4,935 research outputs found
Molecular simulations of entangled defect structures around nanoparticles in nematic liquid crystals
We investigate the defect structures forming around two nanoparticles in a
Gay-Berne nematic liquid crystal using molecular simulations. For small
separations, disclinations entangle both particles forming the figure of eight,
the figure of omega and the figure of theta. These defect structures are
similar in shape and occur with a comparable frequency to micron-sized
particles studied in experiments. The simulations reveal fast transitions from
one defect structure to another suggesting that particles of nanometre size
cannot be bound together effectively. We identify the 'three-ring' structure
observed in previous molecular simulations as a superposition of the different
entangled and non-entangled states over time and conclude that it is not itself
a stable defect structure.Comment: keywords: molecular-simulation, defects, nematic, disclination,
algorithmic classification ; 8 pages, 7 figures, 1 tabl
Ethical Consistency and Experience: An Attempt to Influence Researcher Attitudes Toward Questionable Research Practices Through Reading Prompts
Over the past couple of decades, the apparent widespread occurrence of Questionable Research Practices (QRPs) in scientific research has been widely discussed in the research ethics literature as a source of concern. Various ways of reducing their use have been proposed and implemented, ranging from improved training and incentives for adopting best practices to systematic reforms. This article reports on the results of two studies that investigated the efficacy of simple, psychological interventions aimed at changing researcher attitudes toward QRPs. While the interventions did not significantly modify researchers’ reactions to QRPs, they showed differential efficacy depending on scientists’ experience, suggesting complexities in researcher psychology and the ethics of QRPs that merit further study
Surface induced magnetization reversal of MnP nanoclusters embedded in GaP
We investigate the quasi-static magnetic behavior of ensembles of
non-interacting ferromagnetic nanoparticles consisting of MnP nanoclusters
embedded in GaP(001) epilayers grown at 600, 650 and 700{\deg}C. We use a
phenomenological model, in which surface effects are included, to reproduce the
experimental hysteresis curves measured as a function of temperature (120-260
K) and direction of the applied field. The slope of the hysteresis curve during
magnetization reversal is determined by the MnP nanoclusters size distribution,
which is a function of the growth temperature. Our results show that the
coercive field is very sensitive to the strength of the surface anisotropy,
which reduces the energy barrier between the two states of opposite
magnetization. Notably, this reduction in the energy barrier increases by a
factor of 3 as the sample temperature is lowered from 260 to 120 K.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figure
Molecular elasticity and the geometric phase
We present a method for solving the Worm Like Chain (WLC) model for twisting
semiflexible polymers to any desired accuracy. We show that the WLC free energy
is a periodic function of the applied twist with period 4 pi. We develop an
analogy between WLC elasticity and the geometric phase of a spin half system.
These analogies are used to predict elastic properties of twist-storing
polymers. We graphically display the elastic response of a single molecule to
an applied torque. This study is relevant to mechanical properties of
biopolymers like DNA.Comment: five pages, one figure, revtex, revised in the light of referee's
comments, to appear in PR
Reduced LIMK2 expression in colorectal cancer reflects its role in limiting stem cell proliferation
Objective: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major contributor to cancer mortality and morbidity. LIM kinase 2 (LIMK2) promotes tumour cell invasion and metastasis. The objectives of this study were to determine how LIMK2 expression is associated with CRC progression and patient outcome, and to use genetically modified Drosophila and mice to determine how LIMK2 deletion affects gastrointestinal stem cell regulation and tumour development.<p></p>
Design: LIMK2 expression and activity were measured by immunostaining tumours from CRC-prone mice, human CRC cell lines and 650 human tumours. LIMK knockdown in Drosophila or Limk2 deletion in mice allowed for assessment of their contributions to gastrointestinal stem cell homeostasis and tumour development.<p></p>
Results: LIMK2 expression was reduced in intestinal tumours of cancer-prone mice, as well as in human CRC cell lines and tumours. Reduced LIMK2 expression and substrate phosphorylation were associated with shorter patient survival. Genetic analysis in Drosophila midgut and intestinal epithelial cells isolated from genetically modified mice revealed a conserved role for LIMK2 in constraining gastrointestinal stem cell proliferation. Limk2 deletion increased colon tumour size in a colitis-associated colorectal mouse cancer model.<p></p>
Conclusions: This study revealed that LIMK2 expression and activity progressively decrease with advancing stage, and supports the hypothesis that there is selective pressure for reduced LIMK2 expression in CRC to relieve negative constraints imposed upon gastrointestinal stem cells.<p></p>
Disparity, diversity, and duplications in the Caryophyllales
Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/141874/1/nph14772_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/141874/2/nph14772.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/141874/3/nph14772-sup-0001-SupInfo.pd
Competing Demands for Time and Self-Care Behaviors, Processes of Care, and Intermediate Outcomes Among People With Diabetes: Translating Research Into Action for Diabetes (TRIAD)
ObjectiveTo determine whether competing demands for time affect diabetes self-care behaviors, processes of care, and intermediate outcomes.Research design and methodsWe used survey and medical record data from 5,478 participants in Translating Research Into Action for Diabetes (TRIAD) and hierarchical regression models to examine the cross-sectional associations between competing demands for time and diabetes outcomes, including self-management, processes of care, and intermediate health outcomes.ResultsFifty-two percent of participants reported no competing demands, 7% reported caregiving responsibilities only, 36% reported employment responsibilities only, and 6% reported both caregiving and employment responsibilities. For both women and men, employment responsibilities (with or without caregiving responsibilities) were associated with lower rates of diabetes self-care behaviors, worse processes of care, and, in men, worse HbA(1c).ConclusionsAccommodations for competing demands for time may promote self-management and improve the processes and outcomes of care for employed adults with diabetes
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Motor phenotypes, medication and mood: further associations with impulsive behaviours in Parkinson's disease
BACKGROUND: Dopaminergic drugs are the primary risk factor for Impulse Control Behaviours (ICB) in Parkinson's disease (PD), others being early-onset disease and gender.
