Tri-critical behavior in rupture induced by disorder

We discover a qualitatively new behavior for systems where the load transfer has limiting stress amplification as in real fiber composites. We find that the disorder is a relevant field leading to tri--criticality, separating a first-order regime where rupture occurs without significant precursors from a second-order regime where the macroscopic elastic coefficient exhibit power law behavior. Our results are based on analytical analysis of fiber bundle models and numerical simulations of a two-dimensional tensorial spring-block system in which stick-slip motion and fracture compete.Comment: Revtex, 10 pages, 4 figures available upon reques

Electrocardiogram Monitoring Wearable Devices and Artificial-Intelligence-Enabled Diagnostic Capabilities: A Review

Worldwide, population aging and unhealthy lifestyles have increased the incidence of high-risk health conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, sleep apnea, and other conditions. Recently, to facilitate early identification and diagnosis, efforts have been made in the research and development of new wearable devices to make them smaller, more comfortable, more accurate, and increasingly compatible with artificial intelligence technologies. These efforts can pave the way to the longer and continuous health monitoring of different biosignals, including the real-time detection of diseases, thus providing more timely and accurate predictions of health events that can drastically improve the healthcare management of patients. Most recent reviews focus on a specific category of disease, the use of artificial intelligence in 12-lead electrocardiograms, or on wearable technology. However, we present recent advances in the use of electrocardiogram signals acquired with wearable devices or from publicly available databases and the analysis of such signals with artificial intelligence methods to detect and predict diseases. As expected, most of the available research focuses on heart diseases, sleep apnea, and other emerging areas, such as mental stress. From a methodological point of view, although traditional statistical methods and machine learning are still widely used, we observe an increasing use of more advanced deep learning methods, specifically architectures that can handle the complexity of biosignal data. These deep learning methods typically include convolutional and recurrent neural networks. Moreover, when proposing new artificial intelligence methods, we observe that the prevalent choice is to use publicly available databases rather than collecting new data

Magnitude dependence of radiated energy spectra: Far-field expressions of slip pulses in earthquake models

We examine the radiated waves emitted by events on a model fault. The model deterministically produces a complex sequence of events, with a wide range of sizes, from a uniform frictional instability. The spontaneous rupture events emit a rich spectrum of radiated waves as they nucleate, propagate, and decelerate within the complex stress field left by previous events. Two model innovations, a new driving boundary condition on the fault and a new radiating boundary condition which allows a spatially varying prestress away from the fault, allow us to directly measure the radiation without problems from boundary reflections in our two-dimensional model. We quantify the radiation by first measuring the energy spectral density and then averaging over events of a similar size to examine the magnitude dependence. Assuming only a physics of the tractions on the fault, we obtain a full spectra of radiated waves for a complex population of events with a wide range of sizes. To quantify the resulting spectra, we consider two different spectral measures. One, the peak amplitude of the spectral energy density, occurs at a period which scales with the rupture length and corresponds with the classical corner frequency measurement. The other, the peak amplitude of the spectral average acceleration or the low-frequency corner in the case of a flat acceleration spectrum, occurs at a period that scales with the duration of slip of points on the fault. The period of the peak spectral acceleration saturates for large events. Looking at the rupture motions on the fault, we find that this spectral behavior corresponds with the behavior of slip pulses in the model. Intense narrow pulses of slip develop for very long rupture events. We quantify this by measuring the mean slip duration as a function of rupture length and show that it is has the same behavior as the peak period of spectral acceleration. Thus the duration of the slip pulses in these ruptures is directly expressed in their radiated spectra. Moreover, we find that these corner periods exhibit a nontrivial dependence on event magnitude for the different frictional instabilities that we have examined, suggesting that any observed dependence of these corner periods on earthquake magnitude might provide insight into the frictional instability of earthquakes

The Ontogenetic Osteohistology of Tenontosaurus tilletti

Tenontosaurus tilletti is an ornithopod dinosaur known from the Early Cretaceous (Aptian-Albian) Cloverly and Antlers formations of the Western United States. It is represented by a large number of specimens spanning a number of ontogenetic stages, and these specimens have been collected across a wide geographic range (from central Montana to southern Oklahoma). Here I describe the long bone histology of T. tilletti and discuss histological variation at the individual, ontogenetic and geographic levels. The ontogenetic pattern of bone histology in T. tilletti is similar to that of other dinosaurs, reflecting extremely rapid growth early in life, and sustained rapid growth through sub-adult ontogeny. But unlike other iguanodontians, this dinosaur shows an extended multi-year period of slow growth as skeletal maturity approached. Evidence of termination of growth (e.g., an external fundamental system) is observed in only the largest individuals, although other histological signals in only slightly smaller specimens suggest a substantial slowing of growth later in life. Histological differences in the amount of remodeling and the number of lines of arrested growth varied among elements within individuals, but bone histology was conservative across sampled individuals of the species, despite known paleoenvironmental differences between the Antlers and Cloverly formations. The bone histology of T. tilletti indicates a much slower growth trajectory than observed for other iguanodontians (e.g., hadrosaurids), suggesting that those taxa reached much larger sizes than Tenontosaurus in a shorter time

