18,063 research outputs found
Detecting Topological Order with Ribbon Operators
We introduce a numerical method for identifying topological order in
two-dimensional models based on one-dimensional bulk operators. The idea is to
identify approximate symmetries supported on thin strips through the bulk that
behave as string operators associated to an anyon model. We can express these
ribbon operators in matrix product form and define a cost function that allows
us to efficiently optimize over this ansatz class. We test this method on spin
models with abelian topological order by finding ribbon operators for
quantum double models with local fields and Ising-like terms. In
addition, we identify ribbons in the abelian phase of Kitaev's honeycomb model
which serve as the logical operators of the encoded qubit for the quantum
error-correcting code. We further identify the topologically encoded qubit in
the quantum compass model, and show that despite this qubit, the model does not
support topological order. Finally, we discuss how the method supports
generalizations for detecting nonabelian topological order.Comment: 15 pages, 8 figures, comments welcom
Real-time kinetics and high-resolution melt curves in single-molecule digital LAMP to differentiate and study specific and non-specific amplification
Isothermal amplification assays, such as loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), show great utility for the development of rapid diagnostics for infectious diseases because they have high sensitivity, pathogen-specificity and potential for implementation at the point of care. However, elimination of non-specific amplification remains a key challenge for the optimization of LAMP assays. Here, using chlamydia DNA as a clinically relevant target and high-throughput sequencing as an analytical tool, we investigate a potential mechanism of non-specific amplification. We then develop a real-time digital LAMP (dLAMP) with high-resolution melting temperature (HRM) analysis and use this single-molecule approach to analyze approximately 1.2 million amplification events. We show that single-molecule HRM provides insight into specific and non-specific amplification in LAMP that are difficult to deduce from bulk measurements. We use real-time dLAMP with HRM to evaluate differences between polymerase enzymes, the impact of assay parameters (e.g. time, rate or florescence intensity), and the effect background human DNA. By differentiating true and false positives, HRM enables determination of the optimal assay and analysis parameters that leads to the lowest limit of detection (LOD) in a digital isothermal amplification assay
Hyperatlas: A New Framework for Image Federation
Hyperatlas is an open standard intended to facilitate the large-scale
federation of image-based data. The subject of hyperatlas is the space of
sphere-to-plane projection mappings (the FITS-WCS information), and the
standard consists of coherent collections of these on which data can be
resampled and thereby federated with other image data. We hope for a
distributed effort that will produce a multi-faceted image atlas of the sky,
made by federating many different surveys at different wavelengths and
different times. We expect that hyperatlas-compliant imagery will be published
and discovered through an International Virtual Observatory Alliance (IVOA)
registry, and that grid-based services will emerge for the required resampling
and mosaicking.Comment: Published in ADASS XIII proceeding
Atlasmaker: A Grid-based Implementation of the Hyperatlas
The Atlasmaker project is using Grid technology, in combination with NVO
interoperability, to create new knowledge resources in astronomy. The product
is a multi-faceted, multi-dimensional, scientifically trusted image atlas of
the sky, made by federating many different surveys at different wavelengths,
times, resolutions, polarizations, etc. The Atlasmaker software does resampling
and mosaicking of image collections, and is well-suited to operate with the
Hyperatlas standard. Requests can be satisfied via on-demand computations or by
accessing a data cache. Computed data is stored in a distributed virtual file
system, such as the Storage Resource Broker (SRB). We expect these atlases to
be a new and powerful paradigm for knowledge extraction in astronomy, as well
as a magnificent way to build educational resources. The system is being
incorporated into the data analysis pipeline of the Palomar-Quest synoptic
survey, and is being used to generate all-sky atlases from the 2MASS, SDSS, and
DPOSS surveys for joint object detection.Comment: Published in the Proceedings of ADASS XI
Nucleic acid reactive antibodies-specificities and applications
The specificities of nucleic acid reactive antibodies and their applications in cell biology and molecular biology are reviewed
Appropriate strategy for immunisation of children in India 3. Community-based annual pulse (cluster) immunisation
