12,699 research outputs found
On Hasse--Schmidt derivations: the action of substitution maps
We study the action of substitution maps between power series rings as an
additional algebraic structure on the groups of Hasse--Schmidt derivations.
This structure appears as a counterpart of the module structure on classical
derivations.Comment: 42 pages; Dedicated to Antonio Campillo on the occasion of his 65th
birthday; minor corrections; final versio
Glass Polymorphism in TIP4P/2005 Water: A Description Based on the Potential Energy Landscape Formalism
The potential energy landscape (PEL) formalism is a statistical mechanical
approach to describe supercooled liquids and glasses. Here we use the PEL
formalism to study the pressure-induced transformations between low-density
amorphous ice (LDA) and high-density amorphous ice (HDA) using computer
simulations of the TIP4P/2005 molecular model of water. We find that the
properties of the PEL sampled by the system during the LDA-HDA transformation
exhibit anomalous behavior. In particular, at conditions where the change in
density during the LDA-HDA transformation is approximately discontinuous,
reminiscent of a first-order phase transition, we find that (i) the inherent
structure (IS) energy, , is a concave function of the volume,
and (ii) the IS pressure, , exhibits a van der Waals-like loop.
In addition, the curvature of the PEL at the IS is anomalous, a non-monotonic
function of . In agreement with previous studies, our work suggests that
conditions (i) and (ii) are necessary (but not sufficient) signatures of the
PEL for the LDA-HDA transformation to be reminiscent of a first-order phase
transition. We also find that one can identify two different regions of the
PEL, one associated to LDA and another to HDA. Our computer simulations are
performed using a wide range of compression/decompression and cooling rates. In
particular, our slowest cooling rate (0.01 K/ns) is within the experimental
rates employed in hyperquenching experiments to produce LDA. Interestingly, the
LDA-HDA transformation pressure that we obtain at K and at different
rates extrapolates remarkably well to the corresponding experimental pressure.Comment: Manuscript and Supplementary Materia
The potential therapeutic effects of creatine supplementation on body composition and muscle function in cancer
Low muscle mass in individuals with cancer has a profound impact on quality of life and independence and is associated with greater treatment toxicity and poorer prognosis. Exercise interventions are regularly being investigated as a means to ameliorate treatment-related adverse effects, and nutritional/supplementation strategies to augment adaptations to exercise are highly valuable. Creatine (Cr) is a naturally-occurring substance in the human body that plays a critical role in energy provision during muscle contraction. Given the beneficial effects of Cr supplementation on lean body mass, strength, and physical function in a variety of clinical populations, there is therapeutic potential in individuals with cancer at heightened risk for muscle loss. Here, we provide an overview of Cr physiology, summarize the evidence on the use of Cr supplementation in various aging/clinical populations, explore mechanisms of action, and provide perspectives on the potential therapeutic role of Cr in the exercise oncology setting
Potential Energy Landscape of the Apparent First-Order Phase Transition between Low-Density and High-Density Amorphous Ice
The potential energy landscape (PEL) formalism is a valuable approach within
statistical mechanics for describing supercooled liquids and glasses. Here we
use the PEL formalism and computer simulations to study the pressure-induced
transformations between low-density amorphous ice (LDA) and high-density
amorphous ice (HDA) at different temperatures. We employ the ST2 water model
for which the LDA-HDA transformations are remarkably sharp, similar to what is
observed in experiments, and reminiscent of a first-order phase transition. Our
results are consistent with the view that LDA and HDA configurations are
associated with two distinct regions (megabasins) of the PEL that are separated
by a potential energy barrier. At higher temperature, we find that low-density
liquid (LDL) configurations are located in the same megabasin as LDA, and that
high-density liquid (HDL) configurations are located in the same megabasin as
HDA. We show that the pressure-induced LDL-HDL and LDA-HDA transformations
occur along paths that interconnect these two megabasins, but that the path
followed by the liquid is different than the path followed by the amorphous
solid. At higher pressure, we also study the liquid-to-ice-VII first-order
phase transition, and find that the behavior of the PEL properties across this
transition are qualitatively similar to the changes found during the LDA-HDA
transformation. This similarity supports the interpretation that the LDA-HDA
transformation is a first-order-like phase transition between
out-of-equilibrium states.Comment: 29 pages, 8 figure
X-rays from HH210 in the Orion nebula
We report the detection during the Chandra Orion Ultradeep Project (COUP) of
two soft, constant, and faint X-ray sources associated with the Herbig-Haro
object HH210. HH210 is located at the tip of the NNE finger of the emission
line system bursting out of the BN-KL complex, northwest of the Trapezium
cluster in the OMC-1 molecular cloud. Using a recent Halpha image obtained with
the ACS imager on board HST, and taking into account the known proper motions
of HH210 emission knots, we show that the position of the brightest X-ray
source, COUP703, coincides with the emission knot 154-040a of HH210, which is
the emission knot of HH210 having the highest tangential velocity (425 km/s).
