470 research outputs found
Spatiotemporal Amplitude and Phase Retrieval of Bessel-X pulses using a Hartmann-Shack Sensor
We propose a new experimental technique, which allows for a complete
characterization of ultrashort optical pulses both in space and in time.
Combining the well-known Frequency-Resolved-Optical-Gating technique for the
retrieval of the temporal profile of the pulse with a measurement of the
near-field made with an Hartmann-Shack sensor, we are able to retrieve the
spatiotemporal amplitude and phase profile of a Bessel-X pulse. By following
the pulse evolution along the propagation direction we highlight the
superluminal propagation of the pulse peak
Performances of a Newly High Sensitive Trilayer F/Cu/F GMI Sensor
We have selected stress-annealed nanocrystalline Fe-based ribbons for
ferromagnetic/copper/ferromagnetic sensors exhibiting high magneto-impedance
ratio. Longitudinal magneto-impedance reaches 400% at 60 kHz and longitudinal
magneto-resistance increases up to 1300% around 200 kHz.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figures, Sensors and Actuators A (in review
Superluminal X-shaped beams propagating without distortion along a coaxial guide
In a previous paper [Phys. Rev. E64 (2001) 066603; e-print physics/0001039],
we showed that localized Superluminal solutions to the Maxwell equations exist,
which propagate down (non-evanescence) regions of a metallic cylindrical
waveguide. In this paper we construct analogous non-dispersive waves
propagating along coaxial cables. Such new solutions, in general, consist in
trains of (undistorted) Superluminal "X-shaped" pulses. Particular attention is
paid to the construction of finite total energy solutions. Any results of this
kind may find application in the other fields in which an essential role is
played by a wave-equation (like acoustics, geophysics, etc.). [PACS nos.:
03.50.De; 41.20;Jb; 83.50.Vr; 62.30.+d; 43.60.+d; 91.30.Fn; 04.30.Nk; 42.25.Bs;
46.40.Cd; 52.35.Lv. Keywords: Wave equations; Wave propagation; Localized
beams; Superluminal waves; Coaxial cables; Bidirectional decomposition; Bessel
beams; X-shaped waves; Maxwell equations; Microwaves; Optics; Special
relativity; Coaxial metallic waveguides; Acoustics; Seismology; Mechanical
waves; Elastic waves; Guided gravitational waves.]Comment: plain LaTeX file (22 pages), plus 15 figures; in press in Phys. Rev.
Free-space delay lines and resonances with ultraslow pulsed Bessel beams
We investigate the ultraslow motion of polychromatic Bessel beams in unbounded, nondispersive media. Control over the group velocity is exercised by means of the angular dispersion of pulsed Bessel beams of invariant transverse spatial frequency, which spontaneously emerge from near-field generators. Temporal dynamics in transients and resonances over homogeneous delay lines (dielectric slabs) are also examined
Diffraction-free beams in thin films
The propagation and transmission of Bessel beams through nano-layered
structures has been discussed recently. Within this framework we recognize the
formation of unguided diffraction-free waves with the spot size approaching and
occasionally surpassing the limit of a wavelength when a Bessel beam of any
order n is launched onto a thin material slab with grazing incidence. Based on
the plane-wave representation of cylindrical waves, a simple model is
introduced providing an exact prescription of the transverse pattern of this
type of diffraction-suppressed localized waves. Potential applications in
surface science are put forward for consideration
Bioengineered 3D living fibers as in vitro human tissue models of tendon physiology and pathology
Clinically relevant in vitro models of human tissue's health and disease are urgently needed for a better understanding of biological mechanisms essential for the development of novel therapies. Herein, physiological (healthy) and pathological (disease) tendon states are bioengineered by coupling the biological signaling of platelet lysate components with controlled 3D architectures of electrospun microfibers to drive the fate of human tendon cells in different composite living fibers (CLFs). In the CLFs-healthy model, tendon cells adopt a high cytoskeleton alignment and elongation, express tendon-related markers (scleraxis, tenomodulin, and mohawk) and deposit a dense tenogenic matrix. In contrast, cell crowding with low preferential orientation, high matrix deposition, and phenotypic drift leading to increased expression of nontendon related and fibrotic markers, are characteristics of the CLFs-diseased model. This diseased-like profile, also reflected in the increase of COL3/COL1 ratio, is further evident by the imbalance between matrix remodeling and degradation effectors, characteristic of tendinopathy. In summary, microengineered 3D in vitro models of human tendon healthy and diseased states are successfully fabricated. Most importantly, these innovative and versatile microphysiological models offer major advantages over currently used systems, holding promise for drugs screening and development of new therapies.Work developed under the framework of the Cooperation Agreement
