1,294 research outputs found
Fluctuations of an Atomic Ledge Bordering a Crystalline Facet
When a high symmetry facet joins the rounded part of a crystal, the step line
density vanishes as sqrt(r) with r denoting the distance from the facet edge.
This means that the ledge bordering the facet has a lot of space to meander as
caused by thermal activation. We investigate the statistical properties of the
border ledge fluctuations. In the scaling regime they turn out to be
non-Gaussian and related to the edge statistics of GUE multi-matrix models.Comment: Version with major revisions -- RevTeX, 4 pages, 2 figure
Non-universal equilibrium crystal shape results from sticky steps
The anisotropic surface free energy, Andreev surface free energy, and
equilibrium crystal shape (ECS) z=z(x,y) are calculated numerically using a
transfer matrix approach with the density matrix renormalization group (DMRG)
method. The adopted surface model is a restricted solid-on-solid (RSOS) model
with "sticky" steps, i.e., steps with a point-contact type attraction between
them (p-RSOS model). By analyzing the results, we obtain a first-order shape
transition on the ECS profile around the (111) facet; and on the curved surface
near the (001) facet edge, we obtain shape exponents having values different
from those of the universal Gruber-Mullins-Pokrovsky-Talapov (GMPT) class. In
order to elucidate the origin of the non-universal shape exponents, we
calculate the slope dependence of the mean step height of "step droplets"
(bound states of steps) using the Monte Carlo method, where p=(dz/dx,
dz/dy)$, and represents the thermal averag |p| dependence of , we
derive a |p|-expanded expression for the non-universal surface free energy
f_{eff}(p), which contains quadratic terms with respect to |p|. The first-order
shape transition and the non-universal shape exponents obtained by the DMRG
calculations are reproduced thermodynamically from the non-universal surface
free energy f_{eff}(p).Comment: 31 pages, 21 figure
Quality assurance in the HIV/AIDS laboratory network of China
Background In 2009, there were 8273 local screening laboratories, 254 confirmatory laboratories, 35 provincial confirmatory central laboratories and 1 National AIDS Reference Laboratory (NARL) in China. These laboratories were located in Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) facilities, hospitals, blood donation clinics, maternal and child health (MCH) hospitals and border health quarantine health-care facilities
Natural equilibrium states for multimodal maps
This paper is devoted to the study of the thermodynamic formalism for a class
of real multimodal maps. This class contains, but it is larger than,
Collet-Eckmann. For a map in this class, we prove existence and uniqueness of
equilibrium states for the geometric potentials , for the largest
possible interval of parameters . We also study the regularity and convexity
properties of the pressure function, completely characterising the first order
phase transitions. Results concerning the existence of absolutely continuous
invariant measures with respect to the Lebesgue measure are also obtained
Spontaneous preterm labor is associated with an increase in the proinflammatory signal transducer TLR4 receptor on maternal blood monocytes
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Localized inflammation and increased expression of TLR4 receptors within the uterus has been implicated in the pathogenesis of preterm labor. It remains unclear whether intrauterine inflammatory responses activate the maternal peripheral circulatory system. Therefore we determined whether increased TLR4 expression is present in the peripheral maternal white blood cells of women with spontaneous preterm labor.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This is a cross-sectional study of 41 preterm labor cases and 41 non-preterm controls. For each case and control sample, RNA was purified from white blood cells and TLR4 mRNA pool size was evaluated by quantitative PCR. Protein expression levels were determined by flow cytometry. Statistical evaluation using multiple linear regressions was used to determine any significant differences between the cases and controls. The purpose was to determine association prevalence of TLR4 levels and preterm labor.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Adjusted mean TLR4 mRNA levels of 0.788 ± 0.037 (standard error) for preterm labor and 0.348 ± 0.038 for the corresponding pregnant control women were statistically significantly different <it>(P </it>= 0.002). Using the lower 95% confidence interval of the mean expression level in PTL subjects (0.7) as a cutoff value for elevated TLR4 mRNA levels, 25/41 (60.9%) of PTL patients expressed elevated TLR4 mRNA as compared to 0/41 (0%) in control subjects. The TLR4 receptor levels in the granulocyte fraction of white blood cells from preterm labor and pregnant controls were similar. However, TLR4<sup>+</sup>/CD14<sup>+</sup>monocytes were 2.3 times more frequent (70% vs. 30%) and TLR4 also had a 2.6-fold higher density (750 vs. 280 molecules per cell) in preterm labor women compared with pregnant controls. There was no difference in the levels of TLR4 in patients at term.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Patients with preterm labor exhibited elevated levels of CD14<sup>+ </sup>maternal blood monocytes each bearing enhanced expression of TLR4, indicating that the peripheral circulatory system is activated in patients with preterm labor. Elevated leukocyte TLR4 levels may be a useful biomarker associated with preterm labor.</p
The interplay of microscopic and mesoscopic structure in complex networks
Not all nodes in a network are created equal. Differences and similarities
exist at both individual node and group levels. Disentangling single node from
group properties is crucial for network modeling and structural inference.
Based on unbiased generative probabilistic exponential random graph models and
employing distributive message passing techniques, we present an efficient
algorithm that allows one to separate the contributions of individual nodes and
groups of nodes to the network structure. This leads to improved detection
accuracy of latent class structure in real world data sets compared to models
that focus on group structure alone. Furthermore, the inclusion of hitherto
neglected group specific effects in models used to assess the statistical
significance of small subgraph (motif) distributions in networks may be
sufficient to explain most of the observed statistics. We show the predictive
power of such generative models in forecasting putative gene-disease
associations in the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) database. The
approach is suitable for both directed and undirected uni-partite as well as
for bipartite networks
Large deviation principle for Benedicks-Carleson quadratic maps
Since the pioneering works of Jakobson and Benedicks & Carleson and others,
it has been known that a positive measure set of quadratic maps admit invariant
probability measures absolutely continuous with respect to Lebesgue. These
measures allow one to statistically predict the asymptotic fate of Lebesgue
almost every initial condition. Estimating fluctuations of empirical
distributions before they settle to equilibrium requires a fairly good control
over large parts of the phase space. We use the sub-exponential slow recurrence
condition of Benedicks & Carleson to build induced Markov maps of arbitrarily
small scale and associated towers, to which the absolutely continuous measures
can be lifted. These various lifts together enable us to obtain a control of
recurrence that is sufficient to establish a level 2 large deviation principle,
for the absolutely continuous measures. This result encompasses dynamics far
from equilibrium, and thus significantly extends presently known local large
deviations results for quadratic maps.Comment: 23 pages, no figure, former title: Full large deviation principle for
Benedicks-Carleson quadratic map
25th-order high-temperature expansion results for three-dimensional Ising-like systems on the simple cubic lattice
25th-order high-temperature series are computed for a general
nearest-neighbor three-dimensional Ising model with arbitrary potential on the
simple cubic lattice. In particular, we consider three improved potentials
characterized by suppressed leading scaling corrections. Critical exponents are
extracted from high-temperature series specialized to improved potentials,
obtaining , , ,
, , . Moreover, biased
analyses of the 25th-order series of the standard Ising model provide the
estimate for the exponent associated with the leading scaling
corrections. By the same technique, we study the small-magnetization expansion
of the Helmholtz free energy. The results are then applied to the construction
of parametric representations of the critical equation of state, using a
systematic approach based on a global stationarity condition. Accurate
estimates of several universal amplitude ratios are also presented.Comment: 40 pages, 15 figure
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