Time-dependent edge-notch sensitivity of oxide and gamma prime dispersion strengthened sheet materials at 1000 to 1800 F (538 - 982 C)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wilson, D. J.

1972-01-01

Research was carried out to determine whether an oxide dispersion hardened alloy, TD-Ni, Cr, and low volume fraction gamma prime strengthened nickel-base alloy, Modified Waspaloy, were susceptible to time-dependent edge-notch sensitivity. The results were evaluated in terms of the mechanical characteristics of the alloys and the dislocation motion mechanisms operative. As far as could be determined, the results of the investigation were consistent with the following important concepts developed for Waspaloy and Inconel 718: (1) Time-dependent edge-notch sensitivity occurs when notched specimens are loaded below the approximate 0.2 percent smooth specimen offset yield strength and when data from smooth specimens indicate that small amounts of creep consume large rupture life fractions. (2) When precipitate particles are sheared by dislocations, the deformation is localized and time-dependent notch sensitivity occurs. When dislocations by-pass precipitate particles the deformation is homogeneous. Under these conditions, no time-dependent notch sensitivity has been observed.

Mechanical Signature of Heat Generated in a Current-Driven Ferromagnetic Resonance System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cho, Sung Un; Jo, Myunglae; Park, Seondo; Lee, Jae-Hyun; Yang, Chanuk; Kang, Seokwon; Park, Yun Daniel

2017-07-01

In a current-driven ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) system, heat generated by time-dependent magnetoresistance effects, caused by magnetization precession, cannot be overlooked. Here, we describe the generated heat by magnetization motion under electric current in a freestanding nanoelectromechanical resonator fashioned from a permalloy (Py )/Pt bilayer. By piezoresistive transduction of Pt, the mechanical mode is electrically detected at room temperature and the internal heat in Py excluding thermoelectric effects is quantified as a shift of the mechanical resonance. We find that the measured spectral shifts correspond to the FMR, which is further verified from the spin-torque FMR measurement. Furthermore, the angular dependence of the mechanical reaction on an applied magnetic field reveals that the full accounting of FMR heat dissipation requires the time-dependent magnetoresistance effect.

Time-dependent crack growth behavior of alloy 617 and alloy 230 at elevated temperatures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roy, Shawoon Kumar

2011-12-01

Two Ni-base solid-solution-strengthened superalloys: INCONEL 617 and HAYNES 230 were studied to check sustained loading crack growth (SLCG) behavior at elevated temperatures appropriate for Next Generation Nuclear Plant (NGNP) applictaions with constant stress intensity factor (Kmax= 27.75 MPa✓m) in air. The results indicate a time-dependent rate controlling process which can be characterized by a linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) parameter -- stress intensity factor (K). At elevated temperatures, the crack growth mechanism was best described using a damage zone concept. Based on results and study, SAGBOE (stress accelerated grain boundary oxidation embrittlement) is considered the primary reason for time-dependent SLCG. A thermodynamic equation was considered to correlate all the SLCG results to determine the thermal activation energy in the process. A phenomenological model based on a time-dependent factor was developed considering the previous researcher's time-dependent fatigue crack propagation (FCP) results and current SLCG results to relate cycle-dependent and time-dependent FCP for both alloys. Further study includes hold time (3+300s) fatigue testing and no hold (1s) fatigue testing with various load ratios (R) at 700°C with a Kmax of 27.75 MPa✓m. Study results suggest an interesting point: crack growth behavior is significantly affected with the change in R value in cycle-dependent process whereas in time-dependent process, change in R does not have any significant effect. Fractography study showed intergranular cracking mode for all time-dependent processes and transgranular cracking mode for cycle-dependent processes. In Alloy 230, SEM images display intergranular cracking with carbide particles, dense oxides and dimple mixed secondary cracks for time-dependent 3+300s FCP and SLCG test. In all cases, Alloy 230 shows better crack growth resistance compared to Alloy 617.

Microstructural indicators of transition mechanisms in time-dependent fatigue crack growth in nickel base superalloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heeter, Ann E.

Gas turbine engines are an important part of power generation in modern society, especially in the field of aerospace. Aerospace engines are design to last approximately 30 years and the engine components must be designed to survive for the life of the engine or to be replaced at regular intervals to ensure consumer safety. Fatigue crack growth analysis is a vital component of design for an aerospace component. Crack growth modeling and design methods date back to an origin around 1950 with a high rate of accuracy. The new generation of aerospace engines is designed to be efficient as possible and require higher operating temperatures than ever seen before in previous generations. These higher temperatures place more stringent requirements on the material crack growth performance under creep and time dependent conditions. Typically the types of components which are subject to these requirements are rotating disk components which are made from advanced materials such as nickel base superalloys. Traditionally crack growth models have looked at high temperature crack growth purely as a function of temperature and assumed that all crack growth was either controlled by a cycle dependent or time dependent mechanism. This new analysis is trying to evaluate the transition between cycle-dependent and time-dependent mechanism and the microstructural markers that characterize this transitional behavior. The physical indications include both the fracture surface morphology as well as the shape of the crack front. The research will evaluate whether crack tunneling occurs and whether it consistently predicts a transition from cycle-dependent crack growth to time-dependent crack growth. The study is part of a larger research program trying to include the effects of geometry, mission profile and environmental effects, in addition to temperature effects, as a part of the overall crack growth system. The outcome will provide evidence for various transition types and correlate those physical attributes back to the material mechanisms to improve predictive modeling capability.

Comparative study of time-dependent effects of 4 and 8 Hz mechanical vibration at infrasound frequency on E. coli K-12 cells proliferation.

PubMed

Martirosyan, Varsik; Ayrapetyan, Sinerik

2015-01-01

The aim of the present work is to study the time-dependent effects of mechanical vibration (MV) at infrasound (IS) frequency at 4 and 8 Hz on E. coli K-12 growth by investigating the cell proliferation, using radioactive [(3)H]-thymidine assay. In our previous work it was suggested that the aqua medium can serve as a target through which the biological effect of MV on microbes could be realized. At the same time it was shown that microbes have mechanosensors on the surface of the cells and can sense small changes of the external environment. The obtained results were shown that the time-dependent effects of MV at 4 and 8 Hz frequency could either stimulate or inhibit the growth of microbes depending from exposure time. It more particularly, the invention relates to a method for controlling biological functions through the application of mechanical vibration, thus making it possible to artificially control the functions of bacterial cells, which will allow us to develop method that can be used in agriculture, industry, medicine, biotechnology to control microbial growth.

Tunneling time in space fractional quantum mechanics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hasan, Mohammad; Mandal, Bhabani Prasad

2018-02-01

We calculate the time taken by a wave packet to travel through a classically forbidden region of space in space fractional quantum mechanics. We obtain the close form expression of tunneling time from a rectangular barrier by stationary phase method. We show that tunneling time depends upon the width b of the barrier for b → ∞ and therefore Hartman effect doesn't exist in space fractional quantum mechanics. Interestingly we found that the tunneling time monotonically reduces with increasing b. The tunneling time is smaller in space fractional quantum mechanics as compared to the case of standard quantum mechanics. We recover the Hartman effect of standard quantum mechanics as a special case of space fractional quantum mechanics.

Quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical/continuum style solvation model: time-dependent density functional theory.

PubMed

Thellamurege, Nandun M; Cui, Fengchao; Li, Hui

2013-08-28

A combined quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical/continuum (QM/MMpol/C) style method is developed for time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT, including long-range corrected TDDFT) method, induced dipole polarizable force field, and induced surface charge continuum model. Induced dipoles and induced charges are included in the TDDFT equations to solve for the transition energies, relaxed density, and transition density. Analytic gradient is derived and implemented for geometry optimization and molecular dynamics simulation. QM/MMpol/C style DFT and TDDFT methods are used to study the hydrogen bonding of the photoactive yellow protein chromopore in ground state and excited state.

Plasmonic resonances of nanoparticles from large-scale quantum mechanical simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Xu; Xiang, Hongping; Zhang, Mingliang; Lu, Gang

2017-09-01

Plasmonic resonance of metallic nanoparticles results from coherent motion of its conduction electrons, driven by incident light. For the nanoparticles less than 10 nm in diameter, localized surface plasmonic resonances become sensitive to the quantum nature of the conduction electrons. Unfortunately, quantum mechanical simulations based on time-dependent Kohn-Sham density functional theory are computationally too expensive to tackle metal particles larger than 2 nm. Herein, we introduce the recently developed time-dependent orbital-free density functional theory (TD-OFDFT) approach which enables large-scale quantum mechanical simulations of plasmonic responses of metallic nanostructures. Using TD-OFDFT, we have performed quantum mechanical simulations to understand size-dependent plasmonic response of Na nanoparticles and plasmonic responses in Na nanoparticle dimers and trimers. An outlook of future development of the TD-OFDFT method is also presented.

Time dependent reliability model incorporating continuum damage mechanics for high-temperature ceramics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Duffy, Stephen F.; Gyekenyesi, John P.

1989-01-01

Presently there are many opportunities for the application of ceramic materials at elevated temperatures. In the near future ceramic materials are expected to supplant high temperature metal alloys in a number of applications. It thus becomes essential to develop a capability to predict the time-dependent response of these materials. The creep rupture phenomenon is discussed, and a time-dependent reliability model is outlined that integrates continuum damage mechanics principles and Weibull analysis. Several features of the model are presented in a qualitative fashion, including predictions of both reliability and hazard rate. In addition, a comparison of the continuum and the microstructural kinetic equations highlights a strong resemblance in the two approaches.

Investigations of Low Temperature Time Dependent Cracking

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Van der Sluys, W A; Robitz, E S; Young, B A

2002-09-30

The objective of this project was to investigate metallurgical and mechanical phenomena associated with time dependent cracking of cold bent carbon steel piping at temperatures between 327 C and 360 C. Boiler piping failures have demonstrated that understanding the fundamental metallurgical and mechanical parameters controlling these failures is insufficient to eliminate it from the field. The results of the project consisted of the development of a testing methodology to reproduce low temperature time dependent cracking in laboratory specimens. This methodology was used to evaluate the cracking resistance of candidate heats in order to identify the factors that enhance cracking sensitivity.more » The resultant data was integrated into current available life prediction tools.« less

Time-dependent combinatory effects of active mechanical loading and passive topographical cues on cell orientation.

PubMed

Wang, Qian; Huang, Hanyang; Wei, Kang; Zhao, Yi

2016-10-01

Mechanical stretching and topographical cues are both effective mechanical stimulations for regulating cell morphology, orientation, and behaviors. The competition of these two mechanical stimulations remains largely underexplored. Previous studies have suggested that a small cyclic mechanical strain is not able to reorient cells that have been pre-aligned by relatively large linear microstructures, but can reorient those pre-aligned by small linear micro/nanostructures if the characteristic dimension of these structures is below a certain threshold. Likewise, for micro/nanostructures with a given characteristic dimension, the strain must exceed a certain magnitude to overrule the topographic cues. There are however no in-depth investigations of such "thresholds" due to the lack of close examination of dynamic cell orientation during and shortly after the mechanical loading. In this study, the time-dependent combinatory effects of active and passive mechanical stimulations on cell orientation are investigated by developing a micromechanical stimulator. The results show that the cells pre-aligned by linear micro/nanostructures can be altered by cyclic in-plane strain, regardless of the structure size. During the loading, the micro/nanostructures can resist the reorientation effects by cyclic in-plane strain while the resistive capability (measured by the mean orientation angle change and the reorientation speed) increases with the increasing characteristic dimension. The micro/nanostructures also can recover the cell orientation after the cessation of cyclic in-plane strain, while the recovering capability increases with the characteristic dimension. The previously observed thresholds are largely dependent on the observation time points. In order to accurately evaluate the combinatory effects of the two mechanical stimulations, observations during the active loading with a short time interval or endpoint observations shortly after the loading are preferred. This study provides a microengineering solution to investigate the time-dependent combinatory effects of the active and passive mechanical stimulations and is expected to enhance our understanding of cell responses to complex mechanical environments. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2016;113: 2191-2201. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Spin-polarization dependent carrier recombination dynamics and spin relaxation mechanism in asymmetrically doped (110) n-GaAs quantum wells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Teng, Lihua; Jiang, Tianran; Wang, Xia; Lai, Tianshu

2018-05-01

Carrier recombination and electron spin relaxation dynamics in asymmetric n-doped (110) GaAs/AlGaAs quantum wells are investigated with time-resolved pump-probe spectroscopy. The experiment results reveal that the measured carrier recombination time depends strongly on the polarization of pump pulse. With the same pump photon flux densities, the recombination time of spin-polarized carriers is always longer than that of the spin-balanced carriers except at low pump photon flux densities, this anomaly originates from the polarization-sensitive nonlinear absorption effect. Differing from the traditional views, in the low carrier density regime, the D'yakonov-Perel' (DP) mechanism can be more important than the Bir-Aronov-Pikus (BAP) mechanism, since the DP mechanism takes effect, the spin relaxation time in (110) GaAs QWs is shortened obviously via asymmetric doping.

Spatio-temporal analysis of the electron power absorption in electropositive capacitive RF plasmas based on moments of the Boltzmann equation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schulze, J.; Donkó, Z.; Lafleur, T.; Wilczek, S.; Brinkmann, R. P.

2018-05-01

Power absorption by electrons from the space- and time-dependent electric field represents the basic sustaining mechanism of all radio-frequency driven plasmas. This complex phenomenon has attracted significant attention. However, most theories and models are, so far, only able to account for part of the relevant mechanisms. The aim of this work is to present an in-depth analysis of the power absorption by electrons, via the use of a moment analysis of the Boltzmann equation without any ad-hoc assumptions. This analysis, for which the input quantities are taken from kinetic, particle based simulations, allows the identification of all physical mechanisms involved and an accurate quantification of their contributions. The perfect agreement between the sum of these contributions and the simulation results verifies the completeness of the model. We study the relative importance of these mechanisms as a function of pressure, with high spatial and temporal resolution, in an electropositive argon discharge. In contrast to some widely accepted previous models we find that high space- and time-dependent ambipolar electric fields outside the sheaths play a key role for electron power absorption. This ambipolar field is time-dependent within the RF period and temporally asymmetric, i.e., the sheath expansion is not a ‘mirror image’ of the sheath collapse. We demonstrate that this time-dependence is mainly caused by a time modulation of the electron temperature resulting from the energy transfer to electrons by the ambipolar field itself during sheath expansion. We provide a theoretical proof that this ambipolar electron power absorption would vanish completely, if the electron temperature was constant in time. This mechanism of electron power absorption is based on a time modulated electron temperature, markedly different from the Hard Wall Model, of key importance for energy transfer to electrons on time average and, thus, essential for the generation of capacitively coupled plasmas.

Origin of the spike-timing-dependent plasticity rule

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cho, Myoung Won; Choi, M. Y.

2016-08-01

A biological synapse changes its efficacy depending on the difference between pre- and post-synaptic spike timings. Formulating spike-timing-dependent interactions in terms of the path integral, we establish a neural-network model, which makes it possible to predict relevant quantities rigorously by means of standard methods in statistical mechanics and field theory. In particular, the biological synaptic plasticity rule is shown to emerge as the optimal form for minimizing the free energy. It is further revealed that maximization of the entropy of neural activities gives rise to the competitive behavior of biological learning. This demonstrates that statistical mechanics helps to understand rigorously key characteristic behaviors of a neural network, thus providing the possibility of physics serving as a useful and relevant framework for probing life.

Learning of Precise Spike Times with Homeostatic Membrane Potential Dependent Synaptic Plasticity.

PubMed

Albers, Christian; Westkott, Maren; Pawelzik, Klaus

2016-01-01

Precise spatio-temporal patterns of neuronal action potentials underly e.g. sensory representations and control of muscle activities. However, it is not known how the synaptic efficacies in the neuronal networks of the brain adapt such that they can reliably generate spikes at specific points in time. Existing activity-dependent plasticity rules like Spike-Timing-Dependent Plasticity are agnostic to the goal of learning spike times. On the other hand, the existing formal and supervised learning algorithms perform a temporally precise comparison of projected activity with the target, but there is no known biologically plausible implementation of this comparison. Here, we propose a simple and local unsupervised synaptic plasticity mechanism that is derived from the requirement of a balanced membrane potential. Since the relevant signal for synaptic change is the postsynaptic voltage rather than spike times, we call the plasticity rule Membrane Potential Dependent Plasticity (MPDP). Combining our plasticity mechanism with spike after-hyperpolarization causes a sensitivity of synaptic change to pre- and postsynaptic spike times which can reproduce Hebbian spike timing dependent plasticity for inhibitory synapses as was found in experiments. In addition, the sensitivity of MPDP to the time course of the voltage when generating a spike allows MPDP to distinguish between weak (spurious) and strong (teacher) spikes, which therefore provides a neuronal basis for the comparison of actual and target activity. For spatio-temporal input spike patterns our conceptually simple plasticity rule achieves a surprisingly high storage capacity for spike associations. The sensitivity of the MPDP to the subthreshold membrane potential during training allows robust memory retrieval after learning even in the presence of activity corrupted by noise. We propose that MPDP represents a biophysically plausible mechanism to learn temporal target activity patterns.

Learning of Precise Spike Times with Homeostatic Membrane Potential Dependent Synaptic Plasticity

PubMed Central

Albers, Christian; Westkott, Maren; Pawelzik, Klaus

2016-01-01

Precise spatio-temporal patterns of neuronal action potentials underly e.g. sensory representations and control of muscle activities. However, it is not known how the synaptic efficacies in the neuronal networks of the brain adapt such that they can reliably generate spikes at specific points in time. Existing activity-dependent plasticity rules like Spike-Timing-Dependent Plasticity are agnostic to the goal of learning spike times. On the other hand, the existing formal and supervised learning algorithms perform a temporally precise comparison of projected activity with the target, but there is no known biologically plausible implementation of this comparison. Here, we propose a simple and local unsupervised synaptic plasticity mechanism that is derived from the requirement of a balanced membrane potential. Since the relevant signal for synaptic change is the postsynaptic voltage rather than spike times, we call the plasticity rule Membrane Potential Dependent Plasticity (MPDP). Combining our plasticity mechanism with spike after-hyperpolarization causes a sensitivity of synaptic change to pre- and postsynaptic spike times which can reproduce Hebbian spike timing dependent plasticity for inhibitory synapses as was found in experiments. In addition, the sensitivity of MPDP to the time course of the voltage when generating a spike allows MPDP to distinguish between weak (spurious) and strong (teacher) spikes, which therefore provides a neuronal basis for the comparison of actual and target activity. For spatio-temporal input spike patterns our conceptually simple plasticity rule achieves a surprisingly high storage capacity for spike associations. The sensitivity of the MPDP to the subthreshold membrane potential during training allows robust memory retrieval after learning even in the presence of activity corrupted by noise. We propose that MPDP represents a biophysically plausible mechanism to learn temporal target activity patterns. PMID:26900845

The effect of thermal processing on microstructure and mechanical properties in a nickel-iron alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Ling

The correlation between processing conditions, resulted microstructure and mechanical properties is of interest in the field of metallurgy for centuries. In this work, we investigated the effect of thermal processing parameters on microstructure, and key mechanical properties to turbine rotor design: tensile yield strength and crack growth resistance, for a nickel-iron based superalloy Inconel 706. The first step of the designing of experiments is to find parameter ranges for thermal processing. Physical metallurgy on superalloys was combined with finite element analysis to estimate variations in thermal histories for a large Alloy 706 forging, and the results were adopted for designing of experiments. Through the systematic study, correlation was found between the processing parameters and the microstructure. Five different types of grain boundaries were identified by optical metallography, fractography, and transmission electron microscopy, and they were found to be associated with eta precipitation at the grain boundaries. Proportions of types of boundaries, eta size, spacing and angle respect to the grain boundary were found to be dependent on processing parameters. Differences in grain interior precipitates were also identified, and correlated with processing conditions. Further, a strong correlation between microstructure and mechanical properties was identified. The grain boundary precipitates affect the time dependent crack propagation resistance, and different types of boundaries have different levels of resistance. Grain interior precipitates were correlated with tensile yield strength. It was also found that there is a strong environmental effect on time dependent crack propagation resistance, and the sensitivity to environmental damage is microstructure dependent. The microstructure with eta decorated on grain boundaries by controlled processing parameters is more resistant to environmental damage through oxygen embrittlement than material without eta phase on grain boundaries. Effort was made to explore the mechanisms of improving the time dependent crack propagation resistance through thermal processing, several mechanisms were identified in both environment dependent and environment independent category, and they were ranked based on their contributions in affecting crack propagation.

Differences in time-dependent mechanical properties between extruded and molded hydrogels

PubMed Central

Ersumo, N; Witherel, CE; Spiller, KL

2016-01-01

The mechanical properties of hydrogels used in biomaterials and tissue engineering applications are critical determinants of their functionality. Despite the recent rise of additive manufacturing, and specifically extrusion-based bioprinting, as a prominent biofabrication method, comprehensive studies investigating the mechanical behavior of extruded constructs remain lacking. To address this gap in knowledge, we compared the mechanical properties and swelling properties of crosslinked gelatin-based hydrogels prepared by conventional molding techniques or by 3D bioprinting using a BioBots Beta pneumatic extruder. A preliminary characterization of the impact of bioprinting parameters on construct properties revealed that both Young's modulus and optimal extruding pressure increased with polymer content, and that printing resolution increased with both printing speed and nozzle gauge. High viability (>95%) of encapsulated NIH 3T3 fibroblasts confirmed the cytocompatibility of the construct preparation process. Interestingly, the Young's moduli of extruded and molded constructs were not different, but extruded constructs did show increases in both the rate and extent of time-dependent mechanical behavior observed in creep. Despite similar polymer densities, extruded hydrogels showed greater swelling over time compared to molded hydrogels, suggesting that differences in creep behavior derived from differences in microstructure and fluid flow. Because of the crucial roles of time-dependent mechanical properties, fluid flow, and swelling properties on tissue and cell behavior, these findings highlight the need for greater consideration of the effects of the extrusion process on hydrogel properties. PMID:27550945

Switching speeds in NCAP displays: dependence on collection angle and wavelength

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reamey, Robert H.; Montoya, Wayne; Wartenberg, Mark

1991-06-01

The on and off switching speeds of nematic droplet-polymer films (NCAP) are shown to depend on the collection angle (f/#) and the wavelength of the light used in the measurement. Conventional twisted nematic liquid crystal displays have switching speeds which depend little on these factors. The switching speed dependence on collection angle (f/#) and wavelength for nematic droplet-polymer films is inherent to the mechanism by which light is modulated in these films. This mechanism is the scattering of light by the nematic droplets. The on times become faster and the off times become slower as the collection angle of detection is increased. The overall change in switching speed can be large. Greater than 100X changes in off time have been observed. As the wavelength of the light used to interrogate the sample is increased (blue yields green yields red) the on times become faster and the off times become slower. This dependence of switching speed on wavelength is apparent at all collection angles. An awareness of these effects is necessary when developing nematic droplet-polymer films for display applications and when comparing switching speed data from different sources.

Dependence of Brownian and Néel relaxation times on magnetic field strength

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Deissler, Robert J., E-mail: rjd42@case.edu; Wu, Yong; Martens, Michael A.

2014-01-15

Purpose: In magnetic particle imaging (MPI) and magnetic particle spectroscopy (MPS) the relaxation time of the magnetization in response to externally applied magnetic fields is determined by the Brownian and Néel relaxation mechanisms. Here the authors investigate the dependence of the relaxation times on the magnetic field strength and the implications for MPI and MPS. Methods: The Fokker–Planck equation with Brownian relaxation and the Fokker–Planck equation with Néel relaxation are solved numerically for a time-varying externally applied magnetic field, including a step-function, a sinusoidally varying, and a linearly ramped magnetic field. For magnetic fields that are applied as a stepmore » function, an eigenvalue approach is used to directly calculate both the Brownian and Néel relaxation times for a range of magnetic field strengths. For Néel relaxation, the eigenvalue calculations are compared to Brown's high-barrier approximation formula. Results: The relaxation times due to the Brownian or Néel mechanisms depend on the magnitude of the applied magnetic field. In particular, the Néel relaxation time is sensitive to the magnetic field strength, and varies by many orders of magnitude for nanoparticle properties and magnetic field strengths relevant for MPI and MPS. Therefore, the well-known zero-field relaxation times underestimate the actual relaxation times and, in particular, can underestimate the Néel relaxation time by many orders of magnitude. When only Néel relaxation is present—if the particles are embedded in a solid for instance—the authors found that there can be a strong magnetization response to a sinusoidal driving field, even if the period is much less than the zero-field relaxation time. For a ferrofluid in which both Brownian and Néel relaxation are present, only one relaxation mechanism may dominate depending on the magnetic field strength, the driving frequency (or ramp time), and the phase of the magnetization relative to the applied magnetic field. Conclusions: A simple treatment of Néel relaxation using the common zero-field relaxation time overestimates the relaxation time of the magnetization in situations relevant for MPI and MPS. For sinusoidally driven (or ramped) systems, whether or not a particular relaxation mechanism dominates or is even relevant depends on the magnetic field strength, the frequency (or ramp time), and the phase of the magnetization relative to the applied magnetic field.« less

Framework flexibility of ZIF-8 under liquid intrusion: discovering time-dependent mechanical response and structural relaxation.

PubMed

Sun, Yueting; Li, Yibing; Tan, Jin-Chong

2018-04-18

The structural flexibility of a topical zeolitic imidazolate framework with sodalite topology, termed ZIF-8, has been elucidated through liquid intrusion under moderate pressures (i.e. tens of MPa). By tracking the evolution of water intrusion pressure under cyclic conditions, we interrogate the role of the gate-opening mechanism controlling the size variation of the pore channels of ZIF-8. Interestingly, we demonstrate that its channel deformation is recoverable through structural relaxation over time, hence revealing the viscoelastic mechanical response in ZIF-8. We propose a simple approach employing a glycerol-water solution mixture, which can significantly enhance the sensitivity of intrusion pressure for the detection of structural deformation in ZIF-8. By leveraging the time-dependent gate-opening phenomenon in ZIF-8, we achieved a notable improvement (50%) in energy dissipation during multicycle mechanical deformation experiments.

Time-Dependent Fatigue Crack Propagation Behavior of Two Solid-Solution-Strengthened Ni-Based Superalloys—INCONEL 617 and HAYNES 230

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, Longzhou; Roy, Shawoon K.; Hasan, Muhammad H.; Pal, Joydeep; Chatterjee, Sudin

2012-02-01

The fatigue crack propagation (FCP) as well as the sustained loading crack growth (SLCG) behavior of two solid-solution-strengthened Ni-based superalloys, INCONEL 617 (Special Metals Corporation Family of Companies) and HAYNES 230 (Haynes International, Inc., Kokomo, IN), were studied at increased temperatures in laboratory air under a constant stress-intensity-factor ( K) condition. The crack propagation tests were conducted using a baseline cyclic triangular waveform with a frequency of 1/3 Hz. Various hold times were imposed at the maximum load of a fatigue cycle to study the hold time effect. The results show that a linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) parameter, stress intensity factor ( K), is sufficient to describe the FCP and SLCG behavior at the testing temperatures ranging from 873 K to 1073 K (600 °C to 800 °C). As observed in the precipitation-strengthened superalloys, both INCONEL 617 and HAYNES 230 exhibited the time-dependent FCP, steady SLCG behavior, and existence of a damage zone ahead of crack tip. A thermodynamic equation was adapted to correlate the SLCG rates to determine thermal activation energy. The fracture modes associated with crack propagation behavior were discussed, and the mechanism of time-dependent FCP as well as SLCG was identified. Compared with INCONEL 617, the lower crack propagation rates of HAYNES 230 under the time-dependent condition were ascribed to the different fracture mode and the presence of numerous W-rich M6C-type and Cr-rich M23C6-type carbides. Toward the end, a phenomenological model was employed to correlate the FCP rates at cycle/time-dependent FCP domain. All the results suggest that an environmental factor, the stress assisted grain boundary oxygen embrittlement (SAGBOE) mechanism, is mainly responsible for the accelerated time-dependent FCP rates of INCONEL 617 and HAYNES 230.

Time-dependent Fracture Behaviour of Polyampholyte Hydrogels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Tao Lin; Luo, Feng; Nakajima, Tasuku; Kurokawa, Takayuki; Gong, Jian Ping

Recently, we report that polyampholytes, polymers bearing randomly dispersed cationic and anionic repeat groups, form tough and self-healing hydrogels with excellent multiple mechanical functions. The randomness makes ionic bonds with a wide distribution of strength, via inter and intra chain complexation. As the breaking and reforming of ionic bonds are time dependent, the hydrogels exhibit rate dependent mechanical behaviour. We systematically studied the tearing energy by tearing test with various tearing velocity under different temperature, and the linear viscoelastic behaviour over a wide range of frequency and temperature. Results have shown that the tearing energy markedly increase with the crack velocity and decrease with the measured temperature. In accordance with the prediction of Williams, Landel, and Ferry (WLF) rate-temperature equivalence, a master curve of tearing energy dependence of crack velocity can be well constructed using the same shift factor from the linear viscoelastic data. The scaling relation of tearing energy as a function of crack velocity can be predicted well by the rheological data according to the developed linear fracture mechanics.

Seismicity in a model governed by competing frictional weakening and healing mechanisms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hillers, G.; Carlson, J. M.; Archuleta, R. J.

2009-09-01

Observations from laboratory, field and numerical work spanning a wide range of space and time scales suggest a strain dependent progressive evolution of material properties that control the stability of earthquake faults. The associated weakening mechanisms are counterbalanced by a variety of restrengthening mechanisms. The efficiency of the healing processes depends on local material properties and on rheologic, temperature, and hydraulic conditions. We investigate the relative effects of these competing non-linear feedbacks on seismogenesis in the context of evolving frictional properties, using a mechanical earthquake model that is governed by slip weakening friction. Weakening and strengthening mechanisms are parametrized by the evolution of the frictional control variable-the slip weakening rate R-using empirical relationships obtained from laboratory experiments. In our model, weakening depends on the slip of an earthquake and tends to increase R, following the behaviour of real and simulated frictional interfaces. Healing causes R to decrease and depends on the time passed since the last slip. Results from models with these competing feedbacks are compared with simulations using non-evolving friction. Compared to fixed R conditions, evolving properties result in a significantly increased variability in the system dynamics. We find that for a given set of weakening parameters the resulting seismicity patterns are sensitive to details of the restrengthening process, such as the healing rate b and a lower cutoff time, tc, up to which no significant change in the friction parameter is observed. For relatively large and small cutoff times, the statistics are typical of fixed large and small R values, respectively. However, a wide range of intermediate values leads to significant fluctuations in the internal energy levels. The frequency-size statistics of earthquake occurrence show corresponding non-stationary characteristics on time scales over which negligible fluctuations are observed in the fixed-R case. The progressive evolution implies that-except for extreme weakening and healing rates-faults and fault networks possibly are not well characterized by steady states on typical catalogue time scales, thus highlighting the essential role of memory and history dependence in seismogenesis. The results suggest that an extrapolation to future seismicity occurrence based on temporally limited data may be misleading due to variability in seismicity patterns associated with competing mechanisms that affect fault stability.

Ethylene regulates Apple (Malus x domestica) fruit softening through a dose x time-dependent mechanism and through differential sensitivities and dependencies of cell wall-modifying genes.

PubMed

Ireland, Hilary S; Gunaseelan, Kularajathevan; Muddumage, Ratnasiri; Tacken, Emma J; Putterill, Jo; Johnston, Jason W; Schaffer, Robert J

2014-05-01

In fleshy fruit species that have a strong requirement for ethylene to ripen, ethylene is synthesized autocatalytically, producing increasing concentrations as the fruits ripen. Apple fruit with the ACC OXIDASE 1 (ACO1) gene suppressed cannot produce ethylene autocatalytically at ripening. Using these apple lines, an ethylene sensitivity dependency model was previously proposed, with traits such as softening showing a high dependency for ethylene as well as low sensitivity. In this study, it is shown that the molecular control of fruit softening is a complex process, with different cell wall-related genes being independently regulated and exhibiting differential sensitivities to and dependencies on ethylene at the transcriptional level. This regulation is controlled through a dose × time mechanism, which results in a temporal transcriptional response that would allow for progressive cell wall disassembly and thus softening. This research builds on the sensitivity dependency model and shows that ethylene-dependent traits can progress over time to the same degree with lower levels of ethylene. This suggests that a developmental clock measuring cumulative ethylene controls the fruit ripening process.

Time to rethink the neural mechanisms of learning and memory

PubMed Central

Gallistel, Charles R.; Balsam, Peter D

2014-01-01

Most studies in the neurobiology of learning assume that the underlying learning process is a pairing – dependent change in synaptic strength that requires repeated experience of events presented in close temporal contiguity. However, much learning is rapid and does not depend on temporal contiguity which has never been precisely defined. These points are well illustrated by studies showing that temporal relationships between events are rapidly learned-even over long delays- and this knowledge governs the form and timing of behavior. The speed with which anticipatory responses emerge in conditioning paradigms is determined by the information that cues provide about the timing of rewards. The challenge for understanding the neurobiology of learning is to understand the mechanisms in the nervous system that encode information from even a single experience, the nature of the memory mechanisms that can encode quantities such as time, and how the brain can flexibly perform computations based on this information. PMID:24309167

Psychopathological symptoms, defense mechanisms and time perspectives among subjects with alcohol dependence (AD) presenting different patterns of coping with stress.

PubMed

Iwanicka, Katarzyna; Gerhant, Aneta; Olajossy, Marcin

2017-01-01

The problem of coping with stress is an important one in the context of development and persistence of alcohol dependence. In the literature to date very little attention has been paid to coping patterns construed as a configuration of specific coping styles, particularly as regards the functioning of addicted individuals. The aim of the study was to verify whether individuals with alcohol dependence characterized by different coping patterns differ with respect to the severity of psychopathological symptoms, defense mechanisms and time perspectives. Participants were given a battery of psychological tests-Coping Inventory for Stresfull Situations (CISS), Defense Style Questionnaire (DSQ 40), Syndrom Checklist (SCL-90) and Short Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (SZPTI-PL). The sample comprised 112 individuals with alcohol dependence, aged 20 to 63 years old, the average age was 37.86; 78 percent were men. There were identified three sub-groups of individuals characterized by a distinctive patterns of coping with stress -"emotional-avoidant", "task oriented" and a "mixed one". Individuals with the predominant emotional-avoidant coping pattern are characterized by significantly higher severity of psychopathological symptoms, less mature defense mechanisms and past time perspectives. Subjects reliant on task-oriented coping pattern were characterized by the highest level of adaptation and the most constructive way of functioning in the face of difficulties. It is worth regarding the examination of patterns of coping as an indispensable element of collecting medical history from alcohol dependent individuals.

Suggestion of a Numerical Model for the Blood Glucose Adjustment with Ingesting a Food

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamamoto, Naokatsu; Takai, Hiroshi

In this study, we present a numerical model of the time dependence of blood glucose value after ingesting a meal. Two numerical models are proposed in this paper to explain a digestion mechanism and an adjustment mechanism of blood glucose in the body, respectively. It is considered that models are exhibited by using simple equations with a transfer function and a block diagram. Additionally, the time dependence of blood glucose was measured, when subjects ingested a sucrose or a starch. As a result, it is clear that the calculated result of models using a computer can be fitted very well to the measured result of the time dependence of blood glucose. Therefore, it is considered that the digestion model and the adjustment model are useful models in order to estimate a blood glucose value after ingesting meals.

Subcritical crack growth and other time- and environment-dependent behavior in crustal rocks

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Swanson, P. L.

1984-01-01

Stable crack growth strongly influences both the fracture strength of brittle rocks and some of the phenomena precursory to catastrophic failure. Quantification of the time and environment dependence of fracture propagation is attempted with the use of a fracture mechanics technique. Some of the difficulties encountered when applying techniques originally developed for simple synthetic materials to complex materials like rocks are examined. A picture of subcritical fracture propagation is developed that embraces the essential ingredients of the microstructure, a microcrack process zone, and the different roles that the environment plays. To do this, the results of (1) fracture mechanics experiments on five rock types, (2) optical and scanning electron microscopy, (3) studies of microstructural aspects of fracture in ceramics, and (4) exploratory tests examining the time-dependent response of rock to the application of water are examined.

Functional differentiability in time-dependent quantum mechanics.

PubMed

Penz, Markus; Ruggenthaler, Michael

2015-03-28

In this work, we investigate the functional differentiability of the time-dependent many-body wave function and of derived quantities with respect to time-dependent potentials. For properly chosen Banach spaces of potentials and wave functions, Fréchet differentiability is proven. From this follows an estimate for the difference of two solutions to the time-dependent Schrödinger equation that evolve under the influence of different potentials. Such results can be applied directly to the one-particle density and to bounded operators, and present a rigorous formulation of non-equilibrium linear-response theory where the usual Lehmann representation of the linear-response kernel is not valid. Further, the Fréchet differentiability of the wave function provides a new route towards proving basic properties of time-dependent density-functional theory.

Two Coincidence Detectors for Spike Timing-Dependent Plasticity in Somatosensory Cortex

PubMed Central

Bender, Vanessa A.; Bender, Kevin J.; Brasier, Daniel J.; Feldman, Daniel E.

2011-01-01

Many cortical synapses exhibit spike timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) in which the precise timing of presynaptic and postsynaptic spikes induces synaptic strengthening [long-term potentiation (LTP)] or weakening [long-term depression (LTD)]. Standard models posit a single, postsynaptic, NMDA receptor-based coincidence detector for LTP and LTD components of STDP. We show instead that STDP at layer 4 to layer 2/3 synapses in somatosensory (S1) cortex involves separate calcium sources and coincidence detection mechanisms for LTP and LTD. LTP showed classical NMDA receptor dependence. LTD was independent of postsynaptic NMDA receptors and instead required group I metabotropic glutamate receptors and calcium from voltage-sensitive channels and IP3 receptor-gated stores. Downstream of postsynaptic calcium, LTD required retrograde endocannabinoid signaling, leading to presynaptic LTD expression, and also required activation of apparently presynaptic NMDA receptors. These LTP and LTD mechanisms detected firing coincidence on ~25 and ~125 ms time scales, respectively, and combined to implement the overall STDP rule. These findings indicate that STDP is not a unitary process and suggest that endocannabinoid-dependent LTD may be relevant to cortical map plasticity. PMID:16624937

Learning complex temporal patterns with resource-dependent spike timing-dependent plasticity.

PubMed

Hunzinger, Jason F; Chan, Victor H; Froemke, Robert C

2012-07-01

Studies of spike timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) have revealed that long-term changes in the strength of a synapse may be modulated substantially by temporal relationships between multiple presynaptic and postsynaptic spikes. Whereas long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD) of synaptic strength have been modeled as distinct or separate functional mechanisms, here, we propose a new shared resource model. A functional consequence of our model is fast, stable, and diverse unsupervised learning of temporal multispike patterns with a biologically consistent spiking neural network. Due to interdependencies between LTP and LTD, dendritic delays, and proactive homeostatic aspects of the model, neurons are equipped to learn to decode temporally coded information within spike bursts. Moreover, neurons learn spike timing with few exposures in substantial noise and jitter. Surprisingly, despite having only one parameter, the model also accurately predicts in vitro observations of STDP in more complex multispike trains, as well as rate-dependent effects. We discuss candidate commonalities in natural long-term plasticity mechanisms.

Dynamics of valley pseudospin in single-layer WSe2. Inter-valley scattering mediated by electron-phonon interaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Molina-Sanchez, Alejandro; Sangalli, Davide; Wirtz, Ludger; Marini, Andrea

In a time-dependent Kerr experiment a circularly polarized laser field is used to selectively populate the K+/- electronic valleys of single-layer WSe2. This carrier population corresponds to a finite pseudospin polarization that dictates the valleytronic properties of WSe2, but whose decay mechanism still remains largely debated. Time-dependent Kerr experiments provide an accurate way to visualize the pseudospin dynamics by measuring the rotation of a linearly polarized probe pulse applied after a circularly polarized and short pump pulse. We present here a clear, accurate and parameter-free description of the valley pseudospin dynamics in single-layer WSe2. By using an ab-initio approach we solve unambiguously the long standing debate about the dominant mechanism that drives the valley depolarization. Our results are in excellent agreement with recent time-dependent Kerr experiments. The decay dynamics and peculiar temperature dependence is explained in terms of electron phonon mediated processes that induce spin-flip inter-valley transitions.

Watching excitons move: the time-dependent transition density matrix

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ullrich, Carsten

2012-02-01

Time-dependent density-functional theory allows one to calculate excitation energies and the associated transition densities in principle exactly. The transition density matrix (TDM) provides additional information on electron-hole localization and coherence of specific excitations of the many-body system. We have extended the TDM concept into the real-time domain in order to visualize the excited-state dynamics in conjugated molecules. The time-dependent TDM is defined as an implicit density functional, and can be approximately obtained from the time-dependent Kohn-Sham orbitals. The quality of this approximation is assessed in simple model systems. A computational scheme for real molecular systems is presented: the time-dependent Kohn-Sham equations are solved with the OCTOPUS code and the time-dependent Kohn-Sham TDM is calculated using a spatial partitioning scheme. The method is applied to show in real time how locally created electron-hole pairs spread out over neighboring conjugated molecular chains. The coupling mechanism, electron-hole coherence, and the possibility of charge separation are discussed.

Time-dependent chemo-electro-mechanical behavior of hydrogel-based structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leichsenring, Peter; Wallmersperger, Thomas

2018-03-01

Charged hydrogels are ionic polymer gels and belong to the class of smart materials. These gels are multiphasic materials which consist of a solid phase, a fluid phase and an ionic phase. Due to the presence of bound charges these materials are stimuli-responsive to electrical or chemical loads. The application of electrical or chemical stimuli as well as mechanical loads lead to a viscoelastic response. On the macroscopic scale, the response is governed by a local reversible release or absorption of water which, in turn, leads to a local decrease or increase of mass and a respective volume change. Furthermore, the chemo-electro-mechanical equilibrium of a hydrogel depends on the chemical composition of the gel and the surrounding solution bath. Due to the presence of bound charges in the hydrogel, this system can be understood as an osmotic cell where differences in the concentration of mobile ions in the gel and solution domain lead to an osmotic pressure difference. In the present work, a continuum-based numerical model is presented in order to describe the time-dependent swelling behavior of hydrogels. The numerical model is based on the Theory of Porous Media and captures the fluid-solid, fluid-ion and ion-ion interactions. As a direct consequence of the chemo-electro-mechanical equilibrium, the corresponding boundary conditions are defined following the equilibrium conditions. For the interaction of the hydrogel with surrounding mechanical structures, also respective jump condtions are formulated. Finaly, numerical results of the time-dependent behavior of a hydrogel-based chemo-sensor will be presented.

[Psychological time, definition and challenges].

PubMed

Droit-Volet, Sylvie

2012-10-01

Psychological time comprises different forms of time. Each form of time corresponds to different psychological mechanisms. The human being is subject to distortions of time under the effect of emotions. The effectiveness of social interaction depends on our aptitude to synchronise ourselves with others.

Difference between electrostriction kinetics, and mechanical response of segmented polyurethane-based EAP

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jomaa, M. H.; Seveyrat, L.; Perrin, V.; Lebrun, L.; Masenelli-Varlot, K.; Diguet, Gildas; Cavaille, J. Y.

2017-03-01

Among the key parameters, which must be taken into account for the choice of actuators used as electrical to mechanical energy converters, the response to a step function and/or the frequency dependence of this response is extremely important. For polymeric actuators and more generally for electroactive polymers, three mechanisms can be at the origin of energy losses, namely dielectric relaxations, viscoelastic relaxations and possible electrical conductivity. In a previous paper, we studied the electrical behavior of segmented polyurethanes with different weight fractions of hard (MDI-BDO) and soft (PTMO) segments. They were shown to exhibit three main mechanisms, namely, from the fastest to the slowest, a secondary or β-relaxation, the main or α-relaxation associated with the glass-rubber transition of the soft phase, and finally, their electrical conductivity. In the present work, we present the general viscoelastic response (as measured through mechanical spectrometry) of the same polyurethanes and their respective time dependent electrostriction responses, and compare it with the relaxation characteristic times of electrical and mechanical spectroscopy data.

Nonlinear Riccati equations as a unifying link between linear quantum mechanics and other fields of physics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schuch, Dieter

2014-04-01

Theoretical physics seems to be in a kind of schizophrenic state. Many phenomena in the observable macroscopic world obey nonlinear evolution equations, whereas the microscopic world is governed by quantum mechanics, a fundamental theory that is supposedly linear. In order to combine these two worlds in a common formalism, at least one of them must sacrifice one of its dogmas. I claim that linearity in quantum mechanics is not as essential as it apparently seems since quantum mechanics can be reformulated in terms of nonlinear Riccati equations. In a first step, it will be shown where complex Riccati equations appear in time-dependent quantum mechanics and how they can be treated and compared with similar space-dependent Riccati equations in supersymmetric quantum mechanics. Furthermore, the time-independent Schrödinger equation can also be rewritten as a complex Riccati equation. Finally, it will be shown that (real and complex) Riccati equations also appear in many other fields of physics, like statistical thermodynamics and cosmology.

Contact geometry and quantum mechanics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Herczeg, Gabriel; Waldron, Andrew

2018-06-01

We present a generally covariant approach to quantum mechanics in which generalized positions, momenta and time variables are treated as coordinates on a fundamental "phase-spacetime". We show that this covariant starting point makes quantization into a purely geometric flatness condition. This makes quantum mechanics purely geometric, and possibly even topological. Our approach is especially useful for time-dependent problems and systems subject to ambiguities in choices of clock or observer. As a byproduct, we give a derivation and generalization of the Wigner functions of standard quantum mechanics.

Reversible and Irreversible Time-Dependent Behavior of GRCop-84

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lerch, Bradley A.; Arnold, Steven M.; Ellis, David L.

2017-01-01

A series of mechanical tests were conducted on a high-conductivity copper alloy, GRCop-84, in order to understand the time dependent response of this material. Tensile, creep, and stress relaxation tests were performed over a wide range of temperatures, strain rates, and stress levels to excite various amounts of time-dependent behavior. At low applied stresses the deformation behavior was found to be fully reversible. Above a certain stress, termed the viscoelastic threshold, irreversible deformation was observed. At these higher stresses the deformation was observed to be viscoplastic. Both reversible and irreversible regions contained time dependent deformation. These experimental data are documented to enable characterization of constitutive models to aid in design of high temperature components.

Concentration dependent switch in the kinetic pathway of lysozyme fibrillation: Spectroscopic and microscopic analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kiran Kumar, E.; Prasad, Deepak Kumar; Prakash Prabhu, N.

2017-08-01

Formation of amyloid fibrils is found to be a general tendency of many proteins. Investigating the kinetic mechanisms and structural features of the intermediates and the final fibrillar state is essential to understand their role in amyloid diseases. Lysozyme, a notable model protein for amyloidogenic studies, readily formed fibrils in vitro at neutral pH in the presence of urea. It, however, showed two different kinetic pathways under varying urea concentrations when probed with thioflavin T (ThT) fluorescence. In 2 M urea, lysozyme followed a nucleation-dependent fibril formation pathway which was not altered by varying the protein concentration from 2 mg/ml to 8 mg/ml. In 4 M urea, the protein exhibited concentration dependent change in the mechanism. At lower protein concentrations, lysozyme formed fibrils without any detectable nuclei (nucleation-independent polymerization pathway). When the concentration of the protein was increased above 3 mg/ml, the protein followed nucleation-dependent polymerization pathway as observed in the case of 2 M urea condition. This was further verified using microscopic images of the fibrils. The kinetic parameters such as lag time, elongation rate, and fibrillation half-time, which were derived from ThT fluorescence changes, showed linear dependency against the initial protein concentration suggested that under the nucleation-dependent pathway conditions, the protein followed primary-nucleation mechanism without any significant secondary nucleation events. The results also suggested that the differences in the initial protein conformation might alter the mechanism of fibrillation; however, at the higher protein concentrations lysozyme shifted to nucleation-dependent pathway.

The effects of nitric oxide synthase inhibitors on the sedative effect of clonidine.

PubMed

Soares de Moura, R; Rios, A A; de Oliveira, L F; Resende, A C; de Lemos Neto, M; Santos, E J; Correia, M L; Tano, T

2001-11-01

The mechanism underlying the Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro sedative effect of clonidine, an alpha2-adrenoceptor agonist, remains uncertain. Because activation of alpha2-adrenoceptors induces release of nitric oxide (NO), we tested the hypothesis that the sedative effect of clonidine depends on NO-related mechanisms. The effect of 7-nitro indazole on the sleeping time induced by clonidine was studied in Wistar rats. In addition, we examined the effect of clonidine, alpha-methyldopa, and midazolam on the thiopental-induced sleeping time in rats pretreated with N(G)-nitro-L-arginine-methyl-ester (L-NAME). The sleeping time induced by clonidine was significantly decreased by 7-nitro indazole. Thiopental sleeping time was increased by clonidine, alpha-methyldopa, and midazolam. L-NAME reduced the prolongation effect of clonidine and alpha-methyldopa, but did not alter the effect of midazolam on the thiopental-induced sleeping time. The inhibitory effect of L-NAME on clonidine-dependent prolongation of thiopental-induced sleeping time was reversed by L-arginine. These results suggest that NO-dependent mechanisms are involved in the sedative effect of clonidine. In addition, this effect seems to be specific for the sedative action of alpha2-adrenoceptors agonists. Clonidine, an antihypertensive drug, is also a sedative. This sedative effect, although an adverse event in the treatment of hypertensive patients, can be helpful for sedation of surgical patients. The mechanism of this effect, however, is unknown. In this study, we show that the sedative effect of clonidine is mediated by nitric oxide, because it could be prevented by pretreatment with nitric oxide synthase inhibitors.

Quantum work statistics of charged Dirac particles in time-dependent fields

DOE PAGES

Deffner, Sebastian; Saxena, Avadh

2015-09-28

The quantum Jarzynski equality is an important theorem of modern quantum thermodynamics. We show that the Jarzynski equality readily generalizes to relativistic quantum mechanics described by the Dirac equation. After establishing the conceptual framework we solve a pedagogical, yet experimentally relevant, system analytically. As a main result we obtain the exact quantum work distributions for charged particles traveling through a time-dependent vector potential evolving under Schrödinger as well as under Dirac dynamics, and for which the Jarzynski equality is verified. Thus, special emphasis is put on the conceptual and technical subtleties arising from relativistic quantum mechanics.

Time-dependent first-principles study of angle-resolved secondary electron emission from atomic sheets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ueda, Yoshihiro; Suzuki, Yasumitsu; Watanabe, Kazuyuki

2018-02-01

Angle-resolved secondary electron emission (ARSEE) spectra were analyzed for two-dimensional atomic sheets using a time-dependent first-principles simulation of electron scattering. We demonstrate that the calculated ARSEE spectra capture the unoccupied band structure of the atomic sheets. The excitation dynamics that lead to SEE have also been revealed by the time-dependent Kohn-Sham decomposition scheme. In the present study, the mechanism for the experimentally observed ARSEE from atomic sheets is elucidated with respect to both energetics and the dynamical aspects of SEE.

A comment on Baker et al. 'The time dependence of an atom-vacancy encounter due to the vacancy mechanism of diffusion'

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dasenbrock-Gammon, Nathan; Zacate, Matthew O.

2017-05-01

Baker et al. derived time-dependent expressions for calculating average number of jumps per encounter and displacement probabilities for vacancy diffusion in crystal lattice systems with infinitesimal vacancy concentrations. As shown in this work, their formulation is readily expanded to include finite vacancy concentration, which allows calculation of concentration-dependent, time-averaged quantities. This is useful because it provides a computationally efficient method to express lineshapes of nuclear spectroscopic techniques through the use of stochastic fluctuation models.

Emergence of Slow Collective Oscillations in Neural Networks with Spike-Timing Dependent Plasticity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mikkelsen, Kaare; Imparato, Alberto; Torcini, Alessandro

2013-05-01

The collective dynamics of excitatory pulse coupled neurons with spike-timing dependent plasticity is studied. The introduction of spike-timing dependent plasticity induces persistent irregular oscillations between strongly and weakly synchronized states, reminiscent of brain activity during slow-wave sleep. We explain the oscillations by a mechanism, the Sisyphus Effect, caused by a continuous feedback between the synaptic adjustments and the coherence in the neural firing. Due to this effect, the synaptic weights have oscillating equilibrium values, and this prevents the system from relaxing into a stationary macroscopic state.

Information transport in classical statistical systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wetterich, C.

2018-02-01

For "static memory materials" the bulk properties depend on boundary conditions. Such materials can be realized by classical statistical systems which admit no unique equilibrium state. We describe the propagation of information from the boundary to the bulk by classical wave functions. The dependence of wave functions on the location of hypersurfaces in the bulk is governed by a linear evolution equation that can be viewed as a generalized Schrödinger equation. Classical wave functions obey the superposition principle, with local probabilities realized as bilinears of wave functions. For static memory materials the evolution within a subsector is unitary, as characteristic for the time evolution in quantum mechanics. The space-dependence in static memory materials can be used as an analogue representation of the time evolution in quantum mechanics - such materials are "quantum simulators". For example, an asymmetric Ising model on a Euclidean two-dimensional lattice represents the time evolution of free relativistic fermions in two-dimensional Minkowski space.

[Effect of rhynchophylline on behaviors of methamphetamine-dependent zebrafish and the mechanism].

PubMed

Chen, Yi-Fei; Peng, Ju; Fang, Miao; Liu, Yi; Nie, Ling-Hui; Mo, Zhi-Xian; Zhu, Ling-Ling

2016-11-20

To observe the effect of rhynchophylline on methamphetamine-dependent zebrafish and explore the possible mechanism. Zebrafish were divided into control group, amphetamine group, low- (50 mg/kg) and high (100 mg/kg)-dose rhynchophylline groups, and ketamine (150 mg/kg) group. Conditioned place preference (CPP) was induced in zebrafish with methamphetamine, and the staying time in the drug box and the tracking map of the zebrafish were observed with Noldus Ethovision XT system. The protein expressions of TH, NR2B and GLUR2 in the brain of zebrafish with CPP were detected with Western blotting. Compared with the control group, zebrafish in methamphetamine group showed significant variations in the staying time and swimming distance in the drug box after conditioning (P<0.05) with obvious alterations of NR2B, TH and GLUR2 expressions in the brain (P<0.05). Treatment of methamphetamine-dependent zebrafish with high-dose rhynchophylline significantly reduced the variations in the staying time and swimming distance in the drug box (P<0.05) and in the expressions of NR2B, TH and GLUR2 in the brain (P<0.05). Rhynchophylline can inhibit methamphetamine dependence in zebrafish, the mechanism of which may involve the expressions of TH, NR2B and GLUR2 proteins in the brain.

Quantum rings in magnetic fields and spin current generation.

PubMed

Cini, Michele; Bellucci, Stefano

2014-04-09

We propose three different mechanisms for pumping spin-polarized currents in a ballistic circuit using a time-dependent magnetic field acting on an asymmetrically connected quantum ring at half filling. The first mechanism works thanks to a rotating magnetic field and produces an alternating current with a partial spin polarization. The second mechanism works by rotating the ring in a constant field; like the former case, it produces an alternating charge current, but the spin current is dc. Both methods do not require a spin-orbit interaction to achieve the polarized current, but the rotating ring could be used to measure the spin-orbit interaction in the ring using characteristic oscillations. On the other hand, the last mechanism that we propose depends on the spin-orbit interaction in an essential way, and requires a time-dependent magnetic field in the plane of the ring. This arrangement can be designed to pump a purely spin current. The absence of a charge current is demonstrated analytically. Moreover, a simple formula for the current is derived and compared with the numerical results.

Density-dependent liquid nitromethane decomposition: molecular dynamics simulations based on ReaxFF.

PubMed

Rom, Naomi; Zybin, Sergey V; van Duin, Adri C T; Goddard, William A; Zeiri, Yehuda; Katz, Gil; Kosloff, Ronnie

2011-09-15

The decomposition mechanism of hot liquid nitromethane at various compressions was studied using reactive force field (ReaxFF) molecular dynamics simulations. A competition between two different initial thermal decomposition schemes is observed, depending on compression. At low densities, unimolecular C-N bond cleavage is the dominant route, producing CH(3) and NO(2) fragments. As density and pressure rise approaching the Chapman-Jouget detonation conditions (∼30% compression, >2500 K) the dominant mechanism switches to the formation of the CH(3)NO fragment via H-transfer and/or N-O bond rupture. The change in the decomposition mechanism of hot liquid NM leads to a different kinetic and energetic behavior, as well as products distribution. The calculated density dependence of the enthalpy change correlates with the change in initial decomposition reaction mechanism. It can be used as a convenient and useful global parameter for the detection of reaction dynamics. Atomic averaged local diffusion coefficients are shown to be sensitive to the reactions dynamics, and can be used to distinguish between time periods where chemical reactions occur and diffusion-dominated, nonreactive time periods. © 2011 American Chemical Society

Differential Time-Dependent Effects of Emotion on Recollective Experience and Memory for Contextual Information

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sharot, Tali; Yonelinas, Andrew P.

2008-01-01

Emotion has been suggested to slow forgetting via a mechanism that enhances memory consolidation. Here, we investigate whether this time dependent process influences the subjective experience of recollection as well as the ability to retrieve specific contextual details of the study event. To do so we examined recognition for emotional and neutral…

Crypto-Unitary Forms of Quantum Evolution Operators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Znojil, Miloslav

2013-06-01

The description of quantum evolution using unitary operator {u}(t)=exp(-i{h}t) requires that the underlying self-adjoint quantum Hamiltonian {h} remains time-independent. In a way extending the so called {PT}-symmetric quantum mechanics to the models with manifestly time-dependent "charge" {C}(t) we propose and describe an extension of such an exponential-operator approach to evolution to the manifestly time-dependent self-adjoint quantum Hamiltonians {h}(t).

Dielectric properties of classical and quantized ionic fluids.

PubMed

Høye, Johan S

2010-06-01

We study time-dependent correlation functions of classical and quantum gases using methods of equilibrium statistical mechanics for systems of uniform as well as nonuniform densities. The basis for our approach is the path integral formalism of quantum mechanical systems. With this approach the statistical mechanics of a quantum mechanical system becomes the equivalent of a classical polymer problem in four dimensions where imaginary time is the fourth dimension. Several nontrivial results for quantum systems have been obtained earlier by this analogy. Here, we will focus upon the presence of a time-dependent electromagnetic pair interaction where the electromagnetic vector potential that depends upon currents, will be present. Thus both density and current correlations are needed to evaluate the influence of this interaction. Then we utilize that densities and currents can be expressed by polarizations by which the ionic fluid can be regarded as a dielectric one for which a nonlocal susceptibility is found. This nonlocality has as a consequence that we find no contribution from a possible transverse electric zero-frequency mode for the Casimir force between metallic plates. Further, we establish expressions for a leading correction to ab initio calculations for the energies of the quantized electrons of molecules where now retardation effects also are taken into account.

Time-dependent Mechanisms in Beta-cell Glucose Sensing

PubMed Central

Vagn Korsgaard, Thomas

2006-01-01

The relation between plasma glucose and insulin release from pancreatic beta-cells is not stationary in the sense that a given glucose concentration leads to a specific rate of insulin secretion. A number of time-dependent mechanisms appear to exist that modify insulin release both on a short and a longer time scale. Typically, two phases are described. The first phase, lasting up to 10 min, is a pulse of insulin release in response to fast changes in glucose concentration. The second phase is a more steady increase of insulin release over minutes to hours, if the elevated glucose concentration is sustained. The paper describes the glucose sensing mechanism via the complex dynamics of the key enzyme glucokinase, which controls the first step in glucose metabolism: phosphorylation of glucose to glucose-6-phosphate. Three time-dependent phenomena (mechanisms) are described. The fastest, corresponding to the first phase, is a delayed negative feedback regulating the glucokinase activity. Due to the delay, a rapid glucose increase will cause a burst of activity in the glucose sensing system, before the glucokinase is down-regulated. The second mechanism corresponds to the translocation of glucokinase from an inactive to an active form. As the translocation is controlled by the product(s) of the glucokinase reaction rather than by the substrate glucose, this mechanism gives a positive, but saturable, feedback. Finally, the release of the insulin granules is assumed to be enhanced by previous glucose exposure, giving a so-called glucose memory to the beta-cells. The effect depends on the insulin release of the cells, and this mechanism constitutes a second positive, saturable feedback system. Taken together, the three phenomena describe most of the glucose sensing behaviour of the beta-cells. The results indicate that the insulin release is not a precise function of the plasma glucose concentration. It rather looks as if the beta-cells just increase the insulin production, until the plasma glucose has returned to normal. This type of integral control has the advantage that the precise glucose sensitivity of the beta-cells is not important for normal glucose homeostasis. PMID:19669468

Protocol dependence of mechanical properties in granular systems.

PubMed

Inagaki, S; Otsuki, M; Sasa, S

2011-11-01

We study the protocol dependence of the mechanical properties of granular media by means of computer simulations. We control a protocol of realizing disk packings in a systematic manner. In 2D, by keeping material properties of the constituents identical, we carry out compaction with various strain rates. The disk packings exhibit the strain rate dependence of the critical packing fraction above which the pressure becomes non-zero. The observed behavior contrasts with the well-studied jamming transitions for frictionless disk packings. We also observe that the elastic moduli of the disk packings depend on the strain rate logarithmically. Our results suggest that there exists a time-dependent state variable to describe macroscopic material properties of disk packings, which depend on its protocol.

High-throughput Analysis of Ultrasonication-forced Amyloid Fibrillation Reveals the Mechanism Underlying the Large Fluctuation in the Lag Time*

PubMed Central

Umemoto, Ayaka; Yagi, Hisashi; So, Masatomo; Goto, Yuji

2014-01-01

Amyloid fibrils form in supersaturated solutions of precursor proteins by a nucleation and growth mechanism characterized by a lag time. Although the lag time provides a clue to understanding the complexity of nucleation events, its long period and low reproducibility have been obstacles for exact analysis. Ultrasonication is known to effectively break supersaturation and force fibrillation. By constructing a Handai amyloid burst inducer, which combines a water bath-type ultrasonicator and a microplate reader, we examined the ultrasonication-forced fibrillation of several proteins, with a focus on the fluctuation in the lag time. Amyloid fibrillation of hen egg white lysozyme was examined at pH 2.0 in the presence of 1.0–5.0 M guanidine hydrochloride (GdnHCl), in which the dominant species varied from the native to denatured conformations. Although fibrillation occurred at various concentrations of GdnHCl, the lag time varied largely, with a minimum being observed at ∼3.0 m, the concentration at which GdnHCl-dependent denaturation ended. The coefficient of variation of the lag time did not depend significantly on the GdnHCl concentration and was 2-fold larger than that of the ultrasonication-dependent oxidation of iodide, a simple model reaction. These results suggest that the large fluctuation observed in the lag time for amyloid fibrillation originated from a process associated with a common amyloidogenic intermediate, which may have been a relatively compact denatured conformation. We also suggest that the Handai amyloid burst inducer system will be useful for studying the mechanism of crystallization of proteins because proteins form crystals by the same mechanism as amyloid fibrils under supersaturation. PMID:25118286

Mechanical coupling limits the density and quality of self-organized carbon nanotube growth

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bedewy, Mostafa; Hart, A. John

2013-03-01

Aligned carbon nanotube (CNT) structures are promising for many applications; however, as-grown CNT "forests" synthesized by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) are typically low-density and mostly comprise tortuous defective CNTs. Here, we present evidence that the density and alignment of self-organized CNT growth is limited by mechanical coupling among CNTs in contact, in combination with their diameter-dependent growth rates. This study is enabled by comprehensive X-ray characterization of the spatially and temporally-varying internal morphology of CNT forests. Based on this data, we model the time evolution and diameter-dependent scaling of the ensuing mechanical forces on catalyst nanoparticles during CNT growth, which arise from the mismatch between the collective lengthening rate of the forest and the diameter-dependent growth rates of individual CNTs. In addition to enabling self-organization of CNTs into forests, time-varying forces between CNTs in contact dictate the hierarchical tortuous morphology of CNT forests, and may be sufficient to influence the structural quality of CNTs. These forces reach a maximum that is coincident with the maximum density observed in our growth process, and are proportional to CNT diameter. Therefore, we propose that improved manufacturing strategies for self-organized CNTs should consider both chemical and mechanical effects. This may be especially necessary to achieve high density CNT forests with low defect density, such as for improved thermal interfaces and high-permeability membranes.Aligned carbon nanotube (CNT) structures are promising for many applications; however, as-grown CNT "forests" synthesized by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) are typically low-density and mostly comprise tortuous defective CNTs. Here, we present evidence that the density and alignment of self-organized CNT growth is limited by mechanical coupling among CNTs in contact, in combination with their diameter-dependent growth rates. This study is enabled by comprehensive X-ray characterization of the spatially and temporally-varying internal morphology of CNT forests. Based on this data, we model the time evolution and diameter-dependent scaling of the ensuing mechanical forces on catalyst nanoparticles during CNT growth, which arise from the mismatch between the collective lengthening rate of the forest and the diameter-dependent growth rates of individual CNTs. In addition to enabling self-organization of CNTs into forests, time-varying forces between CNTs in contact dictate the hierarchical tortuous morphology of CNT forests, and may be sufficient to influence the structural quality of CNTs. These forces reach a maximum that is coincident with the maximum density observed in our growth process, and are proportional to CNT diameter. Therefore, we propose that improved manufacturing strategies for self-organized CNTs should consider both chemical and mechanical effects. This may be especially necessary to achieve high density CNT forests with low defect density, such as for improved thermal interfaces and high-permeability membranes. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Detailed description of the cold-wall CVD reactor used for growing CNTs; fitting the diameter-dependent model-predicted CNT growth kinetics; time evolution of compressive stresses as a function of CNT diameter; time evolution of the diameter dependent variations in CNT number density; cumulative forest mass kinetics normalized to the number of CNTs. See DOI: 10.1039/c3nr34067h

Time to rethink the neural mechanisms of learning and memory.

PubMed

Gallistel, Charles R; Balsam, Peter D

2014-02-01

Most studies in the neurobiology of learning assume that the underlying learning process is a pairing - dependent change in synaptic strength that requires repeated experience of events presented in close temporal contiguity. However, much learning is rapid and does not depend on temporal contiguity, which has never been precisely defined. These points are well illustrated by studies showing that the temporal relations between events are rapidly learned- even over long delays- and that this knowledge governs the form and timing of behavior. The speed with which anticipatory responses emerge in conditioning paradigms is determined by the information that cues provide about the timing of rewards. The challenge for understanding the neurobiology of learning is to understand the mechanisms in the nervous system that encode information from even a single experience, the nature of the memory mechanisms that can encode quantities such as time, and how the brain can flexibly perform computations based on this information. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Physical mechanisms of timing jitter in photon detection by current-carrying superconducting nanowires

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sidorova, Mariia; Semenov, Alexej; Hübers, Heinz-Wilhelm; Charaev, Ilya; Kuzmin, Artem; Doerner, Steffen; Siegel, Michael

2017-11-01

We studied timing jitter in the appearance of photon counts in meandering nanowires with different fractional amount of bends. Intrinsic timing jitter, which is the probability density function of the random time delay between photon absorption in current-carrying superconducting nanowire and appearance of the normal domain, reveals two different underlying physical mechanisms. In the deterministic regime, which is realized at large photon energies and large currents, jitter is controlled by position-dependent detection threshold in straight parts of meanders. It decreases with the increase in the current. At small photon energies, jitter increases and its current dependence disappears. In this probabilistic regime jitter is controlled by Poisson process in that magnetic vortices jump randomly across the wire in areas adjacent to the bends.

Network models of frequency modulated sweep detection.

PubMed

Skorheim, Steven; Razak, Khaleel; Bazhenov, Maxim

2014-01-01

Frequency modulated (FM) sweeps are common in species-specific vocalizations, including human speech. Auditory neurons selective for the direction and rate of frequency change in FM sweeps are present across species, but the synaptic mechanisms underlying such selectivity are only beginning to be understood. Even less is known about mechanisms of experience-dependent changes in FM sweep selectivity. We present three network models of synaptic mechanisms of FM sweep direction and rate selectivity that explains experimental data: (1) The 'facilitation' model contains frequency selective cells operating as coincidence detectors, summing up multiple excitatory inputs with different time delays. (2) The 'duration tuned' model depends on interactions between delayed excitation and early inhibition. The strength of delayed excitation determines the preferred duration. Inhibitory rebound can reinforce the delayed excitation. (3) The 'inhibitory sideband' model uses frequency selective inputs to a network of excitatory and inhibitory cells. The strength and asymmetry of these connections results in neurons responsive to sweeps in a single direction of sufficient sweep rate. Variations of these properties, can explain the diversity of rate-dependent direction selectivity seen across species. We show that the inhibitory sideband model can be trained using spike timing dependent plasticity (STDP) to develop direction selectivity from a non-selective network. These models provide a means to compare the proposed synaptic and spectrotemporal mechanisms of FM sweep processing and can be utilized to explore cellular mechanisms underlying experience- or training-dependent changes in spectrotemporal processing across animal models. Given the analogy between FM sweeps and visual motion, these models can serve a broader function in studying stimulus movement across sensory epithelia.

PREFACE: The 395th Wilhelm and Else Heraeus Seminar: `Time-dependent phenomena in Quantum Mechanics'

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kleber, Manfred; Kramer, Tobias

2008-03-01

The 395th Wilhelm and Else Heraeus Seminar: `Time-dependent phenomena in Quantum Mechanics' took place at the Heinrich Fabri Institute in Blaubeuren, Germany, 12-16 September 2007. The conference covered a wide range of topics connected with time-dependent phenomena in quantum mechanical systems. The 20 invited talks and 15 short talks with posters at the workshop covered the historical debate between Schrödinger, Dirac and Pauli about the role of time in Quantum Mechanics (the debate was carried out sometimes in footnotes) up to the almost direct observation of electron dynamics on the attosecond time-scale. Semiclassical methods, time-delay, monodromy, variational principles and quasi-resonances are just some of the themes which are discussed in more detail in the papers. Time-dependent methods also shed new light on energy-dependent systems, where the detour of studying the time-evolution of a quantum states allows one to solve previously intractable problems. Additional information is available at the conference webpage http://www.quantumdynamics.de The organizer would like to thank all speakers, contributors, session chairs and referees for their efforts in making the conference a success. We also gratefully acknowledge the generous financial support from the Wilhelm and Else Heraeus Foundation for the conference and the production of this special volume of Journal of Physics: Conference Series. Manfred Kleber Physik Department T30, Technische Universität München, 85747 Garching, Germany mkleber@ph.tum.de Tobias Kramer Institut I: Theoretische Physik, Universität Regensburg, 93040 Regensburg, Germany tobias.kramer@physik.uni-regensburg.de Guest Editors Front row (from left): W Schleich, E J Heller, J B Delos, H Friedrich, K Richter, M Kleber, P Kramer, M Man'ko, A del Campo, V Man'ko, M Efremov, A Ruiz, M O Scully Middle row: A Zamora, R Aganoglu, T Kramer, J Eiglsperger, H Cruz, P Raab, I Cirac, G Muga, J Larson, V Dodonov, W Becker Back row: A Eckardt, A Siddiki, K Vafayi, M Holthaus, E Räsänen, M Rodriguez, O Kullie, D Milošević, J Briggs, A Ribeiro, (not in the picture W Zwerger)

CYP2C19 progress curve analysis and mechanism-based inactivation by three methylenedioxyphenyl compounds.

