11,721 research outputs found
Dynamics of a faceted nematic-smectic B front in thin-sample directional solidification
We present an experimental study of the directional-solidification patterns
of a nematic - smectic B front. The chosen system is C_4H_9-(C_6H_{10})_2CN (in
short, CCH4) in 12 \mu m-thick samples, and in the planar configuration
(director parallel to the plane of the sample). The nematic - smectic B
interface presents a facet in one direction -- the direction parallel to the
smectic layers -- and is otherwise rough, and devoid of forbidden directions.
We measure the Mullins-Sekerka instability threshold and establish the
morphology diagram of the system as a function of the solidification rate V and
the angle theta_{0} between the facet and the isotherms. We focus on the
phenomena occurring immediately above the instability threshold when theta_{0}
is neither very small nor close to 90^{o}. Under these conditions we observe
drifting shallow cells and a new type of solitary wave, called "faceton", which
consists essentially of an isolated macroscopic facet traveling laterally at
such a velocity that its growth rate with respect to the liquid is small.
Facetons may propagate either in a stationary, or an oscillatory way. The
detailed study of their dynamics casts light on the microscopic growth
mechanisms of the facets in this system.Comment: 12 pages, 19 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.
Purificação de curcina e utilização de um ensaio biológico para detecção de atividade tóxica em torta de PINHÃO MANSO.
Search for giant planets in M67 IV: survey results
We present the results of a seven-year-long radial velocity survey of a
sample of 88 main-sequence and evolved stars to reveal signatures of
Jupiter-mass planets in the solar-age and solar-metallicity open cluster M67.
We aim at studying the frequency of giant planets in this cluster with respect
to the field stars. In addition, our sample is also ideal to perform a
long-term study to compare the chemical composition of stars with and without
giant planets in detail. We analyzed precise radial velocity (RV) measurements
obtained with five different instruments. We conducted Monte Carlo simulations
to estimate the occurrence rate of giant planets in our radial velocity survey.
All the planets previously announced in this RV campaign with their properties
are summarized here: 3 hot Jupiters around the main-sequence stars YBP1194,
YBP1514, and YBP401, and 1 giant planet around the evolved star S364. Two
additional planet candidates around the stars YBP778 and S978 are also analyzed
in the present work. We discuss stars that exhibit large RV variability or
trends individually. For 2 additional stars, long-term trends are compatible
with new binary candidates or substellar objects, which increases the total
number of binary candidates detected in our campaign to 14. Based on the
Doppler-detected planets discovered in this survey, we find an occurrence of
giant planets of ~18.0%(+12.0/-8.0%) in the selected period-mass range. This
frequency is slightly higher but consistent within the errors with the estimate
for the field stars, which leads to the general conclusion that open cluster
and field statistics agree. However, we find that the rate of hot Jupiters in
the cluster (~5.7%(+5.5/-3.0%)) is substantially higher than in the field.Comment: Accepted by A&
Vortices in vibrated granular rods
We report the experimental observation of novel vortex patterns in vertically
vibrated granular rods. Above a critical packing fraction, moving ordered
domains of nearly vertical rods spontaneously form and coexist with horizontal
rods. The domains of vertical rods coarsen in time to form large vortices. We
investigate the conditions under which the vortices occur by varying the number
of rods, vibration amplitude and frequency. The size of the vortices increases
with the number of rods. We characterize the growth of the ordered domains by
measuring the area fraction of the ordered regions as a function of time. A
{\em void filling} model is presented to describe the nucleation and growth of
the vertical domains. We track the ends of the vertical rods and obtain the
velocity fields of the vortices. The rotation speed of the rods is observed to
depend on the vibration velocity of the container and on the packing. To
investigate the impact of the direction of driving on the observed phenomena,
we performed experiments with the container vibrated horizontally. Although
vertical domains form, vortices are not observed. We therefore argue that the
motion is generated due to the interaction of the inclination of the rods with
the bottom of a vertically vibrated container. We also perform simple
experiments with a single row of rods in an annulus. These experiments directly
demonstrate that the rod motion is generated when the rods are inclined from
the vertical, and is always in the direction of the inclination.Comment: 6 pages, 10 figure, 2 movies at http://physics.clarku.edu/vortex uses
revtex
Influential factors of aligning Spotify squads in mission-critical and offshore projects – a longitudinal embedded case study
Changing the development process of an organization is one of the toughest and riskiest decisions. This is particularly true if the known experiences and practices of the new considered ways of working are relative and subject to contextual assumptions. Spotify engineering culture is deemed as a new agile software development method which increasingly attracts large-scale organizations. The method relies on several small cross-functional self-organized teams (i.e., squads). The squad autonomy is a key driver in Spotify method, where a squad decides what to do and how to do it. To enable effective squad autonomy, each squad shall be aligned with a mission, strategy, short-term goals and other squads. Since a little known about Spotify method, there is a need to answer the question of: How can organizations work out and maintain the alignment to enable loosely coupled and tightly aligned squads?
