Variational Monte Carlo simulations using tensor-product projected states

We propose an efficient numerical method, which combines the advantages of recently developed tensor-network based methods and standard trial wave functions, to study the ground state properties of quantum many-body systems. In this approach, we apply a projector in the form of a tensor-product operator to an input wave function, such as a Jastrow-type or Hartree-Fock wave function, and optimize the tensor elements via variational Monte Carlo. The entanglement already contained in the input wave function can considerably reduce the bond dimensions compared to the regular tensor-product state representation. In particular, this allows us to also represent states that do not obey the area law of entanglement entropy. In addition, for fermionic systems, the fermion sign structure can be encoded in the input wave function. We show that the optimized states provide good approximations of the ground-state energy and correlation functions in the cases of two-dimensional bosonic and fermonic systems.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, published versio

The significance of seizures and other predictive factors during the acute illness for the long-term outcome after bacterial meningitis

SummaryBackgroundSeizures are important neurological complications of bacterial meningitis, but no information about its epidemiology and the outcomes of seizures after community-acquired bacterial meningitis (CABM) in an adult population have been reported.AimsTo determine the frequency, clinical relevance, subtypes of seizures during the acute phase of bacterial meningitis, and the long-term outcomes of seizure complicating adult CABM.MethodsIn this 12-year retrospective study, 117 adult patients were identified with culture-proven CABM. A comparison was made between the clinical data of the patients with and without seizures during hospitalization.ResultsThirty-one patients had seizures during CABM, accounting for 27% (31/117) of the episodes. The time interval between the onset of bacterial meningitis and the seizures was 1–21 days (mean, 4 days). Furthermore, 80% (25/31) of the episodes occurred within 24h of presentation. Ten patients who had seizures progressed to status epilepticus. At follow-up after completing treatment, 10 patients completely recovered and were seizure-free, 19 died of meningitis during the acute stage and the other two progressed to chronic epilepsy.ConclusionA log-rank test demonstrated that the long-term outcome of adult CABM with acute seizures produced worse outcomes than for those who had no seizures, though no difference was noted between focal and generalized seizures. None of our patients without seizures in the acute phase of bacterial meningitis developed late seizures during the follow-up periods. Poor outcome in this study may attribute to neurological complications such as seizure, hydrocephalus, infection itself, or a combination of complications

p-Cu2O-shell/n-TiO2-nanowire-core heterostucture photodiodes

This study reports the deposition of cuprous oxide [Cu2O] onto titanium dioxide [TiO2] nanowires [NWs] prepared on TiO2/glass templates. The average length and average diameter of these thermally oxidized and evaporated TiO2 NWs are 0.1 to 0.4 μm and 30 to 100 nm, respectively. The deposited Cu2O fills gaps between the TiO2 NWs with good step coverage to form nanoshells surrounding the TiO2 cores. The p-Cu2O/n-TiO2 NW heterostructure exhibits a rectifying behavior with a sharp turn-on at approximately 0.9 V. Furthermore, the fabricated p-Cu2O-shell/n-TiO2-nanowire-core photodiodes exhibit reasonably large photocurrent-to-dark-current contrast ratios and fast responses

Two new species of centipedes, Lithobius keelungensis sp. nov. and Lithobius (Monotarsobius) qingquanensis sp. nov., from Taiwan (Chilopoda, Lithobiomorpha, Lithobiidae)

Male secondary sexual characters are diverse in Taiwanese Lithobius. We describe two new species with their male secondary sexual characters, Lithobius (Ezembius) keelungensis sp. nov. and Lithobius (Monotarsobius) qingquanensis sp. nov.. In L. (E.) keelungensis, male 14–15th femora and tibiae are markedly thick, the femora have a deep furrow on each dorsal surfaces, and the tibiae are oval, with a wide shallow excavation on each dorsal surfaces. In L. (M.) qingquanensis, a small wart-like outgrowth bearing about 15 slightly curved setae is present on the dorsoposterior surface of the male 15th femur

Using the Resistivity Imaging Method to Monitor the Dynamic Effects on the Vadose Zone During Pumping Tests at the Pengtsuo Site in Pingtung, Taiwan