The second X-ray source, COUP704, is located on the complicated emission tail
of HH210 close to an emission line filament and has no obvious optical/infrared
counterpart. Spectral fitting indicates for both sources a plasma temperature
of ~0.8 MK and absorption-corrected X-ray luminosities of about 1E30 erg/s
(0.5-2.0 keV). These X-ray sources are well explained by a model invoking a
fast-moving, radiative bow shock in a neutral medium with a density of ~12000
cm^{-3}. The X-ray detection of COUP704 therefore reveals, in the complicated
HH210 region, an energetic shock not yet identified at other wavelengths.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures; accepted for publication in A&A Letter
Quantum Key Distribution using Multilevel Encoding: Security Analysis
We present security proofs for a protocol for Quantum Key Distribution (QKD)
based on encoding in finite high-dimensional Hilbert spaces. This protocol is
an extension of Bennett's and Brassard's basic protocol from two bases, two
state encoding to a multi bases, multi state encoding. We analyze the mutual
information between the legitimate parties and the eavesdropper, and the error
rate, as function of the dimension of the Hilbert space, while considering
optimal incoherent and coherent eavesdropping attacks. We obtain the upper
limit for the legitimate party error rate to ensure unconditional security when
the eavesdropper uses incoherent and coherent eavesdropping strategies. We have
also consider realistic noise caused by detector's noise.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures, REVTe
The S shape of a granular pile in a rotating drum
The shape of a granular pile in a rotating drum is investigated. Using
Discrete Elements Method (DEM) simulations we show that the "S shape" obtained
for high rotation speed can be accounted for by the friction on the end plates.
A theoretical model which accounts for the effect of the end plates is
presented and the equation of the shape of the free surface is derived. The
model reveals a dimensionless number which quantifies the influence of the end
plates on the shape of the pile. Finally, the scaling laws of the system are
discussed and numerical results support our conclusions
Diffusion of a granular pulse in a rotating drum
The diffusion of a pulse of small grains in an horizontal rotating drum is
studied through discrete elements methods simulations. We present a theoretical
analysis of the diffusion process in a one-dimensional confined space in order
to elucidate the effect of the confining end-plate of the drum. We then show
that the diffusion is neither subdiffusive nor superdiffusive but normal. This
is demonstrated by rescaling the concentration profiles obtained at various
stages and by studying the time evolution of the mean squared deviation.
Finally we study the self-diffusion of both large and small grains and we show
that it is normal and that the diffusion coefficient is independent of the
grain size
Graphene-coated holey metal films: tunable molecular sensing by surface plasmon resonance
We report on the enhancement of surface plasmon resonances in a holey
bidimensional grating of subwavelength size, drilled in a gold thin film coated
by a graphene sheet. The enhancement originates from the coupling between
charge carriers in graphene and gold surface plasmons. The main plasmon
resonance peak is located around 1.5 microns. A lower constraint on the
gold-induced doping concentration of graphene is specified and the interest of
this architecture for molecular sensing is also highlighted.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, Final version. Published in Applied Physics
Letter
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