Unique equilibrium states for Bonatti–Viana diffeomorphisms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Climenhaga, Vaughn; Fisher, Todd; Thompson, Daniel J.

2018-06-01

We show that the robustly transitive diffeomorphisms constructed by Bonatti and Viana have unique equilibrium states for natural classes of potentials. In particular, we characterize the SRB measure as the unique equilibrium state for a suitable geometric potential. The techniques developed are applicable to a wide class of DA diffeomorphisms, and persist under C 1 perturbations of the map. These results are an application of general machinery developed by the first and last named authors.

Downscaling global land-use/land-cover projections for use in region-level state-and-transition simulation modeling

USGS Publications Warehouse

Sherba, Jason T.; Sleeter, Benjamin M.; Davis, Adam W.; Parker, Owen P.

2015-01-01

Global land-use/land-cover (LULC) change projections and historical datasets are typically available at coarse grid resolutions and are often incompatible with modeling applications at local to regional scales. The difficulty of downscaling and reapportioning global gridded LULC change projections to regional boundaries is a barrier to the use of these datasets in a state-and-transition simulation model (STSM) framework. Here we compare three downscaling techniques to transform gridded LULC transitions into spatial scales and thematic LULC classes appropriate for use in a regional STSM. For each downscaling approach, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) LULC projections, at the 0.5 × 0.5 cell resolution, were downscaled to seven Level III ecoregions in the Pacific Northwest, United States. RCP transition values at each cell were downscaled based on the proportional distribution between ecoregions of (1) cell area, (2) land-cover composition derived from remotely-sensed imagery, and (3) historic LULC transition values from a LULC history database. Resulting downscaled LULC transition values were aggregated according to their bounding ecoregion and “cross-walked” to relevant LULC classes. Ecoregion-level LULC transition values were applied in a STSM projecting LULC change between 2005 and 2100. While each downscaling methods had advantages and disadvantages, downscaling using the historical land-use history dataset consistently apportioned RCP LULC transitions in agreement with historical observations. Regardless of the downscaling method, some LULC projections remain improbable and require further investigation.

Object Oriented Modeling and Design

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shaykhian, Gholam Ali

2007-01-01

The Object Oriented Modeling and Design seminar is intended for software professionals and students, it covers the concepts and a language-independent graphical notation that can be used to analyze problem requirements, and design a solution to the problem. The seminar discusses the three kinds of object-oriented models class, state, and interaction. The class model represents the static structure of a system, the state model describes the aspects of a system that change over time as well as control behavior and the interaction model describes how objects collaborate to achieve overall results. Existing knowledge of object oriented programming may benefit the learning of modeling and good design. Specific expectations are: Create a class model, Read, recognize, and describe a class model, Describe association and link, Show abstract classes used with multiple inheritance, Explain metadata, reification and constraints, Group classes into a package, Read, recognize, and describe a state model, Explain states and transitions, Read, recognize, and describe interaction model, Explain Use cases and use case relationships, Show concurrency in activity diagram, Object interactions in sequence diagram.

Estimates of downed woody debris decay class transitions for forests across the eastern United States

Treesearch

Matthew B. Russell; Christopher W. Woodall; Shawn Fraver; Anthony W. D' Amato

2013-01-01

Large-scale inventories of downed woody debris (DWD; downed dead wood of a minimum size) often record decay status by assigning pieces to classes of decay according to their visual/structural attributes (e.g., presence of branches, log shape, and texture and color of wood). DWD decay classes are not only essential for estimating current DWD biomass and carbon stocks,...

Computer models of social processes: the case of migration.

PubMed

Beshers, J M

1967-06-01

The demographic model is a program for representing births, deaths, migration, and social mobility as social processes in a non-stationary stochastic process (Markovian). Transition probabilities for each age group are stored and then retrieved at the next appearance of that age cohort. In this way new transition probabilities can be calculated as a function of the old transition probabilities and of two successive distribution vectors.Transition probabilities can be calculated to represent effects of the whole age-by-state distribution at any given time period, too. Such effects as saturation or queuing may be represented by a market mechanism; for example, migration between metropolitan areas can be represented as depending upon job supplies and labor markets. Within metropolitan areas, migration can be represented as invasion and succession processes with tipping points (acceleration curves), and the market device has been extended to represent this phenomenon.Thus, the demographic model makes possible the representation of alternative classes of models of demographic processes. With each class of model one can deduce implied time series (varying parame-terswithin the class) and the output of the several classes can be compared to each other and to outside criteria, such as empirical time series.

76 FR 61358 - Information Collections Being Submitted for Review and Approval to the Office of Management and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-10-04

... Digital Low Power Television Translator, and Television Booster Stations and to Amend Rules for Digital...'') to transition from analog to digital broadcasting and states that low power television, TV translator...; Section 74.788; Low Power Television, TV Translator and Class A Television Digital Transition...

Democracy's Orphans: Rights, Responsibility, and the Role of the State in the Lives of Incarcerated Youth

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gardner, Joby

2010-01-01

Transition to adulthood is increasingly complex, extended, and challenging. Working-class Brown and Black young men face very difficult transitions, as they are overrepresented in the justice system, poverty, foster care, special education, and among victims of violence. What effects do these developments have on young people's places in free…

Observer-based robust finite time H∞ sliding mode control for Markovian switching systems with mode-dependent time-varying delay and incomplete transition rate.

PubMed

Gao, Lijun; Jiang, Xiaoxiao; Wang, Dandan

2016-03-01

This paper investigates the problem of robust finite time H∞ sliding mode control for a class of Markovian switching systems. The system is subjected to the mode-dependent time-varying delay, partly unknown transition rate and unmeasurable state. The main difficulty is that, a sliding mode surface cannot be designed based on the unknown transition rate and unmeasurable state directly. To overcome this obstacle, the set of modes is firstly divided into two subsets standing for known transition rate subset and unknown one, based on which a state observer is established. A component robust finite-time sliding mode controller is also designed to cope with the effect of partially unknown transition rate. It is illustrated that the reachability, finite-time stability, finite-time boundedness, finite-time H∞ state feedback stabilization of sliding mode dynamics can be ensured despite the unknown transition rate. Finally, the simulation results verify the effectiveness of robust finite time control problem. Copyright © 2015 ISA. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of particle size on the glass transition.

PubMed

Larsen, Ryan J; Zukoski, Charles F

2011-05-01

The glass transition temperature of a broad class of molecules is shown to depend on molecular size. This dependency results from the size dependence of the pair potential. A generalized equation of state is used to estimate how the volume fraction at the glass transition depends on the size of the molecule, for rigid molecule glass-formers. The model shows that at a given pressure and temperature there is a size-induced glass transition: For molecules larger than a critical size, the volume fraction required to support the effective pressure due to particle attractions is above that which characterizes the glassy state. This observation establishes the boundary between nanoparticles, which exist in liquid form only as dispersions in low molecular weight solvents and large molecules which form liquids that have viscosities below those characterized by the glassy state.

First-Class State Change in Plaid

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-10-01

conceptual state change. State change is pervasive in the natural world; as a dramatic example, consider the state transition from egg, to caterpillar ...All this raises a natural question: why not support abstract states in programming languages? We previously proposed Typestate-Oriented Programming as...well as trait-like state composition. Plaid has been implemented, and has proven effective for writing a diverse set of small and medium- sized (up to

Generic finite size scaling for discontinuous nonequilibrium phase transitions into absorbing states

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Oliveira, M. M.; da Luz, M. G. E.; Fiore, C. E.

2015-12-01

Based on quasistationary distribution ideas, a general finite size scaling theory is proposed for discontinuous nonequilibrium phase transitions into absorbing states. Analogously to the equilibrium case, we show that quantities such as response functions, cumulants, and equal area probability distributions all scale with the volume, thus allowing proper estimates for the thermodynamic limit. To illustrate these results, five very distinct lattice models displaying nonequilibrium transitions—to single and infinitely many absorbing states—are investigated. The innate difficulties in analyzing absorbing phase transitions are circumvented through quasistationary simulation methods. Our findings (allied to numerical studies in the literature) strongly point to a unifying discontinuous phase transition scaling behavior for equilibrium and this important class of nonequilibrium systems.

Dynamic Latent Trait Models with Mixed Hidden Markov Structure for Mixed Longitudinal Outcomes.

PubMed

Zhang, Yue; Berhane, Kiros

2016-01-01

We propose a general Bayesian joint modeling approach to model mixed longitudinal outcomes from the exponential family for taking into account any differential misclassification that may exist among categorical outcomes. Under this framework, outcomes observed without measurement error are related to latent trait variables through generalized linear mixed effect models. The misclassified outcomes are related to the latent class variables, which represent unobserved real states, using mixed hidden Markov models (MHMM). In addition to enabling the estimation of parameters in prevalence, transition and misclassification probabilities, MHMMs capture cluster level heterogeneity. A transition modeling structure allows the latent trait and latent class variables to depend on observed predictors at the same time period and also on latent trait and latent class variables at previous time periods for each individual. Simulation studies are conducted to make comparisons with traditional models in order to illustrate the gains from the proposed approach. The new approach is applied to data from the Southern California Children Health Study (CHS) to jointly model questionnaire based asthma state and multiple lung function measurements in order to gain better insight about the underlying biological mechanism that governs the inter-relationship between asthma state and lung function development.

Spin transition in a four-coordinate iron oxide

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kawakami, T.; Sutou, S.; Hirama, H.

2009-01-01

The spin transition, or spin crossover, is a manifestation of electronic instability induced by external constraints such as pressure1. Among known examples that exhibit spin transition, 3d ions with d6 electron configurations represent the vast majority, but the spin transition observed thus far has been almost exclusively limited to that between high-spin (S = 2) and low-spin (S = 0) states2-9. Here we report a novel high-spin to intermediate-spin (S = 1) state transition at 33 GPa induced by pressurization of an antiferromagnetic insulator SrFeO2 with a square planar coordination10. The change in spin multiplicity brings to ferromagnetism as wellmore » as metallicity, yet keeping the ordering temperature far above ambient. First-principles calculations attribute the origin of the transition to the strong inlayer hybridization between Fe dx 2 -y 2 O p , leading to a pressure-induced electronic instability toward the depopulation of Fe dx 2 -y 2 O p antibonding states. Furthermore, the ferromagnetic S = 1 state is half-metallic due to the inception of half-occupied spin-down (dxz, dyz) degenerate states upon spin transition. These results highlight the square-planar coordinated iron oxides as a new class of magnetic and electric materials and provide new avenues toward realizing multi-functional sensors and data-storage devices.« less

Phase transition of the susceptible-infected-susceptible dynamics on time-varying configuration model networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

St-Onge, Guillaume; Young, Jean-Gabriel; Laurence, Edward; Murphy, Charles; Dubé, Louis J.

2018-02-01

We present a degree-based theoretical framework to study the susceptible-infected-susceptible (SIS) dynamics on time-varying (rewired) configuration model networks. Using this framework on a given degree distribution, we provide a detailed analysis of the stationary state using the rewiring rate to explore the whole range of the time variation of the structure relative to that of the SIS process. This analysis is suitable for the characterization of the phase transition and leads to three main contributions: (1) We obtain a self-consistent expression for the absorbing-state threshold, able to capture both collective and hub activation. (2) We recover the predictions of a number of existing approaches as limiting cases of our analysis, providing thereby a unifying point of view for the SIS dynamics on random networks. (3) We obtain bounds for the critical exponents of a number of quantities in the stationary state. This allows us to reinterpret the concept of hub-dominated phase transition. Within our framework, it appears as a heterogeneous critical phenomenon: observables for different degree classes have a different scaling with the infection rate. This phenomenon is followed by the successive activation of the degree classes beyond the epidemic threshold.

From Plan to Market: Teaching Ideas for Social Studies, Economics, and Business Classes.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schug, Mark C.; Lopus, Jane S.; Morton, John S.

This packet of lessons focuses on the transition from a legacy of central planning to a market orientation in the economic systems of Central and Eastern Europe, the newly independent states of the former Soviet Union, and China. These lessons seek to provide high school teachers with a well-informed approach to teaching about this transition. The…

Quantum phase transitions between a class of symmetry protected topological states

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tsui, Lokman; Jiang, Hong-Chen; Lu, Yuan-Ming

2015-07-01

The subject of this paper is the phase transition between symmetry protected topological states (SPTs). We consider spatial dimension d and symmetry group G so that the cohomology group, Hd+1(G,U(1)), contains at least one Z2n or Z factor. We show that the phase transition between the trivial SPT and the root states that generate the Z2n or Z groups can be induced on the boundary of a (d+1)-dimensional View the MathML source-symmetric SPT by a View the MathML source symmetry breaking field. Moreover we show these boundary phase transitions can be “transplanted” to d dimensions and realized in lattice modelsmore » as a function of a tuning parameter. The price one pays is for the critical value of the tuning parameter there is an extra non-local (duality-like) symmetry. In the case where the phase transition is continuous, our theory predicts the presence of unusual (sometimes fractionalized) excitations corresponding to delocalized boundary excitations of the non-trivial SPT on one side of the transition. This theory also predicts other phase transition scenarios including first order transition and transition via an intermediate symmetry breaking phase.« less

Quantum phase transitions between a class of symmetry protected topological states

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tsui, Lokman; Jiang, Hong -Chen; Lu, Yuan -Ming

2015-04-30

The subject of this paper is the phase transition between symmetry protected topological states (SPTs). We consider spatial dimension d and symmetry group G so that the cohomology group, H d+1(G,U(1)), contains at least one Z 2n or Z factor. We show that the phase transition between the trivial SPT and the root states that generate the Z 2n or Z groups can be induced on the boundary of a (d+1)-dimensional G x Z T 2-symmetric SPT by a Z T 2 symmetry breaking field. Moreover we show these boundary phase transitions can be “transplanted” to d dimensions and realizedmore » in lattice models as a function of a tuning parameter. The price one pays is for the critical value of the tuning parameter there is an extra non-local (duality-like) symmetry. In the case where the phase transition is continuous, our theory predicts the presence of unusual (sometimes fractionalized) excitations corresponding to delocalized boundary excitations of the non-trivial SPT on one side of the transition. This theory also predicts other phase transition scenarios including first order transition and transition via an intermediate symmetry breaking phase.« less

Universal features of the equation of state of solids

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vinet, Pascal; Rose, James H.; Ferrante, John; Smith, John R.

1989-01-01

A study of the energetics of solids leads to the conclusion that the equation of state for all classes of solids in compression can be expressed in terms of a universal function. The form of this universal function is determined by scaling experimental compression data for measured isotherms of a wide variety of solids. The equation of state is thus known (in the absence of phase transitions), if zero-pressure volume and isothermal compression and its pressure derivative are known. The discovery described in this paper has two immediate consequences: first, despite the well known differences in the microscopic energetics of the various classes of solids, there is a single equation of state for all classes in compression; and second, a new method is provided for analyzing measured isotherms and extrapolating high-pressure data from low-pressure (e.g. acoustic) data.

Nonequilibrium phase transition in a self-activated biological network.

PubMed

Berry, Hugues

2003-03-01

We present a lattice model for a two-dimensional network of self-activated biological structures with a diffusive activating agent. The model retains basic and simple properties shared by biological systems at various observation scales, so that the structures can consist of individuals, tissues, cells, or enzymes. Upon activation, a structure emits a new mobile activator and remains in a transient refractory state before it can be activated again. Varying the activation probability, the system undergoes a nonequilibrium second-order phase transition from an active state, where activators are present, to an absorbing, activator-free state, where each structure remains in the deactivated state. We study the phase transition using Monte Carlo simulations and evaluate the critical exponents. As they do not seem to correspond to known values, the results suggest the possibility of a separate universality class.

Characterization of Dynamical Phase Transitions in Quantum Jump Trajectories Beyond the Properties of the Stationary State

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lesanovsky, Igor; van Horssen, Merlijn; Guţă, Mădălin; Garrahan, Juan P.

2013-04-01

We describe how to characterize dynamical phase transitions in open quantum systems from a purely dynamical perspective, namely, through the statistical behavior of quantum jump trajectories. This approach goes beyond considering only properties of the steady state. While in small quantum systems dynamical transitions can only occur trivially at limiting values of the controlling parameters, in many-body systems they arise as collective phenomena and within this perspective they are reminiscent of thermodynamic phase transitions. We illustrate this in open models of increasing complexity: a three-level system, the micromaser, and a dissipative version of the quantum Ising model. In these examples dynamical transitions are accompanied by clear changes in static behavior. This is however not always the case, and, in general, dynamical phases need to be uncovered by observables which are strictly dynamical, e.g., dynamical counting fields. We demonstrate this via the example of a class of models of dissipative quantum glasses, whose dynamics can vary widely despite having identical (and trivial) stationary states.

Characterization of dynamical phase transitions in quantum jump trajectories beyond the properties of the stationary state.

PubMed

Lesanovsky, Igor; van Horssen, Merlijn; Guţă, Mădălin; Garrahan, Juan P

2013-04-12

We describe how to characterize dynamical phase transitions in open quantum systems from a purely dynamical perspective, namely, through the statistical behavior of quantum jump trajectories. This approach goes beyond considering only properties of the steady state. While in small quantum systems dynamical transitions can only occur trivially at limiting values of the controlling parameters, in many-body systems they arise as collective phenomena and within this perspective they are reminiscent of thermodynamic phase transitions. We illustrate this in open models of increasing complexity: a three-level system, the micromaser, and a dissipative version of the quantum Ising model. In these examples dynamical transitions are accompanied by clear changes in static behavior. This is however not always the case, and, in general, dynamical phases need to be uncovered by observables which are strictly dynamical, e.g., dynamical counting fields. We demonstrate this via the example of a class of models of dissipative quantum glasses, whose dynamics can vary widely despite having identical (and trivial) stationary states.

Strongly correlated superconductivity and quantum criticality

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tremblay, A.-M. S.

Doped Mott insulators and doped charge-transfer insulators describe classes of materials that can exhibit unconventional superconducting ground states. Examples include the cuprates and the layered organic superconductors of the BEDT family. I present results obtained from plaquette cellular dynamical mean-field theory. Continuous-time quantum Monte Carlo evaluation of the hybridization expansion allows one to study the models in the large interaction limit where quasiparticles can disappear. The normal state which is unstable to the superconducting state exhibits a first-order transition between a pseudogap and a correlated metal phase. That transition is the finite-doping extension of the metal-insulator transition obtained at half-filling. This transition serves as an organizing principle for the normal and superconducting states of both cuprates and doped organic superconductors. In the less strongly correlated limit, these methods also describe the more conventional case where the superconducting dome surrounds an antiferromagnetic quantum critical point. Sponsored by NSERC RGPIN-2014-04584, CIFAR, Research Chair in the Theory of Quantum Materials.

Threshold of coexistence and critical behavior of a predator-prey stochastic model in a fractal landscape

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Argolo, C.; Barros, P.; Tomé, T.; Arashiro, E.; Gleria, Iram; Lyra, M. L.

2016-08-01

We investigate a stochastic lattice model describing a predator-prey system in a fractal scale-free landscape, mimicked by the fractal Sierpinski carpet. We determine the threshold of species coexistence, that is, the critical phase boundary related to the transition between an active state, where both species coexist and an absorbing state where one of the species is extinct. We show that the predators must live longer in order to persist in a fractal habitat. We further performed a finite-size scaling analysis in the vicinity of the absorbing-state phase transition to compute a set of stationary and dynamical critical exponents. Our results indicate that the transition belongs to the directed percolation universality class exhibited by the usual contact process model on the same fractal landscape.

Hunting for swinging millisecond pulsars with XMM-Newton

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Papitto, Alessandro

2013-10-01

The recent XMM discovery of a millisecond pulsar swinging between an accretion- powered (X-ray) and a rotation-powered (radio) pulsar state provided the final evidence of the evolutionary link between these two classes, demonstrating that transitions between the two states can be observed over of a few weeks. We propose a ToO program (made of 3 triggers of 60 ks, over a 3years timescale) aimed at detecting X-ray accretion powered pulsations in sources already known as ms radio pulsars. Candidates are restricted to black widows and redbacks, systems in an evolutionary phase that allows state transitions. Enlarging the number of systems in this transitional phase is crucial to test binary evolution theories, and to study the disk-field interaction over a large range of mass accretion rates.

Pressure-induced quantum phase transition in the quantum antiferromagnet CsFeCl3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hayashida, Shohei; Zaharko, Oksana; Kurita, Nobuyuki; Tanaka, Hidekazu; Hagihala, Masato; Soda, Minoru; Itoh, Shinichi; Uwatoko, Yoshiya; Masuda, Takatsugu

2018-04-01

We have studied the pressure-induced quantum phase transition in the singlet-ground-state antiferromagnet CsFeCl3. Neutron diffraction experiments under pressure evidence the magnetic long-range order at low temperatures. Magnetic structure analysis reveals a 120∘ structure with a propagation vector of kmag=(1 /3 ,1 /3 ,0 ) . The estimated critical exponent of the order parameter suggests that CsFeCl3 belongs to the universality class of U (1 ) ×Z2 symmetry which is expected to realize the chiral liquid state.

Maltreatment histories of foster youth exiting out-of-home care through emancipation: a latent class analysis.

PubMed

Havlicek, Judy

2014-01-01

Little is known about maltreatment among foster youth transitioning to adulthood. Multiple entries into out-of-home care and unsuccessful attempts at reunification may nevertheless reflect extended exposure to chronic maltreatment and multiple types of victimization. This study used administrative data from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services to identify all unduplicated allegations of maltreatment in a cohort of 801 foster youth transitioning to adulthood in the state of Illinois. A latent variable modeling approach generated profiles of maltreatment based on substantiated and unsubstantiated reports of maltreatment taken from state administrative data. Four indicators of maltreatment were included in the latent class analysis: multiple types of maltreatment, predominant type of maltreatment, chronicity, and number of different perpetrators. The analysis identified four subpopulations of foster youth in relation to maltreatment. Study findings highlight the heterogeneity of maltreatment in the lives of foster youth transitioning to adulthood and draw attention to a need to raise awareness among service providers to screen for chronic maltreatment and multiple types of victimization. © The Author(s) 2014.

Decoding brain state transitions in the pedunculopontine nucleus: cooperative phasic and tonic mechanisms

PubMed Central

Petzold, Anne; Valencia, Miguel; Pál, Balázs; Mena-Segovia, Juan

2015-01-01

Cholinergic neurons of the pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) are most active during the waking state. Their activation is deemed to cause a switch in the global brain activity from sleep to wakefulness, while their sustained discharge may contribute to upholding the waking state and enhancing arousal. Similarly, non-cholinergic PPN neurons are responsive to brain state transitions and their activation may influence some of the same targets of cholinergic neurons, suggesting that they operate in coordination. Yet, it is not clear how the discharge of distinct classes of PPN neurons organize during brain states. Here, we monitored the in vivo network activity of PPN neurons in the anesthetized rat across two distinct levels of cortical dynamics and their transitions. We identified a highly structured configuration in PPN network activity during slow-wave activity that was replaced by decorrelated activity during the activated state (AS). During the transition, neurons were predominantly excited (phasically or tonically), but some were inhibited. Identified cholinergic neurons displayed phasic and short latency responses to sensory stimulation, whereas the majority of non-cholinergic showed tonic responses and remained at high discharge rates beyond the state transition. In vitro recordings demonstrate that cholinergic neurons exhibit fast adaptation that prevents them from discharging at high rates over prolonged time periods. Our data shows that PPN neurons have distinct but complementary roles during brain state transitions, where cholinergic neurons provide a fast and transient response to sensory events that drive state transitions, whereas non-cholinergic neurons maintain an elevated firing rate during global activation. PMID:26582977

Marginal states in a cubic autocatalytic reaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Das, Debojyoti; Ghosh, Pushpita; Ray, Deb Shankar

2011-09-01

Marginal steady state belongs to a special class of states in nonlinear dynamics. To realize this state we consider a cubic autocatalytic reaction A + 2B → 3B in a continuous-stirred-tank-reactor, where the flow rate of the reactant A can be controlled to manipulate the dynamical behavior of the open system. We demonstrate that when the flow rate is weakly noisy the autocatalytic reaction admits of a steady state which is marginal in nature and is surrounded by infinite number of periodic trajectories. When the uncatalyzed reaction A → B is included in the reaction scheme, there exists a marginal steady state which is a critical state corresponding to the point of transition between the flow branch and the equilibrium branch, similar to gas-liquid critical point of transition. This state loses its stability in the weak noise limit.

Markov-chain model of classified atomistic transition states for discrete kinetic Monte Carlo simulations.

PubMed

Numazawa, Satoshi; Smith, Roger

2011-10-01

Classical harmonic transition state theory is considered and applied in discrete lattice cells with hierarchical transition levels. The scheme is then used to determine transitions that can be applied in a lattice-based kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) atomistic simulation model. The model results in an effective reduction of KMC simulation steps by utilizing a classification scheme of transition levels for thermally activated atomistic diffusion processes. Thermally activated atomistic movements are considered as local transition events constrained in potential energy wells over certain local time periods. These processes are represented by Markov chains of multidimensional Boolean valued functions in three-dimensional lattice space. The events inhibited by the barriers under a certain level are regarded as thermal fluctuations of the canonical ensemble and accepted freely. Consequently, the fluctuating system evolution process is implemented as a Markov chain of equivalence class objects. It is shown that the process can be characterized by the acceptance of metastable local transitions. The method is applied to a problem of Au and Ag cluster growth on a rippled surface. The simulation predicts the existence of a morphology-dependent transition time limit from a local metastable to stable state for subsequent cluster growth by accretion. Excellent agreement with observed experimental results is obtained.

Phase transition in a spatial Lotka-Volterra model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Szabó, György; Czárán, Tamás

2001-06-01

Spatial evolution is investigated in a simulated system of nine competing and mutating bacterium strains, which mimics the biochemical war among bacteria capable of producing two different bacteriocins (toxins) at most. Random sequential dynamics on a square lattice is governed by very symmetrical transition rules for neighborhood invasions of sensitive strains by killers, killers by resistants, and resistants by sensitives. The community of the nine possible toxicity/resistance types undergoes a critical phase transition as the uniform transmutation rates between the types decreases below a critical value Pc above that all the nine types of strains coexist with equal frequencies. Passing the critical mutation rate from above, the system collapses into one of three topologically identical (degenerated) states, each consisting of three strain types. Of the three possible final states each accrues with equal probability and all three maintain themselves in a self-organizing polydomain structure via cyclic invasions. Our Monte Carlo simulations support that this symmetry-breaking transition belongs to the universality class of the three-state Potts model.

Race-Specific Transition Patterns among Alcohol Use Classes in Adolescent Girls

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dauber, Sarah E.; Paulson, James F.; Leiferman, Jenn A.

2011-01-01

We used data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health to examine transitions among alcohol use classes in 2225 White and African American adolescent girls, and race differences in predictors of transition into and out of problematic drinking classes. Latent class analysis confirmed four classes for White girls and three for AA…

Experimental tests of factorization in charmless nonleptonic two-body B decays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ali, A.; Kramer, G.; Lü, Cai-Dian

1998-11-01

Using a theoretical framework based on the next-to-leading-order QCD-improved effective Hamiltonian and a factorization ansatz for the hadronic matrix elements of the four-quark operators, we reassess branching fractions in two-body nonleptonic decays B-->PP,PV,VV, involving the lowest-lying light pseudoscalar (P) and vector (V) mesons in the standard model. We work out the parametric dependence of the decay rates, making use of the currently available information on the weak mixing matrix elements, form factors, decay constants, and quark masses. Using the sensitivity of the decay rates on the effective number of colors, Nc, as a criterion of theoretical predictivity, we classify all the current-current (tree) and penguin transitions in five different classes. The recently measured charmless two-body B-->PP decays (B+-->K+η', B0-->K0η', B0-->K+π-, B+-->π+K0, and charge conjugates) are dominated by the Nc-stable QCD penguin transitions (class-IV transitions) and their estimates are consistent with the data. The measured charmless B-->PV (B+-->ωK+, B+-->ωh+) and B-->VV transition (B-->φK*), on the other hand, belong to the penguin (class-V) and tree (class-III) transitions. The class-V penguin transitions are Nc sensitive and/or involve large cancellations among competing amplitudes, making their decay rates in general more difficult to predict. Some of these transitions may also receive significant contributions from annihilation and/or final state interactions. We propose a number of tests of the factorization framework in terms of the ratios of branching ratios for some selected B-->h1h2 decays involving light hadrons h1 and h2, which depend only moderately on the form factors. We also propose a set of measurements to determine the effective coefficients of the current-current and QCD penguin operators. The potential impact of B-->h1h2 decays on the CKM phenomenology is emphasized by analyzing a number of decay rates in the factorization framework.

Symmetry breaking by heating in a continuous opinion model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anteneodo, Celia; Crokidakis, Nuno

2017-04-01

We study the critical behavior of a continuous opinion model, driven by kinetic exchanges in a fully connected population. Opinions range in the real interval [-1 ,1 ] , representing the different shades of opinions against and for an issue under debate. Individuals' opinions evolve through pairwise interactions, with couplings that are typically positive, but a fraction p of negative ones is allowed. Moreover, a social temperature parameter T controls the tendency of the individual responses toward neutrality. Depending on p and T , different collective states emerge: symmetry broken (one side wins), symmetric (tie of opposite sides), and absorbing neutral (indecision wins). We find the critical points and exponents that characterize the phase transitions between them. The symmetry breaking transition belongs to the usual Ising mean-field universality class, but the absorbing-phase transitions, with β =0.5 , are out of the paradigmatic directed percolation class. Moreover, ordered phases can emerge by increasing social temperature.

Front propagation and effect of memory in stochastic desertification models with an absorbing state

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Herman, Dor; Shnerb, Nadav M.

2017-08-01

Desertification in dryland ecosystems is considered to be a major environmental threat that may lead to devastating consequences. The concern increases when the system admits two alternative steady states and the transition is abrupt and irreversible (catastrophic shift). However, recent studies show that the inherent stochasticity of the birth-death process, when superimposed on the presence of an absorbing state, may lead to a continuous (second order) transition even if the deterministic dynamics supports a catastrophic transition. Following these works we present here a numerical study of a one-dimensional stochastic desertification model, where the deterministic predictions are confronted with the observed dynamics. Our results suggest that a stochastic spatial system allows for a propagating front only when its active phase invades the inactive (desert) one. In the extinction phase one observes transient front propagation followed by a global collapse. In the presence of a seed bank the vegetation state is shown to be more robust against demographic stochasticity, but the transition in that case still belongs to the directed percolation equivalence class.

Physical stability of drugs after storage above and below the glass transition temperature: Relationship to glass-forming ability.

PubMed

Alhalaweh, Amjad; Alzghoul, Ahmad; Mahlin, Denny; Bergström, Christel A S

2015-11-10

Amorphous materials are inherently unstable and tend to crystallize upon storage. In this study, we investigated the extent to which the physical stability and inherent crystallization tendency of drugs are related to their glass-forming ability (GFA), the glass transition temperature (Tg) and thermodynamic factors. Differential scanning calorimetry was used to produce the amorphous state of 52 drugs [18 compounds crystallized upon heating (Class II) and 34 remained in the amorphous state (Class III)] and to perform in situ storage for the amorphous material for 12h at temperatures 20°C above or below the Tg. A computational model based on the support vector machine (SVM) algorithm was developed to predict the structure-property relationships. All drugs maintained their Class when stored at 20°C below the Tg. Fourteen of the Class II compounds crystallized when stored above the Tg whereas all except one of the Class III compounds remained amorphous. These results were only related to the glass-forming ability and no relationship to e.g. thermodynamic factors was found. The experimental data were used for computational modeling and a classification model was developed that correctly predicted the physical stability above the Tg. The use of a large dataset revealed that molecular features related to aromaticity and π-π interactions reduce the inherent physical stability of amorphous drugs. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Density functional tight-binding and infrequent metadynamics can capture entropic effects in intramolecular hydrogen transfer reactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oliveira, Luiz F. L.; Fu, Christopher D.; Pfaendtner, Jim

2018-04-01

Infrequent metadynamics uses biased simulations to estimate the unbiased kinetics of a system, facilitating the calculation of rates and barriers. Here the method is applied to study intramolecular hydrogen transfer reactions involving peroxy radicals, a class of reactions that is challenging to model due to the entropic contributions of the formation of ring structures in the transition state. Using the self-consistent charge density-functional based tight-binding (DFTB) method, we applied infrequent metadynamics to the study of four intramolecular H-transfer reactions, demonstrating that the method can qualitatively reproduce these high entropic contributions, as observed in experiments and those predicted by transition state theory modeled by higher levels of theory. We also show that infrequent metadynamics and DFTB are successful in describing the relationship between transition state ring size and kinetic coefficients (e.g., activation energies and the pre-exponential factors).

How should we understand non-equilibrium many-body steady states?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maghrebi, Mohammad; Gorshkov, Alexey

: Many-body systems with both coherent dynamics and dissipation constitute a rich class of models which are nevertheless much less explored than their dissipationless counterparts. The advent of numerous experimental platforms that simulate such dynamics poses an immediate challenge to systematically understand and classify these models. In particular, nontrivial many-body states emerge as steady states under non-equilibrium dynamics. In this talk, I use a field-theoretic approach based on the Keldysh formalism to study nonequilibrium phases and phase transitions in such models. I show that an effective temperature generically emerges as a result of dissipation, and the universal behavior including the dynamics near the steady state is described by a thermodynamic universality class. In the end, I will also discuss possibilities that go beyond the paradigm of an effective thermodynamic behavior.

Evaluation of drought using SPEI drought class transitions and log-linear models for different agro-ecological regions of India

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alam, N. M.; Sharma, G. C.; Moreira, Elsa; Jana, C.; Mishra, P. K.; Sharma, N. K.; Mandal, D.

2017-08-01

Markov chain and 3-dimensional log-linear models were attempted to model drought class transitions derived from the newly developed drought index the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) at a 12 month time scale for six major drought prone areas of India. Log-linear modelling approach has been used to investigate differences relative to drought class transitions using SPEI-12 time series derived form 48 yeas monthly rainfall and temperature data. In this study, the probabilities of drought class transition, the mean residence time, the 1, 2 or 3 months ahead prediction of average transition time between drought classes and the drought severity class have been derived. Seasonality of precipitation has been derived for non-homogeneous Markov chains which could be used to explain the effect of the potential retreat of drought. Quasi-association and Quasi-symmetry log-linear models have been fitted to the drought class transitions derived from SPEI-12 time series. The estimates of odds along with their confidence intervals were obtained to explain the progression of drought and estimation of drought class transition probabilities. For initial months as the drought severity increases the calculated odds shows lower value and the odds decreases for the succeeding months. This indicates that the ratio of expected frequencies of occurrence of transition from drought class to the non-drought class decreases as compared to transition to any drought class when the drought severity of the present class increases. From 3-dimensional log-linear model it is clear that during the last 24 years the drought probability has increased for almost all the six regions. The findings from the present study will immensely help to assess the impact of drought on the gross primary production and to develop future contingent planning in similar regions worldwide.

Energy-Looping Nanoparticles: Harnessing Excited-State Absorption for Deep-Tissue Imaging.

PubMed

Levy, Elizabeth S; Tajon, Cheryl A; Bischof, Thomas S; Iafrati, Jillian; Fernandez-Bravo, Angel; Garfield, David J; Chamanzar, Maysamreza; Maharbiz, Michel M; Sohal, Vikaas S; Schuck, P James; Cohen, Bruce E; Chan, Emory M

2016-09-27

Near infrared (NIR) microscopy enables noninvasive imaging in tissue, particularly in the NIR-II spectral range (1000-1400 nm) where attenuation due to tissue scattering and absorption is minimized. Lanthanide-doped upconverting nanocrystals are promising deep-tissue imaging probes due to their photostable emission in the visible and NIR, but these materials are not efficiently excited at NIR-II wavelengths due to the dearth of lanthanide ground-state absorption transitions in this window. Here, we develop a class of lanthanide-doped imaging probes that harness an energy-looping mechanism that facilitates excitation at NIR-II wavelengths, such as 1064 nm, that are resonant with excited-state absorption transitions but not ground-state absorption. Using computational methods and combinatorial screening, we have identified Tm(3+)-doped NaYF4 nanoparticles as efficient looping systems that emit at 800 nm under continuous-wave excitation at 1064 nm. Using this benign excitation with standard confocal microscopy, energy-looping nanoparticles (ELNPs) are imaged in cultured mammalian cells and through brain tissue without autofluorescence. The 1 mm imaging depths and 2 μm feature sizes are comparable to those demonstrated by state-of-the-art multiphoton techniques, illustrating that ELNPs are a promising class of NIR probes for high-fidelity visualization in cells and tissue.

Transition metal-substituted lead halide perovskite absorbers

DOE PAGES

Sampson, M. D.; Park, J. S.; Schaller, R. D.; ...

2017-01-27

Here, lead halide perovskites have proven to be a versatile class of visible light absorbers that allow rapid access to the long minority carrier lifetimes and diffusion lengths desirable for traditional single-junction photovoltaics. We explore the extent to which the attractive features of these semiconductors may be extended to include an intermediate density of states for future application in multi-level solar energy conversion systems capable of exceeding the Shockley–Queisser limit. We computationally and experimentally explore the substitution of transition metals on the Pb site of MAPbX 3 (MA = methylammonium, X = Br or Cl) to achieve a tunable densitymore » of states within the parent gap. Computational screening identified both Fe- and Co-substituted MAPbBr 3 as promising absorbers with a mid-gap density of states, and the later films were synthesized via conventional solution-based processing techniques. First-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations support the existence of mid-gap states upon Co incorporation and enhanced sub-gap absorption, which are consistent with UV-visible-NIR absorption spectroscopy. Strikingly, steady state and time-resolved PL studies reveal no sign of self-quenching for Co-substitution up to 25%, which suggest this class of materials to be a worthy candidate for future application in intermediate band photovoltaics.« less

Efficient Transition Probability Computation for Continuous-Time Branching Processes via Compressed Sensing.

PubMed

Xu, Jason; Minin, Vladimir N

2015-07-01

Branching processes are a class of continuous-time Markov chains (CTMCs) with ubiquitous applications. A general difficulty in statistical inference under partially observed CTMC models arises in computing transition probabilities when the discrete state space is large or uncountable. Classical methods such as matrix exponentiation are infeasible for large or countably infinite state spaces, and sampling-based alternatives are computationally intensive, requiring integration over all possible hidden events. Recent work has successfully applied generating function techniques to computing transition probabilities for linear multi-type branching processes. While these techniques often require significantly fewer computations than matrix exponentiation, they also become prohibitive in applications with large populations. We propose a compressed sensing framework that significantly accelerates the generating function method, decreasing computational cost up to a logarithmic factor by only assuming the probability mass of transitions is sparse. We demonstrate accurate and efficient transition probability computations in branching process models for blood cell formation and evolution of self-replicating transposable elements in bacterial genomes.

Efficient Transition Probability Computation for Continuous-Time Branching Processes via Compressed Sensing

PubMed Central

Xu, Jason; Minin, Vladimir N.

2016-01-01

Branching processes are a class of continuous-time Markov chains (CTMCs) with ubiquitous applications. A general difficulty in statistical inference under partially observed CTMC models arises in computing transition probabilities when the discrete state space is large or uncountable. Classical methods such as matrix exponentiation are infeasible for large or countably infinite state spaces, and sampling-based alternatives are computationally intensive, requiring integration over all possible hidden events. Recent work has successfully applied generating function techniques to computing transition probabilities for linear multi-type branching processes. While these techniques often require significantly fewer computations than matrix exponentiation, they also become prohibitive in applications with large populations. We propose a compressed sensing framework that significantly accelerates the generating function method, decreasing computational cost up to a logarithmic factor by only assuming the probability mass of transitions is sparse. We demonstrate accurate and efficient transition probability computations in branching process models for blood cell formation and evolution of self-replicating transposable elements in bacterial genomes. PMID:26949377

Atomic frequency reference at 1033 nm for ytterbium (Yb)-doped fiber lasers and applications exploiting a rubidium (Rb) 5S_1/2 to 4D_5/2 one-colour two-photon transition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roy, Ritayan; Condylis, Paul C.; Johnathan, Yik Jinen; Hessmo, Björn

2017-04-01

We demonstrate a two-photon transition of rubidium (Rb) atoms from the ground state (5$S_{1/2}$) to the excited state (4$D_{5/2}$), using a home-built ytterbium (Yb)-doped fiber amplifier at 1033 nm. This is the first demonstration of an atomic frequency reference at 1033 nm as well as of a one-colour two-photon transition for the above energy levels. A simple optical setup is presented for the two-photon transition fluorescence spectroscopy, which is useful for frequency stabilization for a broad class of lasers. This spectroscopy has potential applications in the fiber laser industry as a frequency reference, particularly for the Yb-doped fiber lasers. This two-photon transition also has applications in atomic physics as a background- free high- resolution atom detection and for quantum communication, which is outlined in this article.

Getting Our Partners Airborne: Training Air Advisors and Their Impact In-Theater

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-06-01

perform, over time, their roles and responsi- bilities independent of US assistance. This approach is now mature in Iraq, and if the United States...Afghan airframes has begun to bear fruit . Three AAF classes have completed their pilot training in Afghanistan and, on 23 June 2013, the fourth class...launched the KA-350 program and, after it matured , transitioned operations and maintenance to full control of the IqAF. May–June 2014 Air & Space

A latent transition model of the effects of a teen dating violence prevention initiative.

PubMed

Williams, Jason; Miller, Shari; Cutbush, Stacey; Gibbs, Deborah; Clinton-Sherrod, Monique; Jones, Sarah

2015-02-01

Patterns of physical and psychological teen dating violence (TDV) perpetration, victimization, and related behaviors were examined with data from the evaluation of the Start Strong: Building Healthy Teen Relationships initiative, a dating violence primary prevention program targeting middle school students. Latent class and latent transition models were used to estimate distinct patterns of TDV and related behaviors of bullying and sexual harassment in seventh grade students at baseline and to estimate transition probabilities from one pattern of behavior to another at the 1-year follow-up. Intervention effects were estimated by conditioning transitions on exposure to Start Strong. Latent class analyses suggested four classes best captured patterns of these interrelated behaviors. Classes were characterized by elevated perpetration and victimization on most behaviors (the multiproblem class), bullying perpetration/victimization and sexual harassment victimization (the bully-harassment victimization class), bullying perpetration/victimization and psychological TDV victimization (bully-psychological victimization), and experience of bully victimization (bully victimization). Latent transition models indicated greater stability of class membership in the comparison group. Intervention students were less likely to transition to the most problematic pattern and more likely to transition to the least problem class. Although Start Strong has not been found to significantly change TDV, alternative evaluation models may find important differences. Latent transition analysis models suggest positive intervention impact, especially for the transitions at the most and the least positive end of the spectrum. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Reducing Neuronal Networks to Discrete Dynamics

PubMed Central

Terman, David; Ahn, Sungwoo; Wang, Xueying; Just, Winfried

2008-01-01

We consider a general class of purely inhibitory and excitatory-inhibitory neuronal networks, with a general class of network architectures, and characterize the complex firing patterns that emerge. Our strategy for studying these networks is to first reduce them to a discrete model. In the discrete model, each neuron is represented as a finite number of states and there are rules for how a neuron transitions from one state to another. In this paper, we rigorously demonstrate that the continuous neuronal model can be reduced to the discrete model if the intrinsic and synaptic properties of the cells are chosen appropriately. In a companion paper [1], we analyze the discrete model. PMID:18443649

Evidence for a Cosmological Phase Transition on the TeVScale

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lindesay, James V.; Noyes, H.Pierre; /SLAC

Examining the reverse evolution of the universe from the present, long before reaching Planck density dynamics one expects major modifications from the de-coherent thermal equations of state, suggesting a prior phase that has macroscopic coherence properties. The assumption that the phase transition occurs during the radiation dominated epoch, and that zero-point motions drive the fluctuations associated with this transition, specifies a class of cosmological models in which the cosmic microwave background fluctuation amplitude at last scattering is approximately 10{sup -5}. Quantum measurability constraints (e.g. uncertainly relations) define cosmological scales whose expansion rates can be at most luminal.

Quantifying Complexity in Quantum Phase Transitions via Mutual Information Complex Networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Valdez, Marc Andrew; Jaschke, Daniel; Vargas, David L.; Carr, Lincoln D.

2017-12-01

We quantify the emergent complexity of quantum states near quantum critical points on regular 1D lattices, via complex network measures based on quantum mutual information as the adjacency matrix, in direct analogy to quantifying the complexity of electroencephalogram or functional magnetic resonance imaging measurements of the brain. Using matrix product state methods, we show that network density, clustering, disparity, and Pearson's correlation obtain the critical point for both quantum Ising and Bose-Hubbard models to a high degree of accuracy in finite-size scaling for three classes of quantum phase transitions, Z2, mean field superfluid to Mott insulator, and a Berzinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless crossover.

STM studies of topological phase transition in (Bi,In)2Se3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Wenhan; Wang, Xueyun; Cheong, Sang-Wook; Wu, Weida; Weida Wu Team; Sang-Wook Cheong Collaboration

Topological insulators (TI) are a class of materials with insulating bulk and metallic surface state, which is the result of band inversion induced by strong spin-orbit coupling (SOC). The transition from topological phase to non-topological phase is of great significance. In theory, topological phase transition is realized by tuning SOC strength. It is characterized by the process of gap closing and reopening. Experimentally it was observed in two systems: TlBi(S1-xSex)2 and (Bi1-xInx)2 Se3 where the transition is realized by varying isovalent elements doping concentration. However, none of the previous studies addressed the impact of disorder, which is inevitable in doped systems. Here, we present a systematic scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy study on (Bi1-xInx)2 Se3 single crystals with different In concentrations across the transition. Our results reveal an electronic inhomogeneity due to the random distribution of In defects which locally suppress the topological surface states. Our study provides a new angle of understanding the topological transition in the presence of strong disorders. This work is supported by NSF DMR-1506618.

Energy- and k -resolved mapping of the magnetic circular dichroism in threshold photoemission from Co films on Pt(111)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Staab, Maximilian; Kutnyakhov, Dmytro; Wallauer, Robert; Chernov, Sergey; Medjanik, Katerina; Elmers, Hans Joachim; Kläui, Mathias; Schönhense, Gerd

2017-04-01

The magnetic circular dichroism in threshold photoemission (TPMCD) for perpendicularly magnetized fcc Co films on Pt(111) has been revisited. A complete mapping of the spectral function I (EB,kx,ky) (binding energy EB, momentum parallel to surface kx, ky) and the corresponding TPMCD asymmetry distribution AMCD(EB,kx,ky) has been performed for one-photon and two-photon photoemission using time-of-flight momentum microscopy. The experimental results allow distinguishing direct from indirect transitions. The measurements reveal clear band features of direct transitions from bulk bands that show a nontrivial asymmetry pattern. A significant homogeneous background with substantial asymmetry stemming from indirect transitions superposes direct transitions. Two-photon photoemission reveals enhanced emission intensity via an image potential state, acting as intermediate state. The image potential state enhances not only intensity but also asymmetry. The present results demonstrate that two-photon photoemission is a powerful method for mapping the spin-polarized unoccupied band structures and points out pathways for applying TPMCD as a contrast mechanism for various classes of magnetic materials.

Ionic and Covalent Stabilization of Intermediates and Transition States in Catalysis by Solid Acids

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Deshlahra, Prashant; Carr, Robert T.; Iglesia, Enrique

Reactivity descriptors describe catalyst properties that determine the stability of kinetically relevant transition states and adsorbed intermediates. Theoretical descriptors, such as deprotonation energies (DPE), rigorously account for Brønsted acid strength for catalytic solids with known structure. Here, mechanistic interpretations of methanol dehydration turnover rates are used to assess how charge reorganization (covalency) and electrostatic interactions determine DPE and how such interactions are recovered when intermediates and transition states interact with the conjugate anion in W and Mo polyoxometalate (POM) clusters and gaseous mineral acids. Turnover rates are lower and kinetically relevant species are less stable on Mo than W POMmore » clusters with similar acid strength, and such species are more stable on mineral acids than that predicted from W-POM DPE–reactivity trends, indicating that DPE and acid strength are essential but incomplete reactivity descriptors. Born–Haber thermochemical cycles indicate that these differences reflect more effective charge reorganization upon deprotonation of Mo than W POM clusters and the much weaker reorganization in mineral acids. Such covalency is disrupted upon deprotonation but cannot be recovered fully upon formation of ion pairs at transition states. Predictive descriptors of reactivity for general classes of acids thus require separate assessments of the covalent and ionic DPE components. Here, we describe methods to estimate electrostatic interactions, which, taken together with energies derived from density functional theory, give the covalent and ionic energy components of protons, intermediates, and transition states. In doing so, we provide a framework to predict the reactive properties of protons for chemical reactions mediated by ion-pair transition states.« less

Preparing for Life after High School: The Characteristics and Experiences of Youth in Special Education. Findings from the National Longitudinal Transition Study 2012. Volume 1: Comparisons with Other Youth. Full Report. NCEE 2017-4016

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lipscomb, Stephen; Haimson, Joshua; Liu, Albert Y.; Burghardt, John; Johnson, David R.; Thurlow, Martha L.

2017-01-01

The National Longitudinal Transition Study (NLTS) 2012 is a national study of nearly 13,000 youth with and without an individualized education program (IEP). These students were chosen to represent all students with and without an IEP in the United States in grades 7 through 12 (or secondary ungraded classes). Among the youth with an IEP are…

Preparing for Life after High School: The Characteristics and Experiences of Youth in Special Education. Findings from the National Longitudinal Transition Study 2012. Volume 1: Comparisons with Other Youth. Executive Summary. NCEE 2017-4017

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lipscomb, Stephen; Haimson, Joshua; Liu, Albert Y.; Burghardt, John; Johnson, David R.; Thurlow, Martha L.

2017-01-01

The National Longitudinal Transition Study (NLTS) 2012 is a national study of nearly 13,000 youth with and without an individualized education program (IEP). These students were chosen to represent all students with and without an IEP in the United States in grades 7 through 12 (or secondary ungraded classes). Among the youth with an IEP are…

Active-to-absorbing-state phase transition in an evolving population with mutation.

PubMed

Sarkar, Niladri

2015-10-01

We study the active to absorbing phase transition (AAPT) in a simple two-component model system for a species and its mutant. We uncover the nontrivial critical scaling behavior and weak dynamic scaling near the AAPT that shows the significance of mutation and highlights the connection of this model with the well-known directed percolation universality class. Our model should be a useful starting point to study how mutation may affect extinction or survival of a species.

Voices of the Forgotten Half: The Role of Social Class in the School-to-Work Transition

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Blustein, David L.; Chaves, Anna P.; Diemer, Matthew A.; Gallagher, Laura A.; Marshall, Kevin G.; Sirin, Selcuk; Bhati, Kuldhir S.

2002-01-01

This study examines the impact of social class on the school-to-work (STW) transitions of young adults in working-class occupations. Using an exploratory, qualitative research methodology, interviews were conducted with 10 men and 10 women to examine the role of social class in the STW transition. All participants were working in low-skilled jobs…

Estimating state-transition probabilities for unobservable states using capture-recapture/resighting data

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kendall, W.L.; Nichols, J.D.

2002-01-01

Temporary emigration was identified some time ago as causing potential problems in capture-recapture studies, and in the last five years approaches have been developed for dealing with special cases of this general problem. Temporary emigration can be viewed more generally as involving transitions to and from an unobservable state, and frequently the state itself is one of biological interest (e.g., 'nonbreeder'). Development of models that permit estimation of relevant parameters in the presence of an unobservable state requires either extra information (e.g., as supplied by Pollock's robust design) or the following classes of model constraints: reducing the order of Markovian transition probabilities, imposing a degree of determinism on transition probabilities, removing state specificity of survival probabilities, and imposing temporal constancy of parameters. The objective of the work described in this paper is to investigate estimability of model parameters under a variety of models that include an unobservable state. Beginning with a very general model and no extra information, we used numerical methods to systematically investigate the use of ancillary information and constraints to yield models that are useful for estimation. The result is a catalog of models for which estimation is possible. An example analysis of sea turtle capture-recapture data under two different models showed similar point estimates but increased precision for the model that incorporated ancillary data (the robust design) when compared to the model with deterministic transitions only. This comparison and the results of our numerical investigation of model structures lead to design suggestions for capture-recapture studies in the presence of an unobservable state.

McIntosh active-region class similarities and suggestions for mergers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bornmann, P. L.; Kalmbach, D.; Kulhanek, D.

1994-01-01

McIntosh active-region classifications reported during a five-year period were examined to determine similarities among the classes. Two methods were used extensively to determine these similarities. The number of transitions among classes were used to determine the most frequent transitions out of each class, and the alternative classes reported for the same region by different sites were used to establish which classes were neighboring classes. These transition frequencies and neighboring classes were used to identify classes that could be eliminated or merged with other classes. Class similarities were used to investigate the relative importance of several pairs of decisions that occur within a single McIntosh parameter. In particular, the redundancy of parameters in some classes was examined, and the class similarities were used to identify which of these parameters could be eliminated. Infrequently reported classes were also considered, and suggestions for mergers were made when similarities between classes could be identified.

Mississippi Community College Student Transitioning Factors from Noncredit to Credit Classes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kuntz, Wayne A.

2017-01-01

Most research about college students concentrates on credit students, with relatively little research focusing on noncredit students and why some transition from noncredit courses into credit classes. This dissertation research examined factors that may contribute to students transitioning from noncredit courses into credit classes at Mississippi…

4-Year Cohort Graduation Rate: Overview

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2010

2010-01-01

Federal law requires Pennsylvania, and all other states, to transition to a new calculation method for determining high school graduation rates. Beginning in 2012, using graduation data from the Classes of 2010 and 2011, the "4-Year Cohort Graduation Rate" calculation will replace the "4-Year Leaver Graduation Rate"…

Solar chemistry of metal complexes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gray, H. B.; Maverick, A. W.

1981-12-01

Electronic excited states of certain transition metal complexes undergo oxidation-reduction reactions that store chemical energy. Such reactions have been extensively explored for mononuclear complexes. Two classes of polynuclear species exhibit similar properties, and these complexes are now being studied as possible homogeneous sensitizer-catalysts for hydrogen production from aqueous solutions.

Reciprocal Mentoring Residencies... Better Transitions to Teaching

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Paris, Lisa

2010-01-01

The 2007 "Top of the Class" report on the Inquiry into Teacher Education in Australia found teacher induction failure and high attrition rates were endemic in most Australian states. Mentoring was advocated as an important mechanism for countering the debilitating drain attrition exerted on the profession (more than 30% within the first…

Implementing Economics Standards: A Pilot Transition Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cargill, Thomas F.; Jurosky, Jennifer; Wendel, Jeanne

2008-01-01

Most states have adopted high school economics standards, but implementation efforts face two hurdles: evidence indicates that five or six college-level economics courses are needed for high school economics teachers and that standalone high school economics classes are more effective than strategies that infuse economics into history or civics…

Molybdenum Carbamate Nanosheets as a New Class of Potential Phase Change Materials.

PubMed

Zhukovskyi, Maksym; Plashnitsa, Vladimir; Petchsang, Nattasamon; Ruth, Anthony; Bajpai, Anshumaan; Vietmeyer, Felix; Wang, Yuanxing; Brennan, Michael; Pang, Yunsong; Werellapatha, Kalpani; Bunker, Bruce; Chattopadhyay, Soma; Luo, Tengfei; Janko, Boldizsar; Fay, Patrick; Kuno, Masaru

2017-06-14

We report for the first time the synthesis of large, free-standing, Mo 2 O 2 (μ-S) 2 (Et 2 dtc) 2 (MoDTC) nanosheets (NSs), which exhibit an electron-beam induced crystalline-to-amorphous phase transition. Both electron beam ionization and femtosecond (fs) optical excitation induce the phase transition, which is size-, morphology-, and composition-preserving. Resulting NSs are the largest, free-standing regularly shaped two-dimensional amorphous nanostructures made to date. More importantly, amorphization is accompanied by dramatic changes to the NS electrical and optical response wherein resulting amorphous species exhibit room-temperature conductivities 5 orders of magnitude larger than those of their crystalline counterparts. This enhancement likely stems from the amorphization-induced formation of sulfur vacancy-related defects and is supported by temperature-dependent transport measurements, which reveal efficient variable range hopping. MoDTC NSs represent one instance of a broader class of transition metal carbamates likely having applications because of their intriguing electrical properties as well as demonstrated ability to toggle metal oxidation states.

A latent transition analysis of bullying and victimization in Chinese primary school students

PubMed Central

Lau, Puiyi; Luo, Fang

2017-01-01

Bullying is a social phenomenon that impacts a large number of children and young people, worldwide. This study aimed to longitudinally examine the development of bullying and victimization in Chinese students in grades 4, 5, and 6. We used latent class analysis to empirically identify groups of youth with different bullying and victimization patterns, and then used latent transition analysis to explore the movement of children between these latent classes over time. Results showed that: (1) across the three time points, students could be classified into four classes: bullies, victims, bully-victims, and non-involved children; and (2) students in the non-involved class tended to remain in that class when moving to higher grades, students in the bully and victims classes tended to transition to the non-involved class, while students in the bully-victims class tended to transition to the bullies class. Thus, future intervention should be implemented to prevent bully-victims from bullying behaviors. PMID:28837571

Classification of trivial spin-1 tensor network states on a square lattice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Hyunyong; Han, Jung Hoon

2016-09-01

Classification of possible quantum spin liquid (QSL) states of interacting spin-1/2's in two dimensions has been a fascinating topic of condensed matter for decades, resulting in enormous progress in our understanding of low-dimensional quantum matter. By contrast, relatively little work exists on the identification, let alone classification, of QSL phases for spin-1 systems in dimensions higher than one. Employing the powerful ideas of tensor network theory and its classification, we develop general methods for writing QSL wave functions of spin-1 respecting all the lattice symmetries, spin rotation, and time reversal with trivial gauge structure on the square lattice. We find 25 distinct classes characterized by five binary quantum numbers. Several explicit constructions of such wave functions are given for bond dimensions D ranging from two to four, along with thorough numerical analyses to identify their physical characters. Both gapless and gapped states are found. The topological entanglement entropy of the gapped states is close to zero, indicative of topologically trivial states. In D =4 , several different tensors can be linearly combined to produce a family of states within the same symmetry class. A rich "phase diagram" can be worked out among the phases of these tensors, as well as the phase transitions among them. Among the states we identified in this putative phase diagram is the plaquette-ordered phase, gapped resonating valence bond phase, and a critical phase. A continuous transition separates the plaquette-ordered phase from the resonating valence bond phase.

Dynamic non-reciprocal meta-surfaces with arbitrary phase reconfigurability based on photonic transition in meta-atoms

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Shi, Yu; Fan, Shanhui, E-mail: shanhui@stanford.edu

2016-01-11

We introduce a distinct class of dynamic non-reciprocal meta-surfaces with arbitrary phase-reconfigurability. This meta-surface consists of an array of meta-atoms, each of which is subject to temporal refractive index modulation, which induces photonic transitions between the states of the meta-atom. We show that arbitrary phase profile for the outgoing wave can be achieved by controlling the phase of the modulation at each meta-atom. Moreover, such dynamic meta-surfaces exhibit non-reciprocal response without the need for magneto-optical effects. The use of photonic transition significantly enhances the tunability and the possible functionalities of meta-surfaces.

Optical Properties in Nonequilibrium Phase Transitions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ao, T.; Lee, E.; Tam, H.

An open question about the dynamical behavior of materials is how phase transition occurs in highly nonequilibrium systems. One important class of study is the excitation of a solid by an ultrafast, intense laser. The preferential heating of electrons by the laser field gives rise to initial states dominated by hot electrons in a cold lattice. Using a femtosecond laser pump-probe approach, we have followed the temporal evolution of the optical properties of such a system. The results show interesting correlation to nonthermal melting and lattice disordering processes. They also reveal a liquid-plasma transition when the lattice energy density reachesmore » a critical value.« less

Optical Properties in Non-equilibrium Phase Transitions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ao, T; Ping, Y; Widmann, K

An open question about the dynamical behavior of materials is how phase transition occurs in highly non-equilibrium systems. One important class of study is the excitation of a solid by an ultrafast, intense laser. The preferential heating of electrons by the laser field gives rise to initial states dominated by hot electrons in a cold lattice. Using a femtosecond laser pump-probe approach, we have followed the temporal evolution of the optical properties of such a system. The results show interesting correlation to non-thermal melting and lattice disordering processes. They also reveal a liquid-plasma transition when the lattice energy density reachesmore » a critical value.« less

Nanomorphology Effects in Semiconductors with Native Ferromagnetism: Hierarchical Europium (II) Oxide Tubes Prepared via a Topotactic Nanostructure Transition.

PubMed

Trepka, Bastian; Erler, Philipp; Selzer, Severin; Kollek, Tom; Boldt, Klaus; Fonin, Mikhail; Nowak, Ulrich; Wolf, Daniel; Lubk, Axel; Polarz, Sebastian

2018-01-01

Semiconductors with native ferromagnetism barely exist and defined nanostructures are almost unknown. This lack impedes the exploration of a new class of materials characterized by a direct combination of effects on the electronic system caused by quantum confinement effects with magnetism. A good example is EuO for which currently no reliable routes for nanoparticle synthesis can be established. Bottom-up approaches applicable to other oxides fail because of the labile oxidation state +II. Instead of targeting a direct synthesis, the two steps-"structure control" and "chemical transformation"-are separated. The generation of a transitional, hybrid nanophase is followed by its conversion into EuO under full conservation of all morphological features. Hierarchical EuO materials are now accessible in the shape of oriented nanodisks stacked to tubular particles. Magnetically, the coupling of either vortex or onion states has been found. An unexpected temperature dependence is governed by thermally activated transitions between these states. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Transition-metal doped sulfide, selenide, and telluride laser crystal and lasers

DOEpatents

Krupke, W.F.; Page, R.H.; DeLoach, L.D.; Payne, S.A.

