545 research outputs found
The geometry of spontaneous spiking in neuronal networks
The mathematical theory of pattern formation in electrically coupled networks
of excitable neurons forced by small noise is presented in this work. Using the
Freidlin-Wentzell large deviation theory for randomly perturbed dynamical
systems and the elements of the algebraic graph theory, we identify and analyze
the main regimes in the network dynamics in terms of the key control
parameters: excitability, coupling strength, and network topology. The analysis
reveals the geometry of spontaneous dynamics in electrically coupled network.
Specifically, we show that the location of the minima of a certain continuous
function on the surface of the unit n-cube encodes the most likely activity
patterns generated by the network. By studying how the minima of this function
evolve under the variation of the coupling strength, we describe the principal
transformations in the network dynamics. The minimization problem is also used
for the quantitative description of the main dynamical regimes and transitions
between them. In particular, for the weak and strong coupling regimes, we
present asymptotic formulas for the network activity rate as a function of the
coupling strength and the degree of the network. The variational analysis is
complemented by the stability analysis of the synchronous state in the strong
coupling regime. The stability estimates reveal the contribution of the network
connectivity and the properties of the cycle subspace associated with the graph
of the network to its synchronization properties. This work is motivated by the
experimental and modeling studies of the ensemble of neurons in the Locus
Coeruleus, a nucleus in the brainstem involved in the regulation of cognitive
performance and behavior
Path Integral Monte Carlo Approach to the U(1) Lattice Gauge Theory in (2+1) Dimensions
Path Integral Monte Carlo simulations have been performed for U(1) lattice
gauge theory in (2+1) dimensions on anisotropic lattices. We extractthe static
quark potential, the string tension and the low-lying "glueball" spectrum.The
Euclidean string tension and mass gap decrease exponentially at weakcoupling in
excellent agreement with the predictions of Polyakov and G{\" o}pfert and Mack,
but their magnitudes are five times bigger than predicted. Extrapolations are
made to the extreme anisotropic or Hamiltonian limit, and comparisons are made
with previous estimates obtained in the Hamiltonian formulation.Comment: 12 pages, 16 figure
Small grid embeddings of 3-polytopes
We introduce an algorithm that embeds a given 3-connected planar graph as a
convex 3-polytope with integer coordinates. The size of the coordinates is
bounded by . If the graph contains a triangle we can
bound the integer coordinates by . If the graph contains a
quadrilateral we can bound the integer coordinates by . The
crucial part of the algorithm is to find a convex plane embedding whose edges
can be weighted such that the sum of the weighted edges, seen as vectors,
cancel at every point. It is well known that this can be guaranteed for the
interior vertices by applying a technique of Tutte. We show how to extend
Tutte's ideas to construct a plane embedding where the weighted vector sums
cancel also on the vertices of the boundary face
Charged rotating dilaton black branes in AdS universe
We present the metric for the -dimensional charged rotating dilaton
black branes with cylindrical or toroidal horizons in the background of anti-de
Sitter spacetime. We find the suitable counterterm which removes the
divergences of the action in the presence of the dilaton potential in all
higher dimensions. We plot the Penrose diagrams of the spacetime and reveal
that the spacetime geometry crucially modifies in the presence of the dilaton
field. The conserved and thermodynamic quantities of the black branes are also
computed.Comment: 13 pages, 3 figures, to appear in Gen. Relat. Gravi
The Hamiltonian limit of (3+1)D SU(3) lattice gauge theory on anisotropic lattices
The extreme anisotropic limit of Euclidean SU(3) lattice gauge theory is
examined to extract the Hamiltonian limit, using standard path integral Monte
Carlo (PIMC) methods. We examine the mean plaquette and string tension and
compare them to results obtained within the Hamiltonian framework of Kogut and
Susskind. The results are a significant improvement upon previous Hamiltonian
estimates, despite the extrapolation procedure necessary to extract
observables. We conclude that the PIMC method is a reliable method of obtaining
results for the Hamiltonian version of the theory. Our results also clearly
demonstrate the universality between the Hamiltonian and Euclidean formulations
of lattice gauge theory. It is particularly important to take into account the
renormalization of both the anisotropy, and the Euclidean coupling ,
in obtaining these results.Comment: 10 pages, 11 figure
