Sea Contributions to Spin 1/2 Baryon Structure, Magnetic Moments, and Spin Distribution

We treat the baryon as a composite system made out of a \lq\lq core" of three quarks (as in the standard quark model) surrounded by a \lq\lq sea" (of gluons and $q\bar{q}$-pairs) which is specified by its total quantum numbers like flavor, spin and color. Specifically, we assume the sea to be a flavor octet with spin 0 or 1 but no color. The general wavefunction for spin 1/2 baryons with such a sea component is given. Application to the magnetic moments is considered. Numerical analysis shows that a scalar (spin 0) sea with an admixture of a vector (spin 1) sea can provide very good fits to the magnetic moment data {\em using experimental errors}. Our best fit automatically gives $g_A/g_V$ for neutron beta decay in agreement with data. This fit also gives reasonable values for the spin distributions of the proton and neutron.Comment: 24 pages, REVTEX. References modifie

A priori mixed hadrons, hyperon non-leptonic decays, and the |\Delta I|=1/2 rule

The |\Delta I|=1/2 rule in non-leptonic decays of hyperons can be naturally understood by postulating a priori mixed physical hadrons, along with the isospin invariance of the responsible transition operator. It is shown that this operator can be identified with the strong interaction Yukawa hamiltonian.Comment: Workshops on Particles and Fields and Phenomenology of Fundamental Interactions. J. C. D'Olivo, A. Fernandez, and M. A. Perez, Ed

Endoplasmic reticulum stress, degeneration of pancreatic islet β-cells, and therapeutic modulation of the unfolded protein response in diabetes.

BackgroundMyriad challenges to the proper folding and structural maturation of secretory pathway client proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) - a condition referred to as "ER stress" - activate intracellular signaling pathways termed the unfolded protein response (UPR).Scope of reviewThrough executing transcriptional and translational programs the UPR restores homeostasis in those cells experiencing manageable levels of ER stress. But the UPR also actively triggers cell degeneration and apoptosis in those cells that are encountering ER stress levels that exceed irremediable thresholds. Thus, UPR outputs are "double-edged". In pancreatic islet β-cells, numerous genetic mutations affecting the balance between these opposing UPR functions cause diabetes mellitus in both rodents and humans, amply demonstrating the principle that the UPR is critical for the proper functioning and survival of the cell.Major conclusionsSpecifically, we have found that the UPR master regulator IRE1α kinase/endoribonuclease (RNase) triggers apoptosis, β-cell degeneration, and diabetes, when ER stress reaches critical levels. Based on these mechanistic findings, we find that novel small molecule compounds that inhibit IRE1α during such "terminal" UPR signaling can spare ER stressed β-cells from death, perhaps affording future opportunities to test new drug candidates for disease modification in patients suffering from diabetes

Components of resistance of cassava to african cassava mosaic virus

Components of resistance of cassava (#Manihot esculenta) to African cassava mosaic virus (ACMV) and their interrelationships were confirmed and quantified in a series of experiments at Adiopodoumé (Ivory Coast, West Africa). The response to virus infection and to #Bemisia tabaci infestation of a large collection of cassava, including local cultivars and others derived from inter-specific #M. glaziovii hybrids was assessed. A consistent correlation was found between virus titre, symptom intensity, disease incidence and non-systemicity (recovery) which suggests that they are different expressions of the same genetic resistance. By contrast, there was no correlation between whitefly infestation and incidence of ACMV, suggesting that resistance to virus and vector are determined by two distinct genetic mechanisms. Several improved cultivars derived from inter-crossing cassava with #M. glaziovii as well as some local cultivars were highly resistant and combined low susceptibility, low symptom intensity, low virus content and high level of recovery. Although yield losses ranged from 10% to 30% in such resistant cultivars, the combined effect of high field resistance and high rate of recovery lead to low disease incidence and limited yield losses, even in areas of high infection pressure such as Adiopodoumé. (Résumé d'auteur