1,266 research outputs found
Monovalent permeability, rectification, and ionic block of store-operated calcium channels in Jurkat T lymphocytes.
We used whole-cell recording to characterize ion permeation, rectification, and block of monovalent current through calcium release-activated calcium (CRAC) channels in Jurkat T lymphocytes. Under physiological conditions, CRAC channels exhibit a high degree of selectivity for Ca2+, but can be induced to carry a slowly declining Na+ current when external divalent ions are reduced to micromolar levels. Using a series of organic cations as probes of varying size, we measured reversal potentials and calculated permeability ratios relative to Na+, PX/PNa, in order to estimate the diameter of the conducting pore. Ammonium (NH4+) exhibited the highest relative permeability (PNH4/PNa = 1.37). The largest permeant ion, tetramethylammonium with a diameter of 0.55 nm, had PTMA/PNa of 0.09. N-methyl-D-glucamine (0.50 x 0.64 x 1.20 nm) was not measurably permeant. In addition to carrying monovalent current, NH4+ reduced the slow decline of monovalent current ("inactivation") upon lowering [Ca2+]o. This kinetic effect of extracellular NH4+ can be accounted for by an increase in intracellular pH (pHi), since raising intracellular pH above 8 reduced the extent of inactivation. In addition, decreasing pHi reduced monovalent and divalent current amplitudes through CRAC channels with a pKa of 6.8. In several channel types, Mg2+ has been shown to produce rectification by a voltage-dependent block mechanism. Mg2+ removal from the pipette solution permitted large outward monovalent currents to flow through CRAC channels while also increasing the channel's relative Cs+ conductance and eliminating the inactivation of monovalent current. Boltzmann fits indicate that intracellular Mg2+ contributes to inward rectification by blocking in a voltage-dependent manner, with a z delta product of 1.88. Ca2+ block from the outside was also found to be voltage dependent with z delta of 1.62. These experiments indicate that the CRAC channel, like voltage-gated Ca2+ channels, achieves selectivity for Ca2+ by selective binding in a large pore with current-voltage characteristics shaped by internal Mg2+
Approximate Two-Party Privacy-Preserving String Matching with Linear Complexity
Consider two parties who want to compare their strings, e.g., genomes, but do
not want to reveal them to each other. We present a system for
privacy-preserving matching of strings, which differs from existing systems by
providing a deterministic approximation instead of an exact distance. It is
efficient (linear complexity), non-interactive and does not involve a third
party which makes it particularly suitable for cloud computing. We extend our
protocol, such that it mitigates iterated differential attacks proposed by
Goodrich. Further an implementation of the system is evaluated and compared
against current privacy-preserving string matching algorithms.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure
How semiregular are irregular variables?
We investigate the question whether there is a real difference in the light
change between stars classified as semiregular (SRV) or irregular (Lb)
variables by analysing photometric light curves of 12 representatives of each
class. Using Fourier analysis we try to find a periodic signal in each light
curve and determine the S/N of this signal. For all stars, independent of their
variability class we detect a period above the significance threshold. No
difference in the measured S/N between the two classes could be found. We
propose that the Lb stars can be seen as an extension of the SRVs towards
shorter periods and smaller amplitudes. This is in agreement with findings from
other quantities which also showed no marked difference between the two
classes.Comment: 7 pages, accepted for publication by A
Disk-Like Structure in the Semi-Regular Pulsating Star, X Her
The author reports a result of an interferometric observation of the
semiragular pulsating star with an unusual narrow molecular line profile, X
Her, in the CO J=1-0 line with the Berkeley-Illinois-Maryland array. In the CO
spectrum, a double-component profile (including narrow and broad components) is
seen as reported by previous observations. The narrow component consists of two
spiky peaks. The spatial structure of the board component shows bipolar shape,
and that of the narrow component shows an elliptical/spherical shape. The two
peaks in the narrow component show a systematic difference in the integrated
intensity map. The kinematical and geometrical properties of the narrow
component are reminiscent of a Keplerian rotating disk with the central mass of
0.9 M_sun, though an interpretation by an expansion disk seems to be more
natural. A secondary bipolar flow instead of the disk cannot be fully excluded
as an interpretation of the narrow line.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figues, accepted for publication in Ap
Long Period Variable Stars: galactic populations and infrared luminosity calibrations
In this paper HIPPARCOS astrometric and kinematic data are used to calibrate
both infrared luminosities and kinematical parameters of Long Period Variable
stars (LPVs). Individual absolute K and IRAS 12 and 25 luminosities of 800 LPVs
are determined and made available in electronic form.
The estimated mean kinematics is analyzed in terms of galactic populations.
LPVs are found to belong to galactic populations ranging from the thin disk to
the extended disk. An age range and a lower limit of the initial mass is given
for stars of each population. A difference of 1.3mag in K for the upper limit
of the Asymptotic Giant Branch is found between the disk and old disk galactic
populations, confirming its dependence on the mass in the main sequence.
LPVs with a thin envelope are distinguished using the estimated mean IRAS
luminosities. The level of attraction (in the classification sense) of each
group for the usual classifying parameters of LPVs (variability and spectral
types) is examined.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A (May 2001). 13 page
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