8,963 research outputs found
Infinitesimals without Logic
We introduce the ring of Fermat reals, an extension of the real field
containing nilpotent infinitesimals. The construction takes inspiration from
Smooth Infinitesimal Analysis (SIA), but provides a powerful theory of actual
infinitesimals without any need of a background in mathematical logic. In
particular, on the contrary with respect to SIA, which admits models only in
intuitionistic logic, the theory of Fermat reals is consistent with classical
logic. We face the problem to decide if the product of powers of nilpotent
infinitesimals is zero or not, the identity principle for polynomials, the
definition and properties of the total order relation. The construction is
highly constructive, and every Fermat real admits a clear and order preserving
geometrical representation. Using nilpotent infinitesimals, every smooth
functions becomes a polynomial because in Taylor's formulas the rest is now
zero. Finally, we present several applications to informal classical
calculations used in Physics: now all these calculations become rigorous and,
at the same time, formally equal to the informal ones. In particular, an
interesting rigorous deduction of the wave equation is given, that clarifies
how to formalize the approximations tied with Hook's law using this language of
nilpotent infinitesimals.Comment: The first part of the preprint is taken directly form arXiv:0907.1872
The second part is new and contains a list of example
Tiling groupoids and Bratteli diagrams
Let T be an aperiodic and repetitive tiling of R^d with finite local
complexity. Let O be its tiling space with canonical transversal X. The tiling
equivalence relation R_X is the set of pairs of tilings in X which are
translates of each others, with a certain (etale) topology. In this paper R_X
is reconstructed as a generalized "tail equivalence" on a Bratteli diagram,
with its standard AF-relation as a subequivalence relation.
Using a generalization of the Anderson-Putnam complex, O is identified with
the inverse limit of a sequence of finite CW-complexes. A Bratteli diagram B is
built from this sequence, and its set of infinite paths dB is homeomorphic to
X. The diagram B is endowed with a horizontal structure: additional edges that
encode the adjacencies of patches in T. This allows to define an etale
equivalence relation R_B on dB which is homeomorphic to R_X, and contains the
AF-relation of "tail equivalence".Comment: 34 pages, 4 figure
Isospin Dynamics in Heavy Ion Collisions: from Coulomb Barrier to Quark Gluon Plasma
Heavy Ion Collisions (HIC) represent a unique tool to probe the in-medium
nuclear interaction in regions away from saturation. In this report we present
a selection of new reaction observables in dissipative collisions particularly
sensitive to the symmetry term of the nuclear Equation of State (Iso-EoS). We
will first discuss the Isospin Equilibration Dynamics. At low energies this
manifests via the recently observed Dynamical Dipole Radiation, due to a
collective neutron-proton oscillation with the symmetry term acting as a
restoring force. At higher beam energies Iso-EoS effects will be seen in
Imbalance Ratio Measurements, in particular from the correlations with the
total kinetic energy loss. For fragmentation reactions in central events we
suggest to look at the coupling between isospin distillation and radial flow.
In Neck Fragmentation reactions important information can be obtained
from the correlation between isospin content and alignement. The high density
symmetry term can be probed from isospin effects on heavy ion reactions at
relativistic energies (few AGeV range). Rather isospin sensitive observables
are proposed from nucleon/cluster emissions, collective flows and meson
production. The possibility to shed light on the controversial neutron/proton
effective mass splitting in asymmetric matter is also suggested. A large
symmetry repulsion at high baryon density will also lead to an "earlier"
hadron-deconfinement transition in n-rich matter. A suitable treatment of the
isovector interaction in the partonic EoS appears very relevant.Comment: 18 pages, 12 figures, lecture at the 2008 Erice School on Nuclear
Physics, to appear in Progress in Particle and Nuclear Physic
Morphology, dynamics and plasma parameters of plumes and inter-plume regions in solar coronal holes
Coronal plumes, which extend from solar coronal holes (CH) into the high
corona and - possibly - into the solar wind (SW), can now continuously be
studied with modern telescopes and spectrometers on spacecraft, in addition to
investigations from the ground, in particular, during total eclipses. Despite
the large amount of data available on these prominent features and related
phenomena, many questions remained unanswered as to their generation and
relative contributions to the high-speed streams emanating from CHs. An
understanding of the processes of plume formation and evolution requires a
better knowledge of the physical conditions at the base of CHs, in plumes and
in the surrounding inter-plume regions (IPR). More specifically, information is
needed on the magnetic field configuration, the electron densities and
temperatures, effective ion temperatures, non-thermal motions, plume
cross-sections relative to the size of a CH, the plasma bulk speeds, as well as
any plume signatures in the SW. In spring 2007, the authors proposed a study on
"Structure and dynamics of coronal plumes and inter-plume regions in solar
coronal holes" to the International Space Science Institute (ISSI) in Bern to
clarify some of these aspects by considering relevant observations and the
extensive literature. This review summarizes the results and conclusions of the
study. Stereoscopic observations allowed us to include three-dimensional
reconstructions of plumes. Multi-instrument investigations carried out during
several campaigns led to progress in some areas, such as plasma densities,
temperatures, plume structure and the relation to other solar phenomena, but
not all questions could be answered concerning the details of plume generation
process(es) and interaction with the SW.Comment: To appear on: The Astronomy and Astrophysics Review. 72 pages, 30
figure
Thioredoxin Inhibitors Attenuate Platelet Function and Thrombus Formation.
