Two-dimensional ranking of Wikipedia articles

The Library of Babel, described by Jorge Luis Borges, stores an enormous amount of information. The Library exists ab aeterno. Wikipedia, a free online encyclopaedia, becomes a modern analogue of such a Library. Information retrieval and ranking of Wikipedia articles become the challenge of modern society. While PageRank highlights very well known nodes with many ingoing links, CheiRank highlights very communicative nodes with many outgoing links. In this way the ranking becomes two-dimensional. Using CheiRank and PageRank we analyze the properties of two-dimensional ranking of all Wikipedia English articles and show that it gives their reliable classification with rich and nontrivial features. Detailed studies are done for countries, universities, personalities, physicists, chess players, Dow-Jones companies and other categories.     

Wikipedia mining of hidden links between political leaders

We describe a new method of reduced Google matrix which allows to establish direct andhidden links between a subset of nodes of a large directed network. This approach usesparallels with quantum scattering theory, developed for processes in nuclear andmesoscopic physics and quantum chaos. The method is applied to the Wikipedia networks indifferent language editions analyzing several groups of political leaders of USA, UK,Germany, France, Russia and G20. We demonstrate that this approach allows to recoverreliably direct and hidden links among political leaders. We argue that the reduced Googlematrix method can form the mathematical basis for studies in social and political sciencesanalyzing Leader-Members eXchange (LMX).     

Poisson statistics of PageRank probabilities of Twitter and Wikipedia networks

We use the methods of quantum chaos and Random Matrix Theory for analysis of statistical fluctuations of PageRank probabilities in directed networks. In this approach the effective energy levels are given by a logarithm of PageRank probability at a given node. After the standard energy level unfolding procedure we establish that the nearest spacing distribution of PageRank probabilities is described by the Poisson law typical for integrable quantum systems. Our studies are done for the Twitter network and three networks of Wikipedia editions in English, French and German. We argue that due to absence of level repulsion the PageRank order of nearby nodes can be easily interchanged. The obtained Poisson law implies that the nearby PageRank probabilities fluctuate as random independent variables.     

Grating-coupled external-cavity short-wavelength (λ ≈ 3.9 μm) InGaAs/InAlAs/AlAs quantum-cascade lasers

In this work, the tunability properties of short-wavelength (λ ~ 3.9 μm) quantum-cascade lasers (QCLs) were studied, which is a first in the world at such short wavelengths. The experimental setup of an external cavity (EC) QCL was arranged in a Littrow configuration. A tuning range over 75 cm^?1 has been achieved by using an uncoated 23 μm stripe-width QCL at room temperature. A single-mode operation could be obtained at 2527 and 2544 cm^?1 at different grating angles by using an anti-reflection (AR) coated 23 μm ridge. A 5 μm stripe-width QCL without an AR coating could be tuned over 160 cm^?1.     

A new multi-anvil press employing six independently acting 8 MN hydraulic rams

A new large volume multi-anvil system which employs six independently acting hydraulic rams with independent oil pressurization systems has been developed for high pressure and temperature experiments. The six 8 MN hydraulic rams approach at right angles inside a composite steel plate frame and can each advance a square faceted anvil of either hardened steel or tungsten carbide. The position of each anvil can be measured relative to the frame of the press to a precision of 0.1 μ m. The press is designed to perform both deformation experiments using cubic ceramic pressure media and experiments employing eight inner cubic anvils to compress an octahedral pressure medium. During compression, the position of each anvil relative to the press frame can be precisely measured and controlled independently, thus ensuring a high level of symmetry in the compressive stress environment. The highly cubic compressive regime provides an optimal environment for the use of inner sintered diamond cubic anvils, which can potentially obtain pressures above 50 GPa. The large loading capacity (24 MN) allows larger cubic pressure media to be used at higher pressures than conventional systems.     

Low-temperature sealed tube combustion of gaseous,liquid and solid organic compounds for 13C/12C and 14C analysis

A new, low-temperature sealed tube technique for combustion of organic carbon prior to subsequent off-line isotope analysis is proposed. Complete oxidation is achieved with potassium peroxodisulfate and silver permanganate as oxidants at temperatures not exceeding 500 °C. The combustion of gaseous (methane), solid (cane sugar, vanilla, N-thiazolyl-2-sulfamide, ascorbic acid, phenanthrene, thiourea, polyethylenefilm, tetrafluoropolyethylene, polyetheretherketone, graphite, and Suwannee River Fulvic Acid), and liquid (tetrachloroethene, toluene, and oil) model compounds and international standards was tested. A 24 h combustion at 500 °C was sufficient for complete oxidation in all cases. The time required for complete oxidation of Suwannee River Fulvic Acid, typical of refractory freshwater dissolved organic carbon, as a function of combustion temperature was 2 h at 500 °C, 6 h at 400 °C, and 24 h at 300 °C. Preparation of saline solution parallels of cane sugar, vanilla, N-thiazolyl-2-sulfanilamide, and ascorbic acid gave consistent results. For reproducible δ¹³C analyses using a Thermoquest MAT 252 MS, a minimum of 5 µg C had to be combusted. Reliable ¹⁴C results, measured at an accelerator mass spectrometer facility, were obtained from coal and from cane sugar combusted for 24 h at 500 °C by the proposed method.     

