Strain-Rate Frequency Superposition in Large-Amplitude Oscillatory Shear

In a recent work, Wyss, {\it et.al.} [Phys. Rev. Lett., {\bf 98}, 238303 (2007)] have noted a property of `soft solids' under oscillatory shear, the so-called strain-rate frequency superposition (SRFS). We extend this study to the case of soft solids under large-amplitude oscillatory shear (LAOS). We show results from LAOS studies in a monodisperse hydrogel suspension, an aqueous gel, and a biopolymer suspension, and show that constant strain-rate frequency sweep measurements with soft solids can be superimposed onto master curves for higher harmonic moduli, with the {\it same} shift factors as for the linear viscoelastic moduli. We show that the behavior of higher harmonic moduli at low frequencies in constant strain-rate frequency sweep measurements is similar to that at large strain amplitudes in strain-amplitude sweep tests. We show surface plots of the harmonic moduli and the energy dissipation rate per unit volume in LAOS for soft solids, and show experimentally that the energy dissipated per unit volume depends on the first harmonic loss modulus alone, in both the linear and the nonlinear viscoelastic regime.Comment: 10 pages, 25 figures, accepted for publication in Physical Review E. Incorporates referee comment

Diffusion-mediated nuclear spin phase decoherence in cylindrically porous materials

AbstractIn NMR or MRI of complex materials, including biological tissues and porous materials, magnetic susceptibility differences within the material result in local magnetic field inhomogeneities, even if the applied magnetic field is homogeneous. Mobile nuclear spins move though the inhomogeneous field, by translational diffusion and other mechanisms, resulting in decoherence of nuclear spin phase more rapidly than transverse relaxation alone. The objective of this paper is to simulate this diffusion-mediated decoherence and demonstrate that it may substantially reduce coherence lifetimes of nuclear spin phase, in an anisotropic fashion. We do so using a model of cylindrical pores within an otherwise homogeneous material, and calculate the resulting magnetic field inhomogeneities. Our simulations show that diffusion-mediated decoherence in a system of parallel cylindrical pores is anisotropic, with coherence lifetime minimised when the array of cylindrical pores is perpendicular to B0. We also show that this anisotropy of coherence lifetime is reduced if the orientations of cylindrical pores are disordered within the system. In addition we characterise the dependence on B0, the magnetic susceptibility of the cylindrical pores relative to the surroundings, the diffusion coefficient and cylinder wall thickness. Our findings may aid in the interpretation of NMR and MRI relaxation data

Aerodynamics Of Soccer Balls And Volleyballs

The purpose of this study was to investigate range, flight time, speed and trajectory of selected official soccer balls and volleyballs in a constant release angle (18 degree) shot by a ball gun with a hydraulic shooting steel leg mechanism in an indoor soccer hall. Five soccer balls (m=0.422 ± 0.010 kg, d=0.108 + 0.002 rn, p=(0.69 + 0.01) x 105 Nm-2) and five volleyballs (m=0.278 ± 0.006 kg, d=0.105 + 0.002 rn, p=(0.69 ±0.01) x 105 Nm-2) were used. Three speeds of the kicking steel leg were applied to the stationary and rotating balls with two constant angular velocities (45.6 and 65.0 radls). All shots of the balls were recorded with two JVC 707 5-VHS camcorders (50 Hz) for kinematic and kinetic motion analysis. An APAS performance analysis system was used for detailed 3D analysis of the release phase of the shot. The range of the ball was measured in x-z coordinates on the Astroturf ground. A Panasonic camcorder with timer was used to measure the flight time of the ball. A 3- way ANOVA was applied in order to study the differences of the balls and their behaviour in the placid air. The release velocities of the stationary soccer balls with three speed categories .were 18.8 + 0.1 ms·1, 23.1 ± 0.1 msand 26.5 ± 0.1 ms-1 and in volleyballs 20.5 ± 0.2 ms-I, 25.6 ± 0.2 ms-1 and 29.4 ± 0.2 ms-1, respectively. The range of the fastest shot off the soccer balls was on average 44.8 m with the lateral deviation of 3.3 degrees. The average range of the volleyballs in the fastest shots without spin was 45.2 m with the lateral deviation of 4.8 degrees. The average ground speeds in the fastest shots of the soccer ball and volleyball were 20.6 ms-1 and 24.7 ms-1, respectively. With the fastest spin and shot the range and deviation of soccer balls and volleyballs were 34.4 m and 38.6 m and 19.7 and 21.4 degrees, respectively. The main effects of the ball type, shot speed and spin were significant (

Rationality as the Rule of Reason

The demands of rationality are linked both to our subjective normative perspective (given that rationality is a person-level concept) and to objective reasons or favoring relations (given that rationality is non-contingently authoritative for us). In this paper, I propose a new way of reconciling the tension between these two aspects: roughly, what rationality requires of us is having the attitudes that correspond to our take on reasons in the light of our evidence, but only if it is competent. I show how this view can account for structural rationality on the assumption that intentions and beliefs as such involve competent perceptions of downstream reasons, and explore various implications of the account

Shot Noise with Interaction Effects in Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes

We have measured shot noise in single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) with good contacts at 4.2 K at low frequencies ($f=600 - 850$ MHz). We find a strong modulation of shot noise over the Fabry-Perot pattern; in terms of differential Fano factor the variation ranges over 0.4 - 1.2. The shot noise variation, in combination with differential conductance, is analyzed using two (spin-degenerate) modes with different, energy-dependent transmission coefficients. No power law dependence of shot noise, as expected for Luttinger liquids, was found in our measurements.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

High-Yield of Memory Elements from Carbon Nanotube Field-Effect Transistors with Atomic Layer Deposited Gate Dielectric

Carbon nanotube field-effect transistors (CNT FETs) have been proposed as possible building blocks for future nano-electronics. But a challenge with CNT FETs is that they appear to randomly display varying amounts of hysteresis in their transfer characteristics. The hysteresis is often attributed to charge trapping in the dielectric layer between the nanotube and the gate. This study includes 94 CNT FET samples, providing an unprecedented basis for statistics on the hysteresis seen in five different CNT-gate configurations. We find that the memory effect can be controlled by carefully designing the gate dielectric in nm-thin layers. By using atomic layer depositions (ALD) of HfO$_{2}$ and TiO$_{2}$ in a triple-layer configuration, we achieve the first CNT FETs with consistent and narrowly distributed memory effects in their transfer characteristics.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures; added one reference, text reformatted with smaller addition

Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Detect Early Molecular and Cellular Changes in Alzheimer’s Disease

Recent pharmaceutical trials have demonstrated that slowing or reversing pathology in Alzheimer's disease is likely to be possible only in the earliest stages of disease, perhaps even before significant symptoms develop. Pathology in Alzheimer's disease accumulates for well over a decade before symptoms are detected giving a large potential window of opportunity for intervention. It is therefore important that imaging techniques detect subtle changes in brain tissue before significant macroscopic brain atrophy. Current diagnostic techniques often do not permit early diagnosis or are too expensive for routine clinical use. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is the most versatile, affordable, and powerful imaging modality currently available, being able to deliver detailed analyses of anatomy, tissue volumes, and tissue state. In this mini-review, we consider how MRI might detect patients at risk of future dementia in the early stages of pathological change when symptoms are mild. We consider the contributions made by the various modalities of MRI (structural, diffusion, perfusion, relaxometry) in identifying not just atrophy (a late-stage AD symptom) but more subtle changes reflective of early dementia pathology. The sensitivity of MRI not just to gross anatomy but to the underlying “health” at the cellular (and even molecular) scales, makes it very well suited to this task