29,014 research outputs found
Quantum Energies of Interfaces
We present a method for computing the one-loop, renormalized quantum energies
of symmetrical interfaces of arbitrary dimension and codimension using
elementary scattering data. Internal consistency requires finite-energy sum
rules relating phase shifts to bound state energies.Comment: 8 pages, 1 figure, minor changes, Phys. Rev. Lett., in prin
Reduced model for female endocrine dynamics: Validation and functional variations
A normally functioning menstrual cycle requires significant crosstalk between
hormones originating in ovarian and brain tissues. Reproductive hormone
dysregulation may cause abnormal function and sometimes infertility. The
inherent complexity in this endocrine system is a challenge to identifying
mechanisms of cycle disruption, particularly given the large number of unknown
parameters in existing mathematical models. We develop a new endocrine model to
limit model complexity and use simulated distributions of unknown parameters
for model analysis. By employing a comprehensive model evaluation, we identify
a collection of mechanisms that differentiate normal and abnormal phenotypes.
We also discover an intermediate phenotype--displaying relatively normal
hormone levels and cycle dynamics--that is grouped statistically with the
irregular phenotype. Results provide insight into how clinical symptoms
associated with ovulatory disruption may not be detected through hormone
measurements alone
Inertial Range Scaling, Karman-Howarth Theorem and Intermittency for Forced and Decaying Lagrangian Averaged MHD in 2D
We present an extension of the Karman-Howarth theorem to the Lagrangian
averaged magnetohydrodynamic (LAMHD-alpha) equations. The scaling laws
resulting as a corollary of this theorem are studied in numerical simulations,
as well as the scaling of the longitudinal structure function exponents
indicative of intermittency. Numerical simulations for a magnetic Prandtl
number equal to unity are presented both for freely decaying and for forced two
dimensional MHD turbulence, solving directly the MHD equations, and employing
the LAMHD-alpha equations at 1/2 and 1/4 resolution. Linear scaling of the
third-order structure function with length is observed. The LAMHD-alpha
equations also capture the anomalous scaling of the longitudinal structure
function exponents up to order 8.Comment: 34 pages, 7 figures author institution addresses added magnetic
Prandtl number stated clearl
Kinetics of the neutralizing antibody response to respiratory syncytial virus infections in a birth cohort
The kinetics of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) neutralizing antibodies following birth, primary and secondary infections are poorly defined. The aims of the study were to measure and compare neutralizing antibody responses at different time points in a birth cohort followed-up over three RSV epidemics. Rural Kenyan children, recruited at birth between 2002 and 2003, were monitored for RSV infection over three epidemic seasons. Cord and 3-monthly sera, and acute and convalescent sera following RSV infection, were assayed in 28 children by plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT). Relative to the neutralizing antibody titers of pre-exposure control sera (1.8 log10 PRNT), antibody titers following primary infection were (i) no different in sera collected between 0 and 0.4 months post-infection (1.9 log10 PRNT, P = 0.146), (ii) higher in sera collected between 0.5 and 0.9 (2.8 log10 PRNT, P < 0.0001), 1.0–1.9 (2.5 log10 PRNT, P < 0.0001), and 2.0–2.9 (2.3 log10 PRNT, P < 0.001) months post-infection, and (iii) no different in sera collected at between 3.0 and 3.9 months post-infection (2.0 log10 PRNT, P = 0.052). The early serum neutralizing response to secondary infection (3.02 log10 PRNT) was significantly greater than the early primary response (1.9 log10 PRNT, P < 0.0001). Variation in population-level virus transmission corresponded with changes in the mean cohort-level neutralizing titers. It is concluded that following primary RSV infection the neutralizing antibody response declines to pre-infection levels rapidly (∼3 months) which may facilitate repeat infection. The kinetics of the aggregate levels of acquired antibody reflect seasonal RSV occurrence, age, and infection history
Coarse-grained simulations of flow-induced nucleation in semi-crystalline polymers
We perform kinetic Monte Carlo simulations of flow-induced nucleation in
polymer melts with an algorithm that is tractable even at low undercooling. The
configuration of the non-crystallized chains under flow is computed with a
recent non-linear tube model. Our simulations predict both enhanced nucleation
and the growth of shish-like elongated nuclei for sufficiently fast flows. The
simulations predict several experimental phenomena and theoretically justify a
previously empirical result for the flow-enhanced nucleation rate. The
simulations are highly pertinent to both the fundamental understanding and