Efficient speckle-free laser marking using a spatial light modulator

An approach for laser marking surfaces using a liquid–crystal-based spatial light modulator (LC-SLM) for beam patterning and manipulation is presented, designed to avoid the speckle interference problem which is a typical drawback of current SLM-based laser marking processes. In our approach, the LC-SLM is used to generate complex two-dimensional micropatterns (e.g., 20 × 20 datamatrices) with overall dimensions of < 320 by 320 μm. The micropatterns are generated in a series of 16 steps, using a Fresnel zone lens (FZL) combined with a computer-generated hologram (CGH); for each step the whole kinoform (FZL + CGH) is spatially shifted off-axis by a different amount of pixels to build-up the required pattern. In comparison with other SLM-based laser marking approaches already reported in the literature, our method not only eliminates (or at least significantly reduces) unwanted speckle interference but also reduces the laser power required for marking.     

Analysis of world terror networks from the reduced Google matrix of Wikipedia

We apply the reduced Google matrix method to analyze interactions between 95 terrorist groups and determine their relationships and influence on 64 world countries. This is done on the basis of the Google matrix of the English Wikipedia (2017) composed of 5 416 537 articles which accumulate a great part of global human knowledge. The reduced Google matrix takes into account the direct and hidden links between a selection of 159 nodes (articles) appearing due to all paths of a random surfer moving over the whole network. As a result we obtain the network structure of terrorist groups and their relations with selected countries including hidden indirect links. Using the sensitivity of PageRank to a weight variation of specific links we determine the geopolitical sensitivity and influence of specific terrorist groups on world countries. The world maps of the sensitivity of various countries to influence of specific terrorist groups are obtained. We argue that this approach can find useful application for more extensive and detailed data bases analysis.     

Photonic generation of high-purity 60 GHz millimeter-wave signal requiring only 10 GHz radio frequency local oscillator

A novel approach to generate 60 GHz millimeter-wave from a 10 GHz radio frequency signal using an integrated nested DD-MZM without optical filter is proposed and demonstrated. The simulation results show that the generated frequency sextupling optical mm-wave has high purity with an OSSR exceeding 29 dB and a RFSSR of 25 dB, which is consistent with the theoretical analysis. Besides, a RoF link model is established to investigate the transmission performance. The eye diagram keeps clear even when the optical mm-wave is transmitted over 60 km and the power penalty is about 0.4 dB after fiber transmission of 50 km.     

Narrow band X-ray emission in the water-window spectral region from a laser heated gold copper mix-<Emphasis Type="Italic">Z</Emphasis> plasma

A laser plasma X-ray source of narrow spectral range in the water-window region, is reported using a 50–50 (atomic fraction) mixture of gold-copper mix-Z planar target. Plasma was produced using the second harmonic beam of an Nd:glass laser focused to an intensity ～10¹³ W/cm² on the target. The spectrum of the plasma radiation transmitted through a free-standing 0.4 μm aluminium/0.9 μm vanadium X-ray filter foil was measured to lie in the narrow-band of 24–26 Å. This provides a debris-free X-ray dose of 2–3 mJ/sr which can be used for single shot X-ray imaging of live biological samples.     

High-power master-oscillator power-amplifier with optical vortex output

A high-power master-oscillator power-amplifier with optical vortex output is reported. The master oscillator for an optical vortex seed beam is a simple two-mirror Nd:YAG laser using a fiber-based pump beam conditioning scheme. The seed is amplified in a double-clad multimode fiber amplifier end-pumped by a high-power diode laser at 975 nm yielding 10.7 W of continuous-wave output at 1064 nm in the first-order Laguerre–Gaussian beam with M ² ≈ 2.11 for an absorbed pump power of 17.5 W, corresponding to a slope efficiency of ~59 %. The ring-shaped intensity profile and the wave front handedness of the seed beam were well preserved in the fiber amplifier. The prospects of power scaling via this approach are discussed.     

Adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue using high surface area titanate nanotubes (TNT) synthesized via hydrothermal method

Removal of methylene blue (MB) via adsorption and photocatalysis using titanate nanotubes (TNTs) with different surface areas were investigated and compared to commercial titanium dioxide (TiO₂) P25 Degussa nanoparticles. The TNTs with surface area ranging from 20 m²/g to 200 m²/g were synthesized via hydrothermal method with different reaction times. TEM imaging confirmed the tubular structure of TNT while XRD spectra indicated all TNTs exhibited anatase crystallinity. Batch adsorption rate showed linearity with surface properties of TNTs, where materials with higher surface area showed higher adsorption rate. The highest MB adsorption (70%) was achieved by TNT24 in 60 min whereas commercial TiO₂ exhibited the lowest adsorption of only 10% after 240 min. Adsorption isotherm studies indicated that adsorption using TNT is better fitted into Langmuir adsorption isotherm than Freundlich isotherm model. Furthermore, TNT24 was able to perform up to 90% removal of MB within 120 min, demonstrating performance that is 2-fold better compared to commercial TiO₂. The high surface area and surface Bronsted acidity are the main reasons for the improvement in MB removal performance exhibited by TNT24. The improvement in surface acidity enhanced the adsorption properties of all the nanotubes prepared in this study.     

Fabrication of nanopatterned sapphire substrates by annealing of patterned Al thin films by Laser Interference Lithography

Nanopatterned sapphire substrates were fabricated by annealing of patterned Al thin films. Square-patterned Al thin films with the diagonal length of 600 nm, period of 1 um and height of ～200 nm were obtained by the Laser Interference Lithography and Reactive Ion Etching. Patterned Al thin films were subsequently subjected to dual stage annealing due to the melting temperature of Al thin films (660 ^°C). The first comprised a low temperature oxidation anneal. The hillocks formation on Al thin films was minimized with an oxidation annealing at 450 ^°C for 24 h. The little change in the morphology of patterned Al thin films was observed at 450 ^°C for 24 h. This was followed by a high temperature annealing to induce growth of the underlying sapphire single crystal to consume the oxide layer. The SEM results show the patterns were retained on sapphire substrates after high temperature annealing at less than 1200 ^°C. The XRD and Raman results reveal that the orientation of island patterns by dual stage annealing of patterned Al thin films for 24 h at 450 ^°C, and 1 h at 1000 ^°C, was the same as that of the sapphire (0001) substrates.     

Effect of heat treatment on the mechanical and microstructural characterization of Mg-AZ91E/TiC composites

Mg-AZ91E/TiC_p composite was fabricated using a spontaneous infiltration technique at 950 °C under an argon atmosphere. The composites produced have 37 vol.% of metal matrix and 63 vol.% of TiC-like reinforcement. The obtained composites were subsequently solution heat-treated at 413 °C during 24 h, cold water quenched, and subsequently artificially aged at 168 and 216 °C during 16 h in an argon atmosphere. Effect of heat treatment on the microstructure and mechanical properties was evaluated. Microstructural characterization was analyzed using different techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Interface between matrix and reinforcement was examined using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and mechanical properties were evaluated by measuring the elastic modulus and hardness. Mg, TiC, Al, and Mg₁₇Al₁₂ phases through XRD were detected. Meanwhile, using TEM analysis in heat-treated composites MgAl₂O₄, MgO, and Al₂O₃ were identified. The as-fabricated composite have elastic modulus and hardness of 162 GPa and 316 Hv, respectively. After solution heat treatment and aging at 168 °C during 12 h, the composites reaches values of 178 GPa and 362 Hv for the elastic modulus and hardness, respectively. Time of aging was correlated with measures of elastic modulus and hardness.     

Deposition of colloidal gold nanoparticles by fully pulsed-voltage-controlled electrohydrodynamic atomisation

Pulsed electrohydrodynamic atomisation (EHDA) of aqueous 10 nm gold colloid in a full voltage-controlled form was investigated. By using 4 µm and 20 μm nozzles, electrified fluid jet was emitted and Au nanoparticles in the jet were deposited onto a silicon substrate. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that different morphology of the artifact was formed by using different voltages pulses. Particularly, island-liked artifact down to 10 μm can be produced regularly in the case of cone-jet mode by low voltage pulse. Our results demonstrate pulsed EHDA is a promising approach in creating micro-patterns of colloid-based nanomaterials.     

