Discussion: Remoulded shear strength at plastic and semi-solid states

The undrained shear strength of remoulded soils is of great concern in geotechnical engineering applications. This study aims to develop a reliable approach for determining the undrained shear strength of remoulded fine-grained soils, through the use of index test results, at both the plastic and semi-solid states of consistency. Experimental investigation and subsequent analysis involving a number of fine-grained soils of widely varying plasticity and geological origin have led to a two-parameter linear model of the relationship between logarithm of remoulded undrained shear strength and liquidity index. The numerical values of the parameters are found to be dependent to a lesser extent on the soil group and to a greater extent on the soil state. Based on the values of regression coefficient, ranking index and ranking distance, it seems that the relationship represents the experimental results well. It may be pointed out that the possibility of such a relationship in the semi-solid state of a soil has not been explored in the past. It is also shown that the shear strength at the plastic limit is about 32–34 times that at the liquid limit.

Entropy of quantum states: Ambiguities

The von Neumann entropy of a generic quantum state is not unique unless the state can be uniquely decomposed as a sum of extremal or pure states. As pointed out to us by Sorkin, this happens if the GNS representation (of the algebra of observables in some quantum state) is reducible, and some representations in the decomposition occur with non-trivial degeneracy. This non-unique entropy can occur at zero temperature. We will argue elsewhere in detail that the degeneracies in the GNS representation can be interpreted as an emergent broken gauge symmetry, and play an important role in the analysis of emergent entropy due to non-Abelian anomalies. Finally, we establish the analogue of an H-theorem for this entropy by showing that its evolution is Markovian, determined by a stochastic matrix.

Spectral Migration of Fluorescence in Graphene Oxide Aqueous Dispersions: Evidence for Excited-State Proton Transfer

Aqueous dispersions of graphene oxide (GO) exhibit strong pH-dependent fluorescence in the visible that originates, in part, from the oxygenated functionalities present. Here we examine the spectral migration on nanosecond time-scales of the pH dependent features in the fluorescence spectra. We show, from time-resolved emission spectra (TRES) constructed from the wavelength dependent fluorescence decay curves, that the migration is associated with excited state proton transfer. Both `intramolecular' and `intermolecular' transfer involving the quasi-molecular oxygenated aromatic fragments are observed. As a prerequisite to the time-resolved measurements, we have correlated the changes in the steady state fluorescence spectra with the sequence of dissociation events that occur in GO dispersions at different values of pH.

Solvent-induced changes on the polarity of the triplet excited state of 2-chlorothioxanthone: From time-resolved absorption and resonance Raman spectroscopies

Solvent polarity has been known to influence the triplet state structure and reactivity. Here, we present our experimental and theoretical study on the effect of solvent on the lowest triplet excited state structure of 2-chlorothioxanthone (CTX). Time-resolved absorption (TA) spectroscopy has been employed to understand the triplet state electronic structure; whereas solvent-induced structural changes have been studied using time-resolved resonance Raman (TR3) spectroscopy. Both the DFT and TD-DFT calculations have been performed in the solution phase employing self-consistent reaction field implicit solvation model to support the experimental data. It has been observed that CO stretching frequencies of the excited triplet state are sensitive to the solvent polarity and increase with the increase in the solvent polarity. Both TA and TR3 studies reveal that specific solvent effect (H-bonding) is more pronounced in comparison to the nonspecific solvent effect. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Observation of localized states in atomically thin MoS2 field effect transistor

We present electrical transport arid low frequency (1/f) noise measurements on mechanically exfoliated single, In and triLayer MoS2-based FPI devices on Si/SiO2 substrate. We find that tie electronic states hi MoS2 are localized at low temperatures (T) and conduction happens through variable range hopping (VRH). A steep increase of 1/f noise with decreasing T, typical for localized regime was observed in all of our devices. From gate voltage dependence of noise, we find that the noise power is inversely proportional to square of the number density (proportional to 1/n(2)) for a wide range of T, indicating number density fluctuations to be the dominant source of 1/f noise in these MoS2 FETs.