We conducted a time-lapse monitoring study during a well-pumping test at the Pengtsuo site in Pingtung, Taiwan. Water-level gauges were installed in four wells (P1, W1, O1, and O2) at the Pengtsuo site with different screen depths for the observation. We designed the pumping test to be executed in three phases: the background, the stepwise-pumping, and the continuous-pumping phases. The survey line crossed the four wells so that a comparison would be possible between the resistivity measurements and the water-level records. The resistivity differences relative to the pre-pumping background show that electrical resistivity imaging (ERI) can resolve changes due to dewatering from pumping activity. The time-lapse resistivity images reveal that the maximum resistivity increase took place at the locations in the vadose zone instead of at the groundwater surface. The variation in the resistivity differences in the vadose zone correlated to the change in groundwater level in the stepwise phase. On the other hand, the resistivity-difference change was not fully consistent with the groundwater-level change in the continuous-pumping phase. We attribute the abnormal ERI signals to the dynamic non-equilibrium of the water movement in the vadose zone. The findings suggest that pumping designs can affect the changing resistivity differences and water-content distribution patterns. We show the potential of the ER method to reveal both the water flow and water-content changes in the vadose zone with different transient boundary conditions

Bacteremic pneumonia caused by extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae: Appropriateness of empirical treatment matters

BackgroundClinical information about bacteremic pneumonia caused by extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing organism is limited.MethodsA retrospective study was conducted at two medical centers in Taiwan. From May 2002 to August 2010, clinical information and outcome of adults with bacteremic pneumonia caused by ESBL-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae were analyzed. The primary outcome is the 30-day mortality.ResultsA total of 111 patients with bacteremic pneumonia caused by E. coli (37 patients, 33.3%) and K. pneumoniae (74, 66.7%) were identified. Their mean age was 69.2 years and 51.4% were male patients. Fifty-seven (51.3%) episodes were classified as hospital-acquired infections, 19 (17.1%) as health-care-associated infections, and four (3.6%) as community-acquired infections. Fifty-one (45.9%) patients received appropriate empiric antimicrobial therapy. The 30-day mortality rate was 40.5% (45 patients). In the multivariate analysis, several independent risk factors, including rapidly fatal underlying disease [odds ratio (OR), 5.75; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.54–21.48; p = 0.009], severe sepsis (OR, 4.84; 95% CI, 1.55–15.14; p = 0.007), critical illness (OR, 4.28; 95% CI, 1.35–13.57; p = 0.013), and receipt of appropriate empirical therapy (OR, 0.19; 95% CI, 0.07–0.55; p = 0.002), were associated with 30-day mortality. The survival analysis consistently found that individuals with appropriate empiric therapy had a higher survival rate (log-rank test, p < 0.001).ConclusionESBL-producing bacteremic pneumonia, especially health-care-associated infections, often occurred in adults with comorbidities. Appropriate empirical therapy was associated with a favorable outcome

Effect of Porosity Gradient in Gas Diffusion Layer on Cell Performance with Thin-Film Agglomerate Model in Cathode Catalyst Layer of a PEM Fuel Cell

ABSTRACT A one-dimensional, steady-state, two-phase, isothermal numerical simulations were performed to investigate the effect on cell performance of a PEM fuel cell under non-uniform porosity of gas diffusion layer. In the simulation, the non-uniform porosity of gas diffusion layer was taken into account to analyze the transport phenomena of water flooding and mass transport in the gas diffusion layer. The porosity of the gas diffusion layer is treated as a linear function. Furthermore, the structure of the catalyst layer is considered to be a cylindrical thin-film agglomerate. Regarding the distribution analysis of liquid water saturation, oxygen concentration and water concentration depend on the porosity of gas diffusion layer. In the simulation, the ε CG and ε GC represent the porosity of the interfaces between the channel and gas diffusion layer and the gas diffusion layer and the catalyst layer, respectively. The simulation results indicate that when the (ε CG , ε GC ) = (0.8, 0.4), higher liquid water saturation appears in the gas diffusion layer and the catalyst layer. On the contrary, when the (ε CG , ε GC ) = (0.4, 0.4), lower liquid water saturation appears. Once the liquid water produced by the electrochemical reaction and condensate of vapor water may accumulate in the open pores of the gas diffusion layer and reduced the oxygen transport to the catalyst sites. This research attempts to use a thin-film agglomerate model, which analyze the significant transport phenomena of water flooding and mass transport under linear porosity gradient of gas diffusion layer in the cathode of a PEM fuel cell