41 research outputs found
A record-driven growth process
We introduce a novel stochastic growth process, the record-driven growth
process, which originates from the analysis of a class of growing networks in a
universal limiting regime. Nodes are added one by one to a network, each node
possessing a quality. The new incoming node connects to the preexisting node
with best quality, that is, with record value for the quality. The emergent
structure is that of a growing network, where groups are formed around record
nodes (nodes endowed with the best intrinsic qualities). Special emphasis is
put on the statistics of leaders (nodes whose degrees are the largest). The
asymptotic probability for a node to be a leader is equal to the Golomb-Dickman
constant omega=0.624329... which arises in problems of combinatorical nature.
This outcome solves the problem of the determination of the record breaking
rate for the sequence of correlated inter-record intervals. The process
exhibits temporal self-similarity in the late-time regime. Connections with the
statistics of the cycles of random permutations, the statistical properties of
randomly broken intervals, and the Kesten variable are given.Comment: 30 pages,5 figures. Minor update
Tomographic entropy and cosmology
The probability representation of quantum mechanics including propagators and
tomograms of quantum states of the universe and its application to quantum
gravity and cosmology are reviewed. The minisuperspaces modeled by oscillator,
free pointlike particle and repulsive oscillator are considered. The notion of
tomographic entropy and its properties are used to find some inequalities for
the tomographic probability determining the quantum state of the universe. The
sense of the inequality as a lower bound for the entropy is clarified.Comment: 19 page
Improvement of the Heisenberg and Fisher-information-based uncertainty relations for D-dimensional central potentials
The Heisenberg and Fisher-information-based uncertainty relations are improved for stationary states of single-particle systems in a D-dimensional central potential. The improvement increases with the squared orbital hyperangular quantum number. The new uncertainty relations saturate for the isotropic harmonic oscillator wavefunction.We are very grateful for partial support to Junta de Andalucía (under the grants FQM-
0207 and FQM-481), Ministerio de Educaci´on y Ciencia (under the project FIS2005-00973),
and the European Research Network NeCCA (under the project INTAS-03-51-6637). RGF
acknowledges the support of Junta de Andalucía under the program of Retorno de Investigadores a Centros de Investigación Andaluces
Multifractal Spatial Patterns and Diversity in an Ecological Succession
We analyzed the relationship between biodiversity and spatial biomass heterogeneity along an ecological succession developed in the laboratory. Periphyton (attached microalgae) biomass spatial patterns at several successional stages were obtained using digital image analysis and at the same time we estimated the species composition and abundance. We show that the spatial pattern was self-similar and as the community developed in an homogeneous environment the pattern is self-organized. To characterize it we estimated the multifractal spectrum of generalized dimensions Dq. Using Dq we analyze the existence of cycles of heterogeneity during succession and the use of the information dimension D1 as an index of successional stage. We did not find cycles but the values of D1 showed an increasing trend as the succession developed and the biomass was higher. D1 was also negatively correlated with Shannon's diversity. Several studies have found this relationship in different ecosystems but here we prove that the community self-organizes and generates its own spatial heterogeneity influencing diversity. If this is confirmed with more experimental and theoretical evidence D1 could be used as an index, easily calculated from remote sensing data, to detect high or low diversity areas
A four-surface schematic eye of macaque monkey obtained by an optical method
AbstractSchematic eyes for four Macaca fascicularis monkeys were constructed from measurements of the positions and curvatures of the anterior and posterior surfaces of the cornea and lens. All of these measurements were obtained from Scheimpflug photography through the use of a ray-tracing analysis. Some of these measurements were also checked (and confirmed) by keratometry and ultrasound. Gaussian lens equations were applied to the measured dimensions of each individual eye in order to construct schematic eyes. The mean total power predicted by the schematic eyes agreed closely with independent measurements based on retinoscopy and ultrasound results, 74.2 ± 1.3 (SEM) vs 74.7 ± 0.3 (SEM) diopters. The predicted magnification of 202 μm/deg in one eye was confirmed by direct measurement of 205 μm/deg for a foveal laser lesion. The mean foveal retinal magnification calculated for our eight schematic eyes was 211 ± (SEM) μm/deg, slightly less than the value obtained by application of the method of Rolls and Cowey [Experimental Brain Research, 10, 298–310 (1970)] to our eight eyes but just 4% more than the value obtained by application of the method of Perry and Cowey [Vision Research, 12, 1795–1810 (1985)]
Role of retinoic receptors in lung carcinogenesis
Several in vitro and in vivo studies have examined the positive and negative effects of retinoids (vitamin A analogs) in premalignant and malignant lesions. Retinoids have been used as chemopreventive and anticancer agents because of their pleiotropic regulator function in cell differentiation, growth, proliferation and apoptosis through interaction with two types of nuclear receptors: retinoic acid receptors and retinoid X receptors. Recent investigations have gradually elucidated the function of retinoids and their signaling pathways and may explain the failure of earlier chemopreventive studies