Wigner instability analysis of the damped Hirota equation

We address the modulation instability of the Hirota equation in the presence of stochastic spatial incoherence and linear time-dependent amplification/attenuation processes via the Wigner function approach. We show that the modulation instability remains baseband type, though the damping mechanisms substantially reduce the unstable spectrum independent of the higher-order contributions (e.g. the higher-order nonlinear interaction and the third-order dispersion). Additionally, we find out that the unstable structure due to the Kerr interaction exhibits a significant resilience to the third-order-dispersion stabilizing effects in comparison with the higher-order nonlinearity, as well as a moderate Lorentzian spectrum damping may assist the rising of instability. Finally, we also discuss the relevance of our results in the context of current experiments exploring extreme wave events driven by the modulation instability (e.g. the generation of the so-called rogue waves).Comment: 7+4 pages. 3 figures. Comments are welcome. To appear in Physica

Topological magnetoelectric response in passive magnetic devices

Despite the prospect of next-generation electronic technologies has spurred the investigation of the remarkable topological magnetoelectric response, it remains largely unexplored its potential in the application of basic electronic devices. In this paper, we undertake this task at the theoretical level by addressing the $\theta$-electrodynamics and examine electromagnetic properties (e.g. tunable inductance, operating frequency range, and power consumption) of three fundamental passive magnetic devices endowed with this effect: the primitive transformer, the bilayer solenoid inductor, and the solenoid actuator. We further exploit the methodology of magnetic circuits to obtain an extended Hopkinson's law that is valid for both topological and ordinary magnetoelectric responses (provided it is uniform in the bulk). Under low-power conditions, we find out that the functionally passive part of the topological-magnetoelectric transformer, solenoid inductor as well as solenoid actuator is indistinguishable from the conventional situation up to second-order in the magnetoelectric susceptibility; and argue that the main benefit of using topological insulators essentially relies on a lower power consumption. Our theoretical framework is also convenient to analyse magnetoelectric inductors endowed with a relatively large magnetoelectric susceptibility, they display a broad inductance tunability of over 250% up to 10 MHz. Conversely, our treatment predicts that the operating frequency range could be restricted below the ultra low frequency by a significantly strong magnetoelectric response (e.g. retrieved by certain multiferroic heterostructures).Comment: 22+6 pages, 8 figures. Comments are welcom

Limiting performance analysis of a vehicle restraint system

Trabalho apresentado em ICEDyn 2013, International Conference on Structural Engineering Dynamics, 17-19 June 2013, Sesimbra, PortugalN/

Optimal design of thin-walled laminated beams with geometrically nonlinear behaviour

Com o apoio RAADRI.The purpose of this paper is to present a finite element model for optimal design of composite laminated thin-walled beam structures, with geometrically nonlinear behaviour, including post-critical behaviour and accounting warping deformation. A general continuum formulation is presented for the structural nonlinear analysis, based on the virtual work principle, and using the Updated Lagrangean procedure to describe the deformation of the structure. In order of defining the post-critical behaviour, a generalized displacement control method has been implemented. The thin-walled beam cross-section is considered as made from an assembly of flat layered laminated composite panels. The cross-section bending-torsion properties are integrals based on the cross-section geometry, on the warping function and on the individual stiffness of the laminates that constitute the cross-section. In order to determine its bending-torsion properties, the cross-section geometry is discretized by quadratic isoparametric finite elements. Along its axial direction, the beam is modelled throughout two-node Hermitean finite elements with seven degrees-of-freedom a node. Design sensitivities are imbedded into the finite element modelling and assembled in order to perform the design sensitivity analysis of various structural performance measures by using the adjoint method. As design variables one considers laminate thickness, lamina orientations and the global cross-section geometry. This geometry is defined by the position of master nodes related to the cross-section finite element mesh. Design optimization is performed throughout nonlinear programming techniques

Tensor network states in time-bin quantum optics

The current shift in the quantum optics community towards large-size experiments -- with many modes and photons -- necessitates new classical simulation techniques that go beyond the usual phase space formulation of quantum mechanics. To address this pressing demand we formulate linear quantum optics in the language of tensor network states. As a toy model, we extensively analyze the quantum and classical correlations of time-bin interference in a single fiber loop. We then generalize our results to more complex time-bin quantum setups and identify different classes of architectures for high-complexity and low-overhead boson sampling experiments

Bird pollination of Canary Island endemic plants

The Canary Islands are home to a guild of endemic, threatened bird pollinated plants. Previous work has suggested that these plants evolved floral traits as adaptations to pollination by flower specialist sunbirds, but subsequently they appear to be have co-opted passerine birds as sub-optimal pollinators. To test this idea we carried out a quantitative study of the pollination biology of three of the bird pollinated plants, Canarina canariensis (Campanulaceae), Isoplexis canariensis (Veronicaceae) and Lotus berthelotii (Fabaceae), on the island of Tenerife. Using colour vision models, we predicted the detectability of flowers to bird and bee pollinators. We measured pollinator visitation rates, nectar standing crops, as well as seed set and pollen removal and deposition. These data showed that the plants are effectively pollinated by non-flower specialist passerine birds that only occasionally visit flowers. The large nectar standing crops and extended flower longevities (>10days) of Canarina and Isoplexis suggests that they have evolved bird pollination system that effectively exploits these low frequency non-specialist pollen vectors and is in no way suboptimal. Seed set in two of the three species was high, and was significantly reduced or zero in flowers where pollinator access was restricted. In L. berthelotii, however, no fruit set was observed, probably because the plants were self incompatible horticultural clones of a single genet. We also show that, while all three species are easily detectable for birds, the orange Canarina and the red Lotus (but less so the yellow-orange Isoplexis) should be difficult to detect for insect pollinators without specialised red receptors, such as bumblebees. Contrary to expectations if we accept that the flowers are primarily adapted to sunbird pollination, the chiffchaff (Phylloscopus canariensis) was an effective pollinator of these species

