Tidal Stresses and Energy Gaps in Microstate Geometries

We compute energy gaps and study infalling massive geodesic probes in the new families of scaling, microstate geometries that have been constructed recently and for which the holographic duals are known. We find that in the deepest geometries, which have the lowest energy gaps, the geodesic deviation shows that the stress reaches the Planck scale long before the probe reaches the cap of the geometry. Such probes must therefore undergo a stringy transition as they fall into microstate geometry. We discuss the scales associated with this transition and comment on the implications for scrambling in microstate geometries.Comment: 22 pages, 1 figur

Gluconeogenesis in plants:A key interface between organic acid/amino Acid/Lipid and sugar metabolism

Gluconeogenesis is a key interface between organic acid/amino acid/lipid and sugar metabolism. The aims of this article are four-fold. First, to provide a concise overview of plant gluconeogenesis. Second, to emphasise the widespread occurrence of gluconeogenesis and its utilisation in diverse processes. Third, to stress the importance of the vacuolar storage and release of Krebs cycle acids/nitrogenous compounds, and of the role of gluconeogenesis and malic enzyme in this process. Fourth, to outline the contribution of fine control of enzyme activity to the coordinate-regulation of gluconeogenesis and malate metabolism, and the importance of cytosolic pH in this

Novel dimeric β-helical model of an ice nucleation protein with bridged active sites

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Ice nucleation proteins (INPs) allow water to freeze at high subzero temperatures. Due to their large size (>120 kDa), membrane association, and tendency to aggregate, an experimentally-determined tertiary structure of an INP has yet to be reported. How they function at the molecular level therefore remains unknown.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Here we have predicted a novel β-helical fold for the INP produced by the bacterium <it>Pseudomonas borealis</it>. The protein uses internal serine and glutamine ladders for stabilization and is predicted to dimerize via the burying of a solvent-exposed tyrosine ladder to make an intimate hydrophobic contact along the dimerization interface. The manner in which <it>Pb</it>INP dimerizes also allows for its multimerization, which could explain the aggregation-dependence of INP activity. Both sides of the <it>Pb</it>INP structure have tandem arrays of amino acids that can organize waters into the ice-like clathrate structures seen on antifreeze proteins.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Dimerization dramatically increases the 'ice-active' surface area of the protein by doubling its width, increasing its length, and presenting identical ice-forming surfaces on both sides of the protein. We suggest that this allows sufficient anchored clathrate waters to align on the INP surface to nucleate freezing. As <it>Pb</it>INP is highly similar to all known bacterial INPs, we predict its fold and mechanism of action will apply to these other INPs.</p

Amorphous Silicates in Primitive Meteoritic Materials: Acfer 094 and IDPs

The abundance of presolar grains is one measure of the primitive nature of meteoritic materials. Presolar silicates are abundant in meteorites whose matrices are dominated by amorphous silicates such as the unique carbonaceous chondrite Acfer 094. Presolar silicates are even more abundant in chondritic-porous interplanetary dust particles (CP-IDPs). Amorphous silicates in the form of GEMS (glass with embedded metal and sulfides) grains are a major component of CP IDPs. We are studying amorphous silicates in Acfer 094 matrix in order to determine whether they are related to the GEMS grains in CPIDP

A Multifunctional Hot Structure Heatshield Concept for Planetary Entry

A multifunctional hot structure heatshield concept is being developed to provide technology enhancements with significant benefits compared to the current state-of-the-art heatshield technology. These benefits can potentially enable future planetary missions. The concept is unique in integrating the function of the thermal protection system with the primary load carrying structural component. An advanced carbon-carbon material system has been evaluated for the load carrying structure, which will be utilized on the outer surface of the heatshield, and thus will operate as a hot structure exposed to the severe aerodynamic heating associated with planetary entry. Flexible, highly efficient blanket insulation is sized for use underneath the hot structure to maintain required operational internal temperatures. The approach followed includes developing preliminary designs to demonstrate feasibility of the concept and benefits over a traditional, baseline design. Where prior work focused on a concept for an Earth entry vehicle, the current efforts presented here are focused on developing a generic heatshield model and performing a trade study for a Mars entry application. This trade study includes both structural and thermal evaluation. The results indicate that a hot structure concept is a feasible alternative to traditional heatshields and may offer advantages that can enable future entry missions

Slice Location Dependence of Aortic Regurgitation Measurements with MR Phase Velocity Mapping

Although several methods have been used clinically to assess aortic regurgitation (AR), there is no “gold standard” for regurgitant volume measurement. Magnetic resonance phase velocity mapping (PVM) can be used for noninvasive blood flow measurements. To evaluate the accuracy of PVM in quantifying AR with a single imaging slice in the ascending aorta, in vitro experiments were performed by using a compliant aortic model. Attention was focused on determining the slice location that provided the best results. The most accurate measurements were taken between the aortic valve annulus and the coronary ostia where the measured (Y) and actual (X) flow rate had close agreement (Y = 0.954 × + 0.126, r2 = 0.995, standard deviation of error = 0.139 L/min). Beyond the coronary ostia, coronary flow and aortic compliance negatively affected the accuracy of the measurements. In vivo measurements taken on patients with AR showed the same tendency with the in vitro results. In making decisions regarding patient treatment, diagnostic accuracy is very important. The results from this study suggest that higher accuracy is achieved by placing the slice between the aortic valve and the coronary ostia and that this is the region where attention should be focused for further clinical investigation

Quantification of Mitral Regurgitation With MR Phase-Velocity Mapping Using a Control Volume Method

Reliable diagnosis and quantification of mitral regurgitation are important for patient management and for optimizing the time for surgery. Previous methods have often provided suboptimal results. The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate MR phase-velocity mapping in quantifying the mitral regurgitant volume (MRV) using a control volume (CV) method. A number of contiguous slices were acquired with all three velocity components measured. A CV was then selected, encompassing the regurgitant orifice. Mass conservation dictates that the net inflow into the CV should be equal to the regurgitant flow. Results showed that a CV, the boundary voxels of which excluded the region of flow acceleration and aliasing at the orifice, provided accurate measurements of the regurgitant flow. A smaller CV provided erroneous results because of flow acceleration and velocity aliasing close to the orifice. A large CV generally provided inaccurate results because of reduced velocity sensitivity far from the orifice. Aortic outflow, orifice shape, and valve geometry did not affect the accuracy of the CV measurements. The CV method is a promising approach to the problem of quantification of the MRV