A Roadmap for Interdisciplinary Research on the Internet of Things

In mid-2011, the Technology Strategy Board started an integrated programme of work focused on the Internet of Things (IoT), which included strategic investment and the establishment of a Special Interest Group aimed at building and engaging a UK community of innovators and researchers in the IoT. As the portfolio of activities with businesses, academics and other stakeholders progressed, it became apparent to us that the community had a keen interest in taking a more concerted and deeper look at the fundamental research issues in the IoT and that a more interdisciplinary approach was needed.Responding to this level of interest, the Technology Strategy Board joined forces with the Arts and Humanities Research Council, the Economic and Social Research Council, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and the Research Councils UK Digital Economy Programme and agreed to collaborate on an interdisciplinary R&D roadmapping activity, arguably the first of its kind in the UK. The activity, led by Professors Rahim Tafazolli, Hamid Aghvami, Rachel Cooper, William Dutton and Dr Colin Upstill brought together insight from a wide group of leaders and culminated in a two-day ‘meeting of minds’ in Loughborough on 11 and 12 July 2012. This report summarises the outcomes of the activity and makes important wide-ranging recommendations

Anomalous quantum reflection of Bose-Einstein condensates from a silicon surface: the role of dynamical excitations

We investigate the effect of inter-atomic interactions on the quantum-mechanical reflection of Bose-Einstein condensates from regions of rapid potential variation. The reflection process depends critically on the density and incident velocity of the condensate. For low densities and high velocities, the atom cloud has almost the same form before and after reflection. Conversely, at high densities and low velocities, the reflection process generates solitons and vortex rings that fragment the condensate. We show that this fragmentation can explain the anomalously low reflection probabilities recently measured for low-velocity condensates incident on a silicon surface.Comment: 5 figures, 5 pages, references correcte

CELLULAR EVENTS IN THE IMMUNE RESPONSE : ANALYSIS AND IN VITRO RESPONSE OF MOUSE SPLEEN CELL POPULATIONS SEPARATED BY DIFFERENTIAL FLOTATION IN ALBUMIN GRADIENTS

Cell suspensions from the spleens of normal mice or mice injected with sheep erythrocytes were separated on a discontinous bovine serum albumin density gradient. Four bands or subpopulations were obtained and were assayed for antibody-forming cells, and for antigen-sensitive precursor cells. The antibody-forming cells were assayed by the hemolytic plaque assay and the antigen-sensitive precursors were assayed by the number of plaque-forming cells which developed after 3 or 5 day's culture with antigen. It was found that both antibody-forming cells and their precursors were present in the denser region of the gradient when spleen cell suspensions were taken from unimmunized mice. In contrast, both antibody-forming cells and precursors floated to the top in cell suspensions from mice sacrificed 1, 2, or 3 days after antigen injection. The change in density was detectable as early as 12 hr and was complete by 18 hr. The cell which changed in density was specific for the antigen that brought about that change. The significance of these findings is discussed

Sources of Salt-Water Pollution in Western Tom Green County

Tom Green County is situated within the discharge zone of the Permian Basin regional flow system in West Texas. Analysis of hydrochemical facies and ionic ratios of major chemical constituents suggests that a significant portion of the saline groundwater in the area is a combination of subsurface brine flowing eastward from the Permian Basin and locally recharged, shallowly circulating meteoric water. Aquifers that typically contain relatively fresh water in outcropping Paleozoic rocks exhibit the presence of brine and hydrocarbons at shallow depths ranging from 200 to 900 feet (60 to 270 meters) just a few tens of miles to the west. The chemical composition of groundwater is closely linked to the outcrop of Paleozoic formations from which brine is discharged.Bureau of Economic Geolog

Hydrogeologic Analysis of Contamination and Evaluation of Remediation Alternatives - Fox Vacuum Site, Jasper County, Texas

The Bureau of Economic Geology (BEG) investigated the Fox Vacuum site (RRC Site No. 93-03-0019) in Jasper County, Texas, during a 4-month study from July through October 1995. Historical aerial photos indicate the site was developed between 1958 and 1976. Contamination identified at the start of this study included a sulfuric-acid contamination plume (soil pH of 1 to 4) that had affected the quality of soil water and killed grass across approximately a one-half-acre (2,023-m²) area of an adjacent pasture. The site also was believed to have seven earthen pits, probably containing spent drilling mud. The depth of the acid contamination was unknown. The scope of the BEG study was to determine the source, present extent, and probable fate of the sulfuric acid contamination and to ascertain the volume and contents of the earthen pits. This report presents the results of that study, along with an environmental impact assessment, risk-based evaluation of cost-effective remediation alternatives, and recommendations for RRC action.Bureau of Economic Geolog

Creation of solitons and vortices by Bragg reflection of Bose-Einstein condensates in an optical lattice

We study the dynamics of Bose-Einstein condensates in an optical lattice and harmonic trap. The condensates are set in motion by displacing the trap and initially follow simple semiclassical paths, shaped by the lowest energy band. Above a critical displacement, the condensate undergoes Bragg reflection. For high atom densities, the first Bragg reflection generates a train of solitons and vortices, which destabilize the condensate and trigger explosive expansion. At lower densities, soliton and vortex formation requires multiple Bragg reflections, and damps the center-of-mass motion.Comment: 5 pages including 5 figures (for higher resolution figures please email the authors