Two-dimensional structures in the quintic Ginzburg-Landau equation

By using ZEUS cluster at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University we perform extensive numerical simulations based on a two-dimensional Fourier spectral method Fourier spatial discretization and an explicit scheme for time differencing) to find the range of existence of the spatiotemporal solitons of the two-dimensional complex Ginzburg-Landau equation with cubic and quintic nonlinearities. We start from the parameters used by Akhmediev {\it et. al.} and slowly vary them one by one to determine the regimes where solitons exist as stable/unstable structures. We present eight classes of dissipative solitons from which six are known (stationary, pulsating, vortex spinning, filament, exploding, creeping) and two are novel (creeping-vortex propellers and spinning "bean-shaped" solitons). By running lengthy simulations for the different parameters of the equation, we find ranges of existence of stable structures (stationary, pulsating, circular vortex spinning, organized exploding), and unstable structures (elliptic vortex spinning that leads to filament, disorganized exploding, creeping). Moreover, by varying even the two initial conditions together with vorticity, we find a richer behavior in the form of creeping-vortex propellers, and spinning "bean-shaped" solitons. Each class differentiates from the other by distinctive features of their energy evolution, shape of initial conditions, as well as domain of existence of parameters.Comment: 19 pages, 19 figures, 8 tables, updated text and reference

Organosolv pretreatment of Sitka spruce wood: conversion of hemicelluloses to ethyl glycosides

A range of organosolv pretreatments, using ethanol:water mixtures with dilute sulphuric acid, were applied to Sitka spruce sawdust with the aim of generating useful co-products as well as improving saccharification yield. The most efficient of the pretreatment conditions, resulting in subsequent saccharification yields of up to 86%, converted a large part of the hemicellulose sugars to their ethyl glycosides as identified by GC/MS. These conditions also reduced conversion of pentoses to furfural, the ethyl glycosides being more stable to dehydration than the parent pentoses. Through comparison with the behaviour of model compounds under the same reaction conditions it was shown that the anomeric composition of the products was consistent with a predominant transglycosylation reaction mechanism, rather than hydrolysis followed by glycosylation. The ethyl glycosides have potential as intermediates in the sustainable production of high-value chemicals

The complexity of signed graph and edge-coloured graph homomorphisms

We study homomorphism problems of signed graphs from a computational point of view. A signed graph $(G,\Sigma)$ is a graph $G$ where each edge is given a sign, positive or negative; $\Sigma\subseteq E(G)$ denotes the set of negative edges. Thus, $(G, \Sigma)$ is a $2$-edge-coloured graph with the property that the edge-colours, $\{+, -\}$, form a group under multiplication. Central to the study of signed graphs is the operation of switching at a vertex, that results in changing the sign of each incident edge. We study two types of homomorphisms of a signed graph $(G,\Sigma)$ to a signed graph $(H,\Pi)$: ec-homomorphisms and s-homomorphisms. Each is a standard graph homomorphism of $G$ to $H$ with some additional constraint. In the former, edge-signs are preserved. In the latter, edge-signs are preserved after the switching operation has been applied to a subset of vertices of $G$. We prove a dichotomy theorem for s-homomorphism problems for a large class of (fixed) target signed graphs $(H,\Pi)$. Specifically, as long as $(H,\Pi)$ does not contain a negative (respectively a positive) loop, the problem is polynomial-time solvable if the core of $(H,\Pi)$ has at most two edges, and is NP-complete otherwise. (Note that this covers all simple signed graphs.) The same dichotomy holds if $(H,\Pi)$ has no negative digons, and we conjecture that it holds always. In our proofs, we reduce s-homomorphism problems to certain ec-homomorphism problems, for which we are able to show a dichotomy. In contrast, we prove that a dichotomy theorem for ec-homomorphism problems (even when restricted to bipartite target signed graphs) would settle the dichotomy conjecture of Feder and Vardi.Comment: 21 pages; 6 figures. In this version, we have adopted some changes in terminology and notatio

