5,142 research outputs found
Concurrent constraint programming with process mobility
We propose an extension of concurrent constraint programming with primitives for process migration within a hierarchical network, and we study its semantics. To this purpose, we first investigate a "pure " paradigm for process migration, namely a paradigm where the only actions are those dealing with transmissions of processes. Our goal is to give a structural definition of the semantics of migration; namely, we want to describe the behaviour of the system, during the transmission of a process, in terms of the behaviour of the components. We achieve this goal by using a labeled transition system where the effects of sending a process, and requesting a process, are modeled by symmetric rules (similar to handshaking-rules for synchronous communication) between the two partner nodes in the network. Next, we extend our paradigm with the primitives of concurrent constraint programming, and we show how to enrich the semantics to cope with the notions of environment and constraint store. Finally, we show how the operational semantics can be used to define an interpreter for the basic calculus.
Validity of the scaling functional approach for polymer interfaces as a variational theory
We discuss the soundness of the scaling functional (SF) approach proposed by
Aubouy Guiselin and Raphael (Macromolecules 29, 7261 (1996)) to describe
polymeric interfaces. In particular, we demonstrate that this approach is a
variational theory. We emphasis the role of SF theory as an important link
between ground-state theories suitable to describe adsorbed layers, and
"classical" theories for polymer brushes.Comment: 8 pages, 1 figure, to be published in Phys. Rev.
Global biodiversity indicators reflect the modeled impacts of protected area policy change
Global biodiversity indicators can be used to measure the status and trends of biodiversity relating to Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) targets. Whether such indicators can support decision makers by distinguishing among policy options remains poorly evaluated. We tested the ability of two CBD indicators, the Living Planet Index and the Red List Index, to reflect projected changes in mammalian populations in sub-Saharan Africa in response to potential policies related to CBD targets for protected areas (PAs). We compared policy scenarios to expand the PA network, improve management effectiveness of the existing network, and combinations of the two, against business as usual. Both indicators showed that more effective management would provide greater benefits to biodiversity than expanding PAs alone. The indicators were able to communicate outcomes of modeled scenarios in a simple quantitative manner, but behaved differently. This work highlights both the considerable potential of indicators in supporting decisions, and the need to understand how indicators will respond as biodiversity changes
A computational group theoretic symmetry reduction package for the SPIN model checker
Symmetry reduced model checking is hindered by two problems: how to identify state space symmetry when systems are not fully symmetric, and how to determine equivalence of states during search. We present TopSpin, a fully automatic symmetry reduction package for the Spin model checker. TopSpin uses the Gap computational algebra system to effectively detect state space symmetry from the associated Promela specification, and to choose an efficient symmetry reduction strategy by classifying automorphism groups as a disjoint/wreath product of subgroups. We present encouraging experimental results for a variety of Promela examples
High-fidelity imaging of a band insulator in a three-dimensional optical lattice clock
We report on the observation of a high-density, band insulating state in a
three-dimensional optical lattice clock. Filled with a nuclear-spin polarized
degenerate Fermi gas of 87Sr, the 3D lattice has one atom per site in the
ground motional state, thus guarding against frequency shifts due to contact
interactions. At this high density where the average distance between atoms is
comparable to the probe wavelength, standard imaging techniques suffer from
large systematic errors. To spatially probe frequency shifts in the clock and
measure thermodynamic properties of this system, accurate imaging techniques at
high optical depths are required. Using a combination of highly saturated
fluorescence and absorption imaging, we confirm the density distribution in our
3D optical lattice in agreement with a single spin band insulating state.
Combining our clock platform with this high filling fraction opens the door to
studying new classes of long-lived, many-body states arising from dipolar
interactions.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figure
Evaluating the ecological and social targeting of a compensation scheme in Bangladesh.
