Phase Diagram of a 2D Vertex Model

Phase diagram of a symmetric vertex model which allows 7 vertex configurations is obtained by use of the corner transfer matrix renormalization group (CTMRG), which is a variant of the density matrix renormalization group (DMRG). The critical indices of this model are identified as $\beta = 1/8$ and $\alpha = 0$.Comment: 2 pages, 5 figures, short not

Fecal contamination of drinking-water in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: access to safe drinking-water is a fundamental requirement for good health and is also a human right. Global access to safe drinking-water is monitored by WHO and UNICEF using as an indicator “use of an improved source,” which does not account for water quality measurements. Our objectives were to determine whether water from “improved” sources is less likely to contain fecal contamination than “unimproved” sources and to assess the extent to which contamination varies by source type and setting.Methods and findings: studies in Chinese, English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish were identified from online databases, including PubMed and Web of Science, and grey literature. Studies in low- and middle-income countries published between 1990 and August 2013 that assessed drinking-water for the presence of Escherichia coli or thermotolerant coliforms (TTC) were included provided they associated results with a particular source type. In total 319 studies were included, reporting on 96,737 water samples. The odds of contamination within a given study were considerably lower for “improved” sources than “unimproved” sources (odds ratio [OR] = 0.15 [0.10–0.21], I2 = 80.3% [72.9–85.6]). However over a quarter of samples from improved sources contained fecal contamination in 38% of 191 studies. Water sources in low-income countries (OR = 2.37 [1.52–3.71]; p<0.001) and rural areas (OR = 2.37 [1.47–3.81] p<0.001) were more likely to be contaminated. Studies rarely reported stored water quality or sanitary risks and few achieved robust random selection. Safety may be overestimated due to infrequent water sampling and deterioration in quality prior to consumption.Conclusion: access to an “improved source” provides a measure of sanitary protection but does not ensure water is free of fecal contamination nor is it consistent between source types or settings. International estimates therefore greatly overstate use of safe drinking-water and do not fully reflect disparities in access. An enhanced monitoring strategy would combine indicators of sanitary protection with measures of water qualit

350 Micron Observations of Ultraluminous Infrared Galaxies at Intermediate Redshifts

We present 350micron observations of 36 ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs) at intermediate redshifts (0.089 <= z <= 0.926) using the Submillimeter High Angular Resolution Camera II (SHARC-II) on the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory (CSO). In total, 28 sources are detected at S/N >= 3, providing the first flux measurements longward of 100micron for a statistically significant sample of ULIRGs in the redshift range of 0.1 < z < 1.0. Combining our 350micron flux measurements with the existing IRAS 60 and 100micron data, we fit a single-temperature model to the spectral energy distribution (SED), and thereby estimate dust temperatures and far-IR luminosities. Assuming an emissivity index of beta = 1.5, we find a median dust temperature and far-IR luminosity of Td = 42.8+-7.1K and log(Lfir/Lsolar) = 12.2+-0.5, respectively. The far-IR/radio correlation observed in local star-forming galaxies is found to hold for ULIRGs in the redshift range 0.1 < z < 0.5, suggesting that the dust in these sources is predominantly heated by starbursts. We compare the far-IR luminosities and dust temperatures derived for dusty galaxy samples at low and high redshifts with our sample of ULIRGs at intermediate redshift. A general Lfir-Td relation is observed, albeit with significant scatter, due to differing selection effects and variations in dust mass and grain properties. The relatively high dust temperatures observed for our sample compared to that of high-z submillimeter-selected starbursts with similar far-IR luminosities suggest that the dominant star formation in ULIRGs at moderate redshifts takes place on smaller spatial scales than at higher redshifts.Comment: (24 pages in preprint format, 1 table, 7 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ

Quality assessment of two- and three-dimensional unstructured meshes and validation of an upwind Euler flow solver

