Nonconcave entropies in multifractals and the thermodynamic formalism

We discuss a subtlety involved in the calculation of multifractal spectra when these are expressed as Legendre-Fenchel transforms of functions analogous to free energy functions. We show that the Legendre-Fenchel transform of a free energy function yields the correct multifractal spectrum only when the latter is wholly concave. If the spectrum has no definite concavity, then the transform yields the concave envelope of the spectrum rather than the spectrum itself. Some mathematical and physical examples are given to illustrate this result, which lies at the root of the nonequivalence of the microcanonical and canonical ensembles. On a more positive note, we also show that the impossibility of expressing nonconcave multifractal spectra through Legendre-Fenchel transforms of free energies can be circumvented with the help of a generalized free energy function, which relates to a recently introduced generalized canonical ensemble. Analogies with the calculation of rate functions in large deviation theory are finally discussed.Comment: 9 pages, revtex4, 3 figures. Changes in v2: sections added on applications plus many new references; contains an addendum not contained in published versio

Receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) regulates sepsis but not the adaptive immune response

This is the publisher's version, also available electronically from http://www.jci.org/articles/view/18704While the initiation of the adaptive and innate immune response is well understood, less is known about cellular mechanisms propagating inflammation. The receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE), a transmembrane receptor of the immunoglobulin superfamily, leads to perpetuated cell activation. Using novel animal models with defective or tissue-specific RAGE expression, we show that in these animal models RAGE does not play a role in the adaptive immune response. However, deletion of RAGE provides protection from the lethal effects of septic shock caused by cecal ligation and puncture. Such protection is reversed by reconstitution of RAGE in endothelial and hematopoietic cells. These results indicate that the innate immune response is controlled by pattern-recognition receptors not only at the initiating steps but also at the phase of perpetuation

Aerosol mass determination with nuclear track filters from quartz crystals

Irradiating quartz crystals of approx. 100 mym thickness with heavy ions (eg. 238U, 17 MeV per nucleon, 10 E5 ions cm E-2) creates heavy damage of the crystal structure along the path. Etching these quartzes with KOH, for example, produces pores with adjustable diameter. The possibility of using these quartzes as filtering mass monitoring devices was investigated. As a result a reduced Q-factor compared to untreated quartzes was obtained but the quartzes still can be employed as oscillators. Their moisture sensitivity and temperature coefficients are similar to those of normal quartzes. Their typical mass response is approx. 1 Hz ng E-1 cm E-2. The pores have a funnel shape so that cascading to obtain mass size distributions is difficult. (ITA

Aerosol-Sensor: Echtzeit-Bestimmung von Aerosol-Massengroessenverteilungen mittels filtrierender Quarzoszillatoren Schlussbericht. Abschlussdatum: November 1985

SIGLETIB: D.Dt.F./AC 1000 (23,43) / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekDEGerman