2,696 research outputs found
Generalising some results about right-angled Artin groups to graph products of groups
We prove three results about the graph product G=\G(\Gamma;G_v, v \in
V(\Gamma)) of groups over a graph . The first result generalises
a result of Servatius, Droms and Servatius, proved by them for right-angled
Artin groups; we prove a necessary and sufficient condition on a finite graph
for the kernel of the map from to the associated direct product to
be free (one part of this result already follows from a result in S. Kim's
Ph.D. thesis). The second result generalises a result of Hermiller and Sunic,
again from right-angled Artin groups; we prove that for a graph with
finite chromatic number, has a series in which every factor is a free
product of vertex groups. The third result provides an alternative proof of a
theorem due to Meier, which provides necessary and sufficient conditions on a
finite graph for to be hyperbolic
Classical and quantum properties of cylindrically polarized states of light
We investigate theoretical properties of beams of light with non-uniform
polarization patterns. Specifically, we determine all possible configurations
of cylindrically polarized modes (CPMs) of the electro-magnetic field,
calculate their total angular momentum and highlight the subtleties of their
structure. Furthermore, a hybrid spatio-polarization description for such modes
is introduced and developed. In particular, two independent Poincar\'e spheres
have been introduced to represent simultaneously the polarization and spatial
degree of freedom of CPMs. Possible mode-to-mode transformations accomplishable
with the help of conventional polarization and spatial phase retarders are
shown within this representation. Moreover, the importance of these CPMs in the
quantum optics domain due to their classical features is highlighted.Comment: 22 pages, 8 figure
Enhancing the cellular uptake of Py–Im polyamides through next-generation aryl turns
Pyrrole–imidazole (Py–Im) hairpin polyamides are a class of programmable, sequence-specific DNA binding oligomers capable of disrupting protein–DNA interactions and modulating gene expression in living cells. Methods to control the cellular uptake and nuclear localization of these compounds are essential to their application as molecular probes or therapeutic agents. Here, we explore modifications of the hairpin γ-aminobutyric acid turn unit as a means to enhance cellular uptake and biological activity. Remarkably, introduction of a simple aryl group at the turn potentiates the biological effects of a polyamide targeting the sequence 5′-WGWWCW-3′ (W = A/T) by up to two orders of magnitude. Confocal microscopy and quantitative flow cytometry analysis suggest this enhanced potency is due to increased nuclear uptake. Finally, we explore the generality of this approach and find that aryl-turn modifications enhance the uptake of all polyamides tested, while having a variable effect on the upper limit of polyamide nuclear accumulation. Overall this provides a step forward for controlling the intracellular concentration of Py–Im polyamides that will prove valuable for future applications in which biological potency is essential
Modulation of NF-κB-dependent gene transcription using programmable DNA minor groove binders
Nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) is a transcription factor that regulates various aspects of immune response, cell death, and differentiation as well as cancer. In this study we introduce the Py-Im polyamide 1 that binds preferentially to the sequences 5′-WGGWWW-3′ and 5′GGGWWW-3′. The compound is capable of binding to κB sites and reducing the expression of various NF-κB–driven genes including IL6 and IL8 by qRT-PCR. Chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrate a reduction of p65 occupancy within the proximal promoters of those genes. Genome-wide expression analysis by RNA-seq compares the DNA-binding polyamide with the well-characterized NF-κB inhibitor PS1145, identifies overlaps and differences in affected gene groups, and shows that both affect comparable numbers of TNF-α–inducible genes. Inhibition of NF-κB DNA binding via direct displacement of the transcription factor is a potential alternative to the existing antagonists
Magnetic Tower Outflows from a Radial Wire Array Z-pinch
We present the first results of high energy density laboratory astrophysics
experiments which explore the evolution of collimated outflows and jets driven
by a toroidal magnetic field. The experiments are scalable to astrophysical
flows in that critical dimensionless numbers such as the Mach number, the
plasma beta and the magnetic Reynolds number are all in the astrophysically
appropriate ranges. Our experiments use the MAGPIE pulsed power machine and
allow us to explore the role of magnetic pressure in creating and collimating
the outflow as well as showing the creation of a central jet within the broader
outflow cavity. We show that currents flow along this jet and we observe its
collimation to be enhanced by the additional hoop stresses associated with the
generated toroidal field. Although at later times the jet column is observed to
go unstable, the jet retains its collimation. We also present simulations of
the magnetic jet evolution using our two-dimensional resistive
magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) laboratory code. We conclude with a discussion of
the astrophysical relevance of the experiments and of the stability properties
of the jet.Comment: Accepted by MNRAS. 17 pages without figures. Full version with
figures can be found at
http://www.pas.rochester.edu/~afrank/labastro/MF230rv.pd