PubMed

Salminen, Kaisa A; Meyer, Achim; Imming, Peter; Raunio, Hannu

2011-12-01

Several in vitro criteria were used to assess whether three methylenedioxyphenyl (MDP) compounds, the isoquinoline alkaloids bulbocapnine, canadine, and protopine, are mechanism-based inactivators of CYP2C19. The recently reported fluorometric CYP2C19 progress curve analysis approach was applied first to determine whether these alkaloids demonstrate time-dependent inhibition. In this experiment, bulbocapnine, canadine, and protopine displayed time dependence and saturation in their inactivation kinetics with K(I) and k(inact) values of 72.4 ± 14.7 μM and 0.38 ± 0.036 min(-1), 2.1 ± 0.63 μM and 0.18 ± 0.015 min(-1), and 7.1 ± 2.3 μM and 0.24 ± 0.021 min(-1), respectively. Additional studies were performed to determine whether other specific criteria for mechanism-based inactivation were fulfilled: NADPH dependence, irreversibility, and involvement of a catalytic step in the enzyme inactivation. CYP2C19 activity was not significantly restored by dialysis when it had been inactivated by the alkaloids in the presence of a NADPH-regenerating system, and a metabolic-intermediate complex-associated increase in absorbance at approximately 455 nm was observed. In conclusion, the CYP2C19 progress curve analysis method revealed time-dependent inhibition by these alkaloids, and additional experiments confirmed its quasi-irreversible nature. This study revealed that the CYP2C19 progress curve analysis method is useful for identifying novel mechanism-based inactivators and yields a wealth of information in one run. The alkaloids bulbocapnine, canadine, and protopine, present in herbal medicines, are new mechanism-based inactivators and the first MDP compounds exhibiting quasi-irreversible inactivation of CYP2C19.

Comparison of Statistical Approaches Dealing with Time-dependent Confounding in Drug Effectiveness Studies

PubMed Central

Karim, Mohammad Ehsanul; Petkau, John; Gustafson, Paul; Platt, Robert W.; Tremlett, Helen

2017-01-01

In longitudinal studies, if the time-dependent covariates are affected by the past treatment, time-dependent confounding may be present. For a time-to-event response, marginal structural Cox models (MSCMs) are frequently used to deal with such confounding. To avoid some of the problems of fitting MSCM, the sequential Cox approach has been suggested as an alternative. Although the estimation mechanisms are different, both approaches claim to estimate the causal effect of treatment by appropriately adjusting for time-dependent confounding. We carry out simulation studies to assess the suitability of the sequential Cox approach for analyzing time-to-event data in the presence of a time-dependent covariate that may or may not be a time-dependent confounder. Results from these simulations revealed that the sequential Cox approach is not as effective as MSCM in addressing the time-dependent confounding. The sequential Cox approach was also found to be inadequate in the presence of a time-dependent covariate. We propose a modified version of the sequential Cox approach that correctly estimates the treatment effect in both of the above scenarios. All approaches are applied to investigate the impact of beta-interferon treatment in delaying disability progression in the British Columbia Multiple Sclerosis cohort (1995 – 2008). PMID:27659168

Comparison of statistical approaches dealing with time-dependent confounding in drug effectiveness studies.

PubMed

Karim, Mohammad Ehsanul; Petkau, John; Gustafson, Paul; Platt, Robert W; Tremlett, Helen

2018-06-01

In longitudinal studies, if the time-dependent covariates are affected by the past treatment, time-dependent confounding may be present. For a time-to-event response, marginal structural Cox models are frequently used to deal with such confounding. To avoid some of the problems of fitting marginal structural Cox model, the sequential Cox approach has been suggested as an alternative. Although the estimation mechanisms are different, both approaches claim to estimate the causal effect of treatment by appropriately adjusting for time-dependent confounding. We carry out simulation studies to assess the suitability of the sequential Cox approach for analyzing time-to-event data in the presence of a time-dependent covariate that may or may not be a time-dependent confounder. Results from these simulations revealed that the sequential Cox approach is not as effective as marginal structural Cox model in addressing the time-dependent confounding. The sequential Cox approach was also found to be inadequate in the presence of a time-dependent covariate. We propose a modified version of the sequential Cox approach that correctly estimates the treatment effect in both of the above scenarios. All approaches are applied to investigate the impact of beta-interferon treatment in delaying disability progression in the British Columbia Multiple Sclerosis cohort (1995-2008).

Time-Dependent Erosion of Ion Optics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wirz, Richard E.; Anderson, John R.; Katz, Ira; Goebel, Dan M.

2008-01-01

The accurate prediction of thruster life requires time-dependent erosion estimates for the ion optics assembly. Such information is critical to end-of-life mechanisms such as electron backstreaming. CEX2D was recently modified to handle time-dependent erosion, double ions, and multiple throttle conditions in a single run. The modified code is called "CEX2D-t". Comparisons of CEX2D-t results with LDT and ELT post-tests results show good agreement for both screen and accel grid erosion including important erosion features such as chamfering of the downstream end of the accel grid and reduced rate of accel grid aperture enlargement with time.

The long-term performance degradation of a radioisotope thermoelectric generator using silicon germanium

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stapfer, G.; Truscello, V. C.

1976-01-01

The successful utilization of a radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) as the power source for spaceflight missions requires that the performance of such an RTG be predictable throughout the mission. Several mechanisms occur within the generator which tend to degrade the performance as a function of operating time. The impact which these mechanisms have on the available output power of an RTG depends primarily on such factors as time, temperature and self-limiting effects. The relative magnitudes, rates and temperature dependency of these various degradation mechanisms have been investigated separately by coupon experiments as well as 4-couple and 18-couple module experiments. This paper discusses the different individual mechanisms and summarizes their combined influence on the performance of an RTG. Also presented as part of the RTG long-term performance characteristics is the sensitivity of the available RTG output power to variations of the individual degradation mechanisms thus identifying the areas of greatest concern for a successful long-term mission.

A swinging seesaw as a novel model mechanism for time-dependent hormesis under dose-dependent stimulatory and inhibitory effects: A case study on the toxicity of antibacterial chemicals to Aliivibrio fischeri.

PubMed

Sun, Haoyu; Calabrese, Edward J; Zheng, Min; Wang, Dali; Pan, Yongzheng; Lin, Zhifen; Liu, Ying

2018-08-01

Hormesis occurs frequently in broadly ranging biological areas (e.g. plant biology, microbiology, biogerontology), toxicology, pharmacology and medicine. While numerous mechanisms (e.g. receptor and pathway mediated pathway responses) account for stimulatory and inhibitory features of hormetic dose responses, the vast majority emphasizes the inclusion of many doses but only one timepoint or use of a single optimized dose that is assessed over a broad range of timepoints. In this paper, a toxicity study was designed using a large number of properly spaced doses with responses determined over a large number of timepoints, which could help us reveal the underlying mechanism of hormesis. We present the results of a dose-time-response study on hormesis using five antibacterial chemicals on the bioluminescence of Aliivibrio fischeri, measuring expression of protein mRNA based on quorum sensing, simulating bioluminescent reaction and analyzing toxic actions of test chemicals. The findings show dose-time-dependent responses conforming to the hormetic dose-response model, while revealing unique response dynamics between agent induced stimulatory and inhibitory effects within bacterial growth phase dynamics. These dynamic dose-time features reveal a type of biological seesaw model that integrates stimulatory and inhibitory responses within unique growth phase, dose and time features, which has faultlessly explained the time-dependent hormetic phenomenon induced by five antibacterial chemicals (characterized by low-dose stimulation and high-dose inhibition). This study offers advances in understanding cellular dynamics, the biological integration of diverse and opposing responses and their role in evolutionary adaptive strategies to chemicals, which can provide new insight into the mechanistic investigation of hormesis. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Determination of efficiencies, loss mechanisms, and performance degradation factors in chopper controlled dc vehical motors. Section 2: The time dependent finite element modeling of the electromagnetic field in electrical machines: Methods and applications. Ph.D. Thesis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hamilton, H. B.; Strangas, E.

1980-01-01

The time dependent solution of the magnetic field is introduced as a method for accounting for the variation, in time, of the machine parameters in predicting and analyzing the performance of the electrical machines. The method of time dependent finite element was used in combination with an also time dependent construction of a grid for the air gap region. The Maxwell stress tensor was used to calculate the airgap torque from the magnetic vector potential distribution. Incremental inductances were defined and calculated as functions of time, depending on eddy currents and saturation. The currents in all the machine circuits were calculated in the time domain based on these inductances, which were continuously updated. The method was applied to a chopper controlled DC series motor used for electric vehicle drive, and to a salient pole sychronous motor with damper bars. Simulation results were compared to experimentally obtained ones.

Time-dependent friction and the mechanics of stick-slip

USGS Publications Warehouse

Dieterich, J.H.

1978-01-01

Time-dependent increase of static friction is characteristic of rock friction undera variety of experimental circumstances. Data presented here show an analogous velocity-dependent effect. A theor of friction is proposed that establishes a common basis for static and sliding friction. Creep at points of contact causes increases in friction that are proportional to the logarithm of the time that the population of points of contact exist. For static friction that time is the time of stationary contact. For sliding friction the time of contact is determined by the critical displacement required to change the population of contacts and the slip velocity. An analysis of a one-dimensional spring and slider system shows that experimental observations establishing the transition from stable sliding to stick-slip to be a function of normal stress, stiffness and surface finish are a consequence of time-dependent friction. ?? 1978 Birkha??user Verlag.

Quantum Algorithms for Computational Physics: Volume 3 of Lattice Gas Dynamics

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-01-03

time- dependent state |q(t)〉 of a two- energy level quantum mechanical system, which is a fermionic qubit and is governed by the Schroedinger wave...on-site ket of size 2B |Ψ〉 total system ket of size 2Q 2.2 The quantum state in the number representation From the previous section, a time- dependent ...duration depend on the particular experimental realization, so that the natural coupling along with the program of externally applied pulses together

Time- & Load-Dependence of Triboelectric Effect.

PubMed

Pan, Shuaihang; Yin, Nian; Zhang, Zhinan

2018-02-06

Time- and load-dependent friction behavior is considered as important for a long time, due to its time-evolution and force-driving characteristics. However, its electronic behavior, mainly considered in triboelectric effect, has almost never been given the full attention and analyses from the above point of view. In this paper, by experimenting with fcc-latticed aluminum and copper friction pairs, the mechanical and electronic behaviors of friction contacts are correlated by time and load analyses, and the behind physical understanding is provided. Most importantly, the difference of "response lag" in force and electricity is discussed, the extreme points of coefficient of friction with the increasing normal loads are observed and explained with the surface properties and dynamical behaviors (i.e. wear), and the micro and macro theories linking tribo-electricity to normal load and wear (i.e. the physical explanation between coupled electrical and mechanical phenomena) are successfully developed and tested.

Modeling the Coupled Chemo-Thermo-Mechanical Behavior of Amorphous Polymer Networks.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zimmerman, Jonathan A.; Nguyen, Thao D.; Xiao, Rui

2015-02-01

Amorphous polymers exhibit a rich landscape of time-dependent behavior including viscoelasticity, structural relaxation, and viscoplasticity. These time-dependent mechanisms can be exploited to achieve shape-memory behavior, which allows the material to store a programmed deformed shape indefinitely and to recover entirely the undeformed shape in response to specific environmental stimulus. The shape-memory performance of amorphous polymers depends on the coordination of multiple physical mechanisms, and considerable opportunities exist to tailor the polymer structure and shape-memory programming procedure to achieve the desired performance. The goal of this project was to use a combination of theoretical, numerical and experimental methods to investigate themore » effect of shape memory programming, thermo-mechanical properties, and physical and environmental aging on the shape memory performance. Physical and environmental aging occurs during storage and through exposure to solvents, such as water, and can significantly alter the viscoelastic behavior and shape memory behavior of amorphous polymers. This project – executed primarily by Professor Thao Nguyen and Graduate Student Rui Xiao at Johns Hopkins University in support of a DOE/NNSA Presidential Early Career Award in Science and Engineering (PECASE) – developed a theoretical framework for chemothermo- mechanical behavior of amorphous polymers to model the effects of physical aging and solvent-induced environmental factors on their thermoviscoelastic behavior.« less

Dynamic modulation of spike timing-dependent calcium influx during corticostriatal upstates

PubMed Central

Evans, R. C.; Maniar, Y. M.

2013-01-01

The striatum of the basal ganglia demonstrates distinctive upstate and downstate membrane potential oscillations during slow-wave sleep and under anesthetic. The upstates generate calcium transients in the dendrites, and the amplitude of these calcium transients depends strongly on the timing of the action potential (AP) within the upstate. Calcium is essential for synaptic plasticity in the striatum, and these large calcium transients during the upstates may control which synapses undergo plastic changes. To investigate the mechanisms that underlie the relationship between calcium and AP timing, we have developed a realistic biophysical model of a medium spiny neuron (MSN). We have implemented sophisticated calcium dynamics including calcium diffusion, buffering, and pump extrusion, which accurately replicate published data. Using this model, we found that either the slow inactivation of dendritic sodium channels (NaSI) or the calcium inactivation of voltage-gated calcium channels (CDI) can cause high calcium corresponding to early APs and lower calcium corresponding to later APs. We found that only CDI can account for the experimental observation that sensitivity to AP timing is dependent on NMDA receptors. Additional simulations demonstrated a mechanism by which MSNs can dynamically modulate their sensitivity to AP timing and show that sensitivity to specifically timed pre- and postsynaptic pairings (as in spike timing-dependent plasticity protocols) is altered by the timing of the pairing within the upstate. These findings have implications for synaptic plasticity in vivo during sleep when the upstate-downstate pattern is prominent in the striatum. PMID:23843436

Mechanical and time-dependent behavior of wood-plastic composites subjected to tension and compression

Treesearch

Scott E. Hamel; John C. Hermanson; Steven M. Cramer

2012-01-01

The thermoplastics within wood—plastic composites (WPCs) are known to experience significant time-dependent deformation or creep. In some formulations, creep deformation can be twice as much as the initial quasi-static strain in as little as 4 days. While extensive work has been done on the creep behavior of pure polymers, little information is available on the...

The Dependence of Portevin-Le Châtelier Effect on the γ' Precipitates in a Wrought Ni-Base Superalloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Xinguang; Han, Guoming; Cui, Chuanyong; Guan, Shuai; Jin, Tao; Sun, Xiaofeng; Hu, Zhuangqi

2016-12-01

The dependence of Portevin-Le Châtelier (PLC) effect on the γ' precipitates of the Nimonic 263 alloy in different microstructural conditions has been studied by analyzing the parameters of the tensile curves and the deformation mechanisms. It is shown that the γ' precipitates with different sizes, edge-to-edge interprecipitate distance, and areal number density are obtained by altering the aging time. It is demonstrated that when the mean size of the γ' precipitates is less than 28 nm (aging less than 25 hours), the deformation mechanisms are dominated by APB-coupled a/2<101> dislocations shearing the small γ' precipitates and the slip bands continuously cutting the γ and γ' phases. When the γ' size is between 28 and 45 nm (aging time between 25 and 50 hours), the deformation mechanism is controlled by the APB-coupled a/2<101> dislocations shearing the small γ' precipitates, the a/6<112> Shockley partial dislocation continuously shearing the γ and γ' phases combined with matrix dislocations by-passing the γ' precipitates; If the γ' size over 45 nm (aging time more than 50 hours), Orowan by-passing becomes the main deformation mechanism. Moreover, with increasing the aging time, the critical plastic strain for the onset of the PLC effect increases and reaches a maximum after aging for 50 hours, and then gradually decreases. At last, the dependence of critical plastic strain on the deformation mechanisms is well explained by the elementary incremental strain (γ). The precipitation process of the γ' phase can directly influence the PLC effect by changing the interactions among solutes atoms, mobile dislocations, and forest dislocations.

Temporally evolving gain mechanisms of attention in macaque area V4.

PubMed

Sani, Ilaria; Santandrea, Elisa; Morrone, Maria Concetta; Chelazzi, Leonardo

2017-08-01

Cognitive attention and perceptual saliency jointly govern our interaction with the environment. Yet, we still lack a universally accepted account of the interplay between attention and luminance contrast, a fundamental dimension of saliency. We measured the attentional modulation of V4 neurons' contrast response functions (CRFs) in awake, behaving macaque monkeys and applied a new approach that emphasizes the temporal dynamics of cell responses. We found that attention modulates CRFs via different gain mechanisms during subsequent epochs of visually driven activity: an early contrast-gain, strongly dependent on prestimulus activity changes (baseline shift); a time-limited stimulus-dependent multiplicative modulation, reaching its maximal expression around 150 ms after stimulus onset; and a late resurgence of contrast-gain modulation. Attention produced comparable time-dependent attentional gain changes on cells heterogeneously coding contrast, supporting the notion that the same circuits mediate attention mechanisms in V4 regardless of the form of contrast selectivity expressed by the given neuron. Surprisingly, attention was also sometimes capable of inducing radical transformations in the shape of CRFs. These findings offer important insights into the mechanisms that underlie contrast coding and attention in primate visual cortex and a new perspective on their interplay, one in which time becomes a fundamental factor. NEW & NOTEWORTHY We offer an innovative perspective on the interplay between attention and luminance contrast in macaque area V4, one in which time becomes a fundamental factor. We place emphasis on the temporal dynamics of attentional effects, pioneering the notion that attention modulates contrast response functions of V4 neurons via the sequential engagement of distinct gain mechanisms. These findings advance understanding of attentional influences on visual processing and help reconcile divergent results in the literature. Copyright © 2017 the American Physiological Society.

Expansion tube test time predictions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gourlay, Christopher M.

1988-01-01

The interaction of an interface between two gases and strong expansion is investigated and the effect on flow in an expansion tube is examined. Two mechanisms for the unsteady Pitot-pressure fluctuations found in the test section of an expansion tube are proposed. The first mechanism depends on the Rayleigh-Taylor instability of the driver-test gas interface in the presence of a strong expansion. The second mechanism depends on the reflection of the strong expansion from the interface. Predictions compare favorably with experimental results. The theory is expected to be independent of the absolute values of the initial expansion tube filling pressures.

A negative feedback mechanism for the long-term stabilization of the earth's surface temperature

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Walker, J. C. G.; Hays, P. B.; Kasting, J. F.

1981-01-01

It is suggested that the partial pressure of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is buffered, over geological time scales, by a negative feedback mechanism, in which the rate of weathering of silicate minerals (followed by deposition of carbonate minerals) depends on surface temperature, which in turn depends on the carbon dioxide partial pressure through the greenhouse effect. Although the quantitative details of this mechanism are speculative, it appears able to partially stabilize the earth's surface temperature against the steady increase of solar luminosity, believed to have occurred since the origin of the solar system.

A Numerical Solution Routine for Investigating Oxidation-Induced Strength Degradation Mechanisms in SiC/SiC Composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sullivan, Roy M.

2015-01-01

The stress rupture strength of silicon carbide fiber-reinforced silicon carbide (SiCSiC) composites with a boron nitride (BN) fiber coating decreases with time within the intermediate temperature range of 700-950 C. Various theories have been proposed to explain the cause of the time dependent stress rupture strength. Some previous authors have suggested that the observed composite strength behavior is due to the inherent time dependent strength of the fibers, which is caused by the slow growth of flaws within the fibers. Flaw growth is supposedly enabled by oxidation of free carbon at the grain boundaries. The objective of this paper is to investigate the relative significance of the various theories for the time-dependent strength of SiCSiC composites. This is achieved through the development of a numerically-based progressive failure analysis routine and through the application of the routine to simulate the composite stress rupture tests. The progressive failure routine is a time marching routine with an iterative loop between a probability of fiber survival equation and a force equilibrium equation within each time step. Failure of the composite is assumed to initiate near a matrix crack and the progression of fiber failures occurs by global load sharing. The probability of survival equation is derived from consideration of the strength of ceramic fibers with randomly occurring and slow growing flaws as well as the mechanical interaction between the fibers and matrix near a matrix crack. The force equilibrium equation follows from the global load sharing presumption. The results of progressive failure analyses of the composite tests suggest that the relationship between time and stress-rupture strength is attributed almost entirely to the slow flaw growth within the fibers. Although other mechanisms may be present, they appear to have only a minor influence on the observed time dependent behavior.

Adult Demography and Larval Processes in Coastal Benthic Populations: Intertidal Barnacles in Southern California and Baja California

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-09-01

mechanism for near-shore concentration and estuarine recruitment of post-larval Penaeus plebejus Hess ( Decapoda , Penaeidae). Estuarine, Coastal and...the physical The dynamics of coastal populations is highly processes that are likely to affect the distribution dependent on the mechanisms and...help. I was lucky to land on a lab where, depending on the lunar phase, time of year, and who knows what other environmental variables, I would find a

Time-dependent behavior of rough discontinuities under shearing conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Zhen; Shen, Mingrong; Ding, Wenqi; Jang, Boan; Zhang, Qingzhao

2018-02-01

The mechanical properties of rocks are generally controlled by their discontinuities. In this study, the time-dependent behavior of rough artificial joints under shearing conditions was investigated. Based on Barton’s standard profile lines, samples with artificial joint surfaces were prepared and used to conduct the shear and creep tests. The test results showed that the shear strength of discontinuity was linearly related to roughness, and subsequently an empirical equation was established. The long-term strength of discontinuity can be identified using the inflection point of the isocreep-rate curve, and it was linearly related to roughness. Furthermore, the ratio of long-term and instantaneous strength decreased with the increase of roughness. The shear-stiffness coefficient increased with the increase of shear rate, and the influence of shear rate on the shear stiffness coefficient decreased with the decrease of roughness. Further study of the mechanism revealed that these results could be attributed to the different time-dependent behavior of intact and joint rocks.

Principles of Discrete Time Mechanics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jaroszkiewicz, George

2014-04-01

1. Introduction; 2. The physics of discreteness; 3. The road to calculus; 4. Temporal discretization; 5. Discrete time dynamics architecture; 6. Some models; 7. Classical cellular automata; 8. The action sum; 9. Worked examples; 10. Lee's approach to discrete time mechanics; 11. Elliptic billiards; 12. The construction of system functions; 13. The classical discrete time oscillator; 14. Type 2 temporal discretization; 15. Intermission; 16. Discrete time quantum mechanics; 17. The quantized discrete time oscillator; 18. Path integrals; 19. Quantum encoding; 20. Discrete time classical field equations; 21. The discrete time Schrodinger equation; 22. The discrete time Klein-Gordon equation; 23. The discrete time Dirac equation; 24. Discrete time Maxwell's equations; 25. The discrete time Skyrme model; 26. Discrete time quantum field theory; 27. Interacting discrete time scalar fields; 28. Space, time and gravitation; 29. Causality and observation; 30. Concluding remarks; Appendix A. Coherent states; Appendix B. The time-dependent oscillator; Appendix C. Quaternions; Appendix D. Quantum registers; References; Index.

Quantum and classical dissipation of charged particles

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ibarra-Sierra, V.G.; Anzaldo-Meneses, A.; Cardoso, J.L.

2013-08-15

A Hamiltonian approach is presented to study the two dimensional motion of damped electric charges in time dependent electromagnetic fields. The classical and the corresponding quantum mechanical problems are solved for particular cases using canonical transformations applied to Hamiltonians for a particle with variable mass. Green’s function is constructed and, from it, the motion of a Gaussian wave packet is studied in detail. -- Highlights: •Hamiltonian of a damped charged particle in time dependent electromagnetic fields. •Exact Green’s function of a charged particle in time dependent electromagnetic fields. •Time evolution of a Gaussian wave packet of a damped charged particle.more » •Classical and quantum dynamics of a damped electric charge.« less

Mechanical relaxations of a Cu60Zr40 metallic glass studied by using a dynamic mechanical analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jeong, H. T.; Park, C. O.

2013-03-01

The mechanical relaxation behaviors of a Cu60Zr40 metallic glass were investigated by using isothermal multi-frequency dynamic mechanical measurements. From the spectra of the elastic moduli, master curves were constructed using the time-temperature superposition principle. The temperature dependence of the shift factor was found to follow the Arrhenius relationship in two temperature regions, one below and the other above the glass transition temperature ( T g ), and the activation energies for low-temperature relaxation and viscous flow were 32.7 kJ/mol and 307.1 kJ/mol, respectively. The decoupling of these two relaxations, shown in the temperature dependent plot of the shift factor, manifests the dynamic glass transition temperature region of the Cu60Zr40 metallic glass. From the temperature dependence of the shift factor, the fragility index of this alloy was also estimated.

Dynamic load synthesis for shock numerical simulation in space structure design

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Monti, Riccardo; Gasbarri, Paolo

2017-08-01

Pyroshock loads are the most stressing environments that a space equipment experiences during its operating life from a mechanical point of view. In general, the mechanical designer considers the pyroshock analysis as a very demanding constraint. Unfortunately, due to the non-linear behaviour of the structure under such loads, only the experimental tests can demonstrate if it is able to withstand these dynamic loads. By taking all the previous considerations into account, some preliminary information about the design correctness could be done by performing ;ad-hoc; numerical simulations, for example via commercial finite element software (i.e. MSC Nastran). Usually these numerical tools face the shock solution in two ways: 1) a direct mode, by using a time dependent enforcement and by evaluating the time-response and space-response as well as the internal forces; 2) a modal basis approach, by considering a frequency dependent load and of course by evaluating internal forces in the frequency domain. This paper has the main aim to develop a numerical tool to synthetize the time dependent enforcement based on deterministic and/or genetic algorithm optimisers. In particular starting from a specified spectrum in terms of SRS (Shock Response Spectrum) a time dependent discrete function, typically an acceleration profile, will be obtained to force the equipment by simulating the shock event. The synthetizing time and the interface with standards numerical codes will be two of the main topics dealt with in the paper. In addition a congruity and consistency methodology will be presented to ensure that the identified time dependent loads fully match the specified spectrum.

1985 Annual Conference on Nuclear and Space Radiation Effects, 22nd, Monterey, CA, July 22-24, 1985, Proceedings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jones, C. W. (Editor)

1985-01-01

Basic mechanisms of radiation effects in structures and materials are discussed, taking into account the time dependence of interface state production, process dependent build-up of interface states in irradiated N-channel MOSFETs, bias annealing of radiation and bias induced positive charges in n- and p-type MOS capacitors, hole removal in thin-gate MOSFETs by tunneling, and activation energies of oxide charge recovery in SOS or SOI structures after an ionizing pulse. Other topics investigated are related to radiation effects in devices, radiation effects in integrated circuits, spacecraft charging and space radiation effects, single-event phenomena, hardness assurance and radiation sources, SGEMP/IEMP phenomena, EMP phenomena, and dosimetry and energy-dependent effects. Attention is given to a model of the plasma wake generated by a large object, gate charge collection and induced drain current in GaAs FETs, simulation of charge collection in a multilayer device, and time dependent dose enhancement effects on integrated circuit transient response mechanisms.

1985 Annual Conference on Nuclear and Space Radiation Effects, 22nd, Monterey, CA, July 22-24, 1985, Proceedings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jones, C. W.

1985-12-01

Basic mechanisms of radiation effects in structures and materials are discussed, taking into account the time dependence of interface state production, process dependent build-up of interface states in irradiated N-channel MOSFETs, bias annealing of radiation and bias induced positive charges in n- and p-type MOS capacitors, hole removal in thin-gate MOSFETs by tunneling, and activation energies of oxide charge recovery in SOS or SOI structures after an ionizing pulse. Other topics investigated are related to radiation effects in devices, radiation effects in integrated circuits, spacecraft charging and space radiation effects, single-event phenomena, hardness assurance and radiation sources, SGEMP/IEMP phenomena, EMP phenomena, and dosimetry and energy-dependent effects. Attention is given to a model of the plasma wake generated by a large object, gate charge collection and induced drain current in GaAs FETs, simulation of charge collection in a multilayer device, and time dependent dose enhancement effects on integrated circuit transient response mechanisms.

Kinetics of drug release from ointments: Role of transient-boundary layer.

PubMed

Xu, Xiaoming; Al-Ghabeish, Manar; Krishnaiah, Yellela S R; Rahman, Ziyaur; Khan, Mansoor A

2015-10-15

In the current work, an in vitro release testing method suitable for ointment formulations was developed using acyclovir as a model drug. Release studies were carried out using enhancer cells on acyclovir ointments prepared with oleaginous, absorption, and water-soluble bases. Kinetics and mechanism of drug release was found to be highly dependent on the type of ointment bases. In oleaginous bases, drug release followed a unique logarithmic-time dependent profile; in both absorption and water-soluble bases, drug release exhibited linearity with respect to square root of time (Higuchi model) albeit differences in the overall release profile. To help understand the underlying cause of logarithmic-time dependency of drug release, a novel transient-boundary hypothesis was proposed, verified, and compared to Higuchi theory. Furthermore, impact of drug solubility (under various pH conditions) and temperature on drug release were assessed. Additionally, conditions under which deviations from logarithmic-time drug release kinetics occur were determined using in situ UV fiber-optics. Overall, the results suggest that for oleaginous ointments containing dispersed drug particles, kinetics and mechanism of drug release is controlled by expansion of transient boundary layer, and drug release increases linearly with respect to logarithmic time. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Formation mechanism of monodispersed spherical core-shell ceria/polymer hybrid nanoparticles

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Izu, Noriya, E-mail: n-izu@aist.go.jp; Uchida, Toshio; Matsubara, Ichiro

2011-08-15

Graphical abstract: The formation mechanism for core-shell nanoparticles is considered to be as follows: nucleation and particle growth occur simultaneously (left square); very slow particle growth occurs (middle square). Highlights: {yields} The size of the resultant nanoparticles was strongly and complicatedly dependent on the set temperature used during reflux heating and the PVP molecular weight. {yields} The size of the nanoparticles increased by a 2-step process as the reflux heating time increased. {yields} The IR spectral changes with increasing reflux time indicated the increase in the number of cross-linked polymers in the shell. -- Abstract: Very unique core-shell ceria (ceriummore » oxide)/polymer hybrid nanoparticles that have monodispersed spherical structures and are easily dispersed in water or alcohol without the need for a dispersant were reported recently. The formation mechanism of the unique nanoparticles, however, was not clear. In order to clarify the formation mechanism, these nanoparticles were prepared using a polyol method (reflux heating) under varied conditions of temperature, time, and concentration and molecular weight of added polymer (poly(vinylpyrrolidone)). The size of the resultant nanoparticles was strongly and complicatedly dependent on the set temperature used during reflux heating and the poly(vinylpyrrolidone) molecular weight. Furthermore, the size of the nanoparticles increased by a 2-step process as the reflux heating time increased. The IR spectral changes with increasing reflux time indicated the increase in the number of cross-linked polymers in the shell. From these results, the formation mechanism was discussed and proposed.« less

Viscoplastic Characterization of Ti-6-4: Experiments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lerch, Bradley A.; Arnold, Steven M.

2016-01-01

As part of a continued effort to improve the understanding of material time-dependent response, a series of mechanical tests have been conducted on the titanium alloy, Ti-6Al-4V. Tensile, creep, and stress relaxation tests were performed over a wide range of temperatures and strain rates to engage various amounts of time-dependent behavior. Additional tests were conducted that involved loading steps, overloads, dwell periods, and block loading segments to characterize the interaction between plasticity and time-dependent behavior. These data will be used to characterize a recently developed, viscoelastoplastic constitutive model with a goal toward better estimates of aerospace component behavior, resulting in improved safety.

DELAY OF GERMINATION 1 mediates a conserved coat-dormancy mechanism for the temperature- and gibberellin-dependent control of seed germination.

PubMed

Graeber, Kai; Linkies, Ada; Steinbrecher, Tina; Mummenhoff, Klaus; Tarkowská, Danuše; Turečková, Veronika; Ignatz, Michael; Sperber, Katja; Voegele, Antje; de Jong, Hans; Urbanová, Terezie; Strnad, Miroslav; Leubner-Metzger, Gerhard

2014-08-26

Seed germination is an important life-cycle transition because it determines subsequent plant survival and reproductive success. To detect optimal spatiotemporal conditions for germination, seeds act as sophisticated environmental sensors integrating information such as ambient temperature. Here we show that the delay of germination 1 (DOG1) gene, known for providing dormancy adaptation to distinct environments, determines the optimal temperature for seed germination. By reciprocal gene-swapping experiments between Brassicaceae species we show that the DOG1-mediated dormancy mechanism is conserved. Biomechanical analyses show that this mechanism regulates the material properties of the endosperm, a seed tissue layer acting as germination barrier to control coat dormancy. We found that DOG1 inhibits the expression of gibberellin (GA)-regulated genes encoding cell-wall remodeling proteins in a temperature-dependent manner. Furthermore we demonstrate that DOG1 causes temperature-dependent alterations in the seed GA metabolism. These alterations in hormone metabolism are brought about by the temperature-dependent differential expression of genes encoding key enzymes of the GA biosynthetic pathway. These effects of DOG1 lead to a temperature-dependent control of endosperm weakening and determine the optimal temperature for germination. The conserved DOG1-mediated coat-dormancy mechanism provides a highly adaptable temperature-sensing mechanism to control the timing of germination.

Lab-On-Chip Clinorotation System for Live-Cell Microscopy Under Simulated Microgravity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yew, Alvin G.; Atencia, Javier; Chinn, Ben; Hsieh, Adam H.

2013-01-01

Cells in microgravity are subject to mechanical unloading and changes to the surrounding chemical environment. How these factors jointly influence cellular function is not well understood. We can investigate their role using ground-based analogues to spaceflight, where mechanical unloading is simulated through the time-averaged nullification of gravity. The prevailing method for cellular microgravity simulation is to use fluid-filled containers called clinostats. However, conventional clinostats are not designed for temporally tracking cell response, nor are they able to establish dynamic fluid environments. To address these needs, we developed a Clinorotation Time-lapse Microscopy (CTM) system that accommodates lab-on- chip cell culture devices for visualizing time-dependent alterations to cellular behavior. For the purpose of demonstrating CTM, we present preliminary results showing time-dependent differences in cell area between human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) under modeled microgravity and normal gravity.

Lab-On-Chip Clinorotation System for Live-Cell Microscopy Under Simulated Microgravity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yew, Alvin G.; Atencia, Javier; Chinn, Ben; Hsieh, Adam H.

1980-01-01

Cells in microgravity are subject to mechanical unloading and changes to the surrounding chemical environment. How these factors jointly influence cellular function is not well understood. We can investigate their role using ground-based analogues to spaceflight, where mechanical unloading is simulated through the time-averaged nullification of gravity. The prevailing method for cellular microgravity simulation is to use fluid-filled containers called clinostats. However, conventional clinostats are not designed for temporally tracking cell response, nor are they able to establish dynamic fluid environments. To address these needs, we developed a Clinorotation Time-lapse Microscopy (CTM) system that accommodates lab-on- chip cell culture devices for visualizing time-dependent alterations to cellular behavior. For the purpose of demonstrating CTM, we present preliminary results showing time-dependent differences in cell area between human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) under modeled microgravity and normal gravity.

Thick-target bremsstrahlung interpretation of short time-scale solar hard X-ray features

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Emslie, A. G.

1983-01-01

Steady-state analyses of bremsstrahlung hard X-ray production in solar flares are appropriate only if the lifetime of the high energy electrons in the X-ray source is much shorter than the duration of the observed X-ray burst. For a thick-target nonthermal model, this implies that a full time-dependent analysis is required when the duration of the burst is comparable to the collisional lifetime of the injected electrons, in turn set by the lengths and densities of the flaring region. In this paper we present the results of such a time-dependent analysis, and we point out that the intrinsic temporal signature of the thick-target production mechanism, caused by the finite travel time of the electrons through the target, may indeed rule out such a mechanism for extremely short duration hard X-ray events.

Unsupervised learning of digit recognition using spike-timing-dependent plasticity

PubMed Central

Diehl, Peter U.; Cook, Matthew

2015-01-01

In order to understand how the mammalian neocortex is performing computations, two things are necessary; we need to have a good understanding of the available neuronal processing units and mechanisms, and we need to gain a better understanding of how those mechanisms are combined to build functioning systems. Therefore, in recent years there is an increasing interest in how spiking neural networks (SNN) can be used to perform complex computations or solve pattern recognition tasks. However, it remains a challenging task to design SNNs which use biologically plausible mechanisms (especially for learning new patterns), since most such SNN architectures rely on training in a rate-based network and subsequent conversion to a SNN. We present a SNN for digit recognition which is based on mechanisms with increased biological plausibility, i.e., conductance-based instead of current-based synapses, spike-timing-dependent plasticity with time-dependent weight change, lateral inhibition, and an adaptive spiking threshold. Unlike most other systems, we do not use a teaching signal and do not present any class labels to the network. Using this unsupervised learning scheme, our architecture achieves 95% accuracy on the MNIST benchmark, which is better than previous SNN implementations without supervision. The fact that we used no domain-specific knowledge points toward the general applicability of our network design. Also, the performance of our network scales well with the number of neurons used and shows similar performance for four different learning rules, indicating robustness of the full combination of mechanisms, which suggests applicability in heterogeneous biological neural networks. PMID:26941637

Spike-timing dependent inhibitory plasticity to learn a selective gating of backpropagating action potentials.

PubMed

Wilmes, Katharina Anna; Schleimer, Jan-Hendrik; Schreiber, Susanne

2017-04-01

Inhibition is known to influence the forward-directed flow of information within neurons. However, also regulation of backward-directed signals, such as backpropagating action potentials (bAPs), can enrich the functional repertoire of local circuits. Inhibitory control of bAP spread, for example, can provide a switch for the plasticity of excitatory synapses. Although such a mechanism is possible, it requires a precise timing of inhibition to annihilate bAPs without impairment of forward-directed excitatory information flow. Here, we propose a specific learning rule for inhibitory synapses to automatically generate the correct timing to gate bAPs in pyramidal cells when embedded in a local circuit of feedforward inhibition. Based on computational modeling of multi-compartmental neurons with physiological properties, we demonstrate that a learning rule with anti-Hebbian shape can establish the required temporal precision. In contrast to classical spike-timing dependent plasticity of excitatory synapses, the proposed inhibitory learning mechanism does not necessarily require the definition of an upper bound of synaptic weights because of its tendency to self-terminate once annihilation of bAPs has been reached. Our study provides a functional context in which one of the many time-dependent learning rules that have been observed experimentally - specifically, a learning rule with anti-Hebbian shape - is assigned a relevant role for inhibitory synapses. Moreover, the described mechanism is compatible with an upregulation of excitatory plasticity by disinhibition. © 2016 Federation of European Neuroscience Societies and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Effect of light wavelength on motility and magnetic sensibility of the magnetotactic multicellular prokaryote 'Candidatus Magnetoglobus multicellularis'.

PubMed

de Azevedo, Lyvia Vidinho; de Barros, Henrique Lins; Keim, Carolina Neumann; Acosta-Avalos, Daniel

2013-09-01

'Candidatus Magnetoglobus multicellularis' is a magnetotactic microorganism composed of several bacterial cells. Presently, it is the best known multicellular magnetotactic prokaryote (MMP). Recently, it has been observed that MMPs present a negative photoresponse to high intensity ultraviolet and violet-blue light. In this work, we studied the movement of 'Candidatus Magnetoglobus multicellularis' under low intensity light of different wavelengths, measuring the average velocity and the time to reorient its trajectory when the external magnetic field changes its direction (U-turn time). Our results show that the mean average velocity is higher for red light (628 nm) and lower for green light (517 nm) as compared to yellow (596 nm) and blue (469 nm) light, and the U-turn time decreased for green light illumination. The light wavelength velocity dependence can be understood as variation in flagella rotation speed, being increased by the red light and decreased by the green light relative to yellow and blue light. It is suggested that the dependence of the U-turn time on light wavelength can be considered a form of light-dependent magnetotaxis, because this time represents the magnetic sensibility of the magnetotactic microorganisms. The cellular and molecular mechanisms for this light-dependent velocity and magnetotaxis are unknown and deserve further studies to understand the biochemical interactions and the ecological roles of the different mechanisms of taxis in MMPs.

The Mechanical Properties and Modeling of Creep Behavior of UHMWPE/Nano-HA Composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Fan; Gao, Lilan; Gao, Hong; Cui, Yun

2017-09-01

Composites with different levels of hydroxyapatite (HA) content and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) were prepared in this work. Mechanical properties of the composites were examined here, and to evaluate the effect of HA particles on the time-dependent behavior of the pure matrix, the creep and recovery performance of composites at various stress levels were also researched. As expected, the addition of HA influenced the time-dependent response of the UHMWPE and the effect had a strong dependence on the HA content. The creep and recovery strain of the composites significantly decreased with increasing HA content, and tensile properties were also impaired, which was due to the concentration of HA fillers. The mechanism and effect of HA dispersed into the UHMWPE matrix were examined by scanning electron microscopy. Additionally, since variations in the adjusted parameters revealed the impact of HA on the creep behavior of the UHMWPE matrix, Findley's model was employed. The results indicated that the analytical model was accurate for the prediction of creep of the pure matrix and its composites.

Time-dependent slowly-reversible inhibition of monoamine oxidase A by N-substituted 1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridines.

PubMed

Wichitnithad, Wisut; O'Callaghan, James P; Miller, Diane B; Train, Brian C; Callery, Patrick S

2011-12-15

A novel class of N-substituted tetrahydropyridine derivatives was found to have multiple kinetic mechanisms of monoamine oxidase A inhibition. Eleven structurally similar tetrahydropyridine derivatives were synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors of MAO-A and MAO-B. The most potent MAO-A inhibitor in the series, 2,4-dichlorophenoxypropyl analog 12, displayed time-dependent mixed noncompetitive inhibition. The inhibition was reversed by dialysis, indicating reversible enzyme inhibition. Evidence that the slow-binding inhibition of MAO-A with 12 involves a covalent bond was gained from stabilizing a covalent reversible intermediate product by reduction with sodium borohydride. The reduced enzyme complex was not reversible by dialysis. The results are consistent with slowly reversible, mechanism-based inhibition. Two tetrahydropyridine analogs that selectively inhibited MAO-A were characterized by kinetic mechanisms differing from the kinetic mechanism of 12. As reversible inhibitors of MAO-A, tetrahydropyridine analogs are at low risk of having an adverse effect of tyramine-induced hypertension. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Hippocampal mechanisms for the context-dependent retrieval of episodes

PubMed Central

Hasselmo, Michael E.; Eichenbaum, Howard B.

2008-01-01

Behaviors ranging from delivering newspapers to waiting tables depend on remembering previous episodes to avoid incorrect repetition. Physiologically, this requires mechanisms for long-term storage and selective retrieval of episodes based on time of occurrence, despite variable intervals and similarity of events in a familiar environment. Here, this process has been modeled based on physiological properties of the hippocampal formation, including mechanisms for sustained activity in entorhinal cortex and theta rhythm oscillations in hippocampal subregions. The model simulates the context-sensitive firing properties of hippocampal neurons including trial specific firing during spatial alternation and trial by trial changes in theta phase precession on a linear track. This activity is used to guide behavior, and lesions of the hippocampal network impair memory-guided behavior. The model links data at the cellular level to behavior at the systems level, describing a physiologically plausible mechanism for the brain to recall a given episode which occurred at a specific place and time. PMID:16263240

Characterization of the time-dependent strain field at seismogenic depths using first-motion focal mechanisms: Observations of large-scale decadal variations in stress along the San Andrea fault system

USGS Publications Warehouse

Sipkin, S.A.; Silver, P.G.

2003-01-01

We present a method for summing moment tensors derived from first-motion focal mechanisms to study temporal dependence in features of the subsurface regional strain field. Time-dependent processes are inferred by comparing mechanisms summed over differing time periods. We apply this methodology to seismogenic zones in central and southern California using focal mechanisms produced by the Northern and Southern California Seismograph Networks for events during 1980-1999. We find a consistent pattern in both the style of deformation (strike-slip versus compressional) and seismicity rate across the entire region. If these temporal variations are causally related, it suggests a temporal change in the regional-scale stress field. One change consistent with the observations is a rotation in the regional maximum horizontal compressive stress direction, followed by a reversal to the original direction. Depending upon the dominant style of deformation locally, this change in orientation of the regional stress will tend to either enhance or hinder deformation. The mode of enhanced deformation can range from increased microseismicity and creep to major earthquakes. We hypothesize that these temporal changes in the regional stress field are the result of subtle changes in apparent relative plate motion between the Pacific and North American plates, perhaps due to long-range postseismic stress diffusion. Others have hypothesized that small changes in plate motion over thousands of years, and/or over decades, are responsible for changes in the style of deformation in southern California. We propose that such changes, over the course of just a few years, also affect the style of deformation.

Complex Riccati equations as a link between different approaches for the description of dissipative and irreversible systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schuch, Dieter

2012-08-01

Quantum mechanics is essentially described in terms of complex quantities like wave functions. The interesting point is that phase and amplitude of the complex wave function are not independent of each other, but coupled by some kind of conservation law. This coupling exists in time-independent quantum mechanics and has a counterpart in its time-dependent form. It can be traced back to a reformulation of quantum mechanics in terms of nonlinear real Ermakov equations or equivalent complex nonlinear Riccati equations, where the quadratic term in the latter equation explains the origin of the phase-amplitude coupling. Since realistic physical systems are always in contact with some kind of environment this aspect is also taken into account. In this context, different approaches for describing open quantum systems, particularly effective ones, are discussed and compared. Certain kinds of nonlinear modifications of the Schrödinger equation are discussed as well as their interrelations and their relations to linear approaches via non-unitary transformations. The modifications of the aforementioned Ermakov and Riccati equations when environmental effects are included can be determined in the time-dependent case. From formal similarities conclusions can be drawn how the equations of time-independent quantum mechanics can be modified to also incluce the enviromental aspects.

Time-Dependent Stress Rupture Strength Degradation of Hi-Nicalon Fiber-Reinforced Silicon Carbide Composites at Intermediate Temperatures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sullivan, Roy M.

2016-01-01

The stress rupture strength of silicon carbide fiber-reinforced silicon carbide composites with a boron nitride fiber coating decreases with time within the intermediate temperature range of 700 to 950 degree Celsius. Various theories have been proposed to explain the cause of the time-dependent stress rupture strength. The objective of this paper is to investigate the relative significance of the various theories for the time-dependent strength of silicon carbide fiber-reinforced silicon carbide composites. This is achieved through the development of a numerically based progressive failure analysis routine and through the application of the routine to simulate the composite stress rupture tests. The progressive failure routine is a time-marching routine with an iterative loop between a probability of fiber survival equation and a force equilibrium equation within each time step. Failure of the composite is assumed to initiate near a matrix crack and the progression of fiber failures occurs by global load sharing. The probability of survival equation is derived from consideration of the strength of ceramic fibers with randomly occurring and slow growing flaws as well as the mechanical interaction between the fibers and matrix near a matrix crack. The force equilibrium equation follows from the global load sharing presumption. The results of progressive failure analyses of the composite tests suggest that the relationship between time and stress-rupture strength is attributed almost entirely to the slow flaw growth within the fibers. Although other mechanisms may be present, they appear to have only a minor influence on the observed time-dependent behavior.

Hysteresis in the Cell Response to Time-Dependent Substrate Stiffness

PubMed Central

Besser, Achim; Schwarz, Ulrich S.

2010-01-01

Abstract Mechanical cues like the rigidity of the substrate are main determinants for the decision-making of adherent cells. Here we use a mechano-chemical model to predict the cellular response to varying substrate stiffnesses. The model equations combine the mechanics of contractile actin filament bundles with a model for the Rho-signaling pathway triggered by forces at cell-matrix contacts. A bifurcation analysis of cellular contractility as a function of substrate stiffness reveals a bistable response, thus defining a lower threshold of stiffness, below which cells are not able to build up contractile forces, and an upper threshold of stiffness, above which cells are always in a strongly contracted state. Using the full dynamical model, we predict that rate-dependent hysteresis will occur in the cellular traction forces when cells are exposed to substrates of time-dependent stiffness. PMID:20655823

Theories of time-dependent and time-independent nearside-farside reactive scattering dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Monks, Phillip David Durrant

The first application of nearside-farside (NF) theory is made to the time-dependent partial wave series (PWS) representation of the scattering amplitude for the reaction H + D[2](v = 0,j = 0, m = 0) → HD(v' = 3,j' = 0, m'= 0) + D. Time-dependent NF angular distributions and time-dependent NF local angular momenta (LAMs) are defined and used to analyse the dynamics in terms of time- direct and time-delayed reaction mechanisms. The concept of a cumulative time-evolving differential cross section (DCS) is introduced and used to provide a new method for visualising the time evolution of a chemical reaction. Time-independent NF DCS and LAM analyses of the H + D[2] reaction are presented, highlighting a distinctive "trench-ridge" feature present in the full and N LAMs. It is used to define a cut line which separates the energy-analogs of the two time- distinct reaction mechanisms. This trench-ridge feature is shown to be an interference between the time-direct (backward-scattered) and time-delayed (forward-scattered) reaction mechanisms. Resummation PWS theory is used to "clean" plots of the NF DCSs and LAMs of unphysical effects. A limitation of the resummation theory is described, whereby unphysical behaviour is sometimes introduced into the N and F subamplitudes. A technique for predicting and avoiding these undesired effects is used to further improve the usefulness of the resummation technique. The fundamental identity for NF local angular momenta is stated and derived by two methods. This identity gives rise to a CLAM plot (where CLAM denotes Cross section x LAM), which provides insight into the empirical obsei'vation that DCS and LAM analyses give consistent, yet complementary, information on the reaction dynamics. Applications are reported for the H + D[2] reaction, as well as for F + H[2](v = 0,j=0, m = 0)→ FH(v' = 3,j' = 3, m' = 0) + H. The angular time-delay for a state-to-state reactive collision often displays complicated behaviour. It is shown for the H + D[2] and F + H[2] reactions that this behaviour is caused by NF interference. The fundamental identity for NF angular time-delays is stated, and CATD (Cross section x Angular Time-Delay) results are reported, which provide further insight into the properties of the angular time-delay.

The Arabidopsis sickle mutant exhibits altered circadian clock responses to cool tempatures and tempature-dependent alternative splicing

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The circadian clock allows plants to anticipate and respond to daily changes in ambient temperature. Mechanisms establishing the timing of circadian rhythms in Arabidopsis thaliana through temperature entrainment remain unclear. Also incompletely understood is the temperature compensation mechanism ...

Theory of time-dependent rupture in the Earth

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Das, S.; Scholz, C. H.

1980-01-01

Fracture mechanics is used to develop a theory of earthquake mechanism which includes the phenomenon of subcritical crack growth. The following phenomena are predicted: slow earthquakes, multiple events, delayed multiple events (doublets), postseismic rupture growth and afterslip, foreshocks, and aftershocks. The theory predicts a nucleation stage prior to an earthquake, and suggests a physical mechanism by which one earthquake may 'trigger' another.

Derivation of the Schrodinger Equation from the Hamilton-Jacobi Equation in Feynman's Path Integral Formulation of Quantum Mechanics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Field, J. H.

2011-01-01

It is shown how the time-dependent Schrodinger equation may be simply derived from the dynamical postulate of Feynman's path integral formulation of quantum mechanics and the Hamilton-Jacobi equation of classical mechanics. Schrodinger's own published derivations of quantum wave equations, the first of which was also based on the Hamilton-Jacobi…

High temperature low cycle fatigue mechanisms for nickel base and a copper base alloy. M.S. Thesis Final Report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shih, C. I.

1982-01-01

Damage mechanisms were studied in Rene' 95 and NARloy Z, using optical, scanning and transmission in microscopy. In necklace Rene' 95, crack initiation was mainly associated with cracking of surface MC carbides, except for hold time tests at higher strain ranges where initiation was associated more with a grain boundary mechanism. A mixed mode of propagation with a faceted fracture morphology was typical for all cycle characters. The dependence of life on maximum tensile stress can be demonstrated by the data falling onto three lines corresponding to the three tensile hold times, in the life against maximum tensile stress plot. In NARloy Z, crack initiation was always at the grain boundaries. The mode of crack propagation depended on the cycle character. The life decreased with decreasing strain rate and with tensile holds. In terms of damage mode, different life prediction laws may be applicable to different cycle characters.

Absorption Voltages and Insulation Resistance in Ceramic Capacitors with Cracks

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Teverovsky, Alexander

2016-01-01

Time dependence of absorption voltages (Vabs) in different types of low-voltage X5R and X7R ceramic capacitors was monitored for a maximum duration of hundred hours after polarization. To evaluate the effect of mechanical defects on Vabs, cracks in the dielectric were introduced either mechanically or by thermal shock. The maximum absorption voltage, time to roll-off, and the rate of voltage decrease are shown to depend on the crack-related leakage currents and insulation resistance in the parts. A simple model that is based on the Dow equivalent circuit for capacitors with absorption has been developed to assess the insulation resistance of capacitors. Standard measurements of the insulation resistance, contrary to the measurements based on Vabs, are not sensitive to the presence of mechanical defects and fail to reveal capacitors with cracks. Index Terms: Ceramic capacitor, insulation resistance, dielectric absorption, cracking.

Absorption Voltages and Insulation Resistance in Ceramic Capacitors with Cracks

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Teverovsky, Alexander

2014-01-01

Time dependence of absorption voltages (V(sub abs)) in different types of low-voltage X5R and X7R ceramic capacitors was monitored for a maximum duration of hundred hours after polarization. To evaluate the effect of mechanical defects on V(sub abs)), cracks in the dielectric were introduced either mechanically or by thermal shock. The maximum absorption voltage, time to roll-off, and the rate of voltage decrease are shown to depend on the crack-related leakage currents and insulation resistance in the parts. A simple model that is based on the Dow equivalent circuit for capacitors with absorption has been developed to assess the insulation resistance of capacitors. Standard measurements of the insulation resistance, contrary to the measurements based on V(sub abs)), are not sensitive to the presence of mechanical defects and fail to reveal capacitors with cracks.

A viscoelastic model for dielectric elastomers based on a continuum mechanical formulation and its finite element implementation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bueschel, A.; Klinkel, S.; Wagner, W.

2011-04-01

Smart materials are active and multifunctional materials, which play an important part for sensor and actuator applications. These materials have the potential to transform passive structures into adaptive systems. However, a prerequisite for the design and the optimization of these materials is, that reliable models exist, which incorporate the interaction between the different combinations of thermal, electrical, magnetic, optical and mechanical effects. Polymeric electroelastic materials, so-called electroactive polymer (EAP), own the characteristic to deform if an electric field is applied. EAP's possesses the benefit that they share the characteristic of polymers, these are lightweight, inexpensive, fracture tolerant, elastic, and the chemical and physical structure is well understood. However, the description "electroactive polymer" is a generic term for many kinds of different microscopic mechanisms and polymeric materials. Based on the laws of electromagnetism and elasticity, a visco-electroelastic model is developed and implemented into the finite element method (FEM). The presented three-dimensional solid element has eight nodes and trilinear interpolation functions for the displacement and the electric potential. The continuum mechanics model contains finite deformations, the time dependency and the nearly incompressible behavior of the material. To describe the possible, large time dependent deformations, a finite viscoelastic model with a split of the deformation gradient is used. Thereby the time dependent characteristic of polymeric materials is incorporated through the free energy function. The electromechanical interactions are considered by the electrostatic forces and inside the energy function.

Microscale Mechanics of Actin Networks During Dynamic Assembly and Dissociation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gurmessa, Bekele; Robertson-Anderson, Rae; Ross, Jennifer; Nguyen, Dan; Saleh, Omar

Actin is one of the key components of the cytoskeleton, enabling cells to move and divide while maintaining shape by dynamic polymerization, dissociation and crosslinking. Actin polymerization and network formation is driven by ATP hydrolysis and varies depending on the concentrations of actin monomers and crosslinking proteins. The viscoelastic properties of steady-state actin networks have been well-characterized, yet the mechanical properties of these non-equilibrium systems during dynamic assembly and disassembly remain to be understood. We use semipermeable microfluidic devices to induce in situ dissolution and re-polymerization of entangled and crosslinked actin networks, by varying ATP concentrations in real-time, while measuring the mechanical properties during disassembly and re-assembly. We use optical tweezers to sinusoidally oscillate embedded microspheres and measure the resulting force at set time-intervals and in different regions of the network during cyclic assembly/disassembly. We determine the time-dependent viscoelastic properties of non-equilibrium network intermediates and the reproducibility and homogeneity of network formation and dissolution. Results inform the role that cytoskeleton reorganization plays in the dynamic multifunctional mechanics of cells. NSF CAREER Award (DMR-1255446) and a Scialog Collaborative Innovation Award funded by Research Corporation for Scientific Advancement (Grant No. 24192).

A method for diagnosing time dependent faults using model-based reasoning systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Goodrich, Charles H.

1995-01-01

This paper explores techniques to apply model-based reasoning to equipment and systems which exhibit dynamic behavior (that which changes as a function of time). The model-based system of interest is KATE-C (Knowledge based Autonomous Test Engineer) which is a C++ based system designed to perform monitoring and diagnosis of Space Shuttle electro-mechanical systems. Methods of model-based monitoring and diagnosis are well known and have been thoroughly explored by others. A short example is given which illustrates the principle of model-based reasoning and reveals some limitations of static, non-time-dependent simulation. This example is then extended to demonstrate representation of time-dependent behavior and testing of fault hypotheses in that environment.

Electronic field emission models beyond the Fowler-Nordheim one

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lepetit, Bruno

2017-12-01

We propose several quantum mechanical models to describe electronic field emission from first principles. These models allow us to correlate quantitatively the electronic emission current with the electrode surface details at the atomic scale. They all rely on electronic potential energy surfaces obtained from three dimensional density functional theory calculations. They differ by the various quantum mechanical methods (exact or perturbative, time dependent or time independent), which are used to describe tunneling through the electronic potential energy barrier. Comparison of these models between them and with the standard Fowler-Nordheim one in the context of one dimensional tunneling allows us to assess the impact on the accuracy of the computed current of the approximations made in each model. Among these methods, the time dependent perturbative one provides a well-balanced trade-off between accuracy and computational cost.

The sun compass revisited

PubMed Central

Guilford, Tim; Taylor, Graham K.

2014-01-01

Many animals, and birds in particular, are thought to use directional information from the sun in the form of a time-compensated sun compass, with predictably deviated orientation under clock shift being regarded as the litmus test of this. We suggest that this paradigm obscures a number of other ways in which solar-derived information could be important in animal orientation. We distinguish between the known use of the sun's azimuth to provide absolute geographical direction (compass mechanism) and its possible use to detect changes in heading (heading indicator mechanism). Just as in an aircraft, these two kinds of information may be provided by separate mechanisms and used for different functions, for example for navigation versus steering. We also argue that although a solar compass must be time-referenced to account for the sun's apparent diurnal movement, this need not entail full time compensation. This is because animals might also use time-dependent solar information in an associatively acquired, and hence time-limited, way. Furthermore, we show that a solar heading indicator, when used on a sufficiently short timescale, need not require time compensation at all. Finally, we suggest that solar-derived cues, such as shadows, could also be involved in navigation in ways that depend explicitly upon position, and are therefore not strictly compass-related. This could include giving directionality to landmarks, or acting as time-dependent landmarks involved in place recognition. We conclude that clock shift experiments alone are neither necessary nor sufficient to identify the occurrence of all conceivable uses of solar information in animal orientation, so that a predictable response to clock shift should not be regarded as an acid test of the use of solar information in navigation. PMID:25389374

Comprehensive thermoelectric properties of n- and p-type 78a/o Si - 22a/o Ge alloy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Raag, V.

1978-01-01

The time and temperature dependence of the thermoelectric properties on n- and p-type 78 a/o Si - 22 a/o Ge alloy are presented in detail for the range of temperatures of zero to 1000 C and operating times up to twelve years. The mechanisms responsible for the time dependence of the properties are discussed and mathematical models used in the derivation of the property values from experimental data are presented. The thermoelectric properties for each polarity type of the alloy are presented as a function of temperature for various operating times.

Nonstructural leaf carbohydrates dynamics of Pinus edulis during drought-induced tree mortality reveal role for carbon metabolism in mortality mechanism

USGS Publications Warehouse

Adams, Henry D.; Germino, Matthew J.; Breshears, David D.; Barron-Gafford, Greg A.; Guardiola-Claramonte, Maite; Zou, Chris B.; Huxman, Travis E.

2013-01-01

* Reduced foliar NSC during lethal drought indicates a carbon metabolism role in mortality mechanism. Although carbohydrates were not completely exhausted at mortality, temperature differences in starch accumulation timing suggest that carbon metabolism changes are associated with time to death. Drought mortality appears to be related to temperature-dependent carbon dynamics concurrent with increasing hydraulic stress in P. edulis and potentially other similar species.

Time-dependent variational approach in terms of squeezed coherent states: Implication to semi-classical approximation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tsue, Yasuhiko

1994-01-01

A general framework for time-dependent variational approach in terms of squeezed coherent states is constructed with the aim of describing quantal systems by means of classical mechanics including higher order quantal effects with the aid of canonicity conditions developed in the time-dependent Hartree-Fock theory. The Maslov phase occurring in a semi-classical quantization rule is investigated in this framework. In the limit of a semi-classical approximation in this approach, it is definitely shown that the Maslov phase has a geometric nature analogous to the Berry phase. It is also indicated that this squeezed coherent state approach is a possible way to go beyond the usual WKB approximation.

Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p20 controls circadian cell-cycle timing

PubMed Central

Laranjeiro, Ricardo; Tamai, T. Katherine; Peyric, Elodie; Krusche, Peter; Ott, Sascha; Whitmore, David

2013-01-01

Specific stages of the cell cycle are often restricted to particular times of day because of regulation by the circadian clock. In zebrafish, both mitosis (M phase) and DNA synthesis (S phase) are clock-controlled in cell lines and during embryo development. Despite the ubiquitousness of this phenomenon, relatively little is known about the underlying mechanism linking the clock to the cell cycle. In this study, we describe an evolutionarily conserved cell-cycle regulator, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1d (20 kDa protein, p20), which along with p21, is a strongly rhythmic gene and directly clock-controlled. Both p20 and p21 regulate the G1/S transition of the cell cycle. However, their expression patterns differ, with p20 predominant in developing brain and peak expression occurring 6 h earlier than p21. p20 expression is also p53-independent in contrast to p21 regulation. Such differences provide a unique mechanism whereby S phase is set to different times of day in a tissue-specific manner, depending on the balance of these two inhibitors. PMID:23569261

Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p20 controls circadian cell-cycle timing.

PubMed

Laranjeiro, Ricardo; Tamai, T Katherine; Peyric, Elodie; Krusche, Peter; Ott, Sascha; Whitmore, David

2013-04-23

Specific stages of the cell cycle are often restricted to particular times of day because of regulation by the circadian clock. In zebrafish, both mitosis (M phase) and DNA synthesis (S phase) are clock-controlled in cell lines and during embryo development. Despite the ubiquitousness of this phenomenon, relatively little is known about the underlying mechanism linking the clock to the cell cycle. In this study, we describe an evolutionarily conserved cell-cycle regulator, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1d (20 kDa protein, p20), which along with p21, is a strongly rhythmic gene and directly clock-controlled. Both p20 and p21 regulate the G1/S transition of the cell cycle. However, their expression patterns differ, with p20 predominant in developing brain and peak expression occurring 6 h earlier than p21. p20 expression is also p53-independent in contrast to p21 regulation. Such differences provide a unique mechanism whereby S phase is set to different times of day in a tissue-specific manner, depending on the balance of these two inhibitors.

Ab Initio Calculations of Ultrashort Carrier Dynamics in Two-Dimensional Materials: Valley Depolarization in Single-Layer WSe2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Molina-Sánchez, Alejandro; Sangalli, Davide; Wirtz, Ludger; Marini, Andrea

2017-08-01

In single-layer WSe$_2$, a paradigmatic semiconducting transition metal dichalcogenide, a circularly polarized laser field can selectively excite electronic transitions in one of the inequivalent $K^{\\pm}$ valleys. Such selective valley population corresponds to a pseudospin polarization. This can be used as a degree of freedom in a valleytronic device provided that the time scale for its depolarization is sufficiently large. Yet, the mechanism behind the valley depolarization still remains heavily debated. Recent time-dependent Kerr experiments have provided an accurate way to visualize the valley dynamics by measuring the rotation of a linearly polarized probe pulse applied after a circularly polarized pump pulse. We present here a clear, accurate and parameter-free description of the valley dynamics. By using an atomistic, ab initio, approach we fully disclose the elemental mechanisms that dictate the depolarization effects. Our results are in excellent agreement with recent time-dependent Kerr experiments. We explain the Kerr dynamics and its temperature dependence in terms of electron-phonon mediated processes that induce spin-flip inter-valley transitions.

Quantum theoretical study of electron solvation dynamics in ice layers on a Cu(111) surface.

PubMed

Andrianov, I; Klamroth, T; Saalfrank, P; Bovensiepen, U; Gahl, C; Wolf, M

2005-06-15

Recent experiments using time- and angle-resolved two-photon photoemission (2PPE) spectroscopy at metal/polar adsorbate interfaces succeeded in time-dependent analysis of the process of electron solvation. A fully quantum mechanical, two-dimensional simulation of this process, which explicitly includes laser excitation, is presented here, confirming the origin of characteristic features, such as the experimental observation of an apparently negative dispersion. The inference of the spatial extent of the localized electron states from the angular dependence of the 2PPE spectra has been found to be non-trivial and system-dependent.

Influence of the Convection Electric Field Models on Predicted Plasmapause Positions During Magnetic Storms

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pierrard, V.; Khazanov, G.; Cabrera, J.; Lemaire, J.

2007-01-01

In the present work, we determine how three well documented models of the magnetospheric electric field, and two different mechanisms proposed for the formation of the plasmapause influence the radial distance, the shape and the evolution of the plasmapause during the geomagnetic storms of 28 October 2001 and of 17 April 2002. The convection electric field models considered are: Mcllwain's E51) electric field model, Volland-Stern's model and Weimer's statistical model compiled from low-Earth orbit satellite data. The mechanisms for the formation of the plasmapause to be tested are: (i) the MHD theory where the plasmapause should correspond to the last-closed- equipotential (LCE) or last-closed-streamline (LCS), if the E-field distribution is stationary or time-dependent respectively; (ii) the interchange mechanism where the plasmapause corresponds to streamlines tangent to a Zero-Parallel-Force surface where the field-aligned plasma distribution becomes convectively unstable during enhancements of the E-field intensity in the nightside local time sector. The results of the different time dependent simulations are compared with concomitant EUV observations when available. The plasmatails or plumes observed after both selected geomagnetic storms are predicted in all simulations and for all E-field models. However, their shapes are quite different depending on the E-field models and the mechanisms that are used. Despite the partial success of the simulations to reproduce plumes during magnetic storms and substorms, there remains a long way to go before the detailed structures observed in the EUV observations during periods of geomagnetic activity can be accounted for very precisely by the existing E-field models. Furthermore, it cannot be excluded that the mechanisms currently identified to explain the formation of "Carpenter's knee" during substorm events, will', have to be revised or complemented in the cases of geomagnetic storms.

