Theoretical Analysis of Mound Slope Selection during Unstable Multilayer Growth

A step dynamics model is developed for mound formation during multilayer homoepitaxy. Downward funneling of atoms deposited at step edges is incorporated and controls mound slope selection. Behavior of the selected slope differs from that predicted by phenomenological continuum treatments where the lateral mass current vanishes identically. Instead, this current is shown to vary periodically and vanish only on average. An exact coarse-grained continuum formulation with appropriate boundary conditions is derived and recovers step dynamics results

Modeling plant diseases under climate change: evolutionary perspectives

Infectious plant diseases are a major threat to global agricultural productivity, economic development, and ecological integrity. There is widespread concern that these social and natural disasters caused by infectious plant diseases may escalate with climate change and computer modeling offers a unique opportu-nity to address this concern. Here, we analyze the intrinsic problems associated with current modeling strategies and highlight the need to integrate evolutionary principles into polytrophic, eco-evolutionary frameworks to improve predictions. We particularly discuss how evolutionary shifts in functional trade-offs, relative adaptability between plants and pathogens, ecosystems, and climate preferences induced by climate change may feedback to future plant disease epidemics and how technological advances can facilitate the generation and integration of this relevant knowledge for better modeling predictions

Clean Prediction of \CP violating processes ψ\psi, ϕ\phi and Υ(1S)\Upsilon(1S) decay to KsKs and KLKL

The ratio of $K_S K_S$ ($K_L K_L$) and $K_S K_L$ production rates is calculated by considering $K^0 - K^0bar$ oscillation in $J/\psi \to K^0K^0bar$ decay. The theoretical uncertainty due to strong interaction in $J/\psi$ decay is completely canceled in the ratio, therefore, the absolute branching fractions of the \CP violating processes of $J/\psi \to K_S K_S$ and $K_L K_L$ can be cleanly and model-independently determined in case that $J/\psi \to K_S K_L$ decay is precisely measured. In the future $\tau$-Charm factory, the expected \CP violating process of $J/\psi \to K_S K_S$ should be reached. It is important to measure $J/\psi$ to $K_S K_S$ and K_S K_L decays simultaneously, so that many systematic errors will be canceled. More precise measurements are suggested to examine the predicted isospin relation in $J/\psi \to KKbar$ decays. All results can be extended to decays of other vector quarkonia, $\phi$, $\psi(2S)$ and $\Upsilon(1S)$ and so on.Comment: Version 2 is the same as published one at PR

Target of Rapamycin Regulates Photosynthesis and Cell Growth in Auxenochlorella pyrenoidosa

Auxenochlorella pyrenoidosa is an efficient photosynthetic microalga with autotrophic growth and reproduction, which has the advantages of rich nutrition and high protein content. Target of rapamycin (TOR) is a conserved protein kinase in eukaryotes both structurally and functionally, but little is known about the TOR signalling in Auxenochlorella pyrenoidosa. Here, we found a conserved ApTOR protein in Auxenochlorella pyrenoidosa, and the key components of TOR complex 1 (TORC1) were present, while the components RICTOR and SIN1 of the TORC2 were absent in Auxenochlorella pyrenoidosa. Drug sensitivity experiments showed that AZD8055 could effectively inhibit the growth of Auxenochlorella pyrenoidosa, whereas rapamycin, Torin1 and KU0063794 had no obvious effect on the growth of Auxenochlorella pyrenoidosa a. Transcriptome data results indicated that Auxenochlorella pyrenoidosa TOR (ApTOR) regulates various intracellular metabolism and signaling pathways in Auxenochlorella pyrenoidosa. Most genes related to chloroplast development and photosynthesis were significantly down-regulated under ApTOR inhibition by AZD8055. In addition, ApTOR was involved in regulating protein synthesis and catabolism by multiple metabolic pathways in Auxenochlorella pyrenoidosa. Importantly, the inhibition of ApTOR by AZD8055 disrupted the normal carbon and nitrogen metabolism, protein and fatty acid metabolism, and TCA cycle of Auxenochlorella pyrenoidosa cells, thus inhibiting the growth of Auxenochlorella pyrenoidosa. These RNA-seq results indicated that ApTOR plays important roles in photosynthesis, intracellular metabolism and cell growth, and provided some insights into the function of ApTOR in Auxenochlorella pyrenoidosa