Localized moving breathers in a 2-D hexagonal lattice

We show for the first time that highly localized in-plane breathers can propagate in specific directions with minimal lateral spreading in a model 2-D hexagonal non-linear lattice. The lattice is subject to an on-site potential in addition to longitudinal nonlinear inter-particle interactions. This study investigates the prediction that stable breather-like solitons could be formed as a result of energetic scattering events in a given layered crystal and would propagate in atomic-chain directions in certain atomic planes. This prediction arose from a long-term study of previously unexplained dark lines in natural crystals of muscovite mica.Comment: 6 pages, 2 Figs. Submitted to PR

Predicted Planck Extragalactic Point Source Catalogue

An estimation of the number and amplitude (in flux) of the extragalactic point sources that will be observed by the Planck Mission is presented in this paper. The study is based on the Mexican Hat wavelet formalism introduced by Cayon et al. 2000. Simulations at Planck observing frequencies are analysed, taking into account all the possible cosmological, Galactic and Extragalactic emissions together with noise. With the technique used in this work the Planck Mission will produce a catalogue of extragalactic point sources above fluxes: 1.03 Jy (857 GHz), 0.53 Jy (545 GHz), 0.28 Jy (353 GHz), 0.24 Jy (217 GHz), 0.32 Jy (143 GHz), 0.41 Jy (100 GHz HFI), 0.34 Jy (100 GHz LFI), 0.57 Jy (70 GHz), 0.54 Jy (44 GHz) and 0.54 Jy (30 GHz), which are only slightly model dependent (see text). Amplitudes of these sources are estimated with errors below 15%. Moreover, we also provide a complete catalogue (for the point sources simulation analysed) with errors in the estimation of the amplitude below 10%. In addition we discuss the possibility of identifying different point source populations in the Planck catalogue by estimating their spectral indices.Comment: 13 pages, 2 figures, submitted to MNRA

IDR/UPM facilities for liquid bridge experimentation on earth under microgravity conditions

Besides space laboratories for in-orbit experimentation, Earth based facilities for laboratory experimentation are of paramount importance for the enhancement on liquid bridge knowledge. In spite of the constraints imposed by simulated microgravity (which force to work either with very small size liquid bridges or by using the Plateau tank technique, amongst other techniques), the availability and accessibility of Earth facilities can circumvent in many cases the drawbacks associated with simulated microgravity conditions. To support theoretical and in orbit experimental studies on liquid bridges under reduced gravity conditions, several ground facilities were developed at IDR. In the following these ground facilities are briefly described, and main results obtained by using them are cited

The biota of the upper cretaceous site of Lo Hueco (Cuenca, Spain)

Artículo escrito por un elevado número de autores, solo se referencian el que aparece en primer lugar, el nombre del grupo de colaboración, si le hubiere, y los autores pertenecientes a la UAMThe Late Cretaceous (Campanian-Maastrichtian) fossil site of Lo Hueco was recently discovered close to the village of Fuentes (Cuenca, Spain) during the cutting of a little hill for installation of the railway of the Madrid-Levante high-speed train. To date, it has yielded a rich collection of well-preserved Cretaceous macrofossils, including plants, invertebrates, and vertebrates. The recovered fossil assemblage is mainly composed of plants, molluscs (bivalves and gastropods), actinopterygians and teleosteans fishes, amphibians, panpleurodiran (bothremydids) and pancryptodiran turtles, squamate lizards, eusuchian crocodyliforms, rhabdodontid ornithopods, theropods (mainly dromaeosaurids), and titanosaur sauropods. This assemblage was deposited in a near-coast continental muddy floodplain crossed by distributary sandy channels, exposed intermittently to brackish or marine and freshwater flooding as well as to partial or total desiccation events. The Konzentrat-Lagerstatt of Lo Hueco constitutes a singular accumulation of fossils representing individuals of some particular lineages of continental tetrapods, especially titanosaurs, eusuchians and bothremydid turtles. In the case of the titanosaurs, the site has yielded multiple partial skeletons in anatomical connection or with a low dispersion of their skeletal elements. A combination of new taxa, new records of taxa previously known in the Iberian Peninsula, and relatively common taxa in the European record compose the Lo Hueco biota. The particular conditions of the fossil site of Lo Hueco and the preliminary results indicate that the analysis of the geological context, the floral and faunal content, and the taphonomical features of the site provide elements that will be especially useful for reassess the evolutionary history of some lineages of European Late Cretaceous reptilesThe fieldwork at Lo Hueco (2007-2009) was funded by ADIF (the state-owned company that administrate the Spanish railway infrastructures) through the company awarded the civil works (Ferrovial). The authors acknowledge the involvement and commitment to this task to the more-than-one-hundred technicians and assistants. The paleontological excavation was authorized by the Dirección General de Patrimonio y Museos de la Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-la Mancha whose acronym is 04.0392-P11. The excavation also received support from different estates of the Government of the Autonomous Community of Castilla-La Mancha (Presidencia de la JCCM, Consejería de Cultura, Consejería de Medio Ambiente, Delegación de la JCCM en Cuenca) and the City Council of Fuentes. Research at Lo Hueco was financed by the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación: CGL2009-12008, CGL2011-25894, CGL2009-10766, CGL2009-12143, and currently the proyect CGL2012-35199: “Estudio paleoambiental, faunístico y florístico del yacimiento del Cretácico Superior de Lo Hueco (Fuentes, Cuenca)”. Part of this research has been also financed within the projects PEII11-0237-7926 of the Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha. L.D. acknowledges a PICATA contract of the UCM-UPM Moncloa Campus of International Excellence (Spain). Preparation of the material has been partially developed by the Employment Workshop of Paleontological Restoration of Lo Hueco funded by the Fondo Social Europeo, Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha, Spanish Ministerio de Empleo y Seguridad Social, and the Diputación Provincial de Cuenc

