207 research outputs found
Investigation of -dependent dynamical heterogeneity in a colloidal gel by x-ray photon correlation spectroscopy
We use time-resolved X-Photon Correlation Spectroscopy to investigate the
slow dynamics of colloidal gels made of moderately attractive carbon black
particles. We show that the slow dynamics is temporally heterogeneous and
quantify its fluctuations by measuring the variance of the instantaneous
intensity correlation function. The amplitude of dynamical fluctuations has a
non-monotonic dependence on scattering vector , in stark contrast with
recent experiments on strongly attractive colloidal gels [Duri and Cipelletti,
\textit{Europhys. Lett.} \textbf{76}, 972 (2006)]. We propose a simple scaling
argument for the -dependence of fluctuations in glassy systems that
rationalizes these findings.Comment: Final version published in PR
Simultaneous measurement of the maximum oscillation amplitude and the transient decay time constant of the QCM reveals stiffness changes of the adlayer
Interpretation of adsorption kinetics measured with a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) can be difficult for adlayers undergoing modification of their mechanical properties. We have studied the behavior of the oscillation amplitude, A 0, and the decay time constant, Ï„, of quartz during adsorption of proteins and cells, by use of a home-made QCM. We are able to measure simultaneously the frequency, f, the dissipation factor, D, the maximum amplitude, A 0, and the transient decay time constant, Ï„, every 300ms in liquid, gaseous, or vacuum environments. This analysis enables adsorption and modification of liquid/mass properties to be distinguished. Moreover the surface coverage and the stiffness of the adlayer can be estimated. These improvements promise to increase the appeal of QCM methodology for any applications measuring intimate contact of a dynamic material with a solid surfac
Linear response subordination to intermittent energy release in off-equilibrium aging dynamics
The interpretation of experimental and numerical data describing
off-equilibrium aging dynamics crucially depends on the connection between
spontaneous and induced fluctuations. The hypothesis that linear response
fluctuations are statistically subordinated to irreversible outbursts of
energy, so-called quakes, leads to predictions for averages and fluctuations
spectra of physical observables in reasonable agreement with experimental
results [see e.g. Sibani et al., Phys. Rev. B74:224407, 2006]. Using
simulational data from a simple but representative Ising model with plaquette
interactions, direct statistical evidence supporting the hypothesis is
presented and discussed in this work.
A strict temporal correlation between quakes and intermittent magnetization
fluctuations is demonstrated. The external magnetic field is shown to bias the
pre-existent intermittent tails of the magnetic fluctuation distribution, with
little or no effect on the Gaussian part of the latter. Its impact on energy
fluctuations is shown to be negligible.
Linear response is thus controlled by the quakes and inherits their temporal
statistics. These findings provide a theoretical basis for analyzing
intermittent linear response data from aging system in the same way as thermal
energy fluctuations, which are far more difficult to measure.Comment: 9 pages, 10 figures. Text improve
Time Resolved Correlation measurements of temporally heterogeneous dynamics
Time Resolved Correlation (TRC) is a recently introduced light scattering
technique that allows to detect and quantify dynamic heterogeneities. The
technique is based on the analysis of the temporal evolution of the speckle
pattern generated by the light scattered by a sample, which is quantified by
, the degree of correlation between speckle images recorded at
time and . Heterogeneous dynamics results in significant
fluctuations of with time . We describe how to optimize TRC
measurements and how to detect and avoid possible artifacts. The statistical
properties of the fluctuations of are analyzed by studying their
variance, probability distribution function, and time autocorrelation function.
We show that these quantities are affected by a noise contribution due to the
finite number of detected speckles. We propose and demonstrate a method to
correct for the noise contribution, based on a extrapolation
scheme. Examples from both homogeneous and heterogeneous dynamics are provided.
Connections with recent numerical and analytical works on heterogeneous glassy
dynamics are briefly discussed.Comment: 19 pages, 15 figures. Submitted to PR
Heterogeneous Dynamics of Coarsening Systems
We show by means of experiments, theory and simulations, that the slow
dynamics of coarsening systems displays dynamic heterogeneity similar to that
observed in glass-forming systems. We measure dynamic heterogeneity via novel
multi-point functions which quantify the emergence of dynamic, as opposed to
static, correlations of fluctuations. Experiments are performed on a coarsening
foam using Time Resolved Correlation, a recently introduced light scattering
method. Theoretically we study the Ising model, and present exact results in
one dimension, and numerical results in two dimensions. For all systems the
same dynamic scaling of fluctuations with domain size is observed.Comment: Minor changes; to be published in Phys. Rev. Let
Syntaxin 16 is a master recruitment factor for cytokinesis
Recently it was shown that both recycling endosome and endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT) components are required for cytokinesis, in which they are believed to act in a sequential manner to bring about secondary ingression and abscission, respectively. However, it is not clear how either of these complexes is targeted to the midbody and whether their delivery is coordinated. The trafficking of membrane vesicles between different intracellular organelles involves the formation of soluble N-ethylmaleiÂmide–sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) complexes. Although membrane traffic is known to play an important role in cytokinesis, the contribution and identity of intracellular SNAREs to cytokinesis remain unclear. Here we demonstrate that syntaxin 16 is a key regulator of cytokinesis, as it is required for recruitment of both recycling endosome–associated Exocyst and ESCRT machinery during late telophase, and therefore that these two distinct facets of cytokinesis are inextricably linked
Somatic genome editing with CRISPR/Cas9 generates and corrects a metabolic disease
Germline manipulation using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing has dramatically accelerated the generation of new mouse models. Nonetheless, many metabolic disease models still depend upon laborious germline targeting, and are further complicated by the need to avoid developmental phenotypes. We sought to address these experimental limitations by generating somatic mutations in the adult liver using CRISPR/Cas9, as a new strategy to model metabolic disorders. As proof-of-principle, we targeted the low-density lipoprotein receptor (Ldlr), which when deleted, leads to severe hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis. Here we show that hepatic disruption of Ldlr with AAV-CRISPR results in severe hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis. We further demonstrate that co-disruption of Apob, whose germline loss is embryonically lethal, completely prevented disease through compensatory inhibition of hepatic LDL production. This new concept of metabolic disease modeling by somatic genome editing could be applied to many other systemic as well as liver-restricted disorders which are difficult to study by germline manipulation
Fluctuations in the coarsening dynamics of the O(N) model: are they similar to those in glassy systems?
