The cDNA and deduced amino acid sequence of the γ subunit of the L-type calcium channel from rabbit skeletal muscle

Complementary DNAs for the γ subunit of the calcium channel of rabbit skeletal muscle were isolated on the basis of peptide sequences derived from the purified protein. The deduced primary structure is without homology to other known protein sequences and is consistent with the γ subunit being an integral membrane protein

Evidence for line nodes in the energy gap of the overdoped Ba(Fe1−x_{1-x}Cox_{x})2_{2}As2_{2} from low-temperature specific heat measurements

Low-temperature specific heat (SH) is measured on Ba(Fe$_{1-x}$Co$_{x}$)$_2$As$_2$ single crystals in a wide doping region under different magnetic fields. For the overdoped sample, we find the clear evidence for the presence of $T^2$ term in the data, which is absent both for the underdoped and optimal doped samples, suggesting the presence of line nodes in the energy gap of the overdoped samples. Moreover, the field induced electron specific heat coefficient $\Delta\gamma(H)$ increases more quickly with the field for the overdoped sample than the underdoped and optimal doped ones, giving another support to our arguments. Our results suggest that the superconducting gap(s) in the present system may have different structures strongly depending on the doping regions.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Curie-like paramagnetism due to incomplete Zhang-Rice singlet formation in La2-xSrxCuO4

In an effort to elucidate the origin of the Curie-like paramagnetism that is generic for heavily-overdoped cuprates, we have performed high transverse-field muon spin rotation (TF-muSR) measurements of La2-xSrxCuO4 single crystals over the Sr content range 0.145 < x < 0.33. We show that the x-dependence of the previously observed field-induced broadening of the internal magnetic field distribution above the superconducting transition temperature Tc reflects the presence of two distinct contributions. One of these becomes less pronounced with increasing x and is attributed to diminishing antiferromagnetic correlations. The other grows with increasing x, but decreases above x ~ 0.30, and is associated with the Curie-like term in the bulk magnetic susceptibility. In contrast to the Curie-like term, however, this second contribution to the TF-muSR line width extends back into the underdoped regime. Our findings imply a coexistence of antiferromagnetically correlated and paramagnetic moments, with the latter becoming dominant beyond x ~ 0.185. This suggests that the doped holes do not neutralize all Cu spins via the formation of Zhang-Rice singlets. Moreover, the paramagnetic component of the TF-muSR line width is explained by holes progressively entering the Cu 3d_{x^2-y^2} orbital with doping.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figure

Exponentially growing solutions in homogeneous Rayleigh-Benard convection

It is shown that homogeneous Rayleigh-Benard flow, i.e., Rayleigh-Benard turbulence with periodic boundary conditions in all directions and a volume forcing of the temperature field by a mean gradient, has a family of exact, exponentially growing, separable solutions of the full non-linear system of equations. These solutions are clearly manifest in numerical simulations above a computable critical value of the Rayleigh number. In our numerical simulations they are subject to secondary numerical noise and resolution dependent instabilities that limit their growth to produce statistically steady turbulent transport.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, to be published in Phys. Rev. E - rapid communication

Bereaved Parents’ Health Status During the First 6 Months After Their Child’s Death

Purpose: To examine bereaved parents’ physical, mental, and social health during the first 6 months after their child’s (<12 years) death from a life-threatening illness. Background and Significance: Bereaved parents have higher mortality and morbidity rates when compared to nonbereaved parents. Acute illnesses, hospitalizations, and medication changes are highest in the first 6 months. An understanding of bereaved parents’ health risk indicators can help inform development of health promotion and disease prevention measures. Methods and Analysis: A prospective descriptive study examined 8 parent dyads. Parents completed health surveys (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System–global, social, and sleep; Brief Symptom Inventory [BSI] 18), which are used to assess parents’ health at 3 and 6 months after their child’s death. Demographic data included a medical history, hospital or emergency department visits, and smoking and alcohol intake. Descriptive statistics were used to compare parents’ scores to US general population scores. Findings: Mothers’ and fathers’ physical, mental, and sleep health scores were typically within 1 to 2 standard deviations of the population norms. However, their social health scores were as low as 3 standard deviations and all parents’ scores were below population norms. Four (25%) of the 16 parents had new diagnosis during the first 6 months. Based on the BSI-18, 3 parents had their scores above population cutoffs, which warranted a need for further clinical evaluation. Conclusions: Health data highlight the “at-risk” health status of bereaved parents. Further validation of these data is required to support the development of health promotion and disease prevention programs

Matriptase regulates c-Met mediated proliferation and invasion in inflammatory breast cancer.

The poor prognosis for patients with inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) compared to patients with other types of breast cancers emphasizes the need to better understand the molecular underpinnings of this disease with the goal of developing effective targeted therapeutics. Dysregulation of matriptase expression, an epithelial-specific member of the type II transmembrane serine protease family, has been demonstrated in many different cancer types. To date, no studies have assessed the expression and potential pro-oncogenic role of matriptase in IBC. We examined the functional relationship between matriptase and the HGF/c-MET signaling pathway in the IBC cell lines SUM149 and SUM190, and in IBC patient samples. Matriptase and c-Met proteins are localized on the surface membrane of IBC cells and their expression is strongly correlated in infiltrating cancer cells and in the cancer cells of lymphatic emboli in patient samples. Abrogation of matriptase expression by silencing with RNAi or inhibition of matriptase proteolytic activity with a synthetic inhibitor impairs the conversion of inactive pro-HGF to active HGF and subsequent c-Met-mediated signaling, leading to efficient impairment of proliferation and invasion of IBC cells. These data show the potential of matriptase inhibitors as a novel targeted therapy for IBC, and lay the groundwork for the development and testing of such drugs

Quantum number projection at finite temperature via thermofield dynamics

Applying the thermo field dynamics, we reformulate exact quantum number projection in the finite-temperature Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov theory. Explicit formulae are derived for the simultaneous projection of particle number and angular momentum, in parallel to the zero-temperature case. We also propose a practical method for the variation-after-projection calculation, by approximating entropy without conflict with the Peierls inequality. The quantum number projection in the finite-temperature mean-field theory will be useful to study effects of quantum fluctuations associated with the conservation laws on thermal properties of nuclei.Comment: 27 pages, using revtex4, to be published in PR

Existence of Dynamical Scaling in the Temporal Signal of Time Projection Chamber

The temporal signals from a large gas detector may show dynamical scaling due to many correlated space points created by the charged particles while passing through the tracking medium. This has been demonstrated through simulation using realistic parameters of a Time Projection Chamber (TPC) being fabricated to be used in ALICE collider experiment at CERN. An interesting aspect of this dynamical behavior is the existence of an universal scaling which does not depend on the multiplicity of the collision. This aspect can be utilised further to study physics at the device level and also for the online monitoring of certain physical observables including electronics noise which are a few crucial parameters for the optimal TPC performance.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figure