Magnetization reversal times in the 2D Ising model

We present a theoretical framework which is generally applicable to the study of time scales of activated processes in systems with Brownian type dynamics. This framework is applied to a prototype system: magnetization reversal times in the 2D Ising model. Direct simulation results for the magnetization reversal times, spanning more than five orders of magnitude, are compared with theoretical predictions; the two agree in most cases within 20%.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figure

Poke: An open-source ray-based physical optics platform

Integrated optical models allow for accurate prediction of the as-built performance of an optical instrument. Optical models are typically composed of a separate ray trace and diffraction model to capture both the geometrical and physical regimes of light. These models are typically separated across both open-source and commercial software that don't interface with each other directly. To bridge the gap between ray trace models and diffraction models, we have built an open-source optical analysis platform in Python called Poke that uses commercial ray tracing APIs and open-source physical optics engines to simultaneously model scalar wavefront error, diffraction, and polarization. Poke operates by storing ray data from a commercial ray tracing engine into a Python object, from which physical optics calculations can be made. We present an introduction to using Poke, and highlight the capabilities of two new propagation physics modules that add to the utility of existing scalar diffraction models. Gaussian Beamlet Decomposition is a ray-based approach to diffraction modeling that allows us to integrate physical optics models with ray trace models to directly capture the influence of ray aberrations in diffraction simulations. Polarization Ray Tracing is a ray-based method of vector field propagation that can diagnose the polarization aberrations in optical systems. Poke has been recently used to study the next generation of astronomical observatories, including the ground-based Extremely Large Telescopes and a 6 meter space telescope early concept for NASA's Habitable Worlds Observatory.Comment: 11 Pages, 9 Figures, Published in Proceedings of SPIE Optical Modeling and Performance Predictions XIII Paper 12664-

Modular proteins from the Drosophila sallimus (sls) gene and their expression in muscles with different extensibility

The passive elasticity of the sarcomere in striated muscle is determined by large modular proteins, such as titin in vertebrates. In insects, the function of titin is divided between two shorter proteins, projectin and sallimus (Sls), which are the products of different genes. The Drosophila sallimus (sls) gene codes for a protein of 2 MDa. The N-terminal half of the protein is largely made up of immunoglobulin domains and unique sequence; the C-terminal half has two stretches of sequence similar to the elastic PEVK region of titin, and at the end of the molecule there is a region of tandem Ig and fibronectin domains. We have investigated splicing pathways of the sls gene and identified isoforms expressed in different muscle types, and at different stages of Drosophila development. The 5’ half of sls codes for zormin and kettin; both proteins contain Ig domains and can be expressed as separate isoforms, or as larger proteins linked to sequence downstream. There are multiple splicing pathways between the kettin region of sls and sequence coding for the two PEVK regions. All the resulting protein isoforms have sequence derived from the 3’ end of the sls gene. Splicing of exons varies at different stages of development. Kettin RNA is predominant in the embryo, and longer transcripts are expressed in larva, pupa and adult. Sls isoforms in the indirect flight muscle (IFM) are zormin, kettin and Sls(700), in which sequence derived from the end of the gene is spliced to kettin RNA. Zormin is in both M-line and Z-disc. Kettin and Sls(700) extend from the Z-disc to the ends of the thick filaments, though, Sls(700) is only in the myofibril core. These shorter isoforms would contribute to the high stiffness of IFM. Other muscles in the thorax and legs have longer Sls isoforms with varying amounts of PEVK sequence; all span the I-band to the ends of the thick filaments. In muscles with longer Ibands, the proportion of PEVK sequence would determine the extensibility of the sarcomere. Alternative Sls isoforms could regulate the stiffness of the many fibre types in Droso phila muscles

Direct generation of photon triplets using cascaded photon-pair sources

Non-classical states of light, such as entangled photon pairs and number states, are essential for fundamental tests of quantum mechanics and optical quantum technologies. The most widespread technique for creating these quantum resources is the spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) of laser light into photon pairs. Conservation of energy and momentum in this process, known as phase-matching, gives rise to strong correlations which are used to produce two-photon entanglement in various degrees of freedom. It has been a longstanding goal of the quantum optics community to realise a source that can produce analogous correlations in photon triplets, but of the many approaches considered, none have been technically feasible. In this paper we report the observation of photon triplets generated by cascaded down-conversion. Here each triplet originates from a single pump photon, and therefore quantum correlations will extend over all three photons in a way not achievable with independently created photon pairs. We expect our photon-triplet source to open up new avenues of quantum optics and become an important tool in quantum technologies. Our source will allow experimental interrogation of novel quantum correlations, the post-selection free generation of tripartite entanglement without post- selection and the generation of heralded entangled-photon pairs suitable for linear optical quantum computing. Two of the triplet photons have a wavelength matched for optimal transmission in optical fibres, ideally suited for three-party quantum communication. Furthermore, our results open interesting regimes of non-linear optics, as we observe spontaneous down-conversion pumped by single photons, an interaction also highly relevant to optical quantum computing.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, 1 table; accepted by Natur

Novel App knock-in mouse model shows key features of amyloid pathology and reveals profound metabolic dysregulation of microglia.

