title:
Bose-Fermi Pair Correlations in Attractively Interacting Bose-Fermi
  Atomic Mixtures

abstract:
  We study static properties of attractively interacting Bose-Fermi mixtures of
uniform atomic gases at zero temperature. Using Green's function formalism we
calculate boson-fermion scattering amplitude and fermion self-energy in the
medium to lowest order of the hole line expansion. We study ground state energy
and pressure as functions of the scattering length for a few values of the
boson-fermion mass ratio $m_b/m_f$ and the number ratio $N_b/N_f$. We find that
the attractive contribution to energy is greatly enhanced for small values of
the mass ratio. We study the role of the Bose-Fermi pair correlations in the
mixture by calculating the pole of the boson-fermion scattering amplitude in
the medium. The pole shows a standard quasiparticle dispersion for a Bose-Fermi
pair, for $m_b/m_f\geq 1$. For small values of the mass ratio, on the other
hand, a Bose-Fermi pair with a finite center-of-mass momentum experiences a
strong attraction, implying large medium effects. In addition, we also study
the fermion dispersion relation. We find two dispersion branches with the
possibility of the avoided crossings. This strongly depends on the number rario
$N_b/N_f$.


title: Transitive projective planes and 2-rank

abstract:
  Suppose that a group $G$ acts transitively on the points of a
non-Desarguesian plane, $\mathcal{P}$. We prove first that the Sylow
2-subgroups of $G$ are cyclic or generalized quaternion. We also prove that
$\mathcal{P}$ must admit an odd order automorphism group which acts
transitively on the set of points of $\mathcal{P}$.


title: Physics in the multiverse: an introductory review

abstract:
  This brief note, written for non-specialists, aims at drawing an introductive
overview of the multiverse issue.


title: Description of Multiparticle Production by Gluon Dominance Model

abstract:
  The obtained $\pi^{-}$ and charged multiplicity distribution parameters of
Gluon Dominance Model explain the experimental data in nucleus-nucleus, p
nucleus, pd, pp, p antip and $\pi^{-}$(p,n) interactions. We have undertaken an
attempt to give description in different processes of multiparticle production
by means of a unifed approach based on quark-gluon picture using the
phenomenological hadronization. We have obtained agreement of GDM with
experimental data in a very wide energy range.


title: N/Z Dependence of Projectile Fragmentation

abstract:
  The N/Z dependence of projectile fragmentation at relativistic energies has
been studied in a recent experiment at the GSI laboratory with the ALADiN
forward spectrometer coupled to the LAND neutron detector. Besides a primary
beam of 124Sn, also secondary beams of 124La and 107Sn delivered by the FRS
fragment separator have been used in order to extend the range of isotopic
compositions of the produced spectator sources. With the achieved mass
resolution of \Delta A/A \approx 1.5%, lighter isotopes with atomic numbers Z
\le 10 are individually resolved. The presently ongoing analyses of the
measured isotope yields focus on isoscaling and its relation to the properties
of hot fragments at freeze-out and on the derivation of chemical freeze-out
temperatures which are found to be independent of the isotopic composition of
the studied systems. The latter result is at variance with the predictions for
limiting temperatures as obtained with finite-temperature Hartree-Fock
calculations.


title: Noncommutativity in space-time extended by Liouville field

abstract:
  The world-sheet quantum conformal invariance can be realized in the presence
of the conformal factor $F$, by inclusion of Liouville term. In the background
with linear dilaton field, $\Phi(x)=\Phi_0+a_\mu x^\mu$, the field $F$ becomes
a new noncommutative variable. Therefore, it is natural to extend space-time
with a new coordinate, $F$, in order to unify expressions for noncommutativity
parameter $\Theta^{ij}$ of the space-time coordinates $x^i$, with the part
$\Theta^i$ connecting noncommutativity between coordinates $x^i$ and $F$. In
this way we solve the problems of Dp-brane noncommutativity in a more elegant
way. The technical advantage uses the fact that in the extended space-time the
action with dilaton field can be rewritten in dilaton free form. We use
canonical method and extend its application to the derivation of boundary
conditions. From requirement that Hamiltonian, as the time translation
generator, has well defined derivatives in the coordinates and momenta, we
obtain boundary conditions directly in the canonical form.


title: Correlated spectral variability in brown dwarfs

abstract:
  Models of brown dwarf atmospheres suggest they exhibit complex physical
behaviour. Observations have shown that they are indeed dynamic, displaying
small photometric variations over timescales of hours. Here I report results of
infrared (0.95-1.64 micron) spectrophotometric monitoring of four field L and T
dwarfs spanning timescales of 0.1-5.5 hrs, the goal being to learn more about
the physical nature of this variability. Spectra are analysed differentially
with respect to a simultaneously observed reference source in order to remove
Earth-atmospheric variations. The variability amplitude detected is typically
2-10%, depending on the source and wavelength. I analyse the data for
correlated variations between spectral indices. This approach is more robust
than single band or chisq analyses, because it does not assume an amplitude for
the (often uncertain) noise level (although the significance test still assumes
a shape for the noise power spectrum). Three of the four targets show
significant evidence for correlated variability. Some of this can be associated
with specific features including Fe, FeH, VO and KI, and there is good evidence
for intrinsic variability in water and possibly also methan. Yet some of this
variability covers a broader spectral range which would be consistent with dust
opacity variations. The underlying common cause is plausibly localized
temperature or composition fluctuations caused by convection. Looking at the
high signal-to-noise ratio stacked spectra we see many previously identified
spectral features of L and T dwarfs, such as KI, NaI, FeH, water and methane.
In particular we may have detected methane absorption at 1.3-1.4 micron in the
L5 dwarf SDSS 0539-0059.


title:
A method for exploiting domain information in astrophysical parameter
  estimation

abstract:
  I outline a method for estimating astrophysical parameters (APs) from
multidimensional data. It is a supervised method based on matching observed
data (e.g. a spectrum) to a grid of pre-labelled templates. However, unlike
standard machine learning methods such as ANNs, SVMs or k-nn, this algorithm
explicitly uses domain information to better weight each data dimension in the
estimation. Specifically, it uses the sensitivity of each measured variable to
each AP to perform a local, iterative interpolation of the grid. It avoids both
the non-uniqueness problem of global regression as well as the grid resolution
limitation of nearest neighbours.


title:
VLT/VIMOS Integral field kinematics of the Giant Low Surface Brightness
  galaxy ESO 323-G064

abstract:
  We studied the bulge and the disk kinematic of the giant Low Surface
Brightness (LSB) galaxy ESO 323-G064 in order to investigate its dynamics and
its Dark Matter (DM) content. We observed the galaxy with the integral field
spectroscopy (VLT/VIMOS, in IFU configuration). Results for the gaseous
kinematics (bulge and disk) and stellar kinematics (bulge) are presented,
together with a Jeans model for the stellar bulge kinematics.


title: Mesons in Gauge/Gravity Duals - A Review

abstract:
  We review recent progress in studying mesons within gauge/gravity duality, in
the context of adding flavour degrees of freedom to generalizations of the
AdS/CFT correspondence. Our main focus is on the `top-down approach' of
considering models constructed within string theory. We explain the
string-theoretical constructions in detail, aiming at non-specialists. These
give rise to a new way of describing strongly coupled confining large N gauge
gauge theories similar to large N QCD. In particular, we consider gravity dual
descriptions of spontaneous chiral symmetry breaking, and compare with lattice
results. A further topic covered is the behaviour of flavour bound states in
finite temperature field theories dual to a gravity background involving a
black hole. We also describe the `bottom up' phenomenological approach to
mesons within AdS/QCD. -- Some previously unpublished results are also
included.


title: Quantum secret sharing based on Smolin states alone

abstract:
  It was indicated [Yu 2007 Phys. Rev. A 75 066301] that a previous proposed
quantum secret sharing (QSS) protocol based on Smolin states [Augusiak 2006
Phys. Rev. A 73 012318] is insecure against an internal cheater. Here we build
a different QSS protocol with Smolin states alone, and prove it to be secure
against known cheating strategies. Thus we open a promising venue for building
secure QSS using merely Smolin states, which is a typical kind of bound
entangled states. We also propose a feasible scheme to implement the protocol
experimentally.


title: Cyclic Universe with Quintom matter in Loop Quantum Cosmology

abstract:
  In this paper, we study the possibility of model building of cyclic universe
with Quintom matter in the framework of Loop Quantum Cosmology. After a general
demonstration, we provide two examples, one with double-fluid and another
double-scalar field, to show how such a scenario is obtained. Analytical and
numerical calculations are both presented in the paper.


title: Helium stratification in HD 145792: a new Helium strong star

abstract:
  In this paper we report on the real nature of the star HD 145792, classified
as He weak in {\it ``The General Catalogue of Ap and Am stars''}. By means of
FEROS@ESO1.52m high resolution spectroscopic data, we refined the atmospheric
parameters of the star, obtaining: T$_{\rm eff}$ = 14400 $\pm$ 400 K, $\log g$
= 4.06 $\pm$ 0.08 and $\xi$ = 0 $^{+0.6}$ km s$^{-1}$. These values resulted
always lower than those derived by different authors with pure photometric
approaches.
  Using our values we undertook an abundance analysis with the aim to derive,
for the first time, the chemical pattern of the star's atmosphere. For metals a
pure LTE synthesis (ATLAS9 and SYNTHE) has been used, while for helium a hybrid
approach has been preferred (ATLAS9 and SYNSPEC). The principal result of our
study is that HD 145792 belongs to He strong class contrary to the previous
classification. Moreover, helium seems to be vertically stratified in the
atmosphere, decreasing toward deepest layers.
  For what that concerns metals abundances, we found the following:
overabundance of oxygen, neon, silicon, phosphorus, sulfur and calcium; carbon,
nitrogen, magnesium, aluminum, titanium, chromium and nickel are normal, being
the discrepancies from the solar values within the experimental errors; iron
resulted to be slightly underabundant.


title: Towards the effective potential of the Littlest Higgs model

abstract:
  We compute the relevant parameters of the combined Higgs and \phi scalar
effective potential in the Littlest Higgs (LH) model. These parameters are
obtained as the sum of two kind of contributions. The first one is the one-loop
radiative corrections coming from fermions and gauge bosons. The second one is
obtained at the tree level from the higher order effective operators needed for
the ultraviolet completion of the model. Finally we analyze the restrictions
that the requirement of reproducing the standard electroweak symmetry breaking
of the SM set on the LH model parameters.


title: Baryon spectroscopy in constituent quark models

abstract:
  We present a study of the baryon spectra for all flavor sectors within a
constituent quark model. We address some of the outstanding problems in baryon
spectroscopy, as for example the spin splitting evolution for te different
flavor sectors, the flavor independence of confinement and the missing state
problem.


