Development and validation of a critical gradient energetic particle driven Alfven eigenmode transport model for DIII-D tilted neutral beam experiments

DOE PAGES

Waltz, Ronald E.; Bass, Eric M.; Heidbrink, William W.; ...

2015-10-30

Recent experiments with the DIII-D tilted neutral beam injection (NBI) varying the beam energetic particle (EP) source profiles have provided strong evidence that unstable Alfven eigenmodes (AE) drive stiff EP transport at a critical EP density gradient. Here the critical gradient is identified by the local AE growth rate being equal to the local ITG/TEM growth rate at the same low toroidal mode number. The growth rates are taken from the gyrokinetic code GYRO. Simulation show that the slowing down beam-like EP distribution has a slightly lower critical gradient than the Maxwellian. The ALPHA EP density transport code, used tomore » validate the model, combines the low-n stiff EP critical density gradient AE mid-core transport with the energy independent high-n ITG/TEM density transport model controling the central core EP density profile. For the on-axis NBI heated DIII-D shot 146102, while the net loss to the edge is small, about half the birth fast ions are transported from the central core r/a < 0.5 and the central density is about half the slowing down density. Lastly, these results are in good agreement with experimental fast ion pressure profiles inferred from MSE constrained EFIT equilibria.« less

A mechanism for the formation and sustainment of the self-organized global profile and E   ×   B staircase in tokamak plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, W.; Kishimoto, Y.; Imadera, K.; Li, J. Q.; Wang, Z. X.

2018-05-01

The mechanism for the formation and sustainment of a self-organized global profile and the ‘ E   ×   B staircase’ are investigated through simulations of a flux-driven ion temperature gradient (ITG) turbulence based on GKNET, a 5D global gyrokinetic code. The staircase is found to be initiated from the radially extended ITG mode structures with nearly up-down symmetry during the saturation phase, and is established as it evolves into a quasi-steady turbulence, leading to a self-organized global temperature profile and to meso-scale isomorphic profiles of the radial electric field and the temperature gradient. It is found that the quasi-regular E   ×   B shear flow pattern is primarily originated from an even-symmetrical zonal flow produced by the extended ITG mode, which flow pattern exhibits an in-phase relation with the mean flow variation induced by the temperature relaxation. Consequently, the staircase is initiated through the profiles of total electric field and temperature gradient with a self-organized manner. Since the sign of E   ×   B shear flow at the central part are opposite to that at both edges, it disintegrates the ITG mode into smaller scale eddies. Meanwhile, smaller scale eddies tend to be aligned radially by spontaneous phase matching, which can provide the growth of mode amplitude and the formation of radially extended mode structures, leading to the bursty heat transport. This process is repeated quasi-periodically, sustaining self-organized structures and the E   ×   B staircase. Moreover, the equilibrium mean field is found to be of specific importance in causing the structures and dynamics from meso- to macro scales in toroidal plasmas.

Study of Second Stability for Global ITG Modes in MHD-stable Equilibria

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fivaz, Mathieu; Sauter, Olivier; Appert, Kurt; Tran, Trach-Minh; Vaclavik, Jan

1997-11-01

We study finite pressure effects on the Ion Temperature Gradient (ITG) instabilities; these modes are stabilized when the magnetic field gradient is reversed at high β [1]. This second stability regime for ITG modes is studied in details with a global linear gyrokinetic Particle-In-Cell code which takes the full toroidal MHD equilibrium data from the equilibrium solver CHEASE [2]. Both the trapped-ion and the toroidal ITG regimes are explored. In contrast to second stability for MHD ballooning modes, low magnetic shear and high values of the safety factor do not facilitate strongly the access to the second-stable ITG regime. The consequences for anomalous ion heat transport in tokamaks are explored. We use the results to find optimized configurations that are stable to ideal MHD modes for both the long (kink) and short (ballooning) wavelengths and where the ITG modes are stable or have very low growth rates; such configurations might present very low level of anomalous transport. [1] M. Fivaz, T.M. Tran, K. Appert, J. Vaclavik and S. E. Parker, Phys. Rev. Lett. 78, 1997, p. 3471 [2] H. Lütjens, A. Bondeson and O. Sauter, Comput. Phys. Commun. 97, 1996, p. 219

Role of turbulence regime on determining the local density gradient

DOE PAGES

Wang, X.; Mordijck, Saskia; Doyle, E. J.; ...

2017-11-16

In this study we show that the local density gradient in the plasma core depends on the calculated mode-frequency of the most unstable linear mode and reaches a maximum when this frequency is close to zero. Previous theoretical and experimental work on AUG has shown that the ratio of electron to ion temperature, and as such the frequency of the dominant linear gyrokinetic mode, affects the local density gradient close to ρ = 0.3 [1, 2]. On DIII-D we find that by adding Electron Cyclotron Heating (ECH), we modify the dominant unstable linear gyro kinetic mode from an Ion Temperaturemore » Gradient (ITG) mode to a Trapped Electron Mode (TEM), which means that the frequency of the dominant mode changes sign (from the ion to the electron direction). Local density peaking around mid-radius increases by 50% right around the cross-over between the ITG and TEM regimes. By comparing how the particle flux changes, through the derivative of the electron density, n e, with respect to time, ∂n e/∂t, we find that the particle flux also exhibits the same trend versus mode frequency. As a result, we find that the changes in local particle transport are inversely proportional to the changes in electron density, indicating that the changes are driven by a change in thermo-diffusive pinch.« less

Development and validation of a critical gradient energetic particle driven Alfven eigenmode transport model for DIII-D tilted neutral beam experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Waltz, R. E.; Bass, E. M.; Heidbrink, W. W.; VanZeeland, M. A.

2015-11-01

Recent experiments with the DIII-D tilted neutral beam injection (NBI) varying the beam energetic particle (EP) source profiles have provided strong evidence that unstable Alfven eigenmodes (AE) drive stiff EP transport at a critical EP density gradient [Heidbrink et al 2013 Nucl. Fusion 53 093006]. Here the critical gradient is identified by the local AE growth rate being equal to the local ITG/TEM growth rate at the same low toroidal mode number. The growth rates are taken from the gyrokinetic code GYRO. Simulation show that the slowing down beam-like EP distribution has a slightly lower critical gradient than the Maxwellian. The ALPHA EP density transport code [Waltz and Bass 2014 Nucl. Fusion 54 104006], used to validate the model, combines the low-n stiff EP critical density gradient AE mid-core transport with the Angioni et al (2009 Nucl. Fusion 49 055013) energy independent high-n ITG/TEM density transport model controling the central core EP density profile. For the on-axis NBI heated DIII-D shot 146102, while the net loss to the edge is small, about half the birth fast ions are transported from the central core r/a  <  0.5 and the central density is about half the slowing down density. These results are in good agreement with experimental fast ion pressure profiles inferred from MSE constrained EFIT equilibria.

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

Bardóczi, L.; Rhodes, T. L.; Carter, T. A.

We report the first observation of localized modulation of turbulent density uctuations en (via Beam Emission Spectroscopy) by neoclassical tearing modes (NTMs) in the core of the DIII-D tokamak. NTMs are important as they often lead to severe degradation of plasma confinement and disruptions in high-confinement fusion experiments. Magnetic islands associated with NTMs significantly modify the profiles and turbulence drives. In this experiment n was found to be modulated by 14% across the island. Gyrokinetic simulations suggest that en could be dominantly driven by the ion temperature gradient (ITG) instability.

A theory of self-organized zonal flow with fine radial structure in tokamak

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Y. Z.; Liu, Z. Y.; Xie, T.; Mahajan, S. M.; Liu, J.

2017-12-01

The (low frequency) zonal flow-ion temperature gradient (ITG) wave system, constructed on Braginskii's fluid model in tokamak, is shown to be a reaction-diffusion-advection system; it is derived by making use of a multiple spatiotemporal scale technique and two-dimensional (2D) ballooning theory. For real regular group velocities of ITG waves, two distinct temporal processes, sharing a very similar meso-scale radial structure, are identified in the nonlinear self-organized stage. The stationary and quasi-stationary structures reflect a particular feature of the poloidal group velocity. The equation set posed to be an initial value problem is numerically solved for JET low mode parameters; the results are presented in several figures and two movies that show the spatiotemporal evolutions as well as the spectrum analysis—frequency-wave number spectrum, auto power spectrum, and Lissajous diagram. This approach reveals that the zonal flow in tokamak is a local traveling wave. For the quasi-stationary process, the cycle of ITG wave energy is composed of two consecutive phases in distinct spatiotemporal structures: a pair of Cavitons growing and breathing slowly without long range propagation, followed by a sudden decay into many Instantons that carry negative wave energy rapidly into infinity. A spotlight onto the motion of Instantons for a given radial position reproduces a Blob-Hole temporal structure; the occurrence as well as the rapid decay of Caviton into Instantons is triggered by zero-crossing of radial group velocity. A sample of the radial profile of zonal flow contributed from 31 nonlinearly coupled rational surfaces near plasma edge is found to be very similar to that observed in the JET Ohmic phase [J. C. Hillesheim et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 116, 165002 (2016)]. The theory predicts an interior asymmetric dipole structure associated with the zonal flow that is driven by the gradients of ITG turbulence intensity.

Kinetic water-bag model of global collisional drift waves and ion temperature gradient instabilities in cylindrical geometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gravier, E.; Plaut, E.

2013-04-01

Collisional drift waves and ion temperature gradient (ITG) instabilities are studied using a linear water-bag kinetic model [P. Morel et al., Phys. Plasmas 14, 112109 (2007)]. An efficient spectral method, already validated in the case of drift waves instabilities [E. Gravier et al., Eur. Phys. J. D 67, 7 (2013)], allows a fast solving of the global linear problem in cylindrical geometry. The comparison between the linear ITG instability properties thus computed and the ones given by the COLUMBIA experiment [R. G. Greaves et al., Plasma Phys. Controlled Fusion 34, 1253 (1992)] shows a qualitative agreement. Moreover, the transition between collisional drift waves and ITG instabilities is studied theoretically as a function of the ion temperature profile.

Kinetic water-bag model of global collisional drift waves and ion temperature gradient instabilities in cylindrical geometry

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

Gravier, E.; Plaut, E.

2013-04-15

Collisional drift waves and ion temperature gradient (ITG) instabilities are studied using a linear water-bag kinetic model [P. Morel et al., Phys. Plasmas 14, 112109 (2007)]. An efficient spectral method, already validated in the case of drift waves instabilities [E. Gravier et al., Eur. Phys. J. D 67, 7 (2013)], allows a fast solving of the global linear problem in cylindrical geometry. The comparison between the linear ITG instability properties thus computed and the ones given by the COLUMBIA experiment [R. G. Greaves et al., Plasma Phys. Controlled Fusion 34, 1253 (1992)] shows a qualitative agreement. Moreover, the transition betweenmore » collisional drift waves and ITG instabilities is studied theoretically as a function of the ion temperature profile.« less

Negative viscosity from negative compressibility and axial flow shear stiffness in a straight magnetic field

DOE PAGES

Li, J. C.; Diamond, P. H.

2017-03-23

Here, negative compressibility ITG turbulence in a linear plasma device (CSDX) can induce a negative viscosity increment. However, even with this negative increment, we show that the total axial viscosity remains positive definite, i.e. no intrinsic axial flow can be generated by pure ITG turbulence in a straight magnetic field. This differs from the case of electron drift wave (EDW) turbulence, where the total viscosity can turn negative, at least transiently. When the flow gradient is steepened by any drive mechanism, so that the parallel shear flow instability (PSFI) exceeds the ITG drive, the flow profile saturates at a level close to the value above which PSFI becomes dominant. This saturated flow gradient exceeds the PSFI linear threshold, and grows withmore » $$\

Effects of radial electric fields on linear ITG instabilities in W7-X and LHD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Riemann, J.; Kleiber, R.; Borchardt, M.

2016-07-01

The impact of radial electric fields on the properties of linear ion-temperature-gradient (ITG) modes in stellarators is studied. Numerical simulations have been carried out with the global particle-in-cell (PIC) code EUTERPE, modelling the behaviour of ITG modes in Wendelstein 7-X and an LHD-like configuration. In general, radial electric fields seem to lead to a reduction of ITG instability growth, which can be related to the action of an induced E× B -drift. Focus is set on the modification of mode properties (frequencies, power spectrum, spatial structure and localization) to understand the observed growth rates as the result of competing stabilizing mechanisms.

Isotope effects of trapped electron modes in the presence of impurities in tokamak plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shen, Yong; Dong, J. Q.; Sun, A. P.; Qu, H. P.; Lu, G. M.; He, Z. X.; He, H. D.; Wang, L. F.

2016-04-01

The trapped electron modes (TEMs) are numerically investigated in toroidal magnetized hydrogen, deuterium and tritium plasmas, taking into account the effects of impurity ions such as carbon, oxygen, helium, tungsten and others with positive and negative density gradients with the rigorous integral eigenmode equation. The effects of impurity ions on TEMs are investigated in detail. It is shown that impurity ions have substantially-destabilizing (stabilizing) effects on TEMs in isotope plasmas for {{L}ez}\\equiv {{L}ne}/{{L}nz}>0 (<0 ), opposite to the case of ion temperature gradient (ITG) driven modes. Detailed analyses of the isotope mass dependence for TEM turbulences in hydrogenic isotope plasmas with and without impurities are performed. The relations between the maximum growth rate of the TEMs with respect to the poloidal wave number and the ion mass number are given in the presence of the impurity ions. The results demonstrate that the maximum growth rates scale as {γ\\max}\\propto Mi-0.5 in pure hydrogenic plasmas. The scale depends on the sign of its density gradient and charge number when there is a second species of (impurity) ions. When impurity ions have density profiles peaking inwardly (i.e. {{L}ez}\\equiv {{L}ne}/{{L}nz}>0 ), the scaling also depends on ITG parameter {ηi} . The maximum growth rates scale as {γ\\max}\\propto M\\text{eff}-0.5 for the case without ITG ({ηi}=0 ) or the ITG parameter is positive ({ηi}>0 ) but the impurity ion charge number is low (Z≤slant 5.0 ). However, when {ηi}>0 and the impurity ion charge number is moderate (Z=6.0-8.0 ), the scaling law is found as {γ\\max}\\propto M\\text{eff}-1.0 . Here, Z is impurity ion charge number, and the effective mass number, {{M}\\text{eff}}=≤ft(1-{{f}z}\\right){{M}i}+{{f}z}{{M}z} , with {{M}i} and {{M}Z} being the mass numbers of the hydrogenic and impurity ions, respectively, and {{f}z}=Z{{n}0z}/{{n}0e} being the charge concentration of impurity ions. In addition, with regard to the case of {{L}ez}<0 , the maximum growth rate scaling is {γ\\max}\\propto Mi-0.5 . The possible relations of the results with experimental observations are discussed.

Gyrokinetic-Vlasov simulations of the ion temperature gradient turbulence in tokamak and helical systems

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

Watanabe, T.-H.; Sugama, H.; Graduate University for Advanced Studies

2006-11-30

Recent progress of the gyrokinetic-Vlasov simulations on the ion temperature gradient (ITG) turbulence in tokamak and helical systems is reported, where the entropy balance is checked as a reference for the numerical accuracy. The tokamak ITG turbulence simulation carried out on the Earth Simulator clearly captures a nonlinear generation process of zonal flows. The tera-flops and tera-bytes scale simulation is also applied to a helical system with the same poloidal and toroidal periodicities of L = 2 and M = 10 as in the Large Helical Device.

SciDAC Center for Gyrokinetic Particle Simulation of Turbulent Transport in Burning Plasmas

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

Lin, Zhihong

2013-12-18

During the first year of the SciDAC gyrokinetic particle simulation (GPS) project, the GPS team (Zhihong Lin, Liu Chen, Yasutaro Nishimura, and Igor Holod) at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) studied the tokamak electron transport driven by electron temperature gradient (ETG) turbulence, and by trapped electron mode (TEM) turbulence and ion temperature gradient (ITG) turbulence with kinetic electron effects, extended our studies of ITG turbulence spreading to core-edge coupling. We have developed and optimized an elliptic solver using finite element method (FEM), which enables the implementation of advanced kinetic electron models (split-weight scheme and hybrid model) in the SciDACmore » GPS production code GTC. The GTC code has been ported and optimized on both scalar and vector parallel computer architectures, and is being transformed into objected-oriented style to facilitate collaborative code development. During this period, the UCI team members presented 11 invited talks at major national and international conferences, published 22 papers in peer-reviewed journals and 10 papers in conference proceedings. The UCI hosted the annual SciDAC Workshop on Plasma Turbulence sponsored by the GPS Center, 2005-2007. The workshop was attended by about fifties US and foreign researchers and financially sponsored several gradual students from MIT, Princeton University, Germany, Switzerland, and Finland. A new SciDAC postdoc, Igor Holod, has arrived at UCI to initiate global particle simulation of magnetohydrodynamics turbulence driven by energetic particle modes. The PI, Z. Lin, has been promoted to the Associate Professor with tenure at UCI.« less

First steps towards modeling of ion-driven turbulence in Wendelstein 7-X

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Warmer, F.; Xanthopoulos, P.; Proll, J. H. E.; Beidler, C. D.; Turkin, Y.; Wolf, R. C.

2018-01-01

Due to foreseen improvement of neoclassical confinement in optimised stellarators—like the newly commissioned Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X) experiment in Greifswald, Germany—it is expected that turbulence will significantly contribute to the heat and particle transport, thus posing a limit to the performance of such devices. In order to develop discharge scenarios, it is thus necessary to develop a model which could reliably capture the basic characteristics of turbulence and try to predict the levels thereof. The outcome will not only be affordable, using only a fraction of the computational cost which is normally required for repetitive direct turbulence simulations, but would also highlight important physics. In this model, we seek to describe the ion heat flux caused by ion temperature gradient (ITG) micro-turbulence, which, in certain heating scenarios, can be a strong source of free energy. With the aid of a relatively small number of state-of-the-art nonlinear gyrokinetic simulations, an initial critical gradient model (CGM) is devised, with the aim to replace an empirical model, stemming from observations in prior stellarator experiments. The novel CGM, in its present form, encapsulates all available knowledge about ion-driven 3D turbulence to date, also allowing for further important extensions, towards an accurate interpretation and prediction of the ‘anomalous’ transport. The CGM depends on the stiffness of the ITG turbulence scaling in W7-X, and implicitly includes the nonlinear zonal flow response. It is shown that the CGM is suitable for a 1D framework turbulence modeling.

Modulation of Core Turbulent Density Fluctuations by Large-Scale Neoclassical Tearing Mode Islands in the DIII-D Tokamak

DOE PAGES

Bardóczi, L.; Rhodes, T. L.; Carter, T. A.; ...

2016-05-26

We report the first observation of localized modulation of turbulent density uctuations en (via Beam Emission Spectroscopy) by neoclassical tearing modes (NTMs) in the core of the DIII-D tokamak. NTMs are important as they often lead to severe degradation of plasma confinement and disruptions in high-confinement fusion experiments. Magnetic islands associated with NTMs significantly modify the profiles and turbulence drives. In this experiment n was found to be modulated by 14% across the island. Gyrokinetic simulations suggest that en could be dominantly driven by the ion temperature gradient (ITG) instability.

Gyrokinetic-water-bag modeling of low-frequency instabilities in a laboratory magnetized plasma column

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gravier, E.; Klein, R.; Morel, P.; Besse, N.; Bertrand, P.

2008-12-01

A new model is presented, named collisional-gyro-water-bag (CGWB), which describes the collisional drift waves and ion-temperature-gradient (ITG) instabilities in a plasma column. This model is based on the kinetic gyro-water-bag approach recently developed [P. Morel et al., Phys. Plasmas 14, 112109 (2007)] to investigate ion-temperature-gradient modes. In CGWB electron-neutral collisions have been introduced and are now taken into account. The model has been validated by comparing CGWB linear analysis with other models previously proposed and experimental results as well. Kinetic effects on collisional drift waves are investigated, resulting in a less effective growth rate, and the transition from collisional drift waves to ITG instability depending on the ion temperature gradient is studied.

A study of self organized criticality in ion temperature gradient mode driven gyrokinetic turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mavridis, M.; Isliker, H.; Vlahos, L.; Görler, T.; Jenko, F.; Told, D.

2014-10-01

An investigation on the characteristics of self organized criticality (Soc) in ITG mode driven turbulence is made, with the use of various statistical tools (histograms, power spectra, Hurst exponents estimated with the rescaled range analysis, and the structure function method). For this purpose, local non-linear gyrokinetic simulations of the cyclone base case scenario are performed with the GENE software package. Although most authors concentrate on global simulations, which seem to be a better choice for such an investigation, we use local simulations in an attempt to study the locally underlying mechanisms of Soc. We also study the structural properties of radially extended structures, with several tools (fractal dimension estimate, cluster analysis, and two dimensional autocorrelation function), in order to explore whether they can be characterized as avalanches. We find that, for large enough driving temperature gradients, the local simulations exhibit most of the features of Soc, with the exception of the probability distribution of observables, which show a tail, yet they are not of power-law form. The radial structures have the same radial extent at all temperature gradients examined; radial motion (transport) though appears only at large temperature gradients, in which case the radial structures can be interpreted as avalanches.

A study of self organized criticality in ion temperature gradient mode driven gyrokinetic turbulence

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

Mavridis, M.; Isliker, H.; Vlahos, L.

2014-10-15

An investigation on the characteristics of self organized criticality (Soc) in ITG mode driven turbulence is made, with the use of various statistical tools (histograms, power spectra, Hurst exponents estimated with the rescaled range analysis, and the structure function method). For this purpose, local non-linear gyrokinetic simulations of the cyclone base case scenario are performed with the GENE software package. Although most authors concentrate on global simulations, which seem to be a better choice for such an investigation, we use local simulations in an attempt to study the locally underlying mechanisms of Soc. We also study the structural properties ofmore » radially extended structures, with several tools (fractal dimension estimate, cluster analysis, and two dimensional autocorrelation function), in order to explore whether they can be characterized as avalanches. We find that, for large enough driving temperature gradients, the local simulations exhibit most of the features of Soc, with the exception of the probability distribution of observables, which show a tail, yet they are not of power-law form. The radial structures have the same radial extent at all temperature gradients examined; radial motion (transport) though appears only at large temperature gradients, in which case the radial structures can be interpreted as avalanches.« less

Derivation of the threshold condition for the ion temperature gradient mode with an inverted density profile from a simple physics picture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jhang, Hogun

2018-05-01

We show that the threshold condition for the toroidal ion temperature gradient (ITG) mode with an inverted density profile can be derived from a simple physics argument. The key in this picture is that the density inversion reduces the ion compression due to the ITG mode and the electron drift motion mitigates the poloidal potential build-up. This condition reproduces the same result that has been reported from a linear gyrokinetic calculation [T. S. Hahm and W. M. Tang, Phys. Fluids B 1, 1185 (1989)]. The destabilizing role of trapped electrons in toroidal geometry is easily captured in this picture.

Global Surrogates for the Upshift of the Critical Threshold in the Gradient for ITG Driven Turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Michoski, Craig; Janhunen, Salomon; Faghihi, Danial; Carey, Varis; Moser, Robert

2017-10-01

The suppression of micro-turbulence and ultimately the inhibition of large-scale instabilities observed in tokamak plasmas is partially characterized by the onset of a global stationary state. This stationary attractor corresponds experimentally to a state of ``marginal stability'' in the plasma. The critical threshold that characterizes the onset in the nonlinear regime is observed both experimentally and numerically to exhibit an upshift relative to the linear theory. That is, the onset in the stationary state is up-shifted from those predicted by the linear theory as a function of the ion temperature gradient R0 /LT . Because the transition to this state with enhanced transport and therefore reduced confinement times is inaccessible to the linear theory, strategies for developing nonlinear reduced physics models to predict the upshift have been ongoing. As a complement to these effort, the principle aim of this work is to establish low-fidelity surrogate models that can be used to predict instability driven loss of confinement using training data from high-fidelity models. DE-SC0008454 and DE-AC02-09CH11466.

The effect of magnetic islands on Ion Temperature Gradient turbulence driven transport

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

Hill, P., E-mail: peter.hill@york.ac.uk; York Plasma Institute, Department of Physics, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD; Hariri, F.

2015-04-15

In this work, we address the question of the influence of magnetic islands on the perpendicular transport due to steady-state ITG turbulence on the energy transport time scale. We demonstrate that turbulence can cross the separatrix and enhance the perpendicular transport across magnetic islands. As the perpendicular transport in the interior of the island sets the critical island size needed for growth of neoclassical tearing modes, this increased transport leads to a critical island size larger than that predicted from considering collisional conductivities, but smaller than that using anomalous effective conductivities. We find that on Bohm time scales, the turbulencemore » is able to re-establish the temperature gradient across the island for islands widths w ≲ λ{sub turb}, the turbulence correlation length. The reduction in the island flattening is estimated by comparison with simulations retaining only the perpendicular temperature and no turbulence. At intermediate island widths, comparable to λ{sub turb}, turbulence is able to maintain finite temperature gradients across the island.« less

Flux tube gyrokinetic simulations of the edge pedestal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Parker, Scott; Wan, Weigang; Chen, Yang

2011-10-01

The linear instabilities of DIII-D H-mode pedestal are studied with gyrokinetic micro-turbulence simulations. The simulation code GEM is an electromagnetic δf code with global tokamak geometry in the form of Miller equilibrium. Local flux tube simulations are carried out for multiple positions of two DIII-D profiles: shot #98889 and shot #131997. Near the top of the pedestal, the instability is clearly ITG. The dominant instability of the pedestal appears at the steep gradient region, and it is identified as a low frequency mode mostly driven by electron temperature gradient. The mode propagates along the electron diamagnetic direction for low n and may propagate along the ion direction for high n. At some positions near the steep gradient region, an ion instability is found which shows some characteristics of kinetic ballooning mode (KBM). These results will be compared to the results of E. Wang et al. and D. Fulton et al. in the same session. We thank R. Groebner and P. Snyder for providing experimental profiles and helpful discussions.

Gyrokinetic global three-dimensional simulations of linear ion-temperature-gradient modes in Wendelstein 7-X

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kornilov, V.; Kleiber, R.; Hatzky, R.; Villard, L.; Jost, G.

2004-06-01

Using a global approach for solving an ion gyrokinetic model in three-dimensional geometry the linear stability and structure of ion-temperature-gradient (ITG) modes in the configuration of the stellarator Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X) [G. Grieger et al., in Plasma Physics and Controlled Nuclear Fusion Research 1990 (International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, 1991), Vol. 3, p. 525.] is studied. The time evolution of electrostatic perturbations is solved as an initial value problem with a particle-in-cell δf method. The vacuum magnetohydrodynamic equilibrium is calculated by the code VMEC [S. P. Hirshman and D. K. Lee, Comput. Phys. Commun. 39, 161 (1986)]. In this work the most unstable ITG mode in W7-X is presented. This mode has a pronounced ballooning-type structure; however, it is not tokamak-like. A driving mechanism analysis using the energy transfer shows that the contribution of curvature effects is non-negligible. The growth rate and the mixing-length estimate for transport are compared with those for ITG modes found in axisymmetric geometries.

Gyrofluid theory and simulation of electromagnetic turbulence and transport in tokamak plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Snyder, Philip Benjamin

1999-11-01

Turbulence and transport in toroidal plasmas is studied via the development of an electromagnetic gyrofluid model, and its implementation in realistic nonlinear simulations. This work extends earlier electrostatic gyrofluid models to include magnetic fluctuations and non-adiabatic passing electron dynamics. A new set of electron fluid equations is derived from the drift kinetic equation, via an expansion in the electron-ion mass ratio. These electron equations include descriptions of linear and nonlinear drift motion, Landau damping, and electron-ion collisions. Ion moment equations are derived from the electromagnetic gyrokinetic equation, and the gyrokinetic Poisson's Equation and Ampere's Law close the system. The model is benchmarked with linear gyrokinetic calculations, and good agreement is found for both the finite-β ion temperature gradient (ITG) and kinetic Alfvén ballooning (KBM) instabilities. Nonlinear simulations of ITG and KBM-driven turbulence are performed in toroidal flux tube geometry at a range of values of plasma β, and electromagnetic effects are found to significantly impact turbulent heat and particle transport. At low values of β, transport is reduced, as expected due to the finite-β stabilization of the ITG mode. However, as β approaches the Ideal-MHD stability threshold, transport can increase. In the presence of dissipation provided by a model of electron Landau damping and electron-ion collisions, this transport increase can be quite dramatic. Finally, the results of the simulations are compared to tokamak experiments, and encouraging agreement is found with measured density and temperature fluctuation spectra. Direct comparisons of transport fluxes reveal that electromagnetic effects are important at characteristic edge parameters, bringing predicted fluxes more closely in line with observations.

Comparison between measured and predicted turbulence frequency spectra in ITG and TEM regimes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Citrin, J.; Arnichand, H.; Bernardo, J.; Bourdelle, C.; Garbet, X.; Jenko, F.; Hacquin, S.; Pueschel, M. J.; Sabot, R.

2017-06-01

The observation of distinct peaks in tokamak core reflectometry measurements—named quasi-coherent-modes (QCMs)—are identified as a signature of trapped-electron-mode (TEM) turbulence (Arnichand et al 2016 Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion 58 014037). This phenomenon is investigated with detailed linear and nonlinear gyrokinetic simulations using the Gene code. A Tore-Supra density scan is studied, which traverses through a linear (LOC) to saturated (SOC) ohmic confinement transition. The LOC and SOC phases are both simulated separately. In the LOC phase, where QCMs are observed, TEMs are robustly predicted unstable in linear studies. In the later SOC phase, where QCMs are no longer observed, ion-temperature-gradient (ITG) modes are identified. In nonlinear simulations, in the ITG (SOC) phase, a broadband spectrum is seen. In the TEM (LOC) phase, a clear emergence of a peak at the TEM frequencies is seen. This is due to reduced nonlinear frequency broadening of the underlying linear modes in the TEM regime compared with the ITG regime. A synthetic diagnostic of the nonlinearly simulated frequency spectra reproduces the features observed in the reflectometry measurements. These results support the identification of core QCMs as an experimental marker for TEM turbulence.

Fundamental Scalings of Zonal Flows in a Basic Plasma Physics Experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sokolov, Vladimir; Wei, Xiao; Sen, Amiya K.

2007-11-01

A basic physics experimental study of zonal flows (ZF) associated with ITG (ion temperature gradient) drift modes has been performed in the Columbia Linear Machine (CLM) and ZF has been definitively identified [1]. However, in contrast to most tokamak experiments, the stabilizing effect of ZF shear to ITG appears to be small in CLM. We now report on the study of important scaling behavior of ZF. First and most importantly, we report on the collisional damping scaling of ZF, which is considered to be its saturation mechanism [2]. By varying the sum of ion-ion and ion-neutral collision frequency over nearly half an order of magnitude, we find no change in the amplitude of ZF. Secondly, we study the scaling of ZF amplitude with ITG amplitude via increasing ITG drive though ηi, as well as feedback (stabilizing / destabilizing). We have observed markedly different scaling near and far above marginal stability. [1] V. Sokolov, X. Wei, A.K. Sen and K. Avinash, Plasma Phys.Controlled Fusion 48, S111 (2006). [2] P.H. Diamond, S.-I. Itoh, K.Itoh and T.S. Hahm, Plasma Phys.Controlled Fusion 47, R35 (2005).

Threshold for the destabilisation of the ion-temperature-gradient mode in magnetically confined toroidal plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zocco, A.; Xanthopoulos, P.; Doerk, H.; Connor, J. W.; Helander, P.

2018-02-01

The threshold for the resonant destabilisation of ion-temperature-gradient (ITG) driven instabilities that render the modes ubiquitous in both tokamaks and stellarators is investigated. We discover remarkably similar results for both confinement concepts if care is taken in the analysis of the effect of the global shear . We revisit, analytically and by means of gyrokinetic simulations, accepted tokamak results and discover inadequacies of some aspects of their theoretical interpretation. In particular, for standard tokamak configurations, we find that global shear effects on the critical gradient cannot be attributed to the wave-particle resonance destabilising mechanism of Hahm & Tang (Phys. Plasmas, vol. 1, 1989, pp. 1185-1192), but are consistent with a stabilising contribution predicted by Biglari et al. (Phys. Plasmas, vol. 1, 1989, pp. 109-118). Extensive analytical and numerical investigations show that virtually no previous tokamak theoretical predictions capture the temperature dependence of the mode frequency at marginality, thus leading to incorrect instability thresholds. In the asymptotic limit , where is the rotational transform, and such a threshold should be solely determined by the resonant toroidal branch of the ITG mode, we discover a family of unstable solutions below the previously known threshold of instability. This is true for a tokamak case described by a local local equilibrium, and for the stellarator Wendelstein 7-X, where these unstable solutions are present even for configurations with a small trapped-particle population. We conjecture they are of the Floquet type and derive their properties from the Fourier analysis of toroidal drift modes of Connor & Taylor (Phys. Fluids, vol. 30, 1987, pp. 3180-3185), and to Hill's theory of the motion of the lunar perigee (Acta Math., vol. 8, 1886, pp. 1-36). The temperature dependence of the newly determined threshold is given for both confinement concepts. In the first case, the new temperature-gradient threshold is found to be rather insensitive to the temperature ratio i/Te$ , at least for i/Te\\lesssim 1$ , and to be a growing function of the density gradient scale for i/Te\\gtrsim 1$ . For Wendelstein 7-X, the new critical temperature gradient is a growing function of the temperature ratio. The importance of these findings for the assessment of turbulence in stellarators and low-shear tokamak configurations is discussed.

The Low-Recycling Lithium Boundary and Implications for Plasma Transport

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

Granstedt, Erik Michael

Pumping of incident hydrogen and impurity ions by lithium enables control of the particle inventory and fueling profile in magnetic-confined plasmas, and may raise the plasma temperature near the wall. As a result, the density gradient is expected to contribute substantially to the free-energy, affecting particle and thermal transport from micro-turbulence which is typically the dominant transport mechanism in high-temperature fusion experiments. Transport in gyrokinetic simulations of density-gradient-dominated profiles is characterized by a small linear critical gradient, large particle flux, and preferential diffusion of cold particles. As a result, the heat flux is below 5/2 or even 3/2 times themore » particle flux, usually assumed to be the minimum for convection. While surprising, this result is consistent with increasing entropy. Coupled TEM-ITG (ion-temperature- gradient) simulations using ηe = ηi find η = ∇T /∇n∼0.8 maximizes the linear critical pressure gradient, which suggests that experiments operating near marginal ITG stability with larger η would increase the linear critical pressure gradient by transferring free-energy from the temperature gradient to the density gradient. Simulations were performed with profiles predicted for the Lithium Tokamak Experiment (LTX) if ion thermal transport was neoclassical, while electron thermal transport and particle transport were a fixed ratio above the neoclassical level. A robust TEM instability was found for the outer half radius, while the ITG was found to be driven unstable as well during gas puff fueling. This suggests that TEM transport will be an important transport mechanism in high-temperature low-recycling fusion experiments, and in the absence of stabilizing mechanisms, may dominate over neoclassical transport. A diagnostic suite has been developed to measure hydrogen and impurity emission in LTX in order to determine the lower bound on recycling that can be achieved in a small tokamak using solid lithium coatings, assess its dependence on the operating condition of the lithium surface, and evaluate its impact on the discharge. Coatings on the close-fitting stainless-steel substrate produce a significant reduction in recyling, so that the effective particle confinement times are as low as 1 ms. Measurements of particle inventory in the plasma and hydrogen Lyman-α emission indicate that hydrogen recycling at the surface increases as subsequent discharges are performed; nevertheless, strong pumping of hydrogen is observed even after almost double the cumulative fueling is applied that should saturate the lithium coating to the penetration depth of hydrogen ions. Probe measurements show that when external fueling is terminated, the scrape-off-layer of discharges with fresh coatings decays to lower density and rises to higher electron temperature than for discharges with a partially-passivated surface, consistent with reduced edge cooling from recycled particles. Near the end of the discharge, higher plasma current correlates with reduced τp* and hydrogen emission, suggesting that discharges with fresh coatings achieve higher electron temperature in the core. A novel approach using neutral modeling was developed for the inverse problem of determining the distribution of recycled particle flux from PFC surfaces given a large number of emission measurements, revealing that extremely low levels of recycling (Rcore∼0.6 and Rplate∼0.8) have been achieved with solid lithium coatings. Together with impurity emission measurements, modeling suggests that during periods of particularly low electron density, influx of impurities from the walls contributes substantially to the global particle balance.« less

What happens to full-f gyrokinetic transport and turbulence in a toroidal wedge simulation?

DOE PAGES

Kim, Kyuho; Chang, C. S.; Seo, Janghoon; ...

2017-01-24

Here, in order to save the computing time or to fit the simulation size into a limited computing hardware in a gyrokinetic turbulence simulation of a tokamak plasma, a toroidal wedge simulation may be utilized in which only a partial toroidal section is modeled with a periodic boundary condition in the toroidal direction. The most severe restriction in the wedge simulation is expected to be in the longest wavelength turbulence, i.e., ion temperature gradient (ITG) driven turbulence. The global full-f gyrokinetic code XGC1 is used to compare the transport and turbulence properties from a toroidal wedge simulation against the fullmore » torus simulation in an ITG unstable plasma in a model toroidal geometry. It is found that (1) the convergence study in the wedge number needs to be conducted all the way down to the full torus in order to avoid a false convergence, (2) a reasonably accurate simulation can be performed if the correct wedge number N can be identified, (3) the validity of a wedge simulation may be checked by performing a wave-number spectral analysis of the turbulence amplitude |δΦ| and assuring that the variation of δΦ between the discrete kθ values is less than 25% compared to the peak |δΦ|, and (4) a frequency spectrum may not be used for the validity check of a wedge simulation.« less

What happens to full-f gyrokinetic transport and turbulence in a toroidal wedge simulation?

