609 research outputs found
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Accuracy of finite-element models for the stress analysis of multiple-holed moderator blocks
Two steps have been taken to quantify and improve the accuracy in the analysis. First, the limitations of various approximation techniques have been studied with the aid of smaller benchmark problems containing fewer holes. Second, a new family of computer programs has been developed for handling such large problems. This paper describes the accuracy studies and the benchmark problems. A review is given of some proposed modeling techniques including local mesh refinement, homogenization, a special-purpose finite element, and substructuring. Some limitations of these approaches are discussed. The new finite element programs and the features that contribute to their efficiency are discussed. These include a standard architecture for out-of-core data processing and an equation solver that operates on a peripheral array processor. The central conclusions of the paper are: (1) modeling approximation methods such as local mesh refinement and homogenization tend to be unreliable, and they should be justified by a fine mesh benchmark analysis; and (2) finite element codes are now available that can achieve accurate solutions at a reasonable cost, and there is no longer a need to employ modeling approximations in the two-dimensional analysis of HTGR fuel elements. 10 figures
Tautness for riemannian foliations on non-compact manifolds
For a riemannian foliation on a closed manifold , it is
known that is taut (i.e. the leaves are minimal submanifolds) if
and only if the (tautness) class defined by the mean curvature form
(relatively to a suitable riemannian metric ) is zero. In the
transversally orientable case, tautness is equivalent to the non-vanishing of
the top basic cohomology group , where n = \codim
\mathcal{F}. By the Poincar\'e Duality, this last condition is equivalent to
the non-vanishing of the basic twisted cohomology group
, when is oriented. When is
not compact, the tautness class is not even defined in general. In this work,
we recover the previous study and results for a particular case of riemannian
foliations on non compact manifolds: the regular part of a singular riemannian
foliation on a compact manifold (CERF).Comment: 18 page
Anisotropy of the Upper Critical Field and Critical Current in Single Crystal MgB
We report on specific heat, high magnetic field transport and
susceptibility measurements on magnesium diboride single crystals. The
upper critical field for magnetic fields perpendicular and parallel to
the Mg and B planes is presented for the first time in the entire temperature
range. A very different temperature dependence has been observed in the two
directions which yields to a temperature dependent anisotropy with 5 at low temperatures and about 2 near . A peak effect is observed
in susceptibility measurements for 2 T parallel to the axis and
the critical current density presnts a sharp maximum for parallel to the
ab-plane.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure
Running into New Territory in SUSY Parameter Space
The LEP-II bound on the light Higgs mass rules out the vast majority of
parameter space left to the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM) with
weak-scale soft-masses. This suggests the importance of exploring extensions of
the MSSM with non-minimal Higgs physics. In this article, we explore a theory
with an additional singlet superfield and an extended gauge sector. The theory
has a number of novel features compared to both the MSSM and Next-to-MSSM,
including easily realizing a light CP-even Higgs mass consistent with LEP-II
limits, tan(beta) < 1, and a lightest Higgs which is charged. These features
are achieved while remaining consistent with perturbative unification and
without large stop-masses. Discovery modes at the Tevatron and LHC are
discussed.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figures; Typo in equation (4.5) corrected; submitted to
JHE
Is Vtb=1 ?
The strongest constraint on Vtb presently comes from the 3 x 3 unitarity of
the CKM matrix, which fixes Vtb to be very close to one. If the unitarity is
relaxed, current information from top production at Tevatron still leaves open
the possibility that Vtb is sizably smaller than one. In minimal extensions of
the standard model with extra heavy quarks, the unitarity constraints are much
weaker and the EW precision parameters entail the strongest bounds on Vtb. We
discuss the experimental perspectives of discovering and identifying such new
physics models at the Tevatron and the LHC, through a precise measurement of
Vtb from the single top cross sections and by the study of processes where the
extra heavy quarks are produced.Comment: 19 pages, 8 figure
Fully differential W' production and decay at next-to-leading order in QCD
We present the fully differential production and decay of a W' boson, with
arbitrary vector and axial-vector couplings, to any final state at
next-to-leading order in QCD. We demonstrate a complete factorization of
couplings at next-to-leading order in both the partial width of the W' boson,
and in the full two-to-two cross section. We provide numerical predictions for
the contribution of a W' boson to single-top-quark production, and separate
results based on whether the mass of the right-handed neutrino (nu_R) is light
enough for the leptonic decay channel to be open. The single-top-quark analysis
will allow for an improved direct W' mass limit of 525-550 GeV using data from
run I of the Fermilab Tevatron. We propose a modified tolerance method for
estimating parton distribution function uncertainties in cross sections.Comment: 23 pages, revtex3, 13 ps fig
