763 research outputs found
A high-performance integrated single-photon detector for telecom wavelengths
We have integrated a commercial avalanche photodiode (APD) and the circuitry
needed to operate it as a single-photon detector (SPD) onto a single PC-board.
At temperatures accessible with Peltier coolers (~200-240K), the PCB-SPD
achieves high detection efficiency (DE) at 1308 and 1545 nm with low dark count
probability (e.g. ~10-6/bias pulse at DE=20%, 220 K), making it useful for
quantum key distribution (QKD). The board generates fast bias pulses, cancels
noise transients, amplifies the signals, and sends them to an on-board
discriminator. A digital blanking circuit suppresses afterpulsing.Comment: (10 pages, 6 figures
Autocompensating Quantum Cryptography
Quantum cryptographic key distribution (QKD) uses extremely faint light
pulses to carry quantum information between two parties (Alice and Bob),
allowing them to generate a shared, secret cryptographic key. Autocompensating
QKD systems automatically and passively compensate for uncontrolled time
dependent variations of the optical fiber properties by coding the information
as a differential phase between orthogonally-polarized components of a light
pulse sent on a round trip through the fiber, reflected at mid-course using a
Faraday mirror. We have built a prototype system based on standard telecom
technology that achieves a privacy-amplified bit generation rate of ~1000
bits/s over a 10-km optical fiber link. Quantum cryptography is an example of
an application that, by using quantum states of individual particles to
represent information, accomplishes a practical task that is impossible using
classical means.Comment: 18 pages, 6 figures, 1 table. Submitted to the New Journal of Physic
Theory of Spontaneous Polarization of Endohedral Fullerenes
A pseudo-Jahn-Teller model describing central atom distortions is proposed
for endohedral fullerenes of the form A@C where A is either a rare gas
or a metal atom. A critical (dimensionless) coupling is found, below
which the symmetric configuration is stable and above which inversion symmetry
is broken. Vibronic parameters are given for selected endohedral fullerenes.Comment: 4 pages, REVTEX, 1 Postscript figure. [Phys. Rev. Lett. (in press)
Targeted capture of Dreb subfamily genes as candidates genes for drought tolerance polymorphism in natural population of Coffea canephora.
Coffea canephora, (Robusta), provides 33% of worldwide coffee production, 80% and 22% of Ugandan and Brazilian coffee production, respectively. Abiotic stress such as temperature variations or drought periods, aggravated by climate changes, are factors that affect this production. This sensitivity threatens both the steady supply of quality coffees and the livelihood of millions of people producing coffee. The natural genetic diversity of C. canephora offer a potential for detecting new genetic variants related to drought adaptation. In particular, modifications occurring in genes related to abiotic stress tolerance make these genes candidate for breeding programs in order to enhance the resilience to climate change
Isolation and Monitoring of the Endohedral Metallofullerenes Y@C82 and Sc3@C82:On-Line Chromatographic Separation with EPR Detection
The direct coupling of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with on-line electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) detection is demonstrated for monitoring separations of endohedral metallofullerenes (M@C2n). The HPLC-EPR approach readily permits detection of the paramagnetic species, such as Y@C82 and Sc3@C82, in the presence of the dominant empty-cage fullerenes (C60, C70) and diamagnetic metallofullerenes (e.g., M2@C2n). The results indicate that on-line EPR provides a noninvasive, selective detector for HPLC metallofullerene separations that is readily adaptable to air-sensitive and/or labile compounds. Specifically, the “EPR-active” metallofullerenes, Y@C82 and Sc3@C82, are selectively monitored on-line for an initial separation of the metallofullerene fraction from the dominant empty-cage fullerenes utilizing a combination of polystyrene columns. This preparative “cleanup” procedure is followed by HPLC-EPR separation and monitoring of Y@C82 and Sc3@C82 species using a selective tripodal π-acidic-phase column (Trident-Tri-DNP) for the final stages of isolation
Bundling up carbon nanotubes through Wigner defects
We show, using ab initio total energy density functional theory, that the
so-called Wigner defects, an interstitial carbon atom right besides a vacancy,
which are present in irradiated graphite can also exist in bundles of carbon
nanotubes. Due to the geometrical structure of a nanotube, however, this defect
has a rather low formation energy, lower than the vacancy itself, suggesting
that it may be one of the most important defects that are created after
electron or ion irradiation. Moreover, they form a strong link between the
nanotubes in bundles, increasing their shear modulus by a sizeable amount,
