4,272 research outputs found
Nonthermal fragmentation of C60
A theoretical study of the subpicosecond fragmentation of C60 clusters in
response to ultrafast laser pulses is presented. We simulate the laser
excitation and the consequent nonequilibrium relaxation dynamics of the
electronic and nuclear degrees of freedom. The first stages of the
nonequilibrium dynamics are dominated by a coherent breathing mode followed by
the cold ejection of single C atoms, in contrast to the dimer emission which
characterizes the thermal relaxation. We also determine the nonequilibrium
damage thresholds as a function of the pulse duration.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, submitted to Chem. Phys. Let
Combining quantum and classical density functional theory for ion-electron mixtures
We combine techniques from quantum and from classical density functional
theory (DFT) to describe electron-ion mixtures. For homogeneous systems, we
show how to calculate ion-ion and ion-electron correlation functions within
Chihara's quantum hypernetted chain approximation, which we derive within a DFT
formulation. We also sketch out how to apply the DFT formulation to
inhomogeneous electron-ion mixtures, and use this to study the electron
distribution at the liquid-solid interface of Al.Comment: to be published in J. Non-Cryst. Solids, LAM 11 special issu
Adaptive Finite Element Methods with Inexact Solvers for the Nonlinear Poisson-Boltzmann Equation
In this article we study adaptive finite element methods (AFEM) with inexact
solvers for a class of semilinear elliptic interface problems. We are
particularly interested in nonlinear problems with discontinuous diffusion
coefficients, such as the nonlinear Poisson-Boltzmann equation and its
regularizations. The algorithm we study consists of the standard
SOLVE-ESTIMATE-MARK-REFINE procedure common to many adaptive finite element
algorithms, but where the SOLVE step involves only a full solve on the coarsest
level, and the remaining levels involve only single Newton updates to the
previous approximate solution. We summarize a recently developed AFEM
convergence theory for inexact solvers, and present a sequence of numerical
experiments that give evidence that the theory does in fact predict the
contraction properties of AFEM with inexact solvers. The various routines used
are all designed to maintain a linear-time computational complexity.Comment: Submitted to DD20 Proceeding
Broadband X-Ray Spectral and Timing Analyses of the Black Hole Binary Candidate Swift J1658.2-4242:Rapid Flux Variation and the Turn-on of a Transient QPO
Geometrical aspects of isoscaling
The property of isoscaling in nuclear fragmentation is studied using a simple
bond percolation model with ``isospin'' added as an extra degree of freedom. It
is shown analytically, first, that isoscaling is expected to exist in such a
simple model with the only assumption of fair sampling with homogeneous
probabilities. Second, numerical percolations of hundreds of thousands of grids
of different sizes and with different to ratios confirm this prediction
with remarkable agreement. It is thus concluded that isoscaling emerges from
the simple assumption of fair sampling with homogeneous probabilities, a
requirement which, if put in the nomenclature of the minimum information
theory, translates simply into the existence of equiprobable configurations in
maximum entropy states
MicroRNA Profiling and Bioinformatics Target Analysis in Dorsal Hippocampus of Chronically Stressed Rats: Relevance to Depression Pathophysiology
IndexaciĂłn: Scopus.1Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neurogenetics, Faculty of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile, 2National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Durham, NC, United States, 3Centro de GenĂłmica y Bioinformática, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile, 4Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio), FONDAP Center for Genome Regulation, Departamento de GenĂ©tica Molecular y MicrobiologĂa, Pontificia Universidad CatĂłlica de Chile, Santiago, Chile, 5Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad CatĂłlica del Maule, Talca, Chile, 6Escuela de QuĂmica y Farmacia, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile.This study was supported by the following grants: FONDECYT 1120528 (JLF), Fondo Central de InvestigaciĂłn, Universidad de Chile ENL025/16 (JLF), ES090079 (JAC). Research in RG and EV laboratories is funded by Instituto Milenio iBio – Iniciativa CientĂfica Milenio MINECON.Studies conducted in rodents subjected to chronic stress and some observations in humans after psychosocial stress, have allowed to establish a link between stress and the susceptibility to many complex diseases, including mood disorders. The studies in rodents have revealed that chronic exposure to stress negatively affects synaptic plasticity by triggering changes in the production of trophic factors, subunit levels of glutamate ionotropic receptors, neuron morphology, and neurogenesis in the adult hippocampus. These modifications may account for the impairment in learning and memory processes observed in chronically stressed animals. It is plausible then, that stress modifies the interplay between signal transduction cascades and gene expression regulation in the hippocampus, therefore leading to altered neuroplasticity and functioning of neural circuits. Considering that miRNAs play an important role in post-transcriptional-regulation of gene expression and participate in several hippocampus-dependent