Solitary vortex couples in viscoelastic Couette flow

We report experimental observation of a localized structure, which is of a new type for dissipative systems. It appears as a solitary vortex couple ("diwhirl") in Couette flow with highly elastic polymer solutions. A unique property of the diwhirls is that they are stationary, in contrast to the usual localized wave structures in both Hamiltonian and dissipative systems which are stabilized by wave dispersion. It is also a new object in fluid dynamics - a couple of vortices that build a single entity somewhat similar to a magnetic dipole. The diwhirls arise as a result of a purely elastic instability through a hysteretic transition at negligible Reynolds numbers. It is suggested that the vortex flow is driven by the same forces that cause the Weissenberg effect. The diwhirls have a striking asymmetry between the inflow and outflow, which is also an essential feature of the suggested elastic instability mechanism.Comment: 9 pages (LaTeX), 5 Postscript figures, submitte

Pattern formation in 2-frequency forced parametric waves

We present an experimental investigation of superlattice patterns generated on the surface of a fluid via parametric forcing with 2 commensurate frequencies. The spatio-temporal behavior of 4 qualitatively different types of superlattice patterns is described in detail. These states are generated via a number of different 3--wave resonant interactions. They occur either as symmetry--breaking bifurcations of hexagonal patterns composed of a single unstable mode or via nonlinear interactions between the two primary unstable modes generated by the two forcing frequencies. A coherent picture of these states together with the phase space in which they appear is presented. In addition, we describe a number of new superlattice states generated by 4--wave interactions that arise when symmetry constraints rule out 3--wave resonances.Comment: The paper contains 34 pages and 53 figures and provides an extensive review of both the theoretical and experimental work peformed in this syste

End-tidal carbon dioxide monitoring during bag valve ventilation: the use of a new portable device

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>For healthcare providers in the prehospital setting, bag-valve mask (BVM) ventilation could be as efficacious and safe as endotracheal intubation. To facilitate the evaluation of efficacious ventilation, capnographs have been further developed into small and convenient devices able to provide end- tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO₂). The aim of this study was to investigate whether a new portable device (EMMA™) attached to a ventilation mask would provide ETCO₂values accurate enough to confirm proper BVM ventilation.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A prospective observational trial was conducted in a single level-2 centre. Twenty-two patients under general anaesthesia were manually ventilated. ETCO₂was measured every five minutes with the study device and venous PCO₂(PvCO₂) was simultaneously measured for comparison. Bland- Altman plots were used to compare ETCO_2,and PvCO₂.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The patients were all hemodynamically and respiratory stable during anaesthesia. End-tidal carbon dioxide values were corresponding to venous gases during BVM ventilation under optimal conditions. The bias, the mean of the differences between the two methods (device versus venous blood gases), for time points 1-4 ranges from -1.37 to -1.62.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The portable device, EMMA™ is suitable for determining carbon dioxide in expired air (kPa) as compared to simultaneous samples of PvCO₂. It could therefore, be a supportive tool to asses the BVM ventilation in the demanding prehospital and emergency setting.</p

Faraday instability on viscous ferrofluids in a horizontal magnetic field: Oblique rolls of arbitrary orientation

A linear stability analysis of the free surface of a horizontally unbounded ferrofluid layer of arbitrary depth subjected to vertical vibrations and a horizontal magnetic field is performed. A nonmonotonic dependence of the stability threshold on the magnetic field is found at high frequencies of the vibrations. The reasons of the decrease of the critical acceleration amplitude caused by a horizontal magnetic field are discussed. It is revealed that the magnetic field can be used to select the first unstable pattern of Faraday waves. In particular, a rhombic pattern as a superposition of two different oblique rolls can occur. A scaling law is presented which maps all data into one graph for the tested range of viscosities, frequencies, magnetic fields and layer thicknesses.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, RevTex

Modulation of Localized States in Electroconvection

We report on the effects of temporal modulation of the driving force on a particular class of localized states, known as worms, that have been observed in electroconvection in nematic liquid crystals. The worms consist of the superposition of traveling waves and have been observed to have unique, small widths, but to vary in length. The transition from the pure conduction state to worms occurs via a backward bifurcation. A possible explanation of the formation of the worms has been given in terms of coupled amplitude equations. Because the worms consist of the superposition of traveling waves, temporal modulation of the control parameter is a useful probe of the dynamics of the system. We observe that temporal modulation increases the average length of the worms and stabilizes worms below the transition point in the absence of modulation.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Amplitude measurements of Faraday waves

A light reflection technique is used to measure quantitatively the surface elevation of Faraday waves. The performed measurements cover a wide parameter range of driving frequencies and sample viscosities. In the capillary wave regime the bifurcation diagrams exhibit a frequency independent scaling proportional to the wavelength. We also provide numerical simulations of the full Navier-Stokes equations, which are in quantitative agreement up to supercritical drive amplitudes of 20%. The validity of an existing perturbation analysis is found to be limited to 2.5% overcriticaly.Comment: 7 figure

Concatenated logic gates using four coupled biocatalysts operating in series

The assembly of three concatenated enzyme-based logic gates consisting of OR, AND, XOR is described. Four biocatalysts, acetylcholine esterase, choline oxidase, microperoxidase-11, and the NAD(+)-dependent glucose dehydrogenase, are used to assemble the gates. Four inputs that include acetylcholine, butyrylcholine, O(2), and glucose are used to drive the concatenated-gates system. The cofactor NAD(+), and its reduced 1,4-dihydro form, NADH, are used as a reporter couple, and these provide an optical output for the gates. The modulus of the absorbance changes of NADH is used as a readout signal