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At least 361 records · Page 20

Optimal system size for complex dynamics in random neural networks near criticality

In this article, we consider a model of dynamical agents coupled through a random connectivity matrix, as introduced by Sompolinsky et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 61(3), 259–262 (1988)] in the context of random neural networks. When system size is infinite, it is known that increasing the disorder parameter induces a phase transition leading to chaotic dynamics. We observe and investigate here a novel phenomenon in the sub-critical regime for finite size systems: the probability of observing complex dynamics is maximal for an intermediate system size when the disorder is close enough to criticality. We give a more general explanation of this type of system size resonance in the framework of extreme values theory for eigenvalues of random matrices.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Squeezed states and Hermite polynomials in a complex variable

Following the lines of the recent paper of J.-P. Gazeau and F. H. Szafraniec [J. Phys. A: Math. Theor. 44, 495201 (2011)], we construct here three types of coherent states, related to the Hermite polynomials in a complex variable which are orthogonal with respect to a non-rotationally invariant measure. We investigate relations between these coherent states and obtain the relationship between them and the squeezed states of quantum optics. We also obtain a second realization of the canonical coherent states in the Bargmann space of analytic functions, in terms of a squeezed basis. All this is done in the flavor of the classical approach of V. Bargmann [Commun. Pure Appl. Math. 14, 187 (1961)].

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Wind power curve modeling in complex terrain using statistical models

The simplest power curves model wind power only as a function of the wind speed at the turbine hub height. While the latter is an essential predictor of power output, wind speed information in other parts of the vertical profile, as well as additional atmospheric variables, are also important determinants of power. The goal of this work was to determine the gain in predictive ability afforded by adding wind speed information at other heights, as well as other atmospheric variables, to the power prediction model. Using data from a wind farm with a moderately complex terrain in the Altamont Pass region in California, we trained three statistical models—a neural network, a random forest and a Gaussian process model—to predict power output from various sets of aforementioned predictors. The comparison of these predictions to the observed power data revealed that considerable improvements in prediction accuracy can be achieved both through the addition of predictors other than the hub-height wind speed and the use of statistical models. To our knowledge, the use of the Gaussian process model in this context is new, in contrast to neural networks and random forests. The advantage of this model over the other two models is that it provides a much more natural way to estimate the uncertainty associated with its predictions. In addition, this study presents one of the most comprehensive analyses to date of the relative importance of various wind power curve inputs.

Bulaevskaya, V.↗

Restricted Hartree Fock using complex-valued orbitals: A long-known but neglected tool in electronic structure theory

Restricted Hartree Fock using complex-valued orbitals (cRHF) is studied. We introduce an orbital pairing theorem, with which we obtain a concise connection between cRHF and real-valued RHF, and use it to uncover the close relationship between cRHF, unrestricted Hartree Fock, and generalized valence bond perfect pairing. This enables an intuition for cRHF, contrasting with the generally unintuitive nature of complex orbitals. We also describe an efficient computer implementation of cRHF and its corresponding stability analysis. By applying cRHF to the Be + H{sub 2} insertion reaction, a Woodward-Hoffmann violating reaction, and a symmetry-driven conical intersection, we demonstrate in genuine molecular systems that cRHF is capable of removing certain potential energy surface singularities that plague real-valued RHF and related methods. This complements earlier work that showed this capability in a model system. We also describe how cRHF is the preferred RHF method for certain radicaloid systems like singlet oxygen and antiaromatic molecules. For singlet O{sub 2}, we show that standard methods fail even at the equilibrium geometry. An implication of this work is that, regardless of their individual efficacies, cRHF solutions to the HF equations are fairly commonplace.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

A liquid jet setup for x-ray scattering experiments on complex liquids at free-electron laser sources

In this paper we describe a setup for x-ray scattering experiments on complex fluids using a liquid jet. The setup supports Small and Wide Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS/WAXS) geometries. The jet is formed by a gas-dynamic virtual nozzle (GDVN) allowing for diameters ranging between 1 μm and 20 μm at a jet length of several hundred μm. To control jet properties such as jet length, diameter, or flow rate, the instrument is equipped with several diagnostic tools. Three microscopes are installed to quantify jet dimensions and stability in situ. The setup has been used at several beamlines performing both SAXS and WAXS experiments. As a typical example we show an experiment on a colloidal dispersion in a liquid jet at the X-ray Correlation Spectroscopy instrument at the Linac Coherent Light Source free-electron laser.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Synthesis and characterization of an amethyrin-uranyl complex displaying aromatic character

