348 research outputs found
Phenomenological glass model for vibratory granular compaction
A model for weakly excited granular media is derived by combining the free
volume argument of Nowak et al. [Phys. Rev. E 57, 1971 (1998)] and the
phenomenological model for supercooled liquids of Adam and Gibbs [J. Chem.
Phys. 43, 139 (1965)]. This is made possible by relating the granular
excitation parameter \Gamma, defined as the peak acceleration of the driving
pulse scaled by gravity, to a temperature-like parameter \eta(\Gamma). The
resulting master equation is formally identical to that of Bouchaud's trap
model for glasses [J. Phys. I 2, 1705 (1992)]. Analytic and simulation results
are shown to compare favourably with a range of known experimental behaviour.
This includes the logarithmic densification and power spectrum of fluctuations
under constant \eta, the annealing curve when \eta is varied cyclically in
time, and memory effects observed for a discontinuous shift in \eta. Finally,
we discuss the physical interpretation of the model parameters and suggest
further experiments for this class of systems.Comment: 2 references added; some figure labels tweaked. To appear in PR
Negotiating the inhuman: Bakhtin, materiality and the instrumentalization of climate change
The article argues that the work of literary theorist Mikhail M. Bakhtin presents a starting point for thinking about the instrumentalization of climate change. Bakhtin’s conceptualization of human–world relationships, encapsulated in the concept of ‘cosmic terror’, places a strong focus on our perception of the ‘inhuman’. Suggesting a link between the perceived alienness and instability of the world and in the exploitation of the resulting fear of change by political and religious forces, Bakhtin asserts that the latter can only be resisted if our desire for a false stability in the world is overcome. The key to this overcoming of fear, for him, lies in recognizing and confronting the worldly relations of the human body. This consciousness represents the beginning of one’s ‘deautomatization’ from following established patterns of reactions to predicted or real changes. In the vein of several theorists and artists of his time who explored similar ‘deautomatization’ strategies – examples include Shklovsky’s ‘ostranenie’, Brecht’s ‘Verfremdung’, Artaud’s emotional ‘cruelty’ and Bataille’s ‘base materialism’ – Bakhtin proposes a more playful and widely accessible experimentation to deconstruct our ‘habitual picture of the world’. Experimentation is envisioned to take place across the material and the textual to increase possibilities for action. Through engaging with Bakhtin’s ideas, this article seeks to draw attention to relations between the imagination of the world and political agency, and the need to include these relations in our own experiments with creating climate change awareness
Brazilian medical publications: citation patterns for Brazilian-edited and non-Brazilian literature
Mean first-passage time of surface-mediated diffusion in spherical domains
We present an exact calculation of the mean first-passage time to a target on
the surface of a 2D or 3D spherical domain, for a molecule alternating phases
of surface diffusion on the domain boundary and phases of bulk diffusion. The
presented approach is based on an integral equation which can be solved
analytically. Numerically validated approximation schemes, which provide more
tractable expressions of the mean first-passage time are also proposed. In the
framework of this minimal model of surface-mediated reactions, we show
analytically that the mean reaction time can be minimized as a function of the
desorption rate from the surface.Comment: to appear in J. Stat. Phy
Kinetics of active surface-mediated diffusion in spherically symmetric domains
We present an exact calculation of the mean first-passage time to a target on
the surface of a 2D or 3D spherical domain, for a molecule alternating phases
of surface diffusion on the domain boundary and phases of bulk diffusion. We
generalize the results of [J. Stat. Phys. {\bf 142}, 657 (2011)] and consider a
biased diffusion in a general annulus with an arbitrary number of regularly
spaced targets on a partially reflecting surface. The presented approach is
based on an integral equation which can be solved analytically. Numerically
validated approximation schemes, which provide more tractable expressions of
the mean first-passage time are also proposed. In the framework of this minimal
model of surface-mediated reactions, we show analytically that the mean
reaction time can be minimized as a function of the desorption rate from the
surface.Comment: Published online in J. Stat. Phy
Power counting and effective field theory for charmonium
We hypothesize that the correct power counting for charmonia is in the
parameter Lambda_QCD/m_c, but is not based purely on dimensional analysis (as
is HQET). This power counting leads to predictions which differ from those