established with the Serviço de Imuno-Hemoterapia do Centro Hospitalar de S. João, EPE. The authors would like to thank the Plastic Surgery Department of Hospital da Prelada (Porto, Portugal) for
providing tendon tissue samples. Authors acknowledge the financial
support from the ERC Grant CoG MagTendon No. 772817; FCT–
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia for the Ph.D. grant of IC
(PD/BD/128088/2016) and CL (PD/BD/150515/2019); for the contract to M.G.F. (CEECIND/01375/2017); and for project SmarTendon
(PTDC/NAN-MAT/30595/2017) and Achilles (Grant no. 810850). After ini tial online publication, the present address for D.D. was added to the af filiations section on August 3, 2022
Design and in vitro effectiveness evaluation of Echium amoenum extract loaded in bioadhesive phospholipid vesicles tailored for mucosal delivery
The Echium amoenum Fisch. and C.A. Mey. (E. amoenum) is an herb native from Iranian shrub, and its blue-violet flowers are traditionally used as medical plants. In the present study, an antioxidant phytocomplex was extracted from the flowers of E. amoenum by ultrasounds-assisted hydroalcoholic maceration. The main components, contained in the extract, have been detected using HPLC-DAD, and rosmarinic acid was found to be the most abundant. The antioxidant power of the extract along with the phenolic content were measured using colorimetric assays. The extract was loaded in liposomes, which were enriched adding different bioadhesive polymers (i.e., mucin, xanthan gum and carboxymethyl cellulose sodium salt) individually or in combination. The main physico-chemical properties (i.e. size, size distribution, surface charge) of the prepared vesicles were measured as well as their stability on storage. The viscosity of dispersion and the ability of vesicles to interact with mucus were evaluated measuring their stability in a mucin dispersion and mobility in a mucin film. The biocompatibility and the ability of the formulations to protect keratinocytes from damages caused by hydrogen peroxide and to promote the cell migration were measured in vitro
Entrapment of citrus limon var. Pompia essential oil or pure citral in liposomes tailored as mouthwash for the treatment of oral cavity diseases
This work aimed at developing a mouthwash based on liposomes loading Citrus limon var. pompia essential oil or citral to treat oropharyngeal diseases. Vesicles were prepared by dispersing phosphatidylcholine and pompia essential oil or citral at increasing amounts (12, 25 and 50 mg/mL) in water. Transparent vesicle dispersions were obtained by direct sonication avoiding the use of organic solvents. Cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) confirmed the formation of unilamellar, spherical and regularly shaped vesicles. Essential oil and citral loaded liposomes were small in size (~110 and ~100 nm, respectively) and negatively charged. Liposomes, especially those loading citral, were highly stable as their physico-chemical properties did not change during storage. The formulations were highly biocompatible against keratinocytes, were able to counteract the damages induced in cells by using hydrogen peroxide, and able to increase the rate of skin repair. In addition, liposomes loading citral at higher concentrations inhibited the proliferation of cariogenic bacterium
Multi-photon attenuation-compensated light-sheet fluorescence microscopy
We thank the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council for funding (grants EP/P030017/1 and EP/R004854/1), the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Framework Programme (H2020) (675512, BE-OPTICAL), the Danish Council for Independent Research (DFF FTP grant 7017-00021), and the Otto Mønsted Foundation (grant 19-70-0109).Attenuation of optical fields owing to scattering and absorption limits the penetration depth for imaging. Whilst aberration correction may be used, this is difficult to implement over a large field-of-view in heterogeneous tissue. Attenuation-compensation allows tailoring of the maximum lobe of a propagation-invariant light field and promises an increase in depth penetration for imaging. Here we show this promising approach may be implemented in multi-photon (two-photon) light-sheet fluorescence microscopy and, furthermore, can be achieved in a facile manner utilizing a graded neutral density filter, circumventing the need for complex beam shaping apparatus. A “gold standard” system utilizing a spatial light modulator for beam shaping is used to benchmark our implementation. The approach will open up enhanced depth penetration in light-sheet imaging to a wide range of end users.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe
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