997 research outputs found
Resolution in Linguistic Propositional Logic based on Linear Symmetrical Hedge Algebra
The paper introduces a propositional linguistic logic that serves as the
basis for automated uncertain reasoning with linguistic information. First, we
build a linguistic logic system with truth value domain based on a linear
symmetrical hedge algebra. Then, we consider G\"{o}del's t-norm and t-conorm to
define the logical connectives for our logic. Next, we present a resolution
inference rule, in which two clauses having contradictory linguistic truth
values can be resolved. We also give the concept of reliability in order to
capture the approximative nature of the resolution inference rule. Finally, we
propose a resolution procedure with the maximal reliability.Comment: KSE 2013 conferenc
Can acclimation of thermal tolerance, in adults and across generations, act as a buffer against climate change in tropical marine ectotherms?
Thermal acclimation capacity was investigated in adults of three tropical marine invertebrates, the subtidal barnacle Striatobalanus amaryllis, the intertidal gastropod Volegalea cochlidium and the intertidal barnacle Amphibalanus amphitrite. To test the relative importance of transgenerational acclimation, the developmental acclimation capacity of A. amphitrite was investigated in F1 and F2 generations reared at a subset of the same incubation temperatures. The increase in CTmax (measured through loss of key behavioural metrics) of F0 adults across the incubation temperature range 25.4–33.4 °C was low: 0.00 °C (V. cochlidium), 0.05 °C (S. amaryllis) and 0.06 °C (A. amphitrite) per 1 °C increase in incubation temperature (the acclimation response ratio; ARR). Although the effect of generation was not significant, across the incubation temperature range of 29.4–33.4 °C, the increase in CTmax in the F1 (0.30 °C) and F2 (0.15 °C) generations of A. amphitrite was greater than in the F0 (0.10 °C). These correspond to ARR's of 0.03 °C (F0), 0.08 °C (F1) and 0.04 °C (F2), respectively. The variability in CTmax between individuals in each treatment was maintained across generations, despite the high mortality of progeny. Further research is required to investigate the potential for transgenerational acclimation to provide an extra buffer for tropical marine species facing climate warming
Solving the Shortest Vector Problem in Lattices Faster Using Quantum Search
By applying Grover's quantum search algorithm to the lattice algorithms of
Micciancio and Voulgaris, Nguyen and Vidick, Wang et al., and Pujol and
Stehl\'{e}, we obtain improved asymptotic quantum results for solving the
shortest vector problem. With quantum computers we can provably find a shortest
vector in time , improving upon the classical time
complexity of of Pujol and Stehl\'{e} and the of Micciancio and Voulgaris, while heuristically we expect to find a
shortest vector in time , improving upon the classical time
complexity of of Wang et al. These quantum complexities
will be an important guide for the selection of parameters for post-quantum
cryptosystems based on the hardness of the shortest vector problem.Comment: 19 page
Number--conserving model for boson pairing
An independent pair ansatz is developed for the many body wavefunction of
dilute Bose systems. The pair correlation is optimized by minimizing the
expectation value of the full hamiltonian (rather than the truncated Bogoliubov
one) providing a rigorous energy upper bound. In contrast with the Jastrow
model, hypernetted chain theory provides closed-form exactly solvable equations
for the optimized pair correlation. The model involves both condensate and
coherent pairing with number conservation and kinetic energy sum rules
satisfied exactly and the compressibility sum rule obeyed at low density. We
compute, for bulk boson matter at a given density and zero temperature, (i) the
two--body distribution function, (ii) the energy per particle, (iii) the sound
velocity, (iv) the chemical potential, (v) the momentum distribution and its
condensate fraction and (vi) the pairing function, which quantifies the ODLRO
resulting from the structural properties of the two--particle density matrix.
The connections with the low--density expansion and Bogoliubov theory are
analyzed at different density values, including the density and scattering
length regime of interest of trapped-atoms Bose--Einstein condensates.
Comparison with the available Diffusion Monte Carlo results is also made.Comment: 21 pages, 12 figure
Metals in Sediment Cores from Nine Coastal Lagoons in Central Vietnam
After being dramatically hit by war events, Vietnam is presently
experiencing a huge economical and social development. However, very few data, relative to pollution
levels and trends, are available for the correct management of critical areas such as coastal lagoons,
where many economical activities are linked to high value environmental features. Approach: A set of
sediment cores from nine coastal lagoons of central Vietnam (Lang Co, Truong Giang, An Khe, Nuoc
Man, Nuoc Ngot, Thi Nai, O Loan, Thuy Trieu and Dam Nai) were sampled in 2008 and analyzed to
assess metal and (Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Li, Mn, Ni, Pb, V, U and Zn) and As levels and historical
trends. Results: Concentrations are generally low, with the exception of As, which often exceeds ERL
guidelines and Ni that does the same at O Loan. In some cases, concentrations-depth profiles account
for recent increasing trends but surficial values are still low when compared to both international
guidelines and polluted sediments all around the world. Sediment grain size seems to affect the depth
distribution of a number of metals and when normalized to the content of silt and clay, values are
particularly high at Dam Nai and Thi Nai, due to the very coarse composition of surficial sediments.
