Protein crystal growth results from shuttle flight 51-F

The protein crystal growth (PCG) experiments run on 51-F were analyzed. It was found that: (1) sample stability is increased over that observed during the experiments on flight 51-D; (2) the dialysis experiments produced lysozyme crystals that were significantly larger than those obtained in our identical ground-based studies; (3) temperature fluctuations apparently caused problems during the crystallization experiments on 51-F; (4) it is indicated that teflon tape stabilizes droplets on the syringe tips; (5) samples survived during the reentry and landing in glass tips that were not stoppered with plungers; (6) from the ground-based studies, it was expected that equilibration should be complete within 2 to 4 days for all of these vapor-diffusion experiments, thus it appears that the vapor diffusion rates are somewhat slower under microgravity conditions; (7) drop tethering was highly successful, all four of the tethered drops were stable, even though they contained MPD solutions; (8) the PCG experiments on 51-F were done to assess the hardware and experimental procedures that are developed for future flights, when temperature control will be available. Lysozyme crystals obtained by microdialysis are considerably larger than those obtained on the ground, using the identical apparatus and procedures

Space station structures and dynamics test program

The design, construction, and operation of a low-Earth orbit space station poses challenges for development and implementation of technology. One specific challenge is the development of a dynamics test program for defining the space station design requirements, and identifying and characterizing phenomena affecting the space station's design and development. The test proposal, as outlined, is a comprehensive structural dynamics program to be launched in support of the space station (SS). Development of a parametric data base and verification of the mathematical models and analytical analysis tools necessary for engineering support of the station's design, construction, and operation provide the impetus for the dynamics test program. The four test phases planned are discussed: testing of SS applicable structural concepts; testing of SS prototypes; testing of actual SS structural hardware; and on-orbit testing of SS construction

Intrabodies Binding the Proline-Rich Domains of Mutant Huntingtin Increase Its Turnover and Reduce Neurotoxicity

Although expanded polyglutamine (polyQ) repeats are inherently toxic, causing at least nine neurodegenerative diseases, the protein context determines which neurons are affected. The polyQ expansion that causes Huntington's disease (HD) is in the first exon (HDx-1) of huntingtin (Htt). However, other parts of the protein, including the 17 N-terminal amino acids and two proline (polyP) repeat domains, regulate the toxicity of mutant Htt. The role of the P-rich domain that is flanked by the polyP domains has not been explored. Using highly specific intracellular antibodies (intrabodies), we tested various epitopes for their roles in HDx-1 toxicity, aggregation, localization, and turnover. Three domains in the P-rich region (PRR) of HDx-1 are defined by intrabodies: MW7 binds the two polyP domains, and Happ1 and Happ3, two new intrabodies, bind the unique, P-rich epitope located between the two polyP epitopes. We find that the PRR-binding intrabodies, as well as VL12.3, which binds the N-terminal 17 aa, decrease the toxicity and aggregation of HDx-1, but they do so by different mechanisms. The PRR-binding intrabodies have no effect on Htt localization, but they cause a significant increase in the turnover rate of mutant Htt, which VL12.3 does not change. In contrast, expression of VL12.3 increases nuclear Htt. We propose that the PRR of mutant Htt regulates its stability, and that compromising this pathogenic epitope by intrabody binding represents a novel therapeutic strategy for treating HD. We also note that intrabody binding represents a powerful tool for determining the function of protein epitopes in living cells

Hanging drop crystal growth apparatus

This invention relates generally to control systems for controlling crystal growth, and more particularly to such a system which uses a beam of light refracted by the fluid in which crystals are growing to detect concentration of solutes in the liquid. In a hanging drop apparatus, a laser beam is directed onto drop which refracts the laser light into primary and secondary bows, respectively, which in turn fall upon linear diode detector arrays. As concentration of solutes in drop increases due to solvent removal, these bows move farther apart on the arrays, with the relative separation being detected by arrays and used by a computer to adjust solvent vapor transport from the drop. A forward scattering detector is used to detect crystal nucleation in drop, and a humidity detector is used, in one embodiment, to detect relative humidity in the enclosure wherein drop is suspended. The novelty of this invention lies in utilizing angular variance of light refracted from drop to infer, by a computer algorithm, concentration of solutes therein. Additional novelty is believed to lie in using a forward scattering detector to detect nucleating crystallites in drop

A fresh look at eta2(1645), eta2(1870), eta2(2030) and f2(1910) in pbar-p -> eta + 3pizero

