KMS states on Nica-Toeplitz algebras of product systems

We investigate KMS states of Fowler's Nica-Toeplitz algebra $\mathcal{NT}(X)$ associated to a compactly aligned product system $X$ over a semigroup $P$ of Hilbert bimodules. This analysis relies on restrictions of these states to the core algebra which satisfy appropriate scaling conditions. The concept of product system of finite type is introduced. If $(G, P)$ is a lattice ordered group and $X$ is a product system of finite type over $P$ satisfying certain coherence properties, we construct KMS$_\beta$ states of \NT(X) associated to a scalar dynamics from traces on the coefficient algebra of the product system. Our results were motivated by, and generalize some of the results of Laca and Raeburn obtained for the Toeplitz algebra of the affine semigroup over the natural numbers.Comment: Changes to Proposition 3.1 and Theorem 4.10. Major changes to section 5 starting from (and including) new Lemma 5.4 to new Example 5.1

The Cuntz Algebra Q_N and C*-Algebras of Product Systems

We consider a product system over the multiplicative semigroup N^x of Hilbert bimodules which is implicit in work of S. Yamashita and of the second named author. We prove directly, using universal properties, that the associated Nica-Toeplitz algebra is an extension of the C^*-algebra Q_N introduced recently by Cuntz.Comment: 13 page

Ballistic spin field-effect transistors: Multichannel effects

We study a ballistic spin field-effect transistor (SFET) with special attention to the issue of multi-channel effects. The conductance modulation of the SFET as a function of the Rashba spin-orbit coupling strength is numerically examined for the number of channels ranging from a few to close to 100. Even with the ideal spin injector and collector, the conductance modulation ratio, defined as the ratio between the maximum and minimum conductances, decays rapidly and approaches one with the increase of the channel number. It turns out that the decay is considerably faster when the Rashba spin-orbit coupling is larger. Effects of the electronic coherence are also examined in the multi-channel regime and it is found that the coherent Fabry-Perot-like interference in the multi-channel regime gives rise to a nested peak structure. For a nonideal spin injector/collector structure, which consists of a conventional metallic ferromagnet-thin insulator-2DEG heterostructure, the Rashba-coupling-induced conductance modulation is strongly affected by large resonance peaks that arise from the electron confinement effect of the insulators. Finally scattering effects are briefly addressed and it is found that in the weakly diffusive regime, the positions of the resonance peaks fluctuate, making the conductance modulation signal sample-dependent.Comment: 18 pages, 15 figure

The variation of relative magnetic helicity around major flares

We have investigated the variation of magnetic helicity over a span of several days around the times of 11 X-class flares which occurred in seven active regions (NOAA 9672, 10030, 10314, 10486, 10564, 10696, and 10720) using the magnetograms taken by the Michelson Doppler Imager (MDI) on board the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO). As a major result we found that each of these major flares was preceded by a significant helicity accumulation over a long period (0.5 to a few days). Another finding is that the helicity accumulates at a nearly constant rate and then becomes nearly constant before the flares. This led us to distinguish the helicity variation into two phases: a phase of monotonically increasing helicity and the following phase of relatively constant helicity. As expected, the amount of helicity accumulated shows a modest correlation with time-integrated soft X-ray flux during flares. However, the average helicity change rate in the first phase shows even stronger correlation with the time-integrated soft X-ray flux. We discuss the physical implications of this result and the possibility that this characteristic helicity variation pattern can be used as an early warning sign for solar eruptions

Kalman estimator- and general linear model-based on-line brain activation mapping by near-infrared spectroscopy

