4,730 research outputs found
Inverse Design of High-NA Metalens for Maskless Lithography
We demonstrate an axisymmetric inverse-designed metalens to improve the
performance of zone-plate-array lithography (ZPAL), one of the maskless
lithography approaches, that offer a new paradigm for nanoscale research and
industry. First, we derive a computational upper bound for a unit-cell-based
axisymmetric metalens. Then, we demonstrate a fabrication-compatible
inverse-designed metalens with 85.50\% transmission normalized focusing
efficiency at 0.6 numerical aperture at 405nm wavelength; a higher efficiency
than a theoretical gradient index lens design (79.98\%). We also demonstrate
experimental validation for our axisymmetric inverse-designed metalens via
electron beam lithography. Metalens-based maskless lithography may open a new
way of achieving low-cost, large-area nanofabrication
The VLA Survey of the Chandra Deep Field South. IV. Source Population
We present a detailed analysis of 256 radio sources from our deep (flux
density limit of 42 microJy at the field centre at 1.4 GHz) Chandra Deep Field
South 1.4 and 5 GHz VLA survey. The radio population is studied by using a
wealth of multi-wavelength information in the radio, optical, and X-ray bands.
The availability of redshifts for ~ 80% of the sources in our complete sample
allows us to derive reliable luminosity estimates for the majority of the
objects. X-ray data, including upper limits, for all our sources turn out to be
a key factor in establishing the nature of faint radio sources. Due to the
faint optical levels probed by this study, we have uncovered a population of
distant Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) systematically missing from many previous
studies of sub-millijansky radio source identifications. We find that, while
the well-known flattening of the radio number counts below 1 mJy is mostly due
to star forming galaxies, these sources and AGN make up an approximately equal
fraction of the sub-millijansky sky, contrary to some previous results. The AGN
include radio galaxies, mostly of the low-power, Fanaroff-Riley I type, and a
significant radio-quiet component, which amounts to approximately one fifth of
the total sample. The ratio of radio to optical luminosity depends more on
radio luminosity, rather than being due to optical absorption.Comment: 13 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in the Astrophysical
Journa
Resolving the Radio Source Background: Deeper Understanding Through Confusion
We used the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) to image one primary beam
area at 3 GHz with 8 arcsec FWHM resolution and 1.0 microJy/beam rms noise near
the pointing center. The P(D) distribution from the central 10 arcmin of this
confusion-limited image constrains the count of discrete sources in the 1 <
S(microJy/beam) < 10 range. At this level the brightness-weighted differential
count S^2 n(S) is converging rapidly, as predicted by evolutionary models in
which the faintest radio sources are star-forming galaxies; and ~96$% of the
background originating in galaxies has been resolved into discrete sources.
About 63% of the radio background is produced by AGNs, and the remaining 37%
comes from star-forming galaxies that obey the far-infrared (FIR) / radio
correlation and account for most of the FIR background at lambda = 160 microns.
Our new data confirm that radio sources powered by AGNs and star formation
evolve at about the same rate, a result consistent with AGN feedback and the
rough correlation of black hole and bulge stellar masses. The confusion at
centimeter wavelengths is low enough that neither the planned SKA nor its
pathfinder ASKAP EMU survey should be confusion limited, and the ultimate
source detection limit imposed by "natural" confusion is < 0.01 microJy at 1.4
GHz. If discrete sources dominate the bright extragalactic background reported
by ARCADE2 at 3.3 GHz, they cannot be located in or near galaxies and most are
< 0.03 microJy at 1.4 GHz.Comment: 28 pages including 16 figures. ApJ accepted for publicatio
Maximal Spontaneous Photon Emission and Energy Loss from Free Electrons
Free electron radiation such as Cerenkov, Smith--Purcell, and transition
radiation can be greatly affected by structured optical environments, as has
been demonstrated in a variety of polaritonic, photonic-crystal, and
metamaterial systems. However, the amount of radiation that can ultimately be
extracted from free electrons near an arbitrary material structure has remained
elusive. Here we derive a fundamental upper limit to the spontaneous photon
emission and energy loss of free electrons, regardless of geometry, which
illuminates the effects of material properties and electron velocities. We
obtain experimental evidence for our theory with quantitative measurements of
Smith--Purcell radiation. Our framework allows us to make two predictions. One
is a new regime of radiation operation---at subwavelength separations, slower
(nonrelativistic) electrons can achieve stronger radiation than fast
(relativistic) electrons. The second is a divergence of the emission
probability in the limit of lossless materials. We further reveal that such
divergences can be approached by coupling free electrons to photonic bound
states in the continuum (BICs). Our findings suggest that compact and efficient
free-electron radiation sources from microwaves to the soft X-ray regime may be
achievable without requiring ultrahigh accelerating voltages.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figure
Outcomes of Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) treatment of multiple synchronous and recurrent lung nodules
Adenosine-mono-phosphate-activated protein kinase-independent effects of metformin in T cells
