Optical supercavitation in soft-matter

We investigate theoretically, numerically and experimentally nonlinear optical waves in an absorbing out-of-equilibrium colloidal material at the gelification transition. At sufficiently high optical intensity, absorption is frustrated and light propagates into the medium. The process is mediated by the formation of a matter-shock wave due to optically induced thermodiffusion, and largely resembles the mechanism of hydrodynamical supercavitation, as it is accompanied by a dynamic phase-transition region between the beam and the absorbing material.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, revised version: corrected typos and reference

What do adolescents with asthma really think about adherence to inhalers? Insights from a qualitative analysis of a UK online forum

ADS is funded by an NIHR Academic Clinical Lectureship. AB is an NIHR Senior Investigator and additionally was supported by the NIHR Respiratory Disease. RH was supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research (CLAHRC) North Thames at Barts NHS Trust. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, NIHR or Department of Health

Precise determination of 6^6Li cold collision parameters by radio-frequency spectroscopy on weakly bound molecules

We employ radio-frequency spectroscopy on weakly bound $^6$Li$_2$ molecules to precisely determine the molecular binding energies and the energy splittings between molecular states for different magnetic fields. These measurements allow us to extract the interaction parameters of ultracold $^6$Li atoms based on a multi-channel quantum scattering model. We determine the singlet and triplet scattering lengths to be $a_s=45.167(8)a_0$ and $a_t=-2140(18)a_0$ (1 $a_0$ = 0.0529177 nm), and the positions of the broad Feshbach resonances in the energetically lowest three $s-$wave scattering channels to be 83.41(15) mT, 69.04(5) mT, and 81.12(10) mT

Optimisation of accurate rutile TiO2TiO_2 (110), (100), (101) and (001) surface models from periodic DFT calculations

In this paper, geometric bulk parameters, bulk moduli, energy gaps and relative stabilities of the TiO2 anatase and rutile phases were determined from periodic DFT calculations. Then, for the rutile phase, structures, relaxations and surface energies of the (110), (100), (101) and (001) faces were computed. The calculated surface energies are consistent with the natural rutile powder composition, even if a dependence on the number of layers of the slab used to model the surface was identified. Internal constraints, consisting in freezing some internal layers of the slab to atomic bulk positions, were thus added to mimic the bulk hardness in order to stabilise the computed surface energies for thinner systems. In parallel, the influence of pseudopotentials was studied and it appears that four valence electrons for titanium atoms are sufficient. The aim of this study was to optimise accurate rutile TiO2 surface models that will be used in further calculations to investigate water and uranyl ion sorption mechanisms

Determination of the s-wave Scattering Length of Chromium

We have measured the deca-triplet s-wave scattering length of the bosonic chromium isotopes $^{52}$Cr and $^{50}$Cr. From the time constants for cross-dimensional thermalization in atomic samples we have determined the magnitudes $|a(^{52}Cr)|=(170 \pm 39)a_0$ and $|a(^{50}Cr)|=(40 \pm 15)a_0$, where $a_0=0.053nm$. By measuring the rethermalization rate of $^{52}$Cr over a wide temperature range and comparing the temperature dependence with the effective-range theory and single-channel calculations, we have obtained strong evidence that the sign of $a(^{52}Cr)$ is positive. Rescaling our $^{52}$Cr model potential to $^{50}$Cr strongly suggests that $a(^{50}Cr)$ is positive, too.Comment: v3: corrected typo in y-axis scaling of Figs. 3 and

Temperature Entrainment of Drosophila's Circadian Clock Involves the Gene nocte and Signaling from Peripheral Sensory Tissues to the Brain

Circadian clocks are synchronized by the natural day/night and temperature cycles. Our previous work demonstrated that synchronization by temperature is a tissue autonomous process, similar to synchronization by light. We show here that this is indeed the case, with the important exception of the brain. Using luciferase imaging we demonstrate that brain clock neurons depend on signals from peripheral tissues in order to be synchronized by temperature. Reducing the function of the gene nocte in chordotonal organs changes their structure and function and dramatically interferes with temperature synchronization of behavioral activity. Other mutants known to affect the function of these sensory organs also interfere with temperature synchronization, demonstrating the importance of nocte in this process and identifying the chordotonal organs as relevant sensory structures. Our work reveals surprising and important mechanistic differences between light- and temperature-synchronization and advances our understanding of how clock resetting is accomplished in nature

The c4 atriplex halimus vs. The c3 atriplex hortensis: Similarities and differences in the salinity stress response

open7noSoil properties and the ability to sustain agricultural production are seriously impaired by salinity. The cultivation of halophytes is seen as a solution to cope with the problem. In this framework, a greenhouse pot experiment was set up to assess salinity response in the perennial C4 species Atriplex halimus, and in the following three cultivars of the annual C3 Atriplex hortensis: green, red, and scarlet. The four genotypes were grown for 35 days with water salinity (WS) ranging from 0 to 360 mM NaCl. Plant height and fresh weight (FW) increased at 360 vs. 0 WS. The stomatal conductance (GS) and transpiration rate (E) were more severely affected by salinity in the C4 A. halimus than in the C3 species A. hortensis. This was reflected in a lower leaf water potential indicating stronger osmotic adjustment, and a higher relative water content associated with more turgid leaves, in A. halimus than A. hortensis. In a PCA including all the studied traits, the GS and E negatively correlated to the FW, which, in turn, positively correlated with Na concentration and intrinsic water use efficiency (iWUE), indicating that reduced gas exchange associated with Na accumulation contributed to sustain iWUE under salinity. Finally, FTIR spectroscopy showed a reduced amount of pectin, lignin, and cellulose under salinity, indicating a weakened cell wall structure. Overall, both species were remarkably adapted to salinity: From an agronomic perspective, the opposite strategies of longer vs. faster soil coverage, involved by the perennial A. halimus vs. the annual A. hortensis cv. scarlet, are viable natural remedies for revegetating marginal saline soils and increasing soil organic carbon.openCalone R.; Cellini A.; Manfrini L.; Lambertini C.; Gioacchini P.; Simoni A.; Barbanti L.Calone R.; Cellini A.; Manfrini L.; Lambertini C.; Gioacchini P.; Simoni A.; Barbanti L

Aclees Cf. Sp. Foveatus (Coleoptera Curculionidae), an exotic pest of ficus carica in Italy : a sustainable approach to defence based on aluminosilicate minerals as host plant masking solids

The exceptionally frequent entries of alien pest are a major source of concern for the farmers who have to protect their crops from unknown insects, often without natural enemies in the new areas. A new pest belonging to the Molytinae family (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), tribe Hylobiini, reported as Aclees sp. cf. foveatus Voss, was recently introduced in Italy. The species is responsible for severe damages in many Italian fig nurseries and orchards, particularly in the Italian Central Northern regions, i.e. Tuscany, Ligury and Latium. Currently, no active ingredients are registered against this insect on fig crops. An innovative and eco-friendly approach for controlling this exotic weevil infestation was investigated, by using montmorillonite-based clays, either in their native state or containing copper(II) species, and clinoptilolite zeolites, in order to check the perception of the adults\u2019 weevil towards the different solid materials and, subsequently, to evaluate the capability of these innovative products to act as masking agent with respect to the host plant and/or as repellent upon contact. The formulations containing copper(II)-exchanged clay and clinoptilolite zeolite showed preliminary promising results in terms of efficacy and environmental sustainability