340 research outputs found
Persistent global power fluctuations near a dynamic transition in electroconvection
This is a study of the global fluctuations in power dissipation and light
transmission through a liquid crystal just above the onset of
electroconvection.
The source of the fluctuations is found to be the creation and annihilation
of defects. They are spatially uncorrelated and yet temporally correlated. The
temporal correlation is seen to persist for extremely long times. There seems
to be an especially close relation between defect creation/annihilat ion in
electroconvection and thermal plumes in Rayleigh-B\'enard convection
Hysteresis at low Reynolds number: the onset of 2D vortex shedding
Hysteresis has been observed in a study of the transition between laminar
flow and vortex shedding in a quasi-two dimensional system. The system is a
vertical, rapidly flowing soap film which is penetrated by a rod oriented
perpendicular to the film plane. Our experiments show that the transition from
laminar flow to a periodic K\'arm\'an vortex street can be hysteretic, i.e.
vortices can survive at velocities lower than the velocity needed to generate
them.Comment: RevTeX file 4 pages + 5 (encapsulated postscript) figures. to appear
in Phys.Rev.E, Rapid Communicatio
Quantum-like Representation of Extensive Form Games: Wine Testing Game
We consider an application of the mathematical formalism of quantum mechanics
(QM) outside physics, namely, to game theory. We present a simple game between
macroscopic players, say Alice and Bob (or in a more complex form - Alice, Bob
and Cecilia), which can be represented in the quantum-like (QL) way -- by using
a complex probability amplitude (game's ``wave function'') and noncommutative
operators. The crucial point is that games under consideration are so called
extensive form games. Here the order of actions of players is important, such a
game can be represented by the tree of actions. The QL probabilistic behavior
of players is a consequence of incomplete information which is available to
e.g. Bob about the previous action of Alice. In general one could not construct
a classical probability space underlying a QL-game. This can happen even in a
QL-game with two players. In a QL-game with three players Bell's inequality can
be violated. The most natural probabilistic description is given by so called
contextual probability theory completed by the frequency definition of
probability
Is it possible to experimentally verify the fluctuation relation? A review of theoretical motivations and numerical evidence
The theoretical motivations to perform experimental tests of the stationary
state fluctuation relation are reviewed. The difficulties involved in such
tests, evidenced by numerical simulations, are also discussed.Comment: 36 pages, 4 figures. Extended version of a presentation to the
discussion "Is it possible to experimentally verify the fluctuation
theorem?", IHP, Paris, December 1, 2006. Comments are very welcom
Continuous Strategy Replicator Dynamics for Multi--Agent Learning
The problem of multi-agent learning and adaptation has attracted a great deal
of attention in recent years. It has been suggested that the dynamics of multi
agent learning can be studied using replicator equations from population
biology. Most existing studies so far have been limited to discrete strategy
spaces with a small number of available actions. In many cases, however, the
choices available to agents are better characterized by continuous spectra.
This paper suggests a generalization of the replicator framework that allows to
study the adaptive dynamics of Q-learning agents with continuous strategy
spaces. Instead of probability vectors, agents strategies are now characterized
by probability measures over continuous variables. As a result, the ordinary
differential equations for the discrete case are replaced by a system of
coupled integral--differential replicator equations that describe the mutual
evolution of individual agent strategies. We derive a set of functional
equations describing the steady state of the replicator dynamics, examine their
solutions for several two-player games, and confirm our analytical results
using simulations.Comment: 12 pages, 15 figures, accepted for publication in JAAMA
Cooperation, Norms, and Revolutions: A Unified Game-Theoretical Approach
Cooperation is of utmost importance to society as a whole, but is often
challenged by individual self-interests. While game theory has studied this
problem extensively, there is little work on interactions within and across
groups with different preferences or beliefs. Yet, people from different social
or cultural backgrounds often meet and interact. This can yield conflict, since
behavior that is considered cooperative by one population might be perceived as
non-cooperative from the viewpoint of another.
To understand the dynamics and outcome of the competitive interactions within
and between groups, we study game-dynamical replicator equations for multiple
populations with incompatible interests and different power (be this due to
different population sizes, material resources, social capital, or other
factors). These equations allow us to address various important questions: For
example, can cooperation in the prisoner's dilemma be promoted, when two
interacting groups have different preferences? Under what conditions can costly
punishment, or other mechanisms, foster the evolution of norms? When does
cooperation fail, leading to antagonistic behavior, conflict, or even
revolutions? And what incentives are needed to reach peaceful agreements
between groups with conflicting interests?
