Pinned modes in lossy lattices with local gain and nonlinearity

We introduce a discrete linear lossy system with an embedded "hot spot" (HS), i.e., a site carrying linear gain and complex cubic nonlinearity. The system can be used to model an array of optical or plasmonic waveguides, where selective excitation of particular cores is possible. Localized modes pinned to the HS are constructed in an implicit analytical form, and their stability is investigated numerically. Stability regions for the modes are obtained in the parameter space of the linear gain and cubic gain/loss. An essential result is that the interaction of the unsaturated cubic gain and self-defocusing nonlinearity can produce stable modes, although they may be destabilized by finite amplitude perturbations. On the other hand, the interplay of the cubic loss and self-defocusing gives rise to a bistability.Comment: Phys. Rev. E (in press

Exact States in Waveguides With Periodically Modulated Nonlinearity

We introduce a one-dimensional model based on the nonlinear Schrodinger/Gross-Pitaevskii equation where the local nonlinearity is subject to spatially periodic modulation in terms of the Jacobi dn function, with three free parameters including the period, amplitude, and internal form-factor. An exact periodic solution is found for each set of parameters and, which is more important for physical realizations, we solve the inverse problem and predict the period and amplitude of the modulation that yields a particular exact spatially periodic state. Numerical stability analysis demonstrates that the periodic states become modulationally unstable for large periods, and regain stability in the limit of an infinite period, which corresponds to a bright soliton pinned to a localized nonlinearity-modulation pattern. Exact dark-bright soliton complex in a coupled system with a localized modulation structure is also briefly considered . The system can be realized in planar optical waveguides and cigar-shaped atomic Bose-Einstein condensates.Comment: EPL, in pres

Single-charge rotating black holes in four-dimensional gauged supergravity

We consider four-dimensional U(1)^4 gauged supergravity, and obtain asymptotically AdS_4, non-extremal, charged, rotating black holes with one non-zero U(1) charge. The thermodynamic quantities are computed. We obtain a generalization that includes a NUT parameter. The general solution has a discrete symmetry involving inversion of the rotation parameter, and has a string frame metric that admits a rank-2 Killing-Stackel tensor.Comment: 9 page

Generation of a train of ultrashort pulses using periodic waves in tapered photonic crystal fibres

Funding This work was supported by the Ministry of Education , Nigeria for financial support through the TETFUND scholarship 55 scheme; CSIR [grant number 03(1264)/12/EMR-II].Peer reviewedPostprin

Pinned modes in two-dimensional lossy lattices with local gain and nonlinearity

We introduce a system with one or two amplified nonlinear sites ("hot spots", HSs) embedded into a two-dimensional linear lossy lattice. The system describes an array of evanescently coupled optical or plasmonic waveguides, with gain applied at selected HS cores. The subject of the analysis is discrete solitons pinned to the HSs. The shape of the localized modes is found in quasi-analytical and numerical forms, using a truncated lattice for the analytical consideration. Stability eigenvalues are computed numerically, and the results are supplemented by direct numerical simulations. In the case of self-focusing nonlinearity, the modes pinned to a single HS are stable or unstable when the nonlinearity includes the cubic loss or gain, respectively. If the nonlinearity is self-defocusing, the unsaturated cubic gain acting at the HS supports stable modes in a small parametric area, while weak cubic loss gives rise to a bistability of the discrete solitons. Symmetric and antisymmetric modes pinned to a symmetric set of two HSs are considered too.Comment: Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A, in press (a special issue on "Localized structures in dissipative media"

Electron tunneling time measured by photoluminescence excitation correlation spectroscopy

The tunneling time for electrons to escape from the lowest quasibound state in the quantum wells of GaAs/AlAs/GaAs/AlAs/GaAs double-barrier heterostructures with barriers between 16 and 62 Å has been measured at 80 K using photoluminescence excitation correlation spectroscopy. The decay time for samples with barrier thicknesses from 16 Å (≈12 ps) to 34 Å(≈800 ps) depends exponentially on barrier thickness, in good agreement with calculations of electron tunneling time derived from the energy width of the resonance. Electron and heavy hole carrier densities are observed to decay at the same rate, indicating a coupling between the two decay processes