RQM description of the charge form factor of the pion and its asymptotic behavior
The pion charge and scalar form factors, and , are first
calculated in different forms of relativistic quantum mechanics. This is done
using the solution of a mass operator that contains both confinement and
one-gluon-exchange interactions. Results of calculations, based on a one-body
current, are compared to experiment for the first one. As it could be expected,
those point-form, and instant and front-form ones in a parallel momentum
configuration fail to reproduce experiment. The other results corresponding to
a perpendicular momentum configuration (instant form in the Breit frame and
front form with ) do much better. The comparison of charge and scalar
form factors shows that the spin-1/2 nature of the constituents plays an
important role. Taking into account that only the last set of results
represents a reasonable basis for improving the description of the charge form
factor, this one is then discussed with regard to the asymptotic QCD-power-law
behavior . The contribution of two-body currents in achieving the right
power law is considered while the scalar form factor, , is shown to
have the right power-law behavior in any case. The low- behavior of the
charge form factor and the pion-decay constant are also discussed.}Comment: 30 pages, 10 figure
The role of secreted aspartyl proteinases in Candida tropicalis invasion and damage of oral mucosa
Candida virulence attributes include the ability to colonize and invade host tissues, and the secretion of hydrolytic enzymes. Although Candida albicans is regarded as the principal fungi causing infections in humans, other species, particularly Candida tropicalis, are increasingly being recognized as human pathogens. Relatively little is known, however, about the virulence attributes associated with C. tropicalis. The present study aimed to investigate epithelial infection by C. tropicalis using a reconstituted human oral epithelium (RHOE) together with confocal laser scanning microscopy and real-time PCR. A comparison of clinical strains was made in terms of tissue colonization, invasion and C. tropicalis secreted aspartyl proteinase (SAPT) gene expression. All C. tropicalis strains were able to colonize RHOE in a strain-dependent manner. After 12 h of infection, C. tropicalis was found to be highly invasive, with extensive tissue damage occurring after 24 h. Real-time PCR of C. tropicalis SAPT1-4 genes showed that expression was strain-dependent, with SAPT2-4 transcripts being frequently detected and SAPT1 rarely detected. Tissue invasion and damage was not inhibited by the presence of pepstatin A. Accordingly, and given that an increase in infection time was not accompanied with an increase in SAPT gene expression, it can be suggested that the proteinases are not involved in invasion and damage of RHOE by C. tropicalis. In summary, C. tropicalis can be considered as highly invasive with the ability to induce significant tissue damage. These features, however, do not appear to be related to specific SAPT gene expression.We would like to thank Mrs Kath Allsopp for processing and sectioning the tissue samples. This work was supported by grant SFRH/BD/28341/2006 from 'Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia' (FCT), Portugal
Light-cone QCD Sum Rules for the Baryon Electromagnetic Form Factors and its magnetic moment
We present the light-cone QCD sum rules up to twist 6 for the electromagnetic
form factors of the baryon. To estimate the magnetic moment of the
baryon, the magnetic form factor is fitted by the dipole formula. The numerical
value of our estimation is , which is in
accordance with the experimental data and the existing theoretical results. We
find that it is twist 4 but not the leading twist distribution amplitudes that
dominate the results.Comment: 13 page, 7 figures, accepted for publication in Euro. Phys. J.
Deep exclusive electroproduction off the proton at CLAS
The exclusive electroproduction of above the resonance region was
studied using the Large Acceptance Spectrometer () at
Jefferson Laboratory by scattering a 6 GeV continuous electron beam off a
hydrogen target. The large acceptance and good resolution of ,
together with the high luminosity, allowed us to measure the cross section for
the process in 140 (, , ) bins:
, 1.6 GeV GeV and 0.1 GeV
GeV. For most bins, the statistical accuracy is on the order of a few
percent. Differential cross sections are compared to two theoretical models,
based either on hadronic (Regge phenomenology) or on partonic (handbag diagram)
degrees of freedom. Both can describe the gross features of the data reasonably
well, but differ strongly in their ingredients. If the handbag approach can be
validated in this kinematical region, our data contain the interesting
potential to experimentally access transversity Generalized Parton
Distributions.Comment: 18pages, 21figures,2table
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