Conservation payments are increasingly advocated as a way to meet both social and ecological objectives, particularly in developing countries, but these payments often fail to reach the 'right' individuals. The Government of Bangladesh runs a food compensation scheme that aims to contribute to hilsa (Tenualosa ilisha) conservation by improving the socioeconomic situation of households affected by hilsa sanctuary fishing bans. Analysing data from a household survey of compensation recipients and non-recipients, we identify the current correlates of compensation distribution and explore perceptions of fairness in this distribution. We find that distribution is largely spatial rather than based on the household characteristics that are supposed to determine eligibility for compensation, indicating political influence in the distribution process. We also find the compensation scheme is widely perceived to be unfair, which could be undermining its potential to compensate vulnerable fishers while improving compliance with fishing bans. The spatial distribution of compensation would shift substantially under alternative targeting scenarios that are likely to improve the cost-effectiveness of the scheme, such as targeting those who are most dependent on fishing for their livelihood. This study highlights a challenge for conservation payment schemes that aim to achieve the dual objectives of poverty reduction and ecological sustainability, particularly large-scale public schemes, and suggests that more effective targeting and transparency about the basis of payment distribution are prerequisites for schemes to be both cost-effective and socially acceptable
Vesicles in solutions of hard rods
The surface free energy of ideal hard rods near curved hard surfaces is
determined to second order in curvature for surfaces of general shape. In
accordance with previous results for spherical and cylindrical surfaces it is
found that this quantity is non-analytical when one of the principal curvatures
changes signs. This prohibits writing it in the common Helfrich form. It is
shown that the non-analytical terms are the same for any aspect ratio of the
rods. These results are used to find the equilibrium shape of vesicles immersed
in solutions of rod-like (colloidal) particles. The presence of the particles
induces a change in the equilibrium shape and to a shift of the prolate-oblate
transition in the vesicle phase diagram, which are calculated within the
framework of the spontaneous curvature model. As a consequence of the special
form of the energy contribution due to the rods these changes cannot be
accounted for by a simple rescaling of the elastic constants of the vesicle as
for solutions of spherical colloids or polymers.Comment: 11 pages, 7 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.
Fluctuations of a driven membrane in an electrolyte
We develop a model for a driven cell- or artificial membrane in an
electrolyte. The system is kept far from equilibrium by the application of a DC
electric field or by concentration gradients, which causes ions to flow through
specific ion-conducting units (representing pumps, channels or natural pores).
We consider the case of planar geometry and Debye-H\"{u}ckel regime, and obtain
the membrane equation of motion within Stokes hydrodynamics. At steady state,
the applied field causes an accumulation of charges close to the membrane,
which, similarly to the equilibrium case, can be described with renormalized
membrane tension and bending modulus. However, as opposed to the equilibrium
situation, we find new terms in the membrane equation of motion, which arise
specifically in the out-of-equilibrium case. We show that these terms lead in
certain conditions to instabilities.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures. submitted to Europhys. Let
Complete transfer of populations from a single state to a pre-selected superposition of states using Piecewise Adiabatic Passage
We develop a method for executing robust and selective transfer of
populations between a single level and pre-selected superpositions of energy
eigenstates. Viewed in the frequency domain, our method amounts to executing a
series of simultaneous adiabatic passages into each component of the target
superposition state. Viewed in {the} time domain, the method works by
accumulating the wavefunction of the target wave packet as it revisits the
Franck Condon region, in what amounts to an extension of the Piecewise
Adiabatic Passage technique [ Shapiro et.al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 99, 033002
(2007)] to the multi-state regime. The viability of the method is verified by
performing numerical tests for the Na_2 molecule.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figure
Cooperative Carbon Dioxide Adsorption in Alcoholamine- and Alkoxyalkylamine-Functionalized Metal-Organic Frameworks.
A series of structurally diverse alcoholamine- and alkoxyalkylamine-functionalized variants of the metal-organic framework Mg2 (dobpdc) are shown to adsorb CO2 selectively via cooperative chain-forming mechanisms. Solid-state NMR spectra and optimized structures obtained from van der Waals-corrected density functional theory calculations indicate that the adsorption profiles can be attributed to the formation of carbamic acid or ammonium carbamate chains that are stabilized by hydrogen bonding interactions within the framework pores. These findings significantly expand the scope of chemical functionalities that can be utilized to design cooperative CO2 adsorbents, providing further means of optimizing these powerful materials for energy-efficient CO2 separations
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