Retrieval of phase memory in two independent atomic ensembles by Raman process

In spontaneous Raman process in atomic cell at high gain, both the Stokes field and the accompanying collective atomic excitation (atomic spin wave) are coherent. We find that, due to the spontaneous nature of the process, the phases of the Stokes field and the atomic spin wave change randomly from one realization to another but are anti-correlated. The phases of the atomic ensembles are read out via another Raman process at a later time, thus realizing phase memory in atoms. The observation of phase correlation between the Stokes field and the collective atomic excitations is an important step towards macroscopic EPR-type entanglement of continuous variables between light and atoms

Revealing common artifacts due to ferromagnetic inclusions in highly-oriented pyrolytic graphite

We report on an extensive investigation to figure out the origin of room-temperature ferromagnetism that is commonly observed by SQUID magnetometry in highly-oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG). Electron backscattering and X-ray microanalysis revealed the presence of micron-size magnetic clusters (predominantly Fe) that are rare and would be difficult to detect without careful search in a scanning electron microscope in the backscattering mode. The clusters pin to crystal boundaries and their quantities match the amplitude of typical ferromagnetic signals. No ferromagnetic response is detected in samples where we could not find such magnetic inclusions. Our experiments show that the frequently reported ferromagnetism in pristine HOPG is most likely to originate from contamination with Fe-rich inclusions introduced presumably during crystal growth.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figure

Dynamic Behaviour of Floors with Cold-formed Steel Joists

Presented in this paper are the results of a recent study carried out at the University of Waterloo on the performance of residential floors supported by cold-formed steel C-section floor joists. Both static and dynamic tests were conducted on steel floors with different span lengths based on different design criteria. The purpose of the static tests was to evaluate the stiffuess and load sharing among the joists, and the purpose of the dynamic tests was to evaluate the dynamic characteristics such as frequencies of the floor systems. To identify the critical parameters that contribute to the control of floor vibration, tests were also carried out on floors without attached ceiling materials, with different bridging and blocking patterns, and with different support conditions. Test results are presented in comparison with the analytical results obtained from different design models

Chemopreventive activity of methanol extract of Melastoma malabathricum leaves in DMBA-induced mouse skin carcinogenesis

Background: Melastoma malabathricum L. Smith (family Melastomaceae) is a shrub that has been used by the Malay practitioners of traditional medicine to treat various types of ailments. The present study aimed to determine the chemopreventive activity of methanol extract of M. malabathricum leaves (MEMM) using the standard  7,12-dimethylbenz(á)anthracene (DMBA)/croton oil-induced mouse skincarcinogenesis model.Materials and Methods: In the initiation phase, the mice received a single dose of 100ìl/100 ìg DMBA (group I-V) or 100µl acetone (group VI) topically on the dorsal shaved skin area followed by the promotion phase involving treatment with the respective test solutions (100 ìl of acetone, 10 mg/kg curcumin or MEMM (30, 100 and 300mg/kg)) for 30 min followed by the topical application of tumour promoter (100µl croton oil). Tumors were examined weekly and the experiment lasted for 15 weeks.Results: MEMM and curcumin significantly (p<0.05) reduced the tumour burden, tumour incidence and tumour volume, which were further supported by the histopathological findings.Conclusion: MEMM demonstrated chemoprevention possibly via its  antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, and the action of flavonoids like quercitrin.Key words: Melastomaceae; skin cancer; anti-carcinogenic activit

Data for proteome analysis of Bacillus lehensis G1 in starch-containing medium

Bacillus lehensis G1 is a cyclodextrin glucanotransferase (CGTase) producer, which can degrade starch into cyclodextrin. Here, we present the proteomics data of B. lehensis cultured in starch-containing medium, which is related to the article “Proteome-based identification of signal peptides for improved secretion of recombinant cyclomaltodextrin glucanotransferase in Escherichia coli” (Ling et. al, in press). This dataset was generated to better understand the secretion of proteins involved in starch utilization for bacterial sustained growth. A 2-DE proteomic technique was used and the proteins were tryptically digested followed by detection using MALDI-TOF/TOF. Proteins were classified into functional groups using the information available in SubtiList webserver (http://genolist.pasteur.fr/SubtiList/)

