4,007 research outputs found
Between life and death: strategies to reduce phototoxicity in super-resolution microscopy
Super-Resolution Microscopy enables non-invasive, molecule-specific imaging of the internal structure and dynamics of cells with sub-diffraction limit spatial resolution. One of its major limitations is the requirement for high-intensity illumination, generating considerable cellular phototoxicity. This factor considerably limits the capacity for live-cell observations, particularly for extended periods of time. Here, we overview new developments in hardware, software and probe chemistry aiming to reduce phototoxicity. Additionally, we discuss how the choice of biological model and sample environment impacts the capacity for live-cell observations
Soot particle size distribution measurements in a turbulent ethylene swirl flame
There is a need to better understand particle size distributions (PSDs) from turbulent flames from a theoretical, practical and even regulatory perspective. Experiments were conducted on a sooting turbulent non-premixed swirled ethylene flame with secondary (dilution) air injection to investigate exhaust and in-burner PSDs measured with a Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS) and soot volume fractions (fv) using extinction measurements. The focus was to understand the effect of systematically changing the amount and location of dilution air injection on the PSDs and fv inside the burner and at the exhaust. The PSDs were also compared with planar Laser Induced Incandescence (LII) calibrated against the average fv. LII provides some supplemental information on the relative soot amounts and spatial distribution among the various flow conditions that helps interpret the results. For the flame with no air dilution, fv drops gradually along the centreline of the burner towards the exhaust and the PSD shows a shift from larger particles to smaller. However, with dilution air fv reduces sharply where the dilution jets meet the burner axis. Downstream of the dilution jets fv reduces gradually and the PSDs remain unchanged until the exhaust. At the exhaust, the flame with no air dilution shows significantly more particles with an fv one to two orders of magnitude greater compared to the Cases with dilution. This dataset provides insights into soot spatial and particle size distributions within turbulent flames of relevance to gas turbine combustion with differing dilution parameters and the effect dilution has on the particle size. Additionally, this work measures fv using both ex situ and in situ techniques, and highlights the difficulties associated with comparing results across the two. The results are useful for validating advanced models for turbulent combustion.European Union (EU), Horizon 2020 (H2020), Clean Sky 2 Joint Undertaking, Industrial Leadership (IL) (Project LEAFINNOX, grant number 831804
Single-Molecule Super-Resolution Imaging of T-Cell Plasma Membrane CD4 Redistribution upon HIV-1 Binding
The first step of cellular entry for the human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) occurs
through the binding of its envelope protein (Env) with the plasma membrane receptor CD4 and
co-receptor CCR5 or CXCR4 on susceptible cells, primarily CD4+ T cells and macrophages. Although
there is considerable knowledge of the molecular interactions between Env and host cell receptors
that lead to successful fusion, the precise way in which HIV-1 receptors redistribute to sites of
virus binding at the nanoscale remains unknown. Here, we quantitatively examine changes in the
nanoscale organisation of CD4 on the surface of CD4+ T cells following HIV-1 binding. Using singlemolecule super-resolution imaging, we show that CD4 molecules are distributed mostly as either
individual molecules or small clusters of up to 4 molecules. Following virus binding, we observe
a local 3-to-10-fold increase in cluster diameter and molecule number for virus-associated CD4
clusters. Moreover, a similar but smaller magnitude reorganisation of CD4 was also observed with
recombinant gp120. For one of the first times, our results quantify the nanoscale CD4 reorganisation
triggered by HIV-1 on host CD4+ T cells. Our quantitative approach provides a robust methodology
for characterising the nanoscale organisation of plasma membrane receptors in general with the
potential to link spatial organisation to function
Parton Distributions for Event Generators
In this paper, conventional Global QCD analysis is generalized to produce
parton distributions optimized for use with event generators at the LHC. This
optimization is accomplished by combining the constraints due to existing
hard-scattering experimental data with those from anticipated cross sections
for key representative SM processes at LHC (by the best available theory) as
joint input to the global analyses. The PDFs obtained in these new type of
global analyses using matrix elements calculated in any given order will be
best suited to work with event generators of that order, for predictions at the
LHC. This is most useful for LO event generators at present. Results obtained
from a few candidate PDF sets (labeled as CT09MCS, CT09MC1 and CT09MC2) for LO
event generators produced in this way are compared with those from other
approaches.Comment: 35 pages, 19 figures, and 4 table
Fast Purcell-enhanced single photon source in 1,550-nm telecom band from a resonant quantum dot-cavity coupling
High-bit-rate nanocavity-based single photon sources in the 1,550-nm telecom
band are challenges facing the development of fibre-based long-haul quantum
communication networks. Here we report a very fast single photon source in the
1,550-nm telecom band, which is achieved by a large Purcell enhancement that
results from the coupling of a single InAs quantum dot and an InP photonic
crystal nanocavity. At a resonance, the spontaneous emission rate was enhanced
by a factor of 5 resulting a record fast emission lifetime of 0.2 ns at 1,550
nm. We also demonstrate that this emission exhibits an enhanced anti-bunching
dip. This is the first realization of nanocavity-enhanced single photon
emitters in the 1,550-nm telecom band. This coupled quantum dot cavity system
