Suspension Design, Modeling, and Testing of a Thermo-Acoustic-Driven Linear Alternator

The Score-Stove™ generates electricity from a wood-burning cooking stove using a thermo-acoustic engine (TAE) that converts heat to sound through a linear alternator (LA). This paper introduces a prototype hemitoroidal suspension that was refined into a segmented trapezoidal shape that gave a higher cyclic life for the LA and includes a critical evaluation that compares a theoretical analysis with experimental results. The results show an improvement from the 40% efficiency of a standard loudspeaker used in reverse as an LA to 70–80% efficiency with the new suspension and a double Halbach array magnetic topology

Nonlinear Spinor Fields and its role in Cosmology

Different characteristic of matter influencing the evolution of the Universe has been simulated by means of a nonlinear spinor field. Exploiting the spinor description of perfect fluid and dark energy evolution of the Universe given by an anisotropic Bianchi type-VI, VI$_0$, V, III, I or isotropic Friedmann-Robertson-Walker (FRW) one has been studied. It is shown that due to some restrictions on metric functions, initial anisotropy in the models Bianchi type-VI, VI$_0$, V and III does not die away, while the anisotropic Bianchi type-I models evolves into the isotropic one.Comment: 22 pages, 12 Figure

Determining physical properties of the cell cortex

Actin and myosin assemble into a thin layer of a highly dynamic network underneath the membrane of eukaryotic cells. This network generates the forces that drive cell and tissue-scale morphogenetic processes. The effective material properties of this active network determine large-scale deformations and other morphogenetic events. For example,the characteristic time of stress relaxation (the Maxwell time)in the actomyosin sets the time scale of large-scale deformation of the cortex. Similarly, the characteristic length of stress propagation (the hydrodynamic length) sets the length scale of slow deformations, and a large hydrodynamic length is a prerequisite for long-ranged cortical flows. Here we introduce a method to determine physical parameters of the actomyosin cortical layer (in vivo). For this we investigate the relaxation dynamics of the cortex in response to laser ablation in the one-cell-stage {\it C. elegans} embryo and in the gastrulating zebrafish embryo. These responses can be interpreted using a coarse grained physical description of the cortex in terms of a two dimensional thin film of an active viscoelastic gel. To determine the Maxwell time, the hydrodynamic length and the ratio of active stress and per-area friction, we evaluated the response to laser ablation in two different ways: by quantifying flow and density fields as a function of space and time, and by determining the time evolution of the shape of the ablated region. Importantly, both methods provide best fit physical parameters that are in close agreement with each other and that are similar to previous estimates in the two systems. We provide an accurate and robust means for measuring physical parameters of the actomyosin cortical layer.It can be useful for investigations of actomyosin mechanics at the cellular-scale, but also for providing insights in the active mechanics processes that govern tissue-scale morphogenesis.Comment: 17 pages, 4 figure

Interacting spinor and scalar fields in Bianchi type-I Universe filled with viscous fluid: exact and numerical solutions

We consider a self-consistent system of spinor and scalar fields within the framework of a Bianchi type I gravitational field filled with viscous fluid in presence of a $\Lambda$ term. Exact self-consistent solutions to the corresponding spinor, scalar and BI gravitational field equations are obtained in terms of $\tau$, where $\tau$ is the volume scale of BI universe. System of equations for $\tau$ and \ve, where \ve is the energy of the viscous fluid, is deduced. Some special cases allowing exact solutions are thoroughly studied.Comment: 18 pages, 6 figure

Scalar field in cosmology: Potential for isotropization and inflation

The important role of scalar field in cosmology was noticed by a number of authors. Due to the fact that the scalar field possesses zero spin, it was basically considered in isotropic cosmological models. If considered in an anisotropic model, the linear scalar field does not lead to isotropization of expansion process. One needs to introduce scalar field with nonlinear potential for the isotropization process to take place. In this paper the general form of scalar field potentials leading to the asymptotic isotropization in case of Bianchi type-I cosmological model, and inflationary regime in case of isotropic space-time is obtained. In doing so we solved both direct and inverse problem, where by direct problem we mean to find metric functions and scalar field for the given potential, whereas, the inverse problem means to find the potential and scalar field for the given metric function. The scalar field potentials leading to the inflation and isotropization were found both for harmonic and proper synchronic time.Comment: 10 page