Derivation of consistent hard rock (1000<Vs<3000 m/s) GMPEs from surface and down-hole recordings: Analysis of KiK-net data

A key component in seismic hazard assessment is the estimation of ground motion for hard rock sites, either for applications to installations built on this site category, or as an input motion for site response computation. Empirical ground motion prediction equations (GMPEs) are the traditional basis for estimating ground motion while VS30 is the basis to account for site conditions. As current GMPEs are poorly constrained for VS30 larger than 1000 m/s, the presently used approach for estimating hazard on hard rock sites consists of “host-to-target” adjustment techniques based on VS30 and κ0 values. The present study investigates alternative methods on the basis of a KiK-net dataset corresponding to stiff and rocky sites with 500 < VS30 < 1350 m/s. The existence of sensor pairs (one at the surface and one in depth) and the availability of P- and S-wave velocity profiles allow deriving two “virtual” datasets associated to outcropping hard rock sites with VS in the range [1000, 3000] m/s with two independent corrections: 1/down-hole recordings modified from within motion to outcropping motion with a depth correction factor, 2/surface recordings deconvolved from their specific site response derived through 1D simulation. GMPEs with simple functional forms are then developed, including a VS30 site term. They lead to consistent and robust hard-rock motion estimates, which prove to be significantly lower than host-to-target adjustment predictions. The difference can reach a factor up to 3–4 beyond 5 Hz for very hard-rock, but decreases for decreasing frequency until vanishing below 2 Hz

Структурные и электрические свойства стеклокерамических сегнетоэлектрических композитных материалов

Introduction. Materials exhibiting high dielectric permittivity are relevant for use in modern ultrahigh-frequency electronics. Among them, ferroelectrics with high dielectric nonlinearity present particular interest. The electrical strength of ferroelectric materials can be increased using modern composite structures based on mixing ferroelectries and linear dielectrics - materials exhibiting simultaneously low dielectric permittivity and high electrical strength. This approach provides for the opportunity of creating new multicomponent materials with previously unattainable properties and adjusting their component composition, inclusion size and electrical properties across a wide range. In this work, on the basis of porous potassium-iron-silicate glass (KFS) obtained by ion exchange, glass-ceramic materials containing barium titanate were synthesized for use at ultrahigh frequencies.Aim. Production of glass composites by low-temperature sintering of pre-synthesized BaTiO3 (BTO) and potassium-iron-silicate glass, as well as characterization of their structural and electrical properties at ultrahigh frequencies (microwave).Materials and methods. The crystal structure and phase composition of the obtained films were studied by X-ray diffraction using a DRON-6 diffractometer by the emission spectral line CuKα1 (λ = 1.5406 Å). The dielectric permittivity (ε) of microwave samples was evaluated by the Nicholson-Ross method at room temperature using an Agilent E4980A LCR-meter.Results. According to X-ray diffraction analysis, the synthesized samples are a mixture of KFS glass, ferroelectric BaTiO3 and dielectric barium polytitanates; the ratio of the latter determines the electrical properties of the composites. Depending on the content of barium titanate, the studied samples demonstrate a dielectric constant from 50 to 270 at a dielectric loss level of 0.1...0.02. The samples subjected to annealing in an oxygen medium showed an increase in dielectric permittivity by 10.25 % and an increase in controllability with a decrease in dielectric losses by an average of two times.Conclusion. The composite composition of 70 wt % BTO /30 wt % KFS was found to be the most promising in terms of structural and electrical properties. This composite showed an increase in dielectric permittivity by 25 % and a significant increase in nonlinearity, at the same time as reducing losses by more than two times as a result of annealing in an oxygen medium.Введение. Материалы, обладающие высокой диэлектрической проницаемостью, актуальны для использования в современной сверхвысокочастотной электронике в составе управляемых конденсаторов высокой энергетической плотности, систем преобразования энергии, мощных передающих антенн. Наиболее перспективными материалами для применения в упомянутых устройствах являются сегнетоэлектрики, обладающие высокой диэлектрической нелинейностью. Для увеличения электрической прочности сегнетоэлектрических материалов сегодня разрабатываются композитные структуры на основе смешения сегнетоэлектриков с линейными диэлектриками - материалами, обладающими малой диэлектрической проницаемостью, но высокой электрической прочностью. Преимуществом такого подхода является возможность создания новых многокомпонентных материалов с недостижимыми ранее свойствами и возможность регулировать компонентный состав, размеры включений и электрические свойства композитов в широких пределах. На основе пористого калийжелезосиликатного стекла (KFS), полученного методом ионного обмена, синтезированы стеклокерамические материалы, содержащие титанат бария, с целью использования на сверхвысоких частотах. Показано, что отжиг стеклокерамических композитов в кислородной среде положительно влияет на их структурные и электрические характеристики. Стеклокерамические образцы демонстрируют значительное увеличение диэлектрической проницаемости и снижение потерь после высокотемпературной обработки в кислороде.Цель работы. Получение стеклокомпозитов посредством низкотемпературного спекания предварительно синтезированного BaTiO3 (BTO) и калийжелезосиликатного стекла, а также характеризация структуры и электрических свойств композитов на сверхвысоких частотах (СВЧ).Материалы и методы. Кристаллическая структура и фазовый состав полученных пленок исследовались методом рентгеновской дифракции с помощью дифрактометра ДРОН-6 на эмиссионной спектральной линии CuKα1 (λ = 1.5406 Å). Диэлектрическая проницаемость е образцов на СВЧ оценивалась методом Николсона-Росса при комнатной температуре с использованием Agilent E4980A LCR-meter.Результаты. Согласно данным рентгеноструктурного анализа, синтезированные образцы представляют собой смесь KFS, сегнетоэлектрического BaTiO3 и диэлектрических полититанатов бария; соотношение последних определяет электрические свойства композитов. В зависимости от содержания титаната бария исследуемые образцы демонстрируют диэлектрическую проницаемость от 50 до 270 при уровне диэлектрических потерь 0.1...0.02.Для исследуемых образцов, подверженных отжигу в кислородной среде, после высокотемпературной обработки наблюдается увеличение диэлектрической проницаемости на 10.25 % и рост управляемости при уменьшении диэлектрических потерь в среднем в 2 раза.Заключение. Наиболее перспективным с точки зрения структурных и электрических свойств представляется композит состава с массовой долей ВТО 70 % и массовой долей KFS 30 %. Для данного композита наблюдается увеличение диэлектрической проницаемости на 25 %, существенный рост нелинейности при одновременном снижении потерь более чем в 2 раза в результате отжига в кислородной среде

