431 research outputs found
Mapping of 2+1-dimensional Kardar-Parisi-Zhang growth onto a driven lattice gas model of dimer
We show that a 2+1 dimensional discrete surface growth model exhibiting
Kardar-Parisi-Zhang (KPZ) class scaling can be mapped onto a two dimensional
conserved lattice gas model of directed dimers. In case of KPZ height
anisotropy the dimers follow driven diffusive motion. We confirm by numerical
simulations that the scaling exponents of the dimer model are in agreement with
those of the 2+1 dimensional KPZ class. This opens up the possibility of
analyzing growth models via reaction-diffusion models, which allow much more
efficient computer simulations.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, final form to appear in PR
MACATâmicroarray chromosome analysis tool
By linking differential gene expression to the chromosomal localization of genes, one can investigate microarray data for characteristic patterns of expression phenomena involving sizeable parts of specific chromosomes. We have implemented a statistical approach for identifying significantly differentially expressed chromosome regions. We demonstrate the applicability of the approach on a publicly available data set on acute lymphocytic leukemia
Dispersive estimates for Schr\"odinger operators with point interactions in
The study of dispersive properties of Schr\"odinger operators with point
interactions is a fundamental tool for understanding the behavior of many body
quantum systems interacting with very short range potential, whose dynamics can
be approximated by non linear Schr\"odinger equations with singular
interactions. In this work we proved that, in the case of one point interaction
in , the perturbed Laplacian satisfies the same
estimates of the free Laplacian in the smaller regime . These
estimates are implied by a recent result concerning the boundedness of
the wave operators for the perturbed Laplacian. Our approach, however, is more
direct and relatively simple, and could potentially be useful to prove optimal
weighted estimates also in the regime .Comment: To appear on: "Advances in Quantum Mechanics: Contemporary Trends and
Open Problems", G. Dell'Antonio and A. Michelangeli eds., Springer-INdAM
series 201
Immunoadsorption of agonistic autoantibodies against α1-adrenergic receptors in patients with mild to moderate dementia
Dementia has been shown to be associated with agonistic autoantibodies. The deleterious action of autoantibodies on the {alpha}1-adrenergic receptor for brain vasculature has been demonstrated in animal studies. In the current study, 169 patients with dementia were screened for the presence of agonistic autoantibodies. 47% of patients suffering from mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease and/or vascular dementia carried these autoantibodies. Eight patients positive for autoantibodies underwent immunoadsorption. Patients treated on four consecutive days were subsequently negative for autoantibodies and displayed stabilization of cognitive and mental condition during 12-18 months' follow-up. In patients treated for 2-3 days, autoantibodies were reduced by only 78%. They suffered a rebound of autoantibodies during follow-up, benefited from immunoadsorption too, but their mental parameters worsened. We provide first data on the clinical relevance of agonistic autoantibodies in dementia and show that immunoadsorption is safe and efficient in removing autoantibodies with overall benefits for patients
Influence of vortex-vortex interaction on critical currents across low-angle grain boundaries in YBa2Cu3O7-delta thin films
Low-angle grain boundaries with misorientation angles theta < 5 degrees in
optimally doped thin films of YBCO are investigated by magnetooptical imaging.
By using a numerical inversion scheme of Biot-Savart's law the critical current
density across the grain boundary can be determined with a spatial resolution
of about 5 micrometers. Detailed investigation of the spatially resolved flux
density and current density data shows that the current density across the
boundary varies with varying local flux density. Combining the corresponding
flux and current pattern it is found that there exists a universal dependency
of the grain boundary current on the local flux density. A change in the local
flux density means a variation in the flux line-flux line distance. With this
knowledge a model is developped that explains the flux-current relation by
means of magnetic vortex-vortex interaction.Comment: 7 pages, 14 figure
Role of electrostatic interactions in amyloid beta-protein (Abeta) oligomer formation: A discrete molecular dynamics study
Pathological folding and oligomer formation of the amyloid beta-protein
(Abeta) are widely perceived as central to Alzheimer's disease (AD).
Experimental approaches to study Abeta self-assembly are problematic, because
most relevant aggregates are quasi-stable and inhomogeneous. We apply a
discrete molecular dynamics (DMD) approach combined with a four-bead protein
model to study oligomer formation of the amyloid beta-protein (Abeta). We
address the differences between the two most common Abeta alloforms, Abeta40
and Abeta42, which oligomerize differently in vitro. We study how the presence
of electrostatic interactions (EIs) between pairs of charged amino acids
affects Abeta40 and Abeta42 oligomer formation. Our results indicate that EIs
promote formation of larger oligomers in both Abeta40 and Abeta42. The Abeta40
size distribution remains unimodal, whereas the Abeta42 distribution is
trimodal, as observed experimentally. Abeta42 folded structure is characterized
by a turn in the C-terminus that is not present in Abeta40. We show that the
same C-terminal region is also responsible for the strongest intermolecular
contacts in Abeta42 pentamers and larger oligomers. Our results suggest that
this C-terminal region plays a key role in the formation of Abeta42 oligomers
and the relative importance of this region increases in the presence of EIs.
