4,220 research outputs found
Laplacian Fractal Growth in Media with Quenched Disorder
We analyze the combined effect of a Laplacian field and quenched disorder for
the generation of fractal structures with a study, both numerical and
theoretical, of the quenched dielectric breakdown model (QDBM). The growth
dynamics is shown to evolve from the avalanches of invasion percolation (IP) to
the smooth growth of Laplacian fractals, i. e. diffusion limited aggregation
(DLA) and the dielectric breakdown model (DBM). The fractal dimension is
strongly reduced with respect to both DBM and IP, due to the combined effect of
memory and field screening. This implies a specific relation between the
fractal dimension of the breakdown structures (dielectric or mechanical) and
the microscopic properties of disordered materials.Comment: 11 pages Latex (revtex), 3 postscript figures included. Submitted to
PR
A dynamical classification of the range of pair interactions
We formalize a classification of pair interactions based on the convergence
properties of the {\it forces} acting on particles as a function of system
size. We do so by considering the behavior of the probability distribution
function (PDF) P(F) of the force field F in a particle distribution in the
limit that the size of the system is taken to infinity at constant particle
density, i.e., in the "usual" thermodynamic limit. For a pair interaction
potential V(r) with V(r) \rightarrow \infty) \sim 1/r^a defining a {\it
bounded} pair force, we show that P(F) converges continuously to a well-defined
and rapidly decreasing PDF if and only if the {\it pair force} is absolutely
integrable, i.e., for a > d-1, where d is the spatial dimension. We refer to
this case as {\it dynamically short-range}, because the dominant contribution
to the force on a typical particle in this limit arises from particles in a
finite neighborhood around it. For the {\it dynamically long-range} case, i.e.,
a \leq d-1, on the other hand, the dominant contribution to the force comes
from the mean field due to the bulk, which becomes undefined in this limit. We
discuss also how, for a \leq d-1 (and notably, for the case of gravity, a=d-2)
P(F) may, in some cases, be defined in a weaker sense. This involves a
regularization of the force summation which is generalization of the procedure
employed to define gravitational forces in an infinite static homogeneous
universe. We explain that the relevant classification in this context is,
however, that which divides pair forces with a > d-2 (or a < d-2), for which
the PDF of the {\it difference in forces} is defined (or not defined) in the
infinite system limit, without any regularization. In the former case dynamics
can, as for the (marginal) case of gravity, be defined consistently in an
infinite uniform system.Comment: 12 pages, 1 figure; significantly shortened and focussed, additional
references, version to appear in J. Stat. Phy
Chargino Contributions in Asymmetry
CP asymmetry in decay is studied in a special context of
supersymmetry theories, in which the charginos play an important role. We find
that in addition to the gluino, chargino can also make large contributions to
CP asymmetry in decay. After considering the constraints from
decay, we study three special scenarios: (a). Large mixing on
left-handed charm and top squarks (LL mixing); (b). Large mixing on
right-handed charm and top squarks (RR mixing); (c). Large mixing on
left-handed charm and top squarks plus right-handed charm and top squarks (LL +
RR mixing). We show quantitatively that because of large squark mixing within
second and third generations, an (1) effect on CP violation in is possible
Gravitational force distribution in fractal structures
We study the (newtonian) gravitational force distribution arising from a
fractal set of sources. We show that, in the case of real structures in finite
samples, an important role is played by morphological properties and finite
size effects. For dimensions smaller than d-1 (being the space dimension)
the convergence of the net gravitational force is assured by the fast decaying
of the density, while for fractal dimension D>d-1 the morphological properties
of the structure determine the eventual convergence of the force as a function
of distance. We clarify the role played by the cut-offs of the distribution.
