51,684 research outputs found
Directed transport of Brownian particles in a double symmetric potential
We investigate the dynamics of Brownian particles in internal state-
dependent symmetric and periodic potentials. Although no space or time symmetry
of the Hamiltonian is broken, we show that directed transport can appear. We
demonstrate that the directed motion is induced by breaking the symmetry of the
transition rates between the potentials when these are spatially shifted.
Finally, we discuss the possibility of realizing our model in a system of cold
particles trapped in optical lattices.Comment: to appear in Physical Review
Highlights and Conclusions of the Chalonge 14th Paris Cosmology Colloquium 2010: `The Standard Model of the Universe: Theory and Observations'
The Chalonge 14th Paris Cosmology Colloquium was held on 22-24 July 2010 in
Paris Observatory on the Standard Model of the Universe: News from WMAP7,
BICEP, QUAD, SPT, AMI, ACT, Planck, QUIJOTE and Herschel; dark matter (DM)
searches and galactic observations; related theory and simulations. %aiming
synthesis, progress and clarification. P Biermann, D Boyanovsky, A Cooray, C
Destri, H de Vega, G Gilmore, S Gottlober, E Komatsu, S McGaugh, A Lasenby, R
Rebolo, P Salucci, N Sanchez and A Tikhonov present here their highlights of
the Colloquium. Inflection points emerged: LambdaWDM (Warm DM) emerges
impressively over LambdaCDM whose galactic scale problems are ever-increasing.
Summary and conclusions by H. J. de Vega, M. C. Falvella and N. G. Sanchez
stress among other points: (i) Primordial CMB gaussianity is confirmed.
Inflation effective theory predicts a tensor to scalar ratio 0.05-0.04 at
reach/border line of next CMB observations, early fast-roll inflation provides
lowest multipoles depression. SZ amplitudes are smaller than expected: CMB and
X-ray data agree but intracluster models need revision and relaxed/non-relaxed
clusters distinction. (ii) cosmic ray positron excess is explained naturally by
astrophysical processes, annihilating/decaying dark matter needs growing
tailoring. (iii) Cored (non cusped) DM halos and warm (keV scale mass) DM are
increasingly favored from theory and observations, naturally producing observed
small scale structures, wimps turn strongly disfavoured. LambdaWDM 1 keV
simulations well reproduce observations. Evidence that LambdaCDM does not work
at small scales is staggering. P Biermann presents his live minutes of the
Colloquium and concludes that a keV sterile neutrino is the most interesting DM
candidate. Photos of the Colloquium are included.Comment: 58 pages, 20 figures. Three contributions added: G. Gilmore, S.
Gottlober and E. Komats
Towards the Chalonge 16th Paris Cosmology Colloquium 2012: Highlights and Conclusions of the Chalonge 15th Paris Cosmology Colloquium 2011
The Chalonge 15th Paris Cosmology Colloquium 2011 was held on 20-22 July in
the historic Paris Observatory's Perrault building, in the Chalonge School
spirit combining real cosmological/astrophysical data and hard theory
predictive approach connected to them in the Warm Dark Matter Standard Model of
the Universe: News and reviews from Herschel, QUIET, Atacama Cosmology
Telescope (ACT), South Pole Telescole (SPT), Planck, PIXIE, the JWST, UFFO,
KATRIN and MARE experiments; astrophysics, particle and nuclear physics warm
dark matter (DM) searches and galactic observations, related theory and
simulations, with the aim of synthesis, progress and clarification. Philippe
Andre, Peter Biermann, Pasquale Blasi, Daniel Boyanovsky, Carlo Burigana,
Hector de Vega, Joanna Dunkley, Gerry Gilmore, Alexander Kashlinsky, Alan
Kogut, Anthony Lasenby, John Mather, Norma Sanchez, Alexei Smirnov, Sylvaine
Turck-Chieze present here their highlights of the Colloquium. Ayuki Kamada and
Sinziana Paduroiu present here their poster highlights. LambdaWDM (Warm Dark
Matter) is progressing impressively over LambdaCDM whose galactic scale crisis
and decline are staggering. The International School Daniel Chalonge issued an
statement of strong support to the James Webb Space Telescope (JSWT). The
Daniel Chalonge Medal 2011 was awarded to John C. Mather, Science PI of the
JWST. Summary and conclusions are presented by H. J. de Vega, M. C. Falvella
and N. G. Sanchez. Overall, LambdaWDM and keV scale DM particles deserve
dedicated astronomical and laboratory experimental searches, theoretical work
and simulations. KATRIN experiment in the future could perhaps adapt its set-up
to look to keV scale sterile neutrinos. It will be a a fantastic discovery to
detect dark matter in a beta decay. Photos of the Colloquium are included.
(Abridged)Comment: 65 pages, 21 figure
Towards the Chalonge 17th Paris Cosmology Colloquium 2013: highlights and conclusions of the Chalonge 16th Paris Cosmology Colloquium 2012
LWDM (Warm Dark Matter) is progressing impressively.The galactic scale crisis
and decline of LCDM+baryons are staggering. The 16th Paris Chalonge Colloquium
2012 combined real cosmological/astrophysical data and hard theory predictive
approach in the LWDM Standard Model. News and reviews from
ACT,WMAP,SPT,QUIET,Planck,Herschel,JWST,UFFO,KATRIN and MARE experiments;
astrophysics, particle and nuclear physics WDM searches, galactic observations,
related theory and simulations, with the aim of synthesis and clarification.
