Spatiotemporal chaotic dynamics of solitons with internal structure in the presence of finite-width inhomogeneities

We present an analytical and numerical study of the Klein-Gordon kink-soliton dynamics in inhomogeneous media. In particular, we study an external field that is almost constant for the whole system but that changes its sign at the center of coordinates and a localized impurity with finite-width. The soliton solution of the Klein-Gordon-like equations is usually treated as a structureless point-like particle. A richer dynamics is unveiled when the extended character of the soliton is taken into account. We show that interesting spatiotemporal phenomena appear when the structure of the soliton interacts with finite-width inhomogeneities. We solve an inverse problem in order to have external perturbations which are generic and topologically equivalent to well-known bifurcation models and such that the stability problem can be solved exactly. We also show the different quasiperiodic and chaotic motions the soliton undergoes as a time-dependent force pumps energy into the traslational mode of the kink and relate these dynamics with the excitation of the shape modes of the soliton.Comment: 10 pages Revtex style article, 22 gziped postscript figures and 5 jpg figure

Environmental Behaviour of Metolachlor and Diuron in a Tropical Soil in the Central Region of Brazil.

The environmental behaviour of metolachlor and diuron was studied in the Central-western region of Brazil, by means of a field study where six experimental plots were installed. The soil was classified as a Latosol, and the soil horizons were characterized. Sorption of metolachlor and diuron was evaluated in laboratory batch experiments. Metolachlor and diuron were applied to the experimental plots on uncultivated soil in October 2003. From this date to March 2004, the following processes were studied: leaching, runoff and dissipation in top soil. Koc of metolachlor varied from 179 to 264 mL g?1 in the soil horizons. Koc of diuron in the Ap horizon was 917 mL g?1, decreasing significantly in the deeper horizons. Field dissipation half-lives of metolachlor and diuron were 18 and 15 days, respectively. In percolated water, metolachlor was detected in concentrations ranging from 0.02 to 2.84 ?g L?1. In runoff water and sediment, metolachlor was detected in decreasing concentrations throughout the period of study. Losses of 0.02% and 0.54% of the applied amount by leaching and runoff, respectively, were observed confirming the high mobility of this herbicide in the environment. In percolated water, diuron was detected with low frequency but in relatively high concentrations (up to 6.29 ?g L?1). In runoff water and soil, diuron was detected in decreasing concentrations until 70 days after application, totalizing 13.9% during the whole sampling period. These results show the importance of practices to reduce runoff avoiding surface water contamination by these pesticides, particularly diuron

Cost Effective CO2 Reduction in the Iron & Steel Industry by Means of the SEWGS Technology: STEPWISE Project

In the STEPWISE project, the Sorption Enhanced Water-Gas Shift (SEWGS) technology for CO2 capture is brought to TRL6 by means of design, construction, operation and modelling a pilot installation in the Iron and Steel industry using Blast Furnace Gas (BFG). This advanced CO2 removal technology makes use of regenerative solid adsorbents. The STEPWISE project represents the essential demonstration step within the research, development and demonstration trajectory of the SEWGS technology. This project will further reduce the risks associated with scaling up the process

Along-strike segmentation in the northern Caribbean plate boundary zone (Hispaniola sector): Tectonic implications

Highlights • Along-strike variations of tectonic framework in northeastern Caribbean margin are studied. • Shallow plate boundary structure related to the slab geometry has been defined. • First-order fault systems and its associated features have been mapped along the margin. Abstract The North American (NOAM) plate converges with the Caribbean (CARIB) plate at a rate of 20.0 ± 0.4 mm/yr. towards 254 ± 1°. Plate convergence is highly oblique (20–10°), resulting in a complex crustal boundary with along-strike segmentation, strain partitioning and microplate tectonics. We study the oblique convergence of the NOAM and CARIB plates between southeastern Cuba to northern Puerto Rico using new swath multibeam bathymetry data and 2D multi-channel seismic profiles. The combined interpretation of marine geophysical data with the seismicity and geodetic data from public databases allow us to perform a regional scale analysis of the shallower structure, the seismotectonics and the slab geometry along the plate boundary. Due to differential rollback between the NOAM oceanic crust north of Puerto Rico and the relative thicker Bahamas Carbonate Province crust north of Hispaniola a slab tear is created at 68.5°W. The northern margin of Puerto Rico records the oblique high-dip subduction and rollback of the NOAM plate below the island arc. Those processes have resulted in a forearc transpressive tectonics (without strain partitioning), controlled by the Septentrional-Oriente Fault Zone (SOFZ) and the Bunce Fault Zone (BFZ). Meanwhile, in the northern margin of Hispaniola, the collision of the Bahamas Carbonate Province results in high plate coupling with strain partitioning: SOFZ and Northern Hispaniola Deformed Belt (NHDB). In the northern Haitian margin, compression is still relevant since seismicity is mostly associated with the deformation front, whereas strike slip earthquakes are hardly anecdotal. Although in Hispaniola intermediate-depth seismicity should disappear, diffuse intermediate-depth hypocenter remains evidencing the presence of remnant NOAM subducted slab below central and western Hispaniola. Results of this study improve our understanding of the active tectonics in the NE Caribbean that it is the base for future assessment studies on seismic and tsunamigenic hazard

Determinação de pesticidas em água de poços tubulares em áreas de cultura de algodão na microrregião de primavera do leste, Mato Grosso.