Thioredoxin (Trx) is an oxidoreductase with important physiological function. Imbalances in the NADPH/thioredoxin reductase/thioredoxin system are associated with a number of pathologies, particularly cancer, and a number of clinical trials for thioredoxin and thioredoxin reductase inhibitors have been carried out or are underway. Due to the emerging role and importance of oxidoreductases for haemostasis and the current interest in developing inhibitors for clinical use, we thought it pertinent to assess whether inhibition of the NADPH/thioredoxin reductase/thioredoxin system affects platelet function and thrombosis. We used small molecule inhibitors of Trx (PMX 464 and PX-12) to determine whether Trx activity influences platelet function, as well as an unbiased proteomics approach to identify potential Trx substrates on the surface of platelets that might contribute to platelet reactivity and function. Using LC-MS/MS we found that PMX 464 and PX-12 affected the oxidation state of thiols in a number of cell surface proteins. Key surface receptors for platelet adhesion and activation were affected, including the collagen receptor GPVI and the von Willebrand factor receptor, GPIb. To experimentally validate these findings we assessed platelet function in the presence of PMX 464, PX-12, and rutin (a selective inhibitor of the related protein disulphide isomerase). In agreement with the proteomics data, small molecule inhibitors of thioredoxin selectively inhibited GPVI-mediated platelet activation, and attenuated ristocetin-induced GPIb-vWF-mediated platelet agglutination, thus validating the findings of the proteomics study. These data reveal a novel role for thioredoxin in regulating platelet reactivity via proteins required for early platelet responses at sites of vessel injury (GPVI and GPIb). This work also highlights a potential opportunity for repurposing of PMX 464 and PX-12 as antiplatelet agents.CM is funded by Medical Research Council Grant No G9826026. AR was funded by a British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence-funded Vacation Studentship. CHC is funded by British Heart Foundation Fellowship FS/11/49/28751.This is the final version of the article. It first appeared from PLOS via https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.016300
Charge-induced formation of linear Au clusters on thin MgO films: Scanning tunneling microscopy and density-functional theory study
Kinetically driven glassy transition in an exactly solvable toy model with reversible mode coupling mechanism and trivial statics
We propose a toy model with reversible mode coupling mechanism and with
trivial Hamiltonian (and hence trivial statics). The model can be analyzed
exactly without relying upon uncontrolled approximation such as the
factorization approximation employed in the current MCT. We show that the model
exhibits a kinetically driven transition from an ergodic phase to nonergodic
phase. The nonergodic state is the nonequilibrium stationary solution of the
Fokker-Planck equation for the distribution function of the modelComment: 10 pages, 1 figure, contribution to the Proceedings of the Barcelona
Workshop 'Glassy Behavior of Kinetically Constrained Models'. To appear in J.
Phys. Condens. Matte
Comparison of the sidereal angular velocity of subphotospheric layers and small bright coronal structures during the declining phase of solar cycle 23
Context. We compare solar differential rotation of subphotospheric layers
derived from local helioseismology analysis of GONG++ dopplergrams and the one
derived from tracing small bright coronal structures (SBCS) using EIT/SOHO
images for the period August 2001 - December 2006, which correspond to the
declining phase of solar cycle 23. Aims. The study aims to find a relationship
between the rotation of the SBCS and the subphotospheric angular velocity. The
northsouth asymmetries of both rotation velocity measurements are also
investigated. Methods. Subphotospheric differential rotation was derived using
ring-diagram analysis of GONG++ full-disk dopplergrams of 1 min cadence. The
coronal rotation was derived by using an automatic method to identify and track
the small bright coronal structures in EIT full-disk images of 6 hours cadence.
Results. We find that the SBCS rotate faster than the considered upper
subphotospheric layer (3Mm) by about 0.5 deg/day at the equator. This result
joins the results of several other magnetic features (sunspots, plages,
faculae, etc.) with a higher rotation than the solar plasma. The rotation rate
latitudinal gradients of the SBCS and the subphotospheric layers are very
similar. The SBCS motion shows an acceleration of about 0.005 deg/day/month
during the declining phase of solar cycle 23, whereas the angular velocity of
subsurface layers does not display any evident variation with time, except for
the well known torsional oscillation pattern. Finally, both subphotospheric and
coronal rotations of the southern hemisphere are predominantly larger than
those of the northern hemisphere. At latitudes where the north-south asymmetry
of the angular velocity increases (decreases) with activity for the SBCS, it
decreases (increases) for subphotospheric layers.Comment: 6pages, 8 figures, Accepted for publication in Astronomy and
Astrophysic
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