35,419 research outputs found
Bar pattern speed evolution over the last 7 Gyr
The tumbling pattern of a bar is the main parameter characterising its
dynamics. From numerical simulations, its evolution since bar formation is
tightly linked to the dark halo in which the bar is formed through dynamical
friction and angular momentum exchange. Observational measurements of the bar
pattern speed with redshift can restrict models of galaxy formation and bar
evolution. We aim to determine, for the first time, the bar pattern speed
evolution with redshift based on morphological measurements. We have selected a
sample of 44 low inclination ringed galaxies from the SDSS and COSMOS surveys
covering the redshift range 0 <z< 0.8 to investigate the evolution of the bar
pattern speed. We have derived morphological ratios between the deprojected
outer ring radius (R_{ring}) and the bar size (R_{bar}). This quantity is
related to the parameter {\cal R}=R_{CR}/R_{bar} used for classifiying bars in
slow and fast rotators, and allow us to investigate possible differences with
redshift. We obtain a similar distribution of at all redshifts. We do not
find any systematic effect that could be forcing this result. The results
obtained here are compatible with both, the bulk of the bar population (~70%)
being fast-rotators and no evolution of the pattern speed with redshift. We
argue that if bars are long-lasting structures, the results presented here
imply that there has not been a substantial angular momentum exchange between
the bar and halo, as predicted by numerical simulations. In consequence, this
might imply that the discs of these high surface-brightness galaxies are
maximal.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&
Ultrasonic cavity solitons
We report on a new type of localized structure, an ultrasonic cavity soliton,
supported by large aspect-ratio acoustic resonators containing viscous media.
The spatio-temporal dynamics of this system is analyzed on the basis of a
generalized Swift-Hohenberg equation, derived from the microscopic equations
under conditions close to nascent bistability. These states of the acoustic and
thermal fields are robust structures, existing whenever a spatially uniform
solution and a periodic pattern coexist. An analytical solution for the
ultrasonic cavity soliton is also presented
Evaluation of the cutaneous microbiome in psoriasis
Psoriasis, a highly prevalent disease of humans of unknown cause, is a chronic inflammatory disorder primarily involving skin, with distinctive clinical characteristics. With the newly developed tools that facilitate microbiome research, it now is possible to assess whether the cutaneous microbiome plays a role in the pathogenesis of this disorder. Preliminary data from our studies suggest that the cutaneous microbiome in psoriasis is complex and possibly different from normal. To deal with this complexity, we propose to examine the cutaneous microbiome in relation to psoriasis with explorations at several taxonomic and informatic levels. Our overall objective is to examine how changes in the normal cutaneous microbiome contributes to the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Since causality is complex and often difficult to prove, our overall hypothesis is that there are alterations in the cutaneous microbiome in areas of skin affected by psoriasis in comparison with the range observed in clinically unaffected areas, or in healthy persons. We also hypothesize that the characteristics of the microbiome may affect clinical responses to the immunomodulatory agents used to treat psoriasis. An alternative hypothesis is that effective treatment of psoriasis with systemic immunomodulatory agents will not substantially affect the disordered microbial ecosystem. Such observations would provide evidence for the roles of the microbiota in this disorder. Since an important consideration in microbiome research is the optimal level (e.g. phylum, genus, species, strain, gene) at which to examine a scientific question, and we are not yet certain what are the optimal levels for psoriasis, this also will be examined. Our studies of psoriasis should allow development of both approaches and tools that will have general utility for microbiome research. To test our hypothesis, we propose the following specific aims: 1. To understand the cutaneous microbiome species composition overlaying psoriatic lesions; 2. To investigate differences in metagenome content for psoriatic lesions compared to normal skin; 3. To identify differences in the transcriptional profiles of the microbiome and the host between normal skin and psoriatic lesions using high-throughput sequencing; and 4. To estimate the effects of systemic immunomodulatory therapy for psoriasis on microbiome composition. In total, these studies should help us understand the role of the microbiome in psoriasis pathogenesis
Matrix Product Density Operators: Renormalization Fixed Points and Boundary Theories
We consider the tensors generating matrix product states and density
operators in a spin chain. For pure states, we revise the renormalization
procedure introduced by F. Verstraete et al. in 2005 and characterize the
tensors corresponding to the fixed points. We relate them to the states
possessing zero correlation length, saturation of the area law, as well as to
those which generate ground states of local and commuting Hamiltonians. For
mixed states, we introduce the concept of renormalization fixed points and
characterize the corresponding tensors. We also relate them to concepts like
finite correlation length, saturation of the area law, as well as to those
which generate Gibbs states of local and commuting Hamiltonians. One of the
main result of this work is that the resulting fixed points can be associated
to the boundary theories of two-dimensional topological states, through the
bulk-boundary correspondence introduced by Cirac et al. in 2011.Comment: 63 pages, Annals of Physics (2016). Accepted versio
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