100 research outputs found
The shape of "dark matter" halos in disc galaxies according to the modified dynamics
Analyses of halo shapes for disc galaxies are said to give incongruous
results. I point out that the modified dynamics (MOND) predicts for disc
galaxies a distribution of fictitious dark matter that comprises two
components: a pure disc and a rounder halo. The former dominates the true disc
in regions of small accelerations, where it controls the z-dynamics in the disc
(disc flaring etc.); it has a finite total mass. It also dominates the round
component near the centre where the geometry is nearly planar. The second
component controls motions far from the plane, has a total enclosed mass that
diverges linearly with radius, and determines the rotation curve at large
radii. Its ellipticity may be appreciable at small radii but vanishes
asymptotically. This prediction of MOND differs from what one expects from
galaxy-formation scenarios with dark matter.
Analyses to date, which, as they do, assume one component--usually with a
constant ellipticity, perforce give conflicting results for the best-value
ellipticity, depending on whether they probe the disc or the sphere, small
radii or large ones.Comment: 8 page
Stability of disk galaxies in the modified dynamics
General analytic arguments lead us to expect that in the modified dynamics
(MOND) self-gravitating disks are more stable than their like in Newtonian
dynamics. We study this question numerically, using a particle-mesh code based
on a multi-grid solver for the (nonlinear) MOND field equation. We start with
equilibrium distribution functions for MOND disk models having a smoothly
truncated, exponential surface-density profiles and a constant Toomre
parameter. We find that, indeed, disks of a given ``temperature'' are locally
more stable in MOND than in Newtonian dynamics. As regards global instability
to bar formation, we find that as the mean acceleration in the disk is lowered,
the stability of the disk is increased as we cross from the Newtonian to the
MOND regime. The degree of stability levels off deep in the MOND regime, as
expected from scaling laws in MOND. For the disk model we use, this maximum
degree of stability is similar to the one imparted to a Newtonian disk by a
halo three times as massive at five disk scale lengths.Comment: 20 pages, Latex, 8 embedded figures, version to be published in The
Astrophys.
Non-linear conformally invariant generalization of the Poisson equation to D>2 dimensions
I propound a non-linear generalization of the Poisson equation describing a
"medium" in D dimensions with a "dielectric constant" proportional to the field
strength to the power D-2. It is the only conformally invariant scalar theory
that is second order, and in which the scalar couples to the sources
via a contact term. The symmetry is used to generate
solutions for the field for some non-trivial configurations (e.g. for two
oppositely charged points). Systems comprising N point charges afford further
application of the symmetry. For these I derive e.g. exact expressions for the
following quantities: the general two-point-charge force; the energy function
and the forces in any three-body configuration with zero total charge; the
few-body force for some special configurations; the virial theorem for an
arbitrary, bound, many-particle system relating the time-average kinetic energy
to the particle charges. Possible connections with an underlying conformal
quantum field theory are mentioned.Comment: Revtex, 16 pages. To be published in Phys. Rev.
Gravitational anomalies signaling the breakdown of classical gravity
Recent observations for three types of astrophysical systems severely
challenge the GR plus dark matter scenario, showing a phenomenology which is
what modified gravity theories predict. Stellar kinematics in the outskirts of
globular clusters show the appearance of MOND type dynamics on crossing the
threshold. Analysis shows a ``Tully-Fisher'' relation in these systems,
a scaling of dispersion velocities with the fourth root of their masses.
Secondly, an anomaly has been found at the unexpected scales of wide binaries
in the solar neighbourhood. Binary orbital velocities cease to fall along
Keplerian expectations, and settle at a constant value, exactly on crossing the
threshold. Finally, the inferred infall velocity of the bullet cluster
is inconsistent with the standard cosmological scenario, where much smaller
limit encounter velocities appear. This stems from the escape velocity limit
present in standard gravity; the ``bullet'' should not hit the ``target'' at
more than the escape velocity of the joint system, as it very clearly did.
