Fluctuation-dissipation relation in a sheared fluid

In a fluid out of equilibrium, the fluctuation dissipation theorem (FDT) is usually violated. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we study in detail the relationship between correlation and response functions in a fluid driven into a stationary non-equilibrium state. Both the high temperature fluid state and the low temperature glassy state are investigated. In the glassy state, the violation of the FDT is quantitatively identical to the one observed previously in an aging system in the absence of external drive. In the fluid state, violations of the FDT appear only when the fluid is driven beyond the linear response regime, and are then similar to those observed in the glassy state. These results are consistent with the picture obtained earlier from theoretical studies of driven mean-field disordered models, confirming the similarity between these models and real glasses.Comment: 4 pages, latex, 3 ps figure

Hydrodynamics of Spatially Ordered Superfluids

We derive the hydrodynamic equations for the supersolid and superhexatic phases of a neutral two-dimensional Bose fluid. We find, assuming that the normal part of the fluid is clamped to an underlying substrate, that both phases can sustain third-sound modes and that in the supersolid phase there are additional modes due to the superfluid motion of point defects (vacancies and interstitials).Comment: 24 pages of ReVTeX and 7 uuencoded figures. Submitted for publication in Phys. Rev.

Translational groups as generators of gauge transformations

We examine the gauge generating nature of the translational subgroup of Wigner's little group for the case of massless tensor gauge theories and show that the gauge transformations generated by the translational group is only a subset of the complete set of gauge transformations. We also show that, just like the case of topologically massive gauge theories, translational groups act as generators of gauge transformations in gauge theories obtained by extending massive gauge noninvariant theories by a Stuckelberg mechanism. The representations of the translational groups that generate gauge transformations in such Stuckelberg extended theories can be obtained by the method of dimensional descent. We illustrate these with the examples of Stuckelberg extended first class versions of Proca, Einstein-Pauli-Fierz and massive Kalb-Ramond theories in 3+1 dimensions. A detailed analysis of the partial gauge generation in massive and massless 2nd rank symmetric gauge theories is provided. The gauge transformations generated by translational group in 2-form gauge theories are shown to explicitly manifest the reducibility of gauge transformations in these theories.Comment: Latex, 20 pages, no figures, Version to appear in Physical Review

In vitro neuroprotective activities of two distinct probiotic consortia

Neurodegeneration has been linked to changes in the gut microbiota and this study compares the neuroprotective capability of two bacterial consortia, known as Lab4 and Lab4b, using the established SH-SY5Y neuronal cell model. Firstly, varying total antioxidant capacities (TAC) were identified in the intact cells from each consortia and their secreted metabolites, referred to as conditioned media (CM). 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and Crystal Violet (CV) assays of cell viability revealed that Lab4 CM and Lab4b CM could induce similar levels of proliferation in SH-SY5Y cells and, despite divergent TAC, possessed a comparable ability to protect undifferentiated and retinoic acid-differentiated cells from the cytotoxic actions of rotenone and undifferentiated cells from the cytotoxic actions of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium iodide (MPP+). Lab4 CM and Lab4b CM also had the ability to attenuate rotenone-induced apoptosis and necrosis with Lab4b inducing the greater effect. Both consortia showed an analogous ability to attenuate intracellular reactive oxygen species accumulation in SH-SY5Y cells although the differential upregulation of genes encoding glutathione reductase and superoxide dismutase by Lab4 CM and Lab4b CM, respectively, implicates the involvement of consortia-specific antioxidative mechanisms of action. This study implicates Lab4 and Lab4b as potential neuroprotective agents and justifies their inclusion in further in vivo studies

Anthropogenic Space Weather

Anthropogenic effects on the space environment started in the late 19th century and reached their peak in the 1960s when high-altitude nuclear explosions were carried out by the USA and the Soviet Union. These explosions created artificial radiation belts near Earth that resulted in major damages to several satellites. Another, unexpected impact of the high-altitude nuclear tests was the electromagnetic pulse (EMP) that can have devastating effects over a large geographic area (as large as the continental United States). Other anthropogenic impacts on the space environment include chemical release ex- periments, high-frequency wave heating of the ionosphere and the interaction of VLF waves with the radiation belts. This paper reviews the fundamental physical process behind these phenomena and discusses the observations of their impacts.Comment: 71 pages, 35 figure

Response to "Comment on `Resolving the 180deg Ambiguity in Solar Vector Magnetic Field Data: Evaluating the Effects of Noise, Spatial Resolution, and Method Assumptions'"

We address points recently discussed in Georgoulis (2011) in reference to Leka et al. (2009b). Most importantly, we find that the results of Georgoulis (2011) support a conclusion of Leka et al. (2009b): that limited spatial resolution and the presence of unresolved magnetic structures can challenge ambiguity- resolution algorithms. Moreover, the findings of both Metcalf et al. (2006) and Leka et al. (2009b) are confirmed in Georgoulis (2011): a method's performance can be diminished when the observed field fails to conform to that method's assumptions. The implication of boundaries in models of solar magnetic structures is discussed; we confirm that the distribution of the field components in the model used in Leka et al. (2009b) is closer to what is observed on the Sun than what is proposed in Georgoulis (2011). It is also shown that method does matter with regards to simulating limited spatial resolution and avoiding an inadvertent introduction of bias. Finally, the assignment of categories to data- analysis algorithms is revisited; we argue that assignments are only useful and elucidating when used appropriately.Comment: Accepted for publication in Solar Physic

