87 research outputs found
New Algorithm of the Finite Lattice Method for the High-temperature Expansion of the Ising Model in Three Dimensions
We propose a new algorithm of the finite lattice method to generate the
high-temperature series for the Ising model in three dimensions. It enables us
to extend the series for the free energy of the simple cubic lattice from the
previous series of 26th order to 46th order in the inverse temperature. The
obtained series give the estimate of the critical exponent for the specific
heat in high precision.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. Letter
Finite-lattice expansion for Ising models on quasiperiodic tilings
Low-temperature series are calculated for the free energy, magnetisation,
susceptibility and field-derivatives of the susceptibility in the Ising model
on the quasiperiodic Penrose lattice. The series are computed to order 20 and
estimates of the critical exponents alpha, beta and gamma are obtained from
Pade approximants.Comment: 16 pages, REVTeX, 26 postscript figure
Functional Schroedinger and BRST Quantization of (1+1)--Dimensional Gravity
We discuss the quantization of pure string--inspired dilaton--gravity in
--dimensions, and of the same theory coupled to scalar matter. We
perform the quantization using the functional Schroedinger and BRST formalisms.
We find, both for pure gravity and the matter--coupled theory, that the two
quantization procedures give inequivalent ``physical'' results.Comment: 40 pages, Late
Extension to order of the high-temperature expansions for the spin-1/2 Ising model on the simple-cubic and the body-centered-cubic lattices
Using a renormalized linked-cluster-expansion method, we have extended to
order the high-temperature series for the susceptibility
and the second-moment correlation length of the spin-1/2 Ising models on
the sc and the bcc lattices. A study of these expansions yields updated direct
estimates of universal parameters, such as exponents and amplitude ratios,
which characterize the critical behavior of and . Our best
estimates for the inverse critical temperatures are
and . For the
susceptibility exponent we get and for the correlation
length exponent we get .
The ratio of the critical amplitudes of above and below the critical
temperature is estimated to be . The analogous ratio for
is estimated to be . For the correction-to-scaling
amplitude ratio we obtain .Comment: Misprints corrected, 8 pages, latex, no figure
Bax Function in the Absence of Mitochondria in the Primitive Protozoan Giardia lamblia
Bax-induced permeabilization of the mitochondrial outer membrane and release of cytochrome c are key events in apoptosis. Although Bax can compromise mitochondria in primitive unicellular organisms that lack a classical apoptotic machinery, it is still unclear if Bax alone is sufficient for this, or whether additional mitochondrial components are required. The protozoan parasite Giardia lamblia is one of the earliest branching eukaryotes and harbors highly degenerated mitochondrial remnant organelles (mitosomes) that lack a genome. Here we tested whether human Bax expressed in Giardia can be used to ablate mitosomes. We demonstrate that these organelles are neither targeted, nor compromised, by Bax. However, specialized compartments of the regulated secretory pathway are completely ablated by Bax. As a consequence, maturing cyst wall proteins that are sorted into these organelles are released into the cytoplasm, causing a developmental arrest and cell death. Interestingly, this ectopic cargo release is dependent on the carboxy-terminal 22 amino acids of Bax, and can be prevented by the Bax-inhibiting peptide Ku70. A C-terminally truncated Bax variant still localizes to secretory organelles, but is unable to permeabilize these membranes, uncoupling membrane targeting and cargo release. Even though mitosomes are too diverged to be recognized by Bax, off-target membrane permeabilization appears to be conserved and leads to cell death completely independently of mitochondria
Clues to Evolution of the SERA Multigene Family in 18 Plasmodium Species
SERA gene sequences were newly determined from 11 primate
Plasmodium species including two human parasites,
P. ovale and P. malariae, and the
evolutionary history of SERA genes was analyzed together with 7 known species.
All have one each of Group I to III cysteine-type SERA genes and varying number
of Group IV serine-type SERA genes in tandem cluster. Notably, Group IV SERA
genes were ascertained in all mammalian parasite lineages; and in two primate
parasite lineages gene events such as duplication, truncation, fragmentation and
gene loss occurred at high frequency in a manner that mimics the birth-and-death
evolution model. Transcription profile of individual SERA genes varied greatly
among rodent and monkey parasites. Results support the lineage-specific
evolution of the Plasmodium SERA gene family. These findings
provide further impetus for studies that could clarify/provide proof-of-concept
that duplications of SERA genes were associated with the parasites'
expansion of host range and the evolutionary conundrums of multigene families in
Plasmodium
Improved high-temperature expansion and critical equation of state of three-dimensional Ising-like systems
High-temperature series are computed for a generalized Ising model with
arbitrary potential. Two specific ``improved'' potentials (suppressing leading
scaling corrections) are selected by Monte Carlo computation. Critical
exponents are extracted from high-temperature series specialized to improved
potentials, achieving high accuracy; our best estimates are:
, , , ,
. By the same technique, the coefficients of the small-field
expansion for the effective potential (Helmholtz free energy) are computed.