Variational formulas of higher order mean curvatures

In this paper, we establish the first variational formula and its Euler-Lagrange equation for the total $2p$-th mean curvature functional $\mathcal {M}_{2p}$ of a submanifold $M^n$ in a general Riemannian manifold $N^{n+m}$ for $p=0,1,...,[\frac{n}{2}]$. As an example, we prove that closed complex submanifolds in complex projective spaces are critical points of the functional $\mathcal {M}_{2p}$, called relatively $2p$-minimal submanifolds, for all $p$. At last, we discuss the relations between relatively $2p$-minimal submanifolds and austere submanifolds in real space forms, as well as a special variational problem.Comment: 13 pages, to appear in SCIENCE CHINA Mathematics 201

Einstein Probe - a small mission to monitor and explore the dynamic X-ray Universe

Einstein Probe is a small mission dedicated to time-domain high-energy astrophysics. Its primary goals are to discover high-energy transients and to monitor variable objects in the $0.5-4~$keV X-rays, at higher sensitivity by one order of magnitude than those of the ones currently in orbit. Its wide-field imaging capability, featuring a large instantaneous field-of-view ($60^\circ \times60^\circ$, $\sim1.1$sr), is achieved by using established technology of micro-pore (MPO) lobster-eye optics, thereby offering unprecedentedly high sensitivity and large Grasp. To complement this powerful monitoring ability, it also carries a narrow-field, sensitive follow-up X-ray telescope based on the same MPO technology to perform follow-up observations of newly-discovered transients. Public transient alerts will be downlinked rapidly, so as to trigger multi-wavelength follow-up observations from the world-wide community. Over three of its 97-minute orbits almost the entire night sky will be sampled, with cadences ranging from 5 to 25 times per day. The scientific objectives of the mission are: to discover otherwise quiescent black holes over all astrophysical mass scales by detecting their rare X-ray transient flares, particularly tidal disruption of stars by massive black holes at galactic centers; to detect and precisely locate the electromagnetic sources of gravitational-wave transients; to carry out systematic surveys of X-ray transients and characterize the variability of X-ray sources. Einstein Probe has been selected as a candidate mission of priority (no further selection needed) in the Space Science Programme of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, aiming for launch around 2020.Comment: accepted to publish in PoS, Proceedings of "Swift: 10 Years of Discovery" (Proceedings of Science; ed. by P. Caraveo, P. D'Avanzo, N. Gehrels and G. Tagliaferri). Minor changes in text, references update

Attitudes of students from south-east and east Asian countries to slaughter and transport of livestock

Attitudes to animals have been extensively studied for people in developed countries, but not for those in developing countries. The attitudes of prospective stakeholders in the livestock sectors in south-east and east Asia toward transport and slaughter were examined by surveying university students studying veterinary medicine and animal science in Malaysia, Thailand, China and Vietnam, with a total of 739 students taking part. Students had greater acceptability of transport than slaughter issues for livestock, and female students found most transport and slaughter issues of greater concern than male students. Veterinary students were more accepting of several issues than animal science students, in particular killing animals that were injured or ill. Religion had a major effect on attitudes. Muslim students found using animals that died naturally for products least acceptable. Compared to them, Hindu students were less accepting of killing injured or ill animals and Buddhist students less accepting of euthanasing healthy pets. Students with more experience of pets were less accepting of both transport and slaughter issues. It is concluded that concern was exhibited by future stakeholders in the SE and E Asian livestock industries for slaughter and, to a lesser extent, transport issues, although attitudes were influenced by their religion, gender and experience of pet-keeping