1,512 research outputs found
Simple model for a quantum wire III. Transmission of finite samples with correlated disorder
The effect of a continuous model of correlations upon one-dimensional finite
disordered quantum wires modeled by an array of delta-potentials, is analyzed.
Although the model proposed is not able to include new truly extended states in
the spectrum, the transport properties of a finite sample are noticeably
improved due to the existence of states whose localization length is larger
than the system size. This enhancement of transmission is maximized for
relatively short chains.Comment: 6 pages, 18 figure
Molecular symmetry-constrained systematic search approach to structure solution of the coiled-coil SRGAP2 F-BARx domain.
This is the final version of the article. Available from International Union of Crystallography via the DOI in this record.SRGAP2 (Slit-Robo GTPase-activating protein 2) is a cytoplasmic protein found to be involved in neuronal branching, restriction of neuronal migration and restriction of the length and density of dendritic postsynaptic spines. The extended F-BAR (F-BARx) domain of SRGAP2 generates membrane protrusions when expressed in COS-7 cells, while most F-BARs induce the opposite effect: membrane invaginations. As a first step to understand this discrepancy, the F-BARx domain of SRGAP2 was isolated and crystallized after co-expression with the carboxy domains of the protein. Diffraction data were collected from two significantly non-isomorphous crystals in the same monoclinic C2 space group. A correct molecular-replacment solution was obtained by applying a molecular symmetry-constrained systematic search approach that took advantage of the conserved biological symmetry of the F-BAR domains. It is shown that similar approaches can solve other F-BAR structures that were previously determined by experimental phasing. Diffraction data were reprocessed with a high-resolution cutoff of 2.2 Å, chosen using less strict statistical criteria. This has improved the outcome of multi-crystal averaging and other density-modification procedures.This work was supported by funds from the ISF (Grant No. 1425/15 to YO) and BSF (Grant No.
2013310 to YO)
Setting up and modelling of overflowing fed-batch cultures of Bacillus subtilis for the production and continuous removal of lipopeptides
This work is related to the setup of overflowing exponential fed-batch
cultures (O-EFBC) derived from carbon limited EFBC dedicated to the production
of mycosubtilin, an antifungal lipopeptide belonging to the iturin family.
O-EFBC permits the continuous removal of the product from the bioreactor
achieving a complete extraction of mycosubtilin. This paper also provides a
dynamical Monod-based growth model of this process that is accurate enough to
simulate the evolution of the specific growth rate and to correlate it to the
mycosubtilin specific productivity. Two particular and dependant phenomena
related to the foam overflow are taken into account by the model: the outgoing
flow rate of a broth volume and the loss of biomass. Interestingly, the biomass
concentration in the foam was found to be lower than the biomass concentration
in the bioreactor relating this process to a recycling one. Parameters of this
model are the growth yield on substrate and the maximal specific growth rate
estimated from experiments led at feed rates of 0.062, 0.071 and 0.086 h --1.
The model was extrapolated to five additional experiments carried out at feed
rates of 0.008, 0.022, 0.040, 0.042 and 0.062 h --1 enabling the correlation of
the mean specific growth rates with productivity results. Finally, a feed rate
of 0.086 h --1 corresponding to a mean specific growth rate of 0.070 h --1
allowed a specific productivity of 1.27 mg of mycosubtilin g --1 of dried
biomass h --1
A Bio-Logical Theory of Animal Learning
This article provides the foundation for a new predictive theory of animal learning that is based upon a simple logical model. The knowledge of experimental subjects at a given time is described using logical equations. These logical equations are then used to predict a subject’s response when presented with a known or a previously unknown situation. This new theory suc- cessfully anticipates phenomena that existing theories predict, as well as phenomena that they cannot. It provides a theoretical account for phenomena that are beyond the domain of existing models, such as extinction and the detection of novelty, from which “external inhibition” can be explained. Examples of the methods applied to make predictions are given using previously published results. The present theory proposes a new way to envision the minimal functions of the nervous system, and provides possible new insights into the way that brains ultimately create and use knowledge about the world
An Instanton Picture O.P.E. <A^2> Condensate?