We study spatio-temporal fluctuations in the non-equilibrium dynamics of the
d dimensional O(N) in the large N limit. We analyse the invariance of the
dynamic equations for the global correlation and response in the slow ageing
regime under transformations of time. We find that these equations are
invariant under scale transformations. We extend this study to the action in
the dynamic generating functional finding similar results. This model therefore
falls into a different category from glassy problems in which full
time-reparametrisation invariance, a larger symmetry that emcompasses time
scale invariance, is expected to be realised asymptotically. Consequently, the
spatio-temporal fluctuations of the large N O(N) model should follow a
different pattern from that of glassy systems. We compute the fluctuations of
local, as well as spatially separated, two-field composite operators and
responses, and we confront our results with the ones found numerically for the
3d Edwards-Anderson model and kinetically constrained lattice gases. We analyse
the dependence of the fluctuations of the composite operators on the growing
domain length and we compare to what has been found in super-cooled liquids and
glasses. Finally, we show that the development of time-reparametrisation
invariance in glassy systems is intimately related to a well-defined and finite
effective temperature, specified from the modification of the
fluctuation-dissipation theorem out of equilibrium. We then conjecture that the
global asymptotic time-reparametrisation invariance is broken down to time
scale invariance in all coarsening systems.Comment: 57 pages, 5 figure
Cortical depth dependent functional responses in humans at 7T: improved specificity with 3D GRASE
Ultra high fields (7T and above) allow functional imaging with high contrast-to-noise ratios and improved spatial resolution. This, along with improved hardware and imaging techniques, allow investigating columnar and laminar functional responses. Using gradient-echo (GE) (T2* weighted) based sequences, layer specific responses have been recorded from human (and animal) primary visual areas. However, their increased sensitivity to large surface veins potentially clouds detecting and interpreting layer specific responses. Conversely, spin-echo (SE) (T2 weighted) sequences are less sensitive to large veins and have been used to map cortical columns in humans. T2 weighted 3D GRASE with inner volume selection provides high isotropic resolution over extended volumes, overcoming some of the many technical limitations of conventional 2D SE-EPI, whereby making layer specific investigations feasible. Further, the demonstration of columnar level specificity with 3D GRASE, despite contributions from both stimulated echoes and conventional T2 contrast, has made it an attractive alternative over 2D SE-EPI. Here, we assess the spatial specificity of cortical depth dependent 3D GRASE functional responses in human V1 and hMT by comparing it to GE responses. In doing so we demonstrate that 3D GRASE is less sensitive to contributions from large veins in superficial layers, while showing increased specificity (functional tuning) throughout the cortex compared to GE
Evidence for Diffuse Central Retinal Edema In Vivo in Diabetic Male Sprague Dawley Rats
Background: Investigations into the mechanism of diffuse retinal edema in diabetic subjects have been limited by a lack of animal models and techniques that co-localized retinal thickness and hydration in vivo. In this study we test the hypothesis that a previously reported supernormal central retinal thickness on MRI measured in experimental diabetic retinopathy in vivo represents a persistent and diffuse edema. Methodology/Principal Findings: In diabetic and age-matched control rats, and in rats experiencing dilutional hyponatremia (as a positive edema control), whole central retinal thickness, intraretinal water content and apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC, ‘water mobility’) were measured in vivo using quantitative MRI methods. Glycated hemoglobin and retinal thickness ex vivo (histology) were also measured in control and diabetic groups. In the dilutional hyponatremia model, central retinal thickness and water content were supernormal by quantitative MRI, and intraretinal water mobility profiles changed in a manner consistent with intracellular edema. Groups of diabetic (2, 3, 4, 6, and 9 mo of diabetes), and age-matched controls were then investigated with MRI and all diabetic rats showed supernormal whole central retinal thickness. In a separate study in 4 mo diabetic rats (and controls), MRI retinal thickness and water content metrics were significantly greater than normal, and ADC was subnormal in the outer retina; the increase in retinal thickness was not detected histologically on sections of fixed and dehydrated retinas from these rats
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