A strategy of annual pulse vaccination is proposed as the most appropriate technique for achieving high immunisation rates in our country. Because vaccine is taken to children in their communities on announced dates, acceptance will be much higher than with conventional clinic vaccination. A simplified immunisation schedule and a family-retained record are used to reduce complexity. Vaccines and other materials are managed at a district level; the local arrangements for vaccination are made by the PHC staff and village level workers. The advantages of this technique include higher coverage, shortened and strengthened cold chain, reduced red tape for recipients of vaccine, the involvement of private health institutions in a national campaign, and a strengthening of the PHC system
Exploring the Structure–Activity Relationship on Platinum Nanoparticles
The design of active and stable Pt-based nanoscale electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) plays the central role in ameliorating the efficiency of proton exchange membrane fuel-cells towards future energy applications. On that front, theoretical studies have contributed significantly to this research area by gaining deeper insights and understanding of the ongoing processes. In this work, we present an approach capable of characterizing differently-shaped platinum nanoparticles undergoing thermally- and adsorbate-induced restructuring of the surface. Further, by performing ReaxFF-Grand Canonical Molecular Dynamics simulations we explored the water formation on these roughened (“realistic”) nanoparticles in a H/O environment. Taking into consideration the coverage of oxygen-containing intermediates and occurring surface roughening the nanoparticles’ activities were explored. Hereby, we succeeded in locally resolving the water formation on the nanoparticles’ surfaces, allowing an allocation of the active sites for HO production. We observed that exposed, low-coordinated sites as well as pit-shaped sites originating from roughening of vertices and edges are most active towards HO formation
Carbon reaction and diffusion on Ni(111), Ni(100), and Fe(110): Kinetic parameters from x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional theory analysis
This paper investigates the reactivity of elemental carbon films deposited from the vapor phase with Fe and Ni substrates at room temperature. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements are presented as a method for evaluating kinetic reaction data. Carbon films are deposited on different surface orientations representing geometries from a dense atom packing as in fcc (111) to an open surface structure as in fcc (100). During annealing experiments several reactions are observed (carbon subsurface diffusion, carbide formation, carbide decomposition, and graphite ordering). These reactions and the respective kinetic parameters are analyzed and quantified by XPS measurements performed while annealing at elevated temperatures (620–820 K). The resulting activation barriers for carbon subsurface diffusion are compared with calculated values using the density functional theory. The determined kinetic parameters are used to reproduce the thermal behavior of carbon films on nickel surfaces
Prediction of activities of oxygen in dilute quaternary solutions using binary data
Equations are developed for predicting the activity coefficients of oxygen dissolved in ternary liquid alloys. These are extensions of earlier treatments, and are based on a model in which each oxygen atom is assumed to make four bonds with neighboring metal atoms. It is also postulated that the strong oxygen-metal bonds distort the electronic configuration around the metal atoms bonded to oxygen, and that the quantitative reduction of the strength of bonds made by these atoms with all of the adjacent metal atoms is equivalent to a factor of approximately two. The predictions of the quasichemical equation which is derived agree satisfactorily with the partial molar free energies of oxygen in Ag-Cu-Sn solutions at 1200°C reported in literature. An extension of this treatment to multicomponent solutions is also indicated
Lubricating Bacteria Model for Branching growth of Bacterial Colonies
Various bacterial strains (e.g. strains belonging to the genera Bacillus,
Paenibacillus, Serratia and Salmonella) exhibit colonial branching patterns
during growth on poor semi-solid substrates. These patterns reflect the
bacterial cooperative self-organization. Central part of the cooperation is the
collective formation of lubricant on top of the agar which enables the bacteria
to swim. Hence it provides the colony means to advance towards the food. One
method of modeling the colonial development is via coupled reaction-diffusion
equations which describe the time evolution of the bacterial density and the
concentrations of the relevant chemical fields. This idea has been pursued by a
number of groups. Here we present an additional model which specifically
includes an evolution equation for the lubricant excreted by the bacteria. We
show that when the diffusion of the fluid is governed by nonlinear diffusion
coefficient branching patterns evolves. We study the effect of the rates of
emission and decomposition of the lubricant fluid on the observed patterns. The
results are compared with experimental observations. We also include fields of
chemotactic agents and food chemotaxis and conclude that these features are
needed in order to explain the observations.Comment: 1 latex file, 16 jpeg files, submitted to Phys. Rev.
- …