1,018 research outputs found
Rheology at the micro-scale: new tools for bio-analysis
We present a simple and non-invasive experimental procedure to measure the linear viscoelastic properties of cells by passive particle tracking microrheology. In order to do this, a generalised Langevin equation is adopted to relate the timedependent thermal fluctuations of a probe sensor, immobilised to the cell’s membrane, to the frequency-dependent viscoelastic moduli of the cell. The method has been validated by measuring the linear viscoelastic response of a soft solid and then applied to cell physiology studies. It is shown that the viscoelastic moduli are related to the cell’s cytoskeletal structure, which in this work is modulated either by inhibiting the actin/myosin-II interactions by means of blebbistatin or by varying the solution osmolarity from iso- to hypo-osmotic conditions. The insights gained from this form of rheological analysis promises to be a valuable addition to physiological studies; e.g. cell physiology during pathology and pharmacological response
Running anti-de Sitter radius from QCD-like strings
We consider renormalization effects for a bosonic QCD-like string, whose
partons have propagators instead of Gaussian. Classically this model
resembles (the bosonic part of) the projective light-cone (zero-radius) limit
of a string on an AdS background, where Schwinger parameters give rise to
the fifth dimension. Quantum effects generate dynamics for this dimension,
producing an AdS background with a running radius. The projective
light-cone is the high-energy limit: Holography is enforced dynamically.Comment: 12 page
Macrostructural analysis : unravelling polyphase glacitectonic histories
Many Pleistocene glacial profiles look extremely simple, comprising till, or glacitectonite, overlying
older sediments or bedrock (Figure 4.1). In more complex sequences the till may itself be overlain by
younger sediments laid down as the ice retreated or during a completely separate, later phase of
advance. Macroscopically, subglacial traction tills (Evans et al., 2007) are typically massive,
unstructured deposits suggesting that it should be relatively straightforward to unravel the
glacitectonic deformation history recorded by the sequence. Many reconstructions do indeed look
very simple, slabs of sediment have been tilted and stacked and then overridden by the glacier to
cap the structure with till. Added to this is the use of vertical exaggeration which makes the whole
structure look like alpine tectonics (for an example see fig. 5 in van Gijssel, 1987). Dropping the
exaggeration led to the recognition that actually we were looking at much more horizontal
structures, i.e. overriding nappes and not imbricated slabs (van der Wateren, 1987).
Traditionally (van der Meer, 1987) glaciotectonics was thought to relate to large structures
like big push moraines and not to smaller structures like drag structures underneath tills (Figure 4.2),
let alone to the tills themselves. With the notion that deforming bed tills are tectonically and not
sedimentologically structured and could be regarded as tectomicts (Menzies et al., 2006), comes the
realisation that glacitectonics happens across a wide range of scales, from the microscopic to tens of
kilometres. Only by realising the full range of glaciotectonic scales can we hope to understand the
processes
Scaling issues in ensemble implementations of the Deutsch-Jozsa algorithm
We discuss the ensemble version of the Deutsch-Jozsa (DJ) algorithm which
attempts to provide a "scalable" implementation on an expectation-value NMR
quantum computer. We show that this ensemble implementation of the DJ algorithm
is at best as efficient as the classical random algorithm. As soon as any
attempt is made to classify all possible functions with certainty, the
implementation requires an exponentially large number of molecules. The
discrepancies arise out of the interpretation of mixed state density matrices.Comment: Minor changes, reference added, replaced with publised versio
VSP Traveltime Inversion: Near-Surface Issues
P-wave velocity information obtained from vertical seismic profiles (VSPs) can be useful in imaging subsurface structure, either by directly detecting changes in the subsurface or as an aid to the interpretation of seismic reflection data. In the shallow subsurface, P-wave velocity can change by nearly an order of magnitude over a short distance, so curved rays are needed to accurately model VSP traveltimes. We used a curved-ray inversion to estimate the velocity profile and the discrepancy principle to estimate the data noise level and to choose the optimum regularization parameter. The curved-ray routine performed better than a straight-ray inversion for synthetic models containing high-velocity contrasts. The application of the inversion to field data produced a velocity model that agreed well with prior information. These results show that curved-ray inversion should be used to obtain velocity information from VSPs in the shallow subsurface
Appetite, energy intake, and PYY3-36 responses to energy-matched continuous exercise and submaximal high-intensity exercise.
