High electrical resistivity carbon/graphite fibers

Carbon/graphite fibers were chemically oxidized in the liquid phase to fibers of graphite oxide. Resistivity increases as high as 10,000 times were obtained, the oxidized fiber decomposed on exposure to atmosphere. A factor of 1,000 remained as a stable increment. The largest change observed was 1,000,000 times. Best results were obtained on the most highly graphitized fibers. Electrochemical oxidation yielded a lower increase--about 10 times, but provided a controllable method of synthesis and insight to the mechanism of reaction. Tensile tests indicated that the strength of the fiber on oxidation was decreased by no more than 25 percent

Application of computer techniques to some problems in linear viscoelasticity

Computer solutions in terms of molecular theories of linear viscoelasticit

Diversity and Relatedness Enhance Survival in Colour Polymorphic Grasshoppers

Evolutionary theory predicts that different resource utilization and behaviour by alternative phenotypes may reduce competition and enhance productivity and individual performance in polymorphic, as compared with monomorphic, groups of individuals. However, firm evidence that members of more heterogeneous groups benefit from enhanced survival has been scarce or lacking. Furthermore, benefits associated with phenotypic diversity may be counterbalanced by costs mediated by reduced relatedness, since closely related individuals typically are more similar. Pygmy grasshoppers (Tetrix subulata) are characterized by extensive polymorphism in colour pattern, morphology, behaviour and physiology. We studied experimental groups founded by different numbers of mothers and found that survival was higher in low than in high density, that survival peaked at intermediate colour morph diversity in high density, and that survival was independent of diversity in low density where competition was less intense. We further demonstrate that survival was enhanced by relatedness, as expected if antagonistic and competitive interactions are discriminately directed towards non-siblings. We therefore also performed behavioural observations and staged encounters which confirmed that individuals recognized and responded differently to siblings than to non-siblings. We conclude that negative effects associated with competition are less manifest in diverse groups, that there is conflicting selection for and against genetic diversity occurring simultaneously, and that diversity and relatedness may facilitate the productivity and ecological success of groups of interacting individuals

Classical Density Functional Study on Interfacial Structure and Differential Capacitance of Ionic Liquids near Charged Surfaces

We have implemented a generic coarse-grained model for the aromatic ionic liquid [CnMIM+][Tf2N-]. Various lengths for the alkyl chain on the cation define a homologous series, whose electric properties are expected to vary in a systematic way. Within the framework of a classical density functional theory, the interfacial structures of members of this series are compared over a range of surface charge densities, alkyl chain lengths, and surface geometries. The differential capacitance of the electric double layer, formed by ionic liquids against a charged electrode, is calculated as a function of the surface electric potential. A comparison of planar, cylindrical, and spherical surfaces confirms that the differential capacitance increases and varies less with surface potential as the surface curvature increases. Our results are in qualitative agreement with recent atomistic simulations

Eye Tracking during High Speed Navigation at Sea

Purpose: Professional high speed sea navigational procedures are based on turn points, courses, dangers and steering cues in the environment. Since navigational aids have become less expensive and due to the fact that electronic sea charts can be integrated with both radar and transponder information, it may be assumed that traditional navigation by using paper based charts and radar will play a less significant role in the future, especially among less experienced navigators. Possible navigational differences between experienced and non-experienced boat drivers is thus of interest with regards to their use of navigational aids. It may be assumed that less experienced navigators rely too much on the information given by the electronic sea chart, despite the fact that it is based on GPS information that can be questioned, especially in littoral waters close to land.Method: This eye tracking study investigates gaze behaviour from 16 experienced and novice boat drivers during high speed navigation at sea.Results: The results show that the novice drivers look at objects that are close to themselves, like instrumentation, while the experienced look more at objects far away from the boat. This is in accordance with previous research on car drivers. Further, novice boat drivers used the electronic navigational aids to a larger extent than the experienced, especially during high speed conditions. The experienced drivers focused much of their attention on objects outside the boat.Conclusions: The findings verify that novice boat drivers tend to rely on electronic navigational aids. Experienced drivers presumably use the navigational aids to verify what they have observed in the surrounding environment and further use the paper based sea chart to a larger extent than the novice drivers

Clone wars:asexual reproduction dominates in the invasive range of Tubastraea spp. (Anthozoa: Scleractinia) in the South-Atlantic Ocean

Although the invasive azooxanthellate corals Tubastraea coccinea and T. tagusensis are spreading quickly and outcompeting native species in the Atlantic Ocean, there is little information regarding the genetic structure and path of introduction for these species. Here we present the first data on genetic diversity and clonal structure from these two species using a new set of microsatellite markers. High proportions of clones were observed, indicating that asexual reproduction has a major role in the local population dynamics and, therefore, represents one of the main reasons for the invasion success. Although no significant population structure was found, results suggest the occurrence of multiple invasions for T. coccinea and also that both species are being transported along the coast by vectors such as oil platforms and monobouys, spreading these invasive species. In addition to the description of novel microsatellite markers, this study sheds new light into the invasive process of Tubastraea.Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel SuperiorFundacao Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de JaneiroConselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e TecnologicoFundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao PauloNSF-OA (National Science Foundation)Univ Fed Rio de Janeiro, Dept Zool, Rio De Janeiro, BrazilUniv Hawaii Manoa, Hawaii Inst Marine Biol, Sch Ocean & Earth Sci & Technol, Kaneohe, HI USACoral Sol Res Technol Dev & Innovat Network, Rio De Janeiro, BrazilUniv Fed Rio de Janeiro, Inst Microbiol Paulo Goes, Rio De Janeiro, BrazilUniv Estado Rio de Janeiro, Dept Ecol, Rio De Janeiro, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Ciencias Mar, Santos, BrazilUniv Sao Paulo, Ctr Biol Marinha, Sao Sebastiao, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Ciencias Mar, Santos, BrazilCAPES: 1137/2010FAPERJ: E26/010.003031/2014FAPERJ: E26/201.286/2014CNPq: 305330/2010-1FAPESP: 2014/01332-0Web of Scienc

Crumpling a Thin Sheet

Crumpled sheets have a surprisingly large resistance to further compression. We have studied the crumpling of thin sheets of Mylar under different loading conditions. When placed under a fixed compressive force, the size of a crumpled material decreases logarithmically in time for periods up to three weeks. We also find hysteretic behavior when measuring the compression as a function of applied force. By using a pre-treating protocol, we control this hysteresis and find reproducible scaling behavior for the size of the crumpled material as a function of the applied force.Comment: revtex 4 pages, 6 eps figures submitted to Phys Rev. let