Multimodal shape oscillations of droplets excited by an air stream

The shape dynamics of droplets exposed to an air jet at intermediate droplet Reynolds numbers is investigated. High speed imaging and hot-wire anemometry are employed to examine the mechanism of droplet oscillation. The theory that the vortex shedding behind the droplet induces oscillation is examined. In these experiments, no particular dominant frequency is found in the wake region of the droplet. Hence the inherent free-stream disturbances prove to be driving the droplet oscillations. The modes of droplet oscillation show a band of dominant frequencies near the corresponding natural frequency, further proving that there is no particular forcing frequency involved. In the frequency spectrum of the lowest mode of oscillation for glycerol at the highest Reynolds number, no response is observed below the threshold frequency corresponding to the viscous dissipation time scale. This selective suppression of lower frequencies in the case of glycerol is corroborated by scaling arguments. The influence of surface tension on the droplet oscillation is studied using ethanol as a test fluid. Since a lower surface tension reduces the natural frequency, ethanol shows lower excited frequencies. The oscillation levels of different fluids are quantified using the droplet aspect ratio and correlated in terms of Weber number and Ohnesorge number. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Comprehensive seismic hazard assessment of Tripura and Mizoram states

Northeast India is one of the most highly seismically active regions in the world with more than seven earthquakes on an average per year of magnitude 5.0 and above. Reliable seismic hazard assessment could provide the necessary design inputs for earthquake resistant design of structures in this' region. In this study, deterministic as well as probabilistic methods have been attempted for seismic hazard assessment of Tripura and Mizoram states at bedrock level condition. An updated earthquake catalogue was collected from various national and international seismological agencies for the period from 1731 to 2011. The homogenization, declustering and data completeness analysis of events have been carried out before hazard evaluation. Seismicity parameters have been estimated using G R relationship for each source zone. Based on the seismicity, tectonic features and fault rupture mechanism, this region was divided into six major subzones. Region specific correlations were used for magnitude conversion for homogenization of earthquake size. Ground motion equations (Atkinson and Boore 2003; Gupta 2010) were validated with the observed PGA (peak ground acceleration) values before use in the hazard evaluation. In this study, the hazard is estimated using linear sources, identified in and around the study area. Results are presented in the form of PGA using both DSHA (deterministic seismic hazard analysis) and PSHA (probabilistic seismic hazard analysis) with 2 and 10% probability of exceedance in 50 years, and spectral acceleration (T = 0. 2 s, 1.0 s) for both the states (2% probability of exceedance in 50 years). The results are important to provide inputs for planning risk reduction strategies, for developing risk acceptance criteria and financial analysis for possible damages in the study area with a comprehensive analysis and higher resolution hazard mapping.

Edge states of a three-dimensional topological insulator

We use the bulk Hamiltonian for a three-dimensional topological insulator such as Bi-2 Se-3 to study the states which appear on its various surfaces and along the edge between two surfaces. We use both analytical methods based on the surface Hamiltonians (which are derived from the bulk Hamiltonian) and numerical methods based on a lattice discretization of the bulk Hamiltonian. We find that the application of a potential barrier along an edge can give rise to states localized at that edge. These states have an unusual energy-momentum dispersion which can be controlled by applying a potential along the edge; in particular, the velocity of these states can be tuned to zero. The scattering and conductance across the edge is studied as a function of the edge potential. We show that a magnetic field in a particular direction can also give rise to zero energy states on certain edges. We point out possible experimental ways of looking for the various edge states.

