The first order convergence law fails for random perfect graphs

We consider first order expressible properties of random perfect graphs. That is, we pick a graph $G_n$ uniformly at random from all (labelled) perfect graphs on $n$ vertices and consider the probability that it satisfies some graph property that can be expressed in the first order language of graphs. We show that there exists such a first order expressible property for which the probability that $G_n$ satisfies it does not converge as $n\to\infty$.Comment: 11 pages. Minor corrections since last versio

Mapping of 2+1-dimensional Kardar-Parisi-Zhang growth onto a driven lattice gas model of dimer

We show that a 2+1 dimensional discrete surface growth model exhibiting Kardar-Parisi-Zhang (KPZ) class scaling can be mapped onto a two dimensional conserved lattice gas model of directed dimers. In case of KPZ height anisotropy the dimers follow driven diffusive motion. We confirm by numerical simulations that the scaling exponents of the dimer model are in agreement with those of the 2+1 dimensional KPZ class. This opens up the possibility of analyzing growth models via reaction-diffusion models, which allow much more efficient computer simulations.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, final form to appear in PR

Ordering intermetallic alloys by ion irradiation: a way to tailor magnetic media

Combining He ion irradiation and thermal mobility below 600K, we both trigger and control the transformation from chemical disorder to order in thin films of an intermetallic ferromagnet (FePd). Kinetic Monte Carlo simulations show how the initial directional short range order determines order propagation. Magnetic ordering perpendicular to the film plane was achieved, promoting the initially weak magnetic anisotropy to the highest values known for FePd films. This post-growth treatment should find applications in ultrahigh density magnetic recording.Comment: 7 pages, 3 Figure

MACAT—microarray chromosome analysis tool

By linking differential gene expression to the chromosomal localization of genes, one can investigate microarray data for characteristic patterns of expression phenomena involving sizeable parts of specific chromosomes. We have implemented a statistical approach for identifying significantly differentially expressed chromosome regions. We demonstrate the applicability of the approach on a publicly available data set on acute lymphocytic leukemia

Comparison of Different Parallel Implementations of the 2+1-Dimensional KPZ Model and the 3-Dimensional KMC Model

We show that efficient simulations of the Kardar-Parisi-Zhang interface growth in 2 + 1 dimensions and of the 3-dimensional Kinetic Monte Carlo of thermally activated diffusion can be realized both on GPUs and modern CPUs. In this article we present results of different implementations on GPUs using CUDA and OpenCL and also on CPUs using OpenCL and MPI. We investigate the runtime and scaling behavior on different architectures to find optimal solutions for solving current simulation problems in the field of statistical physics and materials science.Comment: 14 pages, 8 figures, to be published in a forthcoming EPJST special issue on "Computer simulations on GPU

An MRI evaluation of grey matter damage in African Americans with MS

Objective: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is less prevalent in African Americans (AAs) than Caucasians (CAs) but in the former the disease course tends to be more severe. In order to clarify the MRI correlates of disease severity in AAs, we performed a multimodal brain MRI study to comprehensively assess the extent of grey matter (GM) damage and the degree of functional adaptation to structural damage in AAs with MS. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we characterized GM damage in terms of focal lesions and volume loss and functional adaptation during the execution of a simple motor task on a sample of 20 AAs and 20 CAs with MS and 20 healthy controls (CTRLs). Results: In AAs, we observed a wider range of EDSS scores than CAs, with multisystem involvement being more likely in AAs (p < 0.01). While no significant differences were detected in lesion loads and global brain volumes, AAs showed regional atrophy in the posterior lobules of cerebellum, temporo-occipital and frontal regions in comparison with CAs (p < 0.01), with cerebellar atrophy being the best metric in differentiating AAs from CAs (p = 0.007, AUC = 0.96 and p = 0.005, AUC = 0.96, respectively for right and left cerebellar clusters). In AAs, the functional analysis of cortical activations showed an increase in task-related activation of areas involved in high level processing and a decreased activation in the medial prefrontal cortex compared to CAs. Interpretation: In our study, the direct comparison of AAs and CAs points to cerebellar atrophy as the main difference between subgroups

Influence of vortex-vortex interaction on critical currents across low-angle grain boundaries in YBa2Cu3O7-delta thin films

Low-angle grain boundaries with misorientation angles theta < 5 degrees in optimally doped thin films of YBCO are investigated by magnetooptical imaging. By using a numerical inversion scheme of Biot-Savart's law the critical current density across the grain boundary can be determined with a spatial resolution of about 5 micrometers. Detailed investigation of the spatially resolved flux density and current density data shows that the current density across the boundary varies with varying local flux density. Combining the corresponding flux and current pattern it is found that there exists a universal dependency of the grain boundary current on the local flux density. A change in the local flux density means a variation in the flux line-flux line distance. With this knowledge a model is developped that explains the flux-current relation by means of magnetic vortex-vortex interaction.Comment: 7 pages, 14 figure

High magnetic field scales and critical currents in SmFeAs(O,F) crystals: promising for applications

Superconducting technology provides most sensitive field detectors, promising implementations of qubits and high field magnets for medical imaging and for most powerful particle accelerators. Thus, with the discovery of new superconducting materials, such as the iron pnictides, exploring their potential for applications is one of the foremost tasks. Even if the critical temperature Tc is high, intrinsic electronic properties might render applications rather difficult, particularly if extreme electronic anisotropy prevents effective pinning of vortices and thus severely limits the critical current density, a problem well known for cuprates. While many questions concerning microscopic electronic properties of the iron pnictides have been successfully addressed and estimates point to a very high upper critical field, their application potential is less clarified. Thus we focus here on the critical currents, their anisotropy and the onset of electrical dissipation in high magnetic fields up to 65 T. Our detailed study of the transport properties of optimally doped SmFeAs(O,F) single crystals reveals a promising combination of high (>2 x 10^6 A/cm^2) and nearly isotropic critical current densities along all crystal directions. This favorable intragrain current transport in SmFeAs(O,F), which shows the highest Tc of 54 K at ambient pressure, is a crucial requirement for possible applications. Essential in these experiments are 4-probe measurements on Focused Ion Beam (FIB) cut single crystals with sub-\mu\m^2 cross-section, with current along and perpendicular to the crystallographic c-axis and very good signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in pulsed magnetic fields. The pinning forces have been characterized by scaling the magnetically measured "peak effect"