636 research outputs found
Linear stability of planar premixed flames: reactive Navier-Stokes equations with finite activation energy and arbitrary Lewis number
A numerical shooting method for performing linear stability analyses of travelling waves is described and applied to the problem of freely propagating planar premixed flames. Previous linear stability analyses of premixed flames either employ high activation temperature asymptotics or have been performed numerically with finite activation temperature, but either for unit Lewis numbers (which ignores thermal-diffusive effects) or in the limit of small heat release (which ignores hydrodynamic effects). In this paper the full reactive Navier-Stokes equations are used with arbitrary values of the parameters (activation temperature, Lewis number, heat of reaction, Prandtl number), for which both thermal-diffusive and hydrodynamic effects on the instability, and their interactions, are taken into account. Comparisons are made with previous asymptotic and numerical results. For Lewis numbers very close to or above unity, for which hydrodynamic effects caused by thermal expansion are the dominant destablizing mechanism, it is shown that slowly varying flame analyses give qualitatively good but quantitatively poor predictions, and also that the stability is insensitive to the activation temperature. However, for Lewis numbers sufficiently below unity for which thermal-diffusive effects play a major role, the stability of the flame becomes very sensitive to the activation temperature. Indeed, unphysically high activation temperatures are required for the high activation temperature analysis to give quantitatively good predictions at such low Lewis numbers. It is also shown that state-insensitive viscosity has a small destabilizing effect on the cellular instability at low Lewis numbers
Flame front propagation IV: Random Noise and Pole-Dynamics in Unstable Front Propagation II
The current paper is a corrected version of our previous paper
arXiv:adap-org/9608001. Similarly to previous version we investigate the
problem of flame propagation. This problem is studied as an example of unstable
fronts that wrinkle on many scales. The analytic tool of pole expansion in the
complex plane is employed to address the interaction of the unstable growth
process with random initial conditions and perturbations. We argue that the
effect of random noise is immense and that it can never be neglected in
sufficiently large systems. We present simulations that lead to scaling laws
for the velocity and acceleration of the front as a function of the system size
and the level of noise, and analytic arguments that explain these results in
terms of the noisy pole dynamics.This version corrects some very critical
errors made in arXiv:adap-org/9608001 and makes more detailed description of
excess number of poles in system, number of poles that appear in the system in
unit of time, life time of pole. It allows us to understand more correctly
dependence of the system parameters on noise than in arXiv:adap-org/9608001Comment: 23 pages, 4 figures,revised, version accepted for publication in
journal "Combustion, Explosion and Shock Waves". arXiv admin note:
substantial text overlap with arXiv:nlin/0302021, arXiv:adap-org/9608001,
arXiv:nlin/030201
Crystal Structures and Electronic Properties of Haloform-Intercalated C60
Using density functional methods we calculated structural and electronic
properties of bulk chloroform and bromoform intercalated C60, C60 2CHX3
(X=Cl,Br). Both compounds are narrow band insulator materials with a gap
between valence and conduction bands larger than 1 eV. The calculated widths of
the valence and conduction bands are 0.4-0.6 eV and 0.3-0.4 eV, respectively.
