241 research outputs found
Spin and Statistics and First Principles
It was shown in the early Seventies that, in Local Quantum Theory (that is
the most general formulation of Quantum Field Theory, if we leave out only the
unknown scenario of Quantum Gravity) the notion of Statistics can be grounded
solely on the local observable quantities (without assuming neither the
commutation relations nor even the existence of unobservable charged field
operators); one finds that only the well known (para)statistics of Bose/Fermi
type are allowed by the key principle of local commutativity of observables. In
this frame it was possible to formulate and prove the Spin and Statistics
Theorem purely on the basis of First Principles.
In a subsequent stage it has been possible to prove the existence of a
unique, canonical algebra of local field operators obeying ordinary Bose/Fermi
commutation relations at spacelike separations. In this general guise the Spin
- Statistics Theorem applies to Theories (on the four dimensional Minkowski
space) where only massive particles with finite mass degeneracy can occur. Here
we describe the underlying simple basic ideas, and briefly mention the
subsequent generalisations; eventually we comment on the possible validity of
the Spin - Statistics Theorem in presence of massless particles, or of
violations of locality as expected in Quantum Gravity.Comment: Survey based on a talk given at the Meeting on "Theoretical and
experimental aspects of the spin - statistics connection and related
symmetries", Trieste, Italy - October 21-25, 200
Methodologies for processing plant material into acceptable food on a small scale
Based on the Controlled Environment Life Support System (CELSS) production of only four crops, wheat, white potatoes, soybeans, and sweet potatoes; a crew size of twelve; a daily planting/harvesting regimen; and zero-gravity conditions, estimates were made on the quantity of food that would need to be grown to provide adequate nutrition; and the corresponding amount of biomass that would result. Projections were made of the various types of products that could be made from these crops, the unit operations that would be involved, and what menu capability these products could provide. Equipment requirements to perform these unit operations were screened to identify commercially available units capable of operating (or being modified to operate) under CELSS/zero-gravity conditions. Concept designs were developed for those equipment needs for which no suitable units were commercially available. Prototypes of selected concept designs were constructed and tested on a laboratory scale, as were selected commercially available units. This report discusses the practical considerations taken into account in the various design alternatives, some of the many product/process factors that relate to equipment development, and automation alternatives. Recommendations are made on both general and specific areas in which it was felt additional investigation would benefit CELSS missions
Variation in the Content and Composition of Tocols in a Wheat Population
Wheat is a well-known source of B vitamins but also contains significant amounts of vitamin E and related tocols, which have a number of positive health benefits. However, there are no reports on increasing the tocol content of wheat. A prerequisite for increasing the tocol content is the identification of variation in its amount within wheat and related cereals. We therefore determined the tocol content and composition in the grain of 230 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of a diverse biparental wheat population (Mv ToborzĂł/Tommi), showing variation in the total content from 13.69 to 45.18 ÎĽg/g d.m. The total content also showed transgressive segregation in the population. The effect of the genotype on the variance components of tocols was studied, and the broad-sense heritability was calculated to be 0.71. The lines were also grouped based on their tocol content and analyzed for their chemical composition and breadmaking quality. The high heritability value and the wide variation found in the total amount indicate that increasing the content of tocols is a possible breeding strategy
Variation in the Content and Composition of Tocols in a Wheat Population
Wheat is a well-known source of B vitamins but also contains significant amounts of vitamin E and related tocols, which have a number of positive health benefits. However, there are no reports on increasing the tocol content of wheat. A prerequisite for increasing the tocol content is the identification of variation in its amount within wheat and related cereals. We therefore determined the tocol content and composition in the grain of 230 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of a diverse biparental wheat population (Mv ToborzĂł/Tommi), showing variation in the total content from 13.69 to 45.18 ÎĽg/g d.m. The total content also showed transgressive segregation in the population. The effect of the genotype on the variance components of tocols was studied, and the broad-sense heritability was calculated to be 0.71. The lines were also grouped based on their tocol content and analyzed for their chemical composition and breadmaking quality. The high heritability value and the wide variation found in the total amount indicate that increasing the content of tocols is a possible breeding strategy
Variation in the Content and Composition of Tocols in a Wheat Population
Wheat is a well-known source of B vitamins but also contains significant amounts of vitamin E and related tocols, which have a number of positive health benefits. However, there are no reports on increasing the tocol content of wheat. A prerequisite for increasing the tocol content is the identification of variation in its amount within wheat and related cereals. We therefore determined the tocol content and composition in the grain of 230 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of a diverse biparental wheat population (Mv Toborzo/Tommi), showing variation in the total content from 13.69 to 45.18 mu g/g d.m. The total content also showed transgressive segregation in the population. The effect of the genotype on the variance components of tocols was studied, and the broad-sense heritability was calculated to be 0.71. The lines were also grouped based on their tocol content and analyzed for their chemical composition and breadmaking quality. The high heritability value and the wide variation found in the total amount indicate that increasing the content of tocols is a possible breeding strategy.Peer reviewe
Techniques for accurate protein identification in shotgun proteomic studies of human, mouse, bovine, and chicken lenses
Analysis of shotgun proteomics datasets requires techniques to distinguish correct peptide identifications from incorrect identifications, such as linear discriminant functions and target/decoy protein databases. We report an efficient, flexible proteomic analysis workflow pipeline that implements these techniques to control both peptide and protein false discovery rates. We demonstrate its performance by analyzing two-dimensional liquid chromatography separations of lens proteins from human, mouse, bovine, and chicken lenses. We compared the use of International Protein Index databases to UniProt databases and no-enzyme SEQUEST searches to tryptic searches. Sequences present in the International Protein Index databases allowed detection of several novel crystallins. An alternate start codon isoform of βA4 was found in human lens. The minor crystallin γN was detected for the first time in bovine and chicken lenses. Chicken γS was identified and is the first member of the γ-crystallin family observed in avian lenses
Developing a strategy to improve the environmental risk assessment of substances of unknown and variable composition (MCS/ UVCB)
Mouse antibody of IgM class is prone to non-enzymatic cleavage between CH1 and CH2 domains
Abstract IgM is a multivalent antibody which evolved as a first line defense of adaptive immunity. It consists of heavy and light chains assembled into a complex oligomer. In mouse serum there are two forms of IgM, a full-length and a truncated one. The latter contains μ’ chain, which lacks a variable region. Although μ’ chain was discovered many years ago, its origin has not yet been elucidated. Our results indicate that μ’ chain is generated from a full-length heavy chain by non-enzymatic cleavage of the protein backbone. The cleavage occurred specifically after Asn209 and is prevented by mutating this residue into any other amino acid. The process requires the presence of other proteins, preferentially with an acidic isoelectric point, and is facilitated by neutral or alkaline pH. This unique characteristic of the investigated phenomenon distinguishes it from other, already described, Asn-dependent protein reactions. A single IgM molecule is able to bind up to 12 epitopes via its antigen binding fragments (Fabs). The cleavage at Asn209 generates truncated IgM molecules and free Fabs, resulting in a reduced IgM valence and probably affecting IgM functionality in vivo
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