11,196 research outputs found
Note: Axiomatic Derivation of the Doppler Factor and Related Relativistic Laws
The formula for the relativistic Doppler effect is investigated in the
context of two compelling invariance axioms. The axioms are expressed in terms
of an abstract operation generalizing the relativistic addition of velocities.
We prove the following results. (1) If the standard representation for the
operation is not assumed a priori, then each of the two axioms is consistent
with both the relativistic Doppler effect formula and the Lorentz-Fitzgerald
Contraction. (2) If the standard representation for the operation is assumed,
then the two axioms are equivalent to each other and to the relativistic
Doppler effect formula. Thus, the axioms are inconsistent with the
Lorentz-FitzGerald Contraction in this case. (3) If the Lorentz-FitzGerald
Contraction is assumed, then the two axioms are equivalent to each other and to
a different mathematical representation for the operation which applies in the
case of perpendicular motions. The relativistic Doppler effect is derived up to
one positive exponent parameter (replacing the square root). We prove these
facts under regularity and other reasonable background conditions.Comment: 12 page
Knowledge Spaces and Learning Spaces
How to design automated procedures which (i) accurately assess the knowledge
of a student, and (ii) efficiently provide advices for further study? To
produce well-founded answers, Knowledge Space Theory relies on a combinatorial
viewpoint on the assessment of knowledge, and thus departs from common,
numerical evaluation. Its assessment procedures fundamentally differ from other
current ones (such as those of S.A.T. and A.C.T.). They are adaptative (taking
into account the possible correctness of previous answers from the student) and
they produce an outcome which is far more informative than a crude numerical
mark. This chapter recapitulates the main concepts underlying Knowledge Space
Theory and its special case, Learning Space Theory. We begin by describing the
combinatorial core of the theory, in the form of two basic axioms and the main
ensuing results (most of which we give without proofs). In practical
applications, learning spaces are huge combinatorial structures which may be
difficult to manage. We outline methods providing efficient and comprehensive
summaries of such large structures. We then describe the probabilistic part of
the theory, especially the Markovian type processes which are instrumental in
uncovering the knowledge states of individuals. In the guise of the ALEKS
system, which includes a teaching component, these methods have been used by
millions of students in schools and colleges, and by home schooled students. We
summarize some of the results of these applications
Relation between the weak itinerant magnetism in Ni compounds ( = Y, La) and their stacked crystal structures
The weak itinerant magnetic properties of Ni compounds with =
{Y, La} have been investigated using electronic band structure calculations in
the relation with their polymorphic crystal structures. These compounds
crystallizes in two structures resulting from the stacking of two and three
blocks of [Ni + 2 Ni] units for hexagonal -LaNi
(CeNi type) and rhombohedral -YNi (GdCo type)
respectively. Experimentally, -LaNi is a weak itinerant
antiferromagnet whereas -YNi is a weak itinerant ferromagnet. From
the present first principles calculation within non-spin polarized state, both
compounds present an electronic density of state with a sharp and narrow peak
centered at the Fermi level corresponding to flat bands from -Ni. This
induces a magnetic instability and both compounds are more stable in a
ferromagnetic (FM) order compared to a paramagnetic state (
-35 meV/f.u.). The magnetic moment of each of the five Ni sites varies with
their positions relative to the [Ni] and [Ni] units: they are
minimum in the [Ni] unit and maximum at the interface between two
[Ni] units. For -LaNi, an antiferromagnetic (AFM) structure
has been proposed and found with an energy comparable to that of the FM state.
This AFM structure is described by two FM unit blocks of opposite Ni spin sign
separated by a non-magnetic layer at z = 0 and . The Ni () atoms
belonging to this intermediate layer are located in the [LaNi] unit and
are at a center of symmetry of the hexagonal cell () where the
resultant molecular field is cancelled. Further non-collinear spin calculations
have been performed to determine the Ni moment orientations which are found
preferentially parallel to the axis for both FM and AFM structures.Comment: 19 pages, 7 figures, 2 table
Secretory RING finger proteins function as effectors in a grapevine galling insect.