DELAY OF GERMINATION 1 mediates a conserved coat-dormancy mechanism for the temperature- and gibberellin-dependent control of seed germination

PubMed Central

Graeber, Kai; Linkies, Ada; Steinbrecher, Tina; Mummenhoff, Klaus; Tarkowská, Danuše; Turečková, Veronika; Ignatz, Michael; Sperber, Katja; Voegele, Antje; de Jong, Hans; Urbanová, Terezie; Strnad, Miroslav; Leubner-Metzger, Gerhard

2014-01-01

Seed germination is an important life-cycle transition because it determines subsequent plant survival and reproductive success. To detect optimal spatiotemporal conditions for germination, seeds act as sophisticated environmental sensors integrating information such as ambient temperature. Here we show that the DELAY OF GERMINATION 1 (DOG1) gene, known for providing dormancy adaptation to distinct environments, determines the optimal temperature for seed germination. By reciprocal gene-swapping experiments between Brassicaceae species we show that the DOG1-mediated dormancy mechanism is conserved. Biomechanical analyses show that this mechanism regulates the material properties of the endosperm, a seed tissue layer acting as germination barrier to control coat dormancy. We found that DOG1 inhibits the expression of gibberellin (GA)-regulated genes encoding cell-wall remodeling proteins in a temperature-dependent manner. Furthermore we demonstrate that DOG1 causes temperature-dependent alterations in the seed GA metabolism. These alterations in hormone metabolism are brought about by the temperature-dependent differential expression of genes encoding key enzymes of the GA biosynthetic pathway. These effects of DOG1 lead to a temperature-dependent control of endosperm weakening and determine the optimal temperature for germination. The conserved DOG1-mediated coat-dormancy mechanism provides a highly adaptable temperature-sensing mechanism to control the timing of germination. PMID:25114251

Locking of correlated neural activity to ongoing oscillations

PubMed Central

Helias, Moritz

2017-01-01

Population-wide oscillations are ubiquitously observed in mesoscopic signals of cortical activity. In these network states a global oscillatory cycle modulates the propensity of neurons to fire. Synchronous activation of neurons has been hypothesized to be a separate channel of signal processing information in the brain. A salient question is therefore if and how oscillations interact with spike synchrony and in how far these channels can be considered separate. Experiments indeed showed that correlated spiking co-modulates with the static firing rate and is also tightly locked to the phase of beta-oscillations. While the dependence of correlations on the mean rate is well understood in feed-forward networks, it remains unclear why and by which mechanisms correlations tightly lock to an oscillatory cycle. We here demonstrate that such correlated activation of pairs of neurons is qualitatively explained by periodically-driven random networks. We identify the mechanisms by which covariances depend on a driving periodic stimulus. Mean-field theory combined with linear response theory yields closed-form expressions for the cyclostationary mean activities and pairwise zero-time-lag covariances of binary recurrent random networks. Two distinct mechanisms cause time-dependent covariances: the modulation of the susceptibility of single neurons (via the external input and network feedback) and the time-varying variances of single unit activities. For some parameters, the effectively inhibitory recurrent feedback leads to resonant covariances even if mean activities show non-resonant behavior. Our analytical results open the question of time-modulated synchronous activity to a quantitative analysis. PMID:28604771

Mechanotransductive cascade of Myo-II-dependent mesoderm and endoderm invaginations in embryo gastrulation

PubMed Central

Mitrossilis, Démosthène; Röper, Jens-Christian; Le Roy, Damien; Driquez, Benjamin; Michel, Aude; Ménager, Christine; Shaw, Gorky; Le Denmat, Simon; Ranno, Laurent; Dumas-Bouchiat, Frédéric; Dempsey, Nora M.; Farge, Emmanuel

2017-01-01

Animal development consists of a cascade of tissue differentiation and shape change. Associated mechanical signals regulate tissue differentiation. Here we demonstrate that endogenous mechanical cues also trigger biochemical pathways, generating the active morphogenetic movements shaping animal development through a mechanotransductive cascade of Myo-II medio-apical stabilization. To mimic physiological tissue deformation with a cell scale resolution, liposomes containing magnetic nanoparticles are injected into embryonic epithelia and submitted to time-variable forces generated by a linear array of micrometric soft magnets. Periodic magnetically induced deformations quantitatively phenocopy the soft mechanical endogenous snail-dependent apex pulsations, rescue the medio-apical accumulation of Rok, Myo-II and subsequent mesoderm invagination lacking in sna mutants, in a Fog-dependent mechanotransductive process. Mesoderm invagination then activates Myo-II apical accumulation, in a similar Fog-dependent mechanotransductive process, which in turn initiates endoderm invagination. This reveals the existence of a highly dynamic self-inductive cascade of mesoderm and endoderm invaginations, regulated by mechano-induced medio-apical stabilization of Myo-II. PMID:28112149

Mechanotransductive cascade of Myo-II-dependent mesoderm and endoderm invaginations in embryo gastrulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mitrossilis, Démosthène; Röper, Jens-Christian; Le Roy, Damien; Driquez, Benjamin; Michel, Aude; Ménager, Christine; Shaw, Gorky; Le Denmat, Simon; Ranno, Laurent; Dumas-Bouchiat, Frédéric; Dempsey, Nora M.; Farge, Emmanuel

2017-01-01

Animal development consists of a cascade of tissue differentiation and shape change. Associated mechanical signals regulate tissue differentiation. Here we demonstrate that endogenous mechanical cues also trigger biochemical pathways, generating the active morphogenetic movements shaping animal development through a mechanotransductive cascade of Myo-II medio-apical stabilization. To mimic physiological tissue deformation with a cell scale resolution, liposomes containing magnetic nanoparticles are injected into embryonic epithelia and submitted to time-variable forces generated by a linear array of micrometric soft magnets. Periodic magnetically induced deformations quantitatively phenocopy the soft mechanical endogenous snail-dependent apex pulsations, rescue the medio-apical accumulation of Rok, Myo-II and subsequent mesoderm invagination lacking in sna mutants, in a Fog-dependent mechanotransductive process. Mesoderm invagination then activates Myo-II apical accumulation, in a similar Fog-dependent mechanotransductive process, which in turn initiates endoderm invagination. This reveals the existence of a highly dynamic self-inductive cascade of mesoderm and endoderm invaginations, regulated by mechano-induced medio-apical stabilization of Myo-II.

Thermomechanical analysis of fast-burst reactors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Miller, J.D.

1994-08-01

Fast-burst reactors are designed to provide intense, short-duration pulses of neutrons. The fission reaction also produces extreme time-dependent heating of the nuclear fuel. An existing transient-dynamic finite element code was modified specifically to compute the time-dependent stresses and displacements due to thermal shock loads of reactors. Thermomechanical analysis was then applied to determine structural feasibility of various concepts for an EDNA-type reactor and to optimize the mechanical design of the new SPR III-M reactor.

Nonlinear viscoelastic characterization of polymer materials using a dynamic-mechanical methodology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Strganac, Thomas W.; Payne, Debbie Flowers; Biskup, Bruce A.; Letton, Alan

1995-01-01

Polymer materials retrieved from LDEF exhibit nonlinear constitutive behavior; thus the authors present a method to characterize nonlinear viscoelastic behavior using measurements from dynamic (oscillatory) mechanical tests. Frequency-derived measurements are transformed into time-domain properties providing the capability to predict long term material performance without a lengthy experimentation program. Results are presented for thin-film high-performance polymer materials used in the fabrication of high-altitude scientific balloons. Predictions based upon a linear test and analysis approach are shown to deteriorate for moderate to high stress levels expected for extended applications. Tests verify that nonlinear viscoelastic response is induced by large stresses. Hence, an approach is developed in which the stress-dependent behavior is examined in a manner analogous to modeling temperature-dependent behavior with time-temperature correspondence and superposition principles. The development leads to time-stress correspondence and superposition of measurements obtained through dynamic mechanical tests. Predictions of material behavior using measurements based upon linear and nonlinear approaches are compared with experimental results obtained from traditional creep tests. Excellent agreement is shown for the nonlinear model.

New methodology for mechanical characterization of human superficial facial tissue anisotropic behaviour in vivo.

PubMed

Then, C; Stassen, B; Depta, K; Silber, G

2017-07-01

Mechanical characterization of human superficial facial tissue has important applications in biomedical science, computer assisted forensics, graphics, and consumer goods development. Specifically, the latter may include facial hair removal devices. Predictive accuracy of numerical models and their ability to elucidate biomechanically relevant questions depends on the acquisition of experimental data and mechanical tissue behavior representation. Anisotropic viscoelastic behavioral characterization of human facial tissue, deformed in vivo with finite strain, however, is sparse. Employing an experimental-numerical approach, a procedure is presented to evaluate multidirectional tensile properties of superficial tissue layers of the face in vivo. Specifically, in addition to stress relaxation, displacement-controlled multi-step ramp-and-hold protocols were performed to separate elastic from inelastic properties. For numerical representation, an anisotropic hyperelastic material model in conjunction with a time domain linear viscoelasticity formulation with Prony series was employed. Model parameters were inversely derived, employing finite element models, using multi-criteria optimization. The methodology provides insight into mechanical superficial facial tissue properties. Experimental data shows pronounced anisotropy, especially with large strain. The stress relaxation rate does not depend on the loading direction, but is strain-dependent. Preconditioning eliminates equilibrium hysteresis effects and leads to stress-strain repeatability. In the preconditioned state tissue stiffness and hysteresis insensitivity to strain rate in the applied range is evident. The employed material model fits the nonlinear anisotropic elastic results and the viscoelasticity model reasonably reproduces time-dependent results. Inversely deduced maximum anisotropic long-term shear modulus of linear elasticity is G ∞,max aniso =2.43kPa and instantaneous initial shear modulus at an applied rate of ramp loading is G 0,max aniso =15.38kPa. Derived mechanical model parameters constitute a basis for complex skin interaction simulation. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Control of extracellular dopamine at dendrite and axon terminals

PubMed Central

Ford, Christopher P.; Gantz, Stephanie C.; Phillips, Paul E. M.; Williams, John T.

2010-01-01

Midbrain dopamine neurons release dopamine from both axons and dendrites. The mechanism underlying release at these different sites has been proposed to differ. This study used electrochemical and electrophysiological methods to compare the time course and calcium-dependence of somatodendritc dopamine release in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) to that of axonal dopamine release in the dorsal striatum. The amount of dopamine released in the striatum was ~20 fold greater than in cell body regions of the VTA or SNc. However the calcium dependence and time to peak of the dopamine transients were similar. These results illustrate an unexpected overall similarity in the mechanisms of dopamine release in the striatum and cell body regions. To examine how diffusion regulates the time course of dopamine following release, dextran was added to the extracellular solution to slow diffusion. In the VTA, dextran slowed the rate of rise and fall of the extracellular dopamine transient as measured by fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) yet did not alter the kinetics of the dopamine dependent inhibitory post-synaptic current (IPSC). Dextran failed to significantly alter the time course of the rise and fall of the dopamine transient in the striatum suggesting a more influential role for reuptake in the striatum. The conclusion is that the time course of dopamine within the extracellular space of the VTA is dependent on both diffusion and reuptake, whereas the activation of D2-receptors on dopamine neurons is primarily limited by reuptake. PMID:20484639

Influence of time dependent longitudinal magnetic fields on the cooling process, exchange bias and magnetization reversal mechanism in FM core/AFM shell nanoparticles: a Monte Carlo study.

PubMed

Yüksel, Yusuf; Akıncı, Ümit

2016-12-07

Using Monte Carlo simulations, we have investigated the dynamic phase transition properties of magnetic nanoparticles with ferromagnetic core coated by an antiferromagnetic shell structure. Effects of field amplitude and frequency on the thermal dependence of magnetizations, magnetization reversal mechanisms during hysteresis cycles, as well as on the exchange bias and coercive fields have been examined, and the feasibility of applying dynamic magnetic fields on the particle have been discussed for technological and biomedical purposes.

Cross-Linker Unbinding and Self-Similarity in Bundled Cytoskeletal Networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lieleg, O.; Bausch, A. R.

2007-10-01

The macromechanical properties of purely bundled in vitro actin networks are not only determined by the micromechanical properties of individual bundles but also by molecular unbinding events of the actin-binding protein (ABP) fascin. Under high mechanical load the network elasticity depends on the forced unbinding of individual ABPs in a rate dependent manner. Cross-linker unbinding in combination with the structural self-similarity of the network enables the introduction of a concentration-time superposition principle—broadening the mechanically accessible frequency range over 8 orders of magnitude.

Large Signal Time Dependent Quantum Mechanical Transport in Quantum Phase Based Devices

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-06-10

tansport ths spatial dependence suggests equilibrium electron temperature values that difer fr•m the ambient. The prospect of quantum heMing and cooling...the factor 21 is a consequence of the defintion of the nionlocal coordinate (wen eqn (7)]. In this transformation it APPENDIX C is asserted that the

Mechanistic explanation of time-dependent cross-phenomenon based on quorum sensing: A case study of the mixture of sulfonamide and quorum sensing inhibitor to bioluminescence of Aliivibrio fischeri.

PubMed

Sun, Haoyu; Pan, Yongzheng; Gu, Yue; Lin, Zhifen

2018-07-15

Cross-phenomenon in which the concentration-response curve (CRC) for a mixture crosses the CRC for the reference model has been identified in many studies, expressed as a heterogeneous pattern of joint toxic action. However, a mechanistic explanation of the cross-phenomenon has thus far been extremely insufficient. In this study, a time-dependent cross-phenomenon was observed, in which the cross-concentration range between the CRC for the mixture of sulfamethoxypyridazine (SMP) and (Z-)-4-Bromo-5-(bromomethylene)-2(5H)-furanone (C30) to the bioluminescence of Aliivibrio fischeri (A. fischeri) and the CRC for independent action model with 95% confidence bands varied from low-concentration to higher-concentration regions in a timely manner expressed the joint toxic action of the mixture changing with an increase of both concentration and time. Through investigating the time-dependent hormetic effects of SMP and C30 (by measuring the expression of protein mRNA, simulating the bioluminescent reaction and analyzing the toxic action), the underlying mechanism was as follows: SMP and C30 acted on the quorum sensing (QS) system of A. fischeri, which induced low-concentration stimulatory effects and high-concentration inhibitory effects; in the low-concentration region, the stimulatory effects of SMP and C30 made the mixture produce a synergistic stimulation on the bioluminescence; thus, the joint toxic action exhibited antagonism. In the high-concentration region, the inhibitory effects of SMP and C30 in the mixture caused a double block in the loop circuit of the QS system; thus, the joint toxic action exhibited synergism. With the increase of time, these stimulatory and inhibitory effects of SMP and C30 were changed by the variation of the QS system at different growth phases, resulting in the time-dependent cross-phenomenon. This study proposes an induced mechanism for time-dependent cross-phenomenon based on QS, which may provide new insight into the mechanistic investigation of time-dependent cross-phenomenon, benefitting the environmental risk assessment of mixtures. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

PKC-Dependent GlyT1 Ubiquitination Occurs Independent of Phosphorylation: Inespecificity in Lysine Selection for Ubiquitination

PubMed Central

Barrera, Susana P.; Castrejon-Tellez, Vicente; Trinidad, Margarita; Robles-Escajeda, Elisa; Vargas-Medrano, Javier; Varela-Ramirez, Armando; Miranda, Manuel

2015-01-01

Neurotransmitter transporter ubiquitination is emerging as the main mechanism for endocytosis and sorting of cargo into lysosomes. In this study, we demonstrate PKC-dependent ubiquitination of three different isoforms of the glycine transporter 1 (GlyT1). Incubation of cells expressing transporter with the PKC activator phorbol ester induced a dramatic, time-dependent increase in GlyT1 ubiquitination, followed by accumulation of GlyT1 in EEA1 positive early endosomes. This occurred via a mechanism that was abolished by inhibition of PKC. GlyT1 endocytosis was confirmed in both retinal sections and primary cultures of mouse amacrine neurons. Replacement of only all lysines in the N-and C-termini to arginines prevented ubiquitination and endocytosis, displaying redundancy in the mechanism of ubiquitination. Interestingly, a 40–50% reduction in glycine uptake was detected in phorbol-ester stimulated cells expressing the WT-GlyT1, whereas no significant change was for the mutant protein, demonstrating that endocytosis participates in the reduction of uptake. Consistent with previous findings for the dopamine transporter DAT, ubiquitination of GlyT1 tails functions as sorting signal to deliver transporter into the lysosome and removal of ubiquitination sites dramatically attenuated the rate of GlyT1 degradation. Finally, we showed for the first time that PKC-dependent GlyT1 phosphorylation was not affected by removal of ubiquitination sites, suggesting separate PKC-dependent signaling events for these posttranslational modifications. PMID:26418248

Resilience of riverbed vegetation to uprooting by flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Perona, P.; Crouzy, B.

2018-03-01

Riverine ecosystem biodiversity is largely maintained by ecogeomorphic processes including vegetation renewal via uprooting and recovery times to flow disturbances. Plant roots thus heavily contribute to engineering resilience to perturbation of such ecosystems. We show that vegetation uprooting by flow occurs as a fatigue-like mechanism, which statistically requires a given exposure time to imposed riverbed flow erosion rates before the plant collapses. We formulate a physically based stochastic model for the actual plant rooting depth and the time-to-uprooting, which allows us to define plant resilience to uprooting for generic time-dependent flow erosion dynamics. This theory shows that plant resilience to uprooting depends on the time-to-uprooting and that root mechanical anchoring acts as a process memory stored within the plant-soil system. The model is validated against measured data of time-to-uprooting of Avena sativa seedlings with various root lengths under different flow conditions. This allows for assessing the natural variance of the uprooting-by-flow process and to compute the prediction entropy, which quantifies the relative importance of the deterministic and the random components affecting the process.

Investigation of dissociative electron attachment to 2'-deoxycytidine-3'-monophosphate using DFT method and time dependent wave packet approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bhowmick, Somnath; B, Renjith; Mishra, Manoj K.; Sarma, Manabendra

2012-08-01

Effect of electron correlation on single strand breaks (SSBs) induced by low energy electron (LEE) has been investigated in a fragment excised from a DNA, viz., 2'-deoxycytidine-3'-monophosphate [3'-dCMPH] molecule in gas phase at DFT-B3LYP/6-31+G(d) accuracy level and using local complex potential based time dependent wave packet (LCP-TDWP) approach. The results obtained, in conjunction with our earlier investigation, show the possibility of SSB at very low energy (0.15 eV) where the LEE transfers from π* to σ* resonance state which resembles a SN2 type mechanism. In addition, for the first time, an indication of quantum mechanical tunneling in strand breaking is seen from the highest anionic bound vibrational state (χ5), which may have a substantial role during DNA damage.

Using time-dependent density functional theory in real time for calculating electronic transport

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schaffhauser, Philipp; Kümmel, Stephan

2016-01-01

We present a scheme for calculating electronic transport within the propagation approach to time-dependent density functional theory. Our scheme is based on solving the time-dependent Kohn-Sham equations on grids in real space and real time for a finite system. We use absorbing and antiabsorbing boundaries for simulating the coupling to a source and a drain. The boundaries are designed to minimize the effects of quantum-mechanical reflections and electrical polarization build-up, which are the major obstacles when calculating transport by applying an external bias to a finite system. We show that the scheme can readily be applied to real molecules by calculating the current through a conjugated molecule as a function of time. By comparing to literature results for the conjugated molecule and to analytic results for a one-dimensional model system we demonstrate the reliability of the concept.

Product Reliability Trends, Derating Considerations and Failure Mechanisms with Scaled CMOS

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

White, Mark; Vu, Duc; Nguyen, Duc; Ruiz, Ron; Chen, Yuan; Bernstein, Joseph B.

2006-01-01

As microelectronics is scaled into the deep sub-micron regime, space and aerospace users of advanced technology CMOS are reassessing how scaling effects impact long-term product reliability. The effects of electromigration (EM), time-dependent-dielectric-breakdown (TDDB) and hot carrier degradation (HCI and NBTI) wearout mechanisms on scaled technologies and product reliability are investigated, accelerated stress testing across several technology nodes is performed, and FA is conducted to confirm the failure mechanism(s).

Assessing dimensions of nicotine dependence

PubMed Central

Piper, Megan E.; McCarthy, Danielle E.; Bolt, Daniel M.; Smith, Stevens S.; Lerman, Caryn; Benowitz, Neal; Fiore, Michael C.; Baker, Timothy B.

2008-01-01

Considerable research, ranging from survey to clinical to genetic, has utilized traditional measures of tobacco dependence, such as the Fagerstrom Test of Nicotine Dependence (FTND) and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV) criteria, that focus on endpoint definitions of tobacco dependence such as heavy smoking, time to first cigarette in the morning, and smoking despite consequences. In an effort to better understand possible theories and mechanisms underlying tobacco dependence, which could be used to improve treatment and research, two multidimensional measures of tobacco dependence have been developed: the Nicotine Dependence Syndrome Scale (NDSS) and the Wisconsin Inventory of Smoking Dependence Motives (WISDM). This research used data from three randomized smoking cessation trials to examine the internal consistency and validity (convergent, concurrent and predictive) of these scales, relative to each other and the traditional measures. Results reveal that NDSS and WISDM subscales are related to important dependence criteria, but in a heterogeneous fashion. The data suggest that there are important underlying mechanisms or motives that are significantly related to different important outcomes, such as withdrawal and cessation. The FTND was most strongly related to abstinence at 1 week and 6 months post-quit, whereas the WISDM Tolerance subscale was most strongly related to abstinence at the end of treatment. The NDSS Priority subscale was consistently predictive of outcome at all three follow-up time points. There is also evidence that WISDM subscales are related to a biomarker of the rate of nicotine metabolism. PMID:18584464

Mechanisms of nitrogen deposition effects on temperate forest lichens and trees

Treesearch

Therese S. Carter; Christopher M. Clark; Mark E. Fenn; Sarah Jovan; Steven S. Perakis; Jennifer Riddell; Paul G. Schaberg; Tara L. Greaver; Meredith G. Hastings

2017-01-01

We review the mechanisms of deleterious nitrogen (N) deposition impacts on temperate forests, with a particular focus on trees and lichens. Elevated anthropogenic N deposition to forests has varied effects on individual organisms depending on characteristics both of the N inputs (form, timing, amount) and of the organisms (ecology, physiology) involved. Improved...

Viscoelastic Properties of Collagen-Adhesive Composites under Water Saturated and Dry Conditions

PubMed Central

Singh, Viraj; Misra, Anil; Parthasarathy, Ranganathan; Ye, Qiang; Spencer, Paulette

2014-01-01

To investigate the time and rate dependent mechanical properties of collagen-adhesive composites, creep and monotonic experiments are performed under dry and wet conditions. The composites are prepared by infiltration of dentin adhesive into a demineralized bovine dentin. Experimental results show that for small stress level under dry conditions, both the composite and neat adhesive have similar behavior. On the other hand, in wet conditions, the composites are significantly soft and weak compared to the neat adhesives. The behavior in the wet condition is found to be affected by the hydrophilicity of both the adhesive and collagen. Since the adhesive-collagen composites area part of the complex construct that forms the adhesive-dentin interface, their presence will affect the overall performance of the restoration. We find that Kelvin-Voigt model with at least 4-elements is required to fit the creep compliance data, indicating that the adhesive-collagen composites are complex polymers with several characteristics time-scales whose mechanical behavior will be significantly affected by loading rates and frequencies. Such mechanical properties have not been investigated widely for these types of materials. The derived model provides an additional advantage that it can be exploited to extract other viscoelastic properties which are, generally, time consuming to obtain experimentally. The calibrated model is utilized to obtain stress relaxation function, frequency-dependent storage and loss modulus, and rate dependent elastic modulus. PMID:24753362

Collecting Psycholinguistic Response Time Data Using Amazon Mechanical Turk

PubMed Central

Enochson, Kelly; Culbertson, Jennifer

2015-01-01

Researchers in linguistics and related fields have recently begun exploiting online crowd-sourcing tools, like Amazon Mechanical Turk (AMT), to gather behavioral data. While this method has been successfully validated for various offline measures—grammaticality judgment or other forced-choice tasks—its use for mainstream psycholinguistic research remains limited. This is because psycholinguistic effects are often dependent on relatively small differences in response times, and there remains some doubt as to whether precise timing measurements can be gathered over the web. Here we show that three classic psycholinguistic effects can in fact be replicated using AMT in combination with open-source software for gathering response times client-side. Specifically, we find reliable effects of subject definiteness, filler-gap dependency processing, and agreement attraction in self-paced reading tasks using approximately the same numbers of participants and/or trials as similar laboratory studies. Our results suggest that psycholinguists can and should be taking advantage of AMT and similar online crowd-sourcing marketplaces as a fast, low-resource alternative to traditional laboratory research. PMID:25822348

Glucocorticoid Repression of Inflammatory Gene Expression Shows Differential Responsiveness by Transactivation- and Transrepression-Dependent Mechanisms

PubMed Central

King, Elizabeth M.; Chivers, Joanna E.; Rider, Christopher F.; Minnich, Anne; Giembycz, Mark A.; Newton, Robert

2013-01-01

Binding of glucocorticoid to the glucocorticoid receptor (GR/NR3C1) may repress inflammatory gene transcription via direct, protein synthesis-independent processes (transrepression), or by activating transcription (transactivation) of multiple anti-inflammatory/repressive factors. Using human pulmonary A549 cells, we showed that 34 out of 39 IL-1β-inducible mRNAs were repressed to varying degrees by the synthetic glucocorticoid, dexamethasone. Whilst these repressive effects were GR-dependent, they did not correlate with either the magnitude of IL-1β-inducibility or the NF-κB-dependence of the inflammatory genes. This suggests that induction by IL-1β and repression by dexamethasone are independent events. Roles for transactivation were investigated using the protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide. However, cycloheximide reduced the IL-1β-dependent expression of 13 mRNAs, which, along with the 5 not showing repression by dexamethasone, were not analysed further. Of the remaining 21 inflammatory mRNAs, cycloheximide significantly attenuated the dexamethasone-dependent repression of 11 mRNAs that also showed a marked time-dependence to their repression. Such effects are consistent with repression occurring via the de novo synthesis of a new product, or products, which subsequently cause repression (i.e., repression via a transactivation mechanism). Conversely, 10 mRNAs showed completely cycloheximide-independent, and time-independent, repression by dexamethasone. This is consistent with direct GR transrepression. Importantly, the inflammatory mRNAs showing attenuated repression by dexamethasone in the presence of cycloheximide also showed a significantly greater extent of repression and a higher potency to dexamethasone compared to those mRNAs showing cycloheximide-independent repression. This suggests that the repression of inflammatory mRNAs by GR transactivation-dependent mechanisms accounts for the greatest levels of repression and the most potent repression by dexamethasone. In conclusion, our data indicate roles for both transrepression and transactivation in the glucocorticoid-dependent repression of inflammatory gene expression. However, transactivation appears to account for the more potent and efficacious mechanism of repression by glucocorticoids on these IL-1β-induced genes. PMID:23349769

Predictors of Functional Dependence Despite Successful Revascularization in Large-Vessel Occlusion Strokes

PubMed Central

Shi, Zhong-Song; Liebeskind, David S.; Xiang, Bin; Ge, Sijian Grace; Feng, Lei; Albers, Gregory W.; Budzik, Ronald; Devlin, Thomas; Gupta, Rishi; Jansen, Olav; Jovin, Tudor G.; Killer-Oberpfalzer, Monika; Lutsep, Helmi L.; Macho, Juan; Nogueira, Raul G.; Rymer, Marilyn; Smith, Wade S.; Wahlgren, Nils; Duckwiler, Gary R.

2014-01-01

Background and Purpose High revascularization rates in large-vessel occlusion strokes treated by mechanical thrombectomy are not always associated with good clinical outcomes. We evaluated predictors of functional dependence despite successful revascularization among patients with acute ischemic stroke treated with thrombectomy. Methods We analyzed the pooled data from the Multi Mechanical Embolus Removal in Cerebral Ischemia (MERCI), Thrombectomy Revascularization of Large Vessel Occlusions in Acute Ischemic Stroke (TREVO), and TREVO 2 trials. Successful revascularization was defined as thrombolysis in cerebral infarction score 2b or 3. Functional dependence was defined as a score of 3 to 6 on the modified Rankin Scale at 3 months. We assessed relationship of demographic, clinical, angiographic characteristics, and hemorrhage with functional dependence despite successful revascularization. Results Two hundred and twenty-eight patients with successful revascularization had clinical outcome follow-up. The rates of functional dependence with endovascular success were 48.6% for Trevo thrombectomy and 58.0% for Merci thrombectomy. Age (odds ratio, 1.04; 95% confidence interval, 1.02–1.06 per 1-year increase), National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (odds ratio, 1.08; 95% confidence interval, 1.02–1.15 per 1-point increase), and symptom onset to endovascular treatment time (odds ratio, 1.11; 95% confidence interval, 1.01–1.22 per 30-minute delay) were predictors of functional dependence despite successful revascularization. Symptom onset to reperfusion time beyond 5 hours was associated with functional dependence. All subjects with symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage had functional dependence. Conclusions One half of patients with successful mechanical thrombectomy do not have good outcomes. Age, severe neurological deficits, and delayed endovascular treatment were associated with functional dependence despite successful revascularization. Our data support efforts to minimize delays to endovascular therapy in patients with acute ischemic stroke to improve outcomes. PMID:24876082

Critical heat flux phenomena depending on pre-pressurization in transient heat input

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Park, Jongdoc; Fukuda, Katsuya; Liu, Qiusheng

2017-07-01

The critical heat flux (CHF) levels that occurred due to exponential heat inputs for varying periods to a 1.0-mm diameter horizontal cylinder immersed in various liquids were measured to develop an extended database on the effect of various pressures and subcoolings by photographic study. Two main mechanisms of CHF were found. One mechanism is due to the time lag of the hydrodynamic instability (HI) which starts at steady-state CHF upon fully developed nucleate boiling, and the other mechanism is due to the explosive process of heterogeneous spontaneous nucleation (HSN) which occurs at a certain HSN superheat in originally flooded cavities on the cylinder surface. The incipience of boiling processes was completely different depending on pre-pressurization. Also, the dependence of pre-pressure in transient CHFs changed due to the wettability of boiling liquids. The objective of this work is to clarify the transient CHF phenomena due to HI or HSN by photographic.

Remodeling by fibroblasts alters the rate-dependent mechanical properties of collagen.

PubMed

Babaei, Behzad; Davarian, Ali; Lee, Sheng-Lin; Pryse, Kenneth M; McConnaughey, William B; Elson, Elliot L; Genin, Guy M

2016-06-01

The ways that fibroblasts remodel their environment are central to wound healing, development of musculoskeletal tissues, and progression of pathologies such as fibrosis. However, the changes that fibroblasts make to the material around them and the mechanical consequences of these changes have proven difficult to quantify, especially in realistic, viscoelastic three-dimensional culture environments, leaving a critical need for quantitative data. Here, we observed the mechanisms and quantified the mechanical effects of fibroblast remodeling in engineered tissue constructs (ETCs) comprised of reconstituted rat tail (type I) collagen and human fibroblast cells. To study the effects of remodeling on tissue mechanics, stress-relaxation tests were performed on ETCs cultured for 24, 48, and 72h. ETCs were treated with deoxycholate and tested again to assess the ECM response. Viscoelastic relaxation spectra were obtained using the generalized Maxwell model. Cells exhibited viscoelastic damping at two finite time constants over which the ECM showed little damping, approximately 0.2s and 10-30s. Different finite time constants in the range of 1-7000s were attributed to ECM relaxation. Cells remodeled the ECM to produce a relaxation time constant on the order of 7000s, and to merge relaxation finite time constants in the 0.5-2s range into a single time content in the 1s range. Results shed light on hierarchical deformation mechanisms in tissues, and on pathologies related to collagen relaxation such as diastolic dysfunction. As fibroblasts proliferate within and remodel a tissue, they change the tissue mechanically. Quantifying these changes is critical for understanding wound healing and the development of pathologies such as cardiac fibrosis. Here, we characterize for the first time the spectrum of viscoelastic (rate-dependent) changes arising from the remodeling of reconstituted collagen by fibroblasts. The method also provides estimates of the viscoelastic spectra of fibroblasts within a three-dimensional culture environment. Results are of particular interest because of the ways that fibroblasts alter the mechanical response of collagen at loading frequencies associated with cardiac contraction in humans. Copyright © 2016 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A metabolomics-driven approach reveals metabolic responses and mechanisms in the rat heart following myocardial infarction.

PubMed

Nam, Miso; Jung, Youngae; Ryu, Do Hyun; Hwang, Geum-Sook

2017-01-15

Myocardial infarction (MI) is caused by myocardial necrosis resulting from prolonged ischemia. However, the biological mechanisms underlying MI remain unclear. We evaluated metabolic and lipidomic changes in rat heart tissue from sham and MI at 1h, 1day and 10day after coronary ligation, using global profiling based on metabolomics. A time-dependent increase or decrease in polar and lipid metabolite levels was measured. The S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) concentration and the SAM/S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) ratio gradually decreased in a time-dependent manner and were significantly downregulated 10days after MI. Transcriptome analysis revealed that the levels of coenzyme Q (Coq)-3 and Coq5, both of which are SAM-dependent methyltransferases, were decreased in the MI groups. These results suggested that dysregulation of SAM may be related to down regulated COQ biosynthetic pathway. In addition, short-chain (C3) and medium-chain (C4-C12) acylcarnitine levels gradually decreased, whereas long-chain acylcarnitine (C14-18) levels increased, owing to a defect in β-oxidation during ischemia. These changes are related to energy-dependent metabolic pathways, and a subsequent decrease in adenosine triphosphate concentration was observed. The comprehensive integration of various omics data provides a novel means of understanding the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of MI. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Predicting Young’s Modulus of Glass/Ceramic Sealant for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Considering the Combined Effects of Aging, Micro-Voids and Self-Healing

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liu, Wenning N.; Sun, Xin; Khaleel, Mohammad A.

We study the temperature dependent Young’s modulus for the glass/ceramic seal material used in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs). With longer heat treatment or aging time during operation, further devitrification may reduce the residual glass content in the seal material while boosting the ceramic crystalline content. In the meantime, micro-voids induced by the cooling process from the high operating temperature to room temperature can potentially degrade the mechanical properties of the glass/ceramic sealant. Upon reheating to the SOFC operating temperature, possible self-healing phenomenon may occur in the glass/ceramic sealant which can potentially restore some of its mechanical properties. A phenomenologicalmore » model is developed to model the temperature dependent Young’s modulus of glass/ceramic seal considering the combined effects of aging, micro-voids, and possible self-healing. An aging-time-dependent crystalline content model is first developed to describe the increase of the crystalline content due to the continuing devitrification under high operating temperature. A continuum damage mechanics (CDM) model is then adapted to model the effects of both cooling induced micro-voids and reheating induced self-healing. This model is applied to model the glass-ceramic G18, a candidate SOFC seal material previously developed at PNNL. Experimentally determined temperature dependent Young’s modulus is used to validate the model predictions« less

Remote Determination of Time-Dependent Stiffness of Surface-Degrading-Polymer Scaffolds Via Synchrotron-Based Imaging.

PubMed

Bawolin, N K; Chen, X B

2017-04-01

Surface-degrading polymers have been widely used to fabricate scaffolds with the mechanical properties appropriate for tissue regeneration/repair. During their surface degradation, the material properties of polymers remain approximately unchanged, but the scaffold geometry and thus mechanical properties vary with time. This paper presents a novel method to determine the time-dependent mechanical properties, particularly stiffness, of scaffolds from the geometric changes captured by synchrotron-based imaging, with the help of finite element analysis (FEA). Three-dimensional (3D) tissue scaffolds were fabricated from surface-degrading polymers, and during their degradation, the tissue scaffolds were imaged via the synchrotron-based imaging to characterize their changing geometry. On this basis, the stiffness behavior of scaffolds was estimated from the FEA, and the results obtained were compared to the direct measurements of scaffold stiffness from the load-displacement material testing. The comparison illustrates that the Young's moduli estimated from the FEA and characterized geometry are in agreement with the ones of direct measurements. The developed method of estimating the mechanical behavior was also demonstrated effective with a nondegrading scaffold that displays the nonlinear stress-strain behavior. The in vivo monitoring of Young's modulus by morphology characterization also suggests the feasibility of characterizing experimentally the difference between in vivo and in vitro surface degradation of tissue engineering constructs.

Resolving nanoparticle growth mechanisms from size- and time-dependent growth rate analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pichelstorfer, Lukas; Stolzenburg, Dominik; Ortega, John; Karl, Thomas; Kokkola, Harri; Laakso, Anton; Lehtinen, Kari E. J.; Smith, James N.; McMurry, Peter H.; Winkler, Paul M.

2018-01-01

Atmospheric new particle formation occurs frequently in the global atmosphere and may play a crucial role in climate by affecting cloud properties. The relevance of newly formed nanoparticles depends largely on the dynamics governing their initial formation and growth to sizes where they become important for cloud microphysics. One key to the proper understanding of nanoparticle effects on climate is therefore hidden in the growth mechanisms. In this study we have developed and successfully tested two independent methods based on the aerosol general dynamics equation, allowing detailed retrieval of time- and size-dependent nanoparticle growth rates. Both methods were used to analyze particle formation from two different biogenic precursor vapors in controlled chamber experiments. Our results suggest that growth rates below 10 nm show much more variation than is currently thought and pin down the decisive size range of growth at around 5 nm where in-depth studies of physical and chemical particle properties are needed.

The geometric field (gravity) as an electro-chemical potential in a Ginzburg-Landau theory of superconductivity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Atanasov, Victor

2017-07-01

We extend the superconductor's free energy to include an interaction of the order parameter with the curvature of space-time. This interaction leads to geometry dependent coherence length and Ginzburg-Landau parameter which suggests that the curvature of space-time can change the superconductor's type. The curvature of space-time doesn't affect the ideal diamagnetism of the superconductor but acts as chemical potential. In a particular circumstance, the geometric field becomes order-parameter dependent, therefore the superconductor's order parameter dynamics affects the curvature of space-time and electrical or internal quantum mechanical energy can be channelled into the curvature of space-time. Experimental consequences are discussed.

On the Time-Dependent Analysis of Gamow Decay

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Durr, Detlef; Grummt, Robert; Kolb, Martin

2011-01-01

Gamow's explanation of the exponential decay law uses complex "eigenvalues" and exponentially growing "eigenfunctions". This raises the question, how Gamow's description fits into the quantum mechanical description of nature, which is based on real eigenvalues and square integrable wavefunctions. Observing that the time evolution of any…

Rank-dependent deactivation in network evolution.

PubMed

Xu, Xin-Jian; Zhou, Ming-Chen

2009-12-01

A rank-dependent deactivation mechanism is introduced to network evolution. The growth dynamics of the network is based on a finite memory of individuals, which is implemented by deactivating one site at each time step. The model shows striking features of a wide range of real-world networks: power-law degree distribution, high clustering coefficient, and disassortative degree correlation.

Time-dependent edge notch sensitivity of Inconel 718 sheet in the temperature range 900 to 1400 F (482 to 760 C)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wilson, D. J.

1972-01-01

Time-dependent notch sensitivity of Inconel 718 sheet occurred at 900 to 1200 F when notched specimens were loaded below the yield strength, and tests on smooth specimens showed that small amounts of creep consumed large fractions of creep-rupture life. The severity of the notch sensitivity decreased with decreasing solution treatment temperature and increasing time and/or temperature of the aging treatment. Elimination of the notch sensitivity was correlated with a change in the dislocation mechanism from shearing to by-passing precipitate particles.

3D inelastic analysis methods for hot section components

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dame, L. T.; Chen, P. C.; Hartle, M. S.; Huang, H. T.

1985-01-01

The objective is to develop analytical tools capable of economically evaluating the cyclic time dependent plasticity which occurs in hot section engine components in areas of strain concentration resulting from the combination of both mechanical and thermal stresses. Three models were developed. A simple model performs time dependent inelastic analysis using the power law creep equation. The second model is the classical model of Professors Walter Haisler and David Allen of Texas A and M University. The third model is the unified model of Bodner, Partom, et al. All models were customized for linear variation of loads and temperatures with all material properties and constitutive models being temperature dependent.

Effect of load ratio on fatigue crack propagation behavior of solid-solution-strengthened Ni-based superalloys at elevated temperature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, Longzhou; Roy, Shawoon K.

2013-04-01

The fatigue crack propagation (FCP) behavior of two solid-solution-strengthened Ni-based superalloys, INCONEL 617 and HAYNES 230, were studied simultaneously in laboratory air using a constant stress intensity factor (K)-controlled mode with different load ratios (R-ratio) at 700 °C. The FCP tests were performed in both cycle and time-dependent FCP domains to examine the effect of R-ratio on the FCP rate, da/dn. For cycle-dependent FCP test, a 1-s sinusoidal fatigue was applied for a compact tension (CT) specimen of INCONEL 617 and HAYNES 230 to measure their FCP rates. For time-dependent FCP test, a 3-s sinusoidal fatigue with a hold time of 300 s at maximum load was applied. Both cycle/time-dependent FCP behaviors were characterized and analyzed. The results showed that increasing R-ratio would introduce the fatigue incubation and decrease the FCP rates at cycle-dependent FCP tests. On the contrary, fatigue incubation was not observed at time-dependent FCP tests for both INCONEL 617 and HAYNES 230 at each tested R-ratio, suggesting that association of maximum load (Kmax) with crack tip open displacement (CTOD) and environmental factor governed the FCP process. Also, for time-dependent FCP, HAYNES 230 showed lower FCP rates than INCONEL 617 regardless of R-ratio. However, for cycle-dependent FCP, HAYNES 230 showed the lower FCP rates only at high R-ratios. Fracture surface of specimens were examined using SEM to investigate the cracking mechanism under cycle/time-dependent FCP condition with various R-ratios.

Possible mechanism for preterm labor associated with bacterial infection. I. Stimulation of phosphoinositide metabolism by endotoxin in endometrial fibroblasts

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Khan, A.A.; Imai, A.; Tamaya, T.

Growing evidence suggests an association between intra-amniotic infection and premature initiation of parturition. We recently demonstrated that some factor(s) including endotoxin produced by the organism stimulates endogenous phospholipase A2 resulting in liberation of arachidonic acid and prostaglandin formation. The studies presented in this report were designated to evaluate the mechanism for endotoxin to stimulate phospholipase A2 using human endometrial fibroblasts. Exposure of the fibroblasts to endotoxin from Escherichia coli in the presence of ({sup 32}P) phosphate increased {sup 32}P-labeling of phosphatidic acid (PA) and phosphatidyl-inositol (PI) in a dose-dependent and a time-dependent manners. The PA labeling occurred without a measurablemore » lag time. These findings demonstrate that the endotoxin stimulates phosphoinositide metabolism in human endometrial fibroblasts by a receptor-mediated mechanism. Membrane phosphoinositide turnover stimulated by endotoxin results in cytosolic Ca{sup 2+} increment, liberation of arachidonic acid, which may be involved in the initiation of parturition.« less

Multicomponent Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory: Proton and Electron Excitation Energies.

PubMed

Yang, Yang; Culpitt, Tanner; Hammes-Schiffer, Sharon

2018-04-05

The quantum mechanical treatment of both electrons and protons in the calculation of excited state properties is critical for describing nonadiabatic processes such as photoinduced proton-coupled electron transfer. Multicomponent density functional theory enables the consistent quantum mechanical treatment of more than one type of particle and has been implemented previously for studying ground state molecular properties within the nuclear-electronic orbital (NEO) framework, where all electrons and specified protons are treated quantum mechanically. To enable the study of excited state molecular properties, herein the linear response multicomponent time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) is derived and implemented within the NEO framework. Initial applications to FHF - and HCN illustrate that NEO-TDDFT provides accurate proton and electron excitation energies within a single calculation. As its computational cost is similar to that of conventional electronic TDDFT, the NEO-TDDFT approach is promising for diverse applications, particularly nonadiabatic proton transfer reactions, which may exhibit mixed electron-proton vibronic excitations.

NAMPT-Mediated NAD Biosynthesis as the Internal Timing Mechanism: In NAD+ World, Time Is Running in Its Own Way.

PubMed

Poljsak, Borut

2017-09-08

The biological age of organisms differs from the chronological age and is determined by internal aging clock(s). How cells estimate time on a scale of 24 hours is relatively well studied; however, how biological time is measured by cells, tissues, organs, or organisms in longer time periods (years and decades) is largely unknown. What is clear and widely agreed upon is that the link to age and age-related diseases is not chronological, as it does not depend on a fixed passage of time. Rather, this link depends on the biological age of an individual cell, tissue, organ, or organism and not on time in a strictly chronological sense. Biological evolution does not invent new methods as often as improving upon already existing ones. It should be easier to evolve and remodel the existing (circadian) time clock mechanism to use it for measurement or regulation of longer time periods than to invent a new time mechanism/clock. Specifically, it will be demonstrated that the circadian clock can also be used to regulate circannual or even longer time periods. Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT)-mediated nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) levels, being regulated by the circadian clock, might be the missing link between aging, cell cycle control, DNA damage repair, cellular metabolism and the aging clock, which is responsible for the biological age of an organism. The hypothesis that NAMPT/NAD+/SIRT1 might represent the time regulator that determines the organismal biological age will be presented. The biological age of tissues and organs might be regulated and synchronized through eNAMPT blood secretion. The "NAD World 2.0" concept will be upgraded with detailed insights into mechanisms that regulate NAD + -mediated aging clock ticking, the duration and amplitude of which are responsible for the aging rate of humans.

Load-dependent mechanical efficiency of individual myosin heads in skeletal muscle fibers activated by laser flash photolysis of caged calcium in the presence of a limited amount of ATP.

PubMed

Sugi, H; Iwamoto, H; Akimoto, T; Ushitani, H

1998-01-01

Although a contracting muscle regulates its energy output depending on the load imposed on it ("Fenn effect"), the mechanism underlying the load-dependent energy output remains obscure. To explore the possibility that the mechanical efficiency, with which chemical energy derived from ATP hydrolysis is converted into mechanical work, of individual myosin heads changes in a load-dependent manner, we examined the auxotonic shortening of glycerinated rabbit psoas muscle fibers, containing ATP molecules almost equal in number to the myosin heads, following laser flash photolysis of caged calcium. Immediately before laser flash activation, almost all of the myosin heads in the fiber are in the state, M.ADP.Pi, and can undergo only one ATP hydrolysis cycle after activation. When the fibers were activated to shorten under various auxotonic loads, the length, force and power output changes were found to be scaled according to the auxotonic load. Both the power and energy outputs were maximal under a moderate auxotonic load. The amount of M.ADP.Pi utilized at a time after activation was estimated from the amount of isometric force developed after interruption of fiber shortening. This amount was minimal in the isometric condition, and increased nearly in proportion to the distance of fiber shortening. These results are taken as evidence that the efficiency of chemo-mechanical energy conversion in individual myosin heads changes in a load-dependent manner.

Differential anti-tumor activity of coriolus versicolor (Yunzhi) extract through p53- and/or Bcl-2-dependent apoptotic pathway in human breast cancer cells.

PubMed

Ho, Cheong-Yip; Kim, Chi-Fai; Leung, Kwok-Nam; Fung, Kwok-Pui; Tse, Tak-Fu; Chan, Helen; Lau, Clara Bik-San

2005-06-01

Coriolus versicolor (CV), also called Yunzhi, has been demonstrated to exert anti-tumor effects on various types of cancer cells, but the underlying mechanism has not been fully elucidated. The present study aimed to evaluate the in vitro anti-tumor activity of a standardized aqueous ethanol extract prepared from CV on four breast cancer cell lines using MTT assay, and test whether the mechanism involves apoptosis induction and modulation of p53 and Bcl-2 protein expressions using cell death detection ELISA, p53 and Bcl-2 ELISAs respectively. Our results demonstrated that the CV extract dose-dependently suppressed the proliferation of three breast tumor cell lines, with ascending order of IC50 values: T-47D, MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, while BT-20 cells were not significantly affected. Tumoricidal activity of the CV extract was found to be comparable to a chemotherapeutic anti-cancer drug, mitomycin C. Nucleosome productions in apoptotic MDA-MB-231, MCF-7 and T-47D cells were significantly augmented in a time-dependent manner and paralleled the anti-proliferative activity of CV extract. Expression of p53 protein was significantly upregulated only in T-47D cells treated with the CV extract in a dose- and time-dependent fashion, but not in MCF-7 (except at 400 mug/ml after 16 h) and MDA-MB-231 cells. The CV extract significantly induced a dose-dependent downregulation of Bcl-2 protein expression in MCF-7 and T-47D cells, but not in MDA-MB-231 cells. These results suggested that apoptosis induction, differentially dependent of p53 and Bcl-2 expressions, might be the possible mechanism of CV extract-mediated cytotoxicity in human breast cancer cells in vitro.

Imaging the Ultrafast Photoelectron Transfer Process in Alizarin-TiO2.

PubMed

Gomez, Tatiana; Hermann, Gunter; Zarate, Ximena; Pérez-Torres, Jhon Fredy; Tremblay, Jean Christophe

2015-07-30

In this work, we adopt a quantum mechanical approach based on time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) to study the optical and electronic properties of alizarin supported on TiO2 nano-crystallites, as a prototypical dye-sensitized solar cell. To ensure proper alignment of the donor (alizarin) and acceptor (TiO2 nano-crystallite) levels, static optical excitation spectra are simulated using time-dependent density functional theory in response. The ultrafast photoelectron transfer from the dye to the cluster is simulated using an explicitly time-dependent, one-electron TDDFT ansatz. The model considers the δ-pulse excitation of a single active electron localized in the dye to the complete set of energetically accessible, delocalized molecular orbitals of the dye/nano-crystallite complex. A set of quantum mechanical tools derived from the transition electronic flux density is introduced to visualize and analyze the process in real time. The evolution of the created wave packet subject to absorbing boundary conditions at the borders of the cluster reveal that, while the electrons of the aromatic rings of alizarin are heavily involved in an ultrafast charge redistribution between the carbonyl groups of the dye molecule, they do not contribute positively to the electron injection and, overall, they delay the process.

Lectures on Quantum Mechanics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weinberg, Steven

2015-09-01

Preface; Notation; 1. Historical introduction; 2. Particle states in a central potential; 3. General principles of quantum mechanics; 4. Spin; 5. Approximations for energy eigenstates; 6. Approximations for time-dependent problems; 7. Potential scattering; 8. General scattering theory; 9. The canonical formalism; 10. Charged particles in electromagnetic fields; 11. The quantum theory of radiation; 12. Entanglement; Author index; Subject index.

Time-Dependent Effects of Localized Inflammation on Peripheral Clock Gene Expression in Rats

PubMed Central

Westfall, Susan; Aguilar-Valles, Argel; Mongrain, Valérie; Luheshi, Giamal N.; Cermakian, Nicolas

2013-01-01

Many aspects of the immune system, including circulating cytokine levels as well as counts and function of various immune cell types, present circadian rhythms. Notably, the mortality rate of animals subjected to high doses of lipopolysaccharide is dependent on the time of treatment. In addition, the severity of symptoms of various inflammatory conditions follows a daily rhythmic pattern. The mechanisms behind the crosstalk between the circadian and immune systems remain elusive. Here we demonstrate that localized inflammation induced by turpentine oil (TURP) causes a time-dependent induction of interleukin (IL)-6 and has time-, gene- and tissue-specific effects on clock gene expression. More precisely, TURP blunts the peak of Per1 and Per2 expression in the liver while in other tissues, the expression nadir is elevated. In contrast, Rev-erbα expression remains relatively unaffected by TURP treatment. Co-treatment with the anti-inflammatory agent IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) did not alter the response of Per2 to TURP treatment in liver, despite the reduced induction of fever and IL-6 serum levels. This indicates that the TURP-mediated changes of Per2 in the liver might be due to factors other than systemic IL-6 and fever. Accordingly, IL-6 treatment had no effect on clock gene expression in HepG2 liver carcinoma cells. Altogether, we show that localized inflammation causes significant time-dependent changes in peripheral circadian clock gene expression, via a mechanism likely involving mediators independent from IL-6 and fever. PMID:23527270

Anaplasma marginale superinfection attributable to pathogen strains with distinct genomic backgrounds.

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Microbial strain structure is dynamic over space and time; shifts in pathogen strain structure result in changing patterns of disease. The scale of change in space and time differs markedly among pathogens depending on multiple factors including pathogen-specific mechanisms of genetic change and the...

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Strubbe, David

Octopus is a scientific program aimed at the ab initio virtual experimentation on a hopefully ever-increasing range of system types. Electrons are described quantum-mechanically within density-functional theory (DFT), in its time-dependent form (TDDFT) when doing simulations in time. Nuclei are described classically as point particles. Electron-nucleus interaction is described within the pseudopotential approximation.

Isoniazid mediates the CYP2B6*6 genotype-dependent interaction between efavirenz and antituberculosis drug therapy through mechanism-based inactivation of CYP2A6.

PubMed

Court, Michael H; Almutairi, Fawziah E; Greenblatt, David J; Hazarika, Suwagmani; Sheng, Hongyan; Klein, Kathrin; Zanger, Ulrich M; Bourgea, Joanne; Patten, Christopher J; Kwara, Awewura

2014-07-01

Efavirenz is commonly used to treat patients coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus and tuberculosis. Previous clinical studies have observed paradoxically elevated efavirenz plasma concentrations in patients with the CYP2B6*6/*6 genotype (but not the CYP2B6*1/*1 genotype) during coadministration with the commonly used four-drug antituberculosis therapy. This study sought to elucidate the mechanism underlying this genotype-dependent drug-drug interaction. In vitro studies were conducted to determine whether one or more of the antituberculosis drugs (rifampin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, or ethambutol) potently inhibit efavirenz 8-hydroxylation by CYP2B6 or efavirenz 7-hydroxylation by CYP2A6, the main mechanisms of efavirenz clearance. Time- and concentration-dependent kinetics of inhibition by the antituberculosis drugs were determined using genotyped human liver microsomes (HLMs) and recombinant CYP2A6, CYP2B6.1, and CYP2B6.6 enzymes. Although none of the antituberculosis drugs evaluated at up to 10 times clinical plasma concentrations were found to inhibit efavirenz 8-hydroxylation by HLMs, both rifampin (apparent inhibition constant [Ki] = 368 μM) and pyrazinamide (Ki = 637 μM) showed relatively weak inhibition of efavirenz 7-hydroxylation. Importantly, isoniazid demonstrated potent time-dependent inhibition of efavirenz 7-hydroxylation in both HLMs (inhibitor concentration required for half-maximal inactivation [KI] = 30 μM; maximal rate constant of inactivation [kinact] = 0.023 min(-1)) and recombinant CYP2A6 (KI = 15 μM; kinact = 0.024 min(-1)) and also formed a metabolite intermediate complex consistent with mechanism-based inhibition. Selective inhibition of the CYP2B6.6 allozyme could not be demonstrated for any of the antituberculosis drugs using either recombinant enzymes or CYP2B6*6 genotype HLMs. In conclusion, the results of this study identify isoniazid as the most likely perpetrator of this clinically important drug-drug interaction through mechanism-based inactivation of CYP2A6. Copyright © 2014, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Decision making in noisy bistable systems with time-dependent asymmetry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nené, Nuno R.; Zaikin, Alexey

2013-01-01

Our work draws special attention to the importance of the effects of time-dependent parameters on decision making in bistable systems. Here, we extend previous studies of the mechanism known as speed-dependent cellular decision making in genetic circuits by performing an analytical treatment of the canonical supercritical pitchfork bifurcation problem with an additional time-dependent asymmetry and control parameter. This model has an analogous behavior to the genetic switch. In the presence of transient asymmetries and fluctuations, slow passage through the critical region in both systems increases substantially the probability of specific decision outcomes. We also study the relevance for attractor selection of reaching maximum values for the external asymmetry before and after the critical region. Overall, maximum asymmetries should be reached at an instant where the position of the critical point allows for compensation of the detrimental effects of noise in retaining memory of the transient asymmetries.

Time-dependent buoyant puff model for explosive sources

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kansa, E.J.

1997-01-01

Several models exist to predict the time dependent behavior of bouyant puffs that result from explosions. This paper presents a new model that is derived from the strong conservative form of the conservation partial differential equations that are integrated over space to yield a coupled system of time dependent nonlinear ordinary differential equations. This model permits the cloud to evolve from an intial spherical shape not an ellipsoidal shape. It ignores the Boussinesq approximation, and treats the turbulence that is generated by the puff itself and the ambient atmospheric tubulence as separate mechanisms in determining the puff history. The puffmore » cloud rise history was found to depend no only on the mass and initial temperature of the explosion, but also upon the stability conditions of the ambient atmosphere. This model was calibrated by comparison with the Roller Coaster experiments.« less

Superresolution imaging reveals activity-dependent plasticity of axon morphology linked to changes in action potential conduction velocity.

PubMed

Chéreau, Ronan; Saraceno, G Ezequiel; Angibaud, Julie; Cattaert, Daniel; Nägerl, U Valentin

2017-02-07

Axons convey information to nearby and distant cells, and the time it takes for action potentials (APs) to reach their targets governs the timing of information transfer in neural circuits. In the unmyelinated axons of hippocampus, the conduction speed of APs depends crucially on axon diameters, which vary widely. However, it is not known whether axon diameters are dynamic and regulated by activity-dependent mechanisms. Using time-lapse superresolution microscopy in brain slices, we report that axons grow wider after high-frequency AP firing: synaptic boutons undergo a rapid enlargement, which is mostly transient, whereas axon shafts show a more delayed and progressive increase in diameter. Simulations of AP propagation incorporating these morphological dynamics predicted bidirectional effects on AP conduction speed. The predictions were confirmed by electrophysiological experiments, revealing a phase of slowed down AP conduction, which is linked to the transient enlargement of the synaptic boutons, followed by a sustained increase in conduction speed that accompanies the axon shaft widening induced by high-frequency AP firing. Taken together, our study outlines a morphological plasticity mechanism for dynamically fine-tuning AP conduction velocity, which potentially has wide implications for the temporal transfer of information in the brain.

Distinct Internalization Pathways of Human Amylin Monomers and Its Cytotoxic Oligomers in Pancreatic Cells

PubMed Central

Trikha, Saurabh; Jeremic, Aleksandar M.

2013-01-01

Toxic human amylin oligomers and aggregates are implicated in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (TTDM). Although recent studies have shown that pancreatic cells can recycle amylin monomers and toxic oligomers, the exact uptake mechanism and trafficking routes of these molecular forms and their significance for amylin toxicity are yet to be determined. Using pancreatic rat insulinoma (RIN-m5F) beta (β)-cells and human islets as model systems we show that monomers and oligomers cross the plasma membrane (PM) through both endocytotic and non-endocytotic (translocation) mechanisms, the predominance of which is dependent on amylin concentrations and incubation times. At low (≤100 nM) concentrations, internalization of amylin monomers in pancreatic cells is completely blocked by the selective amylin-receptor (AM-R) antagonist, AC-187, indicating an AM-R dependent mechanism. In contrast at cytotoxic (µM) concentrations monomers initially (1 hour) enter pancreatic cells by two distinct mechanisms: translocation and macropinocytosis. However, during the late stage (24 hours) monomers internalize by a clathrin-dependent but AM-R and macropinocytotic independent pathway. Like monomers a small fraction of the oligomers initially enter cells by a non-endocytotic mechanism. In contrast a majority of the oligomers at both early (1 hour) and late times (24 hours) traffic with a fluid-phase marker, dextran, to the same endocytotic compartments, the uptake of which is blocked by potent macropinocytotic inhibitors. This led to a significant increase in extra-cellular PM accumulation, in turn potentiating amylin toxicity in pancreatic cells. Our studies suggest that macropinocytosis is a major but not the only clearance mechanism for both amylin’s molecular forms, thereby serving a cyto-protective role in these cells. PMID:24019897

A rapid form of activity-dependent recovery from short-term synaptic depression in the intensity pathway of the auditory brainstem

PubMed Central

Horiuchi, Timothy K.

2011-01-01

Short-term synaptic plasticity acts as a time- and firing rate-dependent filter that mediates the transmission of information across synapses. In the avian auditory brainstem, specific forms of plasticity are expressed at different terminals of the same auditory nerve fibers and contribute to the divergence of acoustic timing and intensity information. To identify key differences in the plasticity properties, we made patch-clamp recordings from neurons in the cochlear nucleus responsible for intensity coding, nucleus angularis, and measured the time course of the recovery of excitatory postsynaptic currents following short-term synaptic depression. These synaptic responses showed a very rapid recovery, following a bi-exponential time course with a fast time constant of ~40 ms and a dependence on the presynaptic activity levels, resulting in a crossing over of the recovery trajectories following high-rate versus low-rate stimulation trains. We also show that the recorded recovery in the intensity pathway differs from similar recordings in the timing pathway, specifically the cochlear nucleus magnocellularis, in two ways: (1) a fast recovery that was not due to recovery from postsynaptic receptor desensitization and (2) a recovery trajectory that was characterized by a non-monotonic bump that may be due in part to facilitation mechanisms more prevalent in the intensity pathway. We tested whether a previously proposed model of synaptic transmission based on vesicle depletion and sequential steps of vesicle replenishment could account for the recovery responses, and found it was insufficient, suggesting an activity-dependent feedback mechanism is present. We propose that the rapid recovery following depression allows improved coding of natural auditory signals that often consist of sound bursts separated by short gaps. PMID:21409439

Time-dependent deformation of gas shales - role of rock framework versus reservoir fluids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hol, Sander; Zoback, Mark

2013-04-01

Hydraulic fracturing operations are generally performed to achieve a fast, drastic increase of permeability and production rates. Although modeling of the underlying short-term mechanical response has proven successful via conventional geomechanical approaches, predicting long-term behavior is still challenging as the formation interacts physically and chemically with the fluids present in-situ. Recent experimental work has shown that shale samples subjected to a change in effective stress deform in a time-dependent manner ("creep"). Although the magnitude and nature of this behavior is strongly related to the composition and texture of the sample, also the choice of fluid used in the experiments affects the total strain response - strongly adsorbing fluids result in more, recoverable creep. The processes underlying time-dependent deformation of shales under in-situ stresses, and the long-term impact on reservoir performance, are at present poorly understood. In this contribution, we report triaxial mechanical tests, and theoretical/thermodynamic modeling work with the aim to identify and describe the main mechanisms that control time-dependent deformation of gas shales. In particular, we focus on the role of the shale solid framework versus the type and pressure of the present pore fluid. Our experiments were mainly performed on Eagle Ford Shale samples. The samples were subjected to cycles of loading and unloading, first in the dry state, and then again after equilibrating them with (adsorbing) CO2 and (non-adsorbing) He at fluid pressures of 4 MPa. Stresses were chosen close to those persisting under in-situ conditions. The results of our tests demonstrate that likely two main types of deformation mechanisms operate that relate to a) the presence of microfractures as a dominating feature in the solid framework of the shale, and b) the adsorbing potential of fluids present in the nanoscale voids of the shale. To explain the role of adsorption in the observed compaction creep, we postulate a serial coupling between 1) stress-driven desorption of the fluid species, 2) diffusion of the desorbed species out of the solid, and 3) consequent shrinkage. We propose a model in which the total shrinkage of the solid (Step 3) that is measured as bulk compaction, is driven by a change in stress state (Step 1), and evolves in time controlled by the diffusion characteristics of the system (Step 2). Our experimental and modeling study shows that both the nature of the solid framework of the shale, as well as the type and pressure of pore fluids affect the long-term in-situ mechanical behavior of gas shale reservoirs.

Coercivity mechanisms and thermal stability of thin film magnetic recording media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Cheng

1999-09-01

Coercivity mechanisms and thermal stability of magnetic recording media were studied. It was found that magnetization reversal mainly occurs by nucleation mechanism. The correlation was established between the c/ a ratio of Co HCP structure and other process parameters that are thought to be the dominant factors in determining the anisotropy and therefore the coercivity of Co based thin film magnetic recording media. Time decay and switching of the magnetization in thin film magnetic recording media depend on the grain size distribution and easy-axis orientation distribution according to the proposed two- energy-level model. Relaxation time is the most fundamental parameter that determines the time decay performance of the magnetic recording media. An algorithm was proposed to calculate its distribution directly from the experimental data without any presumption. It was found for the first time that the distribution of relaxation time takes the form of Weibull distribution.

In vitro performance investigation of bioresorbable scaffolds - Standard tests for vascular stents and beyond.

PubMed

Schmidt, Wolfram; Behrens, Peter; Brandt-Wunderlich, Christoph; Siewert, Stefan; Grabow, Niels; Schmitz, Klaus-Peter

2016-09-01

Biodegradable polymers are the main materials for coronary scaffolds. Magnesium has been investigated as a potential alternative and was successfully tested in human clinical trials. However, it is still challenging to achieve mechanical parameters comparative to permanent bare metal (BMS) and drug-eluting stents (DES). As such, in vitro tests are required to assess mechanical parameters correlated to the safety and efficacy of the device. In vitro bench tests evaluate scaffold profiles, length, deliverability, expansion behavior including acute elastic and time-dependent recoil, bending stiffness and radial strength. The Absorb GT1 (Abbott Vascular, Temecula, CA), DESolve (Elixir Medical Corporation, Sunnyvale, CA) and the Magmaris (BIOTRONIK AG, Bülach, Switzerland) that was previously tested in the BIOSOLVE II study, were tested. Crimped profiles were 1.38±0.01mm (Absorb GT1), 1.39±0.01mm (DESolve) and 1.44±0.00mm (Magmaris) enabling 6F compatibility. Trackability was measured depending on stiffness and force transmission (pushability). Acute elastic recoil was measured at free expansion and within a mock vessel, respectively, yielding results of 5.86±0.76 and 5.22±0.38% (Absorb), 7.85±3.45 and 9.42±0.21% (DESolve) and 5.57±0.72 and 4.94±0.31% (Magmaris). Time-dependent recoil (after 1h) was observed for the Absorb and DESolve scaffolds but not for the Magmaris. The self-correcting wall apposition behavior of the DESolve did not prevent time-dependent recoil under vessel loading. The results of the suggested test methods allow assessment of technical feasibility based on objective mechanical data and highlight the main differences between polymeric and metallic bioresorbable scaffolds. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Physiological and pathological clinical conditions and light scattering in brain

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kurata, Tsuyoshi; Iwata, Sachiko; Tsuda, Kennosuke; Kinoshita, Masahiro; Saikusa, Mamoru; Hara, Naoko; Oda, Motoki; Ohmae, Etsuko; Araki, Yuko; Sugioka, Takashi; Takashima, Sachio; Iwata, Osuke

2016-08-01

MRI of preterm infants at term commonly reveals subtle brain lesions such as diffuse white matter injury, which are linked with later cognitive impairments. The timing and mechanism of such injury remains unclear. The reduced scattering coefficient of near-infrared light (μs’) has been shown to correlate linearly with gestational age in neonates. To identify clinical variables associated with brain μs’, 60 preterm and full-term infants were studied within 7 days of birth. Dependence of μs’ obtained from the frontal head on clinical variables was assessed. In the univariate analysis, smaller μs’ was associated with antenatal glucocorticoid, emergency Caesarean section, requirement for mechanical ventilation, smaller gestational age, smaller body sizes, low 1- and 5-minute Apgar scores, higher cord blood pH and PO2, and higher blood HCO3- at the time of study. Multivariate analysis revealed that smaller gestational age, requirement for mechanical ventilation, and higher HCO3- at the time of study were correlated with smaller μs’. Brain μs’ depended on variables associated with physiological maturation and pathological conditions of the brain. Further longitudinal studies may help identify pathological events and clinical conditions responsible for subtle brain injury and subsequent cognitive impairments following preterm birth.

Time Dependent Dielectric Breakdown in Copper Low-k Interconnects: Mechanisms and Reliability Models

PubMed Central

Wong, Terence K.S.

2012-01-01

The time dependent dielectric breakdown phenomenon in copper low-k damascene interconnects for ultra large-scale integration is reviewed. The loss of insulation between neighboring interconnects represents an emerging back end-of-the-line reliability issue that is not fully understood. After describing the main dielectric leakage mechanisms in low-k materials (Poole-Frenkel and Schottky emission), the major dielectric reliability models that had appeared in the literature are discussed, namely: the Lloyd model, 1/E model, thermochemical E model, E1/2 models, E2 model and the Haase model. These models can be broadly categorized into those that consider only intrinsic breakdown (Lloyd, 1/E, E and Haase) and those that take into account copper migration in low-k materials (E1/2, E2). For each model, the physical assumptions and the proposed breakdown mechanism will be discussed, together with the quantitative relationship predicting the time to breakdown and supporting experimental data. Experimental attempts on validation of dielectric reliability models using data obtained from low field stressing are briefly discussed. The phenomenon of soft breakdown, which often precedes hard breakdown in porous ultra low-k materials, is highlighted for future research.

Mechanical Characterization of Thermomechanical Matrix Residual Stresses Incurred During MMC Processing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Castelli, Michael G.

1998-01-01

In recent years, much effort has been spent examining the residual stress-strain states of advanced composites. Such examinations are motivated by a number of significant concerns that affect composite development, processing, and analysis. The room-temperature residual stress states incurred in many advanced composite systems are often quite large and can introduce damage even prior to the first external mechanical loading of the material. These stresses, which are induced during the cooldown following high-temperature consolidation, result from the coefficient of thermal expansion mismatch between the fiber and matrix. Experimental techniques commonly used to evaluate composite internal residual stress states are non-mechanical in nature and generally include forms of x-ray and neutron diffraction. Such approaches are usually complex, involving a number of assumptions and limitations associated with a wide range of issues, including the depth of penetration, the volume of material being assessed, and erroneous effects associated with oriented grains. Furthermore, and more important to the present research, these techniques can assess only "single time" stress in the composite. That is, little, if any, information is obtained that addresses the time-dependent point at which internal stresses begin to accumulate, the manner in which the accumulation occurs, and the presiding relationships between thermoelastic, thermoplastic, and thermoviscous behaviors. To address these critical issues, researchers at the NASA Lewis Research Center developed and implemented an innovative mechanical test technique to examine in real time, the time-dependent thermomechanical stress behavior of a matrix alloy as it went through a consolidation cycle.

Quantitative US Elastography Can Be Used to Quantify Mechanical and Histologic Tendon Healing in a Rabbit Model of Achilles Tendon Transection.

PubMed

Yamamoto, Yohei; Yamaguchi, Satoshi; Sasho, Takahisa; Fukawa, Taisuke; Akatsu, Yorikazu; Akagi, Ryuichiro; Yamaguchi, Tadashi; Takahashi, Kenji; Nagashima, Kengo; Takahashi, Kazuhisa

2017-05-01

Purpose To determine the time-dependent change in strain ratios (SRs) at the healing site of an Achilles tendon rupture in a rabbit model of tendon transection and to assess the correlation between SRs and the mechanical and histologic properties of the healing tissue. Materials and Methods Experimental methods were approved by the institutional animal care and use committee. The Achilles tendons of 24 New Zealand white rabbits (48 limbs) were surgically transected. The SRs of Achilles tendons were calculated by using compression-based quantitative ultrasonographic elastography measurements obtained 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after transection. After in vivo elastography, the left Achilles tendon was harvested for mechanical testing of ultimate load, ultimate stress, elastic modulus, and linear stiffness, and the right tendons were harvested for tissue histologic analysis with the Bonar scale. Time-dependent changes in SRs, mechanical parameters, and Bonar scale scores were evaluated by using repeated-measures analysis of variance. The correlation between SRs and each measured variable was evaluated by using the Spearman rank correlation coefficient. Results Mean SRs and Bonar scale values decreased as a function of time after transection, whereas mechanical parameters increased (P < .001). SR correlated with ultimate stress (ρ = 0.68, P <.001,) elastic modulus (ρ = 0.74, P <.001), and the Bonar scale (ρ = 0.87, P <.001). Conclusion Quantitative elastography could be a useful method with which to evaluate mechanical and histologic properties of the healing tendon. © RSNA, 2017 Online supplemental material is available for this article.

The dynamic nature of systems consolidation: Stress during learning as a switch guiding the rate of the hippocampal dependency and memory quality.

PubMed

Pedraza, Lizeth K; Sierra, Rodrigo O; Boos, Flávia Z; Haubrich, Josué; Quillfeldt, Jorge A; Alvares, Lucas de Oliveira

2016-03-01

Memory fades over time, becoming more schematic or abstract. The loss of contextual detail in memory may reflect a time-dependent change in the brain structures supporting memory. It has been well established that contextual fear memory relies on the hippocampus for expression shortly after learning, but it becomes hippocampus-independent at a later time point, a process called systems consolidation. This time-dependent process correlates with the loss of memory precision. Here, we investigated whether training intensity predicts the gradual decay of hippocampal dependency to retrieve memory, and the quality of the contextual memory representation over time. We have found that training intensity modulates the progressive decay of hippocampal dependency and memory precision. Strong training intensity accelerates systems consolidation and memory generalization in a remarkable timeframe match. The mechanisms underpinning such process are triggered by glucocorticoid and noradrenaline released during training. These results suggest that the stress levels during emotional learning act as a switch, determining the fate of memory quality. Moderate stress will create a detailed memory, whereas a highly stressful training will develop a generic gist-like memory. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Effect of T6 heat treatment on the microstructural and mechanical properties of Al-Si-Cu-Mg alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Patel, Dhruv; Davda, Chintan; Solanki, P. S.; Keshvani, M. J.

