Chaos in computer performance

Modern computer microprocessors are composed of hundreds of millions of transistors that interact through intricate protocols. Their performance during program execution may be highly variable and present aperiodic oscillations. In this paper, we apply current nonlinear time series analysis techniques to the performances of modern microprocessors during the execution of prototypical programs. Our results present pieces of evidence strongly supporting that the high variability of the performance dynamics during the execution of several programs display low-dimensional deterministic chaos, with sensitivity to initial conditions comparable to textbook models. Taken together, these results show that the instantaneous performances of modern microprocessors constitute a complex (or at least complicated) system and would benefit from analysis with modern tools of nonlinear and complexity science

The uses of Connes and Kreimer's algebraic formulation of renormalization theory

We show how, modulo the distinction between the antipode and the "twisted" or "renormalized" antipode, Connes and Kreimer's algebraic paradigm trivializes the proofs of equivalence of the (corrected) Dyson-Salam, Bogoliubov-Parasiuk-Hepp and Zimmermann procedures for renormalizing Feynman amplitudes. We discuss the outlook for a parallel simplification of computations in quantum field theory, stemming from the same algebraic approach.Comment: 15 pages, Latex. Minor changes, typos fixed, 2 references adde

Anomalies and Schwinger terms in NCG field theory models

We study the quantization of chiral fermions coupled to generalized Dirac operators arising in NCG Yang-Mills theory. The cocycles describing chiral symmetry breaking are calculated. In particular, we introduce a generalized locality principle for the cocycles. Local cocycles are by definition expressions which can be written as generalized traces of operator commutators. In the case of pseudodifferential operators, these traces lead in fact to integrals of ordinary local de Rham forms. As an application of the general ideas we discuss the case of noncommutative tori. We also develop a gerbe theoretic approach to the chiral anomaly in hamiltonian quantization of NCG field theory.Comment: 30 page

Local covariant quantum field theory over spectral geometries

A framework which combines ideas from Connes' noncommutative geometry, or spectral geometry, with recent ideas on generally covariant quantum field theory, is proposed in the present work. A certain type of spectral geometries modelling (possibly noncommutative) globally hyperbolic spacetimes is introduced in terms of so-called globally hyperbolic spectral triples. The concept is further generalized to a category of globally hyperbolic spectral geometries whose morphisms describe the generalization of isometric embeddings. Then a local generally covariant quantum field theory is introduced as a covariant functor between such a category of globally hyperbolic spectral geometries and the category of involutive algebras (or *-algebras). Thus, a local covariant quantum field theory over spectral geometries assigns quantum fields not just to a single noncommutative geometry (or noncommutative spacetime), but simultaneously to ``all'' spectral geometries, while respecting the covariance principle demanding that quantum field theories over isomorphic spectral geometries should also be isomorphic. It is suggested that in a quantum theory of gravity a particular class of globally hyperbolic spectral geometries is selected through a dynamical coupling of geometry and matter compatible with the covariance principle.Comment: 21 pages, 2 figure

Non-commutative geometry and the standard model vacuum

The space of Dirac operators for the Connes-Chamseddine spectral action for the standard model of particle physics coupled to gravity is studied. The model is extended by including right-handed neutrino states, and the S0-reality axiom is not assumed. The possibility of allowing more general fluctuations than the inner fluctuations of the vacuum is proposed. The maximal case of all possible fluctuations is studied by considering the equations of motion for the vacuum. Whilst there are interesting non-trivial vacua with Majorana-like mass terms for the leptons, the conclusion is that the equations are too restrictive to allow solutions with the standard model mass matrix.Comment: 21 pages. v2: some comments improve

Entrainment response of bed sediment to time-varying flows

Unsteady flows are ubiquitous in nature. In order to understand the behavior of sediment when subjected to unsteady flows, a set of experiments was performed in a rectangular duct with a mobile bed. A computer-operated vale governed the velocity of the water in the duct, and the flow velocity, wall shear stress, and vertical distribution of suspended sediment were simultaneously measured. Beds composed of 120 um and 580 um diameter sand were investigated. Both quasi-steady flows and pulse flows were investigated. Both quasi-steady flows and pulse flows were simulated in the duct. For the pulse flows the water was accelerated at a constant rate to a peak velocity and then decelerated at a constant rate to zero velocity. Phase lags were observed between the bed shear stress and the upward flux (entertainment) of sand from the bed. The phase lags were larger for tests with fine sand than for tests with coarse sand. Differences were attributed to differences in the bed roughness and flow Reynolds numbers. Relations based on flow acceleration and sediment size were developed for predicting the entertainment phase lag. Large phase lags can have a considerable impact on the amount of sediment transported by boat wakes, and other unsteady flows

