296 research outputs found
Driven lattice gas of dimers coupled to a bulk reservoir
We investigate the non-equilibrium steady state of a one-dimensional (1D)
lattice gas of dimers. The dynamics is described by a totally asymmetric
exclusion process (TASEP) supplemented by attachment and detachment processes,
mimicking chemical equilibrium of the 1D driven transport with the bulk
reservoir. The steady-state phase diagram, current and density profiles are
calculated using both a refined mean-field theory and extensive stochastic
simulations. As a consequence of the on-off kinetics, a new phase coexistence
region arises intervening between low and high density phases such that the
discontinuous transition line of the TASEP splits into two continuous ones. The
results of the mean-field theory and simulations are found to coincide. We show
that the physical picture obtained in the corresponding lattice gas model with
monomers is robust, in the sense that the phase diagram changes quantitatively,
but the topology remains unaltered. The mechanism for phase separation is
identified as generic for a wide class of driven 1D lattice gases.Comment: 15 pages, 10 figures, 1tabl
Mixed population of competing TASEPs with a shared reservoir of particles
We introduce a mean-field theoretical framework to describe multiple totally
asymmetric simple exclusion processes (TASEPs) with different lattice lengths,
entry and exit rates, competing for a finite reservoir of particles. We present
relations for the partitioning of particles between the reservoir and the
lattices: these relations allow us to show that competition for particles can
have non-trivial effects on the phase behavior of individual lattices. For a
system with non-identical lattices, we find that when a subset of lattices
undergoes a phase transition from low to high density, the entire set of
lattice currents becomes independent of total particle number. We generalize
our approach to systems with a continuous distribution of lattice parameters,
for which we demonstrate that measurements of the current carried by a single
lattice type can be used to extract the entire distribution of lattice
parameters. Our approach applies to populations of TASEPs with any distribution
of lattice parameters, and could easily be extended beyond the mean-field case.Comment: 12 pages, 8 figure
Measuring dispositional optimism in patients with chronic heart failure and their healthcare providers : the validity of the Life Orientation Test-Revised
The Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R) measures dispositional optimism (DO) - an individual difference promoting physical and psychological well-being in healthy adults (HAs) as well as in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and healthcare providers (HPs). Controversy has arisen regarding the dimensionality of the LOT-R. Whereas DO was originally defined as a one-dimensional construct, empirical evidence suggests two correlated factors in the LOT-R. This study was the first attempt to identify the best factor structure of the LOT-R in patients with CHF and HPs and to evaluate its measurement invariance among subsamples of patients with CHF, HPs, and a normative sample of HAs. Its validity was also evaluated in patients with CHF. The sample comprised 543 participants (34% HAs; 34% HPs; and 32% CHF patients). Congeneric, two correlated factor, and two orthogonal factor models for the LOT-R were compared by performing confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Measurement invariance was evaluated by considering differential item functioning (DIF) among subsamples of HPs, patients with CHF, and HAs. In patients with CHF, validity was assessed by considering associations with anxiety and depression. The CFA demonstrated the superior fit of the two orthogonal factor model. Moreover, across patients with CHF, HPs, and HAs, the results highlighted a minimal DIF with only trivial consequences. Finally, negative but weak correlations of DO with anxiety and depression confirmed the validity of the LOT-R in patients with CHF. In summary, these findings supported the validity and suitability of the LOT-R for the assessment of DO in patients with CHF, HPs, and HAs
Mixed versus Focused Resistance Training during an Australian Football Pre-Season
The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effect of a focused versus mixed-methods strength-power training plan on athletes undertaking high volumes of concurrent training. Fourteen junior elite male Australian football players were randomly assigned into either the focused or mixed group. Both training groups undertook a sequenced training intervention consisting of a four-week mesocycle emphasising heavy strength followed by a four-week mesocycle of high velocity emphasis. Training differed between groups by way of the degree of emphasis placed on the targeted attribute in each cycle and occurred during the preseason. Testing occurred pre- and post-training and consisted of the unloaded and loaded (+20 kg) countermovement jump (CMJ). Focused training elicited practical (non-trivial) improvements in flight time to contraction ratio (FT:CT) (g = 0.45, ±90% confidence interval 0.49) underpinned by a small reduction in contraction time (g = −0.46, ±0.45) and a small increase in braking (g = 0.36, ±0.42) and concentric phase mean force (g = 0.22, ±0.39). Conversely, the mixed group demonstrated an unchanged FT:CT (g = −0.13, ±0.56). Similar respective changes occurred in the loaded condition. Preferential improvements in FT:CT occur when a greater focus is placed on a targeted physical quality in a sequenced training plan of junior elite Australian football players during preseason training
Computational Models for Trapping Ebola Virus Using Engineered Bacteria
The outbreak of Ebola virus in recent years has
resulted in numerous research initiatives to seek new solutions
to contain the virus. A number of approaches that have been
investigated include new vaccines to boost the immune system.
