The Big World of Nanothermodynamics

Nanothermodynamics extends standard thermodynamics to facilitate finite-size effects on the scale of nanometers. A key ingredient is Hill's subdivision potential that accommodates the non-extensive energy of independent small systems, similar to how Gibbs' chemical potential accommodates distinct particles. Nanothermodynamics is essential for characterizing the thermal equilibrium distribution of independently relaxing regions inside bulk samples, as is found for the primary response of most materials using various experimental techniques. The subdivision potential ensures strict adherence to the laws of thermodynamics: total energy is conserved by including an instantaneous contribution from the entropy of local configurations, and total entropy remains maximized by coupling to a thermal bath. A unique feature of nanothermodynamics is the completely-open nanocanonical ensemble. Another feature is that particles within each region become statistically indistinguishable, which avoids non-extensive entropy, and mimics quantum-mechanical behavior. Applied to mean-field theory, nanothermodynamics gives a heterogeneous distribution of regions that yields stretched-exponential relaxation and super-Arrhenius activation. Applied to Monte Carlo simulations, there is a nonlinear correction to Boltzmann's factor that improves agreement between the Ising model and measured non-classical critical scaling in magnetic materials. Nanothermodynamics also provides a fundamental mechanism for the 1/f noise found in many materials.Comment: 22 pages, 14 figures, revie

The genera of North American dictynidae

journal articleInasmuch as it seems desirable to postpone the printing of a more extensive treatise on the Dictynidae, now in manuscript, in order to amplify it, the author is publishing for use in the interim the present synoptic account of the genera which he recognizes in the family. Opportunity is taken to clarify the characters of these genera, particularly those of Dictyna sen. str. and Emblyna, by means of drawings of the copulatory organs of series of new species that have been detected in the course o f the study. Sincere appreciation is here expressed to Dr. W. J. Gertsch of the American Museum of Natural History for his generous and unfailing cooperation. He has placed at my disposal a considerable amount of material, including a number of forms which he had recognized as new together with several drawings of these, made by W. Ivie, and here reproduced as figs. 16, 26, and 48-53

On some genera and species of American Millipeds

journal articleThe notes and diagnoses in this paper are based primarily upon a small but interesting collection of millipeds recently made in Georgia by Wilton Ivie, and upon specimens in the Field Museum collection chiefly from neighboring sections of the southern states

Small and simple systems that favor the arrow of time

The 2nd law of thermodynamics yields an irreversible increase in entropy until thermal equilibrium is achieved. This irreversible increase is often assumed to require large and complex systems to emerge from the reversible microscopic laws of physics. We test this assumption using simulations and theory of a 1D ring of N Ising spins coupled to an explicit heat bath of N Einstein oscillators. The exact entropy of the spins and bath can be calculated for any N, with dynamics that is readily altered from reversible to irreversible. We find thermal equilibrium behavior in the thermodynamic limit, and in systems as small as N=2, but only if the microscopic dynamics is intrinsically irreversible.Comment: 16 pages, 1 table, 3 figure

Results of the Bryant Walker Expeditions of the University of Michigan to Colombia. 1913, and British Guiana. 1914: The Chilopoda

http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/56536/1/OP097.pd

On some Diplopods of the family fontariidae

journal articleThe purpose of the present paper is to designate certain new genera in the family Fontariidae occurring in the eastern and southeastern states and to give brief preliminary diagnoses of various new species within these and related genera

New genera and species of American Lithobiid Centipeds

journal articleThe lithobiomorphous chilopods herein described are represented in lots from various sources recently acquired by the author, in whose collection the material is at present retained at the University of Utah. With the exception of two species from Mexico, all are from the United States, the majority coming from California, with others from Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington

A summary of the known North American Amaurobiidae

journal articleA recent survey o f the spiders o f the family Amaurobiidae, sens, str., in the collection o f the University o f Utah made it evident that a number o f species and also generic groups occurring more especially in the western states had heretofore escaped detection and naming. It also seemed evident that a satisfactory monographic treatment o f the group must await more thorough collecting in most areas o f the West. The present paper is therefore meant merely to catalogue the species at present known from America north of Mexico and to give preliminary diagnoses o f such new species and genera as are detected in our collection

On a diplopod collection from Barro Colorado Island, Panama

journal articleThe present paper presents the results of a taxonomic study of an important collection o f millipeds made bv Mr. Eliot C. Williams, Jr., of Northwestern University on Barro Colorado Island during July and August of 1938. Twenty-three species were secured, these representing •i very interesting and largely new humus faunule. " All o f the specimens were collected in the leaf debris of the forest floor. Some of them were collected by means of a Berlesc funnel, but the majority of them were picked up by hand." Nineteen species, eight genera and one family are named as new. The types of the new forms are in the author' s collection at the University of Utah

On a collection of chilopods from the East Indies

journal articleThe present paper is a report upon' a collection of chilopods received for identification from the Buitenzorg Museum, Java, through the courtesy of Dr. Dammerman