4,084 research outputs found
On the Robustness of NK-Kauffman Networks Against Changes in their Connections and Boolean Functions
NK-Kauffman networks {\cal L}^N_K are a subset of the Boolean functions on N
Boolean variables to themselves, \Lambda_N = {\xi: \IZ_2^N \to \IZ_2^N}. To
each NK-Kauffman network it is possible to assign a unique Boolean function on
N variables through the function \Psi: {\cal L}^N_K \to \Lambda_N. The
probability {\cal P}_K that \Psi (f) = \Psi (f'), when f' is obtained through f
by a change of one of its K-Boolean functions (b_K: \IZ_2^K \to \IZ_2), and/or
connections; is calculated. The leading term of the asymptotic expansion of
{\cal P}_K, for N \gg 1, turns out to depend on: the probability to extract the
tautology and contradiction Boolean functions, and in the average value of the
distribution of probability of the Boolean functions; the other terms decay as
{\cal O} (1 / N). In order to accomplish this, a classification of the Boolean
functions in terms of what I have called their irreducible degree of
connectivity is established. The mathematical findings are discussed in the
biological context where, \Psi is used to model the genotype-phenotype map.Comment: 17 pages, 1 figure, Accepted in Journal of Mathematical Physic
Suppression of Superconductivity in Single Crystals of UPt_3 by Pd Substitution
The suppression of superconductivity by substitution effects has been
measured in high quality single crystals of U(Pt_{1-x} Pd_x)_3 with 0 <= x <=
0.002. While the superconducting transition temperature T_c varies linearly
with residual resistivity r_0, consistent with pair-breaking by impurity
potential scattering, the rate of suppression of T_c with r_0 is much larger
for Pd substitution than for other impurity substitutions or by increased
defect density. This effect is correlated with an increase in the inelastic
scattering coefficient, and may be related to Pd-induced changes in the
magnetic fluctuation spectrum.Comment: 12 page in manuscript, plus 4 figure
Experimental tests of host-virus coevolution in natural killer yeast strains
Fungi may carry cytoplasmic viruses that encode anticompetitor toxins. These so-called killer viruses may provide competitive benefits to their host, but also incur metabolic costs associated with viral replication, toxin production and immunity. Mechanisms responsible for the stable maintenance of these endosymbionts are insufficiently understood. Here, we test whether co-adaptation of host and killer virus underlies their stable maintenance in seven natural and one laboratory strain of the genus Saccharomyces. We employ cross-transfection of killer viruses, all encoding the K1-type toxin, to test predictions from host-virus co-adaptation. These tests support local adaptation of hosts and/or their killer viruses. First, new host-virus combinations have strongly reduced killing ability against a standard sensitive strain when compared with re-constructed native combinations. Second, viruses are more likely to be lost from new than from original hosts upon repeated bottlenecking or the application of stressful conditions. Third, host fitness is increased after the re-introduction of native viruses, but decreased after the introduction of new viruses. Finally, rather than a trade-off, original combinations show a positive correlation between killing ability and fitness. Together, these results suggest that natural yeast killer strains and their viruses have co-adapted, allowing the transition from a parasitic to a mutualistic symbiosis.</p
Sn delta-doping in GaAs
We have prepared a number of GaAs structures delta-doped by Sn using the
well-known molecular beam epitaxy growth technique. The samples obtained for a
wide range of Sn doping densities were characterised by magnetotransport
experiments at low temperatures and in high magnetic fields up to 38 T.
