1,049 research outputs found
A generic map has no absolutely continuous invariant probability measure
Let be a smooth compact manifold (maybe with boundary, maybe
disconnected) of any dimension . We consider the set of maps
which have no absolutely continuous (with respect to Lebesgue)
invariant probability measure. We show that this is a residual (dense
C^1$ topology.
In the course of the proof, we need a generalization of the usual Rokhlin
tower lemma to non-invariant measures. That result may be of independent
interest.Comment: 12 page
Analysis of Blood Cell Production under Growth Factors Switching
Hematopoiesis is a highly complicated biological phenomenon. Improving its mathematical modeling and analysis are essential steps towards consolidating the common knowledge about mechanisms behind blood cells production. On the other hand, trying to deepen the mathematical modeling of this process has a cost and may be highly demanding in terms of mathematical analysis. In this paper, we propose to describe hematopoiesis under growth factor-dependent parameters as a switching system. Thus, we consider that different biological functions involved in hematopoiesis, including aging velocities, are controlled through multiple growth factors. Then we attempt a new approach in the framework of time-delay switching systems, in order to interpret the behavior of the system around its possible positive steady states. We start here with the study of a specific case in which switching is assumed to result from drug infusions. In a broader context, we expect that interpreting cell dynamics using switching systems leads to a good compromise between complexity of realistic models and their mathematical analysis. © 201
Electrification of granular systems of identical insulators
Insulating particles can become highly electrified during powder handling,
volcanic eruptions, and the wind-blown transport of dust, sand, and snow.
Measurements in these granular systems have found that smaller particles
generally charge negatively, while larger particles charge positively. These
observations are puzzling, since particles in these systems are generally
chemically identical, and thus have no contact potential difference. We show
here that simple geometry leads to a net transfer of electrons from larger to
smaller particles, in agreement with these observations. We integrate this
charging mechanism into the first quantitative charging scheme for a granular
system of identical insulators, and show that its predictions are in agreement
with measurements. Our theory thus seems to provide an explanation for the
hitherto puzzling phenomenon of the size-dependent charging of granular systems
of identical insulators.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, published in Physical Review
Mechanisms of the Vertical Secular Heating of a Stellar Disk
We investigate the nonlinear growth stages of bending instability in stellar
disks with exponential radial density profiles.We found that the unstable modes
are global (the wavelengths are larger than the disk scale lengths) and that
the instability saturation level is much higher than that following from a
linear criterion. The instability saturation time scales are of the order of
one billion years or more. For this reason, the bending instability can play an
important role in the secular heating of a stellar disk in the direction.
In an extensive series of numerical -body simulations with a high spatial
resolution, we were able to scan in detail the space of key parameters (the
initial disk thickness , the Toomre parameter , and the ratio of dark
halo mass to disk mass ). We revealed three distinct
mechanisms of disk heating in the direction: bending instability of the
entire disk, bending instability of the bar, and heating on vertical
inhomogeneities in the distribution of stellar matter.Comment: 22 pages including 8 figures. To be published in Astronomy Letters
(v.29, 2003
New horizons for plant translational research
In this issue, we launch a new article collection "The Promise of Plant Translational Research," featuring articles from leading plant researchers and call for additional plant translational research to be submitted to PLOS Biology for inclusion in this collection. We also discuss in this Editorial why this field has a vital role to play in meeting the challenges of sustainably feeding a growing world population
Phase I clinical trial with IL-2-transfected xenogeneic cells administered in subcutaneous metastatic tumours: clinical and immunological findings
