423 research outputs found
Beeping a Maximal Independent Set
We consider the problem of computing a maximal independent set (MIS) in an
extremely harsh broadcast model that relies only on carrier sensing. The model
consists of an anonymous broadcast network in which nodes have no knowledge
about the topology of the network or even an upper bound on its size.
Furthermore, it is assumed that an adversary chooses at which time slot each
node wakes up. At each time slot a node can either beep, that is, emit a
signal, or be silent. At a particular time slot, beeping nodes receive no
feedback, while silent nodes can only differentiate between none of its
neighbors beeping, or at least one of its neighbors beeping.
We start by proving a lower bound that shows that in this model, it is not
possible to locally converge to an MIS in sub-polynomial time. We then study
four different relaxations of the model which allow us to circumvent the lower
bound and find an MIS in polylogarithmic time. First, we show that if a
polynomial upper bound on the network size is known, it is possible to find an
MIS in O(log^3 n) time. Second, if we assume sleeping nodes are awoken by
neighboring beeps, then we can also find an MIS in O(log^3 n) time. Third, if
in addition to this wakeup assumption we allow sender-side collision detection,
that is, beeping nodes can distinguish whether at least one neighboring node is
beeping concurrently or not, we can find an MIS in O(log^2 n) time. Finally, if
instead we endow nodes with synchronous clocks, it is also possible to find an
MIS in O(log^2 n) time.Comment: arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1108.192
New approach of fragment charge correlations in 129Xe+(nat)Sn central collisions
A previous analysis of the charge (Z) correlations in the
plane for Xe+Sn central collisions at 32 MeV/u has shown an enhancement in the
production of equally sized fragments (low ) which was interpreted as
an evidence for spinodal decomposition. However the signal is weak and rises
the question of the estimation of the uncorrelated yield. After a critical
analysis of its robustness, we propose in this paper a new technique to build
the uncorrelated yield in the charge correlation function. The application of
this method to Xe+Sn central collision data at 32, 39, 45 and 50 MeV/u does not
show any particular enhancement of the correlation function in any
bin.Comment: 23 pages, 9 figures, revised version with an added figure and minor
changes. To appear in Nuclear Physics
Diffusive Evolution of Experimental Braided Rivers
Water flowing over a loose granular bed organizes into a braided river, a network of ephemeral and interacting channels. The temporal and spatial evolution of this network of braided channels is not yet quantitatively understood. In âŒ1 m-scale experiments, we found that individual channels exhibit a self-similar geometry and near-threshold transport conditions. Measurements of the rate of growth of topographic correlation length scales, the time scale of system-slope establishment, and the random spatial decorrelation of channel locations indicate together that the evolution of the braided river system may be diffusive in nature. This diffusion is due to the separation of scales between channel formation and network evolution, and the random motion of interacting channels when viewed at a coarse-grained scale
Distributed Symmetry Breaking in Hypergraphs
Fundamental local symmetry breaking problems such as Maximal Independent Set
(MIS) and coloring have been recognized as important by the community, and
studied extensively in (standard) graphs. In particular, fast (i.e.,
logarithmic run time) randomized algorithms are well-established for MIS and
-coloring in both the LOCAL and CONGEST distributed computing
models. On the other hand, comparatively much less is known on the complexity
of distributed symmetry breaking in {\em hypergraphs}. In particular, a key
question is whether a fast (randomized) algorithm for MIS exists for
hypergraphs.
In this paper, we study the distributed complexity of symmetry breaking in
hypergraphs by presenting distributed randomized algorithms for a variety of
fundamental problems under a natural distributed computing model for
hypergraphs. We first show that MIS in hypergraphs (of arbitrary dimension) can
be solved in rounds ( is the number of nodes of the
hypergraph) in the LOCAL model. We then present a key result of this paper ---
an -round hypergraph MIS algorithm in
the CONGEST model where is the maximum node degree of the hypergraph
and is any arbitrarily small constant.
To demonstrate the usefulness of hypergraph MIS, we present applications of
our hypergraph algorithm to solving problems in (standard) graphs. In
particular, the hypergraph MIS yields fast distributed algorithms for the {\em
balanced minimal dominating set} problem (left open in Harris et al. [ICALP
2013]) and the {\em minimal connected dominating set problem}. We also present
distributed algorithms for coloring, maximal matching, and maximal clique in
hypergraphs.Comment: Changes from the previous version: More references adde
Investigation of the solid/liquid phase transitions in the UâPuâO system
Mixed oxides of uranium and plutonium U1-yPuyO2-x are currently studied as reference fuel for Sodium-cooled Fast Reactors (SFRs). To predict the margin to fuel melting, an accurate description of both solidus and liquidus temperatures of these materials is crucial. In this work, after a critical review of the literature data, the parameters of the liquid phase of the CALPHAD models of the PuâO and UâPuâO systems are reassessed based on the model of GuÂŽeneau et al.. A good agreement between the calculated and selected experimental data is obtained.