There is a large discrepancy between results of Crystal Barrel and WA102 for the branching ratio R = BR[eta2(1870)->a2(1320)pi]/ BR[eta2(1870)->f2(1270)eta]. An extensive re-analysis of the Crystal Barrel data redetermines branching ratios for decays of eta2(1870), eta2(1645), eta2(2030) and f2(1910). This re-analysis confirms a small value for R of 1.60+-0.39, inconsistent with the value 32.6+-12.6 of WA102. The likely origin of the discrepancy is that the WA102 data contain a strong f2(1910)->a2-pi signal as well as eta2(1870). There is strong evidence that the eta2(1870) has resonant phase variation. A peak in f2(1270)a0(980) confirms closely the parameters of the a2(2255) resonance observed previously. A peak in eta2(2030)-pi is interpreted naturally in terms of pi2(2245) with reduced errors for mass and width M=2285+-20(stat)+-25(syst) MeV, Gamma=250+-20(stat)+-25(syst) MeV.Comment: 25 pages, 13 figures; several major additions in final versio

K−K^--Nucleus Scattering at Low and Intermediate Energies

We calculate $K^-$-nucleus elastic differential, reaction and total cross sections for different nuclei ($^{12}$C,$^{40}$Ca and $^{208}$Pb) at several laboratory antikaon momenta, ranging from 127 MeV to 800 MeV. We use different antikaon-nucleus optical potentials, some of them fitted to kaonic atom data, and study the sensitivity of the cross sections to the considered antikaon-nucleus dynamics.Comment: Only 4 pages, Latex, 3 Figures. This version is much shorter than the previous one. Some details and references have been omitte

The preliminary lattice QCD calculation of κ\kappa meson decay width

We present a direct lattice QCD calculation of the $\kappa$ meson decay width with the s-wave scattering phase shift for the isospin $I=1/2$ pion-kaon ($\pi K$) system. We employ a special finite size formula, which is the extension of the Rummukainen-Gottlieb formula for the $\pi K$ system in the moving frame, to calculate the scattering phase, which indicates a resonance around $\kappa$ meson mass. Through the effective range formula, we extract the effective $\kappa \to \pi K$ coupling constant $g_{\kappa \pi K} = 4.54(76)$ GeV and decay width $\Gamma = 293 \pm 101$ MeV. Our simulations are done with the MILC gauge configurations with $N_f=2+1$ flavors of the "Asqtad" improved staggered dynamical sea quarks on a $16^3\times48$ lattice at $(m_\pi + m_K) / m_\kappa \approx 0.8$ and lattice spacing $a \approx 0.15$ fm.Comment: To make it concise. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1110.1422, but much of v1 text overlap with articles by same and other authors remove

How Resonances can synchronise with Thresholds

The mechanism by which a threshold may capture a resonance is examined. It involves a threshold cusp interfering constructively with either or both (i) a resonance produced via confinement, (ii) attractive t- and u-channel exchanges. The fo(980), X(3872) and Z(4430) are studied in detail. The fo(980) provides a valuable model of the locking mechanism. The X(3872) is too narrow to be fitted by a cusp, and requires either a resonance or virtual state. The Z(4430) can be fitted as a resonance but also can be fitted successfully by a cusp with no nearby resonant pole.Comment: 19 pages, 6 figures. Replaces 0709.125

Meson-Baryon Form Factors in Chiral Colour Dielectric Model

The renormalised form factors for pseudoscalar meson-baryon coupling are computed in chiral colour dielectric model. This has been done by rearranging the Lippmann-Schwinger series for the meson baryon scattering matrix so that it can be expressed as a baryon pole term with renormalized form factors and baryon masses and the rest of the terms which arise from the crossed diagrams. Thus we are able to obtain an integral equation for the renormalized meson-baryon form factors in terms of the bare form factors as well as an expression for the meson self energy. This integral equation is solved and renormalized meson baryon form factors and renormalized baryon masses are computed. The parameters of the model are adjusted to obtain a best fit to the physical baryon masses. The calculations show that the renormalized form factors are energy-dependent and differ from the bare form factors primarily at momentum transfers smaller than 1 GeV. At nucleon mass, the change in the form factors is about 10% at zero momentum transfer. The computed form factors are soft with the equivalent monopole cut-off mass of about 500 MeV. The renormalized coupling constants are obtained by comparing the chiral colour dielectric model interaction Hamiltonian with the standard form of meson-nucleon interaction Hamiltonian. The ratio of $\Delta N\pi$ and $NN\pi$ coupling constants is found to be about 2.15. This value is very close to the experimental value.Comment: 16 pages, 7 postscript figure

Pion Cloud Contribution to K+ Nucleus Scattering

A careful reanalysis is done of the contribution to $K^{+}$ nucleus scattering from the interaction of the kaon with the virtual pion cloud. The usual approximations made in the evaluation of the related kaon selfenergy are shown to fail badly. We also find new interaction mechanisms which provide appreciable corrections to the kaon selfenergy. Some of these contribute to the imaginary part below pion creation threshold. The inclusion of these new mechanisms in the inelastic part of the optical potential produces a significant improvement in the differential and total $K^{+}$ nuclear cross sections. Uncertainties remain in the dispersive part of the optical potential.Comment: 27 pages, 17 figures (not all of them included, please request them), report UG-DFM-2/9