85 research outputs found
Renormalization of minimally doubled fermions
We investigate the renormalization properties of minimally doubled fermions,
at one loop in perturbation theory. Our study is based on the two particular
realizations of Borici-Creutz and Karsten-Wilczek. A common feature of both
formulations is the breaking of hyper-cubic symmetry, which requires that the
lattice actions are supplemented by suitable counterterms. We show that three
counterterms are required in each case and determine their coefficients to one
loop in perturbation theory. For both actions we compute the vacuum
polarization of the gluon. It is shown that no power divergences appear and
that all contributions which arise from the breaking of Lorentz symmetry are
cancelled by the counterterms. We also derive the conserved vector and
axial-vector currents for Karsten-Wilczek fermions. Like in the case of the
previously studied Borici-Creutz action, one obtains simple expressions,
involving only nearest-neighbour sites. We suggest methods how to fix the
coefficients of the counterterms non-perturbatively and discuss the
implications of our findings for practical simulations.Comment: 23 pages, 1 figur
Index Theorem and Overlap Formalism with Naive and Minimally Doubled Fermions
We present a theoretical foundation for the Index theorem in naive and
minimally doubled lattice fermions by studying the spectral flow of a Hermitean
version of Dirac operators. We utilize the point splitting method to implement
flavored mass terms, which play an important role in constructing proper
Hermitean operators. We show the spectral flow correctly detects the index of
the would-be zero modes which is determined by gauge field topology. Using the
flavored mass terms, we present new types of overlap fermions from the naive
fermion kernels, with a number of flavors that depends on the choice of the
mass terms. We succeed to obtain a single-flavor naive overlap fermion which
maintains hypercubic symmetry.Comment: 27 pages, 17 figures; references added, version accepted in JHE
Species Doublers as Super Multiplets in Lattice Supersymmetry: Exact Supersymmetry with Interactions for D=1 N=2
We propose a new lattice superfield formalism in momentum representation
which accommodates species doublers of the lattice fermions and their bosonic
counterparts as super multiplets. We explicitly show that one dimensional N=2
model with interactions has exact Lie algebraic supersymmetry on the lattice
for all super charges. In coordinate representation the finite difference
operator is made to satisfy Leibnitz rule by introducing a non local product,
the ``star'' product, and the exact lattice supersymmetry is realized. The
standard momentum conservation is replaced on the lattice by the conservation
of the sine of the momentum, which plays a crucial role in the formulation.
Half lattice spacing structure is essential for the one dimensional model and
the lattice supersymmetry transformation can be identified as a half lattice
spacing translation combined with alternating sign structure. Invariance under
finite translations and locality in the continuum limit are explicitly
investigated and shown to be recovered. Supersymmetric Ward identities are
shown to be satisfied at one loop level. Lie algebraic lattice supersymmetry
algebra of this model suggests a close connection with Hopf algebraic exactness
of the link approach formulation of lattice supersymmetry.Comment: 34 pages, 2 figure
Numerical properties of staggered quarks with a taste-dependent mass term
The numerical properties of staggered Dirac operators with a taste-dependent
mass term proposed by Adams [1,2] and by Hoelbling [3] are compared with those
of ordinary staggered and Wilson Dirac operators. In the free limit and on
(quenched) interacting configurations, we consider their topological
properties, their spectrum, and the resulting pion mass. Although we also
consider the spectral structure, topological properties, locality, and
computational cost of an overlap operator with a staggered kernel, we call
attention to the possibility of using the Adams and Hoelbling operators without
the overlap construction. In particular, the Hoelbling operator could be used
to simulate two degenerate flavors without additive mass renormalization, and
thus without fine-tuning in the chiral limit.Comment: 14 pages, 9 figures. V2: published version; important note added
regarding Hoelbling fermions, otherwise minor change
Measurement of Cytoplasmic Streaming in Chara Corallina by Magnetic Resonance Velocimetry
In aquatic plants such as the Characean algae, the force generation that
drives cyclosis is localized within the cytoplasm, yet produces fluid flows
throughout the vacuole. For this to occur the tonoplast must transmit
hydrodynamic shear efficiently. Here, using magnetic resonance velocimetry, we
present the first whole-cell measurements of the cross-sectional longitudinal
velocity field in Chara corallina and show that it is in quantitative agreement
with a recent theoretical analysis of rotational cytoplasmic streaming driven
by bidirectional helical forcing in the cytoplasm, with direct shear
transmission by the tonoplast.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure
The role of clathrin in post-golgi trafficking in toxoplasma gondii
Apicomplexan parasites are single eukaryotic cells with a highly polarised secretory system that contains unique secretory organelles (micronemes and rhoptries) that are required for host cell invasion. In contrast, the role of the endosomal system is poorly understood in these parasites. With many typical endocytic factors missing, we speculated that endocytosis depends exclusively on a clathrin-mediated mechanism. Intriguingly, in Toxoplasma gondii we were only able to observe the endogenous clathrin heavy chain 1 (CHC1) at the Golgi, but not at the parasite surface. For the functional characterisation of Toxoplasma gondii CHC1 we generated parasite mutants conditionally expressing the dominant negative clathrin Hub fragment and demonstrate that CHC1 is essential for vesicle formation at the trans-Golgi network. Consequently, the functional ablation of CHC1 results in Golgi aberrations, a block in the biogenesis of the unique secretory microneme and rhoptry organelles, and of the pellicle. However, we found no morphological evidence for clathrin mediating endocytosis in these parasites and speculate that they remodelled their vesicular trafficking system to adapt to an intracellular lifestyle
Revisiting symmetries of lattice fermions via spin-flavor representation
Employing the spin-flavor representation, we investigate the structures of
the doubler-mixing symmetries and the mechanisms of their spontaneous breakdown
in four types of lattice fermion formulation. We first revisit the
U(4)\timesU(4)A symmetries of the naive fermion with the vanishing bare mass
