DdcA antagonizes a bacterial DNA damage checkpoint

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/147820/1/mmi14151.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/147820/2/mmi14151_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/147820/3/mmi14151-sup-0001-Supinfo.pd

General solution of an exact correlation function factorization in conformal field theory

We discuss a correlation function factorization, which relates a three-point function to the square root of three two-point functions. This factorization is known to hold for certain scaling operators at the two-dimensional percolation point and in a few other cases. The correlation functions are evaluated in the upper half-plane (or any conformally equivalent region) with operators at two arbitrary points on the real axis, and a third arbitrary point on either the real axis or in the interior. This type of result is of interest because it is both exact and universal, relates higher-order correlation functions to lower-order ones, and has a simple interpretation in terms of cluster or loop probabilities in several statistical models. This motivated us to use the techniques of conformal field theory to determine the general conditions for its validity. Here, we discover a correlation function which factorizes in this way for any central charge c, generalizing previous results. In particular, the factorization holds for either FK (Fortuin-Kasteleyn) or spin clusters in the Q-state Potts models; it also applies to either the dense or dilute phases of the O(n) loop models. Further, only one other non-trivial set of highest-weight operators (in an irreducible Verma module) factorizes in this way. In this case the operators have negative dimension (for c < 1) and do not seem to have a physical realization.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figure, v2 minor revision

Factorization of correlations in two-dimensional percolation on the plane and torus

Recently, Delfino and Viti have examined the factorization of the three-point density correlation function P_3 at the percolation point in terms of the two-point density correlation functions P_2. According to conformal invariance, this factorization is exact on the infinite plane, such that the ratio R(z_1, z_2, z_3) = P_3(z_1, z_2, z_3) [P_2(z_1, z_2) P_2(z_1, z_3) P_2(z_2, z_3)]^{1/2} is not only universal but also a constant, independent of the z_i, and in fact an operator product expansion (OPE) coefficient. Delfino and Viti analytically calculate its value (1.022013...) for percolation, in agreement with the numerical value 1.022 found previously in a study of R on the conformally equivalent cylinder. In this paper we confirm the factorization on the plane numerically using periodic lattices (tori) of very large size, which locally approximate a plane. We also investigate the general behavior of R on the torus, and find a minimum value of R approx. 1.0132 when the three points are maximally separated. In addition, we present a simplified expression for R on the plane as a function of the SLE parameter kappa.Comment: Small corrections (final version). In press, J. Phys.

Exact factorization of correlation functions in 2-D critical percolation

By use of conformal field theory, we discover several exact factorizations of higher-order density correlation functions in critical two-dimensional percolation. Our formulas are valid in the upper half-plane, or any conformally equivalent region. We find excellent agreement of our results with high-precision computer simulations. There are indications that our formulas hold more generally.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures. Oral presentation given at STATPHYS 23. V2: Minor additions and corrections, figures improve

Distraction Effects of Phone Use During a Crucial Driving Maneuver

Forty-two licensed drivers were tested in an experiment that required them to react to an invehicle phone at precisely the same time as they were faced with making a crucial driving decision. Using test track facilities, we extended a previous evaluation of this form to include examination of the influence of driver gender and driver age. Specifically, each driver was given task practice and then performed two blocks of twenty-four trials each, where one trial represented a circuit of the test track. Half of the trials were control conditions in which neither the stop-light was activated or the in-vehicle phone triggered. Four trials required only stopping and a further four only phone response. The remaining four trials required the driver to complete each task simultaneously. The order of presentation of specific trials was randomized. The invehicle phone response task also contained an embedded memory task that was evaluated at the end of each trial. Results confirmed previous observations of slower task response followed by increased braking and that these patterns varied by driver age and gender. Most importantly, we recorded a critical 15% increase in non-response to the stop-light in the presence of the phone distraction task which represents stop light violations on the open road. Further, results showed that age had a much large effect on response than gender, especially on task components that required speed of response. Since driving represents a highly complex and interactive environment, it is not possible to specify a simplistic relationship between these distraction effects and outcome accident patterns. However, we can conclude that such technologies erode performance safety margin and distract drivers from their critical primary task of vehicle control. As such there is expectedly a causal relation in accident outcome that is a crucial concern for invehicle device designers and for all others seeking to ameliorate the adverse impact of vehicle accidents

America For Sale? Foreign Investments in the U.S., a German Perspective

The University of Georgia School of Law’s Dean Rusk Center and UGA’s German-American Law Society sponsored a panel discussion on the potential impacts of foreign investments in the United States. The lecture, titled America For Sale? Foreign Investments in the U.S., a German Perspective, took place on Feb. 16, 2010 at 12:30 p.m. in the Larry Walker Room of Dean Rusk Hall