Cutwidth: obstructions and algorithmic aspects

Cutwidth is one of the classic layout parameters for graphs. It measures how well one can order the vertices of a graph in a linear manner, so that the maximum number of edges between any prefix and its complement suffix is minimized. As graphs of cutwidth at most $k$ are closed under taking immersions, the results of Robertson and Seymour imply that there is a finite list of minimal immersion obstructions for admitting a cut layout of width at most $k$. We prove that every minimal immersion obstruction for cutwidth at most $k$ has size at most $2^{O(k^3\log k)}$. As an interesting algorithmic byproduct, we design a new fixed-parameter algorithm for computing the cutwidth of a graph that runs in time $2^{O(k^2\log k)}\cdot n$, where $k$ is the optimum width and $n$ is the number of vertices. While being slower by a $\log k$-factor in the exponent than the fastest known algorithm, given by Thilikos, Bodlaender, and Serna in [Cutwidth I: A linear time fixed parameter algorithm, J. Algorithms, 56(1):1--24, 2005] and [Cutwidth II: Algorithms for partial $w$-trees of bounded degree, J. Algorithms, 56(1):25--49, 2005], our algorithm has the advantage of being simpler and self-contained; arguably, it explains better the combinatorics of optimum-width layouts

A physical model for seismic noise generation by turbulent flow in rivers

Previous studies suggest that the seismic noise induced by rivers may be used to infer river transport properties, and previous theoretical work showed that bedload sediment flux can be inverted from seismic data. However, the lack of a theoretical framework relating water flow to seismic noise prevents these studies from providing accurate bedload fluxes and quantitative information on flow processes. Here we propose a forward model of seismic noise caused by turbulent flow. In agreement with previous observations, modeled turbulent flow-induced noise operates at lower frequencies than bedload-induced noise. Moreover, the differences in the spectral signatures of turbulent flow-induced and bedload-induced forces at the riverbed are significant enough that these two processes can be characterized independently using seismic records acquired at various distances from the river. In cases with isolated turbulent flow noise, we suggest that riverbed stress can be inverted. Finally, we validate our model by comparing predictions to previously reported observations. We show that our model captures the spectral peak located around 6–7 Hz and previously attributed to water flow at Hance Rapids in the Colorado River (United States); we also show that turbulent flow causes a significant part of the seismic noise recorded at the Trisuli River in Nepal, which reveals that the hysteresis curve previously reported there does not solely include bedload, but is also largely influenced by turbulent flow-induced noise. We expect the framework presented here to be useful to invert realistic bedload fluxes by enabling the removal of the turbulent flow contribution from seismic data

Cryopreservation of encapsulated apices of sugarcane : effect of freezing procedure and histology

SUMMARY: The effect of sucrose concentration during the pregrowth treatment and of the freezing procedure on the survival of encapsulated apices of 6 sugarcane varieties was investigated. The optimal sucrose concentration was 0.75M. Survival was noted with both rapid freezing by direct immersion in liquid nitrogen and slow freezing using a programmable freezer but it was generally higher &er rapid cooling. Important genotypic variation was observed for both parameters studied. Histological examination revealed that cells were slightly harmed during pregrowth and freezing. Apices could withstand freezing as a whole. Direct regrowth of cryopreserved apices occurred within 3 days after thawing

Error correcting code using tree-like multilayer perceptron

An error correcting code using a tree-like multilayer perceptron is proposed. An original message \mbi{s}^0 is encoded into a codeword \boldmath{y}_0 using a tree-like committee machine (committee tree) or a tree-like parity machine (parity tree). Based on these architectures, several schemes featuring monotonic or non-monotonic units are introduced. The codeword \mbi{y}_0 is then transmitted via a Binary Asymmetric Channel (BAC) where it is corrupted by noise. The analytical performance of these schemes is investigated using the replica method of statistical mechanics. Under some specific conditions, some of the proposed schemes are shown to saturate the Shannon bound at the infinite codeword length limit. The influence of the monotonicity of the units on the performance is also discussed.Comment: 23 pages, 3 figures, Content has been extended and revise

