Geometric Prequantization of the Moduli Space of the Vortex equations on a Riemann surface

The moduli space of solutions to the vortex equations on a Riemann surface are well known to have a symplectic (in fact K\"{a}hler) structure. We show this symplectic structure explictly and proceed to show a family of symplectic (in fact, K\"{a}hler) structures $\Omega_{\Psi_0}$ on the moduli space, parametrised by $\Psi_0$, a section of a line bundle on the Riemann surface. Next we show that corresponding to these there is a family of prequantum line bundles ${\mathcal P}_{\Psi_0}$on the moduli space whose curvature is proportional to the symplectic forms $\Omega_{\Psi_0}$.Comment: 8 page

Similarity based cooperation and spatial segregation

We analyze a cooperative game, where the cooperative act is not based on the previous behaviour of the co-player, but on the similarity between the players. This system has been studied in a mean-field description recently [A. Traulsen and H. G. Schuster, Phys. Rev. E 68, 046129 (2003)]. Here, the spatial extension to a two-dimensional lattice is studied, where each player interacts with eight players in a Moore neighborhood. The system shows a strong segregation independent on parameters. The introduction of a local conversion mechanism towards tolerance allows for four-state cycles and the emergence of spiral waves in the spatial game. In the case of asymmetric costs of cooperation a rich variety of complex behavior is observed depending on both cooperation costs. Finally, we study the stabilization of a cooperative fixed point of a forecast rule in the symmetric game, which corresponds to cooperation across segregation borders. This fixed point becomes unstable for high cooperation costs, but can be stabilized by a linear feedback mechanism.Comment: 7 pages, 9 figure

Medicinal Cannabis Use in Sickle Cell Anemia

Approximately 100,000 Americans suffer from sickle cell anemia (SCA), a severe hereditary form of anemia in which red blood cells can mutate into a sickled shape causing severe pain crises that can lead to ED visits, hospitalization, and negatively impact multiple organ systems. Pain crises greatly impact the quality of life for SCA patients. Living with SCA can be stressful and often affects patients’ mental health, causing anxiety or depression (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, 2016). Opioids have been a treatment mainstay for the severe pain caused by SCA but the side effects of opioids, plus the risk of dependence, are issues that have led both patients and researchers to consider medicinal cannabis as a treatment option. While there is limited research addressing the treatment of sickle cell pain with cannabis some research does suggest that cannabis could have a beneficial effect on the management of both chronic pain and acute pain (Choo, Feldstein Ewing, & Lovejoy, 2016; Kroenke & Cheville, 2017). The aim of this study is to evaluate the association between medicinal cannabis use and quality of life for individuals with SCA. The primary goal of this pilot study is to gather a cohort of participants and administer a baseline survey that will be used in a larger study. The goal of the larger study is to assess the impact of medicinal cannabis available through Pennsylvania’s Department of Health-approved dispensaries in Philadelphia on the quality of life for individuals with sickle cell anemia (SCA)

From simplicial Chern-Simons theory to the shadow invariant II

This is the second of a series of papers in which we introduce and study a rigorous "simplicial" realization of the non-Abelian Chern-Simons path integral for manifolds M of the form M = Sigma x S1 and arbitrary simply-connected compact structure groups G. More precisely, we introduce, for general links L in M, a rigorous simplicial version WLO_{rig}(L) of the corresponding Wilson loop observable WLO(L) in the so-called "torus gauge" by Blau and Thompson (Nucl. Phys. B408(2):345-390, 1993). For a simple class of links L we then evaluate WLO_{rig}(L) explicitly in a non-perturbative way, finding agreement with Turaev's shadow invariant |L|.Comment: 53 pages, 1 figure. Some minor changes and corrections have been mad

Independent individual addressing of multiple neutral atom qubits with a MEMS beam steering system

We demonstrate a scalable approach to addressing multiple atomic qubits for use in quantum information processing. Individually trapped 87Rb atoms in a linear array are selectively manipulated with a single laser guided by a MEMS beam steering system. Single qubit oscillations are shown on multiple sites at frequencies of ~3.5 MHz with negligible crosstalk to neighboring sites. Switching times between the central atom and its closest neighbor were measured to be 6-7 us while moving between the central atom and an atom two trap sites away took 10-14 us.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figure

Triggering necroptosis in cisplatin and IAP antagonist-resistant ovarian carcinoma.

Ovarian cancer patients are typically treated with carboplatin and paclitaxel, but suffer a high rate of relapse with recalcitrant disease. This challenge has fostered the development of novel approaches to treatment, including antagonists of the 'inhibitor of apoptosis proteins' (IAPs), also called SMAC mimetics, as apoptosis-inducing agents whose action is opposed by caspase inhibitors. Surprisingly, IAP antagonist plus caspase inhibitor (IZ) treatment selectively induced a tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα)-dependent death among several apoptosis-resistant cell lines and patient xenografts. The induction of necroptosis was common in ovarian cancer, with expression of catalytically active receptor-interacting protein kinase-3 (RIPK3) necessary for death, and in fact sufficient to compromise survival of RIPK3-negative, necroptosis-resistant ovarian cancer cells. The formation of a necrosome-like complex with a second critical effector, receptor-interacting serine-threonine kinase-1 (RIPK1), was observed. RIPK1, RIPK3 and TNFα were required for the induction of death, as agents that inhibit the function of any of these targets prevented cell death. Abundant RIPK3 transcript is common in serous ovarian cancers, suggesting that further evaluation and targeting of this RIPK3-dependent pathway may be of clinical benefit

Birth, death and diffusion of interacting particles

Individual-based models of chemical or biological dynamics usually consider individual entities diffusing in space and performing a birth-death type dynamics. In this work we study the properties of a model in this class where the birth dynamics is mediated by the local, within a given distance, density of particles. Groups of individuals are formed in the system and in this paper we concentrate on the study of the properties of these clusters (lifetime, size, and collective diffusion). In particular, in the limit of the interaction distance approaching the system size, a unique cluster appears which helps to understand and characterize the clustering dynamics of the model.Comment: 15 pages, 6 figures, Iop style. To appear in Journal of Physics A: Condensed matte

Invariants from classical field theory

We introduce a method that generates invariant functions from perturbative classical field theories depending on external parameters. Applying our methods to several field theories such as abelian BF, Chern-Simons and 2-dimensional Yang-Mills theory, we obtain, respectively, the linking number for embedded submanifolds in compact varieties, the Gauss' and the second Milnor's invariant for links in S^3, and invariants under area-preserving diffeomorphisms for configurations of immersed planar curves.Comment: 20 pages, 1 figure, to appear in J. Math. Phy

Conscious awareness is required for holistic face processing.

Investigating the limits of unconscious processing is essential to understand the function of consciousness. Here, we explored whether holistic face processing, a mechanism believed to be important for face processing in general, can be accomplished unconsciously. Using a novel "eyes-face" stimulus we tested whether discrimination of pairs of eyes was influenced by the surrounding face context. While the eyes were fully visible, the faces that provided context could be rendered invisible through continuous flash suppression. Two experiments with three different sets of face stimuli and a subliminal learning procedure converged to show that invisible faces did not influence perception of visible eyes. In contrast, surrounding faces, when they were clearly visible, strongly influenced perception of the eyes. Thus, we conclude that conscious awareness might be a prerequisite for holistic face processing