570 research outputs found
Optical study of sonic and supersonic jet penetration from a flat plate into a Mach 2 airstream
Optical study of sonic and supersonic jet penetration from flat plate into Mach 2 airstrea
Distinct levels in Pom1 gradients limit Cdr2 activity and localization to time and position division.
Where and when cells divide are fundamental questions. In rod-shaped fission yeast cells, the DYRK-family kinase Pom1 is organized in concentration gradients from cell poles and controls cell division timing and positioning. Pom1 gradients restrict to mid-cell the SAD-like kinase Cdr2, which recruits Mid1/Anillin for medial division. Pom1 also delays mitotic commitment through Cdr2, which inhibits Wee1. Here, we describe quantitatively the distributions of cortical Pom1 and Cdr2. These reveal low profile overlap contrasting with previous whole-cell measurements and Cdr2 levels increase with cell elongation, raising the possibility that Pom1 regulates mitotic commitment by controlling Cdr2 medial levels. However, we show that distinct thresholds of Pom1 activity define the timing and positioning of division. Three conditions-a separation-of-function Pom1 allele, partial downregulation of Pom1 activity, and haploinsufficiency in diploid cells-yield cells that divide early, similar to pom1 deletion, but medially, like wild-type cells. In these cells, Cdr2 is localized correctly at mid-cell. Further, Cdr2 overexpression promotes precocious mitosis only in absence of Pom1. Thus, Pom1 inhibits Cdr2 for mitotic commitment independently of regulating its localization or cortical levels. Indeed, we show Pom1 restricts Cdr2 activity through phosphorylation of a C-terminal self-inhibitory tail. In summary, our results demonstrate that distinct levels in Pom1 gradients delineate a medial Cdr2 domain, for cell division placement, and control its activity, for mitotic commitment
Scattering Theory of Kondo Mirages and Observation of Single Kondo Atom Phase Shift
We explain the origin of the Kondo mirage seen in recent quantum corral
Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM) experiments with a scattering theory of
electrons on the surfaces of metals. Our theory combined with experimental data
provides the first direct observation of a single Kondo atom phase shift. The
Kondo mirage at the empty focus of an elliptical quantum corral is shown to
arise from multiple electron bounces off the walls of the corral in a manner
analagous to the formation of a real image in optics. We demonstrate our theory
with direct quantitive comparision to experimental data.Comment: 13 pages; significant clarifications of metho
A natural Finsler--Laplace operator
We give a new definition of a Laplace operator for Finsler metric as an
average with regard to an angle measure of the second directional derivatives.
This definition uses a dynamical approach due to Foulon that does not require
the use of connections nor local coordinates. We show using 1-parameter
families of Katok--Ziller metrics that this Finsler--Laplace operator admits
explicit representations and computations of spectral data.Comment: 25 pages, v2: minor modifications, changed the introductio
Quantum fingerprints of classical Ruelle-Pollicot resonances
N-disk microwave billiards, which are representative of open quantum systems,
are studied experimentally. The transmission spectrum yields the quantum
resonances which are consistent with semiclassical calculations. The spectral
autocorrelation of the quantum spectrum is shown to be determined by the
classical Ruelle-Pollicot resonances, arising from the complex eigenvalues of
the Perron-Frobenius operator. This work establishes a fundamental connection
between quantum and classical correlations in open systems.Comment: 6 pages, 2 eps figures included, submitted to PR
Modular Equations and Distortion Functions
Modular equations occur in number theory, but it is less known that such
equations also occur in the study of deformation properties of quasiconformal
mappings. The authors study two important plane quasiconformal distortion
functions, obtaining monotonicity and convexity properties, and finding sharp
bounds for them. Applications are provided that relate to the quasiconformal
Schwarz Lemma and to Schottky's Theorem. These results also yield new bounds
for singular values of complete elliptic integrals.Comment: 23 page
Negative length orbits in normal-superconductor billiard systems
The Path-Length Spectra of mesoscopic systems including diffractive
scatterers and connected to superconductor is studied theoretically. We show
that the spectra differs fundamentally from that of normal systems due to the
presence of Andreev reflection. It is shown that negative path-lengths should
arise in the spectra as opposed to normal system. To highlight this effect we
carried out both quantum mechanical and semiclassical calculations for the