An alternative post-exposure treatment is presented in this
paper. The proposed approach for clearing Ebola virus can
be developed through a microfluidic attenuator, which contains
the engineered bacteria that traps Ebola flowing through the
blood onto its membrane. The paper presents the analysis of
the chemical binding force between the virus and a genetically
engineered bacterium considering the opposing forces acting on
the attachment point, including hydrodynamic tension and drag
force. To test the efficacy of the technique, simulations of bacterial
motility within a confined area to trap the virus were performed.
More than 60% of the displaced virus could be collected within
15 minutes. While the proposed approach currently focuses on
in vitro environments for trapping the virus, the system can be
further developed into the future for treatment whereby blood
can be cycled out of the body into a microfluidic device that
contains the engineered bacteria to trap viruses
Innate control of actin nucleation determines two distinct migration behaviours in dendritic cells
Dendritic cell (DC) migration in peripheral tissues serves two main functions: antigen sampling by immature DCs, and chemokine-guided migration towards lymphatic vessels (LVs) on maturation. These migratory events determine the efficiency of the adaptive immune response. Their regulation by the core cell locomotion machinery has not been determined. Here, we show that the migration of immature DCs depends on two main actin pools: a RhoA mDial-dependent actin pool located at their rear, which facilitates forward locomotion; and a Cdc42 Arp2/3-dependent actin pool present at their front, which limits migration but promotes antigen capture. Following TLR4 MyD88-induced maturation, Arp2/3-dependent actin enrichment at the cell front is markedly reduced. Consequently, mature DCs switch to a faster and more persistent mDial-dependent locomotion mode that facilitates chemotactic migration to LVs and lymph nodes. Thus, the differential use of actin-nucleating machineries optimizes the migration of immature and mature DCs according to their specific function
Mini Nutritional Assessment May Identify a Dual Pattern of Perturbed Plasma Amino Acids in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease: A Window to Metabolic and Physical Rehabilitation?
Conflicting results about alterations of plasma amino acid (AA) levels are reported in subjects with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The current study aimed to provide more homogeneous AA profiles and correlations between AAs and cognitive tests. Venous plasma AAs were measured in 54 fasting patients with AD (37 males, 17 females; 74.63 ± 8.03 yrs; 3.2 ± 1.9 yrs from symptom onset). Seventeen matched subjects without neurodegenerative symptoms (NNDS) served as a control group (C-NNDS). Patients were tested for short-term verbal memory and attention capacity and stratified for nutritional state (Mini Nutritional Assessment, MNA). Compared to C-NNDS, patients exhibited lower plasma levels of aspartic acid and taurine (p < 0.0001) and higher 3-methylhistidine (p < 0.0001), which were independent of patients' MNA. In comparison to normonourished AD, the patients at risk of and with malnutrition showed a tendency towards lower ratios of Essential AAs/Total AAs, Branched-chain AAs/Total AAs, and Branched-chain AAs/Essential AAs. Serine and histidine were positively correlated with verbal memory and attention capacity deficits, respectively. Total AAs negatively correlated with attention capacity deficits. Stratifying patients with AD for MNA may identify a dual pattern of altered AAs, one due to AD per se and the other linked to nutritional state. Significant correlations were observed between several AAs and cognitive tests
Caracterização da inflorescência e da produção de espiguetas de dois acessos de Paspalum regnellii Mez (Poaceae).
Dentre as gramíneas nativas com potencial forrageiro destacam-se as espécies do gênero Paspalum L., podendo ser estratégica a sua utilização em determinados nichos para a diversificação de pastagens
Transport by molecular motors in the presence of static defects
The transport by molecular motors along cytoskeletal filaments is studied
theoretically in the presence of static defects. The movements of single motors
are described as biased random walks along the filament as well as binding to
and unbinding from the filament. Three basic types of defects are
distinguished, which differ from normal filament sites only in one of the
motors' transition probabilities. Both stepping defects with a reduced
probability for forward steps and unbinding defects with an increased
probability for motor unbinding strongly reduce the velocities and the run
lengths of the motors with increasing defect density. For transport by single
motors, binding defects with a reduced probability for motor binding have a
relatively small effect on the transport properties. For cargo transport by
motors teams, binding defects also change the effective unbinding rate of the
cargo particles and are expected to have a stronger effect.Comment: 20 pages, latex, 7 figures, 1 tabl
Hypoxia modulates the gene expression profile of immunoregulatory receptors in human mDCs: identification of TREM-1 as a novel hypoxic marker in vitro and in vivo.
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