1,439 research outputs found
Ballistic Annihilation Kinetics: The Case of Discrete Velocity Distributions
The kinetics of the annihilation process, , with ballistic particle
motion is investigated when the distribution of particle velocities is {\it
discrete}. This discreteness is the source of many intriguing phenomena. In the
mean field limit, the densities of different velocity species decay in time
with different power law rates for many initial conditions. For a
one-dimensional symmetric system containing particles with velocity 0 and , there is a particular initial state for which the concentrations of all
three species as decay as . For the case of a fast ``impurity'' in a
symmetric background of and particles, the impurity survival
probability decays as . In a symmetric
4-velocity system in which there are particles with velocities and
, there again is a special initial condition where the two species
decay at the same rate, t^{-\a}, with \a\cong 0.72. Efficient algorithms
are introduced to perform the large-scale simulations necessary to observe
these unusual phenomena clearly.Comment: 18 text pages, macro file included, hardcopy of 9 figures available
by email request to S
Stochastic Ballistic Annihilation and Coalescence
We study a class of stochastic ballistic annihilation and coalescence models
with a binary velocity distribution in one dimension. We obtain an exact
solution for the density which reveals a universal phase diagram for the
asymptotic density decay. By universal we mean that all models in the class are
described by a single phase diagram spanned by two reduced parameters. The
phase diagram reveals four regimes, two of which contain the previously studied
cases of ballistic annihilation. The two new phases are a direct consequence of
the stochasticity. The solution is obtained through a matrix product approach
and builds on properties of a q-deformed harmonic oscillator algebra.Comment: 4 pages RevTeX, 3 figures; revised version with some corrections,
additional discussion and in RevTeX forma
Photon Correlation Spectroscopy and Applications
Contains reports on two research projects.National Science Foundation (Grant DMR-84- 18718)Wan-Yuan Company, Beijing, Peoples Republic of China Contrac
Hydro-ionothermal synthesis of lanthanide-organic frameworks with 1,4-phenylenebis(methylene)diphosphonate
A synthetic approach combining hydrothermal and ionothermal (eutectic mixture of choline chloride and malonic acid)
procedures is proposed that allowed the isolation of the first lanthanide-organic frameworks with residues of 1,4-phenylenebis(methylene)-
diphosphonic acid (H4pmd), [Ln(Hpmd)(H2O)] (where Ln3+ ) Ce3+ and Pr3+), exhibiting an unprecedented trinodal topology with 3- and
8-connected nodes. The structural details were unveiled from single-crystal X-ray diffraction and the materials were characterized using
standard techniques.FCT - POCI-PPCDT/QUI/58377/2004FEDER - POCIGrant - SFRH/BPD/9309/200
A False Start in the Race Against Doping in Sport: Concerns With Cycling’s Biological Passport
Professional cycling has suffered from a number of doping scandals. The sport’s governing bodies have responded by implementing an aggressive new antidoping program known as the biological passport. Cycling’s biological passport marks a departure from traditional antidoping efforts, which have focused on directly detecting prohibited substances in a cyclist’s system. Instead, the biological passport tracks biological variables in a cyclist’s blood and urine over time, monitoring for fluctuations that are thought to indirectly reveal the effects of doping. Although this method of indirect detection is promising, it also raises serious legal and scientific concerns. Since its introduction, the cycling community has debated the reliability of indirect biological-passport evidence and the clarity, consistency, and transparency of its use in proving doping violations. Such uncertainty undermines the legitimacy of finding cyclists guilty of doping based on this indirect evidence alone. Antidoping authorities should address these important concerns before continuing to pursue doping sanctions against cyclists solely on the basis of their biological passports
The Static and Dynamic Lattice Changes Induced by Hydrogen Adsorption on NiAl(110)
Static and dynamic changes induced by adsorption of atomic hydrogen on the
NiAl(110) lattice at 130 K have been examined as a function of adsorbate
coverage. Adsorbed hydrogen exists in three distinct phases. At low coverages
the hydrogen is itinerant because of quantum tunneling between sites and
exhibits no observable vibrational modes. Between 0.4 ML and 0.6 ML, substrate
mediated interactions produce an ordered superstructure with c(2x2) symmetry,
and at higher coverages, hydrogen exists as a disordered lattice gas. This
picture of how hydrogen interacts with NiAl(110) is developed from our data and
compared to current theoretical predictions.Comment: 36 pages, including 12 figures, 2 tables and 58 reference
Honokiol Induces Calpain-Mediated Glucose-Regulated Protein-94 Cleavage and Apoptosis in Human Gastric Cancer Cells and Reduces Tumor Growth
Background. Honokiol, a small molecular weight natural product, has been shown to possess potent anti-neoplastic and anti-angiogenic properties. Its molecular mechanisms and the ability of anti-gastric cancer remain unknown. It has been shown that the anti-apoptotic function of the glucose-regulated proteins (GRPs) predicts that their induction in neoplastic cells can lead to cancer progression and drug resistance. We explored the effects of honokiol on the regulation of GRPs and apoptosis in human gastric cancer cells and tumor growth. Methodology and Principal Findings. Treatment of various human gastric cancer cells with honokiol led to the induction of GRP94 cleavage, but did not affect GRP78. Silencing of GRP94 by small interfering RNA (siRNA) could induce cell apoptosis. Treatment of cells with honokiol or chemotherapeutics agent etoposide enhanced the increase in apoptosis and GRP94 degradation. The calpain activity and calpain-II (m-calpain) protein (but not calpain-I (mu-calpain)) level could also be increased by honokiol. Honokiol-induced GRP94 down-regulation and apoptosis in gastric cancer cells could be reversed by siRNA targeting calpain-II and calpain inhibitors. Furthermore, the results of immunofluorescence staining and immunoprecipitation revealed a specific interaction of GRP94 with calpain-II in cells following honokiol treatment. We next observed that tumor GRP94 over-expression and tumor growth in BALB/c nude mice, which were inoculated with human gastric cancer cells MKN45, are markedly decreased by honokiol treatment. Conclusions and Significance. These results provide the first evidence that honokiol-induced calpain-II-mediated GRP94 cleavage causes human gastric cancer cell apoptosis. We further suggest that honokiol may be a possible therapeutic agent to improve clinical outcome of gastric cancer
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