Optimal design of an LCC-S WPT3 Z1 SAE J2954 compliant system, using NSGA-II with nested genetic algorithms for simultaneous local optimization

Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) for electric vehicles is one of the most promising methods that, given its advantages, will drive the deployment of electric vehicles. This paper presents a mathematical optimization method applied to the complete design of an LCC-S WPT3 Z1 11 kW system that complies with the SAE J2954 standard (Wireless Power Transfer for Light-Duty Plug-in/Electric Vehicles and Alignment Methodology, 2020). A design method based on three phases is proposed, allowing the complete inductor system, including ferrites shielding and compensation circuit components, to function in any relative primary and secondary position. In Phase 1, a multi-objective NSGA-II algorithm is designed, utilizing three nested genetic algorithms. The goal is simultaneously searching for the local optimum between the primary and secondary systems in three positions. This is achieved by modeling the circuit’s electrical and electromagnetic parameters with equations, enabling an iterative process with reduced computational time. The NSGA-II algorithm yields three scenarios: primary copper volume minimization, secondary copper volume minimization, and a compromise solution that optimizes the total volume. The result is then modeled in Phase 2 using a 3D finite element program that includes ferrite and optimal shielding, obtaining the values of inductances and mutual inductance in the three positions, as well as design data for manufacturing. This result is introduced in Phase 3 to optimize compensation circuit components using a second NSGA-II algorithm with three nested genetic algorithms. Again, three scenarios are obtained based on the desired system behavior and the optimal cost of the components. The result is validated through simulation with Matlab-Simulink and experimentally using a prototype constructed for this purpose

Optimal design of a Low-Cost SAE JA2954 compliant WPT system using NSGA-II

Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) systems for electric vehicle charging are one of the most promising methods that, given the advantages they bring, will help the desired deployment of electric vehicles. This paper presents a mathematical optimisation method applied to the design of an 11 kW S-S system that complies with the SAE J2954 standard. A proposal is made to calculate the electrical parameters of the circuit based on equations that are compared with the results obtained by simulation with finite elements and experimental measurements, achieving very tight results with a reduced computational time. The NSGA-II multi-objective genetic algorithm is then applied together with the secant method, defining three different scenarios: minimisation of the primary copper volume, minimisation of the secondary copper volume and a compromise solution optimising the total primary and secondary copper volume. The result is a set of Pareto optimal solutions, from which the one that meets the standard can be extracted that suits the designer’s needs

Goodness-of-fit tests of Gaussianity: constraints on the cumulants of the MAXIMA data

In this work, goodness-of-fit tests are adapted and applied to CMB maps to detect possible non-Gaussianity. We use Shapiro-Francia test and two Smooth goodness-of-fit tests: one developed by Rayner and Best and another one developed by Thomas and Pierce. The Smooth tests test small and smooth deviations of a prefixed probability function (in our case this is the univariate Gaussian). Also, the Rayner and Best test informs us of the kind of non-Gaussianity we have: excess of skewness, of kurtosis, and so on. These tests are optimal when the data are independent. We simulate and analyse non-Gaussian signals in order to study the power of these tests. These non-Gaussian simulations are constructed using the Edgeworth expansion, and assuming pixel-to-pixel independence. As an application, we test the Gaussianity of the MAXIMA data. Results indicate that the MAXIMA data are compatible with Gaussianity. Finally, the values of the skewness and kurtosis of MAXIMA data are constrained by |S| \le 0.035 and |K| \le 0.036 at the 99% confidence level.Comment: New Astronomy Reviews, in pres

Minimum volume of long liquid bridges between noncoaxial, nonequal diameter circular disks under lateral acceleration

The stability limit of minimum volume and the breaking dynamics of liquid bridges between nonequal, noncoaxial, circular supporting disks subject to a lateral acceleration were experimentally analyzed by working with liquid bridges of very small dimensions. Experimental results are compared with asymptotic theoretical predictions, with the agreement between experimental results and asymptotic ones being satisfactor

Methanogenesis at high temperature, high ionic strength and low pH in the volcanic area of Dallol, Ethiopia

The Dallol geothermal area originated as a result of seismic activity and the presence of a shallow underground volcano, both due to the divergence of two tectonic plates. In its ascent, hot water dissolves and drags away the subsurface salts. The temperature of the water that comes out of the chimneys is higher than 100C, with a pH close to zero and high mineral concentration. These factors make Dallol a polyextreme environment. So far, nanohaloarchaeas, present in the salts that form the walls of the chimneys, have been the only living beings reported in this extreme environment. Through the use of complementary techniques: culture in microcosms, methane stable isotope signature and hybridization with specific probes, the methanogenic activity in the Dallol area has been assessed. Methane production in microcosms, positive hybridization with the Methanosarcinales probe and the δC-values measured, show the existence of extensive methanogenic activity in the hydrogeothermic Dallol system. A methylotrophic pathway, carried out by Methanohalobium and Methanosarcina-like genera, could be the dominant pathway for methane production in this environment.Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI), grant MDM-2017-0737 (Unidad de Excelencia “María de Maeztu”-Centro de Astrobiología INTA-CSIC) and the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MICINN