An analytical approach to sorting in periodic potentials

There has been a recent revolution in the ability to manipulate micrometer-sized objects on surfaces patterned by traps or obstacles of controllable configurations and shapes. One application of this technology is to separate particles driven across such a surface by an external force according to some particle characteristic such as size or index of refraction. The surface features cause the trajectories of particles driven across the surface to deviate from the direction of the force by an amount that depends on the particular characteristic, thus leading to sorting. While models of this behavior have provided a good understanding of these observations, the solutions have so far been primarily numerical. In this paper we provide analytic predictions for the dependence of the angle between the direction of motion and the external force on a number of model parameters for periodic as well as random surfaces. We test these predictions against exact numerical simulations

Knee joint neuromuscular activation performance during muscle damage and superimposed fatigue

This study examined the concurrent effects of exercise-induced muscle damage and superimposed acute fatigue on the neuromuscular activation performance of the knee flexors of nine males (age: 26.7 ± 6.1yrs; height 1.81 ± 0.05m; body mass 81.2 ± 11.7kg [mean ± SD]). Measures were obtained during three experimental conditions: (i) FAT-EEVID, involving acute fatiguing exercise performed on each assessment occasion plus a single episode of eccentric exercise performed on the first occasion and after the fatigue trial; (ii) FAT, involving the fatiguing exercise only and; (iii) CON consisting of no exercise. Assessments were performed prior to (pre) and at lh, 24h, 48h, 72h, and 168h relative to the eccentric exercise. Repeated-measures ANOVAs showed that muscle damage within the FAT-EEVID condition elicited reductions of up to 38%, 24%) and 65%> in volitional peak force, electromechanical delay and rate of force development compared to baseline and controls, respectively (F[io, 80] = 2.3 to 4.6; p to 30.7%>) following acute fatigue (Fp; i6] = 4.3 to 9.1; p ; Fp, iq = 3.9; p <0.05). The safeguarding of evoked muscle activation capability despite compromised volitional performance might reveal aspects of capabilities for emergency and protective responses during episodes of fatigue and antecedent muscle damaging exercise

Theoretical and Experimental Analysis of Chain Transfer Agents Behaviors in Photopolymer Material

The Non-local Photo-Polymerization Driven Diffusion (NPDD) model indicates how a material’s performance might be improved, and provides a tool for quantitive comparison of different material compositions and to predict their fundamental limits. In order to reduce the non-locality of polymer chain growth (i.e the non-local response parameter, σ) and to improve the spatial frequency response of a photopolymer material, we introduce the chain transfer agent (CTA). In the literature, extensive studies have been carried out on the improvements of the non-local response modifying by the CTA, sodium formate, in the polyvinyl alcohol-acrylamide (PVA/AA) material. In this article, i) based on the chemical reactions of CTA, we extended the CTA model in the literature; ii) we compare two different CTA materials, sodium formate and 1-mercapto-2-propanol without cross-linker in order to obtain the experimental confirmation of the reduction in the average polymer molecular weight is provided using a diffusion-based holographic technique; iii) we examine the non-local responses of several spatial frequencies with the two CTAs. Using the extended CTA model it is demonstrated that the CTA has the effect of decreasing the average length of the polyacrylamide (PA) chains formed, thus reducing the non-local response parameter, especially, in the high spatial frequency case

Recent developments in the NPDD model

An understanding of the photochemical and photo-physical processes, which occur during photo-polymerization, is of extreme importance when attempting to improve a photopolymer material’s performance for a given application. Recent work carried out on the modeling of photopolymers during- and post-exposure, has led to the development of a tool, which can be used to predict the behavior of a number of photopolymers subject to a range of physical conditions. In this paper, we explore the most recent developments made to the Non-local Photo-polymerization Driven Diffusion model, and illustrate some of the useful trends, which the model predicts and then analyze their implications on photopolymer improvement

Non-local spatial frequency response of photopolymer materials containing chain transfer agents: I. Theoretical modelling

The non-local photopolymerization driven diffusion (NPDD) model predicts that a reduction in the non-local response length within a photopolymer material will improve its high spatial frequency response. The introduction of a chain transfer agent reduces the average molecular weight of polymer chains formed during free radical polymerization. Therefore a chain transfer agent (CTA) provides a practical method to reduce the non-local response length. An extended NPDD model is presented, which includes the chain transfer reaction and most major photochemical processes. The addition of a chain transfer agent into an acrylamide/polyvinyl alcohol photopolymer material is simulated and the predictions of the model are examined. The predictions of the model are experimentally examined in part II of this paper