2016-05-01

In this communication, it is aimed to optimize the conditions for T6 heat treatment of permanent die cast Al-Si-Cu-Mg alloys. Various solutionizing temperatures, aging treatments and soaking times were used to improve / modify the mechanical properties of presently studied alloys. Formation mechanism of the particles was understood by carrying out optical microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy measurements. Spherical particles of alloys were studied for their microstructural properties using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Microhardness test was performed to investigate their mechanical properties. Dependence of cluster formation and microhardness of the alloys on the adequate solutionizing temperature, aging treatment and soaking time has been discussed in detail.

Myelination: an overlooked mechanism of synaptic plasticity?

PubMed

Fields, R Douglas

2005-12-01

Myelination of the brain continues through childhood into adolescence and early adulthood--the question is, Why? Two new articles provide intriguing evidence that myelination may be an underappreciated mechanism of activity-dependent nervous system plasticity: one study reported increased myelination associated with extensive piano playing, another indicated that rats have increased myelination of the corpus callosum when raised in environments providing increased social interaction and cognitive stimulation. These articles make it clear that activity-dependent effects on myelination cannot be considered strictly a developmental event. They raise the question of whether myelination is an overlooked mechanism of activity-dependent plasticity, extending in humans until at least age 30. It has been argued that regulating the speed of conduction across long fiber tracts would have a major influence on synaptic response, by coordinating the timing of afferent input to maximize temporal summation. The increase in synaptic amplitude could be as large as neurotransmitter-based mechanisms of plasticity, such as LTP. These new findings raise a larger question: How did the oligodendrocytes know they were practicing the piano or that their environment was socially complex?

Critical temperature transitions in laser-mediated cartilage reshaping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wong, Brian J.; Milner, Thomas E.; Kim, Hong H.; Telenkov, Sergey A.; Chew, Clifford; Kuo, Timothy C.; Smithies, Derek J.; Sobol, Emil N.; Nelson, J. Stuart

1998-07-01

In this study, we attempted to determine the critical temperature [Tc] at which accelerated stress relaxation occurred during laser mediated cartilage reshaping. During laser irradiation, mechanically deformed cartilage tissue undergoes a temperature dependent phase transformation which results in accelerated stress relaxation. When a critical temperature is attained, cartilage becomes malleable and may be molded into complex new shapes that harden as the tissue cools. Clinically, reshaped cartilage tissue can be used to recreate the underlying cartilaginous framework of structures such as the ear, larynx, trachea, and nose. The principal advantages of using laser radiation for the generation of thermal energy in tissue are precise control of both the space-time temperature distribution and time- dependent thermal denaturation kinetics. Optimization of the reshaping process requires identification of the temperature dependence of this phase transformation and its relationship to observed changes in cartilage optical, mechanical, and thermodynamic properties. Light scattering, infrared radiometry, and modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC) were used to measure temperature dependent changes in the biophysical properties of cartilage tissue during fast (laser mediated) and slow (conventional calorimetric) heating. Our studies using MDSC and laser probe techniques have identified changes in cartilage thermodynamic and optical properties suggestive of a phase transformation occurring near 60 degrees Celsius.

WE-AB-204-07: Spatiotemporal Distribution of the FDG PET Tracer in Solid Tumors: Contributions of Diffusion and Convection Mechanisms

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Soltani, M; Sefidgar, M; Bazmara, H

2015-06-15

Purpose: In this study, a mathematical model is utilized to simulate FDG distribution in tumor tissue. In contrast to conventional compartmental modeling, tracer distributions across space and time are directly linked together (i.e. moving beyond ordinary differential equations (ODEs) to utilizing partial differential equations (PDEs) coupling space and time). The diffusion and convection transport mechanisms are both incorporated to model tracer distribution. We aimed to investigate the contributions of these two mechanisms on FDG distribution for various tumor geometries obtained from PET/CT images. Methods: FDG transport was simulated via a spatiotemporal distribution model (SDM). The model is based on amore » 5K compartmental model. We model the fact that tracer concentration in the second compartment (extracellular space) is modulated via convection and diffusion. Data from n=45 patients with pancreatic tumors as imaged using clinical FDG PET/CT imaging were analyzed, and geometrical information from the tumors including size, shape, and aspect ratios were classified. Tumors with varying shapes and sizes were assessed in order to investigate the effects of convection and diffusion mechanisms on FDG transport. Numerical methods simulating interstitial flow and solute transport in tissue were utilized. Results: We have shown the convection mechanism to depend on the shape and size of tumors whereas diffusion mechanism is seen to exhibit low dependency on shape and size. Results show that concentration distribution of FDG is relatively similar for the considered tumors; and that the diffusion mechanism of FDG transport significantly dominates the convection mechanism. The Peclet number which shows the ratio of convection to diffusion rates was shown to be of the order of 10−{sup 3} for all considered tumors. Conclusion: We have demonstrated that even though convection leads to varying tracer distribution profiles depending on tumor shape and size, the domination of the diffusion phenomenon prevents these factors from modulating FDG distribution.« less

The Role of Physiological Arousal in Time Perception: Psychophysiological Evidence from an Emotion Regulation Paradigm

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mella, N.; Conty, L.; Pouthas, V.

2011-01-01

Time perception, crucial for adaptive behavior, has been shown to be altered by emotion. An arousal-dependent mechanism is proposed to account for such an effect. Yet, physiological measure of arousal related with emotional timing is still lacking. We addressed this question using skin conductance response (SCR) in an emotion regulation paradigm.…

Time-dependent brittle deformation (creep) at Mt. Etna volcano

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heap, M. J.; Baud, P.; Meredith, P. G.; Vinciguerra, S.; Bell, A. F.; Main, I. G.

2009-04-01

Mt. Etna is the largest and most active volcano in Europe. Time-dependent weakening mechanisms, leading to slow fracturing, have been shown to act during pre-eruptive patterns of flank eruptions at Mt. Etna volcano. Due to the high permeability of its volcanic rocks, the volcanic edifice hosts one of the biggest hydrogeologic reservoirs of Sicily (Ogniben, 1966). The presence of a fluid phase in cracks within rock has been shown to dramatically affect both mechanical and chemical interactions. Chemically, it promotes time-dependent brittle deformation through such mechanisms as stress corrosion cracking that allows rocks to deform at stresses far below their short-term failure strength. Such crack growth is highly non-linear and accelerates towards dynamic failure over extended periods of time, even under constant applied stress; a phenomenon known as ‘brittle creep'. Here we report results from a study of time-dependent brittle creep in water-saturated samples of Etna basalt (EB) under triaxial stress conditions (confining pressure of 50 MPa and pore fluid pressure of 20 MPa). Samples of EB were loaded at a constant strain rate of 10-5 s-1 to a pre-determined percentage of the short-term strength and left to deform under constant stress until failure. Crack damage evolution was monitored throughout each experiment by measuring the independent damage proxies of axial strain, pore volume change and output of acoustic emission (AE) energy, during brittle creep of creep strain rates ranging over four orders of magnitude. Our data not only demonstrates that basalt creeps in the brittle regime but also that the applied differential stress exerts a crucial influence on both time-to-failure and creep strain rate in EB. Furthermore, stress corrosion is considered to be responsible for the acceleratory cracking and seismicity prior to volcanic eruptions and is invoked as an important mechanism in forecasting models. Stress-stepping creep experiments were then performed to allow the influence of the effective confining stress to be studied in detail. Experiments were performed under effective stress conditions of 10, 30 and 50 MPa (whilst maintaining a constant pore fluid pressure of 20 MPa). In addition to the purely mechanical influence of water, governed by the effective stress, which results in a shift of the creep strain rate curves to lower strain rates at higher effective stresses. Our results also demonstrate that the chemically-driven process of stress corrosion cracking appears to be inhibited at higher effective stress. This results in an increase in the gradient of the creep strain rate curves with increasing effective stress. We suggest that the most likely cause of this change is a decrease in water mobility due to a reduction in crack aperture and an increase in water viscosity at higher pressure. Finally, we show that a theoretical model based on mean-field damage mechanics creep laws is able to reproduce the experimental strain-time relations. Our results indicate that the local changes in the stress field and fluid circulation can have a profound impact in the time-to-failure properties of the basaltic volcanic pile.

Time-dependent brittle deformation at Mt. Etna volcano

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baud, Patrick; Heap, Michael; Meredith, Philip; Vinciguerra, Sergio; Bell, Andrew; Main, Ian

2010-05-01

Time-dependent weakening mechanisms, leading to slow fracturing, are likely to act during the build up to flank eruptions at Mt. Etna volcano and are potentially a primary control on pre-eruptive patterns of seismicity and deformation. Due to the high permeability of its volcanic rocks, the volcanic edifice hosts a large water reservoir (Ogniben, 1966). The presence of a fluid phase in cracks within rock has been shown to dramatically affect both mechanical and chemical interactions. Chemically, it promotes time-dependent brittle deformation through such mechanisms as stress corrosion cracking that allows rocks to deform at stresses far below their short-term failure strength. Such crack growth is highly non-linear and accelerates towards dynamic failure over extended periods of time, even under constant applied stress; a phenomenon known as ‘brittle creep'. Here we report results from a study of time-dependent brittle creep in water-saturated samples of Etna basalt (EB) under triaxial stress conditions (confining pressure of 50 MPa and pore fluid pressure of 20 MPa). Samples of EB were loaded at a constant strain rate of 10-5 s-1 to a pre-determined percentage of the short-term strength and left to deform under constant stress until failure. Crack damage evolution was monitored throughout each experiment by measuring the independent damage proxies of axial strain, pore volume change and output of acoustic emission (AE) energy, during brittle creep of creep strain rates ranging over four orders of magnitude. Our data not only demonstrates that basalt creeps in the brittle regime but also that the applied differential stress exerts a crucial influence on both time-to-failure and creep strain rate in EB. Furthermore, stress corrosion is considered to be responsible for the acceleratory cracking and seismicity prior to volcanic eruptions and is invoked as an important mechanism in forecasting models. Stress-stepping creep experiments were then performed to allow the influence of the effective confining stress to be studied in detail. Experiments were performed under effective stress conditions of 10, 30 and 50 MPa (whilst maintaining a constant pore fluid pressure of 20 MPa). In addition to the purely mechanical influence of water, governed by the effective stress, which results in a shift of the creep strain rate curves to lower strain rates at higher effective stresses. Our results also demonstrate that the chemically-driven process of stress corrosion cracking appears to be inhibited at higher effective stress. This results in an increase in the gradient of the creep strain rate curves with increasing effective stress. We suggest that the most likely cause of this change is a decrease in water mobility due to a reduction in crack aperture and an increase in water viscosity at higher pressure. Finally, we show that a theoretical model based on mean-field damage mechanics creep laws is able to reproduce the experimental strain-time relations and inverse seismicity plots using our experimental AE data. Our results indicate that the local changes in the stress field and fluid circulation can have a profound impact in the time-to-failure properties of the basaltic volcanic pile.

Michael Sprague | NREL

Science.gov Websites

student, he developed a parallel spectral finite element method for treating the interaction of large mechanics of fluids, structures, and their interaction|Spectral finite-element methods for time-dependent

On the early and developed stages of surface condensation: competition mechanism between interfacial and condensate bulk thermal resistances.

PubMed

Sun, Jie; Wang, Hua Sheng

2016-10-10

We use molecular dynamics simulation to investigate the early and developed stages of surface condensation. We find that the liquid-vapor and solid-liquid interfacial thermal resistances depend on the properties of solid and fluid, which are time-independent, while the condensate bulk thermal resistance depends on the condensate thickness, which is time-dependent. There exists intrinsic competition between the interfacial and condensate bulk thermal resistances in timeline and the resultant total thermal resistance determines the condensation intensity for a given vapor-solid temperature difference. We reveal the competition mechanism that the interfacial thermal resistance dominates at the onset of condensation and holds afterwards while the condensate bulk thermal resistance gradually takes over with condensate thickness growing. The weaker the solid-liquid bonding, the later the takeover occurs. This competition mechanism suggests that only when the condensate bulk thermal resistance is reduced after it takes over the domination can the condensation be effectively intensified. We propose a unified theoretical model for the thermal resistance analysis by making dropwise condensation equivalent to filmwise condensation. We further find that near a critical point (contact angle being ca. 153°) the bulk thermal resistance has the least opportunity to take over the domination while away from it the probability increases.

On the early and developed stages of surface condensation: competition mechanism between interfacial and condensate bulk thermal resistances

PubMed Central

Sun, Jie; Wang, Hua Sheng

2016-01-01

We use molecular dynamics simulation to investigate the early and developed stages of surface condensation. We find that the liquid-vapor and solid-liquid interfacial thermal resistances depend on the properties of solid and fluid, which are time-independent, while the condensate bulk thermal resistance depends on the condensate thickness, which is time-dependent. There exists intrinsic competition between the interfacial and condensate bulk thermal resistances in timeline and the resultant total thermal resistance determines the condensation intensity for a given vapor-solid temperature difference. We reveal the competition mechanism that the interfacial thermal resistance dominates at the onset of condensation and holds afterwards while the condensate bulk thermal resistance gradually takes over with condensate thickness growing. The weaker the solid-liquid bonding, the later the takeover occurs. This competition mechanism suggests that only when the condensate bulk thermal resistance is reduced after it takes over the domination can the condensation be effectively intensified. We propose a unified theoretical model for the thermal resistance analysis by making dropwise condensation equivalent to filmwise condensation. We further find that near a critical point (contact angle being ca. 153°) the bulk thermal resistance has the least opportunity to take over the domination while away from it the probability increases. PMID:27721397

Modeling the influence of preferential flow on the spatial variability and time-dependence of mineral weathering rates

DOE PAGES

Pandey, Sachin; Rajaram, Harihar

2016-12-05

Inferences of weathering rates from laboratory and field observations suggest significant scale and time-dependence. Preferential flow induced by heterogeneity (manifest as permeability variations or discrete fractures) has been suggested as one potential mechanism causing scale/time-dependence. In this paper, we present a quantitative evaluation of the influence of preferential flow on weathering rates using reactive transport modeling. Simulations were performed in discrete fracture networks (DFNs) and correlated random permeability fields (CRPFs), and compared to simulations in homogeneous permeability fields. The simulations reveal spatial variability in the weathering rate, multidimensional distribution of reactions zones, and the formation of rough weathering interfaces andmore » corestones due to preferential flow. In the homogeneous fields and CRPFs, the domain-averaged weathering rate is initially constant as long as the weathering front is contained within the domain, reflecting equilibrium-controlled behavior. The behavior in the CRPFs was influenced by macrodispersion, with more spread-out weathering profiles, an earlier departure from the initial constant rate and longer persistence of weathering. DFN simulations exhibited a sustained time-dependence resulting from the formation of diffusion-controlled weathering fronts in matrix blocks, which is consistent with the shrinking core mechanism. A significant decrease in the domain-averaged weathering rate is evident despite high remaining mineral volume fractions, but the decline does not follow a math formula dependence, characteristic of diffusion, due to network scale effects and advection-controlled behavior near the inflow boundary. Finally, the DFN simulations also reveal relatively constant horizontally averaged weathering rates over a significant depth range, challenging the very notion of a weathering front.« less

Modeling the influence of preferential flow on the spatial variability and time-dependence of mineral weathering rates

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pandey, Sachin; Rajaram, Harihar

Inferences of weathering rates from laboratory and field observations suggest significant scale and time-dependence. Preferential flow induced by heterogeneity (manifest as permeability variations or discrete fractures) has been suggested as one potential mechanism causing scale/time-dependence. In this paper, we present a quantitative evaluation of the influence of preferential flow on weathering rates using reactive transport modeling. Simulations were performed in discrete fracture networks (DFNs) and correlated random permeability fields (CRPFs), and compared to simulations in homogeneous permeability fields. The simulations reveal spatial variability in the weathering rate, multidimensional distribution of reactions zones, and the formation of rough weathering interfaces andmore » corestones due to preferential flow. In the homogeneous fields and CRPFs, the domain-averaged weathering rate is initially constant as long as the weathering front is contained within the domain, reflecting equilibrium-controlled behavior. The behavior in the CRPFs was influenced by macrodispersion, with more spread-out weathering profiles, an earlier departure from the initial constant rate and longer persistence of weathering. DFN simulations exhibited a sustained time-dependence resulting from the formation of diffusion-controlled weathering fronts in matrix blocks, which is consistent with the shrinking core mechanism. A significant decrease in the domain-averaged weathering rate is evident despite high remaining mineral volume fractions, but the decline does not follow a math formula dependence, characteristic of diffusion, due to network scale effects and advection-controlled behavior near the inflow boundary. Finally, the DFN simulations also reveal relatively constant horizontally averaged weathering rates over a significant depth range, challenging the very notion of a weathering front.« less

Simulations of a dynamic solar cycle and its effects on the interstellar boundary explorer ribbon and globally distributed energetic neutral atom flux

DOE PAGES

Zirnstein, E. J.; Heerikhuisen, J.; Pogorelov, N. V.; ...

2015-04-23

Observations by the Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) have vastly improved our understanding of the interaction between the solar wind (SW) and local interstellar medium through direct measurements of energetic neutral atoms (ENAs); this informs us about the heliospheric conditions that produced them. An enhanced feature of flux in the sky, the so-called IBEX ribbon, was not predicted by any global models before the first IBEX observations. A dominating theory of the origin of the ribbon, although still under debate, is a secondary charge-exchange process involving secondary ENAs originating from outside the heliopause. According to this mechanism, the evolution of themore » solar cycle should be visible in the ribbon flux. Therefore, in this paper we simulate a fully time-dependent ribbon flux, as well as globally distributed flux from the inner heliosheath (IHS), using time-dependent SW parameters from Sokol et al. as boundary conditions for our time-dependent heliosphere simulation. After post-processing the results to compute H ENA fluxes, these results show that the secondary ENA ribbon indeed should be time dependent, evolving with a period of approximately 11 yr, with differences depending on the energy and direction. Our results for the IHS flux show little periodic change with the 11 yr solar cycle, but rather with short-term fluctuations in the background plasma. And, while the secondary ENA mechanism appears to emulate several key characteristics of the observed IBEX ribbon, it appears that our simulation does not yet include all of the relevant physics that produces the observed ribbon.« less

SIMULATIONS OF A DYNAMIC SOLAR CYCLE AND ITS EFFECTS ON THE INTERSTELLAR BOUNDARY EXPLORER RIBBON AND GLOBALLY DISTRIBUTED ENERGETIC NEUTRAL ATOM FLUX

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zirnstein, E. J.; Heerikhuisen, J.; Pogorelov, N. V.

2015-05-01

Since 2009, observations by the Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) have vastly improved our understanding of the interaction between the solar wind (SW) and local interstellar medium through direct measurements of energetic neutral atoms (ENAs), which inform us about the heliospheric conditions that produced them. An enhanced feature of flux in the sky, the so-called IBEX ribbon, was not predicted by any global models before the first IBEX observations. A dominating theory of the origin of the ribbon, although still under debate, is a secondary charge-exchange process involving secondary ENAs originating from outside the heliopause. According to this mechanism, the evolutionmore » of the solar cycle should be visible in the ribbon flux. Therefore, in this paper we simulate a fully time-dependent ribbon flux, as well as globally distributed flux from the inner heliosheath (IHS), using time-dependent SW parameters from Sokół et al. as boundary conditions for our time-dependent heliosphere simulation. After post-processing the results to compute H ENA fluxes, our results show that the secondary ENA ribbon indeed should be time dependent, evolving with a period of approximately 11 yr, with differences depending on the energy and direction. Our results for the IHS flux show little periodic change with the 11 yr solar cycle, but rather with short-term fluctuations in the background plasma. While the secondary ENA mechanism appears to emulate several key characteristics of the observed IBEX ribbon, it appears that our simulation does not yet include all of the relevant physics that produces the observed ribbon.« less

Frequency dependent Lg attenuation in south-central Alaska

USGS Publications Warehouse

McNamara, D.E.

2000-01-01

The characteristics of seismic energy attenuation are determined using high frequency Lg waves from 27 crustal earthquakes, in south-central Alaska. Lg time-domain amplitudes are measured in five pass-bands and inverted to determine a frequency-dependent quality factor, Q(f), model for south-central Alaska. The inversion in this study yields the frequency-dependent quality factor, in the form of a power law: Q(f) = Q0fη = 220(±30) f0.66(±0.09) (0.75≤f≤12Hz). The results from this study are remarkably consistent with frequency dependent quality factor estimates, using local S-wave coda, in south-central Alaska. The consistency between S-coda Q(f) and Lg Q(f) enables constraints to be placed on the mechanism of crustal attenuation in south-central Alaska. For the range of frequencies considered in this study both scattering and intrinsic attenuation mechanisms likely play an equal role.

Quality Saving Mechanisms of Mitochondria during Aging in a Fully Time-Dependent Computational Biophysical Model

PubMed Central

Mellem, Daniel; Fischer, Frank; Jaspers, Sören; Wenck, Horst; Rübhausen, Michael

2016-01-01

Mitochondria are essential for the energy production of eukaryotic cells. During aging mitochondria run through various processes which change their quality in terms of activity, health and metabolic supply. In recent years, many of these processes such as fission and fusion of mitochondria, mitophagy, mitochondrial biogenesis and energy consumption have been subject of research. Based on numerous experimental insights, it was possible to qualify mitochondrial behaviour in computational simulations. Here, we present a new biophysical model based on the approach of Figge et al. in 2012. We introduce exponential decay and growth laws for each mitochondrial process to derive its time-dependent probability during the aging of cells. All mitochondrial processes of the original model are mathematically and biophysically redefined and additional processes are implemented: Mitochondrial fission and fusion is separated into a metabolic outer-membrane part and a protein-related inner-membrane part, a quality-dependent threshold for mitophagy and mitochondrial biogenesis is introduced and processes for activity-dependent internal oxidative stress as well as mitochondrial repair mechanisms are newly included. Our findings reveal a decrease of mitochondrial quality and a fragmentation of the mitochondrial network during aging. Additionally, the model discloses a quality increasing mechanism due to the interplay of the mitophagy and biogenesis cycle and the fission and fusion cycle of mitochondria. It is revealed that decreased mitochondrial repair can be a quality saving process in aged cells. Furthermore, the model finds strategies to sustain the quality of the mitochondrial network in cells with high production rates of reactive oxygen species due to large energy demands. Hence, the model adds new insights to biophysical mechanisms of mitochondrial aging and provides novel understandings of the interdependency of mitochondrial processes. PMID:26771181

Glycyrrhizic acid attenuates stem cell-like phenotypes of human dermal papilla cells.

PubMed

Kiratipaiboon, Chayanin; Tengamnuay, Parkpoom; Chanvorachote, Pithi

2015-12-15

Although the growth of unwanted hair or hirsutism is a harmless condition, many people find it bothersome and embarrassing. Maintaining stem cell features of dermal papilla cells is a critical biological process that keeps the high rate of hair growth. Glycyrrhizic acid has been reported to impair hair growth in some studies; however, its underlying mechanism has not yet been investigated. This study aimed to explore the effect and underlying mechanism of glycyrrhizic acid on stemness of human dermal papilla cells. The stem cell molecular markers, epithelial to mesenchymal markers and Wnt/β-catenin-associated proteins of human dermal papilla cell line and primary human dermal papilla cells were analysed by western blot analysis and immunocytochemistry. The present study demonstrated that glycyrrhizic acid significantly depressed the stemness of dermal papilla cells in dose- and time-dependent manners. Clonogenicity and stem cell markers in the glycyrrhizic acid-treated cells were found to gradually decrease in the culture in a time-dependent manner. Our results demonstrated that glycyrrhizic acid exerted the stem cell suppressing effects through the interruption of ATP-dependent tyrosine kinase/glycogen synthase kinase3β-dependent mechanism which in turn down-regulated the β-catenin signalling pathway, coupled with decreased its down-stream epithelial-mesenchymal transition and self-renewal transcription factors, namely, Oct-4, Nanog, Sox2, ZEB1 and Snail. The effect of glycyrrhizic acid on the reduction of stem cell features was also observed in the primary dermal papilla cells directly obtained from human hair follicles. These results revealed a novel molecular mechanism of glycyrrhizic acid in regulation of dermal papilla cells and provided the evidence supporting the use of this compound in suppressing the growth of unwanted hair. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Conduction Delay Learning Model for Unsupervised and Supervised Classification of Spatio-Temporal Spike Patterns

PubMed Central

Matsubara, Takashi

2017-01-01

Precise spike timing is considered to play a fundamental role in communications and signal processing in biological neural networks. Understanding the mechanism of spike timing adjustment would deepen our understanding of biological systems and enable advanced engineering applications such as efficient computational architectures. However, the biological mechanisms that adjust and maintain spike timing remain unclear. Existing algorithms adopt a supervised approach, which adjusts the axonal conduction delay and synaptic efficacy until the spike timings approximate the desired timings. This study proposes a spike timing-dependent learning model that adjusts the axonal conduction delay and synaptic efficacy in both unsupervised and supervised manners. The proposed learning algorithm approximates the Expectation-Maximization algorithm, and classifies the input data encoded into spatio-temporal spike patterns. Even in the supervised classification, the algorithm requires no external spikes indicating the desired spike timings unlike existing algorithms. Furthermore, because the algorithm is consistent with biological models and hypotheses found in existing biological studies, it could capture the mechanism underlying biological delay learning. PMID:29209191

Conduction Delay Learning Model for Unsupervised and Supervised Classification of Spatio-Temporal Spike Patterns.

PubMed

Matsubara, Takashi

2017-01-01

Precise spike timing is considered to play a fundamental role in communications and signal processing in biological neural networks. Understanding the mechanism of spike timing adjustment would deepen our understanding of biological systems and enable advanced engineering applications such as efficient computational architectures. However, the biological mechanisms that adjust and maintain spike timing remain unclear. Existing algorithms adopt a supervised approach, which adjusts the axonal conduction delay and synaptic efficacy until the spike timings approximate the desired timings. This study proposes a spike timing-dependent learning model that adjusts the axonal conduction delay and synaptic efficacy in both unsupervised and supervised manners. The proposed learning algorithm approximates the Expectation-Maximization algorithm, and classifies the input data encoded into spatio-temporal spike patterns. Even in the supervised classification, the algorithm requires no external spikes indicating the desired spike timings unlike existing algorithms. Furthermore, because the algorithm is consistent with biological models and hypotheses found in existing biological studies, it could capture the mechanism underlying biological delay learning.

Time-Dependent Mechanical Response of APbX 3 (A = Cs, CH 3NH 3; X = I, Br) Single Crystals [The Dynamic Mechanical Properties of Lead-Halide Perovskite Single Crystals are Independent of A-site Cation Chemistry

DOE PAGES

Reyes-Martinez, Marcos A.; Abdelhady, Ahmed L.; Saidaminov, Makhsud I.; ...

2017-05-02

The ease of processing hybrid organic–inorganic perovskite (HOIPs) films, belonging to a material class with composition ABX 3, from solution and at mild temperatures promises their use in deformable technologies, including flexible photovoltaic devices, sensors, and displays. To successfully apply these materials in deformable devices, knowledge of their mechanical response to dynamic strain is necessary. The authors elucidate the time- and rate-dependent mechanical properties of HOIPs and an inorganic perovskite (IP) single crystal by measuring nanoindentation creep and stress relaxation. The observation of pop-in events and slip bands on the surface of the indented crystals demonstrate dislocation-mediated plastic deformation. Themore » magnitudes of creep and relaxation of both HOIPs and IPs are similar, negating prior hypothesis that the presence of organic A-site cations alters the mechanical response of these materials. Moreover, these samples exhibit a pronounced increase in creep, and stress relaxation as a function of indentation rate whose magnitudes reflect differences in the rates of nucleation and propagation of dislocations within the crystal structures of HOIPs and IP. In conclusion, this contribution provides understanding that is critical for designing perovskite devices capable of withstanding mechanical deformations.« less

Time as an Observable in Nonrelativistic Quantum Mechanics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hahne, G. E.

2003-01-01

The argument follows from the viewpoint that quantum mechanics is taken not in the usual form involving vectors and linear operators in Hilbert spaces, but as a boundary value problem for a special class of partial differential equations-in the present work, the nonrelativistic Schrodinger equation for motion of a structureless particle in four- dimensional space-time in the presence of a potential energy distribution that can be time-as well as space-dependent. The domain of interest is taken to be one of two semi-infinite boxes, one bounded by two t=constant planes and the other by two t=constant planes. Each gives rise to a characteristic boundary value problem: one in which the initial, input values on one t=constant wall are given, with zero asymptotic wavefunction values in all spatial directions, the output being the values on the second t=constant wall; the second with certain input values given on both z=constant walls, with zero asymptotic values in all directions involving time and the other spatial coordinates, the output being the complementary values on the z=constant walls. The first problem corresponds to ordinary quantum mechanics; the second, to a fully time-dependent version of a problem normally considered only for the steady state (time-independent Schrodinger equation). The second problem is formulated in detail. A conserved indefinite metric is associated with space-like propagation, where the sign of the norm of a unidirectional state corresponds to its spatial direction of travel.

Time-dependent nonequilibrium soft x-ray response during a spin crossover

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Veenendaal, Michel

2018-03-01

A theoretical framework is developed for better understanding the time-dependent soft-x-ray response of dissipative quantum many-body systems. It is shown how x-ray absorption and resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) at transition-metal L edges can provide insight into ultrafast intersystem crossings of importance for energy conversion, ultrafast magnetism, and catalysis. The photoinduced doublet-to-quartet spin crossover on cobalt in Fe-Co Prussian blue analogs is used as a model system to demonstrate how the x-ray response is affected by the nonequilibrium dynamics on a femtosecond time scale. Changes in local spin and symmetry and the underlying mechanism are reflected in strong broadenings, a collapse of clear selection rules during the intersystem crossing, fluctuations in the isotropic branching ratio in x-ray absorption, crystal-field collapse and/or oscillations, and time-dependent anti-Stokes processes in RIXS.

Coherent exciton transport in dendrimers and continuous-time quantum walks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mülken, Oliver; Bierbaum, Veronika; Blumen, Alexander

2006-03-01

We model coherent exciton transport in dendrimers by continuous-time quantum walks. For dendrimers up to the second generation the coherent transport shows perfect recurrences when the initial excitation starts at the central node. For larger dendrimers, the recurrence ceases to be perfect, a fact which resembles results for discrete quantum carpets. Moreover, depending on the initial excitation site, we find that the coherent transport to certain nodes of the dendrimer has a very low probability. When the initial excitation starts from the central node, the problem can be mapped onto a line which simplifies the computational effort. Furthermore, the long time average of the quantum mechanical transition probabilities between pairs of nodes shows characteristic patterns and allows us to classify the nodes into clusters with identical limiting probabilities. For the (space) average of the quantum mechanical probability to be still or to be again at the initial site, we obtain, based on the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality, a simple lower bound which depends only on the eigenvalue spectrum of the Hamiltonian.

Crustal deformation along the San Andreas, California

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Li, Victor C.

1992-01-01

The goal is to achieve a better understanding of the regional and local deformation and crustal straining processes in western North America, particularly the effects of the San Andreas and nearby faults on the spatial and temporal crustal deformation behavior. Construction of theoretical models based on the mechanics of coupled elastic plate, viscoelastic foundation and large scale crack mechanics provide a rational basis for the interpretation of seismic and aseismic anomalies and expedite efforts in forecasting the stability of plate boundary deformation. Special focus is placed on the three dimensional time dependent surface deformation due to localized slippage in a elastic layer coupled to a visco-elastic substrate. The numerical analysis is based on a 3-D boundary element technique. Extension to visco-elastic coupling demands the derivation of 3-D time dependent Green's function. This method was applied to analyze the viscoelastic surface displacements due to a dislocated embedded patch. Surface uplift as a function of time and position are obtained. Comparisons between surface uplift for long and short dislocated patches are made.

Temperature-dependent microindentation data of an epoxy composition in the glassy region

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Minster, Jiří; Králík, Vlastimil

2015-02-01

The short-term instrumented microindentation technique was applied for assessing the influence of temperature in the glassy region on the time-dependent mechanical properties of an average epoxy resin mix near to its native state. Linear viscoelasticity theory with the assumption of time-independent Poisson ratio value forms the basis for processing the experimental results. The sharp standard Berkovich indenter was used to measure the local mechanical properties at temperatures 20, 24, 28, and 35 °C. The short-term viscoelastic compliance histories were defined by the Kohlrausch-Williams-Watts double exponential function. The findings suggest that depth-sensing indentation data of thermorheologically simple materials influenced by different temperatures in the glassy region can also be used, through the time-temperature superposition, to extract viscoelastic response functions accurately. This statement is supported by the comparison of the viscoelastic compliance master curve of the tested material with data derived from standard macro creep measurements under pressure on the material in a conformable state.

Ultrasensitive Characterization of Mechanical Oscillations and Plasmon Energy Shift in Gold Nanorods.

PubMed

Soavi, Giancarlo; Tempra, Iacopo; Pantano, Maria F; Cattoni, Andrea; Collin, Stéphane; Biagioni, Paolo; Pugno, Nicola M; Cerullo, Giulio

2016-02-23

Mechanical vibrational resonances in metal nanoparticles are intensively studied because they provide insight into nanoscale elasticity and for their potential application to ultrasensitive mass detection. In this paper, we use broadband femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopy to study the longitudinal acoustic phonons of arrays of gold nanorods with different aspect ratios, fabricated by electron beam lithography with very high size uniformity. We follow in real time the impulsively excited extensional oscillations of the nanorods by measuring the transient shift of the localized surface plasmon band. Broadband and high-sensitivity detection of the time-dependent extinction spectra enables one to develop a model that quantitatively describes the periodic variation of the plasmon extinction coefficient starting from the steady-state spectrum with only one additional free parameter. This model allows us to retrieve the time-dependent elongation of the nanorods with an ultrahigh sensitivity and to measure oscillation amplitudes of just a few picometers and plasmon energy shifts on the order of 10(-2) meV.

Emission mechanisms in Al-rich AlGaN/AlN quantum wells assessed by excitation power dependent photoluminescence spectroscopy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Iwata, Yoshiya; Banal, Ryan G.; Ichikawa, Shuhei

2015-02-21

The optical properties of Al-rich AlGaN/AlN quantum wells are assessed by excitation-power-dependent time-integrated (TI) and time-resolved (TR) photoluminescence (PL) measurements. Two excitation sources, an optical parametric oscillator and the 4th harmonics of a Ti:sapphire laser, realize a wide range of excited carrier densities between 10{sup 12} and 10{sup 21 }cm{sup −3}. The emission mechanisms change from an exciton to an electron-hole plasma as the excitation power increases. Accordingly, the PL decay time is drastically reduced, and the integrated PL intensities increase in the following order: linearly, super-linearly, linearly again, and sub-linearly. The observed results are well accounted for by rate equationsmore » that consider the saturation effect of non-radiative recombination processes. Using both TIPL and TRPL measurements allows the density of non-radiative recombination centers, the internal quantum efficiency, and the radiative recombination coefficient to be reliably extracted.« less

Long-Term Isothermal Aging Effects on Carbon Fabric-Reinforced PMR-15 Composites: Compression Strength

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bowles, Kenneth J.; Roberts, Gary D.; Kamvouris, John E.

1996-01-01

A study was conducted to determine the effects of long-term isothermal thermo-oxidative aging on the compressive properties of T-650-35 fabric reinforced PMR-15 composites. The temperatures that were studied were 204, 260, 288, 316, and 343 C. Specimens of different geometries were evaluated. Cut edge-to-surface ratios of 0.03 to 0.89 were fabricated and aged. Aging times extended to a period in excess of 15,000 hours for the lower temperature runs. The unaged and aged specimens were tested in compression in accordance with ASTM D-695. Both thin and thick (plasma) specimens were tested. Three specimens were tested at each time/temperature/geometry condition. The failure modes appeared to be initiated by fiber kinking with longitudinal, interlaminar splitting. In general, it appears that the thermo-oxidative degradation of the compression strength of the composite material may occur by both thermal (time-dependent) and oxidative (weight-loss) mechanisms. Both mechanisms appear to be specimen-thickness dependent.

Time Perception Mechanisms at Central Nervous System.

PubMed

Fontes, Rhailana; Ribeiro, Jéssica; Gupta, Daya S; Machado, Dionis; Lopes-Júnior, Fernando; Magalhães, Francisco; Bastos, Victor Hugo; Rocha, Kaline; Marinho, Victor; Lima, Gildário; Velasques, Bruna; Ribeiro, Pedro; Orsini, Marco; Pessoa, Bruno; Leite, Marco Antonio Araujo; Teixeira, Silmar

2016-04-01

The five senses have specific ways to receive environmental information and lead to central nervous system. The perception of time is the sum of stimuli associated with cognitive processes and environmental changes. Thus, the perception of time requires a complex neural mechanism and may be changed by emotional state, level of attention, memory and diseases. Despite this knowledge, the neural mechanisms of time perception are not yet fully understood. The objective is to relate the mechanisms involved the neurofunctional aspects, theories, executive functions and pathologies that contribute the understanding of temporal perception. Articles form 1980 to 2015 were searched by using the key themes: neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, theories, time cells, memory, schizophrenia, depression, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and Parkinson's disease combined with the term perception of time. We evaluated 158 articles within the inclusion criteria for the purpose of the study. We conclude that research about the holdings of the frontal cortex, parietal, basal ganglia, cerebellum and hippocampus have provided advances in the understanding of the regions related to the perception of time. In neurological and psychiatric disorders, the understanding of time depends on the severity of the diseases and the type of tasks.

Andreev Bound States Formation and Quasiparticle Trapping in Quench Dynamics Revealed by Time-Dependent Counting Statistics.

PubMed

Souto, R Seoane; Martín-Rodero, A; Yeyati, A Levy

2016-12-23

We analyze the quantum quench dynamics in the formation of a phase-biased superconducting nanojunction. We find that in the absence of an external relaxation mechanism and for very general conditions the system gets trapped in a metastable state, corresponding to a nonequilibrium population of the Andreev bound states. The use of the time-dependent full counting statistics analysis allows us to extract information on the asymptotic population of even and odd many-body states, demonstrating that a universal behavior, dependent only on the Andreev state energy, is reached in the quantum point contact limit. These results shed light on recent experimental observations on quasiparticle trapping in superconducting atomic contacts.

Theoretical analysis of degradation mechanisms in the formation of morphogen gradients

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bozorgui, Behnaz; Teimouri, Hamid; Kolomeisky, Anatoly B.

2015-07-01

Fundamental biological processes of development of tissues and organs in multicellular organisms are governed by various signaling molecules, which are called morphogens. It is known that spatial and temporal variations in the concentration profiles of signaling molecules, which are frequently referred as morphogen gradients, lead to a cell differentiation via activating specific genes in a concentration-dependent manner. It is widely accepted that the establishment of the morphogen gradients involves multiple biochemical reactions and diffusion processes. One of the critical elements in the formation of morphogen gradients is a degradation of signaling molecules. We develop a new theoretical approach that provides a comprehensive description of the degradation mechanisms. It is based on the idea that the degradation works as an effective potential that drives the signaling molecules away from the source region. Utilizing the method of first-passage processes, the dynamics of the formation of morphogen gradients for various degradation mechanisms is explicitly evaluated. It is found that linear degradation processes lead to a dynamic behavior specified by times to form the morphogen gradients that depend linearly on the distance from the source. This is because the effective potential due to the degradation is quite strong. At the same time, nonlinear degradation mechanisms yield a quadratic scaling in the morphogen gradients formation times since the effective potentials are much weaker. Physical-chemical explanations of these phenomena are presented.

Pre-aging time dependence of microstructure and mechanical properties in nanostructured Al-2wt%Cu alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Azad, Bahram; Borhani, Ehsan

2016-03-01

This work is focused on the effect of pre-aging time on the properties of Al-2wt%Cu alloy processed by accumulative roll bonding (ARB) process. Following aged at 190 °C for 10 or 30 min, the samples were deformed up to a strain of 4.8 by the ARB process. The microstructure evolution was investigated by transmission electron microscope and electron backscattering diffraction analyzes. The results showed that the Al2Cu precipitates were formed with different sizes due to the different pre-aging times and the finer precipitates were more effective on the formation of high angle grain boundaries during the ARB process. The grain size of Aged-10 min and Aged-30 min specimens decreased to 400 nm and 420 nm, respectively, after 6 cycles of the ARB process. Also, the final texture after 6 cycles of the ARB process, shown in the {111} pole figure, were different depending on the starting microstructures. The mechanical properties of specimens were investigated by the Vickers microhardness measurements and the tensile tests. The results showed that the mechanical properties are affected by the starting microstructure. The mechanical properties of Aged-10 min specimen were different compared to Aged-30 min specimen due to the different size of the pre-existing precipitates. Although by continuing process, the precipitates were probably dissolved due to the heavy deformation.

Running into Trouble with the Time-Dependent Propagation of a Wavepacket

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Garriz, Abel E.; Sztrajman, Alejandro; Mitnik, Dario

2010-01-01

The propagation in time of a wavepacket is a conceptually rich problem suitable to be studied in any introductory quantum mechanics course. This subject is covered analytically in most of the standard textbooks. Computer simulations have become a widespread pedagogical tool, easily implemented in computer labs and in classroom demonstrations.…

Transitioning NWChem to the Next Generation of Manycore Machines

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bylaska, Eric J.; Apra, E; Kowalski, Karol

The NorthWest chemistry (NWChem) modeling software is a popular molecular chemistry simulation software that was designed from the start to work on massively parallel processing supercomputers [1-3]. It contains an umbrella of modules that today includes self-consistent eld (SCF), second order Møller-Plesset perturbation theory (MP2), coupled cluster (CC), multiconguration self-consistent eld (MCSCF), selected conguration interaction (CI), tensor contraction engine (TCE) many body methods, density functional theory (DFT), time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT), real-time time-dependent density functional theory, pseudopotential plane-wave density functional theory (PSPW), band structure (BAND), ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD), Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics (MD), classical MD, hybrid quantum mechanicsmore » molecular mechanics (QM/MM), hybrid ab initio molecular dynamics molecular mechanics (AIMD/MM), gauge independent atomic orbital nuclear magnetic resonance (GIAO NMR), conductor like screening solvation model (COSMO), conductor-like screening solvation model based on density (COSMO-SMD), and reference interaction site model (RISM) solvation models, free energy simulations, reaction path optimization, parallel in time, among other capabilities [4]. Moreover, new capabilities continue to be added with each new release.« less

Influence of the temperature on the composites' fusion bonding quality

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harkous, Ali; Jurkowski, Tomasz; Bailleul, Jean-Luc; Le Corre, Steven

2017-10-01

Thermoplastic composite parts are increasingly used to replace metal pieces in automotive field due to their mechanical properties, chemical properties and recycling potential [1]. To assemble and give them new mechanical functions, fusion bonding is often used. It is a type of welding carried out at a higher temperature than the fusion one [2]. The mechanical quality of the final adhesion depends on the process parameters like pressure, temperature and cycle time [3]. These parameters depend on two phenomena at the origin of the bonding formation: intimate contact [4] and reptation and healing [5]. In this study, we analyze the influence of the temperature on the bonding quality, disregarding in this first steps the pressure influence. For that, two polyamide composite parts are welded using a specific setup. Then, they undergo a mechanical test of peeling in order to quantify the adhesion quality.

Dynamic symmetries and quantum nonadiabatic transitions

DOE PAGES

Li, Fuxiang; Sinitsyn, Nikolai A.

2016-05-30

Kramers degeneracy theorem is one of the basic results in quantum mechanics. According to it, the time-reversal symmetry makes each energy level of a half-integer spin system at least doubly degenerate, meaning the absence of transitions or scatterings between degenerate states if the Hamiltonian does not depend on time explicitly. Here we generalize this result to the case of explicitly time-dependent spin Hamiltonians. We prove that for a spin system with the total spin being a half integer, if its Hamiltonian and the evolution time interval are symmetric under a specifically defined time reversal operation, the scattering amplitude between anmore » arbitrary initial state and its time reversed counterpart is exactly zero. Lastly, we also discuss applications of this result to the multistate Landau–Zener (LZ) theory.« less

Application of the time-temperature superposition principle to the mechanical characterization of elastomeric adhesives for crash simulation purposes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rauh, A.; Hinterhölzl, R.; Drechsler, K.

2012-05-01

In the automotive industry, finite element simulation is widely used to ensure crashworthiness. Mechanical material data over wide strain rate and temperature ranges are required as a basis. This work proposes a method reducing the cost of mechanical material characterization by using the time-temperature superposition principle on elastomeric adhesives. The method is based on the time and temperature interdependence which is characteristic for mechanical properties of polymers. Based on the assumption that polymers behave similarly at high strain rates and at low temperatures, a temperature-dominated test program is suggested, which can be used to deduce strain rate dependent material behavior at different reference temperatures. The temperature shift factor is found by means of dynamic mechanical analysis according to the WLF-equation, named after Williams, Landel and Ferry. The principle is applied to the viscoelastic properties as well as to the failure properties of the polymer. The applicability is validated with high strain rate tests.

Metonymy as Referential Dependency: Psycholinguistic and Neurolinguistic Arguments for a Unified Linguistic Treatment.

PubMed

Piñango, Maria M; Zhang, Muye; Foster-Hanson, Emily; Negishi, Michiro; Lacadie, Cheryl; Constable, R Todd

2017-03-01

We examine metonymy at psycho- and neurolinguistic levels, seeking to adjudicate between two possible processing implementations (one- vs. two-mechanism). We compare highly conventionalized systematic metonymy (producer-for-product: "All freshmen read O'Connell") to lesser-conventionalized circumstantial metonymy ("[a waitress says to another:] 'Table 2 asked for more coffee."'). Whereas these two metonymy types differ in terms of contextual demands, they each reveal a similar dependency between the named and intended conceptual entities (e.g., Jackendoff, 1997; Nunberg, 1979, 1995). We reason that if each metonymy yields a distinct processing time course and substantially non-overlapping preferential localization pattern, it would not only support a two-mechanism view (one lexical, one pragmatic) but would suggest that conventionalization acts as a linguistic categorizer. By contrast, a similar behavior in time course and localization would support a one-mechanism view and the inference that conventionalization acts instead as a modulator of contextual felicitousness, and that differences in interpretation introduced by conventionalization are of degree, not of kind. Results from three paradigms: self-paced reading (SPR), event-related potentials (ERP), and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), reveal the following: no main effect by condition (metonymy vs. matched literal control) for either metonymy type immediately after the metonymy trigger, and a main effect for only the Circumstantial metonymy one word post-trigger (SPR); a N400 effect across metonymy types and a late positivity for Circumstantial metonymy (ERP); and a highly overlapping activation connecting the left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex and the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (fMRI). Altogether, the pattern observed does not reach the threshold required to justify a two-mechanism system. Instead, the pattern is more naturally (and conservatively) understood as resulting from the implementation of a generalized referential dependency mechanism, modulated by degree of context dependence/conventionalization, thus supporting architectures of language whereby "lexical" and "pragmatic" meaning relations are encoded along a cline of contextual underspecification. Copyright © 2016 Cognitive Science Society, Inc.

Time-dependent perturbation of a two-state quantum mechanical system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dion, D. R.

1974-01-01

A two- (nondegenerate) level quantum system interacting with a classical monochromatic radiation field is described. The existing work on this problem is reviewed and some novel aspects of the problems are presented.

Efficiency at Maximum Power Output of a Quantum-Mechanical Brayton Cycle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yuan, Yuan; He, Ji-Zhou; Gao, Yong; Wang, Jian-Hui

2014-03-01

The performance in finite time of a quantum-mechanical Brayton engine cycle is discussed, without introduction of temperature. The engine model consists of two quantum isoenergetic and two quantum isobaric processes, and works with a single particle in a harmonic trap. Directly employing the finite-time thermodynamics, the efficiency at maximum power output is determined. Extending the harmonic trap to a power-law trap, we find that the efficiency at maximum power is independent of any parameter involved in the model, but depends on the confinement of the trapping potential.

Molecular evolution of Dmrt1 accompanies change of sex-determining mechanisms in reptilia.

PubMed

Janes, Daniel E; Organ, Christopher L; Stiglec, Rami; O'Meally, Denis; Sarre, Stephen D; Georges, Arthur; Graves, Jennifer A M; Valenzuela, Nicole; Literman, Robert A; Rutherford, Kim; Gemmell, Neil; Iverson, John B; Tamplin, Jeffrey W; Edwards, Scott V; Ezaz, Tariq

2014-12-01

In reptiles, sex-determining mechanisms have evolved repeatedly and reversibly between genotypic and temperature-dependent sex determination. The gene Dmrt1 directs male determination in chicken (and presumably other birds), and regulates sex differentiation in animals as distantly related as fruit flies, nematodes and humans. Here, we show a consistent molecular difference in Dmrt1 between reptiles with genotypic and temperature-dependent sex determination. Among 34 non-avian reptiles, a convergently evolved pair of amino acids encoded by sequence within exon 2 near the DM-binding domain of Dmrt1 distinguishes species with either type of sex determination. We suggest that this amino acid shift accompanied the evolution of genotypic sex determination from an ancestral condition of temperature-dependent sex determination at least three times among reptiles, as evident in turtles, birds and squamates. This novel hypothesis describes the evolution of sex-determining mechanisms as turnover events accompanied by one or two small mutations. © 2014 The Author(s) Published by the Royal Society. All rights reserved.

Molecular evolution of Dmrt1 accompanies change of sex-determining mechanisms in reptilia

PubMed Central

Janes, Daniel E.; Organ, Christopher L.; Stiglec, Rami; O'Meally, Denis; Sarre, Stephen D.; Georges, Arthur; Graves, Jennifer A. M.; Valenzuela, Nicole; Literman, Robert A.; Rutherford, Kim; Gemmell, Neil; Iverson, John B.; Tamplin, Jeffrey W.; Edwards, Scott V.; Ezaz, Tariq

2014-01-01

In reptiles, sex-determining mechanisms have evolved repeatedly and reversibly between genotypic and temperature-dependent sex determination. The gene Dmrt1 directs male determination in chicken (and presumably other birds), and regulates sex differentiation in animals as distantly related as fruit flies, nematodes and humans. Here, we show a consistent molecular difference in Dmrt1 between reptiles with genotypic and temperature-dependent sex determination. Among 34 non-avian reptiles, a convergently evolved pair of amino acids encoded by sequence within exon 2 near the DM-binding domain of Dmrt1 distinguishes species with either type of sex determination. We suggest that this amino acid shift accompanied the evolution of genotypic sex determination from an ancestral condition of temperature-dependent sex determination at least three times among reptiles, as evident in turtles, birds and squamates. This novel hypothesis describes the evolution of sex-determining mechanisms as turnover events accompanied by one or two small mutations. PMID:25540158

Permeation of halide anions through phospholipid bilayers occurs by the solubility-diffusion mechanism

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Paula, S.; Volkov, A. G.; Deamer, D. W.

1998-01-01

Two alternative mechanisms are frequently used to describe ionic permeation of lipid bilayers. In the first, ions partition into the hydrophobic phase and then diffuse across (the solubility-diffusion mechanism). The second mechanism assumes that ions traverse the bilayer through transient hydrophilic defects caused by thermal fluctuations (the pore mechanism). The theoretical predictions made by both models were tested for halide anions by measuring the permeability coefficients for chloride, bromide, and iodide as a function of bilayer thickness, ionic radius, and sign of charge. To vary the bilayer thickness systematically, liposomes were prepared from monounsaturated phosphatidylcholines (PC) with chain lengths between 16 and 24 carbon atoms. The fluorescent dye MQAE (N-(ethoxycarbonylmethyl)-6-methoxyquinolinium bromide) served as an indicator for halide concentration inside the liposomes and was used to follow the kinetics of halide flux across the bilayer membranes. The observed permeability coefficients ranged from 10(-9) to 10(-7) cm/s and increased as the bilayer thickness was reduced. Bromide was found to permeate approximately six times faster than chloride through bilayers of identical thickness, and iodide permeated three to four times faster than bromide. The dependence of the halide permeability coefficients on bilayer thickness and on ionic size were consistent with permeation of hydrated ions by a solubility-diffusion mechanism rather than through transient pores. Halide permeation therefore differs from that of a monovalent cation such as potassium, which has been accounted for by a combination of the two mechanisms depending on bilayer thickness.

Theory of Aging, Rejuvenation, and the Nonequilibrium Steady State in Deformed Polymer Glasses

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chen, Kang

The nonlinear Langevin equation theory of segmental relaxation, elasticity, and mechanical response of polymer glasses is extended to describe the coupled effects of physical aging, mechanical rejuvenation, and thermal history. The key structural variable is the amplitude of density fluctuations, and segmental dynamics proceeds via stress-modified activated barrier hopping on a dynamic free-energy profile. Mechanically generated disorder rejuvenation is quantified by a dissipative work argument and increases the amplitude of density fluctuations, thereby speeding up relaxation beyond that induced by the landscape tilting mechanism. The theory makes testable predictions for the time evolution and nonequilibrium steady state of the alphamore » relaxation time, density fluctuation amplitude, elastic modulus, and other properties. Model calculations reveal a rich dependence of these quantities on preaging time, applied stress, and temperature that reflects the highly nonlinear competition between physical aging and mechanical disordering. Thermal history is erased in the long-time limit, although the nonequilibrium steady state is not the literal fully rejuvenated freshly quenched glass. The present work provides the conceptual foundation for a quantitative treatment of the nonlinear mechanical response of polymer glasses under a variety of deformation protocols.« less

Mathematics of Ventilator-induced Lung Injury.

PubMed

Rahaman, Ubaidur

2017-08-01

Ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) results from mechanical disruption of blood-gas barrier and consequent edema and releases of inflammatory mediators. A transpulmonary pressure (P L ) of 17 cmH 2 O increases baby lung volume to its anatomical limit, predisposing to VILI. Viscoelastic property of lung makes pulmonary mechanics time dependent so that stress (P L ) increases with respiratory rate. Alveolar inhomogeneity in acute respiratory distress syndrome acts as a stress riser, multiplying global stress at regional level experienced by baby lung. Limitation of stress (P L ) rather than strain (tidal volume [V T ]) is the safe strategy of mechanical ventilation to prevent VILI. Driving pressure is the noninvasive surrogate of lung strain, but its relations to P L is dependent on the chest wall compliance. Determinants of lung stress (V T , driving pressure, positive end-expiratory pressure, and inspiratory flow) can be quantified in terms of mechanical power, and a safe threshold can be determined, which can be used in decision-making between safe mechanical ventilation and extracorporeal lung support.

The effects of short-lived radionuclides and porosity on the early thermo-mechanical evolution of planetesimals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lichtenberg, Tim; Golabek, Gregor J.; Gerya, Taras V.; Meyer, Michael R.

2016-08-01

The thermal history and internal structure of chondritic planetesimals, assembled before the giant impact phase of chaotic growth, potentially yield important implications for the final composition and evolution of terrestrial planets. These parameters critically depend on the internal balance of heating versus cooling, which is mostly determined by the presence of short-lived radionuclides (SLRs), such as 26Al and 60Fe, as well as the heat conductivity of the material. The heating by SLRs depends on their initial abundances, the formation time of the planetesimal and its size. It has been argued that the cooling history is determined by the porosity of the granular material, which undergoes dramatic changes via compaction processes and tends to decrease with time. In this study we assess the influence of these parameters on the thermo-mechanical evolution of young planetesimals with both 2D and 3D simulations. Using the code family I2ELVIS/I3ELVIS we have run numerous 2D and 3D numerical finite-difference fluid dynamic models with varying planetesimal radius, formation time and initial porosity. Our results indicate that powdery materials lowered the threshold for melting and convection in planetesimals, depending on the amount of SLRs present. A subset of planetesimals retained a powdery surface layer which lowered the thermal conductivity and hindered cooling. The effect of initial porosity was small, however, compared to those of planetesimal size and formation time, which dominated the thermo-mechanical evolution and were the primary factors for the onset of melting and differentiation. We comment on the implications of this work concerning the structure and evolution of these planetesimals, as well as their behavior as possible building blocks of terrestrial planets.

A model for homeopathic remedy effects: low dose nanoparticles, allostatic cross-adaptation, and time-dependent sensitization in a complex adaptive system

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background This paper proposes a novel model for homeopathic remedy action on living systems. Research indicates that homeopathic remedies (a) contain measurable source and silica nanoparticles heterogeneously dispersed in colloidal solution; (b) act by modulating biological function of the allostatic stress response network (c) evoke biphasic actions on living systems via organism-dependent adaptive and endogenously amplified effects; (d) improve systemic resilience. Discussion The proposed active components of homeopathic remedies are nanoparticles of source substance in water-based colloidal solution, not bulk-form drugs. Nanoparticles have unique biological and physico-chemical properties, including increased catalytic reactivity, protein and DNA adsorption, bioavailability, dose-sparing, electromagnetic, and quantum effects different from bulk-form materials. Trituration and/or liquid succussions during classical remedy preparation create “top-down” nanostructures. Plants can biosynthesize remedy-templated silica nanostructures. Nanoparticles stimulate hormesis, a beneficial low-dose adaptive response. Homeopathic remedies prescribed in low doses spaced intermittently over time act as biological signals that stimulate the organism’s allostatic biological stress response network, evoking nonlinear modulatory, self-organizing change. Potential mechanisms include time-dependent sensitization (TDS), a type of adaptive plasticity/metaplasticity involving progressive amplification of host responses, which reverse direction and oscillate at physiological limits. To mobilize hormesis and TDS, the remedy must be appraised as a salient, but low level, novel threat, stressor, or homeostatic disruption for the whole organism. Silica nanoparticles adsorb remedy source and amplify effects. Properly-timed remedy dosing elicits disease-primed compensatory reversal in direction of maladaptive dynamics of the allostatic network, thus promoting resilience and recovery from disease. Summary Homeopathic remedies are proposed as source nanoparticles that mobilize hormesis and time-dependent sensitization via non-pharmacological effects on specific biological adaptive and amplification mechanisms. The nanoparticle nature of remedies would distinguish them from conventional bulk drugs in structure, morphology, and functional properties. Outcomes would depend upon the ability of the organism to respond to the remedy as a novel stressor or heterotypic biological threat, initiating reversals of cumulative, cross-adapted biological maladaptations underlying disease in the allostatic stress response network. Systemic resilience would improve. This model provides a foundation for theory-driven research on the role of nanomaterials in living systems, mechanisms of homeopathic remedy actions and translational uses in nanomedicine. PMID:23088629

A model for homeopathic remedy effects: low dose nanoparticles, allostatic cross-adaptation, and time-dependent sensitization in a complex adaptive system.

PubMed

Bell, Iris R; Koithan, Mary

2012-10-22

This paper proposes a novel model for homeopathic remedy action on living systems. Research indicates that homeopathic remedies (a) contain measurable source and silica nanoparticles heterogeneously dispersed in colloidal solution; (b) act by modulating biological function of the allostatic stress response network (c) evoke biphasic actions on living systems via organism-dependent adaptive and endogenously amplified effects; (d) improve systemic resilience. The proposed active components of homeopathic remedies are nanoparticles of source substance in water-based colloidal solution, not bulk-form drugs. Nanoparticles have unique biological and physico-chemical properties, including increased catalytic reactivity, protein and DNA adsorption, bioavailability, dose-sparing, electromagnetic, and quantum effects different from bulk-form materials. Trituration and/or liquid succussions during classical remedy preparation create "top-down" nanostructures. Plants can biosynthesize remedy-templated silica nanostructures. Nanoparticles stimulate hormesis, a beneficial low-dose adaptive response. Homeopathic remedies prescribed in low doses spaced intermittently over time act as biological signals that stimulate the organism's allostatic biological stress response network, evoking nonlinear modulatory, self-organizing change. Potential mechanisms include time-dependent sensitization (TDS), a type of adaptive plasticity/metaplasticity involving progressive amplification of host responses, which reverse direction and oscillate at physiological limits. To mobilize hormesis and TDS, the remedy must be appraised as a salient, but low level, novel threat, stressor, or homeostatic disruption for the whole organism. Silica nanoparticles adsorb remedy source and amplify effects. Properly-timed remedy dosing elicits disease-primed compensatory reversal in direction of maladaptive dynamics of the allostatic network, thus promoting resilience and recovery from disease. Homeopathic remedies are proposed as source nanoparticles that mobilize hormesis and time-dependent sensitization via non-pharmacological effects on specific biological adaptive and amplification mechanisms. The nanoparticle nature of remedies would distinguish them from conventional bulk drugs in structure, morphology, and functional properties. Outcomes would depend upon the ability of the organism to respond to the remedy as a novel stressor or heterotypic biological threat, initiating reversals of cumulative, cross-adapted biological maladaptations underlying disease in the allostatic stress response network. Systemic resilience would improve. This model provides a foundation for theory-driven research on the role of nanomaterials in living systems, mechanisms of homeopathic remedy actions and translational uses in nanomedicine.

Real time studies of Elastic Moduli Pu Aging using Resonant Ultrasound Spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maiorov, Boris

Elastic moduli are fundamental thermodynamic susceptibilities that connect directly to thermodynamics, electronic structure and give important information about mechanical properties. To determine the time evolution of the elastic properties in 239Pu and it Ga alloys, is imperative to study its phase stability and self-irradiation damage process. The most-likely sources of these changes include a) ingrowth of radioactive decay products like He and U, b) the introduction of radiation damage, c) δ-phase instabilities towards α-Pu or to Pu3Ga. The measurement of mechanical resonance frequencies can be made with extreme precision and used to compute the elastic moduli without corrections giving important insight in this problem. Using Resonant Ultrasound Spectroscopy, we measured the time dependence of the mechanical resonance frequencies of fine-grained polycrystalline δ-phase 239Pu, from 300K up to 480K. At room temperature, the shear modulus shows an increase in time (stiffening), but the bulk modulus decreases (softening). These are the first real-time measurements of room temperature aging of the elastic moduli, and the changes are consistent with elastic moduli measurements performed on 44 year old δ-Pu. As the temperature is increased, the rate of change increases exponentially, with both moduli becoming stiffer with time. For T>420K an abrupt change in the time dependence is observed indicating that the bulk and shear moduli have opposite rates of change. Our measurements provide a basis for ruling out the decomposition of δ-Pu towards α-Pu or Pu3Ga, and indicate a complex defect-related scenario from which we are gathering important clues.

Effects of infrasound on hippocampus-dependent learning and memory in rats and some underlying mechanisms.

PubMed

Yuan, Hua; Long, Hua; Liu, Jing; Qu, Lili; Chen, Jingzao; Mou, Xiang

2009-09-01

To investigate the effect of infrasound on the hippocampus-dependent spatial learning and memory as well as its underlying mechanisms, we measured the changes of cognitive abilities, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)-tyrosine kinase receptor B (TrkB) signal transduction pathway and neurogenesis in the hippocampus of rats. The results showed that rats exposed to infrasound of 16 Hz at 130 dB for 14 days exhibited longer escape latency from day 2 and shortened time staying in the quadrant P in Morris water maze (MWM). It was found that mRNA and protein expression levels of hippocampal BDNF and TrkB were significantly decreased in real-time PCR and Western blot, and the number of BrdU-labeled cells in hippocampus was also reduced when compared to control. These results provided novel evidences that the infrasound of a certain exposure parameter can impair hippocampus-dependent learning and memory, in which the downregulation of the neuronal plasticity-related BDNF-TrkB signal pathway and less neurogenesis in hippocampus might be involved.

Real-Time Quantum Dynamics of Long-Range Electronic Excitation Transfer in Plasmonic Nanoantennas.

PubMed

Ilawe, Niranjan V; Oviedo, M Belén; Wong, Bryan M

2017-08-08

Using large-scale, real-time, quantum dynamics calculations, we present a detailed analysis of electronic excitation transfer (EET) mechanisms in a multiparticle plasmonic nanoantenna system. Specifically, we utilize real-time, time-dependent, density functional tight binding (RT-TDDFTB) to provide a quantum-mechanical description (at an electronic/atomistic level of detail) for characterizing and analyzing these systems, without recourse to classical approximations. We also demonstrate highly long-range electronic couplings in these complex systems and find that the range of these couplings is more than twice the conventional cutoff limit considered by Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based approaches. Furthermore, we attribute these unusually long-ranged electronic couplings to the coherent oscillations of conduction electrons in plasmonic nanoparticles. This long-range nature of plasmonic interactions has important ramifications for EET; in particular, we show that the commonly used "nearest-neighbor" FRET model is inadequate for accurately characterizing EET even in simple plasmonic antenna systems. These findings provide a real-time, quantum-mechanical perspective for understanding EET mechanisms and provide guidance in enhancing plasmonic properties in artificial light-harvesting systems.

Directed networks' different link formation mechanisms causing degree distribution distinction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Behfar, Stefan Kambiz; Turkina, Ekaterina; Cohendet, Patrick; Burger-Helmchen, Thierry

2016-11-01

Within undirected networks, scientists have shown much interest in presenting power-law features. For instance, Barabási and Albert (1999) claimed that a common property of many large networks is that vertex connectivity follows scale-free power-law distribution, and in another study Barabási et al. (2002) showed power law evolution in the social network of scientific collaboration. At the same time, Jiang et al. (2011) discussed deviation from power-law distribution; others indicated that size effect (Bagrow et al., 2008), information filtering mechanism (Mossa et al., 2002), and birth and death process (Shi et al., 2005) could account for this deviation. Within directed networks, many authors have considered that outlinks follow a similar mechanism of creation as inlinks' (Faloutsos et al., 1999; Krapivsky et al., 2001; Tanimoto, 2009) with link creation rate being the linear function of node degree, resulting in a power-law shape for both indegree and outdegree distribution. Some other authors have made an assumption that directed networks, such as scientific collaboration or citation, behave as undirected, resulting in a power-law degree distribution accordingly (Barabási et al., 2002). At the same time, we claim (1) Outlinks feature different degree distributions than inlinks; where different link formation mechanisms cause the distribution distinctions, (2) in/outdegree distribution distinction holds for different levels of system decomposition; therefore this distribution distinction is a property of directed networks. First, we emphasize in/outlink formation mechanisms as causal factors for distinction between indegree and outdegree distributions (where this distinction has already been noticed in Barker et al. (2010) and Baxter et al. (2006)) within a sample network of OSS projects as well as Java software corpus as a network. Second, we analyze whether this distribution distinction holds for different levels of system decomposition: open-source-software (OSS) project-project dependency within a cluster, package-package dependency within a project and class-class dependency within a package. We conclude that indegree and outdegree dependencies do not lead to similar type of degree distributions, implying that indegree dependencies follow overall power-law distribution (or power-law with flat-top or exponential cut-off in some cases), while outdegree dependencies do not follow heavy-tailed distribution.

Detailed mechanism for oxidation of benzene

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bittker, David A.

1990-01-01

A detailed mechanism for the oxidation of benzene is presented and used to compute experimentally obtained concentration profiles and ignition delay times over a wide range of equivalence ratio and temperature. The computed results agree qualitatively with all the experimental trends. Quantitative agreement is obtained with several of the composition profiles and for the temperature dependence of the ignition delay times. There are indications, however, that some important reactions are as yet undiscovered in this mechanism. Recent literature expressions have been used for the rate coefficients of most important reactions, except for some involving phenol. The discrepancy between the phenol pyrolysis rate coefficient used in this work and a recent literature expression remains to be explained.

Risk, resources and state-dependent adaptive behavioural syndromes

PubMed Central

Luttbeg, Barney; Sih, Andrew

2010-01-01

Many animals exhibit behavioural syndromes—consistent individual differences in behaviour across two or more contexts or situations. Here, we present adaptive, state-dependent mathematical models for analysing issues about behavioural syndromes. We find that asset protection (where individuals with more ‘assets’ tend be more cautious) and starvation avoidance, two state-dependent mechanisms, can explain short-term behavioural consistency, but not long-term stable behavioural types (BTs). These negative-feedback mechanisms tend to produce convergence in state and behaviour over time. In contrast, a positive-feedback mechanism, state-dependent safety (where individuals with higher energy reserves, size, condition or vigour are better at coping with predators), can explain stable differences in personality over the long term. The relative importance of negative- and positive-feedback mechanisms in governing behavioural consistency depends on environmental conditions (predation risk and resource availability). Behavioural syndromes emerge more readily in conditions of intermediate ecological favourability (e.g. medium risk and medium resources, or high risk and resources, or low risk and resources). Under these conditions, individuals with higher initial state maintain a tendency to be bolder than individuals that start with low initial state; i.e. later BT is determined by state during an early ‘developmental window’. In contrast, when conditions are highly favourable (low risk, high resources) or highly unfavourable (high risk, low resources), individuals converge to be all relatively bold or all relatively cautious, respectively. In those circumstances, initial differences in BT are not maintained over the long term, and there is no early developmental window where initial state governs later BT. The exact range of ecological conditions favouring behavioural syndromes depends also on the strength of state-dependent safety. PMID:21078650

[A study of urine concentrating mechanism--a molecular biological approach].

PubMed

Marumo, F

1994-07-01

Human urine can be concentrated up to four times higher than that of the plasma. Urine concentrating mechanism has attracted for a long time. However, studies in the field are now picking up momentum due to recent breakthrough discoveries using molecular biology techniques. Vasopressin-regulated water channel in the apical membrane of the collecting duct and water channel in the basolateral side of the membrane were cloned. cloned. Osmolality-dependent chloride channel in the thin ascending limb of Henle was also cloned. In addition, vasopressin-regulated urea transporter was found in the collecting duct. These newly discovered channels and transporter should be playing important physiological roles in urine concentrating mechanism. Furthermore, recent findings on osmolytes and their transporters also add to the list of urine concentrating mechanisms.

Role of adult neurogenesis in hippocampal-cortical memory consolidation

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Acquired memory is initially dependent on the hippocampus (HPC) for permanent memory formation. This hippocampal dependency of memory recall progressively decays with time, a process that is associated with a gradual increase in dependency upon cortical structures. This process is commonly referred to as systems consolidation theory. In this paper, we first review how memory becomes hippocampal dependent to cortical dependent with an emphasis on the interactions that occur between the HPC and cortex during systems consolidation. We also review the mechanisms underlying the gradual decay of HPC dependency during systems consolidation from the perspective of memory erasures by adult hippocampal neurogenesis. Finally, we discuss the relationship between systems consolidation and memory precision. PMID:24552281

Time-dependent efficiency measurements of polymer solar cells with dye additives: unexpected initial increase of efficiency

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bandaccari, Kyle J.; Chesmore, Grace E.; Bugaj, Mitchel; Valverde, Parisa Tajalli-Tehrani; Barber, Richard P.; McNelis, Brian J.