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

Kim, Kyuho; Chang, C. S.; Seo, Janghoon

Here, in order to save the computing time or to fit the simulation size into a limited computing hardware in a gyrokinetic turbulence simulation of a tokamak plasma, a toroidal wedge simulation may be utilized in which only a partial toroidal section is modeled with a periodic boundary condition in the toroidal direction. The most severe restriction in the wedge simulation is expected to be in the longest wavelength turbulence, i.e., ion temperature gradient (ITG) driven turbulence. The global full-f gyrokinetic code XGC1 is used to compare the transport and turbulence properties from a toroidal wedge simulation against the fullmore » torus simulation in an ITG unstable plasma in a model toroidal geometry. It is found that (1) the convergence study in the wedge number needs to be conducted all the way down to the full torus in order to avoid a false convergence, (2) a reasonably accurate simulation can be performed if the correct wedge number N can be identified, (3) the validity of a wedge simulation may be checked by performing a wave-number spectral analysis of the turbulence amplitude |δΦ| and assuring that the variation of δΦ between the discrete kθ values is less than 25% compared to the peak |δΦ|, and (4) a frequency spectrum may not be used for the validity check of a wedge simulation.« less

Ohmic ITBs in Alcator C-Mod

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rowan, William L.; Bespamyatnov, Igor O.; Fiore, C. L.; Dominguez, A.; Hubbard, A. E.; Ince-Cushman, A.; Greenwald, M. J.; Lin, L.; Marmar, E. S.; Reinke, M.; Rice, J. E.; Zhurovich, K.

2007-11-01

Internal transport barrier (ITB) plasmas can arise spontaneously in Ohmic Alcator C-Mod plasmas. The operational prescription for the ITB include formation of an EDA H-mode in a toroidal magnetic field that is ramping down and a subsequent increase in the toroidal magnetic field. Like ITBs generated with off-axis ICRF heating, these have peaked pressure profiles which can be suppressed by on-axis ICRF heating. Recent work on onset conditions for the ICRF generated ITB (K. Zhurovich, et al., To be published in Nuclear Fusion) demonstrates that the broadening of the ion temperature profile due to off-axis ICRF reduces the ion temperature gradient and suppreses the ITG instability driven particle flux as the primary mechanism for ITB formation. The object of this study is to examine the characteristics of Ohmic ITBs to find whether this model for onset is supported.

Effects of plasma shaping on nonlinear gyrokinetic turbulence

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

Belli, E. A.; Hammett, G. W.; Dorland, W.

The effects of flux surface shape on the gyrokinetic stability and transport of tokamak plasmas are studied using the GS2 code [M. Kotschenreuther, G. Rewoldt, and W. M. Tang, Comput. Phys. Commun. 88, 128 (1995); W. Dorland, F. Jenko, M. Kotschenreuther, and B. N. Rogers, Phys. Rev. Lett. 85, 5579 (2000)]. Studies of the scaling of nonlinear turbulence with shaping parameters are performed using analytic equilibria based on interpolations of representative shapes of the Joint European Torus [P. H. Rebut and B. E. Keen, Fusion Technol. 11, 13 (1987)]. High shaping is found to be a stabilizing influence on bothmore » the linear ion-temperature-gradient (ITG) instability and the nonlinear ITG turbulence. For the parameter regime studied here, a scaling of the heat flux with elongation of {chi}{approx}{kappa}{sup -1.5} or {kappa}{sup -2.0}, depending on the triangularity, is observed at fixed average temperature gradient. While this is not as strong as empirical elongation scalings, it is also found that high shaping results in a larger Dimits upshift of the nonlinear critical temperature gradient due to an enhancement of the Rosenbluth-Hinton residual zonal flows.« less

Comparison of kinetic and extended magnetohydrodynamics computational models for the linear ion temperature gradient instability in slab geometry

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

Schnack, D. D.; Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706; Cheng, J.

We perform linear stability studies of the ion temperature gradient (ITG) instability in unsheared slab geometry using kinetic and extended magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) models, in the regime k{sub ∥}/k{sub ⊥}≪1. The ITG is a parallel (to B) sound wave that may be destabilized by finite ion Larmor radius (FLR) effects in the presence of a gradient in the equilibrium ion temperature. The ITG is stable in both ideal and resistive MHD; for a given temperature scale length L{sub Ti0}, instability requires that either k{sub ⊥}ρ{sub i} or ρ{sub i}/L{sub Ti0} be sufficiently large. Kinetic models capture FLR effects to all ordersmore » in either parameter. In the extended MHD model, these effects are captured only to lowest order by means of the Braginskii ion gyro-viscous stress tensor and the ion diamagnetic heat flux. We present the linear electrostatic dispersion relations for the ITG for both kinetic Vlasov and extended MHD (two-fluid) models in the local approximation. In the low frequency fluid regime, these reduce to the same cubic equation for the complex eigenvalue ω=ω{sub r}+iγ. An explicit solution is derived for the growth rate and real frequency in this regime. These are found to depend on a single non-dimensional parameter. We also compute the eigenvalues and the eigenfunctions with the extended MHD code NIMROD, and a hybrid kinetic δf code that assumes six-dimensional Vlasov ions and isothermal fluid electrons, as functions of k{sub ⊥}ρ{sub i} and ρ{sub i}/L{sub Ti0} using a spatially dependent equilibrium. These solutions are compared with each other, and with the predictions of the local kinetic and fluid dispersion relations. Kinetic and fluid calculations agree well at and near the marginal stability point, but diverge as k{sub ⊥}ρ{sub i} or ρ{sub i}/L{sub Ti0} increases. There is good qualitative agreement between the models for the shape of the unstable global eigenfunction for L{sub Ti0}/ρ{sub i}=30 and 20. The results quantify how far fluid calculations can be extended accurately into the kinetic regime. We conclude that for the linear ITG problem in slab geometry with unsheared magnetic field when k{sub ∥}/k{sub ⊥}≪1, the extended MHD model may be a reliable physical model for this problem when ρ{sub i}/L{sub Ti0}<10{sup −2} and k{sub ⊥}ρ{sub i}<0.2.« less

Turbulent transport of alpha particles in tokamak plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Croitoru, A.; Palade, D. I.; Vlad, M.; Spineanu, F.

2017-03-01

We investigate the \\boldsymbol{E}× \\boldsymbol{B} diffusion of fusion born α particles in tokamak plasmas. We determine the transport regimes for a realistic model that has the characteristics of the ion temperature gradient (ITG) or of the trapped electron mode (TEM) driven turbulence. It includes a spectrum of potential fluctuations that is modeled using the results of the numerical simulations, the drift of the potential with the effective diamagnetic velocity and the parallel motion. Our semi-analytical statistical approach is based on the decorrelation trajectory method (DTM), which is adapted to the gyrokinetic approximation. We obtain the transport coefficients as a function of the parameters of the turbulence and of the energy of the α particles. According to our results, significant turbulent transport of the α particles can appear only at energies of the order of 100 KeV. We determine the corresponding conditions.

Understanding and Predicting Profile Structure and Parametric Scaling of Intrinsic Rotation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Weixing

2016-10-01

It is shown for the first time that turbulence-driven residual Reynolds stress can account for both the shape and magnitude of the observed intrinsic toroidal rotation profile. Nonlinear, global gyrokinetic simulations using GTS of DIII-D ECH plasmas indicate a substantial ITG fluctuation-induced non-diffusive momentum flux generated around a mid-radius-peaked intrinsic toroidal rotation profile. The non-diffusive momentum flux is dominated by the residual stress with a negligible contribution from the momentum pinch. The residual stress profile shows a robust anti-gradient, dipole structure in a set of ECH discharges with varying ECH power. Such interesting features of non-diffusive momentum fluxes, in connection with edge momentum sources and sinks, are found to be critical to drive the non-monotonic core rotation profiles in the experiments. Both turbulence intensity gradient and zonal flow ExB shear are identified as major contributors to the generation of the k∥-asymmetry needed for the residual stress generation. By balancing the residual stress and the momentum diffusion, a self-organized, steady-state rotation profile is calculated. The predicted core rotation profiles agree well with the experimentally measured main-ion toroidal rotation. The validated model is further used to investigate the characteristic dependence of global rotation profile structure in the multi-dimensional parametric space covering turbulence type, q-profile structure and collisionality with the goal of developing physics understanding needed for rotation profile control and optimization. Interesting results obtained include intrinsic rotation reversal induced by ITG-TEM transition in flat-q profile regime and by change in q-profile from weak to normal shear.. Fluctuation-generated poloidal Reynolds stress is also shown to significantly modify the neoclassical poloidal rotation in a way consistent with experimental observations. Finally, the first-principles-based model is applied to studying the ρ * -scaling and predicting rotations in ITER regime. Work supported by U.S. DOE Contract DE-AC02-09-CH11466.

A Multi Water Bag model of drift kinetic electron plasmaa

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morel, Pierre; Ghiro, Florent Dreydemy; Berionni, Vincent; Coulette, David; Besse, Nicolas; Gürcan, Özgür D.

2014-08-01

A Multi Water Bag model is proposed for describing drift kinetic plasmas in a magnetized cylindrical geometry, relevant for various experimental devices, solar wind modeling... The Multi Water Bag (MWB) model is adapted to the description of a plasma with kinetic electrons as well as an arbitrary number of kinetic ions. This allows to describe the kinetic dynamics of the electrons, making possible the study of electron temperature gradient (ETG) modes, in addition to the effects of non adiabatic electrons on the ion temperature gradient (ITG) modes, that are of prime importance in the magnetized plasmas micro-turbulence [X. Garbet, Y. Idomura, L. Villard, T.H. Watanabe, Nucl. Fusion 50, 043002 (2010); J.A. Krommes, Ann. Rev. Fluid Mech. 44, 175 (2012)]. The MWB model is shown to link kinetic and fluid descriptions, depending on the number of bags considered. Linear stability of the ETG modes is presented and compared to the existing results regarding cylindrical ITG modes [P. Morel, E. Gravier, N. Besse, R. Klein, A. Ghizzo, P. Bertrand, W. Garbet, Ph. Ghendrih, V. Grandgirard, Y. Sarazin, Phys. Plasmas 14, 112109 (2007)].

Non-linear gyrokinetic simulations of microturbulence in TCV electron internal transport barriers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lapillonne, X.; Brunner, S.; Sauter, O.; Villard, L.; Fable, E.; Görler, T.; Jenko, F.; Merz, F.

2011-05-01

Using the local (flux-tube) version of the Eulerian code GENE (Jenko et al 2000 Phys. Plasmas 7 1904), gyrokinetic simulations of microturbulence were carried out considering parameters relevant to electron-internal transport barriers (e-ITBs) in the TCV tokamak (Sauter et al 2005 Phys. Rev. Lett. 94 105002), generated under conditions of low or negative shear. For typical density and temperature gradients measured in such barriers, the corresponding simulated fluctuation spectra appears to simultaneously contain longer wavelength trapped electron modes (TEMs, for typically k⊥ρi < 0.5, k⊥ being the characteristic perpendicular wavenumber and ρi the ion Larmor radius) and shorter wavelength ion temperature gradient modes (ITG, k⊥ρi > 0.5). The contributions to the electron particle flux from these two types of modes are, respectively, outward/inward and may cancel each other for experimentally realistic gradients. This mechanism may partly explain the feasibility of e-ITBs. The non-linear simulation results confirm the predictions of a previously developed quasi-linear model (Fable et al 2010 Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion 52 015007), namely that the stationary condition of zero particle flux is obtained through the competitive contributions of ITG and TEM. A quantitative comparison of the electron heat flux with experimental estimates is presented as well.

Theoretical issues on the spontaneous rotation of axisymmetric plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Coppi, B.; Zhou, T.

2014-09-01

An extensive series of experiments have confirmed that the observed ‘spontaneous rotation’ phenomenon in axisymmetric plasmas is related to the confinement properties of these plasmas and connected to the excitation of collective modes associated with these properties (Coppi 2000 18th IAEA Fusion Energy Conf. (Sorrento, Italy, 2000) THP 1/17, www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/csp_008c/html/node343.htm and Coppi 2002 Nucl. Fusion 42 1). In particular, radially localized modes can extract angular momentum from the plasma column from which they grow while the background plasma has to recoil in the direction opposite to that of the mode phase velocity. In the case of the excitation of the plasma modes at the edge, the loss of their angular momentum can be connected to the directed particle ejection to the surrounding medium. The recoil angular momentum is then redistributed inside the plasma column mainly by the combination of an effective viscous diffusion and an inward angular momentum transport velocity that is connected, for instance, to ion temperature gradient (ITG) driven modes. The linear and quasi-linear theories of the collisionless trapped electron modes and of the toroidal ITG driven modes are re-examined in the context of their influence on angular momentum transport. Internal modes that produce magnetic reconnection and are electromagnetic in nature, acquire characteristic phase velocity directions in high temperature regimes and become relevant to the ‘generation’ of angular momentum. The drift-tearing mode, the ‘complex’ reconnecting mode and the m0 = 1 internal mode belong to this category, the last mode acquiring different features depending on the strength of its driving factor. Toroidal velocity profiles that reproduce the experimental observations are obtained considering a global angular momentum balance equation that includes the localized sources associated with the excited internal electrostatic and electromagnetic modes besides the appropriate diffusive and the inward angular momentum transparent terms.

Toroidal gyro-Landau fluid model turbulence simulations in a nonlinear ballooning mode representation with radial modes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Waltz, R. E.; Kerbel, G. D.; Milovich, J.

1994-07-01

The method of Hammett and Perkins [Phys. Rev. Lett. 64, 3019 (1990)] to model Landau damping has been recently applied to the moments of the gyrokinetic equation with curvature drift by Waltz, Dominguez, and Hammett [Phys. Fluids B 4, 3138 (1992)]. The higher moments are truncated in terms of the lower moments (density, parallel velocity, and parallel and perpendicular pressure) by modeling the deviation from a perturbed Maxwellian to fit the kinetic response function at all values of the kinetic parameters: k∥vth/ω, b=(k⊥ρ)2/2, and ωD/ω. Here the resulting gyro-Landau fluid equations are applied to the simulation of ion temperature gradient (ITG) mode turbulence in toroidal geometry using a novel three-dimensional (3-D) nonlinear ballooning mode representation. The representation is a Fourier transform of a field line following basis (ky',kx',z') with periodicity in toroidal and poloidal angles. Particular emphasis is given to the role of nonlinearly generated n=0 (ky' = 0, kx' ≠ 0) ``radial modes'' in stabilizing the transport from the finite-n ITG ballooning modes. Detailing the parametric dependence of toroidal ITG turbulence is a key result.

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

Sen, Amiya K.

The goal of this grant has been to study the basic physics of various sources of anomalous transport in tokamaks. Anomalous transport in tokamaks continues to be one of the major problems in magnetic fusion research. As a tokamak is not a physics device by design, direct experimental observation and identification of the instabilities responsible for transport, as well as physics studies of the transport in tokamaks, have been difficult and of limited value. It is noted that direct experimental observation, identification and physics study of microinstabilities including ITG, ETG, and trapped electron/ion modes in tokamaks has been very difficultmore » and nearly impossible. The primary reasons are co-existence of many instabilities, their broadband fluctuation spectra, lack of flexibility for parameter scans and absence of good local diagnostics. This has motivated us to study the suspected tokamak instabilities and their transport consequences in a simpler, steady state Columbia Linear Machine (CLM) with collisionless plasma and the flexibility of wide parameter variations. Earlier work as part of this grant was focused on both ITG turbulence, widely believed to be a primary source of ion thermal transport in tokamaks, and the effects of isotope scaling on transport levels. Prior work from our research team has produced and definitively identified both the slab and toroidal branches of this instability and determined the physics criteria for their existence. All the experimentally observed linear physics corroborate well with theoretical predictions. However, one of the large areas of research dealt with turbulent transport results that indicate some significant differences between our experimental results and most theoretical predictions. Latter years of this proposal were focused on anomalous electron transport with a special focus on ETG. There are several advanced tokamak scenarios with internal transport barriers (ITB), when the ion transport is reduced to neoclassical values by combined mechanisms of ExB and diamagnetic flow shear suppression of the ion temperature gradient (ITG) instabilities. However, even when the ion transport is strongly suppressed, the electron transport remains highly anomalous. The most plausible physics scenario for the anomalous electron transport is based on electron temperature gradient (ETG) instabilities. This instability is an electron analog of and nearly isomorphic to the ITG instability, which we had studied before extensively. However, this isomorphism is broken nonlinearily. It is noted that as the typical ETG mode growth rates are larger (in contrast to ITG modes) than ExB shearing rates in usual tokamaks, the flow shear suppression of ETG modes is highly unlikely. This motivated a broader range of investigations of other physics scenarios of nonlinear saturation and transport scaling of ETG modes.« less

Particle transport in low-collisionality H-mode plasmas on DIII-D

DOE PAGES

Mordijck, Saskia; Wang, Xin; Doyle, Edward J.; ...

2015-10-05

In this article we show that changing from an ion temperature gradient (ITG) to trapped electron mode (TEM) dominant turbulence regime (based on linear gyrokinetic simulations) results experimentally in a strong density pump-out (defined as a reduction in line-averaged density) in low collisionality, low power H-mode plasmas. We vary the turbulence drive by changing the heating from pre-dominantly ion heatedusing neutral beam injection to electron heated using electron cyclotron heating, which changes the T e/T i ratio and the temperature gradients. Perturbed gas puff experiments show an increase in transport outside ρ = 0.6, through a strong increase in themore » perturbed diffusion coefficient and a decrease in the inward pinch. Linear gyrokinetic simulations with TGLF show an increase in the particle flux outside the mid-radius. In conjunction an increase in intermediate-scale length density fluctuations is observed, which indicates an increase in turbulence intensity at typical TEM wavelengths. However, although the experimental changes in particle transport agree with a change from ITG to TEM turbulence regimes, we do not observe a reduction in the core rotation at mid-radius, nor a rotation reversal.« less

Simulation of ion-temperature-gradient turbulence in tokamaks

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

Cohen, B I; Dimits, A M; Kim, C

Results are presented from nonlinear gyrokinetic simulations of toroidal ion temperature gradient (ITG) turbulence and transport. The gyrokinetic simulations are found to yield values of the thermal diffusivity significantly lower than gyrofluid or IFS-PPPL-model predictions. A new phenomenon of nonlinear effective critical gradients larger than the linear instability threshold gradients is observed, and is associated with undamped flux-surface-averaged shear flows. The nonlinear gyrokineic codes have passed extensive validity tests which include comparison against independent linear calculations, a series of nonlinear convergence tests, and a comparison between two independent nonlinear gyrokinetic codes. Our most realistic simulations to date have actual reconstructedmore » equilibria from experiments and a model for dilution by impurity and beam ions. These simulations highlight the need for still more physics to be included in the simulations« less

Partnership for Edge Physics Simulation

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

Kritz, Arnold H.; Rafiq, Tariq

A major goal of our participation in the Edge Physics Simulation project has been to contribute to the understanding of the self-organization of tokamak turbulence fluctuations resulting in the formation of a staircase structure in the ion temperature. A second important goal is to demonstrate how small scale turbulence in plasmas self-organizes with dynamically driven quasi-stationary flow shear. These goals have been accomplished through the analyses of the statistical properties of XGC1 flux driven Gyrokinetic electrostatic ion temperature gradient (ITG) turbulence simulation data in which neutrals are included. The ITG turbulence data, and in particular fluctuation data, were obtained frommore » a massively parallel flux-driven gyrokinetic full-f particle-in-cell simulation of a DIII-D like equilibrium. Below some the findings are summarized. It was observed that the emergence of staircase structure is related to the variations in the normalized temperature gradient length (R/LT) and the poloidal flow shear. Average turbulence intensity is found to be large in the vicinity of minima in R/LTi, where ITG growth is expected to be lower. The distributions of the occurrences of potential fluctuation are found to be Gaussian away from the staircase-step locations, but they are found to be non-Gaussian in the vicinity of staircase-step locations. The results of analytically derived expressions for the distribution of the occurrences of turbulence intensity and intensity flux were compared with the corresponding quantities computed using XGC1 simulation data and good agreement is found. The derived expressions predicts inward and outward propagation of turbulence intensity flux in an intermittent fashion. The outward propagation of turbulence intensity flux occurs at staircase-step locations and is related to the change in poloidal flow velocity shear and to the change in the ion temperature gradient. The standard deviation, skewness and kurtosis for turbulence quantities were computed and found to be large in the vicinity of the staircase-step structures. Large values of skewness and kurtosis can be explained by a temporary opening and closing of the structure which allows turbulence intensity events to propagate. The staircase patterns may reduce the ion heat transport and a manipulation of these patterns may be used to optimize heat transport in tokamaks. An additional objective of the research in support of the Edge Physics Simulation initiative has been to improve the understanding of scrape-off layer thermal transport. In planning experiments and designing future tokamaks, it is important to understand the physical effects that contribute to divertor heat-load fluxes. The research accomplished will contribute to developing new models for the scrape-off layer region. The XGC0 code was used to compute the heat fluxes and the heat-load width in the outer divertor plates of C-Mod and DIII-D tokamaks. It was observed that the width of the XGC0 neoclassical heat-load was approximately inversely proportional to the total plasma current. Anomalous transport in the H-mode pedestal region of five Alcator C-Mod discharges, representing a collisionality scan, was analyzed. The understanding of anomalous transport in the pedestal region is important for the development of a comprehensive model for the H-mode pedestal slope. It was found that the electron thermal anomalous diffusivities at the pedestal top increase with the electron collisionality. This dependence can point to the DRIBM as the modes that drive the anomalous transport in the plasma edge of highly collisional discharges. The effects of plasma shaping on the H-mode pedestal structure was also investigated. The differences in the predicted H-mode pedestal width and height for the DIII-D discharges with different elongation and triangularities were discussed. For the discharges with higher elongation, it was found that the gradients of the plasma profiles in the H-mode pedestal reach semi-steady states. In these simulations, the pedestal slowly continued to evolve to higher pedestal pressures and bootstrap currents until the peeling ballooning stability conditions were satisfied. The discharges with lower elongation do not reach the semi-steady state, and ELM crashes were triggered at earlier times. The plasma elongation was found to have a stronger stabilizing effect than the plasma triangularity. For the discharges with lower elongation and lower triangularity, the ELM frequency was large, and the H-mode pedestal evolves rapidly. It was found that the temperature of neutrals in the scrape-off-layer region can affect the dynamics of the H-mode pedestal buildup. However, the final pedestal profiles were nearly independent of the neutral temperature. The elongation and triangularity affected the pedestal widths of plasma density and electron temperature profiles differently. This study illustrated a new mechanism for controlling the pedestal bootstrap current and the pedestal stability.« less

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

Xie, T., E-mail: xietao@ustc.edu.cn; Key Laboratory of Geospace Environment, CAS, Hefei, Anhui 230026; Qin, H.

A unified ballooning theory, constructed on the basis of two special theories [Zhang et al., Phys. Fluids B 4, 2729 (1992); Y. Z. Zhang and T. Xie, Nucl. Fusion Plasma Phys. 33, 193 (2013)], shows that a weak up-down asymmetric mode structure is normally formed in an up-down symmetric equilibrium; the weak up-down asymmetry in mode structure is the manifestation of non-trivial higher order effects beyond the standard ballooning equation. It is shown that the asymmetric mode may have even higher growth rate than symmetric modes. The salient features of the theory are illustrated by investigating a fluid model formore » the ion temperature gradient (ITG) mode. The two dimensional (2D) analytical form of the ITG mode, solved in ballooning representation, is then converted into the radial-poloidal space to provide the natural boundary condition for solving the 2D mathematical local eigenmode problem. We find that the analytical expression of the mode structure is in a good agreement with finite difference solution. This sets a reliable framework for quasi-linear computation.« less

ITG-TEM turbulence simulation with bounce-averaged kinetic electrons in tokamak geometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kwon, Jae-Min; Qi, Lei; Yi, S.; Hahm, T. S.

2017-06-01

We develop a novel numerical scheme to simulate electrostatic turbulence with kinetic electron responses in magnetically confined toroidal plasmas. Focusing on ion gyro-radius scale turbulences with slower frequencies than the time scales for electron parallel motions, we employ and adapt the bounce-averaged kinetic equation to model trapped electrons for nonlinear turbulence simulation with Coulomb collisions. Ions are modeled by employing the gyrokinetic equation. The newly developed scheme is implemented on a global δf particle in cell code gKPSP. By performing linear and nonlinear simulations, it is demonstrated that the new scheme can reproduce key physical properties of Ion Temperature Gradient (ITG) and Trapped Electron Mode (TEM) instabilities, and resulting turbulent transport. The overall computational cost of kinetic electrons using this novel scheme is limited to 200%-300% of the cost for simulations with adiabatic electrons. Therefore the new scheme allows us to perform kinetic simulations with trapped electrons very efficiently in magnetized plasmas.

Effect of external plasma flows on the interaction between turbulence and convective cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Uzawa, Ken; Li, Jiquan

2005-10-01

It is widely recognized that large scale structures, such as zonal flows, streamers and also long wavelength Kelvin-Helmholtz modes are nonlinearly generated from maternal turbulence through modulational instability process and play a crucial role in regulating the transport in tokamaks. In order to control the transport, it is desirable to control such structures and/or modulational process. One of control parameters may be mean flow which intrinsically exists in tokamak plasmas. Besides the direct influence on the transport through vortex decorrelation, the mean flow may indirectly change the zonal flow generation by acting on the modulational process itself. In this work, we theoretically investigate the characteristics of zonal flow generation due to the electron temperature gradient (ETG) turbulence in the presence of long wavelength ITG driven zonal flow. This was done by extending our previous modulational analyses[1]. We have numerically analyzed the influence of mean flow on zonal flow generation. The main result is that the zonal flow generation is suppressed by the presence of the mean flow. [1]J. Li, Y. Kishimoto, Physics of Plasmas, 9, 1241 (2002)

Ohmic ITBs in Alcator C-Mod

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fiore, C. L.; Rowan, W. L.; Dominguez, A.; Hubbard, A. E.; Ince-Cushman, A.; Greenwald, M. J.; Lin, L.; Marmar, E. S.; Reinke, M.; Rice, J. E.; Zhurovich, K.

2007-11-01

Internal transport barrier plasmas can arise spontaneously in ohmic Alcator C-Mod plasmas where an EDA H-mode has been developed by magnetic field ramping. These ohmic ITBs share the hallmarks of ITBs created with off-axis ICRF injection in that they have highly peaked density and pressure profiles and the peaking can be suppressed by on-axis ICRF. There is a reduction of particle and thermal flux in the barrier region which then allows the neoclassical pinch to peak the central density. Recent work on ITB onset conditions [1] which was motivated by turbulence studies [2] points to the broadening of the Ti profile with off-axis ICRF acting to reduce the ion temperature gradient. This suppresses ITG instability driven particle fluxes, which is thought to be the primary mechanism for ITB formation. The object of this study is to examine the characteristics of ohmic ITBs to find whether the stability of plasmas and the plasma parameters support the onset model. [1]K. Zhurovich, et al., To be published in Nuclear Fusion [2] D. R. Ernst, et al., Phys. Plasmas 11, 2637 (2004)

Multi-scale gyrokinetic simulations: Comparison with experiment and implications for predicting turbulence and transport

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Howard, N. T.; Holland, C.; White, A. E.; Greenwald, M.; Candy, J.; Creely, A. J.

2016-05-01

To better understand the role of cross-scale coupling in experimental conditions, a series of multi-scale gyrokinetic simulations were performed on Alcator C-Mod, L-mode plasmas. These simulations, performed using all experimental inputs and realistic ion to electron mass ratio ((mi/me)1/2 = 60.0), simultaneously capture turbulence at the ion ( kθρs˜O (1.0 ) ) and electron-scales ( kθρe˜O (1.0 ) ). Direct comparison with experimental heat fluxes and electron profile stiffness indicates that Electron Temperature Gradient (ETG) streamers and strong cross-scale turbulence coupling likely exist in both of the experimental conditions studied. The coupling between ion and electron-scales exists in the form of energy cascades, modification of zonal flow dynamics, and the effective shearing of ETG turbulence by long wavelength, Ion Temperature Gradient (ITG) turbulence. The tightly coupled nature of ITG and ETG turbulence in these realistic plasma conditions is shown to have significant implications for the interpretation of experimental transport and fluctuations. Initial attempts are made to develop a "rule of thumb" based on linear physics, to help predict when cross-scale coupling plays an important role and to inform future modeling of experimental discharges. The details of the simulations, comparisons with experimental measurements, and implications for both modeling and experimental interpretation are discussed.

ITG: A New Global GNSS Tropospheric Correction Model

PubMed Central

Yao, Yibin; Xu, Chaoqian; Shi, Junbo; Cao, Na; Zhang, Bao; Yang, Junjian

2015-01-01

Tropospheric correction models are receiving increasing attentions, as they play a crucial role in Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). Most commonly used models to date include the GPT2 series and the TropGrid2. In this study, we analyzed the advantages and disadvantages of existing models and developed a new model called the Improved Tropospheric Grid (ITG). ITG considers annual, semi-annual and diurnal variations, and includes multiple tropospheric parameters. The amplitude and initial phase of diurnal variation are estimated as a periodic function. ITG provides temperature, pressure, the weighted mean temperature (Tm) and Zenith Wet Delay (ZWD). We conducted a performance comparison among the proposed ITG model and previous ones, in terms of meteorological measurements from 698 observation stations, Zenith Total Delay (ZTD) products from 280 International GNSS Service (IGS) station and Tm from Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS) products. Results indicate that ITG offers the best performance on the whole. PMID:26196963

Understanding and predicting profile structure and parametric scaling of intrinsic rotation

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

Wang, W. X.; Grierson, B. A.; Ethier, S.

2017-08-10

This study reports on a recent advance in developing physical understanding and a first-principles-based model for predicting intrinsic rotation profiles in magnetic fusion experiments. It is shown for the first time that turbulent fluctuation-driven residual stress (a non-diffusive component of momentum flux) along with diffusive momentum flux can account for both the shape and magnitude of the observed intrinsic toroidal rotation profile. Both the turbulence intensity gradient and zonal flow E×B shear are identified as major contributors to the generation of the k ∥-asymmetry needed for the residual stress generation. The model predictions of core rotation based on global gyrokineticmore » simulations agree well with the experimental measurements of main ion toroidal rotation for a set of DIII-D ECH discharges. The validated model is further used to investigate the characteristic dependence of residual stress and intrinsic rotation profile structure on the multi-dimensional parametric space covering the turbulence type, q-profile structure, and up-down asymmetry in magnetic geometry with the goal of developing the physics understanding needed for rotation profile control and optimization. It is shown that in the flat-q profile regime, intrinsic rotations driven by ITG and TEM turbulence are in the opposite direction (i.e., intrinsic rotation reverses). The predictive model also produces reversed intrinsic rotation for plasmas with weak and normal shear q-profiles.« less

Comparison of analytical models for zonal flow generation in ion-temperature-gradient mode turbulence

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

Anderson, J.; Miki, K.; Uzawa, K.

2006-11-30

During the past years the understanding of the multi scale interaction problems have increased significantly. However, at present there exists a flora of different analytical models for investigating multi scale interactions and hardly any specific comparisons have been performed among these models. In this work two different models for the generation of zonal flows from ion-temperature-gradient (ITG) background turbulence are discussed and compared. The methods used are the coherent mode coupling model and the wave kinetic equation model (WKE). It is shown that the two models give qualitatively the same results even though the assumption on the spectral difference ismore » used in the (WKE) approach.« less

A preference for mathematical processing outweighs the selectivity for Arabic numbers in the inferior temporal gyrus.

PubMed

Grotheer, Mareike; Jeska, Brianna; Grill-Spector, Kalanit

2018-03-28

A region in the posterior inferior temporal gyrus (ITG), referred to as the number form area (NFA, here ITG-numbers) has been implicated in the visual processing of Arabic numbers. However, it is unknown if this region is specifically involved in the visual encoding of Arabic numbers per se or in mathematical processing more broadly. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during experiments that systematically vary tasks and stimuli, we find that mathematical processing, not preference to Arabic numbers, consistently drives both mean and distributed responses in the posterior ITG. While we replicated findings of higher responses in ITG-numbers to numbers than other visual stimuli during a 1-back task, this preference to numbers was abolished when participants engaged in mathematical processing. In contrast, an ITG region (ITG-math) that showed higher responses during an adding task vs. other tasks maintained this preference for mathematical processing across a wide range of stimuli including numbers, number/letter morphs, hands, and dice. Analysis of distributed responses across an anatomically-defined posterior ITG expanse further revealed that mathematical task but not Arabic number form can be successfully and consistently decoded from these distributed responses. Together, our findings suggest that the function of neuronal regions in the posterior ITG goes beyond the specific visual processing of Arabic numbers. We hypothesize that they ascribe numerical content to the visual input, irrespective of the format of the stimulus. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Density and magnetic fluctuations in type III-ELM pedestal evolution in JET: experimental and numerical characterization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

De Masi, G.; Predebon, I.; Spagnolo, S.; Meneses, L.; Delabie, E.; Lupelli, I.; Hillesheim, J. C.; Maggi, C.; Contributors, JET

2018-04-01

Density and magnetic fluctuation measurements in low-β type-III ELM discharges are obtained in the Joint European Torus (JET). They are observed during the inter-ELM pedestal evolution, after the LH transition phase, at about 60-70 kHz. Density fluctuations are measured with a correlation reflectometer system installed on the low-field side and they are localized at the pedestal top. Magnetic fluctuations with a spatial scale k_yρ_i˜ 0.1 are measured through a high resolution coil array. The main features and the relations with local plasma parameters are presented. The nature of these fluctuations is discussed along with linear gyrokinetic simulations. Ion temperature gradient (ITG) modes are the dominant instabilities in the frequency range of interest. In terms of radial localization, typical oscillation frequency and qualitative relation with the possible linear drive, ITG modes are consistent with the experimental density fluctuations measurements. Micro-tearing modes (MTMs), found unstable with a lower growth rate, appear a possible explanation for magnetic fluctuations in terms of typical wavenumbers and direction of propagation.

Long-wavelength microinstabilities in toroidal plasmas*

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tang, W. M.; Rewoldt, G.

1993-07-01

Realistic kinetic toroidal eigenmode calculations have been carried out to support a proper assessment of the influence of long-wavelength microturbulence on transport in tokamak plasmas. In order to efficiently evaluate large-scale kinetic behavior extending over many rational surfaces, significant improvements have been made to a toroidal finite element code used to analyze the fully two-dimensional (r,θ) mode structures of trapped-ion and toroidal ion temperature gradient (ITG) instabilities. It is found that even at very long wavelengths, these eigenmodes exhibit a strong ballooning character with the associated radial structure relatively insensitive to ion Landau damping at the rational surfaces. In contrast to the long-accepted picture that the radial extent of trapped-ion instabilities is characterized by the ion-gyroradius-scale associated with strong localization between adjacent rational surfaces, present results demonstrate that under realistic conditions, the actual scale is governed by the large-scale variations in the equilibrium gradients. Applications to recent measurements of fluctuation properties in Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor (TFTR) [Plasma Phys. Controlled Nucl. Fusion Res. (International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, 1985), Vol. 1, p. 29] L-mode plasmas indicate that the theoretical trends appear consistent with spectral characteristics as well as rough heuristic estimates of the transport level. Benchmarking calculations in support of the development of a three-dimensional toroidal gyrokinetic code indicate reasonable agreement with respect to both the properties of the eigenfunctions and the magnitude of the eigenvalues during the linear phase of the simulations of toroidal ITG instabilities.

Combined ERP/fMRI evidence for early word recognition effects in the posterior inferior temporal gyrus.

PubMed

Dien, Joseph; Brian, Eric S; Molfese, Dennis L; Gold, Brian T

2013-10-01

Two brain regions with established roles in reading are the posterior middle temporal gyrus and the posterior fusiform gyrus (FG). Lesion studies have also suggested that the region located between them, the posterior inferior temporal gyrus (pITG), plays a central role in word recognition. However, these lesion results could reflect disconnection effects since neuroimaging studies have not reported consistent lexicality effects in pITG. Here we tested whether these reported pITG lesion effects are due to disconnection effects or not using parallel Event-related Potentials (ERP)/functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies. We predicted that the Recognition Potential (RP), a left-lateralized ERP negativity that peaks at about 200-250 msec, might be the electrophysiological correlate of pITG activity and that conditions that evoke the RP (perceptual degradation) might therefore also evoke pITG activity. In Experiment 1, twenty-three participants performed a lexical decision task (temporally flanked by supraliminal masks) while having high-density 129-channel ERP data collected. In Experiment 2, a separate group of fifteen participants underwent the same task while having fMRI data collected in a 3T scanner. Examination of the ERP data suggested that a canonical RP effect was produced. The strongest corresponding effect in the fMRI data was in the vicinity of the pITG. In addition, results indicated stimulus-dependent functional connectivity between pITG and a region of the posterior FG near the Visual Word Form Area (VWFA) during word compared to nonword processing. These results provide convergent spatiotemporal evidence that the pITG contributes to early lexical access through interaction with the VWFA. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Global linear gyrokinetic simulations for LHD including collisions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kauffmann, K.; Kleiber, R.; Hatzky, R.; Borchardt, M.

