415 research outputs found
Extension of Bethe's diffraction model to conical Geometry: application to near field optics
The generality of the Bethe's two dipole model for light diffraction through
a subwavelength aperture in a conducting plane is studied in the radiation zone
for coated conical fiber tips as those used in near field scanning optical
microscopy. In order to describe the angular radiated power of the tip
theoretically, we present a simple, analytical model for small apertures
(radius < 40 nm) based on a multipole expansion. Our model is able to reproduce
the available experimental results. It proves relatively insensitive to cone
angle and aperture radius and contains, as a first approximation, the empirical
two-dipole model proposed earlier
Interpretation of three-dimensional structure from two-dimensional endovascular images: implications for educators in vascular surgery
AbstractPurposeEndovascular therapy has had a major effect on vascular surgery; surgeons perform tasks in three dimensions (3D) while viewing two-dimensional (2D) displays. This fundamental change in how surgeons perform operations has educational implications related to learning curves and patient safety. We studied the effects of experience, training, and visual-spatial ability on 3D perception of 2D angiographic images of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA).MethodsA novel computer-based method was developed to produce 3D depth maps based on subjects' interpretations of 2D images. Seven experts (certified vascular surgeons) and 20 novices (medical or surgical trainees) were presented with a 2D AAA angiographic image. With software specifically designed for this study, a depth map representing each subject's 3D interpretation of the 2D angiogram was produced. The novices were then randomized into a control group and a treatment group, who received a 5-minute AAA anatomy educational session. All subjects repeated the exercise on a second AAA image. Finally, all novices were given tests of visual-spatial ability, including the Surface Development Test and the Mental Rotations Test. Comparisons between experts and novices were made with depth map comparison, a subject's perception of overall object contour.ResultsThe depth maps were significantly different (depth map comparison, P < .001) between the expert and both novice groups for the first image. After the educational intervention, the control group and the treatment group exhibited significantly different depth maps (depth map comparison, P < .001), with treatment group depth maps more similar to those of the expert group. There were no significant correlations between the visual-spatial tests and the novice depth map comparison with the expert group.ConclusionsThis is the first study to examine perception of endovascular images in an educational context. Perception of overall surface contour of 3D structures from 2D angiographic images is affected by experience and training. With application of methods of vision science to an important problem in surgery, this research represents a first step in understanding the nature of visual perceptual processes involved in execution of an increasingly common clinical task. These results have implications for understanding and studying the endovascular learning curve.Clinical relevanceThis research represents a unique collaboration in an effort to understand and solve one of the greatest problems facing surgical educators and surgeons. This research uses applied tools in vision science to understand the perceptual constraints involved in minimally invasive surgery. Specifically, we examined the mental three-dimensional maps experts use when viewing two-dimensional displays. Furthermore, we compared experts with novices in an effort to assist surgical trainees
Theory of imaging a photonic crystal with transmission near-field optical microscopy
While near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) can provide optical
images with resolution much better than the diffraction limit, analysis and
interpretation of these images is often difficult. We present a theory of
imaging with transmission NSOM that includes the effects of tip field,
tip/sample coupling, light propagation through the sample and light collection.
We apply this theory to analyze experimental NSOM images of a nanochannel glass
(NCG) array obtained in transmission mode. The NCG is a triangular array of
dielectric rods in a dielectric glass matrix with a two-dimensional photonic
band structure. We determine the modes for the NCG photonic crystal and
simulate the observed data. The calculations show large contrast at low
numerical aperture (NA) of the collection optics and detailed structure at high
NA consistent with the observed images. We present calculations as a function
of NA to identify how the NCG photonic modes contribute to and determine the
spatial structure in these images. Calculations are presented as a function of
tip/sample position, sample index contrast and geometry, and aperture size to
identify the factors that determine image formation with transmission NSOM in
this experiment.Comment: 28 pages of ReVTex, 14 ps figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.
Local Optical Spectroscopy in Quantum Confined Systems: A Theoretical Description
A theoretical description of local absorption is proposed in order to
investigate spectral variations on a length scale comparable with the extension
of the relevant quantum states. A general formulation is derived within the
density-matrix formalism including Coulomb correlation, and applied to the
prototypical case of coupled quantum wires. The results show that excitonic
effects may have a crucial impact on the local absorption with implications for
the spatial resolution and the interpretation of near-field optical spectra.Comment: To appear in Phys. Rev. Lett. - 11 pages, 3 PostScript figures (1
figure in colors) embedded. Uses RevTex, and psfig style
Probing for Invisible Higgs Decays with Global Fits
We demonstrate by performing a global fit on Higgs signal strength data that
large invisible branching ratios Br_{inv} for a Standard Model (SM) Higgs
particle are currently consistent with the experimental hints of a scalar
resonance at the mass scale m_h ~ 124 GeV. For this mass scale, we find
Br_{inv} < 0.64 (95 % CL) from a global fit to individual channel signal
strengths supplied by ATLAS, CMS and the Tevatron collaborations. Novel tests
that can be used to improve the prospects of experimentally discovering the
existence of a Br_{inv} with future data are proposed. These tests are based on
the combination of all visible channel Higgs signal strengths, and allow us to
examine the required reduction in experimental and theoretical errors in this
data that would allow a more significantly bounded invisible branching ratio to
be experimentally supported. We examine in some detail how our conclusions and
method are affected when a scalar resonance at this mass scale has couplings
deviating from the SM ones.Comment: 32pp, 15 figures v2: JHEP version, ref added & comment added after
Eq.
