The State and Fate of Himalayan Glaciers

Himalayan glaciers are a focus of public and scientific debate. Prevailing uncertainties are of major concern because some projections of their future have serious implications for water resources. Most Himalayan glaciers are losing mass at rates similar to glaciers elsewhere, except for emerging indications of stability or mass gain in the Karakoram. A poor understanding of the processes affecting them, combined with the diversity of climatic conditions and the extremes of topographical relief within the region, makes projections speculative. Nevertheless, it is unlikely that dramatic changes in total runoff will occur soon, although continuing shrinkage outside the Karakoram will increase the seasonality of runoff, affect irrigation and hydropower, and alter hazards.

Bose-Hubbard model in a strong effective magnetic field: Emergence of a chiral Mott insulator ground state

Motivated by experiments on Josephson junction arrays, and cold atoms in an optical lattice in a synthetic magnetic field, we study the ``fully frustrated'' Bose-Hubbard model with half a magnetic flux quantum per plaquette. We obtain the phase diagram of this model on a two-leg ladder at integer filling via the density matrix renormalization group approach, complemented by Monte Carlo simulations on an effective classical XY model. The ground state at intermediate correlations is consistently shown to be a chiral Mott insulator (CMI) with a gap to all excitations and staggered loop currents which spontaneously break time-reversal symmetry. We characterize the CMI state as a vortex supersolid or an indirect exciton condensate, and discuss various experimental implications.

Combining adiabatic and Hartmann-Hahn cross-polarization for sensitivity enhancement in solid state separated local field 2D-NMR experiments of partially ordered systems

In this Letter, we examine magnetization in double- and zero-quantum reservoirs of an ensemble of spin-1/2 nuclei and describe their role in determining the sensitivity of a class of separated local field NMR experiments based on Hartmann-Hahn cross-polarization. We observe that for the liquid crystal system studied, a large dilute spin-polarization, obtained initially by the use of adiabatic cross-polarization, can enhance the sensitivity of the above experiment. The signal enhancement factors, however, are found to vary and depend on the local dynamics. The experimental results have been utilized to obtain the local order-parameters of the system. (C) 2012 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.

Tuning the magnetic ground state in LixNi(2-x)O2

The experimental determination of the magnetic ground state of triangular lattice anti-ferromagnet LiNiO2 is an intriguing problem as the system is prone to be Li deficient. We have been successful in preparing nearly stoichiometric LiNiO2 showing an anti-ferromagnetic ground state with an ordering temperature similar to 12 K. As the Li deficiency increases the sample exhibits spin glass behavior evidenced by a shift in the spin glass freezing temperature as a function of frequency in the ac susceptibility studies. As the Li deficiency crosses a critical limit, the sample becomes ferromagnetic in nature. We are able to tune the ferromagnetic transition temperature up to 240 K by varying the Li content. Finally, we have constructed a magnetic phase diagram. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. doi:10.1063/1.3675997]

A study on seismicity and seismic hazard for Karnataka State

This paper presents a detailed study on the seismic pattern of the state of Karnataka and also quantifies the seismic hazard for the entire state. In the present work, historical and instrumental seismicity data for Karnataka (within 300 km from Karnataka political boundary) were compiled and hazard analysis was done based on this data. Geographically, Karnataka forms a part of peninsular India which is tectonically identified as an intraplate region of Indian plate. Due to the convergent movement of the Indian plate with the Eurasian plate, movements are occurring along major intraplate faults resulting in seismic activity of the region and hence the hazard assessment of this region is very important. Apart from referring to seismotectonic atlas for identifying faults and fractures, major lineaments in the study area were also mapped using satellite data. The earthquake events reported by various national and international agencies were collected until 2009. Declustering of earthquake events was done to remove foreshocks and aftershocks. Seismic hazard analysis was done for the state of Karnataka using both deterministic and probabilistic approaches incorporating logic tree methodology. The peak ground acceleration (PGA) at rock level was evaluated for the entire state considering a grid size of 0.05A degrees x 0.05A degrees. The attenuation relations proposed for stable continental shield region were used in evaluating the seismic hazard with appropriate weightage factors. Response spectra at rock level for important Tier II cities and Bangalore were evaluated. The contour maps showing the spatial variation of PGA values at bedrock are presented in this work.