Hall-effect and Shubnikov-de Haas measurements show that the electron densities
reached are higher than for other delta-dopants, like Si and Be. The maximum
carrier density determined by the Hall effect equals 8.4x10^13 cm^-2. For all
samples several Shubnikov-de Haas frequencies were observed, indicating the
population of multiple subbands. The depopulation fields of the subbands were
determined by measuring the magnetoresistance with the magnetic field in the
plane of the delta-layer. The experimental results are in good agreement with
selfconsistent bandstructure calculations. These calculation shows that in the
sample with the highest electron density also the conduction band at the L
point is populated.Comment: 11 pages text (ps), 9 figures (ps), submitted to Semicon. Science
Tech
Anomalous response of superconducting titanium nitride resonators to terahertz radiation
We present an experimental study of KIDs fabricated of atomic layer deposited
TiN films, and characterized at radiation frequencies of ~GHz. The
responsivity to radiation is measured and found to increase with increasing
radiation powers, opposite to what is expected from theory and observed for
hybrid niobium titanium nitride / aluminium (NbTiN/Al) and all-aluminium
(all-Al) KIDs. The noise is found to be independent of the level of the
radiation power. The noise equivalent power (NEP) improves with higher
radiation powers, also opposite to what is observed and well understood for
hybrid NbTiN/Al and all-Al KIDs. We suggest that an inhomogeneous state of
these disordered superconductors should be used to explain these observations
Shaping Robust System through Evolution
Biological functions are generated as a result of developmental dynamics that
form phenotypes governed by genotypes. The dynamical system for development is
shaped through genetic evolution following natural selection based on the
fitness of the phenotype. Here we study how this dynamical system is robust to
noise during development and to genetic change by mutation. We adopt a
simplified transcription regulation network model to govern gene expression,
which gives a fitness function. Through simulations of the network that
undergoes mutation and selection, we show that a certain level of noise in gene
expression is required for the network to acquire both types of robustness. The
results reveal how the noise that cells encounter during development shapes any
network's robustness, not only to noise but also to mutations. We also
establish a relationship between developmental and mutational robustness
through phenotypic variances caused by genetic variation and epigenetic noise.
A universal relationship between the two variances is derived, akin to the
fluctuation-dissipation relationship known in physics
The underscreened Kondo effect: a two S=1 impurity model
The underscreened Kondo effect is studied within a model of two impurities
S=1 interacting with the conduction band and via an interimpurity coupling
. Using a mean-field treatment of the bosonized
Hamiltonian, we show that there is no phase transition, but a continuous
cross-over versus K from a non Kondo behaviour to an underscreened Kondo one.
For a small antiferromagnetic coupling (K>0), a completely asymmetric situation
is obtained with one s= component strongly screened by the Kondo effect
and the other one almost free to yield indirect magnetism, which shows finally
a possible coexistence between a RKKY interaction and a local Kondo effect, as
observed in Uranium compounds such as .Comment: 27 pages, RevTeX, to be published in PR
Superconductivity in heavy-fermion U(Pt,Pd)3 and its interplay with magnetism
The effect of Pd doping on the superconducting phase diagram of the
unconventional superconductor UPt3 has been measured by (magneto)resistance,
specific heat, thermal expansion and magnetostriction. Experiments on single-
and polycrystalline U(Pt1-xPdx)3 for x<= 0.006 show that the superconducting
transition temperatures of the A phase, Tc+, and of the B phase, Tc-, both
decrease, while the splitting DTc increases at a rate of 0.30(2)K/at.%Pd. We
find that DTc(x) correlates with an increase of the weak magnetic moment m(x)
upon Pd doping. This provides further evidence for Ginzburg-Landau scenarios
with magnetism as the symmetry breaking field, i.e. the 2D E representation and
the 1D odd parity model. Only for small splittings DTc is proportional to
m^2(Tc+) (DTc<= 0.05 K) as predicted. The results at larger splittings call for
Ginzburg-Landau expansions beyond 4th order. The tetracritical point in the B-T
plane persists till at least x= 0.002 for B perpendicular to c, while it is
rapidly suppressed for B||c. Upon alloying the A and B phases gain stability at
the expense of the C phase.Comment: 25 pages text (PS), 8 pages with 14 figures (PS), submitted to
Phys.Rev.
Scharnhorst effect at oblique incidence
We consider the Scharnhorst effect (anomalous photon propagation in the
Casimir vacuum) at oblique incidence, calculating both photon speed and
polarization states as functions of angle. The analysis is performed in the
framework of nonlinear electrodynamics and we show that many features of the
situation can be extracted solely on the basis of symmetry considerations.
Although birefringence is common in nonlinear electrodynamics it is not
universal; in particular we verify that the Casimir vacuum is not birefringent
at any incidence angle. On the other hand, group velocity is typically not
equal to phase velocity, though the distinction vanishes for special directions
or if one is only working to second order in the fine structure constant. We
obtain an ``effective metric'' that is subtly different from previous results.
The disagreement is due to the way that ``polarization sums'' are implemented
in the extant literature, and we demonstrate that a fully consistent
polarization sum must be implemented via a bootstrap procedure using the
effective metric one is attempting to define. Furthermore, in the case of
birefringence, we show that the polarization sum technique is intrinsically an
approximation.Comment: 11 pages double-column format, 2 figures, RevTeX 4.0 (beta 2). Final
versio
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