Effective index of refraction, optical rotation, and circular dichroism in isotropic chiral liquid crystals

This paper concerns optical properties of the isotropic phase above the isotropic-cholesteric transition and of the blue phase BP III. We introduce an effective index, which describes spatial dispersion effects such as optical rotation, circular dichroism, and the modification of the average index due to the fluctuations. We derive the wavelength dependance of these spatial dispersion effects quite generally without relying on an expansion in powers of the chirality and without assuming that the pitch of the cholesteric $P$ is much shorter than the wavelength of the light $\lambda$, an approximation which has been made in previous studies of this problem. The theoretical predictions are supported by comparing them with experimental spectra of the optical activity in the BP III phase.Comment: 15 pages and 7 figures. Submitted to PR

Summary of data from the United Kingdom Recreational Porbeagle Fishery from 1960-2020

Results from analysis of the United Kingdom recreational porbeagle fishery from 1960-2020 are presented for the purpose of the 2020 ICCAT request for data on the species. During this period,\ud 1883 porbeagle were captured in UK waters for which we have records, with captures peaking during the mid-1970s before collapsing in the late 1980s to a point where the species was absent from many areas of UK waters. Since 2015, increases in both the numbers and the spatial distribution of porbeagle captures has occurred, including those adjusted for effort, which has been led by an increase in recruitment. Porbeagle populations within the UK show considerable segregation by size, with captures of mature fish largely restricted to certain area

Nucleosomes in gene regulation: theoretical approaches

This work reviews current theoretical approaches of biophysics and bioinformatics for the description of nucleosome arrangements in chromatin and transcription factor binding to nucleosomal organized DNA. The role of nucleosomes in gene regulation is discussed from molecular-mechanistic and biological point of view. In addition to classical problems of this field, actual questions of epigenetic regulation are discussed. The authors selected for discussion what seem to be the most interesting concepts and hypotheses. Mathematical approaches are described in a simplified language to attract attention to the most important directions of this field

New properties of complex noncentral quadratic forms and bounds on MIMO mutual information

This paper presents new statistical properties of complex noncentral matrix-variate quadratic forms. In contrast to previous results, the expressions do not involve infinite sums over partitions, or matrix-variate polynomials, and are easily and efficiently computable. These properties are used to derive new upper and lower bounds on the ergodic mutual information of double-sided correlated Rician MIMO channels with arbitrary-rank channel mean matrices. The bounds are shown to be tighter than previous reported bounds in the literature. © 2006 IEEE

Capacity and ser analysis of MIMO beamforming with MRC

We derive closed-form expressions for the ergodic capacity and symbol error rate (SER) of MIMO beamforming with maximum ratio combining (MRC) receivers in uncorrelated and semi-correlated Rayleigh channels. Our results are exact, finite expressions, applying for arbitrary numbers of antennas, and all SNRs. Based on the analytical results, we examine the effect of spatial correlation on the capacity and SER. © 2006 IEEE

Fully stable and homogeneous lyotropic liquid crystal alignment on anisotropic surfaces

Contains fulltext : 177591.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access)10 p

Objectively measured physical activity in four-year-old British children: a cross-sectional analysis of activity patterns segmented across the day

Background: little is known about preschool-aged children’s levels of physical activity (PA) over the course of the day. Using time-stamped data, we describe the levels and patterns of PA in a population-based sample of four-year-old British children.Methods: within the Southampton Women’s Survey the PA levels of 593 4-year-old children (51% female) were measured using (Actiheart) accelerometry for up to 7 days. Three outcome measures: minutes spent sedentary (<20 cpm); in light (LPA: ?20 – 399 cpm) and in moderate-to-vigorous activity (MVPA: ?400 cpm) were derived. Average daily activity levels were calculated and then segmented across the day (morning, afternoon and evening). MVPA was log-transformed. Two-level random intercept models were used to analyse associations between activity level and temporal and demographic factors.Results: children were active for 67% (mean 568.5 SD 79.5 minutes) of their daily registered time on average, with 88% of active time spent in LPA. All children met current UK guidelines of 180 minutes of daily activity. There were no differences in children’s average daily levels of sedentary activity and LPA by temporal and demographic factors: differences did emerge when activity was segmented across the day. Sex differences were largest in the morning, with girls being more sedentary, spending fewer minutes in LPA and 18% less time in MVPA than boys. Children were more sedentary and less active (LPA and MVPA) in the morning if they attended childcare full-time compared to part-time, and on weekend mornings compared to weekdays. The reverse was true for weekend afternoons and evenings. Children with more educated mothers were less active in the evenings. Children were less sedentary and did more MVPA on summer evenings compared to winter evenings.Conclusions: preschool-aged children meet current physical activity guidelines, but with the majority of their active time spent in LPA, investigation of the importance of activity intensity in younger children is needed. Activity levels over the day differed by demographic and temporal factors, highlighting the need to consider temporality in future interventions. Increasing girls’ morning activity and providing opportunities for daytime activity in winter months may be worthwhil

Anchoring strength measurements of a lyotropic chromonic liquid crystal on rubbed polyimide surfaces

Contains fulltext : 175434.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access

A prospective study of basal insulin concentrations in dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts

Objectives: Hypoglycaemia is a common cause of morbidity in dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts but the aetiology is unknown. The hypothesis of this study was that dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts would have significantly higher insulin concentrations than dogs without congenital portosystemic shunts. The main objective of the study was to compare peripheral glucose and insulin concentrations between dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts and dogs without congenital portosystemic shunts. Methods: Peripheral serum insulin and plasma glucose concentrations were measured in dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts and without congenital portosystemic shunts and compared both between groups as well as to reference intervals derived from healthy dogs. Results: Congenital portosystemic shunts were diagnosed in 41 dogs. Forty-eight dogs hospitalised with other conditions acted as controls. Serum insulin concentrations were mildly elevated (Ä40 μU/mL) in seven dogs and were markedly elevated in two dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts, yet mild hypoglycaemia (3·3 mmol/L) was detected in only one of these dogs. Four dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts showed fasting hypoglycaemia, yet insulin concentrations were within or below the reference interval in three. There was no difference between the median insulin concentration of dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts and without congenital portosystemic shunts. Clinical Significance: Hyperinsulinaemia is infrequently observed in dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts. The aetiology of hypoglycaemia in dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts merits further investigation