1,735 research outputs found
Optimal Tableaux Method for Constructive Satisfiability Testing and Model Synthesis in the Alternating-time Temporal Logic ATL+
We develop a sound, complete and practically implementable tableaux-based
decision method for constructive satisfiability testing and model synthesis in
the fragment ATL+ of the full Alternating time temporal logic ATL*. The method
extends in an essential way a previously developed tableaux-based decision
method for ATL and works in 2EXPTIME, which is the optimal worst case
complexity of the satisfiability problem for ATL+ . We also discuss how
suitable parametrizations and syntactic restrictions on the class of input ATL+
formulae can reduce the complexity of the satisfiability problem.Comment: 45 page
Frontotemporal Dementia Caused by CHMP2B Mutations
CHMP2B mutations are a rare cause of autosomal dominant frontotemporal dementia (FTD). The best studied example is frontotemporal dementia linked to chromosome 3 (FTD-3) which occurs in a large Danish family, with a further CHMP2B mutation identified in an unrelated Belgian familial FTD patient. These mutations lead to C-terminal truncations of the CHMP2B protein and we will review recent advances in our understanding of the molecular effects of these mutant truncated proteins on vesicular fusion events within the endosome-lysosome and autophagy degradation pathways. We will also review the clinical features of FTD caused by CHMP2B truncation mutations as well as new brain imaging and neuropathological findings. Finally, we collate the current data on CHMP2B missense mutations, which have been reported in FTD and motor neuron disease
Masses of Nearby Supermassive Black Holes with Very-Long Baseline Interferometry
Dynamical mass measurements to date have allowed determinations of the mass M
and the distance D of a number of nearby supermassive black holes. In the case
of Sgr A*, these measurements are limited by a strong correlation between the
mass and distance scaling roughly as M ~ D^2. Future very-long baseline
interferometric (VLBI) observations will image a bright and narrow ring
surrounding the shadow of a supermassive black hole, if its accretion flow is
optically thin. In this paper, we explore the prospects of reducing the
correlation between mass and distance with the combination of dynamical
measurements and VLBI imaging of the ring of Sgr A*. We estimate the signal to
noise ratio of near-future VLBI arrays that consist of five to six stations,
and we simulate measurements of the mass and distance of Sgr A* using the
expected size of the ring image and existing stellar ephemerides. We
demonstrate that, in this best-case scenario, VLBI observations at 1 mm can
improve the error on the mass by a factor of about two compared to the results
from the monitoring of stellar orbits alone. We identify the additional sources
of uncertainty that such imaging observations have to take into account. In
addition, we calculate the angular diameters of the bright rings of other
nearby supermassive black holes and identify the optimal targets besides Sgr A*
that could be imaged by a ground-based VLBI array or future space-VLBI missions
allowing for refined mass measurements.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables, refereed version, accepted for
publication in Ap
Non-Linear Effects in Non-Kerr spacetimes
There is a chance that the spacetime around massive compact objects which are
expected to be black holes is not described by the Kerr metric, but by a metric
which can be considered as a perturbation of the Kerr metric. These non-Kerr
spacetimes are also known as bumpy black hole spacetimes. We expect that, if
some kind of a bumpy black hole exists, the spacetime around it should possess
some features which will make the divergence from a Kerr spacetime detectable.
One of the differences is that these non-Kerr spacetimes do not posses all the
symmetries needed to make them integrable. We discuss how we can take advantage
of this fact by examining EMRIs into the Manko-Novikov spacetime.Comment: 8 pages, 3 Figures; to appear in the proceedings of the conference
"Relativity and Gravitation: 100 Years after Einstein in Prague" (2012
Dispersion enhancement and damping by buoyancy driven flows in 2D networks of capillaries
The influence of a small relative density difference on the displacement of
two miscible liquids is studied experimentally in transparent 2D networks of
micro channels. Both stable displacements in which the denser fluid enters at
the bottom of the cell and displaces the lighter one and unstable displacements
in which the lighter fluid is injected at the bottom and displaces the denser
one are realized. Except at the lowest mean flow velocity U, the average
of the relative concentration satisfies a convection-dispersion
equation. The dispersion coefficient is studied as function of the relative
magnitude of fluid velocity and of the velocity of buoyancy driven fluid
motion. A model is suggested and its applicability to previous results obtained
in 3D media is discussed
Effect of reduced dietary protein on productivity and plasma, urine, and milk metabolites in organic sows during winter conditions
Oversupply of protein is a challenge in organic sow production. Currently, organic sow feed is composed in accordance with feeding standards of conventional sows, which do not take the higher daily feed allowance and nutritional contribution from roughage into consideration. The objective of the current study was to investigate the effect of reduced dietary protein in gestational compound feed for organic outdoor sows during winter conditions, using metabolites in plasma, urine, and milk as indicators of sows’ metabolic status.
In total, 20 sows (Topigs Norsvin; TN70) were included in the experiment, lasting from d30 of gestation until weaning at d49 of lactation under outdoor conditions during winter. During gestation, sows were fed one of two isoenergetic diets containing 88 g SID CP pr. kg DM (Control) and 72 g SID CP pr. kg DM (Low protein), corrresponding to 16% and 31% below the current recommendation for indoor sows. In lactation, all sows were fed a standard diet containing 125 g SID CP pr. kg DM.
Sow performance traits were not affected by dietary protein level during gestation. An interaction indicated that sows fed the control diet had 23% and 11% higher urinary urea concentrations at d60 and d100 of gestation, respectively, compared with the low protein diet. During lactation, the milk yield of sows fed low protein in gestation increased more than that of control sows (P < 0.05). Concurrently, the litter gain of the low protein sows was improved, and their litters were heavier at d49 compared to control sows (276 kg vs. 238 kg; P < 0.001).
In conclusion, organic outdoor sows benefitted from reduced dietary protein during gestation in winter conditions, as indicated by urinary urea concentration, milk yield, and litter gain
Measurement of the absolute spectral responsivity in the mid-infrared based on the cryogenic electrical substitution radiometer and an optimized thermopile detector
The Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) expanded its capabilities of
the absolute measurement of radiant power to the spectral range of the
mid-infrared (MIR) by implementing additional MIR laser radiation sources at
one of the PTB's cryogenic electrical substitution radiometer facilities.
This extension enables absolute calibrations of the spectral responsivity of
detectors in the MIR traceable to the International System of Units (SI).
The thermopile detector TS-76 was characterized and calibrated in view of its
spectral responsivity s(λ) in the wavelength range between 1.5 and
10.6 µm at the expanded cryogenic electrical substitution
radiometer facility. The relative standard measurement uncertainty was
significantly reduced to 1.4 % by developing an optimized and thermally
stabilized detector housing
design. The TS-76 was established as a mid-infrared transfer detector for the
SI traceable measurement of radiant power and the dissemination of the
spectral responsivity s(λ) in the MIR.</p
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