In this paper, we identify factors to support the alignment that is actually performed in practice but have never been discussed before in terms of Spotify method. We also present Spotify Tailoring by highlighting the modified and newly introduced processes to the method. Our work is based on a longitudinal embedded case study which was conducted in a real-world large-scale offshore software intensive organization that maintains mission-critical systems. According to the confidentiality agreement by the organization in question, we are not allowed to reveal a detailed description of the features of the explored project
Controlled Dynamics of Interfaces in a Vibrated Granular Layer
We present experimental study of a topological excitation, {\it interface},
in a vertically vibrated layer of granular material. We show that these
interfaces, separating regions of granular material oscillation with opposite
phases, can be shifted and controlled by a very small amount of an additional
subharmonic signal, mixed with the harmonic driving signal. The speed and the
direction of interface motion depends sensitively on the phase and the
amplitude of the subharmonic driving.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figures, RevTe
Digitalization and smartening public governance of the European high north regions
This is the final version. Available from the Faculty of Public Administration, National University of Political Studies & Public Administration via the URL in this record. Balancing technological evolution, protection of the environment and social communities well-being has
never been a simple task. However, while everything changes at an incredible fast-pace, public authorities,
private entities and even civil society must accompany that movement. It is, therefore, crucial that primarily
public officials and legislators build their activities on solid information, especially in places where a harsh
climatic condition, sparse population distribution and longer distances make public involvement more
difficult. The European high north is an example of a region where the recent phenomena of big data,
certainly represents challenges because of its yet to fully developed infrastructure, but also opportunities for
improving, people’s lives, and enhancing sustainable development, through smart mechanisms. In fact,
digitalisation and new technologies can cause negative and/or positive consequences in the life of certain
communities, depending on the means and purposes they are used for. This article intends to demonstrate
how an adaptive, in other words smart governance approach (digitalized governance approach) – based on
open, flexible and participatory tools – could improve the life of human beings in the territories of the
European High North (EHN), preparing the region and its inhabitants for the challenges of sustainable
development.NordForskESRSNW
A Continuum Description of Vibrated Sand
The motion of a thin layer of granular material on a plate undergoing
sinusoidal vibrations is considered. We develop equations of motion for the
local thickness and the horizontal velocity of the layer. The driving comes
from the violent impact of the grains on the plate. A linear stability theory
reveals that the waves are excited non-resonantly, in contrast to the usual
Faraday waves in liquids. Together with the experimentally observed continuum
scaling, the model suggests a close connection between the neutral curve and
the dispersion relation of the waves, which agrees quite well with experiments.
For strong hysteresis we find localized oscillon solutions.Comment: paper has been considerably extended (11 instead of 6 pages; 6
instead of 4 figures) much better agreement with experiment. obtain now
oscillons in 1 dimensio
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