Global aspects of accelerating and rotating black hole space-times

The complete family of exact solutions representing accelerating and rotating black holes with possible electromagnetic charges and a NUT parameter is known in terms of a modified Plebanski-Demianski metric. This demonstrates the singularity and horizon structure of the sources but not that the complete space-time describes two causally separated black holes. To demonstrate this property, the metric is first cast in the Weyl-Lewis-Papapetrou form. After extending this up to the acceleration horizon, it is then transformed to the boost-rotation-symmetric form in which the global properties of the solution are manifest. The physical interpretation of these solutions is thus clarified.Comment: 15 pages, 1 figure. To appear in Class. Quantum Gra

Predicting Axonal Response to Molecular Gradients with a Computational Model of Filopodial Dynamics

Axons are often guided to their targets in the developing nervous system by attractive or repulsive molecular concentration gradients. We propose a computational model for gradient sensing and directed movement of the growth cone mediated by filopodia. We show that relatively simple mechanisms are sufficient to generate realistic rajectories for both the short-term response of axons to steep gradients and the long-term response of axons to shallow gradients. The model makes testable predictions for axonal response to attractive and repulsive gradients of different concentrations and steepness, the size of the intracellular amplification of the gradient signal, and the differences in intracellular signaling required for repulsive versus attractive turning

Nexus of thermal resilience and energy efficiency in buildings: A case study of a nursing home

Extreme weather events become more frequent and severe due to climate change. Although energy efficiency technologies can influence thermal resilience of buildings, they are traditionally studied separately, and their interconnections are rarely quantified. This study developed a methodology of modeling and analysis to provide insights into the nexus of thermal resilience and energy efficiency of buildings. We conducted a case study of a real nursing home in Florida, where 12 patients died during Hurricane Irma in 2017 due to HVAC system power loss, to understand and quantify how passive and active energy efficiency measures (EEMs) can improve thermal resilience to reduce heat-exposure risk of patients. Results show that passive measures of opening windows and doors for natural ventilation, as well as miscellaneous load reduction, are very effective in eliminating the extreme dangerous occasions. However, to maintain safe conditions, active measures such as on-site power generators and thermal storage are also needed. The nursing home was further studied by changing its location to two other cities: San Francisco (mild climate) and Chicago (cold winter and hot summer). Results revealed that the EEMs' impacts on thermal resilience vary significantly by climate and building characteristics. The study also estimated the costs of EEMs to help stakeholders prioritize the measures. Passive measures that may not save energy may greatly improve thermal resilience, and thus should be considered in building design or retrofit. Findings from this study indicate energy efficiency technologies should be evaluated not only by their energy savings performance but also by their influence on a building's resilience to extreme weather events

Large-N analysis of (2+1)-dimensional Thirring model

We analyze $(2+1)$-dimensional vector-vector type four-Fermi interaction (Thirring) model in the framework of the $1/N$ expansion. By solving the Dyson-Schwinger equation in the large-$N$ limit, we show that in the two-component formalism the fermions acquire parity-violating mass dynamically in the range of the dimensionless coupling $\alpha$, $0 \leq \alpha \leq \alpha_c \equiv {1\over16} {\rm exp} (- {N \pi^2 \over 16})$. The symmetry breaking pattern is, however, in a way to conserve the overall parity of the theory such that the Chern-Simons term is not induced at any orders in $1/N$. $\alpha_c$ turns out to be a non-perturbative UV-fixed point in $1/N$. The $\beta$ function is calculated to be $\beta (\alpha) = -2 (\alpha - \alpha_c)$ near the fixed point, and the UV-fixed point and the $\beta$ function are shown exact in the $1/N$ expansion.Comment: 14 pages Latex. (Revised version: some changes have been made and references added.) To appear in Phys. Rev. D, SNUTP 93-4

Quaternion Electromagnetism and the Relation with 2-Spinor Formalism

By using complex quaternion, which is the system of quaternion representation extended to complex numbers, we show that the laws of electromagnetism can be expressed much more simply and concisely. We also derive the quaternion representation of rotations and boosts from the spinor representation of Lorentz group. It is suggested that the imaginary 'i' should be attached to the spatial coordinates, and observe that the complex conjugate of quaternion representation is exactly equal to parity inversion of all physical quantities in the quaternion. We also show that using quaternion is directly linked to the two-spinor formalism. Finally, we discuss meanings of quaternion, octonion and sedenion in physics as n-fold rotationComment: Version published in journal Universe (2019

Bias Voltage and Temperature Dependence of Hot Electron Magnetotransport

We present a qualitative model study of energy and temperature dependence of hot electron magnetotransport. This model calculations are based on a simple argument that the inelastic scattering strength of hot electrons is strongly spin and energy dependent in the ferromagnets. Since there is no clear experimental data to compare with this model calculations, we are not able to extract clear physics from this model calculations. However, interestingly this calculations display that the magnetocurrent increases with bias voltage showing high magnetocurrent if spin dependent imaginary part of proper self energy effect has a substantial contribution to the hot electron magnetotransport. Along with that, the hot electron magnetotransport is strongly influence by the hot electron spin polarization at finite temperatures

A note on color neutrality in NJL-type models

By referring to the underlying physics behind the color charge neutrality condition in quark matter, we discuss how this condition should be properly imposed in NJL-type models in a phenomenologically meaningful way. In particular, we show that the standard assumption regarding the use of two color chemical potentials, chosen in a very special way, is not justified in general. When used uncritically, such an approach leads to wrong or unphysical conclusions.Comment: 4 pages, no figure; v2: minor clarifications, references adde

Traffic sign recognition based on human visual perception.

This thesis presents a new approach, based on human visual perception, for detecting and recognising traffic signs under different viewing conditions. Traffic sign recognition is an important issue within any driver support system as it is fundamental to traffic safety and increases the drivers' awareness of situations and possible decisions that are ahead. All traffic signs possess similar visual characteristics, they are often the same size, shape and colour. However shapes may be distorted when viewed from different viewing angles and colours are affected by overall luminosity and the presence of shadows. Human vision can identify traffic signs correctly by ignoring this variance of colours and shapes. Consequently traffic sign recognition based on human visual perception has been researched during this project. In this approach two human vision models are adopted to solve the problems above: Colour Appearance Model (CIECAM97s) and Behavioural Model of Vision (BMV). Colour Appearance Model (CIECAM97s) is used to segment potential traffic signs from the image background under different weather conditions. Behavioural Model of Vision (BMV) is used to recognize the potential traffic signs. Results show that segmentation based on CIECAM97s performs better than, or comparable to, other perceptual colour spaces in terms of accuracy. In addition, results illustrate that recognition based on BMV can be used in this project effectively to detect a certain range of shape transformations. Furthermore, a fast method of distinguishing and recognizing the different weather conditions within images has been developed. The results show that 84% recognition rate can be achieved under three weather and different viewing conditions