16 research outputs found
The phase diagram of quantum systems: Heisenberg antiferromagnets
A novel approach for studying phase transitions in systems with quantum
degrees of freedom is discussed. Starting from the microscopic hamiltonian of a
quantum model, we first derive a set of exact differential equations for the
free energy and the correlation functions describing the effects of
fluctuations on the thermodynamics of the system. These equations reproduce the
full renormalization group structure in the neighborhood of a critical point
keeping, at the same time, full information on the non universal properties of
the model. As a concrete application we investigate the phase diagram of a
Heisenberg antiferromagnet in a staggered external magnetic field. At long
wavelengths the known relationship to the Quantum Non Linear Sigma Model
naturally emerges from our approach. By representing the two point function in
an approximate analytical form, we obtain a closed partial differential
equation which is then solved numerically. The results in three dimensions are
in good agreement with available Quantum Monte Carlo simulations and series
expansions. More refined approximations to the general framework presented here
and few applications to other models are briefly discussed.Comment: 17 pages, 7 figure
Cost calculation and prediction in adult intensive care: A ground-up utilization study
Publisher's copy made available with the permission of the publisherThe ability of various proxy cost measures, including therapeutic activity scores (TISS and Omega) and cumulative daily severity of illness scores, to predict individual ICU patient costs was assessed in a prospective “ground-up” utilization costing study over a six month period in 1991. Daily activity (TISS and Omega scores) and utilization in consecutive admissions to three adult university associated ICUs was recorded by dedicated data collectors. Cost prediction used linear regression with determination (80%) and validation (20%) data sets. The cohort, 1333 patients, had a mean (SD) age 57.5 (19.4) years, (41% female) and admission APACHE III score of 58 (27). ICU length of stay and mortality were 3.9 (6.1) days and 17.6% respectively. Mean total TISS and Omega scores were 117 (157) and 72 (113) respectively. Mean patient costs per ICU episode (1991 6801 (2534, range 95,602. Dominant cost fractions were nursing 43.3% and overheads 16.9%. Inflation adjusted year 2002 (mean) costs were AUS). Total costs in survivors were predicted by Omega score, summed APACHE III score and ICU length of stay; determination R2, 0.91; validation 0.88. Omega was the preferred activity score. Without the Omega score, predictors were age, summed APACHE III score and ICU length of stay; determination R2, 0.73; validation 0.73. In non-survivors, predictors were age and ICU length of stay (plus interaction), and Omega score (determination R2, 0.97; validation 0.91). Patient costs may be predicted by a combination of ICU activity indices and severity scores.J. L. Moran, A. R. Peisach, P. J. Solomon, J. Martinhttp://www.aaic.net.au/Article.asp?D=200403
Application of cluster analysis for the hydrogeochemical factors of saline groundwater in Kimje, Korea
Enhancement of in situ biodegradation of organic compounds in groundwater by targeted pump and treat intervention
This study demonstrates the value of targeted pump and treatment (PAT) to enhance the in situ biodegradation of organic contaminants in groundwater for improved restoration. The approach is illustrated for a plume of phenolic compounds in a sandstone aquifer, where PAT is used for hydraulic containment and removal of dissolved phase contaminants from specific depth intervals. Time-series analysis of the plume hydrochemistry and stable isotope composition of dissolved species (δ34S-SO4, δ13C-CH4, δ13C-TDIC (TDIC=Total Dissolved Inorganic Carbon)) in groundwater samples from high-resolution multilevel samplers were used to deduce changes in the relative significance of biodegradation processes and microbial activity in the plume, induced by the PAT system over 3years. The PAT system has reduced the maximum contaminant concentrations (up to 6800mgL-1 total phenols) in the plume by 50% to ~70% at different locations. This intervention has (i) stimulated in situ biodegradation in general, with an approximate doubling of contaminant turnover based on TDIC concentration, which has increased from 350mgL-1, (ii) enhanced the activity of SO4-reducing microorganisms (marked by a declining SO4 concentration with corresponding increase in SO4-δ34S to values >7-14‰V-CDT relative to background values of 1.9-6.5‰V-CDT), and (iii) where the TDIC increase is greatest, has changed TDIC-δ13C from values of -10 to -15‰V-PDB to ~-20‰V-PDB. This indicates an increase in the relative importance of respiration processes (including denitrification and anaerobic methane oxidation, AMO) that yield 13C-depleted TDIC over fermentation and acetoclastic methanogenesis that yield 13C-enriched TDIC in the plume, leading to higher contaminant turnover. The plume fringe was found to be a zone of enhanced biodegradation by SO4-reduction and methanogenesis. Isotopically heavy methane compositions (up to -47.8‰V-PDB) and trends between δ13C-TDIC and δ13C-CH4 suggest that AMO occurs at the plume fringe where the contaminant concentrations have been reduced by the PAT system. Mass and isotope balances for inorganic carbon in the plume confirm the shift in spatial dominance of different biodegradation processes and significant increase in contribution of anaerobic respiration for contaminant biodegradation in zones targeted by the PAT system. The enhanced in situ biodegradation results from a reduction in organic contaminant concentrations in the plume to levels below those that formerly suppressed microbial activity, combined with increased supply of soluble electron acceptors (e.g. nitrate) into the plume by dispersion. An interruption of the PAT system and recovery of the dissolved organic contaminant concentrations towards former values highlights the dynamic nature of this enhancement on restoration and relatively rapid response of the aquifer microorganisms to changing conditions induced by the PAT system. In situ restoration using this combined engineered and passive approach has the potential to manage plumes of biodegradable contaminants over shorter timescales than would be possible using these methods independently. The application of PAT in this way strongly depends on the ability to ensure an adequate flux of dissolved electron acceptors into the plume by advection and dispersion, particularly in heterogeneous aquifers