502 research outputs found
Three dimensional structure of low-density nuclear matter
We numerically explore the pasta structures and properties of low-density
nuclear matter without any assumption on the geometry. We observe conventional
pasta structures, while a mixture of the pasta structures appears as a
metastable state at some transient densities. We also discuss the lattice
structure of droplets.Comment: 6 pages, 8 figure
Simulation of Transitions between "Pasta" Phases in Dense Matter
Calculations of equilibrium properties of dense matter predict that at
subnuclear densities nuclei can be rodlike or slablike. To investigate whether
transitions between phases with non-spherical nuclei can occur during the
collapse of a star, we perform quantum molecular dynamic simulations of the
compression of dense matter. We have succeeded in simulating the transitions
between rodlike and slablike nuclei and between slablike nuclei and cylindrical
bubbles. Our results strongly suggest that non-spherical nuclei can be formed
in the inner cores of collapsing stars.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, final version published in Phys. Rev. Lett.,
high-res figures can be seen at http://www.nordita.dk/~gentaro/research/fig
Site-dependent Local Spin Susceptibility and Low-energy Excitation in a Weyl Semimetal WTe
Site-dependent local spin susceptibility is investigated with Te
nuclear magnetic resonance in a Weyl semimetal WTe. The nuclear
spin-lattice relaxation rate shows a dependence of the square of
temperature at high temperatures, followed by a constant behavior below 50
K. The temperature dependence features Weyl fermions appearing around the
linearly crossing bands. The Knight shift scales to the square root of
, corroborating a predominant spin contribution in low-lying
excitation. The observed dependence of and on the four Te sites
shows the site-dependent electron correlation and density of states. The
angular profile of the NMR spectrum gives the anisotropic hyperfine coupling
tensor, consistent with hole occupations on Te sites.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure
Protective Effects of Japanese Soybean Paste (Miso) on Stroke in Stroke-Prone Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats (SHRSP)
[BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS] Soybean isoflavones have been shown to reduce the risk of cerebral infarction in humans according to epidemiological studies. However, whether intake of miso can reduce the incidence of stroke in animal models remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the effects of soybean paste (miso) in an animal model of stroke.
[METHODS] Stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) were fed a miso diet (normal diet 90%, miso 10%; final NaCl content 2.8%), a high salt diet (normal diet and NaCl 2.5%; final NaCl content 2.8%), or a low salt diet (normal diet; final NaCl content 0.3%).
[RESULTS] Kaplan–Meier survival curves revealed a significantly lower survival rate in the high salt group compared to the miso group (P = 0.002) and the low salt group (P ≤ 0.001). Large hemorrhagic macules were found in the cerebrum in the high salt group, whereas none were found in the other 2 groups. There were also fewer histological and immunohistochemical changes in the brain and kidneys in the miso group compared to the high salt group.
[CONCLUSION] Our results suggest that miso may have protective effects against stroke despite its high salt content.This work was supported by a grant-in-aid from the Central Miso Institute, Tokyo, Japa
Visualization and Measurement of ATP Levels in Living Cells Replicating Hepatitis C Virus Genome RNA
Adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP) is the primary energy currency of all living organisms and participates in a variety of cellular processes. Although ATP requirements during viral lifecycles have been examined in a number of studies, a method by which ATP production can be monitored in real-time, and by which ATP can be quantified in individual cells and subcellular compartments, is lacking, thereby hindering studies aimed at elucidating the precise mechanisms by which viral replication energized by ATP is controlled. In this study, we investigated the fluctuation and distribution of ATP in cells during RNA replication of the hepatitis C virus (HCV), a member of the Flaviviridae family. We demonstrated that cells involved in viral RNA replication actively consumed ATP, thereby reducing cytoplasmic ATP levels. Subsequently, a method to measure ATP levels at putative subcellular sites of HCV RNA replication in living cells was developed by introducing a recently-established Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based ATP indicator, called ATeam, into the NS5A coding region of the HCV replicon. Using this method, we were able to observe the formation of ATP-enriched dot-like structures, which co-localize with non-structural viral proteins, within the cytoplasm of HCV-replicating cells but not in non-replicating cells. The obtained FRET signals allowed us to estimate ATP concentrations within HCV replicating cells as ∼5 mM at possible replicating sites and ∼1 mM at peripheral sites that did not appear to be involved in HCV replication. In contrast, cytoplasmic ATP levels in non-replicating Huh-7 cells were estimated as ∼2 mM. To our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate changes in ATP concentration within cells during replication of the HCV genome and increased ATP levels at distinct sites within replicating cells. ATeam may be a powerful tool for the study of energy metabolism during replication of the viral genome
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