Synchronization dynamics of two nanomechanical membranes within a Fabry-Perot cavity

Spontaneous synchronization is a significant collective behavior of weakly coupled systems. Due to their inherent nonlinear nature, optomechanical systems can exhibit self-sustained oscillations which can be exploited for synchronizing different mechanical resonators. In this paper, we explore the synchronization dynamics of two membranes coupled to a common optical field within a cavity, and pumped with a strong blue-detuned laser drive. We focus on the system quantum dynamics in the parameter regime corresponding to synchronization of the classical motion of the two membranes. With an appropriate definition of the phase difference operator for the resonators, we study synchronization in the quantum case through the covariance matrix formalism. We find that for sufficiently large driving, quantum synchronization is robust with respect to quantum fluctuations and to thermal noise up to not too large temperatures. Under synchronization, the two membranes are never entangled, while quantum discord behaves similarly to quantum synchronization, that is, it is larger when the variance of the phase difference is smaller

A new record of the puffer fish Takifugu oblongus (Bloch, 1786) from the northern Persian Gulf, Iran

The new record of a puffer fish “Takifugu oblongus Bloch, 1786” (Tetraodontiformes, Tetraodontidae) is recorded for the first time the muddy shores of the inter-tidal zone of Bandar-e-Abbas city, in the northern Persian Gulf, Iran in March 2011. The morphological features of Takifugu oblongus are described. This species has previously been recorded from Indo-West Pacific, South Africa to Indonesia, Japan, China, and Korea (locality type). This finding considerably extends our knowledge of the distribution of Takifugu oblongus

Optimization of somatic embryogenesis induction in Iranian melon (Cucumis melo cv. Khatooni)

In this study, regeneration of Cucumis melo cv. Khatooni: one specific Iranian melon- via somatic embryogenesis was investigated. Three different types of explant (cotyledon, hypocotyl and cotyledonary petiole) from six days old seedlings were used. Growth regulator treatments were two levels of 6-benzyl aminopurine (0 and 0.1 mg/l) and four levels of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (0, 2.5, 5 and 7.5 mg/l). After seven weeks, cotyledonary petiole showed the highest potential in somatic embryo induction and the combination of 0.1 mg/l BA and 5 mg/l 2,4-D had significant effect on somatic embryogenesis of Khatooni melon.Key words: Melon, somatic embryogenesis, regeneration, cotyledon, hypocotyl, cotyledonary petiole

Geometric approach to nonlinear coherent states using the Higgs model for harmonic oscillator

In this paper, we investigate the relation between the curvature of the physical space and the deformation function of the deformed oscillator algebra using non-linear coherent states approach. For this purpose, we study two-dimensional harmonic oscillators on the flat surface and on a sphere by applying the Higgs modell. With the use of their algebras, we show that the two-dimensional oscillator algebra on a surface can be considered as a deformed one-dimensional oscillator algebra where the effect of the curvature of the surface is appeared as a deformation function. We also show that the curvature of the physical space plays the role of deformation parameter. Then we construct the associated coherent states on the flat surface and on a sphere and compare their quantum statistical properties, including quadrature squeezing and antibunching effect.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figs. To be appeared in J. Phys.

Transportation + Street Trees:: Effect of the Urban Design Industry's Roadside Landscape Improvement Standards on Driver and Pedestrian Performance

The purpose of the research is to examine the effect of industry standard urban design treatments for streetscaping of Main Streets on traffic accident rates and the pedestrian's perception of accessibility and safety. Existing research (Rosenblatt, Bahar) has indicated that the use of roadside landscaping is reducing vehicular traffic accident rates both in terms of frequency and severity. This paper identifies the next research steps being developed at Texas A&M University which will create better understanding of the impact of specific streetscape design treatment on pedestrian safety and accessibility. These standards will be evaluated for the effect on bicycle, pedestrian and wheelchair performance within the treated corridors

The intricate interplay between epigenetic events, alternative splicing and noncoding RNA deregulation in colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) results from a transformation of colonic epithelial cells into adenocarcinoma cells due to genetic and epigenetic instabilities, alongside remodelling of the surrounding stromal tumour microenvironment. Epithelial-specific epigenetic variations escorting this process include chromatin remodelling, histone modifications and aberrant DNA methylation, which influence gene expression, alternative splicing and function of non-coding RNA. In this review, we first highlight epigenetic modulators, modifiers and mediators in CRC, then we elaborate on causes and consequences of epigenetic alterations in CRC pathogenesis alongside an appraisal of the complex feedback mechanisms realized through alternative splicing and non-coding RNA regulation. An emphasis in our review is put on how this intricate network of epigenetic and post-transcriptional gene regulation evolves during the initiation, progression and metastasis formation in CRC

