@article{1788, abstract = {We fabricate and characterize a microscale silicon opto-electromechanical system whose mechanical motion is coupled capacitively to an electrical circuit and optically via radiation pressure to a photonic crystal cavity. To achieve large electromechanical interaction strength, we implement an inverse shadow mask fabrication scheme which obtains capacitor gaps as small as 30 nm while maintaining a silicon surface quality necessary for minimizing optical loss. Using the sensitive optical read-out of the photonic crystal cavity, we characterize the linear and nonlinear capacitive coupling to the fundamental ωm=2π = 63 MHz in-plane flexural motion of the structure, showing that the large electromechanical coupling in such devices may be suitable for realizing efficient microwave-to-optical signal conversion.}, author = {Pitanti, Alessandro and Johannes Fink and Safavi-Naeini, Amir H and Hill, Jeff T and Lei, Chan U and Tredicucci, Alessandro and Painter, Oskar J}, journal = {Optics Express}, number = {3}, pages = {3196 -- 3208}, publisher = {Optical Society of America}, title = {{Strong opto-electro-mechanical coupling in a silicon photonic crystal cavity}}, doi = {10.1364/OE.23.003196}, volume = {23}, year = {2015}, } @article{1804, abstract = {It is known that in classical fluids turbulence typically occurs at high Reynolds numbers. But can turbulence occur at low Reynolds numbers? Here we investigate the transition to turbulence in the classic Taylor-Couette system in which the rotating fluids are manufactured ferrofluids with magnetized nanoparticles embedded in liquid carriers. We find that, in the presence of a magnetic field transverse to the symmetry axis of the system, turbulence can occur at Reynolds numbers that are at least one order of magnitude smaller than those in conventional fluids. This is established by extensive computational ferrohydrodynamics through a detailed investigation of transitions in the flow structure, and characterization of behaviors of physical quantities such as the energy, the wave number, and the angular momentum through the bifurcations. A finding is that, as the magnetic field is increased, onset of turbulence can be determined accurately and reliably. Our results imply that experimental investigation of turbulence may be feasible by using ferrofluids. Our study of transition to and evolution of turbulence in the Taylor-Couette ferrofluidic flow system provides insights into the challenging problem of turbulence control.}, author = {Altmeyer, Sebastian and Do, Younghae and Lai, Ying}, journal = {Scientific Reports}, publisher = {Nature Publishing Group}, title = {{Transition to turbulence in Taylor-Couette ferrofluidic flow}}, doi = {10.1038/srep10781}, volume = {5}, year = {2015}, } @article{1803, abstract = {Repeated stress has been suggested to underlie learning and memory deficits via the basolateral amygdala (BLA) and the hippocampus; however, the functional contribution of BLA inputs to the hippocampus and their molecular repercussions are not well understood. Here we show that repeated stress is accompanied by generation of the Cdk5 (cyclin-dependent kinase 5)-activator p25, up-regulation and phosphorylation of glucocorticoid receptors, increased HDAC2 expression, and reduced expression of memoryrelated genes in the hippocampus. A combination of optogenetic and pharmacosynthetic approaches shows that BLA activation is both necessary and sufficient for stress-associated molecular changes and memory impairments. Furthermore, we show that this effect relies on direct glutamatergic projections from the BLA to the dorsal hippocampus. Finally, we show that p25 generation is necessary for the stress-induced memory dysfunction. Taken together, our data provide a neural circuit model for stress-induced hippocampal memory deficits through BLA activity-dependent p25 generation.}, author = {Rei, Damien and Mason, Xenos and Seo, Jinsoo and Gräff, Johannes and Rudenko, Andrii and Wang, Jùn and Rueda, Richard and Sandra Siegert and Cho, Sukhee and Canter, Rebecca G and Mungenast, Alison E and Deisseroth, Karl A and Tsai, Lihuei}, journal = {PNAS}, number = {23}, pages = {7291 -- 7296}, publisher = {National Academy of Sciences}, title = {{Basolateral amygdala bidirectionally modulates stress induced hippocampal learning and memory deficits through a p25/Cdk5-dependent pathway}}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.1415845112}, volume = {112}, year = {2015}, } @article{1807, abstract = {We study a double Cahn-Hilliard type functional related to the Gross-Pitaevskii energy of two-components Bose-Einstein condensates. In the case of large but same order intercomponent and intracomponent coupling strengths, we prove Γ-convergence to a perimeter minimisation functional with an inhomogeneous surface tension. We study the asymptotic behavior of the surface tension as the ratio between the intercomponent and intracomponent coupling strengths becomes very small or very large and obtain good agreement with the physical literature. We obtain as a consequence, symmetry breaking of the minimisers for the harmonic potential.}, author = {Goldman, Michael and Royo-Letelier, Jimena}, journal = {ESAIM - Control, Optimisation and Calculus of Variations}, number = {3}, pages = {603 -- 624}, publisher = {EDP Sciences}, title = {{Sharp interface limit for two components Bose-Einstein condensates}}, doi = {10.1051/cocv/2014040}, volume = {21}, year = {2015}, } @article{1802, abstract = {Noncoding variants in the human MIR137 gene locus increase schizophrenia risk with genome-wide significance. However, the functional consequence of these risk alleles is unknown. Here we examined induced human neurons harboring the minor alleles of four disease-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms in MIR137. We observed increased MIR137 levels compared to those in major allele–carrying cells. microRNA-137 gain of function caused downregulation of the presynaptic target genes complexin-1 (Cplx1), Nsf and synaptotagmin-1 (Syt1), leading to impaired vesicle release. In vivo, miR-137 gain of function resulted in changes in synaptic vesicle pool distribution, impaired induction of mossy fiber long-term potentiation and deficits in hippocampus-dependent learning and memory. By sequestering endogenous miR-137, we were able to ameliorate the synaptic phenotypes. Moreover, reinstatement of Syt1 expression partially restored synaptic plasticity, demonstrating the importance of Syt1 as a miR-137 target. Our data provide new insight into the mechanism by which miR-137 dysregulation can impair synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus.}, author = {Sandra Siegert and Seo, Jinsoo and Kwon, Ester J and Rudenko, Andrii and Cho, Sukhee and Wang, Wenyuan and Flood, Zachary C and Martorell, Anthony J and Ericsson, Maria and Mungenast, Alison E and Tsai, Lihuei}, journal = {Nature Neuroscience}, pages = {1008 -- 1016}, publisher = {Nature Publishing Group}, title = {{The schizophrenia risk gene product miR-137 alters presynaptic plasticity}}, doi = {10.1038/nn.4023}, volume = {18}, year = {2015}, }