2,454 research outputs found
Elastic response of filamentous networks with compliant crosslinks
Experiments have shown that elasticity of disordered filamentous networks
with compliant crosslinks is very different from networks with rigid
crosslinks. Here, we model and analyze filamentous networks as a collection of
randomly oriented rigid filaments connected to each other by flexible
crosslinks that are modeled as worm-like chains. For relatively large
extensions we allow for enthalpic stretching of crosslinks' backbones. We show
that for sufficiently high crosslink density, the network linear elastic
response is affine on the scale of the filaments' length. The nonlinear regime
can become highly nonaffine and is characterized by a divergence of the elastic
modulus at finite strain. In contrast to the prior predictions, we do not find
an asymptotic regime in which the differential elastic modulus scales linearly
with the stress, although an approximate linear dependence can be seen in a
transition from entropic to enthalpic regimes. We discuss our results in light
of the recent experiments.Comment: 10 pages, 11 figure
Driven diffusive systems with mutually interactive Langmuir kinetics
We investigate the simple one-dimensional driven model, the totally
asymmetric exclusion process, coupled to mutually interactive Langmuir
kinetics. This model is motivated by recent studies on clustering of motor
proteins on microtubules. In the proposed model, the attachment and detachment
rates of a particle are modified depending upon the occupancy of neighbouring
sites. We first obtain continuum mean-field equations and in certain limiting
cases obtain analytic solutions. We show how mutual interactions increase
(decrease) the effects of boundaries on the phase behavior of the model. We
perform Monte Carlo simulations and demonstrate that our analytical
approximations are in good agreement with the numerics over a wide range of
model parameters. We present phase diagrams over a selective range of
parameters.Comment: 9 pages, 8 Figure
Active biopolymer networks generate scale-free but euclidean clusters
We report analytical and numerical modelling of active elastic networks,
motivated by experiments on crosslinked actin networks contracted by myosin
motors. Within a broad range of parameters, the motor-driven collapse of active
elastic networks leads to a critical state. We show that this state is
qualitatively different from that of the random percolation model.
Intriguingly, it possesses both euclidean and scale-free structure with Fisher
exponent smaller than . Remarkably, an indistinguishable Fisher exponent and
the same euclidean structure is obtained at the critical point of the random
percolation model after absorbing all enclaves into their surrounding clusters.
We propose that in the experiment the enclaves are absorbed due to steric
interactions of network elements. We model the network collapse, taking into
account the steric interactions. The model shows how the system robustly drives
itself towards the critical point of the random percolation model with absorbed
enclaves, in agreement with the experiment.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figure
Dynamic characteristics and processing of fillers in polyurethane elastomers for vibration damping applications
Polyurethane elastomers have the potential of being used to reduce vibrational noise in many engineering applications. The performance of the elastomer is directly related to matching the nature of the mechanical loss characteristics to the frequency and temperature dependence of the source of the vibration. Materials with a broad frequency response and good mechanical properties are desirable for situations were load bearing and isolation becomes an issue. Because automobile, and other related vehicles operate over a broad temperature range, it is desirable for the damping characteristics of the elastomer to ideally be independent of temperature and frequency. In practice, this is not possible and the creation of materials with a broad spectrum response is desirable. In this paper, the effects of various fillers on the breadth and temperature dependence of the vibration damping characteristics of a filled and crosslinked polyurethane elastomer are explored. The fillers studied are wollastonite, barium sulphate and talc. These materials have different shapes, sizes and surface chemistry and undergo different types of interaction with the matrix. The vibration damping characteristics were further varied by the use of a crosslinking agent. Data presented on the rheological characteristics indicate the strength of the filler-polyol interactions. Dielectric relaxation and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis demonstrate the way in which changes in the type of filler, concentration and amount of crosslinker lead to changes in the location and breadth of the energy dissipation process in these elastomers. The vibration damping characteristics of a selected material are presented to demonstrate the potential of these materials
Critical behaviour in the nonlinear elastic response of hydrogels
In this paper we study the elastic response of synthetic hydrogels to an
applied shear stress. The hydrogels studied here have previously been shown to
mimic the behaviour of biopolymer networks when they are sufficiently far above
the gel point. We show that near the gel point they exhibit an elastic response
that is consistent with the predicted critical behaviour of networks near or
below the isostatic point of marginal stability. This point separates rigid and
floppy states, distinguished by the presence or absence of finite linear
elastic moduli. Recent theoretical work has also focused on the response of
such networks to finite or large deformations, both near and below the
isostatic point. Despite this interest, experimental evidence for the existence
of criticality in such networks has been lacking. Using computer simulations,
we identify critical signatures in the mechanical response of sub-isostatic
networks as a function of applied shear stress. We also present experimental
evidence consistent with these predictions. Furthermore, our results show the
existence of two distinct critical regimes, one of which arises from the
nonlinear stretch response of semi-flexible polymers.
