Long-lived states of oscillator chain with dynamical traps

A simple model of oscillator chain with dynamical traps and additive white noise is considered. Its dynamics was studied numerically. As demonstrated, when the trap effect is pronounced nonequilibrium phase transitions of a new type arise. Locally they manifest themselves via distortion of the particle arrangement symmetry. Depending on the system parameters the particle arrangement is characterized by the corresponding distributions taking either a bimodal form, or twoscale one, or unimodal onescale form which, however, deviates substantially from the Gaussian distribution. The individual particle velocities exhibit also a number of anomalies, in particular, their distribution can be extremely wide or take a quasi-cusp form. A large number of different cooperative structures and superstructures made of these formations are found in the visualized time patterns. Their evolution is, in some sense, independent of the individual particle dynamics, enabling us to regard them as dynamical phases.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figurs, TeX style of European Physical Journa

Temperature-resonant cyclotron spectra in confined geometries

We consider a two-dimensional gas of colliding charged particles confined to finite size containers of various geometries and subjected to a uniform orthogonal magnetic field. The gas spectral densities are characterized by a broad peak at the cyclotron frequency. Unlike for infinitely extended gases, where the amplitude of the cyclotron peak grows linearly with temperature, here confinement causes such a peak to go through a maximum for an optimal temperature. In view of the fluctuation-dissipation theorem, the reported resonance effect has a direct counterpart in the electric susceptibility of the confined magnetized gas

Coherent emission from disordered arrays of driven Josephson vortices

We propose a mechanism of coherent emission from driven vortices in stacked intrinsic Josephson junctions. In contrast to super-radiance, which occurs only for highly ordered vortex lattices, we predict resonant radiation emission from weakly correlated vortex arrays. Our analytical results for the THz wave intensity, resonance frequencies, and the dependence of THz emission power on dissipation are in good agreement with the ones obtained by recent simulations.Comment: 2 figure

A realistic heat bath: theory and application to kink-antikink dynamics

We propose a new method of studying a real-time canonical evolution of field-theoretic systems with boundary coupling to a realistic heat bath. In the free-field case the method is equivalent to an infinite extension of the system beyond the boundary, while in the interacting case the extension of the system is done in linear approximation. We use this technique to study kink-antikink dynamics in $\varphi^4$ field theory in 1+1 dimensions.Comment: 21 pages including 7 figures (the shar file includes the tex file + 7 postscript files for figures). IUHET-241, IPS-92-29, UALG-PHYS-1

Collective shuttling of attracting particles in asymmetric narrow channels

The rectification of a single file of attracting particles subjected to a low frequency ac drive is proposed as a working mechanism for particle shuttling in an asymmetric narrow channel. Increasing the particle attraction results in the file condensing, as signalled by the dramatic enhancement of the net particle current. Magnitude and direction of the current become extremely sensitive to the actual size of the condensate, which can then be made to shuttle between two docking stations, transporting particles in one direction, with an efficiency much larger than conventional diffusive models predict

Evaluation of fetal cerebral blood flow perfusion using power Doppler Ultrasound Angiography (3D-PDA) in growth-restricted fetuses

Objective: to explore the potential of 3D Power Doppler Angiography (3D PDA) to evaluate the cerebral circulation in normal and growth restricted fetuses (IUGR). Study design: in a pilot study, we enrolled 51 appropriate for gestational age (AGA) pregnancies and 17 singleton pregnancies presenting IUGR, all between 22 and 38 weeks of gestation. Using 3D power Doppler ultrasound, a volume acquisition of the fetal brain was performed. Two regions of interest (ROI) were defined within the fetal brain. Zone 1 is anterior to the cavum septi pellucidi (CSP). Zone 2 is defined by a rectangle obtained tracing a contour between the temporal bones as wide as the CSP, corresponding to the area of the middle cerebral artery. The Flow Index (FI), the Vascularization Index (VI), the Vascularization and Flow Index (VFI) were determined in both areas in both IUGR and AGA fetuses by a single operator. IUGR fetuses were divided into three groups: Group 1, with normal pulsatility index (PI) of umbilical artery (UA), middle cerebral artery (MCA) and ductus venosus (DV); Group 2, IUGR fetuses with abnormal UA PI, normal MCA PI, normal DV PI; in Group 3, IUGR fetuses with abnormal UA PI, MCA PI and DV PI. Results: FI and VFI values of zone 1 were increased in Group 1.Values of VFI in zone 2 were increased in Group 2. Conclusions: Our findings are in line with recent studies in growth-restricted fetuses suggesting that the anterior cerebral artery shows Doppler signs of vasodilatation before these are observed in the MCA, demonstrating the “frontal brain sparing effect”

Chemotaxis of artificial microswimmers in active density waves

Living microorganisms are capable of a tactic response to external stimuli by swimming toward or away from the stimulus source; they do so by adapting their tactic signal transduction pathways to the environment. Their self-motility thus allows them to swim against a traveling tactic wave, whereas a simple fore-rear asymmetry argument would suggest the opposite. Their biomimetic counterpart, the artificial microswimmers, also propel themselves by harvesting kinetic energy from an active medium, but, in contrast, lack the adaptive capacity. Here we investigate the transport of artificial swimmers subject to traveling active waves and show, by means of analytical and numerical methods, that self-propelled particles can actually diffuse in either direction with respect to the wave, depending on its speed and waveform. Moreover, chiral swimmers, which move along spiraling trajectories, may diffuse preferably in a direction perpendicular to the active wave. Such a variety of tactic responses is explained by the modulation of the swimmer's diffusion inside traveling active pulses

Turbocompound power unit modelling for a supercapacitor-based series hybrid vehicle application

In this paper, starting from the measurements available for a 2000 cm3 turbocharged diesel engine, an analytical model of the turbocharger is proposed and validated. The model is then used to extrapolate the efficiency of a power unit with a diesel engine combined with a turbocompound system. The obtained efficiency map is used to evaluate the fuel economy of a supercapacitor-based series hybrid vehicle equipped with the turbocompound power unit. The turbocompound model, in accordance with the studies available in the technical literature, shows that the advantages (in terms of efficiency increase) are significant at high loads. For this reason, turbocompound introduction allows a significant efficiency improvement in a series hybrid vehicle, where the engine always works at high-load. The fuel economy of the proposed vehicle is compared with other hybrid and conventional vehicle configurations

Building a Prediction Model for Vacuum-Assisted Operative Vaginal Delivery Risk

Aim: The objective of this study was to evaluate the risk factors for operative vaginal delivery and to propose a new nomogram for predicting the risk. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 1,955 pregnancies that occurred in our clinic between the years 2007 and 2008. Included were singleton pregnancies with labor diagnosis after the 36th gestational week in which spontaneous or operative vaginal deliveries occurred. In this study, the operative delivery was carried out exclusively by vacuum extraction. Results: After univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression stepwise model selection, maternal age, nulliparity, medically assisted procreation, gestational age at birth, male fetus, epidural analgesia and medical induction of labor were found to be the most predictive variables for operative vaginal delivery. Considering these factors we propose a new nomogram for an objectified determination of the risk of operative vaginal delivery. Conclusions: The new nomogram we propose could be an important tool for an objectified determination of the risk of operative vaginal delivery by vacuum extraction in individualized patient counseling