Interplay of frequency-synchronization with noise: current resonances, giant diffusion and diffusion-crests

We elucidate how the presence of noise may significantly interact with the synchronization mechanism of systems exhibiting frequency-locking. The response of these systems exhibits a rich variety of behaviors, such as resonances and anti-resonances which can be controlled by the intensity of noise. The transition between different locked regimes provokes the development of a multiple enhancement of the effective diffusion. This diffusion behavior is accompanied by a crest-like peak-splitting cascade when the distribution of the lockings is self-similar, as it occurs in periodic systems that are able to exhibit a Devil's staircase sequence of frequency-lockings.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figures, epl.cls. Accepted for publication in Europhysics Letter

Entropic stochastic resonance: the constructive role of the unevenness

We demonstrate the existence of stochastic resonance (SR) in confined systems arising from entropy variations associated to the presence of irregular boundaries. When the motion of a Brownian particle is constrained to a region with uneven boundaries, the presence of a periodic input may give rise to a peak in the spectral amplification factor and therefore to the appearance of the SR phenomenon. We have proved that the amplification factor depends on the shape of the region through which the particle moves and that by adjusting its characteristic geometric parameters one may optimize the response of the system. The situation in which the appearance of such entropic stochastic resonance (ESR) occurs is common for small-scale systems in which confinement and noise play an prominent role. The novel mechanism found could thus constitute an important tool for the characterization of these systems and can put to use for controlling their basic properties.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figure

Biased diffusion in confined media: Test of the Fick-Jacobs approximation and validity criteria

We study biased, diffusive transport of Brownian particles through narrow, spatially periodic structures in which the motion is constrained in lateral directions. The problem is analyzed under the perspective of the Fick-Jacobs equation which accounts for the effect of the lateral confinement by introducing an entropic barrier in a one dimensional diffusion. The validity of this approximation, being based on the assumption of an instantaneous equilibration of the particle distribution in the cross-section of the structure, is analyzed by comparing the different time scales that characterize the problem. A validity criterion is established in terms of the shape of the structure and of the applied force. It is analytically corroborated and verified by numerical simulations that the critical value of the force up to which this description holds true scales as the square of the periodicity of the structure. The criterion can be visualized by means of a diagram representing the regions where the Fick-Jacobs description becomes inaccurate in terms of the scaled force versus the periodicity of the structure.Comment: 20 pages, 7 figure

Host body size, not host population size, predicts genome-wide effective population size of parasites

Funding was provided by US NSF DEB-1342604, DEB-1925487 and DEB-1926919 grant awards to K.P.J., and European Commission grant H2020-MSCA-IF-2019 (INTROSYM:886532) to JD.The effective population size (N-e) of an organism is expected to be generally proportional to the total number of individuals in a population. In parasites, we might expect the effective population size to be proportional to host population size and host body size, because both are expected to increase the number of parasite individuals. However, among other factors, parasite populations are sometimes so extremely subdivided that high levels of inbreeding may distort these predicted relationships. Here, we used whole-genome sequence data from dove parasites (71 feather louse species of the genus Columbicola) and phylogenetic comparative methods to study the relationship between parasite effective population size and host population size and body size. We found that parasite effective population size is largely explained by host body size but not host population size. These results suggest the potential local population size (infrapopulation or deme size) is more predictive of the long-term effective population size of parasites than is the total number of potential parasite infrapopulations (i.e., host individuals).National Science Foundation (NSF) DEB-1342604, DEB-1925487, DEB-1926919European Commission Joint Research Centre H2020-MSCA-IF-2019 (INTROSYM:886532

Double Entropic Stochastic Resonance

We demonstrate the appearance of a purely entropic stochastic resonance (ESR) occurring in a geometrically confined system, where the irregular boundaries cause entropic barriers. The interplay between a periodic input signal, a constant bias and intrinsic thermal noise leads to a resonant ESR-phenomenon in which feeble signals become amplified. This new phenomenon is characterized by the presence of two peaks in the spectral amplification at corresponding optimal values of the noise strength. The main peak is associated with the manifest stochastic resonance synchronization mechanism involving the inter-well noise-activated dynamics while a second peak relates to a regime of optimal sensitivity for intra-well dynamics. The nature of ESR, occurring when the origin of the barrier is entropic rather than energetic, offers new perspectives for novel investigations and potential applications. ESR by itself presents yet another case where one constructively can harvest noise in driven nonequilibrium systems.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figures ; Europhys. Lett., in press (2009