Torosaurus Is Not Triceratops: Ontogeny in Chasmosaurine Ceratopsids as a Case Study in Dinosaur Taxonomy

Background: In horned dinosaurs, taxonomy is complicated by the fact that the cranial ornament that distinguishes species changes with age. Based on this observation, it has been proposed that the genera Triceratops and Torosaurus are in fact synonymous, with specimens identified as Torosaurus representing the adult form of Triceratops. The hypothesis of synonymy makes three testable predictions: 1) the species in question should have similar geographic and stratigraphic distributions, 2) specimens assigned to Torosaurus should be more mature than those assigned to Triceratops, and 3) intermediates should exist that combine features of Triceratops and Torosaurus. The first condition appears to be met, but it remains unclear whether the other predictions are borne out by the fossil evidence. Methodology/Principal Findings: We assessed the relative maturity of Torosaurus and Triceratops specimens by coding skulls for characters that vary with maturity, and then using a clustering analysis to arrange them into a growth series. We found that a well-defined sequence of changes exists in horned dinosaurs: development of cranial ornament occurs in juveniles, followed by fusion of the skull roof in subadults, and finally, the epoccipitals, epijugals, and rostral fuse to the skull in adults. Using this scheme, we identified mature and immature individuals of both Torosaurus and Triceratops. Furthermore, we describe the ventral depressions on the frill of Triceratops, and show that they differ in shape and position from the parietal fenestrae of Torosaurus. Thus, we conclude that these structures are not intermediates between the soli

More than one way of being a moa: differences in leg bone robustness map divergent evolutionary trajectories in Dinornithidae and Emeidae (Dinornithiformes).

The extinct moa of New Zealand included three families (Megalapterygidae; Dinornithidae; Emeidae) of flightless palaeognath bird, ranging in mass from 200 kg. They are perceived to have evolved extremely robust leg bones, yet current estimates of body mass have very wide confidence intervals. Without reliable estimators of mass, the extent to which dinornithid and emeid hindlimbs were more robust than modern species remains unclear. Using the convex hull volumetric-based method on CT-scanned skeletons, we estimate the mass of a female Dinornis robustus (Dinornithidae) at 196 kg (range 155-245 kg) and of a female Pachyornis australis (Emeidae) as 50 kg (range 33-68 kg). Finite element analysis of CT-scanned femora and tibiotarsi of two moa and six species of modern palaeognath showed that P. australis experienced the lowest values for stress under all loading conditions, confirming it to be highly robust. In contrast, stress values in the femur of D. robustus were similar to those of modern flightless birds, whereas the tibiotarsus experienced the highest level of stress of any palaeognath. We consider that these two families of Dinornithiformes diverged in their biomechanical responses to selection for robustness and mobility, and exaggerated hindlimb strength was not the only successful evolutionary pathway