Using this model, the melting behaviour of U1-yPuyO2±x oxides is then studied as a function of plutonium content and oxygen stoichiometry. The congruent melting for the mixed oxides is found to be shifted towards low O/M ratios compared to the end-members (UO1.97 and PuO1.95). The temperature of this congruent melting is nearly constant (3130â3140 K) along a ternary phase boundary from UO1.98 to U0.55Pu0.45O1.82 and then decreases with Pu content to a maximum of approximately 3040 K for PuO1.95. This observation is explained by the stabilisation of the hypo-stoichiometric mixed oxides due to the increase of the configurational entropy at high temperatures by the formation of oxygen vacancies and related cation mixing. The influence of the atmosphere used in the laser heating melting experiments on the oxygen stoichiometry of the sample and its solidus and liquidus temperatures is investigated. The determination of this O/M ratio after laser melting tests using XANES is also reported. The simultaneous presence of U6+, U5+, U4+, Pu3+ and Pu4+ is observed, highlighting the occurrence of charge compensation mechanisms. The samples are highly oxidised in air whereas close to stoichiometry (O/M = 2.00) in argon. These results are in agreement with the computed solidification paths. This work illustrates the complex melting behaviour of the U1-yPuyO2±x fuels and highlights the need for the CALPHAD method to accurately describe and predict the high-temperature transitions of the UâPuâO system
Logarithmic asymptotics of the densities of SPDEs driven by spatially correlated noise
We consider the family of stochastic partial differential equations indexed
by a parameter \eps\in(0,1], \begin{equation*} Lu^{\eps}(t,x) =
\eps\sigma(u^\eps(t,x))\dot{F}(t,x)+b(u^\eps(t,x)), \end{equation*}
(t,x)\in(0,T]\times\Rd with suitable initial conditions. In this equation,
is a second-order partial differential operator with constant coefficients,
and are smooth functions and is a Gaussian noise, white
in time and with a stationary correlation in space. Let p^\eps_{t,x} denote
the density of the law of u^\eps(t,x) at a fixed point
(t,x)\in(0,T]\times\Rd. We study the existence of \lim_{\eps\downarrow 0}
\eps^2\log p^\eps_{t,x}(y) for a fixed . The results apply to a class
of stochastic wave equations with and to a class of stochastic
heat equations with .Comment: 39 pages. Will be published in the book " Stochastic Analysis and
Applications 2014. A volume in honour of Terry Lyons". Springer Verla
A self-organized model for cell-differentiation based on variations of molecular decay rates
Systemic properties of living cells are the result of molecular dynamics
governed by so-called genetic regulatory networks (GRN). These networks capture
all possible features of cells and are responsible for the immense levels of
adaptation characteristic to living systems. At any point in time only small
subsets of these networks are active. Any active subset of the GRN leads to the
expression of particular sets of molecules (expression modes). The subsets of
active networks change over time, leading to the observed complex dynamics of
expression patterns. Understanding of this dynamics becomes increasingly
important in systems biology and medicine. While the importance of
transcription rates and catalytic interactions has been widely recognized in
modeling genetic regulatory systems, the understanding of the role of
degradation of biochemical agents (mRNA, protein) in regulatory dynamics
remains limited. Recent experimental data suggests that there exists a
functional relation between mRNA and protein decay rates and expression modes.
In this paper we propose a model for the dynamics of successions of sequences
of active subnetworks of the GRN. The model is able to reproduce key
characteristics of molecular dynamics, including homeostasis, multi-stability,
periodic dynamics, alternating activity, differentiability, and self-organized
critical dynamics. Moreover the model allows to naturally understand the
mechanism behind the relation between decay rates and expression modes. The
model explains recent experimental observations that decay-rates (or turnovers)
vary between differentiated tissue-classes at a general systemic level and
highlights the role of intracellular decay rate control mechanisms in cell
differentiation.Comment: 16 pages, 5 figure
Fur glowing under ultraviolet: in situ analysis of porphyrin accumulation in the skin appendages of mammals
Examples of photoluminescence (PL) are being reported with increasing frequency in a wide range of organisms from diverse ecosystems. However, the chemical basis of this PL remains poorly defined, and our understanding of its potential ecological function is still superficial. Among mammals, recent analyses have identified free-base porphyrins as the compounds responsible for the reddish ultraviolet-induced photoluminescence (UV-PL) observed in the pelage of springhares and hedgehogs. However, the localization of the pigments within the hair largely remains to be determined. Here, we use photoluminescence multispectral imaging emission and excitation spectroscopy to detect, map, and characterize porphyrinic compounds in skin appendages in situ. We also document new cases of mammalian UV-PL caused by free-base porphyrins in distantly related species. Spatial distribution of the UV-PL is strongly suggestive of an endogenous origin of the porphyrinic compounds. We argue that reddish UV-PL is predominantly observed in crepuscular and nocturnal mammals because porphyrins are photodegradable. Consequently, this phenomenon may not have a specific function in intra- or interspecific communication but rather represents a byproduct of potentially widespread physiological processes.publishedVersio
Recanalization of obstructed metallic uncovered biliary stent using endobiliary radiofrequency ablation
International audienc
Can majority support save an endangered language? A case study of language attitudes in Guernsey
Many studies of minority language revitalisation focus on the attitudes and perceptions of minorities, but not on those of majority group members. This paper discusses the implications of these issues, and presents research into majority andf minority attitudes towards the endangered indigenous vernacular of Guernsey, Channel Islands. The research used a multi-method approach (questionnaire and interview) to obtain attitudinal data from a representative sample of the population that included politicians and civil servants (209 participants). The findings suggested a shift in language ideology away from the post-second world war âculture of modernisationâ and monolingual ideal, towards recognition of the value of a bi/trilingual linguistic heritage. Public opinion in Guernsey now seems to support the maintenance of the indigenous language variety, which has led to a degree of official support. The paper then discusses to what extent this âattitude shiftâ is reflected in linguistic behaviour and in concrete language planning measures
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