Analysis of bacterial migration; 1: Numerical solution of balance equation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Frymier, P.D.; Ford, R.M.; Cummings, P.T.

1994-04-01

Chemotaxis describes the ability of motile bacteria to bias their motion in the direction of increasing gradients of chemicals, usually energy sources, known as attractants. In experimental studies of the migration of chemotactic bacteria, 1-D phenomenological cell balance equations have been used to quantitatively analyze experimental observations. While attractive for their simplicity and the ease of solution, they are limited in the strict mathematical sense to the situation in which individual bacteria are confined to motion in one dimension and respond to attractant gradients in one dimension only. Recently, Ford and Cummings (1992) reduced the general 3-D cell balance equationmore » of Alt (1980) to obtain an equation describing the migration of a bacterial population in response to a 1-D attractant gradient. Solutions of this equation for single gradients of attractants are compared to those of 1-D balance equations, results from cellular dynamics simulations, and experimental data from the authors' laboratory for E. coli responding to [alpha]-methylaspartate. The authors also investigate two aspects of the experimentally derived expression for the tumbling probability: the effect of different models for the down-gradient swimming behavior of the bacteria and the validity of ignoring the temporal derivative of the attractant concentration.« less

Impacts of the IOD-associated temperature and salinity anomalies on the intermittent equatorial undercurrent anomalies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Junde; Liang, Chujin; Tang, Youmin; Liu, Xiaohui; Lian, Tao; Shen, Zheqi; Li, Xiaojing

2017-11-01

The study of Equatorial Undercurrent (EUC) has attracted a broad attention in recent years due to its strong response and feedback to the Indian Ocean Dipole. In this paper, we first produce a high-quality simulation of three-dimensional temperature, salinity and zonal current simulation from 1982 to 2014, using a high-resolution ocean general circulation model. On this basis, with two sensitivity experiments, we investigate the role of temperature and salinity anomalies in driving and enhancing the EUC during the positive IOD events by examining the variation of the EUC seasonal cycle and diagnosing the zonal momentum budget along the equatorial Indian Ocean. Our results show that during January-March, the EUC can appear along the entire equatorial Indian Ocean in all years, but during August-November, the EUC can appear and reach the eastern Indian Ocean only during the positive IOD events. The zonal momentum budget analysis indicates that the pressure gradient force contributes most to the variation of the eastward acceleration of zonal currents in the subsurface. During the positive IOD events, strong negative subsurface temperature anomalies exist in the eastern Indian Ocean, with negative surface salinity anomalies in the central and eastern Indian Ocean, resulting in a large pressure gradient force to drive EUC during the August-November. Further, the results of two sensitivity experiments indicate that the temperature anomalies significantly impact the pressure gradient force, playing a leading role in driving the EUC, while the surface salinity anomalies can secondarily help to intensify the eastward EUC through increasing the zonal density gradient in the eastern Indian Ocean and impacting the vertical momentum advection in the subsurface.

Forces between a rigid probe particle and a liquid interface. II. The general case.

PubMed

Dagastine, R R; White, L R

2002-03-15

The semianalytic theory developed previously (Chan, D. Y. C., Dagastine, R. R., and White, L. R., J. Colloid Interface Sci. 236, 141 (2001)) to predict the force curve of an AFM measurement at a liquid interface using a colloidal probe has been expanded to incorporate a general force law with both attractive and repulsive forces. Expressions for the gradient of the force curve are developed to calculate the point at which the probe particle on the cantilever will spontaneously jump in toward the liquid interface. The calculation of the jump instability is reduced to a straightforward embroidery of the simple algorithms presented in Chan et al. In a variety of sample calculations using force laws including van der Waals, electrostatic, and hydrophobic forces for both oil/water and bubble/water interfaces, we have duplicated the general behaviors observed in several AFM investigations at liquid interfaces. The behavior of the drop as a Hookean spring and the numerical difficulties of a full numerical calculation of F(deltaX) are also discussed.

Numerical Simulation and Performance Optimization of a Magnetophoretic Bio-separation chip

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Golozar, Matin; Darabi, Jeff; Molki, Majid

Separation of micro/nanoparticles is important in biomedicine and biotechnology. This research presents the modeling and optimization of a magnetophoretic bio-separation chip for the isolation of biomaterials, such as circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from the peripheral blood. The chip consists of a continuous flow through microfluidic channels that contains locally engineered magnetic field gradients. The high gradient magnetic field produced by the magnets is spatially non-uniform and gives rise to an attractive force on magnetic particles that move through the flow channel. The computational model takes into account the magnetic and fluidic forces as well as the effect of the volume fraction of particles on the continuous phase. The model is used to investigate the effect of two-way particle-fluid coupling on both the capture efficiency and the flow pattern in the separation chip. The results show that the microfluidic device has the capability of separating CTCs from their native environment. Additionally, a parametric study is performed to investigate the effects of the channel height, substrate thickness, magnetic bead size, bioparticle size, and the number of beads per cell on the cell separation performance.

Learning a trajectory using adjoint functions and teacher forcing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Toomarian, Nikzad B.; Barhen, Jacob

1992-01-01

A new methodology for faster supervised temporal learning in nonlinear neural networks is presented which builds upon the concept of adjoint operators to allow fast computation of the gradients of an error functional with respect to all parameters of the neural architecture, and exploits the concept of teacher forcing to incorporate information on the desired output into the activation dynamics. The importance of the initial or final time conditions for the adjoint equations is discussed. A new algorithm is presented in which the adjoint equations are solved simultaneously (i.e., forward in time) with the activation dynamics of the neural network. We also indicate how teacher forcing can be modulated in time as learning proceeds. The results obtained show that the learning time is reduced by one to two orders of magnitude with respect to previously published results, while trajectory tracking is significantly improved. The proposed methodology makes hardware implementation of temporal learning attractive for real-time applications.

Influence of permittivity on gradient force exerted on Mie spheres.

PubMed

Chen, Jun; Li, Kaikai; Li, Xiao

2018-04-01

In optical trapping, whether a particle could be stably trapped into the focus region greatly depends on the strength of the gradient force. Individual theoretical study on gradient force exerted on a Mie particle is rare because the mathematical separation of the gradient force and the scattering force in the Mie regime is difficult. Based on the recent forces separation work by Du et al. [Sci. Rep.7, 18042 (2017)SRCEC32045-232210.1038/s41598-017-17874-1], we investigate the influence of permittivity (an important macroscopic physical quantity) on the gradient force exerted on a Mie particle by cooperating numerical calculation using fast Fourier transform and analytical analysis using multipole expansion. It is revealed that gradient forces exerted on small spheres are mainly determined by the electric dipole moment except for certain permittivity with which the real part of polarizability of the electric dipole approaches zero, and gradient forces exerted on larger spheres are complex because of the superposition of the multipole moments. The classification of permittivity corresponding to different varying tendencies of gradient forces exerted on small spheres or larger Mie particles are illustrated. Absorption of particles favors the trapping of small spheres by gradient force, while it is bad for the trapping of larger particles. Moreover, the absolute values of the maximal gradient forces exerted on larger Mie particles decline greatly versus the varied imaginary part of permittivity. This work provides elaborate investigation on the different varying tendencies of gradient forces versus permittivity, which favors more accurate and free optical trapping.

Nonequilibrium landscape theory of neural networks.

PubMed

Yan, Han; Zhao, Lei; Hu, Liang; Wang, Xidi; Wang, Erkang; Wang, Jin

2013-11-05

The brain map project aims to map out the neuron connections of the human brain. Even with all of the wirings mapped out, the global and physical understandings of the function and behavior are still challenging. Hopfield quantified the learning and memory process of symmetrically connected neural networks globally through equilibrium energy. The energy basins of attractions represent memories, and the memory retrieval dynamics is determined by the energy gradient. However, the realistic neural networks are asymmetrically connected, and oscillations cannot emerge from symmetric neural networks. Here, we developed a nonequilibrium landscape-flux theory for realistic asymmetrically connected neural networks. We uncovered the underlying potential landscape and the associated Lyapunov function for quantifying the global stability and function. We found the dynamics and oscillations in human brains responsible for cognitive processes and physiological rhythm regulations are determined not only by the landscape gradient but also by the flux. We found that the flux is closely related to the degrees of the asymmetric connections in neural networks and is the origin of the neural oscillations. The neural oscillation landscape shows a closed-ring attractor topology. The landscape gradient attracts the network down to the ring. The flux is responsible for coherent oscillations on the ring. We suggest the flux may provide the driving force for associations among memories. We applied our theory to rapid-eye movement sleep cycle. We identified the key regulation factors for function through global sensitivity analysis of landscape topography against wirings, which are in good agreements with experiments.

Translocation of a Polymer Chain across a Nanopore: A Brownian Dynamics Simulation Study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tian, Pu; Smith, Grant D.

2003-01-01

We carried out Brownian dynamics simulation studies of the translocation of single polymer chains across a nanosized pore under the driving of an applied field (chemical potential gradient). The translocation process can be either dominated by the entropic barrier resulted from restricted motion of flexible polymer chains or by applied forces (or chemical gradient across the wall), we focused on the latter case in our studies. Calculation of radius of gyrations at the two opposite sides of the wall shows that the polymer chains are not in equilibrium during the translocation process. Despite this fact, our results show that the one-dimensional diffusion and the nucleation model provide an excellent description of the dependence of average translocation time on the chemical potential gradients, the polymer chain length and the solvent viscosity. In good agreement with experimental results and theoretical predictions, the translocation time distribution of our simple model shows strong non-Gaussian characteristics. It is observed that even for this simple tubelike pore geometry, more than one peak of translocation time distribution can be generated for proper pore diameter and applied field strengths. Both repulsive Weeks-Chandler-Anderson and attractive Lennard-Jones polymer-nanopore interaction were studied, attraction facilitates the translocation process by shortening the total translocation time and dramatically improve the capturing of polymer chain. The width of the translocation time distribution was found to decrease with increasing temperature, increasing field strength, and decreasing pore diameter.

Nonequilibrium landscape theory of neural networks

PubMed Central

Yan, Han; Zhao, Lei; Hu, Liang; Wang, Xidi; Wang, Erkang; Wang, Jin

2013-01-01

The brain map project aims to map out the neuron connections of the human brain. Even with all of the wirings mapped out, the global and physical understandings of the function and behavior are still challenging. Hopfield quantified the learning and memory process of symmetrically connected neural networks globally through equilibrium energy. The energy basins of attractions represent memories, and the memory retrieval dynamics is determined by the energy gradient. However, the realistic neural networks are asymmetrically connected, and oscillations cannot emerge from symmetric neural networks. Here, we developed a nonequilibrium landscape–flux theory for realistic asymmetrically connected neural networks. We uncovered the underlying potential landscape and the associated Lyapunov function for quantifying the global stability and function. We found the dynamics and oscillations in human brains responsible for cognitive processes and physiological rhythm regulations are determined not only by the landscape gradient but also by the flux. We found that the flux is closely related to the degrees of the asymmetric connections in neural networks and is the origin of the neural oscillations. The neural oscillation landscape shows a closed-ring attractor topology. The landscape gradient attracts the network down to the ring. The flux is responsible for coherent oscillations on the ring. We suggest the flux may provide the driving force for associations among memories. We applied our theory to rapid-eye movement sleep cycle. We identified the key regulation factors for function through global sensitivity analysis of landscape topography against wirings, which are in good agreements with experiments. PMID:24145451

Influence of structure of iron nanoparticles in aggregates on their magnetic properties

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Zero-valent iron nanoparticles rapidly aggregate. One of the reasons is magnetic forces among the nanoparticles. Magnetic field around particles is caused by composition of the particles. Their core is formed from zero-valent iron, and shell is a layer of magnetite. The magnetic forces contribute to attractive forces among the nanoparticles and that leads to increasing of aggregation of the nanoparticles. This effect is undesirable for decreasing of remediation properties of iron particles and limited transport possibilities. The aggregation of iron nanoparticles was established for consequent processes: Brownian motion, sedimentation, velocity gradient of fluid around particles and electrostatic forces. In our previous work, an introduction of influence of magnetic forces among particles on the aggregation was presented. These forces have significant impact on the rate of aggregation. In this article, a numerical computation of magnetic forces between an aggregate and a nanoparticle and between two aggregates is shown. It is done for random position of nanoparticles in an aggregate and random or arranged directions of magnetic polarizations and for structured aggregates with arranged vectors of polarizations. Statistical computation by Monte Carlo is done, and range of dominant area of magnetic forces around particles is assessed. PMID:21917152

Actin filaments growing against an elastic membrane: Effect of membrane tension

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sadhu, Raj Kumar; Chatterjee, Sakuntala

2018-03-01

We study the force generation by a set of parallel actin filaments growing against an elastic membrane. The elastic membrane tries to stay flat and any deformation from this flat state, either caused by thermal fluctuations or due to protrusive polymerization force exerted by the filaments, costs energy. We study two lattice models to describe the membrane dynamics. In one case, the energy cost is assumed to be proportional to the absolute magnitude of the height gradient (gradient model) and in the other case it is proportional to the square of the height gradient (Gaussian model). For the gradient model we find that the membrane velocity is a nonmonotonic function of the elastic constant μ and reaches a peak at μ =μ* . For μ <μ* the system fails to reach a steady state and the membrane energy keeps increasing with time. For the Gaussian model, the system always reaches a steady state and the membrane velocity decreases monotonically with the elastic constant ν for all nonzero values of ν . Multiple filaments give rise to protrusions at different regions of the membrane and the elasticity of the membrane induces an effective attraction between the two protrusions in the Gaussian model which causes the protrusions to merge and a single wide protrusion is present in the system. In both the models, the relative time scale between the membrane and filament dynamics plays an important role in deciding whether the shape of elasticity-velocity curve is concave or convex. Our numerical simulations agree reasonably well with our analytical calculations.

Assessing the attractive/repulsive force balance in axial cyclohexane C-Hax ···Yax contacts: A combined computational analysis in monosubstituted cyclohexanes.

PubMed

Silva Lopez, Carlos; Nieto Faza, Olalla; De Proft, Frank; Kolocouris, Antonios

2016-11-15

The interactions of axial substituents in monosubstituted cyclohexane rings are studied in this work using an array of different computational techniques. Additionally, the anomalous axial preference for some bulky substituents is related to stabilizing dispersion interactions. We find that the C-H ax ···Y ax contacts for various substituents with distances ranging from 2 to ∼5 Å may include attractive dispersion forces that can affect the conformational equilibrium; these forces co-exist with Pauli repulsive forces effected by Y ax group due to van der Waals sphere penetration. At distances between 2 and 3 Å stabilizing electron transfer interactions were calculated and the combination of natural bond orbital and QTAIM analysis showed that, in certain cases, Y ax  =  t Bu, C ax -O or C ax  = O or S ax  = O or C ax  = S this interaction can be characterized as an improper H-bond. DFT-D3 and non-covalent interactions calculations (NCIs) in cyclohexane derivatives with Y ax  = SiOR 3 including H Yax ···H cy surfaces at distances ranging between 4 and 6 Å suggest that dispersion has a clear effect on the experimentally observed stabilization of the axial conformer. NCIs computed from the reduced density gradient help to visually identify and analyze these interactions. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Different elution modes and field programming in gravitational field-flow fractionation. III. Field programming by flow-rate gradient generated by a programmable pump.

PubMed

Plocková, J; Chmelík, J

2001-05-25

Gravitational field-flow fractionation (GFFF) utilizes the Earth's gravitational field as an external force that causes the settlement of particles towards the channel accumulation wall. Hydrodynamic lift forces oppose this action by elevating particles away from the channel accumulation wall. These two counteracting forces enable modulation of the resulting force field acting on particles in GFFF. In this work, force-field programming based on modulating the magnitude of hydrodynamic lift forces was implemented via changes of flow-rate, which was accomplished by a programmable pump. Several flow-rate gradients (step gradients, linear gradients, parabolic, and combined gradients) were tested and evaluated as tools for optimization of the separation of a silica gel particle mixture. The influence of increasing amount of sample injected on the peak resolution under flow-rate gradient conditions was also investigated. This is the first time that flow-rate gradients have been implemented for programming of the resulting force field acting on particles in GFFF.

Influence of electrical double-layer dispersion forces and size dependency on pull-in instability of clamped microplate immersed in ionic liquid electrolytes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karimipour, I.; Beni, Yaghoub Tadi; Taheri, N.

2017-10-01

Plate-type clamped microplate is of the most common constructive elements for developing in-liquid-operating devices. While the electromechanical behavior of clamped microplate in non-liquid environments has exclusively been addressed in the literature, no theoretical studies have yet been conducted on precise modeling of the clamped microplate in electrolyte liquid. Herein, the electromechanical response and instability of the clamped microplate immersed in ionic electrolyte media are investigated. The electrochemical force field is determined using double layer theory and linearized Poisson-Boltzmann equation. The presence of dispersion forces, i.e., Casimir and van der Waals attractions, are included in the theoretical model considering the correction due to the presence of liquid media between the interacting surfaces (three-layer model). To this end, a kind of microplate has been designed, i.e., a square microplate with all edges clamped supported. The strain gradient elasticity is employed to model the size-dependent structural behavior of the clamped microplate. To solve the nonlinear constitutive equation of the system, Extended Kantorovich Method, is employed and the pull-in parameter of the microplate are extracted. Impacts of the dispersion forces and size effect on the instability characteristics are discussed as well as the effect of ion concentration and potential ratio. It is found that the significant difference between the pull-in instability parameters in the modified strain gradient theory and the classical theory for thin microplates is merely due to the consideration of size effect parameter in the modified strain gradient theory. To confirm the validity of formulations, the numerical values of the results are compared. The results predicted via the aforementioned approach are in excellent agreement with those in the literature. Some new examples are solved to demonstrate the applicability of the procedure.

Influence of electrostatic forces on particle propulsion in the evanescent field of silver ion-exchanged waveguides.

PubMed

Gebennikov, Dmytro; Mittler, Silvia

2013-02-26

The effect of electrostatic interaction between carboxylate- and amino-functionalized polystyrene particles and a charged waveguide surface on the propulsion speed in optical tweezers is considered to be a function of the pH and ionic strength. It was shown that with the variation of the pH of the aqueous solution in which the particles were immersed, a systematic change in propulsion speed with a maximum speed could be achieved. The appearance of a maximum speed was ascribed to changes in the particle-waveguide separation as a result of the combination of two forces: Coulomb repulsion/attraction and induced dipole forces. The highest maximum speed at low ionic strength was around 12 μm/s. Changes in the ionic strength of the solution influenced the gradient of the dielectric constant near the involved surfaces and also led to a slightly reduced hydrodynamic radius of the particles. The combination of these effects subsequently increased the maximum speed to about 23 μm/s.

The Cassie-Wenzel transition of fluids on nanostructured substrates: Macroscopic force balance versus microscopic density-functional theory.

PubMed

Tretyakov, Nikita; Papadopoulos, Periklis; Vollmer, Doris; Butt, Hans-Jürgen; Dünweg, Burkhard; Daoulas, Kostas Ch

2016-10-07

Classical density functional theory is applied to investigate the validity of a phenomenological force-balance description of the stability of the Cassie state of liquids on substrates with nanoscale corrugation. A bulk free-energy functional of third order in local density is combined with a square-gradient term, describing the liquid-vapor interface. The bulk free energy is parameterized to reproduce the liquid density and the compressibility of water. The square-gradient term is adjusted to model the width of the water-vapor interface. The substrate is modeled by an external potential, based upon the Lennard-Jones interactions. The three-dimensional calculation focuses on substrates patterned with nanostripes and square-shaped nanopillars. Using both the force-balance relation and density-functional theory, we locate the Cassie-to-Wenzel transition as a function of the corrugation parameters. We demonstrate that the force-balance relation gives a qualitatively reasonable description of the transition even on the nanoscale. The force balance utilizes an effective contact angle between the fluid and the vertical wall of the corrugation to parameterize the impalement pressure. This effective angle is found to have values smaller than the Young contact angle. This observation corresponds to an impalement pressure that is smaller than the value predicted by macroscopic theory. Therefore, this effective angle embodies effects specific to nanoscopically corrugated surfaces, including the finite range of the liquid-solid potential (which has both repulsive and attractive parts), line tension, and the finite interface thickness. Consistently with this picture, both patterns (stripes and pillars) yield the same effective contact angles for large periods of corrugation.

Dielectrophoretic columnar focusing device

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

James, Conrad D; Galambos, Paul C; Derzon, Mark S

2010-05-11

A dielectrophoretic columnar focusing device uses interdigitated microelectrodes to provide a spatially non-uniform electric field in a fluid that generates a dipole within particles in the fluid. The electric field causes the particles to either be attracted to or repelled from regions where the electric field gradient is large, depending on whether the particles are more or less polarizable than the fluid. The particles can thereby be forced into well defined stable paths along the interdigitated microelectrodes. The device can be used for flow cytometry, particle control, and other process applications, including cell counting or other types of particle counting,more » and for separations in material control.« less

Levitation forces of a bulk YBCO superconductor in gradient varying magnetic fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, J.; Gong, Y. M.; Wang, G.; Zhou, D. J.; Zhao, L. F.; Zhang, Y.; Zhao, Y.

2015-09-01

The levitation forces of a bulk YBCO superconductor in gradient varying high and low magnetic fields generated from a superconducting magnet were investigated. The magnetic field intensity of the superconducting magnet was measured when the exciting current was 90 A. The magnetic field gradient and magnetic force field were both calculated. The YBCO bulk was cooled by liquid nitrogen in field-cooling (FC) and zero-field-cooling (ZFC) condition. The results showed that the levitation forces increased with increasing the magnetic field intensity. Moreover, the levitation forces were more dependent on magnetic field gradient and magnetic force field than magnetic field intensity.

Evaluation of the attractive force of different types of new-generation magnetic attachment systems.

PubMed

Akin, Hakan; Coskun, M Emre; Akin, E Gulsah; Ozdemir, A Kemal

2011-03-01

Rare earth magnets have been used in prosthodontics, but their tendency for corrosion in the oral cavity and insufficient attractive forces limit long-term clinical application. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the attractive force of different types of new-generation magnetic attachment systems. The attractive force of the neodymium-iron-boron (Nd-Fe-B) and samarium-cobalt (Sm-Co) magnetic attachment systems, including closed-field (Hilop and Hicorex) and open-field (Dyna and Steco) systems, was measured in a universal testing machine (n=5). The data were statistically evaluated with 1-way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey-Kramer multiple comparison test (α=.05). The closed-field systems exhibited greater (P<.001) attractive force than the open-field systems. Moreover, there was a statistically significant difference in attractive force between Nd-Fe-B and Sm-Co magnets (P<.001). The strongest attractive force was found with the Hilop system (9.2 N), and the lowest force was found with the Steco system (2.3 N). The new generation of Nd-Fe-B closed-field magnets, along with improved technology, provides sufficient denture retention for clinical application. Copyright © 2011 The Editorial Council of the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

On radiation forces acting on a transparent nanoparticle in the field of a focused laser beam

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Afanas'ev, A A; Rubinov, A N; Gaida, L S

2015-10-31

Radiation forces acting on a transparent spherical nanoparticle in the field of a focused Gaussian laser beam are studied theoretically in the Rayleigh scattering regime. Expressions are derived for the scattering force and Cartesian components of the gradient force. The resultant force acting on a nanoparticle located in the centre of a laser beam is found. The parameters of the focused beam and optical properties of the nanoparticle for which the longitudinal component of the gradient force exceeds the scattering force are determined. Characteristics of the transverse gradient force are discussed. (nanophotonics)

Global variation in elevational diversity patterns

Treesearch

Qinfeng Guo; Douglas A. Kelt; Zhongyu Sun; Hongxiao Liu; Liangjun Hu; Hai Ren; Jun We

2013-01-01

While horizontal gradients of biodiversity have been examined extensively in the past, vertical diversity gradients (elevation, water depth) are attracting increasing attention. We compiled data from 443 elevational gradients involving diverse organisms worldwide to investigate how elevational diversity patterns may vary between the Northern and Southern hemispheres...

Attractive non-DLVO forces induced by adsorption of monovalent organic ions.

PubMed

Smith, Alexander M; Maroni, Plinio; Borkovec, Michal

2017-12-20

Direct force measurements between negatively charged colloidal particles were carried out using an atomic force microscope (AFM) in aqueous solutions containing monovalent organic cations, namely tetraphenylarsonium (Ph 4 As + ), 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium (HMIM + ), and 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium (OMIM + ). These ions adsorb to the particle surface, and induce a charge reversal. The forces become attractive at the charge neutralization point, but they are stronger than van der Waals forces. This additional and unexpected attraction decays exponentially with a decay length of a few nanometers, and is strikingly similar to the one previously observed in the presence of multivalent ions. This attractive force probably originates from coupled spontaneous charge fluctuations on the respective surfaces as initially suggested by Kirkwood and Shumaker.

Gravitational mass attraction measurement for drag-free references

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Swank, Aaron J.

Exciting new experiments in gravitational physics are among the proposed future space science missions around the world. Such future space science experiments include gravitational wave observatories, which require extraordinarily precise instruments for gravitational wave detection. In fact, future space-based gravitational wave observatories require the use of a drag free reference sensor, which is several orders of magnitude more precise than any drag free satellite launched to date. With the analysis methods and measurement techniques described in this work, there is one less challenge associated with achieving the high-precision drag-free satellite performance levels required by gravitational wave observatories. One disturbance critical to the drag-free performance is an acceleration from the mass attraction between the spacecraft and drag-free reference mass. A direct measurement of the gravitational mass attraction force is not easily performed. Historically for drag-free satellite design, the gravitational attraction properties were estimated by using idealized equations between a point mass and objects of regular geometric shape with homogeneous density. Stringent requirements are then placed on the density distribution and fabrication tolerances for the drag-free reference mass and satellite components in order to ensure that the allocated gravitational mass attraction disturbance budget is not exceeded due to the associated uncertainty in geometry and mass properties. Yet, the uncertainty associated with mass properties and geometry generate an unacceptable uncertainty in the mass attraction calculation, which make it difficult to meet the demanding drag-free performance requirements of future gravitational wave observatories. The density homogeneity and geometrical tolerances required to meet the overall drag-free performance can easily force the use of special materials or manufacturing processes, which are impractical or not feasible. The focus of this research is therefore to develop the necessary equations for the gravitational mass attraction force and gradients between two general distributed bodies. Assuming the drag-free reference mass to be a single point mass object is no longer necessary for the gravitational attraction calculations. Furthermore, the developed equations are coupled with physical measurements in order to eliminate the mass attraction uncertainty associated with mass properties. The mass attraction formula through a second order expansion consists of the measurable quantifies of mass, mass center, and moment of inertia about the mass center. Thus, the gravitational self-attraction force on the drag free reference due to the satellite can be indirectly measured. By incorporating physical measurements into the mass attraction calculation, the uncertainty in the density distribution as well as geometrical variations due to the manufacturing process are included in the analysis. For indirect gravitational mass attraction measurements, the corresponding properties of mass, mass center, and moment of inertia must be precisely determined for the proof mass and satellite components. This work focuses on the precision measurement of the moment of inertia for the drag-free test mass. Presented here is the design of a new moment of inertia measurement apparatus utilizing a five-wire torsion pendulum design. The torsion pendulum is utilized to measure the moment of inertia tensor for a prospective drag-free test mass geometry. The measurement results presented indicate the prototype five-wire torsion has matched current state of the art precision. With only minimal work to reduce laboratory environmental disturbances, the apparatus has the prospect of exceeding state of the art precision by almost an order of magnitude. In addition, the apparatus is shown to be capable of measuring the mass center offset from the geometric center to a level better than typical measurement devices. Although the pendulum was not originally designed for mass center measurements, preliminary results indicate an apparatus with a similar design may have the potential of achieving state of the art precision.

Direct measurement of optical trapping force gradient on polystyrene microspheres using a carbon nanotube mechanical resonator.

PubMed

Yasuda, Masaaki; Takei, Kuniharu; Arie, Takayuki; Akita, Seiji

2017-06-06

Optical tweezers based on optical radiation pressure are widely used to manipulate nanoscale to microscale particles. This study demonstrates direct measurement of the optical force gradient distribution acting on a polystyrene (PS) microsphere using a carbon nanotube (CNT) mechanical resonator, where a PS microsphere with 3 μm diameter is welded at the CNT tip using laser heating. With the CNT mechanical resonator with PS microsphere, we measured the distribution of optical force gradient with resolution near the thermal noise limit of 0.02 pN/μm in vacuum, in which condition enables us to high accuracy measurement using the CNT mechanical resonator because of reduced mechanical damping from surrounding fluid. The obtained force gradient and the force gradient distribution agree well with theoretical values calculated using Lorenz-Mie theory.

Analysis of Instantaneous Attractive-Normal Force and Vertical Vibration Control of Combined-Levitation-and-Propulsion SLIM Vehicle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoshida, Takashi

Combined-levitation-and-propulsion single-sided linear induction motor (SLIM) vehicle can be levitated without any additional levitation system. When the vehicle runs, the attractive-normal force varies depending on the phase of primary current because of the short primary end effect. The ripple of the attractive-normal force causes the vertical vibration of the vehicle. In this paper, instantaneous attractive-normal force is analyzed by using space harmonic analysis method. And based on the analysis, vertical vibration control is proposed. The validity of the proposed control method is verified by numerical simulation.

Lateral shearing optical gradient force in coupled nanobeam photonic crystal cavities

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Du, Han; Zhang, Xingwang; Chau, Fook Siong

2016-04-25

We report the experimental observation of lateral shearing optical gradient forces in nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) controlled dual-coupled photonic crystal (PhC) nanobeam cavities. With an on-chip integrated NEMS actuator, the coupled cavities can be mechanically reconfigured in the lateral direction while maintaining a constant coupling gap. Shearing optical gradient forces are generated when the two cavity centers are laterally displaced. In our experiments, positive and negative lateral shearing optical forces of 0.42 nN and 0.29 nN are observed with different pumping modes. This study may broaden the potential applications of the optical gradient force in nanophotonic devices and benefit the futuremore » nanooptoelectromechanical systems.« less

Self-bridging of vertical silicon nanowires and a universal capacitive force model for spontaneous attraction in nanostructures.

PubMed

Sun, Zhelin; Wang, Deli; Xiang, Jie

2014-11-25

Spontaneous attractions between free-standing nanostructures have often caused adhesion or stiction that affects a wide range of nanoscale devices, particularly nano/microelectromechanical systems. Previous understandings of the attraction mechanisms have included capillary force, van der Waals/Casimir forces, and surface polar charges. However, none of these mechanisms universally applies to simple semiconductor structures such as silicon nanowire arrays that often exhibit bunching or adhesions. Here we propose a simple capacitive force model to quantitatively study the universal spontaneous attraction that often causes stiction among semiconductor or metallic nanostructures such as vertical nanowire arrays with inevitably nonuniform size variations due to fabrication. When nanostructures are uniform in size, they share the same substrate potential. The presence of slight size differences will break the symmetry in the capacitive network formed between the nanowires, substrate, and their environment, giving rise to electrostatic attraction forces due to the relative potential difference between neighboring wires. Our model is experimentally verified using arrays of vertical silicon nanowire pairs with varied spacing, diameter, and size differences. Threshold nanowire spacing, diameter, or size difference between the nearest neighbors has been identified beyond which the nanowires start to exhibit spontaneous attraction that leads to bridging when electrostatic forces overcome elastic restoration forces. This work illustrates a universal understanding of spontaneous attraction that will impact the design, fabrication, and reliable operation of nanoscale devices and systems.

Determination of the attractive force, adhesive force, adhesion energy and Hamaker constant of soot particles generated from a premixed methane/oxygen flame by AFM

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Ye; Song, Chonglin; Lv, Gang; Chen, Nan; Zhou, Hua; Jing, Xiaojun

2018-03-01

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to characterize the attractive force, adhesive force and adhesion energy between an AFM probe tip and nanometric soot particle generated by a premixed methane/oxygen flame. Different attractive force distributions were found when increasing the height above burner (HAB), with forces ranging from 1.1-3.5 nN. As the HAB was increased, the average attractive force initially increased, briefly decreased, and then underwent a gradual increase, with a maximum of 2.54 nN observed at HAB = 25 mm. The mean adhesive force was 6.5-7.5 times greater than the mean attractive force at the same HAB, and values were in the range of 13.5-24.5 nN. The adhesion energy was in the range of 2.0-5.6 × 10-17 J. The variations observed in the average adhesion energy with increasing HAB were different from those of the average adhesion force, implying that the stretched length of soot particles is an important factor affecting the average adhesion energy. The Hamaker constants of the soot particles generated at different HABs were determined from AFM force-separation curves. The average Hamaker constant exhibited a clear correlation with the graphitization degree of soot particles as obtained from Raman spectroscopy.

TIGER: Development of Thermal Gradient Compensation Algorithms and Techniques

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hereford, James; Parker, Peter A.; Rhew, Ray D.

2004-01-01

In a wind tunnel facility, the direct measurement of forces and moments induced on the model are performed by a force measurement balance. The measurement balance is a precision-machined device that has strain gages at strategic locations to measure the strain (i.e., deformations) due to applied forces and moments. The strain gages convert the strain (and hence the applied force) to an electrical voltage that is measured by external instruments. To address the problem of thermal gradients on the force measurement balance NASA-LaRC has initiated a research program called TIGER - Thermally-Induced Gradients Effects Research. The ultimate goals of the TIGER program are to: (a) understand the physics of the thermally-induced strain and its subsequent impact on load measurements and (b) develop a robust thermal gradient compensation technique. This paper will discuss the impact of thermal gradients on force measurement balances, specific aspects of the TIGER program (the design of a special-purpose balance, data acquisition and data analysis challenges), and give an overall summary.

A comparison of methods for computing the sigma-coordinate pressure gradient force for flow over sloped terrain in a hybrid theta-sigma model

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johnson, D. R.; Uccellini, L. W.

1983-01-01

In connection with the employment of the sigma coordinates introduced by Phillips (1957), problems can arise regarding an accurate finite-difference computation of the pressure gradient force. Over steeply sloped terrain, the calculation of the sigma-coordinate pressure gradient force involves computing the difference between two large terms of opposite sign which results in large truncation error. To reduce the truncation error, several finite-difference methods have been designed and implemented. The present investigation has the objective to provide another method of computing the sigma-coordinate pressure gradient force. Phillips' method is applied for the elimination of a hydrostatic component to a flux formulation. The new technique is compared with four other methods for computing the pressure gradient force. The work is motivated by the desire to use an isentropic and sigma-coordinate hybrid model for experiments designed to study flow near mountainous terrain.

Do the repulsive and attractive pair forces play separate roles for the physics of liquids?

PubMed

Bøhling, Lasse; Veldhorst, Arno A; Ingebrigtsen, Trond S; Bailey, Nicholas P; Hansen, Jesper S; Toxvaerd, Søren; Schrøder, Thomas B; Dyre, Jeppe C

2013-01-23

According to standard liquid-state theory repulsive and attractive pair forces play distinct roles for the physics of liquids. This paradigm is put into perspective here by demonstrating a continuous series of pair potentials that have virtually the same structure and dynamics, although only some of them have attractive forces of significance. Our findings reflect the fact that the motion of a given particle is determined by the total force on it, whereas the quantity usually discussed in liquid-state theory is the individual pair force.

Microscopic Theory for the Role of Attractive Forces in the Dynamics of Supercooled Liquids.

PubMed

Dell, Zachary E; Schweizer, Kenneth S

2015-11-13

We formulate a microscopic, no adjustable parameter, theory of activated relaxation in supercooled liquids directly in terms of the repulsive and attractive forces within the framework of pair correlations. Under isochoric conditions, attractive forces can nonperturbatively modify slow dynamics, but at high enough density their influence vanishes. Under isobaric conditions, attractive forces play a minor role. High temperature apparent Arrhenius behavior and density-temperature scaling are predicted. Our results are consistent with recent isochoric simulations and isobaric experiments on a deeply supercooled molecular liquid. The approach can be generalized to treat colloidal gelation and glass melting, and other soft matter slow dynamics problems.

An Attractive Reelin Gradient Establishes Synaptic Lamination in the Vertebrate Visual System.

PubMed

Di Donato, Vincenzo; De Santis, Flavia; Albadri, Shahad; Auer, Thomas Oliver; Duroure, Karine; Charpentier, Marine; Concordet, Jean-Paul; Gebhardt, Christoph; Del Bene, Filippo

2018-03-07

A conserved organizational and functional principle of neural networks is the segregation of axon-dendritic synaptic connections into laminae. Here we report that targeting of synaptic laminae by retinal ganglion cell (RGC) arbors in the vertebrate visual system is regulated by a signaling system relying on target-derived Reelin and VLDLR/Dab1a on the projecting neurons. Furthermore, we find that Reelin is distributed as a gradient on the target tissue and stabilized by heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) in the extracellular matrix (ECM). Through genetic manipulations, we show that this Reelin gradient is important for laminar targeting and that it is attractive for RGC axons. Finally, we suggest a comprehensive model of synaptic lamina formation in which attractive Reelin counter-balances repulsive Slit1, thereby guiding RGC axons toward single synaptic laminae. We establish a mechanism that may represent a general principle for neural network assembly in vertebrate species and across different brain areas. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A study on the changes in attractive force of magnetic attachments for overdenture.

PubMed

Leem, Han-Wool; Cho, In-Ho; Lee, Jong-Hyuk; Choi, Yu-Sung

2016-02-01

Although magnetic attachment is used frequently for overdenture, it is reported that attractive force can be decreased by abrasion and corrosion. The purpose of this study was to establish the clinical basis about considerations and long term prognosis of overdenture using magnetic attachments by investigating the change in attractive force of magnetic attachment applied to the patients. Among the patients treated with overdenture using magnetic attachments in Dankook University Dental Hospital, attractive force records of 61 magnetic attachments of 20 subjects who re-visited from July 2013 to June 2014 were analyzed. Dental magnet tester (Aichi Micro Intelligent Co., Aichi, Japan) was used for measurement. The magnetic attachments used in this study were Magfit IP-B Flat, Magfit DX400, Magfit DX600 and Magfit DX800 (Aichi Steel Co., Aichi, Japan) filled with Neodymium (NdFeB), a rare-earth magnet. Reduction ratio of attractive force had no significant correlation with conditional variables to which attachments were applied, and was higher when the maintenance period was longer (P<.05, r=.361). Reduction ratio of attractive force was significantly higher in the subject group in which attachments were used over 9 years than within 9 years (P<.05). Furthermore, 16.39% of total magnetic attachments showed detachment of keeper or assembly. Attractive force of magnetic attachment is maintained regardless of conditional variables and reduction ratio increased as the maintenance period became longer. Further study on adhesive material, attachment method and design improvement to prevent detachment of magnetic attachment is needed.

Chemoattraction and chemorepulsion of Strongyloides stercoralis infective larvae on a sodium chloride gradient is mediated by amphidial neuron pairs ASE and ASH, respectively.

PubMed

Forbes, W M; Ashton, F T; Boston, R; Zhu, X; Schad, G A

2004-03-25

Depending on its concentration, sodium chloride acts as either an attractant or a repellant to the infective larvae (L3i) of Strongyloides stercoralis. On a concentration gradient, L3i are attracted to 0.05 M NaCl, but repelled by 2.8M. To test the hypothesis that amphidial neurons ASE and ASH might mediate attraction and repulsion, respectively, these neurons, and control neurons as well, were ablated in hatchling larvae with a laser microbeam. After the larvae attained infectivity (L3i), they were tested on a NaCl gradient. When placed at low salinity, 73.5% of normal controls migrated "up" the gradient, while 26.4% crawled randomly. In contrast, only 20.6% of ASE-ablated L3i migrated "up" the gradient, while 79.4% migrated randomly. Ablation-control ASK-ablated L3i (58.8%) migrated "up" the gradient while 41.1% crawled randomly. When placed at a region of high salinity, 100% of normal control L3i migrated "down" the gradient, whereas 62.5% of ASH-ablated L3i migrated randomly, the remaining 37.5% migrating "down" the gradient. In sharp contrast with ASH-ablated L3i, 94.1% of ablation-control larvae, i.e. ASK-ablated L3i, migrated "down" the gradient. Migration behavior of ASE- and ASH-ablated L3i was significantly different (P < 0.001) from that of ASK-ablated L3i and normal controls. It is noteworthy that 87.5% of ASE-ablated L3i that failed to exhibit chemoattractive behavior were actively chemorepelled from high salinity. Also, 70.0% of ASH-ablated L3i that failed to be chemorepelled from high salinity were capable of chemoattractive behavior, indicating that the worms had retained their behavioral responses except for those associated with the targeted neurons.

Plasmon-mediated binding forces on gold or silver homodimer and heterodimer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liaw, Jiunn-Woei; Kuo, Ting-Yu; Kuo, Mao-Kuen

2016-02-01

This study theoretically investigates plasmon-mediated optical binding forces, which are exerted on metal homo or heterodimers, induced by the normal illumination of a linearly polarized plane wave or Gaussian beam. Using the multiple multipole method, we analyzed the optical force in terms of Maxwell's stress tensor for various interparticle distance at some specific wavelengths. Numerical results show that for a given wavelength there are several stable equilibrium distances between two nanoparticles (NPs) of a homodimer, which are slightly shorter than some integer multiples of the wavelength in medium, such that metal dimer acts as bonded together. At these specific interparticle distances, the optical force between dimer is null and serves a restoring force, which is repulsive and attractive, respectively, as the two NPs are moving closer to and away from each other. The spring constant of the restoring force at the first stable equilibrium is always the largest, indicating that the first stable equilibrium distance is the most stable one. Moreover, the central line (orientation) of a dimer tends to be perpendicular to the polarization of light. For the cases of heterodimers, the phenomenon of stable equilibrium interparticle distance still exists, except there is an extra net photophoretic force drifting the heterodimer as one. Moreover, gradient force provided by a Gaussian beam may reduce the stability of these equilibriums, so larger NPs are preferred to stabilize a dimer under illumination of Gaussian beam. The finding may pave the way for using optical manipulation on the gold or silver colloidal self-assembly.

Sensitive Detection of Small Particles in Fluids Using Optical Fiber Tip with Dielectrophoresis

PubMed Central

Tai, Yi-Hsin; Chang, Dao-Ming; Pan, Ming-Yang; Huang, Ding-Wei; Wei, Pei-Kuen

2016-01-01

This work presents using a tapered fiber tip coated with thin metallic film to detect small particles in water with high sensitivity. When an AC voltage applied to the Ti/Al coated fiber tip and indium tin oxide (ITO) substrate, a gradient electric field at the fiber tip induced attractive/repulsive force to suspended small particles due to the frequency-dependent dielectrophoresis (DEP) effect. Such DEP force greatly enhanced the concentration of the small particles near the tip. The increase of the local concentration also increased the scattering of surface plasmon wave near the fiber tip. Combined both DEP effect and scattering optical near-field, we show the detection limit of the concentration for 1.36 μm polystyrene beads can be down to 1 particle/mL. The detection limit of the Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria was 20 CFU/mL. The fiber tip sensor takes advantages of ultrasmall volume, label-free and simple detection system. PMID:26927128

Growth and assembly of cobalt oxide nanoparticle rings at liquid nanodroplets with solid junction.

PubMed

Zhou, Yilong; Powers, Alexander S; Zhang, Xiaowei; Xu, Tao; Bustillo, Karen; Sun, Litao; Zheng, Haimei

2017-09-28

Using liquid cell TEM, we imaged the formation of CoO nanoparticle rings. Nanoparticles nucleated and grew tracing the perimeter of droplets sitting on the SiN x solid substrate, and finally formed necklace-like rings. By tracking single nanoparticle trajectories during the ring formation and an estimation of the forces between droplets and nanoparticles using a simplified model, we found the junction of liquid nanodroplets with a solid substrate is the attractive site for CoO nanoparticles. Coalescing droplets were capable of pushing nanoparticles to the perimeter of the new droplet and nanoparticles on top of the droplets rolled off toward the perimeter. We propose that the curved surface morphology of the droplets created a force gradient that contributed to the assembly of nanoparticles at the droplet perimeter. Revealing the dynamics of nanoparticle movements and the interactions of nanoparticles with the liquid nanodroplet provides insights on developing novel self-assembly strategies for building precisely defined nanostructures on solid substrates.

Simulation of shear thickening in attractive colloidal suspensions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pednekar, Sidhant; Chun, Jaehun; Morris, Jeffrey F.

2017-01-01

The influence of attractive forces between particles under conditions of large particle volume fraction is addressed using numerical simulations which account for hydrodynamic, Brownian, conservative and frictional contact forces. The focus is on conditions for which a significant increase in the apparent viscosity at small shear rates, and possibly the development of a yield stress, is observed. The high shear rate behavior for Brownian suspensions has been shown in recent work [R. Mari, R. Seto, J. F. Morris & M. M. Denn, PNAS, 2015, 112, 15326-15330] to be captured by the inclusion of pairwise forces of two forms, one amore » contact frictional interaction and the second a repulsive force common in stabilized colloidal dispersions. Under such conditions, shear thickening is observed when shear stress is comparable to the sum of the Brownian stress and a characteristic stress based on the combination of interparticle force with kT the thermal energy. At sufficiently large volume fraction, this shear thickening can be very abrupt. Here it is shown that when attractive interactions are present with the noted forces, the shear thickening is obscured, as the viscosity shear thins with increasing shear rate, eventually descending from an infinite value (yield stress conditions) to a plateau at large stress; this plateau is at the same level as the large-shear rate viscosity found in the shear thickened state without attractive forces. It is shown that this behavior is consistent with prior observations in shear thickening suspensions modified to be attractive through depletion flocculation [V. Gopalakrishnan & C. F. Zukoski J. Rheol., 2004, 48, 1321-1344]. The contributions of the contact, attractive, and hydrodynamics forces to the bulk stress are presented, as are the contact networks found at different attractive strengths.« less

The force balance of sea ice in a numerical model of the Arctic Ocean

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Steele, Michael; Zhang, Jinlun; Rothrock, Drew; Stern, Harry

1997-09-01

The balance of forces in the sea ice model of Hibler [1979] is examined. The model predicts that internal stress gradients are an important force in much of the Arctic Ocean except in summer, when they are significant only off the northern coasts of Greenland and the Canadian Archipelago. A partition of the internal stress gradient between the pressure gradient and the viscous terms reveals that both are significant, although they operate on very different timescales. The acceleration term is generally negligible, while the sum of Coriolis plus sea surface tilt is small. Thus the seasonal average force balance in fall, winter, and spring is mostly between three terms of roughly equal magnitudes: air drag, water drag, and internal stress gradients. This is also true for the monthly average force balance. However, we find that there is a transition around the weekly timescale and that on a daily basis the force balance at a particular location and time is often between only two terms: either between air drag and water drag or between air drag and internal stress gradients. The model is in agreement with the observations of Thorndike and Colony [1982] in that the correlation between geostrophic wind forcing and the model's ice velocity field is high. This result is discussed in the context of the force balance; we show that the presence of significant internal stress gradients does not preclude high wind-ice correlation. A breakdown of the internal stress gradient into component parts reveals that the shear viscous force is far from negligible, which casts strong doubt on the theoretical validity of the cavitating fluid approximation (in which this component is neglected). Finally, the role of ice pressure is examined by varying the parameter P*. We find a strong sensitivity in terms of the force balance, as well as ice thickness and velocity.

A study on the changes in attractive force of magnetic attachments for overdenture

PubMed Central

Lee, Jong-Hyuk; Choi, Yu-Sung

2016-01-01

PURPOSE Although magnetic attachment is used frequently for overdenture, it is reported that attractive force can be decreased by abrasion and corrosion. The purpose of this study was to establish the clinical basis about considerations and long term prognosis of overdenture using magnetic attachments by investigating the change in attractive force of magnetic attachment applied to the patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS Among the patients treated with overdenture using magnetic attachments in Dankook University Dental Hospital, attractive force records of 61 magnetic attachments of 20 subjects who re-visited from July 2013 to June 2014 were analyzed. Dental magnet tester (Aichi Micro Intelligent Co., Aichi, Japan) was used for measurement. The magnetic attachments used in this study were Magfit IP-B Flat, Magfit DX400, Magfit DX600 and Magfit DX800 (Aichi Steel Co., Aichi, Japan) filled with Neodymium (NdFeB), a rare-earth magnet. RESULTS Reduction ratio of attractive force had no significant correlation with conditional variables to which attachments were applied, and was higher when the maintenance period was longer (P<.05, r=.361). Reduction ratio of attractive force was significantly higher in the subject group in which attachments were used over 9 years than within 9 years (P<.05). Furthermore, 16.39% of total magnetic attachments showed detachment of keeper or assembly. CONCLUSION Attractive force of magnetic attachment is maintained regardless of conditional variables and reduction ratio increased as the maintenance period became longer. Further study on adhesive material, attachment method and design improvement to prevent detachment of magnetic attachment is needed. PMID:26949482

Attractive forces between hydrophobic solid surfaces measured by AFM on the first approach in salt solutions and in the presence of dissolved gases.

PubMed

Azadi, Mehdi; Nguyen, Anh V; Yakubov, Gleb E

2015-02-17

Interfacial gas enrichment of dissolved gases (IGE) has been shown to cover hydrophobic solid surfaces in water. The atomic force microscopy (AFM) data has recently been supported by molecular dynamics simulation. It was demonstrated that IGE is responsible for the unexpected stability and large contact angle of gaseous nanobubbles at the hydrophobic solid-water interface. Here we provide further evidence of the significant effect of IGE on an attractive force between hydrophobic solid surfaces in water. The force in the presence of dissolved gas, i.e., in aerated and nonaerated NaCl solutions (up to 4 M), was measured by the AFM colloidal probe technique. The effect of nanobubble bridging on the attractive force was minimized or eliminated by measuring forces on the first approach of the AFM probe toward the flat hydrophobic surface and by using high salt concentrations to reduce gas solubility. Our results confirm the presence of three types of forces, two of which are long-range attractive forces of capillary bridging origin as caused by either surface nanobubbles or gap-induced cavitation. The third type is a short-range attractive force observed in the absence of interfacial nanobubbles that is attributed to the IGE in the form of a dense gas layer (DGL) at hydrophobic surfaces. Such a force was found to increase with increasing gas saturation and to decrease with decreasing gas solubility.

Simulation of shear thickening in attractive colloidal suspensions.

PubMed

Pednekar, Sidhant; Chun, Jaehun; Morris, Jeffrey F

2017-03-01

The influence of attractive forces between particles under conditions of large particle volume fraction, ϕ, is addressed using numerical simulations which account for hydrodynamic, Brownian, conservative and frictional contact forces. The focus is on conditions for which a significant increase in the apparent viscosity at small shear rates, and possibly the development of a yield stress, is observed. The high shear rate behavior for Brownian suspensions has been shown in recent work [R. Mari, R. Seto, J. F. Morris and M. M. Denn PNAS, 2015, 112, 15326-15330] to be captured by the inclusion of pairwise forces of two forms, one a contact frictional interaction and the second a repulsive force often found in stabilized colloidal dispersions. Under such conditions, shear thickening is observed when shear stress is comparable to the sum of the Brownian stress, kT/a 3 , and a characteristic stress based on the combination of interparticle force, i.e. σ ∼ F 0 /a 2 with kT the thermal energy, F 0 the repulsive force scale and a the particle radius. At sufficiently large ϕ, this shear thickening can be very abrupt. Here it is shown that when attractive interactions are present with the noted forces, the shear thickening is obscured, as the viscosity shear thins with increasing shear rate, eventually descending from an infinite value (yield stress conditions) to a plateau at large stress; this plateau is at the same level as the large-shear rate viscosity found in the shear thickened state without attractive forces. It is shown that this behavior is consistent with prior observations in shear thickening suspensions modified to be attractive through depletion flocculation [V. Gopalakrishnan and C. F. Zukoski J. Rheol., 2004, 48, 1321-1344]. The contributions of the contact, attractive, and hydrodynamics forces to the bulk stress are presented, as are the contact networks found at different attractive strengths.

Direction-specific van der Waals attraction between rutile TiO2 nanocrystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Xin; He, Yang; Sushko, Maria L.; Liu, Jia; Luo, Langli; De Yoreo, James J.; Mao, Scott X.; Wang, Chongmin; Rosso, Kevin M.

2017-04-01

Mutual lattice orientations dictate the types and magnitudes of forces between crystalline particles. When lattice polarizability is anisotropic, the van der Waals dispersion attraction can, in principle, contribute to this direction dependence. We report measurement of this attraction between rutile nanocrystals, as a function of their mutual orientation and surface hydration extent. At tens of nanometers of separation, the attraction is weak and shows no dependence on azimuthal alignment or surface hydration. At separations of approximately one hydration layer, the attraction is strongly dependent on azimuthal alignment and systematically decreases as intervening water density increases. Measured forces closely agree with predictions from Lifshitz theory and show that dispersion forces can generate a torque between particles interacting in solution and between grains in materials.

Testing thermal gradient driving force for grain boundary migration using molecular dynamics simulations

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bai, Xian-Ming; Zhang, Yongfeng; Tonks, Michael R.

2015-02-01

Strong thermal gradients in low-thermal-conductivity ceramics may drive extended defects, such as grain boundaries and voids, to migrate in preferential directions. In this work, molecular dynamics simulations are conducted to study thermal gradient driven grain boundary migration and to verify a previously proposed thermal gradient driving force equation, using uranium dioxide as a model system. It is found that a thermal gradient drives grain boundaries to migrate up the gradient and the migration velocity increases under a constant gradient owing to the increase in mobility with temperature. Different grain boundaries migrate at very different rates due to their different intrinsicmore » mobilities. The extracted mobilities from the thermal gradient driven simulations are compared with those calculated from two other well-established methods and good agreement between the three different methods is found, demonstrating that the theoretical equation of the thermal gradient driving force is valid, although a correction of one input parameter should be made. The discrepancy in the grain boundary mobilities between modeling and experiments is also discussed.« less

[Using Molecular Simulations to Understand Complex Nanoscale Dynamic Phenomena in Polymer Solutions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smith, Grant

2004-01-01

The first half of the project concentrated on molecular simulation studies of the translocation of model molecules for single-stranded DNA through a nanosized pore. This has resulted in the publication, Translocation of a polymer chain across a nanopore: A Brownian dynamics simulation study, by Pu Tian and Grant D. Smith, JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS VOLUME 119, NUMBER 21 1 DECEMBER 2003, which is attached to this report. In this work we carried out Brownian dynamics simulation studies of the translocation of single polymer chains across a nanosized pore under the driving of an applied field (chemical potential gradient) designed to mimic an electrostatic field. The translocation process can be either dominated by the entropic barrier resulted from restricted motion of flexible polymer chains or by applied forces (or chemical gradient). We focused on the latter case in our studies. Calculation of radius of gyration of the translocating chain at the two opposite sides of the wall shows that the polymer chains are not in equilibrium during the translocation process. Despite this fact, our results show that the one-dimensional diffusion and the nucleation model provide an excellent description of the dependence of average translocation time on the chemical potential gradients, the polymer chain length and the solvent viscosity. In good agreement with experimental results and theoretical predictions, the translocation time distribution of our simple model shows strong non-Gaussian characteristics. It is observed that even for this simple tube-like pore geometry, more than one peak of translocation time distribution can be generated for proper pore diameter and applied field strengths. Both repulsive Weeks-Chandler-Anderson and attractive Lennard-Jones polymer-nanopore interaction were studied. Attraction facilitates the translocation process by shortening the total translocation time and dramatically improve the capturing of polymer chain. The width of the translocation time distribution was found to decrease with increasing temperature, increasing field strength, and decreasing pore diameter.

Gradient forces on double-negative particles in optical tweezers using Bessel beams in the ray optics regime.

PubMed

Ambrosio, Leonardo A; Hernández-Figueroa, Hugo E

2010-11-08

Gradient forces on double negative (DNG) spherical dielectric particles are theoretically evaluated for v-th Bessel beams supposing geometrical optics approximations based on momentum transfer. For the first time in the literature, comparisons between these forces for double positive (DPS) and DNG particles are reported. We conclude that, contrary to the conventional case of positive refractive index, the gradient forces acting on a DNG particle may not reverse sign when the relative refractive index n goes from |n|>1 to |n|<1, thus revealing new and interesting trapping properties.

Alongshore Momentum Balance Over Shoreface-Connected Ridges, Fire Island, NY

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ofsthun, C.; Wu, X.; Voulgaris, G.; Warner, J. C.

2016-12-01

he momentum balance of alongshore flows over straight, uniform shelfs has been analyzed extensively over the last few decades. More recently, the effect of coastline curvature and how this might alter the relative significance of the momentum terms has received additional attention. In this contribution, the alongshore momentum over shelves with straight coastline, but non-uniform bathymetry is examined. Hydrodynamic and hydrographic data collected by the US Geological Survey (Fire Island Coastal Change project) on the inner shelf of Fire Island, NY over a region of shore-face connected ridges (SFCRs) are used to describe wind-induced circulation and the terms of the alongshore momentum balance equation. Analysis of the data revealed a predominantly alongshore circulation, under westward wind forcing, with localized offshore (onshore) current veering over the ridge crests (troughs). Momentum balance analysis hinted that local acceleration, advective acceleration, and bottom stress are balanced by wind stress and regional (>100 km) pressure gradient force. In addition, a numerical model using an idealized SFCR bathymetry, forced by our observed winds, was employed to compare the momentum balance relationships identified by the data and those under steady-state conditions published earlier (Warner et al., 2014). A synthesis of the numerical and experimental data revealed that the true pressure gradient force results from the sum of local pressure gradient force, which maintains a Bernoulli-like relationship with alongshore advective acceleration, and regional pressure gradient force, which maintains a strong, negative relationship with wind stress. The differences between steady-state and realistic conditions is mainly on the contributions of regional scale pressure gradients that develop under realistic conditions, and the reduced contribution of local scale pressure gradients which develop best under steady-state conditions. Our analysis indicates that current veering over ridge crests, a consistent occurrence, is a combination of a cross-shore gradient in the inconsistent relationship between local advective acceleration and pressure gradient and frictional-torque with the latter being the dominant mechanism under realistic forcing.

Use of psi(alpha)-ETOs in the unified treatment of electronic attraction, electric field and electric field gradient multicenter integrals of screened Coulomb potentials over Slater orbitals.

PubMed

Guseinov, Israfil

2004-02-01

In this study, using complete orthonormal sets of Psi(alpha)-ETOs (where alpha=1, 0, -1, -2, ...) introduced by the author, a large number of series expansion formulae for the multicenter electronic attraction (EA), electric field (EF) and electric field gradient (EFG) integrals of the Yukawa-like screened Coulomb potentials (SCPs) is presented through the new central and noncentral potentials and the overlap integrals with the same screening constants. The final results obtained are valid for arbitrary locations of STOs and their parameters.

Mechanisms of gap gene expression canalization in the Drosophila blastoderm.

PubMed

Gursky, Vitaly V; Panok, Lena; Myasnikova, Ekaterina M; Manu; Samsonova, Maria G; Reinitz, John; Samsonov, Alexander M

2011-01-01

Extensive variation in early gap gene expression in the Drosophila blastoderm is reduced over time because of gap gene cross regulation. This phenomenon is a manifestation of canalization, the ability of an organism to produce a consistent phenotype despite variations in genotype or environment. The canalization of gap gene expression can be understood as arising from the actions of attractors in the gap gene dynamical system. In order to better understand the processes of developmental robustness and canalization in the early Drosophila embryo, we investigated the dynamical effects of varying spatial profiles of Bicoid protein concentration on the formation of the expression border of the gap gene hunchback. At several positions on the anterior-posterior axis of the embryo, we analyzed attractors and their basins of attraction in a dynamical model describing expression of four gap genes with the Bicoid concentration profile accounted as a given input in the model equations. This model was tested against a family of Bicoid gradients obtained from individual embryos. These gradients were normalized by two independent methods, which are based on distinct biological hypotheses and provide different magnitudes for Bicoid spatial variability. We showed how the border formation is dictated by the biological initial conditions (the concentration gradient of maternal Hunchback protein) being attracted to specific attracting sets in a local vicinity of the border. Different types of these attracting sets (point attractors or one dimensional attracting manifolds) define several possible mechanisms of border formation. The hunchback border formation is associated with intersection of the spatial gradient of the maternal Hunchback protein and a boundary between the attraction basins of two different point attractors. We demonstrated how the positional variability for hunchback is related to the corresponding variability of the basin boundaries. The observed reduction in variability of the hunchback gene expression can be accounted for by specific geometrical properties of the basin boundaries. We clarified the mechanisms of gap gene expression canalization in early Drosophila embryos. These mechanisms were specified in the case of hunchback in well defined terms of the dynamical system theory.

Effect of attractive interactions between polymers on the effective force acting between colloids immersed in a polymer system: Analytic liquid-state theory.

PubMed

Chervanyov, A I

2016-12-28

By making use of the polymer reference interaction site model, we analytically study the effect of attractive interactions between polymers on the effective forces acting between colloids immersed in a polymer system. The performed theoretical analysis has no restrictions with respect to the polymer density and relative sizes of the colloids and polymers. The polymer mediated (PM) potential acting between colloids is shown to significantly depend on the strength and range of the polymer-polymer interactions. In the nano-particle limit, where the colloid radius is much smaller than the polymer gyration radius, the presence of attractive polymer-polymer interactions causes only quantitative changes to the PM potential. In the opposite limit of relatively large colloids, the polymer-polymer interactions revert the sign of the total effective force acting between colloids so that this force becomes attractive at sufficiently large polymer densities. With the objective to study an intricate interplay between the attractive PM forces and steric repulsion in different polymer density regimes, we calculate the second virial coefficient B of the total effective potential acting between colloids. The dependence of B on the polymer density is discussed in detail, revealing several novel features of the PM interactions caused by the presence of attractive polymer-polymer interactions.

