5,784 research outputs found
Experimental characterisation of the bound acoustic surface modes supported by honeycomb and hexagonal hole arrays
This is the final version. Available from Nature Research via the DOI in this record. The Dirac point and associated linear dispersion exhibited in the band structure of bound (non-radiative) acoustic surface modes supported on a honeycomb array of holes is explored. An aluminium plate with a honeycomb lattice of periodic sub-wavelength perforations is characterised by local pressure field measurements above the sample surface to obtain the full band-structure of bound modes. The local pressure fields of the bound modes at the K and M symmetry points are imaged, and the losses at frequencies near the Dirac frequency are shown to increase monotonically as the mode travels through the K point at the Dirac frequency on the honeycomb lattice. Results are contrasted with those from a simple hexagonal array of similar holes, and both experimentally obtained dispersion relations are shown to agree well with the predictions of a numerical model.Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL)Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC
Contact Manifolds, Contact Instantons, and Twistor Geometry
Recently, Kallen and Zabzine computed the partition function of a twisted
supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory on the five-dimensional sphere using
localisation techniques. Key to their construction is a five-dimensional
generalisation of the instanton equation to which they refer as the contact
instanton equation. Subject of this article is the twistor construction of this
equation when formulated on K-contact manifolds and the discussion of its
integrability properties. We also present certain extensions to higher
dimensions and supersymmetric generalisations.Comment: v3: 28 pages, clarifications and references added, version to appear
in JHE
Utility of overnight pulse oximetry and heart rate variability analysis to screen for sleep-disordered breathing in chronic heart failure
Glueball Interpretation of (2230)
On the basis of the results of
and , measured by the BES Collaboration in radiative J/ decays,
combined with the upper limit of Br()Br(), measured by PS185 experiment, we argue
that the distinctive properties of (2230), the flavor-symmetric decays and
the narrow partial decay widths to and as well as its
copious production in radiative J/ decay, would strongly favor the
glueball interpretation of (2230).Comment: Latex file, no figure
Yang-Mills instantons and dyons on homogeneous G_2-manifolds
We consider Lie G-valued Yang-Mills fields on the space R x G/H, where G/H is
a compact nearly K"ahler six-dimensional homogeneous space, and the manifold R
x G/H carries a G_2-structure. After imposing a general G-invariance condition,
Yang-Mills theory with torsion on R x G/H is reduced to Newtonian mechanics of
a particle moving in R^6, R^4 or R^2 under the influence of an inverted
double-well-type potential for the cases G/H = SU(3)/U(1)xU(1),
Sp(2)/Sp(1)xU(1) or G_2/SU(3), respectively. We analyze all critical points and
present analytical and numerical kink- and bounce-type solutions, which yield
G-invariant instanton configurations on those cosets. Periodic solutions on S^1
x G/H and dyons on iR x G/H are also given.Comment: 1+26 pages, 14 figures, 6 miniplot
Microsphere Solid-State Biolasers
Microsphere solid-state biolasers made of biomaterials-bovine serum albumin,
pectin and cellulose are demonstrated. The fabrication is simple, based on
emulsion, and with green processing. A lasing threshold of 1 microJ/mm2 and Q
factor of 3000 are measured. The lasers are biocompatible, do not interfere
with cell growth and division
RAD51 Is a Selective DNA Repair Target to Radiosensitize Glioma Stem Cells.
Patients with glioblastoma die from local relapse despite surgery and high-dose radiotherapy. Resistance to radiotherapy is thought to be due to efficient DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair in stem-like cells able to survive DNA damage and repopulate the tumor. We used clinical samples and patient-derived glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) to confirm that the DSB repair protein RAD51 is highly expressed in GSCs, which are reliant on RAD51-dependent DSB repair after radiation. RAD51 expression and RAD51 foci numbers fall when these cells move toward astrocytic differentiation. In GSCs, the small-molecule RAD51 inhibitors RI-1 and B02 prevent RAD51 focus formation, reduce DNA DSB repair, and cause significant radiosensitization. We further demonstrate that treatment with these agents combined with radiation promotes loss of stem cells defined by SOX2 expression. This indicates that RAD51-dependent repair represents an effective and specific target in GSCs
Fluorescence characterization of clinically-important bacteria
Healthcare-associated infections (HCAI/HAI) represent a substantial threat to patient health during hospitalization and incur billions of dollars additional cost for subsequent treatment. One promising method for the detection of bacterial contamination in a clinical setting before an HAI outbreak occurs is to exploit native fluorescence of cellular molecules for a hand-held, rapid-sweep surveillance instrument. Previous studies have shown fluorescence-based detection to be sensitive and effective for food-borne and environmental microorganisms, and even to be able to distinguish between cell types, but this powerful technique has not yet been deployed on the macroscale for the primary surveillance of contamination in healthcare facilities to prevent HAI. Here we report experimental data for the specification and design of such a fluorescence-based detection instrument. We have characterized the complete fluorescence response of eleven clinically-relevant bacteria by generating excitation-emission matrices (EEMs) over broad wavelength ranges. Furthermore, a number of surfaces and items of equipment commonly present on a ward, and potentially responsible for pathogen transfer, have been analyzed for potential issues of background fluorescence masking the signal from contaminant bacteria. These include bedside handrails, nurse call button, blood pressure cuff and ward computer keyboard, as well as disinfectant cleaning products and microfiber cloth. All examined bacterial strains exhibited a distinctive double-peak fluorescence feature associated with tryptophan with no other cellular fluorophore detected. Thus, this fluorescence survey found that an emission peak of 340nm, from an excitation source at 280nm, was the cellular fluorescence signal to target for detection of bacterial contamination. The majority of materials analysed offer a spectral window through which bacterial contamination could indeed be detected. A few instances were found of potential problems of background fluorescence masking that of bacteria, but in the case of the microfiber cleaning cloth, imaging techniques could morphologically distinguish between stray strands and bacterial contamination
Resistance exercise initiates mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) translocation and protein complex co-localisation in human skeletal muscle
This is the final version. Available from the publisher via the DOI in this record.The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a central mediator of protein synthesis in skeletal muscle. We utilized immunofluorescence approaches to study mTOR cellular distribution and protein-protein co-localisation in human skeletal muscle in the basal state as well as immediately, 1 and 3 h after an acute bout of resistance exercise in a fed (FED; 20 g Protein/40 g carbohydrate/1 g fat) or energy-free control (CON) state. mTOR and the lysosomal protein LAMP2 were highly co-localised in basal samples. Resistance exercise resulted in rapid translocation of mTOR/LAMP2 towards the cell membrane. Concurrently, resistance exercise led to the dissociation of TSC2 from Rheb and increased in the co-localisation of mTOR and Rheb post exercise in both FED and CON. In addition, mTOR co-localised with Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 subunit F (eIF3F) at the cell membrane post-exercise in both groups, with the response significantly greater at 1 h of recovery in the FED compared to CON. Collectively our data demonstrate that cellular trafficking of mTOR occurs in human muscle in response to an anabolic stimulus, events that appear to be primarily influenced by muscle contraction. The translocation and association of mTOR with positive regulators (i.e. Rheb and eIF3F) is consistent with an enhanced mRNA translational capacity after resistance exercise.Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council (BBSRC)Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)China Scholarship CouncilNational Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin DiseasesDepartment of Defens
Research priorities for assessing potential impacts of emerging marine renewable energy technologies: Insights from developments in Wales (UK)
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