Recent progress in nanotechnology has allowed the fabrication of new hybrid systems in which a single two-level system is coupled to a mechanical nanoresonator. In such systems the quantum nature of ...a macroscopic degree of freedom can be revealed and manipulated. This opens up appealing perspectives for quantum information technologies, and for the exploration of the quantum-classical boundary. Here we present the experimental realization of a monolithic solid-state hybrid system governed by material strain: a quantum dot is embedded within a nanowire that features discrete mechanical resonances corresponding to flexural vibration modes. Mechanical vibrations result in a time-varying strain field that modulates the quantum dot transition energy. This approach simultaneously offers a large light-extraction efficiency and a large exciton-phonon coupling strength g0. By means of optical and mechanical spectroscopy, we find that g0/2 π is nearly as large as the mechanical frequency, a criterion that defines the ultrastrong coupling regime.
Bovine trichomoniasis, caused by the protozoal parasite Tritrichomonas foetus, is a highly contagious venereal disease characterised by early pregnancy loss, abortion and pyometra. Persistently ...infected bulls and cows are the primary reservoirs of infection in infected herds. This research investigated the prevalence of T. foetus infection in bulls from properties located across northern Australia and New South Wales. Preputial samples were collected from 606 bulls at slaughter and tested for T. foetus using the VetMAX‐Gold Trich Detection Kit (Thermo Fisher Scientific). The apparent prevalence of T. foetus infection varied between regions, with northern regions in the Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia showing a prevalence of 15.4%, 13.8% and 11.4%, respectively. There was some evidence of an association between infection and postcode (P = 0.06) and increasing bull age (P = 0.054). This study confirms that T. foetus infection is likely to be present in many beef breeding herds and contributing to lower than expected reproductive performance, particularly across northern Australia.
In this paper, the Rigid Body Spring Network method is further developed to perform analyses of transversely isotropic rocks. Two contributions are proposed: (1) an extension of the fictitious stress ...approach and (2) the combined application of the Smooth Joint Model and a discontinuous failure criterion. While the first contribution enables the numerical method to perform elastically homogeneous analysis of transversely isotropic materials, the second provides for the proper manifestation of sliding failure on a discontinuity. In order to verify the competence of the contributions, validation analyses are performed and a case study is presented based on an argillite rock.
Aim: Atherosclerosis is responsible for high morbidity and mortality rates around the world. Local arterial oxidative stress is involved in all phases of atherosclerosis development. Mitochondria is ...a relevant source of the oxidants, particularly under certain risky conditions, such as hypercholesterolemia. The aim of this study was to test whether lowering the production of mitochondrial oxidants by induction of a mild uncoupling can reduce atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolemic LDL receptor knockout mice. Methods: The mice were chronically treated with very low doses of DNP (2,4-dinitrophenol) and metabolic, inflammatory and redox state markers and atherosclerotic lesion sizes were determined.Results: The DNP treatment did not change the classical atherosclerotic risk markers, such as plasma lipids, glucose homeostasis, and fat mass, as well as systemic inflammatory markers. However, the DNP treatment diminished the production of mitochondrial oxidants, systemic and tissue oxidative damage markers, peritoneal macrophages and aortic rings oxidants generation. Most importantly, development of spontaneous and diet-induced atherosclerosis (lipid and macrophage content) were significantly decreased in the DNP-treated mice. In vitro, DNP treated peritoneal macrophages showed decreased H2O2 production, increased anti-inflammatory cytokines gene expression and secretion, increased phagocytic activity, and decreased LDL-cholesterol uptake.Conclusions: These findings are a proof of concept that activation of mild mitochondrial uncoupling is sufficient to delay the development of atherosclerosis under the conditions of hypercholesterolemia and oxidative stress. These results promote future approaches targeting mitochondria for the prevention or treatment of atherosclerosis.
The Mercedes water Cherenkov detector Assis, P.; Bakalová, A.; Barres de Almeida, U. ...