m, and re-express them in terms of the spin-flavor representation. We apply the
same method to the Wilson fermion, which possesses only the U(1) vector
symmetry for general values of m. For a special value of m, however, there
emerges an additional U(1) symmetry to be broken by pion condensation. We also
explore two types of minimally doubled fermion, and discover a similar kind of
symmetry enhancement and its spontaneous breakdown.Comment: 25 pages, no figure;v2 typos corrected;v3 Sec.2 is shortened. To
appear in JHE
Expression of Transketolase like gene 1 (TKTL1) predicts disease-free survival in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer receiving neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>For patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy is recommended as standard therapy. So far, no predictive or prognostic molecular factors for patients undergoing multimodal treatment are established. Increased angiogenesis and altered tumour metabolism as adaption to hypoxic conditions in cancers play an important role in tumour progression and metastasis. Enhanced expression of Vascular-endothelial-growth-factor-receptor <it>(VEGF-R</it>) and Transketolase-like-1 (<it>TKTL1</it>) are related to hypoxic conditions in tumours. In search for potential prognostic molecular markers we investigated the expression of <it>VEGFR-1</it>, <it>VEGFR-2 </it>and <it>TKTL1 </it>in patients with LARC treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and cetuximab.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Tumour and corresponding normal tissue from pre-therapeutic biopsies of 33 patients (m: 23, f: 10; median age: 61 years) with LARC treated in phase-I and II trials with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (cetuximab, irinotecan, capecitabine in combination with radiotherapy) were analysed by quantitative PCR.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Significantly higher expression of <it>VEGFR-1/2 </it>was found in tumour tissue in pre-treatment biopsies as well as in resected specimen after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy compared to corresponding normal tissue. High <it>TKTL1 </it>expression significantly correlated with disease free survival. None of the markers had influence on early response parameters such as tumour regression grading. There was no correlation of gene expression between the investigated markers.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>High <it>TKTL-1 </it>expression correlates with poor prognosis in terms of 3 year disease-free survival in patients with LARC treated with intensified neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and may therefore serve as a molecular prognostic marker which should be further evaluated in randomised clinical trials.</p
Sucrose Counteracts the Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Fish Oil in Adipose Tissue and Increases Obesity Development in Mice
BACKGROUND: Polyunsaturated n-3 fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) are reported to protect against high fat diet-induced obesity and inflammation in adipose tissue. Here we aimed to investigate if the amount of sucrose in the background diet influences the ability of n-3 PUFAs to protect against diet-induced obesity, adipose tissue inflammation and glucose intolerance. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We fed C57BL/6J mice a protein- (casein) or sucrose-based high fat diet supplemented with fish oil or corn oil for 9 weeks. Irrespective of the fatty acid source, mice fed diets rich in sucrose became obese whereas mice fed high protein diets remained lean. Inclusion of sucrose in the diet also counteracted the well-known anti-inflammatory effect of fish oil in adipose tissue, but did not impair the ability of fish oil to prevent accumulation of fat in the liver. Calculation of HOMA-IR indicated that mice fed high levels of proteins remained insulin sensitive, whereas insulin sensitivity was reduced in the obese mice fed sucrose irrespectively of the fat source. We show that a high fat diet decreased glucose tolerance in the mice independently of both obesity and dietary levels of n-3 PUFAs and sucrose. Of note, increasing the protein∶sucrose ratio in high fat diets decreased energy efficiency irrespective of fat source. This was accompanied by increased expression of Ppargc1a (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, gamma, coactivator 1 alpha) and increased gluconeogenesis in the fed state. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The background diet influence the ability of n-3 PUFAs to protect against development of obesity, glucose intolerance and adipose tissue inflammation. High levels of dietary sucrose counteract the anti-inflammatory effect of fish oil in adipose tissue and increases obesity development in mice
Heterochromatin Protein 1β (HP1β) has distinct functions and distinct nuclear distribution in pluripotent versus differentiated cells
Background: Pluripotent embryonic stem cells (ESCs) have the unique ability to differentiate into every cell type and to self-renew. These characteristics correlate with a distinct nuclear architecture, epigenetic signatures enriched for active chromatin marks and hyperdynamic binding of structural chromatin proteins. Recently, several chromatin-related proteins have been shown to regulate ESC pluripotency and/or differentiation, yet the role of the major heterochromatin proteins in pluripotency is unknown. Results: Here we identify Heterochromatin Protein 1β (HP1β) as an essential protein for proper differentiation, and, unexpectedly, for the maintenance of pluripotency in ESCs. In pluripotent and differentiated cells HP1β is differentially localized and differentially associated with chromatin. Deletion of HP1β, but not HP1aα, in ESCs provokes a loss of the morphological and proliferative characteristics of embryonic pluripotent cells, reduces expression of pluripotency factors and causes aberrant differentiation. However, in differentiated cells, loss of HP1β has the opposite effect, perturbing maintenance of the differentiation state and facilitating reprogramming to an induced pluripotent state. Microscopy, biochemical fractionation and chromatin immunoprecipitation reveal a diffuse nucleoplasmic distribution, weak association with chromatin and high expression levels for HP1β in ESCs. The minor fraction of HP1β that is chromatin-bound in ESCs is enriched within exons, unlike the situation in differentiated cells, where it binds heterochromatic satellite repeats and chromocenters. Conclusions: We demonstrate an unexpected duality in the role of HP1β: it is essential in ESCs for maintaining pluripotency, while it is required for proper differentiation in differentiated cells. Thus, HP1β function both depends on, and regulates, the pluripotent state
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