Microwave Induced Instability Observed in BSCCO 2212 in a Static Magnetic Field

We have measured the microwave dissipation at 10 GHz through the imaginary part of the susceptibility, $\chi^"$, in a BSCCO 2212 single crystal in an external static magnetic field $H$ parallel to the c-axis at various fixed temperatures. The characteristics of $\chi^"(H)$ exhibit a sharp step at a field $H_{step}$ which strongly depends on the amplitude of the microwave excitation $h_{ac}$. The characteristics of $h_{ac}$ vs. $H_{step}$, qualitatively reveal the behavior expected for the magnetic field dependence of Josephson coupling.Comment: 4 pages, 3 Postscript figure

Super Fair Dominating Set in the Cartesian Product of Graphs

In this paper, we characterize the super fair dominating set in the Cartesian product of two graphs and give some important results

Random walks in random Dirichlet environment are transient in dimension d≥3d\ge 3

We consider random walks in random Dirichlet environment (RWDE) which is a special type of random walks in random environment where the exit probabilities at each site are i.i.d. Dirichlet random variables. On $\Z^d$, RWDE are parameterized by a $2d$-uplet of positive reals. We prove that for all values of the parameters, RWDE are transient in dimension $d\ge 3$. We also prove that the Green function has some finite moments and we characterize the finite moments. Our result is more general and applies for example to finitely generated symmetric transient Cayley graphs. In terms of reinforced random walks it implies that directed edge reinforced random walks are transient for $d\ge 3$.Comment: New version published at PTRF with an analytic proof of lemma

Gastrointestinal tract size, total-tract digestibility, and rumen microflora in different dairy cow genotypes

peer-reviewedThe superior milk production efficiency of Jersey (JE) and Jersey × Holstein-Friesian (JE × HF) cows compared with Holstein-Friesian (HF) has been widely published. The biological differences among dairy cow genotypes, which could contribute to the milk production efficiency differences, have not been as widely studied however. A series of component studies were conducted using cows sourced from a longer-term genotype comparison study (JE, JE × HF, and HF). The objectives were to (1) determine if differences exist among genotypes regarding gastrointestinal tract (GIT) weight, (2) assess and quantify whether the genotypes tested differ in their ability to digest perennial ryegrass, and (3) examine the relative abundance of specific rumen microbial populations potentially relating to feed digestibility. Over 3 yr, the GIT weight was obtained from 33 HF, 35 JE, and 27 JE × HF nonlactating cows postslaughter. During the dry period the cows were offered a perennial ryegrass silage diet at maintenance level. The unadjusted GIT weight was heavier for the HF than for JE and JE × HF. When expressed as a proportion of body weight (BW), JE and JE × HF had a heavier GIT weight than HF. In vivo digestibility was evaluated on 16 each of JE, JE × HF, and HF lactating dairy cows. Cows were individually stalled, allowing for the total collection of feces and were offered freshly cut grass twice daily. During this time, daily milk yield, BW, and dry matter intake (DMI) were greater for HF and JE × HF than for JE; milk fat and protein concentration ranked oppositely. Daily milk solids yield did not differ among the 3 genotypes. Intake capacity, expressed as DMI per BW, tended to be different among treatments, with JE having the greatest DMI per BW, HF the lowest, and JE × HF being intermediate. Production efficiency, expressed as milk solids per DMI, was higher for JE than HF and JE × HF. Digestive efficiency, expressed as digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, N, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber, was higher for JE than HF. In grazing cows (n = 15 per genotype) samples of rumen fluid, collected using a transesophageal sampling device, were analyzed to determine the relative abundance of rumen microbial populations of cellulolytic bacteria, protozoa, and fungi. These are critically important for fermentation of feed into short-chain fatty acids. A decrease was observed in the relative abundance of Ruminococcus flavefaciens in the JE rumen compared with HF and JE × HF. We can deduce from this study that the JE genotype has greater digestibility and a different rumen microbial population than HF. Jersey and JE × HF cows had a proportionally greater GIT weight than HF. These differences are likely to contribute to the production efficiency differences among genotypes previously reported

Opacity of P(MMA-MAA)-PMMA Composite Latex System with Varying MAA Concentration

Polymer composites of core-shell morphology are commonly used in the paint industry as opacity enhancer. These are usually made of block copolymer systems wherein the core is formed from a polymer that swells in the presence of a solvent and surrounded by a high glass transition polymeric shell. Thus, upon drying, the swollen regions turn into voids while leaving a hard shell. Here, composites based on poly(methyl methacrylate-butyl acrylate) [P(MMA-BuA)] (seed stage), poly(methyl methacrylate-methacrylic acid) [P(MMA-MAA)] (second stage), and poly(methyl methacrylate) [PMMA] (third stage) were synthesized through a multistage sequential emulsion polymerization and their opacity was investigated. The second stage formulation of P(MMA-MAA) system was varied by changing the methyl methacrylate (MMA): methacrylic acid (MAA) mole composition, and the dried films of these composite latexes were characterized by infrared spectroscopy (IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The AFM images and ammonium hydroxide (NH4 OH) swelling studies confirmed the successful incorporation of the seed (first) stage with the second and third stage polymerization with PMMA. The differences in PMAA concentrations among the second stage polymer compositions were determined from the IR spectra and glass transition temperature (Tg ) data. Investigations on the opacity and hiding power of these polymer composites were done using optical densitometry. The results show increasing absorbance, indicating increasing opacity, with increasing polymethacrylic acid (PMAA) concentration in the second stage composition

Nuclear transcription factors in mammalian mitochondria

Nuclear transcription factors have been detected in mammalian mitochondria and may directly regulate mitochondrial gene expression. Emerging genomics techniques may overcome outstanding challenges in this field

Dispersionful analogues of Benney's equations and NN-wave systems

We recall Krichever's construction of additional flows to Benney's hierarchy, attached to poles at finite distance of the Lax operator. Then we construct a ``dispersionful'' analogue of this hierarchy, in which the role of poles at finite distance is played by Miura fields. We connect this hierarchy with $N$-wave systems, and prove several facts about the latter (Lax representation, Chern-Simons-type Lagrangian, connection with Liouville equation, $\tau$-functions).Comment: 12 pages, latex, no figure

Lectures on mathematical aspects of (twisted) supersymmetric gauge theories

Supersymmetric gauge theories have played a central role in applications of quantum field theory to mathematics. Topologically twisted supersymmetric gauge theories often admit a rigorous mathematical description: for example, the Donaldson invariants of a 4-manifold can be interpreted as the correlation functions of a topologically twisted N=2 gauge theory. The aim of these lectures is to describe a mathematical formulation of partially-twisted supersymmetric gauge theories (in perturbation theory). These partially twisted theories are intermediate in complexity between the physical theory and the topologically twisted theories. Moreover, we will sketch how the operators of such a theory form a two complex dimensional analog of a vertex algebra. Finally, we will consider a deformation of the N=1 theory and discuss its relation to the Yangian, as explained in arXiv:1308.0370 and arXiv:1303.2632.Comment: Notes from a lecture series by the first author at the Les Houches Winter School on Mathematical Physics in 2012. To appear in the proceedings of this conference. Related to papers arXiv:1308.0370, arXiv:1303.2632, and arXiv:1111.423