779 research outputs found
Micro Membrane Filters for Passive Plasma Extraction From Whole Human Blood Using Silicon Nitride-based Microfilters and Plama Collection Using Agarose Gels
AbstractThe novelty of this study resides in the fabrication of a passive, operating on capillary force, penetration-flow microfluidic device for plasma separation, based on both silicon nitride combination (SiN-SiO-SiN)-based microfilters and agarose gels, and its characterization for plasma separation from whole human blood. The fabrication processes are compatible with IC process protocols, with merits of mass productions and precise size control. The fabrication process for silicon nitride membrane was reported at Lab Chip [1], and quantification its applications to affinity-based protein separation on the silicon nitride was reported at MicroTAS’07 [2]. Our method differs from that of group Yobas [3] in the specific separation method and materials, and of group Pizziconi [4] in the geometry of the filter, and fluidic components with the structure
The Cost of Stability in Coalitional Games
A key question in cooperative game theory is that of coalitional stability,
usually captured by the notion of the \emph{core}--the set of outcomes such
that no subgroup of players has an incentive to deviate. However, some
coalitional games have empty cores, and any outcome in such a game is unstable.
In this paper, we investigate the possibility of stabilizing a coalitional
game by using external payments. We consider a scenario where an external
party, which is interested in having the players work together, offers a
supplemental payment to the grand coalition (or, more generally, a particular
coalition structure). This payment is conditional on players not deviating from
their coalition(s). The sum of this payment plus the actual gains of the
coalition(s) may then be divided among the agents so as to promote stability.
We define the \emph{cost of stability (CoS)} as the minimal external payment
that stabilizes the game.
We provide general bounds on the cost of stability in several classes of
games, and explore its algorithmic properties. To develop a better intuition
for the concepts we introduce, we provide a detailed algorithmic study of the
cost of stability in weighted voting games, a simple but expressive class of
games which can model decision-making in political bodies, and cooperation in
multiagent settings. Finally, we extend our model and results to games with
coalition structures.Comment: 20 pages; will be presented at SAGT'0
Non-Gaussianity from Inflation
Correlated adiabatic and isocurvature perturbation modes are produced during
inflation through an oscillation mechanism when extra scalar degrees of freedom
other than the inflaton field are present. We show that this correlation
generically leads to sizeable non-Gaussian features both in the adiabatic and
isocurvature perturbations. The non-Gaussianity is first generated by large
non-linearities in some scalar sector and then efficiently transferred to the
inflaton sector by the oscillation process. We compute the cosmic microwave
background angular bispectrum, providing a characteristic feature of such
inflationary non-Gaussianity,which might be detected by upcoming satellite
experiments.Comment: Revised version accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. D. 19 pages,
LaTeX fil
Preheating in Supersymmetric Theories
We examine the particle production via preheating at the end of inflation in
supersymmetric theories. The inflaton and matter scalars are now necessarily
complex fields, and their relevant interactions are restricted by holomorphy.
In general this leads to major changes both in the inflaton dynamics and in the
efficiency of the preheating process. In addition, supersymmetric models
generically contain multiple isolated vacua, raising the possibility of
non-thermal production of dangerous topological defects. Because of these
effects, the success of leptogenesis or WIMPZILLA production via preheating
depends much more sensitively on the detailed parameters in the inflaton sector
than previously thought.Comment: 24 pages, 3 figures; references adde
Fast divide-and-conquer algorithms for preemptive scheduling problems with controllable processing times – A polymatroid optimization approach
We consider a variety of preemptive scheduling problems with controllable processing times on a single machine and on identical/uniform parallel machines, where the objective
is to minimize the total compression cost. In this paper, we propose fast divide-and-conquer algorithms for these scheduling problems. Our approach is based on the observation that each scheduling problem we discuss can be formulated as a polymatroid optimization problem.