Compressibility Effects on Particle-Fluid Interaction Force for Eulerian-Eulerian Simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akiki, Georges; Francois, Marianne; Zhang, Duan

2017-11-01

Particle-fluid interaction forces are essential in modeling multiphase flows. Several models can be found in the literature based on empirical, numerical, and experimental results from various simplified flow conditions. Some of these models also account for finite Mach number effects. Using these models is relatively straightforward with Eulerian-Lagrangian calculations if the model for the total force on particles is used. In Eulerian-Eulerian simulations, however, there is the pressure gradient terms in the momentum equation for particles. For low Mach number flows, the pressure gradient force is negligible if the particle density is much greater than that of the fluid. For supersonic flows where a standing shock is present, even for a steady and uniform flow, it is unclear whether the significant pressure-gradient force should to be separated out from the particle force model. To answer this conceptual question, we perform single-sphere fully-resolved DNS simulations for a wide range of Mach numbers. We then examine whether the total force obtained from the DNS can be categorized into well-established models, such as the quasi-steady, added-mass, pressure-gradient, and history forces. Work sponsored by Advanced Simulation and Computing (ASC) program of NNSA and LDRD-CNLS of LANL.

Reduction of Effective Acceleration to Microgravity Levels

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Downey, James P.

2000-01-01

Acceleration due to earth's gravity causes buoyancy driven convection and sedimentation in solutions. In addition. pressure gradients occur as a function of the height within a liquid column. Hence gravity effects both equilbria conditions and phase transitions as a result of hydrostatic pressure gradients. The affect of gravity on the rate of heat and man transfer in solutal processes can be particularly important in polymer processing due to the high sensitivity of polymeric materials to processing conditions. The term microgravity has been coined to describe an environment in which the affects of gravitational acceleration am greatly reduced. It may seem odd to talk in term of reducing the effects of gravitational acceleration since gravitational attraction is a basic property of matter. However, die presence of gravity on in situ processing or measurements can be negated by achieving conditions in which the laboratory, or more specifically the container of the experimental materials, a subjected to the same acceleration as the materials themselves. With regard to the laboratory reference frame, there is virtually no force on the experimental solutions. This is difficult to achieve but can be done. A short review of Newtonian physics provides an explanation on both how processes we affected by gravity and how microgravity conditions are achieved. The fact that fluids deform when subject to a force bid solids do not indicates that solids have a structure able to exert an opposing force that negates an externally applied force. Liquids deform when a force is applied, indicating that a liquid structure cannot completely negate an applied force. Just how easily a liquid resists deformation is related to its viscosity. Spaceflight provides an environment in which the laboratory reference frame i.e. the spacecraft and all the equipment therein an experiencing virtually identical forces. There is no solid foundation underneath such a laboratory, so the laboratory accelerates according to the force of gravity as do the experimental fluids within the lab. Hence, the magnitude of the form excited by the laboratory on the experimental solutions within are greatly reduced. When compared with a laboratory on the ground and averaged over time, the fluids in a spaceflight laboratory experience approximately a 10 (sup -6)decrease in acceleration relative to their laboratory reference frame hence the term microgravity.

Dynamic properties of polydisperse colloidal particles in the presence of thermal gradient studied by a modified Brownian dynamic model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Song, Dongxing; Jin, Hui; Jing, Dengwei; Wang, Xin

2018-03-01

Aggregation and migration of colloidal particles under the thermal gradient widely exists in nature and many industrial processes. In this study, dynamic properties of polydisperse colloidal particles in the presence of thermal gradient were studied by a modified Brownian dynamic model. Other than the traditional forces on colloidal particles, including Brownian force, hydrodynamic force, and electrostatic force from other particles, the electrostatic force from the asymmetric ionic diffusion layer under a thermal gradient has been considered and introduced into the Brownian dynamic model. The aggregation ratio of particles (R A), the balance time (t B) indicating the time threshold when {{R}A} becomes constant, the porosity ({{P}BA} ), fractal dimension (D f) and distributions of concentration (DISC) and aggregation (DISA) for the aggregated particles were discussed based on this model. The aggregated structures formed by polydisperse particles are less dense and the particles therein are loosely bonded. Also it showed a quite large compressibility as the increases of concentration and interparticle potential can significantly increase the fractal dimension. The thermal gradient can induce two competitive factors leading to a two-stage migration of particles. When t<{{t}B} , the unsynchronized aggregation is dominant and the particles slightly migrate along the thermal gradient. When t>{{t}B} , the thermophoresis becomes dominant thus the migrations of particles are against the thermal gradient. The effect of thermophoresis on the aggregate structures was found to be similar to the effect of increasing particle concentration. This study demonstrates how the thermal gradient affects the aggregation of monodisperse and polydisperse particles and can be a guide for the biomimetics and precise control of colloid system under the thermal gradient. Moreover, our model can be easily extended to other more complex colloidal systems considering shear, temperature fluctuation, surfactant, etc.

The Use of Ferrofluids to Model Materials Processing (MSFC Center Director's Discretionary Fund)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Leslie, F.; Ramachandran, N.

2000-01-01

Many crystals grown in space have structural flaws believed to result from convective motions during the growth phase. The character of these instabilities is not well understood but is associated with thermal and solutal density variations near the solidification interface in the presence of residual gravity and g-jitter. To study these instabilities in a separate, controlled space experiment, a concentration gradient would first have to be artificially established in a timely manner as an initial condition. This is generally difficult to accomplish in a microgravity environment because the momentum of the fluid injected into a test cell tends to swirl around and mix in the absence of a restoring force. The use of magnetic fields to control the motion and position of liquids has received recent, growing interest. The possibility of using the force exerted by a non-uniform magnetic field on a ferrofluid to not only achieve fluid manipulation but also to actively control fluid motion makes it an attractive candidate for space applications. This paper describes a technique for quickly establishing a linear or exponential fluid concentration gradient using a magnetic field in place of gravity to stabilize the deployment. Also discussed is a photometric technique for measuring the concentration profile using light attenuation. Although any range of concentrations can be realized, photometric constraints impose some limitations on measurements. Results of the ground-based experiments indicate that the species distribution is within 3 percent of the predicted value.

Proposition of stair climb of a drop using chemical wettability gradient

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seerha, Prabh P. S.; Kumar, Parmod; Das, Arup K.; Mitra, Sushanta K.

2017-07-01

We propose a passive technique for a drop to climb along the staircase textured surface using chemical wettability gradients. The stair structure, droplet configuration, and contact angle gradient are modeled using Lagrangian smoothed particle hydrodynamics. The stair climb efficiency of the droplet is found to be a function of wettability gradient strength. Using analytical balance of actuation and resistive forces across droplets, physical reasons behind stair climbing are established and influencing parameters are identified. Evolution of the droplet shape along with the advancing and the receding contact angles is presented from where instantaneous actuation and hysteresis forces are calculated. Using history of Lagrangian particles, circulation at the foot of stairs and progressing development of the advancing drop front are monitored. Higher efficiency in stair climbing in the case of a bigger sized drop than smaller one is obtained from simulation results and realized from force balance. Difficulty in climbing steeper stairs is also demonstrated to delineate the effect of gravitational pull against the actuation force due to the wettability gradient.

Communicating with New and Existing Markets. A Task Force of Howard Community College's 1998-1999 Commission on the Future.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Howard Community Coll., Columbia, MD.

This is a report from a task force formed by Howard Community College (Maryland) to examine existing and future markets. The task force also explored ways to use marketing strategies to attract potential customers to the college. The task force recommends that the college use its strengths to attract customers, such as its commitment to open…

Longwave emission trends over Africa and implications for Atlantic hurricanes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Lei; Rechtman, Thomas; Karnauskas, Kristopher B.; Li, Laifang; Donnelly, Jeffrey P.; Kossin, James P.

2017-09-01

The latitudinal gradient of outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) over Africa is a skillful and physically based predictor of seasonal Atlantic hurricane activity. The African OLR gradient is observed to have strengthened during the satellite era, as predicted by state-of-the-art global climate models (GCMs) in response to greenhouse gas forcing. Prior to the satellite era and the U.S. and European clean air acts, the African OLR gradient weakened due to aerosol forcing of the opposite sign. GCMs predict a continuation of the increasing OLR gradient in response to greenhouse gas forcing. Assuming a steady linear relationship between African easterly waves and tropical cyclogenesis, this result suggests a future increase in Atlantic tropical cyclone frequency by 10% (20%) at the end of the 21st century under the RCP 4.5 (8.5) forcing scenario.

Nitrate analogs as attractants for soybean cyst nematode.

PubMed

Hosoi, Akito; Katsuyama, Tsutomu; Sasaki, Yasuyuki; Kondo, Tatsuhiko; Yajima, Shunsuke; Ito, Shinsaku

2017-08-01

Soybean cyst nematode (SCN) Heterodera glycines Ichinohe, a plant parasite, is one of the most serious pests of soybean. In this paper, we report that SCN is attracted to nitrate and its analogs. We performed attraction assays to screen for novel attractants for SCN and found that nitrates were attractants for SCN and SCN recognized nitrate gradients. However, attraction of SCN to nitrates was not observed on agar containing nitrate. To further elucidate the attraction mechanism in SCN, we performed attraction assays using nitrate analogs ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]). SCN was attracted to all nitrate analogs; however, attraction of SCN to nitrate analogs was not observed on agar containing nitrate. In contrast, SCN was attracted to azuki root, irrespective of presence or absence of nitrate in agar media. Our results suggest that the attraction mechanisms differ between plant-derived attractant and nitrate.

Polymer translocation under time-dependent driving forces: resonant activation induced by attractive polymer-pore interactions.

PubMed

Ikonen, Timo; Shin, Jaeoh; Sung, Wokyung; Ala-Nissila, Tapio

2012-05-28

We study the driven translocation of polymers under time-dependent driving forces using N-particle Langevin dynamics simulations. We consider the force to be either sinusoidally oscillating in time or dichotomic noise with exponential correlation time, to mimic both plausible experimental setups and naturally occurring biological conditions. In addition, we consider both the case of purely repulsive polymer-pore interactions and the case with additional attractive polymer-pore interactions, typically occurring inside biological pores. We find that the nature of the interaction fundamentally affects the translocation dynamics. For the non-attractive pore, the translocation time crosses over to a fast translocation regime as the frequency of the driving force decreases. In the attractive pore case, because of a free energy well induced inside the pore, the translocation time can be a minimum at the optimal frequency of the force, the so-called resonant activation. In the latter case, we examine the effect of various physical parameters on the resonant activation, and explain our observations using simple theoretical arguments.

Direction-specific van der Waals attraction between rutile TiO2 nanocrystals.

PubMed

Zhang, Xin; He, Yang; Sushko, Maria L; Liu, Jia; Luo, Langli; De Yoreo, James J; Mao, Scott X; Wang, Chongmin; Rosso, Kevin M

2017-04-28

Mutual lattice orientations dictate the types and magnitudes of forces between crystalline particles. When lattice polarizability is anisotropic, the van der Waals dispersion attraction can, in principle, contribute to this direction dependence. We report measurement of this attraction between rutile nanocrystals, as a function of their mutual orientation and surface hydration extent. At tens of nanometers of separation, the attraction is weak and shows no dependence on azimuthal alignment or surface hydration. At separations of approximately one hydration layer, the attraction is strongly dependent on azimuthal alignment and systematically decreases as intervening water density increases. Measured forces closely agree with predictions from Lifshitz theory and show that dispersion forces can generate a torque between particles interacting in solution and between grains in materials. Copyright © 2017, American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Direction-specific van der Waals attraction between rutile TiO 2 nanocrystals

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang, Xin; He, Yang; Sushko, Maria L.

Mutual lattice orientations dictate the types and magnitudes of forces between crystalline particles. When lattice polarizability is anisotropic, the van der Waals dispersion attraction can, in principle, contribute to this direction dependence. Here we report direct measurement of this attraction between rutile nanocrystals, as a function of their mutual orientation and surface hydration extent. At tens of nanometers of separation the attraction is weak and shows no dependence on azimuthal alignment nor surface hydration. At separations of approximately one hydration layer the attraction is strongly dependent on azimuthal alignment, and systematically decreases as intervening water density increases. Measured forces aremore » in close agreement with predictions from Lifshitz theory, and show that dispersion forces are capable of generating a torque between particles interacting in solution and between grains in materials.« less

Propelling Extended Objects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Humbert, Richard

2010-03-01

A force acting on just part of an extended object (either a solid or a volume of a liquid) can cause all of it to move. That motion is due to the transmission of the force through the object by its material. This paper discusses how the force is distributed to all of the object by a gradient of stress or pressure in it, which creates the local force that directly propels each part of the object. Those gradients resemble the ones created in objects by their weights. An example of the latter is the compressive stress in a column of a building increasing steadily toward its lower end. That gradient occurs because each horizontal section through the column supports all of the weight above it, including the load force pushing down on the column's upper end. The gradient resembles the pressure in a container of liquid increasing with depth in it. Likewise, the weight of a vertically hanging cable causes its tension and tensile stress to increase toward its upper end.

Transport of colloids in unsaturated porous media: A pore-scale observation of processes during the dissolution of air-water interface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sirivithayapakorn, Sanya; Keller, Arturo

2003-12-01

We present results from pore-scale observations of colloid transport in an unsaturated physical micromodel. The experiments were conducted separately using three different sizes of carboxylate polystyrene latex spheres and Bacteriophage MS2 virus. The main focus was to investigate the pore-scale transport processes of colloids as they interact with the air-water interface (AWI) of trapped air bubbles in unsaturated porous media, as well as the release of colloids during imbibition. The colloids travel through the water phase but are attracted to the AWI by either collision or attractive forces and are accumulated at the AWI almost irreversibly, until the dissolution of the air bubble reduces or eliminates the AWI. Once the air bubbles are near the end of the dissolution process, the colloids can be transported by advective liquid flow, as colloidal clusters. The clusters can then attach to other AWI down-gradient or be trapped in pore throats that would have allowed them to pass through individually. We also observed small air bubbles with attached colloids that traveled through the porous medium during the gas dissolution process. We used Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) theory to help explain the observed results. The strength of the force that holds the colloids at the AWI was estimated, assuming that the capillary force is the major force that holds the colloids at the AWI. Our calculations indicate that the forces that hold the colloids at the AWI are larger than the energy barrier between the colloids. Therefore it is quite likely that the clusters of colloids are formed by the colloids attached at the AWI as they move closer at the end of the bubble dissolution process. Coagulation at the AWI may increase the overall filtration for colloids transported through the vadose zone. Just as important, colloids trapped in the AWI might be quite mobile when the air bubbles are released at the end of the dissolution process, resulting in increased breakthrough. These pore-scale mechanisms are likely to play a significant role in the macroscopic transport of colloids in unsaturated porous media.

ILUBCG2-11: Solution of 11-banded nonsymmetric linear equation systems by a preconditioned biconjugate gradient routine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Y.-M.; Koniges, A. E.; Anderson, D. V.

1989-10-01

The biconjugate gradient method (BCG) provides an attractive alternative to the usual conjugate gradient algorithms for the solution of sparse systems of linear equations with nonsymmetric and indefinite matrix operators. A preconditioned algorithm is given, whose form resembles the incomplete L-U conjugate gradient scheme (ILUCG2) previously presented. Although the BCG scheme requires the storage of two additional vectors, it converges in a significantly lesser number of iterations (often half), while the number of calculations per iteration remains essentially the same.

Surface-Plasmon-Mediated Gradient Force Enhancement and Mechanical State Transitions of Graphene Sheets

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang, Peng; Shen, Nian-Hai; Koschny, Thomas

Graphene, a two-dimensional material possessing extraordinary properties in electronics as well as mechanics, provides a great platform for various optoelectronic and opto-mechanical devices. Here in this article, we theoretically study the optical gradient force arising from the coupling of surface plasmon modes on parallel graphene sheets, which can be several orders stronger than that between regular dielectric waveguides. Furthermore, with an energy functional optimization model, possible force-induced deformation of graphene sheets is calculated. We show that the significantly enhanced optical gradient force may lead to mechanical state transitions of graphene sheets, which are accompanied by abrupt changes in reflection andmore » transmission spectra of the system. Our demonstrations illustrate the potential for a broader graphene-related applications such as force sensors and actuators.« less

Surface-Plasmon-Mediated Gradient Force Enhancement and Mechanical State Transitions of Graphene Sheets

DOE PAGES

Zhang, Peng; Shen, Nian-Hai; Koschny, Thomas; ...

2016-12-16

Graphene, a two-dimensional material possessing extraordinary properties in electronics as well as mechanics, provides a great platform for various optoelectronic and opto-mechanical devices. Here in this article, we theoretically study the optical gradient force arising from the coupling of surface plasmon modes on parallel graphene sheets, which can be several orders stronger than that between regular dielectric waveguides. Furthermore, with an energy functional optimization model, possible force-induced deformation of graphene sheets is calculated. We show that the significantly enhanced optical gradient force may lead to mechanical state transitions of graphene sheets, which are accompanied by abrupt changes in reflection andmore » transmission spectra of the system. Our demonstrations illustrate the potential for a broader graphene-related applications such as force sensors and actuators.« less

Permanent Magnet Spiral Motor for Magnetic Gradient Energy Utilization: Axial Magnetic Field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Valone, Thomas F.

2010-01-01

The Spiral Magnetic Motor, which can accelerate a magnetized rotor through 90% of its cycle with only permanent magnets, was an energy milestone for the 20th century patents by Kure Tekkosho in the 1970's. However, the Japanese company used old ferrite magnets which are relatively weak and an electrically-powered coil to jump start every cycle, which defeated the primary benefit of the permanent magnet motor design. The principle of applying an inhomogeneous, anisotropic magnetic field gradient force Fz = μ cos φ dB/dz, with permanent magnets is well-known in physics, e.g., Stern-Gerlach experiment, which exploits the interaction of a magnetic moment with the aligned electron spins of magnetic domains. In this case, it is applied to dB/dθ in polar coordinates, where the force Fθ depends equally on the magnetic moment, the cosine of the angle between the magnetic moment and the field gradient. The radial magnetic field increases in strength (in the attractive mode) or decreases in strength (in the repulsive mode) as the rotor turns through one complete cycle. An electromagnetic pulsed switching has been historically used to help the rotor traverse the gap (detent) between the end of the magnetic stator arc and the beginning (Kure Tekko, 1980). However, alternative magnetic pulse and switching designs have been developed, as well as strategic eddy current creation. This work focuses on the switching mechanism, novel magnetic pulse methods and advantageous angular momentum improvements. For example, a collaborative effort has begun with Toshiyuki Ueno (University of Tokyo) who has invented an extremely low power, combination magnetostrictive-piezoelectric (MS-PZT) device for generating low frequency magnetic fields and consumes "zero power" for static magnetic field production (Ueno, 2004 and 2007a). Utilizing a pickup coil such as an ultra-miniature millihenry inductor with a piezoelectric actuator or simply Wiegand wire geometry, it is shown that the necessary power for magnetic field switching device can be achieved in order to deflect the rotor magnet in transit. The Wiegand effect itself (bistable FeCoV wire called "Vicalloy") invented by John Wiegand (Switchable Magnetic Device, US Patent ♯4,247,601), utilizing Barkhausen jumps of magnetic domains, is also applied for a similar achievement (Dilatush, 1977). Conventional approaches for spiral magnetic gradient force production have not been adequate for magnetostatic motors to perform useful work. It is proposed that integrating a magnetic force control device with a spiral stator inhomogeneous axial magnetic field motor is a viable approach to add a sufficient nonlinear boundary shift to apply the angular momentum and potential energy gained in 315 degrees of the motor cycle.

Slime mold solves maze in one pass, assisted by gradient of chemo-attractants.

PubMed

Adamatzky, Andrew

2012-06-01

Plasmodium of Physarum polycephalum is a large cell, visible by unaided eye, which exhibits sophisticated patterns of foraging behaviour. The plasmodium's behaviour is well interpreted in terms of computation, where data are spatially extended configurations of nutrients and obstacles, and results of computation are networks of protoplasmic tubes formed by the plasmodium. In laboratory experiments and numerical simulation we show that if plasmodium of P. polycephalum is inoculated in a maze's peripheral channel and an oat flake (source of attractants) in a the maze's central chamber then the plasmodium grows toward target oat flake and connects the flake with the site of original inoculation with a pronounced protoplasmic tube. The protoplasmic tube represents a path in the maze. The plasmodium solves maze in one pass because it is assisted by a gradient of chemo-attractants propagating from the target oat flake.

Automated seed manipulation and planting

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Garcia, Ray; Herrera, Javier; Holcomb, Scott; Kelly, Paul; Myers, Scott; Rosendo, Manny; Sivitz, Herbert; Wolsefer, Dave

1988-01-01

The Mechanical Division fabricated three seed separators utilizing pressure gradients to move and separate wheat seeds. These separators are called minnow buckets and use air, water, or a combination of both to generate the pressure gradient. Electrostatic fields were employed in the seed separator constructed by the Electrical Division. This separator operates by forcing a temporary electric dipole on the wheat seeds and using charged electrodes to attract and move the seeds. Seed delivery to the hydroponic growth tray is accomplished by the seed cassette. The cassette is compatible with all the seed separators, and it consists of a plastic tube threaded with millipore filter paper. During planting operations, the seeds are placed in an empty cassette. The loaded cassette is then placed in the growth tray and nutrient solution provided. The solution wets the filter paper and capillary action draws the nutrients up to feed the seeds. These seeding systems were tested and showed encouraging results. Seeds were effectively separated and the cassette can support the growth of wheat plants. Problems remaining to be investigated include improving the success of delivering the seeds to the cassette and providing adequate spacing between seeds for the electric separator.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Buddemeier, R.W.; Oberdorfer, J.A.

A wide variety of forces can produce head gradients that drive the flow and advective mixing of internal coral reef pore waters. Oscillatory gradients that produce mixing result from wave and tide action. Sustained gradients result from wave and tide-induced setup and ponding, from currents impinging on the reef structure, from groundwater heads, and from density differenced (temperature or salinity gradients). These gradients and the permeabilities and porosities of reef sediments are such that most macropore environments are dominated by advection rather than diffusion. The various driving forces must be analyzed to determine the individual and combined magnitudes of theirmore » effects on a specific reef pore-water system. Pore-water movement controls sediment diagenesis, the exchange of nutrients between sediments and benthos, and coastal/island groundwater resources. Because of the complexity of forcing functions, their interactions with specific local reef environments, experimental studies require careful incorporation of these considerations into their design and interpretation. 8 refs., 3 figs., 1 tab.« less

Adhesive interaction of elastically deformable spherical particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

D'yachenko, E. N.; Dueck, J. G.

2012-01-01

Two spherical particles that attract each other by van der Waals volume forces and can undergo deformation as a result of the attraction are considered. Small deformations of such particles can be described by the solution of the Hertz problem. The deformation of particles, in turn, alters the force of attraction between them. It has been established that the relationship between the adhesion and elasticity of the indicated particles is determined by the degree to which these particles deform and that the adhesion force acting between the particles depends on their elasticity, size, and the Hamaker constants.

Use of shift gradient in the second dimension to improve the separation space in comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography.

PubMed

Li, Duxin; Schmitz, Oliver J

2013-08-01

Comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography (LC × LC) has received much attention because it offers much higher peak capacities than separation in a single dimension. The advantageous peak capacity makes it attractive for the separation of complex samples. Various gradient methods have been used in LC × LC systems. The use of continuous shift gradient is advantageous because it combines the peak compression effect of full gradient mode and the tailed gradient program in parallel gradient mode. Here, a comparison of LC × LC analysis of Chinese herbal medicine with full gradient mode and shift gradient mode in the second dimension was performed. A correlation between the first and second dimensions was found in full gradient mode, and this was significantly reduced with shift gradient mode. The orthogonality increased by 43.7%. The effective peak distribution area increased significantly, which produced better separation.

Measured long-range repulsive Casimir-Lifshitz forces.

PubMed

Munday, J N; Capasso, Federico; Parsegian, V Adrian

2009-01-08

Quantum fluctuations create intermolecular forces that pervade macroscopic bodies. At molecular separations of a few nanometres or less, these interactions are the familiar van der Waals forces. However, as recognized in the theories of Casimir, Polder and Lifshitz, at larger distances and between macroscopic condensed media they reveal retardation effects associated with the finite speed of light. Although these long-range forces exist within all matter, only attractive interactions have so far been measured between material bodies. Here we show experimentally that, in accord with theoretical prediction, the sign of the force can be changed from attractive to repulsive by suitable choice of interacting materials immersed in a fluid. The measured repulsive interaction is found to be weaker than the attractive. However, in both cases the magnitude of the force increases with decreasing surface separation. Repulsive Casimir-Lifshitz forces could allow quantum levitation of objects in a fluid and lead to a new class of switchable nanoscale devices with ultra-low static friction.

Acoustic Attraction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oviatt, Eric; Patsiaouris, Konstantinos; Denardo, Bruce

2009-11-01

A sound source of finite size produces a diverging traveling wave in an unbounded fluid. A rigid body that is small compared to the wavelength experiences an attractive radiation force (toward the source). An attractive force is also exerted on the fluid itself. The effect can be demonstrated with a styrofoam ball suspended near a loudspeaker that is producing sound of high amplitude and low frequency (for example, 100 Hz). The behavior can be understood and roughly calculated as a time-averaged Bernoulli effect. A rigorous scattering calculation yields a radiation force that is within a factor of two of the Bernoulli result. For a spherical wave, the force decreases as the inverse fifth power of the distance from the source. Applications of the phenomenon include ultrasonic filtration of liquids and the growth of supermassive black holes that emit sound waves in a surrounding plasma. An experiment is being conducted in an anechoic chamber with a 1-inch diameter aluminum ball that is suspended from an analytical balance. Directly below the ball is a baffled loudspeaker that exerts an attractive force that is measured by the balance.

Measurements of Attractive Forces between Proteins and End-Grafted Poly(Ethylene Glycol) Chains

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sheth, S. R.; Leckband, D.

1997-08-01

The surface force apparatus was used to measure directly the molecular forces between streptavidin and lipid bilayers displaying grafted Mr 2,000 poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). These measurements provide direct evidence for the formation of relatively strong attractive forces between PEG and protein. At low compressive loads, the forces were repulsive, but they became attractive when the proteins were pressed into the polymer layer at higher loads. The adhesion was sufficiently robust that separation of the streptavidin and PEG uprooted anchored polymer from the supporting membrane. These interactions altered the properties of the grafted chains. After the onset of the attraction, the polymer continued to bind protein for several hours. The changes were not due to protein denaturation. These data demonstrate directly that the biological activity of PEG is not due solely to properties of simple polymers such as the excluded volume. It is also coupled to the competitive interactions between solvent and other materials such as proteins for the chain segments and to the ability of this material to adopt higher order intrachain structures.

SAXS on a chip: from dynamics of phase transitions to alignment phenomena at interfaces studied with microfluidic devices.

PubMed

Silva, Bruno F B

2017-09-13

The field of microfluidics offers attractive possibilities to perform novel experiments that are difficult (or even impossible) to perform using conventional bulk and surface-based methods. Such attractiveness comes from several important aspects inherent to these miniaturized devices. First, the flow of fluids under submillimeter confinement typically leads to a drop of inertial forces, meaning that turbulence is practically suppressed. This leads to predictable and controllable flow profiles, along with well-defined chemical gradients and stress fields that can be used for controlled mixing and actuation on the micro and nanoscale. Secondly, intricate microfluidic device designs can be fabricated using cleanroom standard procedures. Such intricate geometries can take diverse forms, designed by researchers to perform complex tasks, that require exquisite control of flow of several components and gradients, or to mimic real world examples, facilitating the establishment of more realistic models. Thirdly, microfluidic devices are usually compatible with in situ or integrated characterization methods that allow constant real-time monitoring of the processes occurring inside the microchannels. This is very different from typical bulk-based methods, where usually one can only observe the final result, or otherwise, take quick snapshots of the evolving process or take aliquots to be analyzed separately. Altogether, these characteristics inherent to microfluidic devices provide researchers with a set of tools that allow not only exquisite control and manipulation of materials at the micro and nanoscale, but also observation of these effects. In this review, we will focus on the use and prospects of combining microfluidic devices with in situ small-angle X-ray scattering (and related techniques such as small-angle neutron scattering and X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy), and their enormous potential for physical-chemical research, mainly in self-assembly and phase-transitions, and surface characterization.

A Technique for Rapidly Deploying a Concentration Gradient with Applications to Microgravity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Leslie, Fred; Ramachandran, Narayanan

2000-01-01

The latter half of the last century has seen rapid advancements in semiconductor crystal growth powered by the demand for high performance electronics in myriad applications. The reduced gravity environment of space has also been used for crystal growth tests, especially in instances where terrestrial growth has largely been unsuccessful. While reduced gravity crystal growth affords some control of the gravity parameter, many crystals grown in space, to date, have structural flaws believed to result from convective motions during the growth phase. The character of these instabilities is not well understood but is associated with thermal and solutal density variations near the solidification interface in the presence of residual gravity and g-jitter. In order to study these instabilities in a separate, controlled space experiment, a concentration gradient would first have to be artificially established in a timely manner as an initial condition. This is generally difficult to accomplish in a microgravity environment because the momentum of the fluid injected into a test cell tends to swirl around and mix in the absence of a restoring force. The use of magnetic fields to control the motion and position of liquids has received growing interest in recent times. The possibility of using the force exerted by a non-uniform magnetic field on a ferrofluid to not only achieve fluid manipulation but also to actively control fluid motion makes it an attractive candidate for space applications. This paper describes a technique for quickly establishing a linear or exponential fluid concentration gradient using a magnetic field in place of gravity to stabilize the deployment. Also discussed is a photometric technique for measuring the concentration profile using light attenuation. Results of the ground-based experiments indicate that the concentration distribution is within 3% of the predicted value. Although any range of concentations can be realized, photometric constraints are discussed which impose some limitations on measurements.

The limited swelling of montmorillonite

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Helmy, A.K.

1998-11-01

The attraction forces responsible for the occurrence of limited swelling of montmorillonite having divalent counterions were evaluated from (a) the electrostatic attraction between the negative charges of one surface and the effective charges of the counterions of the other interlayer surface and (b) van der Waals attraction between the two interlayer surfaces. Both methods of calculation almost account for the force required to maintain limited swelling of the clay. It is found that a Hamaker constant of 2.25 {times} 10{sup {minus}13} erg in place of 2.72 {times} 10{sup {minus}13} erg and a counterion charge screening factor of 0.82[1 {minus} exp({minus}{kappa}{chi})]more » in place of [1 {minus} exp({minus}{kappa}{chi})] reproduce the true value of the attraction force.« less

Molecular Theory and the Effects of Solute Attractive Forces on Hydrophobic Interactions.

PubMed

Chaudhari, Mangesh I; Rempe, Susan B; Asthagiri, D; Tan, L; Pratt, L R

2016-03-03

The role of solute attractive forces on hydrophobic interactions is studied by coordinated development of theory and simulation results for Ar atoms in water. We present a concise derivation of the local molecular field (LMF) theory for the effects of solute attractive forces on hydrophobic interactions, a derivation that clarifies the close relation of LMF theory to the EXP approximation applied to this problem long ago. The simulation results show that change from purely repulsive atomic solute interactions to include realistic attractive interactions diminishes the strength of hydrophobic bonds. For the Ar-Ar rdfs considered pointwise, the numerical results for the effects of solute attractive forces on hydrophobic interactions are opposite in sign and larger in magnitude than predicted by LMF theory. That comparison is discussed from the point of view of quasichemical theory, and it is suggested that the first reason for this difference is the incomplete evaluation within LMF theory of the hydration energy of the Ar pair. With a recent suggestion for the system-size extrapolation of the required correlation function integrals, the Ar-Ar rdfs permit evaluation of osmotic second virial coefficients B2. Those B2's also show that incorporation of attractive interactions leads to more positive (repulsive) values. With attractive interactions in play, B2 can change from positive to negative values with increasing temperatures. This is consistent with the puzzling suggestions of decades ago that B2 ≈ 0 for intermediate cases of temperature or solute size. In all cases here, B2 becomes more attractive with increasing temperature.

Molecular theory and the effects of solute attractive forces on hydrophobic interactions

DOE PAGES

Chaudhari, Mangesh I.; Rempe, Susan B.; Asthagiri, D.; ...

2015-12-22

The role of solute attractive forces on hydrophobic interactions is studied by coordinated development of theory and simulation results for Ar atoms in water. In this paper, we present a concise derivation of the local molecular field (LMF) theory for the effects of solute attractive forces on hydrophobic interactions, a derivation that clarifies the close relation of LMF theory to the EXP approximation applied to this problem long ago. The simulation results show that change from purely repulsive atomic solute interactions to include realistic attractive interactions diminishes the strength of hydrophobic bonds. For the Ar–Ar rdfs considered pointwise, the numericalmore » results for the effects of solute attractive forces on hydrophobic interactions are opposite in sign and larger in magnitude than predicted by LMF theory. That comparison is discussed from the point of view of quasichemical theory, and it is suggested that the first reason for this difference is the incomplete evaluation within LMF theory of the hydration energy of the Ar pair. With a recent suggestion for the system-size extrapolation of the required correlation function integrals, the Ar–Ar rdfs permit evaluation of osmotic second virial coefficients B 2. Those B 2’s also show that incorporation of attractive interactions leads to more positive (repulsive) values. With attractive interactions in play, B 2 can change from positive to negative values with increasing temperatures. Furthermore, this is consistent with the puzzling suggestions of decades ago that B 2 ≈ 0 for intermediate cases of temperature or solute size. In all cases here, B 2 becomes more attractive with increasing temperature.« less

Drift and Behavior of E. coli Cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Micali, Gabriele; Colin, Rémy; Sourjik, Victor; Endres, Robert G.

2017-12-01

Chemotaxis of the bacterium Escherichia coli is well understood in shallow chemical gradients, but its swimming behavior remains difficult to interpret in steep gradients. By focusing on single-cell trajectories from simulations, we investigated the dependence of the chemotactic drift velocity on attractant concentration in an exponential gradient. While maxima of the average drift velocity can be interpreted within analytical linear-response theory of chemotaxis in shallow gradients, limits in drift due to steep gradients and finite number of receptor-methylation sites for adaptation go beyond perturbation theory. For instance, we found a surprising pinning of the cells to the concentration in the gradient at which cells run out of methylation sites. To validate the positions of maximal drift, we recorded single-cell trajectories in carefully designed chemical gradients using microfluidics.

A three-dimensional finite element evaluation of magnetic attachment attractive force and the influence of the magnetic circuit.

PubMed

Kumano, Hirokazu; Nakamura, Yoshinori; Kanbara, Ryo; Takada, Yukyo; Ochiai, Kent T; Tanaka, Yoshinobu

2014-01-01

The finite element method has been considered to be excellent evaluative technique to study magnetic circuit optimization. The present study analyzed and quantitatively evaluated the different effects of magnetic circuit on attractive force and magnetic flux density using a three-dimensional finite element method for comparative evaluation. The diameter of a non-magnetic material in the shield disk of a magnetic assembly was variably increased by 0.1 mm to a maximum 2.0 mm in this study design. The analysis results demonstrate that attractive force increases until the diameter of the non-magnetic spacing material reaches a diameter of 0.5 mm where it peaks and then decreases as the overall diameter increases over 0.5 mm. The present analysis suggested that the attractive force for a magnetic attachment is optimized with an appropriate magnetic assembly shield disk diameter using a non-magnetic material to effectively change the magnetic circuit efficiency and resulting retention.

Techniques For Focusing In Zone Electrophoresis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sharnez, Rizwan; Twitty, Garland E.; Sammons, David W.

1994-01-01

In two techniques for focusing in zone electrophoresis, force of applied electrical field in each charged particle balanced by restoring force of electro-osmosis. Two techniques: velocity-gradient focusing (VGF), suitable for rectangular electrophoresis chambers; and field-gradient focusing (FGF), suitable for step-shaped electrophoresis chambers.

Orientational order as the origin of the long-range hydrophobic effect.

PubMed

Banerjee, Saikat; Singh, Rakesh S; Bagchi, Biman

2015-04-07

The long range attractive force between two hydrophobic surfaces immersed in water is observed to decrease exponentially with their separation-this distance-dependence of effective force is known as the hydrophobic force law (HFL). We explore the microscopic origin of HFL by studying distance-dependent attraction between two parallel rods immersed in 2D Mercedes Benz model of water. This model is found to exhibit a well-defined HFL. Although the phenomenon is conventionally explained by density-dependent theories, we identify orientation, rather than density, as the relevant order parameter. The range of density variation is noticeably shorter than that of orientational heterogeneity. The latter is comparable to the observed distances of hydrophobic force. At large separation, attraction between the rods arises primarily from a destructive interference among the inwardly propagating oppositely oriented heterogeneity generated in water by the two rods. As the rods are brought closer, the interference increases leading to a decrease in heterogeneity and concomitant decrease in free energy of the system, giving rise to the effective attraction. We notice formation of hexagonal ice-like structures at the onset of attractive region which suggests that metastable free energy minimum may play a role in the origin of HFL.

Orientational order as the origin of the long-range hydrophobic effect

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Banerjee, Saikat; Singh, Rakesh S.; Bagchi, Biman

2015-04-01

The long range attractive force between two hydrophobic surfaces immersed in water is observed to decrease exponentially with their separation—this distance-dependence of effective force is known as the hydrophobic force law (HFL). We explore the microscopic origin of HFL by studying distance-dependent attraction between two parallel rods immersed in 2D Mercedes Benz model of water. This model is found to exhibit a well-defined HFL. Although the phenomenon is conventionally explained by density-dependent theories, we identify orientation, rather than density, as the relevant order parameter. The range of density variation is noticeably shorter than that of orientational heterogeneity. The latter is comparable to the observed distances of hydrophobic force. At large separation, attraction between the rods arises primarily from a destructive interference among the inwardly propagating oppositely oriented heterogeneity generated in water by the two rods. As the rods are brought closer, the interference increases leading to a decrease in heterogeneity and concomitant decrease in free energy of the system, giving rise to the effective attraction. We notice formation of hexagonal ice-like structures at the onset of attractive region which suggests that metastable free energy minimum may play a role in the origin of HFL.

Novel electrostatic attraction from plasmon fluctuations

PubMed

Lau; Levine; Pincus

2000-05-01

In this Letter, we show that, at low temperatures, zero-point fluctuations of the plasmon modes of two mutually coupled 2D planar Wigner crystals give rise to a novel long-range attractive force. For the case where the distance d between two planar surfaces is large, this attractive force has an unusual power-law decay, which scales as d(-7/2), unlike other fluctuation-induced forces. Specifically, we note that its range is longer than the "standard" zero-temperature van der Waals interaction. This result may, in principle, be observed in bilayer electronic systems and provides insight into the nature of correlation effects for highly charged surfaces.

Elucidating the Origin of the Attractive Force among Hydrophilic Macroions

PubMed Central

Liu, Zhuonan; Liu, Tianbo; Tsige, Mesfin

2016-01-01

Coarse-grained simulation approach is applied to provide a general understanding of various soluble, hydrophilic macroionic solutions, especially the strong attractions among the like-charged soluble macroions and the consequent spontaneous, reversible formation of blackberry structures with tunable sizes. This model captures essential molecular details of the macroions and their interactions in polar solvents. Results using this model provide consistent conclusions to the experimental observations, from the nature of the attractive force among macroions (counterion-mediated attraction), to the blackberry formation mechanism. The conclusions can be applied to various macroionic solutions from inorganic molecular clusters to dendrimers and biomacromolecules. PMID:27215898

Characterizing the Severe Turbulence Environments Associated with Commercial Aviation Accidents. Part 2; Hydrostatic Mesobeta Scale Numerical Simulations of Supergradient Wind Flow and Streamwise Ageostrophic Frontogenesis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kaplan, Michael L.; Huffman, Allan W.; Lux, Kevin M.; Cetola, Jeffrey D.; Charney, Joseph J.; Riordan, Allen J.; Lin, Yuh-Lang; Waight, Kenneth T., III; Proctor, Fred (Technical Monitor)

2003-01-01

Simulation experiments reveal key processes that organize a hydrostatic environment conducive to severe turbulence. The paradigm requires juxtaposition of the entrance region of a curved jet stream, which is highly subgeostrophic, with the entrance region of a straight jet stream, which is highly supergeostrophic. The wind and mass fields become misphased as the entrance regions converge resulting in the significant spatial variation of inertial forcing, centripetal forcing, and along- and cross-stream pressure gradient forcing over a mesobeta scale region. This results in frontogenesis and the along-stream divergence of cyclonic and convergence of cyclonic ageostrophic vertical vorticity. The centripetally forced mesoscale front becomes the locus of large gradients of ageostrophic vertical vorticity along an overturning isentrope. This region becomes favorable for streamwise vorticity gradient formation enhancing the environment for organization of horizontal vortex tubes in the presence of buoyant forcing.

Direction-specific interaction forces underlying zinc oxide crystal growth by oriented attachment

DOE PAGES

Zhang, X.; Shen, Z.; Liu, J.; ...

2017-10-10

Here, crystallization by particle attachment is impacting our understanding of natural mineralization processes and holds promise for novel materials design. When particles assemble in crystallographic registry, expulsion of the intervening solvent and particle coalescence is enabled by near-perfect co-alignment via interparticle forces that remain poorly quantified. Here we report measurement and simulation of these nanoscale aligning forces for the ZnO(0001)-ZnO(000¯1) system in aqueous solution. Dynamic force spectroscopy using nanoengineered single crystal probes reveals an attractive force with 60o rotational periodicity. Calculated distance and orientation-dependent potentials of mean force show several attractive free energy wells distinguished by numbers of intervening watermore » layers, which reach a minimum when aligned. The calculated activation energy to separate the attractively bound solvated interfaces perfectly reproduces the measured 60o periodicity, revealing the key role of intervening water structuring as a basis to generate the interparticle torque that completes alignment and enables coalescence.« less

Direction-specific interaction forces underlying zinc oxide crystal growth by oriented attachment

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang, X.; Shen, Z.; Liu, J.

Here, crystallization by particle attachment is impacting our understanding of natural mineralization processes and holds promise for novel materials design. When particles assemble in crystallographic registry, expulsion of the intervening solvent and particle coalescence is enabled by near-perfect co-alignment via interparticle forces that remain poorly quantified. Here we report measurement and simulation of these nanoscale aligning forces for the ZnO(0001)-ZnO(000¯1) system in aqueous solution. Dynamic force spectroscopy using nanoengineered single crystal probes reveals an attractive force with 60o rotational periodicity. Calculated distance and orientation-dependent potentials of mean force show several attractive free energy wells distinguished by numbers of intervening watermore » layers, which reach a minimum when aligned. The calculated activation energy to separate the attractively bound solvated interfaces perfectly reproduces the measured 60o periodicity, revealing the key role of intervening water structuring as a basis to generate the interparticle torque that completes alignment and enables coalescence.« less

Forces in inhomogeneous open active-particle systems.

PubMed

Razin, Nitzan; Voituriez, Raphael; Elgeti, Jens; Gov, Nir S

2017-11-01

We study the force that noninteracting pointlike active particles apply to a symmetric inert object in the presence of a gradient of activity and particle sources and sinks. We consider two simple patterns of sources and sinks that are common in biological systems. We analytically solve a one-dimensional model designed to emulate higher-dimensional systems, and study a two-dimensional model by numerical simulations. We specify when the particle flux due to the creation and annihilation of particles can act to smooth the density profile that is induced by a gradient in the velocity of the active particles, and find the net resultant force due to both the gradient in activity and the particle flux. These results are compared qualitatively to observations of nuclear motion inside the oocyte, that is driven by a gradient in activity of actin-coated vesicles.

High-Q enhancement of attractive and repulsive optical forces between coupled whispering-gallery- mode resonators.

PubMed

Povinelli, Michelle; Johnson, Steven; Lonèar, Marko; Ibanescu, Mihai; Smythe, Elizabeth; Capasso, Federico; Joannopoulos, J

2005-10-03

We have calculated the optically-induced force between coupled high-Q whispering gallery modes of microsphere resonators. Attractive and repulsive forces are found, depending whether the bi-sphere mode is symmetric or antisymmetric. The magnitude of the force is linearly proportional to the total power in the spheres and consequently linearly enhanced by Q. Forces on the order of 100 nN are found for Q=108, large enough to cause displacements in the range of 1mum when the sphere is attached to a fiber stem with spring constant 0.004 N/m.

Forcing attacks of western pine beetles to test resistance of pines

Treesearch

Richard H. Smith

1967-01-01

Success--defined as oviposition or tree-killing--was obtained by attracting western pine beetles to groups of pines with natural attractants and by en-massed forced attacks on individual trees combined with either physical or biological stress. Preliminary results show considerable agreement with laboratory tests of vapor toxicity.

Measured long-range repulsive Casimir–Lifshitz forces

PubMed Central

Munday, J. N.; Capasso, Federico; Parsegian, V. Adrian

2014-01-01

Quantum fluctuations create intermolecular forces that pervade macroscopic bodies1–3. At molecular separations of a few nanometres or less, these interactions are the familiar van der Waals forces4. However, as recognized in the theories of Casimir, Polder and Lifshitz5–7, at larger distances and between macroscopic condensed media they reveal retardation effects associated with the finite speed of light. Although these long-range forces exist within all matter, only attractive interactions have so far been measured between material bodies8–11. Here we show experimentally that, in accord with theoretical prediction12, the sign of the force can be changed from attractive to repulsive by suitable choice of interacting materials immersed in a fluid. The measured repulsive interaction is found to be weaker than the attractive. However, in both cases the magnitude of the force increases with decreasing surface separation. Repulsive Casimir–Lifshitz forces could allow quantum levitation of objects in a fluid and lead to a new class of switchable nanoscale devices with ultra-low static friction13–15. PMID:19129843

A Note on Diffusive Mass Transport.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Haynes, Henry W., Jr.

1986-01-01

Current chemical engineering textbooks teach that the driving force for diffusive mass transport in ideal solutions is the gradient in mole fraction. This is only true for ideal solution liquids. Therefore, it is shown that the appropriate driving force for use with ideal gases is the gradient in partial pressure. (JN)

Phoretic and Radiometric Force Measurements on Microparticles in Microgravity Conditions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Davis, E. James

1996-01-01

Thermophoretic, diffusiophoretic and radiometric forces on microparticles are being measured over a wide range of gas phase and particle conditions using electrodynamic levitation of single particles to simulate microgravity conditions. The thermophoretic force, which arises when a particle exists in a gas having a temperature gradient, is measured by levitating an electrically charged particle between heated and cooled plates mounted in a vacuum chamber. The diffusiophoretic force arising from a concentration gradient in the gas phase is measured in a similar manner except that the heat exchangers are coated with liquids to establish a vapor concentration gradient. These phoretic forces and the radiation pressure force acting on a particle are measured directly in terms of the change in the dc field required to levitate the particle with and without the force applied. The apparatus developed for the research and the experimental techniques are discussed, and results obtained by thermophoresis experiments are presented. The determination of the momentum and energy accommodation coefficients associated with molecular collisions between gases molecules and particles and the measurement of the interaction between electromagnetic radiation and small particles are of particular interest.

The Ehrenfest force field: Topology and consequences for the definition of an atom in a molecule.

PubMed

Martín Pendás, A; Hernández-Trujillo, J

2012-10-07

The Ehrenfest force is the force acting on the electrons in a molecule due to the presence of the other electrons and the nuclei. There is an associated force field in three-dimensional space that is obtained by the integration of the corresponding Hermitian quantum force operator over the spin coordinates of all of the electrons and the space coordinates of all of the electrons but one. This paper analyzes the topology induced by this vector field and its consequences for the definition of molecular structure and of an atom in a molecule. Its phase portrait reveals: that the nuclei are attractors of the Ehrenfest force, the existence of separatrices yielding a dense partitioning of three-dimensional space into disjoint regions, and field lines connecting the attractors through these separatrices. From the numerical point of view, when the Ehrenfest force field is obtained as minus the divergence of the kinetic stress tensor, the induced topology was found to be highly sensitive to choice of gaussian basis sets at long range. Even the use of large split valence and highly uncontracted basis sets can yield spurious critical points that may alter the number of attraction basins. Nevertheless, at short distances from the nuclei, in general, the partitioning of three-dimensional space with the Ehrenfest force field coincides with that induced by the gradient field of the electron density. However, exceptions are found in molecules where the electron density yields results in conflict with chemical intuition. In these cases, the molecular graphs of the Ehrenfest force field reveal the expected atomic connectivities. This discrepancy between the definition of an atom in a molecule between the two vector fields casts some doubts on the physical meaning of the integration of Ehrenfest forces over the basins of the electron density.

Mechanisms of cooperation and competition of two-species transport in narrow nanochannels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bauer, Wolfgang Rudolf

2017-12-01

Flow of particles of two different species through a narrow channel with solely two discrete spatial positions is analyzed with respect to the species' capability to cooperate or compete for transport. The origin of the latter arises from particle-channel and interparticle interactions within the channel, i.e., blocking the position of a particle, and its interaction with its neighbors in the channel. The variety of occupation options within the channel defines the state space. The transition dynamics within is considered as a continuous Markov process, which, in contrast to mean-field approaches, conserves explicitly spatial correlations. A strong repulsive interaction between particles of the same kind and a very attractive empty channel imply a strong entanglement of transport of both species. In the limiting case of perfect coupling, flows in state space are restricted to a cyclic subspace, where they become all equivalent in the steady state. In particular, this implies equal particle flows of the two species. Entanglement of transport implies that the species mutually exert entropic forces on each other. For parallel directed concentration gradients this implies that the species' ability to cooperate increases with the degree of entanglement. Thus, the gradient of one species reciprocally induces a higher flow of the other species when compared to that in its absence. The opposite holds for antiparallel gradients where species mutually hamper their transport. For a sufficient strong coupling, the species under the influence of the stronger concentration gradient drives the other against its gradient, i.e., the positive mixing entropy production of the driving species becomes the motor for the negative mixing entropy production of the driven one. The degree of effectiveness by which negative entropy production emerges at the cost of positive entropy production increases with the coupling strength. This becomes evident from location and connectivity of the sources of entropy production in state space.

Thermophoresis of dissolved molecules and polymers: Consideration of the temperature-induced macroscopic pressure gradient

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Semenov, Semen; Schimpf, Martin

2004-01-01

The movement of molecules and homopolymer chains dissolved in a nonelectrolyte solvent in response to a temperature gradient is considered a consequence of temperature-induced pressure gradients in the solvent layer surrounding the solute molecules. Local pressure gradients are produced by nonuniform London van der Waals interactions, established by gradients in the concentration (density) of solvent molecules. The density gradient is produced by variations in solvent thermal expansion within the nonuniform temperature field. The resulting expression for the velocity of the solute contains the Hamaker constants for solute-solvent and solute-solute interactions, the radius of the solute molecule, and the viscosity and cubic coefficient of thermal expansion of the solvent. In this paper we consider an additional force that arises from directional asymmetry in the interaction between solvent molecules. In a closed cell, the resulting macroscopic pressure gradient gives rise to a volume force that affects the motion of dissolved solutes. An expression for this macroscopic pressure gradient is derived and the resulting force is incorporated into the expression for the solute velocity. The expression is used to calculate thermodiffusion coefficients for polystyrene in several organic solvents. When these values are compared to those measured in the laboratory, the consistency is better than that found in previous reports, which did not consider the macroscopic pressure gradient that arises in a closed thermodiffusion cell. The model also allows for the movement of solute in either direction, depending on the relative values of the solvent and solute Hamaker constants.

Thermal, size and surface effects on the nonlinear pull-in of small-scale piezoelectric actuators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

SoltanRezaee, Masoud; Ghazavi, Mohammad-Reza

2017-09-01

Electrostatically actuated miniature wires/tubes have many operational applications in the high-tech industries. In this research, the nonlinear pull-in instability of piezoelectric thermal small-scale switches subjected to Coulomb and dissipative forces is analyzed using strain gradient and modified couple stress theories. The discretized governing equation is solved numerically by means of the step-by-step linearization method. The correctness of the formulated model and solution procedure is validated through comparison with experimental and several theoretical results. Herein, the length-scale, surface energy, van der Waals attraction and nonlinear curvature are considered in the present comprehensive model and the thermo-electro-mechanical behavior of cantilever piezo-beams are discussed in detail. It is found that the piezoelectric actuation can be used as a design parameter to control the pull-in phenomenon. The obtained results are applicable in stability analysis, practical design and control of actuated miniature intelligent devices.

Spiral counter-current chromatography: Design, development, application, and challenges.

PubMed

Huang, Xin-Yi; Sun, Xiao-Ming; Pei, Dong; Di, Duo-Long

2017-01-01

Depending on the rapid growth in the radial gradient of the centrifugal force, spiral counter-current chromatography can greatly improve the retention of stationary phase, especially for the aqueous two-phase systems with ultra-polar and high viscosity that are not well retained in the conventional multilayer coils counter-current chromatography. As a result, it is an attractive and alternative technology that is suited for separation of hydrophilic compounds and has led to many exciting progress in recent years. This review presents the recent advances and applications of spiral counter-current chromatography, including its major benefits and limitations, some novel methods to improve the separation efficiency and its applications in separation of real samples. In addition, the remaining challenges and future perspectives on development of spiral counter-current chromatography also are proposed in this article. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Elucidating the origin of the attractive force among hydrophilic macroions

DOE PAGES

Liu, Zhuonan; Liu, Tianbo; Tsige, Mesfin

2016-05-24

In this study, coarse-grained simulation approach is applied to provide a general understanding of various soluble, hydrophilic macroionic solutions, especially the strong attractions among the like-charged soluble macroions and the consequent spontaneous, reversible formation of blackberry structures with tunable sizes. This model captures essential molecular details of the macroions and their interactions in polar solvents. Results using this model provide consistent conclusions to the experimental observations, from the nature of the attractive force among macroions (counterion-mediated attraction), to the blackberry formation mechanism. The conclusions can be applied to various macroionic solutions from inorganic molecular clusters to dendrimers and biomacromolecules.

Elucidating the origin of the attractive force among hydrophilic macroions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liu, Zhuonan; Liu, Tianbo; Tsige, Mesfin

In this study, coarse-grained simulation approach is applied to provide a general understanding of various soluble, hydrophilic macroionic solutions, especially the strong attractions among the like-charged soluble macroions and the consequent spontaneous, reversible formation of blackberry structures with tunable sizes. This model captures essential molecular details of the macroions and their interactions in polar solvents. Results using this model provide consistent conclusions to the experimental observations, from the nature of the attractive force among macroions (counterion-mediated attraction), to the blackberry formation mechanism. The conclusions can be applied to various macroionic solutions from inorganic molecular clusters to dendrimers and biomacromolecules.

Vibrational relaxation of I2 in complexing solvents: The role of solvent-solute attractive forces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shiang, Joseph J.; Liu, Hongjun; Sension, Roseanne J.

1998-12-01

Femtosecond transient absorption studies of I2-arene complexes, with arene=hexamethylbenzene (HMB), mesitylene (MST), or m-xylene (mX), are used to investigate the effect of solvent-solute attractive forces upon the rate of vibrational relaxation in solution. Comparison of measurements on I2-MST complexes in neat mesitylene and I2-MST complexes diluted in carbontetrachloride demonstrate that binary solvent-solute attractive forces control the rate of vibrational relaxation in this prototypical model of diatomic vibrational relaxation. The data obtained for different arenes demonstrate that the rate of I2 relaxation increases with the magnitude of the I2-arene attractive interaction. I2-HMB relaxes much faster than I2 in MST or mX. The results of these experiments are discussed in terms of both isolated binary collision and instantaneous normal mode models for vibrational relaxation.

Direct measurements of local bed shear stress in the presence of pressure gradients

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pujara, Nimish; Liu, Philip L.-F.

2014-07-01

This paper describes the development of a shear plate sensor capable of directly measuring the local mean bed shear stress in small-scale and large-scale laboratory flumes. The sensor is capable of measuring bed shear stress in the range 200 Pa with an accuracy up to 1 %. Its size, 43 mm in the flow direction, is designed to be small enough to give spatially local measurements, and its bandwidth, 75 Hz, is high enough to resolve time-varying forcing. Typically, shear plate sensors are restricted to use in zero pressure gradient flows because secondary forces on the edge of the shear plate caused by pressure gradients can introduce large errors. However, by analysis of the pressure distribution at the edges of the shear plate in mild pressure gradients, we introduce a new methodology for correcting for the pressure gradient force. The developed sensor includes pressure tappings to measure the pressure gradient in the flow, and the methodology for correction is applied to obtain accurate measurements of bed shear stress under solitary waves in a small-scale wave flume. The sensor is also validated by measurements in a turbulent flat plate boundary layer in open channel flow.

Transport of microspheres and indigenous bacteria through a sandy aquifer: Results of natural- and forced-gradient tracer experiments

USGS Publications Warehouse

Harvey, R.W.; George, L.H.; Smith, R.L.; LeBlanc, D.R.

1989-01-01

Transport of indigenous bacteria through sandy aquifer sediments was investigated in forced- and natural-gradient tracer teste. A diverse population of bacteria was collected and concentrated from groundwater at the site, stained with a DNA-specific fluorochrome, and injected back into the aquifer. Included with the injectate were a conservative tracer (Br- or Cl-) and bacteria-sized (0.2-1.3-??m) microspheres having carboxylated, carbonyl, or neutral surfaces. Transport of stained bacteria and all types and size classes of microspheres was evident. In the natural-gradient test, both surface characteristics and size of microspheres affected attenuation. Surface characteristics had the greatest effect upon retardation. Peak break-through of DAPI-stained bacteria (forced-gradient experiment) occurred well in advance of bromide at the more distal sampler. Transport behavior of bacteria was substantially different from that of carboxylated microspheres of comparable size. ?? 1988 American Chemical Society.

BACTERIOPHAGE AND MICROSPHERE TRANSPORT IN SATURATED POROUS MEDIA: FORCED-GRADIENT EXPERIMENT AT BORDEN, ONTARIO

EPA Science Inventory

A two-well forced-gradient experiment involving virus and microsphere transport was carried out in a sandy aquifer in Borden, Ontario, Canada. Virus traveled at least a few meters in the experiment, but virus concentrations at observation points 1 and 2.54 m away from the injecti...

Analytical characterization of selective benthic flux components in estuarine and coastal waters

USGS Publications Warehouse

King, Jeffrey N.

2011-01-01

Benthic flux is the rate of flow across the bed of a water body, per unit area of bed. It is forced by component mechanisms, which interact. For example, pressure gradients across the bed, forced by tide, surface gravity waves, density gradients, bed–current interaction, turbulence, and terrestrial hydraulic gradients, drive an advective benthic flux of water and constituents between estuarine and coastal waters, and surficial aquifers. Other mechanisms also force benthic flux, such as chemical gradients, bioturbation, and dispersion. A suite of component mechanisms force a total benthic flux at any given location, where each member of the suite contributes a component benthic flux. Currently, the types and characteristics of component interactions are not fully understood. For example, components may interact linearly or nonlinearly, and the interaction may be constructive or destructive. Benthic flux is a surface water–groundwater interaction process. Its discharge component to a marine water body is referred to, in some literature, as submarine groundwater discharge. Benthic flux is important in characterizing water and constituent budgets of estuarine and coastal systems. Analytical models to characterize selective benthic flux components are reviewed. Specifically, these mechanisms are for the component associated with the groundwater tidal prism, and forced by surface gravity wave setup, surface gravity waves on a plane bed, and the terrestrial hydraulic gradient. Analytical models are applied to the Indian River Lagoon, Florida; Great South Bay, New York; and the South Atlantic Bight in South Carolina and portions of North Carolina.

Effect of field cooling heights on the levitation force of pure and starch/polystyrene/MWCNT added bulk MgB2 superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tripathi, D.; Dey, T. K.

2014-12-01

A series of MgB2 pellets with and without addition of carbon from different sources (viz. starch, polystyrene and carbon nanotubes) have been synthesized by solid state reaction under argon atmosphere. XRD analysis indicates a decrease in lattice parameters of MgB2 with addition of starch, polystyrene (PS) and MWCNT and confirms substitution of carbon in boron sites. The presence of nanosized carbon inclusions between the grain boundaries in the present set of samples is evident in TEM photographs. Resistivity data confirms a decrease in superconducting transition temperature (Tc0) for MgB2 doped with starch/PS/MWCNT. The effect of different field cooling heights (HIFC) at 20 K on maximum levitation force (FMLF) and maximum attractive force (FMAF) of pure MgB2 and MgB2 doped with starch/PS/MWCNT have been investigated. Except for MWCNT, doping of starch and PS in MgB2 is found to improve FMLF and FMAF and the best result is obtained for MgB2 doped with 1 wt.% PS. Levitation force measured as a function of decreasing initial field cooling height indicates exponential dependence of both maximum levitation force (FMLF) and maximum attractive force (FMAF). However, the gap distance between PM and the sample (H0AF and HMAF) corresponding to maximum attractive force (FMAF) and zero attractive force (F0AF) varies linearly and their difference remains constant. This constancy in (HMAF - H0AF) is understood in terms of constant reduction rate of magnetic flux density between H0AF and HMAF.

Current kinematics and dynamics of Africa and the East African Rift System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stamps, D. S.; Flesch, L. M.; Calais, E.; Ghosh, A.

2014-06-01

Although the East African Rift System (EARS) is an archetype continental rift, the forces driving its evolution remain debated. Some contend buoyancy forces arising from gravitational potential energy (GPE) gradients within the lithosphere drive rifting. Others argue for a major role of the diverging mantle flow associated with the African Superplume. Here we quantify the forces driving present-day continental rifting in East Africa by (1) solving the depth averaged 3-D force balance equations for 3-D deviatoric stress associated with GPE, (2) inverting for a stress field boundary condition that we interpret as originating from large-scale mantle tractions, (3) calculating dynamic velocities due to lithospheric buoyancy forces, lateral viscosity variations, and velocity boundary conditions, and (4) calculating dynamic velocities that result from the stress response of horizontal mantle tractions acting on a viscous lithosphere in Africa and surroundings. We find deviatoric stress associated with lithospheric GPE gradients are ˜8-20 MPa in EARS, and the minimum deviatoric stress resulting from basal shear is ˜1.6 MPa along the EARS. Our dynamic velocity calculations confirm that a force contribution from GPE gradients alone is sufficient to drive Nubia-Somalia divergence and that additional forcing from horizontal mantle tractions overestimates surface kinematics. Stresses from GPE gradients appear sufficient to sustain present-day rifting in East Africa; however, they are lower than the vertically integrated strength of the lithosphere along most of the EARS. This indicates additional processes are required to initiate rupture of continental lithosphere, but once it is initiated, lithospheric buoyancy forces are enough to maintain rifting.

