Micro-shock wave assisted bacterial transformation

A gene is a unit of heredity in a living organism. It normally resides on a stretch of DNA that codes for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. All living things depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains. Genes hold the information to build and maintain an organism’s cells and pass genetic traits to offspring. The gene has to be transferred to bacteria or eukaryotic cells for basic and applied molecular biology studies. Bacteria can uptake exogenous genetic material by three ways: conjugation, transduction and transformation. Genetic material is naturally transferred to bacteria in case of conjugation and transferred through bacteriophage in transduction. Transformation is the acquisition of exogenous genetic material through cell wall. The ability of bacteria of being transformed is called competency and those bacteria which have competency are competent cells. Divalent Calcium ions can make the bacteria competent and a heat shock can cause the bacteria to uptake DNA. But the heat shock method cannot be used for all the bacteria. In electroporation, a brief electric shock with an electric field of 10-20kV/cmmakes pores in the cell wall, facilitates the DNA to enter into the bacteria. Microprecipitates, microinjection, liposomes, and biological vectors are also used to transfer polar molecules like DNA into host cells.

Seismic site classification and correlation between standard penetration test N value and shear wave velocity for Lucknow city in Indo-Gangetic basin

Subsurface lithology and seismic site classification of Lucknow urban center located in the central part of the Indo-Gangetic Basin (IGB) are presented based on detailed shallow subsurface investigations and borehole analysis. These are done by carrying out 47 seismic surface wave tests using multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW) and 23 boreholes drilled up to 30 m with standard penetration test (SPT) N values. Subsurface lithology profiles drawn from the drilled boreholes show low- to medium-compressibility clay and silty to poorly graded sand available till depth of 30 m. In addition, deeper boreholes (depth >150 m) were collected from the Lucknow Jal Nigam (Water Corporation), Government of Uttar Pradesh to understand deeper subsoil stratification. Deeper boreholes in this paper refer to those with depth over 150 m. These reports show the presence of clay mix with sand and Kankar at some locations till a depth of 150 m, followed by layers of sand, clay, and Kankar up to 400 m. Based on the available details, shallow and deeper cross-sections through Lucknow are presented. Shear wave velocity (SWV) and N-SPT values were measured for the study area using MASW and SPT testing. Measured SWV and N-SPT values for the same locations were found to be comparable. These values were used to estimate 30 m average values of N-SPT (N-30) and SWV (V-s(30)) for seismic site classification of the study area as per the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) soil classification system. Based on the NEHRP classification, the entire study area is classified into site class C and D based on V-s(30) and site class D and E based on N-30. The issue of larger amplification during future seismic events is highlighted for a major part of the study area which comes under site class D and E. Also, the mismatch of site classes based on N-30 and V-s(30) raises the question of the suitability of the NEHRP classification system for the study region. Further, 17 sets of SPT and SWV data are used to develop a correlation between N-SPT and SWV. This represents a first attempt of seismic site classification and correlation between N-SPT and SWV in the Indo-Gangetic Basin.

An Outward-Wave-Favouring Finite Element-Based Strategy for Exterior Acoustical Problems

This work presents a finite element-based strategy for exterior acoustical problems based on an assumed pressure form that favours outgoing waves. The resulting governing equation, weak formulation, and finite element formulation are developed both for coupled and uncoupled problems. The developed elements are very similar to conventional elements in that they are based on the standard Galerkin variational formulation and use standard Lagrange interpolation functions and standard Gaussian quadrature. In addition and in contrast to wave envelope formulations and their extensions, the developed elements can be used in the immediate vicinity of the radiator/scatterer. The method is similar to the perfectly matched layer (PML) method in the sense that each layer of elements added around the radiator absorbs acoustical waves so that no boundary condition needs to be applied at the outermost boundary where the domain is truncated. By comparing against strategies such as the PML and wave-envelope methods, we show that the relative accuracy, both in the near and far-field results, is considerably higher.

Gap-Dependent Quasiparticle Dynamics and Coherent Acoustic Phonons in CaFe2As2 across Spin Density Wave Phase Transition

We report ultrafast quasiparticle (QP) dynamics and coherent acoustic phonons in undoped CaFe2As2 iron pnictide single crystals exhibiting spin-density wave (SDW) and concurrent structural phase transition at temperature T-SDW similar to 165K using femtosecond time-resolved pump-probe spectroscopy. The contributions in transient differential reflectivity arising from exponentially decaying QP relaxation and oscillatory coherent acoustic phonon mode show large variations in the vicinity of T-SDW. From the temperature-dependence of the QP recombination dynamics in the SDW phase, we evaluate a BCS-like temperature dependent charge gap with its zero-temperature value of similar to(1.6 perpendicular to 0.2)k(B)T(SDW), whereas, much above T-SDW, an electron-phonon coupling constant of similar to 0.13 has been estimated from the linear temperature-dependence of the QP relaxation time. The long-wavelength coherent acoustic phonons with typical time-period of similar to 100 ps have been analyzed in the light of propagating strain pulse model providing important results for the optical constants, sounds velocity and the elastic modulus of the crystal in the whole temperature range of 3 to 300 K.

