1,883 research outputs found
Morphology and Orientation Selection of Non-Metallic Inclusions in Electrified Molten Metal
The effect of electric current on morphology and orientation selection of non-metallic inclusions in molten metal has been investigated using theoretical modelling and numerical calculation. Two geometric factors, namely the circularity (fc) and alignment ratio (fe) were introduced to describe the inclusions shape and configuration. Electric current free energy was calculated and the values were used to determine the thermodynamic preference between different microstructures. Electric current promotes the development of inclusion along the current direction by either expatiating directional growth or enhancing directional agglomeration. Reconfiguration of the inclusions to reduce the system electric resistance drives the phenomena. The morphology and orientation selection follows the routine to reduce electric free energy. The numerical results are in agreement with our experimental observations
Non-Markovian entanglement dynamics in coupled superconducting qubit systems
We theoretically analyze the entanglement generation and dynamics by coupled
Josephson junction qubits. Considering a current-biased Josephson junction
(CBJJ), we generate maximally entangled states. In particular, the entanglement
dynamics is considered as a function of the decoherence parameters, such as the
temperature, the ratio between the reservoir cutoff
frequency and the system oscillator frequency , % between
the characteristic frequency of the %quantum system of interest, and
the cut-off frequency of %Ohmic reservoir and the energy levels
split of the superconducting circuits in the non-Markovian master equation. We
analyzed the entanglement sudden death (ESD) and entanglement sudden birth
(ESB) by the non-Markovian master equation. Furthermore, we find that the
larger the ratio and the thermal energy , the shorter the
decoherence. In this superconducting qubit system we find that the entanglement
can be controlled and the ESD time can be prolonged by adjusting the
temperature and the superconducting phases which split the energy
levels.Comment: 13 pages, 3 figure
Plasticity and learning in a network of coupled phase oscillators
A generalized Kuramoto model of coupled phase oscillators with slowly varying
coupling matrix is studied. The dynamics of the coupling coefficients is driven
by the phase difference of pairs of oscillators in such a way that the coupling
strengthens for synchronized oscillators and weakens for non-synchronized
pairs. The system possesses a family of stable solutions corresponding to
synchronized clusters of different sizes. A particular cluster can be formed by
applying external driving at a given frequency to a group of oscillators. Once
established, the synchronized state is robust against noise and small
variations in natural frequencies. The phase differences between oscillators
within the synchronized cluster can be used for information storage and
retrieval.Comment: 10 page
A preexisting rare PIK3CA e545k subpopulation confers clinical resistance to MEK plus CDK4/6 inhibition in NRAS melanoma and is dependent on S6K1 signaling
Combined MEK and CDK4/6 inhibition (MEKi + CDK4i) has shown promising clinical outcomes in patients with NRAS- mutant melanoma. Here, we interrogated longitudinal biopsies from a patient who initially responded to MEKi + CDK4i therapy but subsequently developed resistance. Whole-exome sequencing and functional validation identified an acquired PIK3CA E545K mutation as conferring drug resistance. We demonstrate that PIK3CA E545K preexisted in a rare subpopulation that was missed by both clinical and research testing, but was revealed upon multiregion sampling due to PIK3CA E545K being nonuniformly distributed. This resistant population rapidly expanded after the initiation of MEKi + CDK4i therapy and persisted in all successive samples even after immune checkpoint therapy and distant metastasis. Functional studies identified activated S6K1 as both a key marker and specific therapeutic vulnerability downstream of PIK3CA E545K -induced resistance. These results demonstrate that difficult-to-detect preexisting resistance mutations may exist more often than previously appreciated and also posit S6K1 as a common downstream therapeutic nexus for the MAPK, CDK4/6, and PI3K pathways. SIGNIFICANCE: We report the first characterization of clinical acquired resistance to MEKi + CDK4i, identifying a rare preexisting PIK3CA E545K subpopulation that expands upon therapy and exhibits drug resistance. We suggest that single-region pretreatment biopsy is insufficient to detect rare, spatially segregated drug-resistant subclones. Inhibition of S6K1 is able to resensitize PIK3CA E545K -expressing NRAS-mutant melanoma cells to MEKi + CDK4i. © 2018 AAC
Pairing Correlations in a Generalized Hubbard Model for the Cuprates
Using numerical diagonalization of a 4x4 cluster, we calculate on-site s,
extended s and d pairing correlation functions (PCF) in an effective
generalized Hubbard model for the cuprates, with nearest-neighbor correlated
hopping and next nearest-neighbor hopping t'. The vertex contributions (VC) to
the PCF are significantly enhanced, relative to the t-t'-U model. The behavior
of the PCF and their VC, and signatures of anomalous flux quantization,
indicate superconductivity in the d-wave channel for moderate doping and in the
s-wave channel for high doping and small U.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure
Spin-orbital gapped phase with least symmetry breaking in the one-dimensional symmetrically coupled spin-orbital model
To describe the spin-orbital energy gap formation in the one-dimensional
symmetrically coupled spin-orbital model, we propose a simple mean field theory
based on an SU(4) constraint fermion representation of spins and orbitals. A
spin-orbital gapped phase is formed due to a marginally relevant spin-orbital
valence bond pairing interaction. The energy gap of the spin and orbital
excitations grows extremely slowly from the SU(4) symmetric point up to a
maximum value and then decreases rapidly. By calculating the spin, orbital, and
spin-orbital tensor static susceptibilities at zero temperature, we find a
crossover from coherent to incoherent magnetic excitations as the spin-orbital
coupling decreasing from large to small values.Comment: 10 pages, Revtex file, 5 figure
Rings and rigidity transitions in network glasses
Three elastic phases of covalent networks, (I) floppy, (II) isostatically
rigid and (III) stressed-rigid have now been identified in glasses at specific
degrees of cross-linking (or chemical composition) both in theory and
experiments. Here we use size-increasing cluster combinatorics and constraint
counting algorithms to study analytically possible consequences of
self-organization. In the presence of small rings that can be locally I, II or
III, we obtain two transitions instead of the previously reported single
percolative transition at the mean coordination number , one from a
floppy to an isostatic rigid phase, and a second one from an isostatic to a
stressed rigid phase. The width of the intermediate phase and the
order of the phase transitions depend on the nature of medium range order
(relative ring fractions). We compare the results to the Group IV
chalcogenides, such as Ge-Se and Si-Se, for which evidence of an intermediate
phase has been obtained, and for which estimates of ring fractions can be made
from structures of high T crystalline phases.Comment: 29 pages, revtex, 7 eps figure
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