Line length dependence of threshold current density and driving force in eutectic SnPb and SnAgCu solder electromigration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoon, Min-Seung; Ko, Min-Ku; Kim, Bit-Na; Kim, Byung-Joon; Park, Yong-Bae; Joo, Young-Chang

2008-04-01

The relationship between the threshold current density and the critical line length in eutectic SnPb and SnAgCu electromigrations were examined using solder lines with the various lengths ranging from 100to1000μm. When the electron wind-force was balanced by the back-stress gradient force, the net flux of electromigration is zero, at which the current density and line length are defined as the threshold current density and the critical length, respectively. It was found that in SnAgCu electromigration, the 1/L dependence on the threshold current density showed good agreement, whereas the threshold current densities of the eutectic SnPb deviated from the 1/L dependence. The balance between the electron wind-force and the back-stress gradient force was the main factor determining the threshold product of SnAgCu electromigration. On the other hand, in the case of eutectic SnPb, the chemical driving force is contributed as a back-flux force in addition to the back-stress gradient force. The existence of the chemical driving force was caused by the nonequilibrium Pb concentration inside the Pb-rich phases between the cathode and anode during the electromigration procedure.

Non-additivity of molecule-surface van der Waals potentials from force measurements.

PubMed

Wagner, Christian; Fournier, Norman; Ruiz, Victor G; Li, Chen; Müllen, Klaus; Rohlfing, Michael; Tkatchenko, Alexandre; Temirov, Ruslan; Tautz, F Stefan

2014-11-26

Van der Waals (vdW) forces act ubiquitously in condensed matter. Despite being weak on an atomic level, they substantially influence molecular and biological systems due to their long range and system-size scaling. The difficulty to isolate and measure vdW forces on a single-molecule level causes our present understanding to be strongly theory based. Here we show measurements of the attractive potential between differently sized organic molecules and a metal surface using an atomic force microscope. Our choice of molecules and the large molecule-surface separation cause this attraction to be purely of vdW type. The experiment allows testing the asymptotic vdW force law and its validity range. We find a superlinear growth of the vdW attraction with molecular size, originating from the increased deconfinement of electrons in the molecules. Because such non-additive vdW contributions are not accounted for in most first-principles or empirical calculations, we suggest further development in that direction.

Selective particle trapping using an oscillating microbubble.

PubMed

Rogers, Priscilla; Neild, Adrian

2011-11-07

The ability to isolate and sort analytes within complex microfluidic volumes is essential to the success of lab-on-a-chip (LOC) devices. In this study, acoustically-excited oscillating bubbles are used to selectively trap particles, with the selectivity being a function of both particle size and density. The operating principle is based on the interplay between the strong microstreaming-induced drag force and the attractive secondary Bjerknes force. Depending upon the size of the bubble, and thus its resonant frequency, it is possible to cause one force to dominate over the other, resulting in either particle attraction or repulsion. A theoretical analysis reveals the extent of the contribution of each force for a given particle size; in close agreement with experimental findings. Density-based trapping is also demonstrated, highlighting that denser particles experience a larger secondary Bjerknes force resulting in their attraction. This study showcases the excellent applicability and versatility of using oscillating bubbles as a trapping and sorting mechanism within LOC devices. This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2011

Determination of the force constant of a single-beam gradient trap by measurement of backscattered light

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Friese, M. E. J.; Rubinsztein-Dunlop, H.; Heckenberg, N. R.; Dearden, E. W.

1996-12-01

A single-beam gradient trap could potentially be used to hold a stylus for scanning force microscopy. With a view to development of this technique, we modeled the optical trap as a harmonic oscillator and therefore characterized it by its force constant. We measured force constants and resonant frequencies for 1 4- m-diameter polystyrene spheres in a single-beam gradient trap using measurements of backscattered light. Force constants were determined with both Gaussian and doughnut laser modes, with powers of 3 and 1 mW, respectively. Typical values for spring constants were measured to be between 10 6 and 4 10 6 N m. The resonant frequencies of trapped particles were measured to be between 1 and 10 kHz, and the rms amplitudes of oscillations were estimated to be around 40 nm. Our results confirm that the use of the doughnut mode for single-beam trapping is more efficient in the axial direction.

Modulation of monocytic leukemia cell function and survival by high gradient magnetic fields and mathematical modeling studies.

PubMed

Zablotskii, Vitalii; Syrovets, Tatiana; Schmidt, Zoe W; Dejneka, Alexandr; Simmet, Thomas

2014-03-01

The influence of spatially modulated high gradient magnetic fields on cellular functions of human THP-1 leukemia cells is studied. We demonstrate that arrays of high-gradient micrometer-sized magnets induce i) cell swelling, ii) prolonged increased ROS production, and iii) inhibit cell proliferation, and iv) elicit apoptosis of THP-1 monocytic leukemia cells in the absence of chemical or biological agents. Mathematical modeling indicates that mechanical stress exerted on the cells by high magnetic gradient forces is responsible for triggering cell swelling and formation of reactive oxygen species followed by apoptosis. We discuss physical aspects of controlling cell functions by focused magnetic gradient forces, i.e. by a noninvasive and nondestructive physical approach. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Physical attractiveness and reproductive success in humans: Evidence from the late 20 century United States.

PubMed

Jokela, Markus

2009-09-01

Physical attractiveness has been associated with mating behavior, but its role in reproductive success of contemporary humans has received surprisingly little attention. In the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (1244 women, 997 men born between 1937 and 1940) we examined whether attractiveness assessed from photographs taken at age ~18 predicted the number of biological children at age 53-56. In women, attractiveness predicted higher reproductive success in a nonlinear fashion, so that attractive (second highest quartile) women had 16% and very attractive (highest quartile) women 6% more children than their less attractive counterparts. In men, there was a threshold effect so that men in the lowest attractiveness quartile had 13% fewer children than others who did not differ from each other in the average number of children. These associations were partly but not completely accounted for by attractive participants' increased marriage probability. A linear regression analysis indicated relatively weak directional selection gradient for attractiveness (β=0.06 in women, β=0.07 in men). These findings indicate that physical attractiveness may be associated with reproductive success in humans living in industrialized settings.

Gravitational force and torque on a solar power satellite considering the structural flexibility

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Yi; Zhang, Jingrui; Zhang, Yao; Zhang, Jun; Hu, Quan

2017-11-01

The solar power satellites (SPS) are designed to collect the constant solar energy and beam it to Earth. They are traditionally large in scale and flexible in structure. In order to obtain an accurate model of such system, the analytical expressions of the gravitational force, gravity gradient torque and modal force are investigated. They are expanded to the fourth order in a Taylor series with the elastic displacements considered. It is assumed that the deformation of the structure is relatively small compared with its characteristic length, so that the assumed mode method is applicable. The high-order moments of inertia and flexibility coefficients are presented. The comprehensive dynamics of a large flexible SPS and its orbital, attitude and vibration evolutions with different order gravitational forces, gravity gradient torques and modal forces in geosynchronous Earth orbit are performed. Numerical simulations show that an accurate representation of the SPS‧ dynamic characteristics requires the retention of the higher moments of inertia and flexibility. Perturbations of orbit, attitude and vibration can be retained to the 1-2nd order gravitational forces, the 1-2nd order gravity gradient torques and the 1-2nd order modal forces for a large flexible SPS in geosynchronous Earth orbit.

Casimir effect for perfect electromagnetic conductors (PEMCs): a sum rule for attractive/repulsive forces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rode, Stefan; Bennett, Robert; Yoshi Buhmann, Stefan

2018-04-01

We discuss the Casimir effect for boundary conditions involving perfect electromagnetic conductors, which interpolate between perfect electric conductors and perfect magnetic conductors. Based on the corresponding reciprocal Green’s tensor we construct the Green’s tensor for two perfectly reflecting plates with magnetoelectric coupling (non-reciprocal media) within the framework of macroscopic quantum electrodynamics. We calculate the Casimir force between two arbitrary perfect electromagnetic conductor plates, resulting in a universal analytic expression that connects the attractive Casimir force with the repulsive Boyer force. We relate the results to a duality symmetry of electromagnetism.

Magnetic manipulation of superparamagnetic nanoparticles in a microfluidic system for drug delivery applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Agiotis, L.; Theodorakos, I.; Samothrakitis, S.; Papazoglou, S.; Zergioti, I.; Raptis, Y. S.

2016-03-01

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), such as superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONS), have attracted major interest, due to their small size and unique magnetic properties, for drug delivery applications. In this context, iron oxide nanoparticles of magnetite (Fe3O4) (150 nm magnetic core diameter), were used as drug carriers, aiming to form a magnetically controlled nano-platform. The navigation capabilities of the iron oxide nanoparticles in a microfluidic channel were investigated by simulating the magnetic field and the magnetic force applied on the magnetic nanoparticles inside a microfluidic chip. The simulations have been performed using finite element method (ANSY'S software). The optimum setup which intends to simulate the magnetic navigation of the nanoparticles, by the use of MRI-type fields, in the human circulatory system, consists of two parallel permanent magnets to produce a homogeneous magnetic field, in order to ensure the maximum magnetization of the magnetic nanoparticles, an electromagnet for the induction of the magnetic gradients and the creation of the magnetic force and a microfluidic setup so as to simulate the blood flow inside the human blood vessels. The magnetization of the superparamagnetic nanoparticles and the consequent magnetic torque developed by the two permanent magnets, together with the mutual interactions between the magnetized nanoparticles lead to the creation of rhabdoid aggregates in the direction of the homogeneous field. Additionally, the magnetic gradients introduced by the operation of the electromagnet are capable of directing the aggregates, as a whole, to the desired direction. By removing the magnetic fields, the aggregates are disrupted, due to the super paramagnetic nature of the nanoparticles, avoiding thus the formation of undesired thrombosis.

Anti-gravity and galaxy rotation curves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sanders, R. H.

1984-07-01

A modification of Newtonian gravitational attraction which arises in the context of modern attempts to unify gravity with the other forces in nature can produce rotation curves for spiral galaxies which are nearly flat from 10 to 100 kpc, bind clusters of galaxies, and close the universe with the density of baryonic matter consistent with primordial nucleosynthesis. This is possible if a very low mass vector boson carries an effective anti-gravity force which on scales smaller than that of galaxies almost balances the normal attractive gravity force.

Attractiveness of food and avoidance from contamination as conflicting stimuli to habitat selection by fish.

PubMed

Araújo, Cristiano V M; Rodríguez, Elizabeth N V; Salvatierra, David; Cedeño-Macias, Luis A; Vera-Vera, Victoria C; Moreira-Santos, Matilde; Ribeiro, Rui

2016-11-01

Habitat selection by fish is the outcome of a choice between different stimuli. Typically, the presence of food tends to attract organisms, while contamination triggers an avoidance response to prevent toxic effects. Given that both food and contaminants are not homogeneously distributed in the environment and that food can be available in contaminated zones, a key question has been put forward in the present study: does a higher availability of food in contaminated areas interfere in the avoidance response to contaminants regardless of the contamination level? Tilapia fry (Oreochromis sp.; 2.5-3.0 cm and 0.5-0.8 g) were exposed to two different effluent samples, diluted along a free-choice, non-forced exposure system simulating a contamination gradient. Initially, avoidance to the effluents was checked during a one hour exposure. Afterwards, food was added to the system so that the availability of food increased with the increase in the level of contamination, and the avoidance response to contamination was checked during another hour. Results clearly showed a concentration-dependent avoidance response for both effluents during the first hour (i.e., with no food). However, in presence of the food, the avoidance pattern was altered: organisms were propelled to intermittently move towards contaminated areas where food availability was higher. The incursions were taken regardless of the potential risk linked to the toxic effects. In conclusion, even when the risk of toxicity was imminent, tilapia fry were more intensively stimulated by the attractiveness of the food than by repulsion to the contamination. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Forces dictating colloidal interactions between viruses and soil

USGS Publications Warehouse

Chattopadhyay, Sandip; Puls, Robert W.

2000-01-01

The fate and transport of viruses in soil and aquatic environments were studied with respect to the different forces involved in the process of sorption of these viruses on soil particles. In accordance with the classical DLVO theory, we have calculated the repulsive electrostatic forces and the attractive van der Waals forces. Bacteriophages have been used as model sorbates, while different clays have been used as model sorbents. The equations used for the determination of the change in free energy for the process (ΔG) takes into consideration the roughness of the sorbent surfaces. Results indicate that attractive van der Waals forces predominate the process of sorption of the selected bacteriophages on clays.

[A functional orthodontic magnetic appliance (FOMA) after Vardimon. 1. A three-dimensional analysis of the force system of the attractive magnets].

PubMed

Bourauel, C; Vardimon, A D; Drescher, D; Schmuth, G P

1995-09-01

The functional magnetic system (FMS) is a removable functional appliance which induces mandibular advance by means of mandibular and maxillary magnets in an attracting configuration. The maxillary and mandibular plates are each equipped with 2 cylindrically shaped cobalt-samarium magnets, 4 mm in diameter and 3 mm in height, which are welded into stainless steel housings. The force system of this magnetic configuration was analyzed using the orthodontic measurement and simulation system (OMSS). OMSS simulated the mandibular jaw movements by separating the installed magnets vertically, corresponding to a mouth opening of X = -10 mm, transversally (right excursion, +/left excursion, -) at Y = +/- 10 mm and sagittally (anterior displacement, +/posterior displacement, -) at Z = +/- 10 mm. The resulting 2D and 3D force/displacement diagrams elucidate the outstanding centripetal-spatial orientation characteristics of the functional magnetic appliance in reference to the full overlap brought about by the attraction of the mandibular magnet by the maxillary magnet. The maximum centripetal forces reached a value of approximately FY, max = 0.65 N for the vertical attracting force at full overlap of the mandibular and maxillary magnets (X = 0.55 mm, Y = Z = 0 mm), a value of FY, max = 0.65 N for the medial shearing force at a partial transversal overlap Z = 0, Y = +/- 2 mm and Y = +/- 6 mm), and for the sagittal shearing force a value of FZ, max = 1.2 N at a partial sagittal overlap of the magnets (Y = 0 mm, Z = +/- 2 mm).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Density-Gradient Theory: A Macroscopic Approach to Quantum Confinement and Tunneling in Semiconductor Devices

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-01-01

that are attractive as luminescent biolabels, and possibly also for optoelectronic devices and solar cells . The equilibrium nature of such situations...The boundary layers as- sociated with the diffusion and Debye lengths are familiar, while that of LQ defines the layer in which the quantum in...circuits, transmission lines Diffusion -drift, density-gradient Semi-classical electron dynamics, Boltzmann transport Schrödinger, density- matrix, Wigner

Relative influences of the metocean forcings on the drifting ice pack and estimation of internal ice stress gradients in the Labrador Sea

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Turnbull, I. D.; Torbati, R. Z.; Taylor, R. S.

2017-07-01

Understanding the relative influences of the metocean forcings on the drift of sea ice floes is a crucial component to the overall characterization of an ice environment and to developing an understanding of the factors controlling the ice dynamics. In addition, estimating the magnitude of the internal stress gradients on drifting sea ice floes generated by surrounding ice cover is important for modeling operations, informing the design of offshore structures and vessels in ice environments, and for the proper calibration of Discrete Element Models (DEM) of fields of drifting ice floes. In the spring of 2015 and 2016, four sea ice floes offshore Makkovik, Labrador were tagged with satellite-linked ice tracking buoys along with one satellite-linked weather station on each floe to transmit wind speed and direction. Twenty satellite-linked Lagrangian surface ocean current tracking buoys were also deployed in the open water adjacent to the targeted ice floes. In this paper, the dynamics of the four ice floes are explored in terms of the relative proportions which were forced by the wind, current, sea surface topography, Coriolis, and internal stress gradients. The internal ice stress gradients are calculated as residuals between the observed accelerations of the floes as measured by the tracking buoys and the sums of the other metocean forcings. Results show that internal ice stress gradients accounted for up to 50% of the observed forcing on the floes, and may have reached up to around 0.19 kPa.

A uniplanar three-axis gradient set for in vivo magnetic resonance microscopy.

PubMed

Demyanenko, Andrey V; Zhao, Lin; Kee, Yun; Nie, Shuyi; Fraser, Scott E; Tyszka, J Michael

2009-09-01

We present an optimized uniplanar magnetic resonance gradient design specifically tailored for MR imaging applications in developmental biology and histology. Uniplanar gradient designs sacrifice gradient uniformity for high gradient efficiency and slew rate, and are attractive for surface imaging applications where open access from one side of the sample is required. However, decreasing the size of the uniplanar gradient set presents several unique engineering challenges, particularly for heat dissipation and thermal insulation of the sample from gradient heating. We demonstrate a new three-axis, target-field optimized uniplanar gradient coil design that combines efficient cooling and insulation to significantly reduce sample heating at sample-gradient distances of less than 5mm. The instrument is designed for microscopy in horizontal bore magnets. Empirical gradient current efficiencies in the prototype coils lie between 3.75G/cm/A and 4.5G/cm/A with current and heating-limited maximum gradient strengths between 235G/cm and 450G/cm at a 2% duty cycle. The uniplanar gradient prototype is demonstrated with non-linearity corrections for both high-resolution structural imaging of tissue slices and for long time-course imaging of live, developing amphibian embryos in a horizontal bore 7T magnet.

Attraction and repulsion of spiral waves by inhomogeneity of conduction anisotropy--a model of spiral wave interaction with electrical remodeling of heart tissue.

PubMed

Kuklik, Pawel; Sanders, Prashanthan; Szumowski, Lukasz; Żebrowski, Jan J

2013-01-01

Various forms of heart disease are associated with remodeling of the heart muscle, which results in a perturbation of cell-to-cell electrical coupling. These perturbations may alter the trajectory of spiral wave drift in the heart muscle. We investigate the effect of spatially extended inhomogeneity of transverse cell coupling on the spiral wave trajectory using a simple active media model. The spiral wave was either attracted or repelled from the center of inhomogeneity as a function of cell excitability and gradient of the cell coupling. High levels of excitability resulted in an attraction of the wave to the center of inhomogeneity, whereas low levels resulted in an escape and termination of the spiral wave. The spiral wave drift velocity was related to the gradient of the coupling and the initial position of the wave. In a diseased heart, a region of altered transverse coupling corresponds with local gap junction remodeling that may be responsible for stabilization-destabilization of spiral waves and hence reflect potentially important targets in the treatment of heart arrhythmias.

Thermal Gradient Fining of Glass

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wilcox, W.

1983-01-01

Molten glass fined (cleared of bubbles) by heating with suitable temperature gradient, according to preliminary experiments. Temperature gradient produces force on gas bubbles trapped in molten glass pushing bubbles to higher temperature region where they are collected. Concept demonstrated in experiments on Earth and on rocket.

A feasible DY conjugate gradient method for linear equality constraints

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

LI, Can

2017-09-01

In this paper, we propose a feasible conjugate gradient method for solving linear equality constrained optimization problem. The method is an extension of the Dai-Yuan conjugate gradient method proposed by Dai and Yuan to linear equality constrained optimization problem. It can be applied to solve large linear equality constrained problem due to lower storage requirement. An attractive property of the method is that the generated direction is always feasible and descent direction. Under mild conditions, the global convergence of the proposed method with exact line search is established. Numerical experiments are also given which show the efficiency of the method.

van der Waals torque and force between anisotropic topological insulator slabs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Bing-Sui

2018-01-01

We investigate the character of the van der Waals (vdW) torque and force between two coplanar and dielectrically anisotropic topological insulator (TI) slabs separated by a vacuum gap in the nonretardation regime, where the optic axes of the slabs are each perpendicular to the normal direction to the slab-gap interface and also generally differently oriented from each other. We find that in addition to the magnetoelectric coupling strength, the anisotropy can also influence the sign of the vdW force, viz., a repulsive vdW force can become attractive if the anisotropy is increased sufficiently. In addition, the vdW force oscillates as a function of the angular difference between the optic axes of the TI slabs, being most repulsive/least attractive (least repulsive/most attractive) for angular differences that are integer (half-integer) multiples of π . Our third finding is that the vdW torque for TI slabs is generally weaker than that for ordinary dielectric slabs. Our work provides an instance in which the vector potential appears in a calculation of the vdW interaction for which the limit is nonretarded or static.

Sulfate Aerosol Control of Tropical Atlantic Climate over the Twentieth Century

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chang, C.-Y.; Chiang, J. C. H.; Wehner, M. F.; Friedman, A. R.; Ruedy, R.

2011-01-01

The tropical Atlantic interhemispheric gradient in sea surface temperature significantly influences the rainfall climate of the tropical Atlantic sector, including droughts over West Africa and Northeast Brazil. This gradient exhibits a secular trend from the beginning of the twentieth century until the 1980s, with stronger warming in the south relative to the north. This trend behavior is on top of a multi-decadal variation associated with the Atlantic multi-decadal oscillation. A similar long-term forced trend is found in a multimodel ensemble of forced twentieth-century climate simulations. Through examining the distribution of the trend slopes in the multimodel twentieth-century and preindustrial models, the authors conclude that the observed trend in the gradient is unlikely to arise purely from natural variations; this study suggests that at least half the observed trend is a forced response to twentieth-century climate forcings. Further analysis using twentieth-century single-forcing runs indicates that sulfate aerosol forcing is the predominant cause of the multimodel trend. The authors conclude that anthropogenic sulfate aerosol emissions, originating predominantly from the Northern Hemisphere, may have significantly altered the tropical Atlantic rainfall climate over the twentieth century

A new measure of molecular attractions between nanoparticles near kT adhesion energy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kendall, Kevin; Dhir, Aman; Du, Shangfeng

2009-07-01

The weak molecular attractions of nanoparticles are important because they drive self-assembly mechanisms, allow processing in dispersions e.g. of pigments, catalysts or device structures, influence disease through the attraction of viruses to cells and also cause potential toxic effects through nanoparticle interference with biomolecules and organs. The problem is to understand these small forces which pull nanoparticles into intimate contact; forces which are comparable with 3kT/2z the thermal impact force experienced by an average Brownian particle hitting a linear repulsive potential of range z. Here we describe a new method for measuring the atomic attractions of nanoparticles based on the observation of aggregates produced by these small forces. The method is based on the tracking of individual monosize nanoparticles whose diameter can be calculated from the Stokes-Einstein analysis of the tracks in aqueous suspensions. Then the doublet aggregates are distinguished because they move slower and are also very much brighter than the dispersed nanoparticles. By finding the ratio of doublets to singlets, the adhesive energy between the particles can be calculated from known statistical thermodynamic theory using assumptions about the shape of the interaction potential. In this way, very small adhesion energies of 2kT have been measured, smaller than those seen previously by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM).

Electrostatic attraction of coupled Wigner crystals: finite temperature effects.

PubMed

Lau, A W; Pincus, P; Levine, D; Fertig, H A

2001-05-01

In this paper we present a unified physical picture for the electrostatic attraction between two coupled planar Wigner crystals at finite temperature. This model may facilitate our conceptual understanding of counterion-mediated attractions between (highly) similarly charged planes. By adopting an elastic theory, we show that the total attractive force between them can be (approximately) decomposed into a short-ranged and a long-ranged component. They are evaluated below the melting temperature of the Wigner crystals. In particular, we analyze the temperature dependence of the short-ranged attraction, arising from ground-state configuration, and we argue that thermal fluctuations may drastically reduce its strength. Also, the long-range force agrees exactly with that based on the charge-fluctuation approach. Furthermore, we take quantum contributions to the long-ranged (fluctuation-induced) attraction into account and show how the fractional power law, which scales as d(-7/2) for large interplanar distance d at zero temperature, crosses over to the classical regime d(-3) via an intermediate regime of d(-2).

Children's classification and lexicalization of attractiveness, gender, and race: differential displays of these concepts and relatedness to bias and flexibility.

PubMed

Rennels, Jennifer L; Langlois, Judith H

2014-10-01

Minimal research has examined children's functional use of attractiveness to classify and label others, an important step in the development of children's biases. This study compared 3- to 11-year-olds' classification, sorting, and labeling of others and themselves based on attractiveness, gender, and race and also investigated whether these abilities and other characteristics predicted children's bias and flexibility. Relative to gender and race, children rarely used attractiveness to spontaneously classify people and were less accurate at sorting and labeling others and themselves by attractiveness, suggesting that they have a less explicit concept of attractiveness. Predictors of bias differed depending on domain and assessment method (forced choice or non-forced choice), showing that children's bias is affected by both individual differences and task characteristics. Predictors of flexibility differed based on whether children were assigning positive or negative traits to target children, demonstrating that the valence of attributes is an important consideration when conceptualizing children's flexibility. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Children’s Classification and Lexicalization of Attractiveness, Gender, and Race: Differential Displays of These Concepts and Relatedness to Bias and Flexibility

PubMed Central

Rennels, Jennifer L.; Langlois, Judith H.

2014-01-01

Minimal research has examined children’s functional use of attractiveness to classify and label others, an important step in the development of children’s biases. This study compared 3-to 11-year-olds’ classification, sorting, and labeling of others and themselves based on attractiveness, gender, and race, and investigated whether these abilities and other characteristics predicted children’s bias and flexibility. Relative to gender and race, children rarely used attractiveness to spontaneously classify people and were less accurate at sorting and labeling others and themselves by attractiveness, suggesting they have a less explicit concept of attractiveness. Predictors of bias differed depending upon domain and assessment method (forced choice or non-forced choice), showing that children’s bias is affected by both individual differences and task characteristics. Predictors of flexibility differed based on whether children were assigning positive or negative traits to target children, demonstrating that the valence of attributes is an important consideration when conceptualizing children’s flexibility. PMID:24842583

Parametric Amplification Protocol for Frequency-Modulated Magnetic Resonance Force Microscopy Signals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harrell, Lee; Moore, Eric; Lee, Sanggap; Hickman, Steven; Marohn, John

2011-03-01

We present data and theoretical signal and noise calculations for a protocol using parametric amplification to evade the inherent tradeoff between signal and detector frequency noise in force-gradient magnetic resonance force microscopy signals, which are manifested as a modulated frequency shift of a high- Q microcantilever. Substrate-induced frequency noise has a 1 / f frequency dependence, while detector noise exhibits an f2 dependence on modulation frequency f . Modulation of sample spins at a frequency that minimizes these two contributions typically results in a surface frequency noise power an order of magnitude or more above the thermal limit and may prove incompatible with sample spin relaxation times as well. We show that the frequency modulated force-gradient signal can be used to excite the fundamental resonant mode of the cantilever, resulting in an audio frequency amplitude signal that is readily detected with a low-noise fiber optic interferometer. This technique allows us to modulate the force-gradient signal at a sufficiently high frequency so that substrate-induced frequency noise is evaded without subjecting the signal to the normal f2 detector noise of conventional demodulation.

Direct measurement of sub-Debye-length attraction between oppositely charged surfaces.

PubMed

Kampf, Nir; Ben-Yaakov, Dan; Andelman, David; Safran, S A; Klein, Jacob

2009-09-11

Using a surface force balance with fast video analysis, we have measured directly the attractive forces between oppositely charged solid surfaces (charge densities sigma(+), sigma(-)) across water over the entire range of interaction, in particular, at surface separations D below the Debye screening length lambda(S). At very low salt concentration we find a long-ranged attraction between the surfaces (onset ca. 100 nm), whose variation at D

Magnetically Retained Relief Valve

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johnson, Wesley L. (Inventor); Cook, Charles R. (Inventor)

2017-01-01

A pressure relief valve includes a housing having a fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet. A first structure mounted in the housing and fixed in relation thereto is in magnetic attraction with a second structure coupled to a piston disposed in a portion of the housing. The piston defines a chamber disposed adjacent to the fluid outlet(s) throughout the piston's stroke. The piston includes a sealing element providing a sealing force to prevent flow through the valve. The sealing force is independent of the magnetic attraction force between the first and second structures.

Health human resource planning requires an effective staff retention policy.

PubMed

Rondeau, Kent V

2002-01-01

Planning for health human resources requires us to think about the forces and factors that attract healthcare professionals to their jobs and keep them there. However, the forces for attracting healthcare employees to a job are not the same as those factors that keep them there. Without effective recruitment and retention policies for healthcare professionals, planning initiatives will continue to be ineffective.

Thermosolutal convection in high-aspect-ratio enclosures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wang, L. W.; Chen, C. T.

1988-01-01

Convection in high-aspect-ratio rectangular enclosures with combined horizontal temperature and concentration gradients is studied experimentally. An electrochemical system is employed to impose the concentration gradients. The solutal buoyancy force either opposes or augments the thermal buoyancy force. Due to a large difference between the thermal and solutal diffusion rates the flow possesses double-diffusive characteristics. Various complex flow patterns are observed with different experimental conditions.

Global simulation of the induction heating TSSG process of SiC for the effects of Marangoni convection, free surface deformation and seed rotation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamamoto, Takuya; Okano, Yasunori; Ujihara, Toru; Dost, Sadik

2017-07-01

A global numerical simulation was performed for the induction heating Top-Seeded Solution Growth (TSSG) process of SiC. Analysis included the furnace and growth melt. The effects of interfacial force due to free surface tension gradient, the RF coil-induced electromagnetic body force, buoyancy, melt free surface deformation, and seed rotation were examined. The simulation results showed that the contributions of free surface tension gradient and the electromagnetic body force to the melt flow are significant. Marangoni convection affects the growth process adversely by making the melt flow downward in the region under the seed crystal. This downward flow reduces carbon flux into the seed and consequently lowers growth rate. The effects of free surface deformation and seed rotation, although positive, are not so significant compared with those of free surface tension gradient and the electromagnetic body force. Due to the small size of the melt the contribution of buoyancy is also small.

Study of Chemotaxis and Cell–Cell Interactions in Cancer with Microfluidic Devices

PubMed Central

Sai, Jiqing; Rogers, Matthew; Hockemeyer, Kathryn; Wikswo, John P.; Richmond, Ann

2017-01-01

Microfluidic devices have very broad applications in biological assays from simple chemotaxis assays to much more complicated 3D bioreactors. In this chapter, we describe the design and methods for performing chemotaxis assays using simple microfluidic chemotaxis chambers. With these devices, using real-time video microscopy we can examine the chemotactic responses of neutrophil-like cells under conditions of varying gradient steepness or flow rate and then utilize software programs to calculate the speed and angles of cell migration as gradient steepness and flow are varied. Considering the shearing force generated on the cells by the constant flow that is required to produce and maintain a stable gradient, the trajectories of the cell migration will reflect the net result of both shear force generated by flow and the chemotactic force resulting from the chemokine gradient. Moreover, the effects of mutations in chemokine receptors or the presence of inhibitors of intracellular signals required for gradient sensing can be evaluated in real time. We also describe a method to monitor intracellular signals required for cells to alter cell polarity in response to an abrupt switch in gradient direction. Lastly, we demonstrate an in vitro method for studying the interactions of human cancer cells with human endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and leukocytes, as well as environmental chemokines and cytokines, using 3D microbioreactors that mimic the in vivo microenvironment. PMID:26921940

Depletion forces on circular and elliptical obstacles induced by active matter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leite, L. R.; Lucena, D.; Potiguar, F. Q.; Ferreira, W. P.

2016-12-01

Depletion forces exerted by self-propelled particles on circular and elliptical passive objects are studied using numerical simulations. We show that a bath of active particles can induce repulsive and attractive forces which are sensitive to the shape and orientation of the passive objects (either horizontal or vertical ellipses). The resultant force on the passive objects due to the active particles is studied as a function of the shape and orientation of the passive objects, magnitude of the angular noise, and distance between the passive objects. By increasing the distance between obstacles the magnitude of the repulsive depletion force increases, as long as such a distance is less than one active particle diameter. For longer distances, the magnitude of the force always decreases with increasing distance. We also found that attractive forces may arise for vertical ellipses at high enough area fraction.

Depletion forces on circular and elliptical obstacles induced by active matter.

PubMed

Leite, L R; Lucena, D; Potiguar, F Q; Ferreira, W P

2016-12-01

Depletion forces exerted by self-propelled particles on circular and elliptical passive objects are studied using numerical simulations. We show that a bath of active particles can induce repulsive and attractive forces which are sensitive to the shape and orientation of the passive objects (either horizontal or vertical ellipses). The resultant force on the passive objects due to the active particles is studied as a function of the shape and orientation of the passive objects, magnitude of the angular noise, and distance between the passive objects. By increasing the distance between obstacles the magnitude of the repulsive depletion force increases, as long as such a distance is less than one active particle diameter. For longer distances, the magnitude of the force always decreases with increasing distance. We also found that attractive forces may arise for vertical ellipses at high enough area fraction.

Electrostatics of colloids in mixtures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Samin, Sela; Tsori, Yoav

2013-03-01

We examine the force between two charged colloids immersed in salty aqueous mixtures close to the coexistence curve. In an initially water-poor phase, the short-range solvation-related forces promote the condensation of a water-rich phase at a distance in the range 1-100nm. This leads to a strong long-range attraction between the colloids and hence to a deep metastable or globally stable energetic state. Our calculations are in good agreement with recent experiments on the reversible aggregation of colloids in critical mixtures. The specific nature of the solvation energy of ions can lead to some surprising effects, whereby positively charged surfaces attract while negatively charged surfaces repel. For hydrophilic anions and hydrophobic cations, a repulsive interaction is predicted between oppositely charged and hydrophilic colloids even though both the electrostatic and adsorption forces alone are attractive.

Mechanisms of the intensification of the upwelling-favorable winds during El Niño 1997-1998 in the Peruvian upwelling system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chamorro, Adolfo; Echevin, Vincent; Colas, François; Oerder, Vera; Tam, Jorge; Quispe-Ccalluari, Carlos

2018-01-01

The physical processes driving the wind intensification in a coastal band of 100 km off Peru during the intense 1997-1998 El Niño (EN) event were studied using a regional atmospheric model. A simulation performed for the period 1994-2000 reproduced the coastal wind response to local sea surface temperature (SST) forcing and large scale atmospheric conditions. The model, evaluated with satellite data, represented well the intensity, seasonal and interannual variability of alongshore (i.e. NW-SE) winds. An alongshore momentum budget showed that the pressure gradient was the dominant force driving the surface wind acceleration. The pressure gradient tended to accelerate the coastal wind, while turbulent vertical mixing decelerated it. A quasi-linear relation between surface wind and pressure gradient anomalies was found. Alongshore pressure gradient anomalies were caused by a greater increase in near-surface air temperature off the northern coast than off the southern coast, associated with the inhomogeneous SST warming. Vertical profiles of wind, mixing coefficient, and momentum trends showed that the surface wind intensification was not caused by the increase of turbulence in the planetary boundary layer. Moreover, the temperature inversion in the vertical mitigated the development of pressure gradient due to air convection during part of the event. Sensitivity experiments allowed to isolate the respective impacts of the local SST forcing and large scale condition on the coastal wind intensification. It was primarily driven by the local SST forcing whereas large scale variability associated with the South Pacific Anticyclone modulated its effects. Examination of other EN events using reanalysis data confirmed that intensifications of alongshore wind off Peru were associated with SST alongshore gradient anomalies, as during the 1997-1998 event.

On the use of high-gradient magnetic force field in capturing airborne particles

DOE PAGES

Cheng, Mengdawn; Murphy, Bart L.; Moon, Ji Won; ...

2018-06-01

Airborne particles in the environment are generally smaller than a couple of microns. Use of magnetic force to collect aerosol particles thus has not been popular as the other means. There are billions of airborne particles emitted by a host of man-made sources with the particle size smaller than 1 µm and possess some magnetic susceptibility. We are thus interested in the use of high-gradient magnetic collection to extract the magnetic fraction in an aerosol population. Here in this study, we reported that the magnetic force is the dominant force in collection of ferromagnetic particles of mobility equivalent size largermore » than or equal to 50 nm in a high-gradient permanent-magnetic aerosol collector, while the diffusiophoretic force is responsible for particles smaller than 10 nm. Both forces compete for particles in between these two sizes in the magnetic aerosol collector designed for this study. To enable a wide-range effective collection of aerosol particles across entire size spectrum from a few nanometers to tens of a micron, the ORNL-designed high-gradient magnetic collector would require the use of an engineered matrix. Thus, the matrix design for a specific application becomes application specific. Irrespective of the collection efficiency, the use of permanent magnets to collect magnetic particles is feasible and also highly selective because it tunes into the magnetic susceptibility of the particles as well as the size. Lastly, the use of permanent magnets enables the collector to be operated at a minimal power requirement, which is a critical factor in long-term field operation.« less

On the use of high-gradient magnetic force field in capturing airborne particles

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cheng, Mengdawn; Murphy, Bart L.; Moon, Ji Won

Airborne particles in the environment are generally smaller than a couple of microns. Use of magnetic force to collect aerosol particles thus has not been popular as the other means. There are billions of airborne particles emitted by a host of man-made sources with the particle size smaller than 1 µm and possess some magnetic susceptibility. We are thus interested in the use of high-gradient magnetic collection to extract the magnetic fraction in an aerosol population. Here in this study, we reported that the magnetic force is the dominant force in collection of ferromagnetic particles of mobility equivalent size largermore » than or equal to 50 nm in a high-gradient permanent-magnetic aerosol collector, while the diffusiophoretic force is responsible for particles smaller than 10 nm. Both forces compete for particles in between these two sizes in the magnetic aerosol collector designed for this study. To enable a wide-range effective collection of aerosol particles across entire size spectrum from a few nanometers to tens of a micron, the ORNL-designed high-gradient magnetic collector would require the use of an engineered matrix. Thus, the matrix design for a specific application becomes application specific. Irrespective of the collection efficiency, the use of permanent magnets to collect magnetic particles is feasible and also highly selective because it tunes into the magnetic susceptibility of the particles as well as the size. Lastly, the use of permanent magnets enables the collector to be operated at a minimal power requirement, which is a critical factor in long-term field operation.« less

Motion Driven by Strain Gradient Fields

PubMed Central

Wang, Chao; Chen, Shaohua

2015-01-01

A new driving mechanism for direction-controlled motion of nano-scale objects is proposed, based on a model of stretching a graphene strip linked to a rigid base with linear springs of identical stiffness. We find that the potential energy difference induced by the strain gradient field in the graphene strip substrate can generate sufficient force to overcome the static and kinetic friction forces between the nano-flake and the strip substrate, resulting in the nanoscale flake motion in the direction of gradient reduction. The dynamics of the nano-flake can be manipulated by tuning the stiffness of linear springs, stretching velocity and the flake size. This fundamental law of directional motion induced by strain gradient could be very useful for promising designs of nanoscale manipulation, transportation and smart surfaces. PMID:26323603

Wall Climbing Micro Ground Vehicle (MGV)

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-09-01

magnetic attraction, (2) vacuum suction, (3) bio-mimetic techniques such as gecko pads, and (4) adhesion forces generated by aerodynamic principles, also...large attractive forces, but are limited to ferrous surfaces. Vacuum suction, such as in suction cups, also has the ability to create large adhesion...clean. Vortex adhesion does not require a perfect seal like vacuum suction and has the ability to travel over porous surfaces such as brick and

Attractive particle interaction forces and packing density of fine glass powders

PubMed Central

Parteli, Eric J. R.; Schmidt, Jochen; Blümel, Christina; Wirth, Karl-Ernst; Peukert, Wolfgang; Pöschel, Thorsten

2014-01-01

We study the packing of fine glass powders of mean particle diameter in the range (4–52) μm both experimentally and by numerical DEM simulations. We obtain quantitative agreement between the experimental and numerical results, if both types of attractive forces of particle interaction, adhesion and non-bonded van der Waals forces are taken into account. Our results suggest that considering only viscoelastic and adhesive forces in DEM simulations may lead to incorrect numerical predictions of the behavior of fine powders. Based on the results from simulations and experiments, we propose a mathematical expression to estimate the packing fraction of fine polydisperse powders as a function of the average particle size. PMID:25178812

What are the driving forces for water lifting in the xylem conduit?

PubMed

Zimmermann, Ulrich; Schneider, Heike; Wegner, Lars H; Wagner, Hans-Jürgen; Szimtenings, Michael; Haase, Axel; Bentrup, Friedrich-Wilhelm

2002-03-01

After Renner had shown convincingly in 1925 that the transpirational water loss generates tensions larger than 0.1 MPa (i.e. negative pressures) in the xylem of cut leafy twigs the Cohesion Theory proposed by Böhm, Askenasy, Dixon and Joly at the end of the 19th century was immediately accepted by plant physiologists. Introduction of the pressure chamber technique by Scholander et al. in 1965 enforced the general belief that tension is the only driving force for water lifting although substantial criticism regarding the technique and/or the Cohesion Theory was published by several authors. As typical for scientific disciplines, the advent of minimal- and non-invasive techniques in the last decade as well as the development of a new, reliable method for xylem sap sampling have challenged this view. Today, xylem pressure gradients, potentials, ion concentrations and volume flows as well as cell turgor pressure gradients can be monitored online in intact transpiring higher plants, and within a given physiological context by using the pressure probe technique and high-resolution NMR imaging techniques, respectively. Application of the pressure probe technique to transpiring plants has shown that negative absolute pressures (down to - 0.6 MPa) and pressure gradients can exist temporarily in the xylem conduit, but that the magnitude and (occasionally) direction of gradients contrasts frequently the belief that tension is the only driving force. This seems to be particularly the case for plants faced with problems of height, drought, freezing and salinity as well as with cavitation of the tensile water. Reviewing the current data base shows that other forces come into operation when exclusively tension fails to lift water against gravity due to environmental conditions. Possible candidates are longitudinal cellular and xylem osmotic pressure gradients, axial potential gradients in the vessels as well as gel- and gas bubble-supported interfacial gradients. The multiforce theory overcomes the problem of the Cohesion Theory that life on earth depends on water being in a highly metastable state.

The truncated conjugate gradient (TCG), a non-iterative/fixed-cost strategy for computing polarization in molecular dynamics: Fast evaluation of analytical forces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aviat, Félix; Lagardère, Louis; Piquemal, Jean-Philip

2017-10-01

In a recent paper [F. Aviat et al., J. Chem. Theory Comput. 13, 180-190 (2017)], we proposed the Truncated Conjugate Gradient (TCG) approach to compute the polarization energy and forces in polarizable molecular simulations. The method consists in truncating the conjugate gradient algorithm at a fixed predetermined order leading to a fixed computational cost and can thus be considered "non-iterative." This gives the possibility to derive analytical forces avoiding the usual energy conservation (i.e., drifts) issues occurring with iterative approaches. A key point concerns the evaluation of the analytical gradients, which is more complex than that with a usual solver. In this paper, after reviewing the present state of the art of polarization solvers, we detail a viable strategy for the efficient implementation of the TCG calculation. The complete cost of the approach is then measured as it is tested using a multi-time step scheme and compared to timings using usual iterative approaches. We show that the TCG methods are more efficient than traditional techniques, making it a method of choice for future long molecular dynamics simulations using polarizable force fields where energy conservation matters. We detail the various steps required for the implementation of the complete method by software developers.

The truncated conjugate gradient (TCG), a non-iterative/fixed-cost strategy for computing polarization in molecular dynamics: Fast evaluation of analytical forces.

PubMed

Aviat, Félix; Lagardère, Louis; Piquemal, Jean-Philip

2017-10-28

In a recent paper [F. Aviat et al., J. Chem. Theory Comput. 13, 180-190 (2017)], we proposed the Truncated Conjugate Gradient (TCG) approach to compute the polarization energy and forces in polarizable molecular simulations. The method consists in truncating the conjugate gradient algorithm at a fixed predetermined order leading to a fixed computational cost and can thus be considered "non-iterative." This gives the possibility to derive analytical forces avoiding the usual energy conservation (i.e., drifts) issues occurring with iterative approaches. A key point concerns the evaluation of the analytical gradients, which is more complex than that with a usual solver. In this paper, after reviewing the present state of the art of polarization solvers, we detail a viable strategy for the efficient implementation of the TCG calculation. The complete cost of the approach is then measured as it is tested using a multi-time step scheme and compared to timings using usual iterative approaches. We show that the TCG methods are more efficient than traditional techniques, making it a method of choice for future long molecular dynamics simulations using polarizable force fields where energy conservation matters. We detail the various steps required for the implementation of the complete method by software developers.

Study of adhesion and friction properties on a nanoparticle gradient surface: transition from JKR to DMT contact mechanics.

PubMed

Ramakrishna, Shivaprakash N; Nalam, Prathima C; Clasohm, Lucy Y; Spencer, Nicholas D

2013-01-08

We have previously investigated the dependence of adhesion on nanometer-scale surface roughness by employing a roughness gradient. In this study, we correlate the obtained adhesion forces on nanometer-scale rough surfaces to their frictional properties. A roughness gradient with varying silica particle (diameter ≈ 12 nm) density was prepared, and adhesion and frictional forces were measured across the gradient surface in perfluorodecalin by means of atomic force microscopy with a polyethylene colloidal probe. Similarly to the pull-off measurements, the frictional forces initially showed a reduction with decreasing particle density and later an abrupt increase as the colloidal sphere began to touch the flat substrate beneath, at very low particle densities. The friction-load relation is found to depend on the real contact area (A(real)) between the colloid probe and the underlying particles. At high particle density, the colloidal sphere undergoes large deformations over several nanoparticles, and the contact adhesion (JKR type) dominates the frictional response. However, at low particle density (before the colloidal probe is in contact with the underlying surface), the colloidal sphere is suspended by a few particles only, resulting in local deformations of the colloid sphere, with the frictional response to the applied load being dominated by long-range, noncontact (DMT-type) interactions with the substrate beneath.

Luminosity Limitations of Linear Colliders Based on Plasma Acceleration

DOE PAGES

Lebedev, Valeri; Burov, Alexey; Nagaitsev, Sergei

2016-01-01

Particle acceleration in plasma creates a possibility of exceptionally high accelerating gradients and appears as a very attractive option for future linear electron-positron and/or photon-photon colliders. These high accelerating gradients were already demonstrated in a number of experiments. Furthermore, a linear collider requires exceptionally high beam brightness which still needs to be demonstrated. In this article we discuss major phenomena which limit the beam brightness of accelerated beam and, consequently, the collider luminosity.

Measurement of Spindle Rigidity by using a Magnet Loader

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamazaki, Taku; Matsubara, Atsushi; Fujita, Tomoya; Muraki, Toshiyuki; Asano, Kohei; Kawashima, Kazuyuki

The static rigidity of a rotating spindle in the radial direction is investigated in this research. A magnetic loading device (magnet loader) has been developed for the measurement. The magnet loader, which has coils and iron cores, generates the electromagnetic force and attracts a dummy tool attached to the spindle. However, the eddy current is generated in the dummy tool with the spindle rotation and reduces the attractive force at high spindle speed. In order to understand the magnetic flux and eddy current in the dummy tool, the electromagnetic field analysis by FEM was carried out. Grooves on the attraction surface of the dummy tool were designed to cut the eddy current flow. The dimension of the groove were decided based on the FEM analysis, and the designed tool were manufactured and tested. The test result shows that the designed tool successfully reduces the eddy current and recovers the attractive force. By using the magnet loader and the grooved tool, the spindle rigidity can be measured when the spindle rotates with a speed up to 10,000 min-1.

Analysis of bacterial migration. 2: Studies with multiple attractant gradients

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Strauss, I.; Frymier, P.D.; Hahn, C.M.

1995-02-01

Many motile bacteria exhibit chemotaxis, the ability to bias their random motion toward or away from increasing concentrations of chemical substances which benefit or inhibit their survival, respectively. Since bacteria encounter numerous chemical concentration gradients simultaneously in natural surroundings, it is necessary to know quantitatively how a bacterial population responds in the presence of more than one chemical stimulus to develop predictive mathematical models describing bacterial migration in natural systems. This work evaluates three hypothetical models describing the integration of chemical signals from multiple stimuli: high sensitivity, maximum signal, and simple additivity. An expression for the tumbling probability for individualmore » stimuli is modified according to the proposed models and incorporated into the cell balance equation for a 1-D attractant gradient. Random motility and chemotactic sensitivity coefficients, required input parameters for the model, are measured for single stimulus responses. Theoretical predictions with the three signal integration models are compared to the net chemotactic response of Escherichia coli to co- and antidirectional gradients of D-fucose and [alpha]-methylaspartate in the stopped-flow diffusion chamber assay. Results eliminate the high-sensitivity model and favor the simple additivity over the maximum signal. None of the simple models, however, accurately predict the observed behavior, suggesting a more complex model with more steps in the signal processing mechanism is required to predict responses to multiple stimuli.« less

Black Holes and the Information Paradox

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

't Hooft, Gerard

In electromagnetism, like charges repel, opposite charges attract. A remarkable feature of the gravitational force is that like masses attract. This gives rise to an instability: the more mass you have, the stronger the attractive force, until an inevitable implosion follows, leading to a "black hole". It is in the black hole where an apparent conflict between Einstein's General Relativity and the laws of Quantum Mechanics becomes manifest. Most physicists now agree that a black hole should be described by a Schrödinger equation, with a Hermitean Hamiltonian, but this requires a modification of general relativity. Both General Relativity and Quantum mechanics are shaking on their foundations.

Nonuniform discharge currents in active plasma lenses

DOE PAGES

van Tilborg, J.; Barber, S. K.; Tsai, H. -E.; ...

2017-03-24

Active plasma lenses have attracted interest in novel accelerator applications due to their ability to provide large-field-gradient (short focal length), tunable, and radially symmetric focusing for charged particle beams. However, if the discharge current is not flowing uniformly as a function of radius, one can expect a radially varying field gradient as well as potential emittance degradation. We have investigated this experimentally for a 1-mm-diameter active plasma lens. The measured near-axis field gradient is approximately 35% larger than expected for a uniform current distribution, and at overfocusing currents ring-shaped electron beams are observed. These observations are explained by simulations.

Nonuniform discharge currents in active plasma lenses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Tilborg, J.; Barber, S. K.; Tsai, H.-E.; Swanson, K. K.; Steinke, S.; Geddes, C. G. R.; Gonsalves, A. J.; Schroeder, C. B.; Esarey, E.; Bulanov, S. S.; Bobrova, N. A.; Sasorov, P. V.; Leemans, W. P.

2017-03-01

Active plasma lenses have attracted interest in novel accelerator applications due to their ability to provide large-field-gradient (short focal length), tunable, and radially symmetric focusing for charged particle beams. However, if the discharge current is not flowing uniformly as a function of radius, one can expect a radially varying field gradient as well as potential emittance degradation. We have investigated this experimentally for a 1-mm-diameter active plasma lens. The measured near-axis field gradient is approximately 35% larger than expected for a uniform current distribution, and at overfocusing currents ring-shaped electron beams are observed. These observations are explained by simulations.

A review of the salt-gradient solar pond technology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lin, E. I. H.

1982-01-01

The state of the salt-gradient solar pond technology is reviewed. Highlights of findings and experiences from existing ponds to data are presented, and the behavior, energy yield, operational features, and economics of solar ponds are examined. It is concluded that salt-gradient solar ponds represent a technically feasible, environmentally benign, and economically attractive energy producing alternative. In order to bring this emerging technology to maturity, however, much research and development effort remains to be undertaken. Specific R&D areas requiring the attention and action of technical workers and decision-makers are discussed, both from the perspectives of smaller, thermally-oriented ponds and larger, electricity generating ponds.

The mean Evershed flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, W.-R.

1984-09-01

The paper gives a theoretical analysis of the overall characteristics of the Evershed flow (one of the main features of sunspots), with particular attention given to its outward flow from the umbra in the photosphere, reaching a maximum somewhere in the penumbra, and decreasing rapidly further out, and its inward flow of a comparable magnitude in chromosphere. Because the inertial force of the flow is small, the relevant dynamic process can be divided into a base state and a perturbation. The base-state solution yields the equilibrium relations between the pressure gradient, the Lorentz force, and gravity, and the flow law. The perturbation describes the force driving the Evershed flow. Since the pressure gradient in the base state is already in equilibrium with the Lorentz force and the gravity, the driving force of the mean Evershed flow is small.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chaudhari, Mangesh I.; Rempe, Susan B.; Asthagiri, D.

The role of solute attractive forces on hydrophobic interactions is studied by coordinated development of theory and simulation results for Ar atoms in water. In this paper, we present a concise derivation of the local molecular field (LMF) theory for the effects of solute attractive forces on hydrophobic interactions, a derivation that clarifies the close relation of LMF theory to the EXP approximation applied to this problem long ago. The simulation results show that change from purely repulsive atomic solute interactions to include realistic attractive interactions diminishes the strength of hydrophobic bonds. For the Ar–Ar rdfs considered pointwise, the numericalmore » results for the effects of solute attractive forces on hydrophobic interactions are opposite in sign and larger in magnitude than predicted by LMF theory. That comparison is discussed from the point of view of quasichemical theory, and it is suggested that the first reason for this difference is the incomplete evaluation within LMF theory of the hydration energy of the Ar pair. With a recent suggestion for the system-size extrapolation of the required correlation function integrals, the Ar–Ar rdfs permit evaluation of osmotic second virial coefficients B 2. Those B 2’s also show that incorporation of attractive interactions leads to more positive (repulsive) values. With attractive interactions in play, B 2 can change from positive to negative values with increasing temperatures. Furthermore, this is consistent with the puzzling suggestions of decades ago that B 2 ≈ 0 for intermediate cases of temperature or solute size. In all cases here, B 2 becomes more attractive with increasing temperature.« less

Generation of a wakefield undulator in plasma with transverse density gradient

DOE PAGES

Stupakov, Gennady V.

2017-11-30

Here, we show that a short relativistic electron beam propagating in a plasma with a density gradient perpendicular to the direction of motion generates a wakefield in which a witness bunch experiences a transverse force. A density gradient oscillating along the beam path would create a periodically varying force$-$an undulator, with an estimated strength of the equivalent magnetic field more than ten Tesla. This opens an avenue for creation of a high-strength, short-period undulators, which eventually may lead to all-plasma, free electron lasers where a plasma wakefield acceleration is naturally combined with a plasma undulator in a unifying, compact setup.

Generation of a wakefield undulator in plasma with transverse density gradient

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Stupakov, Gennady V.

Here, we show that a short relativistic electron beam propagating in a plasma with a density gradient perpendicular to the direction of motion generates a wakefield in which a witness bunch experiences a transverse force. A density gradient oscillating along the beam path would create a periodically varying force$-$an undulator, with an estimated strength of the equivalent magnetic field more than ten Tesla. This opens an avenue for creation of a high-strength, short-period undulators, which eventually may lead to all-plasma, free electron lasers where a plasma wakefield acceleration is naturally combined with a plasma undulator in a unifying, compact setup.

Computational modeling of magnetic nanoparticle targeting to stent surface under high gradient field

PubMed Central

Wang, Shunqiang; Zhou, Yihua; Tan, Jifu; Xu, Jiang; Yang, Jie; Liu, Yaling

2014-01-01

A multi-physics model was developed to study the delivery of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) to the stent-implanted region under an external magnetic field. The model is firstly validated by experimental work in literature. Then, effects of external magnetic field strength, magnetic particle size, and flow velocity on MNPs’ targeting and binding have been analyzed through a parametric study. Two new dimensionless numbers were introduced to characterize relative effects of Brownian motion (BM), magnetic force induced particle motion, and convective blood flow on MNPs motion. It was found that larger magnetic field strength, bigger MNP size, and slower flow velocity increase the capture efficiency of MNPs. The distribution of captured MNPs on the vessel along axial and azimuthal directions was also discussed. Results showed that the MNPs density decreased exponentially along axial direction after one-dose injection while it was uniform along azimuthal direction in the whole stented region (averaged over all sections). For the beginning section of the stented region, the density ratio distribution of captured MNPs along azimuthal direction is center-symmetrical, corresponding to the center-symmetrical distribution of magnetic force in that section. Two different generation mechanisms are revealed to form four main attraction regions. These results could serve as guidelines to design a better magnetic drug delivery system. PMID:24653546

Vacuum force

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, Yongquan

2015-03-01

To study on vacuum force, we must clear what is vacuum, vacuum is a space do not have any air and also ray. There is not exist an absolute the vacuum of space. The vacuum of space is relative, so that the vacuum force is relative. There is a certain that vacuum vacuum space exists. In fact, the vacuum space is relative, if the two spaces compared to the existence of relative vacuum, there must exist a vacuum force, and the direction of the vacuum force point to the vacuum region. Any object rotates and radiates. Rotate bend radiate- centripetal, gravity produced, relative gravity; non gravity is the vacuum force. Gravity is centripetal, is a trend that the objects who attracted wants to Centripetal, or have been do Centripetal movement. Any object moves, so gravity makes the object curve movement, that is to say, the radiation range curve movement must be in the gravitational objects, gravity must be existed in non vacuum region, and make the object who is in the region of do curve movement (for example: The earth moves around the sun), or final attracted in the form gravitational objects, and keep relatively static with attract object. (for example: objects on the earth moves but can't reach the first cosmic speed).

Peeling off an elastica from a smooth attractive substrate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oyharcabal, Xabier; Frisch, Thomas

2005-03-01

Using continuum mechanics, we study theoretically the unbinding of an inextensible rod with free ends attracted by a smooth substrate and submitted to a vertical force. We use the elastica model in a medium-range van der Waals potential. We numerically solve a nonlinear boundary value problem and obtain the force-stretching relation at zero temperature. We obtain the critical force for which the rod unbinds from the substrate as a function of three dimensionless parameters, and we find two different regimes of adhesion. We study analytically the contact potential case as the van der Waals radius goes to zero.

Tetramers of Two Heavy and Two Light Bosons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Naidon, Pascal

2018-07-01

This article considers the bound states of two heavy and two light bosons, when a short-range force attracts the bosons of different mass, and a short-range force repels the light bosons. The existence of such four-body bound states results from the competition between these two forces. For a given strength of the attraction, the critical strength of the repulsion necessary to unbind the four particles is calculated. This study is motivated by the experimental realisation of impurity atoms immersed in an atomic Bose-Einstein condensate, and aims at determining in which regime only one boson contributes to binding two impurities.

Eigenvalue Attraction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Movassagh, Ramis

2016-02-01

We prove that the complex conjugate (c.c.) eigenvalues of a smoothly varying real matrix attract (Eq. 15). We offer a dynamical perspective on the motion and interaction of the eigenvalues in the complex plane, derive their governing equations and discuss applications. C.c. pairs closest to the real axis, or those that are ill-conditioned, attract most strongly and can collide to become exactly real. As an application we consider random perturbations of a fixed matrix M. If M is Normal, the total expected force on any eigenvalue is shown to be only the attraction of its c.c. (Eq. 24) and when M is circulant the strength of interaction can be related to the power spectrum of white noise. We extend this by calculating the expected force (Eq. 41) for real stochastic processes with zero-mean and independent intervals. To quantify the dominance of the c.c. attraction, we calculate the variance of other forces. We apply the results to the Hatano-Nelson model and provide other numerical illustrations. It is our hope that the simple dynamical perspective herein might help better understanding of the aggregation and low density of the eigenvalues of real random matrices on and near the real line respectively. In the appendix we provide a Matlab code for plotting the trajectories of the eigenvalues.

Statistics of velocity gradients in two-dimensional Navier-Stokes and ocean turbulence.

PubMed

Schorghofer, Norbert; Gille, Sarah T

2002-02-01

Probability density functions and conditional averages of velocity gradients derived from upper ocean observations are compared with results from forced simulations of the two-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations. Ocean data are derived from TOPEX satellite altimeter measurements. The simulations use rapid forcing on large scales, characteristic of surface winds. The probability distributions of transverse velocity derivatives from the ocean observations agree with the forced simulations, although they differ from unforced simulations reported elsewhere. The distribution and cross correlation of velocity derivatives provide clear evidence that large coherent eddies play only a minor role in generating the observed statistics.

A silicon-nanowire memory driven by optical gradient force induced bistability

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dong, B.; Institute of Microelectronics, A*STAR; Cai, H., E-mail: caih@ime.a-star.edu.sg

2015-12-28

In this paper, a bistable optical-driven silicon-nanowire memory is demonstrated, which employs ring resonator to generate optical gradient force over a doubly clamped silicon-nanowire. Two stable deformation positions of a doubly clamped silicon-nanowire represent two memory states (“0” and “1”) and can be set/reset by modulating the light intensity (<3 mW) based on the optical force induced bistability. The time response of the optical-driven memory is less than 250 ns. It has applications in the fields of all optical communication, quantum computing, and optomechanical circuits.

Transformations of fluxes and forces describing the simultaneous transport of water and heat in unsaturated porous media

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Raats, P.A.C.

1975-12-01

Balances of mass for the water in N distinct phases and a balance of heat for the medium as a whole were formulated. Following Philip and de Vries, it was assumed that the flux of water in each phase is proportional to the gradient of the pressure in that phase and that the diffusive component of the flux of heat is proportional to the gradient of the temperature. Clapeyron equations were used to express the gradient of the pressure in any phase in terms of the gradient of the pressure in a reference state and of the temperature. The referencemore » state may be the water in one of the phases or the water in some measuring device such as a tensiometer or a psychrometer. Expressions for the total flux of water and for the diffusive flux of heat plus the convective flux of heat associated with the conversion from any phase to the reference state were shown to satisfy the onsager reciprocal relations. A theorem due to Meixner was used to delineate the class of fluxes and forces that preserves these relations. In particular, it was shown that if the gradients of water content and temperature are used as the driving forces, the onsager relations are no longer satisfied.« less

Thermal Motion and Forced Migration of Colloidal Particles Generate Hydrostatic Pressure in Solvent

PubMed Central

Hammel, H. T.; Scholander, P. F.