These results are applied to the construction of parametric representations of
the critical equation of state. A systematic approximation scheme, based on a
global stationarity condition, is introduced (the lowest-order approximation
reproduces the linear parametric model). This scheme is used for an accurate
determination of universal ratios of amplitudes. A comparison with other
theoretical and experimental determinations of universal quantities is
presented.Comment: 65 pages, 1 figure, revtex. New Monte Carlo data by Hasenbusch
enabled us to improve the determination of the critical exponents and of the
equation of state. The discussion of several topics was improved and the
bibliography was update
Inhibitory Potential of Prodomain of Plasmodium falciparum Protease Serine Repeat Antigen 5 for Asexual Blood Stages of Parasite
Plasmodium falciparum serine repeat antigen 5 (SERA5) is a target for both drug and vaccine intervention against malaria. SERA5 is secreted in the parasitophorous vacuole where it is proteolytically processed before schizont rupture. Among the processed products is a 50.8-kDa central domain of the protease, which possesses chymotrypsin-like activity and consists of a 28.9-kDa catalytic domain with a 21.9-kDa N-terminal prodomain, which remain attached together. Because SERA5 has been implicated in merozoite egress from host erythrocytes, the effect of the prodomain and a heptapeptide derived from its C-terminus spanning from D560 to F566 (DNSDNMF) on parasite growth was studied. When E. coli-expressed prodomain was incubated with parasite culture, a significant delay in transition from schizont to ring stages was observed up to nanomolar concentrations. The peptide, DNSDNMF also showed similar effects but at nearly 1000-fold higher concentrations. The peptide was also found to interact with the catalytic domain. These data demonstrate the crucial role of SERA5 prodomain for the egress process. Given the inhibitory potential of the prodomain for the parasite, we suggest that peptidomimetic inhibitors based on SERA5 prodomain sequences can be developed as future therapeutics against malaria
Assessment of mixed plasmodium falciparum sera5 infection in endemic burkitt lymphoma : A case-control study in Malawi
Background: Endemic Burkitt lymphoma (eBL) is the most common childhood cancer in Africa and is linked to Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) malaria infection, one of the most common and deadly childhood infections in Africa; however, the role of Pf genetic diversity is unclear. A potential role of Pf genetic diversity in eBL has been suggested by a correlation of age-specific patterns of eBL with the complexity of Pf infection in Ghana, Uganda, and Tanzania, as well as a finding of significantly higher Pf genetic diversity, based on a sensitive molecular barcode assay, in eBL cases than matched controls in Malawi. We examined this hypothesis by measuring diversity in Pf-serine repeat antigen-5 (Pfsera5), an antigenic target of blood-stage immunity to malaria, among 200 eBL cases and 140 controls, all Pf polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-positive, in Malawi. Methods: We performed Pfsera5 PCR and sequencing (~3.3 kb over exons II–IV) to determine single or mixed PfSERA5 infection status. The patterns of Pfsera5 PCR positivity, mixed infection, sequence variants, and haplotypes among eBL cases, controls, and combined/pooled were analyzed using frequency tables. The association of mixed Pfsera5 infection with eBL was evaluated using logistic regression, controlling for age, sex, and previously measured Pf genetic diversity. Results: Pfsera5 PCR was positive in 108 eBL cases and 70 controls. Mixed PfSERA5 infection was detected in 41.7% of eBL cases versus 24.3% of controls; the odds ratio (OR) was 2.18, and the 95% confidence interval (CI) was 1.12–4.26, which remained significant in adjusted results (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] of 2.40, 95% CI of 1.11–5.17). A total of 29 nucleotide variations and 96 haplotypes were identified, but these were unrelated to eBL. Conclusions: Our results increase the evidence supporting the hypothesis that infection with mixed Pf infection is increased with eBL and suggest that measuring Pf genetic diversity may provide new insights into the role of Pf infection in eBL
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