1996-07-30

A new class of solid state laser crystals and lasers are formed of transition metal doped sulfide, selenide, and telluride host crystals which have four fold coordinated substitutional sites. The host crystals include II-VI compounds. The host crystal is doped with a transition metal laser ion, e.g., chromium, cobalt or iron. In particular, Cr{sup 2+}-doped ZnS and ZnSe generate laser action near 2.3 {micro}m. Oxide, chloride, fluoride, bromide and iodide crystals with similar structures can also be used. Important aspects of these laser materials are the tetrahedral site symmetry of the host crystal, low excited state absorption losses and high luminescence efficiency, and the d{sup 4} and d{sup 6} electronic configurations of the transition metal ions. The same materials are also useful as saturable absorbers for passive Q-switching applications. The laser materials can be used as gain media in amplifiers and oscillators; these gain media can be incorporated into waveguides and semiconductor lasers. 18 figs.

Transition-metal doped sulfide, selenide, and telluride laser crystal and lasers

DOEpatents

Krupke, William F.; Page, Ralph H.; DeLoach, Laura D.; Payne, Stephen A.

1996-01-01

A new class of solid state laser crystals and lasers are formed of transition metal doped sulfide, selenide, and telluride host crystals which have four fold coordinated substitutional sites. The host crystals include II-VI compounds. The host crystal is doped with a transition metal laser ion, e.g., chromium, cobalt or iron. In particular, Cr.sup.2+ -doped ZnS and ZnSe generate laser action near 2.3 .mu.m. Oxide, chloride, fluoride, bromide and iodide crystals with similar structures can also be used. Important aspects of these laser materials are the tetrahedral site symmetry of the host crystal, low excited state absorption losses and high luminescence efficiency, and the d.sup.4 and d.sup.6 electronic configurations of the transition metal ions. The same materials are also useful as saturable absorbers for passive Q-switching applications. The laser materials can be used as gain media in amplifiers and oscillators; these gain media can be incorporated into waveguides and semiconductor lasers.

Noise-induced creation and annihilation of dissipative solitons (DS) in a passively mode-locked laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Teamir, Tesfay; Elahi, Parviz; Makey, Ghaith; Fatih, Ilday

Passive mode-locking, resulting in self-organized formation of femtoseconds-long laser pulses, constitutes a far-from-equilibrium steady state. Mode-locking is not only important for laser technology, but also of fundamental interest for broad class of systems. Despite numerous studies on their nonlinear dynamics, there is little understanding of the transitions that intrinsic noise can induce. We show that transitions between single-DS and multi-DS states can be triggered. Near critical points, DS states are observed to repeatedly exchange energy among themselves, form DS clusters with varying or vibrating temporal separation, often followed by random transformations among different states. This critical behavior appears to be caused by soliton-soliton or soliton-generated dispersive wave interactions. Irrespective of the specifics of the state, the measured noise level of the laser starts at a moderate value, is then reduced, as the DS's energy is increased. Further increases in power (nonlinearity) drives it towards a noisy critical state, where creation or annihilation of pulses occurs just before a new steady state is formed. These noise-induced transitions between steady states can shed light on the thermodynamics of far-from-equilibrium systems. TàBITAK (113F319) and ERC CoG (617521).

Evolve or Die: The U.S. Army’s Darwinian Challenge

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-05-23

5a. CONTRACT NUMBER 5b. GRANT NUMBER 5c. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER 6. AUTHOR(S) Lieutenant Colonel Todd A. Schmidt 5d...class of SAMS students, Major General Edward Cardon , Commanding General of the 2nd Infantry Division in South Korea, stated that the expectations of...uncertainty, capable of developing and leading concepts for change. “Transitions are the most important events you will have to manage,” Cardon stated

Topological phase transition in the two-dimensional anisotropic Heisenberg model: A study using the Replica Exchange Wang-Landau sampling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Figueiredo, T. P.; Rocha, J. C. S.; Costa, B. V.

2017-12-01

Although the topological Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless transition was for the first time described by 40 years ago, it is still a matter of discussion. It has been used to explain several experiments in the most diverse physical systems. In contrast with the ordinary continuous phase transitions the BKT-transition does not break any symmetry. However, in some contexts it can easily be confused with other continuous transitions, in general due to an insufficient data analysis. The two-dimensional XY (or sometimes called planar rotator) spin model is the fruit fly model describing the BKT transition. As demonstrated by Bramwell and Holdsworth (1993) the finite-size effects are more important in two-dimensions than in others due to the logarithmic system size dependence of the properties of the system. Closely related is the anisotropic two dimensional Heisenberg model (AH). Although they have the same Hamiltonian the spin variable in the former has only two degrees of freedom while the AH has three. Many works treat the AH model as undergoing a transition in the same universality class as the XY model. However, its characterization as being in the BKT class of universality deserve some investigation. This paper has two goals. First, we describe an analytical evidence showing that the AH model is in the BKT class of universality. Second, we make an extensive simulation, using the numerical Replica Exchange Wang-Landau method that corroborate our analytical calculations. From our simulation we obtain the BKT transition temperature as TBKT = 0 . 6980(10) by monitoring the susceptibility, the two point correlation function and the helicity modulus. We discuss the misuse of the fourth order Binder's cumulant to locate the transition temperature. The specific heat is shown to have a non-critical behavior as expected in the BKT transition. An analysis of the two point correlation function at low temperature, C(r) ∝r - η(T), shows that the exponent, η, is consistent with an exponential law η =η0eζT, with η0 = 0 . 025(5) and ζ = 3 . 25(10) in close agreement with the results of Cardy (1981) for the p-state clock model.

INDOOR AIR CONCENTRATIONS OF ORGANOCHLORINE, ORGANOPHOSPHATE AND PYRETHROID PESTICIDES IN THE US: FOUR STUDIES, SIX STATES AND TWENTY YEARS

EPA Science Inventory

Pesticides used to control indoor pests have transitioned across the chemicals classes of organochlorine, organophosphate, and pyrethroid compounds from the 1980's to the present. This work summarizes the pesticide concentrations measured from the indoor air of homes from four st...

The first three minutes - 1990 version. [of early universe after Big Bang

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schramm, David N.

1991-01-01

The present state of understanding of what occurred in the universe's first three minutes is reviewed. Emphasis is on the events that lead to potentially observable consequences and that are model-independent or at least generic to broad classes of models. Inflation, phase transitions, dark matter, and nucleosynthesis are summarized.

Dynamic energy models and carbon mitigation policies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tilley, Luke A.

In this dissertation I examine a specific class of energy models and their implications for carbon mitigation policies. The class of models includes a production function capable of reproducing the empirically observed phenomenon of short run rigidity of energy use in response to energy price changes and long run exibility of energy use in response to energy price changes. I use a theoretical model, parameterized using empirical data, to simulate economic performance under several tax regimes where taxes are levied on capital income, investment, and energy. I also investigate transitions from one tax regime to another. I find that energy taxes intended to reduce energy use can successfully achieve those goals with minimal or even positive impacts on macroeconomic performance. But the transition paths to new steady states are lengthy, making political commitment to such policies very challenging.

Density Functional Theory and Beyond for Band-Gap Screening: Performance for Transition-Metal Oxides and Dichalcogenides.

PubMed

Li, Wenqing; Walther, Christian F J; Kuc, Agnieszka; Heine, Thomas

2013-07-09

The performance of a wide variety of commonly used density functionals, as well as two screened hybrid functionals (HSE06 and TB-mBJ), on predicting electronic structures of a large class of en vogue materials, such as metal oxides, chalcogenides, and nitrides, is discussed in terms of band gaps, band structures, and projected electronic densities of states. Contrary to GGA, hybrid functionals and GGA+U, both HSE06 and TB-mBJ are able to predict band gaps with an appreciable accuracy of 25% and thus allow the screening of various classes of transition-metal-based compounds, i.e., mixed or doped materials, at modest computational cost. The calculated electronic structures are largely unaffected by the choice of basis functions and software implementation, however, might be subject to the treatment of the core electrons.

Amorphous ices explained in terms of nonequilibrium phase transitions in supercooled water

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Limmer, David; Chandler, David

2013-03-01

We analyze the phase diagram of supercooled water out-of-equilibrium using concepts from space-time thermodynamics and the dynamic facilitation theory of the glass transition, together with molecular dynamics simulations. We find that when water is driven out-of-equilibrium, it can exist in multiple amorphous states. In contrast, we find that when water is at equilibrium, it can exist in only one liquid state. The amorphous non-equilibrium states are solids, distinguished from the liquid by their lack of mobility, and distinguished from each other by their different densities and local structure. This finding explains the experimentally observed polyamorphism of water as a class of nonequilibrium phenomena involving glasses of different densities. While the amorphous solids can be long lived, they are thermodynamically unstable. When allowed to relax to equilibrium, they crystallize with pathways that pass first through liquid state configurations and then to ordered ice.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sinitsyn, Nikolai A.

In this paper, I identify a nontrivial four-state Landau-Zener model for which transition probabilities between any pair of diabatic states can be determined analytically and exactly. The model describes an experimentally accessible system of two interacting qubits, such as a localized state in a Dirac material with both valley and spin degrees of freedom or a singly charged quantum dot (QD) molecule with spin orbit coupling. Application of the linearly time-dependent magnetic field induces a sequence of quantum level crossings with possibility of interference of different trajectories in a semiclassical picture. I argue that this system satisfies the criteria ofmore » integrability in the multistate Landau-Zener theory, which allows one to derive explicit exact analytical expressions for the transition probability matrix. Finally, I also argue that this model is likely a special case of a larger class of solvable systems, and present a six-state generalization as an example.« less

Intergenerational Profiles of Socioeconomic (Dis)advantage and Obesity During the Transition to Adulthood

PubMed Central

Scharoun-Lee, Melissa; Adair, Linda S.; Popkin, Barry M.; Kaufman, Jay S.; Suchindran, Chirayath M.

2012-01-01

Investigations of socioeconomic status (SES) and health during the transition to adulthood in the United States are complicated by the later and more varied transitions in residence, employment, schooling, and social roles compared with previous generations. Parental SES is an important influence during adolescence but cannot sufficiently capture the SES of the independent young adult. Typical, single SES indicators based on income or education likely misclassify the SES of young adults who have not yet completed their education or other training, or who have entered the labor force early with ultimately lower status attainment. We use a latent class analysis (LCA) framework to characterize five intergenerational SES groups, combining multidimensional SES information from two time points—that is, adolescent (parental) and young adult (self) SES data. Associations of these groups with obesity, a high-risk health outcome in young adults, revealed nuanced relationships not seen using traditional intergenerational SES measures. In males, for example, a middle-class upbringing in adolescence and continued material advantage into adulthood was associated with nearly as high obesity as a working poor upbringing and early, detrimental transitions. This intergenerational typology of early SES exposure facilitates understanding of SES and health during young adulthood. PMID:21491185

Three-state Potts model on non-local directed small-world lattices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ferraz, Carlos Handrey Araujo; Lima, José Luiz Sousa

2017-10-01

In this paper, we study the non-local directed Small-World (NLDSW) disorder effects in the three-state Potts model as a form to capture the essential features shared by real complex systems where non-locality effects play a important role in the behavior of these systems. Using Monte Carlo techniques and finite-size scaling analysis, we estimate the infinite lattice critical temperatures and the leading critical exponents in this model. In particular, we investigate the first- to second-order phase transition crossover when NLDSW links are inserted. A cluster-flip algorithm was used to reduce the critical slowing down effect in our simulations. We find that for a NLDSW disorder densities p

Critical behavior of the extended Hubbard model with bond dimerization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ejima, Satoshi; Lange, Florian; Essler, Fabian H. L.; Fehske, Holger

2018-05-01

Exploiting the matrix-product-state based density-matrix renormalization group (DMRG) technique we study the one-dimensional extended (U-V) Hubbard model with explicit bond dimerization in the half-filled band sector. In particular we investigate the nature of the quantum phase transition, taking place with growing ratio V / U between the symmetry-protected-topological and charge-density-wave insulating states. The (weak-coupling) critical line of continuous Ising transitions with central charge c = 1 / 2 terminates at a tricritical point belonging to the universality class of the dilute Ising model with c = 7 / 10 . We demonstrate that our DMRG data perfectly match with (tricritical) Ising exponents, e.g., for the order parameter β = 1 / 8 (1/24) and correlation length ν = 1 (5/9). Beyond the tricritical Ising point, in the strong-coupling regime, the quantum phase transition becomes first order.

No Wasted Moments: Planning Purposeful Transitions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nicolucci, Sandra

2010-01-01

This article focuses on the nature of the "transitional minutes" in "any" music class. When transitional minutes before, during, and after rehearsals and classes are unplanned and left to chance, much viable and valuable teaching time is lost. When transitional minutes are well structured, learning can proceed efficiently. One…

Transcriptome dynamics during the transition from anaerobic photosynthesis to aerobic respiration in Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.1.

PubMed

Arai, Hiroyuki; Roh, Jung Hyeob; Kaplan, Samuel

2008-01-01

Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.1 is a facultative photosynthetic anaerobe that grows by anoxygenic photosynthesis under anaerobic-light conditions. Changes in energy generation pathways under photosynthetic and aerobic respiratory conditions are primarily controlled by oxygen tensions. In this study, we performed time series microarray analyses to investigate transcriptome dynamics during the transition from anaerobic photosynthesis to aerobic respiration. Major changes in gene expression profiles occurred in the initial 15 min after the shift from anaerobic-light to aerobic-dark conditions, with changes continuing to occur up to 4 hours postshift. Those genes whose expression levels changed significantly during the time series were grouped into three major classes by clustering analysis. Class I contained genes, such as that for the aa3 cytochrome oxidase, whose expression levels increased after the shift. Class II contained genes, such as those for the photosynthetic apparatus and Calvin cycle enzymes, whose expression levels decreased after the shift. Class III contained genes whose expression levels temporarily increased during the time series. Many genes for metabolism and transport of carbohydrates or lipids were significantly induced early during the transition, suggesting that those endogenous compounds were initially utilized as carbon sources. Oxidation of those compounds might also be required for maintenance of redox homeostasis after exposure to oxygen. Genes for the repair of protein and sulfur groups and uptake of ferric iron were temporarily upregulated soon after the shift, suggesting they were involved in a response to oxidative stress. The flagellar-biosynthesis genes were expressed in a hierarchical manner at 15 to 60 min after the shift. Numerous transporters were induced at various time points, suggesting that the cellular composition went through significant changes during the transition from anaerobic photosynthesis to aerobic respiration. Analyses of these data make it clear that numerous regulatory activities come into play during the transition from one homeostatic state to another.

Critical Behaviors in Contagion Dynamics.

PubMed

Böttcher, L; Nagler, J; Herrmann, H J

2017-02-24

We study the critical behavior of a general contagion model where nodes are either active (e.g., with opinion A, or functioning) or inactive (e.g., with opinion B, or damaged). The transitions between these two states are determined by (i) spontaneous transitions independent of the neighborhood, (ii) transitions induced by neighboring nodes, and (iii) spontaneous reverse transitions. The resulting dynamics is extremely rich including limit cycles and random phase switching. We derive a unifying mean-field theory. Specifically, we analytically show that the critical behavior of systems whose dynamics is governed by processes (i)-(iii) can only exhibit three distinct regimes: (a) uncorrelated spontaneous transition dynamics, (b) contact process dynamics, and (c) cusp catastrophes. This ends a long-standing debate on the universality classes of complex contagion dynamics in mean field and substantially deepens its mathematical understanding.

Multistability and tipping: From mathematics and physics to climate and brain-Minireview and preface to the focus issue.

PubMed

Feudel, Ulrike; Pisarchik, Alexander N; Showalter, Kenneth

2018-03-01

Multistability refers to the coexistence of different stable states in nonlinear dynamical systems. This phenomenon has been observed in laboratory experiments and in nature. In this introduction, we briefly introduce the classes of dynamical systems in which this phenomenon has been found and discuss the extension to new system classes. Furthermore, we introduce the concept of critical transitions and discuss approaches to distinguish them according to their characteristics. Finally, we present some specific applications in physics, neuroscience, biology, ecology, and climate science.

Multistability and tipping: From mathematics and physics to climate and brain—Minireview and preface to the focus issue

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Feudel, Ulrike; Pisarchik, Alexander N.; Showalter, Kenneth

2018-03-01

Multistability refers to the coexistence of different stable states in nonlinear dynamical systems. This phenomenon has been observed in laboratory experiments and in nature. In this introduction, we briefly introduce the classes of dynamical systems in which this phenomenon has been found and discuss the extension to new system classes. Furthermore, we introduce the concept of critical transitions and discuss approaches to distinguish them according to their characteristics. Finally, we present some specific applications in physics, neuroscience, biology, ecology, and climate science.

Conserved directed percolation: exact quasistationary distribution of small systems and Monte Carlo simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

César Mansur Filho, Júlio; Dickman, Ronald

2011-05-01

We study symmetric sleepy random walkers, a model exhibiting an absorbing-state phase transition in the conserved directed percolation (CDP) universality class. Unlike most examples of this class studied previously, this model possesses a continuously variable control parameter, facilitating analysis of critical properties. We study the model using two complementary approaches: analysis of the numerically exact quasistationary (QS) probability distribution on rings of up to 22 sites, and Monte Carlo simulation of systems of up to 32 000 sites. The resulting estimates for critical exponents β, \\beta /\

Teething Problems in the Academy: Negotiating the Transition to Large-Class Teaching in the Discipline of History

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Keirle, Philip A.; Morgan, Ruth A.

2011-01-01

In this paper we provide a template for transitioning from tutorial to larger-class teaching environments in the discipline of history. We commence by recognising a number of recent trends in tertiary education in Australian universities that have made this transition to larger class sizes an imperative for many academics: increased student…

A Latent Transition Model with Logistic Regression

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chung, Hwan; Walls, Theodore A.; Park, Yousung

2007-01-01

Latent transition models increasingly include covariates that predict prevalence of latent classes at a given time or transition rates among classes over time. In many situations, the covariate of interest may be latent. This paper describes an approach for handling both manifest and latent covariates in a latent transition model. A Bayesian…

Ising tricriticality in the extended Hubbard model with bond dimerization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fehske, Holger; Ejima, Satoshi; Lange, Florian; Essler, Fabian H. L.

We explore the quantum phase transition between Peierls and charge-density-wave insulating states in the one-dimensional, half-filled, extended Hubbard model with explicit bond dimerization. We show that the critical line of the continuous Ising transition terminates at a tricritical point, belonging to the universality class of the tricritical Ising model with central charge c=7/10. Above this point, the quantum phase transition becomes first order. Employing a numerical matrix-product-state based (infinite) density-matrix renormalization group method we determine the ground-state phase diagram, the spin and two-particle charge excitations gaps, and the entanglement properties of the model with high precision. Performing a bosonization analysis we can derive a field description of the transition region in terms of a triple sine-Gordon model. This allows us to derive field theory predictions for the power-law (exponential) decay of the density-density (spin-spin) and bond-order-wave correlation functions, which are found to be in excellent agreement with our numerical results. This work was supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Germany), SFB 652, project B5, and by the EPSRC under Grant No. EP/N01930X/1 (FHLE).

Reentrant topological phase transition in a bridging model between Kitaev and Haldane chains

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sugimoto, Takanori; Ohtsu, Mitsuyoshi; Tohyama, Takami

2017-12-01

We present a reentrant phase transition in a bridging model between two different topological models: Kitaev and Haldane chains. This model is activated by introducing a bond alternation into the Kitaev chain [A. Y. Kitaev, Phys. Usp. 44, 131 (2001), 10.1070/1063-7869/44/10S/S29]. Without the bond alternation, the finite pairing potential induces a topological state defined by the zero-energy Majorana edge mode, while finite bond alternation without the pairing potential makes a different topological state similar to the Haldane state, which is defined by the local Berry phase in the bulk. The topologically ordered state corresponds to the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger state, which is classified as the same symmetry class. We thus find a phase transition between the two topological phases with a reentrant phenomenon, and extend the phase diagram in the plane of the pairing potential and the bond alternation by using three techniques: recursive equation, fidelity, and Pfaffian. In addition, we find that the phase transition is characterized by both the change of the position of Majorana zero-energy modes from one edge to the other edge and the emergence of a string order in the bulk, and that the reentrance is based on a sublattice U(1) rotation. Consequently, our paper and model not only open a direct way to discuss the bulk and edge topologies but demonstrate an example of the reentrant topologies.

High-Dimensional Disorder-Driven Phenomena in Weyl Semimetals, Semiconductors, and Related Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Syzranov, Sergey V.; Radzihovsky, Leo

2018-03-01

It is commonly believed that a noninteracting disordered electronic system can undergo only the Anderson metal-insulator transition. It has been suggested, however, that a broad class of systems can display disorder-driven transitions distinct from Anderson localization that have manifestations in the disorder-averaged density of states, conductivity, and other observables. Such transitions have received particular attention in the context of recently discovered 3D Weyl and Dirac materials but have also been predicted in cold-atom systems with long-range interactions, quantum kicked rotors, and all sufficiently high-dimensional systems. Moreover, such systems exhibit unconventional behavior of Lifshitz tails, energy-level statistics, and ballistic-transport properties. Here, we review recent progress and the status of results on non-Anderson disorder-driven transitions and related phenomena.

Other Worlds, Other Earths

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sunbury, Susan; Gould, R. R.

2011-05-01

The Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics is developing a two-to-three week NSF-funded program for middle and high school students using telescope-based investigations of real world cutting edge scientific questions. The goal is to reveal and enhance students' understanding of core concepts in the physical sciences as well as to develop their proficiency in the practice of scientific inquiry. Specifically, students and teachers are joining scientists in the search for habitable worlds by exploring transiting exoplanets. Using robotic telescopes, image processing software and simulations, students take images and then measure the brightness of their target star to create a portrait of a transiting planet including how large it is; the tilt of its orbit; how far it is from its star and what its environment might be like. Once classes collect and analyze their own data, they can begin to compare, combine, and communicate their findings with others in the community. Interactive models help students predict what they might expect to find and interpret what they do find. During the past two years, the Center for Astrophysics has tested the concept in fifty middle-and high-school classrooms, enrichment classes and after school science clubs in 13 states across the United States. To date, astronomy, earth science, and physics students have successfully detected Jupiter-sized planets transiting stars such as TRES-3, HATP-10, and HATP-12. Preliminary results indicate that learning of core concept did occur. Gains in content were most significant in middle school students as this project delivered new information to them while it served primarily as a review of concepts and application of skills for advanced placement classes. A significant change also occurred in students’ self reported knowledge of exoplanets. There was also an increase in students’ awareness of exoplanets and attitudes about science after participating in this project.

Using WYSIWYG GUI Tools with UML

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-06-01

diagram that shows the ports through which it sends and receives messages to and from other active classes. The behavior is described using a state...software that talks to its environment through ports (specified in the structure diagram), and performs actions as it transitions through a sequence of...used to trigger actions on the state diagram. As a result, the stimulus to these events is pro- vided by the system itself in the case of the timer port

The Physics of Imaging with Remote Sensors : Photon State Space & Radiative Transfer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Davis, Anthony B.

2012-01-01

Standard (mono-pixel/steady-source) retrieval methodology is reaching its fundamental limit with access to multi-angle/multi-spectral photo- polarimetry. Next... Two emerging new classes of retrieval algorithm worth nurturing: multi-pixel time-domain Wave-radiometry transition regimes, and more... Cross-fertilization with bio-medical imaging. Physics-based remote sensing: - What is "photon state space?" - What is "radiative transfer?" - Is "the end" in sight? Two wide-open frontiers! center dot Examples (with variations.

Correlating non-linear properties with spectral states of RXTE data: possible observational evidences for four different accretion modes around compact objects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adegoke, Oluwashina; Dhang, Prasun; Mukhopadhyay, Banibrata; Ramadevi, M. C.; Bhattacharya, Debbijoy

2018-05-01

By analysing the time series of RXTE/PCA data, the non-linear variabilities of compact sources have been repeatedly established. Depending on the variation in temporal classes, compact sources exhibit different non-linear features. Sometimes they show low correlation/fractal dimension, but in other classes or intervals of time they exhibit stochastic nature. This could be because the accretion flow around a compact object is a non-linear general relativistic system involving magnetohydrodynamics. However, the more conventional way of addressing a compact source is the analysis of its spectral state. Therefore, the question arises: What is the connection of non-linearity to the underlying spectral properties of the flow when the non-linear properties are related to the associated transport mechanisms describing the geometry of the flow? This work is aimed at addressing this question. Based on the connection between observed spectral and non-linear (time series) properties of two X-ray binaries: GRS 1915+105 and Sco X-1, we attempt to diagnose the underlying accretion modes of the sources in terms of known accretion classes, namely, Keplerian disc, slim disc, advection dominated accretion flow and general advective accretion flow. We explore the possible transition of the sources from one accretion mode to others with time. We further argue that the accretion rate must play an important role in transition between these modes.

The phase transitions between Z n × Z n bosonic topological phases in 1 + 1D, and a constraint on the central charge for the critical points between bosonic symmetry protected topological phases

DOE PAGES

Tsui, Lokman; Huang, Yen-Ta; Jiang, Hong-Chen; ...

2017-03-27

The study of continuous phase transitions triggered by spontaneous symmetry breaking has brought revolutionary ideas to physics. Recently, through the discovery of symmetry protected topological phases, it is realized that continuous quantum phase transition can also occur between states with the same symmetry but different topology. Here in this paper we study a specific class of such phase transitions in 1+1 dimensions – the phase transition between bosonic topological phases protected by Z n × Z n. We find in all cases the critical point possesses two gap opening relevant operators: one leads to a Landau-forbidden symmetry breaking phase transitionmore » and the other to the topological phase transition. We also obtained a constraint on the central charge for general phase transitions between symmetry protected bosonic topological phases in 1+1D.« less

The phase transitions between Z n × Z n bosonic topological phases in 1 + 1D, and a constraint on the central charge for the critical points between bosonic symmetry protected topological phases

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tsui, Lokman; Huang, Yen-Ta; Jiang, Hong-Chen

The study of continuous phase transitions triggered by spontaneous symmetry breaking has brought revolutionary ideas to physics. Recently, through the discovery of symmetry protected topological phases, it is realized that continuous quantum phase transition can also occur between states with the same symmetry but different topology. Here in this paper we study a specific class of such phase transitions in 1+1 dimensions – the phase transition between bosonic topological phases protected by Z n × Z n. We find in all cases the critical point possesses two gap opening relevant operators: one leads to a Landau-forbidden symmetry breaking phase transitionmore » and the other to the topological phase transition. We also obtained a constraint on the central charge for general phase transitions between symmetry protected bosonic topological phases in 1+1D.« less

Problem Solvers: Teacher Leader Teams with Content Specialist to Strengthen Math Instruction

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zrike, Sara; Connolly, Christine

2015-01-01

In early November 2013, the authors started talking about visiting the Hurley School, a dual-language school in Boston, Massachusetts. The Hurley School had spent considerable time transitioning to the Common Core State Standards on literacy, but little time addressing the shifts in math. They worried that math classes were no longer rigorous…

Using Stories to Teach Flow in Educational Gymnastics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Doering, Natalie

2006-01-01

This article illustrates a lesson idea used by a real teacher, in a real class setting with fourth-and fifth-grade students in the United States. The teacher created this lesson idea as she struggled to answer the question, "How can I help my students use transitions to create flow in their gymnastics routines?" Together with the author, the…

Solvable four-state Landau-Zener model of two interacting qubits with path interference

DOE PAGES

Sinitsyn, Nikolai A.

2015-11-30

In this paper, I identify a nontrivial four-state Landau-Zener model for which transition probabilities between any pair of diabatic states can be determined analytically and exactly. The model describes an experimentally accessible system of two interacting qubits, such as a localized state in a Dirac material with both valley and spin degrees of freedom or a singly charged quantum dot (QD) molecule with spin orbit coupling. Application of the linearly time-dependent magnetic field induces a sequence of quantum level crossings with possibility of interference of different trajectories in a semiclassical picture. I argue that this system satisfies the criteria ofmore » integrability in the multistate Landau-Zener theory, which allows one to derive explicit exact analytical expressions for the transition probability matrix. Finally, I also argue that this model is likely a special case of a larger class of solvable systems, and present a six-state generalization as an example.« less

Integrating Ecosystem Carbon Dynamics into State-and-Transition Simulation Models of Land Use/Land Cover Change

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sleeter, B. M.; Daniel, C.; Frid, L.; Fortin, M. J.

2016-12-01

State-and-transition simulation models (STSMs) provide a general approach for incorporating uncertainty into forecasts of landscape change. Using a Monte Carlo approach, STSMs generate spatially-explicit projections of the state of a landscape based upon probabilistic transitions defined between states. While STSMs are based on the basic principles of Markov chains, they have additional properties that make them applicable to a wide range of questions and types of landscapes. A current limitation of STSMs is that they are only able to track the fate of discrete state variables, such as land use/land cover (LULC) classes. There are some landscape modelling questions, however, for which continuous state variables - for example carbon biomass - are also required. Here we present a new approach for integrating continuous state variables into spatially-explicit STSMs. Specifically we allow any number of continuous state variables to be defined for each spatial cell in our simulations; the value of each continuous variable is then simulated forward in discrete time as a stochastic process based upon defined rates of change between variables. These rates can be defined as a function of the realized states and transitions of each cell in the STSM, thus providing a connection between the continuous variables and the dynamics of the landscape. We demonstrate this new approach by (1) developing a simple IPCC Tier 3 compliant model of ecosystem carbon biomass, where the continuous state variables are defined as terrestrial carbon biomass pools and the rates of change as carbon fluxes between pools, and (2) integrating this carbon model with an existing LULC change model for the state of Hawaii, USA.

Rational Design Synthesis and Evaluation of New Selective Inhibitors of Microbial Class II (Zinc Dependent) Fructose Bis-phosphate Aldolases

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

R Daher; M Coincon; M Fonvielle

2011-12-31

We report the synthesis and biochemical evaluation of several selective inhibitors of class II (zinc dependent) fructose bis-phosphate aldolases (Fba). The products were designed as transition-state analogues of the catalyzed reaction, structurally related to the substrate fructose bis-phosphate (or sedoheptulose bis-phosphate) and based on an N-substituted hydroxamic acid, as a chelator of the zinc ion present in active site. The compounds synthesized were tested on class II Fbas from various pathogenic microorganisms and, by comparison, on a mammalian class I Fba. The best inhibitor shows Ki against class II Fbas from various pathogens in the nM range, with very highmore » selectivity (up to 105). Structural analyses of inhibitors in complex with aldolases rationalize and corroborate the enzymatic kinetics results. These inhibitors represent lead compounds for the preparation of new synthetic antibiotics, notably for tuberculosis prophylaxis.« less

Quantum incommensurate skyrmion crystals and commensurate to in-commensurate transitions in cold atoms and materials with spin-orbit couplings in a Zeeman field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Fadi; Ye, Jinwu; Liu, Wu-Ming

2017-08-01

In this work, we study strongly interacting spinor atoms in a lattice subject to a two dimensional (2d) anisotropic Rashba type of spin orbital coupling (SOC) and an Zeeman field. We find the interplay between the Zeeman field and the SOC provides a new platform to host rich and novel classes of quantum commensurate and in-commensurate phases, excitations and phase transitions. These commensurate phases include two collinear states at low and high Zeeman field, two co-planar canted states at mirror reflected SOC parameters respectively. Most importantly, there are non-coplanar incommensurate Skyrmion (IC-SkX) crystal phases surrounded by the four commensurate phases. New excitation spectra above all the five phases, especially on the IC-SKX phase are computed. Three different classes of quantum commensurate to in-commensurate transitions from the IC-SKX to its four neighboring commensurate phases are identified. Finite temperature behaviors and transitions are discussed. The critical temperatures of all the phases can be raised above that reachable by current cold atom cooling techniques simply by tuning the number of atoms N per site. In view of recent impressive experimental advances in generating 2d SOC for cold atoms in optical lattices, these new many-body phenomena can be explored in the current and near future cold atom experiments. Applications to various materials such as MnSi, {Fe}}0.5 {Co}}0.5Si, especially the complex incommensurate magnetic ordering in Li2IrO3 are given.

Universal Features of Metastable State Energies in Cellular Matter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Sangwoo; Wang, Yiliang; Hilgenfeldt, Sascha

2018-06-01

Mechanical equilibrium states of cellular matter are overwhelmingly metastable and separated from each other by topology changes. Using theory and simulations, it is shown that for a wide class of energy functionals in 2D, including those describing tissue cell layers, local energy differences between neighboring metastable states as well as global energy differences between initial states and ground states are governed by simple, universal relations. Knowledge of instantaneous length of an edge undergoing a T 1 transition is sufficient to predict local energy changes, while the initial edge length distribution yields a successful prediction for the global energy difference. An analytical understanding of the model parameters is provided.

State-and-transition simulation models: a framework for forecasting landscape change

USGS Publications Warehouse

Daniel, Colin; Frid, Leonardo; Sleeter, Benjamin M.; Fortin, Marie-Josée

2016-01-01

SummaryA wide range of spatially explicit simulation models have been developed to forecast landscape dynamics, including models for projecting changes in both vegetation and land use. While these models have generally been developed as separate applications, each with a separate purpose and audience, they share many common features.We present a general framework, called a state-and-transition simulation model (STSM), which captures a number of these common features, accompanied by a software product, called ST-Sim, to build and run such models. The STSM method divides a landscape into a set of discrete spatial units and simulates the discrete state of each cell forward as a discrete-time-inhomogeneous stochastic process. The method differs from a spatially interacting Markov chain in several important ways, including the ability to add discrete counters such as age and time-since-transition as state variables, to specify one-step transition rates as either probabilities or target areas, and to represent multiple types of transitions between pairs of states.We demonstrate the STSM method using a model of land-use/land-cover (LULC) change for the state of Hawai'i, USA. Processes represented in this example include expansion/contraction of agricultural lands, urbanization, wildfire, shrub encroachment into grassland and harvest of tree plantations; the model also projects shifts in moisture zones due to climate change. Key model output includes projections of the future spatial and temporal distribution of LULC classes and moisture zones across the landscape over the next 50 years.State-and-transition simulation models can be applied to a wide range of landscapes, including questions of both land-use change and vegetation dynamics. Because the method is inherently stochastic, it is well suited for characterizing uncertainty in model projections. When combined with the ST-Sim software, STSMs offer a simple yet powerful means for developing a wide range of models of landscape dynamics.

Lagrangian descriptors of driven chemical reaction manifolds.

PubMed

Craven, Galen T; Junginger, Andrej; Hernandez, Rigoberto

2017-08-01

The persistence of a transition state structure in systems driven by time-dependent environments allows the application of modern reaction rate theories to solution-phase and nonequilibrium chemical reactions. However, identifying this structure is problematic in driven systems and has been limited by theories built on series expansion about a saddle point. Recently, it has been shown that to obtain formally exact rates for reactions in thermal environments, a transition state trajectory must be constructed. Here, using optimized Lagrangian descriptors [G. T. Craven and R. Hernandez, Phys. Rev. Lett. 115, 148301 (2015)PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.115.148301], we obtain this so-called distinguished trajectory and the associated moving reaction manifolds on model energy surfaces subject to various driving and dissipative conditions. In particular, we demonstrate that this is exact for harmonic barriers in one dimension and this verification gives impetus to the application of Lagrangian descriptor-based methods in diverse classes of chemical reactions. The development of these objects is paramount in the theory of reaction dynamics as the transition state structure and its underlying network of manifolds directly dictate reactivity and selectivity.

Monte-Carlo simulations of the clean and disordered contact process in three space dimensions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vojta, Thomas

2013-03-01

The absorbing-state transition in the three-dimensional contact process with and without quenched randomness is investigated by means of Monte-Carlo simulations. In the clean case, a reweighting technique is combined with a careful extrapolation of the data to infinite time to determine with high accuracy the critical behavior in the three-dimensional directed percolation universality class. In the presence of quenched spatial disorder, our data demonstrate that the absorbing-state transition is governed by an unconventional infinite-randomness critical point featuring activated dynamical scaling. The critical behavior of this transition does not depend on the disorder strength, i.e., it is universal. Close to the disordered critical point, the dynamics is characterized by the nonuniversal power laws typical of a Griffiths phase. We compare our findings to the results of other numerical methods, and we relate them to a general classification of phase transitions in disordered systems based on the rare region dimensionality. This work has been supported in part by the NSF under grants no. DMR-0906566 and DMR-1205803.

FAST TRACK COMMUNICATION: The nonlinear fragmentation equation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ernst, Matthieu H.; Pagonabarraga, Ignacio

2007-04-01

We study the kinetics of nonlinear irreversible fragmentation. Here, fragmentation is induced by interactions/collisions between pairs of particles and modelled by general classes of interaction kernels, for several types of breakage models. We construct initial value and scaling solutions of the fragmentation equations, and apply the 'non-vanishing mass flux' criterion for the occurrence of shattering transitions. These properties enable us to determine the phase diagram for the occurrence of shattering states and of scaling states in the phase space of model parameters.

Dynamics of the quantum phase transition in the one-dimensional Bose-Hubbard model: Excitations and correlations induced by a quench

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gardas, Bartłomiej; Dziarmaga, Jacek; Zurek, Wojciech H.

The ground state of the one-dimensional Bose-Hubbard model at unit filling undergoes the Mott-superfluid quantum phase transition. It belongs to the Kosterlitz-Thouless universality class with an exponential divergence of the correlation length in place of the usual power law. Here, we present numerical simulations of a linear quench both from the Mott insulator to superfluid and back. The results satisfy the scaling hypothesis that follows from the Kibble-Zurek mechanism (KZM). In the superfluid-to-Mott quenches there is no significant excitation in the superfluid phase despite its gaplessness. And since all critical superfluid ground states are qualitatively similar, the excitation begins tomore » build up only after crossing the critical point when the ground state begins to change fundamentally. The last process falls into the KZM framework.« less

Dynamics of the quantum phase transition in the one-dimensional Bose-Hubbard model: Excitations and correlations induced by a quench

DOE PAGES

Gardas, Bartłomiej; Dziarmaga, Jacek; Zurek, Wojciech H.

2017-03-24

The ground state of the one-dimensional Bose-Hubbard model at unit filling undergoes the Mott-superfluid quantum phase transition. It belongs to the Kosterlitz-Thouless universality class with an exponential divergence of the correlation length in place of the usual power law. Here, we present numerical simulations of a linear quench both from the Mott insulator to superfluid and back. The results satisfy the scaling hypothesis that follows from the Kibble-Zurek mechanism (KZM). In the superfluid-to-Mott quenches there is no significant excitation in the superfluid phase despite its gaplessness. And since all critical superfluid ground states are qualitatively similar, the excitation begins tomore » build up only after crossing the critical point when the ground state begins to change fundamentally. The last process falls into the KZM framework.« less

The effects of occupational class transitions on hypertension: racial disparities among working-age men.

PubMed Central

Waitzman, N J; Smith, K R

1994-01-01

OBJECTIVES. This study was undertaken to examine how the interaction between occupational class transitions and race affects the incidence of hypertension. METHODS. A cohort of 1982 men (183 Black), ages 25 to 55, received a baseline medical exam between 1971 and 1975 and a follow-up between 1982 and 1984. Logistic regressions were estimated for hypertension at follow-up controlling for hypertension at baseline, other risk factors associated with blood pressure, and interaction terms identifying specific occupational class transitions among Blacks and Whites. The occupational class matrix was based largely on scores of US Census Bureau occupations from the Dictionary of Occupational Titles. RESULTS. Relative to Whites who remained in professional and technical jobs between baseline and follow-up, Blacks and Whites who remained in lower occupational classes or made specific transitions--notably into the lowest class--had significantly higher incidence rates of hypertension. These differences were greater among Blacks, who are also more concentrated in and less likely to move upward from the lower end of the occupational class matrix. CONCLUSIONS. Widening racial disparities in high blood pressure over the period of study may be partly attributable to characteristics associated with occupational class position and dynamics. PMID:8203691

RACE-SPECIFIC TRANSITION PATTERNS AMONG ALCOHOL USE CLASSES IN ADOLESCENT GIRLS

PubMed Central

Dauber, Sarah E.; Paulson, James F.; Leiferman, Jenn A.

2010-01-01

We used data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health to examine transitions among alcohol use classes in 2225 White and African American adolescent girls, and race differences in predictors of transition into and out of problematic drinking classes. Latent class analysis confirmed four classes for White girls and three for AA girls, defined in a previous study. Latent transition analysis revealed more stable abstainers and decreasing alcohol use among AA girls, and more increasing alcohol use among White girls, though stable abstainers were the largest group among both races. Increasing use was predicted by delinquency, academic misbehavior, substance use, and peer support for White girls, and by older age and delinquency for AA girls. Decreasing use was predicted by older age and depressive symptoms for White girls, and by family relationship quality and substance use for AA girls. Study limitations and implications of findings are discussed. PMID:20708254

Gender Differences in Patterns of Substance Use and Delinquency: A Latent Transition Analysis

PubMed Central

Bright, Charlotte Lyn; Sacco, Paul; Kolivoski, Karen M.; Stapleton, Laura M.; Jun, Hyun-Jin; Morris-Compton, Darnell

2017-01-01

This study explores gender-specific patterns and transitions of adolescent substance use and delinquency in a sample of youths at ages 12, 15, and 18 (N = 803). Latent transition analysis identified “Primary Delinquent,” “Delinquency and Substance Use,” and “Low Risk” classes. Females were less likely to be in the “Primary Delinquent” class at age 12 than males. From 15 to 18, females were approximately equally likely to transition from “Primary Delinquent” to both other classes, whereas males were more likely to transition from “Primary Delinquent” to “Delinquency and Substance Use.” These gender differences in behavior can inform services. PMID:28603406

Complex band structures of transition metal dichalcogenide monolayers with spin-orbit coupling effects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Szczęśniak, Dominik; Ennaoui, Ahmed; Ahzi, Saïd

2016-09-01

Recently, the transition metal dichalcogenides have attracted renewed attention due to the potential use of their low-dimensional forms in both nano- and opto-electronics. In such applications, the electronic and transport properties of monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides play a pivotal role. The present paper provides a new insight into these essential properties by studying the complex band structures of popular transition metal dichalcogenide monolayers (MX 2, where M  =  Mo, W; X  =  S, Se, Te) while including spin-orbit coupling effects. The conducted symmetry-based tight-binding calculations show that the analytical continuation from the real band structures to the complex momentum space leads to nonlinear generalized eigenvalue problems. Herein an efficient method for solving such a class of nonlinear problems is presented and yields a complete set of physically relevant eigenvalues. Solutions obtained by this method are characterized and classified into propagating and evanescent states, where the latter states manifest not only monotonic but also oscillatory decay character. It is observed that some of the oscillatory evanescent states create characteristic complex loops at the direct band gap of MX 2 monolayers, where electrons can directly tunnel between the band gap edges. To describe these tunneling currents, decay behavior of electronic states in the forbidden energy region is elucidated and their importance within the ballistic transport regime is briefly discussed.

NonMarkov Ito Processes with 1- state memory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McCauley, Joseph L.

2010-08-01

A Markov process, by definition, cannot depend on any previous state other than the last observed state. An Ito process implies the Fokker-Planck and Kolmogorov backward time partial differential eqns. for transition densities, which in turn imply the Chapman-Kolmogorov eqn., but without requiring the Markov condition. We present a class of Ito process superficially resembling Markov processes, but with 1-state memory. In finance, such processes would obey the efficient market hypothesis up through the level of pair correlations. These stochastic processes have been mislabeled in recent literature as 'nonlinear Markov processes'. Inspired by Doob and Feller, who pointed out that the ChapmanKolmogorov eqn. is not restricted to Markov processes, we exhibit a Gaussian Ito transition density with 1-state memory in the drift coefficient that satisfies both of Kolmogorov's partial differential eqns. and also the Chapman-Kolmogorov eqn. In addition, we show that three of the examples from McKean's seminal 1966 paper are also nonMarkov Ito processes. Last, we show that the transition density of the generalized Black-Scholes type partial differential eqn. describes a martingale, and satisfies the ChapmanKolmogorov eqn. This leads to the shortest-known proof that the Green function of the Black-Scholes eqn. with variable diffusion coefficient provides the so-called martingale measure of option pricing.

Localization Transition Induced by Learning in Random Searches

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Falcón-Cortés, Andrea; Boyer, Denis; Giuggioli, Luca; Majumdar, Satya N.

2017-10-01

We solve an adaptive search model where a random walker or Lévy flight stochastically resets to previously visited sites on a d -dimensional lattice containing one trapping site. Because of reinforcement, a phase transition occurs when the resetting rate crosses a threshold above which nondiffusive stationary states emerge, localized around the inhomogeneity. The threshold depends on the trapping strength and on the walker's return probability in the memoryless case. The transition belongs to the same class as the self-consistent theory of Anderson localization. These results show that similarly to many living organisms and unlike the well-studied Markovian walks, non-Markov movement processes can allow agents to learn about their environment and promise to bring adaptive solutions in search tasks.

Anomalies in the coil-stretch transition of flexible polymers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghosal, Aishani; Cherayil, Binny J.

2018-03-01

The flow-induced coil-stretch transition of high molecular weight polymers has generally been held to be of first order. But evidence of significant slowing down in the rate at which the polymers relax to equilibrium in the vicinity of the transition suggests that the thermodynamic character of the transition may be less clear-cut. The above slowing down effect is actually characteristic of a second-order transition, and it points to the existence of a broad spectrum of conformational states in the transition region, analogous to the existence of fluctuations of all length scales at a critical point. In this paper, using a path integral approach based on a free-draining finitely extensible chain model, we calculate various polymer properties as a function of elongational flow as a way of exploring different statistical mechanical details of the coil-stretch transition. These properties include the molecular weight dependence of the flow-extension curve of the polymer, the distribution of its steady-state end-to-end distances, and the characteristic relaxation time τR of these distances. Among other findings, our calculations indicate that the coil-stretch transition is discontinuous in the N → ∞ limit, that the effective free energy of the chain is unimodal at all values of the flow, becoming broad and flat in the immediate vicinity of the transition, and that the ratio of τR to the Rouse relaxation time increases abruptly at the transition before eventually reaching a plateau value at large flow strengths. These aspects of the coil-stretch transition place it among a larger class of unconventional nominally first-order single chain transitions that include the adsorption transition of surface-tethered polymers and the escape transition of compressed polymers.

Scaling universality at the dynamic vortex Mott transition

DOE PAGES

Lankhorst, M.; Poccia, N.; Stehno, M. P.; ...

2018-01-17

The cleanest way to observe a dynamic Mott insulator-to-metal transition (DMT) without the interference from disorder and other effects inherent to electronic and atomic systems, is to employ the vortex Mott states formed by superconducting vortices in a regular array of pinning sites. Here, we report the critical behavior of the vortex system as it crosses the DMT line, driven by either current or temperature. We find universal scaling with respect to both, expressed by the same scaling function and characterized by a single critical exponent coinciding with the exponent for the thermodynamic Mott transition. We develop a theory formore » the DMT based on the parity reflection-time reversal (PT) symmetry breaking formalism and find that the nonequilibrium-induced Mott transition has the same critical behavior as the thermal Mott transition. Our findings demonstrate the existence of physical systems in which the effect of a nonequilibrium drive is to generate an effective temperature and hence the transition belonging in the thermal universality class.« less

Scaling universality at the dynamic vortex Mott transition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lankhorst, M.; Poccia, N.; Stehno, M. P.; Galda, A.; Barman, H.; Coneri, F.; Hilgenkamp, H.; Brinkman, A.; Golubov, A. A.; Tripathi, V.; Baturina, T. I.; Vinokur, V. M.

2018-01-01

The cleanest way to observe a dynamic Mott insulator-to-metal transition (DMT) without the interference from disorder and other effects inherent to electronic and atomic systems, is to employ the vortex Mott states formed by superconducting vortices in a regular array of pinning sites. Here, we report the critical behavior of the vortex system as it crosses the DMT line, driven by either current or temperature. We find universal scaling with respect to both, expressed by the same scaling function and characterized by a single critical exponent coinciding with the exponent for the thermodynamic Mott transition. We develop a theory for the DMT based on the parity reflection-time reversal (P T ) symmetry breaking formalism and find that the nonequilibrium-induced Mott transition has the same critical behavior as the thermal Mott transition. Our findings demonstrate the existence of physical systems in which the effect of a nonequilibrium drive is to generate an effective temperature and hence the transition belonging in the thermal universality class.

Electron transfer rate on mixed valence states of Class II/III transition for N, N'-diphenyl-1,4-phenylenediamine structures as a polyaniline unit

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nishiumi, Toyohiko; Nomura, Yasuhiro; Higuchi, Masayoshi; Yamamoto, Kimihisa

2003-08-01

The first example of the determination of the electron transfer rate ( λ, V, Δ G*, kth) for N, N'-diphenyl-1,4-phenylenediamine derivatives using the Marcus-Hush theory is described. These results were in good agreement with the ones obtained using variable-temperature IR spectra measurements.

Transitioning Florida NPs to opioid prescribing.

PubMed

Craig-Rodriguez, Alicia; Gordon, Glenna; Kaplan, Louise; Grubbs, Laurie

2017-09-21

Prior to statutory changes in prescriptive authority for controlled substances, this study examined the knowledge gaps and prescribing limitations of Florida advanced registered nurse practitioners regarding opioids. Study results revealed statistically significant knowledge gaps in the areas of federal and state guidelines; opioid classes and proper doses; risk assessment skills; monitoring of treatment; and confidence in dealing with challenges of opioid prescribing.

Who Makes the Transition to College? Why We Should Care, What We Know, and What We Need to Do

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Louie, Vivian

2007-01-01

Background/Context: In the last several decades, a college education, in particular the bachelor's degree, has become the key to higher earnings, and overall, to a middle-class lifestyle in the United States. In an increasingly globalized economy, privileging information and communication technologies, it is more than likely that this emphasis on…

2002 Industry Studies: Education

DTIC Science & Technology

2002-01-01

1 EDUCATION ABSTRACT United States schools are better than ever, but they are not assuring competitive advantage . Unequal access to quality...competitive advantage , and promote national security. • Demand for education continues to grow as the US transitions from an industrial to a knowledge... international assessments, pose challenges. With human capital constituting our most critical national resource, a world-class education system is vital to

Role of conviction in nonequilibrium models of opinion formation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Crokidakis, Nuno; Anteneodo, Celia

2012-12-01

We analyze the critical behavior of a class of discrete opinion models in the presence of disorder. Within this class, each agent opinion takes a discrete value (±1 or 0) and its time evolution is ruled by two terms, one representing agent-agent interactions and the other the degree of conviction or persuasion (a self-interaction). The mean-field limit, where each agent can interact evenly with any other, is considered. Disorder is introduced in the strength of both interactions, with either quenched or annealed random variables. With probability p (1-p), a pairwise interaction reflects a negative (positive) coupling, while the degree of conviction also follows a binary probability distribution (two different discrete probability distributions are considered). Numerical simulations show that a nonequilibrium continuous phase transition, from a disordered state to a state with a prevailing opinion, occurs at a critical point pc that depends on the distribution of the convictions, with the transition being spoiled in some cases. We also show how the critical line, for each model, is affected by the update scheme (either parallel or sequential) as well as by the kind of disorder (either quenched or annealed).

Characterisation of transition state structures for protein folding using 'high', 'medium' and 'low' {Phi}-values.

PubMed

Geierhaas, Christian D; Salvatella, Xavier; Clarke, Jane; Vendruscolo, Michele

2008-03-01

It has been suggested that Phi-values, which allow structural information about transition states (TSs) for protein folding to be obtained, are most reliably interpreted when divided into three classes (high, medium and low). High Phi-values indicate almost completely folded regions in the TS, intermediate Phi-values regions with a detectable amount of structure and low Phi-values indicate mostly unstructured regions. To explore the extent to which this classification can be used to characterise in detail the structure of TSs for protein folding, we used Phi-values divided into these classes as restraints in molecular dynamics simulations. This type of procedure is related to that used in NMR spectroscopy to define the structure of native proteins from the measurement of inter-proton distances derived from nuclear Overhauser effects. We illustrate this approach by determining the TS ensembles of five proteins and by showing that the results are similar to those obtained by using as restraints the actual numerical Phi-values measured experimentally. Our results indicate that the simultaneous consideration of a set of low-resolution Phi-values can provide sufficient information for characterising the architecture of a TS for folding of a protein.

Characterisation of transition state structures for protein folding using ‘high’, ‘medium’ and ‘low’ Φ-values

PubMed Central

Geierhaas, Christian D.; Salvatella, Xavier; Clarke, Jane; Vendruscolo, Michele

2008-01-01

It has been suggested that Φ-values, which allow structural information about transition states (TSs) for protein folding to be obtained, are most reliably interpreted when divided into three classes (high, medium and low). High Φ-values indicate almost completely folded regions in the TS, intermediate Φ-values regions with a detectable amount of structure and low Φ-values indicate mostly unstructured regions. To explore the extent to which this classification can be used to characterise in detail the structure of TSs for protein folding, we used Φ-values divided into these classes as restraints in molecular dynamics simulations. This type of procedure is related to that used in NMR spectroscopy to define the structure of native proteins from the measurement of inter-proton distances derived from nuclear Overhauser effects. We illustrate this approach by determining the TS ensembles of five proteins and by showing that the results are similar to those obtained by using as restraints the actual numerical Φ-values measured experimentally. Our results indicate that the simultaneous consideration of a set of low-resolution Φ-values can provide sufficient information for characterising the architecture of a TS for folding of a protein. PMID:18299294

Bayesian structural inference for hidden processes.

PubMed

Strelioff, Christopher C; Crutchfield, James P

2014-04-01

We introduce a Bayesian approach to discovering patterns in structurally complex processes. The proposed method of Bayesian structural inference (BSI) relies on a set of candidate unifilar hidden Markov model (uHMM) topologies for inference of process structure from a data series. We employ a recently developed exact enumeration of topological ε-machines. (A sequel then removes the topological restriction.) This subset of the uHMM topologies has the added benefit that inferred models are guaranteed to be ε-machines, irrespective of estimated transition probabilities. Properties of ε-machines and uHMMs allow for the derivation of analytic expressions for estimating transition probabilities, inferring start states, and comparing the posterior probability of candidate model topologies, despite process internal structure being only indirectly present in data. We demonstrate BSI's effectiveness in estimating a process's randomness, as reflected by the Shannon entropy rate, and its structure, as quantified by the statistical complexity. We also compare using the posterior distribution over candidate models and the single, maximum a posteriori model for point estimation and show that the former more accurately reflects uncertainty in estimated values. We apply BSI to in-class examples of finite- and infinite-order Markov processes, as well to an out-of-class, infinite-state hidden process.

Bayesian structural inference for hidden processes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Strelioff, Christopher C.; Crutchfield, James P.

2014-04-01

We introduce a Bayesian approach to discovering patterns in structurally complex processes. The proposed method of Bayesian structural inference (BSI) relies on a set of candidate unifilar hidden Markov model (uHMM) topologies for inference of process structure from a data series. We employ a recently developed exact enumeration of topological ɛ-machines. (A sequel then removes the topological restriction.) This subset of the uHMM topologies has the added benefit that inferred models are guaranteed to be ɛ-machines, irrespective of estimated transition probabilities. Properties of ɛ-machines and uHMMs allow for the derivation of analytic expressions for estimating transition probabilities, inferring start states, and comparing the posterior probability of candidate model topologies, despite process internal structure being only indirectly present in data. We demonstrate BSI's effectiveness in estimating a process's randomness, as reflected by the Shannon entropy rate, and its structure, as quantified by the statistical complexity. We also compare using the posterior distribution over candidate models and the single, maximum a posteriori model for point estimation and show that the former more accurately reflects uncertainty in estimated values. We apply BSI to in-class examples of finite- and infinite-order Markov processes, as well to an out-of-class, infinite-state hidden process.

Activation of remote meta-C-H bonds assisted by an end-on template.

PubMed

Leow, Dasheng; Li, Gang; Mei, Tian-Sheng; Yu, Jin-Quan

2012-06-27

Functionalization of unactivated carbon-hydrogen (C-H) single bonds is an efficient strategy for rapid generation of complex molecules from simpler ones. However, it is difficult to achieve selectivity when multiple inequivalent C-H bonds are present in the target molecule. The usual approach is to use σ-chelating directing groups, which lead to ortho-selectivity through the formation of a conformationally rigid six- or seven-membered cyclic pre-transition state. Despite the broad utility of this approach, proximity-driven reactivity prevents the activation of remote C-H bonds. Here we report a class of easily removable nitrile-containing templates that direct the activation of distal meta-C-H bonds (more than ten bonds away) of a tethered arene. We attribute this new mode of C-H activation to a weak 'end-on' interaction between the linear nitrile group and the metal centre. The 'end-on' coordination geometry relieves the strain of the cyclophane-like pre-transition state of the meta-C-H activation event. In addition, this template overrides the intrinsic electronic and steric biases as well as ortho-directing effects with two broadly useful classes of arene substrates (toluene derivatives and hydrocinnamic acids).

Computation of rare transitions in the barotropic quasi-geostrophic equations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Laurie, Jason; Bouchet, Freddy

2015-01-01

We investigate the theoretical and numerical computation of rare transitions in simple geophysical turbulent models. We consider the barotropic quasi-geostrophic and two-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations in regimes where bistability between two coexisting large-scale attractors exist. By means of large deviations and instanton theory with the use of an Onsager-Machlup path integral formalism for the transition probability, we show how one can directly compute the most probable transition path between two coexisting attractors analytically in an equilibrium (Langevin) framework and numerically otherwise. We adapt a class of numerical optimization algorithms known as minimum action methods to simple geophysical turbulent models. We show that by numerically minimizing an appropriate action functional in a large deviation limit, one can predict the most likely transition path for a rare transition between two states. By considering examples where theoretical predictions can be made, we show that the minimum action method successfully predicts the most likely transition path. Finally, we discuss the application and extension of such numerical optimization schemes to the computation of rare transitions observed in direct numerical simulations and experiments and to other, more complex, turbulent systems.

Quantum Experiments and Graphs: Multiparty States as Coherent Superpositions of Perfect Matchings.

PubMed

Krenn, Mario; Gu, Xuemei; Zeilinger, Anton

2017-12-15

We show a surprising link between experimental setups to realize high-dimensional multipartite quantum states and graph theory. In these setups, the paths of photons are identified such that the photon-source information is never created. We find that each of these setups corresponds to an undirected graph, and every undirected graph corresponds to an experimental setup. Every term in the emerging quantum superposition corresponds to a perfect matching in the graph. Calculating the final quantum state is in the #P-complete complexity class, thus it cannot be done efficiently. To strengthen the link further, theorems from graph theory-such as Hall's marriage problem-are rephrased in the language of pair creation in quantum experiments. We show explicitly how this link allows one to answer questions about quantum experiments (such as which classes of entangled states can be created) with graph theoretical methods, and how to potentially simulate properties of graphs and networks with quantum experiments (such as critical exponents and phase transitions).

Quantum Experiments and Graphs: Multiparty States as Coherent Superpositions of Perfect Matchings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krenn, Mario; Gu, Xuemei; Zeilinger, Anton

2017-12-01

We show a surprising link between experimental setups to realize high-dimensional multipartite quantum states and graph theory. In these setups, the paths of photons are identified such that the photon-source information is never created. We find that each of these setups corresponds to an undirected graph, and every undirected graph corresponds to an experimental setup. Every term in the emerging quantum superposition corresponds to a perfect matching in the graph. Calculating the final quantum state is in the #P-complete complexity class, thus it cannot be done efficiently. To strengthen the link further, theorems from graph theory—such as Hall's marriage problem—are rephrased in the language of pair creation in quantum experiments. We show explicitly how this link allows one to answer questions about quantum experiments (such as which classes of entangled states can be created) with graph theoretical methods, and how to potentially simulate properties of graphs and networks with quantum experiments (such as critical exponents and phase transitions).

Simple Deterministically Constructed Recurrent Neural Networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rodan, Ali; Tiňo, Peter

A large number of models for time series processing, forecasting or modeling follows a state-space formulation. Models in the specific class of state-space approaches, referred to as Reservoir Computing, fix their state-transition function. The state space with the associated state transition structure forms a reservoir, which is supposed to be sufficiently complex so as to capture a large number of features of the input stream that can be potentially exploited by the reservoir-to-output readout mapping. The largely "black box" character of reservoirs prevents us from performing a deeper theoretical investigation of the dynamical properties of successful reservoirs. Reservoir construction is largely driven by a series of (more-or-less) ad-hoc randomized model building stages, with both the researchers and practitioners having to rely on a series of trials and errors. We show that a very simple deterministically constructed reservoir with simple cycle topology gives performances comparable to those of the Echo State Network (ESN) on a number of time series benchmarks. Moreover, we argue that the memory capacity of such a model can be made arbitrarily close to the proved theoretical limit.

Grover's unstructured search by using a transverse field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Zhang; Rieffel, Eleanor; Wang, Zhihui

2017-04-01

We design a circuit-based quantum algorithm to search for a needle in a haystack, giving the same quadratic speedup achieved by Grover's original algorithm. In our circuit-based algorithm, the problem Hamiltonian (oracle) and a transverse field (instead of Grover's diffusion operator) are applied to the system alternatively. We construct a periodic time sequence such that the resultant unitary drives a closed transition between two states, which have high degrees of overlap with the initial state (even superposition of all states) and the target state, respectively. Let N =2n be the size of the search space. The transition rate in our algorithm is of order Θ(1 /√{ N}) , and the overlaps are of order Θ(1) , yielding a nearly optimal query complexity of T =√{ N}(π / 2√{ 2}) . Our algorithm is inspired by a class of algorithms proposed by Farhi et al., namely the Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm (QAOA); our method offers a route to optimizing the parameters in QAOA by restricting them to be periodic in time.

Numerical study of Potts models with aperiodic modulations: influence on first-order transitions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Branco, Nilton; Girardi, Daniel

2012-02-01

We perform a numerical study of Potts models on a rectangular lattice with aperiodic interactions along one spatial direction. The number of states q is such that the transition is a first-order one for the uniform model. The Wolff algorithm is employed, for many lattice sizes, allowing for a finite-size scaling analyses to be carried out. Three different self-dual aperiodic sequences are employed, such that the exact critical temperature is known: this leads to precise results for the exponents. We analyze models with q=6 and 15 and show that the Harris-Luck criterion, originally introduced in the study of continuous transitions, is obeyed also for first-order ones. The new universality class that emerges for relevant aperiodic modulations depends on the number of states of the Potts model, as obtained elsewhere for random disorder, and on the aperiodic sequence. We determine the occurrence of log-periodic behavior, as expected for models with aperiodic modulated interactions.