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a non-invasive neuroimaging technique that recently has been developed to measure the changes of cerebral blood oxygenation associated with brain activities. To date, for functional brain mapping applications, there is no standard on-line method for analysing NIRS data.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In this paper, a novel on-line NIRS data analysis framework taking advantages of both the general linear model (GLM) and the Kalman estimator is devised. The Kalman estimator is used to update the GLM coefficients recursively, and one critical coefficient regarding brain activities is then passed to a <it>t</it>-statistical test. The <it>t</it>-statistical test result is used to update a topographic brain activation map. Meanwhile, a set of high-pass filters is plugged into the GLM to prevent very low-frequency noises, and an autoregressive (AR) model is used to prevent the temporal correlation caused by physiological noises in NIRS time series. A set of data recorded in finger tapping experiments is studied using the proposed framework.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The obtained results suggest that the method can effectively track the task related brain activation areas, and prevent the noise distortion in the estimation while the experiment is running. Thereby, the potential of the proposed method for real-time NIRS-based brain imaging was demonstrated.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This paper presents a novel on-line approach for analysing NIRS data for functional brain mapping applications. This approach demonstrates the potential of a real-time-updating topographic brain activation map.</p

THE EFFECT OF SHOES ON KNEE KINETICS AND ANTERIOR TIBIAL TRANSLATION DURING SINGLE-LEG LANDING

The purpose of this study was to compare how knee kinematics and kinetics are influenced during single-leg landing in shod condition compared to barefoot condition. We hypothesized that the anterior tibial translation (ATT) and utilized coefficient of friction (uCoF) are greater in shod landing. Ten male subjects performed single-leg landing from a 0.3-m-high platform using their self-selected dominant lower limb under shod and barefoot condition. A force plate and a motion capture system were used for measuring ground reaction force and capturing kinematics data, respectively. The shod condition showed a significant higher ATT (p = 0.011) and uCoF (p = 0.022) at 30° flexion than barefoot condition. These findings would be considered as one of evidence that high shoe-surface friction increase ACL injury risks due to high ATT at extended knee position

Susceptibility assessments of landslides in Hulu Kelang area using a geographic information system-based prediction model

This study was conducted to estimate the susceptibility of landslides on a test site in Malaysia (Hulu Kelang area). A Geographic Information system (GIS)-based physical model named YS-Slope, which integrates a mechanistic infinite slope stability method and the geo-hydrological model was applied to calculate the safety factor of the test site. Input data, slopes, soil-depth, elevations, soil properties and plant covers were constructed as GIS datasets. The factor of safety of shallow landslides along the wetting front and deep-seated landslides at the bottom of the groundwater were estimated to compare with the analysis results of the existing model and actual landslides in 2008. According to the results of the study, shallow landslides mainly occurred in the central area which has many historical landslides, while deep-seated landslides were predominant in the east side of the study area. A ROC analysis was conducted and it is shown that the prediction result at the end of the northeast monsoon for shallow landslides showed relatively high accuracy compared with other predictions

Monitoring daily evapotranspiration in Northeast Asia using MODIS and a regional Land Data Assimilation System

We applied an approach for daily estimation and monitoring of evapotranspiration (ET) over the Northeast Asia monsoon region using satellite remote sensing observations from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). Frequent cloud cover results in a substantial loss of remote sensing information, limiting the capability of continuous ET monitoring for the monsoon region. Accordingly, we applied and evaluated a stand-alone MODIS ET algorithm for representative regional ecosystem types and an alternative algorithm to facilitate continuous regional ET estimates using surface meteorological inputs from the Korea Land Data Assimilation System (KLDAS) in addition to MODIS land products. The resulting ET calculations showed generally favorable agreement (root-mean-square error  \u3c 1.3 mm d−1) with respect to in situ measurements from eight regional flux tower sites. The estimated mean annual ET for 3 years (2006 to 2008) was approximately 362.0 ± 161.5 mm yr−1 over the Northeast Asia domain. In general, the MODIS and KLDAS-based ET (MODIS-KLDAS ET) results showed favorable performance when compared to tower observations, though the results were overestimated for a forest site by approximately 39.5% and underestimated for a cropland site in South Korea by 0.8%. The MODIS-KLDAS ET data were generally underestimated relative to the MODIS (MOD16) operational global terrestrial ET product for various biome types, excluding cropland; however, MODIS-KLDAS ET showed better agreement than MOD16 ET for forest and cropland sites in South Korea. Our results indicate that MODIS ET estimates are feasible but are limited by satellite optical-infrared remote sensing constraints over cloudy regions, whereas alternative ET estimates using continuous meteorological inputs from operational regional climate systems (e.g., KLDAS) provide accurate ET results and continuous monitoring capability under all-sky conditions