41 research outputs found
Topological conditions for discrete symmetry breaking and phase transitions
In the framework of a recently proposed topological approach to phase
transitions, some sufficient conditions ensuring the presence of the
spontaneous breaking of a Z_2 symmetry and of a symmetry-breaking phase
transition are introduced and discussed. A very simple model, which we refer to
as the hypercubic model, is introduced and solved. The main purpose of this
model is that of illustrating the content of the sufficient conditions, but it
is interesting also in itself due to its simplicity. Then some mean-field
models already known in the literature are discussed in the light of the
sufficient conditions introduced here
Chaos in effective classical and quantum dynamics
We investigate the dynamics of classical and quantum N-component phi^4
oscillators in the presence of an external field. In the large N limit the
effective dynamics is described by two-degree-of-freedom classical Hamiltonian
systems. In the classical model we observe chaotic orbits for any value of the
external field, while in the quantum case chaos is strongly suppressed. A
simple explanation of this behaviour is found in the change in the structure of
the orbits induced by quantum corrections. Consistently with Heisenberg's
principle, quantum fluctuations are forced away from zero, removing in the
effective quantum dynamics a hyperbolic fixed point that is a major source of
chaos in the classical model.Comment: 6 pages, RevTeX, 5 figures, uses psfig, changed indroduction and
conclusions, added reference
Kinetic energy and microcanonical nonanalyticities in finite and infinite systems
In contrast to the canonical case, microcanonical thermodynamic functions can
show nonanalyticities also for finite systems. In this paper we contribute to
the understanding of these nonanalyticities by working out the relation between
nonanalyticities of the microcanonical entropy and its configurational
counterpart. If the configurational microcanonical entropy has
a nonanalyticity at , then the microcanonical entropy
has a nonanalyticity at the same value of
its argument for any finite value of the number of degrees of freedom . The
presence of the kinetic energy weakens the nonanalyticities such that, if the
configurational entropy is times differentiable, the entropy is -times differentiable. In the thermodynamic limit, however, the
behaviour is very different: The nonanalyticities do not longer occur at the
same values of the arguments, but the nonanalyticity of the microcanonical
entropy is shifted to a larger energy. These results give a general explanation
of the peculiar behaviour previously observed for the mean-field spherical
model. With the hypercubic model we provide a further example illustrating our
results.Comment: 14 pages, 2 figures; v2: minor corrections, final versio
Geometry of dynamics, Lyapunov exponents and phase transitions
The Hamiltonian dynamics of classical planar Heisenberg model is numerically
investigated in two and three dimensions. By considering the dynamics as a
geodesic flow on a suitable Riemannian manifold, it is possible to analytically
estimate the largest Lyapunov exponent in terms of some curvature fluctuations.
The agreement between numerical and analytical values for Lyapunov exponents is
very good in a wide range of temperatures. Moreover, in the three dimensional
case, in correspondence with the second order phase transition, the curvature
fluctuations exibit a singular behaviour which is reproduced in an abstract
geometric model suggesting that the phase transition might correspond to a
change in the topology of the manifold whose geodesics are the motions of the
system.Comment: REVTeX, 10 pages, 5 PostScript figures, published versio
hERG1 channels drive tumour malignancy and may serve as prognostic factor in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
BACKGROUND: hERG1 channels are aberrantly expressed in human cancers. The expression, functional role and clinical significance of hERG1 channels in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is lacking. METHODS: hERG1 expression was tested in PDAC primary samples assembled as tissue microarray by immunohistochemistry using an anti-hERG1 monoclonal antibody (α-hERG1-MoAb). The functional role of hERG1 was studied in PDAC cell lines and primary cultures. ERG1 expression during PDAC progression was studied in Pdx-1-Cre,LSL-Kras(G12D/+),LSL-Trp53(R175H/+) transgenic (KPC) mice. ERG1 expression in vivo was determined by optical imaging using Alexa-680-labelled α-hERG1-MoAb. RESULTS: (i) hERG1 was expressed at high levels in 59% of primary PDAC; (ii) hERG1 blockade decreased PDAC cell growth and migration; (iii) hERG1 was physically and functionally linked to the Epidermal Growth Factor-Receptor pathway; (iv) in transgenic mice, ERG1 was expressed in PanIN lesions, reaching high expression levels in PDAC; (v) PDAC patients whose primary tumour showed high hERG1 expression had a worse prognosis; (vi) the α-hERG1-MoAb could detect PDAC in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: hERG1 regulates PDAC malignancy and its expression, once validated in a larger cohort also comprising of late-stage, non-surgically resected cases, may be exploited for diagnostic and prognostic purposes in PDAC either ex vivo or in vivo