Glass, Gel, and Liquid Crystals: Arrested States of Graphene Oxide Aqueous Dispersions

Colloidal systems with competing interactions are known to exhibit a range of dynamically arrested states because of the systems' inability to reach its underlying equilibrium state due to intrinsic frustration. Graphene oxide (GO) aqueous dispersions constitute a class of 2D-anisotropic colloids with competing interactions long-range electrostatic repulsion, originating from ionized groups located on the rim of the sheets, and weak dispersive attractive interactions originating from the unoxidized graphitic domains. We show here that aqueous dispersions of GO exhibit a range of arrested states, encompassing fluid, glass, and gels that coexist with liquid-crystalline order with increasing volume fraction. These states can be accessed by varying the relative magnitudes of the repulsive and attractive forces. This can be realized by changing the ionic strength of the medium. We observe at low salt concentrations, where long-range electrostatic repulsion dominates, the formation of a repulsive Wigner glass, while at high salt concentrations, when attractive forces dominate, the formation of gels exhibits a nematic to columnar liquid-crystalline transition. The present work highlights how the chemical structure of GO hydrophilic ionizable groups and hydrophobic graphitic domains coexisting on a single sheet gives rise to a rich and complex array of arrested states.

Time resolved terahertz spectroscopy of low frequency electronic resonances and optical pump-induced terahertz photoconductivity in reduced graphene oxide membrane

Towards ultrafast optoelectronic applications of single and a few layer reduced graphene oxide (RGO), we study time domain terahertz spectroscopy and optical pump induced changes in terahertz conductivity of self-supported RGO membrane in the spectral window of 0.5-3.5 THz. The real and imaginary parts of conductivity spectra clearly reveal low frequency resonances, attributed to the energy gaps due to the van Hove singularities in the density of states flanking the Dirac points arising due to the relative rotation of the graphene layers. Further, optical pump induced terahertz conductivity is positive, pointing to the dominance of intraband scattering processes. The relaxation dynamics of the photo-excited carriers consists of three cooling pathways: the faster (similar to 450 fs) one due to optical phonon emission followed by disorder mediated large momentum and large energy acoustic phonon emission with a time constant of a few ps (called the super-collision mechanism) and a very large time (similar to 100 ps) arising from the deep trap states. The frequency dependence of the dynamic conductivity at different delay times is analyzed in term of Drude-Smith model. (C) 2014 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

High-conductance states and A-type K+ channels are potential regulators of the conductance-current balance triggered by HCN channels

An increase in the hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channel conductance reduces input resistance, whereas the consequent increase in the inward h current depolarizes the membrane. This results in a delicate and unique conductance-current balance triggered by the expression of HCN channels. In this study, we employ experimentally constrained, morphologically realistic, conductance-based models of hippocampal neurons to explore certain aspects of this conductance-current balance. First, we found that the inclusion of an experimentally determined gradient in A-type K+ conductance, but not in M-type K+ conductance, tilts the HCN conductance-current balance heavily in favor of conductance, thereby exerting an overall restorative influence on neural excitability. Next, motivated by the well-established modulation of neuronal excitability by synaptically driven high-conductance states observed under in vivo conditions, we inserted thousands of excitatory and inhibitory synapses with different somatodendritic distributions. We measured the efficacy of HCN channels, independently and in conjunction with other channels, in altering resting membrane potential (RMP) and input resistance (R-in) when the neuron received randomized or rhythmic synaptic bombardments through variable numbers of synaptic inputs. We found that the impact of HCN channels on average RMP, R in, firing frequency, and peak-to-peak voltage response was severely weakened under high-conductance states, with the impinging synaptic drive playing a dominant role in regulating these measurements. Our results suggest that the debate on the role of HCN channels in altering excitability should encompass physiological and pathophysiological neuronal states under in vivo conditions and the spatiotemporal interactions of HCN channels with other channels.

Stress states in individual Si particles of a cast Al-Si alloy: Micro-Raman analysis and microstructure based modeling