title:
Mechanical Response of a Small Swimmer Driven by Conformational
  Transitions

abstract:
  A conformation space kinetic model is constructed to drive the deformation
cycle of a three-sphere swimmer to achieve propulsion at low Reynolds number.
We analyze the effect of an external load on the performance of this kinetic
swimmer, and show that it depends sensitively on where the force is exerted, so
that there is no general force--velocity relation. We discuss how the
conformational cycle of such swimmers should be designed to increase their
performance in resisting forces applied at specific points.


title: Microlensing in Galactic Halos

abstract:
  In the framework of the search of dark matter in galactic halos in form of
massive compact halo object (MACHOs), we discuss the status of microlensing
observations towards the Magellanic Clouds and the Andromeda galaxy, M31. The
detection of a few microlensing events has been reported, but an unambiguous
conclusion on the halo content in form on MACHOs has not been reached yet. A
more detailed modelling of the expected signal and a larger statistics of
observed events are mandatory in order to shed light on this important
astrophysical issue.


title: Valence extraction using EM selection and co-occurrence matrices

abstract:
  This paper discusses two new procedures for extracting verb valences from raw
texts, with an application to the Polish language. The first novel technique,
the EM selection algorithm, performs unsupervised disambiguation of valence
frame forests, obtained by applying a non-probabilistic deep grammar parser and
some post-processing to the text. The second new idea concerns filtering of
incorrect frames detected in the parsed text and is motivated by an observation
that verbs which take similar arguments tend to have similar frames. This
phenomenon is described in terms of newly introduced co-occurrence matrices.
Using co-occurrence matrices, we split filtering into two steps. The list of
valid arguments is first determined for each verb, whereas the pattern
according to which the arguments are combined into frames is computed in the
following stage. Our best extracted dictionary reaches an $F$-score of 45%,
compared to an $F$-score of 39% for the standard frame-based BHT filtering.


title: Reaction coordinates for the flipping of genetic switches

abstract:
  We present a detailed analysis, based on the Forward Flux Sampling (FFS)
simulation method, of the switching dynamics and stability of two models of
genetic toggle switches, consisting of two mutually-repressing genes encoding
transcription factors (TFs); in one model (the exclusive switch), they mutually
exclude each other's binding, while in the other model (general switch) the two
transcription factors can bind simultaneously to the shared operator region. We
assess the role of two pairs of reactions that influence the stability of these
switches: TF-TF homodimerisation and TF-DNA association/dissociation. We
factorise the flipping rate k into the product of the probability rho(q*) of
finding the system at the dividing surface (separatrix) between the two stable
states, and a kinetic prefactor R. In the case of the exclusive switch, the
rate of TF-operator binding affects both rho(q*) and R, while the rate of TF
dimerisation affects only R. In the case of the general switch both TF-operator
binding and TF dimerisation affect k, R and rho(q*). To elucidate this, we
analyse the transition state ensemble (TSE). For the exclusive switch, varying
the rate of TF-operator binding can drastically change the pathway of
switching, while changing the rate of dimerisation changes the switching rate
without altering the mechanism. The switching pathways of the general switch
are highly robust to changes in the rate constants of both TF-operator and
TF-TF binding, even though these rate constants do affect the flipping rate;
this feature is unique for non-equilibrium systems.


title: Three-tangle for mixtures of generalized GHZ and generalized W states

abstract:
  We give a complete solution for the three-tangle of mixed three-qubit states
composed of a generalized GHZ state, a|000>+b|111>, and a generalized W state,
c|001>+d|010>+f|100>. Using the methods introduced by Lohmayer et al. we
provide explicit expressions for the mixed-state three-tangle and the
corresponding optimal decompositions for this more general case. Moreover, as a
special case we obtain a general solution for a family of states consisting of
a generalized GHZ state and an orthogonal product state.


title: Evidence for Two Current Conduction in Iron

abstract:
  Measurements of resistivities of dilute iron based alloys show strong
deviations from Matthiessen's rule. These deviations can be explained by a
model in which spin up and spin down electrons conduct in parallel. The results
are consistent with the theory of impurity shielding in these alloys. [This
1967 paper provides the first experimental demonstration of two current
conduction at low temperatures in a ferromagnetic metal. One direct consequence
of this property is the Giant Magnetoresistance discovered in 1988 by the
groups of Albert Fert and of Peter Gr\"unberg].


title:
On parallel electric field generation in transversely inhomogeneous
  plasmas

abstract:
  The generation of parallel electric fields by the propagation of ion
cyclotron waves in the plasma with a transverse density inhomogeneity was
studied. It was proven that the minimal model required to reproduce the
previous kinetic simulation results of E_{||} generation [Tsiklauri et al 2005,
Genot et al 2004] is the two-fluid, cold plasma approximation in the linear
regime. By considering the numerical solutions it was also shown that the cause
of E_{||} generation is the electron and ion flow separation induced by the
transverse density inhomogeneity. We also investigate how E_{||} generation is
affected by the mass ratio and found that amplitude attained by E_{||}
decreases linearly as inverse of the mass ratio m_i/m_e. For realistic mass
ratio of m_i/m_e=1836, such empirical scaling law, within a time corresponding
to 3 periods of the driving ion cyclotron wave, is producing E_{||}=14 Vm^{-1}
for solar coronal parameters. Increase in mass ratio does not have any effect
on final parallel (magnetic field aligned) speed attained by electrons.
However, parallel ion velocity decreases linearly with inverse of the mass
ratio m_i/m_e. These results can be interpreted as following: (i) ion dynamics
plays no role in the E_{||} generation; (ii) E_{||} \propto 1/m_i scaling is
caused by the fact that omega_d = 0.3 omega_{ci} \propto 1/m_i is decreasing
with the increase of ion mass, and hence the electron fluid can effectively
"short-circuit" (recombine with) the slowly oscillating ions, hence producing
smaller E_{||}.


title: Homogeneous geodesics of left invariant Finsler metrics

abstract:
  In this paper, we study the set of homogeneous geodesics of a leftinvariant
Finsler metric on Lie groups. We first give a simple criterion that
characterizes geodesic vectors. As an application, we study some geometric
properties of bi-invariant Finsler metrics on Lie groups. In particular a
necessary and sufficient condition that left-invariant Randers metrics are of
Berwald type is given. Finally a correspondence of homogeneous geodesics to
critical points of restricted Finsler metrics is given. Then results concerning
the existence homogeneous geodesics are obtained.


title: Invariance property of orbifold elliptic genus for multi-fans

abstract:
  Multi-fan is an analogous notion of fan. As a fan is associated to a toric
variety a multi-fan is associated to a torus orbifold. Orbifold elliptic class
and orbifold elliptic genus are defined for a triple of a multi-fan, a set of
generating integral vectors of one dimensional cones and a $\mathbb{Q}$
divisor. They are shown to behave functorially with respect to birational
morphisms between these triples. The result may be considered as a
combinatorial or topological analogue of the main result of Borisov and
Libgober, McKay correspondence for elliptic genera, Ann. of Math., 161 (2005).


title:
The Dipion Mass Spectrum In e+e- Annihilation and tau Decay: A Dynamical
  (rho0, omega, phi) Mixing Approach

abstract:
  We readdress the problem of finding a simultaneous description of the pion
form factor data in e+e- annihilations and in tau decays. For this purpose, we
work in the framework of the Hidden Local Symmetry (HLS) Lagrangian and modify
the vector meson mass term by including the pion and kaon loop contributions.
This leads us to define the physical rho, omega and phi fields as linear
combinations of their ideal partners, with coefficients being meromorphic
functions of s, the square of the 4--momentum flowing into the vector meson
lines. This allows us to define a dynamical, i.e. s-dependent, vector meson
mixing scheme. The model is overconstrained by extending the framework in order
to include the description of all meson radiative (V P gamma and P gamma gamma
couplings) and leptonic (Ve+e- couplings) decays and also the isospin breaking
(omega/ phi --> pi+ pi-) decay modes. The model provides a simultaneous,
consistent and good description of the e+e- and tau dipion spectra. The
expression for pion form factor in the latter case is derived from those in the
former case by switching off the isospin breaking effects specific to e+e- and
switching on those for tau decays. Besides, the model also provides a good
account of all decay modes of the form V P gamma, Pgamma gamma as well as the
isospin breaking decay modes. It leads us to propose new reference values for
the rho^0 --> e+ e- and omega --> pi+ pi- partial widths which are part of our
description of the pion form factor. Other topics (phi --> K anti K, the rho
meson mass and width parameters) are briefly discussed. Therefore, we confirm
the 3.3 sigma discrepancy between the theoretical estimate of a_mu based on
e+e- and its direct BNL measurement.


title: A class of positive atomic maps

abstract:
  We construct a new class of positive indecomposable maps in the algebra of `d
x d' complex matrices. These maps are characterized by the `weakest' positivity
property and for this reason they are called atomic. This class provides a new
reach family of atomic entanglement witnesses which define important tool for
investigating quantum entanglement. It turns out that they are able to detect
states with the `weakest' quantum entanglement.


title: Orbits of real forms in complex flag manifolds

abstract:
  We investigate the $CR$ geometry of the orbits $M$ of a real form $G_0$ of a
complex simple group $G$ in a complex flag manifold $X=G/Q$. We are mainly
concerned with finite type, Levi non-degeneracy conditions, canonical
$G_0$-equivariant and Mostow fibrations, and topological properties of the
orbits.


title: Higher class field theory and the connected component

abstract:
  In this note we present a new self-contained approach to the class field
theory of arithmetic schemes in the sense of Wiesend. Along the way we prove
new results on space filling curves on arithmetic schemes and on the class
field theory of local rings. We show how one can deduce the more classical
version of higher global class field theory due to Kato and Saito from
Wiesend's version. One of our new results says that the connected component of
the identity element in Wiesend's class group is divisible if some obstruction
is absent.


title:
Laws of large numbers in stochastic geometry with statistical
  applications

abstract:
  Given $n$ independent random marked $d$-vectors (points) $X_i$ distributed
with a common density, define the measure $\nu_n=\sum_i\xi_i$, where $\xi_i$ is
a measure (not necessarily a point measure) which stabilizes; this means that
$\xi_i$ is determined by the (suitably rescaled) set of points near $X_i$. For
bounded test functions $f$ on $R^d$, we give weak and strong laws of large
numbers for $\nu_n(f)$. The general results are applied to demonstrate that an
unknown set $A$ in $d$-space can be consistently estimated, given data on which
of the points $X_i$ lie in $A$, by the corresponding union of Voronoi cells,
answering a question raised by Khmaladze and Toronjadze. Further applications
are given concerning the Gamma statistic for estimating the variance in
nonparametric regression.


