Bounds for the expected value of one-step processes

Mean-field models are often used to approximate Markov processes with large state-spaces. One-step processes, also known as birth-death processes, are an important class of such processes and are processes with state space $\{0,1,\ldots,N\}$ and where each transition is of size one. We derive explicit bounds on the expected value of such a process, bracketing it between the mean-field model and another simple ODE. Our bounds require that the Markov transition rates are density dependent polynomials that satisfy a sign condition. We illustrate the tightness of our bounds on the SIS epidemic process and the voter model.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figures, revise

HB 217 - Needle Exchange Program

The Act authorizes certain nonprofit organizations and hospitals to operate clean needle exchange programs. These programs allow individuals who inject drugs to exchange their needles for clean, unused needles. The purpose of these programs is to prevent the spread of HIV, Hepatitis C, and other infectious diseases associated with the repeated use and sharing of needles. The Act further authorizes the Department of Public Health to regulate the registration of organizations that will participate in these programs and protects employees of those organizations from being charged with crimes or offenses associated with selling, lending, giving, or exchanging needles

Differentiating Phonotactic Probability and Neighborhood Density in Adult Word Learning

This is the author's accepted manuscript. The original is available at http://jslhr.pubs.asha.org/article.aspx?articleid=1762869&resultClick=3Purpose The purpose of this study was to differentiate effects of phonotactic probability, the likelihood of occurrence of a sound sequence, and neighborhood density, the number of words that sound similar to a given word, on adult word learning. A second purpose was to determine what aspect of word learning (viz., triggering learning, formation of an initial representation, or integration with existing representations) was influenced by each variable. Method Thirty-two adults were exposed to 16 nonwords paired with novel objects in a story context. The nonwords orthogonally varied in phonotactic probability and neighborhood density. Learning was measured following 1, 4, and 7 exposures in a picture-naming task. Partially correct (i.e., 2 of 3 phonemes correct) and completely correct responses (i.e., 3 of 3 phonemes correct) were analyzed together and independently to examine emerging and partial representations of new words versus complete and accurate representations of new words. ResultsAnalysis of partially correct and completely correct responses combined showed that adults learned a lower proportion of high-probability nonwords than low-probability nonwords (i.e., high-probability disadvantage) and learned a higher proportion of high-density nonwords than low-density nonwords (i.e., high-density advantage). Separate analysis of partially correct responses yielded an effect of phonotactic probability only, whereas analysis of completely correct responses yielded an effect of neighborhood density only. Conclusions These findings suggest that phonological and lexical processing influence different aspects of word learning. In particular, phonotactic probability may aid in triggering new learning, whereas neighborhood density may influence the integration of new lexical representations with existing representations

Sensitivity to the KARMEN Timing Anomaly at MiniBooNE

We present sensitivities for the MiniBooNE experiment to a rare exotic pion decay producing a massive particle, Q^0. This type of decay represents one possible explanation for the timing anomaly reported by the KARMEN collaboration. MiniBooNE will be able to explore an area of the KARMEN signal that has not yet been investigated

Fission-Residues Produced in the Spallation Reaction 238U+p at 1 A GeV

Fission fragments from 1 A GeV 238U projectiles irradiating a hydrogen target were investigated by using the fragment separator FRS for magnetic selection of reaction products including ray-tracing and DE-ToF techniques. The momentum spectra of 733 identified fragments were analysed to provide isotopic production cross sections, fission-fragment velocities and recoil momenta of the fissioning parent nuclei. Besides their general relevance, these quantities are also demanded for applications. Calculations and simulations with codes commonly used and recently developed or improved are compared to the data.Comment: 60 pages, 21 figures, 4 tables, 2 appendices (15 pages

Transport and dynamical properties of inertial ratchets

In this paper we discuss the dynamics and transport properties of a massive particle, in a time dependent periodic potential of the ratchet type, with a dissipative environment. The directional currents and characteristics of the motion are studied as the specific frictional coefficient varies, finding that the stationary regime is strongly dependent on this parameter. The maximal Lyapunov exponent and the current show large fluctuations and inversions, therefore for some range of the control parameter, this inertial ratchet could originate a mass separation device. Also an exploration of the effect of a random force on the system is performed.Comment: PDF, 16 pages, 7 figure

