4,274 research outputs found
Continuous phase amplification with a Sagnac interferometer
We describe a weak value inspired phase amplification technique in a Sagnac
interferometer. We monitor the relative phase between two paths of a slightly
misaligned interferometer by measuring the average position of a split-Gaussian
mode in the dark port. Although we monitor only the dark port, we show that the
signal varies linearly with phase and that we can obtain similar sensitivity to
balanced homodyne detection. We derive the source of the amplification both
with classical wave optics and as an inverse weak value.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, previously submitted for publicatio
Negative regulation ofUltrabithorax expression byengrailed is required for proper specification of wing development in Drosophila melanogaster
In both vertebrates and invertebrates, homeotic selector genes confer morphological differences along the antero-posterior axis. However, insect wing development is independent of all homeotic gene functions, reflecting the ground plan of an ancestral pterygote, which bore wings on all segments. Dipteran insects such asDrosophila are characterized by a pair of wings in the mesothoracic segment. In all other segments, wing development is essentially repressed by different homeotic genes, although in the metathorax they are modified into a pair of halteres. This necessitates that during development all homeotic genes are to be maintained in a repressed state in wing imaginal discs. In this report we show that (i) the function of the segment polarity geneengrailed (en) is critical to keep the homeotic selector geneUltrabithorax (Ubx) repressed in wing imaginal discs, (ii) normal levels of En in the posterior compartment of haltere discs, however, are not enough to completely repressUbx, and (iii) the repression ofUbx byen is independent of Hedgehog signalling through which the long-range signalling ofen is mediated during wing development. Finally we provide evidence for a possible mechanism by whichen repressesUbx. On the basis of these results we propose thaten has acquired two independent functions during the evolution of dorsal appendages. In addition to its well-known function of conferring posterior fate and inducing long-range signalling to pattern the developing appendages, it maintains wing fate by keepingUbx repressed
The Role of ctDNA in Gastric Cancer.
Circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) has potential applications in gastric cancer (GC) with respect to screening, the detection of minimal residual disease (MRD) following curative surgery, and in the advanced disease setting for treatment decision making and therapeutic monitoring. It can provide a less invasive and convenient method to capture the tumoural genomic landscape compared to tissue-based next-generation DNA sequencing (NGS). In addition, ctDNA can potentially overcome the challenges of tumour heterogeneity seen with tissue-based NGS. Although the evidence for ctDNA in GC is evolving, its potential utility is far reaching and may shape the management of this disease in the future. This article will review the current and future applications of ctDNA in GC
A Precision Angle Sensor using an Optical Lever inside a Sagnac Interferometer
We built an ultra low noise angle sensor by combining a folded optical lever
and a Sagnac interferometer. The instrument has a measured noise floor of 1.3
prad / Hz^(1/2) at 2.4 kHz. We achieve this record angle sensitivity using a
proof-of-concept apparatus with a conservative N=11 bounces in the optical
lever. This technique could be extended to reach sub-picoradian / Hz^(1/2)
sensitivities with an optimized design.Comment: 3 pages, 4 figure
In search of progenitors for supernova-less GRBs 060505 and 060614: re-examination of their afterglows
GRB060505 and GRB060614 are nearby long-duration gamma-ray bursts (LGRBs)
without accompanying supernovae (SNe) down to very strict limits. They thereby
challenge the conventional LGRB-SN connection and naturally give rise to the
question: are there other peculiar features in their afterglows which would
help shed light on their progenitors? To answer this question, we combine new
observational data with published data and investigate the multi-band temporal
and spectral properties of the two afterglows. We find that both afterglows can
be well interpreted within the framework of the jetted standard external shock
wave model, and that the afterglow parameters for both bursts fall well within
the range observed for other LGRBs. Hence, from the properties of the
afterglows there is nothing to suggest that these bursts should have another
progenitor than other LGRBs. Recently, Swift-discovered GRB080503 also has the
spike + tail structure during its prompt gamma-ray emission seemingly similar
to GRB060614. We analyse the prompt emission of this burst and find that this
GRB is actually a hard-spike + hard-tail burst with a spectral lag of
0.80.4 s during its tail emission. Thus, the properties of the prompt
emission of GRB060614 and GRB080503 are clearly different, motivating further
thinking of GRB classification. Finally we note that, whereas the progenitor of
the two SN-less bursts remains uncertain, the core-collapse origin for the
SN-less bursts would be quite certain if a wind-like environment can be
observationally established, e.g, from an optical decay faster than the X-ray
decay in the afterglow's slow cooling phase.Comment: 15 pages, 7 figures, 4 tables, ApJ in press; added Fig. 7 of the
lag-luminosity relatio
Influence of Sacubitril/Valsartan (LCZ696) on 30-day readmission after heart failure hospitalization
Background:
Patients with heart failure (HF) are at high risk for hospital readmission in the first 30 days following HF hospitalization.
