48,385 research outputs found
Finite Dimensional Statistical Inference
In this paper, we derive the explicit series expansion of the eigenvalue
distribution of various models, namely the case of non-central Wishart
distributions, as well as correlated zero mean Wishart distributions. The tools
used extend those of the free probability framework, which have been quite
successful for high dimensional statistical inference (when the size of the
matrices tends to infinity), also known as free deconvolution. This
contribution focuses on the finite Gaussian case and proposes algorithmic
methods to compute the moments. Cases where asymptotic results fail to apply
are also discussed.Comment: 14 pages, 13 figures. Submitted to IEEE Transactions on Information
Theor
Genetic analysis of the Replication Protein A large subunit family in Arabidopsis reveals unique and overlapping roles in DNA repair, meiosis and DNA replication
Replication Protein A (RPA) is a heterotrimeric protein complex that binds single-stranded DNA. In plants, multiple genes encode the three RPA subunits (RPA1, RPA2 and RPA3), including five RPA1-like genes in Arabidopsis. Phylogenetic analysis suggests two distinct groups composed of RPA1A, RPA1C, RPA1E (ACE group) and RPA1B, RPA1D (BD group). ACE-group members are transcriptionally induced by ionizing radiation, while BD-group members show higher basal transcription and are not induced by ionizing radiation. Analysis of rpa1 T-DNA insertion mutants demonstrates that although each mutant line is likely null, all mutant lines are viable and display normal vegetative growth. The rpa1c and rpa1e single mutants however display hypersensitivity to ionizing radiation, and combination of rpa1c and rpa1e results in additive hypersensitivity to a variety of DNA damaging agents. Combination of the partially sterile rpa1a with rpa1c results in complete sterility, incomplete synapsis and meiotic chromosome fragmentation, suggesting an early role for RPA1C in promoting homologous recombination. Combination of either rpa1c and/or rpa1e with atr revealed additive hypersensitivity phenotypes consistent with each functioning in unique repair pathways. In contrast, rpa1b rpa1d double mutant plants display slow growth and developmental defects under non-damaging conditions. We show these defects in the rpa1b rpa1d mutant are likely the result of defective DNA replication leading to reduction in cell division
Can a Kasner Universe with a Viscous Cosmological Fluid be Anisotropic?
A Bianchi type -I metric of Kasner form is considered, when the space is
filled with a viscous fluid. Whereas an ideal (nonviscous) fluid permits the
Kasner metric to be anisotropic provided that the fluid satisfies the
Zel'dovich equation of state, the viscous fluid does not permit the Kasner
metric to be anisotropic at all. In the latter case, we calculate the Kasner
(isotropic) metric expressed by the fluid's density, pressure, and bulk
viscosity, at some chosen instant . The equation of state is also
calculated. The present paper is related to a recent Comment of Cataldo and del
Campo [Phys. Rev. D, scheduled to April 15, 2000], on a previous work of the
present authors [Phys. Rev. D {\bf 56}, 3322 (1997)].Comment: 8 pages, LaTeX, no figures. To appear in PR
Inositol phosphatase SHIP1 is a primary target of miR-155
MicroRNA-155 (miR-155) has emerged as a critical regulator of immune cell development, function, and disease. However, the mechanistic basis for its impact on the hematopoietic system remains largely unresolved. Because miRNAs function by repressing specific mRNAs through direct 3′UTR interactions, we have searched for targets of miR-155 implicated in the regulation of hematopoiesis. In the present study, we identify Src homology-2 domain-containing inositol 5-phosphatase 1 (SHIP1) as a direct target of miR-155, and, using gain and loss of function approaches, show that miR-155 represses SHIP1 through direct 3′UTR interactions that have been highly conserved throughout evolution. Repression of endogenous SHIP1 by miR-155 occurred following sustained over-expression of miR-155 in hematopoietic cells both in vitro and in vivo, and resulted in increased activation of the kinase Akt during the cellular response to LPS. Furthermore, SHIP1 was also repressed by physiologically regulated miR-155, which was observed in LPS-treated WT versus miR-155−/− primary macrophages. In mice, specific knockdown of SHIP1 in the hematopoietic system following retroviral delivery of a miR-155-formatted siRNA against SHIP1 resulted in a myeloproliferative disorder, with striking similarities to that observed in miR-155-expressing mice. Our study unveils a molecular link between miR-155 and SHIP1 and provides evidence that repression of SHIP1 is an important component of miR-155 biology
Obscuration by Gas and Dust in Luminous Quasars
We explore the connection between absorption by neutral gas and extinction by
dust in mid-infrared (IR) selected luminous quasars. We use a sample of 33
quasars at redshifts 0.7 < z < 3 in the 9 deg^2 Bo\"otes multiwavelength survey
field that are selected using Spitzer Space Telescope Infrared Array Camera
colors and are well-detected as luminous X-ray sources (with >150 counts) in
Chandra observations. We divide the quasars into dust-obscured and unobscured
samples based on their optical to mid-IR color, and measure the neutral
hydrogen column density N_H through fitting of the X-ray spectra. We find that
all subsets of quasars have consistent power law photon indices equal to 1.9
that are uncorrelated with N_H. We classify the quasars as gas-absorbed or
gas-unabsorbed if N_H > 10^22 cm^-2 or N_H < 10^22 cm^-2, respectively. Of 24
dust-unobscured quasars in the sample, only one shows clear evidence for
significant intrinsic N_H, while 22 have column densities consistent with N_H <
10^22 cm^-2. In contrast, of the nine dust-obscured quasars, six show evidence
for intrinsic gas absorption, and three are consistent with N_H < 10^22 cm^-2.
We conclude that dust extinction in IR-selected quasars is strongly correlated
with significant gas absorption as determined through X-ray spectral fitting.
These results suggest that obscuring gas and dust in quasars are generally
co-spatial, and confirm the reliability of simple mid-IR and optical
photometric techniques for separating quasars based on obscuration.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure
The dynamic analysis of flexible riser systems
The aim of this thesis is to provide a design tool
for the engineering analysis of the dynamics of a flexible
riser system. The design tool is piovided in the form of a
computer program.
The two main requirements of such a program are
that it is realistic and practical to use. The necessary
theory is developed to allow these requirements to be
satisfied.
To ensure accuracy checks are made against model
tests and known analytical solutions.
How the computer program may be used is shown by
analysing a particular riser configuration
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