Spectral geometry as a probe of quantum spacetime

Employing standard results from spectral geometry, we provide strong evidence that in the classical limit the ground state of three-dimensional causal dynamical triangulations is de Sitter spacetime. This result is obtained by measuring the expectation value of the spectral dimension on the ensemble of geometries defined by these models, and comparing its large scale behaviour to that of a sphere (Euclidean de Sitter). From the same measurement we are also able to confirm the phenomenon of dynamical dimensional reduction observed in this and other approaches to quantum gravity -- the first time this has been done for three-dimensional causal dynamical triangulations. In this case, the value for the short-scale limit of the spectral dimension that we find is approximately 2. We comment on the relevance of these results for the comparison to asymptotic safety and Horava-Lifshitz gravity, among other approaches to quantum gravity.Comment: 25 pages, 6 figures. Version 2: references to figures added, acknowledgment added

A Denotational Semantics for First-Order Logic

In Apt and Bezem [AB99] (see cs.LO/9811017) we provided a computational interpretation of first-order formulas over arbitrary interpretations. Here we complement this work by introducing a denotational semantics for first-order logic. Additionally, by allowing an assignment of a non-ground term to a variable we introduce in this framework logical variables. The semantics combines a number of well-known ideas from the areas of semantics of imperative programming languages and logic programming. In the resulting computational view conjunction corresponds to sequential composition, disjunction to ``don't know'' nondeterminism, existential quantification to declaration of a local variable, and negation to the ``negation as finite failure'' rule. The soundness result shows correctness of the semantics with respect to the notion of truth. The proof resembles in some aspects the proof of the soundness of the SLDNF-resolution.Comment: 17 pages. Invited talk at the Computational Logic Conference (CL 2000). To appear in Springer-Verlag Lecture Notes in Computer Scienc

The Vector Meson Form Factor Analysis in Light-Front Dynamics

We study the form factors of vector mesons using a covariant fermion field theory model in $(3+1)$ dimensions. Performing a light-front calculation in the $q^+ =0$ frame in parallel with a manifestly covariant calculation, we note the existence of a nonvanishing zero-mode contribution to the light-front current $J^+$ and find a way of avoiding the zero-mode in the form factor calculations. Upon choosing the light-front gauge (\ep^+_{h=\pm}=0) with circular polarization and with spin projection $h=\uparrow\downarrow=\pm$, only the helicity zero to zero matrix element of the plus current receives zero-mode contributions. Therefore, one can obtain the exact light-front solution of the form factors using only the valence contribution if only the helicity components, $(h'h)=(++),(+-)$, and $(+0)$, are used. We also compare our results obtained from the light-front gauge in the light-front helicity basis (i.e. $h=\pm,0$) with those obtained from the non-LF gauge in the instant form linear polarization basis (i.e. $h=x,y,z$) where the zero-mode contributions to the form factors are unavoidable.Comment: 33 pages; typo in Eq.(15) is corrected; comment on Ref.[9] is corrected; version to appear in Phys. Rev.

Transition Form Factors between Pseudoscalar and Vector Mesons in Light-Front Dynamics

We study the transition form factors between pseudoscalar and vector mesons using a covariant fermion field theory model in $(3+1)$ dimensions. Performing the light-front calculation in the $q^+ =0$ frame in parallel with the manifestly covariant calculation, we note that the suspected nonvanishing zero-mode contribution to the light-front current $J^+$ does not exist in our analysis of transition form factors. We also perform the light-front calculation in a purely longitudinal $q^+ > 0$ frame and confirm that the form factors obtained directly from the timelike region are identical to the ones obtained by the analytic continuation from the spacelike region. Our results for the $B \to D^* l \nu_l$ decay process satisfy the constraints on the heavy-to-heavy semileptonic decays imposed by the flavor independence in the heavy quark limit.Comment: 20 pages, 14 figure

New Polymer Tensiometers: Measuring Matric Pressures Down to the Wilting Point

Tensiometers are commonly used for measuring soil water matric pressures. Unfortunately, the water-filled reservoir of conventional tensiometers limits their applicability to soil water matric pressures above approximately –0.085 MPa. Tensiometers filled with a polymer solution instead of water are able to measure a larger range of soil water matric pressures. We designed and constructed six prototype polymer tensiometers (previously called osmotic tensiometers) consisting of a wide-range pressure transducer with a temperature sensor, a stainless steel casing, and a ceramic plate with a membrane preventing polymer leakage. A polymer chamber (0.1–2.2 cm3) was located between the pressure transducer and the plate. We tested the polymer tensiometers for long-term operation, the effects of temperature, response times, and performance in a repacked sandy loam under laboratory conditions. Several months of continuous operation caused a gradual drop in the osmotic pressure, for which we developed a suitable correction. The osmotic potential of polymer solutions is temperature dependent, and requires calibration before installation. The response times to sudden and gradual changes in ambient temperature were found to be affected by polymer chamber height and polymer type. Practically useful response times (<0.2 d) are feasible, particularly for chambers shorter than 0.20 cm. We demonstrated the ability of the instrument to measure the range of soil water pressures in which plant roots are able to take up water (from 0 to –1.6 MPa), to regain pressure without user interference and to function properly for time periods of up to 1 yr

The role of apoptosis in bispecific antibody-mediated T-cell cytotoxicity.

In this report we describe the role of apoptosis in the process of tumour cell killing by bispecific monoclonal antibody (BsMAb)-redirected cytolytic T cells. The BsMAb used, BIS-1, has dual specificity for the CD3 complex on T cells and the pancarcinoma-associated 38 kDa transmembrane antigen EGP-2. BIS-1 allows activated T cells to specifically recognise and kill EGP-2-positive but not EGP-2-negative target cells. An assay was developed to quantify apoptosis in cells by separation of 3H-thymidine-labelled low-molecular, i.e. fragmented, from high-molecular, i.e. non-fragmented DNA. The presence of low molecular weight DNA was measured both within the target cells and in the cell-free supernatant. After exposure to BIS-1-redirected, -activated T cells, apoptosis was observed in EGP-2-positive target cells but not in EGP-2-negative target cells. Also no DNA fragmentation proved to be induced in the activated effector cells during assay. The degree of EGP-2-positive target DNA fragmentation depended on the concentration of BsMAb, the E/T ratio and the incubation time. Using a low E/T ratio (1/1), DNA fragmentation in and 51Cr release from target cells showed similar characteristics and kinetics. At higher E/T ratio (20/1), the 51Cr release from the target cells increased to a greater extent than the percentage fragmented target cell DNA. Inhibitors of DNA fragmentation added to the cytotoxicity assay inhibited not only DNA fragmentation, but also the release of chromium-51 from the target cells, suggesting that apoptosis and cell lysis are closely related in BsMAb-mediated cell killing

Tuning the shape of the condensate in spontaneous symmetry breaking

We investigate what determines the shape of a particle condensate in situations when it emerges as a result of spontaneous breaking of translational symmetry. We consider a model with particles hopping between sites of a one-dimensional grid and interacting if they are at the same or at neighboring nodes. We predict the envelope of the condensate and the scaling of its width with the system size for various interaction potentials and show how to tune the shape from a delta-peak to a rectangular or a parabolic-like form.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, major revision, the title has been change