These results are consistent with extended gravity, but would require rather
contrived explanations under GR, each. Thus, observations now put us in a
situation where modifications to gravity at low acceleration scales cease to be
a matter of choice, to now become inevitable.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures, Astrophysics and Space Science Proceedings 38,
4
The structure of Herpesvirus Fusion Glycoprotein B-Bilayer Complex reveals the protein-membrane and lateral protein-protein interaction
Glycoprotein B (gB) is a key component of the complex herpesvirus fusion machinery. We studied membrane interaction of two gB ectodomain forms and present an electron cryotomography structure of the gB-bilayer complex. The two forms differed in presence or absence of the membrane proximal region (MPR) but showed an overall similar trimeric shape. The presence of the MPR impeded interaction with liposomes. In contrast, the MPR-lacking form interacted efficiently with liposomes. Lateral interaction resulted in coat formation on the membranes. The structure revealed that interaction of gB with membranes was mediated by the fusion loops and limited to the outer membrane leaflet. The observed intrinsic propensity of gB to cluster on membranes indicates an additional role of gB in driving the fusion process forward beyond the transient fusion pore opening and subsequently leading to fusion pore expansion
FoldIndex: a simple tool to predict whether a given protein sequence is intrinsically unfolded
An easy-to-use, versatile and freely available graphic web server, FoldIndex is described: it predicts if a given protein sequence is intrinsically unfolded implementing the algorithm of Uversky and co-workers, which is based on the average residue hydrophobicity and net charge of the sequence. FoldIndex has an error rate comparable to that of more sophisticated fold prediction methods. Sliding windows permit identification of large regions within a protein that possess folding propensities different from those of the whole protein
Structural specializations of the sperm tail
Sperm motility is crucial to reproductive success in sexually reproducing organisms. Impaired sperm movement causes male infertility, which is increasing globally. Sperm are powered by a microtubule-based molecular machine-the axoneme-but it is unclear how axonemal microtubules are ornamented to support motility in diverse fertilization environments. Here, we present high-resolution structures of native axonemal doublet microtubules (DMTs) from sea urchin and bovine sperm, representing external and internal fertilizers. We identify \u3e60 proteins decorating sperm DMTs; at least 15 are sperm associated and 16 are linked to infertility. By comparing DMTs across species and cell types, we define core microtubule inner proteins (MIPs) and analyze evolution of the tektin bundle. We identify conserved axonemal microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) with unique tubulin-binding modes. Additionally, we identify a testis-specific serine/threonine kinase that links DMTs to outer dense fibers in mammalian sperm. Our study provides structural foundations for understanding sperm evolution, motility, and dysfunction at a molecular level
Cystic hygroma and potential airway obstruction in a newborn: a case report and review of the literature
BACKGROUND: Cervical cystic hygroma is a benign congenital malformation of the lymphatic system. Incidence of cystic hygroma is 1/6000 live births. We present a case of right neck mass with potential respiratory compromise in a newborn.
CASE PRESENTATION: The patient was a full term baby girl with an incidental finding of right neck mass which was described on ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging as a cystic lesion in the nasopharynx and right neck which inferiorly followed the course of the right carotid artery, consistent with cystic hygroma. She started with respiratory compromise, and a follow-up magnetic resonance imaging showed increased size of the cystic hygroma. Dexamethasone was started to reduce fluid build up in the mass. When the cystic hygroma was found to be inseparable from the right half of the thyroid gland, the otolaryngologist performed hemithyroidectomy.
CONCLUSION: The patient had neuropraxia involving the marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve, which was expected to correct with time. Large cervical cystic hygromas may surround or displace neurovascular structures making their identification quite challenging intraoperatively. A team of experienced surgeons will help to ensure a successful surgical outcome
A new method to determine the elastopalstic properties of ductile materials by conical indentation
Based on load-displacement curves, indentation is widely used to extract the elastoplastic properties of materials. It is generally believed that such a measure is non-unique and a full stress-strain curve cannot be obtained using plural sharp and deep spherical indenters. In this paper we show that by introducing an additional dimensionless function of DA / A (the ratio of residual area to the area of an indenter profile) in the reverse analysis, the elastoplastic properties of several unknown materials that exhibit visually indistinguishable load-displacement curves can be uniquely determined with a sharp indentation
Surface Modifications by Field Induced Diffusion
By applying a voltage pulse to a scanning tunneling microscope tip the surface under the tip will be modified. We have in this paper taken a closer look at the model of electric field induced surface diffusion of adatoms including the van der Waals force as a contribution in formations of a mound on a surface. The dipole moment of an adatom is the sum of the surface induced dipole moment (which is constant) and the dipole moment due to electric field polarisation which depends on the strength and polarity of the electric field. The electric field is analytically modelled by a point charge over an infinite conducting flat surface. From this we calculate the force that cause adatoms to migrate. The calculated force is small for voltage used, typical 1 pN, but due to thermal vibration adatoms are hopping on the surface and even a small net force can be significant in the drift of adatoms. In this way we obtain a novel formula for a polarity dependent threshold voltage for mound formation on the surface for positive tip. Knowing the voltage of the pulse we then can calculate the radius of the formed mound. A threshold electric field for mound formation of about 2 V/nm is calculated. In addition, we found that van der Waals force is of importance for shorter distances and its contribution to the radial force on the adatoms has to be considered for distances smaller than 1.5 nm for commonly used voltages
- …