BackgroundAll eukaryotes share a conserved network of processes regulated by the proteasome and fundamental to growth, development, or perception of the environment, leading to complex but often predictable responses to stress. As a specialized component of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS), the RING finger domain mediates protein-protein interactions and displays considerable versatility in regulating many physiological processes in plants. Many pathogenic organisms co-opt the UPS through RING-type E3 ligases, but little is known about how insects modify these integral networks to generate novel plant phenotypes.ResultsUsing a combination of transcriptome sequencing and genome annotation of a grapevine galling species, Daktulosphaira vitifoliae, we identified 138 putatively secretory protein RING-type (SPRINGs) E3 ligases that showed structure and evolutionary signatures of genes under rapid evolution. Moreover, the majority of the SPRINGs were more expressed in the feeding stage than the non-feeding egg stage, in contrast to the non-secretory RING genes. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that the SPRINGs formed clusters, likely resulting from species-specific gene duplication and conforming to features of arthropod host-manipulating (effector) genes. To test the hypothesis that these SPRINGs evolved to manipulate cellular processes within the plant host, we examined SPRING interactions with grapevine proteins using the yeast two-hybrid assay. An insect SPRING interacted with two plant proteins, a cellulose synthase, CSLD5, and a ribosomal protein, RPS4B suggesting secretion reprograms host immune signaling, cell division, and stress response in favor of the insect. Plant UPS gene expression during gall development linked numerous processes to novel organogenesis.ConclusionsTaken together, D. vitifoliae SPRINGs represent a novel gene expansion that evolved to interact with Vitis hosts. Thus, a pattern is emerging for gall forming insects to manipulate plant development through UPS targeting
Solving stochastic differential equations with Cartan's exterior differential systems
The aim of this work is to use systematically the symmetries of the (one
dimensional) bacward heat equation with potentiel in order to solve certain one
dimensional It\^o's stochastic differential equations. The special form of the
drift (suggested by quantum mechanical considerations) gives, indeed, access to
an algebrico-geometric method due, in essence, to E.Cartan, and called the
Method of Isovectors. A V singular at the origin, as well as a one-factor
affine model relevant to stochastic finance, are considered as illustrations of
the method
Hybridation of Bayesian networks and evolutionary algorithms for multi-objective optimization in an integrated product design and project management context
A better integration of preliminary product design and project management processes at early steps of system design is nowadays a key industrial issue. Therefore, the aim is to make firms evolve from classical sequential approach (first product design the project design and management) to new integrated approaches. In this paper, a model for integrated product/project optimization is first proposed which allows taking into account simultaneously decisions coming from the product and project managers. However, the resulting model has an important underlying complexity, and a multi-objective optimization technique is required to provide managers with appropriate scenarios in a reasonable amount of time. The proposed approach is based on an original evolutionary algorithm called evolutionary algorithm oriented by knowledge (EAOK). This algorithm is based on the interaction between an adapted evolutionary algorithm and a model of knowledge (MoK) used for giving relevant orientations during the search process. The evolutionary operators of the EA are modified in order to take into account these orientations. The MoK is based on the Bayesian Network formalism and is built both from expert knowledge and from individuals generated by the EA. A learning process permits to update probabilities of the BN from a set of selected individuals. At each cycle of the EA, probabilities contained into the MoK are used to give some bias to the new evolutionary operators. This method ensures both a faster and effective optimization, but it also provides the decision maker with a graphic and interactive model of knowledge linked to the studied project. An experimental platform has been developed to experiment the algorithm and a large campaign of tests permits to compare different strategies as well as the benefits of this novel approach in comparison with a classical EA
Short Note on the Unemployment Rate of the ĂąâŹĆFrench overseas regionsĂąâŹ
