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We study the performance of QCD simulations with dynamical Wilson fermions by combining the Hybrid Monte Carlo algorithm with parallel tempering on $10^4$ and $12^4$ lattices. In order to compare tempered with standard simulations, covariance matrices between sub-ensembles have to be formulated and evaluated using the general properties of autocorrelations of the parallel tempering algorithm. We find that rendering the hopping parameter $\kappa$ dynamical does not lead to an essential improvement. We point out possible reasons for this observation and discuss more suitable ways of applying parallel tempering to QCD.
A numerical reinvestigation of the Aoki phase with $N_f=2$ Wilson fermions at zero temperature
(2003)
We report on a numerical reinvestigation of the Aoki phase in lattice QCD with two flavors of Wilson fermions where the parity-flavor symmetry is spontaneously broken. For this purpose the Hybrid Monte Carlo algorithm was used and an explicit symmetry-breaking source term $h\bar{\psi} i \gamma_{5} \tau^{3}\psi$ was added to the Wilson fermion action. The order parameter $\langle\bar{\psi}i\gamma_{5}\tau^{3}\psi\rangle$ was studied at several values of $(\beta,\kappa,h)$ on lattices of sizes $4^4$ to $12^4$. Our largest lattices can be considered as infintely large allowing to extrapolate to $h=0$. The existence of a parity-flavor-breaking phase can be confirmed at $\beta=4.0$ and $\beta=4.3$ while we find no sign of parity-flavor-breaking at $\beta=4.6$ and $\beta=5.0$.
In this letter we report on a numerical investigation of the Aoki phase in the case of finite temperature which continues our former study at zero temperature. We have performed simulations with Wilson fermions at $\beta=4.6$ using lattices with temporal extension $N_{\tau}=4$. In contrast to the zero temperature case, the existence of an Aoki phase can be confirmed for a small range in $\kappa$ at $\beta=4.6$, however, shifted slightly to lower $\kappa$. Despite fine-tuning $\kappa$ we could not separate the thermal transition line from the Aoki phase.
The mitotic spindle ensures the faithful segregation of chromosomes. Here we combine the first large-scale serial electron tomography of whole mitotic spindles in early C. elegans embryos with live-cell imaging to reconstruct all microtubules in 3D and identify their plus- and minus-ends. We classify them as kinetochore (KMTs), spindle (SMTs) or astral microtubules (AMTs) according to their positions, and quantify distinct properties of each class. While our light microscopy and mutant studies show that microtubules are nucleated from the centrosomes, we find only a few KMTs directly connected to the centrosomes. Indeed, by quantitatively analysing several models of microtubule growth, we conclude that minus-ends of KMTs have selectively detached and depolymerized from the centrosome. In toto, our results show that the connection between centrosomes and chromosomes is mediated by an anchoring into the entire spindle network and that any direct connections through KMTs are few and likely very transient.
Stimulation of renal collecting duct principal cells with antidiuretic hormone (arginine-vasopressin, AVP) results in inhibition of the small GTPase RhoA and the enrichment of the water channel aquaporin-2 (AQP2) in the plasma membrane. The membrane insertion facilitates water reabsorption from primary urine and fine-tuning of body water homeostasis. Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) interact with RhoA, catalyze the exchange of GDP for GTP and thereby activate the GTPase. However, GEFs involved in the control of AQP2 in renal principal cells are unknown. The A-kinase anchoring protein, AKAP-Lbc, possesses GEF activity, specifically activates RhoA, and is expressed in primary renal inner medullary collecting duct principal (IMCD) cells. Through screening of 18,431 small molecules and synthesis of a focused library around one of the hits, we identified an inhibitor of the interaction of AKAP-Lbc and RhoA. This molecule, Scaff10-8, bound to RhoA, inhibited the AKAP-Lbc-mediated RhoA activation but did not interfere with RhoA activation through other GEFs or activities of other members of the Rho family of small GTPases, Rac1 and Cdc42. Scaff10-8 promoted the redistribution of AQP2 from intracellular vesicles to the periphery of IMCD cells. Thus, our data demonstrate an involvement of AKAP-Lbc-mediated RhoA activation in the control of AQP2 trafficking.