1,004 research outputs found
Fast-Light in a Photorefractive Crystal for Gravitational Wave Detection
We demonstrate superluminal light propagation using two frequency multiplexed
pump beams to produce a gain doublet in a photorefractive crystal of Ce:BaTiO3.
The two gain lines are obtained by two-wave mixing between a probe field and
two individual pump fields. The angular frequencies of the pumps are
symmetrically tuned from the frequency of the probe. The frequency difference
between the pumps corresponds to the separation of the two gain lines; as it
increases, the crystal gradually converts from normal dispersion without
detuning to an anomalously dispersive medium. The time advance is measured as
0.28 sec for a pulse propagating through a medium with a 2Hz gain separation,
compared to the same pulse propagating through empty space. We also demonstrate
directly anomalous dispersion profile using a modfied experimental
configuration. Finally, we discuss how anomalous dispersion produced this way
in a faster photorefractive crystal (such as SPS: Sn2P2S6) could be employed to
enhance the sensitivity-bandwidth product of a LIGO type gravitational wave
detector augmented by a White Light Cavity.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figure
Cross-institution online problem based learning in Chinese Medicine Education
New education technology drives the pedagogical changes nowadays. Teaching and learning collaborations can now be extended beyond institutional boundaries. This study reports a new attempt of cross-institution collaboration in co-teaching a Chinese Medicine course. A Cross-institution Online Problem-based Learning (COPBL) is designed and implemented by the University of Hong Kong (HKU) and Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (CDUTCM). There are 25 students from HKU and 24 students from CDUTCM who have participated in the COPBL. It is a supplementary component to courses and a seven-step approach has been adopted. Students work individually and collaboratively with floating-facilitators. The classes are blended with face-to-face and online components. As an initial step to understand the effectiveness of COPBL, this study specifically focuses on students’ use of the discussion forum, which is a key online component in COPBL. There are 91.8% of students who have viewed the discussion forum in total, 839 of view counts in all discussion forums. There are 63 replies recorded in all of the discussion forums. The replies could be identified into following categories, comments (33%), comments and questions (27%), responses (37%), and others (3%).This study has demonstrated that problem-based learning can be conducted in a blended form with traditional classroom teaching methods and well-designed online components. The COPBL offers new possibilities in redesigning pedagogy with new education technology. It could bring our education into a new era surrounded with new learning experiences.postprin
Physical Electronics and Surface Physics
Contains reports on one research project.Joint Services Electronics Program (Contract DAAB07-74-C-0630
Inelastic Photoproduction off Nuclei: Gluon Enhancement or Double Color Exchange?
The nuclear enhancement observed in inelastic photoproduction of
should not be interpreted as evidence for an increased gluon density in nuclei.
The nuclear suppression of the production rate due to initial and final state
interactions is calculated and a novel two-step color exchange process is
proposed, which is able to explain the data.Comment: Latex file, 23 pages including 5 Postscript figure
Advanced Silicon-on-Insulator: Crystalline Silicon on Atomic Layer Deposited Beryllium Oxide
Silicon-on-insulator (SOI) technology improves the performance of devices by reducing parasitic capacitance. Devices based on SOI or silicon-on-sapphire technology are primarily used in high-performance radio frequency (RF) and radiation sensitive applications as well as for reducing the short channel effects in microelectronic devices. Despite their advantages, the high substrate cost and overheating problems associated with complexities in substrate fabrication as well as the low thermal conductivity of silicon oxide prevent broad applications of this technology. To overcome these challenges, we describe a new approach of using beryllium oxide (BeO). The use of atomic layer deposition (ALD) for producing this material results in lowering the SOI wafer production cost. Furthermore, the use of BeO exhibiting a high thermal conductivity might minimize the self-heating issues. We show that crystalline Si can be grown on ALD BeO and the resultant devices exhibit potential for use in advanced SOI technology applications
Observations of marine stratocumulus microphysics and implications for processes controlling droplet spectra: Results from the Marine Stratus/Stratocumulus Experiment
Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 114, D18210The article of record as published may be located at http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2008JD011035This research was sponsored by the Atmospheric Science Program within the Office of Biological and Environmental Research of U.S. Department of Energy under contract DE-AC02-98CH10886
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Use of microphysical relationships to discern growth/decay mechanisms of cloud droplets with focus on Z-LWC relationships.
Cloud droplet size distributions hence the key microphysical quantities (e.g., radar reflectivity, droplet concentration, liquid water content, relative dispersion, and mean-volume radius) are determined by different physical mechanisms, including pre-cloud aerosols as CCNs, cloud updraft, and various turbulent entrainment-mixing processes. Therefore, different relationships among these microphysical properties are expected in response to these various mechanisms. The effect of turbulent entrainment-mixing processes is particularly vexing, with different entrainment-mixing processes likely leading to different microphysical relationships. Cloud radar has been widely used to infer the cloud liquid water content (L) from the measurement of radar reflectivity (Z) using a Z-L relationship. Existing Z-L expressions have been often obtained empirically, and differ substantially (Khain et al. 2008). The discrepancy among Z-L relations, which has been hindering the application of cloud radar in measuring cloud properties, likely stems from the different relationships between the relevant microphysical properties caused by different physical processes. This study first analyzes the Z-L relationship theoretically, and identify the key microphysical properties that affect this relationship, and then address the effects of various processes on the Z-L relationship by discerning the characteristics of the relationships between the relative dispersion, droplet concentration, liquid water content, and mean-volume radius calculated from in-situ measurements of cloud droplet size distributions. Effort is also made to further relate the microphysical relationships to physical processes such as turbulent entrainment-mixing
Anti-fibrotic effects of Rhus javanica Linn (Anacardiaceae) extract against Activated hepatic stellate cells via regulation of TGF-beta and smad signaling
Purpose: To evaluate the anti-fibrotic effects of ethanol extract of Rhus javanica Linn. (Anacardiaceae) (RJE) in activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) as well as explore the underlying mechanisms.Methods: The cytotoxic effect of RJE (100, 300 and 500 μg/mL) was analyzed using 3-[4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay in Chang liver cells. The mRNA expression of collagen type I, alpha 2 (COL1A2), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) were determined using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in HSCs. Protein expression of collagen and Smad were measured by Western blot analysis.Results: Treatment with RJE extract at 100, 300 and 500 μg/mL did not show any signs of cytotoxicity to Chang liver cells. RJE at 500 μg/mL concentration influenced the morphology, reduced the stretched fiber and decreased the number of viable cells in activated HSCs. The increased expressional levels of fibrosis mediators such as COL1A2, TGF-β, α-SMA were decreased by RJE (500 μg/mL) pre-treatment. Quantification data showed that the increased band intensity of COL1A2 (1.41 ± 0.08), TGF-β (1.23 ± 0.13), α-SMA (1.71 ± 0.14) were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced to 0.39 ± 0.12, 0.35 ± 0.11 and 0.04 ± 0.08, respectively upon RJE treatment. However, RJE did not suppress the expression of PDGF gene. Mechanistic study revealed that RJE prevented fibrosis in HSCs via regulation of TGF-β and Smad signaling pathways.Conclusion: The findings show that RJE inhibits fibrosis production in HSCs and can be developed as a novel therapy for hepatic fibrosis. This is the first report showing the beneficial effects of R. javanica as an anti-fibrotic agent
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