Reverberation nulling and echo enhancement at low frequency using waveguide invariance

Based on the fact that the transfer function vector between a source receiver array and the dominant scatterer of boundary reverberation at a range can be obtained from the corresponding reverberations scattered from this range cell, a reverberation nulling concept using time reversal processing has been proposed. However, current reverberation nulling methods have certain limitations when applied into practice, which would null boundary reverberation and target echo simultaneously. As a solution, a passive reverberation nulling and echo enhancement method at low frequency using waveguide invariance is proposed in this paper. In this method, the reverberation subspace for the target range cell is not obtained directly from the return signals scattered by the target range cell but from the return signals scattered by a range cell located before the target using waveguide invariance, so as to suppress the reverberation embodied in the target echo by passive reverberation nulling. Besides, a range-dependent optimal weighting vector rather than conventional projector matrix is deduced to null the reverberation component meanwhile maximizing the target echo, thereby enhancing the echo-to-reverberation ratio furthest. Numerical simulations in typical range-independent shallow water environment demonstrate the efficacy and the improved performance of the proposed method for echo-to-reverberation enhancement.     

Evidence for a spin-aligned neutron-proton paired phase from the level structure of (92)Pd

Shell structure and magic numbers in atomic nuclei were generally explained by pioneering work that introduced a strong spin-orbit interaction to the nuclear shell model potential. However, knowledge of nuclear forces and the mechanisms governing the structure of nuclei, in particular far from stability, is still incomplete. In nuclei with equal neutron and proton numbers (N = Z), enhanced correlations arise between neutrons and protons (two distinct types of fermions) that occupy orbitals with the same quantum numbers. Such correlations have been predicted to favour an unusual type of nuclear superfluidity, termed isoscalar neutron-proton pairing, in addition to normal isovector pairing. Despite many experimental efforts, these predictions have not been confirmed. Here we report the experimental observation of excited states in the N = Z = 46 nucleus (92)Pd. Gamma rays emitted following the (58)Ni((36)Ar,2n)(92)Pd fusion-evaporation reaction were identified using a combination of state-of-the-art high-resolution γ-ray, charged-particle and neutron detector systems. Our results reveal evidence for a spin-aligned, isoscalar neutron-proton coupling scheme, different from the previous prediction. We suggest that this coupling scheme replaces normal superfluidity (characterized by seniority coupling) in the ground and low-lying excited states of the heaviest N = Z nuclei. Such strong, isoscalar neutron-proton correlations would have a considerable impact on the nuclear level structure and possibly influence the dynamics of rapid proton capture in stellar nucleosynthesis.     

RNAi screen identifies Brd4 as a therapeutic target in acute myeloid leukaemia

Epigenetic pathways can regulate gene expression by controlling and interpreting chromatin modifications. Cancer cells are characterized by altered epigenetic landscapes, and commonly exploit the chromatin regulatory machinery to enforce oncogenic gene expression programs. Although chromatin alterations are, in principle, reversible and often amenable to drug intervention, the promise of targeting such pathways therapeutically has been limited by an incomplete understanding of cancer-specific dependencies on epigenetic regulators. Here we describe a non-biased approach to probe epigenetic vulnerabilities in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), an aggressive haematopoietic malignancy that is often associated with aberrant chromatin states. By screening a custom library of small hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) targeting known chromatin regulators in a genetically defined AML mouse model, we identify the protein bromodomain-containing 4 (Brd4) as being critically required for disease maintenance. Suppression of Brd4 using shRNAs or the small-molecule inhibitor JQ1 led to robust antileukaemic effects in vitro and in vivo, accompanied by terminal myeloid differentiation and elimination of leukaemia stem cells. Similar sensitivities were observed in a variety of human AML cell lines and primary patient samples, revealing that JQ1 has broad activity in diverse AML subtypes. The effects of Brd4 suppression are, at least in part, due to its role in sustaining Myc expression to promote aberrant self-renewal, which implicates JQ1 as a pharmacological means to suppress MYC in cancer. Our results establish small-molecule inhibition of Brd4 as a promising therapeutic strategy in AML and, potentially, other cancers, and highlight the utility of RNA interference (RNAi) screening for revealing epigenetic vulnerabilities that can be exploited for direct pharmacological intervention.     

Correlations for the ignition delay times of hydrogen/air mixtures

Correlations for the ignition delay times of hydrogen/air mixtures were developed using the method of High Dimensional Model Representation (HDMR).The hydrogen/air ignition delay times for initial conditions over a wide range of temperatures from 800 to 1600 K,pressures from 0.1 to 100 atm,and equivalence ratios from 0.2 to 10 were first calculated utilizing the full chemical mechanism.Correlations were then developed based on these ignition delay times.Two forms of correlations were constructed:the first one is an overall general model covering the whole range of the initial conditions;while the second one is a piecewise correlation model valid for initial conditions within different sub-domains.The performance of these correlations was studied through comparison with results from the full chemical mechanism as well as experimental data.It was shown that these correlations work well over the whole range of initial conditions and that the accuracy can be significantly improved by using different piecewise correlations for different sub-domains.Therefore,piecewise correlations can be used as an effective replacement for the full mechanism when the prediction of chemical time scale is needed in certain combustion modeling.     