Investigation of the Coupling Potential by means of S-matrix Inversion
We investigate the inelastic coupling interaction by studying its effect on
the elastic scattering potential as determined by inverting the elastic
scattering -matrix. We first address the effect upon the real and imaginary
elastic potentials of including excited states of the target nucleus. We then
investigate the effect of a recently introduced novel coupling potential which
has been remarkably successful in reproducing the experimental data for the
C+C, C+Mg and O+Si reactions over a
wide range of energies. This coupling potential has the effect of deepening the
real elastic potential in the surface region, thereby explaining a common
feature of many phenomenological potentials. It is suggested that one can
relate this deepening to the super-deformed state of the compound nucleus,
Mg.Comment: 12 pages with 3 figure
Raw and Count Data Comparability of Hip-Worn ActiGraph GT3X+ and Link Accelerometers
To enable inter- and intrastudy comparisons it is important to ascertain comparability among accelerometer models.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare raw and count data between hip-worn ActiGraph GT3X+ and GT9X Link accelerometers.
Methods: Adults (n = 26 (n = 15 women); age, 49.1 T 20.0 yr) wore GT3X+ and Link accelerometers over the right hip for an 80-min protocol involving 12–21 sedentary, household, and ambulatory/exercise activities lasting 2–15 min each. For each accelerometer, mean and variance of the raw (60 Hz) data for each axis and vector magnitude (VM) were extracted in 30-s epochs. A machine learning model (Montoye 2015) was used to predict energy expenditure in METs from the raw data. Raw data were also processed into activity counts in 30-s epochs for each axis and VM, with Freedson 1998 and 2011 count-based regression models used to predictMETs. Time spent in sedentary, light, moderate, and vigorous intensities was derived from predicted METs from each model. Correlations were calculated to compare raw and count data between accelerometers, and percent agreement was used to compare epoch-by-epoch activity intensity.
Results: For raw data, correlations for mean acceleration were 0.96 T 0.05, 0.89 T 0.16, 0.71 T 0.33, and 0.80 T 0.28, and those for variance were 0.98 T 0.02, 0.98 T 0.03, 0.91 T 0.06, and 1.00 T 0.00 in the X, Y, and Z axes and VM, respectively. For count data, corresponding correlations were 1.00 T 0.01, 0.98 T 0.02, 0.96 T 0.04, and 1.00 T 0.00, respectively. Freedson 1998 and 2011 count-based models had significantly higher percent agreement for activity intensity (95.1% T 5.6% and 95.5% T 4.0%) compared with theMontoye 2015 raw data model (61.5% T 27.6%; P G 0.001).
Conclusions: Count data were more highly comparable than raw data between accelerometers. Data filtering and/or more robust raw data models are needed to improve raw data comparability between ActiGraph GT3X+ and Link accelerometers
Magnetic anisotropy of vicinal (001) fcc Co films: role of crystal splitting and structure relaxation in step-decoration effect
The uniaxial in-plane magnetic anisotropy (UIP-MA) constant is calculated for
a single step on the (001) surface of fcc Co() films. The calculations are
done for both an undecorated step and the step decorated with one or more, up
to 7, Cu wires. Our objective is to explain the mechanisms by which the
decoration decreases the UIP-MA constant, which is the effect observed
experimentally for ultrathin Co films deposited on vicinal (001) Cu surfaces
and can lead to reorientation of magnetization within the film plane.
Theoretical calculations performed with a realistic tight-binding model show
that the step decoration changes the UIP-MA constant significantly only if the
splitting between the on-site energies of various -orbitals is included for
atoms located near the step edge. The local relaxation of atomic structure
around the step is also shown to have a significant effect on the shift of the
UIP-MA constant. The influence of these two relevant factors is analyzed
further by examining individual contributions to the UIP-MA constant from atoms
around the step. The magnitude of the obtained UIP-MA shift agrees well with
experimental data. It is also found that an additional shift due to possible
charge transfer between Cu and Co atoms is very small.Comment: 12 pages,9 figures, RevTeX, submitted to Physical Review B version 3:
additions to content version 2: minor correction
Development and evaluation of an early detection intervention for mouth cancer using a mass media approach
Scotland has a high incidence of mouth cancer, but public awareness and knowledge are low compared with other cancers. The West of Scotland Cancer Awareness Project sought to increase public awareness and knowledge of mouth cancer and to encourage early detection of symptoms among an at-risk population of people aged over 40 years from lower socio-economic groups using a mass media approach. The media campaign aimed to increase people’s feelings of personal risk, while also enhancing feelings of efficacy and control. To achieve this, a testimonial approach (using real people to tell their own stories) was adopted
The mechanical response of semiflexible networks to localized perturbations
Previous research on semiflexible polymers including cytoskeletal networks in
cells has suggested the existence of distinct regimes of elastic response, in
which the strain field is either uniform (affine) or non-uniform (non-affine)
under external stress. Associated with these regimes, it has been further
suggested that a new fundamental length scale emerges, which characterizes the
scale for the crossover from non-affine to affine deformations. Here, we extend
these studies by probing the response to localized forces and force dipoles. We
show that the previously identified nonaffinity length [D.A. Head et al. PRE
68, 061907 (2003).] controls the mesoscopic response to point forces and the
crossover to continuum elastic behavior at large distances.Comment: 16 pages, 18 figures; substantial changes to text and figures to
clarify the crossover to continuum elasticity and the role of finite-size
effect
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