Extraordinary transmission through dielectric screens with 1D sub-wavelength metallic inclusions.

Extraordinary optical transmission (EOT) through dielectric screens periodically loaded with sub-wavelength 1D discontinuities, such as apertures or metallic insets is analyzed. The results of the analysis and computational electromagnetic simulations show that the transmission is higher for for metallic inclusions than for empty slits. This effect confirms that EOT is a quite general property of weakly transparent periodic diffraction screens and opens the door to optically induced EOT in photo-conductive semiconductor screens.

No alignment of cattle along geomagnetic field lines found.

This paper presents a study of the body orientation of domestic cattle on free pastures in several European states, based on the Google satellite photographs. In sum, 232 herds with 3,412 individuals were evaluated. Two independent groups participated in our study and came to the same conclusion that in contradiction to the recent findings of other researchers, no alignment of the animals and of their herds along geomagnetic field lines could be found. Several possible reasons for this discrepancy should be taken into consideration: poor quality of Google satellite photographs, difficulties in determining the body axis, selection of herds or animals within herds, lack of blinding in the evaluation, possible subconscious bias, and, most importantly, high sensitivity of the calculated main directions of the Rayleigh vectors to some kind of bias or to some overlooked or ignored confounder. This factor could easily have led to an unsubstantiated positive conclusion about the existence of magnetoreception.

Analytical theory of extraordinary optical transmission through realistic metallic screens.

An analytical theory of extraordinary optical transmission (EOT) through realistic metallic screens perforated by a periodic array of subwavelength holes is presented. The theory is based on our previous work on EOT through perfect conducting screens and on the surface impedance concept. The proposed theory is valid for the complete frequency range where EOT has been reported, including microwaves and optics. A reasonably good agreement with electromagnetic simulations is shown in all this frequency range. We feel that the proposed theory may help to clarify the physics underlying EOT and serve as a first step to more accurate analysis.

Fishnet metamaterials--rules for refraction and limits of homogenization.

The perfectly conducting stacked fishnet metamaterial is studied in this paper. The analysis is based on a combination of the mode matching method together with the generalized eigenvalue problem, and takes into account wave propagation along all three Cartesian axes. The analysis has been developed for a fishnet of square lateral periodicity and for two particular polarizations, namely TE and TM, corresponding to the two most common excitations. The 1D and 2D dispersion characteristics are calculated for both polarizations, showing that the TM waves undergo negative refraction in a narrow frequency band just below Wood's anomaly, whereas TE polarized waves exhibit ordinary positive refraction. Finally, possible homogenization of the fishnet metamaterial is considered, showing that only for small angles of incidence and in the immediate vicinity of Wood's anomaly can the fishnet be seen as homogenizable uniaxial medium.

Analytical theory of extraordinary transmission through metallic diffraction screens perforated by small holes.

In this letter, the problem of extraordinary (ET) transmission of electromagnetic waves through opaque screens perforated with subwave-length holes is addressed from an analytical point of view. Our purpose was to find a closed-form expression for the transmission coefficient in a simple case in order to explore and clarify, as much as possible, the physical background of the phenomenon. The solution of this canonical example, apart from matching quite well with numerical simulations given by commercial solvers, has provided new insight in extraordinary transmission as well as Wood's anomaly. Thus, our analysis has revealed that one of the key factors behind ET is the continuous increase of excess electric energy around the holes as the frequency approaches the onset of some of the higher-order modes associated with the periodicity of the screen. The same analysis also helps to clarify the role of surface modes -or spoof plasmons- in the onset of ET.

Analytical theory of wave propagation through stacked fishnet metamaterials.

This work analyzes the electromagnetic wave propagation through periodically stacked fishnets from zero frequency to the first Wood's anomaly. It is shown that, apart from Fabry-Perot resonances, these structures support two transmission bands that can be backward under the appropriate conditions. The first band starts at Wood's anomaly and is closely related to the well-known phenomena of extraordinary transmission through a single fishnet. The second band is related to the resonances of the fishnet holes. In both cases, the in-plane periodicity of the fishnet cannot be made electrically small, which prevents any attempt of homogenization of the structure along the fishnet planes. However, along the normal direction, even with very small periodicity transmission is still possible. An homogenization procedure can then be applied along this direction, thus making that the structure can behave as a backward-wave transmission line for such transmission bands. Closed-form design formulas will be provided by the analytical formulation here presented. These formulas have been carefully validated by intensive numerical computations.