O presente trabalho objetivou realizar uma avaliação preliminar da presença de pesticidas em poços tubulares em 5 áreas de cultura de algodão na região de Primavera do Leste. A caracterização da cobertura pedológica foi efetuada através da elaboração de toposseqüências. A geologia do local dos poços é representada por material argilo-arenoso com concreções ferruginosas da Cobertura Detrito-Laterítica. Foi realizado um levantamento dos pesticidas usados na cultura do algodão, cuja seleção baseou-se em suas propriedades físico-químicas e índices GUS e LIX. Foram realizadas quatro etapas de coleta de amostras de água nos meses de abril, agosto e novembro de 2002 e fevereiro de 2003. O método de análise consistiu na extração em fase sólida das amostras de água com determinação por CG/EM e HPLC/DAD. Dentre os pesticidas analisados foram detectados a atrazina, metolacloro, carbofuram, parationa-metílica, imidacloprido e diurom, com concentrações máximas de 0,07; 0,41; 1,08; 0,17; 3,41 e 2,00 µg L-1, respectivamente. Apesar dos pesticidas terem sido detectados em concentrações baixas, uma vez que os fatores responsáveis pela degradação destas substâncias estão ou ausentes ou presentes em muito menor intensidade nas camadas mais profundas do solo, a presença destas substâncias em águas subterrâneas é um indicativo da sua vulnerabilidade à contaminação

Photoperiod affects the phenotype of mitochondrial complex I mutants

Plant mutants for genes encoding subunits of mitochondrial Complex I (CI, NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase), the first enzyme of the respiratory chain, display various phenotypes depending on growth conditions. Here, we examined the impact of photoperiod, a major environmental factor controlling plant development, on two Arabidopsis thaliana CI mutants: a new insertion mutant interrupted in both ndufs8.1 and ndufs8.2 genes encoding the NDUFS8 subunit, and the previously characterized ndufs4 CI mutant. In long day (LD) condition, both ndufs8.1 and ndufs8.2 single mutants were indistinguishable from Col-0 at phenotypic and biochemical levels, whereas the ndufs8.1 ndufs8.2 double mutant was devoid of detectable holo-CI assembly/activity, showed higher AOX content/activity and displayed a growth-retardation phenotype similar to that of the ndufs4 mutant. Although growth was more affected in ndufs4 than ndufs8.1 ndufs8.2 under short day (SD) condition, both mutants displayed a similar impairment of growth acceleration after transfer to LD as compared to the WT. Untargeted and targeted metabolomics showed that overall metabolism was less responsive to the SD-to-LD transition in mutants than in the WT. The typical LD acclimation of carbon, nitrogen-assimilation and redox-related parameters was not observed in ndufs8.1 ndufs8. Similarly, NAD(H) content, that was higher in SD condition in both mutants than in Col-0, did not adjust under LD. We propose that altered redox homeostasis and NAD(H) content/redox state control the phenotype of Complex I mutants and photoperiod acclimation in Arabidopsis

Determinação de pesticidas em água de poços tubulares em áreas de cultura de algodão na microrregião de Primavera do Leste, Mato Grosso.

O presente trabalho objetivou realizar uma avaliação preliminar da presença de pesticidas em poços tubulares em 5 áreas de cultura de algodão na região de Primavera do Leste. A caracterização da cobertura pedológica foi efetuada através da elaboração de toposseqüências. A geologia do local dos poços é representada por material argilo-arenoso com concreções ferruginosas da Cobertura Detrito-Laterítica. Foi realizado um levantamento dos pesticidas usados na cultura do algodão, cuja seleção baseou-se em suas propriedades físico-químicas e índices GUS e LIX. Foram realizadas quatro etapas de coleta de amostras de água nos meses de abril, agosto e novembro de 2002 e fevereiro de 2003. O método de análise consistiu na extração em fase sólida das amostras de água com determinação por CG/EM e HPLC/DAD. Dentre os pesticidas analisados foram detectados a atrazina, metolacloro, carbofuram, parationa-metílica, imidacloprido e diurom, com concentrações máximas de 0,07; 0,41; 1,08; 0,17; 3,41 e 2,00 µg L-1, respectivamente. Apesar dos pesticidas terem sido detectados em concentrações baixas, uma vez que os fatores responsáveis pela degradação destas substâncias estão ou ausentes ou presentes em muito menor intensidade nas camadas mais profundas do solo, a presença destas substâncias em águas subterrâneas é um indicativo da sua vulnerabilidade à contaminação

Automated Identification and Prioritization of Business Risks in e-service Networks

Modern e-service providers rely on service innovation to stay relevant. Once a new service package is designed, implementation-specific aspects such as value (co-)creation and cost/benefit analysis are investigated. However, due to time-to-market or competitive advantage constraints, innovative services are rarely assessed for potential risks of fraud before they are put out on the market. But these risks may result in loss of economic value for actors involved in the e-service’s provision.\ud Our e3fraude3fraud approach automatically generates and prioritizes undesired-able scenarios from a business value model of the e-service, thereby drastically reducing the time needed to conduct an assessment. We provide examples from telecom service provision to motivate and illustrate the utility of the tool