173 research outputs found
Scattering of Giant Magnons in CP^3
We study classical scattering phase of CP^2 dyonic giant magnons in R_t x
CP^3. We construct two-soliton solutions explicitly by the dressing method.
Using these solutions, we compute the classical time delays for the scattering
of giant magnons, and compare them to boundstate S-matrix elements derived from
the conjectured AdS_4/CFT_3 S-matrix by Ahn and Nepomechie in the strong
coupling limit. Our result is consistent with the conjectured S-matrix. The
dyonic solutions play an essential role in revealing the polarization
dependence of scattering phase.Comment: 29 pages; v2: minor corrections; v3: minor corrections, references
added ; v4: minor corrections ; v5: minor corrections based on the published
versio
Phase preserving amplification near the quantum limit with a Josephson Ring Modulator
Recent progress in solid state quantum information processing has stimulated
the search for ultra-low-noise amplifiers and frequency converters in the
microwave frequency range, which could attain the ultimate limit imposed by
quantum mechanics. In this article, we report the first realization of an
intrinsically phase-preserving, non-degenerate superconducting parametric
amplifier, a so far missing component. It is based on the Josephson ring
modulator, which consists of four junctions in a Wheatstone bridge
configuration. The device symmetry greatly enhances the purity of the
amplification process and simplifies both its operation and analysis. The
measured characteristics of the amplifier in terms of gain and bandwidth are in
good agreement with analytical predictions. Using a newly developed noise
source, we also show that our device operates within a factor of three of the
quantum limit. This development opens new applications in the area of quantum
analog signal processing
Lunin-Maldacena backgrounds from the classical Yang-Baxter equation -- Towards the gravity/CYBE correspondence
We consider \gamma-deformations of the AdS_5xS^5 superstring as Yang-Baxter
sigma models with classical r-matrices satisfying the classical Yang-Baxter
equation (CYBE). An essential point is that the classical r-matrices are
composed of Cartan generators only and then generate abelian twists. We present
examples of the r-matrices that lead to real \gamma-deformations of the
AdS_5xS^5 superstring. Finally we discuss a possible classification of
integrable deformations and the corresponding gravity solution in terms of
solutions of CYBE. This classification may be called the gravity/CYBE
correspondence.Comment: 18 pages, no figure, LaTeX, v2:references and further clarifications
adde
The Relativistic Avatars of Giant Magnons and their S-Matrix
The motion of strings on symmetric space target spaces underlies the
integrability of the AdS/CFT correspondence. Although these theories, whose
excitations are giant magnons, are non-relativistic they are classically
equivalent, via the Polhmeyer reduction, to a relativistic integrable field
theory known as a symmetric space sine-Gordon theory. These theories can be
formulated as integrable deformations of gauged WZW models. In this work we
consider the class of symmetric spaces CP^{n+1} and solve the corresponding
generalized sine-Gordon theories at the quantum level by finding the exact
spectrum of topological solitons, or kinks, and their S-matrix. The latter
involves a trignometric solution of the Yang-Baxer equation which exhibits a
quantum group symmetry with a tower of states that is bounded, unlike for
magnons, as a result of the quantum group deformation parameter q being a root
of unity. We test the S-matrix by taking the semi-classical limit and comparing
with the time delays for the scattering of classical solitons. We argue that
the internal CP^{n-1} moduli space of collective coordinates of the solitons in
the classical theory can be interpreted as a q-deformed fuzzy space in the
quantum theory. We analyse the n=1 case separately and provide a further test
of the S-matrix conjecture in this case by calculating the central charge of
the UV CFT using the thermodynamic Bethe Ansatz.Comment: 33 pages, important correction to S-matrix to ensure crossing
