Uniqueness of the thermodynamic limit for driven disordered elastic interfaces

We study the finite size fluctuations at the depinning transition for a one-dimensional elastic interface of size $L$ displacing in a disordered medium of transverse size $M=k L^\zeta$ with periodic boundary conditions, where $\zeta$ is the depinning roughness exponent and $k$ is a finite aspect ratio parameter. We focus on the crossover from the infinitely narrow ($k\to 0$) to the infinitely wide ($k\to \infty$) medium. We find that at the thermodynamic limit both the value of the critical force and the precise behavior of the velocity-force characteristics are {\it unique} and $k$-independent. We also show that the finite size fluctuations of the critical force (bias and variance) as well as the global width of the interface cross over from a power-law to a logarithm as a function of $k$. Our results are relevant for understanding anisotropic size-effects in force-driven and velocity-driven interfaces.Comment: 10 pages, 12 figure

Short time relaxation of a driven elastic string in a random medium

We study numerically the relaxation of a driven elastic string in a two dimensional pinning landscape. The relaxation of the string, initially flat, is governed by a growing length $L(t)$ separating the short steady-state equilibrated lengthscales, from the large lengthscales that keep memory of the initial condition. We find a macroscopic short time regime where relaxation is universal, both above and below the depinning threshold, different from the one expected for standard critical phenomena. Below the threshold, the zero temperature relaxation towards the first pinned configuration provides a novel, experimentally convenient way to access all the critical exponents of the depinning transition independently.Comment: 4.2 pages, 3 figure

X-ray spectrum of a pinned charge density wave

We calculate the X-ray diffraction spectrum produced by a pinned charge density wave (CDW). The signature of the presence of a CDW consists of two satellite peaks, asymmetric as a consequence of disorder. The shape and the intensity of these peaks are determined in the case of a collective weak pinning using the variational method. We predict divergent asymmetric peaks, revealing the presence of a Bragg glass phase. We deal also with the long range Coulomb interactions, concluding that both peak divergence and anisotropy are enhanced. Finally we discuss how to detect experimentally the Bragg glass phase in the view of the role played by the finite resolution of measurements.Comment: 13 pages 10 figure

Evaluation and Utilization of a Tall Fescue Germplasm Collection at Pergamino INTA, Argentina

One hundred and fifty four accessions of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) representing different types grown around the world were evaluated at Pergamino Inta Experimental Station. A multivariate analysis was carried out to evaluate individual and group variations. Three principal components (PCs) explained 70 % of the variation. Cluster analysis (Ward method) allowed the identification of 7 groups of populations. Plants from the most promising populations were selected in order to form a new breeding gene pool. The main objective of this study is to develop a new cultivar with improved winter herbage yield. Selected genotypes were mostly of Mediterranean origin

Flowering Distribution Pattern in White Clover Cultivars

A trial was carried out at Pergamino Agricultural Experimental Station to examine the distribution pattern and the profuseness of inflorescence production of white clover (Trifolium repens L.). The treatments were 16 cultivars (Churrinche, El Lucero MAG, Bayucuá, Estanzuela Zapicán, Lucero Plus Inta, Haifa, California, Ladino Gigante Lodigiano, Dubrava, Susi, Merwi, Blanca, Sonja, Espanso, Nora, S 184) of different origins and leaf size. The experimental design was a lattice with four replications. Southamerican cultivars showed a similar distribution pattern and had the highest inflorescence production. They also flowered earlier than foreign cultivars, except Haifa. Some of the cultivars evaluated did not have an acceptable inflorescence production. Some others produced seeds at the end of the season under bad weather conditions. Small-leaved varieties tended to have less inflorescence density. The spread of flowering during the reproductive cycle and the number of inflorescence per unit area are important characters that must be considered during breeding and before releasing introduced cultivars to the market

Breeding for Resistance to Strike Leaf Blight (\u3ci\u3eScolecotrichum graminis\u3c/i\u3e) of Orchardgras in Argentina

A collection of orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata) was screened under field conditions for resistance to strike leaf blight (SLB) caused by the fungus Scolecotrichum graminis. On the whole, thirty five entries from different countries were studied by sampling ten genotypes from each origin, clonally propagated and transplanted as spaced-plant trial in a randomized design with two replicates. Plants were periodically assessed during 1996 and 1997 by estimating disease severity (percentage of leaf affected). During 1997, disease severity data were used to calculate the area under disease progress curves (AUDPC) as a complementary attribute to screen for resistance to SLB. Important genetic differences were observed among different entries by analyzing the amount of symptoms through disease severity during 1996. Similarly, large differences were detected between entries when analyzed through AUDPC, none of them related to origin of germplasm. Results indicated that there should be good possibilities of selecting resistant genotypes to S. graminis from INTA Pergamino orchardgrass germoplasm collection

Genetic Variability Between Adapted Populations of Annual Ryegrass (\u3cem\u3eLolium Multiflorum\u3c/em\u3e Lam) In Argentina

Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) is one of the most important annual grasses used in Argentina because it adapts better to the intensive animal system of the Humid Pampas than other annual forage grass. Although much research has been done to study its productive potential and management technologies, little work has focused on breeding and selection. There is ample evidence that genetic variability occurs within grass species (Snaydon, 1987; Andrés and Barufaldi, 1997) both in morphology and physiology. As a result the variation of attributes related with yield potential, quality and adaptation to different management systems, is often used in plant breeding to develop new varieties. The objective of this work was to evaluate the genetic variability between 32 populations of annual ryegrass adapted to different grassland environments in the Humid Pampas Region of Argentina as an introductory part of a breeding programme at INTA. The final aim of this programme is to provide new varieties of annual ryegrass adapted to different management systems

Monte Carlo Dynamics of driven Flux Lines in Disordered Media

We show that the common local Monte Carlo rules used to simulate the motion of driven flux lines in disordered media cannot capture the interplay between elasticity and disorder which lies at the heart of these systems. We therefore discuss a class of generalized Monte Carlo algorithms where an arbitrary number of line elements may move at the same time. We prove that all these dynamical rules have the same value of the critical force and possess phase spaces made up of a single ergodic component. A variant Monte Carlo algorithm allows to compute the critical force of a sample in a single pass through the system. We establish dynamical scaling properties and obtain precise values for the critical force, which is finite even for an unbounded distribution of the disorder. Extensions to higher dimensions are outlined.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Mixing Bandt-Pompe and Lempel-Ziv approaches: another way to analyze the complexity of continuous-states sequences

In this paper, we propose to mix the approach underlying Bandt-Pompe permutation entropy with Lempel-Ziv complexity, to design what we call Lempel-Ziv permutation complexity. The principle consists of two steps: (i) transformation of a continuous-state series that is intrinsically multivariate or arises from embedding into a sequence of permutation vectors, where the components are the positions of the components of the initial vector when re-arranged; (ii) performing the Lempel-Ziv complexity for this series of `symbols', as part of a discrete finite-size alphabet. On the one hand, the permutation entropy of Bandt-Pompe aims at the study of the entropy of such a sequence; i.e., the entropy of patterns in a sequence (e.g., local increases or decreases). On the other hand, the Lempel-Ziv complexity of a discrete-state sequence aims at the study of the temporal organization of the symbols (i.e., the rate of compressibility of the sequence). Thus, the Lempel-Ziv permutation complexity aims to take advantage of both of these methods. The potential from such a combined approach - of a permutation procedure and a complexity analysis - is evaluated through the illustration of some simulated data and some real data. In both cases, we compare the individual approaches and the combined approach.Comment: 30 pages, 4 figure