5,957 research outputs found
Topology counts: force distributions in circular spring networks
Filamentous polymer networks govern the mechanical properties of many
biological materials. Force distributions within these networks are typically
highly inhomogeneous and, although the importance of force distributions for
structural properties is well recognized, they are far from being understood
quantitatively. Using a combination of probabilistic and graph-theoretical
techniques we derive force distributions in a model system consisting of
ensembles of random linear spring networks on a circle. We show that
characteristic quantities, such as mean and variance of the force supported by
individual springs, can be derived explicitly in terms of only two parameters:
(i) average connectivity and (ii) number of nodes. Our analysis shows that a
classical mean-field approach fails to capture these characteristic quantities
correctly. In contrast, we demonstrate that network topology is a crucial
determinant of force distributions in an elastic spring network.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures. Missing labels in Fig. 4 added. Reference fixe
The faint-galaxy hosts of gamma-ray bursts
The observed redshifts and magnitudes of the host galaxies of gamma-ray
bursts (GRBs) are compared with the predictions of three basic GRB models, in
which the comoving rate density of GRBs is (1) proportional to the cosmic star
formation rate density, (2) proportional to the total integrated stellar
density and (3) constant. All three models make the assumption that at every
epoch the probability of a GRB occuring in a galaxy is proportional to that
galaxy's broad-band luminosity. No assumption is made that GRBs are standard
candles or even that their luminosity function is narrow. All three rate
density models are consistent with the observed GRB host galaxies to date,
although model (2) is slightly disfavored relative to the others. Models (1)
and (3) make very similar predictions for host galaxy magnitude and redshift
distributions; these models will be probably not be distinguished without
measurements of host-galaxy star-formation rates. The fraction of host galaxies
fainter than 28 mag may constrain the faint end of the galaxy luminosity
function at high redshift, or, if the fraction is observed to be low, may
suggest that the bursters are expelled from low-luminosity hosts. In all
models, the probability of finding a z<0.008 GRB among a sample of 11 GRBs is
less than 10^(-4), strongly suggesting that GRB 980425, if associated with
supernova 1998bw, represents a distinct class of GRBs.Comment: 7 pages, ApJ in press, revised to incorporate yet more new and
revised observational result
Recognition and property in Hegel and the early Marx
The article attempts to show, first, that for Hegel the role of property is to enable persons both to objectify their freedom and to properly express their recognition of each other as free, and second, that the Marx of 1844 uses fundamentally similar ideas in his exposition of communist society. For him the role of ātrue propertyā is to enable individuals both to objectify their essential human powers and their individuality, and to express their recognition of each other as fellow human beings with needs, or their āhuman recognitionā. Marx further uses these ideas to condemn the society of private property and market exchange as characterised by āestrangedā forms of property and recognition. He therefore uses a structure of ideas which Hegel had used to justify the institutions of private property and market exchange in order to condemn those same institutions. It is concluded that Marxās adoption from Hegel of the idea that property as the means of self-objectification and of expressed recognition, leaves his vision of communism open to the charge that in it, just as in market society, the relations between human beings are mediated by things
Systematic Review of Preclinical Surgical Meshes for Hernia Repair
Hernia repair is one of the most common procedures performed around the world. Surgical mesh materials are used to reinforce hernia repairs and improve surgical outcomes. However, current commercial mesh materials produce problems such as infection, rejection, shrinkage, adhesion, and mechanical failure. These problems contribute to a high rate of hernia recurrence and mesh removal. With the number of hernias expected to rise in the future due to increases in obesity and diabetes, the need for more effective mesh materials is critical. This review aims to identify, evaluate, and summarize experimental surgical mesh materials used in the preclinical stages of development and catalogue their characteristics and the tests used for their evaluation.https://digitalcommons.unmc.edu/surp2021/1053/thumbnail.jp
Better Bell Inequality Violation by Collective Measurements
The standard Bell inequality experiments test for violation of local realism
by repeatedly making local measurements on individual copies of an entangled
quantum state. Here we investigate the possibility of increasing the violation
of a Bell inequality by making collective measurements. We show that
nonlocality of bipartite pure entangled states, quantified by their maximal
violation of the Bell-Clauser-Horne inequality, can always be enhanced by
collective measurements, even without communication between the parties. For
mixed states we also show that collective measurements can increase the
violation of Bell inequalities, although numerical evidence suggests that the
phenomenon is not common as it is for pure states.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures and 1 table; references update
Systematics of RR Lyrae Statistical Parallax III: Apparent Magnitudes and Extinctions
We sing the praises of the central limit theorem. Having previously removed
all other possible causes of significant systematic error in the statistical
parallax determination of RR Lyrae absolute magnitudes, we investigate
systematic errors from two final sources of input data: apparent magnitudes and
extinctions. We find corrections due to each of ~0.05 mag, i.e., ~1/2 the
statistical error. However, these are of opposite sign and so roughly cancel.
