2,216 research outputs found
Localizations at infinity and essential spectrum of quantum Hamiltonians: I. General theory
We isolate a large class of self-adjoint operators H whose essential spectrum
is determined by their behavior at large x and we give a canonical
representation of their essential spectrum in terms of spectra of limits at
infinity of translations of H. The configuration space is an arbitrary abelian
locally compact not compact group.Comment: 63 pages. This is the published version with several correction
Demonstration of the difference Casimir force for samples with different charge carrier densities
A measurement of the Casimir force between a gold coated sphere and two Si
plates of different carrier densities is performed using a high vacuum based
atomic force microscope. The results are compared with the Lifshitz theory and
good agreement is found. Our experiment demonstrates that by changing the
carrier density of the semiconductor plate by several orders of magnitude it is
possible to modify the Casimir interaction. This result may find applications
in nanotechnology.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev. Let
Regulation of eosinophilia and allergic airway inflammation by the glycan-binding protein galectin-1
Galectin-1 (Gal-1), a glycan-binding protein with broad antiinflammatory activities, functions as a proresolving mediator in autoimmune and chronic inflammatory disorders. However, its role in allergic airway inflammation has not yet been elucidated. We evaluated the effects of Gal-1 on eosinophil function and its role in a mouse model of allergic asthma. Allergen exposure resulted in airway recruitment of Gal-1-expressing inflammatory cells, including eosinophils, as well as increased Gal-1 in extracellular spaces in the lungs. In vitro, extracellular Gal-1 exerted divergent effects on eosinophils that were N-glycan- And dose-dependent. At concentrations â€0.25 ÎŒM, Gal-1 increased eosinophil adhesion to vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, caused redistribution of integrin CD49d to the periphery and cell clustering, but inhibited ERK(1/2) activation and eotaxin-1-induced migration. Exposure to concentrations â„1 ÎŒM resulted in ERK(1/2)- dependent apoptosis and disruption of the F- Actin cytoskeleton. At lower concentrations, Gal-1 did not alter expression of adhesion molecules (CD49d, CD18, CD11a, CD11b, L-selectin) or of the chemokine receptor CCR3, but decreased CD49d and CCR3 was observed in eosinophils treated with higher concentrations of this lectin. In vivo, allergen-challenged Gal-1-deficient mice exhibited increased recruitment of eosinophils and CD3+ T lymphocytes in the airways as well as elevated peripheral blood and bone marrow eosinophils relative to corresponding WT mice. Further, these mice had an increased propensity to develop airway hyperresponsiveness and displayed significantly elevated levels of TNF-α in lung tissue. This study suggests that Gal-1 can limit eosinophil recruitment to allergic airways and suppresses airway inflammation by inhibiting cell migration and promoting eosinophil apoptosis.Fil: Ge, Xiao Na. University of Minnesota; Estados UnidosFil: Ha, Sung Gil. University of Minnesota; Estados UnidosFil: Greenberg, Yana G.. University of Minnesota; Estados UnidosFil: Rao, Amrita. University of Minnesota; Estados UnidosFil: Bastan, Idil. University of Minnesota; Estados UnidosFil: Blidner, Ada Gabriela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Instituto de BiologĂa y Medicina Experimental. FundaciĂłn de Instituto de BiologĂa y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de BiologĂa y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Rao, Savita P.. University of Minnesota; Estados UnidosFil: Rabinovich, Gabriel AdriĂĄn. Universidad de Buenos Aires; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Instituto de BiologĂa y Medicina Experimental. FundaciĂłn de Instituto de BiologĂa y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de BiologĂa y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Sriramarao, P.. University of Minnesota; Estados Unido
Dynamical Encoding by Networks of Competing Neuron Groups: Winnerless Competition
Following studies of olfactory processing in insects and fish, we investigate neural networks whose dynamics in phase space is represented by orbits near the heteroclinic connections between saddle regions (fixed points or limit cycles). These networks encode input information as trajectories along the heteroclinic connections. If there are N neurons in the network, the capacity is approximately e(N-1)!, i.e., much larger than that of most traditional network structures. We show that a small winnerless competition network composed of FitzHugh-Nagumo spiking neurons efficiently transforms input information into a spatiotemporal output
Essential spectra and exponential estimates of eigenfunctions of lattice operators of quantum mechanics
This paper is devoted to estimates of the exponential decay of eigenfunctions
of difference operators on the lattice Z^n which are discrete analogs of the
Schr\"{o}dinger, Dirac and square-root Klein-Gordon operators. Our
investigation of the essential spectra and the exponential decay of
eigenfunctions of the discrete spectra is based on the calculus of so-called
pseudodifference operators (i.e., pseudodifferential operators on the group
Z^n) with analytic symbols and on the limit operators method. We obtain a
description of the location of the essential spectra and estimates of the
eigenfunctions of the discrete spectra of the main lattice operators of quantum
mechanics, namely: matrix Schr\"{o}dinger operators on Z^n, Dirac operators on
Z^3, and square root Klein-Gordon operators on Z^n
âGalectin-1 Induces Central and Peripheral Cell Death: Implications in T-Cell Physiopathologyâ
The immune system has a remarkable capacity to maintain a state of equilibrium even as it
responds to a diverse array of foreign proteins and despite its contact exposure to self-antigens.