title: Generalized Diffusion

abstract:
  The Fokker-Planck equation for the probability $f(r,t)$ to find a random
walker at position $r$ at time $t$ is derived for the case that the the
probability to make jumps depends nonlinearly on $f(r,t)$. The result is a
generalized form of the classical Fokker-Planck equation where the effects of
drift, due to a violation of detailed balance, and of external fields are also
considered. It is shown that in the absence of drift and external fields a
scaling solution, describing anomalous diffusion, is only possible if the
nonlinearity in the jump probability is of the power law type ($\sim f^{\eta
}(r,t)$), in which case the generalized Fokker-Planck equation reduces to the
well-known Porous Media equation. Monte-Carlo simulations are shown to confirm
the theoretical results.


title: A quenched limit theorem for the local time of random walks on \Z^2

abstract:
  Let $X$ and $Y$ be two independent random walks on $\Z^2$ with zero mean and
finite variances, and let $L_t(X,Y)$ be the local time of $X-Y$ at the origin
at time $t$. We show that almost surely with respect to $Y$, $L_t(X,Y)/\log t$
conditioned on $Y$ converges in distribution to an exponential random variable
with the same mean as the distributional limit of $L_t(X,Y)/\log t$ without
conditioning. This question arises naturally from the study of the parabolic
Anderson model with a single moving catalyst, which is closely related to a
pinning model.


title:
On Lagrangian Formulation for Half-integer HS Fields within Hamiltonian
  BRST Approach

abstract:
  A recent progress in a gauge-invariant Lagrangian description of massive and
massless half-integer higher-spin fields in AdS and Minkowski spaces is
presented. The procedure is based on a BFV-BRST operator, encoding the initial
conditions realized by constraints in a Fock space and extracting the
higher-spin fields from unitary irreducible representations of the AdS
(Poincare) group. The construction is applicable to higher-spin tensor fields
with a multi-row Young tableaux.


title:
Quasi-binary amorphous phase in a 3D system of particles with
  repulsive-shoulder interactions

abstract:
  We report a computer-simulation study of the equilibrium phase diagram of a
three-dimensional system of particles with a repulsive step potential. Using
free-energy calculations, we have determined the equilibrium phase diagram of
this system. At low temperatures, we observe a number of distinct crystal
phases. However, under certain conditions the system undergoes a glass
transition in a regime where the liquid appears thermodynamically stable. We
argue that the appearance of this amorphous low-temperature phase can be
understood by viewing this one-component system as a pseudo-binary mixture.


title: Lower limits for distributions of randomly stopped sums

abstract:
  We study lower limits for the ratio $\frac{\bar{F^{*\tau}}(x)}{\bar F(x)}$ of
tail distributions where $ F^{*\tau}$ is a distribution of a sum of a random
size $\tau$ of i.i.d. random variables having a common distribution $F$, and a
random variable $\tau$ does not depend on summands.


title: Horizontal Dehn Surgery and genericity in the curve complex

abstract:
  We introduce a general notion of "genericity" for countable subsets of a
space with Borel measure, and apply it to the set of vertices in the curve
complex of a surface S, interpreted as subset of the space of projective
measured laminations in S, equipped with its natural Lebesgue measure.
  We prove that, for any 3-manifold M, the set of curves c on a Heegaard
surface S in M, such that every non-trivial Dehn twist at c yields a Heegaard
splitting of high distance, is generic in the set of all essential simple
closed curves on S.
  Our definition of "genericity" is different and more intrinsic than
alternative such existing notions, given e.g. via random walks or via limits of
quotients of finite sets.


title:
Consistency and application of moving block bootstrap for non-stationary
  time series with periodic and almost periodic structure

abstract:
  The aim of this paper it to establish sufficient conditions for consistency
of moving block bootstrap for non-stationary time series with periodic and
almost periodic structure. The parameter of the study is the mean value of the
expectation function. Consistency holds in quite general situations: if all
joint distributions of the series are periodic, then it suffices to assume the
central limit theorem and strong mixing property, together with summability of
the autocovariance function. In the case where the mean function is almost
periodic, we additionally need uniform boundedness of the fourth moments of the
root statistics. It is shown that these theoretical results can be applied in
statistical inference concerning the Fourier coefficients of periodically (PC)
and almost periodically (APC) correlated time series. A simulation example
shows how to use a graphical diagnostic test for significant frequencies and
stationarity within these classes of time series.


title:
L'alg\`ebre des invariants d'un groupe de Coxeter agissant sur un
  mutiple de sa repr\'esentation standard

abstract:
  Let G be a Coxeter group of type A_n, B_n, D_n or I_2(N), or a complex
reflection group of type G(de,e,n). Let V be its standard representation and
let k be an integer greater than 2. Then G acts on S(V)^{\otimes k}. We show
that the algebra of invariants (S(V)^{\otimes k})^G is a free (S(V)^G)^{\otimes
k}-module of rank |G|^{k-1}, and that S(V)^{\otimes k} is not a free
(S(V)^{\otimes k})^G-module.


title: Numerical study of a model for non-equilibrium wetting

abstract:
  We revisit the scaling properties of a model for non-equilibrium wetting
[Phys. Rev. Lett. 79, 2710 (1997)], correcting previous estimates of the
critical exponents and providing a complete scaling scheme. Moreover, we
investigate a special point in the phase diagram, where the model exhibits a
roughening transition related to directed percolation. We argue that in the
vicinity of this point evaporation from the middle of plateaus can be
interpreted as an external field in the language of directed percolation. This
analogy allows us to compute the crossover exponent and to predict the form of
the phase transition line close to its terminal point.


title:
New features of the gluon and ghost propagator in the infrared region
  from the Gribov-Zwanziger approach

abstract:
  So far, the infrared behavior of the gluon and ghost propagator based on the
Gribov-Zwanziger approach predicted a positivity violating gluon propagator
vanishing at zero momentum, and an infrared enhanced ghost propagator. However,
recent data based on huge lattices have revealed a positivity violating gluon
propagator which turns out to attain a finite nonvanishing value very close to
zero momentum. At the same time the ghost propagator does not seem to be
infrared enhanced anymore. We point out that these new features can be
accounted for by yet unexploited dynamical effects within the Gribov-Zwanziger
approach, leading to an infrared behavior in qualitatively good agreement with
the new data.


title: On poles of twisted tensor L-functions

abstract:
  It is shown that the only possible pole of the twisted tensor L-functions in
Re(s)\geq 1 is located at s=1 for all quadratic extensions of global fields.


title:
Flow-correlated dilution of a regular network leads to a percolating
  network during tumor induced angiogenesis

abstract:
  We study a simplified stochastic model for the vascularization of a growing
tumor, incorporating the formation of new blood vessels at the tumor periphery
as well as their regression in the tumor center. The resulting morphology of
the tumor vasculature differs drastically from the original one. We demonstrate
that the probabilistic vessel collapse has to be correlated with the blood
shear force in order to yield percolating network structures. The resulting
tumor vasculature displays fractal properties. Fractal dimension, microvascular
density (MVD), blood flow and shear force has been computed for a wide range of
parameters.


title: DG-algebras and derived A-infinity algebras

abstract:
  A differential graded algebra can be viewed as an A-infinity algebra. By a
theorem of Kadeishvili, a dga over a field admits a quasi-isomorphism from a
minimal A-infinity algebra. We introduce the notion of a derived A-infinity
algebra and show that any dga A over an arbitrary commutative ground ring k is
equivalent to a minimal derived A-infinity algebra. Such a minimal derived
A-infinity algebra model for A is a k-projective resolution of the homology
algebra of A together with a family of maps satisfying appropriate relations.
  As in the case of A-infinity algebras, it is possible to recover the dga up
to quasi-isomorphism from a minimal derived A-infinity algebra model. Hence the
structure we are describing provides a complete description of the
quasi-isomorphism type of the dga.


title:
Correlations in orbital angular momentum of spatially entangled paired
  photons generated in parametric downconversion

abstract:
  What are the orbital angular momentum correlations between spatially
entangled photon pairs generated in spontaneous parametric down-conversion? We
show that the answer to this question can be given in two alternative, although
complementary, ways. The answer posed in this letter explains satisfactorily
the seemingly contradictory results obtained in different experiments, and
theoretical approaches.


title: Relativistic energy of a moving spherical capacitor

abstract:
  We discuss the relativistic transformation of the energy of a charged
spherical capacitor. The energy stored in the electromagnetic fields observed
by an uniformly moving frame is related to that of the rest frame by a factor
different from $\gamma $. Considering the energy and the stresses in the
capacitor shells we show that the total energy of the system satisfies the
expected relativistic transformation.


title:
An Improvement of the Asymptotic Iteration Method for Exactly Solvable
  Eigenvalue Problems

abstract:
  We derive a formula that simplifies the original asymptotic iteration method
formulation to find the energy eigenvalues for the analytically solvable cases.
We then show that there is a connection between the asymptotic iteration and
the Nikiforov--Uvarov methods, which both solve the second order linear
ordinary differential equations analytically.


title: A New Ultracool White Dwarf Discovered in the SuperCOSMOS Sky Survey

abstract:
  We present photographic B, R and I photometry, and optical and near-infrared
spectroscopy, of a new ultracool white dwarf (UCWD) discovered in the
SuperCOSMOS Sky Survey. The spectrum of SSSJ1556-0806 shows strong flux
suppression due to the presence of collisionally induced absorption by
molecular hydrogen (H2CIA), a feature characteristic of the cool, high density
environments found in the atmospheres of ultracool white dwarfs. SSSJ1556-0806
therefore joins a list of <10 ultracool white dwarfs displaying extreme flux
suppression. Synthetic model fitting suggests an effective temperature <3000K,
which if true would make this one of the coolest white dwarfs currently known.
We also exploit the similarity between the SEDs of SSSJ1556-0806 and the
well-studied UCWD LHS 3250 to aid in the determination of the atmospheric
parameters in a regime where models consistently fail to reproduce
observations. SSSJ1556-0806 is relatively bright (R ~ 17.8), making it
particularly amenable to follow up observations to obtain trigonometric
parallax and IR photometry.


