Nonlinear field theories during homogeneous spatial dilation

The effect of a uniform dilation of space on stochastically driven nonlinear field theories is examined. This theoretical question serves as a model problem for examining the properties of nonlinear field theories embedded in expanding Euclidean Friedmann-Lema\^{\i}tre-Robertson-Walker metrics in the context of cosmology, as well as different systems in the disciplines of statistical mechanics and condensed matter physics. Field theories are characterized by the speed at which they propagate correlations within themselves. We show that for linear field theories correlations stop propagating if and only if the speed at which the space dilates is higher than the speed at which correlations propagate. The situation is in general different for nonlinear field theories. In this case correlations might stop propagating even if the velocity at which space dilates is lower than the velocity at which correlations propagate. In particular, these results imply that it is not possible to characterize the dynamics of a nonlinear field theory during homogeneous spatial dilation {\it a priori}. We illustrate our findings with the nonlinear Kardar-Parisi-Zhang equation

Experiments to investigate particulate materials in reduced gravity fields

Study investigates agglomeration and macroscopic behavior in reduced gravity fields of particles of known properties by measuring and correlating thermal and acoustical properties of particulate materials. Experiment evaluations provide a basis for a particle behavior theory and measure bulk properties of particulate materials in reduced gravity

Electron transfer driven decomposition of adenine and selected analogs as probed by experimental and theoretical methods

We report on a combined experimental and theoretical study of electron transfer induced decomposition of adenine and a selection of analogue molecules in collisions with potassium atoms (K). Time-of-flight negative ion mass spectra have been obtained in a wide collision energy range (6–68 eV in the centre-of-mass frame), providing a comprehensive investigation of the fragmentation patterns of purine, adenine, 9-methyl adenine, 6-dimethyl adenine and 2-D adenine. Following our recent communication about selective hydrogen loss from the transient negative ions (TNI) produced in these collisions [T. Dunha et al. J. Chem. Phys. 148, 021101 (2018)], this work focuses on the production of smaller fragment anions. In the low-energy part of the present range, several dissociation channels that are accessible in free electron attachment experiments are absent from the present mass spectra, notably NH2 loss from adenine and 9-methyl adenine. This can be understood in terms of a relatively long transit time of the K+ cation in the vicinity of the TNI tending to enhance the likelihood of intramolecular electron transfer. In this case, the excess energy can be redistributed through the available degrees of freedom inhibiting fragmentation pathways. Ab initio theoretical calculations were performed for 9-methyl adenine (9-mAd) and adenine (Ad) in the presence of a potassium atom and provided a strong basis for the assignment the lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals accessed in the collision process

Multi-Wavelength Study of Sgr A*: The Short Time Scale Variability

To understand the correlation and the radiation mechanism of flare emission in different wavelength bands, we have coordinated a number of telescopes to observe SgrA* simultaneously. We focus only on one aspect of the preliminary results of our multi-wavelength observing campaigns, namely, the short time scale variability of emission from SgrA* in near-IR, X-ray and radio wavelengths. The structure function analysis indicate most of the power spectral density is detected on hourly time scales in all wavelength bands. We also report minute time scale variability at 7 and 13mm placing a strong constraint on the nature of the variable emission. The hourly time scale variability can be explained in the context of a model in which the peak frequency of emission shifts toward lower frequencies as a self-absorbed synchrotron source expands adiabatically near the acceleration site. The short time scale variability, on the other hand, places a strong constraint on the size of the emitting region. Assuming that rapid minute time scale fluctuations of the emission is optically thick in radio wavelength, light travel arguments requires relativistic particle energy, thus suggesting the presence of outflow from SgrA*.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures, The Galactic Center: A Window on the Nuclear Environment of Disk Galaxies ASP Conference Series, 2010 eds: M. Morris, D. Q. Wang and F. Yua

Stochastic growth equations on growing domains

The dynamics of linear stochastic growth equations on growing substrates is studied. The substrate is assumed to grow in time following the power law $t^\gamma$, where the growth index $\gamma$ is an arbitrary positive number. Two different regimes are clearly identified: for small $\gamma$ the interface becomes correlated, and the dynamics is dominated by diffusion; for large $\gamma$ the interface stays uncorrelated, and the dynamics is dominated by dilution. In this second regime, for short time intervals and spatial scales the critical exponents corresponding to the non-growing substrate situation are recovered. For long time differences or large spatial scales the situation is different. Large spatial scales show the uncorrelated character of the growing interface. Long time intervals are studied by means of the auto-correlation and persistence exponents. It becomes apparent that dilution is the mechanism by which correlations are propagated in this second case.Comment: Published versio

Activation and functional connectivity of cerebellum during reading and during arithmetic in children with combined reading and math disabilities

Background: Reading and math constitute important academic skills, and as such, reading disability (RD or developmental dyslexia) and math disability (MD or developmental dyscalculia) can have negative consequences for children’s educational progress. Although RD and MD are different learning disabilities, they frequently co-occur. Separate theories have implicated the cerebellum and its cortical connections in RD and in MD, suggesting that children with combined reading and math disability (RD + MD) may have altered cerebellar function and disrupted functional connectivity between the cerebellum and cortex during reading and during arithmetic processing.Methods: Here we compared Control and RD + MD groups during a reading task as well as during an arithmetic task on (i) activation of the cerebellum, (ii) background functional connectivity, and (iii) task-dependent functional connectivity between the cerebellum and the cortex.Results: The two groups (Control, RD + MD) did not differ for either task (reading, arithmetic) on any of the three measures (activation, background functional connectivity, task-dependent functional connectivity).Conclusion: These results do not support theories that children’s deficits in reading and math originate in the cerebellum

The Disproportionate Costs of Forming LLCs VS. Corporations: The Impact on Small Firm Liability Protection

The LLC is increasingly the ownership form of choice by nascent small business owners as it has some advantages over corporations and sole proprietorships and partnerships. Despite its advantages, some states have higher filing fees for LLCs than for corporations. Some states have significantly higher filing fees than other states for both LLCs and corporations. As a result, emerging companies are often discouraged from seeking liability protection, or they seek a corporation, reducing the flexibility that could be provided with an LLC. Our research shows that the disproportionate cost of starting an LLC is related to the percentage of LLCs formed in comparison with corporations. This can have significant implications to small business owners since they may be choosing ownership forms that are not advantageous to their particular venture strictly based on initial filing costs. These state policy decisions may lead to long-term tax revenue loss within states with higher filing fees