Hypergraph Acyclicity and Propositional Model Counting

We show that the propositional model counting problem #SAT for CNF- formulas with hypergraphs that allow a disjoint branches decomposition can be solved in polynomial time. We show that this class of hypergraphs is incomparable to hypergraphs of bounded incidence cliquewidth which were the biggest class of hypergraphs for which #SAT was known to be solvable in polynomial time so far. Furthermore, we present a polynomial time algorithm that computes a disjoint branches decomposition of a given hypergraph if it exists and rejects otherwise. Finally, we show that some slight extensions of the class of hypergraphs with disjoint branches decompositions lead to intractable #SAT, leaving open how to generalize the counting result of this paper

Nearest-neighbour Attraction Stabilizes Staggered Currents in the 2D Hubbard Model

Using a strong-coupling approach, we show that staggered current vorticity does not obtain in the repulsive 2D Hubbard model for large on-site Coulomb interactions, as in the case of the copper oxide superconductors. This trend also persists even when nearest-neighbour repulsions are present. However, staggered flux ordering emerges {\bf only} when attractive nearest-neighbour Coulomb interactions are included. Such ordering opens a gap along the $(\pi,0)-(0,\pi)$ direction and persists over a reasonable range of doping.Comment: 5 pages with 5 .eps files (Typos in text are corrected

The tropical shadow-vertex algorithm solves mean payoff games in polynomial time on average

We introduce an algorithm which solves mean payoff games in polynomial time on average, assuming the distribution of the games satisfies a flip invariance property on the set of actions associated with every state. The algorithm is a tropical analogue of the shadow-vertex simplex algorithm, which solves mean payoff games via linear feasibility problems over the tropical semiring $(\mathbb{R} \cup \{-\infty\}, \max, +)$. The key ingredient in our approach is that the shadow-vertex pivoting rule can be transferred to tropical polyhedra, and that its computation reduces to optimal assignment problems through Pl\"ucker relations.Comment: 17 pages, 7 figures, appears in 41st International Colloquium, ICALP 2014, Copenhagen, Denmark, July 8-11, 2014, Proceedings, Part

Meridional Circulation and Global Solar Oscillations

We investigate the influence of large-scale meridional circulation on solar p-modes by quasi-degenerate perturbation theory, as proposed by \cite{lavely92}. As an input flow we use various models of stationary meridional circulation obeying the continuity equation. This flow perturbs the eigenmodes of an equilibrium model of the Sun. We derive the signatures of the meridional circulation in the frequency multiplets of solar p-modes. In most cases the meridional circulation leads to negative average frequency shifts of the multiplets. Further possible observable effects are briefly discussed.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figures, submittted to Solar Physics Topical Issue "HELAS

Evidence for a model of agonist-induced activation of 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A serotonin receptors that involves the disruption of a strong ionic interaction between helices 3 and 6

5-Hydroxytryptamine 2A (5-HT2A) receptors are essential for the actions of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)) on physiological processes as diverse as vascular smooth muscle contraction, platelet aggregation, perception, and emotion. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanism(s) by which 5-HT activates 5-HT2A receptors using a combination of approaches including site-directed mutagenesis, molecular modeling, and pharmacological analysis using the sensitive, cell-based functional assay R-SAT. Alanine-scanning mutagenesis of residues close to the intracellular end of H6 of the 5-HT2A receptor implicated glutamate Glu-318(6.30) in receptor activation, as also predicted by a newly constructed molecular model of the 5-HT2A receptor, which was based on the x-ray structure of bovine rhodopsin. Close examination of the molecular model suggested that Glu-318(6.30) could form a strong ionic interaction with Arg-173(3.50) of the highly conserved "(D/E)RY motif" located at the interface between the third transmembrane segment and the second intracellular loop (i2). A direct prediction of this hypothesis, that disrupting this ionic interaction by an E318(6.30)R mutation would lead to a highly constitutively active receptor with enhanced affinity for agonist, was confirmed using R-SAT. Taken together, these results predict that the disruption of a strong ionic interaction between transmembrane helices 3 and 6 of 5-HT2A receptors is essential for agonist-induced receptor activation and, as recently predicted by ourselves (B. L. Roth and D. A. Shapiro (2001) Expert Opin. Ther. Targets 5, 685-695) and others, that this may represent a general mechanism of activation for many, but not all, G-protein-coupled receptors

Erratum: Evidence for a model of agonist-induced activation of 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A serotonin receptors that involves the disruption of a strong ionic interaction between helices 3 and 6 (Journal of Biological Chemistry (2002) 277 (11441-11449))

[No abstract available

Finite temperature effects on the collapse of trapped Bose-Fermi mixtures

By using the self-consistent Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov-Popov theory, we present a detailed study of the mean-field stability of spherically trapped Bose-Fermi mixtures at finite temperature. We find that, by increasing the temperature, the critical particle number of bosons (or fermions) and the critical attractive Bose-Fermi scattering length increase, leading to a significant stabilization of the mixture.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures; minor changes, proof version, to appear in Phys. Rev. A (Nov. 1, 2003

Thermodynamics of a Trapped Bose-Fermi Mixture

By using the Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov equations within the Popov approximation, we investigate the thermodynamic properties of a dilute binary Bose-Fermi mixture confined in an isotropic harmonic trap. For mixtures with an attractive Bose-Fermi interaction we find a sizable enhancement of the condensate fraction and of the critical temperature of Bose-Einstein condensation with respect to the predictions for a pure interacting Bose gas. Conversely, the influence of the repulsive Bose-Fermi interaction is less pronounced. The possible relevance of our results in current experiments on trapped $^{87}{\rm Rb}-^{40}${\rm K} mixtures is discussed.Comment: 5 pages + 4 figures; minor changes, final version to appear in Phys. Rev. A; the extension work on the finite-temperature low-lying excitations can be found in cond-mat/030763

Conference Report: Psychiatric Genomics Consortium Meeting: Pathways to Drugs, London, March 2017

[No abstract available

Implementing NICE guidelines for the psychological treatment of depression and anxiety disorders: The IAPT experience

The Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme is a large-scale initiative that aims to greatly increase the availability of NICE recommended psychological treatment for depression and anxiety disorders within the National Health Service in England. This article describes the background to the programme, the arguments on which it is based, the therapist training scheme, the clinical service model, and a summary of progress to date. At mid-point in a national roll-out of the programme progress is generally in line with expectation, and a large number of people who would not otherwise have had the opportunity to receive evidence-based psychological treatment have accessed, and benefited from, the new IAPT services. Planned future developments and challenges for the programme are briefly described