1973-01-01

A colloidal solution of ferrite particles in an osmometer has been used to demonstrate that the property that propels water across the semipermeable membrane is the decrease in hydrostatic pressure in the water of the solution. A magnetic field gradient directed so as to force the ferrite particles away from the semipermeable membrane of the osmometer and toward the free surface of the solution enhanced the colloidal osmotic pressure. The enhancement of this pressure was always exactly equal to the augmentation of the pressure as measured by the outward force of the particles, against the area of the free surface. Contrariwise, directing the magnetic field gradient so as to force the ferrite particles away from the free surface and toward the semipermeable membrane diminished the colloidal osmotic pressure of the solution. For a sufficiently forceful field gradient, the initial colloidal osmotic pressure could be negative, followed by an equilibrium pressure approaching zero regardless of the force of the particles against the membrane. Thus, the osmotic pressure of a solution is to be attributed to the pressure in the solvent generated in opposition to the pressure of the solute particles caused by their interaction with the free surface (Brownian motion and/or an external field force), or by their viscous shear when they migrate through the solvent, or both. PMID:16592046

Pressure anisotropy and radial stress balance in the Jovian neutral sheet

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Paranicas, C. P.; Mauk, B. H.; Krimigis, S. M.

1991-01-01

By examining particle and magnetic field data from the Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft, signatures were found indicating that the (greater than about 28 keV) particle pressure parallel to the magnetic field is greater than the pressure perpendicular to the field within the nightside neutral sheet (three nightside neutral sheet crossings, with favorable experimental conditions, were used). By incorporating the pressure anisotropy into the calculation of radial forces within the hightside neutral sheet, it is found that (1) force balance is approximately achieved and (2) the anisotropy force term provides the largest contribution of the other particle forces considered (pressure gradients and the corotation centrifugal force). With regard to the problem of understanding the balance of radial forces within the dayside neutral sheet (McNutt, 1984; Mauk and Krimigis, 1987), the nightside pressure anisotropy force is larger than the dayside pressure gradient forces at equivalent radial distances; however, a full accounting of the dayside regions remains to be achieved.

Consequences of ions and pH on the supramolecular organization of sphingomyelin and sphingomyelin/cholesterol bilayers.

PubMed

Chemin, Caroline; Bourgaux, Claudie; Péan, Jean-Manuel; Pabst, Georg; Wüthrich, Patrick; Couvreur, Patrick; Ollivon, Michel

2008-06-01

For drug delivery purpose the anticancer drug S12363 was loaded into ESM/Chol-liposomes using either a pH or an ammonium gradient. Association between the drug and the liposome depends markedly on the liposome membrane structure. Thus, ESM and ESM/Chol bilayer organization had been characterized by coupled DSC and XRDT as a function of both cholesterol concentration and aqueous medium composition. ESM bilayers exhibited a ripple lamellar gel phase P(beta') below the melting temperature and adopted a L(beta)-like gel phase upon Chol insertion. Supramolecular organization of ESM and ESM/Chol bilayers was not modified by citrate buffer or ammonium sulfate solution whatever the pH (3< or = pH < or =7). Nevertheless, in ESM bilayer, ammonium sulfate salt induced a peculiar organization of head groups, leading to irregular d-spacing and weakly correlated bilayers. Moreover, in the presence of salts, a weakening of van der Waals attraction forces was seen and led to a swelling of the water layer.

Temperature Effect on Ionic Current and ssDNA Transport through Nanopores.

PubMed

Payet, Linda; Martinho, Marlène; Merstorf, Céline; Pastoriza-Gallego, Manuela; Pelta, Juan; Viasnoff, Virgile; Auvray, Loïc; Muthukumar, Murugappan; Mathé, Jérôme

2015-10-20

We have investigated the role of electrostatic interactions in the transport of nucleic acids and ions through nanopores. The passage of DNA through nanopores has so far been conjectured to involve a free-energy barrier for entry, followed by a downhill translocation where the driving voltage accelerates the polymer. We have tested the validity of this conjecture by using two toxins, α-hemolysin and aerolysin, which differ in their shape, size, and charge. The characteristic timescales in each toxin as a function of temperature show that the entry barrier is ∼15 kBT and the translocation barrier is ∼35 kBT, although the electrical force in the latter step is much stronger. Resolution of this fact, using a theoretical model, reveals that the attraction between DNA and the charges inside the barrel of the pore is the most dominant factor in determining the translocation speed and not merely the driving electrochemical potential gradient. Copyright © 2015 Biophysical Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Temperature Effect on Ionic Current and ssDNA Transport through Nanopores

PubMed Central

Payet, Linda; Martinho, Marlène; Merstorf, Céline; Pastoriza-Gallego, Manuela; Pelta, Juan; Viasnoff, Virgile; Auvray, Loïc; Muthukumar, Murugappan; Mathé, Jérôme

2015-01-01

We have investigated the role of electrostatic interactions in the transport of nucleic acids and ions through nanopores. The passage of DNA through nanopores has so far been conjectured to involve a free-energy barrier for entry, followed by a downhill translocation where the driving voltage accelerates the polymer. We have tested the validity of this conjecture by using two toxins, α-hemolysin and aerolysin, which differ in their shape, size, and charge. The characteristic timescales in each toxin as a function of temperature show that the entry barrier is ∼15kBT and the translocation barrier is ∼35kBT, although the electrical force in the latter step is much stronger. Resolution of this fact, using a theoretical model, reveals that the attraction between DNA and the charges inside the barrel of the pore is the most dominant factor in determining the translocation speed and not merely the driving electrochemical potential gradient. PMID:26488651

Mutations of Electrons as Constituents of Hadrons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Driscoll, R. B.

1997-04-01

Conjecture (C) 1: Coulomb-charged constituents of electron (e) are attracted to its barycentre by lepto-strong force F=K/r^2+f; f is stably perturbative for r < the "radius" of e. An exterior magnetic field (MF) with gradient (G) secularly perturbs the eccentricities but not the energies of the constituents' orbits, changing the spin (s) and magnetic moment (μ) of e. (C) 2: F coheres two or more e's dynamically with r approximately equal to the "radius" of e. The resulting MF and G at each e oscillate. Stable values of s and μ result for each e which differs from the atomic values. Binding energies change the masses of the e's. A hadron results. (C) 3: An e similarly may bind to a proton to form a Rutherford- Santilli neutron. The proton is negligibly mutated.(References: H. Dehmelt, Science 247, 539 (1990); T.E. Phipps, Jr., Heretical Verities (Classic Non-fiction Library, Urbana, 1986); R.M. Santilli, Hadronic Mechanics (Ukrainian Academy of Sciences, Kiev, 1995 and 1996), 3 volumes.)

Forced Attention to Specific Applicant Qualifications: Impact on Physical Attractiveness and Sex of Applicant Biases.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cann, Arnie; And Others

1981-01-01

Undergraduates evaluated the qualifications of an attractive, average, or unattractive male or female applicant. Ratings of specific qualifications preceded or followed an overall and hiring decision rating. The order variable influenced ratings of specific qualifications but not the overall or hiring decision. Male and attractive applicants were…

A grouping method based on grid density and relationship for crowd evacuation simulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Yan; Liu, Hong; Liu, Guang-peng; Li, Liang; Moore, Philip; Hu, Bin

2017-05-01

Psychological factors affect the movement of people in the competitive or panic mode of evacuation, in which the density of pedestrians is relatively large and the distance among them is small. In this paper, a crowd is divided into groups according to their social relations to simulate the actual movement of crowd evacuation more realistically and increase the attractiveness of the group based on social force model. The force of group attraction is the synthesis of two forces; one is the attraction of the individuals generated by their social relations to gather, and the other is that of the group leader to the individuals within the group to ensure that the individuals follow the leader. The synthetic force determines the trajectory of individuals. The evacuation process is demonstrated using the improved social force model. In the improved social force model, the individuals with close social relations gradually present a closer and coordinated action while following the leader. In this paper, a grouping algorithm is proposed based on grid density and relationship via computer simulation to illustrate the features of the improved social force model. The definition of the parameters involved in the algorithm is given, and the effect of relational value on the grouping is tested. Reasonable numbers of grids and weights are selected. The effectiveness of the algorithm is shown through simulation experiments. A simulation platform is also established using the proposed grouping algorithm and the improved social force model for crowd evacuation simulation.

Coalescence-Induced Jumping of Nanodroplets on Textured Surfaces.

PubMed

Gao, Shan; Liao, Quanwen; Liu, Wei; Liu, Zhichun

2018-01-04

Conducting experimental studies on nanoscale droplet coalescence using traditional microscopes is a challenging research topic, and views differ as to whether the spontaneous removal can occur in the coalescing nanodroplets. Here, a molecular dynamics simulation is carried out to investigate the coalescence process of two equally sized nanodroplets. On the basis of atomic coordinates, we compute the liquid bridge radii for various cases, which is described by a power law of spreading time, and these nanodroplets undergo coalescence in the inertially limited-viscous regime. Moreover, coalescence-induced jumping is also possible for the nanodroplets, and the attraction force between surface and water molecules plays a crucial role in this process, where the merged nanodroplets prefer to jump away from those surfaces with lower attraction force. When the solid-liquid interaction intensity and surface structure parameters are varied, the attraction force is shown to decrease with decreasing surface wettability intensity and solid fraction.

Semiphenomenological model for gas-liquid phase transitions.

PubMed

Benilov, E S; Benilov, M S

2016-03-01

We examine a rarefied gas with inter-molecular attraction. It is argued that the attraction force amplifies random density fluctuations by pulling molecules from lower-density regions into high-density regions and thus may give rise to an instability. To describe this effect, we use a kinetic equation where the attraction force is taken into account in a way similar to how electromagnetic forces in plasma are treated in the Vlasov model. It is demonstrated that the instability occurs when the temperature T is lower than a certain threshold value T(s) depending on the gas density. It is further shown that, even if T is only marginally lower than T(s), the instability generates clusters with density much higher than that of the gas. These results suggest that the instability should be interpreted as a gas-liquid phase transition, with T(s) being the temperature of saturated vapor and the high-density clusters representing liquid droplets.

Searching for effective forces in laboratory insect swarms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Puckett, James G.; Kelley, Douglas H.; Ouellette, Nicholas T.

2014-04-01

Collective animal behaviour is often modeled by systems of agents that interact via effective social forces, including short-range repulsion and long-range attraction. We search for evidence of such effective forces by studying laboratory swarms of the flying midge Chironomus riparius. Using multi-camera stereoimaging and particle-tracking techniques, we record three-dimensional trajectories for all the individuals in the swarm. Acceleration measurements show a clear short-range repulsion, which we confirm by considering the spatial statistics of the midges, but no conclusive long-range interactions. Measurements of the mean free path of the insects also suggest that individuals are on average very weakly coupled, but that they are also tightly bound to the swarm itself. Our results therefore suggest that some attractive interaction maintains cohesion of the swarms, but that this interaction is not as simple as an attraction to nearest neighbours.

Flows, Fields, and Forces in the Mars-Solar Wind Interaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Halekas, J. S.; Brain, D. A.; Luhmann, J. G.; DiBraccio, G. A.; Ruhunusiri, S.; Harada, Y.; Fowler, C. M.; Mitchell, D. L.; Connerney, J. E. P.; Espley, J. R.; Mazelle, C.; Jakosky, B. M.

2017-11-01

We utilize suprathermal ion and magnetic field measurements from the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) mission, organized by the upstream magnetic field, to investigate the morphology and variability of flows, fields, and forces in the Mars-solar wind interaction. We employ a combination of case studies and statistical investigations to characterize the interaction in both quasi-parallel and quasi-perpendicular regions and under high and low solar wind Mach number conditions. For the first time, we include a detailed investigation of suprathermal ion temperature and anisotropy. We find that the observed magnetic fields and suprathermal ion moments in the magnetosheath, bow shock, and upstream regions have observable asymmetries controlled by the interplanetary magnetic field, with particularly large asymmetries found in the ion parallel temperature and anisotropy. The greatest temperature anisotropies occur in quasi-perpendicular regions of the magnetosheath and under low Mach number conditions. These results have implications for the growth and evolution of wave-particle instabilities and their role in energy transport and dissipation. We utilize the measured parameters to estimate the average ion pressure gradient, J × B, and v × B macroscopic force terms. The pressure gradient force maintains nearly cylindrical symmetry, while the J × B force has larger asymmetries and varies in magnitude in comparison to the pressure gradient force. The v × B force felt by newly produced planetary ions exceeds the other forces in magnitude in the magnetosheath and upstream regions for all solar wind conditions.

Reducing the data: Analysis of the role of vascular geometry on blood flow patterns in curved vessels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alastruey, Jordi; Siggers, Jennifer H.; Peiffer, Véronique; Doorly, Denis J.; Sherwin, Spencer J.

2012-03-01

Three-dimensional simulations of blood flow usually produce such large quantities of data that they are unlikely to be of clinical use unless methods are available to simplify our understanding of the flow dynamics. We present a new method to investigate the mechanisms by which vascular curvature and torsion affect blood flow, and we apply it to the steady-state flow in single bends, helices, double bends, and a rabbit thoracic aorta based on image data. By calculating forces and accelerations in an orthogonal coordinate system following the centreline of each vessel, we obtain the inertial forces (centrifugal, Coriolis, and torsional) explicitly, which directly depend on vascular curvature and torsion. We then analyse the individual roles of the inertial, pressure gradient, and viscous forces on the patterns of primary and secondary velocities, vortical structures, and wall stresses in each cross section. We also consider cross-sectional averages of the in-plane components of these forces, which can be thought of as reducing the dynamics of secondary flows onto the vessel centreline. At Reynolds numbers between 50 and 500, secondary motions in the directions of the local normals and binormals behave as two underdamped oscillators. These oscillate around the fully developed state and are coupled by torsional forces that break the symmetry of the flow. Secondary flows are driven by the centrifugal and torsional forces, and these are counterbalanced by the in-plane pressure gradients generated by the wall reaction. The viscous force primarily opposes the pressure gradient, rather than the inertial forces. In the axial direction, and depending on the secondary motion, the curvature-dependent Coriolis force can either enhance or oppose the bulk of the axial flow, and this shapes the velocity profile. For bends with little or no torsion, the Coriolis force tends to restore flow axisymmetry. The maximum circumferential and axial wall shear stresses along the centreline correlate well with the averaged in-plane pressure gradient and the radial displacement of the peak axial velocity, respectively. We conclude with a discussion of the physiological implications of these results.

The physics of pollinator attraction.

PubMed

Moyroud, Edwige; Glover, Beverley J

2017-10-01

Contents 350 I. 350 II. 350 III. 352 IV. 353 V. 353 353 References 354 SUMMARY: This Tansley Insight focuses on recent advances in our understanding of how flowers manipulate physical forces to attract animal pollinators and ensure reproductive success. Research has traditionally explored the role of chemical pigments and volatile organic compounds as cues for pollinators, but recent reports have demonstrated the importance of physical and structural means of pollinator attraction. Here we explore the role of petal microstructure in influencing floral light capture and optics, analysing colour, gloss and polarization effects. We discuss the interaction between flower, pollinator and gravity, and how petal surface structure can influence that interaction. Finally, we consider the role of electrostatic forces in pollen transfer and pollinator attraction. We conclude that this new interdisciplinary field is evolving rapidly. © 2016 The Authors. New Phytologist © 2016 New Phytologist Trust.

A molecular dynamics study on the role of attractive and repulsive forces in internal energy, internal pressure and structure of dense fluids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goharshadi, Elaheh K.; Morsali, Ali; Mansoori, G. Ali

2007-01-01

Isotherms of experimental data of internal pressure of dense fluids versus molar volume, Vm are shown to have each a maximum point at a Vmax below the critical molar volume. In this study, we investigated the role of attractive and repulsive intermolecular energies on this behavior using a molecular dynamics simulation technique. In the simulation, we choose the Lennard-Jones (LJ) intermolecular potential energy function. The LJ potential is known to be an effective potential representing a statistical average of the true pair and many-body interactions in simple molecular systems. The LJ potential function is divided into attractive and repulsive parts. MD calculations have produced internal energy, potential energy, transitional kinetic energy, and radial distribution function (RDF) for argon at 180 K and 450 K using LJ potential, LJ repulsive, and LJ attractive parts. It is shown that the LJ potential function is well capable of predicting the inflection point in the internal energy-molar volume curve as well as maximum point in the internal pressure-molar volume curve. It is also shown that at molar volumes higher than Vmax, the attractive forces have strong influence on determination of internal energy and internal pressure. At volumes lower than Vmax, neither repulsive nor attractive forces are dominating. Also, the coincidence between RDFs resulting from LJ potential and repulsive parts of LJ potential improves as molar volume approaches Vmax from high molar volumes. The coincidence becomes complete at Vmax ⩾ V.

Progesterone from the Cumulus Cells Is the Sperm Chemoattractant Secreted by the Rabbit Oocyte Cumulus Complex

PubMed Central

Guidobaldi, Héctor Alejandro; Teves, María Eugenia; Uñates, Diego Rafael; Anastasía, Agustín; Giojalas, Laura Cecilia

2008-01-01

Sperm chemotaxis in mammals have been identified towards several female sources as follicular fluid (FF), oviduct fluid, and conditioned medium from the cumulus oophorus (CU) and the oocyte (O). Though several substances were confirmed as sperm chemoattractant, Progesterone (P) seems to be the best chemoattractant candidate, because: 1) spermatozoa express a cell surface P receptor, 2) capacitated spermatozoa are chemotactically attracted in vitro by gradients of low quantities of P; 3) the CU cells produce and secrete P after ovulation; 4) a gradient of P may be kept stable along the CU; and 5) the most probable site for sperm chemotaxis in vivo could be near and/or inside the CU. The aim of this study was to verify whether P is the sperm chemoattractant secreted by the rabbit oocyte-cumulus complex (OCC) in the rabbit, as a mammalian animal model. By means of videomicroscopy and computer image analysis we observed that only the CU are a stable source of sperm attractants. The CU produce and secrete P since the hormone was localized inside these cells by immunocytochemistry and in the conditioned medium by enzyme immunoassay. In addition, rabbit spermatozoa express a cell surface P receptor detected by western blot and localized over the acrosomal region by immunocytochemistry. To confirm that P is the sperm chemoattractant secreted by the CU, the sperm chemotactic response towards the OCC conditioned medium was inhibited by three different approaches: P from the OCC conditioned medium was removed with an anti-P antibody, the attractant gradient of the OCC conditioned medium was disrupted by a P counter gradient, and the sperm P receptor was blocked with a specific antibody. We concluded that only the CU but not the oocyte secretes P, and the latter chemoattract spermatozoa by means of a cell surface receptor. Our findings may be of interest in assisted reproduction procedures in humans, animals of economic importance and endangered species. PMID:18725941

Dynamic response of porous functionally graded material nanobeams subjected to moving nanoparticle based on nonlocal strain gradient theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barati, Mohammad Reza

2017-11-01

Up to now, nonlocal strain gradient theory (NSGT) is broadly applied to examine free vibration, static bending and buckling of nanobeams. This theory captures nonlocal stress field effects together with the microstructure-dependent strain gradient effects. In this study, forced vibrations of NSGT nanobeams on elastic substrate subjected to moving loads are examined. The nanobeam is made of functionally graded material (FGM) with even and uneven porosity distributions inside the material structure. The graded material properties with porosities are described by a modified power-law model. Dynamic deflection of the nanobeam is obtained via Galerkin and inverse Laplace transform methods. The importance of nonlocal parameter, strain gradient parameter, moving load velocity, porosity volume fraction, type of porosity distribution and elastic foundation on forced vibration behavior of nanobeams are discussed.

Static force field representation of environments based on agents' nonlinear motions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Campo, Damian; Betancourt, Alejandro; Marcenaro, Lucio; Regazzoni, Carlo

2017-12-01

This paper presents a methodology that aims at the incremental representation of areas inside environments in terms of attractive forces. It is proposed a parametric representation of velocity fields ruling the dynamics of moving agents. It is assumed that attractive spots in the environment are responsible for modifying the motion of agents. A switching model is used to describe near and far velocity fields, which in turn are used to learn attractive characteristics of environments. The effect of such areas is considered radial over all the scene. Based on the estimation of attractive areas, a map that describes their effects in terms of their localizations, ranges of action, and intensities is derived in an online way. Information of static attractive areas is added dynamically into a set of filters that describes possible interactions between moving agents and an environment. The proposed approach is first evaluated on synthetic data; posteriorly, the method is applied on real trajectories coming from moving pedestrians in an indoor environment.

Transitions of tethered chain molecules under tension.

PubMed

Luettmer-Strathmann, Jutta; Binder, Kurt

2014-09-21

An applied tension force changes the equilibrium conformations of a polymer chain tethered to a planar substrate and thus affects the adsorption transition as well as the coil-globule and crystallization transitions. Conversely, solvent quality and surface attraction are reflected in equilibrium force-extension curves that can be measured in experiments. To investigate these effects theoretically, we study tethered chains under tension with Wang-Landau simulations of a bond-fluctuation lattice model. Applying our model to pulling experiments on biological molecules we obtain a good description of experimental data in the intermediate force range, where universal features dominate and finite size effects are small. For tethered chains in poor solvent, we observe the predicted two-phase coexistence at transitions from the globule to stretched conformations and also discover direct transitions from crystalline to stretched conformations. A phase portrait for finite chains constructed by evaluating the density of states for a broad range of solvent conditions and tensions shows how increasing tension leads to a disappearance of the globular phase. For chains in good solvents tethered to hard and attractive surfaces we find the predicted scaling with the chain length in the low-force regime and show that our results are well described by an analytical, independent-bond approximation for the bond-fluctuation model for the highest tensions. Finally, for a hard or slightly attractive surface the stretching of a tethered chain is a conformational change that does not correspond to a phase transition. However, when the surface attraction is sufficient to adsorb a chain it will undergo a desorption transition at a critical value of the applied force. Our results for force-induced desorption show the transition to be discontinuous with partially desorbed conformations in the coexistence region.

Influence of alkyl chain length and anion species on ionic liquid structure at the graphite interface as a function of applied potential

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Hua; Wood, Ross J.; Endres, Frank; Atkin, Rob

2014-07-01

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) force measurements elucidate the effect of cation alkyl chain length and the anion species on ionic liquid (IL) interfacial structure at highly ordered pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) surfaces as a function of potential. Three ILs are examined: 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate ([HMIM] FAP), 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate ([EMIM] FAP), and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([EMIM] TFSA). The step-wise force-distance profiles indicate the ILs adopt a multilayered morphology near the surface. When the surface is biased positively or negatively versus Pt quasireference electrode, both the number of steps, and the force required to rupture each step increase, indicating stronger interfacial structure. At all potentials, push-through forces for [HMIM] FAP are the highest, because the long alkyl chain results in strong cohesive interactions between cations, leading to well-formed layers that resist the AFM tip. The most layers are observed for [EMIM] FAP, because the C2 chains are relatively rigid and the dimensions of the cation and anion are similar, facilitating neat packing. [EMIM] TFSA has the smallest push-through forces and fewest layers, and thus the weakest interfacial structure. Surface-tip attractive forces are measured for all ILs. At the same potential, the attractions are the strongest for [EMIM] TFSA and the weakest for [HMIM] FAP because the interfacial layers are better formed for the longer alkyl chain cation. This means interfacial forces are stronger, which masks the weak attractive forces.

Analysis of magnetic gradients to study gravitropism.

PubMed

Hasenstein, Karl H; John, Susan; Scherp, Peter; Povinelli, Daniel; Mopper, Susan

2013-01-01

Gravitropism typically is generated by dense particles that respond to gravity. Experimental stimulation by high-gradient magnetic fields provides a new approach to selectively manipulate the gravisensing system. The movement of corn, wheat, and potato starch grains in suspension was examined with videomicroscopy during parabolic flights that generated 20 to 25 s of weightlessness. During weightlessness, a magnetic gradient was generated by inserting a wedge into a uniform, external magnetic field that caused repulsion of starch grains. The resultant velocity of movement was compared with the velocity of sedimentation under 1 g conditions. The high-gradient magnetic fields repelled the starch grains and generated a force of at least 0.6 g. Different wedge shapes significantly affected starch velocity and directionality of movement. Magnetic gradients are able to move diamagnetic compounds under weightless or microgravity conditions and serve as directional stimulus during seed germination in low-gravity environments. Further work can determine whether gravity sensing is based on force or contact between amyloplasts and statocyte membrane system.

Optothermal Manipulations of Colloidal Particles and Living Cells.

PubMed

Lin, Linhan; Hill, Eric H; Peng, Xiaolei; Zheng, Yuebing

2018-05-25

Optical manipulation techniques are important in many fields. For instance, they enable bottom-up assembly of nanomaterials and high-resolution and in situ analysis of biological cells and molecules, providing opportunities for discovery of new materials, medical diagnostics, and nanomedicines. Traditional optical tweezers have their applications limited due to the use of rigorous optics and high optical power. New strategies have been established for low-power optical manipulation techniques. Optothermal manipulation, which exploits photon-phonon conversion and matter migration under a light-controlled temperature gradient, is one such emerging technique. Elucidation of the underlying physics of optothermo-matter interaction and rational engineering of optical environments are required to realize diverse optothermal manipulation functionalities. This Account covers the working principles, design concepts, and applications of a series of newly developed optothermal manipulation techniques, including bubble-pen lithography, opto-thermophoretic tweezers, opto-thermoelectric tweezers, optothermal assembly, and opto-thermoelectric printing. In bubble-pen lithography, optical heating of a plasmonic substrate generates microbubbles at the solid-liquid interface to print diverse colloidal particles on the substrates. Programmable bubble printing of semiconductor quantum dots on different substrates and haptic control of printing have also been achieved. The key to optothermal tweezers is the ability to deliver colloidal particles from cold to hot regions of a temperature gradient or a negative Soret effect. We explore different driving forces for the two types of optothermal tweezers. Opto-thermophoretic tweezers rely on an abnormal permittivity gradient built by structured solvent molecules in the electric double layer of colloidal particles and living cells in response to heat-induced entropy, and opto-thermoelectric tweezers exploit a thermophoresis-induced thermoelectric field for the low-power manipulation of small nanoparticles with minimum diameter around 20 nm. Furthermore, by incorporating depletion attraction into the optothermal tweezers system as particle-particle or particle-substrate binding force, we have achieved bottom-up assembly and reconfigurable optical printing of artificial colloidal matter. Beyond optothermal manipulation techniques in liquid environments, we also review recent progress of gas-phase optothermal manipulation based on photophoresis. Photophoretic trapping and transport of light-absorbing materials have been achieved through optical engineering to tune particle-molecule interactions during optical heating, and a novel optical trap display has been demonstrated. An improved understanding of the colloidal response to temperature gradients will surely facilitate further innovations in optothermal manipulation. With their low-power operation, simple optics, and diverse functionalities, optothermal manipulation techniques will find a wide range of applications in life sciences, colloidal science, materials science, and nanoscience, as well as in the developments of colloidal functional devices and nanomedicine.

A qualitative analysis of the temptation to use force in sexual relationships.

PubMed

Schewe, Paul A; Adam, Najma M; Ryan, Kathryn M

2009-01-01

College males completed a survey that asked open-ended questions concerning instances in which they might have been tempted to use force to obtain sexual contact with another person. Participants also completed Malamuth's (1989a, 1989b) Attraction to Sexual Aggression scale, Mosher and Sirkin's (1984) Hypermasculinity Inventory. and Burt's (1980) Rape Myth Acceptance and Adversarial Sexual Beliefs scales. Of the 83 participants, 22 (27%) reported that they had been tempted to use force. Participants that indicated they had been tempted to use force scored significantly higher on attraction to sexual aggression and hypermasculinity than those who were never tempted. Reasons for temptation, circumstances of the tempting situations, and possible ties to sexual coercion were explored.

Contact-force distribution optimization and control for quadruped robots using both gradient and adaptive neural networks.

PubMed

Li, Zhijun; Ge, Shuzhi Sam; Liu, Sibang

2014-08-01

This paper investigates optimal feet forces' distribution and control of quadruped robots under external disturbance forces. First, we formulate a constrained dynamics of quadruped robots and derive a reduced-order dynamical model of motion/force. Consider an external wrench on quadruped robots; the distribution of required forces and moments on the supporting legs of a quadruped robot is handled as a tip-point force distribution and used to equilibrate the external wrench. Then, a gradient neural network is adopted to deal with the optimized objective function formulated as to minimize this quadratic objective function subjected to linear equality and inequality constraints. For the obtained optimized tip-point force and the motion of legs, we propose the hybrid motion/force control based on an adaptive neural network to compensate for the perturbations in the environment and approximate feedforward force and impedance of the leg joints. The proposed control can confront the uncertainties including approximation error and external perturbation. The verification of the proposed control is conducted using a simulation.

Contributions of Spherical Harmonics to Magnetic and Gravitational Fields

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Roithmayr, Carlos M.

2004-01-01

Gravitational forces are of cardinal importance in the dynamics of spacecraft; magnetic attractions sometime play a significant role also, as was the case with the Long Duration Exposure Facility, and as is now true for the first segment of Space Station Freedom. Both satellites depend on gravitational moment and a device known as a magnetic damper to stabilize their orientation. Magnetic fields are mathematically similar to gravitational fields in one important respect: each can be regarded as a gradient of a potential function that, in turn, can be described as an infinite series of spherical harmonics. Consequently, the two fields can be computed, in part, with quantities that need only be evaluated once, resulting in a savings of time when both fields are needed. The objective of this material is to present magnetic field and gravitational force expressions, and point out the terms that belong to both this is accomplished in Section 1 and 2. Section 3 contains the deductive reasoning with which one obtains the expressions of interest. Finally, examples in Section 4 show these equations can be used to reproduce others that arise in connection with special cases such as the magnetic field produced by a tilted dipole, and gravitational force exerted by an oblate spheroid. The mathematics are discussed in the context of terrestrial fields; however, by substituting appropriate constants, the results can be made applicable to fields belonging to other celestial bodies. The expressions presented here share the characteristics of algorithms set forth for computing gravitational force. In particular, computation is performed speedily by means of recursion formulae, and the expressions do not suffer from the shortcoming of a singularity when evaluated at points that lie on the polar axis.

A repulsive magnetic force driven translation micromirror

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xue, Yuan; Zuo, Hui; He, Siyuan

2017-10-01

This paper presents a repulsive magnetic force driven micromirror with large displacement and high surface quality which well solves the limitation of the previous design, i.e. large variation in translation starting position and low repeatability, caused by the touching points between the moving film and substrate before and in operation. The new design utilizes a driving mechanism, i.e. permanent magnet ring above and electromagnet underneath the moving film, to lift the moving film from touching the substrate and generate a repulsive magnetic force (instead of attractive force in the previous design) to push the moving film up and away from the substrate for translation. Due to the touching, the previous design has to pre-oscillate for 20-30 min at 1 Hz before usage (after resting for a few hours) to reduce the starting position variation from ~15 µm to 3-4 µm. Even after the pre-oscillation, the repeatability is still low, which is 14.2% because of the touching in operation. In the design presented in this paper, the touching between the moving film and the substrate is completely eliminated before and in operation. As a result, the starting position of the translating mirror is constant each time and the repeatability is  <1%. In addition, this design does not need the residual stress gradient to curve up the moving film. The maximum displacement of 144 µm can be achieved when 140 mA current is applied on the electromagnet. As an application, the micromirror is used as the movable mirror in a Michelson interferometer to measure the wavelength of a laser beam. The result shows a measurement accuracy of 2.19% for a 532 nm laser beam.

Control of scroll wave turbulence in a three-dimensional reaction-diffusion system with gradient.

PubMed

Qiao, Chun; Wu, Yabi; Lu, Xiaochuan; Wang, Chunyan; Ouyang, Qi; Wang, Hongli

2008-06-01

In this paper, we summarize our recent experimental and theoretical works on observation and control of scroll wave (SW) turbulence. The experiments were conducted in a three-dimensional Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction-diffusion system with chemical concentration gradients in one dimension. A spatially homogeneous external forcing was used in the experiments as a control; it was realized by illuminating white light on the light sensitive reaction medium. We observed that, in the oscillatory regime of the system, SW can appear automatically in the gradient system, which will be led to spatiotemporal chaos under certain conditions. A suitable periodic forcing may stabilize inherent turbulence of SW. The mechanism of the transition to SW turbulence is due to the phase twist of SW in the presence of chemical gradients, while modulating the phase twist with a proper periodic forcing can delay this transition. Using the FitzHugh-Nagumo model with an external periodic forcing, we confirmed the control mechanism with numerical simulation. Moreover, we also show in the simulation that adding temporal external noise to the system may have the same control effect. During this process, we observed a new state called "intermittent turbulence," which may undergo a transition into a new type of SW collapse when the noise intensity is further increased. The intermittent state and the collapse could be explained by a random process.

Transport in Halobacterium Halobium: Light-Induced Cation-Gradients, Amino Acid Transport Kinetics, and Properties of Transport Carriers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lanyi, Janos K.

1977-01-01

Cell envelope vesicles prepared from H. halobium contain bacteriorhodopsin and upon illumination protons are ejected. Coupled to the proton motive force is the efflux of Na(+). Measurements of Na-22 flux, exterior pH change, and membrane potential, Delta(psi) (with the dye 3,3'-dipentyloxadicarbocyanine) indicate that the means of Na(+) transport is sodium/proton exchange. The kinetics of the pH changes and other evidence suggests that the antiport is electrogenic (H(+)/Na(++ greater than 1). The resulting large chemical gradient for Na(+) (outside much greater than inside), as well as the membrane potential, will drive the transport of 18 amino acids. The I9th, glutamate, is unique in that its accumulation is indifferent to Delta(psi): this amino acid is transported only when a chemical gradient for Na(+) is present. Thus, when more and more NaCl is included in the vesicles glutamate transport proceeds with longer and longer lags. After illumination the gradient of H+() collapses within 1 min, while the large Na(+) gradient and glutamate transporting activity persists for 10- 15 min, indicating that proton motive force is not necessary for transport. A chemical gradient of Na(+), arranged by suspending vesicles loaded with KCl in NaCl, drives glutamate transport in the dark without other sources of energy, with V(sub max) and K(sub m) comparable to light-induced transport. These and other lines of evidence suggest that the transport of glutamate is facilitated by symport with Na(+), in an electrically neutral fashion, so that only the chemical component of the Na(+) gradient is a driving force.

Animal Magnetism: Metaphoric Cues Alter Perceptions of Romantic Partners and Relationships.

PubMed

Christy, Andrew G; Hirsch, Kelly A; Schlegel, Rebecca J

2016-01-01

The psychological state of love is difficult to define, and we often rely on metaphors to communicate about this state and its constituent experiences. Commonly, these metaphors liken love to a physical force-it sweeps us off our feet, causes sparks to fly, and ignites flames of passion. Even the use of "attraction" to refer to romantic interest, commonplace in both popular and scholarly discourse, implies a force propelling two objects together. The present research examined the effects of exposing participants to a physical force (magnetism) on subsequent judgments of romantic outcomes. Across two studies, participants exposed to magnets reported greater levels of satisfaction, attraction, intimacy, and commitment.

Agglomeration of Non-metallic Inclusions at Steel/Ar Interface: In- Situ Observation Experiments and Model Validation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mu, Wangzhong; Dogan, Neslihan; Coley, Kenneth S.

2017-10-01

Better understanding of agglomeration behavior of nonmetallic inclusions in the steelmaking process is important to control the cleanliness of the steel. In this work, a revision on the Paunov simplified model has been made according to the original Kralchevsky-Paunov model. Thus, this model has been applied to quantitatively calculate the attractive capillary force on inclusions agglomerating at the liquid steel/gas interface. Moreover, the agglomeration behavior of Al2O3 inclusions at a low carbon steel/Ar interface has been observed in situ by high-temperature confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The velocity and acceleration of inclusions and attractive forces between Al2O3 inclusions of various sizes were calculated based on the CLSM video. The results calculated using the revised model offered a reasonable fit with the present experimental data for different inclusion sizes. Moreover, a quantitative comparison was made between calculations using the equivalent radius of a circle and those using the effective radius. It was found that the calculated capillary force using equivalent radius offered a better fit with the present experimental data because of the inclusion characteristics. Comparing these results with other studies in the literature allowed the authors to conclude that when applied in capillary force calculations, the equivalent radius is more suitable for inclusions with large size and irregular shape, and the effective radius is more appropriate for inclusions with small size or a large shape factor. Using this model, the effect of inclusion size on attractive capillary force has been investigated, demonstrating that larger inclusions are more strongly attracted.

Great bowerbirds create theaters with forced perspective when seen by their audience.

PubMed

Endler, John A; Endler, Lorna C; Doerr, Natalie R

2010-09-28

Birds in the infraorder Corvida [1] (ravens, jays, bowerbirds) are renowned for their cognitive abilities [2-4], which include advanced problem solving with spatial inference [4-8], tool use and complex constructions [7-10], and bowerbird cognitive ability is associated with mating success [11]. Great bowerbird males construct bowers with a long avenue from within which females view the male displaying over his bower court [10]. This predictable audience viewpoint is a prerequisite for forced (altered) visual perspective [12-14]. Males make courts with gray and white objects that increase in size with distance from the avenue entrance. This gradient creates forced visual perspective for the audience; court object visual angles subtended on the female viewer's eye are more uniform than if the objects were placed at random. Forced perspective can yield false perception of size and distance [12, 15]. After experimental reversal of their size-distance gradient, males recovered their gradients within 3 days, and there was little difference from the original after 2 wks. Variation among males in their forced-perspective quality as seen by their female audience indicates that visual perspective is available for use in mate choice, perhaps as an indicator of cognitive ability. Regardless of function, the creation and maintenance of forced visual perspective is clearly important to great bowerbirds and suggests the possibility of a previously unknown dimension of bird cognition. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

High-order accurate finite-volume formulations for the pressure gradient force in layered ocean models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Engwirda, Darren; Kelley, Maxwell; Marshall, John

2017-08-01

Discretisation of the horizontal pressure gradient force in layered ocean models is a challenging task, with non-trivial interactions between the thermodynamics of the fluid and the geometry of the layers often leading to numerical difficulties. We present two new finite-volume schemes for the pressure gradient operator designed to address these issues. In each case, the horizontal acceleration is computed as an integration of the contact pressure force that acts along the perimeter of an associated momentum control-volume. A pair of new schemes are developed by exploring different control-volume geometries. Non-linearities in the underlying equation-of-state definitions and thermodynamic profiles are treated using a high-order accurate numerical integration framework, designed to preserve hydrostatic balance in a non-linear manner. Numerical experiments show that the new methods achieve high levels of consistency, maintaining hydrostatic and thermobaric equilibrium in the presence of strongly-sloping layer geometries, non-linear equations-of-state and non-uniform vertical stratification profiles. These results suggest that the new pressure gradient formulations may be appropriate for general circulation models that employ hybrid vertical coordinates and/or terrain-following representations.

Moving force identification based on modified preconditioned conjugate gradient method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Zhen; Chan, Tommy H. T.; Nguyen, Andy

2018-06-01

This paper develops a modified preconditioned conjugate gradient (M-PCG) method for moving force identification (MFI) by improving the conjugate gradient (CG) and preconditioned conjugate gradient (PCG) methods with a modified Gram-Schmidt algorithm. The method aims to obtain more accurate and more efficient identification results from the responses of bridge deck caused by vehicles passing by, which are known to be sensitive to ill-posed problems that exist in the inverse problem. A simply supported beam model with biaxial time-varying forces is used to generate numerical simulations with various analysis scenarios to assess the effectiveness of the method. Evaluation results show that regularization matrix L and number of iterations j are very important influence factors to identification accuracy and noise immunity of M-PCG. Compared with the conventional counterpart SVD embedded in the time domain method (TDM) and the standard form of CG, the M-PCG with proper regularization matrix has many advantages such as better adaptability and more robust to ill-posed problems. More importantly, it is shown that the average optimal numbers of iterations of M-PCG can be reduced by more than 70% compared with PCG and this apparently makes M-PCG a preferred choice for field MFI applications.

Selection by pollinators on floral traits in generalized Trollius ranunculoides (Ranunculaceae) along altitudinal gradients.

PubMed

Zhao, Zhi-Gang; Wang, Yi-Ke

2015-01-01

Abundance and visitation of pollinator assemblages tend to decrease with altitude, leading to an increase in pollen limitation. Thus increased competition for pollinators may generate stronger selection on attractive traits of flowers at high elevations and cause floral adaptive evolution. Few studies have related geographically variable selection from pollinators and intraspecific floral differentiation. We investigated the variation of Trollius ranunculoides flowers and its pollinators along an altitudinal gradient on the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and measured phenotypic selection by pollinators on floral traits across populations. The results showed significant decline of visitation rate of bees along altitudinal gradients, while flies was unchanged. When fitness is estimated by the visitation rate rather than the seed number per plant, phenotypic selection on the sepal length and width shows a significant correlation between the selection strength and the altitude, with stronger selection at higher altitudes. However, significant decreases in the sepal length and width of T. ranunculoides along the altitudinal gradient did not correspond to stronger selection of pollinators. In contrast to the pollinator visitation, mean annual precipitation negatively affected the sepal length and width, and contributed more to geographical variation in measured floral traits than the visitation rate of pollinators. Therefore, the sepal size may have been influenced by conflicting selection pressures from biotic and abiotic selective agents. This study supports the hypothesis that lower pollinator availability at high altitude can intensify selection on flower attractive traits, but abiotic selection is preventing a response to selection from pollinators.

Selection by Pollinators on Floral Traits in Generalized Trollius ranunculoides (Ranunculaceae) along Altitudinal Gradients

PubMed Central

Zhao, Zhi-Gang; Wang, Yi-Ke

2015-01-01

Abundance and visitation of pollinator assemblages tend to decrease with altitude, leading to an increase in pollen limitation. Thus increased competition for pollinators may generate stronger selection on attractive traits of flowers at high elevations and cause floral adaptive evolution. Few studies have related geographically variable selection from pollinators and intraspecific floral differentiation. We investigated the variation of Trollius ranunculoides flowers and its pollinators along an altitudinal gradient on the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and measured phenotypic selection by pollinators on floral traits across populations. The results showed significant decline of visitation rate of bees along altitudinal gradients, while flies was unchanged. When fitness is estimated by the visitation rate rather than the seed number per plant, phenotypic selection on the sepal length and width shows a significant correlation between the selection strength and the altitude, with stronger selection at higher altitudes. However, significant decreases in the sepal length and width of T. ranunculoides along the altitudinal gradient did not correspond to stronger selection of pollinators. In contrast to the pollinator visitation, mean annual precipitation negatively affected the sepal length and width, and contributed more to geographical variation in measured floral traits than the visitation rate of pollinators. Therefore, the sepal size may have been influenced by conflicting selection pressures from biotic and abiotic selective agents. This study supports the hypothesis that lower pollinator availability at high altitude can intensify selection on flower attractive traits, but abiotic selection is preventing a response to selection from pollinators. PMID:25692295

Refractive index-based detection of gradient elution liquid chromatography using chip-integrated microring resonator arrays.

PubMed

Wade, James H; Bailey, Ryan C

2014-01-07

Refractive index-based sensors offer attractive characteristics as nondestructive and universal detectors for liquid chromatographic separations, but a small dynamic range and sensitivity to minor thermal perturbations limit the utility of commercial RI detectors for many potential applications, especially those requiring the use of gradient elutions. As such, RI detectors find use almost exclusively in sample abundant, isocratic separations when interfaced with high-performance liquid chromatography. Silicon photonic microring resonators are refractive index-sensitive optical devices that feature good sensitivity and tremendous dynamic range. The large dynamic range of microring resonators allows the sensors to function across a wide spectrum of refractive indices, such as that encountered when moving from an aqueous to organic mobile phase during a gradient elution, a key analytical advantage not supported in commercial RI detectors. Microrings are easily configured into sensor arrays, and chip-integrated control microrings enable real-time corrections of thermal drift. Thermal controls allow for analyses at any temperature and, in the absence of rigorous temperature control, obviates extended detector equilibration wait times. Herein, proof of concept isocratic and gradient elution separations were performed using well-characterized model analytes (e.g., caffeine, ibuprofen) in both neat buffer and more complex sample matrices. These experiments demonstrate the ability of microring arrays to perform isocratic and gradient elutions under ambient conditions, avoiding two major limitations of commercial RI-based detectors and maintaining comparable bulk RI sensitivity. Further benefit may be realized in the future through selective surface functionalization to impart degrees of postcolumn (bio)molecular specificity at the detection phase of a separation. The chip-based and microscale nature of microring resonators also make it an attractive potential detection technology that could be integrated within lab-on-a-chip and microfluidic separation devices.

Adsorption of DNA to mica mediated by divalent counterions: a theoretical and experimental study.

PubMed

Pastré, David; Piétrement, Olivier; Fusil, Stéphane; Landousy, Fabrice; Jeusset, Josette; David, Marie-Odile; Hamon, Loïc; Le Cam, Eric; Zozime, Alain

2003-10-01

The adsorption of DNA molecules onto a flat mica surface is a necessary step to perform atomic force microscopy studies of DNA conformation and observe DNA-protein interactions in physiological environment. However, the phenomenon that pulls DNA molecules onto the surface is still not understood. This is a crucial issue because the DNA/surface interactions could affect the DNA biological functions. In this paper we develop a model that can explain the mechanism of the DNA adsorption onto mica. This model suggests that DNA attraction is due to the sharing of the DNA and mica counterions. The correlations between divalent counterions on both the negatively charged DNA and the mica surface can generate a net attraction force whereas the correlations between monovalent counterions are ineffective in the DNA attraction. DNA binding is then dependent on the fractional surface densities of the divalent and monovalent cations, which can compete for the mica surface and DNA neutralizations. In addition, the attraction can be enhanced when the mica has been pretreated by transition metal cations (Ni(2+), Zn(2+)). Mica pretreatment simultaneously enhances the DNA attraction and reduces the repulsive contribution due to the electrical double-layer force. We also perform end-to-end distance measurement of DNA chains to study the binding strength. The DNA binding strength appears to be constant for a fixed fractional surface density of the divalent cations at low ionic strength (I < 0.1 M) as predicted by the model. However, at higher ionic strength, the binding is weakened by the screening effect of the ions. Then, some equations were derived to describe the binding of a polyelectrolyte onto a charged surface. The electrostatic attraction due to the sharing of counterions is particularly effective if the polyelectrolyte and the surface have nearly the same surface charge density. This characteristic of the attraction force can explain the success of mica for performing single DNA molecule observation by AFM. In addition, we explain how a reversible binding of the DNA molecules can be obtained with a pretreated mica surface.

Medical image registration by combining global and local information: a chain-type diffeomorphic demons algorithm.

PubMed

Liu, Xiaozheng; Yuan, Zhenming; Zhu, Junming; Xu, Dongrong

2013-12-07

The demons algorithm is a popular algorithm for non-rigid image registration because of its computational efficiency and simple implementation. The deformation forces of the classic demons algorithm were derived from image gradients by considering the deformation to decrease the intensity dissimilarity between images. However, the methods using the difference of image intensity for medical image registration are easily affected by image artifacts, such as image noise, non-uniform imaging and partial volume effects. The gradient magnitude image is constructed from the local information of an image, so the difference in a gradient magnitude image can be regarded as more reliable and robust for these artifacts. Then, registering medical images by considering the differences in both image intensity and gradient magnitude is a straightforward selection. In this paper, based on a diffeomorphic demons algorithm, we propose a chain-type diffeomorphic demons algorithm by combining the differences in both image intensity and gradient magnitude for medical image registration. Previous work had shown that the classic demons algorithm can be considered as an approximation of a second order gradient descent on the sum of the squared intensity differences. By optimizing the new dissimilarity criteria, we also present a set of new demons forces which were derived from the gradients of the image and gradient magnitude image. We show that, in controlled experiments, this advantage is confirmed, and yields a fast convergence.

Transmitted light relaxation and microstructure evolution of ferrofluids under gradient magnetic fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Yan; Li, Decai; Li, Feng; Zhu, Quanshui; Xie, Yu

2015-03-01

Using light transmission experiments and optical microscope observations with a longitudinal gradient magnetic field configuration, the relationship between the behavior of the transmitted light relaxation and the microstructure evolution of ionic ferrofluids in the central region of an axisymmetric field is investigated. Under a low-gradient magnetic field, there are two types of relaxation process. When a field is applied, the transmitted light intensity decreases to a minimum within a time on the order of 101-102 s. It is then gradually restored, approaching its initial value within a time on the order of 102 s. This is type I relaxation, which corresponds to the formation of magnetic columns. After the transmission reaches this value, it either increases or decreases slowly, stabilizing within a time on the order of 103 s, according to the direction of the field gradient. This is a type II relaxation, which results from the shadowing effect, corresponding to the motion of the magnetic columns under the application of a gradient force. Under a magnetic field with a centripetal high-gradient (magnetic materials subjected to a force pointing toward the center of the axisymmetric field), the transmitted light intensity decreases monotonously and more slowly than that under a low-gradient field. Magnetic transport and separation resulted from magnetophoresis under high-gradient fields, changing the formation dynamics of the local columns and influencing the final state of the column system.

MEAM interatomic force calculation subroutine for LAMMPS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Stukowski, A.

2010-10-25

Interatomic force and energy calculation subroutine tobe used with the molecular dynamics simulation code LAMMPS (Ref a.). The code evaluates the total energy and atomic forces (energy gradient) according to cubic spine-based variant (Ref b.) of the Modified Embedded Atom Method (MEAM).

The Layered Structure of The Universe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kursunoglu, Behram N.

2003-06-01

It has now become a habit for the cosmologists to introduce attraction or repulsion generating substances to describe the observed cosmological behavior of matter. Examples are dark energy to provide repulsive force to cause increasing acceleration accompanying the expansion of the universe, quintessence providing repulsive force. In this paper we believe that what is needed in the final analysis is attraction and repulsion. We show here that universe can be conceived to consist of attractive and repulsive layers of matter expanding with increasing acceleration. The generalized theory of gravitation as developed originally by Einstein and Schrödinger as a non-symmetric theory was modified by this author using Bianchi-Einstein Identities yielding coupling between the field and electric charge as well as between the field and magnetic charge, and there appears a fundamental length parameter ro where quintessence constitute magnetic repulsive layers while dark energy and all other kinds of names invented by cosmologists refer to attractive electric layers. This layered structure of the universe resembles the layered structure of the elementary particle predicted by this theory decades ago (1, 3, and 6). This implies a layer Doughnut structure of the universe. We have therefore, obtained a unification of the structure of the universe and the structure of elementary particles. Overall the forces consist of long range attractive, long range repulsive, short-range attractive, and short-range repulsive variety. We further discovered the existence of space oscillations whose roles in the expansion of the universe with increasing acceleration and further the impact in the propagation of the gravitational waves can be expected to play a role in their observation.

Repulsive vacuum-induced forces on a magnetic particle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sinha, Kanupriya

2018-03-01

We study the possibility of obtaining a repulsive vacuum-induced force for a magnetic point particle near a surface. Considering the toy model of a particle with an electric-dipole transition and a large magnetic spin, we analyze the interplay between the repulsive magnetic-dipole and the attractive electric-dipole contributions to the total Casimir-Polder force. Particularly noting that the magnetic-dipole interaction is longer ranged than the electric dipole due to the difference in their respective characteristic transition frequencies, we find a regime where the repulsive magnetic contribution to the total force can potentially exceed the attractive electric part in magnitude for a sufficiently large spin. We analyze ways to further enhance the magnitude of the repulsive magnetic Casimir-Polder force for an excited particle, such as by preparing it in a "super-radiant" magnetic sublevel and designing surface resonances close to the magnetic transition frequency.

Optical trapping/modification of nano-(micro)particles by gradient and photorefractive forces during laser illumination

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kukhtarev, N.; Kukhtareva, T.; Okafor, F.

2010-08-01

In this paper we describe photo-induced trapping/redistribution of silver nano-(micro) particles near the surface of photorefractive crystal LiNbO3:Fe. This type of optical trapping is due to combined forces of direct gradient-force trapping and asymmetric photorefractive forces of electro-phoresis and dielectro-phoresis. The silver nanoparticles were produced through extracellular biosynthesis on exposure to the fungus, Fusarium oxysporum (FO) and to the plant extracts. Pulsed and CW visible laser radiation lead to significant modification of nanoparticle clusters. This study indicates that extracellular biosynthesis can constitute a possible viable alternative method for the production of nanoparticles. In addition, the theoretical modeling of asymmetric photorefractive electric field grating has been presented and compared with the experimental results.

Tidally influenced alongshore circulation at an inlet-adjacent shoreline

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hansen, Jeff E.; Elias, Edwin P.L.; List, Jeffrey H.; Erikson, Li H.; Barnard, Patrick L.

2013-01-01

The contribution of tidal forcing to alongshore circulation inside the surfzone is investigated at a 7 km long sandy beach adjacent to a large tidal inlet. Ocean Beach in San Francisco, CA (USA) is onshore of a ∼150 km2 ebb-tidal delta and directly south of the Golden Gate, the sole entrance to San Francisco Bay. Using a coupled flow-wave numerical model, we find that the tides modulate, and in some cases can reverse the direction of, surfzone alongshore flows through two separate mechanisms. First, tidal flow through the inlet results in a barotropic tidal pressure gradient that, when integrated across the surfzone, represents an important contribution to the surfzone alongshore force balance. Even during energetic wave conditions, the tidal pressure gradient can account for more than 30% of the total alongshore pressure gradient (wave and tidal components) and up to 55% during small waves. The wave driven component of the alongshore pressure gradient results from alongshore wave height and corresponding setup gradients induced by refraction over the ebb-tidal delta. Second, wave refraction patterns over the inner shelf are tidally modulated as a result of both tidal water depth changes and strong tidal flows (∼1 m/s), with the effect from currents being larger. These tidally induced changes in wave refraction result in corresponding variability of the alongshore radiation stress and pressure gradients within the surfzone. Our results indicate that tidal contributions to the surfzone force balance can be significant and important in determining the direction and magnitude of alongshore flow.

Enhanced optical gradient forces between coupled graphene sheets

PubMed Central

Xu, Xinbiao; Shi, Lei; Liu, Yang; Wang, Zheqi; Zhang, Xinliang

2016-01-01

Optical gradient forces between monolayer infinite-width graphene sheets as well as single-mode graphene nanoribbon pairs of graphene surface plasmons (GSPs) at mid-infrared frequencies were theoretically investigated. Although owing to the strongly enhanced optical field, the normalized optical force, fn, can reach 50 nN/μm/mW, which is the largest fn as we know, the propagation loss is also large. But we found that by changing the chemical potential of graphene, fn and the optical propagation loss can be balanced. The total optical force acted on the nanoribbon waveguides can thus enhance more than 1 order of magnitude than that in metallic surface plasmons (MSPs) waveguides with the same length and the loss can be lower. Owing to the enhanced optical force and the significant neff tuning by varying the chemical potential of graphene, we also propose an ultra-compact phase shifter. PMID:27338252

Proline transport in Leishmania donovani amastigotes: dependence on pH gradients and membrane potential.

PubMed

Glaser, T A; Mukkada, A J

1992-03-01

Amastigotes of Leishmania donovani develop and multiply within the acidic phagolysosomes of mammalian macrophages. Isolated amastigotes are acidophilic; they catabolize substrates and synthesize macromolecules optimally at pH 5.5. Substrate transport in amastigotes has not been characterized. Here we show that amastigotes exhibit an uphill transport of proline (active transport) with an acid pH optimum (pH 5.5). It is dependent upon metabolic energy and is driven by proton motive force. Agents which selectively disturb the component forces of proton motive force, such as carbonyl cyanide chlorophenylhydrazone, nigericin and valinomycin, inhibit proline transport. Transport is sensitive to dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and insensitive to ouabain, demonstrating the involvement of a proton ATPase in the maintenance of proton motive force. It is suggested that the plasma membrane pH gradient probably makes the greatest contribution to proton motive force that drives substrate transport in the amastigote stage.

Design considerations of manipulator and feel system characteristics in roll tracking

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johnston, Donald E.; Aponso, Bimal L.

1988-01-01

A fixed-base simulation was performed to identify and quantify interactions between the pilot's hand/arm neuromuscular subsystem and such control system features of typical modern fighter aircraft roll rate command mechanizations as: (1) force versus displacement sensing side-stick type manipulator, (2) feel force/displacement gradient, (3) feel system versus command prefilter dynamic lag, and (4) flight control system effective time delay. The experiment encompassed some 48 manipulator/filter/aircraft configurations. Displacement side-stick experiment results are given and compared with the previous force sidestick experiment results. Attention is focused on control bandwidth, excitement (peaking) of the neuromuscular mode, feel force/displacement gradient effects, time delay effects, etc. Section 5 is devoted to experiments with a center-stick in which force versus displacement sensing, feel system lag, and command prefilter lag influences on tracking performance and pilot preference are investigated.

Effects of Instructor Attractiveness on Learning.

PubMed

Westfall, Richard; Millar, Murray; Walsh, Mandy

2016-01-01

Although a considerable body of research has examined the impact of student attractiveness on instructors, little attention has been given to the influence of instructor attractiveness on students. This study tested the hypothesis that persons would perform significantly better on a learning task when they perceived their instructor to be high in physical attractiveness. To test the hypothesis, participants listened to an audio lecture while viewing a photograph of instructor. The photograph depicted either a physically attractive instructor or a less attractive instructor. Following the lecture, participants completed a forced choice recognition task covering material from the lecture. Consistent with the predictions; attractive instructors were associated with more learning. Finally, we replicated previous findings demonstrating the role attractiveness plays in person perception.

Experiments on the Motion of Drops on a Horizontal Solid Surface due to a Wettability Gradient

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Moumen, Nadjoua; Subramanian, R, Shankar; MLaughlin, john B.

2006-01-01

Results from experiments performed on the motion of drops of tetraethylene glycol in a wettability gradient present on a silicon surface are reported and compared with predictions from a recently developed theoretical model. The gradient in wettability was formed by exposing strips cut from a silicon wafer to decyltrichlorosiland vapors. Video images of the drops captured during the experiments were subsequently analyzed for drop size and velocity as functions of position along the gradient. In separate experiments on the same strips, the static contact angle formed by small drops was measured and used to obtain the local wettability gradient to which a drop is subjected. The velocity of the drops was found to be a strong function of position along the gradient. A quasi-steady theoretical model that balances the local hydrodynamic resistance with the local driving force generally describes the observations; possible reasons for the remaining discrepancies are discussed. It is shown that a model in which the driving force is reduced to accomodate the hysteresis effect inferred from the data is able to remove most of the discrepancy between the observed and predicted velocities.

Enhanced settling of nonheavy inertial particles in homogeneous isotropic turbulence: The role of the pressure gradient and the Basset history force.

PubMed

van Hinsberg, M A T; Clercx, H J H; Toschi, F

2017-02-01

The Stokes drag force and the gravity force are usually sufficient to describe the behavior of sub-Kolmogorov-size (or pointlike) heavy particles in turbulence, in particular when the particle-to-fluid density ratio ρ_{p}/ρ_{f}≳10^{3} (with ρ_{p} and ρ_{f} the particle and fluid density, respectively). This is, in general, not the case for smaller particle-to-fluid density ratios, in particular not for ρ_{p}/ρ_{f}≲10^{2}. In that case the pressure gradient force, added mass effects, and the Basset history force also play important roles. In this study we focus on the understanding of the role of these additional forces, all of hydrodynamic origin, in the settling of particles in turbulence. In order to qualitatively elucidate the complex dynamics of such particles in homogeneous isotropic turbulence, we first focus on the case of settling of such particles in the flow field of a single vortex. After having explored this simplified case we extend our analysis to homogeneous isotropic turbulence. In general, we found that the pressure gradient force leads to a decrease in the settling velocity. This can be qualitatively understood by the fact that this force prevents the particles from sweeping out of vortices, a mechanism known as preferential sweeping which causes enhanced settling. Additionally, we found that the Basset history force can both increase and decrease the enhanced settling, depending on the particle Stokes number. Finally, the role of the nonlinear Stokes drag has been explored, confirming that it affects settling of inertial particles in turbulence, but only in a limited way for the parameter settings used in this investigation.

Application of radiometric force to microactuation and energy transformation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Selden, Nathaniel; Gimelshein, Natalia; Gimelshein, Sergey; Ketsdever, Andrew

2012-11-01

The force that acts on a thin vane immersed in rarefied gas when a temperature gradient is imposed along or across the vane has historically been known as the Radiometric force. First observed by Fresnel in 1825, the radiometric force has regained its former popularity in recent decades due to the advent of micro-machines, where a transitional flow regime can occur at atmospheric pressures. Whether used for its force potential or simply viewed as a nuisance, this force cannot be ignored in micro-devices where thermal gradients exist. Potential applications of radiometric force now span from atomic force microscopy to astrophysics to high altitude flight. This paper describes an application of these forces to a conceptual micro-scale energy harvester, where two possible geometries of operation are described. It is shown that one configuration is significantly simpler to fabricate while the other geometry is more efficient at producing larger forces. The effect of pressure, feature separation, and feature-to-ring gap are analyzed. For consistency and the accurate treatment of the relevant flow conditions, an implementation of the SMOKE code that solves the ES BGK equation was used in all computations.

Kinematics and dynamics of Nubia-Somalia divergence along the East African rift

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stamps, Dorothy Sarah

Continental rifting is fundamental to the theory of plate tectonics, yet the force balance driving Earth's largest continental rift system, the East African Rift (EAR), remains debated. The EAR actively diverges the Nubian and Somalian plates spanning ˜5000 km N-S from the Red Sea to the Southwest Indian Ridge and ˜3000 km NW-SE from eastern Congo to eastern Madagascar. Previous studies suggest either lithospheric buoyancy forces or horizontal tractions dominate the force balance acting to rupture East Africa. In this work, we investigate the large-scale dynamics of Nubia-Somalia divergence along the EAR driving present-day kinematics. Because Africa is largely surrounded by spreading ridges, we assume plate-plate interactions are minimal and that the major driving forces are gradients in gravitational potential energy (GPE), which includes the effect of vertical mantle tractions, and horizontal basal tractions arising from viscous coupling to horizontal mantle flow. We quantify a continuous strain rate and velocity field based on kinematic models, an updated GPS velocity solution, and the style of earthquake focal mechanisms, which we use as an observational constraint on surface deformation. We solve the 3D force balance equations and calculate vertically averaged deviatoric stress for a 100 km thick lithosphere constrained by the CRUST2.0 crustal density and thickness model. By comparing vertically integrated deviatoric stress with integrated lithospheric strength we demonstrate forces arising from gradients in gravitational potential energy are insufficient to rupture strong lithosphere, hence weakening mechanisms are required to initiate continental rupture. The next step involves inverting for a stress field boundary condition that is the long-wavelength minimum energy deviatoric stress field required to best-fit the style of our continuous strain rate field in addition to deviatoric stress from gradients in GPE. We infer the stress field boundary condition is an estimate of basal shear stress from viscous coupling to horizontal mantle flow. The stress field boundary condition is small (˜1.6 MPa) compared to deviatoric stress from GPE gradients (8-20 MPa) and does not improve the fit to surface deformation indicators more than 8% when combined with deviatoric stress from GPE gradients. Hence we suggest the style of deformation across the EAR can be explained by forces derived from gradients in GPE. We then calculate dynamic velocities using two types of forward models to solve the instantaneous momentum equations. One method is regional and requires vertically averaged effective viscosity to define lithospheric structure with velocity boundary conditions and a free-slip basal boundary condition. The second is a global model that accounts for a brittle upper crust and viscous mantle lithosphere with velocity boundary conditions imposed at the base of the lithosphere from 5 mantle flow models. With both methods we find deformation driven by internal lithospheric buoyancy forces provides the best-fit to GPS observations of surface velocities on the Somalian plate. We find that any additional contribution from horizontal tractions results in overpredicting surface velocities. This work indicates horizontal mantle flow plays a minimal role in Nubia-Somalia divergence and the EAR is driven largely by gradients in GPE.

