1,459 research outputs found
Groundwater
Since the late nineteenth century, New Mexicans have been developing the stateâs groundwater resources. From hand-dug wells to proposed wells that could penetrate to 12,000 feet, residents have sought sources to supplement and replace surface water. The state relies upon groundwater to supply almost 50 percent of its needs.
As the population grows and drought intensifies, groundwater sources are tapped with increasing urgency. Limited steps are being taken to preserve groundwater through conservation, groundwater recharge, and regulation
On the succinctness of query rewriting over shallow ontologies
We investigate the succinctness problem for conjunctive query rewritings over OWL2QL ontologies of depth 1 and 2 by means of hypergraph programs computing Boolean functions. Both positive and negative results are obtained. We show that, over ontologies of depth 1, conjunctive queries have polynomial-size nonrecursive datalog rewritings; tree-shaped queries have polynomial positive existential rewritings; however, in the worst case, positive existential rewritings can be superpolynomial. Over ontologies of depth 2, positive existential and nonrecursive datalog rewritings of conjunctive queries can suffer an exponential blowup, while first-order rewritings can be superpolynomial unless NP ïżœis included in P/poly. We also analyse rewritings of tree-shaped queries over arbitrary ontologies and note that query entailment for such queries is fixed-parameter tractable
Electron transport through a metal-molecule-metal junction
Molecules of bisthiolterthiophene have been adsorbed on the two facing gold
electrodes of a mechanically controllable break junction in order to form
metal-molecule(s)-metal junctions. Current-voltage (I-V) characteristics have
been recorded at room temperature. Zero bias conductances were measured in the
10-100 nS range and different kinds of non-linear I-V curves with step-like
features were reproducibly obtained. Switching between different kinds of I-V
curves could be induced by varying the distance between the two metallic
electrodes. The experimental results are discussed within the framework of
tunneling transport models explicitly taking into account the discrete nature
of the electronic spectrum of the molecule.Comment: 12 pages, 12 figures to appear in Phys. Rev. B 59(19) 199
Ontology-Based Data Access and Integration
An ontology-based data integration (OBDI) system is an information management system consisting of three components: an ontology, a set of data sources, and the mapping between the two. The ontology is a conceptual, formal description of the domain of interest to a given organization (or a community of users), expressed in terms of relevant concepts, attributes of concepts, relationships between concepts, and logical assertions characterizing the domain knowledge. The data sources are the repositories accessible by the organization where data concerning the domain are stored. In the general case, such repositories are numerous, heterogeneous, each one managed and maintained independently from the others. The mapping is a precise specification of the correspondence between the data contained in the data sources and the elements of the ontology. The main purpose of an OBDI system is to allow information consumers to query the data using the elements in the ontology as predicates.
In the special case where the organization manages a single data source, the term ontology-based data access (ODBA) system is used
Eigenfunction Statistics on Quantum Graphs
We investigate the spatial statistics of the energy eigenfunctions on large
quantum graphs. It has previously been conjectured that these should be
described by a Gaussian Random Wave Model, by analogy with quantum chaotic
systems, for which such a model was proposed by Berry in 1977. The
autocorrelation functions we calculate for an individual quantum graph exhibit
a universal component, which completely determines a Gaussian Random Wave
Model, and a system-dependent deviation. This deviation depends on the graph
only through its underlying classical dynamics. Classical criteria for quantum
universality to be met asymptotically in the large graph limit (i.e. for the
non-universal deviation to vanish) are then extracted. We use an exact field
theoretic expression in terms of a variant of a supersymmetric sigma model. A
saddle-point analysis of this expression leads to the estimates. In particular,
intensity correlations are used to discuss the possible equidistribution of the
energy eigenfunctions in the large graph limit. When equidistribution is
asymptotically realized, our theory predicts a rate of convergence that is a
significant refinement of previous estimates. The universal and
system-dependent components of intensity correlation functions are recovered by
means of an exact trace formula which we analyse in the diagonal approximation,
drawing in this way a parallel between the field theory and semiclassics. Our
results provide the first instance where an asymptotic Gaussian Random Wave
Model has been established microscopically for eigenfunctions in a system with
no disorder.Comment: 59 pages, 3 figure
Quantum Conductance Steps in Solutions of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes
We have prepared solutions of multiwalled carbon nanotubes in Aroclor 1254, a
mixture of polychlorinated biphenyls. The solutions are stable at room
temperature. Transport measurements were performed using a scanning--tunneling
probe on a sample prepared by spin--coating of the solution on gold substrates.
Conductance steps were clearly seen. An histogram of a high number of traces
shows maximum peaks at integer values of the conductance quantum , demonstrating ballistic transport at room temperature along the carbon
nanotube over distances longer than .Comment: 4 pages and 2 figure
Nanoemulsion stability: experimental evaluation of the flocculation rate from turbidity measurements
The coalescence of liquid drops induces a higher level of complexity compared
to the classical studies about the aggregation of solid spheres. Yet, it is
commonly believed that most findings on solid dispersions are directly
applicable to liquid mixtures. Here, the state of the art in the evaluation of
the flocculation rate of these two systems is reviewed. Special emphasis is
made on the differences between suspensions and emulsions. In the case of
suspensions, the stability ratio is commonly evaluated from the initial slope
of the absorbance as a function of time under diffusive and reactive
conditions. Puertas and de las Nieves (1997) developed a theoretical approach
that allows the determination of the flocculation rate from the variation of
the turbidity of a sample as a function of time. Here, suitable modifications
of the experimental procedure and the referred theoretical approach are
implemented in order to calculate the values of the stability ratio and the
flocculation rate corresponding to a dodecane-in-water nanoemulsion stabilized
with sodium dodecyl sulfate. Four analytical expressions of the turbidity are
tested, basically differing in the optical cross section of the aggregates
formed. The first two models consider the processes of: a) aggregation (as
described by Smoluchowski) and b) the instantaneous coalescence upon
flocculation. The other two models account for the simultaneous occurrence of
flocculation and coalescence. The latter reproduce the temporal variation of
the turbidity in all cases studied (380 \leq [NaCl] \leq 600 mM), providing a
method of appraisal of the flocculation rate in nanoemulsions
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