2010-11-01

The code EUTERPE uses a Particle-In-Cell (PIC) method to solve the gyrokinetic equation globally (full radius, full flux surface) for three-dimensional equilibria calculated with VMEC. Recently this code has been extended to include multiple kinetic species and electromagnetic effects. Additionally, a pitch-angle scattering operator has been implemented in order to include collisional effects in the simulation of instabilities and to be able to simulate neoclassical transport. As a first application of this extended code we study the effects of collisions on electrostatic ion-temperature-gradient (ITG) instabilities in LHD.

Zebrafish Dkk3a Protein Regulates the Activity of myf5 Promoter through Interaction with Membrane Receptor Integrin α6b*

PubMed Central

Fu, Chuan-Yang; Su, Ying-Fang; Lee, Ming-Hsuan; Chang, Geen-Dong; Tsai, Huai-Jen

2012-01-01

Myogenic regulatory factor Myf5 plays important roles in muscle development. In zebrafish myf5, a microRNA (miR), termed miR-3906 or miR-In300, was reported to silence dickkopf-3-related gene (dkk3r or dkk3a), resulting in repression of myf5 promoter activity. However, the membrane receptor that interacts with ligand Dkk3a to control myf5 expression through signal transduction remains unknown. To address this question, we applied immunoprecipitation and LC-MS/MS to screen putative membrane receptors of Dkk3a, and Integrin α6b (Itgα6b) was finally identified. To further confirm this, we used cell surface binding assays, which showed that Dkk3a and Itgα6b were co-expressed at the cell membrane of HEK-293T cells. Cross-linking immunoprecipitation data also showed high affinity of Itgα6b for Dkk3a. We further proved that the β-propeller repeat domains of Itgα6b are key segments bound by Dkk3a. Moreover, when dkk3a and itgα6b mRNAs were co-injected into embryos, luciferase activity was up-regulated 4-fold greater than that of control embryos. In contrast, the luciferase activities of dkk3a knockdown embryos co-injected with itgα6b mRNA and itgα6b knockdown embryos co-injected with dkk3a mRNA were decreased in a manner similar to that in control embryos, respectively. Knockdown of itgα6b resulted in abnormal somite shape, fewer somitic cells, weaker or absent myf5 expression, and reduced the protein level of phosphorylated p38a in somites. These defective phenotypes of trunk muscular development were similar to those of dkk3a knockdown embryos. We demonstrated that the secreted ligand Dkk3a binds to the membrane receptor Itgα6b, which increases the protein level of phosphorylated p38a and activates myf5 promoter activity of zebrafish embryos during myogenesis. PMID:23024366

Advances in stellarator gyrokinetics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Helander, P.; Bird, T.; Jenko, F.; Kleiber, R.; Plunk, G. G.; Proll, J. H. E.; Riemann, J.; Xanthopoulos, P.

2015-05-01

Recent progress in the gyrokinetic theory of stellarator microinstabilities and turbulence simulations is summarized. The simulations have been carried out using two different gyrokinetic codes, the global particle-in-cell code EUTERPE and the continuum code GENE, which operates in the geometry of a flux tube or a flux surface but is local in the radial direction. Ion-temperature-gradient (ITG) and trapped-electron modes are studied and compared with their counterparts in axisymmetric tokamak geometry. Several interesting differences emerge. Because of the more complicated structure of the magnetic field, the fluctuations are much less evenly distributed over each flux surface in stellarators than in tokamaks. Instead of covering the entire outboard side of the torus, ITG turbulence is localized to narrow bands along the magnetic field in regions of unfavourable curvature, and the resulting transport depends on the normalized gyroradius ρ* even in radially local simulations. Trapped-electron modes can be significantly more stable than in typical tokamaks, because of the spatial separation of regions with trapped particles from those with bad magnetic curvature. Preliminary non-linear simulations in flux-tube geometry suggest differences in the turbulence levels in Wendelstein 7-X and a typical tokamak.

Toroidal turbulence simulations with gyro-Landau fluid models in a nonlinear ballooning mode representation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Waltz, R. E.; Kerbel, G. D.

1994-05-01

The method of Hammett and Perkins [Phys. Rev. Lett. 64, 3019 (1990)] to model Landau damping has been recently applied to the moments of the gyro-kinetic equation with curvature drift by Waltz, Dominguez, and Hammett [Phys. Fluids B 4, 3138 (1992)]. The higher moments are truncated in terms of the lower moments (density, parallel velocity, and parallel and perpendicular pressure) by modeling the deviation from a perturbed Maxwellian to fit the kinetic response function at all values of the kinetic parameters: k∥vth/ω, b=(k⊥ρ)2/2, and ωD/ω. Here the resulting gyro-Landau fluid equations are applied to the simulation of ion temperature gradient (ITG) mode turbulence in toroidal geometry using a novel 3D nonlinear ballooning mode representation. The representation is a Fourier transform of the Cowley et al. [Phys. Fluids B 3, 2767 (1991)] field line following twisted eddy basis (kx',ky',z') with periodicity in toroidal and poloidal angles. Particular emphasis is given to the role of nonlinearly generated n=0 (ky'=0, kx'≠0) ``radial modes'' in stabilizing the transport from the finite-n ITG ballooning modes.

Nonlinear saturation of the slab ITG instability and zonal flow generation with fully kinetic ions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miecnikowski, Matthew T.; Sturdevant, Benjamin J.; Chen, Yang; Parker, Scott E.

2018-05-01

Fully kinetic turbulence models are of interest for their potential to validate or replace gyrokinetic models in plasma regimes where the gyrokinetic expansion parameters are marginal. Here, we demonstrate fully kinetic ion capability by simulating the growth and nonlinear saturation of the ion-temperature-gradient instability in shearless slab geometry assuming adiabatic electrons and including zonal flow dynamics. The ion trajectories are integrated using the Lorentz force, and the cyclotron motion is fully resolved. Linear growth and nonlinear saturation characteristics show excellent agreement with analogous gyrokinetic simulations across a wide range of parameters. The fully kinetic simulation accurately reproduces the nonlinearly generated zonal flow. This work demonstrates nonlinear capability, resolution of weak gradient drive, and zonal flow physics, which are critical aspects of modeling plasma turbulence with full ion dynamics.

Towards a better understanding of critical gradients and near-marginal turbulence in burning plasma conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Holland, C.; Candy, J.; Howard, N. T.

2017-10-01

Developing accurate predictive transport models of burning plasma conditions is essential for confident prediction and optimization of next step experiments such as ITER and DEMO. Core transport in these plasmas is expected to be very small in gyroBohm-normalized units, such that the plasma should lie close to the critical gradients for onset of microturbulence instabilities. We present recent results investigating the scaling of linear critical gradients of ITG, TEM, and ETG modes as a function of parameters such as safety factor, magnetic shear, and collisionality for nominal conditions and geometry expected in ITER H-mode plasmas. A subset of these results is then compared against predictions from nonlinear gyrokinetic simulations, to quantify differences between linear and nonlinear thresholds. As part of this study, linear and nonlinear results from both GYRO and CGYRO codes will be compared against each other, as well as to predictions from the quasilinear TGLF model. Challenges arising from near-marginal turbulence dynamics are addressed. This work was supported by the US Department of Energy under US DE-SC0006957.

Iron supplementation prevents a decline in iron stores and enhances strength performance in elite female volleyball players during the competitive season.

PubMed

Mielgo-Ayuso, Juan; Zourdos, Michael C; Calleja-González, Julio; Urdampilleta, Aritz; Ostojic, Sergej

2015-06-01

The primary aim of this study was to examine the effects of 11 weeks of iron supplementation on hematological and strength markers in elite female volleyball players. Twenty-two volleyball players (aged 27.0 ± 5.6 years) from 2 Spanish First National League teams participated and were counterbalanced into 1 of 2 groups based upon iron status: (i) control group (CG, n = 11); or (ii) iron treatment group (ITG, n = 11), which received 325 mg/day of ferrous sulphate daily. Subjects performed their team's regimen of training or match play every day. Both groups were tested for hematological and strength levels at 2 points: (i) baseline (T0, before preseason) and (ii) 11 weeks later (T11, post-testing). Hematological parameters were serum iron (sFe), serum ferritin (FER), transferrin saturation index (TSI), and hemoglobin (Hb); strength assessments were bench press, military press, half-squat, power clean, clean and jerk, and pull-over. CG experienced a significant decrease (p < 0.05) for sFe (T0, 112.7 ± 31.5; T11, 69.0 ± 20.5 μg·dL(-1); -33.9%), FER (T0, 60.2 ± 28.6; T11, 38.2 ± 16.4 ng·mL(-1); -34.6%), TSI (T0, 29.4% ± 9.5%; T11, 17.4% ± 5.1%; -35.3%), and Hb (T0, 14.1 ± 1.0; T11, 13.0 ± 0.8 g·L(-1); -7.44%); however, ITG experienced no changes (p > 0.05). Consequently, in ITG all hematological parameters were significantly greater (p < 0.05) than CG at T11. There was greater (p < 0.05) percent increase in the clean and jerk (CG: +5.1% ± 20.9 vs. ITG: +29.0% ± 21.3%), power clean (CG: -5.8% ± 30.3% vs. ITG: +44.6% ± 56.6%), and total mean strength (CG: +10.9% ± 3.2% vs. ITG: +26.2% ± 3.6%) in ITG. Our findings suggest that oral iron supplementation prevents iron loss and enhances strength in female volleyball players during the competitive season.

Introduction - Background, Goal and Content of the Lecture Series on Polarimetric SAR Interferometry

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-02-01

Information on EUSAR is available under: www.vde.de/ VDE /Fachgesellschaften/ITG/Publikationen/KonferenzUndFachberichte There are for each EUSAR...in 2003.Memberships: IEEE-GRSS (Fellow) Awards Committee; VDE /ITG; DGON; Electromagnetic Academy (US); Consultant for several EU –Projects; Guest

A Study of Electron Modes in Off-axis Heated Alcator C-Mod Plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fiore, C. L.; Ernst, D. R.; Mikkelsen, D.; Ennever, P. C.; Howard, N. T.; Gao, C.; Reinke, M. L.; Rice, J. E.; Hughes, J. W.; Walk, J. R.

2013-10-01

Understanding the underlying physics and stability of the peaked density internal transport barriers (ITB) that have been observed during off-axis ICRF heating of Alcator C-Mod plasmas is the goal of recent gyro-kinetic simulations. Two scenarios are examined: an ITB plasma formed with maximal (4.5 MW) off-axis heating power; also the use of off-axis heating in an I-mode plasma as a target in the hopes of establishing an ITB. In the former, it is expected that evidence of trapped electron mode instabilities could be found if a sufficiently high electron temperature is achieved in the core. Linear simulations show unstable modes are present across the plasma core from r/a = 0.2 and greater. In the latter case, despite establishing similar conditions to those in which ITBS were formed, none developed in the I-mode plasmas. Linear gyrokinetic analyses show no unstable ion modes at r/a < 0.55 in these I-mode plasmas, with both ITG and ETG modes present beyond r/a = 0.65. The details of the experimental results will be presented. Linear and non-linear simulations of both of these cases will attempt to explore the underlying role of electron and ion gradient driven instabilities to explain the observations. This work was supported by US-DoE DE-FC02-99ER54512 and DE-AC02-09CH11466.

Ion-scale turbulence in MAST: anomalous transport, subcritical transitions, and comparison to BES measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Wyk, F.; Highcock, E. G.; Field, A. R.; Roach, C. M.; Schekochihin, A. A.; Parra, F. I.; Dorland, W.

2017-11-01

We investigate the effect of varying the ion temperature gradient (ITG) and toroidal equilibrium scale sheared flow on ion-scale turbulence in the outer core of MAST by means of local gyrokinetic simulations. We show that nonlinear simulations reproduce the experimental ion heat flux and that the experimentally measured values of the ITG and the flow shear lie close to the turbulence threshold. We demonstrate that the system is subcritical in the presence of flow shear, i.e., the system is formally stable to small perturbations, but transitions to a turbulent state given a large enough initial perturbation. We propose that the transition to subcritical turbulence occurs via an intermediate state dominated by low number of coherent long-lived structures, close to threshold, which increase in number as the system is taken away from the threshold into the more strongly turbulent regime, until they fill the domain and a more conventional turbulence emerges. We show that the properties of turbulence are effectively functions of the distance to threshold, as quantified by the ion heat flux. We make quantitative comparisons of correlation lengths, times, and amplitudes between our simulations and experimental measurements using the MAST BES diagnostic. We find reasonable agreement of the correlation properties, most notably of the correlation time, for which significant discrepancies were found in previous numerical studies of MAST turbulence.

Advances in the simulation of toroidal gyro-Landau fluid model turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Waltz, R. E.; Kerbel, G. D.; Milovich, J.; Hammett, G. W.

1995-06-01

The gyro-Landau fluid (GLF) model equations for toroidal geometry [R. E. Waltz, R. R. Dominguez, and G. W. Hammett, Phys. Fluids B 4, 3138 (1992)] have been recently applied to study ion temperature gradient (ITG) mode turbulence using the three-dimensional (3-D) nonlinear ballooning mode representation (BMR) outlined earlier [R. E. Waltz, G. D. Kerbel, and J. Milovich, Phys. Plasmas 1, 2229 (1994)]. The present paper extends this work by treating some unresolved issues concerning ITG turbulence with adiabatic electrons. Although eddies are highly elongated in the radial direction, long time radial correlation lengths are short and comparable to poloidal lengths. Although transport at vanishing shear is not particularly large, transport at reverse global shear, is significantly less. Electrostatic transport at moderate shear is not much affected by inclusion of local shear and average favorable curvature. Transport is suppressed when critical E×B rotational shear is comparable to the maximum linear growth rate with only a weak dependence on magnetic shear. Self-consistent turbulent transport of toroidal momentum can result in a transport bifurcation at sufficiently large r/(Rq). However, the main thrust of the new formulation in the paper deals with advances in the development of finite beta GLF models with trapped electrons and BMR numerical methods for treating the fast parallel field motion of the untrapped electrons.

78 FR 75400 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; National Securities Clearing Corporation; Notice of No Objection...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-12-11

... Technology Group Inc. (``ITG''), dated April 25, 2013 (``ITG Letter I''); Matthew S. Levine, Managing...'') and September 5, 2013 (``Citadel Letter IV''); and Mark Solomon, Managing Director and Deputy General... well as one industry trade group, SIFMA.\\22\\ NSCC also submitted two responses to comment letters...

78 FR 75413 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; National Securities Clearing Corporation; Order Approving Proposed...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-12-11

..., Bracewell & Giuliani LLP, on behalf of Investment Technology Group, Inc. (``ITG''), dated April 25, 2013... (``Citadel Letter IV''); and Mark Solomon, Managing Director and Deputy General Counsel, ITG, dated August 5... well as one industry trade group, SIFMA.\\23\\ NSCC also submitted two responses to comment letters...

The search for the number form area: A functional neuroimaging meta-analysis.

PubMed

Yeo, Darren J; Wilkey, Eric D; Price, Gavin R

2017-07-01

Recent studies report a putative "number form area" (NFA) in the inferior temporal gyrus (ITG) suggested to be specialized for Arabic numeral processing. However, a number of earlier studies report no such NFA. The reasons for such discrepancies across studies are unclear. To examine evidence for a convergent NFA across studies, we conducted two activation likelihood estimation meta-analyses on 31 and a subset of 20 neuroimaging studies that have contrasted digits with other meaningful symbols. Results suggest the potential existence of an NFA in the right ITG, in addition to a 'symbolic number processing network' comprising bilateral parietal regions, and right-lateralized superior and inferior frontal regions. Critically, convergent localization for the NFA was only evident when contrasts were appropriately controlled for task demands, and does not appear to depend on employing methods designed to overcome fMRI signal dropout in the ITG. Importantly, only five studies had foci within the identified ITG NFA cluster boundary, indicating that more empirical evidence is necessary to determine the true functional specialization and regional specificity of the putative NFA. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Turbulent transport stabilization by ICRH minority fast ions in low rotating JET ILW L-mode plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bonanomi, N.; Mantica, P.; Di Siena, A.; Delabie, E.; Giroud, C.; Johnson, T.; Lerche, E.; Menmuir, S.; Tsalas, M.; Van Eester, D.; Contributors, JET

2018-05-01

The first experimental demonstration that fast ion induced stabilization of thermal turbulent transport takes place also at low values of plasma toroidal rotation has been obtained in JET ILW (ITER-like wall) L-mode plasmas with high (3He)-D ICRH (ion cyclotron resonance heating) power. A reduction of the gyro-Bohm normalized ion heat flux and higher values of the normalized ion temperature gradient have been observed at high ICRH power and low NBI (neutral beam injection) power and plasma rotation. Gyrokinetic simulations indicate that ITG (ion temperature gradient) turbulence stabilization induced by the presence of high-energetic 3He ions is the key mechanism in order to explain the experimental observations. Two main mechanisms have been identified to be responsible for the turbulence stabilization: a linear electrostatic wave-fast particle resonance mechanism and a nonlinear electromagnetic mechanism. The dependence of the stabilization on the 3He distribution function has also been studied.

Electron Profile Stiffness and Critical Gradient Length Studies in the Alcator C-Mod Tokamak

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Houshmandyar, Saeid; Hatch, David R.; Liao, Kenneth T.; Zhao, Bingzhe; Phillips, Perry E.; Rowan, William L.; Cao, Norman; Ernst, Darin R.; Rice, John E.

2017-10-01

Electron temperature profile stiffness was investigated at Alcator C-Mod L-mode discharges. Electrons were heated by ion cyclotron range of frequencies (ICRF) through minority heating. The intent of the heating mechanism was to vary the heat flux and simultaneously, gradually change the local gradient. The electron temperature gradient scale length (LTe- 1 = | ∇Te |/Te) was accurately measured through a novel technique, using the high-resolution radiometer ECE diagnostic. The TRANSP power balance analysis (Q/QGB) and the measured scale length (a/LTe) result in critical scale length measurements at all major radius locations. These measurements suggest that the profiles are already at the critical values. Furthermore, the dependence of the stiffness on plasma rotation and magnetic shear will be discussed. In order to understand the underlying mechanism of turbulence for these discharges, simulations using the gyrokinetic code, GENE, were carried out. For linear runs at electron scales, it was found that the largest growth rates are very sensitive to a/LTe variation, which suggests the presence of ETG modes, while the sensitivity studies in the ion scales indicate ITG/TEM modes. Supported by USDoE awards DE-FG03-96ER54373 and DE-FC02-99ER54512.

Neuropsychology Outcomes Following Trephine Epilepsy Surgery: The Inferior Temporal Gyrus Approach for Amygdalohippocampectomy in Medically Refractory Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy.

PubMed

Schoenberg, Mike R; Clifton, William E; Sever, Ryan W; Vale, Fernando L

2018-06-01

Surgery is indicated in cases of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy(MTLE) that are refractory to medical management. The inferior temporal gyrus (ITG) approach provides access to the mesial temporal lobe (MTL) structures with minimal tissue disruption. Reported neuropsychology outcomes following this approach are limited. To report neuropsychological outcomes using an ITG approach to amygdalohippocampectomy (AH) in patients with medically refractory MTLE based on a prospective design. Fifty-four participants had Engel class I/II outcome following resection of MTL using the ITG approach. All participants had localization-related epilepsy confirmed by long-term surface video-electroencephalography and completed pre/postsurgical evaluations that included magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Wada test or functional MRI, and neuropsychology assessment. Clinical semiology/video-electroencephalography indicated that of the 54 patients, 28 (52%) had left MTLE and 26 (48%) had right MTLE. Dominant hemisphere resections were performed on 23 patients (43%), nondominant on 31(57%). Twenty-nine (29) had pathology-confirmed mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS). Group level analyses found declines in verbal memory for patients with language-dominant resections (P < .05). No significant decline in neuropsychological measures occurred for patients with MTS. Participants without MTS who underwent a language-dominant lobe resection exhibited a significant decline in verbal and visual memory (P < .05). Nondominant resection participants did not exhibit significant change in neuropsychology scores (P > .05). Neuropsychology outcomes of an ITG approach for selective mesial temporal resection are comparable to other selective AH techniques showing minimal adverse cognitive effects. These data lend support to the ITG approach for selective AH as an option for MTLE.

Improvements of the particle-in-cell code EUTERPE for petascaling machines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sáez, Xavier; Soba, Alejandro; Sánchez, Edilberto; Kleiber, Ralf; Castejón, Francisco; Cela, José M.

2011-09-01

In the present work we report some performance measures and computational improvements recently carried out using the gyrokinetic code EUTERPE (Jost, 2000 [1] and Jost et al., 1999 [2]), which is based on the general particle-in-cell (PIC) method. The scalability of the code has been studied for up to sixty thousand processing elements and some steps towards a complete hybridization of the code were made. As a numerical example, non-linear simulations of Ion Temperature Gradient (ITG) instabilities have been carried out in screw-pinch geometry and the results are compared with earlier works. A parametric study of the influence of variables (step size of the time integrator, number of markers, grid size) on the quality of the simulation is presented.

Comparing simulation of plasma turbulence with experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ross, David W.; Bravenec, Ronald V.; Dorland, William; Beer, Michael A.; Hammett, G. W.; McKee, George R.; Fonck, Raymond J.; Murakami, Masanori; Burrell, Keith H.; Jackson, Gary L.; Staebler, Gary M.

2002-01-01

The direct quantitative correspondence between theoretical predictions and the measured plasma fluctuations and transport is tested by performing nonlinear gyro-Landau-fluid simulations with the GRYFFIN (or ITG) code [W. Dorland and G. W. Hammett, Phys. Fluids B 5, 812 (1993); M. A. Beer and G. W. Hammett, Phys. Plasmas 3, 4046 (1996)]. In an L-mode reference discharge in the DIII-D tokamak [J. L. Luxon and L. G. Davis, Fusion Technol. 8, 441 (1985)], which has relatively large fluctuations and transport, the turbulence is dominated by ion temperature gradient (ITG) modes. Trapped electron modes and impurity drift waves also play a role. Density fluctuations are measured by beam emission spectroscopy [R. J. Fonck, P. A. Duperrex, and S. F. Paul, Rev. Sci. Instrum. 61, 3487 (1990)]. Experimental fluxes and corresponding diffusivities are analyzed by the TRANSP code [R. J. Hawryluk, in Physics of Plasmas Close to Thermonuclear Conditions, edited by B. Coppi, G. G. Leotta, D. Pfirsch, R. Pozzoli, and E. Sindoni (Pergamon, Oxford, 1980), Vol. 1, p. 19]. The shape of the simulated wave number spectrum is close to the measured one. The simulated ion thermal transport, corrected for E×B low shear, exceeds the experimental value by a factor of 1.5 to 2.0. The simulation overestimates the density fluctuation level by an even larger factor. On the other hand, the simulation underestimates the electron thermal transport, which may be accounted for by modes that are not accessible to the simulation or to the BES measurement.

Validation of theoretical models of intrinsic torque in DIII-D

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grierson, B. A.; Wang, W. X.; Battaglia, D. J.; Chrystal, C.; Solomon, W. M.; Degrassie, J. S.; Staebler, G. M.; Boedo, J. A.

2016-10-01

Plasma rotation experiments in DIII-D are validating models of main-ion intrinsic rotation by testing Reynolds stress induced toroidal flow in the plasma core and intrinsic rotation induced by ion orbit losses in the plasma edge. In the core of dominantly electron heated plasmas with Te=Ti, the main-ion intrinsic toroidal rotation undergoes a reversal that correlates with the critical gradient for ITG turbulence. Residual stress arising from zonal-flow ExB shear and turbulence intensity gradient produce residual stress and counter-current intrinsic torque, which is balanced by momentum diffusion, creating the hollow profile. Quantitative agreement is obtained for the first time between the measured main-ion toroidal rotation and the rotation profile predicted by nonlinear GTS gyrokinetic simulations. At the plasma boundary, new main-ion CER measurements show a co-current rotation layer and this is tested against ion orbit loss models as the source of bulk plasma rotation. Work supported by the US Department of Energy under DE-AC02-09CH11466 and DE-FC02-04ER54698.

Production of internal transport barriers via self-generated mean flows in Alcator C-Moda)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fiore, C. L.; Ernst, D. R.; Podpaly, Y. A.; Mikkelsen, D.; Howard, N. T.; Lee, Jungpyo; Reinke, M. L.; Rice, J. E.; Hughes, J. W.; Ma, Y.; Rowan, W. L.; Bespamyatnov, I.

2012-05-01

New results suggest that changes observed in the intrinsic toroidal rotation influence the internal transport barrier (ITB) formation in the Alcator C-Mod tokamak [E. S. Marmar and Alcator C-Mod group, Fusion Sci. Technol. 51, 261 (2007)]. These arise when the resonance for ion cyclotron range of frequencies (ICRF) minority heating is positioned off-axis at or outside of the plasma half-radius. These ITBs form in a reactor relevant regime, without particle or momentum injection, with Ti ≈ Te, and with monotonic q profiles (qmin < 1). C-Mod H-mode plasmas exhibit strong intrinsic co-current rotation that increases with increasing stored energy without external drive. When the resonance position is moved off-axis, the rotation decreases in the center of the plasma resulting in a radial toroidal rotation profile with a central well which deepens and moves farther off-axis when the ICRF resonance location reaches the plasma half-radius. This profile results in strong E × B shear (>1.5 × 105 rad/s) in the region where the ITB foot is observed. Gyrokinetic analyses indicate that this spontaneous shearing rate is comparable to the linear ion temperature gradient (ITG) growth rate at the ITB location and is sufficient to reduce the turbulent particle and energy transport. New and detailed measurement of the ion temperature demonstrates that the radial profile flattens as the ICRF resonance position moves off axis, decreasing the drive for the ITG the instability as well. These results are the first evidence that intrinsic rotation can affect confinement in ITB plasmas.

Non-linear isotope and fast ions effects: routes for low turbulence in DT plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Garcia, Jeronimo

2017-10-01

The isotope effect, i.e. the fact that heat and particle fluxes do not follow the expected Gyro-Bohm estimate for turbulent transport when the plasma mass is changed, is one of the main challenges in plasma theory. Of particular interest is the isotope exchange between the fusion of deuterium (DD) and deuterium-tritium (DT) nuclei as there are no clear indications of what kind of transport difference can be expected in burning plasmas. The GENE code is therefore used for computing DD vs DT linear and nonlinear microturbulence characteristics in the core plasma region of a previously ITER hybrid scenario at high beta obtained in the framework of simplified integrated modelling. Scans on common turbulence related quantitates as external ExB flow shear, Parallel Velocity Gradient (PVG), plasma beta, colisionality or the number of ion species have been performed. Additionally, the role of energetic particles, known to reduce Ion Temperature Gradient (ITG) turbulence has been also addressed. It is obtained that the ITER operational point will be close to threshold and in these conditions turbulence is dominated by ITG modes. A purely weak non-linear isotope effect, absent in linear scans, can be found when separately adding moderate ExB flow shear or electromagnetic effects, whereas collisionality just modulates the intensity. The isotope effect, on the other hand, becomes very strong in conditions with simultaneously moderate ExB flow shear, beta and low q profile with significant reductions of ion heat transport from DD to DT. By analyzing the radial structure of the two point electrostatic potential correlation function it has been found that the inherent Gyro-Bohm scaling for plasma microturbulence, which increases the radial correlation length at short scales form DD to DT, is counteracted by the concomitant appearance of a complex nonlinear multiscale space interaction involving external ExB flow shear, zonal flow activity, magnetic geometry and electromagnetic effects. The number of ion species and the fast ion population is also found to play a role in this non-linear process whereas a symmetry breaking between D and T, with systematic reduced heat and particle transport for T, is always obtained.

Mode Analyses of Gyrokinetic Simulations of Plasma Microturbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hatch, David R.

This thesis presents analysis of the excitation and role of damped modes in gyrokinetic simulations of plasma microturbulence. In order to address this question, mode decompositions are used to analyze gyrokinetic simulation data. A mode decomposition can be constructed by projecting a nonlinearly evolved gyrokinetic distribution function onto a set of linear eigenmodes, or alternatively by constructing a proper orthogonal decomposition of the distribution function. POD decompositions are used to examine the role of damped modes in saturating ion temperature gradient driven turbulence. In order to identify the contribution of different modes to the energy sources and sinks, numerical diagnostics for a gyrokinetic energy quantity were developed for the GENE code. The use of these energy diagnostics in conjunction with POD mode decompositions demonstrates that ITG turbulence saturates largely through dissipation by damped modes at the same perpendicular spatial scales as those of the driving instabilities. This defines a picture of turbulent saturation that is very different from both traditional hydrodynamic scenarios and also many common theories for the saturation of plasma turbulence. POD mode decompositions are also used to examine the role of subdominant modes in causing magnetic stochasticity in electromagnetic gyrokinetic simulations. It is shown that the magnetic stochasticity, which appears to be ubiquitous in electromagnetic microturbulence, is caused largely by subdominant modes with tearing parity. The application of higher-order singular value decomposition (HOSVD) to the full distribution function from gyrokinetic simulations is presented. This is an effort to demonstrate the ability to characterize and extract insight from a very large, complex, and high-dimensional data-set - the 5-D (plus time) gyrokinetic distribution function.

Comparing simulation of plasma turbulence with experiment. II. Gyrokinetic simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ross, David W.; Dorland, William

2002-12-01

The direct quantitative correspondence between theoretical predictions and the measured plasma fluctuations and transport is tested by performing nonlinear gyrokinetic simulations with the GS2 code. This is a continuation of previous work with gyrofluid simulations [D. W. Ross et al., Phys. Plasmas 9, 177 (2002)], and the same L-mode reference discharge in the DIII-D tokamak [J. L. Luxon and L. G. Davis, Fusion Technol. 8, 441 (1985)] is studied. The simulated turbulence is dominated by ion temperature gradient (ITG) modes, corrected by trapped-electron, passing-electron and impurity effects. The energy fluxes obtained in the gyrokinetic simulations are comparable to, even somewhat higher than, those of the earlier work, and the simulated ion thermal transport, corrected for E×B flow shear, exceeds the experimental value by more than a factor of 2. The simulation also overestimates the density fluctuation level. Varying the local temperature gradient shows a stiff response in the flux and an apparent up-shift from the linear mode threshold [A. M. Dimits et al., Phys. Plasmas 7, 969 (2000)]. This effect is insufficient, within the estimated error, to bring the results into conformity with the experiment.

Effect of entropy on anomalous transport in ITG-modes of magneto-plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yaqub Khan, M.; Qaiser Manzoor, M.; Haq, A. ul; Iqbal, J.

2017-04-01

The ideal gas equation and S={{c}v}log ≤ft(P/ρ \\right) (where S is entropy, P is pressure and ρ is the mass density) define the interconnection of entropy with the temperature and density of plasma. Therefore, different phenomena relating to plasma and entropy need to be investigated. By employing the Braginskii transport equations for a nonuniform electron-ion magnetoplasma, two new parameters—the entropy distribution function and the entropy gradient drift—are defined, a new dispersion relation is obtained, and the dependence of anomalous transport on entropy is also proved. Some results, like monotonicity, the entropy principle and the second law of thermodynamics, are proved with a new definition of entropy. This work will open new horizons in fusion processes, not only by controlling entropy in tokamak plasmas—particularly in the pedestal regions of the H-mode and space plasmas—but also in engineering sciences.

[Individual therapy goals: on outcome documentation of inpatient psychotherapy from the patient and therapist viewpoint].

PubMed

Heuft, G; Senf, W; Wagener, R; Pintelon, C; Lorenzen, J

1996-01-01

The results of a study evaluation in practicability of two newly developed documentation forms are presented. Examined are 82 inpatient treatment episodes in an already published clinical concept with different treatment settings. Parallel versions of the forms were completed by patients and therapists. The 'Erge-Doku-A-Form' allows for the naming of up to five therapy goals determined at the beginning of therapy and evaluated in relation to their achieved quality at the end of therapy. The 'Erge-Doku-B-Form' describes a variety of problem areas as well as questions related to medication and changes induced by therapy. Surprising there were a high number of 230 Individual Therapy Goals (ITG) by patients and 262 ITG by therapists which could be arranged into 89 content categories and 5 main categories. Outcome measurement shows different results. There was a significant relationship between the 'well-being', the impression of 'satisfying treatment' at the end of the inpatient period and 'success in the main ITG'. The documentation forms presented here allow an outcome-measurement depending on differential indications.

[Influence of the difference in the pollen count on medical costs in an allergen-specific immunotherapy for Japanese cedar pollinosis].

PubMed

Yuta, Atsushi; Miyamoto, Yukiko; Hattori, Reiko; Ogihara, Hitomi; Takeuchi, Kazuhiko; Majima, Yuichi

2007-11-01

We studied medical economic efficacy and influence by the different number of pollen scattering in patients treated with allergen-specific immunotherapy for Japanese cedar pollinosis. We calculated medical treatment costs and the medicine expense from medical records in eighteen cedar pollinosis patients treated with allergen-specific immunotherapy (IT-G) and with medications (M-G). We examined with the same patients for three years of different pollen scattering, mass scattering year (2005), moderate scattering year (2003), a few scattering year (2004). Furthermore, satisfaction of treatment and symptom score measured by visual analog scale in both subjects was studied in a mass scattering year. Total medical costs at hospital was cheaper in IT-G than in M-G. The result was depended on prescribed medical costs. In addition, prescribed medicine agents and total medical costs did not increase by the mass scattering year of pollen. Satisfaction of treatment and symptom score in IT-G was better than that in M-G. Immunotherapy had a benefit on a medical economy.

Experience in production of (68)Ga-DOTA-NOC for clinical use under an Expanded Access IND.

PubMed

Green, Mark A; Mathias, Carla J; Fletcher, James W

2016-10-01

[(68)Ga]Ga-DOTA-NOC was produced under an Expanded Access IND for 174 clinical PET/CT studies to evaluate patients with neuroendocrine tumors. Production employed either the TiO2-based Eckert & Ziegler (EZAG) (68)Ge/(68)Ga-generator (with fractionated elution), or the SiO2-based ITG (68)Ge/(68)Ga-generator. In both cases, [(68)Ga]Ga-DOTA-NOC was reliably produced, without pre-synthesis purification of the(68)Ga generator eluate, using readily-implemented manual synthesis procedures. [(68)Ga]Ga-DOTA-NOC radiochemical purity averaged 99.2±0.4%. Administered (68)Ga dose averaged 181±22 MBq, and administered peptide mass averaged 43.2±5.2µg (n=47) and 23.9±5.7µg (n=127), respectively, using the EZAG and ITG generators. At dose expiration, (68)Ge breakthrough in the final product averaged 2.7×10(-7)% and 5.4×10(-5%) using the EZAG and ITG generators, respectively. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A motor-driven syringe-type gradient maker for forming immobilized pH gradient gels.

PubMed

Fawcett, J S; Sullivan, J V; Chidakel, B E; Chrambach, A

1988-05-01

A motor driven gradient maker based on the commercial model (Jule Inc., Trumbull, CT) was designed for immobilized pH gradient gels to provide small volumes, rapid stirring and delivery, strict volume and temperature control and air exclusion. The device was constructed and by a convenient procedure yields highly reproducible gradients either in solution or on polyacrylamide gels.

Feedback control of plasma instabilities with charged particle beams and study of plasma turbulence

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tham, Philip Kin-Wah

1994-01-01

A new non-perturbing technique for feedback control of plasma instabilities has been developed in the Columbia Linear Machine (CLM). The feedback control scheme involves the injection of a feedback modulated ion beam as a remote suppressor. The ion beam was obtained from a compact ion beam source which was developed for this purpose. A Langmuir probe was used as the feedback sensor. The feedback controller consisted of a phase-shifter and amplifiers. This technique was demonstrated by stabilizing various plasma instabilities to the background noise level, like the trapped particle instability, the ExB instability and the ion-temperature-gradient (ITG) driven instability. An important feature of this scheme is that the injected ion beam is non-perturbing to the plasma equilibrium parameters. The robustness of this feedback stabilization scheme was also investigated. The principal result is that the scheme is fairly robust, tolerating about 100% variation about the nominal parameter values. Next, this scheme is extended to the unsolved general problem of controlling multimode plasma instabilities simultaneously with a single sensor-suppressor pair. A single sensor-suppressor pair of feedback probes is desirable to reduce the perturbation caused by the probes. Two plasma instabilities the ExB and the ITG modes, were simultaneously stabilized. A simple 'state' feedback type method was used where more state information was generated from the single sensor Langmuir probe by appropriate signal processing, in this case, by differentiation. This proof-of-principle experiment demonstrated for the first time that by designing a more sophisticated electronic feedback controller, many plasma instabilities may be simultaneously controlled. Simple theoretical models showed generally good agreement with the feedback experimental results. On a parallel research front, a better understanding of the saturated state of a plasma instability was sought partly with the help of feedback. A plasma instability is usually observed in its saturated state and appears as a single feature in the frequency spectrum with a single azimuthal and parallel wavenumbers. The physics of the non-zero spectral width was investigated in detail because the finite spectral width can cause "turbulent" transport. One aspect of the "turbulence" was investigated by obtaining the scaling of the linear growth rate of the instabilities with the fluctuation levels. The linear growth rates were measured with the established gated feedback technique. The research showed that the ExB instability evolves into a quasi-coherent state when the fluctuation level is high. The coherent aspects were studied with a bispectral analysis. Moreover, the single spectral feature was discovered to be actually composed of a few radial harmonics. The radial harmonics play a role in the nonlinear saturation of the instability via three-wave coupling.

