Effective Quantum Dynamics of Interacting Systems with Inhomogeneous Coupling

We study the quantum dynamics of a single mode/particle interacting inhomogeneously with a large number of particles and introduce an effective approach to find the accessible Hilbert space where the dynamics takes place. Two relevant examples are given: the inhomogeneous Tavis-Cummings model (e.g., N atomic qubits coupled to a single cavity mode, or to a motional mode in trapped ions) and the inhomogeneous coupling of an electron spin to N nuclear spins in a quantum dot.Comment: 9 pages and 10 figures, new version, accepted in Physical Review

Interquark Potential in Schrodinger Representation

Static charges are introduced in Yang-Mills theory via coupling to heavy fermions. The states containing static color charges are constructed using integration over gauge transformations. A functional representation for interquark potential is obtained. This representation provides a simple criterion for confinement.Comment: 9pp., Late

Pretreatment cognitive and neural differences between sapropterin dihydrochloride responders and non-responders with phenylketonuria

Sapropterin dihydrochloride (BH4) reduces phenylalanine (Phe) levels and improves white matter integrity in a subset of individuals with phenylketonuria (PKU) known as “responders.” Although prior research has identified biochemical and genotypic differences between BH4 responders and non-responders, cognitive and neural differences remain largely unexplored. To this end, we compared intelligence and white matter integrity prior to treatment with BH4 in 13 subsequent BH4 responders with PKU, 16 subsequent BH4 non-responders with PKU, and 12 healthy controls. Results indicated poorer intelligence and white matter integrity in non-responders compared to responders prior to treatment. In addition, poorer white matter integrity was associated with greater variability in Phe across the lifetime in non-responders but not in responders. These results underscore the importance of considering PKU as a multi-faceted, multi-dimensional disorder and point to the need for additional research to delineate characteristics that predict response to treatment with BH4

The G protein-gated potassium current I(K,ACh) is constitutively active in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation

Background— The molecular mechanism of increased background inward rectifier current (IK1) in atrial fibrillation (AF) is not fully understood. We tested whether constitutively active acetylcholine (ACh)-activated IK,ACh contributes to enhanced basal conductance in chronic AF (cAF). Methods and Results— Whole-cell and single-channel currents were measured with standard voltage-clamp techniques in atrial myocytes from patients with sinus rhythm (SR) and cAF. The selective IK,ACh blocker tertiapin was used for inhibition of IK,ACh. Whole-cell basal current was larger in cAF than in SR, whereas carbachol (CCh)-activated IK,ACh was lower in cAF than in SR. Tertiapin (0.1 to 100 nmol/L) reduced IK,ACh in a concentration-dependent manner with greater potency in cAF than in SR (−logIC50: 9.1 versus 8.2; P<0.05). Basal current contained a tertiapin-sensitive component that was larger in cAF than in SR (tertiapin [10 nmol/L]-sensitive current at −100 mV: cAF, −6.7±1.2 pA/pF, n=16/5 [myocytes/patients] versus SR, −1.7±0.5 pA/pF, n=24/8), suggesting contribution of constitutively active IK,ACh to basal current. In single-channel recordings, constitutively active IK,ACh was prominent in cAF but not in SR (channel open probability: cAF, 5.4±0.7%, n=19/9 versus SR, 0.1±0.05%, n=16/9; P<0.05). Moreover, IK1 channel open probability was higher in cAF than in SR (13.4±0.4%, n=19/9 versus 11.4±0.7%, n=16/9; P<0.05) without changes in other channel characteristics. Conclusions— Our results demonstrate that larger basal inward rectifier K+ current in cAF consists of increased IK1 activity and constitutively active IK,ACh. Blockade of IK,ACh may represent a new therapeutic target in AF

Flavanols in grapevine: In vitro accumulation and defence reactions in shoots

Callus of two grapevine cultivars was cultivated for 4 weeks on MS-medium, half strength, which was additionally supplemented with abscisic acid (ABA), (+)-catechin or a combination of both. (+)-Catechin did not elevate the pool size of the callus flavanols. Application of 3 % sucrose caused a significant increase of the callus flavanols, whereas the response to ABA was quite variable. Leaves and shoots of cv. Spatburgunder (Pinot noir) were examined histologically on the mode of flavanol deposition. The flavanols of the leaf mesophyll were spread evenly throughout the central vacuole whereas those of the outer shoot cortex were confined to special intravacuolar globules. The amorphous leaf flavanols were converted into globdar ones in the vicinity of fungal infections. Apparently, the central vacuole acquires special adjustment under the influence of infection stress. When paraquat was applied to the shoots, amorphous material was attached towards the cell walls. Additionally, the globular flavanols disappeared which could be reversed by addition of (+)-catechin. Thus, (+)-catechin diminished the oxidative damage caused by the oxygen radical producing herbicide. (+)-Catechin and epicatechin are the dominant flavanols of the leaves, whereas the dimeric proanthocyanidins B3 and B1 (PAs) predominate in the callus

On Critical Velocities in Exciton Superfluidity

The presence of exciton phonon interactions is shown to play a key role in the exciton superfluidity. We apply the Landau criterion for an exciton-phonon condensate moving uniformly at zero temperature. It turns out that there are essentially two critical velocities in the theory. Within the range of these velocities the condensate can exist only as a bright soliton. The excitation spectrum and differential equations for the wave function of this condensate are derived.Comment: 7 pages, Latex; to be published in Phys.Rev.Lett (1997