Here highlights by P Biermann, C Burigana, C Conselice, A Cooray, H de Vega, C
Giunti & M Laveder, J Kormendi & K Freeman, E Ma, J Mather, L Page, G Smoot, N
Sanchez. Summary and conclusions by de Vega, Falvella and Sanchez. Data confirm
primordial CMB gaussianity. Effective (Ginsburg-Landau) Inflation theory
predicts r about 0.04-0.05, negligeable running of ns, the inflation energy
scale (GUT scale) and the set of CMB observables in agreement with the data.
WMAP9 and Planck measurements are compatible with one or two Majorana sterile
neutrinos in the eV mass scale. Cored (non cusped) DM halos and keV WDM are
strongly favored by theory and observations, Wimps are strongly disfavoured.
LambdaCDM with baryons do not work at small scales. Inside galaxy cores,
quantum WDM effects are important. Quantum WDM calculations (Thomas-Fermi)
provide galaxy masses, velocity dispersions and cored profiles and their sizes
in agreement with observations. A WDM fermion of about 2 keV naturally
reproduces galaxy, large scale and cosmological observations. WDM keV particles
deserve dedicated astronomical and laboratory searches, theoretical work and
numerical simulations. KATRIN can be adapted to look to keV scale sterile
neutrinos. It will be a fantastic discovery to detect dark matter in beta
decay. Photos of the Colloquium are includedComment: 58 pages, 15 figures. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with
arXiv:1203.3562, arXiv:1305.7452, arXiv:1009.3494, arXiv:1304.075
An investigation into the perspectives of providers and learners on MOOC accessibility
An effective open eLearning environment should consider the target learner’s abilities, learning goals, where learning takes place, and which specific device(s) the learner uses. MOOC platforms struggle to take these factors into account and typically are not accessible, inhibiting access to environments that are intended to be open to all. A series of research initiatives are described that are intended to benefit MOOC providers in achieving greater accessibility and disabled learners to improve their lifelong learning and re-skilling. In this paper, we first outline the rationale, the research questions, and the methodology. The research approach includes interviews, online surveys and a MOOC accessibility audit; we also include factors such the risk management of the research programme and ethical considerations when conducting research with vulnerable learners. Preliminary results are presented from interviews with providers and experts and from analysis of surveys of learners. Finally, we outline the future research opportunities. This paper is framed within the context of the Doctoral Consortium organised at the TEEM'17 conference
A combinatorial approach of Proteomics and Systems Biology in unravelling the mechanisms of acute kidney injury (AKI): involvement of NMDA receptor GRIN1 in murine AKI
BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent condition in hospitalised patients undergoing major surgery or the critically ill and is associated with increased mortality. Based on the volume of the published literature addressing this condition, reporting both supporting as well as conflicting molecular evidence, it is apparent that a comprehensive analysis strategy is required to understand and fully delineate molecular events and pathways which can be used to describe disease induction and progression as well as lead to a more targeted approach in intervention therapies.<p></p>
RESULTS: We used a Systems Biology approach coupled with a de-novo high-resolution proteomic analysis of kidney cortex samples from a mouse model of folic acid-induced AKI (12 animals in total) and show comprehensive mapping of signalling cascades, gene activation events and metabolite interference by mapping high-resolution proteomic datasets onto a de-novo hypothesis-free dataspace. The findings support the involvement of the glutamatergic signalling system in AKI, induced by over-activation of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-receptor leading to apoptosis and necrosis by Ca2+-influx, calpain and caspase activation, and co-occurring reactive oxygen species (ROS) production to DNA fragmentation and NAD-rundown. The specific over-activation of the NMDA receptor may be triggered by the p53-induced protein kinase Dapk1, which is a known non-reversible cell death inducer in a neurological context. The pathway mapping is consistent with the involvement of the Renin-Angiotensin Aldosterone System (RAAS), corticoid and TNFalpha signalling, leading to ROS production and gene activation through NFkappaB, PPARgamma, SMAD and HIF1alpha trans-activation, as well as p53 signalling cascade activation. Key elements of the RAAS-glutamatergic axis were assembled as a novel hypothetical pathway and validated by immunohistochemistry.<p></p>
CONCLUSIONS: This study shows to our knowledge for the first time in a molecular signal transduction pathway map how AKI is induced, progresses through specific signalling cascades that may lead to end-effects such as apoptosis and necrosis by uncoupling of the NMDA receptor. Our results can potentially pave the way for a targeted pharmacological intervention in disease progression or induction.<p></p>
Tuning surface metallicity and ferromagnetism by hydrogen adsorption at the polar ZnO(0001) surface
The adsorption of hydrogen on the polar Zn-ended ZnO(0001) surface has been
investigated by density functional {\it ab-initio} calculations. An on top
H(1x1) ordered overlayer with genuine H-Zn chemical bonds is shown to be
energetically favorable. The H covered surface is metallic and spin-polarized,
with a noticeable magnetic moment at the surface region. Lower hydrogen
coverages lead to strengthening of the H-Zn bonds, corrugation of the surface
layer and to an insulating surface. Our results explain experimental
observations of hydrogen adsorption on this surface, and not only predict a
metal-insulator transition, but primarily provide a method to reversible switch
surface magnetism by varying the hydrogen density on the surface.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
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