The orbitals of the haloform molecules overlap with the orbitals of the
fullerene molecules and the p-type orbitals of halogen atoms significantly
contribute to the valence and conduction bands of C60 2CHX3. Charging with
electrons and holes turns the systems to metals. Contrary to expectation, 10 to
20 % of the charge is on the haloform molecules and is thus not completely
localized on the fullerene molecules. Calculations on different crystal
structures of C60 2CHCl3 and C60 2CHBr3 revealed that the density of states at
the Fermi energy are sensitive to the orientation of the haloform and C60
molecules. At a charging of three holes, which corresponds to the
superconducting phase of pure C60 and C60 2CHX3, the calculated density of
states (DOS) at the Fermi energy increases in the sequence DOS(C60) < DOS(C60
2CHCl3) < DOS(C60 2CHBr3).Comment: 11 pages, 7 figures, 4 table
An Evolutionary Reduction Principle for Mutation Rates at Multiple Loci
A model of mutation rate evolution for multiple loci under arbitrary
selection is analyzed. Results are obtained using techniques from Karlin (1982)
that overcome the weak selection constraints needed for tractability in prior
studies of multilocus event models. A multivariate form of the reduction
principle is found: reduction results at individual loci combine topologically
to produce a surface of mutation rate alterations that are neutral for a new
modifier allele. New mutation rates survive if and only if they fall below this
surface - a generalization of the hyperplane found by Zhivotovsky et al. (1994)
for a multilocus recombination modifier. Increases in mutation rates at some
loci may evolve if compensated for by decreases at other loci. The strength of
selection on the modifier scales in proportion to the number of germline cell
divisions, and increases with the number of loci affected. Loci that do not
make a difference to marginal fitnesses at equilibrium are not subject to the
reduction principle, and under fine tuning of mutation rates would be expected
to have higher mutation rates than loci in mutation-selection balance. Other
results include the nonexistence of 'viability analogous, Hardy-Weinberg'
modifier polymorphisms under multiplicative mutation, and the sufficiency of
average transmission rates to encapsulate the effect of modifier polymorphisms
on the transmission of loci under selection. A conjecture is offered regarding
situations, like recombination in the presence of mutation, that exhibit
departures from the reduction principle. Constraints for tractability are:
tight linkage of all loci, initial fixation at the modifier locus, and mutation
distributions comprising transition probabilities of reversible Markov chains.Comment: v3: Final corrections. v2: Revised title, reworked and expanded
introductory and discussion sections, added corollaries, new results on
modifier polymorphisms, minor corrections. 49 pages, 64 reference
Modelling and characterisation of a ultrasound-actuated needle for improved visibility in ultrasound-guided regional anaesthesia and tissue biopsy
AbstractClear needle visualisation is recognised as an unmet need for ultrasound guided percutaneous needle procedures including regional anaesthesia and tissue biopsy. With inadequate needle visibility, these procedures may result in serious complications or a failed operation. This paper reports analysis of the modal behaviour of a previously proposed ultrasound-actuated needle configuration, which may overcome this problem by improving needle visibility in colour Doppler imaging. It uses a piezoelectric transducer to actuate longitudinal resonant modes in needles (outer diameter 0.8–1.2mm, length>65mm). The factors that affect the needle’s vibration mode are identified, including the needle length, the transducer’s resonance frequency and the gripping position. Their effects are investigated using finite element modelling, with the conclusions validated experimentally. The actuated needle was inserted into porcine tissue up to 30mm depth and its visibility was observed under colour Doppler imaging. The piezoelectric transducer is able to generate longitudinal vibration with peak-to-peak amplitude up to 4μm at the needle tip with an actuating voltage of 20Vpp. Actuated in longitudinal vibration modes (distal mode at 27.6kHz and transducer mode at 42.2kHz) with a drive amplitude of 12–14Vpp, a 120mm needle is delineated as a coloured line in colour Doppler images, with both needle tip and shaft visualised. The improved needle visibility is maintained while the needle is advanced into the tissue, thus allowing tracking of the needle position in real time. Moreover, the needle tip is highlighted by strong coloured artefacts around the actuated needle generated by its flexural vibration. A limitation of the technique is that the transducer mode requires needles of specific lengths so that the needle’s resonance frequency matches the transducer. This may restrict the choice of needle lengths in clinical applications
NN Core Interactions and Differential Cross Sections from One Gluon Exchange
We derive nonstrange baryon-baryon scattering amplitudes in the
nonrelativistic quark model using the ``quark Born diagram" formalism. This
approach describes the scattering as a single interaction, here the
one-gluon-exchange (OGE) spin-spin term followed by constituent interchange,
with external nonrelativistic baryon wavefunctions attached to the scattering
