Betti numbers of Springer fibers in type A

We determine the Betti numbers of the Springer fibers in type A. To do this, we construct a cell decomposition of the Springer fibers. The codimension of the cells is given by an analogue of the Coxeter length. This makes our cell decomposition well suited for the calculation of Betti numbers.     

High-fidelity readout of trapped-ion qubits

We demonstrate single-shot qubit readout with a fidelity sufficient for fault-tolerant quantum computation. For an optical qubit stored in 40Ca+ we achieve 99.991(1)% average readout fidelity in 10(6) trials, using time-resolved photon counting. An adaptive measurement technique allows 99.99% fidelity to be reached in 145 micros average detection time. For 43Ca+, we propose and implement an optical pumping scheme to transfer a long-lived hyperfine qubit to the optical qubit, capable of a theoretical fidelity of 99.95% in 10 micros. We achieve 99.87(4)% transfer fidelity and 99.77(3)% net readout fidelity.     

Number theoretic example of scale-free topology inducing self-organized criticality

In this Letter we present a general mechanism by which simple dynamics running on networks become self-organized critical for scale-free topologies. We illustrate this mechanism with a simple arithmetic model of division between integers, the division model. This is the simplest self-organized critical model advanced so far, and in this sense it may help to elucidate the mechanism of self-organization to criticality. Its simplicity allows analytical tractability, characterizing several scaling relations. Furthermore, its mathematical nature brings about interesting connections between statistical physics and number theoretical concepts. We show how this model can be understood as a self-organized stochastic process embedded on a network, where the onset of criticality is induced by the topology.     

Effect of A Sun Protection Intervention on the Immune Response to Measles Booster Vaccination in Infants in Rural South Africa

The incidence of many serious childhood infections can be reduced by vaccination. High sun exposure at the time of vaccination has been associated with a reduced antigen‐specific immune response. We hypothesized that providing sun protection advice and equipment to mothers of children who were waiting to be vaccinated would result in a more robust immunization response. We conducted a pilot study in 2015/2016 (data analyzed in 2017–2018) among 98 Black African children (~18 months of age) receiving the booster measles vaccination at two clinics in South Africa. Clinics were randomized to receive (or not) sun protection advice and equipment. We recorded demographic information on children and mothers and data on the child's usual sun exposure. At approximately 4 weeks’ postmeasles vaccination, we measured measles immunoglobulin G levels in children. All children with blood results (n = 87, 89%) across both groups had antibody titers higher than 200 mIU mL^?1 which was considered the protective antibody concentration. There was no statistically significant difference in titers between groups: geometric difference in mean titers 1.13 mIU mL^?1 (95% CI 0.85, 1.51; P = 0.39) and 1.38 mIU mL^?1 (95% CI 0.90, 2.11, P = 0.14) for unadjusted and adjusted analyses, respectively. This study demonstrated that a sun protection intervention study could be performed in a developing‐world pediatric vaccination setting. Although the sun protection intervention around the time of vaccination was not associated with a higher antibody level, given the potential importance of such an effect, a larger study should be considered.     

Compactness analysis for free boundary minimal hypersurfaces

We investigate compactness phenomena involving free boundary minimal hypersurfaces in Riemannian manifolds of dimension less than eight. We provide natural geometric conditions that ensure strong one-sheeted graphical subsequential convergence, discuss the limit behaviour when multi-sheeted convergence happens and derive various consequences in terms of finiteness and topological control.     

Lower complexity bounds for positive contactomorphisms

Let S*Q be the spherization of a closed connected manifold of dimension at least two. Consider a contactomorphism φ that can be reached by a contact isotopy that is everywhere positively transverse to the contact structure. In other words, φ is the time-1-map of a time-dependent Reeb flow. We show that the volume growth of φ is bounded from below by the topological complexity of the loop space of Q. Denote by ΩQ₀(q) the component of the based loop space that contains the constant loop.     

Superimposed ultrasonic oscillations in compression tests of aluminium

The application of ultrasonics in metal forming applications has been shown to reduce the forming load significantly in many research studies. The load reduction has been related to the stress superposition effect, rise in temperature and change in the friction condition between the specimen and die interfaces. This paper reports an investigation into the effects of superimposed ultrasonic oscillation of the die in compression tests on aluminium specimens. In particular, a finite element model is developed to simulate uniaxial compression and to model the effects of a change in the friction boundary condition when ultrasonic excitation is applied to the lower platen. The model predictions of the stress-strain relationship can be compared with test data to provide some insights into the effects of the interfacial condition. The paper shows how the analysis of the test data, combined with finite element models of ultrasonic compression test simulations, allows some initial conclusions to be drawn regarding the influence of the interfacial friction during ultrasonic compression.     

Integral transform solution of random coupled parabolic partial differential models

Random coupled parabolic partial differential models are solved numerically using random cosine Fourier transform together with non-Gaussian random numerical integration that captures the highly oscillatory behaviour of the involved integrands. Sufficient condition of spectral type imposed on the random matrices of the system is given so that the approximated stochastic process solution and its statistical moments are numerically convergent. Numerical experiments illustrate the results.     

Development of composites of UHMWPE with low amounts of jute fiber

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - The aim of the present study was to prepare and characterize composites of ultra-high-molar mass polyethylene reinforced with varied amounts of jute...