Entropic Stochastic Resonance

We present a novel scheme for the appearance of Stochastic Resonance when the dynamics of a Brownian particle takes place in a confined medium. The presence of uneven boundaries, giving rise to an entropic contribution to the potential, may upon application of a periodic driving force result in an increase of the spectral amplification at an optimum value of the ambient noise level. This Entropic Stochastic Resonance (ESR), characteristic of small-scale systems, may constitute a useful mechanism for the manipulation and control of single-molecules and nano-devices.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Electrochemical characterization of Geobacter lovleyi identifies limitations of microbial fuel cell performance in constructed wetlands

Power generation in microbial fuel cells implemented in constructed wetlands (CW-MFCs) is low despite the enrichment of anode electricigens most closely related to Geobacter lovleyi. Using the model representative G. lovleyi strain SZ, we show that acetate, but not formate or lactate, can be oxidized efficiently but growth is limited by the high sensitivity of the bacterium to oxygen. Acetate and highly reducing conditions also supported the growth of anode biofilms but only at optimal anode potentials (450 mV vs. standard hydrogen electrode). Still, electrode coverage was poor and current densities, low, consistent with the lack of key c-type cytochromes. The results suggest that the low oxygen tolerance of G. lovleyi and inability to efficiently colonize and form electroactive biofilms on the electrodes while oxidizing the range of electron donors available in constructed wetlands limits MFC performance. The implications of these findings for the optimization of CW-MFCs are discussed. [Int Microbiol 20(2):55-64 (2017)]Keywords: microbial fuel cells; bioelectrochemical systems; constructed wetlands; extracellular electron transfer; electricigen

Electrochemical characterization of Geobacter lovleyi identifies limitations of microbial fuel cell performance in constructed wetlands

Microbial Fuel Cells implemented in Constructed Wetlands (CW-MFCs) show limited performance. Geobacter Lovleyi has been demonstrated to be one of the predominant bacterial species in active CW-MFCs. The aim of this study was to characterize the growth of G.Lovleyi so as to identify if it could be a source for the observed CW-MFCs low performances. To this aim, G. Lovelyi was grown under three different electron donors (acetate, lactate and formate) and two electron acceptors (fumarate and Fe(III) citrate). G. Lovleyi growing and electron transfer characteristics was also studied by inoculating it in double chambered MECs (anodes poised at 31, 450 and 771 mV). Results showed that its growth was supported by acetate, with doubling times of 4.4±0.1 and 8±0.1 hours for fumarate and Fe(III) citrate as electron acceptors, respectively. G. Lovleyi was also demonstrated to be highly intolerant to oxygen, requiring cysteine as a reducing agent. In contrast, formate and lactate did not support cell growth even in the presence of cysteine. Maximum currents achieved were that of 0.08 mA and 0.26 mA for the MECs operated at 450 mV and 771 mV, respectively. However, no current was observed at 31mV. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) analysis showed poor electrode coverage, indicating that G. Lovleyi did not attach to the electrode effectively. According to these results, low performances of CW-MFCs could by at least partially explained by the inability of G. lovleyi to oxidize the wide range of metabolites present in CW, to tolerate even trace oxygen concentrations or to efficiently attach to electrodes surface.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Experimental study of R1234yf as a drop-in replacement for R134a in a domestic refrigerator

This paper presents an experimental study for three identical domestic refrigerators using R1234yf as a drop-in replacement for R134a. An alternative methodology was proposed to estimate the optimal mass charge for R1234yf; with the use of such methodology, new evidences were sought on the thermal behavior of the refrigerator compartments as well as at the heat exchangers. Additionally, energy performance for both refrigerants was measured, and, finally, a TEWI analysis was conducted. For the type of refrigerator evaluated, results showed that R1234yf presented an average (for the 3 refrigerators) of 0.4 °C for the fresh food compartment, and 1.2 °C for the freezer, among different charges with respect to R134a. The optimal charge for R1234yf was 92.2 g, which is about 7.8% lower than the one for R134a, which represents a small increase of 4% in energy consumption in comparison to R134a. Finally, the TEWI analysis for the R1234yf was 1.07% higher than the R134a.We thank Universidad de Guanajuato for the support in the realization of this research. We also want to thank the Company Honeywell (through Marco García) for the donation of the refrigerant R1234yf, and to acknowledge the support of Mabe TyP in the performing of the tests. The authors wish to thank to Montoro Sanjosé Carlos Rubín for their support in the editing of the English-language version of this paper