3,255 research outputs found
Front-to-Rear Membrane Tension Gradient in Rapidly Moving Cells
AbstractMembrane tension is becoming recognized as an important mechanical regulator of motile cell behavior. Although membrane-tension measurements have been performed in various cell types, the tension distribution along the plasma membrane of motile cells has been largely unexplored. Here, we present an experimental study of the distribution of tension in the plasma membrane of rapidly moving fish epithelial keratocytes. We find that during steady movement the apparent membrane tension is ∼30% higher at the leading edge than at the trailing edge. Similar tension differences between the front and the rear of the cell are found in keratocyte fragments that lack a cell body. This front-to-rear tension variation likely reflects a tension gradient developed in the plasma membrane along the direction of movement due to viscous friction between the membrane and the cytoskeleton-attached protein anchors embedded in the membrane matrix. Theoretical modeling allows us to estimate the area density of these membrane anchors. Overall, our results indicate that even though membrane tension equilibrates rapidly and mechanically couples local boundary dynamics over cellular scales, steady-state variations in tension can exist in the plasma membranes of moving cells
Gate Coupling to Nanoscale Electronics
The realization of single-molecule electronic devices, in which a
nanometer-scale molecule is connected to macroscopic leads, requires the
reproducible production of highly ordered nanoscale gaps in which a molecule of
interest is electrostatically coupled to nearby gate electrodes. Understanding
how the molecule-gate coupling depends on key parameters is crucial for the
development of high-performance devices. Here we directly address this,
presenting two- and three-dimensional finite-element electrostatic simulations
of the electrode geometries formed using emerging fabrication techniques. We
quantify the gate coupling intrinsic to these devices, exploring the roles of
parameters believed to be relevant to such devices. These include the thickness
and nature of the dielectric used, and the gate screening due to different
device geometries. On the single-molecule (~1nm) scale, we find that device
geometry plays a greater role in the gate coupling than the dielectric constant
or the thickness of the insulator. Compared to the typical uniform nanogap
electrode geometry envisioned, we find that non-uniform tapered electrodes
yield a significant three orders of magnitude improvement in gate coupling. We
also find that in the tapered geometry the polarizability of a molecular
channel works to enhance the gate coupling
Influence of Different Strain Rates on the Flow Curve and the Formability of Thin Aluminium and Tinplate Sheets
Due to this high number of produced units and the very thin sheet metals used for beverage
cans, precise production processes with high production volumes are necessary. To save
expenses, while optimising these processes, numerical simulation methods are exploited.
Considering this, it is indispensable to identify the material behaviour as exactly as possible.
In practise, often results of quasi static tensile tests are used, although these are insufficient
for the precise modelling of the material behaviour during can production, since strain rates
of up to 10³ s-1 can occur, here. Therefore, quasi static and high speed tensile test have been
done on specimens featuring the typical materials and thicknesses of semi-finished parts
used for beverage can production. The results were compared with similar materials at
higher sheet metal thicknesses and authenticated by numerical simulation. It was shown that
there is an influence of the strain rate on the material behaviour and it is necessary to
determine material characteristics at strain rates, which are close to the process speed.
Furthermore, the results were classified in their signification for beverage can production
and forming technologies in general
Observation of metastable Aβ amyloid protofibrils by atomic force microscopy
AbstractBackground: Brain amyloid plaque, a diagnostic feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD), contains an insoluble fibrillar core that is composed primarily of variants of the β-amyloid protein (Aβ). As Aβ amyloid fibrils may initiate neurodegeneration, the inhibition of fibril formation is a possible therapeutic strategy. Very little is known about the early steps of the process, however.Results: Atomic force microscopy was used to follow amyloid fibril formation in vitro by the Aβ variants Aβ1-40 and Aβ1-42. Both variants first form small ordered aggregates that grow slowly and then rapidly disappear, while prototypical amyloid fibrils of two discrete morphologies appear. Aβ1-42 aggregates much more rapidly than Aβ1-40, which is consistent with its connection to early-onset AD. We propose that the metastable intermediate species be called Aβ amyloid protofibrils.Conclusions: Aβ protofibrils are likely to be intermediates in the in vitro assembly of Aβ amyloid fibrils, but their in vivo role has yet to be determined. Numerous reports of a nonfibrillar form of Aβ aggregate in the brains of individuals who are predisposed to AD suggest the existence of a precursor form, possibly the protofibril. Thus, stabilization of Aβ protofibrils may be a useful therapeutic strategy
Structure of Flux Line Lattices with Weak Disorder at Large Length Scales
Dislocation-free decoration images containing up to 80,000 vortices have been
obtained on high quality BiSrCaCuO superconducting
single crystals. The observed flux line lattices are in the random manifold
regime with a roughening exponent of 0.44 for length scales up to 80-100
lattice constants. At larger length scales, the data exhibit nonequilibrium
