16,591 research outputs found
A Concise Total Synthesis of (--)-Maoecrystal Z
The first total synthesis of (--)-maoecrystal Z
is described. The key steps of the synthesis include a
diastereoselective Ti^(III)-mediated reductive epoxide coupling reaction and a diastereoselective Sm^(II)-mediated reductive cascade cyclization reaction. These transformations enabled the preparation of (--)-maoecrystal Z in only 12 steps from (--)-γ-cyclogeraniol
Mean Field Theory of the Morphology Transition in Stochastic Diffusion Limited Growth
We propose a mean-field model for describing the averaged properties of a
class of stochastic diffusion-limited growth systems. We then show that this
model exhibits a morphology transition from a dense-branching structure with a
convex envelope to a dendritic one with an overall concave morphology. We have
also constructed an order parameter which describes the transition
quantitatively. The transition is shown to be continuous, which can be verified
by noting the non-existence of any hysteresis.Comment: 16 pages, 5 figure
Lubricating Bacteria Model for Branching growth of Bacterial Colonies
Various bacterial strains (e.g. strains belonging to the genera Bacillus,
Paenibacillus, Serratia and Salmonella) exhibit colonial branching patterns
during growth on poor semi-solid substrates. These patterns reflect the
bacterial cooperative self-organization. Central part of the cooperation is the
collective formation of lubricant on top of the agar which enables the bacteria
to swim. Hence it provides the colony means to advance towards the food. One
method of modeling the colonial development is via coupled reaction-diffusion
equations which describe the time evolution of the bacterial density and the
concentrations of the relevant chemical fields. This idea has been pursued by a
number of groups. Here we present an additional model which specifically
includes an evolution equation for the lubricant excreted by the bacteria. We
show that when the diffusion of the fluid is governed by nonlinear diffusion
coefficient branching patterns evolves. We study the effect of the rates of
emission and decomposition of the lubricant fluid on the observed patterns. The
results are compared with experimental observations. We also include fields of
chemotactic agents and food chemotaxis and conclude that these features are
needed in order to explain the observations.Comment: 1 latex file, 16 jpeg files, submitted to Phys. Rev.
New path description for the M(k+1,2k+3) models and the dual Z_k graded parafermions
We present a new path description for the states of the non-unitary
M(k+1,2k+3) models. This description differs from the one induced by the
Forrester-Baxter solution, in terms of configuration sums, of their
restricted-solid-on-solid model. The proposed path representation is actually
very similar to the one underlying the unitary minimal models M(k+1,k+2), with
an analogous Fermi-gas interpretation. This interpretation leads to fermionic
expressions for the finitized M(k+1,2k+3) characters, whose infinite-length
limit represent new fermionic characters for the irreducible modules. The
M(k+1,2k+3) models are also shown to be related to the Z_k graded parafermions
via a (q to 1/q) duality transformation.Comment: 43 pages (minor typo corrected and minor rewording in the
introduction
Particles in RSOS paths
We introduce a new representation of the paths of the Forrester-Baxter RSOS
models which represents the states of the irreducible modules of the minimal
models M(p',p). This representation is obtained by transforming the RSOS paths,
for the cases p> 2p'-2, to new paths for which horizontal edges are allowed at
certain heights. These new paths are much simpler in that their weight is
nothing but the sum of the position of the peaks. This description paves the
way for the interpretation of the RSOS paths in terms of fermi-type charged
particles out of which the fermionic characters could be obtained
constructively. The derivation of the fermionic character for p'=2 and p=kp'+/-
1 is outlined. Finally, the particles of the RSOS paths are put in relation
with the kinks and the breathers of the restricted sine-Gordon model.Comment: 15 pages, few typos corrected, version publishe
Using imprecise continuous time Markov chains for assessing the reliability of power networks with common cause failure and non-immediate repair.
We explore how imprecise continuous time Markov
chains can improve traditional reliability models based
on precise continuous time Markov chains. Specifically,
we analyse the reliability of power networks under very
weak statistical assumptions, explicitly accounting for
non-stationary failure and repair rates and the limited
accuracy by which common cause failure rates can be
estimated. Bounds on typical quantities of interest
are derived, namely the expected time spent in system
failure state, as well as the expected number of
transitions to that state. A worked numerical example
demonstrates the theoretical techniques described.
Interestingly, the number of iterations required for
convergence is observed to be much lower than current
theoretical bounds
Viscous fingering in liquid crystals: Anisotropy and morphological transitions
We show that a minimal model for viscous fingering with a nematic liquid
crystal in which anisotropy is considered to enter through two different
viscosities in two perpendicular directions can be mapped to a two-fold
anisotropy in the surface tension. We numerically integrate the dynamics of the
resulting problem with the phase-field approach to find and characterize a
transition between tip-splitting and side-branching as a function of both
anisotropy and dimensionless surface tension. This anisotropy dependence could
explain the experimentally observed (reentrant) transition as temperature and
applied pressure are varied. Our observations are also consistent with previous
experimental evidence in viscous fingering within an etched cell and
simulations of solidification.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures. Submitted to PR
Hierarchical population model with a carrying capacity distribution
A time- and space-discrete model for the growth of a rapidly saturating local
biological population is derived from a hierarchical random deposition
process previously studied in statistical physics. Two biologically relevant
parameters, the probabilities of birth, , and of death, , determine the
carrying capacity . Due to the randomness the population depends strongly on
position, , and there is a distribution of carrying capacities, .
This distribution has self-similar character owing to the imposed hierarchy.
The most probable carrying capacity and its probability are studied as a
function of and . The effective growth rate decreases with time, roughly
as in a Verhulst process. The model is possibly applicable, for example, to
bacteria forming a "towering pillar" biofilm. The bacteria divide on randomly
distributed nutrient-rich regions and are exposed to random local bactericidal
agent (antibiotic spray). A gradual overall temperature change away from
optimal growth conditions, for instance, reduces bacterial reproduction, while
biofilm development degrades antimicrobial susceptibility, causing stagnation
into a stationary state.Comment: 25 pages, 11 (9+2) figure
Quasiperiodic Tip Splitting in Directional Solidification
We report experimental results on the tip splitting dynamics of seaweed
growth in directional solidification of succinonitrile alloys with
poly(ethylene oxide) or acetone as solutes. The seaweed or dense branching
morphology was selected by solidifying grains which are oriented close to the
{111} plane. Despite the random appearance of the growth, a quasiperiodic tip
splitting morphology was observed in which the tip alternately splits to the
left and to the right. The tip splitting frequency f was found to be related to
the growth velocity V as a power law f V^{1.5}. This finding
is consistent with the predictions of a tip splitting model that is also
presented. Small anisotropies are shown to lead to different kinds of seaweed
morphologies.Comment: 4 pages, 7 figures, submitted to Physical Review Letter
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