5,245 research outputs found
Patterns on a Roll: A Method for Continuous Feed Nanoprinting
Exploiting elastic instability in thin films has proven a robust method for
creating complex patterns and structures across a wide range of lengthscales.
Even the simplest of systems, an elastic membrane with a lattice of pores,
under mechanical strain, generates complex patterns featuring long-range
orientational order. When we promote this system to a curved surface, in
particular, a cylindrical membrane, a novel set of features, patterns and
broken symmetries appears. The newfound periodicity of the cylinder allows for
a novel continuous method for nanoprinting.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Characterizing the firing properties of an adaptive analog VLSI neuron
Ben Dayan Rubin D, Chicca E, Indiveri G. Characterizing the firing properties of an adaptive analog VLSI neuron. Biologically Inspired Approaches to Advanced Information Technology. 2004;3141:189-200.We describe the response properties of a compact, low power, analog circuit that implements a model of a leaky-Integrate & Fire (I&F) neuron, with spike-frequency adaptation, refractory period and voltage threshold modulation properties. We investigate the statistics of the circuit's output response by modulating its operating parameters, like refractory period and adaptation level and by changing the statistics of the input current. The results show a clear match with theoretical prediction and neurophysiological data in a given range of the parameter space. This analysis defines the chip's parameter working range and predicts its behavior in case of integration into large massively parallel very-large-scale-integration (VLSI) networks
Straight Round the Twist: Frustration and Chirality in Smectics-A
Frustration is a powerful mechanism in condensed matter systems, driving both
order and co plexity. In smectics, the frustration between macroscopic
chirality and equally spaced layers generates textures characterised by a
proliferation of defects. In this article, we study several different ground
states of the chiral Landau-de Gennes free energy for a smectic liquid crystal.
The standard theory finds the twist grain boundary (TGB) phase to be the ground
state for chiral type II smectics. However, for very highly chiral systems, the
hierarchical helical nanofilament (HN) phase can form and is stable over the
TGB.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures, submitted to J. Interface Focu
The Power of Poincar\'e: Elucidating the Hidden Symmetries in Focal Conic Domains
Focal conic domains are typically the "smoking gun" by which smectic liquid
crystalline phases are identified. The geometry of the equally-spaced smectic
layers is highly generic but, at the same time, difficult to work with. In this
Letter we develop an approach to the study of focal sets in smectics which
exploits a hidden Poincar\'e symmetry revealed only by viewing the smectic
layers as projections from one-higher dimension. We use this perspective to
shed light upon several classic focal conic textures, including the concentric
cyclides of Dupin, polygonal textures and tilt-grain boundaries.Comment: 4 pages, 3 included figure
The Feeling of Color: A Haptic Feedback Device for the Visually Disabled
Tapson J, Gurari N, Diaz J, et al. The Feeling of Color: A Haptic Feedback Device for the Visually Disabled. Presented at the Biomedical Circuits and Systems Conference (BIOCAS), Baltimore, MD.We describe a sensory augmentation system designed to provide the visually disabled with a sense of color. Our system consists of a glove with short-range optical color sensors mounted on its fingertips, and a torso-worn belt on which tactors (haptic feedback actuators) are mounted. Each fingertip sensor detects the observed objectpsilas color. This information is encoded to the tactor through vibrations in respective locations and varying modulations. Early results suggest that detection of primary colors is possible with near 100% accuracy and moderate latency, with a minimum amount of training
A new study of an old sink of sulfur in hot molecular cores: the sulfur residue
Sulfur appears to be depleted by an order of magnitude or more from its
elemental abundance in star-forming regions. In the last few years, numerous
observations and experiments have been performed in order to to understand the
reasons behind this depletion without providing a satisfactory explanation of
the sulfur chemistry towards high-mass star-forming cores. Several
sulfur-bearing molecules have been observed in these regions, and yet none are
abundant enough to make up the gas-phase deficit. Where, then, does this hidden
sulfur reside? This paper represents a step forward in our understanding of the
interactions among the various S-bearing species. We have incorporated recent
experimental and theoretical data into a chemical model of a hot molecular core
in order to see whether they give any indication of the identity of the sulfur
sink in these dense regions. Despite our model producing reasonable agreement
with both solid-phase and gas-phase abundances of many sulfur-bearing species,
we find that the sulfur residue detected in recent experiments takes up only ~6
per cent of the available sulfur in our simulations, rather than dominating the
sulfur budget.Comment: 13 pages, 6 colourful figures, accepted by MNRA
Smectic Pores and Defect Cores
Riemann's minimal surfaces are a complete, embeddable, one-parameter family
of minimal surfaces with translational symmetry along one direction. It's
infinite number of planar ends are joined together by an array of necks,
closely matching the morphology of a bicontinuous, lamellar system with pores
connecting alternating layers. We demonstrate explicitly that Riemann's minimal
surfaces are composed of a nonlinear sum of two oppositely-handed helicoids.
This description is particularly appropriate for describing smectic liquid
crystals containing two screw dislocations.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, Geometry of Interfaces Oct 2011, Primosten,
Croati
Adrenomedullin receptors on human T cells are glucocorticoid-sensitive
Adrenomedullin (AM) is a novel vasodilatatory peptide which acts primarily through the calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CLR) in combination with either receptor-activity-modifying-protein (RAMP) 2 or 3 (forming receptors, AM 1 and AM2 respectively). AM plays an important role during inflammation, with its expression increasing following cytokine treatment, promoting macrophage action in situ and high expression by T cells during hypoxic conditions. Examination of T cell AM receptor expression has previously been incomplete, hence we here consider the presentation of AM receptors and their responsiveness to AM and glucocorticoids (GC). AM receptor expression was examined by PCR and flow cytometry in primary human T cells, revealing that RAMP2, 3 and CLR are physiologically expressed in unstimulated T cells, both intracellularly and on the cell surface. PHA stimulation decreased receptor proteins, significantly so for CLR and RAMP3. Incubation with AM elicited limited receptor alterations however, GC treatment (10- 6 M; 24 h) markedly affected cell surface expression, significantly increasing receptor components in unstimulated cells and significantly decreasing the same in stimulated T cells. Our findings indicate that human T cells utilize both AM1 and AM2 receptors, which are GC-sensitive in an activation-state dependent manner. © 2012 Elsevier B.V
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