13,590 research outputs found
Real-time growth rate for general stochastic SIR epidemics on unclustered networks
Networks have become an important tool for infectious disease epidemiology.
Most previous theoretical studies of transmission network models have either
considered simple Markovian dynamics at the individual level, or have focused
on the invasion threshold and final outcome of the epidemic. Here, we provide a
general theory for early real-time behaviour of epidemics on large
configuration model networks (i.e. static and locally unclustered), in
particular focusing on the computation of the Malthusian parameter that
describes the early exponential epidemic growth. Analytical, numerical and
Monte-Carlo methods under a wide variety of Markovian and non-Markovian
assumptions about the infectivity profile are presented. Numerous examples
provide explicit quantification of the impact of the network structure on the
temporal dynamics of the spread of infection and provide a benchmark for
validating results of large scale simulations.Comment: 45 pages, 8 figures, submitted to Mathematical Biosciences on
29/11/2014; Version 2: resubmitted on 15/04/2015; accepted on 17/04/2015.
Changes: better explanations in introduction; restructured section 3.3 (3.3.3
added); section 6.3.1 added; more precise terminology; typos correcte
On the Hierarchical Preconditioning of the Combined Field Integral Equation
This paper analyzes how hierarchical bases preconditioners constructed for
the Electric Field Integral Equation (EFIE) can be effectively applied to the
Combined Field Integral Equation (CFIE). For the case where no hierarchical
solenoidal basis is available (e.g., on unstructured meshes), a new scheme is
proposed: the CFIE is implicitly preconditioned on the solenoidal Helmholtz
subspace by using a Helmholtz projector, while a hierarchical non-solenoidal
basis is used for the non-solenoidal Helmholtz subspace. This results in a
well-conditioned system. Numerical results corroborate the presented theory
Assumptions that imply quantum dynamics is linear
A basic linearity of quantum dynamics, that density matrices are mapped
linearly to density matrices, is proved very simply for a system that does not
interact with anything else. It is assumed that at each time the physical
quantities and states are described by the usual linear structures of quantum
mechanics. Beyond that, the proof assumes only that the dynamics does not
depend on anything outside the system but must allow the system to be described
as part of a larger system. The basic linearity is linked with previously
established results to complete a simple derivation of the linear Schrodinger
equation. For this it is assumed that density matrices are mapped one-to-one
onto density matrices. An alternative is to assume that pure states are mapped
one-to-one onto pure states and that entropy does not decrease.Comment: 10 pages. Added references. Improved discussion of equations of
motion for mean values. Expanded Introductio
Organic small molecule field-effect transistors with Cytop(TM) gate dielectric: eliminating gate bias stress effects
We report on organic field-effect transistors with unprecedented resistance
against gate bias stress. The single crystal and thin-film transistors employ
the organic gate dielectric Cytop(TM). This fluoropolymer is highly water
repellent and shows a remarkable electrical breakdown strength. The single
crystal transistors are consistently of very high electrical quality: near zero
onset, very steep subthreshold swing (average: 1.3 nF V/(dec cm2)) and
negligible current hysteresis. Furthermore, extended gate bias stress only
leads to marginal changes in the transfer characteristics. It appears that
there is no conceptual limitation for the stability of organic semiconductors
in contrast to hydrogenated amorphous silicon.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, to be published in Appl. Phys. Let
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Astex microgravity experiment: simulated asteroid regoliths
AstEx is a microgravity experiment selected to fly on ESA's 51st Microgravity Research Campaign in November 2009. The experiment will investigate the dynamics of regolith on asteroid surfaces. Despite their very low surface gravities, asteroids exhibit a number of different geological processes involving granular matter. Understanding the mechanical response of this granular material subject to external forces in microgravity conditions is vital to the design of a successful asteroid sub-surface sampling mechanism, and in the interpretation of the fascinating geology on an asteroid. The AstEx experiment uses a microgravity modified Taylor-Couette shear cell to investigate granular flow caused by shear forces under the conditions of parabolic flight microgravity. It is intended to determine how a steady state granular flow is achieved in microgravity conditions, and what effect prior shear history has on the timescales involved in initiating a steady state flow in a granular material. Presented are the technical details of the AstEx experimental design with particular emphasis on how the team have designed the equipment specifically for the parabolic flight microgravity environment
Longitudinal Spin Asymmetry and Cross Section of Inclusive pi0 Production in Polarized p+p Collisions at RHIC
We present the first measurement of the cross section and the double
longitudinal spin asymmetry of inclusive pi0 production in polarized p+p
collisions at Sqrt(s) = 200 GeV at mid-rapidity with the STAR detector, using
the barrel electromagnetic calorimeter. The measured cross section is compared
to NLO pQCD calculations and can provide constraints on the pion fragmentation
functions. Fragmentation is studied directly by measuring the momentum fraction
of pi0 in jets, a quantity that is affected by the fragmentation process and
jet reconstruction effects. The double longitudinal spin asymmetry is compared
to NLO pQCD calculations based on different assumptions for the gluon
polarization in the nucleon to provide constraints on delta g/g. At the present
level of statistics the measured asymmetry disfavors a large positive gluon
polarization, but can not yet distinguish between other scenarios.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, submitted to the proceedings of the 17th
