Optically pumped Cs magnetometers enabling a high-sensitivity search for the neutron electric dipole moment

An array of 16 laser-pumped scalar Cs magnetometers was part of the neutron electric dipole moment (nEDM) experiment taking data at the Paul Scherrer Institute in 2015 and 2016. It was deployed to measure the gradients of the experiment's magnetic field and to monitor their temporal evolution. The originality of the array lies in its compact design, in which a single near-infrared diode laser drives all magnetometers that are located in a high-vacuum chamber, with a selection of the sensors mounted on a high-voltage electrode. We describe details of the Cs sensors' construction and modes of operation, emphasizing the accuracy and sensitivity of the magnetic-field readout. We present two applications of the magnetometer array directly beneficial to the nEDM experiment: (i) the implementation of a strategy to correct for the drift of the vertical magnetic-field gradient and (ii) a procedure to homogenize the magnetic field. The first reduces the uncertainty of the nEDM result. The second enables transverse neutron spin relaxation times exceeding 1500 s, improving the statistical sensitivity of the nEDM experiment by about 35% and effectively increasing the rate of nEDM data taking by a factor of 1.8

Risk profiles and one-year outcomes of patients with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation in India: Insights from the GARFIELD-AF Registry.

BACKGROUND: The Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD-Atrial Fibrillation (GARFIELD-AF) is an ongoing prospective noninterventional registry, which is providing important information on the baseline characteristics, treatment patterns, and 1-year outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). This report describes data from Indian patients recruited in this registry. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 52,014 patients with newly diagnosed AF were enrolled globally; of these, 1388 patients were recruited from 26 sites within India (2012-2016). In India, the mean age was 65.8 years at diagnosis of NVAF. Hypertension was the most prevalent risk factor for AF, present in 68.5% of patients from India and in 76.3% of patients globally (P < 0.001). Diabetes and coronary artery disease (CAD) were prevalent in 36.2% and 28.1% of patients as compared with global prevalence of 22.2% and 21.6%, respectively (P < 0.001 for both). Antiplatelet therapy was the most common antithrombotic treatment in India. With increasing stroke risk, however, patients were more likely to receive oral anticoagulant therapy [mainly vitamin K antagonist (VKA)], but average international normalized ratio (INR) was lower among Indian patients [median INR value 1.6 (interquartile range {IQR}: 1.3-2.3) versus 2.3 (IQR 1.8-2.8) (P < 0.001)]. Compared with other countries, patients from India had markedly higher rates of all-cause mortality [7.68 per 100 person-years (95% confidence interval 6.32-9.35) vs 4.34 (4.16-4.53), P < 0.0001], while rates of stroke/systemic embolism and major bleeding were lower after 1 year of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Compared to previously published registries from India, the GARFIELD-AF registry describes clinical profiles and outcomes in Indian patients with AF of a different etiology. The registry data show that compared to the rest of the world, Indian AF patients are younger in age and have more diabetes and CAD. Patients with a higher stroke risk are more likely to receive anticoagulation therapy with VKA but are underdosed compared with the global average in the GARFIELD-AF. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION-URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01090362

A computational model for the evaluation of the spray generation of a Wave Adaptive Modular Vessel

This paper presents part of the work done within the project &lsquo;Advanced Numerical Simulation and Performance Evaluation of WAM-V &reg; in Spray Generating Conditions&rsquo; developed by the International Center for Numerical Methods in Engineering (CIMNE) under Navy Grant N62909-12-1-7101 issued by the Office of Naval Research Global. One of the primary goals of that project was the development of a computational model for simulation of the Wave Adaptive Modular Vessel (WAM-V&reg;) under spray generating conditions. For this purpose, a Semi-Lagrangian Particle Finite Element Method (SL-PFEM) has been applied. This is the latest development within the framework of the so-called Particle Finite Element Method (PFEM), using the X-IVAS (eXplicit Integration along the Velocity and Acceleration Streamlines) scheme. In this paper we demonstrate the applicability of the SL-PFEM using the X-IVAS scheme for the simulation of the Wave Adaptive Modular Vehicle under spray generating conditions

A computational model for the evaluation of the spray generation of a Wave Adaptive Modular Vessel