Apoptosis is one of the mechanisms aimed at preserving the homeostasis after the completion
of an immune response, thus returning the immune system to a basal state and
warranting the elimination of autoagressive cells in both central and peripheral lymphoid
organs. Targeted deletions in critical genes involved in the apoptotic death machinery
together with natural spontaneous mutations have clearly shown the importance of apoptosis
in the regulation of the immune response. This complex scenario of stimulatory and inhibitory
genes has been enriched with the finding that galectin-1, a 14.5 kDa ÎČ-galactoside-binding
protein, is able to induce apoptosis of immature cortical thymocytes and mature T cells by
cross-linking cell surface glycoconjugates. Galectin-1 is present not only in central and
peripheral lymphoid organs, but also at sites of immune privilege. In the present article we
will discuss the implications of galectin-1-induced apoptosis in T-cell physiopathology in an
attempt to validate its therapeutic potential in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases
Control over Multi-Scale Self-Organization-Based Processes under the Extreme Tribological Conditions of Cutting through the Application of Complex Adaptive Surface-Engineered Systems
This paper features a comprehensive analysis of various multiscale selforganization processes that occur during cutting. A thorough study of entropy production during friction has uncovered several channels of its reduction that can be achieved by various selforganization processes. These processes are (1) self-organization during physical vapor deposition PVD coating deposition on the cutting tool substrates; (2) tribofilm formation caused by interactions with the environment during operation, which consist of the following compounds: thermal barriers; Magnéli phase tribo-oxides with metallic properties at elevated temperatures, tribo-oxides that transform into a liquid phase at operating temperatures, and mixed action tribo-oxides that serve as thermal barriers/lubricants, and (3) multiscale selforganization processes that occur on the surface of the tool during cutting, which include chip formation, the generation of adhesive layers, and the buildup edge formation. In-depth knowledge of these processes can be used to significantly increase the wear resistance of the coated cutting tools. This can be achieved by the application of the latest generation of complex adaptive surface-engineered systems represented by several state-of-the-art adaptive nano-multilayer PVD coatings, as well as high entropy alloy coatings (HEAC)
Nonlinear properties of left-handed metamaterials
We analyze nonlinear properties of microstructured materials with negative
refraction, the so-called left-handed metamaterials. We consider a
two-dimensional periodic structure created by arrays of wires and split-ring
resonators embedded into a nonlinear dielectric, and calculate the effective
nonlinear electric permittivity and magnetic permeability. We demonstrate that
the hysteresis-type dependence of the magnetic permeability on the field
intensity allows changing the material from left- to right-handed and back.
These effects can be treated as the second-order phase transitions in the
transmission properties induced by the variation of an external field.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
Robustness and Enhancement of Neural Synchronization by Activity-Dependent Coupling
We study the synchronization of two model neurons coupled through a synapse
having an activity-dependent strength. Our synapse follows the rules of
Spike-Timing Dependent Plasticity (STDP). We show that this plasticity of the
coupling between neurons produces enlarged frequency locking zones and results
in synchronization that is more rapid and much more robust against noise than
classical synchronization arising from connections with constant strength. We
also present a simple discrete map model that demonstrates the generality of
the phenomenon.Comment: 4 pages, accepted for publication in PR
Preferential use of basilic vein for surgical repair of popliteal aneurysms via the posterior approach
The facedown position used for the posterior surgical approach to repair popliteal aneurysms limits access to the great saphenous vein. Using the basilic vein as the conduit of choice in five patients, we were able to harvest the vein conveniently and simultaneously with aneurysm exposure. On follow-up of 4 to 36 months, all grafts were functioning well
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