The anti-diabetic drug metformin regulates T-cell responses to immune activation and is proposed to function by regulating the energy-stress-sensing adenosine-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK). However, the molecular details of how metformin controls T cell immune responses have not been studied nor is there any direct evidence that metformin acts on T cells via AMPK. Here, we report that metformin regulates cell growth and proliferation of antigen-activated T cells by modulating the metabolic reprogramming that is required for effector T cell differentiation. Metformin thus inhibits the mammalian target of rapamycin complex I signalling pathway and prevents the expression of the transcription factors c-Myc and hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha. However, the inhibitory effects of metformin on T cells did not depend on the expression of AMPK in T cells. Accordingly, experiments with metformin inform about the importance of metabolic reprogramming for T cell immune responses but do not inform about the importance of AMPK
Asymmetric magnetic interference patterns in 0-pi Josephson junctions
We examine the magnetic interference patterns of Josephson junctions with a
region of 0- and of pi-phase shift. Such junctions have recently been realized
as c-axis YBCO-Pb junctions with a single twin boundary in YBCO. We show that
in general the junction generates self-fields which introduces an asymmetry in
the critical current under reversal of the magnetic field. Numerical
calculations of these asymmetries indicate they account well for the
unexplained features observed in single twin boundary junctions.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
The Deep Water Abundance on Jupiter: New Constraints from Thermochemical Kinetics and Diffusion Modeling
We have developed a one-dimensional thermochemical kinetics and diffusion
model for Jupiter's atmosphere that accurately describes the transition from
the thermochemical regime in the deep troposphere (where chemical equilibrium
is established) to the quenched regime in the upper troposphere (where chemical
equilibrium is disrupted). The model is used to calculate chemical abundances
of tropospheric constituents and to identify important chemical pathways for
CO-CH4 interconversion in hydrogen-dominated atmospheres. In particular, the
observed mole fraction and chemical behavior of CO is used to indirectly
constrain the Jovian water inventory. Our model can reproduce the observed
tropospheric CO abundance provided that the water mole fraction lies in the
range (0.25-6.0) x 10^-3 in Jupiter's deep troposphere, corresponding to an
enrichment of 0.3 to 7.3 times the protosolar abundance (assumed to be H2O/H2 =
9.61 x 10^-4). Our results suggest that Jupiter's oxygen enrichment is roughly
similar to that for carbon, nitrogen, and other heavy elements, and we conclude
that formation scenarios that require very large (>8 times solar) enrichments
in water can be ruled out. We also evaluate and refine the simple time-constant
arguments currently used to predict the quenched CO abundance on Jupiter, other
giant planets, and brown dwarfs.Comment: 42 pages, 7 figures, 4 tables, with note added in proof. Accepted for
publication in Icarus [in press
A randomised feasibility study to investigate the impact of education and the addition of prompts on the sedentary behaviour of office workers
Abstract Background Office workers have been identified as being at risk of accumulating high amounts of sedentary time in prolonged events during work hours, which has been associated with increased risk of a number of long-term health conditions. There is some evidence that providing advice to stand at regular intervals during the working day, and using computer-based prompts, can reduce sedentary behaviour in office workers. However, evidence of effectiveness, feasibility and acceptability for these types of intervention is currently limited. Methods A 2-arm, parallel group, cluster-randomised feasibility trial to assess the acceptability of prompts to break up sedentary behaviour was conducted with office workers in a commercial bank (n = 21). Participants were assigned to an education only group (EG) or prompt and education group (PG). Both groups received education on reducing and breaking up sitting at work, and the PG also received hourly prompts, delivered by Microsoft Outlook over 10 weeks, reminding them to stand. Objective measurements of sedentary behaviour were made using activPAL monitors worn at three time points: baseline, in the last 2 weeks of the intervention period and 12 weeks after the intervention. Focus groups were conducted to explore the acceptability of the intervention and the motivations and barriers to changing sedentary behaviour. Results Randomly generated, customised prompts, delivered by Microsoft Outlook, with messages about breaking up sitting, proved to be a feasible and acceptable way of delivering prompts to office workers. Participants in both groups reduced their sitting, but changes were not maintained at follow-up. The education session seemed to increase outcome expectations of the benefits of changing sedentary behaviour and promote self-regulation of behaviour in some participants. However, low self-efficacy and a desire to conform to cultural norms were barriers to changing behaviour. Conclusions Prompts delivered by Microsoft Outlook were a feasible, low-cost way of prompting office workers to break up their sedentary behaviour, although further research is needed to determine whether this has an additional impact on sedentary behaviour, to education alone. The role of cultural norms, and promoting self-efficacy, should be considered in the design of future interventions. Trial registration This study was registered retrospectively as a clinical trial on ClinicalTrials.gov (ID no. NCT02609282 ) on 23 March 2015
Effective one-dimensionality of AC hopping conduction in the extreme disorder limit
It is argued that in the limit of extreme disorder AC hopping is dominated by
"percolation paths". Modelling a percolation path as a one-dimensional path
with a sharp jump rate cut-off leads to an expression for the universal AC
conductivity, that fits computer simulations in two and three dimensions better
than the effective medium approximation.Comment: 6 postscript figure
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