Narratives in European debate concerning new genomic techniques.

Given the complexity of agricultural problems, it is essential to develop acceptable solutions for various stakeholders with diverse knowledge, viewpoints, and preferences. However, European public opinion has become highly polarized, making constructive discussions on these issues difficult. We present the results of the narrative analysis of media debate on new genomic techniques.

Fully polarized Fermi systems at finite temperature.

We propose a simple model of an interacting, fully spin-polarized Fermi gas in dimensions d=2 and d=3, and derive the approximate expression for the energy spectrum and the corresponding formula for the Helmholtz free energy. We analyze the thermodynamics of the system and find the lines of first-order phase transitions between the low- and high-density phases terminating at critical points. The properties of the corresponding phase diagrams are qualitatively different for d=2 and 3, and sensitively depend on the interparticle attraction, which marks a departure from the standard van der Waals theory.

Effect of core ellipticity and core-induced thermal stress on the conversion of LP modes to vector vortex modes in gradually twisted highly birefringent fibers.

We study the effect of the core ellipticity and core-induced thermal stress on the conversion of LP11 modes to vortex modes in gradually twisted highly birefringent PANDA fibers using an improved perturbation-based modeling method. We show that these two technologically unavoidable factors have a significant impact on the conversion process, which manifests itself in shortening the conversion length, altering the assignment between the input LP modes and output vortex modes, and modifying the vortex mode structure. In particular, we demonstrate that for certain fiber geometries, it is possible to obtain output vortex modes with parallel and antiparallel spins and orbital angular momenta.

Fiber-based vortex beam source operating in a broadband or tunable mode.

We demonstrate a fiber-based optical vortex beam source operating in broadband or tunable mode in the spectral range of 1100-1400 nm. The vector vortices of the total angular momenta equal to +2, 0, and -2 are obtained by converting the respective linearly polarized (LP) modes of the two-mode birefringent PANDA fiber with stress-applying elements by gradually twisting its output section. At the input end, the PANDA fiber is powered by broadband supercontinuum or tunable Raman solitons generated in the LP polarization modes of a birefringent microstructured fiber with a specially designed dispersion profile and coupled to the respective LP modes of the PANDA fiber.

Modeling of the conversion of LP modes to vector vortex modes in gradually twisted highly birefringent fibers.

We present a new method for the efficient modeling of the conversion of LP modes to vortex modes in gradually twisted highly birefringent fibers, employing the coupled-mode approach in helicoidal coordinates. The method is applicable to a class of highly birefringent fibers with cylindrical cores and stress-applying elements. We analyzed the effects of refractive index contrast, birefringence, and twist rate profile on the quality of the converted vortex beams, including the intensity and polarization distributions, as well as on the crosstalk between different eigenmodes at the output of the twisted fibers.

Conversion of LP modes to vortex modes in a gradually twisted highly birefringent optical fiber.

We experimentally demonstrate the possibility of quasi-adiabatic conversion of modes to vortex modes in a twisted highly birefringent fiber with a gradually increasing twist rate. Based on the value of the effective indices, the modes are selectively converted to right- and left-handed circularly polarized vortex modes with a total angular momentum of ±2 and to quasi-/ modes with a total angular momentum of 0. Since the proposed conversion method has a purely topological origin, it is broadband in nature, in contrast to the methods based on resonant effects.

Exogenous Vitamins K Exert Anti-Inflammatory Effects Dissociated from Their Role as Substrates for Synthesis of Endogenous MK-4 in Murine Macrophages Cell Line.

Vitamins K exert a range of activities that extend far beyond coagulation and include anti-inflammatory effects, but the mechanisms involved in anti-inflammatory action remain unclear. In the present study, we showed that various forms of exogenous vitamins-K, K, K (MK-4, MK-5, MK-6 and MK-7)-regulated a wide scope of inflammatory pathways in murine macrophages in vitro, including NOS-2, COX-2, cytokines and MMPs. Moreover, we demonstrated for the first time that macrophages are able to synthesise endogenous MK-4 on their own.

Rigorous modeling of twisted anisotropic optical fibers with transformation optics formalism.

