6,818 research outputs found
Strong absorption and selective thermal emission from a mid-infrared metamaterial
We demonstrate thin-film metamaterials with resonances in the mid-infrared
wavelength range. Our structures are numerically modeled and experimentally
characterized by reflection and angularly-resolved thermal emission
spectroscopy. We demonstrate strong and controllable absorption resonances
across the mid-infrared wavelength range. In addition, the polarized thermal
emission from these samples is shown to be highly selective and largely
independent of emission angles from normal to 45 degrees. Experimental results
are compared to numerical models with excellent agreement. Such structures hold
promise for large-area, low-cost metamaterial coatings for control of gray- or
black-body thermal signatures, as well as for possible mid-IR sensing
applications.Comment: The following article has been submitted to Appl. Phys. Lett. After
it is published, it will be found at http://apl.aip.org/. 14 pages including
4 figure page
Who students interact with? A social network analysis perspective on the use of Twitter in language learning
This paper reports student interaction patterns and self-reported results of using Twitter microblogging environment. The study employs longitudinal probabilistic social network analysis (SNA) to identify the patterns and trends of network dynamics. It is building on earlier works that explore associations of student achievement records with the observed network measures. It integrates gender as an additional variable and reports some relation with interaction patterns. Additionally, the paper reports the results of a questionnaire that enables further discussion on the communication patterns
Negative differential Rashba effect in two-dimensional hole systems
We demonstrate experimentally and theoretically that two-dimensional (2D)
heavy hole systems in single heterostructures exhibit a \emph{decrease} in
spin-orbit interaction-induced spin splitting with an increase in perpendicular
electric field. Using front and back gates, we measure the spin splitting as a
function of applied electric field while keeping the density constant. Our
results are in contrast to the more familiar case of 2D electrons where spin
splitting increases with electric field.Comment: 3 pages, 3 figures. To appear in AP
Anomalous Spin Polarization of GaAs Two-Dimensional Hole Systems
We report measurements and calculations of the spin-subband depopulation,
induced by a parallel magnetic field, of dilute GaAs two-dimensional (2D) hole
systems. The results reveal that the shape of the confining potential
dramatically affects the values of in-plane magnetic field at which the upper
spin subband is depopulated. Most surprisingly, unlike 2D electron systems, the
carrier-carrier interaction in 2D hole systems does not significantly enhance
the spin susceptibility. We interpret our findings using a multipole expansion
of the spin density matrix, and suggest that the suppression of the enhancement
is related to the holes' band structure and effective spin j=3/2.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, substantially extended discussion of result
Dynamic behaviors in directed networks
Motivated by the abundance of directed synaptic couplings in a real
biological neuronal network, we investigate the synchronization behavior of the
Hodgkin-Huxley model in a directed network. We start from the standard model of
the Watts-Strogatz undirected network and then change undirected edges to
directed arcs with a given probability, still preserving the connectivity of
the network. A generalized clustering coefficient for directed networks is
defined and used to investigate the interplay between the synchronization
behavior and underlying structural properties of directed networks. We observe
that the directedness of complex networks plays an important role in emerging
dynamical behaviors, which is also confirmed by a numerical study of the
sociological game theoretic voter model on directed networks
Dynamical and bursty interactions in social networks
We present a modeling framework for dynamical and bursty contact networks
made of agents in social interaction. We consider agents' behavior at short
time scales, in which the contact network is formed by disconnected cliques of
different sizes. At each time a random agent can make a transition from being
isolated to being part of a group, or vice-versa. Different distributions of
contact times and inter-contact times between individuals are obtained by
considering transition probabilities with memory effects, i.e. the transition
probabilities for each agent depend both on its state (isolated or interacting)
and on the time elapsed since the last change of state. The model lends itself
to analytical and numerical investigations. The modeling framework can be
easily extended, and paves the way for systematic investigations of dynamical
processes occurring on rapidly evolving dynamical networks, such as the
propagation of an information, or spreading of diseases
Waiting time dynamics of priority-queue networks