title:
Anomalous fluctuations in sliding motion of cytoskeletal filament driven
  by molecular motors: Model simulations

abstract:
  It has been found in in vitro experiments that cytoskeletal filaments driven
by molecular motors show finite diffusion in sliding motion even in the long
filament limit [Y. Imafuku et al., Biophys. J. 70 (1996) 878-886; N. Noda et
al., Biophys. 1 (2005) 45-53]. This anomalous fluctuation can be an evidence
for cooperativity among the motors in action because fluctuation should be
averaged out for a long filament if the action of each motor is independent. In
order to understand the nature of the fluctuation in molecular motors, we
perform numerical simulations and analyse velocity correlation in three
existing models that are known to show some kind of cooperativity and/or large
diffusion coefficient, i.e. Sekimoto-Tawada model [K. Sekimoto and K. Tawada,
Phys. Rev. Lett. 75 (1995) 180], Prost model [J. Prost et al., Phys. Rev. Lett.
72 (1994) 2652], and Duke model [T. Duke, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 96 (1999)
2770]. It is shown that Prost model and Duke model do not give a finite
diffusion in the long filament limit in spite of collective action of motors.
On the other hand, Sekimoto-Tawada model has been shown to give the diffusion
coefficient that is independent of filament length, but it comes from the long
time correlation whose time scale is proportional to filament length, and our
simulations show that such a long correlation time conflicts with the
experimental time scales. We conclude that none of the three models do not
represent experimental findings. In order to explain the observed anomalous
diffusion, we have to seek for the mechanism that should allow both the
amplitude and the time scale of the velocity correlation to be independent of
the filament length.


title:
Collisional Stark Transitions and Induced Annihilation of Cold
  Antiprotonic Helium Ions

abstract:
  Stark transitions and induced annihilation of antiproton in the collisions of
antiprotonic helium ions (\bar{p}He^{+2})_{nl} with He atoms at very low energy
(~ 10 K) are considered in the framework of quantum coupled-channels method
taking into account all the states with different l at given n~30, including
the annihilating ns and np-states. Elastic scattering, Stark transitions and
induced annihilation during collisions are produced by scalar and dipole terms
in the interaction. It is shown that the most important contribution to the
processes comes from the long-range polarization interaction. Admixtures of the
ns and np-states to the states with higher l during collisions induce the
effective annihilation cross sections for the initial l up to 15, but don't
affect the Stark cross sections for the initial states nearly to circular
orbits. Total rates of the Stark transitions from the circular orbits with n=28
- 32, averaged over the thermal motion, are compatible with the recent ASACUSA
data. Isotope effect as well as the dependence on n are also qualitatively
agree with the experiment.


title:
Tailoring magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of martensitic
  transitions in ferromagnetic Heusler alloys

abstract:
  Ni$_{50}$Mn$_{34}$In$_{16}$ undergoes a martensitic transformation around 250
K and exhibits a field induced reverse martensitic transformation and
substantial magnetocaloric effects. We substitute small amounts Ga for In,
which are isoelectronic, to carry these technically important properties to
close to room temperature by shifting the martensitic transformation
temperature.


title: The Second Law as a Cause of the Evolution

abstract:
  It is a common belief that in any environment where life is possible, life
will be generated. Here it is suggested that the cause for a spontaneous
generation of complex systems is probability driven processes. Based on
equilibrium thermodynamics, it is argued that in low occupation number
statistical systems, the second law of thermodynamics yields an increase of
thermal entropy and a canonic energy distribution. However, in high occupation
number statistical systems, the same law for the same reasons yields an
increase of information and a Benford's law/power-law energy distribution. It
is therefore, plausible, that eventually the heat death is not necessarily the
end of the universe.


title: Representation and Measure of Structural Information

abstract:
  We introduce a uniform representation of general objects that captures the
regularities with respect to their structure. It allows a representation of a
general class of objects including geometric patterns and images in a sparse,
modular, hierarchical, and recursive manner. The representation can exploit any
computable regularity in objects to compactly describe them, while also being
capable of representing random objects as raw data. A set of rules uniformly
dictates the interpretation of the representation into raw signal, which makes
it possible to ask what pattern a given raw signal contains. Also, it allows
simple separation of the information that we wish to ignore from that which we
measure, by using a set of maps to delineate the a priori parts of the objects,
leaving only the information in the structure.
  Using the representation, we introduce a measure of information in general
objects relative to structures defined by the set of maps. We point out that
the common prescription of encoding objects by strings to use Kolmogorov
complexity is meaningless when, as often is the case, the encoding is not
specified in any way other than that it exists. Noting this, we define the
measure directly in terms of the structures of the spaces in which the objects
reside. As a result, the measure is defined relative to a set of maps that
characterize the structures. It turns out that the measure is equivalent to
Kolmogorov complexity when it is defined relative to the maps characterizing
the structure of natural numbers. Thus, the formulation gives the larger class
of objects a meaningful measure of information that generalizes Kolmogorov
complexity.


title:
Large supremum norms and small Shannon entropy for Hecke eigenfunctions
  of quantized cat maps

abstract:
  This paper concerns the behavior of eigenfunctions of quantized cat maps and
in particular their supremum norm. We observe that for composite integer values
of N, the inverse of Planck's constant, some of the desymmetrized
eigenfunctions have very small support and hence very large supremum norm. We
also prove an entropy estimate and show that our functions satisfy equality in
this estimate. In the case when N is a prime power with even exponent we
calculate the supremum norm for a large proportion of all desymmetrized
eigenfunctions and we find that for a given N there is essentially at most four
different values these assume.


title: The benefits of the orthogonal LSM models

abstract:
  In the last few decades both the volume of high-quality observing data on
variable stars and common access to them have boomed; however the standard used
methods of data processing and interpretation have lagged behind this progress.
The most popular method of data treatment remains for many decades Linear
Regression (LR) based on the principles of Least Squares Method (LSM) or
linearized LSM. Unfortunately, we have to state that the method of linear
regression is not as a rule used accordingly namely in the evaluation of
uncertainties of the LR parameters and estimates of the uncertainty of the LR
predictions.
  We present the matrix version of basic relations of LR and the true estimate
of the uncertainty of the LR predictions. We define properties of the
orthogonal LR models and show how to transform general LR models into
orthogonal ones. We give relations for orthogonal models for common polynomial
series.


title:
A new approach to the relativistic treatment of the fermion-boson
  system, based on the extension of the SL(2,C) group

abstract:
  A new technique for constructing the relativistic wave equation for the
two-body system composed of the spin-1/2 and spin-0 particles is proposed. The
method is based on the extension of the SL(2,C) group to the Sp(4,C) one. The
obtained equation includes the interaction potentials, having both the
Lorentz-vector and Lorentz-tensor structure, exactly describes the relativistic
kinematics and possesses the correct one-particle limits. The comparison with
results of other approaches to this problem is discussed.


title:
Eliminating fast reactions in stochastic simulations of biochemical
  networks: a bistable genetic switch

abstract:
  In many stochastic simulations of biochemical reaction networks, it is
desirable to ``coarse-grain'' the reaction set, removing fast reactions while
retaining the correct system dynamics. Various coarse-graining methods have
been proposed, but it remains unclear which methods are reliable and which
reactions can safely be eliminated. We address these issues for a model gene
regulatory network that is particularly sensitive to dynamical fluctuations: a
bistable genetic switch. We remove protein-DNA and/or protein-protein
association-dissociation reactions from the reaction set, using various
coarse-graining strategies. We determine the effects on the steady-state
probability distribution function and on the rate of fluctuation-driven switch
flipping transitions. We find that protein-protein interactions may be safely
eliminated from the reaction set, but protein-DNA interactions may not. We also
find that it is important to use the chemical master equation rather than
macroscopic rate equations to compute effective propensity functions for the
coarse-grained reactions.


title: Conformal classes of asymptotically flat, static vacuum data

abstract:
  We show that time-reflection symmetric, asymptotically flat, static vacuum
data which admit a non-trivial conformal rescaling which leads again to such
data must be axi-symmetric and admit a conformal Killing field. Moreover, it is
shown that there exists a 3-parameter family of such data.


title: Adaptive optimal allocation in stratified sampling methods

abstract:
  In this paper, we propose a stratified sampling algorithm in which the random
drawings made in the strata to compute the expectation of interest are also
used to adaptively modify the proportion of further drawings in each stratum.
These proportions converge to the optimal allocation in terms of variance
reduction. And our stratified estimator is asymptotically normal with
asymptotic variance equal to the minimal one. Numerical experiments confirm the
efficiency of our algorithm.


title:
Additional Boundary Condition for a Wire Medium Connected to a Metallic
  Surface

abstract:
  In this work, we demonstrate that the interaction of electromagnetic waves
with a microstructured material formed by metallic wires connected to a
metallic surface can be described using homogenization methods provided an
additional boundary condition is considered. The additional boundary condition
is derived by taking into account the specific microstructure of the wire
medium. To illustrate the application of the result, we characterize a
substrate formed by an array of tilted metallic wires connected to a ground
plane, demonstrating that in such configuration the wire medium behaves
essentially as a material with extreme optical anisotropy and that in some
circumstances the substrate can be seen as an impedance surface.


title: Fluoroscopy-based navigation system in spine surgery

abstract:
  The variability in width, height, and spatial orientation of a spinal pedicle
makes pedicle screw insertion a delicate operation. The aim of the current
paper is to describe a computer-assisted surgical navigation system based on
fluoroscopic X-ray image calibration and three-dimensional optical localizers
in order to reduce radiation exposure while increasing accuracy and reliability
of the surgical procedure for pedicle screw insertion. Instrumentation using
transpedicular screw fixation was performed: in a first group, a conventional
surgical procedure was carried out with 26 patients (138 screws); in a second
group, a navigated surgical procedure (virtual fluoroscopy) was performed with
26 patients (140 screws). Evaluation of screw placement in every case was done
by using plain X-rays and post-operative computer tomography scan. A 5 per cent
cortex penetration (7 of 140 pedicle screws) occurred for the computer-assisted
group. A 13 per cent penetration (18 of 138 pedicle screws) occurred for the
non computer-assisted group. The radiation running time for each vertebra level
(two screws) reached 3.5 s on average in the computer-assisted group and 11.5 s
on average in the non computer-assisted group. The operative time for two
screws on the same vertebra level reaches 10 min on average in the non
computer-assisted group and 11.9 min on average in the computer-assisted group.
The fluoroscopy-based (two-dimensional) navigation system for pedicle screw
insertion is a safe and reliable procedure for surgery in the lower thoracic
and lumbar spine.


