609 research outputs found
Generalized Signal Models and Direct FID-Based Dielectric Parameter Retrieval in MRI
In this paper we present full-wave signal models for magnetic and electric
field measurements in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Our analysis is based
on a scattering formalism in which the presence of an object or body is taken
into account via an electric scattering source. We show that these signal
models can be evaluated, provided the Green's tensors of the background field
are known along with the dielectric parameters of the object and the
magnetization within the excited part of the object. Furthermore, explicit
signal expressions are derived in case of a small homogeneous ball that is
embedded in free space and for which the quasi-static Born approximation can be
applied. The conductivity and permittivity of the ball appear as explicit
parameters in the resulting signal models and allow us to study the sensitivity
of the measured signals with respect to these dielectric parameters. Moreover,
for free induction decay signals we show that under certain conditions it is
possible to retrieve the dielectric parameters of the ball from
noise-contaminated induction decay signals that are based on electric or
magnetic field measurements
Dynamical heterogeneity in a glass forming ideal gas
We conduct a numerical study of the dynamical behavior of a system of
three-dimensional crosses, particles that consist of three mutually
perpendicular line segments rigidly joined at their midpoints. In an earlier
study [W. van Ketel et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 94, 135703 (2005)] we showed that
this model has the structural properties of an ideal gas, yet the dynamical
properties of a strong glass former. In the present paper we report an
extensive study of the dynamical heterogeneities that appear in this system in
the regime where glassy behavior sets in. On the one hand, we find that the
propensity of a particle to diffuse is determined by the structure of its local
environment. The local density around mobile particles is significantly less
than the average density, but there is little clustering of mobile particles,
and the clusters observed tend to be small. On the other hand, dynamical
susceptibility results indicate that a large dynamical length scale develops
even at moderate densities. This suggests that propensity and other mobility
measures are an incomplete measure of dynamical length scales in this system.Comment: 11 pages, 7 figure
cis-9,10-Bis(bromoÂmethÂyl)-1,4,5,8-tetraÂoxadecaÂlin
The title compound, C8H12Br2O4, is a bicyclic ketal in which the two six-membered rings are cis to one another and assume a double-chair conformation. A crystallographic twofold axis bisects the molecule
Black holes as mirrors: quantum information in random subsystems
We study information retrieval from evaporating black holes, assuming that
the internal dynamics of a black hole is unitary and rapidly mixing, and
assuming that the retriever has unlimited control over the emitted Hawking
radiation. If the evaporation of the black hole has already proceeded past the
"half-way" point, where half of the initial entropy has been radiated away,
then additional quantum information deposited in the black hole is revealed in
the Hawking radiation very rapidly. Information deposited prior to the half-way
point remains concealed until the half-way point, and then emerges quickly.
These conclusions hold because typical local quantum circuits are efficient
encoders for quantum error-correcting codes that nearly achieve the capacity of
the quantum erasure channel. Our estimate of a black hole's information
retention time, based on speculative dynamical assumptions, is just barely
compatible with the black hole complementarity hypothesis.Comment: 18 pages, 2 figures. (v2): discussion of decoding complexity
clarifie
Stomatal optimisation based on xylem hydraulics (SOX) improves land surface model simulation of vegetation responses to climate
This is the final version. Available on open access via the DOI in this recordâ˘Land surface models (LSMs) typically use empirical functions to represent vegetation responses to soil drought. These functions largely neglect recent advances in plant ecophysiology that link xylem hydraulic functioning with stomatal responses to climate. â˘We developed an analytical stomatal optimisation model based on xylem hydraulics (SOX) to predict plant responses to drought. Coupling SOX to the Joint UK Land Environment Simulator (JULES) LSM, we conducted a global evaluation of SOX against leaf- and ecosystem-level observations. â˘SOX simulates leaf stomatal conductance responses to climate for woody plants more accurately and parsimoniously than the existing JULES stomatal conductance model. An