1,460 research outputs found
Covering problems in edge- and node-weighted graphs
This paper discusses the graph covering problem in which a set of edges in an
edge- and node-weighted graph is chosen to satisfy some covering constraints
while minimizing the sum of the weights. In this problem, because of the large
integrality gap of a natural linear programming (LP) relaxation, LP rounding
algorithms based on the relaxation yield poor performance. Here we propose a
stronger LP relaxation for the graph covering problem. The proposed relaxation
is applied to designing primal-dual algorithms for two fundamental graph
covering problems: the prize-collecting edge dominating set problem and the
multicut problem in trees. Our algorithms are an exact polynomial-time
algorithm for the former problem, and a 2-approximation algorithm for the
latter problem, respectively. These results match the currently known best
results for purely edge-weighted graphs.Comment: To appear in SWAT 201
A Compact Gas Cerenkov Detector with Novel Optics
We discuss the design and performance of a threshold Cerenkov counter for
identification of charged hadrons. The radiator is pressurized gas, which is
contained in thin-walled cylindrical modules. A mirror system of novel design
transports Cerenkov photons to photomultiplier tubes. This system is compact,
contains relatively little material, and has a large fraction of active volume.
A prototype of a module designed for the proposed CLEO III detector has been
studied using cosmic rays. Results from these studies show good agreement with
a detailed Monte Carlo simulation of the module and indicate that it should
achieve separation of pions and kaons at the 2.5-3.0sigma level in the momentum
range 0.8-2.8 GeV/c. We predict performance for specific physics analyses using
a GEANT-based simulation package.Comment: Submitted to NIM. 23 pages, 11 postscript figures. Postscript file is
also available at http://w4.lns.cornell.edu/public/CLNS/199
Adaptive Mesh Refinement for Characteristic Grids
I consider techniques for Berger-Oliger adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) when
numerically solving partial differential equations with wave-like solutions,
using characteristic (double-null) grids. Such AMR algorithms are naturally
recursive, and the best-known past Berger-Oliger characteristic AMR algorithm,
that of Pretorius & Lehner (J. Comp. Phys. 198 (2004), 10), recurses on
individual "diamond" characteristic grid cells. This leads to the use of
fine-grained memory management, with individual grid cells kept in
2-dimensional linked lists at each refinement level. This complicates the
implementation and adds overhead in both space and time.
Here I describe a Berger-Oliger characteristic AMR algorithm which instead
recurses on null \emph{slices}. This algorithm is very similar to the usual
Cauchy Berger-Oliger algorithm, and uses relatively coarse-grained memory
management, allowing entire null slices to be stored in contiguous arrays in
memory. The algorithm is very efficient in both space and time.
I describe discretizations yielding both 2nd and 4th order global accuracy.
My code implementing the algorithm described here is included in the electronic
supplementary materials accompanying this paper, and is freely available to
other researchers under the terms of the GNU general public license.Comment: 37 pages, 15 figures (40 eps figure files, 8 of them color; all are
viewable ok in black-and-white), 1 mpeg movie, uses Springer-Verlag svjour3
document class, includes C++ source code. Changes from v1: revised in
response to referee comments: many references added, new figure added to
better explain the algorithm, other small changes, C++ code updated to latest
versio
Extraction of the pion distribution amplitude from polarized muon pair production
We consider the production of muon pairs from the scattering of pions on
longitudinally polarized protons. We calculate the cross section and the single
spin asymmetry for this process, taking into account pion bound state effects.
