Giant enhancement of dipole-forbidden transitions via lattices of plasmonic nanoparticles

We demonstrate theoretically that electric dipole-forbidden atomic transitions can be excited by the interaction of the quadrupole moment of the transition with the electric near-field in the vicinity of an illuminated periodic array of core–shell metallic nanoparticles via surface-plasmon excitation. The rate of the quadrupole transition is enhanced by nine orders of magnitude relative to the illumination of the atom by a plane wave rendering the transition experimentally observable. At the same time, the enhancement of the quadrupole transition rate means an enhancement of the quadrupole force at the same level, enabling the subwavelength trapping of the atom at the optical near-field landscape. The calculations are based on rigorous electrodynamic calculations based on the layer-multiple-scattering theory for periodic nanostructures of spherical scatterers. The quadrupole transition is studied by means of electromagnetic multipole angular momentum theory which provides a closed formula for the corresponding atomic transition rate.     

Identification of myocardial diffuse fibrosis by 11 heartbeat MOLLI <Emphasis Type="Italic">T</Emphasis><Subscript>1</Subscript> mapping: averaging to improve precision and correlation with collagen volume fraction

Objectives

Our objectives involved identifying whether repeated averaging in basal and mid left ventricular myocardial levels improves precision and correlation with collagen volume fraction for 11 heartbeat MOLLI T ₁ mapping versus assessment at a single ventricular level.

Materials and methods

For assessment of T ₁ mapping precision, a cohort of 15 healthy volunteers underwent two CMR scans on separate days using an 11 heartbeat MOLLI with a 5(3)3 beat scheme to measure native T ₁ and a 4(1)3(1)2 beat post-contrast scheme to measure post-contrast T ₁, allowing calculation of partition coefficient and ECV. To assess correlation of T ₁ mapping with collagen volume fraction, a separate cohort of ten aortic stenosis patients scheduled to undergo surgery underwent one CMR scan with this 11 heartbeat MOLLI scheme, followed by intraoperative tru-cut myocardial biopsy. Six models of myocardial diffuse fibrosis assessment were established with incremental inclusion of imaging by averaging of the basal and mid-myocardial left ventricular levels, and each model was assessed for precision and correlation with collagen volume fraction.

Results

A model using 11 heart beat MOLLI imaging of two basal and two mid ventricular level averaged T ₁ maps provided improved precision (Intraclass correlation 0.93 vs 0.84) and correlation with histology (R ² = 0.83 vs 0.36) for diffuse fibrosis compared to a single mid-ventricular level alone. ECV was more precise and correlated better than native T ₁ mapping.

Conclusion

T ₁ mapping sequences with repeated averaging could be considered for applications of 11 heartbeat MOLLI, especially when small changes in native T ₁/ECV might affect clinical management.

     

Effect of medium molecular weight xanthan gum in rheology and stability of oil‐in‐water emulsion stabilized with legume proteins

Xanthan gum is a water‐soluble extracellular polysaccharide that has gained widespread commercial use because of its strong pseudoplasticity and tolerance to high ionic strength, which bring unique rheological properties to solutions. This study compares and evaluates the emulsifying properties of oil‐in‐water (30:70 v/v) emulsions stabilized with lupin and soya protein isolates and medium molecular weight xanthan gum. The protein was obtained by an isoelectric precipitation method and the polysaccharide was produced by Xanthomonas campestris ATCC 1395 in batch culture in a laboratory fermenter (LBG medium) without pH control. The addition of xanthan gum in the emulsion formulation enhances emulsion stability through the phenomenon of thermodynamic incompatibility with the legume protein, resulting in an increase of the adsorbed protein at the interface. The emulsion stability is also enhanced by a network structure built by the polysaccharide in the bulk phase. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Non-magnetic hexagonal nanocrystalline ni films grown by radio frequency magnetron sputtering

Nanoscale Ni films in the thickness range 15-500 nm were grown on various substrates, such as amorphous glass, single crystalline silicon and sapphire, and polycrystalline alumina, at a temperature of about 350 K by radio frequency magnetron sputtering. It is demonstrated, via X-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, that there is an Ar-gas pressure window that favors the growth of stable single-phase hexagonal nanocrystalline Ni films regardless of the film thickness and the kind of the substrate. At lower or higher Ar pressures the films grow in the regular face centered cubic phase of Ni. The structural habits are attributed to differences in the kinetic energy of the Ni atoms impinging on the substrates. Superconducting quantum interference device magnetometry measurements reveal that the hexagonal films show zero magnetic response down to liquid Helium temperature. This result is discussed with respect to earlier first principle calculations and to experimental results on Ni nanoparticles.     

Automatic analysis of attack graphs for risk mitigation and prioritization on large-scale and complex networks in Industry 4.0

International Journal of Information Security - Threat models and attack graphs have been used more than 20&nbsp;years by enterprises and organizations for mapping the actions of potential...     

Fibrinolysis in Platelet Thrombi

The extent and duration of occlusive thrombus formation following an arterial atherothrombotic plaque disruption may be determined by the effectiveness of endogenous fibrinolysis. The determinants of endogenous fibrinolysis are the subject of much research, and it is now broadly accepted that clot composition as well as the environment in which the thrombus was formed play a significant role. Thrombi with a high platelet content demonstrate significant resistance to fibrinolysis, and this may be attributable to an augmented ability for thrombin generation and the release of fibrinolysis inhibitors, resulting in a fibrin-dense, stable thrombus. Additional platelet activators may augment thrombin generation further, and in the case of coronary stenosis, high shear has been shown to strengthen the attachment of the thrombus to the vessel wall. Neutrophil extracellular traps contribute to fibrinolysis resistance. Additionally, platelet-mediated clot retraction, release of Factor XIII and resultant crosslinking with fibrinolysis inhibitors impart structural stability to the thrombus against dislodgment by flow. Further work is needed in this rapidly evolving field, and efforts to mimic the pathophysiological environment in vitro are essential to further elucidate the mechanism of fibrinolysis resistance and in providing models to assess the effects of pharmacotherapy.