Effect of Ordering on Spinodal Decomposition of Liquid-Crystal/Polymer Mixtures

Partially phase-separated liquid-crystal/polymer dispersions display highly fibrillar domain morphologies that are dramatically different from the typical structures found in isotropic mixtures. To explain this, we numerically explore the coupling between phase ordering and phase separation kinetics in model two-dimensional fluid mixtures phase separating into a nematic phase, rich in liquid crystal, coexisting with an isotropic phase, rich in polymer. We find that phase ordering can lead to fibrillar networks of the minority polymer-rich phase

Temporal population variability in local forest communities has mixed effects on tree species richness across a latitudinal gradient

Among the local processes that determine species diversity in ecological communities, fluctuation‐dependent mechanisms that are mediated by temporal variability in the abundances of species populations have received significant attention. Higher temporal variability in the abundances of species populations can increase the strength of temporal niche partitioning but can also increase the risk of species extinctions, such that the net effect on species coexistence is not clear. We quantified this temporal population variability for tree species in 21 large forest plots and found much greater variability for higher latitude plots with fewer tree species. A fitted mechanistic model showed that among the forest plots, the net effect of temporal population variability on tree species coexistence was usually negative, but sometimes positive or negligible. Therefore, our results suggest that temporal variability in the abundances of species populations has no clear negative or positive contribution to the latitudinal gradient in tree species richness

An investigation on the characteristics and performance of a PV-diesel hybrid energy system for teaching and research

This paper presents an investigation of the characteristics and performance of a Photovoltaic (PV)-diesel Hybrid Energy System for teaching and research purposes. The system was developed at the Centre for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technologies Australia (CRESTA) at Curtin University, Australia. It is intended that the system will be introduced to remote areas where the main electricity grids are not available. The system comprises of PV module of 1.2 kWp, a 5 kVA diesel generator, a 5 kVA bi-directional inverter and a 13 kWh battery bank. It also incorporates a weather station which measures the horizontal and tilt (32°) irradiation, ambient temperature and barometer pressure. Data from the site have been recorded continuously. The average global radiation is 5.17 kWh/day and the tilt radiation, is 5.62 kWh/day. The performance ratio of the PV-array has been calculated approximately as 0.6. The average fuel efficiency of the motor generator is 1.67 kWh/ltr based on a predictive control strategy. The battery efficiency is 0.96 while and the overall system efficiency is found to be 0.64. The system runs in synchronism with a diesel generator and a predictive control strategy, which is based on the theoretical control principles for optimum supply side management

Optimisation of a hybrid energy system using simulated annealing technique

This paper reports an optimisation algorithm based upon the simulated annealing technique for a hybrid energy system. The hybrid energy system is an integrated diesel-generator/battery-inverter system developed for remote communities where the supply of the main electrical power is unavailable. The developed algorithm provides optimal generator setting and battery charge/discharge schedules for a given daily load cycle. It has been applied to a test example and the simulation results are presente

How We Got Fuzzy (1976 - 1980)

International audienceThis short note reports on our beginnings in fuzzy set theory and possibility theory, indicating our interests and concerns at that time, also acknowledging the support of many persons who in some way or other have helped us develop our research work