Modern gyrokinetic particle-in-cell simulation of fusion plasmas on top supercomputers

DOE PAGES

Wang, Bei; Ethier, Stephane; Tang, William; ...

2017-06-29

The Gyrokinetic Toroidal Code at Princeton (GTC-P) is a highly scalable and portable particle-in-cell (PIC) code. It solves the 5D Vlasov-Poisson equation featuring efficient utilization of modern parallel computer architectures at the petascale and beyond. Motivated by the goal of developing a modern code capable of dealing with the physics challenge of increasing problem size with sufficient resolution, new thread-level optimizations have been introduced as well as a key additional domain decomposition. GTC-P's multiple levels of parallelism, including inter-node 2D domain decomposition and particle decomposition, as well as intra-node shared memory partition and vectorization have enabled pushing the scalability ofmore » the PIC method to extreme computational scales. In this paper, we describe the methods developed to build a highly parallelized PIC code across a broad range of supercomputer designs. This particularly includes implementations on heterogeneous systems using NVIDIA GPU accelerators and Intel Xeon Phi (MIC) co-processors and performance comparisons with state-of-the-art homogeneous HPC systems such as Blue Gene/Q. New discovery science capabilities in the magnetic fusion energy application domain are enabled, including investigations of Ion-Temperature-Gradient (ITG) driven turbulence simulations with unprecedented spatial resolution and long temporal duration. Performance studies with realistic fusion experimental parameters are carried out on multiple supercomputing systems spanning a wide range of cache capacities, cache-sharing configurations, memory bandwidth, interconnects and network topologies. These performance comparisons using a realistic discovery-science-capable domain application code provide valuable insights on optimization techniques across one of the broadest sets of current high-end computing platforms worldwide.« less

Modern gyrokinetic particle-in-cell simulation of fusion plasmas on top supercomputers

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

Wang, Bei; Ethier, Stephane; Tang, William

The Gyrokinetic Toroidal Code at Princeton (GTC-P) is a highly scalable and portable particle-in-cell (PIC) code. It solves the 5D Vlasov-Poisson equation featuring efficient utilization of modern parallel computer architectures at the petascale and beyond. Motivated by the goal of developing a modern code capable of dealing with the physics challenge of increasing problem size with sufficient resolution, new thread-level optimizations have been introduced as well as a key additional domain decomposition. GTC-P's multiple levels of parallelism, including inter-node 2D domain decomposition and particle decomposition, as well as intra-node shared memory partition and vectorization have enabled pushing the scalability ofmore » the PIC method to extreme computational scales. In this paper, we describe the methods developed to build a highly parallelized PIC code across a broad range of supercomputer designs. This particularly includes implementations on heterogeneous systems using NVIDIA GPU accelerators and Intel Xeon Phi (MIC) co-processors and performance comparisons with state-of-the-art homogeneous HPC systems such as Blue Gene/Q. New discovery science capabilities in the magnetic fusion energy application domain are enabled, including investigations of Ion-Temperature-Gradient (ITG) driven turbulence simulations with unprecedented spatial resolution and long temporal duration. Performance studies with realistic fusion experimental parameters are carried out on multiple supercomputing systems spanning a wide range of cache capacities, cache-sharing configurations, memory bandwidth, interconnects and network topologies. These performance comparisons using a realistic discovery-science-capable domain application code provide valuable insights on optimization techniques across one of the broadest sets of current high-end computing platforms worldwide.« less

Hydrolysis of Sequenced β-Casein Peptides Provides New Insight into Peptidase Activity from Thermophilic Lactic Acid Bacteria and Highlights Intrinsic Resistance of Phosphopeptides

PubMed Central

Deutsch, Stéphanie-Marie; Molle, Daniel; Gagnaire, Valérie; Piot, Michel; Atlan, Danièle; Lortal, Sylvie

2000-01-01

The peptidases of thermophilic lactic acid bacteria have a key role in the proteolysis of Swiss cheeses during warm room ripening. To compare their peptidase activities toward a dairy substrate, a tryptic/chymotryptic hydrolysate of purified β-casein was used. Thirty-four peptides from 3 to 35 amino acids, including three phosphorylated peptides, constitute the β-casein hydrolysate, as shown by tandem mass spectrometry. Cell extracts prepared from Lactobacillus helveticus ITG LH1, ITG LH77, and CNRZ 32, Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. lactis ITG LL14 and ITG LL51, L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus CNRZ 397 and NCDO 1489, and Streptococcus thermophilus CNRZ 385, CIP 102303, and TA 060 were standardized in protein. The peptidase activities were assessed with the β-casein hydrolysate as the substrate at pH 5.5 and 24°C (conditions of warm room ripening) by (i) free amino acid release, (ii) reverse-phase chromatography, and (iii) identification of undigested peptides by mass spectrometry. Regardless of strain, L. helveticus was the most efficient in hydrolyzing β-casein peptides. Interestingly, cell extracts of S. thermophilus were not able to release a significant level of free proline from the β-casein hydrolysate, which was consistent with the identification of numerous dipeptides containing proline. With the three lactic acid bacteria tested, the phosphorylated peptides remained undigested or weakly hydrolyzed indicating their high intrinsic resistance to peptidase activities. Finally, several sets of peptides differing by a single amino acid in a C-terminal position revealed the presence of at least one carboxypeptidase in the cell extracts of these species. PMID:11097915

Observation of 690 MV m -1 Electron Accelerating Gradient with a Laser-Driven Dielectric Microstructure

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

Wootton, K. P.; Wu, Z.; Cowan, B. M.

Acceleration of electrons using laser-driven dielectric microstructures is a promising technology for the miniaturization of particle accelerators. In this work, experimental results are presented of relativistic electron acceleration with 690±100 MVm -1 gradient. This is a record-high accelerating gradient for a dielectric microstructure accelerator, nearly doubling the previous record gradient. To reach higher acceleration gradients the present experiment employs 90 fs duration laser pulses.

Investigation of the mediating effects of IT governance-value delivery on service quality and ERP performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsai, Wen-Hsien; Chou, Yu-Wei; Leu, Jun-Der; Chao Chen, Der; Tsaur, Tsen-Shu

2015-02-01

This study aimed to explore the mediating effects of IT governance (ITG)-value delivery in the relationships among the quality of vendor service, the quality of consultant services, ITG-value delivery and enterprise resource planning (ERP) performance. The sampling of this research was acquired from a questionnaire survey concerning ERP implementations in Taiwan. In this survey, 4366 questionnaires were sent to manufacturing and service companies listed in the TOP 5000: The Largest Corporations in Taiwan 2009. The results showed that an ERP system will exhibit a decreased error rate and improved performance if ERP system vendors and consultants provide good service quality. The results also demonstrated that significant relationships exist among the quality of vendor service, the quality of consultant services and value delivery. The contribution of this article is twofold. First, it found that value delivery provides an effective measure of ERP performance under an ITG framework. Second, it provides evidence of the partial mediating effects of value delivery between service quality and ERP performance. In other words, if enterprises want to improve ERP performance, they need to consider factors such as value delivery and the quality of a vendor/consultant's service.

Combined effects of drift waves and neoclassical transport on density profiles in tokamaks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Houlberg, W. A.; Strand, P.

2005-10-01

The relative importance of neoclassical and anomalous particle transport depends on the charge number of the species being studied. The detailed particle balance including the EDWM [1] drift wave model for anomalous transport that includes ITG, TEM and in some cases ETG modes, and the neoclassical model NCLASS [2], are illustrated by simulations with the DEA particle transport code. DEA models the evolution of all ion species, and can be run in a mode to evaluate dynamic responses to perturbations or to conditions far from equilibrium by perturbing the profiles from the experimental measurements. The perturbations allow the fluxes to be decomposed into diffusive and convective (pinch) terms. The different scaling with charge number between drift wave and neoclassical models favors a stronger component of neoclassical transport for higher Z impurities through the effective pinch term. Although trace impurities illustrate a simple Ficks Law form, the main ions as well as higher concentrations of intrinsic impurities exhibit non-linear responses to the density gradients as well as off-diagonal gradient dependencies, leading to a more complicated response for the particle fluxes.[1] H. Nordman, et al., Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion 47 (2005) L11. [2] W.A. Houlberg, et al., Phys. Plasmas 4 (1997) 3230.

Anomalous Transport in High Beta Poloidal DIII-D Discharges

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pankin, A.; Garofalo, A.; Kritz, A.; Rafiq, T.; Weiland, J.

2016-10-01

Dominant instabilities that drive anomalous transport in high beta poloidal DIII-D discharges are investigated using the MMM7.1, and TGLF models in the predictive integrated modeling TRANSP code. The ion thermal transport is found to be strongly reduced in these discharges, but turbulence driven by the ITG modes along with the neoclassical transport still play a role in determining the ion temperature profiles. The electron thermal transport driven by the ETG modes impact the electron temperature profiles. The E × B flow shear is found to have a small effect in reducing the electron thermal transport. The Shafranov shift is found to strongly reduce the anomalous transport in the high beta poloidal DIII-D discharges. The reduction of Shafranov shift can destroy the ion internal transport barrier and can result in significantly lower core temperatures. The MMM7.1 model predicts electron and ion temperature profiles reasonably well, but it fails to accurately predict the properties of electron internal transport barrier, which indicates that the ETG model in MMM7.1 needs to be improved in the high beta poloidal operational regime. Research supported by the Office of Science, US DOE.

Terahertz-driven linear electron acceleration

PubMed Central

Nanni, Emilio A.; Huang, Wenqian R.; Hong, Kyung-Han; Ravi, Koustuban; Fallahi, Arya; Moriena, Gustavo; Dwayne Miller, R. J.; Kärtner, Franz X.

2015-01-01

The cost, size and availability of electron accelerators are dominated by the achievable accelerating gradient. Conventional high-brightness radio-frequency accelerating structures operate with 30–50 MeV m−1 gradients. Electron accelerators driven with optical or infrared sources have demonstrated accelerating gradients orders of magnitude above that achievable with conventional radio-frequency structures. However, laser-driven wakefield accelerators require intense femtosecond sources and direct laser-driven accelerators suffer from low bunch charge, sub-micron tolerances and sub-femtosecond timing requirements due to the short wavelength of operation. Here we demonstrate linear acceleration of electrons with keV energy gain using optically generated terahertz pulses. Terahertz-driven accelerating structures enable high-gradient electron/proton accelerators with simple accelerating structures, high repetition rates and significant charge per bunch. These ultra-compact terahertz accelerators with extremely short electron bunches hold great potential to have a transformative impact for free electron lasers, linear colliders, ultrafast electron diffraction, X-ray science and medical therapy with X-rays and electron beams. PMID:26439410

Terahertz-driven linear electron acceleration

DOE PAGES

Nanni, Emilio A.; Huang, Wenqian R.; Hong, Kyung-Han; ...

2015-10-06

The cost, size and availability of electron accelerators are dominated by the achievable accelerating gradient. Conventional high-brightness radio-frequency accelerating structures operate with 30–50 MeVm -1 gradients. Electron accelerators driven with optical or infrared sources have demonstrated accelerating gradients orders of magnitude above that achievable with conventional radio-frequency structures. However, laser-driven wakefield accelerators require intense femtosecond sources and direct laser-driven accelerators suffer from low bunch charge, sub-micron tolerances and sub-femtosecond timing requirements due to the short wavelength of operation. Here we demonstrate linear acceleration of electrons with keV energy gain using optically generated terahertz pulses. Terahertz-driven accelerating structures enable high-gradient electron/protonmore » accelerators with simple accelerating structures, high repetition rates and significant charge per bunch. As a result, these ultra-compact terahertz accelerators with extremely short electron bunches hold great potential to have a transformative impact for free electron lasers, linear colliders, ultrafast electron diffraction, X-ray science and medical therapy with X-rays and electron beams.« less

Gyrokinetic water-bag modeling of a plasma column: Magnetic moment distribution and finite Larmor radius effects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Klein, R.; Gravier, E.; Morel, P.; Besse, N.; Bertrand, P.

2009-08-01

Describing turbulent transport in fusion plasmas is a major concern in magnetic confinement fusion. It is now widely known that kinetic and fluid descriptions can lead to significantly different properties. Although more accurate, the kinetic calculation of turbulent transport is much more demanding of computer resources than fluid simulations. An alternative approach is based on a water-bag representation of the distribution function that is not an approximation but rather a special class of initial conditions, allowing one to reduce the full kinetic Vlasov equation into a set of hydrodynamics equations while keeping its kinetic character [P. Morel, E. Gravier, N. Besse et al., Phys. Plasmas 14, 112109 (2007)]. In this paper, the water-bag concept is used in a gyrokinetic context to study finite Larmor radius effects with the possibility of using the full Larmor radius distribution instead of an averaged Larmor radius. The resulting model is used to study the ion temperature gradient (ITG) instability.

Steady State Global Simulations of Microturbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, W. W.

2004-11-01

Critical physics issues for the steady state simulation of ion temperature gradient (ITG) drift instabilities are associated with collisionless and collisional dissipation processes. In this paper, we will report on recent investigations involving the inclusion of velocity-space nonlinearity term in our global Gyrokinetic Toroidal Code (GTC) [1]. It is important to point out that this term has not been critically examined in the turbulence simulation community [2], although it has attracted some recent interest for energy conservation considerations as well as for its effect on transport [3]. The nonlinearity in question is actually of the same order as the nonlinear zonal flow, and it can also play an interesting role in entropy balance for steady state transport [4]. Our initial results with adiabatic electrons have shown that the velocity-space nonlinearity for the ions can have a small but non-negligible effect at the early nonlinear stage of the ITG simulation. In the later stage, it can actually enhance the level of zonal flow and, in turn, can reduce the steady state thermal flux. The enhanced fluctuation of (n=0, m=1) mode has also been observed. More detailed simulation results including also collisions [5] as well as the theoretical attempt to understand the nonlinear physics of mode-coupling and entropy balance will be reported. The implication of the present work on transport time scale simulation including Alfven kinetic-MHD physics [6] will also be discussed. [1] Z. Lin, T. S. Hahm, W. W. Lee, W. M. Tang and R. White, Science, <281>, 1835 (1998). [2] W. M. Nevins et al., Plasma Microturbulence Project, this conference. [3] L. Villard et al., Nuclear Fusion <44>, 172 (2004). [4] W. W. Lee and W. M. Tang, Phys. Fluids <31>, 612 (1988). [5] Z. Lin, T. S. Hahm, W. W. Lee, W. M. Tang and R. White, Phys. Plasmas <7>, 1857 (2000). [6] W. W. Lee and H. Qin, Phys. Plasmas <10>, 3196 (2003).

The effect of two different interval-training programmes on physiological and performance indices.

PubMed

Sindiani, Mahmood; Eliakim, Alon; Segev, Daria; Meckel, Yoav

2017-08-01

The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of an increasing-distance, interval-training programme and a decreasing-distance, interval-training programme, matched for total distance, on aerobic and anaerobic physiological indices. Forty physical education students were randomly assigned to either the increasing- or decreasing-distance, interval-training group (ITG and DTG), and completed two similar relevant sets of tests before and after six weeks of training. One training programme consisted of increasing-distance interval-training (100-200-300-400-500 m) and the other decreasing-distance interval training (500-400-300-200-100 m). While both training programmes led to a significant improvement in VO 2 max (ES = 0.83-1.25), the improvement in the DTG was significantly greater than in the ITG (14.5 ± 3.6 vs. 7.8 ± 3.2%, p < .05). In addition, while both training programmes led to a significant improvement in all anaerobic indices (ES = 0.83-1.63), the improvements in peak power (15.7 ± 7.8 vs. 8.9 ± 4.7), mean power (10.6 ± 5.4 vs. 6.8 ± 4.4), and fatigue index (18.2 ± 10.9 vs. 7.0 ± 14.2) were significantly greater in the DTG compared to the ITG (p < .05). The main finding of the present study was that beyond the significant positive effects of both training programmes on aerobic and anaerobic fitness, the DTG showed significant superiority over the ITG in improving aerobic and anaerobic performance capabilities. Coaches and athletes should therefore be aware that, in spite of identical total work, an interval-training programme might induce different physiological impacts if the order of intervals is not identical.

Efficacy of a New Ocular Surface Modulator in Restoring Epithelial Changes in an In Vitro Model of Dry Eye Syndrome.

PubMed

Barabino, Stefano; De Servi, Barbara; Aragona, Salvatore; Manenti, Demetrio; Meloni, Marisa

2017-03-01

So far tear substitutes have demonstrated a limited role in restoring ocular surface damage in dry eye syndrome (DES). The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of a new ocular surface modulator in an in vitro model of human corneal epithelium (HCE) damaged by severe osmotic stress mirroring the features of dry eye conditions. A reconstructed HCE model challenged by the introduction of sorbitol in the culture medium for 16 h was used to induce an inflammatory pathway and to impair the tight junctions integrity determining a severe modification of the superficial layer ultrastructure. At the end of the overnight stress period in the treated HCE series, 30 μl of the ocular surface modulator (T-LysYal, Sildeha, Switzerland) and of hyaluronic acid (HA) in the control HCE series were applied for 24 h. The following parameters were quantified: scanning electron microscopy (SEM), trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TEER), immunofluorescence analysis of integrin β1 (ITG-β1), mRNA expression of Cyclin D-1 (CCND1), and ITG-β1. In the positive control after the osmotic stress the HCE surface damage was visible at the ultrastructural level with loss of cell-cell interconnections, intercellular matrix destruction, and TEER reduction. After 24 h of treatment with T-LysYal, HCE showed a significant improvement of the ultrastructural morphological organization and increased expression of ITG-β1 at the tissue level when compared to positive and control series. A significant increase of mRNA expression for ITG-β1 and CCND1 was shown in the HA-treated cells compared to T-LysYal. TEER measurement showed a significant reduction in all groups after 16 h without modifications after the treatment period. This study has shown the possibility of a new class of agents denominated ocular surface modulators to restore corneal cells damaged by dry eye conditions. Further in vivo studies are certainly necessary to confirm these results.

Thermal gradients for the stabilization of a single domain wall in magnetic nanowires.

PubMed

Mejía-López, J; Velásquez, E A; Mazo-Zuluaga, J; Altbir, D

2018-08-24

By means of Monte Carlo simulations we studied field driven nucleation and propagation of transverse domain walls (DWs) in magnetic nanowires subjected to temperature gradients. Simulations identified the existence of critical thermal gradients that allow the existence of reversal processes driven by a single DW. Critical thermal gradients depend on external parameters such as temperature, magnetic field and wire length, and can be experimentally obtained through the measurement of the mean velocity of the magnetization reversal as a function of the temperature gradient. Our results show that temperature gradients provide a high degree of control over DW propagation, which is of great importance for technological applications.

Intratympanic steroids injection is effective for the treatment of drop attacks with Ménière's disease and delayed endolymphatic hydrops

PubMed Central

Liu, Bo; Leng, Yangming; Zhou, Renhong; Liu, Jingjing; Liu, Dongdong; Zhang, Su-Lin; Kong, Wei-Jia

2016-01-01

Abstract Drop attack (DA) associated with Ménière's disease (MD) and delayed endolymphatic hydrops (DEH) is not common and may cause life-threatening clinical problems. The intratympanic dexamethasone (ITD) is one of primary treatments for MD or DEH. Our study investigated the effect of ITD on the DA associated with endolymphatic hydrops (EH). We retrospectively reviewed 10 patients with MD- and DEH-associated DA between January 2009 and December 2013 in Outpatient Department of Otolaryngology, Union Hospital, Wuhan, China. Among them, 7 patients (5 cases with MD, 2 cases of DEH) received ITD (4 times, on weekly basis). Further repeated ITD courses or intratympanic gentamicin (ITG) were given if the vertigo was not satisfactorily controlled. The number of DA and status of vertigo control after intratympanic injection were evaluated. After a follow-up study lasting from 19 to 35 months, DA in 5 cases (71.4%) disappeared after initial ITD course. In 2 cases, DA was altogether controlled after an additional intratympanic injection (repeated ITD or/and ITG). This study showed that ITD promises to be a first-line conservative treatment for MD- or DEH-related DA since the steroid possesses no inner-ear toxicity. Furthermore, for MD- or DEH-related DA refractory to ITD, ITG can be an effective alternative. PMID:28033296

Sloshing dynamics modulated fluid angular momentum and moment fluctuations driven by orbital gravity gradient and jitter accelerations in microgravity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hung, R. J.; Pan, H. L.

1995-01-01

The dynamical behavior of spacecraft propellant affected by the asymmetric combined gravity gradient and jitter accelerations, in particular the effect of surface tension on partially-filled rotating fluids applicable to a full-scale Gravity Probe-B Spacecraft dewar tank has been investigated. Three different cases of orbital accelerations: (1) gravity gradient-dominated, (2) equally weighted between gravity gradient and jitter, and (3) gravity jitter-dominated accelerations are studied. The results of slosh wave excitation along the liquid-vapor interface induced by gravity gradient-dominated accelerations provide a torsional moment with tidal motion of bubble oscillations in the rotating dewar. The results are clearly seen from the twisting shape of the bubble oscillations driven by gravity gradient-dominated acceleration. The results of slosh wave excitation along the liquid-vapor interface induced by gravity jitter-dominated acceleration indicate the results of bubble motion in a manner of down-and-up and leftward-and-rightward movement of oscillation when the bubble is rotating with respect to rotating dewar axis. Fluctuations of angular momentum, fluid moment and bubble mass center caused by slosh wave excitations driven by gravity gradient acceleration or gravity jitter acceleration are also investigated.

Confinement effects in premelting dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pramanik, Satyajit; Wettlaufer, John

2017-11-01

We examine the effects of confinement on the dynamics of premelted films driven by thermomolecular pressure gradients. Our approach is to modify a well-studied setting in which the thermomolecular pressure gradient is driven by a temperature gradient parallel to an interfacially premelted elastic wall. The modification treats the increase in viscosity associated with the thinning of films studied in a wide variety of materials using a power law and we examine the consequent evolution of the elastic wall. We treat (i) a range of interactions that are known to underlie interfacial premelting and (ii) a constant temperature gradient wherein the thermomolecular pressure gradient is a constant. The difference between the cases with and without the proximity effect arises in the volume flux of premelted liquid. The proximity effect increases the viscosity as the film thickness decreases thereby requiring the thermomolecular pressure driven flux to be accommodated at larger temperatures where the premelted film thickness is the largest. Implications for experiment and observations of frost heave are discussed.

Confinement effects in premelting dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pramanik, Satyajit; Wettlaufer, John S.

2017-11-01

We examine the effects of confinement on the dynamics of premelted films driven by thermomolecular pressure gradients. Our approach is to modify a well-studied setting in which the thermomolecular pressure gradient is driven by a temperature gradient parallel to an interfacially premelted elastic wall. The modification treats the increase in viscosity associated with the thinning of films, studied in a wide variety of materials, using a power law and we examine the consequent evolution of the confining elastic wall. We treat (1) a range of interactions that are known to underlie interfacial premelting and (2) a constant temperature gradient wherein the thermomolecular pressure gradient is a constant. The difference between the cases with and without the proximity effect arises in the volume flux of premelted liquid. The proximity effect increases the viscosity as the film thickness decreases thereby requiring the thermomolecular pressure driven flux to be accommodated at higher temperatures where the premelted film thickness is the largest. Implications for experiment and observations of frost heave are discussed.

High-Beta Electromagnetic Turbulence in LAPD Plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rossi, G.; Carter, T. A.; Pueschel, M. J.; Jenko, F.; Told, D.; Terry, P. W.

2015-11-01

The introduction of a new LaB6 cathode plasma source in the Large Plasma Device has enabled the study of pressure-gradient-driven turbulence and transport variations at significantly higher plasma β. Density fluctuations are observed to decrease with increasing β while magnetic fluctuations increase. Furthermore, the perpendicular magnetic fluctuations are seen to saturate while parallel (compressional) magnetic fluctuations increase continuously with β. These observations are compared to linear and nonlinear simulations with the GENE code. The results are consistent with the linear excitation of a Gradient-driven Drift Coupling mode (GDC) which relies on grad-B drift due to parallel magnetic fluctuations and can be driven by density or temperature gradients.

Relativistic klystron driven compact high gradient accelerator as an injector to an X-ray synchrotron radiation ring

DOEpatents

Yu, David U. L.

1990-01-01

A compact high gradient accelerator driven by a relativistic klystron is utilized to inject high energy electrons into an X-ray synchrotron radiation ring. The high gradients provided by the relativistic klystron enables accelerator structure to be much shorter (typically 3 meters) than conventional injectors. This in turn enables manufacturers which utilize high energy, high intensity X-rays to produce various devices, such as computer chips, to do so on a cost effective basis.

Surface-tension-driven flow in a glass melt

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mcneil, Thomas J.; Cole, Robert; Shankar Subramanian, R.

1985-01-01

Motion driven by surface tension gradients was observed in a vertical capillary liquid bridge geometry in a sodium borate melt. The surface tension gradients were introduced by maintaining a temperature gradient on the free melt surface. The flow velocities at the free surface of the melt, which were measured using a tracer technique, were found to be proportional to the applied temperature difference and inversely proportional to the melt viscosity. The experimentally observed velocities were in reasonable accord with predictions from a theoretical model of the system.

Differential effects of gemfibrozil and fenofibrate on reverse cholesterol transport from macrophages to feces in vivo.

PubMed

Rotllan, Noemí; Llaverías, Gemma; Julve, Josep; Jauhiainen, Matti; Calpe-Berdiel, Laura; Hernández, Cristina; Simó, Rafael; Blanco-Vaca, Francisco; Escolà-Gil, Joan Carles

2011-02-01

Gemfibrozil and fenofibrate, two of the fibrates most used in clinical practice, raise HDL cholesterol (HDLc) and are thought to reduce the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. These drugs act as PPARα agonists and upregulate the expression of genes crucial in reverse cholesterol transport (RCT). In the present study, we determined the effects of these two fibrates on RCT from macrophages to feces in vivo in human apoA-I transgenic (hApoA-ITg) mice. [(3)H]cholesterol-labeled mouse macrophages were injected intraperitoneally into hApoA-ITg mice treated with intragastric doses of fenofibrate, gemfibrozil or a vehicle solution for 17days, and radioactivity was determined in plasma, liver and feces. Fenofibrate, but not gemfibrozil, enhanced [(3)H]cholesterol flux to plasma and feces of female hApoA-ITg mice. Fenofibrate significantly increased plasma HDLc, HDL phospholipids, hApoA-I levels and phospholipid transfer protein activity, whereas these parameters were not altered by gemfibrozil treatment. Unlike gemfibrozil, fenofibrate also induced the generation of larger HDL particles, which were more enriched in cholesteryl esters, together with higher potential to generate preβ-HDL formation and caused a significant increase in [(3)H]cholesterol efflux to plasma. Our findings demonstrate that fenofibrate promotes RCT from macrophages to feces in vivo and, thus, highlight a differential action of this fibrate on HDL. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The Role of Plasma Rotation in C-Mod Internal Transport Barriers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fiore, C. L.; Ernst, D. R.; Rice, J. E.; Podpaly, Y.; Reinke, M. L.; Greenwald, M. J.; Hughes, J. W.; Ma, Y.; Bespamyatnov, I. O.; Rowan, W. L.

2010-11-01

ITBs in Alcator C-Mod featuring highly peaked density and pressure profiles are induced by injecting ICRF power with the second harmonic of the resonant frequency for minority hydrogen off-axis at the plasma half radius. These ITBs are formed in the absence of particle or momentum injection, and with monotonic q profiles with qmin < 1. In C-Mod a strong co-current toroidal rotation, peaked on axis, develops after the transition to H-mode. If an ITB forms, this rotation decreases in the center of the plasma and forms a well, and often reverses direction in the core. This indicates that there is a strong EXB shearing rate in the region where the foot in the ITB density profile is observed. Preliminary gyrokinetic analyses indicate that this shearing rate is comparable to the ion temperature gradient mode (ITG) growth rate at this location and may be responsible for stabilizing the turbulence. Gyrokinetic analyses of recent experimental data obtained from a complete scan of the ICRF resonance position across the entire C-Mod plasma will be presented.

The role of turbulent suppression in the triggering ITBs on C-Mod

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhurovich, K.; Fiore, C. L.; Ernst, D. R.; Bonoli, P. T.; Greenwald, M. J.; Hubbard, A. E.; Hughes, J. W.; Marmar, E. S.; Mikkelsen, D. R.; Phillips, P.; Rice, J. E.

2007-11-01

Internal transport barriers can be routinely produced in C-Mod steady EDA H-mode plasmas by applying ICRF at |r/a|>= 0.5. Access to the off-axis ICRF heated ITBs may be understood within the paradigm of marginal stability. Analysis of the Te profiles shows a decrease of R/LTe in the ITB region as the RF resonance is moved off axis. Ti profiles broaden as the ICRF power deposition changes from on-axis to off-axis. TRANSP calculations of the Ti profiles support this trend. Linear GS2 calculations do not reveal any difference in ETG growth rate profiles for ITB vs. non-ITB discharges. However, they do show that the region of stability to ITG modes widens as the ICRF resonance is moved outward. Non-linear simulations show that the outward turbulent particle flux exceeds the Ware pinch by factor of 2 in the outer plasma region. Reducing the temperature gradient significantly decreases the diffusive flux and allows the Ware pinch to peak the density profile. Details of these experiments and simulations will be presented.

Understanding rotation profile structures in ECH-heated plasmas using nonlinear gyrokinetic simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Weixing; Brian, B.; Ethier, S.; Chen, J.; Startsev, E.; Diamond, P. H.; Lu, Z.

2015-11-01

A non-diffusive momentum flux connecting edge momentum sources/sinks and core plasma flow is required to establish the off-axis peaked ion rotation profile typically observed in ECH-heated DIII-D plasmas without explicit external momentum input. The understanding of the formation of such profile structures provides an outstanding opportunity to test the physics of turbulence driving intrinsic rotation, and validate first-principles-based gyrokinetic simulation models. Nonlinear, global gyrokinetic simulations of DIII-D ECH plasmas indicate a substantial ITG fluctuation-induced residual stress generated around the region of peaked toroidal rotation, along with a diffusive momentum flux. The residual stress profile shows an anti-gradient, dipole structure, which is critical for accounting for the formation of the peaked rotation profile. It is showed that both turbulence intensity gradient and zonal flow ExB shear contribute to the generation of k// asymmetry needed for residual stress generation. By balancing the simulated residual stress and the momentum diffusion, a rotation profile is calculated. In general, the radial structure of core rotation profile is largely determined by the residual stress profile, while the amplitude of core rotation depends on the edge toroidal rotation velocity, which is determined by edge physics and used as a boundary condition in our model. The calculated core rotation profile is consistent with the experimental measurements. Also discussed is the modification of turbulence-generated Reynolds stress on poloidal rotation in those plasmas. Work supported by U.S. DOE Contract DE-AC02-09-CH11466.

Theory and Simulation of Rotational Shear Stabilization of Turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Waltz, R. E.

1997-11-01

Stabilization of turbulence in tokamaks by E×B rotational shear is now thought to be a key mechanism leading to both L/H-edge and core transport barriers. Numerical simulations of ion temperature gradient (ITG) mode transport with gyrofluid flux tude codes first lead to the approximate rule that the critical E×B rotational shear rate γE = r/q partial (q v_E×B/r)/partialr ≈ γ_max the maximum of ballooning mode growth rates γ0 in the absence of the E×B shear.(R.E. Waltz, G.D. Kerbel, J Milovich, and G.W. Hammett, Phys. Plasmas 2) (1995) 2408; Phys. Plasmas 1 (1994) 2229. The present work revisits the (ρ arrow 0) flux tube simulations reformulated terms in of Floquet ballooning modes which convect in the ballooning mode angle θ0 arrow θ0 + γ_E/hats t. This formulation avoids linearly unstable and spurious ``box modes" which arise from discretizing in θ0 and illustrates the true nonlinear nature of the stabilization in toroidal geometry. The eigenmodes can be linearly stable(J.W. Connor, J.B. Taylor, and H.R Wilson, Phys. Rev. Lett. 70) (1993) 1803. at vanishingly small γE when θ_0-averaged γ_0(θ_0) <= 0, yet Floquet mode convective amplification with nonlinear coupling allows turbulence to persists unless γE ≈ γ_max. The rule seems to hold at vanishing magnetic shear hats. Going to finite ρ^* with diamagnetic velocities comparable to v_E× B, likely requires the total mode phase velocity shear (not just the v_E× B Doppler part) r/q partial (q v_mode/r)/partial r >= γ_max. ``Profile curvature" (x^2 profile variations in γ_0) works against stabilization from ``profile shear" (x-variation). From studies of global eigenmodes of the ``ballooning-Schrödinger equation,"(R.L. Dewar, Plasma Phys. and Control. Fusion 39) (1997) 437. the profile curvature is generally not important if ρ^* is typically small. Further studies of profile stabilization use the 2d full radius ITG code.(X. Garbet and R.E. Waltz, Phys. of Plasmas 3) (1996) 1898.

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

Decreased regional activity of default-mode network in unaffected siblings of schizophrenia patients at rest.

PubMed

Guo, Wenbin; Su, Qinji; Yao, Dapeng; Jiang, Jiajing; Zhang, Jian; Zhang, Zhikun; Yu, Liuyu; Zhai, Jinguo; Xiao, Changqing

2014-04-01

Dysconnectivity hypothesis posits that abnormal resting-state connectivity within the default-mode network (DMN) acts as a key role in schizophrenia. However, little is known about the regional alterations of the DMN in unaffected siblings of schizophrenia patients. Unaffected siblings have a unique advantage in neuroimaging studies independent of clinical and treatment issues that complicate studies on patients themselves. In the present study, we used fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF) to investigate regional alterations of the DMN in unaffected siblings of schizophrenia patients at rest. Forty-six unaffected siblings of schizophrenia patients and 50 age-, sex-, and education-matched healthy controls underwent a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The fALFF and independent component analysis (ICA) approaches were used to analyze the data. The unaffected siblings of schizophrenia patients had lower fALFF than the controls in the left inferior temporal gyrus (ITG). No significantly increased fALFF was found in any brain regions in the siblings compared to that in the controls. Further receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and support vector machine (SVM) analyses showed that the fALFF values of the left ITG could be utilized to separate the siblings from the controls. Our results first suggest that there is decreased regional activity of the DMN in unaffected siblings of schizophrenia patients, and provide a clue that decreased regional activity of the left ITG could be applied as a candidate biomarker to identify the siblings from the controls. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. and ECNP. All rights reserved.

Intratympanic treatment of intractable unilateral Meniere disease: gentamicin or dexamethasone? A randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Casani, Augusto Pietro; Piaggi, Paolo; Cerchiai, Niccolò; Seccia, Veronica; Franceschini, Stefano Sellari; Dallan, Iacopo

2012-03-01

To determine the efficacy and safety of low-dose intratympanic gentamicin (ITG) compared with intratympanic dexamethasone (ITD) in patients with intractable unilateral Ménière disease (MD). Open prospective randomized controlled study. Tertiary referral center. Sixty patients affected by definite unilateral MD were enrolled between January 1, 2007, and June 30, 2008. Thirty-two patients were treated with a buffered gentamicin solution injected in the middle ear (maximum of 2 injections); 28 patients were treated with ITD (4 mg/mL, 3 injections at intervals of 1 every 3 days). Mean outcome measurements consisted of control of vertigo attacks, pure tone average (PTA), speech discrimination score, functional disability score, and statistical analysis using repeated measures analysis of variance. In the ITG group at 2-year follow-up, complete control of vertigo (class A) was achieved in 26 patients (81%) and substantial control of vertigo (class B) in 4 patients (12.5%). In the ITD group, class A was achieved in 12 (43%), and class B in 5 (18%) patients. In the gentamicin group, 4 patients showed a reduction in PTA of ≥10 dB. In the ITD group, PTA was unchanged or slightly improved in 16 patients (belonging to class A-B) and worse in 12. Low-dose ITG achieved better outcome than ITD in the control of vertigo attacks in patients suffering from unilateral MD, with a very low incidence of hearing deterioration. ITD offers poorer vertigo control rate, and hearing preservation is achieved only in cases with no vertigo recurrences.

Development of High-Gradient Dielectric Laser-Driven Particle Accelerator Structures

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

Byer, Robert L.

2013-11-07

The thrust of Stanford's program is to conduct research on high-gradient dielectric accelerator structures driven with high repetition-rate, tabletop infrared lasers. The close collaboration between Stanford and SLAC (Stanford Linear Accelerator Center) is critical to the success of this project, because it provides a unique environment where prototype dielectric accelerator structures can be rapidly fabricated and tested with a relativistic electron beam.

GRADFLEX: Fluctuations in Microgravity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vailati, A.; Cerbino, R.; Mazzoni, S.; Giglio, M.; Nikolaenko, G.; Cannell, D. S.; Meyer, W. V.; Smart, A. E.