International Spin Physics Symposium (SPIN2006), Kyoto, Japan, October 2 to
7, 200
Oncogenic K-Ras suppresses IP<sub>3</sub>-dependent Ca<sup>2+</sup> release through remodeling of IP<sub>3</sub>Rs isoform composition and ER luminal Ca<sup>2+</sup> levels in colorectal cancer cell lines
The GTPase Ras is a molecular switch engaged downstream of G-protein coupled receptors and receptor tyrosine inases that controls multiple cell fate-determining signalling athways. Ras signalling is frequently deregulated in cancer underlying associated changes in cell phenotype. Although Ca2+ signalling pathways control some overlapping functions with Ras, and altered Ca2+ signalling pathways are emerging as important players in oncogenic transformation, how Ca2+ signalling is remodelled during transformation and whether it has a causal role remains unclear. We have investigated Ca2+ signalling in two human colorectal cancer cell lines and their isogenic derivatives in which the mutated K-Ras allele (G13D) has been deleted by homologous recombination. We show that agonist-induced Ca2+ release from intracellular stores is enhanced by loss of K-RasG13D through an increase in the ER store content and a modification of IP3R subtype abundance. Consistently, uptake of Ca2+ into mitochondria and sensitivity to apoptosis was enhanced as a result of KRasG13D loss. These results suggest that suppression of Ca2+ signalling is a common response to naturally occurring levels of K-RasG13D that contributes to a survival
advantage during oncogenic transformation
Discovery-led refinement in e-discovery investigations: sensemaking, cognitive ergonomics and system design.
Given the very large numbers of documents involved in e-discovery investigations, lawyers face a considerable challenge of collaborative sensemaking. We report findings from three workplace studies which looked at different aspects of how this challenge was met. From a sociotechnical perspective, the studies aimed to understand how investigators collectively and individually worked with information to support sensemaking and decision making. Here, we focus on discovery-led refinement; specifically, how engaging with the materials of the investigations led to discoveries that supported refinement of the problems and new strategies for addressing them. These refinements were essential for tractability. We begin with observations which show how new lines of enquiry were recursively embedded. We then analyse the conceptual structure of a line of enquiry and consider how reflecting this in e-discovery support systems might support scalability and group collaboration. We then focus on the individual activity of manual document review where refinement corresponded with the inductive identification of classes of irrelevant and relevant documents within a collection. Our observations point to the effects of priming on dealing with these efficiently and to issues of cognitive ergonomics at the human–computer interface. We use these observations to introduce visualisations that might enable reviewers to deal with such refinements more efficiently
Metagenetic analysis of patterns of distribution and diversity of marine meiobenthic eukaryotes
AimMeiofaunal communities that inhabit the marine benthos offer unique opportunities to simultaneously study the macroecology of numerous phyla that exhibit different life-history strategies. Here, we ask: (1) if the macroecology of meiobenthic communities is explained mainly by dispersal constraints or by environmental conditions; and (2) if levels of meiofaunal diversity surpass existing estimates based on morphological taxonomy. LocationUK and mainland European coast. MethodsNext-generation sequencing techniques (NGS; Roche 454 FLX platform) using 18S nuclear small subunit ribosomal DNA (rDNA) gene. Pyrosequences were analysed using AmpliconNoise followed by chimera removal using Perseus. ResultsRarefaction curves revealed that sampling saturation was only reached at 15% of sites, highlighting that the bulk of meiofaunal diversity is yet to be discovered. Overall, 1353 OTUs were recovered and assigned to 23 different phyla. The majority of sampled sites had c. 60-70 unique operational taxonomic units (OTUs) per site, indicating high levels of beta diversity. The environmental parameters that best explained community structure were seawater temperature, geographical distance and sediment size, but most of the variability (R-2=70%-80%) remains unexplained. Main conclusionsHigh percentages of endemic OTUs suggest that meiobenthic community composition is partly niche-driven, as observed in larger organisms, but also shares macroecological features of microorganisms by showing high levels of cosmopolitanism (albeit on a much smaller scale). Meiobenthic communities exhibited patterns of isolation by distance as well as associations between niche, latitude and temperature, indicating that meiobenthic communities result from a combination of niche assembly and dispersal processes. Conversely, isolation-by-distance patterns were not identified in the featured protists, suggesting that animals and protists adhere to radically different macroecological processes, linked to life-history strategies.Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) [NE/E001505/1, NE/F001266/1, MGF-167]; Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) [SFRH/BD/27413/2006, SFRH/BPD/80447/2014]; EPSRC [EP/H003851/1]; BBSRC CASE studentship; Unilever; Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council [987347]; Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council [EP/H003851/1]; Natural Environment Research Council [NE/F001290/1, NE/F001266/1, NE/E001505/1, NBAF010002]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Corrections and Comments on the Multipole Moments of Axisymmetric Electrovacuum Spacetimes
Following the method of Hoenselaers and Perj\'{e}s we present a new corrected
and dimensionally consistent set of multipole gravitational and electromagnetic
moments for stationary axisymmetric spacetimes. Furthermore, we use our results
to compute the multipole moments, both gravitational and electromagnetic, of a
Kerr-Newman black hole.Comment: This is a revised and corrected versio
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