Rota–Baxter Algebras and New Combinatorial Identities

The word problem for an arbitrary associative Rota–Baxter algebra is solved. This leads to a noncommutative generalization of the classical Spitzer identities. Links to other combinatorial aspects are indicated.      

Measurement of the B(+) production cross section in pp collisions at sqrt[s]=7 TeV

Measurements of the total and differential cross sections dσ/dp(T)(B) and dσ/dy(B) for B(+) mesons produced in pp collisions at sqrt[s]=7 TeV are presented. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 5.8 pb(-1) collected by the CMS experiment operating at the LHC. The exclusive decay B(+)→J/ψK(+), with J/ψ→μ(+)μ(-), is used to detect B(+) mesons and to measure the production cross section as a function of p(T)(B) and y(B). The total cross section for p(T)(B)>5 GeV and |y(B)|<2.4 is measured to be 28.1±2.4±2.0±3.1 μb, where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic, and the last is from the luminosity measurement.     

On the mechanisms involved in the recovery of envelope information from temporal fine structure

Three experiments were designed to provide psychophysical evidence for the existence of envelope information in the temporal fine structure (TFS) of stimuli that were originally amplitude modulated (AM). The original stimuli typically consisted of the sum of a sinusoidally AM tone and two unmodulated tones so that the envelope and TFS could be determined a priori. Experiment 1 showed that normal-hearing listeners not only perceive AM when presented with the Hilbert fine structure alone but AM detection thresholds are lower than those observed when presenting the original stimuli. Based on our analysis, envelope recovery resulted from the failure of the decomposition process to remove the spectral components related to the original envelope from the TFS and the introduction of spectral components related to the original envelope, suggesting that frequency- to amplitude-modulation conversion is not necessary to recover envelope information from TFS. Experiment 2 suggested that these spectral components interact in such a way that envelope fluctuations are minimized in the broadband TFS. Experiment 3 demonstrated that the modulation depth at the original carrier frequency is only slightly reduced compared to the depth of the original modulator. It also indicated that envelope recovery is not specific to the Hilbert decomposition.     

Temporal cleaning of a high-energy fiber-based ultrafast laser using cross-polarized wave generation

We report the use of cross-polarized wave generation to perform both pulse shortening and temporal cleaning of a high-energy ytterbium-doped fiber-based femtosecond laser system. The nonlinear processes allow both a highly efficient nonlinear conversion of 20% and a large compression ratio of 3.5, with inherently improved coherent and incoherent contrasts. This results in the generation of 37 μJ, 115 fs pulses at a repetition rate of 100 kHz with high temporal quality.     

Highly dispersive large mode area photonic bandgap fiber

An all-silica photonic bandgap fiber composed of a low-index core surrounded by alternating high- and low-index rings allows us to achieve a large mode area (500 microm(2)) and large chromatic dispersion. Sharp resonances from the even Bragg mode to odd ring modes theoretically lead to 20,000 ps/(nm km) chromatic dispersion when large bends are applied. By nature, sharp resonances are sensitive to inhomogeneities along the fiber length. Under experimental conditions, the resonances are broadened and the dispersion coefficient is decreased to 1000 ps/(nm km). However, to the best of our knowledge, this is the largest dispersion coefficient reported using a large mode area fiber.     

Early visual evoked potentials are modulated by eye position in humans induced by whole body rotations

Background  

To reach and grasp an object in space on the basis of its image cast on the retina requires different coordinate transformations that take into account gaze and limb positioning. Eye position in the orbit influences the image's conversion from retinotopic (eye-centered) coordinates to an egocentric frame necessary for guiding action. Neuroimaging studies have revealed eye position-dependent activity in extrastriate visual, parietal and frontal areas that is along the visuo-motor pathway. At the earliest vision stage, the role of the primary visual area (V1) in this process remains unclear. We used an experimental design based on pattern-onset visual evoked potentials (VEP) recordings to study the effect of eye position on V1 activity in humans.     

Ultrafast laser excitation of CO/Pt(111) probed by sum frequency generation: coverage dependent desorption efficiency

CO photodesorption from Pt(111) induced by femtosecond laser pulses is probed by IR+visible sum frequency generation (SFG). Steady state analysis of SFG spectra at varying CO pressure and laser fluence allows one to measure a approximately 5 orders of magnitude decrease of the photodesorption rate constant when CO coverage decreases from 0.37 to 0.07 monolayer. We ascribe this effect in the framework of the Menzel-Gomer-Redhead mechanism to electron delocalization in the CO layer. The lifetime of electronic excitation decreases when coverage decreases.     

Quantumchromodynamic corrections for ΔF=2 processes in the presence of a heavy top quark

We calculate the QCD corrections to the ΔS=2 and ΔB=2 transition amplitudes for the casem _t ?m _w and extrapolate the results tom _t ?m _w , where they join smoothly with the low mass calculations,m _t ?m _w . We present explicit formulas for the corrections with numerical results summarized in tables and figures and compare them with earlier calculations. We arrive at a QCD corrected effective Hamiltonian which must hold for all ranges ofm _t .     

Dual-fibre stretcher and coma as tools for independent 2nd and 3rd order tunable dispersion compensation in a fibre-based ‘scan-free’ time domain optical coherence tomography system

Dispersion compensation up to the third order is experimentally demonstrated by using a dual-fibre stretcher combined with the coma of an imaging lens, in a fibre-based scan-free time domain optical coherence tomography system, leading to an axial resolution of less than 3 μm.     

IMP321 (sLAG-3), an immunopotentiator for T cell responses against a HBsAg antigen in healthy adults: a single blind randomised controlled phase I study

Background  

LAG-3 (CD223) is a natural high affinity ligand for MHC class II. The soluble form (sLAG-3) induces maturation of monocyte-derived dendritic cells in vitro and is used as a potent Th1-like immune enhancer with many antigens in animal models. To extend this observation to human, a proof of concept study was conducted with a clinical-grade sLAG-3, termed IMP321, coinjected with alum-non-absorbed recombinant hepatitis B surface antigen.