Kinetics of Chain Transfer Agents in Photopolymer Material

The Non-local Photo-Polymerization Driven Diffusion (NPDD) model was introduced to describe the observed drop-off in the material’s response for higher exposing spatial frequencies. Recent work carried out on the modeling of the mechanisms which occur in photopolymers during- and post-exposure, has led to the development of a tool, which can be used to predict the behaviour of these materials under a wide range of conditions. In this article, based on the chemical reactions of chain transfer agents, we explore this extended NPDD model, illustrating some of the useful trends, which the model predicts and we analyse their implications on the improvement of photopolymer material performance

NPDD model: A tool for photopolymer enhancement

The use of theoretical models to represent the photochemical effects present during the formation of spatially and temporally varying index structures in photopolymers, is critical in order to maximise a material’s potential. One such model is the Non-local Photo-Polymerization Driven Diffusion (NPDD) model. Upon application of appropriate physical constraints for a given photopolymer material, this model can accurately quantify all major photochemical processes. These include i) non-steady state kinetics, (ii) non-linearity iii) spatially non-local polymer chain growth, iv) time varying primary radical production, v) diffusion controlled effects, vi) multiple termination mechanisms, vii) inhibition, (viii) polymer diffusion and ix) post-exposure effects. In this paper, we examine a number of predictions made by the NPDD model. The model is then applied to an acrylamide/polyvinylalcohol based photopolymer under various recording conditions. The experimentally obtained results are then fit using the NPDD model and key material parameters describing the material’s performance are estimated. The ability to obtain such parameters facilitates material optimisation for a given application

Optimisation of photopolymers for holographic applications using the Non-local Photopolymerization Driven Diffusion model

An understanding of the photochemical and photo-physical processes, which occur during photopolymerization is of extreme importance when attempting to improve a photopolymer material’s performance for a given application. Recent work carried out on the modelling of the mechanisms which occur in photopolymers during- and post-exposure, has led to the development of a tool, which can be used to predict the behaviour of these materials under a wide range of conditions. In this paper, we explore this Non-local Photo-polymerisation Driven Diffusion model, illustrating some of the useful trends, which the model predicts and we analyse their implications on the improvement of photopolymer material performance

Non-local spatial frequency response of photopolymer materials containing chain transfer agents: II. Experimental results

In part I of this paper the non-local photo-polymerization driven diffusion model was extended to include the kinetics of chain transfer and re-initiation, in order to analyse the effects of chain transfer agents on the system kinetics and to study their use in reducing the average polymer chain length in free-radical based photopolymer materials. Based on these results, it is proposed that one possible way to improve the material response at high spatial frequency is the addition of chain transfer agents. In this paper, the validity of the proposed model is examined by applying it to fit experimental data for an acrylamide/polyvinyl alcohol (AA/PVA) layer containing two different types of chain transfer agent (CTA): sodium formate (HCOONa) and 1-mercapto-2-propanol (CH3CH(OH)CH2SH). The effects on decreasing the average polymer chain length formed, by the addition of chain transfer agent, which in turn reduces the non-local response of the material, are demonstrated. These reductions are shown to be accompanied by improved high spatial frequency response. Key material parameters are extracted by numerically fitting experimentally measured refractive index modulation growth curves using the model. Further independent experimental confirmation of the reduction in the average polymer molecular weight is provided using a diffusion based holographic technique

Anomalous increase in nematic-isotropic transition temperature in dimer molecules induced by magnetic field

We have determined the nematic-isotropic transition temperature as a function of applied magnetic field in three different thermotropic liquid crystalline dimers. These molecules are comprised of two rigid calamitic moieties joined end to end by flexible spacers with odd numbers of methylene groups. They show an unprecedented magnetic field enhancement of nematic order in that the transition temperature is increased by up to 15K when subjected to 22T magnetic field. The increase is conjectured to be caused by a magnetic field-induced decrease of the average bend angle in the aliphatic spacers connecting the rigid mesogenic units of the dimers