Apparent thermalization due to plasma instabilities in the quark-gluon plasma

Hydrodynamical modeling of heavy-ion collisions at RHIC suggests that the quark-gluon plasma (QGP) "thermalizes" in a remarkably short time scale, about 0.6 fm/c. We argue that this should be viewed as indicating fast isotropization, but not necessarily complete thermalization, of the nonequilibrium QGP. Non-Abelian plasma instabilities can drive local isotropization of an anisotropic QGP on a time scale which is faster than ordinary perturbative scattering processes. As a result, we argue that theoretical expectations based on weak-coupling analysis are not necessarily in conflict with hydrodynamic modeling of the early part of RHIC collisions, provided one recognizes the key role of non-Abelian plasma instabilities.     

Closed incompressible surfaces in knot complements

In this paper we show that given a knot or link in a -plat projection with and , where is the length of the plat, if the twist coefficients all satisfy then has at least nonisotopic essential meridional planar surfaces. In particular if is a knot then contains closed incompressible surfaces. In this case the closed surfaces remain incompressible after all surgeries except perhaps along a ray of surgery coefficients in .

     

A measurement of the branching ratios of the A2− meson produced in 3.9 GeV/cπ−ϱ interactions

We have measured the branching fractions of the A₂^? meson, produced in the reaction π^?p → pA₂^? at 3.9 GeV/c incident momentum. The rates for the ηπ and K$\text{K}$ modes relative to ?π are 0.211 ± 0.044 and 0.056 ± 0.014, respectively. The upper limit for the η′π mode is 0.056 at the 90% confidence level. We have also looked for an ωππ decay of the A₂^? and our data are consistent with a rate of 0.10 ± 0.05, relative to ?π.     

Baryon-antibaryon annihilations,unitarity and the pomeron

We show that baryon-antibaryon annihilations into mesons contribute, via unitarity, mainly to the pomeron term in the total $\text{B}$B cross section. The meson-exchange term is mainly built by non-annihilation processes. These results are contrary to previous ideas according to which $\text{B}$B annihilations are responsible for the difference between $\text{σ}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>tot</mtext>}}\text{(}\text{B}\text{B}\text{)}$ and σ_tot(BB) and contribute to the meson exchange term. Our conclusions are based on an explicit duality diagram model which we discuss in some detail. However, a much wider class of models give similar results. Experimental tests of our ideas are proposed.     

Data storage in optical fibers and reconstruction by use of low-coherence spectral interferometry

We demonstrate optical data storage in optical fibers and reconstruction by use of low-coherence spectral interferometry. The information was stored by means of writing fiber Bragg gratings with different central wavelengths at different locations of the fiber. We need only a single short pulse is needed to read all the stored data. The maximum theoretical reconstruction rate that can be obtained with our technique is 10 Tbits/s. Our storage technique can be useful for identifying users in optical communication networks.     

Assessing carotenoid content in plant leaves with reflectance spectroscopy

Spectral reflectance of maple, chestnut and beech leaves in a wide range of pigment content and composition was investigated to devise a nondestructive technique for total carotenoid (Car) content estimation in higher plant leaves. Reciprocal reflectance in the range 510 to 550 nm was found to be closely related to the total pigment content in leaves. The sensitivity of reciprocal reflectance to Car content was maximal in a spectral range around 510 nm; however, chlorophylls (Chl) also affect reflectance in this spectral range. To remove the Chl effect on the reciprocal reflectance at 510 nm, a reciprocal reflectance at either 550 or 700 nm was used, which was linearly proportional to the Chl content. Indices for nondestructive estimation of Car content in leaves were devised and validated. Reflectances in three spectral bands, 510+/-5 nm, either 550+/-15 nm or 700+/-7.5 nm and the near infrared range above 750 nm are sufficient to estimate total Car content in plant leaves nondestructively with a root mean square error of less than 1.75 nmol/cm2.     

The role of template in the synthesis of meso-hexamethyl-meso-hexaphenyl-calix[6]pyrrole: trihalogenated compounds as templates for the assembly of a host with a trigonal cavity

Trihalogenated compounds act as effective and selective templates in the template-assisted synthesis of meso-hexaphenyl-calix[6]pyrrole.     

Valuation-like maps and the congruence subgroup property

Let D be a finite dimensional division algebra and N a subgroup of finite index in D ^×. A valuation-like map on N is a homomorphism ϕ:N?Γ from N to a (not necessarily abelian) linearly ordered group Γ satisfying N _<-α+1⊆N _<-α for some nonnegative α∈Γ such that N _<-α≠=?, where N _<-α={x∈N|ϕ(x)<-α}. We show that this implies the existence of a nontrivial valuation v of D with respect to which N is (v-adically) open. We then show that if N is normal in D ^× and the diameter of the commuting graph of D ^×/N is ≥4, then N admits a valuation-like map. This has various implication; in particular it restricts the structure of finite quotients of D ^×. The notion of a valuation-like map is inspired by [27], and in fact is closely related to part (U3) of the U-Hypothesis in [27]. Oblatum 14-VII-2000 & 22-XI-2000?Published online: 5 March 2001     

Plant-Based Seafood Analogs

There is a growing global need to shift from animal- towards plant-based diets. The main motivations are environmental/sustainability-, human health- and animal welfare concerns. The aim is to replace traditional animal-based food with various alternatives, predominantly plant-based analogs. The elevated consumption of fish and seafood, leads to negative impacts on the ecosystem, due to dwindling biodiversity, environmental damage and fish diseases related to large-scale marine farming, and increased intake of toxic substances, particularly heavy metals, which accumulate in fish due to water pollution. While these facts lead to increased awareness and rising dietary shifts towards vegetarian and vegan lifestyles, still the majority of seafood consumers seek traditional products. This encourages the development of plant-based analogs for fish and seafood, mimicking the texture and sensorial properties of fish-meat, seafood, or processed fish products. Mimicking the internal structure and texture of fish or seafood requires simulating their nanometric fibrous-gel structure. Common techniques of structuring plant-based proteins into such textures include hydrospinning, electrospinning, extrusion, and 3D printing. The conditions required in each technique, the physicochemical and functional properties of the proteins, along with the use of other non-protein functional ingredients are reviewed. Trends and possible future developments are discussed.     

Bitangents of tropical plane quartic curves

Mathematische Zeitschrift - We study smooth tropical plane quartic curves and show that they satisfy certain properties analogous to (but also different from) smooth plane quartics in algebraic...