3,238 research outputs found
The massless higher-loop two-point function
We introduce a new method for computing massless Feynman integrals
analytically in parametric form. An analysis of the method yields a criterion
for a primitive Feynman graph to evaluate to multiple zeta values. The
criterion depends only on the topology of , and can be checked
algorithmically. As a corollary, we reprove the result, due to Bierenbaum and
Weinzierl, that the massless 2-loop 2-point function is expressible in terms of
multiple zeta values, and generalize this to the 3, 4, and 5-loop cases. We
find that the coefficients in the Taylor expansion of planar graphs in this
range evaluate to multiple zeta values, but the non-planar graphs with crossing
number 1 may evaluate to multiple sums with roots of unity. Our
method fails for the five loop graphs with crossing number 2 obtained by
breaking open the bipartite graph at one edge
The Prosocial Framework: Theory, Practice and Applications Within Schools
Recent collaborations across psychological and evolutionary science have resulted in the emergence of an intervention programme for increasing the cohesion and effectiveness of human group processes. Prosocial (Atkins et al., 2019) combines Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT; S. Hayes et al., 2012) and Multi-Level Selection Theory (Wilson & Sober, 1994) with Nobel Laureate Elinor Ostrom’s Core Design Principles (CDPs) for effective group-level processes (Ostrom, 2012, 2015). Ostrom’s work was ground-breaking but, being primarily descriptive in nature, did not provide a full account of the processes and procedures required to implement the CDPs. The current paper outlines the theoretical underpinnings of Prosocial and offers guidelines for its application within educational communities, providing specific examples of the wide array of ways in which the approach can be applied by professionals such as educational psychologists (EPs) to bring about positive change at the systemic level
Possible Stratification Mechanism in Granular Mixtures
We propose a mechanism to explain what occurs when a mixture of grains of
different sizes and different shapes (i.e. different repose angles) is poured
into a quasi-two-dimensional cell. Specifically, we develop a model that
displays spontaneous stratification of the large and small grains in
alternating layers. We find that the key requirement for stratification is a
difference in the repose angles of the two pure species, a prediction confirmed
by experimental findings. We also identify a kink mechanism that appears to
describe essential aspects of the dynamics of stratification.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, http://polymer.bu.edu/~hmakse/Home.htm
Combinatorial Markov chains on linear extensions
We consider generalizations of Schuetzenberger's promotion operator on the
set L of linear extensions of a finite poset of size n. This gives rise to a
strongly connected graph on L. By assigning weights to the edges of the graph
in two different ways, we study two Markov chains, both of which are
irreducible. The stationary state of one gives rise to the uniform
distribution, whereas the weights of the stationary state of the other has a
nice product formula. This generalizes results by Hendricks on the Tsetlin
library, which corresponds to the case when the poset is the anti-chain and
hence L=S_n is the full symmetric group. We also provide explicit eigenvalues
of the transition matrix in general when the poset is a rooted forest. This is
shown by proving that the associated monoid is R-trivial and then using
Steinberg's extension of Brown's theory for Markov chains on left regular bands
to R-trivial monoids.Comment: 35 pages, more examples of promotion, rephrased the main theorems in
terms of discrete time Markov chain
System-L amino acid transporters play a key role in pancreatic b-cell signalling and function
The branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) leucine, isoleucine and valine, are essential amino acids that play a critical role in cellular signalling and metabolism. They acutely stimulate insulin secretion and activate the regulatory serine/threonine kinase mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), a kinase that promotes increased β-cell mass and function. The effects of BCAA on cellular function are dependent on their active transport into mammalian cells via amino acid transporters and thus the expression and activity of these transporters likely influences β-cell signalling and function. In this report we show that the System-L transporters are required for BCAA
uptake into clonal β-cell lines and pancreatic islets and that these are essential for signalling to
mTORC1. Further investigation revealed that the System-L transporter LAT1 is abundantly expressed
in islets and that knock-down of LAT1 using siRNA inhibits mTORC1 signalling, leucine-stimulated
insulin secretion and islet cell proliferation. In summary, we show that the System-L transporter
LAT1 is required for regulating β-cell signaling and function in islets and thus may be a novel
pharmacological/nutritional target for the treatment and prevention of type-2 diabetes
Binary data corruption due to a Brownian agent
We introduce a model of binary data corruption induced by a Brownian agent
(active random walker) on a d-dimensional lattice. A continuum formulation
allows the exact calculation of several quantities related to the density of
corrupted bits \rho; for example the mean of \rho, and the density-density
correlation function. Excellent agreement is found with the results from
numerical simulations. We also calculate the probability distribution of \rho
in d=1, which is found to be log-normal, indicating that the system is governed
by extreme fluctuations.Comment: 39 pages, 10 figures, RevTe
Hopf algebras and Markov chains: Two examples and a theory
The operation of squaring (coproduct followed by product) in a combinatorial
Hopf algebra is shown to induce a Markov chain in natural bases. Chains
constructed in this way include widely studied methods of card shuffling, a
natural "rock-breaking" process, and Markov chains on simplicial complexes.
Many of these chains can be explictly diagonalized using the primitive elements
of the algebra and the combinatorics of the free Lie algebra. For card
shuffling, this gives an explicit description of the eigenvectors. For
rock-breaking, an explicit description of the quasi-stationary distribution and
sharp rates to absorption follow.Comment: 51 pages, 17 figures. (Typographical errors corrected. Further fixes
will only appear on the version on Amy Pang's website, the arXiv version will
not be updated.
Spontaneous Stratification in Granular Mixtures
Granular materials size segregate when exposed to external periodic
perturbations such as vibrations. Moreover, mixtures of grains of different
sizes spontaneously segregate in the absence of external perturbations: when a
mixture is simply poured onto a pile, the large grains are more likely to be
found near the base, while the small grains are more likely to be near the top.
Here, we report a spontaneous phenomenon arising when we pour a mixture between
two vertical plates: the mixture spontaneously stratifies into alternating
layers of small and large grains whenever the large grains are rougher than the
small grains. In contrast, we find only spontaneous segregation when the large
grains are more rounded than the small grains. The stratification is related to
the occurrence of avalanches; during each avalanche the grains comprising the
avalanche spontaneously stratify into a pair of layers through a "kink"
mechanism, with the small grains forming a sublayer underneath the layer of
large grains.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figures, http://polymer.bu.edu/~hmakse/Home.htm
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