Bose-Einstein condensate of kicked rotators with time-dependent interaction

A modification of the quantum kicked rotator is suggested with a time-dependent delta-kicked interaction parameter which can be realized by a pulsed turn-on of a Feshbach resonance. The mean kinetic energy increases exponentially with time in contrast to a merely diffusive or linear growth for the first few kicks for the quantum kicked rotator with a constant interaction parameter. A recursive relation is derived in a self-consistent random phase approximation which describes this superdiffusive growth of the kinetic energy and is compared with numerical simulations. Unlike in the case of the quantum rotator with constant interaction, a Lax pair is not found. In general the delta-kicked interaction is found to lead to strong chaotic behaviour.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Affymetrix probes containing runs of contiguous guanines are not gene-specific

High Density Oligonucleotide arrays (HDONAs), such as the Affymetrix HG-U133A GeneChip, use sets of probes chosen to match specified genes, with the expectation that if a particular gene is highly expressed then all the probes in the designated probe set will provide a consistent message signifying the gene's presence. However, we demonstrate by data mining thousands of CEL files from NCBI's GEO database that 4G-probes (defined as probes containing sequences of four or more consecutive guanine (G) bases) do not react in the intended way. Rather, possibly due to the formation of G-quadruplexes, most 4G-probes are correlated, irrespective of the expression of the thousands of genes for which they were separately intended. It follows that 4G-probes should be ignored when calculating gene expression levels. Furthermore, future microarray designs should make no use of 4G-probes

Summary of information on low-speed lateral-directional derivatives due to rate of change of sideslip beta prime

The results presented show that the magnitudes of the aerodynamic stability derivatives due to rate of change of sideslip become quite large at high angles of attack for swept- and delta-wing configurations, and that such derivatives have large effects on the calculated dynamic stability of these configurations at high angles of attack. The wind-tunnel test techniques used to measure the beta prime derivatives and various approaches used to predict them are discussed. Both the conventional oscillating-airfoil theory and the lag-of-the-sidewash theory are shown to be inadequate for predicting the vertical-tail contribution to the acceleration-in-sideslip derivative; a flow-field-lag theory, which is discussed, appears to give qualitative agreement with experimental data for a current twin-jet fighter configuration

A SQUAMOSA MADS-box gene involved in the regulation of anthocyanin accumulation in bilberry fruits

Anthocyanins are important health promoting phytochemicals that are abundant in many fleshy fruits. Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) is one of the best sources of these compounds. Here we report on the expression pattern and functional analysis of a SQUAMOSA (SQUA) class MADS-box transcription factor, VmTDR4, associated with anthocyanin biosynthesis in bilberry. Levels of VmTDR4 expression were spatially and temporally linked with colour development and anthocyanin-related gene expression. Virus induced gene silencing (VIGS) was used to suppress VmTDR4 expression in bilberry resulting in substantial reduction in anthocyanin levels in fully ripe fruits. Chalcone synthase was used a positive control in the VIGS experiments. Additionally, in sectors of fruit tissue in which the expression of the VmTDR4 gene was silenced, the expression of R2R3 MYB family transcription factors related to the biosynthesis of flavonoids were also altered. We conclude that VmTDR4 plays an important role in the accumulation of anthocyanins during normal ripening in bilberry; probably through direct or indirect control of transcription factors belonging to the R2R3 MYB family

Supersymmetric minisuperspace with non-vanishing fermion number

The Lagrangean of $N=1$ supergravity is dimensionally reduced to one (time-like) dimension assuming spatial homogeneity of any Bianchi type within class A of the classification of Ellis and McCallum. The algebra of the supersymmetry generators, the Lorentz generators, the diffeomorphism generators and the Hamiltonian generator is determined and found to close. In contrast to earlier work, infinitely many physical states with non-vanishing even fermion number are found to exist in these models, indicating that minisuperspace models in supergravity may be just as useful as in pure gravity.Comment: 4 page

Adaptive gait changes due to spectacle magnification and dioptric blur in older people

YesPurpose. A recent study suggested that updated spectacles could increase falls rate in older people. We hypothesized that this may be due to changes in spectacle magnification and this study assessed the effects of spectacle magnification on adaptive gait. Methods. Adaptive gait and visual function was measured in 10 older adults (mean age 77.1 ¿ 4.3 years) with the participants¿ optimal refractive correction and when blurred with +1.00DS, +2.00DS, -1.00DS and -2.00DS lenses. Adaptive gait measurements for the lead and trail foot included foot position before the step, toe clearance of the step edge and foot position on the step. Vision measurements included visual acuity, contrast sensitivity and stereoacuity. Results. The blur lenses led to equal decrements in visual acuity and stereoacuity for the +1.00DS and -1.00DS and the +2.00DS and -2.00DS lenses. However, they had very different effects on adaptive gait compared to the optimal correction: Positive blur lenses led to an increased distance of the feet from the step, increased vertical toe clearance and reduced distance of the lead heel position on the step. Negative lenses led to the opposite of these changes. Conclusion. The adaptive gait changes did not mirror the effects of blur on vision, but were driven by the magnification changes of the lenses. Steps appear closer and larger with positive lenses and further away and smaller with negative ones. Magnification likely explains the mobility problems some older adults have with updated spectacles and after cataract surgery.Federation of Ophthalmic and Dispensing Optician