This article analyzes the hysteresis hypothesis in the unemployment rates of the four ĂąâŹĆFrench overseas regionsù⏠(Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guyana, Reunion) [FORs] over the period 1993-2008. We use standard univariate and panel unit root tests, among them Choi (2006) and Lopez (2009) that account for cross-sectional dependence and have improved performance when the number of countries and the time dimension of the data are limited. Our results cannot reject the null hypothesis of a unit root and so find evidence supporting hysteresis in the unemployment rates for the FORs.Hysteresis, Unemployment, Panel unit root test, cross-section dependence, convergence
Suelos volcanicos endurecidos
This study concerns the indurated horizons of some volcanic ash soils in the Interandine Valley of the Ecuador. These indurated horizons were cropped out by erosion on the piedmont of the sierras, under a subarid to subhumid climate, and then they have been called cangahua. The soils within they are intercalated are composed of several various pyroclastic deposits. The soil profiles show one, two or several indurated horizons. The present observations concern a soil climo-toposequence near Bolivar, viz: downward a soil profile with 2 cangahua horizons; at the midslope a profile with only one horizon of weathered tuff; a little above, another soil with a weakly weathered consolidated ash fall layer; and finally, at the summit on the paramo, an andosol profile with two horizons of weathered tuff; as well as three cangahua samples from other parts of Ecuador, but located downward of the piedmont. The aim of this study is to compare the properties of these various indurated soil materials. We will show hereafter the first data about some chemical, mineralogical and microscopic features of these soils and especially their indurated horizons. We determined the composition in major elements of the fine earth and of the less than 2 um fraction, at first from a "triacid" extract which dissolved mainly the weathering products, and further on the residue of unweathered volcanic glasses and minerals. This later one can give us good information on the parent pyroclastic material, which is varying from an alkaline trachyte to a dacite and a rhyodacite within the same soil profile or from a site to another one. The chemical composition of the weathering product varies according to ther ainfall regime and its progressive increase from down to upward (climotoposequence). The molar silica/alumina ratio of this product is decreasing from the values 5-4 downward, to 3 at mid-slope, and 2-1.5 upward. Indeed the silica content decreases according to the increase in rainfall intensity. This fact is also parallelly enlighthened by the clay mineral composition, made downward of smectites and badly crystallized 2:1 clays, the a mid-slope of 1 nm hallosyte, and upward only of allophane. Downward of the piedmont the outcropping cangahua is made of silica-rich 2:1 clay minerals; it doesn't contain any allophane but often a little of calcite and probably os opal. However, as well as upward as downward, all soils and indurated horizons keep a high amount of almost unweathered volcanic glasses and minerals
A reliable system for the transformation of cantaloupe charentais melon (Cucumis melo L. var. cantalupensis) leading to a majority of diploid regenerants
An efficient system of transformation leading to a majority of transformed diploid plants from
leaf explants of Cucumis melo L. var. Cantalupensis (cv. VĂ©drantais) was developed. Several
regeneration protocols using cotyledon or leaf explants were analysed with particular emphasis on
the regeneration efficiency and the ploidy level of the regenerated melon plants. The use of leaf
explants excised from 10 day-old seedlings, cultured in Murashige and Skoog's medium
supplemented with 1 mM 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 1 mM 6-(g,g-dimethylallylamino)-purine
(2iP), resulted in a high regeneration frequency (73%). In these conditions, more than 84% of the
regenerated plants were found to be diploid. Addition of an Agrobacterium-mediated transformation
step did not significantly change the percentage (81.8%) of diploid plants regenerated. This
protocol was successfully used to produce diploid transgenic melon plants expressing the antisense
ACC oxidase gene, encoding ACC oxidase which catalyses the last step of ethylene biosynthesis.
Ethylene production and ACC oxidase activity of the leaf explants from transgenic plants was
reduced by more than 80% as compared to the control untransformed tissues. This transformation/
regeneration method could be routinely used for the introduction of other genes of interest in melon
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