β subunits influence the biophysical and pharmacological differences between P- and Q-type calcium currents expressed in a mammalian cell line

Human epithelial kidney cells (HEK) were prepared to coexpress α1A, α2δ with different β calcium channel subunits and green fluorescence protein. To compare the calcium currents observed in these cells with the native neuronal currents, electrophysiological and pharmacological tools were used conjointly. Whole-cell current recordings of human epithelial kidney α1A-transfected cells showed small inactivating currents in 80 mM Ba2+ that were relatively insensitive to calcium blockers. Coexpression of α1A, βIb, and α2δ produced a robust inactivating current detected in 10 mM Ba2+, reversibly blockable with low concentration of ω-agatoxin IVA (ω-Aga IVA) or synthetic funnel-web spider toxin (sFTX). Barium currents were also supported by α1A, β2a, α2δ subunits, which demonstrated the slowest inactivation and were relatively insensitive to ω-Aga IVA and sFTX. Coexpression of β3 with the same combination as above produced inactivating currents also insensitive to low concentration of ω-Aga IVA and sFTX. These data indicate that the combination α1A, βIb, α2δ best resembles P-type channels given the rate of inactivation and the high sensitivity to ω-Aga IVA and sFTX. More importantly, the specificity of the channel blocker is highly influenced by the β subunit associated with the α1A subunit.

JORDAN BIMODULES OVER THE SUPERALGEBRAS P(n) AND Q(n)

We extend the Jacobson's Coordinatization theorem to Jordan superalgebras. Using it we classify Jordan bimodules over superalgebras of types Q(n) and JP(n), n >= 3. Then we use the Tits-Kantor-Koecher construction and representation theory of Lie superalgebras to treat the remaining case Q(2).

Ablation of P/Q-type Ca2+ channel currents, altered synaptic transmission, and progressive ataxia in mice lacking the α1A-subunit

The Ca2+ channel α1A-subunit is a voltage-gated, pore-forming membrane protein positioned at the intersection of two important lines of research: one exploring the diversity of Ca2+ channels and their physiological roles, and the other pursuing mechanisms of ataxia, dystonia, epilepsy, and migraine. α1A-Subunits are thought to support both P- and Q-type Ca2+ channel currents, but the most direct test, a null mutant, has not been described, nor is it known which changes in neurotransmission might arise from elimination of the predominant Ca2+ delivery system at excitatory nerve terminals. We generated α1A-deficient mice (α1A−/−) and found that they developed a rapidly progressive neurological deficit with specific characteristics of ataxia and dystonia before dying ≈3–4 weeks after birth. P-type currents in Purkinje neurons and P- and Q-type currents in cerebellar granule cells were eliminated completely whereas other Ca2+ channel types, including those involved in triggering transmitter release, also underwent concomitant changes in density. Synaptic transmission in α1A−/− hippocampal slices persisted despite the lack of P/Q-type channels but showed enhanced reliance on N-type and R-type Ca2+ entry. The α1A−/− mice provide a starting point for unraveling neuropathological mechanisms of human diseases generated by mutations in α1A.

Inclusive pi(0), eta, and direct photon production at high transverse momentum in p plus p and d plus Au collisions at root s(NN)=200 GeV

We report a measurement of high-p(T) inclusive pi(0), eta, and direct photon production in p + p and d + Au collisions at root s(NN) = 200 GeV at midrapidity (0 < eta < 1). Photons from the decay pi(0) -> gamma gamma were detected in the barrel electromagnetic calorimeter of the STAR experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. The eta -> gamma gamma decay was also observed and constituted the first eta measurement by STAR. The first direct photon cross-section measurement by STAR is also presented; the signal was extracted statistically by subtracting the pi(0), eta, and omega(782) decay background from the inclusive photon distribution observed in the calorimeter. The analysis is described in detail, and the results are found to be in good agreement with earlier measurements and with next-to-leading-order perturbative QCD calculations.

