The enhanced volume source boundary point method for the calculation of acoustic radiation problem

The Volume Source Boundary Point Method(VSBPM) is greatly improved so that it will speed up the VSBPM‘s solution of the acoustic radiation problem caused by the vibrating body.The fundamental solution provided by Helmholtz equation is enforced in a weighted residual sense over a tetrahedron located on the normal line of the boundary node to replace the coefficient matrices of the system equation.Through the enhanced volume source boundary point analysis of various examples and the sound field of a vibrating rectangular box in a semi-anechoic chamber,it has revealed that the calculating speed of the EVSBPM is more than 10 times faster than that of the VSBPM while it workss on the aspects of its calculating precision and stability,adaptation to geometric shape of vibrating body as well as its ability to overcome the non-uniqueness problem.     

Can the states of the W-class be suitable for teleportation?

Entangled states of the W-class are considered as a quantum channel for teleportation of an entangled state and as well the state to be teleported via a multiparticle quantum channel. Using an introduced unitary transformation in the teleportation schemes based on the multiparticle Greenberger–Horne–Zeilinger channel it is found a set of protocols main feature of which is a collection of non-local recovering operators.     

Can mobile defects be the source of 1/f noise in a semiconductor?

We discuss two alternative approaches relating the occurrence of 1/f noise in semiconductors with fluctuations in the mobility of current carriers. In the first approach, 1/f noise is associated with fluctuations in scattering of the carriers by the acoustic phonons of the lattice. According to the second approach, the source of 1/f noise is fluctuations in the scattering cross section of mobile defects. Experimental data in favor of the first approach are analyzed. It is shown that, to explain the data in terms of the model of fluctuations in the scattering cross section of mobile defects, a new effect must exist. Namely, manufacturing a semiconductor with an increased degree of doping must result in a proportional decrease in the density of mobile defects that are responsible for the generation of 1/f noise. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 42, No. 6, pp. 590–594, June 1999.     

Can the Pruned-Enriched Method be Used for the Simulation of Fluids?

The flat histogram version of pruned and enriched Rosenbluth method (FLATPERM) is an effective Monte Carlo method for calculating densities of states of polymers on a lattice. In this paper we generalize this method to calculate the densities of states of off-lattice systems. To demonstrate the feasibility of the approach, we perform sample calculations for the Lennard-Jones fluids. The densities of states of Lennard-Jones fluids simulated by Pruned-enriched method, i.e., the generalization of FLATPERM, agree with the densities simulated by Wang-Landau method in the range of high potential energy. However the direct extension of FLATPERM fails at low energy and a useful extension still needs to be found.     

Damping of the localized surface plasmon polariton resonance of gold nanoparticles

We report on a strong damping of the localized surface plasmon polariton resonance of gold nanoparticles. The ultra-fast dephasing time of localized surface plasmon polariton resonances in gold nanoparticles was systematically studied as a function of the particle size at a fixed photon energy of h ν=1.85 eV. Dephasing times ranging from T₂^expT_{2}^{\mathrm{exp}} = 5.5 fs to 15.0 fs were extracted and an influence of the reduced dimensions was detected. We have identified two dominant damping mechanisms: the well-known surface scattering and, for the first time, band structure changes. We have quantified the influence of these band structure changes on the optical properties by determining the essential damping parameter A to be A ^exp=0.32 nm/fs.     

Direct laser-writing of dielectric-loaded surface plasmon–polariton waveguides for the visible and near infrared

We demonstrate flexible and low-cost fabrication of dielectric-loaded surface plasmon–polariton waveguides. The waveguide structures are fabricated by two-photon polymerization of commercially available, spin-coatable epoxy-based UV-lithographic resist on a metal covered glass slide. The excitation and guiding properties of the plasmonic waveguides are investigated in the far-field at a wavelength of 632.8 nm by imaging the leakage radiation from the waveguide modes. The optimum bending radius for right angle bends is measured to 6 μm providing a transmission of up to 70%. The functionality of more complex Y-splitters is demonstrated.     

Does the leakage radiation profile mirror the intensity profile of surface plasmon polaritons?: comment

We comment on a recent paper [Opt. Lett.35, 1944 (2010)].     

Can control banding be useful for the safe handling of nanomaterials? A systematic review

