New Tractable Classes From Old

The constraint satisfaction problem is known to be NP-hard in general, but a number of restrictions of the problem have been identified over the years which ensure tractability. This paper introduces two simple methods of combining two or more tractable classes over disjoint domains, in order to synthesise larger, more expressive tractable classes. We demonstrate that the classes so obtained are genuinely novel, and have not been previously identified. In addition, we use algebraic techniques to extend the tractable classes which we identify, and to show that the algorithms for solving these extended classes can be less than obvious.     

Atom probe tomography and transmission electron microscopy characterisation of precipitation in an Al-Cu-Li-Mg-Ag alloy

State-of-the art atom probe tomography (APT) combined with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to investigate the microstructure at different stages of the ageing process of an alloy of composition (at%) Al-1.68%Cu-4.62%Li-0.33%Mg-0.1%Ag. These alloys were shown to exhibit a complex microstructure of T₁ plates and several metastable phases, including θ′ and S. We will highlight the early stages of clustering, precipitate interactions and possible solute segregation at the matrix/precipitate interfaces and detail the chemical composition of the different phases.     

ERWIN: an E-region wind interferometer

A field-widened Michelson interferometer designed to measure upper atmospheric winds at three altitudes near the mesopause by using airglow emissions from O(1)S, OH, and O(2) is described. A very large path difference (11 cm) is used to suppress the fringes from the hot F-region emission of O(1)S and to facilitate accurate measurements. Field widening and thermal compensation are achieved over the large spectral range (557.7-866.0 nm) by the use of three types of glass in the interferometer's arms. The instrument was installed at Resolute Bay, Canada (74.3 N, 94.5 W), in November 1992 and has been operated remotely from Toronto for four winter seasons. Some examples of data are shown to illustrate ERWIN's performance.     

Multiple reflections in a wide-angle Michelson interferometer

The effect of multiple reflections from a semireflecting surface such as an interference filter located in front of or behind a wide-angle Michelson interferometer (WAMI) is examined. By considering the instrument as a complex operator on the incident electric field, theoretical results are obtained which describe a large variety of configurations. Experimental results are presented which are consistent with these results. It is concluded that since the presence of these reflections changes the form of the observed fringes and affects measurements of the phase and visibility of the fringes, care must be taken to avoid such reflections in designing WAMIs.     

Overcoming challenges in the study of nitrided microalloyed steels using atom probe

Nitrided steels are widely used in the engineering field due to their superior hardness and other attractive properties. Atom probe tomography (APT) was employed to study two Nb-microalloyed CASTRIP steels with different N contents. A major challenge of using APT to study this group of materials is the presence of tails after Fe peaks in the mass spectra, which overestimates the composition for alloying elements such as Nb and Cu in the steels. One important factor that contributes to the tails is believed to be delayed field evaporation from Fe²⁺. This artefact of the mass spectrum was observed to be the most severe when voltage pulsing was used. The application of laser pulses with energy ranging from 0.2 to 1.2 nJ successfully reduced the tails and lead to better compositional measurement accuracy. Spatial resolution in the z-direction (along the tip direction) was observed to be less affected by changing laser energy but deteriorates in x-y direction with increasing laser energy. This investigation suggests that pulsed-laser atom probe with ∼0.4 nJ laser energy can be used to study this group of materials with improved mass resolution while still maintaining high spatial resolution.     

Optical and thermal processes involved in ultrafast laser pulse interaction with a field emitter

In the interaction between ultrafast laser pulses and a field emitter both optical and thermal processes are involved. In this paper, these physical process, and their timescales, are experimentally explored. Simple models are proposed to explain the observed experimental behaviour, and the influence of various parameters are investigated. In the case of optical processes, it is shown that the optical field is greatly enhanced at the tip apex, and that field evaporation could be induced by an optical non-linear effect called optical rectification. In the case of thermal processes, it is shown that the temperature rise because of light absorption can be determined and that the cooling process of the tip surface can be studied by pump probe measurements.     

Mice Lacking Gpr179 with Complete Congenital Stationary Night Blindness Are a Good Model for Myopia

Mutations in GPR179 are one of the most common causes of autosomal recessive complete congenital stationary night blindness (cCSNB). This retinal disease is characterized in patients by impaired dim and night vision, associated with other ocular symptoms, including high myopia. cCSNB is caused by a complete loss of signal transmission from photoreceptors to ON-bipolar cells. In this study, we hypothesized that the lack of Gpr179 and the subsequent impaired ON-pathway could lead to myopic features in a mouse model of cCSNB. Using ultra performance liquid chromatography, we show that adult Gpr179^−/− mice have a significant decrease in both retinal dopamine and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, compared to Gpr179^+/+ mice. This alteration of the dopaminergic system is thought to be correlated with an increased susceptibility to lens-induced myopia but does not affect the natural refractive development. Altogether, our data added a novel myopia model, which could be used to identify therapeutic interventions.     

BK Polyomavirus bkv-miR-B1-5p: A Stable Micro-RNA to Monitor Active Viral Replication after Kidney Transplantation

Background: Bkv-miR-B1-5p is a viral micro-RNA (miRNA) specifically produced during BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) replication. Recent studies have suggested using bkv-miR-B1-5p as a biomarker to monitor viral infection and predict complications in kidney transplant patients. To identify the technical limitations of this miRNA quantification in biological samples, knowledge of its stability and distribution in the extracellular compartment is necessary. Moreover, a proof of concept for using bkv-miR-B1-5p as a biomarker of active replication in chronic infection is still missing in the published literature. Methods: The stability of bkv-miR-B1-5p was evaluated in samples derived from cell cultures and in urine from BKPyV-infected kidney transplant recipients. The miRNA was quantified in different fractions of the extracellular compartment, including exosomes, and protein binding was evaluated. Finally, we developed an in vitro model for chronic culture of BKPyV clinical isolates to observe changes in the bkv-miR-B1-5p level during persistent infections. Results: Bkv-miR-B1-5p is a stable biomarker in samples from humans and in vitro experiments. Marginally associated with the exosomes, most of the circulating bkv-miR-B1-5p is bound to proteins, especially Ago2, so the miRNA quantification does not require specific exosome isolation. The bkv-miR-B1-5p level is predictable of viral infectivity, which makes it a potential specific biomarker of active BKPyV replication after kidney transplantation.