Some cosmological implications are discussed.Comment: 9 pages, latex, 2 postscript figures, also available at
http://www.phys.uniroma1.it/DOCS/PIL/pil.html Accepted for Publication in
Europhysics Letters. Minor modifications adde
Stochastic interacting particle systems out of equilibrium
This paper provides an introduction to some stochastic models of lattice
gases out of equilibrium and a discussion of results of various kinds obtained
in recent years. Although these models are different in their microscopic
features, a unified picture is emerging at the macroscopic level, applicable,
in our view, to real phenomena where diffusion is the dominating physical
mechanism. We rely mainly on an approach developed by the authors based on the
study of dynamical large fluctuations in stationary states of open systems. The
outcome of this approach is a theory connecting the non equilibrium
thermodynamics to the transport coefficients via a variational principle. This
leads ultimately to a functional derivative equation of Hamilton-Jacobi type
for the non equilibrium free energy in which local thermodynamic variables are
the independent arguments. In the first part of the paper we give a detailed
introduction to the microscopic dynamics considered, while the second part,
devoted to the macroscopic properties, illustrates many consequences of the
Hamilton-Jacobi equation. In both parts several novelties are included.Comment: 36 page
Average observational quantities in the timescape cosmology
We examine the properties of a recently proposed observationally viable
alternative to homogeneous cosmology with smooth dark energy, the timescape
cosmology. In the timescape model cosmic acceleration is realized as an
apparent effect related to the calibration of clocks and rods of observers in
bound systems relative to volume-average observers in an inhomogeneous geometry
in ordinary general relativity. The model is based on an exact solution to a
Buchert average of the Einstein equations with backreaction. The present paper
examines a number of observational tests which will enable the timescape model
to be distinguished from homogeneous cosmologies with a cosmological constant
or other smooth dark energy, in current and future generations of dark energy
experiments. Predictions are presented for: comoving distance measures; H(z);
the equivalent of the dark energy equation of state, w(z); the Om(z) measure of
Sahni, Shafieloo and Starobinsky; the Alcock-Paczynski test; the baryon
acoustic oscillation measure, D_v; the inhomogeneity test of Clarkson, Bassett
and Lu; and the time drift of cosmological redshifts. Where possible, the
predictions are compared to recent independent studies of similar measures in
homogeneous cosmologies with dark energy. Three separate tests with indications
of results in possible tension with the Lambda CDM model are found to be
consistent with the expectations of the timescape cosmology.Comment: 22 pages, 12 figures; v2 discussion, references added, matches
published versio
Discrete Matter, Far Fields, and Dark Matter
We show that in cosmology the gravitational action of the far away matter has
quite relevant effects, if retardation of the forces and discreteness of matter
(with its spatial correlation) are taken into account. The expansion rate is
found to be determined by the density of the far away matter, i.e., by the
density of matter at remote times. This leads to the introduction of an
effective density, which has to be five times larger than the present one, if
the present expansion rate is to be accounted for. The force per unit mass on a
test particle is found to be of the order of 0.2cH_0. The corresponding
contribution to the virial of the forces for a cluster of galaxies is also
discussed, and it is shown that it fits the observations if a decorrelation
property of the forces at two separated points is assumed. So it appears that
the gravitational effects of the far away matter may have the same order of
magnitude as the corresponding local effects of dark matter.Comment: 16 pages, 1 figure. LaTex documen
Galaxy distribution and extreme value statistics
We consider the conditional galaxy density around each galaxy, and study its
fluctuations in the newest samples of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release
7. Over a large range of scales, both the average conditional density and its
variance show a nontrivial scaling behavior, which resembles to criticality.
The density depends, for 10 < r < 80 Mpc/h, only weakly (logarithmically) on
the system size. Correspondingly, we find that the density fluctuations follow
the Gumbel distribution of extreme value statistics. This distribution is
clearly distinguishable from a Gaussian distribution, which would arise for a
homogeneous spatial galaxy configuration. We also point out similarities
between the galaxy distribution and critical systems of statistical physics
Inclisiran in lipid management: A Literature overview and future perspectives
Primary and secondary prevention protocols aim at reducing the plasma levels of lipids - with particular reference to low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) plasma concentrations â in order to improve the overall survival and reduce the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events. The use of statins has been widely considered as the first-line approach in lipids management as they can dramatically impact on the cardiovascular risk profile of individuals. The introduction of ezetimibe and proprotein convertase subtilisin-kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors overcame the adverse effects of statins and ameliorate the achievement of the target lipids levels. Indeed, advances in therapies promote the use of specific molecules â i.e. short strands of RNA named small-interfering RNAs (siRNAs) â to suppress the transcription of genes related to lipids metabolism. Recently, the inclisiran has been developed: this is a siRNA able to block the mRNA of the PCSK9 gene. About 50% reduction in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels have been observed in randomized controlled trials with inclisiran. The aim of this review was to summarize the literature regarding inclisiran and its possible role in the general management of patients with lipid disorders and/or in primary/secondary prevention protocols
Very large scale correlations in the galaxy distribution
We characterize galaxy correlations in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey by
measuring several moments of galaxy counts in spheres. We firstly find that the
average counts grows as a power-law function of the distance with an exponent
D= 2.1+- 0.05 for r in [0.5,20] Mpc/h and D = 2.8+-0.05 for r in [30,150]
Mpc/h. In order to estimate the systematic errors in these measurements we
consider the counts variance finding that it shows systematic finite size
effects which depend on the samples sizes. We clarify, by making specific
tests, that these are due to galaxy long-range correlations extending up to the
largest scales of the sample. The analysis of mock galaxy catalogs, generated
from cosmological N-body simulations of the standard LCDM model, shows that for
r<20 Mpc/h the counts exponent is D~2.0, weakly dependent on galaxy luminosity,
while D=3 at larger scales. In addition, contrary to the case of the observed
galaxy samples, no systematic finite size effects in the counts variance are
found at large scales, a result that agrees with the absence of large scale,
r~100 Mpc/h, correlations in the mock catalogs. We thus conclude that the
observed galaxy distribution is characterized by correlations, fluctuations and
hence structures, which are larger, both in amplitude and in spatial extension,
than those predicted by the standard model LCDM of galaxy formation.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figures to be published in Europhysics Letter
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