253 research outputs found
Widely-tunable mid-IR frequency comb source based on difference frequency generation
We report on a mid-infrared frequency comb source of unprecedented tunability
covering the entire 3-10 {\mu}m molecular fingerprint region. The system is
based on difference frequency generation in a GaSe crystal pumped by a 151 MHz
Yb:fiber frequency comb. The process was seeded with Raman shifted solitons
generated in a highly nonlinear suspended-core fiber with the same source.
Average powers up to 1.5 mW were achieved at 4.7 {\mu}m wavelength.Comment: 3 pages, 3 figure
Full phase stabilization of a Yb:fiber femtosecond frequency comb via high-bandwidth transducers
We present full phase stabilization of an amplified Yb:fiber femtosecond
frequency comb using an intra-cavity electro-optic modulator and an
acousto-optic modulator. These transducers provide high servo bandwidths of 580
kHz and 250 kHz for frep and fceo, producing a robust and low phase noise fiber
frequency comb. The comb was self-referenced with an f - 2f interferometer and
phase locked to an ultra-stable optical reference used for the JILA Sr optical
clock at 698 nm, exhibiting 0.21 rad and 0.47 rad of integrated phase errors
(over 1 mHz - 1 MHz) respectively. Alternatively, the comb was locked to two
optical references at 698 nm and 1064 nm, obtaining 0.43 rad and 0.14 rad of
integrated phase errors respectively
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Physical, chemical, and toxicological characteristics of particulate emissions from current technology gasoline direct injection vehicles
Transverse and longitudinal characterization of electron beams using interaction with optical near-fields
We demonstrate an experimental technique for both transverse and longitudinal
characterization of bunched femtosecond free electron beams. The operation
principle is based on monitoring of the current of electrons that obtained an
energy gain during the interaction with the synchronized optical near-field
wave excited by femtosecond laser pulses. The synchronous
accelerating/decelerating fields confined to the surface of a silicon
nanostructure are characterized using a highly focused sub-relativistic
electron beam. Here the transverse spatial resolution of 450 nm and femtosecond
temporal resolution achievable by this technique are demonstrated
Full phase stabilization of a Yb:fiber femtosecond frequency comb via high-bandwidth transducers
Synthesis of tumor-associated MUC1-glycopeptides and their multivalent presentation by functionalized gold colloids
The mucin MUC1 is a glycoprotein involved in fundamental biological processes, which can be found over-expressed and with a distinctly altered glycan pattern on epithelial tumor cells; thus it is a promising target structure in the quest for effective carbohydrate-based cancer vaccines and immunotherapeutics. Natural glycopeptide antigens indicate only a low immunogenicity and a T-cell independent immune response; however, this major drawback can be overcome by coupling of glycopeptide antigens multivalently to immunostimulating carrier platforms. In particular, gold nanoparticles are well suited as templates for the multivalent presentation of glycopeptide antigens, due to their remarkably high surface-to-volume ratio in combination with their high biostability. In this work the synthesis of novel MUC1-glycopeptide antigens and their coupling to gold nanoparticles of different sizes are presented. In addition, the development of a new dot-blot immunoassay to test the potential antigen-antibody binding is introduced
Hydroxyproline-containing collagen analogs trigger the release and activation of collagen-sequestered proMMP-2 by competition with prodomain-derived peptide P33-42.
BACKGROUND: Fibrolytic and profibrotic activities of the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs)-2 and -9 play a central role in liver fibrosis. Since binding to the extracellular matrix influences the activity of both gelatinases, here the role of fibrillar collagens as the most abundant matrix components in fibrotic tissue was investigated. RESULTS: In situ zymography and immunohistology showed association of enzymatically inactive prodomain-containing proMMP-2 and proMMP-9 but not of their activated forms to fibrillar collagen structures, which are not substrates of these gelatinases. In solid-phase binding studies with human collagens and collagen fragments, up to 45% of [125I]-labeled proMMP-2 and proMMP-9 but not of active (act)MMP-2 and actMMP-9 were retained by natural collagenous molecules and by synthetic analogs containing repeated Gly-Pro-Hyp triplets (GPO). Surface plasmon resonance yielded binding constants for the interaction of collagen type I (CI) with proMMP-2 and proMMP-9 in a nanomolar range. Values for actMMP-2 and actMMP-9 were 30-40 times higher. Tenfold molar excesses of (GPO)10 reduced the interaction of CI with pro- and actMMP-2 by 22- or 380-fold and resulted in prodomain release accompanied by high enzymatic activation and activity. Pointing to gelatine substrate displacement, higher (GPO)10 concentrations blocked the enzymatic activity. The MMP-2 prodomain-derived collagen-binding domain peptide (P33-42) binds to the collagen-binding domain of MMP-2, thereby preserving enzymatic inactivity. Synthetic P33-42 peptide competed with proMMP-2 binding to CI and prevented (GPO)10-mediated proMMP-2 activation. In contrast to (GPO)10, P33-42 did not activate proMMP-2, making triple helical and hydroxyproline-containing (GPO)10 unique in modulating gelatinase availability and activity. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest novel strategies using collagen analogs for the resolution of liver fibrosis via fibrotic matrix-sequestered gelatinases.RIGHTS : This article is licensed under the BioMed Central licence at http://www.biomedcentral.com/about/license which is similar to the 'Creative Commons Attribution Licence'. In brief you may : copy, distribute, and display the work; make derivative works; or make commercial use of the work - under the following conditions: the original author must be given credit; for any reuse or distribution, it must be made clear to others what the license terms of this work are
Computational modelling and experimental tank testing of the multi float WaveSub under regular wave forcing
A submerged wave device generates energy from the relative motion of floating bodies. In WaveSub, three floats are joined to a reactor; each connected to a spring and generator. Electricity generated damps the orbital movements of the floats. The forces are non-linear and each float interacts with the others. Tuning to the wave climate is achieved by changing the line lengths, so there is a need to understand the performance trade-offs for a large number of configurations. This requires an efficient, large displacement, multidirectional, multi-body numerical scheme. Results from a 1/25 scale wave basin experiment are described. Here, we show that a time domain linear potential flow formulation (Nemoh, WEC-Sim) can match the tank testing provided that suitably tuned drag coefficients are employed. Inviscid linear potential models can match some wave device experiments; however, additional viscous terms generally provide better accuracy. Scale experiments are also prone to mechanical friction, and we estimate friction terms to improve the correlation further. The resulting error in mean power between numerical and physical models is approximately 10%. Predicted device movement shows a good match. Overall, drag terms in time domain wave energy modelling will improve simulation accuracy in wave renewable energy device design
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