The elastic theory of a single DNA molecule

We study the elastic responses of double-(ds) and single-stranded (ss) DNA at external force fields. A double-strand-polymer elastic model is constructed and solved by path integral methods and Monte Carlo simulations to understand the entropic elasticity, cooperative extensibility, and supercoiling property of dsDNA. The good agreement with experiments indicates that short-ranged base-pair stacking interaction is crucial for the stability and the high deformability of dsDNA. Hairpin-coil transition in ssDNA is studied with generating function method. A threshold force is needed to pull the ssDNA hairpin patterns, stabilized by base pairing and base-pair stacking, into random coils. This phase transition is predicted to be of first order for stacking potential higher than some critical level, in accordance with experimental observations.     

Improved search for $B_{s}^{0} - \overline{B}_{s}^{0}$ oscillations

An improved search for B _s ⁰ oscillations is performed in the ALEPH data sample collected during the first phase of LEP, and reprocessed in 1998. Three analyses based on complementary event selections are presented. First, decays of B _s ⁰ mesons into hadronic flavour eigenstates are fully reconstructed. This selection yields a small sample of candidates with excellent decay length and momentum resolution and hi gh average B _s ⁰ purity. Semileptonic decays with a reconstructed D _s ^- meson provide a second sample with larger statistics, high average B _s ⁰ purity, but a poorer momentum and decay length resolution due to the partial decay reconstruction. Finally, semileptonic b-hadron decays are inclusively selected and yield the data sample with the highest sensitivity to B _s ⁰ oscillations, as the much higher statistics compensate for the low average B _s ⁰ purity and poorer time resolution. A lower limit is set atps^-1 at 95% C.L., significantly lower than the expected limit of 15.2 ps^-1. Received: 21 February 2003 / Published online: 11 June 2003     

Lattice valued intuitionistic fuzzy sets

In this paper a new definition of a lattice valued intuitionistic fuzzy set (LIFS) is introduced, in an attempt to overcome the disadvantages of earlier definitions. Some properties of this kind of fuzzy sets and their basic operations are given. The theorem of synthesis is proved: For every two families of subsets of a set satisfying certain conditions, there is an lattice valued intuitionistic fuzzy set for which these are families of level sets. The research supported by Serbian Ministry of Science and Technology, Grant No. 1227.     

On the computation of scaling coefficients of Daubechies' wavelets

In the present paper, Daubechies' wavelets and the computation of their scaling coefficients are briefly reviewed. Then a new method of computation is proposed. This method is based on the work [7] concerning a new orthonormality condition and relations among scaling moments, respectively. For filter lengths up to 16, the arising system can be explicitly solved with algebraic methods like Gröbner bases. Its simple structure allows one to find quickly all possible solutions.     

The representation dimension of domestic weakly symmetric algebras

Auslander’s representation dimension measures how far a finite dimensional algebra is away from being of finite representation type. In [1], M. Auslander proved that a finite dimensional algebra A is of finite representation type if and only if the representation dimension of A is at most 2. Recently, R. Rouquier proved that there are finite dimensional algebras of an arbitrarily large finite representation dimension. One of the exciting open problems is to show that all finite dimensional algebras of tame representation type have representation dimension at most 3. We prove that this is true for all domestic weakly symmetric algebras over algebraically closed fields having simply connected Galois coverings.     

Penetration of radionuclides across the skin: Rat age dependent promethium permeation through skin in vitro

The composition and the permeation properties of the skin are dependent on age. In the animal models for permation studies, age affects the mechanical as well as the permeation properties significantly. The time dependence of permeation of ¹⁴⁷Pm³⁺ from aqueous solution was established by the animal skin model and the age dependence of promethium permeation through the skin was examined. The aim was to find the optimum rat skin age model for radionuclide permeation studies and to assess the relative importance of the main permeation pathways: transepidermal and transfollicular permeation. The skin from 5-day-old rats (5DR) was found to represent the optimum animal model to study transepidermal permeation of ions. The skin from 9-day-old rats (9DR) was selected to study transfollicular permeation of ions. Comparison of the permeated amounts of promethium through the skin without hairs (3 DR to 6 DR) and with hairs (7DR to 12DR) showed that the additional permation mode via follicles significantly contributed to the permeation rate and extent.