1,497 research outputs found
A random matrix approach to decoherence
In order to analyze the effect of chaos or order on the rate of decoherence
in a subsystem, we aim to distinguish effects of the two types of dynamics by
choosing initial states as random product states from two factor spaces
representing two subsystems. We introduce a random matrix model that permits to
vary the coupling strength between the subsystems. The case of strong coupling
is analyzed in detail, and we find no significant differences except for very
low-dimensional spaces.Comment: 11 pages, 5 eps-figure
Generic spectral properties of right triangle billiards
This article presents a new method to calculate eigenvalues of right triangle
billiards. Its efficiency is comparable to the boundary integral method and
more recently developed variants. Its simplicity and explicitness however allow
new insight into the statistical properties of the spectra. We analyse
numerically the correlations in level sequences at high level numbers (>10^5)
for several examples of right triangle billiards. We find that the strength of
the correlations is closely related to the genus of the invariant surface of
the classical billiard flow. Surprisingly, the genus plays and important role
on the quantum level also. Based on this observation a mechanism is discussed,
which may explain the particular quantum-classical correspondence in right
triangle billiards. Though this class of systems is rather small, it contains
examples for integrable, pseudo integrable, and non integrable (ergodic,
mixing) dynamics, so that the results might be relevant in a more general
context.Comment: 18 pages, 8 eps-figures, revised: stylistic changes, improved
presentatio
Functionalization of PET track-etched membranes by UV-induced graft (co)polymerization for detection of heavy metal ions in water
Nowadays, water quality monitoring is an essential task since environmental contamination and human exposure to heavy metals increased. Sensors that are able to detect ever lower concentrations of heavy metal ions with greater accuracy and speed are needed to effectively monitor water quality and prevent poisoning. This article shows studies of the modification of flexible track-etched membranes as the basis for the sensor with various polymers and their influence on the accuracy of detection of copper, cadmium, and lead ions in water. We report the UV-induced graft (co)polymerization of acrylic acid (AA) and 4-vinylpyridine (4-VPy) on poly(ethylene terephthalate) track-etched membrane (PET TeMs) and use them after platinum layer sputtering in square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SW-ASV) for detection of Cu2+, Cd2+, and Pb2+. Optimal conditions leading to functionalization of the surface and retention of the pore structure were found. Modified membranes were characterized by SEM, FTIR, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and colorimetric analysis. The dependence of the modification method on the sensitivity of the sensor was shown. Membrane modified with polyacrylic acid (PET TeMs-g-PAA), poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PET TeMs-g-P4VPy), and their copolymer (PET TeMs-g-P4VPy/PAA) with average grafting yield of 3% have been found to be sensitive to μg/L concentration of copper, lead, and cadmium ions. Limits of detection (LOD) for sensors based on PET TeMs-g-PAA are 2.22, 1.05, and 2.53 μg/L for Cu2+, Pb2+, and Cd2+, respectively. LODs for sensors based on PET TeMs-g-P4VPy are 5.23 μg/L (Cu2+), 1.78 μg/L (Pb2+), and 3.64 μg/L (Cd2+) μg/L. PET TeMs-g-P4VPy/PAA electrodes are found to be sensitive with LODs of 0.74 μg/L(Cu2+), 1.13 μg/L (Pb2+), and 2.07 μg/L(Cd2+). Thus, it was shown that the modification of membranes by copolymers with carboxylic and amino groups leads to more accurate detection of heavy metal ions, associated with the formation of more stable complexes. © 2019 by the authors.Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of KazakhstanMinistry of Education and Science of the Republic of KazakhstanFunding: The research was funded by the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan (technological program, #74 on 02.04.2018).Acknowledgments: The research was funded by the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan (technological program, #74 on 02.04.2018)
The decay of photoexcited quantum systems: a description within the statistical scattering model
The decay of photoexcited quantum systems (examples are photodissociation of
molecules and autoionization of atoms) can be viewed as a half-collision
process (an incoming photon excites the system which subsequently decays by
dissociation or autoionization). For this reason, the standard statistical
approach to quantum scattering, originally developed to describe nuclear
compound reactions, is not directly applicable. Using an alternative approach,
correlations and fluctuations of observables characterizing this process were
first derived in [Fyodorov YV and Alhassid Y 1998 Phys. Rev. A 58, R3375]. Here
we show how the results cited above, and more recent results incorporating
direct decay processes, can be obtained from the standard statistical
scattering approach by introducing one additional channel.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figure
Fano interference and cross-section fluctuations in molecular photodissociation
We derive an expression for the total photodissociation cross section of a
molecule incorporating both indirect processes that proceed through excited
resonances, and direct processes. We show that this cross section exhibits
generalized Beutler-Fano line shapes in the limit of isolated resonances.