The apparent magnitude system that we previously adopted from Layden et al. was
calibrated to the photometry of Clube & Dawe. Using Hipparcos photometry we
show that the Clube & Dawe system is ~0.06 mag too bright. Extinctions were
previously pinned to the HI-based map of Burstein & Heiles. We argue that A_V
should rather be based on new COBE/IRAS dust-emission map of Schlegel,
Finkbeiner & Davis. This change increases the mean A_V by ~0.05 mag. We find
M_V=0.77 +/- 0.13 at [Fe/H]=-1.60 for a pure sample of 147 halo RR Lyraes, or
M_V=0.80 +/- 0.11 at [Fe/H]=-1.71 if we incorporate kinematic information from
716 non-kinematically selected non-RR Lyrae stars from Beers & Sommer-Larsen.
These are 2 and 3 sigma fainter than recent determinations of M_V from main
sequence fitting of clusters using Hipparcos measurements of subdwarfs by Reid
and Gratton et al. Since statistical parallax is being cleared of systematic
errors and since the chance of a >2 sigma statistical fluctuation is <1/20, we
conclude that these brighter determinations may be in error. In the course of
three papers, we have corrected 6 systematic errors whose absolute values total
0.20 mag. Had these, contrary to the expectation of the central limit theorem,
all lined up one way, they could have resolved the conflict in favor of the
brighter determinations. In fact, the net change was only 0.06 mag.Comment: submitted to ApJ, 21 pages, 2 tables, 4 figure
Prospects for photon blockade in four level systems in the N configuration with more than one atom
We show that for appropriate choices of parameters it is possible to achieve
photon blockade in idealised one, two and three atom systems. We also include
realistic parameter ranges for rubidium as the atomic species. Our results
circumvent the doubts cast by recent discussion in the literature (Grangier et
al Phys. Rev Lett. 81, 2833 (1998), Imamoglu et al Phys. Rev. Lett. 81, 2836
(1998)) on the possibility of photon blockade in multi-atom systems.Comment: 8 page, revtex, 7 figures, gif. Submitted to Journal of Optics B:
Quantum and Semiclassical Optic
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Vertebrate Hosts as Islands: Dynamics of Selection, Immigration, Loss, Persistence, and Potential Function of Bacteria on Salamander Skin.
Skin bacterial communities can protect amphibians from a fungal pathogen; however, little is known about how these communities are maintained. We used a neutral model of community ecology to identify bacteria that are maintained on salamanders by selection or by dispersal from a bacterial reservoir (soil) and ecological drift. We found that 75% (9/12) of bacteria that were consistent with positive selection, <1% of bacteria that were consistent with random dispersal and none of the bacteria that were consistent under negative selection had a 97% or greater match to antifungal isolates. Additionally we performed an experiment where salamanders were either provided or denied a bacterial reservoir and estimated immigration and loss (emigration and local extinction) rates of bacteria on salamanders in both treatments. Loss was strongly related to bacterial richness, suggesting competition is important for structuring the community. Bacteria closely related to antifungal isolates were more likely to persist on salamanders with or without a bacterial reservoir, suggesting they had a competitive advantage. Furthermore, over-represented and under-represented operational taxonomic units (OTUs) had similar persistence on salamanders when a bacterial reservoir was present. However, under-represented OTUs were less likely to persist in the absence of a bacterial reservoir, suggesting that the over-represented and under-represented bacteria were selected against or for on salamanders through time. Our findings from the neutral model, migration and persistence analyses show that bacteria that exhibit a high similarity to antifungal isolates persist on salamanders, which likely protect hosts against pathogens and improve fitness. This research is one of the first to apply ecological theory to investigate assembly of host associated-bacterial communities, which can provide insights for probiotic bioaugmentation as a conservation strategy against disease
Robust Visible Light Photoswitching with Ortho-Thiol Substituted Azobenzenes
Introduction of S-ethyl groups in all four ortho positions of azobenzene prevents reduction of the azo group by intracellular glutathione, while enhancing the absorptivity to ā¼10000 Mā1 cmā1 in the blue and green regions of the visible spectrum. cis-to-trans isomerization occurs thermally on the minutes timescale. Further, this substitution pattern permits switching with red light, a color that is more penetrating through biological tissues than other parts of the visible spectrum
Integrase-deficient lentiviral vectors mediate efficient gene transfer to human vascular smooth muscle cells with minimal genotoxic risk
We have previously shown that injury-induced neointima formation was rescued by adenoviral-Nogo-B gene delivery. Integrase-competent lentiviral vectors (ICLV) are efficient at gene delivery to vascular cells but present a risk of insertional mutagenesis. Conversely, integrase-deficient lentiviral vectors (IDLV) offer additional benefits through reduced mutagenesis risk, but this has not been evaluated in the context of vascular gene transfer. Here, we have investigated the performance and genetic safety of both counterparts in primary human vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) and compared gene transfer efficiency and assessed the genotoxic potential of ICLVs and IDLVs based on their integration frequency and insertional profile in the human genome. Expression of enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) mediated by IDLVs (IDLV-eGFP) demonstrated efficient transgene expression in VSMCs. IDLV gene transfer of Nogo-B mediated efficient overexpression of Nogo-B in VSMCs, leading to phenotypic effects on VSMC migration and proliferation, similar to its ICLV version and unlike its eGFP control and uninfected VSMCs. Large-scale integration site analyses in VSMCs indicated that IDLV-mediated gene transfer gave rise to a very low frequency of genomic integration compared to ICLVs, revealing a close-to-random genomic distribution in VSMCs. This study demonstrates for the first time the potential of IDLVs for safe and efficient vascular gene transfer
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