Investigations on high enthalpy shock wave exposed graphitic carbon nanoparticles

The impact of high enthalpy shock wave on graphitic carbon nanoparticle (GCNP) films has been investigated and discussed in view of space and chemical engineering applications. The GCNP films were developed by using spray method and exposed to high enthalpy shock wave under an inert atmosphere. Upon shock wave treatment, two typical amendments such as weight loss in the deposited material and growth of second order nanostructures (SONS) have been observed. While increasing test gas pressure, the loss of material and density of SONs are gradually increased. Most of the shock wave induced SONS are highly crystalline and belong to the cubic diamond structure. Upon shock treatment as well as with increase of test gas pressure, a considerable improvement in the quality of GCNP films has been observed. Further, ablation of GCNPs exclusively on the top surface of the coatings and formation of hierarchical NPs (diamond NPs on GCNPs) has been observed.

Wave propagation in stiffened structures using spectrally formulated finite element

In this work, the wave propagation analysis of built-up composite structures is performed using frequency domain spectral finite elements, to study the high frequency wave responses. The paper discusses basically two methods for modeling stiffened structures. In the first method, the concept of assembly of 2D spectral plate elements is used to model a built-up structure. In the second approach, spectral finite element method (SFEM) model is developed to model skin-stiffener structures, where the skin is considered as plate element and the stiffener as beam element. The SFEM model developed using the plate-beam coupling approach is then used to model wave propagation in a multiple stiffened structure and also extended to model the stiffened structures with different cross sections such as T-section, I-section and hat section. A number of parametric studies are performed to capture the mode coupling, that is, the flexural-axial coupling present in the wave responses.

Efficient gradient-free simplex method for estimation of optical properties in image-guided diffuse optical tomography

Typical image-guided diffuse optical tomographic image reconstruction procedures involve reduction of the number of optical parameters to be reconstructed equal to the number of distinct regions identified in the structural information provided by the traditional imaging modality. This makes the image reconstruction problem less ill-posed compared to traditional underdetermined cases. Still, the methods that are deployed in this case are same as those used for traditional diffuse optical image reconstruction, which involves a regularization term as well as computation of the Jacobian. A gradient-free Nelder-Mead simplex method is proposed here to perform the image reconstruction procedure and is shown to provide solutions that closely match ones obtained using established methods, even in highly noisy data. The proposed method also has the distinct advantage of being more efficient owing to being regularization free, involving only repeated forward calculations. (C) 2013 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE)

Analysis of large-amplitude stratospheric mountain wave event observed from the AIRS and MLS sounders over the western Himalayan region

Mountain waves in the stratosphere have been observed over elevated topographies using both nadir-looking and limb-viewing satellites. However, the characteristics of mountain waves generated over the Himalayan Mountain range and the adjacent Tibetan Plateau are relatively less explored. The present study reports on three-dimensional (3-D) properties of a mountain wave event that occurred over the western Himalayan region on 9 December 2008. Observations made by the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder on board the Aqua and Microwave Limb Sounder on board the Aura satellites are used to delineate the wave properties. The observed wave properties such as horizontal (lambda(x), lambda(y)) and vertical (lambda(z)) wavelengths are 276 km (zonal), 289 km (meridional), and 25 km, respectively. A good agreement is found between the observed and modeled/analyzed vertical wavelength for a stationary gravity wave determined using the Modern Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA) reanalysis winds. The analysis of both the National Centers for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research reanalysis and MERRA winds shows that the waves are primarily forced by strong flow across the topography. Using the 3-D properties of waves and the corrected temperature amplitudes, we estimated wave momentum fluxes of the order of similar to 0.05 Pa, which is in agreement with large-amplitude mountain wave events reported elsewhere. In this regard, the present study is considered to be very much informative to the gravity wave drag schemes employed in current general circulation models for this region.

Effect of high-temperature shock-wave compression on few-layer MoS2, WS2 and MoSe2

Exposure of few-layer MoS2, WS2 and MoSe2 to high-temperature shock waves causes morphological changes and a significant decrease in the interlayer separation between the (002) planes, the decrease being greatest in MoSe2. Raman spectra show softening of both the A(1g) and the E-2g(1) modes initially, followed by a slightly stiffening. Using first-principles density functional theoretical analysis of the response of few-layer MoS2 to shock waves, we propose that a combination of shear and uniaxial compressive deformation leads to flattening of MoS2 sheets which is responsible for the changes in the vibrational spectra. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Spiral-Wave Dynamics in a Mathematical Model of Human Ventricular Tissue with Myocytes and Fibroblasts

