Zahary Y. Peshev

Binding of NF-κB to nucleosomes: effect of translational positioning, nucleosome remodeling and linker histone H1.

NF-κB is a key transcription factor regulating the expression of inflammatory responsive genes. How NF-κB binds to naked DNA templates is well documented, but how it interacts with chromatin is far from being clear. Here we used a combination of UV laser footprinting, hydroxyl footprinting and electrophoretic mobility shift assay to investigate the binding of NF-κB to nucleosomal templates. We show that NF-κB p50 homodimer is able to bind to its recognition sequence, when it is localized at the edge of the core particle, but not when the recognition sequence is at the interior of the nucleosome. Remodeling of the nucleosome by the chromatin remodeling machine RSC was not sufficient to allow binding of NF-κB to its recognition sequence located in the vicinity of the nucleosome dyad, but RSC-induced histone octamer sliding allowed clearly detectable binding of NF-κB with the slid particle. Importantly, nucleosome dilution-driven removal of H2A–H2B dimer led to complete accessibility of the site located close to the dyad to NF-κB. Finally, we found that NF-κB was able to displace histone H1 and prevent its binding to nucleosome. These data provide important insight on the role of chromatin structure in the regulation of transcription of NF-κB dependent genes.

Controlled time-delayed-pulses operation of a two-wavelength combined dye-Ti:Al2O3 laser

Abstract We have developed and investigated a 0.53 μm Nd: YAG pumped combined dye-Ti 3+ :Al 2 O 3 laser, which emits two independently tunable near-infrared wavelengths in a single beam with relative time decay controllable in the range 0–250 ns. The emission is produced in a simple dual-channel resonator, where an intracavity interference wedge is used both as an efficient channel coupler and as a spectral selector. The delay between the pulses arises from the different temporal behavior of the dye and the Ti 3+ :Al 2 O 3 laser emission and is controlled by varying the pump intensity or the cavity length.

Lidar Measurements of Atmospheric Dynamics over High Mountainous Terrain

Results of lidar observations on the dynamics of atmospheric layers over the ridge and northeast slope of Vitosha Mountain situated close to Sofia, Bulgaria, are reported and compared with results for layers over surrounding plain and urban zones. Measurements are carried out at 1064 nm wavelength with a lidar range resolution of 15 m, by using one of the aerosol channels of a combined Raman‐aerosol lidar based on a powerful Nd:YAG laser. Two cases of distinctly different weather conditions are studied. The mountainous area, situated from 6 km to 12 km away from the lidar station, is scanned reiteratively within 7°–9° slope‐angle range. Multiple series of lidar profiles are registered with average time of 2–5 s. Lidar signals are then range corrected and processed statistically. Normalized standard deviation is used as a characteristic of the atmospheric dynamics. The spatial‐temporal evolution of atmospheric density fluctuations is shown on colormap plots. Intensive air dynamics over the mountain is reve...

LIDAR Atmospheric Sensing by Metal Vapor and Nd:YAG Lasers

LIDAR systems have widely been used for remote investigation of atmospheric parameters (Measures, 1984; Kovalev & Eichinger, 2004; Weitkamp, 2005). They are based on the socalled LIDAR (LIght Detection And Ranging) principle which consists in sending a laser pulse to the atmosphere and subsequent detecting of the radiation backscattered (at angle π) by atmospheric constituents or pollutants. As LIDAR is a time-of-flight technique, the return signal profile detected in the time domain contains range-resolved information about the atmospheric characteristics along the line of laser beam propagation. Advantages of the lidar measurement approaches, as compared to other available active techniques (e.g. radars), are the high spatial and temporal resolution, higher sensitivity and accuracy in sensing atmospheric particles, covering large observation areas, etc. These features make lidar systems powerful instruments for environmental measurements. At present, lidars find a variety of applications in different fields of the human activity. Along with the meteorology, atmospheric physics, and ecological monitoring, lidars are extensively used for volcanic and fire alerting, laser ranging, altimetry and bathymetry, lidar mapping and forestry, coastal morphology and hazards assessment in geology, as well as for many other applications in physics and astronomy, nuclear fusion, military, aviation, robotics, transportation, etc. There exists a variety of ground-based, air-borne and space-borne lidar systems distinguished by their types, schematics, regimes of operation, monitored parameters, constructions, etc. (Kovalev & Eichinger, 2004; Weitkamp, 2005). Among the most widely used systems are the oneor multi-wavelength aerosol lidars exploiting elastic scattering of light.

Two-wavelength lidar characterization of atmospheric aerosol fields at low altitudes over heterogeneous terrain

Abstract. The possibilities for applying multiwavelength elastic lidar probing of the atmosphere to help monitor air-quality over large industrial and densely populated areas, based predominantly on the use and analysis of commonly obtainable backscatter-related lidar quantities, are examined. Presented are two-wavelength ( 1064 / 532     nm ) lidar observations on the spatial distribution, structure, composition, and temporal evolution of close-to-surface atmospheric aerosol fields over heterogeneous orographic areas (adjacent city, plain, and mountain) near Sofia, Bulgaria. Selected winter-time evening lidar measurements are described. Range profiles, histograms, and evolutional range-time diagrams of the aerosol backscatter coefficients, range-corrected lidar signals, normalized standard deviations, and backscatter-related Ångström exponents (BAE) are analyzed. Near-perfect correlation between the aerosol density distribution and orographic differentiation of the underlying terrain is established, finding expression in a sustained horizontal stratification of the probed atmospheric domains. Distinctive features in the spatial distribution and temporal evolution of both the fine- and coarse aerosol fractions are revealed in correlation with terrain’s orography. Zonal aerosol particle size distributions are qualitatively characterized by using an approach based on BAE occurrence frequency distribution analysis. Assumptions are made about the aerosol particle type, origin, and dominating size as connected (by transport-modeling data) to local pollution sources. Specifics and patterns of temporal dynamics of the fine- and coarse aerosol fraction density distributions and movements, revealed by using statistical analysis of lidar data, are discussed. The obtained results prove the capability of the used two-wavelength lidar approach to perform fast-, reliable, and self-consistent characterization of important optical-, micro-physical-, and dynamical properties of atmospheric aerosols over broad areas with high temporal- and range resolution.