Quantum Critical Behavior and Possible Triplet Superconductivity in Electron Doped CoO2 Sheets

Density functional calculations are used to investigate the doping dependence of the electronic structure and magnetic properties in hexagonal Na$_x$CoO$_2$. The electronic structure is found to be highly two dimensional, even without accounting for the structural changes associated with hydration. At the local spin density approximation level, a weak itinerant ferromagnetic state is predicted for all doping levels in the range $x=0.3$ to $x=0.7$, with competing but weaker itinerant antiferromagnetic solutions. The Fermi surface, as expected, consists of simple rounded hexagonal cylinders, with additional small pockets depending on the $c$ lattice parameter. Comparison with experiment implies substantial magnetic quantum fluctuations. Based on the Fermi surface size and the ferromagnetic tendency of this material,it is speculated that a triplet superconducting state analogous to that in Sr$_2$RuO$_4$ may exist here.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figur

Influence of next-nearest-neighbor electron hopping on the static and dynamical properties of the 2D Hubbard model

Comparing experimental data for high temperature cuprate superconductors with numerical results for electronic models, it is becoming apparent that a hopping along the plaquette diagonals has to be included to obtain a quantitative agreement. According to recent estimations the value of the diagonal hopping $t'$ appears to be material dependent. However, the values for $t'$ discussed in the literature were obtained comparing theoretical results in the weak coupling limit with experimental photoemission data and band structure calculations. The goal of this paper is to study how $t'$ gets renormalized as the interaction between electrons, $U$, increases. For this purpose, the effect of adding a bare diagonal hopping $t'$ to the fully interacting two dimensional Hubbard model Hamiltonian is investigated using numerical techniques. Positive and negative values of $t'$ are analyzed. Spin-spin correlations, $n(\bf{k})$, $\langle n\rangle$ vs $\mu$, and local magnetic moments are studied for values of $U/t$ ranging from 0 to 6, and as a function of the electronic density. The influence of the diagonal hopping in the spectral function $A(\bf{k},\omega)$ is also discussed, and the changes in the gap present in the density of states at half-filling are studied. We introduce a new criterion to determine probable locations of Fermi surfaces at zero temperature from $n(\bf{k})$ data obtained at finite temperature. It appears that hole pockets at ${\bf{k}}=(\pi/2,\pi/2)$ may be induced for negative $t'$ while a positive $t'$ produces similar features at ${\bf{k}}=(\pi,0)$ and $(0,\pi)$. Comparisons with the standard 2D Hubbard ($t'=0$) model indicate that a negative $t'$ hopping amplitude appears to be dynamically generated. In general, we conclude that it is very dangerous to extract a bare parameter of the Hamiltonian $(t')$ from PES data whereComment: 9 pages (RevTex 3.0), 12 figures (postscript), files packed with uufile

Absolutely anticommuting (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations for topologically massive Abelian gauge theory

We demonstrate the existence of the nilpotent and absolutely anticommuting Becchi-Rouet-Stora-Tyutin (BRST) and anti-BRST symmetry transformations for the four (3 + 1)-dimensional (4D) topologically massive Abelian U(1) gauge theory that is described by the coupled Lagrangian densities (which incorporate the celebrated (B \wedge F) term). The absolute anticommutativity of the (anti-) BRST symmetry transformations is ensured by the existence of a Curci-Ferrari type restriction that emerges from the superfield formalism as well as from the equations of motion that are derived from the above coupled Lagrangian densities. We show the invariance of the action from the point of view of the symmetry considerations as well as superfield formulation. We discuss, furthermore, the topological term within the framework of superfield formalism and provide the geometrical meaning of its invariance under the (anti-) BRST symmetry transformations.Comment: LaTeX file, 22 pages, journal versio

Sedimentation record in the Konkan-Kerala Basin: implications for the evolution of the Western Ghats and the Western Indian passive margin

The Konkan and Kerala Basins constitute a major depocentre for sediment from the onshore hinterland of Western India and as such provide a valuable record of the timing and magnitude of Cenozoic denudation along the continental margin. This paper presents an analysis of sedimentation in the Konkan-Kerala Basin, coupledwith a mass balance study, and numerical modelling of flexural responses to onshore denudational unloading and o¡shore sediment loading in order to test competing conceptual models for the development of high-elevation passive margins. The Konkan-Kerala Basin contains an estimated 109,000 km<sup>3</sup>; of Cenozoic clastic sediment, a volume difficult to reconcile with the denudation of a downwarped rift flank onshore, and more consistent with denudation of an elevated rift flank. We infer from modelling of the isostatic response of the lithosphere to sediment loading offshore and denudation onshore that flexure is an important component in the development of the Western Indian Margin.There is evidence for two major pulses in sedimentation: an early phase in the Palaeocene, and a second beginning in the Pliocene. The Palaeocene increase in sedimentation can be interpreted in terms of a denudational response to the rifting between India and the Seychelles, whereas the mechanism responsible for the Pliocene pulse is more enigmatic