OBJECTIVE: This report further explores ICB symptom relationships with motor and mood phenotypes, the complex relationship with dopaminergic medications, and hypothesizes a model with potential clinical implications.
METHODS: Data from 500 PD patients were analyzed. Hypersexuality, gambling and shopping behaviour were assessed using selected questions from the Minnesota Impulsive Disorders Interview questionnaire. Local questions assessed hobbyism. Motor characteristics considered were akinetic-rigid/gait disturbance (PIGD) and 'non-PIGD' phenotypes, motor severity, motor progression, and presence/absence of motor fluctuations. Other variables included anxiety, depression, current levodopa and agonist use, age, gender and cognition.
RESULTS: Overall, ICB symptom frequency was 17.8%. There was no relationship between PIGD/non-PIGD motor phenotypes and ICB symptoms. Those with ICB symptoms had higher total combined levodopa/agonist equivalent intake, but not current agonist-only equivalent intake. ICB symptoms were reported by 23.1% of those taking combined levodopa and agonist compared to 19.2% on agonist monotherapy and 11.6% levodopa monotherapy. Compared with non-ICB patients, patients with ICB symptoms were more likely to show an anxious mood phenotype, reported more motor fluctuations, and were younger.
CONCLUSIONS: Both PIGD and non-PIGD phenotypes are equally affected. Dose-related risk applies to total anti-parkinsonian medication and not just current agonist-only. Anxious mood phenotypes may carry increased risk. A role of anxiety, either as a marker of risk, indirect causal factor, or maintaining factor is incorporated into a preliminary model. We discuss implications for clinical management
Scaling and Asymptotic Scaling in the SU(2) Gauge Theory
We determine the critical couplings for the deconfinement phase transition in
gauge theory on lattices with
and 16 and varying between 16 and 48. A comparison with string
tension data shows scaling of the ratio in the entire
coupling regime , while the individual quantities still
exhibit large scaling violations. We find . We
also discuss in detail the extrapolation of and to the continuum
limit. Our result, which is consistent with the above ratio, is and . We also comment upon corresponding
results for gauge theory and four flavour QCD.Comment: 27 pages with 9 postscript figures included. Plain TeX file (needed
macros are included). BI-TP 92-26, FSU-SCRI-92-103, HLRZ-92-39 (Quote of
UKQCD string tension, and accordingly Figs. 5 and 7a, plus a few typo's
corrected.
Macrophage phenotype in response to ECM bioscaffolds
Macrophage presence and phenotype are critical determinants of the healing response following injury. Downregulation of the pro-inflammatory macrophage phenotype has been associated with the therapeutic use of bioscaffolds composed of extracellular matrix (ECM), but phenotypic characterization of macrophages has typically been limited to small number of non-specific cell surface markers or expressed proteins. The present study determined the response of both primary murine bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDM) and a transformed human mononuclear cell line (THP-1 cells) to degradation products of two different, commonly used ECM bioscaffolds; urinary bladder matrix (UBM-ECM) and small intestinal submucosa (SIS-ECM). Quantified cell responses included gene expression, protein expression, commonly used cell surface markers, and functional assays. Results showed that the phenotype elicited by ECM exposure (MECM) is distinct from both the classically activated IFNγ + LPS phenotype and the alternatively activated IL-4 phenotype. Furthermore, the BMDM and THP-1 macrophages responded differently to identical stimuli, and UBM-ECM and SIS-ECM bioscaffolds induced similar, yet distinct phenotypic profiles. The results of this study not only characterized an MECM phenotype that has anti-inflammatory traits but also showed the risks and challenges of making conclusions about the role of macrophage mediated events without consideration of the source of macrophages and the limitations of individual cell markers
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