BACKGROUND: Genetic mutations underlying familial Alzheimer\u27s disease (AD) were identified decades ago, but the field is still in search of transformative therapies for patients. While mouse models based on overexpression of mutated transgenes have yielded key insights in mechanisms of disease, those models are subject to artifacts, including random genetic integration of the transgene, ectopic expression and non-physiological protein levels. The genetic engineering of novel mouse models using knock-in approaches addresses some of those limitations. With mounting evidence of the role played by microglia in AD, high-dimensional approaches to phenotype microglia in those models are critical to refine our understanding of the immune response in the brain. METHODS: We engineered a novel App knock-in mouse model (App RESULTS: Leveraging multi-omics approaches, we discovered profound alteration of diverse lipids and metabolites as well as an exacerbated disease-associated transcriptomic response in microglia with high intracellular Aβ content. The App DISCUSSION: Our findings demonstrate that fibrillar Aβ in microglia is associated with lipid dyshomeostasis consistent with lysosomal dysfunction and foam cell phenotypes as well as profound immuno-metabolic perturbations, opening new avenues to further investigate metabolic pathways at play in microglia responding to AD-relevant pathogenesis. The in-depth characterization of pathological hallmarks of AD in this novel and open-access mouse model should serve as a resource for the scientific community to investigate disease-relevant biology

TRY plant trait database – enhanced coverage and open access

Plant traits - the morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plants - determine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, and influence ecosystem properties and their benefits and detriments to people. Plant trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area of research spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, the TRY database of plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented data coverage under an open access data policy and is the main plant trait database used by the research community worldwide. Increasingly, the TRY database also supports new frontiers of trait‐based plant research, including the identification of data gaps and the subsequent mobilization or measurement of new data. To support this development, in this article we evaluate the extent of the trait data compiled in TRY and analyse emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness. Best species coverage is achieved for categorical traits - almost complete coverage for ‘plant growth form’. However, most traits relevant for ecology and vegetation modelling are characterized by continuous intraspecific variation and trait–environmental relationships. These traits have to be measured on individual plants in their respective environment. Despite unprecedented data coverage, we observe a humbling lack of completeness and representativeness of these continuous traits in many aspects. We, therefore, conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements. This can only be achieved in collaboration with other initiatives

Nucleation in the two-dimensional Ising model

The aim of this thesis is to study nucleation both numerically and analytically. The approach followed is to start with very simple models. In chapter 2 we study the Ising model without an external magnetic field. This system does not feature nucleation, but at low temperatures it jumps back and forth between a state in which most spins are up, to one in which most spins are down. The dominant pathway at low temperatures consists of the formation of a single pair of closed interfaces in the shorter periodic direction, which perform a relative diffusive motion around the longer periodic direction and annihilate after meeting each other through the periodic boundary. In chapter 3 we study the Ising model with an external field on a square lattice. Initially the system is in a metastable state, with most of the spins anti-aligned with the external field. It will stay in this metastable state for an extended period of time, but eventually one of the small clusters of aligned spins that arise due to fluctuations, will grow beyond the critical cluster size, and take over the whole system. After this, most of the spins are aligned with the external field, and the system is in its stable state. In chapter 4 the same model is studied. The effective rates of growth and shrinkage of clusters are now studied in detail. The mass of the nucleating cluster is followed in time, and mapped to a random walker undergoing drift and diffusion. The latter is described by the Fokker-Planck equation, in which in our case the drift and diffusion coefficients depend on cluster size. The method developed in chapter 4 is then applied to a completely different phenomenon: the fluctuations of the geomagnetic dipole. Instead of to the time-evolution of the size of the nucleus, we apply our method of analysis, based on the Fokker-Planck equation, to the time-evolution of the strength of the geomagnetic dipole, which has been measured accurately over the last 800,000 years from fossile records. This is described in chapter 5

The Role of Parasocial Interactions for Podcast Backchannel Response

Voice-based information transfer via podcasts is increasingly taking root in education, entertainment, and business communication. In mainstream literature, they have been repeatedly associated with the concept of parasocial interactions and relationships, meaning a psychological relationship experienced by a consumer of a mass medium. However, little research has been conducted to empirically examine such experiences in the context of podcasting. Based on the theoretical background of the two-level model of parasocial interactions, we performed an experiment with between-subject design (n = 28), in which participants of both experimental conditions listened to modified podcast episodes. The sharing of personal information, thoughts and feelings by the speaker was found to have a positive influence on the intensity of parasocial interaction. Furthermore, the experienced parasocial interaction correlates with the intention of listeners to subscribe to the podcast and make use of backchannels. These preliminary results may contribute to a better understanding of interactions in auditory media such as podcasts but also voice-operated information systems. Moreover, this study may help practitioners to align their audio-branding in a way that it fosters parasocial interactions and long-lasting customer relationships

Thermal resistance of twist boundaries in silicon nanowires by nonequilibrium molecular dynamics

The thermal boundary resistance (Kapitza resistance) of (001) twist boundaries in silicon is investigated by nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations. In order to enable continuous adjustment of the mismatch angle, a cylindrical geometry with fixed atomic positions at the boundaries is devised. The influence of the boundary conditions on the Kapitza resistance is removed by means of a finite size analysis. Due to the diamond structure of silicon, twist boundaries with mismatch angles ϕ and 90 ° − ϕ are not equivalent, whereas those with ± ϕ or with 90 ° ± ϕ are. The Kapitza resistance increases with mismatch angle up to 45 ° , where it reaches a plateau around 1.56 ± 0.05 K m 2 / GW . Between 80 ° and the 90 ° Σ 1 grain boundary it drops by about 30%. Surprisingly, lattice coincidence at other angles ( Σ 5 , Σ 13 , Σ 27 , Σ 25 ) has no noticable effect on the Kapitza resistance. However, there is a clear correlation between the Kapitza resistance and the width of a non-crystalline layer at the twist boundaries