2018-04-01

We report the effects of the addition of two azo-dye additives on the time-dependent efficiency of polymer solar cells. Although the maximum efficiencies of devices containing different amounts of dye do not vary greatly over the selected concentration range, the time dependence results reveal a surprising initial increase in efficiency in some samples. We observe this effect to be correlated with a leakage current, although a specific mechanism is not yet identified. We also present the measured lifetimes of these solar cells, and find that variations in dye concentrations produce a small effect at most. Characterization of the bulk heterojunction layer (active layer) morphology using atomic-force microscope (AFM) imaging reveals reordering patterns which suggest that the primary effects of the dyes arise via structural, not absorptive, characteristics.

Simulation of biochemical reactions with time-dependent rates by the rejection-based algorithm

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Thanh, Vo Hong, E-mail: vo@cosbi.eu; Priami, Corrado, E-mail: priami@cosbi.eu; Department of Mathematics, University of Trento, Trento

We address the problem of simulating biochemical reaction networks with time-dependent rates and propose a new algorithm based on our rejection-based stochastic simulation algorithm (RSSA) [Thanh et al., J. Chem. Phys. 141(13), 134116 (2014)]. The computation for selecting next reaction firings by our time-dependent RSSA (tRSSA) is computationally efficient. Furthermore, the generated trajectory is exact by exploiting the rejection-based mechanism. We benchmark tRSSA on different biological systems with varying forms of reaction rates to demonstrate its applicability and efficiency. We reveal that for nontrivial cases, the selection of reaction firings in existing algorithms introduces approximations because the integration of reactionmore » rates is very computationally demanding and simplifying assumptions are introduced. The selection of the next reaction firing by our approach is easier while preserving the exactness.« less

Einstein's equivalence principle in quantum mechanics revisited

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nauenberg, Michael

2016-11-01

The gravitational equivalence principle in quantum mechanics is of considerable importance, but it is generally not included in physics textbooks. In this note, we present a precise quantum formulation of this principle and comment on its verification in a neutron diffraction experiment. The solution of the time dependent Schrödinger equation for this problem also gives the wave function for the motion of a charged particle in a homogeneous electric field, which is also usually ignored in textbooks on quantum mechanics.

Shoulder pain and time dependent structure in wheelchair propulsion variability

PubMed Central

Jayaraman, Chandrasekaran; Moon, Yaejin; Sosnoff, Jacob J.

2016-01-01

Manual wheelchair propulsion places considerable repetitive mechanical strain on the upper limbs leading to shoulder injury and pain. While recent research indicates that the amount of variability in wheelchair propulsion and shoulder pain may be related. There has been minimal inquiry into the fluctuation over time (i.e. time-dependent structure) in wheelchair propulsion variability. Consequently the purpose of this investigation was to examine if the time-dependent structure in the wheelchair propulsion parameters are related to shoulder pain. 27 experienced wheelchair users manually propelled their own wheelchair fitted with a SMARTWheel on a roller at 1.1 m/s for 3 minutes. Time-dependent structure of cycle-to-cycle fluctuations in contact angle and inter push time interval was quantified using sample entropy (SampEn) and compared between the groups with/without shoulder pain using non-parametric statistics. Overall findings were, (1) variability observed in contact angle fluctuations during manual wheelchair propulsion is structured (Z=3.15;p<0.05), (2) individuals with shoulder pain exhibited higher SampEn magnitude for contact angle during wheelchair propulsion than those without pain (χ2(1)=6.12;p<0.05); and (3) SampEn of contact angle correlated significantly with self-reported shoulder pain (rs (WUSPI) =0.41;rs (VAS)=0.56;p<0.05). It was concluded that the time-dependent structure in wheelchair propulsion may provide novel information for tracking and monitoring shoulder pain. PMID:27134151

Environment enhanced fatigue crack propagation in metals: Inputs to fracture mechanics life prediction models

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gangloff, Richard P.; Kim, Sang-Shik

1993-01-01

This report is a critical review of both environment-enhanced fatigue crack propagation data and the predictive capabilities of crack growth rate models. This information provides the necessary foundation for incorporating environmental effects in NASA FLAGRO and will better enable predictions of aerospace component fatigue lives. The review presents extensive literature data on 'stress corrosion cracking and corrosion fatigue.' The linear elastic fracture mechanics approach, based on stress intensity range (Delta(K)) similitude with microscopic crack propagation threshold and growth rates, provides a basis for these data. Results are presented showing enhanced growth rates for gases (viz., H2 and H2O) and electrolytes (e.g. NaCl and H2O) in aerospace alloys including: C-Mn and heat treated alloy steels, aluminum alloys, nickel-based superalloys, and titanium alloys. Environment causes purely time-dependent accelerated fatigue crack growth above the monotonic load cracking threshold (KIEAC) and promotes cycle-time dependent cracking below (KIEAC). These phenomenon are discussed in terms of hydrogen embrittlement, dissolution, and film rupture crack tip damage mechanisms.

Fire and longleaf pine physiology - Does timing affect response? In: Proc

Treesearch

Mary Anne Sword Sayer; James D. Haywood

2009-01-01

Southern pines vary in their response to the loss of leaf area by crown scorch. We hypothesize that they tolerate crown scorch by at least three recovery mechanisms, but the function of these mechanisms is season-dependent. Using sapling longleaf pine as a model and experimental results from central Louisiana, U.S.A., our objective is to present examples recovery from...

Cellular entry of G3.5 poly (amido amine) dendrimers by clathrin- and dynamin-dependent endocytosis promotes tight junctional opening in intestinal epithelia.

PubMed

Goldberg, Deborah S; Ghandehari, Hamidreza; Swaan, Peter W

2010-08-01

This study investigates the mechanisms of G3.5 poly (amido amine) dendrimer cellular uptake, intracellular trafficking, transepithelial transport and tight junction modulation in Caco-2 cells in the context of oral drug delivery. Chemical inhibitors blocking clathrin-, caveolin- and dynamin-dependent endocytosis pathways were used to investigate the mechanisms of dendrimer cellular uptake and transport across Caco-2 cells using flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. Dendrimer cellular uptake was found to be dynamin-dependent and was reduced by both clathrin and caveolin endocytosis inhibitors, while transepithelial transport was only dependent on dynamin- and clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Dendrimers were quickly trafficked to the lysosomes after 15 min of incubation and showed increased endosomal accumulation at later time points, suggesting saturation of this pathway. Dendrimers were unable to open tight junctions in cell monolayers treated with dynasore, a selective inhibitor of dynamin, confirming that dendrimer internalization promotes tight junction modulation. G3.5 PAMAM dendrimers take advantage of several receptor-mediated endocytosis pathways for cellular entry in Caco-2 cells. Dendrimer internalization by dynamin-dependent mechanisms promotes tight junction opening, suggesting that dendrimers act on intracellular cytoskeletal proteins to modulate tight junctions, thus catalyzing their own transport via the paracellular route.

Wave-driven dynamo action in spherical magnetohydrodynamic systems.

PubMed

Reuter, K; Jenko, F; Tilgner, A; Forest, C B

2009-11-01

Hydrodynamic and magnetohydrodynamic numerical studies of a mechanically forced two-vortex flow inside a sphere are reported. The simulations are performed in the intermediate regime between the laminar flow and developed turbulence, where a hydrodynamic instability is found to generate internal waves with a characteristic m=2 zonal wave number. It is shown that this time-periodic flow acts as a dynamo, although snapshots of the flow as well as the mean flow are not dynamos. The magnetic fields' growth rate exhibits resonance effects depending on the wave frequency. Furthermore, a cyclic self-killing and self-recovering dynamo based on the relative alignment of the velocity and magnetic fields is presented. The phenomena are explained in terms of a mixing of nonorthogonal eigenstates of the time-dependent linear operator of the magnetic induction equation. The potential relevance of this mechanism to dynamo experiments is discussed.

Comparison of the Chebyshev Method and the Generalized Crank-Nicholson Method for time Propagation in Quantum Mechanics

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Formanek, Martin; Vana, Martin; Houfek, Karel

2010-09-30

We compare efficiency of two methods for numerical solution of the time-dependent Schroedinger equation, namely the Chebyshev method and the recently introduced generalized Crank-Nicholson method. As a testing system the free propagation of a particle in one dimension is used. The space discretization is based on the high-order finite diferences to approximate accurately the kinetic energy operator in the Hamiltonian. We show that the choice of the more effective method depends on how many wave functions must be calculated during the given time interval to obtain relevant and reasonably accurate information about the system, i.e. on the choice of themore » time step.« less

Evidence for the load-dependent mechanical efficiency of individual myosin heads in skeletal muscle fibers activated by laser flash photolysis of caged calcium in the presence of a limited amount of ATP.

PubMed

Sugi, H; Iwamoto, H; Akimoto, T; Ushitani, H

1998-03-03

Although a contracting muscle regulates its energy output depending on the load imposed on it ("Fenn effect"), the mechanism underlying the load-dependent energy output remains obscure. To explore the possibility that the mechanical efficiency, with which chemical energy derived from ATP hydrolysis is converted into mechanical work, of individual myosin heads changes in a load-dependent manner, we examined the auxotonic shortening of glycerinated rabbit psoas muscle fibers, containing ATP molecules almost equal in number to the myosin heads, after laser-flash photolysis of caged calcium. Immediately before laser-flash activation, almost all of the myosin heads in the fiber are in the state M.ADP.Pi, and can undergo only one ATP hydrolysis cycle after activation. When the fibers were activated to shorten under various auxotonic loads, the length, force, and power output changes were found to be scaled according to the auxotonic load. Both the power and energy outputs were maximal under a moderate auxotonic load. The amount of M.ADP.Pi utilized at a time after activation was estimated from the amount of isometric force developed after interruption of fiber shortening. This amount was minimal in the isometric condition and increased nearly in proportion to the distance of fiber shortening. These results are taken as evidence that the efficiency of chemomechanical energy conversion in individual myosin heads changes in a load-dependent manner.

Leukocyte diversity in resolving and nonresolving mechanisms of cardiac remodeling.

PubMed

Tourki, Bochra; Halade, Ganesh

2017-10-01

In response to myocardial infarction (MI), time-dependent leukocyte infiltration is critical to program the acute inflammatory response. Post-MI leukocyte density, residence time in the infarcted area, and exit from the infarcted injury predict resolving or nonresolving inflammation. Overactive or unresolved inflammation is the primary determinant in heart failure pathology post-MI. Here, our review describes supporting evidence that the acute inflammatory response also guides the generation of healing and regenerative mediators after cardiac damage. Time-dependent leukocyte density and diversity and the magnitude of myocardial injury is responsible for the resolving and nonresolving pathway in myocardial healing. Post MI, the diversity of leukocytes, such as neutrophils, macrophages, and lymphocytes, has been explored that regulate the clearance of deceased cardiomyocytes by using the classic and reparative pathways. Among the innovative factors and intermediates that have been recognized as essential in acute the self-healing and clearance mechanism, we highlight specialized proresolving mediators as the emerging factor for post-MI reparative mechanisms-translational leukocyte modifiers, such as aging, the source of leukocytes, and the milieu around the leukocytes. In the clinical setting, it is possible that leukocyte diversity is more prominent as a result of risk factors, such as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. Pharmacologic agents are critical modifiers of leukocyte diversity in healing mechanisms that may impair or stimulate the clearance mechanism. Future research is needed, with a focused approach to understand the molecular targets, cellular effectors, and receptors. A clear understanding of resolving and nonresolving inflammation in myocardial healing will help to develop novel targets with major emphasis on the resolution of inflammation in heart failure pathology.-Tourki, B., Halade, G. Leukocyte diversity in resolving and nonresolving mechanisms of cardiac remodeling. © FASEB.

Foundations of Quantum Mechanics: Derivation of a dissipative Schrödinger equation from first principles

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gonçalves, L.A.; Olavo, L.S.F., E-mail: olavolsf@gmail.com

Dissipation in Quantum Mechanics took some time to become a robust field of investigation after the birth of the field. The main issue hindering developments in the field is that the Quantization process was always tightly connected to the Hamiltonian formulation of Classical Mechanics. In this paper we present a quantization process that does not depend upon the Hamiltonian formulation of Classical Mechanics (although still departs from Classical Mechanics) and thus overcome the problem of finding, from first principles, a completely general Schrödinger equation encompassing dissipation. This generalized process of quantization is shown to be nothing but an extension ofmore » a more restricted version that is shown to produce the Schrödinger equation for Hamiltonian systems from first principles (even for Hamiltonian velocity dependent potential). - Highlights: • A Quantization process independent of the Hamiltonian formulation of quantum Mechanics is proposed. • This quantization method is applied to dissipative or absorptive systems. • A Dissipative Schrödinger equation is derived from first principles.« less

Memoryless control of boundary concentrations of diffusing particles.

PubMed

Singer, A; Schuss, Z; Nadler, B; Eisenberg, R S

2004-12-01

Flux between regions of different concentration occurs in nearly every device involving diffusion, whether an electrochemical cell, a bipolar transistor, or a protein channel in a biological membrane. Diffusion theory has calculated that flux since the time of Fick (1855), and the flux has been known to arise from the stochastic behavior of Brownian trajectories since the time of Einstein (1905), yet the mathematical description of the behavior of trajectories corresponding to different types of boundaries is not complete. We consider the trajectories of noninteracting particles diffusing in a finite region connecting two baths of fixed concentrations. Inside the region, the trajectories of diffusing particles are governed by the Langevin equation. To maintain average concentrations at the boundaries of the region at their values in the baths, a control mechanism is needed to set the boundary dynamics of the trajectories. Different control mechanisms are used in Langevin and Brownian simulations of such systems. We analyze models of controllers and derive equations for the time evolution and spatial distribution of particles inside the domain. Our analysis shows a distinct difference between the time evolution and the steady state concentrations. While the time evolution of the density is governed by an integral operator, the spatial distribution is governed by the familiar Fokker-Planck operator. The boundary conditions for the time dependent density depend on the model of the controller; however, this dependence disappears in the steady state, if the controller is of a renewal type. Renewal-type controllers, however, produce spurious boundary layers that can be catastrophic in simulations of charged particles, because even a tiny net charge can have global effects. The design of a nonrenewal controller that maintains concentrations of noninteracting particles without creating spurious boundary layers at the interface requires the solution of the time-dependent Fokker-Planck equation with absorption of outgoing trajectories and a source of ingoing trajectories on the boundary (the so called albedo problem).

Active Tension Network model reveals an exotic mechanical state realized in epithelial tissues

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Noll, Nicholas; Mani, Madhav; Heemskerk, Idse; Streicha, Sebastian; Shraiman, Boris

Mechanical interactions play a crucial role in epithelial morphogenesis, yet understanding the complex mechanisms through which stress and deformation affect cell behavior remains an open problem. Here we formulate and analyze the Active Tension Network (ATN) model, which assumes that mechanical balance of cells is dominated by cortical tension and introduces tension dependent active remodeling of the cortex. We find that ATNs exhibit unusual mechanical properties: i) ATN behaves as a fluid at short times, but at long times it supports external tension, like a solid; ii) its mechanical equilibrium state has extensive degeneracy associated with a discrete conformal - ''isogonal'' - deformation of cells. ATN model predicts a constraint on equilibrium cell geometry, which we demonstrate to hold in certain epithelial tissues. We further show that isogonal modes are observed in a fruit fly embryo, accounting for the striking variability of apical area of ventral cells and helping understand the early phase of gastrulation. Living matter realizes new and exotic mechanical states, understanding which helps understand biological phenomena.

Brushes, cables, and anchors: recent insights into multiscale assembly and mechanics of cellular structural networks.

PubMed

Lele, Tanmay P; Kumar, Sanjay

2007-01-01

The remarkable ability of living cells to sense, process, and respond to mechanical stimuli in their environment depends on the rapid and efficient interconversion of mechanical and chemical energy at specific times and places within the cell. For example, application of force to cells leads to conformational changes in specific mechanosensitive molecules which then trigger cellular signaling cascades that may alter cellular structure, mechanics, and migration and profoundly influence gene expression. Similarly, the sensitivity of cells to mechanical stresses is governed by the composition, architecture, and mechanics of the cellular cytoskeleton and extracellular matrix (ECM), which are in turn driven by molecular-scale forces between the constituent biopolymers. Understanding how these mechanochemical systems coordinate over multiple length and time scales to produce orchestrated cell behaviors represents a fundamental challenge in cell biology. Here, we review recent advances in our understanding of these complex processes in three experimental systems: the assembly of axonal neurofilaments, generation of tensile forces by actomyosin stress fiber bundles, and mechanical control of adhesion assembly.

Timing mechanism and effective activation energy concerned with aging and lifespan in the long-lived and thermosensory mutants of Caenorhabditis elegans.

PubMed

Suda, Hitoshi; Sato, Kazuya; Yanase, Sumino

2012-01-01

The lifespans of many poikilothermic animals, including the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, depend significantly on environmental temperature. Using long-living, thermosensory mutants of C. elegans, we tested whether the temperature dependency of the mean lifespan is compatible with the Arrhenius equation, which typically represents one of the chemical reaction rate theories. The temperature dependency of C. elegans was the Arrhenius type or normal, but daf-2(e1370) mutants were quite different from the others. However, taking into account the effect of the thermal denaturation of DAF-2 with the temperature, we showed that our analyzed results are compatible with previous ones. We investigated the timing mechanism of one parameter (the onset of biodemographic aging (t(0))) in the lifespan equation by applying the RNAi feeding method to daf-2 mutants in order to suppress daf-16 activity at different times during the life cycle. In summary, we further deepened the biological role of two elements, t(0) and z (the inverse of the aging rate), in the lifespan equation and mean lifespan formulated by our diffusion model z(2) = 4Dt(0), where z is composed of t(0) and D (the diffusion constant). Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Evidence for a Time-Invariant Phase Variable in Human Ankle Control

PubMed Central

Gregg, Robert D.; Rouse, Elliott J.; Hargrove, Levi J.; Sensinger, Jonathon W.

2014-01-01

Human locomotion is a rhythmic task in which patterns of muscle activity are modulated by state-dependent feedback to accommodate perturbations. Two popular theories have been proposed for the underlying embodiment of phase in the human pattern generator: a time-dependent internal representation or a time-invariant feedback representation (i.e., reflex mechanisms). In either case the neuromuscular system must update or represent the phase of locomotor patterns based on the system state, which can include measurements of hundreds of variables. However, a much simpler representation of phase has emerged in recent designs for legged robots, which control joint patterns as functions of a single monotonic mechanical variable, termed a phase variable. We propose that human joint patterns may similarly depend on a physical phase variable, specifically the heel-to-toe movement of the Center of Pressure under the foot. We found that when the ankle is unexpectedly rotated to a position it would have encountered later in the step, the Center of Pressure also shifts forward to the corresponding later position, and the remaining portion of the gait pattern ensues. This phase shift suggests that the progression of the stance ankle is controlled by a biomechanical phase variable, motivating future investigations of phase variables in human locomotor control. PMID:24558485

Memory-dependent derivatives for photothermal semiconducting medium in generalized thermoelasticity with two-temperature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lotfy, K.; Sarkar, N.

2017-11-01

In this work, a novel generalized model of photothermal theory with two-temperature thermoelasticity theory based on memory-dependent derivative (MDD) theory is performed. A one-dimensional problem for an elastic semiconductor material with isotropic and homogeneous properties has been considered. The problem is solved with a new model (MDD) under the influence of a mechanical force with a photothermal excitation. The Laplace transform technique is used to remove the time-dependent terms in the governing equations. Moreover, the general solutions of some physical fields are obtained. The surface taken into consideration is free of traction and subjected to a time-dependent thermal shock. The numerical Laplace inversion is used to obtain the numerical results of the physical quantities of the problem. Finally, the obtained results are presented and discussed graphically.

My starting point: the discovery of an NMR method for measuring blood oxygenation using the transverse relaxation time of blood water.

PubMed

Thulborn, Keith R

2012-08-15

This invited personal story, covering the period from 1979 to 2010, describes the discovery of the dependence of the transverse relaxation time of water in blood on the oxygenation state of hemoglobin in the erythrocytes. The underlying mechanism of the compartmentation of the different magnetic susceptibilities of hemoglobin in its different oxygenation states also explains the mechanism that underlies blood oxygenation level dependent contrast used in fMRI. The story begins with the initial observation of line broadening during ischemia in small rodents detected by in vivo 31P NMR spectroscopy at high field. This spectroscopic line broadening or T2* relaxation effect was demonstrated to be related to the oxygenation state of blood. The effect was quantified more accurately using T2 values measured by the Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill method. The effect was dependent on the integrity of the erythrocytes to compartmentalize the different magnetic susceptibilities produced by the changing spin state of the ferrous iron of hemoglobin in its different oxygenation states between the erythrocytes and the suspending solution. The hematocrit and magnetic field dependence, the requirement for erythrocyte integrity and lack of T1 dependence confirmed that the magnetic susceptibility effect explained the oxygenation state dependence of T2* and T2. This T2/T2* effect was combined with T1 based measurements of blood flow to measure oxygen consumption in animals. This blood oxygenation assay and its underlying magnetic susceptibility gradient mechanism was published in the biochemistry literature in 1982 and largely forgotten. The observation was revived to explain evolving imaging features of cerebral hematoma as MR imaging of humans increased in field strength to 1.5 T by the mid 1980s. Although the imaging version of this assay was used to measure a global metabolic rate of cerebral oxygen consumption in humans at 1.5-T by 1991, the global measurement had little clinical value. By contrast, a decade after the spectroscopic observation, imaging experiments performed on rodents at 7 T by Ogawa and colleagues identified the extravascular T2* imaging characteristics of the blood oxygenation effect and, most importantly, associated that change with brain functional states. Ogawa appropriately branded this blood oxygenation level dependent mechanism as BOLD contrast. This mechanism was subsequently shown to be the basis of localized MR signal changes associated with local brain function. This connection led to the fMRI revolution in human brain mapping. Copyright © 2012. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Use Dependence of Heat Sensitivity of Vanilloid Receptor TRPV2

PubMed Central

Liu, Beiying; Qin, Feng

2016-01-01

Thermal TRP channels mediate temperature transduction and pain sensation. The vanilloid receptor TRPV2 is involved in detection of noxious heat in a subpopulation of high-threshold nociceptors. It also plays a critical role in development of thermal hyperalgesia, but the underlying mechanism remains uncertain. Here we analyze the heat sensitivity of the TRPV2 channel. Heat activation of the channel exhibits strong use dependence. Prior heat activation can profoundly alter its subsequent temperature responsiveness, causing decreases in both temperature activation threshold and slope sensitivity of temperature dependence while accelerating activation time courses. Notably, heat and agonist activations differ in cross use-dependence. Prior heat stimulation can dramatically sensitize agonist responses, but not conversely. Quantitative analyses indicate that the use dependence in heat sensitivity is pertinent to the process of temperature sensing by the channel. The use dependence of TRPV2 reveals that the channel can have a dynamic temperature sensitivity. The temperature sensing structures within the channel have multiple conformations and the temperature activation pathway is separate from the agonist activation pathway. Physiologically, the use dependence of TRPV2 confers nociceptors with a hypersensitivity to heat and thus provides a mechanism for peripheral thermal hyperalgesia. PMID:27074678

Motoneuron membrane potentials follow a time inhomogeneous jump diffusion process.

PubMed

Jahn, Patrick; Berg, Rune W; Hounsgaard, Jørn; Ditlevsen, Susanne

2011-11-01

Stochastic leaky integrate-and-fire models are popular due to their simplicity and statistical tractability. They have been widely applied to gain understanding of the underlying mechanisms for spike timing in neurons, and have served as building blocks for more elaborate models. Especially the Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process is popular to describe the stochastic fluctuations in the membrane potential of a neuron, but also other models like the square-root model or models with a non-linear drift are sometimes applied. Data that can be described by such models have to be stationary and thus, the simple models can only be applied over short time windows. However, experimental data show varying time constants, state dependent noise, a graded firing threshold and time-inhomogeneous input. In the present study we build a jump diffusion model that incorporates these features, and introduce a firing mechanism with a state dependent intensity. In addition, we suggest statistical methods to estimate all unknown quantities and apply these to analyze turtle motoneuron membrane potentials. Finally, simulated and real data are compared and discussed. We find that a square-root diffusion describes the data much better than an Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process with constant diffusion coefficient. Further, the membrane time constant decreases with increasing depolarization, as expected from the increase in synaptic conductance. The network activity, which the neuron is exposed to, can be reasonably estimated to be a threshold version of the nerve output from the network. Moreover, the spiking characteristics are well described by a Poisson spike train with an intensity depending exponentially on the membrane potential.

Mechanism of Tacrine Block at Adult Human Muscle Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors

PubMed Central

Prince, Richard J.; Pennington, Richard A.; Sine, Steven M.

2002-01-01

We used single-channel kinetic analysis to study the inhibitory effects of tacrine on human adult nicotinic receptors (nAChRs) transiently expressed in HEK 293 cells. Single channel recording from cell-attached patches revealed concentration- and voltage-dependent decreases in mean channel open probability produced by tacrine (IC50 4.6 μM at −70 mV, 1.6 μM at −150 mV). Two main effects of tacrine were apparent in the open- and closed-time distributions. First, the mean channel open time decreased with increasing tacrine concentration in a voltage-dependent manner, strongly suggesting that tacrine acts as an open-channel blocker. Second, tacrine produced a new class of closings whose duration increased with increasing tacrine concentration. Concentration dependence of closed-times is not predicted by sequential models of channel block, suggesting that tacrine blocks the nAChR by an unusual mechanism. To probe tacrine's mechanism of action we fitted a series of kinetic models to our data using maximum likelihood techniques. Models incorporating two tacrine binding sites in the open receptor channel gave dramatically improved fits to our data compared with the classic sequential model, which contains one site. Improved fits relative to the sequential model were also obtained with schemes incorporating a binding site in the closed channel, but only if it is assumed that the channel cannot gate with tacrine bound. Overall, the best description of our data was obtained with a model that combined two binding sites in the open channel with a single site in the closed state of the receptor. PMID:12198092

Regulation of synthesis and activity of NAD(+)-dependent 15-hydroxy-prostaglandin dehydrogenase (15-PGDH) by dexamethasone and phorbol ester in human erythroleukemia (HEL) cells

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Xun, C.Q.; Ensor, C.M.; Tai, H.H.

1991-06-28

Dexamethasone stimulated 15-PGDH activity in HEL cells in a time and concentration dependent manner. Increase in 15-PGDH activity by dexamethasone was found to be accompanied by an increase in enzyme synthesis as revealed by Western blot and (35S)methionine labeling studies. In addition to dexamethasone, other anti-inflammatory steroids also increased 15-PGDH activity in the order of their glucocorticoid activity. Among sex steroids only progesterone increased significantly 15-PGDH activity. 12-0-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) also induced the synthesis of 15-PGDH but inhibited the enzyme activity. It appears that TPA caused a time dependent inactivation of 15-PGDH by a protein kinase C mediated mechanism.

Crash simulation of hybrid structures considering the stress and strain rate dependent material behavior of thermoplastic materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hopmann, Ch.; Schöngart, M.; Weber, M.; Klein, J.

2015-05-01

Thermoplastic materials are more and more used as a light weight replacement for metal, especially in the automotive industry. Since these materials do not provide the mechanical properties, which are required to manufacture supporting elements like an auto body or a cross bearer, plastics are combined with metals in so called hybrid structures. Normally, the plastics components are joined to the metal structures using different technologies like welding or screwing. Very often, the hybrid structures are made of flat metal parts, which are stiffened by a reinforcement structure made of thermoplastic materials. The loads on these structures are very often impulsive, for example in the crash situation of an automobile. Due to the large stiffness variation of metal and thermoplastic materials, complex states of stress and very high local strain rates occur in the contact zone under impact conditions. Since the mechanical behavior of thermoplastic materials is highly dependent on these types of load, the crash failure of metal plastic hybrid parts is very complex. The problem is that the normally used strain rate dependent elastic/plastic material models are not capable to simulate the mechanical behavior of thermoplastic materials depended on the state of stress. As part of a research project, a method to simulate the mechanical behavior of hybrid structures under impact conditions is developed at the IKV. For this purpose, a specimen for the measurement of mechanical properties dependet on the state of stress and a method for the strain rate depended characterization of thermoplastic materials were developed. In the second step impact testing is performed. A hybrid structure made from a metal sheet and a reinforcement structure of a Polybutylenterephthalat Polycarbonate blend is tested under impact conditions. The measured stress and strain rate depended material data are used to simulate the mechanical behavior of the hybrid structure under highly dynamic load with impact velocities up to 5 m/s. The mechanical behavior of the plastics structure is simulated using a quadratic yield surface, which takes the state of stress and the strain rate into account. The FE model is made from mid surface elements to reduce the computing time.

The ignition delay times of hydrogen/silan/air mixtures at low temperatures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tropin, D. A.; Bochenkov, E. S.; Fedorov, A. V.

2018-03-01

In the paper the ignition delay times of hydrogen-silane-air mixtures at low pressures from 0.4 atm to 1 atm and mixture temperatures from 300 K to 900 K using the detailed kinetic mechanisms were calculated. It was shown that dependencies of ignition delay time on temperature are non-monotonic. In these dependences a region of "negative temperature coefficient" is presented. The effect of the mixture pressure and the silane concentration in the mixture on the length of this region was revealed. It was shown that the increasing of the silane concentration in the mixture, as well as the increasing the mixture pressure, leads to increasing of the "negative temperature coefficient" region length.

On the geometrization of quantum mechanics

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tavernelli, Ivano, E-mail: ita@zurich.ibm.com

Nonrelativistic quantum mechanics is commonly formulated in terms of wavefunctions (probability amplitudes) obeying the static and the time-dependent Schrödinger equations (SE). Despite the success of this representation of the quantum world a wave–particle duality concept is required to reconcile the theory with observations (experimental measurements). A first solution to this dichotomy was introduced in the de Broglie–Bohm theory according to which a pilot-wave (solution of the SE) is guiding the evolution of particle trajectories. Here, I propose a geometrization of quantum mechanics that describes the time evolution of particles as geodesic lines in a curved space, whose curvature is inducedmore » by the quantum potential. This formulation allows therefore the incorporation of all quantum effects into the geometry of space–time, as it is the case for gravitation in the general relativity.« less

Thermo-viscoelastic response of graphite/epoxy composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lin, Kuen; Hwang, I. H.

1988-01-01

The thermo-viscoelastic behavior of composite material is studied analytically using a special finite-element formulation. Numerical results on stress and deformation histories are obtained for both unnotched and notched graphite/epoxy composites subjected to mechanical and thermal spectrum loads. The results indicate that time-dependent effects are important in composites with matrix-dominated layup orientations. Such effects also strongly depend on the specific environment condition and load spectrum applied.

The cytotoxic effect of oxybuprocaine on human corneal epithelial cells by inducing cell cycle arrest and mitochondria-dependent apoptosis.

PubMed

Fan, W-Y; Wang, D-P; Wen, Q; Fan, T-J

2017-08-01

Oxybuprocaine (OBPC) is a widely used topical anesthetic in eye clinic, and prolonged and repeated usage of OBPC might be cytotoxic to the cornea, especially to the outmost corneal epithelium. In this study, we characterized the cytotoxic effect of OBPC on human corneal epithelial (HCEP) cells and investigated its possible cellular and molecular mechanisms using an in vitro model of non-transfected HCEP cells. Our results showed that OBPC at concentrations ranging from 0.025% to 0.4% had a dose- and time-dependent cytotoxicity to HCEP cells. Moreover, OBPC arrested the cells at S phase and induced apoptosis of these cells by inducing plasma membrane permeability, phosphatidylserine externalization, DNA fragmentation, and apoptotic body formation. Furthermore, OBPC could trigger the activation of caspase-2, -3, and -9, downregulate the expression of Bcl-xL, upregulate the expression of Bax along with the cytoplasmic amount of mitochondria-released apoptosis-inducing factor, and disrupt mitochondrial transmembrane potential. Our results suggest that OBPC has a dose- and time-dependent cytotoxicity to HCEP cells by inducing cell cycle arrest and cell apoptosis via a death receptor-mediated mitochondria-dependent proapoptotic pathway, and this novel finding provides new insights into the acute cytotoxicity and its toxic mechanisms of OBPC on HCEP cells.

Dynamical heterogeneities and mechanical non-linearities: Modeling the onset of plasticity in polymer in the glass transition.

PubMed

Masurel, R J; Gelineau, P; Lequeux, F; Cantournet, S; Montes, H

2017-12-27

In this paper we focus on the role of dynamical heterogeneities on the non-linear response of polymers in the glass transition domain. We start from a simple coarse-grained model that assumes a random distribution of the initial local relaxation times and that quantitatively describes the linear viscoelasticity of a polymer in the glass transition regime. We extend this model to non-linear mechanics assuming a local Eyring stress dependence of the relaxation times. Implementing the model in a finite element mechanics code, we derive the mechanical properties and the local mechanical fields at the beginning of the non-linear regime. The model predicts a narrowing of distribution of relaxation times and the storage of a part of the mechanical energy --internal stress-- transferred to the material during stretching in this temperature range. We show that the stress field is not spatially correlated under and after loading and follows a Gaussian distribution. In addition the strain field exhibits shear bands, but the strain distribution is narrow. Hence, most of the mechanical quantities can be calculated analytically, in a very good approximation, with the simple assumption that the strain rate is constant.

Probabilities for time-dependent properties in classical and quantum mechanics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Losada, Marcelo; Vanni, Leonardo; Laura, Roberto

2013-05-01

We present a formalism which allows one to define probabilities for expressions that involve properties at different times for classical and quantum systems and we study its lattice structure. The formalism is based on the notion of time translation of properties. In the quantum case, the properties involved should satisfy compatibility conditions in order to obtain well-defined probabilities. The formalism is applied to describe the double-slit experiment.

Quantum mechanical expansion of variance of a particle in a weakly non-uniform electric and magnetic field

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chan, Poh Kam; Kosaka, Wataru; Oikawa, Shun-ichi

We have solved the Heisenberg equation of motion for the time evolution of the position and momentum operators for a non-relativistic spinless charged particle in the presence of a weakly non-uniform electric and magnetic field. It is shown that the drift velocity operator obtained in this study agrees with the classical counterpart, and that, using the time dependent operators, the variances in position and momentum grow with time. The expansion rate of variance in position and momentum are dependent on the magnetic gradient scale length, however, independent of the electric gradient scale length. In the presence of a weakly non-uniformmore » electric and magnetic field, the theoretical expansion rates of variance expansion are in good agreement with the numerical analysis. It is analytically shown that the variance in position reaches the square of the interparticle separation, which is the characteristic time much shorter than the proton collision time of plasma fusion. After this time, the wavefunctions of the neighboring particles would overlap, as a result, the conventional classical analysis may lose its validity. The broad distribution of individual particle in space means that their Coulomb interactions with other particles become weaker than that expected in classical mechanics.« less

Coherence-enhanced phase-dependent dissipation in long SNS Josephson junctions: Revealing Andreev bound state dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dassonneville, B.; Murani, A.; Ferrier, M.; Guéron, S.; Bouchiat, H.

2018-05-01

One of the best known causes of dissipation in ac-driven quantum systems stems from photon absorption causing transitions between levels. Dissipation can also be caused by the retarded response to the time-dependent excitation, and in general gives insight into the system's relaxation times and mechanisms. Here we address the dissipation in a mesoscopic normal wire with superconducting contacts, that sustains a dissipationless supercurrent at zero frequency and that may therefore naively be expected to remain dissipationless at a frequency lower than the superconducting gap. We probe the high-frequency linear response of such a normal metal/superconductor (NS) ring to a time-dependent flux by coupling it to a highly sensitive multimode microwave resonator. Far from being the simple, dissipationless derivative of the supercurrent-versus-phase relation, the ring's ac susceptibility also displays a dissipative component whose phase dependence is a signature of the dynamical processes occurring within the Andreev spectrum. We show how dissipation is driven by the competition between two mechanisms. The first is the relaxation of the Andreev level distribution function, while the second corresponds to microwave-induced transitions within the spectrum. Depending on the relative strength of those contributions, dissipation can be maximal at π , a phase at which the proximity-induced minigap closes, or can be maximal near π /2 , a phase at which the dc supercurrent is maximal. We also find that the dissipative response paradoxically increases at low temperature and can even exceed the normal-state conductance. The results are successfully confronted with theoretical predictions of the Kubo linear response and time-dependent Usadel equations, derived from the Bogoliubov-de Gennes Hamiltonian describing the SNS junction. These experiments thus demonstrate the power of the ac susceptibility measurement of individual hybrid mesoscopic systems in probing in a controlled way the quantum dynamics of Andreev bound states. By spanning different physical regimes, our experiments provide unique access to inelastic scattering and spectroscopy of an isolated quantum coherent system, and reveal the associated relaxation times. This technique should be a tool of choice to investigate topological superconductivity and detect the topological protection of edge states.

Differential transcriptional regulation by alternatively designed mechanisms: A mathematical modeling approach.

PubMed

Yildirim, Necmettin; Aktas, Mehmet Emin; Ozcan, Seyma Nur; Akbas, Esra; Ay, Ahmet

2017-01-01

Cells maintain cellular homeostasis employing different regulatory mechanisms to respond external stimuli. We study two groups of signal-dependent transcriptional regulatory mechanisms. In the first group, we assume that repressor and activator proteins compete for binding to the same regulatory site on DNA (competitive mechanisms). In the second group, they can bind to different regulatory regions in a noncompetitive fashion (noncompetitive mechanisms). For both competitive and noncompetitive mechanisms, we studied the gene expression dynamics by increasing the repressor or decreasing the activator abundance (inhibition mechanisms), or by decreasing the repressor or increasing the activator abundance (activation mechanisms). We employed delay differential equation models. Our simulation results show that the competitive and noncompetitive inhibition mechanisms exhibit comparable repression effectiveness. However, response time is fastest in the noncompetitive inhibition mechanism due to increased repressor abundance, and slowest in the competitive inhibition mechanism by increased repressor level. The competitive and noncompetitive inhibition mechanisms through decreased activator abundance show comparable and moderate response times, while the competitive and noncompetitive activation mechanisms by increased activator protein level display more effective and faster response. Our study exemplifies the importance of mathematical modeling and computer simulation in the analysis of gene expression dynamics.

Analysis of Histone Deacetylase-Dependent Effects on Cell Migration Using the Stripe Assay.

PubMed

Mertsch, Sonja; Thanos, Solon

2017-01-01

For normal embryonic development/morphogenesis, cell migration and homing are well-orchestrated and important events requiring specific cellular mechanisms. In diseases such as cancer deregulated cell migration represents a major problem. Therefore, numerous efforts are under way to understand the molecular mechanisms of tumor cell migration and to generate more efficient tumor therapies. Cell migration assays are one of the most commonly used functional assays. The wound-healing assay or the Boyden chamber assay are variations of these assays. Nearly all of them are two-dimensional assays and the cells can only migrate on one substrate at a time. This is in contrast to the in vivo situation where the cells are faced simultaneously with different surfaces and interact with different cell types. To approach this in vivo situation we used a modified version of the stripe assay designed by Bonhoeffer and colleagues to examine mechanisms of axonal guidance. The design of this assay allows cells to decide between two different substrates offered at the same time. Utilizing alternating neuronal substrates for migration analyses we can partially mimic the complex in vivo situation for brain tumor cells. Here we describe the detailed protocol to perform a modified version of the stripe assay in order to observe substrate-dependent migration effects in vitro, to analyze the effect of Rho-dependent kinases (ROCKS), of histone deacetylases (HDACs) and of other molecules on glioma cells.

Rate laws for water-assisted compaction and stress-induced water-rock interaction in sandstones

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dewers, Thomas; Hajash, Andrew

1995-07-01

Mineral-water interactions under conditions of nonhydrostatic stress play a role in subjects as diverse as ductile creep in fault zones, phase relations in metamorphic rocks, mass redistribution and replacement reactions during diagenesis, and loss of porosity in deep sedimentary basins. As a step toward understanding the fundamental geochemical processes involved, using naturally rounded St. Peter sand, we have investigated the kinetics of pore volume loss and quartz-water reactions under nonhydrostatic, hydrothermal conditions in flow-through reactors. Rate laws for creep and mineral-water reaction are derived from the time rate of change of pore volume, sand-water dissolution kinetics, and (flow rate independent) steady state silica concentrations, and reveal functional dependencies of rates on grain size, volume strain, temperature, effective pressure (confining minus pore pressure), and specific surface areas. Together the mechanical and chemical rate laws form a self-consistent model for coupled deformation and water-rock interaction of porous sands under nonhydrostatic conditions. Microstructural evidence shows a progressive widening of nominally circular and nominally flat grain-grain contacts with increasing strain or, equivalently, porosity loss, and small quartz overgrowths occurring at grain contact peripheries. The mechanical and chemical data suggest that the dominant creep mechanism is due to removal of mass from grain contacts (termed pressure solution or solution transfer), with a lesser component of time-dependent crack growth and healing. The magnitude of a stress-dependent concentration increase is too large to be accounted for by elastic or dislocation strain energy-induced supersaturations, favoring instead the normal stress dependence of molar Gibbs free energy associated with grain-grain interfaces.

Glutathione catalysis and the reaction mechanisms of glutathione-dependent enzymes.

PubMed

Deponte, Marcel

2013-05-01

Glutathione-dependent catalysis is a metabolic adaptation to chemical challenges encountered by all life forms. In the course of evolution, nature optimized numerous mechanisms to use glutathione as the most versatile nucleophile for the conversion of a plethora of sulfur-, oxygen- or carbon-containing electrophilic substances. This comprehensive review summarizes fundamental principles of glutathione catalysis and compares the structures and mechanisms of glutathione-dependent enzymes, including glutathione reductase, glutaredoxins, glutathione peroxidases, peroxiredoxins, glyoxalases 1 and 2, glutathione transferases and MAPEG. Moreover, open mechanistic questions, evolutionary aspects and the physiological relevance of glutathione catalysis are discussed for each enzyme family. It is surprising how little is known about many glutathione-dependent enzymes, how often reaction geometries and acid-base catalysts are neglected, and how many mechanistic puzzles remain unsolved despite almost a century of research. On the one hand, several enzyme families with non-related protein folds recognize the glutathione moiety of their substrates. On the other hand, the thioredoxin fold is often used for glutathione catalysis. Ancient as well as recent structural changes of this fold did not only significantly alter the reaction mechanism, but also resulted in completely different protein functions. Glutathione-dependent enzymes are excellent study objects for structure-function relationships and molecular evolution. Notably, in times of systems biology, the outcome of models on glutathione metabolism and redox regulation is more than questionable as long as fundamental enzyme properties are neither studied nor understood. Furthermore, several of the presented mechanisms could have implications for drug development. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Cellular functions of glutathione. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Processing multiple non-adjacent dependencies: evidence from sequence learning

PubMed Central

de Vries, Meinou H.; Petersson, Karl Magnus; Geukes, Sebastian; Zwitserlood, Pienie; Christiansen, Morten H.

2012-01-01

Processing non-adjacent dependencies is considered to be one of the hallmarks of human language. Assuming that sequence-learning tasks provide a useful way to tap natural-language-processing mechanisms, we cross-modally combined serial reaction time and artificial-grammar learning paradigms to investigate the processing of multiple nested (A1A2A3B3B2B1) and crossed dependencies (A1A2A3B1B2B3), containing either three or two dependencies. Both reaction times and prediction errors highlighted problems with processing the middle dependency in nested structures (A1A2A3B3_B1), reminiscent of the ‘missing-verb effect’ observed in English and French, but not with crossed structures (A1A2A3B1_B3). Prior linguistic experience did not play a major role: native speakers of German and Dutch—which permit nested and crossed dependencies, respectively—showed a similar pattern of results for sequences with three dependencies. As for sequences with two dependencies, reaction times and prediction errors were similar for both nested and crossed dependencies. The results suggest that constraints on the processing of multiple non-adjacent dependencies are determined by the specific ordering of the non-adjacent dependencies (i.e. nested or crossed), as well as the number of non-adjacent dependencies to be resolved (i.e. two or three). Furthermore, these constraints may not be specific to language but instead derive from limitations on structured sequence learning. PMID:22688641

Eisenhart lifts and symmetries of time-dependent systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cariglia, M.; Duval, C.; Gibbons, G. W.; Horváthy, P. A.

2016-10-01

Certain dissipative systems, such as Caldirola and Kannai's damped simple harmonic oscillator, may be modelled by time-dependent Lagrangian and hence time dependent Hamiltonian systems with n degrees of freedom. In this paper we treat these systems, their projective and conformal symmetries as well as their quantisation from the point of view of the Eisenhart lift to a Bargmann spacetime in n + 2 dimensions, equipped with its covariantly constant null Killing vector field. Reparametrisation of the time variable corresponds to conformal rescalings of the Bargmann metric. We show how the Arnold map lifts to Bargmann spacetime. We contrast the greater generality of the Caldirola-Kannai approach with that of Arnold and Bateman. At the level of quantum mechanics, we are able to show how the relevant Schrödinger equation emerges naturally using the techniques of quantum field theory in curved spacetimes, since a covariantly constant null Killing vector field gives rise to well defined one particle Hilbert space. Time-dependent Lagrangians arise naturally also in cosmology and give rise to the phenomenon of Hubble friction. We provide an account of this for Friedmann-Lemaître and Bianchi cosmologies and how it fits in with our previous discussion in the non-relativistic limit.

Single molecule force spectroscopy for in-situ probing oridonin inhibited ROS-mediated EGF-EGFR interactions in living KYSE-150 cells.

PubMed

Pi, Jiang; Jin, Hua; Jiang, Jinhuan; Yang, Fen; Cai, Huaihong; Yang, Peihui; Cai, Jiye; Chen, Zheng W

2017-05-01

As the active anticancer component of Rabdosia Rubescens, oridonin has been proved to show strong anticancer activity in cancer cells, which is also found to be closely related to its specific inhibition effects on the EGFR tyrosine kinase activity. In this study, atomic force microscopy based single molecule force spectroscopy (AFM-SMFS) was used for real-time and in-situ detection of EGF-EGFR interactions in living esophageal cancer KYSE-150 cells to evaluate the anticancer activity of oridonin for the first time. Oridonin was found to induce apoptosis and also reduce EGFR expression in KYSE-150 cells. AFM-SMFS results demonstrated that oridonin could inhibit the binding between EGF and EGFR in KYSE-150 cells by decreasing the unbinding force and binding probability for EGF-EGFR complexes, which was further proved to be closely associated with the intracellular ROS level. More precise mechanism studies based on AFM-SMFS demonstrated that oridonin treatment could decrease the energy barrier width, increase the dissociation off rate constant and decrease the activation energy of EGF-EGFR complexes in ROS dependent way, suggesting oridonin as a strong anticancer agent targeting EGF-EGFR interactions in cancer cells through ROS dependent mechanism. Our results not only suggested oridonin as a strong anticancer agent targeting EGF-EGFR interactions in ROS dependent mechanism, but also highlighted AFM-SMFS as a powerful technique for pharmacodynamic studies by detecting ligand-receptor interactions, which was also expected to be developed into a promising tool for the screening and mechanism studies of drugs. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Disintegration of microtubules in Arabidopsis thaliana and bladder cancer cells by isothiocyanates

PubMed Central

Øverby, Anders; Bævre, Mette S.; Thangstad, Ole P.; Bones, Atle M.

2015-01-01

Isothiocyanates (ITCs) from biodegradation of glucosinolates comprise a group of electrophiles associated with growth-inhibitory effects in plant- and mammalian cells. The underlying modes of action of this feature are not fully understood. Clarifying this has involved mammalian cancer cells due to ITCs' chemopreventive potential. The binding of ITCs to tubulins has been reported as a mechanism by which ITCs induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. In the present study we demonstrate that ITCs disrupt microtubules in Arabidopsis thaliana contributing to the observed inhibited growth phenotype. We also confirmed this in rat bladder cancer cells (AY-27) suggesting that cells from plant and animals share mechanisms by which ITCs affect growth. Exposure of A. thaliana to vapor-phase of allyl ITC (AITC) inhibited growth and induced a concurrent bleaching of leaves in a dose-dependent manner. Transcriptional analysis was used to show an upregulation of heat shock-genes upon AITC-treatment. Transgenic A. thaliana expressing GFP-marked α-tubulin was employed to show a time- and dose-dependent disintegration of microtubules by AITC. Treatment of AY-27 with ITCs resulted in a time- and dose-dependent decrease of cell proliferation and G2/M-arrest. AY-27 transiently transfected to express GFP-tagged α-tubulin were treated with ITCs resulting in a loss of microtubular filaments and the subsequent formation of apoptotic bodies. In conclusion, our data demonstrate an ITC-induced mechanism leading to growth inhibition in A. thaliana and rat bladder cancer cells, and expose clues to the mechanisms underlying the physiological role of glucosinolates in vivo. PMID:25657654

Mechanical and time-dependent behavior of wood-plastic composites subjected to bending

Treesearch

S. E. Hamel; John Hermanson; S. M. Cramer

2015-01-01

The most popular use of wood–plastic composite (WPC) members in the United States has been as outdoor decking material in residential construction. If the use of these products expands into more structural applications, such as beams and joists, it is imperative that the material’s mechanical behavior be understood. Since most of the potential structural uses of this...

Distributed Cerebellar Motor Learning: A Spike-Timing-Dependent Plasticity Model

PubMed Central

Luque, Niceto R.; Garrido, Jesús A.; Naveros, Francisco; Carrillo, Richard R.; D'Angelo, Egidio; Ros, Eduardo

2016-01-01

Deep cerebellar nuclei neurons receive both inhibitory (GABAergic) synaptic currents from Purkinje cells (within the cerebellar cortex) and excitatory (glutamatergic) synaptic currents from mossy fibers. Those two deep cerebellar nucleus inputs are thought to be also adaptive, embedding interesting properties in the framework of accurate movements. We show that distributed spike-timing-dependent plasticity mechanisms (STDP) located at different cerebellar sites (parallel fibers to Purkinje cells, mossy fibers to deep cerebellar nucleus cells, and Purkinje cells to deep cerebellar nucleus cells) in close-loop simulations provide an explanation for the complex learning properties of the cerebellum in motor learning. Concretely, we propose a new mechanistic cerebellar spiking model. In this new model, deep cerebellar nuclei embed a dual functionality: deep cerebellar nuclei acting as a gain adaptation mechanism and as a facilitator for the slow memory consolidation at mossy fibers to deep cerebellar nucleus synapses. Equipping the cerebellum with excitatory (e-STDP) and inhibitory (i-STDP) mechanisms at deep cerebellar nuclei afferents allows the accommodation of synaptic memories that were formed at parallel fibers to Purkinje cells synapses and then transferred to mossy fibers to deep cerebellar nucleus synapses. These adaptive mechanisms also contribute to modulate the deep-cerebellar-nucleus-output firing rate (output gain modulation toward optimizing its working range). PMID:26973504

[Study of defense styles, defenses and coping strategies in alcohol-dependent population].

PubMed

Ribadier, A; Varescon, I

2017-05-01

Defense mechanisms have been seen to greatly change over time and across different definitions made by different theoretical currents. Recently with the definition provided by the DSM IV, defense mechanisms have integrated the concept of coping as a defensive factor. These mechanisms are no longer considered just through a psychodynamic approach but also through a cognitive and behavioral one. In recent years, new theories have therefore integrated these two components of the defensive operation. According to Chabrol and Callahan (2013), defense mechanisms precede coping strategies. In individuals with psychopathological disorders, these authors indicate a relative stability of these mechanisms. Also, we asked about the presence of unique characteristics among people with alcohol dependence. Indeed, studies conducted with people with alcohol dependence highlight the presence of a neurotic defense style and some highly immature defenses (projection, acting out, splitting and somatization). In terms of coping strategies, persons with alcohol dependence preferentially use avoidant strategies and strategies focused on emotion. However, although several studies have been conducted to assess coping strategies and defense styles within a population of individuals with an alcohol problem, at the present time none of them has taken into account all these aspects of defense mechanisms. The aim of this study is therefore to study the defenses and defense styles and coping strategies in an alcohol-dependent population. This multicenter study (3 CHU, 1 center of supportive care and prevention in addiction and 1 clinic) received a favorable opinion of an Institutional Review Board (IRB Registration #: 00001072). Eighty alcohol-dependent individuals responded to a questionnaire assessing sociodemographic characteristics and elements related to the course of consumption. Coping strategies were assessed by means of a questionnaire validated in French: the Brief Cope. The Defense Style Questionnaire-40 translated into French, but not validated, assessed defenses and defense style. Descriptive, comparative and correlational analysis was carried out using Statistica software - version 10. The alcohol-dependent people preferentially use emotion focused coping blame and less the problem focused coping humor. The highest immature defense is acting out. Correlational analyses confirm the presence of some significant relationships between defense style and some coping strategies. Thus, the mature style is the only defense style, which is linked with the problem focused strategy humor, and another one coping called distraction. Some singular relationships were found with these two dimensions of coping. Alcohol and drug disengagement show particularly strong relationships with immature defenses such as projection and somatization. Another singular result is indicated by a negative relationship between immature defenses autistic fantasy with the strategy expression of feelings. This study found a significant number of relationships between defensive styles, defenses and coping strategies. This research also highlights the value of an integrative approach of defense mechanisms for the analysis of defensive functioning of people with alcohol dependence. Indeed, the relationships between these elements are consistent and allow understanding the defensive operation as a whole to promote a new adapted means of support. Copyright © 2016 L'Encéphale, Paris. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Antiorthostatic test as a model to study antigravity mechanisms of the cardiovascular system.

PubMed

Yarullin, K K; Vasilyeva, T D; Alekseev, D A

1976-01-01

The paper presents rheographic investigations of regional haemodynamics (brain, lungs, liver and limbs) during antiorthostatic exposures of varying intensity (-15, -30, -45 degrees, times of exposure 20, 40 and 60 min). Our findings show that the pattern and time of the function of compensatory mechanisms preventing excessive vascular compliance [correction of complicance] under the influence of the hydrostatic blood column depend on the value and length of antiorthostasis, because prolonged venous congestion results not only in congestive circulatory hypoxia but also in arterial hypoxia due to compensatory limitation of arterial inflow.

Mechanical behaviour of cerclage material consisting of silicon rubber.

PubMed

Hinrichsen, G; Eberhardt, A; Springer, H

1979-09-01

Silicon rubber specimens of circular or rectangular cross-section (cross-section area between ca. 2 and 7 mm2) are used as cerclage bands. A series of commercial cerclage elements was investigated for mechanical characteristics, such as stress-strain behaviour and modulus of elasticity, using a tensile-testing machine. Large differences in these properties exist among the various specimens. Moreover, time-dependent effects, such as stress-relaxation, retardation, and creep, were analysed by the present investigations. One has to take into consideration that the initial length and stress of the cerclage band vary significantly with time after the operation.

A model for the transfer of perceptual-motor skill learning in human behaviors.

PubMed

Rosalie, Simon M; Müller, Sean

2012-09-01

This paper presents a preliminary model that outlines the mechanisms underlying the transfer of perceptual-motor skill learning in sport and everyday tasks. Perceptual-motor behavior is motivated by performance demands and evolves over time to increase the probability of success through adaptation. Performance demands at the time of an event create a unique transfer domain that specifies a range of potentially successful actions. Transfer comprises anticipatory subconscious and conscious mechanisms. The model also outlines how transfer occurs across a continuum, which depends on the individual's expertise and contextual variables occurring at the incidence of transfer

Timescale- and Sensory Modality-Dependency of the Central Tendency of Time Perception.

PubMed

Murai, Yuki; Yotsumoto, Yuko

2016-01-01

When individuals are asked to reproduce intervals of stimuli that are intermixedly presented at various times, longer intervals are often underestimated and shorter intervals overestimated. This phenomenon may be attributed to the central tendency of time perception, and suggests that our brain optimally encodes a stimulus interval based on current stimulus input and prior knowledge of the distribution of stimulus intervals. Two distinct systems are thought to be recruited in the perception of sub- and supra-second intervals. Sub-second timing is subject to local sensory processing, whereas supra-second timing depends on more centralized mechanisms. To clarify the factors that influence time perception, the present study investigated how both sensory modality and timescale affect the central tendency. In Experiment 1, participants were asked to reproduce sub- or supra-second intervals, defined by visual or auditory stimuli. In the sub-second range, the magnitude of the central tendency was significantly larger for visual intervals compared to auditory intervals, while visual and auditory intervals exhibited a correlated and comparable central tendency in the supra-second range. In Experiment 2, the ability to discriminate sub-second intervals in the reproduction task was controlled across modalities by using an interval discrimination task. Even when the ability to discriminate intervals was controlled, visual intervals exhibited a larger central tendency than auditory intervals in the sub-second range. In addition, the magnitude of the central tendency for visual and auditory sub-second intervals was significantly correlated. These results suggest that a common modality-independent mechanism is responsible for the supra-second central tendency, and that both the modality-dependent and modality-independent components of the timing system contribute to the central tendency in the sub-second range.

Degree of time dependency of kinetic coefficient as a function of adsorbate concentration; new insights from adsorption of tetracycline onto monodispersed starch-stabilized magnetic nanocomposite.

PubMed

Okoli, Chukwunonso P; Ofomaja, Augustine E

2018-07-15

The realization that the observed kinetic coefficient (k obs ) varies with time in most real-time adsorption system, as against the constant value conceived in the most widely-applied adsorption kinetic models, have attracted much attention in recent time. Understanding the factors that control the extent/degree of time dependency (otherwise known as fractal-like kinetics), is therefore central in taking manipulative advantage of this phenomenon in critical adsorption applications. This study therefore deployed non-fractal-like and fractal-like kinetic approach to study the adsorption of tetracycline on monodispersed starch-stabilized magnetite nanocomposite (MSM). MSM was synthesized by in-situ coprecipitation of magnetite in the presence of starch, and successfully characterized with classical solid-state techniques. Isotherm studies indicated that MSM has heterogenous surface adsorption sites. Equilibrium and kinetic data indicated the existence of π-cation interaction as the underlying mechanism, while pH study revealed that tetracycline was adsorbed in its zwitterion form. Though the non-fractal kinetic models exhibited some level of relevance in explaining the tetracycline adsorption interactions, the best fitting of the fractal-like pseudo second order model to the adsorption kinetic data, indicated that the real-time adsorption kinetics occurred in fractal-like manner. The study also revealed that the degree of time dependency of k obs had negative correlation with the initial tetracycline concentration. Apart from developing a low-cost strategy for addressing tetracycline water pollution, the result of this study serves a positive step towards gaining manipulative control of adsorption mechanism in potential application of MSM for targeted drug delivery and controlled release of tetracycline antibiotics. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Oscillatory fluid flow influences primary cilia and microtubule mechanics.

PubMed

Espinha, Lina C; Hoey, David A; Fernandes, Paulo R; Rodrigues, Hélder C; Jacobs, Christopher R

2014-07-01

Many tissues are sensitive to mechanical stimuli; however, the mechanotransduction mechanism used by cells remains unknown in many cases. The primary cilium is a solitary, immotile microtubule-based extension present on nearly every mammalian cell which extends from the basal body. The cilium is a mechanosensitive organelle and has been shown to transduce fluid flow-induced shear stress in tissues, such as the kidney and bone. The majority of microtubules assemble from the mother centriole (basal body), contributing significantly to the anchoring of the primary cilium. Several studies have attempted to quantify the number of microtubules emanating from the basal body and the results vary depending on the cell type. It has also been shown that cellular response to shear stress depends on microtubular integrity. This study hypothesizes that changing the microtubule attachment of primary cilia in response to a mechanical stimulus could change primary cilia mechanics and, possibly, mechanosensitivity. Oscillatory fluid flow was applied to two different cell types and the microtubule attachment to the ciliary base was quantified. For the first time, an increase in microtubules around primary cilia both with time and shear rate in response to oscillatory fluid flow stimulation was demonstrated. Moreover, it is presented that the primary cilium is required for this loading-induced cellular response. This study has demonstrated a new role for the cilium in regulating alterations in the cytoplasmic microtubule network in response to mechanical stimulation, and therefore provides a new insight into how cilia may regulate its mechanics and thus the cells mechanosensitivity. Copyright © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Nociceptor Sensitization Depends on Age and Pain Chronicity123

PubMed Central

Dodge, Amanda K.

2016-01-01

Abstract Peripheral inflammation causes mechanical pain behavior and increased action potential firing. However, most studies examine inflammatory pain at acute, rather than chronic time points, despite the greater burden of chronic pain on patient populations, especially aged individuals. Furthermore, there is disagreement in the field about whether primary afferents contribute to chronic pain. Therefore, we sought to evaluate the contribution of nociceptor activity to the generation of pain behaviors during the acute and chronic phases of inflammation in both young and aged mice. We found that both young (2 months old) and aged (>18 months old) mice exhibited prominent pain behaviors during both acute (2 day) and chronic (8 week) inflammation. However, young mice exhibited greater behavioral sensitization to mechanical stimuli than their aged counterparts. Teased fiber recordings in young animals revealed a twofold mechanical sensitization in C fibers during acute inflammation, but an unexpected twofold reduction in firing during chronic inflammation. Responsiveness to capsaicin and mechanical responsiveness of A-mechanonociceptor (AM) fibers were also reduced chronically. Importantly, this lack of sensitization in afferent firing during chronic inflammation occurred even as these inflamed mice exhibited continued behavioral sensitization. Interestingly, C fibers from inflamed aged animals showed no change in mechanical firing compared with controls during either the acute or chronic inflammatory phases, despite strong behavioral sensitization to mechanical stimuli at these time points. These results reveal the following two important findings: (1) nociceptor sensitization to mechanical stimulation depends on age and the chronicity of injury; and (2) maintenance of chronic inflammatory pain does not rely on enhanced peripheral drive. PMID:26866058

Frequency sensitive mechanism in low-intensity ultrasound enhanced bioeffects

PubMed Central

Chama, Abdoulkadri; Subramanian, Anuradha; Viljoen, Hendrik J.

2017-01-01

This study presents two novel theoretical models to elucidate frequency sensitive nuclear mechanisms in low-intensity ultrasound enhanced bioeffects. In contrast to the typical 1.5 MHz pulsed ultrasound regime, our group previously experimentally confirmed that ultrasound stimulation of anchored chondrocytes at resonant frequency maximized gene expression of load inducible genes which are regulatory markers for cellular response to external stimuli. However, ERK phosphorylation displayed no frequency dependency, suggesting that the biochemical mechanisms involved in enhanced gene expression is downstream of ERK phosphorylation. To elucidate such underlying mechanisms, this study presents a theoretical model of an anchored cell, representing an in vitro chondrocyte, in an ultrasound field. The model results showed that the mechanical energy storage is maximized at the chondrocyte’s resonant frequency and the energy density in the nucleus is almost twice as high as in the cytoplasm. Next, a mechanochemical model was developed to link the mechanical stimulation of ultrasound and the increased mechanical energy density in the nucleus to the downstream targets of the ERK pathway. This study showed for the first time that ultrasound stimulation induces frequency dependent gene expression as a result of altered rates of transcription factors binding to chromatin. PMID:28763448

Heterogeneous Uptake of HO2 Radicals onto Submicron Atmospheric Aerosols

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matthews, P. S.; George, I. J.; Brooks, B.; Whalley, L. K.; Baeza-Romero, M. T.; Heard, D. E.

2012-12-01

OH and HO2 (HOx) radicals are closely coupled and OH is responsible for the majority of the oxidation in the troposphere and controls the concentrations of many trace species. Therefore, it is important to be able to accurately predict HOx concentrations. However, some field measurement studies have reported significantly lower HO2 radical concentrations than calculated by constrained box models using detailed chemical mechanisms. Although the inclusion of halogen chemistry into the mechanisms can explain much of the differences in the marine boundary layer (MBL) (1,2), HO2 uptake by aerosols has been suggested as a possible sink in the MBL (2), the Arctic troposphere (3) and the upper troposphere (4). There have been very few laboratory studies (5,6) on HO2 uptake by aerosols and the rates and mechanism is still uncertain. The HO2 uptake coefficients were measured for a variety of atmospherically relevant inorganic and organic aerosols. The measurements were performed using an aerosol flow tube combined with a Fluorescence Assay by Gas Expansion (FAGE) detector. The sensitive FAGE cell allowed low HO2 concentrations (108-109 molecule cm-3) to be injected into the flow tube using a moveable injector. By moving the injector along the flow tube, position dependent HO2 decays were able to be recorded which when plotted against the total aerosol surface area allowed an uptake coefficient to be obtained. The aerosols were generated using an atomiser or by homogeneous nucleation and the total aerosol surface area was measured using a Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer. The HO2 uptake coefficient (γ) was measured at room temperature for dry inorganic salts and dry organics (γ< 0.004), wet inorganic salts and wet organics (γ= 0.002-0.005), wet copper doped ammonium sulfate aerosols (γ= 0.28± 0.05) and ammonium sulfate aerosols doped with different molar amounts of iron (γ= 0.003-0.06). The pH dependence of the HO2 uptake coefficient was investigated, however no dependence was observed. A time dependence has been observed, with higher HO2 uptake coefficients measured at short reaction times with the uptake coefficient decreasing at longer times. A HO2 concentration dependence has also been observed whereby a higher uptake coefficient is measured at lower HO2 concentrations. The time dependence and HO2 concentration dependence may suggest an aerosol saturation mechanism. The HO2 uptake temperature dependence is currently being investigated, as well as uptake on to a wider range of inorganic and organic aerosols. This work was supported by the National Environment Research Council under grant number NE/F020651/1. PSJM is grateful to NERC for a research studentship. References (1) Sommariva, R. et al. Atmos. Chem. Phys.2006, 6, 1135-1153. (2) Whalley, L.K. et al. Atmos. Chem. Phys. 2010, 10, 1555-1576. (3) Mao, J. et al. Atmos. Chem. Phys. 2010, 10, 5823-5838. (4) Jaegle, L. et al. J. Geophys. Atm. 2000, 105, 3877-3892. (5) Taketani, F. et al. J. Phys. Chem. 2008, 112, 2370-2377. (6) Thornton, J. et al. J. Geophys. Atm. 2005, 110, D08309.

Local time dependence of turbulent magnetic fields in Saturn's magnetodisc

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaminker, V.; Delamere, P. A.; Ng, C. S.; Dennis, T.; Otto, A.; Ma, X.

2017-04-01

Net plasma transport in magnetodiscs around giant planets is outward. Observations of plasma temperature have shown that the expanding plasma is heating nonadiabatically during this process. Turbulence has been suggested as a source of heating. However, the mechanism and distribution of magnetic fluctuations in giant magnetospheres are poorly understood. In this study we attempt to quantify the radial and local time dependence of fluctuating magnetic field signatures that are suggestive of turbulence, quantifying the fluctuations in terms of a plasma heating rate density. In addition, the inferred heating rate density is correlated with magnetic field configurations that include azimuthal bend forward/back and magnitude of the equatorial normal component of magnetic field relative to the dipole. We find a significant local time dependence in magnetic fluctuations that is consistent with flux transport triggered in the subsolar and dusk sectors due to magnetodisc reconnection.

Neuromodulated Spike-Timing-Dependent Plasticity, and Theory of Three-Factor Learning Rules.

PubMed

Frémaux, Nicolas; Gerstner, Wulfram

2015-01-01

Classical Hebbian learning puts the emphasis on joint pre- and postsynaptic activity, but neglects the potential role of neuromodulators. Since neuromodulators convey information about novelty or reward, the influence of neuromodulators on synaptic plasticity is useful not just for action learning in classical conditioning, but also to decide "when" to create new memories in response to a flow of sensory stimuli. In this review, we focus on timing requirements for pre- and postsynaptic activity in conjunction with one or several phasic neuromodulatory signals. While the emphasis of the text is on conceptual models and mathematical theories, we also discuss some experimental evidence for neuromodulation of Spike-Timing-Dependent Plasticity. We highlight the importance of synaptic mechanisms in bridging the temporal gap between sensory stimulation and neuromodulatory signals, and develop a framework for a class of neo-Hebbian three-factor learning rules that depend on presynaptic activity, postsynaptic variables as well as the influence of neuromodulators.

The influence of oxidation time on the properties of oxidized zinc films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rambu, A. P.

2012-09-01

The effect of oxidation time on the structural characteristics and electronic transport mechanism of zinc oxide thin films prepared by thermal oxidation, have been investigated. Zinc metallic films were deposited by thermal evaporation under vacuum, the subsequent oxidation of Zn films being carried out in open atmosphere. XRD and AFM analysis indicate that obtained films posses a polycrystalline structure, the crystallites having a preferential orientation. Structural analysis reveals that microstructure of the films (crystallite size, surface roughness, internal stress) is depending on the oxidation time of metallic films. The electrical behavior of ZnO films was investigated, during a heat treatment (two heating/cooling cycles). It was observed that after the first heating, the temperature dependences of electrical conductivity become reversible. Mott variable range hopping model was proposed to analyze the temperature dependence of the electrical conductivity, in low temperature ranges. Values of some characteristic parameters were calculated.

The Effect of Adhesion Interaction on the Mechanical Properties of Thermoplastic Basalt Plastics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bashtannik, P. I.; Kabak, A. I.; Yakovchuk, Yu. Yu.

2003-01-01

The effect of temperature, adhesion time, and surface treatment of a reinforcing filler on the mechanical properties of thermoplastic basalt plastics based on a high-density polyethylene and a copolymer of 1,3,5-trioxane with 1,3-dioxolan is investigated. An extreme dependence for the adhesive strength in a thermoplastic-basalt fiber system is established and its effect on the mechanical properties of basalt plastics and the influence of the adhesion contact time on the adhesive strength in the system are clarified. The surface modification of basalt fibers in acidic and alkaline media intensifies the adhesion of thermoplastics to them owing to a more developed surface of the reinforcing fibers after etching. It is found that the treatment in the acidic medium is more efficient and considerably improves the mechanical properties of basalt plastics.

Mechanisms and concentrations dependence of up-conversion luminescence in Tm^3^+/Yb^3^+ codoped oxyfluoride glass-ceramics [rapid communication

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Junjie; He, Dongbing; Duan, Zhongchao; Zhang, Liyan; Dai, Shixun; Hu, Lili

2005-04-01

The up-conversion properties of Tm3+/Yb3+ codoped oxyfluoride glass-ceramics under 980 nm excitation were investigated. Intense blue up-conversion luminescence due to the Tm3+: 1G4 → 3H6 transition was observed in the glass-ceramics. The intensity of the blue up-conversion luminescence in a 1 mol% YbF3-containing glass-ceramic was found to be about 40 times stronger than that in the precursor oxyfluoride glass. The up-conversion mechanism is proposed. The reason for the intense Tm3+ up-conversion luminescence in the oxyfluoride glass-ceramics and the concentrations dependence of upconversion luminescence are also discussed.