title:
Flavor Ratios of Astrophysical Neutrinos: Implications for Precision
  Measurements

abstract:
  We discuss flavor-mixing probabilities and flavor ratios of high energy
astrophysical neutrinos. In the first part of this paper, we expand the
neutrino flavor-fluxes in terms of the small parameters U_{e3} and pi/4 -
theta_{23}, and show that there are universal first and second order
corrections. The second order term can exceed the first order term, and so
should be included in any analytic study. We also investigate the probabilities
and ratios after a further expansion around the tribimaximal value of sin^2
theta_{12} = 1/3. In the second part of the paper, we discuss implications of
deviations of initial flavor ratios from the usually assumed, idealized flavor
compositions for pion, muon-damped, and neutron beam sources, viz., (1 : 2 :
0), (0 : 1 : 0), and (1 : 0 : 0), respectively. We show that even small
deviations have significant consequences for the observed flavor ratios at
Earth. If initial flavor deviations are not taken into account in analyses,
then false inferences for the values in the PMNS matrix elements (angles and
phase) may result.


title: Energy Dependence of Air Fluorescence Yield measured by AIRFLY

abstract:
  In the fluorescence detection of ultra high energy (> 10**18 eV) cosmic rays,
the number of emitted fluorescence photons is assumed to be proportional to the
energy deposited in air by shower particles. We have performed measurements of
the fluorescence yield in atmospheric gases excited by electrons over energies
ranging from keV to hundreds of MeV in several accelerators. We found that
within the measured energy ranges the proportionality holds at the level of few
%.


title: Optimal transportation on non-compact manifolds

abstract:
  In this work, we show how to obtain for non-compact manifolds the results
that have already been done for Monge Transport Problem for costs coming from
Tonelli Lagrangians on compact manifolds. In particular, the already known
results for a cost of the type $d^r,r>1$, where $d$ is the Riemannian distance
of a complete Riemannian manifold, hold without any curvature restriction.


title:
Non-local density correlations as signal of Hawking radiation in BEC
  acoustic black holes

abstract:
  We have used the analogy between gravitational systems and non-homogeneous
fluid flows to calculate the density-density correlation function of an atomic
Bose-Einstein condensate in the presence of an acoustic black hole. The
emission of correlated pairs of phonons by Hawking-like process results into a
peculiar long-range density correlation. Quantitative estimations of the effect
are provided for realistic experimental configurations.


title:
Consideration of the relationship between Kepler and cyclotron dynamics
  leading to prediction of a non-MHD gravity-driven Hamiltonian dynamo

abstract:
  Conservation of canonical angular momentum shows that charged particles are
typically constrained to stay within a poloidal Larmor radius of a poloidal
magnetic flux surface. However, more detailed consideration shows that
particles with a critical charge to mass ratio can have zero canonical angular
momentum and so be both immune from centrifugal force and not constrained to
stay in the vicinity of a specific flux surface. Suitably charged dust grains
can have zero canonical angular momentum and in the presence of a gravitational
field will spiral inwards across poloidal magnetic surfaces toward the central
object and accumulate. This accumulation results in a gravitationally-driven
dynamo, i.e., a mechanism for converting gravitational potential energy into a
battery-like electric power source.


title: Estimating Consequences of 3-Body Forces

abstract:
  Classifying the strengthes of three-body forces 3BFs with the condition that
observables must be cut-off independent, i.e. renormalised at each order, leads
to surprising results with relevance for example for thermal neutron capture on
the deuteron. Details and a better bibliography in Ref. [1].


title:
Robot-based tele-echography: clinical evaluation of the TER system in
  abdominal aortic exploration

abstract:
  OBJECTIVE: The TER system is a robot-based tele-echography system allowing
remote ultrasound examination. The specialist moves a mock-up of the ultrasound
probe at the master site, and the robot reproduces the movements of the real
probe, which sends back ultrasound images and force feedback. This tool could
be used to perform ultrasound examinations in small health care centers or from
isolated sites. The objective of this study was to prove, under real
conditions, the feasibility and reliability of the TER system in detecting
abdominal aortic and iliac aneurysms. METHODS: Fifty-eight patients were
included in 2 centers in Brest and Grenoble, France. The remote examination was
compared with the reference standard, the bedside examination, for aorta and
iliac artery diameter measurement, detection and description of aneurysms,
detection of atheromatosis, the duration of the examination, and acceptability.
RESULTS: All aneurysms (8) were detected by both techniques as intramural
thrombosis and extension to the iliac arteries. The interobserver correlation
coefficient was 0.982 (P < .0001) for aortic diameters. The rate of concordance
between 2 operators in evaluating atheromatosis was 84% +/- 11% (95% confidence
interval). CONCLUSIONS: Our study on 58 patients suggests that the TER system
could be a reliable, acceptable, and effective robot-based system for
performing remote abdominal aortic ultrasound examinations. Research is
continuing to improve the equipment for general abdominal use.


title:
$T_c$ Dependence of Energy Gap and Asymmetry of Coherence Peaks in
  NdBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7-\delta}$

abstract:
  We report here the results of scanning tunneling spectroscopic experiments
performed on hole doped NdBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7-\delta}$ single crystals of $T_c$
values of 76 K, 93.5 K and 95.5 K. The energy gaps are observed to be
increasing with decreasing $T_c$ values. The coherence peaks are asymmetric
with the peaks at the filled states being larger than those at the empty ones.
The asymmetry increases with decreasing $T_c$. The observed asymmetry and its
$T_c$ dependence can be explained by considering the Mott insulating nature of
the material at the undoped state.


title: Uniqueness in Discrete Tomography of Delone Sets with Long-Range Order

abstract:
  We address the problem of determining finite subsets of Delone sets
$\varLambda\subset\R^d$ with long-range order by $X$-rays in prescribed
$\varLambda$-directions, i.e., directions parallel to non-zero interpoint
vectors of $\varLambda$. Here, an $X$-ray in direction $u$ of a finite set
gives the number of points in the set on each line parallel to $u$. For our
main result, we introduce the notion of algebraic Delone sets
$\varLambda\subset\R^2$ and derive a sufficient condition for the determination
of the convex subsets of these sets by $X$-rays in four prescribed
$\varLambda$-directions.


title:
Measuring superparticle masses at hadron collider using the transverse
  mass kink

abstract:
  We present a detailed study of the collider observable $m_{T2}$ applied for
pair-produced superparticles decaying to visible particles and a pair of
invisible lightest supersymmetric particles (LSPs). Analytic expressions of the
maximum of $m_{T2}$ over all events ($m_{T2}^{\rm max}$) are derived. It is
noticed that if the decay product of each superparticle involves more than one
visible particles, $m_{T2}^{\rm max}$ being a function of the {\it trial} LSP
mass ${m}_\chi$ has a kink structure at ${m}_\chi=$ true LSP mass, which can be
used to determine the mother superparticle mass and the LSP mass
simultaneously. To see how well $m_{T2}^{\rm max}$ can be constructed from
collider data, a Monte-Carlo analysis of the gluino $m_{T2}$ is performed for
some superparticle spectra.


title:
Evidence of a s-Wave Pairing in Heavily Zn-doped $YBa_2Cu_3O_{7-\delta}$
  from Andreev Reflection Spectra

abstract:
  When the $d_{x^2-y^2}$-wave pairing is suppressed by Zn-doping in
$YBa_2Cu_3O_{7-\delta}$ some of the Andreev reflection spectra were found to be
similar to the s-wave spectra of conventional superconductors. The energy gap
is rather reproducible (2.3-3.0meV). It is suppressed by low magnetic field
($H_C^{PC}=120-270mT$) in great contrast to the d-wave spectra ($H_C^{PC}>3T$)
with the similar order of the gap value. We suppose that the s-wave pairing
occurs near the Zn-impurities.


title: Polyphase alternating codes

abstract:
  This work introduces a method for constructing polyphase alternating codes in
which the length of a code transmission cycle can be $p^m$ or $p-1$, where $p$
is a prime number and $m$ is a positive integer. The relevant properties
leading to the construction alternating codes and the algorithm for generating
alternating codes is described. Examples of all practical and some not that
practical polyphase code lengths are given.


title: Donaldson Thomas invariant of P^1 scroll

abstract:
  Let X be a P^1 scroll (a compactification of a line bundle L) over a complex
surafce S and assume S has a global two form with zero loci a smooth curve C.
The Donaldson Thomas invariants of X is shown to be zero if the curve class has
is component on S not a multiple of [C]. For nonzero case, when the prime field
insertion are above C, the invariant is shown to depend only on the analytic
neighborhood of L in X.


title:
Temperature measurement of sub-micrometric ICs by scanning thermal
  microscopy

abstract:
  Surface temperature measurements were performed with a Scanning Thermal
Microscope mounted with a thermoresistive wire probe of micrometrSurface
temperature measurements were performed with a Scanning Thermal Microscope
mounted with a thermoresistive wire probe of micrometric size. A CMOS device
was designed with arrays of resistive lines 0.35$\mu$m in width. The array
periods are 0.8micron and 10micron to study the spatial resolution of the SThM.
Integrated Circuits with passivation layers of micrometric and nanometric
thicknesses were tested. To enhance signal-to-noise ratio, the resistive lines
were heated with an AC current. The passivation layer of nanometric thickness
allows us to distinguish the lines when the array period is 10micron. The
results raise the difficulties of the SThM measurement due to the design and
the topography of ICs on one hand and the size of the thermal probe on the
other hand.ic size. A CMOS device was designed with arrays of resistive lines
0.35$\mu$m in width. The array periods are 0.8micron and 10micron to study the
spatial resolution of the SThM. Integrated Circuits with passivation layers of
micrometric and nanometric thicknesses were tested. To enhance signal-to-noise
ratio, the resistive lines were heated with an AC current. The passivation
layer of nanometric thickness allows us to distinguish the lines when the array
period is 10micron. The results raise the difficulties of the SThM measurement
due to the design and the topography of ICs on one hand and the size of the
thermal probe on the other hand.


title:
Evidence in Support of the Local Quasar Model from Inner Jet Structure
  and Angular Motions in Radio Loud AGN

abstract:
  Radio loud jetted sources with and without extended inner jet structure show
good agreement with the simple ballistic ejection scenario proposed in the
decreasing intrinsic redshift (DIR) model, where, because of projection
effects, those that show the most obvious extended structure and large angular
motions are assumed to have jets that lie close to the plane of the sky, and
those with little or no structure and small angular motions are assumed to have
jets that are coming almost directly towards us. This simple model also
predicts several other relations seen in the raw data that, in some cases, may
be less easily explained if the redshifts are cosmological and relativistic
ejection is required. In particular, for radio-loud sources the source number
density is found to be high for sources that are not Doppler boosted but low
for highly boosted sources. This is opposite to what is expected, suggesting
that Doppler boosting may not be involved at all, which would be in agreement
with the DIR model. If so, the reality of relativistic beaming in quasar jets,
the assumption of which has been the very foundation of the superluminal motion
explanation in the cosmological redshift (CR) model, would then be questioned.


