The Functions and Practices of a Television Network

An Iterative Learning Control disturbance rejection approach is considered and it is shown that iteration variant learning filters can asymptotically give the controlled variable zero error and zero variance. Convergence is achieved with the assumption that the relative model error is less than one. The transient response of the suggested ILC algorithm is also discussed using a simulation example

Measuring Fractional Charge in Carbon Nanotubes

The Luttinger model of the one-dimensional Fermi gas is the cornerstone of modern understanding of interacting electrons in one dimension. In fact, the enormous class of systems whose universal behavior is adiabatically connected to it are now deemed Luttinger liquids. Recently, it has been shown that metallic single-walled carbon nanotubes are almost perfectly described by the Luttinger Hamiltonian. Indeed, strongly non-Fermi liquid behavior has been observed in a variety of DC transport experiments, in very good agreement with theoretical predictions. Here, we describe how fractional quasiparticle charge, a fundamental property of Luttinger liquids, can be observed in impurity-induced shot noise.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figure

Charge accumulation on a Luttinger liquid

The average charge Q on a quantum wire, modeled as a single-channel Luttinger liquid, connected to metallic leads and coupled to a gate is studied theoretically. We find that the behavior of the charge as the gate voltage V_G varies depends strongly on experimentally adjustable parameters (length, contact transmission, temperature,...). When the intrinsic backscattering at the contacts is weak (i.e. the conductance is close to 2e^2/h at high temperature), we predict that this behavior should be described by a universal function. For short such wires, the charge increases roughly linearly with V_G, with small oscillations due to quantum interference between electrons scattered at the contacts. For longer wires at low temperature, Coulomb blockade behavior sets in, and the charge increases in steps. In both limits $\partial Q/\partial V_G$, which should characterize the linear response conductance, exhibits periodic peaks in V_G. We show that due to Coulomb interactions the period in the former limit is twice that of the latter, and describe the evolution of the peaks through this crossover. The study can be generalized to multi-channel Luttinger liquids, and may explain qualitatively the recent observation by Liang et al (Phys. Rev. Lett. 88, 126801) of a four-electron periodicity for electron addition in single-walled carbon nanotubes.Comment: 10 pages, 9 figure

Assessing the Potential Threat of Widely Used Agrochemicals to Honey Bee (Apis mellifera L.) Drones and Workers

Honey bees (Apis mellifera) have been experiencing an ongoing decline in population over the last half century despite their tremendous importance to agriculture. A variety of environmental pressures have been implicated in this decline including pesticides commonly found within the hive and foraging environments. To assess the potential effect of exposure to in-hive pesticides on drone spermatozoa viability, we compared the viability of spermatozoa collected from drones reared in pesticide-free wax to that of drones reared in wax contaminated with field-relevant doses of several common agrochemicals, including chlorothalonil and chlorpyrifos, and miticides, including fluvalinate, coumaphos and amitraz. Our results suggest a significant negative effect of in-hive pesticide exposure during development on spermatozoa viability. The greatest risk of exposure to pesticides, however, is faced by a subset of workers, foragers, that function in food collection from floral resources. The activity of honey bee foragers contributes approximately $17 billion annually in pollination services for several major crops in the United States including almond, which is completely dependent on honey bees for pollination. To assess the effects of pesticides commonly used during almond bloom on honey bee forager survival, foragers were exposed to label dose variants of the fungicides iprodione, boscalid/pyraclostrobin formulation and azoxystrobin alone and in combination. Label dose variants of two insect growth regulators, methoxyfenozide and pyriproxyfen, as well as an acaricide, bifenazate, were also assessed for their effects on forager survival. We utilized a wind tunnel and atomizer set up (wind-speed: 2.9 m/s) to simulate field-relevant exposure of honey bees to these chemicals during aerial application in almond orchards. Our results indicate a significant decrease in forager survival resulting from exposure to pesticides commonly applied during almond bloom. To assess the effects of commonly used mosquito control insecticides on honey bee forager mortality, foragers were exposed using a wind tunnel-atomizer assembly simulating exposure from ultra-low volume spray truck application (wind-speed: 1.8 m/s). Significant acute forager mortality resulted from exposure to the mosquito control insecticides when applied above and below the manufacturer application rate

"Deconfined" quantum critical points

The theory of second order phase transitions is one of the foundations of modern statistical mechanics and condensed matter theory. A central concept is the observable `order parameter', whose non-zero average value characterizes one or more phases and usually breaks a symmetry of the Hamiltonian. At large distances and long times, fluctuations of the order parameter(s) are described by a continuum field theory, and these dominate the physics near such phase transitions. In this paper we show that near second order quantum phase transitions, subtle quantum interference effects can invalidate this paradigm. We present a theory of quantum critical points in a variety of experimentally relevant two-dimensional antiferromagnets. The critical points separate phases characterized by conventional `confining' order parameters. Nevertheless, the critical theory contains a new emergent gauge field, and `deconfined' degrees of freedom associated with fractionalization of the order parameters. We suggest that this new paradigm for quantum criticality may be the key to resolving a number of experimental puzzles in correlated electron systems.Comment: 24 pages, 6 figure

Liver function parameters in hip fracture patients: Relations to age, adipokines, comorbidities and outcomes

Aim: To asses liver markers in older patients with hip fracture (HF) in relation to age, comorbidities, metabolic characteristics and short-term outcomes. Methods: In 294 patients with HF (mean age 82.0±7.9 years, 72.1% women) serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gammaglutamyltransferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), albumin, bilirubin, 25(OH)vitaminD, PTH, calcium, phosphate, magnesium, adiponectin, leptin, resistin, thyroid function and cardiac troponin I were measured. Results: Elevated ALT, GGT, ALP or bilirubin levels on admission were observed in 1.7% - 9.9% of patients. With age GGT, ALT and leptin decrease, while PTH and adiponectin concentrations increase. Higher GGT (>30U/L, median level) was associated with coronary artery disease (CAD), diabetes mellitus (DM), and alcohol overuse; lower ALT (≤20U/L, median level) with dementia; total bilirubin >20μmol/L with CAD and alcohol overuse; and albumin >33g/L with CAD. Multivariate adjusted regression analyses revealed ALT, ALP, adiponectin, alcohol overuse and DM as independent and significant determinants of GGT (as continuous or categorical variable); GGT for each other liver marker; and PTH for adiponectin. The risk of prolonged hospital stay (>20 days) was about two times higher in patients with GGT>30U/L or adiponectin >17.14 ng/L (median level) and 4.7 times higher if both conditions coexisted. The risk of in-hospital death was 3 times higher if albumin was <33g/L. Conclusions: In older HF patients liver markers even within the normal range are associated with age-related disorders and outcomes. Adiponectin (but not 25(OH)vitaminD, PTH, leptin or resistin) is an independent contributor to higher GGT. Serum GGT and albumin predict prolonged hospital stay and in-hospital death, respectively. A unifying hypothesis of the findings presented