4,305 research outputs found
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A minK-HERG complex regulates the cardiac potassium current I(Kr).
MinK is a widely expressed protein of relative molecular mass approximately 15K that forms potassium channels by aggregation with other membrane proteins. MinK governs ion channel activation, regulation by second messengers, and the function and structure of the ion conduction pathway. Association of minK with a channel protein known as KvLQT1 produces a voltage-gated outward K+ current (I[sK]) resembling the slow cardiac repolarization current (I[Ks]). HERG, a human homologue of the ether-a-go-go gene of the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster, encodes a protein that produces the rapidly activating cardiac delayed rectifier (I[Kr]). These two potassium currents, I(Ks) and I(Kr), provide the principal repolarizing currents in cardiac myocytes for the termination of action potentials. Although heterologously expressed HERG channels are largely indistinguishable from native cardiac I(Kr), a role for minK in this current is suggested by the diminished I(Kr) in an atrial tumour line subjected to minK antisense suppression. Here we show that HERG and minK form a stable complex, and that this heteromultimerization regulates I(Kr) activity. MinK, through the formation of heteromeric channel complexes, is thus central to the control of the heart rate and rhythm
Optimization-Based Peptide Mass Fingerprinting for Protein Mixture Identification
*Motivation:* In current proteome research, peptide sequencing is probably the most widely used method for protein mixture identification. However, this peptide-centric method has its own disadvantages such as the immense volume of tandem Mass Spectrometry (MS) data for sequencing peptides. With the fast development of technology, it is possible to investigate other alternative techniques. Peptide Mass Fingerprinting (PMF) has been widely used to identify single purified proteins for more than 15 years. Unfortunately, this technique is less accurate than peptide sequencing method and cannot handle protein mixtures, which hampers the widespread use of PMF technique. If we can remove these limitations, PMF will become a useful tool in protein mixture identification. 
*Results:* We first formulate the problem of PMF protein mixture identification as an optimization problem. Then, we show that the use of some simple heuristics enables us to find good solutions. As a result, we obtain much better identification results than previous methods. Moreover, the result on real MS data can be comparable with that of the peptide sequencing method. Through a comprehensive simulation study, we identify a set of limiting factors that hinder the performance of PMF method in protein mixtures. We argue that it is feasible to remove these limitations and PMF can be a powerful tool in the analysis of protein mixtures
Monte Carlo modeling of spin injection through a Schottky barrier and spin transport in a semiconductor quantum well
We develop a Monte Carlo model to study injection of spin-polarized electrons
through a Schottky barrier from a ferromagnetic metal contact into a
non-magnetic low-dimensional semiconductor structure. Both mechanisms of
thermionic emission and tunneling injection are included in the model. Due to
the barrier shape, the injected electrons are non-thermalized. Spin dynamics in
the semiconductor heterostructure is controlled by the Rashba and Dresselhaus
spin-orbit interactions and described by a single electron spin density matrix
formalism. In addition to the linear term, the third order term in momentum for
the Dresselhaus interaction is included. Effect of the Schottky potential on
the spin dynamics in a 2 dimensional semiconductor device channel is studied.
It is found that the injected current can maintain substantial spin
polarization to a length scale in the order of 1 micrometer at room temperature
without external magnetic fields.Comment: 18 pages, 4 figures, J. Appl. Phys., accepted for publicatio
Representation Class and Geometrical Invariants of Quantum States under Local Unitary Transformations
We investigate the equivalence of bipartite quantum mixed states under local
unitary transformations by introducing representation classes from a
geometrical approach. It is shown that two bipartite mixed states are
equivalent under local unitary transformations if and only if they have the
same representation class. Detailed examples are given on calculating
representation classes.Comment: 11 page
A tunable radiation source by coupling laser-plasma-generated electrons to a periodic structure
Near-infrared radiation around 1000 nm generated from the interaction of a high-density MeV electron beam, obtained by impinging an intense ultrashort laser pulse on a solid target, with a metal grating is observed experimentally. Theoretical modeling and particle-in-cell simulation suggest that the radiation is caused by the Smith-Purcell mechanism. The results here indicate that tunable terahertz radiation with tens GV=m ļ¬eld strength can be achieved by using appropriate grating parameter
Teleporting the one-qubit state via two-level atoms with spontaneous emission
We study quantum teleportation via two two-level atoms coupled collectively
to a multimode vacuum field and prepared initially in different atomic states.
We concentrated on influence of the spontaneous emission, collective damping
and dipole-dipole interaction of the atoms on fidelity dynamics of quantum
teleportation and obtained the region of spatial distance between the two atoms
over which the state can be teleported nonclassically. Moreover, we showed
through concrete examples that entanglement of the channel state is the
prerequisite but not the only essential quantity for predicting the
teleportation fidelity.Comment: 14 pages, 6 figure
Coexisting Kondo singlet state with antiferromagnetic long-range order: A possible ground state for Kondo insulators
The ground-state phase diagram of a half-filled anisotropic Kondo lattice
model is calculated within a mean-field theory. For small transverse exchange
coupling , the ground state shows an antiferromagnetic
long-range order with finite staggered magnetizations of both localized spins
and conduction electrons. When , the long-range order
is destroyed and the system is in a disordered Kondo singlet state with a
hybridization gap. Both ground states can describe the low-temperature phases
of Kondo insulating compounds. Between these two distinct phases, there may be
a coexistent regime as a result of the balance between local Kondo screening
and magnetic interactions.Comment: four pages, Revtex, one figure; to be published in Phys. Rev. B, 1
July issue, 200
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Marjolinās ulcer: a preventable malignancy arising from scars
Background: Marjolinās ulcer (MU) is a rare malignancy arising from various forms of scars. This potentially fatal complication typically occurs after a certain latency period. This article attempts to reveal the importance of the latency period in the prevention and early treatment of the malignancy. Methods: A retrospective review of 17 MU patients who underwent surgical procedures between June of 2005 and December 2011 was conducted. Etiology of injuries, latency period, repeated ulceration, and outcomes were recorded. This observational report reveals characteristics of patients who develop MU. Results: An incidence of 0.7% of MU was found amongst patients complaining of existing scars in our study; burns and trauma were the most common etiology of MU. The mean latency period was 29 years (SD = 19) and the mean post-ulceration period was 7 years (SD = 9). Statistical analysis revealed a negative correlation between the age of patients at injury and the length of latency period (r = ā0.8, P <0.01), as well as the lengths of pre-ulceration and post-ulceration periods (r = ā0.7, P <0.01). Conclusions: Patients experience different lengths of pre- and post-ulceration periods during the latency period. Younger patients tend to have a longer latency period. Skin breakdown on chronic scars and chronic unhealed ulcers are two main sources of MU. MU may be preventable with a close surveillance of the ulcer during the latency period
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