features that persist for different cooling rates and field histories.Comment: 4 pages, 3 gif images, to appear in PRB rapid communicatio
Algorithm for Adapting Cases Represented in a Tractable Description Logic
Case-based reasoning (CBR) based on description logics (DLs) has gained a lot
of attention lately. Adaptation is a basic task in the CBR inference that can
be modeled as the knowledge base revision problem and solved in propositional
logic. However, in DLs, it is still a challenge problem since existing revision
operators only work well for strictly restricted DLs of the \emph{DL-Lite}
family, and it is difficult to design a revision algorithm which is
syntax-independent and fine-grained. In this paper, we present a new method for
adaptation based on the DL . Following the idea of
adaptation as revision, we firstly extend the logical basis for describing
cases from propositional logic to the DL , and present a
formalism for adaptation based on . Then we present an
adaptation algorithm for this formalism and demonstrate that our algorithm is
syntax-independent and fine-grained. Our work provides a logical basis for
adaptation in CBR systems where cases and domain knowledge are described by the
tractable DL .Comment: 21 pages. ICCBR 201
Relationship between the extent of non-viable myocardium and regional left ventricular function in chronic ischemic heart disease
Purpose. To define the relationship between left ventricular (LV) regional contractile function and the extent of myocardial scar in patients with chronic ischemic heart disease and multi-vessel coronary artery disease. Methods. Twenty-three patients with chronic ischemic heart disease and 5 healthy volunteers underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In patients, the relative area ( Percent Scar) and transmural extent (Transmurality) of myocardial infarction were computed from short-axis delayed enhancement images. In each image, myocardial segments were categorized based on the extent of infarction they contained, with 6 categories each for Percent Scar and Transmurality: normal, from healthy volunteers; and 0%; 1–25%, 26–50%, 51–75%, and \u3e 76% from patients. In patients and volunteers, regional LV function was quantified by absolute systolic wall thickening from cine images and midwall circumferential strain using tagged images. Results. Compared to normal segments, regional LV function in patients was significantly diminished in all scar extent intervals, with wall thickening=-8% for all categories. Systolic wall thickening was reduced significantly in all categories above 50% Percent Scar and above 25% Transmurality in patients, relative to corresponding 0% categories. Circumferential strain was significantly reduced above 25% Percent Scar and above 25% Transmurality. Conclusions. In patients with chronic ischemic heart disease and multivessel coronary artery disease, wall thickening was more sensitive to changes in scar Transmurality than to changes in Percent Scar. However, circumferential strain was equally sensitive to both indices. In general, circumferential strain was more sensitive than wall thickening to increases in scar extent
Relationship between the extent of non-viable myocardium and regional left ventricular function in chronic ischemic heart disease
Purpose. To define the relationship between left ventricular (LV) regional contractile function and the extent of myocardial scar in patients with chronic ischemic heart disease and multi-vessel coronary artery disease. Methods. Twenty-three patients with chronic ischemic heart disease and 5 healthy volunteers underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In patients, the relative area ( Percent Scar) and transmural extent (Transmurality) of myocardial infarction were computed from short-axis delayed enhancement images. In each image, myocardial segments were categorized based on the extent of infarction they contained, with 6 categories each for Percent Scar and Transmurality: normal, from healthy volunteers; and 0%; 1–25%, 26–50%, 51–75%, and \u3e 76% from patients. In patients and volunteers, regional LV function was quantified by absolute systolic wall thickening from cine images and midwall circumferential strain using tagged images. Results. Compared to normal segments, regional LV function in patients was significantly diminished in all scar extent intervals, with wall thickening=-8% for all categories. Systolic wall thickening was reduced significantly in all categories above 50% Percent Scar and above 25% Transmurality in patients, relative to corresponding 0% categories. Circumferential strain was significantly reduced above 25% Percent Scar and above 25% Transmurality. Conclusions. In patients with chronic ischemic heart disease and multivessel coronary artery disease, wall thickening was more sensitive to changes in scar Transmurality than to changes in Percent Scar. However, circumferential strain was equally sensitive to both indices. In general, circumferential strain was more sensitive than wall thickening to increases in scar extent
Electrically Driven Light Emission from Individual CdSe Nanowires
We report electroluminescence (EL) measurements carried out on three-terminal
devices incorporating individual n-type CdSe nanowires. Simultaneous optical
and electrical measurements reveal that EL occurs near the contact between the
nanowire and a positively biased electrode or drain. The surface potential
profile, obtained by using Kelvin probe microscopy, shows an abrupt potential
drop near the position of the EL spot, while the band profile obtained from
scanning photocurrent microscopy indicates the existence of an n-type Schottky
barrier at the interface. These observations indicate that light emission
occurs through a hole leakage or an inelastic scattering induced by the rapid
potential drop at the nanowire-electrode interface.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figure
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