The mapping method as a toolbox to analyze, design, and optimize micromixers

The mapping method is employed as an efficient toolbox to analyze, design, and optimize micromixers. A new and simplified formulation of this technique is introduced here and applied to three micromixers: the staggered herringbone micromixer (SHM), the barrier-embedded micromixer (BEM), and the three-dimensional serpentine channel (3D-SC). The mapping method computes a distribution matrix that maps the color concentration distribution from inlet to outlet of a micromixer to characterize mixing in a quantitative way. Once the necessary distribution matrices are obtained, computations are fast and numerous layouts of the mixer are easily evaluated, resulting in an optimal design. This approach is demonstrated using the SHM and the BEM as typical examples. Mixing analysis in the 3D-SC illustrates that also complex flows, for example in the presence of back-flows, can be efficiently dealt with by using the new formulation of the mapping metho

The Krull dimension of power series rings over non-SFT rings

AbstractLet R be a commutative ring with identity. We show that the Krull dimension of the power series ring R〚X〛 can be uncountably infinite, i.e., there exists an uncountably infinite chain of prime ideals in R〚X〛, even if dimR is finite. In fact, we show that dimR〚X〛 is uncountably infinite if R is a non-SFT ring, which is an improvement of Arnold’s result

Spin configuration of top quark pair production with large extra dimensions at photon-photon colliders

Top quark pair production at photon-photon colliders is studied in low scale quantum gravity scenario. From the dependence of the cross sections on the spin configuration of the top quark and anti-quark, we introduce a new observable, top spin asymmetry. It is shown that there exists a special top spin basis where with the polarized parent electron beams the top spin asymmetry vanishes in the standard model but retains substantial values with the large extra dimension effects. We also present lower bounds of the quantum gravity scale $M_S$ from total cross sections with various combinations of the laser, electron beam, and top quark pair polarizations. The measurements of the top spin state $(t_\uparrow\bar{t}_\downarrow)$ with unpolarized initial beams are shown to be most effective, enhancing by about 5% the $M_S$ bounds with respect to totally unpolarized case.Comment: 18 pages, 4 figures, ReVTe

Compound effect of EHD and surface roughness in pool boiling and CHF with R-123

This article is a post-print version of the fianl published article which may be accessed at the link below.Saturated pool boiling of R-123 at 1 bar, including the critical heat flux (CHF), was enhanced by modifying the surface characteristics and applying a high intensity electrostatic field, the latter termed electrohydrodynamic (and abbreviated EHD) enhancement. The heat flux was varied from very low values in the natural convection regime up to CHF. Experiments were performed with increasing and decreasing heat flux to study boiling hysteresis without and with EHD. Boiling occurred on the sand blasted surface of a cylindrical copper block with embedded electrical heating elements, with standardized surface parameter Pa = 3.5 μm. The electric field was generated by a potential of 5 kV to 25 kV, applied through a 40 mm diameter circular electrode of ss-304 wire mesh, aperture size 5.1 mm, located at distances of 5 - 60 mm from the surface, with most of the data obtained for 20 mm. The data for the rough surface were compared with earlier data for a smooth surface and indicated a significant increase in the heat transfer rates. EHD produced a further increase in the heat transfer rates, particularly at low heat flux values and near the CHF. Boiling hysteresis was reduced progressively by EHD and eliminated at high field strength.This work was supported by Government of Pakistan under a scholarship programme

Optimal Renormalization-Group Improvement of Two Radiatively-Broken Gauge Theories

In the absence of a tree-level scalar-field mass, renormalization-group (RG) methods permit the explicit summation of leading-logarithm contributions to all orders of the perturbative series for the effective-potential functions utilized in radiative symmetry breaking. For scalar-field electrodynamics, such a summation of leading logarithm contributions leads to upper bounds on the magnitudes of both gauge and scalar-field coupling constants, and suggests the possibility of an additional phase of spontaneous symmetry breaking characterized by a scalar-field mass comparable to that of the theory's gauge boson. For radiatively-broken electroweak symmetry, the all-orders summation of leading logarithm terms involving the dominant three couplings (quartic scalar-field, t-quark Yukawa, and QCD) contributing to standard-model radiative corrections leads to an RG-improved potential characterized by a 216 GeV Higgs boson mass. Upon incorporation of electroweak gauge couplants we find that the predicted Higgs mass increases to 218 GeV. The potential is also characterized by a quartic scalar-field coupling over five times larger than that anticipated for an equivalent Higgs mass obtained via conventional spontaneous symmetry breaking, leading to a concomitant enhancement of processes (such as $W^+ W^- \to ZZ$) sensitive to this coupling. Moreover, if the QCD coupling constant is taken to be sufficiently strong, the tree potential's local minimum at $\phi = 0$ is shown to be restored for the summation of leading logarithm corrections. Thus if QCD exhibits a two-phase structure similar to that of $N = 1$ supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory, the weaker asymptotically-free phase of QCD may be selected by the large logarithm behaviour of the RG-improved effective potential for radiatively broken electroweak symmetry.Comment: latex2e using amsmath, 36 pages, 7 eps figures embedded in latex. Section 8.3 errors asociated with electroweak coupling effects are correcte