Decision making under uncertainty and mood induction: further evidence for liberal acceptance in schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive biases, especially jumping to conclusions (JTC), are ascribed a vital role in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. This study set out to explore motivational factors for JTC using a newly developed paradigm. METHOD: Twenty-seven schizophrenia patients and 32 healthy controls were shown 15 classical paintings, divided into three blocks. Four alternative titles (one correct and three lure titles) had to be appraised according to plausibility (0-10). Optionally, participants could decide for one option and reject one or more alternatives. In random order across blocks, anxiety-evoking music, happy music or no music was played in the background. RESULTS: Patients with schizophrenia, particularly those with delusions, made more decisions than healthy subjects. In line with the liberal acceptance (LA) account of schizophrenia, the decision threshold was significantly lowered in patients relative to controls. Patients were also more prone than healthy controls to making a decision when the distance between the first and second best alternative was close. Furthermore, implausible alternatives were judged as significantly more plausible by patients. Anxiety-evoking music resulted in more decisions in currently deluded patients relative to non-deluded patients and healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS: The results confirm predictions derived from the LA account and assert that schizophrenia patients decide hastily under conditions of continued uncertainty. The fact that mood induction did not exert an overall effect could be due to the explicit nature of the manipulation, which might have evoked strategies to counteract their influence.

Expression cloning and signaling properties of the rat glucagon receptor.

Glucagon and the glucagon receptor are a primary source of control over blood glucose concentrations and are especially important to studies of diabetes in which the loss of control over blood glucose concentrations clinically defines the disease. A complementary DNA clone for the glucagon receptor was isolated by an expression cloning strategy, and the receptor protein was expressed in several kidney cell lines. The cloned receptor bound glucagon and caused an increase in the intracellular concentration of adenosine 3', 5'-monophosphate (cAMP). The cloned glucagon receptor also transduced a signal that led to an increased concentration of intracellular calcium. The glucagon receptor is similar to the calcitonin and parathyroid hormone receptors. It can transduce signals leading to the accumulation of two different second messengers, cAMP and calcium.

Ammonium removal from anaerobic digester effluent by ion exchange.

The effluent of a 500 kW biogas plant is treated with a solid separation, a micro filtration and a reverse osmosis to achieve nutrient recovery and an effluent quality which should meet disposal quality into public water bodies. After the reverse osmosis, the ammonium concentration is still high (NH(4)-N = 467 mg/l), amongst other cations (K+ = 85 mg/l; Na+ = 67 mg/l; Mg2+ = 0.74 mg/l; Ca2+= 1.79 mg/l). The aim of this study was to remove this ammonium by ion exchange. Acidic gel cation exchange resins and clinoptilolite were tested in column experiments to evaluate their capacity, flow rates and pH. Amberjet 1,500 H was the most efficient resin, 57 BV of the substrate could be treated, 1.97 mol NH4-N/l resin were removed. The ammonium removal was more than 99% and the quality of the effluent was very satisfactory (NH4-N < 2 mg/l). The breakthrough of the observed parameters happened suddenly, the order was sodium-pH-ammonium-potassium. The sharp increase of the pH facilitates the online control, while the change in conductivity is less significant. A regeneration with 3 bed volumes of 2 M HCl recovered 91.7% of the original cation exchange capacity.

