1,294 research outputs found
Advances in genome-wide RNAi cellular screens: a case study using the Drosophila JAK/STAT pathway
BACKGROUND: Genome-scale RNA-interference (RNAi) screens are becoming ever more common gene discovery tools. However, whilst every screen identifies interacting genes, less attention has been given to how factors such as library design and post-screening bioinformatics may be effecting the data generated. RESULTS: Here we present a new genome-wide RNAi screen of the Drosophila JAK/STAT signalling pathway undertaken in the Sheffield RNAi Screening Facility (SRSF). This screen was carried out using a second-generation, computationally optimised dsRNA library and analysed using current methods and bioinformatic tools. To examine advances in RNAi screening technology, we compare this screen to a biologically very similar screen undertaken in 2005 with a first-generation library. Both screens used the same cell line, reporters and experimental design, with the SRSF screen identifying 42 putative regulators of JAK/STAT signalling, 22 of which verified in a secondary screen and 16 verified with an independent probe design. Following reanalysis of the original screen data, comparisons of the two gene lists allows us to make estimates of false discovery rates in the SRSF data and to conduct an assessment of off-target effects (OTEs) associated with both libraries. We discuss the differences and similarities between the resulting data sets and examine the relative improvements in gene discovery protocols. CONCLUSIONS: Our work represents one of the first direct comparisons between first- and second-generation libraries and shows that modern library designs together with methodological advances have had a significant influence on genome-scale RNAi screens
Decoupling in the 1D frustrated quantum XY model and Josephson junction ladders: Ising critical behavior
A generalization of the one-dimensional frustrated quantum XY model is
considered in which the inter and intra-chain coupling constants of the two
infinite XY (planar rotor) chains have different strengths. The model can
describe the superconductor to insulator transition due to charging effects in
a ladder of Josephson junctions in a magnetic field with half a flux quantum
per plaquette. From a fluctuation-effective action, this transition is expected
to be in the universality class of the two-dimensional classical XY-Ising
model. The critical behavior is studied using a Monte Carlo transfer matrix
applied to the path-integral representation of the model and a
finite-size-scaling analysis of data on small system sizes. It is found that,
unlike the previous studied case of equal inter and intra-chain coupling
constants, the XY and Ising-like excitations of the quantum model decouple for
large interchain coupling, giving rise to pure Ising model critical behavior
for the chirality order parameter and a superconductor-insulator transition in
the universality class of the 2D classical XY model.Comment: 15 pages with figures, RevTex 3.0, INPE-93/00
Medium-range interactions and crossover to classical critical behavior
We study the crossover from Ising-like to classical critical behavior as a
function of the range R of interactions. The power-law dependence on R of
several critical amplitudes is calculated from renormalization theory. The
results confirm the predictions of Mon and Binder, which were obtained from
phenomenological scaling arguments. In addition, we calculate the range
dependence of several corrections to scaling. We have tested the results in
Monte Carlo simulations of two-dimensional systems with an extended range of
interaction. An efficient Monte Carlo algorithm enabled us to carry out
simulations for sufficiently large values of R, so that the theoretical
predictions could actually be observed.Comment: 16 pages RevTeX, 8 PostScript figures. Uses epsf.sty. Also available
as PostScript and PDF file at http://www.tn.tudelft.nl/tn/erikpubs.htm
Quantum Phase Transitions and Conserved Charges
The constraints on the scaling properties of conserved charge densities in
the vicinity of a zero temperature (), second-order quantum phase transition
are studied. We introduce a generalized Wilson ratio, characterizing the
non-linear response to an external field, , coupling to any conserved
charge, and argue that it is a completely universal function of : this is
illustrated by computations on model systems. We also note implications for
transitions where the order parameter is a conserved charge (as in a
ferromagnet-paramagnet transition).Comment: 19 pages, REVTEX 3.0, 8 uuencoded Postscript figues appended,
YCTP-xxx
Parametric pumping at finite frequency
We report on a first principles theory for analyzing the parametric electron
pump at a finite frequency. The pump is controlled by two pumping parameters
with phase difference . In the zero frequency limit, our theory predicts
the well known result that the pumped current is proportional to .
For the more general situation of a finite frequency, our theory predicts a
non-vanishing pumped current even when the two driving forces are in phase, in
agreement with the recent experimental results. We present the physical
mechanism behind the nonzero pumped current at , which we found to be
due to photon-assisted processes
Feshbach resonance in a strictly two-dimensional atomic Bose gas
We discuss the atom-atom scattering problem across a Feshbach resonance in a
two-dimensional dilute Bose gas at zero temperature, in the limit where the
s-wave scattering length exceeds the width of the vertical confinement. We
determine a tunable coupling-strength parameter and by controlling it we
evaluate how the condensate wave function spreads out with increasing atom-atom
repulsions. We also discuss the stability of the condensate in the
magnetic-field regime where the coupling has become attractive.Comment: 9 pages, 1 figur
Strong-coupling perturbation theory for the two-dimensional Bose-Hubbard model in a magnetic field
The Bose-Hubbard model in an external magnetic field is investigated with
strong-coupling perturbation theory. The lowest-order secular equation leads to
the problem of a charged particle moving on a lattice in the presence of a
magnetic field, which was first treated by Hofstadter. We present phase
diagrams for the two-dimensional square and triangular lattices, showing a
change in shape of the phase lobes away from the well-known power-law behavior
in zero magnetic field. Some qualitative agreement with experimental work on
Josephson-junction arrays is found for the insulating phase behavior at small
fields.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures include
Crystallization of a classical two-dimensional electron system: Positional and orientational orders
Crystallization of a classical two-dimensional one-component plasma
(electrons interacting with the Coulomb repulsion in a uniform neutralizing
positive background) is investigated with a molecular dynamics simulation. The
positional and the orientational correlation functions are calculated for the
first time. We have found an indication that the solid phase has a
quasi-long-range (power-law) positional order along with a long-range
orientational order. This indicates that, although the long-range Coulomb
interaction is outside the scope of Mermin's theorem, the absence of ordinary
crystalline order at finite temperatures applies to the electron system as
well. The `hexatic' phase, which is predicted between the liquid and the solid
phases by the Kosterlitz-Thouless-Halperin-Nelson-Young theory, is also
discussed.Comment: 3 pages, 4 figures; Corrected typos; Double columne
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