Entrainment response of bed sediment to time-varying flows

Unsteady flows are ubiquitous in nature. In order to understand the behavior of sediment when subjected to unsteady flows, a set of experiments was performed in a rectangular duct with a mobile bed. A computer-operated vale governed the velocity of the water in the duct, and the flow velocity, wall shear stress, and vertical distribution of suspended sediment were simultaneously measured. Beds composed of 120 um and 580 um diameter sand were investigated. Both quasi-steady flows and pulse flows were investigated. Both quasi-steady flows and pulse flows were simulated in the duct. For the pulse flows the water was accelerated at a constant rate to a peak velocity and then decelerated at a constant rate to zero velocity. Phase lags were observed between the bed shear stress and the upward flux (entertainment) of sand from the bed. The phase lags were larger for tests with fine sand than for tests with coarse sand. Differences were attributed to differences in the bed roughness and flow Reynolds numbers. Relations based on flow acceleration and sediment size were developed for predicting the entertainment phase lag. Large phase lags can have a considerable impact on the amount of sediment transported by boat wakes, and other unsteady flows

Recent Development in Palladium-Catalyzed Domino Reactions: Access to Materials and Biologically Important Carbo- and Heterocycles

The chemistry of palladium complexes has no limits. Many domino processes (even multicomponent) are continuously appearing in the literature. Carbocyclic and heterocyclic molecules are efficiently prepared under the atom-economy principle using the smallest amount of the catalyst. The importance of the applications in many scientific areas of all of these cyclic skeletons made this general methodology much more attractive.We gratefully acknowledge financial support from the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO) (projects CTQ2013-43446-P and CTQ2014-51912-REDC), the Spanish Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad, Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI), and Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER, EU) (projects CTQ2016-76782-P and CTQ2016-81797-REDC), the Generalitat Valenciana (PROMETEOII/2014/017), University of Alicante and Mersin University (Project. MEU-2017-COL-01007-M150D)

Comparison of efficacy and modes of action of two high-potential biocontrol Bacillus strains and commercial biocontrol products against Botrytis cinerea in table grapes

In table grapes (cv. Thomson Seedless), the antifungal activity against Botrytis cinerea was further analysed and compared between two high potential bacterial biological control agent (BCA) strains, Bacillus velezensis BUZ-14 and B. ginsengihumi S38. Two commercial biocontrol products (BPs), served as standards of comparison, Amylo-X (R) and Serenade Max (R), also based on Bacillus BCA strains. The main mode of action quantified for all the strains was antibiosis due to hydrosoluble and volatile metabolites and their combinations. The BUZ-14 strain was the most active BCA strain, demonstrating significant disease reduction exceeding 60 % when used in the culture form grown in 863 medium, including living cells (LCs) and cell-free supernatant (CFS). Both BPs exhibited significantly reduced efficacy of their CFS fraction (< 10 %) compared with that of the two BCA strains, confirming their high antibiosis potential. The novel methodology allowed us to demonstrate the significant effect of the BCA culture medium on volatilome (VOC) antagonist efficacy. The S38 strain achieved the highest disease reduction (90 %) owing to the greatest production of VOCs in the richest MOLP (Medium Optimum Lipopetide Production) culture medium, whereas grape juice was the least favourable medium for VOC efficacy for both bacterial strains (BUZ14 and S38). The overall poor activity of living Bacillus cells in all the BCA and BPs tested is discussed based on the low capacity of the BCA strains to grow in the berry. Then, the presence of living cells is also discussed with the possibility that these cells are not required in field applications of such BCA strains in this genus. Moreover, different environmental suboptimal conditions, including temperature (22 and 27 degrees C) and relative humidity (RH) (100 and 85-95 %), were tested, and BUZ-14 exhibited the highest Botrytis reduction at both temperatures and RH values. However, no significant differences were observed between temperatures or RH values for the same BCA. Further studies in vineyard conditions and applications, such as biofumigation or active packaging, will be performed to confirm the new findings reported in this investigation