Test of Quantum Action for Inverse Square Potential

We present a numerical study of the quantum action previously introduced as a parametrisation of Q.M. transition amplitudes. We address the questions: Is the quantum action possibly an exact parametrisation in the whole range of transition times ($0 < T < \infty$)? Is the presence of potential terms beyond those occuring in the classical potential required? What is the error of the parametrisation estimated from the numerical fit? How about convergence and stability of the fitting method (dependence on grid points, resolution, initial conditions, internal precision etc.)? Further we compare two methods of numerical determination of the quantum action: (i) global fit of the Q.M. transition amplitudes and (ii) flow equation. As model we consider the inverse square potential, for which the Q.M. transition amplitudes are analytically known. We find that the relative error of the parametrisation starts from zero at T=0 increases to about $10^{-3}$ at $T=1/E_{gr}$ and then decreases to zero when $T \to \infty$. Second, we observe stability of the quantum action under variation of the control parameters. Finally, the flow equation method works well in the regime of large $T$ giving stable results under variation of initial data and consistent with the global fit method.Comment: Text (LaTeX), Figures(ps

The Cytotoxic, Antimicrobial and Anticancer Properties of the Antimicrobial Peptide Nisin Z Alone and in Combination with Conventional Treatments

Nisin is an antimicrobial peptide commonly used as a food preservative since 1969. This peptide has potent antimicrobial activity against several Gram-positive bacterial strains, including clinically important and resistant pathogens. The combination of nisin with conventional antibiotics has been shown to improve the antimicrobial activity of these antibiotic agents. Apart from the antimicrobial properties of nisin, this AMP also displays promising anticancer potential towards several types of malignancies. The nisin Z variant is able to induce selective cytotoxicity in melanoma cells compared to non-malignant cells. It was shown that nisin Z disrupts the cell membrane integrity of melanoma cells and that cytotoxicity is likely due to the activation of an apoptotic pathway. In addition, when used in combination with the conventional chemotherapeutic agents, nisin Z has the potential to enhance the cytotoxicity of these chemotherapeutic agents against cultured melanoma cells. Nisin Z has great potential for clinical application considering its low cytotoxicity to non-malignant cells and its effectiveness against Gram-positive bacterial strains and certain cancers

On the Existence of the Quantum Action

We have previously proposed a conjecture stating that quantum mechanical transition amplitudes can be parametrized in terms of a quantum action. Here we give a proof of the conjecture and establish the existance of a local quantum action in the case of imaginary time in the Feynman-Kac limit (when temperature goes to zero). Moreover we discuss some symmetry properties of the quantum action.Comment: revised version, Text (LaTeX

The WKB Approximation without Divergences

In this paper, the WKB approximation to the scattering problem is developed without the divergences which usually appear at the classical turning points. A detailed procedure of complexification is shown to generate results identical to the usual WKB prescription but without the cumbersome connection formulas.Comment: 13 pages, TeX file, to appear in Int. J. Theor. Phy

Instanton approach to the Langevin motion of a particle in a random potential

We develop an instanton approach to the non-equilibrium dynamics in one-dimensional random environments. The long time behavior is controlled by rare fluctuations of the disorder potential and, accordingly, by the tail of the distribution function for the time a particle needs to propagate along the system (the delay time). The proposed method allows us to find the tail of the delay time distribution function and delay time moments, providing thus an exact description of the long-time dynamics. We analyze arbitrary environments covering different types of glassy dynamics: dynamics in a short-range random field, creep, and Sinai's motion.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figur

Renormalisation in Quantum Mechanics

We study a recently proposed quantum action depending on temperature. We construct a renormalisation group equation describing the flow of action parameters with temperature. At zero temperature the quantum action is obtained analytically and is found free of higher time derivatives. It makes the quantum action an ideal tool to investigate quantum chaos and quantum instantons.Comment: replaced version with new figs. Text (LaTeX), 3 Figs. (ps