Various studies have emphasized an immunodepression state observed at the tumour site. To reverse this defect and based upon animal studies, we initiated a phase I clinical trial of gene therapy in which various doses of xenogeneic monkey fibroblasts (Vero cells) genetically engineered to produce human IL-2 were administered intratumorally in 8 patients with metastatic solid tumours. No severe adverse effect was observed in the 8 patients analysed during this clinical trial even in the highest dose (5 ¥ 107 cells) group. This absence of toxicity seems to be associated with rapid elimination of Vero-IL-2 cells from the organism. Indeed, exogenous IL-2 mRNA could no longer be detected in the peripheral whole blood 48 hours after Vero-IL-2 cell administration. In addition, we did not find any expression of exogenous IL-2 mRNA in post-therapeutic lesions removed 29 days after the start of therapy. A major finding of this trial concerns the two histological responses of two treated subcutaneous nodules not associated with an apparent clinical response. The relationship between local treatment and tumour regression was supported by replacement of tumour cells by inflammatory cells in regressing lesions and marked induction of T and natural killer cell derived cytokines (IL-2, IL-4, IFNg …) in post-therapeutic lesions analysed 28 days after the start of Vero-IL-2 administration. Gene therapy using xenogeneic cells as vehicle may therefore present certain advantages over other vectors, such as its complete absence of toxicity. Furthermore, the in vivo biological effect of immunostimulatory genes, i.e IL-2-, may be potentiated by the xenogeneic rejection reaction. © 2000 Cancer Research Campaign http://www.bjcancer.co
Investigation of the new cataclysmic variable 1RXS J180834.7+101041
We present the results of our photometric and spectroscopic studies of the
new eclipsing cataclysmic variable star 1RXS J180834.7+101041. Its spectrum
exhibits double-peaked hydrogen and helium emission lines. The Doppler maps
constructed from hydrogen lines show a nonuniform distribution of emission in
the disk similar to that observed in IP Peg. This suggests that the object can
be a cataclysmic variable with tidal density waves in the disk. We have
determined the component masses (M_WD =0.8 \pm 0.22 M_sun and M_RD =0.14 \pm
0.02 M_sun) and the binary inclination (i =78 \pm 1.5 deg) based on well-known
relations between parameters for cataclysmic variable stars. We have modeled
the binary light curves and showed that the model of a disk with two spots is
capable of explaining the main observed features of the light curves.Comment: 22 pages, 9 figures, 2 tables, published in Astronomy Letters, 2011,
37, 845-85
Chemical enrichment and star formation in the Milky Way disk III. Chemodynamical constraints
In this paper, we investigate some chemokinematical properties of the Milky
Way disk, by using a sample composed by 424 late-type dwarfs. We show that the
velocity dispersion of a stellar group correlates with the age of this group,
according to a law proportional to t^0.26, where t is the age of the stellar
group. The temporal evolution of the vertex deviation is considered in detail.
It is shown that the vertex deviation does not seem to depend strongly on the
age of the stellar group. Previous studies in the literature seem to not have
found it due to the use of statistical ages for stellar groups, rather than
individual ages. The possibility to use the orbital parameters of a star to
derive information about its birthplace is investigated, and we show that the
mean galactocentric radius is likely to be the most reliable stellar birthplace
indicator. However, this information cannot be presently used to derive radial
evolutionary constraints, due to an intrinsic bias present in all samples
constructed from nearby stars. An extensive discussion of the secular and
stochastic heating mechanisms commonly invoked to explain the age-velocity
dispersion relation is presented. We suggest that the age-velocity dispersion
relation could reflect the gradual decrease in the turbulent velocity
dispersion from which disk stars form, a suggestion originally made by Tinsley
and Larson (1978) and supported by several more recent disk evolution
calculations. A test to distinguish between the two types of models using
high-redshift galaxies is proposed.Comment: 20 pages, 10 encapsulated postscript figures, LaTeX, uses Astronomy
and Astrophysics macro aa.cls, graphicx package, to be published in Astronomy
and Astrophysics (2004), Also available at:
http://www.astro.iag.usp.br/~macie
Pitch angles of distant spiral galaxies
We have studied the pitch angles of spiral arms for 31 distant galaxies at
z~0.7 from three Hubble Deep Fields (HDF-N, HDF-S, HUDF). Using the pitch angle
- rotation velocity relation calibrated from nearby galaxies, we have estimated
the rotation velocities of galaxies from the deep fields. These estimates have
a low accuracy (~50 km/s), but they allow low-mass and giant galaxies to be
distinguished. The Tully-Fisher relation constructed using our velocity
estimates shows satisfactory agreement with the actually observed relations for
distant galaxies and provides evidence for the luminosity evolution of spiral
galaxies.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figure
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