The bifoil photodyne: a photonic crystal oscillator.

Optical tweezers is an example how to use light to generate a physical force. They have been used to levitate viruses, bacteria, cells, and sub cellular organisms. Nonetheless it would be beneficial to use such force to develop a new kind of applications. However the radiation pressure usually is small to think in moving larger objects. Currently, there is some research investigating novel photonic working principles to generate a higher force. Here, we studied theoretically and experimentally the induction of electromagnetic forces in one-dimensional photonic crystals when light impinges on the off-axis direction. The photonic structure consists of a micro-cavity like structure formed of two one-dimensional photonic crystals made of free-standing porous silicon, separated by a variable air gap and the working wavelength is 633 nm. We show experimental evidence of this force when the photonic structure is capable of making auto-oscillations and forced-oscillations. We measured peak displacements and velocities ranging from 2 up to 35 microns and 0.4 up to 2.1 mm/s with a power of 13 mW. Recent evidence showed that giant resonant light forces could induce average velocity values of 0.45 mm/s in microspheres embedded in water with 43 mW light power.

Effective tactile noise facilitates visual perception.

The fulcrum principle establishes that a subthreshold excitatory signal (entering in one sense) that is synchronous with a facilitation signal (entering in a different sense) can be increased (up to a resonant-like level) and then decreased by the energy and frequency content of the facilitating signal. As a result, the sensation of the signal changes according to the excitatory signal strength. In this context, the sensitivity transitions represent the change from subthreshold activity to a firing activity in multisensory neurons. Initially the energy of their activity (supplied by the weak signals) is not enough to be detected but when the facilitating signal enters the brain, it generates a general activation among multisensory neurons, modifying their original activity. In our opinion, the result is an integrated activation that promotes sensitivity transitions and the signals are then perceived. In other words, the activity created by the interaction of the excitatory signal (e.g., visual) and the facilitating signal (tactile noise) at some specific energy, produces the capability for a central detection of an otherwise weak signal. In this work we investigate the effect of an effective tactile noise on visual perception. Specifically we show that tactile noise is capable of decreasing luminance modulated thresholds.

Multiband negative refraction in one-dimensional photonic crystals.

We simulate a lossless one-dimensional photonic crystals (1DPC) structure and show that negative refraction could be present near the low frequency edge of at least the second, fourth and sixth bandgaps. We experimentally demonstrate for the first time negative refraction in strongly modulated porous silicon 1D-PC in the visible and near infrared regions. This 1D-PC structure may allow the realization of short-focus Veselago lenses in different optical bands. An advantage of our structure is its simplicity allowing for cheap and rapid fabrication of samples.

Multisensory integration: central processing modifies peripheral systems.

Multisensory integration in humans is thought to be essentially a brain phenomenon, but theories are silent as to the possible involvement of the peripheral nervous system. We provide evidence that this approach is insufficient. We report novel tactile-auditory and tactile-visual interactions in humans, demonstrating that a facilitating sound or visual stimulus that is exactly synchronous with an excitatory tactile signal presented at the lower leg increases the peripheral representation of that excitatory signal. These results demonstrate that during multisensory integration, the brain not only continuously binds information obtained from the senses, but also acts directly on that information by modulating activity at peripheral levels. We also discuss a theoretical framework to explain this novel interaction.

Carboxy-substituted cinnamides: a novel series of potent, orally active LTB4 receptor antagonists.

A series of carboxy-substituted cinnamides were investigated as antagonists of the human cell surface leukotriene B4 (LTB4) receptor. Binding was determined through measurement of [3H]LTB4 displacement from human neutrophils. Receptor antagonism was confirmed through a functional assay, which measures inhibition of Ca2+ release in human neutrophils. Potent antagonists were discovered through optimization of a random screening hit, a p-(alpha-methylbenzyloxy)cinnamide, having low-micromolar activity. Substantial improvement of in vitro potency was realized by the attachment of a carboxylic acid moiety to the cinnamide phenyl ring through a flexible tether, leading to identification of compounds with low-nanomolar potency. Modification of the benzyloxy substituent, either through ortho-substitution on the benzyloxy phenyl group or through replacement of the ether oxygen with a methylene or sulfur atom, produced achiral antagonists of equal or greater potency. The most potent compounds in vitro were assayed for oral activity using the arachidonic acid-induced mouse ear edema model of inflammation. Several compounds in this series were found to significantly inhibit edema formation and myeloperoxidase activity in this model up to 17 h after oral administration. Representatives of this series have been shown to be potent and long-acting orally active inhibitors of the LTB4 receptor.