Quality assessment procedures are described for two-dimensional and three-dimensional unstructured meshes. The procedures include measurement of minimum angles, element aspect ratios, stretching, and element skewness. Meshes about the ONERA M6 wing and the Boeing 747 transport configuration are generated using an advancing front method grid generation package of programs. Solutions of Euler's equations for these meshes are obtained at low angle-of-attack, transonic conditions. Results for these cases, obtained as part of a validation study demonstrate the accuracy of an implicit upwind Euler solution algorithm

Theory of Electron-Phonon Dynamics in Insulating Nanoparticles

We discuss the rich vibrational dynamics of nanometer-scale semiconducting and insulating crystals as probed by localized electronic impurity states, with an emphasis on nanoparticles that are only weakly coupled to their environment. Two principal regimes of electron-phonon dynamics are distinguished, and a brief survey of vibrational-mode broadening mechanisms is presented. Recent work on the effects of mechanical interaction with the environment is discussed.Comment: Revte

Spectroscopic signatures of the Larkin-Ovchinnikov state in the conductance characteristics of a normal-metal/superconductor junction

Using a discrete-lattice approach, we calculate the conductance spectra between a normal metal and an s-wave Larkin-Ovchinnikov (LO) superconductor, with the junction interface oriented {\em along} the direction of the order-parameter (OP) modulation. The OP sign reversal across one single nodal line can induce a sizable number of zero-energy Andreev bound states around the nodal line, and a hybridized midgap-states band is formed amid a momentum-dependent gap as a result of the periodic array of nodal lines in the LO state. This band-in-gap structure and its anisotropic properties give rise to distinctive features in both the point-contact and tunneling spectra as compared with the BCS and Fulde-Ferrell cases. These spectroscopic features can serve as distinguishing signatures of the LO state.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures; version as publishe

Cooperative emission of a pulse train in an optically thick scattering medium

An optically thick cold atomic cloud emits a coherent flash of light in the forward direction when the phase of an incident probe field is abruptly changed. Because of cooperativity, the duration of this phenomena can be much shorter than the excited lifetime of a single atom. Repeating periodically the abrupt phase jump, we generate a train of pulses with short repetition time, high intensity contrast and high efficiency. In this regime, the emission is fully governed by cooperativity even if the cloud is dilute.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Application of fiber optic sensors for vibration and ignition monitoring of a belt conveyor system

The belt conveyor serves as the main coal transport equipment in a coal mine and its safe operation is the lifeline of safety in coal mine production. However, traditionally, monitoring for ignition and for roller faults along the belt conveyor is problematic and so this paper puts forward an approach using radial grating vibration sensing technology for both belt conveyor roller vibration monitoring. This can then be used to predict the fault state in the roller and its position, using distributed optical fiber temperature measurement technology which can be used for hot spot monitoring'. This enables better fire prevention along the belt conveyor, which plays a positive and effective role in better mine safety

Quantum transfer matrix method for one-dimensional disordered electronic systems

We develop a novel quantum transfer matrix method to study thermodynamic properties of one-dimensional (1D) disordered electronic systems. It is shown that the partition function can be expressed as a product of $2\times2$ local transfer matrices. We demonstrate this method by applying it to the 1D disordered Anderson model. Thermodynamic quantities of this model are calculated and discussed.Comment: 7 pages, 10 figure

Luby Transform Coding Aided Bit-Interleaved Coded Modulation for the Wireless Internet

Bit-Interleaved Coded Modulation using Iterative Decoding (BICM-ID) is amalgamated with Luby Transform (LT) coding. The resultant joint design of the physical and data link layer substantially improves the attainable Bit Error Rate (BER) performance. A Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) combined with a novel Log-Likelihood Ratio (LLR) based packet reliability estimation method is proposed for the sake of detecting and disposing of erroneous packets. Subsequently, bit-by-bit LT decoding is proposed, which facilitates a further BER improvement at a lower number of BICM-ID iterations. Finally, we revisit the pseudo random generator function used for designing the LT generator matrix