Dipole-Induced Electromagnetic Transparency

We determine the optical response of a thin and dense layer of interacting quantum emitters. We show that in such a dense system, the Lorentz redshift and the associated interaction broadening can be used to control the transmission and reflection spectra. In the presence of overlapping resonances, a Dipole-Induced Electromagnetic Transparency (DIET) regime, similar to Electromagnetically Induced Transparency (EIT), may be achieved. DIET relies on destructive interference between the electromagnetic waves emitted by quantum emitters. Carefully tuning material parameters allows to achieve narrow transmission windows in otherwise completely opaque media. We analyze in details this coherent and collective effect using a generalized Lorentz model and show how it can be controlled. Several potential applications of the phenomenon, such as slow light, are proposed

Theory of Dipole Induced Electromagnetic Transparency

A detailed theory describing linear optics of vapors comprised of interacting multi-level quantum emitters is proposed. It is shown both by direct integration of Maxwell-Bloch equations and using a simple analytical model that at large densities narrow transparency windows appear in otherwise completely opaque spectra. The existence of such windows is attributed to overlapping resonances. This effect, first introduced for three-level systems in [R. Puthumpally-Joseph, M. Sukharev, O. Atabek and E. Charron, Phys. Rev. Lett. 113, 163603 (2014)], is due to strongly enhanced dipole-dipole interactions at high emitters' densities. The presented theory extends this effect to the case of multilevel systems. The theory is applied to the D1 transitions of interacting Rb-85 atoms. It is shown that at high atomic densities, Rb-85 atoms can behave as three-level emitters exhibiting all the properties of dipole induced electromagnetic transparency. Applications including slow light and laser pulse shaping are also proposed

Uloga enzima u metabolizmu ugljikohidrata pri diferencijaciji staničnih linija šećerne repe

Plant development is influenced by changes in the levels and types of sugars produced metabolically. The normal (N), habituated organogenic (HO) and habituated nonorganogenic (HNO) sugar beet cell lines originate from the same mother plant but exhibit distinct levels of morphogenesis and differentiation, and contain different levels of simple carbohydrates. We aim to elucidate whether differences in the abundance and activity of enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism and sugar sensing/signalling help explain the different carbohydrate profiles and differentiation states of the cell lines. Using 13C NMR spectroscopy to analyze cultures of the cell lines over 28 days, we found that N cells accumulated sucrose; HO cells sucrose, glucose and fructose; and HNO cells glucose and fructose. Of three invertase isoforms, the activity of cell wall invertase (CWI) was highest in all the cell lines, and CWI activity was greatest in HNO line. The specific accumulation of intracellular carbohydrates during subculture correlated strongly with CWI activity but less so with the vacuolar and cytoplasmic invertase isoforms, or with sucrose synthase activity. Cell lines showed differences in how sugars regulated invertase and sucrose synthase activity. The role of sugar sensing in the regulation of CWI activity was investigated in the cell lines using glucose and sucrose, as well as carbohydrate analogues such as mannitol, 2-O-deoxyglucose and 3-O-methylglucose. Differences in the regulation of CWI activity by carbohydrates across the three cell lines suggest that CWI can be fine-tuned according to the specific carbohydrate requirements of each line during growth. Differences in sugar signalling pathways across the cell lines were explored using glucose and sucrose in the presence of inhibitors of protein kinases or phosphatases. Taken together, our findings suggest that specific regulation of CWI activity plays an important role in determining the intracellular carbohydrate levels of sugar beet cell lines, and possibly their differentiation state as well.Na razvoj biljke utječu promjene razine i tipa proizvedenog šećera. Iako sve stanične linije šećerne repe, i to normalna, prilagođena organogena i prilagođena neorganogena potječu od iste biljke, na različitim su stupnjevima diferencijacije i morfogeneze te sadrže različitu količinu jednostavnih ugljikohidrata. Svrha je rada bila utvrditi može li se razlikama u količini i aktivnosti enzima, koji sudjeluju u metabolizmu šećera te onih u detekciji i prijenosu signala šećera, objasniti razlika u stupnju diferencijacije staničnih linija te u udjelu ugljikohidrata u njima. Primjenom 13C NMR spektroskopije analizirane su stanične linije tijekom 28 dana kultivacije i ustanovljeno je da normalne stanične linije akumuliraju saharozu, prilagođena organogena stanična linija saharozu, glukozu i fruktozu, a prilagođena neorganogena stanična linija šećerne repe glukozu i fruktozu. Od 3 izoformna oblika invertaze najveća je aktivnost invertaze stanične stijenke u sve 3 stanične linije, osobito u prilagođenih neorganogenih stanica. Specifičnost akumulacije ugljikohidrata u stanici tijekom kultivacije uvelike je ovisila o aktivnosti invertaze stanične stijenke, a manje o onoj vakuolarne i citoplazmatske invertaze te saharoza sintetaze. Šećeri su različito regulirali aktivnost invertaze stanične stijenke i saharoza sintetaze, ovisno o tipu stanične linije. Njihova je uloga istražena pomoću glukoze i saharoze te njihovih analoga, kao što su manitol, 2-O-deoksiglukoza i 3-O-metilglukoza. Utvrđeno je da se aktivnost invertaze stanične stijenke može fino regulirati pomoću ugljikohidrata, ovisno o potrebi staničnih linija za izvorom šećera tijekom rasta. Razlike u putovima prijenosa signala šećera u staničnih linija istražene su pomoću glukoze i saharoze u prisutnosti inhibitora protein kinaza i fosfataza. Na kraju, rezultati autora potvrđuju da specifična regulacija aktivnosti invertaze stanične stijenke ima važnu ulogu u određivanju razine ugljikohidrata u staničnim linijama šećerne repe, a možda i stupnju diferencijacije stanica

