Controlling the partial coalescence of a droplet on a vertically vibrated bath

A new method is proposed to stop the cascade of partial coalescences of a droplet laid on a liquid bath. The strategy consists in vibrating the bath in the vertical direction in order to keep small droplets bouncing. Since large droplets are not able to bounce, they partially coalesce until they reach a critical size. The system behaves as a low pass filter : droplets smaller than the critical size are selected. This size has been investigated as a function of the acceleration and the frequency of the bath vibration. Results suggest that the limit size for bouncing is related to the first mode of the droplet deformation.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, accepted in Phys. Rev.

Multidimensional Binary Vector Assignment problem: standard, structural and above guarantee parameterizations

In this article we focus on the parameterized complexity of the Multidimensional Binary Vector Assignment problem (called \BVA). An input of this problem is defined by $m$ disjoint sets $V^1, V^2, \dots, V^m$, each composed of $n$ binary vectors of size $p$. An output is a set of $n$ disjoint $m$-tuples of vectors, where each $m$-tuple is obtained by picking one vector from each set $V^i$. To each $m$-tuple we associate a $p$ dimensional vector by applying the bit-wise AND operation on the $m$ vectors of the tuple. The objective is to minimize the total number of zeros in these $n$ vectors. mBVA can be seen as a variant of multidimensional matching where hyperedges are implicitly locally encoded via labels attached to vertices, but was originally introduced in the context of integrated circuit manufacturing. We provide for this problem FPT algorithms and negative results ($ETH$-based results, $W$[2]-hardness and a kernel lower bound) according to several parameters: the standard parameter $k$ i.e. the total number of zeros), as well as two parameters above some guaranteed values.Comment: 16 pages, 6 figure

Do team processes really have an effect on clinical performance? A systematic literature review

Summary There is a growing literature on the relationship between team processes and clinical performance. The purpose of this review is to summarize these articles and examine the impact of team process behaviours on clinical performance. We conducted a literature search in five major databases. Inclusion criteria were: English peer-reviewed papers published between January 2001 and May 2012, which showed or tried to show (i) a statistical relationship of a team process variable and clinical performance or (ii) an improvement of a performance variable through a team process intervention. Study quality was assessed using predefined quality indicators. For every study, we calculated the relevant effect sizes. We included 28 studies in the review, seven of which were intervention studies. Every study reported at least one significant relationship between team processes or an intervention and performance. Also, some non-significant effects were reported. Most of the reported effect sizes were large or medium. The study quality ranged from medium to high. The studies are highly diverse regarding the specific team process behaviours investigated and also regarding the methods used. However, they suggest that team process behaviours do influence clinical performance and that training results in increased performance. Future research should rely on existing theoretical frameworks, valid, and reliable methods to assess processes such as teamwork or coordination and focus on the development of adequate tools to assess process performance, linking them with outcomes in the clinical settin

Amino terminal acetylation of HOXB13 regulates the DNA damage response in prostate cancer

Advanced localized prostate cancers (PC) recur despite chemotherapy, radiotherapy and/or androgen deprivation therapy. We recently reported HOXB13 lysine (K)13 acetylation as a gain-of-function modification that regulates interaction with the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex and is critical for anti-androgen resistance. However, whether acetylated HOXB13 promotes PC cell survival following treatment with genotoxic agents is not known. Herein, we show that K13-acetylated HOXB13 is induced rapidly in PC cells in response to DNA damage induced by irradiation (IR). It colocalizes with the histone variant γH2AX at sites of double strand breaks (DSBs). Treatment of PCs with the Androgen Receptor (AR) antagonist Enzalutamide (ENZ) did not suppress DNA-damage-induced HOXB13 acetylation. In contrast, HOXB13 depletion or loss of acetylation overcame resistance of PC cells to ENZ and synergized with IR

BaV3O8: A possible Majumdar-Ghosh system with S=1/2

BaV3O8 contains both magnetic V4+(S=1/2) ions and non-magnetic V5+(S=0) ions. The V4+ ions are arranged in a coupled Majumdar-Ghosh chain like network. Our magnetic susceptibility chi(T) data fit well with the Curie-Weiss formula in the temperature range of 80-300K and it yields a Curie constant C=0.39cm3K/mole-V4+ and an antiferromagnetic Weiss temperature theta=-26K. The chi(T) curve shows a broad maximum at T~25K indicative of short-range order (SRO) and an anomaly corresponding to long-range order (LRO) at TN~6K. The value of the frustration index (f=mod[theta/TN]~5) suggests that the system is moderately frustrated. Above the LRO temperature the experimental magnetic susceptibility data match well with the coupled Majumdar-Ghosh chain model with the ratio of the nnn (next-nearest neighbor) to nn (nearest neighbor) magnetic coupling alpha=2 and Jnnn/kB=40K. In a mean-field approach when considering the inter-chain interactions, we obtain the total inter-chain coupling to be about 16K. The LRO anomaly at TN is also observe in the specific heat Cp(T) data and is not sensitive to an applied magnetic field up to 90kOe. A 51V NMR signal corresponding to the non-magnetic vanadium was observed. Anomalies at 6K were observed in the variation with temperature of the 51V NMR linewidth and in the spin-lattice relaxation rate 1/T1, indicating that they are sensitive to the LRO onset and fluctuations at the magnetic V sites. The existence of two components (one short and another long) is observed in the spin-spin relaxation rate 1/T2 data in the vicinity of TN. The shorter component seems to be intimately connected with the magnetically ordered state. We suggest that both magnetically ordered and non-long range ordered (non-LRO) regions coexist in this compound below the long range ordering temperature.Comment: Accepted in Phys. Rev.