Objectives:
This study sought to determine if treatment with sacubitril/valsartan (LCZ696) reduces rates of hospital readmission at 30-days following HF hospitalization compared with enalapril.
Methods:
We assessed the risk of 30-day readmission for any cause following investigator-reported hospitalizations for HF in the PARADIGM-HF trial, which randomized 8,399 participants with HF and reduced ejection fraction to treatment with LCZ696 or enalapril.
Results:
Accounting for multiple hospitalizations per patient, there were 2,383 investigator-reported HF hospitalizations, of which 1,076 (45.2%) occurred in subjects assigned to LCZ696 and 1,307 (54.8%) occurred in subjects assigned to enalapril. Rates of readmission for any cause at 30 days were 17.8% in LCZ696-assigned subjects and 21.0% in enalapril-assigned subjects (odds ratio: 0.74; 95% confidence interval: 0.56 to 0.97; p = 0.031). Rates of readmission for HF at 30-days were also lower in subjects assigned to LCZ696 (9.7% vs. 13.4%; odds ratio: 0.62; 95% confidence interval: 0.45 to 0.87; p = 0.006). The reduction in both all-cause and HF readmissions with LCZ696 was maintained when the time window from discharge was extended to 60 days and in sensitivity analyses restricted to adjudicated HF hospitalizations.
Conclusions:
Compared with enalapril, treatment with LCZ696 reduces 30-day readmissions for any cause following discharge from HF hospitalization
Repurposing the (super)crip: media representations of disability at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games
Gas and dust properties in the afterglow spectra of GRB 050730
We present early WHT ISIS optical spectroscopy of the afterglow of gamma-ray
burst GRB 050730. The spectrum shows a DLA system with the highest measured
hydrogen column to date: N(HI) = 22.1 +/- 0.1 at the third-highest GRB redshift
z = 3.968. Our analysis of the Swift XRT X-ray observations of the early
afterglow show X-ray flares accompanied by decreasing X-ray absorption. From
both the optical and the X-ray spectra we constrain the dust and gas properties
of the host galaxy. We find the host to be a low metallicity galaxy, with low
dust content. Much of the X-ray absorbing gas is situated close to the GRB,
whilst the HI absorption causing the DLA is most likely located further out.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures. Accepted for A&A Letter
Linking burst-only X-ray binary sources to faint X-ray transients
Burst-only sources are X-ray sources showing up only during short bursts but
with no persistent emission (at least with the monitoring instrument which led
to their discovery). These bursts have spectral characteristics consistent with
thermonuclear (type I) burst from the neutron star surface, linking burst-only
sources to neutron star X-ray binary transients. We have carried out a series
of snapshot observations of the entire sample of burst-only sources with the
Swift satellite. We found a few sources in outburst and detect faint candidates
likely representing their quiescent counterparts. In addition, we observed
three quasi-persistent faint X-ray binary transients. Finally we discuss
burst-only sources and quasi-persistent sources in the framework of neutron
star transients.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figures. Accepted for publication on Ap
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