be required to induce longer-lasting protective immunity.

Adolescent↗

Incidental discovery of emphysematous cystitis.

The routine use of imaging studies for the evaluation of abdominal pain occasionally yields unexpected and unusual findings. We report a case of emphysematous cystitis that was incidentally discovered on a computed tomography scan originally ordered as part of an evaluation of pancreatitis.

Abdominal Pain↗

Hypotrichosis, hair structure defects, hypercysteine hair and glucosuria: a new genetic syndrome?

Structural hair changes may be the expression of a genetic disorder affecting hair growth, part of a congenital syndrome with accompanying hair malformations, or a marker for an underlying metabolic disorder. We report a 22-month-old Turkish girl and her 10-month-old brother, whose scalp hair became fragile and sparse at about 6-7 months of age. Glucosuria, without diabetes or kidney disease, was detected 3-4 months later. Clinical examination revealed normal physical and mental development, and an analysis of plucked hairs showed dysplastic and broken hair shafts. Polarizing microscopy and scanning electron microscopic studies revealed torsion, and irregularities and impressions of the hair shaft, as seen in pili torti, trichorrhexis nodosa and pseudomonilethrix. Analysis of the amino-acid composition of the hair demonstrated a significant reduction of sulphonic cysteic acid and an elevated cysteine and lanthionine content in the girl, and elevated lanthionine levels in her brother. Electrophoretic analysis of the girl's hair proteins revealed a normal composition but a high extractability of hair proteins. The triad of hypotrichosis, structural hair-shaft defects and abnormal amino-acid composition, accompanied by glucosuria without diabetes, may represent a new genetic syndrome.

Amino Acids↗