Anomalous Couplings in Double Higgs Production
The process of gluon-initiated double Higgs production is sensitive to
non-linear interactions of the Higgs boson. In the context of the Standard
Model, studies of this process focused on the extraction of the Higgs trilinear
coupling. In a general parametrization of New Physics effects, however, an even
more interesting interaction that can be tested through this channel is the
(ttbar hh) coupling. This interaction vanishes in the Standard Model and is a
genuine signature of theories in which the Higgs boson emerges from a
strongly-interacting sector. In this paper we perform a model-independent
estimate of the LHC potential to detect anomalous Higgs couplings in
gluon-fusion double Higgs production. We find that while the sensitivity to the
trilinear is poor, the perspectives of measuring the new (ttbar hh) coupling
are rather promising.Comment: 22 pages, 9 figures. v2: plots of Figs.8 and 9 redone to include
experimental uncertainty on the Higgs couplings, references adde
C/EBPd gene targets in human keratinocytes
C/EBPs are a family of B-Zip transcription factors -TFs- involved in the regulation of differentiation in several tissues. The two most studied members -C/EBP\u3b1 and C/EBP\u3b2- play important roles in skin homeostasis and their ablation reveals cells with stem cells signatures. Much less is known about C/EBP\u3b4 which is highly expressed in the granular layer of interfollicular epidermis and is a direct target of p63, the master regular of multilayered epithelia. We identified C/EBP\u3b4 target genes in human primary keratinocytes by ChIP on chip and profiling of cells functionally inactivated with siRNA. Categorization suggests a role in differentiation and control of cell-cycle, particularly of G2/M genes. Among positively controlled targets are numerous genes involved in barrier function. Functional inactivation of C/EBP\u3b4 as well as overexpressions of two TF targets -MafB and SOX2- affect expression of markers of keratinocyte differentiation. We performed IHC on skin tumor tissue arrays: expression of C/EBP\u3b4 is lost in Basal Cell Carcinomas, but a majority of Squamous Cell Carcinomas showed elevated levels of the protein. Our data indicate that C/EBP\u3b4 plays a role in late stages of keratinocyte differentiation
Global Analysis of the Higgs Candidate with Mass ~ 125 GeV
We analyze the properties of the Higgs candidate with mass ~ 125 GeV
discovered by the CMS and ATLAS Collaborations, constraining the possible
deviations of its couplings from those of a Standard Model Higgs boson. The
CMS, ATLAS and Tevatron data are compatible with Standard Model couplings to
massive gauge bosons and fermions, and disfavour several types of composite
Higgs models unless their couplings resemble those in the Standard Model. We
show that the couplings of the Higgs candidate are consistent with a linear
dependence on particle masses, scaled by the electroweak scale ~ 246 GeV, the
power law and the mass scale both having uncertainties ~ 20%.Comment: 22 pages, 9 figures, v2 incorporates experimental data released
during July 2012 and corrected (and improved) treatment of mass dependence of
coupling
How do we get there? Effects of cognitive aging on route memory
© 2017 The Author(s) Research into the effects of cognitive aging on route navigation usually focuses on differences in learning performance. In contrast, we investigated age-related differences in route knowledge after successful route learning. One young and two groups of older adults categorized using different cut-off scores on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), were trained until they could correctly recall short routes. During the test phase, they were asked to recall the sequence in which landmarks were encountered (Landmark Sequence Task), the sequence of turns (Direction Sequence Task), the direction of turn at each landmark (Landmark Direction Task), and to identify the learned routes from a map perspective (Perspective Taking Task). Comparing the young participant group with the older group that scored high on the MoCA, we found effects of typical aging in learning performance and in the Direction Sequence Task. Comparing the two older groups, we found effects of early signs of atypical aging in the Landmark Direction and the Perspective Taking Tasks. We found no differences between groups in the Landmark Sequence Task. Given that participants were able to recall routes after training, these results suggest that typical and early signs of atypical aging result in differential memory deficits for aspects of route knowledge
- …