4,458 research outputs found
A new mass-ratio for the X-ray Binary X2127+119 in M15?
The luminous low-mass X-ray binary X2127+119 in the core of the globular
cluster M15 (NGC 7078), which has an orbital period of 17 hours, has long been
assumed to contain a donor star evolving off the main sequence, with a mass of
0.8 solar masses (the main-sequence turn-off mass for M15). We present
orbital-phase-resolved spectroscopy of X2127+119 in the H-alpha and He I 6678
spectral region, obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope. We show that these
data are incompatible with the assumed masses of X2127+119's component stars.
The continuum eclipse is too shallow, indicating that much of the accretion
disc remains visible during eclipse, and therefore that the size of the donor
star relative to the disc is much smaller in this high-inclination system than
the assumed mass-ratio allows. Furthermore, the flux of X2127+119's He I 6678
emission, which has a velocity that implies an association with the stream-disc
impact region, remains unchanged through eclipse, implying that material from
the impact region is always visible. This should not be possible if the
previously-assumed mass ratio is correct. In addition, we do not detect any
spectral features from the donor star, which is unexpected for a 0.8 solar-mass
sub-giant in a system with a 17-hour period.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, accepted by A&
On the tensor convolution and the quantum separability problem
We consider the problem of separability: decide whether a Hermitian operator
on a finite dimensional Hilbert tensor product is separable or entangled. We
show that the tensor convolution defined for certain mappings on an almost
arbitrary locally compact abelian group, give rise to formulation of an
equivalent problem to the separability one.Comment: 13 pages, two sections adde
A complete criterion for separability detection
Using new results on the separability properties of bosonic systems, we
provide a new complete criterion for separability. This criterion aims at
characterizing the set of separable states from the inside by means of a
sequence of efficiently solvable semidefinite programs. We apply this method to
derive arbitrarily good approximations to the optimal measure-and-prepare
strategy in generic state estimation problems. Finally, we report its
performance in combination with the criterion developed by Doherty et al. [1]
for the calculation of the entanglement robustness of a relevant family of
quantum states whose separability properties were unknown
Arginine mutation alters binding of a human monoclonal antibody to antigens linked to systemic lupus erythematosus and the antiphospholipid syndrome
Objective: Previous studies have shown the importance of somatic mutations and arginine residues in the complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) of pathogenic anti-double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) antibodies in human and murine lupus, and in studies of murine antibodies, a role of mutations at position 53 in VH CDR2 has been demonstrated. We previously demonstrated in vitro expression and mutagenesis of the human IgG1 monoclonal antibody B3. The present study was undertaken to investigate, using this expression system, the importance of the arginine residue at position 53 (R53) in B3 VH.
Methods: R53 was altered, by site-directed mutagenesis, to serine, asparagine, or lysine, to create 3 expressed variants of VH. In addition, the germline sequence of the VH3-23 gene (from which B3 VH is derived) was expressed either with or without arginine at position 53. These 5 new heavy chains, as well as wild-type B3 VH, were expressed with 4 different light chains, and the resulting antibodies were assessed for their ability to bind to nucleosomes, -actinin, cardiolipin, ovalbumin, 2-glycoprotein I (2GPI), and the N-terminal domain of 2GPI (domain I), using direct binding assays.
Results: The presence of R53 was essential but not sufficient for binding to dsDNA and nucleosomes. Conversely, the presence of R53 reduced binding to -actinin, ovalbumin, 2GPI, and domain I of 2GPI. The combination B3 (R53S) VH/B3 VL bound human, but not bovine, 2GPI.