symmetr
Standardised Outcomes in Nephrology-Polycystic Kidney Disease (SONG-PKD): study protocol for establishing a core outcome set in polycystic kidney disease
BACKGROUND: Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most common potentially life threatening inherited kidney disease and is responsible for 5-10% of cases of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Cystic kidneys may enlarge up to 20 times the weight of a normal kidney due to the growth of renal cysts, and patients with ADPKD have an increased risk of morbidity, premature mortality, and other life-time complications including renal and hepatic cyst and urinary tract infection, intracranial aneurysm, diverticulosis, and kidney pain which impair quality of life. Despite some therapeutic advances and the growing number of clinical trials in ADPKD, the outcomes that are relevant to patients and clinicians, such as symptoms and quality of life, are infrequently and inconsistently reported. This potentially limits the contribution of trials to inform evidence-based decision-making. The Standardised Outcomes in Nephrology-Polycystic Kidney Disease (SONG-PKD) project aims to establish a consensus-based set of core outcomes for trials in PKD (with an initial focus on ADPKD but inclusive of all stages) that patients and health professionals identify as critically important. METHODS: The five phases of SONG-PKD are: a systematic review to identify outcomes that have been reported in existing PKD trials; focus groups with nominal group technique with patients and caregivers to identify, rank, and describe reasons for their choices; qualitative stakeholder interviews with health professionals to elicit individual values and perspectives on outcomes for trials involving patients with PKD; an international three-round Delphi survey with all stakeholder groups (including patients, caregivers, healthcare providers, policy makers, researchers, and industry) to gain consensus on critically important core outcome domains; and a consensus workshop to review and establish a set of core outcome domains and measures for trials in PKD. DISCUSSION: The SONG-PKD core outcome set is aimed at improving the consistency and completeness of outcome reporting across ADPKD trials, leading to improvements in the reliability and relevance of trial-based evidence to inform decisions about treatment and ultimately improve the care and outcomes for people with ADPKD
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Solar ultraviolet-B radiation and vitamin D: a cross-sectional population-based study using data from the 2007 to 2009 Canadian Health Measures Survey
Background:
Exposure to solar ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation is a major source of vitamin D3. Chemistry climate models project decreases in ground-level solar erythemal UV over the current century. It is unclear what impact this will have on vitamin D status at the population level. The purpose of this study was to measure the association between ground-level solar UV-B and serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) using a secondary analysis of the 2007 to 2009 Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS).
Methods:
Blood samples collected from individuals aged 12 to 79 years sampled across Canada were analyzed for 25(OH)D (n=4,398). Solar UV-B irradiance was calculated for the 15 CHMS collection sites using the Tropospheric Ultraviolet and Visible Radiation Model. Multivariable linear regression was used to evaluate the association between 25(OH)D and solar UV-B adjusted for other predictors and to explore effect modification.
Results:
Cumulative solar UV-B irradiance averaged over 91 days (91-day UV-B) prior to blood draw correlated significantly with 25(OH)D. Independent of other predictors, a 1 kJ/m 2
increase in 91-day UV-B was associated with a significant 0.5 nmol/L (95% CI 0.3-0.8) increase in mean 25(OH)D (P =0.0001). The relationship was stronger among younger individuals and those spending more time outdoors. Based on current projections of decreases in ground-level solar UV-B, we predict less than a 1 nmol/L decrease in mean 25(OH)D for the population.