ecosystem-level evaluation at 70 eddy flux sites shows that SOX decreases the sensitivity of gross primary productivity (GPP) to soil moisture, which improves the model agreement with observations and increases the predicted annual GPP by 30% in relation to JULES. SOX decreases JULES root mean squared error in GPP by up to 45 % in evergreen tropical forests, and can simulate realistic patterns of canopy water potential and soil water dynamics at the studied sites. â˘SOX provides a parsimonious way to incorporate recent advances in plant hydraulics and optimality theory into LSMs, and an alternative to empirical stress factors.Newton Fund through the Met Office Climate Science for Service Partnership Brazil (CSSP Brazil)Natural Environment Research Council (NERC
Quantum Communication in Rindler Spacetime
A state that an inertial observer in Minkowski space perceives to be the
vacuum will appear to an accelerating observer to be a thermal bath of
radiation. We study the impact of this Davies-Fulling-Unruh noise on
communication, particularly quantum communication from an inertial sender to an
accelerating observer and private communication between two inertial observers
in the presence of an accelerating eavesdropper. In both cases, we establish
compact, tractable formulas for the associated communication capacities
assuming encodings that allow a single excitation in one of a fixed number of
modes per use of the communications channel. Our contributions include a
rigorous presentation of the general theory of the private quantum capacity as
well as a detailed analysis of the structure of these channels, including their
group-theoretic properties and a proof that they are conjugate degradable.
Connections between the Unruh channel and optical amplifiers are also
discussed.Comment: v3: 44 pages, accepted in Communications in Mathematical Physic
Modulation of the Metabiome by Rifaximin in Patients with Cirrhosis and Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy
Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) represents a dysfunctional gut-liver-brain axis in cirrhosis which can negatively impact outcomes. This altered gut-brain relationship has been treated using gut-selective antibiotics such as rifaximin, that improve cognitive function in HE, especially its subclinical form, minimal HE (MHE). However, the precise mechanism of the action of rifaximin in MHE is unclear. We hypothesized that modulation of gut microbiota and their end-products by rifaximin would affect the gut-brain axis and improve cognitive performance in cirrhosis. Aim To perform a systems biology analysis of the microbiome, metabolome and cognitive change after rifaximin in MHE. Methods
Twenty cirrhotics with MHE underwent cognitive testing, endotoxin analysis, urine/serum metabolomics (GC and LC-MS) and fecal microbiome assessment (multi-tagged pyrosequencing) at baseline and 8 weeks post-rifaximin 550 mg BID. Changes in cognition, endotoxin, serum/urine metabolites (and microbiome were analyzed using recommended systems biology techniques. Specifically, correlation networks between microbiota and metabolome were analyzed before and after rifaximin. Results
There was a significant improvement in cognition(six of seven tests improved,pVeillonellaceaeand increase inEubacteriaceae was observed. Rifaximin resulted in a significant reduction in network connectivity and clustering on the correlation networks. The networks centered onEnterobacteriaceae, Porphyromonadaceae and Bacteroidaceae indicated a shift from pathogenic to beneficial metabolite linkages and better cognition while those centered on autochthonous taxa remained similar. Conclusions
Rifaximin is associated with improved cognitive function and endotoxemia in MHE, which is accompanied by alteration of gut bacterial linkages with metabolites without significant change in microbial abundance. Trial Registration
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT0106913
Random-phase approximation and its applications in computational chemistry and materials science
The random-phase approximation (RPA) as an approach for computing the
electronic correlation energy is reviewed. After a brief account of its basic
concept and historical development, the paper is devoted to the theoretical
formulations of RPA, and its applications to realistic systems. With several
illustrating applications, we discuss the implications of RPA for computational
chemistry and materials science. The computational cost of RPA is also
addressed which is critical for its widespread use in future applications. In
addition, current correction schemes going beyond RPA and directions of further
development will be discussed.Comment: 25 pages, 11 figures, published online in J. Mater. Sci. (2012
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