Electron transport in the dye sensitized nanocrystalline cell

Dye sensitised nanocrystalline solar cells (Gr\"{a}tzel cells) have achieved solar-to-electrical energy conversion efficiencies of 12% in diffuse daylight. The cell is based on a thin film of dye-sensitised nanocrystalline TiO$_2$ interpenetrated by a redox electrolyte. The high surface area of the TiO$_2$ and the spectral characteristics of the dye allow the device to harvest 46% of the solar energy flux. One of the puzzling features of dye-sensitised nano-crystalline solar cells is the slow electron transport in the titanium dioxide phase. The available experimental evidence as well as theoretical considerations suggest that the driving force for electron collection at the substrate contact arises primarily from the concentration gradient, ie the contribution of drift is negligible. The transport of electrons has been characterised by small amplitude pulse or intensity modulated illumination. Here, we show how the transport of electrons in the Gr\"{a}tzel cell can be described quantitatively using trap distributions obtained from a novel charge extraction method with a one-dimensional model based on solving the continuity equation for the electron density. For the first time in such a model, a back reaction with the I$_3^-$ ions in the electrolyte that is second order in the electron density has been included.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, invited talk at the workshop 'Nanostructures in Photovoltaics' to appear in Physica

Percolation Crossing Formulas and Conformal Field Theory

Using conformal field theory, we derive several new crossing formulas at the two-dimensional percolation point. High-precision simulation confirms these results. Integrating them gives a unified derivation of Cardy's formula for the horizontal crossing probability $\Pi_h(r)$, Watts' formula for the horizontal-vertical crossing probability $\Pi_{hv}(r)$, and Cardy's formula for the expected number of clusters crossing horizontally $\mathcal{N}_h(r)$. The main step in our approach implies the identification of the derivative of one primary operator with another. We present operator identities that support this idea and suggest the presence of additional symmetry in $c=0$ conformal field theories.Comment: 12 pages, 5 figures. Numerics improved; minor correction

Polarimetry of the Type Ia Supernova SN 1996X

We present broad-band and spectropolarimetry of the Type Ia SN 1996X obtained on April 14, 1996 (UT), and broad-band polarimetry of SN 1996X on May 22,1996, when the supernova was about a week before and 4 weeks after optical maximum, respectively. The Stokes parameters derived from the broad-band polarimetry are consistent with zero polarization. The spectropolarimetry, however, shows broad spectral features which are due intrinsically to an asymmetric SN atmosphere. The spectral features in the flux spectrum and the polarization spectrum show correlations in the wavelength range from 4900 AA up to 5500 AA. The degree of this intrinsic component is low (<0.3 %). Theoretical polarization spectra have been calculated. It is shown that the polarization spectra are governed by line blending. Consequently, for similar geometrical distortions, the residual polarization is smaller by about a factor of 2 to 3 compared to the less blended Type II atmosphere, making it intrinsically harder to detect asphericities in SNIa. Comparison with theoretical model polarization spectra shows a resemblance to the observations. Taken literally, this implies an asphericity of about 11 % in the chemical distribution in the region of partial burning. This may not imperil the use of Type Ia supernovae as standard candles for distance determination, but nontheless poses a source of uncertainty. SN 1996X is the first Type Ia supernova for which spectropolarimetry revealed a polarized component intrinsic to the supernova and the first Type Ia with spectropolarimetry well prior to optical maximum.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, macros 'aas2pp4.sty,psfig.tex'. LaTeX Style. Astrophysical Journal Letters, submitted September 199

Role of carnitine in disease

Carnitine is a conditionally essential nutrient that plays a vital role in energy production and fatty acid metabolism. Vegetarians possess a greater bioavailability than meat eaters. Distinct deficiencies arise either from genetic mutation of carnitine transporters or in association with other disorders such as liver or kidney disease. Carnitine deficiency occurs in aberrations of carnitine regulation in disorders such as diabetes, sepsis, cardiomyopathy, malnutrition, cirrhosis, endocrine disorders and with aging. Nutritional supplementation of L-carnitine, the biologically active form of carnitine, is ameliorative for uremic patients, and can improve nerve conduction, neuropathic pain and immune function in diabetes patients while it is life-saving for patients suffering primary carnitine deficiency. Clinical application of carnitine holds much promise in a range of neural disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, hepatic encephalopathy and other painful neuropathies. Topical application in dry eye offers osmoprotection and modulates immune and inflammatory responses. Carnitine has been recognized as a nutritional supplement in cardiovascular disease and there is increasing evidence that carnitine supplementation may be beneficial in treating obesity, improving glucose intolerance and total energy expenditure