9,289 research outputs found
Singular Coexistence-curve Diameters: Experiments and Simulations
Precise calculations of the coexistence-curve diameters of a hard-core
square-we ll (HCSW) fluid and the restricted primitive model (RPM) electrolyte
exhibit mar ked deviations from rectilinear behavior. The HCSW diameter
displays a singularity that sets in sharply for ; this compares favorably with extensive data for
, also reflec ted in CH, N, etc. By contrast, the curvature
of the RPM diameter va ries slowly over a wide range ; this
behavior mirrors observati ons for liquid alkali metals, specifically Rb and
Cs. Amplitudes for the leading singular terms can be estimated numerically but
their values cannot be taken li terally.Comment: 9 pages and 4 figure
The language of Einstein spoken by optical instruments
Einstein had to learn the mathematics of Lorentz transformations in order to
complete his covariant formulation of Maxwell's equations. The mathematics of
Lorentz transformations, called the Lorentz group, continues playing its
important role in optical sciences. It is the basic mathematical language for
coherent and squeezed states. It is noted that the six-parameter Lorentz group
can be represented by two-by-two matrices. Since the beam transfer matrices in
ray optics is largely based on two-by-two matrices or matrices, the
Lorentz group is bound to be the basic language for ray optics, including
polarization optics, interferometers, lens optics, multilayer optics, and the
Poincar\'e sphere. Because the group of Lorentz transformations and ray optics
are based on the same two-by-two matrix formalism, ray optics can perform
mathematical operations which correspond to transformations in special
relativity. It is shown, in particular, that one-lens optics provides a
mathematical basis for unifying the internal space-time symmetries of massive
and massless particles in the Lorentz-covariant world.Comment: LaTex 8 pages, presented at the 10th International Conference on
Quantum Optics (Minsk, Belarus, May-June 2004), to be published in the
proceeding
A Review of Structural MRI and Diffusion Tensor Imaging in Schizotypal Personality Disorder
Individuals with schizotypal personality disorder (SPD) share genetic, phenomenologic, and cognitive abnormalities with people diagnosed with schizophrenia. To date, 15 structural MRI studies of the brain have examined size, and 3 diffusion tensor imaging studies have examined white matter connectivity in SPD. Overall, both types of structural neuroimaging modalities have shown temporal lobe abnormalities similar to those observed in schizophrenia, while frontal lobe regions appear to show more sparing. This intriguing pattern suggests that frontal lobe sparing may suppress psychosis, which is consistent with the idea of a possible neuroprotective factor. In this paper, we review these 18 studies and discuss whether individuals with SPD who both resemble and differ from schizophrenia patients in their phenomenology, share some or all of the structural brain imaging characteristics of schizophrenia. We attempt to group the MRI abnormalities in SPD into three patterns: 1) a spectrum of severity—abnormalities are similar to those observed in schizophrenia but not so severe; 2) a spectrum of region—abnormalities affecting some, but not all, brain regions affected in schizophrenia; and 3) a spectrum of compensation—abnormalities reflecting greater-than-normal white matter volume, possibly serving as a buffer or compensatory mechanism protecting the individual with SPD from the frank psychosis observed in schizophrenia
Filter-feeding, near-field flows, and the morphologies of colonial choanoflagellates
Efficient uptake of prey and nutrients from the environment is an important component in the fitness of all microorganisms, and its dependence on size may reveal clues to the origins of evolutionary transitions to multicellularity. Because potential benefits in uptake rates must be viewed in the context of other costs and benefits of size, such as varying predation rates and the increased metabolic costs associated with larger and more complex body plans, the uptake rate itself is not necessarily that which is optimized by evolution. Uptake rates can be strongly dependent on local organism geometry and its swimming speed, providing selective pressure for particular arrangements. Here we examine these issues for choanoflagellates, filter-feeding microorganisms that are the closest relatives of the animals. We explore the different morphological variations of the choanoflagellate , which can exist as a swimming cell, as a sessile thecate cell, and as colonies of cells in various shapes. In the absence of other requirements and in a homogeneously nutritious environment, we find that the optimal strategy to maximize filter-feeding by the collar of microvilli is to swim fast, which favors swimming unicells. In large external flows, the sessile thecate cell becomes advantageous. Effects of prey diffusion are discussed and also found to be to the advantage of the swimming unicell.This work was supported in part by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and St. Johns College (J.B.K.) and Wellcome Trust Senior Investigator Award 097855MA (R.E.G.)