Identification of Proteins and Complex Carbohydrates in Some Commercial Low-Fat Dairy Products by Means of Immunolocalization Techniques

Macromolecular assemblies of proteins and hydrocolloids in low-fat dairy products contribute to the structure and texture of these foods. Immunolocalization techniques were used to identify B-lactoglobulin, casein, bovine whey proteins, and egg albumin in low-fat frozen desserts, reduced fat process cheese, and salad dressings. SimpJesse18 I 00 protein particles were examined and characterized by these methods and compared to naturally occurring protein structures in the low-fat foods. Hydrocolloid identification in low-fat salad dressing was accomplished by complexing cellulase and hemicellulase with colloidal gold and applying the probe as a pre-embedding step, on sections of embedded specimens or on material dried on grids. This enzyme-gold method may be generally applied for identification of cellulose and hemicellulose in complex food systems. Immunolocalization techniques employed in this study should prove useful in probing the fundamental structure-texture relationship in foods

Shear wave splitting in southern tyrrhenian subduction zone (Italy) from CESIS and CAT/SCAN projects

In the years 2003 -2006 several broad band stations were installed in Southern Italy: 15 permanent ones (CESIS project), improved the INGV Italian national network and 40 temporary ones were installed in the frame of CAT/SCAN NSF project.We present shear wave splitting measurements obtained analyzing SKS phases and local S phases from slab earthquakes. We used the method of Silver & Chan to obtain shear wave splitting parameters: fast direction and delay time. Shear wave splitting measurements reveals strong seismic anisotropy in the mantle beneath Southern Tyrrhenian subduction system. The SKS splitting results show fast polarization directions varying from NNW-SSE in the Southern Apennines to N-S and to E-SW in Calabria, following the strike of the mountain chain. Moving toward the Adriatic sea the fast directions rotate from N-S to NE-SW. Fast directions could indicate the mantle flow below the slab, due to its retrograde motion but also the lithospheric fabric of the subducting plate. In the Tyrrhenian domain, above the slab, from Sardinia to the Italian and Sicilian coasts the dominant fast direction is E-W and could be related to the opening of the Tyrrhenian basin and to the corner flow in the asthenospheric wedge. In Sicily fast directions depict a ring around the slab edge supporting the existence of a slab tear and of a return flow from the back to the front of the slab. Measurements obtained with intermediate and deep earthquakes slab S phases show an extremely complex pattern of fast directions. They are mostly distributed in front of the Tyrrhenian Calabrian coast in correspondence of the fast velocity anomaly imaged at 150 km depth by tomography. We can relate this fast directions variability to the complex structure of the slab itself. The complex pattern of SKS and S splitting measurements suggests the presence of local scale mantle flow controled by the motion of an anisotropic slab

SKS splittings in the southern Apennines-Calabrian arc region (southern Italy)

During the years 2003-2006 CAT/SCAN (Calbarian-Apennine-TyrrhenianlSubductionCollision- Accretion Network) temporary broadband stations operate in Southern Apennine and Calabria (Italy). In the same period CESIS-INGV project improved the number of permanent seismic stations in the same area. We analyze the data recorded to study seismic anisotropy and to investigate the mantle flow in the boun(fary-zoile{ between Southern Apennine and Calabriaibeneath and above the subducting slab. In the current work we present new shear wave splittings obtained analyzing SKS phases of 15 teleseisms with epicentral distance ranging from 88.40 to 98.20 and magnitude greater than 6.0. We used the method of Silver & Chan (1991) to obtained anisotropic parameters: delay time and fast polarization direction. The splitting parameters reveal strong seismic anisotropy in the mantle beneath Southern Tyrrhenian Sea- Calabrian Arc System that seems to be controlled by the slab presence. The clear variability in the fast directions allow us to hypothesize the existence of different anisotropic domains: fast polarization directions vary from NNW -SSE in the tyrrhenian side ofthe Southern Apennine to N-S and NE-SW toward the Adriatic Sea. Moving toward the Calabria fast directions are prevalently trench parallel showing a NE-SW orientation following the strike on the mountain chain