Optimising superoscillatory spots for far-field super-resolution imaging

Optical superoscillatory imaging, allowing unlabelled far-field super-resolution, has in recent years become reality. Instruments have been built and their super-resolution imaging capabilities demonstrated. The question is no longer whether this can be done, but how well: what resolution is practically achievable? Numerous works have optimised various particular features of superoscillatory spots, but in order to probe the limits of superoscillatory imaging we need to simultaneously optimise all the important spot features: those that define the resolution of the system. We simultaneously optimise spot size and its intensity relative to the sidebands for various fields of view, giving a set of best compromises for use in different imaging scenarios. Our technique uses the circular prolate spheroidal wave functions as a basis set on the field of view, and the optimal combination of these, representing the optimal spot, is found using a multi-objective genetic algorithm. We then introduce a less computationally demanding approach suitable for real-time use in the laboratory which, crucially, allows independent control of spot size and field of view. Imaging simulations demonstrate the resolution achievable with these spots. We show a three-order-of-magnitude improvement in the efficiency of focusing to achieve the same resolution as previously reported results, or a 26 % increase in resolution for the same efficiency of focusing

Phytochemical Investigations of some Laticiferous Plants belonging to Khandesh Region of Maharashtra

Analyses were carried out on latex obtained from twenty one plant species belonging to Khandesh region of Maharashtra, India, for the presence of possible secondary metabolites, namely alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, cynogenic glycosides, phenolics, tannins and saponins. Phenolic compounds were found in all latex samples except in Ipomoea carnea Jacq. Seventy six percent species of laticiferous plants contain alkaloid. Terpenoids were found in the latex of Carica papaya L. and Manilkara zapota (L.) P. van Royen only however, remaining plants were devoid. Cynogenic glycosides and tannins were detected in 52 % and 48 % of latex samples respectively. Flavonoids and saponins were detected in equal number of latex samples i.e. 38 %. Out of this, four species of Apocynaceae and single species of Euphorbiaceae, Moraceae, Carricaceae, Convolvulaceae etc. showed flavonoid. While three species of Euphorbiaceae, two species of Apocynaceae and Moraceae and single species of Asclepiadaceae showed saponin. The moisture and total solid content varies from species to species in latex samples analyzed. Euphorbia prunifolia Jacq. had highest level of moisture i.e. 93.33% and less solid content i.e. 6.67% whereas Euphorbia hirta L. had lowest level of moisture i.e.63.63% and highest content of total solid i.e. 36.37%. The results suggest that, the laticiferous plants would be exploited in the management of various diseases as they have diverse group of secondary metabolites

Wound Healing Plants of Jalgaon District of Maharashtra State, India

Jalgaon District of Maharashtra state (India) has a great heritage and rich in various green and semi evergreen species. Record of 3347 species from 201 families appeared in earlier literature from Jalgaon District. A list of 283 wound healing plants of Indian origin is compiled; out of these 224 plants are native of Maharashtra, a 131 plants among them occurred in Jalgaon District, which are in practice by local herbalist, Vaidyas and nonregistered medical practitioners and Mukhiya (Head) of tribal community. Taxonomical distribution showed 93.63% dicot and 6.37% monocot and a single aquatic plant. The investigation revealed that wound healing natural products usually localized in root (27% ) \u3e leaves (20%) \u3e stem \u3e seed \u3e whole plant \u3e fruit \u3e flower \u3e rhizome \u3e tuber \u3e shoot \u3e stamen \u3e grain \u3e gall \u3e filament and plant product like latex (46%), oil (40%) , gum and resin (7%) as evident from this survey. Most of the remedies consisted of either single plant part or combination. Methods of preparation varies and they are species specific viz: plant parts applied as a paste, juice extracted from the fresh plant parts, powder made from fresh or dried plant parts, some fresh plant parts, and decoction. In this study the most dominant family was Leguminosae and roots were most frequently used for wound healing. Here an attempt has also been made to work out on plants belonging to Jalgaon District in order to exploit them for preparation of ointment that can be used both in human and domestic animals

Study and modification of the reactivity of carbon fibers

The reactivity to air of polyactylonitrile-based carbon fiber cloth was enhanced by the addition of metals to the cloth. The cloth was oxidized in 54 wt% nitric acid in order to increase the surface area of the cloth and to add carbonyl groups to the surface. Metal addition was then achieved by soaking the cloth in metal acetate solution to effect exchange between the metal carbon and hydrogen on the carbonyl groups. The addition of potassium, sodium, calcium and barium enhanced fiber cloth reactivity to air at 573 K. Extended studies using potassium addition showed that success in enhancing fiber cloth reactivity to air depends on: extent of cloth oxidation in nitric acid, time of exchange in potassium acetate solution and the thoroughness of removing metal acetate from the fiber pore structure following exchange. Cloth reactivity increases essentially linearly with increase in potassium addition via exchange