We study the dynamics of priority-queue networks, generalizations of the
binary interacting priority queue model introduced by Oliveira and Vazquez
[Physica A {\bf 388}, 187 (2009)]. We found that the original AND-type protocol
for interacting tasks is not scalable for the queue networks with loops because
the dynamics becomes frozen due to the priority conflicts. We then consider a
scalable interaction protocol, an OR-type one, and examine the effects of the
network topology and the number of queues on the waiting time distributions of
the priority-queue networks, finding that they exhibit power-law tails in all
cases considered, yet with model-dependent power-law exponents. We also show
that the synchronicity in task executions, giving rise to priority conflicts in
the priority-queue networks, is a relevant factor in the queue dynamics that
can change the power-law exponent of the waiting time distribution.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, minor changes, final published versio
Modeling Dynamics of Information Networks
We propose an information-based model for network dynamics in which imperfect
information leads to networks where the different vertices have widely
different number of edges to other vertices, and where the topology has
hierarchical features. The possibility to observe scale free networks is linked
to a minimally connected system where hubs remain dynamic.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures; changed content and new fig
De-biased Populations of Kuiper Belt Objects from the Deep Ecliptic Survey
The Deep Ecliptic Survey (DES) discovered hundreds of Kuiper Belt objects
from 1998-2005. Follow-up observations yielded 304 objects with good dynamical
classifications (Classical, Scattered, Centaur, or 16 mean-motion resonances
with Neptune). The DES search fields are well documented, enabling us to
calculate the probability of detecting objects with particular orbital
parameters and absolute magnitudes at a randomized point in each orbit.
Grouping objects together by dynamical class leads, we estimate the orbital
element distributions (a, e, i) for the largest three classes (Classical, 3:2,
and Scattered) using maximum likelihood. Using H-magnitude as a proxy for the
object size, we fit a power law to the number of objects for 8 classes with at
least 5 detected members (246 objects). The best Classical slope is
alpha=1.02+/-0.01 (observed from 5<=H<=7.2). Six dynamical classes (Scattered
plus 5 resonances) are consistent in slope with the Classicals, though the
absolute number of objects is scaled. The exception to the power law relation
are the Centaurs (non-resonant with perihelia closer than Neptune, and thus
detectable at smaller sizes), with alpha=0.42+/-0.02 (7.5<H<11). This is
consistent with a knee in the H-distribution around H=7.2 as reported elsewhere
(Bernstein et al. 2004, Fraser et al. 2014). Based on the Classical-derived
magnitude distribution, the total number of objects (H<=7) in each class are:
Classical (2100+/-300 objects), Scattered (2800+/-400), 3:2 (570+/-80), 2:1
(400+/-50), 5:2 (270+/-40), 7:4 (69+/-9), 5:3 (60+/-8). The independent
estimate for the number of Centaurs in the same H range is 13+/-5. If instead
all objects are divided by inclination into "Hot" and "Cold" populations,
following Fraser et al. (2014), we find that alphaHot=0.90+/-0.02, while
alphaCold=1.32+/-0.02, in good agreement with that work.Comment: 26 pages emulateapj, 6 figures, 5 tables, accepted by A
Community-based care of stroke patients in a rural African setting
Background. To develop a community-based model of stroke care, we assessed discharge planning of stroke patients, available resources and continuity of care between hospital and community in a remote rural setting in South Africa. We sought to determine outcomes, family participation and support needs, and implementation of secondary prevention strategies.Methods. Thirty consecutive stroke patients from the local hospital were assessed clinically (including Barthel index and modified Rankin scores) at time of discharge and re-assessed 3 months after discharge in their homes by a trained field worker using a structured questionnaire.Results. Two-thirds of all families received no stroke educationbefore discharge. At discharge, 27 (90%) were either bed- or chair-bound. All patients were discharged into family care as there was no stroke rehabilitation facility available to the community. Of the 30 patients recruited, 20 (66.7%) were alive at 3 months, 9 (30%) had died, and 1 was lost to follow-up. At 3 months, 55% of the remaining cohort were independently mobile compared with 10% at discharge. Of the 20 surviving patients, 13 (65%) were visited by home-based carers. Only 45% reported taking aspirin at 3 months.Conclusions. The 3-month mortality rate was high. Most survivors improved functionally but were left with significant disability. Measures to improve family education and the level of home-based care can be introduced in a model of stroke care attempting to reduce carer strain and reduce the degree of functional disability in rural stroke patients
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