Voltage-Clamp Studies on Uterine Smooth Muscle

PubMed Central

Anderson, Nels C.

1969-01-01

These studies have developed and tested an experimental approach to the study of membrane ionic conductance mechanisms in strips of uterine smooth muscle. The experimental and theoretical basis for applying the double sucrose-gap technique is described along with the limitations of this system. Nonpropagating membrane action potentials were produced in response to depolarizing current pulses under current-clamp conditions. The stepwise change of membrane potential under voltage-clamp conditions resulted in a family of ionic currents with voltage- and time-dependent characteristics. In sodium-free solution the peak transient current decreased and its equilibrium potential shifted along the voltage axis toward a more negative internal potential. These studies indicate a sodium-dependent, regenerative excitation mechanism. PMID:5796366

Navigational Mechanisms of Migrating Monarch Butterflies

PubMed Central

Reppert, Steven M.; Gegear, Robert J.; Merlin, Christine

2010-01-01

Recent studies of the iconic fall migration of monarch butterflies have illuminated the mechanisms behind the navigation south, using a time-compensated sun compass. Skylight cues, such as the sun itself and polarized light, are processed through both eyes and likely integrated in the brain’s central complex, the presumed site of the sun compass. Time compensation is provided by circadian clocks that have a distinctive molecular mechanism and that reside in the antennae. Monarchs may also use a magnetic compass, because they possess two cryptochromes that have the molecular capability for light-dependent magnetoreception. Multiple genomic approaches are being utilized to ultimately identify navigation genes. Monarch butterflies are thus emerging as an excellent model organism to study the molecular and neural basis of long-distance migration. PMID:20627420

Different coding strategies for the perception of stable and changeable facial attributes.

PubMed

Taubert, Jessica; Alais, David; Burr, David

2016-09-01

Perceptual systems face competing requirements: improving signal-to-noise ratios of noisy images, by integration; and maximising sensitivity to change, by differentiation. Both processes occur in human vision, under different circumstances: they have been termed priming, or serial dependencies, leading to positive sequential effects; and adaptation or habituation, which leads to negative sequential effects. We reasoned that for stable attributes, such as the identity and gender of faces, the system should integrate: while for changeable attributes like facial expression, it should also engage contrast mechanisms to maximise sensitivity to change. Subjects viewed a sequence of images varying simultaneously in gender and expression, and scored each as male or female, and happy or sad. We found strong and consistent positive serial dependencies for gender, and negative dependency for expression, showing that both processes can operate at the same time, on the same stimuli, depending on the attribute being judged. The results point to highly sophisticated mechanisms for optimizing use of past information, either by integration or differentiation, depending on the permanence of that attribute.

Short hold times in dynamic vapor sorption measurements mischaracterize the equilibrium moisture content of wood

Treesearch

Samuel V. Glass; Charles R. Boardman; Samuel L. Zelinka

2017-01-01

Recently, the dynamic vapor sorption (DVS) technique has been used to measure sorption isotherms and develop moisture-mechanics models for wood and cellulosic materials. This method typically involves measuring the time-dependent mass response of a sample following step changes in relative humidity (RH), fitting a kinetic model to the data, and extrapolating the...

Memory--a century of consolidation.

PubMed

McGaugh, J L

2000-01-14

The memory consolidation hypothesis proposed 100 years ago by Müller and Pilzecker continues to guide memory research. The hypothesis that new memories consolidate slowly over time has stimulated studies revealing the hormonal and neural influences regulating memory consolidation, as well as molecular and cellular mechanisms. This review examines the progress made over the century in understanding the time-dependent processes that create our lasting memories.

New constraints on mechanisms of remotely triggered seismicity at Long Valley Caldera

USGS Publications Warehouse

Brodsky, E.E.; Prejean, S.G.

2005-01-01

Regional-scale triggering of local earthquakes in the crust by seismic waves from distant main shocks has now been robustly documented for over a decade. Some of the most thoroughly recorded examples of repeated triggering of a single site from multiple, large earthquakes are measured in geothermal fields of the western United States like Long Valley Caldera. As one of the few natural cases where the causality of an earthquake sequence is apparent, triggering provides fundamental constraints on the failure processes in earthquakes. We show here that the observed triggering by seismic waves is inconsistent with any mechanism that depends on cumulative shaking as measured by integrated energy density. We also present evidence for a frequency-dependent triggering threshold. On the basis of the seismic records of 12 regional and teleseismic events recorded at Long Valley Caldera, long-period waves (>30 s) are more effective at generating local seismicity than short-period waves of comparable amplitude. If the properties of the system are stationary over time, the failure threshold for long-period waves is ~0.05 cm/s vertical shaking. Assuming a phase velocity of 3.5 km/s and an elastic modulus of 3.5 x 1010Pa, the threshold in terms of stress is 5 kPa. The frequency dependence is due in part to the attenuation of the surface waves with depth. Fluid flow through a porous medium can produce the rest of the observed frequency dependence of the threshold. If the threshold is not stationary with time, pore pressures that are >99.5% of lithostatic and vary over time by a factor of 4 could explain the observations with no frequency dependence of the triggering threshold. Copyright 2005 by the American Geophysical Union.

Dual permeability FEM models for distributed fiber optic sensors development

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aguilar-López, Juan Pablo; Bogaard, Thom

2017-04-01

Fiber optic cables are commonly known for being robust and reliable mediums for transferring information at the speed of light in glass. Billions of kilometers of cable have been installed around the world for internet connection and real time information sharing. Yet, fiber optic cable is not only a mean for information transfer but also a way to sense and measure physical properties of the medium in which is installed. For dike monitoring, it has been used in the past for detecting inner core and foundation temperature changes which allow to estimate water infiltration during high water events. The DOMINO research project, aims to develop a fiber optic based dike monitoring system which allows to directly sense and measure any pore pressure change inside the dike structure. For this purpose, questions like which location, how many sensors, which measuring frequency and which accuracy are required for the sensor development. All these questions may be initially answered with a finite element model which allows to estimate the effects of pore pressure change in different locations along the cross section while having a time dependent estimation of a stability factor. The sensor aims to monitor two main failure mechanisms at the same time; The piping erosion failure mechanism and the macro-stability failure mechanism. Both mechanisms are going to be modeled and assessed in detail with a finite element based dual permeability Darcy-Richards numerical solution. In that manner, it is possible to assess different sensing configurations with different loading scenarios (e.g. High water levels, rainfall events and initial soil moisture and permeability conditions). The results obtained for the different configurations are later evaluated based on an entropy based performance evaluation. The added value of this kind of modelling approach for the sensor development is that it allows to simultaneously model the piping erosion and macro-stability failure mechanisms in a time dependent manner. In that way, the estimated pore pressures may be related to the monitored one and to both failure mechanisms. Furthermore, the approach is intended to be used in a later stage for the real time monitoring of the failure.

Genotoxic effects of boric acid and borax in zebrafish, Danio rerio using alkaline comet assay

PubMed Central

Gülsoy, Nagihan; Yavas, Cüneyd; Mutlu, Özal

2015-01-01

The present study is conducted to determine the potential mechanisms of Boron compounds, boric acid (BA) and borax (BX), on genotoxicity of zebrafish Danio rerio for 24, 48, 72 and 96-hours acute exposure (level:1, 4, 16, 64 mg/l BA and BX) in semi-static bioassay experiment. For that purpose, peripheral erythrocytes were drawn from caudal vein and Comet assay was applied to assess genotoxicity. Acute (96 hours) exposure and high concentrations of boric acid and borax increases % tail DNA and Olive tail moment. Genotoxicity was found for BA as concentration-dependent and BX as concentration and time dependent manner. In general, significant effects (P < 0,05) on both concentrations and exposure times were observed in experimental groups. DNA damage was highest at 96 h and 24 h for all BX and BA concentrations, respectively in peripheral blood of D. rerio. For the first time, our study demonstrates the effect of waterborne BA and BX exposure on genotoxicity at the molecular level, which may contribute to understanding the mechanism of boric acid and borax-induced genotoxicity in fish. PMID:26862320

Genotoxic effects of boric acid and borax in zebrafish, Danio rerio using alkaline comet assay.

PubMed

Gülsoy, Nagihan; Yavas, Cüneyd; Mutlu, Özal

2015-01-01

The present study is conducted to determine the potential mechanisms of Boron compounds, boric acid (BA) and borax (BX), on genotoxicity of zebrafish Danio rerio for 24, 48, 72 and 96-hours acute exposure (level:1, 4, 16, 64 mg/l BA and BX) in semi-static bioassay experiment. For that purpose, peripheral erythrocytes were drawn from caudal vein and Comet assay was applied to assess genotoxicity. Acute (96 hours) exposure and high concentrations of boric acid and borax increases % tail DNA and Olive tail moment. Genotoxicity was found for BA as concentration-dependent and BX as concentration and time dependent manner. In general, significant effects (P < 0,05) on both concentrations and exposure times were observed in experimental groups. DNA damage was highest at 96 h and 24 h for all BX and BA concentrations, respectively in peripheral blood of D. rerio. For the first time, our study demonstrates the effect of waterborne BA and BX exposure on genotoxicity at the molecular level, which may contribute to understanding the mechanism of boric acid and borax-induced genotoxicity in fish.

Evolution of cardiorespiratory interactions with age

PubMed Central

Iatsenko, D.; Bernjak, A.; Stankovski, T.; Shiogai, Y.; Owen-Lynch, P. J.; Clarkson, P. B. M.; McClintock, P. V. E.; Stefanovska, A.

2013-01-01

We describe an analysis of cardiac and respiratory time series recorded from 189 subjects of both genders aged 16–90. By application of the synchrosqueezed wavelet transform, we extract the respiratory and cardiac frequencies and phases with better time resolution than is possible with the marked events procedure. By treating the heart and respiration as coupled oscillators, we then apply a method based on Bayesian inference to find the underlying coupling parameters and their time dependence, deriving from them measures such as synchronization, coupling directionality and the relative contributions of different mechanisms. We report a detailed analysis of the reconstructed cardiorespiratory coupling function, its time evolution and age dependence. We show that the direct and indirect respiratory modulations of the heart rate both decrease with age, and that the cardiorespiratory coupling becomes less stable and more time-variable. PMID:23858485

Evolution of cardiorespiratory interactions with age.

PubMed

Iatsenko, D; Bernjak, A; Stankovski, T; Shiogai, Y; Owen-Lynch, P J; Clarkson, P B M; McClintock, P V E; Stefanovska, A

2013-08-28

We describe an analysis of cardiac and respiratory time series recorded from 189 subjects of both genders aged 16-90. By application of the synchrosqueezed wavelet transform, we extract the respiratory and cardiac frequencies and phases with better time resolution than is possible with the marked events procedure. By treating the heart and respiration as coupled oscillators, we then apply a method based on Bayesian inference to find the underlying coupling parameters and their time dependence, deriving from them measures such as synchronization, coupling directionality and the relative contributions of different mechanisms. We report a detailed analysis of the reconstructed cardiorespiratory coupling function, its time evolution and age dependence. We show that the direct and indirect respiratory modulations of the heart rate both decrease with age, and that the cardiorespiratory coupling becomes less stable and more time-variable.

Time-Dependent Behavior of Reinforced Polymer Concrete Columns under Eccentric Axial Loading

PubMed Central

Berardi, Valentino Paolo; Mancusi, Geminiano

2012-01-01

Polymer concretes (PCs) represent a promising alternative to traditional cementitious materials in the field of new construction. In fact, PCs exhibit high compressive strength and ultimate compressive strain values, as well as good chemical resistance. Within the context of these benefits, this paper presents a study on the time-dependent behavior of polymer concrete columns reinforced with different bar types using a mechanical model recently developed by the authors. Balanced internal reinforcements are considered (i.e., two bars at both the top and bottom of the cross-section). The investigation highlights relevant stress and strain variations over time and, consequently, the emergence of a significant decrease in concrete’s stiffness and strength over time. Therefore, the results indicate that deferred effects due to viscous flow may significantly affect the reliability of reinforced polymer concrete elements over time.

Cadherin-11 modulates cell morphology and collagen synthesis in periodontal ligament cells under mechanical stress.

PubMed

Feng, Lishu; Zhang, Yimei; Kou, Xiaoxing; Yang, Ruili; Liu, Dawei; Wang, Xuedong; Song, Yang; Cao, Haifeng; He, Danqing; Gan, Yehua; Zhou, Yanheng

2017-03-01

To examine the role of cadherin-11, an integral membrane adhesion molecule, in periodontal ligament cells (PDLCs) under mechanical stimulation. Human PDLCs were cultured and subjected to mechanical stress. Cadherin-11 expression and cell morphology of PDLCs were investigated via immunofluorescence staining. The mRNA and protein expressions of cadherin-11 and type I collagen (Col-I) of PDLCs were evaluated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot, respectively. Small interfering RNA was used to knock down cadherin-11 expression in PDLCs. The collagen matrix of PDLCs was examined using toluidine blue staining. Cadherin-11 was expressed in PDLCs. Mechanical stress suppressed cadherin-11 expression in PDLCs with prolonged force treatment time and increased force intensity, accompanied by suppressed β-catenin expression. Simultaneously, mechanical stress altered cell morphology and repressed Col-I expression in a time- and dose-dependent manner in PDLCs. Moreover, knockdown of cadherin-11 with suppressed β-catenin expression resulted in altered PDLC morphology and repressed collagen expression, which were consistent with the changes observed under mechanical stress. Results of this study suggest that cadherin-11 is expressed in PDLCs and modulates PDLC morphology and collagen synthesis in response to mechanical stress, which may play an important role in the homeostasis and remodeling of the PDL under mechanical stimulation.

Shoulder pain and time dependent structure in wheelchair propulsion variability.

PubMed

Jayaraman, Chandrasekaran; Moon, Yaejin; Sosnoff, Jacob J

2016-07-01

Manual wheelchair propulsion places considerable repetitive mechanical strain on the upper limbs leading to shoulder injury and pain. While recent research indicates that the amount of variability in wheelchair propulsion and shoulder pain may be related. There has been minimal inquiry into the fluctuation over time (i.e. time-dependent structure) in wheelchair propulsion variability. Consequently the purpose of this investigation was to examine if the time-dependent structure in the wheelchair propulsion parameters are related to shoulder pain. 27 experienced wheelchair users manually propelled their own wheelchair fitted with a SMARTWheel on a roller at 1.1m/s for 3min. Time-dependent structure of cycle-to-cycle fluctuations in contact angle and inter push time interval was quantified using sample entropy (SampEn) and compared between the groups with/without shoulder pain using non-parametric statistics. Overall findings were, (1) variability observed in contact angle fluctuations during manual wheelchair propulsion is structured (Z=3.15;p<0.05), (2) individuals with shoulder pain exhibited higher SampEn magnitude for contact angle during wheelchair propulsion than those without pain (χ(2)(1)=6.12;p<0.05); and (3) SampEn of contact angle correlated significantly with self-reported shoulder pain (rs (WUSPI) =0.41;rs (VAS)=0.56;p<0.05). It was concluded that the time-dependent structure in wheelchair propulsion may provide novel information for tracking and monitoring shoulder pain. Copyright © 2016 IPEM. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Time-dependent deformation of polymer network in polymer-stabilized cholesteric liquid crystals (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Kyung Min; Tondiglia, Vincent P.; Bunning, Timothy J.; White, Timothy J.

2017-02-01

Recently, we reported direct current (DC) field controllable electro-optic (EO) responses of negative dielectric anisotropy polymer stabilized cholesteric liquid crystals (PSCLCs). A potential mechanism is: Ions in the liquid crystal mixtures are trapped in/on the polymer network during the fast photopolymerization process, and the movement of ions by the application of the DC field distorts polymer network toward the negative electrode, inducing pitch variation through the cell thickness, i.e., pitch compression on the negative electrode side and pitch expansion on positive electrode side. As the DC voltage is directly applied to a target voltage, charged polymer network is deformed and the reflection band is tuned. Interestingly, the polymer network deforms further (red shift of reflection band) with time when constantly applied DC voltage, illustrating DC field induced time dependent deformation of polymer network (creep-like behavior). This time dependent reflection band changes in PSCLCs are investigated by varying the several factors, such as type and concentration of photoinitiators, liquid crystal monomer content, and curing condition (UV intensity and curing time). In addition, simple linear viscoelastic spring-dashpot models, such as 2-parameter Kelvin and 3-parameter linear models, are used to investigate the time-dependent viscoelastic behaviors of polymer networks in PSCLC.

Ultrafast dynamic response of single-crystal β-HMX (octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zaug, Joseph M.; Austin, Ryan A.; Armstrong, Michael R.; Crowhurst, Jonathan C.; Goldman, Nir; Ferranti, Louis; Saw, Cheng K.; Swan, Raymond A.; Gross, Richard; Fried, Laurence E.

2018-05-01

We report experimental and computational studies of shock wave dynamics in single-crystal β-HMX on an ultrafast time scale. Here, a laser-based compression drive (˜1 ns in duration; stresses of up to ˜40 GPa) is used to propagate shock waves normal to the (110) and (010) lattice planes. Ultrafast time-domain interferometry measurements reveal distinct, time-dependent relationships between the shock wave velocity and particle velocity for each crystal orientation, which suggest evolving physical processes on a sub-nanosecond time scale. To help interpret the experimental data, elastic shock wave response was simulated using a finite-strain model of crystal thermoelasticity. At early propagation times (<500 ps), the model is in agreement with the data, which indicates that the mechanical response is dominated by thermoelastic deformation. The model agreement depends on the inclusion of nonlinear elastic effects in both the spherical and deviatoric stress-strain responses. This is achieved by employing an equation-of-state and a pressure-dependent stiffness tensor, which was computed via atomistic simulation. At later times (>500 ps), the crystal samples exhibit signatures of inelastic deformation, structural phase transformation, or chemical reaction, depending on the direction of wave propagation.

Footprint traversal by adenosine-triphosphate-dependent chromatin remodeler motor.

PubMed

Garai, Ashok; Mani, Jesrael; Chowdhury, Debashish

2012-04-01

Adenosine-triphosphate (ATP)-dependent chromatin remodeling enzymes (CREs) are biomolecular motors in eukaryotic cells. These are driven by a chemical fuel, namely, ATP. CREs actively participate in many cellular processes that require accessibility of specific segments of DNA which are packaged as chromatin. The basic unit of chromatin is a nucleosome where 146 bp ∼ 50 nm of a double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) is wrapped around a spool formed by histone proteins. The helical path of histone-DNA contact on a nucleosome is also called "footprint." We investigate the mechanism of footprint traversal by a CRE that translocates along the dsDNA. Our two-state model of a CRE captures effectively two distinct chemical (or conformational) states in the mechanochemical cycle of each ATP-dependent CRE. We calculate the mean time of traversal. Our predictions on the ATP dependence of the mean traversal time can be tested by carrying out in vitro experiments on mononucleosomes.

Androgen receptor-dependent and -independent mechanisms driving prostate cancer progression: Opportunities for therapeutic targeting from multiple angles

PubMed Central

Hoang, David T; Iczkowski, Kenneth A; Kilari, Deepak; See, William; Nevalainen, Marja T

2017-01-01

Despite aggressive treatment for localized cancer, prostate cancer (PC) remains a leading cause of cancer-related death for American men due to a subset of patients progressing to lethal and incurable metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Organ-confined PC is treated by surgery or radiation with or without androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), while options for locally advanced and disseminated PC include radiation combined with ADT, or systemic treatments including chemotherapy. Progression to CRPC results from failure of ADT, which targets the androgen receptor (AR) signaling axis and inhibits AR-driven proliferation and survival pathways. The exact mechanisms underlying the transition from androgen-dependent PC to CRPC remain incompletely understood. Reactivation of AR has been shown to occur in CRPC despite depletion of circulating androgens by ADT. At the same time, the presence of AR-negative cell populations in CRPC has also been identified. While AR signaling has been proposed as the primary driver of CRPC, AR-independent signaling pathways may represent additional mechanisms underlying CRPC progression. Identification of new therapeutic strategies to target both AR-positive and AR-negative PC cell populations and, thereby, AR-driven as well as non-AR-driven PC cell growth and survival mechanisms would provide a two-pronged approach to eliminate CRPC cells with potential for synthetic lethality. In this review, we provide an overview of AR-dependent and AR-independent molecular mechanisms which drive CRPC, with special emphasis on the role of the Jak2-Stat5a/b signaling pathway in promoting castrate-resistant growth of PC through both AR-dependent and AR-independent mechanisms. PMID:27741508

Final Shape of Precision Molded Optics: Part 1 - Computational Approach, Material Definitions and the Effect of Lens Shape

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-05-15

subroutine by adding time-dependence to the thermal expansion coefficient. The user subroutine was written in Intel Visual Fortran that is compatible...temperature history dependent expansion and contraction, and the molds were modeled as elastic taking into account both mechanical and thermal strain. In...behavior was approximated by assuming the thermal coefficient of expansion to be a fourth order polynomial function of temperature. The authors

Emergent mechanics, quantum and un-quantum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ralston, John P.

2013-10-01

There is great interest in quantum mechanics as an "emergent" phenomenon. The program holds that nonobvious patterns and laws can emerge from complicated physical systems operating by more fundamental rules. We find a new approach where quantum mechanics itself should be viewed as an information management tool not derived from physics nor depending on physics. The main accomplishment of quantum-style theory comes in expanding the notion of probability. We construct a map from macroscopic information as data" to quantum probability. The map allows a hidden variable description for quantum states, and efficient use of the helpful tools of quantum mechanics in unlimited circumstances. Quantum dynamics via the time-dependent Shroedinger equation or operator methods actually represents a restricted class of classical Hamiltonian or Lagrangian dynamics, albeit with different numbers of degrees of freedom. We show that under wide circumstances such dynamics emerges from structureless dynamical systems. The uses of the quantum information management tools are illustrated by numerical experiments and practical applications

Mechanisms Underlying Tolerance after Long-Term Benzodiazepine Use: A Future for Subtype-Selective GABAA Receptor Modulators?

PubMed Central

Vinkers, Christiaan H.; Olivier, Berend

2012-01-01

Despite decades of basic and clinical research, our understanding of how benzodiazepines tend to lose their efficacy over time (tolerance) is at least incomplete. In appears that tolerance develops relatively quickly for the sedative and anticonvulsant actions of benzodiazepines, whereas tolerance to anxiolytic and amnesic effects probably does not develop at all. In light of this evidence, we review the current evidence for the neuroadaptive mechanisms underlying benzodiazepine tolerance, including changes of (i) the GABAA receptor (subunit expression and receptor coupling), (ii) intracellular changes stemming from transcriptional and neurotrophic factors, (iii) ionotropic glutamate receptors, (iv) other neurotransmitters (serotonin, dopamine, and acetylcholine systems), and (v) the neurosteroid system. From the large variance in the studies, it appears that either different (simultaneous) tolerance mechanisms occur depending on the benzodiazepine effect, or that the tolerance-inducing mechanism depends on the activated GABAA receptor subtypes. Importantly, there is no convincing evidence that tolerance occurs with α subunit subtype-selective compounds acting at the benzodiazepine site. PMID:22536226

Energy transfer in a mechanically trapped exciplex.

PubMed

Klosterman, Jeremy K; Iwamura, Munetaka; Tahara, Tahei; Fujita, Makoto

2009-07-15

Host-guest complexes involving M(6)L(4) coordination cages can display unusual photoreactivity, and enclathration of the very large fluorophore bisanthracene resulted in an emissive, mechanically trapped intramolecular exciplex. Mechanically linked intramolecular exciplexes are important for understanding the dependence of energy transfer on donor-acceptor distance, orientation, and electronic coupling but are relatively unexplored. Steady-state and picosecond time-resolved fluorescence measurements have revealed that selective excitation of the encapsulated guest fluorophore results in efficient energy transfer from the excited guest to an emissive host-guest exciplex state.

Analytic structure of the S-matrix for singular quantum mechanics

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Camblong, Horacio E.; Epele, Luis N.; Fanchiotti, Huner

2015-06-15

The analytic structure of the S-matrix of singular quantum mechanics is examined within a multichannel framework, with primary focus on its dependence with respect to a parameter (Ω) that determines the boundary conditions. Specifically, a characterization is given in terms of salient mathematical and physical properties governing its behavior. These properties involve unitarity and associated current-conserving Wronskian relations, time-reversal invariance, and Blaschke factorization. The approach leads to an interpretation of effective nonunitary solutions in singular quantum mechanics and their determination from the unitary family.

Optical control of ground-state atomic orbital alignment: Cl(2P3/2) atoms from HCl(v=2,J=1) photodissociation.

PubMed

Sofikitis, Dimitris; Rubio-Lago, Luis; Martin, Marion R; Ankeny Brown, Davida J; Bartlett, Nathaniel C-M; Alexander, Andrew J; Zare, Richard N; Rakitzis, T Peter

2007-10-14

H(35)Cl(v=0,J=0) molecules in a supersonic expansion were excited to the H(35)Cl(v=2,J=1,M=0) state with linearly polarized laser pulses at about 1.7 microm. These rotationally aligned J=1 molecules were then selectively photodissociated with a linearly polarized laser pulse at 220 nm after a time delay, and the velocity-dependent alignment of the (35)Cl((2)P(32)) photofragments was measured using 2+1 REMPI and time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The (35)Cl((2)P(32)) atoms are aligned by two mechanisms: (1) the time-dependent transfer of rotational polarization of the H(35)Cl(v=2,J=1,M=0) molecule to the (35)Cl((2)P(32)) nuclear spin [which is conserved during the photodissociation and thus contributes to the total (35)Cl((2)P(32)) photofragment atomic polarization] and (2) the alignment of the (35)Cl((2)P(32)) electronic polarization resulting from the photoexcitation and dissociation process. The total alignment of the (35)Cl((2)P(32)) photofragments from these two mechanisms was found to vary as a function of time delay between the excitation and the photolysis laser pulses, in agreement with theoretical predictions. We show that the alignment of the ground-state (35)Cl((2)P(32)) atoms, with respect to the photodissociation recoil direction, can be controlled optically. Potential applications include the study of alignment-dependent collision effects.

Why many polymers are so fragile: A new perspective

DOE PAGES

Dalle-Ferrier, C.; Kisliuk, A.; Hong, L.; ...

2016-10-21

Many polymers exhibit much steeper temperature dependence of their structural relaxation time (higher fragility) than liquids of small molecules, and the mechanism of this unusually high fragility in polymers remains a puzzle. To reveal additional hints for understanding the underlying mechanism, we analyzed correlation of many properties of polymers to their fragility on example of model polymer polystyrene with various molecular weights (MWs). Here, we demonstrate that these correlations work for short chains (oligomers), but fail progressively with increase in MW. Our surprising discovery is that the steepness of the temperature dependence (fragility) of the viscosity that is determined bymore » chain relaxation follows the correlations at all molecular weights. These results suggest that the molecular level relaxation still follows the behavior usual for small molecules even in polymers, and its fragility (chain fragility) falls in the range usual for molecular liquids. It is the segmental relaxation that has this unusually high fragility. We also speculate that many polymers cannot reach an ergodic state on the time scale of segmental dynamics due to chain connectivity and rigidity. This leads to sharper decrease in accessible configurational entropy upon cooling and results in steeper temperature dependence of segmental relaxation. Our proposed scenario provides a new important insight into the specifics of polymer dynamics: the role of ergodicity time and length scale. At the end, we suggest that a similar scenario can be applicable also to other molecular systems with slow intra-molecular degrees of freedom and to chemically complex systems where the time scale of chemical fluctuations can be longer than the time scale of structural relaxation.« less

Why many polymers are so fragile: A new perspective

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dalle-Ferrier, C.; Kisliuk, A.; Hong, L.

Many polymers exhibit much steeper temperature dependence of their structural relaxation time (higher fragility) than liquids of small molecules, and the mechanism of this unusually high fragility in polymers remains a puzzle. To reveal additional hints for understanding the underlying mechanism, we analyzed correlation of many properties of polymers to their fragility on example of model polymer polystyrene with various molecular weights (MWs). Here, we demonstrate that these correlations work for short chains (oligomers), but fail progressively with increase in MW. Our surprising discovery is that the steepness of the temperature dependence (fragility) of the viscosity that is determined bymore » chain relaxation follows the correlations at all molecular weights. These results suggest that the molecular level relaxation still follows the behavior usual for small molecules even in polymers, and its fragility (chain fragility) falls in the range usual for molecular liquids. It is the segmental relaxation that has this unusually high fragility. We also speculate that many polymers cannot reach an ergodic state on the time scale of segmental dynamics due to chain connectivity and rigidity. This leads to sharper decrease in accessible configurational entropy upon cooling and results in steeper temperature dependence of segmental relaxation. Our proposed scenario provides a new important insight into the specifics of polymer dynamics: the role of ergodicity time and length scale. At the end, we suggest that a similar scenario can be applicable also to other molecular systems with slow intra-molecular degrees of freedom and to chemically complex systems where the time scale of chemical fluctuations can be longer than the time scale of structural relaxation.« less

Shock induced crystallization of amorphous Nickel powders

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cherukara, Mathew; Strachan, Alejandro

2015-06-01

Recent experimental work has shown the efficacy of amorphous Ni/crystalline Al composites as energetic materials, with flame velocities twice that of a comparable crystalline Ni/crystalline Al system. Of further interest is the recrystallization mechanisms in the pure amorphous Ni powders, both thermally induced and mechanically induced. We present large-scale molecular dynamics simulations of shock-induced recrystallization in loosely packed amorphous Nickel powders. We study the time dependent nucleation and growth processes by holding the shocked samples at the induced pressures and temperatures for extended periods following the passage of the shock (up to 6 ns). We find that the nanostructure of the recrystallized Ni and time scales of recrystallization are dependent on the piston velocity. At low piston velocities, nucleation events are rare, leading to long incubation times and a relatively coarse nanostructure. At higher piston velocities, local variations in temperature due to jetting phenomena and void collapse, give rise to multiple nucleation events on time scales comparable to the passage of the shock wave, leading to the formation of a fine-grained nanostructure. Interestingly, we observe that the nucleation and growth process occurs in two steps, with the first nuclei crystallizing into the BCC structure, before evolving over time into the expected FCC structure. U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency, HDTRA1-10-1-0119 (Program Manager Suhithi Peiris).

Flexibility within working memory and the focus of attention for sequential verbal information does not depend on active maintenance.

PubMed

Sandry, Joshua; Schwark, Jeremy D; MacDonald, Justin

2014-10-01

The focus of attention seems to be a static element within working memory when verbal information is serially presented, unless additional time is available for processing or active maintenance. Experiment 1 manipulated the reward associated with early and medial list positions in a probe recognition paradigm and found evidence that these nonterminal list positions could be retrieved faster and more accurately if participants were appropriately motivated-without additional time for processing or active maintenance. Experiment 2 used articulatory suppression and demonstrated that the underlying maintenance mechanism cannot be attributed to rehearsal, leaving attentional refreshing as the more likely mechanism. These findings suggest that the focus of attention within working memory can flexibly maintain nonterminal early and medial list representations at the expense of other list representations even when there is not additional time for processing or active maintenance. Maintenance seems to be accomplished through an attentional refreshing mechanism.

Relaxation processes and conduction mechanism in bismuth ferrite lead titanate composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sahu, Truptimayee; Behera, Banarji

2018-02-01

In this study, samarium (Sm)-doped multiferroic composites of 0.8BiSmxFe1-xO3-0.2PbTiO3 where x = 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, and 0.20 were prepared via the conventional solid state reaction route. The electrical properties of these composites were analyzed using an impedance analyzer over a wide range of temperatures and frequencies (102-106 Hz). The impedance and modulus analyses confirmed the presence of both bulk and grain boundary effects in the materials. The temperature dependence of impedance and modulus spectrum indicated the negative temperature coefficient of resistance behavior. The dielectric relaxation exhibited non-Debye type behavior and it was temperature dependent. The relaxation time (τ) and DC conductivity followed an Arrhenius type behavior. The frequency-dependent AC conductivity obeyed Jonscher's power law. The correlated barrier hopping model was appropriate to understand the conduction mechanism in the composites considered.

Nanoparticles modulate autophagic effect in a dispersity-dependent manner

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Dengtong; Zhou, Hualu; Gao, Jinhao

2015-09-01

Autophagy plays a key role in human health and disease, especially in cancer and neurodegeneration. Many autophagy regulators are developed for therapy. Diverse nanomaterials have been reported to induce autophagy. However, the underlying mechanisms and universal rules remain unclear. Here, for the first time, we show a reliable and general mechanism by which nanoparticles induce autophagy and then successfully modulate autophagy via tuning their dispersity. Various well-designed univariate experiments demonstrate that nanomaterials induce autophagy in a dispersity-dependent manner. Aggregated nanoparticles induce significant autophagic effect in comparison with well-dispersed nanoparticles. As the highly stable nanoparticles may block autophagic degradation in autolysosomes, endocytosis and intracellular accumulation of nanoparticles can be responsible for this interesting phenomenon. Our results suggest dispersity-dependent autophagic effect as a common cellular response to nanoparticles, reveal the relationship between properties of nanoparticles and autophagy, and offer a new alternative way to modulate autophagy.

Vicinage effect in the energy loss of H2 dimers: Experiment and calculations based on time-dependent density-functional theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koval, N. E.; Borisov, A. G.; Rosa, L. F. S.; Stori, E. M.; Dias, J. F.; Grande, P. L.; Sánchez-Portal, D.; Muiño, R. Díez

2017-06-01

We present a combined theoretical and experimental study of the energy loss of H2+ molecular ions interacting with thin oxide and carbon films. As a result of quantum mechanical interference of the target electrons, the energy loss of a molecular projectile differs from the sum of the energy losses of individual atomic projectiles. This difference is known as the vicinage effect. Calculations based on the time-dependent density functional theory allow the first-principles description of the dynamics of target excitations produced by the correlated motion of the nucleons forming the molecule. We investigate in detail the dependence of the vicinage effect on the speed and charge state of the projectile and find an excellent agreement between calculated and measured data.

Ligand protons in a frozen solution of copper histidine relax via a T1e-driven three-spin mechanism

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stoll, S.; Epel, B.; Vega, S.; Goldfarb, D.

2007-10-01

Davies electron-nuclear double resonance spectra can exhibit strong asymmetries for long mixing times, short repetition times, and large thermal polarizations. These asymmetries can be used to determine nuclear relaxation rates in paramagnetic systems. Measurements of frozen solutions of copper(L-histidine)2 reveal a strong field dependence of the relaxation rates of the protons in the histidine ligand, increasing from low (g‖) to high (g⊥) field. It is shown that this can be attributed to a concentration-dependent T1e-driven relaxation process involving strongly mixed states of three spins: the histidine proton, the Cu(II) electron spin of the same complex, and another distant electron spin with a resonance frequency differing from the spectrometer frequency approximately by the proton Larmor frequency. The protons relax more efficiently in the g⊥ region, since the number of distant electrons able to participate in this relaxation mechanism is higher than in the g‖ region. Analytical expressions for the associated nuclear polarization decay rate Teen-1 are developed and Monte Carlo simulations are carried out, reproducing both the field and the concentration dependences of the nuclear relaxation.

Statistical persistence of air pollutants (O3,SO2,NO2 and PM10) in Mexico City

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meraz, M.; Rodriguez, E.; Femat, R.; Echeverria, J. C.; Alvarez-Ramirez, J.

2015-06-01

The rescaled range (R / S) analysis was used for analyzing the statistical persistence of air pollutants in Mexico City. The air-pollution time series consisted of hourly observations of ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and particulate matter obtained at the Mexico City downtown monitoring station during 1999-2014. The results showed that long-range persistence is not a uniform property over a wide range of time scales, from days to months. In fact, although the air pollutant concentrations exhibit an average persistent behavior, environmental (e.g., daily and yearly) and socio-economic (e.g., daily and weekly) cycles are reflected in the dependence of the persistence strength as quantified in terms of the Hurst exponent. It was also found that the Hurst exponent exhibits time variations, with the ozone and nitrate oxide concentrations presenting some regularity, such as annual cycles. The persistence dynamics of the pollutant concentrations increased during the rainy season and decreased during the dry season. The time and scale dependences of the persistence properties provide some insights in the mechanisms involved in the internal dynamics of the Mexico City atmosphere for accumulating and dissipating dangerous air pollutants. While in the short-term individual pollutants dynamics seems to be governed by specific mechanisms, in the long-term (for monthly and higher scales) meteorological and seasonal mechanisms involved in atmospheric recirculation seem to dominate the dynamics of all air pollutant concentrations.

Sequential Polarity-Reversing Circuit

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Labaw, Clayton C.

1994-01-01

Proposed circuit reverses polarity of electric power supplied to bidirectional dc motor, reversible electro-mechanical actuator, or other device operating in direction depending on polarity. Circuit reverses polarity each time power turned on, without need for additional polarity-reversing or direction signals and circuitry to process them.

Time course of functional recovery during the first 3 mo after surgical transection and repair of nerves to the feline soleus and lateral gastrocnemius muscles.

PubMed

Gregor, Robert J; Maas, Huub; Bulgakova, Margarita A; Oliver, Alanna; English, Arthur W; Prilutsky, Boris I

2018-03-01

Locomotion outcomes after peripheral nerve injury and repair in cats have been described in the literature for the period immediately following the injury (muscle denervation period) and then again for an ensuing period of long-term recovery (at 3 mo and longer) resulting in muscle self-reinnervation. Little is known about the changes in muscle activity and walking mechanics during midrecovery, i.e., the early reinnervation period that takes place between 5 and 10 wk of recovery. Here, we investigated hindlimb mechanics and electromyogram (EMG) activity of ankle extensors in six cats during level and slope walking before and every 2 wk thereafter in a 14-wk period of recovery after the soleus (SO) and lateral gastrocnemius (LG) muscle nerves in one hindlimb were surgically transected and repaired. We found that the continued increase in SO and LG EMG magnitudes and corresponding changes in hindlimb mechanics coincided with the formation of neuromuscular synapses revealed in muscle biopsies. Throughout the recovery period, EMG magnitude of SO and LG during the stance phase and the duration of the stance-related activity were load dependent, similar to those in the intact synergistic medial gastrocnemius and plantaris. These results and the fact that EMG activity of ankle extensors and locomotor mechanics during level and upslope walking recovered 14 wk after nerve transection and repair suggest that loss of the stretch reflex in self-reinnervated muscles may be compensated by the recovered force-dependent feedback in self-reinnervated muscles, by increased central drive, and by increased gain in intermuscular motion-dependent pathways from intact ankle extensors. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study provides new evidence that the timeline for functional recovery of gait after peripheral nerve injury and repair is consistent with the time required for neuromuscular junctions to form and muscles to reach preoperative tensions. Our findings suggest that a permanent loss of autogenic stretch reflex in self-reinnervated muscles may be compensated by recovered intermuscular force-dependent and oligosynaptic length-dependent feedback and central drive to regain adequate locomotor output capabilities during level and upslope walking.

Development of constitutive model for composites exhibiting time dependent properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pupure, L.; Joffe, R.; Varna, J.; Nyström, B.

2013-12-01

Regenerated cellulose fibres and their composites exhibit highly nonlinear behaviour. The mechanical response of these materials can be successfully described by the model developed by Schapery for time-dependent materials. However, this model requires input parameters that are experimentally determined via large number of time-consuming tests on the studied composite material. If, for example, the volume fraction of fibres is changed we have a different material and new series of experiments on this new material are required. Therefore the ultimate objective of our studies is to develop model which determines the composite behaviour based on behaviour of constituents of the composite. This paper gives an overview of problems and difficulties, associated with development, implementation and verification of such model.

Monolayer phosphorene under time-dependent magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nascimento, J. P. G.; Aguiar, V.; Guedes, I.

2018-02-01

We obtain the exact wave function of a monolayer phosphorene under a low-intensity time-dependent magnetic field using the dynamical invariant method. We calculate the quantum-mechanical energy expectation value and the transition probability for a constant and an oscillatory magnetic field. For the former we observe that the Landau level energy varies linearly with the quantum numbers n and m and the magnetic field intensity B0. No transition takes place. For the latter, we observe that the energy oscillates in time, increasing linearly with the Landau level n and m and nonlinearly with the magnetic field. The (k , l) →(n , m) transitions take place only for l = m. We investigate the (0,0) →(n , 0) and (1 , l) and (2 , l) probability transitions.

Different motion cues are used to estimate time-to-arrival for frontoparallel and looming trajectories

PubMed Central

Calabro, Finnegan J.; Beardsley, Scott A.; Vaina, Lucia M.

2012-01-01

Estimation of time-to-arrival for moving objects is critical to obstacle interception and avoidance, as well as to timing actions such as reaching and grasping moving objects. The source of motion information that conveys arrival time varies with the trajectory of the object raising the question of whether multiple context-dependent mechanisms are involved in this computation. To address this question we conducted a series of psychophysical studies to measure observers’ performance on time-to-arrival estimation when object trajectory was specified by angular motion (“gap closure” trajectories in the frontoparallel plane), looming (colliding trajectories, TTC) or both (passage courses, TTP). We measured performance of time-to-arrival judgments in the presence of irrelevant motion, in which a perpendicular motion vector was added to the object trajectory. Data were compared to models of expected performance based on the use of different components of optical information. Our results demonstrate that for gap closure, performance depended only on the angular motion, whereas for TTC and TTP, both angular and looming motion affected performance. This dissociation of inputs suggests that gap closures are mediated by a separate mechanism than that used for the detection of time-to-collision and time-to-passage. We show that existing models of TTC and TTP estimation make systematic errors in predicting subject performance, and suggest that a model which weights motion cues by their relative time-to-arrival provides a better account of performance. PMID:22056519

F-actin cross-linking enhances the stability of force generation in disordered actomyosin networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jung, Wonyeong; Murrell, Michael P.; Kim, Taeyoon

2015-12-01

Myosin molecular motors and actin cross-linking proteins (ACPs) are known to mediate the generation and transmission of mechanical forces within the cortical F-actin cytoskeleton that drive major cellular processes such as cell division and migration. However, how motors and ACPs interact collectively over diverse timescales to modulate the time-dependent mechanical properties of the cytoskeleton remains unclear. In this study, we present a three-dimensional agent-based computational model of the cortical actomyosin network to quantitatively determine the effects of motor activity and the density and kinetics of ACPs on the accumulation and maintenance of mechanical tension within a disordered actomyosin network. We found that motors accumulate large stress quickly by behaving as temporary cross-linkers although this stress is relaxed over time unless there are sufficient passive ACPs to stabilize the network. Stabilization by ACPs helps motors to generate forces up to their maximum potential, leading to significant enhancement of the efficiency and stability of stress generation. Thus, we demonstrated that the force-dependent kinetics of ACP dissociation plays a critical role for the accumulation and sustainment of stress and the structural remodeling of networks.

Transport in semiconductor nanowire superlattices described by coupled quantum mechanical and kinetic models.

PubMed

Alvaro, M; Bonilla, L L; Carretero, M; Melnik, R V N; Prabhakar, S

2013-08-21

In this paper we develop a kinetic model for the analysis of semiconductor superlattices, accounting for quantum effects. The model consists of a Boltzmann-Poisson type system of equations with simplified Bhatnagar-Gross-Krook collisions, obtained from the general time-dependent Schrödinger-Poisson model using Wigner functions. This system for superlattice transport is supplemented by the quantum mechanical part of the model based on the Ben-Daniel-Duke form of the Schrödinger equation for a cylindrical superlattice of finite radius. The resulting energy spectrum is used to characterize the Fermi-Dirac distribution that appears in the Bhatnagar-Gross-Krook collision, thereby coupling the quantum mechanical and kinetic parts of the model. The kinetic model uses the dispersion relation obtained by the generalized Kronig-Penney method, and allows us to estimate radii of quantum wire superlattices that have the same miniband widths as in experiments. It also allows us to determine more accurately the time-dependent characteristics of superlattices, in particular their current density. Results, for several experimentally grown superlattices, are discussed in the context of self-sustained coherent oscillations of the current density which are important in an increasing range of current and potential applications.

Experimental and Analytical Studies for a Computational Materials Program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Knauss, W. G.

1999-01-01

The studies supported by Grant NAG1-1780 were directed at providing physical data on polymer behavior that would form the basis for computationally modeling these types of materials. Because of ongoing work in polymer characterization this grant supported part of a larger picture in this regard. Efforts went into two combined areas of their time dependent mechanical response characteristics: Creep properties on the one hand, subject to different volumetric changes (nonlinearly viscoelastic behavior) and time or frequency dependence of dilatational material behavior. The details of these endeavors are outlined sufficiently in the two appended publications, so that no further description of the effort is necessary.

Nitramine smokeless propellant research

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1977-01-01

A transient ballistics and combustion model was derived to represent the closed vessel experiment that is widely used to characterize propellants. The model incorporates the nitramine combustion mechanisms. A computer program was developed to solve the time dependent equations, and was applied to explain aspects of closed vessel behavior. It is found that the rate of pressurization in the closed vessel is insufficient at pressures of interest to augment the burning rate by time dependent processes. Series of T-burner experiments were performed to compare the combustion instability characteristics of nitramine (HMX) containing propellants and ammonium perchlorate (AP) propellants. It is found that the inclusion of HMX consistently renders the propellant more stable.

Influence of rice straw cooking conditions in the soda-ethanol-water pulping on the mechanical properties of produced paper sheets.

PubMed

Navaee-Ardeh, S; Mohammadi-Rovshandeh, J; Pourjoozi, M

2004-03-01

A normalized design was used to examine the influence of independent variables (alcohol concentration, cooking time and temperature) in the catalytic soda-ethanol pulping of rice straw on various mechanical properties (breaking length, burst, tear index and folding endurance) of paper sheets obtained from each pulping process. An equation of each dependent variable as a function of cooking variables (independent variables) was obtained by multiple non-linear regression using the least square method by MATLAB software for developing of empirical models. The ranges of alcohol concentration, cooking time and temperature were 40-65% (w/w), 150-180 min and 195-210 degrees C, respectively. Three-dimensional graphs of dependent variables were also plotted versus independent variables. The optimum values of breaking length, burst and tear index and folding endurance were 4683.7 (m), 30.99 (kN/g), 376.93 (mN m2/g) and 27.31, respectively. However, short cooking time (150 min), high ethanol concentration (65%) and high temperature (210 degrees C) could be used to produce papers with suitable burst and tear index. However, for papers with best breaking length and folding endurance low temperature (195 degrees C) was desirable. Differences between optimum values of dependent variables obtained by normalized design and experimental data were less than 20%.

Frictional ageing from interfacial bonding and the origins of rate and state friction.

PubMed

Li, Qunyang; Tullis, Terry E; Goldsby, David; Carpick, Robert W

2011-11-30

Earthquakes have long been recognized as being the result of stick-slip frictional instabilities. Over the past few decades, laboratory studies of rock friction have elucidated many aspects of tectonic fault zone processes and earthquake phenomena. Typically, the static friction of rocks grows logarithmically with time when they are held in stationary contact, but the mechanism responsible for this strengthening is not understood. This time-dependent increase of frictional strength, or frictional ageing, is one manifestation of the 'evolution effect' in rate and state friction theory. A prevailing view is that the time dependence of rock friction results from increases in contact area caused by creep of contacting asperities. Here we present the results of atomic force microscopy experiments that instead show that frictional ageing arises from the formation of interfacial chemical bonds, and the large magnitude of ageing at the nanometre scale is quantitatively consistent with what is required to explain observations in macroscopic rock friction experiments. The relative magnitude of the evolution effect compared with that of the 'direct effect'--the dependence of friction on instantaneous changes in slip velocity--determine whether unstable slip, leading to earthquakes, is possible. Understanding the mechanism underlying the evolution effect would enable us to formulate physically based frictional constitutive laws, rather than the current empirically based 'laws', allowing more confident extrapolation to natural faults.

Rate-Dependent Behavior of the Amorphous Phase of Spider Dragline Silk

PubMed Central

Patil, Sandeep P.; Markert, Bernd; Gräter, Frauke

2014-01-01

The time-dependent stress-strain behavior of spider dragline silk was already observed decades ago, and has been attributed to the disordered sequences in silk proteins, which compose the soft amorphous matrix. However, the actual molecular origin and magnitude of internal friction within the amorphous matrix has remained inaccessible, because experimentally decomposing the mechanical response of the amorphous matrix from the embedded crystalline units is challenging. Here, we used atomistic molecular dynamics simulations to obtain friction forces for the relative sliding of peptide chains of Araneus diadematus spider silk within bundles of these chains as a representative unit of the amorphous matrix in silk fibers. We computed the friction coefficient and coefficient of viscosity of the amorphous phase to be in the order of 10−6 Ns/m and 104 Ns/m2, respectively, by extrapolating our simulation data to the viscous limit. Finally, we used a finite element method for the amorphous phase, solely based on parameters derived from molecular dynamics simulations including the newly determined coefficient of viscosity. With this model the time scales of stress relaxation, creep, and hysteresis were assessed, and found to be in line with the macroscopic time-dependent response of silk fibers. Our results suggest the amorphous phase to be the primary source of viscosity in silk and open up the avenue for finite element method studies of silk fiber mechanics including viscous effects. PMID:24896131

Use Dependence of Heat Sensitivity of Vanilloid Receptor TRPV2.

PubMed

Liu, Beiying; Qin, Feng

2016-04-12

Thermal TRP channels mediate temperature transduction and pain sensation. The vanilloid receptor TRPV2 is involved in detection of noxious heat in a subpopulation of high-threshold nociceptors. It also plays a critical role in development of thermal hyperalgesia, but the underlying mechanism remains uncertain. Here we analyze the heat sensitivity of the TRPV2 channel. Heat activation of the channel exhibits strong use dependence. Prior heat activation can profoundly alter its subsequent temperature responsiveness, causing decreases in both temperature activation threshold and slope sensitivity of temperature dependence while accelerating activation time courses. Notably, heat and agonist activations differ in cross use-dependence. Prior heat stimulation can dramatically sensitize agonist responses, but not conversely. Quantitative analyses indicate that the use dependence in heat sensitivity is pertinent to the process of temperature sensing by the channel. The use dependence of TRPV2 reveals that the channel can have a dynamic temperature sensitivity. The temperature sensing structures within the channel have multiple conformations and the temperature activation pathway is separate from the agonist activation pathway. Physiologically, the use dependence of TRPV2 confers nociceptors with a hypersensitivity to heat and thus provides a mechanism for peripheral thermal hyperalgesia. Copyright © 2016 Biophysical Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Mechanical biocompatibility of highly deformable biomedical materials.

PubMed

Mazza, Edoardo; Ehret, Alexander E

2015-08-01

Mismatch of mechanical properties between highly deformable biomedical materials and adjacent native tissue might lead to short and long term health impairment. The capability of implants to deform at the right level, i.e. similar to the macroscopic mechanical response of the surrounding biological materials, is often associated with dissimilar microstructural deformation mechanisms. This mismatch on smaller length scales might lead to micro-injuries, cell damage, inflammation, fibrosis or necrosis. Hence, the mechanical biocompatibility of soft implants depends not only on the properties and composition of the implant material, but also on its organization, distribution and motion at one or several length scales. The challenges related to the analysis and attainment of mechanical biocompatibility are illustrated with two examples: prosthetic meshes for hernia and pelvic repair and electrospun scaffolds for tissue engineering. For these material systems we describe existing methods for characterization and analysis of the non-linear response to uniaxial and multiaxial stress states, its time and history dependence, and the changes in deformation behavior associated with tissue in-growth and material resorption. We discuss the multi-scale deformation behavior of biomaterials and adjacent tissue, and indicate major interdisciplinary questions to be addressed in future research. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Individuality and universality in the growth-division laws of single E. coli cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kennard, Andrew S.; Osella, Matteo; Javer, Avelino; Grilli, Jacopo; Nghe, Philippe; Tans, Sander J.; Cicuta, Pietro; Cosentino Lagomarsino, Marco

2016-01-01

The mean size of exponentially dividing Escherichia coli cells in different nutrient conditions is known to depend on the mean growth rate only. However, the joint fluctuations relating cell size, doubling time, and individual growth rate are only starting to be characterized. Recent studies in bacteria reported a universal trend where the spread in both size and doubling times is a linear function of the population means of these variables. Here we combine experiments and theory and use scaling concepts to elucidate the constraints posed by the second observation on the division control mechanism and on the joint fluctuations of sizes and doubling times. We found that scaling relations based on the means collapse both size and doubling-time distributions across different conditions and explain how the shape of their joint fluctuations deviates from the means. Our data on these joint fluctuations highlight the importance of cell individuality: Single cells do not follow the dependence observed for the means between size and either growth rate or inverse doubling time. Our calculations show that these results emerge from a broad class of division control mechanisms requiring a certain scaling form of the "division hazard rate function," which defines the probability rate of dividing as a function of measurable parameters. This "model free" approach gives a rationale for the universal body-size distributions observed in microbial ecosystems across many microbial species, presumably dividing with multiple mechanisms. Additionally, our experiments show a crossover between fast and slow growth in the relation between individual-cell growth rate and division time, which can be understood in terms of different regimes of genome replication control.

Numerical solutions to the time-dependent Bloch equations revisited.

PubMed

Murase, Kenya; Tanki, Nobuyoshi

2011-01-01

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate a simple and fast method for solving the time-dependent Bloch equations. First, the time-dependent Bloch equations were reduced to a homogeneous linear differential equation, and then a simple equation was derived to solve it using a matrix operation. The validity of this method was investigated by comparing with the analytical solutions in the case of constant radiofrequency irradiation. There was a good agreement between them, indicating the validity of this method. As a further example, this method was applied to the time-dependent Bloch equations in the two-pool exchange model for chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) or amide proton transfer (APT) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and the Z-spectra and asymmetry spectra were calculated from their solutions. They were also calculated using the fourth/fifth-order Runge-Kutta-Fehlberg (RKF) method for comparison. There was also a good agreement between them, and this method was much faster than the RKF method. In conclusion, this method will be useful for analyzing the complex CEST or APT contrast mechanism and/or investigating the optimal conditions for CEST or APT MRI. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Mechanical weathering and rock erosion by climate-dependent subcritical cracking

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eppes, Martha-Cary; Keanini, Russell

2017-06-01

This work constructs a fracture mechanics framework for conceptualizing mechanical rock breakdown and consequent regolith production and erosion on the surface of Earth and other terrestrial bodies. Here our analysis of fracture mechanics literature explicitly establishes for the first time that all mechanical weathering in most rock types likely progresses by climate-dependent subcritical cracking under virtually all Earth surface and near-surface environmental conditions. We substantiate and quantify this finding through development of physically based subcritical cracking and rock erosion models founded in well-vetted fracture mechanics and mechanical weathering, theory, and observation. The models show that subcritical cracking can culminate in significant rock fracture and erosion under commonly experienced environmental stress magnitudes that are significantly lower than rock critical strength. Our calculations also indicate that climate strongly influences subcritical cracking—and thus rock weathering rates—irrespective of the source of the stress (e.g., freezing, thermal cycling, and unloading). The climate dependence of subcritical cracking rates is due to the chemophysical processes acting to break bonds at crack tips experiencing these low stresses. We find that for any stress or combination of stresses lower than a rock's critical strength, linear increases in humidity lead to exponential acceleration of subcritical cracking and associated rock erosion. Our modeling also shows that these rates are sensitive to numerous other environment, rock, and mineral properties that are currently not well characterized. We propose that confining pressure from overlying soil or rock may serve to suppress subcritical cracking in near-surface environments. These results are applicable to all weathering processes.

Active tension network model suggests an exotic mechanical state realized in epithelial tissues

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Noll, Nicholas; Mani, Madhav; Heemskerk, Idse; Streichan, Sebastian J.; Shraiman, Boris I.

2017-12-01

Mechanical interactions play a crucial role in epithelial morphogenesis, yet understanding the complex mechanisms through which stress and deformation affect cell behaviour remains an open problem. Here we formulate and analyse the active tension network (ATN) model, which assumes that the mechanical balance of cells within a tissue is dominated by cortical tension and introduces tension-dependent active remodelling of the cortex. We find that ATNs exhibit unusual mechanical properties. Specifically, an ATN behaves as a fluid at short times, but at long times supports external tension like a solid. Furthermore, an ATN has an extensively degenerate equilibrium mechanical state associated with a discrete conformal--`isogonal'--deformation of cells. The ATN model predicts a constraint on equilibrium cell geometries, which we demonstrate to approximately hold in certain epithelial tissues. We further show that isogonal modes are observed in the fruit fly embryo, accounting for the striking variability of apical areas of ventral cells and helping understand the early phase of gastrulation. Living matter realizes new and exotic mechanical states, the study of which helps to understand biological phenomena.

Course of Weaning from Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation after Cardiac Surgery

PubMed Central

Herlihy, James P.; Koch, Stephen M.; Jackson, Robert; Nora, Hope

2006-01-01

In order to determine the temporal pattern of weaning from mechanical ventilation for patients undergoing prolonged mechanical ventilation after cardiac surgery, we performed a retrospective review of 21 patients' weaning courses at our long-term acute care hospital. Using multiple regression analysis of an estimate of individual patients' percentage of mechanical ventilator support per day (%MVSD), we determined that 14 of 21 patients (67%) showed a statistically significant quadratic or cubic relationship between time and %MVSD. These patients showed little or no improvement in their ventilator dependence until a point in time when, abruptly, they began to make rapid progress (a “wean turning point”), after which they progressed to discontinuation of mechanical ventilation in a relatively short period of time. The other 7 patients appeared to have a similar weaning pattern, although the data were not statistically significant. Most patients in the study group weaned from the ventilator through a specific temporal pattern that is newly described herein. Data analysis suggested that the mechanism for the development of a wean turning point was improvement of pulmonary mechanics rather than improvement in gas exchange or respiratory load. Although these observations need to be confirmed by a prospective trial, they may have implications for weaning cardiac surgery patients from prolonged mechanical ventilation, and possibly for weaning a broader group of patients who require prolonged mechanical ventilation. PMID:16878611

Finite element analysis of history-dependent damage in time-dependent fracture mechanics

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Krishnaswamy, P.; Brust, F.W.; Ghadiali, N.D.

1993-11-01

The demands for structural systems to perform reliably under both severe and changing operating conditions continue to increase. Under these conditions time-dependent straining and history-dependent damage become extremely important. This work focuses on studying creep crack growth using finite element (FE) analysis. Two important issues, namely, (1) the use of history-dependent constitutive laws, and (2) the use of various fracture parameters in predicting creep crack growth, have both been addressed in this work. The constitutive model used here is the one developed by Murakami and Ohno and is based on the concept of a creep hardening surface. An implicit FEmore » algorithm for this model was first developed and verified for simple geometries and loading configurations. The numerical methodology developed here has been used to model stationary and growing cracks in CT specimens. Various fracture parameters such as the C[sub 1], C[sup *], T[sup *], J were used to compare the numerical predictions with experimental results available in the literature. A comparison of the values of these parameters as a function of time has been made for both stationary and growing cracks. The merit of using each of these parameters has also been discussed.« less

Nanodiamond internalization in cells and the cell uptake mechanism

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Perevedentseva, E.; Hong, S.-F.; Huang, K.-J.; Chiang, I.-T.; Lee, C.-Y.; Tseng, Y.-T.; Cheng, C.-L.

2013-08-01

Cell type-dependent penetration of nanodiamond in living cells is one of the important factors for using nanodiamond as cellular markers/labels, for drug delivery as well as for other biomedical applications. In this work, internalization of 100 nm nanodiamonds by A549 lung human adenocarcinoma cell, Beas-2b non-tumorigenic human bronchial epithelial cell, and HFL-1 fibroblast-like human fetal lung cell is studied and compared. The penetration of nanodiamond into the cells was observed using confocal fluorescence imaging and Raman imaging methods. Visualization of the nanodiamond in cells allows comparison of the internalization for diamond nanoparticles in cancer A549 cell, non-cancer HFL-1, and Beas-2b cells. The dose-dependent and time-dependent behavior of nanodiamond uptake is observed in both cancer as well as non-cancer cells. The mechanism of nanodiamond uptake by cancer and non-cancer cells is analyzed by blocking different pathways. The uptake of nanodiamond in both cancer and non-cancer cells was found predominantly via clathrin-dependent endocytosis. In spite of observed similarity in the uptake mechanism for cancer and non-cancer cells, the nanodiamond uptake for cancer cell quantitatively exceeds the uptake for non-cancer cells, for the studied cell lines. The observed difference in internalization of nanodiamond by cancer and non-cancer cells is discussed.

Crazing in Polymeric and Composite Systems

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-04-30

Characterization of Random Microstructural Systems , Proceedings, International Conference on Structure, Solid Mechanics and Engineering Design in Civil...AND COMPOSITE SYSTEMS 12. PERSONAL AUTHOR(S) HSIAO, C. C. 13a. TYPE OF REPORT J13b. TIME COVERED 14. DATE OF REPORT (Year, Month, Day) 15. PAGE COUNT...study of the failure of composite systems under stress is important both theoretically and practically. This program aims to develop time dependent

Bacterial flagella grow through an injection-diffusion mechanism.

PubMed

Renault, Thibaud T; Abraham, Anthony O; Bergmiller, Tobias; Paradis, Guillaume; Rainville, Simon; Charpentier, Emmanuelle; Guet, Călin C; Tu, Yuhai; Namba, Keiichi; Keener, James P; Minamino, Tohru; Erhardt, Marc

2017-03-06

The bacterial flagellum is a self-assembling nanomachine. The external flagellar filament, several times longer than a bacterial cell body, is made of a few tens of thousands subunits of a single protein: flagellin. A fundamental problem concerns the molecular mechanism of how the flagellum grows outside the cell, where no discernible energy source is available. Here, we monitored the dynamic assembly of individual flagella using in situ labelling and real-time immunostaining of elongating flagellar filaments. We report that the rate of flagellum growth, initially ∼1,700 amino acids per second, decreases with length and that the previously proposed chain mechanism does not contribute to the filament elongation dynamics. Inhibition of the proton motive force-dependent export apparatus revealed a major contribution of substrate injection in driving filament elongation. The combination of experimental and mathematical evidence demonstrates that a simple, injection-diffusion mechanism controls bacterial flagella growth outside the cell.

Influence of low-temperature annealing time on the evolution of the structure and mechanical properties of a titanium Ti-Al-V alloy in the submicrocrystalline state

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ratochka, I. V.; Lykova, O. N.; Naidenkin, E. V.

2015-03-01

The effect of annealing at 673 K for 6-24 h on the structural and phase state and mechanical properties of the titanium alloy of a Ti-Al-V system that was previously subjected to severe plastic deformation by uniform compression deformation, has been studied. It has been established that these annealings lead to a nonmontonic dependence of the mechanical properties of the alloy on the annealing time. It has been shown that the annealing of the Ti-Al-V alloy in a submicrocrystalline state is accompanied by simultaneous hardening processes, i.e., the formation of fine particles during phase transformations and the formation of new nanosized grains, and softening processes, i.e., recovery processes and the growth grains to micron sizes. The prevalence of a given process during annealing determines the deterioration or improvement of the alloy's mechanical properties.

Deconstructing the roles of glucocorticoids in adipose tissue biology and the development of central obesity.

PubMed

Lee, Mi-Jeong; Pramyothin, Pornpoj; Karastergiou, Kalypso; Fried, Susan K

2014-03-01

Central obesity is associated with insulin resistance and dyslipidemia. Thus, the mechanisms that control fat distribution and its impact on systemic metabolism have importance for understanding the risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Hypercortisolemia at the systemic (Cushing's syndrome) or local levels (due to adipose-specific overproduction via 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1) results in the preferential expansion of central, especially visceral fat depots. At the same time, peripheral subcutaneous depots can become depleted. The biochemical and molecular mechanisms underlying the depot-specific actions of glucocorticoids (GCs) on adipose tissue function remain poorly understood. GCs exert pleiotropic effects on adipocyte metabolic, endocrine and immune functions, and dampen adipose tissue inflammation. GCs also regulate multiple steps in the process of adipogenesis. Acting synergistically with insulin, GCs increase the expression of numerous genes involved in fat deposition. Variable effects of GC on lipolysis are reported, and GC can improve or impair insulin action depending on the experimental conditions. Thus, the net effect of GC on fat storage appears to depend on the physiologic context. The preferential effects of GC on visceral adipose tissue have been linked to higher cortisol production and glucocorticoid receptor expression, but the molecular details of the depot-dependent actions of GCs are only beginning to be understood. In addition, increasing evidence underlines the importance of circadian variations in GCs in relationship to the timing of meals for determining their anabolic actions on the adipocyte. In summary, although the molecular mechanisms remain to be fully elucidated, there is increasing evidence that GCs have multiple, depot-dependent effects on adipocyte gene expression and metabolism that promote central fat deposition. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Modulation of Adipose Tissue in Health and Disease. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Real-time scratch assay reveals mechanisms of early calcium signaling in breast cancer cells in response to wounding

PubMed Central

Pratt, Stephen J.P.; Hernández-Ochoa, Erick O.; Lee, Rachel M.; Ory, Eleanor C.; Lyons, James S.; Joca, Humberto C.; Johnson, Ashley; Thompson, Keyata; Bailey, Patrick; Lee, Cornell J.; Mathias, Trevor; Vitolo, Michele I.; Trudeau, Matt; Stains, Joseph P.; Ward, Christopher W.; Schneider, Martin F.; Martin, Stuart S.

2018-01-01

Aggressive cellular phenotypes such as uncontrolled proliferation and increased migration capacity engender cellular transformation, malignancy and metastasis. While genetic mutations are undisputed drivers of cancer initiation and progression, it is increasingly accepted that external factors are also playing a major role. Two recently studied modulators of breast cancer are changes in the cellular mechanical microenvironment and alterations in calcium homeostasis. While many studies investigate these factors separately in breast cancer cells, very few do so in combination. This current work sets a foundation to explore mechano-calcium relationships driving malignant progression in breast cancer. Utilizing real-time imaging of an in vitro scratch assay, we were able to resolve mechanically-sensitive calcium signaling in human breast cancer cells. We observed rapid initiation of intracellular calcium elevations within seconds in cells at the immediate wound edge, followed by a time-dependent increase in calcium in cells at distances up to 500μm from the scratch wound. Calcium signaling to neighboring cells away from the wound edge returned to baseline within seconds. Calcium elevations at the wound edge however, persisted for up to 50 minutes. Rigorous quantification showed that extracellular calcium was necessary for persistent calcium elevation at the wound edge, but intercellular signal propagation was dependent on internal calcium stores. In addition, intercellular signaling required extracellular ATP and activation of P2Y2 receptors. Through comparison of scratch-induced signaling from multiple cell lines, we report drastic reductions in response from aggressively tumorigenic and metastatic cells. The real-time scratch assay established here provides quantitative data on the molecular mechanisms that support rapid scratch-induced calcium signaling in breast cancer cells. These mechanisms now provide a clear framework for investigating which short-term calcium signals promote long-term changes in cancer cell biology. PMID:29861849

Flippin' Fluid Mechanics - Quasi-experimental Pre-test and Post-test Comparison Using Two Groups

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Webster, D. R.; Majerich, D. M.; Luo, J.

2014-11-01

A flipped classroom approach has been implemented in an undergraduate fluid mechanics course. Students watch short on-line videos before class, participate in active in-class problem solving (in dyads), and complete individualized on-line quizzes weekly. In-class activities are designed to achieve a trifecta of: 1. developing problem solving skills, 2. learning subject content, and 3. developing inquiry skills. The instructor and assistants provide critical ``just-in-time tutoring'' during the in-class problem solving sessions. Comparisons are made with a simultaneous section offered in a traditional mode by a different instructor. Regression analysis was used to control for differences among students and to quantify the effect of the flipped fluid mechanics course. The dependent variable was the students' combined final examination and post-concept inventory scores and the independent variables were pre-concept inventory score, gender, major, course section, and (incoming) GPA. The R-square equaled 0.45 indicating that the included variables explain 45% of the variation in the dependent variable. The regression results indicated that if the student took the flipped fluid mechanics course, the dependent variable (i.e., combined final exam and post-concept inventory scores) was raised by 7.25 points. Interestingly, the comparison group reported significantly more often that their course emphasized memorization than did the flipped classroom group.

General linear methods and friends: Toward efficient solutions of multiphysics problems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sandu, Adrian

2017-07-01

Time dependent multiphysics partial differential equations are of great practical importance as they model diverse phenomena that appear in mechanical and chemical engineering, aeronautics, astrophysics, meteorology and oceanography, financial modeling, environmental sciences, etc. There is no single best time discretization for the complex multiphysics systems of practical interest. We discuss "multimethod" approaches that combine different time steps and discretizations using the rigourous frameworks provided by Partitioned General Linear Methods and Generalize-structure Additive Runge Kutta Methods..

Precision agriculture in large-scale mechanized farming

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Precision agriculture involves a great deal of technologies and requires additional investments of money and time, but it can be practiced at different levels depending on the specific field and crop conditions and the resources and technology services available to the farmer. If practiced properly,...

VizieR Online Data Catalog: Investigation of mass loss mechanism of LPVs (Winters+, 2000)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Winters, J. M.; Le Bertre, T.; Jeong, K. S.; Helling, C.; Sedlmayr, E.

2000-09-01

Parameters and resultant quantities of a grid of hydrodynamical models for the circumstellar dust shells around pulsating red giants which treat the time-dependent hydrodynamics and include a detailed treatment of the dust formation process. (1 data file).