Control banding (CB) is a risk management strategy that has been used to identify and recommend exposure control measures to potentially hazardous substances for which toxicological information is limited. The application of CB and level of expertise required for implementation and management can differ depending on knowledge of the hazard potential, the likelihood of exposure, and the ability to verify the effectiveness of exposure control measures. A number of different strategies have been proposed for using CB in workplaces where exposure to engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) can occur. However, it is unclear if the use of CB can effectively reduce worker exposure to nanomaterials. A systematic review of studies was conducted to answer the question “can control banding be useful to ensure adequate controls for the safe handling of nanomaterials.” A variety of databases were searched to identify relevant studies pertaining to CB. Database search terms included ‘control,’ ‘hazard,’ ‘exposure,’ and ‘risk’ banding as well as the use of these terms in the context of nanotechnology or nanomaterials. Other potentially relevant studies were identified during the review of articles obtained in the systematic review process. Identification of studies and the extraction of data were independently conducted by the reviewers. Quality of the studies was assessed using the methodological index for nonrandomized studies. The quality of the evidence was evaluated using grading of recommendations assessment, development and evaluation (GRADE). A total of 235 records were identified in the database search in which 70 records were determined to be eligible for full-text review. Only two studies were identified that met the inclusion criteria. These studies evaluated the application of the CB Nanotool in workplaces where ENMs were being handled. A total of 32 different nanomaterial handling activities were evaluated in these studies by comparing the recommended exposure controls using CB to existing exposure controls previously recommended by an industrial hygienist. It was determined that the selection of exposure controls using CB were consistent with those recommended by an industrial hygienist for 19 out of 32 (59.4 %) job activities. A higher level of exposure control was recommended for nine out of 32 (28.1 %) job activities using CB, while four out of 32 (12.5 %) job activities had in-place exposure controls that were more stringent than those recommended using CB. After evaluation using GRADE, evidence indicated that the use of CB Nanotool can recommend exposure controls for many ENM job activities that would be consistent with those recommended by an experienced industrial hygienist. The use of CB for reducing exposures to ENMs has the potential to be an effective risk management strategy when information is limited on the health risk to the nanomaterial and/or there is an absence of an occupational exposure limit. However, there remains a lack of evidence to conclude that the use of CB can provide adequate exposure control in all work environments. Additional validation work is needed to provide more data to support the use of CB for the safe handling of ENMs.     

Enhancement and control of the Goos-H?nchen shift by nonlinear surface plasmon resonance in graphene

The Goos-H?nchen(GH) shift of graphene in the terahertz frequency range is investigated, and an extremely high GH shift is obtained owing to the excitation of surface plasmon resonance in graphene in the modified Otto configuration.It is shown that the GH shift can be positive or negative, and can be enhanced by introducing a nonlinearity in the substrate.Large and bistable GH shifts are demonstrated to be due to the hysteretic behavior of the reflectance phase. The bistable GH shift can be manipulated by changing the thickness of the air gap and the Fermi level or relaxation time of graphene.     

Operation of the CSNS Penning surface H− ion source

The accelerator complex of the China Spallation Neutron Source (CSNS) consists of a H⁻ linear accelerator (linac) and a rapid cycling synchrotron (RCS). The linac contains a Penning surface H⁻ ion source. The designed energy and the beam current of the source are 50 keV and 20 mA respectively, with a normalized root mean square (norm. rms.) emittance of 0.2π mm mrad. The manufactures and tests of the discharge chamber are in great progress. The construction of H⁻ ion source test stand has been completed, and the operation of the source is also in progress. Stable H⁻ ion beams with energy of 50 keV and current up to 50 mA are attained. Emittance measurement for the H⁻ beam is being prepared.

     

Can diffusion-weighted imaging be used as a reliable sequence in the detection of malignant pulmonary nodules and masses?

Recent developments in diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) make it possible to image malignant tumors to provide tissue contrast based on difference with the diffusion of water molecules among tissues, which can be measured by the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value. We aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of DWI for benign/malignant discrimination of pulmonary nodules/masses with a meta-analysis. The MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cancerlit and Cochrane Library database, from January 2001 to August 2011, were searched for studies evaluating the diagnostic accuracy of DWI for benign/malignant discrimination of pulmonary nodules. We determined sensitivities and specificities across studies, calculated positive and negative likelihood ratios (LRP and LRN), and constructed summary receiver operating characteristic SROC) curves. Across 10 studies (545 patients), there was no evidence of publication bias (P= .22, bias=−19.19). DWI had a pooled sensitivity of 0.84 (95% CI, 0.76–0.90) and a pooled specificity of 0.84 (95% CI, 0.64–0.94). Overall, LRP was 5.3 (95% CI, 2.1–13.0) and LRN was 0.19 (95% CI, 0.12–0.30). In patients with high pretest probabilities, DWI enabled confirmation of malignant pulmonary lesion; in patients with low pretest probabilities, DWI enabled exclusion of malignant pulmonary lesion. Worst-case-scenario (pretest probability, 50%) posttest probabilities were 84% and 16% for positive and negative DWI results, respectively. Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging can be used to differentiate malignant from benign pulmonary lesions. High-quality prospective studies regarding DWI in the evaluation of pulmonary nodules are still needed to be conducted.     

Can intrinsic vowel Fo be explained by source/tract coupling?

There is extensive evidence that in the same phonetic environment the voice fundamental frequency (Fo) of vowels varies directly with vowel "height." This Fo difference between vowels could be caused by acoustic interaction between the first vowel formant and the vibrating vocal folds. Since higher vowels have lower first formants than low vowels the acoustic interaction should be greatest for high vowels whose first formant frequencies are closer in frequency to Fo. Ten speakers were used to see if acoustic interaction could cause the Fo differences. The consonant [m] was recorded in the utterances [umu] and [ama]. Although the formant structure of [m] in [umu] and [ama] should not differ significantly, the Fo of each [m] allophone was significantly different. However, the Fo of each [m] allophone did not differ significantly from the Fo of the following vowel. These results did not support acoustic interaction. However, it is quite reasonable to conclude that the Fo variation of [m] was caused by coarticulatory anticipation of the tongue and jaw for the following vowel. Another experiment is offered in order to help explain the physical causes of intrinsic vowel Fo. In this experiment Fo lowering was found at the beginning of vowels following Arabic pharyngeal approximants. This finding indicates that the Fo of pharyngeal constricting vowels, e.g., [ae] and [a], might be lowered as a result of similar articulary movements, viz. tongue compression and active pharyngeal constriction.