36,401 research outputs found
Gravitational Correction to Running of Gauge Couplings
We calculate the contribution of graviton exchange to the running of gauge
couplings at lowest non-trivial order in perturbation theory. Including this
contribution in a theory that features coupling constant unification does not
upset this unification, but rather shifts the unification scale. When
extrapolated formally, the gravitational correction renders all gauge couplings
asymptotically free.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures; v2: Clarified awkward sentences and notations.
Corrected typos. Added references and discussion thereof in introduction.
Minor copy editting changes to agree with version to be published in Physical
Review Letter
Joint evolution of multiple social traits: a kin selection analysis
General models of the evolution of cooperation, altruism and other social behaviours have focused almost entirely on single traits, whereas it is clear that social traits commonly interact. We develop a general kin-selection framework for the evolution of social behaviours in multiple dimensions. We show that whenever there are interactions among social traits new behaviours can emerge that are not predicted by one-dimensional analyses. For example, a prohibitively costly cooperative trait can ultimately be favoured owing to initial evolution in other (cheaper) social traits that in turn change the cost-benefit ratio of the original trait. To understand these behaviours, we use a two-dimensional stability criterion that can be viewed as an extension of Hamilton's rule. Our principal example is the social dilemma posed by, first, the construction and, second, the exploitation of a shared public good. We find that, contrary to the separate one-dimensional analyses, evolutionary feedback between the two traits can cause an increase in the equilibrium level of selfish exploitation with increasing relatedness, while both social (production plus exploitation) and asocial (neither) strategies can be locally stable. Our results demonstrate the importance of emergent stability properties of multidimensional social dilemmas, as one-dimensional stability in all component dimensions can conceal multidimensional instability
Series of experiments for empirical validation of solar gain modelling in building energy simulation codes - experimental setup, test cell characterization, specifications and uncertainty analysis
Empirical validation of building energy simulation codes is an important component in understanding the capacity and limitations of the software. Within the framework of Task 34/Annex 43 of the International Energy Agency (IEA), a series of experiments was performed in an outdoor test cell. The objective of these experiments was to provide a high-quality data set for code developers and modelers to validate their solar gain models for windows with and without shading devices. A description of the necessary specifications for modeling these experiments is provided in this paper, which includes information about the test site location, experimental setup, geometrical and thermophysical cell properties including estimated uncertainties. Computed overall thermal cell properties were confirmed by conducting a steady-state experiment without solar gains. A transient experiment, also without solar gains, and corresponding simulations from four different building energy simulation codes showed that the provided specifications result in accurate thermal cell modeling. A good foundation for the following experiments with solar gains was therefore accomplished
APMEC: An Automated Provisioning Framework for Multi-access Edge Computing
Novel use cases and verticals such as connected cars and human-robot
cooperation in the areas of 5G and Tactile Internet can significantly benefit
from the flexibility and reduced latency provided by Network Function
Virtualization (NFV) and Multi-Access Edge Computing (MEC). Existing frameworks
managing and orchestrating MEC and NFV are either tightly coupled or completely
separated. The former design is inflexible and increases the complexity of one
framework. Whereas, the latter leads to inefficient use of computation
resources because information are not shared. We introduce APMEC, a dedicated
framework for MEC while enabling the collaboration with the management and
orchestration (MANO) frameworks for NFV. The new design allows to reuse
allocated network services, thus maximizing resource utilization. Measurement
results have shown that APMEC can allocate up to 60% more number of network
services. Being developed on top of OpenStack, APMEC is an open source project,
available for collaboration and facilitating further research activities
Transient dynamics of a superconducting nonlinear oscillator
We investigate the transient dynamics of a lumped-element oscillator based on
a dc superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID). The SQUID is shunted
with a capacitor forming a nonlinear oscillator with resonance frequency in the
range of several GHz. The resonance frequency is varied by tuning the Josephson
inductance of the SQUID with on-chip flux lines. We report measurements of
decaying oscillations in the time domain following a brief excitation with a
microwave pulse. The nonlinearity of the SQUID oscillator is probed by