Cardiac fibroblasts, when coupled functionally with myocytes, can modulate the electrophysiological properties of cardiac tissue. We present systematic numerical studies of such modulation of electrophysiological properties in mathematical models for (a) single myocyte-fibroblast (MF) units and (b) two-dimensional (2D) arrays of such units; our models build on earlier ones and allow for zero-, one-, and two-sided MF couplings. Our studies of MF units elucidate the dependence of the action-potential (AP) morphology on parameters such as E-f, the fibroblast resting-membrane potential, the fibroblast conductance G(f), and the MF gap-junctional coupling G(gap). Furthermore, we find that our MF composite can show autorhythmic and oscillatory behaviors in addition to an excitable response. Our 2D studies use (a) both homogeneous and inhomogeneous distributions of fibroblasts, (b) various ranges for parameters such as G(gap), G(f), and E-f, and (c) intercellular couplings that can be zero-sided, one-sided, and two-sided connections of fibroblasts with myocytes. We show, in particular, that the plane-wave conduction velocity CV decreases as a function of G(gap), for zero-sided and one-sided couplings; however, for two-sided coupling, CV decreases initially and then increases as a function of G(gap), and, eventually, we observe that conduction failure occurs for low values of G(gap). In our homogeneous studies, we find that the rotation speed and stability of a spiral wave can be controlled either by controlling G(gap) or E-f. Our studies with fibroblast inhomogeneities show that a spiral wave can get anchored to a local fibroblast inhomogeneity. We also study the efficacy of a low-amplitude control scheme, which has been suggested for the control of spiral-wave turbulence in mathematical models for cardiac tissue, in our MF model both with and without heterogeneities.

Light transmission through and its complete stoppage in an ultra slow wave optical medium

Light wave transmission - its compression, amplification, and the optical energy storage in an ultra slow wave medium (USWM) is studied analytically. Our phenomenological treatment is based entirely on the continuity equation for the optical energy flux, and the well-known distribution-product property of Dirac delta-function. The results so obtained provide a clear understanding of some recent experiments on light transmission and its complete stoppage in an USWM.

Structural health monitoring of aerospace structural components using wave propagation based diagnostics

The paper discusses a wave propagation based method for identifying the damages in an aircraft built up structural component such as delamination and skin-stiffener debonding. First, a spectral finite element mode l (SFEM) is developed for modeling wave propagation in general built-up structures by using the concept of assembling 2D spectral plate elements. The developed numerical model is validated using conventional 2-D FEM. Studies are performed to capture the mode coupling,that is, the flexural-axial coupling present in the wave responses. Lastly, the damages in these built up structures are then identified using the developed SFEM model and the measured responses using the concept Damage Force Indicator (DFI) technique.

Lamb wave based detection of damage in a stiffener bonded to a plate

Stiffener is one of the major components of aircraft structures to increase the load carrying capacity. Damage in the stiffener, mostly in the form of crack is an unavoidable problem in aerospace structures. Stiffener is bonded to the inner side of the aircraft panel which is not accessible for immediate inspection. A sensor-actuator network can be placed on the outer side of the panel that is accessible. Ultrasonic lamb waves are transmitted through stiffener using the sensoractuator network for detecting the presence of damages. The sensor-actuator network is placed on both halves of the stiffened section on the accessible surface of the plate. Detecting damage in stiffener by using this technique has significant potential for SHM technology. One of the major objectives of the present work is to determine the smallest detectable crack on the stiffener using the proposed technique. Wavelet based damage parameter correlation studies are carried out. In the proposed scheme, with increase in the damage size along the stiffener, it is found that the amplitude of the received signal decreases monotonically. The advantage of this technique is that the stiffened panels need not be disassembled in a realistic deployment of SHM system.

Quantum Phase Diagram of One-Dimensional Spin and Hubbard Models with Transitions to Bond Order Wave Phases

Similar quantum phase diagrams and transitions are found for three classes of one-dimensional models with equally spaced sites, singlet ground states (GS), inversion symmetry at sites and a bond order wave (BOW) phase in some sectors. The models are frustrated spin-1/2 chains with variable range exchange, half-filled Hubbard models with spin-independent interactions and modified Hubbard models with site energies for describing organic charge transfer salts. In some range of parameters, the models have a first order quantum transition at which the GS expectation value of the sublattice spin < S-A(2)> of odd or even-numbered sites is discontinuous. There is an intermediate BOW phase for other model parameters that lead to two continuous quantum transitions with continuous < S-A(2)>. Exact diagonalization of finite systems and symmetry arguments provide a unified picture of familiar 1D models that have appeared separately in widely different contexts.

Quantum Phase Diagram of One-Dimensional Spin and Hubbard Models with Transitions to Bond Order Wave Phases

Similar quantum phase diagrams and transitions are found for three classes of one-dimensional models with equally spaced sites, singlet ground states (GS), inversion symmetry at sites and a bond order wave (BOW) phase in some sectors. The models are frustrated spin-1/2 chains with variable range exchange, half-filled Hubbard models with spin-independent interactions and modified Hubbard models with site energies for describing organic charge transfer salts. In some range of parameters, the models have a first order quantum transition at which the GS expectation value of the sublattice spin < S-A(2)> of odd or even-numbered sites is discontinuous. There is an intermediate BOW phase for other model parameters that lead to two continuous quantum transitions with continuous < S-A(2)>. Exact diagonalization of finite systems and symmetry arguments provide a unified picture of familiar 1D models that have appeared separately in widely different contexts.