22,710 research outputs found
Reconstruction of universal Drinfeld twists from representations
Universal Drinfeld twists are inner automorphisms which relate the coproduct
of a quantum enveloping algebra to the coproduct of the undeformed enveloping
algebra. Even though they govern the deformation theory of classical symmetries
and have appeared in numerous applications, no twist for a semi-simple quantum
enveloping algebra has ever been computed. It is argued that universal twists
can be reconstructed from their well known representations. A method to
reconstruct an arbitrary element of the enveloping algebra from its irreducible
representations is developed. For the twist this yields an algebra valued
generating function to all orders in the deformation parameter, expressed by a
combination of basic and ordinary hypergeometric functions. An explicit
expression for the universal twist of su(2) is given up to third order.Comment: 24 page
Sensitivity of Antarctic Urospora penicilliformis (Ulotrichales, Chlorophyta) to ultraviolet radiation is life stage dependent
The sensitivity of different life stages of the eulittoral green alga Urospora penicilliformis (Roth) Aresch. to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) was examinedin the laboratory. Gametophytic filaments and propagules (zoospores and gametes) released from filaments were separately exposed to different fluence of radiation treatments consisting of PAR (P = 400700 nm), PAR + ultraviolet A (UVA) (PA, UVA = 320400 nm), and PAR + UVA + ultraviolet B (UVB) (PAB, UVB = 280320 nm). Photophysiological indices (ETRmax, Ek, and a) derived from rapid light curves were measured in controls, while photosynthetic efficiency and amount of DNA lesions in terms of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) were measured after exposure to radiation treatments and after recovery in low PAR; pigments of propagules were quantified after exposure treatment only. The photosynthetic conversion efficiency (a) and photosynthetic capacity (rETRmax) were higher in gametophytes compared with the propagules. The propagules were slightly more sensitive to UVB-induced DNA damage; however, both life stages of the eulittoral inhabiting turf alga were not severely affected by the negative impacts of UVR. Exposure to a maximum of 8 h UVR caused mild effects on the photochemical efficiency of PSII and induced minimal DNA lesions in both the gametophytes and propagules. Pigment concentrations were not significantly different between PAR-exposed and PAR + UVRexposed propagules. Our data showed that U. penicilliformis from the Antarctic is ratherinsensitive to the applied UVR. This amphi-equatorial species possesses different protective mechanisms that can cope with high UVR in coldtemperatewaters of both hemispheres and in polar regions under conditions of increasing UVR as a consequence of further reduction of stratosphericozone
Quantum confinement effects in Si/Ge heterostructures with spatially ordered arrays of self-assembled quantum dots
Magnetotunneling spectroscopy was employed to probe the confinement in
vertical Si/Ge double-barrier resonant tunneling diodes with regularly
distributed Ge quantum dots. Their current-voltage characteristics reveal a
step-like behavior in the vicinity of zero bias, indicating resonant tunneling
of heavy-holes via three-dimensionally confined unoccupied hole states in Ge
quantum dots. Assuming parabolic confinement we extract the strength of the
confinement potential of quantum dots.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
Unusual Metabolism and Hypervariation in the Genome of a Gracilibacterium (BD1-5) from an Oil-Degrading Community.
