A new chiral electro-optic effect: Sum-frequency generation from optically active liquids in the presence of a dc electric field

We report the observation of sum-frequency signals that depend linearly on an applied electrostatic field and that change sign with the handedness of an optically active solution. This recently predicted chiral electro-optic effect exists in the electric-dipole approximation. The static electric field gives rise to an electric-field-induced sum-frequency signal (an achiral third-order process) that interferes with the chirality-specific sum-frequency at second-order. The cross-terms linear in the electrostatic field constitute the effect and may be used to determine the absolute sign of second- and third-order nonlinear optical susceptibilities in isotropic media.Comment: Submitted to Physical Revie

On the structure of framed vertex operator algebras and their pointwise frame stabilizers

In this paper, we study the structure of a general framed vertex operator algebra. We show that the structure codes (C,D) of a framed VOA V satisfy certain duality conditions. As a consequence, we prove that every framed VOA is a simple current extension of the associated binary code VOA V_C. This result would give a prospect on the classification of framed vertex operator algebras. In addition, the pointwise frame stabilizer of V is studied. We completely determine all automorphisms in this pointwise stabilizer, which are of order 1, 2 or 4. The 4A-twisted sector and the 4A-twisted orbifold theory of the famous Moonshine VOA are also constructed explicitly. We verify that the top module of this twisted sector is of dimension 1 and of weight 3/4 and the VOA obtained by 4A-twisted orbifold construction of the moonshine VOA is isomorphic to the moonshine VOA itself.Comment: Version 3: 59 pages. Corrected version. 54 pages on my LaTeX system version 2: We add Theorem 5.16 in which we give a necessary and sufficient condtion for a code to be a structure code of a holomorphic framed VOA. "hyperref" style is also introduce

Geochemical and spectral characterization of naturally altered rock surfaces

The possibility of using the visible-near infrared region for compositional analysis of remotely sensed rock surfaces is studied. This would allow mapping rock type both on the Earth's surface and on other planetary surfaces. Reflectance spectroscopy, economic geology, optical depth determination, and X-ray diffraction mineralogy are discussed

The Effect of Size on Ag Nanosphere Toxicity in Macrophage Cell Models and Lung Epithelial Cell Lines Is Dependent on Particle Dissolution

Silver (Ag) nanomaterials are increasingly used in a variety of commercial applications. This study examined the effect of size (20 and 110 nm) and surface stabilization (citrate and PVP coatings) on toxicity, particle uptake and NLRP3 inflammasome activation in a variety of macrophage and epithelial cell lines. The results indicated that smaller Ag (20 nm), regardless of coating, were more toxic in both cell types and most active in the THP-1 macrophages. TEM imaging demonstrated that 20 nm Ag nanospheres dissolved more rapidly than 110 nm Ag nanospheres in acidic phagolysosomes consistent with Ag ion mediated toxicity. In addition, there were some significant differences in epithelial cell line in vitro exposure models. The order of the epithelial cell lines’ sensitivity to Ag was LA4 \u3e MLE12 \u3e C10. The macrophage sensitivity to Ag toxicity was C57BL/6 AM \u3e MARCO null AM, which indicated that the MARCO receptor was involved in uptake of the negatively charged Ag particles. These results support the idea that Ag nanosphere toxicity and NLRP3 inflammasome activation are determined by the rate of surface dissolution, which is based on relative surface area. This study highlights the importance of utilizing multiple models for in vitro studies to evaluate nanomaterials

The Effects of Size on Ag Nanosphere Toxicity in Macrophage Cell Models and Lung Epithelial Cell Lines Is Dependent on Particle Dissolution

