Invariant Solution underlying Oblique Stripe Patterns in Plane Couette Flow

When subcritical shear flows transition to turbulence, laminar and turbulent flow often coexists in space, giving rise to turbulent-laminar patterns. Most prominent are regular stripe patterns with large-scale periodicity and oblique orientation. Oblique stripes are a robust phenomenon, observed in experiments and flow simulations, yet their origin remains unclear. We demonstrate the existence of an invariant equilibrium solution of the fully nonlinear 3D Navier-Stokes equations that resembles the oblique pattern of turbulent-laminar stripes in plane Couette flow. We uncover the origin of the stripe equilibrium and show how it emerges from the well-studied Nagata equilibrium via two successive symmetry-breaking bifurcations

Mechanical effect of van der Waals interactions observed in real time in an ultracold Rydberg gas

We present time-resolved spectroscopic measurements of Rydberg-Rydberg interactions in an ultracold gas, revealing the pair dynamics induced by long-range van der Waals interactions between the atoms. By detuning the excitation laser, a specific pair distribution is prepared. Penning ionization on a microsecond timescale serves as a probe for the pair dynamics under the influence of the attractive long-range forces. Comparison with a Monte Carlo model not only explains all spectroscopic features but also gives quantitative information about the interaction potentials. The results imply that the interaction-induced ionization rate can be influenced by the excitation laser. Surprisingly, interaction-induced ionization is also observed for Rydberg states with purely repulsive interactions

Quantum Mechanical/Molecular Mechanical Study on the Enantioselectivity of the Enzymatic Baeyer–Villiger Reaction of 4-Hydroxycyclohexanone

We report a combined quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical (QM/MM) study of the effect of mutations of the Phe434 residue in the active site of cyclohexanone monooxygenase (CHMO) on its enantioselectivity toward 4-hydroxycyclohexanone. In terms of our previously established model of the enzymatic Baeyer–Villiger reaction, enantioselectivity is governed by the preference toward the equatorial ((S)-selectivity) or axial ((R)-selectivity) conformation of the substituent at the C4 carbon atom of the cyclohexanone ring in the Criegee intermediate and the subsequent rate-limiting transition state for migration (TS2). We assess the enantiopreference by locating all relevant TS2 structures at the QM/MM level. In the wild-type enzyme we find that the axial conformation is energetically slightly more stable, thus leading to a small excess of (R)-product. In the Phe434Ser mutant, there is a hydrogen bond between the serine side chain and the equatorial substrate hydroxyl group that is retained during the whole reaction, and hence there is pronounced reverse (S)-enantioselectivity. Another mutant, Phe434Ile, is shown to preserve and enhance the (R)-selectivity. All these findings are in accordance with experiment. The QM/MM calculations allow us to explain the effect of point mutations on CHMO enantioselectivity for the first time at the molecular level by an analysis of the specific interactions between substrate and active-site environment in the TS2 structures that satisfy the basic stereoelectronic requirement of anti-periplanarity for the migrating σ-bond

Interferon-γ acutely augments inhibition of neocortical layer 5 pyramidal neurons

BACKGROUND: Interferon-γ (IFN-γ, a type II IFN) is present in the central nervous system (CNS) under various conditions. Evidence is emerging that, in addition to its immunological role, IFN-γ modulates neuronal morphology, function, and development in several brain regions. Previously, we have shown that raising levels of IFN-β (a type I IFN) lead to increased neuronal excitability of neocortical layer 5 pyramidal neurons. Because of shared non-canonical signaling pathways of both cytokines, we hypothesized a similar neocortical role of acutely applied IFN-γ. METHODS: We used semi-quantitative RT-PCR, immunoblotting, and immunohistochemistry to analyze neuronal expression of IFN-γ receptors and performed whole-cell patch-clamp recordings in layer 5 pyramidal neurons to investigate sub- and suprathreshold excitability, properties of hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated current (Ih), and inhibitory neurotransmission under the influence of acutely applied IFN-γ. RESULTS: We show that IFN-γ receptors are present in the membrane of rat's neocortical layer 5 pyramidal neurons. As expected from this and the putative overlap in IFN type I and II alternative signaling pathways, IFN-γ diminished Ih, mirroring the effect of type I IFNs, suggesting a likewise activation of protein kinase C (PKC). In contrast, IFN-γ did neither alter subthreshold nor suprathreshold neuronal excitability, pointing to augmented inhibitory transmission by IFN-γ. Indeed, IFN-γ increased electrically evoked inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) on neocortical layer 5 pyramidal neurons. Furthermore, amplitudes of spontaneous IPSCs and miniature IPSCs were elevated by IFN-γ, whereas their frequency remained unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: The expression of IFN-γ receptors on layer 5 neocortical pyramidal neurons together with the acute augmentation of inhibition in the neocortex by direct application of IFN-γ highlights an additional interaction between the CNS and immune system. Our results strengthen our understanding of the role of IFN-γ in neocortical neurotransmission and emphasize its impact beyond its immunological properties, particularly in the pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric disorders

A New Type of Stereoselectivity in Baeyer–Villiger Reactions: Access to E- and Z-Olefins

A new concept for accessing configurationally defined trisubstituted olefins has been developed. Starting from a common ketone precursor of the type 4-ethylidenecyclohexanone, Baeyer–Villiger monooxygenases are employed as catalysts in diastereoselective Baeyer–Villiger reactions leading to the corresponding E- or Z-configurated lactones. Wild-type cyclohexanone monooxygenase (CHMO) as catalyst delivers the E-isomers and a directed evolution mutant the opposite Z-isomers. Subsequent transition metal-catalyzed chemical transformations of a key product containing a vinyl bromide moiety provide a variety of different trisubstituted E- or Z-olefins. A model based on QM/MM sheds light on the origin of this unusual type of diastereoselectivity. In contrast to this biocatalytic approach, traditional Baeyer–Villiger reagents such as m-CPBA fail to show any selectivity, 1:1 mixtures of E- and Z-olefins being formed

Talaria: Continuous Drag & Drop on a Wall Display

International audienceWe present an interaction technique combining tactile actions and Midair pointing to access out-of-reach content on large displays without the need to walk across the display. Users can start through a Touch gesture on the display surface and finish Midair by pointing to push content away or inversely to retrieve a content. The technique takes advantage of wellknown semantics of pointing in human-to-human interaction.These, coupled with the semantics of proximal relations and deictic proxemics make the proposed technique very powerful as it leverages on well-understood human-human interaction modalities. Experimental results show this technique to outperform direct tactile interaction on dragging tasks. From our experience we derive four guidelines for interaction with large-scale displays

Use of soil moisture information in yield models

There are no author-identified significant results in this report

Rabi oscillations between ground and Rydberg states and van der Waals blockade in a mesoscopic frozen Rydberg gas

We present a detailed analysis of our recent observation of synchronous Rabi oscillations between the electronic ground state and Rydberg states in a mesoscopic ensemble containing roughly 100 ultracold atoms [M. Reetz-Lamour \textit{et al.}, submitted, arXiv:0711.4321]. The mesoscopic cloud is selected out of a sample of laser-cooled Rb atoms by optical pumping. The atoms are coupled to a Rydberg state with principal quantum number around 30 by a two-photon scheme employing flat-top laser beams. The influence of residual spatial intensity fluctuations as well as sources of decoherence such as redistribution to other states, radiative lifetime, and laser bandwidth are analysed. The results open up new possibilities for the investigation of coherent many-body phenomena in dipolar Rydberg gases. As an example we demonstrate the van der Waals blockade, a variant of the dipole blockade, for a mesoscopic atom sample