Elevated hemostasis markers after pneumonia increases one-year risk of all-cause and cardiovascular deaths
Background: Acceleration of chronic diseases, particularly cardiovascular disease, may increase long-term mortality after community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), but underlying mechanisms are unknown. Persistence of the prothrombotic state that occurs during an acute infection may increase risk of subsequent atherothrombosis in patients with pre-existing cardiovascular disease and increase subsequent risk of death. We hypothesized that circulating hemostasis markers activated during CAP persist at hospital discharge, when patients appear to have recovered clinically, and are associated with higher mortality, particularly due to cardiovascular causes. Methods: In a cohort of survivors of CAP hospitalization from 28 US sites, we measured D-Dimer, thrombin-antithrombin complexes [TAT], Factor IX, antithrombin, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 at hospital discharge, and determined 1-year all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Results: Of 893 subjects, most did not have severe pneumonia (70.6% never developed severe sepsis) and only 13.4% required intensive care unit admission. At discharge, 88.4% of subjects had normal vital signs and appeared to have clinically recovered. D-dimer and TAT levels were elevated at discharge in 78.8% and 30.1% of all subjects, and in 51.3% and 25.3% of those without severe sepsis. Higher D-dimer and TAT levels were associated with higher risk of all-cause mortality (range of hazard ratios were 1.66-1.17, p = 0.0001 and 1.46-1.04, p = 0.001 after adjusting for demographics and comorbid illnesses) and cardiovascular mortality (p = 0.009 and 0.003 in competing risk analyses). Conclusions: Elevations of TAT and D-dimer levels are common at hospital discharge in patients who appeared to have recovered clinically from pneumonia and are associated with higher risk of subsequent deaths, particularly due to cardiovascular disease. © 2011 Yende et al
High-efficiency frequency doubling of continuous-wave laser light
We report on the observation of high efficiency frequency doubling of 1550 nm
continuous-wave laser light in a nonlinear cavity containing a periodically
poled potassium titanyl phosphate crystal (PPKTP). The fundamental field had a
power of 1.10 W and was converted into 1.05 W at 775 nm, yielding a total
external conversion efficiency of (95 \pm 1)%. The latter value is based on the
measured depletion of the fundamental field being consistent with the absolute
values derived from numerical simulations. According to our model, the
conversion efficiency achieved was limited by the non-perfect mode-matching
into the nonlinear cavity and the pump power available. Our result shows that
cavity-assisted frequency conversion based on PPKTP is well suited for
low-decoherence frequency conversion of quantum states of light.Comment: 3 pages, 3 figure
Thermoelectric Signal Enhancement by Reconciling the Spin Seebeck and Anomalous Nernst Effects in Ferromagnet/Non-magnet Multilayers
The utilization of ferromagnetic (FM) materials in thermoelectric devices allows one to have a simpler structure and/or independent control of electric and thermal conductivities, which may further remove obstacles for this technology to be realized. The thermoelectricity in FM/non-magnet (NM) heterostructures using an optical heating source is studied as a function of NM materials and a number of multilayers. It is observed that the overall thermoelectric signal in those structures which is contributed by spin Seebeck effect and anomalous Nernst effect (ANE) is enhanced by a proper selection of NM materials with a spin Hall angle that matches to the sign of the ANE. Moreover, by an increase of the number of multilayer, the thermoelectric voltage is enlarged further and the device resistance is reduced, simultaneously. The experimental observation of the improvement of thermoelectric properties may pave the way for the realization of magnetic-(or spin-) based thermoelectric devicesopen4
Nanocrystal and surface alloy properties of bimetallic Gold-Platinum nanoparticles
We report on the correlation between the nanocrystal and surface alloy properties with the bimetallic composition of gold-platinum(AuPt) nanoparticles. The fundamental understanding of whether the AuPt nanocrystal core is alloyed or phase-segregated and how the surface binding properties are correlated with the nanoscale bimetallic properties is important not only for the exploitation of catalytic activity of the nanoscale bimetallic catalysts, but also to the general exploration of the surface or interfacial reactivities of bimetallic or multimetallic nanoparticles. The AuPt nanoparticles are shown to exhibit not only single-phase alloy character in the nanocrystal, but also bimetallic alloy property on the surface. The nanocrystal and surface alloy properties are directly correlated with the bimetallic composition. The FTIR probing of CO adsorption on the bimetallic nanoparticles supported on silica reveals that the surface binding sites are dependent on the bimetallic composition. The analysis of this dependence further led to the conclusion that the relative Au-atop and Pt-atop sites for the linear CO adsorption on the nanoparticle surface are not only correlated with the bimetallic composition, but also with the electronic effect as a result of the d-band shift of Pt in the bimetallic nanocrystals, which is the first demonstration of the nanoscale core-surface property correlation for the bimetallic nanoparticles over a wide range of bimetallic composition
- …