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The data representation as well as naming conventions used in commercial screen files by different companies make the automated analysis of crystallization experiments difficult and time-consuming. In order to reduce the human effort required to deal with this problem, we present an approach for computationally matching elements of two schemas using linguistic schema matching methods and then transform the input screen format to another format with naming defined by the user. This approach is tested on a number of commercial screens from different companies and the results of the experiments showed an overall accuracy of 97 percent on schema matching which is significantly better than the other two matchers we tested. Our tool enables mapping a screen file in one format to another format preferred by the expert using their preferred chemical names. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We systematically study different scenarios of collision between Dirac solitons and Jackiw-Rebbi (JR) states, which have been found recently in a system consisting of two interfaced binary waveguide arrays with opposite propagation mismatches. This collision has the resonance features for the reflected and transmitted signals. The trapping effect of Dirac solitons between two JR-states is analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We report the switching behavior of a nonlinear optical coupler consisting of two straight waveguides forming a small angle. A very sharp switching can be obtained with these couplers. The switching power can be reduced up to two times compared to conventional couplers. The multiple switching can also happen at two and even more ranges of input powers. Because light switching is based on the optical Kerr effect, ultrafast switching is possible. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Contrast agents for ultrasound imaging, composed of tiny gas microbubbles, have become a reality in clinical routine. They are extensively used in radiology for detection and characterization of various tumors and in cardiology for left ventricular opacification. Recent experimental studies showed that ultrasound waves in combination with contrast agent microbubbles increase transiently cell membrane permeability in a process known as sonoporation. This effect is thought to allow foreign molecules to enter the cell. In that context, we explored the cell membrane's responses to microbubbles' oscillations as the mechanism is not completely understood. Breast cancer sell line in combination with contrast microbubbles were used. Ultrasound was applied using a transducer of 1 MHz center frequency transmitting a 10-cycle burst of different acoustic pressures repeated every 100 μs. Patch-clamp technique in whole cell configuration was used to explore transmembrane ion exchange through the variations in membrane potential. To characterize the activated ion channels, the variations, of the intracellular calcium (Ca2+) concentration were explored using a fluorescent marker. The results revealed that ultrasound stimulation induces a rapid hyperpolarization of cell membrane potential when the microbubble is in direct contact with the cell, but the potential returned to its initial value when ultrasound stimulation stopped. The change in cell membrane potential indicates the activation of specific ion channels and depends on the quality of microbubble adhesion to the cell membrane. Microbubbles were shown to induce a mechanical stretch activating BKCa channels. Simultaneous Ca2+ measurements indicate a slow and progressive Ca2+ increase that is likely a consequence of BKCa channels opening not a cause. These results demonstrate that microbubbles' oscillations under ultrasound activation entail modulation of cellular function and signaling by triggering the modulation of ionic transports through the cell membrane. Cells response to the mechanical stretch caused by gentle microbubble oscillations is characterized by the opening of BKCa stretch channels and a Ca2+ flux, which might potentially trigger other cellular responses responsible for membrane sonopermeabilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]