Conclusion: The fact that the R53S substitution significantly alters binding of B3 to different clinically relevant antigens, but that the alteration is in opposite directions depending on the antigen, implies that this arginine residue plays a critical role in the affinity maturation of antibody B3
Covariance matrices and the separability problem
We propose a unifying approach to the separability problem using covariance
matrices of locally measurable observables. From a practical point of view, our
approach leads to strong entanglement criteria that allow to detect the
entanglement of many bound entangled states in higher dimensions and which are
at the same time necessary and sufficient for two qubits. From a fundamental
perspective, our approach leads to insights into the relations between several
known entanglement criteria -- such as the computable cross norm and local
uncertainty criteria -- as well as their limitations.Comment: 4 pages, no figures; v3: final version to appear in PR
Quantum Separability and Entanglement Detection via Entanglement-Witness Search and Global Optimization
We focus on determining the separability of an unknown bipartite quantum
state by invoking a sufficiently large subset of all possible
entanglement witnesses given the expected value of each element of a set of
mutually orthogonal observables. We review the concept of an entanglement
witness from the geometrical point of view and use this geometry to show that
the set of separable states is not a polytope and to characterize the class of
entanglement witnesses (observables) that detect entangled states on opposite
sides of the set of separable states. All this serves to motivate a classical
algorithm which, given the expected values of a subset of an orthogonal basis
of observables of an otherwise unknown quantum state, searches for an
entanglement witness in the span of the subset of observables. The idea of such
an algorithm, which is an efficient reduction of the quantum separability
problem to a global optimization problem, was introduced in PRA 70 060303(R),
where it was shown to be an improvement on the naive approach for the quantum
separability problem (exhaustive search for a decomposition of the given state
into a convex combination of separable states). The last section of the paper
discusses in more generality such algorithms, which, in our case, assume a
subroutine that computes the global maximum of a real function of several
variables. Despite this, we anticipate that such algorithms will perform
sufficiently well on small instances that they will render a feasible test for
separability in some cases of interest (e.g. in 3-by-3 dimensional systems)
Improved algorithm for quantum separability and entanglement detection
Determining whether a quantum state is separable or entangled is a problem of
fundamental importance in quantum information science. It has recently been
shown that this problem is NP-hard. There is a highly inefficient `basic
algorithm' for solving the quantum separability problem which follows from the
definition of a separable state. By exploiting specific properties of the set
of separable states, we introduce a new classical algorithm that solves the
problem significantly faster than the `basic algorithm', allowing a feasible
separability test where none previously existed e.g. in 3-by-3-dimensional
systems. Our algorithm also provides a novel tool in the experimental detection
of entanglement.Comment: 4 pages, revtex4, no figure
Detecting behavioural lateralisation in Poecilia reticulata is strongly dependent on experimental design
Despite the potential benefits gained from behavioural lateralisation, defined as the asymmetrical expression of cognitive functioning, this trait demonstrates widespread variation within and between populations. Numerous methodologies have been applied to investigate lateralisation, although whether different methodologies give consistent results has been relatively understudied. In this study, we assess (1) the repeatability of individual Poecilia reticulataâs lateralisation indexes between a classic detour assay (I-maze), quasi-circular mirror maze and novel detour assay (a radially symmetric Y-maze); (2) whether the methodological standard of analysing only the first ten turns in a detour assay accurately quantifies lateralisation; and (3) whether lateralisation indexes produced can be adequately explained by random chance by comparing the observed data to a novel unbiased âcoin-tossâ randomisation model. We found (1) the two detour assays to produce generally consistent results in terms of relative lateralisation (directionality) but differed in terms of absolute laterality (intensity). The mirror assay, however, demonstrated no similarity to either assay. (2) The first ten turns were generally reflective of all turns undertaken during the 15-min trial but reducing the number of turns did exaggerate lateralisation indexes. (3) The observed laterality indexes from the assays were found to be similar to corresponding datasets produced by the randomisation model, with significant deviations likely explained by individualsâ propensity to perform consecutive turns in the same direction. These results demonstrate the need to increase the number of observed turning choices to reduce the likelihood of producing spurious or exaggerated lateralisation indexes from random chance or external influences. Significance statement: Published studies investigating lateralisation, or âhandednessâ, in fish species have used a diverse array of methodologies. Given the variability in methodologies being employed and the widespread variation in the extent fish are lateralised and in which direction (left or right), it is important to assess whether different methods produce consistent laterality indexes. From assessing individual Poecilia reticulata in three laterality assays, the direction of lateralisation was found to correlate between the two detour assays measuring turn choice, although the absolute strength of this laterality was not consistent. There were no correlations between these assays and in an individualâs eye-use when viewing their reflection in a mirror maze assay. However, further investigation using a novel unbiased âcoin-tossâ randomisation model to simulate replica datasets for each assay brings into question whether patterns of laterality found in the observed population differ significantly from random chance.</p
Accelerated Electrophotocatalytic C(sp<sup>3</sup>)âH Heteroarylation Enabled by an Efficient Continuous-Flow Reactor
Electrophotocatalytic transformations are garnering attention in organic synthesis, particularly for accessing reactive intermediates under mild conditions. Moving these methodologies to continuous-flow systems, or flow ElectroPhotoCatalysis (f-EPC), showcases potential for scalable processes due to enhanced irradiation, increased electrode surface, and improved mixing of the reaction mixture. Traditional methods sequentially link photochemical and electrochemical reactions, using flow reactors connected in series, yet struggle to accommodate reactive transient species. In this study, we introduce a new flow reactor concept for electrophotocatalysis (EPC) that simultaneously utilizes photons and electrons. The reactor is designed with a transparent electrode and employs cost-effective materials. We used this technology to develop an efficient process for electrophotocatalytic heteroarylation of C(sp3)âH bonds. Importantly, the same setup can also facilitate purely electrochemical and photochemical transformations. This reactor represents a significant advancement in electrophotocatalysis, providing a framework for its application in flow for complex synthetic transformations.</p
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