Simulation evaluation of two VTOL control/display systems in IMC approach and shipboard landing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Merrick, V. K.

1984-01-01

Two control/display systems, which differed in overall complexity but were both designed for VTOL flight operations to and from small ships in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), were tested using the Ames Flight Simulator for Advanced Aircraft (FSAA). Both systems have attitude command in transition and horizontal-velocity command in hover; the more complex system also has longitudinal-acceleration and flightpath-angle command in transition, and vertical-velocity command in hover. The most important overall distinction between the two systems for the viewpoint of implementation is that in one - the more complex - engine power and nozzle position are operated indirectly through flight controllers, whereas in the other they are operated directly by the pilot. Simulated landings were made on a moving model of a DD 963 Spruance-class destroyer. Acceptable transitions can be performed in turbulence of 3 m/sec rms using either system. Acceptable landings up to sea state 6 can be performed using the more complex system, and up to sea state 5 using the other system.

Transmission Spectra of HgTe-Based Quantum Wells and Films in the Far-Infrared Range

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Savchenko, M. L.; Vasil'ev, N. N.; Yaroshevich, A. S.; Kozlov, D. A.; Kvon, Z. D.; Mikhailov, N. N.; Dvoretskii, S. A.

2018-04-01

Strained 80-nm-thick HgTe films belong to a new class of materials referred to as three-dimensional topological insulators (i.e., they have a bulk band gap and spin-nondegenerate surface states). Though there are a number of studies devoted to analysis of the properties of surface states using both transport and magnetooptical techniques in the THz range, the information about direct optical transitions between bulk and surface bands in these systems has not been reported. This study is devoted to the analysis of transmission and reflection spectra of HgTe films of different thicknesses in the far-infrared range recorded in a wide temperature range in order to detect the above interband transitions. A peculiarity at 15 meV, which is sensitive to a change in the temperature, is observed in spectra of both types. Detailed analysis of the data obtained revealed that this feature is related to absorption by HgTe optical phonons, while the interband optical transitions are suppressed.

Dating violence, bullying, and sexual harassment: longitudinal profiles and transitions over time.

PubMed

Miller, Shari; Williams, Jason; Cutbush, Stacey; Gibbs, Deborah; Clinton-Sherrod, Monique; Jones, Sarah

2013-04-01

Although there is growing recognition of the problem of dating violence, little is known about how it unfolds among young adolescents who are just beginning to date. This study examined classes (subgroups) and transitions between classes over three time points based on dating violence, bullying, and sexual harassment perpetration and victimization experienced by youth. The sample was ethnically diverse, consisting of 795 seventh-grade students from schools that were part of a multi-site, longitudinal evaluation of a dating violence initiative (50 % female; 27 % White, 32 % African American, 25 % Latino, 16 % other or multiple races). Results from latent transition analyses revealed five classes of students with distinct behavioral profiles: multi-problem (victimization and perpetration), bullying and sexual harassment (victimization and perpetration), bullying (victimization and perpetration) and sexual harassment (victimization only), bullying (victimization and perpetration), and a least problem group. The majority of classes were characterized by reports of both perpetration and victimization for at least one behavior. Girls were more likely to be in the less problematic classes. Class membership was fairly stable across the three time points. When students transitioned to a different class, the shift was most often from a more problematic to a less problematic class, particularly for girls. The findings support understanding dating violence within a dynamic, developmental process that recognizes related behaviors within and across individuals. Overall, the findings highlight the utility of person-oriented approaches to enhance our understanding of longitudinal profiles and transitions over time for dating violence and related behaviors.

The relationship between Class I and Class II methanol masers at high angular resolution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McCarthy, T. P.; Ellingsen, S. P.; Voronkov, M. A.; Cimò, G.

2018-06-01

We have used the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) to make the first high-resolution observations of a large sample of class I methanol masers in the 95-GHz (80-71A+) transition. The target sources consist of a statistically complete sample of 6.7-GHz class II methanol masers with an associated 95-GHz class I methanol maser, enabling a detailed study of the relationship between the two methanol maser classes at arcsecond angular resolution. These sources have been previously observed at high resolution in the 36- and 44-GHz transitions, allowing comparison between all three class I maser transitions. In total, 172 95-GHz maser components were detected across the 32 target sources. We find that at high resolution, when considering matched maser components, a 3:1 flux density ratio is observed between the 95- and 44-GHz components, consistent with a number of previous lower angular resolution studies. The 95-GHz maser components appear to be preferentially located closer to the driving sources and this may indicate that this transition is more strongly inverted nearby to background continuum sources. We do not observe an elevated association rate between 95-GHz maser emission and more evolved sources, as indicated by the presence of 12.2-GHz class II masers. We find that in the majority of cases where both class I and class II methanol emission is observed, some component of the class I emission is associated with a likely outflow candidate.

Identification of transitional disks in Chamaeleon with Herschel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ribas, Á.; Merín, B.; Bouy, H.; Alves de Oliveira, C.; Ardila, D. R.; Puga, E.; Kóspál, Á.; Spezzi, L.; Cox, N. L. J.; Prusti, T.; Pilbratt, G. L.; André, Ph.; Matrà, L.; Vavrek, R.

2013-04-01

Context. Transitional disks are circumstellar disks with inner holes that in some cases are produced by planets and/or substellar companions in these systems. For this reason, these disks are extremely important for the study of planetary system formation. Aims: The Herschel Space Observatory provides an unique opportunity for studying the outer regions of protoplanetary disks. In this work we update previous knowledge on the transitional disks in the Chamaeleon I and II regions with data from the Herschel Gould Belt Survey. Methods: We propose a new method for transitional disk classification based on the WISE 12 μm - PACS 70 μm color, together with inspection of the Herschel images. We applied this method to the population of Class II sources in the Chamaeleon region and studied the spectral energy distributions of the transitional disks in the sample. We also built the median spectral energy distribution of Class II objects in these regions for comparison with transitional disks. Results: The proposed method allows a clear separation of the known transitional disks from the Class II sources. We find six transitional disks, all previously known, and identify five objects previously thought to be transitional as possibly non-transitional. We find higher fluxes at the PACS wavelengths in the sample of transitional disks than those of Class II objects. Conclusions: We show the Herschel 70 μm band to be a robust and efficient tool for transitional disk identification. The sensitivity and spatial resolution of Herschel reveals a significant contamination level among the previously identified transitional disk candidates for the two regions, which calls for a revision of previous samples of transitional disks in other regions. The systematic excess found at the PACS bands could be either a result of the mechanism that produces the transitional phase, or an indication of different evolutionary paths for transitional disks and Class II sources. Herschel is an ESA space observatory with science instruments provided by European-led Principal Investigator consortia and with important participation from NASA.Appendix A is available in electronic form at http://www.aanda.org

Methods used to parameterize the spatially-explicit components of a state-and-transition simulation model

USGS Publications Warehouse

Sleeter, Rachel; Acevedo, William; Soulard, Christopher E.; Sleeter, Benjamin M.

2015-01-01

Spatially-explicit state-and-transition simulation models of land use and land cover (LULC) increase our ability to assess regional landscape characteristics and associated carbon dynamics across multiple scenarios. By characterizing appropriate spatial attributes such as forest age and land-use distribution, a state-and-transition model can more effectively simulate the pattern and spread of LULC changes. This manuscript describes the methods and input parameters of the Land Use and Carbon Scenario Simulator (LUCAS), a customized state-and-transition simulation model utilized to assess the relative impacts of LULC on carbon stocks for the conterminous U.S. The methods and input parameters are spatially explicit and describe initial conditions (strata, state classes and forest age), spatial multipliers, and carbon stock density. Initial conditions were derived from harmonization of multi-temporal data characterizing changes in land use as well as land cover. Harmonization combines numerous national-level datasets through a cell-based data fusion process to generate maps of primary LULC categories. Forest age was parameterized using data from the North American Carbon Program and spatially-explicit maps showing the locations of past disturbances (i.e. wildfire and harvest). Spatial multipliers were developed to spatially constrain the location of future LULC transitions. Based on distance-decay theory, maps were generated to guide the placement of changes related to forest harvest, agricultural intensification/extensification, and urbanization. We analyze the spatially-explicit input parameters with a sensitivity analysis, by showing how LUCAS responds to variations in the model input. This manuscript uses Mediterranean California as a regional subset to highlight local to regional aspects of land change, which demonstrates the utility of LUCAS at many scales and applications.

Dynamical modeling and analysis of large cellular regulatory networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bérenguier, D.; Chaouiya, C.; Monteiro, P. T.; Naldi, A.; Remy, E.; Thieffry, D.; Tichit, L.

2013-06-01

The dynamical analysis of large biological regulatory networks requires the development of scalable methods for mathematical modeling. Following the approach initially introduced by Thomas, we formalize the interactions between the components of a network in terms of discrete variables, functions, and parameters. Model simulations result in directed graphs, called state transition graphs. We are particularly interested in reachability properties and asymptotic behaviors, which correspond to terminal strongly connected components (or "attractors") in the state transition graph. A well-known problem is the exponential increase of the size of state transition graphs with the number of network components, in particular when using the biologically realistic asynchronous updating assumption. To address this problem, we have developed several complementary methods enabling the analysis of the behavior of large and complex logical models: (i) the definition of transition priority classes to simplify the dynamics; (ii) a model reduction method preserving essential dynamical properties, (iii) a novel algorithm to compact state transition graphs and directly generate compressed representations, emphasizing relevant transient and asymptotic dynamical properties. The power of an approach combining these different methods is demonstrated by applying them to a recent multilevel logical model for the network controlling CD4+ T helper cell response to antigen presentation and to a dozen cytokines. This model accounts for the differentiation of canonical Th1 and Th2 lymphocytes, as well as of inflammatory Th17 and regulatory T cells, along with many hybrid subtypes. All these methods have been implemented into the software GINsim, which enables the definition, the analysis, and the simulation of logical regulatory graphs.

Cooper-pair and Bose-Einstein condensations in two dimensions: A critical analysis based on the Nozieres and Schmitt-Rink formalism

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tokumitu, A.; Miyake, K.; Yamada, K.

1993-05-01

The crossover between the Cooper-pair condensation and the Bose-Einstein condensation of di-electronic'' molecules in two-dimensional superconductors is investigated in detail on the basis of the Nozieres and Schmitt-Rink formalism. It is shown that temperature dependence of the chemical potential [mu] so calculated is classified into two classes as decreasing temperatures; i.e., class (a) where [mu] approaches the point of Bose-Einstein condensation of two-dimensional ideal Bose gas of di-electronic'' molecules, and class (b) where [mu] diverges positively along the line of BCS-type mean-field pair condensation. This feature is rather universal irrespective of strength [ital V] of the attractive interaction of themore » [ital s]-wave type. While the former class (a) has been found by Schmitt-Rink, Varma, and Ruckenstein, existence of the latter class (b) is recognized here. In the case where [ital V] is fixed, class (a) is realized for electron number density [ital N] smaller than [ital N][sub cr], which is an increasing function of [ital V], and class (b) is realized for [ital N] larger than [ital N][sub cr]. If [ital N][much gt][ital N][sub cr] in particular, there exists a regime, where the Fermi-liquid-like description is valid, between the BCS-type mean-field transition temperature and the Fermi temperature. In the situation where [ital V] is changed with [ital N] being fixed, low-temperature states for the strong-coupling case belong to class (a) while those for the weak-coupling case belong to class (b). Therefore, with decreasing [ital V], the chemical potential [mu]([ital T]), at temperatures far below the Fermi temperature, shows a discontinuous jump at [ital V]=[ital V][sub cr]([ital N]) corresponding to the transition from class (a) to (b).« less

Combined risk assessment of nonstationary monthly water quality based on Markov chain and time-varying copula.

PubMed

Shi, Wei; Xia, Jun

2017-02-01

Water quality risk management is a global hot research linkage with the sustainable water resource development. Ammonium nitrogen (NH 3 -N) and permanganate index (COD Mn ) as the focus indicators in Huai River Basin, are selected to reveal their joint transition laws based on Markov theory. The time-varying moments model with either time or land cover index as explanatory variables is applied to build the time-varying marginal distributions of water quality time series. Time-varying copula model, which takes the non-stationarity in the marginal distribution and/or the time variation in dependence structure between water quality series into consideration, is constructed to describe a bivariate frequency analysis for NH 3 -N and COD Mn series at the same monitoring gauge. The larger first-order Markov joint transition probability indicates water quality state Class V w , Class IV and Class III will occur easily in the water body of Bengbu Sluice. Both marginal distribution and copula models are nonstationary, and the explanatory variable time yields better performance than land cover index in describing the non-stationarities in the marginal distributions. In modelling the dependence structure changes, time-varying copula has a better fitting performance than the copula with the constant or the time-trend dependence parameter. The largest synchronous encounter risk probability of NH 3 -N and COD Mn simultaneously reaching Class V is 50.61%, while the asynchronous encounter risk probability is largest when NH 3 -N and COD Mn is inferior to class V and class IV water quality standards, respectively.

A Markov decision process for managing habitat for Florida scrub-jays

USGS Publications Warehouse

Johnson, Fred A.; Breininger, David R.; Duncan, Brean W.; Nichols, James D.; Runge, Michael C.; Williams, B. Ken

2011-01-01

Florida scrub-jays Aphelocoma coerulescens are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act due to loss and degradation of scrub habitat. This study concerned the development of an optimal strategy for the restoration and management of scrub habitat at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which contains one of the few remaining large populations of scrub-jays in Florida. There are documented differences in the reproductive and survival rates of scrubjays among discrete classes of scrub height (<120 cm or "short"; 120-170 cm or "optimal"; .170 cm or "tall"; and a combination of tall and optimal or "mixed"), and our objective was to calculate a state-dependent management strategy that would maximize the long-term growth rate of the resident scrub-jay population. We used aerial imagery with multistate Markov models to estimate annual transition probabilities among the four scrub-height classes under three possible management actions: scrub restoration (mechanical cutting followed by burning), a prescribed burn, or no intervention. A strategy prescribing the optimal management action for management units exhibiting different proportions of scrub-height classes was derived using dynamic programming. Scrub restoration was the optimal management action only in units dominated by mixed and tall scrub, and burning tended to be the optimal action for intermediate levels of short scrub. The optimal action was to do nothing when the amount of short scrub was greater than 30%, because short scrub mostly transitions to optimal height scrub (i.e., that state with the highest demographic success of scrub-jays) in the absence of intervention. Monte Carlo simulation of the optimal policy suggested that some form of management would be required every year. We note, however, that estimates of scrub-height transition probabilities were subject to several sources of uncertainty, and so we explored the management implications of alternative sets of transition probabilities. Generally, our analysis demonstrated the difficulty of managing for a species that requires midsuccessional habitat, and suggests that innovative management tools may be needed to help ensure the persistence of scrub-jays at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. The development of a tailored monitoring program as a component of adaptive management could help reduce uncertainty about controlled and uncontrolled variation in transition probabilities of scrub-height and thus lead to improved decision making.

Transition of Intravenous Treprostinil to Oral Therapy in a Patient with Functional Class IV Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension.

PubMed

Thurber, Kristina M; Williams, Breann M; Bates, Ruth E; Frantz, Robert P

2017-08-01

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) occurs when pulmonary emboli fail to resolve with anticoagulation. For patients with inoperable or residual CTEPH, riociguat is currently the only therapy approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. However, some patients with CTEPH may require therapy beyond riociguat, such as intravenous prostacyclins, which can present significant administration challenges in patients with complex comorbid conditions. We describe a 42-year-old man with T12 paraplegia complicated by CTEPH (functional class IV with substantial right ventricular dysfunction) and severe pressure ulcers. In order to facilitate goals of care (hospital discharge to a skilled nursing facility where parenteral prostanoids could not be administered), he underwent rapid transition from intravenous treprostinil to oral selexipag in the form of a cross-taper over 6 days. The patient required readmission due to worsening symptoms and was transitioned back to intravenous treprostinil; he tolerated conversion to oral treprostinil for approximately 4 months, but it was subsequently discontinued due to nausea and modified goals of care. The patient underwent transition to hospice care 3 months later and eventually died from clinical deterioration. To our knowledge, this is the first report to describe transition from intravenous treprostinil to selexipag as well as conversion from parenteral treprostinil to oral treprostinil in a patient with CTEPH and illustrates the approaches to and potential issues with prostanoid transitions. Additional observations are necessary to better understand the relative roles of selexipag and oral treprostinil regarding comparative efficacy and tolerability. © 2017 Pharmacotherapy Publications, Inc.

Conceptual design of a pulsed-power accelerator optimized for megajoule-class 1-TPa dynamic-material-physics experiments

DOE PAGES

Stygar, William A.; Reisman, David B.; Stoltzfus, Brian S.; ...

2016-07-07

In this study, we have developed a conceptual design of a next-generation pulsed-power accelerator that is optmized for driving megajoule-class dynamic-material-physics experiments at pressures as high as 1 TPa. The design is based on an accelerator architecture that is founded on three concepts: single-stage electrical-pulse compression, impedance matching, and transit-time-isolated drive circuits. Since much of the accelerator is water insulated, we refer to this machine as Neptune. The prime power source of Neptune consists of 600 independent impedance-matched Marx generators. As much as 0.8 MJ and 20 MA can be delivered in a 300-ns pulse to a 16-mΩ physics load;more » hence Neptune is a megajoule-class 20-MA arbitrary waveform generator. Neptune will allow the international scientific community to conduct dynamic equation-of-state, phase-transition, mechanical-property, and other material-physics experiments with a wide variety of well-defined drive-pressure time histories. Because Neptune can deliver on the order of a megajoule to a load, such experiments can be conducted on centimeter-scale samples at terapascal pressures with time histories as long as 1 μs.« less

An entropy maximization problem related to optical communication

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mceliece, R. J.; Rodemich, E. R.; Swanson, L.

1986-01-01

In relation to a problem in optical communication, the paper considers the general problem of maximizing the entropy of a stationary radom process that is subject to an average transition cost constraint. By using a recent result of Justesen and Hoholdt, an exact solution to the problem is presented and a class of finite state encoders that give a good approximation to the exact solution is suggested.

The Implementation and Effects of the Literacy Design Collaborative (LDC): Early Findings in Sixth-Grade Advanced Reading Courses. CRESST Report 846

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Herman, Joan L.; Epstein, Scott; Leon, Seth; Dai, Yunyun; La Torre Matrundola, Deborah; Reber, Sarah; Choi, Kilchan

2015-01-01

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation invested in the Literacy Design Collaborative (LDC) as one strategy to support teachers' and students' transition to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in English language arts. This report provides an early look at the implementation of LDC in sixth-grade Advanced Reading classes in a large Florida…

Statistical moments of quantum-walk dynamics reveal topological quantum transitions.

PubMed

Cardano, Filippo; Maffei, Maria; Massa, Francesco; Piccirillo, Bruno; de Lisio, Corrado; De Filippis, Giulio; Cataudella, Vittorio; Santamato, Enrico; Marrucci, Lorenzo

2016-04-22

Many phenomena in solid-state physics can be understood in terms of their topological properties. Recently, controlled protocols of quantum walk (QW) are proving to be effective simulators of such phenomena. Here we report the realization of a photonic QW showing both the trivial and the non-trivial topologies associated with chiral symmetry in one-dimensional (1D) periodic systems. We find that the probability distribution moments of the walker position after many steps can be used as direct indicators of the topological quantum transition: while varying a control parameter that defines the system phase, these moments exhibit a slope discontinuity at the transition point. Numerical simulations strongly support the conjecture that these features are general of 1D topological systems. Extending this approach to higher dimensions, different topological classes, and other typologies of quantum phases may offer general instruments for investigating and experimentally detecting quantum transitions in such complex systems.

Statistical moments of quantum-walk dynamics reveal topological quantum transitions

PubMed Central

Cardano, Filippo; Maffei, Maria; Massa, Francesco; Piccirillo, Bruno; de Lisio, Corrado; De Filippis, Giulio; Cataudella, Vittorio; Santamato, Enrico; Marrucci, Lorenzo

2016-01-01

Many phenomena in solid-state physics can be understood in terms of their topological properties. Recently, controlled protocols of quantum walk (QW) are proving to be effective simulators of such phenomena. Here we report the realization of a photonic QW showing both the trivial and the non-trivial topologies associated with chiral symmetry in one-dimensional (1D) periodic systems. We find that the probability distribution moments of the walker position after many steps can be used as direct indicators of the topological quantum transition: while varying a control parameter that defines the system phase, these moments exhibit a slope discontinuity at the transition point. Numerical simulations strongly support the conjecture that these features are general of 1D topological systems. Extending this approach to higher dimensions, different topological classes, and other typologies of quantum phases may offer general instruments for investigating and experimentally detecting quantum transitions in such complex systems. PMID:27102945

Concordant Chemical Reaction Networks

PubMed Central

Shinar, Guy; Feinberg, Martin

2015-01-01

We describe a large class of chemical reaction networks, those endowed with a subtle structural property called concordance. We show that the class of concordant networks coincides precisely with the class of networks which, when taken with any weakly monotonic kinetics, invariably give rise to kinetic systems that are injective — a quality that, among other things, precludes the possibility of switch-like transitions between distinct positive steady states. We also provide persistence characteristics of concordant networks, instability implications of discordance, and consequences of stronger variants of concordance. Some of our results are in the spirit of recent ones by Banaji and Craciun, but here we do not require that every species suffer a degradation reaction. This is especially important in studying biochemical networks, for which it is rare to have all species degrade. PMID:22659063

Latent Transition Analysis with a Mixture Item Response Theory Measurement Model

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cho, Sun-Joo; Cohen, Allan S.; Kim, Seock-Ho; Bottge, Brian

2010-01-01

A latent transition analysis (LTA) model was described with a mixture Rasch model (MRM) as the measurement model. Unlike the LTA, which was developed with a latent class measurement model, the LTA-MRM permits within-class variability on the latent variable, making it more useful for measuring treatment effects within latent classes. A simulation…

Youth Transitions to Urban, Middle-Class Marriage in Indonesia: Faith, Family and Finances

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nilan, Pam

2008-01-01

This paper examines a timely topic in international youth studies--the transition to (middle-class) marriage--in a developing country, Indonesia. While early marriage in Indonesia is still common in rural areas and marriage itself remains almost universal, these trends are moving into reverse for urban, tertiary-educated middle-class young people.…

Wolfram's class IV automata and a good life

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McIntosh, Harold V.

1990-09-01

A comprehensive discussion of Wolfram's four classes of cellular automata is given, with the intention of relating them to Conway's criteria for a good game of Life. Although it is known that such classifications cannot be entirely rigorous, much information about the behavior of an automaton can be gleaned from the statistical properties of its transition table. Still more information can be deduced from the mean field approximation to its state densities, in particular, from the distribution of horizontal and diagonal tangents of the latter. In turn these characteristics can be related to the presence or absence of certain loops in the de Bruijn diagram of the automaton.

Kinetic arrest of field-temperature induced first order phase transition in quasi-one dimensional spin system Ca{sub 3}Co{sub 2}O{sub 6}

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

De, Santanu, E-mail: santanujuphys91@gmail.com; Kumar, Kranti; Banerjee, A.

We have found that the geometrically frustrated spin chain compound Ca{sub 3}Co{sub 2}O{sub 6} belonging to Ising like universality class with uniaxial anisotropy shows kinetic arrest of first order intermediate phase (IP) to ferrimagnetic (FIM) transition. In this system, dc magnetization measurements followed by different protocols suggest the coexistence of high temperature IP with equilibrium FIM phase in low temperature. Formation of metastable state due to hindered first order transition has also been probed through cooling and heating in unequal field (CHUF) protocol. Kinetically arrested high temperature IP appears to persist down to almost the spin freezing temperature in thismore » system.« less

FAST TRACK COMMUNICATION: Spontaneous symmetry breaking in a bridge model fed by junctions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Popkov, Vladislav; Evans, Martin R.; Mukamel, David

2008-10-01

We introduce a class of 1D models mimicking a single-lane bridge with two junctions and two particle species driven in opposite directions. The model exhibits spontaneous symmetry breaking (SSB) for a range of injection/extraction rates. In this phase the steady-state currents of the two species are not equal. Moreover, there is a co-existence region in which the symmetry-broken phase co-exists with a symmetric phase. Along a path in which the extraction rate is varied, keeping the injection rate fixed and large, hysteresis takes place. The mean-field phase diagram is calculated and supporting Monte Carlo simulations are presented. One of the transition lines exhibits a kink, a feature which cannot exist in transition lines of equilibrium phase transitions.

Rising Intragenerational Occupational Mobility in the United States, 1969 to 2011

PubMed Central

Jarvis, Benjamin F.; Song, Xi

2017-01-01

Despite the theoretical importance of intragenerational mobility and its connection to intergenerational mobility, no study since the 1970s has documented trends in intragenerational occupational mobility. The present article fills this intellectual gap by presenting evidence of an increasing trend in intragenerational mobility in the United States from 1969 to 2011. We decompose the trend using a nested occupational classification scheme that distinguishes between disaggregated micro-classes and progressively more aggregated meso-classes, macro-classes, and manual and nonmanual sectors. Log-linear analysis reveals that mobility increased across the occupational structure at nearly all levels of aggregation, especially after the early 1990s. Controlling for structural changes in occupational distributions modifies, but does not substantially alter, these findings. Trends are qualitatively similar for men and women. We connect increasing mobility to other macro-economic trends dating back to the 1970s, including changing labor force composition, technologies, employment relations, and industrial structures. We reassert the sociological significance of intragenerational mobility and discuss how increasing variability in occupational transitions within careers may counteract or mask trends in intergenerational mobility, across occupations and across more broadly construed social classes. PMID:28966346

Quantum multicriticality in disordered Weyl semimetals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luo, Xunlong; Xu, Baolong; Ohtsuki, Tomi; Shindou, Ryuichi

2018-01-01

In electronic band structure of solid-state material, two band-touching points with linear dispersion appear in pairs in the momentum space. When they annihilate each other, the system undergoes a quantum phase transition from a three-dimensional (3D) Weyl semimetal (WSM) phase to a band insulator phase such as a Chern band insulator (CI) phase. The phase transition is described by a new critical theory with a "magnetic dipole"-like object in the momentum space. In this paper, we reveal that the critical theory hosts a novel disorder-driven quantum multicritical point, which is encompassed by three quantum phases: a renormalized WSM phase, a CI phase, and a diffusive metal (DM) phase. Based on the renormalization group argument, we first clarify scaling properties around the band-touching points at the quantum multicritical point as well as all phase boundaries among these three phases. Based on numerical calculations of localization length, density of states, and critical conductance distribution, we next prove that a localization-delocalization transition between the CI phase with a finite zero-energy density of states (zDOS) and DM phase belongs to an ordinary 3D unitary class. Meanwhile, a localization-delocalization transition between the Chern insulator phase with zero zDOS and a renormalized WSM phase turns out to be a direct phase transition whose critical exponent ν =0.80 ±0.01 . We interpret these numerical results by a renormalization group analysis on the critical theory.

Classical synchronization indicates persistent entanglement in isolated quantum systems

PubMed Central

Witthaut, Dirk; Wimberger, Sandro; Burioni, Raffaella; Timme, Marc

2017-01-01

Synchronization and entanglement constitute fundamental collective phenomena in multi-unit classical and quantum systems, respectively, both equally implying coordinated system states. Here, we present a direct link for a class of isolated quantum many-body systems, demonstrating that synchronization emerges as an intrinsic system feature. Intriguingly, quantum coherence and entanglement arise persistently through the same transition as synchronization. This direct link between classical and quantum cooperative phenomena may further our understanding of strongly correlated quantum systems and can be readily observed in state-of-the-art experiments, for example, with ultracold atoms. PMID:28401881

Dynamical Cooper pairing in nonequilibrium electron-phonon systems

DOE PAGES

Knap, Michael; Babadi, Mehrtash; Refael, Gil; ...

2016-12-08

In this paper, we analyze Cooper pairing instabilities in strongly driven electron-phonon systems. The light-induced nonequilibrium state of phonons results in a simultaneous increase of the superconducting coupling constant and the electron scattering. We demonstrate that the competition between these effects leads to an enhanced superconducting transition temperature in a broad range of parameters. Finally, our results may explain the observed transient enhancement of superconductivity in several classes of materials upon irradiation with high intensity pulses of terahertz light, and may pave new ways for engineering high-temperature light-induced superconducting states.

Classical synchronization indicates persistent entanglement in isolated quantum systems.

PubMed

Witthaut, Dirk; Wimberger, Sandro; Burioni, Raffaella; Timme, Marc

2017-04-12

Synchronization and entanglement constitute fundamental collective phenomena in multi-unit classical and quantum systems, respectively, both equally implying coordinated system states. Here, we present a direct link for a class of isolated quantum many-body systems, demonstrating that synchronization emerges as an intrinsic system feature. Intriguingly, quantum coherence and entanglement arise persistently through the same transition as synchronization. This direct link between classical and quantum cooperative phenomena may further our understanding of strongly correlated quantum systems and can be readily observed in state-of-the-art experiments, for example, with ultracold atoms.

Exact steady state of a Kerr resonator with one- and two-photon driving and dissipation: Controllable Wigner-function multimodality and dissipative phase transitions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bartolo, Nicola; Minganti, Fabrizio; Casteels, Wim; Ciuti, Cristiano

2016-09-01

We present exact results for the steady-state density matrix of a general class of driven-dissipative systems consisting of a nonlinear Kerr resonator in the presence of both coherent (one-photon) and parametric (two-photon) driving and dissipation. Thanks to the analytical solution, obtained via the complex P -representation formalism, we are able to explore any regime, including photon blockade, multiphoton resonant effects, and a mesoscopic regime with large photon density and quantum correlations. We show how the interplay between one- and two-photon driving provides a way to control the multimodality of the Wigner function in regimes where the semiclassical theory exhibits multistability. We also study the emergence of dissipative phase transitions in the thermodynamic limit of large photon numbers.

Nanostructure studies of strongly correlated materials.

PubMed

Wei, Jiang; Natelson, Douglas

2011-09-01

Strongly correlated materials exhibit an amazing variety of phenomena, including metal-insulator transitions, colossal magnetoresistance, and high temperature superconductivity, as strong electron-electron and electron-phonon couplings lead to competing correlated ground states. Recently, researchers have begun to apply nanostructure-based techniques to this class of materials, examining electronic transport properties on previously inaccessible length scales, and applying perturbations to drive systems out of equilibrium. We review progress in this area, particularly emphasizing work in transition metal oxides (Fe(3)O(4), VO(2)), manganites, and high temperature cuprate superconductors. We conclude that such nanostructure-based studies have strong potential to reveal new information about the rich physics at work in these materials.

Transitions Into Food Insecurity Associated With Behavioral Problems And Worse Overall Health Among Children.

PubMed

Kimbro, Rachel Tolbert; Denney, Justin T

2015-11-01

Children living in food-insecure households face myriad challenges to their well-being. The Great Recession of December 2007-June 2009 increased food insecurity to the highest levels ever measured in the United States. Using nationally representative data from the period 2010-12 for 6,300 children in the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2010-11, with household incomes below 300 percent of the federal poverty level and a dynamic measure of food insecurity transitions, we assessed the impact of transitions into and out of household food insecurity on the academic achievement, behavioral problems, and health status of young children. We found negligible impacts of food insecurity transitions on academic achievement in first grade. However, we found consistent negative impacts of the transitions on teachers' reports of children's externalizing behaviors, self-control, and interpersonal skills and on parents' reports of children's overall health status. Taken together, our findings underline the importance of food security for children's healthy development. Project HOPE—The People-to-People Health Foundation, Inc.

Mixed-order phase transition in a one-dimensional model.

PubMed

Bar, Amir; Mukamel, David

2014-01-10

We introduce and analyze an exactly soluble one-dimensional Ising model with long range interactions that exhibits a mixed-order transition, namely a phase transition in which the order parameter is discontinuous as in first order transitions while the correlation length diverges as in second order transitions. Such transitions are known to appear in a diverse classes of models that are seemingly unrelated. The model we present serves as a link between two classes of models that exhibit a mixed-order transition in one dimension, namely, spin models with a coupling constant that decays as the inverse distance squared and models of depinning transitions, thus making a step towards a unifying framework.

From symmetry to asymmetry: Phylogenetic patterns of asymmetry variation in animals and their evolutionary significance

PubMed Central

Palmer, A. Richard

1996-01-01

Phylogenetic analyses of asymmetry variation offer a powerful tool for exploring the interplay between ontogeny and evolution because (i) conspicuous asymmetries exist in many higher metazoans with widely varying modes of development, (ii) patterns of bilateral variation within species may identify genetically and environmentally triggered asymmetries, and (iii) asymmetries arising at different times during development may be more sensitive to internal cytoplasmic inhomogeneities compared to external environmental stimuli. Using four broadly comparable asymmetry states (symmetry, antisymmetry, dextral, and sinistral), and two stages at which asymmetry appears developmentally (larval and postlarval), I evaluated relations between ontogenetic and phylogenetic patterns of asymmetry variation. Among 140 inferred phylogenetic transitions between asymmetry states, recorded from 11 classes in five phyla, directional asymmetry (dextral or sinistral) evolved directly from symmetrical ancestors proportionally more frequently among larval asymmetries. In contrast, antisymmetry, either as an end state or as a transitional stage preceding directional asymmetry, was confined primarily to postlarval asymmetries. The ontogenetic origin of asymmetry thus significantly influences its subsequent evolution. Furthermore, because antisymmetry typically signals an environmentally triggered asymmetry, the phylogenetic transition from antisymmetry to directional asymmetry suggests that many cases of laterally fixed asymmetries evolved via genetic assimilation. PMID:8962039

General three-state model with biased population replacement: Analytical solution and application to language dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Colaiori, Francesca; Castellano, Claudio; Cuskley, Christine F.; Loreto, Vittorio; Pugliese, Martina; Tria, Francesca

2015-01-01

Empirical evidence shows that the rate of irregular usage of English verbs exhibits discontinuity as a function of their frequency: the most frequent verbs tend to be totally irregular. We aim to qualitatively understand the origin of this feature by studying simple agent-based models of language dynamics, where each agent adopts an inflectional state for a verb and may change it upon interaction with other agents. At the same time, agents are replaced at some rate by new agents adopting the regular form. In models with only two inflectional states (regular and irregular), we observe that either all verbs regularize irrespective of their frequency, or a continuous transition occurs between a low-frequency state, where the lemma becomes fully regular, and a high-frequency one, where both forms coexist. Introducing a third (mixed) state, wherein agents may use either form, we find that a third, qualitatively different behavior may emerge, namely, a discontinuous transition in frequency. We introduce and solve analytically a very general class of three-state models that allows us to fully understand these behaviors in a unified framework. Realistic sets of interaction rules, including the well-known naming game (NG) model, result in a discontinuous transition, in agreement with recent empirical findings. We also point out that the distinction between speaker and hearer in the interaction has no effect on the collective behavior. The results for the general three-state model, although discussed in terms of language dynamics, are widely applicable.

Dynamic phases of active matter systems with quenched disorder

DOE PAGES

Sandor, Csand; Libal, Andras; Reichhardt, Charles; ...

2017-03-16

Depinning and nonequilibrium transitions within sliding states in systems driven over quenched disorder arise across a wide spectrum of size scales ranging from atomic friction at the nanoscale, flux motion in type II superconductors at the mesoscale, colloidal motion in disordered media at the microscale, and plate tectonics at geological length scales. Here we show that active matter or self-propelled particles interacting with quenched disorder under an external drive represents a class of system that can also exhibit pinning-depinning phenomena, plastic flow phases, and nonequilibrium sliding transitions that are correlated with distinct morphologies and velocity-force curve signatures. When interactions withmore » the substrate are strong, a homogeneous pinned liquid phase forms that depins plastically into a uniform disordered phase and then dynamically transitions first into a moving stripe coexisting with a pinned liquid and then into a moving phase-separated state at higher drives. We numerically map the resulting dynamical phase diagrams as a function of external drive, substrate interaction strength, and self-propulsion correlation length. These phases can be observed for active matter moving through random disorder. Lastly, our results indicate that intrinsically nonequilibrium systems can exhibit additional nonequilibrium transitions when subjected to an external drive.« less

Dynamic phases of active matter systems with quenched disorder

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sandor, Csand; Libal, Andras; Reichhardt, Charles

Depinning and nonequilibrium transitions within sliding states in systems driven over quenched disorder arise across a wide spectrum of size scales ranging from atomic friction at the nanoscale, flux motion in type II superconductors at the mesoscale, colloidal motion in disordered media at the microscale, and plate tectonics at geological length scales. Here we show that active matter or self-propelled particles interacting with quenched disorder under an external drive represents a class of system that can also exhibit pinning-depinning phenomena, plastic flow phases, and nonequilibrium sliding transitions that are correlated with distinct morphologies and velocity-force curve signatures. When interactions withmore » the substrate are strong, a homogeneous pinned liquid phase forms that depins plastically into a uniform disordered phase and then dynamically transitions first into a moving stripe coexisting with a pinned liquid and then into a moving phase-separated state at higher drives. We numerically map the resulting dynamical phase diagrams as a function of external drive, substrate interaction strength, and self-propulsion correlation length. These phases can be observed for active matter moving through random disorder. Lastly, our results indicate that intrinsically nonequilibrium systems can exhibit additional nonequilibrium transitions when subjected to an external drive.« less

Statistics of resonances for a class of billiards on the Poincaré half-plane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Howard, P. J.; Mota-Furtado, F.; O'Mahony, P. F.; Uski, V.

2005-12-01

The lower boundary of Artin's billiard on the Poincaré half-plane is continuously deformed to generate a class of billiards with classical dynamics varying from fully integrable to completely chaotic. The quantum scattering problem in these open billiards is described and the statistics of both real and imaginary parts of the resonant momenta are investigated. The evolution of the resonance positions is followed as the boundary is varied which leads to large changes in their distribution. The transition to arithmetic chaos in Artin's billiard, which is responsible for the Poissonian level-spacing statistics of the bound states in the continuum (cusp forms) at the same time as the formation of a set of resonances all with width \\frac{1}{4} and real parts determined by the zeros of Riemann's zeta function, is closely examined. Regimes are found which obey the universal predictions of random matrix theory (RMT) as well as exhibiting non-universal long-range correlations. The Brody parameter is used to describe the transitions between different regimes.

Probing quantum frustrated systems via factorization of the ground state.

PubMed

Giampaolo, Salvatore M; Adesso, Gerardo; Illuminati, Fabrizio

2010-05-21

The existence of definite orders in frustrated quantum systems is related rigorously to the occurrence of fully factorized ground states below a threshold value of the frustration. Ground-state separability thus provides a natural measure of frustration: strongly frustrated systems are those that cannot accommodate for classical-like solutions. The exact form of the factorized ground states and the critical frustration are determined for various classes of nonexactly solvable spin models with different spatial ranges of the interactions. For weak frustration, the existence of disentangling transitions determines the range of applicability of mean-field descriptions in biological and physical problems such as stochastic gene expression and the stability of long-period modulated structures.

Error-trellis Syndrome Decoding Techniques for Convolutional Codes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Reed, I. S.; Truong, T. K.

1984-01-01

An error-trellis syndrome decoding technique for convolutional codes is developed. This algorithm is then applied to the entire class of systematic convolutional codes and to the high-rate, Wyner-Ash convolutional codes. A special example of the one-error-correcting Wyner-Ash code, a rate 3/4 code, is treated. The error-trellis syndrome decoding method applied to this example shows in detail how much more efficient syndrome decoding is than Viterbi decoding if applied to the same problem. For standard Viterbi decoding, 64 states are required, whereas in the example only 7 states are needed. Also, within the 7 states required for decoding, many fewer transitions are needed between the states.

Error-trellis syndrome decoding techniques for convolutional codes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Reed, I. S.; Truong, T. K.

1985-01-01

An error-trellis syndrome decoding technique for convolutional codes is developed. This algorithm is then applied to the entire class of systematic convolutional codes and to the high-rate, Wyner-Ash convolutional codes. A special example of the one-error-correcting Wyner-Ash code, a rate 3/4 code, is treated. The error-trellis syndrome decoding method applied to this example shows in detail how much more efficient syndrome decordig is than Viterbi decoding if applied to the same problem. For standard Viterbi decoding, 64 states are required, whereas in the example only 7 states are needed. Also, within the 7 states required for decoding, many fewer transitions are needed between the states.

The end of the line: The relationship between New York City's subway system and residential class structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rhindress, Mindy

Public money is necessary to build and maintain this country's vast network of mass transit systems and highways. Thus you would expect class equity in choices of infrastructure location, types of projects and pricing. However, the influence of commercial interests appears to create a contradictory effect, and may negatively influence the settlement patterns where transit serves. New York City and its subway system offered the perfect case study by which to examine the before and after effects of mass transit introduction given the enormous size of the transit system and the grand development of New York City that appeared to occur simultaneous to subway inauguration. The main objective of this study was to determine the relationship between the growth of the New York City subway system and the establishment of class structure in residential patterns. Regional census data covering the first 16-year period of the subway's development was examined along with geographic statistics on subway line expansion and station openings. GIS (Geographic Information Systems) maps were used to illustrate the development of living spaces as a function of subway introduction into communities, and several Indices were computed to demonstrate the population growth and class disparity. The results revealed that the early years of transit development were entrepreneurial efforts coordinated by business interests. This led to transit first providing significant benefits mostly to the middle and upper classes, giving them a reasonable means by which to escape horrible tenement living conditions while turning a profit at the same time. Thus new settlements were stratified by class almost immediately after introduction. The cycle continued until years later when the automobile was introduced and the once expensive and luxurious, but now more reasonably priced and just functional, public transit system finally befit the population much lower on the socioeconomic scale. Class divisions still existed, but the subway's influence on this stratification decreased. The outcome of this study can provide important direction for new transportation projects that access public money by establishing guidelines to monitor business interests in new transit systems, while ensuring a fair pricing and land use policy.

Self-Destructing Dark Matter

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Grossman, Yuval; Harnik, Roni; Telem, Ofri

We present Self-Destructing Dark Matter (SDDM), a new class of dark matter models which are detectable in large neutrino detectors. In this class of models, a component of dark matter can transition from a long-lived state to a short-lived one by scattering off of a nucleus or an electron in the Earth. The short-lived state then decays to Standard Model particles, generating a dark matter signal with a visible energy of order the dark matter mass rather than just its recoil. This leads to striking signals in large detectors with high energy thresholds. We present a few examples of modelsmore » which exhibit self destruction, all inspired by bound state dynamics in the Standard Model. The models under consideration exhibit a rich phenomenology, possibly featuring events with one, two, or even three lepton pairs, each with a fixed invariant mass and a fixed energy, as well as non-trivial directional distributions. This motivates dedicated searches for dark matter in large underground detectors such as Super-K, Borexino, SNO+, and DUNE.« less

Speculation and replication in temperature accelerated dynamics

DOE PAGES

Zamora, Richard J.; Perez, Danny; Voter, Arthur F.

2018-02-12

Accelerated Molecular Dynamics (AMD) is a class of MD-based algorithms for the long-time scale simulation of atomistic systems that are characterized by rare-event transitions. Temperature-Accelerated Dynamics (TAD), a traditional AMD approach, hastens state-to-state transitions by performing MD at an elevated temperature. Recently, Speculatively-Parallel TAD (SpecTAD) was introduced, allowing the TAD procedure to exploit parallel computing systems by concurrently executing in a dynamically generated list of speculative future states. Although speculation can be very powerful, it is not always the most efficient use of parallel resources. In this paper, we compare the performance of speculative parallelism with a replica-based technique, similarmore » to the Parallel Replica Dynamics method. A hybrid SpecTAD approach is also presented, in which each speculation process is further accelerated by a local set of replicas. Finally and overall, this work motivates the use of hybrid parallelism whenever possible, as some combination of speculation and replication is typically most efficient.« less

Estimation in a semi-Markov transformation model

PubMed Central

Dabrowska, Dorota M.

2012-01-01

Multi-state models provide a common tool for analysis of longitudinal failure time data. In biomedical applications, models of this kind are often used to describe evolution of a disease and assume that patient may move among a finite number of states representing different phases in the disease progression. Several authors developed extensions of the proportional hazard model for analysis of multi-state models in the presence of covariates. In this paper, we consider a general class of censored semi-Markov and modulated renewal processes and propose the use of transformation models for their analysis. Special cases include modulated renewal processes with interarrival times specified using transformation models, and semi-Markov processes with with one-step transition probabilities defined using copula-transformation models. We discuss estimation of finite and infinite dimensional parameters of the model, and develop an extension of the Gaussian multiplier method for setting confidence bands for transition probabilities. A transplant outcome data set from the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research is used for illustrative purposes. PMID:22740583

Speculation and replication in temperature accelerated dynamics

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zamora, Richard J.; Perez, Danny; Voter, Arthur F.

Accelerated Molecular Dynamics (AMD) is a class of MD-based algorithms for the long-time scale simulation of atomistic systems that are characterized by rare-event transitions. Temperature-Accelerated Dynamics (TAD), a traditional AMD approach, hastens state-to-state transitions by performing MD at an elevated temperature. Recently, Speculatively-Parallel TAD (SpecTAD) was introduced, allowing the TAD procedure to exploit parallel computing systems by concurrently executing in a dynamically generated list of speculative future states. Although speculation can be very powerful, it is not always the most efficient use of parallel resources. In this paper, we compare the performance of speculative parallelism with a replica-based technique, similarmore » to the Parallel Replica Dynamics method. A hybrid SpecTAD approach is also presented, in which each speculation process is further accelerated by a local set of replicas. Finally and overall, this work motivates the use of hybrid parallelism whenever possible, as some combination of speculation and replication is typically most efficient.« less

Directed emission of CdSe nanoplatelets originating from strongly anisotropic 2D electronic structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scott, Riccardo; Heckmann, Jan; Prudnikau, Anatol V.; Antanovich, Artsiom; Mikhailov, Aleksandr; Owschimikow, Nina; Artemyev, Mikhail; Climente, Juan I.; Woggon, Ulrike; Grosse, Nicolai B.; Achtstein, Alexander W.

2017-12-01

Intrinsically directional light emitters are potentially important for applications in photonics including lasing and energy-efficient display technology. Here, we propose a new route to overcome intrinsic efficiency limitations in light-emitting devices by studying a CdSe nanoplatelets monolayer that exhibits strongly anisotropic, directed photoluminescence. Analysis of the two-dimensional k-space distribution reveals the underlying internal transition dipole distribution. The observed directed emission is related to the anisotropy of the electronic Bloch states governing the exciton transition dipole moment and forming a bright plane. The strongly directed emission perpendicular to the platelet is further enhanced by the optical local density of states and local fields. In contrast to the emission directionality, the off-resonant absorption into the energetically higher 2D-continuum of states is isotropic. These contrasting optical properties make the oriented CdSe nanoplatelets, or superstructures of parallel-oriented platelets, an interesting and potentially useful class of semiconductor-based emitters.

Anticancer Agents Based on a New Class of Transition- State Analog Inhibitors for Serine and Cysteine Proteases

DTIC Science & Technology

1999-08-01

electrostatic repulsion between the het- eroatom and the ketone. Swain and Lupton31 have constructed a modified Hammett equation (eq 2) in which they...determined by nonlinear fit to the Michaelis-Menten equation for competitive inhibition using simple weighing. Competitive inhibition was confirmed... equation for competitive inhibition using simple weighing. Competitive inhibition was confirmed by Lineweaver - Burk analysis using simple

Analysing grouping of nucleotides in DNA sequences using lumped processes constructed from Markov chains.

PubMed

Guédon, Yann; d'Aubenton-Carafa, Yves; Thermes, Claude

2006-03-01

The most commonly used models for analysing local dependencies in DNA sequences are (high-order) Markov chains. Incorporating knowledge relative to the possible grouping of the nucleotides enables to define dedicated sub-classes of Markov chains. The problem of formulating lumpability hypotheses for a Markov chain is therefore addressed. In the classical approach to lumpability, this problem can be formulated as the determination of an appropriate state space (smaller than the original state space) such that the lumped chain defined on this state space retains the Markov property. We propose a different perspective on lumpability where the state space is fixed and the partitioning of this state space is represented by a one-to-many probabilistic function within a two-level stochastic process. Three nested classes of lumped processes can be defined in this way as sub-classes of first-order Markov chains. These lumped processes enable parsimonious reparameterizations of Markov chains that help to reveal relevant partitions of the state space. Characterizations of the lumped processes on the original transition probability matrix are derived. Different model selection methods relying either on hypothesis testing or on penalized log-likelihood criteria are presented as well as extensions to lumped processes constructed from high-order Markov chains. The relevance of the proposed approach to lumpability is illustrated by the analysis of DNA sequences. In particular, the use of lumped processes enables to highlight differences between intronic sequences and gene untranslated region sequences.

37 GHz Methanol Masers : Horsemen of the Apocalypse for the Class II Methanol Maser Phase?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ellingsen, S. P.; Breen, S. L.; Sobolev, A. M.; Voronkov, M. A.; Caswell, J. L.; Lo, N.

2011-12-01

We report the results of a search for class II methanol masers at 37.7, 38.3, and 38.5 GHz toward a sample of 70 high-mass star formation regions. We primarily searched toward regions known to show emission either from the 107 GHz class II methanol maser transition, or from the 6.035 GHz excited OH transition. We detected maser emission from 13 sources in the 37.7 GHz transition, eight of these being new detections. We detected maser emission from three sources in the 38 GHz transitions, one of which is a new detection. We find that 37.7 GHz methanol masers are only associated with the most luminous 6.7 and 12.2 GHz methanol maser sources, which in turn are hypothesized to be the oldest class II methanol sources. We suggest that the 37.7 GHz methanol masers are associated with a brief evolutionary phase (of 1000-4000 years) prior to the cessation of class II methanol maser activity in the associated high-mass star formation region.

Two Universality Classes for the Many-Body Localization Transition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khemani, Vedika; Sheng, D. N.; Huse, David A.

2017-08-01

We provide a systematic comparison of the many-body localization (MBL) transition in spin chains with nonrandom quasiperiodic versus random fields. We find evidence suggesting that these belong to two separate universality classes: the first dominated by "intrinsic" intrasample randomness, and the second dominated by external intersample quenched randomness. We show that the effects of intersample quenched randomness are strongly growing, but not yet dominant, at the system sizes probed by exact-diagonalization studies on random models. Thus, the observed finite-size critical scaling collapses in such studies appear to be in a preasymptotic regime near the nonrandom universality class, but showing signs of the initial crossover towards the external-randomness-dominated universality class. Our results provide an explanation for why exact-diagonalization studies on random models see an apparent scaling near the transition while also obtaining finite-size scaling exponents that strongly violate Harris-Chayes bounds that apply to disorder-driven transitions. We also show that the MBL phase is more stable for the quasiperiodic model as compared to the random one, and the transition in the quasiperiodic model suffers less from certain finite-size effects.

Structural heterogeneity of the μ-opioid receptor’s conformational ensemble in the apo state

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sena, Diniz M.; Cong, Xiaojing; Giorgetti, Alejandro; Kless, Achim; Carloni, Paolo

2017-04-01

G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest and most pharmaceutically relevant family of membrane proteins. Here, fully unbiased, enhanced sampling simulations of a constitutively active mutant (CAM) of a class A GPCR, the μ-opioid receptor (μOR), demonstrates repeated transitions between the inactive (IS) and active-like (AS-L) states. The interconversion features typical activation/inactivation patterns involving established conformational rearrangements of conserved residues. By contrast, wild-type μOR remains in IS during the same course of simulation, consistent with the low basal activity of the protein. The simulations point to an important role of residue W2936.48 at the “toggle switch” in the mutation-induced constitutive activation. Such role has been already observed for other CAMs of class A GPCRs. We also find a significantly populated intermediate state, rather similar to IS. Based on the remarkable accord between simulations and experiments, we suggest here that this state, which has escaped so far experimental characterization, might constitute an early step in the activation process of the apo μOR CAM.

Robustness of third family solutions for hybrid stars against mixed phase effects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ayriyan, A.; Bastian, N.-U.; Blaschke, D.; Grigorian, H.; Maslov, K.; Voskresensky, D. N.

2018-04-01

We investigate the robustness of third family solutions for hybrid compact stars with a quark matter core that correspond to the occurrence of high-mass twin stars against a softening of the phase transition by means of a construction that mimics the effects of pasta structures in the mixed phase. We consider a class of hybrid equations of state that exploits a relativistic mean-field model for the hadronic as well as for the quark matter phase. We present parametrizations that correspond to branches of high-mass twin star pairs with maximum masses between 2.05 M⊙ and 1.48 M⊙ having radius differences between 3.2 and 1.5 km, respectively. When compared to a Maxwell construction with a fixed value of critical pressure Pc, the effect of the mixed phase construction consists in the occurrence of a region of pressures around Pc belonging to the coexistence of hadronic and quark matter phases between the onset pressure at PH and the end of the transition at PQ. The maximum broadening which would still allow mass-twin compact stars is found to be (PQ-PH)max≈Pc for all parametrizations within the present class of models. At least the heavier of the neutron stars of the binary merger GW170817 could have been a member of the third family of hybrid stars. We present the example of another class of hybrid star equations of state for which the appearance of the third family branch is not as robust against mixed phase effects as that of the present work.

Solvent dynamical control of ultrafast ground state electron transfer: implications for Class II-III mixed valency.

PubMed

Lear, Benjamin J; Glover, Starla D; Salsman, J Catherine; Londergan, Casey H; Kubiak, Clifford P

2007-10-24

We relate the solvent and temperature dependence of the rates of intramolecular electron transfer (ET) of mixed valence complexes of the type {[Ru3O(OAc)6(CO)(L)]2-BL}-1, where L = pyridyl ligand and BL = pyrazine. Complexes were reduced chemically or electrochemically to obtain the mixed valence anions in seven solvents: acetonitrile, methylene chloride, dimethylformamide, tetrahydrofuran, dimethylsulfoxide, chloroform, and hexamethylphosphoramide. Rate constants for intramolecular ET were estimated by simulating the observed degree of nu(CO) IR band shape coalescence in the mixed valence state. Correlations between rate constants for ET and solvent properties including static dielectric constant, optical dielectric constant, the quantity 1/epsilonop - 1/epsilonS, microscopic solvent polarity, viscosity, cardinal rotational moments of inertia, and solvent relaxation times were examined. In the temperature study, the complexes displayed a sharp increase in the ket as the freezing points of the solvents methylene chloride and acetonitrile were approached. The solvent phase transition causes a localized-to-delocalized transition in the mixed valence ions and an acceleration in the rate of ET. This is explained in terms of decoupling the slower solvent motions involved in the frequency factor nuN which increases the value of nuN. The observed solvent and temperature dependence of the ket for these complexes is used in order to formulate a new definition for Robin-Day class II-III mixed valence compounds. Specifically, it is proposed that class II-III compounds are those for which thermodynamic properties of the solvent exert no control over ket, but the dynamic properties of the solvent still influence ket.

"School Doesn't Feel as Much of a Partnership": Parents' Perceptions of Their Children's Transition from Nursery School to Reception Class

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shields, Polly

2009-01-01

This small-scale study explores a group of English parents' perceptions of their relationships with their child's nursery school and, after the transition to Reception class, their primary school. It references current research and literature on the issues of transition and the role of parents in their children's education. Findings from…

Ultrahigh-resolution γ-ray spectroscopy of 156Gd: a test of tetrahedral symmetry.

PubMed

Jentschel, M; Urban, W; Krempel, J; Tonev, D; Dudek, J; Curien, D; Lauss, B; de Angelis, G; Petkov, P

2010-06-04

Tetrahedral symmetry in strongly interacting systems would establish a new class of quantum effects at subatomic scale. Excited states in 156Gd that could carry the information about the tetrahedral symmetry were populated in the 155Gd(n,γ)156Gd reaction and studied using the GAMS4/5 Bragg spectrometers at the Institut Laue-Langevin. We have identified the 5(1)- → 3(1)- transition of 131.983(12) keV in 156Gd and determined its intensity to be 1.9(3)x10(-6) per neutron capture. The lifetime τ=220(-30)(+180) fs of the 5(1)- state in 156Gd has been measured using the GRID technique. The resulting B(E2)=293(-134)(+6) Weisskopf unit rate of the 131.983 keV transition provides the intrinsic quadrupole moment of the 5(1)- state in 156Gd to be Q0=7.1(-1.6)(+0.7) b. This large value, comparable to the quadrupole moment of the ground state in 156Gd, gives strong evidence against tetrahedral symmetry in the lowest odd-spin, negative-parity band of 156Gd.

Cook-Levin Theorem Algorithmic-Reducibility/Completeness = Wilson Renormalization-(Semi)-Group Fixed-Points; ``Noise''-Induced Phase-Transitions (NITs) to Accelerate Algorithmics (``NIT-Picking'') REPLACING CRUTCHES!!!: Models: Turing-machine, finite-state-models, finite-automata

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Young, Frederic; Siegel, Edward

Cook-Levin theorem theorem algorithmic computational-complexity(C-C) algorithmic-equivalence reducibility/completeness equivalence to renormalization-(semi)-group phase-transitions critical-phenomena statistical-physics universality-classes fixed-points, is exploited via Siegel FUZZYICS =CATEGORYICS = ANALOGYICS =PRAGMATYICS/CATEGORY-SEMANTICS ONTOLOGY COGNITION ANALYTICS-Aristotle ``square-of-opposition'' tabular list-format truth-table matrix analytics predicts and implements ''noise''-induced phase-transitions (NITs) to accelerate versus to decelerate Harel [Algorithmics (1987)]-Sipser[Intro.Thy. Computation(`97)] algorithmic C-C: ''NIT-picking''(!!!), to optimize optimization-problems optimally(OOPO). Versus iso-''noise'' power-spectrum quantitative-only amplitude/magnitude-only variation stochastic-resonance, ''NIT-picking'' is ''noise'' power-spectrum QUALitative-type variation via quantitative critical-exponents variation. Computer-''science''/SEANCE algorithmic C-C models: Turing-machine, finite-state-models, finite-automata,..., discrete-maths graph-theory equivalence to physics Feynman-diagrams are identified as early-days once-workable valid but limiting IMPEDING CRUTCHES(!!!), ONLY IMPEDE latter-days new-insights!!!

Carrier lifetime in exfoliated few-layer graphene determined from intersubband optical transitions.

PubMed

Limmer, Thomas; Feldmann, Jochen; Da Como, Enrico

2013-05-24

We report a femtosecond transient spectroscopy study in the near to middle infrared range, 0.8-0.35 eV photon energy, on graphene and few layer graphene single flakes. The spectra show an evolving structure of photoinduced absorption bands superimposed on the bleaching caused by Pauli blocking of the interband optically coupled states. Supported by tight-binding model calculations, we assign the photoinduced absorption features to intersubband transitions as the number of layers is increased. Interestingly, the intersubband photoinduced resonances show a longer dynamics than the interband bleaching, because of their independence from the absolute energy of the carriers with respect to the Dirac point. The dynamic of these intersubband transitions reflects the lifetime of the hot carriers and provides an elegant method to access it in this important class of semimetals.

Carrier Lifetime in Exfoliated Few-Layer Graphene Determined from Intersubband Optical Transitions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Limmer, Thomas; Feldmann, Jochen; Da Como, Enrico

2013-05-01

We report a femtosecond transient spectroscopy study in the near to middle infrared range, 0.8-0.35 eV photon energy, on graphene and few layer graphene single flakes. The spectra show an evolving structure of photoinduced absorption bands superimposed on the bleaching caused by Pauli blocking of the interband optically coupled states. Supported by tight-binding model calculations, we assign the photoinduced absorption features to intersubband transitions as the number of layers is increased. Interestingly, the intersubband photoinduced resonances show a longer dynamics than the interband bleaching, because of their independence from the absolute energy of the carriers with respect to the Dirac point. The dynamic of these intersubband transitions reflects the lifetime of the hot carriers and provides an elegant method to access it in this important class of semimetals.

Paramagnetic and glass transitions in sudoku

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Williams, A.; Ackland, G. J.

2012-09-01

We study the statistical mechanics of a model glassy system based on sudoku, a familiar and popular mathematical puzzle. Sudoku puzzles provide a very rare example of a class of frustrated systems with a unique ground state without symmetry. Here, the puzzle is recast as a thermodynamic system where the number of violated rules defines the energy. We use Monte Carlo simulation to show that the “sudoku Hamiltonian” exhibits two transitions as a function of temperature, a paramagnetic, and a glass transition. Of these, the intermediate condensed phase is the only one that visits the ground state (i.e., it solves the puzzle, though this is not the purpose of the study). Both transitions are associated with an entropy change, paramagnetism measured from the dynamics of the Monte Carlo run, showing a peak in specific heat, while the residual glass entropy is determined by finding multiple instances of the glass by repeated annealing. There are relatively few such simple models for frustrated or glassy systems that exhibit both ordering and glass transitions; sudoku puzzles are unique for the ease with which they can be obtained, with the proof of the existence of a unique ground state via the satisfiability of all constraints. Simulations suggest that in the glass phase there is an increase in information entropy with lowering temperature. In fact, we have shown that sudoku puzzles have the type of rugged energy landscape with multiple minima that typifies glasses in many physical systems. This puzzling result is a manifestation of the paradox of the residual glass entropy. These readily available puzzles can now be used as solvable model Hamiltonian systems for studying the glass transition.

