18 research outputs found
Universal Vectorial and Ultrasensitive Nanomechanical Force Field Sensor
Miniaturization of force probes into nanomechanical oscillators enables
ultrasensitive investigations of forces on dimensions smaller than their
characteristic length scale. Meanwhile it also unravels the force field
vectorial character and how its topology impacts the measurement. Here we
expose an ultrasensitive method to image 2D vectorial force fields by
optomechanically following the bidimensional Brownian motion of a singly
clamped nanowire. This novel approach relies on angular and spectral tomography
of its quasi frequency-degenerated transverse mechanical polarizations:
immersing the nanoresonator in a vectorial force field does not only shift its
eigenfrequencies but also rotate eigenmodes orientation as a nano-compass. This
universal method is employed to map a tunable electrostatic force field whose
spatial gradients can even take precedence over the intrinsic nanowire
properties. Enabling vectorial force fields imaging with demonstrated
sensitivities of attonewton variations over the nanoprobe Brownian trajectory
will have strong impact on scientific exploration at the nanoscale
Steering self-organisation through confinement
Self-organisation is the spontaneous emergence of spatio-temporal structures
and patterns from the interaction of smaller individual units. Examples are
found across many scales in very different systems and scientific disciplines,
from physics, materials science and robotics to biology, geophysics and
astronomy. Recent research has highlighted how self-organisation can be both
mediated and controlled by confinement. Confinement occurs through interactions
with boundaries, and can function as either a catalyst or inhibitor of
self-organisation. It can then become a means to actively steer the emergence
or suppression of collective phenomena in space and time. Here, to provide a
common framework for future research, we examine the role of confinement in
self-organisation and identify overarching scientific challenges across
disciplines that need to be addressed to harness its full scientific and
technological potential. This framework will not only accelerate the generation
of a common deeper understanding of self-organisation but also trigger the
development of innovative strategies to steer it through confinement, with
impact, e.g., on the design of smarter materials, tissue engineering for
biomedicine and crowd management
Steering self-organisation through confinement
Self-organisation is the spontaneous emergence of spatio-temporal structures and patterns from the interaction of smaller individual units. Examples are found across many scales in very different systems and scientific disciplines, from physics, materials science and robotics to biology, geophysics and astronomy. Recent research has highlighted how self-organisation can be both mediated and controlled by confinement. Confinement is an action over a system that limits its units’ translational and rotational degrees of freedom, thus also influencing the system's phase space probability density; it can function as either a catalyst or inhibitor of self-organisation. Confinement can then become a means to actively steer the emergence or suppression of collective phenomena in space and time. Here, to provide a common framework and perspective for future research, we examine the role of confinement in the self-organisation of soft-matter systems and identify overarching scientific challenges that need to be addressed to harness its full scientific and technological potential in soft matter and related fields. By drawing analogies with other disciplines, this framework will accelerate a common deeper understanding of self-organisation and trigger the development of innovative strategies to steer it using confinement, with impact on, e.g., the design of smarter materials, tissue engineering for biomedicine and in guiding active matter
Steering self-organisation through confinement
Self-organisation is the spontaneous emergence of spatio-temporal structures and patterns from the interaction of smaller individual units. Examples are found across many scales in very different systems and scientific disciplines, from physics, materials science and robotics to biology, geophysics and astronomy. Recent research has highlighted how self-organisation can be both mediated and controlled by confinement. Confinement is an action over a system that limits its units’ translational and rotational degrees of freedom, thus also influencing the system's phase space probability density; it can function as either a catalyst or inhibitor of self-organisation. Confinement can then become a means to actively steer the emergence or suppression of collective phenomena in space and time. Here, to provide a common framework and perspective for future research, we examine the role of confinement in the self-organisation of soft-matter systems and identify overarching scientific challenges that need to be addressed to harness its full scientific and technological potential in soft matter and related fields. By drawing analogies with other disciplines, this framework will accelerate a common deeper understanding of self-organisation and trigger the development of innovative strategies to steer it using confinement, with impact on, e.g., the design of smarter materials, tissue engineering for biomedicine and in guiding active matter.</p
ESA's Atmospheric Chemistry Mission - A Status Report
The challenges in understanding the atmospheric chemistry processes for climate research and to model and forecast the air quality on regional scale are still manifold. Presently, ESA is providing atmospheric chemistry data both from their core missions ERS-2 and Envisat as well as from Third Party Missions (TPM). ESAs core atmospheric chemistry instruments onboard ERS-2 and ENVISAT are GOME, GOMOS, MIPAS and SCIAMACHY. With ERS-2 launched in 1995 and ENVISAT in 2002, these instruments are providing a rich dataset to the scientific community and supporting operational services since more than 14 years.
