3,932 research outputs found
Letter by Scheitz et al regarding article, "Randomized controlled trial of early versus delayed statin therapy in patients with acute ischemic stroke: ASSORT trial (administration of statin on acute ischemic stroke patient)"
No abstract available
Comment on "Quantum Monte Carlo Evidence for Superconductivity in the Three-Band Hubbard Model in Two Dimensions"
In a recent Letter, Kuroki and Aoki [Phys. Rev. Lett. 76, 440 (1996)]
presented quantum Monte-Carlo (QMC) results for pairing correlations in the
three-band Hubbard model, which describes the Cu-d_{x^2-y^2} and O-p_{x,y}
orbitals present in the CuO_2 planes of high-T_c materials. In this comment we
argue that (i) the used parameter set is not appropriate for the description of
high-T_c materials since it does not satisfy the minimal requirement of a
charge-transfer gap at half-filling, and (ii) the observed increase in the
d_{x^2-y^2} channel is dominantly produced by the pair-field correlations
without the vertex part. Hence, the claim of evidence of ODLRO is not
justified.Comment: 1 page latex and 2 eps-figures, uses epsfig, submitted to PR
Measurement of the 187Re({\alpha},n)190Ir reaction cross section at sub-Coulomb energies using the Cologne Clover Counting Setup
Uncertainties in adopted models of particle+nucleus optical-model potentials
directly influence the accuracy in the theoretical predictions of reaction
rates as they are needed for reaction-network calculations in, for instance,
{\gamma}-process nucleosynthesis. The improvement of the {\alpha}+nucleus
optical-model potential is hampered by the lack of experimental data at
astrophysically relevant energies especially for heavier nuclei. Measuring the
Re187({\alpha},n)Ir190 reaction cross section at sub-Coulomb energies extends
the scarce experimental data available in this mass region and helps
understanding the energy dependence of the imaginary part of the
{\alpha}+nucleus optical-model potential at low energies. Applying the
activation method, after the irradiation of natural rhenium targets with
{\alpha}-particle energies of 12.4 to 14.1 MeV, the reaction yield and thus the
reaction cross section were determined via {\gamma}-ray spectroscopy by using
the Cologne Clover Counting Setup and the method of {\gamma}{\gamma}
coincidences. Cross-section values at five energies close to the
astrophysically relevant energy region were measured. Statistical model
calculations revealed discrepancies between the experimental values and
predictions based on widely used {\alpha}+nucleus optical-model potentials.
However, an excellent reproduction of the measured cross-section values could
be achieved from calculations based on the so-called Sauerwein-Rauscher
{\alpha}+nucleus optical-model potential. The results obtained indicate that
the energy dependence of the imaginary part of the {\alpha}+nucleus
optical-model potential can be described by an exponential decrease. Successful
reproductions of measured cross sections at low energies for {\alpha}-induced
reactions in the mass range 141{\leq}A{\leq}187 confirm the global character of
the Sauerwein-Rauscher potential
Preferred auditory temporal processing regimes and auditory-motor synchronization
Decoding the rich temporal dynamics of complex sounds such as speech is constrained by the underlying neuronal-processing mechanisms. Oscillatory theories suggest the existence of one optimal perceptual performance regime at auditory stimulation rates in the delta to theta range (< 10 Hz), but reduced performance in the alpha range (10–14 Hz) is controversial. Additionally, the widely discussed motor system contribution to timing remains unclear. We measured rate discrimination thresholds between 4 and 15 Hz, and auditory-motor coupling strength was estimated through a behavioral auditory-motor synchronization task. In a Bayesian model comparison, high auditory-motor synchronizers showed a larger range of constant optimal temporal judgments than low synchronizers, with performance decreasing in the alpha range. This evidence for optimal processing in the theta range is consistent with preferred oscillatory regimes in auditory cortex that compartmentalize stimulus encoding and processing. The findings suggest, remarkably, that increased auditory-motor synchronization might extend such an optimal range towards faster rates
Autoinhibition regulates the motility of the C. elegans intraflagellar transport motor OSM-3
OSM-3 is a Kinesin-2 family member from Caenorhabditis elegans that is involved in intraflagellar transport (IFT), a process essential for the construction and maintenance of sensory cilia. In this study, using a single-molecule fluorescence assay, we show that bacterially expressed OSM-3 in solution does not move processively (multiple steps along a microtubule without dissociation) and displays low microtubule-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity. However, a point mutation (G444E) in a predicted hinge region of OSM-3's coiled-coil stalk as well as a deletion of that hinge activate ATPase activity and induce robust processive movement. These hinge mutations also cause a conformational change in OSM-3, causing it to adopt a more extended conformation. The motility of wild-type OSM-3 also can be activated by attaching the motor to beads in an optical trap, a situation that may mimic attachment to IFT cargo. Our results suggest that OSM-3 motility is repressed by an intramolecular interaction that involves folding about a central hinge and that IFT cargo binding relieves this autoinhibition in vivo. Interestingly, the G444E allele in C. elegans produces similar ciliary defects to an osm-3–null mutation, suggesting that autoinhibition is important for OSM-3's biological function
