Synthesis and super-resolution imaging performance of a refractive-index-controllable microsphere superlens

Microspheres can function as optical superlenses for nanoscale super-resolution imaging. The imaging performance is mainly affected by the size and refractive index of the microsphere. Precise control of these parameters is a challenging task but of fundamental importance to the further development of the technique. In this study, we demonstrate for the first time a nanoparticle-hybrid suspension polymerization approach to chemically synthesize high-quality microspheres (ZrO2/polystyrene) with optical properties that are highly controllable. Microspheres of different sizes (d: 2�20 μm) and refractive indexes (np: 1.590�1.685) were synthesized and their super-resolution imaging performances were evaluated and compared. Our results show that continuously increasing the refractive index of microspheres can enhance the imaging resolution and quality. A 60 nm resolution has been obtained in the wide-field imaging mode and a 50 nm resolution has been obtained in the confocal mode imaging of semiconductor chip samples. The obtained 50�60 nm resolutions have significantly gone beyond the conventional 200 nm resolution limit for visible light optical microscopes; the super-resolution mechanism has been discussed. The synthesized microsphere superlenses may find applications in many other areas as well, including nanolithography, nano-sensing, nano-diagnosis, nano-spectroscopy and ultra-high density optical data storage

Molecular cytogenetic aberrations in patients with multiple myeloma studied by interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization

Background: Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable hematological disorder characterized by the accumulation of malignant plasma cells within the bone marrow (BM). The clinical heterogeneity of MM is dictated by the cytogenetic aberrations present in the clonal plasma cells (PCs). Cytogenetic studies in MM are hampered by the hypoproliferative nature of plasma cells in MM. Therefore, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis combined with magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) is an attractive alternative for evaluation of numerical and structural chromosomal changes in MM. Methods: Interphase FISH studies with three different specific probes for the regions containing 13q14.3 (D13S319), 14q32 (IGHC/IGHV) and 1q12(CEP1 ) were performed in 48 MM patients. Interphase FISH studies with LSI IGH/CCND1, LSI IGH/FGFR3, and LSI IGH/MAF probes were used to detect t(11;14)(q13;q32), t(4;14)(p16;q32), and t(14;16)(q32;q23) in patients with 14q32 rearrangement. Results: Molecular cytogenetic aberrations were found in 40 (83.3%) of the 48 MM patients. 13 patients (27.1%) simultaneously had 13q deletion/monosomy 13 [del(13q14)], illegitimate IGH rearrangement and chromosome 1 abnormality. Del(13q14) was detected in 21 cases (43.7%), and illegitimate IGH rearrangements in 29 (60.4%) including 6 with t(11;14) and 5 with t(4;14). None of 9 patients with illegitimate IGH rearrangements and without t(11;14) or t(4;14) we detected had t(14;16) (q32;q23). 24 of the 48 MM patients (50%) had chromosome 1 abnormalities. Among 21 patients with del(13q14), 15 patients had Amp1q12;16 had IgH rearrangements. Whereas, among 27 cases without del(13q14), 8 had Amp1q12; 13 had IgH rearrangements. There was a strong association between del(13q14) and Amp1q12(c2 = 8.26, р < 0.01), and between del(13q14) and IgH rearrangement(c2 = 3.88, p < 0.05). Conclusion: 13q deletion/monosomy 13, IGH rearrangement and chromosome 1 abnormality are frequent in MM. They are not randomly distributed, but strongly interconnected. Interphase FISH technique combined with MACS using CD138-specific antibody is a highly sensitive technique at detecting molecular cytogenetic aberrations in MM.Обоснование: множественная миелома (MM) — неизлечимое гематологическое заболевание, характеризирующееся накоплением злокачественных плазматических клеток в костном мозге (КM). Клиническая гетерогенность MM определяется цитогенетическими аберрациями, присутствующими в клоне плазматических клеток (ПК). Цитогенетические исследования MM осложнены гипопролиферативными особенностями ПК. В связи с этим флуоресцентная гибридизация in situ (FISH) в комбинации с сортировкой клеток, активированных магнитными полями (MACS) представляется достойной альтернативой методам оценки точечных и структурных изменений хромосом при MM. Методы: интерфазные исследования методом FISH с использованием трех различных специфических зондов для участков, содержащих 13q14.3 (D13S319), 14q32 (IGHC/IGHV) и 1q12(CEP1), проводили у 48 больных с MM. Интерфазные исследования методом FISH с использованием зондов LSI IGH/CCND1, LSI IGH/FGFR3 и LSI IGH/MAF применяли для детекции t(11;14)(q13;q32), t(4;14)(p16;q32), и t(14;16)(q32;q23) у пациентов с перестройкой 14q32. Результаты: молекулярные цитогенетические аберрации выявляли у 40 (83,3%) из 48 больных с MM. У 13 пациентов (27,1%) одновременно определены 13q делеция/моносомия 13 [del(13q14)], аномальная перестройка IGH и аномалия хромосомы 1. Del(13q14) детектировали в 21 случае (43,7%), а аномальные перестройки IGH — в 29 (60,4%), в том числе у 6 пациентов с t(11;14) и 5 с t(4;14). Ни у одного из 9 больных с аномальными перестройками IGH и без t(11;14) или t(4;14) не выявляли транслокацию t(14;16) (q32;q23). У 24 из 48 пациентов с MM (50%) определяли аномалии хромосомы 1. В группе из 21 больных с del(13q14) в 15 случаях имелись перестройки IgH Amp1q12;16. В то же время из 27 случаев без del(13q14) у 8 содержались Amp1q12; в 13 случаях отмечали перестройки IgH. Выявлена взаимосвязь между del(13q14) и Amp1q12(χ2 = 8,26, p < 0,01) и между del(13q14) и перестройками IgH (χ2 = 3,88, p < 0,05). Выводы: 13q делецию/моносомию 13, перестройку IGH и аномалию хромосомы 1 часто отмечают при MM, причем их распределение не случайно и тесно взаимосвязано. Интерфазный анализ FISH в комбинации с MACS с использованием CD138-специфичных антител является высокочувствительным методом детекции молекулярных цитогенетических аберраций при MM

