4,191 research outputs found
Numerical study of a non-equilibrium interface model
We have carried out extensive computer simulations of one-dimensional models
related to the low noise (solid-on-solid) non-equilibrium interface of a two
dimensional anchored Toom model with unbiased and biased noise. For the
unbiased case the computed fluctuations of the interface in this limit provide
new numerical evidence for the logarithmic correction to the subnormal L^(1/2)
variance which was predicted by the dynamic renormalization group calculations
on the modified Edwards-Wilkinson equation. In the biased case the simulations
are in close quantitative agreement with the predictions of the Collective
Variable Approximation (CVA), which gives the same L^(2/3) behavior of the
variance as the KPZ equation.Comment: 15 pages revtex, 4 Postscript Figure
Lorentz Violation in Extra Dimensions
In theories with extra dimensions it is well known that the Lorentz
invariance of the -dimensional spacetime is lost due to the compactified
nature of the dimensions leaving invariance only in 4d. In such theories
other sources of Lorentz violation may exist associated with the physics that
initiated the compactification process at high scales. Here we consider the
possibility of capturing some of this physics by analyzing the higher
dimensional analog of the model of Colladay and Kostelecky. In that scenario a
complete set of Lorentz violating operators arising from spontaneous Lorentz
violation, that are not obviously Planck-scale suppressed, are added to the
Standard Model action. Here we consider the influence of the analogous set of
operators which break Lorentz invariance in 5d within the Universal Extra
Dimensions picture. We show that such operators can greatly alter the
anticipated Kaluza-Klein(KK) spectra, induce electroweak symmetry breaking at a
scale related to the inverse compactification radius, yield sources of parity
violation in, e.g., 4d QED/QCD and result in significant violations of
KK-parity conservation produced by fermion Yukawa couplings, thus destabilizing
the lightest KK particle. LV in 6d is briefly discussed.Comment: 26 pages, 2 figures; additional references and discussio
Improvement of the Staggered Fermion Operators
We present a complete and detailed derivation of the finite lattice spacing
corrections to staggered fermion matrix elements. Expanding upon arguments of
Sharpe, we explicitly implement the Symanzik improvement program demonstrating
the absence of order terms in the Symanzik improved action. We propose a
general program to improve fermion operators to remove corrections from
their matrix elements, and demonstrate this program for the examples of matrix
elements of fermion bilinears and . We find the former does have
corrections while the latter does not.Comment: 16 pages, latex, 1 figur
A skirmish in the early reception of Karl Barth in Scotland: The exchange between Thomas F. Torrance and Brand Blanshard
With an introduction by Iain Torrance, this paper reproduces a series of letters in The Scotsman newspaper between T. F. Torrance and the distinguished American philosopher Brand Blanshard. This (at times highly contentious) exchange was occasioned by views expressed by Blanshard in his 1952 Gifford Lectures on Barth and Brunner and what he called their ‘theology of crisis’. The letters give a fascinating insight into the way this new theology was perceived in the English-speaking world at the time
Causal Set Dynamics: A Toy Model
We construct a quantum measure on the power set of non-cyclic oriented graphs
of N points, drawing inspiration from 1-dimensional directed percolation.
Quantum interference patterns lead to properties which do not appear to have
any analogue in classical percolation. Most notably, instead of the single
phase transition of classical percolation, the quantum model displays two
distinct crossover points. Between these two points, spacetime questions such
as "does the network percolate" have no definite or probabilistic answer.Comment: 28 pages incl. 5 figure
Maintaining Vaccine Delivery Following the Introduction of the Rotavirus and Pneumococcal Vaccines in Thailand
Although the substantial burdens of rotavirus and pneumococcal disease have motivated many countries to consider introducing the rotavirus vaccine (RV) and heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV-7) to their National Immunization Programs (EPIs), these new vaccines could affect the countries' vaccine supply chains (i.e., the series of steps required to get a vaccine from their manufacturers to patients). We developed detailed computational models of the Trang Province, Thailand, vaccine supply chain to simulate introducing various RV and PCV-7 vaccine presentations and their combinations. Our results showed that the volumes of these new vaccines in addition to current routine vaccines could meet and even exceed (1) the refrigerator space at the provincial district and sub-district levels and (2) the transport cold space at district and sub-district levels preventing other vaccines from being available to patients who arrive to be immunized. Besides the smallest RV presentation (17.1 cm3/dose), all other vaccine introduction scenarios required added storage capacity at the provincial level (range: 20 L–1151 L per month) for the three largest formulations, and district level (range: 1 L–124 L per month) across all introduction scenarios. Similarly, with the exception of the two smallest RV presentation (17.1 cm3/dose), added transport capacity was required at both district and sub-district levels. Added transport capacity required across introduction scenarios from the provincial to district levels ranged from 1 L–187 L, and district to sub-district levels ranged from 1 L–13 L per shipment. Finally, only the smallest RV vaccine presentation (17.1 cm3/dose) had no appreciable effect on vaccine availability at sub-districts. All other RV and PCV-7 vaccines were too large for the current supply chain to handle without modifications such as increasing storage or transport capacity. Introducing these new vaccines to Thailand could have dynamic effects on the availability of all vaccines that may not be initially apparent to decision-makers
Strategy-Proofness and Efficiency with Nonquasi-Linear Preferences: A Characterization of Minimum Price Walrasian Rule
R Symmetries in the Landscape
In the landscape, states with symmetries at the classical level form a
distinct branch, with a potentially interesting phenomenology. Some preliminary
analyses suggested that the population of these states would be significantly
suppressed. We survey orientifolds of IIB theories compactified on Calabi-Yau
spaces based on vanishing polynomials in weighted projective spaces, and find
that the suppression is quite substantial. On the other hand, we find that a
R-parity is a common feature in the landscape. We discuss whether the
cosmological constant and proton decay or cosmology might select the low energy
branch. We include also some remarks on split supersymmetry.Comment: 13 page
Gene expression drives the evolution of dominance.
Dominance is a fundamental concept in molecular genetics and has implications for understanding patterns of genetic variation, evolution, and complex traits. However, despite its importance, the degree of dominance in natural populations is poorly quantified. Here, we leverage multiple mating systems in natural populations of Arabidopsis to co-estimate the distribution of fitness effects and dominance coefficients of new amino acid changing mutations. We find that more deleterious mutations are more likely to be recessive than less deleterious mutations. Further, this pattern holds across gene categories, but varies with the connectivity and expression patterns of genes. Our work argues that dominance arises as a consequence of the functional importance of genes and their optimal expression levels
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