resulting from the usual velocity power counting rules of NRQCD. In particular,
we show that while Lambda_QCD/m_c power counting preserves the empirically
verified predictions of spin symmetry in decays, it also leads to new
predictions which include: A hierarchy between spin singlet and triplet octet
matrix elements in the J/psi system. A quenching of the net polarization in
production at large transverse momentum. No end point enhancement in radiative
decays. We discuss explicit tests which can differentiate between the
traditional and new theories of NRQCD.Comment: 18 pages, 1 figure Replaced plot of the psi polarization parameter
alpha as a function of transverse momentum. Alpha is now closer to zero for
large transverse moment
Pre-conception maternal helminth infection transfers via nursing long-lasting cellular immunity against helminths to offspring
Maternal immune transfer is the most significant source of protection from early-life infection, but whether maternal transfer of immunity by nursing permanently alters offspring immunity is poorly understood. Here, we identify maternal immune imprinting of offspring nursed by mothers who had a pre-conception helminth infection. Nursing of pups by helminth-exposed mothers transferred protective cellular immunity to these offspring against helminth infection. Enhanced control of infection was not dependent on maternal antibody. Protection associated with systemic development of protective type 2 immunity in T helper 2 (TH2) impaired IL-4R-/- offspring. This maternally acquired immunity was maintained into maturity and required transfer (via nursing) to the offspring of maternally derived TH2-competent CD4 T cells. Our data therefore reveal that maternal exposure to a globally prevalent source of infection before pregnancy provides long-term nursing-acquired immune benefits to offspring mediated by maternally derived pathogen-experienced lymphocytes. © 2019 by the Authors
An alternative electric-field spectrum for laser-driven atomic systems
We adopt an open systems perspective to calculate the power spectrum associated with the electric field generated by an atomic dipole moment undergoing resonant laser-driving. This spectrum has a similar triplet shape to the Mollow spectrum and contains a similar amount of information. This is surprising, since the Mollow triplet derives from the Glauber two-time correlation function, which represents the average energy-intensity of a superposition of waves taken at different times. In contrast, our spectrum derives from a correlation function defined in terms of single-time expectation values of the electric source-field. Although they are derived from very different correlation functions, both spectra reflect the quantum-mechanical level-structure of the atomic source
Heavy quarkonium: progress, puzzles, and opportunities
A golden age for heavy quarkonium physics dawned a decade ago, initiated by
the confluence of exciting advances in quantum chromodynamics (QCD) and an
explosion of related experimental activity. The early years of this period were
chronicled in the Quarkonium Working Group (QWG) CERN Yellow Report (YR) in
2004, which presented a comprehensive review of the status of the field at that
time and provided specific recommendations for further progress. However, the
broad spectrum of subsequent breakthroughs, surprises, and continuing puzzles
could only be partially anticipated. Since the release of the YR, the BESII
program concluded only to give birth to BESIII; the -factories and CLEO-c
flourished; quarkonium production and polarization measurements at HERA and the
Tevatron matured; and heavy-ion collisions at RHIC have opened a window on the
deconfinement regime. All these experiments leave legacies of quality,
precision, and unsolved mysteries for quarkonium physics, and therefore beg for
continuing investigations. The plethora of newly-found quarkonium-like states
unleashed a flood of theoretical investigations into new forms of matter such
as quark-gluon hybrids, mesonic molecules, and tetraquarks. Measurements of the
spectroscopy, decays, production, and in-medium behavior of c\bar{c}, b\bar{b},
and b\bar{c} bound states have been shown to validate some theoretical
approaches to QCD and highlight lack of quantitative success for others. The
intriguing details of quarkonium suppression in heavy-ion collisions that have
emerged from RHIC have elevated the importance of separating hot- and
cold-nuclear-matter effects in quark-gluon plasma studies. This review
systematically addresses all these matters and concludes by prioritizing
directions for ongoing and future efforts.Comment: 182 pages, 112 figures. Editors: N. Brambilla, S. Eidelman, B. K.
Heltsley, R. Vogt. Section Coordinators: G. T. Bodwin, E. Eichten, A. D.
Frawley, A. B. Meyer, R. E. Mitchell, V. Papadimitriou, P. Petreczky, A. A.
Petrov, P. Robbe, A. Vair
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