Solar Physics - Plasma Physics Workshop

A summary of the proceedings of a conference whose purpose was to explore plasma physics problems which arise in the study of solar physics is provided. Sessions were concerned with specific questions including the following: (1) whether the solar plasma is thermal or non-themal; (2) what spectroscopic data is required; (3) what types of magnetic field structures exist; (4) whether magnetohydrodynamic instabilities occur; (5) whether resistive or non-magnetohydrodynamic instabilities occur; (6) what mechanisms of particle acceleration have been proposed; and (7) what information is available concerning shock waves. Very few questions were answered categorically but, for each question, there was discussion concerning the observational evidence, theoretical analyses, and existing or potential laboratory and numerical experiments

Evaluation of perceived persuasiveness constructs by combining user tests and expert assessments

To develop effective behaviour change support systems, persuasive technology can be used. The persuasive systems design model offers a framework to identify and operationalize such elements. In this pilot study, we evaluate the questionnaire developed to measure perceived persuasiveness of information technology. We analyzed verbatim user-test transcripts, and performed expert-assessments of the Nurse Antibiotic Information App (NAIA). These data were compared to questionnaire results on this app. Expert-assessment identified task support, perceived persuasiveness, unobtrusiveness, credibility, perceived effort and perceived effectiveness (as defined in the Persuasive Systems Design model) as being present within the NAIA. These constructs also scored satisfactory in the questionnaire. User-test transcripts are in line with questionnaire results. Given the consistent results in this pilot study, our approach seems promising for evaluating the questionnaire and will be applied to other settings and websites/application

Complex Action Support from Coincidences of Couplings

Our model \cite{ownmMPP}\cite{SIMPP} with complex action in a functional integral formulation with path integrals extending over all times, past and future, is reviewed. Several numerical relations between coupling constants are presented as supporting evidence. The new evidence is that some more unexplained coincidences are explained in our model: 1) The "scale problem" is solved because the Higgs field expectation value is predicted to be very small compared to say some fundamental scale, that might be the Planck scale. 2) The Higgs VEV need not, however, to be just zero, but rather is predicted to be so that the running top-Yukawa coupling just is about to be unity at this scale; in this way the (weak) scale easily becomes "exponentially small". Instead of the top-Yukawa we should rather say the highest flavour Yukawa coupling here. These predictions are only achieved by allowing the principle of minimization of the imaginary part of the action SI(history) to to a certain extent adjust some coupling constants in addition to the initial conditions. If Susy-partners are not found in LHC, it would strengthen the need for "solution" of the hierarchy or rather scale problem along the lines of the present article.Comment: only text. Some printing mistakes corrected and a couple of new subsections inserted and abstract stylistically changed a bi

Electrodynamics of balanced charges

In this work we modify the wave-corpuscle mechanics for elementary charges introduced by us recently. This modification is designed to better describe electromagnetic (EM) phenomena at atomic scales. It includes a modification of the concept of the classical EM field and a new model for the elementary charge which we call a balanced charge (b-charge). A b-charge does not interact with itself electromagnetically, and every b-charge possesses its own elementary EM field. The EM energy is naturally partitioned as the interaction energy between pairs of different b-charges. We construct EM theory of b-charges (BEM) based on a relativistic Lagrangian with the following properties: (i) b-charges interact only through their elementary EM potentials and fields; (ii) the field equations for the elementary EM fields are exactly the Maxwell equations with proper currents; (iii) a free charge moves uniformly preserving up to the Lorentz contraction its shape; (iv) the Newton equations with the Lorentz forces hold approximately when charges are well separated and move with non-relativistic velocities. The BEM theory can be characterized as neoclassical one which covers the macroscopic as well as the atomic spatial scales, it describes EM phenomena at atomic scale differently than the classical EM theory. It yields in macroscopic regimes the Newton equations with Lorentz forces for centers of well separated charges moving with nonrelativistic velocities. Applied to atomic scales it yields a hydrogen atom model with a frequency spectrum matching the same for the Schrodinger model with any desired accuracy.Comment: Manuscript was edited to improve the exposition and to remove noticed typo