2,636 research outputs found
Power Spectra in Global Defect Theories of Cosmic Structure Formation
An efficient technique for computing perturbation power spectra in field
ordering theories of cosmic structure formation is introduced, enabling
computations to be carried out with unprecedented precision. Large scale
simulations are used to measure unequal time correlators of the source stress
energy, taking advantage of scaling during matter and radiation domination, and
causality, to make optimal use of the available dynamic range. The correlators
are then re-expressed in terms of a sum of eigenvector products, a
representation which we argue is optimal, enabling the computation of the final
power spectra to be performed at high accuracy. Microwave anisotropy and matter
perturbation power spectra for global strings, monopoles, textures and
non-topological textures are presented and compared with recent observations.Comment: 4 pages, compressed and uuencoded RevTex file and postscript figure
Polarization forces in water deduced from single molecule data
Intermolecular polarization interactions in water are determined using a
minimal atomic multipole model constructed with distributed polarizabilities.
Hydrogen bonding and other properties of water-water interactions are
reproduced to fine detail by only three multipoles , , and
and two polarizabilities and , which
characterize a single water molecule and are deduced from single molecule data.Comment: 4 revtex pages, 3 embedded color PS figure
Charged Vacuum Bubble Stability
A type of scenario is considered where electrically charged vacuum bubbles,
formed from degenerate or nearly degenerate vacuua separated by a thin domain
wall, are cosmologically produced due to the breaking of a discrete symmetry,
with the bubble charge arising from fermions residing within the domain wall.
Stability issues associated with wall tension, fermion gas, and Coulombic
effects for such configurations are examined. The stability of a bubble depends
upon parameters such as the symmetry breaking scale and the fermion coupling. A
dominance of either the Fermi gas or the Coulomb contribution may be realized
under certain conditions, depending upon parameter values.Comment: 16 pages,revtex; accepted for publication in Phys.Rev.
Decoding RAS isoform and codon-specific signalling
RAS proteins are key signalling hubs that are oncogenically mutated in 30% of all cancer cases. Three genes encode almost identical isoforms that are ubiquitously expressed, but are not functionally redundant. The network responses associated with each isoform and individual oncogenic mutations remain to be fully characterized. In the present article, we review recent data defining the differences between the RAS isoforms and their most commonly mutated codons and discuss the underlying mechanisms
Quantum Mechanics of Multi-Prong Potentials
We describe the bound state and scattering properties of a quantum mechanical
particle in a scalar -prong potential. Such a study is of special interest
since these situations are intermediate between one and two dimensions. The
energy levels for the special case of identical prongs exhibit an
alternating pattern of non-degeneracy and fold degeneracy. It is shown
that the techniques of supersymmetric quantum mechanics can be used to generate
new solutions. Solutions for prongs of arbitrary lengths are developed.
Discussions of tunneling in -well potentials and of scattering for piecewise
constant potentials are given. Since our treatment is for general values of
, the results can be studied in the large limit. A somewhat surprising
result is that a free particle incident on an -prong vertex undergoes
continuously increased backscattering as the number of prongs is increased.Comment: 17 pages. LATEX. On request, TOP_DRAW files or hard copies available
for 7 figure
Cosmic Strings in an Open Universe with Baryonic and Non-Baryonic Dark Matter
We study the effects of cosmic strings on structure formation in open
universes. We calculate the power spectrum of density perturbations for two
class of models: one in which all the dark matter is non baryonic (CDM) and one
in which it is all baryonic (BDM). Our results are compared to the 1 in 6 IRAS
QDOT power spectrum. The best candidates are then used to estimate , the
energy per unit length of the string network. Some comments are made on
mechanisms by which structures are formed in the two theories.Comment: uu-encoded compressed tar of postscript files, Imperial/TP/94-95/0
p75 Neurotrophin receptor expression defines a population of BDNF-responsive neurogenic precursor cells
Although our understanding of adult neurogenesis has increased dramatically over the last decade, confusion still exists regarding both the identity of the stem cell responsible for neuron production and the mechanisms that regulate its activity. Here we show, using flow cytometry, that a small population of cells (0.3%) within the stem cell niche of the rat subventricular zone (SVZ) expresses the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75(NTR)) and that these cells are responsible for neuron production in both newborn and adult animals. In the adult, the p75(NTR)-positive population contains all of the neurosphere-producing precursor cells, whereas in the newborn many of the precursor cells are p75(NTR) negative. However, at both ages, only the neurospheres derived from p75(NTR)-positive cells are neurogenic. We also show that neuron production from p75(NTR)-positive but not p75(NTR)-negative precursors is greatly enhanced after treatment with brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) or nerve growth factor. This effect appears to be mediated specifically by p75(NTR), because precursor cells from p75(NTR)-deficient mice show a 70% reduction in their neurogenic potential in vitro and fail to respond to BDNF treatment. Furthermore, adult p75(NTR)-deficient mice have significantly reduced numbers of PSA-NCAM ( polysialylated neural cell adhesion molecule)-positive SVZ neuroblasts in vivo and a lower olfactory bulb weight. Thus, p75(NTR) defines a discrete population of highly proliferative SVZ precursor cells that are able to respond to neurotrophin activation by increasing neuroblast generation, making this pathway the most likely mechanism for the increased neurogenesis that accompanies raised BDNF levels in a variety of disease and behavioral situations
Exploring the influence of polymorphism and chromophore co-ligands on linkage isomer photoswitching in [Pd(bpy4dca)(NO2)2]
The polymorphic Pd(II)–nitrite complex [Pd(bpy4dca)(NO2)2] (1) (bpy4dca = 2,2′-bipyridine-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid methyl ester) is shown to undergo photoinduced nitro → nitrito linkage isomer switching in two crystal forms, to varying excited state population levels. Detailed photocrystallographic kinetic studies, structural analyses of the ground and photoexcited states and density functional theory calculations all combine to explain the unusually high maximum excited state population of 80% in 1, where other linkage isomer complexes containing strong chromophore co-ligands have traditionally been challenging to excite. Comparison of the photo-response in crystals for forms I and II reveals that, while the local crystal packing environment has a role in controlling the maximum photostationary population that can be achieved, the rate of isomerisation is comparable across different nitrite ligand environments. Our results reinforce the hypothesis that a complex combination of steric, electronic and kinetic factors govern the progress of linkage isomer switching in the solid-state and highlight the need for better understanding of the structural dynamics involved in isomer switching at the molecular level
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