478 research outputs found
Combining Binary Search Trees
We present a general transformation for combining a constant number of binary search tree data structures (BSTs) into a single BST whose running time is within a constant factor of the minimum of any “well-behaved” bound on the running time of the given BSTs, for any online access sequence. (A BST has a well-behaved bound with f(n) overhead if it spends at most O(f(n)) time per access and its bound satisfies a weak sense of closure under subsequences.) In particular, we obtain a BST data structure that is O(loglogn) competitive, satisfies the working set bound (and thus satisfies the static finger bound and the static optimality bound), satisfies the dynamic finger bound, satisfies the unified bound with an additive O(loglogn) factor, and performs each access in worst-case O(logn) time
Formation of delta ferrite in 9 wt.% Cr steel investigated by in-situ X-ray diffraction using synchrotron radiation
In-situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements using high energy synchrotron radiation were performed to monitor in real time the formation of delta ferrite in a martensitic 9 wt pct chromium steel under simulated weld thermal cycles. Volume fractions of martensite, austenite, and delta ferrite were measured as a function of temperature at a 10 K/s heating rate to 1573 K (1300 °C) and subsequent cooling. At the peak temperature, the delta ferrite concentration rose to 19 pct, of which 17 pct transformed back to austenite on subsequent cooling.Max Kade Foundation, Inc.Austrian Academy of SciencesUnited States. Dept. of Energy (Division of Materials Sciences and Engineering, Office of Science, and Office of Basic Energy Sciences
Power Spectrum in Krein Space Quantization
The power spectrum of scalar field and space-time metric perturbations
produced in the process of inflation of universe, have been presented in this
paper by an alternative approach to field quantization namely, Krein space
quantization [1,2]. Auxiliary negative norm states, the modes of which do not
interact with the physical world, have been utilized in this method. Presence
of negative norm states play the role of an automatic renormalization device
for the theory.Comment: 8 pages, appear in Int. J. Theor. Phy
Cosmic distance-duality as probe of exotic physics and acceleration
In cosmology, distances based on standard candles (e.g. supernovae) and
standard rulers (e.g. baryon oscillations) agree as long as three conditions
are met: (1) photon number is conserved, (2) gravity is described by a metric
theory with (3) photons travelling on unique null geodesics. This is the
content of distance-duality (the reciprocity relation) which can be violated by
exotic physics. Here we analyse the implications of the latest cosmological
data sets for distance-duality. While broadly in agreement and confirming
acceleration we find a 2-sigma violation caused by excess brightening of SN-Ia
at z > 0.5, perhaps due to lensing magnification bias. This brightening has
been interpreted as evidence for a late-time transition in the dark energy but
because it is not seen in the d_A data we argue against such an interpretation.
Our results do, however, rule out significant SN-Ia evolution and extinction:
the "replenishing" grey-dust model with no cosmic acceleration is excluded at
more than 4-sigma despite this being the best-fit to SN-Ia data alone, thereby
illustrating the power of distance-duality even with current data sets.Comment: 6 pages, 4 colour figures. Version accepted as a Rapid Communication
in PR
The temporal dynamics of Arc expression regulate cognitive flexibility
YesNeuronal activity regulates the transcription and
translation of the immediate-early gene Arc/Arg3.1,
a key mediator of synaptic plasticity. Proteasomedependent
degradation of Arc tightly limits its
temporal expression, yet the significance of this
regulation remains unknown. We disrupted the temporal
control of Arc degradation by creating an Arc
knockin mouse (ArcKR) where the predominant Arc
ubiquitination sites were mutated. ArcKR mice had
intact spatial learning but showed specific deficits
in selecting an optimal strategy during reversal
learning. This cognitive inflexibility was coupled to
changes in Arc mRNA and protein expression resulting
in a reduced threshold to induce mGluR-LTD and
enhanced mGluR-LTD amplitude. These findings
show that the abnormal persistence of Arc protein
limits the dynamic range of Arc signaling pathways
specifically during reversal learning. Our work
illuminates how the precise temporal control of activity-dependent
molecules, such as Arc, regulates synaptic