Conclusions:
In Canada, cumulative exposure to ambient solar UV-B has a small but significant association with 25(OH)D concentrations. Public health messages to improve vitamin D status should target safe sun exposure with sunscreen use, and also enhanced dietary and supplemental intake and maintenance of a healthy body weight
Redox-switch regulatory mechanism of thiolase from Clostridium acetobutylicum
Thiolase is the first enzyme catalysing the condensation of two acetyl-coenzyme A (CoA) molecules to form acetoacetyl-CoA in a dedicated pathway towards the biosynthesis of n-butanol, an important solvent and biofuel. Here we elucidate the crystal structure of Clostridium acetobutylicum thiolase (CaTHL) in its reduced/oxidized states. CaTHL, unlike those from other aerobic bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Zoogloea ramegera, is regulated by the redox-switch modulation through reversible disulfide bond formation between two catalytic cysteine residues, Cys88 and Cys378. When CaTHL is overexpressed in wild-type C. acetobutylicum, butanol production is reduced due to the disturbance of acidogenic to solventogenic shift. The CaTHLV77Q/N153Y/A286K mutant, which is not able to form disulfide bonds, exhibits higher activity than wild-type CaTHL, and enhances butanol production upon overexpression. On the basis of these results, we suggest that CaTHL functions as a key enzyme in the regulation of the main metabolism of C. acetobutylicum through a redox-switch regulatory mechanism.close0
Skp is a multivalent chaperone of outer membrane proteins
The trimeric chaperone Skp sequesters outer-membrane proteins (OMPs) within a hydrophobic cage, thereby preventing their aggregation during transport across the periplasm in Gram-negative bacteria. Here, we studied the interaction between Escherichia coli Skp and five OMPs of varying size. Investigations of the kinetics of OMP folding revealed that higher Skp/OMP ratios are required to prevent the folding of 16-stranded OMPs compared with their 8-stranded counterparts. Ion mobility spectrometryβmass spectrometry (IMSβMS) data, computer modeling and molecular dynamics simulations provided evidence that 10- to 16-stranded OMPs are encapsulated within an expanded Skp substrate cage. For OMPs that cannot be fully accommodated in the expanded cavity, sequestration is achieved by binding of an additional Skp trimer. The results suggest a new mechanism for Skp chaperone activity involving the coordination of multiple copies of Skp in protecting a single substrate from aggregation
Folding of Toll-like receptors by the HSP90 paralogue gp96 requires a substrate-specific cochaperone
Cytosolic HSP90 requires multiple cochaperones in folding client proteins. However, the function of gp96 (HSP90b1, grp94), an HSP90 paralogue in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), is believed to be independent of cochaperones. Here, we demonstrate that gp96 chaperones multiple Toll-like receptors (TLRs), but not TLR3, in a manner that is dependent on another ER luminal protein, CNPY3. gp96 directly interacts with CNPY3, and the complex dissociates in the presence of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Genetic disruption of gp96βCNPY3 interaction completely abolishes their TLR chaperone function. Moreover, we demonstrate that TLR9 forms a multimolecular complex with gp96 and CNPY3, and the binding of TLR9 to either molecule requires the presence of the other. We suggest that CNPY3 interacts with the ATP-sensitive conformation of gp96 to promote substrate loading. Our study has thus established CNPY3 as a TLR-specific cochaperone for gp96
Analysis of MicroRNA Expression in the Prepubertal Testis
Only thirteen microRNAs are conserved between D. melanogaster and the mouse; however, conditional loss of miRNA function through mutation of Dicer causes defects in proliferation of premeiotic germ cells in both species. This highlights the potentially important, but uncharacterized, role of miRNAs during early spermatogenesis. The goal of this study was to characterize on postnatal day 7, 10, and 14 the content and editing of murine testicular miRNAs, which predominantly arise from spermatogonia and spermatocytes, in contrast to prior descriptions of miRNAs in the adult mouse testis which largely reflects the content of spermatids. Previous studies have shown miRNAs to be abundant in the mouse testis by postnatal day 14; however, through Next Generation Sequencing of testes from a B6;129 background we found abundant earlier expression of miRNAs and describe shifts in the miRNA signature during this period. We detected robust expression of miRNAs encoded on the X chromosome in postnatal day 14 testes, consistent with prior studies showing their resistance to meiotic sex chromosome inactivation. Unexpectedly, we also found a similar positional enrichment for most miRNAs on chromosome 2 at postnatal day 14 and for those on chromosome 12 at postnatal day 7. We quantified in vivo developmental changes in three types of miRNA variation including 5β² heterogeneity, editing, and 3β² nucleotide addition. We identified eleven putative novel pubertal testis miRNAs whose developmental expression suggests a possible role in early male germ cell development. These studies provide a foundation for interpretation of miRNA changes associated with testicular pathology and identification of novel components of the miRNA editing machinery in the testis
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