Thermal sensitivity of feeding and burrowing activity of an invasive crayfish in UK waters

Climate change and invasive species are among the biggest threats to global biodiversity and ecosystem function. Although the individual impacts of climate change and invasive species are commonly assessed, we know far less about how a changing climate may impact invading species. Increases in water temperature due to climate change are likely to alter the thermal regime of UK rivers, and this in turn may influence the performance of invasive species such as signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus), which are known to have deleterious impacts on native ecosystems. We evaluate the relationship between water temperature and two key performance traits in signal crayfish—feeding and burrowing rate—using thermal experiments on wild‐caught individuals in a laboratory environment. Although water temperature was found to have no significant influence on burrowing rate, it did have a strong effect on feeding rate. Using the thermal performance curve for feeding rate, we evaluate how the thermal suitability of three UK rivers for signal crayfish may change as a result of future warming. We find that warming rivers may increase the amount of time that signal crayfish can achieve high feeding rate levels. These results suggest that elevated river water temperatures as a result of climate change may promote higher signal crayfish performance in the future, further exacerbating the ecological impact of this invasive species

The signatures of Anthropocene defaunation: cascading effects of the seed dispersal collapse

Anthropogenic activity is driving population declines and extinctions of large-bodied, fruit-eating animals worldwide. Loss of these frugivores is expected to trigger negative cascading effects on plant populations if remnant species fail to replace the seed dispersal services provided by the extinct frugivores. A collapse of seed dispersal may not only affect plant demography (i.e., lack of recruitment), but should also supress gene flow via seed dispersal. Yet little empirical data still exist demonstrating the genetic consequences of defaunation for animal-dispersed plant species. Here, we first document a significant reduction of seed dispersal distances along a gradient of human-driven defaunation, with increasing loss of large- and medium-bodied frugivores. We then show that local plant neighbourhoods have higher genetic similarity and smaller effective population sizes when large seed dispersers become extinct (i.e., only small frugivores remain) or are even partially downgraded (i.e., medium-sized frugivores providing less efficient seed dispersal). Our results demonstrate that preservation of large frugivores is crucial to maintain functional seed dispersal services and their associated genetic imprints, a central conservation target. Early signals of reduced dispersal distances that accompany the Anthropogenic defaunation forecast multiple, cascading effects on plant populations

Mapping of Dietary Interventions Beneficial in the Prevention of Secondary Health Conditions in Spinal Cord Injured Population: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVES Individuals with spinal cord injury are at risk of secondary health conditions (SHC) that develop as a consequence of autonomic dysfunction, prolonged oxidative stress and inflammation, and physical inactivity coupled with inadequate energy and nutritional intake. SHC can be debilitating and even life-threatening, and its prevention remains one of the major challenges in the continuum of medical care of aging SCI population. An unhealthy diet is a major driver of inflammation, oxidative stress, and unfavourable metabolic status and may be a practical preventive target to tackle increased SHC risk post-injury. AIMS To provide a catalogue of dietary interventions beneficial in prevention of SHC among individuals with SCI by conducting a systematic review of the literature on dietary interventions and dietary supplementation in promoting health and well-being after the injury. In addition, we aimed to provide a summary of observational studies exploring the association between habitual diet (macro- and micronutrients intake and dietary patterns) and health patterns following the injury. METHOD This review was registered at PROSPERO (University of York) with registration number CRD42022373773. Four medical databases (EMBASE.com, MEDLINE [Ovid], Cochrane CENTRAL, and Web of Science Core Collection) and Google Scholar were searched from inception until 11th July 2022. Studies were included if they were clinical trials or observational studies conducted in adult individuals with SCI and provided information of interest. Based on strength of the study design and risk of bias assessment (using the NIH tool), we classified studies from Level 1 (most reliable studies) to Level 4 (least reliable studies). RESULTS Of 12,313 unique citations, 47 articles (based on 43 original studies) comprising 32 interventional (22 RCTs, 3 NRCT, and 7 pre-post studies) and 11 observational studies (2 cohort studies, 2 case-control, 1 post-intervention follow-up study, and 6 cross-sectional studies) were included in the present systematic review. Twenty studies (46.5%) were classified as Level 1 or 2, indicating high/moderate methodological quality. Based on those studies, dietary strategies including high protein diet, intermittent fasting, balanced diet in combination with physical conditioning and electrical stimulation, and dietary supplementation including alpha-lipoic acid, creatine, vitamin D, and cranberry-derived supplements and probiotics were mapped as the most promising in prevention of SHC among individuals with SCI. CONCLUSIONS To develop timely and effective preventive strategies targeting major SHC (e.g., cardiometabolic diseases, urinary tract infections) in SCI, further research is warranted to confirm the effectiveness of dietary strategies/interventions identified through the current systematic review of the literature