Tulane University

About: Tulane University is a education organization based out in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Blood pressure. The organization has 24478 authors who have published 47205 publications receiving 1944993 citations. The organization is also known as: University of Louisiana.

Pair-distribution function and its coupling-constant average for the spin-polarized electron gas

Abstract: The pair-distribution function g describes physical correlations between electrons, while its average g\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{} over coupling constant generates the exchange-correlation energy. The former is found from the latter by g=(1-${\mathit{a}}_{0}$\ensuremath{\partial}/\ensuremath{\partial}${\mathit{a}}_{0}$)g\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{}, where ${\mathit{a}}_{0}$ is the Bohr radius. We present an analytic representation of g\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{} (and hence g) in real space for a uniform electron gas with density parameter ${\mathit{r}}_{\mathit{s}}$ and spin polarization \ensuremath{\zeta}. This expression has the following attractive features: (1) The exchange-only contribution is treated exactly, apart from oscillations we prefer to ignore. (2) The correlation contribution is correct in the high-density (${\mathit{r}}_{\mathit{s}}$\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0) and nonoscillatory long-range (R\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\infty}) limits. (3) The value and cusp are properly described in the short-range (R\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0) limit. (4) The normalization and energy integrals are respected. The result is found to agree with the pair-distribution function g from Ceperley's quantum Monte Carlo calculation. Estimates are also given for the separate contributions from parallel and antiparallel spin correlations, and for the long-range oscillations at a high finite density.

A semiclasical justification for the use of non-spreading wavepackets in dynamics calculations

Abstract: A justification is given for the use of non-spreading or frozen gaussian packets in dynamics calculations In this work an initial wavefunction or quantum density operator is expanded in a complete set of grussian wavepackets It is demonstrated that the time evolution of this wavepacket expansion for the quantum wavefunction or density is correctly given within the approximations employed by the classical propagation of the avarage position and momentum of each gaussian packet, holding the shape of these individual gaussians fixed The semiclassical approximation is employed for the quantum propagator and the stationary phase approximation for certain integrals is utilized in this derivation This analysis demonstrates that the divergence of the classical trajectories associated with the individual gaussian packets accounts for the changes in shape of the quantum wavefunction or density, as has been suggested on intuitive grounds by Heller The method should be exact for quadratic potentials and this is verified by explicitly applying it for the harmonic oscillator example

APOL1 Genetic Variants in Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis and HIV-Associated Nephropathy

Abstract: Trypanolytic variants in APOL1, which encodes apolipoprotein L1, associate with kidney disease in African Americans, but whether APOL1-associated glomerular disease has a distinct clinical phenotype is unknown. Here we determined APOL1 genotypes for 271 African American cases, 168 European American cases, and 939 control subjects. In a recessive model, APOL1 variants conferred seventeenfold higher odds (95% CI 11 to 26) for focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and twenty-ninefold higher odds (95% CI 13 to 68) for HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN). FSGS associated with two APOL1 risk alleles associated with earlier age of onset (P 0.01) and faster progression to ESRD (P 0.01) but similar sensitivity to steroids compared with other subjects. Individuals with two APOL1 risk alleles have an estimated 4% lifetime risk for developing FSGS, and untreated HIVinfected individuals have a 50% risk for developing HIVAN. The effect of carrying two APOL1 risk alleles explains 18% of FSGS and 35% of HIVAN; alternatively, eliminating this effect would reduce FSGS and HIVAN by 67%. A survey of world populations indicated that the APOL1 kidney risk alleles are present only on African chromosomes. In summary, African Americans carrying two APOL1 risk alleles have a greatly increased risk for glomerular disease, and APOL1-associated FSGS occurs earlier and progresses to ESRD more rapidly. These data add to the evidence base required to determine whether genetic testing for APOL1 has a use in clinical practice.