619 research outputs found
Renormalization group trajectories from resonance factorized S-matrices
We propose and investigate a large class of models possessing resonance
factorized S-matrices. The associated Casimir energy describes a rich pattern
of renormalization group trajectories related to flows in the coset models
based on the simply laced Lie Algebras. From a simplest resonance S-matrix,
satisfying the ``-property'', we predict new flows in non-unitary
minimal models.Comment: (7 pages) (no figures included
Re-architecting datacenter networks and stacks for low latency and high performance
© 2017 ACM. Modern datacenter networks provide very high capacity via redundant Clos topologies and low switch latency, but transport protocols rarely deliver matching performance. We present NDP, a novel datacenter transport architecture that achieves near-optimal completion times for short transfers and high flow throughput in a wide range of scenarios, including incast. NDP switch buffers are very shallow and when they fill the switches trim packets to headers and priority forward the headers. This gives receivers a full view of instantaneous demand from all senders, and is the basis for our novel, high-performance, multipath-aware transport protocol that can deal gracefully with massive incast events and prioritize traffic from different senders on RTT timescales. We implemented NDP in Linux hosts with DPDK, in a software switch, in a NetFPGA-based hardware switch, and in P4. We evaluate NDP's performance in our implementations and in large-scale simulations, simultaneously demonstrating support for very low-latency and high throughput.This work was partly funded by the SSICLOPS H2020 project (644866)
Relative entropy in 2d Quantum Field Theory, finite-size corrections and irreversibility of the Renormalization Group
The relative entropy in two-dimensional Field Theory is studied for its
application as an irreversible quantity under the Renormalization Group,
relying on a general monotonicity theorem for that quantity previously
established. In the cylinder geometry, interpreted as finite-temperature field
theory, one can define from the relative entropy a monotonic quantity similar
to Zamolodchikov's c function. On the other hand, the one-dimensional quantum
thermodynamic entropy also leads to a monotonic quantity, with different
properties. The relation of thermodynamic quantities with the complex
components of the stress tensor is also established and hence the entropic c
theorems are proposed as analogues of Zamolodchikov's c theorem for the
cylinder geometry.Comment: 5 pages, Latex file, revtex, reorganized to best show the generality
of the results, version to appear in Phys. Rev. Let
Matrix Model Conjecture for Exact BS Periods and Nekrasov Functions
We give a concise summary of the impressive recent development unifying a
number of different fundamental subjects. The quiver Nekrasov functions
(generalized hypergeometric series) form a full basis for all conformal blocks
of the Virasoro algebra and are sufficient to provide the same for some
(special) conformal blocks of W-algebras. They can be described in terms of
Seiberg-Witten theory, with the SW differential given by the 1-point resolvent
in the DV phase of the quiver (discrete or conformal) matrix model
(\beta-ensemble), dS = ydz + O(\epsilon^2) = \sum_p \epsilon^{2p}
\rho_\beta^{(p|1)}(z), where \epsilon and \beta are related to the LNS
parameters \epsilon_1 and \epsilon_2. This provides explicit formulas for
conformal blocks in terms of analytically continued contour integrals and
resolves the old puzzle of the free-field description of generic conformal
blocks through the Dotsenko-Fateev integrals. Most important, this completes
the GKMMM description of SW theory in terms of integrability theory with the
help of exact BS integrals, and provides an extended manifestation of the basic
principle which states that the effective actions are the tau-functions of
integrable hierarchies.Comment: 14 page
A survey of performance enhancement of transmission control protocol (TCP) in wireless ad hoc networks
This Article is provided by the Brunel Open Access Publishing Fund - Copyright @ 2011 Springer OpenTransmission control protocol (TCP), which provides reliable end-to-end data delivery, performs well in traditional wired network environments, while in wireless ad hoc networks, it does not perform well. Compared to wired networks, wireless ad hoc networks have some specific characteristics such as node mobility and a shared medium. Owing to these specific characteristics of wireless ad hoc networks, TCP faces particular problems with, for example, route failure, channel contention and high bit error rates. These factors are responsible for the performance degradation of TCP in wireless ad hoc networks. The research community has produced a wide range of proposals to improve the performance of TCP in wireless ad hoc networks. This article presents a survey of these proposals (approaches). A classification of TCP improvement proposals for wireless ad hoc networks is presented, which makes it easy to compare the proposals falling under the same category. Tables which summarize the approaches for quick overview are provided. Possible directions for further improvements in this area are suggested in the conclusions. The aim of the article is to enable the reader to quickly acquire an overview of the state of TCP in wireless ad hoc networks.This study is partly funded by Kohat University of Science & Technology (KUST),
Pakistan, and the Higher Education Commission, Pakistan
Recent advances in the production of γ-valerolactone from biomass-derived feedstocks via heterogeneous catalytic transfer hydrogenation
γ-valerolactone (GVL) is an important intermediate chemical with a wide range of applications as fuel, fuel additive and as a green solvent which has received a great deal of attentions from both academia and industry. This review aims to summarise the advances in conversion of renewable feedstocks into GVL through heterogeneous catalytic transfer hydrogenation (CTH) with a strong emphasis on discussing preparation, characterisation and performance of the catalysts in order to provide a better understanding of various catalytic systems and also to compare them in terms of catalytic performance
Spintronics: Fundamentals and applications
Spintronics, or spin electronics, involves the study of active control and
manipulation of spin degrees of freedom in solid-state systems. This article
reviews the current status of this subject, including both recent advances and
well-established results. The primary focus is on the basic physical principles
underlying the generation of carrier spin polarization, spin dynamics, and
spin-polarized transport in semiconductors and metals. Spin transport differs
from charge transport in that spin is a nonconserved quantity in solids due to
spin-orbit and hyperfine coupling. The authors discuss in detail spin
decoherence mechanisms in metals and semiconductors. Various theories of spin
injection and spin-polarized transport are applied to hybrid structures
relevant to spin-based devices and fundamental studies of materials properties.
