8,002 research outputs found
Baby-Step Giant-Step Algorithms for the Symmetric Group
We study discrete logarithms in the setting of group actions. Suppose that
is a group that acts on a set . When , a solution
to can be thought of as a kind of logarithm. In this paper, we study
the case where , and develop analogs to the Shanks baby-step /
giant-step procedure for ordinary discrete logarithms. Specifically, we compute
two sets such that every permutation of can be
written as a product of elements and . Our
deterministic procedure is optimal up to constant factors, in the sense that
and can be computed in optimal asymptotic complexity, and and
are a small constant from in size. We also analyze randomized
"collision" algorithms for the same problem
Technology education challenges and solutions in Latin America
The world has become dependent on information, technology, and telecommunications, better known as Information Technology and Telecommunications (IT&T), a term that encompasses the fields of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Computer Science. Increasingly, IT&T is an effective indicator of the difference between developed and developing nations. The competitiveness of a nation is directly related to its incorporation of IT&T which requires a substantial restructuring of the forms and procedures in attempting to generate a base for development of science and technology. To achieve this, it is important to revise the education of human technical and scientific resources. This paper summarizes the experience of the Ibero-American Science and Technology Education (ISTEC) consortium in IT education in Latin America
Recent Decisions
Comments on recent decisions by James E. Murray, Edmund L. White, Peter H. Lousberg, Wilbur L. Pollard, John L. Rosshirt, and Patrick J. Foley
Polymer nanoparticle identification and concentration measurement using fiber-enhanced raman spectroscopy
We present a measurement technique for chemical identification and concentration measurement of polymer nanoparticles in aqueous solution, which is achieved using Raman spectroscopy. This work delivers an improvement in measurement sensitivity of 40 times over conventional Raman measurements in cuvettes by loading polymer nanoparticles into the hollow core of a microstructured optical fiber. We apply this "fiber-enhanced" system to measure the concentration of two separate samples of polystyrene particles (diameters of 60 nm and 120 nm respectively) with concentrations in the range from 0.07 to 0.5 mg/mL. The nanoliter volume formed by the fiber presents unique experimental conditions where nanoparticles are confined within the fiber core and prevented from diffusing outside the incident electromagnetic field, thereby enhancing their interaction. Our results suggest an upper limit on the size of particle that can be measured using the hollow-core photonic crystal fiber, as the increasing angular distribution of scattered light with particle size exceeds the acceptance angle of the liquid-filled fiber. We investigate parameters such as the fiber filling rate and optical properties of the filled fiber, with the aim to deliver repeatable and quantifiable measurements. This study thereby aids the on-going process to create compact systems that can be integrated into nanoparticle production settings for in-line measurements
Matrix-free calcium in isolated chromaffin vesicles
Isolated secretory vesicles from bovine adrenal medulla contain 80 nmol of Ca2+ and 25 nmol
of Mg2+ per milligram of protein. As determined with a Ca2+-selective electrode, a further accumulation
of about 160 nmol of Ca2+/mg of protein can be attained upon addition of the Ca2+ ionophore A23187.
During this process protons are released from the vesicles, in exchange for Ca2+ ions, as indicated by the
decrease of the pH in the incubation medium or the release of 9-aminoacridine previously taken up by the
vesicles. Intravesicular Mg2+ is not released from the vesicles by A23 187, as determined by atomic emission
spectroscopy. In the presence of N H Q , which causes the collapse of the secretory vesicle transmembrane
proton gradient (ApH), Ca2+ uptake decreases. Under these conditions A23 187-mediated influx of Ca2+
and efflux of H+ cease at Ca2+ concentrations of about 4 pM. Below this concentration Ca2+ is even released
from the vesicles. At the Ca2+ concentration at which no net flux of ions occurs the intravesicular matrix
free Ca2+ equals the extravesicular free Ca2+. In the absence of NH4C1 we determined an intravesicular
pH of 6.2. Under these conditions the Ca2+ influx ceases around 0.15 pM. From this value and the known
pH across the vesicular membrane an intravesicular matrix free Ca2+ concentration of about 24 pM was
calculated. This is within the same order of magnitude as the concentration of free Ca2+ in the vesicles
determined in the presence of NH4C1. Calculation of the total Ca2+ present in the secretory vesicles gives
an apparent intravesicular Ca2+ concentration of 40 mM, which is a factor of lo4 higher than the free
intravesicular concentration of Ca2+. It can be concluded, therefore, that the concentration gradient of free
Ca2+ across the secretory vesicle membrane in the intact chromaffin cells is probably small, which implies
that less energy is required to accumulate and maintain Ca2+ within the vesicles than was previously
anticipated
Strong dust processing in circumstellar discs around 6 RV Tauri stars. Are dusty RV Tauri stars all binaries?
We present extended Spectral Energy Distributions (SEDs) of seven classical
RV Tauri stars, using newly obtained submillimetre continuum measurements and
Geneva optical photometry supplemented with literature data. The broad-band
SEDs show a large IR excess with a black-body slope at long wavelengths in six
of the seven stars, R Sct being the noticeable exception. This long wavelength
slope is best explained assuming the presence of a dust component of large
grains in the circumstellar material. We show that the most likely distribution
of the circumstellar dust around the six systems is that the dust resides in a
disc. Moreover, very small outflow velocities are needed to explain the
presence of dust near the sublimation temperature and we speculate that the
discs are Keplerian. The structure and evolution of these compact discs are as
yet not understood but a likely prerequisite for their formation is that the
dusty RV Tauri stars are binaries.Comment: 10 pages, will be published in A&
Spectroscopic Survey of {\gamma} Doradus Stars I. Comprehensive atmospheric parameters and abundance analysis of {\gamma} Doradus stars
We present a spectroscopic survey of known and candidate \,Doradus
stars. The high-resolution, high signal-to-noise spectra of 52 objects were
collected by five different spectrographs. The spectral classification,
atmospheric parameters (\teff, , ), and chemical
composition of the stars were derived. The stellar spectral and luminosity
classes were found between G0-A7 and IV-V, respectively. The initial values for
\teff\ and \logg\ were determined from the photometric indices and spectral
energy distribution. Those parameters were improved by the analysis of hydrogen
lines. The final values of \teff, \logg\ and were derived from the iron
lines analysis. The \teff\ values were found between 6000\,K and 7900\,K, while
\logg\,values range from 3.8 to 4.5\,dex. Chemical abundances and
values were derived by the spectrum synthesis method. The values were
found between 5 and 240\,km\,s. The chemical abundance pattern of
\,Doradus stars were compared with the pattern of non-pulsating stars.
It turned out that there is no significant difference in abundance patterns
between these two groups. Additionally, the relations between the atmospheric
parameters and the pulsation quantities were checked. A strong correlation
between the and the pulsation periods of \,Doradus variables
was obtained. The accurate positions of the analysed stars in the H-R diagram
have been shown. Most of our objects are located inside or close to the blue
edge of the theoretical instability strip of \,Doradus.Comment: 18 pages, 13 figure
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