title: A holographic computation of the central charges of d=4, N=2 SCFTs

abstract:
  We use the AdS/CFT correspondence to compute the central charges of the d=4,
N=2 superconformal field theories arising from N D3-branes at singularities in
F-theory. These include the conformal theories with E_n global symmetries. We
compute the central charges a and c related to the conformal anomaly, and also
the central charges k associated to the global symmetry in these theories. All
of these are related to the coefficients of Chern-Simons terms in the dual
string theory on AdS_5. Our computation is exact for all values of N, enabling
several tests of the dualities recently proposed by Argyres and Seiberg for the
E_6 and E_7 theories with N=1.


title: Temperature dependent phonon renormalization in metallic nanotubes

abstract:
  We measure the temperature dependence of the Raman spectra of metallic and
semiconducting nanotubes. We show that the different trend in metallic tubes is
due to phonon re-normalization induced by the variation in electronic
temperature, which is modeled including non-adiabatic contributions to account
for the dynamic, time dependent nature


title: Experimental realization of linear-optical partial SWAP gates

abstract:
  We present a linear-optical implementation of a class of two-qubit partial
SWAP gates for polarization states of photons. Different gate operations,
including the SWAP and entangling square root of SWAP, can be obtained by
changing a classical control parameter -- namely the path difference in the
interferometer. Reconstruction of output states, full process tomography and
evaluation of entanglement of formation prove very good performance of the
gates.


title:
Room temperature Optical Orientation of Exciton Spin in cubic GaN/AlN
  quantum dots

abstract:
  The optical orientation of the exciton spin in an ensemble of self-organized
cubic GaN/AlN quantum dots is studied by time-resolved photoluminescence. Under
a polarized quasi-resonant excitation, the luminescence linear polarization
exhibits no temporal decay, even at room temperature. This demonstrates the
robustness of the exciton spin polarization in these cubic nitride
nanostructures, with characteristic decay times longer than 10 ns.


title: Studying variation of fundamental constants with molecules

abstract:
  This review article is devoted to application of precision molecular
spectroscopy to studies of the possible spatial and temporal variations of the
fundamental constants. Both astrophysical observations and laboratory
experiments are discussed.


title:
The semiclassical relation between open trajectories and periodic orbits
  for the Wigner time delay

abstract:
  The Wigner time delay of a classically chaotic quantum system can be
expressed semiclassically either in terms of pairs of scattering trajectories
that enter and leave the system or in terms of the periodic orbits trapped
inside the system. We show how these two pictures are related on the
semiclassical level. We start from the semiclassical formula with the
scattering trajectories and derive from it all terms in the periodic orbit
formula for the time delay. The main ingredient in this calculation is a new
type of correlation between scattering trajectories which is due to
trajectories that approach the trapped periodic orbits closely. The equivalence
between the two pictures is also demonstrated by considering correlation
functions of the time delay. A corresponding calculation for the conductance
gives no periodic orbit contributions in leading order.


title: On a recent proposal of faster than light quantum communication

abstract:
  In a recent paper, A.Y. Shiekh has discussed an experimental set-up which, in
his opinion, should make possible faster-than-light communication using the
collapse of the quantum wave function. Contrary to the many proposals which
have been presented in the past, he does not resort to an entangled state of
two systems but he works with a single particle in a superposition of two
states - corresponding to its propagation in opposite directions - one of which
goes through an appropriate interferometer. The possibility for an observer
near the interferometer to introduce or not, at his free will, a phase shifter
along one of the paths should allow to change instantaneously the probability
of finding the particle in the far-away region corresponding to the other state
of the superposition and, correspondingly, to change the intensity of a beam of
particles reaching a distant observer. In this paper we show a flaw in the
argument: once more, as it has been proved in full generality a long time ago,
the process of wave packet reduction cannot be used for superluminal
communication.


title: Non-Gaussian features of chaotic Hamiltonian transport

abstract:
  Some non-Gaussian aspects of chaotic transport are investigated for a general
class of two-dimensional area-preserving maps. Kurtosis, in particular, is
calculated from the diffusion and the Burnett coefficients, which are obtained
analytically. A characteristic time scale delimiting the onset of the Markovian
regime for the master equation is established. Some explicit examples are
discussed.


title: High p_T jets in DIS and gamma p at HERA

abstract:
  Recent results on di-jet, inclusive jets, production at high p_T in Deep
Inelastic Scattering DIS and photoproduction gamma p regimes using both the H1
and ZEUS detectors at HERA are presented. Also studies of integrated jet shape
and jet radius dependencies in DIS performed by the ZEUS Collaborations are
discussed. All the measurements are found to be well described by calculations
at the next-to-leading order in perturbative QCD. A combined determination of
the value of the strong coupling constant alpha_s(M_Z) from the H1 and ZEUS
Collaborations using inclusive-jet cross-section measurements in neutral
current DIS at high Q^2 is shown.


title: Einstein-Yang-Mills Solitons: The Role of Gravity

abstract:
  The canonical Bartnik-McKinnon solitons are regular solutions of the coupled
Einstein-Yang-Mills system in which gravity may balance the repulsive nature of
the Yang-Mills field. We examine the role played by gravity in balancing the
system and determine its strength. In particular, we obtain an analytic lower
bound on the fundamental mass-to-radius ratio, max{2m(r)/r}>2/3, which is a
necessary condition for the existence of globally regular Einstein-Yang-Mills
solitons. Our analytical results are in accord with numerical calculations.


title: Are Globular Clusters the Remnant Nuclei of Progenitor Disk Galaxies?

abstract:
  The globular cluster system of a typical spheroidal galaxy makes up about
0.25% of the total galaxy mass (McLaughlin 1999). This is roughly the same mass
fraction as contained in the nuclear star clus- ter (or stellar nucleus)
present in most nearby low-mass galaxies. Motivated by this "coincidence", this
Letter discusses a scenario in which globular clusters of present-day galaxies
are the surviving nuclei of the dwarf galaxies that - according to the
hierarchical merging paradigm of galaxy forma- tion - constitute the "building
blocks" of present-day massive galaxies. This scenario, which was first
suggested by Freeman (1993), has become more attractive recently in the light
of studies that demonstrate a complex star formation history in a number of
massive globular clusters.


title: Am stars in binary systems

abstract:
  It is argued that apart from the well known dependence of the Am phenomenon
on the mass, age (effective temperature, gravity) and rotation there is also a
complex dependence on the orbital parameters in binary systems. This is why the
generally accepted scenario in which the Am star rotation plays a unique role
needs to be revisited, the strong correlations between the rotation, orbital
period and eccentricity need to be properly addressed and tidal effects taken
into account. Recent observations of Am stars in binary systems are reviewed.


title: NeXSPheRIO Results on Elliptic-Flow Fluctuations at RHIC

abstract:
  By using the NexSPheRIO code, we study the elliptic-flow fluctuations in
Au+Au collisions at 200A GeV. It is shown that, by fixing the parameters of the
model to correctly reproduce the charged pseudo-rapidity and the
transverse-momentum distributions, reasonable agreement of <v_2> with data is
obtained, both as function of pseudo-rapidity as well as of transverse
momentum, for charged particles. Our results on elliptic-flow fluctuations are
in good agreement with the recently measured data in experiments.


title: Foncteur de Picard d'un champ alg\'ebrique

abstract:
  In this article we study the Picard functor and the Picard stack of an
algebraic stack. We give a new and direct proof of the representability of the
Picard stack. We prove that it is quasi-separated, and that the connected
component of the identity is proper when the fibers of the stack are
geometrically normal. We study some examples of Picard functors of classical
stacks. In an appendix, we review the lisse-etale cohomology of abelian sheaves
on an algebraic stack.


title:
On Black Holes and Cosmological Constant in Noncommutative Gauge Theory
  of Gravity

abstract:
  Deformed Reissner-Nordstr\"om, as well as Reissner-Nordstr\"om de Sitter,
solutions are obtained in a noncommutative gauge theory of gravitation. The
gauge potentials (tetrad fields) and the components of deformed metric are
calculated to second order in the noncommutativity parameter. The solutions
reduce to the deformed Schwarzschild ones when the electric charge of the
gravitational source and the cosmological constant vanish. Corrections to the
thermodynamical quantities of the corresponding black holes and to the radii of
different horizons have been determined. All the independent invariants, such
as the Ricci scalar and the so-called Kretschmann scalar, have the same
singularity structure as the ones of the usual undeformed case and no smearing
of singularities occurs. The possibility of such a smearing is discussed. In
the noncommutative case we have a local disturbance of the geometry around the
source, although asymptotically at large distances it becomes flat.


title: Extremal Black Hole and Flux Vacua Attractors

abstract:
  These lectures provide a pedagogical, introductory review of the so-called
Attractor Mechanism (AM) at work in two different 4-dimensional frameworks:
extremal black holes in N=2 supergravity and N=1 flux compactifications. In the
first case, AM determines the stabilization of scalars at the black hole event
horizon purely in terms of the electric and magnetic charges, whereas in the
second context the AM is responsible for the stabilization of the universal
axion-dilaton and of the (complex structure) moduli purely in terms of the RR
and NSNS fluxes. Two equivalent approaches to AM, namely the so-called
``criticality conditions'' and ``New Attractor'' ones, are analyzed in detail
in both frameworks, whose analogies and differences are discussed. Also a
stringy analysis of both frameworks (relying on Hodge-decomposition techniques)
is performed, respectively considering Type IIB compactified on $CY_{3}$ and
its orientifolded version, associated with $\frac{CY_{3}\times
T^{2}}{\mathbb{Z}_{2}}$. Finally, recent results on the U-duality orbits and
moduli spaces of non-BPS extremal black hole attractors in $3\leqslant
N\leqslant 8$, d=4 supergravities are reported.


title:
The underluminous Type Ia Supernova 2005bl and the class of objects
  similar to SN 1991bg

abstract:
  Optical observations of the Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) 2005bl in NGC 4070,
obtained from -6 to +66 d with respect to the B-band maximum, are presented.
The photometric evolution is characterised by rapidly-declining light curves
and red colours at peak and soon thereafter. With M_B,max = -17.24 the SN is an
underluminous SN Ia, similar to the peculiar SNe 1991bg and 1999by. This
similarity also holds for the spectroscopic appearance, the only remarkable
difference being the likely presence of carbon in pre-maximum spectra of SN
2005bl. A comparison study among underluminous SNe Ia is performed, based on a
number of spectrophotometric parameters. Previously reported correlations of
the light-curve decline rate with peak luminosity and R(Si) are confirmed, and
a large range of post-maximum Si II lambda6355 velocity gradients is
encountered. 1D synthetic spectra for SN 2005bl are presented, which confirm
the presence of carbon and suggest an overall low burning efficiency with a
significant amount of leftover unburned material. Also, the Fe content in
pre-maximum spectra is very low, which may point to a low metallicity of the
precursor. Implications for possible progenitor scenarios of underluminous SNe
Ia are briefly discussed.