diagrams to incorporate higher-twist wavefunction effects. The short-range
repulsive core in the NN interaction has previously been attributed to this
spin-spin interaction in the literature; we find that these perturbative
constituent-interchange diagrams do indeed predict repulsive interactions in
all I,S channels of the nucleon-nucleon system, and we compare our results for
the equivalent short-range potentials to the core potentials found by other
authors using nonperturbative methods. We also apply our perturbative
techniques to the N and systems: Some
channels are found to have attractive core potentials and may accommodate
``molecular" bound states near threshold. Finally we use our Born formalism to
calculate the NN differential cross section, which we compare with experimental
results for unpolarised proton-proton elastic scattering. We find that several
familiar features of the experimental differential cross section are reproduced
by our Born-order result.Comment: 27 pages, figures available from the authors, revtex, CEBAF-TH-93-04,
MIT-CTP-2187, ORNL-CCIP-93-0
Compound A, a Dissociated Glucocorticoid Receptor Modulator, Inhibits T-bet (Th1) and Induces GATA-3 (Th2) Activity in Immune Cells
Background: Compound A (CpdA) is a dissociating non-steroidal glucocorticoid receptor (GR) ligand which has antiinflammatory properties exerted by down-modulating proinflammatory gene expression. By favouring GR monomer formation, CpdA does not enhance glucocorticoid (GC) response element-driven gene expression, resulting in a reduced side effect profile as compared to GCs. Considering the importance of Th1/Th2 balance in the final outcome of immune and inflammatory responses, we analyzed how selective GR modulation differentially regulates the activity of T-bet and GATA-3, master drivers of Th1 and Th2 differentiation, respectively. Results: Using Western analysis and reporter gene assays, we show in murine T cells that, similar to GCs, CpdA inhibits T-bet activity via a transrepressive mechanism. Different from GCs, CpdA induces GATA-3 activity by p38 MAPK-induction of GATA-3 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation. CpdA effects are reversed by the GR antagonist RU38486, proving the involvement of GR in these actions. ELISA assays demonstrate that modulation of T-bet and GATA-3 impacts on cytokine production shown by a decrease in IFN-c and an increase in IL-5 production, respectively. Conclusions: Taken together, through their effect favoring Th2 over Th1 responses, particular dissociated GR ligands, fo
Nonlinear Waves in Bose-Einstein Condensates: Physical Relevance and Mathematical Techniques
The aim of the present review is to introduce the reader to some of the
physical notions and of the mathematical methods that are relevant to the study
of nonlinear waves in Bose-Einstein Condensates (BECs). Upon introducing the
general framework, we discuss the prototypical models that are relevant to this
setting for different dimensions and different potentials confining the atoms.
We analyze some of the model properties and explore their typical wave
solutions (plane wave solutions, bright, dark, gap solitons, as well as
vortices). We then offer a collection of mathematical methods that can be used
to understand the existence, stability and dynamics of nonlinear waves in such
BECs, either directly or starting from different types of limits (e.g., the
linear or the nonlinear limit, or the discrete limit of the corresponding
equation). Finally, we consider some special topics involving more recent
developments, and experimental setups in which there is still considerable need
for developing mathematical as well as computational tools.Comment: 69 pages, 10 figures, to appear in Nonlinearity, 2008. V2: new
references added, fixed typo
Effectiveness of bisphosphonates on nonvertebral and hip fractures in the first year of therapy: The risedronate and alendronate (REAL) cohort study
INTRODUCTION: Randomized clinical trials have shown that risedronate and alendronate reduce fractures among women with osteoporosis. The aim of this observational study was to observe, in clinical practice, the incidence of hip and nonvertebral fractures among women in the year following initiation of once-a-week dosing of either risedronate or alendronate. METHODS: Using records of health service utilization from July 2002 through September 2004, we created two cohorts: women (ages 65 and over) receiving risedronate (n = 12,215) or alendronate (n = 21,615). Cox proportional hazard modeling was used to compare the annual incidence of nonvertebral fractures and of hip fractures between cohorts, adjusting for potential differences in risk factors for fractures. RESULTS: There were 507 nonvertebral fractures and 109 hip fractures. Through one year of therapy, the incidence of nonvertebral fractures in the risedronate cohort (2.0%) was 18% lower (95% CI 2% – 32%) than in the alendronate cohort (2.3%). The incidence of hip fractures in the risedronate cohort (0.4%) was 43% lower (95% CI 13% – 63%) than in the alendronate cohort (0.6%). These results were consistent across a number of sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSION: Patients receiving risedronate have lower rates of hip and nonvertebral fractures during their first year of therapy than patients receiving alendronate
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