Socioeconomic status and fertility decline: Insights from historical transitions in Europe and North America

PubMed Central

Dribe, Martin; Breschi, Marco; Gagnon, Alain; Gauvreau, Danielle; Hanson, Heidi A.; Maloney, Thomas N.; Mazzoni, Stanislao; Molitoris, Joseph; Pozzi, Lucia; Smith, Ken R.; Vézina, Hélène

2016-01-01

We have good knowledge of the timing of the historical fertility transitions in different regions, but we know much less regarding specific features and causes. In this study, we used longitudinal micro-level data for five local populations in Europe and North America to study the relationship between socioeconomic status and fertility during the transition. Using the same analytical model and identical class scheme, we examined the development of socioeconomic differences in marital fertility and related it to common theories on fertility behaviour. Our results do not provide support for the hypothesis of universally high fertility among the upper classes in pre-transitional society but support the idea that they acted as forerunners in the transition by reducing their fertility before other groups. Farmers and unskilled workers were latest to start to limit their fertility. Apart from this regularity, the patterns of class differences in fertility varied significantly among populations. PMID:27884093

Phase Transitions and Scaling in Systems Far from Equilibrium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Täuber, Uwe C.

2017-03-01

Scaling ideas and renormalization group approaches proved crucial for a deep understanding and classification of critical phenomena in thermal equilibrium. Over the past decades, these powerful conceptual and mathematical tools were extended to continuous phase transitions separating distinct nonequilibrium stationary states in driven classical and quantum systems. In concordance with detailed numerical simulations and laboratory experiments, several prominent dynamical universality classes have emerged that govern large-scale, long-time scaling properties both near and far from thermal equilibrium. These pertain to genuine specific critical points as well as entire parameter space regions for steady states that display generic scale invariance. The exploration of nonstationary relaxation properties and associated physical aging scaling constitutes a complementary potent means to characterize cooperative dynamics in complex out-of-equilibrium systems. This review describes dynamic scaling features through paradigmatic examples that include near-equilibrium critical dynamics, driven lattice gases and growing interfaces, correlation-dominated reaction-diffusion systems, and basic epidemic models.

Self-regulation in self-propelled nematic fluids.

PubMed

Baskaran, A; Marchetti, M C

2012-09-01

We consider the hydrodynamic theory of an active fluid of self-propelled particles with nematic aligning interactions. This class of materials has polar symmetry at the microscopic level, but forms macrostates of nematic symmetry. We highlight three key features of the dynamics. First, as in polar active fluids, the control parameter for the order-disorder transition, namely the density, is dynamically convected by the order parameter via active currents. The resulting dynamical self-regulation of the order parameter is a generic property of active fluids and destabilizes the uniform nematic state near the mean-field transition. Secondly, curvature-driven currents render the system unstable deep in the nematic state, as found previously. Finally, and unique to self-propelled nematics, nematic order induces local polar order that in turn leads to the growth of density fluctuations. We propose this as a possible mechanism for the smectic order of polar clusters seen in numerical simulations.

Spin doping using transition metal phthalocyanine molecules

PubMed Central

Atxabal, A.; Ribeiro, M.; Parui, S.; Urreta, L.; Sagasta, E.; Sun, X.; Llopis, R.; Casanova, F.; Hueso, L. E.

2016-01-01

Molecular spins have become key enablers for exploring magnetic interactions, quantum information processes and many-body effects in metals. Metal-organic molecules, in particular, let the spin state of the core metal ion to be modified according to its organic environment, allowing localized magnetic moments to emerge as functional entities with radically different properties from its simple atomic counterparts. Here, using and preserving the integrity of transition metal phthalocyanine high-spin complexes, we demonstrate the magnetic doping of gold thin films, effectively creating a new ground state. We demonstrate it by electrical transport measurements that are sensitive to the scattering of itinerant electrons with magnetic impurities, such as Kondo effect and weak antilocalization. Our work expands in a simple and powerful way the classes of materials that can be used as magnetic dopants, opening a new channel to couple the wide range of molecular properties with spin phenomena at a functional scale. PMID:27941810

Wetting and layering transitions in a nano-dendrimer PAMAM structure: Monte Carlo study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aouini, S.; Ziti, S.; Labrim, H.; Bahmad, L.

2016-10-01

This study is based on a nano-model of the dendrimer polyamidoamine (PAMAM). The idea is to examine the magnetic properties of such models in the context of wetting and the layering transitions. The studied system consists of spins σ ={1/2} Ising ferromagnetic in real nanostructure found in different scientific domains. To study this system, we perform Monte Carlo simulations leading to interesting results recapitulated in two classes. The former is the ground state phase diagrams study. The latter is the magnetic properties at non null temperatures. Also, we analyzed the effect of the terms present in the Hamiltonian governing our system such as the external magnetic field and the exchange couplings interactions.

Phase Transitions and Volunteering in Spatial Public Goods Games

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Szabó, György; Hauert, Christoph

2002-08-01

We present a simple yet effective mechanism promoting cooperation under full anonymity by allowing for voluntary participation in public goods games. This natural extension leads to ``rock-scissors-paper''-type cyclic dominance of the three strategies, cooperate, defect, and loner. In spatial settings with players arranged on a regular lattice, this results in interesting dynamical properties and intriguing spatiotemporal patterns. In particular, variations of the value of the public good leads to transitions between one-, two-, and three-strategy states which either are in the class of directed percolation or show interesting analogies to Ising-type models. Although volunteering is incapable of stabilizing cooperation, it efficiently prevents successful spreading of selfish behavior.

Molecule signatures in photoluminescence spectra of transition metal dichalcogenides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Feierabend, Maja; Berghäuser, Gunnar; Selig, Malte; Brem, Samuel; Shegai, Timur; Eigler, Siegfried; Malic, Ermin

2018-01-01

Monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) show an optimal surface-to-volume ratio and are thus promising candidates for novel molecule sensor devices. It was recently predicted that a certain class of molecules exhibiting a large dipole moment can be detected through the activation of optically inaccessible (dark) excitonic states in absorption spectra of tungsten-based TMDs. In this paper, we investigate the molecule signatures in photoluminescence spectra in dependence of a number of different experimentally accessible quantities, such as excitation density, temperature, as well as molecular characteristics including the dipole moment and its orientation, molecule-TMD distance, molecular coverage, and distribution. We show that under certain optimal conditions even room-temperature detection of molecules can be achieved.

School Choice at the Crossroads of Race, Class, and Accountability: An Analysis of the Effects of Voluntary School Choice on Elementary Schools in a Large District in the Southeastern United States

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Evans, Teresa Craig

2010-01-01

In recent years, the responsibility for the desegregation of American public schools has transitioned from federal court mandates to school board programs and policies. There is widespread belief that this has resulted in the resegregation of schools across the country. One popular policy that is purported to provide the opportunity for voluntary…

Three is much more than two in coarsening dynamics of cyclic competitions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mitarai, Namiko; Gunnarson, Ivar; Pedersen, Buster Niels; Rosiek, Christian Anker; Sneppen, Kim

2016-04-01

The classical game of rock-paper-scissors has inspired experiments and spatial model systems that address the robustness of biological diversity. In particular, the game nicely illustrates that cyclic interactions allow multiple strategies to coexist for long-time intervals. When formulated in terms of a one-dimensional cellular automata, the spatial distribution of strategies exhibits coarsening with algebraically growing domain size over time, while the two-dimensional version allows domains to break and thereby opens the possibility for long-time coexistence. We consider a quasi-one-dimensional implementation of the cyclic competition, and study the long-term dynamics as a function of rare invasions between parallel linear ecosystems. We find that increasing the complexity from two to three parallel subsystems allows a transition from complete coarsening to an active steady state where the domain size stays finite. We further find that this transition happens irrespective of whether the update is done in parallel for all sites simultaneously or done randomly in sequential order. In both cases, the active state is characterized by localized bursts of dislocations, followed by longer periods of coarsening. In the case of the parallel dynamics, we find that there is another phase transition between the active steady state and the coarsening state within the three-line system when the invasion rate between the subsystems is varied. We identify the critical parameter for this transition and show that the density of active boundaries has critical exponents that are consistent with the directed percolation universality class. On the other hand, numerical simulations with the random sequential dynamics suggest that the system may exhibit an active steady state as long as the invasion rate is finite.

Altered Enthalpy-Entropy Compensation in Picomolar Transition State Analogues of Human Purine Nucleoside Phosphorylase†

PubMed Central

Edwards, Achelle A.; Mason, Jennifer M.; Clinch, Keith; Tyler, Peter C.; Evans, Gary B.; Schramm, Vern L.

2009-01-01

Human purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) belongs to the trimeric class of PNPs and is essential for catabolism of deoxyguanosine. Genetic deficiency of PNP in humans causes a specific T-cell immune deficiency and transition state analogue inhibitors of PNP are in development for treatment of T-cell cancers and autoimmune disorders. Four generations of Immucillins have been developed, each of which contains inhibitors binding with picomolar affinity to human PNP. Full inhibition of PNP occurs upon binding to the first of three subunits and binding to subsequent sites occurs with negative cooperativity. In contrast, substrate analogue and product bind without cooperativity. Titrations of human PNP using isothermal calorimetery indicate that binding of a structurally rigid first-generation Immucillin (K d = 56 pM) is driven by large negative enthalpy values (ΔH = −21.2 kcal/mol) with a substantial entropic (-TΔS) penalty. The tightest-binding inhibitors (K d = 5 to 9 pM) have increased conformational flexibility. Despite their conformational freedom in solution, flexible inhibitors bind with high affinity because of reduced entropic penalties. Entropic penalties are proposed to arise from conformational freezing of the PNP·inhibitor complex with the entropy term dominated by protein dynamics. The conformationally flexible Immucillins reduce the system entropic penalty. Disrupting the ribosyl 5’-hydroxyl interaction of transition state analogues with PNP causes favorable entropy of binding. Tight binding of the seventeen Immucillins is characterized by large enthalpic contributions, emphasizing their similarity to the transition state. By introducing flexibility into the inhibitor structure, the enthalpy-entropy compensation pattern is altered to permit tighter binding. PMID:19425594

Transition and mixing in axisymmetric jets and vortex rings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Allen, G. A., Jr.; Cantwell, B. J.

1986-01-01

A class of impulsively started, axisymmetric, laminar jets produced by a time dependent joint source of momentum are considered. These jets are different flows, each initially at rest in an unbounded fluid. The study is conducted at three levels of detail. First, a generalized set of analytic creeping flow solutions are derived with a method of flow classification. Second, from this set, three specific creeping flow solutions are studied in detail: the vortex ring, the round jet, and the ramp jet. This study involves derivation of vorticity, stream function, entrainment diagrams, and evolution of time lines through computer animation. From entrainment diagrams, critical points are derived and analyzed. The flow geometry is dictated by the properties and location of critical points which undergo bifurcation and topological transformation (a form of transition) with changing Reynolds number. Transition Reynolds numbers were calculated. A state space trajectory was derived describing the topological behavior of these critical points. This state space derivation yielded three states of motion which are universal for all axisymmetric jets. Third, the axisymmetric round jet is solved numerically using the unsteady laminar Navier Stokes equations. These equations were shown to be self similar for the round jet. Numerical calculations were performed up to a Reynolds number of 30 for a 60x60 point mesh. Animations generated from numerical solution showed each of the three states of motion for the round jet, including the Re = 30 case.

Large uniaxial magnetostriction with sign inversion at the first order phase transition in the nanolaminated Mn2GaC MAX phase.

PubMed

Novoselova, Iuliia P; Petruhins, Andrejs; Wiedwald, Ulf; Ingason, Árni Sigurdur; Hase, Thomas; Magnus, Fridrik; Kapaklis, Vassilios; Palisaitis, Justinas; Spasova, Marina; Farle, Michael; Rosen, Johanna; Salikhov, Ruslan

2018-02-08

In 2013, a new class of inherently nanolaminated magnetic materials, the so called magnetic MAX phases, was discovered. Following predictive material stability calculations, the hexagonal Mn 2 GaC compound was synthesized as hetero-epitaxial films containing Mn as the exclusive M-element. Recent theoretical and experimental studies suggested a high magnetic ordering temperature and non-collinear antiferromagnetic (AFM) spin states as a result of competitive ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic exchange interactions. In order to assess the potential for practical applications of Mn 2 GaC, we have studied the temperature-dependent magnetization, and the magnetoresistive, magnetostrictive as well as magnetocaloric properties of the compound. The material exhibits two magnetic phase transitions. The Néel temperature is T N  ~ 507 K, at which the system changes from a collinear AFM state to the paramagnetic state. At T t  = 214 K the material undergoes a first order magnetic phase transition from AFM at higher temperature to a non-collinear AFM spin structure. Both states show large uniaxial c-axis magnetostriction of 450 ppm. Remarkably, the magnetostriction changes sign, being compressive (negative) above T t and tensile (positive) below the T t . The sign change of the magnetostriction is accompanied by a sign change in the magnetoresistance indicating a coupling among the spin, lattice and electrical transport properties.

Analysis Tools for Interconnected Boolean Networks With Biological Applications.

PubMed

Chaves, Madalena; Tournier, Laurent

2018-01-01

Boolean networks with asynchronous updates are a class of logical models particularly well adapted to describe the dynamics of biological networks with uncertain measures. The state space of these models can be described by an asynchronous state transition graph, which represents all the possible exits from every single state, and gives a global image of all the possible trajectories of the system. In addition, the asynchronous state transition graph can be associated with an absorbing Markov chain, further providing a semi-quantitative framework where it becomes possible to compute probabilities for the different trajectories. For large networks, however, such direct analyses become computationally untractable, given the exponential dimension of the graph. Exploiting the general modularity of biological systems, we have introduced the novel concept of asymptotic graph , computed as an interconnection of several asynchronous transition graphs and recovering all asymptotic behaviors of a large interconnected system from the behavior of its smaller modules. From a modeling point of view, the interconnection of networks is very useful to address for instance the interplay between known biological modules and to test different hypotheses on the nature of their mutual regulatory links. This paper develops two new features of this general methodology: a quantitative dimension is added to the asymptotic graph, through the computation of relative probabilities for each final attractor and a companion cross-graph is introduced to complement the method on a theoretical point of view.

Index Cohesive Force Analysis Reveals That the US Market Became Prone to Systemic Collapses Since 2002

PubMed Central

Kenett, Dror Y.; Shapira, Yoash; Madi, Asaf; Bransburg-Zabary, Sharron; Gur-Gershgoren, Gitit; Ben-Jacob, Eshel

2011-01-01

Background The 2007–2009 financial crisis, and its fallout, has strongly emphasized the need to define new ways and measures to study and assess the stock market dynamics. Methodology/Principal Findings The S&P500 dynamics during 4/1999–4/2010 is investigated in terms of the index cohesive force (ICF - the balance between the stock correlations and the partial correlations after subtraction of the index contribution), and the Eigenvalue entropy of the stock correlation matrices. We found a rapid market transition at the end of 2001 from a flexible state of low ICF into a stiff (nonflexible) state of high ICF that is prone to market systemic collapses. The stiff state is also marked by strong effect of the market index on the stock-stock correlations as well as bursts of high stock correlations reminiscence of epileptic brain activity. Conclusions/Significance The market dynamical states, stability and transition between economic states was studies using new quantitative measures. Doing so shed new light on the origin and nature of the current crisis. The new approach is likely to be applicable to other classes of complex systems from gene networks to the human brain. PMID:21556323

A large class of solvable multistate Landau–Zener models and quantum integrability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chernyak, Vladimir Y.; Sinitsyn, Nikolai A.; Sun, Chen

2018-06-01

The concept of quantum integrability has been introduced recently for quantum systems with explicitly time-dependent Hamiltonians (Sinitsyn et al 2018 Phys. Rev. Lett. 120 190402). Within the multistate Landau–Zener (MLZ) theory, however, there has been a successful alternative approach to identify and solve complex time-dependent models (Sinitsyn and Chernyak 2017 J. Phys. A: Math. Theor. 50 255203). Here we compare both methods by applying them to a new class of exactly solvable MLZ models. This class contains systems with an arbitrary number of interacting states and shows quick growth with N number of exact adiabatic energy crossing points, which appear at different moments of time. At each N, transition probabilities in these systems can be found analytically and exactly but complexity and variety of solutions in this class also grow with N quickly. We illustrate how common features of solvable MLZ systems appear from quantum integrability and develop an approach to further classification of solvable MLZ problems.

Incipient class II mixed valency in a plutonium solid-state compound

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cary, Samantha K.; Galley, Shane S.; Marsh, Matthew L.; Hobart, David L.; Baumbach, Ryan E.; Cross, Justin N.; Stritzinger, Jared T.; Polinski, Matthew J.; Maron, Laurent; Albrecht-Schmitt, Thomas E.

2017-09-01

Electron transfer in mixed-valent transition-metal complexes, clusters and materials is ubiquitous in both natural and synthetic systems. The degree to which intervalence charge transfer (IVCT) occurs, dependent on the degree of delocalization, places these within class II or III of the Robin-Day system. In contrast to the d-block, compounds of f-block elements typically exhibit class I behaviour (no IVCT) because of localization of the valence electrons and poor spatial overlap between metal and ligand orbitals. Here, we report experimental and computational evidence for delocalization of 5f electrons in the mixed-valent PuIII/PuIV solid-state compound, Pu3(DPA)5(H2O)2 (DPA = 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylate). The properties of this compound are benchmarked by the pure PuIII and PuIV dipicolinate complexes, [PuIII(DPA)(H2O)4]Br and PuIV(DPA)2(H2O)3·3H2O, as well as by a second mixed-valent compound, PuIII[PuIV(DPA)3H0.5]2, that falls into class I instead. Metal-to-ligand charge transfer is involved in both the formation of Pu3(DPA)5(H2O)2 and in the IVCT.

Markov Chain Ontology Analysis (MCOA)

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Biomedical ontologies have become an increasingly critical lens through which researchers analyze the genomic, clinical and bibliographic data that fuels scientific research. Of particular relevance are methods, such as enrichment analysis, that quantify the importance of ontology classes relative to a collection of domain data. Current analytical techniques, however, remain limited in their ability to handle many important types of structural complexity encountered in real biological systems including class overlaps, continuously valued data, inter-instance relationships, non-hierarchical relationships between classes, semantic distance and sparse data. Results In this paper, we describe a methodology called Markov Chain Ontology Analysis (MCOA) and illustrate its use through a MCOA-based enrichment analysis application based on a generative model of gene activation. MCOA models the classes in an ontology, the instances from an associated dataset and all directional inter-class, class-to-instance and inter-instance relationships as a single finite ergodic Markov chain. The adjusted transition probability matrix for this Markov chain enables the calculation of eigenvector values that quantify the importance of each ontology class relative to other classes and the associated data set members. On both controlled Gene Ontology (GO) data sets created with Escherichia coli, Drosophila melanogaster and Homo sapiens annotations and real gene expression data extracted from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), the MCOA enrichment analysis approach provides the best performance of comparable state-of-the-art methods. Conclusion A methodology based on Markov chain models and network analytic metrics can help detect the relevant signal within large, highly interdependent and noisy data sets and, for applications such as enrichment analysis, has been shown to generate superior performance on both real and simulated data relative to existing state-of-the-art approaches. PMID:22300537

Markov Chain Ontology Analysis (MCOA).

PubMed

Frost, H Robert; McCray, Alexa T

2012-02-03

Biomedical ontologies have become an increasingly critical lens through which researchers analyze the genomic, clinical and bibliographic data that fuels scientific research. Of particular relevance are methods, such as enrichment analysis, that quantify the importance of ontology classes relative to a collection of domain data. Current analytical techniques, however, remain limited in their ability to handle many important types of structural complexity encountered in real biological systems including class overlaps, continuously valued data, inter-instance relationships, non-hierarchical relationships between classes, semantic distance and sparse data. In this paper, we describe a methodology called Markov Chain Ontology Analysis (MCOA) and illustrate its use through a MCOA-based enrichment analysis application based on a generative model of gene activation. MCOA models the classes in an ontology, the instances from an associated dataset and all directional inter-class, class-to-instance and inter-instance relationships as a single finite ergodic Markov chain. The adjusted transition probability matrix for this Markov chain enables the calculation of eigenvector values that quantify the importance of each ontology class relative to other classes and the associated data set members. On both controlled Gene Ontology (GO) data sets created with Escherichia coli, Drosophila melanogaster and Homo sapiens annotations and real gene expression data extracted from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), the MCOA enrichment analysis approach provides the best performance of comparable state-of-the-art methods. A methodology based on Markov chain models and network analytic metrics can help detect the relevant signal within large, highly interdependent and noisy data sets and, for applications such as enrichment analysis, has been shown to generate superior performance on both real and simulated data relative to existing state-of-the-art approaches.

Higgs transition from a magnetic Coulomb liquid to a ferromagnet in Yb₂Ti₂O₇.

PubMed

Chang, Lieh-Jeng; Onoda, Shigeki; Su, Yixi; Kao, Ying-Jer; Tsuei, Ku-Ding; Yasui, Yukio; Kakurai, Kazuhisa; Lees, Martin Richard

2012-01-01

In a class of frustrated magnets known as spin ice, magnetic monopoles emerge as classical defects and interact via the magnetic Coulomb law. With quantum-mechanical interactions, these magnetic charges are carried by fractionalized bosonic quasi-particles, spinons, which can undergo Bose-Einstein condensation through a first-order transition via the Higgs mechanism. Here, we report evidence of a Higgs transition from a magnetic Coulomb liquid to a ferromagnet in single-crystal Yb(2)Ti(2)O(7). Polarized neutron scattering experiments show that the diffuse [111]-rod scattering and pinch-point features, which develop on cooling are suddenly suppressed below T(C)~0.21 K, where magnetic Bragg peaks and a full depolarization of the neutron spins are observed with thermal hysteresis, indicating a first-order ferromagnetic transition. Our results are explained on the basis of a quantum spin-ice model, whose high-temperature phase is effectively described as a magnetic Coulomb liquid, whereas the ground state shows a nearly collinear ferromagnetism with gapped spin excitations.

The electronic and transport properties of monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides: a complex band structure analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Szczesniak, Dominik

Recently, monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides have attracted much attention due to their potential use in both nano- and opto-electronics. In such applications, the electronic and transport properties of group-VIB transition metal dichalcogenides (MX2 , where M=Mo, W; X=S, Se, Te) are particularly important. Herein, new insight into these properties is presented by studying the complex band structures (CBS's) of MX2 monolayers while accounting for spin-orbit coupling effects. By using the symmetry-based tight-binding model a nonlinear generalized eigenvalue problem for CBS's is obtained. An efficient method for solving such class of problems is presented and gives a complete set of physically relevant solutions. Next, these solutions are characterized and classified into propagating and evanescent states, where the latter states present not only monotonic but also oscillatory decay character. It is observed that some of the oscillatory evanescent states create characteristic complex loops at the direct band gaps, which describe the tunneling currents in the MX2 materials. The importance of CBS's and tunneling currents is demonstrated by the analysis of the quantum transport across MX2 monolayers within phase field matching theory. Present work has been prepared within the Qatar Energy and Environment Research Institute (QEERI) grand challenge ATHLOC project (Project No. QEERI- GC-3008).

Infinite number of solvable generalizations of XY-chain, with cluster state, and with central charge c = m/2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Minami, Kazuhiko

2017-12-01

An infinite number of spin chains are solved and it is derived that the ground-state phase transitions belong to the universality classes with central charge c = m / 2, where m is an integer. The models are diagonalized by automatically obtained transformations, many of which are different from the Jordan-Wigner transformation. The free energies, correlation functions, string order parameters, exponents, central charges, and the phase diagram are obtained. Most of the examples consist of the stabilizers of the cluster state. A unified structure of the one-dimensional XY and cluster-type spin chains is revealed, and other series of solvable models can be obtained through this formula.

Long-term trends and a sustainability transition

PubMed Central

Kates, Robert W.; Parris, Thomas M.

2003-01-01

How do long-term global trends affect a transition to sustainability? We emphasize the “multitrend” nature of 10 classes of trends, which makes them complex, contradictory, and often poorly understood. Each class includes trends that make a sustainability transition more feasible as well as trends that make it more difficult. Taken in their entirety, they serve as a checklist for the consideration of global trends that impact place-based sustainability studies. PMID:12829798

Destruction of the Kondo effect in the cubic heavy-fermion compound Ce3Pd20Si6

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Custers, J.; Lorenzer, K.-A.; Müller, M.; Prokofiev, A.; Sidorenko, A.; Winkler, H.; Strydom, A. M.; Shimura, Y.; Sakakibara, T.; Yu, R.; Si, Q.; Paschen, S.

2012-03-01

How ground states of quantum matter transform between one another reveals deep insights into the mechanisms stabilizing them. Correspondingly, quantum phase transitions are explored in numerous materials classes, with heavy-fermion compounds being among the most prominent ones. Recent studies in an anisotropic heavy-fermion compound have shown that different types of transitions are induced by variations of chemical or external pressure, raising the question of the extent to which heavy-fermion quantum criticality is universal. To make progress, it is essential to broaden both the materials basis and the microscopic parameter variety. Here, we identify a cubic heavy-fermion material as exhibiting a field-induced quantum phase transition, and show how the material can be used to explore one extreme of the dimensionality axis. The transition between two different ordered phases is accompanied by an abrupt change of Fermi surface, reminiscent of what happens across the field-induced antiferromagnetic to paramagnetic transition in the anisotropic YbRh2Si2. This finding leads to a materials-based global phase diagram—a precondition for a unified theoretical description.

Temperature-Triggered Dielectric-Optical Duple Switch Based on an Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Phase Transition Crystal: [C5N2H16]2SbBr5.

PubMed

Mao, Chen-Yu; Liao, Wei-Qiang; Wang, Zhong-Xia; Zafar, Zainab; Li, Peng-Fei; Lv, Xing-Hui; Fu, Da-Wei

2016-08-01

Molecular optical-electrical duple switches (switch "ON" and "OFF" bistable states) represent a class of highly desirable intelligent materials because of their sensitive switchable physical and/or chemical responses, simple and environmentally friendly processing, light weights, and mechanical flexibility. In the current work, the phase transition of 1 (general formula R2MX5, [C5N2H16]2[SbBr5]) can be triggered by the order-disorder transition of the organic cations at 278.3 K. The temperature-induced phase transition causes novel bistable optical-electrical duple characteristics, which indicates that 1 might be an excellent candidate for a potential switchable optical-electrical (fluorescence/dielectric) material. In the dielectric measurements, remarkable bistable dielectric responses were detected, accompanied by striking anisotropy along various crystallographic axes. For the intriguing fluorescence emission spectra, the intensity and position changed significantly with the occurrence of the structural phase transition. We believe that these findings might further promote the application of halogenoantimonates(III) and halogenobismuthates(III) in the field of optoelectronic multifunctional devices.

Antecedents of transition patterns of depressive symptom trajectories from adolescence to young adulthood.

PubMed

Lee, Tae Kyoung; Wickrama, Kandauda A S; Kwon, Josephine A; Lorenz, Frederick O; Oshri, Assaf

2017-11-01

This study examined (a) transition patterns from adolescent-specific depressive symptom trajectory classes to young adult-specific trajectory classes (N = 537; 15-26 years) and (b) identified risk factors associated with these transition patterns. The latent classes and transition analyses identified three transitional patterns of depressive symptom trajectories, including a deteriorating pattern (8.2%), a recovering pattern (22.5%), and a consistently low pattern (69.3%). Additionally, the results showed that contextual risk factors (i.e., negative economic events, negative romantic relationships, and low college enrolment rates) in the transition period to young adulthood were more positively associated with deteriorated or recovered transition patterns of depressive symptom trajectories than with the consistently low transition patterns even after taking into account the effects of adolescent risk factors. The identification of dynamic transition patterns in depressive symptom trajectories from adolescence to young adulthood and risk factors provide useful tools for preventive and intervention efforts. Statement of contribution What is already known on this subject? Heterogeneous trajectories of depressive symptoms across adolescence and young adulthood have been reported. Psychosocial characteristics differentiate trajectories of depressive symptoms from adolescence to young adulthood. What does this study add? Dynamic transition patterns of depressive symptom trajectories are found between adolescence and young adulthood. Life experiences in the transition period are uniquely associated with the transition patterns of depressive symptom trajectories even after adjusting the effects of adolescent characteristics. © 2017 The British Psychological Society.

Secondary School Transition: Planning for Success.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hemphill, Rae

Parents of adolescents with attention deficit disorders are offered suggestions for easing the transition of their teen from elementary to secondary school. Careful scheduling of classes with the guidance counselor to "fit" the individual teen's needs is urged. The importance of ongoing communication with the school concerning class progress,…

Learning to Work: Transitioning Youth with Developmental Disabilities.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cohen, Monte

The paper describes Stepping Stones Growth Center, which prepared handicapped students for transition into competitive employment. The origins of the program and its emphasis on functional skill training are reviewed, followed by a description of three levels of services: a "ready" class stressing basic skills, a "set" class emphasizing…

75 FR 76921 - Tobacco Transition Payment Program; Tobacco Transition Assessments

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-12-10

... rule; technical amendment. SUMMARY: The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is modifying the regulations... domestic volume of each class. This means that CCC will continue to determine tobacco class allocations... technical amendment does not change how the TTPP is implemented by CCC, but rather clarifies the wording of...

New Brown Dwarf Discs in Upper Scorpius Observed with WISE

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dawson, P.; Scholz, A.; Ray, T. P.; Natta, A.; Marsh, K. A.; Padgett, D.; Ressler, M. E.

2013-01-01

We present a census of the disc population for UKIDSS selected brown dwarfs in the 5-10 Myr old Upper Scorpius OB association. For 116 objects originally identified in UKIDSS, the majority of them not studied in previous publications, we obtain photometry from the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer data base. The resulting colour magnitude and colour colour plots clearly show two separate populations of objects, interpreted as brown dwarfs with discs (class II) and without discs (class III). We identify 27 class II brown dwarfs, 14 of them not previously known. This disc fraction (27 out of 116, or 23%) among brown dwarfs was found to be similar to results for K/M stars in Upper Scorpius, suggesting that the lifetimes of discs are independent of the mass of the central object for low-mass stars and brown dwarfs. 5 out of 27 discs (19 per cent) lack excess at 3.4 and 4.6 microns and are potential transition discs (i.e. are in transition from class II to class III). The transition disc fraction is comparable to low-mass stars.We estimate that the time-scale for a typical transition from class II to class III is less than 0.4 Myr for brown dwarfs. These results suggest that the evolution of brown dwarf discs mirrors the behaviour of discs around low-mass stars, with disc lifetimes of the order of 5 10 Myr and a disc clearing time-scale significantly shorter than 1 Myr.

Medical returns as class transformation: situating migrants' medical returns within a framework of transnationalism.

PubMed

Horton, Sarah B

2013-01-01

Because studies of migrants' 'medical returns' have been largely confined to the field of public health, such forms of return migration are rarely contextualized within the rich social scientific literature on transnational migration. Drawing on ethnographic interviews with Mexican migrants in an immigrant enclave in central California, I show that migrants' reasons for returning to their hometowns for care must be understood within the class disjunctures facilitated by migration. While migrants' Medicaid insurance confined them to public clinics and hospitals in the United States, their migrant dollars enabled them to visit private doctors and clinics in Mexico. Yet medical returns were not mere medical arbitrage, but also allowed migrants to access care that had previously been foreclosed to them as poor peasants in Mexico. Thus crossing the border enabled a dual class transformation, as Mexican migrants transitioned from Medicaid recipients to cash-paying patients, and from poor rural peasants to 'returning royalty.'

The nature of the continuous non-equilibrium phase transition of Axelrod's model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peres, Lucas R.; Fontanari, José F.

2015-09-01

Axelrod's model in the square lattice with nearest-neighbors interactions exhibits culturally homogeneous as well as culturally fragmented absorbing configurations. In the case in which the agents are characterized by F = 2 cultural features and each feature assumes k states drawn from a Poisson distribution of parameter q, these regimes are separated by a continuous transition at qc = 3.10 +/- 0.02 . Using Monte Carlo simulations and finite-size scaling we show that the mean density of cultural domains μ is an order parameter of the model that vanishes as μ ∼ (q - q_c)^β with β = 0.67 +/- 0.01 at the critical point. In addition, for the correlation length critical exponent we find ν = 1.63 +/- 0.04 and for Fisher's exponent, τ = 1.76 +/- 0.01 . This set of critical exponents places the continuous phase transition of Axelrod's model apart from the known universality classes of non-equilibrium lattice models.

A survey of valleys and basins of the western United States for the capacity to produce winter ozone.

PubMed

Mansfield, Marc L; Hall, Courtney F

2018-04-18

High winter ozone in the Uintah Basin, Utah, and the Upper Green River Basin, Wyoming, occurs because of the confluence of three separate factors: (1) extensive oil or natural gas production, (2) topography conducive to strong multiple-day thermal inversions, and (3) snow cover. We surveyed 13 basins and valleys in the western United States for the existence and magnitude of these factors. Seven of the basins, because winter ozone measurements were available, were assigned to four different behavioral classes. Based on similarities among the basins, the remaining six were also given a tentative assignment. Two classes (1 and 2) correspond to basins with high ozone because all three factors just listed are present at sufficient magnitude. Class 3 corresponds to rural basins with ozone at background levels, and occurs because at least one of the three factors is weak or absent. Class 4 corresponds to ozone below background levels, and occurs, for example, in urban basins where emissions scavenge ozone. All three factors are present in the Wind River Basin, Wyoming, but compared to the Uintah or the Upper Green Basins, it has only moderate oil and gas production and is assigned to class 3. We predict that the Wind River Basin, as well as other class 3 basins that have inversions and snow cover, would transition from background (class 3) to high ozone behavior (class 1 or 2) if oil or gas production were to intensify, or to class 4 (low winter ozone) if they were to become urban. High ozone concentrations in winter only occur in basins or valleys that have an active oil and natural gas production industry, multiple-day thermal inversions, and snow cover, and have only been documented in two basins worldwide. We have examined a number of other candidate basins in the western United States and conclude that these factors are either absent or too weak to produce high winter ozone. This study illustrates how strong each factor needs to be before winter ozone can be expected, and can be used by planners and regulators to foresee the development of winter ozone problems.

Langevin Dynamics, Large Deviations and Instantons for the Quasi-Geostrophic Model and Two-Dimensional Euler Equations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bouchet, Freddy; Laurie, Jason; Zaboronski, Oleg

2014-09-01

We investigate a class of simple models for Langevin dynamics of turbulent flows, including the one-layer quasi-geostrophic equation and the two-dimensional Euler equations. Starting from a path integral representation of the transition probability, we compute the most probable fluctuation paths from one attractor to any state within its basin of attraction. We prove that such fluctuation paths are the time reversed trajectories of the relaxation paths for a corresponding dual dynamics, which are also within the framework of quasi-geostrophic Langevin dynamics. Cases with or without detailed balance are studied. We discuss a specific example for which the stationary measure displays either a second order (continuous) or a first order (discontinuous) phase transition and a tricritical point. In situations where a first order phase transition is observed, the dynamics are bistable. Then, the transition paths between two coexisting attractors are instantons (fluctuation paths from an attractor to a saddle), which are related to the relaxation paths of the corresponding dual dynamics. For this example, we show how one can analytically determine the instantons and compute the transition probabilities for rare transitions between two attractors.

Some mechanistic requirements for major transitions.

PubMed

Schuster, Peter

2016-08-19

Major transitions in nature and human society are accompanied by a substantial change towards higher complexity in the core of the evolving system. New features are established, novel hierarchies emerge, new regulatory mechanisms are required and so on. An obvious way to achieve higher complexity is integration of autonomous elements into new organized systems whereby the previously independent units give up their autonomy at least in part. In this contribution, we reconsider the more than 40 years old hypercycle model and analyse it by the tools of stochastic chemical kinetics. An open system is implemented in the form of a flow reactor. The formation of new dynamically organized units through integration of competitors is identified with transcritical bifurcations. In the stochastic model, the fully organized state is quasi-stationary whereas the unorganized state corresponds to a population with natural selection. The stability of the organized state depends strongly on the number of individual subspecies, n, that have to be integrated: two and three classes of individuals, [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], readily form quasi-stationary states. The four-membered deterministic dynamical system, [Formula: see text], is stable but in the stochastic approach self-enhancing fluctuations drive it into extinction. In systems with five and more classes of individuals, [Formula: see text], the state of cooperation is unstable and the solutions of the deterministic ODEs exhibit large amplitude oscillations. In the stochastic system self-enhancing fluctuations lead to extinction as observed with [Formula: see text] Interestingly, cooperative systems in nature are commonly two-membered as shown by numerous examples of binary symbiosis. A few cases of symbiosis of three partners, called three-way symbiosis, have been found and were analysed within the past decade. Four-way symbiosis is rather rare but was reported to occur in fungus-growing ants. The model reported here can be used to illustrate the interplay between competition and cooperation whereby we obtain a hint on the role that resources play in major transitions. Abundance of resources seems to be an indispensable prerequisite of radical innovation that apparently needs substantial investments. Economists often claim that scarcity is driving innovation. Our model sheds some light on this apparent contradiction. In a nutshell, the answer is: scarcity drives optimization and increase in efficiency but abundance is required for radical novelty and the development of new features.This article is part of the themed issue 'The major synthetic evolutionary transitions'. © 2016 The Author(s).

Minimum complexity echo state network.

PubMed

Rodan, Ali; Tino, Peter

2011-01-01

Reservoir computing (RC) refers to a new class of state-space models with a fixed state transition structure (the reservoir) and an adaptable readout form the state space. The reservoir is supposed to be sufficiently complex so as to capture a large number of features of the input stream that can be exploited by the reservoir-to-output readout mapping. The field of RC has been growing rapidly with many successful applications. However, RC has been criticized for not being principled enough. Reservoir construction is largely driven by a series of randomized model-building stages, with both researchers and practitioners having to rely on a series of trials and errors. To initialize a systematic study of the field, we concentrate on one of the most popular classes of RC methods, namely echo state network, and ask: What is the minimal complexity of reservoir construction for obtaining competitive models and what is the memory capacity (MC) of such simplified reservoirs? On a number of widely used time series benchmarks of different origin and characteristics, as well as by conducting a theoretical analysis we show that a simple deterministically constructed cycle reservoir is comparable to the standard echo state network methodology. The (short-term) MC of linear cyclic reservoirs can be made arbitrarily close to the proved optimal value.

Valley-selective photon-dressed states in transition metal dichalcogenides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

LaMountain, Trevor; Chen, Yen-Jung; Stanev, Teodor K.; Stern, Nathaniel P.

2018-02-01

When electronic excitations in a semiconductor interact with light, the relevant quasiparticles are hybrid lightmatter dressed states, or exciton-polaritons. In monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides, a class of 2D direct bandgap semiconductors, optical excitations selectively populate distinct momentum valleys with correlated spin projection. The combination of this spin-valley locking with photon dressed states can lead to new optical phenomena in these materials. We present spectroscopic measurements of valley-specific exciton-polaritons in monolayer 2D materials in distinct regimes. When a monolayer is embedded in a dielectric microcavity, strong coupling exciton-polaritons are achieved. Cavity-modified dynamics of the dressed states are inferred from emission. Polarization persists up to room temperature in monolayer MoS2, in contrast with bare material. We also show that distinct regimes of valley-polarized exciton-polaritons can be accessed with microcavity engineering by tuning system parameters such as cavity decay rate and exciton-photon coupling strength. Further, we report results showing that polarization-sensitive ultrafast spectroscopy can enable sensitive measurements of the valley optical Stark shift, a light-induced dressed state energy shift, in monolayer semiconductors such as WSe2 and MoS2. These findings demonstrate distinct approaches to manipulating the picosecond dynamics of valleysensitive dressed states in monolayer semiconductors.

Metrics and tools for consistent cohort discovery and financial analyses post-transition to ICD-10-CM

PubMed Central

Boyd, Andrew D; ‘John’ Li, Jianrong; Kenost, Colleen; Joese, Binoy; Min Yang, Young; Kalagidis, Olympia A; Zenku, Ilir; Saner, Donald; Bahroos, Neil; Lussier, Yves A

2015-01-01

In the United States, International Classification of Disease Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM, the ninth revision) diagnosis codes are commonly used to identify patient cohorts and to conduct financial analyses related to disease. In October 2015, the healthcare system of the United States will transition to ICD-10-CM (the tenth revision) diagnosis codes. One challenge posed to clinical researchers and other analysts is conducting diagnosis-related queries across datasets containing both coding schemes. Further, healthcare administrators will manage growth, trends, and strategic planning with these dually-coded datasets. The majority of the ICD-9-CM to ICD-10-CM translations are complex and nonreciprocal, creating convoluted representations and meanings. Similarly, mapping back from ICD-10-CM to ICD-9-CM is equally complex, yet different from mapping forward, as relationships are likewise nonreciprocal. Indeed, 10 of the 21 top clinical categories are complex as 78% of their diagnosis codes are labeled as “convoluted” by our analyses. Analysis and research related to external causes of morbidity, injury, and poisoning will face the greatest challenges due to 41 745 (90%) convolutions and a decrease in the number of codes. We created a web portal tool and translation tables to list all ICD-9-CM diagnosis codes related to the specific input of ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes and their level of complexity: “identity” (reciprocal), “class-to-subclass,” “subclass-to-class,” “convoluted,” or “no mapping.” These tools provide guidance on ambiguous and complex translations to reveal where reports or analyses may be challenging to impossible. Web portal: http://www.lussierlab.org/transition-to-ICD9CM/ Tables annotated with levels of translation complexity: http://www.lussierlab.org/publications/ICD10to9 PMID:25681260

Dating Violence, Bullying, and Sexual Harassment: Longitudinal Profiles and Transitions over Time

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Miller, Shari; Williams, Jason; Cutbush, Stacey; Gibbs, Deborah; Clinton-Sherrod, Monique; Jones, Sarah

2013-01-01

Although there is growing recognition of the problem of dating violence, little is known about how it unfolds among young adolescents who are just beginning to date. This study examined classes (subgroups) and transitions between classes over three time points based on dating violence, bullying, and sexual harassment perpetration and victimization…

Transitioning an Adult-Serving University to a Blended Learning Model

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Korr, Jeremy; Derwin, Ellen Baker; Greene, Kimberly; Sokoloff, William

2012-01-01

While many institutions deliver some classes in blended format, Brandman University transitioned all of its face-to-face classes to blended delivery, using a model tailored to the needs of adult learners. This article provides research supporting the ways that blended learning principles align with key principles of andragogy. The article provides…

Perceptions of University Assessment and Feedback among Post-16 School Pupils

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jones, Harriet; Yeoman, Kay; Gaskell, Emma; Prendergast, John

2017-01-01

The transition between school and university can be problematic for students. Understanding students' expectations about the system they are entering is crucial in effecting a smooth transition. The school system involves small classes, often with teachers who know their students well. In contrast, university involves large class sizes and a…

Changes in Classes of Injury-Related Risks and Consequences of Risk-Level Drinking: a Latent Transition Analysis.

PubMed

Cochran, Gerald; Field, Craig; Caetano, Raul

2015-07-01

Risk-level drinking, drinking and driving, and alcohol-related violence are risk factors that result in injuries. The current study sought to identify which subgroups of patients experience the most behavioral change following a brief intervention. A secondary analysis of data from a brief alcohol intervention study was conducted. The sample (N = 664) includes at-risk drinkers who experienced an injury and were admitted for care to a Level 1 trauma center. Injury-related items from the Short Inventory of Problems+6 were used to perform a latent transition analysis to describe class transitions participants experienced following discharge. Four classes emerged for the year before and after the current injury. Most individuals transitioned from higher-risk classes into those with lower risk. Some participants maintained risky profiles, and others increased risks and consequences. Drinking and driving remained a persistent problem among the study participants. Although a large portion of intervention recipients improved risks and consequences of alcohol use following discharge, more intensive intervention services may be needed for a subset of patients who showed little or no improvement.

Vibronic Boson Sampling: Generalized Gaussian Boson Sampling for Molecular Vibronic Spectra at Finite Temperature.

PubMed

Huh, Joonsuk; Yung, Man-Hong

2017-08-07

Molecular vibroic spectroscopy, where the transitions involve non-trivial Bosonic correlation due to the Duschinsky Rotation, is strongly believed to be in a similar complexity class as Boson Sampling. At finite temperature, the problem is represented as a Boson Sampling experiment with correlated Gaussian input states. This molecular problem with temperature effect is intimately related to the various versions of Boson Sampling sharing the similar computational complexity. Here we provide a full description to this relation in the context of Gaussian Boson Sampling. We find a hierarchical structure, which illustrates the relationship among various Boson Sampling schemes. Specifically, we show that every instance of Gaussian Boson Sampling with an initial correlation can be simulated by an instance of Gaussian Boson Sampling without initial correlation, with only a polynomial overhead. Since every Gaussian state is associated with a thermal state, our result implies that every sampling problem in molecular vibronic transitions, at any temperature, can be simulated by Gaussian Boson Sampling associated with a product of vacuum modes. We refer such a generalized Gaussian Boson Sampling motivated by the molecular sampling problem as Vibronic Boson Sampling.

Retinal Ligand Mobility Explains Internal Hydration and Reconciles Active Rhodopsin Structures

PubMed Central

Leioatts, Nicholas; Mertz, Blake; Martínez-Mayorga, Karina; Romo, Tod D.; Pitman, Michael C.; Feller, Scott E.; Grossfield, Alan; Brown, Michael F.

2014-01-01

Rhodopsin, the mammalian dim-light receptor, is one of the best-characterized G-protein-coupled receptors, a pharmaceutically important class of membrane proteins that has garnered a great deal of attention because of the recent availability of structural information. Yet the mechanism of rhodopsin activation is not fully understood. Here, we use microsecond-scale all-atom molecular dynamics simulations, validated by solid-state 2H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, to understand the transition between the dark and metarhodopsin I (Meta I) states. Our analysis of these simulations reveals striking differences in ligand flexibility between the two states. Retinal is much more dynamic in Meta I, adopting an elongated conformation similar to that seen in the recent activelike crystal structures. Surprisingly, this elongation corresponds to both a dramatic influx of bulk water into the hydrophobic core of the protein and a concerted transition in the highly conserved Trp2656.48 residue. In addition, enhanced ligand flexibility upon light activation provides an explanation for the different retinal orientations observed in X-ray crystal structures of active rhodopsin. PMID:24328554

Modulation of Metal and Insulator States in 2D Ferromagnetic VS2 by van der Waals Interaction Engineering.

PubMed

Guo, Yuqiao; Deng, Haitao; Sun, Xu; Li, Xiuling; Zhao, Jiyin; Wu, Junchi; Chu, Wangsheng; Zhang, Sijia; Pan, Haibin; Zheng, Xusheng; Wu, Xiaojun; Jin, Changqing; Wu, Changzheng; Xie, Yi

2017-08-01

2D transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) are currently the key to the development of nanoelectronics. However, TMDCs are predominantly nonmagnetic, greatly hindering the advancement of their spintronic applications. Here, an experimental realization of intrinsic magnetic ordering in a pristine TMDC lattice is reported, bringing a new class of ferromagnetic semiconductors among TMDCs. Through van der Waals (vdW) interaction engineering of 2D vanadium disulfide (VS 2 ), dual regulation of spin properties and bandgap brings about intrinsic ferromagnetism along with a small bandgap, unravelling the decisive role of vdW gaps in determining the electronic states in 2D VS 2 . An overall control of the electronic states of VS 2 is also demonstrated: bond-enlarging triggering a metal-to-semiconductor electronic transition and bond-compression inducing metallization in 2D VS 2 . The pristine VS 2 lattice thus provides a new platform for precise manipulation of both charge and spin degrees of freedom in 2D TMDCs availing spintronic applications. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Two-dimensional Fermi gas in spin-dependent magnetic fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anzai, Takaaki; Nishida, Yusuke

Experimental techniques in ultracold atoms allow us to tune parameters of the system at will. In particular, synthetic magnetic fields have been created by using the atom-light coupling and, therefore, it is interesting to study what kinds of quantum phenomena appear in correlated ultracold atoms subjected to synthetic magnetic fields. In this work, we consider a two-dimensional Fermi gas with two spin states in spin-dependent magnetic fields which are assumed to be antiparallel for different spin states. By studying the ground-state phase diagram within the mean-field approximation, we find quantum spin Hall and superfluid phases separated by a second-order phase transition. We also show that there are regions where the superfluid gap parameter is proportional to the attractive coupling, which is in marked contrast to the usual exponential dependence. Moreover, we elucidate that the universality class of the phase transition belongs to that of the XY model at special points of the phase boundary, while it belongs to that of a dilute Bose gas anywhere else. International Research Center for Nanoscience and Quantum Physics, Tokyo Institute of Technology.

New insights into the by-product fatigue mechanism of the photo-induced ring-opening in diarylethenes.

PubMed

Mendive-Tapia, David; Perrier, Aurélie; Bearpark, Michael J; Robb, Michael A; Lasorne, Benjamin; Jacquemin, Denis

2014-09-14

The photochromic properties of diarylethenes, some of the most studied class of molecular switches, are known to be controlled by non-adiabatic decay at a conical intersection seam. Nevertheless, as their fatigue-reaction mechanism - leading to non-photochromic products - is yet to be understood, we investigate the photo-chemical formation of the so-called by-product isomer using three complementary computational methods (MMVB, CASSCF and CASPT2) on three model systems of increasing complexity. We show that for the ring-opening reaction a transition state on S1(2A) involving bond breaking of the penta-ring leads to a low energy S1(2A)/S0(1A) conical intersection seam, which lies above one of the transition states leading to the by-product isomer on the ground state. Therefore, radiationless decay and subsequent side-product formation can take place explaining the photo-degradation responsible for the by-product generation in diarylethene-type molecules. The effect of dynamic electron correlation and the possible role of inter-system crossing along the penta-ring opening coordinate are discussed as well.

Inter-generational micro-class mobility during and after socialism: The power, education, autonomy, capital, and horizontal (PEACH) model in Hungary.

PubMed

Lippényi, Zoltán; Gerber, Theodore P

2016-07-01

We propose a theoretical model of how occupational mobility operates differently under socialism than under market regimes. Our model specifies four vertical dimensions of occupational resources-power, education, autonomy, and capital-plus a horizontal dimension consisting of linkages among occupations in the same economic branch. Given the nature of state socialist political-economic institutions, we expect power to exhibit much stronger effects in the socialist mobility regime, while autonomy and capital should play greater stratifying roles after the market transition. Education should have stable effects, and horizontal linkages should diminish in strength with market reforms. We estimate our model's parameters using data from surveys conducted in Hungary during and after the socialist period. We adopt a micro-class approach, though we test it against approaches that use more aggregated class categories. Our model provides a superior fit to other mobility models, and our results confirm our hypotheses about the distinctive features of the state socialist mobility regime. Mobility researchers often look for common patterns characterizing mobility in all industrialized societies. Our findings suggest that national institutions can produce fundamentally distinct patterns of mobility. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Near-optimal quantum circuit for Grover's unstructured search using a transverse field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Zhang; Rieffel, Eleanor G.; Wang, Zhihui

2017-06-01

Inspired by a class of algorithms proposed by Farhi et al. (arXiv:1411.4028), namely, the quantum approximate optimization algorithm (QAOA), we present a circuit-based quantum algorithm to search for a needle in a haystack, obtaining the same quadratic speedup achieved by Grover's original algorithm. In our algorithm, the problem Hamiltonian (oracle) and a transverse field are applied alternately to the system in a periodic manner. We introduce a technique, based on spin-coherent states, to analyze the composite unitary in a single period. This composite unitary drives a closed transition between two states that have high degrees of overlap with the initial state and the target state, respectively. The transition rate in our algorithm is of order Θ (1 /√{N }) , and the overlaps are of order Θ (1 ) , yielding a nearly optimal query complexity of T ≃√{N }(π /2 √{2 }) . Our algorithm is a QAOA circuit that demonstrates a quantum advantage with a large number of iterations that is not derived from Trotterization of an adiabatic quantum optimization (AQO) algorithm. It also suggests that the analysis required to understand QAOA circuits involves a very different process from estimating the energy gap of a Hamiltonian in AQO.

Non-Abelian Bosonization and Fractional Quantum Hall Transitions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hui, Aaron; Mulligan, Michael; Kim, Eun-Ah

A fully satisfying theoretical description for the quantum phase transition between fractional quantum Hall plateaus remains an outstanding problem. Experiments indicate scaling exponents that are not readily obtained in conventional theories. Using insights from duality, we describe a class of quantum critical effective theories that produce qualitatively realistic scaling exponents for the transition. We discuss the implications of our results for the physically-relevant interactions controlling this broad class of quantum critical behavior. Supported by National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program under Grant No. DGE-1650441.

The Kibble-Zurek mechanism in phase transitions of non-equilibrium systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheung, Hil F. H.; Patil, Yogesh S.; Date, Aditya G.; Vengalattore, Mukund

2017-04-01

We experimentally realize a driven-dissipative phase transition using a mechanical parametric amplifier to demonstrate key signatures of a second order phase transition, including a point where the susceptibilities and relaxation time scales diverge, and where the system exhibits a spontaneous breaking of symmetry. Though reminiscent of conventional equilibrium phase transitions, it is unclear if such driven-dissipative phase transitions are amenable to the conventional Landau-Ginsburg-Wilson paradigm, which relies on concepts of scale invariance and universality, and recent work has shown that such phase transitions can indeed lie beyond such conventional universality classes. By quenching the system past the critical point, we investigate the dynamics of the emergent ordered phase and find that our measurements are in excellent agreement with the Kibble-Zurek mechanism. In addition to verifying the Kibble-Zurek hypothesis in driven-dissipative phase transitions for the first time, we also demonstrate that the measured critical exponents accurately reflect the interplay between intrinsic coherent dynamics and environmental correlations, showing a clear departure from mean field exponents in the case of non-Markovian system-bath interactions. We further discuss how reservoir engineering and the imposition of artificial environmental correlations can result in the stabilization of novel many-body quantum phases and aid in the creation of exotic non-equilibrium states of matter.

Critical Slowing Down Governs the Transition to Neuron Spiking

PubMed Central

Meisel, Christian; Klaus, Andreas; Kuehn, Christian; Plenz, Dietmar

2015-01-01

Many complex systems have been found to exhibit critical transitions, or so-called tipping points, which are sudden changes to a qualitatively different system state. These changes can profoundly impact the functioning of a system ranging from controlled state switching to a catastrophic break-down; signals that predict critical transitions are therefore highly desirable. To this end, research efforts have focused on utilizing qualitative changes in markers related to a system’s tendency to recover more slowly from a perturbation the closer it gets to the transition—a phenomenon called critical slowing down. The recently studied scaling of critical slowing down offers a refined path to understand critical transitions: to identify the transition mechanism and improve transition prediction using scaling laws. Here, we outline and apply this strategy for the first time in a real-world system by studying the transition to spiking in neurons of the mammalian cortex. The dynamical system approach has identified two robust mechanisms for the transition from subthreshold activity to spiking, saddle-node and Hopf bifurcation. Although theory provides precise predictions on signatures of critical slowing down near the bifurcation to spiking, quantitative experimental evidence has been lacking. Using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from pyramidal neurons and fast-spiking interneurons, we show that 1) the transition to spiking dynamically corresponds to a critical transition exhibiting slowing down, 2) the scaling laws suggest a saddle-node bifurcation governing slowing down, and 3) these precise scaling laws can be used to predict the bifurcation point from a limited window of observation. To our knowledge this is the first report of scaling laws of critical slowing down in an experiment. They present a missing link for a broad class of neuroscience modeling and suggest improved estimation of tipping points by incorporating scaling laws of critical slowing down as a strategy applicable to other complex systems. PMID:25706912

General Entanglement Scaling Laws from Time Evolution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eisert, Jens; Osborne, Tobias J.

2006-10-01

We establish a general scaling law for the entanglement of a large class of ground states and dynamically evolving states of quantum spin chains: we show that the geometric entropy of a distinguished block saturates, and hence follows an entanglement-boundary law. These results apply to any ground state of a gapped model resulting from dynamics generated by a local Hamiltonian, as well as, dually, to states that are generated via a sudden quench of an interaction as recently studied in the case of dynamics of quantum phase transitions. We achieve these results by exploiting ideas from quantum information theory and tools provided by Lieb-Robinson bounds. We also show that there exist noncritical fermionic systems and equivalent spin chains with rapidly decaying interactions violating this entanglement-boundary law. Implications for the classical simulatability are outlined.

Long-range Coulomb interaction effects on the topological phase transitions between semimetals and insulators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, SangEun; Moon, Eun-Gook

2018-06-01

Topological states may be protected by a lattice symmetry in a class of topological semimetals. In three spatial dimensions, the Berry flux around gapless excitations in momentum space concretely defines a chirality, so a protecting symmetry may be referred to as a chiral symmetry. Prime examples include a Dirac semimetal (DSM) in a distorted spinel, BiZnSiO4, protected by a mirror symmetry, and a DSM in Na3Bi , protected by a rotational symmetry. In these states, topology and chiral symmetry are intrinsically tied. In this Rapid Communication, the characteristic interplay between a chiral symmetry order parameter and an instantaneous long-range Coulomb interaction is investigated with the standard renormalization group method. We show that a topological transition associated with chiral symmetry is stable under the presence of a Coulomb interaction and the electron velocity always becomes faster than the one of a chiral symmetry order parameter. Thus, the transition must not be relativistic, which implies that supersymmetry is intrinsically forbidden by the long-range Coulomb interaction. Asymptotically exact universal ratios of physical quantities such as the energy gap ratio are obtained, and connections with experiments and recent theoretical proposals are also discussed.

Coherent Pattern Prediction in Swarms of Delay-Coupled Agents

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mier-Y-Teran-Romero, Luis; Forgoston, Eric; Scwartz, Ira

2013-03-01

We consider a general swarm model of self-propelling particles interacting through a pairwise potential in the presence of a fixed communication time delay. Previous work has shown that swarms with communication time delays and noise may display pattern transitions that depend on the size of the coupling amplitude. We extend these results by completely unfolding the bifurcation structure of the mean field approximation. Our analysis reveals a direct correspondence between the different dynamical behaviors found in different regions of the coupling-time delay plane with the different classes of simulated coherent swarm patterns. We derive the spatio-temporal scales of the swarm structures, and also demonstrate how the complicated interplay of coupling strength, time delay, noise intensity, and choice of initial conditions can affect the swarm. In addition, when adding noise to the system, we find that for sufficiently large values of the coupling strength and/or the time delay, there is a noise intensity threshold that forces a transition of the swarm from a misaligned state into an aligned state. We show that this alignment transition exhibits hysteresis when the noise intensity is taken to be time dependent. Office of Naval Research, NIH (LMR and IBS) and NRL (EF)

Simulation study of two VTOL control/display systems in IMC approach and landing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Merrick, V. K.

1981-01-01

Both systems had full attitude command; the more complex system (Type 1) also had translational velocity command. The systems were applied to existing models of a VTOL lift-fan transport and the AV-8A Harrier. Simulated landings were made on a model of a DD963 Spruance-class destroyer. It was concluded that acceptable transitions and vertical landings can be performed, using the Type 1 system, in free-air turbulence up to 2.5 m/sec and sea state 6 and, using the Type 2 system, in free-air turbulence up to 1.5 m/sec and sea state 4.

78 FR 50323 - Amendment of Class E Airspace; Lexington, OK

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-08-19

...-0272; Airspace Docket No. 13-ASW-10] Amendment of Class E Airspace; Lexington, OK AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: This action amends Class E airspace at... Class E surface area to a Class E transition area. This action enhances the safety and management of...

Proliferative and transcriptional identity of distinct classes of neural precursors in the mammalian olfactory epithelium.

PubMed

Tucker, Eric S; Lehtinen, Maria K; Maynard, Tom; Zirlinger, Mariela; Dulac, Catherine; Rawson, Nancy; Pevny, Larysa; Lamantia, Anthony-Samuel

2010-08-01

Neural precursors in the developing olfactory epithelium (OE) give rise to three major neuronal classes - olfactory receptor (ORNs), vomeronasal (VRNs) and gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons. Nevertheless, the molecular and proliferative identities of these precursors are largely unknown. We characterized two precursor classes in the olfactory epithelium (OE) shortly after it becomes a distinct tissue at midgestation in the mouse: slowly dividing self-renewing precursors that express Meis1/2 at high levels, and rapidly dividing neurogenic precursors that express high levels of Sox2 and Ascl1. Precursors expressing high levels of Meis genes primarily reside in the lateral OE, whereas precursors expressing high levels of Sox2 and Ascl1 primarily reside in the medial OE. Fgf8 maintains these expression signatures and proliferative identities. Using electroporation in the wild-type embryonic OE in vitro as well as Fgf8, Sox2 and Ascl1 mutant mice in vivo, we found that Sox2 dose and Meis1 - independent of Pbx co-factors - regulate Ascl1 expression and the transition from lateral to medial precursor state. Thus, we have identified proliferative characteristics and a dose-dependent transcriptional network that define distinct OE precursors: medial precursors that are most probably transit amplifying neurogenic progenitors for ORNs, VRNs and GnRH neurons, and lateral precursors that include multi-potent self-renewing OE neural stem cells.

