16,931 research outputs found
Current reversal and exclusion processes with history-dependent random walks
A class of exclusion processes in which particles perform history-dependent
random walks is introduced, stimulated by dynamic phenomena in some biological
and artificial systems. The particles locally interact with the underlying
substrate by breaking and reforming lattice bonds. We determine the
steady-state current on a ring, and find current-reversal as a function of
particle density. This phenomenon is attributed to the non-local interaction
between the walkers through their trails, which originates from strong
correlations between the dynamics of the particles and the lattice. We
rationalize our findings within an effective description in terms of
quasi-particles which we call front barriers. Our analytical results are
complemented by stochastic simulations.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figure
The use of happiness research for public policy
Research on happiness tends to follow a "benevolent dictator" approach where politicians pursue people's happiness. This paper takes an antithetic approach based on the insights of public choice theory. First, we inquire how the results of happiness research may be used to improve the choice of institutions. Second, we show that the policy approach matters for the choice of research questions and the kind of knowledge happiness research aims to provide. Third, we emphasize that there is no shortcut to an optimal policy maximizing some happiness indicator or social welfare function since governments have an incentive to manipulate this indicator
Zero field muon spin lattice relaxation rate in a Heisenberg ferromagnet at low temperature
We provide a theoretical framework to compute the zero field muon spin
relaxation rate of a Heisenberg ferromagnet at low temperature. We use the
linear spin wave approximation. The rate, which is a measure of the spin
lattice relaxation induced by the magnetic fluctuations along the easy axis,
allows one to estimate the magnon stiffness constant.Comment: REVTeX 3.0 manuscript, 5 pages, no figure. Published in Phys. Rev. B
52, 9155 (1995
High-resolution radio imaging of two luminous quasars beyond redshift 4.5
Context. Radio-loud active galactic nuclei in the early Universe are rare.
The quasars J0906+6930 at redshift z=5.47 and J2102+6015 at z=4.57 stand out
from the known sample with their compact emission on milliarcsecond (mas)
angular scale with high (0.1-Jy level) flux densities measured at GHz radio
frequencies. This makes them ideal targets for very long baseline
interferometry (VLBI) observations. Aims. By means of VLBI imaging we can
reveal the inner radio structure of quasars and model their brightness
distribution to better understand the geometry of the jet and the physics of
the sources. Methods. We present sensitive high-resolution VLBI images of
J0906+6930 and J2102+6015 at two observing frequencies, 2.3 and 8.6 GHz. The
data were taken in an astrometric observing programme involving a global
five-element radio telescope array. We combined the data from five different
epochs from 2017 February to August. Results. For one of the highest redshift
blazars known, J0906+6930, we present the first-ever VLBI image obtained at a
frequency below 8 GHz. Based on our images at 2.3 and 8.6 GHz, we confirm that
this source has a sharply bent helical inner jet structure within ~3 mas from
the core. The quasar J2102+6015 shows an elongated radio structure in the
east-west direction within the innermost ~2 mas that can be described with a
symmetric three-component brightness distribution model at 8.6 GHz. Because of
their non-pointlike mas-scale structure, these sources are not ideal as
astrometric reference objects. Our results demonstrate that VLBI observing
programmes conducted primarily with astrometric or geodetic goals can be
utilized for astrophysical purposes as well.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy &
Astrophysic
Characterization of a microwave frequency resonator via a nearby quantum dot
We present measurements of a hybrid system consisting of a microwave
transmission-line resonator and a lateral quantum dot defined on a GaAs
heterostructure. The two subsystems are separately characterized and their
interaction is studied by monitoring the electrical conductance through the
quantum dot. The presence of a strong microwave field in the resonator is found
to reduce the resonant conductance through the quantum dot, and is attributed
to electron heating and modulation of the dot potential. We use this
interaction to demonstrate a measurement of the resonator transmission spectrum
using the quantum dot.Comment: 3 pages, 3 figure