Affleck-Dine dynamics and the dark sector of pangenesis

Pangenesis is the mechanism for jointly producing the visible and dark matter asymmetries via Affleck-Dine dynamics in a baryon-symmetric universe. The baryon-symmetric feature means that the dark asymmetry cancels the visible baryon asymmetry and thus enforces a tight relationship between the visible and dark matter number densities. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the general dynamics of this scenario in more detail and to construct specific models. After reviewing the simple symmetry structure that underpins all baryon-symmetric models, we turn to a detailed analysis of the required Affleck-Dine dynamics. Both gravity-mediated and gauge-mediated supersymmetry breaking are considered, with the messenger scale left arbitrary in the latter, and the viable regions of parameter space are determined. In the gauge-mediated case where gravitinos are light and stable, the regime where they constitute a small fraction of the dark matter density is identified. We discuss the formation of Q-balls, and delineate various regimes in the parameter space of the Affleck-Dine potential with respect to their stability or lifetime and their decay modes. We outline the regions in which Q-ball formation and decay is consistent with successful pangenesis. Examples of viable dark sectors are presented, and constraints are derived from big bang nucleosynthesis, large scale structure formation and the Bullet cluster. Collider signatures and implications for direct dark matter detection experiments are briefly discussed. The following would constitute evidence for pangenesis: supersymmetry, GeV-scale dark matter mass(es) and a Z' boson with a significant invisible width into the dark sector.Comment: 51 pages, 7 figures; v2: minor modifications, comments and references added; v3: minor changes, matches published versio

π+π+\pi^+\pi^+ and π+π−\pi^+\pi^- colliding in noncommutative space

By studying the scattering process of scalar particle pion on the noncommutative scalar quantum electrodynamics, the non-commutative amendment of differential scattering cross-section is found, which is dependent of polar-angle and the results are significantly different from that in the commutative scalar quantum electrodynamics, particularly when $\cos\theta\sim \pm 1$. The non-commutativity of space is expected to be explored at around $\Lambda_{NC}\sim$TeV.Comment: Latex, 12 page

Anti-androgens act jointly in suppressing spiggin concentrations in androgen-primed female three-spined sticklebacks - Prediction of combined effects by concentration addition

This is the post-print version of the final paper published in Aquatic Toxicology. The published article is available from the link below. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. Copyright @ 2013 Elsevier B.V.Increasing attention is being directed at the role played by anti-androgenic chemicals in endocrine disruption of wildlife within the aquatic environment. The co-occurrence of multiple contaminants with anti-androgenic activity highlights a need for the predictive assessment of combined effects, but information about anti-androgen mixture effects on wildlife is lacking. This study evaluated the suitability of the androgenised female stickleback screen (AFSS), in which inhibition of androgen-induced spiggin production provides a quantitative assessment of anti-androgenic activity, for predicting the effect of a four component mixture of anti-androgens. The anti-androgenic activity of four known anti-androgens (vinclozolin, fenitrothion, flutamide, linuron) was evaluated from individual concentration-response data and used to design a mixture containing each chemical at equipotent concentrations. Across a 100-fold concentration range, a concentration addition approach was used to predict the response of fish to the mixture. Two studies were conducted independently at each of two laboratories. By using a novel method to adjust for differences between nominal and measured concentrations, good agreement was obtained between the actual outcome of the mixture exposure and the predicted outcome. This demonstrated for the first time that androgen receptor antagonists act in concert in an additive fashion in fish and that existing mixture methodology is effective in predicting the outcome, based on concentration-response data for individual chemicals. The sensitivity range of the AFSS assay lies within the range of anti-androgenicity reported in rivers across many locations internationally. The approach taken in our study lays the foundations for understanding how androgen receptor antagonists work together in fish and is essential in informing risk assessment methods for complex anti-androgenic mixtures in the aquatic environment.European Commission and Natural Environment Research Council

Leptogenesis and low energy observables in left-right symmetric models

In the context of left-right symmetric models we study the connection of leptogenesis and low energy parameters such as neutrinoless double beta decay and leptonic CP violation. Upon imposition of a unitarity constraint, the neutrino parameters are significantly restricted and the Majorana phases are determined within a narrow range, depending on the kind of solar solution. One of the Majorana phases gets determined to a good accuracy and thereby the second phase can be probed from the results of neutrinoless double beta decay experiments. We examine the contributions of the solar and atmospheric mass squared differences to the asymmetry and find that in general the solar scale dominates. In order to let the atmospheric scale dominate, some finetuning between one of the Majorana phases and the Dirac CP phase is required. In this case, one of the Majorana phases is determined by the amount of CP violation in oscillation experiments.Comment: 18 pages, 6 figures. Matches version to appear in PR