Proliferative and transcriptional identity of distinct classes of neural precursors in the mammalian olfactory epithelium

PubMed Central

Tucker, Eric S.; Lehtinen, Maria K.; Maynard, Tom; Zirlinger, Mariela; Dulac, Catherine; Rawson, Nancy; Pevny, Larysa; LaMantia, Anthony-Samuel

2010-01-01

Neural precursors in the developing olfactory epithelium (OE) give rise to three major neuronal classes – olfactory receptor (ORNs), vomeronasal (VRNs) and gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons. Nevertheless, the molecular and proliferative identities of these precursors are largely unknown. We characterized two precursor classes in the olfactory epithelium (OE) shortly after it becomes a distinct tissue at midgestation in the mouse: slowly dividing self-renewing precursors that express Meis1/2 at high levels, and rapidly dividing neurogenic precursors that express high levels of Sox2 and Ascl1. Precursors expressing high levels of Meis genes primarily reside in the lateral OE, whereas precursors expressing high levels of Sox2 and Ascl1 primarily reside in the medial OE. Fgf8 maintains these expression signatures and proliferative identities. Using electroporation in the wild-type embryonic OE in vitro as well as Fgf8, Sox2 and Ascl1 mutant mice in vivo, we found that Sox2 dose and Meis1 – independent of Pbx co-factors – regulate Ascl1 expression and the transition from lateral to medial precursor state. Thus, we have identified proliferative characteristics and a dose-dependent transcriptional network that define distinct OE precursors: medial precursors that are most probably transit amplifying neurogenic progenitors for ORNs, VRNs and GnRH neurons, and lateral precursors that include multi-potent self-renewing OE neural stem cells. PMID:20573694

Transition Classes vs. Retention--Better or Just Different? Publication No. 88-16.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Baenen, Nancy R.; Hopkins, Patricia

This paper focuses on the nature and effectiveness of elementary transition classes (TCs) used by the Austin (Texas) Independent School District (AISD) as an alternative to retention to improve low achievers' achievement. Data were examined concerning the number and nature of TCs operating in the AISD during 1987-88; achievement progress of…

Carrying the Beacon of Excellence: Social Class Differentiation and Anxiety at a Time of Transition.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lucey, Helen; Reay, Diane

2002-01-01

Examines ways in which current United Kingdom school-choice policies interact with parental pressures on their children to achieve excellence and how these pressures affect the emotional health of their middle- and working-class children as they make the transition from primary to secondary school. Finds serious emotional consequences (exam…

Transitional Class Program, 1979-80. OEE Evaluation Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Opperman, Prudence Ward; And Others

This evaluation report describes the implementation and results of the 1979-80 Transitional Class Program. Although the program no longer exists as a centrally-coordinated effort, it serves as a final summary of the program's two years of operation by comparing the results from one year (1978-1979) to the next (1979-1980), and provides guidance to…

A Latent Transition Analysis of Academic Intrinsic Motivation from Childhood through Adolescence

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Marcoulides, George A.; Gottfried, Adele Eskeles; Gottfried, Allen W.; Oliver, Pamella H.

2008-01-01

A longitudinal modeling approach was utilized to determine the existence of latent classes with regard to academic intrinsic motivation and the points of stability and transition of individuals between and within classes. A special type of latent Markov Chain model using "Mplus" was fit to data from the Fullerton Longitudinal Study, with…

Latent transition analysis of pre-service teachers' efficacy in mathematics and science

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ward, Elizabeth Kennedy

This study modeled changes in pre-service teacher efficacy in mathematics and science over the course of the final year of teacher preparation using latent transition analysis (LTA), a longitudinal form of analysis that builds on two modeling traditions (latent class analysis (LCA) and auto-regressive modeling). Data were collected using the STEBI-B, MTEBI-r, and the ABNTMS instruments. The findings suggest that LTA is a viable technique for use in teacher efficacy research. Teacher efficacy is modeled as a construct with two dimensions: personal teaching efficacy (PTE) and outcome expectancy (OE). Findings suggest that the mathematics and science teaching efficacy (PTE) of pre-service teachers is a multi-class phenomena. The analyses revealed a four-class model of PTE at the beginning and end of the final year of teacher training. Results indicate that when pre-service teachers transition between classes, they tend to move from a lower efficacy class into a higher efficacy class. In addition, the findings suggest that time-varying variables (attitudes and beliefs) and time-invariant variables (previous coursework, previous experiences, and teacher perceptions) are statistically significant predictors of efficacy class membership. Further, analyses suggest that the measures used to assess outcome expectancy are not suitable for LCA and LTA procedures.

Local characterization of one-dimensional topologically ordered states

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cui, Jian; Amico, Luigi; Fan, Heng; Gu, Mile; Hamma, Alioscia; Vedral, Vlatko

2013-09-01

We consider one-dimensional Hamiltonian systems whose ground states display symmetry-protected topological order. We show that ground states within the topological phase cannot be connected with each other through local operations and classical communication between a bipartition of the system. Our claim is demonstrated by analyzing the entanglement spectrum and Rényi entropies of different physical systems that provide examples for symmetry-protected topological phases. Specifically, we consider the spin-1/2 cluster-Ising model and a class of spin-1 models undergoing quantum phase transitions to the Haldane phase. Our results provide a probe for symmetry-protected topological order. Since the picture holds even at the system's local scale, our analysis can serve as a local experimental test for topological order.

Latent Profile Analysis and Conversion to Psychosis: Characterizing Subgroups to Enhance Risk Prediction.

PubMed

Healey, Kristin M; Penn, David L; Perkins, Diana; Woods, Scott W; Keefe, Richard S E; Addington, Jean

2018-02-15

Groups at clinical high risk (CHR) of developing psychosis are heterogeneous, composed of individuals with different clusters of symptoms. It is likely that there exist subgroups, each associated with different symptom constellations and probabilities of conversion. Present study used latent profile analysis (LPA) to ascertain subgroups in a combined sample of CHR (n = 171) and help-seeking controls (HSCs; n = 100; PREDICT study). Indicators in the LPA model included baseline Scale of Prodromal Symptoms (SOPS), Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS), and neurocognitive performance as measured by multiple instruments, including category instances (CAT). Subgroups were further characterized using covariates measuring demographic and clinical features. Three classes emerged: class 1 (mild, transition rate 5.6%), lowest SOPS and depression scores, intact neurocognitive performance; class 2 (paranoid-affective, transition rate 14.2%), highest suspiciousness, mild negative symptoms, moderate depression; and class 3 (negative-neurocognitive, transition rate 29.3%), highest negative symptoms, neurocognitive impairment, social cognitive impairment. Classes 2 and 3 evidenced poor social functioning. Results support a subgroup approach to research, assessment, and treatment of help-seeking individuals. Class 3 may be an early risk stage of developing schizophrenia.

Short-ranged interaction effects on Z2 topological phase transitions: The perturbative mean-field method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lai, Hsin-Hua; Hung, Hsiang-Hsuan

2015-02-01

Time-reversal symmetric topological insulator (TI) is a novel state of matter that a bulk-insulating state carries dissipationless spin transport along the surfaces, embedded by the Z2 topological invariant. In the noninteracting limit, this exotic state has been intensively studied and explored with realistic systems, such as HgTe/(Hg, Cd)Te quantum wells. On the other hand, electronic correlation plays a significant role in many solid-state systems, which further influences topological properties and triggers topological phase transitions. Yet an interacting TI is still an elusive subject and most related analyses rely on the mean-field approximation and numerical simulations. Among the approaches, the mean-field approximation fails to predict the topological phase transition, in particular at intermediate interaction strength without spontaneously breaking symmetry. In this paper, we develop an analytical approach based on a combined perturbative and self-consistent mean-field treatment of interactions that is capable of capturing topological phase transitions beyond either method when used independently. As an illustration of the method, we study the effects of short-ranged interactions on the Z2 TI phase, also known as the quantum spin Hall (QSH) phase, in three generalized versions of the Kane-Mele (KM) model at half-filling on the honeycomb lattice. The results are in excellent agreement with quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) calculations on the same model and cannot be reproduced by either a perturbative treatment or a self-consistent mean-field treatment of the interactions. Our analytical approach helps to clarify how the symmetries of the one-body terms of the Hamiltonian determine whether interactions tend to stabilize or destabilize a topological phase. Moreover, our method should be applicable to a wide class of models where topological transitions due to interactions are in principle possible, but are not correctly predicted by either perturbative or self-consistent treatments.

Progress on the three-particle quantization condition

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Briceno, Raul; Hansen, Mawell T.; Sharpe, Stephen R.

2016-10-01

We report progress on extending the relativistic model-independent quantization condition for three particles, derived previously by two of us, to a broader class of theories, as well as progress on checking the formalism. In particular, we discuss the extension to include the possibility of 2->3 and 3->2 transitions and the calculation of the finite-volume energy shift of an Efimov-like three-particle bound state. The latter agrees with the results obtained previously using non-relativistic quantum mechanics.

40 CFR 144.19 - Transitioning from Class II to Class VI.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... primary purpose of long-term storage into an oil and gas reservoir must apply for and obtain a Class VI geologic sequestration permit when there is an increased risk to USDWs compared to Class II operations. In... Class II operations and a Class VI permit is required. In order to make this determination the Director...

Upwardly Mobile: Attitudes toward the Class Transition among First-Generation College Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hinz, Serena E.

2016-01-01

First-generation, working-class college students are on the path to upward mobility and may have social and psychological problems related to cultural differences between the working class and the middle class. In her study, Hurst (2007, 2010) reports that students of working-class origin often choose loyalty to one class. However, I revise…

Characterization of Different Types of Excitability in Large Somatosensory Neurons and Its Plastic Changes in Pathological Pain States

PubMed Central

Xie, Rou-Gang; Chu, Wen-Guang; Hu, San-Jue; Luo, Ceng

2018-01-01

Sensory neuron types have been distinguished by distinct morphological and transcriptional characteristics. Excitability is the most fundamental functional feature of neurons. Mathematical models described by Hodgkin have revealed three types of neuronal excitability based on the relationship between firing frequency and applied current intensity. However, whether natural sensory neurons display different functional characteristics in terms of excitability and whether this excitability type undergoes plastic changes under pathological pain states have remained elusive. Here, by utilizing whole-cell patch clamp recordings, behavioral and pharmacological assays, we demonstrated that large dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons can be classified into three classes and four subclasses based on their excitability patterns, which is similar to mathematical models raised by Hodgkin. Analysis of hyperpolarization-activated cation current (Ih) revealed different magnitude of Ih in different excitability types of large DRG neurons, with higher Ih in Class 2-1 than that in Class 1, 2-2 and 3. This indicates a crucial role of Ih in the determination of excitability type of large DRG neurons. More importantly, this pattern of excitability displays plastic changes and transition under pathological pain states caused by peripheral nerve injury. This study sheds new light on the functional characteristics of large DRG neurons and extends functional classification of large DRG neurons by integration of transcriptomic and morphological characteristics. PMID:29303989

Alloying effect on bright-dark exciton states in ternary monolayer Mo x W1-x Se2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Yanping; Tom, Kyle; Zhang, Xiaowei; Lou, Shuai; Liu, Yin; Yao, Jie

2017-07-01

Binary transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) in the class MX2 (M = Mo, W; X = S, Se) have been widely investigated for potential applications in optoelectronics and nanoelectronics. Recently, alloy-based monolayers of TMDCs have provided a stable and versatile technique to tune the physical properties and optimize them for potential applications. Here, we present experimental evidence for the existence of an intermediate alloy state between the MoSe2-like and the WSe2-like behavior of the neutral exciton (X 0) using temperature-dependent photoluminescence (PL) of the monolayer Mo x W1-x Se2 alloy. The existence of a maximum PL intensity around 120 K can be explained by the competition between the thermally activated bright states and the non-radiative quenching of the bright states. Moreover, we also measured localized exciton (XB ) PL peak in the alloy and the observed behavior agrees well with a model previously proposed for the 3D case, which indicates the theory also applies to 2D systems. Our results not only shed light on bright-dark states and localized exciton physics of 2D semiconductors, but also offer a new route toward the control of the bright-dark transition and tailoring optical properties of 2D semiconductors through defect engineering.

The electronic structure and second-order nonlinear optical properties of donor-acceptor acetylenes - A detailed investigation of structure-property relationships

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stiegman, A. E.; Graham, Eva; Khundkar, Lutfur R.; Perry, Joseph W.; Cheng, L.-T.; Perry, Kelly J.

1991-01-01

A series of donor-acceptor acetylene compounds was synthesized in which systematic changes in both the conjugation length and the donor-acceptor strength were made. The effect of these structural changes on the spectroscopic and electronic properties of the molecules and, ultimately, on the measured second-order molecular hyperpolarizabilities (beta) was investigated. It was found that increases in the donor-acceptor strength resulted in increases in the magnitude of beta. For this class of molecules, the increase is dominated by the energy of the intramolecular charge-transfer transition, while factors such as the ground to excited-state dipole moment change and the transition-moment integral are much less important. Increasing the conjugation length from one to two acetylene linkers did not result in an increase in the value of beta; however, beta increased sharply in going from two acetylenes to three. This increase is attributed to the superposition of several nearly isoenergetic excited states.

Coherifying quantum channels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Korzekwa, Kamil; Czachórski, Stanisław; Puchała, Zbigniew; Życzkowski, Karol

2018-04-01

Is it always possible to explain random stochastic transitions between states of a finite-dimensional system as arising from the deterministic quantum evolution of the system? If not, then what is the minimal amount of randomness required by quantum theory to explain a given stochastic process? Here, we address this problem by studying possible coherifications of a quantum channel Φ, i.e., we look for channels {{{Φ }}}{ \\mathcal C } that induce the same classical transitions T, but are ‘more coherent’. To quantify the coherence of a channel Φ we measure the coherence of the corresponding Jamiołkowski state J Φ. We show that the classical transition matrix T can be coherified to reversible unitary dynamics if and only if T is unistochastic. Otherwise the Jamiołkowski state {J}{{Φ }}{ \\mathcal C } of the optimally coherified channel is mixed, and the dynamics must necessarily be irreversible. To assess the extent to which an optimal process {{{Φ }}}{ \\mathcal C } is indeterministic we find explicit bounds on the entropy and purity of {J}{{Φ }}{ \\mathcal C }, and relate the latter to the unitarity of {{{Φ }}}{ \\mathcal C }. We also find optimal coherifications for several classes of channels, including all one-qubit channels. Finally, we provide a non-optimal coherification procedure that works for an arbitrary channel Φ and reduces its rank (the minimal number of required Kraus operators) from {d}2 to d.

Some mechanistic requirements for major transitions

PubMed Central

2016-01-01

Major transitions in nature and human society are accompanied by a substantial change towards higher complexity in the core of the evolving system. New features are established, novel hierarchies emerge, new regulatory mechanisms are required and so on. An obvious way to achieve higher complexity is integration of autonomous elements into new organized systems whereby the previously independent units give up their autonomy at least in part. In this contribution, we reconsider the more than 40 years old hypercycle model and analyse it by the tools of stochastic chemical kinetics. An open system is implemented in the form of a flow reactor. The formation of new dynamically organized units through integration of competitors is identified with transcritical bifurcations. In the stochastic model, the fully organized state is quasi-stationary whereas the unorganized state corresponds to a population with natural selection. The stability of the organized state depends strongly on the number of individual subspecies, n, that have to be integrated: two and three classes of individuals, and , readily form quasi-stationary states. The four-membered deterministic dynamical system, , is stable but in the stochastic approach self-enhancing fluctuations drive it into extinction. In systems with five and more classes of individuals, , the state of cooperation is unstable and the solutions of the deterministic ODEs exhibit large amplitude oscillations. In the stochastic system self-enhancing fluctuations lead to extinction as observed with . Interestingly, cooperative systems in nature are commonly two-membered as shown by numerous examples of binary symbiosis. A few cases of symbiosis of three partners, called three-way symbiosis, have been found and were analysed within the past decade. Four-way symbiosis is rather rare but was reported to occur in fungus-growing ants. The model reported here can be used to illustrate the interplay between competition and cooperation whereby we obtain a hint on the role that resources play in major transitions. Abundance of resources seems to be an indispensable prerequisite of radical innovation that apparently needs substantial investments. Economists often claim that scarcity is driving innovation. Our model sheds some light on this apparent contradiction. In a nutshell, the answer is: scarcity drives optimization and increase in efficiency but abundance is required for radical novelty and the development of new features. This article is part of the themed issue ‘The major synthetic evolutionary transitions’. PMID:27431517

Timing of seed dispersal and seed dormancy in Brazilian savanna: two solutions to face seasonality.

PubMed

Escobar, Diego F E; Silveira, Fernando A O; Morellato, Leonor Patricia C

2018-05-11

The relationship between fruiting phenology and seed dispersal syndrome is widely recognized; however, the interaction of dormancy classes and plant life-history traits in relation to fruiting phenology and seed dispersal is understudied. Here we examined the relationship between fruiting season and seed dormancy and how this relationship is modulated by dormancy classes, dispersal syndromes, seed mass and seed moisture content in a Brazilian savanna (cerrado). Dormancy classes (non-dormancy and physical, morphological, morphophysiological, physiological and physiophysical dormancy) of 34 cerrado species were experimentally determined. Their seed dispersal syndrome (autochory, anemochory, zoochory), dispersal season (rainy, dry, rainy-to-dry and dry-to-rainy transitions), seed mass and moisture contents, and the estimated germination date were also determined. Log-linear models were used to evaluate how dormancy and dormancy classes are related to dispersal season and syndrome. The proportions of dormant and non-dormant species were similar in cerrado. The community-estimated germination date was seasonal, occurring at the onset of rainy season. Overall, anemochorous non-dormant species released seeds during the dry-to-rainy transition; autochorous physically dormant species dispersed seeds during the dry season and rainy-to-dry transition; zoochorous species dispersed non-dormant seeds during the dry and rainy seasons, while species with morphological, morphophysiological or physiological dormancy dispersed seeds in the transitional seasons. Seed mass differed among dispersal seasons and dormancy classes, but seed moisture content did not vary with dispersal syndrome, season or dormancy class. The beginning of the rainy season was the most favourable period for seed germination in cerrado, and the germination phenology was controlled by both the timing of seed dispersal and seed dormancy. Dormancy class was influenced by dispersal syndrome and season. Moreover, dormancy avoided seed germination during the rainy-to-dry transition, independently of dispersal syndrome. The variability of dormancy classes with dispersal syndrome allowed animal-dispersed species to fruit all year round, but seeds germinated only during the rainy season. Conversely, seasonally restricted wind-dispersal species dispersed and germinated their non-dormant seeds only in the rainy season.

Enzymatic Transition States, Transition-State Analogs, Dynamics, Thermodynamics, and Lifetimes

PubMed Central

Schramm, Vern L.

2017-01-01

Experimental analysis of enzymatic transition-state structures uses kinetic isotope effects (KIEs) to report on bonding and geometry differences between reactants and the transition state. Computational correlation of experimental values with chemical models permits three-dimensional geometric and electrostatic assignment of transition states formed at enzymatic catalytic sites. The combination of experimental and computational access to transition-state information permits (a) the design of transition-state analogs as powerful enzymatic inhibitors, (b) exploration of protein features linked to transition-state structure, (c) analysis of ensemble atomic motions involved in achieving the transition state, (d) transition-state lifetimes, and (e) separation of ground-state (Michaelis complexes) from transition-state effects. Transition-state analogs with picomolar dissociation constants have been achieved for several enzymatic targets. Transition states of closely related isozymes indicate that the protein’s dynamic architecture is linked to transition-state structure. Fast dynamic motions in catalytic sites are linked to transition-state generation. Enzymatic transition states have lifetimes of femtoseconds, the lifetime of bond vibrations. Binding isotope effects (BIEs) reveal relative reactant and transition-state analog binding distortion for comparison with actual transition states. PMID:21675920

Ultrafast Spectroscopic Studies of Two-Photon States in Third Order Optical Processes of Dye Chromophores.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Yi-Zhong

1995-01-01

Conjugated organic and polymeric materials usually have large, nonresonant third order optical nonlinearity due to correlations of their delocalized pi -electrons. Most materials studied so far show positive values of third order nonlinear susceptibility when all frequencies that generate the third order effect are below any optical transition. A new class of organic molecules, namely indole squarylium (ISQ) and anilinium squarylium (BSQ), exhibit negative < gamma(-omega_4;omega_1, omega_2,omega_3)> when all three frequencies, omega_1, omega_2 and omega_3, lie below the first electronic transition. Although quantum many-electron calculations based on multiple-excitation configuration interaction have shown that the negative third order coefficient is essentially due to the contribution from high-lying two-photon states, the field of experimental studies exploring the microscopic origins of the negative squaraines remains uncultivated. The work presented in this thesis involves extensive experimental investigation of squaraines using techniques such as time-resolved transit absorption spectroscopy and saturable absorption. Theoretical simulations studying nonlinear absorption behavior of a simplified two-level system with ultrashort pulses are also presented. Part of the thesis is dedicated to the development, fabrication and characterization of our ultrafast laser system which offers tunable femtosecond pulses at wavelengths from UV to IR and served as a major tool in the experimental measurements. The dynamics of the population inversion between the ground state and the first excited state was also investigated through time-resolved experiments. The experiment results agree well with the theoretical predictions. Strong couplings between the gateway state and high-lying two-photon states were observed in BSQ squarylium molecules, which suggested a complete quantum calculation with multiple energy levels is required to correctly describe the negative third order effect.

Eukaryotic genomes may exhibit up to 10 generic classes of gene promoters.

PubMed

Gagniuc, Paul; Ionescu-Tirgoviste, Constantin

2012-09-28

The main function of gene promoters appears to be the integration of different gene products in their biological pathways in order to maintain homeostasis. Generally, promoters have been classified in two major classes, namely TATA and CpG. Nevertheless, many genes using the same combinatorial formation of transcription factors have different gene expression patterns. Accordingly, we tried to ask ourselves some fundamental questions: Why certain genes have an overall predisposition for higher gene expression levels than others? What causes such a predisposition? Is there a structural relationship of these sequences in different tissues? Is there a strong phylogenetic relationship between promoters of closely related species? In order to gain valuable insights into different promoter regions, we obtained a series of image-based patterns which allowed us to identify 10 generic classes of promoters. A comprehensive analysis was undertaken for promoter sequences from Arabidopsis thaliana, Drosophila melanogaster, Homo sapiens and Oryza sativa, and a more extensive analysis of tissue-specific promoters in humans. We observed a clear preference for these species to use certain classes of promoters for specific biological processes. Moreover, in humans, we found that different tissues use distinct classes of promoters, reflecting an emerging promoter network. Depending on the tissue type, comparisons made between these classes of promoters reveal a complementarity between their patterns whereas some other classes of promoters have been observed to occur in competition. Furthermore, we also noticed the existence of some transitional states between these classes of promoters that may explain certain evolutionary mechanisms, which suggest a possible predisposition for specific levels of gene expression and perhaps for a different number of factors responsible for triggering gene expression. Our conclusions are based on comprehensive data from three different databases and a new computer model whose core is using Kappa index of coincidence. To fully understand the connections between gene promoters and gene expression, we analyzed thousands of promoter sequences using our Kappa Index of Coincidence method and a specialized Optical Character Recognition (OCR) neural network. Under our criteria, 10 classes of promoters were detected. In addition, the existence of "transitional" promoters suggests that there is an evolutionary weighted continuum between classes, depending perhaps upon changes in their gene products.

Escaping Poverty and Securing Middle Class Status: How Race and Socioeconomic Status Shape Mobility Prospects for African Americans during the Transition to Adulthood

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hardaway, Cecily R.; McLoyd, Vonnie C.

2009-01-01

This article draws on extant research from the disciplines of psychology, sociology, and economics to identify linkages between individual, family, community, and structural factors related to social mobility for African Americans during the transition to adulthood. It considers how race and class together affect opportunities for social mobility…

Longitudinal Physical Activity Patterns Among Older Adults: A Latent Transition Analysis.

PubMed

Mooney, Stephen J; Joshi, Spruha; Cerdá, Magdalena; Kennedy, Gary J; Beard, John R; Rundle, Andrew G

2018-05-14

Most epidemiologic studies of physical activity measure either total energy expenditure or engagement in a single activity type, such as walking. These approaches may gloss over important nuances in activity patterns. We performed a latent transition analysis to identify patterns of activity types as well as neighborhood and individual determinants of changes in those activity patterns over two years in a cohort of 2,023 older adult residents of New York City, NY, surveyed between 2011 and 2013. We identified seven latent classes: 1) Mostly Inactive, 2) Walking, 3) Exercise, 4) Household Activities and Walking, 5) Household Activities and Exercise, 6) Gardening and Household Activities, and 7) Gardening, Household Activities, and Exercise. The majority of subjects retained the same activity patterns between waves (54% unchanged between waves 1 and 2, 66% unchanged between waves 2 and 3).Most latent class transitions were between classes distinguished only by one form of activity, and only neighborhood unemployment was consistently associated with changing between activity latent classes. Future latent transition analyses of physical activity would benefit from larger cohorts and longer follow-up periods to assess predictors of and long-term impacts of changes in activity patterns.

Higgs transition from a magnetic Coulomb liquid to a ferromagnet in Yb2Ti2O7

PubMed Central

Chang, Lieh-Jeng; Onoda, Shigeki; Su, Yixi; Kao, Ying-Jer; Tsuei, Ku-Ding; Yasui, Yukio; Kakurai, Kazuhisa; Lees, Martin Richard

2012-01-01

In a class of frustrated magnets known as spin ice, magnetic monopoles emerge as classical defects and interact via the magnetic Coulomb law. With quantum-mechanical interactions, these magnetic charges are carried by fractionalized bosonic quasi-particles, spinons, which can undergo Bose–Einstein condensation through a first-order transition via the Higgs mechanism. Here, we report evidence of a Higgs transition from a magnetic Coulomb liquid to a ferromagnet in single-crystal Yb2Ti2O7. Polarized neutron scattering experiments show that the diffuse [111]-rod scattering and pinch-point features, which develop on cooling are suddenly suppressed below TC~0.21 K, where magnetic Bragg peaks and a full depolarization of the neutron spins are observed with thermal hysteresis, indicating a first-order ferromagnetic transition. Our results are explained on the basis of a quantum spin-ice model, whose high-temperature phase is effectively described as a magnetic Coulomb liquid, whereas the ground state shows a nearly collinear ferromagnetism with gapped spin excitations. PMID:22871811

Extreme value statistics and finite-size scaling at the ecological extinction/laminar-turbulence transition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shih, Hong-Yan; Goldenfeld, Nigel

Experiments on transitional turbulence in pipe flow seem to show that turbulence is a transient metastable state since the measured mean lifetime of turbulence puffs does not diverge asymptotically at a critical Reynolds number. Yet measurements reveal that the lifetime scales with Reynolds number in a super-exponential way reminiscent of extreme value statistics, and simulations and experiments in Couette and channel flow exhibit directed percolation type scaling phenomena near a well-defined transition. This universality class arises from the interplay between small-scale turbulence and a large-scale collective zonal flow, which exhibit predator-prey behavior. Why is asymptotically divergent behavior not observed? Using directed percolation and a stochastic individual level model of predator-prey dynamics related to transitional turbulence, we investigate the relation between extreme value statistics and power law critical behavior, and show that the paradox is resolved by carefully defining what is measured in the experiments. We theoretically derive the super-exponential scaling law, and using finite-size scaling, show how the same data can give both super-exponential behavior and power-law critical scaling.

Glass transition in ferroic glass K x (ND4)1-x D2PO4: a complete x-ray diffraction line shape analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ranjan Choudhury, Rajul; Chitra, R.; Jayakrishnan, V. B.

2016-03-01

Quenching of dynamic disorder in glassy systems is termed as the glass transition. Ferroic glasses belong to the class of paracrystalline materials having crystallographic order in-between that of a perfect crystal and amorphous material, a classic example of ferroic glass is the solid solution of ferroelectric deuterated potassium dihydrogen phosphate and antiferroelectric deuterated ammonium dihydrogen phosphate. Lowering temperature of this ferroic glass can lead to a glass transition to a quenched disordered state. The subtle atomic rearrangement that takes place at such a glass transition can be revealed by careful examination of the temperature induced changes occurring in the x-ray powder diffraction (XRD) patterns of these materials. Hence we report here results of a complete diffraction line shape analysis of the XRD patterns recorded at different temperatures from deuterated mixed crystals DK x A1-x DP with mixing concentration x ranging as 0 < x < 1. Changes observed in diffraction peak shapes have been explained on the basis of structural rearrangements induced by changing O-D-O hydrogen bond dynamics in these paracrystals.

Age Differences Explain Social Class Differences in Students' Friendship at University: Implications for Transition and Retention

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rubin, Mark; Wright, Chrysalis L.

2015-01-01

The present research tested the hypotheses that (a) working-class students have fewer friends at university than middle-class students and (b) this social class difference occurs because working-class students tend to be older than middle-class students. A sample of 376 first-year undergraduate students from an Australian university completed an…

Transitions of Developmental Trajectories of Depressive Symptoms Between Junior and Senior High School Among Youths in Taiwan: Linkages to Symptoms in Young Adulthood.

PubMed

Wang, Yu-Chung Lawrence; Chan, Hsun-Yu; Chen, Pei-Chun

2018-02-21

We investigated the heterogeneous developmental trajectories of depressive symptoms in junior and senior high school, the transitions to different trajectories after entering senior high school, and the linkages to the development of depressive symptoms in early adulthood among Taiwanese adolescents. An eight-wave longitudinal data set was analyzed, including 2687 Taiwanese adolescents (51.2% boys, M age = 14.3 at first wave). Using a manual three-step latent transition growth mixture model, we found that a three-class solution fit the data for both junior high school (termed high-improving, cumulative, and JS-low-stable) and senior high school period (termed heightening, moderate-stable, and HS-low-stable). The depressive symptoms of most individuals maintained at a low level (i.e., low-stable) from adolescence to early adulthood; however, nearly a quarter of the adolescents reported depressive symptoms that were moderately or highly severe in senior high school and beyond. More than 30% of the participants experienced transitioning into a different developmental trajectory between junior and senior high school. When perceiving a higher level of paternal behavioral control, adolescents categorized in the high-improving class in junior high school would have a higher chance to transition to the moderate-stable class than to HS-low-stable class in senior high school. Adolescent boys and girls did not differ in the probability of transitioning between trajectories across junior and senior high school. However, a clear and consistent pattern of symptoms between late adolescence and early adulthood was not observed. These results help elucidate the heterogeneity and fluidity associated with the development of depressive symptoms between early adolescence and early adulthood in light of school transition among youths in Taiwan.

Air transportation in the California Corridor of 2010

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cameron, M.; Mahaffy, K.; Yanagi, G.; Lechmanski, L.; Riddle, T.; Howard, K.; Chan, C.; Gorman, M.; Bauer, B.

1989-01-01

The topic of the 1988-1989 NASA/USRA Advanced Design Project at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, was the development of an air transportation system to meet the needs of the California Corridor for the year 2010. As aircraft design is taught by two instructors having different philosophies about the teaching process, the two classes took different approaches to address the problem. The first part of this summary (California Air Transit System) represents the work done by the students of Professor A. E. Andreoli, who followed a systems approach, emphasizing the determination of the proper mission. The second part of the summary (Four Aircraft to Service the California Corridor) contains the four aircraft designed by Dr. D. R. Sandlin's class based on specifications determined from work done in previous years.

Membrane Modulates Affinity for Calcium Ion to Create an Apparent Cooperative Binding Response by Annexin a5

PubMed Central

Gauer, Jacob W.; Knutson, Kristofer J.; Jaworski, Samantha R.; Rice, Anne M.; Rannikko, Anika M.; Lentz, Barry R.; Hinderliter, Anne

2013-01-01

Isothermal titration calorimetry was used to characterize the binding of calcium ion (Ca2+) and phospholipid to the peripheral membrane-binding protein annexin a5. The phospholipid was a binary mixture of a neutral and an acidic phospholipid, specifically phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylserine in the form of large unilamellar vesicles. To stringently define the mode of binding, a global fit of data collected in the presence and absence of membrane concentrations exceeding protein saturation was performed. A partition function defined the contribution of all heat-evolving or heat-absorbing binding states. We find that annexin a5 binds Ca2+ in solution according to a simple independent-site model (solution-state affinity). In the presence of phosphatidylserine-containing liposomes, binding of Ca2+ differentiates into two classes of sites, both of which have higher affinity compared with the solution-state affinity. As in the solution-state scenario, the sites within each class were described with an independent-site model. Transitioning from a solution state with lower Ca2+ affinity to a membrane-associated, higher Ca2+ affinity state, results in cooperative binding. We discuss how weak membrane association of annexin a5 prior to Ca2+ influx is the basis for the cooperative response of annexin a5 toward Ca2+, and the role of membrane organization in this response. PMID:23746516

Cascade of Quantum Transitions and Magnetocaloric Anomalies in an Open Nanowire

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Val'kov, V. V.; Mitskan, V. A.; Shustin, M. S.

2017-12-01

A sequence of magnetocaloric anomalies occurring with the change in a magnetic field H is predicted for an open nanowire with the Rashba spin-orbit coupling and the induced superconducting pairing potential. The nature of such anomalies is due to the cascade of quantum transitions related to the successive changes in the fermion parity of the nanowire ground state with the growth of the magnetic field. It is shown that the critical H c values fall within the parameter range corresponding to the nontrivial values of the Z 2 topological invariant of the corresponding 1D band Hamiltonian characteristic of the D symmetry class. It is demonstrated that such features in the behavior of the open nanowire are retained even in the presence of Coulomb interactions.

Shear-transformation-zone theory of yielding in athermal amorphous materials

DOE PAGES

Langer, J. S.

2015-07-22

Yielding transitions in athermal amorphous materials undergoing steady-state shear flow resemble critical phenomena. Historically, they have been described by the Herschel-Bulkley rheological formula, which implies singular behaviors at yield points. In this paper, I examine this class of phenomena using an elementary version of the thermodynamic shear-transformation-zone (STZ) theory, focusing on the role of the effective disorder temperature, and paying special attention to scaling and dimensional arguments. I find a wide variety of Herschel-Bulkley-like rheologies but, for fundamental reasons not specific to the STZ theory, conclude that the yielding transition is not truly critical. Specifically, for realistic many-body models withmore » short-range interactions, there is a correlation length that grows rapidly but ultimately saturates near the yield point.« less

Stochastic Amplification of Fluctuations in Cortical Up-States

PubMed Central

Hidalgo, Jorge; Seoane, Luís F.; Cortés, Jesús M.; Muñoz, Miguel A.

2012-01-01

Cortical neurons are bistable; as a consequence their local field potentials can fluctuate between quiescent and active states, generating slow Hz oscillations which are widely known as transitions between Up and Down States. Despite a large number of studies on Up-Down transitions, deciphering its nature, mechanisms and function are still today challenging tasks. In this paper we focus on recent experimental evidence, showing that a class of spontaneous oscillations can emerge within the Up states. In particular, a non-trivial peak around Hz appears in their associated power-spectra, what produces an enhancement of the activity power for higher frequencies (in the Hz band). Moreover, this rhythm within Ups seems to be an emergent or collective phenomenon given that individual neurons do not lock to it as they remain mostly unsynchronized. Remarkably, similar oscillations (and the concomitant peak in the spectrum) do not appear in the Down states. Here we shed light on these findings by using different computational models for the dynamics of cortical networks in presence of different levels of physiological complexity. Our conclusion, supported by both theory and simulations, is that the collective phenomenon of “stochastic amplification of fluctuations” – previously described in other contexts such as Ecology and Epidemiology – explains in an elegant and parsimonious manner, beyond model-dependent details, this extra-rhythm emerging only in the Up states but not in the Downs. PMID:22879879

Chimeric Plastics : a new class of thermoplastic

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sonnenschein, Mark

A new class of thermoplastics (dubbed ``Chimerics'') is described that exhibits a high temperature glass transition followed by high performance elastomer properties, prior to melting. These transparent materials are comprised of co-continuous phase-separated block copolymers. One block is an amorphous glass with a high glass transition temperature, and the second is a higher temperature phase transition block creating virtual thermoreversible crosslinks. The material properties are highly influenced by phase separation on the order of 10-30 nanometers. At lower temperatures the polymer reflects the sum of the block copolymer properties. As the amorphous phase glass transition is exceeded, the virtual crosslinks of the higher temperature second phase dominate the plastic properties, resulting in rubber-like elasticity.

Activation of Remote meta-C–H Bonds Assisted by an “End-on” Template

PubMed Central

Leow, Dasheng; Li, Gang; Mei, Tiansheng; Yu, Jin-Quan

2012-01-01

Controlling positional selectivity of C–H activation in molecules possessing multiple inequivalent C–H bonds is one of the most important challenges in developing synthetically useful C–H activation reactions. One widely used approach utilizes σ-chelating directing groups to achieve ortho-selectivity through conformational rigid five- or six-membered cyclic pre-transition states (TS).1–14 We envisioned that an “end-on” chelating template capable of delivering catalysts to previously inaccessible remote meta-C–H bonds via a macrocyclic cyclophane-like pre-TS could overcome the limitations imposed by traditional ortho-directing groups. Herein, we report a class of readily removable nitrile-containing templates that direct the activation of distal meta-C–H bonds (≥ 10 bonds away) of a tethered arene. We attribute this new mode of C–H activation to the weak “end-on” coordination of the linear nitrile group to metal center, as previously observed by Schwarz in the study of remote C–H activation of alkyl nitriles in gas phase.15, 16 The coordination geometry relieves the strain of the cyclophane-like pre-transition state of the meta-C–H activation event. Remarkably, this template overrides electronic and steric biases and ortho-directing effects with two broadly useful classes of arene substrates (toluene derivatives and hydrocinnamic acids), thus constituting a fundamentally new mode of directed C–H activation that is anticipated to be widely adopted. PMID:22739317

On some methods of discrete systems behaviour simulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sytnik, Alexander A.; Posohina, Natalia I.

1998-07-01

The project is solving one of the fundamental problems of mathematical cybernetics and discrete mathematics, the one connected with synthesis and analysis of managing systems, depending on the research of their functional opportunities and reliable behaviour. This work deals with the case of finite-state machine behaviour restoration when the structural redundancy is not available and the direct updating of current behaviour is impossible. The described below method, uses number theory to build a special model of finite-state machine, it is simulating the transition between the states of the finite-state machine using specially defined functions of exponential type with the help of several methods of number theory and algebra it is easy to determine, whether there is an opportunity to restore the behaviour (with the help of this method) in the given case or not and also derive the class of finite-state machines, admitting such restoration.

Vibrational energy flow controls internal conversion in a transition metal complex.

PubMed

Hedley, Gordon J; Ruseckas, Arvydas; Samuel, Ifor D W

2010-09-02

Internal conversion (IC) between excited electronic states is a fundamental photophysical process that is important for understanding protection from UV radiation, energy transfer pathways and electron injection in artificial photosynthetic systems and organic solar cells. We have studied IC between three singlet MLCT states in an iridium complex using femtosecond fluorescence spectroscopy. Very fast IC with a time constant of <20 fs is observed from the highest state and a much slower relaxation to the lowest energy singlet state on a 70 fs time scale. The abrupt slowdown of the relaxation rate occurs when there is >0.6 eV of vibrational energy stored in the complex that has to be dissipated by intramolecular vibrational redistribution before further IC to the lower energy states can occur. These results show that the ability to dissipate vibrational energy can control the relaxation process in this class of materials.

Preparation, Characterization and Application of Optical Switch Probes.

PubMed

Petchprayoon, Chutima; Marriott, Gerard

2010-08-01

Optical switches represent a new class of molecular probe with applications in high contrast imaging and optical manipulation of protein interactions. Small molecule, organic optical switches based on nitrospirobenzopyran (NitroBIPS) and their reactive derivatives and conjugates undergo efficient, rapid and reversible, orthogonal optically-driven transitions between a colorless spiro (SP) state and a colored merocyanine (MC) state. The excited MC-state also emits fluorescence, which serves as readout of the state of the switch. Defined optical perturbations of SP and MC generate a defined waveform of MC-fluorescence that can be isolated against unmodulated background signals by using a digital optical lock-in detection approach or to control specific dipolar interactions on proteins. The protocols describe general procedures for the synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of NitroBIPS and specifically labeled conjugates along with methods for the manipulation of dipolar interactions on proteins and imaging of the MC-state of NitroBIPS within living cells.

Social Class Experiences of Working-Class Students: Transitioning out of College

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Treager Huber, Carey

2010-01-01

Issues surrounding social class are often overlooked and rarely discussed in higher education; however, they affect students and institutions in critical ways. Although research has demonstrated that social class is a predictor of access to college, retention, academic performance, overall undergraduate and graduate experience, and college…

WWC Review of the Report "Closing the Social-Class Achievement Gap: A Difference-Education Intervention Improves First-Generation Students' Academic Performance and All Students' College Transition." What Works Clearinghouse Single Study Review

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

What Works Clearinghouse, 2014

2014-01-01

For the 2014 study, "Closing the Social-Class Achievement Gap: A Difference-Education Intervention Improves First-Generation Students' Academic Performance and All Students' College Transition," researchers investigated the impact of attending a moderated panel on incoming freshmen's adjustment to college. The panel featured…

Equation of State and Shock-Driven Decomposition of 'Soft' Materials

DOE PAGES

Coe, Joshua Damon; Dattelbaum, Dana Mcgraw

2017-12-01

Equation of state (EOS) efforts at National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) national laboratories tend to focus heavily on metals, and rightly so given their obvious primacy in nuclear weapons. Our focus here, however, is on the EOS of 'soft' matter such as polymers and their derived foams, which present a number of challenges distinct from those of other material classes. This brief description will cover only one aspect of polymer EOS modeling: treatment of shock-driven decomposition. Here, these interesting (and sometimes neglected) materials exhibit a number of other challenging features— glass transitions, complex thermal behavior, response that is both viscousmore » and elastic—each warranting additional discussions of their own.« less

Equation of State and Shock-Driven Decomposition of 'Soft' Materials

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Coe, Joshua Damon; Dattelbaum, Dana Mcgraw

Equation of state (EOS) efforts at National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) national laboratories tend to focus heavily on metals, and rightly so given their obvious primacy in nuclear weapons. Our focus here, however, is on the EOS of 'soft' matter such as polymers and their derived foams, which present a number of challenges distinct from those of other material classes. This brief description will cover only one aspect of polymer EOS modeling: treatment of shock-driven decomposition. Here, these interesting (and sometimes neglected) materials exhibit a number of other challenging features— glass transitions, complex thermal behavior, response that is both viscousmore » and elastic—each warranting additional discussions of their own.« less

Transverse susceptibility as a probe of the magnetocrystalline anisotropy-driven phase transition in Pr0.5Sr0.5CoO3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Frey Huls, N. A.; Bingham, N. S.; Phan, M. H.; Srikanth, H.; Stauffer, D. D.; Leighton, C.

2011-01-01

Half-doped Pr1-xSrxCoO3 (x=0.5) displays anomalous magnetism, most notably manifest in the field-cooled magnetization versus temperature curves under different applied cooling fields. Recently, an explanation was advanced that a magnetocrystalline anisotropy transition driven by a structural transition at 120 K is the origin of this behavior. In this paper, we further elucidate the nature of the magnetic anisotropy across the low-temperature phase transition in this material by means of transverse susceptibility (TS) measurements performed using a self-resonant tunnel diode oscillator. TS probes magnetic materials by means of a small radio frequency oriented transverse to a dc field that sweeps from positive to negative saturation. TS scans as a function of field clearly reveal peaks associated with the anisotropy (HK) and switching fields (HS). When peak position is examined as a function of temperature, ˜120 K the signature of a ferromagnetic-to-ferromagnetic phase transition is evident as a sharp feature in HK and a corresponding cusp in HS. A third TS peak (not previously observed in other classes of magnetic oxides such as manganites and spinel ferrites) is found to be correlated with the crossover field (Hcr) in the unconventional magnetization versus temperature [M(T)] behavior. We observe a strong temperature dependence of Hcr at ˜120 K using this technique, which suggests the magnetic-field-influenced magnetocrystalline anisotropy transition. We show the switching between the high-field magnetization state and the low-field magnetization state associated with the magnetocrystalline anisotropy transition is irreversible when the magnetic field is recycled. Finally, we demonstrate that the TS peak magnitude indicates easy axis switching associated with this phase transition, even in these polycrystalline samples. Our results further confirm that TS provides new insights into the magnetic behavior of complex oxides.

Socioeconomic Status and Net Fertility during the Fertility Decline: A Comparative Analysis of Canada, Iceland, Sweden, Norway and the United States

PubMed Central

Dribe, Martin; Hacker, J. David; Scalone, Francesco

2014-01-01

Most previous work on the historical fertility transition has been macro-oriented, using aggregate data to examine economic correlates of demographic behaviour at regional or national levels, while much less has been done using micro data, and specifically looking at behavioural differentials among social groups. In this paper we study at the impact of socioeconomic status on net fertility during the fertility transition in five Northern American and European Countries (Canada, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and the USA). We use micro-level census data in 1900, containing information on number of children by age, occupation of the mother and father, place of residence and household context. The results show highly similar patterns across countries, with the elite and upper middle classes having considerably lower net fertility early in the transition. These patterns remain also after controlling for a range of individual and community-level fertility determinants and geographical unobserved heterogeneity. PMID:24684711

Frequency-dependent selection at rough expanding fronts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuhr, Jan-Timm; Stark, Holger

2015-10-01

Microbial colonies are experimental model systems for studying the colonization of new territory by biological species through range expansion. We study a generalization of the two-species Eden model, which incorporates local frequency-dependent selection, in order to analyze how social interactions between two species influence surface roughness of growing microbial colonies. The model includes several classical scenarios from game theory. We then concentrate on an expanding public goods game, where either cooperators or defectors take over the front depending on the system parameters. We analyze in detail the critical behavior of the nonequilibrium phase transition between global cooperation and defection and thereby identify a new universality class of phase transitions dealing with absorbing states. At the transition, the number of boundaries separating sectors decays with a novel power law in time and their superdiffusive motion crosses over from Eden scaling to a nearly ballistic regime. In parallel, the width of the front initially obeys Eden roughening and, at later times, passes over to selective roughening.

Valley excitons in two-dimensional semiconductors

DOE PAGES

Yu, Hongyi; Cui, Xiaodong; Xu, Xiaodong; ...

2014-12-30

Monolayer group-VIB transition metal dichalcogenides have recently emerged as a new class of semiconductors in the two-dimensional limit. The attractive properties include: the visible range direct band gap ideal for exploring optoelectronic applications; the intriguing physics associated with spin and valley pseudospin of carriers which implies potentials for novel electronics based on these internal degrees of freedom; the exceptionally strong Coulomb interaction due to the two-dimensional geometry and the large effective masses. The physics of excitons, the bound states of electrons and holes, has been one of the most actively studied topics on these two-dimensional semiconductors, where the excitons exhibitmore » remarkably new features due to the strong Coulomb binding, the valley degeneracy of the band edges, and the valley dependent optical selection rules for interband transitions. Here we give a brief overview of the experimental and theoretical findings on excitons in two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides, with focus on the novel properties associated with their valley degrees of freedom.« less

Algorithmic-Reducibility = Renormalization-Group Fixed-Points; ``Noise''-Induced Phase-Transitions (NITs) to Accelerate Algorithmics (``NIT-Picking'') Replacing CRUTCHES!!!: Gauss Modular/Clock-Arithmetic Congruences = Signal X Noise PRODUCTS..

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Siegel, J.; Siegel, Edward Carl-Ludwig

2011-03-01

Cook-Levin computational-"complexity"(C-C) algorithmic-equivalence reduction-theorem reducibility equivalence to renormalization-(semi)-group phase-transitions critical-phenomena statistical-physics universality-classes fixed-points, is exploited with Gauss modular/clock-arithmetic/model congruences = signal X noise PRODUCT reinterpretation. Siegel-Baez FUZZYICS=CATEGORYICS(SON of ``TRIZ''): Category-Semantics(C-S) tabular list-format truth-table matrix analytics predicts and implements "noise"-induced phase-transitions (NITs) to accelerate versus to decelerate Harel [Algorithmics(1987)]-Sipser[Intro. Theory Computation(1997) algorithmic C-C: "NIT-picking" to optimize optimization-problems optimally(OOPO). Versus iso-"noise" power-spectrum quantitative-only amplitude/magnitude-only variation stochastic-resonance, this "NIT-picking" is "noise" power-spectrum QUALitative-type variation via quantitative critical-exponents variation. Computer-"science" algorithmic C-C models: Turing-machine, finite-state-models/automata, are identified as early-days once-workable but NOW ONLY LIMITING CRUTCHES IMPEDING latter-days new-insights!!!

Liquid phase blending of metal-organic frameworks.

PubMed

Longley, Louis; Collins, Sean M; Zhou, Chao; Smales, Glen J; Norman, Sarah E; Brownbill, Nick J; Ashling, Christopher W; Chater, Philip A; Tovey, Robert; Schönlieb, Carola-Bibiane; Headen, Thomas F; Terrill, Nicholas J; Yue, Yuanzheng; Smith, Andrew J; Blanc, Frédéric; Keen, David A; Midgley, Paul A; Bennett, Thomas D

2018-06-15

The liquid and glass states of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have recently become of interest due to the potential for liquid-phase separations and ion transport, alongside the fundamental nature of the latter as a new, fourth category of melt-quenched glass. Here we show that the MOF liquid state can be blended with another MOF component, resulting in a domain structured MOF glass with a single, tailorable glass transition. Intra-domain connectivity and short range order is confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and pair distribution function measurements. The interfacial binding between MOF domains in the glass state is evidenced by electron tomography, and the relationship between domain size and T g investigated. Nanoindentation experiments are also performed to place this new class of MOF materials into context with organic blends and inorganic alloys.

Ground Contact Modeling for the Morpheus Test Vehicle Simulation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cordova, Luis

2014-01-01

The Morpheus vertical test vehicle is an autonomous robotic lander being developed at Johnson Space Center (JSC) to test hazard detection technology. Because the initial ground contact simulation model was not very realistic, it was decided to improve the model without making it too computationally expensive. The first development cycle added capability to define vehicle attachment points (AP) and to keep track of their states in the lander reference frame (LFRAME). These states are used with a spring damper model to compute an AP contact force. The lateral force is then overwritten, if necessary, by the Coulomb static or kinetic friction force. The second development cycle added capability to use the PolySurface class as the contact surface. The class can load CAD data in STL (Stereo Lithography) format, and use the data to compute line of sight (LOS) intercepts. A polygon frame (PFRAME) is computed from the facet intercept normal and used to convert the AP state to PFRAME. Three flat plane tests validate the transitions from kinetic to static, static to kinetic, and vertical impact. The hazardous terrain test will be used to test for visual reasonableness. The improved model is numerically inexpensive, robust, and produces results that are reasonable.

Ground Contact Modeling for the Morpheus Test Vehicle Simulation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cordova, Luis

2013-01-01

The Morpheus vertical test vehicle is an autonomous robotic lander being developed at Johnson Space Center (JSC) to test hazard detection technology. Because the initial ground contact simulation model was not very realistic, it was decided to improve the model without making it too computationally expensive. The first development cycle added capability to define vehicle attachment points (AP) and to keep track of their states in the lander reference frame (LFRAME). These states are used with a spring damper model to compute an AP contact force. The lateral force is then overwritten, if necessary, by the Coulomb static or kinetic friction force. The second development cycle added capability to use the PolySurface class as the contact surface. The class can load CAD data in STL (Stereo Lithography) format, and use the data to compute line of sight (LOS) intercepts. A polygon frame (PFRAME) is computed from the facet intercept normal and used to convert the AP state to PFRAME. Three flat plane tests validate the transitions from kinetic to static, static to kinetic, and vertical impact. The hazardous terrain test will be used to test for visual reasonableness. The improved model is numerically inexpensive, robust, and produces results that are reasonable.

CuTaS 3 : Intermetal d–d Transitions Enable High Solar Absorption

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Heo, Jaeseok; Yu, Liping; Altschul, Emmeline

To realize the fundamental limits of photovoltaic device efficiency, solar absorbers must exhibit strong absorption and abrupt absorption onsets. Ideally, onsets to maximum absorption (a > 105 cm-1) occur over a few tenths of an electronvolt. First-principles calculations predict CuTaS3 represents a potentially new class of materials with such absorption characteristics. Narrow metallic d bands in both the initial and final states present high joint densities of states and, therefore, strong absorption. Specifically, a mixture of metal d (Cu1+, d10) and S p characterizes states near the valence band maximum, and metal d (Ta5+, d0) dominates near the conduction bandmore » minimum. Optical absorption measurements on thin films confirm the abrupt onset to strong absorption a > 105 cm-1 at Eg + 0.4 eV (Eg = 1.0 eV). Theoretical CuTaS3 solar cell efficiency is predicted to be 28% for a 300 nm film based on the metric of spectroscopic limited maximum efficiency, which exceeds that of CuInSe2. This sulfide may offer new opportunities to discover and develop a new class of mixed d-element solar absorbers.« less

Linear dynamics of classical spin as Mobius transformation

DOE PAGES

Galda, Alexey; Vinokur, Valerii М.

2017-04-26

Though the overwhelming majority of natural processes occur far from the equilibrium, general theoretical approaches to non-equilibrium phase transitions remain scarce. Recent breakthroughs introduced a description of open dissipative systems in terms of non-Hermitian quantum mechanics enabling the identification of a class of non-equilibrium phase transitions associated with the loss of combined parity (reflection) and time-reversal symmetries. Here we report that the time evolution of a single classical spin (e.g. monodomain ferromagnet) governed by the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert-Slonczewski equation in the absence of magnetic anisotropy terms is described by a Mobius transformation in complex stereographic coordinates. We identify the parity-time symmetry-breaking phasemore » transition occurring in spin-transfer torque-driven linear spin systems as a transition between hyperbolic and loxodromic classes of Mobius transformations, with the critical point of the transition corresponding to the parabolic transformation. However, this establishes the understanding of non-equilibrium phase transitions as topological transitions in configuration space.« less

Temperature-dependent vibrational spectroscopy to study order-disorder transitions in charge transfer complexes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Isaac, Rohan; Goetz, Katelyn P.; Roberts, Drew; Jurchescu, Oana D.; McNeil, L. E.

2018-02-01

Charge-transfer (CT) complexes are a promising class of materials for the semiconductor industry because of their versatile properties. This class of compounds shows a variety of phase transitions, which are of interest because of their potential impact on the electronic characteristics. Here temperature-dependent vibrational spectroscopy is used to study structural phase transitions in a set of organic CT complexes. Splitting and broadening of infrared-active phonons in the complex formed between pyrene and pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) confirm the structural transition is of the order-disorder type and complement previous x-ray diffraction (XRD) results. We show that this technique is a powerful tool to characterize transitions, and apply it to a range of binary CT complexes composed of polyaromatic hyrdocarbons (anthracene, perylene, phenanthrene, pyrene, and stilbene) and PMDA. We extend the understanding of transitions in perylene-PMDA and pyrene-PMDA, and show that there are no order-disorder transitions present in anthracene-PMDA, stilbene-PMDA and phenanthrene-PMDA in the temperature range investigated here.

Synthesis, Structure, and Conformational Dynamics of Rhodium and Iridium Complexes of Dimethylbis(2-pyridyl)borate.

PubMed

Pennington-Boggio, Megan K; Conley, Brian L; Richmond, Michael G; Williams, Travis J

2014-12-14

Rhodium(I) and Iridium(I) borate complexes of the structure [Me 2 B(2-py) 2 ]ML 2 (L 2 = (tBuNC) 2 , (CO) 2 , (C 2 H 4 ) 2 , cod, dppe) were prepared and structurally characterized (cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene; dppe = 1,2-diphenylphosphinoethane). Each contains a boat-configured chelate ring that participates in a boat-to-boat ring flip. Computational evidence shows that the ring flip proceeds through a transition state that is near planarity about the chelate ring. We observe an empirical, quantitative correlation between the barrier of this ring flip and the π acceptor ability of the ancillary ligand groups on the metal. The ring flip barrier correlates weakly to the Tolman and Lever ligand parameterization schemes, apparently because these combine both σ and π effects while we propose that the ring flip barrier is dominated by π bonding. This observation is consistent with metal-ligand π interactions becoming temporarily available only in the near-planar transition state of the chelate ring flip and not the boat-configured ground state. Thus, this is a first-of-class observation of metal-ligand π bonding governing conformational dynamics.

Synthesis, Structure, and Conformational Dynamics of Rhodium and Iridium Complexes of Dimethylbis(2-pyridyl)borate†

PubMed Central

Pennington-Boggio, Megan K.; Conley, Brian L.; Richmond, Michael G.; Williams, Travis J.

2014-01-01

Rhodium(I) and Iridium(I) borate complexes of the structure [Me2B(2-py)2]ML2 (L2 = (tBuNC)2, (CO)2, (C2H4)2, cod, dppe) were prepared and structurally characterized (cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene; dppe = 1,2-diphenylphosphinoethane). Each contains a boat-configured chelate ring that participates in a boat-to-boat ring flip. Computational evidence shows that the ring flip proceeds through a transition state that is near planarity about the chelate ring. We observe an empirical, quantitative correlation between the barrier of this ring flip and the π acceptor ability of the ancillary ligand groups on the metal. The ring flip barrier correlates weakly to the Tolman and Lever ligand parameterization schemes, apparently because these combine both σ and π effects while we propose that the ring flip barrier is dominated by π bonding. This observation is consistent with metal-ligand π interactions becoming temporarily available only in the near-planar transition state of the chelate ring flip and not the boat-configured ground state. Thus, this is a first-of-class observation of metal-ligand π bonding governing conformational dynamics. PMID:25435645

Dynamic phase transition in the prisoner's dilemma on a lattice with stochastic modifications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saif, M. Ali; Gade, Prashant M.

2010-03-01

We present a detailed study of the prisoner's dilemma game with stochastic modifications on a two-dimensional lattice, in the presence of evolutionary dynamics. By very nature of the rules, the cooperators have incentives to cheat and fear being cheated. They may cheat even when this is not dictated by the evolutionary dynamics. We consider two variants here. In each case, the agents mimic the action (cooperation or defection) in the previous time step of the most successful agent in the neighborhood. But over and above this, the fraction p of cooperators spontaneously change their strategy to pure defector at every time step in the first variant. In the second variant, there are no pure cooperators. All cooperators keep defecting with probability p at every time step. In both cases, the system switches from a coexistence state to an all-defector state for higher values of p. We show that the transition between these states unambiguously belongs to the directed percolation universality class in 2 + 1 dimensions. We also study the local persistence. The persistence exponents obtained are higher than the ones obtained in previous studies, underlining their dependence on details of the dynamics.

Nanoclusters as a new family of high temperature superconductors (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Halder, Avik; Kresin, Vitaly V.

2017-03-01

Electrons in metal clusters organize into quantum shells, akin to atomic shells in the periodic table. Such nanoparticles are referred to as "superatoms". The electronic shell levels are highly degenerate giving rise to sharp peaks in the density of states, which can enable exceptionally strong electron pairing in certain clusters containing tens to hundreds of atoms. A spectroscopic investigation of size - resolved aluminum nanoclusters has revealed a sharp rise in the density of states near the Fermi level as the temperature decreases towards 100 K. The effect is especially prominent in the closed-shell "magic" cluster Al66 [1, 2]. The characteristics of this behavior are fully consistent with a pairing transition, implying a high temperature superconducting state with Tc < 100K. This value exceeds that of bulk aluminum by two orders of magnitude. As a new class of high-temperature superconductors, such metal nanocluster particles are promising building blocks for high-Tc materials, devices, and networks. ---------- 1. Halder, A., Liang, A., Kresin, V. V. A novel feature in aluminum cluster photoionization spectra and possibility of electron pairing at T 100K. Nano Lett 15, 1410 - 1413 (2015) 2. Halder, A., Kresin, V. V. A transition in the density of states of metal "superatom" nanoclusters and evidence for superconducting pairing at T 100K. Phys. Rev. B 92, 214506 (2015).

Nature of the Congested Traffic and Quasi-steady States of the General Motor Models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Bo; Xu, Xihua; Pang, John Z. F.; Monterola, Christopher

2015-03-01

We look at the general motor (GM) class microscopic traffic models and analyze some of the universal features of the (multi-)cluster solutions, including the emergence of an intrinsic scale and the quasisoliton dynamics. We show that the GM models can capture the essential physics of the real traffic dynamics, especially the phase transition from the free flow to the congested phase, from which the wide moving jams emerges (the F-S-J transition pioneered by B.S. Kerner). In particular, the congested phase can be associated with either the multi-cluster quasi-steady states, or their more homogeneous precursor states. In both cases the states can last for a long time, and the narrow clusters will eventually grow and merge, leading to the formation of the wide moving jams. We present a general method to fit the empirical parameters so that both quantitative and qualitative macroscopic empirical features can be reproduced with a minimal GM model. We present numerical results for the traffic dynamics both with and without the bottleneck, including various types of spontaneous and induced ``synchronized flow,'' as well as the evolution of wide moving jams. We also discuss its implications to the nature of different phases in traffic dynamics.

40 CFR 144.19 - Transitioning from Class II to Class VI.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... primary purpose of long-term storage into an oil and gas reservoir must apply for and obtain a Class VI...) Quality of abandoned well plugs within the area of review; (7) The owner's or operator's plan for recovery...

40 CFR 144.19 - Transitioning from Class II to Class VI.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... primary purpose of long-term storage into an oil and gas reservoir must apply for and obtain a Class VI...) Quality of abandoned well plugs within the area of review; (7) The owner's or operator's plan for recovery...

40 CFR 144.19 - Transitioning from Class II to Class VI.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... primary purpose of long-term storage into an oil and gas reservoir must apply for and obtain a Class VI...) Quality of abandoned well plugs within the area of review; (7) The owner's or operator's plan for recovery...

Time-dependent evolution of cosmic-ray-modified shock structure: Transition to steady state

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Donohue, D. J.; Zank, G. P.; Webb, G. M.

1994-03-01

Steady state solutions to the two-fluid equations of cosmic-ray-modified shock structure were investigated first by Drury and Volk (1981). Their analysis revealed, among other properties, that there exist regions of upstream parameter space where the equations possess three different downstream solutions for a given upstream state. In this paper we investigate whether or not all these solutions can occur as time-asymptotic states in a physically realistic evolution. To do this, we investigate the time-dependent evolution of the two-fluid cosmic-ray equations in going from a specified initial condition to a steady state. Our results indicate that the time-asymptotic solution is strictly single-valued, and it undergoes a transition from weakly to strongly cosmic-ray-modified at a critical value of the upstream cosmic ray energy density. The expansion of supernova remnant shocks is considered as an example, and it is shown that the strong to weak transition is in fact more likely. The third intermediate solution is shown to influence the time-dependent evolution of the shock, but it is not found to be a stable time-asymptotic state. Timescales for convergence to these states and their implications for the efficiency of shock acceleration are considered. We also investigate the effects of a recently introduced model for the injection of seed particles into the shock accelerated cosmic-ray population. The injection is found to result in a more strongly cosmic-ray-dominated shock, which supports our conclusion that for most classes of intermediate and strong cosmic-ray-modified shocks, the downstream cosmic-ray pressure component is at least as large as the thermal gas pressure, independent of the upstream state. As a result, cosmic rays almost always play a significant role in determining the shock structure and dissipation and they cannot be regarded as test particles.

Time-dependent evolution of cosmic-ray-modified shock structure: Transition to steady state

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Donohue, D. J.; Zank, G. P.; Webb, G. M.