Oxidative status in feline pyometra

The oxidative status of the organism is dependent of the balance between oxidant reactants and antioxidant defenses. Oxidative stress develops when the oxidant reactants exceed the antioxidant defenses of the organism. The oxidative stress causes alterations in cellular metabolism and cellular damage. The antioxidant response of the organism can be assessed by determination of individual parameters such as total serum thiols (Thiol) and/or by determination of the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of the organism. Parameters of oxidative status have proved to be useful biomarkers in several canine and feline diseases. Pyometra is considered one of the most important uterine diseases in cats. However, information about the oxidative status in queens with pyometra is lacking. Therefore, the main objectives of this study were to evaluate the oxidative status of feline pyometra through the determination of serum concentration of Thiol and TAC, and to evaluate the clinical evolution of these antioxidants in the post-ovariohysterectomy period. Serum concentrations of Thiol and TAC (determined by four different methodologies) were assessed in 17 queens with pyometra and in 13 healthy queens submitted to elective ovariohysterectomy (control group). Serum Thiol and TAC were also evaluated in six queens with pyometra at days two and 10 after surgery. Routine histopathology of the reproductive organs was performed in all animals, to confirm pyometra in the diseased queens, and to exclude uterine pathology in the control cats. At presentation, diseased queens presented significantly lower serum concentrations of Thiol and TAC than controls (P<0.001 in both cases). In the queens in which serial determinations of antioxidants were performed, serum Thiol and TAC were significantly higher at day 10 post-surgery than at presentation (P<0.05 in both cases). The results of the present study indicate that pyometra in queens is associated with presence of oxidative stress. Moreover, serum Thiol and TAC tended to evolve to physiologic values after surgery. Therefore, oxidative stress parameters could be useful in assessing the post-operative period in feline pyometra.O estado oxidativo do organismo depende do equilibrio entre os agentes oxidantes e os antioxidantes. O stresse oxidativo de senvolve-se quando os agentes oxidantes excedem a capacidade antioxidante do organismo. O stress oxidativo causa danos celulares, bem como alterações no seu metabolismo. A resposta antioxidante pode ser avaliada através da determinação de parâmetros individuais, tais como os tióis séricos, ou através da determinação da capacidade antioxidante total (TAC, do Inglês Total Antioxidant Capacity) do organismo. Diferentes parâmetros de avaliação do estado oxidativo do organismo provaram ser biomarcadores clinicamente úteis em diferentes doenças em cães e gatos. Contudo, existe falta de informação sobre o estado oxidativo em gatas com piómetra. Desta forma, os objetivos principais deste estudo foram avaliar o estado oxidativo em gatas diagnosticadas com piómetra, através da determinação dos níveis séricos de tióis e TAC (determinados através de quatro métodos diferentes: TEAC1, TEAC2, FRAP E CUPRAC), e avaliar a evolução clínica destes antioxidantes no período pós-ovariohisterectomia. As concentrações séricas de tióis e TAC foram determinadas em 17 gatas com piómetra (grupo em teste) e em 13 gatas saudáveis submetidas a ovariohisterectomia eletiva (grupo de controlo). Em seis gatas com piómetra foi possível efetuar o doseamento de tióis e TAC nos dias dois e 10 após a cirurgia. Foi realizada histopatologia dos órgãos reprodutores de todas as gatas incluídas no estudo, para comprovar a presença de piómetra nas gatas doentes, e para excluir doenças uterinas no grupo de controlo. No momento do diagnóstico, as gatas com piómetra apresentaram concentrações séricas de tióis e TAC significativamente inferiores às gatas do grupo de controlo (P<0,001 em ambos os casos). Nas gatas em que foi realizado um seguimento no período pós-cirurgia através de medições seriadas de antioxidantes, as concentrações de tióis e TAC apresentaram-se significativamente superiores no décimo dia pós-ovariohisterectomia que no dia do diagnóstico (P<0,05 em ambos os casos). Segundo os resultados obtidos neste estudo, em gatas a piómetra está associada ao desenvolvimento de stresse oxidativo. Para além disso, as concentrações séricas dos antioxidantes analisados tenderam a retomar os valores fisiológicos no período pós-ovariohisterectomia. Assim, estes parâmetros indicam utilidade clínica na monitorização do período pós cirúrgico em gatas com piómetra

eHealth interventions for people with chronic kidney disease

This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (Intervention). The objectives are as follows: This review aims to look at the benefits and harms of using eHealth interventions in the CKD population

Symmetries of supergravity black holes

We investigate Killing tensors for various black hole solutions of supergravity theories. Rotating black holes of an ungauged theory, toroidally compactified heterotic supergravity, with NUT parameters and two U(1) gauge fields are constructed. If both charges are set equal, then the solutions simplify, and then there are concise expressions for rank-2 conformal Killing-Stackel tensors. These are induced by rank-2 Killing-Stackel tensors of a conformally related metric that possesses a separability structure. We directly verify the separation of the Hamilton-Jacobi equation on this conformally related metric, and of the null Hamilton-Jacobi and massless Klein-Gordon equations on the "physical" metric. Similar results are found for more general solutions; we mainly focus on those with certain charge combinations equal in gauged supergravity, but also consider some other solutions.Comment: 36 pages; v2: minor changes; v3: slightly shorte