Synchronization of globally coupled two-state stochastic oscillators with a state-dependent refractory period

We present a model of identical coupled two-state stochastic units, each of which in isolation is governed by a fixed refractory period. The nonlinear coupling between units directly affects the refractory period, which now depends on the global state of the system and can therefore itself become time dependent. At weak coupling the array settles into a quiescent stationary state. Increasing coupling strength leads to a saddle node bifurcation, beyond which the quiescent state coexists with a stable limit cycle of nonlinear coherent oscillations. We explicitly determine the critical coupling constant for this transition.

Singlet-state creation and universal quantum computation in NMR using a genetic algorithm

The experimental implementation of a quantum algorithm requires the decomposition of unitary operators. Here we treat unitary-operator decomposition as an optimization problem, and use a genetic algorithm-a global-optimization method inspired by nature's evolutionary process-for operator decomposition. We apply this method to NMR quantum information processing, and find a probabilistic way of performing universal quantum computation using global hard pulses. We also demonstrate the efficient creation of the singlet state (a special type of Bell state) directly from thermal equilibrium, using an optimum sequence of pulses. © 2012 American Physical Society.

Singlet-state creation and universal quantum computation in NMR using a genetic algorithm

The experimental implementation of a quantum algorithm requires the decomposition of unitary operators. Here we treat unitary-operator decomposition as an optimization problem, and use a genetic algorithm-a global-optimization method inspired by nature's evolutionary process-for operator decomposition. We apply this method to NMR quantum information processing, and find a probabilistic way of performing universal quantum computation using global hard pulses. We also demonstrate the efficient creation of the singlet state (a special type of Bell state) directly from thermal equilibrium, using an optimum sequence of pulses.

High resolution methyl selective C-13-NMR of proteins in solution and solid state

New C-13-detected NMR experiments have been devised for molecules in solution and solid state, which provide chemical shift correlations of methyl groups with high resolution, selectivity and sensitivity. The experiments achieve selective methyl detection by exploiting the one bond J-coupling between the C-13-methyl nucleus and its directly attached C-13 spin in a molecule. In proteins such correlations edit the C-13-resonances of different methyl containing residues into distinct spectral regions yielding a high resolution spectrum. This has a range of applications as exemplified for different systems such as large proteins, intrinsically disordered polypeptides and proteins with a paramagnetic centre.

State Dependent Attempt Rate modeling of single cell IEEE 802.11 WLANs with homogeneous nodes and Poisson packet arrivals

We study a State Dependent Attempt Rate (SDAR) approximation to model M queues (one queue per node) served by the Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance (CSMA/CA) protocol as standardized in the IEEE 802.11 Distributed Coordination Function (DCF). The approximation is that, when n of the M queues are non-empty, the (transmission) attempt probability of each of the n non-empty nodes is given by the long-term (transmission) attempt probability of n saturated nodes. With the arrival of packets into the M queues according to independent Poisson processes, the SDAR approximation reduces a single cell with non-saturated nodes to a Markovian coupled queueing system. We provide a sufficient condition under which the joint queue length Markov chain is positive recurrent. For the symmetric case of equal arrival rates and finite and equal buffers, we develop an iterative method which leads to accurate predictions for important performance measures such as collision probability, throughput and mean packet delay. We replace the MAC layer with the SDAR model of contention by modifying the NS-2 source code pertaining to the MAC layer, keeping all other layers unchanged. By this model-based simulation technique at the MAC layer, we achieve speed-ups (w.r.t. MAC layer operations) up to 5.4. Through extensive model-based simulations and numerical results, we show that the SDAR model is an accurate model for the DCF MAC protocol in single cells. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Nonlinear dynamic state estimation in instrumented structures with conditionally linear Gaussian substructures

Many problems of state estimation in structural dynamics permit a partitioning of system states into nonlinear and conditionally linear substructures. This enables a part of the problem to be solved exactly, using the Kalman filter, and the remainder using Monte Carlo simulations. The present study develops an algorithm that combines sequential importance sampling based particle filtering with Kalman filtering to a fairly general form of process equations and demonstrates the application of a substructuring scheme to problems of hidden state estimation in structures with local nonlinearities, response sensitivity model updating in nonlinear systems, and characterization of residual displacements in instrumented inelastic structures. The paper also theoretically demonstrates that the sampling variance associated with the substructuring scheme used does not exceed the sampling variance corresponding to the Monte Carlo filtering without substructuring. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Catalysis of tRNA Aminoacylation: Single Turnover to Steady-State Kinetics of tRNA Synthetases