Currently, data from the following missions can be provided through ESA: ACE-FTS and MAESTRO data from the CSA SCISAT mission, OSIRIS and SMR data from the SSC ODIN mission, TANSO-FTS AND -CAI data from the JAXA/NIES/MOE GOSAT mission. It is currently planned that also OMI data from the NASA AURA mission will be accessible through ESA.
In addition to the operational data, ESA acknowledges that the science community is developing and providing a number of important, quality products based on ESA missions.
The presentation will summarise the status of all the issues addressed above with a focus on ESA instruments, algorithm development and data distribution
Steering self-organisation through confinement
Self-organisation is the spontaneous emergence of spatio-temporal structures and patterns from the interaction of smaller individual units. Examples are found across many scales in very different systems and scientific disciplines, from physics, materials science and robotics to biology, geophysics and astronomy. Recent research has highlighted how self-organisation can be both mediated and controlled by confinement. Confinement is an action over a system that limits its units’ translational and rotational degrees of freedom, thus also influencing the system's phase space probability density; it can function as either a catalyst or inhibitor of self-organisation. Confinement can then become a means to actively steer the emergence or suppression of collective phenomena in space and time. Here, to provide a common framework and perspective for future research, we examine the role of confinement in the self-organisation of soft-matter systems and identify overarching scientific challenges that need to be addressed to harness its full scientific and technological potential in soft matter and related fields. By drawing analogies with other disciplines, this framework will accelerate a common deeper understanding of self-organisation and trigger the development of innovative strategies to steer it using confinement, with impact on, e.g., the design of smarter materials, tissue engineering for biomedicine and in guiding active matter.BN/Gijsje Koenderink La
Enlarging the Frontiers of Research in the IR/mm Range Using Synchrotron Radiation
International audienc
Enlarging the Frontiers of Research in the IR/mm Range Using Synchrotron Radiation
International audienc
Enlarging the Frontiers of Research in the IR/mm Range Using Synchrotron Radiation
International audienc
Targeting Type IV pili as an antivirulence strategy against invasive meningococcal disease
International audienceBacterial virulence factors are attractive targets for the development of therapeutics. Type IV pili, which are associated with a remarkable array of properties including motility, the interaction between bacteria and attachment to biotic and abiotic surfaces, represent particularly appealing virulence factor targets. Type IV pili are present in numerous bacterial species and are critical for their pathogenesis. In this study, we report that trifluoperazine and related phenothiazines block functions associated with Type IV pili in different bacterial pathogens, by affecting piliation within minutes. Using Neisseria meningitidis as a paradigm of Gram-negative bacterial pathogens that require Type IV pili for pathogenesis, we show that piliation is sensitive to altered activity of the Na+ pumping NADH–ubiquinone oxidoreductase (Na+−NQR) complex and that these compounds probably altered the establishment of the sodium gradient. In vivo, these compounds exert a strong protective effect. They reduce meningococcal colonization of the human vessels and prevent subsequent vascular dysfunctions, intravascular coagulation and overwhelming inflammation, the hallmarks of invasive meningococcal infections. Finally, they reduce lethality. This work provides a proof of concept that compounds with activity against bacterial Type IV pili could beneficially participate in the treatment of infections caused by Type IV pilus-expressing bacteri