Aerosol particles at a high-altitude site on the Southeast Tibetan Plateau, China: Implications for pollution transport from South Asia

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Bulk aerosol samples were collected from 16 July 2008 to 26 July 2009 at Lulang, a high-altitude (&gt;3300m above sea level) site on the southeast Tibetan Plateau (TP); objectives were to determine chemical characteristics of the aerosol and identify its major sources. We report aerosol (total suspended particulate, TSP) mass levels and the concentrations of selected elements, carbonaceous species, and water-soluble inorganic ions. Significant buildup of aerosol mass and chemical species (organic carbon, element carbon, nitrate, and sulfate) occurred during the premonsoon, while lower concentrations were observed during the monsoon. Seasonal variations in aerosol and chemical species were driven by precipitation scavenging and atmospheric circulation. Two kinds of high-aerosol episodes were observed: one was enriched with dust indicators (Fe and Ca2+), and the other was enhanced with organic and elemental carbon (OC and EC), SO42&minus;, NO3&minus;, and Fe. The TSP loadings during the latter were 3 to 6 times those on normal days. The greatest aerosol optical depths (National Centers for Environmental Protection/National Center for Atmospheric Research reanalysis) occurred upwind, in eastern India and Bangladesh, and trajectory analysis indicates that air pollutants were transported from the southwest. Northwesterly winds brought high levels of natural emissions (Fe, Ca2+) and low levels of pollutants (SO42&minus;, NO3&minus;, K+, and EC); this was consistent with high aerosol optical depths over the western deserts and Gobi. Our work provides evidence that both geological and pollution aerosols from surrounding regions impact the aerosol population of the TP

Measurements of the observed cross sections for e+e−→e^+e^-\to exclusive light hadrons containing π0π0\pi^0\pi^0 at s=3.773\sqrt s= 3.773, 3.650 and 3.6648 GeV

By analyzing the data sets of 17.3, 6.5 and 1.0 pb$^{-1}$ taken, respectively, at $\sqrt s= 3.773$, 3.650 and 3.6648 GeV with the BES-II detector at the BEPC collider, we measure the observed cross sections for $e^+e^-\to \pi^+\pi^-\pi^0\pi^0$, $K^+K^-\pi^0\pi^0$, $2(\pi^+\pi^-\pi^0)$, $K^+K^-\pi^+\pi^-\pi^0\pi^0$ and $3(\pi^+\pi^-)\pi^0\pi^0$ at the three energy points. Based on these cross sections we set the upper limits on the observed cross sections and the branching fractions for $\psi(3770)$ decay into these final states at 90% C.L..Comment: 7 pages, 2 figure

Partial wave analysis of J/\psi \to \gamma \phi \phi

Using $5.8 \times 10^7 J/\psi$ events collected in the BESII detector, the radiative decay $J/\psi \to \gamma \phi \phi \to \gamma K^+ K^- K^0_S K^0_L$ is studied. The $\phi\phi$ invariant mass distribution exhibits a near-threshold enhancement that peaks around 2.24 GeV/$c^{2}$. A partial wave analysis shows that the structure is dominated by a $0^{-+}$ state ($\eta(2225)$) with a mass of $2.24^{+0.03}_{-0.02}{}^{+0.03}_{-0.02}$ GeV/$c^{2}$ and a width of $0.19 \pm 0.03^{+0.06}_{-0.04}$ GeV/$c^{2}$. The product branching fraction is: $Br(J/\psi \to \gamma \eta(2225))\cdot Br(\eta(2225)\to \phi\phi) = (4.4 \pm 0.4 \pm 0.8)\times 10^{-4}$.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures. corrected proof for journa