plasticity and is crucial for cognition.Open access funded by Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Counci
Effects of Diabetes and Insulin on α-amylase Messenger RNA Levels in Rat Parotid Glands
Previous studies have shown that amylase levels are reduced significantly in the pancreas and parotid gland of diabetic rats and that insulin reverses this effect and increases the secretory protein levels. In the pancreas, these changes in amylase protein levels are accompanied by parallel changes in amylase mRNA levels. In the present study, the effects of diabetes and subsequent insulin treatments on contents (per cell) of amylase protein and its mRNA in parotid glands were compared in rats rendered diabetic with an injection of a beta-cell toxin, streptozotocin (STZ). Both amylase protein and its mRNA contents were reduced significantly in diabetic rats, compared with control rats, and this reduction was reversed following insulin injections of diabetic rats. In insulin-injected diabetic rats, amylase protein contents increased before a detectable increase in amylase mRNA levels was seen. The mRNA contents of a non-secretory protein, actin, did not change during diabetogenesis or subsequent insulin treatments. The reductions in parotid contents of amylase and its mRNA in diabetic rats and the reversal of these changes by insulin are similar to those changes that occur in the pancreas under the same conditions. However, the magnitude of these changes in parotid glands was much smaller than in the pancreas, and the effect of insulin on amylase mRNA synthesis was not as immediate as in the latter gland.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/67977/2/10.1177_00220345900690081001.pd
Lattice Dynamics and the High Pressure Equation of State of Au
Elastic constants and zone-boundary phonon frequencies of gold are calculated
by total energy electronic structure methods to twofold compression. A
generalized force constant model is used to interpolate throughout the
Brillouin zone and evaluate moments of the phonon distribution. The moments are
used to calculate the volume dependence of the Gruneisen parameter in the fcc
solid. Using these results with ultrasonic and shock data, we formulate the
complete free energy for solid Au. This free energy is given as a set of closed
form expressions, which are valid to compressions of at least V/V_0 = 0.65 and
temperatures up to melting. Beyond this density, the Hugoniot enters the
solid-liquid mixed phase region. Effects of shock melting on the Hugoniot are
discussed within an approximate model. We compare with proposed standards for
the equation of state to pressures of ~200 GPa. Our result for the room
temperature isotherm is in very good agreement with an earlier standard of
Heinz and Jeanloz.Comment: 13 pages, 8 figures. Accepted by Phys. Rev.
Simulations of the Static Friction Due to Adsorbed Molecules
The static friction between crystalline surfaces separated by a molecularly
thin layer of adsorbed molecules is calculated using molecular dynamics
simulations. These molecules naturally lead to a finite static friction that is
consistent with macroscopic friction laws. Crystalline alignment, sliding
direction, and the number of adsorbed molecules are not controlled in most
experiments and are shown to have little effect on the friction. Temperature,
molecular geometry and interaction potentials can have larger effects on
friction. The observed trends in friction can be understood in terms of a
simple hard sphere model.Comment: 13 pages, 13 figure
Primeval Corrections to the CMB Anisotropies
We show that deviations of the quantum state of the inflaton from the thermal
vacuum of inflation may leave an imprint in the CMB anisotropies. The quantum
dynamics of the inflaton in such a state produces corrections to the
inflationary fluctuations, which may be observable. Because these effects
originate from IR physics below the Planck scale, they will dominate over any
trans-Planckian imprints in any theory which obeys decoupling. Inflation sweeps
away these initial deviations and forces its quantum state closer to the
thermal vacuum. We view this as the quantum version of the cosmic no-hair
theorem. Such imprints in the CMB may be a useful, independent test of the
duration of inflation, or of significant features in the inflaton potential
about 60 e-folds before inflation ended, instead of an unlikely discovery of
the signatures of quantum gravity. The absence of any such substructure would
suggest that inflation lasted uninterrupted much longer than
e-folds.Comment: 17 pages, latex, no figures; v3: added references and comments, final
version to appear in Phys. Rev.
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