Trees and Markov Convexity

We show that an infinite weighted tree admits a bi-Lipschitz embedding into Hilbert space if and only if it does not contain arbitrarily large complete binary trees with uniformly bounded distortion. We also introduce a new metric invariant called Markov convexity, and show how it can be used to compute the Euclidean distortion of any metric tree up to universal factors. The research of the first author was conducted while he was at U. C. Berkeley and the Institute for Advanced Study.     

Some applications of Ball's extension theorem

We present two applications of Ball's extension theorem. First we observe that Ball's extension theorem, together with the recent solution of Ball's Markov type problem due to Naor, Peres, Schramm and Sheffield, imply a generalization, and an alternative proof of, the Johnson-Lindenstrauss extension theorem. Second, we prove that the distortion required to embed the integer lattice , equipped with the metric, in any -uniformly convex Banach space is of order .

     

Small noise and long time phase diffusion in stochastic limit cycle oscillators

We study the effect of additive Brownian noise on an ODE system that has a stable hyperbolic limit cycle, for initial data that are attracted to the limit cycle. The analysis is performed in the limit of small noise – that is, we modulate the noise by a factor $\epsilon \searrow 0$ – and on a long time horizon. We prove explicit estimates on the proximity of the noisy trajectory and the limit cycle up to times $\exp ?\left(c{\epsilon }^{?2}\right)$, $c>0$, and we show both that on the time scale ${\epsilon }^{?2}$ the dephasing (i.e., the difference between noiseless and noisy system measured in a natural coordinate system that involves a phase) is close to a Brownian motion with constant drift, and that on longer time scales the dephasing dynamics is dominated by the drift. The natural choice of coordinates, that reduces the dynamics in a neighborhood of the cycle to a rotation, plays a central role and makes the connection with the applied science literature in which noisy limit cycle dynamics are often reduced to a diffusion model for the phase of the limit cycle.     

Translational entanglement via collisions: how much quantum information is obtainable?

We study collisions mediated by finite-range potentials as a tool for generating translational entanglement between unbound particles or multipartite systems. The general analysis is applied to one-dimensional scattering, where resonances and the initial phase-space distribution are shown to determine the degree of postcollisional entanglement.     

Vertical versus horizontal Poincaré inequalities on the Heisenberg group

Let ? = 〈a, b|a[a, b] = [a, b]a ∧ b[a, b] = [a, b]b〉 be the discrete Heisenberg group, equipped with the left-invariant word metric d _W (·, ·) associated to the generating set {a, b, a ^?1, b ^?1}. Letting B _n = {x ∈ ?: d _W (x, e _?) ? n} denote the corresponding closed ball of radius n ∈ ?, and writing c = [a, b] = aba ^?1 b ^?1, we prove that if (X, ‖ · ‖X) is a Banach space whose modulus of uniform convexity has power type q ∈ [2,∞), then there exists K ∈ (0, ∞) such that every f: ? → X satisfies $$\sum\limits_{k = 1}^{{n^2}} {\sum\limits_{x \in {B_n}} {\frac{{\left\| {f(x{c^k}) - f(x)} \right\|_X^q}}{{{k^{1 + q/2}}}}} } \leqslant K\sum\limits_{x \in {B_{21n}}} {(\left\| {f(xa) - f(x)} \right\|_X^q + \left\| {f(xb) - f(x)} \right\|_X^q)} $$ . It follows that for every n ∈ ? the bi-Lipschitz distortion of every f: B _n → X is at least a constant multiple of (log n)^1/q , an asymptotically optimal estimate as n → ∞.     

Molecular dynamics simulation study of the structural features and inclusion capacities of cucurbit[6]uril derivatives in aqueous solutions

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed for cucurbit[6]uril (CB6) methyl and cyclohexyl derivatives in aqueous solutions. Furthermore, MD simulations have been conducted to study the inclusion complexes between each CB6 derivative with α,ω-pentane diammonium ion (NH₃⁺(CH₂)₅NH₃⁺) to estimate the binding free energies, the complex geometries and the intermolecular forces responsible for complex formation. Results show a complete inclusion of the guest molecule in the cavity of the host for all complexes. Results also indicate that the guest dynamics inside the cavity of the substituted host is similar to that for the unsubstituted host. This demonstrates that the molecular recognition of the host is not affected by the alkyl substitution at the equator. Also, there is an insignificant conformational change of the macrocyclic structure upon inclusion of the guest. Molecular mechanics/Poisson Boltzmann surface area method was used to estimate the binding free energy of each complex. Results indicate that host–guest electrostatic interactions make the largest contribution to the complex binding free energy. Moreover, van der Waals interactions add significantly to the complex stability. The guest molecules show more or less similar binding free energies with the substituted CB6 that exhibits slightly more negative values than unsubstituted CB6 which is proved also by umbrella sampling.     

Determining the stability of genetic switches: explicitly accounting for mRNA noise

Cells use genetic switches to shift between alternate gene-expression states, e.g., to adapt to new environments or to follow a developmental pathway. Here, we study the dynamics of switching in a generic-feedback on-off switch. Unlike protein-only models, we explicitly account for stochastic fluctuations of mRNA, which have a dramatic impact on switch dynamics. Employing the WKB theory to treat the underlying chemical master equations, we obtain accurate results for the quasistationary distributions of mRNA and protein copy numbers and for the mean switching time, starting from either state. Our analytical results agree well with Monte Carlo simulations. Importantly, one can use the approach to study the effect of varying biological parameters on switch stability.     

Webb’s conjecture for fusion systems

We give a short and conceptual proof of Webb’s conjecture. Our methods are general enough to prove an analogue of the conjecture for saturated fusion systems. The author was supported by an EPSRC grant EP/D506484/1.     

Electrodeposition of Zn–Ni alloys from sulfate bath

The electrodeposition of zinc–nickel (Zn–Ni) alloys from sulfate baths has been studied at different deposition times and H₂SO₄ and NiSO₄ concentrations; various characteristics have been observed during alloy deposition and dissolution. The deposit has been investigated by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffractometry. Cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic measurements during electrodeposition have been conducted. Electrochemical and surface analysis indicate that deposition takes place with the formation of two different structures corresponding to γ-phase and δ-phase zinc–nickel alloys. During anodic part of the cyclic voltammetry of the alloys, a reduction process has been observed, which may be due to hydrogen evolution. With the increase of nickel concentration in the bath, the amount of γ-phase increases, as indicated by the relative increase in the height of the peaks in the X-ray patterns and anodic peaks in the cyclic voltammograms. Also, the corrosion resistance of the zinc–nickel alloy has been improved with an increased concentration of nickel. Under these experimental conditions the electrodeposition of the alloys is of anomalous type.     

Strongly minimal expansions of (C, +) definable in o-minimal fields

We characterize those functions f: definable in o-minimalexpansions of the reals for which the structure (,+, f) is stronglyminimal: such functions must be complex constructible, possiblyafter conjugating by a real matrix. In particular we prove aspecial case of the Zilber Dichotomy: an algebraically closedfield is definable in certain strongly minimal structures whichare definable in an o-minimal field.