Fast solution of Cahn-Hilliard variational inequalities using implicit time discretization and finite elements

We consider the e�cient solution of the Cahn-Hilliard variational inequality using an implicit time discretization, which is formulated as an optimal control problem with pointwise constraints on the control. By applying a semi-smooth Newton method combined with a Moreau-Yosida regularization technique for handling the control constraints we show superlinear convergence in function space. At the heart of this method lies the solution of large and sparse linear systems for which we propose the use of preconditioned Krylov subspace solvers using an e�ective Schur complement approximation. Numerical results illustrate the competitiveness of this approach

Fast Solvers for Cahn-Hilliard Inpainting

We consider the efficient solution of the modified Cahn-Hilliard equation for binary image inpainting using convexity splitting, which allows an unconditionally gradient stable time-discretization scheme. We look at a double-well as well as a double obstacle potential. For the latter we get a nonlinear system for which we apply a semi-smooth Newton method combined with a Moreau-Yosida regularization technique. At the heart of both methods lies the solution of large and sparse linear systems. We introduce and study block-triangular preconditioners using an efficient and easy to apply Schur complement approximation. Numerical results indicate that our preconditioners work very well for both problems and show that qualitatively better results can be obtained using the double obstacle potential

Spatial Distribution Modelling of Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea) on Breeding Grounds

Ecological niche modeling is used to predict a species’ distribution in a geographic area based on abiotic and biotic variables. Understanding a species’ range is important for conservation and restoration efforts. As anthropogenic forces may alter or deplete habitat, it is important to know the ecological requirements of a species to understand how and what habitat to protect. With the increasing threat of climate change and rising temperature and precipitation, the suitable habitat and the distribution for many species is expected to shift. Migratory species are particularly at risk of these changes as they require suitable habitat not only on their wintering and stopover grounds, but on their breeding grounds. Without suitable breeding grounds, reproductive success is guaranteed to decline for a species. Understanding how these changes affect the range and distribution of a species allows researchers and conservationist to better formulate effective species management plan

Investigation into the Combined Affects of Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha, Tamoxifen and 5-Azacytidine on HTB-26 Breast Cancer Cells

The anticancer affects of Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha and Tamoxifen have been widely recognized. Our preliminary experiments have revealed that HTB-26 breast cancer cells are nonresponsive to Tamoxifen due to low expression of the estrogen receptor. Other studies have shown that the 5 Azacytidine can stimulate the presence of the estrogen receptor. Experiments were carried out in an attempt to re-stimulate the sensitivity of breast cancer cells to Tamoxifen and measure the death-inducing properities of Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha. Ideal results would include an increased susceptibility of Tamoxifen after a 5- Azacytidine treatment along with an increase in apoptosis, or programmed cell death

Fast iterative solvers for Cahn-Hilliard problems

Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, Fakultät für Mathematik, Dissertation, 2016von M. Sc. Jessica BoschLiteraturverzeichnis: Seite [247]-25

Gravitational Wave Signatures of Gauged Baryon and Lepton Number

We demonstrate that novel types of gravitational wave signatures arise in theories with new gauge symmetries broken at high energy scales. For concreteness, we focus on models with gauged baryon number and lepton number, in which neutrino masses are generated via the type I seesaw mechanism, leptogenesis occurs through the decay of a heavy right-handed neutrino, and one of the new baryonic fields is a good dark matter candidate. Depending on the scalar content of the theory, the gravitational wave spectrum consists of contributions from cosmic strings, domain walls, and first order phase transitions. We show that a characteristic double-peaked signal from domain walls or a sharp domain wall peak over a flat cosmic string background may be generated. Those new signatures are within the reach of future experiments, such as Cosmic Explorer, Einstein Telescope, DECIGO, Big Bang Observer, and LISA.Comment: 12 pages, 12 figure

Music as a scaffold for listening to speech: Better neural phase-locking to song than speech

© 2020 The Authors Neural activity synchronizes with the rhythmic input of many environmental signals, but the capacity of neural activity to entrain to the slow rhythms of speech is particularly important for successful communication. Compared to speech, song has greater rhythmic regularity, a more stable fundamental frequency, discrete pitch movements, and a metrical structure, this may provide a temporal framework that helps listeners neurally track information better than the rhythmically irregular rhythms of speech. The current study used EEG to examine whether entrainment to the syllable rate of linguistic utterances, as indexed by cerebro-acoustic phase coherence, was greater when listeners heard sung than spoken sentences. We assessed listeners phase-locking in both easy (no time compression) and hard (50% time-compression) utterance conditions. Adults phase-locked equally well to speech and song in the easy listening condition. However, in the time-compressed condition, phase-locking was greater for sung than spoken utterances in the theta band (3.67–5 Hz). Thus, the musical temporal and spectral characteristics of song related to better phase-locking to the slow phrasal and syllable information (4–7 Hz) in the speech stream. These results highlight the possibility of using song as a tool for improving speech processing in individuals with language processing deficits, such as dyslexia