5,255 research outputs found
The power spectrum of the circular noise
The circular noise is important in connection to Mach's principle, and also
as a possible probe of the Unruh effect. In this letter the power spectrum of
the detector following the Trocheries-Takeno motion in the Minkowski vacuum is
analytically obtained in the form of an infinite series. A mean distribution
function and corresponding energy density are obtained for this particular
detected noise. The analogous of a non constant temperature distribution is
obtained. And in the end, a brief discussion about the equilibrium
configuration is given.Comment: accepted for publication in GR
Association between oxytocin receptor gene polymorphisms and self-rated 'empathic concern' in schizophrenia
The nonapeptide oxytocin (OXT) and its receptor (OXTR) have been implicated in social cognition, empathy, emotion and stress regulation in humans. Previous studies reported associations between OXT and OXTR genetic polymorphisms and risk for disorders characterized by impaired socio-emotional functioning, such as schizophrenia and autism. Here we investigate the influence of two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the OXTR gene on a measure of socio-emotional functioning in schizophrenic patients. OXTR SNPs that were previously investigated in other studies were genotyped in 145 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia according to DSM-IV and 145 healthy controls matched for age and gender. The Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) was used to assess cognitive ('perspective taking'), affective ('empathic concern') and self-related ('personal distress') dimensions of empathy. No group differences in genotype frequencies were observed. MANCOVA revealed a significant main (F [1,282] = 10.464; pGG) with 'empathic concern'. Within the schizophrenia group, linear regression analysis determined OXTR rs2254298 genotype, PANSS negative and general symptom score, and age of disease onset as being significantly associated with 'empathic concern'. OXTR rs2254298 significantly impacted PANSS general psychopathology scores. No associations were found for OXTR rs53576, IRI 'perspective taking' or 'personal distress' ratings. Our preliminary findings support hypotheses about an involvement of OXTR rs2254298 in emotional empathy in schizophrenic and healthy individuals, warranting independent replication
Production of eta Mesons in Double Pomeron Exchange
We estimate the production cross sections for and mesons
via pomeron-pomeron fusion in peripheral heavy-ion collisions. Total and
elastic PP cross sections are calculated in an equivalent pomeron
approximation.Comment: 9 pages, 3 Postscript figure
If you dont succeed, should you try again? : the role of entrepreneurial experience in venture survival
There remains considerable scholarly debate about the role that prior entrepreneurial experience
plays in new venture survival. Drawing on entrepreneurial learning theories, we use
panel data on 8,400 new ventures to investigate the impact of four different types of prior entrepreneurial
experience (portfolio, serial, failure (bankruptcy/voluntary dissolution) and a
mix of success (portfolio/serial) and failure (prior bankruptcy/dissolution) on venture survival
outcomes. We find that previously failed entrepreneurs are less likely to survive and, in common
with entrepreneurs with mixed prior experiences, are more likely to experience bankruptcy.
We find that portfolio and serial experience is unrelated to survival or avoiding bankruptcy.
Conclusions for entrepreneurship scholars, entrepreneurs and stakeholders are discussed
Monitoring the antibiotic darobactin modulating the β-barrel assembly factor BamA
The β-barrel assembly machinery (BAM) complex is an essential component of Escherichia coli that inserts and folds outer membrane proteins (OMPs). The natural antibiotic compound darobactin inhibits BamA, the central unit of BAM. Here, we employ dynamic single-molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS) to better understand the structure-function relationship of BamA and its inhibition by darobactin. The five N-terminal polypeptide transport (POTRA) domains show low mechanical, kinetic, and energetic stabilities. In contrast, the structural region linking the POTRA domains to the transmembrane β-barrel exposes the highest mechanical stiffness and lowest kinetic stability within BamA, thus indicating a mechano-functional role. Within the β-barrel, the four N-terminal β-hairpins H1-H4 expose the highest mechanical stabilities and stiffnesses, while the four C-terminal β-hairpins H5-H6 show lower stabilities and higher flexibilities. This asymmetry within the β-barrel suggests that substrates funneling into the lateral gate formed by β-hairpins H1 and H8 can force the flexible C-terminal β-hairpins to change conformations
Ligand-Specific Interactions Modulate Kinetic, Energetic, and Mechanical Properties of the Human β2 Adrenergic Receptor
SummaryG protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are a class of versatile proteins that transduce signals across membranes. Extracellular stimuli induce inter- and intramolecular interactions that change the functional state of GPCRs and activate intracellular messenger molecules. How these interactions are established and how they modulate the functional state of GPCRs remain to be understood. We used dynamic single-molecule force spectroscopy to investigate how ligand binding modulates the energy landscape of the human β2 adrenergic receptor (β2AR). Five different ligands representing either agonists, inverse agonists or neutral antagonists established a complex network of interactions that tuned the kinetic, energetic, and mechanical properties of functionally important structural regions of β2AR. These interactions were specific to the efficacy profile of the ligands investigated and suggest that the functional modulation of GPCRs follows structurally well-defined interaction patterns
Psychiatric manifestations of Kleefstra syndrome: a case report
BackgroundKleefstra syndrome is a rare genetic condition, which affects at least 1 in 120,000 individuals who have a neurodevelopmental disorder, characterized by the core clinical phenotype of intellectual disability, hypotonia, severe speech delay, and distinct facial characteristics with additional clinical features including sleep disturbance, overweight, psychiatric disorders, and autism spectrum disorder. To date, a limited number of case reports of Kleefstra syndrome with psychiatric manifestations have been reported.Case presentationWe reported a case of a 35-year-old male diagnosed with Kleefstra syndrome, who also had diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder and moderate to severe intellectual disability. He exhibited various psychiatric manifestations, including temporarily manic-like symptoms, excessive eating/overweight, addictive/gambling behaviors, inappropriate and unsafe internet use, sleep disturbance, rigid routines, and behaviors that challenged in the form of meltdowns. These symptoms were eventually relatively successfully managed with a combination of non-pharmacological and pharmacological treatments.ConclusionTo our knowledge, there is only a limited number of case reports that detail patients with Kleefstra syndrome exhibiting various psychiatric manifestations. Our report adds further knowledge to the paucity of literature and highlights the effectiveness of a combination of non-pharmacological and pharmacological treatments for behavioral/psychiatric difficulties in Kleefstra syndrome
Finite-Temperature Fidelity-Metric Approach to the Lipkin-Meshkov-Glick Model
The fidelity metric has recently been proposed as a useful and elegant
approach to identify and characterize both quantum and classical phase
transitions. We study this metric on the manifold of thermal states for the
Lipkin-Meshkov-Glick (LMG) model. For the isotropic LMG model, we find that the
metric reduces to a Fisher-Rao metric, reflecting an underlying classical
probability distribution. Furthermore, this metric can be expressed in terms of
derivatives of the free energy, indicating a relation to Ruppeiner geometry.
This allows us to obtain exact expressions for the (suitably rescaled) metric
in the thermodynamic limit. The phase transition of the isotropic LMG model is
signalled by a degeneracy of this (improper) metric in the paramagnetic phase.
Due to the integrability of the isotropic LMG model, ground state level
crossings occur, leading to an ill-defined fidelity metric at zero temperature.Comment: 18 pages, 3 figure
Lack of uniqueness for weak solutions of the incompressible porous media equation
In this work we consider weak solutions of the incompressible 2-D porous
media equation. By using the approach of De Lellis-Sz\'ekelyhidi we prove
non-uniqueness for solutions in in space and time.Comment: 23 pages, 2 fugure
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