Tuning of tetrahedrality in a silicon potential yields a series of monatomic (metal-like) glassformers of very high fragility

We obtain monatomic glass formers in simulations by modifying the tetrahedral character in a silicon potential to explore a triple point zone between potentials favoring diamond (dc) and bcc crystals. dc crystallization is always preceded by a polyamorphic transformation of the liquid, and is frustrated when the Kauzmann temperature of the high temperature liquid intersects the liquid-liquid coexistence line. The glass forming liquids are extraordinarily fragile. Our results suggest that Si and Ge liquids may be vitrified at a pressure close to the diamond-beta-tin-liquid triple point.Comment: 12 pages, including 3 figures. This revised version covers the same as the original submission plus a discussion of the effect of the polyamorphic transformation on the glass formation ability of the tetrahedral liquids studie

Crossover to Potential Energy Landscape Dominated Dynamics in a Model Glass-forming Liquid

An equilibrated model glass-forming liquid is studied by mapping successive configurations produced by molecular dynamics simulation onto a time series of inherent structures (local minima in the potential energy). Using this ``inherent dynamics'' approach we find direct numerical evidence for the long held view that below a crossover temperature, $T_x$, the liquid's dynamics can be separated into (i) vibrations around inherent structures and (ii) transitions between inherent structures (M. Goldstein, J. Chem. Phys. {\bf 51}, 3728 (1969)), i.e., the dynamics become ``dominated'' by the potential energy landscape. In agreement with previous proposals, we find that $T_x$ is within the vicinity of the mode-coupling critical temperature $T_c$. We further find that at the lowest temperature simulated (close to $T_x$), transitions between inherent structures involve cooperative, string like rearrangements of groups of particles moving distances substantially smaller than the average interparticle distance.Comment: Expanded from 4 to 7 page

Sparse Recovery Analysis of Preconditioned Frames via Convex Optimization

Orthogonal Matching Pursuit and Basis Pursuit are popular reconstruction algorithms for recovery of sparse signals. The exact recovery property of both the methods has a relation with the coherence of the underlying redundant dictionary, i.e. a frame. A frame with low coherence provides better guarantees for exact recovery. An equivalent formulation of the associated linear system is obtained via premultiplication by a non-singular matrix. In view of bounds that guarantee sparse recovery, it is very useful to generate the preconditioner in such way that the preconditioned frame has low coherence as compared to the original. In this paper, we discuss the impact of preconditioning on sparse recovery. Further, we formulate a convex optimization problem for designing the preconditioner that yields a frame with improved coherence. In addition to reducing coherence, we focus on designing well conditioned frames and numerically study the relationship between the condition number of the preconditioner and the coherence of the new frame. Alongside theoretical justifications, we demonstrate through simulations the efficacy of the preconditioner in reducing coherence as well as recovering sparse signals.Comment: 9 pages, 5 Figure

Effect of Heavy Metal Uptake by E. coli and Bacillus Sps

Over the past century, unrestricted mining, extensive industrialization, modern agricultural practices and faulty waste disposal methods have resulted in the release of unprecedented levels of toxic heavy metals like Cd, Hg, Ag, Sn, Pb, Cu, Co, Mn, Zn, etc into the environment. Many metals are essential for microbial growth in less concentration, yet are toxic in higher concentrations. Biosorption is an attractive alternative approach which involves the binding or adsorption of heavy metals to living or dead cells. Many microbes have the ability to selectively accumulate metals. The present study is intended to analyze the uptake systems of Bacillus and E. coli against different conc. of heavy metals like Zn, Cu, Cd, and Hg in their salt form incorporated into nutrient broth medium observed over a regular interval of time. Analysis was based on how much of the metal from the original conc. Used was left behind in the media after the rest being up taken by the organism. This was done using AAS which was indirectly the representation of percent uptake of heavy metal by the respective organism. The study showed that Gram –ve organisms like E. coli exhibited more resistance to metals like Zn, Cu and Hg in relative comparison with Gram +ve organisms like Bacillus. Bacillus sps was less sensitive to effect of Cd than in E. coli

Social Game for Building Energy Efficiency: Utility Learning, Simulation, and Analysis

We describe a social game that we designed for encouraging energy efficient behavior amongst building occupants with the aim of reducing overall energy consumption in the building. Occupants vote for their desired lighting level and win points which are used in a lottery based on how far their vote is from the maximum setting. We assume that the occupants are utility maximizers and that their utility functions capture the tradeoff between winning points and their comfort level. We model the occupants as non-cooperative agents in a continuous game and we characterize their play using the Nash equilibrium concept. Using occupant voting data, we parameterize their utility functions and use a convex optimization problem to estimate the parameters. We simulate the game defined by the estimated utility functions and show that the estimated model for occupant behavior is a good predictor of their actual behavior. In addition, we show that due to the social game, there is a significant reduction in energy consumption

Memory formation in matter

Memory formation in matter is a theme of broad intellectual relevance; it sits at the interdisciplinary crossroads of physics, biology, chemistry, and computer science. Memory connotes the ability to encode, access, and erase signatures of past history in the state of a system. Once the system has completely relaxed to thermal equilibrium, it is no longer able to recall aspects of its evolution. Memory of initial conditions or previous training protocols will be lost. Thus many forms of memory are intrinsically tied to far-from-equilibrium behavior and to transient response to a perturbation. This general behavior arises in diverse contexts in condensed matter physics and materials: phase change memory, shape memory, echoes, memory effects in glasses, return-point memory in disordered magnets, as well as related contexts in computer science. Yet, as opposed to the situation in biology, there is currently no common categorization and description of the memory behavior that appears to be prevalent throughout condensed-matter systems. Here we focus on material memories. We will describe the basic phenomenology of a few of the known behaviors that can be understood as constituting a memory. We hope that this will be a guide towards developing the unifying conceptual underpinnings for a broad understanding of memory effects that appear in materials