Enhanced perceived responsibility decreases metamemory but not memory accuracy in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Mixed findings have been obtained in prior research with respect to the presence and severity of memory and metamemory deficits in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). We tested the hypothesis that experimentally induced increments of subjective responsibility would lead to a disproportionately strong decline of memory confidence and enhanced response latencies in OCD while leaving memory accuracy unaffected. Twenty-eight OCD patients and 28 healthy controls were presented a computerized memory test framed with two different scenarios. In the neutral scenario, the participant was requested to imagine purchasing 15 items from a do-it-yourself store. In the recognition phase, the 15 needed items were presented along with 15 distractor items. The participant was asked to decide whether items were on his or her shopping list or not, graded by subjective confidence. In the responsibility scenario, the general experimental setup was analogous except that the participant now had to envision that he or she was a helper in a region recently struck by an earthquake, dispatched to provide 15 urgently needed goods from a nearby town. In line with prior work by our group, samples did not differ in either condition on memory accuracy in a subsequent recognition task. As hypothesized, OCD participants were less certain in their responses for the high responsibility condition than controls. Whereas patients and controls did not differ in their subjective estimates for memorized items, patients expressed stronger doubt that their earthquake mission was successful. The findings indicate that low memory confidence in OCD may only be elicited in situations where perceived responsibility is high and that patients may share higher performance standards ("good is not good enough") than controls when perceived responsibility is inflated.

The Gly40Ser mutation in the human glucagon receptor gene associated with NIDDM results in a receptor with reduced sensitivity to glucagon.

The pancreatic islet hormone, glucagon, stimulates hepatic glucose production and has also been shown to potentiate glucose-induced insulin secretion. Because glucagon is a key regulator of glucose homeostasis, its receptor, which mediates the actions of glucagon, was considered a candidate gene involved in the pathogenesis of NIDDM. We have previously reported that a single heterozygous missense mutation in exon 2 of the glucagon receptor gene, which changes a glycine to a serine (Gly40Ser), is associated with NIDDM in a French population. In the present study, the signaling properties of this mutant receptor were examined in baby hamster kidney cells and rat insulinoma cells (RIN-5AH) stably transfected with either the wild type or Gly40Ser mutant human glucagon receptor cDNAs. Competition assays using (125)I-labeled glucagon were performed, and in both cell types, the Gly40Ser mutant receptor was found to bind glucagon with an approximately threefold lower affinity compared with the wild type receptor. In both cell types, the production of cAMP in response to glucagon was decreased in cells expressing the mutant receptor compared with those expressing the wild type. Finally, glucagon-stimulated insulin secretion by RIN cells expressing the mutant receptor was decreased such that the dose-response curve was shifted to the right in comparison to that obtained with cells expressing the wild type receptor. These results indicate that this single-point mutation located in the extracellular region of the glucagon receptor decreases the sensitivity of target tissues to glucagon.

The human glucagon receptor encoding gene: structure, cDNA sequence and chromosomal localization.

Characterization of the human glucagon-receptor-encoding gene (GGR) should provide a greater understanding of blood glucose regulation and may reveal a genetic basis for the pathogenesis of diabetes. A cDNA encoding a complete functional human glucagon receptor (GGR) was isolated from a liver cDNA library by a combination of polymerase chain reaction and colony hybridization. The cDNA encodes a receptor protein with 80% identity to rat GGR that binds [125I]glucagon and transduces a signal leading to increases in the concentration of intracellular cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate. Southern blot analysis of human DNA reveals a hybridization pattern consistent with a single GGR locus. In situ hybridization to metaphase chromosome preparations maps the GGR locus to chromosome 17q25. Analysis of the genomic sequence shows that the coding region spans over 5.5 kb and is interrupted by 12 introns.

Patterns of alcohol, cigarette, and caffeine and other drug use in two drug abusing populations.

Relationships were explored among the frequencies of use of various drugs by a sample of drug-abusing clients of the Addiction Research Foundation (ARF) in Toronto and by drug abusers volunteering to participate in research at the Addiction Research Center (ARC) in Baltimore. The two groups of drug-abusing individuals differed in a number of characteristics. Those from ARF were admitted primarily for diagnosis and possible treatment for alcohol and non-opioid drug problems, whereas those from the ARC were admitted for participation in research on other drugs of abuse, primarily involving opioids. Patterns of use of certain drugs tended to covary in both groups. Of particular interest was the finding that severity of alcoholism was directly related to various measures of tobacco and caffeinated beverage use. In contrast, there was little correlation between the frequency of use among other drugs of abuse (e.g., heroin, cannabis, glue) and the use of tobacco and caffeine. These findings suggest that dependence on nicotine, caffeine, and alcohol may be governed by the same factors and possibly should be considered jointly in the treatment of alcoholic persons. Frequency of use of other drugs examined may be controlled by other factors than those which determine level of use of tobacco and caffeine.

