Splicing Functions and Global Dependency on Fission Yeast Slu7 Reveal Diversity in Spliceosome Assembly

The multiple short introns in Schizosaccharomyces pombe genes with degenerate cis sequences and atypically positioned polypyrimidine tracts make an interesting model to investigate canonical and alternative roles for conserved splicing factors. Here we report functions and interactions of the S. pombe slu7(+) (spslu7(+)) gene product, known from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and human in vitro reactions to assemble into spliceosomes after the first catalytic reaction and to dictate 3' splice site choice during the second reaction. By using a missense mutant of this essential S. pombe factor, we detected a range of global splicing derangements that were validated in assays for the splicing status of diverse candidate introns. We ascribe widespread, intron-specific SpSlu7 functions and have deduced several features, including the branch nucleotide-to-3' splice site distance, intron length, and the impact of its A/U content at the 5' end on the intron's dependence on SpSlu7. The data imply dynamic substrate-splicing factor relationships in multiintron transcripts. Interestingly, the unexpected early splicing arrest in spslu7-2 revealed a role before catalysis. We detected a salt-stable association with U5 snRNP and observed genetic interactions with spprp1(+), a homolog of human U5-102k factor. These observations together point to an altered recruitment and dependence on SpSlu7, suggesting its role in facilitating transitions that promote catalysis, and highlight the diversity in spliceosome assembly.

Internal noise-driven generalized Langevin equation from a nonlocal continuum model

Starting with a micropolar formulation, known to account for nonlocal microstructural effects at the continuum level, a generalized Langevin equation (GLE) for a particle, describing the predominant motion of a localized region through a single displacement degree of freedom, is derived. The GLE features a memory-dependent multiplicative or internal noise, which appears upon recognizing that the microrotation variables possess randomness owing to an uncertainty principle. Unlike its classical version, the present GLE qualitatively reproduces the experimentally measured fluctuations in the steady-state mean square displacement of scattering centers in a polyvinyl alcohol slab. The origin of the fluctuations is traced to nonlocal spatial interactions within the continuum, a phenomenon that is ubiquitous across a broad class of response regimes in solids and fluids. This renders the proposed GLE a potentially useful model in such cases.

Generalized Partial Response Equalization and Data-Dependent Noise Predictive Signal Detection Over Media Models for TDMR

Two-dimensional magnetic recording (2-D TDMR) is an emerging technology that aims to achieve areal densities as high as 10 Tb/in(2) using sophisticated 2-D signal-processing algorithms. High areal densities are achieved by reducing the size of a bit to the order of the size of magnetic grains, resulting in severe 2-D intersymbol interference (ISI). Jitter noise due to irregular grain positions on the magnetic medium is more pronounced at these areal densities. Therefore, a viable read-channel architecture for TDMR requires 2-D signal-detection algorithms that can mitigate 2-D ISI and combat noise comprising jitter and electronic components. Partial response maximum likelihood (PRML) detection scheme allows controlled ISI as seen by the detector. With the controlled and reduced span of 2-D ISI, the PRML scheme overcomes practical difficulties such as Nyquist rate signaling required for full response 2-D equalization. As in the case of 1-D magnetic recording, jitter noise can be handled using a data-dependent noise-prediction (DDNP) filter bank within a 2-D signal-detection engine. The contributions of this paper are threefold: 1) we empirically study the jitter noise characteristics in TDMR as a function of grain density using a Voronoi-based granular media model; 2) we develop a 2-D DDNP algorithm to handle the media noise seen in TDMR; and 3) we also develop techniques to design 2-D separable and nonseparable targets for generalized partial response equalization for TDMR. This can be used along with a 2-D signal-detection algorithm. The DDNP algorithm is observed to give a 2.5 dB gain in SNR over uncoded data compared with the noise predictive maximum likelihood detection for the same choice of channel model parameters to achieve a channel bit density of 1.3 Tb/in(2) with media grain center-to-center distance of 10 nm. The DDNP algorithm is observed to give similar to 10% gain in areal density near 5 grains/bit. The proposed signal-processing framework can broadly scale to various TDMR realizations and areal density points.

Simultaneous nonvanishing of Dirichlet L-functions and twists of Hecke-Maass L-functions

We prove that given a Hecke-Maass form f for SL(2, Z) and a sufficiently large prime q, there exists a primitive Dirichlet character chi of conductor q such that the L-values L(1/2, f circle times chi) and L(1/2, chi) do not vanish.

Thermalization of Green functions and quasinormal modes

We develop a new method to study the thermalization of time dependent retarded Green function in conformal field theories holographically dual to thin shell AdS Vaidya space times. The method relies on using the information of all time derivatives of the Green function at the shell and then evolving it for later times. The time derivatives of the Green function at the shell is given in terms of a recursion formula. Using this method we obtain analytic results for short time thermalization of the Green function. We show that the late time behaviour of the Green function is determined by the first quasinormal mode. We then implement the method numerically. As applications of this method we study the thermalization of the retarded time dependent Green function corresponding to a minimally coupled scalar in the AdS 3 and AdS 5 thin Vaidya shells. We see that as expected the late time behaviour is determined by the first quasinormal mode. We apply the method to study the late time behaviour of the shear vector mode in AdS 5 Vaidya shell. At small momentum the corresponding time dependent Green function is expected to relax to equilibrium by the shear hydrodynamic mode. Using this we obtain the universal ratio of the shear viscosity to entropy density from a time dependent process.