Experimental work is reviewed with the emphasis on projected applications, in
which external electric and magnetic fields and illumination by light will be
used to control spin and charge dynamics to create new functionalities not
feasible or ineffective with conventional electronics.Comment: invited review, 36 figures, 900+ references; minor stylistic changes
from the published versio
Clinical, Epidemiologic, Histopathologic and Molecular Features of an Unexplained Dermopathy
BACKGROUND: Morgellons is a poorly characterized constellation of symptoms, with the primary manifestations involving the skin. We conducted an investigation of this unexplained dermopathy to characterize the clinical and epidemiologic features and explore potential etiologies. METHODS: A descriptive study was conducted among persons at least 13 years of age and enrolled in Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC) during 2006-2008. A case was defined as the self-reported emergence of fibers or materials from the skin accompanied by skin lesions and/or disturbing skin sensations. We collected detailed epidemiologic data, performed clinical evaluations and geospatial analyses and analyzed materials collected from participants' skin. RESULTS: We identified 115 case-patients. The prevalence was 3.65 (95% CI = 2.98, 4.40) cases per 100,000 enrollees. There was no clustering of cases within the 13-county KPNC catchment area (p = .113). Case-patients had a median age of 52 years (range: 17-93) and were primarily female (77%) and Caucasian (77%). Multi-system complaints were common; 70% reported chronic fatigue and 54% rated their overall health as fair or poor with mean Physical Component Scores and Mental Component Scores of 36.63 (SD = 12.9) and 35.45 (SD = 12.89), respectively. Cognitive deficits were detected in 59% of case-patients and 63% had evidence of clinically significant somatic complaints; 50% had drugs detected in hair samples and 78% reported exposure to solvents. Solar elastosis was the most common histopathologic abnormality (51% of biopsies); skin lesions were most consistent with arthropod bites or chronic excoriations. No parasites or mycobacteria were detected. Most materials collected from participants' skin were composed of cellulose, likely of cotton origin. CONCLUSIONS: This unexplained dermopathy was rare among this population of Northern California residents, but associated with significantly reduced health-related quality of life. No common underlying medical condition or infectious source was identified, similar to more commonly recognized conditions such as delusional infestation
Srv Mediated Dispersal of Streptococcal Biofilms Through SpeB Is Observed in CovRS+ Strains
Group A Streptococcus (GAS) is a human specific pathogen capable of causing both mild infections and severe invasive disease. We and others have shown that GAS is able to form biofilms during infection. That is to say, they form a three-dimensional, surface attached structure consisting of bacteria and a multi-component extracellular matrix. The mechanisms involved in regulation and dispersal of these GAS structures are still unclear. Recently we have reported that in the absence of the transcriptional regulator Srv in the MGAS5005 background, the cysteine protease SpeB is constitutively produced, leading to increased tissue damage and decreased biofilm formation during a subcutaneous infection in a mouse model. This was interesting because MGAS5005 has a naturally occurring mutation that inactivates the sensor kinase domain of the two component regulatory system CovRS. Others have previously shown that strains lacking covS are associated with decreased SpeB production due to CovR repression of speB expression. Thus, our results suggest the inactivation of srv can bypass CovR repression and lead to constitutive SpeB production. We hypothesized that Srv control of SpeB production may be a mechanism to regulate biofilm dispersal and provide a mechanism by which mild infection can transition to severe disease through biofilm dispersal. The question remained however, is this mechanism conserved among GAS strains or restricted to the unique genetic makeup of MGAS5005. Here we show that Srv mediated control of SpeB and biofilm dispersal is conserved in the invasive clinical isolates RGAS053 (serotype M1) and MGAS315 (serotype M3), both of which have covS intact. This work provides additional evidence that Srv regulated control of SpeB may mediate biofilm formation and dispersal in diverse strain backgrounds
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