116 research outputs found
Influence of moving breathers on vacancies migration
A vacancy defect is described by a Frenkel--Kontorova model with a
discommensuration. This vacancy can migrate when interacts with a moving
breather. We establish that the width of the interaction potential must be
larger than a threshold value in order that the vacancy can move forward. This
value is related to the existence of a breather centred at the particles
adjacent to the vacancy.Comment: 11 pages, 10 figure
Bubble generation in a twisted and bent DNA-like model
The DNA molecule is modeled by a parabola embedded chain with long-range
interactions between twisted base pair dipoles. A mechanism for bubble
generation is presented and investigated in two different configurations. Using
random normally distributed initial conditions to simulate thermal
fluctuations, a relationship between bubble generation, twist and curvature is
established. An analytical approach supports the numerical results.Comment: 7 pages, 8 figures. Accepted for Phys. Rev. E (in press
Crystal structures and proton dynamics in potassium and cesium hydrogen bistrifluoroacetate salts with strong symmetric hydrogen bonds
The crystal structures of potassium and cesium bistrifluoroacetates were
determined at room temperature and at 20 K and 14 K, respectively, with the
single crystal neutron diffraction technique. The crystals belong to the I2/a
and A2/a monoclinic space groups, respectively, and there is no visible phase
transition. For both crystals, the trifluoroacetate entities form dimers linked
by very short hydrogen bonds lying across a centre of inversion. Any proton
disorder or double minimum potential can be rejected. The inelastic neutron
scattering spectral profiles in the OH stretching region between 500 and 1000
cm^{-1} previously published [Fillaux and Tomkinson, Chem. Phys. 158 (1991)
113] are reanalyzed. The best fitting potential has the major characteristics
already reported for potassium hydrogen maleate [Fillaux et al. Chem. Phys. 244
(1999) 387]. It is composed of a narrow well containing the ground state and a
shallow upper part corresponding to dissociation of the hydrogen bond.Comment: 31 pages, 7 figure
Nonlinearity-induced conformational instability and dynamics of biopolymers
We propose a simple phenomenological model for describing the conformational
dynamics of biopolymers via the nonlinearity-induced buckling and collapse
(i.e. coiling up) instabilities. Taking into account the coupling between the
internal and mechanical degrees of freedom of a semiflexible biopolymer chain,
we show that self-trapped internal excitations (such as amide-I vibrations in
proteins, base-pair vibrations in DNA, or polarons in proteins) may produce the
buckling and collapse instabilities of an initially straight chain. These
instabilities remain latent in a straight infinitely long chain, because the
bending of such a chain would require an infinite energy. However, they
manifest themselves as soon as we consider more realistic cases and take into
account a finite length of the chain. In this case the nonlinear localized
modes may act as drivers giving impetus to the conformational dynamics of
biopolymers. The buckling instability is responsible, in particular, for the
large-amplitude localized bending waves which accompany the nonlinear modes
propagating along the chain. In the case of the collapse instability, the chain
folds into a compact three-dimensional coil. The viscous damping of the aqueous
environment only slows down the folding of the chain, but does not stop it even
for a large damping. We find that these effects are only weakly affected by the
peculiarities of the interaction potentials, and thus they should be generic
for different models of semiflexible chains carrying nonlinear localized
excitations.Comment: 4 pages (RevTeX) with 5 figures (EPS
Energy localization and shape transformations in semiflexible polymer rings
Shape transformations in driven and damped molecular chains are considered. Closed chains of weakly coupled molecular subunits under the action of spatially homogeneous time-periodic external field are studied. The coupling between the internal excitations and the bending degrees of freedom of the chain modifies the local bending rigidity of the chain. In the absence of driving the array takes a circular shape.When the energy pumped into the system exceeds some critical value the chain undergoes a nonequilibrium phase transition: The circular shape of the aggregate becomes unstable and the chain takes the shape of an ellipse or, in general, of a polygon. The excitation energy distribution becomes spatially nonuniform: It localizes in such places where the chain is more flat. The weak interaction of the chain with a flat surface restricts the dynamics to a flat manifold.Y.B.G. acknowledges partial financial support from a special program of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, and is thankful to the Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science and the Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark as well as the University of Seville for hospitality. J.F.R.A acknowledges Grant No. 2011/FQM-280 from CEICE, Junta de Andalucia Spain. J.F.R.A. and V.J.S.-M. acknowledge financial support from Project No. FIS2015-65998-C2-2-P from MINECO, Spain.Gaididei, YB.; Archilla, JFR.; Sánchez Morcillo, VJ.; Gorria, C. (2016). Energy localization and shape transformations in semiflexible polymer rings. Physical Review E. 93(6):062227-1-062227-9. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.93.062227S062227-1062227-993
Alternative soot detection strategies for application in aero-engine test-beds : assessment of the performance and uncertainties of time-integrated LII
We describe a laser induced incandescence (LII) measurement system for 2D mapping of non-volatile particulate matter (soot) in full-scale aero-engine exhausts. Simulation allows us to quantify the sensitivity of the measurement to variation in physical properties such as primary particle size, over a range of laser fluences and as a function of beam diameter. We discuss the implications of our results for optimisation and calibration of soot imaging in exhaust streams
Practical Guidelines for Perioperative Hypersensitivity Reactions
Perioperative hypersensitivity reactions constitute a first-line problem for anesthesiologists and allergists. Therefore, hospitals should have a consensus protocol for the diagnosis and management of these reactions. However, this kind of protocol is not present in many hospitals, leading to problems with treatment, reporting of incidents, and subsequent etiological diagnosis. In this document, we present a systematic review of the available scientific evidence and provide general guidelines for the management of acute episodes and for referral of patients with perioperative hypersensitivity reactions to allergy units. Members of the Drug Allergy Committee of the Spanish Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (SEAIC) have created this document in collaboration with members of the Spanish Anesthesia Society (SEDAR). A practical algorithm is proposed for the etiologic diagnosis, and recommendations are provided for the management of hypersensitive patients
INVOLVEMENT OF MICROBIAL MATS IN DELAYED DECAY: AN EXPERIMENTAL ESSAY ON FISH PRESERVATION
Discrete breathers in and related models
We touch upon the wide topic of discrete breather formation with a special
emphasis on the the model. We start by introducing the model and
discussing some of the application areas/motivational aspects of exploring time
periodic, spatially localized structures, such as the discrete breathers. Our
main emphasis is on the existence, and especially on the stability features of
such solutions. We explore their spectral stability numerically, as well as in
special limits (such as the vicinity of the so-called anti-continuum limit of
vanishing coupling) analytically. We also provide and explore a simple, yet
powerful stability criterion involving the sign of the derivative of the energy
vs. frequency dependence of such solutions. We then turn our attention to
nonlinear stability, bringing forth the importance of a topological notion,
namely the Krein signature. Furthermore, we briefly touch upon linearly and
nonlinearly unstable dynamics of such states. Some special aspects/extensions
of such structures are only touched upon, including moving breathers and
dissipative variations of the model and some possibilities for future work are
highlighted
Velhas tardes de domingo (Notas sobre Domingão do Faustão e Programa Silvio Santos)
Nas tardes de domingo,as duas maiores redes de televisão brasileiras apresentam programas de auditório: a Rede Globo de Televisão transmite Domingão do Faustão e o Sistema Brasileiro de Televisão veicula o Programa Silvio Santos. Este estudo traça um breve histórico desses dois programas, descreve rapidamente suas estruturas, e, a partir daí, delineia hipóteses sobre possíveis funções desses produtos televisivos junto aos espectadores.
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