In this study, we show that transformation optics formalism can be used to rigorously model a wide range of twisted anisotropic fibers, which could only be analyzed using perturbative methods. If the material anisotropy of fibers has an intrinsic origin or is induced by axially or helically symmetric physical factors, then they can be transformed into a form usable in rigorous two-dimensional (2D) modeling. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach in 2D modeling of the propagation characteristics of first-order eigenmodes in twisted and spun fibers with high linear birefringence.

Free energy asymptotics of the quantum Heisenberg spin chain.

We consider the ferromagnetic quantum Heisenberg model in one dimension, for any spin . We give upper and lower bounds on the free energy, proving that at low temperature it is asymptotically equal to the one of an ideal Bose gas of magnons, as predicted by the spin-wave approximation. The trial state used in the upper bound yields an analogous estimate also in the case of two spatial dimensions, which is believed to be sharp at low temperature.

Method for increasing coupling efficiency between helical-core and standard single-mode fibers.

Helical core fibers (HCFs) suffer from low coupling efficiency and unavoidable excitation of higher order modes below the cutoff wavelength because of a core tilt with respect to the symmetry axis of the cladding. We propose an effective way of increasing the coupling efficiency to a HCF by untwisting its beginning section in a hydrogen flame. The proposed solution provides also a control over the excitation of higher order modes in HCFs and can be applied in splicing as well as in a free-space launching configuration.

Bend-induced long period grating in a helical core fiber.

We report on a new type of long-period-grating generated in a helical core fiber by bending. The grating arises from bend-induced modulation of an equivalent refractive index in the helical core with a period equal to the helix pitch. We experimentally demonstrate that such grating induces multiple resonant couplings between the fundamental modes guided in the central core and the helical side-core.

Polarimetric Sensitivity to Torsion in Spun Highly Birefringent Fibers.

We report on experimental studies of polarimetric sensitivity to torsion in spun highly birefringent fibers. Two classes of spun fibers were examined, namely spun side-hole fibers and birefringent microstructured fibers with different birefringence dispersion, spin pitches, and spin directions. The polarimetric sensitivity to torsion was determined by monitoring a displacement of the spectral interference fringes arising in the output signal because of interference of polarization modes and induced by an additional fiber twist.

Effect of cladding geometry on resonant coupling between fundamental and cladding modes in twisted microstructured fibers.

We analyzed for the first time the effect of variations in the number of air hole rings and the filling factor of twisted microstructured optical fibers on the resonant couplings between fundamental and cladding modes. Rigorous numerical simulations show that these parameters can be used to control the spectral width of the resonance peaks, resonance loss, and relative strength of polarization effects. Furthermore, the number of air hole rings has a decisive impact on the number of twist-induced resonances and their wavelength range.

Measurement of birefringence and ellipticity of polarization eigenmodes in spun highly birefringent fibers using spectral interferometry and lateral point-force method.

We show that the spectral interferometry method and the lateral point-force method used up to now to measure spectral dependence of the group and the phase modal birefringence in highly birefringent fibers with linearly polarized eigenmodes, can be after some modifications extended for the class of spun highly birefringent fibers with elliptically polarized modes. By combining the two methods, it is possible to determine spectral dependence of the group and phase elliptical birefringence in spun highly birefringent fibers. Moreover, if the fiber spin pitch is independently measured, the spectral dependence of ellipticity angle of polarization eigenmodes as well as the built-in linear phase and group birefringence, can be also obtained using the analytical relations between the parameters of spun and non-spun fibers.

Scaling effects in resonant coupling phenomena between fundamental and cladding modes in twisted microstructured optical fibers.

We show that in twisted microstructured optical fibers (MOFs) the coupling between the core and cladding modes can be obtained for helix pitch much greater than previously considered. We provide an analytical model describing scaling properties of the twisted MOFs, which relates coupling conditions to dimensionless ratios between the wavelength, the lattice pitch and the helix pitch of the twisted fiber. Furthermore, we verify our model using a rigorous numerical method based on the transformation optics formalism and study its limitations.

Role of symmetry in mode coupling in twisted microstructured optical fibers.