Electroosmotic flow hysteresis for dissimilar ionic solutions

PubMed Central

Lim, An Eng; Lam, Yee Cheong

2015-01-01

Electroosmotic flow (EOF) with two or more fluids is commonly encountered in various microfluidics applications. However, no investigation has hitherto been conducted to investigate the hysteretic or flow direction-dependent behavior during the displacement flow of solutions with dissimilar ionic species. In this investigation, electroosmotic displacement flow involving dissimilar ionic solutions was studied experimentally through a current monitoring method and numerically through finite element simulations. The flow hysteresis can be characterized by the turning and displacement times; turning time refers to the abrupt gradient change of current-time curve while displacement time is the time for one solution to completely displace the other solution. Both experimental and simulation results illustrate that the turning and displacement times for a particular solution pair can be directional-dependent, indicating that the flow conditions in the microchannel are not the same in the two different flow directions. The mechanics of EOF hysteresis was elucidated through the theoretical model which includes the ionic mobility of each species, a major governing parameter. Two distinct mechanics have been identified as the causes for the EOF hysteresis involving dissimilar ionic solutions: the widening/sharpening effect of interfacial region between the two solutions and the difference in ion concentration distributions (and thus average zeta potentials) in different flow directions. The outcome of this investigation contributes to the fundamental understanding of flow behavior in microfluidic systems involving solution pair with dissimilar ionic species. PMID:25945139

Effects of Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor Panobinostat (LBH589) on Bone Marrow Mononuclear Cells of Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma Patients and Its Mechanisms

PubMed Central

Ma, Yanping; Liu, Wenhua; Zhang, Ling; Jia, Gu

2017-01-01

Background The aim of this study was to explore the impact of LBH589 alone or in combination with proteasome inhibitor bortezomib on multiple myeloma (MM) cell proliferation and its mechanism. Material/Methods MM cell line U266 and RRMM-BMMNC were treated with different concentrations of LBH589 alone or in combination with bortezomib. Cell proliferation was detected by MTT assay. Cell cycle and apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry. The protein and mRNA level of related genes was determined by Western blotting and qRT-PCR respectively. Results U266 cell and RRMM-BMMNC proliferation were inhibited by different concentrations of LBH589 (0, 10, 20, and 50 nmol/L) alone or 50 nmol/L of LBH589 in combination with bortezomib (10 and 20 nmol/L) in a dose- and time-dependent manner. LBH589 significantly induced G0/G1phase arrest and apoptosis in RRMM-BMMNC in a dose-dependent manner. The effects were significantly higher in all combined groups than in single-agent groups (all P<0.05). The mRNA level of Caspase3 and APAF1 were up-regulated gradually, while TOSO gene expression in RRMM-BMMNC was down-regulated gradually in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Moreover, LBH589 significantly induced hyperacetylation of histone H4, the protein level of PARP notably increased, and the level of Bcl-X decreased. Conclusions LBH589 can inhibit MM cell growth, block the cell cycle, and induce cell apoptosis, which has an anti-resistant effect on multidrug-resistant cells. LBH589 in combination with bortezomib has a synergistic effect on myeloma cells; its mechanism and reversal of drug resistance mechanism is involved in multiple changes in gene expression. PMID:29080899

A signed particle formulation of non-relativistic quantum mechanics

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sellier, Jean Michel, E-mail: jeanmichel.sellier@parallel.bas.bg

2015-09-15

A formulation of non-relativistic quantum mechanics in terms of Newtonian particles is presented in the shape of a set of three postulates. In this new theory, quantum systems are described by ensembles of signed particles which behave as field-less classical objects which carry a negative or positive sign and interact with an external potential by means of creation and annihilation events only. This approach is shown to be a generalization of the signed particle Wigner Monte Carlo method which reconstructs the time-dependent Wigner quasi-distribution function of a system and, therefore, the corresponding Schrödinger time-dependent wave-function. Its classical limit is discussedmore » and a physical interpretation, based on experimental evidences coming from quantum tomography, is suggested. Moreover, in order to show the advantages brought by this novel formulation, a straightforward extension to relativistic effects is discussed. To conclude, quantum tunnelling numerical experiments are performed to show the validity of the suggested approach.« less

The influence of chronic hypoxia upon chemoreception

PubMed Central

Powell, Frank L.

2007-01-01

Carotid body chemoreceptors are essential for time-dependent changes in ventilatory control during chronic hypoxia. Early theories of ventilatory acclimatization to hypoxia focused on time-dependent changes in known ventilatory stimuli, such as small changes in arterial pH that may play a significant role in some species. However, plasticity in the cellular and molecular mechanisms of carotid body chemoreception play a major role in ventilatory acclimatization to hypoxia in all species studied. Chronic hypoxia causes changes in (a) ion channels (potassium, sodium, calcium) to increase glomus cell excitability, and (b) neurotransmitters (dopamine, acetylcholine, ATP) and neuromodulators (endothelin-1) to increase carotid body afferent activity for a given PO2 and optimize O2-sensitivity. O2-sensing heme-containing molecules in the carotid body have not been studied in chronic hypoxia. Plasticity in medullary respiratory centers processing carotid body afferent input also contributes to ventilatory acclimatization to hypoxia. It is not known if the same mechanisms occur in patients with chronic hypoxemia from lung disease or high altitude natives. PMID:17291837

Synergistic activation of NF-{kappa}B by nontypeable H. influenzae and S. pneumoniae is mediated by CK2, IKK{beta}-I{kappa}B{alpha}, and p38 MAPK

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kweon, Soo-Mi; Wang, Beinan; Rixter, Davida

2006-12-15

In review of the past studies on NF-{kappa}B regulation, most of them have focused on investigating how NF-{kappa}B is activated by a single inducer at a time. Given the fact that, in mixed bacterial infections in vivo, multiple inflammation inducers, including both nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) and Streptococcus pneumoniae, are present simultaneously, a key issue that has yet to be addressed is whether NTHi and S. pneumoniae simultaneously activate NF-{kappa}B and the subsequent inflammatory response in a synergistic manner. Here, we show that NTHi and S. pneumoniae synergistically induce NF-{kappa}B-dependent inflammatory response via activation of multiple signaling pathways in vitromore » and in vivo. The classical IKK{beta}-I{kappa}B{alpha} and p38 MAPK pathways are involved in synergistic activation of NF-{kappa}B via two distinct mechanisms, p65 nuclear translocation-dependent and -independent mechanisms. Moreover, casein kinase 2 (CK2) is involved in synergistic induction of NF-{kappa}B via a mechanism dependent on phosphorylation of p65 at both Ser536 and Ser276 sites. These studies bring new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the NF-{kappa}B-dependent inflammatory response in polymicrobial infections and may lead to development of novel therapeutic strategies for modulating inflammation in mixed infections for patients with otitis media and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases.« less

T(T,4He)2n and 3He(3He,4He)2p Reactions and the Energy Dependence of Their Mechanisms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bacher, Andrew; McNabb, Dennis; Brune, Carl; Sayre, Dan; Hale, Gerry; Frenje, Johan; Gatu Johnson, Maria

2015-10-01

We have studied the T(T,alpha)2n reaction because it is the charge symmetric analog to the 3He(3He,alpha)2p reaction which completes the most direct mode of the p-p chain in stellar interiors. These reactions lead to three-body final states whose energy spectrum shapes are dominated by the strong nucleon-alpha interaction and the weaker nucleon-nucleon interaction. These experiments were done at OMEGA at the University of Rochester and at the NIF at Lawrence Livermore Lab. We will focus on two features: (1) the excitation energy dependence of the reaction mechanism and (2) the center-of-mass energy dependence of the reaction mechanism. At stellar energies (OMEGA and the NIF) we find that the shape of the neutron spectrum peaks in the middle. The n-alpha 1/2-excited state is about two times stronger than the n-alpha 3/2-ground state. For the 3He+3He reaction (at CalTech), the proton spectrum peaks at the high end. The p-alpha 3/2-state is about two times stronger than the 1/2-state. This difference in the spectrum shape is explained by theoretical models which include the interference between the two identical fermions in the final state. At CalTech we have angular distributions of the 3He+3He reaction from 2 MeV to 18 MeV. We see the p-wave strength increasing.

Mechanical Overstimulation of Hair Bundles: Suppression and Recovery of Active Motility

PubMed Central

Kao, Albert; Meenderink, Sebastiaan W. F.; Bozovic, Dolores

2013-01-01

We explore the effects of high-amplitude mechanical stimuli on hair bundles of the bullfrog sacculus. Under in vitro conditions, these bundles exhibit spontaneous limit cycle oscillations. Prolonged deflection exerted two effects. First, it induced an offset in the position of the bundle. Recovery to the original position displayed two distinct time scales, suggesting the existence of two adaptive mechanisms. Second, the stimulus suppressed spontaneous oscillations, indicating a change in the hair bundle’s dynamic state. After cessation of the stimulus, active bundle motility recovered with time. Both effects were dependent on the duration of the imposed stimulus. External calcium concentration also affected the recovery to the oscillatory state. Our results indicate that both offset in the bundle position and calcium concentration control the dynamic state of the bundle. PMID:23505461

Biological proton pumping in an oscillating electric field.

PubMed

Kim, Young C; Furchtgott, Leon A; Hummer, Gerhard

2009-12-31

Time-dependent external perturbations provide powerful probes of the function of molecular machines. Here we study biological proton pumping in an oscillating electric field. The protein cytochrome c oxidase is the main energy transducer in aerobic life, converting chemical energy into an electric potential by pumping protons across a membrane. With the help of master-equation descriptions that recover the key thermodynamic and kinetic properties of this biological "fuel cell," we show that the proton pumping efficiency and the electronic currents in steady state depend significantly on the frequency and amplitude of the applied field, allowing us to distinguish between different microscopic mechanisms of the machine. A spectral analysis reveals dominant reaction steps consistent with an electron-gated pumping mechanism.

Cardiomyocyte Ca2+ handling and structure is regulated by degree and duration of mechanical load variation.

PubMed

Ibrahim, Michael; Kukadia, Punam; Siedlecka, Urszula; Cartledge, James E; Navaratnarajah, Manoraj; Tokar, Sergiy; Van Doorn, Carin; Tsang, Victor T; Gorelik, Julia; Yacoub, Magdi H; Terracciano, Cesare M

2012-12-01

Cardiac transverse (t)-tubules are altered during disease and may be regulated by stretch-sensitive molecules. The relationship between variations in the degree and duration of load and t-tubule structure remains unknown, as well as its implications for local Ca(2+)-induced Ca(2+) release (CICR). Rat hearts were studied after 4 or 8 weeks of moderate mechanical unloading [using heterotopic abdominal heart-lung transplantation (HAHLT)] and 6 or 10 weeks of pressure overloading using thoracic aortic constriction. CICR, cell and t-tubule structure were assessed using confocal-microscopy, patch-clamping and scanning ion conductance microscopy. Moderate unloading was compared with severe unloading [using heart-only transplantation (HAHT)]. Mechanical unloading reduced cardiomyocyte volume in a time-dependent manner. Ca(2+) release synchronicity was reduced at 8 weeks moderate unloading only. Ca(2+) sparks increased in frequency and duration at 8 weeks of moderate unloading, which also induced t-tubule disorganization. Overloading increased cardiomyocyte volume and disrupted t-tubule morphology at 10 weeks but not 6 weeks. Moderate mechanical unloading for 4 weeks had milder effects compared with severe mechanical unloading (37% reduction in cell volume at 4 weeks compared to 56% reduction after severe mechanical unloading) and did not cause depression and delay of the Ca(2+) transient, increased Ca(2+) spark frequency or impaired t-tubule and cell surface structure. These data suggest that variations in chronic mechanical load influence local CICR and t-tubule structure in a time- and degree-dependent manner, and that physiological states of increased and reduced cell size, without pathological changes are possible. © 2012 The Authors Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine © 2012 Foundation for Cellular and Molecular Medicine/Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

The critical role of p16/Rb pathway in the inhibition of GH3 cell cycle induced by T-2 toxin.

PubMed

Fatima, Zainab; Guo, Pu; Huang, Deyu; Lu, Qirong; Wu, Qinghua; Dai, Menghong; Cheng, Guyue; Peng, Dapeng; Tao, Yanfei; Ayub, Muhammad; Ul Qamar, Muhammad Tahir; Ali, Muhammad Waqar; Wang, Xu; Yuan, Zonghui

2018-05-01

T-2 toxin is a worldwide trichothecenetoxin and can cause various toxicities.T-2 toxin is involved in G1 phase arrest in several cell lines but molecular mechanism is still not clear. In present study, we used rat pituitary GH3 cells to investigate the mechanism involved in cell cycle arrest against T-2 toxin (40 nM) for 12, 24, 36 and 48 h as compared to control cells. GH3 cells showed a considerable increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) as well as loss in mitochondrial membrane potential (△Ym) upon exposure to the T-2 toxin. Flow cytometry showed a significant time-dependent increase in percentage of apoptotic cells and gel electrophoresis showed the hallmark of apoptosis oligonucleosomal DNA fragmentation. Additionally, T-2 toxin-induced oxidative stress and DNA damage with a time-dependent significant increased expression of p53 favors the apoptotic process by the activation of caspase-3 in T-2 toxin treated cells. Cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry revealed a time-dependent increase ofG1 cell population along with the significant time-dependent up-regulation of mRNA and protein expression of p16 and p21 and significant down-regulation of cyclin D1, CDK4, and p-RB levels further verify the G1 phase arrest in GH3 cells. Morphology of GH3 cells by TEM clearly showed the damage and dysfunction to mitochondria and the cell nucleus. These findings for the first time demonstrate that T-2 toxin induces G1 phase cell cycle arrest by the involvement of p16/Rb pathway, along with ROS mediated oxidative stress and DNA damage with p53 and caspase cascade interaction, resulting in apoptosis in GH3 cells. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Continuous-Time Random Walk with multi-step memory: an application to market dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gubiec, Tomasz; Kutner, Ryszard

2017-11-01

An extended version of the Continuous-Time Random Walk (CTRW) model with memory is herein developed. This memory involves the dependence between arbitrary number of successive jumps of the process while waiting times between jumps are considered as i.i.d. random variables. This dependence was established analyzing empirical histograms for the stochastic process of a single share price on a market within the high frequency time scale. Then, it was justified theoretically by considering bid-ask bounce mechanism containing some delay characteristic for any double-auction market. Our model appeared exactly analytically solvable. Therefore, it enables a direct comparison of its predictions with their empirical counterparts, for instance, with empirical velocity autocorrelation function. Thus, the present research significantly extends capabilities of the CTRW formalism. Contribution to the Topical Issue "Continuous Time Random Walk Still Trendy: Fifty-year History, Current State and Outlook", edited by Ryszard Kutner and Jaume Masoliver.

Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy: the case of subdiffusion.

PubMed

Lubelski, Ariel; Klafter, Joseph

2009-03-18

The theory of fluorescence correlation spectroscopy is revisited here for the case of subdiffusing molecules. Subdiffusion is assumed to stem from a continuous-time random walk process with a fat-tailed distribution of waiting times and can therefore be formulated in terms of a fractional diffusion equation (FDE). The FDE plays the central role in developing the fluorescence correlation spectroscopy expressions, analogous to the role played by the simple diffusion equation for regular systems. Due to the nonstationary nature of the continuous-time random walk/FDE, some interesting properties emerge that are amenable to experimental verification and may help in discriminating among subdiffusion mechanisms. In particular, the current approach predicts 1), a strong dependence of correlation functions on the initial time (aging); 2), sensitivity of correlation functions to the averaging procedure, ensemble versus time averaging (ergodicity breaking); and 3), that the basic mean-squared displacement observable depends on how the mean is taken.

The inner experience of time

PubMed Central

Wittmann, Marc

2009-01-01

The striking diversity of psychological and neurophysiological models of ‘time perception’ characterizes the debate on how and where in the brain time is processed. In this review, the most prominent models of time perception will be critically discussed. Some of the variation across the proposed models will be explained, namely (i) different processes and regions of the brain are involved depending on the length of the processed time interval, and (ii) different cognitive processes may be involved that are not necessarily part of a core timekeeping system but, nevertheless, influence the experience of time. These cognitive processes are distributed over the brain and are difficult to discern from timing mechanisms. Recent developments in the research on emotional influences on time perception, which succeed decades of studies on the cognition of temporal processing, will be highlighted. Empirical findings on the relationship between affect and time, together with recent conceptualizations of self- and body processes, are integrated by viewing time perception as entailing emotional and interoceptive (within the body) states. To date, specific neurophysiological mechanisms that would account for the representation of human time have not been identified. It will be argued that neural processes in the insular cortex that are related to body signals and feeling states might constitute such a neurophysiological mechanism for the encoding of duration. PMID:19487197

Being First Matters: Topographical Representational Similarity Analysis of ERP Signals Reveals Separate Networks for Audiovisual Temporal Binding Depending on the Leading Sense.

PubMed

Cecere, Roberto; Gross, Joachim; Willis, Ashleigh; Thut, Gregor

2017-05-24

In multisensory integration, processing in one sensory modality is enhanced by complementary information from other modalities. Intersensory timing is crucial in this process because only inputs reaching the brain within a restricted temporal window are perceptually bound. Previous research in the audiovisual field has investigated various features of the temporal binding window, revealing asymmetries in its size and plasticity depending on the leading input: auditory-visual (AV) or visual-auditory (VA). Here, we tested whether separate neuronal mechanisms underlie this AV-VA dichotomy in humans. We recorded high-density EEG while participants performed an audiovisual simultaneity judgment task including various AV-VA asynchronies and unisensory control conditions (visual-only, auditory-only) and tested whether AV and VA processing generate different patterns of brain activity. After isolating the multisensory components of AV-VA event-related potentials (ERPs) from the sum of their unisensory constituents, we ran a time-resolved topographical representational similarity analysis (tRSA) comparing the AV and VA ERP maps. Spatial cross-correlation matrices were built from real data to index the similarity between the AV and VA maps at each time point (500 ms window after stimulus) and then correlated with two alternative similarity model matrices: AV maps = VA maps versus AV maps ≠ VA maps The tRSA results favored the AV maps ≠ VA maps model across all time points, suggesting that audiovisual temporal binding (indexed by synchrony perception) engages different neural pathways depending on the leading sense. The existence of such dual route supports recent theoretical accounts proposing that multiple binding mechanisms are implemented in the brain to accommodate different information parsing strategies in auditory and visual sensory systems. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Intersensory timing is a crucial aspect of multisensory integration, determining whether and how inputs in one modality enhance stimulus processing in another modality. Our research demonstrates that evaluating synchrony of auditory-leading (AV) versus visual-leading (VA) audiovisual stimulus pairs is characterized by two distinct patterns of brain activity. This suggests that audiovisual integration is not a unitary process and that different binding mechanisms are recruited in the brain based on the leading sense. These mechanisms may be relevant for supporting different classes of multisensory operations, for example, auditory enhancement of visual attention (AV) and visual enhancement of auditory speech (VA). Copyright © 2017 Cecere et al.

Being First Matters: Topographical Representational Similarity Analysis of ERP Signals Reveals Separate Networks for Audiovisual Temporal Binding Depending on the Leading Sense

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

In multisensory integration, processing in one sensory modality is enhanced by complementary information from other modalities. Intersensory timing is crucial in this process because only inputs reaching the brain within a restricted temporal window are perceptually bound. Previous research in the audiovisual field has investigated various features of the temporal binding window, revealing asymmetries in its size and plasticity depending on the leading input: auditory–visual (AV) or visual–auditory (VA). Here, we tested whether separate neuronal mechanisms underlie this AV–VA dichotomy in humans. We recorded high-density EEG while participants performed an audiovisual simultaneity judgment task including various AV–VA asynchronies and unisensory control conditions (visual-only, auditory-only) and tested whether AV and VA processing generate different patterns of brain activity. After isolating the multisensory components of AV–VA event-related potentials (ERPs) from the sum of their unisensory constituents, we ran a time-resolved topographical representational similarity analysis (tRSA) comparing the AV and VA ERP maps. Spatial cross-correlation matrices were built from real data to index the similarity between the AV and VA maps at each time point (500 ms window after stimulus) and then correlated with two alternative similarity model matrices: AVmaps = VAmaps versus AVmaps ≠ VAmaps. The tRSA results favored the AVmaps ≠ VAmaps model across all time points, suggesting that audiovisual temporal binding (indexed by synchrony perception) engages different neural pathways depending on the leading sense. The existence of such dual route supports recent theoretical accounts proposing that multiple binding mechanisms are implemented in the brain to accommodate different information parsing strategies in auditory and visual sensory systems. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Intersensory timing is a crucial aspect of multisensory integration, determining whether and how inputs in one modality enhance stimulus processing in another modality. Our research demonstrates that evaluating synchrony of auditory-leading (AV) versus visual-leading (VA) audiovisual stimulus pairs is characterized by two distinct patterns of brain activity. This suggests that audiovisual integration is not a unitary process and that different binding mechanisms are recruited in the brain based on the leading sense. These mechanisms may be relevant for supporting different classes of multisensory operations, for example, auditory enhancement of visual attention (AV) and visual enhancement of auditory speech (VA). PMID:28450537

GnRH signalling pathways and GnRH-induced homologous desensitization in a gonadotrope cell line (alphaT3-1).

PubMed

Poulin, B; Rich, N; Mas, J L; Kordon, C; Enjalbert, A; Drouva, S V

1998-07-25

Exposure of the gonadotrope cells to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) reduces their responsiveness to a new GnRH stimulation (homologous desensitization). The time frame as well as the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are yet unclear. We studied in a gonadotrope cell line (alphaT3-1) the effects of short as well as long term GnRH pretreatments on the GnRH-induced phospholipases-C (PLC), -A2 (PLA2) and -D (PLD) activities, by measuring the production of IP3, total inositol phosphates (IPs), arachidonic acid (AA) and phosphatidylethanol (PEt) respectively. We demonstrated that although rapid desensitization of GnRH-induced IP3 formation did not occur in these cells, persistent stimulation of cells with GnRH or its analogue resulted in a time-dependent attenuation of GnRH-elicited IPs formation. GnRH-induced IPs desensitization was potentiated after direct activation of PKC by the phorbol ester TPA, suggesting the involvement of distinct mechanisms in the uncoupling exerted by either GnRH or TPA on GnRH-stimulated PI hydrolysis. The levels of individual phosphoinositides remained unchanged under any desensitization condition applied. Interestingly, while the GnRH-induced PLA2 activity was rapidly desensitized (2.5 min) after GnRH pretreatments, the neuropeptide-evoked PLD activation was affected at later times, indicating an important time-dependent contribution of these enzymatic activities in the sequential events underlying the GnRH-induced homologous desensitization processes in the gonadotropes. Under GnRH desensitization conditions, TPA was still able to induce PLD activation and to further potentiate the GnRH-evoked PLD activity. AlphaT3-1 cells possess several PKC isoforms which, except PKCzeta, were differentially down-regulated by TPA (PKCalpha, betaII, delta, epsilon, eta) or GnRH (PKCbetaII, delta, epsilon, eta). In spite of the presence of PKC inhibitors or down-regulation of PKC isoforms by TPA, the desensitizing effect of the neuropeptide on GnRH-induced IPs, AA and PEt formation remained unchanged. In conclusion, in alphaT3-1 cells the GnRH-induced homologous desensitization affects the GnRH coupling with PLC, PLA2 and PLD by mechanism(s) which do not implicate TPA-sensitive PKC isoforms, but likely reflect time-dependent modification(s) on the activation processes of the enzymes.

Mechanism-based modeling of solute strengthening: Application to thermal creep in Zr alloy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wen, Wei; Capolungo, Laurent; Tome, Carlos N.

In this paper, a crystallographic thermal creep model is proposed for Zr alloys that accounts for the hardening contribution of solutes via their time-dependent pinning effect on dislocations. The core-diffusion model proposed by Soare and Curtin (2008a) is coupled with a recently proposed constitutive modeling framework (Wang et al., 2017, 2016) accounting for the heterogeneous distribution of internal stresses within grains. The Coble creep mechanism is also included. This model is, in turn, embedded in the effective medium crystallographic VPSC framework and used to predict creep strain evolution of polycrystals under different temperature and stress conditions. The simulation results reproducemore » the experimental creep data for Zircaloy-4 and the transition between the low (n~1), intermediate (n~4) and high (n~9) power law creep regimes. This is achieved through the dependence on local aging time of the solute-dislocation binding energy. The anomalies in strain rate sensitivity (SRS) are discussed in terms of core-diffusion effects on dislocation junction strength. The mechanism-based model captures the primary and secondary creep regimes results reported by Kombaiah and Murty (2015a, 2015b) for a comprehensive set of testing conditions covering the 500–600 °C interval, stresses spanning 14–156 MPa, and steady state creep rates varying between 1.5·10 -9s -1 to 2·10 -3s -1. There are two major advantages to this model with respect to more empirical ones used as constitutive laws for describing thermal creep of cladding: 1) specific dependences on the nature of solutes and their concentrations are explicitly accounted for; 2) accident conditions in reactors, such as RIA and LOCA, usually take place in short times, and deformation takes place in the primary, not the steady-state creep stage. Finally, as a consequence, a model that accounts for the evolution with time of microstructure is more reliable for this kind of simulation.« less

Mechanism-based modeling of solute strengthening: Application to thermal creep in Zr alloy

DOE PAGES

Wen, Wei; Capolungo, Laurent; Tome, Carlos N.

2018-03-11

In this paper, a crystallographic thermal creep model is proposed for Zr alloys that accounts for the hardening contribution of solutes via their time-dependent pinning effect on dislocations. The core-diffusion model proposed by Soare and Curtin (2008a) is coupled with a recently proposed constitutive modeling framework (Wang et al., 2017, 2016) accounting for the heterogeneous distribution of internal stresses within grains. The Coble creep mechanism is also included. This model is, in turn, embedded in the effective medium crystallographic VPSC framework and used to predict creep strain evolution of polycrystals under different temperature and stress conditions. The simulation results reproducemore » the experimental creep data for Zircaloy-4 and the transition between the low (n~1), intermediate (n~4) and high (n~9) power law creep regimes. This is achieved through the dependence on local aging time of the solute-dislocation binding energy. The anomalies in strain rate sensitivity (SRS) are discussed in terms of core-diffusion effects on dislocation junction strength. The mechanism-based model captures the primary and secondary creep regimes results reported by Kombaiah and Murty (2015a, 2015b) for a comprehensive set of testing conditions covering the 500–600 °C interval, stresses spanning 14–156 MPa, and steady state creep rates varying between 1.5·10 -9s -1 to 2·10 -3s -1. There are two major advantages to this model with respect to more empirical ones used as constitutive laws for describing thermal creep of cladding: 1) specific dependences on the nature of solutes and their concentrations are explicitly accounted for; 2) accident conditions in reactors, such as RIA and LOCA, usually take place in short times, and deformation takes place in the primary, not the steady-state creep stage. Finally, as a consequence, a model that accounts for the evolution with time of microstructure is more reliable for this kind of simulation.« less

Two-stage unified stretched-exponential model for time-dependence of threshold voltage shift under positive-bias-stresses in amorphous indium-gallium-zinc oxide thin-film transistors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jeong, Chan-Yong; Kim, Hee-Joong; Hong, Sae-Young; Song, Sang-Hun; Kwon, Hyuck-In

2017-08-01

In this study, we show that the two-stage unified stretched-exponential model can more exactly describe the time-dependence of threshold voltage shift (ΔV TH) under long-term positive-bias-stresses compared to the traditional stretched-exponential model in amorphous indium-gallium-zinc oxide (a-IGZO) thin-film transistors (TFTs). ΔV TH is mainly dominated by electron trapping at short stress times, and the contribution of trap state generation becomes significant with an increase in the stress time. The two-stage unified stretched-exponential model can provide useful information not only for evaluating the long-term electrical stability and lifetime of the a-IGZO TFT but also for understanding the stress-induced degradation mechanism in a-IGZO TFTs.

Investigating dynamic structural and mechanical changes of neuroblastoma cells associated with glutamate-mediated neurodegeneration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fang, Yuqiang; Iu, Catherine Y. Y.; Lui, Cathy N. P.; Zou, Yukai; Fung, Carmen K. M.; Li, Hung Wing; Xi, Ning; Yung, Ken K. L.; Lai, King W. C.

2014-11-01

Glutamate-mediated neurodegeneration resulting from excessive activation of glutamate receptors is recognized as one of the major causes of various neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's and Huntington's diseases. However, the underlying mechanisms in the neurodegenerative process remain unidentified. Here, we investigate the real-time dynamic structural and mechanical changes associated with the neurodegeneration induced by the activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors (a subtype of glutamate receptors) at the nanoscale. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is employed to measure the three-dimensional (3-D) topography and mechanical properties of live SH-SY5Y cells under stimulus of NMDA receptors. A significant increase in surface roughness and stiffness of the cell is observed after NMDA treatment, which indicates the time-dependent neuronal cell behavior under NMDA-mediated neurodegeneration. The present AFM based study further advance our understanding of the neurodegenerative process to elucidate the pathways and mechanisms that govern NMDA induced neurodegeneration, so as to facilitate the development of novel therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative diseases.

The viscoelastic effect in bending bucky-gel actuators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kruusamäe, Karl; Mukai, Ken; Sugino, Takushi; Asaka, Kinji

2014-03-01

Electromechanically active polymers (EAP) are considered a good actuator candidate for a variety of reasons, e.g. they are soft, easy to miniaturize and operate without audible noise. The main structural component in EAPs is, as the name states, a type of deformable polymer. As polymers are known to exhibit a distinct mechanical response, the nature of polymer materials should never be neglected when characterizing and modeling the performance of EAP actuators. Bucky-gel actuators are a subtype of EAPs where ion-containing polymer membrane acts as an electronically insulating separator between two electrodes of carbon nanotubes and ionic liquid. In many occasions, the electrodes also contain polymer for the purpose of binding it together. Therefore, mechanically speaking, bucky-gel actuators are composite structures with layers of different mechanical nature. The viscoelastic response and the shape change property are perhaps the most characteristic effects in polymers. These effects are known to have high dependence on factors such as the type of polymer, the concentration of additives and the structural ratio of different layers. At the same time, most reports about optimization of EAP actuators describe the alteration of electromechanical performance dependent on the same factors. In this paper, the performance of bucky-gel actuators is measured as a function between the output force and bending deflection. It is observed that effective stiffness of these actuators depends on the input voltage. This finding is also supported by dynamic mechanical analysis which demonstrates that the viscoelastic response of bucky-gel laminate depends on both frequency and temperature. Moreover, the dynamic mechanical analysis reveals that in the range of standard operation temperatures, tested samples were in their glass transition region, which made it possible to alter their shape by using mechanical fixing. The mechanical fixity above 90% was obtained when high-frequency input signal was used to heat the bucky-gel sample.

Statistical Analysis of Categorical Time Series of Atmospheric Elementary Circulation Mechanisms - Dzerdzeevski Classification for the Northern Hemisphere

PubMed Central

Brenčič, Mihael

2016-01-01

Northern hemisphere elementary circulation mechanisms, defined with the Dzerdzeevski classification and published on a daily basis from 1899–2012, are analysed with statistical methods as continuous categorical time series. Classification consists of 41 elementary circulation mechanisms (ECM), which are assigned to calendar days. Empirical marginal probabilities of each ECM were determined. Seasonality and the periodicity effect were investigated with moving dispersion filters and randomisation procedure on the ECM categories as well as with the time analyses of the ECM mode. The time series were determined as being non-stationary with strong time-dependent trends. During the investigated period, periodicity interchanges with periods when no seasonality is present. In the time series structure, the strongest division is visible at the milestone of 1986, showing that the atmospheric circulation pattern reflected in the ECM has significantly changed. This change is result of the change in the frequency of ECM categories; before 1986, the appearance of ECM was more diverse, and afterwards fewer ECMs appear. The statistical approach applied to the categorical climatic time series opens up new potential insight into climate variability and change studies that have to be performed in the future. PMID:27116375

Statistical Analysis of Categorical Time Series of Atmospheric Elementary Circulation Mechanisms - Dzerdzeevski Classification for the Northern Hemisphere.

PubMed

Brenčič, Mihael

2016-01-01

Northern hemisphere elementary circulation mechanisms, defined with the Dzerdzeevski classification and published on a daily basis from 1899-2012, are analysed with statistical methods as continuous categorical time series. Classification consists of 41 elementary circulation mechanisms (ECM), which are assigned to calendar days. Empirical marginal probabilities of each ECM were determined. Seasonality and the periodicity effect were investigated with moving dispersion filters and randomisation procedure on the ECM categories as well as with the time analyses of the ECM mode. The time series were determined as being non-stationary with strong time-dependent trends. During the investigated period, periodicity interchanges with periods when no seasonality is present. In the time series structure, the strongest division is visible at the milestone of 1986, showing that the atmospheric circulation pattern reflected in the ECM has significantly changed. This change is result of the change in the frequency of ECM categories; before 1986, the appearance of ECM was more diverse, and afterwards fewer ECMs appear. The statistical approach applied to the categorical climatic time series opens up new potential insight into climate variability and change studies that have to be performed in the future.

Neuroimmune mechanisms of stress: sex differences, developmental plasticity, and implications for pharmacotherapy of stress-related disease

PubMed Central

Deak, Terrence; Quinn, Matt; Cidlowski, John A.; Victoria, Nicole C.; Murphy, Anne Z.; Sheridan, John F.

2016-01-01

The last decade has witnessed profound growth in studies examining the role of fundamental neuroimmune processes as key mechanisms that might form a natural bridge between normal physiology and pathological outcomes. Rooted in core concepts from psychoneuroimmunology, this review utilizes a succinct, exemplar-driven approach of several model systems that contribute significantly to our knowledge of the mechanisms by which neuroimmune processes interact with stress physiology. Specifically, we review recent evidence showing that (i) stress challenges produce time-dependent and stressor-specific patterns of cytokine/chemokine expression in the CNS; (ii) inflammation-related genes exhibit unique expression profiles in males and females depending upon individual, cooperative, or antagonistic interactions between steroid hormone receptors (Estrogen and Glucocorticoid receptors); (iii) adverse social experiences incurred through repeated social defeat engage a dynamic process of immune cell migration from the bone marrow to brain and prime neuroimmune function; and (iv) early developmental exposure to an inflammatory stimulus (carageenin injection into the hindpaw) has a lasting influence on stress reactivity across the lifespan. As such, the present review provides a theoretical framework for understanding the role that neuroimmune mechanisms might play in stress plasticity and pathological outcomes, while at the same time pointing toward features of the individual (sex, developmental experience, stress history) that might ultimately be used for the development of personalized strategies for therapeutic intervention in stress-related pathologies. PMID:26176590

Neuroimmune mechanisms of stress: sex differences, developmental plasticity, and implications for pharmacotherapy of stress-related disease.

PubMed

Deak, Terrence; Quinn, Matt; Cidlowski, John A; Victoria, Nicole C; Murphy, Anne Z; Sheridan, John F

2015-01-01

The last decade has witnessed profound growth in studies examining the role of fundamental neuroimmune processes as key mechanisms that might form a natural bridge between normal physiology and pathological outcomes. Rooted in core concepts from psychoneuroimmunology, this review utilizes a succinct, exemplar-driven approach of several model systems that contribute significantly to our knowledge of the mechanisms by which neuroimmune processes interact with stress physiology. Specifically, we review recent evidence showing that (i) stress challenges produce time-dependent and stressor-specific patterns of cytokine/chemokine expression in the CNS; (ii) inflammation-related genes exhibit unique expression profiles in males and females depending upon individual, cooperative or antagonistic interactions between steroid hormone receptors (estrogen and glucocorticoid receptors); (iii) adverse social experiences incurred through repeated social defeat engage a dynamic process of immune cell migration from the bone marrow to brain and prime neuroimmune function and (iv) early developmental exposure to an inflammatory stimulus (carageenin injection into the hindpaw) has a lasting influence on stress reactivity across the lifespan. As such, the present review provides a theoretical framework for understanding the role that neuroimmune mechanisms might play in stress plasticity and pathological outcomes, while at the same time pointing toward features of the individual (sex, developmental experience, stress history) that might ultimately be used for the development of personalized strategies for therapeutic intervention in stress-related pathologies.

Temporal variation of chemical and isotopic signals in major discharges of an alpine karst aquifer in Turkey: implications with respect to response of karst aquifers to recharge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ozyurt, N. Nur; Bayari, C. Serdar

2008-03-01

Proper management of karst aquifers requires a better understanding of flow and transport mechanisms in these systems. Flow in karst aquifers is inherently very complex due to the non-linear and non-stationary relationship between recharge and discharge. Information on this relationship has been acquired for a large (1,000 km2), mountainous (>3,500 m asl) karst aquifer with a deep unsaturated zone (>2,000 m) in the Aladaglar mountain range of south-central Turkey. All major discharges from the aquifer, which drain almost all the recharge, have been observed periodically for specific electrical conductivity, tritium and oxygen-18 variations during a period of 12 months. Observations reveal that the system’s response to recharge depends strongly on the competition between the infiltration and drainage velocities. These velocities, which are controlled by variables such as the time of precipitation, time of infiltration, intensity, and continuity of recharge, determine the degree of dominance of different types of flow mechanisms in the aquifer. Bypass, well-mixed and piston flow mechanisms are used to explain the response of the aquifer to the spatio-temporal variations in recharge. It appears that the aquifer switches among these flow mechanisms depending on the prevailing recharge mode and the competition between infiltration and drainage velocities.

Towards an Analytical Age-Dependent Model of Contrast Sensitivity Functions for an Ageing Society

PubMed Central

Joulan, Karine; Brémond, Roland

2015-01-01

The Contrast Sensitivity Function (CSF) describes how the visibility of a grating depends on the stimulus spatial frequency. Many published CSF data have demonstrated that contrast sensitivity declines with age. However, an age-dependent analytical model of the CSF is not available to date. In this paper, we propose such an analytical CSF model based on visual mechanisms, taking into account the age factor. To this end, we have extended an existing model from Barten (1999), taking into account the dependencies of this model's optical and physiological parameters on age. Age-dependent models of the cones and ganglion cells densities, the optical and neural MTF, and optical and neural noise are proposed, based on published data. The proposed age-dependent CSF is finally tested against available experimental data, with fair results. Such an age-dependent model may be beneficial when designing real-time age-dependent image coding and display applications. PMID:26078994

The impact of substrate stiffness and mechanical loading on fibroblast-induced scaffold remodeling.

PubMed

Petersen, Ansgar; Joly, Pascal; Bergmann, Camilla; Korus, Gabriela; Duda, Georg N

2012-09-01

Fibroblasts as many other cells are known to form, contract, and remodel the extracellular matrix (ECM). The presented study aims to gain an insight into how mechanical boundary conditions affect the production of ECM components, their remodeling, and the feedback of the altered mechanical cell environment on these processes. The influence of cyclic mechanical loading (f=1 Hz, 10% axial compression) and scaffold stiffness (E=1.2 and 8.5 kPa) on the mechanical properties of fibroblast-seeded scaffold constructs were investigated in an in vitro approach over 14 days of culture. To do so, a newly developed bioreactor system was employed. While mechanical loading resulted in a clear upregulation of procollagen-I and fibronectin production, scaffold stiffness showed to primarily influence matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) secretion and cell-induced scaffold contraction. Higher stiffness of the collagen scaffolds resulted in an up to twofold higher production of collagen-degrading MMP-1. The changes of mechanical parameters like Young's modulus, maximum compression force, and elastic portion of compression force over time suggest that from initially distinct mechanical starting conditions (scaffold stiffness), the construct's mechanical properties converge over time. As a consequence of mechanical loading a shift toward higher construct stiffness was observed. The results suggest that scaffold stiffness has only a temporary effect on cell behavior, while the impact of mechanical loading is preserved over time. Thus, it is concluded that the mechanical environment of the cell after remodeling is depending on mechanical loading rather than on initial scaffold stiffness.

The One-Dimensional Damped Forced Harmonic Oscillator Revisited

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Flores-Hidalgo, G.; Barone, F. A.

2011-01-01

In this paper we give a general solution to the problem of the damped harmonic oscillator under the influence of an arbitrary time-dependent external force. We employ simple methods accessible for beginners and useful for undergraduate students and professors in an introductory course of mechanics.

A model of human motor sequence learning explains facilitation and interference effects based on spike-timing dependent plasticity.

PubMed

Wang, Quan; Rothkopf, Constantin A; Triesch, Jochen

2017-08-01

The ability to learn sequential behaviors is a fundamental property of our brains. Yet a long stream of studies including recent experiments investigating motor sequence learning in adult human subjects have produced a number of puzzling and seemingly contradictory results. In particular, when subjects have to learn multiple action sequences, learning is sometimes impaired by proactive and retroactive interference effects. In other situations, however, learning is accelerated as reflected in facilitation and transfer effects. At present it is unclear what the underlying neural mechanism are that give rise to these diverse findings. Here we show that a recently developed recurrent neural network model readily reproduces this diverse set of findings. The self-organizing recurrent neural network (SORN) model is a network of recurrently connected threshold units that combines a simplified form of spike-timing dependent plasticity (STDP) with homeostatic plasticity mechanisms ensuring network stability, namely intrinsic plasticity (IP) and synaptic normalization (SN). When trained on sequence learning tasks modeled after recent experiments we find that it reproduces the full range of interference, facilitation, and transfer effects. We show how these effects are rooted in the network's changing internal representation of the different sequences across learning and how they depend on an interaction of training schedule and task similarity. Furthermore, since learning in the model is based on fundamental neuronal plasticity mechanisms, the model reveals how these plasticity mechanisms are ultimately responsible for the network's sequence learning abilities. In particular, we find that all three plasticity mechanisms are essential for the network to learn effective internal models of the different training sequences. This ability to form effective internal models is also the basis for the observed interference and facilitation effects. This suggests that STDP, IP, and SN may be the driving forces behind our ability to learn complex action sequences.

Mechanisms of anionic detergent-induced hemolysis.

PubMed

Chernitsky, E; Senkovich, O

1998-09-01

The effect of osmotic protectors (sucrose and polyethylene glycols) and of a decrease in the detergent concentration at different points of hemolysis of human erythrocytes by sodium dodecyl sulphate on the shape of kinetic curves of hemolysis were studied. It is shown that slow detergent-induced hemolysis follows the colloid-osmotic mechanisms. Evidence is provided that rapid hemolysis by sodium dodecyl sulphate is caused by opening of large pores sufficient for the release of hemoglobin molecules rather than by the colloid-osmotic mechanism, and that the kinetics of hemolysis is mainly determined by time dependence of the opening probability of these pores.

Enzymatically crosslinked silk-hyaluronic acid hydrogels.

PubMed

Raia, Nicole R; Partlow, Benjamin P; McGill, Meghan; Kimmerling, Erica Palma; Ghezzi, Chiara E; Kaplan, David L

2017-07-01

In this study, silk fibroin and hyaluronic acid (HA) were enzymatically crosslinked to form biocompatible composite hydrogels with tunable mechanical properties similar to that of native tissues. The formation of di-tyrosine crosslinks between silk fibroin proteins via horseradish peroxidase has resulted in a highly elastic hydrogel but exhibits time-dependent stiffening related to silk self-assembly and crystallization. Utilizing the same method of crosslinking, tyramine-substituted HA forms hydrophilic and bioactive hydrogels that tend to have limited mechanics and degrade rapidly. To address the limitations of these singular component scaffolds, HA was covalently crosslinked with silk, forming a composite hydrogel that exhibited both mechanical integrity and hydrophilicity. The composite hydrogels were assessed using unconfined compression and infrared spectroscopy to reveal of the physical properties over time in relation to polymer concentration. In addition, the hydrogels were characterized by enzymatic degradation and for cytotoxicity. Results showed that increasing HA concentration, decreased gelation time, increased degradation rate, and reduced changes that were observed over time in mechanics, water retention, and crystallization. These hydrogel composites provide a biologically relevant system with controllable temporal stiffening and elasticity, thus offering enhanced tunable scaffolds for short or long term applications in tissue engineering. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Damaging Effects of Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes on Pregnant Mice with Different Pregnancy Times

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qi, Wei; Bi, Juanjuan; Zhang, Xiaoyong; Wang, Jing; Wang, Jianjun; Liu, Peng; Li, Zhan; Wu, Wangsuo

2014-03-01

The mechanism by which nanoparticles cross the placental barrier was studied by using isotopic tracers. The abortion rates and other related data were counted and analysed in pregnant mice with different pregnancy times. Results showed that oxidised multi-walled carbon nanotubes (oMWCNTs) crossed the placental barrier and entered the foetus body. The abortion rates in the pregnant mice depended on pregnancy times. The abortion rates in the first-time, second-time and fourth-time pregnant mice were 70%, 40% and 50%, respectively. The maternal body weight gain was inhibited until gestational ages of 13, 10 and 11 d. oMWCNTs decreased the serum progesterone level and increased the serum oestradiol level in a dose- and time-dependent manner. However, this effect decreased with gestational age. The histology and vascular endothelial growth factor/reactive oxygen species content in the placenta showed that oMWCNTs narrowed the blood vessel and decreased the number of blood vessels in the placenta.

Histone deacetylase inhibitors prevent p53-dependent and p53-independent Bax-mediated neuronal apoptosis through two distinct mechanisms.

PubMed

Uo, Takuma; Veenstra, Timothy D; Morrison, Richard S

2009-03-04

Pharmacological manipulation of protein acetylation levels by histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors represents a novel therapeutic strategy to treat neurodegeneration as well as cancer. However, the molecular mechanisms that determine how HDAC inhibition exerts a protective effect in neurons as opposed to a cytotoxic action in tumor cells has not been elucidated. We addressed this issue in cultured postnatal mouse cortical neurons whose p53-dependent and p53-independent intrinsic apoptotic programs require the proapoptotic multidomain protein, Bax. Despite promoting nuclear p53 accumulation, Class I/II HDAC inhibitors (HDACIs) protected neurons from p53-dependent cell death induced by camptothecin, etoposide, heterologous p53 expression or the MDM2 inhibitor, nutlin-3a. HDACIs suppressed p53-dependent PUMA expression, a critical signaling intermediate linking p53 to Bax activation, thus preventing postmitochondrial events including cleavage of caspase-9 and caspase-3. In human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, however, HDACIs were not able to prevent p53-dependent cell death. Moreover, HDACIs also prevented caspase-3 cleavage in postnatal cortical neurons treated with staurosporine, 3-nitropropionic acid and a Bcl-2 inhibitor, all of which require the presence of Bax but not p53 to promote apoptosis. Although these three toxic agents displayed a requirement for Bax, they did not promote PUMA induction. These results demonstrate that HDACIs block Bax-dependent cell death by two distinct mechanisms to prevent neuronal apoptosis, thus identifying for the first time a defined molecular target for their neuroprotective actions.

Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors Prevent p53-dependent and Independent Bax-Mediated Neuronal Apoptosis Through Two Distinct Mechanisms

PubMed Central

Uo, Takuma; Veenstra, Timothy D.; Morrison, Richard S.

2009-01-01

Pharmacological manipulation of protein acetylation levels by histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors represents a novel therapeutic strategy to treat neurodegeneration as well as cancer. However, the molecular mechanisms that determine how HDAC inhibition exerts a protective effect in neurons as opposed to a cytotoxic action in tumor cells has not been elucidated. We addressed this issue in cultured postnatal mouse cortical neurons whose p53-dependent and —independent intrinsic apoptotic programs require the pro-apoptotic multidomain protein, Bax. Despite promoting nuclear p53 accumulation, Class I/II HDAC inhibitors (HDACIs) protected neurons from p53-dependent cell death induced by camptothecin, etoposide, heterologous p53 expression or the MDM2 inhibitor, nutlin-3a. HDACIs suppressed p53-dependent PUMA expression, a critical signaling intermediate linking p53 to Bax activation, thus preventing post-mitochondrial events including cleavage of caspase-9 and -3. In human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, however, HDACIs were not able to prevent p53-dependent cell death. Moreover, HDACIs also prevented caspase-3 cleavage in postnatal cortical neurons treated with staurosporine, 3-nitropropionic acid and a Bcl-2 inhibitor, all of which require the presence of Bax but not p53 to promote apoptosis. Although these three toxic agents displayed a requirement for Bax, they did not promote PUMA induction. These results demonstrate that HDACIs block Bax-dependent cell death by two distinct mechanisms to prevent neuronal apoptosis, thus identifying for the first time a defined molecular target for their neuroprotective actions. PMID:19261878

Behavioral Timing without Clockwork: Photoperiod-Dependent Trade-Off between Predation Hazard and Energy Balance in an Arctic Ungulate.

PubMed

Tyler, Nicholas J C; Gregorini, Pablo; Forchhammer, Mads C; Stokkan, Karl-Arne; van Oort, Bob E H; Hazlerigg, David G

2016-10-01

Occurrence of 24-h rhythms in species apparently lacking functional molecular clockwork indicates that strong circadian mechanisms are not essential prerequisites of robust timing, and that rhythmical patterns may arise instead as passive responses to periodically changing environmental stimuli. Thus, in a new synthesis of grazing in a ruminant (MINDY), crepuscular peaks of activity emerge from interactions between internal and external stimuli that influence motivation to feed, and the influence of the light/dark cycle is mediated through the effect of low nocturnal levels of food intake on gastric function. Drawing on risk allocation theory, we hypothesized that the timing of behavior in ruminants is influenced by the independent effects of light on motivation to feed and perceived risk of predation. We predicted that the antithetical relationship between these 2 drivers would vary with photoperiod, resulting in a systematic shift in the phase of activity relative to the solar cycle across the year. This prediction was formalized in a model in which phase of activity emerges from a photoperiod-dependent trade-off between food and safety. We tested this model using data on the temporal pattern of activity in reindeer/caribou Rangifer tarandus free-living at natural mountain pasture in sub-Arctic Norway. The resulting nonlinear relationship between the phasing of crepuscular activity and photoperiod, consistent with the model, suggests a mechanism for behavioral timing that is independent of the core circadian system. We anticipate that such timing depends on integration of metabolic feedback from the digestive system and the activity of the glucocorticoid axis which modulates the behavioral responses of the animal to environmental hazard. The hypothalamus is the obvious neural substrate to achieve this integration. © 2016 The Author(s).

Tunable Mechanics in Electrospun Composites via Hierarchical Organization.

PubMed

Wanasekara, Nandula D; Matolyak, Lindsay E; Korley, LaShanda T J

2015-10-21

Design strategies from nature provide vital clues for the development of synthetic materials with tunable mechanical properties. Employing the concept of hierarchy and controlled percolation, a new class of polymer nanocomposites containing a montmorillonite (MMT)-reinforced electrospun poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) filler embedded within a polymeric matrix of either poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) or ethylene oxide-epichlorohydrin copolymer (EO-EPI) were developed to achieve a tunable mechanical response upon exposure to specific stimuli. Mechanical response and switching times upon hydration were shown to be dependent on the weight-fraction of MMT in the PVA electrospun fibers and type of composite matrix. PVA/MMT.PVAc composite films retained excellent two-way switchability for all MMT fractions; however, the switching time upon hydration was decreased dramatically as the MMT content was increased due to the highly hydrophilic nature of MMT. Additionally, for the first time, significant two-way switchability of PVA/MMT.EO-EPI composites was achieved for higher weight fractions (12 wt %) of MMT. An extensive investigation into the effects of fiber diameter, crystallinity, and MMT content revealed that inherent rigidity of MMT platelets plays an important role in controlling the mechanical response of these hierarchical electrospun composites.

Time-dependent view of an isotope effect in electron-nuclear nonequilibrium dynamics with applications to N2.

PubMed

Ajay, Jayanth S; Komarova, Ksenia G; Remacle, Francoise; Levine, R D

2018-06-05

Isotopic fractionation in the photodissociation of N 2 could explain the considerable variation in the 14 N/ 15 N ratio in different regions of our galaxy. We previously proposed that such an isotope effect is due to coupling of photoexcited bound valence and Rydberg electronic states in the frequency range where there is strong state mixing. We here identify features of the role of the mass in the dynamics through a time-dependent quantum-mechanical simulation. The photoexcitation of N 2 is by an ultrashort pulse so that the process has a sharply defined origin in time and so that we can monitor the isolated molecule dynamics in time. An ultrafast pulse is necessarily broad in frequency and spans several excited electronic states. Each excited molecule is therefore not in a given electronic state but in a superposition state. A short time after excitation, there is a fairly sharp onset of a mass-dependent large population transfer when wave packets on two different electronic states in the same molecule overlap. This coherent overlap of the wave packets on different electronic states in the region of strong coupling allows an effective transfer of population that is very mass dependent. The extent of the transfer depends on the product of the populations on the two different electronic states and on their relative phase. It is as if two molecules collide but the process occurs within one molecule, a molecule that is simultaneously in both states. An analytical toy model recovers the (strong) mass and energy dependence.

Gating mechanism of Kv11.1 (hERG) K+ channels without covalent connection between voltage sensor and pore domains.

PubMed

de la Peña, Pilar; Domínguez, Pedro; Barros, Francisco

2018-03-01

Kv11.1 (hERG, KCNH2) is a voltage-gated potassium channel crucial in setting the cardiac rhythm and the electrical behaviour of several non-cardiac cell types. Voltage-dependent gating of Kv11.1 can be reconstructed from non-covalently linked voltage sensing and pore modules (split channels), challenging classical views of voltage-dependent channel activation based on a S4-S5 linker acting as a rigid mechanical lever to open the gate. Progressive displacement of the split position from the end to the beginning of the S4-S5 linker induces an increasing negative shift in activation voltage dependence, a reduced z g value and a more negative ΔG 0 for current activation, an almost complete abolition of the activation time course sigmoid shape and a slowing of the voltage-dependent deactivation. Channels disconnected at the S4-S5 linker near the S4 helix show a destabilization of the closed state(s). Furthermore, the isochronal ion current mode shift magnitude is clearly reduced in the different splits. Interestingly, the progressive modifications of voltage dependence activation gating by changing the split position are accompanied by a shift in the voltage-dependent availability to a methanethiosulfonate reagent of a Cys introduced at the upper S4 helix. Our data demonstrate for the first time that alterations in the covalent connection between the voltage sensor and the pore domains impact on the structural reorganizations of the voltage sensor domain. Also, they support the hypothesis that the S4-S5 linker integrates signals coming from other cytoplasmic domains that constitute either an important component or a crucial regulator of the gating machinery in Kv11.1 and other KCNH channels.

Dependence of Some Mechanical Properties of Elastic Bands on the Length and Load Time

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Triana, C. A.; Fajardo, F.

2012-01-01

We present a study of the maximum stress supported by elastics bands of nitrile as a function of the natural length and the load time. The maximum tension of rupture and the corresponding variation in length were found by measuring the elongation of an elastic band when a mass is suspended from its free end until it reaches the breaking point. The…

Statistical-Mechanical Study of Polyvinylidene Fluoride.

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-06-01

been thoroughly investigated. The time-dependence and microscopic origin of the poling . over... .DO 9 0nt7 OF I 1oNOV GS IS OSMLETE UNCLASSIFIED 84 07...8217% ._-.’.\\ ,’a ,> . m - _’ . - . -. . ...--- , .:-. - 3 The dynamics of the process, known as poling , by which piezoelectric activity is induced...was also studied theoretically. The very short poling times, of the order of microseconds, predicted by the theory have since been confirmed

HEMP 3D: A finite difference program for calculating elastic-plastic flow, appendix B

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wilkins, Mark L.

1993-05-01

The HEMP 3D program can be used to solve problems in solid mechanics involving dynamic plasticity and time dependent material behavior and problems in gas dynamics. The equations of motion, the conservation equations, and the constitutive relations listed below are solved by finite difference methods following the format of the HEMP computer simulation program formulated in two space dimensions and time.

A Search for Giant Planet Companions to T Tauri Stars

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-12-20

yielded a spectral resolving power of R ≡ (λ/Δλ) ≈ 60,000. Integration times were typically 1800 s (depending on conditions) and typical seeing was∼2...wavelength regions. This suggests different physical mechanisms underlying the optical and the K-band variability. Key words: planets and satellites ...the collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data

Folding time dependence of the motions of a molecular motor in an amorphous medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ciobotarescu, Simona; Bechelli, Solene; Rajonson, Gabriel; Migirditch, Samuel; Hester, Brooke; Hurduc, Nicolae; Teboul, Victor

2017-12-01

We investigate the dependence of the displacements of a molecular motor embedded inside a glassy material on its folding characteristic time τf. We observe two different time regimes. For slow foldings (regime I) the diffusion evolves very slowly with τf, while for rapid foldings (regime II) the diffusion increases strongly with τf(D ≈τf-2 ), suggesting two different physical mechanisms. We find that in regime I the motor's displacement during the folding process is counteracted by a reverse displacement during the unfolding, while in regime II this counteraction is much weaker. We notice that regime I behavior is reminiscent of the scallop theorem that holds for larger motors in a continuous medium. We find that the difference in the efficiency of the motor's motion explains most of the observed difference between the two regimes. For fast foldings the motor trajectories differ significantly from the opposite trajectories induced by the following unfolding process, resulting in a more efficient global motion than for slow foldings. This result agrees with the fluctuation theorems expectation for time reversal mechanisms. In agreement with the fluctuation theorems we find that the motors are unexpectedly more efficient when they are generating more entropy, a result that can be used to increase dramatically the motor's motion.

[Three-dimensional stress analysis of periodontal ligament of mandible incisors fixed bridge abutments under dynamic loads by finite element method].

PubMed

Ma, Da; Tang, Liang; Pan, Yan-Huan

2007-12-01

Three-dimensional finite method was used to analyze stress and strain distributions of periodontal ligament of abutments under dynamic loads. Finite element analysis was performed on the model under dynamic loads with vertical and oblique directions. The stress and strain distributions and stress-time curves were analyzed to study the biomechanical behavior of periodontal ligament of abutments. The stress and strain distributions of periodontal ligament under dynamic load were same with the static load. But the maximum stress and strain decreased apparently. The rate of change was between 60%-75%. The periodontal ligament had time-dependent mechanical behaviors. Some level of residual stress in periodontal ligament was left after one mastication period. The stress-free time under oblique load was shorter than that of vertical load. The maximum stress and strain decrease apparently under dynamic loads. The periodontal ligament has time-dependent mechanical behaviors during one mastication. There is some level of residual stress left after one mastication period. The level of residual stress is related to the magnitude and the direction of loads. The direction of applied loads is one important factor that affected the stress distribution and accumulation and release of abutment periodontal ligament.

On the optimization, and the intensity dependence, of the excitation rate for the absorption of two-photons due to the direct permanent dipole moment excitation mechanism

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Meath, William J., E-mail: wmeath@uwo.ca

2016-07-15

A model two-level dipolar molecule, and the rotating wave approximation and perturbation theory, are used to investigate the optimization and the laser intensity dependence of the two-photon excitation rate via the direct permanent dipole mechanism. The rate is proportional to the square of the laser intensity I only for small intensities and times when perturbation theory is applicable. An improvement on perturbation theory is provided by a small time RWA result for the rate which is not proportional to I{sup 2}; rather it is proportional to the square of an effective intensity I{sub eff}. For each laser intensity the optimummore » RWA excitation rate as a function of time, for low intensities, is proportional to I, not I{sup 2}, and for high intensities it is proportional to I{sub eff}. For a given two-photon transition the laser-molecule coupling optimizes for an intensity I{sub max} which, for example, leads to a maximum possible excitation rate as a function of time. The validity of the RWA results of this paper, and the importance of including the effects of virtual excited states, are also discussed briefly.« less

Perspectives on fear generalization and its implications for emotional disorders.

PubMed

Jasnow, Aaron M; Lynch, Joseph F; Gilman, T Lee; Riccio, David C

2017-03-01

Although generalization to conditioned stimuli is not a new phenomenon, renewed interest in understanding its biological underpinning has stemmed from its association with a number of anxiety disorders. Generalization as it relates to fear processing is a temporally dynamic process in which animals, including humans, display fear in response to similar yet distinct cues or contexts as the time between training and testing increases. This Review surveys the literature on contextual fear generalization and its relation to several views of memory, including systems consolidation, forgetting, and transformation hypothesis, which differentially implicate roles of the hippocampus and neocortex in memory consolidation and retrieval. We discuss recent evidence on the neurobiological mechanisms contributing to the increase in fear generalization over time and how generalized responding may be modulated by acquisition, consolidation, and retrieval mechanisms. Whereas clinical perspectives of generalization emphasize a lack of fear inhibition to CS - cues or fear toward intermediate CS cues, the time-dependent nature of generalization and its relation to traditional views on memory consolidation and retrieval are often overlooked. Understanding the time-dependent increase in fear generalization has important implications not only for understanding how generalization contributes to anxiety disorders but also for understanding basic long-term memory function. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

MCL-1–dependent leukemia cells are more sensitive to chemotherapy than BCL-2–dependent counterparts

PubMed Central

Brunelle, Joslyn K.; Ryan, Jeremy; Yecies, Derek; Opferman, Joseph T.

2009-01-01

Myeloid cell leukemia sequence 1 (MCL-1) and B cell leukemia/lymphoma 2 (BCL-2) are anti-apoptotic proteins in the BCL-2 protein family often expressed in cancer. To compare the function of MCL-1 and BCL-2 in maintaining cancer survival, we constructed complementary mouse leukemia models based on Eμ-Myc expression in which either BCL-2 or MCL-1 are required for leukemia maintenance. We show that the principal anti-apoptotic mechanism of both BCL-2 and MCL-1 in these leukemias is to sequester pro-death BH3-only proteins rather than BAX and BAK. We find that the MCL-1–dependent leukemias are more sensitive to a wide range of chemotherapeutic agents acting by disparate mechanisms. In common across these varied treatments is that MCL-1 protein levels rapidly decrease in a proteosome-dependent fashion, whereas those of BCL-2 are stable. We demonstrate for the first time that two anti-apoptotic proteins can enable tumorigenesis equally well, but nonetheless differ in their influence on chemosensitivity. PMID:19948485

Mechanism of age-dependent involution in embryonic chick notochords.

PubMed

Ghanem, E; Cornelissen, M; Thierens, H; De Ridder, L

1996-07-15

To study the possible mechanism of the age-dependent involution of the notochord, isolated mesenchyme-free notochords of chick embryos were cultured in vitro and compared with their counterparts in vivo. Two different aspects were evaluated: (1) DNA synthesis measured by [3H]thymidine incorporation and visualized by autoradiography and (2) cell death quantified by counting the number of pyknotic nuclei. The results demonstrate that [3H]thymidine uptake by notochords shows an age-dependent decrease in vitro as well as in vivo. The number of [3H]thymidine-labelled notochord cells, however, is higher in vitro than in vivo. At the same time, there is an age-dependent increase in pyknosis in the notochord in vivo and in vitro. So, during the aging process, the number of both pyknotic nuclei and of [3H]thymidine-labelled nuclei suggest a high turnover of notochord cells in vitro. From these results, we can conclude that the process of involution in aging notochord seems to be controlled by a programmed intrinsic process, which might be influenced partially by the microenvironment in vivo.

Activity-Dependent Downscaling of Subthreshold Synaptic Inputs during Slow-Wave-Sleep-like Activity In Vivo.

PubMed

González-Rueda, Ana; Pedrosa, Victor; Feord, Rachael C; Clopath, Claudia; Paulsen, Ole

2018-03-21

Activity-dependent synaptic plasticity is critical for cortical circuit refinement. The synaptic homeostasis hypothesis suggests that synaptic connections are strengthened during wake and downscaled during sleep; however, it is not obvious how the same plasticity rules could explain both outcomes. Using whole-cell recordings and optogenetic stimulation of presynaptic input in urethane-anesthetized mice, which exhibit slow-wave-sleep (SWS)-like activity, we show that synaptic plasticity rules are gated by cortical dynamics in vivo. While Down states support conventional spike timing-dependent plasticity, Up states are biased toward depression such that presynaptic stimulation alone leads to synaptic depression, while connections contributing to postsynaptic spiking are protected against this synaptic weakening. We find that this novel activity-dependent and input-specific downscaling mechanism has two important computational advantages: (1) improved signal-to-noise ratio, and (2) preservation of previously stored information. Thus, these synaptic plasticity rules provide an attractive mechanism for SWS-related synaptic downscaling and circuit refinement. Copyright © 2018 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Investigating and Improving Student Understanding of Key Ideas in Quantum Mechanics throughout Instruction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Emigh, Paul Jeffrey

This dissertation describes research on student understanding of quantum mechanics across multiple levels of instruction. The primary focus has been to identify patterns in student reasoning related to key concepts in quantum mechanics. The specific topics include quantum measurements, time dependence, vector spaces, and angular momentum. The research has spanned a variety of different quantum courses intended for introductory physics students, upper-division physics majors, and graduate students in physics. The results of this research have been used to develop a set of curriculum, Tutorials in Physics: Quantum Mechanics, for addressing the most persistent student difficulties. We document both the development of this curriculum and how it has impacted and improved student understanding of quantum mechanics.

Hygrothermal Effects in Continuous Fibre Reinforced Composites. Part 4. Mechanical Properties 2 - Fatigue and Time-Dependent Properties (Effets Hygrothermiques dans les Composites a Renfort de Fibre Continu. Partie 4. Proprietes Mecaniques 2 - Fatigue et Proprietes Dependant du Temps)

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-09-01

reduction of stress intensity at a crack tip due to Lreep was responsible for increasing the fatigue life during the "slow- fast " L .sts. As creep is clearly...Aeronautical Establishment Structures and Materials Laboratory SPONSORING AGENCY/AGENCE DE SUBVENTION 8 DATE FILE/DOSSIER LAB. ORDER PAGES FIGS/ DIAGRAMMES

On statistical properties of traded volume in financial markets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Souza, J.; Moyano, L. G.; Duarte Queirós, S. M.

2006-03-01

In this article we study the dependence degree of the traded volume of the Dow Jones 30 constituent equities by using a nonextensive generalised form of the Kullback-Leibler information measure. Our results show a slow decay of the dependence degree as a function of the lag. This feature is compatible with the existence of non-linearities in this type time series. In addition, we introduce a dynamical mechanism whose associated stationary probability density function (PDF) presents a good agreement with the empirical results.

Mechanically induced alterations in cultured skeletal muscle growth

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vandenburgh, H. H.; Hatfaludy, S.; Karlisch, P.; Shansky, J.

1991-01-01

Model systems are available for mechanically stimulating cultured skeletal muscle cells by passive tensile forces which simulate those found in vivo. When applied to embryonic muscle cells in vitro these forces induce tissue organogenesis, metabolic adaptations, and muscle cell growth. The mechanical stimulation of muscle cell growth correlates with stretch-induced increases in the efflux of prostaglandins PGE2 and PGF2(alpha) in a time and frequency dependent manner. These prostaglandins act as mechanical 'second messengers' regulating skeletal muscle protein turnover rates. Since they also effect bone remodelling in response to tissue loading and unloading, secreted prostaglandins may serve as paracrine growth factors, coordinating the growth rates of muscle and bone in response to external mechanical forces. Cell culture model systems will supplement other models in understanding mechanical transduction processes at the molecular level.

Biological timing and the clock metaphor: oscillatory and hourglass mechanisms.

PubMed

Rensing, L; Meyer-Grahle, U; Ruoff, P

2001-05-01

Living organisms have developed a multitude of timing mechanisms--"biological clocks." Their mechanisms are based on either oscillations (oscillatory clocks) or unidirectional processes (hourglass clocks). Oscillatory clocks comprise circatidal, circalunidian, circadian, circalunar, and circannual oscillations--which keep time with environmental periodicities--as well as ultradian oscillations, ovarian cycles, and oscillations in development and in the brain, which keep time with biological timescales. These clocks mainly determine time points at specific phases of their oscillations. Hourglass clocks are predominantly found in development and aging and also in the brain. They determine time intervals (duration). More complex timing systems combine oscillatory and hourglass mechanisms, such as the case for cell cycle, sleep initiation, or brain clocks, whereas others combine external and internal periodicities (photoperiodism, seasonal reproduction). A definition of a biological clock may be derived from its control of functions external to its own processes and its use in determining temporal order (sequences of events) or durations. Biological and chemical oscillators are characterized by positive and negative feedback (or feedforward) mechanisms. During evolution, living organisms made use of the many existing oscillations for signal transmission, movement, and pump mechanisms, as well as for clocks. Some clocks, such as the circadian clock, that time with environmental periodicities are usually compensated (stabilized) against temperature, whereas other clocks, such as the cell cycle, that keep time with an organismic timescale are not compensated. This difference may be related to the predominance of negative feedback in the first class of clocks and a predominance of positive feedback (autocatalytic amplification) in the second class. The present knowledge of a compensated clock (the circadian oscillator) and an uncompensated clock (the cell cycle), as well as relevant models, are briefly re viewed. Hourglass clocks are based on linear or exponential unidirectional processes that trigger events mainly in the course of development and aging. An important hourglass mechanism within the aging process is the limitation of cell division capacity by the length of telomeres. The mechanism of this clock is briefly reviewed. In all clock mechanisms, thresholds at which "dependent variables" are triggered play an important role.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nikitin, N. V., E-mail: nnikit@mail.cern.ch; Sotnikov, V.P., E-mail: sotnikov@physics.msu.ru; Toms, K. S., E-mail: ktoms@mail.cern.ch

A radically new class of Bell inequalities in Wigner’s form was obtained on the basis of Kolmorov’s axiomatization of probability theory and the hypothesis of locality. These inequalities take explicitly into account the dependence on time (time-dependent Bell inequalities in Wigner’s form). By using these inequalities, one can propose a means for experimentally testing Bohr’ complementarity principle in the relativistic region. The inequalities in question open broad possibilities for studying correlations of nonrelativistic and relativistic quantum systems in external fields. The violation of the time-dependent inequalities in quantum mechanics was studied by considering the behavior of a pair of anticorrelatedmore » spins in a constant external magnetic field and oscillations of neutral pseudoscalar mesons. The decay of a pseudoscalar particle to a fermion–antifermion pair is considered within quantum field theory. In order to test experimentally the inequalities proposed in the present study, it is not necessary to perform dedicated noninvasive measurements required in the Leggett–Garg approach, for example.« less

Neuromodulated Spike-Timing-Dependent Plasticity, and Theory of Three-Factor Learning Rules

PubMed Central

Frémaux, Nicolas; Gerstner, Wulfram

2016-01-01

Classical Hebbian learning puts the emphasis on joint pre- and postsynaptic activity, but neglects the potential role of neuromodulators. Since neuromodulators convey information about novelty or reward, the influence of neuromodulators on synaptic plasticity is useful not just for action learning in classical conditioning, but also to decide “when” to create new memories in response to a flow of sensory stimuli. In this review, we focus on timing requirements for pre- and postsynaptic activity in conjunction with one or several phasic neuromodulatory signals. While the emphasis of the text is on conceptual models and mathematical theories, we also discuss some experimental evidence for neuromodulation of Spike-Timing-Dependent Plasticity. We highlight the importance of synaptic mechanisms in bridging the temporal gap between sensory stimulation and neuromodulatory signals, and develop a framework for a class of neo-Hebbian three-factor learning rules that depend on presynaptic activity, postsynaptic variables as well as the influence of neuromodulators. PMID:26834568

Development and parameter identification of a visco-hyperelastic model for the periodontal ligament.

PubMed

Huang, Huixiang; Tang, Wencheng; Tan, Qiyan; Yan, Bin

2017-04-01

The present study developed and implemented a new visco-hyperelastic model that is capable of predicting the time-dependent biomechanical behavior of the periodontal ligament. The constitutive model has been implemented into the finite element package ABAQUS by means of a user-defined material subroutine (UMAT). The stress response is decomposed into two constitutive parts in parallel which are a hyperelastic and a time-dependent viscoelastic stress response. In order to identify the model parameters, the indentation equation based on V-W hyperelastic model and the indentation creep model are developed. Then the parameters are determined by fitting them to the corresponding nanoindentation experimental data of the PDL. The nanoindentation experiment was simulated by finite element analysis to validate the visco-hyperelastic model. The simulated results are in good agreement with the experimental data, which demonstrates that the visco-hyperelastic model developed is able to accurately predict the time-dependent mechanical behavior of the PDL. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Time-Dependent ATR-FTIR Spectroscopic Studies on Fatty Acid Diffusion and the Formation of Metal Soaps in Oil Paint Model Systems.

