Lift-and-Round to Improve Weighted Completion Time on Unrelated Machines

We consider the problem of scheduling jobs on unrelated machines so as to minimize the sum of weighted completion times. Our main result is a $(3/2-c)$-approximation algorithm for some fixed $c>0$, improving upon the long-standing bound of 3/2 (independently due to Skutella, Journal of the ACM, 2001, and Sethuraman & Squillante, SODA, 1999). To do this, we first introduce a new lift-and-project based SDP relaxation for the problem. This is necessary as the previous convex programming relaxations have an integrality gap of $3/2$. Second, we give a new general bipartite-rounding procedure that produces an assignment with certain strong negative correlation properties.Comment: 21 pages, 4 figure

Paracrine IL-2 Is Required for Optimal Type 2 Effector Cytokine Production

IL-2 is a pleiotropic cytokine that promotes the differentiation of Th cell subsets, including Th1, Th2, and Th9 cells, but it impairs the development of Th17 and T follicular helper cells. Although IL-2 is produced by all polarized Th subsets to some level, how it impacts cytokine production when effector T cells are restimulated is unknown. We show in this article that Golgi transport inhibitors (GTIs) blocked IL-9 production. Mechanistically, GTIs blocked secretion of IL-2 that normally feeds back in a paracrine manner to promote STAT5 activation and IL-9 production. IL-2 feedback had no effect on Th1- or Th17-signature cytokine production, but it promoted Th2- and Th9-associated cytokine expression. These data suggest that the use of GTIs results in an underestimation of the presence of type 2 cytokine-secreting cells and highlight IL-2 as a critical component in optimal cytokine production by Th2 and Th9 cells in vitro and in vivo

Transmission through stacked 2D periodic distributions of square conducting patches

In this paper, we study the transmissivity of electromagnetic waves through stacked two-dimensional printed periodic arrays of square conducting patches. An analytical circuit-like model is used for the analysis. The model accounts for the details of the transmission spectrum provided that the period of the unit cell of each patterned layer is well below the wavelength in the dielectric slabs separating the printed surfaces. In particular, we analyze the low-pass band and rejection band behavior of the multilayer structure, and the results are validated by comparison with a computationally intensive finite element commercial electromagnetic solver. The limiting case of an infinite periodic structure is analytically solved and the corresponding band structure is used to explain the passband/stopband behavior of finite structures. In addition, we study in depth the elementary unit cell consisting of a single dielectric slab coated by two metal patch arrays, and its resonance behavior is explained in terms of Fabry-Pérot resonances when the electrical thickness of the slab is large enough. In such case, the concept of equivalent thickness of the equivalent ideal Fabry-Pérot resonator is introduced. For electrically thinner slabs it is also shown that the analytical model is still valid, and its corresponding first transmission peak is explained in terms of a lumped-circuit LC resonance.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación TEC2010-16948, CSD2008-00066Junta de Andalucía P09-TIC-459

Thermodynamics of Ideal Gas in Doubly Special Relativity

We study thermodynamics of an ideal gas in Doubly Special Relativity. New type of special functions (which we call Incomplete Modified Bessel functions) emerge. We obtain a series solution for the partition function and derive thermodynamic quantities. We observe that DSR thermodynamics is non-perturbative in the SR and massless limits. A stiffer equation of state is found.Comment: 14 pages, 10 figure

Stromule extension along microtubules coordinated with actin-mediated anchoring guides perinuclear chloroplast movement during innate immunity.

Dynamic tubular extensions from chloroplasts called stromules have recently been shown to connect with nuclei and function during innate immunity. We demonstrate that stromules extend along microtubules (MTs) and MT organization directly affects stromule dynamics since stabilization of MTs chemically or genetically increases stromule numbers and length. Although actin filaments (AFs) are not required for stromule extension, they provide anchor points for stromules. Interestingly, there is a strong correlation between the direction of stromules from chloroplasts and the direction of chloroplast movement. Stromule-directed chloroplast movement was observed in steady-state conditions without immune induction, suggesting it is a general function of stromules in epidermal cells. Our results show that MTs and AFs may facilitate perinuclear clustering of chloroplasts during an innate immune response. We propose a model in which stromules extend along MTs and connect to AF anchor points surrounding nuclei, facilitating stromule-directed movement of chloroplasts to nuclei during innate immunity

Circuit modeling of multiband high-impedance surface absorbers in the microwave regime

In this paper, we present a simple circuit model to study the absorption of electromagnetic waves by a multilayer structure with a high impedance surface in the microwave regime. The absorber consists of a stack of two-dimensional arrays of sub-wavelength meshes or patches separated by dielectric slabs and backed by a metallic ground plane, with a single resistive sheet placed on the top layer. We observe the appearance of low-frequency resonances of total absorption, which have been identified as the resonances of Fabry-Pérot type associated with the individual reactively loaded dielectric slabs (that are strongly coupled through the subwavelength grids). It is shown that these resonances lie within certain characteristic frequency band defined by the structural parameters of the absorber. The observed resonances are characterized by studying the electromagnetic field behavior using the circuit model and full-wave numerical program. In addition, we show that the patch array absorber provides stable resonances with respect to the angle and the polarization of obliquely incident plane wavesMinisterio de Ciencia e Innovación TEC2010-16948, CSD2008-00066Junta de Andalucía TIC-459

Enabling Participants to Play Rhythmic Solos Within a Group via Auctions

The paper presents the interactive music system SoloJam, which allows a group of participants with little or no musical training to effectively play together in a ``band-like'' setting. It allows the participants to take turns playing solos made up of rhythmic pattern sequences. We specify the issue at hand for allowing such participation as being the requirement of decentralised coherent circulation of playing solos. This is to be realised by some form of intelligence within the devices used for participation. Here we take inspiration from the Economic Sciences, and propose this intelligence to take the form of making devices possessing the capability of evaluating their utility of playing the next solo, the capability of holding auctions, and of bidding within them. We show that holding auctions and bidding within them enables decentralisation of co-ordinating solo circulation, and a properly designed utility function enables coherence in the musical output. The approach helps achieve decentralised coherent circulation with artificial agents simulating human participants. The effectiveness of the approach is further supported when human users participate. As a result, the approach is shown to be effective at enabling participants with little or no musical training to play together in SoloJam