The candidate phyla radiation (CPR) comprises a large monophyletic group of bacterial lineages known almost exclusively based on genomes obtained using cultivation-independent methods. Within the CPR, Gracilibacteria (BD1-5) are particularly poorly understood due to undersampling and the inherent fragmented nature of available genomes. Here, we report the first closed, curated genome of a gracilibacterium from an enrichment experiment inoculated from the Gulf of Mexico and designed to investigate hydrocarbon degradation. The gracilibacterium rose in abundance after the community switched to dominance by Colwellia Notably, we predict that this gracilibacterium completely lacks glycolysis, the pentose phosphate and Entner-Doudoroff pathways. It appears to acquire pyruvate, acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA), and oxaloacetate via degradation of externally derived citrate, malate, and amino acids and may use compound interconversion and oxidoreductases to generate and recycle reductive power. The initial genome assembly was fragmented in an unusual gene that is hypervariable within a repeat region. Such extreme local variation is rare but characteristic of genes that confer traits under pressure to diversify within a population. Notably, the four major repeated 9-mer nucleotide sequences all generate a proline-threonine-aspartic acid (PTD) repeat. The genome of an abundant Colwellia psychrerythraea population has a large extracellular protein that also contains the repeated PTD motif. Although we do not know the host for the BD1-5 cell, the high relative abundance of the C. psychrerythraea population and the shared surface protein repeat may indicate an association between these bacteria.IMPORTANCE CPR bacteria are generally predicted to be symbionts due to their extensive biosynthetic deficits. Although monophyletic, they are not monolithic in terms of their lifestyles. The organism described here appears to have evolved an unusual metabolic platform not reliant on glucose or pentose sugars. Its biology appears to be centered around bacterial host-derived compounds and/or cell detritus. Amino acids likely provide building blocks for nucleic acids, peptidoglycan, and protein synthesis. We resolved an unusual repeat region that would be invisible without genome curation. The nucleotide sequence is apparently under strong diversifying selection, but the amino acid sequence is under stabilizing selection. The amino acid repeat also occurs in a surface protein of a coexisting bacterium, suggesting colocation and possibly interdependence
Limiting dynamics for spherical models of spin glasses at high temperature
We analyze the coupled non-linear integro-differential equations whose
solutions is the thermodynamical limit of the empirical correlation and
response functions in the Langevin dynamics for spherical p-spin disordered
mean-field models. We provide a mathematically rigorous derivation of their FDT
solution (for the high temperature regime) and of certain key properties of
this solution, which are in agreement with earlier derivations based on
physical grounds
Experimental determination of the degree of quantum polarisation of continuous variable states
We demonstrate excitation-manifold resolved polarisation characterisation of
continuous-variable (CV) quantum states. In contrast to traditional
characterisation of polarisation that is based on the Stokes parameters, we
experimentally determine the Stokes vector of each excitation manifold
separately. Only for states with a given photon number does the methods
coincide. For states with an indeterminate photon number, for example Gaussian
states, the employed method gives a richer and more accurate description. We
apply the method both in theory and in experiment to some common states to
demonstrate its advantages.Comment: 5 page
Culture Shock: Hiding in Plain Sight—An Experiential Exercise
In Culture Shock, participants explore the potential influence of organizational culture and national culture differences on communication, interaction, and reaching agreement. The role play, with observers, involves two employees from different organizations involved in a strategic alliance who come together to plan an upcoming meeting. Their respective role information instructs them to behave and communicate in ways consistent with their own organization’s culture, which also is affected by national culture. During debriefing discussions afterward participants explore the impact of cultural differences—as well as other kinds of differences—and how employees can more effectively work across organizational cultures and national cultures. Facilitators can suggest “cultural due diligence” as a way to increase the likelihood of successful interaction and discuss steps that could be taken if the role play interaction does not achieve its objectives
Electron Waiting Times in Mesoscopic Conductors
Electron transport in mesoscopic conductors has traditionally involved
investigations of the mean current and the fluctuations of the current. A
complementary view on charge transport is provided by the distribution of
waiting times between charge carriers, but a proper theoretical framework for
coherent electronic systems has so far been lacking. Here we develop a quantum
theory of electron waiting times in mesoscopic conductors expressed by a
compact determinant formula. We illustrate our methodology by calculating the
waiting time distribution for a quantum point contact and find a cross-over
from Wigner-Dyson statistics at full transmission to Poisson statistics close
to pinch-off. Even when the low-frequency transport is noiseless, the electrons
are not equally spaced in time due to their inherent wave nature. We discuss
the implications for renewal theory in mesoscopic systems and point out several
analogies with energy level statistics and random matrix theory.Comment: 4+ pages, 3 figure
Theory and simulations of rigid polyelectrolytes
We present theoretical and numerical studies on stiff, linear
polyelectrolytes within the framework of the cell model. We first review
analytical results obtained on a mean-field Poisson-Boltzmann level, and then
use molecular dynamics simulations to show, under which circumstances these
fail quantitatively and qualitatively. For the hexagonally packed nematic phase
of the polyelectrolytes we compute the osmotic coefficient as a function of
density. In the presence of multivalent counterions it can become negative,
leading to effective attractions. We show that this results from a reduced
contribution of the virial part to the pressure. We compute the osmotic
coefficient and ionic distribution functions from Poisson-Boltzmann theory with
and without a recently proposed correlation correction, and also simulation
results for the case of poly(para-phenylene) and compare it to recently
obtained experimental data on this stiff polyelectrolyte. We also investigate
ion-ion correlations in the strong coupling regime, and compare them to
predictions of the recently advocated Wigner crystal theories.Comment: 32 pages, 15 figures, proceedings of the ASTATPHYS-MEX-2001, to be
published in Mol. Phy
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