PubMed

Baij, Lambert; Hermans, Joen J; Keune, Katrien; Iedema, Piet

2018-06-18

The formation of metal soaps (metal complexes of saturated fatty acids) is a serious problem affecting the appearance and structural integrity of many oil paintings. Tailored model systems for aged oil paint and time-dependent attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy were used to study the diffusion of palmitic acid and subsequent metal soap crystallization. The simultaneous presence of free saturated fatty acids and polymer-bound metal carboxylates leads to rapid metal soap crystallization, following a complex mechanism that involves both acid and metal diffusion. Solvent flow, water, and pigments all enhance metal soap crystallization in the model systems. These results contribute to the development of paint cleaning strategies, a better understanding of oil paint degradation, and highlight the potential of time-dependent ATR-FTIR spectroscopy for studying dynamic processes in polymer films. © 2018 The Authors. Published by Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.

Ultrafast strong-field photoelectron emission from biased metal surfaces: exact solution to time-dependent Schrödinger Equation

PubMed Central

Zhang, Peng; Lau, Y. Y.

2016-01-01

Laser-driven ultrafast electron emission offers the possibility of manipulation and control of coherent electron motion in ultrashort spatiotemporal scales. Here, an analytical solution is constructed for the highly nonlinear electron emission from a dc biased metal surface illuminated by a single frequency laser, by solving the time-dependent Schrödinger equation exactly. The solution is valid for arbitrary combinations of dc electric field, laser electric field, laser frequency, metal work function and Fermi level. Various emission mechanisms, such as multiphoton absorption or emission, optical or dc field emission, are all included in this single formulation. The transition between different emission processes is analyzed in detail. The time-dependent emission current reveals that intense current modulation may be possible even with a low intensity laser, by merely increasing the applied dc bias. The results provide insights into the electron pulse generation and manipulation for many novel applications based on ultrafast laser-induced electron emission. PMID:26818710

Satellite disintegration dynamics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dasenbrock, R. R.; Kaufman, B.; Heard, W. B.

1975-01-01

The subject of satellite disintegration is examined in detail. Elements of the orbits of individual fragments, determined by DOD space surveillance systems, are used to accurately predict the time and place of fragmentation. Dual time independent and time dependent analyses are performed for simulated and real breakups. Methods of statistical mechanics are used to study the evolution of the fragment clouds. The fragments are treated as an ensemble of non-interacting particles. A solution of Liouville's equation is obtained which enables the spatial density to be calculated as a function of position, time and initial velocity distribution.

Time-resolved spectroscopy at surfaces and adsorbate dynamics:insights from a model-system approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boström, Emil; Mikkelsen, Anders; Verdozzi, Claudio

We introduce a finite-system, model description of the initial stages of femtosecond laser induced desorption at surfaces. Using the exact many-body time evolution and also results from a novel time-dependent DFT description for electron-nuclear systems, we analyse the competition between several surface-response mechanisms and electronic correlations in the transient and longer time dynamics under the influence of dipole-coupled fields. Our model allows us to explore how coherent multiple-pulse protocols impact desorption in a variety of prototypical experiments.

Nonlinear dynamic theory for photorefractive phase hologram formation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kim, D. M.; Shah, R. R.; Rabson, T. A.; Tittle, F. K.

1976-01-01

A nonlinear dynamic theory is developed for the formation of photorefractive volume phase holograms. A feedback mechanism existing between the photogenerated field and free-electron density, treated explicitly, yields the growth and saturation of the space-charge field in a time scale characterized by the coupling strength between them. The expression for the field reduces in the short-time limit to previous theories and approaches in the long-time limit the internal or photovoltaic field. Additionally, the phase of the space charge field is shown to be time-dependent.

Cluster Analysis of Time-Dependent Crystallographic Data: Direct Identification of Time-Independent Structural Intermediates

PubMed Central

Kostov, Konstantin S.; Moffat, Keith

2011-01-01

The initial output of a time-resolved macromolecular crystallography experiment is a time-dependent series of difference electron density maps that displays the time-dependent changes in underlying structure as a reaction progresses. The goal is to interpret such data in terms of a small number of crystallographically refinable, time-independent structures, each associated with a reaction intermediate; to establish the pathways and rate coefficients by which these intermediates interconvert; and thereby to elucidate a chemical kinetic mechanism. One strategy toward achieving this goal is to use cluster analysis, a statistical method that groups objects based on their similarity. If the difference electron density at a particular voxel in the time-dependent difference electron density (TDED) maps is sensitive to the presence of one and only one intermediate, then its temporal evolution will exactly parallel the concentration profile of that intermediate with time. The rationale is therefore to cluster voxels with respect to the shapes of their TDEDs, so that each group or cluster of voxels corresponds to one structural intermediate. Clusters of voxels whose TDEDs reflect the presence of two or more specific intermediates can also be identified. From such groupings one can then infer the number of intermediates, obtain their time-independent difference density characteristics, and refine the structure of each intermediate. We review the principles of cluster analysis and clustering algorithms in a crystallographic context, and describe the application of the method to simulated and experimental time-resolved crystallographic data for the photocycle of photoactive yellow protein. PMID:21244840

Change in desorption mechanism from pore blocking to cavitation with temperature for nitrogen in ordered silica with cagelike pores.

PubMed

Morishige, Kunimitsu; Tateishi, Masayoshi; Hirose, Fumi; Aramaki, Kenji

2006-10-24

To verify pore blocking controlled desorption in ink-bottle pores, we measured the temperature dependence of the adsorption-desorption isotherms of nitrogen on four kinds of KIT-5 samples with expanded cavities hydrothermally treated for different periods of time at 393 K. In the samples, almost spherical cavities are arranged in a face-centered cubic array and the cavities are connected through small channels. The pore size of the channels increased with an increase in the hydrothermal treatment time. At lower temperatures a steep desorption branch changed to a gradual one as the hydrothermal treatment was prolonged. For the sample hydrothermally treated only for 1 day, the rectangular hysteresis loop shrank gradually with increasing temperature while keeping its shape. The temperature dependence of the evaporation pressure observed was identical with that expected for cavitation-controlled desorption. On the other hand, for the samples hydrothermally treated for long times, the gradual desorption branch became a sharp one with increasing temperature. This strongly suggests that the desorption mechanism is altered from pore blocking to cavitation with temperature. Application of percolation theory to the pore blocking controlled desorption observed here is discussed.

Neural, Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Active Forgetting

PubMed Central

Medina, Jorge H.

2018-01-01

The neurobiology of memory formation attracts much attention in the last five decades. Conversely, the rules that govern and the mechanisms underlying forgetting are less understood. In addition to retroactive interference, retrieval-induced forgetting and passive decay of time, it has been recently demonstrated that the nervous system has a diversity of active and inherent processes involved in forgetting. In Drosophila, some operate mainly at an early stage of memory formation and involves dopamine (DA) neurons, specific postsynaptic DA receptor subtypes, Rac1 activation and induces rapid active forgetting. In mammals, others regulate forgetting and persistence of seemingly consolidated memories and implicate the activity of DA receptor subtypes and AMPA receptors in the hippocampus (HP) and related structures to activate parallel signaling pathways controlling active time-dependent forgetting. Most of them may involve plastic changes in synaptic and extrasynaptic receptors including specific removal of GluA2 AMPA receptors. Forgetting at longer timescales might also include changes in adult neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus (DG) of the HP. Therefore, based on relevance or value considerations neuronal circuits may regulate in a time-dependent manner what is formed, stored, and maintained and what is forgotten. PMID:29467630

Photofragmentation of Gas-Phase Lanthanide Cyclopentadienyl Complexes: Experimental and Time-Dependent Excited-State Molecular Dynamics

PubMed Central

2015-01-01

Unimolecular gas-phase laser-photodissociation reaction mechanisms of open-shell lanthanide cyclopentadienyl complexes, Ln(Cp)3 and Ln(TMCp)3, are analyzed from experimental and computational perspectives. The most probable pathways for the photoreactions are inferred from photoionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (PI-TOF-MS), which provides the sequence of reaction intermediates and the distribution of final products. Time-dependent excited-state molecular dynamics (TDESMD) calculations provide insight into the electronic mechanisms for the individual steps of the laser-driven photoreactions for Ln(Cp)3. Computational analysis correctly predicts several key reaction products as well as the observed branching between two reaction pathways: (1) ligand ejection and (2) ligand cracking. Simulations support our previous assertion that both reaction pathways are initiated via a ligand-to-metal charge-transfer (LMCT) process. For the more complex chemistry of the tetramethylcyclopentadienyl complexes Ln(TMCp)3, TMESMD is less tractable, but computational geometry optimization reveals the structures of intermediates deduced from PI-TOF-MS, including several classic “tuck-in” structures and products of Cp ring expansion. The results have important implications for metal–organic catalysis and laser-assisted metal–organic chemical vapor deposition (LCVD) of insulators with high dielectric constants. PMID:24910492

Characterization of free volume during vulcanization of styrene butadiene rubber by means of positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy and dynamic mechanical test.

PubMed

Marzocca, A J; Cerveny, S; Salgueiro, W; Somoza, A; Gonzalez, L

2002-02-01

An experimental investigation was performed to study the effect on the free volume of the advance of the cross-linking reaction in a copolymer of styrene butadiene rubber by sulfur vulcanization. The dynamic modulus and loss tangent were evaluated over samples cured for different times at 433 K by dynamic mechanical tests over a range of frequencies between 5 and 80 Hz at temperatures between 200 and 300 K. Using the William-Landel-Ferry relationship, master curves were obtained at a reference temperature of 298 K and the coefficients c(0)(1) and c(0)(2) were evaluated. From these parameters the dependence of the free volume on the cure time is obtained. Positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy was also used to estimate the size and number density of free volume sites in the material. The spectra were analyzed in terms of continuous distributions of free volume size. The results suggest an increase of the lower free volume size when cross linking takes place. Both techniques give similar results for the dependence of free volume on the time of cure of the polymer.

Evidence for a specific uptake and retention mechanism for 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) in skeletal muscle cells.

PubMed

Abboud, M; Puglisi, D A; Davies, B N; Rybchyn, M; Whitehead, N P; Brock, K E; Cole, L; Gordon-Thomson, C; Fraser, D R; Mason, R S

2013-09-01

Little is known about the mechanism for the prolonged residence time of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) in blood. Several lines of evidence led us to propose that skeletal muscle could function as the site of an extravascular pool of 25OHD. In vitro studies investigated the capacity of differentiated C2 murine muscle cells to take up and release 25OHD, in comparison with other cell types and the involvement of the membrane protein megalin in these mechanisms. When C2 cells are differentiated into myotubes, the time-dependent uptake of labeled 25OHD is 2-3 times higher than in undifferentiated myoblasts or nonmuscle osteoblastic MG63 cells (P < .001). During in vitro release experiments (after 25OHD uptake), myotubes released only 32% ± 6% stored 25OHD after 4 hours, whereas this figure was 60% ± 2% for osteoblasts (P < .01). Using immunofluorescence, C2 myotubes and primary rat muscle fibers were, for the first time, shown to express megalin and cubilin, endocytotic receptors for the vitamin D binding protein (DBP), which binds nearly all 25OHD in the blood. DBP has a high affinity for actin in skeletal muscle. A time-dependent uptake of Alexafluor-488-labeled DBP into mature muscle cells was observed by confocal microscopy. Incubation of C2 myotubes (for 24 hours) with receptor-associated protein, a megalin inhibitor, led to a 40% decrease in 25OHD uptake (P < .01). These data support the proposal that 25OHD, after uptake into mature muscle cells, is held there by DBP, which has been internalized via membrane megalin and is retained by binding to actin.

Constitutive Theory Developed for Monolithic Ceramic Materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Janosik, Lesley A.

1998-01-01

With the increasing use of advanced ceramic materials in high-temperature structural applications such as advanced heat engine components, the need arises to accurately predict thermomechanical behavior that is inherently time-dependent and that is hereditary in the sense that the current behavior depends not only on current conditions but also on the material's thermomechanical history. Most current analytical life prediction methods for both subcritical crack growth and creep models use elastic stress fields to predict the time-dependent reliability response of components subjected to elevated service temperatures. Inelastic response at high temperatures has been well documented in the materials science literature for these material systems, but this issue has been ignored by the engineering design community. From a design engineer's perspective, it is imperative to emphasize that accurate predictions of time-dependent reliability demand accurate stress field information. Ceramic materials exhibit different time-dependent behavior in tension and compression. Thus, inelastic deformation models for ceramics must be constructed in a fashion that admits both sensitivity to hydrostatic stress and differing behavior in tension and compression. A number of constitutive theories for materials that exhibit sensitivity to the hydrostatic component of stress have been proposed that characterize deformation using time-independent classical plasticity as a foundation. However, none of these theories allow different behavior in tension and compression. In addition, these theories are somewhat lacking in that they are unable to capture the creep, relaxation, and rate-sensitive phenomena exhibited by ceramic materials at high temperatures. The objective of this effort at the NASA Lewis Research Center has been to formulate a macroscopic continuum theory that captures these time-dependent phenomena. Specifically, the effort has focused on inelastic deformation behavior associated with these service conditions by developing a multiaxial viscoplastic constitutive model that accounts for time-dependent hereditary material deformation (such as creep and stress relaxation) in monolithic structural ceramics. Using continuum principles of engineering mechanics, we derived the complete viscoplastic theory from a scalar dissipative potential function.

Mechanic stress generated by a time-varying electromagnetic field on bone surface.

PubMed

Ye, Hui

2018-03-19

Bone cells sense mechanical load, which is essential for bone growth and remodeling. In a fracture, this mechanism is compromised. Electromagnetic stimulation has been widely used to assist in bone healing, but the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. A recent hypothesis suggests that electromagnetic stimulation could influence tissue biomechanics; however, a detailed quantitative understanding of EM-induced biomechanical changes in the bone is unavailable. This paper used a muscle/bone model to study the biomechanics of the bone under EM exposure. Due to the dielectric properties of the muscle/bone interface, a time-varying magnetic field can generate both compressing and shear stresses on the bone surface, where many mechanical sensing cells are available for cellular mechanotransduction. I calculated these stresses and found that the shear stress is significantly greater than the compressing stress. Detailed parametric analysis suggests that both the compressing and shear stresses are dependent on the geometrical and electrical properties of the muscle and the bone. These stresses are also functions of the orientation of the coil and the frequency of the magnetic field. It is speculated that the EM field could apply biomechanical influence to fractured bone, through the fine-tuning of the controllable field parameters. Graphical abstract Mechanic stress on bone surface in a time-varying magnetic field.

Time scale matters: genetic analysis does not support adaptation-by-time as the mechanism for adaptive seasonal declines in kokanee reproductive life span

PubMed Central

Morbey, Yolanda E; Jensen, Evelyn L; Russello, Michael A

2014-01-01

Seasonal declines of fitness-related traits are often attributed to environmental effects or individual-level decisions about reproductive timing and effort, but genetic variation may also play a role. In populations of Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.), seasonal declines in reproductive life span have been attributed to adaptation-by-time, in which divergent selection for different traits occurs among reproductively isolated temporal components of a population. We evaluated this hypothesis in kokanee (freshwater obligate Oncorhynchus nerka) by testing for temporal genetic structure in neutral and circadian-linked loci. We detected no genetic differences in presumably neutral loci among kokanee with different arrival and maturation dates within a spawning season. Similarly, we detected no temporal genetic structure in OtsClock1b, Omy1009uw, or OmyFbxw11, candidate loci associated with circadian function. The genetic evidence from this study and others indicates a lack of support for adaptation-by-time as an important evolutionary mechanism underlying seasonal declines in reproductive life span and a need for greater consideration of other mechanisms such as time-dependent, adaptive adjustment of reproductive effort. PMID:25478160

Ratchet due to broken friction symmetry.

PubMed

Nordén, B; Zolotaryuk, Y; Christiansen, P L; Zolotaryuk, A V

2002-01-01

A ratchet mechanism that occurs due to asymmetric dependence of the friction of a moving system on its velocity or a driving force is reported. For this kind of ratchet, instead of a particle moving in a periodic potential, the dynamics of which have broken space-time symmetry, the system must be provided with some internal structure realizing such a velocity- or force-friction dependence. For demonstration of a ratchet mechanism of this type, an experimental setup (gadget) that converts longitudinal oscillating or fluctuating motion into a unidirectional rotation has been built and experiments with it have been carried out. In this device, an asymmetry of friction dependence on an applied force appears, resulting in rectification of rotary motion. In experiments, our setup is observed to rotate only in one direction, which is in accordance with given theoretical arguments. Despite the setup being three dimensional, the ratchet rotary motion is proved to be described by one dynamical equation. This kind of motion is a result of the interplay of friction and inertia. We also consider a case with viscous friction, which is irrelevant to this gadget, but it can be a possible mechanism of rotary unidirectional motion of some swimming organisms in a liquid.

Conservative Mechanisms of Extracellular Trap Formation by Annelida Eisenia andrei: Serine Protease Activity Requirement

PubMed Central

Ortmann, Weronika; Kolaczkowska, Elzbieta

2016-01-01

Formation of extracellular traps (ETs) capturing and immobilizing pathogens is now a well-established defense mechanism added to the repertoire of vertebrate phagocytes. These ETs are composed of extracellular DNA (extDNA), histones and antimicrobial proteins. Formation of mouse and human ETs depends on enzymes (i) facilitating decondensation of chromatin by citrullination of histones, and (ii) serine proteases degrading histones. In invertebrates, initial reports revealed existence of ETs composed of extDNA and histones, and here we document for the first time that also coelomocytes, immunocompetent cells of an earthworm Eisenia andrei, cast ETs which successfully trap bacteria in a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent and -independent manner. Importantly, the formation of ETs was observed not only when coelomocytes were studied ex vivo, but also in vivo, directly in the earthworm coelom. These ETs were composed of extDNA, heat shock proteins (HSP27) and H3 histones. Furthermore, the formation of E. andrei ETs depended on activity of serine proteases, including elastase-like activity. Moreover, ETs interconnected and hold together aggregating coelomocytes, a processes proceeding encapsulation. In conclusion, the study confirms ET formation by earthworms, and unravels mechanisms leading to ET formation and encapsulation in invertebrates. PMID:27416067

Senescence as a novel mechanism involved in β-adrenergic receptor mediated cardiac hypertrophy

PubMed Central

Sun, Rongrong; Zhu, Baoling; Sun, Yan; Shi, Dandan; Chen, Li; Zhang, Youyi; Li, Zijian; Xue, Lixiang

2017-01-01

Pathological cardiac hypertrophy used to be elucidated by biomechanical, stretch-sensitive or neurohumoral mechanisms. However, a series of hints have indicated that hypertrophy process simulates senescence program. However, further evidence need to be pursued. To verify this hypothesis and examine whether cardiac senescence is a novel mechanism of hypertrophy induced by isoproterenol, 2-month-old male Sprague Dawley rats were subjected to isoproterenol infusion (0.25mg/kg/day) for 7 days by subcutaneous injection). Key characteristics of senescence (senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity, lipofuscin, expression of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors) were examined in cardiac hypertrophy model. Senescence-like phenotype, such as increased senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity, accumulation of lipofuscin and high levels of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (e.g. p16, p19, p21 and p53) was found along the process of cardiac hypertrophy. Cardiac-specific transcription factor GATA4 increased in isoproterenol-treated cardiomyocytes as well. We further found that myocardial hypertrophy could be inhibited by resveratrol, an anti-aging compound, in a dose-dependent manner. Our results showed for the first time that cardiac senescence is involved in the process of pathological cardiac hypertrophy induced by isoproterenol. PMID:28783759

1000 to 1200 K time-dependent compressive deformation of single-crystalline and polycrystalline B2 Ni-40Al

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Whittenberger, J. D.; Noebe, R. D.; Kumar, K. S.; Mannan, S. K.; Cullers, C. L.

1991-01-01

The 1000-K and 1200-K time-dependent deformation of 100-line-oriented and non-100-line-oriented single crystals of Ni-40Al (made by a modified Bridgman technique) was examined over a large range of strain rates (from 0.1 to 10 to the -7th per sec). The results were compared with those for polycrystalline Ni-40Al made by hot pressing XD synthesized powder. The results from measurements of slow-plastic-strain-rate properties of the two materials show that single crystals offer no strength advantage over polycrystalline material. Both forms were found to deform via a dislocation climb mechanism.

Consequence of reputation in the Sznajd consensus model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Crokidakis, Nuno; Forgerini, Fabricio L.

2010-07-01

In this work we study a modified version of the Sznajd sociophysics model. In particular we introduce reputation, a mechanism that limits the capacity of persuasion of the agents. The reputation is introduced as a score which is time-dependent, and its introduction avoid dictatorship (all spins parallel) for a wide range of parameters. The relaxation time follows a log-normal-like distribution. In addition, we show that the usual phase transition also occurs, as in the standard model, and it depends on the initial concentration of individuals following an opinion, occurring at a initial density of up spins greater than 1/2. The transition point is determined by means of a finite-size scaling analysis.

A measurement technique of time-dependent dielectric breakdown in MOS capacitors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Li, S. P.

1974-01-01

The statistical nature of time-dependent dielectric breakdown characteristics in MOS capacitors was evidenced by testing large numbers of capacitors fabricated on single wafers. A multipoint probe and automatic electronic visual display technique are introduced that will yield statistical results which are necessary for the investigation of temperature, electric field, thermal annealing, and radiation effects in the breakdown characteristics, and an interpretation of the physical mechanisms involved. It is shown that capacitors of area greater than 0.002 sq cm may yield worst-case results, and that a multipoint probe of capacitors of smaller sizes can be used to obtain a profile of nonuniformities in the SiO2 films.

An Atmospheric Constraint on the NO2 Dependence of Daytime Near-Surface Nitrous Acid (HONO).

PubMed

Pusede, Sally E; VandenBoer, Trevor C; Murphy, Jennifer G; Markovic, Milos Z; Young, Cora J; Veres, Patrick R; Roberts, James M; Washenfelder, Rebecca A; Brown, Steven S; Ren, Xinrong; Tsai, Catalina; Stutz, Jochen; Brune, William H; Browne, Eleanor C; Wooldridge, Paul J; Graham, Ashley R; Weber, Robin; Goldstein, Allen H; Dusanter, Sebastien; Griffith, Stephen M; Stevens, Philip S; Lefer, Barry L; Cohen, Ronald C

2015-11-03

Recent observations suggest a large and unknown daytime source of nitrous acid (HONO) to the atmosphere. Multiple mechanisms have been proposed, many of which involve chemistry that reduces nitrogen dioxide (NO2) on some time scale. To examine the NO2 dependence of the daytime HONO source, we compare weekday and weekend measurements of NO2 and HONO in two U.S. cities. We find that daytime HONO does not increase proportionally to increases in same-day NO2, i.e., the local NO2 concentration at that time and several hours earlier. We discuss various published HONO formation pathways in the context of this constraint.

Electromagnetic-continuum-induced nonlinearity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matsko, Andrey B.; Vyatchanin, Sergey P.

2018-05-01

A nonrelativistic Hamiltonian describing interaction between a mechanical degree of freedom and radiation pressure is commonly used as an ultimate tool for studying system behavior in optomechanics. This Hamiltonian is derived from the equation of motion of a mechanical degree of freedom and the optical wave equation with time-varying boundary conditions. We show that this approach is deficient for studying higher-order nonlinear effects in an open resonant optomechanical system. Optomechanical interaction induces a large mechanical nonlinearity resulting from a strong dependence of the power of the light confined in the optical cavity on the mechanical degrees of freedom of the cavity due to coupling with electromagnetic continuum. This dissipative nonlinearity cannot be inferred from the standard Hamiltonian formalism.

Theory after experiment on sensing mechanism of a newly developed sensor molecule: Converging or diverging?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paul, Suvendu; Karar, Monaj; Das, Biswajit; Mallick, Arabinda; Majumdar, Tapas

2017-12-01

Fluoride ion sensing mechanism of 3,3‧-bis(indolyl)-4-chlorophenylmethane has been analyzed with density functional and time-dependent density functional theories. Extensive theoretical calculations on molecular geometry & energy, charge distribution, orbital energies & electronic distribution, minima on potential energy surface confirmed strong hydrogen bonded sensor-anion complex with incomplete proton transfer in S0. In S1, strong hydrogen bonding extended towards complete ESDPT. The distinct and single minima on the PES of the sensor-anion complex for both ground and first singlet excited states confirmed the concerted proton transfer mechanism. Present study well reproduced the experimental spectroscopic data and provided ESDPT as probable fluoride sensing mechanism.

Modeling the Effect of Olivocochlear Efferents on the Subcortical Envelope Following Response in Humans

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-11-28

olivocochlear reflex (MOCR), a feedback mechanism that controls gain of the outer hair cells, is thought to provide protection and enhancement for a listener in...effectively reduce the outer hair cell gain, depending on the stimulus frequency, level, and timing. Human Envelope Following Responses (EFRs

A Pattern for Better Living.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gunlogson, G. B.

A distortion has grown up between urban and rural economies creating a condition where neither is able to sustain itself, thus restricting individual opportunities. At one time, 98 percent of the U.S. depended on the rural economy. Interrelated developments such as the input of ideas, enterprise, mechanical innovations, the opening of new and…

Transient deformation from daily GPS displacement time series: postseismic deformation, ETS and evolving strain rates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bock, Y.; Fang, P.; Moore, A. W.; Kedar, S.; Liu, Z.; Owen, S. E.; Glasscoe, M. T.

2016-12-01

Detection of time-dependent crustal deformation relies on the availability of accurate surface displacements, proper time series analysis to correct for secular motion, coseismic and non-tectonic instrument offsets, periodic signatures at different frequencies, and a realistic estimate of uncertainties for the parameters of interest. As part of the NASA Solid Earth Science ESDR System (SESES) project, daily displacement time series are estimated for about 2500 stations, focused on tectonic plate boundaries and having a global distribution for accessing the terrestrial reference frame. The "combined" time series are optimally estimated from independent JPL GIPSY and SIO GAMIT solutions, using a consistent set of input epoch-date coordinates and metadata. The longest time series began in 1992; more than 30% of the stations have experienced one or more of 35 major earthquakes with significant postseismic deformation. Here we present three examples of time-dependent deformation that have been detected in the SESES displacement time series. (1) Postseismic deformation is a fundamental time-dependent signal that indicates a viscoelastic response of the crust/mantle lithosphere, afterslip, or poroelastic effects at different spatial and temporal scales. It is critical to identify and estimate the extent of postseismic deformation in both space and time not only for insight into the crustal deformation and earthquake cycles and their underlying physical processes, but also to reveal other time-dependent signals. We report on our database of characterized postseismic motions using a principal component analysis to isolate different postseismic processes. (2) Starting with the SESES combined time series and applying a time-dependent Kalman filter, we examine episodic tremor and slow slip (ETS) in the Cascadia subduction zone. We report on subtle slip details, allowing investigation of the spatiotemporal relationship between slow slip transients and tremor and their underlying physical mechanisms. (3) We present evolving strain dilatation and shear rates based on the SESES velocities for regional subnetworks as a metric for assigning earthquake probabilities and detection of possible time-dependent deformation related to underlying physical processes.

Pleural function and lymphatics.

PubMed

Negrini, D; Moriondo, A

2013-02-01

The pleural space plays an important role in respiratory function as the negative intrapleural pressure regimen ensures lung expansion and in the mean time maintains the tight mechanical coupling between the lung and the chest wall. The efficiency of the lung-chest wall coupling depends upon pleural liquid volume, which in turn reflects the balance between the filtration of fluid into and its egress out of the cavity. While filtration occurs through a single mechanism passively driving fluid from the interstitium of the parietal pleura into the cavity, several mechanisms may co-operate to remove pleural fluid. Among these, the pleural lymphatic system emerges as the most important one in quantitative terms and the only one able to cope with variable pleural fluid volume and drainage requirements. In this review, we present a detailed account of the actual knowledge on: (a) the complex morphology of the pleural lymphatic system, (b) the mechanism supporting pleural lymph formation and propulsion, (c) the dependence of pleural lymphatic function upon local tissue mechanics and (d) the effect of lymphatic inefficiency in the development of clinically severe pleural and, more in general, respiratory pathologies. © 2012 The Authors Acta Physiologica © 2012 Scandinavian Physiological Society.

Nondestructive Complete Mechanical Characterization of Zinc Blende and Wurtzite GaAs Nanowires Using Time-Resolved Pump-Probe Spectroscopy.

PubMed

Mante, Pierre-Adrien; Lehmann, Sebastian; Anttu, Nicklas; Dick, Kimberly A; Yartsev, Arkady

2016-08-10

We have developed and demonstrated an experimental method, based on the picosecond acoustics technique, to perform nondestructive complete mechanical characterization of nanowires, that is, the determination of the complete elasticity tensor. By means of femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopy, coherent acoustic phonons were generated in an ensemble of nanowires and their dynamics was resolved. Specific phonon modes were identified and the detection mechanism was addressed via wavelength dependent experiments. We calculated the exact phonon dispersion relation of the nanowires by fitting the experimentally observed frequencies, thus allowing the extraction of the complete elasticity tensor. The elasticity tensor and the nanowire diameter were determined for zinc blende GaAs nanowires and were found to be in a good agreement with literature data and independent measurements. Finally, we have applied this technique to characterize wurtzite GaAs nanowires, a metastable phase in bulk, for which no experimental values of elastic constants are currently available. Our results agree well with previous first principle calculations. The proposed approach to the complete and nondestructive mechanical characterization of nanowires will allow the efficient mechanical study of new crystal phases emerging in nanostructures, as well as size-dependent properties of nanostructured materials.

Size-dependent fracture behavior of silver nanowires.

PubMed

Cao, Ke; Han, Ying; Zhang, Hongti; Gao, Libo; Yang, Hongwei; Chen, Jialin; Li, Yuxiu; Lu, Yang

2018-07-20

Silver (Ag) nanowires have great potential to be used in the flexible electronics industry for their applications in flexible, transparent conductors due to high conductivity and light reflectivity. Those applications always involve mechanical loading and deformations, which requires an in-depth understanding of their mechanical behavior and performance under loadings. However, current understanding on the mechanical properties of Ag nanowires is limited, especially on their size-dependent fracture behavior. In this work, mechanical properties of Ag nanowires with diameters ranging from 50 to 300 nm were systematically studied by in situ TEM tensile testing for the first time. The size effect was clearly found, with the increasing of the diameter of Ag nanowires, the ultimate tensile stress decreased. More importantly, the fracture behavior of Ag nanowire was studied and a brittle-to-ductile transition in fracture behavior was observed at the diameters around 100 nm which could be attributed to the dislocation activities within the geometry confinement. This work could give insights for understanding nanosized Ag wires and the design of Ag nanowire-based flexible devices and touchable panels.

Size-dependent fracture behavior of silver nanowires

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cao, Ke; Han, Ying; Zhang, Hongti; Gao, Libo; Yang, Hongwei; Chen, Jialin; Li, Yuxiu; Lu, Yang

2018-07-01

Silver (Ag) nanowires have great potential to be used in the flexible electronics industry for their applications in flexible, transparent conductors due to high conductivity and light reflectivity. Those applications always involve mechanical loading and deformations, which requires an in-depth understanding of their mechanical behavior and performance under loadings. However, current understanding on the mechanical properties of Ag nanowires is limited, especially on their size-dependent fracture behavior. In this work, mechanical properties of Ag nanowires with diameters ranging from 50 to 300 nm were systematically studied by in situ TEM tensile testing for the first time. The size effect was clearly found, with the increasing of the diameter of Ag nanowires, the ultimate tensile stress decreased. More importantly, the fracture behavior of Ag nanowire was studied and a brittle-to-ductile transition in fracture behavior was observed at the diameters around 100 nm which could be attributed to the dislocation activities within the geometry confinement. This work could give insights for understanding nanosized Ag wires and the design of Ag nanowire-based flexible devices and touchable panels.

Mechanical energy expenditures and movement efficiency in full body reaching movements.

PubMed

Sha, Daohang; France, Christopher R; Thomas, James S

2010-02-01

The effect of target location, speed, and handedness on the average total mechanical energy and movement efficiency is studied in 15 healthy subjects (7 males and 8 females with age 22.9 +/- 1.79 years old) performing full body reaching movements. The average total mechanical energy is measured as the time average of integration of joint power, potential energy, and kinetic energy respectively. Movement efficiency is calculated as the ratio of total kinetic energy to the total joint power and potential energy. Results show that speed and target location have significant effects on total mechanical energy and movement efficiency, but reaching hand only effects kinetic energy. From our findings we conclude that (1) efficiency in whole body reaching is dependent on whether the height of the body center of mass is raised or lowered during the task; (2) efficiency is increased as movement speed is increased, in part because of greater changes in potential energy; and (3) the CNS does not appear to use movement efficiency as a primary planning variable in full body reaching. It may be dependent on a combination of other factors or constraints.

Multiple mechanisms determine the order of APC/C substrate degradation in mitosis

PubMed Central

Lu, Dan; Hsiao, Jennifer Y.; Davey, Norman E.; Van Voorhis, Vanessa A.; Foster, Scott A.

2014-01-01

The ubiquitin protein ligase anaphase-promoting complex or cyclosome (APC/C) controls mitosis by promoting ordered degradation of securin, cyclins, and other proteins. The mechanisms underlying the timing of APC/C substrate degradation are poorly understood. We explored these mechanisms using quantitative fluorescence microscopy of GFP-tagged APC/CCdc20 substrates in living budding yeast cells. Degradation of the S cyclin, Clb5, begins early in mitosis, followed 6 min later by the degradation of securin and Dbf4. Anaphase begins when less than half of securin is degraded. The spindle assembly checkpoint delays the onset of Clb5 degradation but does not influence securin degradation. Early Clb5 degradation depends on its interaction with the Cdk1–Cks1 complex and the presence of a Cdc20-binding “ABBA motif” in its N-terminal region. The degradation of securin and Dbf4 is delayed by Cdk1-dependent phosphorylation near their Cdc20-binding sites. Thus, a remarkably diverse array of mechanisms generates robust ordering of APC/CCdc20 substrate destruction. PMID:25287299

Arterial viscoelasticity: role in the dependency of pulse wave velocity on heart rate in conduit arteries.

PubMed

Xiao, Hanguang; Tan, Isabella; Butlin, Mark; Li, Decai; Avolio, Alberto P

2017-06-01

Experimental investigations have established that the stiffness of large arteries has a dependency on acute heart rate (HR) changes. However, the possible underlying mechanisms inherent in this HR dependency have not been well established. This study aimed to explore a plausible viscoelastic mechanism by which HR exerts an influence on arterial stiffness. A multisegment transmission line model of the human arterial tree incorporating fractional viscoelastic components in each segment was used to investigate the effect of varying fractional order parameter (α) of viscoelasticity on the dependence of aortic arch to femoral artery pulse wave velocity (afPWV) on HR. HR was varied from 60 to 100 beats/min at a fixed mean flow of 100 ml/s. PWV was calculated by intersecting tangent method (afPWV Tan ) and by phase velocity from the transfer function (afPWV TF ) in the time and frequency domain, respectively. PWV was significantly and positively associated with HR for α ≥ 0.6; for α = 0.6, 0.8, and 1, HR-dependent changes in afPWV Tan were 0.01 ± 0.02, 0.07 ± 0.04, and 0.22 ± 0.09 m/s per 5 beats/min; HR-dependent changes in afPWV TF were 0.02 ± 0.01, 0.12 ± 0.00, and 0.34 ± 0.01 m/s per 5 beats/min, respectively. This crosses the range of previous physiological studies where the dependence of PWV on HR was found to be between 0.08 and 0.10 m/s per 5 beats/min. Therefore, viscoelasticity of the arterial wall could contribute to mechanisms through which large artery stiffness changes with changing HR. Physiological studies are required to confirm this mechanism. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study used a transmission line model to elucidate the role of arterial viscoelasticity in the dependency of pulse wave velocity on heart rate. The model uses fractional viscoelasticity concepts, which provided novel insights into arterial hemodynamics. This study also provides a means of assessing the clinical manifestation of the association of pulse wave velocity and heart rate. Copyright © 2017 the American Physiological Society.

Trident Biological Surveys: SUBASE Bangor (July 1977 and June 1978) and Indian Island Annex (January, May 1974 and June 1978). Supplement 2.

DTIC Science & Technology

1979-12-01

or critical marine habitats affected by construction activities. Adverse impact has been limited to the biota physically disrupted by the mechanical ...Adverse impact has been limited to the biota physically disrupted by the mechanical process of pier construction. Commercial clam densities, standing crop...such as those at SUBASE Bangor. Samples are often expensive and time consuming to obtain: however, the reliability of one’s results depends heavily upon

A mechanical model of bacteriophage DNA ejection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arun, Rahul; Ghosal, Sandip

2017-08-01

Single molecule experiments on bacteriophages show an exponential scaling for the dependence of mobility on the length of DNA within the capsid. It has been suggested that this could be due to the ;capstan mechanism; - the exponential amplification of friction forces that result when a rope is wound around a cylinder as in a ship's capstan. Here we describe a desktop experiment that illustrates the effect. Though our model phage is a million times larger, it exhibits the same scaling observed in single molecule experiments.

Ultralow-intensity magneto-optical and mechanical effects in metal nanocolloids.

PubMed

Moocarme, M; Domínguez-Juárez, J L; Vuong, L T

2014-03-12

Magneto-plasmonics is a designation generally associated with ferromagnetic-plasmonic materials because such optical responses from nonmagnetic materials alone are considered weak. Here, we show that there exists a switching transition between linear and nonlinear magneto-optical behaviors in noble-metal nanocolloids that is observable at ultralow illumination intensities and direct current magnetic fields. The response is attributed to polarization-dependent nonzero-time-averaged plasmonic loops, vortex power flows, and nanoparticle magnetization. This work identifies significant mechanical effects that subsequently exist via magnetic-dipole interactions.

Memory behaviors of entropy production rates in heat conduction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Shu-Nan; Cao, Bing-Yang

2018-02-01

Based on the relaxation time approximation and first-order expansion, memory behaviors in heat conduction are found between the macroscopic and Boltzmann-Gibbs-Shannon (BGS) entropy production rates with exponentially decaying memory kernels. In the frameworks of classical irreversible thermodynamics (CIT) and BGS statistical mechanics, the memory dependency on the integrated history is unidirectional, while for the extended irreversible thermodynamics (EIT) and BGS entropy production rates, the memory dependences are bidirectional and coexist with the linear terms. When macroscopic and microscopic relaxation times satisfy a specific relationship, the entropic memory dependences will be eliminated. There also exist initial effects in entropic memory behaviors, which decay exponentially. The second-order term are also discussed, which can be understood as the global non-equilibrium degree. The effects of the second-order term are consisted of three parts: memory dependency, initial value and linear term. The corresponding memory kernels are still exponential and the initial effects of the global non-equilibrium degree also decay exponentially.

Navigational mechanisms of migrating monarch butterflies.

PubMed

Reppert, Steven M; Gegear, Robert J; Merlin, Christine

2010-09-01

Recent studies of the iconic fall migration of monarch butterflies have illuminated the mechanisms behind their southward navigation while using a time-compensated sun compass. Skylight cues, such as the sun itself and polarized light, are processed through both eyes and are probably integrated in the brain's central complex, the presumed site of the sun compass. Time compensation is provided by circadian clocks that have a distinctive molecular mechanism and that reside in the antennae. Monarchs might also use a magnetic compass because they possess two cryptochromes that have the molecular capability for light-dependent magnetoreception. Multiple genomic approaches are now being used with the aim of identifying navigation genes. Monarch butterflies are thus emerging as an excellent model organism in which to study the molecular and neural basis of long-distance migration. Copyright 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Characterization of viscoelastic response and damping of composite materials used in flywheel rotors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Jianmin

The long-term goal for spacecraft flywheel systems with higher energy density at the system level requires new and innovative composite material concepts. Multi-Direction Composite (MDC) offers significant advantages over traditional filament-wound and multi-ring press-fit filament-wound wheels in providing higher energy density (i.e., less mass), better crack resistance, and enhanced safety. However there is a lack of systematic characterization for dynamic properties of MDC composite materials. In order to improve the flywheel materials reliability, durability and life time, it is very important to evaluate the time dependent aging effects and damping properties of MDC material, which are significant dynamic parameter for vibration and sound control, fatigue endurance, and impact resistance. The physical aging effects are quantified based on a set of creep curves measured at different aging time or different aging temperature. One parameter (tau) curve fit was proposed to represent the relationship of aging time and aging temperature between different master curves. The long term mechanical behavior was predicted by obtained master curves. The time and temperature shift factors of matrix were obtained from creep curves and the aging time shift rate were calculated. The aging effects on composite are obtained from experiments and compared with prediction. The mechanical quasi-behavior of MDC composite was analyzed. The correspondence principle was used to relate quasi-static elastic properties of composite materials to time-dependent properties of its constituent materials (i.e., fiber and matrix). The Prony series combined with the multi-data fitting method was applied to inverse Laplace transform and to calculate the time dependent stiffness matrix effectively. Accelerated time-dependent deformation of two flywheel rim designs were studied for a period equivalent to 31 years and are compared with hoop reinforcement only composite. Damping of pure resin and T700/epoxy composite lamina and laminate in longitudinal and transverse directions were investigated experimentally and analytically. The effect of aging on damping was also studied by placing samples at 60°C in an oven for extended periods. Damping master curves versus frequency were constructed from individual curves at different temperatures based on the Arrhenius equation. The damping response of the composite lamina was used to predict the response of laminate composites. Analytical results give close numerical values to experimental results from damping of cantilever beam laminated composite samples.

Inhibition of cell migration by focal adhesion kinase: Time-dependent difference in integrin-induced signaling between endothelial and hepatoblastoma cells.

PubMed

Yu, Hongchi; Gao, Min; Ma, Yunlong; Wang, Lijuan; Shen, Yang; Liu, Xiaoheng

2018-05-01

angiogenesis plays an important role in the development and progression of tumors, and it involves a series of signaling pathways contributing to the migration of endothelial cells for vascularization and to the invasion of cancer cells for secondary tumor formation. Among these pathways, the focal adhesion kinase (FAK) signaling cascade has been implicated in a variety of human cancers in connection with cell adhesion and migration events leading to tumor angiogenesis, metastasis and invasion. Therefore, the inhibition of FAK in endothelial and/or cancer cells is a potential target for anti‑angiogenic therapy. In the present study, a small‑molecule FAK inhibitor, 1,2,4,5-benzenetetramine tetrahydrochloride (Y15), was used to study the effects of FAK inhibition on the adhesion and migration behaviors of vascular endothelial cells (VECs) and human hepatoblastoma cells. Furthermore, the time-dependent differences in proteins associated with the integrin-mediated FAK/Rho GTPases signaling pathway within 2 h were examined. The results indicated that the inhibition of FAK significantly decreased the migration ability of VECs and human hepatoblastoma cells in a dose-dependent manner. Inhibition of FAK promoted cell detachment by decreasing the expression of focal adhesion components, and blocked cell motility by reducing the level of Rho GTPases. However, the expression of crucial proteins involved in integrin-induced signaling in two cell lines exhibited a time-dependent difference with increased duration of FAK inhibitor treatment, suggesting different mechanisms of FAK-mediated cell migration behavior. These results suggest that the mechanism underlying FAK-mediated adhesion and migration behavior differs among various cells, which is expected to provide evidence for future FAK therapy targeted against tumor angiogenesis.

High-Energy Polarization: Scientific Potential and Model Predictions

DOE PAGES

Zhang, Haocheng

2017-07-28

Understanding magnetic field strength and morphology is very important for studying astrophysical jets. Polarization signatures have been a standard way to probe the jet magnetic field. Radio and optical polarization monitoring programs have been very successful in studying the space- and time-dependent jet polarization behaviors. A new era is now arriving with high-energy polarimetry. X-ray and γ-ray polarimetry can probe the most active jet regions with the most efficient particle acceleration. This new opportunity will make a strong impact on our current understanding of jet systems. Here, this article summarizes the scientific potential and current model predictions for X-ray andmore » γ-ray polarization of astrophysical jets. In particular, we discuss the advantages of using high-energy polarimetry to constrain several important problems in the jet physics, including the jet radiation mechanisms, particle acceleration mechanisms, and jet kinetic and magnetic energy composition. Here we take blazars as a study case, but the general approach can be similarly applied to other astrophysical jets. We conclude that by comparing combined magnetohydrodynamics (MHD), particle transport, and polarization-dependent radiation transfer simulations with multi-wavelength time-dependent radiation and polarization observations, we will obtain the strongest constraints and the best knowledge of jet physics.« less

Platelets to rings: Influence of sodium dodecyl sulfate on Zn-Al layered double hydroxide morphology

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yilmaz, Ceren; Unal, Ugur; Koc University, Chemistry Department, Rumelifeneri yolu, Sariyer 34450, Istanbul

2012-03-15

In the current study, influence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) on the crystallization of Zn-Al layered double hydroxide (LDH) was investigated. Depending on the SDS concentration coral-like and for the first time ring-like morphologies were obtained in a urea-hydrolysis method. It was revealed that the surfactant level in the starting solution plays an important role in the morphology. Concentration of surfactant equal to or above the anion exchange capacity of the LDH is influential in creating different morphologies. Another important parameter was the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of the surfactant. Surfactant concentrations well above CMC value resulted in ring-like structures.more » The crystallization mechanism was discussed. - Graphical abstract: Dependence of ZnAl LDH Morphology on SDS concentration. Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer In-situ intercalation of SDS in ZnAl LDH was achieved via urea hydrolysis method. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Morphology of ZnAl LDH intercalated with SDS depended on the SDS concentration. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Ring like morphology for SDS intercalated ZnAl LDH was obtained for the first time. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Growth mechanism was discussed. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Template assisted growth of ZnAl LDH was proposed.« less

High-Energy Polarization: Scientific Potential and Model Predictions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang, Haocheng

Understanding magnetic field strength and morphology is very important for studying astrophysical jets. Polarization signatures have been a standard way to probe the jet magnetic field. Radio and optical polarization monitoring programs have been very successful in studying the space- and time-dependent jet polarization behaviors. A new era is now arriving with high-energy polarimetry. X-ray and γ-ray polarimetry can probe the most active jet regions with the most efficient particle acceleration. This new opportunity will make a strong impact on our current understanding of jet systems. Here, this article summarizes the scientific potential and current model predictions for X-ray andmore » γ-ray polarization of astrophysical jets. In particular, we discuss the advantages of using high-energy polarimetry to constrain several important problems in the jet physics, including the jet radiation mechanisms, particle acceleration mechanisms, and jet kinetic and magnetic energy composition. Here we take blazars as a study case, but the general approach can be similarly applied to other astrophysical jets. We conclude that by comparing combined magnetohydrodynamics (MHD), particle transport, and polarization-dependent radiation transfer simulations with multi-wavelength time-dependent radiation and polarization observations, we will obtain the strongest constraints and the best knowledge of jet physics.« less

Delay-dependent stability and added damping of SDOF real-time dynamic hybrid testing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chi, Fudong; Wang, Jinting; Jin, Feng

2010-09-01

It is well-recognized that a transfer system response delay that reduces the test stability inevitably exists in real-time dynamic hybrid testing (RTDHT). This paper focuses on the delay-dependent stability and added damping of SDOF systems in RTDHT. The exponential delay term is transferred into a rational fraction by the Padé approximation, and the delay-dependent stability conditions and instability mechanism of SDOF RTDHT systems are investigated by the root locus technique. First, the stability conditions are discussed separately for the cases of stiffness, mass, and damping experimental substructure. The use of root locus plots shows that the added damping effect and instability mechanism for mass are different from those for stiffness. For the stiffness experimental substructure case, the instability results from the inherent mode because of an obvious negative damping effect of the delay. For the mass case, the delay introduces an equivalent positive damping into the inherent mode, and instability occurs at an added high frequency mode. Then, the compound stability condition is investigated for a general case and the results show that the mass ratio may have both upper and lower limits to remain stable. Finally, a high-emulational virtual shaking table model is built to validate the stability conclusions.

Biological proton pumping in an oscillating electric field

PubMed Central

Kim, Young C.; Furchtgott, Leon A.; Hummer, Gerhard

2010-01-01

Time-dependent external perturbations provide powerful probes of the function of molecular machines. Here we study biological proton pumping in an oscillating electric field. The protein cytochrome c oxidase is the main energy transducer in aerobic life, converting chemical energy into an electric potential by pumping protons across a membrane. With the help of master-equation descriptions that recover the key thermodynamic and kinetic properties of this biological “fuel cell,” we show that the proton pumping efficiency and the electronic currents in steady state both depend significantly and distinctly on the frequency and amplitude of the applied field, allowing us to distinguish between different microscopic mechanisms of the machine. A spectral analysis reveals dominant kinetic modes that show reaction steps consistent with an electron-gated pumping mechanism. PMID:20366348

[The anti-tumour effect of Wuxing soup and its mechanism in inducing apoptosis of tumour cells mediated by calcium].

PubMed

Mo, Fei; Hu, Jing-Ying; Gan, Yu; Zhao, Yang-Xing; Zhao, Xin-Tai

2008-09-01

To confirm the anti-cancer effect and mechanism of Wuxing soup. Inhibition of cellular growth under Wuxing soup treatment was observed by MTT; Apoptosis was detected by gel electrophoresis, transmission electron microscopy and FACS; The concentration of calcium was measured by fluorescence probe. After SGC-7901 cell being treated by Wuxing soup, it showed that: 1) Wuxing soup could specifically inhibit cancer cells proliferation in a time and dose dependent manner; 2) Typical apoptotic morphological changes and DNA ladder of SGC-7901 cells were observed; 3) calcium inhibitor Bapta AM could reduce the apoptotic rate and protect SGC-7901 cells in a dose dependent manner. Wuxing soup has an effective inhibition on cancer cells, and can induce SGC-7901 cells to apoptosis by calcium.

Internal Charmonium Evolution in the Quark-Gluon Plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Baoyi; Du, Xiaojian; Rapp, Ralf

2017-08-01

We employ a time-dependent Schrödinger equation to study the evolution of a c c ‾ dipole in a quark-gluon plasma (QGP). Medium effects on the heavy-quark potential in the QGP are found to significantly affect the timescales of the internal evolution of the dipole. Color-screening can enhance the overlap of the expanding wavepackage with excited states at high temperature, while it is reduced at lower temperatures where the dipole favors the formation of the charmonium ground state. We investigate the consequences of this mechanism on the double ratio of charmonium nuclear modification factors, RAAψ (2 S) /RAAJ/ψ, in heavy-ion collisions. The impact of the transition mechanisms on this ratio turns out to be rather sensitive to the attractive strength of the potential, and to its temperature dependence.

Ensemble Kalman Filter for Dynamic State Estimation of Power Grids Stochastically Driven by Time-correlated Mechanical Input Power

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rosenthal, William Steven; Tartakovsky, Alex; Huang, Zhenyu

State and parameter estimation of power transmission networks is important for monitoring power grid operating conditions and analyzing transient stability. Wind power generation depends on fluctuating input power levels, which are correlated in time and contribute to uncertainty in turbine dynamical models. The ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF), a standard state estimation technique, uses a deterministic forecast and does not explicitly model time-correlated noise in parameters such as mechanical input power. However, this uncertainty affects the probability of fault-induced transient instability and increased prediction bias. Here a novel approach is to model input power noise with time-correlated stochastic fluctuations, and integratemore » them with the network dynamics during the forecast. While the EnKF has been used to calibrate constant parameters in turbine dynamical models, the calibration of a statistical model for a time-correlated parameter has not been investigated. In this study, twin experiments on a standard transmission network test case are used to validate our time-correlated noise model framework for state estimation of unsteady operating conditions and transient stability analysis, and a methodology is proposed for the inference of the mechanical input power time-correlation length parameter using time-series data from PMUs monitoring power dynamics at generator buses.« less

Ensemble Kalman Filter for Dynamic State Estimation of Power Grids Stochastically Driven by Time-correlated Mechanical Input Power

DOE PAGES

Rosenthal, William Steven; Tartakovsky, Alex; Huang, Zhenyu

2017-10-31

State and parameter estimation of power transmission networks is important for monitoring power grid operating conditions and analyzing transient stability. Wind power generation depends on fluctuating input power levels, which are correlated in time and contribute to uncertainty in turbine dynamical models. The ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF), a standard state estimation technique, uses a deterministic forecast and does not explicitly model time-correlated noise in parameters such as mechanical input power. However, this uncertainty affects the probability of fault-induced transient instability and increased prediction bias. Here a novel approach is to model input power noise with time-correlated stochastic fluctuations, and integratemore » them with the network dynamics during the forecast. While the EnKF has been used to calibrate constant parameters in turbine dynamical models, the calibration of a statistical model for a time-correlated parameter has not been investigated. In this study, twin experiments on a standard transmission network test case are used to validate our time-correlated noise model framework for state estimation of unsteady operating conditions and transient stability analysis, and a methodology is proposed for the inference of the mechanical input power time-correlation length parameter using time-series data from PMUs monitoring power dynamics at generator buses.« less

Rate-dependent behavior of the amorphous phase of spider dragline silk.

PubMed

Patil, Sandeep P; Markert, Bernd; Gräter, Frauke

2014-06-03

The time-dependent stress-strain behavior of spider dragline silk was already observed decades ago, and has been attributed to the disordered sequences in silk proteins, which compose the soft amorphous matrix. However, the actual molecular origin and magnitude of internal friction within the amorphous matrix has remained inaccessible, because experimentally decomposing the mechanical response of the amorphous matrix from the embedded crystalline units is challenging. Here, we used atomistic molecular dynamics simulations to obtain friction forces for the relative sliding of peptide chains of Araneus diadematus spider silk within bundles of these chains as a representative unit of the amorphous matrix in silk fibers. We computed the friction coefficient and coefficient of viscosity of the amorphous phase to be in the order of 10(-6) Ns/m and 10(4) Ns/m(2), respectively, by extrapolating our simulation data to the viscous limit. Finally, we used a finite element method for the amorphous phase, solely based on parameters derived from molecular dynamics simulations including the newly determined coefficient of viscosity. With this model the time scales of stress relaxation, creep, and hysteresis were assessed, and found to be in line with the macroscopic time-dependent response of silk fibers. Our results suggest the amorphous phase to be the primary source of viscosity in silk and open up the avenue for finite element method studies of silk fiber mechanics including viscous effects. Copyright © 2014 Biophysical Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The boomerang effect in electron-hydrogen molecule scattering as determined by time-dependent calculations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ben-Asher, Anael; Moiseyev, Nimrod

2017-05-01

The appearance of oscillations in the energy-dependent cross sections of the vibrational excitation ν =0 →ν ≥3 of the hydrogen molecule in its electronic ground state as predicted by Mündel, Berman, and Domcke [Phys. Rev. A 32, 181 (1985)] was confirmed in the electron scattering experiments by Allan [J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Phys. 18, L451 (1985)]. These unusual structures were obtained in spite of the extremely short lifetime of H2- in its ro-vibrational states. Based on the standard (Hermitian) time-independent scattering calculations, Horáček et al. [Phys. Rev. A 73, 022701 (2006)] associated these oscillations with the boomerang effect. Here, we show the boomerang effect as developed in time, based on our time-dependent nuclear wavepacket (WP) calculations. The nuclear WP dynamics of H2- is determined using the non-Hermitian quantum mechanics (NH-QM) which enables the use of the Born-Oppenheimer approximation with complex potential energy surfaces. This NH-QM approach, which enables us the association of the nuclear WP dynamics as obtained from the complex potential energy curve of H2- with the evolution of cross section in time, can enlighten the dynamics in other scattering experiments.

The boomerang effect in electron-hydrogen molecule scattering as determined by time-dependent calculations.

PubMed

Ben-Asher, Anael; Moiseyev, Nimrod

2017-05-28

The appearance of oscillations in the energy-dependent cross sections of the vibrational excitation ν=0→ν≥3 of the hydrogen molecule in its electronic ground state as predicted by Mündel, Berman, and Domcke [Phys. Rev. A 32, 181 (1985)] was confirmed in the electron scattering experiments by Allan [J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Phys. 18, L451 (1985)]. These unusual structures were obtained in spite of the extremely short lifetime of H 2 - in its ro-vibrational states. Based on the standard (Hermitian) time-independent scattering calculations, Horáček et al. [Phys. Rev. A 73, 022701 (2006)] associated these oscillations with the boomerang effect. Here, we show the boomerang effect as developed in time, based on our time-dependent nuclear wavepacket (WP) calculations. The nuclear WP dynamics of H 2 - is determined using the non-Hermitian quantum mechanics (NH-QM) which enables the use of the Born-Oppenheimer approximation with complex potential energy surfaces. This NH-QM approach, which enables us the association of the nuclear WP dynamics as obtained from the complex potential energy curve of H 2 - with the evolution of cross section in time, can enlighten the dynamics in other scattering experiments.

Entanglement entropy with a time-dependent Hamiltonian

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sivaramakrishnan, Allic

2018-03-01

The time evolution of entanglement tracks how information propagates in interacting quantum systems. We study entanglement entropy in CFT2 with a time-dependent Hamiltonian. We perturb by operators with time-dependent source functions and use the replica trick to calculate higher-order corrections to entanglement entropy. At first order, we compute the correction due to a metric perturbation in AdS3/CFT2 and find agreement on both sides of the duality. Past first order, we find evidence of a universal structure of entanglement propagation to all orders. The central feature is that interactions entangle unentangled excitations. Entanglement propagates according to "entanglement diagrams," proposed structures that are motivated by accessory spacetime diagrams for real-time perturbation theory. To illustrate the mechanisms involved, we compute higher-order corrections to free fermion entanglement entropy. We identify an unentangled operator, one which does not change the entanglement entropy to any order. Then, we introduce an interaction and find it changes entanglement entropy by entangling the unentangled excitations. The entanglement propagates in line with our conjecture. We compute several entanglement diagrams. We provide tools to simplify the computation of loop entanglement diagrams, which probe UV effects in entanglement propagation in CFT and holography.

General theory of skin reinforcement.

PubMed

Kruglikov, Ilja L; Scherer, Philipp E

2017-01-01

Macroscopic mechanical properties of human skin in vivo cannot be considered independent of adjacent subcutaneous white adipose tissue (sWAT). The layered system skin/sWAT appears as the hierarchical structural composite in which single layers behave as fiber-reinforced structures. Effective macroscopic mechanical properties of such composites are mainly determined either by the properties of the skin or by those of the sWAT, dependent on the conditions of mechanical loading. Mechanical interactions between the skin and the adjacent sWAT associated with a mismatch in the mechanical moduli of these two layers can lead to production of the skin wrinkles. Reinforcement of the composite skin/sWAT can take place in different ways. It can be provided through reorientation of collagen fibers under applied loading, through production of new bonds between existing collagen fibers and through induction of additional collagen structures. Effectiveness of this type of reinforcement is strongly dependent on the type of mechanical loading. Different physical interventions induce the reinforcement of at least one of these two layers, thus increasing the effective macroscopic stiffness of the total composite. At the same time, the standalone reinforcement of the skin appears to be less effective to achieve a delay or a reduction of the apparent signs of skin aging relative to the reinforcement of the sWAT.

Exploration of mechanisms underlying the strain-rate-dependent mechanical property of single chondrocytes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nguyen, Trung Dung; Gu, YuanTong, E-mail: yuantong.gu@qut.edu.au

2014-05-05

Based on the characterization by Atomic Force Microscopy, we report that the mechanical property of single chondrocytes has dependency on the strain-rates. By comparing the mechanical deformation responses and the Young's moduli of living and fixed chondrocytes at four different strain-rates, we explore the deformation mechanisms underlying this dependency property. We found that the strain-rate-dependent mechanical property of living cells is governed by both of the cellular cytoskeleton and the intracellular fluid when the fixed chondrocytes are mainly governed by their intracellular fluid, which is called the consolidation-dependent deformation behavior. Finally, we report that the porohyperelastic constitutive material model whichmore » can capture the consolidation-dependent behavior of both living and fixed chondrocytes is a potential candidature to study living cell biomechanics.« less

Unique action mechanisms of tramadol in global cerebral ischemia-induced mechanical allodynia.

PubMed

Matsuura, Wataru; Kageyama, Erika; Harada, Shinichi; Tokuyama, Shogo

2016-06-15

Central poststroke pain is associated with specific somatosensory abnormalities, such as neuropathic pain syndrome. Although central poststroke pain is a serious condition, details pertaining to underlying mechanisms are not well established, making current standard treatments only partially effective. Here, we assessed the effects of tramadol, an analgesic drug mediated by opioid receptors, using a mouse model of global cerebral ischemia. Ischemia was induced by bilateral carotid artery occlusion (30 min) in male ddY mice. Development of hind-paw mechanical allodynia was measured 3 days after bilateral carotid artery occlusion using the von Frey test. Mechanical allodynia was significantly and dose dependently suppressed by intraperitoneal tramadol (10 or 20 mg/kg). These effects, which peaked at 10 min and continued for at least 60 min, were inhibited by naloxone (nonselective opioid receptor antagonist, 1 mg/kg, intraperitoneal). Tramadol antinociception was significantly negated by β-funaltrexamine (selective μ-opioid receptor antagonist, 20 mg/kg, intraperitoneal), but not naltrindole (selective δ-opioid receptor antagonist, 5 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) or nor-binaltorphimine (selective κ-opioid receptor antagonist, 10 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) after 5 min, by β-funaltrexamine and nor-binaltorphimine but not naltrindole after 10 min, and by all selective opioid receptor antagonists at 15 and 30 min after tramadol treatment. These results suggested that antinociception induced by tramadol through various opioid receptors was time dependent. Furthermore, it is possible that the opioid receptors involved in tramadol-induced antinociception change over time with the metabolism of this drug.

Circadian clocks govern calorie restriction-mediated life span extension through BMAL1- and IGF-1-dependent mechanisms.

PubMed

Patel, Sonal A; Chaudhari, Amol; Gupta, Richa; Velingkaar, Nikkhil; Kondratov, Roman V

2016-04-01

Calorie restriction (CR) increases longevity in many species by unknown mechanisms. The circadian clock was proposed as a potential mediator of CR. Deficiency of the core component of the circadian clock-transcriptional factor BMAL1 (brain and muscle ARNT [aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator]-like protein 1)-results in accelerated aging. Here we investigated the role of BMAL1 in mechanisms of CR. The 30% CR diet increased the life span of wild-type (WT) mice by 20% compared to mice on anad libitum(AL) diet but failed to increase life span ofBmal1(-/-)mice. BMAL1 deficiency impaired CR-mediated changes in the plasma levels of IGF-1 and insulin. We detected a statistically significantly reduction of IGF-1 in CRvs.AL by 50 to 70% in WT mice at several daily time points tested, while inBmal1(-/-)the reduction was not significant. Insulin levels in WT were reduced by 5 to 9%, whileBmal1(-/-)induced it by 10 to 35% at all time points tested. CR up-regulated the daily average expression ofBmal1(by 150%) and its downstream target genesPeriods(by 470% forPer1and by 130% forPer2). We propose that BMAL1 is an important mediator of CR, and activation of BMAL1 might link CR mechanisms with biologic clocks.-Patel, S. A., Chaudhari, A., Gupta, R., Velingkaar, N., Kondratov, R. V. Circadian clocks govern calorie restriction-mediated life span extension through BMAL1- and IGF-1-dependent mechanisms. © FASEB.

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) stimulates carboxy terminal Smad2 phosphorylation in vascular endothelial cells by a mechanism dependent on ET receptors and de novo protein synthesis.

PubMed

Sharifat, Narges; Mohammad Zadeh, Ghorban; Ghaffari, Mohammad-Ali; Dayati, Parisa; Kamato, Danielle; Little, Peter J; Babaahmadi-Rezaei, Hossein

2017-01-01

G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) agonists through their receptors can transactivate protein tyrosine kinase receptors such as epidermal growth factor receptor and serine/threonine kinase receptors most notably transforming growth factor (TGF)-β receptor (TβRI). This signalling mechanism represents a major expansion in the cellular outcomes attributable to GPCR signalling. This study addressed the role and mechanisms involved in GPCR agonist, endothelin-1 (ET-1)-mediated transactivation of the TβRI in bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs). The in-vitro model used BAECs. Signalling intermediate phospho-Smad2 in the carboxy terminal was detected and quantified by Western blotting. ET-1 treatment of BAECs resulted in a time and concentration-dependent increase in pSmad2C. Peak phosphorylation was evident with 100 nm treatment of ET-1 at 4-6 h. TβRI antagonist, SB431542 inhibited ET-1-mediated pSmad2C. In the presence of bosentan, a mixed ET A and ET B receptor antagonist ET-1-mediated pSmad2C levels were inhibited. The ET-mediated pSmad2C was blocked by the protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide. In BAECs, ET-1 via the ETB receptor is involved in transactivation of the TβRI. The transactivation-dependent response is dependent upon de novo protein synthesis. © 2016 Royal Pharmaceutical Society.

Dynamics of oxygen ordering in YBa2CU3O6+x studied by neutron and high-energy synchrotron x-ray diffiaction.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Frello, T.; Andersen, N. H.; Madsen, J.; Ka¨ll, M.; von Zimmermann, M.; Schmidt, O.; Poulsen, H. F.; Schneider, J. R.; Wolf, Th.

1997-08-01

The dynamics of the ortho-II oxygen structure in a high purity YBa 2Cu 3O 6+ x single crystal with x=0.50 has been studied by neutron and by X-ray diffraction with a photon energy of 100 keV. Our data show that the oxygen order develops on two different time-scales, one of the order of seconds and a much slower of the order of weeks and months. The mechanism dominating the slow time-scale is related to oxygen diffusion, while the fast mechanism may result from a temperature-dependent change in the average oxygen chain length.

Extracting Cell Stiffness from Real-Time Deformability Cytometry: Theory and Experiment.

PubMed

Mietke, Alexander; Otto, Oliver; Girardo, Salvatore; Rosendahl, Philipp; Taubenberger, Anna; Golfier, Stefan; Ulbricht, Elke; Aland, Sebastian; Guck, Jochen; Fischer-Friedrich, Elisabeth

2015-11-17

Cell stiffness is a sensitive indicator of physiological and pathological changes in cells, with many potential applications in biology and medicine. A new method, real-time deformability cytometry, probes cell stiffness at high throughput by exposing cells to a shear flow in a microfluidic channel, allowing for mechanical phenotyping based on single-cell deformability. However, observed deformations of cells in the channel not only are determined by cell stiffness, but also depend on cell size relative to channel size. Here, we disentangle mutual contributions of cell size and cell stiffness to cell deformation by a theoretical analysis in terms of hydrodynamics and linear elasticity theory. Performing real-time deformability cytometry experiments on both model spheres of known elasticity and biological cells, we demonstrate that our analytical model not only predicts deformed shapes inside the channel but also allows for quantification of cell mechanical parameters. Thereby, fast and quantitative mechanical sampling of large cell populations becomes feasible. Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Extracting Cell Stiffness from Real-Time Deformability Cytometry: Theory and Experiment

PubMed Central

Mietke, Alexander; Otto, Oliver; Girardo, Salvatore; Rosendahl, Philipp; Taubenberger, Anna; Golfier, Stefan; Ulbricht, Elke; Aland, Sebastian; Guck, Jochen; Fischer-Friedrich, Elisabeth

2015-01-01

Cell stiffness is a sensitive indicator of physiological and pathological changes in cells, with many potential applications in biology and medicine. A new method, real-time deformability cytometry, probes cell stiffness at high throughput by exposing cells to a shear flow in a microfluidic channel, allowing for mechanical phenotyping based on single-cell deformability. However, observed deformations of cells in the channel not only are determined by cell stiffness, but also depend on cell size relative to channel size. Here, we disentangle mutual contributions of cell size and cell stiffness to cell deformation by a theoretical analysis in terms of hydrodynamics and linear elasticity theory. Performing real-time deformability cytometry experiments on both model spheres of known elasticity and biological cells, we demonstrate that our analytical model not only predicts deformed shapes inside the channel but also allows for quantification of cell mechanical parameters. Thereby, fast and quantitative mechanical sampling of large cell populations becomes feasible. PMID:26588562

Effect of multiple forming tools on geometrical and mechanical properties in incremental sheet forming

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wernicke, S.; Dang, T.; Gies, S.; Tekkaya, A. E.

2018-05-01

The tendency to a higher variety of products requires economical manufacturing processes suitable for the production of prototypes and small batches. In the case of complex hollow-shaped parts, single point incremental forming (SPIF) represents a highly flexible process. The flexibility of this process comes along with a very long process time. To decrease the process time, a new incremental forming approach with multiple forming tools is investigated. The influence of two incremental forming tools on the resulting mechanical and geometrical component properties compared to SPIF is presented. Sheets made of EN AW-1050A were formed to frustums of a pyramid using different tool-path strategies. Furthermore, several variations of the tool-path strategy are analyzed. A time saving between 40% and 60% was observed depending on the tool-path and the radii of the forming tools while the mechanical properties remained unchanged. This knowledge can increase the cost efficiency of incremental forming processes.

The RNA-mediated, asymmetric ring regulatory mechanism of the transcription termination Rho helicase decrypted by time-resolved nucleotide analog interference probing (trNAIP).

PubMed

Soares, Emilie; Schwartz, Annie; Nollmann, Marcello; Margeat, Emmanuel; Boudvillain, Marc

2014-08-01

Rho is a ring-shaped, ATP-dependent RNA helicase/translocase that dissociates transcriptional complexes in bacteria. How RNA recognition is coupled to ATP hydrolysis and translocation in Rho is unclear. Here, we develop and use a new combinatorial approach, called time-resolved Nucleotide Analog Interference Probing (trNAIP), to unmask RNA molecular determinants of catalytic Rho function. We identify a regulatory step in the translocation cycle involving recruitment of the 2'-hydroxyl group of the incoming 3'-RNA nucleotide by a Rho subunit. We propose that this step arises from the intrinsic weakness of one of the subunit interfaces caused by asymmetric, split-ring arrangement of primary RNA tethers around the Rho hexamer. Translocation is at highest stake every seventh nucleotide when the weak interface engages the incoming 3'-RNA nucleotide or breaks, depending on RNA threading constraints in the Rho pore. This substrate-governed, 'test to run' iterative mechanism offers a new perspective on how a ring-translocase may function or be regulated. It also illustrates the interest and versatility of the new trNAIP methodology to unveil the molecular mechanisms of complex RNA-based systems. © The Author(s) 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Nucleic Acids Research.