3,309 research outputs found
Actin and myosin in non-neuronal exocytosis
Cellular secretion depends on exocytosis of secretory vesicles and discharge of vesicle contents. Actin and myosin are essential for pre-fusion and post-fusion stages of exocytosis. Secretory vesicles depend on actin for transport to and attachment at the cell cortex during the pre-fusion phase. Actin coats on fused vesicles contribute to stabilization of large vesicles, active vesicle contraction and/or retrieval of excess membrane during the post-fusion phase. Myosin molecular motors complement the role of actin. Myosin V is required for vesicle trafficking and attachment to cortical actin. Myosin I and II members engage in local remodeling of cortical actin to allow vesicles to get access to the plasma membrane for membrane fusion. Myosins stabilize open fusion pores and contribute to anchoring and contraction of actin coats to facilitate vesicle content release. Actin and myosin function in secretion is regulated by a plethora of interacting regulatory lipids and proteins. Some of these processes have been first described in non-neuronal cells and reflect adaptations to exocytosis of large secretory vesicles and/or secretion of bulky vesicle cargoes. Here we collate the current knowledge and highlight the role of actomyosin during distinct phases of exocytosis in an attempt to identify unifying molecular mechanisms in non-neuronal secretory cells
Direct Measurement of Effective Magnetic Diffusivity in Turbulent Flow of Liquid Sodium
The first direct measurements of effective magnetic diffusivity in turbulent
flow of electro-conductive fluids (the so-called beta-effect) under magnetic
Reynolds number Rm >> 1 are reported. The measurements are performed in a
nonstationary turbulent flow of liquid sodium, generated in a closed toroidal
channel. The peak level of the Reynolds number reached Re \approx 3 10^6, which
corresponds to the magnetic Reynolds number Rm \approx 30. The magnetic
diffusivity of the liquid metal was determined by measuring the phase shift
between the induced and the applied magnetic fields. The maximal deviation of
magnetic diffusivity from its basic (laminar) value reaches about 50% .Comment: 5 pages, 6 figuser, accepted in PR
A new role for P2X4 receptors as modulators of lung surfactant secretion
In recent years, P2X receptors have attracted increasing attention as regulators of exocytosis and cellular secretion. In various cell types, P2X receptors have been found to stimulate vesicle exocytosis directly via Ca2+ influx and elevation of the intracellular Ca2+ concentration. Recently, a new role for P2X4 receptors as regulators of secretion emerged. Exocytosis of lamellar bodies (LBs), large storage organelles for lung surfactant, results in a local, fusion-activated Ca2+ entry (FACE) in alveolar type II epithelial cells. FACE is mediated via P2X4 receptors that are located on the limiting membrane of LBs and inserted into the plasma membrane upon exocytosis of LBs. The localized Ca2+ influx at the site of vesicle fusion promotes fusion pore expansion and facilitates surfactant release. In addition, this inward-rectifying cation current across P2X4 receptors mediates fluid resorption from lung alveoli. It is hypothesized that the concomitant reduction in the alveolar lining fluid facilitates insertion of surfactant into the airâliquid interphase thereby âactivatingâ it. These findings constitute a novel role for P2X4 receptors in regulating vesicle content secretion as modulators of the secretory output during the exocytic post-fusion phase
Strain bursts in plastically deforming Molybdenum micro- and nanopillars
Plastic deformation of micron and sub-micron scale specimens is characterized
by intermittent sequences of large strain bursts (dislocation avalanches) which
are separated by regions of near-elastic loading. In the present investigation
we perform a statistical characterization of strain bursts observed in
stress-controlled compressive deformation of monocrystalline Molybdenum
micropillars. We characterize the bursts in terms of the associated elongation
increments and peak deformation rates, and demonstrate that these quantities
follow power-law distributions that do not depend on specimen orientation or
stress rate. We also investigate the statistics of stress increments in between
the bursts, which are found to be Weibull distributed and exhibit a
characteristic size effect. We discuss our findings in view of observations of
deformation bursts in other materials, such as face-centered cubic and
hexagonal metals.Comment: 14 pages, 8 figures, submitted to Phil Ma
Mode Coupling relaxation scenario in a confined glass former
Molecular dynamics simulations of a Lennard-Jones binary mixture confined in
a disordered array of soft spheres are presented. The single particle dynamical
behavior of the glass former is examined upon supercooling. Predictions of mode
coupling theory are satisfied by the confined liquid. Estimates of the
crossover temperature are obtained by power law fit to the diffusion
coefficients and relaxation times of the late region. The exponent
of the von Schweidler law is also evaluated. Similarly to the bulk, different
values of the exponent are extracted from the power law fit to the
diffusion coefficients and relaxation times.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, changes in the text, accepted for publication on
Europhysics Letter
Symmetrization and enhancement of the continuous Morlet transform
The forward and inverse wavelet transform using the continuous Morlet basis
may be symmetrized by using an appropriate normalization factor. The loss of
response due to wavelet truncation is addressed through a renormalization of
the wavelet based on power. The spectral density has physical units which may
be related to the squared amplitude of the signal, as do its margins the mean
wavelet power and the integrated instant power, giving a quantitative estimate
of the power density with temporal resolution. Deconvolution with the wavelet
response matrix reduces the spectral leakage and produces an enhanced wavelet
spectrum providing maximum resolution of the harmonic content of a signal.
Applications to data analysis are discussed.Comment: 12 pages, 8 figures, 2 tables, minor revision, final versio
Hydraulic Actuated Automotive Cooling Systems - Nonlinear Control and Test
The replacement of traditional automotive mechanical cooling system components with computer controlled servo-motor driven actuators can improve temperature tracking and reduce parasitic losses. The integration of hydraulic actuators in the engine cooling circuit offers greater power density in a smaller package space when compared with electric actuators. In this paper, a comprehensive nonlinear backstepping robust control technique is developed to regulate the engine coolant temperature by controlling a hydraulic coolant pump and radiator fan. An experimental test bench has been assembled to investigate the hydraulic automotive thermal system performance. Representative numerical and experimental results are presented and discussed. Overall, the proposed controller was successful in tracking prescribed engine temperature proïŹles while harmoniously regulating the power consumption of the coolant pump and radiator fan
- âŠ