Relativistic Newtonian dynamics for objects and particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Friedman, Y.

2017-04-01

Relativistic Newtonian Dynamics (RND) was introduced in a series of recent papers by the author, in partial cooperation with J. M. Steiner. RND was capable of describing non-classical behavior of motion under a central attracting force. RND incorporates the influence of potential energy on spacetime in Newtonian dynamics, treating gravity as a force in flat spacetime. It was shown that this dynamics predicts accurately gravitational time dilation, the anomalous precession of Mercury and the periastron advance of any binary. In this paper the model is further refined and extended to describe also the motion of both objects with non-zero mass and massless particles, under a conservative attracting force. It is shown that for any conservative force a properly defined energy is conserved on the trajectories and if this force is central, the angular momentum is also preserved. An RND equation of motion is derived for motion under a conservative force. As an application, it is shown that RND predicts accurately also the Shapiro time delay - the fourth test of GR.

A Study of the Attraction Forces of Lunar Dust Simulant

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bradley, Robert Kelley; Jeevarajan, Antony; Thomas, Valor

2007-01-01

In previous manned lunar missions little work was done on countermeasures to combat the spread of lunar dust onto equipment and into the habitat because the astronauts were not scheduled to stay on the lunar surface for extended periods of time. However, as NASA prepares to return to the moon for longer durations than before developing materials that can help in the fight against lunar dust is important. The purpose of this project is to examine the attraction forces between lunar dust and various materials in an effort to discover materials which have a low affinity for lunar dust. The adhesion forces present between individual grains of dust and various materials were analyzed using an atomic force microscope (AFM). The AFM probes were calibrated by the added-mass technique to find the spring constant of the cantilever. The probes were modified by attaching a particle of lunar dust stimulant to the cantilever arm. The adhesion force between the dust particle and various materials were determined by analysis of AFM force spectra.

Dark Energy and Dark Matter from Emergent Gravity Picture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seok Yang, Hyun

2018-01-01

We suggest that dark energy and dark matter may be a cosmic uroboros of quantum gravity due to the coherent vacuum structure of spacetime. We apply the emergent gravity to a large N matrix model by considering the vacuum in the noncommutative (NC) Coulomb branch satisfying the Heisenberg algebra. We observe that UV fluctuations in the NC Coulomb branch are always paired with IR fluctuations and these UV/IR fluctuations can be extended to macroscopic scales. We show that space-like fluctuations give rise to the repulsive gravitational force while time-like fluctuations generate the attractive gravitational force. When considering the fact that the fluctuations are random in nature and we are living in the (3+1)-dimensional spacetime, the ratio of the repulsive and attractive components will end in ¾ : ¼= 75 : 25 and this ratio curiously coincides with the dark composition of our current Universe. If one includes ordinary matters which act as the attractive gravitational force, the emergent gravity may explain the dark sector of our Universe more precisely.

Calculations of Alfven Wave Driving Forces, Plasma Flow and Current Drive in Tokamak Plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Elfimov, Artur; Galvao, Ricardo; Amarante-Segundo, Gesil; Nascimento, Ivan

2000-10-01

A general form of time-averaged poloidal ponderomotive forces induced by fast and kinetic Alfvin waves by direct numerical calculations and in geometric optics approximation are analyzed on the basis of the collisionless two fluid (ions and electrons) magneto-hydrodynamics equation. Analytical approximations are used to clarify the effect of Larmour radius on radio-frequency (RF) ponderomotive forces and on poloidal flows induced by them in tokamak plasmas.The RF ponderomotive force is expressed as a sum of a gradient part and of a wave momentum transfer force, which is proportional to wave dissipation. The gradient electromagnetic stress force is combined with fluid dynamic (Reynolds) stress force. It is shown that accounting only Reynolds stress term can overestimate the plasma flow and it is found that the finite ion Larmor radius effect play fundamental role in ponderomotive forces that can drive a poloidal flow, which is larger than a flow driven by a wave momentum transfer force. Finally, balancing the RF forces by the electron-ion friction and viscous force the current and plasma flows driven by ponderomotive forces are calculated for tokamak plasmas, using a kinetic code [Phys. Plasmas, v.6 (1999) p.2437]. Strongly sheared current and plasma flow waves is found.

Generation of multiple toroidal dust vortices by a non-monotonic density gradient in a direct current glow discharge plasma

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kaur, Manjit, E-mail: manjit@ipr.res.in; Bose, Sayak; Chattopadhyay, P. K.

2015-09-15

Observation of two well-separated dust vortices in an unmagnetized parallel plate DC glow discharge plasma is reported in this paper. A non-monotonic radial density profile, achieved by an especially designed cathode structure using a concentric metallic disk and ring of different radii, is observed to produce double dust tori between cathode and anode. PIV analysis of the still images of the double tori shows oppositely rotating dust structures between the central disk and the ring. Langmuir probe measurements of background plasma shows a non-uniform plasma density profile between the disk and the ring. Location and sense of rotation of themore » dust vortices coincides with the location and direction of the radial gradient in the ion drag force caused by the radial density gradient. The experimentally observed dust vorticity matches well with the calculated one using hydrodynamic formulations with shear in ion drag dominating over the dust charge gradient. These results corroborate that a radial gradient in the ion drag force directed towards cathode is the principal cause of dust rotation.« less

Netrin-1 attracts axons through FAK-dependent mechanotransduction.

PubMed

Moore, Simon W; Zhang, Xian; Lynch, Christopher D; Sheetz, Michael P

2012-08-22

The mechanism by which extracellular cues influence intracellular biochemical cascades that guide axons is important, yet poorly understood. Because of the mechanical nature of axon extension, we explored whether the physical interactions of growth cones with their guidance cues might be involved. In the context of mouse spinal commissural neuron axon attraction to netrin-1, we found that mechanical attachment of netrin-1 to the substrate was required for axon outgrowth, growth cone expansion, axon attraction and phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and Crk-associated substrate (CAS). Myosin II activity was necessary for traction forces >30 pN on netrin-1. Interestingly, while these myosin II-dependent forces on netrin-1 substrates or beads were needed to increase the kinase activity and phosphorylation of FAK, they were not necessary for netrin-1 to increase CAS phosphorylation. When FAK kinase activity was inhibited, the growth cone's ability to recruit additional adhesions and to generate forces >60 pN on netrin-1 was disrupted. Together, these findings demonstrate an important role for mechanotransduction during chemoattraction to netrin-1 and that mechanical activation of FAK reinforces interactions with netrin-1 allowing greater forces to be exerted.

A 2 Tesla Full Scale High Performance Periodic Permanent Magnet Model for Attractive (228 KN) and repulsive Maglev

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stekly, Z. J. J.; Gardner, C.; Domigan, P.; Baker, J.; Hass, M.; McDonald, C.; Wu, C.; Farrell, R. A.

1996-01-01

Two 214.5 cm. long high performance periodic (26 cm period) permanent magnet half-assemblies were designed and constructed for use as a wiggler using Nd-B-Fe and vanadium permendur as hard and soft magnetic materials by Field Effects, a division of Intermagnetics General Corporation. Placing these assemblies in a supporting structure with a 2.1 cm pole to pole separation resulted in a periodic field with a maximum value of 2.04 T. This is believed to be the highest field ever achieved by this type of device. The attractive force between the two 602 kg magnet assemblies is 228 kN, providing enough force for suspension of a 45,500 kg vehicle. If used in an attractive maglev system with an appropriate flat iron rail, one assembly will generate the same force with a gap of 1.05 cm leading to a lift to weight ratio of 38.6, not including the vehicle attachment structure. This permanent magnet compares well with superconducting systems which have lift to weight ratios in the range of 5 to 10. This paper describes the magnet assemblies and their measured magnetic performance. The measured magnetic field and resulting attractive magnetic force have a negative spring characteristic. Appropriate control coils are necessary to provide stable operation. The estimated performance of the assemblies in a stable repulsive mode, with eddy currents in a conducting guideway, is also discussed.

Observation of a single-beam gradient-force optical trap for dielectric particles in air.

PubMed

Omori, R; Kobayashi, T; Suzuki, A

1997-06-01

A single-beam gradient-force optical trap for dielectric particles, which relies solely on the radiation pressure force of a TEM(00)-mode laser light, is demonstrated in air for what is believed to be the first time. It was observed that micrometer-sized glass spheres with a refractive index of n=1.45 remained trapped in the focus region for more than 30 min, and we could transfer them three dimensionally by moving the beam focus and the microscope stage. A laser power of ~40 mW was sufficient to trap a 5- microm -diameter glass sphere. The present method has several distinct advantages over the conventional optical levitation method.

Graded-index fiber tip optical tweezers: numerical simulation and trapping experiment.

PubMed

Gong, Yuan; Ye, Ai-Yan; Wu, Yu; Rao, Yun-Jiang; Yao, Yao; Xiao, Song

2013-07-01

Optical fiber tweezers based on a graded-index multimode fiber (GIMMF) tip is proposed. Light propagation characteristics and gradient force distribution near the GIMMF tip are numerically investigated, which are further compared with that of optical fiber tips based on conventional single mode fibers. The simulated results indicated that by selecting optimal GIMMF length, the gradient force of the GIMMF tip tweezers is about 4 times higher than that of the SMF tip tweezers with a same shape. To prove the feasibility of such a new concept, optical trapping of yeast cells with a diameter of ~5 μm using the chemically-etched GIMMF tip is experimentally demonstrated and the trapping force is also calculated.

Secondary currents in a curved, stratified, estuarine channel

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lacy, J.R.; Monismith, Stephen G.

2001-01-01

This paper presents a study of secondary circulation in a curved stratified channel in northern San Francisco Bay over a 12.5-hour tidal cycle. Secondary currents were strong at times (varying by up to 35 cm/s from top to bottom) but relatively transient, as the balance between centrifugal and lateral baroclinic forcing changed over time. The short travel time around the bend did not allow a steady state balance to develop between centrifugal and lateral baroclinic forcing. During the flood tide the confluence of two streams with different velocities produced a strong lateral gradient in streamwise velocity. As a result, lateral advection was a significant term in the streamwise momentum balance, having the same order of magnitude as the barotropic and baroclinic pressure gradients, and the frictional terms. During the first part of the ebb, secondary currents were induced by lateral baroclinic forcing. The direction of the secondary circulation reversed later in the ebb, as the baroclinic forcing became weaker than the centrifugal acceleration. The gradient Richardson number showed that stratification was stable over most of the tidal cycle, decreasing the importance of friction and allowing secondary currents to persist. Copyright 2001 by the American Geophysical Union.

Analysis of the electrolyte convection inside the concentration boundary layer during structured electrodeposition of copper in high magnetic gradient fields.

PubMed

König, Jörg; Tschulik, Kristina; Büttner, Lars; Uhlemann, Margitta; Czarske, Jürgen

2013-03-19

To experimentally reveal the correlation between electrodeposited structure and electrolyte convection induced inside the concentration boundary layer, a highly inhomogeneous magnetic field, generated by a magnetized Fe-wire, has been applied to an electrochemical system. The influence of Lorentz and magnetic field gradient force to the local transport phenomena of copper ions has been studied using a novel two-component laser Doppler velocity profile sensor. With this sensor, the electrolyte convection within 500 μm of a horizontally aligned cathode is presented. The electrode-normal two-component velocity profiles below the electrodeposited structure show that electrolyte convection is induced and directed toward the rim of the Fe-wire. The measured deposited structure directly correlates to the observed boundary layer flow. As the local concentration of Cu(2+) ions is enhanced due to the induced convection, maximum deposit thicknesses can be found at the rim of the Fe-wire. Furthermore, a complex boundary layer flow structure was determined, indicating that electrolyte convection of second order is induced. Moreover, the Lorentz force-driven convection rapidly vanishes, while the electrolyte convection induced by the magnetic field gradient force is preserved much longer. The progress for research is the first direct experimental proof of the electrolyte convection inside the concentration boundary layer that correlates to the deposited structure and reveals that the magnetic field gradient force is responsible for the observed structuring effect.

Advanced Magnetic Materials Methods and Numerical Models for Fluidization in Microgravity and Hypogravity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Atwater, James; Wheeler, Richard, Jr.; Akse, James; Jovanovic, Goran; Reed, Brian

2013-01-01

To support long-duration manned missions in space such as a permanent lunar base, Mars transit, or Mars Surface Mission, improved methods for the treatment of solid wastes, particularly methods that recover valuable resources, are needed. The ability to operate under microgravity and hypogravity conditions is essential to meet this objective. The utilization of magnetic forces to manipulate granular magnetic media has provided the means to treat solid wastes under variable gravity conditions by filtration using a consolidated magnetic media bed followed by thermal processing of the solid wastes in a fluidized bed reactor. Non-uniform magnetic fields will produce a magnetic field gradient in a bed of magnetically susceptible media toward the distributor plate of a fluidized bed reactor. A correctly oriented magnetic field gradient will generate a downward direct force on magnetic media that can substitute for gravitational force in microgravity, or which may augment low levels of gravity, such as on the Moon or Mars. This approach is termed Gradient Magnetically Assisted Fluidization (G-MAFB), in which the magnitude of the force on the fluidized media depends upon the intensity of the magnetic field (H), the intensity of the field gradient (dH/dz), and the magnetic susceptibility of the media. Fluidized beds based on the G-MAFB process can operate in any gravitational environment by tuning the magnetic field appropriately. Magnetic materials and methods have been developed that enable G-MAFB operation under variable gravity conditions.

Numerical simulations of katabatic jumps in coats land, Antartica

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Ye; Cai, Xiaoming; King, John C.; Renfrew, Ian A.

A non-hydrostatic numerical model, the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS), has been used to investigate the development of katabatic jumps in Coats Land, Antarctica. In the control run with a 5 m s-1downslope directed initial wind, a katabatic jump develops near the foot of the idealized slope. The jump is manifested as a rapid deceleration of the downslope flow and a change from supercritical to subcritical flow, in a hydraulic sense, i.e., the Froude number (Fr) of the flow changes from Fr > 1 to Fr> 1. Results from sensitivity experiments show that an increase in the upstream flow rate strengthens the jump, while an increase in the downstream inversion-layer depth results in a retreat of the jump. Hydraulic theory and Bernoulli''s theorem have been used to explain the surface pressure change across the jump. It is found that hydraulic theory always underestimates the surface pressure change, while Bernoulli''s theorem provides a satisfactory estimation. An analysis of the downs balance for the katabatic jump indicates that the important forces are those related to the pressure gradient, advection and, to a lesser extent, the turbulent momentum divergence. The development of katabatic jumps can be divided into two phases. In phase I, the t gradient force is nearly balanced by advection, while in phase II, the pressure gradient force is counterbalanced by turbulent momentum divergence. The upslope pressure gradient force associated with a pool of cold air over the ice shelf facilitates the formation of the katabatic jump.

Particle force model effects in a shock-driven multiphase instability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Black, W. J.; Denissen, N.; McFarland, J. A.

2018-05-01

This work presents simulations on a shock-driven multiphase instability (SDMI) at an initial particle volume fraction of 1% with the addition of a suite of particle force models applicable in dense flows. These models include pressure-gradient, added-mass, and interparticle force terms in an effort to capture the effects neighboring particles have in non-dilute flow regimes. Two studies are presented here: the first seeks to investigate the individual contributions of the force models, while the second study focuses on examining the effect of these force models on the hydrodynamic evolution of a SDMI with various particle relaxation times (particle sizes). In the force study, it was found that the pressure gradient and interparticle forces have little effect on the instability under the conditions examined, while the added-mass force decreases the vorticity deposition and alters the morphology of the instability. The relaxation-time study likewise showed a decrease in metrics associated with the evolution of the SDMI for all sizes when the particle force models were included. The inclusion of these models showed significant morphological differences in both the particle and carrier species fields, which increased as particle relaxation times increased.

Fluid flow analysis and vertical gradient freeze crystal growth in a travelling magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lantzsch, R.; Grants, I.; Galindo, V.; Patzold, O.; Gerbeth, G.; Stelter, M.; Croll, A.

2006-12-01

In bulk crystal growth of semiconductors the concept of remote flow control by means of alternating magnetic fields has attracted considerable interest (see, e.g., te{1,2,3,4,5,6}). In this way the melt flow can be tailored for growth under optimised conditions to improve the crystal properties and/or the growth yield. A promising option is to apply an axially travelling magnetic wave to the melt (Travelling Magnetic Field - TMF). It introduces a mainly axial Lorentz force, which leads to meridional flow patterns. In recent numerical studies te{3}, te{6} the TMF has been recognised to be a versatile and efficient tool to control the heat and mass transport in the melt. For the Vertical Bridgman/Vertical Gradient Freeze (VB/VGF) growth, the beneficial effect of an adequately adjusted TMF-induced flow was clearly demonstrated in te{6} in terms of the reduction of thermal shear stress at the solid-liquid interface. In this paper, we present experimental and numerical results on the TMF driven convection in an isothermal model fluid as well as first VGF-TMF crystal growth experiments. The model investigations are focused on the transition from laminar to instationary flow conditions that should be avoided in crystal growth applications. The VGF experiments were aimed at growing Ga doped germanium single crystals under the influence of the travelling field in a newly developed VGF-TMF equipment. Figs 4, Refs 10.

Atom Skimmers and Atom Lasers Utilizing Them

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hulet, Randall; Tollett, Jeff; Franke, Kurt; Moss, Steve; Sackett, Charles; Gerton, Jordan; Ghaffari, Bita; McAlexander, W.; Strecker, K.; Homan, D.

2005-01-01

Atom skimmers are devices that act as low-pass velocity filters for atoms in thermal atomic beams. An atom skimmer operating in conjunction with a suitable thermal atomic-beam source (e.g., an oven in which cesium is heated) can serve as a source of slow atoms for a magneto-optical trap or other apparatus in an atomic-physics experiment. Phenomena that are studied in such apparatuses include Bose-Einstein condensation of atomic gases, spectra of trapped atoms, and collisions of slowly moving atoms. An atom skimmer includes a curved, low-thermal-conduction tube that leads from the outlet of a thermal atomic-beam source to the inlet of a magneto-optical trap or other device in which the selected low-velocity atoms are to be used. Permanent rare-earth magnets are placed around the tube in a yoke of high-magnetic-permeability material to establish a quadrupole or octupole magnetic field leading from the source to the trap. The atoms are attracted to the locus of minimum magnetic-field intensity in the middle of the tube, and the gradient of the magnetic field provides centripetal force that guides the atoms around the curve along the axis of the tube. The threshold velocity for guiding is dictated by the gradient of the magnetic field and the radius of curvature of the tube. Atoms moving at lesser velocities are successfully guided; faster atoms strike the tube wall and are lost from the beam.

14 CFR 25.253 - High-speed characteristics.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... sudden or excessive reduction of elevator control force as VDF/MDF is reached. (4) Adequate roll..., inadvertent control movements, low stick force gradient in relation to control friction, passenger movement... VMO/MMO, the slope of the elevator control force versus speed curve need not be stable at speeds...

14 CFR 25.253 - High-speed characteristics.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... sudden or excessive reduction of elevator control force as VDF/MDF is reached. (4) Adequate roll..., inadvertent control movements, low stick force gradient in relation to control friction, passenger movement... VMO/MMO, the slope of the elevator control force versus speed curve need not be stable at speeds...

Microfludic Device for Creating Ionic Strength Gradients over DNA Microarrays for Efficient DNA Melting Studies and Assay Development

PubMed Central

Petersen, Jesper; Poulsen, Lena; Birgens, Henrik; Dufva, Martin

2009-01-01

The development of DNA microarray assays is hampered by two important aspects: processing of the microarrays is done under a single stringency condition, and characteristics such as melting temperature are difficult to predict for immobilized probes. A technical solution to these limitations is to use a thermal gradient and information from melting curves, for instance to score genotypes. However, application of temperature gradients normally requires complicated equipment, and the size of the arrays that can be investigated is restricted due to heat dissipation. Here we present a simple microfluidic device that creates a gradient comprising zones of defined ionic strength over a glass slide, in which each zone corresponds to a subarray. Using this device, we demonstrated that ionic strength gradients function in a similar fashion as corresponding thermal gradients in assay development. More specifically, we noted that (i) the two stringency modulators generated melting curves that could be compared, (ii) both led to increased assay robustness, and (iii) both were associated with difficulties in genotyping the same mutation. These findings demonstrate that ionic strength stringency buffers can be used instead of thermal gradients. Given the flexibility of design of ionic gradients, these can be created over all types of arrays, and encompass an attractive alternative to temperature gradients, avoiding curtailment of the size or spacing of subarrays on slides associated with temperature gradients. PMID:19277213

Microfludic device for creating ionic strength gradients over DNA microarrays for efficient DNA melting studies and assay development.

PubMed

Petersen, Jesper; Poulsen, Lena; Birgens, Henrik; Dufva, Martin

2009-01-01

The development of DNA microarray assays is hampered by two important aspects: processing of the microarrays is done under a single stringency condition, and characteristics such as melting temperature are difficult to predict for immobilized probes. A technical solution to these limitations is to use a thermal gradient and information from melting curves, for instance to score genotypes. However, application of temperature gradients normally requires complicated equipment, and the size of the arrays that can be investigated is restricted due to heat dissipation. Here we present a simple microfluidic device that creates a gradient comprising zones of defined ionic strength over a glass slide, in which each zone corresponds to a subarray. Using this device, we demonstrated that ionic strength gradients function in a similar fashion as corresponding thermal gradients in assay development. More specifically, we noted that (i) the two stringency modulators generated melting curves that could be compared, (ii) both led to increased assay robustness, and (iii) both were associated with difficulties in genotyping the same mutation. These findings demonstrate that ionic strength stringency buffers can be used instead of thermal gradients. Given the flexibility of design of ionic gradients, these can be created over all types of arrays, and encompass an attractive alternative to temperature gradients, avoiding curtailment of the size or spacing of subarrays on slides associated with temperature gradients.

Parameterization of aerosol scavenging due to atmospheric ionization under varying relative humidity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Liang; Tinsley, Brian A.

2017-05-01

Simulations and parameterizations of the modulation of aerosol scavenging by electric charges on particles and droplets for different relative humidities have been made for 3 μm radii droplets and a wide range of particle radii. For droplets and particles with opposite-sign charges, the attractive Coulomb force increases the collision rate coefficients above values due to other forces. With same-sign charges, the repulsive Coulomb force decreases the rate coefficients, and the short-range attractive image forces become important. The phoretic forces are attractive for relative humidity less than 100% and repulsive for relative humidity greater than 100% and have increasing overall effect for particle radii up to about 1 μm. There is an analytic solution for rate coefficients if only inverse square forces are present, but due to the presence of image forces, and for larger particles the intercept, weight, and the flow around the particle affecting the droplet trajectory, the simulated results usually depart far from the analytic solution. We give simple empirical parameterization formulas for some cases and more complex parameterizations for more exact fits to the simulated results. The results can be used in cloud models with growing droplets, as in updrafts, as well as with evaporating droplets in downdrafts. There is considered to be little scavenging of uncharged ice-forming nuclei in updrafts, but with charged ice-forming nuclei it is possible for scavenging in updrafts in cold clouds to produce contact ice nucleation. Scavenging in updrafts below the freezing level produces immersion nuclei that promote enhanced freezing as droplets rise above it.

Micromachined diffraction based optical microphones and intensity probes with electrostatic force feedback

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bicen, Baris

Measuring acoustic pressure gradients is critical in many applications such as directional microphones for hearing aids and sound intensity probes. This measurement is especially challenging with decreasing microphone size, which reduces the sensitivity due to small spacing between the pressure ports. Novel, micromachined biomimetic microphone diaphragms are shown to provide high sensitivity to pressure gradients on one side of the diaphragm with low thermal mechanical noise. These structures have a dominant mode shape with see-saw like motion in the audio band, responding to pressure gradients as well as spurious higher order modes sensitive to pressure. In this dissertation, integration of a diffraction based optical detection method with these novel diaphragm structures to implement a low noise optical pressure gradient microphone is described and experimental characterization results are presented, showing 36 dBA noise level with 1mm port spacing, nearly an order of magnitude better than the current gradient microphones. The optical detection scheme also provides electrostatic actuation capability from both sides of the diaphragm separately which can be used for active force feedback. A 4-port electromechanical equivalent circuit model of this microphone with optical readout is developed to predict the overall response of the device to different acoustic and electrostatic excitations. The model includes the damping due to complex motion of air around the microphone diaphragm, and it calculates the detected optical signal on each side of the diaphragm as a combination of two separate dominant vibration modes. This equivalent circuit model is verified by experiments and used to predict the microphone response with different force feedback schemes. Single sided force feedback is used for active damping to improve the linearity and the frequency response of the microphone. Furthermore, it is shown that using two sided force feedback one can significantly suppress or enhance the desired vibration modes of the diaphragm. This approach provides an electronic means to tailor the directional response of the microphones, with significant implications in device performance for various applications. As an example, the use of this device as a particle velocity sensor for sound intensity and sound power measurements is investigated. Without force feedback, the gradient microphone provides accurate particle velocity measurement for frequencies below 2 kHz, after which the pressure response of the second order mode becomes significant. With two-sided force feedback, the calculations show that this upper frequency limit may be increased to 10 kHz. This improves the pressure residual intensity index by more than 15 dB in the 50 Hz--10 kHz range, matching the Class I requirements of IEC 1043 standards for intensity probes without any need for multiple spacers.

Casimir quantum levitation tuned by means of material properties and geometries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dou, Maofeng; Lou, Fei; Boström, Mathias; Brevik, Iver; Persson, Clas

2014-05-01

The Casimir force between two surfaces is attractive in most cases. Although stable suspension of nano-objects has been achieved, the sophisticated geometries make them difficult to be merged with well-established thin film processes. We find that by introducing thin film surface coating on porous substrates, a repulsive to attractive force transition is achieved when the separations are increased in planar geometries, resulting in a stable suspension of two surfaces near the force transition separation. Both the magnitude of the force and the transition distance can be flexibly tailored though modifying the properties of the considered materials, that is, thin film thickness, doping concentration, and porosity. This stable suspension can be used to design new nanodevices with ultralow friction. Moreover, it might be convenient to merge this thin film coating approach with micro- and nanofabrication processes in the future.

Reduction of centrifugation force in discontinuous percoll gradients increases in vitro fertilization rates without reducing bovine sperm recovery.

PubMed

Guimarães, A C G; Leivas, F G; Santos, F W; Schwengber, E B; Giotto, A B; Machado, C I U; Gonçalves, C G M; Folchini, N P; Brum, D S

2014-05-01

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of different centrifugation forces in bovine sperm separation by discontinuous Percoll gradients for in vitro fertilization IVF. The semen samples from each bull were pooled or each bull were centrifuged separately and centrifuged in discontinuous Percoll gradients (30, 60 and 90%) at different forces: F1 (9000×g), F2 (6500×g), F3 (4500×g) and F4 (2200×g), according experiment. The sperm samples were evaluated to determine the concentration, motility, vigor, morphology, reactive oxygen species (ROS), integrity of the plasma membrane, lipid peroxidation, antioxidants and embryo development were also evaluated. No difference was observed in the concentration of sperm submitted to different centrifugation forces. The total percentage of motile sperm was increased after centrifugation at F3 and F4, and the ROS production at F1 was greater than the other forces. When the bulls semen were processed individually, no significant differences were observed for the sperm quality parameters between F1 and F4, including lipid peroxidation, antioxidants, cleavage rate and average time to the first cleavage. This work demonstrated for the first time that centrifugation at 2200×g enhanced the sperm penetration and fertilization rates without reducing sperm recovery compared to the typical centrifugation force (9000×g) currently used by the commercial bovine IVF industry. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Role of geometrical shape in like-charge attraction of DNA.

PubMed

Kuron, Michael; Arnold, Axel

2015-03-01

While the phenomenon of like-charge attraction of DNA is clearly observed experimentally and in simulations, mean-field theories fail to predict it. Kornyshev et al. argued that like-charge attraction is due to DNA's helical geometry and hydration forces. Strong-coupling (SC) theory shows that attraction of like-charged rods is possible through ion correlations alone at large coupling parameters, usually by multivalent counterions. However for SC theory to be applicable, counterion-counterion correlations perpendicular to the DNA strands need to be sufficiently small, which is not a priori the case for DNA even with trivalent counterions. We study a system containing infinitely long DNA strands and trivalent counterions by computer simulations employing varying degrees of coarse-graining. Our results show that there is always attraction between the strands, but its magnitude is indeed highly dependent on the specific shape of the strand. While discreteness of the charge distribution has little influence on the attractive forces, the role of the helical charge distribution is considerable: charged rods maintain a finite distance in equilibrium, while helices collapse to close contact with a phase shift of π, in full agreement with SC predictions. The SC limit is applicable because counterions strongly bind to the charged sites of the helices, so that helix-counterion interactions dominate over counterion-counterion interactions. Thus DNA's helical geometry is not crucial for like-charge DNA attraction, but strongly enhances it, and electrostatic interactions in the strong-coupling limit are sufficient to explain this attraction.

Self-similar solutions for multi-species plasma mixing by gradient driven transport

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vold, E.; Kagan, G.; Simakov, A. N.; Molvig, K.; Yin, L.

2018-05-01

Multi-species transport of plasma ions across an initial interface between DT and CH is shown to exhibit self-similar species density profiles under 1D isobaric conditions. Results using transport theory from recent studies and using a Maxwell–Stephan multi-species approximation are found to be in good agreement for the self-similar mix profiles of the four ions under isothermal and isobaric conditions. The individual ion species mass flux and molar flux profile results through the mixing layer are examined using transport theory. The sum over species mass flux is confirmed to be zero as required, and the sum over species molar flux is related to a local velocity divergence needed to maintain pressure equilibrium during the transport process. The light ion species mass fluxes are dominated by the diagonal coefficients of the diffusion transport matrix, while for the heaviest ion species (C in this case), the ion flux with only the diagonal term is reduced by about a factor two from that using the full diffusion matrix, implying the heavy species moves more by frictional collisions with the lighter species than by its own gradient force. Temperature gradient forces were examined by comparing profile results with and without imposing constant temperature gradients chosen to be of realistic magnitude for ICF experimental conditions at a fuel-capsule interface (10 μm scale length or greater). The temperature gradients clearly modify the relative concentrations of the ions, for example near the fuel center, however the mixing across the fuel-capsule interface appears to be minimally influenced by the temperature gradient forces within the expected compression and burn time. Discussion considers the application of the self-similar profiles to specific conditions in ICF.

Are Brazil nuts attractive?

PubMed

Sanders, Duncan A; Swift, Michael R; Bowley, R M; King, P J

2004-11-12

We present event-driven simulation results for single and multiple intruders in a vertically vibrated granular bed. Under our vibratory conditions, the mean vertical position of a single intruder is governed primarily by a buoyancylike effect. Multiple intruders also exhibit buoyancy governed behavior; however, multiple neutrally buoyant intruders cluster spontaneously and undergo horizontal segregation. These effects can be understood by considering the dynamics of two neutrally buoyant intruders. We have measured an attractive force between such intruders which has a range of five intruder diameters, and we provide a mechanistic explanation for the origins of this force.

Free swimming organisms: Microgravity as an investigative tool

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kessler, John O.

1989-01-01

On earth, micro-organisms are in the grip of gravitational and viscous forces. These forces, in combination with sensory stimuli, determine the average orientation of the organisms' swimming trajectories relative to the fluid environment. Microgravity provides the opportunity to study the rules which govern the summation or orienting influences and to develop quantitative physical measurements of sensory responses, e.g. the measurement of phototactic orientation tendency in torque units. Also, by reducing or eliminating density anisotropy-driven buoyant convection, it will be possible to study illumination, temperature gradient and concentration gradient-mediated collective dynamics.

Raman non-coincidence effect of boroxol ring: The interplay between repulsion and attraction forces in the glassy, supercooled and liquid state

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kalampounias, Angelos G.; Papatheodorou, George N.

2018-06-01

Temperature dependent Raman spectra of boric oxide have been measured in a temperature range covering the glassy, supercooled and liquid state. The shift of the isotropic band assigned to boroxol rings relative to the anisotropic component upon heating the glass is measured and attributed to the Raman non-coincidence effect. The measured shift is associated with the competition between attraction and repulsion forces with increasing temperature. The relation of dephasing and orientational relaxation times to the non-coincidence effect of the condensed phases has been examined. We discuss our results in the framework of the current phenomenological status of the field in an attempt to separate the attraction and repulsion contributions corresponding to the observed non-coincidence effect.

Surfzone alongshore advective accelerations: observations and modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hansen, J.; Raubenheimer, B.; Elgar, S.

2014-12-01

The sources, magnitudes, and impacts of non-linear advective accelerations on alongshore surfzone currents are investigated with observations and a numerical model. Previous numerical modeling results have indicated that advective accelerations are an important contribution to the alongshore force balance, and are required to understand spatial variations in alongshore currents (which may result in spatially variable morphological change). However, most prior observational studies have neglected advective accelerations in the alongshore force balance. Using a numerical model (Delft3D) to predict optimal sensor locations, a dense array of 26 colocated current meters and pressure sensors was deployed between the shoreline and 3-m water depth over a 200 by 115 m region near Duck, NC in fall 2013. The array included 7 cross- and 3 alongshore transects. Here, observational and numerical estimates of the dominant forcing terms in the alongshore balance (pressure and radiation-stress gradients) and the advective acceleration terms will be compared with each other. In addition, the numerical model will be used to examine the force balance, including sources of velocity gradients, at a higher spatial resolution than possible with the instrument array. Preliminary numerical results indicate that at O(10-100 m) alongshore scales, bathymetric variations and the ensuing alongshore variations in the wave field and subsequent forcing are the dominant sources of the modeled velocity gradients and advective accelerations. Additional simulations and analysis of the observations will be presented. Funded by NSF and ASDR&E.

Environmental Assessment: Landscape Multiple Areas at Grand Forks Air Force Base

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-03-01

environment that enhances the quality of life. A need exists for a healthy, pest and disease free, thriving, attractive, and professional appearance of...unified city-like environment that enhances the quality of life. A need exists for a healthy, pest and disease free, thriving, attractive, and...exists for a healthy, pest and disease free, thriving, attractive, and professional appearance of exterior landscapes. The “Green Plan” integrates all

Luneburg-lens-like structural Pauli attractive core of the nuclear force at short distances

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miller, Gerald A.

2018-07-01

A recent paper Ohkubo (2017) [1] found that the measured S10 phase shifts can be reproduced using a deeply attractive nucleon-nucleon potential. We find that the deuteron would decay strongly via pion emission to the deeply bound state arising in this potential. Therefore the success of a deeply attractive potential in describing phase shifts must be regarded only as an interesting curiosity.

On the structure of attractors for discrete, periodically forced systems with applications to population models

Treesearch

James F. Selgrade; James H. Roberds

2001-01-01

This work discusses the effects of periodic forcing on attracting cycles and more complicated attractors for autonomous systems of nonlinear difference equations. Results indicate that an attractor for a periodically forced dynamical system may inherit structure from an attractor of the autonomous (unforced) system and also from the periodicity of the forcing. In...

Seasonal circulation over the Catalan inner-shelf (northwest Mediterranean Sea)

USGS Publications Warehouse

Grifoll, Manel; Aretxabaleta, Alfredo L.; Pelegrí, Josep L.; Espino, Manuel; Warner, John C.; Sánchez-Arcilla, Agustín

2013-01-01

This study characterizes the seasonal cycle of the Catalan inner-shelf circulation using observations and complementary numerical results. The relation between seasonal circulation and forcing mechanisms is explored through the depth-averaged momentum balance, for the period between May 2010 and April 2011, when velocity observations were partially available. The monthly-mean along-shelf flow is mainly controlled by the along-shelf pressure gradient and by surface and bottom stresses. During summer, fall, and winter, the along-shelf momentum balance is dominated by the barotropic pressure gradient and local winds. During spring, both wind stress and pressure gradient act in the same direction and are compensated by bottom stress. In the cross-shelf direction the dominant forces are in geostrophic balance, consistent with dynamic altimetry data.

Seasonal circulation over the Catalan inner-shelf (northwest Mediterranean Sea)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grifoll, Manel; Aretxabaleta, Alfredo L.; Pelegrí, Josep L.; Espino, Manuel; Warner, John C.; Sánchez-Arcilla, Agustín.

2013-10-01

This study characterizes the seasonal cycle of the Catalan inner-shelf circulation using observations and complementary numerical results. The relation between seasonal circulation and forcing mechanisms is explored through the depth-averaged momentum balance, for the period between May 2010 and April 2011, when velocity observations were partially available. The monthly-mean along-shelf flow is mainly controlled by the along-shelf pressure gradient and by surface and bottom stresses. During summer, fall, and winter, the along-shelf momentum balance is dominated by the barotropic pressure gradient and local winds. During spring, both wind stress and pressure gradient act in the same direction and are compensated by bottom stress. In the cross-shelf direction the dominant forces are in geostrophic balance, consistent with dynamic altimetry data.

Separating the effects of repulsive and attractive forces on the phase diagram, interfacial, and critical properties of simple fluids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fuentes-Herrera, M.; Moreno-Razo, J. A.; Guzmán, O.; López-Lemus, J.; Ibarra-Tandi, B.

2016-06-01

Molecular simulations in the canonical and isothermal-isobaric ensembles were performed to study the effect of varying the shape of the intermolecular potential on the phase diagram, critical, and interfacial properties of model fluids. The molecular interactions were modeled by the Approximate Non-Conformal (ANC) theory potentials. Unlike the Lennard-Jones or Morse potentials, the ANC interactions incorporate parameters (called softnesses) that modulate the steepness of the potential in their repulsive and attractive parts independently. This feature allowed us to separate unambiguously the role of each region of the potential on setting the thermophysical properties. In particular, we found positive linear correlation between all critical coordinates and the attractive and repulsive softness, except for the critical density and the attractive softness which are negatively correlated. Moreover, we found that the physical properties related to phase coexistence (such as span of the liquid phase between the critical and triple points, variations in the P-T vaporization curve, interface width, and surface tension) are more sensitive to changes in the attractive softness than to the repulsive one. Understanding the different roles of attractive and repulsive forces on phase coexistence may contribute to developing more accurate models of liquids and their mixtures.

Separating the effects of repulsive and attractive forces on the phase diagram, interfacial, and critical properties of simple fluids.

PubMed

Fuentes-Herrera, M; Moreno-Razo, J A; Guzmán, O; López-Lemus, J; Ibarra-Tandi, B

2016-06-07

Molecular simulations in the canonical and isothermal-isobaric ensembles were performed to study the effect of varying the shape of the intermolecular potential on the phase diagram, critical, and interfacial properties of model fluids. The molecular interactions were modeled by the Approximate Non-Conformal (ANC) theory potentials. Unlike the Lennard-Jones or Morse potentials, the ANC interactions incorporate parameters (called softnesses) that modulate the steepness of the potential in their repulsive and attractive parts independently. This feature allowed us to separate unambiguously the role of each region of the potential on setting the thermophysical properties. In particular, we found positive linear correlation between all critical coordinates and the attractive and repulsive softness, except for the critical density and the attractive softness which are negatively correlated. Moreover, we found that the physical properties related to phase coexistence (such as span of the liquid phase between the critical and triple points, variations in the P-T vaporization curve, interface width, and surface tension) are more sensitive to changes in the attractive softness than to the repulsive one. Understanding the different roles of attractive and repulsive forces on phase coexistence may contribute to developing more accurate models of liquids and their mixtures.

Fluid Surface Deformation by Objects in the Cheerios Effect

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nguyen, Khoi; Miller, Michael; Mandre, Shreyas; Mandre Lab Team

2012-11-01

Small objects floating on a fluid/air interface deform of the surface depending on material surface properties, density, and geometry. These objects attract each other through capillary interactions, a phenomenon dubbed the ``cheerios effect.'' The attractive force and torque exerted on these objects by the interface can be estimated if the meniscus deformation is known. In addition, the floating objects can also rotate due to such an interaction. We present a series of experiments focused on visualizing the the motions of the floating objects and the deformation of the interface. The experiments involve thin laser-cut acrylic pieces attracting each other on water in a large glass petri dish and a camera set-up to capture the process. Furthermore, optical distortion of a grid pattern is used to visualize the water surface deformation near the edge of the objects. This study of the deformation of the water surface around a floating object, of the attractive/repulsive forces, and of post-contact rotational dynamics are potentially instrumental in the study of colloidal self-assembly.

The Azimuthally Averaged Boundary Layer Structure of a Numerically Simulated Major Hurricane

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-08-14

layer in which the effects of sur- face friction are associated with significant departures from gradient wind balance. The boundary layer in the... effects of surface friction are associated with significant departures from gradient wind balance. More specifically, we follow Key Points: The...comprises a balance between three horizontal forces: Coriolis , pressure gradient, and friction. The boundary layer flow is characterized by a large Reynolds

Application of gradient elasticity to benchmark problems of beam vibrations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kateb, K. M.; Almitani, K. H.; Alnefaie, K. A.; Abu-Hamdeh, N. H.; Papadopoulos, P.; Askes, H.; Aifantis, E. C.

2016-04-01

The gradient approach, specifically gradient elasticity theory, is adopted to revisit certain typical configurations on mechanical vibrations. New results on size effects and scale-dependent behavior not captured by classical elasticity are derived, aiming at illustrating the usefulness of this approach to applications in advanced technologies. In particular, elastic prismatic straight beams in bending are discussed using two different governing equations: the gradient elasticity bending moment equation (fourth order) and the gradient elasticity deflection equation (sixth order). Different boundary/support conditions are examined. One problem considers the free vibrations of a cantilever beam loaded by an end force. A second problem is concerned with a simply supported beam disturbed by a concentrated force in the middle of the beam. Both problems are solved analytically. Exact free vibration frequencies and mode shapes are derived and presented. The difference between the gradient elasticity solution and its classical counterpart is revealed. The size ratio c/L (c denotes internal length and L is the length of the beam) induces significant effects on vibration frequencies. For both beam configurations, it turns out that as the ratio c/L increases, the vibration frequencies decrease, a fact which implies lower beam stiffness. Numerical examples show this behavior explicitly and recover the classical vibration behavior for vanishing size ratio c/L.

Direct determination of the driving forces for taurocholate uptake into rat liver plasma membrane vesicles.

PubMed

Duffy, M C; Blitzer, B L; Boyer, J L

1983-10-01

To determine directly the driving forces for bile acid entry into the hepatocyte, the uptake of [3H]taurocholic acid into rat liver plasma membrane vesicles was studied. The membrane preparation contained predominantly right-side-out vesicles, and was highly enriched in plasma membrane marker enzymes. The uptake of taurocholate at equilibrium was inversely related to medium osmolarity, indicating transport into an osmotically sensitive space. In the presence of an inwardly directed sodium gradient (NaCl or sodium gluconate), the initial rate of uptake was rapid and taurocholate was transiently accumulated at a concentration twice that at equilibrium (overshoot). Other inwardly directed cation gradients (K+, Li+, choline+) or the presence of sodium in the absence of a gradient (Na+ equilibrated) resulted in a slower initial uptake rate and did not sustain an overshoot. Bile acids inhibited sodium-dependent taurocholate uptake, whereas bromsulphthalein inhibited both sodium-dependent and sodium-independent uptake and D-glucose had no effect on uptake. Uptake was temperature dependent, with maximal overshoots occurring at 25 degrees C. Imposition of a proton gradient across the vesicle (pHo less than pHi) in the absence of a sodium gradient failed to enhance taurocholate uptake, indicating that double ion exchange (Na+-H+, OH- -anion) is unlikely. Creation of a negative intravesicular potential by altering accompanying anions or by valinomycin-induced K+-diffusion potentials did not enhance taurocholate uptake, suggesting an electroneutral transport mechanism. The kinetics of taurocholate uptake demonstrated saturability with a Michaelis constant at 52 microM and maximum velocity of 4.5 nmol X mg-1 X protein X min-1. These studies provide definitive evidence for a sodium gradient-dependent, carrier-mediated, electrically neutral transport mechanism for hepatic taurocholate uptake. These findings are consistent with a model for bile secretion in which the basolateral enzyme Na+,K+-ATPase provides the driving force for "uphill" bile acid transport by establishing a trans-membrane sodium gradient.

Oscillating microbubbles for selective particle sorting in acoustic microfluidic devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rogers, Priscilla; Xu, Lin; Neild, Adrian

2012-05-01

In this study, acoustic waves were used to excite a microbubble for selective particle trapping and sorting. Excitation of the bubble at its volume resonance, as necessary to drive strong fluid microstreaming, resulted in the particles being either selectively attracted to the bubble or continuing to follow the local microstreamlines. The operating principle exploited two acoustic phenomena acting on the particle suspension: the drag force arising from the acoustic microstreaming and the secondary Bjerknes force, i.e. the attractive radiation force produced between an oscillating bubble and a non-buoyant particle. It was also found that standing wave fields within the fluid chamber could be used to globally align bubbles and particles for local particle sorting by the bubble.

Combined gradient projection/single component artificial force induced reaction (GP/SC-AFIR) method for an efficient search of minimum energy conical intersection (MECI) geometries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harabuchi, Yu; Taketsugu, Tetsuya; Maeda, Satoshi

2017-04-01

We report a new approach to search for structures of minimum energy conical intersection (MECIs) automatically. Gradient projection (GP) method and single component artificial force induced reaction (SC-AFIR) method were combined in the present approach. As case studies, MECIs of benzene and naphthalene between their ground and first excited singlet electronic states (S0/S1-MECIs) were explored. All S0/S1-MECIs reported previously were obtained automatically. Furthermore, the number of force calculations was reduced compared to the one required in the previous search. Improved convergence in a step in which various geometrical displacements are induced by SC-AFIR would contribute to the cost reduction.

Resistance to densification, tensile strength and capsule-filling performance of some pharmaceutical diluents.

PubMed

Nikolakakis, I; Aragon, O B; Malamataris, S

1998-07-01

The purpose of this study was to compare some indicators of capsule-filling performance, as measured by tapped density under different conditions, and elucidate possible quantitative relationships between variation of capsule fill-weight (%CV) and gravitational and inter-particle forces (attractive or frictional) derived from measurements of particle size, true density, low compression and tensile strength. Five common pharmaceutical diluents (lactose, maize starch, talc, Emcocel and Avicel) were investigated and two capsule-filling methods (pouring powder and dosator nozzle) were employed. It was found that for the pouring-type method the appropriateness of Hausner's ratio (HR), Carr's compressibility index (CC%) and Kawakita's constant (alpha) as indicators of capsule fill-weight variation decreases in the order alpha > CC% > HR; the appropriateness of these indicators also decreases with increasing cylinder size and with impact velocity during tapping. For the dosator-type method the appropriateness of the indicators decreases in the order HR > CC% > alpha, the opposite of that for the pouring-type method; the appropriateness of the indicators increases with decreasing cylinder size and impact velocity. The relationship between %CV and the ratio of inter-particle attractive to gravitational forces calculated from measurements of particle size and true density (Fvdw/Wp) was more significant for the pouring-type capsule-filling method. For the dosator-type method a significant relationship (1% level) was found between %CV and the product of Fvdw/Wp and a function expressing the increase, with packing density (p(f)), in the ratio of frictional to attractive inter-particle forces derived from compression (P) and tensile-strength (T) testing, d(log(P/T))/d(p(f)). The value of tapped density in predictions of capsule-filling performance is affected by the testing conditions in a manner depending on the filling method applied. For the pouring-type method predictions can be based on the ratio of attractive (inter-particle) to gravitational forces, whereas for the dosator-type method the contribution of frictional and attractive forces should, because of packing density change, also be taken into account.

On configurational forces for gradient-enhanced inelasticity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Floros, Dimosthenis; Larsson, Fredrik; Runesson, Kenneth

2018-04-01

In this paper we discuss how configurational forces can be computed in an efficient and robust manner when a constitutive continuum model of gradient-enhanced viscoplasticity is adopted, whereby a suitably tailored mixed variational formulation in terms of displacements and micro-stresses is used. It is demonstrated that such a formulation produces sufficient regularity to overcome numerical difficulties that are notorious for a local constitutive model. In particular, no nodal smoothing of the internal variable fields is required. Moreover, the pathological mesh sensitivity that has been reported in the literature for a standard local model is no longer present. Numerical results in terms of configurational forces are shown for (1) a smooth interface and (2) a discrete edge crack. The corresponding configurational forces are computed for different values of the intrinsic length parameter. It is concluded that the convergence of the computed configurational forces with mesh refinement depends strongly on this parameter value. Moreover, the convergence behavior for the limit situation of rate-independent plasticity is unaffected by the relaxation time parameter.

Atomistic study of a nanometer-scale pump based on the thermal ratchet concept

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oyarzua, Elton; Walther, J. H.; Zambrano, Harvey

2015-11-01

In this study, a novel concept of nanoscale pump fabricated using Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) is presented. The development of nanofluidic systems provides unprecedented possibilities for the control of biology and chemistry at the molecular level with potential applications in low energy cost devices, novel medical tools, and a new generation of sensors. CNTs offer a number of attractive features for the fabrication of fluidic nanodevices including fast flow, useful electronic and thermal properties, high mechanical strength and biocompatibility. Therefore, the transport of liquids in CNTs is now of great interest in nanofluidics. Thermophoresis is the phenomenon observed when a mixture of two or more types of motile objects experience a force induced by a thermal gradient and the different types of objects respond to it differently, inducing a motion and segregation of the objects. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we explore the possibility to design thermophoretic pumping devices fabricated of CNTs for water transport in nanoconduits. The design of the nanopumps is based on the concept of the Feynman-Smoluchowski ratchet. We aknowledge partial support from Fondecyt project 11130559 and Redoc udec.

Pattern-formation under acoustic driving forces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Valverde, Jose Manuel

2015-07-01

Chemical and metallurgical processes enhanced by high intensity acoustic waves, thermoacoustic engines and refrigerators, fuel rods in nuclear reactors, heat exchanger tubes, offshore and vibrating structures, solar thermal collectors, acoustic levitators, microfluidic devices, cycling, musical acoustics, blood flow through veins/arteries, hearing in the mammalian ear, carbon nanotube loudspeakers, etc. The evolution of a myriad of processes involving the oscillation of viscous fluids in the presence of solid boundaries is up to a certain extent influenced by acoustic streaming. In addition to the sound field, viscous energy dissipation at the fluid-solid boundary causes a time-independent fluid circulation, which can lead to a significant enhancement of heat, mass and momentum transfer at large oscillation amplitudes. A particularly relevant phenomenon that can be notably affected by acoustic streaming is the promotion of sound waves by temperature gradients or viceversa (thermoacoustics), which is at the basis of potentially efficient and environmental friendly engines and refrigerators that have attracted a renewed interest in the last years. In the present manuscript, historical developments and the underlying basic physics behind acoustic streaming and thermoacoustics are reviewed from an unifying perspective.

Science Can Be Attractive.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Leyden, Michael B.

1994-01-01

Discusses the properties of neodymium magnets and magnets in general and how magnets can be used to teach students important scientific principles, such as attraction, repulsion, and polarity; the role of magnetic forces in electronic communications and computers; the magnetic properties of the earth and compasses; and the relationship between…

Massive antigravity field and incomplete black hole evaporation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Massa, Corrado

2008-04-01

If gravity is a mixture of the ordinary attractive force carried by the massless graviton, and of a repulsive force carried by a particle with nonzero mass, an evaporating black hole might leave a stable remnant.

The rate of collisions due to Brownian or gravitational motion of small drops

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zhang, Xiaoguang; Davis, Robert H.

1991-01-01

Quantitative predictions of the collision rate of two spherical drops undergoing Brownian diffusion or gravitational sedimentation are presented. The diffusion equation for relative Brownian motion of two drops is derived, and the relative motion of pairs of drops in gravitational sedimentation is traced via a trajectory analysis in order to develop theoretical models to determine the collision efficiencies, both with and without interparticle forces applied between the drops. It is concluded that finite collision rates between nondeforming fluid drops are possible for Brownian diffusion or gravitational sedimentation in the absence of attractive forces, in stark contrast to the prediction that lubrication forces prevent rigid spheres from contacting each other unless an attractive force that becomes infinite as the separation approaches zero is applied. Collision rates are shown to increase as the viscosity of the drop-phase decreases. In general, hydrodynamic interactions reduce the collision rates more for gravitational collisions than for Brownian collisions.

Influence of the shell thickness and charge distribution on the effective interaction between two like-charged hollow spheres.

PubMed

Angelescu, Daniel G; Caragheorgheopol, Dan

2015-10-14

The mean-force and the potential of the mean force between two like-charged spherical shells were investigated in the salt-free limit using the primitive model and Monte Carlo simulations. Apart from an angular homogeneous distribution, a discrete charge distribution where point charges localized on the shell outer surface followed an icosahedral arrangement was considered. The electrostatic coupling of the model system was altered by the presence of mono-, trivalent counterions or small dendrimers, each one bearing a net charge of 9 e. We analyzed in detail how the shell thickness and the radial and angular distribution of the shell charges influenced the effective interaction between the shells. We found a sequence of the potential of the mean force similar to the like-charged filled spheres, ranging from long-range purely repulsive to short-range purely attractive as the electrostatic coupling increased. Both types of potentials were attenuated and an attractive-to-repulsive transition occurred in the presence of trivalent counterions as a result of (i) thinning the shell or (ii) shifting the shell charge from the outer towards the inner surface. The potential of the mean force became more attractive with the icosahedrally symmetric charge model, and additionally, at least one shell tended to line up with 5-fold symmetry axis along the longest axis of the simulation box at the maximum attraction. The results provided a basic framework of understanding the non-specific electrostatic origin of the agglomeration and long-range assembly of the viral nanoparticles.

Possible Potentials Responsible for Stable Circular Relativistic Orbits

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kumar, Prashant; Bhattacharya, Kaushik

2011-01-01

Bertrand's theorem in classical mechanics of the central force fields attracts us because of its predictive power. It categorically proves that there can only be two types of forces which can produce stable, circular orbits. In this paper an attempt has been made to generalize Bertrand's theorem to the central force problem of relativistic…

Dynamic Image Forces Near a Metal Surface and the Point-Charge Motion

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gabovich, A. M.; Voitenko, A. I.

2012-01-01

The problem of charge motion governed by image force attraction near a plane metal surface is considered and solved self-consistently. The temporal dispersion of metal dielectric permittivity makes the image forces dynamic and, hence, finite, contrary to the results of the conventional approach. Therefore, the maximal attainable velocity turns out…

Interactions between similar and dissimilar charged interfaces in the presence of multivalent anions.

PubMed

Moazzami-Gudarzi, Mohsen; Adam, Pavel; Smith, Alexander M; Trefalt, Gregor; Szilágyi, István; Maroni, Plinio; Borkovec, Michal

2018-04-04

Direct force measurements involving amidine latex (AL) and sulfate latex (SL) particles in aqueous solutions containing multivalent ferrocyanide anions are presented. These measurements feature three different pairs of particles, namely SL-SL, AL-SL, and AL-AL. The force profiles are quantitatively interpreted in terms of the theory by Derjaguin, Landau, Verwey, and Overbeek (DLVO) that is combined with a short-ranged exponential attraction. In monovalent salt solutions, the AL particles are positively charged, while the SL particles are negatively charged. In solutions containing ferrocyanide, the charge of the AL particles is reversed as the concentration is increased. The longer-ranged component of all force profiles is fully compatible with DLVO theory, provided effects of charge regulation are included. At shorter distances, an additional exponential attraction must be introduced, whereby the respective decay length is about 2 nm for the AL-AL pair, and below 1 nm for the SL-SL pair. This non-DLVO force is intermediate for the asymmetric AL-SL pair. These additional forces are probably related to charge fluctuations, patch-charged interactions, or hydrophobic forces.

Optoelectrofluidic field separation based on light-intensity gradients

PubMed Central

Lee, Sanghyun; Park, Hyun Jin; Yoon, Jin Sung; Kang, Kwan Hyoung

2010-01-01

Optoelectrofluidic field separation (OEFS) of particles under light -intensity gradient (LIG) is reported, where the LIG illumination on the photoconductive layer converts the short-ranged dielectrophoresis (DEP) force to the long-ranged one. The long-ranged DEP force can compete with the hydrodynamic force by alternating current electro-osmosis (ACEO) over the entire illumination area for realizing effective field separation of particles. In the OEFS system, the codirectional illumination and observation induce the levitation effect, compensating the attenuation of the DEP force under LIG illumination by slightly floating particles from the surface. Results of the field separation and concentration of diverse particle pairs (0.82–16 μm) are well demonstrated, and conditions determining the critical radius and effective particle manipulation are discussed. The OEFS with codirectional LIG strategy could be a promising particle manipulation method in many applications where a rapid manipulation of biological cells and particles over the entire working area are of interest. PMID:20697461

Optoelectrofluidic field separation based on light-intensity gradients.

PubMed

Lee, Sanghyun; Park, Hyun Jin; Yoon, Jin Sung; Kang, Kwan Hyoung

2010-07-14

Optoelectrofluidic field separation (OEFS) of particles under light -intensity gradient (LIG) is reported, where the LIG illumination on the photoconductive layer converts the short-ranged dielectrophoresis (DEP) force to the long-ranged one. The long-ranged DEP force can compete with the hydrodynamic force by alternating current electro-osmosis (ACEO) over the entire illumination area for realizing effective field separation of particles. In the OEFS system, the codirectional illumination and observation induce the levitation effect, compensating the attenuation of the DEP force under LIG illumination by slightly floating particles from the surface. Results of the field separation and concentration of diverse particle pairs (0.82-16 mum) are well demonstrated, and conditions determining the critical radius and effective particle manipulation are discussed. The OEFS with codirectional LIG strategy could be a promising particle manipulation method in many applications where a rapid manipulation of biological cells and particles over the entire working area are of interest.

Evolution of Edge Pedestal Profiles Over the L-H Transition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sayer, M. S.; Stacey, W. M.; Floyd, J. P.; Groebner, R. J.

2012-10-01

The detailed time evolution of thermal diffusivities, electromagnetic forces, pressure gradients, particle pinch and momentum transport frequencies (which determine the diffusion coefficient) have been analyzed during the L-H transition in a DIII-D discharge. Density, temperature, rotation velocity and electric field profiles at times just before and after the L-H transition are analyzed in terms of these quantities. The analysis is based on the fluid particle balance, energy balance, force balance and heat conduction equations, as in Ref. [1], but with much greater time resolution and with account for thermal ion orbit loss. The variation of diffusive and non-diffusive transport over the L-H transition is determined from the variation in the radial force balance (radial electric field, VxB force, and pressure gradient) and the variation in the interpreted diffusive transport coefficients. 6pt [1] W.M. Stacey and R.J. Groebner, Phys. Plasmas 17, 112512 (2010).

Surface effects on friction-induced fluid heating in nanochannel flows.

PubMed

Li, Zhigang

2009-02-01

We investigate the mechanism of friction-induced fluid heating under the influence of surfaces. The temperature distributions of liquid argon and helium in nanoscale Poiseuille flows are studied through molecular dynamics simulations. It is found that the fluid heating is mainly caused by the viscous friction in the fluid when the external force is small and there is no slip at the fluid-solid interface. When the external force is larger than the fluid-surface binding force, the friction at the fluid-solid interface dominates over the internal friction of the fluid and is the major contribution to fluid heating. An asymmetric temperature gradient in the fluid is developed in the case of nonidentical walls and the general temperature gradient may change sign as the dominant heating factor changes from internal to interfacial friction with increasing external force. The effect of temperature on the fluid heating is also discussed.

On Thermodiffusion and Gauge Transformations for Thermodynamic Fluxes and Driving Forces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goldobin, D. S.

2017-12-01

We discuss the molecular diffusion transport in infinitely dilute liquid solutions under nonisothermal conditions. This discussion is motivated by an occurring misinterpretation of thermodynamic transport equations written in terms of chemical potential in the presence of temperature gradient. The transport equations contain the contributions owned by a gauge transformation related to the fact that chemical potential is determined up to the summand of form ( AT + B) with arbitrary constants A and B, where constant A is owned by the entropy invariance with respect to shifts by a constant value and B is owned by the potential energy invariance with respect to shifts by a constant value. The coefficients of the cross-effect terms in thermodynamic fluxes are contributed by this gauge transformation and, generally, are not the actual cross-effect physical transport coefficients. Our treatment is based on consideration of the entropy balance and suggests a promising hint for attempts of evaluation of the thermal diffusion constant from the first principles. We also discuss the impossibility of the "barodiffusion" for dilute solutions, understood in a sense of diffusion flux driven by the pressure gradient itself. When one speaks of "barodiffusion" terms in literature, these terms typically represent the drift in external potential force field (e.g., electric or gravitational fields), where in the final equations the specific force on molecules is substituted with an expression with the hydrostatic pressure gradient this external force field produces. Obviously, the interpretation of the latter as barodiffusion is fragile and may hinder the accounting for the diffusion fluxes produced by the pressure gradient itself.