Silver (Ag) nanomaterials are increasingly used in a variety of commercial applications. This study examined the effect of size (20 and 110 nm) and surface stabilization (citrate and PVP coatings) on toxicity, particle uptake and NLRP3 inflammasome activation in a variety of macrophage and epithelial cell lines. The results indicated that smaller Ag (20 nm), regardless of coating, were more toxic in both cell types and most active in the THP-1 macrophages. TEM imaging demonstrated that 20 nm Ag nanospheres dissolved more rapidly than 110 nm Ag nanospheres in acidic phagolysosomes consistent with Ag ion mediated toxicity. In addition, there were some significant differences in epithelial cell line in vitro exposure models. The order of the epithelial cell lines’ sensitivity to Ag was LA4 \u3e MLE12 \u3e C10. The macrophage sensitivity to Ag toxicity was C57BL/6 AM \u3e MARCO null AM, which indicated that the MARCO receptor was involved in uptake of the negatively charged Ag particles. These results support the idea that Ag nanosphere toxicity and NLRP3 inflammasome activation are determined by the rate of surface dissolution, which is based on relative surface area. This study highlights the importance of utilizing multiple models for in vitro studies to evaluate nanomaterials

European Starling Use of Nest Boxes Relative to Human Disturbance

European starling (Sturnus vulgaris; starling) nesting poses debris hazards within airport hangars and to engine and flight surfaces of moored aircraft. We questioned whether consistent removal of nest material would negatively affect use of a nest site, measured by a reduction in material accumulation. We conducted our study on a 2,200-ha site in Erie County, Ohio, USA (41° 22’ N, 82° 41’ W), from April 15 through June 2, 2020. We used 120 wooden nest boxes on utility poles, protected by an aluminum predator guard below the box. Our treatments included (1) twice weekly, repeated nest material removal (RMR; n = 40 nest boxes); (2) complete nest removal, but only after nest construction and ≥1 starling egg was laid (CNR; n = 40 nest boxes); and (3) a control; n = 40 nest boxes; N = 120 nest boxes). Starlings deposited approximately 50% greater mass of nest material and eggs at RMR than CNR nest boxes, indicating that consistent disturbance failed to dissuade use. Predator guard protection of nest boxes at our site reduced nest predation of starlings; the current starling population is likely adapted to selecting these sites. Similar selection toward low nest-predation risk associated with anthropogenic structures and moored aircraft is also possible. Aside from covering moored aircraft and closing hangar doors, actions not necessarily feasible, removal of starling nesting material more than twice weekly would be necessary to maintain minimum control over material deposition that could affect aircraft function and safety

The in vivo form of the murine class VIPOU protein Emb is larger than that encoded by previously described transcripts

The class VI POU domain family member known as Emb in the mouse (rat Bm5 or human mPOU/TCFbeta1) is present in vivo as a protein migrating at about 80 kDa on western blots, considerably larger than that predicted (about 42 kDa) from previously cloned coding sequences. By RT-PCR and 5´ RACE strategies a full-length Emb sequence, Emb FL, is now identified. Shorter sequences encoding the -COOH terminal, and an -NH2 terminal isoform, EmbN, were also isolated. Comparisons of Emb coding sequences between species, including the full-length zebra fish, POU(c), are presented, together with a compilation of the multiple transcripts produced by alternative splicing and the presence of different transcriptional start and stop sites, from the Emb gene

Factors That Influence Healthcare Professionals’ Online Interaction in a Virtual Community of Practice

Online technologies have facilitated the development of Virtual Communities of Practice (virtual CoPs) to support health professionals collaborate online to share knowledge, improve performance and support the spread of innovation and best practices. Research, however, shows that many virtual CoPs do not achieve their expected potential because online interaction among healthcare professionals is generally low. Focusing on health visitors, who are UK qualified midwives or nurses who have undertaken additional qualifications as specialist public health workers in the community, the paper examines the factors that influence online interaction among health visitors collaborating to share knowledge and experience in a virtual CoP. The paper makes suggestions for how to improve online interaction among health professionals in virtual CoPs by increasing the size of membership in order to take advantage of both posting and viewing contributions, facilitating moderation to improve networking among geographically dispersed members groups and improving the topic relevance in order to stimulate contributions