These results suggest that inhibitors targeting the C-terminal region of
Abeta42 oligomers may be able to prevent oligomer formation or structurally
modify the assemblies to reduce their toxicity.Comment: Accepted for publication at Biophysical Journa
Strongly linked current flow in polycrystalline forms of the new superconductor MgB2
The discovery of superconductivity at 39 K in MgB2[1] raises many issues. One
of the central questions is whether this new superconductor resembles a
high-temperature-cuprate superconductor or a low-temperature metallic
superconductor in terms of its current carrying characteristics in applied
magnetic fields. In spite of the very high transition temperatures of the
cuprate superconductors, their performance in magnetic fields has several
drawbacks[2]. Their large anisotropy restricts high bulk current densities to
much less than the full magnetic field-temperature (H-T) space over which
superconductivity is found. Further, weak coupling across grain boundaries
makes transport current densities in untextured polycrystalline forms low and
strongly magnetic field sensitive[3,4]. These studies of MgB2 address both
issues. In spite of the multi-phase, untextured, nano-scale sub-divided nature
of our samples, supercurrents flow throughout without the strong sensitivity to
weak magnetic fields characteristic of Josephson-coupled grains[3].
Magnetization measurements over nearly all of the superconducting H-T plane
show good temperature scaling of the flux pinning force, suggestive of a
current density determined by flux pinning. At least two length scales are
suggested by the magnetization and magneto optical (MO) analysis but the cause
of this seems to be phase inhomogeneity, porosity, and minority insulating
phase such as MgO rather than by weakly coupled grain boundaries. Our results
suggest that polycrystalline ceramics of this new class of superconductor will
not be compromised by the weak link problems of the high temperature
superconductors, a conclusion with enormous significance for applications if
higher temperature analogs of this compound can be discovered
Inter- and intragrain currents in bulk melt-grown YBaCuO rings
A simple contactless method suitable to discern between the intergrain
(circular) current, which flows in the thin superconducting ring, and the
intragrain current, which does not cross the weakest link, has been proposed.
At first, we show that the intergrain current may directly be estimated from
the magnetic flux density measured by the Hall sensor positioned
in the special points above/below the ring center. The experimental
and the numerical techniques to determine the value are discussed. Being
very promising for characterization of a current flowing across the joints in
welded YBaCuO rings (its dependencies on the temperature and the external
magnetic field as well as the time dissipation), the approach has been applied
to study corresponding properties of the intra- and intergrain currents flowing
across the -twisted grain boundaries which are frequent in bulk
melt-textured YBaCuO samples. We present experimental data related to the flux
penetration inside a bore of MT YBaCuO rings both in the non-magnetized, virgin
state and during the field reversal. The shielding properties and their
dependence on external magnetic fields are also studied. Besides, we consider
the flux creep effects and their influence on the current re-distribution
during a dwell.Comment: 13 pages, 16 figures (EPS), RevTeX4. In the revised version,
corrections to perturbing effects near the weak links are introduced, one
more figure is added. lin
Introduction of Solid Food to Young Infants
Timing of the first introduction of solid food during infancy may have potential effects on life-long health. To understand the characteristics that are associated with the timing of infantsâ initial exposure to solid foods. The 2000 National Survey of Early Childhood Health (NSECH) was a nationally representative telephone survey of 2,068 parents of children aged 4â35 months, which profiled content and quality of health care for young children. African-American and Latino families were over-sampled. Analyses in this report include bivariate tests and logistic regressions. 62% of parents reported introducing solids to their child between 4â6 months of age. African-American mothers (OR = 0.5 [0.3, 0.9]), English-speaking Latino mothers (OR = 0.4 [0.2, 0.7]), White mothers with more than high school education (OR = 0.5 [0.2, 1.0]), and mothers who breastfed for 4 months or longer (OR = 0.4 [0.3, 0.7]) were less likely to introduce solids early. Most parents (92%) of children 4â9 months of age reported that their pediatric provider had discussed introduction of solids with them since the childâs birth, and provider discussion of feeding was not associated with the timing of introduction of solids. Although most parents recall discussing the introduction of solid foods with their childâs physician, several subgroups of mothers introduce solid foods earlier than the AAP recommendation of 4â6 months. More effective discussion of solid food introduction linked to counseling and support of breastfeeding by the primary health care provider may reduce early introduction of solids
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