Implications of minimal length scale on the statistical mechanics of ideal gas

Several alternative approaches to quantum gravity problem suggest the modification of the fundamental volume ω₀ of the accessible phase space for representative points. This modified fundamental volume has a novel momentum dependence. In this paper, we study the effects of this modification on the thermodynamics of an ideal gas within the micro-canonical ensemble and using the generalized uncertainty principle (GUP). Although the induced modifications are important only in quantum gravity era, possible experimental manifestation of these effects may provides strong support for underlying quantum gravity proposal.     

Integrated microthermoelectric cooler for microfluidic channels

Precise fluid temperature control in microfluidic channels is a requirement for many lab-on-a-chip and microreactor devices, especially in biotechnology where most processes are highly temperature sensitive. We demonstrate the concept of a microthermoelectric cooler integrated into a microfluidic channel in order to give rapid and localised fluid cooling. The key aspect of this concept is the use of a second imbedded microfluidic channel that is used as a miniature heat sink. An analytical thermal model has been derived that couples thermoelectric effects with fluid heat-transfer rates from both the hot and cold connections. Using this model, the effect on cooling performance of varying the thermal resistance between the hot and cold connections and the fluid has been quantified, as well as the effect of substrate thermal conductivity. If the substrate thermal conductivity is too high, heat leakage renders the thermoelectric cooler ineffective. The optimum electrical current for cooling has been shown to be a function of the thermal resistance of the heat sink. For thermoelectric coolers there is competition between temperature reduction and cooling power. Using this fact, based on the final fluid temperature required, we have calculated the maximum flow rate that will achieve this. Finally, a prototype integrated microthermoelectric cooler has been fabricated and tested.     

In situ Raman spectroscopy of H2 interaction with WO3 films

It is well known that WO(3) interacts efficiently with H(2) gas in the presence of noble metals (such as Pd, Pt and Au) at elevated temperatures, changing its optical behaviors; and that its crystallinity plays an important role in these interactions. For the first time, we investigated the in situ Raman spectra changes of WO(3) films of different crystal phases, while incorporating Pd catalysts, at elevated temperatures in the presence of H(2). The Pd/WO(3) films were prepared using RF sputtering and subsequently annealed at 300, 400 and 500 °C in air in order to alter the dominant crystal phase. The films were then characterized using SEM, XRD, XPS, and both UV-VIS and Raman spectroscopy. In order to fundamentally study the process, the measurements were conducted when films were interacting with 1% H(2) in synthetic air at elevated sample temperatures (20, 60, 100 and 140 °C). We suggest that the changes of Raman spectra under such conditions to be mainly a function of the crystal phase, transforming from monoclinic to a mix phase of monoclinic and orthorhombic achieved via increasing the annealing temperature. The as-deposited sample consistently shows similar Raman spectra responses at different operating conditions upon H(2) exposure. However, increasing the annealing temperature to 500 °C tunes the optimum H(2) response operating temperature to 60 °C.     

Cosmological dynamics with modified induced gravity on the normal DGP branch

In this Letter we investigate cosmological dynamics on the normal branch of a DGP-inspired scenario within a phase space approach where induced gravity is modified in the spirit of f(R)$f(R)$-theories. We apply the dynamical system analysis to achieve the stable solutions of the scenario in the normal DGP branch. Firstly, we consider a general form of the modified induced gravity and we show that there is a standard de Sitter point in phase space of the model. Then we prove that this point is stable attractor only for those f(R)$f(R)$ functions that account for late-time cosmic speed-up.     

Can home-owners benefit from stochastic programming models? A study of mortgage choice in Denmark

The Danish mortgage market is large and sophisticated. However, most Danish mortgage banks advise private home-owners based on simple, if sensible, rules of thumb. In recent years a number of papers (from Nielsen and Poulsen in J Econ Dyn Control 28:1267–1289, 2004 over Rasmussen and Zenios in J Risk 10:1–18, 2007 to Pedersen et al. in Ann Oper Res, 2013) have suggested a model-based, stochastic programming approach to mortgage choice. This paper gives an empirical comparison of performance over the period 2000–2010 of the rules of thumb to the model-based strategies. While the rules of thumb slightly outperform a passive benchmark on average and are less risky than pure adjustable rate loans, we find considerable gains from using the model-based strategies. Using a strategy that minimizes conditional-value-at-risk lowers average effective yearly interest rate over a 10-year horizon by 0.3–0.9 %-points (depending on the borrower’s level of conservatism) compared to the rules of thumb without increasing the risk. The answer to the question in the title is thus affirmative.     

Polyphenol-Induced Adhesive Liquid Metal Inks for Substrate-Independent Direct Pen Writing

Surface patterning of liquid metals (LMs) is a key processing step for LM-based functional systems. Current patterning methods are substrate specific and largely suffer from undesired imperfections—restricting their widespread applications. Inspired by the universal catechol adhesion chemistry observed in nature, LM inks stabilized by the assembly of a naturally abundant polyphenol, tannic acid, has been developed. The intrinsic adhesive properties of tannic acid containing multiple catechol/gallol groups, allow the inks to be applied to a variety of substrates ranging from flexible to rigid, metallic to plastics and flat to curved, even using a ballpoint pen. This method can be further extended from hand-written texts to complex conductive patterns using an automated setup. In addition, capacitive touch and hazardous heavy metal ion sensors have been patterned, leveraging from the synergistic combination of polyphenols and LMs. Overall, this strategy provides a unique platform to manipulate LMs from hand-written pattern to complex designs onto the substrate of choice, that has remained challenging to achieve otherwise.     

Nonlinear Least Squares in ℝ N

Recent research and new paradigms in mathematics, engineering, and science assume nonlinear signal models of the form ?=∪ _i∈I V _i consisting of a union of subspaces V _i instead of a single subspace ?=V. These models have been used in sampling and reconstruction of signals with finite rate of innovation, the Generalized Principle Component Analysis and the subspace segmentation problem in computer vision, and problems related to sparsity, compressed sensing, and dictionary design. In this paper, we develop an algorithm that searches for the best nonlinear model of the form ?=∪ _i=1 ^l V _i ?? ^N that is optimally compatible with a set of observations ?={f ₁,…,f _m }?? ^N . When l=1 this becomes the classical least squares optimization. Thus, this problem is a nonlinear version of the least squares problem. We test our algorithm on synthetic data as well as images.