2004-01-01

We present the results of experimental investigations of gradient driven fluctuations induced in a liquid mixture with a concentration gradient and in a single-component fluid with a temperature gradient. We also describe the experimental apparatus being developed to carry out similar measurement under microgravity conditions.

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.

Gyrokinetic Simulations of JET Carbon and ITER-Like Wall Pedestals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hatch, David; Kotschenreuther, Mike; Mahajan, Swadesh; Liu, Xing; Blackmon, Austin; Giroud, Carine; Hillesheim, Jon; Maggi, Costanza; Saarelma, Samuli; JET Contributors Team

2017-10-01

Gyrokinetic simulations using the GENE code are presented, which target a fundamental understanding of JET pedestal transport and, in particular, its modification after installation of an ITER like wall (ILW). A representative pre-ILW (carbon wall) discharge is analyzed as a base case. In this discharge, magnetic diagnostics observe washboard modes, which preferentially affect the temperature pedestal and have frequencies (accounting for Doppler shift) consistent with microtearing modes and inconsistent with kinetic ballooning modes. A similar ILW discharge is examined, which recovers a similar value of H98, albeit at reduced pedestal temperature. This discharge is distinguished by a much higher value of eta, which produces strong ITG and ETG driven instabilities in gyrokinetic simulations. Experimental observations provide several targets for comparisons with simulation data, including the toroidal mode number and frequency of magnetic fluctuations, heat fluxes, and inter-ELM profile evolution. Strategies for optimizing pedestal performance will also be discussed. This work was supported by U.S. DOE Contract No. DE-FG02-04ER54742 and by EUROfusion under Grant No. 633053.

Slanting Design: A Pilot Program

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-10-01

adequate financing and proper planning and forethought. itG’ven the significant number of variables over which FEMA has no control , however, it would...Eskilstuna SWEDEN Ministero dell Interno Direzione Generale della Protezione Civile 00100 Rome ITALY Directeur de la Protection: Civile Ministere de

Beam-driven acceleration in ultra-dense plasma media

DOE PAGES

Shin, Young-Min

2014-09-15

Accelerating parameters of beam-driven wakefield acceleration in an extremely dense plasma column has been analyzed with the dynamic framed particle-in-cell plasma simulator, and compared with analytic calculations. In the model, a witness beam undergoes a TeV/m scale alternating potential gradient excited by a micro-bunched drive beam in a 10 25 m -3 and 1.6 x 10 28 m -3 plasma column. The acceleration gradient, energy gain, and transformer ratio have been extensively studied in quasi-linear, linear-, and blowout-regimes. The simulation analysis indicated that in the beam-driven acceleration system a hollow plasma channel offers 20 % higher acceleration gradient by enlargingmore » the channel radius (r) from 0.2 Ap to 0.6 .Ap in a blowout regime. This paper suggests a feasibility of TeV/m scale acceleration with a hollow crystalline structure (e.g. nanotubes) of high electron plasma density.« less

Gradient Driven Fluctuations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cannell, David

2005-01-01

We have worked with our collaborators at the University of Milan (Professor Marzio Giglio and his group-supported by ASI) to define the science required to measure gradient driven fluctuations in the microgravity environment. Such a study would provide an accurate test of the extent to which the theory of fluctuating hydrodynamics can be used to predict the properties of fluids maintained in a stressed, non-equilibrium state. As mentioned above, the results should also provide direct visual insight into the behavior of a variety of fluid systems containing gradients or interfaces, when placed in the microgravity environment. With support from the current grant, we have identified three key systems for detailed investigation. These three systems are: 1) A single-component fluid to be studied in the presence of a temperature gradient; 2) A mixture of two organic liquids to be studied both in the presence of a temperature gradient, which induces a steady-state concentration gradient, and with the temperature gradient removed, but while the concentration gradient is dying by means of diffusion; 3) Various pairs of liquids undergoing free diffusion, including a proteidbuffer solution and pairs of mixtures having different concentrations, to allow us to vary the differences in fluid properties in a controlled manner.

Theory of ITG turbulent saturation in stellarators: identifying mechanisms to reduce turbulent transport

DOE PAGES

Hegna, Chris C.; Terry, Paul W.; Faber, Ben J.

2018-02-01

A three-field fluid model that allows for general three-dimensional equilibrium geometry is developed to describe ion temperature gradient turbulent saturation processes in stellarators. The theory relies on the paradigm of nonlinear transfer of energy from unstable to damped modes at comparable wavelength as the dominant saturation mechanism. The unstable-to-damped mode interaction is enabled by a third mode that for dominant energy transfer channels primarily serves as a regulator of the nonlinear energy transfer rate. The identity of the third wave in the interaction defines different scenarios for turbulent saturation with the dominant scenario depending upon the properties of the 3Dmore » geometry. The nonlinear energy transfer physics is quantified by the product of a turbulent correlation lifetime and a geometric coupling coefficient. The turbulent correlation time is determined by a three-wave frequency mismatch, which at long wavelength can be calculated from the sum of the linear eigenfrequencies of the three modes. Larger turbulent correlation times denote larger levels of nonlinear energy transfer and hence smaller turbulent transport. The theory provides an analytic prediction for how 3D shaping can be tuned to lower turbulent transport through saturation processes.« less

Theory of ITG turbulent saturation in stellarators: identifying mechanisms to reduce turbulent transport

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

Hegna, Chris C.; Terry, Paul W.; Faber, Ben J.

A three-field fluid model that allows for general three-dimensional equilibrium geometry is developed to describe ion temperature gradient turbulent saturation processes in stellarators. The theory relies on the paradigm of nonlinear transfer of energy from unstable to damped modes at comparable wavelength as the dominant saturation mechanism. The unstable-to-damped mode interaction is enabled by a third mode that for dominant energy transfer channels primarily serves as a regulator of the nonlinear energy transfer rate. The identity of the third wave in the interaction defines different scenarios for turbulent saturation with the dominant scenario depending upon the properties of the 3Dmore » geometry. The nonlinear energy transfer physics is quantified by the product of a turbulent correlation lifetime and a geometric coupling coefficient. The turbulent correlation time is determined by a three-wave frequency mismatch, which at long wavelength can be calculated from the sum of the linear eigenfrequencies of the three modes. Larger turbulent correlation times denote larger levels of nonlinear energy transfer and hence smaller turbulent transport. The theory provides an analytic prediction for how 3D shaping can be tuned to lower turbulent transport through saturation processes.« less

Symmetry Breaking by Parallel Flow Shear

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Jiacong; Diamond, Patrick

2015-11-01

Plasma rotation is important in reducing turbulent transport, suppressing MHD instabilities, and is beneficial to confinement. Intrinsic rotation without an external momentum input is of interest for its plausible application on ITER. k∥ spectrum asymmetry is required for residual Reynolds stress that drives the intrinsic rotation. Parallel flows are reported in linear devices without magnetic shear. In CSDX, parallel flows are mostly peaked in the core [Thakur et al., 2014]; more robust flows and reversed profiles are seen in PANTA [Oldenburger, et al. 2012]. A novel mechanism for symmetry breaking in momentum transport is proposed. Magnetic shear or mean flow profile are not required. A seed parallel flow shear (PFS) sets the sign of residual stress by selecting certain modes to grow faster. The resulted spectrum imbalance leads to a nonzero residual stress, which further drives a parallel flow with ∇n as the free energy source, adding to the shear until saturated by diffusion. Balanced flow gradient is set by Π∥Res /χϕ . Residual stress is calculated for ITG turbulence and collisional drift wave turbulence where electron-ion and electron-neutral collisions are discussed and compared. Numerical simulation is proposed for testing the effect of PFS.

A number-form area in the blind

PubMed Central

Abboud, Sami; Maidenbaum, Shachar; Dehaene, Stanislas; Amedi, Amir

2015-01-01

Distinct preference for visual number symbols was recently discovered in the human right inferior temporal gyrus (rITG). It remains unclear how this preference emerges, what is the contribution of shape biases to its formation and whether visual processing underlies it. Here we use congenital blindness as a model for brain development without visual experience. During fMRI, we present blind subjects with shapes encoded using a novel visual-to-music sensory-substitution device (The EyeMusic). Greater activation is observed in the rITG when subjects process symbols as numbers compared with control tasks on the same symbols. Using resting-state fMRI in the blind and sighted, we further show that the areas with preference for numerals and letters exhibit distinct patterns of functional connectivity with quantity and language-processing areas, respectively. Our findings suggest that specificity in the ventral ‘visual’ stream can emerge independently of sensory modality and visual experience, under the influence of distinct connectivity patterns. PMID:25613599

Studies of Turbulence and Transport in Alcator C-Mod H-Mode Plasmas with Phase Contrast Imaging and Comparisons with GYRO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Porkolab, M.; Lin, L.; Edlund, E. M.; Rost, J. C.; Fiore, C. L.; Greenwald, M.; Mikkelsen, D.

2008-11-01

We present recent experimental measurements of turbulence and transport in C-Mod H-Mode plasmas with and without internal transport barriers (ITB) using the phase contrast imaging (PCI) diagnostic and compare the results with GYRO predictions. In plasmas without ITB, the fluctuation above 300 kHz observed by PCI agrees with ITG in GYRO simulation, including the direction of propagation, wavenumber spectrum, and absolute intensity within experimental uncertainly (+/-75%). After transition to ITBs, the observed overall fluctuation intensity increases. GYRO simulation in the core shows that ITG dominates in ITBs but its intensity is lower than the overall experimental measurements which may also include contributions from the plasma edge. These results, as well as the impact of varying ∇Ti, ∇n, and ExB shear on turbulence will be discussed. C.L. Fiore et al., Fusion Sci. Technol., 51, 303 (2007). M. Porkolab et al., IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci. 34, 229 (2006). J. Candy et al., Phys. Rev. Lett., 91, 045001 (2003).

Gyrokinetic simulation of ITG modes in a three-mode coupling model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jenkins, Thomas G.; Lee, W. W.

2004-11-01

A three-mode coupling model of ITG modes with adiabatic electrons is studied both analytically and numerically in 2-dimensional slab geometry using the gyrokinetic formalism. It can be shown analytically that the (quasilinear) saturation amplitude of the waves in the system should be enhanced by the inclusion of the parallel velocity nonlinearity in the governing gyrokinetic equation. The effect of this (frequently neglected) nonlinearity on the steady-state transport properties of the plasma is studied numerically using standard gyrokinetic particle simulation techniques. The balance [1] between various steady-state transport properties of the model (particle and heat flux, entropy production, and collisional dissipation) is examined. Effects resulting from the inclusion of nonadiabatic electrons in the model are also considered numerically, making use of the gyrokinetic split-weight scheme [2] in the simulations. [1] W. W. Lee and W. M. Tang, Phys. Fluids 31, 612 (1988). [2] I. Manuilskiy and W. W. Lee, Phys. Plasmas 7, 1381 (2000).

Investigations of the role of nonlinear couplings in structure formation and transport regulation in plasma turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Holland, Christopher George

Studies of nonlinear couplings and dynamics in plasma turbulence are presented. Particular areas of focus are analytic studies of coherent structure formation in electron temperature gradient turbulence, measurement of nonlinear energy transfer in simulations of plasma turbulence, and bispectral analysis of experimental and computational data. The motivation for these works has been to develop and expand the existing theories of plasma transport, and verify the nonlinear predictions of those theories in simulation and experiment. In Chapter II, we study electromagnetic secondary instabilities of electron temperature gradient turbulence. The growth rate for zonal flow generation via modulational instability of electromagnetic ETG turbulence is calculated, as well as that for zonal (magnetic) field generation. In Chapter III, the stability and saturation of streamers in ETG turbulence is considered, and shown to depend sensitively upon geometry and the damping rates of the Kelvin-Helmholtz mode. Requirements for a credible theory of streamer transport are presented. In addition, a self-consistent model for interactions between ETG and ITG (ion temperature gradient) turbulence is presented. In Chapter IV, the nonlinear transfer of kinetic and internal energy is measured in simulations of plasma turbulence. The regulation of turbulence by radial decorrelation due to zonal flows and generation of zonal flows via the Reynolds stress are explicitly demonstrated, and shown to be symmetric facets of a single nonlinear process. Novel nonlinear saturation mechanisms for zonal flows are discussed. In Chapter V, measurements of fluctuation bicoherence in the edge of the DIII-D tokamak are presented. It is shown that the bicoherence increases transiently before a L-H transition, and decays to its initial value after the barrier has formed. The increase in bicoherence is localized to the region where the transport barrier forms, and shows strong coupling between well-separated frequencies. These results are qualitatively reproduced in a simple numerical "thought experiment," described in Chapter VI, which suggests that zonal flows may trigger the L-H transition.

VERTICAL ATMOSPHERIC PROFILE OF MERCURY SPECIES OVER SOUTH FLORIDA

EPA Science Inventory

The Florida Atmospheric Mercury Study (FAMS) was conducted from 1992 to 1996 to characterize the atmospheric loadings of mercury to Florida. This study found relatively high levels of annual wet mercury deposition (32-43 Itg m') to south Florida. Guentzel developed a simple box m...

Thermal rectification in thin films driven by gradient grain microstructure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheng, Zhe; Foley, Brian M.; Bougher, Thomas; Yates, Luke; Cola, Baratunde A.; Graham, Samuel

2018-03-01

As one of the basic components of phononics, thermal rectifiers transmit heat current asymmetrically similar to electronic rectifiers in microelectronics. Heat can be conducted through them easily in one direction while being blocked in the other direction. In this work, we report a thermal rectifier that is driven by the gradient grain structure and the inherent gradient in thermal properties as found in these materials. To demonstrate their thermal rectification properties, we build a spectral thermal conductivity model with complete phonon dispersion relationships using the thermophysical properties of chemical vapor deposited (CVD) diamond films which possess gradient grain microstructures. To explain the observed significant thermal rectification, the temperature and thermal conductivity distribution are studied. Additionally, the effects of temperature bias and film thickness are discussed, which shed light on tuning the thermal rectification based on the gradient microstructures. Our results show that the columnar grain microstructure makes CVD materials unique candidates for mesoscale thermal rectifiers without a sharp temperature change.

Subnanometer Motion of Cargoes Driven by Thermal Gradients Along Carbon Nanotubes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barreiro, Amelia; Rurali, Riccardo; Hernández, Eduardo R.; Moser, Joel; Pichler, Thomas; Forró, László; Bachtold, Adrian

2008-05-01

An important issue in nanoelectromechanical systems is developing small electrically driven motors. We report on an artificial nanofabricated motor in which one short carbon nanotube moves relative to another coaxial nanotube. A cargo is attached to an ablated outer wall of a multiwalled carbon nanotube that can rotate and/or translate along the inner nanotube. The motion is actuated by imposing a thermal gradient along the nanotube, which allows for subnanometer displacements, as opposed to an electromigration or random walk effect.

Short-scale turbulent fluctuations driven by the electron-temperature gradient in the national spherical torus experiment.

PubMed

Mazzucato, E; Smith, D R; Bell, R E; Kaye, S M; Hosea, J C; LeBlanc, B P; Wilson, J R; Ryan, P M; Domier, C W; Luhmann, N C; Yuh, H; Lee, W; Park, H

2008-08-15

Measurements with coherent scattering of electromagnetic waves in plasmas of the National Spherical Torus Experiment indicate the existence of turbulent fluctuations in the range of wave numbers k perpendicular rho(e)=0.1-0.4, corresponding to a turbulence scale length nearly equal to the collisionless skin depth. Experimental observations and agreement with numerical results from a linear gyrokinetic stability code support the conjecture that the observed turbulence is driven by the electron-temperature gradient.

Gyrokinetic GDC turbulence simulations: confirming a new instability regime in LAPD plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pueschel, M. J.; Rossi, G.; Told, D.; Terry, P. W.; Jenko, F.; Carter, T. A.

2016-10-01

Recent high-beta experiments at the LArge Plasma Device have found significant parallel magnetic fluctuations in the region of large pressure gradients. Linear gyrokinetic simulations show the dominant instability at these radii to be the gradient-driven drift coupling (GDC) mode, a non-textbook mode driven by pressure gradients and destabilized by the coupling of ExB and grad-B∥ drifts. Unlike in previous studies, the large parallel extent of the device allows for finite-kz versions of this instability in addition to kz = 0 . The locations of maximum linear growth match very well with experimentally observed peaks of B∥ fluctuations. Local nonlinear simulations reproduce many features of the observations fairly well, with the exception of Bperp fluctuations, for which experimental profiles suggest a source unrelated to pressure gradients. In toto, the results presented here show that turbulence and transport in these experiments are driven by the GDC instability, that important characteristics of the linear instability carry over to nonlinear simulations, and - in the context of validation - that the gyrokinetic framework performs surprisingly well far outside its typical area of application, increasing confidence in its predictive abilities. Supported by U.S. DOE.

78 FR 25135 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-04-29

... burden, to (1) Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Attention.... Upon completion, the information will be used by the Tribe and ITG to develop training needs... transactions for businesses who accept this form of payment. The IRS is launching pilots aimed at determining...

Studies of numerical algorithms for gyrokinetics and the effects of shaping on plasma turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Belli, Emily Ann

Advanced numerical algorithms for gyrokinetic simulations are explored for more effective studies of plasma turbulent transport. The gyrokinetic equations describe the dynamics of particles in 5-dimensional phase space, averaging over the fast gyromotion, and provide a foundation for studying plasma microturbulence in fusion devices and in astrophysical plasmas. Several algorithms for Eulerian/continuum gyrokinetic solvers are compared. An iterative implicit scheme based on numerical approximations of the plasma response is developed. This method reduces the long time needed to set-up implicit arrays, yet still has larger time step advantages similar to a fully implicit method. Various model preconditioners and iteration schemes, including Krylov-based solvers, are explored. An Alternating Direction Implicit algorithm is also studied and is surprisingly found to yield a severe stability restriction on the time step. Overall, an iterative Krylov algorithm might be the best approach for extensions of core tokamak gyrokinetic simulations to edge kinetic formulations and may be particularly useful for studies of large-scale ExB shear effects. The effects of flux surface shape on the gyrokinetic stability and transport of tokamak plasmas are studied using the nonlinear GS2 gyrokinetic code with analytic equilibria based on interpolations of representative JET-like shapes. High shaping is found to be a stabilizing influence on both the linear ITG instability and nonlinear ITG turbulence. A scaling of the heat flux with elongation of chi ˜ kappa-1.5 or kappa-2 (depending on the triangularity) is observed, which is consistent with previous gyrofluid simulations. Thus, the GS2 turbulence simulations are explaining a significant fraction, but not all, of the empirical elongation scaling. The remainder of the scaling may come from (1) the edge boundary conditions for core turbulence, and (2) the larger Dimits nonlinear critical temperature gradient shift due to the enhancement of zonal flows with shaping, which is observed with the GS2 simulations. Finally, a local linear trial function-based gyrokinetic code is developed to aid in fast scoping studies of gyrokinetic linear stability. This code is successfully benchmarked with the full GS2 code in the collisionless, electrostatic limit, as well as in the more general electromagnetic description with higher-order Hermite basis functions.

M*/L gradients driven by IMF variation: large impact on dynamical stellar mass estimates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bernardi, M.; Sheth, R. K.; Dominguez-Sanchez, H.; Fischer, J.-L.; Chae, K.-H.; Huertas-Company, M.; Shankar, F.

2018-06-01

Within a galaxy the stellar mass-to-light ratio ϒ* is not constant. Recent studies of spatially resolved kinematics of nearby early-type galaxies suggest that allowing for a variable initial mass function (IMF) returns significantly larger ϒ* gradients than if the IMF is held fixed. We show that ignoring such IMF-driven ϒ* gradients can have dramatic effect on dynamical (M_*^dyn), though stellar population (M_*^SP) based estimates of early-type galaxy stellar masses are also affected. This is because M_*^dyn is usually calibrated using the velocity dispersion measured in the central regions (e.g. Re/8) where stars are expected to dominate the mass (i.e. the dark matter fraction is small). On the other hand, M_*^SP is often computed from larger apertures (e.g. using a mean ϒ* estimated from colours). If ϒ* is greater in the central regions, then ignoring the gradient can overestimate M_*^dyn by as much as a factor of two for the most massive galaxies. Large ϒ*-gradients have four main consequences: First, M_*^dyn cannot be estimated independently of stellar population synthesis models. Secondly, if there is a lower limit to ϒ* and gradients are unknown, then requiring M_*^dyn=M_*^SP constrains them. Thirdly, if gradients are stronger in more massive galaxies, then accounting for this reduces the slope of the correlation between M_*^dyn/M_*^SP of a galaxy with its velocity dispersion. In particular, IMF-driven gradients bring M_*^dyn and M_*^SP into agreement, not by shifting M_*^SP upwards by invoking constant bottom-heavy IMFs, as advocated by a number of recent studies, but by revising M_*^dyn estimates in the literature downwards. Fourthly, accounting for ϒ* gradients changes the high-mass slope of the stellar mass function φ (M_*^dyn), and reduces the associated stellar mass density. These conclusions potentially impact estimates of the need for feedback and adiabatic contraction, so our results highlight the importance of measuring ϒ* gradients in larger samples.

Light-driven solute transport in Halobacterium halobium

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lanyi, J. K.

1979-01-01

The cell membrane of Halobacterium halobium exhibits differential regions which contain crystalline arrays of a single kind of protein, termed bacteriorhodopsin. This bacterial retinal-protein complex resembles the visual pigment and, after the absorption of protons, translocates H(+) across the cell membrane, leading to an electrochemical gradient for protons between the inside and the outside of the cell. Thus, light is an alternate source of energy in these bacteria, in addition to terminal oxidation. The paper deals with work on light-driven transport in H. halobium with cell envelope vesicles. The discussion covers light-driven movements of H(+), Na(+), and K(+); light-driven amino acid transport; and apparent allosteric control of amino acid transport. The scheme of energy coupling in H. halobium vesicles appears simple, its quantitative details are quite complex and reveal regulatory phenomena. More knowledge is required of the way the coupling components are regulated by the ion gradients present.

Regulation of electron temperature gradient turbulence by zonal flows driven by trapped electron modes

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

Asahi, Y., E-mail: y.asahi@nr.titech.ac.jp; Tsutsui, H.; Tsuji-Iio, S.

2014-05-15

Turbulent transport caused by electron temperature gradient (ETG) modes was investigated by means of gyrokinetic simulations. It was found that the ETG turbulence can be regulated by meso-scale zonal flows driven by trapped electron modes (TEMs), which are excited with much smaller growth rates than those of ETG modes. The zonal flows of which radial wavelengths are in between the ion and the electron banana widths are not shielded by trapped ions nor electrons, and hence they are effectively driven by the TEMs. It was also shown that an E × B shearing rate of the TEM-driven zonal flows is larger thanmore » or comparable to the growth rates of long-wavelength ETG modes and TEMs, which make a main contribution to the turbulent transport before excitation of the zonal flows.« less

TGF-β2 induces Grb2 to recruit PI3-K to TGF-RII that activates JNK/AP-1-signaling and augments invasiveness of Theileria-transformed macrophages

PubMed Central

Haidar, Malak; Whitworth, Jessie; Noé, Gaelle; Liu, Wang Qing; Vidal, Michel; Langsley, Gordon

2015-01-01

Theileria-infected macrophages display many features of cancer cells such as heightened invasive capacity; however, the tumor-like phenotype is reversible by killing the parasite. Moreover, virulent macrophages can be attenuated by multiple in vitro passages and so provide a powerful model to elucidate mechanisms related to transformed macrophage virulence. Here, we demonstrate that in two independent Theileria-transformed macrophage cell lines Grb2 expression is down-regulated concomitant with loss of tumor virulence. Using peptidimer-c to ablate SH2 and SH3 interactions of Grb2 we identify TGF-receptor II and the p85 subunit of PI3-K, as Grb2 partners in virulent macrophages. Ablation of Grb2 interactions reduces PI3-K recruitment to TGF-RII and decreases PIP3 production, and dampens JNK phosphorylation and AP-1-driven transcriptional activity down to levels characteristic of attenuated macrophages. Loss of TGF-R>PI3-K>JNK>AP-1 signaling negatively impacts on virulence traits such as reduced JAM-L/ITG4A and Fos-B/MMP9 expression that contribute to virulent macrophage adhesion and invasiveness. PMID:26511382

Investigations of Turbulent Transport Channels in Gyrokinetic Simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dimits, A. M.; Candy, J.; Guttenfelder, W.; Holland, C.; Howard, N.; Nevins, W. M.; Wang, E.

2014-10-01

Magnetic-field stochasticity arises due to microtearing perturbations, which can be driven linearly or nonlinearly (in cases where they are linearly stable), even at very modest values of the plasma beta. The resulting magnetic-flutter contribution may or may not be a significant component of the overall electron (particle and thermal) transport. Investigations of the effect of ExB flow shear on electron-drift magnetic-flutter diffusion coefficient Dedr (r ,v||) using perturbed magnetic fields from simulations, using the GYRO code, of ITG turbulence show a significant effect for electrons with parallel velocities v|| surprisingly far from the resonant velocity. We further examine changes in the radial dependence of this diffusion coefficient vs. v|| and which resonant magnetic-field perturbations are important to the values and radial structure of Dedr. The resulting electron transport fluxes are compared with the simulation results. Improvements over in treating the ambipolar field in the relationship between the magnetic (or drift) diffusion coefficients and the transport have been made in these comparisons. Prepared for US DOE by LLNL under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344, by GA under Contract DE-FG03-95ER54309, and by PPPL under Contract DE-AC02-09CH11466.

Density-Gradient-Driven trapped-electron-modes in improved-confinement RFP plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Duff, James; Sarff, John; Ding, Weixing; Brower, David; Parke, Eli; Chapman, Brett; Terry, Paul; Pueschel, M. J.; Williams, Zach

2017-10-01

Short wavelength density fluctuations in improved-confinement MST plasmas exhibit multiple features characteristic of the trapped-electron-mode (TEM). Core transport in the RFP is normally governed by magnetic stochasticity stemming from long wavelength tearing modes that arise from current profile peaking, which are suppressed via inductive control for this work. The improved confinement is associated with an increase in the pressure gradient that can destabilize drift waves. The measured density fluctuations have f 50 kHz, kϕρs < 0.14 , and propagate in the electron drift direction. Their spectral emergence coincides with a sharp decrease in global tearing mode associated fluctuations, their amplitude increases with local density gradient, and they exhibit a density-gradient threshold at R /Ln 15 . The GENE code, modified for the RFP, predicts the onset of density-gradient-driven TEM for these strong-gradient plasma conditions. While nonlinear analysis shows a large Dimits shift associated with predicted strong zonal flows, the inclusion of residual magnetic fluctuations, comparable to experimental magnetic fluctuations, causes a collapse of the zonal flows and an increase in the predicted transport to a level close to the experimentally measured heat flux. Work supported by US DOE.

Time-resolved lateral spin-caloric transport of optically generated spin packets in n-GaAs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Göbbels, Stefan; Güntherodt, Gernot; Beschoten, Bernd

2018-05-01

We report on lateral spin-caloric transport (LSCT) of electron spin packets which are optically generated by ps laser pulses in the non-magnetic semiconductor n-GaAs at K. LSCT is driven by a local temperature gradient induced by an additional cw heating laser. The spatio-temporal evolution of the spin packets is probed using time-resolved Faraday rotation. We demonstrate that the local temperature-gradient induced spin diffusion is solely driven by a non-equilibrium hot spin distribution, i.e. without involvement of phonon drag effects. Additional electric field-driven spin drift experiments are used to verify directly the validity of the non-classical Einstein relation for moderately doped semiconductors at low temperatures for near band-gap excitation.

27 CFR 9.126 - Santa Clara Valley.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

...: (1) The beginning point is at the junction of Elephant Head Creek and Pacheco Creek (approx. .75 mile... point the boundary moves in a northerly direction up Elephant Head Creek approx. 1.2 miles until it....G.S. map; (29) Then it moves northeast along Pacheco Creek approx. .5 mile to Elephant Head Creek at...

27 CFR 9.126 - Santa Clara Valley.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

...: (1) The beginning point is at the junction of Elephant Head Creek and Pacheco Creek (approx. .75 mile... point the boundary moves in a northerly direction up Elephant Head Creek approx. 1.2 miles until it....G.S. map; (29) Then it moves northeast along Pacheco Creek approx. .5 mile to Elephant Head Creek at...

27 CFR 9.126 - Santa Clara Valley.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

...: (1) The beginning point is at the junction of Elephant Head Creek and Pacheco Creek (approx. .75 mile... point the boundary moves in a northerly direction up Elephant Head Creek approx. 1.2 miles until it....G.S. map; (29) Then it moves northeast along Pacheco Creek approx. .5 mile to Elephant Head Creek at...

27 CFR 9.126 - Santa Clara Valley.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

...: (1) The beginning point is at the junction of Elephant Head Creek and Pacheco Creek (approx. .75 mile... point the boundary moves in a northerly direction up Elephant Head Creek approx. 1.2 miles until it....G.S. map; (29) Then it moves northeast along Pacheco Creek approx. .5 mile to Elephant Head Creek at...

27 CFR 9.126 - Santa Clara Valley.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

...: (1) The beginning point is at the junction of Elephant Head Creek and Pacheco Creek (approx. .75 mile... point the boundary moves in a northerly direction up Elephant Head Creek approx. 1.2 miles until it....G.S. map; (29) Then it moves northeast along Pacheco Creek approx. .5 mile to Elephant Head Creek at...

The Integration of It Governance, Information Security Leadership and Strategic Alignment in Healthcare: A Correlational Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Taft, Tiffany H.

2017-01-01

This dissertation is a study of the relationship between Information Technology Governance (ITG), information security leadership, and strategic alignment within a healthcare organization. Strong organizational leadership and adherence to the process are vital to the formulation and management of performance and implementation of key directives.…

Pedestal turbulence simulations using GENE

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Xing; Kotschenreuther, M.; Hatch, D. R.; Zheng, L. J.; Mahajan, S.; Diallo, A.; Groebner, R. J.; Hubbard, A. E.; Hughes, J. W.; Maggi, C. F.; Saarelma, S.; JET Contributors

2017-10-01

We match frequencies, power balance, and other transport characteristics of several pedestals-two DIIID ELMy H-modes and a C-Mod I-mode, and attempt this for a C-Mod ELMy H-mode. Observed quasi-coherent fluctuations (QCFs) on the DIIID shots are identified as MTMs. The MTMs match frequency and power balance (with slight adjustment of temperature profile), and cause low transport in the density, ion heat and impurity channels- consistent with observed inter-ELM evolution of ion and electron temperature, electron and impurity density, or transport analysis of those channels. KBM can be ruled out as the dominant agent for heat transport. We find the Weakly Coherent Mode on C-Mod I-mode may be an electrostatic heavy particle/ITG mode. Analysis is ongoing for the C-Mod ELMy H-mode QCF. Pedestal density profiles in JET-ILW are consistent with ITG induced particle pinch. Work supported by US DOE under DE-FC02-04ER54698, DE-FG02-04ER54742 and DE-FC02-99ER54512 and by Eurofusion under Grant No. 633053.

The time-course of activation in the dorsal and ventral visual streams during landmark cueing and perceptual discrimination tasks.

PubMed

Lambert, Anthony J; Wootton, Adrienne

2017-08-01

Different patterns of high density EEG activity were elicited by the same peripheral stimuli, in the context of Landmark Cueing and Perceptual Discrimination tasks. The C1 component of the visual event-related potential (ERP) at parietal - occipital electrode sites was larger in the Landmark Cueing task, and source localisation suggested greater activation in the superior parietal lobule (SPL) in this task, compared to the Perceptual Discrimination task, indicating stronger early recruitment of the dorsal visual stream. In the Perceptual Discrimination task, source localisation suggested widespread activation of the inferior temporal gyrus (ITG) and fusiform gyrus (FFG), structures associated with the ventral visual stream, during the early phase of the P1 ERP component. Moreover, during a later epoch (171-270ms after stimulus onset) increased temporal-occipital negativity, and stronger recruitment of ITG and FFG were observed in the Perceptual Discrimination task. These findings illuminate the contrasting functions of the dorsal and ventral visual streams, to support rapid shifts of attention in response to contextual landmarks, and conscious discrimination, respectively. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Proxy functions for turbulent transport optimization of stellarators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rorvig, Mordechai; Hegna, Chris; Mynick, Harry; Xanthopoulos, Pavlos

2012-10-01

The design freedom of toroidal confinement shaping suggests the possibility of optimizing the magnetic geometry for turbulent transport, particularly in stellarators. The framework for implementing such an optimization was recently established [1] using a proxy function as a measure of the ITG induced turbulent transport associated with a given geometry. Working in the framework of local 3-D equilibrium [2], we investigate the theory and implications of such proxy functions by analyzing the linear instability dependence on curvature and local shear, and the associated quasilinear transport estimates. Simple analytic models suggest the beneficial effect of local shear enters through polarization effects, which can be controlled by field torsion in small net current regimes. We test the proxy functions with local, electrostatic gyrokinetics calculations [3] of ITG modes for experimentally motivated local 3-D equilibria.[4pt] [1] H. E. Mynick, N. Pomphrey, and P. Xanthopoulos, Phys. Rev. Lett. 105, 095004 (2010).[0pt] [2] C. C. Hegna, Physics of Plasmas 7, 3921 (2000).[0pt] [3] F. Jenko, W. Dorland, M. Kotschenreuther, and B. N. Rogers, Physical Review Letters 7, 1904 (2000).

Gyrokinetic stability of electron-positron-ion plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mishchenko, A.; Zocco, A.; Helander, P.; Könies, A.

2018-02-01

The gyrokinetic stability of electron-positron plasmas contaminated by an ion (proton) admixture is studied in a slab geometry. The appropriate dispersion relation is derived and solved. Stable K-modes, the universal instability, the ion-temperature-gradient-driven instability, the electron-temperature-gradient-driven instability and the shear Alfvén wave are considered. It is found that the contaminated plasma remains stable if the contamination degree is below some threshold and that the shear Alfvén wave can be present in a contaminated plasma in cases where it is absent without ion contamination.

Heat-driven spin torques in antiferromagnets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Białek, Marcin; Bréchet, Sylvain; Ansermet, Jean-Philippe

2018-04-01

Heat-driven magnetization damping, which is a linear function of a temperature gradient, is predicted in antiferromagnets by considering the sublattice dynamics subjected to a heat-driven spin torque. This points to the possibility of achieving spin torque oscillator behavior. The model is based on the magnetic Seebeck effect acting on sublattices which are exchange coupled. The heat-driven spin torque is estimated and the feasibility of detecting this effect is discussed.

Interaction between neoclassical effects and ion temperature gradient turbulence in gradient- and flux-driven gyrokinetic simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oberparleiter, M.; Jenko, F.; Told, D.; Doerk, H.; Görler, T.

2016-04-01

Neoclassical and turbulent transport in tokamaks has been studied extensively over the past decades, but their possible interaction remains largely an open question. The two are only truly independent if the length scales governing each of them are sufficiently separate, i.e., if the ratio ρ* between ion gyroradius and the pressure gradient scale length is small. This is not the case in particularly interesting regions such as transport barriers. Global simulations of a collisional ion-temperature-gradient-driven microturbulence performed with the nonlinear global gyrokinetic code Gene are presented. In particular, comparisons are made between systems with and without neoclassical effects. In fixed-gradient simulations, the modified radial electric field is shown to alter the zonal flow pattern such that a significant increase in turbulent transport is observed for ρ*≳1 /300 . Furthermore, the dependency of the flux on the collisionality changes. In simulations with fixed power input, we find that the presence of neoclassical effects decreases the frequency and amplitude of intermittent turbulent transport bursts (avalanches) and thus plays an important role for the self-organisation behaviour.

[On the Way to Culture-Sensitive Patient Information Materials: Results of a Focus Group Study].

PubMed

Ries, Zivile; Frank, Fabian; Bermejo, Isaac; Kalaitsidou, Chariklia; Zill, Jördis; Dirmaier, Jörg; Härter, Martin; Bengel, Jürgen; Hölzel, Lars

2018-06-01

This study was part of a double-blind randomised controlled trial aimed to evaluate the effects of culture-sensitive patient information materials (PIM) compared with standard translated material. The study aimed to obtain the data for the development of culture sensitive PIM about unipolar depression for the 4 largest migrant groups in Germany (Turkish, Polish, Russian and Italian migration background). A qualitative study using 4 manual-based focus groups (FG), one for each migrant group, with 29 participants (9 with a Turkish (TüG), 8 with a Polish (PoG), 5 with a Russian (RuG) and 7 with an Italian (ItG) migration background) was conducted. The discussions were recorded, transcribed and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. 7 categories were identified. For the (1.) development of a good culture-sensitive PIM an easy language, a clear structure, an assessable extent of information and the avoidance of stereotypes were highlighted cross-culturally in all four FG. RuG and PoG had the largest (2.) lack of information about the German health care system. Concerning the (3.) illness perception RuG named problems with recognizing and understanding depression. PoG, RuG and TüG thematized (4.) feared consequences of the illness and of professional helpseeking. ItG, PoG, RuG had fears concerning (5.) psychotropic drugs as a result from insufficient knowledge about medication. For (6.) doctor-patient relationship cultural specifics were identified in RuG and TüG and for (7.) migration or culture specific reasons for depression in RuG, ItG and TüG. Although the identified categories were relevant for all or for the majority of migrant groups, for most categories specific cultural aspects were discovered. These findings show the importance of a culture sensitive adaptation of PIM. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Microgravity Segregation in Binary Mixtures of Inelastic Spheres Driven by Velocity Fluctuation Gradients

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jenkins, James T.; Louge, Michel Y.