Gluon two- and three-point Green Functions computed in Landau gauge from the
lattice show the existence of power corrections to the purely perturbative
expressions, that can be explained through an Operator Product Expansion as the
influence of a non gauge invariant mass dimension two condensate. The
relationship of this condensate with topological properties of QCD, namely
instantons, will be studied, giving a first estimate of the contribution of
instantons to this condensate based in the direct lattice measure, after a
cooling process, of the instanton liquid properties.Comment: Lattice2002(topology) contribution, 3 pages, 2 figure
Planning with Information-Processing Constraints and Model Uncertainty in Markov Decision Processes
Information-theoretic principles for learning and acting have been proposed
to solve particular classes of Markov Decision Problems. Mathematically, such
approaches are governed by a variational free energy principle and allow
solving MDP planning problems with information-processing constraints expressed
in terms of a Kullback-Leibler divergence with respect to a reference
distribution. Here we consider a generalization of such MDP planners by taking
model uncertainty into account. As model uncertainty can also be formalized as
an information-processing constraint, we can derive a unified solution from a
single generalized variational principle. We provide a generalized value
iteration scheme together with a convergence proof. As limit cases, this
generalized scheme includes standard value iteration with a known model,
Bayesian MDP planning, and robust planning. We demonstrate the benefits of this
approach in a grid world simulation.Comment: 16 pages, 3 figure
Vip3C, a novel class of vegetative insectidal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis
Three vip3 genes were identified in two Bacillus thuringiensis Spanish collections. Sequence analysis revealed a novel Vip3 protein class (Vip3C). Preliminary bioassays of larvae from 10 different lepidopteran species indicated that Vip3Ca3 caused more than 70% mortality in four species after 10 days at 4 μg/cm2
Psychiatric comorbidities in Asperger syndrome are related with polygenic overlap and differ from other Autism subtypes
There is great phenotypic heterogeneity within autism spectrum disorders (ASD), which has led to question their classification into a single diagnostic category. The study of the common genetic variation in ASD has suggested a greater contribution of other psychiatric conditions in Asperger syndrome (AS) than in the rest of the DSM-IV ASD subtypes (Non_AS). Here, using available genetic data from previously performed genome-wide association studies (GWAS), we aimed to study the genetic overlap between five of the most related disorders (schizophrenia (SCZ), major depression disorder (MDD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD) and anxiety (ANX)), and AS, comparing it with the overlap in Non_AS subtypes. A Spanish cohort of autism trios (N = 371) was exome sequenced as part of the Autism Sequencing Consortium (ASC) and 241 trios were extensively characterized to be diagnosed with AS following DSM-IV and Gillberg's criteria (N = 39) or not (N = 202). Following exome imputation, polygenic risk scores (PRS) were calculated for ASD, SCZ, ADHD, MDD, ANX, and OCD (from available summary data from Psychiatric Genomic Consortium (PGC) repository) in the Spanish trios' cohort. By using polygenic transmission disequilibrium test (pTDT), we reported that risk for SCZ (Pscz = 0.008, corrected-PSCZ = 0.0409), ADHD (PADHD = 0.021, corrected-PADHD = 0.0301), and MDD (PMDD = 0.039, corrected-PMDD = 0.0501) is over-transmitted to children with AS but not to Non_AS. Indeed, agnostic clustering procedure with deviation values from pTDT tests suggested two differentiated clusters of subjects, one of which is significantly enriched in AS (P = 0.025). Subsequent analysis with S-Predixcan, a recently developed software to predict gene expression from genotype data, revealed a clear pattern of correlation between cortical gene expression in ADHD and AS (P < 0.001) and a similar strong correlation pattern between MDD and AS, but also extendable to another non-brain tissue such as lung (P < 0.001). Altogether, these results support the idea of AS being qualitatively distinct from Non_AS autism and consistently evidence the genetic overlap between AS and ADHD, MDD, or SCZ
The historical vanishing of the Blazhko effect of RR Lyr from GEOS and Kepler surveys
RR Lyr is one of the most studied variable stars. Its light curve has been
regularly monitored since the discovery of the periodic variability in 1899.
Analysis of all observed maxima allows us to identify two primary pulsation
states defined as pulsation over a long (P0 longer than 0.56684 d) and a short
(P0 shorter than 0.56682 d) primary pulsation period. These states alternate
with intervals of 13-16 yr, and are well defined after 1943. The 40.8 d
periodical modulations of the amplitude and the period (i.e. Blazhko effect)
were noticed in 1916. We provide homogeneous determinations of the Blazhko
period in the different primary pulsation states. The Blazhko period does not
follow the variations of P0 and suddenly diminished from 40.8 d to around 39.0
d in 1975. The monitoring of these periodicities deserved and deserves a
continuous and intensive observational effort. For this purpose we have built
dedicated, transportable and autonomous small instruments, Very Tiny Telescopes
(VTTs), to observe the times of maximum brightness of RR Lyr. As immediate
results the VTTs recorded the last change of P0 state in mid-2009 and extended
the time coverage of the Kepler observations, thus recording a maximum O-C
amplitude of the Blazhko effect at the end of 2008, followed by the
historically smallest O-C amplitude in late 2013. This decrease is still
ongoing and VTT instruments are ready to monitor the expected increase in the
next few years.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRAS. Contents of
appendix B may be requested to first autho
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