Synaptic transmission as a cooperative phenomenon in confined systems

In this review paper, the theory of synaptic transmission (ST) was developed and discussed. We used the hypothesis of isomorphism between: (a) the cooperative behavior of mediators --- acetylcholine molecules (ACh) and cholinoreceptors in a synaptic cleft with binding into mediator-receptor (AChR) complexes, (b) the critical phenomena in confined binary liquid mixtures. The systems of two (or three) nonlinear differential equations were proposed to find the change of concentrations of ACh, AChR complexes, and ferment acetylcholinesterase. The main findings of our study: the linear size of the activation zone was evaluated; the process of postsynaptic membrane activation was described as a cooperative process; different approximations of ACh synchronous release were examined; stationary states and types of singular points were studied for the proposed models of ST; the nonlinear kinetic model with three order parameters demonstrated a strange-attractor behavior.Comment: 12 pages, 1 figur

BULGARIAN HAND-WRITTEN MEDICAL BOOKS AND THEIR IMPORTANCE FOR THE HISTORY OF MEDICINE

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USE OF THE MEDICINAL PLANTS OF FAMILY "UMBELLIFEROUS" IN BULGARIAN POPULAR MEDICINE IN COMPARISON WITH ANCIENT AND CONTEMPORARY PHYTOTHERAPY

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Optimum pulse shapes for stimulated Raman adiabatic passage

Stimulated Raman adiabatic passage (STIRAP), driven with pulses of optimum shape and delay has the potential of reaching fidelities high enough to make it suitable for fault-tolerant quantum information processing. The optimum pulse shapes are obtained upon reduction of STIRAP to effective two-state systems. We use the Dykhne-Davis-Pechukas (DDP) method to minimize nonadiabatic transitions and to maximize the fidelity of STIRAP. This results in a particular relation between the pulse shapes of the two fields driving the Raman process. The DDP-optimized version of STIRAP maintains its robustness against variations in the pulse intensities and durations, the single-photon detuning and possible losses from the intermediate state.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures. submitted to Phys. Rev.