1996-01-01

We are interested in collisional granular flows of dry materials in reduced gravity. Because the particles interact through collisions, the energy of the particle velocity fluctuations plays an important role in the physics. Here we focus on the separation of grains by properties - size, for example - that is driven by spatial gradients in the fluctuation energy of the grains. The segregation of grains by size is commonly observed in geophysical flows and industrial processes. Segregation of flowing grains can also take place based on other properties, e.g. shape, mass, friction, and coefficient of restitution. Many mechanisms may be responsible for segregation; most of these are strongly influenced by gravity. Here, we outline a mechanism that is independent of gravity. This mechanism may be important but is often obscured in terrestrial grain flows. It is driven by gradients in fluctuation energy. In microgravity, the separation of grains by property will proceed slowly enough to permit flight observations to provide an unambiguous measurement of the transport coefficients associated with the segregation. In this context, we are planning a microgravity shear cell experiment that contains a mixture of two types of spherical grains. The grains will be driven to interact with two different types of boundaries on either sides of the cell. The resulting separation will be observed visually.

Explaining geographic gradients in winter selection of landscapes by boreal caribou with implications under global changes in Eastern Canada.

PubMed

Beguin, Julien; McIntire, Eliot J B; Fortin, Daniel; Cumming, Steven G; Raulier, Frédéric; Racine, Pierre; Dussault, Claude

2013-01-01

Many animal species exhibit broad-scale latitudinal or longitudinal gradients in their response to biotic and abiotic components of their habitat. Although knowing the underlying mechanism of these patterns can be critical to the development of sound measures for the preservation or recovery of endangered species, few studies have yet identified which processes drive the existence of geographical gradients in habitat selection. Using extensive spatial data of broad latitudinal and longitudinal extent, we tested three hypotheses that could explain the presence of geographical gradients in landscape selection of the endangered boreal woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) during winter in Eastern Canadian boreal forests: 1) climate-driven selection, which postulates that geographic gradients are surrogates for climatic gradients; 2) road-driven selection, which proposes that boreal caribou adjust their selection for certain habitat classes as a function of proximity to roads; and 3) an additive effect of both roads and climate. Our data strongly supported road-driven selection over climate influences. Thus, direct human alteration of landscapes drives boreal caribou distribution and should likely remain so until the climate changes sufficiently from present conditions. Boreal caribou avoided logged areas two-fold more strongly than burnt areas. Limiting the spread of road networks and accounting for the uneven impact of logging compared to wildfire should therefore be integral parts of any habitat management plan and conservation measures within the range of the endangered boreal caribou. The use of hierarchical spatial models allowed us to explore the distribution of spatially-structured errors in our models, which in turn provided valuable insights for generating alternative hypotheses about processes responsible for boreal caribou distribution.

Morphometric traits capture the climatically driven species turnover of 10 spruce taxa across China.

PubMed

Li, He; Wang, GuoHong; Zhang, Yun; Zhang, WeiKang

2016-02-01

This study explored the relative roles of climate and phylogenetic background in driving morphometric trait variation in 10 spruce taxa in China. The study further addressed the hypothesis that these variations are consistent with species turnover on climatic gradients. Nine morphometric traits of leaves, seed cones, and seeds for the 10 studied spruce taxa were measured at 504 sites. These data were analyzed in combination with species DNA sequences from NCBI GenBank. We detected the effects of phylogeny and climate through trait-variation-based K statistics and phylogenetic eigenvector regression (PVR) analyses. Multivariate analyses were performed to detect trait variation along climatic gradients with species replacement. The estimated K-values for the nine studied morphometric traits ranged from 0.19 to 0.68, and the studied environmental variables explained 39-83% of the total trait variation. Trait variation tended to be determined largely by a temperature gradient varying from wet-cool climates to dry-warm summers and, additionally, by a moisture gradient. As the climate became wetter and cooler, spruce species tended to be replaced by other spruces with smaller needle leaves and seeds but larger cones and seed scales. A regression analysis showed that spruce species tended to be successively replaced by other species, along the gradient, although the trends observed within species were not necessarily consistent with the overall trend. The climatically driven replacement of the spruces in question could be well indicated by the between-species variation in morphometric traits that carry lower phylogenetic signal. Between-species variation in these traits is driven primarily by climatic factors. These species demonstrate a narrower ecological amplitude in temperature but wider ranges on the moisture gradient.

Evidence of a New Instability in Gyrokinetic Simulations of LAPD Plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Terry, P. W.; Pueschel, M. J.; Rossi, G.; Jenko, F.; Told, D.; Carter, T. A.

2015-11-01

Recent experiments at the LArge Plasma Device (LAPD) have focused on structure formation driven by density and temperature gradients. A central difference relative to typical, tokamak-like plasmas stems from the linear geometry and absence of background magnetic shear. At sufficiently high β, strong excitation of parallel (compressional) magnetic fluctuations was observed. Here, linear and nonlinear simulations with the Gene code are used to demonstrate that these findings can be explained through the linear excitation of a Gradient-driven Drift Coupling mode (GDC). This recently-discovered instability, unlike other drift waves, relies on the grad-B drift due to parallel magnetic fluctuations in lieu of a parallel electron response, and can be driven by density or temperature gradients. The linear properties of the GDC for LAPD parameters are studied in detail, and the corresponding turbulence is investigated. It is found that, despite the very large collisionality in the experiment, many properties are recovered fairly well in the simulations. In addition to confirming the existence of the GDC, this opens up interesting questions regarding GDC activity in astrophysical and space plasmas. Supported by USDOE.

Rheological Properties of Quasi-2D Fluids in Microgravity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Trittel, Torsten; Stannarius, Ralf; Eremin, Alexey; Harth, Kirsten; Clark, Noel A.; Maclennan, Joseph; Glaser, Matthew; Park, Cheol; Hall, Nancy; Tin, Padetha

2016-01-01

Freely suspended smectic films of sub-micrometer thickness and lateral extensions of several millimeters are used to study thermally driven convection and diffusion in the film plane. The experiments were performed during a six minute microgravity phase of a TEXUS suborbital rocket flight (Texus 52, launched April 27, 2015). The project served as a preliminary test for a planned ISS Experiment with liquid crystal films (OASIS), and in addition it provided new experimental data on smectic films exposed to in-plane thermal gradients.We find an attraction of the smectic material towards the cold edge of the film in a temperature gradient, similar to a Soret effect. This process is reversed when this edge is heated up again. Thermal convection driven by two thermocontacts in the film is practically absent, even at temperature gradients up to 10 Kmm, thermally driven convection sets in when the hot post reaches the transition temperature to the nematic phase.An additional experiment was performed under microgravity conditions to test the stability of liquid crystal bridges in different smectic phases.

Effects of pH and Redox Gradients on Prebiotic Organic Synthesis and the Generation of Free Energy in Simulated Hydrothermal Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barge, L. M.; Flores, E.; Abedian, Y.; Maltais, T.; Cameron, R.; Hermis, N.; Chin, K.; Russell, M. J.; Baum, M. M.

2017-07-01

Hydrothermal minerals in alkaline vents can promote phosphorus and organic concentration, redox reactions driven by catalytic metal sulfides, and the ambient pH and redox gradients can affect the synthesis of organics.

26 CFR 1.642(g)-2 - Deductions included.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... 26 Internal Revenue 8 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Deductions included. 1.642(g)-2 Section 1.642(g... (CONTINUED) INCOME TAXES (CONTINUED) Estates, Trusts, and Beneficiaries § 1.642(g)-2 Deductions included. It...(g) is applicable be treated in the same way. One deduction or portion of a deduction may be allowed...

26 CFR 1.642(g)-2 - Deductions included.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 26 Internal Revenue 8 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Deductions included. 1.642(g)-2 Section 1.642(g... (CONTINUED) INCOME TAXES (CONTINUED) Estates, Trusts, and Beneficiaries § 1.642(g)-2 Deductions included. It...(g) is applicable be treated in the same way. One deduction or portion of a deduction may be allowed...

26 CFR 1.642(g)-2 - Deductions included.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 26 Internal Revenue 8 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Deductions included. 1.642(g)-2 Section 1.642(g... (CONTINUED) INCOME TAXES (CONTINUED) Estates, Trusts, and Beneficiaries § 1.642(g)-2 Deductions included. It...(g) is applicable be treated in the same way. One deduction or portion of a deduction may be allowed...

26 CFR 1.642(g)-2 - Deductions included.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... 26 Internal Revenue 8 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Deductions included. 1.642(g)-2 Section 1.642(g... (CONTINUED) INCOME TAXES (CONTINUED) Estates, Trusts, and Beneficiaries § 1.642(g)-2 Deductions included. It...(g) is applicable be treated in the same way. One deduction or portion of a deduction may be allowed...

Identifying Time Periods of Minimal Thermal Gradient for Temperature-Driven Structural Health Monitoring

PubMed Central

Reilly, John; Glisic, Branko

2018-01-01

Temperature changes play a large role in the day to day structural behavior of structures, but a smaller direct role in most contemporary Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) analyses. Temperature-Driven SHM will consider temperature as the principal driving force in SHM, relating a measurable input temperature to measurable output generalized strain (strain, curvature, etc.) and generalized displacement (deflection, rotation, etc.) to create three-dimensional signatures descriptive of the structural behavior. Identifying time periods of minimal thermal gradient provides the foundation for the formulation of the temperature–deformation–displacement model. Thermal gradients in a structure can cause curvature in multiple directions, as well as non-linear strain and stress distributions within the cross-sections, which significantly complicates data analysis and interpretation, distorts the signatures, and may lead to unreliable conclusions regarding structural behavior and condition. These adverse effects can be minimized if the signatures are evaluated at times when thermal gradients in the structure are minimal. This paper proposes two classes of methods based on the following two metrics: (i) the range of raw temperatures on the structure, and (ii) the distribution of the local thermal gradients, for identifying time periods of minimal thermal gradient on a structure with the ability to vary the tolerance of acceptable thermal gradients. The methods are tested and validated with data collected from the Streicker Bridge on campus at Princeton University. PMID:29494496

Identifying Time Periods of Minimal Thermal Gradient for Temperature-Driven Structural Health Monitoring.

PubMed

Reilly, John; Glisic, Branko

2018-03-01

Temperature changes play a large role in the day to day structural behavior of structures, but a smaller direct role in most contemporary Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) analyses. Temperature-Driven SHM will consider temperature as the principal driving force in SHM, relating a measurable input temperature to measurable output generalized strain (strain, curvature, etc.) and generalized displacement (deflection, rotation, etc.) to create three-dimensional signatures descriptive of the structural behavior. Identifying time periods of minimal thermal gradient provides the foundation for the formulation of the temperature-deformation-displacement model. Thermal gradients in a structure can cause curvature in multiple directions, as well as non-linear strain and stress distributions within the cross-sections, which significantly complicates data analysis and interpretation, distorts the signatures, and may lead to unreliable conclusions regarding structural behavior and condition. These adverse effects can be minimized if the signatures are evaluated at times when thermal gradients in the structure are minimal. This paper proposes two classes of methods based on the following two metrics: (i) the range of raw temperatures on the structure, and (ii) the distribution of the local thermal gradients, for identifying time periods of minimal thermal gradient on a structure with the ability to vary the tolerance of acceptable thermal gradients. The methods are tested and validated with data collected from the Streicker Bridge on campus at Princeton University.

Demonstration of acceleration of relativistic electrons at a dielectric microstructure using femtosecond laser pulses

DOE PAGES

Wootton, Kent P.; Wu, Ziran; Cowan, Benjamin M.; ...

2016-06-02

Acceleration of electrons using laser-driven dielectric microstructures is a promising technology for the miniaturization of particle accelerators. Achieving the desired GV m –1 accelerating gradients is possible only with laser pulse durations shorter than ~1 ps. In this Letter, we present, to the best of our knowledge, the first demonstration of acceleration of relativistic electrons at a dielectric microstructure driven by femtosecond duration laser pulses. Furthermore, using this technique, an electron accelerating gradient of 690±100 MV m –1 was measured—a record for dielectric laser accelerators.

Sulfate-bicarbonate exchange in brush-border membranes from rat renal cortex

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

Pritchard, J.B.

1987-02-01

Under Na/sup +/-free conditions /sup 35/SO/sub 4//sup 2 -/ uptake by rat renal brush-border membrane (BBM) vesicles could be driven by imposition of a HCO/sup -//sub 3/ gradient (in greater than out). The initial rate of /sup 35/SO/sub 4//sup 2 -/ uptake was stimulated 10-fold, and peak overshoot exceeded equilibrium uptake by 2-3 times. Cl/sup -/, SCN/sup -/, NO/sub 3//sup -/, I/sup -/, and OH/sup -/ were able to substitute for HCO/sub 3//sup -/. Divalent anions, including /sup 35/SO/sub 4//sup 2 -/ itself, were less effective as counterions. HCO/sub 3//sup -/-SO/sub 4//sup 2 -/ exchange was cis-inhibited by disulfonic stilbenes,more » ((SITS)(DIDS)), phloretin, Hg, and S/sub 2/O/sub 3//sup 2 -/. HCO/sub 3//sup -/-driven /sup 35/SO/sub 4//sup 2 -/ uptake was saturable, with an apparent K/sub m/ of 0.4 mM for SO/sub 4//sup 2 -/. Simultaneous imposition of Na/sup +/ and HCO/sub 3//sup -/ gradients produced approximately additive stimulation of /sup 35/SO/sub 4//sup 2 -/ uptake. The HCO/sub 3//sup -/-driven component of /sup 35/SO/sub 4//sup 2 -/ uptake, but not the component driven by Na/sup +/, was inhibited by SITS. Finally, Na/sup +/-driven SO/sub 4//sup 2 -/ accumulation could be reduced by imposing an out greater than in HCO/sub 3//sup +/ gradient, conditions accelerating exchange driven SO/sub 4//sup 2 -/ efflux. These findings indicate the presence of separate Na/sup +/-SO/sub 4//sup 2 -/ cotransport and SO /sub 4//sup 2 -/-anion exchange pathways in the same BBM vesicles.« less

Temperature-gradient-induced

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Park, Cheol; Glaser, Matt; Maclennan, Joe; Clark, Noel; Trittel, Torsten; Stannarius, Ralf

Freely-suspended smectic films of sub-micrometer thickness and lateral extensions of several millimeters were used to study thermally driven migration and convection in the film plane. Film experiments were performed during the 6 minute microgravity phase of a TEXUS suborbital rocket flight (Texus 52, launched April 27, 2015). We have found an attraction of the smectic material towards the cold edge of the film in a temperature gradient, similar to the Soret effect. This process is reversed when this edge is heated up again. Thermal convection driven by two thermocontacts in the film is practically absent, even at temperature gradients up to 10 K/mm, with thermally driven convection only setting in when the hot post reaches the transition temperature to the nematic phase. The Observation and Analysis of Smectic Islands in Space (OASIS) flight hardware was launched on SpaceX-6 in April 2015 and experiments on smectic bubbles were carried out on the International Space Station using four different smectic A and C liquid crystal materials in separate sample chambers. We observed that smectic islands on the surface of the bubbles migrated towards the colder part of the bubble in a temperature gradient. This work was supported by NASA Grant No. NNX-13AQ81G, by the Soft Materials Research Center under NSF MRSEC Grants No. DMR-0820579 and No. DMR-1420736, and by DLR Grants 50WM1127 and 50WM1430.

Chemotaxis of Molecular Dyes in Polymer Gradients in Solution.

PubMed

Guha, Rajarshi; Mohajerani, Farzad; Collins, Matthew; Ghosh, Subhadip; Sen, Ayusman; Velegol, Darrell

2017-11-08

Chemotaxis provides a mechanism for directing the transport of molecules along chemical gradients. Here, we show the chemotactic migration of dye molecules in response to the gradients of several different neutral polymers. The magnitude of chemotactic response depends on the structure of the monomer, polymer molecular weight and concentration, and the nature of the solvent. The mechanism involves cross-diffusion up the polymer gradient, driven by favorable dye-polymer interaction. Modeling allows us to quantitatively evaluate the strength of the interaction and the effect of the various parameters that govern chemotaxis.

Charge Requirements for Proton Gradient-driven Translocation of Anthrax Toxin*

PubMed Central

Brown, Michael J.; Thoren, Katie L.; Krantz, Bryan A.

2011-01-01

Anthrax lethal toxin is used as a model system to study protein translocation. The toxin is composed of a translocase channel, called protective antigen (PA), and an enzyme, called lethal factor (LF). A proton gradient (ΔpH) can drive LF unfolding and translocation through PA channels; however, the mechanism of ΔpH-mediated force generation, substrate unfolding, and establishment of directionality are poorly understood. One recent hypothesis suggests that the ΔpH may act through changes in the protonation state of residues in the substrate. Here we report the charge requirements of LF's amino-terminal binding domain (LFN) using planar lipid bilayer electrophysiology. We found that acidic residues are required in LFN to utilize a proton gradient for translocation. Constructs lacking negative charges in the unstructured presequence of LFN translocate independently of the ΔpH driving force. Acidic residues markedly increase the rate of ΔpH-driven translocation, and the presequence is optimized in its natural acidic residue content for efficient ΔpH-driven unfolding and translocation. We discuss a ΔpH-driven charge state Brownian ratchet mechanism for translocation, where glutamic and aspartic acid residues in the substrate are the “molecular teeth” of the ratchet. Our Brownian ratchet model includes a mechanism for unfolding and a novel role for positive charges, which we propose chaperone negative charges through the PA channel during ΔpH translocation. PMID:21507946

Mass sensitivity studies for an inductively driven railgun

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scanlon, J. J., III; Young, A. F.

1991-01-01

Those areas which result in substantial system mass reductions for an HPG (homopolar generator) driven EML (electromagnetic launcher) are identified. Sensitivity studies are performed by varying launch mass, peak acceleration, launcher efficiency, inductance gradient, injection velocity, barrel mass per unit length, fuel tankage and pump estimates, and component energy and power densities. Two major contributors to the system mass are the allowed number of shots per barrel versus the number required for the mission, and the barrel length. The effects of component performance parameters, such as friction coefficient, injection velocity, ablation coefficient, rail resistivity, armature voltage, peak acceleration, and inductance gradient on these two areas, are addressed.

Control of topography gradients on residence time distributions, mixing dynamics and reactive hotspot development

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bandopadhyay, Aditya; Le Borgne, Tanguy; Davy, Philippe

2017-04-01

Topography-driven subsurface flows are thought to play a central role in determining solute turnover and biogeochemical processes at different scales in the critical zone, including river-hyporheic zone exchanges, hillslope solute transport and reactions, and catchment biogeochemical cycles. Hydraulic head gradients, induced by topography gradients at different scales, generate a distribution of streamlines at depth, dictating the spatial distribution of redox sensitive species, the magnitude of surface water - ground water exchanges and ultimately the source/sink function of the subsurface. Flow velocities generally decrease with depth, leading to broad residence time distributions, which have been shown to affect river chemistry and geochemical reactions in catchments. In this presentation, we discuss the impact of topography-driven flows on mixing processes and the formation of localized reactive hotspots. For this, we solve analytically the coupled flow, mixing and reaction equations in two-dimensional vertical cross-sections of subsurface domains with different topography gradients. For a given topography gradient, we derive the spatial distribution of subsurface velocities, the rates of solute mixing accross streamlines and the induced kinetics of redox, precipitation and dissolution reactions using a Lagrangian approach (Le Borgne et al. 2014). We demonstrate that vertical velocity profiles driven by topography variations, act effectively as shear flows, hence stretching continuously the mixing fronts between recently infiltrated and resident water (Bandopadhyay et al. 2017). We thus derive analytical expressions for residence time distributions, mixing rates and kinetics of chemical reactions as a function of the topography gradients. We show that the rates dissolution and precipitation reactions are significantly enhanced by the existence of vertical velocity gradients and that reaction rates reach a maximum in a localized subsurface reactive layer, whose location and intensity depends on topography gradients. As a consequence of these findings, we discuss the links between topography variations, subsurface velocity gradients and biogeochemical processes in the critical zone. References: Bandopadhyay A., T. Le Borgne, Y. Méheust and M. Dentz (2017) Enhanced reaction kinetics and reactive mixing scale dynamics in mixing fronts under shear flow for arbitrary Damkohler numbers, Adv. in Water Resour. Vol. 100, p. 78-95 Le Borgne T., T. Ginn and M. Dentz (2014) Impact of Fluid Deformation on Mixing-Induced Chemical Reactions in Heterogeneous Flows, Geophys. Res. Lett., Vol. 41, 22, p. 7898-790

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

Luo, Qingtao; Li, Liyu; Nie, Zimin

We will show a new method to differentiate the vanadium transport from concentration gradient and that from electric field. Flow batteries with vanadium and iron redox couples as the electro-active species were employed to investigate the transport behavior of vanadium ions in the presence of electric field. It was shown that electric field accelerated the positive-to-negative and reduced the negative-to-positive vanadium ions transport in charge process and affected the vanadium ions transport in an opposite way in discharge process. In addition, a method was designed to differentiate the concentration gradient-driven vanadium ions diffusion and electric field-driven vanadium ions migration. Simplifiedmore » mathematical model was established to simulate the vanadium ions transport in real charge-discharge operation of flow battery. The concentration gradient diffusion coefficients and electric-migration coefficients of V2+, V3+, VO2+, and VO2+ across Nafion membrane were obtained by fitting the experimental data.« less

Electro-osmotically driven liquid delivery method and apparatus

DOEpatents

Rakestraw, David J.; Anex, Deon S.; Yan, Chao; Dadoo, Rajeev; Zare, Richard N.

1999-01-01

Method and apparatus for controlling precisely the composition and delivery of liquid at sub-.mu.L/min flow rate. One embodiment of such a delivery system is an electro-osmotically driven gradient flow delivery system that generates dynamic gradient flows with sub-.mu.L/min flow rates by merging a plurality of electro-osmotic flows. These flows are delivered by a plurality of delivery arms attached to a mixing connector, where they mix and then flow into a receiving means, preferably a column. Each inlet of the plurality of delivery arms is placed in a corresponding solution reservoir. A plurality of independent programmable high-voltage power supplies is used to apply a voltage program to each of the plurality of solution reservoirs to regulate the electro-osmotic flow in each delivery arm. The electro-osmotic flow rates in the delivery arms are changed with time according to each voltage program to deliver the required gradient profile to the column.

Data-driven gradient algorithm for high-precision quantum control

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Re-Bing; Chu, Bing; Owens, David H.; Rabitz, Herschel

2018-04-01

In the quest to achieve scalable quantum information processing technologies, gradient-based optimal control algorithms (e.g., grape) are broadly used for implementing high-precision quantum gates, but their performance is often hindered by deterministic or random errors in the system model and the control electronics. In this paper, we show that grape can be taught to be more effective by jointly learning from the design model and the experimental data obtained from process tomography. The resulting data-driven gradient optimization algorithm (d-grape) can in principle correct all deterministic gate errors, with a mild efficiency loss. The d-grape algorithm may become more powerful with broadband controls that involve a large number of control parameters, while other algorithms usually slow down due to the increased size of the search space. These advantages are demonstrated by simulating the implementation of a two-qubit controlled-not gate.

Centrifuge in space fluid flow visualization experiment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Arnold, William A.; Wilcox, William R.; Regel, Liya L.; Dunbar, Bonnie J.

1993-01-01

A prototype flow visualization system is constructed to examine buoyancy driven flows during centrifugation in space. An axial density gradient is formed by imposing a thermal gradient between the two ends of the test cell. Numerical computations for this geometry showed that the Prandtl number plays a limited part in determining the flow.

Investigations into dual-grating THz-driven accelerators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wei, Y.; Ischebeck, R.; Dehler, M.; Ferrari, E.; Hiller, N.; Jamison, S.; Xia, G.; Hanahoe, K.; Li, Y.; Smith, J. D. A.; Welsch, C. P.

2018-01-01

Advanced acceleration technologies are receiving considerable interest in order to miniaturize future particle accelerators. One such technology is the dual-grating dielectric structures, which can support accelerating fields one to two orders of magnitude higher than the metal RF cavities in conventional accelerators. This opens up the possibility of enabling high accelerating gradients of up to several GV/m. This paper investigates numerically a quartz dual-grating structure which is driven by THz pulses to accelerate electrons. Geometry optimizations are carried out to achieve the trade-offs between accelerating gradient and vacuum channel gap. A realistic electron bunch available from the future Compact Linear Accelerator for Research and Applications (CLARA) is loaded into an optimized 100-period dual-grating structure for a detailed wakefield study. A THz pulse is then employed to interact with this CLARA bunch in the optimized structure. The computed beam quality is analyzed in terms of emittance, energy spread and loaded accelerating gradient. The simulations show that an accelerating gradient of 348 ± 12 MV/m with an emittance growth of 3.0% can be obtained.

Texturing of high T(sub c) superconducting polycrystalline fibers/wires by laser-driven directional solidification in an thermal gradient

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Varshney, Usha; Eichelberger, B. Davis, III

1995-01-01

This paper summarizes the technique of laser-driven directional solidification in a controlled thermal gradient of yttria stabilized zirconia core coated Y-Ba-Cu-O materials to produce textured high T(sub c) superconducting polycrystalline fibers/wires with improved critical current densities in the extended range of magnetic fields at temperatures greater than 77 K. The approach involves laser heating to minimize phase segregation by heating very rapidly through the two-phase incongruent melt region to the single phase melt region and directionally solidifying in a controlled thermal gradient to achieve highly textured grains in the fiber axis direction. The technique offers a higher grain growth rate and a lower thermal budget compared with a conventional thermal gradient and is amenable as a continuous process for improving the J(sub c) of high T(sub c) superconducting polycrystalline fibers/wires. The technique has the advantage of suppressing weak-link behavior by orientation of crystals, formation of dense structures with enhanced connectivity, formation of fewer and cleaner grain boundaries, and minimization of phase segregation in the incongruent melt region.

Sloshing of Cryogenic Helium Driven by Lateral Impulse/Gravity Gradient-Dominated/or g-Jitter-Dominated Accelerations and Orbital Dynamics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hung, R. J.; Long, Y. T.; Zu, G. J.

1996-01-01

The coupling of slosh dynamics within a partially filled rotating dewar of superfluid helium 11 with spacecraft orbital dynamics is investigated in response to the environmental disturbances of (a) lateral impulses, (b) gravity gradients and (c) g-jitter forces. The purpose of this study is to investigate how the coupling of helium 11 fluid slosh dynamics driven by three cases of environmental force with spacecraft dynamics can affect the bubble deformations and their associated fluid and spacecraft mass centre fluctuations. The numerical computation of slosh dynamics is based on a rotational frame, while the spacecraft dynamics is associated with a non-rotational frame. Results show that the major contribution of orbital dynamics is driven by coupling with slosh dynamics. Neglecting the effect of slosh dynamics acting on the spacecraft may lead to the wrong results for the development of orbital and attitude control techniques.

Fully kinetic Biermann battery and associated generation of pressure anisotropy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schoeffler, K. M.; Loureiro, N. F.; Silva, L. O.

2018-03-01

The dynamical evolution of a fully kinetic, collisionless system with imposed background density and temperature gradients is investigated analytically. The temperature gradient leads to the generation of temperature anisotropy, with the temperature along the gradient becoming larger than that in the direction perpendicular to it. This causes the system to become unstable to pressure anisotropy driven instabilities, dominantly to the electron Weibel instability. When both density and temperature gradients are present and nonparallel to each other, we obtain a Biermann-like linear-in-time magnetic field growth. Accompanying particle-in-cell numerical simulations are shown to confirm our analytical results.

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.

Construction of a Virtual Scanning Electron Microscope (VSEM)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fried, Glenn; Grosser, Benjamin

2004-01-01

The Imaging Technology Group (ITG) proposed to develop a Virtual SEM (VSEM) application and supporting materials as the first installed instrument in NASA s Virtual Laboratory Project. The instrument was to be a simulator modeled after an existing SEM, and was to mimic that real instrument as closely as possible. Virtual samples would be developed and provided along with the instrument, which would be written in Java.

The PDGFRα-laminin B1-keratin 19 cascade drives tumor progression at the invasive front of human hepatocellular carcinoma

PubMed Central

Govaere, O; Petz, M; Wouters, J; Vandewynckel, Y-P; Scott, E J; Topal, B; Nevens, F; Verslype, C; Anstee, Q M; Van Vlierberghe, H; Mikulits, W; Roskams, T

2017-01-01

Human hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) expressing the biliary/hepatic progenitor cell marker keratin 19 (K19) have been linked with a poor prognosis and exhibit an increase in platelet-derived growth factor receptor α (PDGFRα) and laminin beta 1 (LAMB1) expression. PDGFRα has been reported to induce de novo synthesis of LAMB1 protein in a Sjogren syndrome antigen B (La/SSB)-dependent manner in a murine metastasis model. However, the role of this cascade in human HCC remains unclear. This study focused on the functional role of the PDGFRα-La/SSB-LAMB1 pathway and its molecular link to K19 expression in human HCC. In surgical HCC specimens from a cohort of 136 patients, PDGFRα expression correlated with K19 expression, microvascular invasion and metastatic spread. In addition, PDGFRα expression in pre-operative needle biopsy specimens predicted poor overall survival during a 5-year follow-up period. Consecutive histological staining demonstrated that the signaling components of the PDGFRα-La/SSB-LAMB1 pathway were strongly expressed at the invasive front. K19-positive HCC cells displayed high levels of α2β1 integrin (ITG) receptor, both in vitro and in vivo. In vitro activation of PDGFRα signaling triggered the translocation of nuclear La/SSB into the cytoplasm, enhanced the protein synthesis of LAMB1 by activating its internal ribosome entry site, which in turn led to increased secretion of laminin-111. This effect was abrogated by the PDGFRα-specific inhibitor crenolanib. Importantly LAMB1 stimulated ITG-dependent focal adhesion kinase/Src proto-oncogene non-receptor tyrosine kinase signaling. It also promoted the ITG-specific downstream target Rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase 2, induced K19 expression in an autocrine manner, invadopodia formation and cell invasion. Finally, we showed that the knockdown of LAMB1 or K19 in subcutaneous xenograft mouse models resulted in significant loss of cells invading the surrounding stromal tissue and reduced HepG2 colonization into lung and liver after tail vein injection. The PDGFRα-LAMB1 pathway supports tumor progression at the invasive front of human HCC through K19 expression. PMID:28783171

Ancient Living Organisms Escaping from, or Imprisoned in, the Vents?

PubMed Central

Jackson, J. Baz

2017-01-01

We have recently criticised the natural pH gradient hypothesis which purports to explain how the difference in pH between fluid issuing from ancient alkali vents and the more acidic Hadean ocean could have driven molecular machines that catalyse reactions that are useful in prebiotic and autotrophic chemistry. In this article, we temporarily suspend our earlier criticism while we consider difficulties for primitive organisms to have managed their energy supply and to have left the vents and become free-living. We point out that it may have been impossible for organisms to have acquired membrane-located proton (or sodium ion) pumps to replace the natural pH gradient, and independently to have driven essential molecular machines such as the ATP synthase. The volumes of the ocean and of the vent fluids were too large for a membrane-located pump to have generated a significant ion concentration gradient. Our arguments apply to three of the four concurrent models employed by the proponents of the natural pH gradient hypothesis. A fourth model is exempt from these arguments but has other intrinsic difficulties that we briefly consider. We conclude that ancient organisms utilising a natural pH gradient would have been imprisoned in the vents, unable to escape and become free-living. PMID:28914790

Density-Gradient-Driven trapped-electron-modes in improved-confinement RFP plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Duff, James

2016-10-01

Short wavelength density fluctuations in improved-confinement MST plasmas exhibit multiple features characteristic of the trapped-electron-mode (TEM), strong evidence that drift wave turbulence emerges in RFP plasmas when transport associated with MHD tearing is reduced. Core transport in the RFP is normally governed by magnetic stochasticity stemming from long wavelength tearing modes that arise from current profile peaking. Using inductive control, the tearing modes are reduced and global confinement is increased to values expected for a comparable tokamak plasma. The improved confinement is associated with a large increase in the pressure gradient that can destabilize drift waves. The measured density fluctuations have frequencies >50 kHz, wavenumbers k_phi*rho_s<0.14, and propagate in the electron drift direction. Their spectral emergence coincides with a sharp decrease in fluctuations associated with global tearing modes. Their amplitude increases with the local density gradient, and they exhibit a density-gradient threshold at R/L_n 15, higher than in tokamak plasmas by R/a. the GENE code, modified for RFP equilibria, predicts the onset of microinstability for these strong-gradient plasma conditions. The density-gradient-driven TEM is the dominant instability in the region where the measured density fluctuations are largest, and the experimental threshold-gradient is close to the predicted critical gradient for linear stability. While nonlinear analysis shows a large Dimits shift associated with predicted strong zonal flows, the inclusion of residual magnetic fluctuations causes a collapse of the zonal flows and an increase in the predicted transport to a level close to the experimentally measured heat flux. Similar circumstances could occur in the edge region of tokamak plasmas when resonant magnetic perturbations are applied for the control of ELMs. Work supported by US DOE.

Persistence-Driven Durotaxis: Generic, Directed Motility in Rigidity Gradients

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Novikova, Elizaveta A.; Raab, Matthew; Discher, Dennis E.; Storm, Cornelis

2017-02-01

Cells move differently on substrates with different rigidities: the persistence time of their motion is higher on stiffer substrates. We show that this behavior—in and of itself—results in a net flux of cells directed up a soft-to-stiff gradient. Using simple random walk models with varying persistence and stochastic simulations, we characterize the propensity to move in terms of the durotactic index also measured in experiments. A one-dimensional model captures the essential features and highlights the competition between diffusive spreading and linear, wavelike propagation. Persistence-driven durokinesis is generic and may be of use in the design of instructive environments for cells and other motile, mechanosensitive objects.

Non-Axisymmetric Line Driven Disc Winds II - Full Velocity Gradient

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dyda, Sergei; Proga, Daniel

2018-05-01

We study non-axisymetric features of 3D line driven winds in the Sobolev approximation, where the optical depth is calculated using the full velocity gradient. We find that non-axisymmetric density features, so called clumps, form primarily at the base of the wind on super-Sobolev length scales. The density of clumps differs by a factor of ˜3 from the azimuthal average, the magnitude of their velocity dispersion is comparable to the flow velocity and they produce ˜20% variations in the column density. Clumps may be observable because differences in density produce enhancements in emission and absorption profiles or through their velocity dispersion which enhances line broadening.

Experimental observation of the thermocapillary driven motion of bubbles in a molten glass under low gravity conditions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smith, H. D.; Mattox, D. M.; Wilcox, W. R.; Subramanian, R. S.; Meyyappan, M.

1982-01-01

An experiment was carried out on board a Space Processing Applications Rocket with the aim of demonstrating bubble migration in molten glass due to a temperature gradient under low gravity conditions. During the flight, a sample of a sodium borate melt with a specific bubble array, contained in a platinum/fused silica cell, was subjected to a well defined temperature gradient for more than 4 minutes. Photographs taken at one second intervals during the experiment clearly show that the bubbles move toward the hot spot on the platinum heater strip. This result is consistent with the predictions of the theory of thermocapillary driven bubble motion.

Biodegradable Vaccine Microcapsules for Systemic and Mucosal Immunization against RVF and VEE Viruses

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-03-31

C-0113 TITLE: BIODEGRADABLE VACCINE MICROCAPSULES FOR SYSTEMIC AND MUCOSAL IMMUNIZATION AGAINST RVF and VEE Viruses PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: John H...approximately 0.8% by weight VEE vaccine. As measured by ELISA, immunization of mice with from 3 to 100 I.tg of microencapsulated vaccine potentiated the plasma...PAGESuzodegradable microspheres, VEE vaccine, RVF vaccine, vaccines RA I, BD, Lab Animals, Mice, Microencapsulation 16. PRICE COOJE 17, SECURITY

Principles of Adaptive Array Processing

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-09-01

ACE with and without tapering (homogeneous case). These analytical results are less suited to predict the detection performance of a real system ...Nickel: Adaptive Beamforming for Phased Array Radars. Proc. Int. Radar Symposium IRS’98 (Munich, Sept. 1998), DGON and VDE /ITG, pp. 897-906.(Reprint also...strategies for airborne radar. Asilomar Conf. on Signals, Systems and Computers, Pacific Grove, CA, 1998, IEEE Cat.Nr. 0-7803-5148-7/98, pp. 1327-1331. [17

Particle simulation of electromagnetic emissions from electrostatic instability driven by an electron ring beam on the density gradient

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Horký, Miroslav; Omura, Yoshiharu; Santolík, Ondřej

2018-04-01

This paper presents the wave mode conversion between electrostatic and electromagnetic waves on the plasma density gradient. We use 2-D electromagnetic code KEMPO2 implemented with the generation of density gradient to simulate such a conversion process. In the dense region, we use ring beam instability to generate electron Bernstein waves and we study the temporal evolution of wave spectra, velocity distributions, Poynting flux, and electric and magnetic energies to observe the wave mode conversion. Such a conversion process can be a source of electromagnetic emissions which are routinely measured by spacecraft on the plasmapause density gradient.

