Time delay as a key to apoptosis induction in the p53 network

A feedback mechanism that involves the proteins p53 and mdm2, induces cell death as a controlled response to severe DNA damage. A minimal model for this mechanism demonstrates that the response may be dynamic and connected with the time needed to translate the mdm2 protein. The response takes place if the dissociation constant k between p53 and mdm2 varies from its normal value. Although it is widely believed that it is an increase in k that triggers the response, we show that the experimental behaviour is better described by a decrease in the dissociation constant. The response is quite robust upon changes in the parameters of the system, as required by any control mechanism, except for few weak points, which could be connected with the onset of cancer. Received 8 May 2002 / Received in final form 9 July 2002 Published online 17 September 2002     

ω-meson photoproduction on nucleons in the near-threshold region

The European Physical Journal A - The ω-meson photoproduction, γ + p→p + ω, is studied in the framework of a model, containing π-meson exchange in t-channel and...     

Segregation in the Falicov--Kimball Model

The Falicov–Kimball model is a simple quantum lattice model that describes light and heavy electrons interacting with an on-site repulsion; alternatively, it is a model of itinerant electrons and fixed nuclei. It can be seen as a simplification of the Hubbard model; by neglecting the kinetic (hopping) energy of the spin up particles, one gets the Falicov–Kimball model. We show that away from half-filling, i.e. if the sum of the densities of both kinds of particles differs from 1, the particles segregate at zero temperature and for large enough repulsion. In the language of the Hubbard model, this means creating two regions with a positive and a negative magnetization. Our key mathematical results are lower and upper bounds for the sum of the lowest eigenvalues of the discrete Laplace operator in an arbitrary domain, with Dirichlet boundary conditions. The lower bound consists of a bulk term, independent of the shape of the domain, and of a term proportional to the boundary. Therefore, one lowers the kinetic energy of the itinerant particles by choosing a domain with a small boundary. For the Falicov- Kimball model, this corresponds to having a single “compact” domain that has no heavy particles. Received: 21 June 2001 / Accepted: 4 January 2002     

Projection of Markov Measures May Be Gibbsian

We study the induced measure obtained from a 1-step Markov measure, supported by a topological Markov chain, after the mapping of the original alphabet onto another one. We give sufficient conditions for the induced measure to be a Gibbs measure (in the sense of Bowen) when the factor system is again a topological Markov chain. This amounts to constructing, when it does exist, the induced potential and proving its Hölder continuity. This is achieved through a matrix method. We provide examples and counterexamples to illustrate our results.     

Conformational analysis of dipeptide‐derived polyisocyanides

The conformational properties of polymers derived from isocyanodipeptides have been investigated with a combination of model calculations, X‐ray diffraction, and circular dichroism spectroscopy. Depending on the configuration of the side chains, defined arrays of hydrogen bonds along the polymeric backbone are formed. This leads to a well‐defined conformation as, for example, expressed in the formation of lyotropic liquid‐crystalline phases and increased helical stability. Upon the disruption of the hydrogen bonds by a strong acid, a less well‐defined macromolecular conformation is observed. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 1725–1736, 2003     

De-mixing dynamics of a binary liquid system in a controlled-pore glass

The European Physical Journal E - The temperature-induced microphase separation of the binary liquid system iso-butyric acid+heavy water (iBA + D2O) in a mesoporous silica glass (CPG-10-75) of...     

Analysis of tunable diode-laser spectra of Q(J,0) lines in CH3F near 1475 cm using a multispectrum fitting technique

We have analyzed the methyl fluoride ^RQ(J,0)Q branch lines located near 1475 cm⁻¹ using a simultaneous multi-spectrum fitting technique. In this analysis we have used previously recorded diode-laser data in which we collected many data points covering only one or two Q branch lines in a particular run. The analysis consists of simultaneously fitting 57 spectra collected with numerous pressure and path length conditions for all absorption lines. The data are concatenated to create one continuous spectrum of the Q branch. We have determined the intensity and self-broadened widths at 296 K for 23 ^RQ(J,0) lines.     

Post deposition purification of PTCDA thin films

The decomposition of perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic dianhydride (PTCDA) molecules during evaporation of unpurified raw material in ultra high vacuum was studied. The fragments were identified by mass spectrometry and the influence of these fragments and further contaminations of the raw material on the electronic structure of PTCDA thin films was measured by photoemission spectroscopy. Annealing of contaminated PTCDA films was tested as cheap and easy to perform method for (partial) post deposition purification of the contaminated films.     

Equilibrium Problems with Applications to Eigenvalue Problems

In this paper, we consider equilibrium problems and introduce the concept of (S)₊ condition for bifunctions. Existence results for equilibrium problems with the (S)₊ condition are derived. As special cases, we obtain several existence results for the generalized nonlinear variational inequality studied by Ding and Tarafdar (Ref. 1) and the generalized variational inequality studied by Cubiotti and Yao (Ref. 2). Finally, applications to a class of eigenvalue problems are given.