Ordering events in Minkowski space

Let p₁,…,p_k be k points (events) in (n+1)-dimensional Minkowski space . Using the theory of hyperplane arrangements and chromatic polynomials, we obtain information on the number of different orders in which the events can occur in different reference frames if the events are sufficiently generic. We consider the question of what sets of orderings of the points are possible and show a connection with sphere orders and the allowable sequences of Goodman and Pollack.     

Transport in weighted networks: partition into superhighways and roads

Transport in weighted networks is dominated by the minimum spanning tree (MST), the tree connecting all nodes with the minimum total weight. We find that the MST can be partitioned into two distinct components, having significantly different transport properties, characterized by centrality--the number of times a node (or link) is used by transport paths. One component, superhighways, is the infinite incipient percolation cluster, for which we find that nodes (or links) with high centrality dominate. For the other component, roads, which includes the remaining nodes, low centrality nodes dominate. We find also that the distribution of the centrality for the infinite incipient percolation cluster satisfies a power law, with an exponent smaller than that for the entire MST. The significance of this finding is that one can improve significantly the global transport by improving a tiny fraction of the network, the superhighways.     

Coexistence of Different Electron‐Transfer Mechanisms in the DNA Repair Process by Photolyase

DNA photolyase has been the topic of extensive studies due to its important role of repairing photodamaged DNA, and its unique feature of using light as an energy source. A crucial step in the repair by DNA photolyase is the forward electron transfer from its cofactor (FADH^?) to the damaged DNA, and the detailed mechanism of this process has been controversial. In the present study, we examine the forward electron transfer in DNA photolyase by carrying out high‐level ab initio calculations in combination with a quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical (QM/MM) approach, and by measuring fluorescence emission spectra at low temperature. On the basis of these computational and experimental results, we demonstrate that multiple decay pathways exist in DNA photolyase depending on the wavelength at excitation and the subsequent transition. This implies that the forward electron transfer in DNA photolyase occurs not only by superexchange mechanism but also by sequential electron transfer.     

Matrix probing: A randomized preconditioner for the wave-equation Hessian

This paper considers the problem of approximating the inverse of the wave-equation Hessian, also called normal operator, in seismology and other types of wave-based imaging. An expansion scheme for the pseudodifferential symbol of the inverse Hessian is set up. The coefficients in this expansion are found via least-squares fitting from a certain number of applications of the normal operator on adequate randomized trial functions built in curvelet space. It is found that the number of parameters that can be fitted increases with the amount of information present in the trial functions, with high probability. Once an approximate inverse Hessian is available, application to an image of the model can be done in very low complexity. Numerical experiments show that randomized operator fitting offers a compelling preconditioner for the linearized seismic inversion problem.     

Laboratory accelerated and natural weathering of styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS) block copolymer

Indoor accelerated and outdoor weathering of polystyrene-b-(ethylene-co-butylene)-b-styrene (SEBS) was studied by infrared spectroscopy. Accelerated conditions involved simultaneous exposure of specimens to ultraviolet-visible radiation between 295 nm and 450 nm and each of four temperature/relative humidity (RH) environments, i.e., (a) 30 °C ± 1 °C at <1% RH, (b) 30 °C ± 1 °C at 80% RH, (c) 55 °C ± 1 °C at <1% RH, and (d) 55 °C ± 1 °C at 80% RH. Outdoor exposure was conducted in Gaithersburg, MD, in two different time periods. Similar photooxidative mechanisms were operative under all conditions. In the case of indoor accelerated exposure, the rate of photooxidation was found to depend strongly on temperature. Unlike the exposure at 55 °C, moisture-assisted photooxidation was insignificant at 30 °C. A quantitative study on the synergistic effect of environmental stressors revealed that the degrading effect of combined temperature and moisture on photooxidation was greater than the sum of the two effects exerted independently. Outdoor weathered specimens exhibited significantly slower photooxidation. Acceleration of photooxidation ranged from 2.5 to 10 times in comparison to the outdoor exposure, depending on the indoor accelerated conditions.