Fast Transport of Water Droplets over a Thermo-Switchable Surface Using Rewritable Wettability Gradient.

PubMed

Banuprasad, Theneyur Narayanaswamy; Vinay, Thamarasseril Vijayan; Subash, Cherumannil Karumuthil; Varghese, Soney; George, Sajan D; Varanakkottu, Subramanyan Namboodiri

2017-08-23

In spite of the reported temperature dependent tunability in wettability of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) surfaces for below and above lower critical solution temperature (32 °C), the transport of water droplets is inhibited by the large contact angle hysteresis. Herein, for the first time, we report on-demand, fast, and reconfigurable droplet manipulation over a PNIPAAm grafted structured polymer surface using temperature-induced wettability gradient. Our study reveals that the PNIPAAm grafted on intrinsically superhydrophobic surfaces exhibit hydrophilic nature with high contact angle hysteresis below 30 °C and superhydrophobic nature with ultralow contact angle hysteresis above 36 °C. The transition region between 30 and 36 °C is characterized by a large change in water contact angle (∼100°) with a concomitant change in contact angle hysteresis. By utilizing this "transport zone" wherein driving forces overcome the frictional forces, we demonstrate macroscopic transport of water drops with a maximum transport velocity of approximately 40 cm/s. The theoretical calculations on the force measurements concur with dominating behavior of driving forces across the transport zone. The tunability in transport velocity by varying the temperature gradient along the surface or the inclination angle of the surface (maximum angle of 15° with a reduced velocity 0.4 mm/s) is also elucidated. In addition, as a practical application, coalescence of water droplets is demonstrated by using the temperature controlled wettability gradient. The presented results are expected to provide new insights on the design and fabrication of smart multifunctional surfaces for applications such as biochemical analysis, self-cleaning, and microfluidics.

14 CFR 25.253 - High-speed characteristics.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... of the elevator control force versus speed curve need not be stable at speeds greater than VFC/MFC, but there must be a push force at all speeds up to VDF/MDF and there must be no sudden or excessive... movements, low stick force gradient in relation to control friction, passenger movement, leveling off from...

Chemotaxis study using optical tweezers to observe the strength and directionality of forces of Leishmania amazonensis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pozzo, Liliana d. Y.; Fontes, Adriana; de Thomaz, André A.; Barbosa, Luiz C.; Ayres, Diana C.; Giorgio, Selma; Cesar, Carlos L.

2006-08-01

The displacements of a dielectric microspheres trapped by an optical tweezers (OT) can be used as a force transducer for mechanical measurements in life sciences. This system can measure forces on the 50 femto Newtons to 200 pico Newtons range, of the same order of magnitude of a typical forces induced by flagellar motion. The process in which living microorganisms search for food and run away from poison chemicals is known is chemotaxy. Optical tweezers can be used to obtain a better understanding of chemotaxy by observing the force response of the microorganism when placed in a gradient of attractors and or repelling chemicals. This report shows such observations for the protozoa Leishmania amazomenzis, responsible for the leishmaniasis, a serious tropical disease. We used a quadrant detector to monitor the movement of the protozoa for different chemicals gradient. This way we have been able to observe both the force strength and its directionality. The characterization of the chemotaxis of these parasites can help to understand the infection mechanics and improve the diagnosis and the treatments employed for this disease.

Plasma versus Drude Modeling of the Casimir Force: Beyond the Proximity Force Approximation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hartmann, Michael; Ingold, Gert-Ludwig; Neto, Paulo A. Maia

2017-07-01

We calculate the Casimir force and its gradient between a spherical and a planar gold surface. Significant numerical improvements allow us to extend the range of accessible parameters into the experimental regime. We compare our numerically exact results with those obtained within the proximity force approximation (PFA) employed in the analysis of all Casimir force experiments reported in the literature so far. Special attention is paid to the difference between the Drude model and the dissipationless plasma model at zero frequency. It is found that the correction to PFA is too small to explain the discrepancy between the experimental data and the PFA result based on the Drude model. However, it turns out that for the plasma model, the corrections to PFA lie well outside the experimental bound obtained by probing the variation of the force gradient with the sphere radius [D. E. Krause et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 050403 (2007), 10.1103/PhysRevLett.98.050403]. The corresponding corrections based on the Drude model are significantly smaller but still in violation of the experimental bound for small distances between plane and sphere.

Proton Gradients as a Key Physical Factor in the Evolution of the Forced Transport Mechanism Across the Lipid Membrane.

PubMed

Strbak, Oliver; Kanuchova, Zuzana; Krafcik, Andrej

2016-11-01

A critical phase in the transition from prebiotic chemistry to biological evolution was apparently an asymmetric ion flow across the lipid membrane. Due to imbalance in the ion flow, the early lipid vesicles could selectively take the necessary molecules from the environment, and release the side-products from the vesicle. Natural proton gradients played a definitively crucial role in this process, since they remain the basis of energy transfer in the present-day cells. On the basis of this supposition, and the premise of the early vesicle membrane's impermeability to protons, we have shown that the emergence of the proton gradient in the lipid vesicle could be a key physical factor in the evolution of the forced transport mechanism (pore formation and active transport) across the lipid bilayer. This driven flow of protons across the membrane is the result of the electrochemical proton gradient and osmotic pressures on the integrity of the lipid vesicle. At a critical number of new lipid molecules incorporated into the vesicle, the energies associated with the creation of the proton gradient exceed the bending stiffness of the lipid membrane, and overlap the free energy of the lipid bilayer pore formation.

Magnetically operated check valve

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Morris, Brian G. (Inventor); Bozeman, Richard J., Jr. (Inventor)

1994-01-01

A magnetically operated check valve is disclosed. The valve is comprised of a valve body and a movable poppet disposed therein. A magnet attracts the poppet to hold the valve shut until the force of fluid flow through the valve overcomes the magnetic attraction and moves the poppet to an unseated, open position. The poppet and magnet are configured and disposed to trap a magnetically attracted particulate and prevent it from flowing to a valve seating region.

Magnetically operated check valve

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morris, Brian G.; Bozeman, Richard J., Jr.

1993-03-01

A magnetically operated check valve is disclosed having, in one aspect, a valve body and a movable poppet disposed therein. A magnet attracts the poppet to hold the valve shut until the force of fluid flow through the valve overcomes the magnetic attraction and moves the poppet to an unseated, open position. The poppet and magnet are configured and disposed to trap a magnetically attracted particulate and prevent it from flowing to a valve seating region.

Magnetically operated check valve

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morris, Brian G.; Bozeman, Richard J., Jr.

1994-06-01

A magnetically operated check valve is disclosed. The valve is comprised of a valve body and a movable poppet disposed therein. A magnet attracts the poppet to hold the valve shut until the force of fluid flow through the valve overcomes the magnetic attraction and moves the poppet to an unseated, open position. The poppet and magnet are configured and disposed to trap a magnetically attracted particulate and prevent it from flowing to a valve seating region.

Interfacial interactions between plastic particles in plastics flotation.

PubMed

Wang, Chong-qing; Wang, Hui; Gu, Guo-hua; Fu, Jian-gang; Lin, Qing-quan; Liu, You-nian

2015-12-01

Plastics flotation used for recycling of plastic wastes receives increasing attention for its industrial application. In order to study the mechanism of plastics flotation, the interfacial interactions between plastic particles in flotation system were investigated through calculation of Lifshitz-van der Waals (LW) function, Lewis acid-base (AB) Gibbs function, and the extended Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek potential energy profiles. The results showed that van der Waals force between plastic particles is attraction force in flotation system. The large hydrophobic attraction, caused by the AB Gibbs function, is the dominant interparticle force. Wetting agents present significant effects on the interfacial interactions between plastic particles. It is found that adsorption of wetting agents promotes dispersion of plastic particles and decreases the floatability. Pneumatic flotation may improve the recovery and purity of separated plastics through selective adsorption of wetting agents on plastic surface. The relationships between hydrophobic attraction and surface properties were also examined. It is revealed that there exists a three-order polynomial relationship between the AB Gibbs function and Lewis base component. Our finding provides some insights into mechanism of plastics flotation. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Theoretical modeling of the effect of Casimir attraction on the electrostatic instability of nanowire-fabricated actuators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mokhtari, J.; Farrokhabadi, A.; Rach, R.; Abadyan, M.

2015-04-01

The presence of the quantum vacuum fluctuations, i.e. the Casimir attraction, can strongly affect the performance of ultra-small actuators. The strength of the Casimir force is significantly influenced by the geometries of interacting bodies. Previous research has exclusively studied the impact of the vacuum fluctuations on the instability of nanoactuators with planar geometries. However, no work has yet considered this phenomenon in actuators fabricated from nanowires/nanotubes with cylindrical geometries. In our present work, the influence of the Casimir attraction on the electrostatic stability of nanoactuators fabricated from cylindrical conductive nanowire/nanotube is investigated. The Dirichlet mode is considered and an asymptotic solution, based on scattering theory, is applied to consider the effect of vacuum fluctuations in the theoretical model. The size-dependent modified couple stress theory is employed to derive the constitutive equation of the actuator. The governing nonlinear equations are solved by two different approaches, i.e. the finite difference method and modified Adomian-Padé method. Various aspects of the problem, i.e. comparison with the van der Waals force regime, the variation of instability parameters, effect of geometry and coupling between the Casimir force and size dependency are discussed. This work is beneficial to determine the impact of Casimir force on nanowire/nanotube-fabricated actuators.

Dynamics of Two Interactive Bubbles in An Acoustic Field - Part II: Experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ashgriz, Nasser; Barbat, Tiberiu; Liu, Ching-Shi

1996-11-01

The motion of two air bubbles levitated in water, in the presence of a high-frequency acoustic field is experimentally studied. The interaction force between them is named "secondary Bjerknes force" and may be significant in microgravity environments; in our experiments the buoyancy effect is compensated through the action of the "primary Bjerknes forces" - interaction between each bubble oscillation and external sound field. The stationary sound field is produced by a piezoceramic tranducer, in the range of 22-24 kHz. The experiments succesfully demonstrate the existence of three patterns of interaction between bubbles of various sizes: attraction, repulsion and oscillation. Bubbles attraction is quantitatively studied using a high speed video, for "large" bubbles (in the range 0.5-2 mm radius); bubbles repulsion and oscillations are only observed with a regular video, for "small" bubbles (around the resonance size at these frequencies, 0.12 mm). Velocities and accelerations of each bubble are computed from the time history of the motion. The theoretical equations of motion are completed with a drag force formula for single bubbles and solved numerically. Experimental results, for the case of two attracting bubbles, are in good agreement with the numerical model, especially for values of the mutual distance greater than 3 large bubble radii.

Robotic Tactile Sensors Fabricated from a Monolithic Silicon Integrated Circuit and a Piezoelectric Polyvinylidene Fluoride Thin Film

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-12-01

gradient will be presented. -Finally, a brief discussion of various piezoelectric materials will be presented, including Rochelle salt, quartz, barium...consideringr a microscopic-level dipole arrangement. The strain induced by ain external force or a tempem at ure gradient changes hie orientation of the...pyroelectric materials, an externally applied temperature gradient can be related to the resulting polarization by a l)yroelectric * constant.1 p (130

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Carbone, L.; Ciani, G.; Dolesi, R.

The low frequency sensitivity of space-borne gravitational wave observatories will depend critically on the geodesic purity of the trajectories of orbiting test masses. Fluctuations in the temperature difference across the enclosure surrounding the free-falling test mass can produce noisy forces through several processes, including the radiometric effect, radiation pressure, and outgassing. We present here a detailed experimental investigation of thermal gradient-induced forces for the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) gravitational wave mission and the LISA Pathfinder, employing high resolution torsion pendulum measurements of the torque on a LISA-like test mass suspended inside a prototype of the LISA gravitational reference sensormore » that will surround the test mass in orbit. The measurement campaign, accompanied by numerical simulations of the radiometric and radiation pressure effects, allows a more accurate and representative characterization of thermal-gradient forces in the specific geometry and environment relevant to LISA free-fall. The pressure dependence of the measured torques allows clear identification of the radiometric effect, in quantitative agreement with the model developed. In the limit of zero gas pressure, the measurements are most likely dominated by outgassing, but at a low level that does not threaten the current LISA noise estimate, which assumes a maximum net force per degree of temperature difference of 100(pN/K) for the overall thermal gradient-induced effects.« less

Measurement of Giardia lamblia adhesion force using an integrated microfluidic assay.

PubMed

Lu, Ling; Zheng, Guo-Xia; Yang, Yu-Suo; Feng, Cheng-Yu; Liu, Fang-Fang; Wang, Yun-Hua

2017-02-01

The mechanisms how Giardias attach to the intestinal epithelium remain unclear. None of the methods currently being used to measure the attachment force could provide a continuous nutrition supply and a micro-aerobic atmosphere to the Giardia. Besides, they are all labor-intensive. In the present research, a microfluidic method based on electric circuit analogy was developed. The input fluid flowed through the inlet channel with different lengths and was distributed in four assay chambers. Shear force gradients were generated in chambers, too. This allowed an easy control of fluids and the shear forces. Most importantly, the shear stress large enough to detach Giardia could be generated in laminar flow regime. Moreover, analysis could be accomplished in one single test. By applying inlet flow rates of 30, 60, and 120 μL ml -1 , shear force gradients ranging from 19.47 to 60.50 Pa were generated. The adhesion forces of trophozoites were analyzed and the EC 50 of the force that caused 50% trophozoites detachment was calculated as 36.60 Pa. This paper presents a novel method for measurement of Giardia adhesion force. Graphical Abstract Measurement of Giardia adhesion force. Various of flow rates were applied to generate different shear forces and Giardia trophozoites remaining attached were counted (a-c). The percentages of attachment vs shear stress were plotted and the EC 50 of adhesion force was calculated (d).

Effects of self-attraction and loading at a regional scale: a test case for the Northwest European Shelf

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Irazoqui Apecechea, Maialen; Verlaan, Martin; Zijl, Firmijn; Le Coz, Camille; Kernkamp, Herman

2017-06-01

The impact of the self-attraction and loading effect (SAL) in a regional 2D barotropic tidal model has been assessed, a term with acknowledged and well-understood importance for global models but omitted for boundary-forced, regional models, for which the implementation of SAL is non-trivial due to its non-local nature. In order to understand the impact of the lack of SAL effects in a regional scale, we have forced a regional model of the Northwest European Continental Shelf and the North Sea (continental shelf model (CSM)) with the SAL potential field derived from a global model (GTSM), in the form of a pressure field. Impacts have been studied in an uncalibrated setup and with only tidal forcing activated, in order to isolate effects. Additionally, the usually adopted simple SAL parameterization, in which the SAL contribution to the total tide is parameterized as a percentage of the barotropic pressure gradient (typically chosen 10%), is also implemented and compared to the results obtained with a full SAL computation. A significant impact on M2 representation is observed in the English Channel, Irish Sea and the west (UK East coast) and south (Belgian and Dutch Coast) of the North Sea, with an impact of up to 20 cm in vector difference terms. The impact of SAL translates into a consistent M2 amplitude and propagation speeds reduction throughout the domain. Results using the beta approximation, with an optimal domain-wide constant value of 1.5%, show a somewhat comparable impact in phase but opposite direction of the impact in amplitude, increasing amplitudes everywhere. In relative terms, both implementations lead to a reduction of the tidal representation error in comparison with the reference run without SAL, with the full SAL approach showing further impacted, improved results. Although the overprediction of tidal amplitudes and propagation speeds in the reference run might have additional sources like the lack of additional dissipative processes and non-considered bottom friction settings, results show an overall significant impact, most remarkable in tidal phases. After showing evidence of the SAL impact in regional models, the question of how to include this physical process in them in an efficient way arises, since SAL is a non-local effect and depends on the instantaneous water levels over the whole ocean, which is non-trivial to implement.

The Distribution of Academic Ability in the Teaching Force: Policy Implications.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vance, Victor S.; Schlechty, Phillip C.

1982-01-01

Data indicate that teaching attracts and retains a disproportionately high percentage of those with low measured academic ability and fails to attract and retain those with high ability. If policy makers wish to change this situation, they must be prepared to pay the price. (Author)

Combined use of heat and saline tracer to estimate aquifer properties in a forced gradient test

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Colombani, N.; Giambastiani, B. M. S.; Mastrocicco, M.

2015-06-01

Usually electrolytic tracers are employed for subsurface characterization, but the interpretation of tracer test data collected by low cost techniques, such as electrical conductivity logging, can be biased by cation exchange reactions. To characterize the aquifer transport properties a saline and heat forced gradient test was employed. The field site, located near Ferrara (Northern Italy), is a well characterized site, which covers an area of 200 m2 and is equipped with a grid of 13 monitoring wells. A two-well (injection and pumping) system was employed to perform the forced gradient test and a straddle packer was installed in the injection well to avoid in-well artificial mixing. The contemporary continuous monitor of hydraulic head, electrical conductivity and temperature within the wells permitted to obtain a robust dataset, which was then used to accurately simulate injection conditions, to calibrate a 3D transient flow and transport model and to obtain aquifer properties at small scale. The transient groundwater flow and solute-heat transport model was built using SEAWAT. The result significance was further investigated by comparing the results with already published column experiments and a natural gradient tracer test performed in the same field. The test procedure shown here can provide a fast and low cost technique to characterize coarse grain aquifer properties, although some limitations can be highlighted, such as the small value of the dispersion coefficient compared to values obtained by natural gradient tracer test, or the fast depletion of heat signal due to high thermal diffusivity.

African Easterly Jet: Structure and Maintenance

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wu, Man-Li C.; Reale, Oreste; Schubert, Siegfried D.; Suarez, Max J.; Koster, Randy D.; Pegion, Philip J.

2009-01-01

This article investigates the African Easterly Jet (AEJ), its structure and the forcings contributing to its maintenance, critically revisiting previous work which attributed the maintenance of the jet to soil moisture gradients over tropical Africa. A state-of-the-art global model in a high-end computer framework is used to produce a 3-member 73-year ensemble run forced by observed SST to represent the Control run. The AEJ as produced by the Control is compared with the representation of the AEJ in the European Center for Medium Range Forecast Reanalyses (ERA-40) and other observational data sets and found very realistic. Five Experiments are then performed, each represented by sets of 3-member 22 year long (1980-2001) ensemble runs. The goal of the Experiments is to investigate the role of meridional soil moisture gradients, different land surface properties and orography. Unlike previous studies, which have suppressed soil moisture gradients within a highly idealized framework (i.e., the so-called bucket model), terrestrial evaporation control is here achieved with a highly sophisticated landsurface treatment and with an extensively tested and complex methodology. The results show that the AEJ is suppressed by a combination of absence of meridional evaporation gradients over Africa and constant vegetation, even if the individual forcings taken separately do not lead to the AEJ disappearance, but only its modification. Moreover, the suppression of orography also leads to a different circulation in which there is no AEJ. This work suggests that it is not just soil moisture gradients, but a unique combination of geographical features present only in northern tropical Africa, which causes and maintains the jet.

Thermally tailored gradient topography surface on elastomeric thin films.

PubMed

Roy, Sudeshna; Bhandaru, Nandini; Das, Ritopa; Harikrishnan, G; Mukherjee, Rabibrata

2014-05-14

We report a simple method for creating a nanopatterned surface with continuous variation in feature height on an elastomeric thin film. The technique is based on imprinting the surface of a film of thermo-curable elastomer (Sylgard 184), which has continuous variation in cross-linking density introduced by means of differential heating. This results in variation of viscoelasticity across the length of the surface and the film exhibits differential partial relaxation after imprinting with a flexible stamp and subjecting it to an externally applied stress for a transient duration. An intrinsic perfect negative replica of the stamp pattern is initially created over the entire film surface as long as the external force remains active. After the external force is withdrawn, there is partial relaxation of the applied stresses, which is manifested as reduction in amplitude of the imprinted features. Due to the spatial viscoelasticity gradient, the extent of stress relaxation induced feature height reduction varies across the length of the film (L), resulting in a surface with a gradient topography with progressively varying feature heights (hF). The steepness of the gradient can be controlled by varying the temperature gradient as well as the duration of precuring of the film prior to imprinting. The method has also been utilized for fabricating wettability gradient surfaces using a high aspect ratio biomimetic stamp. The use of a flexible stamp allows the technique to be extended for creating a gradient topography on nonplanar surfaces as well. We also show that the gradient surfaces with regular structures can be used in combinatorial studies related to pattern directed dewetting.

A General Pressure Gradient Formulation for Ocean Models, Part 1: Scheme Design and Diagnostic Analysis, Part II: Energy, Momentum, and Bottom Torque Consistency

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Song, Y. T.

1998-01-01

A Jacobian formulation of the pressure gradient force for use in models with topography following coordinates is proposed. It can be used in conjunction with any vertical coordinate system and is easily implemented.

Elementary Aharonov-Bohm system in three space dimensions: Quantum attraction with no classical force

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goldhaber, Alfred; Requist, Ryan

2003-07-01

As a consequence of the Aharonov-Bohm effect, there is a quantum-induced attraction between a charged particle and a rigid, impenetrable hoop made from an arbitrarily thin tube containing a superconductor quantum of magnetic flux. This is remarkable because in classical physics there is no force between the two objects, and quantum-mechanical effects (associated with uncertainty-principle energy) generally are repulsive rather than attractive. For an incident spinless charged particle in a P wave (in a configuration with total angular momentum zero) we verify a resonance just above threshold using the Kohn variational principle in its S-matrix form. Even if optimistic choices of parameters describing a model system with these properties were feasible, the temperature required to observe the resonance would be far lower than has yet been attained in the laboratory.

Like-charge attraction in a one-dimensional setting: the importance of being odd

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Trizac, Emmanuel; Téllez, Gabriel

2018-03-01

From cement cohesion to DNA condensation, a proper statistical physics treatment of systems with long-range forces is important for a number of applications in physics, chemistry, and biology. We compute here the effective force between fixed charged macromolecules, screened by oppositely charged mobile ions (counterions). We treat the problem in a one-dimensional configuration that allows for interesting discussion and derivation of exact results, remaining at a level of mathematical difficulty compatible with an undergraduate course. Emphasis is put on the counterintuitive but fundamental phenomenon of like-charge attraction, which our treatment brings for the first time to the level of undergraduate teaching. The parity of the number of counterions is shown to play a prominent role, which sheds light on the binding mechanism at work when like-charge macromolecules do attract.

Radiation-driven rotational motion of nanoparticles

DOE PAGES

Liang, Mengning; Harder, Ross; Robinson, Ian

2018-04-25

Focused synchrotron beams can influence a studied sample via heating, or radiation pressure effects due to intensity gradients. The high angular sensitivity of rotational X-ray tracking (RXT) of crystalline particles via their Bragg reflections can detect extremely small forces such as those caused by field gradients. By tracking the rotational motion of single crystal nanoparticles embedded in a viscous or viscoelastic medium, we observed the effects of heating in a uniform gradient beam and radiation pressure in a Gaussian profile beam. Heating of a few degrees Celsius was measured for 42μm crystals in glycerol and angular velocities of 10 -6rad/smore » due to torques of 10 - 24N∙m were measured for 340nm crystals in a colloidal gel matrix. These results show the ability to quantify small forces using rotation motion of tracer particles.« less

Radiation-driven rotational motion of nanoparticles

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liang, Mengning; Harder, Ross; Robinson, Ian

Focused synchrotron beams can influence a studied sample via heating, or radiation pressure effects due to intensity gradients. The high angular sensitivity of rotational X-ray tracking (RXT) of crystalline particles via their Bragg reflections can detect extremely small forces such as those caused by field gradients. By tracking the rotational motion of single crystal nanoparticles embedded in a viscous or viscoelastic medium, we observed the effects of heating in a uniform gradient beam and radiation pressure in a Gaussian profile beam. Heating of a few degrees Celsius was measured for 42μm crystals in glycerol and angular velocities of 10 -6rad/smore » due to torques of 10 - 24N∙m were measured for 340nm crystals in a colloidal gel matrix. These results show the ability to quantify small forces using rotation motion of tracer particles.« less

Response of Soft Continuous Structures and Topological Defects to a Temperature Gradient.

PubMed

Kurita, Rei; Mitsui, Shun; Tanaka, Hajime

2017-09-08

Thermophoresis, which is mass transport induced by a temperature gradient, has recently attracted considerable attention as a new way to transport materials. So far the study has been focused on the transport of discrete structures such as colloidal particles, proteins, and polymers in solutions. However, the response of soft continuous structures such as membranes and gels to a temperature gradient has been largely unexplored. Here we study the behavior of a lamellar phase made of stacked surfactant bilayer membranes under a temperature gradient. We find the migration of membranes towards a low-temperature region, causing the increase in the degree of membrane undulation fluctuations towards that direction. This is contrary to our intuition that the fluctuations are weaker at a lower temperature. We show that this can be explained by temperature-gradient-induced migration of membranes under the topological constraint coming from the connectivity of each membrane. We also reveal that the pattern of an edge dislocation array formed in a wedge-shaped cell can be controlled by a temperature gradient. These findings suggest that application of a temperature gradient provides a novel way to control the organization of soft continuous structures such as membranes, gels, and foams, in a manner essentially different from the other types of fields, and to manipulate topological defects.

Revisiting chemoaffinity theory: Chemotactic implementation of topographic axonal projection

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

Neural circuits are wired by chemotactic migration of growth cones guided by extracellular guidance cue gradients. How growth cone chemotaxis builds the macroscopic structure of the neural circuit is a fundamental question in neuroscience. I addressed this issue in the case of the ordered axonal projections called topographic maps in the retinotectal system. In the retina and tectum, the erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular (Eph) receptors and their ligands, the ephrins, are expressed in gradients. According to Sperry’s chemoaffinity theory, gradients in both the source and target areas enable projecting axons to recognize their proper terminals, but how axons chemotactically decode their destinations is largely unknown. To identify the chemotactic mechanism of topographic mapping, I developed a mathematical model of intracellular signaling in the growth cone that focuses on the growth cone’s unique chemotactic property of being attracted or repelled by the same guidance cues in different biological situations. The model presented mechanism by which the retinal growth cone reaches the correct terminal zone in the tectum through alternating chemotactic response between attraction and repulsion around a preferred concentration. The model also provided a unified understanding of the contrasting relationships between receptor expression levels and preferred ligand concentrations in EphA/ephrinA- and EphB/ephrinB-encoded topographic mappings. Thus, this study redefines the chemoaffinity theory in chemotactic terms. PMID:28792499

Congested Aggregation via Newtonian Interaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Craig, Katy; Kim, Inwon; Yao, Yao

2018-01-01

We consider a congested aggregation model that describes the evolution of a density through the competing effects of nonlocal Newtonian attraction and a hard height constraint. This provides a counterpoint to existing literature on repulsive-attractive nonlocal interaction models, where the repulsive effects instead arise from an interaction kernel or the addition of diffusion. We formulate our model as the Wasserstein gradient flow of an interaction energy, with a penalization to enforce the constraint on the height of the density. From this perspective, the problem can be seen as a singular limit of the Keller-Segel equation with degenerate diffusion. Two key properties distinguish our problem from previous work on height constrained equations: nonconvexity of the interaction kernel (which places the model outside the scope of classical gradient flow theory) and nonlocal dependence of the velocity field on the density (which causes the problem to lack a comparison principle). To overcome these obstacles, we combine recent results on gradient flows of nonconvex energies with viscosity solution theory. We characterize the dynamics of patch solutions in terms of a Hele-Shaw type free boundary problem and, using this characterization, show that in two dimensions patch solutions converge to a characteristic function of a disk in the long-time limit, with an explicit rate on the decay of the energy. We believe that a key contribution of the present work is our blended approach, combining energy methods with viscosity solution theory.

Temporal sampling, resetting, and adaptation orchestrate gradient sensing in sperm

PubMed Central

Alvarez, Luis; Seifert, Reinhard; Gregor, Ingo; Jäckle, Oliver; Beyermann, Michael; Krause, Eberhard

2012-01-01

Sperm, navigating in a chemical gradient, are exposed to a periodic stream of chemoattractant molecules. The periodic stimulation entrains Ca2+ oscillations that control looping steering responses. It is not known how sperm sample chemoattractant molecules during periodic stimulation and adjust their sensitivity. We report that sea urchin sperm sampled molecules for 0.2–0.6 s before a Ca2+ response was produced. Additional molecules delivered during a Ca2+ response reset the cell by causing a pronounced Ca2+ drop that terminated the response; this reset was followed by a new Ca2+ rise. After stimulation, sperm adapted their sensitivity following the Weber–Fechner law. Taking into account the single-molecule sensitivity, we estimate that sperm can register a minimal gradient of 0.8 fM/µm and be attracted from as far away as 4.7 mm. Many microorganisms sense stimulus gradients along periodic paths to translate a spatial distribution of the stimulus into a temporal pattern of the cell response. Orchestration of temporal sampling, resetting, and adaptation might control gradient sensing in such organisms as well. PMID:22986497

Temporal sampling, resetting, and adaptation orchestrate gradient sensing in sperm.

PubMed

Kashikar, Nachiket D; Alvarez, Luis; Seifert, Reinhard; Gregor, Ingo; Jäckle, Oliver; Beyermann, Michael; Krause, Eberhard; Kaupp, U Benjamin

2012-09-17

Sperm, navigating in a chemical gradient, are exposed to a periodic stream of chemoattractant molecules. The periodic stimulation entrains Ca(2+) oscillations that control looping steering responses. It is not known how sperm sample chemoattractant molecules during periodic stimulation and adjust their sensitivity. We report that sea urchin sperm sampled molecules for 0.2-0.6 s before a Ca(2+) response was produced. Additional molecules delivered during a Ca(2+) response reset the cell by causing a pronounced Ca(2+) drop that terminated the response; this reset was followed by a new Ca(2+) rise. After stimulation, sperm adapted their sensitivity following the Weber-Fechner law. Taking into account the single-molecule sensitivity, we estimate that sperm can register a minimal gradient of 0.8 fM/µm and be attracted from as far away as 4.7 mm. Many microorganisms sense stimulus gradients along periodic paths to translate a spatial distribution of the stimulus into a temporal pattern of the cell response. Orchestration of temporal sampling, resetting, and adaptation might control gradient sensing in such organisms as well.

Optical fringe-reflection deflectometry with sparse representation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiao, Yong-Liang; Li, Sikun; Zhang, Qican; Zhong, Jianxin; Su, Xianyu; You, Zhisheng

2018-05-01

Optical fringe-reflection deflectometry is a surprisingly attractive scratch detection technique for specular surfaces owing to its unparalleled local sensibility. Full-field surface topography is obtained from a measured normal field using gradient integration. However, there may not be an ideal measured gradient field for deflectometry reconstruction in practice. Both the non-integrability condition and various kinds of image noise distributions, which are present in the indirect measured gradient field, may lead to ambiguity about the scratches on specular surfaces. In order to reduce misjudgment of scratches, sparse representation is introduced into the Southwell curl equation for deflectometry. The curl can be represented as a linear combination of the given redundant dictionary for curl and the sparsest solution for gradient refinement. The non-integrability condition and noise permutation can be overcome with sparse representation for gradient refinement. Numerical simulations demonstrate that the accuracy rate of judgment of scratches can be enhanced with sparse representation compared to the standard least-squares integration. Preliminary experiments are performed with the application of practical measured deflectometric data to verify the validity of the algorithm.

Cheerios Effect Controlled by Electrowetting.

PubMed

Yuan, Junqi; Feng, Jian; Cho, Sung Kwon

2015-08-04

The Cheerios effect is a common phenomenon in which small floating objects are either attracted or repelled by the sidewall due to capillary interaction. This attractive or repulsive behavior is highly dependent on the slope angles (angles of the interface on the wall or floating object with respect to a horizontal line) that can be mainly controlled by the wettability of the wall and floating object and the density of the object. In this paper, electrowetting on dielectric (EWOD) is implemented to the wall or floating object in order to actively control the wettability and thus capillary interaction. As such, the capillary force on buoyant and dense floating objects can be easily switched between repulsion and attraction by simply applying an electrical input. In addition, the theoretical prediction for the capillary force is verified experimentally by measuring the motion of floating particle and the critical contact angle on the wall at which the capillary force changes from attraction to repulsion. This successive verification is enabled by the merit of EWOD that allows for continuous change in the contact angle. Finally, the control method is extended to continuously move a floating object along a linear path and to continuously rotate a dumbbell-like floating object in centimeter scales using arrays of EWOD electrodes. A continuous linear motion is also accomplished in a smaller scale where the channel width (3 mm) is comparable to the capillary length.

Magnetothermal Convection of Water with the Presence or Absence of a Magnetic Force Acting on the Susceptibility Gradient.

PubMed

Maki, Syou

2016-01-01

Heat transfer of magnetothermal convection with the presence or absence of the magnetic force acting on the susceptibility gradient (fsc) was examined by three-dimensional numerical computations. Thermal convection of water enclosed in a shallow cylindrical vessel (diameter over vessel height = 6.0) with the Rayleigh-Benard model was adopted as the model, under the conditions of Prandtl number 6.0 and Ra number 7000, respectively. The momentum equations of convection were nondimensionalized, which involved the term of fsc and the term of magnetic force acting on the magnetic field gradient (fb). All the computations resulted in axisymmetric steady rolls. The values of the averaged Nu, the averaged velocity components U, V, and W, and the isothermal distributions and flow patterns were almost completely the same, regardless of the presence or absence of the term of fsc. As a result, we found that the effect of fsc was extremely small, although much previous research emphasized the effect with paramagnetic solutions under an unsteady state. The magnitude of fsc depends not only on magnetic conditions (magnitudes of magnetic susceptibility and magnetic flux density), but also on the thermal properties of the solution (thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, and viscosity). Therefore the effect of fb becomes dominant on the magnetothermal convection. Active control over the density gradient with temperature will be required to advance heat transfer with the effect of fsc.

Retention in the Canadian Forces

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-12-14

cannot ignore market forces in choosing among retention options, the emphasis on building organizational commitment through a relational strategy ...have placed emphasis on developing human resource strategy that will help the British armed force remain competitive in the labour market . In...recruiting budget, expanded their target audiences to include visible minorities, women and aboriginals, and are marketing the CF as an attractive

Ballooning instabilities in tokamaks with sheared toroidal flows

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Waelbroeck, F.L.; Chen, L.

1990-11-01

The stability of ballooning modes in the presence of sheared toroidal flows is investigated. The eigenmodes are shown to be related by a Fourier transformation to the non-exponentially growing Floquet solutions found by Cooper. It is further shown that the problem cannot be reduced further than to a two dimensional partial differential equation. Next, the generalized ballooning equation is solved analytically for a circular tokamak equilibrium with sonic flows, but with a small rotation shear compared to the sound speed. With this ordering, the centrifugal forces are comparable to the pressure gradient forces driving the instability, but coupling of themore » mode with the sound wave is avoided. A new stability criterion is derived which explicitly demonstrates that flow shear is stabilizing at constant centrifugal force gradient. 34 refs.« less

Self-Attractive Random Walks: The Case of Critical Drifts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ioffe, Dmitry; Velenik, Yvan

2012-07-01

Self-attractive random walks (polymers) undergo a phase transition in terms of the applied drift (force): If the drift is strong enough, then the walk is ballistic, whereas in the case of small drifts self-attraction wins and the walk is sub-ballistic. We show that, in any dimension d ≥ 2, this transition is of first order. In fact, we prove that the walk is already ballistic at critical drifts, and establish the corresponding LLN and CLT.

The Amateur Scientist.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Walker, Jearl

1985-01-01

Discusses forces that shape the behavior of water as a drop meanders down a windowpane. A homemade apparatus for studying meanders is described along with several experiments. Contact angles, molecule attraction, surface area, air tension, and gravity drag forces are some of the topics addressed. (DH)

Biomimetic Gradient Polymers with Enhanced Damping Capacities.

PubMed

Wang, Dong; Zhang, Huan; Guo, Jing; Cheng, Beichen; Cao, Yuan; Lu, Shengjun; Zhao, Ning; Xu, Jian

2016-04-01

Designing gradient structures, mimicking biological materials, such as pummelo peels and tendon, is a promising strategy for developing advanced materials with superior energy damping capacities. Here a facile and effective approach for fabricating polymers with composition gradients at millimeter length scale is presented. The gradient thiol-ene polymers (TEPs) are created by the use of density difference of ternary thiol-ene-ene precursors and the subsequent photo-crosslinking via thiol-ene reaction. The compositional gradients are analyzed via differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), compressive modulus testing, atomic force microscopy (AFM) indentation, and swelling measurements. In contrast to homogeneous TEPs networks, the resultant gradient polymer shows a broader effective damping temperature range combining with good mechanical properties. The present result provides an effective route toward high damping materials by the fabrication of gradient structures. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Correlates of Forced Sex Among Young Men Who Have Sex With Men in Yangon and Monywa, Myanmar.

PubMed

Johnston, Lisa G; Mon, Myo Myo; Steinhaus, Mara; Sass, Justine

2017-05-01

Forced sex at an early age is associated with a variety of negative factors including increased illness, high-risk sexual and substance-use behaviors, and mental and psychological stress. These sequelae may be compounded for men who have sex with men (MSM), especially young MSM and those with feminine gender identity and expression. This survey examined the prevalence and associations of forced sex among young MSM in two cities in Myanmar. In 2013-2014, surveys using respondent-driven sampling collected data on 200 young MSM in Yangon and 200 in Monywa. One quarter of young MSM in Yangon and 21 % in Monywa reported ever experiencing forced sex. In a multivariable model, having problems with family members and having any MSM friends with many partners had higher odds of experiencing forced sex. Having maternal acceptance of same-sex attraction (compared to acceptance by both parents) and becoming aware of their same-sex attraction at or above the age of 16 had lower odds of experiencing forced sex. Focused research is needed to understand the family and other social dynamics affecting vulnerability to forced sex, as well as specific sexual risks associated with forced sex among young MSM, including HIV acquisition and transmission risks.

Effect of electromigration-induced back stress gradient on nanoindentation marker movement in SnAgCu solder joints

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Luhua; Pang, John H. L.; Tu, K. N.

2006-11-01

The electromigration-induced back stress in Pb-free SnAgCu solder was studied by an area array of nanoindentation markers on the cross section of a solder joint. The marker movements driven by combined electron wind force and electromigration-induced back stress gradient were measured at different locations. The back stress gradient was determined from the observation of marker motion using the proposed model. With the applied current density of 104A/cm2 at 125°C, the stress gradient near the anode is 97kPa/μm.

Integration of shallow gradients of Shh and Netrin-1 guides commissural axons.

PubMed

Sloan, Tyler F W; Qasaimeh, Mohammad A; Juncker, David; Yam, Patricia T; Charron, Frédéric

2015-03-01

During nervous system development, gradients of Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) and Netrin-1 attract growth cones of commissural axons toward the floor plate of the embryonic spinal cord. Mice defective for either Shh or Netrin-1 signaling have commissural axon guidance defects, suggesting that both Shh and Netrin-1 are required for correct axon guidance. However, how Shh and Netrin-1 collaborate to guide axons is not known. We first quantified the steepness of the Shh gradient in the spinal cord and found that it is mostly very shallow. We then developed an in vitro microfluidic guidance assay to simulate these shallow gradients. We found that axons of dissociated commissural neurons respond to steep but not shallow gradients of Shh or Netrin-1. However, when we presented axons with combined Shh and Netrin-1 gradients, they had heightened sensitivity to the guidance cues, turning in response to shallower gradients that were unable to guide axons when only one cue was present. Furthermore, these shallow gradients polarized growth cone Src-family kinase (SFK) activity only when Shh and Netrin-1 were combined, indicating that SFKs can integrate the two guidance cues. Together, our results indicate that Shh and Netrin-1 synergize to enable growth cones to sense shallow gradients in regions of the spinal cord where the steepness of a single guidance cue is insufficient to guide axons, and we identify a novel type of synergy that occurs when the steepness (and not the concentration) of a guidance cue is limiting.

Collective gradient sensing: fundamental bounds, cluster mechanics, and cell-to-cell variability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Camley, Brian

Many eukaryotic cells chemotax, sensing and following chemical gradients. However, experiments have shown that even under conditions when single cells do not chemotax, small clusters may still follow a gradient. Similar collective motion is also known to occur in response to gradients in substrate stiffness or electric potential (collective durotaxis or galvanotaxis). How can cell clusters sense a gradient that individual cells ignore? I discuss possible ``collective guidance'' mechanisms underlying this motion, where individual cells measure the mean value of the attractant, but need not measure its gradient to give rise to directional motility for a cell cluster. I show that the collective guidance hypothesis can be directly tested by looking for strong orientational effects in pairs of cells chemotaxing. Collective gradient sensing also has a new wrinkle in comparison to single-cell chemotaxis: to accurately determine a gradient direction, a cluster must integrate information from cells with highly variable properties. When is cell-to-cell variation a limiting factor in sensing accuracy? I provide some initial answers, and discuss how cell clusters can sense gradients in a way that is robust to cell-to-cell variation. Interestingly, these strategies may depend on the cluster's mechanics; I develop a bound that links the cluster's chemotactic accuracy and its rheology. This suggests that in some circumstances, mechanical transitions (e.g. unjamming) can control tactic accuracy. Work supported by NIH Grant No. P01 GM078586, NIH Grant No. F32GM110983.

Integration of Shallow Gradients of Shh and Netrin-1 Guides Commissural Axons

PubMed Central

Sloan, Tyler F. W.; Qasaimeh, Mohammad A.; Juncker, David; Yam, Patricia T.; Charron, Frédéric

2015-01-01

During nervous system development, gradients of Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) and Netrin-1 attract growth cones of commissural axons toward the floor plate of the embryonic spinal cord. Mice defective for either Shh or Netrin-1 signaling have commissural axon guidance defects, suggesting that both Shh and Netrin-1 are required for correct axon guidance. However, how Shh and Netrin-1 collaborate to guide axons is not known. We first quantified the steepness of the Shh gradient in the spinal cord and found that it is mostly very shallow. We then developed an in vitro microfluidic guidance assay to simulate these shallow gradients. We found that axons of dissociated commissural neurons respond to steep but not shallow gradients of Shh or Netrin-1. However, when we presented axons with combined Shh and Netrin-1 gradients, they had heightened sensitivity to the guidance cues, turning in response to shallower gradients that were unable to guide axons when only one cue was present. Furthermore, these shallow gradients polarized growth cone Src-family kinase (SFK) activity only when Shh and Netrin-1 were combined, indicating that SFKs can integrate the two guidance cues. Together, our results indicate that Shh and Netrin-1 synergize to enable growth cones to sense shallow gradients in regions of the spinal cord where the steepness of a single guidance cue is insufficient to guide axons, and we identify a novel type of synergy that occurs when the steepness (and not the concentration) of a guidance cue is limiting. PMID:25826604

The role of electrostatics in protein-protein interactions of a monoclonal antibody.

PubMed

Roberts, D; Keeling, R; Tracka, M; van der Walle, C F; Uddin, S; Warwicker, J; Curtis, R

2014-07-07

Understanding how protein-protein interactions depend on the choice of buffer, salt, ionic strength, and pH is needed to have better control over protein solution behavior. Here, we have characterized the pH and ionic strength dependence of protein-protein interactions in terms of an interaction parameter kD obtained from dynamic light scattering and the osmotic second virial coefficient B22 measured by static light scattering. A simplified protein-protein interaction model based on a Baxter adhesive potential and an electric double layer force is used to separate out the contributions of longer-ranged electrostatic interactions from short-ranged attractive forces. The ionic strength dependence of protein-protein interactions for solutions at pH 6.5 and below can be accurately captured using a Deryaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) potential to describe the double layer forces. In solutions at pH 9, attractive electrostatics occur over the ionic strength range of 5-275 mM. At intermediate pH values (7.25 to 8.5), there is a crossover effect characterized by a nonmonotonic ionic strength dependence of protein-protein interactions, which can be rationalized by the competing effects of long-ranged repulsive double layer forces at low ionic strength and a shorter ranged electrostatic attraction, which dominates above a critical ionic strength. The change of interactions from repulsive to attractive indicates a concomitant change in the angular dependence of protein-protein interaction from isotropic to anisotropic. In the second part of the paper, we show how the Baxter adhesive potential can be used to predict values of kD from fitting to B22 measurements, thus providing a molecular basis for the linear correlation between the two protein-protein interaction parameters.

Simulation of Blast Loading on an Ultrastructurally-based Computational Model of the Ocular Lens

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-10-01

gradient components in the axial ( F22 ) and radial (F11) directions. One can observe the very large deformation (approaching 800%) and 5 Figure 5...and (bottom left) show deformation gradient in axial ( F22 ) and radial (F11) directions. (bottom right) normalized force versus displacement curve for

Gradient and shim technologies for ultra high field MRI

PubMed Central

Winkler, Simone A.; Schmitt, Franz; Landes, Hermann; DeBever, Josh; Wade, Trevor; Alejski, Andrew

2017-01-01

Ultra High Field (UHF) MRI requires improved gradient and shim performance to fully realize the promised gains (SNR as well as spatial, spectral, diffusion resolution) that higher main magnetic fields offer. Both the more challenging UHF environment by itself, as well as the higher currents used in high performance coils, require a deeper understanding combined with sophisticated engineering modeling and construction, to optimize gradient and shim hardware for safe operation and for highest image quality. This review summarizes the basics of gradient and shim technologies, and outlines a number of UHF-related challenges and solutions. In particular, Lorentz forces, vibroacoustics, eddy currents, and peripheral nerve stimulation are discussed. Several promising UHF-relevant gradient concepts are described, including insertable gradient coils aimed at higher performance neuroimaging. PMID:27915120

Suppression/Reversal of Natural Convection by Exploiting the Temperature/Composition Dependence of Magnetic Susceptibility

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Seybert, C. D.; Evans, J. W.; Leslie, F.; Jones, W. K., Jr.

2000-01-01

Natural convection, driven by temperature-or concentration gradients or both, is an inherent phenomenon during solidification of materials on Earth. This convection has practical consequences (e.g effecting macrosegregation) but also renders difficult the scientific examination of diffusive/conductive phenomena during solidification. It is possible to halt, or even reverse, natural convection by exploiting the variation (with temperature, for example) of the susceptibility of a material. If the material is placed in a vertical magnetic field gradient, a buoyancy force of magnetic origin arises and, at a critical field gradient, can balance the normal buoyancy forces to halt convection. At higher field gradients the convection can be reversed. The effect has been demonstrated in experiments at Marshall Space Flight Center where flow was measured by PIV in MnCl2 solution in a superconducting magnet. In auxiliary experiments the field in the magnet and the properties of the solution were measured. Computations of the natural convection, its halting and reversal, using the commercial software FLUENT were in good agreement with the measurements.

Large-scale effects on the regulation of tropical sea surface temperature

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hartmann, Dennis L.; Michelsen, Marc L.

1993-01-01

The dominant terms in the surface energy budget of the tropical oceans are absorption of solar radiation and evaporative cooling. If it is assumed that relative humidity in the boundary layer remains constant, evaporative cooling will increase rapidly with sea surface temperature (SST) because of the strong temperature dependence of saturation water vapor pressure. The resulting stabilization of SST provided by evaporative cooling is sufficient to overcome positive feedback contributed by the decrease of surface net longwave cooling with increasing SST. Evaporative cooling is sensitive to small changes in boundary-layer relative humidity. Large and negative shortwave cloud forcing in the regions of highest SST are supported by the moisture convergence associated with largescale circulations. In the descending portions of these circulations the shortwave cloud forcing is suppressed. When the effect of these circulations is taken into account by spatial averaging, the area-averaged cloud forcing shows no sensitivity to area-averaged SST changes associated with the 1987 warming event in the tropical Pacific. While the shortwave cloud forcing is large and important in the convective regions, the importance of its role in regulating the average temperature of the tropics and in modulating temperature gradients within the tropics is less clear. A heuristic model of SST is used to illustrate the possible role of large-scale atmospheric circulations on SST in the tropics and the coupling between SST gradients and mean tropical SST. The intensity of large-scale circulations responds sensitivity to SST gradients and affects the mean tropical SST by supplying dry air to the planetary boundary layer. Large SST gradients generate vigorous circulations that increase evaporation and reduce the mean SST.

Warm-Core Intensification Through Horizontal Eddy Heat Transports into the Eye

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Braun, Scott A.; Montgomery, Michael T.; Fulton, John; Nolan, David S.; Starr, David OC. (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

The mechanism for the formation and intensification of the hurricane warm core is not well understood. The generally accepted explanation is that the warm core forms as a result of gentle subsidence of air within the eye that warms as a result of adiabatic compression. Malkus suggested that this subsidence is part of a deep circulation in which air begins descent at high levels in the eye, acquires cyclonic angular momentum as it descends to lower levels, and then diverges at low levels, where it is entrained back into the eyewall. Inward mixing from the eyewall is hypothesized to force the subsidence and maintain the moisture and momentum budgets of the subsiding air. Willoughby suggested that air within the eye has remained so since it was first enclosed during the formation of the eyewall and that it subsides at most only a few kilometers rather than through the depth of the troposphere. He relates the subsidence to the low-level divergence and entrainment into the eyewall noted by Malkus, but suggests that shrinkage of the eye's volume is more than adequate to account for the air lost to the eyewall or converted to cloudy air by turbulent mixing across the eye boundary. Smith offered an alternative view of the subsidence forcing, suggesting that vertical motion in a mature hurricane eye is generated largely by imbalances between the downward vertical pressure gradient force and the upward buoyancy force. The vertical pressure gradient force is associated with the decay and/or radial spread of the tangential wind field with height at those levels were the winds are in approximate gradient wind balance. The rate of subsidence is just that required to warm the air sufficiently such that the buoyancy remains in close hydrostatic balance with an increasing vertical pressure gradient force. In this study, a very high-resolution simulation of Hurricane Bob using a cloud-resolving grid scale of 1.3 km is used to examine the heat budget within the storm with particular emphasis on the mechanisms for warming of the eye.

Children’s Beliefs in Reciprocation of Biases and Flexibility

PubMed Central

Rennels, Jennifer L.

2015-01-01

Children display positive and negative biases based on peers’ attractiveness, gender, and race, but it is unclear whether children who associate positive attributes with certain peers also believe those peers think positively of them. In each domain (attractiveness, gender, race), we measured 3- to 11-year-olds’ (N=102) biases and flexibility and their beliefs in reciprocity of bias and flexibility by asking who would think positively of them. Children could choose one of two unfamiliar peers (forced choice assessment) or had the additional options of choosing both or neither peer (non-forced choice assessment). We found children often displayed beliefs in reciprocation, with beliefs in positive bias reciprocation from attractive girls showing the largest effect sizes. These beliefs significantly correlated with and were predictive of children’s positive and negative biases and flexibility. The duality of children’s beliefs may contribute to strengthening their biases and segregating social groups. PMID:25918015

Generating gradient germanium nanostructures by shock-induced amorphization and crystallization

PubMed Central

Zhao, Shiteng; Kad, Bimal; Wehrenberg, Christopher E.; Remington, Bruce A.; Hahn, Eric N.; More, Karren L.; Meyers, Marc A.

2017-01-01

Gradient nanostructures are attracting considerable interest due to their potential to obtain superior structural and functional properties of materials. Applying powerful laser-driven shocks (stresses of up to one-third million atmospheres, or 33 gigapascals) to germanium, we report here a complex gradient nanostructure consisting of, near the surface, nanocrystals with high density of nanotwins. Beyond there, the structure exhibits arrays of amorphous bands which are preceded by planar defects such as stacking faults generated by partial dislocations. At a lower shock stress, the surface region of the recovered target is completely amorphous. We propose that germanium undergoes amorphization above a threshold stress and that the deformation-generated heat leads to nanocrystallization. These experiments are corroborated by molecular dynamics simulations which show that supersonic partial dislocation bursts play a role in triggering the crystalline-to-amorphous transition. PMID:28847926

Generating gradient germanium nanostructures by shock-induced amorphization and crystallization.

PubMed

Zhao, Shiteng; Kad, Bimal; Wehrenberg, Christopher E; Remington, Bruce A; Hahn, Eric N; More, Karren L; Meyers, Marc A

2017-09-12

Gradient nanostructures are attracting considerable interest due to their potential to obtain superior structural and functional properties of materials. Applying powerful laser-driven shocks (stresses of up to one-third million atmospheres, or 33 gigapascals) to germanium, we report here a complex gradient nanostructure consisting of, near the surface, nanocrystals with high density of nanotwins. Beyond there, the structure exhibits arrays of amorphous bands which are preceded by planar defects such as stacking faults generated by partial dislocations. At a lower shock stress, the surface region of the recovered target is completely amorphous. We propose that germanium undergoes amorphization above a threshold stress and that the deformation-generated heat leads to nanocrystallization. These experiments are corroborated by molecular dynamics simulations which show that supersonic partial dislocation bursts play a role in triggering the crystalline-to-amorphous transition.

Ant predation on herbivores through a multitrophic lens: how effects of ants on plant herbivore defense and natural enemies vary along temperature gradients.

PubMed

Rodríguez-Castañeda, G; Brehm, G; Fiedler, K; Dyer, L A

2016-04-01

Ants are keystone predators in terrestrial trophic cascades. Addressing ants' roles in multitrophic interactions across regional gradients is important for understanding mechanisms behind range limits of species. We present four hypotheses of trophic dynamics occurring when ants are rare: first, there is a shift in predator communities; second, plants decrease investments in ant attraction and increase production of secondary metabolites; third, lower herbivory at high elevations allows plants to tolerate herbivory; and fourth, distribution of ant-plants can be limited based on ant abundance. Conducting experiments on multitrophic effects of ants across elevational gradients, and incorporating these results to ecological niche modeling (ENM) will improve our knowledge of the impacts of global change on ants, trophic interactions, and biodiversity. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Interaction Forces and Aggregation Rates of Colloidal Latex Particles in the Presence of Monovalent Counterions.

PubMed

Montes Ruiz-Cabello, F Javier; Trefalt, Gregor; Oncsik, Tamas; Szilagyi, Istvan; Maroni, Plinio; Borkovec, Michal

2015-06-25

Force profiles and aggregation rates involving positively and negatively charged polystyrene latex particles are investigated in monovalent electrolyte solutions, whereby the counterions are varied within the Hofmeister series. The force measurements are carried out with the colloidal probe technique, which is based on the atomic force microscope (AFM), while the aggregation rates are measured with time-resolved multiangle light scattering. The interaction force profiles cannot be described by classical DLVO theory, but an additional attractive short-ranged force must be included. An exponential force profile with a decay length of about 0.5 nm is consistent with the measured forces. Furthermore, the Hamaker constants extracted from the measured force profiles are substantially smaller than the theoretical values calculated from dielectric spectra. The small surface roughness of the latex particles (below 1 nm) is probably responsible for this deviation. Based on the measured force profiles, the aggregation rates can be predicted without adjustable parameters. The measured absolute aggregation rates in the fast regime are somewhat lower than the calculated ones. The critical coagulation concentration (CCC) agrees well with the experiment, including the respective shifts of the CCC within the Hofmeister series. These shifts are particularly pronounced for the positively charged particles. However, the consideration of the additional attractive short-ranged force is essential to quantify these shifts correctly. In the slow regime, the calculated rates are substantially smaller than the experimental ones. This disagreement is probably related to surface charge heterogeneities.

Thermophoretic transport of water nanodroplets confined in carbon nanotubes: The role of friction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oyarzua, Elton; Walther, Jens H.; Zambrano, Harvey A.

2017-11-01

The development of efficient nanofluidic devices requires driving mechanisms that provide controlled transport of fluids through nanoconduits. Temperature gradients have been proposed as a mechanism to drive particles, fullerenes and nanodroplets inside carbon nanotubes (CNTs). In this work, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are conducted to study thermophoresis of water nanodroplets inside CNTs. To gain insight into the interplay between the thermophoretic force acting on the droplet and the retarding liquid-solid friction, sets of constrained and unconstrained MD simulations are conducted. The results indicate that the thermophoretic motion of a nanodroplet displays two kinetic regimes: an initial regime characterized by a decreasing acceleration and afterwards a terminal regime with constant velocity. During the initial regime, the magnitude of the friction force increases linearly with the droplet velocity whereas the thermophoretic force has a constant magnitude defined by the magnitude of the thermal gradient and the droplet size. Subsequently, in the terminal regime, the droplet moves at constant velocity due to a dynamic balance between the thermophoretic force and the retarding friction force. We acknowledge partial support from CONICYT (Chile) under scholarship No. 21140427.

Dynamics of particulate organic matter composition in coastal systems: Forcing of spatio-temporal variability at multi-systems scale

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liénart, Camilla; Savoye, Nicolas; David, Valérie; Ramond, Pierre; Rodriguez Tress, Paco; Hanquiez, Vincent; Marieu, Vincent; Aubert, Fabien; Aubin, Sébastien; Bichon, Sabrina; Boinet, Christophe; Bourasseau, Line; Bozec, Yann; Bréret, Martine; Breton, Elsa; Caparros, Jocelyne; Cariou, Thierry; Claquin, Pascal; Conan, Pascal; Corre, Anne-Marie; Costes, Laurence; Crouvoisier, Muriel; Del Amo, Yolanda; Derriennic, Hervé; Dindinaud, François; Duran, Robert; Durozier, Maïa; Devesa, Jérémy; Ferreira, Sophie; Feunteun, Eric; Garcia, Nicole; Geslin, Sandrine; Grossteffan, Emilie; Gueux, Aurore; Guillaudeau, Julien; Guillou, Gaël; Jolly, Orianne; Lachaussée, Nicolas; Lafont, Michel; Lagadec, Véronique; Lamoureux, Jézabel; Lauga, Béatrice; Lebreton, Benoît; Lecuyer, Eric; Lehodey, Jean-Paul; Leroux, Cédric; L'Helguen, Stéphane; Macé, Eric; Maria, Eric; Mousseau, Laure; Nowaczyk, Antoine; Pineau, Philippe; Petit, Franck; Pujo-Pay, Mireille; Raimbault, Patrick; Rimmelin-Maury, Peggy; Rouaud, Vanessa; Sauriau, Pierre-Guy; Sultan, Emmanuelle; Susperregui, Nicolas

2018-03-01

In costal systems, particulate organic matter (POM) results from a multiplicity of sources having their respective dynamics in terms of production, decomposition, transport and burial. The POM pool experiences thus considerable spatial and temporal variability. In order to better understand this variability, the present study employs statistical multivariate analyses to investigate links between POM composition and environmental forcings for a panel of twelve coastal systems distributed along the three maritime regions of France and monitored weekly to monthly for 1 to 8 years. At multi-system scale, two main gradients of POC composition have been identified: a 'Continent-Ocean' gradient associated with hydrodynamics, sedimentary dynamics and depth of the water column, and a gradient of trophic status related to nutrient availability. At local scale, seasonality of POC composition appears to be station-specific but still related to part of the above-mentioned forcings. A typology of systems was established by coupling spatial and temporal variability of POC composition. Four groups were highlighted: (1) the estuarine stations where POC composition is dominated by terrestrial POM and driven by hydrodynamics and sedimentary processes, (2) the oligotrophic systems, characterized by the contribution of diazotrophs due to low nutrient availability, and the marine meso/eutroph systems whose POC composition is (3) either deeply dominated by phytoplankton or (4) dominated by phytoplankton but where the contribution of continental and benthic POC is not negligible and is driven by hydrodynamics, sedimentary processes and the height of the water column. Finally, the present study provides several insights into the different forcings to POM composition and dynamics in temperate coastal systems at local and multi-system scales. This work also presents a methodological approach that establishes statistical links between forcings and POM composition, helping to gain more objectively insight of forcings.

Dynamic in-plane potential gradients for actively controlling electrochemical reactions: Part I. Characterization of 1- and 2-component alkanethiol monolayer gradients on thin gold films. Part II. Applications of in-plane potential gradients

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Balss, Karin Maria

The research contained in this thesis is focused on the formation and characterization of surface composition gradients on thin gold films that are formed by applications of in-plane potential gradients. Injecting milliamp currents into thin Au films yields significant in-plane voltage drops so that, rather than assuming a single value of potential, an in-plane potential gradient is imposed on the film which depends on the resistivity of the film, the cross sectional area and the magnitude of the potential drop. Furthermore, the in-plane electric potential gradient means that, relative to a solution reference couple, electrochemical reactions occurs at defined spatial positions corresponding to the local potential, V(x) ˜ E0. The spatial gradient in electrochemical potential can then produce spatially dependent electrochemistry. Surface-chemical potential gradients can be prepared by arranging the spread of potentials to span an electrochemical wave mediating redox-associated adsorption or desorption. Examples of reactions that can be spatially patterned include the electrosorption of alkanethiols and over-potential metal deposition. The unique advantage of this method for patterning spatial compositions is the control of surface coverage in both space and time. The thesis is organized into two parts. In Part I, formation and characterization of 1- and 2-component alkanethiol monolayer gradients is investigated. Numerous surface science tools are employed to examine the distribution in coverage obtained by application of in-plane potential gradients. Macroscopic characterization was obtained by sessile water drop contact angle measurements and surface plasmon resonance imaging. Gradients were also imaged on micron length scales with pulsed-force mode atomic force microscopy. Direct chemical evidence of surface compositions in aromatic thiol surface coverage was obtained by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. In Part II, the applications of in-plane potential gradients is discussed. Electrochemical reactions other than electrosorption of alkanethiols were demonstrated with over-potential deposition of copper onto gold films. One application of these patterns is to control the movement of supermolecular objects. As a first step towards this goal, biological cells were seeded onto gradient patterns containing adhesion promoters and inhibitors. The morphology and adhesion was investigated as a function of concentration along the gradient.

Propelling Extended Objects

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Humbert, Richard

2010-01-01

A force acting on just part of an extended object (either a solid or a volume of a liquid) can cause all of it to move. That motion is due to the transmission of the force through the object by its material. This paper discusses how the force is distributed to all of the object by a gradient of stress or pressure in it, which creates the local…

Self-Induced Backaction Optical Pulling Force

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Tongtong; Cao, Yongyin; Wang, Lin; Nie, Zhongquan; Cao, Tun; Sun, Fangkui; Jiang, Zehui; Nieto-Vesperinas, Manuel; Liu, Yongmin; Qiu, Cheng-Wei; Ding, Weiqiang

2018-03-01

We achieve long-range and continuous optical pulling in a periodic photonic crystal background, which supports a unique Bloch mode with the self-collimation effect. Most interestingly, the pulling force reported here is mainly contributed by the intensity gradient force originating from the self-induced backaction of the object to the self-collimation mode. This force is sharply distinguished from the widely held conception of optical tractor beams based on the scattering force. Also, this pulling force is insensitive to the angle of incidence and can pull multiple objects simultaneously.

