Influence of co - and counter-propagating light on the phase-mismatch effect in semiconductor optical amplifiers

peer-reviewedThe phase-mismatch effect, caused by the difference in confinement factor between transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) modes, has not been observed in semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) and is not typically accounted for. In this work, we investigate the characteristics of the phase-mismatch four wave mixing (FWM) effect, which occurs in SOA devices. Our results reveal a sinc-like response in the intensity of co- and counter-FWM conjugates as a function of the detuning shift between interacting beams. It is demonstrated that the coherence lengths between the phase match/mismatch cycles differ between co- and counter-propagating nondegenerate FWM experiments and depend on the amplified TE/TM polarizations of interacting waves aligned with respect to the birefringent axes of SOAs. The coherence lengths between each phase match/mismatch cycle in co-propagation experiments are found to be 1600 and infinite GHz, respectively, compared to 800 and 400 GHz found in counter-propagation experiments.ACCEPTEDpeer-reviewe

INSIG1 influences obesity-related hypertriglyceridemia in humans

In our analysis of a quantitative trait locus (QTL) for plasma triglyceride (TG) levels [logarithm of odds (LOD) = 3.7] on human chromosome 7q36, we examined 29 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across INSIG1, a biological candidate gene in the region. Insulin-induced genes (INSIGs) are feedback mediators of cholesterol and fatty acid synthesis in animals, but their role in human lipid regulation is unclear. In our cohort, the INSIG1 promoter SNP rs2721 was associated with TG levels (P = 2 × 10−3 in 1,560 individuals of the original linkage cohort, P = 8 × 10−4 in 920 unrelated individuals of the replication cohort, combined P = 9.9 × 10−6). Individuals homozygous for the T allele had 9% higher TG levels and 2-fold lower expression of INSIG1 in surgical liver biopsy samples when compared with individuals homozygous for the G allele. Also, the T allele showed additional binding of nuclear proteins from HepG2 liver cells in gel shift assays. Finally, the variant rs7566605 in INSIG2, the only homolog of INSIG1, enhances the effect of rs2721 (P = 0.00117). The variant rs2721 alone explains 5.4% of the observed linkage in our cohort, suggesting that additional, yet-undiscovered genes and sequence variants in the QTL interval also contribute to alterations in TG levels in humans

Higher beta-hydroxybutyrate ketone levels associated with a slower kidney function decline in ADPKD

Background Dysregulated energy metabolism is a recently discovered key feature of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). Cystic cells depend on glucose and are poorly able to use other energy sources such as ketone bodies. Raising ketone body concentration reduced disease progression in animal models of polycystic kidney diseases. Therefore, we hypothesized that higher endogenous plasma beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) concentrations are associated with reduced disease progression in patients with ADPKD.Methods We analyzed data from 670 patients with ADPKD participating in the Developing Intervention Strategies to Halt Progression of ADPKD (DIPAK) cohort, a multi-center prospective observational cohort study. BHB was measured at baseline using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Participants were excluded if they had type 2 diabetes, were using disease-modifying drugs (e.g. tolvaptan, somatostatin analogs), were not fasting or had missing BHB levels, leaving 521 participants for the analyses. Linear regression analyses were used to study cross-sectional associations and linear mixed-effect modeling for longitudinal associations.Results Of the participants, 61% were female, with an age of 47.3 +/- 11.8 years, a height-adjusted total kidney volume (htTKV) of 834 [interquartile range (IQR) 495-1327] mL/m and an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 63.3 +/- 28.9 mL/min/1.73 m2. The median concentration of BHB was 94 (IQR 68-147) mu mol/L. Cross-sectionally, BHB was associated neither with eGFR nor with htTKV. Longitudinally, BHB was positively associated with eGFR slope {B = 0.35 mL/min/1.73 m2 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.09 to 0.61], P = .007}, but not with kidney growth. After adjustment for potential confounders, every doubling in BHB concentration was associated with an improvement in the annual rate of eGFR by 0.33 mL/min/1.73 m2 (95% CI 0.09 to 0.57, P = .008).Conclusion These observational analyses support the hypothesis that interventions that raise BHB concentration could reduce the rate of kidney function decline in patients with ADPKD.Graphical Abstract10.1093/ndt/gfad239 Video Watch the video of this contribution at https://academic.oup.com/ndt/pages/author_videos gfad239Media1 6341589965112Functional Genomics of Systemic Disorder

Exploring the applicability of solar driven photocatalytic processes to control inestation by zebra mussel

Dreissena polymorpha (zebra mussel) is an invasive freshwater bivalve mollusc that causes important technical and environmental problems. Titanium dioxide solar photocatalysis was checked for disinfestation of veligers of zebra mussel. Approximately 70% damaged larvae were observed after 2h of solar irradiation with 0.2 and 0.5g/l of TiO 2. Neutral photo-Fenton could be a promising alternative as ca. 80% damaged larvae were detected in only 3h irradiation in the presence of H 2O 2 (10mg/l). This process was clearly more effective than sunlight irradiation, H 2O 2, or dark Fenton. The performance of the process was slightly improved when a pH value of 5.5 was employed, although further research is needed to explore the compatibility of this medium with irrigation. Finally, the process was scaled up to 4l using a solar photo-reactor; again in this case, 90% of the veligers were damaged after 3h of irradiation. © 2011 Elsevier B.V.We want to acknowledge the financial support of Spanish Ministerio de Medio Ambiente, Medio Rural y Marino (Project 100/RN08/03.4) and Confederacion Hidrografica del Ebro for providing water samples infested with zebra mussel.Bernabeu García, A.; Vicente Candela, R.; Peribañez Lopez, MA.; Arques Sanz, A.; Amat Payá, AM. (2011). Exploring the applicability of solar driven photocatalytic processes to control inestation by zebra mussel. Chemical Engineering Journal. 171(2):490-494. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2011.04.009S490494171