Conclusion: Metal concentrations in lagoon sediments derive from the composition of rocks and soils
in the watersheds. However, recent increasing trends need for further monitoring
Linear and Second-order Optical Response of the III-V Mono-layer Superlattices
We report the first fully self-consistent calculations of the nonlinear
optical properties of superlattices. The materials investigated are mono-layer
superlattices with GaP grown on the the top of InP, AlP and GaAs (110)
substrates. We use the full-potential linearized augmented plane wave method
within the generalized gradient approximation to obtain the frequency dependent
dielectric tensor and the second-harmonic-generation susceptibility. The effect
of lattice relaxations on the linear optical properties are studied. Our
calculations show that the major anisotropy in the optical properties is the
result of strain in GaP. This anisotropy is maximum for the superlattice with
maximum lattice mismatch between the constituent materials. In order to
differentiate the superlattice features from the bulk-like transitions an
improvement over the existing effective medium model is proposed. The
superlattice features are found to be more pronounced for the second-order than
the linear optical response indicating the need for full supercell calculations
in determining the correct second-order response.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures, submitted to Phy. Rev.
Improved Eavesdropping Detection Strategy in Quantum Direct Communication Protocol Based on Four-particle GHZ State
In order to improve the eavesdropping detection efficiency in two-step
quantum direct communication protocol, an improved eavesdropping detection
strategy using four-particle GHZ state is proposed, in which four-particle GHZ
state is used to detect eavesdroppers. During the security analysis, the method
of the entropy theory is introduced, and two detection strategies are compared
quantitatively by using the constraint between the information which
eavesdropper can obtain and the interference introduced. If the eavesdroppers
intend to obtain all information, the eavesdropping detection rate of the
original two-step quantum direct communication protocol by using EPR pair block
as detection particles is 50%; while the proposed strategy's detection rate is
88%. In the end, the security of the proposed protocol is discussed. The
analysis results show that the eavesdropping detection strategy presented is
more secure.Comment: 14 pages, 3 figures. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with
arXiv:quant-ph/0308173 by different author
Beta-hexosaminidases along the secretory pathway of nicotiana benthamiana have distinct specificities toward engineered helminth N-glycans on recombinant glycoproteins
Secretions of parasitic worms (helminths) contain a wide collection of immunomodulatory glycoproteins with the potential to treat inflammatory disorders, like autoimmune diseases. Yet, the identification of single molecules that can be developed into novel biopharmaceuticals is hampered by the limited availability of native parasite-derived proteins. Recently, pioneering work has shown that helminth glycoproteins can be produced transiently in Nicotiana benthamiana plants while simultaneously mimicking their native helminth N-glycan composition by co-expression of desired glycosyltransferases. However, efficient "helminthization" of N-glycans in plants by glyco-engineering seems to be hampered by the undesired truncation of complex N-glycans by beta-N-acetyl-hexosaminidases, in particular when aiming for the synthesis of N-glycans with antennary GalNAc beta 1-4GlcNAc (LacdiNAc or LDN). In this study, we cloned novel beta-hexosaminidase open reading frames from N. benthamiana and characterized the biochemical activity of these enzymes. We identified HEXO2 and HEXO3 as enzymes responsible for the cleavage of antennary GalNAc residues of N-glycans on the model helminth glycoprotein kappa-5. Furthermore, we reveal that each member of the HEXO family has a distinct specificity for N-glycan substrates, where HEXO2 has strict beta-galactosaminidase activity, whereas HEXO3 cleaves both GlcNAc and GalNAc. The identification of HEXO2 and HEXO3 as major targets for LDN cleavage will enable a targeted genome editing approach to reduce undesired processing of these N-glycans. Effective knockout of these enzymes could allow the production of therapeutically relevant glycoproteins with tailor-made helminth N-glycans in plants.Host-parasite interactio
Results of the BiPo-1 prototype for radiopurity measurements for the SuperNEMO double beta decay source foils
The development of BiPo detectors is dedicated to the measurement of
extremely high radiopurity in Tl and Bi for the SuperNEMO
double beta decay source foils. A modular prototype, called BiPo-1, with 0.8
of sensitive surface area, has been running in the Modane Underground
Laboratory since February, 2008. The goal of BiPo-1 is to measure the different
components of the background and in particular the surface radiopurity of the
plastic scintillators that make up the detector. The first phase of data
collection has been dedicated to the measurement of the radiopurity in
Tl. After more than one year of background measurement, a surface
activity of the scintillators of (Tl) 1.5
Bq/m is reported here. Given this level of background, a larger BiPo
detector having 12 m of active surface area, is able to qualify the
radiopurity of the SuperNEMO selenium double beta decay foils with the required
sensitivity of (Tl) 2 Bq/kg (90% C.L.) with a six
month measurement.Comment: 24 pages, submitted to N.I.M.
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