The Luminous Starburst Ring in NGC 7771: Sequential Star Formation?

Only two of the twenty highly luminous starburst galaxies analyzed by Smith et al. exhibit circumnuclear rings of star formation. These galaxies provide a link between 10^11 L_sun systems and classical, less-luminous ringed systems. We report the discovery of a near-infrared counterpart to the nuclear ring of radio emission in NGC 7771. A displacement between the ~10 radio bright clumps and the ~10 near-infrared bright clumps indicates the presence of multiple generations of star formation. The estimated thermal emission from each radio source is equivalent to that of ~35000 O6 stars. Each near-infrared bright knot contains ~5000 red supergiants, on average. The stellar mass of each knot is estimated to be ~10^7 M_sun. The implied time-averaged star formation rate is \~40 M_sun per yr. Several similarities are found between the properties of this system and other ringed and non-ringed starbursts. Morphological differences between NGC 7771 and the starburst + Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 7469 suggest that NGC 7771 may not be old enough to fuel an AGN, or may not be capable of fueling an AGN. Alternatively, the differences may be unrelated to the presence or absence of an AGN and may simply reflect the possibility that star formation in rings is episodic.Comment: accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal (10 January 1999); 48 pages including 13 figures; AAS LaTe

Comparison of Tissue Architectural Changes between Radiofrequency Ablation and Cryospray Ablation in Barrett’s Esophagus Using Endoscopic Three-Dimensional Optical Coherence Tomography

Two main nonsurgical endoscopic approaches for ablating dysplastic and early cancer lesions in the esophagus have gained popularity, namely, radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and cryospray ablation (CSA). We report a uniquely suited endoscopic and near-microscopic imaging modality, three-dimensional (3D) optical coherence tomography (OCT), to assess and compare the esophagus immediately after RFA and CSA. The maximum depths of architectural changes were measured and compared between the two treatment groups. RFA was observed to induce 230~260  m depth of architectural changes after each set of ablations over a particular region, while CSA was observed to induce edema-like spongiform changes to ~640 μm depth within the ablated field. The ability to obtain micron-scale depth-resolved images of tissue structural changes following different ablation therapies makes 3D-OCT an ideal tool to assess treatment efficacy. Such information could be potentially used to provide real-time feedback for treatment dosing and to identify regions that need further retreatment.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant R01-CA75289-15)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant K99-EB010071-01A1)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant R44-CA101067-06)United States. Air Force Office of Scientific Research (Contract FA9550-10-1-0063)Medical Free Electron Laser Program (Contract FA9550-10-1-0551