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation and endothelin-1 production in human endothelial cells exposed to vibration

PubMed Central

White, Charles R; Haidekker, Mark A; Stevens, Hazel Y; Frangos, John A

2004-01-01

Hand–arm vibration syndrome is a vascular disease of occupational origin and a form of secondary Raynaud's phenomenon. Chronic exposure to hand-held vibrating tools may cause endothelial injury. This study investigates the biomechanical forces involved in the transduction of fluid vibration in the endothelium. Human endothelial cells were exposed to direct vibration and rapid low-volume fluid oscillation. Rapid low-volume fluid oscillation was used to simulate the effects of vibration by generating defined temporal gradients in fluid shear stress across an endothelial monolayer. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) phosphorylation and endothelin-1 (ET-1) release were monitored as specific biochemical markers for temporal gradients and endothelial response, respectively. Both vibrational methods were found to phosphorylate ERK1/2 in a similar pattern. At a fixed frequency of fluid oscillation where the duration of each pulse cycle remained constant, ERK1/2 phosphorylation increased with the increasing magnitude of the applied temporal gradient. However, when the frequency of flow oscillation was increased (thus decreasing the duration of each pulse cycle), ERK1/2 phosphorylation was attenuated across all temporal gradient flow profiles. Fluid oscillation significantly stimulated ET-1 release compared to steady flow, and endothelin-1 was also attenuated with the increase in oscillation frequency. Taken together, these results show that both the absolute magnitude of the temporal gradient and the frequency/duration of each pulse cycle play a role in the biomechanical transduction of fluid vibrational forces in endothelial cells. Furthermore, this study reports for the first time a link between the ERK1/2 signal transduction pathway and transmission of vibrational forces in the endothelium. PMID:14724194

Optofluidic droplet coalescence on a microfluidic chip

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jung, Jin Ho; Lee, Kyung Heon; Lee, Kang Soo; Cho, Hyunjun; Ha, Byung Hang; Destgeer, Ghulam; Sung, Hyung Jin

2013-11-01

Coalescence is the procedure that two or more droplets fuse during contact to form a larger droplet. Optofluidic droplet coalescence on a microfluidic chip was demonstrated with theoretical and experimental approaches. Droplets were produced in a T-junction geometry and their velocities and sizes were adjusted by flow rate. In order to bring them in a direct contact of coalescence, optical gradient force was used to trap the droplets. A theoretical modeling of the coalescence was derived by combining the optical force and drag force on the droplet. The analytical expression of the optical force on a sphere droplet was employed to estimate the trapping efficiency in the ray optics regime. The drag force acting on the droplet was calculated in terms of the fluid velocity, viscosity and the geometrical parameters of a microfluidic channel. The droplet coalescence was conducted in a microfluidic setup equipped with a 1064 CW laser, focusing optics, a syringe pump, a custom-made stage and a sCMOS camera. The droplets were successfully coalesced using the optical gradient force. The experimental data of coalescence were in good agreement with the prediction. This work was supported by the Creative Research Initiatives program (No.2013-003364) of the National Research Foundation of Korea (MSIP).

The numerical modeling the sensitivity of coastal wind and ozone concentration to different SST forcing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Choi, Hyun-Jung; Lee, Hwa Woon; Jeon, Won-Bae; Lee, Soon-Hwan

2012-01-01

This study evaluated an atmospheric and air quality model of the spatial variability in low-level coastal winds and ozone concentration, which are affected by sea surface temperature (SST) forcing with different thermal gradients. Several numerical experiments examined the effect of sea surface SST forcing on the coastal atmosphere and air quality. In this study, the RAMS-CAMx model was used to estimate the sensitivity to two different resolutions of SST forcing during the episode day as well as to simulate the low-level coastal winds and ozone concentration over a complex coastal area. The regional model reproduced the qualitative effect of SST forcing and thermal gradients on the coastal flow. The high-resolution SST derived from NGSST-O (New Generation Sea Surface Temperature Open Ocean) forcing to resolve the warm SST appeared to enhance the mean response of low-level winds to coastal regions. These wind variations have important implications for coastal air quality. A higher ozone concentration was forecasted when SST data with a high resolution was used with the appropriate limitation of temperature, regional wind circulation, vertical mixing height and nocturnal boundary layer (NBL) near coastal areas.

Light-driven self-assembly of hetero-shaped gold nanorods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liaw, Jiunn-Woei; Chao, Hsueh-Yu; Huang, Cheng-Wei; Kuo, Mao-Kuen

2018-01-01

Light-driven self-assembly and coalescence of two nearby hetero-shaped gold nanorods (GNRs) with different lengths are studied theoretically. The optical forces and torques, in terms of Maxwell's stress tensor, upon these GNRs provided by a linearly polarized (LP) plane wave are analyzed using the multiple multipole (MMP) method. Numerical results show that the optical torque dominates their alignments and the optical force their attraction. The most likely outcome of the plasmon-mediated light-matter interaction is wavelength dependent. Three different coalescences of the two GNRs could be induced by a LP light in three different wavelength regimes, respectively. For example, the side-by-side coalescence of two GNRs with radius of 15 nm and different lengths (120 and 240 nm) is induced in water as irradiated by a LP light at 633 nm, the T-shaped one at 1064 nm, and the end-to-end one at 1700 nm. The plasmonic attractive force and heating power densities inside GNRs with different gaps are also studied; the smaller the gap, the larger the attractive force and heating power. The results imply that the plasmonic coalescence and heating of two discrete GNRs may cause the local fusion at the junction of the assembly and the subsequent annealing (even recrystallization). Because the heating makes the two discrete GNRs fused to become a new nanostructure, the plasmonic coalescence of optical manipulation is irreversible.

The role of large-scale eddies in the climate equilibrium. Part 2: Variable static stability

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zhou, Shuntai; Stone, Peter H.

1993-01-01

Lorenz's two-level model on a sphere is used to investigate how the results of Part 1 are modified when the interaction of the vertical eddy heat flux and static stability is included. In general, the climate state does not depend very much on whether or not this interaction is included, because the poleward eddy heat transport dominates the eddy forcing of mean temperature and wind fields. However, the climatic sensitivity is significantly affected. Compared to two-level model results with fixed static stability, the poleward eddy heat flux is less sensitive to the meridional temperature gradient and the gradient is more sensitive to the forcing. For example, the logarithmic derivative of the eddy flux with respect to the gradient has a slope that is reduced from approximately 15 on a beta-plane with fixed static stability and approximately 6 on a sphere with fixed static stability, to approximately 3 to 4 in the present model. This last result is more in line with analyses from observations. The present model also has a stronger baroclinic adjustment than that in Part 1, more like that in two-level beta-plane models with fixed static stability, that is, the midlatitude isentropic slope is very insensitive to the forcing, the diabatic heating, and the friction, unless the forcing is very weak.

Permanent magnet system to guide superparamagnetic particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baun, Olga; Blümler, Peter

2017-10-01

A new concept of using permanent magnet systems for guiding superparamagnetic nano-particles on arbitrary trajectories over a large volume is proposed. The basic idea is to use one magnet system which provides a strong, homogeneous, dipolar magnetic field to magnetize and orient the particles, and a second constantly graded, quadrupolar field, superimposed on the first, to generate a force on the oriented particles. In this configuration the motion of the particles is driven predominantly by the component of the gradient field which is parallel to the direction of the homogeneous field. As a result, particles are guided with constant force and in a single direction over the entire volume. The direction is simply adjusted by varying the angle between quadrupole and dipole. Since a single gradient is impossible due to Gauß' law, the other gradient component of the quadrupole determines the angular deviation of the force. However, the latter can be neglected if the homogeneous field is stronger than the local contribution of the quadrupole field. A possible realization of this idea is a coaxial arrangement of two Halbach cylinders. A dipole to evenly magnetize and orient the particles, and a quadrupole to generate the force. The local force was calculated analytically for this particular geometry and the directional limits were analyzed and discussed. A simple prototype was constructed to demonstrate the principle in two dimensions on several nano-particles of different size, which were moved along a rough square by manual adjustment of the force angle. The observed velocities of superparamagnetic particles in this prototype were always several orders of magnitude higher than the theoretically expected value. This discrepancy is attributed to the observed formation of long particle chains as a result of their polarization by the homogeneous field. The magnetic moment of such a chain is then the combination of that of its constituents, while its hydrodynamic radius stays low. A complete system will consist of another quadrupole (third cylinder) to additionally enable scaling of the gradient/force strength by another rotation. In this configuration the device could then also be used as a simple MRI machine to image the particles between movement intervals. Finally, a concept is proposed by which superparamagnetic particles can be guided in three-dimensional space.

Particular Solutions in Four body problem with solar wind drag

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumari, Reena; Singh Kushvah, Badam

2012-07-01

To study the motion of a group of celestial objects/bodies interacting with each other under gravitational attraction. We formulated a four body problem with solar wind drag of one radiating body, rotating about their common center of mass with central configuration. We suppose that the governing forces of the motion of four body problems are mutual gravitational attractions of bodies and drag force of radiating body. Firstly, we derive the equations of motion using new co-ordinates for the four body problem. Again, we find the integrals of motions under different cases regarding to the mass of the bodies. Then we find the zero velocity surfaces and particular solutions. Finally, we examined the effect of solar wind drag on the motion of the four body problem. Keywords: Four Body Problem; Particular Solutions; Radiation Force; Zero Velocity Surfaces.

Toward the description of electrostatic interactions between globular proteins: potential of mean force in the primitive model.

PubMed

Dahirel, Vincent; Jardat, Marie; Dufrêche, Jean-François; Turq, Pierre

2007-09-07

Monte Carlo simulations are used to calculate the exact potential of mean force between charged globular proteins in aqueous solution. The aim of the present paper is to study the influence of the ions of the added salt on the effective interaction between these nanoparticles. The charges of the model proteins, either identical or opposite, are either central or distributed on a discrete pattern. Contrarily to Poisson-Boltzmann predictions, attractive, and repulsive direct forces between proteins are not screened similarly. Moreover, it has been shown that the relative orientations of the charge patterns strongly influence salt-mediated interactions. More precisely, for short distances between the proteins, ions enhance the difference of the effective forces between (i) like-charged and oppositely charged proteins, (ii) attractive and repulsive relative orientations of the proteins, which may affect the selectivity of protein/protein recognition. Finally, such results observed with the simplest models are applied to a more elaborate one to demonstrate their generality.

Molecular Self-Assembly Driven by London Dispersion Forces

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Li, Guo; Cooper, Valentino R; Cho, Jun-Hyung

2011-01-01

The nature and strength of intermolecular interactions are crucial to a variety of kinetic and dynamic processes at surfaces. Whereas strong chemisorption bonds are known to facilitate molecular binding, the importance of the weaker yet ubiquitous van der Waals (vdW) interactions remains elusive in most cases. Here we use first-principles calculations combined with kinetic Monte Carlo simulations to unambiguously demonstrate the vital role that vdW interactions play in molecular self-assembly, using styrene nanowire growth on silicon as a prototypical example. We find that, only when the London dispersion forces are included, accounting for the attractive parts of vdW interactions, canmore » the effective intermolecular interaction be reversed from being repulsive to attractive. Such attractive interactions, in turn, ensure the preferred growth of long wires under physically realistic conditions as observed experimentally. We further propose a cooperative scheme, invoking the application of an electric field and the selective creation of Si dangling bonds, to drastically improve the ordered arrangement of the molecular structures. The present study represents a significant step forward in the fundamental understanding and precise control of molecular self-assembly guided by London dispersion forces.« less

Continuum theory of phase separation kinetics for active Brownian particles.

PubMed

Stenhammar, Joakim; Tiribocchi, Adriano; Allen, Rosalind J; Marenduzzo, Davide; Cates, Michael E

2013-10-04

Active Brownian particles (ABPs), when subject to purely repulsive interactions, are known to undergo activity-induced phase separation broadly resembling an equilibrium (attraction-induced) gas-liquid coexistence. Here we present an accurate continuum theory for the dynamics of phase-separating ABPs, derived by direct coarse graining, capturing leading-order density gradient terms alongside an effective bulk free energy. Such gradient terms do not obey detailed balance; yet we find coarsening dynamics closely resembling that of equilibrium phase separation. Our continuum theory is numerically compared to large-scale direct simulations of ABPs and accurately accounts for domain growth kinetics, domain topologies, and coexistence densities.

Remote steering of laser beams by radar- and laser-induced refractive-index gradients in the atmosphere Remote steering of laser beams

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheltikov, A. M.; Shneider, M. N.; Voronin, A. A.; Sokolov, A. V.; Scully, M. O.

2012-01-01

Refractive-index gradients induced in the atmospheric air by properly tailored laser and microwave fields are shown to enable a remote steering of laser beams. Heating-assisted modulation of the refractive index of the air by microwave radiation is shown to support small-angle laser-beam bending with bending angles on the order of 10-2. Ionization of the atmospheric air by dyads of femto- and nanosecond laser pulses, on the other hand, can provide beam deflection angles in excess of π/5, offering an attractive strategy for radiation transfer, free-space communications, and laser-based standoff detection.

Interannual variability of the global net radiation balance and its consequence on global energy transport

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smith, Eric A.; Sohn, B. J.

1990-01-01

Global cloudiness and radiation budget data from Nimbus 6 and 7 are used to investigate the role of cloud and surface radiative forcing and elements of the earth's general circulation. Although globally integrated cloud forcing is nearly zero, there are large regional imbalances and well regulated processes in the shortwave and longwave spectrum that control the meridional gradient structure of the net radiation balance and the factors modulating the east-west oriented North Africa-western Pacific energy transport dipole. The analysis demonstrates that clouds play a dual role in both the shortwave and longwave spectra in terms of tropical and midlatitude east-west gradients. The key result is that cloud forcing, although not always the principle regulator of interannual variability of the global climate, serves to reinforce the basic three-cell meridional circulation.

Hybrid insolation forcing of Pliocene monsoon dynamics in West Africa

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuechler, Rony R.; Dupont, Lydie M.; Schefuß, Enno

2018-01-01

The Pliocene is regarded as a potential analogue for future climate with conditions generally warmer-than-today and higher-than-preindustrial atmospheric CO2 levels. Here we present the first orbitally resolved records of continental hydrology and vegetation changes from West Africa for two Pliocene time intervals (5.0-4.6 Ma, 3.6-3.0 Ma), which we compare with records from the last glacial cycle (Kuechler et al., 2013). Our results indicate that changes in local insolation alone are insufficient to explain the full degree of hydrologic variations. Generally two modes of interacting insolation forcings are observed: during eccentricity maxima, when precession was strong, the West African monsoon was driven by summer insolation; during eccentricity minima, when precession-driven variations in local insolation were minimal, obliquity-driven changes in the summer latitudinal insolation gradient became dominant. This hybrid monsoonal forcing concept explains orbitally controlled tropical climate changes, incorporating the forcing mechanism of latitudinal gradients for the Pliocene, which probably increased in importance during subsequent Northern Hemisphere glaciations.

Relativistic g-modes in rapidly rotating neutron stars

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gaertig, Erich; Kokkotas, Kostas D.; Department of Physics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54124

2009-09-15

We study the g-modes of fast rotating stratified neutron stars in the general relativistic Cowling approximation, where we neglect metric perturbations and where the background models take into account the buoyant force due to composition gradients. This is the first paper studying this problem in a general relativistic framework. In a recent paper [A. Passamonti, B. Haskell, N. Andersson, D. I. Jones, and I. Hawke, Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 394, 730 (2009)], a similar study was performed within the Newtonian framework, where the authors presented results about the onset of CFS-unstable g-modes and the close connection between inertial andmore » gravity modes for sufficiently high rotation rates and small composition gradients. This correlation arises from the interplay between the buoyant force which is the restoring force for g-modes and the Coriolis force which is responsible for the existence of inertial modes. In our relativistic treatment of the problem, we find an excellent qualitative agreement with respect to the Newtonian results.« less

Microstructure actuation and gas sensing by the Knudsen thermal force

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Strongrich, Andrew; Alexeenko, Alina, E-mail: alexeenk@purdue.edu

2015-11-09

The generation of forces and moments on structures immersed in rarefied non-isothermal gas flows has received limited practical implementation since first being discovered over a century ago. The formation of significant thermal stresses requires both large thermal gradients and characteristic dimensions which are comparable to the gas molecular mean free path. For macroscopic geometries, this necessitates impractically high temperatures and very low pressures. At the microscale, however, these conditions are easily achieved, allowing the effects to be exploited, namely, for gas-property sensing and microstructure actuation. In this letter, we introduce and experimentally evaluate performance of a microelectromechanical in-plane Knudsen radiometricmore » actuator, a self-contained device having Knudsen thermal force generation, sensing, and tuning mechanisms integrated onto the same platform. Sensitivity to ambient pressure, temperature gradient, as well as gas composition is demonstrated. Results are presented in terms of a non-dimensional force coefficient, allowing measurements to be directly compared to the previous experimental and computational data on out-of-plane cantilevered configurations.« less

Dynamically balanced absolute sea level of the global ocean derived from near-surface velocity observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Niiler, Pearn P.; Maximenko, Nikolai A.; McWilliams, James C.

2003-11-01

The 1992-2002 time-mean absolute sea level distribution of the global ocean is computed for the first time from observations of near-surface velocity. For this computation, we use the near-surface horizontal momentum balance. The velocity observed by drifters is used to compute the Coriolis force and the force due to acceleration of water parcels. The anomaly of horizontal pressure gradient is derived from satellite altimetry and corrects the temporal bias in drifter data distribution. NCEP reanalysis winds are used to compute the force due to Ekman currents. The mean sea level gradient force, which closes the momentum balance, is integrated for mean sea level. We find that our computation agrees, within uncertainties, with the sea level computed from the geostrophic, hydrostatic momentum balance using historical mean density, except in the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. A consistent horizontally and vertically dynamically balanced, near-surface, global pressure field has now been derived from observations.

Nanogravity gradiometer based on a sharp optical nonlinearity in a levitated particle optomechanical system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Jian; Zhu, Ka-Di

2017-02-01

In the present paper, we provide a scheme to probe the gradient of gravity at the nanoscale in a levitated nanomechanical resonator coupled to a cavity via two-field optical control. The enhanced sharp peak on the probe spectrum will suffer a distinct shift with the nonuniform force being taken into consideration. The nonlinear optics with very narrow bandwidth (10-8 Hz ) resulting from the extremely high-quality factor will lead to a superresolution of 10-20 N /m for the measurement of gravity gradient. The improved sensitivity may offer new opportunities for detecting Yukawa moduli forces and Kaluza-Klein gravitons in extra dimensions.

Vandenberg Air Force Base Pressure Gradient Wind Study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shafer, Jaclyn A.

2013-01-01

Warning category winds can adversely impact day-to-day space lift operations at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) in California. NASA's Launch Services Program and other programs at VAFB use wind forecasts issued by the 30 Operational Support Squadron Weather Flight (30 OSSWF) to determine if they need to limit activities or protect property such as a launch vehicle. The 30 OSSWF tasked the AMU to develop an automated Excel graphical user interface that includes pressure gradient thresholds between specific observing stations under different synoptic regimes to aid forecasters when issuing wind warnings. This required the AMU to determine if relationships between the variables existed.

Three-dimensional cellular deformation analysis with a two-photon magnetic manipulator workstation.

PubMed

Huang, Hayden; Dong, Chen Y; Kwon, Hyuk-Sang; Sutin, Jason D; Kamm, Roger D; So, Peter T C

2002-04-01

The ability to apply quantifiable mechanical stresses at the microscopic scale is critical for studying cellular responses to mechanical forces. This necessitates the use of force transducers that can apply precisely controlled forces to cells while monitoring the responses noninvasively. This paper describes the development of a micromanipulation workstation integrating two-photon, three-dimensional imaging with a high-force, uniform-gradient magnetic manipulator. The uniform-gradient magnetic field applies nearly uniform forces to a large cell population, permitting statistical quantification of select molecular responses to mechanical stresses. The magnetic transducer design is capable of exerting over 200 pN of force on 4.5-microm-diameter paramagnetic particles and over 800 pN on 5.0-microm ferromagnetic particles. These forces vary within +/-10% over an area 500 x 500 microm2. The compatibility with the use of high numerical aperture (approximately 1.0) objectives is an integral part of the workstation design allowing submicron-resolution, three-dimensional, two-photon imaging. Three-dimensional analyses of cellular deformation under localized mechanical strain are reported. These measurements indicate that the response of cells to large focal stresses may contain three-dimensional global deformations and show the suitability of this workstation to further studying cellular response to mechanical stresses.

Radial Motion of Two Mutually Attracting Particles

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mungan, Carl E.

2009-01-01

A pair of masses or opposite-sign charges released from rest will move directly toward each other under the action of the inverse-distance-squared force of attraction between them. An exact expression for the separation distance as a function of time can only be found by numerically inverting the solution of a differential equation. A simpler,…

Misfit Structures & Lost Opportunities: The Urgent Case for Restructuring Teacher Compensation and Career Paths

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shields, Regis Anne

2013-01-01

Teaching effectiveness is the most important in-school factor for improving student achievement. In order to attract, retain, develop, and motivate the most effective teaching force possible, many argue that teacher salaries should be elevated to compete with other professions that attract and retain strong talent. This paper explores how to…

Dynamics of a Liquid Dielectric Attracted by a Cylindrical Capacitor

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nardi, Rafael; Lemos, Nivaldo A.

2007-01-01

The dynamics of a liquid dielectric attracted by a vertical cylindrical capacitor are studied. Contrary to what might be expected from the standard calculation of the force exerted by the capacitor, the motion of the dielectric is different depending on whether the charge or the voltage of the capacitor is held constant. The problem turns out to…

A microfluidics-based turning assay reveals complex growth cone responses to integrated gradients of substrate-bound ECM molecules and diffusible guidance cues.

PubMed

Joanne Wang, C; Li, Xiong; Lin, Benjamin; Shim, Sangwoo; Ming, Guo-Li; Levchenko, Andre

2008-02-01

Neuronal growth cones contain sophisticated molecular machinery precisely regulating their migration in response to complex combinatorial gradients of diverse external cues. The details of this regulation are still largely unknown, in part due to limitations of the currently available experimental techniques. Microfluidic devices have been shown to be capable of generating complex, stable and precisely controlled chemical gradients, but their use in studying growth cone migration has been limited in part due to the effects of shear stress. Here we describe a microfluidics-based turning-assay chip designed to overcome this issue. In addition to generating precise gradients of soluble guidance cues, the chip can also fabricate complex composite gradients of diffusible and surface-bound guidance cues that mimic the conditions the growth cones realistically counter in vivo. Applying this assay to Xenopus embryonic spinal neurons, we demonstrate that the presence of a surface-bound laminin gradient can finely tune the polarity of growth cone responses (repulsion or attraction) to gradients of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), with the guidance outcome dependent on the mean BDNF concentration. The flexibility inherent in this assay holds significant potential for refinement of our understanding of nervous system development and regeneration, and can be extended to elucidate other cellular processes involving chemotaxis of shear sensitive cells.

Gradient twinned 304 stainless steels for high strength and high ductility

DOE PAGES

Chen, Aiying; Liu, Jiabin; Wang, Hongtao; ...

2016-04-23

Gradient materials often have attractive mechanical properties that outperform uniform microstructure counterparts. It remains a difficult task to investigate and compare the performance of various gradient microstructures due to the difficulty of fabrication, the wide range of length scales involved, and their respective volume percentage variations. We have investigated four types of gradient microstructures in 304 stainless steels that utilize submicrotwins, nanotwins, nanocrystalline-, ultrafine- and coarse-grains as building blocks. Tensile tests reveal that the gradient microstructure consisting of submicrotwins and nanotwins has a persistent and stable work hardening rate and yields an impressive combination of high strength and high ductility,more » leading to a toughness that is nearly 50% higher than that of the coarse-grained counterpart. Ex- and in-situ transmission electron microscopy indicates that nanoscale and submicroscale twins help to suppress and limit martensitic phase transformation via the confinement of martensite within the twin lamellar. Twinning and detwinning remain active during tensile deformation and contribute to the work hardening behavior. We discuss the advantageous properties of using submicrotwins as the main load carrier and nanotwins as the strengthening layers over those coarse and nanocrystalline grains. Furthermore, our work uncovers a new gradient design strategy to help metals and alloys achieve high strength and high ductility.« less

Trait plasticity, not values, best corresponds with woodland plant success in novel and manipulated habitats

Treesearch

Robert J. Warren; Jeffrey K. Lake

2012-01-01

Aims: The clustering of plants with similar leaf traits along environmental gradients may arise from adaptation as well as acclimation to heterogeneous habitat conditions. Determining the forces that shape plant leaf traits requires both linking variation in trait morphology with abiotic gradients and linking that trait variation with plant performance under varying...

Magnetothermal Convection of Water with the Presence or Absence of a Magnetic Force Acting on the Susceptibility Gradient

PubMed Central

Maki, Syou

2016-01-01

Heat transfer of magnetothermal convection with the presence or absence of the magnetic force acting on the susceptibility gradient (fsc) was examined by three-dimensional numerical computations. Thermal convection of water enclosed in a shallow cylindrical vessel (diameter over vessel height = 6.0) with the Rayleigh-Benard model was adopted as the model, under the conditions of Prandtl number 6.0 and Ra number 7000, respectively. The momentum equations of convection were nondimensionalized, which involved the term of fsc and the term of magnetic force acting on the magnetic field gradient (fb). All the computations resulted in axisymmetric steady rolls. The values of the averaged Nu, the averaged velocity components U, V, and W, and the isothermal distributions and flow patterns were almost completely the same, regardless of the presence or absence of the term of fsc. As a result, we found that the effect of fsc was extremely small, although much previous research emphasized the effect with paramagnetic solutions under an unsteady state. The magnitude of fsc depends not only on magnetic conditions (magnitudes of magnetic susceptibility and magnetic flux density), but also on the thermal properties of the solution (thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, and viscosity). Therefore the effect of fb becomes dominant on the magnetothermal convection. Active control over the density gradient with temperature will be required to advance heat transfer with the effect of fsc. PMID:27606823

Defining Conditions for the Use of Persistent Surveillance

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-12-01

as hard as the Air Force has worked the North Dakota and Ohio delegations,’ says Colonel Charles Bartlett, head of a special Air Force task force on...UAVs…While Richard Shelby , the Republican senator from Alabama, is concerned about the impact on Redstone Arsenal, which manages much of the Army’s...UAV work, Byron Dorgan, the North Dakota Democratic senator, wants to attract more work for Grand Forks Air Force base, partly to make up for the

Collective Signal Processing in Cluster Chemotaxis: Roles of Adaptation, Amplification, and Co-attraction in Collective Guidance

PubMed Central

Camley, Brian A.; Zimmermann, Juliane; Levine, Herbert; Rappel, Wouter-Jan

2016-01-01

Single eukaryotic cells commonly sense and follow chemical gradients, performing chemotaxis. Recent experiments and theories, however, show that even when single cells do not chemotax, clusters of cells may, if their interactions are regulated by the chemoattractant. We study this general mechanism of “collective guidance” computationally with models that integrate stochastic dynamics for individual cells with biochemical reactions within the cells, and diffusion of chemical signals between the cells. We show that if clusters of cells use the well-known local excitation, global inhibition (LEGI) mechanism to sense chemoattractant gradients, the speed of the cell cluster becomes non-monotonic in the cluster’s size—clusters either larger or smaller than an optimal size will have lower speed. We argue that the cell cluster speed is a crucial readout of how the cluster processes chemotactic signals; both amplification and adaptation will alter the behavior of cluster speed as a function of size. We also show that, contrary to the assumptions of earlier theories, collective guidance does not require persistent cell-cell contacts and strong short range adhesion. If cell-cell adhesion is absent, and the cluster cohesion is instead provided by a co-attraction mechanism, e.g. chemotaxis toward a secreted molecule, collective guidance may still function. However, new behaviors, such as cluster rotation, may also appear in this case. Co-attraction and adaptation allow for collective guidance that is robust to varying chemoattractant concentrations while not requiring strong cell-cell adhesion. PMID:27367541

Evanescent-wave bonding between optical waveguides.

PubMed

Povinelli, Michelle L; Loncar, Marko; Ibanescu, Mihai; Smythe, Elizabeth J; Johnson, Steven G; Capasso, Federico; Joannopoulos, John D

2005-11-15

Forces arising from overlap between the guided waves of parallel, microphotonic waveguides are calculated. Both attractive and repulsive forces, determined by the choice of relative input phase, are found. Using realistic parameters for a silicon-on-insulator material system, we estimate that the forces are large enough to cause observable displacements. Our results illustrate the potential for a broader class of optically tunable microphotonic devices and microstructured artificial materials.

Advanced Robotics for Air Force Operations

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-06-01

evaluated current and potential uses of advanced robotics to support Air Force systems, (2) recommended the most effective aplications of advanced robotics...manpower. Such a robot system would The boom would not only transfer fuel, be considerably more mobile and effi- 10 ADVANCED ROBOTICS FOR AIR FORCE...increased manpower resources in war tive clothing reduce vision, hearing, and make this an attractive potential appli- mobility , which further reduce

Gradient-Index Optics

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-03-31

A Extruder B Melt Pump B Melt Pump A AB Feedblock Layer Multipliers Surface Layer Feedblock Surface Layer Extruder Skin Skin Nanolayers Number of...enough to enable accurate machining. Customarily, optics are held in place using vacuum chucks during the diamond turning process. The force with...which optics can be secured this way is proportional to their surface area. By ensuring that the vacuum force is larger than any forces imparted on

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chen, Aiying; Liu, Jiabin; Wang, Hongtao

Gradient materials often have attractive mechanical properties that outperform uniform microstructure counterparts. It remains a difficult task to investigate and compare the performance of various gradient microstructures due to the difficulty of fabrication, the wide range of length scales involved, and their respective volume percentage variations. We have investigated four types of gradient microstructures in 304 stainless steels that utilize submicrotwins, nanotwins, nanocrystalline-, ultrafine- and coarse-grains as building blocks. Tensile tests reveal that the gradient microstructure consisting of submicrotwins and nanotwins has a persistent and stable work hardening rate and yields an impressive combination of high strength and high ductility,more » leading to a toughness that is nearly 50% higher than that of the coarse-grained counterpart. Ex- and in-situ transmission electron microscopy indicates that nanoscale and submicroscale twins help to suppress and limit martensitic phase transformation via the confinement of martensite within the twin lamellar. Twinning and detwinning remain active during tensile deformation and contribute to the work hardening behavior. We discuss the advantageous properties of using submicrotwins as the main load carrier and nanotwins as the strengthening layers over those coarse and nanocrystalline grains. Furthermore, our work uncovers a new gradient design strategy to help metals and alloys achieve high strength and high ductility.« less

Generating gradient germanium nanostructures by shock-induced amorphization and crystallization

DOE PAGES

Zhao, Shiteng; Kad, Bimal; Wehrenberg, Christopher E.; ...

2017-08-28

Gradient nanostructures are attracting considerable interest due to their potential to obtain superior structural and functional properties of materials. Applying powerful laser-driven shocks (stresses of up to one-third million atmospheres, or 33 gigapascals) to germanium, we report a complex gradient nanostructure consisting of, near the surface, nanocrystals with high density of nanotwins. Beyond there, the structure exhibits arrays of amorphous bands which are preceded by planar defects such as stacking faults generated by partial dislocations. At a lower shock stress, the surface region of the recovered target is completely amorphous. Here, we propose that germanium undergoes amorphization above a thresholdmore » stress and that the deformation-generated heat leads to nanocrystallization. These experiments are corroborated by molecular dynamics simulations which show that supersonic partial dislocation bursts play a role in triggering the crystalline-to-amorphous transition.« less

A biconjugate gradient type algorithm on massively parallel architectures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Freund, Roland W.; Hochbruck, Marlis

1991-01-01

The biconjugate gradient (BCG) method is the natural generalization of the classical conjugate gradient algorithm for Hermitian positive definite matrices to general non-Hermitian linear systems. Unfortunately, the original BCG algorithm is susceptible to possible breakdowns and numerical instabilities. Recently, Freund and Nachtigal have proposed a novel BCG type approach, the quasi-minimal residual method (QMR), which overcomes the problems of BCG. Here, an implementation is presented of QMR based on an s-step version of the nonsymmetric look-ahead Lanczos algorithm. The main feature of the s-step Lanczos algorithm is that, in general, all inner products, except for one, can be computed in parallel at the end of each block; this is unlike the other standard Lanczos process where inner products are generated sequentially. The resulting implementation of QMR is particularly attractive on massively parallel SIMD architectures, such as the Connection Machine.

Generating gradient germanium nanostructures by shock-induced amorphization and crystallization

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhao, Shiteng; Kad, Bimal; Wehrenberg, Christopher E.

Gradient nanostructures are attracting considerable interest due to their potential to obtain superior structural and functional properties of materials. Applying powerful laser-driven shocks (stresses of up to one-third million atmospheres, or 33 gigapascals) to germanium, we report a complex gradient nanostructure consisting of, near the surface, nanocrystals with high density of nanotwins. Beyond there, the structure exhibits arrays of amorphous bands which are preceded by planar defects such as stacking faults generated by partial dislocations. At a lower shock stress, the surface region of the recovered target is completely amorphous. Here, we propose that germanium undergoes amorphization above a thresholdmore » stress and that the deformation-generated heat leads to nanocrystallization. These experiments are corroborated by molecular dynamics simulations which show that supersonic partial dislocation bursts play a role in triggering the crystalline-to-amorphous transition.« less

An Electrostatic-Barrier-Forming Window that Captures Airborne Pollen Grains to Prevent Pollinosis

PubMed Central

Takikawa, Yoshihiro; Matsuda, Yoshinori; Nonomura, Teruo; Kakutani, Koji; Kusakari, Shin-Ichi; Toyoda, Hideyoshi

2017-01-01

An electrostatic-barrier-forming window (EBW) was devised to capture airborne pollen, which can cause allergic pollinosis. The EBW consisted of three layers of insulated conductor wires (ICWs) and two voltage generators that supplied negative charges to the two outer ICW layers and a positive charge to the middle ICW layer. The ICWs generated an attractive force that captured pollen of the Japanese cedar, Cryptomeria japonica, from air blown through the EBW. The attractive force was directly proportional to the applied voltage. At ≥3.5 kV, the EBW exerted sufficient force to capture all pollen carried at an air flow of 3 m/s, and pollen-free air passed through the EBW. The findings demonstrated that the electrostatic barrier that formed inside the EBW was very effective at capturing airborne pollen; thus, it could allow a home to remain pollen-free and healthy despite continuous pollen exposure. PMID:28098835

Looking through the mirror: optical microcavity-mirror image photonic interaction.

PubMed

Shi, Lei; Xifré-Pérez, E; García de Abajo, F J; Meseguer, F

2012-05-07

Although science fiction literature and art portray extraordinary stories of people interacting with their images behind a mirror, we know that they are not real and belong to the realm of fantasy. However, it is well known that charges or magnets near a good electrical conductor experience real attractive or repulsive forces, respectively, originating in the interaction with their images. Here, we show strong interaction between an optical microcavity and its image under external illumination. Specifically, we use silicon nanospheres whose high refractive index makes well-defined optical resonances feasible. The strong interaction produces attractive and repulsive forces depending on incident wavelength, cavity-metal separation and resonance mode symmetry. These intense repulsive photonic forces warrant a new kind of optical levitation that allows us to accurately manipulate small particles, with important consequences for microscopy, optical sensing and control of light by light at the nanoscale.

Bouncing droplets on a billiard table.

PubMed

Shirokoff, David

2013-03-01

In a set of experiments, Couder et al. demonstrate that an oscillating fluid bed may propagate a bouncing droplet through the guidance of the surface waves. I present a dynamical systems model, in the form of an iterative map, for a droplet on an oscillating bath. I examine the droplet bifurcation from bouncing to walking, and prescribe general requirements for the surface wave to support stable walking states. I show that in addition to walking, there is a region of large forcing that may support the chaotic motion of the droplet. Using the map, I then investigate the droplet trajectories in a square (billiard ball) domain. I show that in large domains, the long time trajectories are either non-periodic dense curves or approach a quasiperiodic orbit. In contrast, in small domains, at low forcing, trajectories tend to approach an array of circular attracting sets. As the forcing increases, the attracting sets break down and the droplet travels throughout space.

An Electrostatic-Barrier-Forming Window that Captures Airborne Pollen Grains to Prevent Pollinosis.

PubMed

Takikawa, Yoshihiro; Matsuda, Yoshinori; Nonomura, Teruo; Kakutani, Koji; Kusakari, Shin-Ichi; Toyoda, Hideyoshi

2017-01-15

An electrostatic-barrier-forming window (EBW) was devised to capture airborne pollen, which can cause allergic pollinosis. The EBW consisted of three layers of insulated conductor wires (ICWs) and two voltage generators that supplied negative charges to the two outer ICW layers and a positive charge to the middle ICW layer. The ICWs generated an attractive force that captured pollen of the Japanese cedar, Cryptomeria japonica , from air blown through the EBW. The attractive force was directly proportional to the applied voltage. At ≥3.5 kV, the EBW exerted sufficient force to capture all pollen carried at an air flow of 3 m/s, and pollen-free air passed through the EBW. The findings demonstrated that the electrostatic barrier that formed inside the EBW was very effective at capturing airborne pollen; thus, it could allow a home to remain pollen-free and healthy despite continuous pollen exposure.

A solution to the problem of elastic half-plane with a cohesive edge crack

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thanh, Le Thi; Belaya, L. A.; Lavit, I. M.

2018-03-01

This paper considers the problem of extension of an elastic half-plane slackened by a rectilinear edge crack. The opposite edges of the crack are attracted to each other. The intensity of attracting forces – the forces of cohesion – depends on displacements of the edges; this dependence is nonlinear in the general case. External load and cohesive forces are related to each other by the condition of finite stresses at the crack tip. The authors apply Picard’s method of successive approximation. In each iteration, Irwin’s method is used to solve the problem of a half-plane with a crack, the edges of which are subjected to irregularly distributed load. The solution of the resulting integral equation is found by Galerkin’s method. The paper includes examples of calculations and their results. Some of them are compared with the data of previous studies.

Rules of Attraction

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2004-01-01

This image composite shows two of the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity's magnets, the 'capture' magnet (upper portion of left panel) and the 'filter' magnet (lower portion of left panel). Scientists use these tools to study the origins of martian dust in the atmosphere. The left panel was taken by the rover's panoramic camera. The four panels to the right, taken by the microscopic imager, show close-up views of the two magnets. The bull's-eye appearance of the capture magnet is a result of alternating magnetic fields, which are used to increase overall magnetic force. The filter magnet lacks these alternating fields and consequently produces a weaker magnetic force. This weaker force selectively attracts only strong magnetic particles.

Scientists were surprised by the large dark particles on the magnets because airborne particles are smaller in size. They theorize that these spots might be aggregates of small particles that clump together in a magnetic field.

Attractive potential around a thermionically emitting microparticle.

PubMed

Delzanno, G L; Lapenta, G; Rosenberg, M

2004-01-23

We present a simulation study of the charging of a dust grain immersed in a plasma, considering the effect of thermionic electron emission from the grain. It is shown that the orbit motion limited theory is no longer reliable when electron emission becomes large: screening can no longer be treated within the Debye-Huckel approach and an attractive potential well can form, leading to the possibility of attractive forces on other grains with the same polarity. We suggest to perform laboratory experiments where emitting dust grains could be used to create nonconventional dust crystals or macromolecules.

Strong collective attraction in colloidal clusters on a liquid-air interface.

PubMed

Pergamenshchik, V M

2009-01-01

It is shown that in a cluster of many colloids, trapped at a liquid-air interface, the well-known vertical-force-induced pairwise logarithmic attraction changes to a strongly enhanced power-law attraction. In large two-dimensional clusters, the attraction energy scales as the inverse square of the distance between colloids. The enhancement is given by the ratio eta = (square of the capillary length) / (interface surface area per colloid) and can be as large as 10;{5} . This explains why a very small vertical force on colloids, which is too weak to bring two of them together, can stabilize many-body structures on a liquid-air interface. The profile of a cluster is shown to consist of a large slow collective envelope modulated by a fast low-amplitude perturbation due to individual colloids. A closed equation for the slow envelope, which incorporates an arbitrary power-law repulsion between colloids, is derived. For example, this equation is solved for a large circular cluster with the hard-core colloid repulsion. It is suggested that the predicted effect is responsible for mysterious stabilization of colloidal structures observed in experiments on a surface of isotropic liquid and nematic liquid crystal.

Wind-tunnel tests of a 1/4 scale model of the Bell XS-1 transonic airplane. 1: Longitudinal stability and control characteristics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Donlan, C. J.; Kemp, W. B., Jr.; Polhamus, E. C.

1976-01-01

A 1/4 scale model of the Bell XS-1 transonic aircraft was tested in the Langley 300 mile-per-hour 7 by 10 foot tunnel to determine its low speed longitudinal stability and control characteristics. Pertinent longitudinal flying qualities expected of the XS-1 research airplane were estimated from the results of these tests including the effects of compressibility likely to be encountered at speeds below the force break. It appears that the static longitudinal stability and elevator control power will be adequate, but that the elevator control force gradient in steady flight will be undesirably low for all configurations. It is suggested that a centering spring be incorporated in the elevator control system of the airplane in order to increase the control force gradient in steady flight and in maneuvers.

Numerical modeling of optical levitation and trapping of the "stuck" particles with a pulsed optical tweezers.

PubMed

Deng, Jian-Liao; Wei, Qing; Wang, Yu-Zhu; Li, Yong-Qing

2005-05-16

We present the theoretical analysis and the numerical modeling of optical levitation and trapping of the stuck particles with a pulsed optical tweezers. In our model, a pulsed laser was used to generate a large gradient force within a short duration that overcame the adhesive interaction between the stuck particles and the surface; and then a low power continuous-wave(cw) laser was used to capture the levitated particle. We describe the gradient force generated by the pulsed optical tweezers and model the binding interaction between the stuck beads and glass surface by the dominative van der Waals force with a randomly distributed binding strength. We numerically calculate the single pulse levitation efficiency for polystyrene beads as the function of the pulse energy, the axial displacement from the surface to the pulsed laser focus and the pulse duration. The result of our numerical modeling is qualitatively consistent with the experimental result.

Sensitivity Analysis for Coupled Aero-structural Systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Giunta, Anthony A.

1999-01-01

A novel method has been developed for calculating gradients of aerodynamic force and moment coefficients for an aeroelastic aircraft model. This method uses the Global Sensitivity Equations (GSE) to account for the aero-structural coupling, and a reduced-order modal analysis approach to condense the coupling bandwidth between the aerodynamic and structural models. Parallel computing is applied to reduce the computational expense of the numerous high fidelity aerodynamic analyses needed for the coupled aero-structural system. Good agreement is obtained between aerodynamic force and moment gradients computed with the GSE/modal analysis approach and the same quantities computed using brute-force, computationally expensive, finite difference approximations. A comparison between the computational expense of the GSE/modal analysis method and a pure finite difference approach is presented. These results show that the GSE/modal analysis approach is the more computationally efficient technique if sensitivity analysis is to be performed for two or more aircraft design parameters.

Magnetic Field, Force, and Inductance Computations for an Axially Symmetric Solenoid

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lane, John E.; Youngquist, Robert C.; Immer, Christopher D.; Simpson, James C.

2001-01-01

The pumping of liquid oxygen (LOX) by magnetic fields (B field), using an array of electromagnets, is a current topic of research and development at Kennedy Space Center, FL. Oxygen is paramagnetic so that LOX, like a ferrofluid, can be forced in the direction of a B field gradient. It is well known that liquid oxygen has a sufficient magnetic susceptibility that a strong magnetic gradient can lift it in the earth's gravitational field. It has been proposed that this phenomenon can be utilized in transporting (i.e., pumping) LOX not only on earth, but on Mars and in the weightlessness of space. In order to design and evaluate such a magnetic pumping system, it is essential to compute the magnetic and force fields, as well as inductance, of various types of electromagnets (solenoids). In this application, it is assumed that the solenoids are air wrapped, and that the current is essentially time independent.

Microgravity Particle Dynamics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Clark, Ivan O.; Johnson, Edward J.

1996-01-01

This research seeks to identify the experiment design parameters for future flight experiments to better resolve the effects of thermal and velocity gradients on gas-solid flows. By exploiting the reduced body forces and minimized thermal convection current of reduced gravity experiments, features of gas-solid flow normally masked by gravitationally induced effects can be studied using flow regimes unattainable under unigravity. This paper assesses the physical scales of velocity, length, time, thermal gradient magnitude, and velocity gradient magnitude likely to be involved in laminar gas-solid multiphase flight experiments for 1-100 micro-m particles.

MRFM (Magnetic Resonance Force Microscopy) MURI ARO Final Report (Grant W911NF-05-1-0403, University of Washington)

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-10-14

of high-gradient cobalt -tipped cantilevers, NanoMRI Conference 2012; Ascona, Switzerland; July 22 – 27, 2012, [url]. 4. R. Picone, J. Garbini, and J...url]. 5. J. G. Longenecker, H. J. Mamin, A. W. Senko, L. Chen, C. T. Rettner, D. Rugar, and J. A. Marohn, High gradient cobalt nanomagnets...Longenecker, H. J. Mamin, A. W. Senko, L. Chen, C. T. Rettner, D. Rugar, and J. A. Marohn, Development and characterization of high-gradient cobalt -tipped

Directional Bleb Formation in Spherical Cells under Temperature Gradient

PubMed Central

Oyama, Kotaro; Arai, Tomomi; Isaka, Akira; Sekiguchi, Taku; Itoh, Hideki; Seto, Yusuke; Miyazaki, Makito; Itabashi, Takeshi; Ohki, Takashi; Suzuki, Madoka; Ishiwata, Shin'ichi

2015-01-01

Living cells sense absolute temperature and temporal changes in temperature using biological thermosensors such as ion channels. Here, we reveal, to our knowledge, a novel mechanism of sensing spatial temperature gradients within single cells. Spherical mitotic cells form directional membrane extensions (polar blebs) under sharp temperature gradients (≥∼0.065°C μm−1; 1.3°C temperature difference within a cell), which are created by local heating with a focused 1455-nm laser beam under an optical microscope. On the other hand, multiple nondirectional blebs are formed under gradual temperature gradients or uniform heating. During heating, the distribution of actomyosin complexes becomes inhomogeneous due to a break in the symmetry of its contractile force, highlighting the role of the actomyosin complex as a sensor of local temperature gradients. PMID:26200871

Selective isolation of magnetic nanoparticle-mediated heterogeneity subpopulation of circulating tumor cells using magnetic gradient based microfluidic system.

PubMed

Kwak, Bongseop; Lee, Jaehun; Lee, Dongkyu; Lee, Kangho; Kwon, Ohwon; Kang, Shinwon; Kim, Youngwoo

2017-02-15

Relocation mechanisms of the circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from the primary site to the secondary site through the blood vessel network cause tumor metastasis. Despite of the importance to diagnose the cancer metastasis by CTCs, still it is formidable challenge to use in the clinical purpose because of the rarity and the heterogeneity of CTCs in the cancer patient's peripheral blood sample. In this study we have developed magnetic force gradient based microfluidic chip (Mag-Gradient Chip) for isolating the total number of CTCs in the sample and characterizing the state of CTCs simultaneously with respect to the epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) expression level. We have synthesized magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) using hydrothermal method and functionalized anti-EpCAM on their surface for the specific binding with CTCs. The Mag-Gradient Chip designed to isolate and classify the CTCs by isolating at the different location in the chip using magnetic force differences depending on the EpCAM expression level. We observed 95.7% of EpCAM positive and 79.3% of EpCAM negative CTCs isolated in the Mag-Gradient Chip. At the same time, the 71.3% of isolated EpCAM positive CTCs were isolated at the first half area whereas the 76.9% of EpCAM negative CTCs were collected at the latter half area. The Mag-Gradient Chip can isolate the 3ml of heterogeneous CTCs sample in 1h with high isolating yield. The EpCAM expression level dose not means essential condition of the metastatic CTCs, but the Mag-Gradient Chip can shorten the date to diagnose the cancer metastasis in clinic. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Motility of catalytic nanoparticles through self-generated forces.

PubMed

Paxton, Walter F; Sen, Ayusman; Mallouk, Thomas E

2005-11-04

Small-scale synthetic motors capable of generating their own motive forces by exploiting the chemical free energy of their environment represent an important step in developing practical nanomachines. Catalytic particles are capable of generating concentration and other gradients that can be used to self-propel small objects. However, the autonomous movement of catalytic nanoparticles by self-generated forces is a relatively unexplored area in colloid and interfacial chemistry. This paper explores the potential of catalytically self-generated forces for propulsion of small objects through fluids.

Periodic synchronization and chimera in conformist and contrarian oscillators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hong, Hyunsuk

2014-06-01

We consider a system of phase oscillators that couple with both attractive and repulsive interaction under a pinning force and explore collective behavior of the system. The oscillators can be divided into two subpopulations of "conformist" oscillators with attractive interaction and "contrarian" ones with repulsive interaction. We find that the interplay between the pinning force and the opposite relationship of the conformist and contrarian oscillators induce peculiar dynamic states: periodic synchronization, breathing chimera, and fully pinned state depending on the fraction of the conformists. Using the Watanabe-Strogatz transformation, we reduce the dynamics into a low-dimensional one and find that the above dynamic states are generated from the reduced dynamics.

Pressure gradients fail to predict diffusio-osmosis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Yawei; Ganti, Raman; Frenkel, Daan

2018-05-01

We present numerical simulations of diffusio-osmotic flow, i.e. the fluid flow generated by a concentration gradient along a solid-fluid interface. In our study, we compare a number of distinct approaches that have been proposed for computing such flows and compare them with a reference calculation based on direct, non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations. As alternatives, we consider schemes that compute diffusio-osmotic flow from the gradient of the chemical potentials of the constituent species and from the gradient of the component of the pressure tensor parallel to the interface. We find that the approach based on treating chemical potential gradients as external forces acting on various species agrees with the direct simulations, thereby supporting the approach of Marbach et al (2017 J. Chem. Phys. 146 194701). In contrast, an approach based on computing the gradients of the microscopic pressure tensor does not reproduce the direct non-equilibrium results.

Magnetic Trapping of Bacteria at Low Magnetic Fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Z. M.; Wu, R. G.; Wang, Z. P.; Ramanujan, R. V.

2016-06-01

A suspension of non-magnetic entities in a ferrofluid is referred to as an inverse ferrofluid. Current research to trap non-magnetic entities in an inverse ferrofluid focuses on using large permanent magnets to generate high magnetic field gradients, which seriously limits Lab-on-a-Chip applications. On the other hand, in this work, trapping of non-magnetic entities, e.g., bacteria in a uniform external magnetic field was studied with a novel chip design. An inverse ferrofluid flows in a channel and a non-magnetic island is placed in the middle of this channel. The magnetic field was distorted by this island due to the magnetic susceptibility difference between this island and the surrounding ferrofluid, resulting in magnetic forces applied on the non-magnetic entities. Both the ferromagnetic particles and the non-magnetic entities, e.g., bacteria were attracted towards the island, and subsequently accumulate in different regions. The alignment of the ferrimagnetic particles and optical transparency of the ferrofluid was greatly enhanced by the bacteria at low applied magnetic fields. This work is applicable to lab-on-a-chip based detection and trapping of non-magnetic entities bacteria and cells.

Rational Design of Multilayer Collagen Nanosheets with Compositional and Structural Control.

PubMed

Jiang, Tao; Vail, Owen A; Jiang, Zhigang; Zuo, Xiaobing; Conticello, Vincent P

2015-06-24

Two collagen-mimetic peptides, CP(+) and CP(-), are reported in which the sequences comprise a multiblock architecture having positively charged N-terminal (Pro-Arg-Gly)3 and negatively charged C-terminal (Glu-Hyp-Gly)3 triad extensions, respectively. CP(+) rapidly self-associates into positively charged nanosheets based on a monolayer structure. In contrast, CP(-) self-assembles to form negatively charged monolayer nanosheets at a much slower rate, which can be accelerated in the presence of calcium(II) ion. A 2:1 mixture of unassociated CP(-) peptide with preformed CP(+) nanosheets generates structurally defined triple-layer nanosheets in which two CP(-) monolayers have formed on the identical surfaces of the CP(+) nanosheet template. Experimental data from electrostatic force microscopy (EFM) image analysis, zeta potential measurements, and charged nanoparticle binding assays support a negative surface charge state for the triple-layer nanosheets, which is the reverse of the positive surface charge state observed for the CP(+) monolayer nanosheets. The electrostatic complementarity between the CP(+) and CP(-) triple helical cohesive ends at the layer interfaces promotes a (CP(-)/CP(+)/CP(-)) compositional gradient along the z-direction of the nanosheet. This structurally informed approach represents an attractive strategy for the fabrication of two-dimensional nanostructures with compositional control.

The Effect of Surface Induced Flows on Bubble and Particle Aggregation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Guelcher, Scott A.; Solomentsev, Yuri E.; Anderson, John L.; Boehmer, Marcel; Sides, Paul J.

1999-01-01

Almost 20 years have elapsed since a phenomenon called "radial specific coalescence" was identified. During studies of electrolytic oxygen evolution from the back side of a vertically oriented, transparent tin oxide electrode in alkaline electrolyte, one of the authors (Sides) observed that large "collector" bubbles appeared to attract smaller bubbles. The bubbles moved parallel to the surface of the electrode, while the electric field was normal to the electrode surface. The phenomenon was reported but not explained. More recently self ordering of latex particles was observed during electrophoretic deposition at low DC voltages likewise on a transparent tin oxide electrode. As in the bubble work, the field was normal to the electrode while the particles moved parallel to it. Fluid convection caused by surface induced flows (SIF) can explain these two apparently different experimental observations: the aggregation of particles on an electrode during electrophoretic deposition, and a radial bubble coalescence pattern on an electrode during electrolytic gas evolution. An externally imposed driving force (the gradient of electrical potential or temperature), interacting with the surface of particles or bubbles very near a planar conducting surface, drives the convection of fluid that causes particles and bubbles to approach each other on the electrode.

Why Are So Many Things in the Solar System Round?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heilig, Steven J.

2010-09-01

Several years ago a student asked why so many things in the solar system were round. He noted that many objects in the solar system, although not all, are round. The standard answer, which he knew, is that the mutual gravitational attraction of the molecules pulls them into the shape that gets them as close to each other as possible: a sphere. This argument works fine for fluid bodies such as the Sun or Jupiter, but it isn't so simple for a solid object-we have all seen rocks that are not round. There is still a gravitational attraction acting between the rock's molecules, butfor small rocks that force does not overcome the strength of the bonds holding those molecules in their relative positions. Since the strength of the gravitational force grows with the size of the object, a large enough rock will have a strong enough gravitational attraction to force a deformation into a round shape. But how large is that? A simple model gives an answer to this question. There is also renewed interest in this topic as a result of the new definition of a planet approved by the International Astronomical Union, which says in part, ``A `planet' is a celestial body that... has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round) shape.''1 What size object is large enough to satisfy this criterion? Where does Pluto fall regarding this question?

Method of analysis for compressible flow through mixed-flow centrifugal impellers of arbitrary design

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hamrick, Joseph T; Ginsburg, Ambrose; Osborn, Walter M

1952-01-01

A method is presented for analysis of the compressible flow between the hub and the shroud of mixed-flow impellers of arbitrary design. Axial symmetry was assumed, but the forces in the meridional (hub to shroud) plane, which are derived from tangential pressure gradients, were taken into account. The method was applied to an experimental mixed-flow impeller. The analysis of the flow in the meridional plane of the impeller showed that the rotational forces, the blade curvature, and the hub-shroud profile can introduce severe velocity gradients along the hub and the shroud surfaces. Choked flow at the impeller inlet as determined by the analysis was verified by experimental results.

Facial attractiveness, symmetry, and physical fitness in young women.

PubMed

Hönekopp, Johannes; Bartholomé, Tobias; Jansen, Gregor

2004-06-01

This study explores the evolutionary-based hypothesis that facial attractiveness (a guiding force in mate selection) is a cue for physical fitness (presumably an important contributor to mate value in ancestral times). Since fluctuating asymmetry, a measure of developmental stability, is known to be a valid cue for fitness in several biological domains, we scrutinized facial asymmetry as a potential mediator between attractiveness and fitness. In our sample of young women, facial beauty indeed indicated physical fitness. The relationships that pertained to asymmetry were in the expected direction. However, a closer analysis revealed that facial asymmetry did not mediate the relationship between fitness and attractiveness. Unexpected problems regarding the measurement of facial asymmetry are discussed.

Thermodynamic curvature for attractive and repulsive intermolecular forces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

May, Helge-Otmar; Mausbach, Peter; Ruppeiner, George

2013-09-01

The thermodynamic curvature scalar R for the Lennard-Jones system is evaluated in phase space, including vapor, liquid, and solid state. We paid special attention to the investigation of R along vapor-liquid, liquid-solid, and vapor-solid equilibria. Because R is a measure of interaction strength, we traced out the line R=0 dividing the phase space into regions with effectively attractive (R<0) or repulsive (R>0) interactions. Furthermore, we analyzed the dependence of R on the strength of attraction applying a perturbation ansatz proposed by Weeks-Chandler-Anderson. Our results show clearly a transition from R>0 (for poorly repulsive interaction) to R<0 when loading attraction in the intermolecular potential.

The relationship between the instantaneous velocity field and the rate of moment release in the lithosphere

USGS Publications Warehouse

Pollitz, F.F.

2003-01-01

Instantaneous velocity gradients within the continental lithosphere are often related to the tectonic driving forces. This relationship is direct if the forces are secular, as for the case of loading of a locked section of a subduction interface by the downgoing plate. If the forces are static, as for the case of lateral variations in gravitational potential energy, then velocity gradients can be produced only if the lithosphere has, on average, zero strength. The static force model may be related to the long-term velocity field but not the instantaneous velocity field (typically measured geodetically over a period of several years) because over short time intervals the upper lithosphere behaves elastically. In order to describe both the short- and long-term behaviour of an (elastic) lithosphere-(viscoelastic) asthenosphere system in a self-consistent manner, I construct a deformation model termed the expected interseismic velocity (EIV) model. Assuming that the lithosphere is populated with faults that rupture continually, each with a definite mean recurrence time, and that the Earth is well approximated as a linear elastic-viscoelastic coupled system, I derive a simple relationship between the instantaneous velocity field and the average rate of moment release in the lithosphere. Examples with synthetic fault networks demonstrate that velocity gradients in actively deforming regions may to a large extent be the product of compounded viscoelastic relaxation from past earthquakes on hundreds of faults distributed over large ( ≥106 km2) areas.

Simulation of nanopowder compaction in terms of granular dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boltachev, G. Sh.; Volkov, N. B.

2011-07-01

The uniaxial compaction of nanopowders is simulated using the granular dynamics in the 2D geometry. The initial arrangement of particles is represented by (i) a layer of particles executing Brownian motion (isotropic structures) and (ii) particles falling in the gravity field (anisotropic structures). The influence of size effects and the size of a model cell on the properties of the structures are studied. The compaction of the model cell is simulated with regard to Hertz elastic forces between particles, Cattaneo-Mindlin-Deresiewicz shear friction forces, and van der Waals-Hamaker dispersion forces of attraction. Computation is performed for monodisperse powders with particle sizes ranging from 10 to 400 nm and for "cohesionless" powder, in which attractive forces are absent. It is shown that taking into account dispersion forces makes it possible to simulate the size effect in the nanopowder compaction: the compressibility of the nanopowder drops as the particles get finer. The mean coordination number and the axial and lateral pressures in the powder systems are found, and the effect of the density and isotropy of the initial structure on the compressibility is analyzed. The applicability of well-known Rumpf's formula for the size effect is discussed.

Planar Gradient Diffusion System to Investigate Chemotaxis in a 3D Collagen Matrix.

PubMed

Stout, David A; Toyjanova, Jennet; Franck, Christian

2015-06-12

The importance of cell migration can be seen through the development of human life. When cells migrate, they generate forces and transfer these forces to their surrounding area, leading to cell movement and migration. In order to understand the mechanisms that can alter and/or affect cell migration, one can study these forces. In theory, understanding the fundamental mechanisms and forces underlying cell migration holds the promise of effective approaches for treating diseases and promoting cellular transplantation. Unfortunately, modern chemotaxis chambers that have been developed are usually restricted to two dimensions (2D) and have complex diffusion gradients that make the experiment difficult to interpret. To this end, we have developed, and describe in this paper, a direct-viewing chamber for chemotaxis studies, which allows one to overcome modern chemotaxis chamber obstacles able to measure cell forces and specific concentration within the chamber in a 3D environment to study cell 3D migration. More compelling, this approach allows one to successfully model diffusion through 3D collagen matrices and calculate the coefficient of diffusion of a chemoattractant through multiple different concentrations of collagen, while keeping the system simple and user friendly for traction force microscopy (TFM) and digital volume correlation (DVC) analysis.

Optical force on a large sphere illuminated by Bessel beams: comparisons between ray optics method and generalized Lorenz-Mie theory.

PubMed

Song, Shukun; Wang, Neng; Lu, Wanli; Lin, Zhifang

2014-10-01

Optical forces are calculated for a dielectric spherical particle illuminated by a zero-order Bessel beam based on both the generalized Lorenz-Mie theory (GLMT) and the ray optics method (ROM). Particles with positive and negative refractive indices are examined. The peculiar characteristics of the Bessel beam allow for analytical expressions for the beam shape coefficients required in the GLMT as well as a decomposition of optical force into the gradient and the scattering forces irrespective of the particle size, which enable respective comparisons for the gradient and scattering forces between the results obtained from the GLMT and the ROM. Our results demonstrate that the discrepancy between the results obtained from the GLMT and the ROM depends on the particle refractive index n_p, the particle size, and, also, the particle location in the beam field. As the particle size increases, the difference between the results from the GLMT and the ROM shows a general tendency of decreasing, as can be expected, but the change may exhibit oscillatory rather than monotonic behavior. A phase diagram is presented that displays the regime for particle size and refractive index where a specified accuracy can be achieved for optical force by the ROM.