process modeling of flow-induced crystallization in polymer melts.Comment: 17 pages, 6 eps figure
Highly turbulent solutions of LANS-alpha and their LES potential
We compute solutions of the Lagrangian-Averaged Navier-Stokes alpha-model
(LANS) for significantly higher Reynolds numbers (up to Re 8300) than have
previously been accomplished. This allows sufficient separation of scales to
observe a Navier-Stokes (NS) inertial range followed by a 2nd LANS inertial
range. The analysis of the third-order structure function scaling supports the
predicted l^3 scaling; it corresponds to a k^(-1) scaling of the energy
spectrum. The energy spectrum itself shows a different scaling which goes as
k^1. This latter spectrum is consistent with the absence of stretching in the
sub-filter scales due to the Taylor frozen-in hypothesis employed as a closure
in the derivation of LANS. These two scalings are conjectured to coexist in
different spatial portions of the flow. The l^3 (E(k) k^(-1)) scaling is
subdominant to k^1 in the energy spectrum, but the l^3 scaling is responsible
for the direct energy cascade, as no cascade can result from motions with no
internal degrees of freedom. We verify the prediction for the size of the LANS
attractor resulting from this scaling. From this, we give a methodology either
for arriving at grid-independent solutions for LANS, or for obtaining a
formulation of a LES optimal in the context of the alpha models. The fully
converged grid-independent LANS may not be the best approximation to a direct
numerical simulation of the NS equations since the minimum error is a balance
between truncation errors and the approximation error due to using LANS instead
of the primitive equations. Furthermore, the small-scale behavior of LANS
contributes to a reduction of flux at constant energy, leading to a shallower
energy spectrum for large alpha. These small-scale features, do not preclude
LANS to reproduce correctly the intermittency properties of high Re flow.Comment: 37 pages, 17 figure
Noise-Activated Escape from a Sloshing Potential Well
We treat the noise-activated escape from a one-dimensional potential well of
an overdamped particle, to which a periodic force of fixed frequency is
applied. We determine the boundary layer behavior, and the physically relevant
length scales, near the oscillating well top. We show how stochastic behavior
near the well top generalizes the behavior first determined by Kramers, in the
case without forcing. Both the case when the forcing dies away in the weak
noise limit, and the case when it does not, are examined. We also discuss the
relevance of various scaling regimes to recent optical trap experiments.Comment: 9 pages, no figures, REVTeX, expanded versio
Wilson loops from supergravity and string theory
We present a theorem that determines the value of the Wilson loop associated
with a Nambu-Goto action which generalizes the action of the
model. In particular we derive sufficient conditions for confining behavior. We
then apply this theorem to various string models. We go beyond the classical
string picture by incorporating quadratic quantum fluctuations. We show that
the bosonic determinant of branes with 16 supersymmetries yields a
Luscher term.
We confirm that the free energy associated with a BPS configuration of a
single quark is free from divergences. We show that unlike for a string in flat
space time in the case of the fermionic determinant does not
cancel the bosonic one. For a setup that corresponds to a confining gauge
theory the correction to the potential is attractive. We determine the form of
the Wilson loop for actions that include non trivial field. The
issue of an exact determination of the value of the stringy Wilson loop is
discussed. Talk presented in string 99 Potsdam.Comment: 12 pages Late
Generation of directional, coherent matter beams through dynamical instabilities in Bose-Einstein condensates
We present a theoretical analysis of a coupled, two-state Bose-Einstein
condensate with non-equal scattering lengths, and show that dynamical
instabilities can be excited. We demonstrate that these instabilities are
exponentially amplified resulting in highly-directional,
oppositely-propagating, coherent matter beams at specific momenta. To
accomplish this we prove that the mean field of our system is periodic, and
extend the standard Bogoliubov approach to consider a time-dependent, but
cyclic, background. This allows us to use Floquet's theorem to gain analytic
insight into such systems, rather than employing the usual Bogoliubov-de Gennes
approach, which is usually limited to numerical solutions. We apply our theory
to the metastable Helium atom laser experiment of Dall et al. [Phys. Rev. A 79,
011601(R) (2009)] and show it explains the anomalous beam profiles they
observed. Finally we demonstrate the paired particle beams will be
EPR-entangled on formation.Comment: Corrected reference
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