304 research outputs found
Influence of Membrane-Fusogen Distance on the Secondary Structure of Fusogenic Coiled Coil Peptides
Liposomal membrane fusion is an important tool to study complex biological fusion mechanisms. We use lipidated derivatives of the specific heterodimeric coiled coil pair E: (EIAALEK)3 and K: (KIAALKE)3 to study and control the fusion of liposomes. In this model system, peptides are tethered to their liposomes via a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) spacer and a lipid anchor. The efficiency of the fusion mechanism and function of the peptides is highly affected by the PEG-spacer length and the lipid anchor type. Here, the influence of membrane–fusogen distance on the peptide–membrane interactions and the peptide secondary structures is studied with Langmuir film balance and infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy. We found that the introduction of a spacer to monolayer-tethered peptide E changes its conformation from solvated random coils to homo-oligomers. In contrast, the described peptide–monolayer interaction of peptide K is not affected by the PEG-spacer length. Furthermore, the coexistence of different conformations when both lipopeptides E and K are present at the membrane surface is demonstrated empirically, which has many implications for the design of effective fusogenic recognition units and the field of artificial membrane fusion.Article / Letter to editorLIC/CB/Supramolecular & Biomat. Chem
X-ray absorption spectroscopy on layered cobaltates Na_xCoO_2
Measurements of polarization and temperature dependent soft x-ray absorption
have been performed on Na_xCoO_2 single crystals with x=0.4 and x=0.6. They
show a deviation of the local trigonal symmetry of the CoO_6 octahedra, which
is temperature independent in a temperature range between 25 K and 372 K. This
deviation was found to be different for Co^{3+} and Co^{4+} sites. With the
help of a cluster calculation we are able to interpret the Co L_{23}-edge
absorption spectrum and find a doping dependent energy splitting between the
t_{2g} and the e_g levels (10Dq) in Na_xCoO_2.Comment: 7 pages, 8 figure
Cross effect of Coulomb correlation and hybridization in the occurrence of ferromagnetism in two shifted band transition metals
In this work we discuss the occurrence of ferromagnetism in transition-like
metals. The metal is represented by two hybridized() and shifted
) bands one of which includes Hubbard correlation whereas the
other is uncorrelated. The starting point is to transform the original
Hamiltonian into an effective one. Only one site retains the full correlation
(U) while in the others the correlations are represented by an effective field,
the self-energy(single-site approximation). This field is self-consistently
determined by imposing the translational invariance of the problem. Thereby one
gets an exchange split quasi-particle density of states and then an
electron-spin polarization for some values of the parameters , being the ratio of the effective masses of the two bands
and of the occupation number .Comment: 4 pages, 10 figure
Ferromagnetism in the Periodic Anderson Model - a Modified Alloy Analogy
We introduce a new aproximation scheme for the periodic Anderson model (PAM).
The modified alloy approximation represents an optimum alloy approximation for
the strong coupling limit, which can be solved within the CPA-formalism.
Zero-temperature and finite-temperature phase diagrams are presented for the
PAM in the intermediate-valence regime. The diversity of magnetic properties
accessible by variation of the system parameters can be studied by means of
quasiparticle densities of states: The conduction band couples either ferro- or
antiferromagneticaly to the f-levels. A finite hybridization is a necessary
precondition for ferromagnetism. However, too strong hybridization generally
suppresses ferromagnetism, but can for certain system parameters also lead to a
semi-metallic state with unusual magnetic properties. By comparing with the
spectral density approximation, the influence of quasiparticle damping can be
examined.Comment: 20 pages, 13 figure
Stabilization of d-Band Ferromagnetism by Hybridization with Uncorrelated Bands
We investigate the influence of s-d or p-d hybridization to d-band
ferromagnetism to estimate the importance of hybridization for the magnetic
properties of transition metals. To focus our attention to the interplay
between hybridization and correlation we investigate a simple model system
consisting of two non-degenerated hybridized bands, one strongly correlated,
the other one quasi-free. To solve this extended Hubbard model, we apply simple
approximations, namely SDA and MAA, that, concerning ferromagnetism in the
single-band model, are known to give qualitatively satisfactory results. This
approach allows us to discuss the underlying mechanism, by which d-band
ferromagnetism is influenced by the hybridization on the basis of analytical
expressions. The latter clearly display the order and the functional
dependencies of the important effects. It is found, that spin-dependent
inter-band particle fluctuations cause a spin-dependent band shift and a
spin-dependent band broadening of the Hubbard bands. The shift stabilizes, the
broadening tends to destabilize ferromagnetism. Stabilization requires
relatively high band distances and small hybridization matrix elements.
Super-exchange and RKKY coupling are of minor importance.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures, accepted for PR
Neutron-Proton Correlations in an Exactly Solvable Model
We examine isovector and isoscalar neutron-proton correlations in an exactly
solvable model based on the algebra SO(8). We look particularly closely at
Gamow-Teller strength and double beta decay, both to isolate the effects of the
two kinds of pairing and to test two approximation schemes: the renormalized
neutron-proton QRPA (RQRPA) and generalized BCS theory. When isoscalar pairing
correlations become strong enough a phase transition occurs and the dependence
of the Gamow-Teller beta+ strength on isospin changes in a dramatic and
unfamiliar way, actually increasing as neutrons are added to an N=Z core.
Renormalization eliminates the well-known instabilities that plague the QRPA as
the phase transition is approached, but only by unnaturally suppressing the
isoscalar correlations. Generalized BCS theory, on the other hand, reproduces
the Gamow-Teller strength more accurately in the isoscalar phase than in the
usual isovector phase, even though its predictions for energies are equally
good everywhere. It also mixes T=0 and T=1 pairing, but only on the isoscalar
side of the phase transition.Comment: 13 pages + 11 postscript figures, in RevTe
Single- and double-beta decay Fermi-transitions in an exactly solvable model
An exactly solvable model suitable for the description of single and
double-beta decay processes of the Fermi-type is introduced. The model is
equivalent to the exact shell-model treatment of protons and neutrons in a
single j-shell. Exact eigenvalues and eigenvectors are compared to those
corresponding to the hamiltonian in the quasiparticle basis (qp) and with the
results of both the standard quasiparticle random phase approximation (QRPA)
and the renormalized one (RQRPA). The role of the scattering term of the
quasiparticle hamiltonian is analyzed. The presence of an exact eigenstate with
zero energy is shown to be related to the collapse of the QRPA. The RQRPA and
the qp solutions do not include this zero-energy eigenvalue in their spectra,
probably due to spurious correlations. The meaning of this result in terms of
symmetries is presented.Comment: 29 pages, 9 figures included in a Postsript file. Submitted to
Physcal Review
Lepton Flavor Violation: Constraints from exotic muon to electron conversion
The exotic neutrinoless nuclear conversion is studied within
the conventional extensions of the standard model as well as in the minimal
supersymmetric (SUSY) models with and without R-parity conservation. The
dependence of the conversion rates on the nucleon and nuclear
structure is consistently taken into account. Using our calculated transition
matrix elements and the available experimental data on the branching ratio
for Ti and Pb as well as the expected experimental
sensitivity for Al employed as a target in the planned at Brookhaven
conversion (MECO) experiment, we extract very severe constraints
for the flavor violation parameters. We especially emphasize on the constraints
resulting for SUSY R-parity violating parameters.Comment: 14 pages, 2 figures. Based on the Invited talk given by T.S. Kosmas
at the International Conference on Non-Accelerator New Physics(NANP'99),
Dubna, Russia, 199
An Integrated Framework to Study Ecological Tipping Points in Social-Ecological Systems
Sudden regime shifts or tipping points pose a major threat to various ecosystems and people\u27s livelihoods worldwide. However, tipping points are still hard to predict and often occur without warning. To avoid dramatic social-ecological consequences, it is crucial to understand tipping point behaviour and to identify early warning indicators. Previous studies have hardly implemented an integrated social-ecological approach, which has led to a fragmented understanding and oversimplification of tipping point phenomena. Against this background, we present a systemic research framework that harmonizes ecological and social perspectives to gain a mechanistic understanding of tipping point behaviour. We utilize a social-ecological systems (SES) approach to identify drivers, consequences, and feasible preventive strategies. Our proposed framework consists of a retrospective, a comparative and a prospective perspective; each of them utilizes interdisciplinary studies in both sub systems at multiple scales. The research framework was developed by the members of NamTip, an inter- and transdisciplinary research project aiming to understand and manage desertification tipping points in Namibia’s semi-arid rangelands. The NamTip project represents a practical implementation of the research framework, that uses an integrated, social-ecological study design combining the threefold approach with dynamic modelling. This includes analyses of time-series and archival data, experimental and observational studies, as well as scenario development and exploration of decision-making with local farmers. After the initial practical implementation and with our ongoing evaluation, we are convinced that such an ambitious and complex framework will guide the way to a profound understanding of tipping point phenomena and feasible management options
Itinerant Ferromagnetism in the Periodic Anderson Model
We introduce a novel mechanism for itinerant ferromagnetism, based on a
simple two-band model. The model includes an uncorrelated and dispersive band
hybridized with a second band which is narrow and correlated. The simplest
Hamiltonian containing these ingredients is the Periodic Anderson Model (PAM).
Using quantum Monte Carlo and analytical methods, we show that the PAM and an
extension of it contain the new mechanism and exhibit a non-saturated
ferromagnetic ground state in the intermediate valence regime. We propose that
the mechanism, which does not assume an intra atomic Hund's coupling, is
present in both the iron group and in some f electron compounds like
Ce(Rh_{1-x} Ru_x)_3 B_2, La_x Ce_{1-x} Rh_3 B_2 and the uranium
monochalcogenides US, USe, and UTe
- …