title: Hydrogen Isocyanide in Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann (Fragment B)

abstract:
  We present a sensitive 3-sigma upper limit of 1.1% for the HNC/HCN abundance
ratio in comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann (Fragment B), obtained on May 10-11,
2006 using Caltech Submillimeter Observatory (CSO). This limit is a factor of
~7 lower than the values measured previously in moderately active comets at 1
AU from the Sun. Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann was depleted in most volatile
species, except of HCN. The low HNC/HCN ratio thus argues against HNC
production from polymers produced from HCN. However, thermal degradation of
macromolecules, or polymers, produced from ammonia and carbon compounds, such
as acetylene, methane, or ethane appears a plausible explanation for the
observed variations of the HNC/HCN ratio in moderately active comets, including
the very low ratio in comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann reported here. Similar
polymers have been invoked previously to explain anomalous 14N/15N ratios
measured in cometary CN.


title: Equivariance, Variational Principles, and the Feynman Integral

abstract:
  We argue that the variational calculus leading to Euler's equations and
Noether's theorem can be replaced by equivariance and invariance conditions
avoiding the action integral. We also speculate about the origin of Lagrangian
theories in physics and their connection to Feynman's integral.


title:
Universality of large N phase transitions in Wilson loop operators in
  two and three dimensions

abstract:
  The eigenvalue distribution of a Wilson loop operator of fixed shape
undergoes a transition under scaling at infinite N. We derive a large N scaling
function in a double scaling limit of the average characteristic polynomial
associated with the Wilson loop operator in two dimensional QCD. We hypothesize
that the transition in three and four dimensional large N QCD are also in the
same universality class and provide a numerical test for our hypothesis in
three dimensions.


title:
Two-electron bunching in transport through a QD induced by Kondo
  correlations

abstract:
  We report on noise measurements in a quantum dot in the presence of Kondo
correlations. Close to the unitary limit, with the conductance reaching
1.8e2/h, we observed an average backscattered charge of e*~5e/3, while weakly
biasing the quantum dot. This result held to bias voltages up to half the Kondo
temperature. Away from the unitary limit, the charge was measured to be e as
expected. These results confirm and extend the prediction by E. Sela et al.
[1], that suggested that two-electron backscattering processes dominate over
single-electron backscattering processes near the unitary limit, with an
average backscattered charge e*~5e/3.


title:
Waveguiding and Plasmon Resonances in Two-Dimensional Photonic Lattices
  of Gold and Silver Nanowires

abstract:
  We report the fabrication of triangular lattices of parallel gold and silver
nanowires of high optical quality, with diameters down to 500 nm and
length-to-diameter ratios as high as 100,000. The nanowires are supported by a
silica glass matrix and are disposed around a central solid glass core, i.e., a
missing nanowire. These cm-long structures make it possible to trap light
within an array of nanowires and characterize the plasmon resonances that form
at specific optical frequencies. Such nanowire arrays have many potential
applications, e.g., to imaging on the sub-wavelength scale.


title:
New counterterms induced by trans-Planckian physics in semiclassical
  gravity

abstract:
  We consider free and self-interacting quantum scalar fields satisfying
modified dispersion relations in the framework of Einstein-Aether theory. Using
adiabatic regularization, we study the renormalization of the equation for the
mean value of the field in the self-interacting case, and the renormalization
of the semiclassical Einstein-Aether equations for free fields. In both cases
we consider Bianchi type I background spacetimes. Contrary to what happens for
{\it free} fields in {\it flat} Robertson-Walker spacetimes, the
self-interaction and/or the anisotropy produce non-purely geometric terms in
the adiabatic expansion, i.e terms that involve both the metric $g_{\mu\nu}$
and the aether field $u_{\mu}$. We argue that, in a general spacetime, the
renormalization of the theory would involve new counterterms constructed with
$g_{\mu\nu}$ and $u_{\mu}$, generating a fine-tuning problem for the
Einstein-Aether theory.


title: Sparse Additive Models

abstract:
  We present a new class of methods for high-dimensional nonparametric
regression and classification called sparse additive models (SpAM). Our methods
combine ideas from sparse linear modeling and additive nonparametric
regression. We derive an algorithm for fitting the models that is practical and
effective even when the number of covariates is larger than the sample size.
SpAM is closely related to the COSSO model of Lin and Zhang (2006), but
decouples smoothing and sparsity, enabling the use of arbitrary nonparametric
smoothers. An analysis of the theoretical properties of SpAM is given. We also
study a greedy estimator that is a nonparametric version of forward stepwise
regression. Empirical results on synthetic and real data are presented, showing
that SpAM can be effective in fitting sparse nonparametric models in high
dimensional data.


title: Charmonium

abstract:
  Topics in the description of the properties of charmonium states are reviewed
with an emphasis on specific theoretical ideas and methods of relating those
properties to the underlying theory of Quantum Chromodynamics.


title: On Outage Behavior of Wideband Slow-Fading Channels

abstract:
  This paper investigates point-to-point information transmission over a
wideband slow-fading channel, modeled as an (asymptotically) large number of
independent identically distributed parallel channels, with the random channel
fading realizations remaining constant over the entire coding block. On the one
hand, in the wideband limit the minimum achievable energy per nat required for
reliable transmission, as a random variable, converges in probability to
certain deterministic quantity. On the other hand, the exponential decay rate
of the outage probability, termed as the wideband outage exponent,
characterizes how the number of parallel channels, {\it i.e.}, the
``bandwidth'', should asymptotically scale in order to achieve a target outage
probability at a target energy per nat. We examine two scenarios: when the
transmitter has no channel state information and adopts uniform transmit power
allocation among parallel channels; and when the transmitter is endowed with an
one-bit channel state feedback for each parallel channel and accordingly
allocates its transmit power. For both scenarios, we evaluate the wideband
minimum energy per nat and the wideband outage exponent, and discuss their
implication for system performance.


title:
The influence of the hydrodynamic drag from an accretion torus on
  extreme mass-ratio inspirals

abstract:
  We have studied extreme mass-ratio inspirals (EMRIs) in spacetimes containing
a rotating black hole and a non self-gravitating torus with constant specific
angular momentum. We have found that the effect of the hydrodynamic drag
exerted by the torus on the satellite is much smaller than the corresponding
one due to radiation reaction, for systems such as those generically expected
in AGNs and at distances from the SMBH which can be probed with LISA. However,
given the uncertainty on the parameters of these systems, there exist
configurations in which the effect of the hydrodynamic drag can be comparable
to the radiation-reaction one in phases of the inspiral which are detectable by
LISA. This is the case, for instance, for a 10^6 M_sun SMBH surrounded by a
corotating torus of comparable mass and with radius of 10^3-10^4 gravitational
radii, or for a 10^5 M_sun SMBH surrounded by a corotating 10^4 M_sun torus
with radius of 10^5 gravitational radii. Should these conditions be met in
astrophysical systems, EMRI-gravitational waves could provide a characteristic
signature of the presence of the torus. In fact, while radiation reaction
always increases the inclination of the orbit with respect to the equatorial
plane, the hydrodynamic drag from a torus corotating with the SMBH always
decreases it. However, even when initially dominating over radiation reaction,
the influence of the hydrodynamic drag decays very rapidly as the satellite
moves into the very strong-field region of the SMBH (i.e., p <~ 5M). Although
our results have been obtained for a specific class of tori, we argue that they
will be qualitatively valid also for more generic distributions of the specific
angular momentum.


title: Theoretical description of nucleation in multicomponent system

abstract:
  The full theoretical analysis of the kinetics of multicomponent nucleation is
presented. The relief of the free energy with surface excesses was analyzed,
the valleys and ridges were described, their mutual interaction was studied.
The new possibility to change the valley of nucleation is shown. The
possibility to have one common valley instead of several neighbor ones which
leads to the radical change in the height of the effective activation barrier
and to the new value for the nucleation rate.


title: Ab initio studies of the spin-transfer torque in tunnel junctions

abstract:
  We calculate the spin-transfer torque in Fe/MgO/Fe tunnel junctions and
compare the results to those for all-metallic junctions. We show that the
spin-transfer torque is interfacial in the ferromagnetic layer to a greater
degree than in all-metallic junctions. This result originates in the half
metallic behavior of Fe for the $\Delta_1$ states at the Brillouin zone center;
in contrast to all-metallic structures, dephasing does not play an important
role. We further show that it is possible to get a component of the torque that
is out of the plane of the magnetizations and that is linear in the bias.
However, observation of such a torque requires highly ideal samples. In samples
with typical interfacial roughness, the torque is similar to that in
all-metallic multilayers, although for different reasons.


title: Debris Disks Around Nearby Stars with Circumstellar Gas

abstract:
  We conducted a survey for infrared excess emission from 16 nearby main
sequence shell stars using the Multiband Imaging Photometer for Spitzer (MIPS)
on the Spitzer Space Telescope. Shell stars are early-type stars with narrow
absorption lines in their spectra that appear to arise from circumstellar (CS)
gas. Four of the 16 stars in our survey showed excess emission at 24 microns
and 70 microns characteristic of cool CS dust and are likely to be edge-on
debris disks. Including previously known disks, it appears that the fraction of
protoplanetary and debris disks among the main sequence shell stars is at least
48% +/- 14%. While dust in debris disks has been extensively studied,
relatively little is known about their gas content. In the case of Beta
Pictoris, extensive observations of gaseous species have provided insights into
the dynamics of the CS material and surprises about the composition of the CS
gas coming from young planetesimals (e.g. Roberge et al. 2006). To understand
the co-evolution of gas and dust through the terrestrial planet formation
phase, we need to study the gas in additional debris disks. The new debris disk
candidates from this Spitzer survey double the number of systems in which the
gas can be observed right now with sensitive line of sight absorption
spectroscopy.


