41,669 research outputs found
A microscopic approach to nonlinear Reaction-Diffusion: the case of morphogen gradient formation
We develop a microscopic theory for reaction-difusion (R-D) processes based
on a generalization of Einstein's master equation with a reactive term and we
show how the mean field formulation leads to a generalized R-D equation with
non-classical solutions. For the -th order annihilation reaction
, we obtain a nonlinear reaction-diffusion equation
for which we discuss scaling and non-scaling formulations. We find steady
states with either solutions exhibiting long range power law behavior (for
) showing the relative dominance of sub-diffusion over reaction
effects in constrained systems, or conversely solutions (for )
with finite support of the concentration distribution describing situations
where diffusion is slow and extinction is fast. Theoretical results are
compared with experimental data for morphogen gradient formation.Comment: Article, 10 pages, 5 figure
Pattern formation in self-propelled particles with density-dependent motility
We study the behaviour of interacting self-propelled particles, whose
self-propulsion speed decreases with their local density. By combining direct
simulations of the microscopic model with an analysis of the hydrodynamic
equations obtained by explicitly coarse graining the model, we show that
interactions lead generically to the formation of a host of patterns, including
moving clumps, active lanes and asters. This general mechanism could explain
many of the patterns seen in recent experiments and simulations
Complementarity and diversity in a soluble model ecosystem
Complementarity among species with different traits is one of the basic
processes affecting biodiversity, defined as the number of species in the
ecosystem. We present here a soluble model ecosystem in which the species are
characterized by binary traits and their pairwise interactions follow a
complementarity principle. Manipulation of the species composition, and so the
study of its effects on the species diversity is achieved through the
introduction of a bias parameter favoring one of the traits. Using statistical
mechanics tools we find explicit expressions for the allowed values of the
equilibrium species concentrations in terms of the control parameters of the
model
Enhancing single-molecule photostability by optical feedback from quantum-jump detection
We report an optical technique that yields an enhancement of single-molecule
photostability, by greatly suppressing photobleaching pathways which involve
photoexcitation from the triplet state. This is accomplished by dynamically
switching off the excitation laser when a quantum-jump of the molecule to the
triplet state is optically detected. This procedure leads to a lengthened
single-molecule observation time and an increased total number of detected
photons. The resulting improvement in photostability unambiguously confirms the
importance of photoexcitation from the triplet state in photobleaching
dynamics, and may allow the investigation of new phenomena at the
single-molecule level
Scoping a public health impact assessment of aquaculture with particular reference to tilapia in the UK
Background. The paper explores shaping public health impact assessment tools for tilapia, a novel emergent aquaculture sector in the UK. This Research Council’s UK Rural Economy and Land Use project embraces technical, public health, and marketing perspectives scoping tools to assess possible impacts of the activity. Globally, aquaculture produced over 65 million tonnes of food in 2008 and will grow significantly requiring apposite global public health impact assessment tools.<p></p>
Methods. Quantitative and qualitative methods incorporated data from a tridisciplinary literature. Holistic tools scoped tilapia farming impact assessments. Laboratory-based tilapia production generated data on impacts in UK and Thailand along with 11 UK focus groups involving 90 consumers, 30 interviews and site visits, 9 visits to UK tilapia growers and 2 in The Netherlands.<p></p>
Results. The feasibility, challenges, strengths, and weaknesses of creating a tilapia Public Health Impact Assessment are analysed. Occupational and environmental health benefits and risks attached to tilapia production were identified.<p></p>
Conclusions. Scoping public health impacts of tilapia production is possible at different levels and forms for producers, retailers, consumers, civil society and governmental bodies that may contribute to complex and interrelated public health assessments of aquaculture projects. Our assessment framework constitutes an innovatory perspective in the field
KPP reaction-diffusion equations with a non-linear loss inside a cylinder
We consider in this paper a reaction-diffusion system in presence of a flow
and under a KPP hypothesis. While the case of a single-equation has been
extensively studied since the pioneering Kolmogorov-Petrovski-Piskunov paper,
the study of the corresponding system with a Lewis number not equal to 1 is
still quite open. Here, we will prove some results about the existence of
travelling fronts and generalized travelling fronts solutions of such a system
with the presence of a non-linear spacedependent loss term inside the domain.
In particular, we will point out the existence of a minimal speed, above which
any real value is an admissible speed. We will also give some spreading results
for initial conditions decaying exponentially at infinity
Information sciences experiment system
The rapid expansion of remote sensing capability over the last two decades will take another major leap forward with the advent of the Earth Observing System (Eos). An approach is presented that will permit experiments and demonstrations in onboard information extraction. The approach is a non-intrusive, eavesdropping mode in which a small amount of spacecraft real estate is allocated to an onboard computation resource. How such an approach allows the evaluation of advanced technology in the space environment, advanced techniques in information extraction for both Earth science and information science studies, direct to user data products, and real-time response to events, all without affecting other on-board instrumentation is discussed
Interplanetary propulsion using inertial fusion
Inertial fusion can be used to power spacecraft within the solar system and beyond. Such spacecraft have the potential for short-duration manned-mission performance exceeding other technologies. We are conducting a study to assess the systems aspects of inertial fusion as applied to such missions, based on the conceptual engine design of Hyde (1983) we describe the required systems for an entirely new spacecraft design called VISTA that is based on the use of DT fuel. We give preliminary design details for the power conversion and power conditioning systems for manned missions to Mars of total duration of about 100 days. Specific mission performance results will be published elsewhere, after the study has been completed
The 10 to the 8th power bit solid state spacecraft data recorder
The results are summarized of a program to demonstrate the feasibility of Bubble Domain Memory Technology as a mass memory medium for spacecraft applications. The design, fabrication and test of a partially populated 10 to the 8th power Bit Data Recorder using 100 Kbit serial bubble memory chips is described. Design tradeoffs, design approach and performance are discussed. This effort resulted in a 10 to the 8th power bit recorder with a volume of 858.6 cu in and a weight of 47.2 pounds. The recorder is plug reconfigurable, having the capability of operating as one, two or four independent serial channel recorders or as a single sixteen bit byte parallel input recorder. Data rates up to 1.2 Mb/s in a serial mode and 2.4 Mb/s in a parallel mode may be supported. Fabrication and test of the recorder demonstrated the basic feasibility of Bubble Domain Memory technology for such applications. Test results indicate the need for improvement in memory element operating temperature range and detector performance
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