Pre-Flight Calibration of the Mars 2020 Rover Mastcam Zoom (Mastcam-Z) Multispectral, Stereoscopic Imager
The NASA Perseverance rover Mast Camera Zoom (Mastcam-Z) system is a pair of zoomable, focusable, multi-spectral, and color charge-coupled device (CCD) cameras mounted on top of a 1.7 m Remote Sensing Mast, along with associated electronics and two calibration targets. The cameras contain identical optical assemblies that can range in focal length from 26 mm (25.5âĂ19.1â FOV) to 110 mm (6.2âĂ4.2â FOV) and will acquire data at pixel scales of 148-540 ÎŒm at a range of 2 m and 7.4-27 cm at 1 km. The cameras are mounted on the roverâs mast with a stereo baseline of 24.3±0.1 cm and a toe-in angle of 1.17±0.03â (per camera). Each camera uses a Kodak KAI-2020 CCD with 1600Ă1200 active pixels and an 8 position filter wheel that contains an IR-cutoff filter for color imaging through the detectorsâ Bayer-pattern filters, a neutral density (ND) solar filter for imaging the sun, and 6 narrow-band geology filters (16 total filters). An associated Digital Electronics Assembly provides command data interfaces to the rover, 11-to-8 bit companding, and JPEG compression capabilities. Herein, we describe pre-flight calibration of the Mastcam-Z instrument and characterize its radiometric and geometric behavior. Between April 26thth and May 9thth, 2019, âŒ45,000 images were acquired during stand-alone calibration at Malin Space Science Systems (MSSS) in San Diego, CA. Additional data were acquired during Assembly Test and Launch Operations (ATLO) at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Kennedy Space Center. Results of the radiometric calibration validate a 5% absolute radiometric accuracy when using camera state parameters investigated during testing. When observing using camera state parameters not interrogated during calibration (e.g., non-canonical zoom positions), we conservatively estimate the absolute uncertainty to be 0.2 design requirement. We discuss lessons learned from calibration and suggest tactical strategies that will optimize the quality of science data acquired during operation at Mars. While most results matched expectations, some surprises were discovered, such as a strong wavelength and temperature dependence on the radiometric coefficients and a scene-dependent dynamic component to the zero-exposure bias frames. Calibration results and derived accuracies were validated using a Geoboard target consisting of well-characterized geologic samples
Internet of Things in Sustainable Energy Systems
Our planet has abundant renewable and conventional energy resources but technological capability and capacity gaps coupled with water-energy needs limit the benefits of these resources to citizens. Through IoT technology solutions and state-of-the-art IoT sensing and communications approaches, the sustainable energy-related research and innovation can bring a revolution in this area. Moreover, by the leveraging current infrastructure, including renewable energy technologies, microgrids, and power-to-gas (P2G) hydrogen systems, the Internet of Things in sustainable energy systems can address challenges in energy security to the community, with a minimal trade-off to environment and culture. In this chapter, the IoT in sustainable energy systems approaches, methodologies, scenarios, and tools is presented with a detailed discussion of different sensing and communications techniques. This IoT approach in energy systems is envisioned to enhance the bidirectional interchange of network services in grid by using Internet of Things in grid that will result in enhanced system resilience, reliable data flow, and connectivity optimization. Moreover, the sustainable energy IoT research challenges and innovation opportunities are also discussed to address the complex energy needs of our community and promote a strong energy sector economy
Mastcam-Z multispectral database from the Perseverance roverâs traverse in the Jezero crater floor, Mars (sols 0-380)
NASAâs Mars-2020 Perseverance rover spent its first year in Jezero crater studying the mafic lava flows of the MĂĄaz formation and the ultramafic cumulates of the SĂ©Ătah formation. Perseveranceâs Mastcam-Z instrument, a pair of multispectral, stereoscopic zoom-lens cameras, provides broadband red/green/blue (RGB), narrowband visible to near-infrared color (VNIR, 440-1020 nm wavelength range). We compiled Mastcam-Z spectra from Perseveranceâs exploration of the Jezero crater floor in the first 380 sols of its mission. Here, we provide a database of ~2400 representative spectra with extensive metadata, and the locations of the regions of interest (ROIs) from which the spectra were extracted. We also include ânatural colorâ red, green, blue (RGB) images for context, âenhanced color imagesâ derived by stretching narrowband images, and âdecorrelation stretchâ (DCS) images. This dataset can serve as a baseline to interpret future observations from Perseveranceâs ongoing exploration of Jezero crater, Mars