In-plane effective shear modulus of generalized circular honeycomb structures and bundled tubes in a diamond array structure

Use of circular hexagonal honeycomb structures and tube assemblies in energy absorption systems has attracted a large number of literature on their characterization under crushing and impact loads. Notwithstanding these, effective shear moduli (G*) required for complete transverse elastic characterization and in analyses of hierarchical structures have received scant attention. In an attempt to fill this void, the present study undertakes to evaluate G* of a generalized circular honeycomb structures and tube assemblies in a diamond array structure (DAS) with no restriction on their thickness. These structures present a potential to realize a spectrum of moduli with minimal modifications, a point of relevance for manufactures and designers. To evaluate G* in this paper, models based on technical theories - thin ring theory and curved beam theory - and rigorous theory of elasticity are investigated and corroborated with FEA employing contact elements. Technical theories which give a good match for thin HCS offer compact expressions for moduli which can be harvested to study sensitivity of moduli on topology. On the other hand, elasticity model offers a very good match over a large range of thickness along with exact analysis of stresses by employing computationally efficient expressions. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Primates, Provisioning and Plants: Impacts of Human Cultural Behaviours on Primate Ecological Functions

Human provisioning of wildlife with food is a widespread global practice that occurs in multiple socio-cultural circumstances. Provisioning may indirectly alter ecosystem functioning through changes in the eco-ethology of animals, but few studies have quantified this aspect. Provisioning of primates by humans is known to impact their activity budgets, diets and ranging patterns. Primates are also keystone species in tropical forests through their role as seed dispersers; yet there is no information on how provisioning might affect primate ecological functions. The rhesus macaque is a major human-commensal species but is also an important seed disperser in the wild. In this study, we investigated the potential impacts of provisioning on the role of rhesus macaques as seed dispersers in the Buxa Tiger Reserve, India. We studied a troop of macaques which were provisioned for a part of the year and were dependent on natural resources for the rest. We observed feeding behaviour, seed handling techniques and ranging patterns of the macaques and monitored availability of wild fruits. Irrespective of fruit availability, frugivory and seed dispersal activities decreased when the macaques were provisioned. Provisioned macaques also had shortened daily ranges implying shorter dispersal distances. Finally, during provisioning periods, seeds were deposited on tarmac roads that were unconducive for germination. Provisioning promotes human-primate conflict, as commensal primates are often involved in aggressive encounters with humans over resources, leading to negative consequences for both parties involved. Preventing or curbing provisioning is not an easy task as feeding wild animals is a socio-cultural tradition across much of South and South-East Asia, including India. We recommend the initiation of literacy programmes that educate lay citizens about the ill-effects of provisioning and strongly caution them against the practice.

Quark and gluon distribution functions in a viscous quark-gluon plasma medium and dilepton production via q(q)over-bar annihilation

Viscous modifications to the thermal distributions of quark-antiquarks and gluons have been studied in a quasiparticle description of the quark-gluon-plasma medium created in relativistic heavy-ion collision experiments. The model is described in terms of quasipartons that encode the hot QCD medium effects in their respective effective fugacities. Both shear and bulk viscosities have been taken in to account in the analysis, and the modifications to thermal distributions have been obtained by modifying the energy-momentum tensor in view of the nontrivial dispersion relations for the gluons and quarks. The interactions encoded in the equation of state induce significant modifications to the thermal distributions. As an implication, the dilepton production rate in the q (q) over bar annihilation process has been investigated. The equation of state is found to have a significant impact on the dilepton production rate along with the viscosities.

Selection of Optimal Time-to-go in Generalized Vector Explicit Guidance

A new method of selection of time-to-go (t(go)) for Generalized Vector Explicit Guidance (GENEX) law have been proposed in this paper. t(go) is known to be an important parameter in the control and cost function of GENEX guidance law. In this paper the formulation has been done to find an optimal value of t(go) that minimizes the performance cost. Mechanization of GENEX with this optimal t(go) reduces the lateral acceleration demand and consequently increases the range of the interceptor. This new formulation of computing t(go) comes in closed form and thus it can be implemented onboard. This new formulation is applied in the terminal phase of an surface-to-air interceptor for an angle constrained engagement. Results generated by simulation justify the use of optimal t(go).

On the Capacity and Performance of Generalized Spatial Modulation

Generalized spatial modulation (GSM) uses N antenna elements but fewer radio frequency (RF) chains (R) at the transmitter. In GSM, apart from conveying information bits through R modulation symbols, information bits are also conveyed through the indices of the R active transmit antennas. In this letter, we derive lower and upper bounds on the the capacity of a (N, M, R)-GSM MIMO system, where M is the number of receive antennas. Further, we propose a computationally efficient GSM encoding method and a message passing-based low-complexity detection algorithm suited for large-scale GSM-MIMO systems.

Hierarchy of structure functions for passive scalars advected by turbulent flows

A hierarchical model is proposed for the joint moments of the passive scalar dissipation and the velocity dissipation in fluid turbulence. This model predicts that the joint probability density function (PDF) of the dissipations is a bivariate log-Poisson. An analytical calculation of the scaling exponents of structure functions of the passive scalar is carried out for this hierarchical model, showing a good agreement with the results of direct numerical simulations and experiments.

A Generalized Soft-Sphere for Monte Carlo Simulation

A new collision model, called the generalized soft-sphere (GSS) model, is introduced. It has the same total cross section as the generalized hard-sphere model [Phys. Fluids A 5, 738 (1993)], whereas the deflection angle is calculated by the soft-sphere scattering model [Phys. Fluids A 3, 2459 (1991)]. In virtue of a two-term formula given to fit the numerical solutions of the collision integrals for the Lennard-Jones (6-12) potential and for the Stockmayer potential, the parameters involved in the GSS model are determined explicitly that may fully reproduce the transport coefficients under these potentials. Coefficients of viscosity, self-diffusion and diffusion for both polar and nonpolar molecules given by the GSS model and experiment are in excellent agreement over a wide range of temperature from low to high.