observing the ringdown response for different excitation amplitudes while the
SQUID potential is varied by adjusting the flux bias. Simulations are performed
on a model circuit by numerically solving the corresponding Langevin equations
incorporating the SQUID potential at the experimental temperature and using
parameters obtained from separate measurements characterizing the SQUID
oscillator. Simulations are in good agreement with the experimental
observations of the ringdowns as a function of applied magnetic flux and pulse
amplitude. We observe a crossover between the occurrence of ringdowns close to
resonance and adiabatic following at larger detuning from the resonance. We
also discuss the occurrence of phase jumps at large amplitude drive. Finally,
we briefly outline prospects for a readout scheme for superconducting flux
qubits based on the discrimination between ringdown signals for different
levels of magnetic flux coupled to the SQUID.Comment: 15 pages, 9 figure
Evaluation of Four Advanced Nozzle Concepts for Short Takeoff and Landing Performance
Four advanced nozzle concepts were tested on a canard-wing fighter in the Langley 14- by 22-Foot Subsonic Tunnel. The four vectoring-nozzle concepts were as follows: (1) an axisymmetric nozzle (AXI); (2) an asymmetric, load balanced exhaust nozzle (ALBEN); (3) a low aspect ratio, single expansion ramp nozzle (LASERN); and (4) a high aspect ratio, single expansion ramp nozzle (HASERN). The investigation was conducted to determine the most suitable nozzle concept for short takeoff and landing (STOL) performance. The criterion for the best STOL performance was a takeoff ground roll of less than 1000 ft. At approach, the criteria were high lift and sufficient drag to maintain a glide slope of -3 to -6 deg with enough pitching-moment control from the canards. The test was performed at a dynamic pressure of 45 lb/sq ft and an angle-of-attack range of 0 to 20 deg. The nozzle pressure ratio was varied from 1.0 to 4.3 at both dry power and after burning nozzle configurations with nozzle vectoring to 60 deg. In addition, the model was tested in and out of ground effects. The ALBEN concept was the best of the four nozzle concepts tested for STOL performance
Foray search: An effective systematic dispersal strategy in fragmented landscapes
In the absence of evidence to the contrary, population models generally assume that the dispersal trajectories of animals are random, but systematic dispersal could be more efficient at detecting new habitat and may therefore constitute a more realistic assumption. Here, we investigate, by means of simulations, the properties of a potentially widespread systematic dispersal strategy termed "foray search." Foray search was more efficient in detecting suitable habitat than was random dispersal in most landscapes and was less subject to energetic constraints. However, it also resulted in considerably shorter net dispersed distances and higher mortality per net dispersed distance than did random dispersal, and it would therefore be likely to lead to lower dispersal rates toward the margins of population networks. Consequently, the use of foray search by dispersers could crucially affect the extinction-colonization balance of metapopulations and the evolution of dispersal rates. We conclude that population models need to take the dispersal trajectories of individuals into account in order to make reliable predictions
Detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) using an optical fibre long period grating with a calixarene anchored mesoporous thin film
A long period grating (LPG) modified with a mesoporous film infused with a functional compound, calix[4]arene, was employed for the detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The mesoporous film consisted of an inorganic part, of SiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) along with an organic moiety of poly(allylamine hydrochloride) polycation PAH, which was finally infused with functional compound, p-sulphanatocalix[4]arene (CA[4]). The LPG sensor was designed to operate at the phase matching turning point to provide the highest sensitivity. The sensing mechanism is based on the measurement of the refractive index (RI) change induced by the complexion of the VOCs with calix[4]arene (CA). The LPG modified with 5 cycles of (SiO2 NPs/PAH)5PAA responded to exposure to chloroform and benzene vapours. The sensitivity to humidity as an interfering parameter was also investigated
S-PRAC: Fast Partial Packet Recovery with Network Coding in Very Noisy Wireless Channels
Well-known error detection and correction solutions in wireless
communications are slow or incur high transmission overhead. Recently, notable
solutions like PRAC and DAPRAC, implementing partial packet recovery with
network coding, could address these problems. However, they perform slowly when
there are many errors. We propose S-PRAC, a fast scheme for partial packet
recovery, particularly designed for very noisy wireless channels. S-PRAC
improves on DAPRAC. It divides each packet into segments consisting of a fixed
number of small RLNC encoded symbols and then attaches a CRC code to each
segment and one to each coded packet. Extensive simulations show that S-PRAC
can detect and correct errors quickly. It also outperforms DAPRAC significantly
when the number of errors is high
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