Assuming that the closed system can be modeled by random matrix theory, we
derive the statistical properties of the photodissociation cross section and
find that they are significantly affected by the direct processes. We identify
a unique signature of the direct processes in the cross-section distribution in
the limit of isolated resonances.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Simulation of static and random errors on Grover's search algorithm implemented in a Ising nuclear spin chain quantum computer with few qubits
We consider Grover's search algorithm on a model quantum computer implemented
on a chain of four or five nuclear spins with first and second neighbour Ising
interactions. Noise is introduced into the system in terms of random
fluctuations of the external fields. By averaging over many repetitions of the
algorithm, the output state becomes effectively a mixed state. We study its
overlap with the nominal output state of the algorithm, which is called
fidelity. We find either an exponential or a Gaussian decay for the fidelity as
a function of the strength of the noise, depending on the type of noise (static
or random) and whether error supression is applied (the 2pi k-method) or not.Comment: 18 pages, 8 figures, extensive revision with new figure
Random skew plane partitions with a piecewise periodic back wall
Random skew plane partitions of large size distributed according to an
appropriately scaled Schur process develop limit shapes. In the present work we
consider the limit of large random skew plane partitions where the inner
boundary approaches a piecewise linear curve with non-lattice slopes,
describing the limit shape and the local fluctuations in various regions. This
analysis is fairly similar to that in [OR2], but we do find some new behavior.
For instance, the boundary of the limit shape is now a single smooth (not
algebraic) curve, whereas the boundary in [OR2] is singular. We also observe
the bead process introduced in [B] appearing in the asymptotics at the top of
the limit shape.Comment: 24 pages. This version to appear in Annales Henri Poincar
Glycogen synthesis correlates with androgen-dependent growth arrest in prostate cancer
BACKGROUND: Androgen withdrawal in normal prostate or androgen-dependent prostate cancer is associated with the downregulation of several glycolytic enzymes and with reduced glucose uptake. Although glycogen metabolism is known to regulate the intracellular glucose level its involvement in androgen response has not been studied. METHODS: We investigated the effects of androgen on glycogen phosphorylase (GP), glycogen synthase (GS) and on glycogen accumulation in the androgen-receptor (AR) reconstituted PC3 cell line containing either an empty vector (PC3-AR-V) or vector with HPV-E7 (PC3-AR-E7) and the LNCaP cell line. RESULTS: Androgen addition in PC3 cells expressing the AR mimics androgen ablation in androgen-dependent prostate cells. Incubation of PC3-AR-V or PC3-AR-E7 cells with the androgen R1881 induced G1 cell cycle arrest within 24 hours and resulted in a gradual cell number reduction over 5 days thereafter, which was accompanied by a 2 to 5 fold increase in glycogen content. 24 hours after androgen-treatment the level of Glucose-6-P (G-6-P) had increased threefold and after 48 hours the GS and GP activities increased twofold. Under this condition inhibition of glycogenolysis with the selective GP inhibitor CP-91149 enhanced the increase in glycogen content and further reduced the cell number. The androgen-dependent LNCaP cells that endogenously express AR responded to androgen withdrawal with growth arrest and increased glycogen content. CP-91149 further increased glycogen content and caused a reduction of cell number. CONCLUSION: Increased glycogenesis is part of the androgen receptor-mediated cellular response and blockage of glycogenolysis by the GP inhibitor CP-91149 further increased glycogenesis. The combined use of a GP inhibitor with hormone therapy may increase the efficacy of hormone treatment by decreasing the survival of prostate cancer cells and thereby reducing the chance of cancer recurrence
De Novo Occurrence of a Variant in ARL3 and Apparent Autosomal Dominant Transmission of Retinitis Pigmentosa.
BackgroundRetinitis pigmentosa is a phenotype with diverse genetic causes. Due to this genetic heterogeneity, genome-wide identification and analysis of protein-altering DNA variants by exome sequencing is a powerful tool for novel variant and disease gene discovery. In this study, exome sequencing analysis was used to search for potentially causal DNA variants in a two-generation pedigree with apparent dominant retinitis pigmentosa.MethodsVariant identification and analysis of three affected members (mother and two affected offspring) was performed via exome sequencing. Parental samples of the index case were used to establish inheritance. Follow-up testing of 94 additional retinitis pigmentosa pedigrees was performed via retrospective analysis or Sanger sequencing.Results and conclusionsA total of 136 high quality coding variants in 123 genes were identified which are consistent with autosomal dominant disease. Of these, one of the strongest genetic and functional candidates is a c.269A>G (p.Tyr90Cys) variant in ARL3. Follow-up testing established that this variant occurred de novo in the index case. No additional putative causal variants in ARL3 were identified in the follow-up cohort, suggesting that if ARL3 variants can cause adRP it is an extremely rare phenomenon
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