MuSR study of weakly magnetic Y(Co1−x Al x )2

All previous experiments have suggested that Y(Co_1−x Al _x )₂ is a weak itinerant ferromagnet for 0.12<x<0.20. The muon transverse damping rate (λ) increases rapidly near the Curie point forx≥0.155 and for one sample withx=0.145. The value of λ increases with decreasing temperature for other samples withx<0.155 but shows no feature at the Curie point.     

The number of k‐SAT functions

We study the number SAT(k; n) of Boolean functions of n variables that can be expressed by a k‐SAT formula. Equivalently, we study the number of subsets of the n‐cube 2ⁿ that can be represented as the union of (n ? k)‐subcubes. In The number of 2‐SAT functions (Isr J Math, 133 (2003), 45–60) the authors and Imre Leader studied SAT(k; n) for k ≤ n/2, with emphasis on the case k = 2. Here, we prove bounds on SAT(k; n) for k ≥ n/2; we see a variety of different types of behavior. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 22: 227–247, 2003     

A Tabu-Search Hyperheuristic for Timetabling and Rostering

Hyperheuristics can be defined to be heuristics which choose between heuristics in order to solve a given optimisation problem. The main motivation behind the development of such approaches is the goal of developing automated scheduling methods which are not restricted to one problem. In this paper we report the investigation of a hyperheuristic approach and evaluate it on various instances of two distinct timetabling and rostering problems. In the framework of our hyperheuristic approach, heuristics compete using rules based on the principles of reinforcement learning. A tabu list of heuristics is also maintained which prevents certain heuristics from being chosen at certain times during the search. We demonstrate that this tabu-search hyperheuristic is an easily re-usable method which can produce solutions of at least acceptable quality across a variety of problems and instances. In effect the proposed method is capable of producing solutions that are competitive with those obtained using state-of-the-art problem-specific techniques for the problems studied here, but is fundamentally more general than those techniques.     

Constructing effective actions for N = 1 supersymmetry theories: Symmetry principles and ward identities

The implications of the anomalous superconformal Ward identities for the construction of effective actions describing the low-energy dynamics of supersymmetry theories are investigated. The results apply to any N = 1 supersymmetry theory with an anomaly structure,

$\text{D}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>\alpha </mtext><mtext>?</mtext>}}\text{V}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>\alpha </mtext><mtext>\alpha </mtext><mtext>?</mtext>}}\text{+2D}{}_{\mathrm{\alpha }}\text{S=0}$

, where $\text{V}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>\alpha </mtext><mtext>\alpha </mtext><mtext>?</mtext>}}$ is the supercurrent and the chiral superfield S represents the anomaly.     

Graphs whose every transitive orientation contains almost every relation

Given a graphG onn vertices and a total ordering ≺ ofV(G), the transitive orientation ofG associated with ≺, denotedP(G; ≺), is the partial order onV(G) defined by settingx<y inP(G; ≺) if there is a pathx=x ₁ x ₂…x _r=y inG such thatx ₁ ≺x _j for 1≦i<j≦r. We investigate graphsG such that every transitive orientation ofG contains ₂ ⁿ −o(n ²) relations. We prove that almost everyG _n,p satisfies this requirement if , but almost noG _n,p satisfies the condition if (pn log log logn)/(logn log logn) is bounded. We also show that every graphG withn vertices and at mostcn logn edges has some transitive orientation with fewer than ₂ ⁿ −δ(c)n ² relations. Partially supported by MCS Grant 8104854.     

Functional MRI of working memory and selective attention in vibrotactile frequency discrimination

Background  

Focal lesions of the frontal, parietal and temporal lobe may interfere with tactile working memory and attention. To characterise the neural correlates of intact vibrotactile working memory and attention, functional MRI was conducted in 12 healthy young adults. Participants performed a forced-choice vibrotactile frequency discrimination task, comparing a cue stimulus of fixed frequency to their right thumb with a probe stimulus of identical or higher frequency. To investigate working memory, the time interval between the 2 stimuli was pseudo-randomized (either 2 or 8 s). To investigate selective attention, a distractor stimulus was occasionally presented contralaterally, simultaneous to the probe.     

Optically probing the fine structure of a single Mn atom in an InAs quantum dot

We report on the optical spectroscopy of a single InAs/GaAs quantum dot doped with a single Mn atom in a longitudinal magnetic field of a few Tesla. Our findings show that the Mn impurity is a neutral acceptor state A0 whose effective spin J=1 is significantly perturbed by the quantum dot potential and its associated strain field. The spin interaction with photocarriers injected in the quantum dot is shown to be ferromagnetic for holes, with an effective coupling constant of a few hundreds of mueV, but vanishingly small for electrons.     

Hinge peptide combinatorial libraries for inhilbitors of botulinum neurotoxins and saxitoxin: Deconvolution strategy

Combinatorial library screening offers a rapid process for identifying potential therapies to toxins. Hinge peptide libraries, which rely on conformational diversity rather than traditional molecular diversity, reduce the need for huge numbers of syntheses and screening steps and greatly expedite the discovery process of active molecules. Hinge peptide libraries having the structures: Acetyl-X₁–X₂–hinge–X₃–X₄–NH₂ (capped) and X₁–hinge–X₂–X₃ (uncapped), where X₁ through X₄ are near-equimolar mixtures of twelve L-amino acids and hinge = 4-aminobutyric acid, were screened for inhibitory activity in bioassays for botulinum neurotoxins A and B (BoNT/A, BoNT/B) and saxitoxin. The zinc protease activity of the reduced light chains of BoNT/A and /B was assayed by measuring the cleavage of synthetic substrates. Saxitoxin activity was measured by the restoration of the viability of neuroblastoma cells treated with ouabain and veratridine. Deconvolution of libraries was accomplished by fixing one position at a time beginning with the C-terminus. Primary library subsets in which position 4 was fixed showed moderate levels of inhibition for BoNT/A. Secondary library subsets showed stronger inhibition in the bioassays. In each of the bioassays, inhibitory potency was stronger when the second position to be fixed was on the opposite side of the hinge, rather than on the same side with respect to the C-terminus, suggesting that the hinge facilitates the interaction of side chains. Inhibitors for all three of the toxins studied were discovered within library subsets, although not necessarily in primary subsets. These studies demonstrate that (1) the best strategy for deconvoluting hinge peptide libraries is by fixing residues alternately on each side of the hinge moiety, and (2) it is essential to investigate secondary subsets even when primary subsets are inactive. The present findings support the concept that the increased flexibility imposed by the inclusion of a central hinge residue in small peptides increases the opportunity for side chain interactions, providing a distinct advantage for hinge peptide libraries over conventional peptide libraries. Hinge peptide libraries are a rich source of novel ligands for modulation of biomechanisms. The library subsets uncovered in this study may possess peptides that will lead to effective therapies to neurotoxin poisoning.     

Oxygen adsorption on Cu3Au(100) above 350 K

The initial stage of oxygen adsorption on Cu₃Au(100) above 350 K has been investigated using Auger electron spectroscopy. In the temperature range 350–550 K the adsorption isotherms tend to saturate at levels which increase with temperature. Initial sticking coefficients in this temperature range are at least an order of magnitude less than those on Cu(100) and saturation levels vary from ? 5% of a monolayer at 350 K to ? 15% of a monolayer at 550 K. As the temperature is increased to within 100 K of the bulk order-disorder transformation, the rate of adsorption increases dramatically accompanied by apparent adsorption-induced rearrangement of the alloy surface. The degree of annealing following Ar⁺ bombardment is observed to affect the initial uptake of oxygen throughout the entire temperature range.