Anomalous velocity distributions in active Brownian suspensions

Large scale simulations and analytical theory have been combined to obtain the non-equilibrium velocity distribution, $f(v)$, of randomly accelerated particles in suspension. The simulations are based on an event-driven algorithm, generalised to include friction. They reveal strongly anomalous but largely universal distributions which are independent of volume fraction and collision processes, which suggests a one-particle model should capture all the essential features. We have formulated this one-particle model and solved it analytically in the limit of strong damping, where we find that $f(v)$ decays as $1/v$ for multiple decades, eventually crossing over to a Gaussian decay for the largest velocities. Many particle simulations and numerical solution of the one-particle model agree for all values of the damping.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure

Slow dynamics and precursors of the glass transition in granular fluids

We use event driven simulations to analyze glassy dynamics as a function of density and energy dissipation in a two-dimensional bidisperse granular fluid under stationary conditions. Clear signatures of a glass transition are identified, such as an increase of relaxation times over several orders of magnitude. As the inelasticity is increased, the glass transition is shifted to higher densities and the precursors of the transition become less and less pronounced -- in agreement with a recent mode-coupling theory. We analyze the long-time tails of the velocity autocorrelation and discuss its consequences for the nonexistence of the diffusion constant in two dimensions.Comment: 10 pages, 16 figure

Long-time tails and cage effect in driven granular fluids

We study the velocity autocorrelation function (VACF) of a driven granular fluid in the stationary state in 3 dimensions. As the critical volume fraction of the glass transition in the corresponding elastic system is approached, we observe pronounced cage effects in the VACF as well as a strong decrease of the diffusion constant. At moderate densities the VACF is shown to decay algebraically in time (t^{-3/2}) like in a molecular fluid, as long as the driving conserves momentum locally.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Demand-driven data acquisition for large scale fleets

Automakers manage vast fleets of connected vehicles and face an ever-increasing demand for their sensor readings. This demand originates from many stakeholders, each potentially requiring different sensors from different vehicles. Currently, this demand remains largely unfulfilled due to a lack of systems that can handle such diverse demands efficiently. Vehicles are usually passive participants in data acquisition, each continuously reading and transmitting the same static set of sensors. However, in a multi-tenant setup with diverse data demands, each vehicle potentially needs to provide different data instead. We present a system that performs such vehicle-specific minimization of data acquisition by mapping individual data demands to individual vehicles. We collect personal data only after prior consent and fulfill the requirements of the GDPR. Non-personal data can be collected by directly addressing individual vehicles. The system consists of a software component natively integrated with a major automaker’s vehicle platform and a cloud platform brokering access to acquired data. Sensor readings are either provided via near real-time streaming or as recorded trip files that provide specific consistency guarantees. A performance evaluation with over 200,000 simulated vehicles has shown that our system can increase server capacity on-demand and process streaming data within 269 ms on average during peak load. The resulting architecture can be used by other automakers or operators of large sensor networks. Native vehicle integration is not mandatory; the architecture can also be used with retrofitted hardware such as OBD readers. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Strong Dynamical Heterogeneity and Universal Scaling in Driven Granular Fluids

Large scale simulations of two-dimensional bidisperse granular fluids allow us to determine spatial correlations of slow particles via the four-point structure factor $S_4(q,t)$. Both cases, elastic ($\varepsilon=1$) as well as inelastic ($\varepsilon < 1$) collisions, are studied. As the fluid approaches structural arrest, i.e. for packing fractions in the range $0.6 \le \phi \le 0.805$, scaling is shown to hold: $S_4(q,t)/\chi_4(t)=s(q\xi(t))$. Both the dynamic susceptibility, $\chi_4(\tau_{\alpha})$, as well as the dynamic correlation length, $\xi(\tau_{\alpha})$, evaluated at the $\alpha$ relaxation time, $\tau_{\alpha}$, can be fitted to a power law divergence at a critical packing fraction. The measured $\xi(\tau_{\alpha})$ widely exceeds the largest one previously observed for hard sphere 3d fluids. The number of particles in a slow cluster and the correlation length are related by a robust power law, $\chi_4(\tau_{\alpha}) \approx\xi^{d-p}(\tau_{\alpha})$, with an exponent $d-p\approx 1.6$. This scaling is remarkably independent of $\varepsilon$, even though the strength of the dynamical heterogeneity increases dramatically as $\varepsilon$ grows.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figure

Dynamics of an Intruder in Dense Granular Fluids

We investigate the dynamics of an intruder pulled by a constant force in a dense two-dimensional granular fluid by means of event-driven molecular dynamics simulations. In a first step, we show how a propagating momentum front develops and compactifies the system when reflected by the boundaries. To be closer to recent experiments \cite{candelier2010journey,candelier2009creep}, we then add a frictional force acting on each particle, proportional to the particle's velocity. We show how to implement frictional motion in an event-driven simulation. This allows us to carry out extensive numerical simulations aiming at the dependence of the intruder's velocity on packing fraction and pulling force. We identify a linear relation for small and a nonlinear regime for high pulling forces and investigate the dependence of these regimes on granular temperature

Do Associations Support Authoritarian Rule? Tentative Answers from Algeria, Mozambique, and Vietnam

Whether associations help to democratise authoritarian rule or support those in power is a contested issue that so far lacks a cross-regional perspective. Drawing on relational sociology, this paper explores the impact of state power in Algeria, Mozambique, and Vietnam on associations and vice versa. We focus on decision-making in associations and on three policy areas - welfare policy concerning HIV/AIDS, economic policy concerning small and mediumsized enterprises, policies concerning gender equality and the rights of women and sexual minorities - to assess the relations between associations and the state's infrastructural and discursive power. Most associations interviewed by us in the three countries accept or do not openly reject the state's and/or the state ruling party's various forms of interference in internal decision-making processes. Whereas associations in Algeria and Vietnam help to maintain the state's control through welfare provision, associations in Mozambique can weaken this form of infrastructural state power. Moreover, business and professionals' associations in all three countries help maintain the state's control through limited participation, i.e. another form of infrastructural state power. Finally, associations in all three countries support the state's discourse and policies in the area of gender equality and women's rights, though in all three countries at least some NGOs help weaken this form of state power

The junior Research Academy 2017 of the German Research Foundation (DFG) - Promotion of Young Researchers in Health Services

The fourth Junior Research Academy in Health Services Research was once again funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) in 2017. The academy was initiated by the Centre for Health and Society (chs) in Dusseldorf with the participation of the Centre for Health Services Research Cologne (ZVFK), the Research Centre for Health Communication and Health Services Research (CHSR) of the Clinic and Polyclinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy of the University Hospital Bonn, the Interdisciplinary Centre for Health Services Research (IZVF) in Witten and the Institute for Health Services Research and Clinical Epidemiology (IVE) of the University Marburg. The aims of the Junior Research Academy are for imparting skills in the development and elaboration of innovative project ideas, to increase the number of proposals from the field of health services research to the DFG, to strengthen basic research within health services research in Germany and to network the scientific community. Young researchers from all over Germanywere eligible to apply for participation by submitting an application in the form of a research proposal. A total of 83 applications were received. The 21 most promising applicants (14 women and 7 men) were selected in a 2-stage review process; 20 of these completed the Junior Research Academy program. After a one-day preparatory workshop, the preparation and review of a sample application, an academy week and a finalisation phase, all applications were submitted to the DFG on time. Of these proposals, 9 were funded. The first alumni meeting of the DFG Junior Research Academy took place in Dusseldorf in July 2019