Evaluation of MEMS-based In-place Inclinometers in Cold Regions

INE/AUTC 12.3

Low-density series expansions for directed percolation III. Some two-dimensional lattices

We use very efficient algorithms to calculate low-density series for bond and site percolation on the directed triangular, honeycomb, kagom\'e, and $(4.8^2)$ lattices. Analysis of the series yields accurate estimates of the critical point $p_c$ and various critical exponents. The exponent estimates differ only in the $5^{th}$ digit, thus providing strong numerical evidence for the expected universality of the critical exponents for directed percolation problems. In addition we also study the non-physical singularities of the series.Comment: 20 pages, 8 figure

Plasma Diagnostics by Antenna Impedance Measurements

The impedance of an electrically short antenna immersed in a plasma provides an excellent in situ diagnostic tool for electron density and other plasma parameters. By electrically short we mean that the wavelength of the free-space electromagnetic wave that would be excited at the driving frequency is much longer than the physical size of the antenna. Probes using this impedance technique have had a long history with sounding rockets and satellites, stretching back to the early 1960s. This active technique could provide information on composition and temperature of plasmas for comet or planetary missions. Advantages of the impedance probe technique are discussed and two classes of instruments built and flown by SDL-USU for determining electron density (the capacitance and plasma frequency probes) are described

Comment on: "Estimating the Hartree-Fock limit from finite basis set calculations" [Jensen F (2005) Theor Chem Acc 113:267]

We demonstrate that a minor modification of the extrapolation proposed by Jensen [(2005): Theor Chem Acc 113:267] yields very reliable estimates of the Hartree-Fock limit in conjunction with correlation consistent basis sets. Specifically, a two-point extrapolation of the form $E_{HF,L}=E_{HF,\infty}+A(L+1)\exp(-9\sqrt{L})$ yields HF limits $E_{HF,\infty}$ with an RMS error of 0.1 millihartree using aug-cc-pVQZ and aug-cc-pV5Z basis sets, and of 0.01 millihartree using aug-cc-pV5Z and aug-cc-pV6Z basis sets.Comment: Theoretical Chemistry Accounts, in pres

How health systems in sub-Saharan Africa can benefit from tuberculosis and other infectious disease programmes.

Weak and dysfunctional health systems in low-income countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, are recognised as major obstacles to attaining the health-related Millennium Development Goals by 2015. Some progress is being made towards achieving the targets of Millennium Development Goal 6 for tuberculosis (TB), HIV/AIDS and malaria, with the achievements largely resulting from clearly defined strategies and intervention delivery systems combined with large amounts of external funding. This article is divided into four main sections. The first highlights the crucial elements that are needed in low-income countries in sub-Saharan Africa to deliver good quality health care through general health systems. The second discusses the main characteristics of infectious disease and TB control programmes. The third illustrates how TB control and other infectious disease programmes can help to strengthen these components, particularly in human resources; infrastructure; procurement and distribution; monitoring, evaluation and supervision; leadership and stewardship. The fourth and final section looks at progress made to date at the international level in terms of policy and guidelines, with some specific suggestions about this might be moved forward at the national level. For TB and other infectious disease programmes to drive broad improvements in health care systems and patient care, the lessons that have been learnt must be consciously applied to the broader health system, and sufficient financial input and the engagement of all players are essential

Complex coupled-cluster approach to an ab-initio description of open quantum systems

We develop ab-initio coupled-cluster theory to describe resonant and weakly bound states along the neutron drip line. We compute the ground states of the helium chain 3-10He within coupled-cluster theory in singles and doubles (CCSD) approximation. We employ a spherical Gamow-Hartree-Fock basis generated from the low-momentum N3LO nucleon-nucleon interaction. This basis treats bound, resonant, and continuum states on equal footing, and is therefore optimal for the description of properties of drip line nuclei where continuum features play an essential role. Within this formalism, we present an ab-initio calculation of energies and decay widths of unstable nuclei starting from realistic interactions.Comment: 4 pages, revtex

Effective interactions and the nuclear shell-model

This review aims at a critical discussion of the interplay between effective interactions derived from various many-body approaches and spectroscopic data extracted from large scale shell-model studies. To achieve this, our many-body scheme starts with the free nucleon-nucleon (NN) interaction, typically modelled on various meson exchanges. The NN interaction is in turn renormalized in order to derive an effective medium dependent interaction. The latter is in turn used in shell-model calculations of selected nuclei. We also describe how to sum up the parquet class of diagrams and present initial uses of the effective interactions in coupled cluster many-body theory.Comment: 61 pages, submitted to Prog. Part. Nucl. Phy