J/psi production at high transverse momenta in p plus p and Cu plus Cu collisions at root s(NN)=200 GeV

The STAR Collaboration at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider presents measurements of J/psi e(+) e(-) at midrapidity and high transverse momentum (pT > 5 GeV/c) in p + p and central Cu + Cu collisions at root s(NN) = 200 GeV. The inclusive J/psi production cross section for Cu + Cu collisions is found to be consistent at high p(T) with the binary collision-scaled cross section for p + p collisions. At a confidence level of 97%, this is in contrast to a suppression of J/psi production observed at lower p(T). Azimuthal correlations of J/psi with charged hadrons in p + p collisions provide an estimate of the contribution of B-hadron decays to J/psi production of 13% +/- 5%.

Identification of geodesic chirping Alfven modes and q-factor estimation in hot core tokamak plasmas in ASDEX Upgrade

Alfven eigenmodes (AE) driven by ion cyclotron resonance heating are usually registered by different diagnostic channels in the hot core plasmas of large tokamaks like JET and ASDEX Upgrade. These AE appear very near to the extremum points of Alfven wave continuum, which is modified by the geodesic effect due to poloidal mode coupling. It is shown that the AE spectrum may be explored as the magnetic spectroscopy (like Alfven cascades by Sharapov et al 2001 Phys. Lett. A 289 127) to determine the q-factor minimum and geodesic frequency at the magnetic axis in standard sawtoothed discharges without reversed shear.

Short communication: Principal components and factor analytic models for test-day milk yield in Brazilian Holstein cattle

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

MANY-BODY PROBLEMS WITH COMPOSITE-PARTICLES AND Q-HEISENBERG ALGEBRAS

We propose to employ deformed commutation relations to treat many-body problems of composite particles. The deformation parameter is interpreted as a measure of the effects of the statistics of the internal degrees of freedom of the composite particles. A simple application of the method is made for the case of a gas of composite bosons.

Unitary Operator Bases and Q-deformed Algebras

Starting from the Schwinger unitary operator bases formalism constructed out of a finite dimensional state space, the well-known q-deformed commutation relation is shown to emerge in a natural way, when the deformation parameter is a root of unity.

Well-being and equity: analytic challenges and social indicators

Includes bibliography

Principal components and factor analytic models for birth to mature weights in Nellore cattle

A total of 61,528 weight records from 22,246 Nellore animals born between 1984 and 2002 were used to compare different multiple-trait analysis methods for birth to mature weights. The following models were used: standard multivarite model (MV), five reduced-rank models fitting the first 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 genetic principal components, and five models using factor analysis with 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 factors. Direct additive genetic random effects and residual effects were included in all models. In addition, maternal genetic and maternal permanent environmental effects were included as random effects for birth and weaning weight. The models included contemporary group as fixed effect and age of animal at recording (except for birth weight) and age of dam at calving as linear and quadratic effects (for birth weight and weaning weight). The maternal genetic, maternal permanent environmental and residual (co)variance matrices were assumed to be full rank. According to model selection criteria, the model fitting the three first principal components (PC3) provided the best fit, without the need for factor analysis models. Similar estimates of phenotypic, direct additive and maternal genetic, maternal permanent environmental and residual (co)variances were obtained with models MV and PC3. Direct heritability ranged from 0.21 (birth weight) to 0.45 (weight at 6 years of age). The genetic and phenotypic correlations obtained with model PC3 were slightly higher than those estimated with model MV. In general, the reduced-rank model substantially decreased the number of parameters in the analyses without reducing the goodness-of-fit. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

S Q E D (4) and Q E D (4) on the Null-Plane

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Identified Hadron Compositions in p plus p and Au plus Au Collisions at High Transverse Momenta at root s(NN)=200 GeV

We report transverse momentum (p(T) <= 15 GeV/c) spectra of pi(+/-), K-+/-, p, (p) over bar, K-0(S), and rho(0) at midrapidity in p + p and Au + Au collisions at root s(NN) = 200 GeV. Perturbative QCD calculations are consistent with pi(+/-) spectra in p + p collisions but do not reproduce K and p((p) over bar) spectra. The observed decreasing antiparticle-to-particle ratios with increasing p(T) provide experimental evidence for varying quark and gluon jet contributions to high-p(T) hadron yields. The relative hadron abundances in Au + Au at p(T) >= 8 GeV/c are measured to be similar to the p + p results, despite the expected Casimir effect for parton energy loss.