638 research outputs found
Two-dimensional anisotropic Heisenberg antiferromagnet in a field
The classical, square lattice, uniaxially anisotropic Heisenberg
antiferromagnet in a magnetic field parallel to the easy axis is studied using
Monte Carlo techniques. The model displays a long-range ordered
antiferromagnetic, an algebraically ordered spin-flop, and a paramagnetic
phase. The simulations indicate that a narrow disordered phase intervenes
between the ordered phases down to quite low temperatures. Results are compared
to previous, partially conflicting findings on related classical models as well
as the quantum variant with spin S=1/2.Comment: 8 pages, 9 figure
Phase diagrams of a classical two-dimensional Heisenberg antiferromagnet with single-ion anisotropy
A classical variant of the two-dimensional anisotropic Heisenberg model
reproducing inelastic neutron scattering experiments on La_5 Ca_9 Cu_24 O_41
[M. Matsuda et al., Phys.Rev. B 68, 060406(R) (2003)] is analysed using mostly
Monte Carlo techniques. Phase diagrams with external fields parallel and
perpendicular to the easy axis of the anisotropic interactions are determined,
including antiferromagnetic and spin-flop phases. Mobile spinless defects, or
holes, are found to form stripes which bunch, debunch and break up at a phase
transition. A parallel field can lead to a spin-flop phase.Comment: 9 pages, 9 figures; final version as accepted by Phys. Rev. B (Fig. 5
replaced, added remarks in Secs. I, III, and V
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Morphology of powerful suction organs from blepharicerid larvae living in raging torrents
AbstractBackgroundSuction organs provide powerful yet dynamic attachments for many aquatic animals, including octopus, squid, remora, and clingfish. While the functional morphology of suction organs from some cephalopods and fishes has been investigated in detail, there are only few studies on such attachment devices in insects. Here we characterise the morphology and ultrastructure of the suction attachment organs of net-winged midge larvae (genusLiponeura; Diptera: Blephariceridae) – aquatic insects that live on rocks in rapid alpine waterways where flow speeds can reach 3 m s− 1– using scanning electron microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy, and X-ray computed micro-tomography (micro-CT). Furthermore, we study the function of these organs in vivo using interference reflection microscopy.ResultsWe identified structural adaptations important for the function of the suction attachment organs inL. cinerascensandL. cordata. First, a dense array of spine-like microtrichia covering each suction disc comes into contact with the substrate upon attachment, analogous to hairy structures on suction organs from octopus, clingfish, and remora fish. These spine-like microtrichia may contribute to the seal and provide increased shear force resistance in high-drag environments. Second, specialised rim microtrichia at the suction disc periphery were found to form a continuous ring in close contact and may serve as a seal on a variety of surfaces. Third, a V-shaped cut on the suction disc (“V-notch“) is actively opened via two cuticular apodemes inserting on its flanks. The apodemes are attached to dedicated V-notch opening muscles, thereby providing a unique detachment mechanism. The complex cuticular design of the suction organs, along with specialised muscles that attach to them, allows blepharicerid larvae to generate powerful attachments which can withstand strong hydrodynamic forces and quickly detach for locomotion.ConclusionThe suction organs fromLiponeuraare underwater attachment devices specialised for resisting extremely fast flows. Structural adaptations from these suction organs could translate into future bioinspired attachment systems that perform well on a wide range of surfaces.</jats:sec
Quantum Gravity Witness via Entanglement of Masses: Casimir Screening
A recently proposed experimental protocol for Quantum Gravity induced
Entanglement of Masses (QGEM) requires in principle realizable, but still very
ambitious, set of parameters in matter-wave interferometry. Motivated by easing
the experimental realization, in this paper, we consider the parameter space
allowed by a slightly modified experimental design, which mitigates the Casimir
potential between two spherical neutral test-masses by separating the two
macroscopic interferometers by a thin conducting plate. Although this set-up
will reintroduce a Casimir potential between the conducting plate and the
masses, there are several advantages of this design. First, the quantum gravity
induced entanglement between the two superposed masses will have no Casimir
background. Secondly, the matter-wave interferometry itself will be greatly
facilitated by allowing both the mass kg and the
superposition size m to be a one-two order of magnitude
smaller than those proposed earlier, and thereby also two orders of magnitude
smaller magnetic field gradient of Tm to create that superposition
through the Stern-Gerlach effect. In this context, we will further investigate
the collisional decoherences and decoherence due to vibrational modes of the
conducting plate.Comment: 13 Pages, 6 Figure
Crystal structure of Pseudomonas aeruginosa apo-azurin at 1.85 Ã… resolution
AbstractThe 3D structure of apo-azurin from Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been determined at 1.85 Ã… resolution. The crystal structure is composed of two different molecular forms of apo-azurin arranged as hetero-dimers in the tetramer of the asymmetric unit. Form 1 closely resembles the holo-protein lacking copper. Form 2 shows differences in the metal binding site region induced by the incorporation of a solvent molecule into this site. The positions of the copper ligands His46 and His117 are shifted by 0.6 Ã… and 1.6 Ã…. The His117 side chain adopts a position at the surface of the protein, thereby facilitating access to the copper site. The presence of two different molecular forms of apo-azurin in the crystal lattice may reflect an equilibrium between the two forms in solution. 1H-NMR spectra or apo-azurin recorded as a function or pH show that at high pH the line broadening of His35, His46 and His117 resonances is consistent with an interconversion between forms 1 and 2. At low pH, no broadening is observed. This may indicate that here the interconversion is fast on the NMR timescale
Multi-scale cellular imaging of DNA double strand break repair
Live-cell and high-resolution fluorescence microscopy are powerful tools to study the organization and dynamics of DNA double-strand break repair foci and specific repair proteins in single cells. This requires specific induction of DNA double-strand breaks and fluorescent markers to follow the DNA lesions in living cells. In this review, where we focused on mammalian cell studies, we discuss different methods to induce DNA double-strand breaks, how to visualize and quantify repair foci in living cells., We describe different (live-cell) imaging modalities that can reveal details of the DNA double-strand break repair process across multiple time and spatial scales. In addition, recent developments are discussed in super-resolution imaging and single-molecule tracking, and how these technologies can be applied to elucidate details on structural compositions or dynamics of DNA double-strand break repair.</p
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