Lidar observations and characterization of biomass burning aerosols over Sofia: Long-range transport of forest wildfire smoke

Results of remote measurements and characterization of biomass burning aerosols observed in the low troposphere over Sofia, Bulgaria, are presented and discussed. Measurements are accomplished by using two-wavelength elastic-scatter lidar, operating at 1064 nm and 532 nm. The aerosols are identified as to be consisted mainly of aged smoke of wildfires raging in the USA in the last third of July 2012. The long-range transport of the smoke aerosols, taking place from 24 July to 6 August 2012, is determined to be driven by the Northern hemisphere Polar jet stream. Spatial distribution of the observed aerosols is displayed by retrieving averaged vertical profiles of the aerosol backscatter coefficients. The temporal evolution of the aerosol layers during the period of measurement is shown by height-time coordinate colormaps of range-corrected lidar data. In order to characterize qualitatively the size range of the aerosol particles, the vertical profile of the backscatter-related Ǻngström exponent (BAE) is also retrieved. As an accent of the work, distributions of BAE corresponding to distinguished aerosol layers, as well as the overall one, are obtained and analyzed, representing qualitative counterparts of the real particle size distributions. In the case of the fire smoke layer, BAE values vary in the range 1.0-1.3, indicating processes of considerable aggregation of the finest particle size mods during the aging period. The reliability of the results and conclusions concerning the fire smoke BAE distributions and their evolution are indirectly validated by the obtained typical distribution ranges of the observed urban- and water aerosols.

Vertical Profiling of Atmospheric Backscatter with a Raman‐Aerosol Lidar

Aerosols have a strong impact on the planet’s thermal balance, air quality, and a variety of atmospheric processes and phenomena. In this work we present some results from a long term lidar observation of tropospheric aerosols over the city of Sofia, Bulgaria, within the framework of the European project “EARLINET‐ASSOS.” Vertical profiles of the aerosol backscattering coefficient and range corrected lidar signals are processed and analyzed. The temporal evolution and the spatial distribution of atmospheric aerosol fields are illustrated by 2D‐colormaps in height‐time coordinates. We present here several cases of aerosol loading: transport of Saharan dust (at altitudes from 3 km to 5 km), highly situated layers (from 9 km to 15 km), and anthropogenic smog (up to 2 km). All measurements were performed by using the two aerosol spectral channels of a combined Raman‐aerosol lidar developed in the Laser Radar Lab, Institute of Electronics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. It is based on a Q‐switched powerful fre...

Intercomparison of the three lidar systems in Sofia

In this work the results of an experimental assessment of the operation accuracy of three lidar systems in Sofia City are presented. The investigation was carried out performing an inter-comparison of profiles of the atmospheric aerosol backscattering coefficient simultaneously measured by the lidars. All three lidar systems are involved in regular measurements within the frame of the EARLINET-ASOS (European Aerosol Research Lidar Network: Advanced Sustainable Observation System) European project. Twenty-four lidar stations, distributed over 16 countries in Europe are associated in this network. The main objective of the project is the establishment of a large statistical database of the aerosol distribution on the European scale. In order for the data to be reliable, preliminary tests of the quality of work of the individual lidar systems should be performed. That was the reason to perform the present study. The experiments on simultaneous operation of the lidar systems were carried out according to the fixed EARLINET-ASOS schedule starting in April 2006. The mean difference in the aerosol backscatter for all profiles obtained simultaneously and the standard deviation of the differences were calculated and compared.

Self-seeded Ti: Sapphire laser with an active feedback mirror

Abstract A single-longitudinal mode (SLM) dual-cavity pulsed Ti:sapphire laser is presented. It is self-seeded by means of an active feedback mirror (AFM) consisting of a partially reflecting mirror and additional active medium. The use of AFM results in an increase of both the laser output energy and overall conversion efficiency by a factor of about 1.4 compared to results achieved with a passive feedback mirror, under equivalent conditions. A reliable, temporally stable SLM regime of operation is achieved in the 740–820 nm spectral range.

Injection seeding in a dual-cavity gain-switched Ti:Sapphire laser

Abstract An experimental investigation of a pulsed tunable injection-seeding system pumped by a Nd:YAG laser is presented. The slave laser (SL) of the system is a gain-switched Ti:Sapphire laser with a dual-channel competitive cavity which consists of a main ring channel and an auxiliary linear one with different lengths. The use of this configuration results in full and reliable suppression of both the perturbing reverse radiation from the SL to the master laser (ML) and the broadband spectral background of the SLs ring channel. This is achieved irrespective of the ratio between the energies of the SL and ML, fluctuations of laser parameters, and spectral detuning. We take advantage of the gain-switched regime of the Ti:Sapphire laser to avoid simultaneous competition between the SLs channels; this allows us to obtain spectrally pure, unidirectional output radiation with high seeding and overall efficiency. The principle of operation of the ring-linear-cavity Ti:Sapphire slave laser provides a natural optical isolation between the SL and ML; this makes such lasers suitable for use as regenerative amplifiers when seeded by single-frequency diode lasers as well as in chirped-pulse-amplification systems to amplify ultrashort laser pulses without the necessity of optical isolators.