A Wave Adaptive Modular Vessel (WAM-V&reg;) is a new class of ship that uses inflatable flexible hulls to conform to the surface of the water. It is similar in design to a catamaran, in that it has a twin hull design and no keel. However, the superstructure is not rigidly attached to the hulls; it uses shock absorbers and ball joints to articulate the vessel, which allows WAM-V to conform to the surface of the water while mitigating the stresses transmitted to the structure. Moreover, the inflatable hulls help to absorb the high frequency wave-loads. These features allow WAM-V to travel efficiently with low wave resistance in rough seas, by surfing on top of the waves rather than cut through them. The objective of the WAM-V is to be a lightweight watercraft capable of moving fast and efficiently on the surface of the sea. WAM-Vs are designed to allow for a variety of applications for either manned or unmanned operations and can be built in different lengths to match specific services. This presentation shows part of the work done in the project &lsquo;Advanced Numerical Simulation and Performance Evaluation of WAM-V &reg; in Spray Generating Conditions&rsquo; developed by the International Center for Numerical Methods in Engineering (CIMNE) under Navy Grant N62909-12-1-7101 issued by the Office of Naval Research Global. The scope of that project included the performance analysis of the WAM-V in waves, taking into account the flexibility of the ship hulls, using fluid-structure interaction computational models. However, the focus of this paper is one of the primary concerns of that project; the development of a computational model for simulation of the WAM-V under spray generating conditions. In this regards, the final goal was to develop and demonstrate a computational engineering solver that could be used to design strategies to reduce the spray generation of the vessel

Adsorption of hazardous cationic dye onto the combustion derived SrTiO3 nanoparticles: Kinetic and isotherm studies

In this article we report on solution combustion method to synthesize SrTiO3 nanoparticles (ST-NPs) and the removal of malachite green (MG) azo dye from the aqueous solution. The synthesized ST-NPs were calcined at 600 °C for 2 h. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) were used to characterize the product. Adsorption experiments were performed with cationic malachite green (MG) dye. ∼98% dye was adsorbed onto the ST-NPs at pH 10 for 30 min of the contact time. The optimum adsorbent dose was found to be 0.015 g/L of the dye. To study the adsorption kinetics Langmuir Hinshelwood model was used and the first order kinetic best describes the MG adsorption onto the ST-NPs. The adsorption isotherms data of MG onto ST-NPs obtained were analyzed by Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models and the results describe the best representation of the Langmuir isotherm model

Synthesis, characterizations, antibacterial and photoluminescence studies of solution combustion-derived α-Al2O3 nanoparticles

In this work, we report a novel, economical, low temperature solution combustion synthesis (SCS) method to prepare α-Al2O3 (Corundum) nanoparticles. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), BET surface area and ultraviolet visible spectroscopy (UV–vis) measurements were used to characterize the product. Antibacterial studies were examined against gram −ve Klebsiella aerogenes, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas desmolyticum and gram +ve Staphylococcus aureus bacteria by agar well diffusion method. The α-Al2O3 nanoparticles showed substantial effect on all the four bacterial strains. Photoluminescence (PL) measurements under excitation at about 255 nm show that the alumina nanoparticles have emission peaks at 394 and 392 nm

Synthesis, structural characterization of nano ZnTiO3 ceramic: An effective azo dye adsorbent and antibacterial agent

Nanocrystalline meta-zinc titanate (ZnTiO3) ceramic was prepared using a self-propagating solution combustion synthesis (SCS) for the first time using urea as fuel. The product was calcined at 800 °C for 2 h to improve the crystallinity. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) and UV–vis absorption spectroscopy were used to characterize the final product. PXRD results show that the ilmenite type rhombohedral structure was formed when the sample was calcined at 800 °C for 2 h. Adsorption experiments were performed with cationic malachite green (MG) dye. ∼96% dye was adsorbed onto nanocrystalline ZnTiO3 ceramic at pH 9 for 30 min of the contact time. The optimum adsorbent dose was found to be 0.45 g/L of dye. Langmuir–Hinshelwood model was used to study adsorption kinetics and first order kinetic model best describes the MG adsorption on ZnTiO3. Antibacterial activity was investigated against gram negative Klebsiella aerogenes, Pseudomonas desmolyticum, Escherichia coli, and gram positive Staphylococcus aureus bacteria by agar well diffusion method. Nanocrystalline ZnTiO3 ceramic showed significant effect on all the four bacterial strains at the concentration of 1000 and 1500 μg per well

Mapping of the magnetic field to correct systematic effects in a neutron electric dipole moment experiment

Experiments dedicated to the measurement of the electric dipole moment of the neutron require outstanding control of the magnetic field uniformity. The neutron electric dipole moment (nEDM) experiment at the Paul Scherrer Institute uses a 199Hg co-magnetometer to precisely monitor magnetic field variations. This co-magnetometer, in the presence of field non-uniformity, is responsible for the largest systematic effect of this measurement. To evaluate and correct that effect, offline measurements of the field non-uniformity were performed during mapping campaigns in 2013, 2014 and 2017. We present the results of these campaigns, and the improvement the correction of this effect brings to the neutron electric dipole moment measurement