The ALPS project: open source software for strongly correlated systems

We present the ALPS (Algorithms and Libraries for Physics Simulations) project, an international open source software project to develop libraries and application programs for the simulation of strongly correlated quantum lattice models such as quantum magnets, lattice bosons, and strongly correlated fermion systems. Development is centered on common XML and binary data formats, on libraries to simplify and speed up code development, and on full-featured simulation programs. The programs enable non-experts to start carrying out numerical simulations by providing basic implementations of the important algorithms for quantum lattice models: classical and quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) using non-local updates, extended ensemble simulations, exact and full diagonalization (ED), as well as the density matrix renormalization group (DMRG). The software is available from our web server at http://alps.comp-phys.org.Comment: For full software and introductory turorials see http://alps.comp-phys.or

Efficacy of supplementation of probiotics on maternal glycaemic control – A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Aim: To evaluate the evidence pertaining to the efficacy of the supplementation of probiotics on the blood glucose level of pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Background: Women with the GDM are subsequently at risk to develop type 2 diabetes mellitus, within three to six years after delivery. This makes it crucial for all pregnant women with the GDM, to monitor their blood glucose levels regularly to minimize the adverse pregnancy outcomes. The earlier studies revealed that the probiotics could improve glycaemic control and mitigate the adverse effects of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Design: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Data sources: The Google Scholar, Pubmed/Medline, Cochrane library, ProQuest, Ovid, and EMBASE were systematically searched for the available clinical trials. Review methods: Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) for evaluating the effects of the probiotics on the pregnancy outcomes such as glycaemic control as primary outcome were included to achieve the aim of this review and meta-analysis. Two reviewers from the team extracted the data and assessed the risk of bias in the eligible studies independently. The meta-analysis was performed by applying a model of fixed effects using the Revman 5.3 software. Results: Nine clinical trials involving 1053 participants were included in the meta-analysis. Though the components of probiotics varied significantly, Lactobacillus species was given to all the participants in all the trials included in this review. The results showed that the probiotics asignificantly improved the glycaemic control biomarkers (Fasting blood glucose and insulin sensitivity level) (P < 0.005). Conclusion: Probiotic-supplements seemed to improve the glycaemic control biomarkers. Thus, this review highlights the considerable evidence that the supplementation of probiotics has the beneficial effects on the glycaemic control markers and may be useful as a supplementary therapy among the women with the GDM. This finding would foster the health care professionals and the nurses to create awareness on the potential benefits of the supplementation of the probiotics among the women with the GDM and elevated glycaemic control biomarkers

The ALPS project release 1.3: open source software for strongly correlated systems

We present release 1.3 of the ALPS (Algorithms and Libraries for Physics Simulations) project, an international open source software project to develop libraries and application programs for the simulation of strongly correlated quantum lattice models such as quantum magnets, lattice bosons, and strongly correlated fermion systems. Development is centered on common XML and binary data formats, on libraries to simplify and speed up code development, and on full-featured simulation programs. The programs enable non-experts to start carrying out numerical simulations by providing basic implementations of the important algorithms for quantum lattice models: classical and quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) using non-local updates, extended ensemble simulations, exact and full diagonalization (ED), as well as the density matrix renormalization group (DMRG). Changes in the new release include a DMRG program for interacting models, support for translation symmetries in the diagonalization programs, the ability to define custom measurement operators, and support for inhomogeneous systems, such as lattice models with traps. The software is available from our web server at http://alps.comp-phys.org/

Investigating the Near-Infrared Properties of Planetary Nebula II. Medium Resolution Spectra

We present medium-resolution (R~700) near-infrared (lambda = 1 - 2.5 micron) spectra of a sample of planetary nebulae (PNe). A narrow slit was used which sampled discrete locations within the nebulae; observations were obtained at one or more positions in the 41 objects included in the survey. The PN spectra fall into one of four general categories: H I emission line-dominated PNe, H I and H_2 emission line PNe, H_2-dominated PNe, and continuum-dominated PNe. These categories correlate with morphological type, with the elliptical PNe falling into the first group, and the bipolar PNe primarily in the H_2 and continuum emission groups. Other spectral features were observed in all categories, such as continuum emission from the central star, C_2, CN, and CO emission, and warm dust continuum emission. Molecular hydrogen was detected for the first time in four PNe. An excitation analysis was performed using the H_2 line ratios for all of the PN spectra in the survey where a sufficient number of lines were observed. One unexpected result from this analysis is that the H_2 is excited by absorption of ultraviolet photons in most of the PNe surveyed, although for several PNe in our survey collisional excitation in moderate velocity shocks plays an important role. The correlation between bipolar morphology and H_2 emission has been strengthened with the new detections of H_2 in this survey.Comment: 13 pages, 8 tables, 33 figure

Gyrospun antimicrobial nanoparticle loaded fibrous polymeric filters

© 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).A one step approach to prepare hybrid nanoparticle embedded polymer fibres using pressurised gyration is presented. Two types of novel antimicrobial nanoparticles and poly (methylmethacrylate) polymer were used in this work. X-ray diffraction analysis of the nanoparticles revealed Ag, Cu and W are the main elements present in them. The concentration of the polymer solution and the nanoparticle concentration had a significant influence on the fibre diameter, pore size and morphology. Fibres with a diameter in the range of 6-20 ìm were spun using 20 wt% polymer solutions containing 0.1, 0.25 and 0.5 w% nanoparticles under 0.3 MPa working pressure and a rotational speed of 36000 rpm. Continuous, bead-free fibre morphologies were obtained for each case. The pore size in the fibres varied between 36-300 nm. Successful incorporation of the nanoparticles in polymer fibres was confirmed by energy dispersive x-ray analysis. The fibres were also gyrospun on to metallic disks to prepare filters which were tested for their antibacterial activity on a suspension of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Nanoparticle loaded fibres showed higher antibacterial efficacy than pure poly(methylmethacrylate) fibres.8pÍuPeer reviewedFinal Published versio