Oblique projection for scalable rank-adaptive reduced-order modeling of nonlinear stochastic PDEs with time-dependent bases

Time-dependent basis reduced order models (TDB ROMs) have successfully been used for approximating the solution to nonlinear stochastic partial differential equations (PDEs). For many practical problems of interest, discretizing these PDEs results in massive matrix differential equations (MDEs) that are too expensive to solve using conventional methods. While TDB ROMs have the potential to significantly reduce this computational burden, they still suffer from the following challenges: (i) inefficient for general nonlinearities, (ii) intrusive implementation, (iii) ill-conditioned in the presence of small singular values, and (iv) error accumulation due to fixed rank. To this end, we present a scalable method based on oblique projections for solving TDB ROMs that is computationally efficient, minimally intrusive, robust in the presence of small singular values, rank-adaptive, and highly parallelizable. These favorable properties are achieved via low-rank approximation of the time discrete MDE. Using the discrete empirical interpolation method (DEIM), a low-rank decomposition is computed at each iteration of the time stepping scheme, enabling a near-optimal approximation at a fraction of the cost. We coin the new approach TDB-CUR since it is equivalent to a CUR decomposition based on sparse row and column samples of the MDE. We also propose a rank-adaptive procedure to control the error on-the-fly. Numerical results demonstrate the accuracy, efficiency, and robustness of the new method for a diverse set of problems

Measuring the occurrence of antibiotics in surface water adjacent to cattle grazing areas using passive samplers

A wide variety of antibiotics and other pharmaceuticals are used in livestock production systems and residues passed to the environment, often unmetabolized, after use and excretion. Antibiotic residuesmay be transported frommanure-treated soils via runoff and are also capable of reaching surface and groundwater systems through a variety of pathways. The occurrence and persistence of antibiotics in the environment is a concern due to the potential for ecological effects and proliferation of environmental antibiotic resistance in pathogenic organisms. In the present study, the occurrence and seasonal variation of 24 commonly-used veterinary antibiotics was evaluated in surface water adjacent to several livestock production systems using Polar Organic Chemical Integrative Samplers (POCIS). Uptake rates for all compounds, nine of which have not been previously reported, were measured in the laboratory to permit estimation of changes in the time-weighted average (TWA) antibiotic concentrations during exposure. The antibiotics detected in POCIS extracts included sulfadimethoxine, sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim, sulfamerazine, sulfadiazine, lincomycin, erythromycin, erythromycin anhydro- and monensin. The maximum TWA concentration belonged to sulfadiazine (25 ng/L) in the August– September sampling period and coincided with the highest number of precipitation events.With the exception of monensin that showed an increase in concentration over the stream path, none of the detected antibiotics were prescribed to livestock at the facility. The detection of antibiotics not prescribed by the facility may be attributable to the environmental persistence of previously used antibiotics, transfer by wind from other nearby livestock production sites or industrial uses, and/or the natural production of some antibiotics

Expression microarray reproducibility is improved by optimising purification steps in RNA amplification and labelling.

BACKGROUND: Expression microarrays have evolved into a powerful tool with great potential for clinical application and therefore reliability of data is essential. RNA amplification is used when the amount of starting material is scarce, as is frequently the case with clinical samples. Purification steps are critical in RNA amplification and labelling protocols, and there is a lack of sufficient data to validate and optimise the process. RESULTS: Here the purification steps involved in the protocol for indirect labelling of amplified RNA are evaluated and the experimentally determined best method for each step with respect to yield, purity, size distribution of the transcripts, and dye coupling is used to generate targets tested in replicate hybridisations. DNase treatment of diluted total RNA samples followed by phenol extraction is the optimal way to remove genomic DNA contamination. Purification of double-stranded cDNA is best achieved by phenol extraction followed by isopropanol precipitation at room temperature. Extraction with guanidinium-phenol and Lithium Chloride precipitation are the optimal methods for purification of amplified RNA and labelled aRNA respectively. CONCLUSION: This protocol provides targets that generate highly reproducible microarray data with good representation of transcripts across the size spectrum and a coefficient of repeatability significantly better than that reported previously.RIGHTS : This article is licensed under the BioMed Central licence at http://www.biomedcentral.com/about/license which is similar to the 'Creative Commons Attribution Licence'. In brief you may : copy, distribute, and display the work; make derivative works; or make commercial use of the work - under the following conditions: the original author must be given credit; for any reuse or distribution, it must be made clear to others what the license terms of this work are