Vortices in vibrated granular rods

We report the experimental observation of novel vortex patterns in vertically vibrated granular rods. Above a critical packing fraction, moving ordered domains of nearly vertical rods spontaneously form and coexist with horizontal rods. The domains of vertical rods coarsen in time to form large vortices. We investigate the conditions under which the vortices occur by varying the number of rods, vibration amplitude and frequency. The size of the vortices increases with the number of rods. We characterize the growth of the ordered domains by measuring the area fraction of the ordered regions as a function of time. A {\em void filling} model is presented to describe the nucleation and growth of the vertical domains. We track the ends of the vertical rods and obtain the velocity fields of the vortices. The rotation speed of the rods is observed to depend on the vibration velocity of the container and on the packing. To investigate the impact of the direction of driving on the observed phenomena, we performed experiments with the container vibrated horizontally. Although vertical domains form, vortices are not observed. We therefore argue that the motion is generated due to the interaction of the inclination of the rods with the bottom of a vertically vibrated container. We also perform simple experiments with a single row of rods in an annulus. These experiments directly demonstrate that the rod motion is generated when the rods are inclined from the vertical, and is always in the direction of the inclination.Comment: 6 pages, 10 figure, 2 movies at http://physics.clarku.edu/vortex uses revtex

Cracking Piles of Brittle Grains

A model which accounts for cracking avalanches in piles of grains subject to external load is introduced and numerically simulated. The stress is stochastically transferred from higher layers to lower ones. Cracked areas exhibit various morphologies, depending on the degree of randomness in the packing and on the ductility of the grains. The external force necessary to continue the cracking process is constant in wide range of values of the fraction of already cracked grains. If the grains are very brittle, the force fluctuations become periodic in early stages of cracking. Distribution of cracking avalanches obeys a power law with exponent $\tau = 2.4 \pm 0.1$.Comment: RevTeX, 6 pages, 7 postscript figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Properties of layer-by-layer vector stochastic models of force fluctuations in granular materials

We attempt to describe the stress distributions of granular packings using lattice-based layer-by-layer stochastic models that satisfy the constraints of force and torque balance and non-tensile forces at each site. The inherent asymmetry in the layer-by-layer approach appears to lead to an asymmetric force distribution, in disagreement with both experiments and general symmetry considerations. The vertical force component probability distribution is robust and in agreement with predictions of the scalar q model while the distribution of horizontal force components is qualitatively different and depends on the details of implementation.Comment: 18 pages, 12 figures (with subfigures), 1 table. Uses revtex, epsfig,subfigure, and cite. Submitted to PRE. Plots have been bitmapped. High-resolution version is available. Email [email protected] or download from http://rainbow.uchicago.edu/~mbnguyen/research/vm.htm

Pharmacological Properties and Physiological Function of a P2X-Like Current in Single Proximal Tubule Cells Isolated from Frog Kidney

Although previous studies have provided evidence for the expression of P2X receptors in renal proximal tubule, only one cell line study has provided functional evidence. The current study investigated the pharmacological properties and physiological role of native P2X-like currents in single frog proximal tubule cells using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Extracellular ATP activated a cation conductance (P2Xf) that was also Ca2+-permeable. The agonist sequence for activation was ATP = αβ-MeATP > BzATP = 2-MeSATP, and P2Xf was inhibited by suramin, PPADS and TNP-ATP. Activation of P2Xf attenuated the rundown of a quinidine-sensitive K+ conductance, suggesting that P2Xf plays a role in K+ channel regulation. In addition, ATP/ADP apyrase and inhibitors of P2Xf inhibited regulatory volume decrease (RVD). These data are consistent with the presence of a P2X receptor that plays a role in the regulation of cell volume and K+ channels in frog renal proximal tubule cells

The statistical mechanics of granular systems composed of irregularly shaped grains

Abstract In this paper we will suggest a model for the packing properties and phase behaviour of a granular material whose constituents are elongated in nature, using the concepts of configurational statistical mechanics. We will show that, depending upon the shape of the grains, the system need not necessarily undergo a discontinuous first-order phase transition (even at minimum close packing). We will also briefly discuss the relationship between this model and more conventional models, such as Onsager's hard rod model

Eigen analysis of the stability and degree of information content in correlation matrices constructed from property time series data

Property is an asset which forms part of the portfolios of many investors, particularly institutional ones, along with equities and bonds. Techniques from physics, particularly that of random matrix theory, have provided powerful insights into the behaviour of financial assets. A large database providing time series data for over 10,000 individual properties is available for the UK. Some of the data is available at an annual and some at a monthly frequency. However, even at the monthly frequency, only a relatively small number of observations is available, certainly in comparison with that available with financial assets. A key issue in translating methods of analysis in financial markets to property data is whether they are applicable given the small number of data points available. This paper addresses this issue. Using the tools of random matrix theory, we find that a great deal of information is contained within property data. The correlations between different types and geographical locations of property tend to have far more true information and be more stable over time than is the case with financial data, despite the large number of observations available with the latter