1994-01-01

Steady state solutions to the two-fluid equations of cosmic-ray-modified shock structure were investigated first by Drury and Volk (1981). Their analysis revealed, among other properties, that there exist regions of upstream parameter space where the equations possess three different downstream solutions for a given upstream state. In this paper we investigate whether or not all these solutions can occur as time-asymptotic states in a physically realistic evolution. To do this, we investigate the time-dependent evolution of the two-fluid cosmic-ray equations in going from a specified initial condition to a steady state. Our results indicate that the time-asymptotic solution is strictly single-valued, and it undergoes a transition from weakly to strongly cosmic-ray-modified at a critical value of the upstream cosmic ray energy density. The expansion of supernova remnant shocks is considered as an example, and it is shown that the strong to weak transition is in fact more likely. The third intermediate solution is shown to influence the time-dependent evolution of the shock, but it is not found to be a stable time-asymptotic state. Timescales for convergence to these states and their implications for the efficiency of shock acceleration are considered. We also investigate the effects of a recently introduced model for the injection of seed particles into the shock accelerated cosmic-ray population. The injection is found to result in a more strongly cosmic-ray-dominated shock, which supports our conclusion that for most classes of intermediate and strong cosmic-ray-modified shocks, the downstream cosmic-ray pressure component is at least as large as the thermal gas pressure, independent of the upstream state. As a result, cosmic rays almost always play a significant role in determining the shock structure and dissipation and they cannot be regarded as test particles.

A general stochastic model for studying time evolution of transition networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhan, Choujun; Tse, Chi K.; Small, Michael

2016-12-01

We consider a class of complex networks whose nodes assume one of several possible states at any time and may change their states from time to time. Such networks represent practical networks of rumor spreading, disease spreading, language evolution, and so on. Here, we derive a model describing the dynamics of this kind of network and a simulation algorithm for studying the network evolutionary behavior. This model, derived at a microscopic level, can reveal the transition dynamics of every node. A numerical simulation is taken as an ;experiment; or ;realization; of the model. We use this model to study the disease propagation dynamics in four different prototypical networks, namely, the regular nearest-neighbor (RN) network, the classical Erdös-Renyí (ER) random graph, the Watts-Strogátz small-world (SW) network, and the Barabási-Albert (BA) scalefree network. We find that the disease propagation dynamics in these four networks generally have different properties but they do share some common features. Furthermore, we utilize the transition network model to predict user growth in the Facebook network. Simulation shows that our model agrees with the historical data. The study can provide a useful tool for a more thorough understanding of the dynamics networks.

Anderson metal-insulator transitions with classical magnetic impurities

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jung, Daniel; Kettemann, Stefan

We study the effects of classical magnetic impurities on the Anderson metal-insulator transition (AMIT) numerically. In particular we find that while a finite concentration of Ising impurities lowers the critical value of the site-diagonal disorder amplitude W{sub c}, in the presence of Heisenberg impurities, W{sub c} is first increased with increasing exchange coupling strength J due to time-reversal symmetry breaking. The resulting scaling with J is compared to analytical predictions by Wegner [1]. The results are obtained numerically, based on a finite-size scaling procedure for the typical density of states [2], which is the geometric average of the local densitymore » of states. The latter can efficiently be calculated using the kernel polynomial method [3]. Although still suffering from methodical shortcomings, our method proves to deliver results close to established results for the orthogonal symmetry class [4]. We extend previous approaches [5] by combining the KPM with a finite-size scaling analysis. We also discuss the relevance of our findings for systems like phosphor-doped silicon (Si:P), which are known to exhibit a quantum phase transition from metal to insulator driven by the interplay of both interaction and disorder, accompanied by the presence of a finite concentration of magnetic moments [6].« less

Robustness of predator-prey models for confinement regime transitions in fusion plasmas

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhu, H.; Chapman, S. C.; Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Tromso

2013-04-15

Energy transport and confinement in tokamak fusion plasmas is usually determined by the coupled nonlinear interactions of small-scale drift turbulence and larger scale coherent nonlinear structures, such as zonal flows, together with free energy sources such as temperature gradients. Zero-dimensional models, designed to embody plausible physical narratives for these interactions, can help to identify the origin of enhanced energy confinement and of transitions between confinement regimes. A prime zero-dimensional paradigm is predator-prey or Lotka-Volterra. Here, we extend a successful three-variable (temperature gradient; microturbulence level; one class of coherent structure) model in this genre [M. A. Malkov and P. H. Diamond,more » Phys. Plasmas 16, 012504 (2009)], by adding a fourth variable representing a second class of coherent structure. This requires a fourth coupled nonlinear ordinary differential equation. We investigate the degree of invariance of the phenomenology generated by the model of Malkov and Diamond, given this additional physics. We study and compare the long-time behaviour of the three-equation and four-equation systems, their evolution towards the final state, and their attractive fixed points and limit cycles. We explore the sensitivity of paths to attractors. It is found that, for example, an attractive fixed point of the three-equation system can become a limit cycle of the four-equation system. Addressing these questions which we together refer to as 'robustness' for convenience is particularly important for models which, as here, generate sharp transitions in the values of system variables which may replicate some key features of confinement transitions. Our results help to establish the robustness of the zero-dimensional model approach to capturing observed confinement phenomenology in tokamak fusion plasmas.« less

No Fun Anymore: Leisure and Marital Quality across the Transition to Parenthood

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Claxton, Amy; Perry-Jenkins, Maureen

2008-01-01

This study examines changes in leisure patterns across the transition to parenthood for dual-earner, working-class couples, as well as the relationship between leisure and marital quality. To this end, 147 heterosexual couples were interviewed across the transition to parenthood. Findings indicate that during the transition to parenthood, husbands…

Lesbian Couples' Relationship Quality across the Transition to Parenthood

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Goldberg, Abbie E.; Sayer, Aline

2006-01-01

The transition to parenthood is a time of stress for many couples. Most research on the transition to parenthood has been conducted with middle-class, heterosexual couples. The current study uses multilevel modeling to examine predictors of change in relationship quality (love and conflict) during the transition to parenthood in 29 lesbian…

Toward broadband mechanical spectroscopy.

PubMed

Hecksher, Tina; Torchinsky, Darius H; Klieber, Christoph; Johnson, Jeremy A; Dyre, Jeppe C; Nelson, Keith A

2017-08-15

Diverse material classes exhibit qualitatively similar behavior when made viscous upon cooling toward the glass transition, suggesting a common theoretical basis. We used seven different measurement methods to determine the mechanical relaxation kinetics of a prototype molecular glass former over a temporal range of 13 decades and over a temperature range spanning liquid to glassy states. The data conform to time-temperature superposition for the main (alpha) process and to a scaling relation of schematic mode-coupling theory. The broadband mechanical measurements demonstrated have fundamental and practical applications in polymer science, geophysics, multifunctional materials, and other areas.

Reversible optical control of cyanine fluorescence in fixed and living cells: optical lock-in detection immunofluorescence imaging microscopy

PubMed Central

Yan, Yuling; Petchprayoon, Chutima; Mao, Shu; Marriott, Gerard

2013-01-01

Optical switch probes undergo rapid and reversible transitions between two distinct states, one of which may fluoresce. This class of probe is used in various super-resolution imaging techniques and in the high-contrast imaging technique of optical lock-in detection (OLID) microscopy. Here, we introduce optimized optical switches for studies in living cells under standard conditions of cell culture. In particular, a highly fluorescent cyanine probe (Cy or Cy3) is directly or indirectly linked to naphthoxazine (NISO), a highly efficient optical switch that undergoes robust, 405/532 nm-driven transitions between a colourless spiro (SP) state and a colourful merocyanine (MC) state. The intensity of Cy fluorescence in these Cy/Cy3-NISO probes is reversibly modulated between a low and high value in SP and MC states, respectively, as a result of Förster resonance energy transfer. Cy/Cy3-NISO probes are targeted to specific proteins in living cells where defined waveforms of Cy3 fluorescence are generated by optical switching of the SP and MC states. Finally, we introduce a new imaging technique (called OLID-immunofluorescence microscopy) that combines optical modulation of Cy3 fluorescence from Cy3/NISO co-labelled antibodies within fixed cells and OLID analysis to significantly improve image contrast in samples having high background or rare antigens. PMID:23267183

Ligand-Dependent Activation and Deactivation of the Human Adenosine A2A Receptor

PubMed Central

Li, Jianing; Jonsson, Amanda L.; Beuming, Thijs; Shelley, John C.; Voth, Gregory A.

2013-01-01

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are membrane proteins with critical functions in cellular signal transduction, representing a primary class of drug targets. Acting by direct binding, many drugs modulate GPCR activity and influence the signaling pathways associated with numerous diseases. However, complete details of ligand-dependent GPCR activation/deactivation are difficult to obtain from experiments. Therefore, it remains unclear how ligands modulate a GPCR’s activity. To elucidate the ligand-dependent activation/deactivation mechanism of the human adenosine A2A receptor (AA2AR), a member of the class A GPCRs, we performed large-scale unbiased molecular dynamics and metadynamics simulations of the receptor embedded in a membrane. At the atomic level, we have observed distinct structural states that resemble the active and inactive states. In particular we noted key structural elements changing in a highly concerted fashion during the conformational transitions, including six conformational states of a tryptophan (Trp2466.48). Our findings agree with a previously proposed view, that during activation, this tryptophan residue undergoes a rotameric transition that may be coupled to a series of coherent conformational changes, resulting in the opening of the G protein-binding site. Further, metadynamics simulations provide quantitative evidence for this mechanism, suggesting how ligand binding shifts the equilibrium between the active and inactive states. Our analysis also proposes that a few specific residues are associated with agonism/antagonism, affinity and selectivity, and suggests that the ligand-binding pocket can be thought of as having three distinct regions, providing dynamic features for structure-based design. Additional simulations with AA2AR bound to a novel ligand are consistent with our proposed mechanism. Generally, our study provides insights into the ligand-dependent AA2AR activation/deactivation in addition to what has been found in crystal structures. These results should aid in the discovery of more effective and selective GPCR ligands. PMID:23678995

Small Modifications to Network Topology Can Induce Stochastic Bistable Spiking Dynamics in a Balanced Cortical Model

PubMed Central

McDonnell, Mark D.; Ward, Lawrence M.

2014-01-01

Abstract Directed random graph models frequently are used successfully in modeling the population dynamics of networks of cortical neurons connected by chemical synapses. Experimental results consistently reveal that neuronal network topology is complex, however, in the sense that it differs statistically from a random network, and differs for classes of neurons that are physiologically different. This suggests that complex network models whose subnetworks have distinct topological structure may be a useful, and more biologically realistic, alternative to random networks. Here we demonstrate that the balanced excitation and inhibition frequently observed in small cortical regions can transiently disappear in otherwise standard neuronal-scale models of fluctuation-driven dynamics, solely because the random network topology was replaced by a complex clustered one, whilst not changing the in-degree of any neurons. In this network, a small subset of cells whose inhibition comes only from outside their local cluster are the cause of bistable population dynamics, where different clusters of these cells irregularly switch back and forth from a sparsely firing state to a highly active state. Transitions to the highly active state occur when a cluster of these cells spikes sufficiently often to cause strong unbalanced positive feedback to each other. Transitions back to the sparsely firing state rely on occasional large fluctuations in the amount of non-local inhibition received. Neurons in the model are homogeneous in their intrinsic dynamics and in-degrees, but differ in the abundance of various directed feedback motifs in which they participate. Our findings suggest that (i) models and simulations should take into account complex structure that varies for neuron and synapse classes; (ii) differences in the dynamics of neurons with similar intrinsic properties may be caused by their membership in distinctive local networks; (iii) it is important to identify neurons that share physiological properties and location, but differ in their connectivity. PMID:24743633

Ligand-dependent activation and deactivation of the human adenosine A(2A) receptor.

PubMed

Li, Jianing; Jonsson, Amanda L; Beuming, Thijs; Shelley, John C; Voth, Gregory A

2013-06-12

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are membrane proteins with critical functions in cellular signal transduction, representing a primary class of drug targets. Acting by direct binding, many drugs modulate GPCR activity and influence the signaling pathways associated with numerous diseases. However, complete details of ligand-dependent GPCR activation/deactivation are difficult to obtain from experiments. Therefore, it remains unclear how ligands modulate a GPCR's activity. To elucidate the ligand-dependent activation/deactivation mechanism of the human adenosine A2A receptor (AA2AR), a member of the class A GPCRs, we performed large-scale unbiased molecular dynamics and metadynamics simulations of the receptor embedded in a membrane. At the atomic level, we have observed distinct structural states that resemble the active and inactive states. In particular, we noted key structural elements changing in a highly concerted fashion during the conformational transitions, including six conformational states of a tryptophan (Trp246(6.48)). Our findings agree with a previously proposed view that, during activation, this tryptophan residue undergoes a rotameric transition that may be coupled to a series of coherent conformational changes, resulting in the opening of the G-protein binding site. Further, metadynamics simulations provide quantitative evidence for this mechanism, suggesting how ligand binding shifts the equilibrium between the active and inactive states. Our analysis also proposes that a few specific residues are associated with agonism/antagonism, affinity, and selectivity, and suggests that the ligand-binding pocket can be thought of as having three distinct regions, providing dynamic features for structure-based design. Additional simulations with AA2AR bound to a novel ligand are consistent with our proposed mechanism. Generally, our study provides insights into the ligand-dependent AA2AR activation/deactivation in addition to what has been found in crystal structures. These results should aid in the discovery of more effective and selective GPCR ligands.

Personality and changes in comorbidity patterns among anxiety and depressive disorders.

PubMed

Spinhoven, Philip; de Rooij, Mark; Heiser, Willem; Smit, Jan H; Penninx, Brenda W J H

2012-11-01

This prospective study examined the prognostic value of the Big Five personality model for changes in comorbidity patterns of emotional disorders both from a person- and trait-centered perspective. Moreover, it is investigated whether the predictive effect of personality can be attributed to symptom severity at baseline. We followed a cohort of 2566 persons (18-65 years) recruited in primary and specialized mental health care during two years. Personality dimensions at baseline were assessed with the NEO-FFI. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.)-based diagnostic interviews with the CIDI allowed assessment of changes in comorbidity patterns of anxiety and depressive disorders over two years. Data were analyzed with latent class analysis (LCA) and latent transition analysis (LTA). LCA identified a four-class latent comorbidity class solution (Few Disorders, Fear Disorders, Distress Disorders, and Comorbid Fear and Distress Disorders) and a five-class latent personality class solution (High Resilients, Medium Resilients, Low Overcontrollers, Medium Overcontrollers, and High Overcontrollers). LTA showed that the likelihood of remaining in the same latent class was larger than that of transitioning to a less severe comorbidity class. Also, after correcting for symptom severity, medium and high Overcontrollers as well as participants with lower levels of conscientiousness were less likely to transition to a less severe comorbidity class. In particular, the individual trait of conscientiousness may be less dependent on current levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms and be a key pathoplastic or even predisposing variable in anxiety and depression and needs more theoretical and empirical study. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved).

Developmental Course of Nonmedical Use of Prescription Drugs from Adolescence to Adulthood in the United States: National Longitudinal Data

PubMed Central

McCabe, Sean Esteban; Kloska, Deborah D.; Veliz, Philip; Jager, Justin; Schulenberg, John E.

2016-01-01

Aims To identify the developmental course of nonmedical use of four separate prescription drug classes (opioids, sedatives, stimulants, and tranquilizers) by examining the general functional growth and related covariates during the transition from adolescence to adulthood in the United States. Design Nationally representative probability samples of high school seniors were followed longitudinally across five waves (waves 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5: modal ages 18, 19/20, 21/22, 23/24, and 25/26 years respectively). Setting Data were collected via self-administered questionnaires to high school seniors and young adults in the United States. Participants The sample consisted of nearly 72,000 individuals in 30 cohorts (high school senior years of 1977–2006) who participated in at least one wave. Measurements Self-reports of annual nonmedical use of prescription opioids, sedatives, stimulants, and tranquilizers. Findings The annual nonmedical use of prescription opioids, sedatives, stimulants, and tranquilizers was highest at wave 1 over the five waves. There was a consistent descending path (linear and quadratic slopes, p < 001) in annual nonmedical use from baseline across all four prescription drug classes (e.g., opioids linear slope = −.043 and opioids quadratic slope = .034, p <.001). While the annual nonmedical use of stimulants declined over time (linear slope = .063, p <.01; quadratic slope = −.133, p <.001), the same decrease was not observed for the annual nonmedical use of prescription opioids, sedatives or tranquilizers when controlling for sociodemographic and substance use behaviors at baseline. The covariates associated with the general functional growth differed across the four prescription drug classes. Conclusions The nonmedical use of prescription opioids, sedatives, stimulants, and tranquilizers appears to peak during late adolescence, suggesting preventive intervention efforts should be initiated in early adolescence. The developmental course of nonmedical use is not the same among all four classes of prescription drugs, suggesting each drug class warrants individual research. PMID:27338559

Theoretical Studies of the Kinetics of First-Order Phase Transitions.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheng, Qiang

This thesis involves theoretical studies of the kinetics of orderings in three classes of systems. The first class involves problems of phase separation in which the order parameter is conserved, such as occurs in the binary alloy Al-Zn. A theory is developed for the late stages of phase separation in the droplet regime for two -dimensional systems, namely, Ostwald ripening in two dimensions. The theory considers droplet correlations, which was neglected before, by a proper treatment of the screening effect of the correlations. This correlation effect is found that it does not alert the scaling features of phase separation, but significantly changes the shape of droplet-size distribution function. Further experiments and computer simulations are needed before this long-time subject may be closed. A second class of problem involves a study of the finite-size effects on domain growth described by the Allen-Cahn dynamics. Based on a theoretical approach of Ohta, Jasnow, and Kawasaki the explicit scaling functions for the scattering intensity for hypercubes and films are obtained. These results are for the cases in which the order-parameter is not conserved, such as in an order-disorder transition in alloys. These studies will be relevant to the experimental and computer simulation research projects currently being carried out in the United States and Europe. The last class of problems involves orderings in strong correlated systems, namely, the growth of Breath Figures. A special feature of this class of problems is that the coalescence effect. A theoretical model is proposed which can handle the two growth mechanisms, the individual droplet growth and coalescence simultaneously. Under certain approximations, the droplet-size distribution function is obtained analytically, and is in qualitative agreement with computer simulations. Our model also suggests that there may be an interesting relationship between the growth of Breath Figures and a geometric structure (ultrametricity) of general complex systems.

The Flipped Classroom: Fertile Ground for Nursing Education Research.

PubMed

Bernard, Jean S

2015-07-16

In the flipped classroom (FC) students view pre-recorded lectures or complete pre-class assignments to learn foundational concepts. Class time involves problem-solving and application activities that cultivate higher-level cognitive skills. A systematic, analytical literature review was conducted to explore the FC's current state of the science within higher education. Examination of this model's definition and measures of student performance, student and faculty perceptions revealed an ill-defined educational approach. Few studies confirmed FC effectiveness; many lacked rigorous design, randomized samples, or control of extraneous variables. Few researchers conducted longitudinal studies to determine sufficiently trends related to FC practice. This study proves relevant to nurse educators transitioning from traditional teaching paradigms to learner-centered models, and provides insight from faculty teaching across disciplines around the world. It reveals pertinent findings and identifies current knowledge gaps that call for further inquiry.

Transition States and transition state analogue interactions with enzymes.

PubMed

Schramm, Vern L

2015-04-21

Enzymatic transition states have lifetimes of a few femtoseconds (fs). Computational analysis of enzyme motions leading to transition state formation suggests that local catalytic site motions on the fs time scale provide the mechanism to locate transition states. An experimental test of protein fs motion and its relation to transition state formation can be provided by isotopically heavy proteins. Heavy enzymes have predictable mass-altered bond vibration states without altered electrostatic properties, according to the Born-Oppenheimer approximation. On-enzyme chemistry is slowed in most heavy proteins, consistent with altered protein bond frequencies slowing the search for the transition state. In other heavy enzymes, structural changes involved in reactant binding and release are also influenced. Slow protein motions associated with substrate binding and catalytic site preorganization are essential to allow the subsequent fs motions to locate the transition state and to facilitate the efficient release of products. In the catalytically competent geometry, local groups move in stochastic atomic motion on the fs time scale, within transition state-accessible conformations created by slower protein motions. The fs time scale for the transition state motions does not permit thermodynamic equilibrium between the transition state and stable enzyme states. Isotopically heavy enzymes provide a diagnostic tool for fast coupled protein motions to transition state formation and mass-dependent conformational changes. The binding of transition state analogue inhibitors is the opposite in catalytic time scale to formation of the transition state but is related by similar geometries of the enzyme-transition state and enzyme-inhibitor interactions. While enzymatic transition states have lifetimes as short as 10(-15) s, transition state analogues can bind tightly to enzymes with release rates greater than 10(3) s. Tight-binding transition state analogues stabilize the rare but evolved enzymatic geometry to form the transition state. Evolution to efficient catalysis optimized this geometry and its stabilization by a transition state mimic results in tight binding. Release rates of transition state analogues are orders of magnitude slower than product release in normal catalytic function. During catalysis, product release is facilitated by altered chemistry. Compared to the weak associations found in Michaelis complexes, transition state analogues involve strong interactions related to those in the transition state. Optimum binding of transition state analogues occurs when the complex retains the system motions intrinsic to transition state formation. Conserved dynamic motion retains the entropic components of inhibitor complexes, improving the thermodynamics of analogue binding.

Direct observation of TALE protein dynamics reveals a two-state search mechanism.

PubMed

Cuculis, Luke; Abil, Zhanar; Zhao, Huimin; Schroeder, Charles M

2015-06-01

Transcription activator-like effector (TALE) proteins are a class of programmable DNA-binding proteins for which the fundamental mechanisms governing the search process are not fully understood. Here we use single-molecule techniques to directly observe TALE search dynamics along DNA templates. We find that TALE proteins are capable of rapid diffusion along DNA using a combination of sliding and hopping behaviour, which suggests that the TALE search process is governed in part by facilitated diffusion. We also observe that TALE proteins exhibit two distinct modes of action during the search process-a search state and a recognition state-facilitated by different subdomains in monomeric TALE proteins. Using TALE truncation mutants, we further demonstrate that the N-terminal region of TALEs is required for the initial non-specific binding and subsequent rapid search along DNA, whereas the central repeat domain is required for transitioning into the site-specific recognition state.

Single-particle energies and density of states in density functional theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Aggelen, H.; Chan, G. K.-L.

2015-07-01

Time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) is commonly used as the foundation to obtain neutral excited states and transition weights in DFT, but does not allow direct access to density of states and single-particle energies, i.e. ionisation energies and electron affinities. Here we show that by extending TD-DFT to a superfluid formulation, which involves operators that break particle-number symmetry, we can obtain the density of states and single-particle energies from the poles of an appropriate superfluid response function. The standard Kohn- Sham eigenvalues emerge as the adiabatic limit of the superfluid response under the assumption that the exchange- correlation functional has no dependence on the superfluid density. The Kohn- Sham eigenvalues can thus be interpreted as approximations to the ionisation energies and electron affinities. Beyond this approximation, the formalism provides an incentive for creating a new class of density functionals specifically targeted at accurate single-particle eigenvalues and bandgaps.

Simulation of an epidemic model with vector transmission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dickman, Adriana G.; Dickman, Ronald

2015-03-01

We study a lattice model for vector-mediated transmission of a disease in a population consisting of two species, A and B, which contract the disease from one another. Individuals of species A are sedentary, while those of species B (the vector) diffuse in space. Examples of such diseases are malaria, dengue fever, and Pierce's disease in vineyards. The model exhibits a phase transition between an absorbing (infection free) phase and an active one as parameters such as infection rates and vector density are varied. We study the static and dynamic critical behavior of the model using initial spreading, initial decay, and quasistationary simulations. Simulations are checked against mean-field analysis. Although phase transitions to an absorbing state fall generically in the directed percolation universality class, this appears not to be the case for the present model.

Black p-branes versus black holes in non-asymptotically flat Einstein-Yang-Mills theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Habib Mazharimousavi, S.; Halilsoy, M.

2016-09-01

We present a class of non-asymptotically flat (NAF) charged black p-branes (BpB) with p-compact dimensions in higher-dimensional Einstein-Yang-Mills theory. Asymptotically the NAF structure manifests itself as an anti-de sitter spacetime. We determine the total mass/energy enclosed in a thin shell located outside the event horizon. By comparing the entropies of BpB with those of black holes in the same dimensions we derive transition criteria between the two types of black objects. Given certain conditions satisfied, our analysis shows that BpB can be considered excited states of black holes. An event horizon r+ versus charge square Q2 plot for the BpB reveals such a transition where r+ is related to the horizon radius rh of the black hole (BH) both with the common charge Q.

Phase Transitions in Planning Problems: Design and Analysis of Parameterized Families of Hard Planning Problems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hen, Itay; Rieffel, Eleanor G.; Do, Minh; Venturelli, Davide

2014-01-01

There are two common ways to evaluate algorithms: performance on benchmark problems derived from real applications and analysis of performance on parametrized families of problems. The two approaches complement each other, each having its advantages and disadvantages. The planning community has concentrated on the first approach, with few ways of generating parametrized families of hard problems known prior to this work. Our group's main interest is in comparing approaches to solving planning problems using a novel type of computational device - a quantum annealer - to existing state-of-the-art planning algorithms. Because only small-scale quantum annealers are available, we must compare on small problem sizes. Small problems are primarily useful for comparison only if they are instances of parametrized families of problems for which scaling analysis can be done. In this technical report, we discuss our approach to the generation of hard planning problems from classes of well-studied NP-complete problems that map naturally to planning problems or to aspects of planning problems that many practical planning problems share. These problem classes exhibit a phase transition between easy-to-solve and easy-to-show-unsolvable planning problems. The parametrized families of hard planning problems lie at the phase transition. The exponential scaling of hardness with problem size is apparent in these families even at very small problem sizes, thus enabling us to characterize even very small problems as hard. The families we developed will prove generally useful to the planning community in analyzing the performance of planning algorithms, providing a complementary approach to existing evaluation methods. We illustrate the hardness of these problems and their scaling with results on four state-of-the-art planners, observing significant differences between these planners on these problem families. Finally, we describe two general, and quite different, mappings of planning problems to QUBOs, the form of input required for a quantum annealing machine such as the D-Wave II.

Metrics and tools for consistent cohort discovery and financial analyses post-transition to ICD-10-CM.

PubMed

Boyd, Andrew D; Li, Jianrong John; Kenost, Colleen; Joese, Binoy; Yang, Young Min; Kalagidis, Olympia A; Zenku, Ilir; Saner, Donald; Bahroos, Neil; Lussier, Yves A

2015-05-01

In the United States, International Classification of Disease Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM, the ninth revision) diagnosis codes are commonly used to identify patient cohorts and to conduct financial analyses related to disease. In October 2015, the healthcare system of the United States will transition to ICD-10-CM (the tenth revision) diagnosis codes. One challenge posed to clinical researchers and other analysts is conducting diagnosis-related queries across datasets containing both coding schemes. Further, healthcare administrators will manage growth, trends, and strategic planning with these dually-coded datasets. The majority of the ICD-9-CM to ICD-10-CM translations are complex and nonreciprocal, creating convoluted representations and meanings. Similarly, mapping back from ICD-10-CM to ICD-9-CM is equally complex, yet different from mapping forward, as relationships are likewise nonreciprocal. Indeed, 10 of the 21 top clinical categories are complex as 78% of their diagnosis codes are labeled as "convoluted" by our analyses. Analysis and research related to external causes of morbidity, injury, and poisoning will face the greatest challenges due to 41 745 (90%) convolutions and a decrease in the number of codes. We created a web portal tool and translation tables to list all ICD-9-CM diagnosis codes related to the specific input of ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes and their level of complexity: "identity" (reciprocal), "class-to-subclass," "subclass-to-class," "convoluted," or "no mapping." These tools provide guidance on ambiguous and complex translations to reveal where reports or analyses may be challenging to impossible.Web portal: http://www.lussierlab.org/transition-to-ICD9CM/Tables annotated with levels of translation complexity: http://www.lussierlab.org/publications/ICD10to9. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Medical Informatics Association.

Morphologic classes of impact basins on Venus

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wood, Charles A.; Tam, Wesley

1993-01-01

An independent survey of 60% of Venus has resulted in the detection of 35 impact basins and associated transitional rings. Contrary to previous studies central peak basins have been identified, as well as peak ring basins. But no unambiguous multi-ring basins have been detected. A new class of crateriform - expanded peak structure - has been noticed, which is transitional in diameter, but apparently not in structure, between central peak and peak ring basins.

Quantum Hooke's Law to classify pulse laser induced ultrafast melting

DOE PAGES

Hu, Hao; Ding, Hepeng; Liu, Feng

2015-02-03

Ultrafast crystal-to-liquid phase transition induced by femtosecond pulse laser excitation is an interesting material's behavior manifesting the complexity of light-matter interaction. There exist two types of such phase transitions: one occurs at a time scale shorter than a picosecond via a nonthermal process mediated by electron-hole plasma formation; the other at a longer time scale via a thermal melting process mediated by electron-phonon interaction. However, it remains unclear what material would undergo which process and why? Here, by exploiting the property of quantum electronic stress (QES) governed by quantum Hooke's law, we classify the transitions by two distinct classes ofmore » materials: the faster nonthermal process can only occur in materials like ice having an anomalous phase diagram characterized with dT m/dP < 0, where T m is the melting temperature and P is pressure, above a high threshold laser fluence; while the slower thermal process may occur in all materials. Especially, the nonthermal transition is shown to be induced by the QES, acting like a negative internal pressure, which drives the crystal into a “super pressing” state to spontaneously transform into a higher-density liquid phase. Our findings significantly advance fundamental understanding of ultrafast crystal-to-liquid phase transitions, enabling quantitative a priori predictions.« less

Quantum Hooke's Law to Classify Pulse Laser Induced Ultrafast Melting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, Hao; Ding, Hepeng; Liu, Feng

2015-02-01

Ultrafast crystal-to-liquid phase transition induced by femtosecond pulse laser excitation is an interesting material's behavior manifesting the complexity of light-matter interaction. There exist two types of such phase transitions: one occurs at a time scale shorter than a picosecond via a nonthermal process mediated by electron-hole plasma formation; the other at a longer time scale via a thermal melting process mediated by electron-phonon interaction. However, it remains unclear what material would undergo which process and why? Here, by exploiting the property of quantum electronic stress (QES) governed by quantum Hooke's law, we classify the transitions by two distinct classes of materials: the faster nonthermal process can only occur in materials like ice having an anomalous phase diagram characterized with dTm/dP < 0, where Tm is the melting temperature and P is pressure, above a high threshold laser fluence; while the slower thermal process may occur in all materials. Especially, the nonthermal transition is shown to be induced by the QES, acting like a negative internal pressure, which drives the crystal into a ``super pressing'' state to spontaneously transform into a higher-density liquid phase. Our findings significantly advance fundamental understanding of ultrafast crystal-to-liquid phase transitions, enabling quantitative a priori predictions.

Quantum Hooke's Law to Classify Pulse Laser Induced Ultrafast Melting

PubMed Central

Hu, Hao; Ding, Hepeng; Liu, Feng

2015-01-01

Ultrafast crystal-to-liquid phase transition induced by femtosecond pulse laser excitation is an interesting material's behavior manifesting the complexity of light-matter interaction. There exist two types of such phase transitions: one occurs at a time scale shorter than a picosecond via a nonthermal process mediated by electron-hole plasma formation; the other at a longer time scale via a thermal melting process mediated by electron-phonon interaction. However, it remains unclear what material would undergo which process and why? Here, by exploiting the property of quantum electronic stress (QES) governed by quantum Hooke's law, we classify the transitions by two distinct classes of materials: the faster nonthermal process can only occur in materials like ice having an anomalous phase diagram characterized with dTm/dP < 0, where Tm is the melting temperature and P is pressure, above a high threshold laser fluence; while the slower thermal process may occur in all materials. Especially, the nonthermal transition is shown to be induced by the QES, acting like a negative internal pressure, which drives the crystal into a “super pressing” state to spontaneously transform into a higher-density liquid phase. Our findings significantly advance fundamental understanding of ultrafast crystal-to-liquid phase transitions, enabling quantitative a priori predictions. PMID:25645258

Quantum Hooke's law to classify pulse laser induced ultrafast melting.

PubMed

Hu, Hao; Ding, Hepeng; Liu, Feng

2015-02-03

Ultrafast crystal-to-liquid phase transition induced by femtosecond pulse laser excitation is an interesting material's behavior manifesting the complexity of light-matter interaction. There exist two types of such phase transitions: one occurs at a time scale shorter than a picosecond via a nonthermal process mediated by electron-hole plasma formation; the other at a longer time scale via a thermal melting process mediated by electron-phonon interaction. However, it remains unclear what material would undergo which process and why? Here, by exploiting the property of quantum electronic stress (QES) governed by quantum Hooke's law, we classify the transitions by two distinct classes of materials: the faster nonthermal process can only occur in materials like ice having an anomalous phase diagram characterized with dTm/dP < 0, where Tm is the melting temperature and P is pressure, above a high threshold laser fluence; while the slower thermal process may occur in all materials. Especially, the nonthermal transition is shown to be induced by the QES, acting like a negative internal pressure, which drives the crystal into a "super pressing" state to spontaneously transform into a higher-density liquid phase. Our findings significantly advance fundamental understanding of ultrafast crystal-to-liquid phase transitions, enabling quantitative a priori predictions.

Food intake and nutritional status of preschool from maroon communities of the state Alagoas, Brazil.

PubMed

Leite, Fernanda Maria de B; Ferreira, Haroldo da Silva; Bezerra, Myrtis Katille de A; Assunção, Monica Lopes de; Horta, Bernardo Lessa

2013-12-01

To assess the dietary intake and the nutritional status of children from Alagoas maroon communities. Cross-sectional study involving 724 children (12-60 months) from 39 Alagoas maroon communities. The nutritional status was investigated by anthropometric, biochemical (hemoglobin) and food consumption indicators. The prevalence of anemia, stunting and obesity were, respectively, 48.0, 9.7 and 6.0%. The children had a monotonous eating pattern and a considerable prevalence of inadequate intake of zinc (17.0%), folate (18.1%), iron (20.2%) and vitamins A (29.7%) and C (34.3%). Compared to the other socioeconomic classes, the E class children had lower average consumption (p<0.05) for energy, carbohydrate, vitamins A and C, folate, iron, zinc and phosphorus. Anemia is a serious Public Health problem. The prevalence of chronic malnutrition and obesity were similar to those observed for the children in the State as a whole, where a nutritional transition process is occuring. There was a high prevalence of inadequate food intake risk for zinc, folate, iron and vitamins A and C, suggesting the need for nutritional education actions.

A Unified Approach to the Thermodynamics and Quantum Scaling Functions of One-Dimensional Strongly Attractive SU(w) Fermi Gases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Yi-Cong; Guan, Xi-Wen

2017-06-01

We present a unified derivation of the pressure equation of states, thermodynamics and scaling functions for the one-dimensional (1D) strongly attractive Fermi gases with SU(w) symmetry. These physical quantities provide a rigorous understanding on a universality class of quantum criticality characterized by the critical exponents z = 2 and correlation length exponent ν = 1/2. Such a universality class of quantum criticality can occur when the Fermi sea of one branch of charge bound states starts to fill or becomes gapped at zero temperature. The quantum critical cone can be determined by the double peaks in specific heat, which serve to mark two crossover temperatures fanning out from the critical point. Our method opens to further study on quantum phases and phase transitions in strongly interacting fermions with large SU(w) and non-SU(w) symmetries in one dimension. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No 11374331 and the key NSFC under Grant No 11534014. XWG has been partially supported by the Australian Research Council.

Pairing transition, coherence transition, and the irreversibility line in granular GdBa2Cu3O7-δ

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roa-Rojas, J.; Menegotto Costa, R.; Pureur, P.; Prieto, P.

2000-05-01

We report on electrical magnetoconductivity experiments near the superconducting transition of a granular sample of GdBa2Cu3O7-δ. The measurements were performed in magnetic fields ranging from 0 to 500 Oe applied parallel to the current orientation. The results show that the transition proceeds in two steps. When the temperature is decreased we first observe the pairing transition, which stabilizes superconductivity within the grains at a temperature practically coincident with the bulk critical temperature Tc. Analysis of the fluctuation contributions to the conductivity shows that the universality class for this transition is that of the three dimensional (3D)-XY model in the ordered case, with dynamic critical exponent z=3/2. Close to the zero-resistance state, the measurements reveal the occurrence of a coherence transition, where the phases of the order parameter in individual grains become long-range ordered. The critical temperature Tco for this transition is close to the point where the resistivity vanishes. A strong enlargement of the fluctuation interval preceding the coherence transition is caused by the applied magnetic field. In this region, a 3D-Gaussian regime and an asymptotic critical regime were clearly identified. The critical conductivity behavior for the coherence transition is interpreted within a 3D-XY model where disorder and frustration are relevant. The irreversibility line is determined from magnetoconductivity measurements performed according to the zero-field-cooled (ZFC) and field-cooled data collected on cooling (FCC) recipes. The locus of this line coincides with the upper temperature limit for the fluctuation region above the coherence transition. The irreversibility line is interpreted as an effect of the formation of small clusters with closed loops of Josephson-coupled grains.

Planning ahead for livable communities along the Powell–Division Bus Rapid Transit : neighborhood conditions and change.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2017-07-04

New transit investments can be a double-edged sword for disadvantaged communities (e.g., those included in environmental justice and Title VI protected classes). Transit investments improve communities mobility and access, and may improve health w...

Hybrid Turbine Electric Vehicle

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Viterna, Larry A.

1997-01-01

Hybrid electric power trains may revolutionize today's ground passenger vehicles by significantly improving fuel economy and decreasing emissions. The NASA Lewis Research Center is working with industry, universities, and Government to develop and demonstrate a hybrid electric vehicle. Our partners include Bowling Green State University, the Cleveland Regional Transit Authority, Lincoln Electric Motor Division, the State of Ohio's Department of Development, and Teledyne Ryan Aeronautical. The vehicle will be a heavy class urban transit bus offering double the fuel economy of today's buses and emissions that are reduced to 1/10th of the Environmental Protection Agency's standards. At the heart of the vehicle's drive train is a natural-gas-fueled engine. Initially, a small automotive engine will be tested as a baseline. This will be followed by the introduction of an advanced gas turbine developed from an aircraft jet engine. The engine turns a high-speed generator, producing electricity. Power from both the generator and an onboard energy storage system is then provided to a variable-speed electric motor attached to the rear drive axle. An intelligent power-control system determines the most efficient operation of the engine and energy storage system.

On effective holographic Mott insulators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baggioli, Matteo; Pujolàs, Oriol

2016-12-01

We present a class of holographic models that behave effectively as prototypes of Mott insulators — materials where electron-electron interactions dominate transport phenomena. The main ingredient in the gravity dual is that the gauge-field dynamics contains self-interactions by way of a particular type of non-linear electrodynamics. The electrical response in these models exhibits typical features of Mott-like states: i) the low-temperature DC conductivity is unboundedly low; ii) metal-insulator transitions appear by varying various parameters; iii) for large enough self-interaction strength, the conductivity can even decrease with increasing doping (density of carriers) — which appears as a sharp manifestation of `traffic-jam'-like behaviour; iv) the insulating state becomes very unstable towards superconductivity at large enough doping. We exhibit some of the properties of the resulting insulator-superconductor transition, which is sensitive to the momentum dissipation rate in a specific way. These models imply a clear and generic correlation between Mott behaviour and significant effects in the nonlinear electrical response. We compute the nonlinear current-voltage curve in our model and find that indeed at large voltage the conductivity is largely reduced.

Novel thermoelectric properties of complex transition-metal oxides.

PubMed

Terasaki, Ichiro; Iwakawa, Manabu; Nakano, Tomohito; Tsukuda, Akira; Kobayashi, Wataru

2010-01-28

We report how the thermopower of complex transition-metal oxides is susceptible to small changes in material parameters. In the A-site ordered perovskite oxide R(2/3)Cu(3)Ti(3.6)Ru(0.4)O(12), the thermopower changes from 15 to -100 microV K(-1) at 300 K in going from R = La to Er. We associate this with the hybridization between Cu 3d and Ru 4d electrons, which depends on R. For stronger hybridization, the Cu 3d electrons become more itinerant leading to positive thermopower. In the A-site ordered perovskite cobalt oxide Sr(3)YCo(4)O(10.5), the spin state of the Co(3+) ions determines the magnitude of the thermopower, where partial isovalent substitution (Ca for Sr and Rh for Co) enhances the thermopower whilst keeping the resistivity intact. These substitutions stabilize the low spin state of the Co(3+) ions, which affects the thermopower through the entropy of the background for the carriers. We propose that the control of the magnetism plays a pivotal role in determining the thermopower in a certain class of complex oxides.

Evidence of a Critical Phase Transition in Purely Temporal Dynamics with Long-Delayed Feedback

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Faggian, Marco; Ginelli, Francesco; Marino, Francesco; Giacomelli, Giovanni

2018-04-01

Experimental evidence of an absorbing phase transition, so far associated with spatiotemporal dynamics, is provided in a purely temporal optical system. A bistable semiconductor laser, with long-delayed optoelectronic feedback and multiplicative noise, shows the peculiar features of a critical phenomenon belonging to the directed percolation universality class. The numerical study of a simple, effective model provides accurate estimates of the transition critical exponents, in agreement with both theory and our experiment. This result pushes forward a hard equivalence of nontrivial stochastic, long-delayed systems with spatiotemporal ones and opens a new avenue for studying out-of-equilibrium universality classes in purely temporal dynamics.

Transition-Independent Decentralized Markov Decision Processes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Becker, Raphen; Silberstein, Shlomo; Lesser, Victor; Goldman, Claudia V.; Morris, Robert (Technical Monitor)

2003-01-01

There has been substantial progress with formal models for sequential decision making by individual agents using the Markov decision process (MDP). However, similar treatment of multi-agent systems is lacking. A recent complexity result, showing that solving decentralized MDPs is NEXP-hard, provides a partial explanation. To overcome this complexity barrier, we identify a general class of transition-independent decentralized MDPs that is widely applicable. The class consists of independent collaborating agents that are tied up by a global reward function that depends on both of their histories. We present a novel algorithm for solving this class of problems and examine its properties. The result is the first effective technique to solve optimally a class of decentralized MDPs. This lays the foundation for further work in this area on both exact and approximate solutions.

Stabilisation of time-varying linear systems via Lyapunov differential equations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Bin; Cai, Guang-Bin; Duan, Guang-Ren

2013-02-01

This article studies stabilisation problem for time-varying linear systems via state feedback. Two types of controllers are designed by utilising solutions to Lyapunov differential equations. The first type of feedback controllers involves the unique positive-definite solution to a parametric Lyapunov differential equation, which can be solved when either the state transition matrix of the open-loop system is exactly known, or the future information of the system matrices are accessible in advance. Different from the first class of controllers which may be difficult to implement in practice, the second type of controllers can be easily implemented by solving a state-dependent Lyapunov differential equation with a given positive-definite initial condition. In both cases, explicit conditions are obtained to guarantee the exponentially asymptotic stability of the associated closed-loop systems. Numerical examples show the effectiveness of the proposed approaches.

Tsirelson's bound and supersymmetric entangled states

PubMed Central

Borsten, L.; Brádler, K.; Duff, M. J.

2014-01-01

A superqubit, belonging to a (2|1)-dimensional super-Hilbert space, constitutes the minimal supersymmetric extension of the conventional qubit. In order to see whether superqubits are more non-local than ordinary qubits, we construct a class of two-superqubit entangled states as a non-local resource in the CHSH game. Since super Hilbert space amplitudes are Grassmann numbers, the result depends on how we extract real probabilities and we examine three choices of map: (1) DeWitt (2) Trigonometric and (3) Modified Rogers. In cases (1) and (2), the winning probability reaches the Tsirelson bound pwin=cos2π/8≃0.8536 of standard quantum mechanics. Case (3) crosses Tsirelson's bound with pwin≃0.9265. Although all states used in the game involve probabilities lying between 0 and 1, case (3) permits other changes of basis inducing negative transition probabilities. PMID:25294964

NASICON-Structured Materials for Energy Storage.

PubMed

Jian, Zelang; Hu, Yong-Sheng; Ji, Xiulei; Chen, Wen

2017-05-01

The demand for electrical energy storage (EES) is ever increasing, which calls for better batteries. NASICON-structured materials represent a family of important electrodes due to its superior ionic conductivity and stable structures. A wide range of materials have been considered, where both vanadium-based and titanium-based materials are recommended as being of great interest. NASICON-structured materials are suitable for both the cathode and the anode, where the operation potential can be easily tuned by the choice of transition metal and/or polyanion group in the structure. NASICON-structured materials also represent a class of solid electrolytes, which are widely employed in all-solid-state ion batteries, all-solid-state air batteries, and hybrid batteries. NASICON-structured materials are reviewed with a focus on both electrode materials and solid-state electrolytes. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

The TCP4 transcription factor of Arabidopsis blocks cell division in yeast at G1 {yields} S transition

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Aggarwal, Pooja; Padmanabhan, Bhavna; Bhat, Abhay

2011-07-01

Highlights: {yields} TCP4 is a class II TCP transcription factor, that represses cell division in Arabidopsis. {yields} TCP4 expression in yeast retards cell division by blocking G1 {yields} S transition. {yields} Genome-wide expression studies and Western analysis reveals stabilization of cell cycle inhibitor Sic1, as possible mechanism. -- Abstract: The TCP transcription factors control important aspects of plant development. Members of class I TCP proteins promote cell cycle by regulating genes directly involved in cell proliferation. In contrast, members of class II TCP proteins repress cell division. While it has been postulated that class II proteins induce differentiation signal, theirmore » exact role on cell cycle has not been studied. Here, we report that TCP4, a class II TCP protein from Arabidopsis that repress cell proliferation in developing leaves, inhibits cell division by blocking G1 {yields} S transition in budding yeast. Cells expressing TCP4 protein with increased transcriptional activity fail to progress beyond G1 phase. By analyzing global transcriptional status of these cells, we show that expression of a number of cell cycle genes is altered. The possible mechanism of G1 {yields} S arrest is discussed.« less

Stability of ARDS subphenotypes over time in two randomised controlled trials.

PubMed

Delucchi, Kevin; Famous, Katie R; Ware, Lorraine B; Parsons, Polly E; Thompson, B Taylor; Calfee, Carolyn S

2018-05-01

Two distinct acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) subphenotypes have been identified using data obtained at time of enrolment in clinical trials; it remains unknown if these subphenotypes are durable over time. To determine the stability of ARDS subphenotypes over time. Secondary analysis of data from two randomised controlled trials in ARDS, the ARMA trial of lung protective ventilation (n=473; patients randomised to low tidal volumes only) and the ALVEOLI trial of low versus high positive end-expiratory pressure (n=549). Latent class analysis (LCA) and latent transition analysis (LTA) were applied to data from day 0 and day 3, independent of clinical outcomes. In ALVEOLI, LCA indicated strong evidence of two ARDS latent classes at days 0 and 3; in ARMA, evidence of two classes was stronger at day 0 than at day 3. The clinical and biological features of these two classes were similar to those in our prior work and were largely stable over time, though class 2 demonstrated evidence of progressive organ failures by day 3, compared with class 1. In both LCA and LTA models, the majority of patients (>94%) stayed in the same class from day 0 to day 3. Clinical outcomes were statistically significantly worse in class 2 than class 1 and were more strongly associated with day 3 class assignment. ARDS subphenotypes are largely stable over the first 3 days of enrolment in two ARDS Network trials, suggesting that subphenotype identification may be feasible in the context of clinical trials. © Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2018. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mevada, A. D., E-mail: adwait.mevada@gmail.com; Mehsana Urban Institute of Sciences, Ganpat University, Mehsana-Gozaria Highway, Kherva 384 001, Gujarat; Pandya, N. Y., E-mail: nirav-physics85@yahoo.com

Mg{sub 70}Zn{sub 30} is simplest of metallic glasses having good mechanical properties, biocompatibility with human body and is biodegradable, so it is widely studied material in its class. We present in this paper first principle calculations showing the change in the structure of the system with temperature. The computations are performed using PWSCF tool of Quantum ESPRESSO package, which uses density functional theory for calculations of electronic ground state properties and dynamical structures. With increasing temperature the number of peaks in RDFs reduce in number leaving only a single peak,the system thus makes a transition from non-crystalline solid to liquidmore » state within the range of 300–1000K. First coordination number was found to decrease with rising temperature.« less

Model Checking - My 27-Year Quest to Overcome the State Explosion Problem

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Clarke, Ed

2009-01-01

Model Checking is an automatic verification technique for state-transition systems that are finite=state or that have finite-state abstractions. In the early 1980 s in a series of joint papers with my graduate students E.A. Emerson and A.P. Sistla, we proposed that Model Checking could be used for verifying concurrent systems and gave algorithms for this purpose. At roughly the same time, Joseph Sifakis and his student J.P. Queille at the University of Grenoble independently developed a similar technique. Model Checking has been used successfully to reason about computer hardware and communication protocols and is beginning to be used for verifying computer software. Specifications are written in temporal logic, which is particularly valuable for expressing concurrency properties. An intelligent, exhaustive search is used to determine if the specification is true or not. If the specification is not true, the Model Checker will produce a counterexample execution trace that shows why the specification does not hold. This feature is extremely useful for finding obscure errors in complex systems. The main disadvantage of Model Checking is the state-explosion problem, which can occur if the system under verification has many processes or complex data structures. Although the state-explosion problem is inevitable in worst case, over the past 27 years considerable progress has been made on the problem for certain classes of state-transition systems that occur often in practice. In this talk, I will describe what Model Checking is, how it works, and the main techniques that have been developed for combating the state explosion problem.

Remote Sensing of Precipitation from 6U-Class Small Satellite Constellations: Temporal Experiment for Storms and Tropical Systems Technology Demonstration (TEMPEST-D)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reising, S. C.; Gaier, T.; Kummerow, C. D.; Chandra, C. V.; Padmanabhan, S.; Lim, B.; Heneghan, C.; Berg, W. K.; Olson, J. P.; Brown, S. T.; Carvo, J.; Pallas, M.

2016-12-01

The Temporal Experiment for Storms and Tropical Systems (TEMPEST) mission concept consists of a constellation of 5 identical 6U-Class nanosatellites observing at 5 millimeter-wave frequencies with 5-minute temporal sampling to observe the time evolution of clouds and their transition to precipitation. The TEMPEST concept is designed to improve the understanding of cloud processes, by providing critical information on the time evolution of cloud and precipitation microphysics and helping to constrain one of the largest sources of uncertainty in climate models. TEMPEST millimeter-wave radiometers are able to make observations in the cloud to observe changes as the cloud begins to precipitate or ice accumulates inside the storm. Such a constellation deployed near 400 km altitude and 50°-65° inclination is expected to capture more than 3 million observations of precipitation during a one-year mission, including over 100,000 deep convective events. The TEMPEST Technology Demonstration (TEMPEST-D) mission will be deployed to raise the TRL of the instrument and key satellite systems as well as to demonstrate measurement capabilities required for a constellation of 6U-Class nanosatellites to directly observe the temporal development of clouds and study the conditions that control their transition from non-precipitating to precipitating clouds. A partnership among Colorado State University (Lead Institution), NASA/Caltech Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Blue Canyon Technologies, TEMPEST-D will provide observations at five millimeter-wave frequencies from 89 to 183 GHz using a single compact instrument that is well suited for the 6U-Class architecture. The top-level requirements for the 90-day TEMPEST-D mission are to: (1) demonstrate precision inter-satellite calibration between TEMPEST-D and one other orbiting radiometer (e.g. GPM or MHS) measuring at similar frequencies; and (2) demonstrate orbital drag maneuvers to control altitude, as verified by GPS, sufficient to achieve relative positioning in a constellation of 6U-Class nanosatellites. The TEMPEST-D 6U-Class satellite is planned to be delivered in July 2017 for launch through NASA CSLI no later than March 2018.

Latent transition models with latent class predictors: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder subtypes and high school marijuana use

PubMed Central

Reboussin, Beth A.; Ialongo, Nicholas S.

2011-01-01

Summary Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder which is most often diagnosed in childhood with symptoms often persisting into adulthood. Elevated rates of substance use disorders have been evidenced among those with ADHD, but recent research focusing on the relationship between subtypes of ADHD and specific drugs is inconsistent. We propose a latent transition model (LTM) to guide our understanding of how drug use progresses, in particular marijuana use, while accounting for the measurement error that is often found in self-reported substance use data. We extend the LTM to include a latent class predictor to represent empirically derived ADHD subtypes that do not rely on meeting specific diagnostic criteria. We begin by fitting two separate latent class analysis (LCA) models by using second-order estimating equations: a longitudinal LCA model to define stages of marijuana use, and a cross-sectional LCA model to define ADHD subtypes. The LTM model parameters describing the probability of transitioning between the LCA-defined stages of marijuana use and the influence of the LCA-defined ADHD subtypes on these transition rates are then estimated by using a set of first-order estimating equations given the LCA parameter estimates. A robust estimate of the LTM parameter variance that accounts for the variation due to the estimation of the two sets of LCA parameters is proposed. Solving three sets of estimating equations enables us to determine the underlying latent class structures independently of the model for the transition rates and simplifying assumptions about the correlation structure at each stage reduces the computational complexity. PMID:21461139

Framing of Transitional Pedagogic Practices in the Sciences: Enabling Access

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ellery, Karen

2017-01-01

Educational literature shows that students from working-class backgrounds are significantly less likely to persist to completion in higher education than middle-class students. This paper draws theoretically and analytically on Bernstein's ([1990. "Class, Codes and Control, Volume IV: The Structuring of Pedagogic Discourse." London:…

Detecting critical state before phase transition of complex systems by hidden Markov model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Rui; Chen, Pei; Li, Yongjun; Chen, Luonan

Identifying the critical state or pre-transition state just before the occurrence of a phase transition is a challenging task, because the state of the system may show little apparent change before this critical transition during the gradual parameter variations. Such dynamics of phase transition is generally composed of three stages, i.e., before-transition state, pre-transition state, and after-transition state, which can be considered as three different Markov processes. Thus, based on this dynamical feature, we present a novel computational method, i.e., hidden Markov model (HMM), to detect the switching point of the two Markov processes from the before-transition state (a stationary Markov process) to the pre-transition state (a time-varying Markov process), thereby identifying the pre-transition state or early-warning signals of the phase transition. To validate the effectiveness, we apply this method to detect the signals of the imminent phase transitions of complex systems based on the simulated datasets, and further identify the pre-transition states as well as their critical modules for three real datasets, i.e., the acute lung injury triggered by phosgene inhalation, MCF-7 human breast cancer caused by heregulin, and HCV-induced dysplasia and hepatocellular carcinoma.

A Classroom Activity to Illustrate the Demographic Transition

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Weihe, Paul

2006-01-01

A discussion of the Demographic Transition is included in many Environmental Biology or Environmental Science classes. The Demographic Transition occurs as a nation becomes more urban and wealthy, and was widely observed in the twentieth century. The phenomenon includes decreasing family size (fewer children) across generations. In this classroom…

Strategies for Maintaining Appropriate Behavior in Inclusive Physical Education Settings

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sanderson, Sonya; Heckaman, Kelly A.; Ernest, James M.; Johnson, Sherifa; Raab, Scot

2013-01-01

The typical physical education class period consists of a number of instructional activities linked together by brief transitory phases, or transitions (e.g., lining up, identifying teams, handing out equipment, etc.). Transitions can challenge even the most experienced physical educators, because without good classroom management, transitions can…

Financial Management for Transit: A Handbook.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Heaselden, Mark; And Others

This handbook is primarily intended to serve as a primer for transit system managers who have not had any formal financial education through college classes, professional development programs, or extensive on-the-job programs. The following topics are covered: financial planning techniques for transit (beginning the financial planning process,…

Transition of Navajo Special Education Students in a Rural Environment.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bowsley, Virginia; Dugi, Audrelia; Gonnie, Pat; Heimbecker, Connie; Jennings, Marianne; Medina, Catherine; Sorgnit, Heather; Watt, Carolyn; Prater, Greg

The Kayenta Unified School District (KUSD)(Arizona) transition program helps prepare Dine (Navajo) special education students for postsecondary opportunities within their own communities and outside the Navajo Reservation. The senior transition class entails a year-long course that focuses on the application process for tribal and federal…

Observable signatures of a classical transition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Johnson, Matthew C.; Lin, Wei

2016-03-01

Eternal inflation arising from a potential landscape predicts that our universe is one realization of many possible cosmological histories. One way to access different cosmological histories is via the nucleation of bubble universes from a metastable false vacuum. Another way to sample different cosmological histories is via classical transitions, the creation of pocket universes through the collision between bubbles. Using relativistic numerical simulations, we examine the possibility of observationally determining if our observable universe resulted from a classical transition. We find that classical transitions produce spatially infinite, approximately open Friedman-Robertson-Walker universes. The leading set of observables in the aftermath of a classical transition are negative spatial curvature and a contribution to the Cosmic Microwave Background temperature quadrupole. The level of curvature and magnitude of the quadrupole are dependent on the position of the observer, and we determine the possible range of observables for two classes of single-scalar field models. For the first class, where the inflationary phase has a lower energy than the vacuum preceding the classical transition, the magnitude of the observed quadrupole generally falls to zero with distance from the collision while the spatial curvature grows to a constant. For the second class, where the inflationary phase has a higher energy than the vacuum preceding the classical transition, the magnitude of the observed quadrupole generically falls to zero with distance from the collision while the spatial curvature grows without bound. We find that the magnitude of the quadrupole and curvature grow with increasing centre of mass energy of the collision, and explore variations of the parameters in the scalar field lagrangian.

Observable signatures of a classical transition

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Johnson, Matthew C.; Lin, Wei, E-mail: mjohnson@perimeterinstitute.ca, E-mail: lewisweilin@gmail.com

2016-03-01

Eternal inflation arising from a potential landscape predicts that our universe is one realization of many possible cosmological histories. One way to access different cosmological histories is via the nucleation of bubble universes from a metastable false vacuum. Another way to sample different cosmological histories is via classical transitions, the creation of pocket universes through the collision between bubbles. Using relativistic numerical simulations, we examine the possibility of observationally determining if our observable universe resulted from a classical transition. We find that classical transitions produce spatially infinite, approximately open Friedman-Robertson-Walker universes. The leading set of observables in the aftermath ofmore » a classical transition are negative spatial curvature and a contribution to the Cosmic Microwave Background temperature quadrupole. The level of curvature and magnitude of the quadrupole are dependent on the position of the observer, and we determine the possible range of observables for two classes of single-scalar field models. For the first class, where the inflationary phase has a lower energy than the vacuum preceding the classical transition, the magnitude of the observed quadrupole generally falls to zero with distance from the collision while the spatial curvature grows to a constant. For the second class, where the inflationary phase has a higher energy than the vacuum preceding the classical transition, the magnitude of the observed quadrupole generically falls to zero with distance from the collision while the spatial curvature grows without bound. We find that the magnitude of the quadrupole and curvature grow with increasing centre of mass energy of the collision, and explore variations of the parameters in the scalar field lagrangian.« less

Longitudinal analysis of latent classes of psychopathology and patterns of class migration in survivors of severe injury.

PubMed

Forbes, David; Nickerson, Angela; Alkemade, Nathan; Bryant, Richard A; Creamer, Mark; Silove, Derrick; McFarlane, Alexander C; Van Hooff, Miranda; Fletcher, Susan L; O'Donnell, Meaghan

2015-09-01

Little research to date has explored the typologies of psychopathology following trauma, beyond development of particular diagnoses such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The objective of this study was to determine the longitudinal patterns of these typologies, especially the movement of persons across clusters of psychopathology. In this 6-year longitudinal study, 1,167 hospitalized severe injury patients who were recruited between April 2004-February 2006 were analyzed, with repeated measures at baseline, 3 months, 12 months, and 72 months after injury. All patients met the DSM-IV criterion A1 for PTSD. Structured clinical interviews were used to assess psychiatric disorders at each follow-up point. Latent class analysis and latent transition analysis were applied to assess clusters of individuals determined by psychopathology. The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) and Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) were employed to complete diagnoses. Four latent classes were identified at each time point: (1) Alcohol/Depression class (3 months, 2.1%; 12 months, 1.3%; and 72 months, 1.1%), (2) Alcohol class (3 months, 3.3%; 12 months, 3.7%; and 72 months, 5.4%), (3) PTSD/Depression class (3 months, 10.3%; 12 months, 11.5%; and 72 months, 6.4%), and (4) No Disorder class (3 months, 84.2%; 12 months, 83.5%; and 72 months, 87.1%). Latent transition analyses conducted across the 2 transition points (12 months and 72 months) found consistently high levels of stability in the No Disorder class (90.9%, 93.0%, respectively) but lower and reducing levels of consistency in the PTSD/Depression class (81.3%, 46.6%), the Alcohol/Depression class (59.7%, 21.5%), and the Alcohol class (61.0%, 36.5%), demonstrating high levels of between-class migration. Despite the array of psychiatric disorders that may develop following severe injury, a 4-class model best described the data with excellent classification certainty. The high levels of migration across classes indicate a complex pattern of psychopathology expression over time. The findings have considerable implications for tailoring multifocused interventions to class type, as well as flexible stepped care models, and for the potential development and delivery of transdiagnostic interventions targeting underlying mechanisms. © Copyright 2015 Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc.