We have studied the effect of symmetry on coupling between core and cladding modes in helical microstructured fibers, which gives rise to resonant loss peaks observed in the fiber transmission spectra. We demonstrate that the selection rules for orbital and spin angular momenta of coupled modes, proposed first for twisted conventional fibers, are universal characteristics and correctly identify the coupled cladding modes in helical microstructured optical fibers (MOFs). Moreover, we show for the first time (to our knowledge) the effect of coupling between modes of opposite polarization handedness in twisted MOFs.

Continuous and discontinuous transitions between two types of capillary bridges on a beaded chain pulled out from a liquid.

Capillary bridges can be used for fabricating new materials and structures. Here, we describe theoretically and validate experimentally the mechanism of formation of capillary bridges during a process in which a beaded chain is being pulled out from a liquid with a planar surface. There are two types of capillary bridges present in this system, namely the sphere-planar liquid surface bridge initially formed between the spherical bead leaving the liquid bath and the initially planar liquid surface, and the sphere-sphere capillary bridge formed between neighbouring beads in the part of the chain above the liquid surface.

Lateral critical Casimir force in two-dimensional inhomogeneous Ising strip. Exact results.

We consider two-dimensional Ising strip bounded by two planar, inhomogeneous walls. The inhomogeneity of each wall is modeled by a magnetic field acting on surface spins. It is equal to +h1 except for a group of N1 neighboring surface spins where it is equal to -h1.

Rigorous simulations of coupling between core and cladding modes in a double-helix fiber.

Using a fully vectorial numerical method based on the transformation optics formalism, we analyzed the effect of resonant coupling between the core and cladding modes in twisted, elliptical core fibers. Our rigorous simulations revealed the existence of a much richer resonance spectrum than that predicted by simplified perturbation approaches. This effect is caused by the appearance of even harmonics in the angular field distribution of higher-order cladding modes due to their interaction with the fiber core with two-fold symmetry.

Dynamics of a liquid film of arbitrary thickness perturbed by a nano-object.

We provide a theoretical description of the dynamics of a liquid film perturbed by a nano-object. Our analysis is based on the general dispersion relation for surface perturbations which is valid for films of arbitrary thickness. In the case of thin liquid films the lubrication approximation is retrieved.

Rigorous simulations of a helical core fiber by the use of transformation optics formalism.

We report for the first time on rigorous numerical simulations of a helical-core fiber by using a full vectorial method based on the transformation optics formalism. We modeled the dependence of circular birefringence of the fundamental mode on the helix pitch and analyzed the effect of a birefringence increase caused by the mode displacement induced by a core twist. Furthermore, we analyzed the complex field evolution versus the helix pitch in the first order modes, including polarization and intensity distribution.

Lateral critical Casimir force in 2D Ising strip with inhomogeneous walls.

We analyze the lateral critical Casimir force acting between two planar, chemically inhomogeneous walls confining an infinite 2D Ising strip of width M. The inhomogeneity of each of the walls has size N1; they are shifted by the distance L along the strip. Using the exact diagonalization of the transfer matrix, we calculate the lateral critical Casimir force and discuss its properties, in particular its scaling close to the 2D bulk critical point, as a function of temperature, surface magnetic field, and the geometric parameters M, N1, L.

The influence of van der Waals forces on droplet morphological transitions and solvation forces in nanochannels.

The morphological phase transition between sessile and lenticular shapes of a droplet placed in a nanochannel is observed upon increasing the droplet volume. The phase diagram for this system is discussed within both macroscopic and mesoscopic approaches. On the mesoscopic level, the van der Waals forces are taken into account via the effective interface potential acting between the channel walls and the droplet.

Capillary-gravity waves on a liquid film of arbitrary depth: analysis of the wave resistance.

We discuss the wave resistance in the case of an externally perturbed viscous liquid film of arbitrary thickness. Emphasis is placed on the dependence of the wave resistance on the film thickness H, the length scale b characterizing the external perturbation, and its velocity V. In particular, the effectiveness of the mechanisms of capillary-gravity waves and the viscous dissipation localized in the vicinity of the perturbation are compared and discussed as functions of H and V.