[Biomechanics of the bones and skeleton. III. Microstructure]. / K otázkám biomechaniky kosti a kostry. III. (Mikrostruktúra).

The authors analyzed micro- and ultrastructure of Haversian system--osteon--from the aspect of mechanics--biomechanics. The evaluation takes into account biological factors and instead of mathematical formulae and calculations prefer a comparison with technical constructions, particularly for emphasizing differences or similarities. The analysis of osteon revealed that it consists of fibres, net and tubes. The orientation of tube-like lamellae is in the direction of compressive strain, whereas the resultant course of torison and bending stress may be well observed in the direction of collagen fibres. A slight assymetry of osteons suggests that they are stressed by pressure in a slightly excentric direction. In the course of stress lengthwise there is the development of extension of the Haversian canal supporting the blood flow in the capillary. In the course of stress in the osteon lengthwise there are developing pressure, torsion and bending strains. Liquid phase can, together with collagen, absorb considerable portion of kinetic energy, thereby decreasing the strain of external strengths to act on the fragile mineralized component. Without the viscous and collagen elements the mineralized component would not be able to resist the dynamic forces which develop during the stresses in the bone tissue. Identification of mechanic phenomena of osteon provides information on structural principle of the whole bones. The authors applied in their study the knowledge from the discovery of USSR No. 181 and a discovery of CSSR No. 43.

Artificial magnetism and left-handed media from dielectric rings and rods.

It is shown that artificial magnetism with relatively large frequency bandwidth can be obtained from periodic arrangements of dielectric rings. Combined with dielectric rods, dielectric rings can provide 3D isotropic left-handed metamaterials which are an advantageous alternative to metallic split ring resonators (SRRs) and/or metallic wires when undetectability by low frequency external magnetic fields is desired. Furthermore it is shown that, unlike conventional SRRs, dielectric rings can also be combined with natural plasma-like media to obtain a left-handed metamaterial.

Memory and metamemory in schizophrenia: a liberal acceptance account of psychosis.

BACKGROUND: In previous studies we suggested that liberal acceptance (LA) represents a fundamental cognitive bias in schizophrenia and may explain why patients are more willing to accept weak response alternatives and display overconfidence in incorrect responses. The aim of the present study was to test a central assumption of the LA account: false alarms in schizophrenia should be particularly increased when the distractor-target resemblance is weak relative to a control group. METHOD: Sixty-eight schizophrenia patients were compared to 25 healthy controls on a visual memory task. At encoding, participants studied eight complex displays, each consisting of a unique pairing of four stimulus attributes: symbol, shape, position and colour. At recognition, studied items were presented along with distractors that resembled the targets to varying degrees (i.e. the match between distractors and targets ranged from one to three attributes). Participants were required to make old/new judgements graded for confidence. RESULTS: The hypotheses were confirmed: false recognition was increased for patients compared to controls for weakly and moderately related distractors only, whereas strong lure items induced similar levels of false recognition for both groups. In accordance with prior research, patients displayed a significantly reduced confidence gap and enhanced knowledge corruption compared to controls. Finally, higher neuroleptic dosage was related to a decreased number of high-confident ratings. CONCLUSIONS: These data assert that LA is a core mechanism contributing to both enhanced acceptance of weakly supported response alternatives and metamemory deficits, and this may be linked to the emergence of positive symptomatology.

[Biomechanical regularities of hard tissues in the human]. / Biomechanische Gestzmässigkeiten der Hartgewebe von Lebewesen.

The interrelationship between acting forces and hard tissues of living beings is demonstrated on the basis of some examples. They give evidence that the structure of hard tissues is oriented toward higher pressure tensions. It is also demonstrated that living hard tissues react differently to mechanical impulses than liveless matter. It is also stressed that the science of statics is insufficient to explain the laws and reactions of living hard tissues.