Structural markers observed with endoscopic 3-dimensional optical coherence tomography correlating with Barrett's esophagus radiofrequency ablation treatment response

Background Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is effective for treating Barrett's esophagus (BE) but often involves multiple endoscopy sessions over several months to achieve complete response. Objective Identify structural markers that correlate with treatment response by using 3-dimensional (3-D) optical coherence tomography (OCT; 3-D OCT). Design Cross-sectional. Setting Single teaching hospital. Patients Thirty-three patients, 32 male and 1 female, with short-segment (<3 cm) BE undergoing RFA treatment. Intervention Patients were treated with focal RFA, and 3-D OCT was performed at the gastroesophageal junction before and immediately after the RFA treatment. Patients were re-examined with standard endoscopy 6 to 8 weeks later and had biopsies to rule out BE if not visibly evident. Main Outcome Measurements The thickness of BE epithelium before RFA and the presence of residual gland-like structures immediately after RFA were determined by using 3-D OCT. The presence of BE at follow-up was assessed endoscopically. Results BE mucosa was significantly thinner in patients who achieved complete eradication of intestinal metaplasia than in patients who did not achieve complete eradication of intestinal metaplasia at follow-up (257 ± 60 μm vs 403 ± 86 μm; P < .0001). A threshold thickness of 333 μm derived from receiver operating characteristic curves corresponded to a 92.3% sensitivity, 85% specificity, and 87.9% accuracy in predicting the presence of BE at follow-up. The presence of OCT-visible glands immediately after RFA also correlated with the presence of residual BE at follow-up (83.3% sensitivity, 95% specificity, 90.6% accuracy). Limitations Single center, cross-sectional study in which only patients with short-segment BE were examined. Conclusion Three-dimensional OCT assessment of BE thickness and residual glands during RFA sessions correlated with treatment response. Three-dimensional OCT may predict responses to RFA or aid in making real-time RFA retreatment decisions in the future.Center for Integration of Medicine and Innovative Technology (Medical Engineering Fellowship)United States. Dept. of Veterans Affairs. Boston Healthcare SystemNational Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant R01-CA75289-15)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant R44CA101067-06)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant K99-EB010071-01A1)United States. Air Force Office of Scientific Research (Grant FA9550-10-1-0063)United States. Air Force Office of Scientific Research. Medical Free Electron Laser Program (Grant FA9550-10-1-0551

Isolation of Angola-like Marburg virus from Egyptian rousette bats from West Africa.

Marburg virus (MARV) causes sporadic outbreaks of severe Marburg virus disease (MVD). Most MVD outbreaks originated in East Africa and field studies in East Africa, South Africa, Zambia, and Gabon identified the Egyptian rousette bat (ERB; Rousettus aegyptiacus) as a natural reservoir. However, the largest recorded&nbsp;MVD outbreak with the highest case-fatality ratio happened in 2005 in Angola, where direct spillover from bats was not&nbsp; shown. Here, collaborative studies by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Njala University, University of California, Davis USAID-PREDICT, and the University of Makeni identify MARV circulating in ERBs in Sierra Leone. PCR, antibody and virus isolation data from 1755 bats of 42 species shows active MARV infection in approximately 2.5% of ERBs. Phylogenetic analysis identifies MARVs that are similar to the Angola strain. These results provide evidence of MARV circulation in West Africa and demonstrate the value of pathogen surveillance to identify previously undetected threats

Nuclear trafficking, histone cleavage and induction of apoptosis by the meningococcal App and MspA autotransporters