Boosting spin-caloritronic effects by attractive correlations in molecular junctions.

PubMed

Weymann, Ireneusz

2016-01-25

In nanoscopic systems quantum confinement and interference can lead to an enhancement of thermoelectric properties as compared to conventional bulk materials. For nanostructures, such as molecules or quantum dots coupled to external leads, the thermoelectric figure of merit can reach or even exceed unity. Moreover, in the presence of external magnetic field or when the leads are ferromagnetic, an applied temperature gradient can generate a spin voltage and an associated spin current flow in the system, which makes such nanostructures particularly interesting for future thermoelectric applications. In this study, by using the numerical renormalization group method, we examine the spin-dependent thermoelectric transport properties of a molecular junction involving an orbital level with attractive Coulomb correlations coupled to ferromagnetic leads. We analyze how attractive correlations affect the spin-resolved transport properties of the system and find a nontrivial dependence of the conductance and tunnel magnetoresistance on the strength and sign of those correlations. We also demonstrate that attractive correlations can lead to an enhancement of the spin thermopower and the figure of merit, which can be controlled by a gate voltage.

Microstructures and Mechanical Properties of Commercially Pure Ti Processed by Rotationally Accelerated Shot Peening

PubMed Central

Huang, Zhaowen; Cao, Yang; Nie, Jinfeng; Zhou, Hao; Li, Yusheng

2018-01-01

Gradient structured materials possess good combinations of strength and ductility, rendering the materials attractive in industrial applications. In this research, a surface nanocrystallization (SNC) technique, rotationally accelerated shot peening (RASP), was employed to produce a gradient nanostructured pure Ti with a deformation layer that had a thickness of 2000 μm, which is thicker than those processed by conventional SNC techniques. It is possible to fabricate a gradient structured Ti workpiece without delamination. Moreover, based on the microstructural features, the microstructure of the processed sample can be classified into three regions, from the center to the surface of the RASP-processed sample: (1) a twinning-dominated core region; (2) a “twin intersection”-dominated twin transition region; and (3) the nanostructured region, featuring nanograins. A microhardness gradient was detected from the RASP-processed Ti. The surface hardness was more than twice that of the annealed Ti sample. The RASP-processed Ti sample exhibited a good combination of yield strength and uniform elongation, which may be attributed to the high density of deformation twins and a strong back stress effect. PMID:29498631

Micromorphic approach for gradient-extended thermo-elastic-plastic solids in the logarithmic strain space

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aldakheel, Fadi

2017-11-01

The coupled thermo-mechanical strain gradient plasticity theory that accounts for microstructure-based size effects is outlined within this work. It extends the recent work of Miehe et al. (Comput Methods Appl Mech Eng 268:704-734, 2014) to account for thermal effects at finite strains. From the computational viewpoint, the finite element design of the coupled problem is not straightforward and requires additional strategies due to the difficulties near the elastic-plastic boundaries. To simplify the finite element formulation, we extend it toward the micromorphic approach to gradient thermo-plasticity model in the logarithmic strain space. The key point is the introduction of dual local-global field variables via a penalty method, where only the global fields are restricted by boundary conditions. Hence, the problem of restricting the gradient variable to the plastic domain is relaxed, which makes the formulation very attractive for finite element implementation as discussed in Forest (J Eng Mech 135:117-131, 2009) and Miehe et al. (Philos Trans R Soc A Math Phys Eng Sci 374:20150170, 2016).

Climate Effect of Greenhouse Gas: Warming or Cooling is Determined by Temperature Gradient

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shia, R.

2011-12-01

The instantaneous radiative forcing (IRF) at the top of the atmosphere (ToA) is the initial change of the total energy in the climate system when the concentration of greenhouse gas (GHG) increases. In my previous presentation at the 2010 Fall AGU meeting (A11J-02, "Mechanism of Radiative Forcing of Greenhouse Gas its Implication to the Global Warming"), it was demonstrated that IRF at TOA is generated by moving up of the emission weighting function. Thus, the temperature gradient plays a critical role in determining the climate effect of GHG. In this presentation the change of the outgoing infrared radiation flux at ToA is studied from a perturbation point of view. After the cancellation between the changes in the outgoing radiation flux from the surface emission and from the reemission of the atmosphere, the derivative of the outgoing flux to the concentration of GHG is found to be proportional to the temperature gradients below the level where the concentration of GHG changes. Therefore, the greenhouse gas contribute only to the magnitude of the radiative forcing, the temperature gradients decide the direction of the radiative forcing, i.e. warming or cooling, in addition to contributing to its magnitude. In response to the question "Does the negative IRF at ToA lead to the surface cooling or it only cools the upper part of the atmosphere?" the Eddington grey radiative equilibrium model is modified to simulate different scenarios. The original model has been used to illustrate the warming effect of GHG in textbooks of the atmospheric physics. It is modified by adding source terms from the absorption of the solar flux and the internal energy exchange in the atmosphere. In two cases the modified model generates atmospheres with a large and warm stratosphere and negative IRF at ToA when GHG increases by 25%. This negative radiative forcing can lead to the cooling of the atmosphere all the way down to the surface. The implications of the cooling effect of GHG to the climate change, including paleoclimatology and the prerequests for climate models to include cooling effect of GHG properly are discussed.

Children's beliefs in reciprocation of biases and flexibility.

PubMed

Rennels, Jennifer L; Langlois, Judith H

2015-09-01

Children display positive and negative biases based on peers' attractiveness, gender, and race, but it is unclear whether children who associate positive attributes with certain peers also believe those peers think positively of them. In each domain (attractiveness, gender, and race), we measured 3- to 11-year-olds' (N = 102) biases and flexibility and their beliefs in reciprocity of bias and flexibility by asking who would think positively of them. Children could choose one of two unfamiliar peers (forced choice assessment) or had the additional options of choosing both peers or neither peer (non-forced choice assessment). We found that children often displayed beliefs in reciprocation, with beliefs in positive bias reciprocation from attractive girls showing the largest effect sizes. These beliefs were significantly correlated with and were predictive of children's positive and negative biases and flexibility. The duality of children's beliefs may contribute to strengthening their biases and segregating social groups. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Introducing biomimetic shear and ion gradients to microfluidic spinning improves silk fiber strength.

PubMed

Li, David; Jacobsen, Matthew M; Gyune Rim, Nae; Backman, Daniel; Kaplan, David L; Wong, Joyce Y

2017-05-31

Silkworm silk is an attractive biopolymer for biomedical applications due to its high mechanical strength and biocompatibility; as a result, there is increasing interest in scalable devices to spin silk and recombinant silk so as to improve and customize their properties for diverse biomedical purposes (Vepari and Kaplan 2007 Prog. Polym. Sci. 32 ). While artificial spinning of regenerated silk fibroins adds tunability to properties such as degradation rate and surface functionalization, the resulting fibers do not yet approach the mechanical strength of native silkworm silk. These drawbacks reduce the applicability and attractiveness of artificial silk (Kinahan et al 2011 Biomacromolecules 12 ). Here, we used computational fluid dynamic simulations to incorporate shear in tandem with biomimetic ion gradients by coupling a modular novel glass microfluidic device to our previous co-axial flow device. Fibers spun with this combined apparatus demonstrated a significant increase in mechanical strength compared to fibers spun with the basic apparatus alone, with a three-fold increase in Young's modulus and extensibility and a twelve-fold increase in toughness. These results thus demonstrate the critical importance of ionic milieu and shear stress in spinning strong fibers from solubilized silk fibroin.

Maximizing coupling strength of magnetically anchored surgical instruments: how thick can we go?

PubMed

Best, Sara L; Bergs, Richard; Gedeon, Makram; Paramo, Juan; Fernandez, Raul; Cadeddu, Jeffrey A; Scott, Daniel J

2011-01-01

The Magnetic Anchoring and Guidance System (MAGS) includes an external magnet that controls intra-abdominal surgical instruments via magnetic attraction forces. We have performed NOTES (Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery) and LESS (Laparoendoscopic Single Site) procedures using MAGS instruments in porcine models with up to 2.5-cm-thick abdominal walls, but this distance may not be sufficient in some humans. The purpose of this study was to determine the maximal abdominal wall thickness for which the current MAGS platform is suitable. Successive iterations of prototype instruments were developed; those evaluated in this study include external (134-583 g, 38-61 mm diameter) and internal (8-39 g, 10-22 mm diameter) components using various grades, diameters, thicknesses, and stacking/shielding/focusing configurations of permanent Neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets. Nine configurations were tested for coupling strength across distances of 0.1-10 cm. The force-distance tests across an air medium were conducted at 0.5-mm increments using a robotic arm fitted with a force sensor. A minimum theoretical instrument drop-off (decoupling) threshold was defined as the separation distance at which force decreased below the weight of the heaviest internal component (39 g). Magnetic attraction forces decreased exponentially over distance. For the nine configurations tested, the average forces were 3,334 ± 1,239 gf at 0.1 cm, 158 ± 98 gf at 2.5 cm, and 8.7 ± 12 gf at 5 cm; the drop-off threshold was 3.64 ± 0.8 cm. The larger stacking configurations and magnets yielded up to a 592% increase in attraction force at 2.5 cm and extended the drop-off threshold distance by up to 107% over single-stack anchors. For the strongest configuration, coupling force ranged from 5,337 gf at 0.1 cm to 0 gf at 6.95 cm and yielded a drop-off threshold distance of 4.78 cm. This study suggests that the strongest configuration of currently available MAGS instruments is suitable for clinically relevant abdominal wall thicknesses. Further platform development and optimization are warranted.

Natural convection in binary gases driven by combined horizontal thermal and vertical solutal gradients

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Weaver, J. A.; Viskanta, Raymond

1992-01-01

An investigation of natural convection is presented to examine the influence of a horizontal temperature gradient and a concentration gradient occurring from the bottom to the cold wall in a cavity. As the solutal buoyancy force changes from augmenting to opposing the thermal buoyancy force, the fluid motion switches from unicellular to multicellular flow (fluid motion is up the cold wall and down the hot wall for the bottom counterrotating flow cell). Qualitatively, the agreement between predicted streamlines and smoke flow patterns is generally good. In contrast, agreement between measured and predicted temperature and concentration distributions ranges from fair to poor. Part of the discrepancy can be attributed to experimental error. However, there remains considerable discrepancy between data and predictions due to the idealizations of the mathematical model, which examines only first-order physical effects. An unsteady flow, variable thermophysical properties, conjugate effects, species interdiffusion, and radiation were not accounted for in the model.

Quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical/continuum style solvation model: linear response theory, variational treatment, and nuclear gradients.

PubMed

Li, Hui

2009-11-14

Linear response and variational treatment are formulated for Hartree-Fock (HF) and Kohn-Sham density functional theory (DFT) methods and combined discrete-continuum solvation models that incorporate self-consistently induced dipoles and charges. Due to the variational treatment, analytic nuclear gradients can be evaluated efficiently for these discrete and continuum solvation models. The forces and torques on the induced point dipoles and point charges can be evaluated using simple electrostatic formulas as for permanent point dipoles and point charges, in accordance with the electrostatic nature of these methods. Implementation and tests using the effective fragment potential (EFP, a polarizable force field) method and the conductorlike polarizable continuum model (CPCM) show that the nuclear gradients are as accurate as those in the gas phase HF and DFT methods. Using B3LYP/EFP/CPCM and time-dependent-B3LYP/EFP/CPCM methods, acetone S(0)-->S(1) excitation in aqueous solution is studied. The results are close to those from full B3LYP/CPCM calculations.

High-throughput growth temperature optimization of ferroelectric SrxBa1-xNb2O6 epitaxial thin films using a temperature gradient method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ohkubo, I.; Christen, H. M.; Kalinin, Sergei V.; Jellison, G. E.; Rouleau, C. M.; Lowndes, D. H.

2004-02-01

We have developed a multisample film growth method on a temperature-gradient substrate holder to quickly optimize the film growth temperature in pulsed-laser deposition. A smooth temperature gradient is achieved, covering a range of temperatures from 200 to 830 °C. In a single growth run, the optimal growth temperature for SrxBa1-xNb2O6 thin films on MgO(001) substrates was determined to be 750 °C, based on results from ellipsometry and piezoresponse force microscopy. Variations in optical properties and ferroelectric domains structures were clearly observed as function of growth temperature, and these physical properties can be related to their different crystalline quality. Piezoresponse force microscopy indicated the formation of uniform ferroelectric film for deposition temperatures above 750 °C. At 660 °C, isolated micron-sized ferroelectric islands were observed, while samples deposited below 550 °C did not exhibit clear piezoelectric contrast.

Induction of cell death by magnetic particles in response to a gradient magnetic field inside a uniform magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Amaya-Jaramillo, Carlos David; Pérez-Portilla, Adriana Patricia; Serrano-Olmedo, José Javier; Ramos-Gómez, Milagros

2017-10-01

A new instrument based on a magnetic force produced by an alternating magnetic field gradient, which is obtained through Maxwell coils, inside a constant field magnet has been designed and used to produce cell death. We have determined the interaction of microparticles and cells under different conditions such as incubation time with microparticles, particle size, magnetic field exposition time, and different current waveforms at different frequencies to produce a magnetic field gradient. We determined that the highest rate of cell death occurs at a frequency of 1 Hz with a square waveform and 1 h of irradiation. This method could be of great interest to remove cancer cells due mainly to the alterations in stiffness observed in the membranes of the tumor cells. Cancer cells can be eliminated in response to the forces caused by the movement of magnetic nanoparticles of the appropriate size under the application of a specific magnetic field. [Figure not available: see fulltext.

Modification of a variational objective analysis model for new equations for pressure gradient and vertical velocity in the lower troposphere and for spatial resolution and accuracy of satellite data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Achtemeier, G. L.

1986-01-01

Since late 1982 NASA has supported research to develop a numerical variational model for the diagnostic assimilation of conventional and space-based meteorological data. In order to analyze the model components, four variational models are defined dividing the problem naturally according to increasing complexity. The first of these variational models (MODEL I), the subject of this report, contains the two nonlinear horizontal momentum equations, the integrated continuity equation, and the hydrostatic equation. This report summarizes the results of research (1) to improve the way the large nonmeteorological parts of the pressure gradient force are partitioned between the two terms of the pressure gradient force terms of the horizontal momentum equations, (2) to generalize the integrated continuity equation to account for variable pressure thickness over elevated terrain, and (3) to introduce horizontal variation in the precision modulus weights for the observations.

Graphene-edge dielectrophoretic tweezers for trapping of biomolecules.

PubMed

Barik, Avijit; Zhang, Yao; Grassi, Roberto; Nadappuram, Binoy Paulose; Edel, Joshua B; Low, Tony; Koester, Steven J; Oh, Sang-Hyun

2017-11-30

The many unique properties of graphene, such as the tunable optical, electrical, and plasmonic response make it ideally suited for applications such as biosensing. As with other surface-based biosensors, however, the performance is limited by the diffusive transport of target molecules to the surface. Here we show that atomically sharp edges of monolayer graphene can generate singular electrical field gradients for trapping biomolecules via dielectrophoresis. Graphene-edge dielectrophoresis pushes the physical limit of gradient-force-based trapping by creating atomically sharp tweezers. We have fabricated locally backgated devices with an 8-nm-thick HfO 2 dielectric layer and chemical-vapor-deposited graphene to generate 10× higher gradient forces as compared to metal electrodes. We further demonstrate near-100% position-controlled particle trapping at voltages as low as 0.45 V with nanodiamonds, nanobeads, and DNA from bulk solution within seconds. This trapping scheme can be seamlessly integrated with sensors utilizing graphene as well as other two-dimensional materials.

Thermophoresis of a spherical particle: Modeling through moment-based, macroscopic transport equations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Padrino, Juan C.; Sprittles, James; Lockerby, Duncan

2017-11-01

Thermophoresis refers to the forces on and motions of objects caused by temperature gradients when these objects are exposed to rarefied gases. This phenomenon can occur when the ratio of the gas mean free path to the characteristic physical length scale (Knudsen number) is not negligible. In this work, we obtain the thermophoretic force on a rigid, heat-conducting spherical particle immersed in a rarefied gas resulting from a uniform temperature gradient imposed far from the sphere. To this end, we model the gas dynamics using the steady, linearized version of the so-called regularized 13-moment equations (R13). This set of equations, derived from the Boltzmann equation using the moment method, provides closures to the mass, momentum, and energy conservation laws in the form of constitutive, transport equations for the stress and heat flux that extends the Navier-Stokes-Fourier model to include rarefaction effects. Integration of the pressure and stress on the surface of the sphere leads to the net force as a function of the Knudsen number, dimensionless temperature gradient, and particle-to-gas thermal conductivity ratio. Results from this expression are compared with predictions from other moment-based models as well as from kinetic models. Supported in the UK by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/N016602/1).

A diffusion based long-range and steady chemical gradient generator on a microfluidic device for studying bacterial chemotaxis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Murugesan, Nithya; Singha, Siddhartha; Panda, Tapobrata; Das, Sarit K.

2016-03-01

Studies on chemotaxis in microfluidics device have become a major area of research to generate physiologically similar environment in vitro. In this work, a novel micro-fluidic device has been developed to study chemo-taxis of cells in near physiological condition which can create controllable, steady and long-range chemical gradients using various chemo-effectors in a micro-channel. Hydrogels like agarose, collagen, etc, can be used in the device to maintain exclusive diffusive flux of various chemical species into the micro-channel under study. Variations of concentrations and flow rates of Texas Red dextran in the device revealed that an increase in the concentration of the dye in the feed from 6 to 18 μg ml-1, causes a steeper chemical gradient in the device, whereas the flow rate of the dye has practically no effect on the chemical gradient in the device. This observation confirms that a diffusion controlled chemical gradient is generated in the micro-channel. Chemo-taxis of E. coli cells were studied under the steady gradient of a chemo-attractant and a chemo-repellent separately in the same chemical gradient generator. For sorbitol and NiSO4·6H2O, the bacterial cells exhibit a steady distribution in the micro channel after 1 h and 30 min, respectively. From the distribution of bacterial population chemo-tactic strength of the chemo-effectors was estimated for E. coli. In a long microfluidic channel, migration behavior of bacterial cells under diffusion controlled chemical gradient showed chemotaxis, random movement, aggregation, and concentration dependent reverse chemotaxis.

Students' Understanding of Boiling Points and Intermolecular Forces

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schmidt, Hans-Jurgen; Kaufmann, Birgit; Treagust, David F.

2009-01-01

In introductory chemistry courses students are presented with the model that matter is composed of particles, and that weak forces of attraction exist between them. This model is used to interpret phenomena such as solubility and melting points, and aids in understanding the changes in states of matter as opposed to chemical reactions. We…

Aging Work Force Brings New Look at Teacher Retirement.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Auriemma, Frank V.; And Others

1992-01-01

Higher salaries and improved working conditions have combined to make teaching a more attractive profession and to reduce teacher turnover rates. At the same time, however, the teaching work force has aged and faces problems in retirement programs. All levels of government should work with interested groups to find solutions to six major problems…

Changing Employment Relations, New Organizational Models and the Capability To Use Idiosyncratic Knowledge.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fuchs, Manfred

2002-01-01

Organizations that rely heavily on a flexible work force will lose the ability to attract and retain skilled workers with idiosyncratic knowledge. There is an interdependent relationship between the quality of employee relations and the capacity to use the idiosyncratic knowledge of a work force. (Contains 61 references.) (SK)

Stresses in curved nematic membranes.

PubMed

Santiago, J A

2018-05-01

Ordering configurations of a director field on a curved membrane induces stress. In this work, we present a theoretical framework to calculate the stress tensor and the torque as a consequence of the nematic ordering; we use the variational principle and invariance of the energy under Euclidean motions. Euler-Lagrange equations of the membrane as well as the corresponding boundary conditions also appear as natural results. The stress tensor found includes attraction-repulsion forces between defects; likewise, defects are attracted to patches with the same sign in Gaussian curvature. These forces are mediated by the Green function of the Laplace-Beltrami operator of the surface. In addition, we find nonisotropic forces that involve derivatives of the Green function and the Gaussian curvature, even in the normal direction to the membrane. We examine the case of axial membranes to analyze the spherical one. For spherical vesicles we find the modified Young-Laplace law as a consequence of the nematic texture. In the case of spherical cap with defect at the north pole, we find that the force is repulsive with respect to the north pole, indicating that it is an unstable equilibrium point.

Stresses in curved nematic membranes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Santiago, J. A.

2018-05-01

Ordering configurations of a director field on a curved membrane induces stress. In this work, we present a theoretical framework to calculate the stress tensor and the torque as a consequence of the nematic ordering; we use the variational principle and invariance of the energy under Euclidean motions. Euler-Lagrange equations of the membrane as well as the corresponding boundary conditions also appear as natural results. The stress tensor found includes attraction-repulsion forces between defects; likewise, defects are attracted to patches with the same sign in Gaussian curvature. These forces are mediated by the Green function of the Laplace-Beltrami operator of the surface. In addition, we find nonisotropic forces that involve derivatives of the Green function and the Gaussian curvature, even in the normal direction to the membrane. We examine the case of axial membranes to analyze the spherical one. For spherical vesicles we find the modified Young-Laplace law as a consequence of the nematic texture. In the case of spherical cap with defect at the north pole, we find that the force is repulsive with respect to the north pole, indicating that it is an unstable equilibrium point.

Balancing the intermolecular forces in peptide amphiphiles for controlling self-assembly transitions.

PubMed

Buettner, C J; Wallace, A J; Ok, S; Manos, A A; Nicholl, M J; Ghosh, A; Tweedle, M F; Goldberger, J E

2017-06-21

While the influence of alkyl chain length and headgroup size on self-assembly behaviour has been well-established for simple surfactants, the rational control over the pH- and concentration-dependent self-assembly behaviour in stimuli responsive peptides remains an elusive goal. Here, we show that different amphiphilic peptides can have similar self-assembly phase diagrams, providing the relative strengths of the attractive and repulsive forces are balanced. Using palmitoyl-YYAAEEEEK(DO3A:Gd)-NH 2 and palmitoyl-YAAEEEEK(DO3A:Gd)-NH 2 as controls, we show that reducing hydrophobic attractive forces through fewer methylene groups in the alkyl chain will lead to a similar self-assembly phase diagram as increasing the electrostatic repulsive forces via the addition of a glutamic acid residue. These changes allow creation of self-assembled MRI vehicles with slightly different micelle and nanofiber diameters but with minimal changes in the spin-lattice T 1 relaxivity. These findings reveal a powerful strategy to design self-assembled vehicles with different sizes but with similar self-assembly profiles.

Least-rattling feedback from strong time-scale separation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chvykov, Pavel; England, Jeremy

2018-03-01

In most interacting many-body systems associated with some "emergent phenomena," we can identify subgroups of degrees of freedom that relax on dramatically different time scales. Time-scale separation of this kind is particularly helpful in nonequilibrium systems where only the fast variables are subjected to external driving; in such a case, it may be shown through elimination of fast variables that the slow coordinates effectively experience a thermal bath of spatially varying temperature. In this paper, we investigate how such a temperature landscape arises according to how the slow variables affect the character of the driven quasisteady state reached by the fast variables. Brownian motion in the presence of spatial temperature gradients is known to lead to the accumulation of probability density in low-temperature regions. Here, we focus on the implications of attraction to low effective temperature for the long-term evolution of slow variables. After quantitatively deriving the temperature landscape for a general class of overdamped systems using a path-integral technique, we then illustrate in a simple dynamical system how the attraction to low effective temperature has a fine-tuning effect on the slow variable, selecting configurations that bring about exceptionally low force fluctuation in the fast-variable steady state. We furthermore demonstrate that a particularly strong effect of this kind can take place when the slow variable is tuned to bring about orderly, integrable motion in the fast dynamics that avoids thermalizing energy absorbed from the drive. We thus point to a potentially general feedback mechanism in multi-time-scale active systems, that leads to the exploration of slow variable space, as if in search of fine tuning for a "least-rattling" response in the fast coordinates.

Seafloor tilt induced by ocean tidal loading inferred from broadband seismometer data from the Cascadia subduction zone and Juan de Fuca Ridge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Davis, Earl E.; Heesemann, Martin; Lambert, Anthony; He, Jianheng

2017-04-01

Mass-balancing voltages from four buried broadband seismometers connected to the NEPTUNE Canada seafloor cable are being recorded at 24-bit resolution. Sites are located on the Vancouver Island continental shelf, the nearby Cascadia accretionary prism, the eastern flank of the Juan de Fuca Ridge, and the western flank close to the Juan de Fuca Ridge axis. Tidal variations are present throughout the records. Variations in vertical acceleration at three of the sites match predicted gravitational attraction variations very well; those at the fourth site show a small residual that is probably caused by sensitivity to tilt resulting from sensor inclination. Horizontal accelerations, which at tidal periods are sensitive primarily to tilt, are anomalously large relative to standard-earth model results. After removal of predicted tidal body and ocean attraction and loading terms, the residuals are seen to follow ocean pressure variations. Responses range from 0.4 μrad dbar-1 (0.04 μrad kPa-1) at 10° true (down under positive load) at the continental shelf site, to 0.6 μrad dbar-1 at 243° at the Cascadia prism, 0.4 μrad dbar-1 at 90° at the eastern Juan de Fuca Ridge flank, and 0.2 μrad dbar-1 at 116° true on the western ridge flank. Except at the continental shelf site, tilts are roughly perpendicular to structural strike. The tilt observations can be explained by loading-induced deformation in the presence of local lithologic gradients or by the influence of faults or structurally controlled anisotropic elastic properties. The observations highlight the utility of using mass position data from force-feedback broad-band seismometers for geodynamic studies.

Non-equilibrium physics of neural networks for leaning, memory and decision making: landscape and flux perspectives

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Jin

Cognitive behaviors are determined by underlying neural networks. Many brain functions, such as learning and memory, can be described by attractor dynamics. We developed a theoretical framework for global dynamics by quantifying the landscape associated with the steady state probability distributions and steady state curl flux, measuring the degree of non-equilibrium through detailed balance breaking. We found the dynamics and oscillations in human brains responsible for cognitive processes and physiological rhythm regulations are determined not only by the landscape gradient but also by the flux. We found that the flux is closely related to the degrees of the asymmetric connections in neural networks and is the origin of the neural oscillations. The neural oscillation landscape shows a closed-ring attractor topology. The landscape gradient attracts the network down to the ring. The flux is responsible for coherent oscillations on the ring. We suggest the flux may provide the driving force for associations among memories. Both landscape and flux determine the kinetic paths and speed of decision making. The kinetics and global stability of decision making are explored by quantifying the landscape topography through the barrier heights and the mean first passage time. The theoretical predictions are in agreement with experimental observations: more errors occur under time pressure. We quantitatively explored two mechanisms of the speed-accuracy tradeoff with speed emphasis and further uncovered the tradeoffs among speed, accuracy, and energy cost. Our results show an optimal balance among speed, accuracy, and the energy cost in decision making. We uncovered possible mechanisms of changes of mind and how mind changes improve performance in decision processes. Our landscape approach can help facilitate an understanding of the underlying physical mechanisms of cognitive processes and identify the key elements in neural networks.

Effect of hinge-moment parameters on elevator stick forces in rapid maneuvers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jones, Robert T; Greenberg, Harry

1944-01-01

The importance of the stick force per unit normal acceleration as a criterion of longitudinal stability and the critical dependence of this gradient on elevator hinge-moment parameters have been shown in previous reports. The present report continues the investigation with special reference to transient effects for maneuvers of short duration.

Effect of cation size and charge on the interaction between silica surfaces in 1:1, 2:1, and 3:1 aqueous electrolytes.

PubMed

Dishon, Matan; Zohar, Ohad; Sivan, Uri

2011-11-01

Application of two complementary AFM measurements, force vs separation and adhesion force, reveals the combined effects of cation size and charge (valency) on the interaction between silica surfaces in three 1:1, three 2:1, and three 3:1 metal chloride aqueous solutions of different concentrations. The interaction between the silica surfaces in 1:1 and 2:1 salt solutions is fully accounted for by ion-independent van der Waals (vdW) attraction and electric double-layer repulsion modified by cation specific adsorption to the silica surfaces. The deduced ranking of mono- and divalent cation adsorption capacity (adsorbability) to silica, Mg(2+) < Ca(2+) < Na(+) < Sr(2+) < K(+) < Cs(+), follows cation bare size as well as cation solvation energy but does not correlate with hydrated ionic radius or with volume or surface ionic charge density. In the presence of 3:1 salts, the coarse phenomenology of the force between the silica surfaces as a function of salt concentration resembles that in 1:1 and 2:1 electrolytes. Nevertheless, two fundamental differences should be noticed. First, the attraction between the silica surfaces is too large to be attributed solely to vdW force, hence implying an additional attraction mechanism or gross modification of the conventional vdW attraction. Second, neutralization of the silica surfaces occurs at trivalent cation concentrations that are 3 orders of magnitude smaller than those characterizing surface neutralization by mono- and divalent cations. Consequently, when trivalent cations are added to our cation adsorbability series the correlation with bare ion size breaks down abruptly. The strong adsorbability of trivalent cations to silica contrasts straightforward expectations based on ranking of the cationic solvation energies, thus suggesting a different adsorption mechanism which is inoperative or weak for mono- and divalent cations.

Colloidal Dispersions in Polymeric Media: Interparticle Forces, Microstructure and Rheology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ndong, Rose Seynabou

To enhance properties of the ultimate materials, melt processed polymers are commonly filled with colloidal particles, such as inorganic oxides. Dispersing such particles in a melt is generally difficult due to the strong van der Waals attractions. These attractive forces can be modulated through surface modifications such as polymer adsorption and grafting. Indeed, the relative viscosity of 430 nm Al2O3particles stabilized by end-tethered poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) in PDMS melts decreases with increasing graft density and molecular weight as expected, but also with increasing molecular weight of the melt, contrary to well established theories. The relative steady shear viscosity exhibits neither a low shear limit nor a yield stress, but follows a power law characterized by relative high shear viscosity (eta infinity/mu) and a structural relaxation time (tau). The measured structural time can be correlated reasonably well with a characteristic relaxation time, tauo, estimated by equating the viscous resistance with the maximum attractive force. We further explored the significance of this power law with TiO2 nanoparticles in PDMS melts with a reduction in size and an increase in Hamaker constant. Bare, octadecyl-coated, and 9k-PDMS grafted TiO2 particles dispersed in neat and binary PDMS melts revealed behavior similar to that of the large alumina particles, as the increased strength of van der Waals forces offset the reduction in size. To complete the study ZrO2 nanoparticles were dispersed in solution of associative polymers and characterized by small amplitude oscillatory shear. The data exhibits two relaxation modes: Maxwellian behavior at high frequency imparted by the associating polymers and a power law spectrum at low frequency from the particles. The timescales and volume fraction dependence reflect the attractions between particles with adsorbed polymer layers dispersed in a percolated network of associative polymers. Together these studies demonstrate the range and origin of the rheology possible with particles dispersed in polymeric media.

Lunar fingerprints in the modulated incoming solar radiation: In situ insolation and latitudinal insolation gradients as two important interpretative metrics for paleoclimatic data records and theoretical climate modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cionco, Rodolfo Gustavo; Valentini, José Ernesto; Quaranta, Nancy Esther; Soon, Willie W.-H.

2018-01-01

We present a new set of solar radiation forcing that now incorporated not only the gravitational perturbation of the Sun-Earth-Moon geometrical orbits but also the intrinsic solar magnetic modulation of the total solar irradiance (TSI). This new dataset, covering the past 2000 years as well as a forward projection for about 100 years based on recent result by Velasco-Herrera et al. (2015), should provide a realistic basis to examine and evaluate the role of external solar forcing on Earth climate on decadal, multidecadal to multicentennial timescales. A second goal of this paper is to propose both in situ insolation forcing variable and the latitudinal insolation gradients (LIG) as two key metrics that are subjected to a deterministic modulation by lunar nodal cycle which are often confused with tidal forcing impacts as assumed and interpreted in previous studies of instrumental and paleoclimatic records. Our new results and datasets are made publicly available for all at PANGAEA site.

Accelerator-feasible N -body nonlinear integrable system

DOE PAGES

Danilov, V.; Nagaitsev, S.

2014-12-23

Nonlinear N-body integrable Hamiltonian systems, where N is an arbitrary number, attract the attention of mathematical physicists for the last several decades, following the discovery of some number of these systems. This research presents a new integrable system, which can be realized in facilities such as particle accelerators. This feature makes it more attractive than many of the previous such systems with singular or unphysical forces.

Experimental and Computational Studies of the Control of Convection of Non-Conducting Liquids During solidification by Means of a Magnetic Field Gradient

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Seybert, C. D.; Evans, J. W.; Leslie, F.; Jones, W. K., Jr.

2001-01-01

The elimination of convection is essential in experimental investigations of diffusive transport (of heat and matter) during solidification. One classical approach to damping convection in a conducting liquid is the application of a magnetic field. The damping phenomenon is the induction, by the motion of a conductor in a magnetic field, of currents which interact with the field to produce Lorentz forces that oppose the flow. However, there are many liquids which are not sufficiently conducting to exploit this phenomenon; examples include the transparent liquids (such as succinonitrile-acetone) that are used as "model alloys" in fundamental solidification studies. There have been several investigations of the solidification of these liquids that have been carried out in orbiting laboratories to eliminate natural convection. The paper describes an investigation of an alternative approach whereby a magnetic field gradient is applied to the liquid. A magnetic body force then arises which is dependent on the susceptibility of the liquid and thereby on the temperature and or concentration. With the field gradient aligned vertically and of correct magnitude, the variation of gravitational body force due to temperature/concentration dependent density can be counterbalanced by a variation in magnetic body force. Experiments have been carried out in a super-conducting magnet at Marshall Space Flight Center to measure velocities in an aqueous manganese chloride solution. The solution was contained in a chamber with temperature controlled end walls and glass side walls. Velocities were measured by particle image velocimetry. Starting from zero current in the magnet (zero field gradient) flow driven by the temperature difference between the end walls was measured. At a critical current the flow was halted. At higher currents the normal convection was reversed. The experiments included ones where the solution was solidified and were accompanied by solution of the flow/transport equations using the software package FLUENT.

Free convection in the Matian atmosphere

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Clow, G. D.; Haberle, R. M.

1990-01-01

The 'free convective' regime for the Martian atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) was investigated. This state occurs when the mean windspeed at the top of the ABL drops below some critical value U(sub c) and positive buoyant forces are present. Such forces can arise either from vertical temperature or water vapor gradients across the atmospheric surface layer. During free convection, buoyant forces drive narrow plumes that ascend to the inversion height with a return circulation consisting of broad slower-moving downdraughts. Horizontal pressure, temperature, windspeed, and water vapor fluctuations resulting form this circulation pattern can be quite large adjacent to the ground (within the surface layer). The local turbulent fluctuations cause non-zero mean surface stresses, sensible heat fluxes, and latent heat fluxes, even when the mean regional windspeed is zero. Although motions above the surface layer are insensitive to the nature of the surface, the sensible and latent heat fluxes are primarily controlled by processes within the interfacial sublayer immediately adjacent to the ground during free convection. Thus the distinction between aerodynamically smooth and rough airflow within the interfacial sublayer is more important than for the more typical situation where the mean regional windspeed is greater than U(sub c). Buoyant forces associated with water vapor gradients are particularly large on Mars at low pressures and high temperatures when the surface relative humidity is 100 percent, enhancing the likelihood of free convection under these conditions. On this basis, Ingersol postulated the evaporative heat losses from an icy surface on Mars at 237 K and current pressures would exceed the available net radiative flux at the surface, thus prohibiting ice from melting at low atmospheric pressures. Schumann has developed equations describing the horizontal fluctuations and mean vertical gradients occurring during free convection. Schumann's model was generalized to include convection driven by water vapor gradients and to include the effects of circulation above both aerodynamically smooth and rough surfaces.

Transport modes during crystal growth in a centrifuge

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Arnold, William A.; Wilcox, William R.; Carlson, Frederick; Chait, Arnon; Regel', Liia L.

1992-01-01

Flow modes arising under average acceleration in centrifugal crystal growth, the gradient of acceleration, and the Coriolis force are investigated using a fully nonlinear three-dimensional numerical model for a centrifugal crystal growth experiment. The analysis focuses on an examination of the quasi-steady state flow modes. The importance of the gradient acceleration is determined by the value of a new nondimensional number, Ad.

The intracellular proton gradient enables anaerobic ammonia oxidizing (anammox) bacteria to tolerate NO2 - inhibition.

PubMed

Carvajal-Arroyo, José M; Puyol, Daniel; Li, Guangbin; Sierra-Álvarez, Reyes; Field, Jim A

2014-12-20

Anammox bacteria are inhibited by nitrite, which is one of their substrates. By utilizing 2,4 dinitrophenol and carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazone, two uncouplers of respiration, we demonstrate that nitrite tolerance of anammox cells is strongly dependent on their ability to maintain a proton gradient, which may be the driving force for active nitrite transport system.

Long-range attraction of an ultrarelativistic electron beam by a column of neutral plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adli, E.; Lindstrøm, C. A.; Allen, J.; Clarke, C. I.; Frederico, J.; Gessner, S. J.; Green, S. Z.; Hogan, M. J.; Litos, M. D.; O'Shea, B.; Yakimenko, V.; An, W.; Clayton, C. E.; Marsh, K. A.; Mori, W. B.; Joshi, C.; Vafaei-Najafabadi, N.; Corde, S.; Lu, W.

2016-10-01

We report on the experimental observation of the attraction of a beam of ultrarelativistic electrons towards a column of neutral plasma. In experiments performed at the FACET test facility at SLAC we observe that an electron beam moving parallel to a neutral plasma column, at an initial distance of many plasma column radii, is attracted into the column. Once the beam enters the plasma it drives a plasma wake similar to that of an electron beam entering the plasma column head-on. A simple analytical model is developed in order to capture the essential physics of the attractive force. The attraction is further studied by 3D particle-in-cell numerical simulations. The results are an important step towards better understanding of particle beam-plasma interactions in general and plasma wakefield accelerator technology in particular.

A Closer Look at Trends in Boiling Points of Hydrides: Using an Inquiry-Based Approach to Teach Intermolecular Forces of Attraction

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Glazier, Samantha; Marano, Nadia; Eisen, Laura

2010-01-01

We describe how we use boiling-point trends of group IV-VII hydrides to introduce intermolecular forces in our first-year general chemistry classes. Starting with the idea that molecules in the liquid state are held together by some kind of force that must be overcome for boiling to take place, students use data analysis and critical reasoning to…

[Evaluation of three dimensional orthodontic force produced by magnet of fix appliance].

PubMed

Dai, Xin; Hou, Zhi-ming; Yao, Ge; Wen, Jing-long

2008-12-01

To analyze the feature and magnitude of three dimensional orthodontic force produced by the magnet of fix appliance. Forces detected by universal fatigue test system included the attractive and repulsive,the inclined and rotated orthodontic forces of two magnets in different air gaps, and the integrated inclined and rotated orthodontic forces of two magnets and NiTi wire. The attractive and repulsive forces of two magnets were 4.68 to 0.45 N and 3.00 to 0.40 N respectively in the air gaps of 0 to 5 mm. The inclined orthodontic forces were 1.54 to 1.67 N, 0.63 to 0.69 N, 0.47 to 0.54 N when the magnets were vertically inclined 10 degrees to 40 degrees in the air gaps of 0, 1, 2mm. The rotated orthodontic forces were 0.97 to 1.32 N, 0.53 to 0.59 N, 0.39 to 0.48 N when the magnets were horizontally rotated 10 degrees to 40 degrees in the air gaps of 0, 1, 2mm. The integrated orthodontic force of two magnets and 0.014-inch NiTi wire was 0.32 to 0.5 N when the magnets was vertically inclined 10 degrees to 40 degrees in the air gap of 4 mm. The integrated orthodontic force of two magnets and 0.012-inch NiTi wire was 0.32 to 0.39 N when the magnets were horizontally rotated 10 degrees to 40 degrees in the air gap of 3 mm. Magnets made into orthodontic brackets to some extent could replace the mechanical orthodontic force produced by orthodontic wires and elastics.

Empirical temperature-dependent intermolecular potentials determined by data mining from crystal data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hofmann, D. W. M.; Kuleshova, L. N.

2018-05-01

Modern force fields are accurate enough to describe thermal effects in molecular crystals. Here, we have extended our earlier approach to discrete force fields for various temperatures to a force field with a continuous function. For the parametrisation of the force field, we used data mining on experimental structures with the temperature as an additional descriptor. The obtained force field can be used to minimise energy at a finite temperature and for molecular dynamics with zero-K potentials. The applicability of the method has been demonstrated for the prediction of crystal density, temperature density gradients and transition temperature.

Multiple Acid Sensors Control Helicobacter pylori Colonization of the Stomach.

PubMed

Huang, Julie Y; Goers Sweeney, Emily; Guillemin, Karen; Amieva, Manuel R

2017-01-01

Helicobacter pylori's ability to respond to environmental cues in the stomach is integral to its survival. By directly visualizing H. pylori swimming behavior when encountering a microscopic gradient consisting of the repellent acid and attractant urea, we found that H. pylori is able to simultaneously detect both signals, and its response depends on the magnitudes of the individual signals. By testing for the bacteria's response to a pure acid gradient, we discovered that the chemoreceptors TlpA and TlpD are each independent acid sensors. They enable H. pylori to respond to and escape from increases in hydrogen ion concentration near 100 nanomolar. TlpD also mediates attraction to basic pH, a response dampened by another chemoreceptor TlpB. H. pylori mutants lacking both TlpA and TlpD (ΔtlpAD) are unable to sense acid and are defective in establishing colonization in the murine stomach. However, blocking acid production in the stomach with omeprazole rescues ΔtlpAD's colonization defect. We used 3D confocal microscopy to determine how acid blockade affects the distribution of H. pylori in the stomach. We found that stomach acid controls not only the overall bacterial density, but also the microscopic distribution of bacteria that colonize the epithelium deep in the gastric glands. In omeprazole treated animals, bacterial abundance is increased in the antral glands, and gland colonization range is extended to the corpus. Our findings indicate that H. pylori has evolved at least two independent receptors capable of detecting acid gradients, allowing not only survival in the stomach, but also controlling the interaction of the bacteria with the epithelium.

Visual Map Development: Bidirectional Signaling, Bifunctional Guidance Molecules, and Competition

PubMed Central

Feldheim, David A.; O’Leary, Dennis D. M.

2010-01-01

Topographic maps are a two-dimensional representation of one neural structure within another and serve as the main strategy to organize sensory information. The retina’s projection via axons of retinal ganglion cells to midbrain visual centers, the optic tectum/superior colliculus, is the leading model to elucidate mechanisms of topographic map formation. Each axis of the retina is mapped independently using different mechanisms and sets of axon guidance molecules expressed in gradients to achieve the goal of representing a point in the retina onto a point within the target. An axon’s termination along the temporal-nasal mapping axis is determined by opposing gradients of EphAs and ephrin-As that act through their forward and reverse signaling, respectively, within the projecting axons, each of which inhibits interstitial branching, cooperating with a branch-promoting activity, to generate topographic specific branching along the shaft of the parent axons that overshoot their correct termination zone along the anterior-posterior axis of the target. The dorsal-ventral termination position is then determined using a gradient of ephrin-B that can act as a repellent or attractant depending on the ephrin-B concentration relative to EphB levels on the interstitial branches to guide them along the medial-lateral axis of the target to their correct termination zone, where they arborize. In both cases, axon-axon competition results in axon mapping based on relative rather than absolute levels of repellent or attractant activity. The map is subsequently refined through large-scale pruning driven in large part by patterned retinal activity. PMID:20880989

Activation of lysosomal P2X4 by ATP transported into lysosomes via VNUT/SLC17A9 using V‐ATPase generated voltage gradient as the driving force

PubMed Central

Zhong, Xi Zoë; Cao, Qi; Sun, Xue

2016-01-01

Key points SLC17A9 proteins function as a lysosomal ATP transporter responsible for lysosomal ATP accumulation.P2X4 receptors act as lysosomal ion channels activated by luminal ATP.SLC17A9‐mediated ATP transport across the lysosomal membrane is suppressed by Bafilomycin A1, the V‐ATPase inhibitor.SLC17A9 mainly uses voltage gradient but not pH gradient generated by the V‐ATPase as the driving force to transport ATP into the lysosome to activate P2X4. Abstract The lysosome contains abundant ATP which plays important roles in lysosome functions and in cell signalling. Recently, solute carrier family 17 member 9 (SLC17A9, also known as VNUT for vesicular nucleotide transporter) proteins were suggested to function as a lysosomal ATP transporter responsible for lysosomal ATP accumulation, and P2X4 receptors were suggested to be lysosomal ion channels that are activated by luminal ATP. However, the molecular mechanism of SLC17A9 transporting ATP and the regulatory mechanism of lysosomal P2X4 are largely unknown. In this study, we report that SLC17A9‐mediated ATP transport across lysosomal membranes is suppressed by Bafilomycin A1, the V‐ATPase inhibitor. By measuring P2X4 activity, which is indicative of ATP transport across lysosomal membranes, we further demonstrated that SLC17A9 mainly uses voltage gradient but not pH gradient as the driving force to transport ATP into lysosomes. This study provides a molecular mechanism for lysosomal ATP transport mediated by SLC17A9. It also suggests a regulatory mechanism of lysosomal P2X4 by SLC17A9. PMID:27477609

Attraction of Rotors to the Pulmonary Veins in Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation: A Modeling Study

PubMed Central

Calvo, Conrado J.; Deo, Makarand; Zlochiver, Sharon; Millet, José; Berenfeld, Omer

2014-01-01

Maintenance of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) by fast rotors in the left atrium (LA) or at the pulmonary veins (PVs) is not fully understood. To gain insight into this dynamic and complex process, we studied the role of the heterogeneous distribution of transmembrane currents in the PVs and LA junction (PV-LAJ) in the localization of rotors in the PVs. We also investigated whether simple pacing protocols could be used to predict rotor drift in the PV-LAJ. Experimentally observed heterogeneities in IK1, IKs, IKr, Ito, and ICaL in the PV-LAJ were incorporated into two- and pseudo three-dimensional models of Courtemanche-Ramirez-Nattel-Kneller human atrial kinetics to simulate various conditions and investigate rotor drifting mechanisms. Spatial gradients in the currents resulted in shorter action potential duration, minimum diastolic potential that was less negative, and slower upstroke and conduction velocity for rotors in the PV region than in the LA. Rotors under such conditions drifted toward the PV and stabilized at the shortest action potential duration and less-excitable region, consistent with drift direction under intercellular coupling heterogeneities and regardless of the geometrical constraint in the PVs. Simulations with various IK1 gradient conditions and current-voltage relationships substantiated its major role in the rotor drift. In our 1:1 pacing protocol, we found that among various action potential properties, only the minimum diastolic potential gradient was a rate-independent predictor of rotor drift direction. Consistent with experimental and clinical AF studies, simulations in an electrophysiologically heterogeneous model of the PV-LAJ showed rotor attraction toward the PV. Our simulations suggest that IK1 heterogeneity is dominant compared to other currents in determining the drift direction through its impact on the excitability gradient. These results provide a believed novel framework for understanding the complex dynamics of rotors in AF. PMID:24739180

Attraction of rotors to the pulmonary veins in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: a modeling study.

PubMed

Calvo, Conrado J; Deo, Makarand; Zlochiver, Sharon; Millet, José; Berenfeld, Omer

2014-04-15

Maintenance of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) by fast rotors in the left atrium (LA) or at the pulmonary veins (PVs) is not fully understood. To gain insight into this dynamic and complex process, we studied the role of the heterogeneous distribution of transmembrane currents in the PVs and LA junction (PV-LAJ) in the localization of rotors in the PVs. We also investigated whether simple pacing protocols could be used to predict rotor drift in the PV-LAJ. Experimentally observed heterogeneities in IK1, IKs, IKr, Ito, and ICaL in the PV-LAJ were incorporated into two- and pseudo three-dimensional models of Courtemanche-Ramirez-Nattel-Kneller human atrial kinetics to simulate various conditions and investigate rotor drifting mechanisms. Spatial gradients in the currents resulted in shorter action potential duration, minimum diastolic potential that was less negative, and slower upstroke and conduction velocity for rotors in the PV region than in the LA. Rotors under such conditions drifted toward the PV and stabilized at the shortest action potential duration and less-excitable region, consistent with drift direction under intercellular coupling heterogeneities and regardless of the geometrical constraint in the PVs. Simulations with various IK1 gradient conditions and current-voltage relationships substantiated its major role in the rotor drift. In our 1:1 pacing protocol, we found that among various action potential properties, only the minimum diastolic potential gradient was a rate-independent predictor of rotor drift direction. Consistent with experimental and clinical AF studies, simulations in an electrophysiologically heterogeneous model of the PV-LAJ showed rotor attraction toward the PV. Our simulations suggest that IK1 heterogeneity is dominant compared to other currents in determining the drift direction through its impact on the excitability gradient. These results provide a believed novel framework for understanding the complex dynamics of rotors in AF. Copyright © 2014 Biophysical Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Correlation of the Capacity Factor in Vesicular Electrokinetic Chromatography with the Octanol:Water Partition Coefficient for Charged and Neutral Analytes

PubMed Central

Razak, J. L.; Cutak, B. J.; Larive, C. K.; Lunte, C. E.

2008-01-01

Purpose The aim of this study was to develop a method based upon electrokinetic chromatography (EKC) using oppositely charged surfactant vesicles as a buffer modifier to estimate hydrophobicity (log P) for a range of neutral and charged compounds. Methods Vesicles were formed from cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and sodium n-octyl sulfate (SOS). The size and polydispersity of the vesicles were characterized by electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and pulsed-field gradient NMR (PFG-NMR). PFG-NMR was also used to determine if ion-pairing between cationic analytes and free SOS monomer occurred. The CTAB/SOS vesicles were used as a buffer modifier in capillary electrophoresis (CE). The capacity factor (log k′) was calculated by determining the mobility of the analytes both in the presence and absence of vesicles. Log k′ was determined for 29 neutral and charged analytes. Results There was a linear relationship between the log of capacity factor (log k′) and octanol/water partition coefficient (log P) for both neutral and basic species at pH 6.0, 7.3, and 10.2. This indicated that interaction between the cation and vesicle was dominated by hydrophobic forces. At pH 4.3, the log k′ values for the least hydrophobic basic analytes were higher than expected, indicating that electrostatic attraction as well as hydrophobic forces contributed to the overall interaction between the cation and vesicle. Anionic compounds could not be evaluated using this system. Conclusion Vesicular electrokinetic chromatography (VEKC) using surfactant vesicles as buffer modifiers is a promising method for the estimation of hydrophobicity. PMID:11336344

Experimental measurements of rf breakdowns and deflecting gradients in mm-wave metallic accelerating structures

DOE PAGES

Dal Forno, Massimo; Dolgashev, Valery; Bowden, Gordon; ...

2016-05-03

We present an experimental study of a high-gradient metallic accelerating structure at sub-THz frequencies, where we investigated the physics of rf breakdowns. Wakefields in the structure were excited by an ultrarelativistic electron beam. We present the first quantitative measurements of gradients and metal vacuum rf breakdowns in sub-THz accelerating cavities. When the beam travels off axis, a deflecting field is induced in addition to the longitudinal field. We measured the deflecting forces by observing the displacement and changes in the shape of the electron bunch. This behavior can be exploited for subfemtosecond beam diagnostics.

Numerical field evaluation of healthcare workers when bending towards high-field MRI magnets.

PubMed

Wang, H; Trakic, A; Liu, F; Crozier, S

2008-02-01

In MRI, healthcare workers may be exposed to strong static and dynamic magnetic fields outside of the imager. Body motion through the strong, non-uniform static magnetic field generated by the main superconducting magnet and exposure to gradient-pulsed magnetic fields can result in the induction of electric fields and current densities in the tissue. The interaction of these fields and occupational workers has attracted an increasing awareness. To protect occupational workers from overexposure, the member states of the European Union are required to incorporate the Physical Agents Directive (PAD) 2004/40/EC into their legislation. This study presents numerical evaluations of electric fields and current densities in anatomically equivalent male and female human models (healthcare workers) as they lean towards the bores of three superconducting magnet models (1.5, 4, and 7 T) and x-, y-, and z- gradient coils. The combined effect of the 1.5 T superconducting magnet and the three gradient coils on the body models is compared with the contributions of the magnet and gradient coils in separation. The simulation results indicate that it is possible to induce field quantities of physiological significance, especially when the MRI operator is bending close towards the main magnet and all three gradient coils are switched simultaneously. (c) 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Tomato GOLDEN2-LIKE Transcription Factors Reveal Molecular Gradients That Function during Fruit Development and Ripening[W][OPEN

PubMed Central

Nguyen, Cuong V.; Vrebalov, Julia T.; Gapper, Nigel E.; Zheng, Yi; Zhong, Silin; Fei, Zhangjun; Giovannoni, James J.

2014-01-01

Fruit ripening is the summation of changes rendering fleshy fruit tissues attractive and palatable to seed dispersing organisms. For example, sugar content is influenced by plastid numbers and photosynthetic activity in unripe fruit and later by starch and sugar catabolism during ripening. Tomato fruit are sinks of photosynthate, yet unripe green fruit contribute significantly to the sugars that ultimately accumulate in the ripe fruit. Plastid numbers and chlorophyll content are influenced by numerous environmental and genetic factors and are positively correlated with photosynthesis and photosynthate accumulation. GOLDEN2-LIKE (GLK) transcription factors regulate plastid and chlorophyll levels. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), like most plants, contains two GLKs (i.e., GLK1 and GLK2/UNIFORM). Mutant and transgene analysis demonstrated that these genes encode functionally similar peptides, though differential expression renders GLK1 more important in leaves, while GLK2 is predominant in fruit. A latitudinal gradient of GLK2 expression influences the typical uneven coloration of green and ripe wild-type fruit. Transcriptome profiling revealed a broader fruit gene expression gradient throughout development. The gradient influenced general ripening activities beyond plastid development and was consistent with the easily observed yet poorly studied ripening gradient present in tomato and many fleshy fruits. PMID:24510723

Subpiconewton intermolecular force microscopy.

PubMed

Tokunaga, M; Aoki, T; Hiroshima, M; Kitamura, K; Yanagida, T

1997-02-24

We refined scanning probe force microscopy to improve the sensitivity of force detection and control of probe position. Force sensitivity was increased by incorporating a cantilever with very low stiffness, 0.1 pN/ nm, which is over 1000-fold more flexible than is typically used in conventional atomic force microscopy. Thermal bending motions of the cantilever were reduced to less than 1 nm by exerting feed-back positioning with laser radiation pressure. The system was tested by measuring electrostatic repulsive forces or hydrophobic attractive forces in aqueous solutions. Subpiconewton intermolecular forces were resolved at controlled gaps in the nanometer range between the probe and a material surface. These levels of force and position sensitivity meet the requirements needed for future investigations of intermolecular forces between biological macromolecules such as proteins, lipids and DNA.

Dynamic performance analysis of permanent magnet contactor with a flux-weakening control strategy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Xianbing; Lin, Heyun; Fang, Shuhua; Jin, Ping; Wang, Junhua; Ho, S. L.

2011-04-01

A new flux-weakening control strategy for permanent magnet contactors is proposed. By matching the dynamic attraction force and the antiforce, the terminal velocity and collision energy of the movable iron in the closing process are significantly reduced. The movable iron displacement is estimated by detecting the closing voltage and current with the proposed control. A dynamic mathematical model is also established under four kinds of excitation scenarios. The attraction force and flux linkage are predicted by finite element method and the dynamics of the closing process is simulated using the 4th-order Runge-Kutta algorithm. Experiments are carried out on a 250A prototype with an intelligent control unit to verify the proposed control strategy.

Casimir switch: steering optical transparency with vacuum forces.

PubMed

Liu, Xi-Fang; Li, Yong; Jing, H

2016-06-03

The Casimir force, originating from vacuum zero-point energy, is one of the most intriguing purely quantum effects. It has attracted renewed interests in current field of nanomechanics, due to the rapid size decrease of on-chip devices. Here we study the optomechanically-induced transparency (OMIT) with a tunable Casimir force. We find that the optical output rate can be significantly altered by the vacuum force, even terminated and then restored, indicating a highly-controlled optical switch. Our result addresses the possibility of designing exotic optical nano-devices by harnessing the power of vacuum.

Active-passive gradient shielding for MRI acoustic noise reduction.

PubMed

Edelstein, William A; Kidane, Tesfaye K; Taracila, Victor; Baig, Tanvir N; Eagan, Timothy P; Cheng, Yu-Chung N; Brown, Robert W; Mallick, John A

2005-05-01

An important source of MRI acoustic noise-magnet cryostat warm-bore vibrations caused by eddy-current-induced forces-can be mitigated by a passive metal shield mounted on the outside of a vibration-isolated, vacuum-enclosed shielded gradient set. Finite-element (FE) calculations for a z-gradient indicate that a 2-mm-thick Cu layer wrapped on the gradient assembly can decrease mechanical power deposition in the warm bore and reduce warm-bore acoustic noise production by about 25 dB. Eliminating the conducting warm bore and other magnet parts as significant acoustic noise sources could lead to the development of truly quiet, fully functioning MRI systems with noise levels below 70 dB. Copyright 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Optical tweezers for studying taxis in parasites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Thomaz, A. A.; Fontes, A.; Stahl, C. V.; Pozzo, L. Y.; Ayres, D. C.; Almeida, D. B.; Farias, P. M. A.; Santos, B. S.; Santos-Mallet, J.; Gomes, S. A. O.; Giorgio, S.; Feder, D.; Cesar, C. L.

2011-04-01

In this work we present a methodology to measure force strengths and directions of living parasites with an optical tweezers setup. These measurements were used to study the parasites chemotaxis in real time. We observed behavior and measured the force of: (i) Leishmania amazonensis in the presence of two glucose gradients; (ii) Trypanosoma cruzi in the vicinity of the digestive system walls, and (iii) Trypanosoma rangeli in the vicinity of salivary glands as a function of distance. Our results clearly show a chemotactic behavior in every case. This methodology can be used to study any type of taxis, such as chemotaxis, osmotaxis, thermotaxis, phototaxis, of any kind of living microorganisms. These studies can help us to understand the microorganism sensory systems and their response function to these gradients.

Motion of a Drop on a Solid Surface Due to a Wettability Gradient

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Subramanian, R.; Moumen, Nadjoua; McLaughlin, John B.

2005-01-01

The hydrodynamic force experienced by a spherical-cap drop moving on a solid surface is obtained from two approximate analytical solutions and used to predict the quasi-steady speed of the drop in a wettability gradient. One solution is based on approximation of the shape of the drop as a collection of wedges, and the other is based on lubrication theory. Also, asymptotic results from both approximations for small contact angles, as well as an asymptotic result from lubrication theory that is good when the length scale of the drop is large compared with the slip length, are given. The results for the hydrodynamic force also can be used to predict the quasi-steady speed of a drop sliding down an incline.

Combined alternating gradient force magnetometer and susceptometer system

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pérez, M.; Mendizábal Vázquez, I. de; Aroca, C.

2015-01-15

We report the design, fabrication, and characterization of a new system that combines the performances of two different types of magnetic characterization systems, Alternating Gradient Force Magnetometers (AGFM) and susceptometers. The flexibility of our system is demonstrated by its capability to be used as any of them, AGFM or susceptometer, without any modification in the experimental set-up because of the electronics we have developed. Our system has a limit of sensitivity lower than 5 × 10{sup −7} emu. Moreover, its main advantage is demonstrated by the possibility of measuring small quantities of materials under DC or AC magnetic fields thatmore » cannot properly be measured with a commercial vibrating sample magnetometers or AGFM.« less

Portable dual field gradient force multichannel flow cytometer device with a dual wavelength low noise detection scheme

DOEpatents

James, Conrad D; Galambos, Paul C; Derzon, Mark S; Graf, Darin C; Pohl, Kenneth R; Bourdon, Chris J

2012-10-23

Systems and methods for combining dielectrophoresis, magnetic forces, and hydrodynamic forces to manipulate particles in channels formed on top of an electrode substrate are discussed. A magnet placed in contact under the electrode substrate while particles are flowing within the channel above the electrode substrate allows these three forces to be balanced when the system is in operation. An optical detection scheme using near-confocal microscopy for simultaneously detecting two wavelengths of light emitted from the flowing particles is also discussed.

Observations of wave-induced pore pressure gradients and bed level response on a surf zone sandbar

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anderson, Dylan; Cox, Dan; Mieras, Ryan; Puleo, Jack A.; Hsu, Tian-Jian

2017-06-01

Horizontal and vertical pressure gradients may be important physical mechanisms contributing to onshore sediment transport beneath steep, near-breaking waves in the surf zone. A barred beach was constructed in a large-scale laboratory wave flume with a fixed profile containing a mobile sediment layer on the crest of the sandbar. Horizontal and vertical pore pressure gradients were obtained by finite differences of measurements from an array of pressure transducers buried within the upper several centimeters of the bed. Colocated observations of erosion depth were made during asymmetric wave trials with wave heights between 0.10 and 0.98 m, consistently resulting in onshore sheet flow sediment transport. The pore pressure gradient vector within the bed exhibited temporal rotations during each wave cycle, directed predominantly upward under the trough and then rapidly rotating onshore and downward as the wavefront passed. The magnitude of the pore pressure gradient during each phase of rotation was correlated with local wave steepness and relative depth. Momentary bed failures as deep as 20 grain diameters were coincident with sharp increases in the onshore-directed pore pressure gradients, but occurred at horizontal pressure gradients less than theoretical critical values for initiation of the motion for compact beds. An expression combining the effects of both horizontal and vertical pore pressure gradients with bed shear stress and soil stability is used to determine that failure of the bed is initiated at nonnegligible values of both forces.