European physical journal. C, Particles and fields,
10/2022, Letnik:
82, Številka:
10
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
The concept of a small, single-layer water Cherenkov detector, with three photomultiplier tubes (PMTs), placed at its bottom in a
120
∘
star configuration (
Mercedes
Water Cherenkov Detector) is ...presented. The PMTs are placed near the lateral walls of the stations with an adjustable inclination and may be installed inside or outside the water volume. To illustrate the technical viability of this concept and obtain a first-order estimation of its cost, an engineering design was elaborated. The sensitivity of these stations to low energy Extensive Air Shower (EAS) electrons, photons and muons is discussed, both in compact and sparse array configurations. It is shown that the analysis of the intensity and time patterns of the PMT signals, using machine learning techniques, enables the tagging of muons, achieving an excellent gamma/hadron discrimination for TeV showers. This concept minimises the station production and maintenance costs, allowing for a highly flexible and fast installation. Mercedes Water Cherenkov Detectors (WCDs) are thus well-suited for use in high-altitude large gamma-ray observatories covering an extended energy range from the low energies, closing the gap between satellite and ground-based measurements, to very high energy regions, beyond the PeV scale.
Purpose
To report electroretinographic (ERG) findings in advanced glaucoma treated with a single intravitreal injection of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).
Methods
Intravitreal ...injection of autologous MSCs (1 × 10
6
cells) was performed in 2 eyes from 2 patients with open-angle glaucoma in advanced stage of optic neuropathy (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02330978, 01.05.2015): cup/disk ratio worse than 0.9, visual field mean deviation index lower than − 15 dB, visual acuity of light perception, but controlled intraocular pressure. ERG tests were recorded at baseline and week 1, 4 and 48 after injection, using DTL electrodes following the ISCEV standard: After dark adaptation, ERG was elicited using white flashes of 0.01 cd.s/m
2
and 3.0 cd.s/m
2
, followed by 10-min light adaptation (30 cd/m
2
) and stimuli of 3.0 cd.s/m
2
and 30 Hz flicker.
Results
Patients did not show improvement on visual acuity or visual field after treatment. At baseline, ERG responses showed typical findings for advanced glaucoma, with a- and b-wave amplitude and latency within normative range, but reduced photopic negative responses. No noteworthy changes were observed on ERG responses for both cases up to 1 week after treatment, but at day 15, one patient showed retinal detachment with proliferative vitreoretinopathy and was removed from the trial. The other patient kept ERG responses stable throughout study period.
Conclusion
Although no ERG response changes were observed after MSCs injection in one case, the complication observed on the second one, along with the lack of visual function improvement, warrants further studies involving modified MSCs to treat ocular disorders, including glaucoma.
Trial registration:
ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02330978- missed in pdf
This study aimed to (i) synthesize and characterize magnetic poly(styrene-
co
-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) particles (STY-EGDMA-M) as immobilization support for
Candida antarctica
lipase B ...(CALB), (ii) determine kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of the immobilized biocatalyst in emollient ester synthesis, and (iii) develop a mathematical model for the bioprocess. The enzyme support was characterized by optical microscopy, hysteresis analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis. Magnetic copolymer particles were found to have spherical shape, ideal for use as immobilization support. The results confirmed that magnetic particles were incorporated into the polymer matrix, whose saturation magnetization was about 7 emu g
−1
. Immobilized CALB showed an activity of 570 ± 48 U g
−1
in the hydrolysis of butyl butyrate. The derivative was used to synthesize octyl oleate by esterification of oleic acid with octanol. The influence of temperature on the esterification reaction was analyzed, and a mathematical model was developed to determine apparent kinetic and thermodynamic parameters. The highest ester conversion (56%) was obtained at 55 °C, and chemical equilibrium was achieved in 12 h of reaction. Under these conditions, the reaction was spontaneous, with negative Gibbs energy (− 4.73 kJ mol
−1
K
−1
), positive entropy (+ 0.463 kJ mol
−1
K
−1
), endothermic nature (+ 147.53 kJ mol
−1
), and low activation energy (61.71 kJ mol
−1
). A second-order reversible kinetic model provided a satisfactory fit to the data (
R
2
= 0.9965), within the 95% confidence interval. In an operational stability test, conducted for five consecutive cycles of 24 h, the biocatalyst had a half-life of 315.07 h.
Graphical Abstract
In this paper, the Rigid Body Spring Network method is extended in order to provide for a realistic representation of the fracturing processes of brittle rocks. To achieve this objective, three new ...contributions are given to the method: a Cohesive Zone Model; a representation of rock heterogeneity; and the consideration of preexisting natural microcracks. In order to verify the competence of the contributions proposed, a case study is presented based on a granite rock. Conventional laboratory tests are numerically performed and the results are compared to those obtained in laboratory in order to show the performance of the proposed model.
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