Noise probe of the dynamic phase separation in La(2/3)Ca(1/3)MnO3

Giant random telegraph noise (RTN) in the resistance fluctuation of a macroscopic film of perovskite-type manganese oxide La(2/3)Ca(1/3)MnO3 has been observed at various temperatures ranging from 4 to 170 K, well below the Curie temperature ( T(C) approximately 210 K). The amplitudes of the two-level fluctuations vary from 0.01% to 0.2%. We discuss the origin of the RTN to be a dynamic mixed-phase percolative conduction process, where manganese clusters switch back and forth between two phases that differ in their conductivity and magnetization.     

Event-by-event fluid dynamcis

Coarse grained Langevin-type effective field equations may provide some guidance for the analysis of mesoscopic or microscopic molecular systems exhibiting fluctuations, or for systems of hundreds to thousands of atomic or subatomic particles produced in atomic or high-energy nuclear collisions. Suggestions for consistent realization of random fluctuations in discretized fluid dynamics will be presented.     

Conformation-dependent ligand regulation of ATP hydrolysis by human KSP: activation of basal hydrolysis and inhibition of microtubule-stimulated hydrolysis by a single, small molecule modulator

Human kinesin spindle protein (KSP)/hsEg5, a member of the kinesin-5 family, is essential for mitotic spindle assembly in dividing human cells and is required for cell cycle progression through mitosis. Inhibition of the ATPase activity of KSP leads to cell cycle arrest during mitosis and subsequent cell death. Ispinesib (SB-715992), a potent and selective inhibitor of KSP, is currently in phase II clinical trials for the treatment of multiple tumor types. Mutations that attenuate Ispinesib binding to KSP in vitro have been identified, highlighting the need for inhibitors that target different binding sites and inhibit KSP activity by novel mechanisms. We report here a small-molecule modulator, KSPA-1, that activates KSP-catalyzed ATP hydrolysis in the absence of microtubules yet inhibits microtubule-stimulated ATP hydrolysis by KSP. KSPA-1 inhibits cell proliferation and induces monopolar-spindle formation in tumor cells. Results from kinetic analyses, microtubule (MT) binding competition assays, and hydrogen/deuterium-exchange studies show that KSPA-1 does not compete directly for microtubule binding. Rather, this compound acts by driving a conformational change in the KSP motor domain and disrupts productive ATP turnover stimulated by MT. These findings provide a novel mechanism for targeting KSP and perhaps other mitotic kinesins.     

Spectroscopic and magnetic properties of the metastable states in the coordination network [{Co(prm)2}2{Co(H2O)2}{W(CN)8}2]·4H2O (prm = pyrimidine)

The study of the metastable states, obtained by thermal quenching or by light irradiation in the [{Co(prm)(2)}(2){Co(H(2)O)(2)}{W(CN)(8)}(2)]·4H(2)O complex, is reported using powder X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, optical reflectivity, and magnetic measurements. This compound is characterized by a electron-transfer (ET) phase transition occurring between a high-temperature phase (HT phase) formed by paramagnetic Co(II)-W(V) units and a low-temperature phase (LT phase) formed by diamagnetic Co(III)-W(IV) units. Metastable phases can be induced at low temperature either by thermal quenching rapidly cooling phase named RC or by irradiation photo-induced phase named PI similar to the well-known Light-Induced Excited Spin State Trapping effect. The relaxation dynamics of the metastable phases have been studied and revealed some differences between the RC and PI phases. The sigmoidal shape of the relaxation curves in the RC phase is in agreement with the cooperative nature of the process. Thermodynamic parameters that govern the relaxation have been determined and used to reproduce the experimental Thermal-Induced Excited Spin State Trapping curve.