The reaction among amethyrin and non-aqueous uranyl silylamide (UO2[N(SiMe 3 ) 2 ] 2 ) under anaerobic conditions afford a bench-stable uranyl complex. UV-Vis spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, as well as proton NMR spectroscopic analyses offer support for the conclusion that all six pyrrole subunits participate in coordination of the uranyl dication and that, upon complexation, the amethyrin-core undergoes a 2-electron oxidation to yield a formal 22 π-electron aromatic species.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Structural complexity in the f -block: small deviations of the complexation of lanthanides by O,Oʹ -diethylmonothiophosphate

Dithiophosphinic acids undergo radiolytic degradation during the extraction of actinides in used nuclear fuel. These will degrade into monothiophosphinic acids and then to phosphinic acids. To elucidate how the complexes that are formed during these radioactive separations change as the ligand degrades, the mixed donor ligand O,O′- diethylmonothiophosphate is chosen as an analog for the monothiophosphinic intermediate. Herein, the monothiophosphate complexes Ln 2 (OPS(OEt) 2 ) 6 (H 2 O) 8 (Ln = La) (La 2 L 6 H 2 O), Ln 2 (OPS(OEt) 2 ) 6 (EtOH) 4 (Ln = La) (La 2 L 6 EtOH), K 2 [Ln(OPS(OEt) 2 ) 5 (H 2 O) 2 ]·H 2 O·CH 2 Cl 2 , (Ln = Ce) (CeL 5 -α), K 2 [Ln(OPS(OEt) 2 ) 5 (H 2 O) 2 ]·H 2 O·CH 2 Cl 2 , (Ln = Pr) (PrL 5 -β), K[Ln(OPS(OEt) 2 ) 4 (H 2 O) 3 ], (Ln = Pr, Sm-Er) (ML 4 ), and K 3 [Ln(OPS(OEt) 2 ) 6 ], (Ln = Dy) (DyL 6 ) were synthesized and characterized using single-crystal X-ray diffraction and optical spectroscopy. Although the lanthanides contract in a nearly linear fashion, the structural changes observed as the f-block is traversed in these compounds are not necessarily a hard line but more so a blend of different structure types possible for each f-element. Furthermore, comparison of the Ln−O bond lengths shows a nearly linear contraction, but the Ln−S bond lengths do not monotonically decrease because of the hard Lewis acidity of the Ln 3+ cations.

37 - INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL C↗

Quantum simulator of an open quantum system using superconducting qubits: exciton transport in photosynthetic complexes

Open quantum system approaches are widely used in the description of physical, chemical and biological systems. A famous example is electronic excitation transfer in the initial stage of photosynthesis, where harvested energy is transferred with remarkably high efficiency to a reaction center. This transport is affected by the motion of a structured vibrational environment, which makes simulations on a classical computer very demanding. Here we propose an analog quantum simulator of complex open system dynamics with a precisely engineered quantum environment. Our setup is based on superconducting circuits, a well established technology. As an example, we demonstrate that it is feasible to simulate exciton transport in the Fenna–Matthews–Olson photosynthetic complex. Our approach allows for a controllable single-molecule simulation and the investigation of energy transfer pathways as well as non-Markovian noise-correlation effects.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Constrained inflaton due to a complex scalar

We reexamine inflation due to a constrained inflaton in the model of a complex scalar. Inflaton evolves along a spiral-like valley of special scalar potential in the scalar field space just like single field inflation. Sub-Planckian inflaton can induce sufficient e-foldings because of a long slow-roll path. In a special limit, the scalar spectral index and the tensor-to-scalar ratio has equivalent expressions to the inflation with monomial potential φ{sup n}. The favorable values for them could be obtained by varying parameters in the potential. This model could be embedded in a certain radiative neutrino mass model.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Connections between complex PT-invariant solutions and complex periodic solutions of several nonlinear equations

We point out novel connections between complex PT-invariant solutions of several nonlinear equations such as $\phi$ 4 , $\phi$ 6 sine-Gordon, hyperbolic sine-Gordon, double sine-Gordon, double hyperbolic sine-Gordon, mKdV, etc. We then use these connections to obtain several new complex PT-invariant periodic solutions of some of these equations.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Transmission X-ray scattering as a probe for complex liquid-surface structures

The need for functional materials calls for increasing complexity in self-assembly systems. As a result, the ability to probe both local structure and heterogeneities, such as phase-coexistence and domain morphologies, has become increasingly important to controlling self-assembly processes, including those at liquid surfaces. The traditional X-ray scattering methods for liquid surfaces, such as specular reflectivity and grazing-incidence diffraction, are not well suited to spatially resolving lateral heterogeneities due to large illuminated footprint. A possible alternative approach is to use scanning transmission X-ray scattering to simultaneously probe local intermolecular structures and heterogeneous domain morphologies on liquid surfaces. To test the feasibility of this approach, transmission small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (TSAXS/TWAXS) studies of Langmuir films formed on water meniscus against a vertically immersed hydrophilic Si substrate were recently carried out. First-order diffraction rings were observed in TSAXS patterns from a monolayer of hexagonally packed gold nanoparticles and in TWAXS patterns from a monolayer of fluorinated fatty acids, both as a Langmuir monolayer on water meniscus and as a Langmuir–Blodgett monolayer on the substrate. The patterns taken at multiple spots have been analyzed to extract the shape of the meniscus surface and the ordered-monolayer coverage as a function of spot position. These results, together with continual improvement in the brightness and spot size of X-ray beams available at synchrotron facilities, support the possibility of using scanning-probe TSAXS/TWAXS to characterize heterogeneous structures at liquid surfaces.

Fukuto, Masafumi↗

Structure of the lutein-binding domain of human StARD3 at 1.74 Å resolution and model of a complex with lutein

A crystal structure of the lutein-binding domain of human StARD3 (StAR-related lipid-transfer protein 3; also known as MLN64) has been refined to 1.74 Å resolution. A previous structure of the same protein determined to 2.2 Å resolution highlighted homology with StARD1 and shared cholesterol-binding character. StARD3 has since been recognized as a carotenoid-binding protein in the primate retina, where its biochemical function of binding lutein with specificity appears to be well suited to recruit this photoprotective molecule. The current and previous structures correspond closely to each other (r.m.s.d. of 0.25 Å), especially in terms of the helix-grip fold constructed around a solvent-filled cavity. Regions of interest were defined with alternate conformations in the current higher-resolution structure, including Arg351 found within the cavity and Ω1, a loop of four residues found just outside the cavity entrance. Models of the complex with lutein generated by rigid-body docking indicate that one of the ionone rings must protrude outside the cavity, and this insight has implications for molecular interactions with transport proteins and enzymes that act on lutein. Interestingly, models with the ϵ-ionone ring characteristic of lutein pointing towards the bottom of the cavity were associated with fewer steric clashes, suggesting that steric complementarity and ligand asymmetry may play a role in discriminating lutein from the other ocular carotenoids zeaxanthin and meso -zeaxanthin, which only have β-ionone rings.

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology↗

A Complex Brownfields Case Study—The Former Bannister Federal Complex, Kansas City, Missouri

Abstract In November 2017, 225 acres (91 ha) of the former Bannister Federal Complex (BFC) in Kansas City, Missouri were transferred from the Federal Government to Bannister Transformation & Development, LLC (BTD), for demolition; environmental corrective measures; and preparation of the site for redevelopment. This presented a once‐in‐a‐lifetime opportunity to reconfigure groundwater remedies and address long‐standing soil contamination issues. The property included more than 40 previously‐identified Solid Waste Management Units, 3.9 million square feet (362,000 m 2 ) of buildings, subsurface utilities dating back to the 1940s, and an active groundwater containment system. Demolition of buildings and installation of an interim groundwater containment system began almost immediately after property transfer. In 2018, BTD substantially modified its project schedule to incorporate the construction of the first new buildings while demolition and remedial activities were ongoing. By October 2020, construction of the first new warehouse commenced while excavation and capping of contaminated soils, installation of a groundwater containment treatment systems, and abandonment of legacy utilities were still underway. Completion of this work, within the originally planned timeframe, was made possible by factors including up‐front multi‐year funding, early and ongoing engagement of regulators, an extended 3‐year due diligence program and planning stage, and establishment of well‐defined environmental targets. Both the soil and groundwater remedies were also designed with the flexibility needed to accommodate unknown conditions, changing schedules, and revisions to the regrading and redevelopment plans. This case study highlights key technical and management factors that led to the successful completion of this complex brownfields remediation project.

Water Resources↗

Spectroanalysis in native gels (SING): rapid spectral analysis of pigmented thylakoid membrane complexes separated by CN-PAGE

Photosynthetic organisms rapidly adjust the capture, transfer and utilization of light energy to optimize the efficiency of photosynthesis and avoid photodamage. These adjustments involve fine-tuning of expression levels and mutual interactions among electron/proton transfer components and their associated light-harvesting antenna. Detailed studies of these interactions and their dynamics have been hindered by the low throughput and resolution of currently available research tools, which involve laborious isolation, separation and characterization steps. To address these issues, we developed an approach that measured multiple spectroscopic properties of thylakoid preparations directly in native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis gels, enabling unprecedented resolution of photosynthetic complexes, both in terms of the spectroscopic and functional details, as well as the ability to distinguish separate complexes and thus test their functional connections. As a demonstration, we explore the thylakoid membrane components of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii acclimated to high and low light, using a combination of room temperature absorption and 77K fluorescence emission to generate a multi-dimensional molecular and spectroscopic map of the photosynthetic apparatus. We show that low-light-acclimated cells accumulate a photosystem I-containing megacomplex that is absent in high-light-acclimated cells and contains distinct LhcII proteins that can be distinguished based on their spectral signatures.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