Temporal characterization of rock dynamic destruction

Dynamic strength tests published in literature have been analysed by structuraltemporal damage criteria. Parameter τ - incubation time - describing material stability behaviour under high-rate influences have been estimated for Kimachi sandstone, Inada granite and Tage tuff. Two types of dynamic tensile experiments have been used: split Hopkinson pressure bar and spalling. Purely dynamic effect of fracture delay have been observed in the case of Kimachi sandstone and discussed

Control of Striatal Signaling by G Protein Regulators

Signaling via heterotrimeric G proteins plays a crucial role in modulating the responses of striatal neurons that ultimately shape core behaviors mediated by the basal ganglia circuitry, such as reward valuation, habit formation, and movement coordination. Activation of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) by extracellular signals activates heterotrimeric G proteins by promoting the binding of GTP to their α subunits. G proteins exert their effects by influencing the activity of key effector proteins in this region, including ion channels, second messenger enzymes, and protein kinases. Striatal neurons express a staggering number of GPCRs whose activation results in the engagement of downstream signaling pathways and cellular responses with unique profiles but common molecular mechanisms. Studies over the last decade have revealed that the extent and duration of GPCR signaling are controlled by a conserved protein family named regulator of G protein signaling (RGS). RGS proteins accelerate GTP hydrolysis by the α subunits of G proteins, thus promoting deactivation of GPCR signaling. In this review, we discuss the progress made in understanding the roles of RGS proteins in controlling striatal G protein signaling and providing integration and selectivity of signal transmission. We review evidence on the formation of a macromolecular complex between RGS proteins and other components of striatal signaling pathways, their molecular regulatory mechanisms and impacts on GPCR signaling in the striatum obtained from biochemical studies and experiments involving genetic mouse models. Special emphasis is placed on RGS9-2, a member of the RGS family that is highly enriched in the striatum and plays critical roles in drug addiction and motor control

Topology and confinement at T \neq 0 : calorons with non-trivial holonomy

In this talk, relying on experience with various lattice filter techniques, we argue that the semiclassical structure of finite temperature gauge fields for T < T_c is dominated by calorons with non-trivial holonomy. By simulating a dilute gas of calorons with identical holonomy, superposed in the algebraic gauge, we are able to reproduce the confining properties below T_c up to distances r = O(4 fm} >> \rho (the caloron size). We compute Polyakov loop correlators as well as space-like Wilson loops for the fundamental and adjoint representation. The model parameters, including the holonomy, can be inferred from lattice results as functions of the temperature.Comment: Talk by M. M\"uller-Preussker at "Quark Confinement and Hadron Structure VII", Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal, September 2 - 7, 2006, 4 pages, 2 figures, to appear in the Proceeding

Systematic limits on sin^2{2theta_{13}} in neutrino oscillation experiments with multi-reactors

Sensitivities to sin^2{2theta_{13}} without statistical errors (``systematic limit'') are investigated in neutrino oscillation experiments with multiple reactors. Using an analytical approach, we show that the systematic limit on sin^2{2theta_{13}} is dominated by the uncorrelated systematic error sigma_u of the detector. Even in an experiment with multi-detectors and multi-reactors, it turns out that most of the systematic errors including the one due to the nature of multiple sources is canceled as in the case with a single reactor plus two detectors, if the near detectors are placed suitably. The case of the KASKA plan (7 reactors and 3 detectors) is investigated in detail, and it is explicitly shown that it does not suffer from the extra uncertainty due to multiple reactors.Comment: 26 pages, 10 eps-files, revtex

Pionic atoms probing pi-NN resonances

The pion optical potential generated by the hypothetical pi-NN-coupled NN-decoupled dibaryon resonance d'(2065) is calculated to the lowest order in nuclear matter density. The contribution to the pion optical potential is found to be within the empirical errors, so the d'(2065) existence currently does not contradict to the observed properties of the pi-nucleus bound states. Future progress in the pionic X-ray spectroscopy can reveal contributions of pi-NN resonances to energy levels and widths of the pionic atoms.Comment: 3 pages REVTEX, 1 ps figur