6,960 research outputs found
Remarks on Causality in Relativistic Quantum Field Theory
It is shown that the correlations predicted by relativistic quantum field
theory in locally normal states between projections in local von Neumann
algebras \cA(V_1),\cA(V_2) associated with spacelike separated spacetime
regions have a (Reichenbachian) common cause located in the union of
the backward light cones of and . Further comments on causality and
independence in quantum field theory are made.Comment: 10 pages, Latex, Quantum Structures 2002 Conference Proceedings
submission. Minor revision of the order of definitions on p.
Electric properties of the Beryllium-11 system in Halo EFT
We compute E1 transitions and electric radii in the Beryllium-11 nucleus
using an effective field theory that exploits the separation of scales in this
halo system. We fix the leading-order parameters of the EFT from measured data
on the 1/2+ and 1/2- levels in Be-11 and the B(E1) strength for the transition
between them. We then obtain predictions for the B(E1) strength for Coulomb
dissociation of the Be-11 nucleus to the continuum. We also compute the charge
radii of the 1/2+ and 1/2- states. Agreement with experiment within the
expected accuracy of a leading-order computation in this EFT is obtained. We
also discuss how next-to-leading-order (NLO) corrections involving both s-wave
and p-wave neutron-Be-10 interactions affect our results, and display the NLO
predictions for quantities which are free of additional short-distance
operators at this order. Information on neutron-Be-10 scattering in the
relevant channels is inferred.Comment: 27 pages, 8 figures, final versio
Human helminth therapy to treat inflammatory disorders - where do we stand?
Parasitic helminths have evolved together with the mammalian immune system over many millennia and as such they have become remarkably efficient modulators in order to promote their own survival. Their ability to alter and/or suppress immune responses could be beneficial to the host by helping control excessive inflammatory responses and animal models and pre-clinical trials have all suggested a beneficial effect of helminth infections on inflammatory bowel conditions, MS, asthma and atopy. Thus, helminth therapy has been suggested as a possible treatment method for autoimmune and other inflammatory disorders in humans
Doing gender locally: The importance of ‘place’ in understanding marginalised masculinities and young men’s transitions to ‘safe’ and successful futures
Observable anxieties have been developing about the position of boys and young men in contemporary society in recent years. This is expressed as a crisis of masculinity, in which place is often implicitly implicated, but is rarely considered for its role in the shaping of young men’s practices, trajectories and aspirations. Drawing on research conducted with young people who accessed a range of social care support services, this article argues that transition means different things for young men in different locales and that local definitions of masculinity are required to better understand young men’s lives and the opportunities available to them. The authors argue that home life, street life, individual neighbourhoods, regions and nations all shaped the young men’s identities and the practices they (and the staff working with them) drew on in order to create successful futures and ‘safe’ forms of masculinity. It is suggested that this place-based approach has the potential to re-shape the ‘crisis’ discourse surrounding masculinity and the anxieties associated with young men
Muon Colliders
Muon Colliders have unique technical and physics advantages and disadvantages
when compared with both hadron and electron machines. They should thus be
regarded as complementary. Parameters are given of 4 TeV and 0.5 TeV high
luminosity \mumu colliders, and of a 0.5 TeV lower luminosity demonstration
machine. We discuss the various systems in such muon colliders, starting from
the proton accelerator needed to generate the muons and proceeding through muon
cooling, acceleration and storage in a collider ring. Problems of detector
background are also discussed.Comment: 28 pages, with 12 postscript figures. To be published Proceedings of
the 9th Advanced ICFA Beam Dynamics Workshop, AIP Pres
Cavity-QED tests of representations of canonical commutation relations employed in field quantization
Various aspects of dissipative and nondissipative decoherence of Rabi
oscillations are discussed in the context of field quantization in alternative
representations of CCR. Theory is confronted with experiment, and a possibility
of more conclusive tests is analyzed.Comment: Discussion of dissipative and nondissipative decoherence is included.
Theory is now consistent with the existing data and predictions for new
experiments are more reliabl
Visualization and analysis of RNA-Seq assembly graphs.
RNA-Seq is a powerful transcriptome profiling technology enabling transcript discovery and quantification. Whilst most commonly used for gene-level quantification, the data can be used for the analysis of transcript isoforms. However, when the underlying transcript assemblies are complex, current visualization approaches can be limiting, with splicing events a challenge to interpret. Here, we report on the development of a graph-based visualization method as a complementary approach to understanding transcript diversity from short-read RNA-Seq data. Following the mapping of reads to a reference genome, a read-to-read comparison is performed on all reads mapping to a given gene, producing a weighted similarity matrix between reads. This is used to produce an RNA assembly graph, where nodes represent reads and edges similarity scores between them. The resulting graphs are visualized in 3D space to better appreciate their sometimes large and complex topology, with other information being overlaid on to nodes, e.g. transcript models. Here we demonstrate the utility of this approach, including the unusual structure of these graphs and how they can be used to identify issues in assembly, repetitive sequences within transcripts and splice variants. We believe this approach has the potential to significantly improve our understanding of transcript complexity
Basilar-membrane responses to multicomponent (Schroeder-phase) signals: Understanding intensity effects
Building development and roads: implications for the distribution of stone curlews across the Brecks
Background: Substantial new housing and infrastructure development planned within England has the potential to conflict with the nature conservation interests of protected sites. The Breckland area of eastern England (the Brecks) is designated as a Special Protection Area for a number of bird species, including the stone curlew (for which it holds more than 60% of the UK total population). We explore the effect of buildings and roads on the spatial distribution of stone curlew nests across the Brecks in order to inform strategic development plans to avoid adverse effects on such European protected sites. Methodology: Using data across all years (and subsets of years) over the period 1988 – 2006 but restricted to habitat areas of arable land with suitable soils, we assessed nest density in relation to the distances to nearest settlements and to major roads. Measures of the local density of nearby buildings, roads and traffic levels were assessed using normal kernel distance-weighting functions. Quasi-Poisson generalised linear mixed models allowing for spatial auto-correlation were fitted. Results: Significantly lower densities of stone curlew nests were found at distances up to 1500m from settlements, and distances up to 1000m or more from major (trunk) roads. The best fitting models involved optimally distance-weighted variables for the extent of nearby buildings and the trunk road traffic levels. Significance : The results and predictions from this study of past data suggests there is cause for concern that future housing development and associated road infrastructure within the Breckland area could have negative impacts on the nesting stone curlew population. Given the strict legal protection afforded to the SPA the planning and conservation bodies have subsequently agreed precautionary restrictions on building development within the distances identified and used the modelling predictions to agree mitigation measures for proposed trunk road developments
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