Genetic characterisation of Escherichia coli RecN protein as a member of SMC family of proteins

YesThe proteins of SMC family are characterised by having Walker A and B sites. The Escherichia coli RecN protein is a prokaryotic member of SMC family that involved in the induced excision of Tn10 and the repair of the DNA double strand breaks. In this work, the Walker A nucleotide binding site of the E. coli RecN protein was mutated by changing the highly conserved lysine residue 35 to the aspartic acid (D), designated as recN(K35D). Reverse genetics was utilized to delete the entire recN gene (Delta recN108) or introduce the recN(K35D) gene into the E. coli chromosomal DNA. The recN(K35D) cells showed decreasing in the frequency of excision of Tn10 from gal7

Amine Containing Analogs of Sulindac for Cancer Prevention

Background: Sulindac belongs to the chemically diverse family of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) that effectively prevent adenomatous colorectal polyps and colon cancer, especially in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis. Sulindac sulfide amide (SSA), an amide analog of sulindac sulfide, shows insignificant COX-related activity and toxicity while enhancing anticancer activity in vitro and demonstrating in vivo xenograft activity. Objective: Develop structure-activity relationships in the sulindac amine series and identify analogs with promising anticancer activities. Method: A series of sulindac amine analogs were designed and synthesized and then further modified in a “libraries from libraries” approach to produce amide, sulfonamide and N,N-disubstituted sulindac amine sub-libraries. All analogs were screened against three cancer cell lines (prostate, colon and breast). Results: Several active compounds were identified viain vitro cancer cell line screening with the most potent compound (26) in the nanomolar range. Conclusion: Compound 26 and analogs showing the most potent inhibitory activity may be considered for further design and optimization efforts as anticancer hit scaffolds

Narrative inquiry into (re)imagining alternative schools: a case study of Kevin Gonzales.

Although there are many alternative schools that strive for the successful education for their students, negative images of alternative schools persist. While some alternative schools are viewed as “idealistic havens,” many are viewed as “dumping grounds,” or “juvenile detention centers.” Employing narrative inquiry, this article interrogates how a student, Kevin Gonzales, experiences his alternative education and raises questions about the role of alternative schools. Kevin Gonzales’s story is presented in a literary form of biographical journal to provide a “metaphoric loft” that helps us imagine other students like Kevin. This, in turn, provokes us to examine our current educational practice, and to (re)imagine ways in which alternative education can provide the best possible educational experiences for disenfranchised students who are increasingly underserved by the public education system

Inclusive and differential cross-section measurements of t\bartZ production in pp collisions at √s=13 TeV with the ATLAS detector, including EFT and spin-correlation interpretations

Measurements of both the inclusive and differential production cross sections of a top-quark-top-antiquark pair in association with a Z boson (tt¯Z) are presented. Final states with two, three or four isolated leptons (electrons or muons) are targeted. The measurements use the data recorded by the ATLAS detector in pp collisions at s√=13 TeV at the Large Hadron Collider during the years 2015-2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 140 fb−1. The inclusive cross section is measured to be σtt¯Z=0.86±0.04 (stat.)±0.04 (syst.) pb and found to be in agreement with the most advanced Standard Model predictions. The differential measurements are presented as a function of a number of observables that probe the kinematics of the tt¯Z system. Both the absolute and normalised differential cross-section measurements are performed at particle level and parton level for specific fiducial volumes, and are compared with NLO+NNLL theoretical predictions. The results are interpreted in the framework of Standard Model effective field theory and used to set limits on a large number of dimension-6 operators involving the top quark. The first measurement of spin correlations in tt¯Z events is presented: the results are in agreement with the Standard Model expectations, and the null hypothesis of no spin correlations is disfavoured with a significance of 1.8 standard deviations

Observation of quantum entanglement in top-quark pairs using the ATLAS detector

We report the highest-energy observation of entanglement, in top−antitop quark events produced at the Large Hadron Collider, using a proton−proton collision data set with a center-of-mass energy of s√=13 TeV and an integrated luminosity of 140 fb−1 recorded with the ATLAS experiment. Spin entanglement is detected from the measurement of a single observable D, inferred from the angle between the charged leptons in their parent top- and antitop-quark rest frames. The observable is measured in a narrow interval around the top−antitop quark production threshold, where the entanglement detection is expected to be significant. It is reported in a fiducial phase space defined with stable particles to minimize the uncertainties that stem from limitations of the Monte Carlo event generators and the parton shower model in modelling top-quark pair production. The entanglement marker is measured to be D=−0.547±0.002 (stat.)±0.021 (syst.) for 340<mtt¯<380 GeV. The observed result is more than five standard deviations from a scenario without entanglement and hence constitutes both the first observation of entanglement in a pair of quarks and the highest-energy observation of entanglement to date

Track D Social Science, Human Rights and Political Science

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138414/1/jia218442.pd