Probability for Primordial Black Holes in Higher Derivative Theories

The probability for quantum creation of an inflationary universe with a pair of black holes in higher derivative theories has been studied. Considering a gravitational action which includes quadratic ($\alpha R^{2}$) and/or cubic term ($\beta R^{3}$) in scalar curvature in addition to a cosmological constant ($\Lambda$) in semiclassical approximation with Hartle-Hawking boundary condition, the probability has been evaluated. The action of the instanton responsible for creating such a universe, with spatial section with $S^{1}XS^{2}$ topology, is found to be less than that with a spatial $S^{3}$ topology, unless $\alpha < - \frac{1}{8 \Lambda}$ in $R^{2}$-theory. In the $R^{3}$ theory, however, there exists a set of solutions without a cosmological constant when $\beta R^{2} = 1$ and $\alpha = - 3 \sqrt{\beta}$ which admit primordial black holes (PBH) pair in an inflationary universe scenario. We note further that when $\beta R^{2} \neq 1$, one gets PBH pairs in the two cases : (i) with $\alpha$ and $\Lambda$ both positive and (ii) with $\Lambda$ positive and $\alpha$ negative satisfying a constraint $6 | \alpha | \Lambda > 1$. However, the relative probability for creation of an inflationary universe with a pair of black holes in the $R^{3}$-theory suppresses when $\alpha > - 2 \sqrt{\beta}$ or $|\alpha| < 2 \sqrt{\beta}$. However, if the above constraints are relaxed one derives interesting results leading to a universe with PBH in $R^{3}$-theory without cosmological constant. PACS No(s). : 04.20.Jb, 04.60.+n, 98.80.HwComment: 15 pages, No figures. accepted in Int. J. Mod. Phys. D (2001

Application of Molecular Diversity in a Forage Grass Breeding Program

Little or no genotypic information is available for many forage grass populations. The degree of genetic similarity within and among populations greatly influences the choice of breeding strategies and germplasm for developing improved cultivars. Molecular markers have proven effective in classifying genetic diversity of a number of perennial grasses (e.g. Fu et al., 2004; Kubik et al., 2001). We present here an overview of our efforts to integrate molecular diversity data into our breeding program

Natural Convection Flow with Combined Buoyancy Effects Due to Thermal and Mass Diffusion in a Thermally Stratified Media

We present here a numerical study of laminar doubly diffusive free convection flows adjacent to a vertical surface in a stable thermally stratified medium. The governing equations of mass, momentum, energy and species are non-dimensionalized. These equations have been solved by using an implicit finite difference method and local non-similarity method. The results show many interesting aspects of complex interaction of the two buoyant mechanisms that have been shown in both the tabular as well as graphical form

Agronomic Traits in Tall Fescue Populations under Irrigated and Rain-Fed Conditions

Grasslands and native rangelands are the predominant land-use all over the world. Tall fescue [Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort] is a cool-season perennial grass widely grown throughout the temperate regions of the world and an important component of the grasslands. Drought can have serious consequences on performance of agriculture, soil and plant health, and economics. Developing drought tolerant plants that can maintain productivity during drought, will have great environmental and economic benefits to farmers. A tall fescue population was developed by crossing a drought tolerant genotype to a susceptible genotype. The population was evaluated for different morphological and yield traits under irrigated and rain-fed conditions at the University of Wyoming, USA. Large variations among the 252 tall fescue genotypes for several traits of interest have been observed. Plants under irrigated conditions were about 1.5 times more vigorous and 1.9 times taller than those grown in rain-fed conditions. Rain-fed conditions greatly reduced the tillering ability (\u3c 2.6 fold) of tall fescue plants. Plants under irrigated conditions were 2.9 times more productive than those grown in rain-fed condition. The largest difference in a year for water content (WC) between the plants grown in the two conditions was 8.06%. Genotypes with better tolerance to drought have been identified in the population which could be useful to develop drought tolerant tall fescue cultivars

Simulated Heatwaves Lead to Upregulated Chemical Defense of a Marine Foundation Macrophyte Against Microbial Colonizers

Climate change is characterized not only by an increase in mean temperature, but also an increase in the variability around the means causing extreme events like marine heatwaves. These events are expected to have strong influence on the ecology of marine foundation species such as the eelgrass Zostera marina. Bacterial and macroscopicfoulersareubiquitousinthemarineenvironment;theycanhavedetrimental impacts on macrophytes and warming is known to enhance bacterial fouling. Thus, to investigate the consequence of heatwaves on the chemical defense of eelgrass against microbial colonizers, we incubated Z. marina plants in the Kiel Outdoor Benthocosm system under ambient control conditions and two different heatwave treatments: a treatment experiencing two spring heatwaves followed by a summer heatwave, and a treatment only experiencing just the summer heatwave. The capacity to deter microbial colonizers was found to be significantly up-regulated in Z. marina from both heatwave treatments in comparison to Z. marina under control conditions, suggesting defense regulation of Z. marina in response to marine heatwaves. We conclude climate extremes such as heatwaves can trigger a regulation in the defense capacity, which could be necessary for resilience against climate change scenarios. Such dynamics in rapid regulation of defense capacity as found in this study could also apply to other host plant – microbe interactions under scenarios of ongoing climate change or extreme climate events like heatwaves