Child Conduct Problems across Home and School Contexts: A Person-Centered Approach

PubMed Central

Sulik, Michael J.; Blair, Clancy; Greenberg, Mark

2018-01-01

To examine patterns of conduct problems across the home and school context, we used latent class analysis to analyze primary caregivers' and teachers' ratings on the conduct problems subscale of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (R. Goodman, 1997) in the Family Life Project (N = 1,292), a prospective study of child development in rural and small town contexts. We found a similar four-class solution at five and seven years of age. In decreasing prevalence, the following classes were identified: (1) low symptoms reported by both informants (low cross-context); (2) high parent-reported symptoms, low teacher-reported symptoms (home context); (3) low parent-reported symptoms, moderate teacher-reported symptoms (school context); and (4) high symptoms reported by both informants (high cross-context). Classes exhibited stability from age five to age seven: children were more likely to remain in the same class than to transition to a different class, and longitudinal stability was especially high for children in the low cross-context class at age 5. A number of child and family characteristics measured in early childhood (executive function, verbal ability, poverty-related risk, sensitive parenting, and parental depressive symptoms) were associated with class membership at age five and age seven, but were generally not associated with longitudinal transitions between classes. PMID:29720784

Hybrid discrete-time neural networks.

PubMed

Cao, Hongjun; Ibarz, Borja

2010-11-13

Hybrid dynamical systems combine evolution equations with state transitions. When the evolution equations are discrete-time (also called map-based), the result is a hybrid discrete-time system. A class of biological neural network models that has recently received some attention falls within this category: map-based neuron models connected by means of fast threshold modulation (FTM). FTM is a connection scheme that aims to mimic the switching dynamics of a neuron subject to synaptic inputs. The dynamic equations of the neuron adopt different forms according to the state (either firing or not firing) and type (excitatory or inhibitory) of their presynaptic neighbours. Therefore, the mathematical model of one such network is a combination of discrete-time evolution equations with transitions between states, constituting a hybrid discrete-time (map-based) neural network. In this paper, we review previous work within the context of these models, exemplifying useful techniques to analyse them. Typical map-based neuron models are low-dimensional and amenable to phase-plane analysis. In bursting models, fast-slow decomposition can be used to reduce dimensionality further, so that the dynamics of a pair of connected neurons can be easily understood. We also discuss a model that includes electrical synapses in addition to chemical synapses with FTM. Furthermore, we describe how master stability functions can predict the stability of synchronized states in these networks. The main results are extended to larger map-based neural networks.

The molten globule state is unusually deformable under mechanical force

PubMed Central

Elms, Phillip J.; Chodera, John D.; Bustamante, Carlos; Marqusee, Susan

2012-01-01

Recently, the role of force in cellular processes has become more evident, and now with advances in force spectroscopy, the response of proteins to force can be directly studied. Such studies have found that native proteins are brittle, and thus not very deformable. Here, we examine the mechanical properties of a class of intermediates referred to as the molten globule state. Using optical trap force spectroscopy, we investigated the response to force of the native and molten globule states of apomyoglobin along different pulling axes. Unlike natively folded proteins, the molten globule state of apomyoglobin is compliant (large distance to the transition state); this large compliance means that the molten globule is more deformable and the unfolding rate is more sensitive to force (the application of force or tension will have a more dramatic effect on the unfolding rate). Our studies suggest that these are general properties of molten globules and could have important implications for mechanical processes in the cell. PMID:22355138

Signaling gateway molecule pages—a data model perspective

PubMed Central

Dinasarapu, Ashok Reddy; Saunders, Brian; Ozerlat, Iley; Azam, Kenan; Subramaniam, Shankar

2011-01-01

Summary: The Signaling Gateway Molecule Pages (SGMP) database provides highly structured data on proteins which exist in different functional states participating in signal transduction pathways. A molecule page starts with a state of a native protein, without any modification and/or interactions. New states are formed with every post-translational modification or interaction with one or more proteins, small molecules or class molecules and with each change in cellular location. State transitions are caused by a combination of one or more modifications, interactions and translocations which then might be associated with one or more biological processes. In a characterized biological state, a molecule can function as one of several entities or their combinations, including channel, receptor, enzyme, transcription factor and transporter. We have also exported SGMP data to the Biological Pathway Exchange (BioPAX) and Systems Biology Markup Language (SBML) as well as in our custom XML. Availability: SGMP is available at www.signaling-gateway.org/molecule. Contact: shankar@ucsd.edu Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online. PMID:21505029

Bifurcations of large networks of two-dimensional integrate and fire neurons.

PubMed

Nicola, Wilten; Campbell, Sue Ann

2013-08-01

Recently, a class of two-dimensional integrate and fire models has been used to faithfully model spiking neurons. This class includes the Izhikevich model, the adaptive exponential integrate and fire model, and the quartic integrate and fire model. The bifurcation types for the individual neurons have been thoroughly analyzed by Touboul (SIAM J Appl Math 68(4):1045-1079, 2008). However, when the models are coupled together to form networks, the networks can display bifurcations that an uncoupled oscillator cannot. For example, the networks can transition from firing with a constant rate to burst firing. This paper introduces a technique to reduce a full network of this class of neurons to a mean field model, in the form of a system of switching ordinary differential equations. The reduction uses population density methods and a quasi-steady state approximation to arrive at the mean field system. Reduced models are derived for networks with different topologies and different model neurons with biologically derived parameters. The mean field equations are able to qualitatively and quantitatively describe the bifurcations that the full networks display. Extensions and higher order approximations are discussed.

More SPECTRA! a Lot MORE! Better TOO! now What?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Field, Robert W.

2017-06-01

I have been a card-carrying spectroscopist for 52 years. I began my career studying spectroscopic perturbations in CS and CO. I eventually graduated to vibrational polyads in acetylene and Multichannel Quantum Defect Theory (MQDT) models for Rydberg states of CaF. My experimental arsenal evolved from atomic resonance lamps to finicky cw dye lasers to user-friendly Nd:YAG pumped dye lasers, ending up with Chirped Pulse Millimeter Waves, non-finicky solid state cw lasers, and death-defying dreams about Stimulated Raman Adiabatic Passage (STIRAP). It has become possible to record an enormous quantity of unimaginably high quality spectra quickly. Increases by factors of 10^{6} in spectral velocity have been claimed. Yet everything rests on assigning the spectrum. But the assignment game has changed. Instead of looking for patterns, we deal with meta-patterns. Our goal is to build a complex model that represents all of the energy levels and associates a multi-component eigenvector with each observed eigenstate. Eigenvectors can reveal what a molecule is thinking about doing when it grows up. Spectroscopy becomes a form of molecular psychoanalysis. A spectroscopist can observe the emergence and describe the mechanistic origin of new classes of large-amplitude intramolecular motions. This makes it possible to directly characterize things, such as transition states, which dogma has labeled "spectroscopically unobservable." Where is 21st century spectroscopy headed? I will discuss examples that include: spectroscopic perturbations of the S_{2} B^{3}Σ^{-}_{u} state, the SO_{2} C state with its unequal SO bond-lengths, and the transition state for trans-cis isomerization in the S_{1} state of acetylene.

Low power arcjet thruster pulse ignition

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sarmiento, Charles J.; Gruber, Robert P.

1987-01-01

An investigation of the pulse ignition characteristics of a 1 kW class arcjet using an inductive energy storage pulse generator with a pulse width modulated power converter identified several thruster and pulse generator parameters that influence breakdown voltage including pulse generator rate of voltage rise. This work was conducted with an arcjet tested on hydrogen-nitrogen gas mixtures to simulate fully decomposed hydrazine. Over all ranges of thruster and pulser parameters investigated, the mean breakdown voltages varied from 1.4 to 2.7 kV. Ignition tests at elevated thruster temperatures under certain conditions revealed occasional breakdowns to thruster voltages higher than the power converter output voltage. These post breakdown discharges sometimes failed to transition to the lower voltage arc discharge mode and the thruster would not ignite. Under the same conditions, a transition to the arc mode would occur for a subsequent pulse and the thruster would ignite. An automated 11 600 cycle starting and transition to steady state test demonstrated ignition on the first pulse and required application of a second pulse only two times to initiate breakdown.

Magnetic transition in Y-site doped multiferroic YMnO3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thakur, Rajesh K.; Thakur, Rasna; Gaur, N. K.

2016-05-01

We have synthesized polycrystalline hexagonal Y1-xSrxMnO3 (x=0.02, 0.1) compounds by using conventional solid state reaction method. The detailed structural investigations are carried out by using XRD studies which reveals the single phase formation of the reported compounds with hexagonal structure and space group P63cm (JCPDS: 25-1079). Further the XRD data of reported compounds were analyzed by RIETVELD (FULLPROFF) method which shows the decrease in the lattice parameter with increasing concentration of divalent strontium to Y-site. The observed pointed kinks in the specific heat study are indicative of the probable coupling in between the electric and magnetic orders in this class of materials. The reported systematic specific heat studies shows that the antiferromagnetic (AFM) transition temperature (TN) shifts to higher value with increasing concentration of Sr2+ ion in the YMnO3 compound which is attributed to the enhanced lattice contribution to the specific heat in the this compound. The present compound shows the independence of specific heat and magnetic transition temperature with applied magnetic field of 8T and 12T.

Thermal and electrical transport in metals and superconductors across antiferromagnetic and topological quantum transitions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chatterjee, Shubhayu; Sachdev, Subir; Eberlein, Andreas

2017-08-01

We study thermal and electrical transport in metals and superconductors near a quantum phase transition where antiferromagnetic order disappears. The same theory can also be applied to quantum phase transitions involving the loss of certain classes of intrinsic topological order. For a clean superconductor, we recover and extend well-known universal results. The heat conductivity for commensurate and incommensurate antiferromagnetism coexisting with superconductivity shows a markedly different doping dependence near the quantum critical point, thus allowing us to distinguish between these states. In the dirty limit, the results for the conductivities are qualitatively similar for the metal and the superconductor. In this regime, the geometric properties of the Fermi surface allow for a very good phenomenological understanding of the numerical results on the conductivities. In the simplest model, we find that the conductivities do not track the doping evolution of the Hall coefficient, in contrast to recent experimental findings. We propose a doping dependent scattering rate, possibly due to quenched short-range charge fluctuations below optimal doping, to consistently describe both the Hall data and the longitudinal conductivities.

Resistivity in the Vicinity of a van Hove Singularity: Sr2RuO4 under Uniaxial Pressure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barber, M. E.; Gibbs, A. S.; Maeno, Y.; Mackenzie, A. P.; Hicks, C. W.

2018-02-01

We report the results of a combined study of the normal-state resistivity and superconducting transition temperature Tc of the unconventional superconductor Sr2 RuO4 under uniaxial pressure. There is strong evidence that, as well as driving Tc through a maximum at ˜3.5 K , compressive strains ɛ of nearly 1% along the crystallographic [100] axis drive the γ Fermi surface sheet through a van Hove singularity, changing the temperature dependence of the resistivity from T2 above, and below the transition region to T1.5 within it. This occurs in extremely pure single-crystals in which the impurity contribution to the resistivity is <100 n Ω cm , so our study also highlights the potential of uniaxial pressure as a more general probe of this class of physics in clean systems.

Onset of meso-scale turbulence in active nematics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Doostmohammadi, Amin; Shendruk, Tyler N.; Thijssen, Kristian; Yeomans, Julia M.

2017-05-01

Meso-scale turbulence is an innate phenomenon, distinct from inertial turbulence, that spontaneously occurs at low Reynolds number in fluidized biological systems. This spatiotemporal disordered flow radically changes nutrient and molecular transport in living fluids and can strongly affect the collective behaviour in prominent biological processes, including biofilm formation, morphogenesis and cancer invasion. Despite its crucial role in such physiological processes, understanding meso-scale turbulence and any relation to classical inertial turbulence remains obscure. Here we show how the motion of active matter along a micro-channel transitions to meso-scale turbulence through the evolution of locally disordered patches (active puffs) from an ordered vortex-lattice flow state. We demonstrate that the stationary critical exponents of this transition to meso-scale turbulence in a channel coincide with the directed percolation universality class. This finding bridges our understanding of the onset of low-Reynolds-number meso-scale turbulence and traditional scale-invariant turbulence in confinement.

Fluctuation relations between hierarchical kinetically equivalent networks with Arrhenius-type transitions and their roles in systems and structural biology.

PubMed

Deng, De-Ming; Lu, Yi-Ta; Chang, Cheng-Hung

2017-06-01

The legality of using simple kinetic schemes to determine the stochastic properties of a complex system depends on whether the fluctuations generated from hierarchical equivalent schemes are consistent with one another. To analyze this consistency, we perform lumping processes on the stochastic differential equations and the generalized fluctuation-dissipation theorem and apply them to networks with the frequently encountered Arrhenius-type transition rates. The explicit Langevin force derived from those networks enables us to calculate the state fluctuations caused by the intrinsic and extrinsic noises on the free energy surface and deduce their relations between kinetically equivalent networks. In addition to its applicability to wide classes of network related systems, such as those in structural and systems biology, the result sheds light on the fluctuation relations for general physical variables in Keizer's canonical theory.

Piston-rotaxanes as molecular shock absorbers.

PubMed

Sevick, E M; Williams, D R M

2010-04-20

We describe the thermomechanical response of a new molecular system that behaves as a shock absorber. The system consists of a rodlike rotaxane connected to a piston and tethered to a surface. The response of this system is dominated by the translational entropy of the rotaxane rings and can be calculated exactly. The force laws are contrasted with those for a rigid rod and a polymer. In some cases, the rotaxanes undergo a sudden transition to a tilted state when compressed. These piston-rotaxanes provide a potential motif for the design of a new class of materials with a novel thermomechanical response.

Understanding the Male Homosexual Experience: Grades 11, 12.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nagorski, Alec P.

This unit has been designed as a means of sensitizing class members to various forms of social discrimination that exist against homosexuals. Each lesson can be adapted to a fifty minute class period; the steps indicate transitions in topic development, the key questions are recommended as guidelines for facilitating class discussion. Students…

Intimate Relationship Development during the Transition to Adulthood: Differences by Social Class

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Meier, Ann; Allen, Gina

2008-01-01

This article examines differences in young adults' intimate relationships by social class. Lower-class adolescents are more likely to engage in intimate-relationship practices such as cohabitation, early marriage, and sexual activity that may lead to further economic and educational deprivation. Such adolescents have limited access to the special…

Repeated evolution of tricellular (and bicellular) pollen.

PubMed

Williams, Joseph H; Taylor, Mackenzie L; O'Meara, Brian C

2014-04-01

Male gametophytes of seed plants are sexually immature at the time they are dispersed as pollen, but approximately 30% of flowering plants have tricellular pollen containing fully formed sperm at anthesis. The classic study of Brewbaker (1967: American Journal of Botany 54: 1069-1083) provided a powerful confirmation of the long-standing hypothesis that tricellular pollen had many parallel and irreversible origins within angiosperms. We readdressed the main questions of that study with modern comparative phylogenetic methods. We used our own and more recent reports to greatly expand the Brewbaker data set. We modeled trait evolution for 2511 species on a time-calibrated angiosperm phylogeny using (1) Binary State Speciation and Extinction (BiSSE), which accounts for the effect of species diversification rates on character transition rates and, (2) the hidden rates model (HRM), which incorporates variation in transition rates across a phylogeny. Seventy percent of species had bicellular pollen. BiSSE found a 1.9-fold higher bicellular to tricellular transition rate than in the reverse direction, and bicellular lineages had a 1.8-fold higher diversification rate than tricellular lineages. HRM found heterogeneity in evolutionary rates, with bidirectional transition rates in three of four rate classes. The tricellular condition is not irreversible. Pollen cell numbers are maintained at intermediate frequencies because lower net diversification rates of tricellular lineages are counterbalanced by slower state shifts to the bicellular condition. That tricellular lineages diversify slowly and give rise to bicellular lineages slowly reflects a linkage between the evolution of sporophyte lifestyles and the developmental lability of male gametophytes.

Nonlinear absorption dynamics using field-induced surface hopping: zinc porphyrin in water.

PubMed

Röhr, Merle I S; Petersen, Jens; Wohlgemuth, Matthias; Bonačić-Koutecký, Vlasta; Mitrić, Roland

2013-05-10

We wish to present the application of our field-induced surface-hopping (FISH) method to simulate nonlinear absorption dynamics induced by strong nonresonant laser fields. We provide a systematic comparison of the FISH approach with exact quantum dynamics simulations on a multistate model system and demonstrate that FISH allows for accurate simulations of nonlinear excitation processes including multiphoton electronic transitions. In particular, two different approaches for simulating two-photon transitions are compared. The first approach is essentially exact and involves the solution of the time-dependent Schrödinger equation in an extended manifold of excited states, while in the second one only transiently populated nonessential states are replaced by an effective quadratic coupling term, and dynamics is performed in a considerably smaller manifold of states. We illustrate the applicability of our method to complex molecular systems by simulating the linear and nonlinear laser-driven dynamics in zinc (Zn) porphyrin in the gas phase and in water. For this purpose, the FISH approach is connected with the quantum mechanical-molecular mechanical approach (QM/MM) which is generally applicable to large classes of complex systems. Our findings that multiphoton absorption and dynamics increase the population of higher excited states of Zn porphyrin in the nonlinear regime, in particular in solution, provides a means for manipulating excited-state properties, such as transient absorption dynamics and electronic relaxation. Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Bifurcation-based approach reveals synergism and optimal combinatorial perturbation.

PubMed

Liu, Yanwei; Li, Shanshan; Liu, Zengrong; Wang, Ruiqi

2016-06-01

Cells accomplish the process of fate decisions and form terminal lineages through a series of binary choices in which cells switch stable states from one branch to another as the interacting strengths of regulatory factors continuously vary. Various combinatorial effects may occur because almost all regulatory processes are managed in a combinatorial fashion. Combinatorial regulation is crucial for cell fate decisions because it may effectively integrate many different signaling pathways to meet the higher regulation demand during cell development. However, whether the contribution of combinatorial regulation to the state transition is better than that of a single one and if so, what the optimal combination strategy is, seem to be significant issue from the point of view of both biology and mathematics. Using the approaches of combinatorial perturbations and bifurcation analysis, we provide a general framework for the quantitative analysis of synergism in molecular networks. Different from the known methods, the bifurcation-based approach depends only on stable state responses to stimuli because the state transition induced by combinatorial perturbations occurs between stable states. More importantly, an optimal combinatorial perturbation strategy can be determined by investigating the relationship between the bifurcation curve of a synergistic perturbation pair and the level set of a specific objective function. The approach is applied to two models, i.e., a theoretical multistable decision model and a biologically realistic CREB model, to show its validity, although the approach holds for a general class of biological systems.

The second laws of quantum thermodynamics.

PubMed

Brandão, Fernando; Horodecki, Michał; Ng, Nelly; Oppenheim, Jonathan; Wehner, Stephanie

2015-03-17

The second law of thermodynamics places constraints on state transformations. It applies to systems composed of many particles, however, we are seeing that one can formulate laws of thermodynamics when only a small number of particles are interacting with a heat bath. Is there a second law of thermodynamics in this regime? Here, we find that for processes which are approximately cyclic, the second law for microscopic systems takes on a different form compared to the macroscopic scale, imposing not just one constraint on state transformations, but an entire family of constraints. We find a family of free energies which generalize the traditional one, and show that they can never increase. The ordinary second law relates to one of these, with the remainder imposing additional constraints on thermodynamic transitions. We find three regimes which determine which family of second laws govern state transitions, depending on how cyclic the process is. In one regime one can cause an apparent violation of the usual second law, through a process of embezzling work from a large system which remains arbitrarily close to its original state. These second laws are relevant for small systems, and also apply to individual macroscopic systems interacting via long-range interactions. By making precise the definition of thermal operations, the laws of thermodynamics are unified in this framework, with the first law defining the class of operations, the zeroth law emerging as an equivalence relation between thermal states, and the remaining laws being monotonicity of our generalized free energies.

The second laws of quantum thermodynamics

PubMed Central

Brandão, Fernando; Horodecki, Michał; Ng, Nelly; Oppenheim, Jonathan; Wehner, Stephanie

2015-01-01

The second law of thermodynamics places constraints on state transformations. It applies to systems composed of many particles, however, we are seeing that one can formulate laws of thermodynamics when only a small number of particles are interacting with a heat bath. Is there a second law of thermodynamics in this regime? Here, we find that for processes which are approximately cyclic, the second law for microscopic systems takes on a different form compared to the macroscopic scale, imposing not just one constraint on state transformations, but an entire family of constraints. We find a family of free energies which generalize the traditional one, and show that they can never increase. The ordinary second law relates to one of these, with the remainder imposing additional constraints on thermodynamic transitions. We find three regimes which determine which family of second laws govern state transitions, depending on how cyclic the process is. In one regime one can cause an apparent violation of the usual second law, through a process of embezzling work from a large system which remains arbitrarily close to its original state. These second laws are relevant for small systems, and also apply to individual macroscopic systems interacting via long-range interactions. By making precise the definition of thermal operations, the laws of thermodynamics are unified in this framework, with the first law defining the class of operations, the zeroth law emerging as an equivalence relation between thermal states, and the remaining laws being monotonicity of our generalized free energies. PMID:25675476

The 1,5-H-shift in 1-butoxy: A case study in the rigorous implementation of transition state theory for a multirotamer system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vereecken, Luc; Peeters, Jozef

2003-09-01

The rigorous implementation of transition state theory (TST) for a reaction system with multiple reactant rotamers and multiple transition state conformers is discussed by way of a statistical rate analysis of the 1,5-H-shift in 1-butoxy radicals, a prototype reaction for the important class of H-shift reactions in atmospheric chemistry. Several approaches for deriving a multirotamer TST expression are treated: oscillator versus (hindered) internal rotor models; distinguishable versus indistinguishable atoms; and direct count methods versus degeneracy factors calculated by (simplified) direct count methods or from symmetry numbers and number of enantiomers, where applicable. It is shown that the various treatments are fully consistent, even if the TST expressions themselves appear different. The 1-butoxy H-shift reaction is characterized quantum chemically using B3LYP-DFT; the performance of this level of theory is compared to other methods. Rigorous application of the multirotamer TST methodology in an harmonic oscillator approximation based on this data yields a rate coefficient of k(298 K,1 atm)=1.4×105 s-1, and an Arrhenius expression k(T,1 atm)=1.43×1011 exp(-8.17 kcal mol-1/RT) s-1, which both closely match the experimental recommendations in the literature. The T-dependence is substantially influenced by the multirotamer treatment, as well as by the tunneling and fall-off corrections. The present results are compared to those of simplified TST calculations based solely on the properties of the lowest energy 1-butoxy rotamer.

ROVIBRATIONALLY RESOLVED DIRECT PHOTODISSOCIATION THROUGH THE LYMAN AND WERNER TRANSITIONS OF H{sub 2} FOR FUV/X-RAY-IRRADIATED ENVIRONMENTS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gay, C. D.; Porter, R. L.; Stancil, P. C.

Using ab initio potential curves and dipole transition moments, cross-section calculations were performed for the direct continuum photodissociation of H{sub 2} through the B{sup 1}{Sigma}{sup +}{sub u} <- X{sup 1}{Sigma}{sup +}{sub g} (Lyman) and C{sup 1}{Pi}{sub u} <- X{sup 1}{Sigma}{sup +}{sub g} (Werner) transitions. Partial cross-sections were obtained for wavelengths from 100 A to the dissociation threshold between the upper electronic state and each of the 301 bound rovibrational levels v''J'' within the ground electronic state. The resulting cross-sections are incorporated into three representative classes of interstellar gas models: diffuse clouds, photon-dominated regions, and X-ray-dominated regions (XDRs). The models, whichmore » used the CLOUDY plasma/molecular spectra simulation code, demonstrate that direct photodissociation is comparable to fluorescent dissociation (or spontaneous radiative dissociation, the Solomon process) as an H{sub 2} destruction mechanism in intense far-ultraviolet or X-ray-irradiated gas. In particular, changes in H{sub 2} rotational column densities are found to be as large as 20% in the XDR model with the inclusion of direct photodissociation. The photodestruction rate from some high-lying rovibrational levels can be enhanced by pumping from H Ly{beta} due to a wavelength coincidence with cross-section resonances resulting from quasi-bound levels of the upper electronic states. Given the relatively large size of the photodissociation data set, a strategy is described to create truncated, but reliable, cross-section data consistent with the wavelength resolving power of typical observations.« less

Characterization of Nonlinear Rate Dependent Response of Shape Memory Polymers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Volk, Brent; Lagoudas, Dimitris C.; Chen, Yi-Chao; Whitley, Karen S.

2007-01-01

Shape Memory Polymers (SMPs) are a class of polymers, which can undergo deformation in a flexible state at elevated temperatures, and when cooled below the glass transition temperature, while retaining their deformed shape, will enter and remain in a rigid state. Upon heating above the glass transition temperature, the shape memory polymer will return to its original, unaltered shape. SMPs have been reported to recover strains of over 400%. It is important to understand the stress and strain recovery behavior of SMPs to better develop constitutive models which predict material behavior. Initial modeling efforts did not account for large deformations beyond 25% strain. However, a model under current development is capable of describing large deformations of the material. This model considers the coexisting active (rubber) and frozen (glass) phases of the polymer, as well as the transitions between the material phases. The constitutive equations at the continuum level are established with internal state variables to describe the microstructural changes associated with the phase transitions. For small deformations, the model reduces to a linear model that agrees with those reported in the literature. Thermomechanical characterization is necessary for the development, calibration, and validation of a constitutive model. The experimental data reported in this paper will assist in model development by providing a better understanding of the stress and strain recovery behavior of the material. This paper presents the testing techniques used to characterize the thermomechanical material properties of a shape memory polymer (SMP) and also presents the resulting data. An innovative visual-photographic apparatus, known as a Vision Image Correlation (VIC) system was used to measure the strain. The details of this technique will also be presented in this paper. A series of tensile tests were performed on specimens such that strain levels of 10, 25, 50, and 100% were applied to the material while it was above its glass transition temperature. After deforming the material to a specified applied strain, the material was then cooled to below the glass transition temperature (Tg) while retaining the deformed shape. Finally, the specimen was heated again to above the transition temperature, and the resulting shape recovery profile was measured. Results show that strain recovery occurs at a nonlinear rate with respect to time. Results also indicate that the ratio of recoverable strain/applied strain increases as the applied strain increases.

Framing Young People's Educational Transitions: The Role of Local and Contemporary Economic Contexts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Evans, Ceryn

2017-01-01

Despite rates of participation in post-compulsory full-time education reaching approximately 84% in Wales, social class inequalities continue to shape young people's transitions from compulsory to post-compulsory education. This article draws upon data from a project which explored how young people's educational decisions and transitions in Wales,…

Shift Work, Role Overload, and the Transition to Parenthood

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Perry-Jenkins, Maureen; Goldberg, Abbie E.; Pierce, Courtney P.; Sayer, Aline G.

2007-01-01

This article examines how the work hours, work schedules, and role overload of working-class couples are related to depressive symptoms and relationship conflict across the transition to parenthood. Data are from 132 dual-earner couples interviewed 5 times across the transition. Multilevel modeling analyses revealed that working evening or night…

Control of valence and conduction band energies in layered transition metal phosphates via surface functionalization

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lentz, Levi C.; Kolb, Brian; Kolpak, Alexie M.

Layered transition metal phosphates and phosphites (TMPs) are a class of 2D materials bound togetherviavan der Waals interactions. Through simple functionalization, band energies can be systematically controlled.

Mott criticality and multiferroicity in organic κ-(BEDT-TTF)2X salts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lang, Michael

2014-03-01

Layered organic charge-transfer (CT) salts of the κ-(BEDT-TTF)2X family show a wealth of electronic phases resulting from the interplay of strong electron-electron correlations, reduced dimensions and magnetic frustration. Of particular interest has been the bandwidth-controlled Mott transition, separating an antiferromagnetic (afm) insulating state from a correlated metallic and superconducting state. Whereas the hydrogenated X = Cu[N(CN)2]Br salt is located on the metallic side, the deuterated variant, denoted κ-D8, is situated in splitting distance to the Mott transition, enabling the s-shaped transition line TMI to be crossed via temperature sweeps. The talk will address the following aspects: 1) Thermal expansion measurements on single crystalline κ-D8 reveal discontinuous changes of the lattice parameters on crossing the Mott transition line and a huge anomaly close to the second-order critical end point of TMI. By elaborating on a scaling theory, we found that (i) the latter effect is a consequence of an almost divergence of the Grüneisen parameter Γ at the finite- T critical end point, and (ii) that the expansivity data of are in excellent agreement with the Mott criticality lying within the 2D Ising universality class, at variance with results from conductivity measurements. Thermal expansion measurements under Helium-gas pressure are underway for providing thermodynamic information at variable pressure. 2) Surprisingly, for the isostructural X = Cu[N(CN)2]Cl salt, located close to the Mott transition on the insulating side, we found that besides the well-established afm order at TN ~ 27 K, the system also reveals a ferroelectric transition at TFE, making this material the first multiferroic CT salt. Most remarkably, the measurements reveal TFE ~TN , suggesting a close interrelation between both types of ferroic order. Work was supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft through the Collaborative Research Centers TRR 49 and TRR 80.

State and regional water-quality characteristics and trophic conditions of Michigan's inland lakes, 2001-2005

USGS Publications Warehouse

Fuller, L.M.; Minnerick, R.J.

2008-01-01

The U.S. Geological Survey and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality are jointly monitoring selected water-quality constituents of inland lakes through 2015 as part of Michigan’s Lake Water Quality Assessment program. During 2001–2005, 433 lake basins from 364 inland lakes were monitored for baseline water-quality conditions and trophic status. This report summarizes the water-quality characteristics and trophic conditions of those monitored lake basins throughout the State. Regional variation of water quality in lake basins was examined by grouping on the basis of the five Omernik level III ecoregions within Michigan. Concentrations of most constituents measured were significantly different between ecoregions. Less regional variation of phosphorus concentrations was noted between Northern Lakes and Forests (50) and North Central Hardwoods (51) ecoregions during summer possibly because water samples were collected when lake productivity was high; hence the utilization of the limited amount of phosphorus by algae and macrophytes may have resulted in the more uniform concentrations between these two ecoregions. Concentrations of common ions (calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, chloride, and sulfate) measured in the spring typically were higher in the Michigan southern Lower Peninsula in the Eastern Corn Belt Plains (55), Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains (56), and Huron/Erie Lake Plains (57) ecoregions. Most ions whose concentrations were less than the minimum reporting levels or were nondetectable were from lakes in the Michigan northern Lower Peninsula and the Upper Peninsula in the Northern Lakes and Forests (50) and North Central Hardwoods (51) ecoregions. Chlorophyll a concentrations followed a similar distribution pattern. Measured properties such as pH and specific conductance (indicative of dissolved solids) also showed a regional relation. The lakes with the lowest pH and specific conductance were generally in the western Upper Peninsula (Northern Lakes and Forests (50) ecoregion). The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality classifies Michigan lakes on the basis of their primary biological productivity or trophic characteristics using the Carlson Trophic State Index. Trophic evaluations based on data collected from 2001 through 2005 indicate 17 percent of the lakes are oligotrophic, 53 percent are mesotrophic, 22 percent are eutrophic, 4 percent are hypereutrophic, and less than 5 percent are classified into transition classes between each major class. Although the distribution of lakes throughout Michigan or between Omernik level III ecoregions is not uniform, about 85 percent of the lakes classified as oligotrophic are in the Northern Lakes and Forests (50) or North Central Hardwoods (51) ecoregions. Nearly 28 percent of all the lakes in each of these two ecoregions were classified as oligotrophic. Historical trophic-state classes were compared to the current (2001 through 2005) trophic-state classes. Approximately 72 percent of lakes remained in the same trophic-state class, 11 percent moved up a partial or full class (indicating a decrease in water clarity) and 18 percent moved down a partial or full class (indicating an increase in water clarity).

Microscopic origin of resistance drift in the amorphous state of the phase-change compound GeTe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gabardi, S.; Caravati, S.; Sosso, G. C.; Behler, J.; Bernasconi, M.

2015-08-01

Aging is a common feature of the glassy state. In the case of phase-change chalcogenide alloys the aging of the amorphous state is responsible for an increase of the electrical resistance with time. This phenomenon called drift is detrimental in the application of these materials in phase-change nonvolatile memories, which are emerging as promising candidates for storage class memories. By means of combined molecular dynamics and electronic structure calculations based on density functional theory, we have unraveled the atomistic origin of the resistance drift in the prototypical phase-change compound GeTe. The drift results from a widening of the band gap and a reduction of Urbach tails due to structural relaxations leading to the removal of chains of Ge-Ge homopolar bonds. The same structural features are actually responsible for the high mobility above the glass transition which boosts the crystallization speed exploited in the device.

Direct observation of TALE protein dynamics reveals a two-state search mechanism

PubMed Central

Cuculis, Luke; Abil, Zhanar; Zhao, Huimin; Schroeder, Charles M.

2015-01-01

Transcription activator-like effector (TALE) proteins are a class of programmable DNA-binding proteins for which the fundamental mechanisms governing the search process are not fully understood. Here we use single-molecule techniques to directly observe TALE search dynamics along DNA templates. We find that TALE proteins are capable of rapid diffusion along DNA using a combination of sliding and hopping behaviour, which suggests that the TALE search process is governed in part by facilitated diffusion. We also observe that TALE proteins exhibit two distinct modes of action during the search process—a search state and a recognition state—facilitated by different subdomains in monomeric TALE proteins. Using TALE truncation mutants, we further demonstrate that the N-terminal region of TALEs is required for the initial non-specific binding and subsequent rapid search along DNA, whereas the central repeat domain is required for transitioning into the site-specific recognition state. PMID:26027871

Epidemiological Transition and the Double Burden of Disease in Accra, Ghana

PubMed Central

de-Graft Aikins, Ama

2010-01-01

It has long been recognized that as societies modernize, they experience significant changes in their patterns of health and disease. Despite rapid modernization across the globe, there are relatively few detailed case studies of changes in health and disease within specific countries especially for sub-Saharan African countries. This paper presents evidence to illustrate the nature and speed of the epidemiological transition in Accra, Ghana’s capital city. As the most urbanized and modernized Ghanaian city, and as the national center of multidisciplinary research since becoming state capital in 1877, Accra constitutes an important case study for understanding the epidemiological transition in African cities. We review multidisciplinary research on culture, development, health, and disease in Accra since the late nineteenth century, as well as relevant work on Ghana’s socio-economic and demographic changes and burden of chronic disease. Our review indicates that the epidemiological transition in Accra reflects a protracted polarized model. A “protracted” double burden of infectious and chronic disease constitutes major causes of morbidity and mortality. This double burden is polarized across social class. While wealthy communities experience higher risk of chronic diseases, poor communities experience higher risk of infectious diseases and a double burden of infectious and chronic diseases. Urbanization, urban poverty and globalization are key factors in the transition. We explore the structures and processes of these factors and consider the implications for the epidemiological transition in other African cities. PMID:20803094

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Steiner, Andrew W.; Lattimer, James M.; Brown, Edward F.

We investigate constraints on neutron star structure arising from the assumptions that neutron stars have crusts, that recent calculations of pure neutron matter limit the equation of state of neutron star matter near the nuclear saturation density, that the high-density equation of state is limited by causality and the largest high-accuracy neutron star mass measurement, and that general relativity is the correct theory of gravity. We explore the role of prior assumptions by considering two classes of equation of state models. In a first, the intermediate- and high-density behavior of the equation of state is parameterized by piecewise polytropes. Inmore » the second class, the high-density behavior of the equation of state is parameterized by piecewise continuous line segments. The smallest density at which high-density matter appears is varied in order to allow for strong phase transitions above the nuclear saturation density. We critically examine correlations among the pressure of matter, radii, maximum masses, the binding energy, the moment of inertia, and the tidal deformability, paying special attention to the sensitivity of these correlations to prior assumptions about the equation of state. It is possible to constrain the radii of 1.4 solar mass neutron stars to be larger than 10 km, even without consideration of additional astrophysical observations, for example, those from photospheric radius expansion bursts or quiescent low-mass X-ray binaries. We are able to improve the accuracy of known correlations between the moment of inertia and compactness as well as the binding energy and compactness. Furthermore, we also demonstrate the existence of a correlation between the neutron star binding energy and the moment of inertia.« less

The TCP4 transcription factor of Arabidopsis blocks cell division in yeast at G1→S transition.

PubMed

Aggarwal, Pooja; Padmanabhan, Bhavna; Bhat, Abhay; Sarvepalli, Kavitha; Sadhale, Parag P; Nath, Utpal

2011-07-01

The TCP transcription factors control important aspects of plant development. Members of class I TCP proteins promote cell cycle by regulating genes directly involved in cell proliferation. In contrast, members of class II TCP proteins repress cell division. While it has been postulated that class II proteins induce differentiation signal, their exact role on cell cycle has not been studied. Here, we report that TCP4, a class II TCP protein from Arabidopsis that repress cell proliferation in developing leaves, inhibits cell division by blocking G1→S transition in budding yeast. Cells expressing TCP4 protein with increased transcriptional activity fail to progress beyond G1 phase. By analyzing global transcriptional status of these cells, we show that expression of a number of cell cycle genes is altered. The possible mechanism of G1→S arrest is discussed. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Escaping Poverty and Securing Middle Class Status: How Race and Socioeconomic Status Shape Mobility Prospects for African Americans During the Transition to Adulthood

PubMed Central

Hardaway, Cecily R.; Mcloyd, Vonnie C.

2014-01-01

This article draws on extant research from the disciplines of psychology, sociology, and economics to identify linkages between individual, family, community, and structural factors related to social mobility for African Americans during the transition to adulthood. It considers how race and class together affect opportunities for social mobility through where African Americans live, whom they associate with, and how they are impacted by racial and class-related stigma. Of particular interest is social mobility as accomplished through academic achievement, educational attainment, employment, economic independence, and homeownership. Research on five issues is reviewed and discussed: (a) the unique vulnerabilities of newly upwardly mobile African Americans, (b) wealth as a source of inequality, (c) racism and discrimination, (d) the stigma associated with lower-class status, and (e) social and cultural capital. The article concludes with a summary and directions for future research. PMID:19636721

Parent and Peer Links to Trajectories of Anxious Withdrawal From Grades 5 to 8

PubMed Central

Booth-LaForce, Cathryn; Oh, Wonjung; Kennedy, Amy E.; Rubin, Kenneth H.; Rose-Krasnor, Linda; Laursen, Brett

2013-01-01

Individual differences in trajectories of anxious withdrawal were examined from Grades 5 to 8 across the transition to middle school in a community sample (N = 283), using General Growth Mixture Modeling. Three distinct pathways of anxious withdrawal were identified: low-stable (78%), high-decreasing (12%), and high-increasing (10%). In Grade 6, relative to the low-stable class, greater peer exclusion and more free time spent with mother predicted membership in the high-decreasing class; higher peer exclusion predicted membership in the high-increasing class. Within the high-increasing class, the growth of anxious withdrawal was predicted by lower parental autonomy-granting, less free time with mother, both nurturing and restrictive parenting, and greater peer exclusion. Results highlight the role of both parent–child relationship and peer difficulties in increasing the adjustment risk among youth who are anxiously withdrawn prior to the middle-school transition. PMID:22417188

Sensory Neurons Arouse C. elegans Locomotion via Both Glutamate and Neuropeptide Release

PubMed Central

Chatzigeorgiou, Marios; Hu, Zhitao; Schafer, William R.; Kaplan, Joshua M.

2015-01-01

C. elegans undergoes periods of behavioral quiescence during larval molts (termed lethargus) and as adults. Little is known about the circuit mechanisms that establish these quiescent states. Lethargus and adult locomotion quiescence is dramatically reduced in mutants lacking the neuropeptide receptor NPR-1. Here, we show that the aroused locomotion of npr-1 mutants results from the exaggerated activity in multiple classes of sensory neurons, including nociceptive (ASH), touch sensitive (ALM and PLM), and stretch sensing (DVA) neurons. These sensory neurons accelerate locomotion via both neuropeptide and glutamate release. The relative contribution of these sensory neurons to arousal differs between larval molts and adults. Our results suggest that a broad network of sensory neurons dictates transitions between aroused and quiescent behavioral states. PMID:26154367

Bridged transition-metal complexes and uses thereof for hydrogen separation, storage and hydrogenation

DOEpatents

Lilga, Michael A.; Hallen, Richard T.

1990-01-01

The present invention constitutes a class of organometallic complexes which reversibly react with hydrogen to form dihydrides and processes by which these compounds can be utilized. The class includes bimetallic complexes in which two cyclopentadienyl rings are bridged together and also separately .pi.-bonded to two transition metal atoms. The transition metals are believed to bond with the hydrogen in forming the dihydride. Transition metals such as Fe, Mn or Co may be employed in the complexes although Cr constitutes the preferred metal. A multiple number of ancilliary ligands such as CO are bonded to the metal atoms in the complexes. Alkyl groups and the like may be substituted on the cyclopentadienyl rings. These organometallic compounds may be used in absorption/desorption systems and in facilitated transport membrane systems for storing and separating out H.sub.2 from mixed gas streams such as the produce gas from coal gasification processes.

Bridged transition-metal complexes and uses thereof for hydrogen separation, storage and hydrogenation

DOEpatents

Lilga, M.A.; Hallen, R.T.

1991-10-15

The present invention constitutes a class of organometallic complexes which reversibly react with hydrogen to form dihydrides and processes by which these compounds can be utilized. The class includes bimetallic complexes in which two cyclopentadienyl rings are bridged together and also separately [pi]-bonded to two transition metal atoms. The transition metals are believed to bond with the hydrogen in forming the dihydride. Transition metals such as Fe, Mn or Co may be employed in the complexes although Cr constitutes the preferred metal. A multiple number of ancillary ligands such as CO are bonded to the metal atoms in the complexes. Alkyl groups and the like may be substituted on the cyclopentadienyl rings. These organometallic compounds may be used in absorption/desorption systems and in facilitated transport membrane systems for storing and separating out H[sub 2] from mixed gas streams such as the product gas from coal gasification processes. 3 figures.

Bridged transition-metal complexes and uses thereof for hydrogen separation, storage and hydrogenation

DOEpatents

Lilga, M.A.; Hallen, R.T.

1990-08-28

The present invention constitutes a class of organometallic complexes which reversibly react with hydrogen to form dihydrides and processes by which these compounds can be utilized. The class includes bimetallic complexes in which two cyclopentadienyl rings are bridged together and also separately [pi]-bonded to two transition metal atoms. The transition metals are believed to bond with the hydrogen in forming the dihydride. Transition metals such as Fe, Mn or Co may be employed in the complexes although Cr constitutes the preferred metal. A multiple number of ancillary ligands such as CO are bonded to the metal atoms in the complexes. Alkyl groups and the like may be substituted on the cyclopentadienyl rings. These organometallic compounds may be used in absorption/desorption systems and in facilitated transport membrane systems for storing and separating out H[sub 2] from mixed gas streams such as the producer gas from coal gasification processes. 3 figs.

Bridged transition-metal complexes and uses thereof for hydrogen separation, storage and hydrogenation

DOEpatents

Lilga, Michael A.; Hallen, Richard T.

1991-01-01

The present invention constitutes a class of organometallic complexes which reversibly react with hydrogen to form dihydrides and processes by which these compounds can be utilized. The class includes bimetallic complexes in which two cyclopentadienyl rings are bridged together and also separately .pi.-bonded to two transition metal atoms. The transition metals are believed to bond with the hydrogen in forming the dihydride. Transition metals such as Fe, Mn or Co may be employed in the complexes although Cr constitutes the preferred metal. A multiple number of ancilliary ligands such as CO are bonded to the metal atoms in the complexes. Alkyl groups and the like may be substituted on the cyclopentadienyl rings. These organometallic compounds may be used in absorption/desorption systems and in facilitated transport membrane systems for storing and separating out H.sub.2 from mixed gas streams such as the product gas from coal gasification processes.

Phase transition to turbulence in a pipe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goldenfeld, Nigel

Leo Kadanoff taught us much about phase transitions, turbulence and collective behavior. Here I explore the transition to turbulence in a pipe, showing how a collective mode determines the universality class. Near the transition, turbulent puffs decay either directly or through splitting, with characteristic time-scales that exhibit a super-exponential dependence on Reynolds number. Direct numerical simulations reveal that a collective mode, a so-called zonal flow emerges at large scales, activated by anisotropic turbulent fluctuations, as represented by Reynolds stress. This zonal flow imposes a shear on the turbulent fluctuations that tends to suppress their anisotropy, leading to a Landau theory of predator-prey type, in the directed percolation universality class. Stochastic simulations of this model reproduce the functional form and phenomenology of pipe flow experiments. Talk based on work performed with Hong-Yan Shih and Tsung-Lin Hsieh. This work was partially supported by the National Science Foundation through Grant NSF-DMR-1044901.

Global entanglement and quantum phase transitions in the transverse XY Heisenberg chain

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Radgohar, Roya; Montakhab, Afshin

2018-01-01

We provide a study of various quantum phase transitions occurring in the XY Heisenberg chain in a transverse magnetic field using the Meyer-Wallach (MW) measure of (global) entanglement. Such a measure, while being readily evaluated, is a multipartite measure of entanglement as opposed to more commonly used bipartite measures. Consequently, we obtain analytic expression of the measure for finite-size systems and show that it can be used to obtain critical exponents via finite-size scaling with great accuracy for the Ising universality class. We also calculate an analytic expression for the isotropic (XX) model and show that global entanglement can precisely identify the level-crossing points. The critical exponent for the isotropic transition is obtained exactly from an analytic expression for global entanglement in the thermodynamic limit. Next, the general behavior of the measure is calculated in the thermodynamic limit considering the important role of symmetries for this limit. The so-called oscillatory transition in the ferromagnetic regime can only be characterized by the thermodynamic limit where global entanglement is shown to be zero on the transition curve. Finally, the anisotropic transition is explored where it is shown that global entanglement exhibits an interesting behavior in the finite-size limit. In the thermodynamic limit, we show that global entanglement shows a cusp singularity across the Ising and anisotropic transition, while showing non-analytic behavior at the XX multicritical point. It is concluded that global entanglement, despite its relative simplicity, can be used to identify all the rich structure of the ground-state Heisenberg chain.

A class-wide phylogenetic assessment of Dothideomycetes

PubMed Central

Schoch, C.L.; Crous, P.W.; Groenewald, J.Z.; Boehm, E.W.A.; Burgess, T.I.; de Gruyter, J.; de Hoog, G.S.; Dixon, L.J.; Grube, M.; Gueidan, C.; Harada, Y.; Hatakeyama, S.; Hirayama, K.; Hosoya, T.; Huhndorf, S.M.; Hyde, K.D.; Jones, E.B.G.; Kohlmeyer, J.; Kruys, Å.; Li, Y.M.; Lücking, R.; Lumbsch, H.T.; Marvanová, L.; Mbatchou, J.S.; McVay, A.H.; Miller, A.N.; Mugambi, G.K.; Muggia, L.; Nelsen, M.P.; Nelson, P.; Owensby, C A.; Phillips, A.J.L.; Phongpaichit, S.; Pointing, S.B.; Pujade-Renaud, V.; Raja, H.A.; Plata, E. Rivas; Robbertse, B.; Ruibal, C.; Sakayaroj, J.; Sano, T.; Selbmann, L.; Shearer, C.A.; Shirouzu, T.; Slippers, B.; Suetrong, S.; Tanaka, K.; Volkmann-Kohlmeyer, B.; Wingfield, M.J.; Wood, A.R.; Woudenberg, J.H.C.; Yonezawa, H.; Zhang, Y.; Spatafora, J.W.

2009-01-01

We present a comprehensive phylogeny derived from 5 genes, nucSSU, nucLSU rDNA, TEF1, RPB1 and RPB2, for 356 isolates and 41 families (six newly described in this volume) in Dothideomycetes. All currently accepted orders in the class are represented for the first time in addition to numerous previously unplaced lineages. Subclass Pleosporomycetidae is expanded to include the aquatic order Jahnulales. An ancestral reconstruction of basic nutritional modes supports numerous transitions from saprobic life histories to plant associated and lichenised modes and a transition from terrestrial to aquatic habitats are confirmed. Finally, a genomic comparison of 6 dothideomycete genomes with other fungi finds a high level of unique protein associated with the class, supporting its delineation as a separate taxon. PMID:20169021

New trends in the optical and electronic applications of polymers containing transition-metal complexes.

PubMed

Liu, Shu-Juan; Chen, Yang; Xu, Wen-Juan; Zhao, Qiang; Huang, Wei

2012-04-13

Polymers containing transition-metal complexes exhibit excellent optical and electronic properties, which are different from those of polymers with a pure organic skeleton and combine the advantages of both polymers and metal complexes. Hence, research about this class of polymers has attracted more and more interest in recent years. Up to now, a number of novel polymers containing transition-metal complexes have been exploited, and significant advances in their optical and electronic applications have been achieved. In this article, we summarize some new research trends in the applications of this important class of optoelectronic polymers, such as chemo/biosensors, electronic memory devices and photovoltaic devices. Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Information Sharing on Children's Literacy Learning in the Transition from Swedish Preschool to School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Alatalo, Tarja; Meier, Joanna; Frank, Elisabeth

2017-01-01

Collaboration and continuity between school types are important factors that favor long-term learning and that need to be given attention in the transition between early childhood school institutions. This study highlights teachers' experiences of information sharing during the transition from Swedish preschool to preschool class (i.e., from the…

Universal scattering response across the type-II Weyl semimetal phase diagram

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rüßmann, P.; Weber, A. P.; Glott, F.; Xu, N.; Fanciulli, M.; Muff, S.; Magrez, A.; Bugnon, P.; Berger, H.; Bode, M.; Dil, J. H.; Blügel, S.; Mavropoulos, P.; Sessi, P.

2018-02-01

The discovery of Weyl semimetals represents a significant advance in topological band theory. They paradigmatically enlarged the classification of topological materials to gapless systems while simultaneously providing experimental evidence for the long-sought Weyl fermions. Beyond fundamental relevance, their high mobility, strong magnetoresistance, and the possible existence of even more exotic effects, such as the chiral anomaly, make Weyl semimetals a promising platform to develop radically new technology. Fully exploiting their potential requires going beyond the mere identification of materials and calls for a detailed characterization of their functional response, which is severely complicated by the coexistence of surface- and bulk-derived topologically protected quasiparticles, i.e., Fermi arcs and Weyl points, respectively. Here, we focus on the type-II Weyl semimetal class in which we find a stoichiometry-dependent phase transition from a trivial to a nontrivial regime. By exploring the two extreme cases of the phase diagram, we demonstrate the existence of a universal response of both surface and bulk states to perturbations. We show that quasiparticle interference patterns originate from scattering events among surface arcs. Analysis reveals that topologically nontrivial contributions are strongly suppressed by spin texture. We also show that scattering at localized impurities can generate defect-induced quasiparticles sitting close to the Weyl point energy. These give rise to strong peaks in the local density of states, which lift the Weyl node, significantly altering the pristine low-energy spectrum. Remarkably, by comparing the WTe2 and the MoTe2 cases we found that scattering response and topological transition are not directly linked. Visualizing the existence of a universal microscopic response to scattering has important consequences for understanding the unusual transport properties of this class of materials. Overall, our observations provide a unifying picture of the type-II Weyl phase diagram.

Metastability of the atomic structures of size-selected gold nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wells, Dawn M.; Rossi, Giulia; Ferrando, Riccardo; Palmer, Richard E.

2015-04-01

All nanostructures are metastable - but some are more metastable than others. Here we employ aberration-corrected electron microscopy and atomistic computer simulations to demonstrate the hierarchy of metastability in deposited, size-selected gold nanoparticles (clusters), an archetypal class of nanomaterials well known for the catalytic activity which only appears on the nanometer-scale. We show that the atomic structures presented by ``magic number'' Au561, Au742 and Au923 clusters are ``locked''. They are in fact determined by the solidification which occurs from the liquid state early in their growth (by assembly from atoms in the gas phase) followed by template growth. It is quite likely that transitions from a locked, metastable configuration to a more stable (but still metastable) structure, as observed here under the electron beam, will occur during catalytic reactions, for example.All nanostructures are metastable - but some are more metastable than others. Here we employ aberration-corrected electron microscopy and atomistic computer simulations to demonstrate the hierarchy of metastability in deposited, size-selected gold nanoparticles (clusters), an archetypal class of nanomaterials well known for the catalytic activity which only appears on the nanometer-scale. We show that the atomic structures presented by ``magic number'' Au561, Au742 and Au923 clusters are ``locked''. They are in fact determined by the solidification which occurs from the liquid state early in their growth (by assembly from atoms in the gas phase) followed by template growth. It is quite likely that transitions from a locked, metastable configuration to a more stable (but still metastable) structure, as observed here under the electron beam, will occur during catalytic reactions, for example. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c4nr05811a

The impact of measurement differences on cross-country depression prevalence estimates: A latent transition analysis.

PubMed

Scorza, Pamela; Masyn, Katherine; Salomon, Joshua A; Betancourt, Theresa S

2018-01-01

Depression is currently the second largest contributor to non-fatal disease burden globally. For that reason, economic evaluations are increasingly being conducted using data from depression prevalence estimates to analyze return on investments for services that target mental health. Psychiatric epidemiology studies have reported large cross-national differences in the prevalence of depression. These differences may impact the cost-effectiveness assessments of mental health interventions, thereby affecting decisions regarding government and multi-lateral investment in mental health services. Some portion of the differences in prevalence estimates across countries may be due to true discrepancies in depression prevalence, resulting from differential levels of risk in environmental and demographic factors. However, some portion of those differences may reflect non-invariance in the way standard tools measure depression across countries. This paper attempts to discern the extent to which measurement differences are responsible for reported differences in the prevalence of depression across countries. This analysis uses data from the World Mental Health Surveys, a coordinated series of psychiatric epidemiology studies in 27 countries using multistage household probability samples to assess prevalence and correlates of mental disorders. Data in the current study include responses to the depression module of the World Mental Health Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) in four countries: Two high-income, western countries-the United States (n = 20, 015) and New Zealand (n = 12,992)-an upper-middle income sub-Saharan African country, South Africa (n = 4,351), and a lower-middle income sub-Saharan African country, Nigeria (n = 6,752). Latent class analysis, a type of finite mixture modeling, was used to categorize respondents into underlying categories based on the variation in their responses to questions in each of three sequential parts of the CIDI depression module: 1) The initial screening items, 2) Additional duration and severity exclusion criteria, and 3) The core symptom questions. After each of these parts, exclusion criteria expel respondents from the remainder of the diagnostic interview, rendering a diagnosis of "not depressed". Latent class models were fit to each of the three parts in each of the four countries, and model fit was assessed using overall chi-square values and Pearson standardized residuals. Latent transition analysis was then applied in order to model participants' progression through the CIDI depression module. Proportion of individuals falling into each latent class and probabilities of transitioning into subsequent classes were used to estimate the percentage in each country that ultimately fell into the more symptomatic class, i.e. classified as "depressed". This latent variable design allows for a non-zero probability that individuals were incorrectly excluded from or retained in the diagnostic interview at any of the three exclusion points and therefore incorrectly diagnosed. Prevalence estimates based on the latent transition model reversed the order of depression prevalence across countries. Based on the latent transition model in this analysis, Nigeria has the highest prevalence (21.6%), followed by New Zealand (17.4%), then South Africa (15.0%), and finally the US (12.5%). That is compared to the estimates in the World Mental Health Surveys that do not allow for measurement differences, in which Nigeria had by far the lowest prevalence (3.1%), followed by South Africa (9.8%), then the United States (13.5%) and finally New Zealand (17.8%). Individuals endorsing the screening questions in Nigeria and South Africa were more likely to endorse more severe depression symptomology later in the module (i.e. they had higher transition probabilities), suggesting that individuals in the two Western countries may be more likely to endorse screening questions even when they don't have as severe symptoms. These differences narrow the range of depression prevalence between countries 14 percentage points in the original estimates to 6 percentage points in the estimate taking account of measurement differences. These data suggest fewer differences in cross-national prevalence of depression than previous estimates. Given that prevalence data are used to support key decisions regarding resource-allocation for mental health services, more critical attention should be paid to differences in the functioning of measurement across contexts and the impact these differences have on prevalence estimates. Future research should include qualitative methods as well as external measures of disease severity, such as impairment, to assess how the latent classes predict these external variables, to better understand the way that standard tools estimate depression prevalence across contexts. Adjustments could then be made to prevalence estimates used in cost-effectiveness analyses.

Absorbing states in a catalysis model with anti-Arrhenius behavior.

PubMed

de Andrade, M F; Figueiredo, W

2012-04-28

We study a model of heterogeneous catalysis with competitive reactions between two monomers A and B. We assume that reactions are dependent on temperature and follow an anti-Arrhenius mechanism. In this model, a monomer A can react with a nearest neighbor monomer A or B, however, reactions between monomers of type B are not allowed. We assume attractive interactions between nearest neighbor monomers as well as between monomers and the catalyst. Through mean-field calculations, at the level of site and pair approximations, and extensive Monte Carlo simulations, we determine the phase diagram of the model in the plane y(A) versus temperature, where y(A) is the probability that a monomer A reaches the catalyst. The model exhibits absorbing and active phases separated by lines of continuous phase transitions. We calculate the static, dynamic, and spreading exponents of the model, and despite the absorbing state be represented by many different microscopic configurations, the model belongs to the directed percolation universality class in two dimensions. Both reaction mechanisms, Arrhenius and anti-Arrhenius, give the same set of critical exponents and do not change the nature of the universality class of the catalytic models.

Food intake and nutritional status of preschool from maroon communities of the state Alagoas, Brazil

PubMed Central

Leite, Fernanda Maria de B.; Ferreira, Haroldo da Silva; Bezerra, Myrtis Katille de A.; de Assunção, Monica Lopes; Horta, Bernardo Lessa

2013-01-01

OBJECTIVE: To assess the dietary intake and the nutritional status of children from Alagoas maroon communities. METHODS: Cross-sectional study involving 724 children (12-60 months) from 39 Alagoas maroon communities. The nutritional status was investigated by anthropometric, biochemical (hemoglobin) and food consumption indicators. RESULTS: The prevalence of anemia, stunting and obesity were, respectively, 48.0, 9.7 and 6.0%. The children had a monotonous eating pattern and a considerable prevalence of inadequate intake of zinc (17.0%), folate (18.1%), iron (20.2%) and vitamins A (29.7%) and C (34.3%). Compared to the other socioeconomic classes, the E class children had lower average consumption (p<0.05) for energy, carbohydrate, vitamins A and C, folate, iron, zinc and phosphorus. CONCLUSIONS: Anemia is a serious Public Health problem. The prevalence of chronic malnutrition and obesity were similar to those observed for the children in the State as a whole, where a nutritional transition process is occuring. There was a high prevalence of inadequate food intake risk for zinc, folate, iron and vitamins A and C, suggesting the need for nutritional education actions. PMID:24473948

Quantum spin Hall state in monolayer 1T '-WTe 2

DOE PAGES

Tang, Shujie; Zhang, Chaofan; Wong, Dillon; ...

2017-06-26

A quantum spin Hall (QSH) insulator is a novel two-dimensional quantum state of matter that features quantized Hall conductance in the absence of a magnetic field, resulting from topologically protected dissipationless edge states that bridge the energy gap opened by band inversion and strong spin–orbit coupling. By investigating the electronic structure of epitaxially grown monolayer 1T '-WTe 2 using angle-resolved photoemission (ARPES) and first-principles calculations, we observe clear signatures of topological band inversion and bandgap opening, which are the hallmarks of a QSH state. Scanning tunnelling microscopy measurements further confirm the correct crystal structure and the existence of a bulkmore » bandgap, and provide evidence for a modified electronic structure near the edge that is consistent with the expectations for a QSH insulator. Our results establish monolayer 1T '-WTe 2 as a new class of QSH insulator with large band gap in a robust two-dimensional materials family of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs).« less

Quantum spin Hall state in monolayer 1T '-WTe 2

DOE PAGES

Tang, Shujie; Zhang, Chaofan; Wong, Dillon; ...

2017-06-26

A quantum spin Hall (QSH) insulator is a novel two-dimensional quantum state of matter that features quantized Hall conductance in the absence of a magnetic field, resulting from topologically protected dissipationless edge states that bridge the energy gap opened by band inversion and strong spin–orbit coupling. By investigating the electronic structure of epitaxially grown monolayer 1T '-WTe 2 using angle-resolved photoemission (ARPES) and first-principles calculations, we observe clear signatures of topological band inversion and bandgap opening, which are the hallmarks of a QSH state. Scanning tunnelling microscopy measurements further confirm the correct crystal structure and the existence of a bulkmore » bandgap, and provide evidence for a modified electronic structure near the edge that is consistent with the expectations for a QSH insulator. Finally, our results establish monolayer 1T '-WTe 2 as a new class of QSH insulator with large band gap in a robust two-dimensional materials family of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs).« less

Dynamic epigenetic regulation of glioblastoma tumorigenicity through LSD1 modulation of MYC expression

PubMed Central

Kozono, David; Li, Jie; Nitta, Masayuki; Sampetrean, Oltea; Gonda, David; Kushwaha, Deepa S.; Merzon, Dmitry; Ramakrishnan, Valya; Zhu, Shan; Zhu, Kaya; Matsui, Hiroko; Harismendy, Olivier; Hua, Wei; Mao, Ying; Kwon, Chang-Hyuk; Saya, Hideyuki; Nakano, Ichiro; Pizzo, Donald P.; VandenBerg, Scott R.; Chen, Clark C.

2015-01-01

The available evidence suggests that the lethality of glioblastoma is driven by small subpopulations of cells that self-renew and exhibit tumorigenicity. It remains unclear whether tumorigenicity exists as a static property of a few cells or as a dynamically acquired property. We used tumor-sphere and xenograft formation as assays for tumorigenicity and examined subclones isolated from established and primary glioblastoma lines. Our results indicate that glioblastoma tumorigenicity is largely deterministic, yet the property can be acquired spontaneously at low frequencies. Further, these dynamic transitions are governed by epigenetic reprogramming through the lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1). LSD depletion increases trimethylation of histone 3 lysine 4 at the avian myelocytomatosis viral oncogene homolog (MYC) locus, which elevates MYC expression. MYC, in turn, regulates oligodendrocyte lineage transcription factor 2 (OLIG2), SRY (sex determining region Y)-box 2 (SOX2), and POU class 3 homeobox 2 (POU3F2), a core set of transcription factors required for reprogramming glioblastoma cells into stem-like states. Our model suggests epigenetic regulation of key transcription factors governs transitions between tumorigenic states and provides a framework for glioblastoma therapeutic development. PMID:26159421

Teaching argumentation and scientific discourse using the ribosomal peptidyl transferase reaction.