The Extraction of 3D Shape from Texture and Shading in the Human Brain

PubMed Central

Georgieva, Svetlana S.; Todd, James T.; Peeters, Ronald

2008-01-01

We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate the human cortical areas involved in processing 3-dimensional (3D) shape from texture (SfT) and shading. The stimuli included monocular images of randomly shaped 3D surfaces and a wide variety of 2-dimensional (2D) controls. The results of both passive and active experiments reveal that the extraction of 3D SfT involves the bilateral caudal inferior temporal gyrus (caudal ITG), lateral occipital sulcus (LOS) and several bilateral sites along the intraparietal sulcus. These areas are largely consistent with those involved in the processing of 3D shape from motion and stereo. The experiments also demonstrate, however, that the analysis of 3D shape from shading is primarily restricted to the caudal ITG areas. Additional results from psychophysical experiments reveal that this difference in neuronal substrate cannot be explained by a difference in strength between the 2 cues. These results underscore the importance of the posterior part of the lateral occipital complex for the extraction of visual 3D shape information from all depth cues, and they suggest strongly that the importance of shading is diminished relative to other cues for the analysis of 3D shape in parietal regions. PMID:18281304

Diffusion-assisted selective dynamical recoupling: A new approach to measure background gradients in magnetic resonance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Álvarez, Gonzalo A.; Shemesh, Noam; Frydman, Lucio

2014-02-01

Dynamical decoupling, a generalization of the original NMR spin-echo sequence, is becoming increasingly relevant as a tool for reducing decoherence in quantum systems. Such sequences apply non-equidistant refocusing pulses for optimizing the coupling between systems, and environmental fluctuations characterized by a given noise spectrum. One such sequence, dubbed Selective Dynamical Recoupling (SDR) [P. E. S. Smith, G. Bensky, G. A. Álvarez, G. Kurizki, and L. Frydman, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 109, 5958 (2012)], allows one to coherently reintroduce diffusion decoherence effects driven by fluctuations arising from restricted molecular diffusion [G. A. Álvarez, N. Shemesh, and L. Frydman, Phys. Rev. Lett. 111, 080404 (2013)]. The fully-refocused, constant-time, and constant-number-of-pulses nature of SDR also allows one to filter out "intrinsic" T1 and T2 weightings, as well as pulse errors acting as additional sources of decoherence. This article explores such features when the fluctuations are now driven by unrestricted molecular diffusion. In particular, we show that diffusion-driven SDR can be exploited to investigate the decoherence arising from the frequency fluctuations imposed by internal gradients. As a result, SDR presents a unique way of probing and characterizing these internal magnetic fields, given an a priori known free diffusion coefficient. This has important implications in studies of structured systems, including porous media and live tissues, where the internal gradients may serve as fingerprints for the system's composition or structure. The principles of this method, along with full analytical solutions for the unrestricted diffusion-driven modulation of the SDR signal, are presented. The potential of this approach is demonstrated with the generation of a novel source of MRI contrast, based on the background gradients active in an ex vivo mouse brain. Additional features and limitations of this new method are discussed.

Thermally induced delay and reversal of liquid film dewetting on chemically patterned surfaces.

PubMed

Kalpathy, Sreeram K; Francis, Lorraine F; Kumar, Satish

2013-10-15

A thin liquid film resting on a solid substrate that is heated or cooled from below experiences surface tension gradients, which lead to Marangoni flows. We explore the behavior of such a film on a chemically patterned substrate which drives film dewetting in order to determine how surface patterning and applied temperature gradients can be designed to influence the behavior of thin-film coatings. A nonlinear partial differential equation for the film height based on lubrication theory is solved numerically for a broad range of problem parameters. Uniform cooling of the substrate is found to significantly delay dewetting that is driven by wettability gradients. Uniform heating speeds up dewetting but can destroy the near-perfect templating imposed by the surface patterning. However, localized heating and cooling together can accelerate dewetting while maintaining templating quality. Localized heating and cooling can also be used to drive liquid onto areas that it would dewet from in the absence of heating. Overall, these results indicate that applied temperature gradients can significantly influence dewetting driven by surface patterning, and suggest strategies for the creation of spatially patterned thin-film coatings and flow control in microfluidic devices. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Convection driven generation of long-range material gradients

PubMed Central

Du, Yanan; Hancock, Matthew J.; He, Jiankang; Villa-Uribe, Jose; Wang, Ben; Cropek, Donald M.; Khademhosseini, Ali

2009-01-01

Natural materials exhibit anisotropy with variations in soluble factors, cell distribution, and matrix properties. The ability to recreate the heterogeneity of the natural materials is a major challenge for investigating cell-material interactions and for developing biomimetic materials. Here we present a generic fluidic approach using convection and alternating flow to rapidly generate multi-centimeter gradients of biomolecules, polymers, beads and cells and cross-gradients of two species in a microchannel. Accompanying theoretical estimates and simulations of gradient growth provide design criteria over a range of material properties. A poly(ethyleneglycol) hydrogel gradient, a porous collagen gradient and a composite material with a hyaluronic acid/gelatin cross-gradient were generated with continuous variations in material properties and in their ability to regulate cellular response. This simple yet generic fluidic platform should prove useful for creating anisotropic biomimetic materials and high-throughput platforms for investigating cell-microenvironment interaction. PMID:20035990

From convection rolls to finger convection in double-diffusive turbulence

PubMed Central

Verzicco, Roberto; Lohse, Detlef

2016-01-01

Double-diffusive convection (DDC), which is the buoyancy-driven flow with fluid density depending on two scalar components, is ubiquitous in many natural and engineering environments. Of great interests are scalars' transfer rate and flow structures. Here we systematically investigate DDC flow between two horizontal plates, driven by an unstable salinity gradient and stabilized by a temperature gradient. Counterintuitively, when increasing the stabilizing temperature gradient, the salinity flux first increases, even though the velocity monotonically decreases, before it finally breaks down to the purely diffusive value. The enhanced salinity transport is traced back to a transition in the overall flow pattern, namely from large-scale convection rolls to well-organized vertically oriented salt fingers. We also show and explain that the unifying theory of thermal convection originally developed by Grossmann and Lohse for Rayleigh–Bénard convection can be directly applied to DDC flow for a wide range of control parameters (Lewis number and density ratio), including those which cover the common values relevant for ocean flows. PMID:26699474

Electro-osmotically driven liquid delivery method and apparatus

DOEpatents

Rakestraw, D.J.; Anex, D.S.; Yan, C.; Dadoo, R.; Zare, R.N.

1999-08-24

Method and apparatus are disclosed for controlling precisely the composition and delivery of liquid at sub-{micro}L/min flow rate. One embodiment of such a delivery system is an electro-osmotically driven gradient flow delivery system that generates dynamic gradient flows with sub-{micro}L/min flow rates by merging a plurality of electro-osmotic flows. These flows are delivered by a plurality of delivery arms attached to a mixing connector, where they mix and then flow into a receiving means, preferably a column. Each inlet of the plurality of delivery arms is placed in a corresponding solution reservoir. A plurality of independent programmable high-voltage power supplies is used to apply a voltage program to each of the plurality of solution reservoirs to regulate the electro-osmotic flow in each delivery arm. The electro-osmotic flow rates in the delivery arms are changed with time according to each voltage program to deliver the required gradient profile to the column. 4 figs.

Compact and tunable focusing device for plasma wakefield acceleration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pompili, R.; Anania, M. P.; Chiadroni, E.; Cianchi, A.; Ferrario, M.; Lollo, V.; Notargiacomo, A.; Picardi, L.; Ronsivalle, C.; Rosenzweig, J. B.; Shpakov, V.; Vannozzi, A.

2018-03-01

Plasma wakefield acceleration, either driven by ultra-short laser pulses or electron bunches, represents one of the most promising techniques able to overcome the limits of conventional RF technology and allows the development of compact accelerators. In the particle beam-driven scenario, ultra-short bunches with tiny spot sizes are required to enhance the accelerating gradient and preserve the emittance and energy spread of the accelerated bunch. To achieve such tight transverse beam sizes, a focusing system with short focal length is mandatory. Here we discuss the development of a compact and tunable system consisting of three small-bore permanent-magnet quadrupoles with 520 T/m field gradient. The device has been designed in view of the plasma acceleration experiments planned at the SPARC_LAB test-facility. Being the field gradient fixed, the focusing is adjusted by tuning the relative position of the three magnets with nanometer resolution. Details about its magnetic design, beam-dynamics simulations, and preliminary results are examined in the paper.

Barrier island breach evolution: Alongshore transport and bay-ocean pressure gradient interactions

USGS Publications Warehouse

Safak, Ilgar; Warner, John C.; List, Jeffrey

2016-01-01

Physical processes controlling repeated openings and closures of a barrier island breach between a bay and the open ocean are studied using aerial photographs and atmospheric and hydrodynamic observations. The breach site is located on Pea Island along the Outer Banks, separating Pamlico Sound from the Atlantic Ocean. Wind direction was a major control on the pressure gradients between the bay and the ocean to drive flows that initiate or maintain the breach opening. Alongshore sediment flux was found to be a major contributor to breach closure. During the analysis period from 2011 to 2016, three hurricanes had major impacts on the breach. First, Hurricane Irene opened the breach with wind-driven flow from bay to ocean in August 2011. Hurricane Sandy in October 2012 quadrupled the channel width from pressure gradient flows due to water levels that were first higher on the ocean side and then higher on the bay side. The breach closed sometime in Spring 2013, most likely due to an event associated with strong alongshore sediment flux but minimal ocean-bay pressure gradients. Then, in July 2014, Hurricane Arthur briefly opened the breach again from the bay side, in a similar fashion to Irene. In summary, opening and closure of breaches are shown to follow a dynamic and episodic balance between along-channel pressure gradient driven flows and alongshore sediment fluxes.

Simultaneously driven linear and nonlinear spatial encoding fields in MRI.

PubMed

Gallichan, Daniel; Cocosco, Chris A; Dewdney, Andrew; Schultz, Gerrit; Welz, Anna; Hennig, Jürgen; Zaitsev, Maxim

2011-03-01

Spatial encoding in MRI is conventionally achieved by the application of switchable linear encoding fields. The general concept of the recently introduced PatLoc (Parallel Imaging Technique using Localized Gradients) encoding is to use nonlinear fields to achieve spatial encoding. Relaxing the requirement that the encoding fields must be linear may lead to improved gradient performance or reduced peripheral nerve stimulation. In this work, a custom-built insert coil capable of generating two independent quadratic encoding fields was driven with high-performance amplifiers within a clinical MR system. In combination with the three linear encoding fields, the combined hardware is capable of independently manipulating five spatial encoding fields. With the linear z-gradient used for slice-selection, there remain four separate channels to encode a 2D-image. To compare trajectories of such multidimensional encoding, the concept of a local k-space is developed. Through simulations, reconstructions using six gradient-encoding strategies were compared, including Cartesian encoding separately or simultaneously on both PatLoc and linear gradients as well as two versions of a radial-based in/out trajectory. Corresponding experiments confirmed that such multidimensional encoding is practically achievable and demonstrated that the new radial-based trajectory offers the PatLoc property of variable spatial resolution while maintaining finite resolution across the entire field-of-view. Copyright © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Population Differentiation and Species Formation in the Deep Sea: The Potential Role of Environmental Gradients and Depth

PubMed Central

Jennings, Robert M.; Etter, Ron J.; Ficarra, Lynn

2013-01-01

Ecological speciation probably plays a more prominent role in diversification than previously thought, particularly in marine ecosystems where dispersal potential is great and where few obvious barriers to gene flow exist. This may be especially true in the deep sea where allopatric speciation seems insufficient to account for the rich and largely endemic fauna. Ecologically driven population differentiation and speciation are likely to be most prevalent along environmental gradients, such as those attending changes in depth. We quantified patterns of genetic variation along a depth gradient (1600-3800m) in the western North Atlantic for a protobranch bivalve ( Nuculaatacellana ) to test for population divergence. Multilocus analyses indicated a sharp discontinuity across a narrow depth range, with extremely low gene flow inferred between shallow and deep populations for thousands of generations. Phylogeographical discordance occurred between nuclear and mitochondrial loci as might be expected during the early stages of species formation. Because the geographic distance between divergent populations is small and no obvious dispersal barriers exist in this region, we suggest the divergence might reflect ecologically driven selection mediated by environmental correlates of the depth gradient. As inferred for numerous shallow-water species, environmental gradients that parallel changes in depth may play a key role in the genesis and adaptive radiation of the deep-water fauna. PMID:24098590

Validation of contour-driven thin-plate splines for tracking fraction-to-fraction changes in anatomy and radiation therapy dose mapping.

PubMed

Schaly, B; Bauman, G S; Battista, J J; Van Dyk, J

2005-02-07

The goal of this study is to validate a deformable model using contour-driven thin-plate splines for application to radiation therapy dose mapping. Our testing includes a virtual spherical phantom as well as real computed tomography (CT) data from ten prostate cancer patients with radio-opaque markers surgically implanted into the prostate and seminal vesicles. In the spherical mathematical phantom, homologous control points generated automatically given input contour data in CT slice geometry were compared to homologous control point placement using analytical geometry as the ground truth. The dose delivered to specific voxels driven by both sets of homologous control points were compared to determine the accuracy of dose tracking via the deformable model. A 3D analytical spherically symmetric dose distribution with a dose gradient of approximately 10% per mm was used for this phantom. This test showed that the uncertainty in calculating the delivered dose to a tissue element depends on slice thickness and the variation in defining homologous landmarks, where dose agreement of 3-4% in high dose gradient regions was achieved. In the patient data, radio-opaque marker positions driven by the thin-plate spline algorithm were compared to the actual marker positions as identified in the CT scans. It is demonstrated that the deformable model is accurate (approximately 2.5 mm) to within the intra-observer contouring variability. This work shows that the algorithm is appropriate for describing changes in pelvic anatomy and for the dose mapping application with dose gradients characteristic of conformal and intensity modulated radiation therapy.

Eddy-driven stratification initiates North Atlantic spring phytoplankton blooms.

PubMed

Mahadevan, Amala; D'Asaro, Eric; Lee, Craig; Perry, Mary Jane

2012-07-06

Springtime phytoplankton blooms photosynthetically fix carbon and export it from the surface ocean at globally important rates. These blooms are triggered by increased light exposure of the phytoplankton due to both seasonal light increase and the development of a near-surface vertical density gradient (stratification) that inhibits vertical mixing of the phytoplankton. Classically and in current climate models, that stratification is ascribed to a springtime warming of the sea surface. Here, using observations from the subpolar North Atlantic and a three-dimensional biophysical model, we show that the initial stratification and resulting bloom are instead caused by eddy-driven slumping of the basin-scale north-south density gradient, resulting in a patchy bloom beginning 20 to 30 days earlier than would occur by warming.

Bio-inspired polymer composite actuator and generator driven by water gradients.

PubMed

Ma, Mingming; Guo, Liang; Anderson, Daniel G; Langer, Robert

2013-01-11

Here we describe the development of a water-responsive polymer film. Combining both a rigid matrix (polypyrrole) and a dynamic network (polyol-borate), strong and flexible polymer films were developed that can exchange water with the environment to induce film expansion and contraction, resulting in rapid and continuous locomotion. The film actuator can generate contractile stress up to 27 megapascals, lift objects 380 times heavier than itself, and transport cargo 10 times heavier than itself. We have assembled a generator by associating this actuator with a piezoelectric element. Driven by water gradients, this generator outputs alternating electricity at ~0.3 hertz, with a peak voltage of ~1.0 volt. The electrical energy is stored in capacitors that could power micro- and nanoelectronic devices.

Fo-driven Rotation in the ATP Synthase Direction against the Force of F1 ATPase in the FoF1 ATP Synthase*

PubMed Central

Martin, James; Hudson, Jennifer; Hornung, Tassilo; Frasch, Wayne D.

2015-01-01

Living organisms rely on the FoF1 ATP synthase to maintain the non-equilibrium chemical gradient of ATP to ADP and phosphate that provides the primary energy source for cellular processes. How the Fo motor uses a transmembrane electrochemical ion gradient to create clockwise torque that overcomes F1 ATPase-driven counterclockwise torque at high ATP is a major unresolved question. Using single FoF1 molecules embedded in lipid bilayer nanodiscs, we now report the observation of Fo-dependent rotation of the c10 ring in the ATP synthase (clockwise) direction against the counterclockwise force of ATPase-driven rotation that occurs upon formation of a leash with Fo stator subunit a. Mutational studies indicate that the leash is important for ATP synthase activity and support a mechanism in which residues aGlu-196 and cArg-50 participate in the cytoplasmic proton half-channel to promote leash formation. PMID:25713065

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.

Effects of buoyancy-driven convection on nucleation and growth of protein crystals.

PubMed

Nanev, Christo N; Penkova, Anita; Chayen, Naomi

2004-11-01

Protein crystallization has been studied in presence or absence of buoyancy-driven convection. Gravity-driven flow was created, or suppressed, in protein solutions by means of vertically directed density gradients that were caused by generating suitable temperature gradients. The presence of enhanced mixing was demonstrated directly by experiments with crustacyanin, a blue-colored protein, and other materials. Combined with the vertical tube position the enhanced convection has two main effects. First, it reduces the number of nucleated hen-egg-white lysozyme (HEWL) crystals, as compared with those in a horizontal capillary. By enabling better nutrition from the protein in the solution, convection results in growth of fewer larger HEWL crystals. Second, we observe that due to convection, trypsin crystals grow faster. Suppression of convection, achieved by decreasing solution density upward in the capillary, can to some extent mimic conditions of growth in microgravity. Thus, impurity supply, which may have a detrimental effect on crystal quality, was avoided.

Cell Blebbing in Confined Microfluidic Environments

PubMed Central

Ibo, Markela; Srivastava, Vasudha; Robinson, Douglas N.; Gagnon, Zachary R.

2016-01-01

Migrating cells can extend their leading edge by forming myosin-driven blebs and F-actin-driven pseudopods. When coerced to migrate in resistive environments, Dictyostelium cells switch from using predominately pseudopods to blebs. Bleb formation has been shown to be chemotactic and can be influenced by the direction of the chemotactic gradient. In this study, we determine the blebbing responses of developed cells of Dictyostelium discoideum to cAMP gradients of varying steepness produced in microfluidic channels with different confining heights, ranging between 1.7 μm and 3.8 μm. We show that microfluidic confinement height, gradient steepness, buffer osmolarity and Myosin II activity are important factors in determining whether cells migrate with blebs or with pseudopods. Dictyostelium cells were observed migrating within the confines of microfluidic gradient channels. When the cAMP gradient steepness is increased from 0.7 nM/μm to 20 nM/μm, cells switch from moving with a mixture of blebs and pseudopods to moving only using blebs when chemotaxing in channels with confinement heights less than 2.4 μm. Furthermore, the size of the blebs increases with gradient steepness and correlates with increases in myosin-II localization at the cell cortex. Reduction of intracellular pressure by high osmolarity buffer or inhibition of myosin-II by blebbistatin leads to a decrease in bleb formation and bleb size. Together, our data reveal that the protrusion type formed by migrating cells can be influenced by the channel height and the steepness of the cAMP gradient, and suggests that a combination of confinement-induced myosin-II localization and cAMP-regulated cortical contraction leads to increased intracellular fluid pressure and bleb formation. PMID:27706201

A simulation of dielectrophoresis force actuated liquid lens

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yao, Xiaoyin; Xia, Jun

2009-11-01

Dielectrophoresis (DEP) and electrowetting on dielectric (EWOD) are based on the electrokinetic mechanisms which have great potential in microfluidic manipulation. DEP dominate the movement of particles induced by polarization effects in nonuniform electric field ,while EWOD has become one of the most widely used tools for manipulating tiny amounts of liquids on solid surfaces. Liquid lens driven by EWOD have been well studied and developed. But liquid lens driven by DEP has not been studied adequately. This paper focuses on modeling liquid lens driven by DEP force. A simulation of DEP driven droplet dynamics was performed by coupling of the electrostatic field and the two-phase flow field. Two incompressible and dielectric liquids with different permittivity were chosen in the two-phase flow field. The DEP force density, in direct proportion to gradient of the square of the electric field intensity, was used as a body force density in Navier-Stokes equation. When voltage applied, the liquid with high permittivity flowed to the place where the gradient of the square of the electric field intensity was higher, and thus change the curvature of interface between two immiscible liquid. The differences between DEP and EWOD liquid lens were also presented.

Establishing a Rational New Zealand/United States Defense Relationship

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-01-01

5500 Standard Form 298 (Rev. 2-89) Prescribed by ANSI Std. Z39-16 298-102 1~4CJC SRATGYESSAY WRCITING COMIPETITION ENTRY ESTABLISHING A RATIONAL NEW...AJBAvailability Codjes ALABAMA ABSTRACT TITLE: E lishng a Rational New Zealand/United States Defense Relationship AUTHOR.- Richard J. Newlands, Wing...Current Stetu of the New Zealand/United States Relationship 12 OutstandItg Issues .1 Toward a Rational New Zealan/Unted States Defense Relationship .16

A microengineered collagen scaffold for generating a polarized crypt-villus architecture of human small intestinal epithelium.

PubMed

Wang, Yuli; Gunasekara, Dulan B; Reed, Mark I; DiSalvo, Matthew; Bultman, Scott J; Sims, Christopher E; Magness, Scott T; Allbritton, Nancy L

2017-06-01

The human small intestinal epithelium possesses a distinct crypt-villus architecture and tissue polarity in which proliferative cells reside inside crypts while differentiated cells are localized to the villi. Indirect evidence has shown that the processes of differentiation and migration are driven in part by biochemical gradients of factors that specify the polarity of these cellular compartments; however, direct evidence for gradient-driven patterning of this in vivo architecture has been hampered by limitations of the in vitro systems available. Enteroid cultures are a powerful in vitro system; nevertheless, these spheroidal structures fail to replicate the architecture and lineage compartmentalization found in vivo, and are not easily subjected to gradients of growth factors. In the current work, we report the development of a micropatterned collagen scaffold with suitable extracellular matrix and stiffness to generate an in vitro self-renewing human small intestinal epithelium that replicates key features of the in vivo small intestine: a crypt-villus architecture with appropriate cell-lineage compartmentalization and an open and accessible luminal surface. Chemical gradients applied to the crypt-villus axis promoted the creation of a stem/progenitor-cell zone and supported cell migration along the crypt-villus axis. This new approach combining microengineered scaffolds, biophysical cues and chemical gradients to control the intestinal epithelium ex vivo can serve as a physiologically relevant mimic of the human small intestinal epithelium, and is broadly applicable to model other tissues that rely on gradients for physiological function. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Soil and periphyton indicators of anthropogenic water-quality changes in a rainfall-driven wetland

USGS Publications Warehouse

McCormick, P.V.

2011-01-01

Surface soils and periphyton communities were sampled across an oligotrophic, soft-water wetland to document changes associated with pulsed inputs of nutrient- and mineral-rich canal drainage waters. A gradient of canal-water influence was indicated by the surface-water specific conductance, which ranged between 743 and 963 ??S cm-1 in the canals to as low as 60 ??S cm-1 in the rainfall-driven wetland interior. Changes in soil chemistry and periphyton taxonomic composition across this gradient were described using piecewise regressions models. The greatest increase in soil phosphorus (P) concentration occurred at sites closest to the canal while soil mineral (sulfur, calcium) concentrations increased most rapidly at the lower end of the gradient. Multiple periphyton shifts occurred at the lower end of the gradient and included; (1) a decline in desmids and non-desmid filamentous chlorophytes, and their replacement by a diatom-dominated community; (2) the loss of soft-water diatom indicator species and their replacement by hard-water species. Increased dominance by cyanobacteria and eutrophic diatom indicators occurred closer to the canals. Soil and periphyton changes indicated four zones of increasing canal influence across the wetland: (1) a zone of increasing mineral concentrations where soft-water taxa remained dominant; (2) a transition towards hard-water, oligotrophic diatoms as mineral concentrations increased further; (3) a zone of dominance by these hard-water species; (4) a zone of rapidly increasing P concentrations and dominance by eutrophic taxa. In contrast to conclusions drawn from routine water-chemistry monitoring, measures of chemical and biological change presented here indicate that most of this rainfall-driven peatland receives some influence from canal discharges. These changes are multifaceted and induced by shifts in multiple chemical constituents. ?? 2010 US Government.

Tidally-driven Surface Flow in a Georgia Estuarine Saltmarsh

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Young, D.; Bruder, B. L.; Haas, K. A.; Webster, D. R.

2016-02-01

Estuarine saltmarshes are diverse, valuable, and productive ecosystems. Vegetation dampens wave and current energy, thereby allowing the estuaries to serve as a nursery habitat for shellfish and fish species. Tidally-driven flow transports nutrients into and out of the estuary, nourishing inshore and offshore vegetation and animals. The effects of vegetation on the marsh hydrodynamics and on the estuary creek and channel flow are, unfortunately, poorly understood, and the knowledge that does exist primarily originates from modeling studies. Field studies addressing marsh surface flows are limited due to the difficulty of accurately measuring the water surface elevation and acquiring concurrent velocity measurements in the dense marsh vegetation. This study partially bridges the gap between the model observations of marsh flow driven by water surface elevation gradients and flume studies of flow through vegetation. Three current meters and three pressure transducers were deployed for three days along a transect perpendicular to the main channel (Little Ogeechee River) in a saltmarsh adjacent to Rose Dhu Island (Savannah, Georgia, USA). The pressure transducer locations were surveyed daily with static GPS yielding highly accurate water surface elevation data. During flood and ebb tide, water surface elevation differences between the marsh and Little Ogeechee River were observed up to 15 cm and pressure gradients were observed up to 0.0017 m of water surface elevation drop per m of linear distance. The resulting channel-to-saltmarsh pressure gradients substantially affected tidal currents at all current meters. At one current meter, the velocity was nearly perpendicular to the Little Ogeechee River bank. The velocity at this location was effectively modeled as a balance between the pressure gradient and marsh vegetation-induced drag force using the Darcy-Weisbach/Lindner's equations developed for flow-through-vegetation analysis in open channel flow.

Instrumental head impulse test changes after intratympanic gentamicin for unilateral definite Ménière's disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

PubMed

Marques, Pedro Santos; Dias, Claudia Camila; Perez-Fernandez, Nicolas; Spratley, Jorge

2018-02-02

To estimate how much could intratympanic gentamicin (ITG) interfere with the vestibular-ocular reflex (VOR) parameters on instrumental head impulse test (HIT), either with scleral search coil or video head impulse test and, eventually, foresee the control of vertigo crisis in unilateral intractable Ménière's disease (MD). A literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Cochrane search engines. The search terms used were "vestibular ocular reflex", "head impulse test", "gentamicin," and "Meniere's disease". Limitations included text availability to be full text, species to be humans and language to be English. All study types were included. 89 articles were screened identifying four eligible studies were identified. Studies were included after consensus of the authors. Meta-analysis was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Data was analysed using Review Manager software. Instrumental HIT, after ITG for MD, demonstrated, in the treated ear, a decreased gain in the horizontal, posterior and superior semicircular canals (SCC), of 0.36 (0.26; 0.47; 95% CI), 0.35 (0.22; 0.48; 95% CI) and 0.28 (0.21; 0.35; 95% CI), respectively. Gain asymmetry increases between the treated and non-treated ear of 23.78 (7.22; 40.35; 95% CI), 32.01 (12.27; 51.76; 95% CI) and 17.49 (9.99; 24.99; 95% CI), were similarly detected in the horizontal, posterior and superior SCC, respectively. Significantly smaller gain values after the first treatment were observed for a single injection group versus multiple injection group in the horizontal (p=0.002) and superior SCCs (p=0.016). Instrumental HIT is effective in evaluating the SCC function after ITG for intractable unilateral MD. VOR gain changes in the direction of the treated ear in the three SCC have been clearly registered. An increased reduction of the VOR gain in the horizontal and anterior SCC also seemed to foresee the control of vertigo crisis. Still, after meta-analysis, the small number of patients' data available did not allow to define a treatment end-point value. This review also indicated that further and better-designed studies are warranted. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Temporal dynamics of urbanization-driven environmental changes explored by metal contamination in surface sediments in a restoring urban wetland park.

PubMed

Ma, Jun; Liu, Yi; Yu, Guangbin; Li, Hongbo; Yu, Shen; Jiang, Yueping; Li, Guilin; Lin, Jinchang

2016-05-15

Spatial patterns of metal distribution along urban-rural or multi-city gradients indicate that the urbanization process directly lead to metal enrichment and contamination in the environments. However, it has not yet looked at homogenization dynamics of an urban-rural gradient pattern over time with urbanization process in an area. This study monitored anthropogenic metals (Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn) in surface sediments from channels of a newly-opened National Wetland Park to elucidate the urbanization-driven dissolution of urban-rural gradient pattern between 2008 and 2011. Sixty-eight surface sediment samples were taken from these channels in July of both 2008 and 2011. Results showed that a spatial distribution pattern of total metal contents along the gradient of urbanization influence, evident in 2008, was homogenized in 2011 with the area development. The lead stable isotope ratio analysis identified anthropogenic Pb origins from vehicular exhausts, cements, and coal flying ashes, which elevated metal contents in the inner channels via atmospheric deposition. Specific hazard quotients of the metal contamination in surface sediment were also assessed and enhanced over time in the study wetland park. These findings suggest that emissions from traffic, construction, and energy generation contribute metal loadings in the urbanizing environment. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Peptide assembly-driven metal-organic framework (MOF) motors for micro electric generators

DOE PAGES

Ikezoe, Yasuhiro; Fang, Justin; Wasik, Tomasz L.; ...

2014-11-22

Peptide–metal–organic framework (Pep-MOF) motors, whose motions are driven by anisotropic surface tension gradients created via peptide self-assembly around frameworks, can rotate microscopic rotors and magnets fast enough to generate an electric power of 0.1 μW. Finally, a new rigid Pep-MOF motor can be recycled by refilling the peptide fuel into the nanopores of the MOF.

Validation of buoyancy driven spectral tensor model using HATS data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chougule, A.; Mann, J.; Kelly, M.; Larsen, G. C.

2016-09-01

We present a homogeneous spectral tensor model for wind velocity and temperature fluctuations, driven by mean vertical shear and mean temperature gradient. Results from the model, including one-dimensional velocity and temperature spectra and the associated co-spectra, are shown in this paper. The model also reproduces two-point statistics, such as coherence and phases, via cross-spectra between two points separated in space. Model results are compared with observations from the Horizontal Array Turbulence Study (HATS) field program (Horst et al. 2004). The spectral velocity tensor in the model is described via five parameters: the dissipation rate (ɛ), length scale of energy-containing eddies (L), a turbulence anisotropy parameter (Γ), gradient Richardson number (Ri) representing the atmospheric stability and the rate of destruction of temperature variance (ηθ).

Bio-inspired Polymer Composite Actuator and Generator Driven by Water Gradients

PubMed Central

Ma, Mingming; Guo, Liang; Anderson, Daniel G.; Langer, Robert

2013-01-01

Here we describe the development of a water-responsive polymer film; combining both a rigid matrix (polypyrrole) and a dynamic network (polyol-borate), strong and flexible polymer films were developed that can exchange water with the environment to induce film expansion and contraction, resulting in rapid and continuous locomotion. The film actuator can generate contractile stress up to 27 MPa, lift objects 380 times heavier than itself, and transport cargo 10 times heavier than itself. We have assembled a generator by associating this actuator with a piezoelectric element. Driven by water gradients, this generator outputs alternating electricity at ∼0.3 Hz, with a peak voltage of ∼1.0 V. The electrical energy is stored in capacitors that could power micro- and nano-electronic devices. PMID:23307738

Fluid simulation of tokamak ion temperature gradient turbulence with zonal flow closure model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamagishi, Osamu; Sugama, Hideo

2016-03-01

Nonlinear fluid simulation of turbulence driven by ion temperature gradient modes in the tokamak fluxtube configuration is performed by combining two different closure models. One model is a gyrofluid model by Beer and Hammett [Phys. Plasmas 3, 4046 (1996)], and the other is a closure model to reproduce the kinetic zonal flow response [Sugama et al., Phys. Plasmas 14, 022502 (2007)]. By including the zonal flow closure, generation of zonal flows, significant reduction in energy transport, reproduction of the gyrokinetic transport level, and nonlinear upshift on the critical value of gradient scale length are observed.

Fluid simulation of tokamak ion temperature gradient turbulence with zonal flow closure model

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

Yamagishi, Osamu, E-mail: yamagisi@nifs.ac.jp; Sugama, Hideo

Nonlinear fluid simulation of turbulence driven by ion temperature gradient modes in the tokamak fluxtube configuration is performed by combining two different closure models. One model is a gyrofluid model by Beer and Hammett [Phys. Plasmas 3, 4046 (1996)], and the other is a closure model to reproduce the kinetic zonal flow response [Sugama et al., Phys. Plasmas 14, 022502 (2007)]. By including the zonal flow closure, generation of zonal flows, significant reduction in energy transport, reproduction of the gyrokinetic transport level, and nonlinear upshift on the critical value of gradient scale length are observed.

Understanding differences between DELFT3D and empirical predictions of alongshore sediment transport gradients

USGS Publications Warehouse

List, Jeffrey; Benedet, Lindino; Hanes, Daniel M.; Ruggiero, Peter

2009-01-01

Predictions of alongshore transport gradients are critical for forecasting shoreline change. At the previous ICCE conference, it was demonstrated that alongshore transport gradients predicted by the empirical CERC equation can differ substantially from predictions made by the hydrodynamics-based model Delft3D in the case of a simulated borrow pit on the shoreface. Here we use the Delft3D momentum balance to examine the reason for this difference. Alongshore advective flow accelerations in our Delft3D simulation are mainly driven by pressure gradients resulting from alongshore variations in wave height and setup, and Delft3D transport gradients are controlled by these flow accelerations. The CERC equation does not take this process into account, and for this reason a second empirical transport term is sometimes added when alongshore gradients in wave height are thought to be significant. However, our test case indicates that this second term does not properly predict alongshore transport gradients.

A gyrokinetic perspective on the JET-ILW pedestal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hatch, D. R.; Kotschenreuther, M.; Mahajan, S.; Valanju, P.; Liu, X.

2017-03-01

JET has been unable to recover historical confinement levels when operating with an ITER-like wall (ILW) due largely to the inaccessibility of high pedestal temperatures. Finding a path to overcome this challenge is of utmost importance for both a prospective JET DT campaign and for future ITER operation. Gyrokinetic simulations (using the Gene code) quantitatively capture experimental transport levels for a representative experimental discharge and qualitatively recover the major experimental trends. Microtearing turbulence is a major transport mechanisms for the low-temperature pedestals characteristic of unseeded JET-ILW discharges. At higher temperatures and/or lower {ρ\\ast} , we identify electrostatic ITG transport of a type that is strongly shear-suppressed on smaller machines. Consistent with observations, this transport mechanism is strongly reduced by the presence of a low-Z impurity (e.g. carbon or nitrogen at the level of {{Z}\\text{eff}}∼ 2 ), recovering the accessibility of high pedestal temperatures. Notably, simulations based on dimensionless {ρ\\ast} scans recover historical scaling behavior except in the unique JET-ILW parameter regime where ITG turbulence becomes important. Our simulations also elucidate the observed degradation of confinement caused by gas puffing, emphasizing the important role of the density pedestal structure. This study maps out important regions of parameter space, providing insights that may point to optimal physical regimes that can enable the recovery of high pedestal temperatures on JET.

Simulation of ITG instabilities with fully kinetic ions and drift-kinetic electrons in tokamaks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, Youjun; Chen, Yang; Parker, Scott

2017-10-01

A turbulence simulation model with fully kinetic ions and drift-kinetic electrons is being developed in the toroidal electromagnetic turbulence code GEM. This is motivated by the observation that gyrokinetic ions are not well justified in simulating turbulence in tokamak edges with steep density profile, where ρi / L is not small enough to be used a small parameter needed by the gyrokinetic ordering (here ρi is the gyro-radius of ions and L is the scale length of density profile). In this case, the fully kinetic ion model may be useful. Our model uses an implicit scheme to suppress high-frequency compressional Alfven waves and waves associated with the gyro-motion of ions. The ion orbits are advanced by using the well-known Boris scheme, which reproduces correct drift-motion even with large time-step comparable to the ion gyro-period. The field equation in this model is Ampere's law with the magnetic field eliminated by using an implicit scheme of Faraday's law. The current contributed by ions are computed by using an implicit δf method. A flux tube approximation is adopted, which makes the field equation much easier to solve. Numerical results of electromagnetic ITG obtained from this model will be presented and compared with the gyrokinetic results. This work is supported by U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Fusion Energy Sciences under Award No. DE-SC0008801.

Rapid concentration of deoxyribonucleic acid via Joule heating induced temperature gradient focusing in poly-dimethylsiloxane microfluidic channel.