Sea ice inertial oscillations in the Arctic Basin

International audienceAn original method to quantify the amplitude of inertial motion of oceanic and ice drifters, through the introduction of a non-dimensional parameter M defined from a spectral analysis, is presented. A strong seasonal dependence of the magnitude of sea ice inertial oscillations is revealed, in agreement with the corresponding annual cycles of sea ice extent, concentration, thickness, advection velocity, and deformation rates. The spatial pattern of the magnitude of the sea ice inertial oscillations over the Arctic Basin is also in agreement with the sea ice thickness and concentration patterns. This argues for a strong interaction between the magnitude of inertial motion on one hand, the dissipation of energy through mechanical processes, and the cohesiveness of the cover on the other hand. Finally, a significant multi-annual evolution towards greater magnitudes of inertial oscillations in recent years, in both summer and winter, is reported, thus concomitant with reduced sea ice thickness, concentration and spatial extent

Quels liens entre climatologie, occupation des sols et inondations dans le bassin versant de l'Yzeron (ouest Lyonnais) ? Apport de l'analyse conjointe de données hydroclimatiques et d'images satellitaires très haute résolution

Le bassin versant de l'Yzeron, situé en périphérie immédiate de la ville de Lyon, est un bassin représentatif des bassins versants périurbains français. Il connaît, depuis les années 1970, une augmentation importante de son urbanisation. Ces dernières années, des crues importantes, entraînant des inondations à l'aval du bassin versant ont marqué les esprits, posant la question de l'impact des modifications de l'occupation des sols dans le bassin versant sur le régime des crues. Dans cet article, nous utilisons l'analyse combinée de données hydroclimatiques (pluie, température, évapotranspiration de référence -ET0, débits) et de cartes de l'occupation des sols dérivées d'images satellites SPOT à haute et très haute résolution pour aborder cette question. L'analyse des débits montre l'existence d'une évolution du régime des crues, avec une augmentation significative des crues sub -seuils pour des durées de 1,5h, 3h, 6h, 12h et 36h sur la période 1970-2010. L'analyse de l'échantillon de crues obtenue par cette analyse débit-durée-fréquence montre que les crues les plus importantes sont plutôt liées à des épisodes ayant conduit à un cumul de pluie important (> 80 mm en quelques jours). Une corrélation significative est aussi obtenue entre débit de base et coefficient de ruissellement, ce qui montre que ces crues peuvent être associées à des écoulements sur surfaces saturées. Les évolutions du climat (pluviométrie, température, ET0) ne permettent pas d'expliquer l'augmentation des crues observées. En revanche, l'occupation des sols entre 1990 et 2008 montre une augmentation des sur faces imperméables qui passent de 15,2 % de la surface totale du bassin en 1990 à 18,2 % en 1999 et 22,6 % en 2008. Cette évolution de l'imperméabilisation est mise en regard de l'accroissement de la population du bassin sur cette même période. Enfin, nous illustrons la réponse hydrologique du bassin versant avec deux épisodes pour lesquels le rôle de l'occupation des sols est différent. Le premier, celui du 02/12/2003 est typique d'une réponse par saturation du bassin, avec une contribution majeure des zon es rurales, suite à des cumuls pluviométriques importants. Le second, celui du 09/08/2009 représente un orage d'été, très court mais avec des intensités importantes, conduisant essentiellement à une réponse rapide des zones urbaines et pour lequel l'occupation des sols joue un rôle majeur

Statistical mechanics of lossy compression for non-monotonic multilayer perceptrons

A lossy data compression scheme for uniformly biased Boolean messages is investigated via statistical mechanics techniques. We utilize tree-like committee machine (committee tree) and tree-like parity machine (parity tree) whose transfer functions are non-monotonic. The scheme performance at the infinite code length limit is analyzed using the replica method. Both committee and parity treelike networks are shown to saturate the Shannon bound. The AT stability of the Replica Symmetric solution is analyzed, and the tuning of the non-monotonic transfer function is also discussed.Comment: 29 pages, 7 figure