813 research outputs found
The Dynamics of Hybrid Metabolic-Genetic Oscillators
The synthetic construction of intracellular circuits is frequently hindered
by a poor knowledge of appropriate kinetics and precise rate parameters. Here,
we use generalized modeling (GM) to study the dynamical behavior of topological
models of a family of hybrid metabolic-genetic circuits known as
"metabolators." Under mild assumptions on the kinetics, we use GM to
analytically prove that all explicit kinetic models which are topologically
analogous to one such circuit, the "core metabolator," cannot undergo Hopf
bifurcations. Then, we examine more detailed models of the metabolator.
Inspired by the experimental observation of a Hopf bifurcation in a
synthetically constructed circuit related to the core metabolator, we apply GM
to identify the critical components of the synthetically constructed
metabolator which must be reintroduced in order to recover the Hopf
bifurcation. Next, we study the dynamics of a re-wired version of the core
metabolator, dubbed the "reverse" metabolator, and show that it exhibits a
substantially richer set of dynamical behaviors, including both local and
global oscillations. Prompted by the observation of relaxation oscillations in
the reverse metabolator, we study the role that a separation of genetic and
metabolic time scales may play in its dynamics, and find that widely separated
time scales promote stability in the circuit. Our results illustrate a generic
pipeline for vetting the potential success of a potential circuit design,
simply by studying the dynamics of the corresponding generalized model
Topological Wilson-loop area law manifested using a superposition of loops
We introduce a new topological effect involving interference of two meson
loops, manifesting a path-independent topological area dependence. The effect
also draws a connection between quark confinement, Wilson-loops and topological
interference effects. Although this is only a gedanken experiment in the
context of particle physics, such an experiment may be realized and used as a
tool to test confinement effects and phase transitions in quantum simulation of
dynamic gauge theories.Comment: Superceding arXiv:1206.2021v1 [quant-ph
Intelligent Malingering in the Setting of Porphyria Variegata: A Rare Occurrence on Both Fronts
Malingering can be a difficult diagnosis to discern, especially in patients with well-crafted stories presenting with signs and symptoms that align directly with the literature. This can further become a challenge when a patient is malingering in the setting of a rare disease, where many complaints can be subjective in nature and not entirely testable by physical exam alone. Malingering is responsible for billions of dollars of healthcare waste every single year, and this report can serve as a guide of history elements, signs and symptoms to look out for with patients malingering in the setting of the porphyrias. It is important to recognize when patients are malingering, and when they are not, so that they may receive the appropriate care to help with their condition. This report can also serve as a guideline for what laboratory tests and studies to order in the setting of a suspected porphyria case, in order to confirm the diagnosis and get the patient the appropriate treatment regimen. Intelligent malingering is a growing problem, especially with the amount of access the general public has to medical information, and it is important for us to be able to identify when a patient is truly suffering from a rare disease and when they are malingering
Dynamics of Vortex Pair in Radial Flow
The problem of vortex pair motion in two-dimensional plane radial flow is
solved. Under certain conditions for flow parameters, the vortex pair can
reverse its motion within a bounded region. The vortex-pair translational
velocity decreases or increases after passing through the source/sink region,
depending on whether the flow is diverging or converging, respectively. The
rotational motion of two corotating vortexes in a quiescent environment
transforms into motion along a logarithmic spiral in the presence of radial
flow. The problem may have applications in astrophysics and geophysics.Comment: 13 pages, 9 figure
Pregnancy associated plasma protein-A2: A novel biomarker for down syndrome
Introduction: In an effort to improve prenatal screening for Trisomy 21, we evaluated pregnancy associated plasma protein-A2 (PAPP-A2) as a potential novel second trimester biomarker for Trisomy 21. Methods: Trisomy 21 and normal control mid-trimester placental samples were subjected to quantitative rt PCR analysis of seven genes we had previously found to be differentially expressed in Trisomy 21 placentae. The localization and differential expression of PAPP-A2 in second trimester placentae from normal and Trisomy 21 pregnancies was determined by immunohistochemistry. PAPP-A2 maternal serum protein levels in ten Trisomy 21 and ten diploid pregnancies were compared by Western blotting. Maternal serum PAPP-A2 levels were measured in 30 Down syndrome cases and 142 normal controls, using ELISA. Regression analysis was used to determine the correlation of PAPP-A2 with other existing markers of Trisomy 21. Results: PAPP-A2 (aka PLAC 3) mRNA and protein expression were both increased in Down syndrome placentae as compared to diploid placentae. PAPP-A2 was also increased in maternal serum from Down syndrome pregnancies as compared to diploid pregnancies. PAPP-A2 expression correlated weakly with established markers. Discussion: This work takes advantage of our previously performed systematic approach to the discovery of novel maternal serum biomarkers for Trisomy 21, using cDNA microarray analysis. Beginning with the validation of the microarray results, we have tracked PAPP-A2 overexpression in Down syndrome from placental mRNA to maternal serum protein. Conclusion: PAPP-A2 could serve as an additional maternal serum marker in prenatal screening for Trisomy 21. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved
Richter Transformation in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia with Hypercalcemia and Acute Kidney Injury Presenting as Altered Mental Status: A Case Report
Introduction: Richter’s transformation is a deadly complication of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) associated with high mortality. This transformation involves the development of an aggressive, diffuse large B cell lymphoma in the setting of a chronic, underlying case of CLL. Although it is rare, Richter’s transformation is important to identify in patients with a history of CLL because of its significant mortality if left untreated. In the setting of CLL, there are many ways in which patients can present if they are currently undergoing a Richter’s transformation. Case Description: Patients may present with symptoms common to CLL which include but are not limited to fatigue, easy bruising, weight loss, etc., or they may present more unusually, as in the case that will be presented here: with altered mental status, fall, hypercalcemia and acute kidney injury (AKI). Discussion: With the current state of affairs due to COVID-19, it is also important to recognize the potential complications of patients with this disease state that are positive for COVID-19, leading to further complications such as disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Recognizing these patients, and directing their care appropriately is important for their disease progression and outlook
Local/Non-Local Complementarity in Topological Effects
In certain topological effects the accumulation of a quantum phase shift is
accompanied by a local observable effect. We show that such effects manifest a
complementarity between non-local and local attributes of the topology, which
is reminiscent but yet different from the usual wave-particle complementarity.
This complementarity is not a consequence of non-commutativity, rather it is
due to the non-canonical nature of the observables. We suggest that a
local/non-local complementarity is a general feature of topological effects
that are ``dual'' to the AB effect.Comment: 4 page
Raman scattering in a two-dimensional electron gas: Boltzmann equation approach
The inelastic light scattering in a 2-d electron gas is studied theoretically
using the Boltzmann equation techniques. Electron-hole excitations produce the
Raman spectrum essentially different from the one predicted for the 3-d case.
In the clean limit it has the form of a strong non-symmetric resonance due to
the square root singularity at the electron-hole frequency while
in the opposite dirty limit the usual Lorentzian shape of the cross section is
reestablished. The effects of electromagnetic field are considered
self-consistently and the contribution from collective plasmon modes is found.
It is shown that unlike 3-d metals where plasmon excitations are unobservable
(because of very large required transfered frequencies), the two-dimensional
electron system gives rise to a low-frequency ()
plasmon peak. A measurement of the width of this peak can provide data on the
magnitude of the electron scattering rate.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures. to appear in Phys. Rev. B 59 (1999
Electron-phonon anomaly related to charge stripes: static stripe phase versus optimally-doped superconducting La1.85Sr0.15CuO4
Inelastic neutron scattering was used to study the Cu-O bond-stretching
vibrations in optimally doped La1.85Sr0.15CuO4 (Tc = 35 K) and in two other
cuprates showing static stripe order at low temperatures, i.e.
La1.48Nd0.4Sr0.12CuO4 and La1.875Ba0.125CuO4. All three compounds exhibit a
very similar phonon anomaly, which is not predicted by conventional band
theory. It is argued that the phonon anomaly reflects a coupling to charge
inhomogeneities in the form of stripes, which remain dynamic in superconducting
La1.85Sr0.15CuO4 down to the lowest temperatures. These results show that the
phonon effect indicating stripe formation is not restricted to a narrow region
of the phase diagram around the so-called 1/8 anomaly but occurs in optimally
doped samples as well.Comment: to appear in J. Low Temp. Phy
Model for the low-temperature magnetic phases observed in doped YBa_2Cu_3O_{6+x}
A classical statistical model for the antiferromagnetic (AFM) ordering of the
Cu-spins in the CuO_2 planes of reduced YBa_2Cu_3O_{6+x} type materials is
presented. The magnetic phases considered are the experimentally observed
high-temperature AFI phase with ordering vector Q_I=(1/2,1/2,0), and the
low-temperature phases: AFII with Q_II=(1/2,1/2,1/2) and intermediate TA (Turn
Angle) phases TAI, TAII and TAIII with components of both ordering vectors. It
is shown that the AFII and TA phases result from an effective ferromagnetic
(FM) type coupling mediated by free spins in the CuO_x basal plane. Good
agreement with experimental data is obtained for realistic model parameters.Comment: 11 pages, 2 Postscript figures, Submitted to Phys.Rev.Let
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