External field dependence of the correlation lengths in the three-dimensional O(4) model

We investigate numerically the transverse and longitudinal correlation lengths of the three-dimensional O(4) model as a function of the external field H. In the low-temperature phase we verify explicitly the H^{-1/2}-dependence of the transverse correlation length, which is expected due to the Goldstone modes of the model. On the critical line we find the universal amplitude ratio xi^c_T / xi^c_L = 1.99(1). From our data we derive the universal scaling function for the transverse correlation length. The H-dependencies of the correlation lengths in the high temperature phase are discussed and shown to be in accord with the scaling functions.Comment: 3 pages, 4 figures, Lattice2003(higgs) contribution, espcrc2.st

Membrane Trafficking: Licensing a Cargo Receptor for ER Export

SummaryQuality control in the endoplasmic reticulum prevents packaging of immature and misfolded proteins into vesicles, but the actual mechanisms involved in this process have not been defined for most cargos. A recent study demonstrates that the engagement of mature cargo with its receptor triggers the recruitment of a vesicle cargo adaptor

Adapting Search Theory to Networks

The CSE is interested in the general problem of locating objects in networks. Because of their exposure to search theory, the problem they brought to the workshop was phrased in terms of adapting search theory to networks. Thus, the first step was the introduction of an already existing healthy literature on searching graphs. T. D. Parsons, who was then at Pennsylvania State University, was approached in 1977 by some local spelunkers who asked his aid in optimizing a search for someone lost in a cave in Pennsylvania. Parsons quickly formulated the problem as a search problem in a graph. Subsequent papers led to two divergent problems. One problem dealt with searching under assumptions of fairly extensive information, while the other problem dealt with searching under assumptions of essentially zero information. These two topics are developed in the next two sections

Correlation lengths and scaling functions in the three-dimensional O(4) model

We investigate numerically the transverse and longitudinal correlation lengths of the three-dimensional O(4) model as a function of the external field H. From our data we calculate the scaling function of the transverse correlation length, and that of the longitudinal correlation length for T>T_c. We show that the scaling functions do not only describe the critical behaviours of the correlation lengths but encompass as well the predicted Goldstone effects, in particular the H^{-1/2}-dependence of the transverse correlation length for T<T_c. In addition, we determine the critical exponent delta=4.824(9) and several critical amplitudes from which we derive the universal amplitude ratios R_{chi}=1.084(18), Q_c=0.431(9), Q_2^T=4.91(8), Q_2^L=1.265(24) and U_{xi}^c=1.99(1). The last result supports a relation between the longitudinal and transverse correlation functions, which was conjectured to hold below T_c but seems to be valid also at T_c.Comment: 24 pages, 13Ps-figures, Latex2e,one page added,version to appear in Nucl. Phys. B[FS

A pilot test of the effect of mild-hypoxia on unrealistically optimistic risk judgements

Although hypoxia is believed to occur above altitudes of 10,000 ft, some have suggested that effects may occur at lower altitudes. This pilot study explored risk judgments under conditions of mild hypoxia (simulated altitude of 8,000 ft). Some evidence of an increased optimism was found at this level, suggesting the need for a larger scale study with more experimental power

To catch a falling robber

We consider a Cops-and-Robber game played on the subsets of an $n$-set. The robber starts at the full set; the cops start at the empty set. On each turn, the robber moves down one level by discarding an element, and each cop moves up one level by gaining an element. The question is how many cops are needed to ensure catching the robber when the robber reaches the middle level. Aaron Hill posed the problem and provided a lower bound of $2^{n/2}$ for even $n$ and $\binom{n}{\lceil n/2 \rceil}2^{-\lfloor n/2 \rfloor}$ for odd $n$. We prove an upper bound (for all $n$) that is within a factor of $O(\ln n)$ times this lower bound.Comment: Minor revision