5,918 research outputs found
From Molecular Cores to Planet-forming Disks with SIRTF
The SIRTF mission and the Legacy programs will provide coherent data bases
for extra-galactic and Galactic science that will rapidly become available to
researchers through a public archive. The capabilities of SIRTF and the six
legacy programs are described briefly. Then the cores to disks (c2d) program is
described in more detail. The c2d program will use all three SIRTF instruments
(IRAC, MIPS, and IRS) to observe sources from molecular cores to protoplanetary
disks, with a wide range of cloud masses, stellar masses, and star-forming
environments. The SIRTF data will stimulate many follow-up studies, both with
SIRTF and with other instruments.Comment: 6 pages, from Fourth Cologne-Bonn-Zermatt-Symposium, The Dense
Interstellar Matter in Galaxie
Mitochondria in parasitic plants
Plant mitochondrial genomes are renowned for their structural complexity, extreme variation in size and mutation rates, and ability to incorporate foreign DNA. Parasitic flowering plants are no exception, and the close association between parasite and host may even enhance the likelihood of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) between them. Recent studies on mistletoes (Viscum) have revealed that these parasites have lost an exceptional number of mitochondrial genes, including all complex I genes of the respiratory chain. At the same time, an altered respiratory pathway has been demonstrated. Here we review the current understanding of mitochondrial evolution in parasitic plants with a special emphasis on HGT to and from parasite mitochondrial genomes, as well as the uniquely altered mitochondria in Viscum and related plants. © 2020 The Author
Gene deletions leading to a reduction in the number of cyclopentane rings in Sulfolobus acidocaldarius tetraether lipids
Myocyte Enhancer Factor 2A (MEF2A) Defines Oxytocin-Induced Morphological Effects and Regulates Mitochondrial Function in Neurons
The neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) is a well-described modulator of socio-emotional traits, such as anxiety, stress, social behavior, and pair bonding. However, when dysregulated, it is associated with adverse psychiatric traits, such as various aspects of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In this study, we identify the transcription factor myocyte enhancer factor 2A (MEF2A) as the common link between OT and cellular changes symptomatic for ASD, encompassing neuronal morphology, connectivity, and mitochondrial function. We provide evidence for MEF2A as the decisive factor defining the cellular response to OT: while OT induces neurite retraction in MEF2A expressing neurons, OT causes neurite outgrowth in absence of MEF2A. A CRISPR-Cas-mediated knockout of MEF2A and retransfection of an active version or permanently inactive mutant, respectively, validated our findings. We also identified the phosphatase calcineurin as the main upstream regulator of OT-induced MEF2A signaling. Further, MEF2A signaling dampens mitochondrial functioning in neurons, as MEF2A knockout cells show increased maximal cellular respiration, spare respiratory capacity, and total cellular ATP. In summary, we reveal a central role for OT-induced MEF2A activity as major regulator of cellular morphology as well as neuronal connectivity and mitochondrial functioning, with broad implications for a potential treatment of disorders based on morphological alterations or mitochondrial dysfunction
RydIQule: A Graph-based Paradigm for Modelling Rydberg and Atomic Systems
We describe a numerical technique and accompanying open-source Python
software package called RydIQule. RydIQule uses a directional graph, relying on
adjacency matrices and path-finding to generate a Hamiltonian for multi-level
atomic systems. RydIQule then constructs semi-classical equations of motion
(Bloch equations) into a tensor which can store an entire simulation consisting
of varied system parameters. Using this framework, RydIQule returns solutions
significantly faster than typical for interpreted programming languages.
RydIQule extends beyond the capabilities of currently-available tools,
facilitating rapid development in atomic and Rydberg spectroscopy. To
demonstrate its utility, we use RydIQule to simulate a Doppler-broadened
Rydberg atomic sensor that simultaneously demodulates five rf tones spanning
from 1.7 to 116 GHz. Using RydIQule, this simulation can be solved in several
hours on a commercial off-the-shelf desktop computer.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure
Multi-Player Quantum Games
Recently the concept of quantum information has been introduced into game
theory. Here we present the first study of quantum games with more than two
players. We discover that such games can possess a new form of equilibrium
strategy, one which has no analogue either in traditional games or even in
two-player quantum games. In these `pure' coherent equilibria, entanglement
shared among multiple players enables new kinds of cooperative behavior: indeed
it can act as a contract, in the sense that it prevents players from
successfully betraying one-another.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figs. Substantial revisons inc. new result
Quantum games of asymmetric information
We investigate quantum games in which the information is asymmetrically
distributed among the players, and find the possibility of the quantum game
outperforming its classical counterpart depends strongly on not only the
entanglement, but also the informational asymmetry. What is more interesting,
when the information distribution is asymmetric, the contradictive impact of
the quantum entanglement on the profits is observed, which is not reported in
quantum games of symmetric information.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure
Versatile Genetic Tool Box for the Crenarchaeote Sulfolobus acidocaldarius
For reverse genetic approaches inactivation or selective modification of genes are required to elucidate their putative function. Sulfolobus acidocaldarius is a thermoacidophilic Crenarchaeon which grows optimally at 76°C and pH 3. As many antibiotics do not withstand these conditions the development of a genetic system in this organism is dependent on auxotrophies. Therefore we constructed a pyrE deletion mutant of S. acidocaldarius wild type strain DSM639 missing 322 bp called MW001. Using this strain as the starting point, we describe here different methods using single as well as double crossover events to obtain markerless deletion mutants, tag genes genomically and ectopically integrate foreign DNA into MW001. These methods enable us to construct single, double, and triple deletions strains that can still be complemented with the pRN1 based expression vector. Taken together we have developed a versatile and robust genetic tool box for the crenarchaeote S. acidocaldarius that will promote the study of unknown gene functions in this organism and makes it a suitable host for synthetic biology approaches
Capability of Neutrophils to Form NETs Is Not Directly Influenced by a CMA-Targeting Peptide
During inflammatory reaction, neutrophils exhibit numerous cellular and immunological functions, notably the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) and autophagy. NETs are composed of decondensed chromatin fibers coated with various antimicrobial molecules derived from neutrophil granules. NETs participate in antimicrobial defense and can also display detrimental roles and notably trigger some of the immune features of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and other autoimmune diseases. Autophagy is a complex and finely regulated mechanism involved in the cell survival/death balance that may be connected to NET formation. To shed some light on the connection between autophagy and NET formation, we designed a number of experiments in human neutrophils and both in normal and lupus-prone MRL/lpr mice to determine whether the synthetic peptide P140, which is capable of selectively modulating chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA) in lymphocytes, could alter NET formation. P140/Lupuzor™ is currently being evaluated in phase III clinical trials involving SLE patients. Overall our in vitro and in vivo studies established that P140 does not influence NET formation, cytokine/chemokine production, or CMA in neutrophils. Thus, the beneficial effect of P140/Lupuzor™ in SLE is apparently not directly related to modulation of neutrophil function
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