Bolometric and UV Light Curves of Core-Collapse Supernovae
The Swift UV-Optical Telescope (UVOT) has been observing Core-Collapse
Supernovae (CCSNe) of all subtypes in the UV and optical since 2005. We present
here 50 CCSNe observed with the Swift UVOT, analyzing their UV properties and
behavior. Where we have multiple UV detections in all three UV filters (\lambda
c = 1928 - 2600 \AA), we generate early time bolometric light curves, analyze
the properties of these light curves, the UV contribution to them, and derive
empirical corrections for the UV-flux contribution to optical-IR based
bolometric light curves
Multi-frequency investigation of the parsec- and kilo-parsec-scale radio structures in high-redshift quasar PKS 1402+044
We investigate the frequency-dependent radio properties of the jet of the
luminous high-redshift (z = 3.2) radio quasar PKS 1402+044 (J1405+0415) by
means of radio interferometric observations. The observational data were
obtained with the VLBI Space Observatory Programme (VSOP) at 1.6 and 5 GHz,
supplemented by other multi-frequency observations with the Very Long Baseline
Array (VLBA; 2.3, 8.4, and 15 GHz) and the Very Large Array (VLA; 1.4, 5, 15,
and 43 GHz). The observations span a period of 7 years. We find that the
luminous high-redshift quasar PKS 1402+044 has a pronounced "core-jet"
morphology from the parsec to the kilo-parsec scales. The jet shows a steeper
spectral index and lower brightness temperature with increasing distance from
the jet core. The variation of brightness temperature agrees well with the
shock-in-jet model. Assuming that the jet is collimated by the ambient magnetic
field, we estimate the mass of the central object as ~10^9 M_sun. The upper
limit of the jet proper motion of PKS 1402+044 is 0.03 mas/yr (~3c) in the
east-west direction.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures
Association between clinical presentation, biogroups and virulence attributes of Yersinia enterocolitica strains in human diarrhoeal disease
Traditionally the enteric pathogen Yersinia enterocolitica has been differentiated into biogroups. Despite being considered as non-pathogenic, biogroup 1A isolates have constituted a sizeable fraction of strains from patients with gastroenteritis in many reports. To establish a potential clinical significance for biogroup 1A isolates of Y. enterocolitica, clinical disease in patients with gastroenteritis excreting such isolates was compared with symptoms among patients found infected with pathogenic biogroups. Clinical data and isolates of 66 patients from whom Y. enterocolitica had been isolated by direct plating were available for study. There was an association between patient age below 3 years and infection with ‘pathogenic' Y. enterocolitica. The severity of gastroenteritis and other symptoms, however, did not depend on the biogroup, or the presence of the virulence plasmid in the yersinia strain isolated from the patients. Strains belonging to biogroup 1A of Y. enterocolitica showed two clusters of ribotypes, one of which encompassed most isolates recovered from humans, the other being associated with environmental isolates. This might indicate the existence of human-adapted and potentially pathogenic strains among biogroup 1A of Y. enterocolitic
Association between clinical presentation, biogroups and virulence attributes of Yersinia enterocolitica strains in human diarrhoeal disease
Traditionally the enteric pathogen Yersinia enterocolitica has been differentiated into biogroups. Despite being considered as non-pathogenic, biogroup 1A isolates have constituted a sizeable fraction of strains from patients with gastroenteritis in many reports. To establish a potential clinical significance for biogroup 1A isolates of Y. enterocolitica, clinical disease in patients with gastroenteritis excreting such isolates was compared with symptoms among patients found infected with pathogenic biogroups. Clinical data and isolates of 66 patients from whom Y. enterocolitica had been isolated by direct plating were available for study. There was an association between patient age below 3 years and infection with ‘pathogenic’ Y. enterocolitica. The severity of gastroenteritis and other symptoms, however, did not depend on the biogroup, or the presence of the virulence plasmid in the yersinia strain isolated from the patients. Strains belonging to biogroup 1A of Y. enterocolitica showed two clusters of ribotypes, one of which encompassed most isolates recovered from humans, the other being associated with environmental isolates. This might indicate the existence of human-adapted and potentially pathogenic strains among biogroup 1A of Y. enterocolitica
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