functions; we evaluated the consequences of chronic stress on the expression of miRNAs in dorsal (anterior) portion of the hippocampus, which participates in memory formation in rodents. Here, we show that male rats exposed to daily restraint stress (2.5 h/day) during 7 and 14 days display a differential profile of miRNA levels in dorsal hippocampus and remarkably, we found that some of these miRNAs belong to the miR-379-410 cluster. We confirmed a rise in miR-92a and miR-485 levels after 14 days of stress by qPCR, an effect that was not mimicked by chronic administration of corticosterone (14 days). Our in silico study identified the top-10 biological functions influenced by miR-92a, nine of which were shared with miR-485: Nervous system development and function, Tissue development, Behavior, Embryonic development, Organ development, Organismal development, Organismal survival, Tissue morphology, and Organ morphology. Furthermore, our in silico study provided a landscape of potential miRNA-92a and miR-485 targets, along with relevant canonical pathways related to axonal guidance signaling and cAMP signaling, which may influence the functioning of several neuroplastic substrates in dorsal hippocampus. Additionally, the combined effect of miR-92a and miR-485 on transcription factors, along with histone-modifying enzymes, may have a functional relevance by producing changes in gene regulatory networks that modify the neuroplastic capacity of the adult dorsal hippocampus under stress. © 2018 Muñoz-Llanos, GarcĂa-PĂ©rez, Xu, Tejos-Bravo, Vidal, Moyano, GutiĂ©rrez, Aguayo, Pacheco, GarcĂa-Rojo, Aliaga, Rojas, Cidlowski and Fiedler.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnmol.2018.00251/ful
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Atomistic simulation of point defects and dislocations in bbc transition metals from first principles
Using multi-ion interatomic potentials derived from first-principles generalized pseudopotential theory, we have been studying point defects and dislocations in bcc transition metals, with molybdenum (Mo) as a prototype. For point defects in Mo, the calculated vacancy formation and activation energies are in excellent agreement with experimental results. The energetics of six self-interstitial configurations in Mo have also been investigated. The split dumb-bell is found to have the lowest formation energy, as is experimentally observed, but the corresponding migration energy is calculated to be 3--15 times higher than previous theoretical estimates. The atomic structure and energetics of screw dislocations in Mo are now being investigated. We have found that the ``easy`` core configuration has a lower formation energy than the ``hard`` one, consistent with previous theoretical studies. The former has a distinctive 3-fold symmetry with a spread out of the dislocation core along the directions, an effect which is driven by the strong angular forces present in these metals
Pathological mechanisms and therapeutic outlooks for arthrofibrosis
Arthrofibrosis is a fibrotic joint disorder that begins with an inflammatory reaction to insults such as injury, surgery and infection. Excessive extracellular matrix and adhesions contract pouches, bursae and tendons, cause pain and prevent a normal range of joint motion, with devastating consequences for patient quality of life. Arthrofibrosis affects people of all ages, with published rates varying. The risk factors and best management strategies are largely unknown due to a poor understanding of the pathology and lack of diagnostic biomarkers. However, current research into the pathogenesis of fibrosis in organs now informs the understanding of arthrofibrosis. The process begins when stress signals stimulate immune cells. The resulting cascade of cytokines and mediators drives fibroblasts to differentiate into myofibroblasts, which secrete fibrillar collagens and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). Positive feedback networks then dysregulate processes that normally terminate healing processes. We propose two subtypes of arthrofibrosis occur: active arthrofibrosis and residual arthrofibrosis. In the latter the fibrogenic processes have resolved but the joint remains stiff. The best therapeutic approach for each subtype may differ significantly. Treatment typically involves surgery, however, a pharmacological approach to correct dysregulated cell signalling could be more effective. Recent research shows that myofibroblasts are capable of reversing differentiation, and understanding the mechanisms of pathogenesis and resolution will be essential for the development of cell-based treatments. Therapies with significant promise are currently available, with more in development, including those that inhibit TGF-β signalling and epigenetic modifications. This review focuses on pathogenesis of sterile arthrofibrosis and therapeutic treatments
Comparison of AAV Serotypes for Gene Delivery to Dopaminergic Neurons in the Substantia Nigra
Density functional theory of phase coexistence in weakly polydisperse fluids
The recently proposed universal relations between the moments of the
polydispersity distributions of a phase-separated weakly polydisperse system
are analyzed in detail using the numerical results obtained by solving a simple
density functional theory of a polydisperse fluid. It is shown that universal
properties are the exception rather than the rule.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figures, to appear in PR
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