in the telecom band thus provides a bright high-bit-rate non-classical single
photon source that offers appealing novel opportunities for the development of
a long-haul quantum telecommunication system via optical fibres.Comment: 16 pages, 4 figure
Higgs boson enhancement effects on squark-pair production at the LHC
We study the Higgs boson effects on third-generation squark-pair production
in proton-proton collision at the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC), including
\Stop \Stop^*, \Stop\Sbot^*, and \Sbot \Sbot^*. We found that substantial
enhancement can be obtained through s-channel exchanges of Higgs bosons at
large , at which the enhancement mainly comes from , , and initial states. We compute the complete set of electroweak
(EW) contributions to all production channels. This completes previous
computations in the literature. We found that the EW contributions can be
significant and can reach up to 25% in more general scenarios and at the
resonance of the heavy Higgs boson. The size of Higgs enhancement is comparable
or even higher than the PDF uncertainties and so must be included in any
reliable analysis. A full analytical computation of all the EW contributions is
presented.Comment: 23 pages, 7 figures, 1 tabl
Dietary soy and meat proteins induce distinct physiological and gene expression changes in rats
This study reports on a comprehensive comparison of the effects of soy and meat proteins given at the recommended level on physiological markers of metabolic syndrome and the hepatic transcriptome. Male rats were fed semi-synthetic diets for 1 wk that differed only regarding protein source, with casein serving as reference. Body weight gain and adipose tissue mass were significantly reduced by soy but not meat proteins. The insulin resistance index was improved by soy, and to a lesser extent by meat proteins. Liver triacylglycerol contents were reduced by both protein sources, which coincided with increased plasma triacylglycerol concentrations. Both soy and meat proteins changed plasma amino acid patterns. The expression of 1571 and 1369 genes were altered by soy and meat proteins respectively. Functional classification revealed that lipid, energy and amino acid metabolic pathways, as well as insulin signaling pathways were regulated differently by soy and meat proteins. Several transcriptional regulators, including NFE2L2, ATF4, Srebf1 and Rictor were identified as potential key upstream regulators. These results suggest that soy and meat proteins induce distinct physiological and gene expression responses in rats and provide novel evidence and suggestions for the health effects of different protein sources in human diets
Ultrafast nonlocal control of spontaneous emission
Solid-state cavity quantum electrodynamics systems will form scalable nodes
of future quantum networks, allowing the storage, processing and retrieval of
quantum bits, where a real-time control of the radiative interaction in the
cavity is required to achieve high efficiency. We demonstrate here the dynamic
molding of the vacuum field in a coupled-cavity system to achieve the ultrafast
nonlocal modulation of spontaneous emission of quantum dots in photonic crystal
cavities, on a timescale of ~200 ps, much faster than their natural radiative
lifetimes. This opens the way to the ultrafast control of semiconductor-based
cavity quantum electrodynamics systems for application in quantum interfaces
and to a new class of ultrafast lasers based on nano-photonic cavities.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figure
Interval valued (\in,\ivq)-fuzzy filters of pseudo -algebras
We introduce the concept of quasi-coincidence of a fuzzy interval value with
an interval valued fuzzy set. By using this new idea, we introduce the notions
of interval valued (\in,\ivq)-fuzzy filters of pseudo -algebras and
investigate some of their related properties. Some characterization theorems of
these generalized interval valued fuzzy filters are derived. The relationship
among these generalized interval valued fuzzy filters of pseudo -algebras
is considered. Finally, we consider the concept of implication-based interval
valued fuzzy implicative filters of pseudo -algebras, in particular, the
implication operators in Lukasiewicz system of continuous-valued logic are
discussed
Immune-Complex Mimics as a Molecular Platform for Adjuvant-Free Vaccine Delivery
Protein-based vaccine development faces the difficult challenge of finding robust yet non-toxic adjuvants suitable for humans. Here, using a molecular engineering approach, we have developed a molecular platform for generating self-adjuvanting immunogens that do not depend on exogenous adjuvants for induction of immune responses. These are based on the concept of Immune Complex Mimics (ICM), structures that are formed between an oligomeric antigen and a monoclonal antibody (mAb) to that antigen. In this way, the roles of antigens and antibodies within the structure of immune complexes are reversed, so that a single monoclonal antibody, rather than polyclonal sera or expensive mAb cocktails can be used. We tested this approach in the context of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection by linking the highly immunogenic and potentially protective Ag85B with the oligomeric Acr (alpha crystallin, HspX) antigen. When combined with an anti-Acr monoclonal antibody, the fusion protein formed ICM which bound to C1q component of the complement system and were readily taken up by antigen-presenting cells in vitro. ICM induced a strong Th1/Th2 mixed type antibody response, which was comparable to cholera toxin adjuvanted antigen, but only moderate levels of T cell proliferation and IFN-γ secretion. Unfortunately, the systemic administration of ICM did not confer statistically significant protection against intranasal MTB challenge, although a small BCG-boosting effect was observed. We conclude that ICM are capable of inducing strong humoral responses to incorporated antigens and may be a suitable vaccination approach for pathogens other than MTB, where antibody-based immunity may play a more protective role
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