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRS) catalyze the bimolecular association reaction between amino acid and tRNA by specifically and unerringly choosing the cognate amino acid and tRNA. There are two classes of such synthetases that perform tRNA-aminoacylation reaction. Interestingly, these two classes of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases differ not only in their structures but they also exhibit remarkably distinct kinetics under pre-steady-state condition. The class I synthetases show initial burst of product formation followed by a slower steady-state rate. This has been argued to represent the influence of slow product release. In contrast, there is no burst in the case of class H enzymes. The tight binding of product with enzyme for class I enzymes is correlated with the enhancement of rate in presence of elongation factor. EF-TU. In spite of extensive experimental studies, there is no detailed theoretical analysis that can provide a quantitative understanding of this important problem. In this article, we present a theoretical investigation of enzyme kinetics for both classes of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. We present an augmented kinetic scheme and then employ the methods of time-dependent probability statistics to obtain expressions for the first passage time distribution that gives both the time-dependent and the steady-state rates. The present study quantitatively explains all the above experimental observations. We propose an alternative path way in the case of class II enzymes showing the tRNA-dependent amino acid activation and the discrepancy between the single-turnover and steady-state rate.

125 GeV Higgs state in the context of four generations with two Higgs doublets

We interpret the recent discovery of a 125 GeV Higgs-like state in the context of a two-Higgs-doublet model with a heavy fourth sequential generation of fermions, in which one Higgs doublet couples only to the fourth-generation fermions, while the second doublet couples to the lighter fermions of the first three families. This model is designed to accommodate the apparent heaviness of the fourth-generation fermions and to effectively address the low-energy phenomenology of a dynamical electroweak-symmetry-breaking scenario. The physical Higgs states of the model are, therefore, viewed as composites primarily of the fourth-generation fermions. We find that the lightest Higgs, h, is a good candidate for the recently discovered 125 GeV spin-zero particle, when tan beta similar to O(1), for typical fourth-generation fermion masses of M-4G = 400-600 GeV, and with a large t-t' mixing in the right-handed quark sector. This, in turn, leads to BR(t' -> th) similar to O(1), which drastically changes the t' decay pattern. We also find that, based on the current Higgs data, this two-Higgs-doublet model generically predicts an enhanced production rate (compared to the Standard Model) in the pp -> h -> tau tau channel, and reduced rates in the VV -> h -> gamma gamma and p (p) over bar /pp -> V -> hV -> Vbb channels. Finally, the heavier CP-even Higgs is excluded by the current data up to m(H) similar to 500 GeV, while the pseudoscalar state, A, can be as light as 130 GeV. These heavier Higgs states and the expected deviations from the Standard Model din some of the Higgs production channels can be further excluded or discovered with more data.

Arithmetic coding based lossless compression schemes for power system steady state operational data

Introduction of processor based instruments in power systems is resulting in the rapid growth of the measured data volume. The present practice in most of the utilities is to store only some of the important data in a retrievable fashion for a limited period. Subsequently even this data is either deleted or stored in some back up devices. The investigations presented here explore the application of lossless data compression techniques for the purpose of archiving all the operational data - so that they can be put to more effective use. Four arithmetic coding methods suitably modified for handling power system steady state operational data are proposed here. The performance of the proposed methods are evaluated using actual data pertaining to the Southern Regional Grid of India. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

PEO|Sncl(2)|PANI composites: as an electrolyte in solid-state battery

Solid-state polymer electrolytes possess high conductivity and have advantages compared with their liquid counterparts. The polyethylene oxide (PEO)-based polymer is a good candidate for this purpose. The PEO/SnCl2/polyaniline composite (PSP composites) at different weight percentages were prepared in anhydrous acetonitrile media. Structural studies were carried out of the prepared composites by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transmission infrared spectroscopy, and surface morphology by scanning electron microscopy. The sigma (dc) was carried out by a two-probe method, and it is found that the conductivity increases with an increase in temperature. The temperature-dependent conductivity of the composites exhibits a typical semi-conducting behavior and hence can be explained by the 1D variable range hopping model proposed by Mott. The electrochemical cell parameters for battery applications at room temperature have also been determined. The samples are fabricated for battery application in the configuration of Na: (PSP): (I-2 + C + sample), and their experimental data are measured using Wagner's polarization technique. The cell parameters result in an open-circuit voltage of 0.83 V and a short-circuit current of 912 mu A for PSP (70:30:10) composite. Hence, these composites can be used in polymer electrolyte studies.