8,004 research outputs found
Non-linear sigma-models in noncommutative geometry: fields with values in finite spaces
We study sigma-models on noncommutative spaces, notably on noncommutative
tori. We construct instanton solutions carrying a nontrivial topological charge
q and satisfying a Belavin-Polyakov bound. The moduli space of these instantons
is conjectured to consists of an ordinary torus endowed with a complex
structure times a projective space .Comment: Latex, 10 page
Electro-optical properties of an orthoconic liquid crystal mixture (W-182) and its molecular dynamics
We observed that the perfect dark state problem could be solved by using orthoconic antiferroelectric liquid crystal (OAFLC) instead of normal AFLC by comparing the properties of isocontrast and dispersion chromaticity of W-182 OAFLC and normal AFLC CS-4001. We electro-optically observed that several subphases such as SmCγ*, SmC*β, SmC*α and antiferroelectric SmI*A phases exist in W-182 OAFLC. We dielectrically observed in 4 μm thin cell that during heating, several new phases appeared. In the high temperature antiferroelectric region, a higher order than SmC* phase could be detected dielectrically, in the temperature range of 91–98 °C, behaving similar to SmCγ* and also, another phase below SmC* region could be dielectrically detected in the temperature range of 103–1100 °C, behaving similar to SmCα*, and an antiferroelectric, similar to SmIA* phase, was observed in the lower temperature region of the antiferroelectric phase; those are definitely arising due to surface force and interfacial charges interactions. We observed both PH and PL relaxation modes in both cells, although they differed in their strength and relaxation frequency. We studied extensively our observations of PH and PL modes in the antiferroelectric region, a Goldstone mode in the ferroelectric region and a soft mode in the ferroelectric region and SmA* phases
Zone center phonons of the orthorhombic RMnO3 (R = Pr, Eu, Tb, Dy, Ho) perovskites
A short range force constant model (SRFCM) has been applied for the first
time to investigate the phonons in RMnO3 (R = Pr, Eu, Tb, Dy, Ho) perovskites
in their orthorhombic phase. The calculations with 17 stretching and bending
force constants provide good agreement for the observed Raman frequencies. The
infrared frequencies have been assigned for the first time.
PACS Codes: 36.20.Ng, 33.20.Fb, 34.20.CfComment: 8 pages, 1 figur
Magnetic Stress at the Marginally Stable Orbit: Altered Disk Structure, Radiation, and Black Hole Spin Evolution
Magnetic connections to the plunging region can exert stresses on the inner
edge of an accretion disk around a black hole. We recompute the relativistic
corrections to the thin-disk dynamics equations when these stresses take the
form of a time-steady torque on the inner edge of the disk. The additional
dissipation associated with these stresses is concentrated relatively close
outside the marginally stable orbit, scaling as r to the -7/2 at large radius.
As a result of these additional stresses: spin-up of the central black hole is
retarded; the maximum spin-equilibrium accretion efficiency is 36%, and occurs
at a/M=0.94; the disk spectrum is extended toward higher frequencies; line
profiles (such as Fe K-alpha) are broadened if the line emissivity scales with
local flux; limb-brightening, especially at the higher frequencies, is
enhanced; and the returning radiation fraction is substantially increased, up
to 58%. This last effect creates possible explanations for both synchronized
continuum fluctuations in AGN, and polarization rises shortward of the Lyman
edge in quasars. We show that no matter what additional stresses occur, when
a/M < 0.36, the second law of black hole dynamics sets an absolute upper bound
on the accretion efficiency.Comment: 11 pages, 15 figures, accepted for publication in the Astrophysical
Journa
Quantum isometries and noncommutative spheres
We introduce and study two new examples of noncommutative spheres: the
half-liberated sphere, and the free sphere. Together with the usual sphere,
these two spheres have the property that the corresponding quantum isometry
group is "easy", in the representation theory sense. We present as well some
general comments on the axiomatization problem, and on the "untwisted" and
"non-easy" case.Comment: 16 page
Competition of IL-1 and IL-1ra determines lymphocyte response to delayed stimulation with PHA.
BACKGROUND: Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) left in microcultures for 24h without mitogen do not respond to subsequent stimulation with PHA. They regain reactivity if the native culture medium is absorbed with other party lymphocytes or partially replaced with the medium from a PHA-stimulated culture. The observations suggest that, during the incubation, some inhibitory agent had accumulated in the culture medium. AIM: The study was performed to determine the nature of the observed phenomenon in respect of the possible role of monocytes and their products IL-1 and IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), and to test for immunodiagnostic purposes the significance of quantifying the lymphocyte response to delayed stimulation with PHA in patients suffering from inflammatory prosesses. METHODS: Lymphocyte response to delayed stimulation with PHA, calculated as the lymphocyte-monokine interaction (LM) index, was determined in the microcultures of PBMC isolated from the blood of healthy donors or of patients with acute tonsilitis. The values of LM indices were compared with the ratios of IL-1ra/IL-1beta concentration estimated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method in the culture supernatants. The influences of exogenous IL-1beta, IL-1ra, anti-IL1ra antibodies and antibiotic cefaclor on the monokine concentrations and on the values of LM index were tested. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The results show that the level of lymphocyte response to delayed stimulation with PHA (LM index) is inversely proportional to the ratio of IL-1ra/IL-1beta concentration in the culture. The low LM values at high IL-1ra/IL-1beta ratios in PBMC cultures from healthy donors, reversed proportions found in patients' PBMC (acute tonsilitis), and the cefaclor-induced reduction of LM value with correlated increase of the IL-1ra/IL-1beta ratio suggest that the LM assay may prove to be useful for immunodiagnostic purposes
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