Schottky barrier heights at polar metal/semiconductor interfaces
Using a first-principle pseudopotential approach, we have investigated the
Schottky barrier heights of abrupt Al/Ge, Al/GaAs, Al/AlAs, and Al/ZnSe (100)
junctions, and their dependence on the semiconductor chemical composition and
surface termination. A model based on linear-response theory is developed,
which provides a simple, yet accurate description of the barrier-height
variations with the chemical composition of the semiconductor. The larger
barrier values found for the anion- than for the cation-terminated surfaces are
explained in terms of the screened charge of the polar semiconductor surface
and its image charge at the metal surface. Atomic scale computations show how
the classical image charge concept, valid for charges placed at large distances
from the metal, extends to distances shorter than the decay length of the
metal-induced-gap states.Comment: REVTeX 4, 11 pages, 6 EPS figure
Apolipoprotein E–low density lipoprotein receptor interaction affects spatial memory retention and brain ApoE levels in an isoform-dependent manner
Human apolipoprotein E (apoE) exists in three isoforms: apoE2, apoE3 and apoE4. APOE ε4 (E4) is a major genetic risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). ApoE mediates cholesterol metabolism by binding various receptors. The low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) has a high affinity for apoE, and is the only member of its receptor family to demonstrate an apoE isoform specific binding affinity (E4>E3>>E2). Evidence suggests that a functional interaction between apoE and LDLR influences the risk of CVD and AD. We hypothesize that the differential cognitive effects of the apoE isoforms are a direct result of their varying interactions with LDLR. To test this hypothesis, we have employed transgenic mice that express human apoE2, apoE3, or apoE4, and either human LDLR (hLDLR) or no LDLR (LDLR−/−). Our results show that plasma and brain apoE levels, cortical cholesterol, and spatial memory are all regulated by isoform-dependent interactions between apoE and LDLR. Conversely, both anxiety-like behavior and cued associative memory are strongly influenced by APOE genotype, but these processes appear to occur via an LDLR-independent mechanism. Both the lack of LDLR and the interaction between E4 and the LDLR were associated with significant impairments in the retention of long term spatial memory. Finally, levels of hippocampal apoE correlate with long term spatial memory retention in mice with human LDLR. In summary, we demonstrate that the apoE-LDLR interaction affects regional brain apoE levels, brain cholesterol, and cognitive function in an apoE isoform-dependent manner
Towards Machine Wald
The past century has seen a steady increase in the need of estimating and
predicting complex systems and making (possibly critical) decisions with
limited information. Although computers have made possible the numerical
evaluation of sophisticated statistical models, these models are still designed
\emph{by humans} because there is currently no known recipe or algorithm for
dividing the design of a statistical model into a sequence of arithmetic
operations. Indeed enabling computers to \emph{think} as \emph{humans} have the
ability to do when faced with uncertainty is challenging in several major ways:
(1) Finding optimal statistical models remains to be formulated as a well posed
problem when information on the system of interest is incomplete and comes in
the form of a complex combination of sample data, partial knowledge of
constitutive relations and a limited description of the distribution of input
random variables. (2) The space of admissible scenarios along with the space of
relevant information, assumptions, and/or beliefs, tend to be infinite
dimensional, whereas calculus on a computer is necessarily discrete and finite.
With this purpose, this paper explores the foundations of a rigorous framework
for the scientific computation of optimal statistical estimators/models and
reviews their connections with Decision Theory, Machine Learning, Bayesian
Inference, Stochastic Optimization, Robust Optimization, Optimal Uncertainty
Quantification and Information Based Complexity.Comment: 37 page
Quantifying Between-Cohort and Between-Sex Genetic Heterogeneity in Major Depressive Disorder
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is clinically heterogeneous with prevalence rates twice as high in women as in men. There are many possible sources of heterogeneity in MDD most of which are not measured in a sufficiently comparable way across study samples. Here, we assess genetic heterogeneity based on two fundamental measures, between-cohort and between-sex heterogeneity. First, we used genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics to investigate between-cohort genetic heterogeneity using the 29 research cohorts of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC; N cases = 16,823, N controls = 25,632) and found that some of the cohort heterogeneity can be attributed to ascertainment differences (such as recruitment of cases from hospital vs community sources). Second, we evaluated between-sex genetic heterogeneity using GWAS summary statistics from the PGC, Kaiser Permanente GERA, UK Biobank and the Danish iPSYCH studies but did not find convincing evidence for genetic differences between the sexes. We conclude that there is no evidence that the heterogeneity between MDD data sets and between sexes reflects genetic heterogeneity. Larger sample sizes with detailed phenotypic records and genomic data remain the key to overcome heterogeneity inherent in assessment of MDD
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