Highlights d Bile acid 7a-dehydroxylating gut bacteria secrete tryptophan-derived antibiotics d Secondary bile acid enhanced the activity of these antibiotics d Tryptophan-derived antibiotics appear to inhibit the division septum of bacteria d Clostridium difficile secretes proline-based cyclic dipeptides

An analysis of the self-excited oscillations of a rotor supported in fluid film journal bearings is presented. It is shown that Hopf bifurcation theory may be used to investigate small-amplitude periodic solutions of the nonlinear equations of motion for rotor speeds close to the speed at which the steady-state equilibrium position becomes unstable. A numerical investigation supports the findings of the analytic work.

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The binary switch is a basic component of digital information. From phase-change alloys to nanomechanical beams, molecules and atoms, new strategies for controlled bistability hold great interest for emerging technologies. We present a generic methodology for precise and parallel spatiotemporal control of nanometre-scale matter in a fluid, and demonstrate the ability to attain digital functionalities such as switching, gating and data storage in a single colloid, with further implications for signal amplification and logic operations. This fluid-phase bit can be arrayed at high densities, manipulated by either electrical or optical fields, supports low-energy, high-speed operation and marks a first step toward 'colloidal information'. The principle generalizes to any system where spatial perturbation of a particle elicits a differential response amenable to readout.