Fundamental Scale Research Articles

Stratification of priority territories for surveillance of chronic Chagas disease: multicriteria analysis for decision-making in health

The identification of the magnitude of chronic Chagas disease in Brazil requires linking activities in health surveillance, seeking to develop a wide, hierarchically organized and geographically distributed network of services to provide care to thousands of individuals with Trypanosoma cruzi infection. The study aimed to elaborate a model for prioritization of municipalities for chronic Chagas disease, to offer comprehensive care for persons with the disease. A multicriteria analysis was thus performed using the PROMETHEÉ II algorithm, implemented in the Pradin software. The criteria for assessing the model consisted of three indices built from the following indicators: (a) epidemiological, directly related to chronic Chagas disease, (b) related to the evolution in chronic Chagas disease, and (c) related to access to health services. Saaty's Fundamental Scale was used to define the indicators' weights, with greater importance assigned to those directly related to chronic Chagas disease and to those with greater reliability and respective quality of information. Assessment of the models' consistency was based on comparison of the available data in historically endemic areas with the distribution of acute cases, besides other sensitivity analyses. The best model was defined by 1,345 municipalities with medium priority, 1,003 high priority, and 601 with very high priority for chronic Chagas disease, with the highest proportions in the Southeast and Northeast regions. Prioritization allows the administration to rationalize and channel resources, and it is essential to identify the territories where persons with chronic Chagas disease are living, to promote comprehensive care and improve quality of life.

A Numerical Comparison of Iterative Algorithms for Inconsistency Reduction in Pairwise Comparisons

The aim of this paper is to compare selected iterative algorithms for inconsistency reduction in pairwise comparisons by Monte Carlo simulations. We perform simulations for pairwise comparison matrices of the order <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$n = 4 $ </tex-math></inline-formula> and <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$n = 8 $ </tex-math></inline-formula> with the initial inconsistency <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$0.10 &lt; CR &lt; 0.80 $ </tex-math></inline-formula> and entries drawn from Saaty’s fundamental scale. Subsequently, we evaluate the algorithms’ performance with respect to four measures that express the degree of original preference preservation. Our results indicate that no algorithm outperforms all other algorithms with respect to every measure of preference preservation. The Xu and Wei’s algorithm is the best with regard to the preservation of an original priority vector and the ranking of objects, the Step-by-Step algorithm best preserves the original preferences expressed in the form of a pairwise comparison matrix, and the algorithm of Szybowski keeps the most matrix entries unchanged during inconsistency reduction.

Deciphering the Non-Linear Impact of Al on Chemical Durability of Silicate Glass

The role of Al in aluminosilicate glasses remains somewhat a mystery: at low concentrations, it increases the resistance to hydrolysis of the glass, whereas at high concentrations an opposite effect is observed. To understand the origin of the phenomenon on a fundamental atomistic scale, we performed 577 MD simulations and applied potential mean force (PMF) calculations to estimate the activation barriers for hydrolysis and to statistically correlate them with local structural features of the glass. Models of pure silicate and aluminosilicate glasses are constructed and investigated. PMF simulation results are further validated by the experimental measurements and revealed that Al is very easy to dissociate, but it also increases the glass chemical durability through significantly increasing both the strength of Si and network connectivity of the glass. In contrast, at high Al concentration, preferential dissolution of Al weakens the silicate network, which it supposes to strengthen, and so the glass resistance becomes poor. Through PMF calculations, we evaluated the activation barriers for dissociating bonds around Al as 0.49 eV, which is less than a half of the energy to dissociate bonds around Si in pure silicate (1.22 eV) and around Si in aluminosilicate glass (1.34 eV), all these energy differences being statistically significant. Molecular structural level investigation revealed that Si with Al as a second neighbour in the glass network has a significantly higher activation energy for dissociation than Si in pure silicate glass. The proposed approach opens the way to the development of quantitative predictive models of glass durability.

Bandlimited entanglement harvesting

There are many reasons to believe that there is a fundamental minimum length scale below which distances cannot be reliably resolved. One method of constructing a quantum field with a finite minimum length scale is to use bandlimited quantum field theory, where the spacetime is mathematically both continuous and discrete. This is a modification to the field, which has been shown to have many consequences at the level of the field. We consider an operational approach and use a pair of particle detectors (two-level qubits) as a local probe of the field, which are coupled to the vacuum of the bandlimited massless scalar field in a time-dependent way through a switching function. We show that, mathematically, the bandlimit modifies the spatial profile of the detectors so that they are only quasilocal. We explore two different types of switching functions, Gaussian and Dirac delta. We find that, with Gaussian switching, the bandlimit exponentially suppresses the deexcitation of the detectors when the energy gap between the two levels is larger than the bandlimit. If the detectors are prepared in ground state, in certain regions of the parameter space they are able to extract more entanglement from the field than if there was no bandlimit. When the detectors couple with Dirac-delta switching, we show that a particle detector is most sensitive to the bandlimit when it couples to a small but finite region of spacetime. We find that the effects of a bandlimit are detectable using local probes. This work is important because it illustrates the possible observable consequences of a fundamental bandlimit in a quantum field.

Irreversibility field and anisotropic δl-pinning in type II superconductors

The article presents a brief generalization of our recent experiments confirming that “irreversibility field” in Nb-Ti superconducting tapes is determined by the inhomogeneity of superconducting properties. It is shown that the effect is a direct consequence of the so-called δl-pinning, i.e. pinning caused by local reduction of the electrons mean free path. Based on the understanding of the irreversibility field nature, an assessment of the individual pinning force is performed. Good agreement is obtained with the estimations performed in the framework of the Larkin-Ovchinnikov pinning model (LO), which is valid for magnetic field less than the irreversibility field. The competing model is considered which is also valid for field range below the irreversibility field - the anisotropic pinning model (APM). The comparison of the fundamental length scales introduced in the LO and APM models is given.

Soft x-ray microscopy with 7 nm resolution

The availability of intense soft x-ray beams with tunable energy and polarization has pushed the development of highly sensitive, element-specific, and noninvasive microscopy techniques to investigate condensed matter with high spatial and temporal resolution. The short wavelengths of soft x-rays promise to reach spatial resolutions in the deep single-digit nanometer regime, providing unprecedented access to magnetic phenomena at fundamental length scales. Despite considerable efforts in soft x-ray microscopy techniques, a two-dimensional resolution of 10 nm has not yet been surpassed in direct imaging. Here, we report on a significant step beyond this long-standing limit by combining newly developed soft x-ray Fresnel zone plate lenses with advanced precision in scanning control and careful optical design. With this approach, we achieve an image resolution of 7 nm. By combining this highly precise microscopy technique with the x-ray magnetic circular dichroism effect, we reveal dimensionality effects in an ensemble of interacting magnetic nanoparticles. Such effects are topical in current nanomagnetism research and highlight the opportunities of high-resolution soft x-ray microscopy in magnetism research and beyond.

The plate spacing of sea ice

AbstractColumnar sea ice grows with an interface of tiny parallel ice plates, the distance of which is known as plate spacing. While it has been proposed as a fundamental microstructure scale of sea ice, the physics behind its formation has not been fully understood. Here the problem is analysed on the basis of morphological stability theory to propose a model that results in a physically consistent prediction of the relationship between the plate spacinga0and growth velocityV. The relationship may be divided into two regimes. In the diffusive regime, forVabove ≈2 × 10−4cm s−1one findsa0~V−2/3to first order. In the convective regime, the extent of diffusive boundary layer is controlled by solutal convection near the interface, which leads to the proportionalitya0~V−1/3. From a comparison to observations it is evident that the plate spacing is predictable over 5 orders of magnitude in the growth velocity, covering the range from fast laboratory ice growth to slow accretion at the bottom of marine ice shelves. The predictability opens new paths towards concise modelling of marine and sea-ice microstructure and physical properties.

Marginal emission factors for public transit: Effects of urban scale and density

The objective of this study is to determine the relationship between fundamental urban scale characteristics (population, area, density) and marginal emission factors (MEF) for public transit. Emissions intensity of travel is typically examined using average emission factors (AEF), but MEF (how emissions change with travel volume) are more important for understanding the effects of interventions. MEF and AEF are estimated and compared for transit systems across the U.S. using panel data from 376 urban areas over 27 years. Results show that both MEF and AEF vary substantially across cities and decrease with urban population, area, density, and transit system extent – but AEF are around 50% more sensitive to urban scale. The distinction between MEF and AEF is especially important for bus transit in smaller, less dense cities. Marginal analysis shows that mode shift from private vehicles to transit should be encouraged, even where average emissions from transit are higher.

Multiscale evaluation of CO2-derived cyclic carbonates to separate hydrocarbons: Drafting new competitive processes

Current chemical technologies present a negative impact on society and environment since they are based on processes that demand large energy and the use organic solvents, entailing relevant carbon footprint. Emerging solvents impose additional criteria in the design of new separation technologies. Aiming at addressing favorable solvent properties but also reducing emissions of carbon dioxide, cyclic carbonates are CO2-based synthesizable designer solvents unexplored in the literature. Cyclic carbonates are a new class of tunable compounds with ability to enhance current standards and improve the sustainability of processes. Here a comprehensive and systematic study, covering fundamental and process scale insights, is developed on the use of cyclic carbonates in the most relevant hydrocarbon separations in the literature, namely {n-heptane + toluene}, {cyclohexane + benzene} and {cyclohexane + cyclohexene} by liquid-liquid extraction and extractive distillation. A priori COSMO-RS method described the driving interactions between cyclic carbonates and hydrocarbons, whereas COSMO-based/Aspen was used to further inspect phase equilibria and design liquid-liquid extraction and extractive distillation separation processes, using benchmark industrial solvents (sulfolane and N-formylmorpholine). The favorable process performance starts a new research line to fine-tune cyclic carbonates' structure, but currently drafting feasible approaches, competitive or even better when compared with conventional solvents.

Anomalous U(1) gauge bosons as light dark matter in string theory

Present experiments are sensitive to very weakly coupled extra gauge symmetries which motivates further investigation of their appearance in string theory compactifications and subsequent properties. We consider extensions of the standard model based on open strings ending on D-branes, with gauge bosons due to strings attached to stacks of D-branes and chiral matter due to strings stretching between intersecting D-branes. Assuming that the fundamental string mass scale saturates the current LHC limit and that the theory is weakly coupled, we show that (anomalous) U(1) gauge bosons which propagate into the bulk are compelling light dark matter candidates. We comment on the possible relevance of the U(1) gauge bosons, which are universal in intersecting D-brane models, to the observed 3σ excess in XENON1T.

Dark matter, dark energy and fundamental acceleration

We discuss the existence of an acceleration scale in galaxies and galaxy clusters and its relevance for the nature of dark matter. The presence of the same acceleration scale found at very different length scales, and in very different astrophysical objects, strongly supports the existence of a fundamental acceleration scale governing the observed gravitational physics. We comment on the implications of such a fundamental acceleration scale for constraining cold dark matter models as well as its relevance for structure formation to be explored in future numerical simulations.

Probing alternative cosmologies through the inverse distance ladder

We study the implications of a combined analysis of cosmic standard candles and standard rulers on the viability of cosmological models beyond the cosmological concordance model ΛCDM . To this end, we employ well-established data in the form of the joint light-curve analysis supernova compilation, baryon acoustic oscillations, and cosmic microwave background data on the one hand, and a recently proposed set of quasars as objects of known brightness on the other hand. The advantage of including the latter is that they extend the local distance measures to redshifts which have previously been out of reach and we investigate how this allows one to test cosmologies beyond ΛCDM . While there exist various studies on parametric extensions of ΛCDM, we present here a comparative study of both parametric and fundamental extensions of the standard cosmology. In order to keep the scope of this manuscript contained, we focus on two particular modifications: one is the consistent theory of two interacting spin-2 objects, so-called bigravity, and the other conformal gravity, a theory of gravity that has no knowledge of fundamental length scales. The former of the two constitutes a veritable extension of General Relativity, given that it adds to the metric tensor of gravity a second dynamical tensor field. The resulting dynamics have been proposed as a self-accelerating cosmology. Conformal gravity on the other hand is a much more drastic change of the underlying gravitational theory. Its ignorance towards fundamental length scales offers a completely different approach to the origin of late time acceleration. In this sense, both models offer—in one way or another—an explanation for the dark energy problem. We perform a combined cosmological fit which provides strong constraints on these extensions. We also briefly comment on the implications of the long-standing H0-tension.

Rainbow spacetime from a nonlocal gravitational uncertainty principle

The occurrence of spacetime singularities is one of the peculiar features of Einstein gravity, signalling limitation on probing short distances in spacetime. This alludes to the existence of a fundamental length scale in nature. On the contrary, the Heisenberg quantum uncertainty relation seems to allow for probing arbitrarily small length scales. To reconcile these two conflicting ideas in line with a well-known framework of quantum gravity, several modifications of Heisenberg algebra have been proposed. However, it has been extensively argued that such a minimum length would introduce nonlocality in theories of quantum gravity. In this letter, we analyze a previously proposed deformation of the Heisenberg algebra (i.e., ) for a particle confined in a box subjected to a gravitational field. For the problem in hand, such deformation seems to yield an energy-dependent behavior of spacetime in a way consistent with gravity's rainbow, hence demonstrating a connection between non-locality and gravity's rainbow.

Elimination of the Blue Loops in the Evolution of Intermediate-mass Stars by the Neutrino Magnetic Moment and Large Extra Dimensions

Abstract For searching beyond Standard Model physics, stars are laboratories that complement terrestrial experiments. Massless neutrinos in the Standard Model of particle physics cannot have a magnetic moment, but massive neutrinos have a finite magnetic moment in the minimal extension of the Standard Model. Large extra dimensions (LEDs) are a possible solution of the hierarchy problem. Both of these provide additional energy-loss channels in stellar interiors via the electromagnetic interaction and radiation into extra dimensions, respectively, and thus affect stellar evolution. We perform simulations of stellar evolution with such additional energy losses and find that they eliminate the blue loops in the evolution of intermediate-mass stars. The existence of Cepheid stars can be used to constrain the neutrino magnetic moment (NMM) and LEDs. In order for Cepheids to exist, the NMM should be smaller than the range ∼2 × 10−10 μ B–4 × 10−11 μ B, where μ B is the Bohr magneton, and the fundamental scale in the (4+2)-spacetime should be larger than ∼2–5 TeV, depending on the rate of the 12C reaction. The fundamental scale also has strong dependence on the metallicity. This value of the magnetic moment is in the range explored in the reactor experiments, but higher than the limit inferred from globular clusters. Similarly the fundamental scale value we constrain corresponds to a size of the compactified dimensions comparable to those explored in the torsion balance experiments, but it is smaller than the limits inferred from collider experiments and low-mass stars.

Graphene in curved Snyder space

Abstract The Snyder-de Sitter (SdS) model which is invariant under the action of the de Sitter group, is an example of a noncommutative space-time with three fundamental scales. In this paper, we considered the massless Dirac fermions in graphene layer in a curved Snyder space-time which are subjected to an external magnetic field. We employed representation in the momentum space to derive the energy eigenvalues and the eigenfunctions of the system. Then, we used the deduced energy function obtaining the internal energy, heat capacity, and entropy functions. We investigated the role of the fundamental scales on these thermal quantities of the graphene layer. We found that the effect of the SdS model on the thermodynamic properties is significant.

The strength of the Iceland plume: A geodynamical scaling approach

An important measure of the strength of a mantle plume is its buoyancy flux B, defined as the integral over a horizontal plane of the product of the vertical velocity and the density deficit within the plume. In the case of the Iceland plume, which currently rises directly beneath the mid-Atlantic ridge, published estimates of B cover a range of a factor of 37. To reconcile these diverse estimates, we study a simple fluid mechanical model of a ridge-centered plume in which plume fluid with spreadability σ (buoyancy over viscosity) is supplied at a volumetric rate Q from a plume conduit located directly beneath a ridge with a half spreading rate U. The plume fluid spreads laterally to form a thin pool beneath a lithosphere whose thickness increases as the square root of age. Application of scaling and dimensional analysis to this model leads to a general scaling law for the ‘waist width’ Ww, the length of the plume-induced elevation anomaly along the ridge. The law has the form Ww/W0=f2(Πb,Πs), where W0=(σQ4/U5)1/6 is the fundamental length scale for plume-ridge interaction, Πb=(σQ/U2)1/3 is of the order of the aspect ratio (width/thickness) of the plume pool, Πs=(κ2σ/U3)1/4 measures the effect on the pool of the sloping base of the lithosphere (κ is the thermal diffusivity), and f2 is an unknown function. We determine f2 using a suite of 32 numerical solutions of a three-dimensional thermomechanical model implemented in the code StagYY (Tackley, 2008). To apply our scaling law to Iceland, we invert it to estimate the buoyancy flux B required to produce a waist width Ww=2300±300 km. After correction for the effect of ridge migration, we find B=2.3±0.6 Mgs−1. This is comparable within uncertainty to the buoyancy flux B=3.0±0.8 Mgs−1 of the Hawaiian plume estimated using a 3-D dynamical model by Ribe and Christensen (1999).

Evolution of the Kondo lattice electronic structure above the transport coherence temperature

The temperature-dependent evolution of the Kondo lattice is a long-standing topic of theoretical and experimental investigation and yet it lacks a truly microscopic description of the relation of the basic f-c hybridization processes to the fundamental temperature scales of Kondo screening and Fermi-liquid lattice coherence. Here, the temperature dependence of f-c hybridized band dispersions and Fermi-energy f spectral weight in the Kondo lattice system CeCoIn5 is investigated using f-resonant angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) with sufficient detail to allow direct comparison to first-principles dynamical mean-field theory (DMFT) calculations containing full realism of crystalline electric-field states. The ARPES results, for two orthogonal (001) and (100) cleaved surfaces and three different f-c hybridization configurations, with additional microscopic insight provided by DMFT, reveal f participation in the Fermi surface at temperatures much higher than the lattice coherence temperature, [Formula: see text] K, commonly believed to be the onset for such behavior. The DMFT results show the role of crystalline electric-field (CEF) splittings in this behavior and a T-dependent CEF degeneracy crossover below [Formula: see text] is specifically highlighted. A recent ARPES report of low T Luttinger theorem failure for CeCoIn5 is shown to be unjustified by current ARPES data and is not found in the theory.

Comparing two judgment scales of AHP with a case study: reaching a decision on a dry port location

Determining the most appropriate location for a new dry port installation is generally a very complex and sensitive process that requires reasoned consideration of many criteria. In this article, we aimed to determine the best location for a dry port that would support the container terminals within the hinterland of Kocaeli ports by applying analytic hierarchy process (AHP) with a case study. The city of Kocaeli, located in the northwest part of Turkey, is the second rank after Istanbul in terms of export capacity. We identified a total of five locations as the candidates of a dry port in the Gulf of Kocaeli. After reviewing the literature and taking the opinions of the 85 experts from the relevant sectors, we developed seven criteria to be a basis in the AHP study and weighted the factors. We carried out the pairwise comparisons, in relation to the knowledge gained through the survey. Two different judgment scales—the Saaty’s fundamental scale and the balanced scale—were used in the pairwise comparison stage. After the comparisons, the variance related to the consistency ratios and the range of the sensitivity was also observed. In conclusion, at the end of this AHP, one of the options has remarkably placed the top rank for the most suitable location of a new dry port. It is assessed that the arguments for the criteria of the method in this study can be taken as a sample for future studies in different regions of the world.

A fuzzy based MCDM–GIS framework to evaluate groundwater potential index for sustainable groundwater management - A case study in an urban-periurban ensemble, southern India

The study encompasses the application of fuzzy based multi-criteria decision making (MCDM)- geospatial framework (GIS-Fuzzy-AHP) for evaluating index based groundwater potential assessment in two differently urbanized clusters of Northern Kerala, Southern India. The framework presents a very powerful way of managing groundwater at a regional and global level due to its succinct performance. The study area is characterized by a coastal zone with a high rate of urban development and relying on groundwater supply to meet their basic needs. In the Fuzzy-analytic hierarchy process (Fuzzy-AHP), a three-level hierarchical model is built using 8 criteria and 34 subcriteria of groundwater controlling factors. Weights and ratios of these factors have been generated by pairwise comparisons of fuzzified values in Saaty's 9-point fundamental scale, taking relative importance into account. Finally, the integration of spatial and non-spatial data into the GIS platform created a groundwater potential zone map with a unique integer value known as the groundwater potential index (GWPI). The resulting groundwater potential map classified the study area into four zones using quantile method and has shown that the very good potential zone occupies 34% and 10% of the urban and peri-urban zones of the study area, respectively. Gentle slope gradient with coastal alluvium formation, sandy loam to sandy clay textured soil type with moderate to rapid permeability favours aquifer recharge in these zones, resulting in a very high potential zone. The consistency analysis using the Eigenvector method showed that the consistency was well within the tolerance limit and validation analysis using the average depth of water level data checked the statistical efficiency and reliability of results in the overall decision-making phase. A well-balanced fuzzy framework has allowed the rapid and reliable assessment of hydrological behaviour of two differently urbanized environments.

A decision support system for road freight transportation route selection with new fuzzy numbers

PurposeThis study aims to propose a framework for designing appropriate triangular fuzzy numbers in a fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) for selecting a road freight transport route and investigate the appropriate fuzzy numbers determined from a reliable consensus among participating experts based on the Delphi method.Design/methodology/approachThe fundamental nine-point scale was investigated and separated into nonfuzzy intervals for importance assessment. A total of 17 individual experts participated in this study, and their consensus was that appropriate fuzzy numbers could be obtained using a three-round Delphi process. Moreover, the appropriate fuzzy numbers were used instead of the primary fuzzy numbers to calculate the relative weights of the decision criteria for road freight route selection.FindingsThe results confirmed that the Delphi method can be easily and rigorously applied to define appropriate fuzzy numbers. Further, this framework can serve as a guideline for a situation wherein the input of other fuzzy multiple criteria decision-making tools must be provided.Originality/valueThe FAHP has been widely used to address the imprecise assessments of decision-makers. However, most existing studies on the incorporation of such techniques have not defined fuzzy numbers, which are relevant to the problem of interest. This study contributes by incorporating the Delphi method that can design an appropriate fuzzy number for road freight route selection.