We work in the kinematic region where the photon has a large longitudinal
momentum fraction, which allows us to treat the bound state problem
perturbatively. Our predictions are directly proportional to the pion
distribution amplitude. A measurement of the polarized Drell-Yan cross section
thus allows the determination of the shape of the pion distribution amplitude.Comment: 13 pages, using revtex, two figures added separately as one uuencoded
Z-compressed fil
CCN1 mutation is associated with atrial septal defect
The genetic basis of congenital heart disease remains unknown in most of the cases. Recently, a novel mouse model shed new light on the role of CCN1/CYR61, a matricellular regulatory factor, in cardiac morphogenesis. In a candidate gene approach, we analyzed a cohort of 143 patients with atrial septal defects (ASD) by sequencing the coding exons of CCN1. In addition to three frequent polymorphisms, we identified an extremely rare novel heterozygous missense mutation (c.139C > T; p.R47W) in one patient with severe ASD. The mutation leads to an exchange of residues with quite different properties in a highly conserved position of the N-terminal insulin-like growth factor binding protein module. Further bioinformatic analysis, exclusion of known ASD disease genes as well as the exclusion of the mutation in a very high number of ethnically matched controls (more than 1,000 individuals) and in public genetic databases, indicates that the p.R47W variant is a probable disease-associated mutation. The report about ASD in mice in heterozygous Ccn 1 +/- animals strongly supports this notion. Our study is the first to suggest a relationship between a probable CCN1 mutation and ASD. Our purpose here was to draw attention to CCN1, a gene that we believe may be important for genetic analysis in patients with congenital heart disease
Enhanced Quantum Estimation via Purification
We analyze the estimation of a finite ensemble of quantum bits which have
been sent through a depolarizing channel. Instead of using the depolarized
qubits directly, we first apply a purification step and show that this improves
the fidelity of subsequent quantum estimation. Even though we lose some qubits
of our finite ensemble the information is concentrated in the remaining
purified ones.Comment: 6 pages, including 3 figure
A mechanism for the T-odd pion fragmentation function
We consider a simple rescattering mechanism to calculate a leading twist
-odd pion fragmentation function, a favored candidate for filtering the
transversity properties of the nucleon. We evaluate the single spin azimuthal
asymmetry for a transversely polarized target in semi-inclusive deep inelastic
scattering (for HERMES kinematics). Additionally, we calculate the double
-odd asymmetry in this framework.Comment: 6 pages revtex, 7 eps figures, references added and updated in this
published versio
Relativistic graphene ratchet on semidisk Galton board
Using extensive Monte Carlo simulations we study numerically and analytically
a photogalvanic effect, or ratchet, of directed electron transport induced by a
microwave radiation on a semidisk Galton board of antidots in graphene. A
comparison between usual two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) and electrons in
graphene shows that ratchet currents are comparable at very low temperatures.
However, a large mean free path in graphene should allow to have a strong
ratchet transport at room temperatures. Also in graphene the ratchet transport
emerges even for unpolarized radiation. These properties open promising
possibilities for room temperature graphene based sensitive photogalvanic
detectors of microwave and terahertz radiation.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures. Research done at Quantware
http://www.quantware.ups-tlse.fr/. More detailed analysis is give
B Production Asymmetries in Perturbative QCD
This paper explores a new mechanism for B production in which a b quark
combines with a light parton from the hard-scattering process before
hadronizing into the B hadron. This recombination mechanism can be calculated
within perturbative QCD up to a few nonperturbative constants. Though
suppressed at large transverse momentum by a factor Lambda_QCD m_b/p_t^2
relative to b quark fragmentation production, it can be important at large
rapidities. A signature for this heavy-quark recombination mechanism in
proton-antiproton colliders is the presence of rapidity asymmetries in B cross
sections. Given reasonable assumptions about the size of nonperturbative
parameters entering the calculation, we find that the asymmetries are only
significant for rapidities larger than those currently probed by collider
experiments.Comment: 17 pages, LaTeX, 4 ps figures, tightenlines, sections added, final
version accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.
Earliest hominin cancer: 1.7-million-year- old osteosarcoma from Swartkrans Cave, South Africa
The reported incidence of neoplasia in the extinct human lineage is rare, with only a few confirmed
cases of Middle or Later Pleistocene dates reported. It has generally been assumed that premodern
incidence of neoplastic disease of any kind is rare and limited to benign conditions,
but new fossil evidence suggests otherwise. We here present the earliest identifiable case of
malignant neoplastic disease from an early human ancestor dated to 1.8–1.6 million years old.
The diagnosis has been made possible only by advances in 3D imaging methods as diagnostic
aids. We present a case report based on re-analysis of a hominin metatarsal specimen (SK 7923)
from the cave site of Swartkrans in the Cradle of Humankind, South Africa. The expression
of malignant osteosarcoma in the Swartkrans specimen indicates that whilst the upsurge in
malignancy incidence is correlated with modern lifestyles, there is no reason to suspect that
primary bone tumours would have been any less frequent in ancient specimens. Such tumours
are not related to lifestyle and often occur in younger individuals. As such, malignancy has a
considerable antiquity in the fossil record, as evidenced by this specimen.NCS201
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