27,683 research outputs found
Optimization of a neutrino factory oscillation experiment
We discuss the optimization of a neutrino factory experiment for neutrino
oscillation physics in terms of muon energy, baselines, and oscillation
channels (gold, silver, platinum). In addition, we study the impact and
requirements for detector technology improvements, and we compare the results
to beta beams. We find that the optimized neutrino factory has two baselines,
one at about 3000 to 5000km, the other at about 7500km (``magic'' baseline).
The threshold and energy resolution of the golden channel detector have the
most promising optimization potential. This, in turn, could be used to lower
the muon energy from about 50GeV to about 20GeV. Furthermore, the inclusion of
electron neutrino appearance with charge identification (platinum channel)
could help for large values of \sin^2 2 \theta_{13}. Though tau neutrino
appearance with charge identification (silver channel) helps, in principle, to
resolve degeneracies for intermediate \sin^2 2 \theta_{13}, we find that
alternative strategies may be more feasible in this parameter range. As far as
matter density uncertainties are concerned, we demonstrate that their impact
can be reduced by the combination of different baselines and channels. Finally,
in comparison to beta beams and other alternative technologies, we clearly can
establish a superior performance for a neutrino factory in the case \sin^2 2
\theta_{13} < 0.01.Comment: 51 pages, 25 figures, 6 tables, references corrected, final version
to appear in Phys. Rev.
Ontogeny of purinergic receptor-regulated Ca2+ signaling in mouse cortical collecting duct epithelium
Changes in ATP-induced increase in {[}Ca2+], during collecting duct ontogeny were studied in primary monolayer cultures of mouse ureteric bud (UB) and cortical collecting duct (CCD) cells by Fura-PE3 fluorescence ratio imaging. In UB (embryonic day E14 and postnatal day P1) the ATIP-stimulated increase (EC50 approximate to 1 muM) in fluorescence ratio (DeltaR(ATP)) was independent of extracellular Ca2+ and insensitive to the P2 purinoceptor-antagonist suramin (1 mM). From day P7 onward when CCD morphogenesis had been completed DeltaR(ATP) increased and became dependent on extracellular Ca2+. This ATP-stimulated Ca2+ entry into CCD cells was non-capacitative and suramin (11 mM)insensitive, but sensitive to nifedipine (30 muM) and enhanced by Bay K8644 (15 muM), a blocker and an agonist of L-type Ca2+ channels, respectively. Quantitative RT-PCR demonstrated similar mRNA expression of L-type Ca2+ channel alpha1-subunit, P2Y(1), P2Y(2), and P2X(4b) purinoceptors in UB and CCD monolayers while the abundance of P2X(4) mRNA increased with CCD morphogenesis. In conclusion, both embryonic and postnatal cells express probably P2Y(2)-stimulated Ca2+ release from intracellular stores. With development, the CCD epithelium acquires ATP-stimulated Ca2+ entry via L-type Ca2+ channels. This pathway might by mediated by the increasing expression of P2X(4)-receptors resulting in an increasing ATP-dependent membrane depolarization and activation of L-type Ca2+ channels. Copyright (C) 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel
The Inner Quality Concept for food, based on life processes
How can we adequately express the quality of food produced by organic agriculture? To answer this research question, we defined a concept of ‘inner quality’ (formerly called ‘vital quality’) based on the life processes growth and differentiation, and their integration. Growers use management methods to influence life processes in their crops, thus optimising the quality of the final product. Traders and consumers can recognise certain product properties as being the result of these life processes. Here, we present a course of validation for the quality concept, together with appropriate quality parameters. The process of validation has been completed in part for two experimental crops, apple and carrot. This quality concept can provide a holistic context for the interpretation of individual food quality parameters as developed by different laboratories
Relative Riemann-Zariski spaces
In this paper we study relative Riemann-Zariski spaces attached to a morphism
of schemes and generalizing the classical Riemann-Zariski space of a field. We
prove that similarly to the classical RZ spaces, the relative ones can be
described either as projective limits of schemes in the category of locally
ringed spaces or as certain spaces of valuations. We apply these spaces to
prove the following two new results: a strong version of stable modification
theorem for relative curves; a decomposition theorem which asserts that any
separated morphism between quasi-compact and quasi-separated schemes factors as
a composition of an affine morphism and a proper morphism. (In particular, we
obtain a new proof of Nagata's compactification theorem.)Comment: 30 pages, the final version, to appear in Israel J. of Mat
Real-time observation of interfering crystal electrons in high-harmonic generation
Accelerating and colliding particles has been a key strategy to explore the
texture of matter. Strong lightwaves can control and recollide electronic
wavepackets, generating high-harmonic (HH) radiation which encodes the
structure and dynamics of atoms and molecules and lays the foundations of
attosecond science. The recent discovery of HH generation in bulk solids
combines the idea of ultrafast acceleration with complex condensed matter
systems and sparks hope for compact solid-state attosecond sources and
electronics at optical frequencies. Yet the underlying quantum motion has not
been observable in real time. Here, we study HH generation in a bulk solid
directly in the time-domain, revealing a new quality of strong-field
excitations in the crystal. Unlike established atomic sources, our solid emits
HH radiation as a sequence of subcycle bursts which coincide temporally with
the field crests of one polarity of the driving terahertz waveform. We show
that these features hallmark a novel non-perturbative quantum interference
involving electrons from multiple valence bands. The results identify key
mechanisms for future solid-state attosecond sources and next-generation
lightwave electronics. The new quantum interference justifies the hope for
all-optical bandstructure reconstruction and lays the foundation for possible
quantum logic operations at optical clock rates
Electrostatic Steering Accelerates C3d:CR2 Association.
Electrostatic effects are ubiquitous in protein interactions and are found to be pervasive in the complement system as well. The interaction between complement fragment C3d and complement receptor 2 (CR2) has evolved to become a link between innate and adaptive immunity. Electrostatic interactions have been suggested to be the driving factor for the association of the C3d:CR2 complex. In this study, we investigate the effects of ionic strength and mutagenesis on the association of C3d:CR2 through Brownian dynamics simulations. We demonstrate that the formation of the C3d:CR2 complex is ionic strength-dependent, suggesting the presence of long-range electrostatic steering that accelerates the complex formation. Electrostatic steering occurs through the interaction of an acidic surface patch in C3d and the positively charged CR2 and is supported by the effects of mutations within the acidic patch of C3d that slow or diminish association. Our data are in agreement with previous experimental mutagenesis and binding studies and computational studies. Although the C3d acidic patch may be locally destabilizing because of unfavorable Coulombic interactions of like charges, it contributes to the acceleration of association. Therefore, acceleration of function through electrostatic steering takes precedence to stability. The site of interaction between C3d and CR2 has been the target for delivery of CR2-bound nanoparticle, antibody, and small molecule biomarkers, as well as potential therapeutics. A detailed knowledge of the physicochemical basis of C3d:CR2 association may be necessary to accelerate biomarker and drug discovery efforts
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