379 research outputs found
Evaluation of mTOR-regulated mRNA translation.
mTOR, the mammalian target of rapamycin, regulates protein synthesis (mRNA translation) by affecting the phosphorylation or activity of several translation factors. Here, we describe methods for studying the impact of mTOR signalling on protein synthesis, using inhibitors of mTOR such as rapamycin (which impairs some of its functions) or mTOR kinase inhibitors (which probably block all functions).To assess effects of mTOR inhibition on general protein synthesis in cells, the incorporation of radiolabelled amino acids into protein is measured. This does not yield information on the effects of mTOR on the synthesis of specific proteins. To do this, two methods are described. In one, stable-isotope labelled amino acids are used, and their incorporation into new proteins is determined using mass spectrometric methods. The proportions of labelled vs. unlabeled versions of each peptide from a given protein provide quantitative information about the rate of that protein's synthesis under different conditions. Actively translated mRNAs are associated with ribosomes in polyribosomes (polysomes); thus, examining which mRNAs are found in polysomes under different conditions provides information on the translation of specific mRNAs under different conditions. A method for the separation of polysomes from non-polysomal mRNAs is describe
Analysis of the intraspinal calcium dynamics and its implications on the plasticity of spiking neurons
The influx of calcium ions into the dendritic spines through the
N-metyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) channels is believed to be the primary trigger for
various forms of synaptic plasticity. In this paper, the authors calculate
analytically the mean values of the calcium transients elicited by a spiking
neuron undergoing a simple model of ionic currents and back-propagating action
potentials. The relative variability of these transients, due to the stochastic
nature of synaptic transmission, is further considered using a simple Markov
model of NMDA receptos. One finds that both the mean value and the variability
depend on the timing between pre- and postsynaptic action-potentials. These
results could have implications on the expected form of synaptic-plasticity
curve and can form a basis for a unified theory of spike time-dependent, and
rate based plasticity.Comment: 14 pages, 10 figures. A few changes in section IV and addition of a
new figur
Exact renormalization group flow equations for non-relativistic fermions: scaling towards the Fermi surface
We construct exact functional renormalization group (RG) flow equations for
non-relativistic fermions in arbitrary dimensions, taking into account not only
mode elimination but also the rescaling of the momenta, frequencies and the
fermionic fields. The complete RG flow of all relevant, marginal and irrelevant
couplings can be described by a system of coupled flow equations for the
irreducible n-point vertices. Introducing suitable dimensionless variables, we
obtain flow equations for generalized scaling functions which are continuous
functions of the flow parameter, even if we consider quantities which are
dominated by momenta close to the Fermi surface, such as the density-density
correlation function at long wavelengths. We also show how the problem of
constructing the renormalized Fermi surface can be reduced to the problem of
finding the RG fixed point of the irreducible two-point vertex at vanishing
momentum and frequency. We argue that only if the degrees of freedom are
properly rescaled it is possible to reach scale-invariant non-Fermi liquid
fixed points within a truncation of the exact RG flow equations.Comment: 20 Revtex pages, with 4 figures; final version to appear in Phys.
Rev. B; references and some explanations adde
Decaying Dark Matter can explain the electron/positron excesses
PAMELA and ATIC recently reported excesses in e+ e- cosmic rays. Since the
interpretation in terms of DM annihilations was found to be not easily
compatible with constraints from photon observations, we consider the DM decay
hypothesis and find that it can explain the e+ e- excesses compatibly with all
constraints, and can be tested by dedicated HESS observations of the Galactic
Ridge. ATIC data indicate a DM mass of about 2 TeV: this mass naturally implies
the observed DM abundance relative to ordinary matter if DM is a quasi-stable
composite particle with a baryon-like matter asymmetry. Technicolor naturally
yields these type of candidates.Comment: 20 pages, 7 figure
Effects of impurity scattering on electron-phonon resonances in semiconductor superlattice high-field transport
A non-equilibrium Green's function method is applied to model high-field
quantum transport and electron-phonon resonances in semiconductor
superlattices. The field-dependent density of states for elastic (impurity)
scattering is found non-perturbatively in an approach which can be applied to
both high and low electric fields. I-V curves, and specifically electron-phonon
resonances, are calculated by treating the inelastic (LO phonon) scattering
perturbatively. Calculations show how strong impurity scattering suppresses the
electron-phonon resonance peaks in I-V curves, and their detailed sensitivity
to the size, strength and concentration of impurities.Comment: 7 figures, 1 tabl
Dramatic Regression of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia in the First Patient Treated With Donor-Derived Genetically-Engineered Anti-CD19-Chimeric-Antigen-Receptor-Expressing T Cells After Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
Heliospheric Transport of Neutron-Decay Protons
We report on new simulations of the transport of energetic protons
originating from the decay of energetic neutrons produced in solar flares.
Because the neutrons are fast-moving but insensitive to the solar wind magnetic
field, the decay protons are produced over a wide region of space, and they
should be detectable by current instruments over a broad range of longitudes
for many hours after a sufficiently large gamma-ray flare. Spacecraft closer to
the Sun are expected to see orders-of magnitude higher intensities than those
at the Earth-Sun distance. The current solar cycle should present an excellent
opportunity to observe neutron-decay protons with multiple spacecraft over
different heliographic longitudes and distances from the Sun.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures, to be published in special issue of Solar
Physic
Prevalence, hematology and serum biochemistry in stray dogs naturally infected by Hepatozoon canis in São Paulo
From Cholera to Burns: A Role for Oral Rehydration Therapy
According to the practice guidelines of the American Burn Association
on burn shock resuscitation, intravenous (IV) fluid therapy is the
standard of care for the replacement of fluid and electrolyte losses in
burn injury of 6520% of the total body surface area. However, in
mass burn casualties, IV fluid resuscitation may be delayed or
unavailable. Oral rehydration therapy (ORT), which has been shown to be
highly effective in the treatment of dehydration in epidemics of
cholera, could be an alternate way to replace fluid losses in burns. A
prospective case series of three patients was carried out as an initial
step to establish whether oral Ceralyte\uae90 could replace fluid
losses requiring IV fluid therapy in thermal injury. The requirement of
the continuing IV fluid therapy was reduced by an average of 58% in the
first 24 hours after the injury (range 37-78%). ORT may be a feasible
alternative to IV fluid therapy in the resuscitation of burns. It could
also potentially save many lives in mass casualty situations or in
resource-poor settings where IV fluid therapy is not immediately
available. Further studies are needed to assess the efficacy of this
treatment and to determine whether the present formulations of ORT for
cholera need modification
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