PubMed

Johnson, R Jeremy

2011-01-01

Argumentation and discourse are two integral parts of scientific investigation that are often overlooked in undergraduate science education. To address this limitation, the story of peptide bond formation by the ribosome can be used to illustrate the importance of evidence, claims, arguments, and counterarguments in scientific discourse. With the determination of the first structure of the large ribosomal subunit bound to a transition state inhibitor came an initial hypothesis about the role of the ribosome in peptide bond formation. This initial hypothesis was based on a few central assumptions about the transition state mimic and acid-base catalysis by serine proteases. The initial proposed mechanism started a flurry of scientific discourse in experimental articles and commentaries that tested the validity of the initial proposed mechanism. Using this civil argumentation as a guide, class discussions, assignments, and a debate were designed that allow students to analyze and question the claims and evidence about the mechanism of peptide bond synthesis. In the end, students develop a sense of critical skepticism, and an understanding of scientific discourse, while learning about the current consensus mechanism for peptide bond synthesis. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education Vol. 39, No. 3, pp. 185-190, 2011. Copyright © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Hubble Case Studies of Transiting Giant Exoplanets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wilkins, Ashlee N.; Deming, Drake; Barker, Adrian; Benneke, Björn; Delrez, Laetitia; Gillon, Michaël; Hamilton, Douglas P.; Jehin, Emmanuel; Knutson, Heather; Lewis, Nikole K.; Madhusudhan, Nikku; Mandell, Avi; McCullough, Peter R.; Wakeford, Hannah R.

2017-01-01

The study of planets around other stars has entered a science-rich era of characterization, in which detailed information about individual planets can be inferred from observations beyond mere detection, which only yields bulk properties like mass or radius. Characterization probes more revealing quantities such as chemical abundances, albedo, and temperature/pressure profiles, which allow us to address larger questions of planet formation mechanisms, planetary evolution, and, eventually, habitability and presence of biosignature gases. The primary method for characterization of close-in planets is transit spectroscopy. This dissertation talk will focus on transiting exoplanet case studies with the Hubble Space Telescope’ Wide-Field Camera-3 (WFC-3) as a tool of exoplanet characterization in a near-infrared band dominated by strong water features. I will first present a characterization the WFC-3 systematic effects that must be mitigated to extract the incredibly small (tens to 200 parts per million) signals, and then a study of four transiting giant planets (HATS-7b, HAT-p-3b, HD 149026b, and WASP-18b) in transmission, and two (WASP-18b and CoRoT-2b) in eclipse. Finally, I will discuss the role of transit timing monitoring of WASP-18b with HST and other observatories as another clue to its evolution as a close-in, massive planet. The five planets range from Neptune-class to Super-Jupiter-class in size/mass. Though these planets may be relatively rare, their observability represents a unique opportunity to probe planet formation and evolution, as well as atmospheric structures in a high-irradiation environment. These observations also yield insights into aerosols (i.e. clouds/hazes) in the atmosphere; clouds and/or hazes should significantly impact atmospheric chemistry and observational signatures, and we as a community must get a better handle on the phenomenon of aerosols in advance of the next generation of space observatories, including JWST and WFIRST. Further, as part of a large Hubble program, we are working to advance the state of exoplanet atmosphere observations from single, planet-by-planet, case studies, to an understanding of the large, hot, gaseous planets as a population.

Direct Evidence for Maser Emission from the 36.2 GHz Class I Transition of Methanol in NGC253

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Xi; Ellingsen, Simon P.; Shen, Zhi-Qiang; McCarthy, Tiege P.; Zhong, Wei-Ye; Deng, Hui

2018-04-01

Observations made with the Jansky Very large Array (JVLA) at an angular resolution of ∼0.″1 have detected class I methanol maser emission from the 36.2 GHz transition toward the starburst galaxy NGC 253. The methanol emission is detected toward four sites which lie within the regions of extended methanol emission detected in previous lower angular resolution (a few arcseconds) observations. The peak flux densities of the detected compact components are in the range 3–9 mJy beam‑1. Combining the JVLA data with single-dish observations from the Shanghai Tianma Radio Telescope (TMRT) and previous interferometric observations with the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA), we show that the 36.2 GHz class I methanol emission consists of both extended and compact structures, with typical scales of ∼6″ (0.1 kpc) and ∼0.″05 (1 pc), respectively. The strongest components have a brightness temperature of >103 K, much higher than the maximum kinetic temperature (∼100 K) of the thermal methanol emission from NGC 253. Therefore, these observations conclusively demonstrate for the first time the presence of maser emission from a class I methanol transition in an external galaxy.

Systems Operation Studies for Automated Guideway Transit Systems - Classification and Definition of AGT Systems

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1980-02-01

The report describes the development of an AGT classification structure. Five classes are defined based on three system characteristics: service type, minimum travelling unit capacity, and maximum operating velocity. The five classes defined are: Per...

Generic dynamical phase transition in one-dimensional bulk-driven lattice gases with exclusion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lazarescu, Alexandre

2017-06-01

Dynamical phase transitions are crucial features of the fluctuations of statistical systems, corresponding to boundaries between qualitatively different mechanisms of maintaining unlikely values of dynamical observables over long periods of time. They manifest themselves in the form of non-analyticities in the large deviation function of those observables. In this paper, we look at bulk-driven exclusion processes with open boundaries. It is known that the standard asymmetric simple exclusion process exhibits a dynamical phase transition in the large deviations of the current of particles flowing through it. That phase transition has been described thanks to specific calculation methods relying on the model being exactly solvable, but more general methods have also been used to describe the extreme large deviations of that current, far from the phase transition. We extend those methods to a large class of models based on the ASEP, where we add arbitrary spatial inhomogeneities in the rates and short-range potentials between the particles. We show that, as for the regular ASEP, the large deviation function of the current scales differently with the size of the system if one considers very high or very low currents, pointing to the existence of a dynamical phase transition between those two regimes: high current large deviations are extensive in the system size, and the typical states associated to them are Coulomb gases, which are highly correlated; low current large deviations do not depend on the system size, and the typical states associated to them are anti-shocks, consistently with a hydrodynamic behaviour. Finally, we illustrate our results numerically on a simple example, and we interpret the transition in terms of the current pushing beyond its maximal hydrodynamic value, as well as relate it to the appearance of Tracy-Widom distributions in the relaxation statistics of such models. , which features invited work from the best early-career researchers working within the scope of J. Phys. A. This project is part of the Journal of Physics series’ 50th anniversary celebrations in 2017. Alexandre Lazarescu was selected by the Editorial Board of J. Phys. A as an Emerging Talent.

Experimentally demonstrate the surface state and optical topological phase transition of one dimensional hyperbolic metamaterials in Otto and KR configuration (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wei, Chih Chung; Un, Leng-Wai; Yen, Ta-Jen

2017-05-01

One-dimension hyperbolic metamaterials (1DHMMs) possess marvelous and considerable applications: hyperlens, spontaneous emission engineering and nonlinear optics. Conventionally, effective medium theory, which is only valid for long wavelength limit, was used to predict and analyze the optical properties and applications. In our previous works, we considered a binary 1DHMM which consists of alternative metallic and dielectric layers, and rigorously demonstrated the existence of surface states and bulk-interface correspondence with the plasmonic band theory from the coupled surface plasmon point of view. In the plasmonic band structure, we can classify 1DHMMs into two classes: metallic-like and dielectric-like, depending on the formation of the surface states with dielectric and metallic material, respectively. Band crossing exists only when the dielectric layers are thicker than the metallic ones, which is independent from the dielectric constants. Furthermore, the 1DHMMs are all metallic-like without band crossing. On the other hand, the 1DHMMs with band crossing are metal-like before the band crossing point, while they are dielectric-like after the band crossing point. In this work, we measure the surface states formed by dielectric material and 1DHMMs with band crossing in Otto configuration. With white light source and fixed incident angle, we measure the reflectance to investigate the existence of the surface states of 1DHMMs with various thickness ratio of metallic to dielectric layers. Conclusively, our results show that the surface states of 1DHMMs exist only when the thickness ratio is larger than 0.15. The disappearance of the surface states indicates the topological phase transition of 1DHMMs. Our experimental results will benefit new applications for manipulating light on the surface of hyperbolic metamaterials.

The Influence of Static and Dynamic Intrapersonal Factors on Longitudinal Patterns of Peer Victimization through Mid-adolescence: a Latent Transition Analysis.

PubMed

Haltigan, John D; Vaillancourt, Tracy

2018-01-01

Using 6 cycles (grade 5 through grade 10) of data obtained from a large prospective sample of Canadian school children (N = 700; 52.6% girls), we replicated previous findings concerning the empirical definition of peer victimization (i.e., being bullied) and examined static and dynamic intrapersonal factors associated with its emergence and experiential continuity through mid-adolescence. Latent class analyses consistently revealed a low victimization and an elevated victimization class across time, supporting previous work suggesting peer victimization was defined by degree rather than by type (e.g., physical). Using latent transition analyses (LTA), we found that child sex, parent-perceived pubertal development, and internalizing symptoms influenced the probability of transitioning from the low to the elevated victimization class across time. Higher-order extensions within the LTA modeling framework revealed a lasting effect of grade 5 victimization status on grade 10 victimization status and a large effect of chronic victimization on later parent-reported youth internalizing symptoms (net of prior parent-reported internalizing symptoms) in later adolescence (grade 11). Implications of the current findings for the experience of peer victimization, as well as the application of latent transition analysis as a useful approach for peer victimization research, are discussed.

40 CFR 1054.740 - What special provisions apply for generating and using emission credits?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 2013 model years. You may not use these transitional credits for Class I engines. (2) Enduring credits... in the 2012 and 2013 model years for Class I engines and only in the 2011 through 2013 model years... credits you may use under this paragraph (c) for each engine class. (4) For 2013 and earlier model years...

Do Specific Transitional Patterns of Antisocial Behavior during Adolescence Increase Risk for Problems in Young Adulthood?

PubMed Central

Cook, Emily C.; Pflieger, Jacqueline C.; Connell, Arin M.; Connell, Christian M.

2014-01-01

Latent transition analysis was used to identify patterns and trajectories of antisocial behavior (ASB) and their association with young adult outcomes in a nationally representative sample of adolescents (N = 5,422; 53.9% female). Participants were on average 13.96 years of age (SD= 1.06) at wave 1 of the study. Latent class analysis identified four classes of ASB including a non-ASB class, an aggressive class, a petty theft class, and a serious ASB class. In general, youth who were classified as serious stable ASB were the most at risk for problematic functioning in young adulthood. Youth who escalated to more serious patterns of ASB or reduced involvement also were at greater risk of negative outcomes in young adulthood compared to stable non-ASB youth, although they generally fared better than youth involved in stable patterns of more serious ASB. Gender differences indicated that involvement in ASB was a greater risk factor for alcohol use among boys and a greater risk factor for depression among girls in young adulthood. Results are discussed in terms of the predictive validity of classes of ASB to functioning in young adulthood and the implications of this research for prevention efforts. PMID:24893667

Linear and nonlinear dynamo properties of time-dependent ABC flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brummell, N. H.; Cattaneo, F.; Tobias, S. M.

2001-04-01

The linear and nonlinear dynamo properties of a class of periodically forced flows is considered. The forcing functions are chosen to drive, in the absence of magnetic effects (kinematic regime), a time-dependent version of the ABC flow with A= B= C=1. The time-dependence consists of a harmonic displacement of the origin along the line x= y= z=1 with amplitude ɛ and frequency Ω. The finite-time Lyapunov exponents are computed for several values of ɛ and Ω. It is found that for values of these parameters near unity chaotic streamlines occupy most of the volume. In this parameter range, and for moderate kinetic and magnetic Reynolds numbers, the basic flow is both hydrodynamically and hydromagnetically unstable. However, the dynamo instability has a higher growth rate than the hydrodynamic one, so that the nonlinear regime can be reached with negligible departures from the basic ABC flow. In the nonlinear regime, two distinct classes of behaviour are observed. In one, the exponential growth of the magnetic field saturates and the dynamo settles to a stationary state whereby the magnetic energy is maintained indefinitely. In the other the velocity field evolves to a nondynamo state and the magnetic field, following an initial amplification, decays to zero. The transition from the dynamo to the nondynamo state can be mediated by the hydrodynamic instability or by magnetic perturbations. The properties of the ensuing nonlinear dynamo states are investigated for different parameter values. The implications for a general theory of nonlinear dynamos are discussed.

A Study of the Relationship between the Developmental Assets Framework and the Academic Success of At-Risk Elementary to Middle School Transitioning Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jackson, Courtney

2010-01-01

The transitional period between elementary and middle school remains an area of concern for educators. Many middle schools are plagued with retention issues, core class failures, increased discipline problems, and decreased attendance rates among students during their transitional period. The issues increase for students labeled as at-risk…

Observations of Non Typical Masers at the RT-22 Radio Telescope in 2004-2013

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shulga, V. M.; Antyufeyev, O. V.; Zubrin, S. Y.; Myshenko, V. V.; Piddyachiy, V. I.; Korolev, A. M.; Patoka, O. M.

2017-06-01

Purpose: Some peculiarities of emission of Class I methanol masers on the 80-71A+ transition at 95 GHz in sources closely associated with protostar-forming regions and in supernova remnants are studied. Here belongs the investigation of SiO (J=2-1) maser variability in R Cassiopeiae, too. Design/methodology/approach: Search for Class I methanol masers is based on the idea of coincidence of regions of their emission with sources of OH masing transition in the bottom level of energy at frequency of 1720 MHz (2Π3/2 J=3/2 F=2-1). Findings: Two methanol masers on transition 80-71A+ (95 GHz) in the supernova remnants IC 443 and Kes 79 are detected. Variabilities of SiO maser emission on transition J=2-1 in R Cassiopeiae are shown for the first time. Conclusions: Variability of methanol and SiO masers is their general feature. On the example of three objects, the possibility of using the 1720 MHz OH maser as an indicator in the search for Class I methanol masers is shown. Especially it is important in the study of methanol maser emission in supernova remnants that has been proved to be true by detection of methanol masers on transition 80-71A+ (95 GHz) in IC 443 and Kes 79. Features of spectra variability of emission in R Cassiopeiae testify to formation and disappearance of SiO (J=2-1) masers.

Social class and workplace harassment during the transition to adulthood.

PubMed

McLaughlin, Heather; Uggen, Christopher; Blackstone, Amy

2008-01-01

Young disadvantaged workers are especially vulnerable to harassment due to their age and social class position. As young people enter the workforce, their experiences of, and reactions to, harassment may vary dramatically from those of older adult workers. Three case studies introduce theory and research on the relationship between social class and harassment of young workers. We suggest two mechanisms through which class may structure harassment experiences: (1) extremely vulnerable youth are directly targeted based on their social class origins, and (2) the type and condition of youth employment, which is structured by class background, indirectly affect experiences of harassment.

Does Epileptiform Activity Represent a Failure of Neuromodulation to Control Central Pattern Generator-Like Neocortical Behavior?

PubMed Central

Traub, Roger D.; Whittington, Miles A.; Hall, Stephen P.

2017-01-01

Rhythmic motor patterns in invertebrates are often driven by specialized “central pattern generators” (CPGs), containing small numbers of neurons, which are likely to be “identifiable” in one individual compared with another. The dynamics of any particular CPG lies under the control of modulatory substances, amines, or peptides, entering the CPG from outside it, or released by internal constituent neurons; consequently, a particular CPG can generate a given rhythm at different frequencies and amplitudes, and perhaps even generate a repertoire of distinctive patterns. The mechanisms exploited by neuromodulators in this respect are manifold: Intrinsic conductances (e.g., calcium, potassium channels), conductance state of postsynaptic receptors, degree of plasticity, and magnitude and kinetics of transmitter release can all be affected. The CPG concept has been generalized to vertebrate motor pattern generating circuits (e.g., for locomotion), which may contain large numbers of neurons – a construct that is sensible, if there is enough redundancy: that is, the large number of neurons consists of only a small number of classes, and the cells within any one class act stereotypically. Here we suggest that CPG and modulator ideas may also help to understand cortical oscillations, normal ones, and particularly transition to epileptiform pathology. Furthermore, in the case illustrated, the mechanism of the transition appears to be an exaggerated form of a normal modulatory action used to influence sensory processing. PMID:29093667

Electronic excitations in finite and infinite polyenes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tavan, Paul; Schulten, Klaus

1987-09-01

We study electronic excitations in long polyenes, i.e., in one-dimensional strongly correlated electron systems which are neither infinite nor small. The excitations are described within Hubbard and Pariser-Parr-Pople (PPP) models by means of a multiple-reference double-excitation expansion [P. Tavan and K. Schulten, J. Chem. Phys. 85, 6602 (1986)]. We find that quantized ``transition'' momenta can be assigned to electronic excitations in finite chains. These momenta link excitation energies of finite chains to dispersion relations of infinite chains, i.e., they bridge the gap between finite and infinite systems. A key result is the following: Excitation energies E in polyenes with N carbon atoms are described very accurately by the formula Eβ=ΔEβ0+αβk(N)q, q=1,2,..., where β denotes the excitation class, ΔEβ0 the energy gap in the infinite system [αβk(N)>0], and k(N) the elementary transition momentum. The parameters ΔEβ0 and αβ are determined for covalent and ionic excitations in alternating and nonalternating polyenes. The covalent excitations are combinations of triplet excitations T, i.e., T, TT, TTT, . . . . The lowest singlet excitations in the infinite polyene, e.g., in polyacetylene or polydiacetylene, are TT states. Available evidence proves that these states can dissociate into separate triplets. The bond structure of TT states is that of a neutral soliton-antisoliton pair. The level density of TT states in long polyenes is high enough to allow dissociation into separate solitons.

Social context differentially modulates activity of two interneuron populations in an avian basal ganglia nucleus

PubMed Central

2016-01-01

Basal ganglia circuits are critical for the modulation of motor performance across behavioral states. In zebra finches, a cortical-basal ganglia circuit dedicated to singing is necessary for males to adjust their song performance and transition between spontaneous singing, when they are alone (“undirected” song), and a performance state, when they sing to a female (“female-directed” song). However, we know little about the role of different basal ganglia cell types in this behavioral transition or the degree to which behavioral context modulates the activity of different neuron classes. To investigate whether interneurons in the songbird basal ganglia encode information about behavioral state, I recorded from two interneuron types, fast-spiking interneurons (FSI) and external pallidal (GPe) neurons, in the songbird basal ganglia nucleus area X during both female-directed and undirected singing. Both cell types exhibited higher firing rates, more frequent bursting, and greater trial-by-trial variability in firing when male zebra finches produced undirected songs compared with when they produced female-directed songs. However, the magnitude and direction of changes to the firing rate, bursting, and variability of spiking between when birds sat silently and when they sang undirected and female-directed song varied between FSI and GPe neurons. These data indicate that social modulation of activity important for eliciting changes in behavioral state is present in multiple cell types within area X and suggests that social interactions may adjust circuit dynamics during singing at multiple points within the circuit. PMID:27628208

Latino Students' Transition to Middle School: Role of Bilingual Education and School Ethnic Context.

PubMed

Hughes, Jan N; Im, MyungHee; Kwok, Oi-Man; Cham, Heining; West, Stephen G

2015-09-01

Participants were 204 academically at-risk Latino students recruited into a study when in first grade and followed for 9 years. Using piecewise latent growth curve analyses, we investigated trajectories of teacher-rated behavioral engagement and student-reported school belonging during elementary school and middle school and the association between trajectories and enrollment in bilingual education classes in elementary school and a change in school ethnic congruence across the transition to middle school. Overall, students experienced a drop in school belonging and behavioral engagement across the transition. A moderating effect of ethnic congruence on bilingual enrollment was found. A decline in ethnic congruence was associated with more positive trajectories for students previously enrolled in bilingual classes but more negative trajectories for non-bilingual students.

Latino Students' Transition to Middle School: Role of Bilingual Education and School Ethnic Context

PubMed Central

Hughes, Jan N.; Im, MyungHee; Kwok, Oi-man; Cham, Heining; West, Stephen G.

2014-01-01

Participants were 204 academically at-risk Latino students recruited into a study when in first grade and followed for 9 years. Using piecewise latent growth curve analyses, we investigated trajectories of teacher-rated behavioral engagement and student-reported school belonging during elementary school and middle school and the association between trajectories and enrollment in bilingual education classes in elementary school and a change in school ethnic congruence across the transition to middle school. Overall, students experienced a drop in school belonging and behavioral engagement across the transition. A moderating effect of ethnic congruence on bilingual enrollment was found. A decline in ethnic congruence was associated with more positive trajectories for students previously enrolled in bilingual classes but more negative trajectories for non-bilingual students. PMID:26347591

Validating clustering of molecular dynamics simulations using polymer models.

PubMed

Phillips, Joshua L; Colvin, Michael E; Newsam, Shawn

2011-11-14

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation is a powerful technique for sampling the meta-stable and transitional conformations of proteins and other biomolecules. Computational data clustering has emerged as a useful, automated technique for extracting conformational states from MD simulation data. Despite extensive application, relatively little work has been done to determine if the clustering algorithms are actually extracting useful information. A primary goal of this paper therefore is to provide such an understanding through a detailed analysis of data clustering applied to a series of increasingly complex biopolymer models. We develop a novel series of models using basic polymer theory that have intuitive, clearly-defined dynamics and exhibit the essential properties that we are seeking to identify in MD simulations of real biomolecules. We then apply spectral clustering, an algorithm particularly well-suited for clustering polymer structures, to our models and MD simulations of several intrinsically disordered proteins. Clustering results for the polymer models provide clear evidence that the meta-stable and transitional conformations are detected by the algorithm. The results for the polymer models also help guide the analysis of the disordered protein simulations by comparing and contrasting the statistical properties of the extracted clusters. We have developed a framework for validating the performance and utility of clustering algorithms for studying molecular biopolymer simulations that utilizes several analytic and dynamic polymer models which exhibit well-behaved dynamics including: meta-stable states, transition states, helical structures, and stochastic dynamics. We show that spectral clustering is robust to anomalies introduced by structural alignment and that different structural classes of intrinsically disordered proteins can be reliably discriminated from the clustering results. To our knowledge, our framework is the first to utilize model polymers to rigorously test the utility of clustering algorithms for studying biopolymers.

Validating clustering of molecular dynamics simulations using polymer models

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation is a powerful technique for sampling the meta-stable and transitional conformations of proteins and other biomolecules. Computational data clustering has emerged as a useful, automated technique for extracting conformational states from MD simulation data. Despite extensive application, relatively little work has been done to determine if the clustering algorithms are actually extracting useful information. A primary goal of this paper therefore is to provide such an understanding through a detailed analysis of data clustering applied to a series of increasingly complex biopolymer models. Results We develop a novel series of models using basic polymer theory that have intuitive, clearly-defined dynamics and exhibit the essential properties that we are seeking to identify in MD simulations of real biomolecules. We then apply spectral clustering, an algorithm particularly well-suited for clustering polymer structures, to our models and MD simulations of several intrinsically disordered proteins. Clustering results for the polymer models provide clear evidence that the meta-stable and transitional conformations are detected by the algorithm. The results for the polymer models also help guide the analysis of the disordered protein simulations by comparing and contrasting the statistical properties of the extracted clusters. Conclusions We have developed a framework for validating the performance and utility of clustering algorithms for studying molecular biopolymer simulations that utilizes several analytic and dynamic polymer models which exhibit well-behaved dynamics including: meta-stable states, transition states, helical structures, and stochastic dynamics. We show that spectral clustering is robust to anomalies introduced by structural alignment and that different structural classes of intrinsically disordered proteins can be reliably discriminated from the clustering results. To our knowledge, our framework is the first to utilize model polymers to rigorously test the utility of clustering algorithms for studying biopolymers. PMID:22082218

Non-equilibrium Phase Transitions: Activated Random Walks at Criticality

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cabezas, M.; Rolla, L. T.; Sidoravicius, V.

2014-06-01

In this paper we present rigorous results on the critical behavior of the Activated Random Walk model. We conjecture that on a general class of graphs, including , and under general initial conditions, the system at the critical point does not reach an absorbing state. We prove this for the case where the sleep rate is infinite. Moreover, for the one-dimensional asymmetric system, we identify the scaling limit of the flow through the origin at criticality. The case remains largely open, with the exception of the one-dimensional totally-asymmetric case, for which it is known that there is no fixation at criticality.

Physical Regulation of the Self-Assembly of Tobacco Mosaic Virus Coat Protein

PubMed Central

Kegel, Willem K.; van der Schoot, Paul

2006-01-01

We present a statistical mechanical model based on the principle of mass action that explains the main features of the in vitro aggregation behavior of the coat protein of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). By comparing our model to experimentally obtained stability diagrams, titration experiments, and calorimetric data, we pin down three competing factors that regulate the transitions between the different kinds of aggregated state of the coat protein. These are hydrophobic interactions, electrostatic interactions, and the formation of so-called “Caspar” carboxylate pairs. We suggest that these factors could be universal and relevant to a large class of virus coat proteins. PMID:16731551

Finite-size scaling analysis in the two-photon Dicke model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Xiang-You; Zhang, Yu-Yu

2018-05-01

We perform a Schrieffer-Wolff transformation to the two-photon Dicke model by keeping the leading-order correction with a quartic term of the field, which is crucial for finite-size scaling analysis. Besides a spectral collapse as a consequence of two-photon interaction, the super-radiant phase transition is indicated by the vanishing of the excitation energy and the uniform atomic polarization. The scaling functions for the ground-state energy and the atomic pseudospin are derived analytically. The scaling exponents of the observables are the same as those in the standard Dicke model, indicating they are in the same universality class.

Instantons in Quantum Annealing: Thermally Assisted Tunneling Vs Quantum Monte Carlo Simulations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jiang, Zhang; Smelyanskiy, Vadim N.; Boixo, Sergio; Isakov, Sergei V.; Neven, Hartmut; Mazzola, Guglielmo; Troyer, Matthias

2015-01-01

Recent numerical result (arXiv:1512.02206) from Google suggested that the D-Wave quantum annealer may have an asymptotic speed-up than simulated annealing, however, the asymptotic advantage disappears when it is compared to quantum Monte Carlo (a classical algorithm despite its name). We show analytically that the asymptotic scaling of quantum tunneling is exactly the same as the escape rate in quantum Monte Carlo for a class of problems. Thus, the Google result might be explained in our framework. We also found that the transition state in quantum Monte Carlo corresponds to the instanton solution in quantum tunneling problems, which is observed in numerical simulations.

Stochastic modelling of a single ion channel: an alternating renewal approach with application to limited time resolution.

PubMed

Milne, R K; Yeo, G F; Edeson, R O; Madsen, B W

1988-04-22

Stochastic models of ion channels have been based largely on Markov theory where individual states and transition rates must be specified, and sojourn-time densities for each state are constrained to be exponential. This study presents an approach based on random-sum methods and alternating-renewal theory, allowing individual states to be grouped into classes provided the successive sojourn times in a given class are independent and identically distributed. Under these conditions Markov models form a special case. The utility of the approach is illustrated by considering the effects of limited time resolution (modelled by using a discrete detection limit, xi) on the properties of observable events, with emphasis on the observed open-time (xi-open-time). The cumulants and Laplace transform for a xi-open-time are derived for a range of Markov and non-Markov models; several useful approximations to the xi-open-time density function are presented. Numerical studies show that the effects of limited time resolution can be extreme, and also highlight the relative importance of the various model parameters. The theory could form a basis for future inferential studies in which parameter estimation takes account of limited time resolution in single channel records. Appendixes include relevant results concerning random sums and a discussion of the role of exponential distributions in Markov models.

1981 census of India: some implications for family planning.

PubMed

Ramabhadran, V K

1983-01-01

India's 1981 census disclosed a population of 684 million with an addition of 136 million during the 1971-81 decade and a decadal growth rate of 24.75% or 2.21% annually, showing little change from the previous decade. An important feature brought out by the 1981 census is that the problem of rapid population growth in India is essentially a regional problem. The growth rates among the 15 major States (those with a population in excess of 10 million) has varied from 17.23 in Tamil Nadu to 32.36 in Rajasthan. In 7 States the growth rate has increased creating a higher momentum to population growth. The implications of the 1981 census for policy action are both at the national level and at the State level. In States where the growth rate has dropped the prime explanation is generally fertility. The 1981 census growth rate brings into focus the different combinations of birth and death rates in different States indicating different phases of demographic transition. At the national level, set against the goal of net reproductive rate (NRR) = 1 (implying a birthrate of 21 and a death rate of 9.2), the trend in the birthrate during the 2nd quinquennium of the 1970s is to plateau around 33/1000. The drop in the birthrate from 40+ to 33/1000 has been brought about through a family planning program largely based on sterilization and accepted by high parity and older couples. During the past few years the contraception level has been plateauing at 23%. If a further and continuous decline in fertility is to be realized, the family planning program needs a redirection towards younger couples with increased emphasis on spacing methods while maintaining the targeted levels of sterilization. This requires a change in strategy. As has been demonstrated in countries in Asia and Latin America, spacing methods are particularly suited to a community based delivery system with the government ensuring adequate and continuous supply of contraceptives. The 2nd stage of fertility decline in India requires that family planning during the 1981-91 decade should be made consistent with the needs and economic well-being of the people. Development must be increasingly population oriented. To indicate what type of developmental activity is to be assigned priority in conjunction with the family planning program, the 15 major States are classified on a demographic transition scale, based on the vital rates for 1980. Class E States in the early stage of transition require a strengthening of family planning and health programs. States in the middle level of transition require that their family planning programs focus on quality and outreach in rural areas. A progressive record of socioeconomic development along with family planning is required in states poised for completion of their demographic transition.

Operational Assessment of Paralympics Transit Systems : Low-Floor Buses, Lift-Equipped Buses, and Signage

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1997-02-01

From August 15-25, Atlanta hosted the paralympics, a world-class athletic competition for athletes with disabilities. To support the Paralympics, a specialized transit service was planned and deployed to service the travel needs of athletes, trainers...

49 CFR 173.50 - Class 1-Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... insensitive that there is very little probability of initiation or of transition from burning to detonation under normal conditions of transport. 1 The probability of transition from burning to detonation is... contain only extremely insensitive detonating substances and which demonstrate a negligible probability of...

New photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy

PubMed Central

Abrahamse, Heidi; Hamblin, Michael R.

2016-01-01

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) was discovered more than 100 years ago, and has since become a well-studied therapy for cancer and various non-malignant diseases including infections. PDT uses photosensitizers (PSs, non-toxic dyes) that are activated by absorption of visible light to initially form the excited singlet state, followed by transition to the long-lived excited triplet state. This triplet state can undergo photochemical reactions in the presence of oxygen to form reactive oxygen species (including singlet oxygen) that can destroy cancer cells, pathogenic microbes and unwanted tissue. The dual-specificity of PDT relies on accumulation of the PS in diseased tissue and also on localized light delivery. Tetrapyrrole structures such as porphyrins, chlorins, bacteriochlorins and phthalocyanines with appropriate functionalization have been widely investigated in PDT, and several compounds have received clinical approval. Other molecular structures including the synthetic dyes classes as phenothiazinium, squaraine and BODIPY (boron-dipyrromethene), transition metal complexes, and natural products such as hypericin, riboflavin and curcumin have been investigated. Targeted PDT uses PSs conjugated to antibodies, peptides, proteins and other ligands with specific cellular receptors. Nanotechnology has made a significant contribution to PDT, giving rise to approaches such as nanoparticle delivery, fullerene-based PSs, titania photocatalysis, and the use of upconverting nanoparticles to increase light penetration into tissue. Future directions include photochemical internalization, genetically encoded protein PSs, theranostics, two-photon absorption PDT, and sonodynamic therapy using ultrasound. PMID:26862179

New photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy.

PubMed

Abrahamse, Heidi; Hamblin, Michael R

2016-02-15

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) was discovered more than 100 years ago, and has since become a well-studied therapy for cancer and various non-malignant diseases including infections. PDT uses photosensitizers (PSs, non-toxic dyes) that are activated by absorption of visible light to initially form the excited singlet state, followed by transition to the long-lived excited triplet state. This triplet state can undergo photochemical reactions in the presence of oxygen to form reactive oxygen species (including singlet oxygen) that can destroy cancer cells, pathogenic microbes and unwanted tissue. The dual-specificity of PDT relies on accumulation of the PS in diseased tissue and also on localized light delivery. Tetrapyrrole structures such as porphyrins, chlorins, bacteriochlorins and phthalocyanines with appropriate functionalization have been widely investigated in PDT, and several compounds have received clinical approval. Other molecular structures including the synthetic dyes classes as phenothiazinium, squaraine and BODIPY (boron-dipyrromethene), transition metal complexes, and natural products such as hypericin, riboflavin and curcumin have been investigated. Targeted PDT uses PSs conjugated to antibodies, peptides, proteins and other ligands with specific cellular receptors. Nanotechnology has made a significant contribution to PDT, giving rise to approaches such as nanoparticle delivery, fullerene-based PSs, titania photocatalysis, and the use of upconverting nanoparticles to increase light penetration into tissue. Future directions include photochemical internalization, genetically encoded protein PSs, theranostics, two-photon absorption PDT, and sonodynamic therapy using ultrasound. © 2016 Authors; published by Portland Press Limited.

About the nonclassicality of states defined by nonpositivity of the P-quasiprobability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wünsche, Alfred

2004-02-01

The definition of nonclassical states in quantum optics by the nonpositivity of their Glauber-Sudarshan quasiprobability P(\\alpha,\\alpha^*)\\leftrightarrow P(q,p) is investigated and it is shown that it hides some serious problems. It leads to a subdivision of squeezed thermal states into classical and nonclassical states which is difficult to interpret physically by some qualitatively different behaviour of the states. Nonclassical states are found in arbitrarily small neighbourhoods of every classical state that is illustrated by a very artificial modified thermal state. The observability of the criterion in comparison to that for nonclassicality of states determined by the nearest Hilbert-Schmidt distance to a class of reference states is discussed. The behaviour of the nonclassicality of states in models of phase-insensitive processes of damping and amplification is investigated and it is found that every nonclassical state eventually makes a transition to a classical state. However, this is not specific for the negativities or singularities of the Glauber-Sudarshan quasiprobability and is found in similar form for other quasiprobabilities, for example, for the Wigner quasiprobability. We discuss in quite general form some defects of the Glauber-Sudarshan quasiprobability if compared with classical distribution functions over the phase space, in particular the failure of an earlier advertised superposition formula.

The structure of nuclei far from stability. [Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, Louisiana State Univ. , Baton Rouge, Louisiana

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zganjar, E.F.

1993-01-01

Studies on nuclei near Z=82 contributed to the establishment of a new region of nuclear deformation and a new class of nuclear structure at closed shells. A important aspect of this work is the establishment of the connection between low-lying 0[sup +] states in even[endash]even nuclei and the occurrence of shape coexistence in the odd-mass neighbors (E0 transitions in [sup 185]Pt, shape coexistence in [sup 184]Pt and [sup 187]Au). A new type of picosecond lifetime measurement system capable of measuring the lifetime of states that decay only by internal conversion was developed and applied to the [sup 186,188]Tl decay tomore » determine the lifetime of the 0[sub 2][sup +] and 2[sub 2][sup +] deformed states in [sup 186,188]Hg. A search for the population of superdeformed states in [sup 192]Hg by the radioactive decay of [sup 192]Tl was accomplished by using a prototype internal pair formation spectrometer.« less

Classes of Trajectory in Mobile Phone Dependency and the Effects of Negative Parenting on Them during Early Adolescence

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Seo, Mijung; Choi, Eunsil

2018-01-01

The aim of this study was to identify the classes of trajectory in mobile phone dependency using growth mixture modeling among Korean early adolescents from elementary school to the middle school transition. The effects of negative parenting on determining the classes were also examined. The participants were 2,378 early adolescents in the Korean…

Equivalence Class Formation in a Trace Stimulus Pairing Two-Response Format: Effects of Response Labels and Prior Programmed Transitivity Induction

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fields, Lanny; Doran, Erica; Marroquin, Michael

2009-01-01

Three experiments identified factors that did and did not enhance the formation of two-node four-member equivalence classes when training and testing were conducted with trials presented in a trace stimulus pairing two-response (SP2R) format. All trials contained two separately presented stimuli. Half of the trials, called within-class trials,…

Qualitative Video Analysis of Track-Cycling Team Pursuit in World-Class Athletes.

PubMed

Sigrist, Samuel; Maier, Thomas; Faiss, Raphael

2017-11-01

Track-cycling team pursuit (TP) is a highly technical effort involving 4 athletes completing 4 km from a standing start, often in less than 240 s. Transitions between athletes leading the team are obviously of utmost importance. To perform qualitative video analyses of transitions of world-class athletes in TP competitions. Videos captured at 100 Hz were recorded for 77 races (including 96 different athletes) in 5 international track-cycling competitions (eg, UCI World Cups and World Championships) and analyzed for the 12 best teams in the UCI Track Cycling TP Olympic ranking. During TP, 1013 transitions were evaluated individually to extract quantitative (eg, average lead time, transition number, length, duration, height in the curve) and qualitative (quality of transition start, quality of return at the back of the team, distance between third and returning rider score) variables. Determination of correlation coefficients between extracted variables and end time allowed assessment of relationships between variables and relevance of the video analyses. Overall quality of transitions and end time were significantly correlated (r = .35, P = .002). Similarly, transition distance (r = .26, P = .02) and duration (r = .35, P = .002) were positively correlated with end time. Conversely, no relationship was observed between transition number, average lead time, or height reached in the curve and end time. Video analysis of TP races highlights the importance of quality transitions between riders, with preferably swift and short relays rather than longer lead times for faster race times.

High field nuclear magnetic resonance in transition metal substituted BaFe{sub 2}As{sub 2}

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Garitezi, T. M., E-mail: thalesmg@ifi.unicamp.br; Lesseux, G. G.; Rosa, P. F. S.

2014-05-07

We report high field {sup 75}As nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements on Co and Cu substituted BaFe{sub 2}As{sub 2} single crystals displaying same structural/magnetic transition T{sub 0}≃128  K. From our anisotropy studies in the paramagnetic state, we strikingly found virtually identical quadrupolar splitting and consequently the quadrupole frequency ν{sub Q}≃2.57(1)  MHz for both compounds, despite the claim that each Cu delivers 2 extra 3d electrons in BaFe{sub 2}As{sub 2} compared to Co substitution. These results allow us to conclude that a subtle change in the crystallographic structure, particularly in the Fe–As tetrahedra, must be the most probable tuning parameter to determine T{submore » 0} in this class of superconductors rather than electronic doping. Furthermore, our NMR data around T{sub 0} suggest coexistence of tetragonal/paramagnetic and orthorhombic/antiferromagnetic phases between the structural and the spin density wave magnetic phase transitions, similarly to what was reported for K-doped BaFe{sub 2}As{sub 2} [Urbano et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 105, 107001 (2010)].« less

High-mass twins & resolution of the reconfinement, masquerade and hyperon puzzles of compact star interiors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Blaschke, David; Instytut Fizyki Teoretycznej, Uniwersytet Wroclawski, 50-204 Wroclaw; Alvarez-Castillo, David E.

2016-01-22

We aim at contributing to the resolution of three of the fundamental puzzles related to the still unsolved problem of the structure of the dense core of compact stars (CS): (i) the hyperon puzzle: how to reconcile pulsar masses of 2 M{sub ⊙} with the hyperon softening of the equation of state (EoS); (ii) the masquerade problem: modern EoS for cold, high density hadronic and quark matter are almost identical; and (iii) the reconfinement puzzle: what to do when after a deconfinement transition the hadronic EoS becomes favorable again? We show that taking into account the compositeness of baryons (bymore » excluded volume and/or quark Pauli blocking) on the hadronic side and confining and stiffening effects on the quark matter side results in an early phase transition to quark matter with sufficient stiffening at high densities which removes all three present-day puzzles of CS interiors. Moreover, in this new class of EoS for hybrid CS falls the interesting case of a strong first order phase transition which results in the observable high mass twin star phenomenon, an astrophysical observation of a critical endpoint in the QCD phase diagram.« less

Magnetic transition in Y-site doped multiferroic YMnO{sub 3}

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Thakur, Rajesh K., E-mail: thakur.rajesh2009@gmail.com; Thakur, Rasna, E-mail: rasnathakur@yahoo.com; Gaur, N. K., E-mail: srl-nkgaur@yahoo.co.in

2016-05-06

We have synthesized polycrystalline hexagonal Y{sub 1-x}Sr{sub x}MnO{sub 3} (x=0.02, 0.1) compounds by using conventional solid state reaction method. The detailed structural investigations are carried out by using XRD studies which reveals the single phase formation of the reported compounds with hexagonal structure and space group P6{sub 3}cm (JCPDS: 25-1079). Further the XRD data of reported compounds were analyzed by RIETVELD (FULLPROFF) method which shows the decrease in the lattice parameter with increasing concentration of divalent strontium to Y-site. The observed pointed kinks in the specific heat study are indicative of the probable coupling in between the electric and magneticmore » orders in this class of materials. The reported systematic specific heat studies shows that the antiferromagnetic (AFM) transition temperature (T{sub N}) shifts to higher value with increasing concentration of Sr{sup 2+} ion in the YMnO{sub 3} compound which is attributed to the enhanced lattice contribution to the specific heat in the this compound. The present compound shows the independence of specific heat and magnetic transition temperature with applied magnetic field of 8T and 12T.« less

Parameter optimization on the convergence surface of path simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chandrasekaran, Srinivas Niranj

Computational treatments of protein conformational changes tend to focus on the trajectories themselves, despite the fact that it is the transition state structures that contain information about the barriers that impose multi-state behavior. PATH is an algorithm that computes a transition pathway between two protein crystal structures, along with the transition state structure, by minimizing the Onsager-Machlup action functional. It is rapid but depends on several unknown input parameters whose range of different values can potentially generate different transition-state structures. Transition-state structures arising from different input parameters cannot be uniquely compared with those generated by other methods. I outline modifications that I have made to the PATH algorithm that estimates these input parameters in a manner that circumvents these difficulties, and describe two complementary tests that validate the transition-state structures found by the PATH algorithm. First, I show that although the PATH algorithm and two other approaches to computing transition pathways produce different low-energy structures connecting the initial and final ground-states with the transition state, all three methods agree closely on the configurations of their transition states. Second, I show that the PATH transition states are close to the saddle points of free-energy surfaces connecting initial and final states generated by replica-exchange Discrete Molecular Dynamics simulations. I show that aromatic side-chain rearrangements create similar potential energy barriers in the transition-state structures identified by PATH for a signaling protein, a contractile protein, and an enzyme. Finally, I observed, but cannot account for, the fact that trajectories obtained for all-atom and Calpha-only simulations identify transition state structures in which the Calpha atoms are in essentially the same positions. The consistency between transition-state structures derived by different algorithms for unrelated protein systems argues that although functionally important protein conformational change trajectories are to a degree stochastic, they nonetheless pass through a well-defined transition state whose detailed structural properties can rapidly be identified using PATH. In the end, I outline the strategies that could enhance the efficiency and applicability of PATH.

Neutron star radii, universal relations, and the role of prior distributions

DOE PAGES

Steiner, Andrew W.; Lattimer, James M.; Brown, Edward F.

2016-02-02

We investigate constraints on neutron star structure arising from the assumptions that neutron stars have crusts, that recent calculations of pure neutron matter limit the equation of state of neutron star matter near the nuclear saturation density, that the high-density equation of state is limited by causality and the largest high-accuracy neutron star mass measurement, and that general relativity is the correct theory of gravity. We explore the role of prior assumptions by considering two classes of equation of state models. In a first, the intermediate- and high-density behavior of the equation of state is parameterized by piecewise polytropes. Inmore » the second class, the high-density behavior of the equation of state is parameterized by piecewise continuous line segments. The smallest density at which high-density matter appears is varied in order to allow for strong phase transitions above the nuclear saturation density. We critically examine correlations among the pressure of matter, radii, maximum masses, the binding energy, the moment of inertia, and the tidal deformability, paying special attention to the sensitivity of these correlations to prior assumptions about the equation of state. It is possible to constrain the radii of 1.4 solar mass neutron stars to be larger than 10 km, even without consideration of additional astrophysical observations, for example, those from photospheric radius expansion bursts or quiescent low-mass X-ray binaries. We are able to improve the accuracy of known correlations between the moment of inertia and compactness as well as the binding energy and compactness. Furthermore, we also demonstrate the existence of a correlation between the neutron star binding energy and the moment of inertia.« less

Social class and body weight among Chinese urban adults: the role of the middle classes in the nutrition transition.

PubMed

Bonnefond, Céline; Clément, Matthieu

2014-07-01

While a plethoric empirical literature addresses the relationship between socio-economic status and body weight, little is known about the influence of social class on nutritional outcomes, particularly in developing countries. The purpose of this article is to contribute to the analysis of the social determinants of adult body weight in urban China by taking into account the influence of social class. More specifically, we propose to analyse the position of the Chinese urban middle class in terms of being overweight or obese. The empirical investigations conducted as part of this research are based on a sample of 1320 households and 2841 adults from the China Health and Nutrition Survey for 2009. For the first step, we combine an economic approach and a sociological approach to identify social classes at household level. First, households with an annual per capita income between 10,000 Yuan and the 95th income percentile are considered as members of the middle class. Second, we strengthen the characterization of the middle class using information on education and employment. By applying clustering methods, we identify four groups: the elderly and inactive middle class, the old middle class, the lower middle class and the new middle class. For the second step, we implement an econometric analysis to assess the influence of social class on adult body mass index and on the probability of being overweight or obese. We use multinomial treatment regressions to deal with the endogeneity of the social class variable. Our results show that among the four subgroups of the urban middle class, the new middle class is the only one to be relatively well-protected against obesity. We suggest that this group plays a special role in adopting healthier food consumption habits and seems to be at a more advanced stage of the nutrition transition. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Luminescent molecular rods - transition-metal alkynyl complexes.

PubMed

Yam, Vivian Wing-Wah; Wong, Keith Man-Chung

2005-01-01

A number of transition-metal complexes have been reported to exhibit rich luminescence, usually originating from phosphorescence. Such luminescence properties of the triplet excited state with a large Stoke's shift, long lifetime, high luminescence quantum yield as well as lower excitation energy, are envisaged to serve as an ideal candidate in the area of potential applications for chemosensors, dye-sensitized solar cells, flat panel displays, optics, new materials and biological sciences. Organic alkynes (poly-ynes), with extended or conjugatedπ-systems and rigid structure with linear geometry, have become a significant research area due to their novel electronic and physical properties and their potential applications in nanotechnology. Owing to the presence of unsaturated sp-hybridized carbon atoms, the alkynyl unit can serve as a versatile building block in the construction of alkynyl transition-metal complexes, not only throughσ-bonding but also viaπ-bonding interactions. By incorporation of linear alkynyl groups into luminescent transition-metal complexes, the alkynyl moiety with goodσ-donor,π-donor andπ-acceptor abilities is envisaged to tune or perturb the emission behaviors, including emission energy (color), intensity and lifetime by its role as an auxiliary ligand as well as to govern the emission origin from its direct involvement. This review summarizes recent efforts on the synthesis of luminescent rod-like alkynyl complexes with different classes of transition metals and details the effects of the introduction of alkynyl groups on the luminescence properties of the complexes.

Single-molecule studies highlight conformational heterogeneity in the early folding steps of a large ribozyme

PubMed Central

Xie, Zheng; Srividya, Narayanan; Sosnick, Tobin R.; Pan, Tao; Scherer, Norbert F.

2004-01-01

The equilibrium folding of the catalytic domain of Bacillus subtilis RNase P RNA is investigated by single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). Previous ensemble studies of this 255-nucleotide ribozyme described the equilibrium folding with two transitions, U-to-Ieq-to-N, and focused on the Ieq-to-N transition. The present study focuses on the U-to-Ieq transition. Comparative ensemble measurements of the ribozyme construct labeled with fluorescein at the 5′ end and Cy3 at the 3′ end show that modifications required for labeling do not interfere with folding and help to define the Mg2+ concentration range for the U-to-Ieq transition. Histogram analysis of the Mg2+-dependent single-molecule FRET efficiency reveals two previously undetermined folding intermediates. The single-molecule FRET trajectories exhibit non-two-state and nonergodic behaviors at intermediate Mg2+ concentrations on the time scale of seconds. The trajectories at intermediate Mg2+ concentrations are classified into five classes based on three FRET levels and their dynamics of interconversion within the measured time range. This heterogeneity, together with the observation of “nonsudden jump” FRET transitions, indicates that the early folding steps of this ribozyme involve a series of intermediates with different degrees of kinetic isolation and that folding occurs under kinetic control and involves many “local” conformational switches. A free energy contour is constructed to illustrate the complex folding surface. PMID:14704266

The GREET Model Expansion for Well-to-Wheels Analysis of Heavy-Duty Vehicles

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cai, Hao; Burnham, Andrew; Wang, Michael

2015-05-01

Heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) account for a significant portion of the U.S. transportation sector’s fuel consumption, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and air pollutant emissions. In our most recent efforts, we expanded the Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Transportation (GREETTM) model to include life-cycle analysis of HDVs. In particular, the GREET expansion includes the fuel consumption, GHG emissions, and air pollutant emissions of a variety of conventional (i.e., diesel and/or gasoline) HDV types, including Class 8b combination long-haul freight trucks, Class 8b combination short-haul freight trucks, Class 8b dump trucks, Class 8a refuse trucks, Class 8a transit buses, Classmore » 8a intercity buses, Class 6 school buses, Class 6 single-unit delivery trucks, Class 4 single-unit delivery trucks, and Class 2b heavy-duty pickup trucks and vans. These vehicle types were selected to represent the diversity in the U.S. HDV market, and specific weight classes and body types were chosen on the basis of their fuel consumption using the 2002 Vehicle Inventory and Use Survey (VIUS) database. VIUS was also used to estimate the fuel consumption and payload carried for most of the HDV types. In addition, fuel economy projections from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, transit databases, and the literature were examined. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s latest Motor Vehicle Emission Simulator was employed to generate tailpipe air pollutant emissions of diesel and gasoline HDV types.« less

Estimation of State Transition Probabilities: A Neural Network Model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saito, Hiroshi; Takiyama, Ken; Okada, Masato

2015-12-01

Humans and animals can predict future states on the basis of acquired knowledge. This prediction of the state transition is important for choosing the best action, and the prediction is only possible if the state transition probability has already been learned. However, how our brains learn the state transition probability is unknown. Here, we propose a simple algorithm for estimating the state transition probability by utilizing the state prediction error. We analytically and numerically confirmed that our algorithm is able to learn the probability completely with an appropriate learning rate. Furthermore, our learning rule reproduced experimentally reported psychometric functions and neural activities in the lateral intraparietal area in a decision-making task. Thus, our algorithm might describe the manner in which our brains learn state transition probabilities and predict future states.

Superfluid Black Holes.

PubMed

Hennigar, Robie A; Mann, Robert B; Tjoa, Erickson

2017-01-13

We present what we believe is the first example of a "λ-line" phase transition in black hole thermodynamics. This is a line of (continuous) second order phase transitions which in the case of liquid ^{4}He marks the onset of superfluidity. The phase transition occurs for a class of asymptotically anti-de Sitter hairy black holes in Lovelock gravity where a real scalar field is conformally coupled to gravity. We discuss the origin of this phase transition and outline the circumstances under which it (or generalizations of it) could occur.

Superfluid Black Holes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hennigar, Robie A.; Mann, Robert B.; Tjoa, Erickson

2017-01-01

We present what we believe is the first example of a "λ -line" phase transition in black hole thermodynamics. This is a line of (continuous) second order phase transitions which in the case of liquid 4He marks the onset of superfluidity. The phase transition occurs for a class of asymptotically anti-de Sitter hairy black holes in Lovelock gravity where a real scalar field is conformally coupled to gravity. We discuss the origin of this phase transition and outline the circumstances under which it (or generalizations of it) could occur.

Excited State Trends in Bidirectionally Expanded Closed-Shell PAH and PANH Anions

PubMed Central

Moore, Megan M.; Lee, Timothy J.

2018-01-01

Some anions are known to exhibit excited states independent of external forces such as dipole moments and induced polarizabilities. Such states exist simply as a result of the stabilization of valence accepting orbitals whereby the binding energy of the extra electron is greater than the valence excitation energy. Closed-shell anions are interesting candidates for such transitions since their ground-state, spin-paired nature makes the anions more stable from the beginning. Consequently, this work shows the point beyond which deprotonated, closed-shell polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and those PAHs containing nitrogen heteroatoms (PANHs) will exhibit valence excited states. This behavior has already been demonstrated in some PANHs and for anistropically-extended PAHs. This work establishes a general trend for PAHs/PANHs of arbitrary size and directional extension, whether in one dimension or two. Once seven six-membered rings make up a PAH/PANH, valence excited states are present. For most classes of PAHs/PANHs, this number is closer to four. Even though most of these excited states are weak absorbers, the sheer number of PAHs present in various astronomical environments should make them significant contributors to astronomical spectra. PMID:27585793

Successful Daily Practices of Inclusion Teachers of Children with Down Syndrome.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wolpert, Gloria

This study asked 230 regular education teachers about their educational practices in teaching students with Down syndrome within their mainstream classes. Teachers completed surveys that asked about background experience; preparation for inclusion and the transition process; classroom information (curriculum, class arrangement, therapies, and…

Hydrated multivalent cations are new class of molten salt mixtures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Angell, C. A.

1967-01-01

Electrical conductance and activation energy measurements on mixtures of calcium and potassium nitrate show the hydrated form to be a new class of molten salt. The theoretical glass transition temperature of the hydrate varied in a manner opposite to that of the anhydrous system.

Random Matrix Theory and the Anderson Model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bellissard, Jean

2004-08-01

This paper is devoted to a discussion of possible strategies to prove rigorously the existence of a metal-insulator Anderson transition for the Anderson model in dimension d≥3. The possible criterions used to define such a transition are presented. It is argued that at low disorder the lowest order in perturbation theory is described by a random matrix model. Various simplified versions for which rigorous results have been obtained in the past are discussed. It includes a free probability approach, the Wegner n-orbital model and a class of models proposed by Disertori, Pinson, and Spencer, Comm. Math. Phys. 232:83-124 (2002). At last a recent work by Magnen, Rivasseau, and the author, Markov Process and Related Fields 9:261-278 (2003) is summarized: it gives a toy modeldescribing the lowest order approximation of Anderson model and it is proved that, for d=2, its density of states is given by the semicircle distribution. A short discussion of its extension to d≥3 follows.

Intermolecular Structural Change for Thermoswitchable Polymeric Photosensitizer

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Park, Wooram; Park, Sin-Jung; Cho, Soojeong

2016-08-17

A switchable photosensitizer (PS), which can be activated at a spe-cific condition beside light, has tremendous advantages for photo-dynamic therapy (PDT). Herein, we developed a thermo-switchable polymeric photosensitizer (T-PPS) by conjugating PS (Pheophor-bide-a, PPb-a) to a temperature-responsive polymer backbone of biocompatible hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC). Self-quenched PS molecules linked in close proximity by pi-pi stacking in T-PPS were easily transited to an active monomeric state by the tempera-ture induced phase transition of polymer backbones. The tempera-ture responsive inter-molecular interaction changes of PS molecules in T-PPS were demonstrated in synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and UV-Vis spectrophotometer analysis. The T-PPS allowed switchablemore » activation and synergistically enhanced cancer cell killing effect at the hyperthermia temperature (45 °C). Our developed T-PPS has the considerable potential not only as a new class of photomedicine in clinics but also as a biosensor based on temperature responsiveness.« less

Turbulent convection in liquid metal with and without rotation

PubMed Central

King, Eric M.; Aurnou, Jonathan M.

2013-01-01

The magnetic fields of Earth and other planets are generated by turbulent, rotating convection in liquid metal. Liquid metals are peculiar in that they diffuse heat more readily than momentum, quantified by their small Prandtl numbers, . Most analog models of planetary dynamos, however, use moderate fluids, and the systematic influence of reducing is not well understood. We perform rotating Rayleigh–Bénard convection experiments in the liquid metal gallium over a range of nondimensional buoyancy forcing and rotation periods (E). Our primary diagnostic is the efficiency of convective heat transfer . In general, we find that the convective behavior of liquid metal differs substantially from that of moderate fluids, such as water. In particular, a transition between rotationally constrained and weakly rotating turbulent states is identified, and this transition differs substantially from that observed in moderate fluids. This difference, we hypothesize, may explain the different classes of magnetic fields observed on the Gas and Ice Giant planets, whose dynamo regions consist of and fluids, respectively. PMID:23569262

Universal Scaling in the Fan of an Unconventional Quantum Critical Point

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Melko, Roger G; Kaul, Ribhu

2008-01-01

We present the results of extensive finite-temperature Quantum Monte Carlo simulati ons on a SU(2) symmetric,more » $S=1/2$$ quantum antiferromagnet with a frustrating four-s pin interaction -- the so-called 'JQ' model~[Sandvik, Phys. Rev. Lett. {\\bf 98}, 22 7202 (2007)]. Our simulations, which are unbiased, free of the sign-problem and car ried out on lattice sizes containing in excess of $$1.6\\times 10^4$$ spins, indicate that N\\'eel order is destroyed through a continuous quantum transition at a critica l value of the frustrating interaction. At larger values of this coupling the param agnetic state obtained has valence-bond solid order. The scaling behavior in the 'q uantum critical fan' above the putative critical point confirms a $$z=1$ quantum pha se transition that is not in the conventional $O(3)$ universality class. Our result s are consistent with the predictions of the 'deconfined quantum criticality' scena rio.« less

Mapping ecological states in a complex environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Steele, C. M.; Bestelmeyer, B.; Burkett, L. M.; Ayers, E.; Romig, K.; Slaughter, A.

2013-12-01

The vegetation of northern Chihuahuan Desert rangelands is sparse, heterogeneous and for most of the year, consists of a large proportion of non-photosynthetic material. The soils in this area are spectrally bright and variable in their reflectance properties. Both factors provide challenges to the application of remote sensing for estimating canopy variables (e.g., leaf area index, biomass, percentage canopy cover, primary production). Additionally, with reference to current paradigms of rangeland health assessment, remotely-sensed estimates of canopy variables have limited practical use to the rangeland manager if they are not placed in the context of ecological site and ecological state. To address these challenges, we created a multifactor classification system based on the USDA-NRCS ecological site schema and associated state-and-transition models to map ecological states on desert rangelands in southern New Mexico. Applying this system using per-pixel image processing techniques and multispectral, remotely sensed imagery raised other challenges. Per-pixel image classification relies upon the spectral information in each pixel alone, there is no reference to the spatial context of the pixel and its relationship with its neighbors. Ecological state classes may have direct relevance to managers but the non-unique spectral properties of different ecological state classes in our study area means that per-pixel classification of multispectral data performs poorly in discriminating between different ecological states. We found that image interpreters who are familiar with the landscape and its associated ecological site descriptions perform better than per-pixel classification techniques in assigning ecological states. However, two important issues affect manual classification methods: subjectivity of interpretation and reproducibility of results. An alternative to per-pixel classification and manual interpretation is object-based image analysis. Object-based image analysis provides a platform for classification that more closely resembles human recognition of objects within a remotely sensed image. The analysis presented here compares multiple thematic maps created for test locations on the USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range ranch. Three study sites in different pastures, each 300 ha in size, were selected for comparison on the basis of their ecological site type (';Clayey', ';Sandy' and a combination of both) and the degree of complexity of vegetation cover. Thematic maps were produced for each study site using (i) manual interpretation of digital aerial photography (by five independent interpreters); (ii) object-oriented, decision-tree classification of fine and moderate spatial resolution imagery (Quickbird; Landsat Thematic Mapper) and (iii) ground survey. To identify areas of uncertainty, we compared agreement in location, areal extent and class assignation between 5 independently produced, manually-digitized ecological state maps and with the map created from ground survey. Location, areal extent and class assignation of the map produced by object-oriented classification was also assessed with reference to the ground survey map.

Universality in quantum chaos and the one-parameter scaling theory.

PubMed

García-García, Antonio M; Wang, Jiao

2008-02-22

The one-parameter scaling theory is adapted to the context of quantum chaos. We define a generalized dimensionless conductance, g, semiclassically and then study Anderson localization corrections by renormalization group techniques. This analysis permits a characterization of the universality classes associated to a metal (g-->infinity), an insulator (g-->0), and the metal-insulator transition (g-->g(c)) in quantum chaos provided that the classical phase space is not mixed. According to our results the universality class related to the metallic limit includes all the systems in which the Bohigas-Giannoni-Schmit conjecture holds but automatically excludes those in which dynamical localization effects are important. The universality class related to the metal-insulator transition is characterized by classical superdiffusion or a fractal spectrum in low dimensions (d < or = 2). Several examples are discussed in detail.

Does Time Matter in Improving Mathematical Discussions? The Influence of Mathematical Autonomy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kosko, Karl W.; Wilkins, Jesse L. M.

2015-01-01

Facilitating students' transition from less to more mathematically productive engagement in discussions is an important area of investigation. Research on mathematical whole-class discussions has consistently identified facilitating students' mathematical autonomy as a central component of this transition. Additionally, research commonly infers…

The association of the transitions in smoking stages with prevalence of cigarette smoking in the classes and schools: a longitudinal study.

PubMed

MohammadPoorasl, Asghar; Nedjat, Saharnaz; Fakhari, Ali; Fotouhi, Akbar

2014-01-01

Adolescent tobacco use remains a major public health priority to reduce the prevalence of tobacco use in community. The aim of this study was determining the association of the transitions in smoking stages with prevalence of cigarette smoking in the classes and schools in adolescents of Tabriz City (northwest of Iran). Fifty-six high schools were randomly selected, and 4903 students completed a self-administered questionnaire on cigarette smoking twice with a 12-months interval in 2010 and 2011. Transition from experimenter to regular smoker stage was associated with the prevalence of cigarette smoking in the school. The results have shown the association of student's smoking uptake with the prevalence of cigarette smoking in the school. This highlights the importance of enforcing smoke free policies in schools.