Ab initio calculations of optical properties of silver clusters: cross-over from molecular to nanoscale behavior

Electronic and optical properties of silver clusters were calculated using two different ab initio approaches: (1) based on all-electron full-potential linearized-augmented plane-wave method and (2) local basis function pseudopotential approach. Agreement is found between the two methods for small and intermediate sized clusters for which the former method is limited due to its all-electron formulation. The latter, due to non-periodic boundary conditions, is the more natural approach to simulate small clusters. The effect of cluster size is then explored using the local basis function approach. We find that as the cluster size increases, the electronic structure undergoes a transition from molecular behavior to nanoparticle behavior at a cluster size of 140 atoms (diameter ~1.7 nm). Above this cluster size the step-like electronic structure, evident as several features in the imaginary part of the polarizability of all clusters smaller than Ag₁₄₇, gives way to a dominant plasmon peak localized at wavelengths 350 nm ≤ λ ≤ 600 nm. It is, thus, at this length-scale that the conduction electrons’ collective oscillations that are responsible for plasmonic resonances begin to dominate the opto-electronic properties of silver nanoclusters.     

Topological superfluid in a fermionic bilayer optical lattice

In this paper, a topological superfluid phase with Chern number ?? = ±1, possessing gapless edge states and non-Abelian anyonsis designed in a ?? = ±1 topological insulator proximity to ans-wave superfluid on an optical lattice with the effective gauge fieldand layer-dependent Zeeman field coupled to ultracold fermionic atoms’ pseudo spin. Wealso study its topological properties and calculate the phase stiffness by using therandom-phase-approximation approach. Finally we derive the temperature of theKosterlitz-Thouless transition by means of renormalized group theory. Owning to theexistence of non-Abelian anyons, this ?? = ±1 topological superfluid may be a possible candidate fortopological quantum computation.     

High-speed planar thermometry and velocimetry using thermographic phosphor particles

Simultaneous gas-phase temperature and velocity imaging using micrometer-size thermographic phosphor particles seeded into the flow is demonstrated at a 3 kHz repetition rate. The velocity field is measured using a standard particle image velocimetry approach, while the temperature is determined from the temperature sensitive phosphorescence emission of the particles following excitation at 355 nm. Since the particles are very small, they rapidly assume the temperature and velocity of the surrounding gas. A single shot temperature precision of better than 5 % was achieved at 500 K. Time-resolved measurements in the wake of a heated cylinder are presented, demonstrating the utility of these imaging diagnostics to observe transient, coupled heat and mass transfer phenomena.     

Synthesis and characterization of nitrogen-doped graphene hollow spheres as electrode material for supercapacitors

Recently, the rapid development of graphene industry in the world, especially in China, provides more opportunities for the further extension of the application field of graphene-based materials. Graphene has also been considered as a promising candidate for use in supercapacitors. Here, nitrogen-doped graphene hollow spheres (NGHS) have been successfully synthesized by using industrialized and pre-processed graphene oxide (GO) as raw material, SiO₂ spheres as hard templates, and urea as reducing-doping agents. The results demonstrate that the content and pretreatment of GO sheets have important effect on the uniform spherical morphologies of the obtained samples. Industrialized GO and low-cost urea are used to prepare graphene hollow spheres, which can be a promising route to achieve mass production of NGHS. The obtained NGHS have a cavity of about 270 nm, specific surface area of 402.9 m² g^?1, ultrathin porous shells of 2.8 nm, and nitrogen content of 6.9 at.%. As electrode material for supercapacitors, the NGHS exhibit a specific capacitance of 159 F g^?1 at a current density of 1 A g^?1 in 6 M KOH aqueous electrolyte. Moreover, the NGHS exhibit superior cycling stability with 99.24% capacitive retention after 5000 charge/discharge cycles at a current density of 5 A g^?1.     

Measurement of the pH value in pork meat early postmortem by Raman spectroscopy

The pH of a muscle is an accepted parameter to identify normal and deviating meat qualities. In this work, Raman spectroscopy is shown to be suitable for the non-invasive measurement of the early postmortem pH of meat. Raman spectra of ten pork semimembranosus muscles were recorded with a portable handheld device 0.5–24 h postmortem. The spectra were correlated with pH and lactate kinetics measured in parallel. Seven of the muscles were normal, two exhibited accelerated glycolysis and one showed absence of acidification. The pH decline with time could be calculated from the Raman spectra with the Henderson–Hasselbalch equation using only two signals of phosphate vibrations at 980 and 1,080 cm^?1 with a close correlation for each muscle, but larger variations between animals. More robust and better correlations for all muscles were obtained with a linear model based on 11 signals from lactate, lactic acid, phosphate, a carbonyl band and nucleotides resulting in R ² = 0.78 and RMSECV = 0.2 or a partial least-square model using the complete spectrum (R ² = 0.94 and RMSECV = 0.2). These results show the potential of Raman spectroscopy for an online detection of the pH and thus meat qualities during meat processing.