Iwasawa Effects in Multi-layer Optics
There are many two-by-two matrices in layer optics. It is shown that they can
be formulated in terms of a three-parameter group whose algebraic property is
the same as the group of Lorentz transformations in a space with two space-like
and one time-like dimensions, or the group which is a standard
theoretical tool in optics. Among the interesting mathematical properties of
this group, the Iwasawa decomposition drastically simplifies the matrix algebra
under certain conditions, and leads to a concise expression for the S-matrix
for transmitted and reflected rays. It is shown that the Iwasawa effect can be
observed in multi-layer optics, and a sample calculation of the S-matrix is
given.Comment: RevTex 10 pages including 1 psfi
An overview of treatment options for patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma and renal impairment
Renal impairment (RI) is a relatively common complication of multiple myeloma, which increases in frequency as disease becomes more advanced and recovery of renal function becomes less likely as patients progress through lines of therapy. Clinical trials in the relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) setting have not uniformly included patients with RI or robustly reported their outcomes. Here, we review existing data among patients with RI and RRMM across drug classes (including immunomodulatory agents, proteasome inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapies, and exportin-1 inhibitor) to provide an improved understanding of available treatment options for this important population. We highlight data from pivotal clinical trials, including data relating to renal response (as defined by the International Myeloma Working Group) and discuss real-world experiences in patients with RI, where applicable. Despite substantial advances in RRMM treatment, the presence of RI remains associated with reduced overall survival. Consistent inclusion of patients with RI, and uniform reporting of their outcomes, should be encouraged in future prospective trials of treatments for RRMM
The external benefits of higher education
The private market benefits of education are widely studied at the micro level, although the magnitude of their macroeconomic impact is disputed. However, there are additional benefits of education, which are less well understood. In this paper the macroeconomic effects of external benefits of higher education are estimated using the “micro-to-macro” simulation approach. Two types of externalities are explored: technology spillovers and productivity spillovers in the labour market. These links are illustrated and the results suggest they could be very large. However, this is qualified by the dearth of microeconomic evidence, for which we hope to encourage further work
Transmission phase lapses in quantum dots: the role of dot-lead coupling asymmetry
Lapses of transmission phase in transport through quantum dots are ubiquitous
already in the absence of interaction, in which case their precise location is
determined by the signs and magnitudes of the tunnelling matrix elements.
However, actual measurements for a quantum dot embedded in an Aharonov-Bohm
interferometer show systematic sequences of phase lapses separated by Coulomb
peaks -- an issue that attracted much attention and generated controversy.
Using a two-level quantum dot as an example we show that this phenomenon can be
accounted for by the combined effect of asymmetric dot-lead couplings (left
lead/right lead asymmetry as well as different level broadening for different
levels) and interaction-induced "population switching" of the levels, rendering
this behaviour generic. We construct and analyse a mean field scheme for an
interacting quantum dot, and investigate the properties of the mean field
solution, paying special attention to the character of its dependence
(continuous vs. discontinuous) on the chemical potential or gate voltage.Comment: 34 LaTeX pages in IOP format, 9 figures; misprints correcte
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Chromatin establishes an immature version of neuronal protocadherin selection during the naive-to-primed conversion of pluripotent stem cells.
In the mammalian genome, the clustered protocadherin (cPCDH) locus provides a paradigm for stochastic gene expression with the potential to generate a unique cPCDH combination in every neuron. Here we report a chromatin-based mechanism that emerges during the transition from the naive to the primed states of cell pluripotency and reduces, by orders of magnitude, the combinatorial potential in the human cPCDH locus. This mechanism selectively increases the frequency of stochastic selection of a small subset of cPCDH genes after neuronal differentiation in monolayers, 10-month-old cortical organoids and engrafted cells in the spinal cords of rats. Signs of these frequent selections can be observed in the brain throughout fetal development and disappear after birth, except in conditions of delayed maturation such as Down's syndrome. We therefore propose that a pattern of limited cPCDH-gene expression diversity is maintained while human neurons still retain fetal-like levels of maturation
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