Neisseria meningitidis, a major cause of bacterial meningitis and septicaemia, secretes multiple virulence factors, including the adhesion and penetration protein (App) and meningococcal serine protease A (MspA). Both are conserved, immunogenic, type Va autotransporters harbouring S6-family serine endopeptidase domains. Previous work suggested that both could mediate adherence to human cells, but their precise contribution to meningococcal pathogenesis was unclear. Here, we confirm that App and MspA are in vivo virulence factors since human CD46-expressing transgenic mice infected with meningococcal mutants lacking App, MspA or both had improved survival rates compared with mice infected with wild type. Confocal imaging showed that App and MspA were internalized by human cells and trafficked to the nucleus. Cross-linking and enzyme-linked immuno assay (ELISA) confirmed that mannose receptor (MR), transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1) and histones interact with MspA and App. Dendritic cell (DC) uptake could be blocked using mannan and transferrin, the specific physiological ligands for MR and TfR1, whereas in vitro clipping assays confirmed the ability of both proteins to proteolytically cleave the core histone H3. Finally, we show that App and MspA induce a dose-dependent increase in DC death via caspase-dependent apoptosis. Our data provide novel insights into the roles of App and MspA in meningococcal infection

Characterization of buried glands before and after radiofrequency ablation by using 3-dimensional optical coherence tomography (with videos)

Background Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an endoscopic technique used to eradicate Barrett's esophagus (BE). However, such ablation can commonly lead to neosquamous epithelium overlying residual BE glands not visible by conventional endoscopy and may evade detection on random biopsy samples. Objective To demonstrate the capability of endoscopic 3-dimensional optical coherence tomography (3D-OCT) for the identification and characterization of buried glands before and after RFA therapy. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Single teaching hospital. Patients Twenty-six male and 1 female white patients with BE undergoing RFA treatment. Interventions 3D-OCT was performed at the gastroesophageal junction in 18 patients before attaining complete eradication of intestinal metaplasia (pre–CE-IM group) and in 16 patients after CE-IM (post–CE-IM group). Main Outcome Measurements Prevalence, size, and location of buried glands relative to the squamocolumnar junction. Results 3D-OCT provided an approximately 30 to 60 times larger field of view compared with jumbo and standard biopsy and sufficient imaging depth for detecting buried glands. Based on 3D-OCT results, buried glands were found in 72% of patients (13/18) in the pre–CE-IM group and 63% of patients (10/16) in the post–CE-IM group. The number (mean [standard deviation]) of buried glands per patient in the post–CE-IM group (7.1 [9.3]) was significantly lower compared with the pre–CE-IM group (34.4 [44.6]; P = .02). The buried gland size (P = .69) and distribution (P = .54) were not significantly different before and after CE-IM. Limitations A single-center, cross-sectional study comparing patients at different time points in treatment. Lack of 1-to-1 coregistered histology for all OCT data sets obtained in vivo. Conclusion Buried glands were frequently detected with 3D-OCT near the gastroesophageal junction before and after radiofrequency ablation.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant R01-CA75289-15)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant R44CA101067-06)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant R01-HL095717-03)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant R01-NS057476-05)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant K99-EB010071-01A1)United States. Air Force Office of Scientific Research (Contract FA9550-10-1-0063)United States. Air Force Office of Scientific Research. Medical Free Electron Laser Program (Contract FA9550-10-1-0551)Center for Integration of Medicine and Innovative Technolog

Skeletal immaturity, rostral sparing, and disparate hip morphologies as biomechanical causes for Legg-Calvé-Perthes’ disease

Legg-Calvé-Perthes' (Perthes') disease is a developmental disease of the hip joint that may result in numerous short and long term problems. The etiology of the disease remains largely unknown, but the mechanism is believed to be vascular and/or biomechanical in nature. There are several anatomical characteristics that tend to be prevalent in children with Perthes' disease, namely: skeletal immaturity, reduced height, and rostral sparing. We present an overview of the literature, summarizing the current understanding of the pathogenesis, particularly related to how the formation of the vasculature to the femoral epiphysis places children aged 5–8 at a higher risk for Perthes' disease, how skeletal immaturity and rostral sparing could increase the probability of developing Perthes' disease, and how animal models have aided our understanding of the disease. In doing so, we also explore why Perthes' disease is correlated to latitude, with populations at higher latitudes having higher incidence rates than populations closer to the Equator. Finally, we present five hypotheses detailing how Perthes' disease could have a biomechanical cause. Clin. Anat. 29:759–772, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc