Let X be either Z or the points of a Poisson process in R of intensity 1. Given parameters r and p, join each pair of points of X within distance r independently with probability p. This is the simplest case of a ‘spreadout’ percolation model studied by Penrose [6], who showed that, as r → ∞, the average degree of the corresponding random graph at the percolation threshold tends to 1, i.e., the...

Modern microwave and millimeter wave phased array antennas are attractive because of their ability to steer wave beams in space without physically moving the antenna element. A typical phased array antenna may have several thousand elements fed by a phase shifter for every antenna, which can steer the resulting array beam to different directions. Their low loss, low cost and lightweight phase s...

Presented is a novel algorithmic method for simulating complex fluids, for instance multiphase single component fluids and molecular systems. The algorithm falls under a class of single-instruction multiple-data computation known as lattice-gases, and therefore inherits exact computability on a discrete spacetime lattice. Our contribution is the use of nonlocal interactions that allow us to mod...

U the physics of complex phenomena such as earthquakes is a formidable challenge. Because we are constrained by our inability to do experiments on earthquake faults, we turn to computers as our earthquake laboratories. Computer simulations of earthquakes help us to test theoretical models and allow us to generate catalogs of synthetic earthquake events. In this column, we discuss several models...

The Hippo-YAP pathway regulates organ size by modulating cell proliferation and apoptosis. Yu et al. now reveal that G-protein-coupled receptors act upstream of the transcriptional coactivators YAP/TAZ. This study reinforces the connection between the actin cytoskeleton and Hippo pathway activity and identifies a class of secreted extracellular regulators of YAP/TAZ activity.

Detection of microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses is important in a variety of fields such as bioscience research, medical diagnosis, screening analysis in food processing and for environmental testing. Bacterial contamination of food, water and the environment is on the rise around the globe. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates 76 million food-borne illnesses ...

We provide an estimate, sharp up to poly-logarithmic factors, of the asymptotically almost sure mixing time of the graph created by long-range percolation on the cycle of length N (Z/NZ). While it is known that the almost sure diameter drops from linear to poly-logarithmic as the exponent s decreases below 2 [4, 9], the almost sure mixing time drops from N only to N (up to poly-logarithmic fact...

Acknowledgement First and foremost, I am deeply indebted to my parents, Zhongqing Jin and Qi Yao, who have always encouraged me to pursue higher education. To my husband, Yanzhen Li, who has always supported me during this journey. To my sister, Lan Jin, and her family for their love. I would like to thank my advisor, Dr. Mongi Abidi, who has made me who I am and who I will be in my professiona...