Our detailed quantitative analysis reveals a large variety of interesting
results, which are relevant for society, law and economics, and have
implications for the evolution of language and culture as well
Nonlinearity of Mechanochemical Motions in Motor Proteins
The assumption of linear response of protein molecules to thermal noise or
structural perturbations, such as ligand binding or detachment, is broadly used
in the studies of protein dynamics. Conformational motions in proteins are
traditionally analyzed in terms of normal modes and experimental data on
thermal fluctuations in such macromolecules is also usually interpreted in
terms of the excitation of normal modes. We have chosen two important protein
motors - myosin V and kinesin KIF1A - and performed numerical investigations of
their conformational relaxation properties within the coarse-grained elastic
network approximation. We have found that the linearity assumption is deficient
for ligand-induced conformational motions and can even be violated for
characteristic thermal fluctuations. The deficiency is particularly pronounced
in KIF1A where the normal mode description fails completely in describing
functional mechanochemical motions. These results indicate that important
assumptions of the theory of protein dynamics may need to be reconsidered.
Neither a single normal mode, nor a superposition of such modes yield an
approximation of strongly nonlinear dynamics.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figure
Population dynamics in compressible flows
Organisms often grow, migrate and compete in liquid environments, as well as
on solid surfaces. However, relatively little is known about what happens when
competing species are mixed and compressed by fluid turbulence. In these
lectures we review our recent work on population dynamics and population
genetics in compressible velocity fields of one and two dimensions. We discuss
why compressible turbulence is relevant for population dynamics in the ocean
and we consider cases both where the velocity field is turbulent and when it is
static. Furthermore, we investigate populations in terms of a continuos density
field and when the populations are treated via discrete particles. In the last
case we focus on the competition and fixation of one species compared to
anotherComment: 16 pages, talk delivered at the Geilo Winter School 201
Different physiology of interferon-α/-γ in models of liver regeneration in the rat
Liver regeneration may take place after liver injury through replication of hepatocytes or hepatic progenitor cells called oval cells. Interferons (IFN) are natural cytokines with pleiotrophic effects including antiviral and antiproliferative actions. No data are yet available on the physiology and cellular source of natural IFNs during liver regeneration. To address this issue, we have analyzed the levels and biologic activities of IFN-α/IFN-γ in two models of partial hepatectomy. After 2/3rd partial hepatectomy (PH), hepatic levels of IFN-α and IFN-γ declined transiently in contrast to a transient increase of the IFN-γ serum level. After administration of 2-acetylaminofluorene and partial hepatectomy (AAF/PH model), however, both IFN-α and IFN-γ expression were up-regulated in regenerating livers. Again, the IFN-γ serum level was transiently increased. Whereas hepatic IFN-γ was up-regulated early (day 1–5), but not significantly, in the AAF/PH model, IFN-α was significantly up-regulated at later time points in parallel to the peak of oval cell proliferation (days 7–9). Biological activity of IFN-α was shown by activation of IFN-α-specific signal transduction and induction of IFN-α specific-gene expression. We found a significant infiltration of the liver with inflammatory monocyte-like mononuclear phagocytes (MNP) concomitant to the frequency of oval cells. We localized IFN-α production only in MNPs, but not in oval cells. These events were not observed in normal liver regeneration after standard PH. We conclude that IFN-γ functions as an acute-phase cytokine in both models of liver regeneration and may constitute a systemic component of liver regeneration. IFN-α was increased only in the AAF/PH model, and was associated with proliferation of oval cells. However, oval cells seem not to be the source of IFN-α. Instead, inflammatory MNP infiltrating AAF/PH-treated livers produce IFN-α. These inflammatory MNPs may be involved in the regulation of the oval cell compartment through local expression of cytokines, including IFN-α
Long-term (trophic) purinergic signalling: purinoceptors control cell proliferation, differentiation and death
The purinergic signalling system, which uses purines and pyrimidines as chemical transmitters, and purinoceptors as effectors, is deeply rooted in evolution and development and is a pivotal factor in cell communication. The ATP and its derivatives function as a 'danger signal' in the most primitive forms of life. Purinoceptors are extraordinarily widely distributed in all cell types and tissues and they are involved in the regulation of an even more extraordinary number of biological processes. In addition to fast purinergic signalling in neurotransmission, neuromodulation and secretion, there is long-term (trophic) purinergic signalling involving cell proliferation, differentiation, motility and death in the development and regeneration of most systems of the body. In this article, we focus on the latter in the immune/defence system, in stratified epithelia in visceral organs and skin, embryological development, bone formation and resorption, as well as in cancer. Cell Death and Disease (2010) 1, e9; doi:10.1038/cddis.2009.11; published online 14 January 201
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