Direct Measurements of Absolute Branching Fractions for D0 and D+ Inclusive Semimuonic Decays

By analyzing about 33 $\rm pb^{-1}$ data sample collected at and around 3.773 GeV with the BES-II detector at the BEPC collider, we directly measure the branching fractions for the neutral and charged $D$ inclusive semimuonic decays to be $BF(D^0 \to \mu^+ X) =(6.8\pm 1.5\pm 0.7)$ and $BF(D^+ \to \mu^+ X) =(17.6 \pm 2.7 \pm 1.8)$, and determine the ratio of the two branching fractions to be $\frac{BF(D^+ \to \mu^+ X)}{BF(D^0 \to \mu^+ X)}=2.59\pm 0.70 \pm 0.25$

Designing spin-spin interactions with one and two dimensional ion crystals in planar micro traps

We discuss the experimental feasibility of quantum simulation with trapped ion crystals, using magnetic field gradients. We describe a micro structured planar ion trap, which contains a central wire loop generating a strong magnetic gradient of about 20 T/m in an ion crystal held about 160 \mu m above the surface. On the theoretical side, we extend a proposal about spin-spin interactions via magnetic gradient induced coupling (MAGIC) [Johanning, et al, J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 42 (2009) 154009]. We describe aspects where planar ion traps promise novel physics: Spin-spin coupling strengths of transversal eigenmodes exhibit significant advantages over the coupling schemes in longitudinal direction that have been previously investigated. With a chip device and a magnetic field coil with small inductance, a resonant enhancement of magnetic spin forces through the application of alternating magnetic field gradients is proposed. Such resonantly enhanced spin-spin coupling may be used, for instance, to create Schr\"odinger cat states. Finally we investigate magnetic gradient interactions in two-dimensional ion crystals, and discuss frustration effects in such two-dimensional arrangements.Comment: 20 pages, 13 figure

Search for the Rare Decays J/Psi --> Ds- e+ nu_e, J/Psi --> D- e+ nu_e, and J/Psi --> D0bar e+ e-

We report on a search for the decays J/Psi --> Ds- e+ nu_e + c.c., J/Psi --> D- e+ nu_e + c.c., and J/Psi --> D0bar e+ e- + c.c. in a sample of 5.8 * 10^7 J/Psi events collected with the BESII detector at the BEPC. No excess of signal above background is observed, and 90% confidence level upper limits on the branching fractions are set: B(J/Psi --> Ds- e+ nu_e + c.c.)<4.8*10^-5, B(J/Psi --> D- e+ nu_e + c.c.) D0bar e+ e- + c.c.)<1.1*10^-5Comment: 10 pages, 4 figure

A study of charged kappa in J/ψ→K±Ksπ∓π0J/\psi \to K^{\pm} K_s \pi^{\mp} \pi^0

Based on $58 \times 10^6$ $J/\psi$ events collected by BESII, the decay $J/\psi \to K^{\pm} K_s \pi^{\mp} \pi^0$ is studied. In the invariant mass spectrum recoiling against the charged $K^*(892)^{\pm}$, the charged $\kappa$ particle is found as a low mass enhancement. If a Breit-Wigner function of constant width is used to parameterize the kappa, its pole locates at $(849 \pm 77 ^{+18}_{-14}) -i (256 \pm 40 ^{+46}_{-22})$ MeV/$c^2$. Also in this channel, the decay $J/\psi \to K^*(892)^+ K^*(892)^-$ is observed for the first time. Its branching ratio is $(1.00 \pm 0.19 ^{+0.11}_{-0.32}) \times 10^{-3}$.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figure

Measurements of the observed cross sections for exclusive light hadron production in e^+e^- annihilation at \sqrt{s}= 3.773 and 3.650 GeV

By analyzing the data sets of 17.3 pb$^{-1}$ taken at $\sqrt{s}=3.773$ GeV and 6.5 pb$^{-1}$ taken at $\sqrt{s}=3.650$ GeV with the BESII detector at the BEPC collider, we have measured the observed cross sections for 12 exclusive light hadron final states produced in $e^+e^-$ annihilation at the two energy points. We have also set the upper limits on the observed cross sections and the branching fractions for $\psi(3770)$ decay to these final states at 90% C.L.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figur