clearly indicating its importance for the mechanical properties of nanotube
bundles.Comment: 5 pages and 4 figure
Rational Design of Combination Enzyme Therapy for Celiac Sprue
SummaryCeliac sprue (also known as celiac disease) is an inheritable, gluten-induced enteropathy of the upper small intestine with an estimated prevalence of 0.5%–1% in most parts of the world. The ubiquitous nature of food gluten, coupled with inadequate labeling regulations in most countries, constantly poses a threat of disease exacerbation and relapse for patients. Here, we demonstrate that a two-enzyme cocktail comprised of a glutamine-specific cysteine protease (EP-B2) that functions under gastric conditions and a PEP, which acts in concert with pancreatic proteases under duodenal conditions, is a particularly potent candidate for celiac sprue therapy. At a gluten:EP-B2:PEP weight ratio of 75:3:1, grocery store gluten is fully detoxified within 10 min of simulated duodenal conditions, as judged by chromatographic analysis, biopsy-derived T cell proliferation assays, and a commercial antigluten antibody test
Midinfrared Conductivity in Orientationally Disordered Doped Fullerides
The coupling between the intramolecular vibrational modes and the doped
conduction electrons in is studied by a calculation of the
electronic contributions to the phonon self energies. The calculations are
carried out for an orientationally ordered reference solid with symmetry and for a model with quenched orientational disorder on the
fullerene sites. In both cases, the dispersion and symmetry of the renormalized
modes is governed by the electronic contributions. The current current
correlation functions and frequency dependent conductivity through the
midinfrared are calculated for both models. In the disordered structures, the
renormalized modes derived from even parity intramolecular phonons are resonant
with the dipole excited single particle spectrum, and modulate the predicted
midinfrared conductivity. The spectra for this coupled system are calculated
for several recently proposed microscopic models for the electron phonon
coupling, and a comparison is made with recent experimental data which
demonstrate this effect.Comment: 32 pages + 9 postscript figures (on request), REVTeX 3.
Vibrational spectra of C60C8H8 and C70C8H8 in the rotor-stator and polymer phases
C60-C8H8 and C70-C8H8 are prototypes of rotor-stator cocrystals. We present
infrared and Raman spectra of these materials and show how the rotor-stator
nature is reflected in their vibrational properties. We measured the
vibrational spectra of the polymer phases poly(C60C8H8) and poly(C70C8H8)
resulting from a solid state reaction occurring on heating. Based on the
spectra we propose a connection pattern for the fullerene in poly(C60C8H8),
where the symmetry of the C60 is D2h. On illuminating the C60-C8H8 cocrystal
with green or blue light a photochemical reaction was observed leading to a
similar product to that of the thermal polymerization.Comment: 26 pages, 8 figures, to appear in Journal of Physical Chemistry B 2nd
version: minor changes in wording, accepted version by journa
A Pilot Study Investigating the Relationship Between Heart Rate Variability and Blood Pressure in Young Adults at Risk for Cardiovascular Disease
BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death globally with hypertension being a primary cause of premature death from this disease process. Individuals with a family history of cardiovascular disease and hypertension are at a greater risk for developing the same sequela. Autonomic cardiac control is important in the level of cardiac function. One intervention that is effective in improving cardiovascular function is heart rate variability biofeedback training. The purpose of our study was to determine the effectiveness of heart rate biofeedback training on HRV and blood pressure in individuals with a family history of cardiovascular disease. METHODS: Thirty-four participants (76.5% female, 22.7 ± 4.3 years) completed a baseline assessment and training using an established short-term HRV protocol followed by two weeks of at-home paced breathing employing a smartphone application. The participants were then reassessed in a biofeedback clinic. RESULTS: The participants physiological measures showed a significant increase in means between pre and post intervention of SDNN (t (32) = 2.177, p =.037) and TP, (t (32) = 2.327 p = .026). Correlation noted a medium effect on diastolic blood pressure and high frequency heart rate variability, F, r = .41, n =33, p < .05. A multiple regression with all predictor variables in the model found no significance with diastolic and systolic blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS: The findings from this pilot study demonstrated that a two-week paced breathing intervention may assist in reducing heart rate and diastolic blood pressure while improving heart rate variability. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40885-021-00185-z
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