simplest possible diffractive scatterer. The most pronounced peaks in the
Path-Length Spectra of the reflection amplitude are identified by the routes
that the electron and/or hole travels.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures include
Bloodlines: mammals, leeches, and conservation in southern Asia
Southern Asia is a biodiversity hotspot both for terrestrial mammals and for leeches. Many small-mammal groups are under-studied in this region, while other mammals are of known conservation concern. In addition to standard methods for surveying mammals, it has recently been demonstrated that residual bloodmeals within leeches can be sequenced to find mammals in a given area. While these invertebrate-parasite-derived DNA (iDNA) methods are promising, most of the leech species utilized for this type of survey remain unevaluated, notwithstanding that their diversity varies substantially. Here we examine approximately 750 individual leech specimens in the genus Haemadipsa across a large range in southern Asia (Bangladesh, Cambodia, and China), specifically reviewing the diversity of mammals they feed on and their own genetic structuring. Leeches were found to feed on a considerable variety of mammals, corroborating prior studies. Additionally, leeches were found to have fed both on bats and on birds, neither of which has previously been recorded with this method. The genetic structuring of the leeches themselves revealed 15 distinct clades of which only two precisely corresponded to previously characterized species, indicating that much work is needed to finalize classifications in this genus. Most importantly, with regards to mammal conservation, leeches in these clades appear to feed on a broad range of mammals
Evidence for distinct coastal and offshore communities of bottlenose dolphins in the north east Atlantic.
Bottlenose dolphin stock structure in the northeast Atlantic remains poorly understood. However, fine scale photo-id data have shown that populations can comprise multiple overlapping social communities. These social communities form structural elements of bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) [corrected] populations, reflecting specific ecological and behavioural adaptations to local habitats. We investigated the social structure of bottlenose dolphins in the waters of northwest Ireland and present evidence for distinct inshore and offshore social communities. Individuals of the inshore community had a coastal distribution restricted to waters within 3 km from shore. These animals exhibited a cohesive, fission-fusion social organisation, with repeated resightings within the research area, within a larger coastal home range. The offshore community comprised one or more distinct groups, found significantly further offshore (>4 km) than the inshore animals. In addition, dorsal fin scarring patterns differed significantly between inshore and offshore communities with individuals of the offshore community having more distinctly marked dorsal fins. Specifically, almost half of the individuals in the offshore community (48%) had characteristic stereotyped damage to the tip of the dorsal fin, rarely recorded in the inshore community (7%). We propose that this characteristic is likely due to interactions with pelagic fisheries. Social segregation and scarring differences found here indicate that the distinct communities are likely to be spatially and behaviourally segregated. Together with recent genetic evidence of distinct offshore and coastal population structures, this provides evidence for bottlenose dolphin inshore/offshore community differentiation in the northeast Atlantic. We recommend that social communities should be considered as fundamental units for the management and conservation of bottlenose dolphins and their habitat specialisations
Interaction effects of region-level GDP per capita and age on labour market transition rates in Italy
Abstract The aim of this paper is to measure the effect of the interaction between age for the population of males and females aged 18 to 74 and region-level GDP per capita on labour market transition probabilities in Italy. We compare different occupational states in a sample of males and females who remained in their region of residence at two points in time (12 months apart). We estimate the transition probabilities using a flexible hierarchical logit model with interaction effects between worker age and region-level GDP per capita. We apply this model using longitudinal data from the Italian Labour Force Survey that cover the 2004–2013 period. We find empirical support for the assumption that people in the same age cohort have different labour market opportunities based on the level of GDP per capita in their region of residence. These differences are particularly relevant among younger workers
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