We develop a novel divide-and-conquer technique for the polymatroid optimization problem and then apply it to each scheduling problem. We show that each scheduling problem can
be solved in O(Tfeas(n) log n) time by using our divide-and-conquer technique, where n is the number of jobs and Tfeas(n) denotes the time complexity of the corresponding feasible scheduling problem with n jobs. This approach yields faster algorithms for most of the scheduling problems discussed in this paper
Exotic Meson Production in the System observed in the Reaction at 18 GeV/c
This letter reports results from the partial wave analysis of the
final state in collisions at 18GeV/c.
Strong evidence is observed for production of two mesons with exotic quantum
numbers of spin, parity and charge conjugation, in the decay
channel . The mass MeV/c^2 and
width MeV/c^2 of the first state are consistent
with the parameters of the previously observed . The second
resonance with mass MeV/c^2 and width MeV/c^2 agrees very well with predictions from theoretical
models. In addition, the presence of is confirmed with mass MeV/c^2 and width MeV/c^2
and a new state, , is observed with mass
MeV/c^2 and width MeV/c^2. The decay properties of
these last two states are consistent with flux tube model predictions for
hybrid mesons with non-exotic quantum numbers
Free scalar dark matter candidates in R^2-inflation: the light, the heavy and the superheavy
Gravity takes care of both inflation and subsequent reheating in
Starobinsky's R^2-model. The latter is due to inflaton gravitation decays
dominated by scalar particle production. It is tempting to suggest that dark
matter particles are also produced in this process. Since free scalars being
too hot cannot serve as viable dark matter (Phys.Lett.B700:157-162,2011), we
further study the issue considering two options: scalars with non-minimal
coupling to gravity and superheavy scalars generated at inflationary stage. We
found that the first option allows for viable warm or cold dark matter if
scalar mass exceeds 0.8 MeV. The second option implies supercold dark matter
with particle mass 10^16 GeV, which production is saturated at the end of
inflation when inflaton-dependent scalar mass rapidly changes and violates
adiabaticity. Similar result holds for superheavy fermion dark matter.Comment: 15 pages, 3 figures; journal versio
Brane World Cosmological Perturbations
We consider a brane world and its gravitational linear perturbations. We
present a general solution of the perturbations in the bulk and find the
complete perturbed junction conditions for generic brane dynamics. We also
prove that (spin 2) gravitational waves in the great majority of cases can only
arise in connection with a non-vanishing anisotropic stress. This has far
reaching consequences for inflation in the brane world. Moreover, contrary to
the case of the radion, perturbations are stable.Comment: 16 pages, one figur
The effects of the bacterial interaction with visible-light responsive titania photocatalyst on the bactericidal performance
Bactericidal activity of traditional titanium dioxide (TiO2) photocatalyst is effective only upon irradiation by ultraviolet light, which restricts the potential applications of TiO2 for use in our living environments. Recently carbon-containing TiO2 was found to be photoactive at visible-light illumination that affords the potential to overcome this problem; although, the bactericidal activity of these photocatalysts is relatively lower than conventional disinfectants. Evidenced from scanning electron microscopy and confocal Raman spectral mapping analysis, we found the interaction with bacteria was significantly enhanced in these anatase/rutile mixed-phase carbon-containing TiO2. Bacteria-killing experiments indicate that a significantly higher proportion of all tested pathogens including Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella flexneri and Acinetobacter baumannii, were eliminated by the new nanoparticle with higher bacterial interaction property. These findings suggest the created materials with high bacterial interaction ability might be a useful strategy to improve the antimicrobial activity of visible-light-activated TiO2
Confirmation of a pi_1^0 Exotic Meson in the \eta \pi^0 System
The exclusive reaction , at 18 GeV has been studied with a partial wave analysis on a sample
of 23~492 events from BNL experiment E852. A mass-dependent fit
is consistent with a resonant hypothesis for the wave, thus providing
evidence for a neutral exotic meson with , a mass of MeV, and a width of MeV. New
interpretations of the meson exotics in neutral system observed in
E852 and Crystal Barrel experiments are discussed.Comment: p3, rewording the paragraph (at the bottom) about the phase
variations. p4, rewording paragrath "The second method ..." . p4, at the
bottom of paragrath "The third method ..." added consistent with the results
of methods 1 and 2
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