355 research outputs found
Field-free two-direction alignment alternation of linear molecules by elliptic laser pulses
We show that a linear molecule subjected to a short specific elliptically
polarized laser field yields postpulse revivals exhibiting alignment
alternatively located along the orthogonal axis and the major axis of the
ellipse. The effect is experimentally demonstrated by measuring the optical
Kerr effect along two different axes. The conditions ensuring an optimal
field-free alternation of high alignments along both directions are derived.Comment: 5 pages, 4 color figure
Reaching optimally oriented molecular states by laser kicks
We present a strategy for post-pulse orientation aiming both at efficiency
and maximal duration within a rotational period. We first identify the
optimally oriented states which fulfill both requirements. We show that a
sequence of half-cycle pulses of moderate intensity can be devised for reaching
these target states.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
Optimized time-dependent perturbation theory for pulse-driven quantum dynamics in atomic or molecular systems
We present a time-dependent perturbative approach adapted to the treatment of
intense pulsed interactions. We show there is a freedom in choosing secular
terms and use it to optimize the accuracy of the approximation. We apply this
formulation to a unitary superconvergent technique and improve the accuracy by
several orders of magnitude with respect to the Magnus expansion.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure
Laser control for the optimal evolution of pure quantum states
Starting from an initial pure quantum state, we present a strategy for
reaching a target state corresponding to the extremum (maximum or minimum) of a
given observable. We show that a sequence of pulses of moderate intensity,
applied at times when the average of the observable reaches its local or global
extremum, constitutes a strategy transferable to different control issues.
Among them, post-pulse molecular alignment and orientation are presented as
examples. The robustness of such strategies with respect to experimentally
relevant parameters is also examined.Comment: 16 pages, 9 figure
Unitary time-dependent superconvergent technique for pulse-driven quantum dynamics
We present a superconvergent Kolmogorov-Arnold-Moser type of perturbation theory for time-dependent Hamiltonians. It is strictly unitary upon truncation at an arbitrary order and not restricted to periodic or quasiperiodic Hamiltonians. Moreover, for pulse-driven systems we construct explicitly the KAM transformations involved in the iterative procedure. The technique is illustrated on a two-level model perturbed by a pulsed interaction for which we obtain convergence all the way from the sudden regime to the opposite adiabatic regime
Time-dependent unitary perturbation theory for intense laser driven molecular orientation
We apply a time-dependent perturbation theory based on unitary
transformations combined with averaging techniques, on molecular orientation
dynamics by ultrashort pulses. We test the validity and the accuracy of this
approach on LiCl described within a rigid-rotor model and find that it is more
accurate than other approximations. Furthermore, it is shown that a noticeable
orientation can be achieved for experimentally standard short laser pulses of
zero time average. In this case, we determine the dynamically relevant
parameters by using the perturbative propagator, that is derived from this
scheme, and we investigate the temperature effects on the molecular orientation
dynamics.Comment: 16 pages, 6 figure
A20/TNFAIP3 heterozygosity predisposes to behavioral symptoms in a mouse model for neuropsychiatric lupus
Background: Neuropsychiatric lupus (NPSLE) refers to the neurological and psychiatric manifestations that are commonly observed in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). An important question regarding the pathogenesis of NPSLE is whether the symptoms are caused primarily by CNS-intrinsic mechanisms or develop as a consequence of systemic autoimmunity. Currently used spontaneous mouse models for SLE have already contributed significantly to unraveling how systemic immunity affects the CNS. However, they are less suited when interested in CNS primary mechanisms. In addition, none of these models are based on genes that are associated with SLE. In this study, we evaluate the influence of A20, a well-known susceptibility locus for SLE, on behavior and CNS-associated changes in inflammatory markers. Furthermore, given the importance of environmental triggers for disease onset and progression, the influence of an acute immunological challenge was evaluated. Methods: Female and male A20 heterozygous mice (A20+/−) and wildtype littermates were tested in an extensive behavioral battery. This was done at the age of 10±2weeks and 24 ± 2 weeks to evaluate the impact of aging. To investigate the contribution of an acute immunological challenge, LPS was injected intracerebroventricularly at the age of 10±2weeks followed by behavioral analysis. Underlying molecular mechanisms were evaluated in gene expression assays on hippocampus and cortex. White blood cell count and blood-brain barrier permeability were analyzed to determine whether peripheral inflammation is a relevant factor. Results: A20 heterozygosity predisposes to cognitive symptoms that were observed at the age of 10 ± 2 weeks and 24 ± 2 weeks. Young A20+/− males and females showed a subtle cognitive phenotype (10±2weeks) with distinct neuroinflammatory phenotypes. Aging was associated with clear neuroinflammation in female A20+/− mice only. The genetic predisposition in combination with an environmental stimulus exacerbates the behavioral impairments related to anxiety, cognitive dysfunction and sensorimotor gating. This was predominantly observed in females. Furthermore, signs of neuroinflammation were solely observed in female A20+/− mice. All above observations were made in the absence of peripheral inflammation and of changes in blood-brain barrier permeability, thus consistent with the CNS-primary hypothesis. Conclusions: We show that A20 heterozygosity is a predisposing factor for NPSLE. Further mechanistic insight and possible therapeutic interventions can be studied in this mouse model that recapitulates several key hallmarks of the disease
In situ proliferation and differentiation of macrophages in dental pulp
The presence of macrophages in dental pulp is well known. However, whether these macrophages proliferate and differentiate in the dental pulp in situ, or whether they constantly migrate from the blood stream into the dental pulp remains unknown. We have examined and compared the development of dental pulp macrophages in an organ culture system with in vivo tooth organs to clarify the developmental mechanism of these macrophages. The first mandibular molar tooth organs from ICR mice aged between 16 days of gestation (E16) to 5 days postnatally were used for in vivo experiments. Those from E16 were cultured for up to 14 days with or without 10% fetal bovine serum. Dental pulp tissues were analyzed with immunohistochemistry to detect the macrophages and with reverse transcription and the polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for the detection of factors related to macrophage development. The growth curves for the in vivo and in vitro cultured cells revealed similar numbers of F4/80-positive macrophages in the dental pulp. RT-PCR analysis indicated the constant expression of myeloid colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) in both in-vivo- and in-vitro-cultured dental pulp tissues. Anti-M-CSF antibodies significantly inhibited the increase in the number of macrophages in the dental pulp. These results suggest that (1) most of the dental pulp macrophages proliferate and differentiate in the dental pulp without a supply of precursor cells from the blood stream, (2) M-CSF might be a candidate molecule for dental pulp macrophage development, and (3) serum factors might not directly affect the development of macrophages
Non-intersecting squared Bessel paths and multiple orthogonal polynomials for modified Bessel weights
We study a model of non-intersecting squared Bessel processes in the
confluent case: all paths start at time at the same positive value , remain positive, and are conditioned to end at time at . In
the limit , after appropriate rescaling, the paths fill out a
region in the -plane that we describe explicitly. In particular, the paths
initially stay away from the hard edge at , but at a certain critical
time the smallest paths hit the hard edge and from then on are stuck to
it. For we obtain the usual scaling limits from random matrix
theory, namely the sine, Airy, and Bessel kernels. A key fact is that the
positions of the paths at any time constitute a multiple orthogonal
polynomial ensemble, corresponding to a system of two modified Bessel-type
weights. As a consequence, there is a matrix valued
Riemann-Hilbert problem characterizing this model, that we analyze in the large
limit using the Deift-Zhou steepest descent method. There are some novel
ingredients in the Riemann-Hilbert analysis that are of independent interest.Comment: 59 pages, 11 figure
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