Rigidity of four-dimensional K\"ahler-Ricci solitons

In this article, we investigate four-dimensional gradient shrinking Ricci solitons close to a K\"ahler model. The first theorem could be considered as a rigidity result for the K\"ahler-Ricci soliton structure on $\mathbb{S}^2\times \mathbb{R}^2$ (in the sense of Remark 1). Moreover, we show that if the quotient of norm of the self-dual Weyl tensor and scalar curvature is close to that on a K\"ahler metric in a specific sense, then the gradient Ricci soliton must be either half-conformally flat or locally K\"ahler

Probabilistic control of HIV latency and transactivation by the Tat gene circuit

Copyright © 2020 National Academy of Sciences.The reservoir of HIV latently infected cells is the major obstacle for eradication of HIV infection. The “shock-and-kill” strategy proposed earlier aims to reduce the reservoir by activating cells out of latency. While the intracellular HIV Tat gene circuit is known to play important roles in controlling latency and its transactivation in HIV-infected cells, the detailed control mechanisms are not well understood. Here we study the mechanism of probabilistic control of the latent and the transactivated cell phenotypes of HIV-infected cells. We reconstructed the probability landscape, which is the probability distribution of the Tat gene circuit states, by directly computing the exact solution of the underlying chemical master equation. Results show that the Tat circuit exhibits a clear bimodal probability landscape (i.e., there are two distinct probability peaks, one associated with the latent cell phenotype and the other with the transactivated cell phenotype). We explore potential modifications to reactions in the Tat gene circuit for more effective transactivation of latent cells (i.e., the shock-and-kill strategy). Our results suggest that enhancing Tat acetylation can dramatically increase Tat and viral production, while increasing the Tat–transactivation response binding affinity can transactivate latent cells more rapidly than other manipulations. Our results further explored the “block and lock” strategy toward a functional cure for HIV. Overall, our study demonstrates a general approach toward discovery of effective therapeutic strategies and druggable targets by examining control mechanisms of cell phenotype switching via exactly computed probability landscapes of reaction networks.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Bethe ansatz for the XXX-S chain with non-diagonal open boundaries

We consider the algebraic Bethe ansatz solution of the integrable and isotropic XXX-S Heisenberg chain with non-diagonal open boundaries. We show that the corresponding K-matrices are similar to diagonal matrices with the help of suitable transformations independent of the spectral parameter. When the boundary parameters satisfy certain constraints we are able to formulate the diagonalization of the associated double-row transfer matrix by means of the quantum inverse scattering method. This allows us to derive explicit expressions for the eigenvalues and the corresponding Bethe ansatz equations. We also present evidences that the eigenvectors can be build up in terms of multiparticle states for arbitrary S.Comment: 62 page

Solution of the SU(N) Vertex Model with Non-Diagonal Open Boundaries

We diagonalize the double-row transfer matrix of the SU(N) vertex model for certain classes of non-diagonal boundary conditions. We derive explicit expressions for the corresponding eigenvectors and eigenvalues by means of the algebraic Bethe ansatz approach.Comment: 10 page

Integrable spin-boson models descending from rational six-vertex models

We construct commuting transfer matrices for models describing the interaction between a single quantum spin and a single bosonic mode using the quantum inverse scattering framework. The transfer matrices are obtained from certain inhomogeneous rational vertex models combining bosonic and spin representations of SU(2), subject to non-diagonal toroidal and open boundary conditions. Only open boundary conditions are found to lead to integrable Hamiltonians combining both rotating and counter-rotating terms in the interaction. If the boundary matrices can be brought to triangular form simultaneously, the spectrum of the model can be obtained by means of the algebraic Bethe ansatz after a suitable gauge transformation; the corresponding Hamiltonians are found to be non-hermitian. Alternatively, a certain quasi-classical limit of the transfer matrix is considered where hermitian Hamiltonians are obtained as members of a family of commuting operators; their diagonalization, however, remains an unsolved problem.Comment: 16 pages, 2 eps figure

Growth of carbon nanotubes on quasicrystalline alloys

We report on the synthesis of carbon nanotubes on quasicrystalline alloys. Aligned multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) on the conducting faces of decagonal quasicrystals were synthesized using floating catalyst chemical vapor deposition. The alignment of the nanotubes was found perpendicular to the decagonal faces of the quasicrystals. A comparison between the growth and tube quality has also been made between tubes grown on various quasicrystalline and SiO2 substrates. While a significant MWNT growth was observed on decagonal quasicrystalline substrate, there was no significant growth observed on icosahedral quasicrystalline substrate. Raman spectroscopy and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) results show high crystalline nature of the nanotubes. Presence of continuous iron filled core in the nanotubes grown on these substrates was also observed, which is typically not seen in MWNTs grown using similar process on silicon and/or silicon dioxide substrates. The study has important implications for understanding the growth mechanism of MWNTs on conducting substrates which have potential applications as heat sinks

Mixed-instance querying: a lightweight integration architecture for data journalism

International audienceAs the world's affairs get increasingly more digital, timely production and consumption of news require to efficiently and quickly exploit heterogeneous data sources. Discussions with journalists revealed that content management tools currently at their disposal fall very short of expectations. We demonstrate TATOOINE, a lightweight data integration prototype, which allows to quickly set up integration queries across (very) heterogeneous data sources, capitalizing on the many data links (joins) available in this application domain. Our demonstration is based on scenarios we study in collaboration with Le Monde, France's major newspaper

Functional relations from the Yang-Baxter algebra: Eigenvalues of the XXZ model with non-diagonal twisted and open boundary conditions

In this work we consider a functional method in the theory of exactly solvable models based on the Yang-Baxter algebra. Using this method we derive the eigenvalues of the XXZ model with non-diagonal twisted and open boundary conditions for general values of the anisotropy and boundary parameters.Comment: 26 page

Organic Contaminant-Triggered Self-Healing Soil Mix Cut-Off Wall Materials Incorporating Oil Sorbents

Soil mix cut-off walls have been increasingly used for containment of organic contaminants in polluted land. However, the mixed soil is susceptible to deterioration due to aggressive environmental and mechanical stresses, leading to crack-originated damage and requiring costly maintenance. This paper proposed a novel approach to achieve self-healing properties of soil mix cut-off wall materials triggered by the ingress of organic contaminants. Oil sorbent polymers with high absorption and swelling capacities were incorporated in a cementitious grout and mixed with soil using a laboratory-scale auger setup. The self-healing performance results showed that 500 µm-wide cracks could be bridged and blocked by the swollen oil sorbents, and that the permeability was reduced by almost an order of magnitude after the permeation of liquid paraffin. It was shown by micro-CT scan tests that the network formed by the swollen oil sorbents acted as attachments and binder, preventing the cracked mixed soil sample from crumbling, and that the oil sorbents swelled three times in volume and therefore occupied the air space and blocked the cracks in the matrix. These promising results exhibit the potential for the oil sorbents to provide soil mix cut-off walls in organically-contaminated land with self-healing properties and enhanced durability