Transition Phenomena Induced by Internal Noise and Quasi-absorbing State

We study a simple chemical reaction system and effects of the internal noise. The chemical reaction system causes the same transition phenomenon discussed by Togashi and Kaneko [Phys. Rev. Lett. 86 (2001) 2459; J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. 72 (2003) 62]. By using the simpler model than Togashi-Kaneko's one, we discuss the transition phenomenon by means of a random walk model and an effective model. The discussion makes it clear that quasi-absorbing states, which are produced by the change of the strength of the internal noise, play an important role in the transition phenomenon. Stabilizing the quasi-absorbing states causes bifurcation of the peaks in the stationary probability distribution discontinuously.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure

Growth monitoring of horticulture crops using unmanned aerial vehicle (Part 1) - field monitoring of potatoes

Background: Precision agricultural techniques using information such as precise crop growth conditions in fields have attracted attention recently. One technique uses remote sensing methods for field monitoring. Remote sensing for agriculture using satellites and aircraft has been used widely. Actually pilotless remote sensing is anticipated for use with test fields. Therefore, we investigated field monitoring techniques using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to obtain horticulture crop information. Methods: In 2016, aerial images were taken on July 12, 24, and 31. For sensing tests, potato plants were set on 11 test blocks on July 31. Image analysis was done using a composite photograph of an Ortho image comprising about 150 aerial photographic images. Results and conclusion: Composite aerial photographs of the Ortho image showed potato leaf etiolation and differences of vegetation. The G/R ratio of aerial images decreased as the plant stage advanced. This monitoring system can elucidate potato field plant conditions from aerial photographic images that include information about test blocks

Recursiveness, Switching, and Fluctuations in a Replicating Catalytic Network

A protocell model consisting of mutually catalyzing molecules is studied in order to investigate how chemical compositions are transferred recursively through cell divisions under replication errors. Depending on the path rate, the numbers of molecules and species, three phases are found: fast switching state without recursive production, recursive production, and itinerancy between the above two states. The number distributions of the molecules in the recursive states are shown to be log-normal except for those species that form a core hypercycle, and are explained with the help of a heuristic argument.Comment: 4 pages (with 7 figures (6 color)), submitted to PR

Creation and Reproduction of Model Cells with Semipermeable Membrane

A high activity of reactions can be confined in a model cell with a semipermeable membrane in the Schl\"ogl model. It is interpreted as a model of primitive metabolism in a cell. We study two generalized models to understand the creation of primitive cell systems conceptually from the view point of the nonlinear-nonequilibrium physics. In the first model, a single-cell system with a highly active state confined by a semipermeable membrane is spontaneously created from an inactive homogeneous state by a stochastic jump process. In the second model, many cell structures are reproduced from a single cell, and a multicellular system is created.Comment: 11 pages, 7 figure

Analytical study of non Gaussian fluctuations in a stochastic scheme of autocatalytic reactions

A stochastic model of autocatalytic chemical reactions is studied both numerically and analytically. The van Kampen perturbative scheme is implemented, beyond the second order approximation, so to capture the non Gaussianity traits as displayed by the simulations. The method is targeted to the characterization of the third moments of the distribution of fluctuations, originating from a system of four populations in mutual interaction. The theory predictions agree well with the simulations, pointing to the validity of the van Kampen expansion beyond the conventional Gaussian solution.Comment: 15 pages, 8 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Transitions Induced by the Discreteness of Molecules in a Small Autocatalytic System

Autocatalytic reaction system with a small number of molecules is studied numerically by stochastic particle simulations. A novel state due to fluctuation and discreteness in molecular numbers is found, characterized as extinction of molecule species alternately in the autocatalytic reaction loop. Phase transition to this state with the change of the system size and flow is studied, while a single-molecule switch of the molecule distributions is reported. Relevance of the results to intracellular processes are briefly discussed.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Melting of magnetic order in NaOsO₃ by femtosecond laser pulses

NaOsO3 has recently attracted significant attention for the strong coupling between its electronic band structure and magnetic ordering. Here, we used time-resolved magnetic x-ray diffraction to determine the timescale of the photoinduced antiferromagnetic dynamics in NaOsO3. Our measurements are consistent with a sub-100 fs melting of the antiferromagnetic long-range order that occurs significantly faster than the lattice dynamics as monitored by the transient change in intensity of selected Bragg structural reflections, which instead show a decrease of intensity on a timescale of several ps

Nernst effect of the new iron-based superconductor LaO1−x_{1-x}Fx_{x}FeAs

We report the first Nernst effect measurement on the new iron-based superconductor LaO$_{1-x}$F$_{x}$FeAs $(x=0.1)$. In the normal state, the Nernst signal is negative and very small. Below $T_{c}$ a large positive peak caused by vortex motion is observed. The flux flowing regime is quite large compared to conventional type-II superconductors. However, a clear deviation of the Nernst signal from normal state background and an anomalous depression of off-diagonal thermoelectric current in the normal state between $T_{c}$ and 50 K are observed. We propose that this anomaly in the normal state Nernst effect could correlate with the SDW fluctuations.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures; Latex file changed, references adde

Marimo machines: Oscillators, biosensors and actuators

BackgroundThe green algae balls (Aegagropila linnaei), known as Marimo, are large spherical colonies of live photosynthetic filaments, formed by rolling water currents in freshwater lakes. Photosynthesis therein produces gas bubbles that can attach to the Marimo, consequently changing its buoyancy. This property allows them to float in the presence of light and sink in its absence.ResultsWe demonstrate that this ability can be harnessed to make actuators, biosensors and bioprocessors (oscillator, logic gates). Factors affecting Marimo movement have been studied to enable the design, construction and testing of working prototypes.ConclusionsA novel actuator design is reported, incorporating an enhanced bubble retention system and the design and optimisation of a bio-oscillator is demonstrated. A range of logic gates (or, and, nor, nand, xor) implementable with Marimo have been proposed