Possible experimental signature of octupole correlations in the 0 states of the actinides
= 0 states have been investigated in the actinide nucleus
Pu up to an excitation energy of 3 MeV with a high-resolution (p,t)
experiment at = 24 MeV. To test the recently proposed = 0
double-octupole structure, the phenomenological approach of the
spdf-interacting boson model has been chosen. In addition, the total 0
strength distribution and the strength fragmentation have been compared
to the model predictions as well as to the previously studied (p,t) reactions
in the actinides. The results suggest that the structure of the 0 states
in the actinides might be more complex than the usually discussed pairing
isomers. Instead, the octupole degree of freedom might contribute
significantly. The signature of two close-lying 0 states below the
2-quasiparticle energy is presented as a possible manifestation of strong
octupole correlations in the structure of the 0 states in the actinides.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, published in Phys. Rev. C 88, 041303(R) (2013
Increased accuracy of ligand sensing by receptor internalization
Many types of cells can sense external ligand concentrations with
cell-surface receptors at extremely high accuracy. Interestingly, ligand-bound
receptors are often internalized, a process also known as receptor-mediated
endocytosis. While internalization is involved in a vast number of important
functions for the life of a cell, it was recently also suggested to increase
the accuracy of sensing ligand as the overcounting of the same ligand molecules
is reduced. Here we show, by extending simple ligand-receptor models to
out-of-equilibrium thermodynamics, that internalization increases the accuracy
with which cells can measure ligand concentrations in the external environment.
Comparison with experimental rates of real receptors demonstrates that our
model has indeed biological significance.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in Physical Review
Topological phases for bound states moving in a finite volume
We show that bound states moving in a finite periodic volume have an energy
correction which is topological in origin and universal in character. The
topological volume corrections contain information about the number and mass of
the constituents of the bound states. These results have broad applications to
lattice calculations involving nucleons, nuclei, hadronic molecules, and cold
atoms. We illustrate and verify the analytical results with several numerical
lattice calculations.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, version to appear in Phys. Rev. D Rapid
Communication
Understanding the Concentration Dependence of Viral Capsid Assembly Kinetics - the Origin of the Lag Time and Identifying the Critical Nucleus Size
The kinetics for the assembly of viral proteins into a population of capsids
can be measured in vitro with size exclusion chromatography or dynamic light
scattering, but extracting mechanistic information from these studies is
challenging. For example, it is not straightforward to determine the critical
nucleus size or the elongation time (the time required for a nucleated partial
capsid to grow completion). We show that, for two theoretical models of capsid
assembly, the critical nucleus size can be determined from the concentration
dependence of the assembly reaction half-life and the elongation time is
revealed by the length of the lag phase. Furthermore, we find that the system
becomes kinetically trapped when nucleation becomes fast compared to
elongation. Implications of this constraint for determining elongation
mechanisms from experimental assembly data are discussed.Comment: Submitted to Biophysical Journa
Neurological update: use of cardiac troponin in patients with stroke
Cardiac troponin is a specific and sensitive biomarker to identify and quantify myocardial injury. Myocardial injury is frequently detected after acute ischemic stroke and strongly associated with unfavorable outcomes. Concomitant acute coronary syndrome is only one of several possible differential diagnoses that may cause elevation of cardiac troponin after stroke. As a result, there are uncertainties regarding the correct interpretation and optimal management of stroke patients with myocardial injury in clinical practice. Elevation of cardiac troponin may occur as part of a ‘Stroke-Heart Syndrome’. The term ‘Stroke-Heart Syndrome’ subsumes a clinical spectrum of cardiac complications after stroke including cardiac injury, dysfunction, and arrhythmia which may relate to disturbances of autonomic function and the brain–heart axis. In this review, we provide an up-to-date overview about prognostic implications, mechanisms, and management of elevated cardiac troponin levels in patients with acute ischemic stroke
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