The stress states in Si particles of cast Al-Si based alloys depend on its morphology and the heat treatment given to the alloy. The Si particles fracture less on modification and fracture more in the heat treated condition. An attempt has been made in this work to study the effect of heat treatment and Si modification on the stress states of the particles. Such understanding will be valuable for predicting the ductility of the alloy. The stress states of Si particles are estimated by Raman technique and compared with the microstructure-based FEM simulations. Combination of Electron Back-Scattered Diffraction (EBSD) and frequency shift, polarized micro-Raman technique is applied to determine the stress states in Si particles with (111) orientations. Stress states are measured in the as-received state and under uniaxial compression. The residual stress, the stress in the elastic-plastic regime and the stress which causes fracture of the particles is estimated by Raman technique. FEM study demonstrates that the stress distribution is uniform in modified Si, whereas the unmodified Si shows higher and more complex stress states. The onset of plastic flow is observed at sharp corners of the particles and is followed by localization of strain between particles. Clustering of particles generates more inhomogeneous plastic strain in the matrix. Particle stress estimated by Raman technique is in agreement with FEM calculations. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Hydrodynamic instability and shear layer effect on the response of an acoustically excited laminar premixed flame

Combustion instabilities can cause serious problems which limit the operating envelope of low-emission lean premixed combustion systems. Predicting the onset of combustion instability requires a description of the unsteady heat release driving the instability, i.e., the heat release response transfer function of the system. This study focuses on the analysis of fully coupled two-way interactions between a disturbance field and a laminar premixed flame that incorporates gas expansion effects by solving the conservation equations of a compressible fluid. Results of the minimum and maximum flame front deflections are presented to underline the impact of the hydrodynamic instability on the flame and the shear layer effect on the initial flame front wrinkling which is increased at decreasing gas expansion. These phenomena influence the magnitude of the burning area and burning area rate response of the flame at lower frequency excitation more drastically than reduced-order model (ROM) predictions even for low temperature ratios. It is shown that the general trend of the flame response magnitudes can be well captured at higher frequency excitation, where stretch effects are dominant. The phase response is influenced by the DL mechanism, which cannot be captured by the ROM, and by the resulting discrepancy in the flame pocket formation and annihilation process at the flame tip. (C) 2014 The Combustion Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved,

Excited electronic state decomposition mechanisms of clusters of dimethylnitramine and aluminum

In this report, electronically non-adiabatic decomposition pathways of clusters of dimethylnitramine and aluminum (DMNA-Al and DMNA-Al-2) are discussed in comparison to isolated dimethylnitramine (DMNA). Electronically excited state processes of DMNA-Al and DMNA-Al-2 are explored using the complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) and the restricted active space self-consistent field (RASSCF) theories, respectively. Similar to the nitro-nitrite isomerization reaction pathway of DMNA, DMNA-Al-n clusters also exhibit isomerization pathway. However, it involves several other steps, such as, first Al-O bond dissociation, then N-N bond dissociation followed by isomerization and finally NO elimination. Furthermore, DMNA-Al-n clusters exhibit overall exothermic decomposition reaction pathway and isolated DMNA shows overall endothermic reaction channel.

A Gaussian network model study suggests that structural fluctuations are higher for inactive states than active states of protein kinases

We performed Gaussian network model based normal mode analysis of 3-dimensional structures of multiple active and inactive forms of protein kinases. In 14 different kinases, a more number of residues (1095) show higher structural fluctuations in inactive states than those in active states (525), suggesting that, in general, mobility of inactive states is higher than active states. This statistically significant difference is consistent with higher crystallographic B-factors and conformational energies for inactive than active states, suggesting lower stability of inactive forms. Only a small number of inactive conformations with the DFG motif in the ``in'' state were found to have fluctuation magnitudes comparable to the active conformation. Therefore our study reports for the first time, intrinsic higher structural fluctuation for almost all inactive conformations compared to the active forms. Regions with higher fluctuations in the inactive states are often localized to the aC-helix, aG-helix and activation loop which are involved in the regulation and/or in structural transitions between active and inactive states. Further analysis of 476 kinase structures involved in interactions with another domain/protein showed that many of the regions with higher inactive-state fluctuation correspond to contact interfaces. We also performed extensive GNM analysis of (i) insulin receptor kinase bound to another protein and (ii) holo and apo forms of active and inactive conformations followed by multi-factor analysis of variance. We conclude that binding of small molecules or other domains/proteins reduce the extent of fluctuation irrespective of active or inactive forms. Finally, we show that the perceived fluctuations serve as a useful input to predict the functional state of a kinase.