High-intensity intermittent exercise induces physiological adaptations similar to energy-matched continuous exercise, but the comparative appetite and energy balance responses are unknown. Twelve healthy males (mean ± SD: age, 22 ± 3 years; body mass index, 23.7 ± 3.0 kg·m(-2); maximum oxygen uptake, 52.4 ± 7.1 mL·kg(-1)·min(-1)) completed three 8 h trials (control, steady-state exercise (SSE), high-intensity intermittent exercise (HIIE)) separated by 1 week. Trials commenced upon completion of a standardized breakfast. Exercise was performed from hour 2 to hour 3. In SSE, 60 min of cycling at 59.5% ± 1.6% of maximum oxygen uptake was performed. In HIIE, ten 4-min cycling intervals were completed at 85.8% ± 4.0% of maximum oxygen uptake, with a 2-min rest between each interval. A standardized lunch and an ad libitum afternoon meal were provided at hours 3.75 and 7, respectively. Appetite ratings and peptide YY3-36 concentrations were measured throughout each trial. Appetite was acutely suppressed during exercise, but more so during HIIE (p < 0.05). Peptide YY3-36 concentrations increased significantly upon cessation of exercise in SSE (p = 0.002), but were highest in the hours after exercise in HIIE (p = 0.05). Exercise energy expenditure was not different between HIIE and SSE (p = 0.649), but perceived exertion was higher in HIIE (p < 0.0005). Ad libitum energy intake did not differ between trials (p = 0.833). Therefore, relative energy intake (energy intake minus the net energy expenditure of exercise) was lower in the SSE and HIIE trials than in the control trial (control, 4759 ± 1268 kJ; SSE, 2362 ± 1224 kJ; HIIE, 2523 ± 1402 kJ; p < 0.0005). An acute bout of energy-matched continuous exercise and HIIE were equally effective at inducing an energy deficit without stimulating compensatory increases in appetite
Sedimentation-consolidation of a double porosity material
This paper studies the sedimentation-consolidation of a double porosity
material, such as lumpy clay. Large displacements and finite strains are
accounted for in a multidimensional setting. Fundamental equations are derived
using a phenomenological approach and non-equilibrium thermodynamics, as set
out by Coussy [Coussy, Poromechanics, Wiley, Chichester, 2004]. These equations
particularise to three non-linear partial differential equations in one
dimensional context. Numerical implementation in a finite element code is
currently being undertaken
Automatic Abstraction for Congruences
One approach to verifying bit-twiddling algorithms is to derive invariants between the bits that constitute the variables of a program. Such invariants can often be described with systems of congruences where in each equation , (unknown variable m)\vec{c}\vec{x}$ is a vector of propositional variables (bits). Because of the low-level nature of these invariants and the large number of bits that are involved, it is important that the transfer functions can be derived automatically. We address this problem, showing how an analysis for bit-level congruence relationships can be decoupled into two parts: (1) a SAT-based abstraction (compilation) step which can be automated, and (2) an interpretation step that requires no SAT-solving. We exploit triangular matrix forms to derive transfer functions efficiently, even in the presence of large numbers of bits. Finally we propose program transformations that improve the analysis results
Forest specialist species in the urban landscape: Do different levels of urbanization affect the movements of Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoos (Calyptorhynchus banksii naso)?
Anthropogenic landscape modification which leads to the displacement of species, is arguably one of the most profound impacts on animal movement globally. In urban landscapes, animal movement is generally impacted by varying levels of increased urbanization. However, this is species dependent and is mostly guided by the surrounding habitat. Fragmentation and habitat patch isolation must be considered at scales appropriate to the study species. Using telemetry, we test these assumptions investigating movement patterns of flocks of Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoos (Calyptorhynchus banksii naso; RTBC) between three regions: urban, peri-urban, and forest using GPS and satellite PTT. This species occurs at varying levels of urbanization, however, how this might affect its movements is largely unknown. We did not find evidence that RTBC movement was impaired in the urban region compared with peri-urban or forest regions. It found, however, a significant within-region variation in movement extent among flocks and across regions depending on foraging resource availability and location. Differences in daily movement distance (Av. 4.96 - 16.41 km) and home range size (6.02 - 52.57 km2) between urban flocks appeared to be associated with the proximity of green spaces as roosts and foraging sites, with roadside vegetation providing important foraging resources and movement corridors. Key urban habitats were predominantly located in public nature reserves and private properties, with roadside vegetation connecting these sites for RTBC. The findings of this study highlight that conservation management for this and many other threatened species should regard the urban landscape as a critical habitat for urban adapted species. This would include management of its green spaces with connectivity and offsets from roads in mind. Furthermore, future research should focus on identifying additional key habitat sites (resource selection) and species distribution modeling, which will facilitate an active and adaptive approach towards this species' conservation management
Application of tri-axial accelerometer data to the interpretation of movement and behaviour of threatened black cockatoos
- …