Skin collagen fiber-based radar absorbing materials

By using skin collagen fiber (CF) as raw material,Schiff base structure containing CF (Sa-CF) was synthesized through CF-salicylaldehyde reaction.Then a novel radar absorbing material (Fe-Sa-CF) was prepared by chelating reaction between Sa-CF and Fe 3+.The coaxial transmission and reflection method was used to analyze the complex permittivity and complex magnetic permeability of these CF-based materials,and the radar cross section (RCS) method was used to investigate their radar absorbing properties in the frequency range of 1.0-18.0 GHz.Experimental results indicated that the conductivity of CF increased from initial 1.08×10-11 to 2.86×10-6 S/cm after being transferred into Fe-Sa-CF,and its dielectric loss tangent (tanδ) in the frequency range of 1.0-17.0 GHz also increased.These facts suggest that the Fe-Sa-CF is electric-loss type radar absorbing material.In the frequency range of 3.0-18.0 GHz,Sa-CF (1.0 mm in thickness) exhibited somewhat radar absorbing property with maximum radar reflection loss (RL) of-4.73 dB.As for Fe-Sa-CF,the absorbing bandwidth was broadened,and the absorbing intensity significantly increased in the frequency range of 1.0-18.0 GHz where a maximum radar RL of-9.23 dB was observed.In addition,the radar absorbing intensity of Fe-Sa-CF can be further improved by increasing membrane thickness.When the thickness reached to 2.0 mm,the RL values of Fe-Sa-CF were-15.0-18.0 dB in the frequency range of 7.0-18.0 GHz.Consequently,a kind of novel radar absorbing material can be prepared by chemical modification of collagen fiber,which is characterized by thin thickness,low density,broad absorption bandwidth and high absorption intensity.     

Quantum key distribution using four-level particles

We present a quantum key distribution protocol based on four-level particle entanglement. Furthermore, a controlled quantum key distribution protocol is proposed using three four-level particles. We show that the two protocols are secure.     

Role of Tip60 tumor suppressor in DNA repair pathway

To prevent the damage caused by DNA strand breaks, eukaryotic cells have evolved a series of highly conserved DNA repair mechanisms. The ubiquitously expressed acetyltransferase, Tip60, plays a central role in ATM (ataxia-telangiectasia mutated) activation which is involved in DNA repair. Recent work uncovered a new mechanism of ATM activation mediated by Tip60 and demonstrated that histone methylation, specifically, trimethylation of histone H3, is a key factor in the process. Here, we review the current understanding of how Tip60 is activated and how it activates ATM in response to DNA damage.     

The Applicability of Mathematics as a Philosophical Problem: Mathematization as Exploration

This paper discerns two types of mathematization, a foundational and an explorative one. The foundational perspective is well-established, but we argue that the explorative type is essential when approaching the problem of applicability and how it influences our conception of mathematics. The first part of the paper argues that a philosophical transformation made explorative mathematization possible. This transformation took place in early modernity when sense acquired partial independence from reference. The second part of the paper discusses a series of examples from the history of mathematics that highlight the complementary nature of the foundational and exploratory types of mathematization.     

The Perspective of the Instruments: Mediating Collectivity

Numerous studies in the fields of Science and Technology Studies (STS) and philosophy of technology have repeatedly stressed that scientific practices are collective practices that crucially depend on the presence of scientific technologies. Postphenomenology is one of the movements that aims to draw philosophical conclusions from these observations through an analysis of human–technology interactions in scientific practice. Two other attempts that try to integrate these insights into philosophy of science are Ronald Giere’s Scientific Perspectivism (2006) and Davis Baird’s Thing Knowledge (2004). In this paper, these two approaches will be critically discussed from the perspective of postphenomenology. We will argue that Giere and Baird problematically assume that scientific instruments (a) have a determined function, and (b) that all human members of a scientific collective have immediate access to this function. However, these assumptions also allow them to offer a clear answer to the question how scientists can collectively relate to scientific phenomena. Such an answer is not yet (explicitly) formulated within the postphenomenological perspective. By adding a postphenomenological touch to the semiotic approach in Actor-Network Theory, we offer an account of how different individual human–technology relations are integrated into larger scientific collectives. We do so by showing that scientific instruments not only help constitute scientific phenomena, but also the intersubjectivity within such collectives.     

Quantum Theory and the Nature of Consciousness

Our interest focusses on the idea, that consciousness is a powerful acting entity. Up to now there does not exist a scientific concept for this idea. This is not due to problems within the field of psychology or brain research, but rather in resisting theories of modern physics. That is, why we have to search for a solution in the field of physics. A solution can be found in a new understanding of the basics of physical theory. That could be given by abstract and absolute quantum bits of information (AQI bits). To avoid the popular misunderstanding of “information” as “meaningful” it was necessary to find a new word for the free-of-meaning AQI bits: the AQI bits establish a quantum pre-structure termed “Protyposis” (Greek: “pre-formation”), out of which real objects can be formed, starting from energetical and material elementary particles. The Protyposis AQI bits provide a pre-structure for all entities in natural sciences. They are the basic entities, whereof the physical nature of the brain, on the one hand, and the mental nature of consciousness, on the other hand, were formed during the cosmological and the following biological evolution. A deeper understanding of quantum structures may help to overcome the resistance against quantum theory in the field of brain research and consciousness. The key for an understanding is the concept of Protyposis, which means an abstract quantum information free of any definite meaning. With the AQI bits of the Protyposis, both, massless and massive quantum particles can be constructed. Even quantum information with special meanings, in example grammatically formulated thoughts, eventually could be explained. As long as the fundamental basis of quantum theory is misunderstood as being formed by a manifold of some small objects like atoms, quarks, or strings, the problem of understanding consciousness has no solution. If instead we understand quantum theory as based on truly simple quantum structures, there would be no longer fundamental problems for an understanding of consciousness.