2,702 research outputs found
Salt-dependent rheology and surface tension of protein condensates using optical traps
An increasing number of proteins with intrinsically disordered domains have
been shown to phase separate in buffer to form liquid-like phases. These
protein condensates serve as simple models for the investigation of the more
complex membrane-less organelles in cells. To understand the function of such
proteins in cells, the material properties of the condensates they form are
important. However, these material properties are not well understood. Here, we
develop a novel method based on optical traps to study the frequency-dependent
rheology and the surface tension of PGL-3 condensates as a function of salt
concentration. We find that PGL-3 droplets are predominantly viscous but also
exhibit elastic properties. As the salt concentration is reduced, their elastic
modulus, viscosity and surface tension increase. Our findings show that salt
concentration has a strong influence on the rheology and dynamics of protein
condensates suggesting an important role of electrostatic interactions for
their material properties.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, 1 supplemen
Quantum entanglement between electronic and vibrational degrees of freedom in molecules
We consider the quantum entanglement of the electronic and vibrational
degrees of freedom in molecules with a tendency towards double welled
potentials using model coupled harmonic diabatic potential-energy surfaces. The
von Neumann entropy of the reduced density matrix is used to quantify the
electron-vibration entanglement for the lowest two vibronic wavefunctions in
such a bipartite system. Significant entanglement is found only in the region
in which the ground vibronic state contains a density profile that is bimodal
(i.e., contains two separate local minima). However, in this region two
distinct types of entanglement are found: (1) entanglement that arises purely
from the degeneracy of energy levels in the two potential wells and which is
destroyed by slight asymmetry, and (2) entanglement that involves strongly
interacting states in each well that is relatively insensitive to asymmetry.
These two distinct regions are termed fragile degeneracy-induced entanglement
and persistent entanglement, respectively. Six classic molecular systems
describable by two diabatic states are considered: ammonia, benzene,
semibullvalene, pyridine excited triplet states, the Creutz-Taube ion, and the
radical cation of the "special pair" of chlorophylls involved in
photosynthesis. These chemically diverse systems are all treated using the same
general formalism and the nature of the entanglement that they embody is
elucidated
Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation: Variability of the Boundary Circulation Systems and AMOC at 11°S
Comparison of two combinations of opioid and non-opioid analgesics for acute periradicular abscess : a randomized clinical trial
Acute periradicular abscess is a condition characterized by the formation and propagation of pus in the periapical tissues and generally associated with debilitating pain. Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the overall analgesic effectiveness of two combinations of opioid and non-opioid analgesics for acute periradicular abscess. Material and Methods: This study included 26 patients who sought emergency care in a Brazilian dental school. The patients were randomly divided into two groups: Co/Ac - oral prescription of codeine (30 mg) plus acetaminophen (500 mg), every 4h, for 3 days or Tr/Ac - oral prescription of tramadol hydrochloride (37.5 mg) plus acetaminophen (500 mg) on the same schedule. Two factors were evaluated: (1) pain scores recorded by the patients in a pain diary 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h after treatment, using the Visual Analogue Scale; and (2) the occurrence of adverse effects. Results: In both groups, there was a reduction in pain scores over time. For the Co/Ac group, there was a significant reduction in the scores 12, 24,48, and 72 hours after treatment (P0.05), i.e.,both treatments were effective in controlling pain caused by APA; however, the combination of Tr/Ac caused more adverse reactions as two patients had to stop using the medication. Conclusion: This study suggests that, considering both analgesic efficacy and safety, the combination of codeine and acetaminophen is more effective to control moderate to severe pain from acute periradicular abscesses
Detection of a transit of the super-Earth 55 Cnc e with Warm Spitzer
We report on the detection of a transit of the super-Earth 55 Cnc e with warm
Spitzer in IRAC's 4.5-micron band. Our MCMC analysis includes an extensive
modeling of the systematic effects affecting warm Spitzer photometry, and
yields a transit depth of 410 +- 63 ppm, which translates to a planetary radius
of 2.08 +- 0.16 R_Earth as measured in IRAC 4.5-micron channel. A planetary
mass of 7.81 +- 0.58 M_Earth is derived from an extensive set of
radial-velocity data, yielding a mean planetary density of 4.8 +- 1.3 g cm-3.
Thanks to the brightness of its host star (V = 6, K = 4), 55 Cnc e is a unique
target for the thorough characterization of a super-Earth orbiting around a
solar-type star.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A on 31 July 2011. 9 pages, 7 figures
and 3 tables. Minor changes. The revised version includes a baseline models
comparison and a new figure presenting the spatially- and time-dependent
terms of the model function used in Eq.
Regularity of Cauchy horizons in S2xS1 Gowdy spacetimes
We study general S2xS1 Gowdy models with a regular past Cauchy horizon and
prove that a second (future) Cauchy horizon exists, provided that a particular
conserved quantity is not zero. We derive an explicit expression for the
metric form on the future Cauchy horizon in terms of the initial data on the
past horizon and conclude the universal relation A\p A\f=(8\pi J)^2 where
A\p and A\f are the areas of past and future Cauchy horizon respectively.Comment: 17 pages, 1 figur
Government pension policy and the cost of labor and capital
This article examines how the pension insurance provided by the PBGC and the tax treatment of pension plans affect the cost of labor and capital. Two important aspects of the insurance program are (1) the premium schedule and (2) an employer's liability for unfunded pension benefits (the deductible). These two aspects interact to increase the cost of capital relative to labor, especially for firms with underfunded plans.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/45413/1/10693_2004_Article_BF00119168.pd
- …