title: Near-Deterministic Inference of AS Relationships

abstract:
  The discovery of Autonomous Systems (ASes) interconnections and the inference
of their commercial Type-of-Relationships (ToR) has been extensively studied
during the last few years. The main motivation is to accurately calculate
AS-level paths and to provide better topological view of the Internet. An
inherent problem in current algorithms is their extensive use of heuristics.
Such heuristics incur unbounded errors which are spread over all inferred
relationships. We propose a near-deterministic algorithm for solving the ToR
inference problem. Our algorithm uses as input the Internet core, which is a
dense sub-graph of top-level ASes. We test several methods for creating such a
core and demonstrate the robustness of the algorithm to the core's size and
density, the inference period, and errors in the core.
  We evaluate our algorithm using AS-level paths collected from RouteViews BGP
paths and DIMES traceroute measurements. Our proposed algorithm
deterministically infers over 95% of the approximately 58,000 AS topology
links. The inference becomes stable when using a week worth of data and as
little as 20 ASes in the core. The algorithm infers 2-3 times more peer-to-peer
relationships in edges discovered only by DIMES than in RouteViews edges,
validating the DIMES promise to discover periphery AS edges.


title: An HST Survey of the Disk Cluster Population of M31. II. ACS Pointings

abstract:
  This paper reports on a survey of star clusters in M31 based on archival
images from the Hubble Space Telescope. Paper I (Krienke and Hodge 2007)
reported results from images obtained with the Wide Field/Planetary Camera 2
(WFPC2) and this paper reports results from the Advanced Camera for Surveys
(ACS). The ACS survey has yielded a total of 339 star clusters. The color-
integrated magnitude diagram of clusters shows three significant features: (1)
a group of very red, luminous objects: the globular clusters, (2) a wide range
in color for the fainter clusters, representing a considerable range in age and
reddening, and (3) a maximum density of intermediate-age, intermediate-mass
clusters with ages close to 500 million years and masses of about 2000 solar
masses. We give a brief qualitative interpretation of the distribution of
clusters in the CMDs in terms of their formation and destruction rates.


title: Scalar Casimir Effect on a D-dimensional Einstein Static Universe

abstract:
  We compute the renormalised energy momentum tensor of a free scalar field
coupled to gravity on an (n+1)-dimensional Einstein Static Universe (ESU),
RxS^n, with arbitrary low energy effective operators (up to mass dimension
n+1). A generic class of regulators is used, together with the Abel-Plana
formula, leading to a manifestly regulator independent result. The general
structure of the divergences is analysed to show that all the gravitational
couplings (not just the cosmological constant) are renormalised for an
arbitrary regulator. Various commonly used methods (damping function,
point-splitting, momentum cut-off and zeta function) are shown to, effectively,
belong to the given class. The final results depend strongly on the parity of
n. A detailed analytical and numerical analysis is performed for the behaviours
of the renormalised energy density and a quantity `sigma' which determines if
the strong energy condition holds for the `quantum fluid'. We briefly discuss
the quantum fluid back-reaction problem, via the higher dimensional Friedmann
and Raychaudhuri equations, observe that equilibrium radii exist and unveil the
possibility of a `Casimir stabilisation of Einstein Static Universes'.


title:
The importance of the remnant's mass for VLTP born again times.
  Implications for V4334 Sgr and V605 Aql

abstract:
  We present numerical simulations of the very late thermal pulse (VLTP)
scenario for a wide range of remnant masses. We show that, by taking into
account the different possible remnant masses, the fast outburst evolution of
V4334 Sgr (a.k.a. Sakurai's Object) and V605 Aql can be reproduced within
standard 1D stellar evolution models. A dichotomy in the born again timescales
is found, with lower mass remnants evolving in a few years and higher mass
remnants (M $\hbox{\rlap{\hbox{\lower4pt\hbox{$\sim$}}}\hbox{$>$}}$ 0.6
M$_{\odot}$) failing to expand due to the H-flash and, as a consequence,
evolving in timescales typical of He-shell flash driven born agains ($\sim 100$
yr).


title:
The second type singularity of symplectic and Lagrangian mean curvature
  flows

abstract:
  In this paper we mainly study the type II singularities of the mean curvature
flow from a symplectic surface or from an almost calibrated Lagrangian surface
in a K \"ahler-Einstein surface. We show the relation between the maximum of
the K\"ahler angle and the maximum of $|H|^2$ on the limit flow.


title:
Guide for atomic and particle physicists to CODATA's recommended values
  of the fundamental physical constants

abstract:
  The CODATA recommended values of the fundamental constants are widely applied
in particle, nuclear and atomic physics. They are a result of a complicated
evaluation (adjustment) of numerous correlated data of different nature. Their
application is often rather mechanical and as a result is not free of various
confusions which are discussed in this note.


title:
Quantifying Student Effort and Class Involvement in the Introductory
  Higher Education Science Classroom

abstract:
  This note details a minimal effort program, Cash Participation, that
quantifies class participation while increasing class energy, decreasing
student apathy and removing student embraced anonymity.


title:
Conceptual problems in phenomenological interpretation in searches for
  variation of constants & violation of various invariances

abstract:
  At present a number of current or proposed experiments are directed towards a
search for a `new physics' by detecting variations of fundamental physical
constants or violations of certain basic symmetries. Various problems related
to the phenomenology of such experiments are considered here.


title:
Development of one-coordinate gaseous detector for wide angle
  diffraction studies

abstract:
  A one-coordinate gaseous detector of soft X-ray photons for wide-angle X-ray
scattering (WAXS) studies is being developed. The detector operates in counting
mode and is based on multi-stage Gas Electron Multiplier(GEM). Full size
detector is assembled and has 67 degrees aperture with 350mm distance to the
source, readout multi-strip structure with 2048 strips at 0.2mm pitch and is
partially equipped with readout electronics in the central part. Main
parameters of the detector have been measured with 8keV X-ray beam at VEPP-3
synchrotron ring. Spatial resolution of 470 um (FWHM) has been demonstrated
that will allow to distinguish diffraction spots at 0.1 degrees.


title: E-pile model of self-organized criticality

abstract:
  The concept of percolation is combined with a self-consistent treatment of
the interaction between the dynamics on a lattice and the external drive. Such
a treatment can provide a mechanism by which the system evolves to criticality
without fine tuning, thus offering a route to self-organized criticality (SOC)
which in many cases is more natural than the weak random drive combined with
boundary loss/dissipation as used in standard sand-pile formulations. We
introduce a new metaphor, the e-pile model, and a formalism for electric
conduction in random media to compute critical exponents for such a system.
Variations of the model apply to a number of other physical problems, such as
electric plasma discharges, dielectric relaxation, and the dynamics of the
Earth's magnetotail.


title:
Radio Circular Polarization Produced in Helical Magnetic Fields in Eight
  Active Galactic Nuclei

abstract:
  Homan & Lister (2006) have recently published circular-polarization (CP)
detections for 34 objects in the MOJAVE sample - a set of bright, compact AGN
being monitored by the Very Long Baseline Array at 15 GHz. We report the
detection of 15-GHz parsec-scale CP in two more AGN (3C345 and 2231+114), and
confirm the MOJAVE detection of CP in 1633+382. It is generally believed that
the most likely mechanism for the generation of this CP is Faraday conversion
of linear polarization to CP. A helical jet magnetic-field (B-field) geometry
can facilitate this process - linearly polarized emission from the far side of
the jet is converted to CP as it passes through the magnetised plasma at the
front side of the jet on its way toward the observer. In this case, the sign of
the generated CP is essentially determined by the pitch angle and helicity of
the helical B field. We have determined the pitch-angle regimes and helicities
of the helical jet B fields in 8 AGN for which parsec-scale CP has been
detected, and used them to predict the expected CP signs for these AGN if the
CP is generated via conversion in these helical fields. We have obtained the
intriguing result that our predictions agree with the observed signs in all
eight cases, provided that the longitudinal B-field components in the jets
correspond to South magnetic poles. This clearly non-random pattern
demonstrates that the observed CP in AGN is directly associated with the
presence of helical jet B fields. These results suggest that helical B fields
are ubiquitous in AGN jets.


title: A Note On Computing Set Overlap Classes

abstract:
  Let ${\cal V}$ be a finite set of $n$ elements and ${\cal F}=\{X_1,X_2, >...,
X_m\}$ a family of $m$ subsets of ${\cal V}.$ Two sets $X_i$ and $X_j$ of
${\cal F}$ overlap if $X_i \cap X_j \neq \emptyset,$ $X_j \setminus X_i \neq
\emptyset,$ and $X_i \setminus X_j \neq \emptyset.$ Two sets $X,Y\in {\cal F}$
are in the same overlap class if there is a series $X=X_1,X_2, ..., X_k=Y$ of
sets of ${\cal F}$ in which each $X_iX_{i+1}$ overlaps. In this note, we focus
on efficiently identifying all overlap classes in $O(n+\sum_{i=1}^m |X_i|)$
time. We thus revisit the clever algorithm of Dahlhaus of which we give a clear
presentation and that we simplify to make it practical and implementable in its
real worst case complexity. An useful variant of Dahlhaus's approach is also
explained.


title:
Direct Numerical Simulation of structural vacillation in the transition
  to geostrophic turbulence

abstract:
  The onset of small-scale fluctuations around a steady convection pattern in a
rotating baroclinic annulus filled with air is investigated using Direct
Numerical Simulation. In previous laboratory experiments of baroclinic waves,
such fluctuations have been associated with a flow regime termed Structural
Vacillation which is regarded as the first step in the transition to
fully-developed geostrophic turbulence.


title:
Precession, nutation, and space geodetic determination of the Earth's
  variable gravity field

abstract:
  Precession and nutation of the Earth depend on the Earth's dynamical
flattening, H, which is closely related to the second degree zonal coefficient,
J2 of the geopotential. A small secular decrease as well as seasonal variations
of this coefficient have been detected by precise measurements of artificial
satellites (Nerem et al. 1993; Cazenave et al. 1995) which have to be taken
into account for modelling precession and nutation at a microarcsecond accuracy
in order to be in agreement with the accuracy of current VLBI determinations of
the Earth orientation parameters. However, the large uncertainties in the
theoretical models for these J2 variations (for example a recent change in the
observed secular trend) is one of the most important causes of why the accuracy
of the precession-nutation models is limited (Williams 1994; Capitaine et al.
2003). We have investigated in this paper how the use of the variations of J2
observed by space geodetic techniques can influence the theoretical expressions
for precession and nutation. We have used time series of J2 obtained by the
"Groupe de Recherches en G\'eod\'esie spatiale" (GRGS) from the precise orbit
determination of several artificial satellites from 1985 to 2002 to evaluate
the effect of the corresponding constant, secular and periodic parts of H and
we have discussed the best way of taking the observed variations into account.
We have concluded that, although a realistic estimation of the J2 rate must
rely not only on space geodetic observations over a limited period but also on
other kinds of observations, the monitoring of periodic variations in J2 could
be used for predicting the effects on the periodic part of the
precession-nutation motion.