11,216 research outputs found
Wormholes in the accelerating universe
We discuss different arguments that have been raised against the viability of
the big trip process, reaching the conclusions that this process can actually
occur by accretion of phantom energy onto the wormholes and that it is stable
and might occur in the global context of a multiverse model. We finally argue
that the big trip does not contradict any holographic bounds on entropy and
information.Comment: 2 pages, LaTex, to appear in the Proceedings of the 11th Marcel
Grossmann Conference, 200
Numerical Simulation of III-V Solar Cells Using D-AMPS
Numerical simulation of devices plays a crucial role in their design, performance prediction, and comprehension of the fundamental phenomena ruling their operation. Here, we present results obtained using the code D-AMPS-1D, that was conveniently modified to consider the particularities of III-V solar cell devices. This work, that is a continuation of a previous paper regarding solar cells for space applications, is focused on solar cells structures than find application for terrestrial use under concentrated solar illumination. The devices were fabricated at the Solar Energy Institute of the Technical University of Madrid (UPM). The first simulations results on InGaP cells are presented. The influence of band offsets and band bending at the window-emitter interface on the quantum efficiency was studied. A remarkable match of the experimental quantum efficiency was obtained. Finally, numerical simulation of single junction n-p InGaP-Ge solar cells was performed
Worse than a big rip?
We show that a generalised phantom Chaplygin gas can present a future
singularity in a finite future cosmic time. Unlike the big rip singularity,
this singularity happens for a finite scale factor, but like the big rip
singularity, it would also take place at a finite future cosmic time. In
addition, we define a dual of the generalised phantom Chaplygin gas which
satisfies the null energy condition. Then, in a Randall-Sundrum 1 brane-world
scenario, we show that the same kind of singularity at a finite scale factor
arises for a brane filled with a dual of the generalised phantom Chaplygin gas.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, RevTeX 4. Discussion expanded and references
added. Version to appear in PL
On the origin of the cumulative semantic inhibition effect
We report an extension of the cumulative semantic inhibition effect found by Howard, Nickels, Coltheart, and Cole-Virtue (2006). Using more sensitive statistical analyses, we found a significant variation in the magnitude of the effect across categories. This variation cannot be explained by the naming speed of each category. In addition, using a sub-sample of the data, a second cumulative effect arouse for newly-defined supra-categories, over and above the effect of the original ones. We discuss these findings in terms of the representations that drive lexical access, and interpret them as supporting featural or distributed hypotheses
Two repelling random walks on
We consider two interacting random walks on such that the
transition probability of one walk in one direction decreases exponentially
with the number of transitions of the other walk in that direction. The joint
process may thus be seen as two random walks reinforced to repel each other.
The strength of the repulsion is further modulated in our model by a parameter
. When both processes are independent symmetric
random walks on , and hence recurrent. We show that both random
walks are further recurrent if . We also show that these
processes are transient and diverge in opposite directions if . The
case remains widely open. Our results are obtained by
considering the dynamical system approach to stochastic approximations.Comment: 17 pages. Added references and corrected typos. Revised the argument
for the convergence to equilibria of the vector field. Improved the proof for
the recurrence when beta belongs to (0,1); leading to the removal of a
previous conjectur
VAChT knock-down mice show normal prepulse inhibition but disrupted long-term habituation
The neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) plays a crucial role in both the central and peripheral nervous system. Central cholinergic transmission is important for cognitive functions and cholinergic disruptions have been associated with different neural disorders. We here tested the role of cholinergic transmission in basic cognitive functions, i.e. in prepulse inhibition (PPI) and short-term habituation (STH) as well as long-term habituation (LTH) of startle using mice with a 65% knockdown (KD) of the vesicular ACh transporter (VAChT). These mice are slow in refilling cholinergic synaptic transmitter vesicles, leading to a reduced cholinergic tone. Prepulse inhibition has been assumed to be mediated by cholinergic projections from the midbrain to the reticular formation. Surprisingly, PPI and STH were normal in these mice, whereas LTH was disrupted. This disruption could be rescued by pre-testing injections of the ACh esterase inhibitor galantamine, but not by post-testing injections. The lack of a PPI deficit might be because of the fact that VAChT KD mice show disruptions mainly in prolonged cholinergic activity, therefore the transient activation by prepulse processing might not be sufficient to deplete synaptic vesicles. The disruption of LTH indicates that the latter depends on a tonic cholinergic inhibition. Future experiments will address which cholinergic cell group is responsible for this effect
Using Upgraded Versions Of Close Approach Maneuvers As Transportation Solutions For Deep Space Missions
Gravity-Assisted maneuvers have been used as a technique to reduce fuel
consumption in deep space missions for several decades now. It opened the doors
of the exterior solar system. The literature shows those results, as well as
new versions of this maneuver, which includes: the use of propulsion combined
with the close approach, both high or low thrust; the passage by the atmosphere
of a planet to help to change the trajectory of the spacecraft; the use of
tethers to increase the changes in the velocity of the spacecraft. All those
new versions have the goal of increasing the variations of energy given by the
maneuver, making possible missions that would not be possible without this
technique
- …