PubMed

Ge, Zhengwei; Wang, Wei; Yang, Chun

2015-02-09

This paper reports rapid microfluidic electrokinetic concentration of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) with the Joule heating induced temperature gradient focusing (TGF) by using our proposed combined AC and DC electric field technique. A peak of 480-fold concentration enhancement of DNA sample is achieved within 40s in a simple poly-dimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic channel of a sudden expansion in cross-section. Compared to a sole DC field, the introduction of an AC field can reduce DC field induced back-pressure and produce sufficient Joule heating effects, resulting in higher concentration enhancement. Within such microfluidic channel structure, negative charged DNA analytes can be concentrated at a location where the DNA electrophoretic motion is balanced with the bulk flow driven by DC electroosmosis under an appropriate temperature gradient field. A numerical model accounting for a combined AC and DC field and back-pressure driven flow effects is developed to describe the complex Joule heating induced TGF processes. The experimental observation of DNA concentration phenomena can be explained by the numerical model. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Gyrokinetic Studies of Turbulence Reduction with Reverse Shear ETG Transport Barriers or Lithium Walls

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hammett, G. W.; Peterson, J. L.; Granstedt, E. M.; Bell, R.; Guttenfelder, W.; Kaye, S.; Leblanc, B.; Mikkelsen, D. R.; Smith, D. R.; Yuh, H. Y.; Candy, J.

2012-03-01

The National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX) can achieve high electron confinement regimes that are super-critically unstable to the electron temperature gradient (ETG) instability. These electron internal transport barriers (e-ITBs) occur when the magnetic shear becomes strongly negative. Using the gyrokinetic code GYRO, the first nonlinear ETG simulations of NSTX e-ITB plasmas demonstrate reduced turbulence consistent with this observation. This is qualitatively consistent with a secondary instability picture of reduced ETG turbulence at negative shear (Jenko and Dorland PRL 2002). Local simulations identify a strongly upshifted nonlinear critical gradient for thermal transport that depends on magnetic shear. Global simulations show that ETG-driven turbulence outside of the barrier is large enough to be experimentally relevant, but cannot propagate very far into the barrier. We also use GYRO to study turbulence in regimes that might be expected in the Lithium Torus eXperiment (LTX). While lithium has experimentally been shown to raise the edge temperature and improve performance, there can still be some turbulence from density-gradient-driven trapped electron modes, and a temperature pinch is found in some cases. (Supported by DOE.)

On-Chip Pressure Generation for Driving Liquid Phase Separations in Nanochannels.

PubMed

Xia, Ling; Choi, Chiwoong; Kothekar, Shrinivas C; Dutta, Debashis

2016-01-05

In this Article, we describe the generation of pressure gradients on-chip for driving liquid phase separations in submicrometer deep channels. The reported pressure-generation capability was realized by applying an electrical voltage across the interface of two glass channel segments with different depths. A mismatch in the electroosmotic flow rate at this junction led to the generation of pressure-driven flow in our device, a fraction of which was then directed to an analysis channel to carry out the desired separation. Experiments showed the reported strategy to be particularly conducive for miniaturization of pressure-driven separations yielding flow velocities in the separation channel that were nearly unaffected upon scaling down the depth of the entire fluidic network. Moreover, the small dead volume in our system allowed for high dynamic control over this pressure gradient, which otherwise was challenging to accomplish during the sample injection process using external pumps. Pressure-driven velocities up to 3.1 mm/s were realized in separation ducts as shallow as 300 nm using our current design for a maximum applied voltage of 3 kV. The functionality of this integrated device was demonstrated by implementing a pressure-driven ion chromatographic analysis that relied on analyte interaction with the nanochannel surface charges to yield a nonuniform solute concentration across the channel depth. Upon coupling such analyte distribution to the parabolic pressure-driven flow profile in the separation duct, a mixture of amino acids could be resolved. The reported assay yielded a higher separation resolution compared to its electrically driven counterpart in which sample migration was realized using electroosmosis/electrophoresis.

Swash saturation: an assessment of available models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hughes, Michael G.; Baldock, Tom E.; Aagaard, Troels

2018-06-01

An extensive previously published (Hughes et al. Mar Geol 355, 88-97, 2014) field data set representing the full range of micro-tidal beach states (reflective, intermediate and dissipative) is used to investigate swash saturation. Two models that predict the behavior of saturated swash are tested: one driven by standing waves and the other driven by bores. Despite being based on entirely different premises, they predict similar trends in the limiting (saturated) swash height with respect to dependency on frequency and beach gradient. For a given frequency and beach gradient, however, the bore-driven model predicts a larger saturated swash height by a factor 2.5. Both models broadly predict the general behavior of swash saturation evident in the data, but neither model is accurate in detail. While swash saturation in the short-wave frequency band is common on some beach types, it does not always occur across all beach types. Further work is required on wave reflection/breaking and the role of wave-wave and wave-swash interactions to determine limiting swash heights on natural beaches.

Signal Processing in Periodically Forced Gradient Frequency Neural Networks

PubMed Central

Kim, Ji Chul; Large, Edward W.

2015-01-01

Oscillatory instability at the Hopf bifurcation is a dynamical phenomenon that has been suggested to characterize active non-linear processes observed in the auditory system. Networks of oscillators poised near Hopf bifurcation points and tuned to tonotopically distributed frequencies have been used as models of auditory processing at various levels, but systematic investigation of the dynamical properties of such oscillatory networks is still lacking. Here we provide a dynamical systems analysis of a canonical model for gradient frequency neural networks driven by a periodic signal. We use linear stability analysis to identify various driven behaviors of canonical oscillators for all possible ranges of model and forcing parameters. The analysis shows that canonical oscillators exhibit qualitatively different sets of driven states and transitions for different regimes of model parameters. We classify the parameter regimes into four main categories based on their distinct signal processing capabilities. This analysis will lead to deeper understanding of the diverse behaviors of neural systems under periodic forcing and can inform the design of oscillatory network models of auditory signal processing. PMID:26733858

Intraspecific Adaptations to Thermal Gradients in a Cosmopolitan Coccolithophore

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matson, P. G.; Ladd, T. M.; Iglesias-Rodriguez, D.

2016-02-01

The species concept in marine phytoplankton has enormous biological complexity. Differences in genomic, morphological, physiological, biogeochemical, and ecological/biogeographic properties between strains of the same species can be comparable or even exceed those between species. This complexity is particularly pronounced in the cosmopolitan coccolithophore species Emiliania huxleyi. This bloom-forming species is found at nearly every latitude in a variety of environments including upwelling regions, and exposed to large temperature gradients. We present results from experiments using two strains of E. huxleyi isolated from different latitudes and environmental conditions. Tests involved semi-continuous culturing in lab manipulation experiments to determine how carbon fixation, growth, and morphology respond to temperature-driven alterations in physico-chemical conditions. This talk will discuss the observed differences in physiology within an ecological context and the implications of these biogeochemical differences in modeling carbon fluxes driven by phytoplankton.

Thermal field theory and generalized light front quantization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weldon, H. Arthur

2003-04-01

The dependence of thermal field theory on the surface of quantization and on the velocity of the heat bath is investigated by working in general coordinates that are arbitrary linear combinations of the Minkowski coordinates. In the general coordinates the metric tensor gμν¯ is nondiagonal. The Kubo-Martin-Schwinger condition requires periodicity in thermal correlation functions when the temporal variable changes by an amount -i/(T(g00¯)). Light-front quantization fails since g00¯=0; however, various related quantizations are possible.

The Effect of Temperature on Moisture Transport in Concrete.

PubMed

Wang, Yao; Xi, Yunping

2017-08-09

Most concrete structures and buildings are under temperature and moisture variations simultaneously. Thus, the moisture transport in concrete is driven by the moisture gradient as well as the temperature gradient. This paper presents an experimental approach for determining the effect of different temperature gradients on moisture distribution profiles in concrete. The effect of elevated temperatures under isothermal conditions on the moisture transport was also evaluated, and found not to be significant. The non-isothermal tests show that the temperature gradient accelerates the moisture transport in concrete. The part of increased moisture transfer due to the temperature gradient can be quantified by a coupling parameter D HT , which can be determined by the present test data. The test results indicated that D HT is not a constant but increases linearly with the temperature variation. A material model was developed for D HT based on the experimental results obtained in this study.

The Effect of Temperature on Moisture Transport in Concrete

PubMed Central

Wang, Yao; Xi, Yunping

2017-01-01

Most concrete structures and buildings are under temperature and moisture variations simultaneously. Thus, the moisture transport in concrete is driven by the moisture gradient as well as the temperature gradient. This paper presents an experimental approach for determining the effect of different temperature gradients on moisture distribution profiles in concrete. The effect of elevated temperatures under isothermal conditions on the moisture transport was also evaluated, and found not to be significant. The non-isothermal tests show that the temperature gradient accelerates the moisture transport in concrete. The part of increased moisture transfer due to the temperature gradient can be quantified by a coupling parameter DHT, which can be determined by the present test data. The test results indicated that DHT is not a constant but increases linearly with the temperature variation. A material model was developed for DHT based on the experimental results obtained in this study. PMID:28792460

Proton Gradient-Driven Nickel Uptake by Vacuolar Membrane Vesicles of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

PubMed Central

Nishimura, Ken; Igarashi, Kazuei; Kakinuma, Yoshimi

1998-01-01

A vacuolar H+-ATPase-negative mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was highly sensitive to nickel ion. Accumulation of nickel ion in the cells of this mutant of less than 60% of the value for the parent strain arrested growth, suggesting a role for this ATPase in sequestering nickel ion into vacuoles. An artificially imposed pH gradient (interior acid) induced transient nickel ion uptake by vacuolar membrane vesicles, which was inhibited by collapse of the pH difference but not of the membrane potential. Nickel ion transport into vacuoles in a pH gradient-dependent manner is thus important for its detoxification in yeast. PMID:9537401

Optimized operation of dielectric laser accelerators: Single bunch

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hanuka, Adi; Schächter, Levi

2018-05-01

We introduce a general approach to determine the optimal charge, efficiency and gradient for laser driven accelerators in a self-consistent way. We propose a way to enhance the operational gradient of dielectric laser accelerators by leverage of beam-loading effect. While the latter may be detrimental from the perspective of the effective gradient experienced by the particles, it can be beneficial as the effective field experienced by the accelerating structure, is weaker. As a result, the constraint imposed by the damage threshold fluence is accordingly weakened and our self-consistent approach predicts permissible gradients of ˜10 GV /m , one order of magnitude higher than previously reported experimental results—with unbunched pulse of electrons. Our approach leads to maximum efficiency to occur for higher gradients as compared with a scenario in which the beam-loading effect on the material is ignored. In any case, maximum gradient does not occur for the same conditions that maximum efficiency does—a trade-off set of parameters is suggested.

Role of density gradient driven trapped electron mode turbulence in the H-mode inner core with electron heating

DOE PAGES

Ernst, D. R.; Burrell, K. H.; Guttenfelder, W.; ...

2016-05-10

In a series of DIII-D [J. L. Luxon, Nucl. Fusion 42 614 (2002)] low torque quiescent H-mode experiments show that density gradient driven TEM (DGTEM) turbulence dominates the inner core of H-Mode plasmas during strong electron cyclotron heating (ECH). By adding 3.4 MW ECH doubles T e/T i from 0.5 to 1.0, which halves the linear DGTEM critical density gradient, locally reducing density peaking, while transport in all channels displays extreme stiffness in the density gradient. This then suggests fusion -heating may degrade inner core confinement in H-Mode plasmas with moderate density peaking and low collisionality, with equal electron andmore » ion temperatures, key conditions expected in burning plasmas. Gyrokinetic simulations using GYRO [J. Candy and R. E. Waltz, J. Comp. Phys. 186 545 (2003)] (and GENE [F. Jenko et al., Phys. Plasmas 7, 1904 (2000)]) closely match not only particle, energy, and momentum fluxes, but also density fluctuation spectra from Doppler Backscattering (DBS), with and without ECH. Inner core DBS density fluctuations display discrete frequencies with adjacent toroidal mode numbers, which we identify as DGTEMs. GS2 [W. Dorland et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 85 5579 (2000)] predictions show the DGTEM can be suppressed, to avoid degradation with electron heating, by broadening the current density profile to attain q 0 > q min > 1.« less

Composition Influences the Pathway but not the Outcome of the Metabolic Response of Bacterioplankton to Resource Shifts

PubMed Central

Comte, Jérôme; del Giorgio, Paul A.

2011-01-01

Bacterioplankton community metabolism is central to the functioning of aquatic ecosystems, and strongly reactive to changes in the environment, yet the processes underlying this response remain unclear. Here we explore the role that community composition plays in shaping the bacterial metabolic response to resource gradients that occur along aquatic ecotones in a complex watershed in Québec. Our results show that the response is mediated by complex shifts in community structure, and structural equation analysis confirmed two main pathways, one involving adjustments in the level of activity of existing phylotypes, and the other the replacement of the dominant phylotypes. These contrasting response pathways were not determined by the type or the intensity of the gradients involved, as we had hypothesized, but rather it would appear that some compositional configurations may be intrinsically more plastic than others. Our results suggest that community composition determines this overall level of community plasticity, but that composition itself may be driven by factors independent of the environmental gradients themselves, such that the response of bacterial communities to a given type of gradient may alternate between the adjustment and replacement pathways. We conclude that community composition influences the pathways of response in these bacterial communities, but not the metabolic outcome itself, which is driven by the environment, and which can be attained through multiple alternative configurations. PMID:21980410

Magnetic Cobalt Ferrite Nanocrystals For an Energy Storage Concentration Cell.

PubMed

Dai, Qilin; Patel, Ketan; Donatelli, Greg; Ren, Shenqiang

2016-08-22

Energy-storage concentration cells are based on the concentration gradient of redox-active reactants; the increased entropy is transformed into electric energy as the concentration gradient reaches equilibrium between two half cells. A recyclable and flow-controlled magnetic electrolyte concentration cell is now presented. The hybrid inorganic-organic nanocrystal-based electrolyte, consisting of molecular redox-active ligands adsorbed on the surface of magnetic nanocrystals, leads to a magnetic-field-driven concentration gradient of redox molecules. The energy storage performance of concentration cells is dictated by magnetic characteristics of cobalt ferrite nanocrystal carriers. The enhanced conductivity and kinetics of redox-active electrolytes could further induce a sharp concentration gradient to improve the energy density and voltage switching of magnetic electrolyte concentration cells. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

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

The relationship between the electrochemical proton gradient and active transport in Escherichia coli membrane vesicles.

PubMed

Ramos, S; Kaback, H R

1977-03-08

In the previous paper [ramos, S., and Kaback, H.R. (1977), Biochemistry 16 (preceding paper in this issue)], it was demonstrated that Escherichia coli membrane vesicles generate a large electrochemical proton gradient (delta-muH+) under appropriate conditions, and some of the properties of delta-muH+ and its component forces [i.e., the membrane potential (delta psi) and the chemical gradient of protons (deltapH)] were described. In this paper, the relationship between delta-muH+, delta psi, and deltapH and the active transport of specific solutes is examined. Addition of lactose or glucose 6-phosphate to membrane vesicles containing the appropriate transport systems results in partial collapse of deltapH, providing direct evidence for the suggestion that respiratory energy can drive active transport via the pH gradient across the membrane. Titration studies with valinomycin and nigericin lead to the conclusion that, at pH 5.5, there are two general classes of transport systems: those that are driven primarily by delta-muH+ (lactose, proline, serine, glycine, tyrosine, glutamate, leucine, lysine, cysteine, and succinate) and those that are driven primarily by deltapH (glucose 6-phosphate, D-lactate, glucuronate, and gluconate). Importantly, however, it is also demonstrated that at pH 7.5, all of these transport systems are driven by delta psi which comprises the only component of delta-muH+ at this external pH. In addition, the effect of external pH on the steady-state levels of accumulation of different solutes is examined, and it is shown that none of the pH profiles correspond to those observed for delta-muH+, delta psi, or deltapH. Moreover, at external pH values above 6.0-6.5, delta-muH+ is insufficient to account for the concentration gradients established for each substrate unless the stoichiometry between protons and accumulated solutes is greater than unity. The results confirm many facets of the chemiosmotic hypothesis, but they also extend the concept in certain important respects and allow explanations for some earlier observations which seemed to preclude the involvement of chemiosmotic phenomena in active transport.

Hybrid-fuel bacterial flagellar motors in Escherichia coli

PubMed Central

Sowa, Yoshiyuki; Homma, Michio; Ishijima, Akihiko; Berry, Richard M.

2014-01-01

The bacterial flagellar motor rotates driven by an electrochemical ion gradient across the cytoplasmic membrane, either H+ or Na+ ions. The motor consists of a rotor ∼50 nm in diameter surrounded by multiple torque-generating ion-conducting stator units. Stator units exchange spontaneously between the motor and a pool in the cytoplasmic membrane on a timescale of minutes, and their stability in the motor is dependent upon the ion gradient. We report a genetically engineered hybrid-fuel flagellar motor in Escherichia coli that contains both H+- and Na+-driven stator components and runs on both types of ion gradient. We controlled the number of each type of stator unit in the motor by protein expression levels and Na+ concentration ([Na+]), using speed changes of single motors driving 1-μm polystyrene beads to determine stator unit numbers. De-energized motors changed from locked to freely rotating on a timescale similar to that of spontaneous stator unit exchange. Hybrid motor speed is simply the sum of speeds attributable to individual stator units of each type. With Na+ and H+ stator components expressed at high and medium levels, respectively, Na+ stator units dominate at high [Na+] and are replaced by H+ units when Na+ is removed. Thus, competition between stator units for spaces in a motor and sensitivity of each type to its own ion gradient combine to allow hybrid motors to adapt to the prevailing ion gradient. We speculate that a similar process may occur in species that naturally express both H+ and Na+ stator components sharing a common rotor. PMID:24550452

Numerical simulation of the hydrodynamical combustion to strange quark matter in the trapped neutrino regime

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ouyed, Amir; Ouyed, Rachid; Jaikumar, Prashanth

2018-02-01

We simulate and study the microphysics of combustion (flame burning) of two flavored quark matter (u,d) to three flavored quark matter (u,d,s) in a trapped neutrino regime applicable to conditions prevailing in a hot proto-neutron star. The reaction-diffusion-advection equations for (u,d) to (u,d,s) combustion are coupled with neutrino transport, which is modeled through a flux-limited diffusion scheme. The flame speed is proportional to initial lepton fraction because of the release of electron chemical potential as heat, and reaches a steady-state burning speed of (0.001-0.008)c. We find that the burning speed is ultimately driven by the neutrino pressure gradient, given that the pressure gradient induced by quarks is opposed by the pressure gradients induced by electrons. This suggests, somewhat counter-intuitively, that the pressure gradients that drive the interface are controlled primarily by leptonic weak decays rather than by the quark Equation of State (EOS). In other words, the effects of the leptonic weak interaction, including the corresponding weak decay rates and the EOS of electrons and neutrinos, are at least as important as the uncertainties related to the EOS of high density matter. We find that for baryon number densities nB ≤ 0.35 fm-3, strong pressure gradients induced by leptonic weak decays drastically slow down the burning speed, which is thereafter controlled by the much slower burning process driven by backflowing downstream matter. We discuss the implications of our findings to proto-neutron stars.

A traveling-wave forward coupler design for a new accelerating mode in a silicon woodpile accelerator

DOE PAGES

Wu, Ziran; Lee, Chunghun H.; Wootton, Kent P.; ...

2016-03-01

Silicon woodpile photonic crystals provide a base structure that can be used to build a three-dimensional dielectric waveguide system for high-gradient laser driven acceleration. A new woodpile waveguide design that hosts a phase synchronous, centrally confined accelerating mode is proposed. Comparing with previously discovered silicon woodpile accelerating modes, this mode shows advantages in terms of better electron beam loading and higher achievable acceleration gradient. Several traveling-wave coupler design schemes developed for multi-cell RF cavity accelerators are adapted to the woodpile power coupler design for this new accelerating mode. Design of a forward coupled, highly efficient silicon woodpile accelerator is achieved.more » Simulation shows high efficiency of over 75% of the drive laser power coupled to this fundamental accelerating mode, with less than 15% backward wave scattering. The estimated acceleration gradient, when the coupler structure is driven at the damage threshold fluence of silicon at its operating 1.506 μm wavelength, can reach 185 MV/m. Lastly, a 17-layer woodpile waveguide structure was successfully fabricated, and the measured bandgap is in excellent agreement with simulation.« less

Electromagnetic turbulence and transport in increased β LAPD Plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rossi, Giovanni; Carter, Troy; Pueschel, Mj; Jenko, Frank; Terry, Paul; Told, Daniel

2016-10-01

The new LaB6 plasma source in LAPD has enabled the production of magnetized, increased β plasmas (up to 15%). We report on the modifications of pressure-gradient-driven turbulence and transport with increased plasma β. Density fluctuations decrease with increasing β while magnetic fluctuations increase. B ⊥ fluctuations saturate while parallel (compressional) magnetic fluctuations increase continuously with β. At the highest β values Î δ ||/ δ B ⊥ 2 and δ B/B 1%. The measurements are consistent with the excitation of the Gradient-driven Drift Coupling (GDC). This instability prefers k|| = 0 and grows in finite β plasmas due to density and temperature gradients through the production of parallel magnetic field fluctuations and resulting ⊥ B|| drifts. Comparisons between experimental measurements and theoretical predictions for the GDC will be shown. Direct measurements of electrostatic particle flux have been performed and show a strong reduction with increasing β. No evidence is found (e.g. density profile shape) of enhanced confinement, suggesting that other transport mechanisms are active. Preliminary measurements indicate that electromagnetic transport due to parallel magnetic field fluctuations at first increases with β but is subsequently suppressed at higher β values.

A traveling-wave forward coupler design for a new accelerating mode in a silicon woodpile accelerator

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

Wu, Ziran; Lee, Chunghun H.; Wootton, Kent P.

Silicon woodpile photonic crystals provide a base structure that can be used to build a three-dimensional dielectric waveguide system for high-gradient laser driven acceleration. A new woodpile waveguide design that hosts a phase synchronous, centrally confined accelerating mode is proposed. Comparing with previously discovered silicon woodpile accelerating modes, this mode shows advantages in terms of better electron beam loading and higher achievable acceleration gradient. Several traveling-wave coupler design schemes developed for multi-cell RF cavity accelerators are adapted to the woodpile power coupler design for this new accelerating mode. Design of a forward coupled, highly efficient silicon woodpile accelerator is achieved.more » Simulation shows high efficiency of over 75% of the drive laser power coupled to this fundamental accelerating mode, with less than 15% backward wave scattering. The estimated acceleration gradient, when the coupler structure is driven at the damage threshold fluence of silicon at its operating 1.506 μm wavelength, can reach 185 MV/m. Lastly, a 17-layer woodpile waveguide structure was successfully fabricated, and the measured bandgap is in excellent agreement with simulation.« less

Continuation of comprehensive quality control of the itG 68Ge/68Ga generator and production of 68Ga-DOTATOC and 68Ga-PSMA-HBED-CC for clinical research studies.

PubMed

Amor-Coarasa, Alejandro; Kelly, James M; Gruca, Monika; Nikolopoulou, Anastasia; Vallabhajosula, Shankar; Babich, John W

2017-10-01

Performance of a second itG 68 Ge/ 68 Ga generator system and production of 68 Ga-DOTATOC and 68 Ga-PSMA-HBED-CC were tested over one year as an accompaniment to a previously published study (J Nucl Med. 2016;57:1402-1405). Performance of a 1951MBq 68 Ge/ 68 Ga generator was characterized and the eluate used for preparation of 68 Ga-DOTATOC and 68 Ga-PSMA-HBED-CC. Weekly elution profiles of 68 Ga elution yield and 68 Ge breakthrough were determined. 68 Ga elution yields averaged 82% (61.8-98.4%) and 68 Ge breakthrough averaged 0.002% (0.0007% to 0.004%). The radiochemical purities of 68 Ga-DOTATOC and 68 Ga-PSMA-HBED-CC were determined by HPLC analysis to be >98% and specific activity was 12.6 and 42GBq/μmol, respectively. 68 Ge contamination in the product was under the detection limit (0.00001%). Final sterile, pyrogen-free formulation of 68 Ga-DOTATOC and 68 Ga-PSMA-HBED-CC in physiologic saline with 5%-7% ethanol was achieved. Performance of a 68 Ge/ 68 Ga generator was studied over one year with satisfactory results. The generator eluate was used to synthesize 68 Ga-DOTATOC and 68 Ga-PSMA-HBED-CC on a routine basis in high purity. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Hand shape selection in pantomimed grasping: Interaction between the dorsal and the ventral visual streams and convergence on the ventral premotor area

PubMed Central

Makuuchi, Michiru; Someya, Yoshiaki; Ogawa, Seiji; Takayama, Yoshihiro

2011-01-01

In visually guided grasping, possible hand shapes are computed from the geometrical features of the object, while prior knowledge about the object and the goal of the action influence both the computation and the selection of the hand shape. We investigated the system dynamics of the human brain for the pantomiming of grasping with two aspects accentuated. One is object recognition, with the use of objects for daily use. The subjects mimed grasping movements appropriate for an object presented in a photograph either by precision or power grip. The other is the selection of grip hand shape. We manipulated the selection demands for the grip hand shape by having the subjects use the same or different grip type in the second presentation of the identical object. Effective connectivity analysis revealed that the increased selection demands enhance the interaction between the anterior intraparietal sulcus (AIP) and posterior inferior temporal gyrus (pITG), and drive the converging causal influences from the AIP, pITG, and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex to the ventral premotor area (PMv). These results suggest that the dorsal and ventral visual areas interact in the pantomiming of grasping, while the PMv integrates the neural information of different regions to select the hand posture. The present study proposes system dynamics in visually guided movement toward meaningful objects, but further research is needed to examine if the same dynamics is found also in real grasping. PMID:21739528

Salt-Finger Convection in a Stratified Fluid Layer Induced by Thermal and Solutal Capillary Motion

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chen, Chuan F.; Chan, Cho Lik

1996-01-01

Salt-finger convection in a double-diffusive system is a motion driven by the release of gravitational potential due to different diffusion rates. Normally, when the gravitational field is reduced, salt-finger convection together with other convective motions driven by buoyancy forces will be rapidly suppressed. However, because the destabilizing effect of the concentration gradient is amplified by the Lewis number, with values varying from 10(exp 2) for aqueous salt solutions to 10 (exp 4) for liquid metals, salt-finger convection may be generated at much reduced gravity levels. In the microgravity environment, the surface tension gradient assumes a dominant role in causing fluid motion. In this paper, we report on some experimental results showing the generation of salt-finger convection due to capillary motio on the surface of a stratified fluid layer. A numerical simulation is presented to show the cause of salt-finger convection.

Heat Transfer Characteristics of Mixed Electroosmotic and Pressure Driven Micro-Flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Horiuchi, Keisuke; Dutta, Prashanta

We analyze heat transfer characteristics of steady electroosmotic flows with an arbitrary pressure gradient in two-dimensional straight microchannels considering the effects of Joule heating in electroosmotic pumping. Both the temperature distribution and local Nusselt number are mathematically derived in this study. The thermal analysis takes into consideration of the interaction among advective, diffusive, and Joule heating terms to obtain the thermally developing behavior. Unlike macro-scale pipes, axial conduction in micro-scale cannot be negligible, and the governing energy equation is not separable. Thus, a method that considers an extended Graetz problem is introduced. Analytical results show that the Nusselt number of pure electrooosmotic flow is higher than that of plane Poiseulle flow. Moreover, when the electroosmotic flow and pressure driven flow coexist, it is found that adverse pressure gradient to the electroosmotic flow makes the thermal entrance length smaller and the heat transfer ability stronger than pure electroosmotic flow case.

Brownian motion and entropic torque driven motion of domain walls in antiferromagnets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yan, Zhengren; Chen, Zhiyuan; Qin, Minghui; Lu, Xubing; Gao, Xingsen; Liu, Junming

2018-02-01

We study the spin dynamics in antiferromagnetic nanowire under an applied temperature gradient using micromagnetic simulations on a classical spin model with a uniaxial anisotropy. The entropic torque driven domain-wall motion and the Brownian motion are discussed in detail, and their competition determines the antiferromagnetic wall motion towards the hotter or colder region. Furthermore, the spin dynamics in an antiferromagnet can be well tuned by the anisotropy and the temperature gradient. Thus, this paper not only strengthens the main conclusions obtained in earlier works [Kim et al., Phys. Rev. B 92, 020402(R) (2015), 10.1103/PhysRevB.92.020402; Selzer et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 117, 107201 (2016), 10.1103/PhysRevLett.117.107201], but more importantly gives the concrete conditions under which these conclusions apply, respectively. Our results may provide useful information on the antiferromagnetic spintronics for future experiments and storage device design.

Aspect ratio effects on limited scrape-off layer plasma turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jolliet, Sébastien; Halpern, Federico D.; Loizu, Joaquim; Mosetto, Annamaria; Ricci, Paolo

2014-02-01

The drift-reduced Braginskii model describing turbulence in the tokamak scrape-off layer is written for a general magnetic configuration with a limiter. The equilibrium is then specified for a circular concentric magnetic geometry retaining aspect ratio effects. Simulations are then carried out with the help of the global, flux-driven fluid three-dimensional code GBS [Ricci et al., Plasma Phys. Controlled Fusion 54, 124047 (2012)]. Linearly, both simulations and simplified analytical models reveal a stabilization of ballooning modes. Nonlinearly, flux-driven nonlinear simulations give a pressure characteristic length whose trends are correctly captured by the gradient removal theory [Ricci and Rogers, Phys. Plasmas 20, 010702 (2013)], that assumes the profile flattening from the linear modes as the saturation mechanism. More specifically, the linear stabilization of ballooning modes is reflected by a 15% increase in the steady-state pressure gradient obtained from GBS nonlinear simulations when going from an infinite to a realistic aspect ratio.

Global simulation of edge pedestal micro-instabilities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wan, Weigang; Parker, Scott; Chen, Yang

2011-10-01

We study micro turbulence of the tokamak edge pedestal with global gyrokinetic particle simulations. The simulation code GEM is an electromagnetic δf code. Two sets of DIII-D experimental profiles, shot #131997 and shot #136051 are used. The dominant instabilities appear to be two kinds of modes both propagating in the electron diamagnetic direction, with comparable linear growth rates. The low n mode is at the Alfven frequency range and driven by density and ion temperature gradients. The high n mode is driven by electron temperature gradient and has a low real frequency. A β scan shows that the low n mode is electromagnetic. Frequency analysis shows that the high n mode is sometimes mixed with an ion instability. Experimental radial electric field is applied and its effects studied. We will also show some preliminary nonlinear results. We thank R. Groebner, P. Snyder and Y. Zheng for providing experimental profiles and helpful discussions.

Suppressing electron turbulence and triggering internal transport barriers with reversed magnetic shear in the National Spherical Torus Experimenta)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peterson, J. L.; Bell, R.; Candy, J.; Guttenfelder, W.; Hammett, G. W.; Kaye, S. M.; LeBlanc, B.; Mikkelsen, D. R.; Smith, D. R.; Yuh, H. Y.

2012-05-01

The National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX) [M. Ono et al., Nucl. Fusion 40, 557 (2000)] can achieve high electron plasma confinement regimes that are super-critically unstable to the electron temperature gradient driven (ETG) instability. These plasmas, dubbed electron internal transport barriers (e-ITBs), occur when the magnetic shear becomes strongly negative. Using the gyrokinetic code GYRO [J. Candy and R. E. Waltz, J. Comput. Phys. 186, 545 (2003)], the first nonlinear ETG simulations of NSTX e-ITB plasmas reinforce this observation. Local simulations identify a strongly upshifted nonlinear critical gradient for thermal transport that depends on magnetic shear. Global simulations show e-ITB formation can occur when the magnetic shear becomes strongly negative. While the ETG-driven thermal flux at the outer edge of the barrier is large enough to be experimentally relevant, the turbulence cannot propagate past the barrier into the plasma interior.

A Concept of Cross-Ferroic Plasma Turbulence

PubMed Central

Inagaki, S.; Kobayashi, T.; Kosuga, Y.; Itoh, S.-I.; Mitsuzono, T.; Nagashima, Y.; Arakawa, H.; Yamada, T.; Miwa, Y.; Kasuya, N.; Sasaki, M.; Lesur, M.; Fujisawa, A.; Itoh, K.

2016-01-01

The variety of scalar and vector fields in laboratory and nature plasmas is formed by plasma turbulence. Drift-wave fluctuations, driven by density gradients in magnetized plasmas, are known to relax the density gradient while they can generate flows. On the other hand, the sheared flow in the direction of magnetic fields causes Kelvin-Helmholtz type instabilities, which mix particle and momentum. These different types of fluctuations coexist in laboratory and nature, so that the multiple mechanisms for structural formation exist in extremely non-equilibrium plasmas. Here we report the discovery of a new order in plasma turbulence, in which chained structure formation is realized by cross-interaction between inhomogeneities of scalar and vector fields. The concept of cross-ferroic turbulence is developed, and the causal relation in the multiple mechanisms behind structural formation is identified, by measuring the relaxation rate and dissipation power caused by the complex turbulence-driven flux. PMID:26917218

Bifurcation Theory of the Transition to Collisionless Ion-temperature-gradient-driven Plasma Turbulence

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

Kolesnikov, R.A.; Krommes, J.A.

The collisionless limit of the transition to ion-temperature-gradient-driven plasma turbulence is considered with a dynamical-systems approach. The importance of systematic analysis for understanding the differences in the bifurcations and dynamics of linearly damped and undamped systems is emphasized. A model with ten degrees of freedom is studied as a concrete example. A four-dimensional center manifold (CM) is analyzed, and fixed points of its dynamics are identified and used to predict a ''Dimits shift'' of the threshold for turbulence due to the excitation of zonal flows. The exact value of that shift in terms of physical parameters is established for themore » model; the effects of higher-order truncations on the dynamics are noted. Multiple-scale analysis of the CM equations is used to discuss possible effects of modulational instability on scenarios for the transition to turbulence in both collisional and collisionless cases.« less

Trapped electron mode turbulence driven intrinsic rotation in Tokamak plasmas.

PubMed

Wang, W X; Hahm, T S; Ethier, S; Zakharov, L E; Diamond, P H

2011-02-25

Progress from global gyrokinetic simulations in understanding the origin of intrinsic rotation in toroidal plasmas is reported. The turbulence-driven intrinsic torque associated with nonlinear residual stress generation due to zonal flow shear induced asymmetry in the parallel wave number spectrum is shown to scale close to linearly with plasma gradients and the inverse of the plasma current, qualitatively reproducing experimental empirical scalings of intrinsic rotation. The origin of current scaling is found to be enhanced k(∥) symmetry breaking induced by the increased radial variation of the safety factor as the current decreases. The intrinsic torque is proportional to the pressure gradient because both turbulence intensity and zonal flow shear, which are two key ingredients for driving residual stress, increase with turbulence drive, which is R/L(T(e)) and R/L(n(e)) for the trapped electron mode. © 2011 American Physical Society

Analytic Energy Gradients for Variational Two-Electron Reduced-Density-Matrix-Driven Complete Active Space Self-Consistent Field Theory.

PubMed

Maradzike, Elvis; Gidofalvi, Gergely; Turney, Justin M; Schaefer, Henry F; DePrince, A Eugene

2017-09-12

Analytic energy gradients are presented for a variational two-electron reduced-density-matrix (2-RDM)-driven complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) method. The active-space 2-RDM is determined using a semidefinite programing (SDP) algorithm built upon an augmented Lagrangian formalism. Expressions for analytic gradients are simplified by the fact that the Lagrangian is stationary with respect to variations in both the primal and the dual solutions to the SDP problem. Orbital response contributions to the gradient are identical to those that arise in conventional CASSCF methods in which the electronic structure of the active space is described by a full configuration interaction (CI) wave function. We explore the relative performance of variational 2-RDM (v2RDM)- and CI-driven CASSCF for the equilibrium geometries of 20 small molecules. When enforcing two-particle N-representability conditions, full-valence v2RDM-CASSCF-optimized bond lengths display a mean unsigned error of 0.0060 Å and a maximum unsigned error of 0.0265 Å, relative to those obtained from full-valence CI-CASSCF. When enforcing partial three-particle N-representability conditions, the mean and maximum unsigned errors are reduced to only 0.0006 and 0.0054 Å, respectively. For these same molecules, full-valence v2RDM-CASSCF bond lengths computed in the cc-pVQZ basis set deviate from experimentally determined ones on average by 0.017 and 0.011 Å when enforcing two- and three-particle conditions, respectively, whereas CI-CASSCF displays an average deviation of 0.010 Å. The v2RDM-CASSCF approach with two-particle conditions is also applied to the equilibrium geometry of pentacene; optimized bond lengths deviate from those derived from experiment, on average, by 0.015 Å when using a cc-pVDZ basis set and a (22e,22o) active space.

Peptide assembly-driven metal-organic framework (MOF) motors for micro electric generators.

PubMed

Ikezoe, Yasuhiro; Fang, Justin; Wasik, Tomasz L; Uemura, Takashi; Zheng, Yongtai; Kitagawa, Susumu; Matsui, Hiroshi

2015-01-14

Peptide-metal-organic framework (Pep-MOF) motors, whose motions are driven by anisotropic surface tension gradients created via peptide self-assembly around frameworks, can rotate microscopic rotors and magnets fast enough to generate an electric power of 0.1 μW. A new rigid Pep-MOF motor can be recycled by refilling the peptide fuel into the nanopores of the MOF. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

The causal relation between turbulent particle flux and density gradient

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

Milligen, B. Ph. van; Martín de Aguilera, A.; Hidalgo, C.

A technique for detecting the causal relationship between fluctuating signals is used to investigate the relation between flux and gradient in fusion plasmas. Both a resistive pressure gradient driven turbulence model and experimental Langmuir probe data from the TJ-II stellarator are studied. It is found that the maximum influence occurs at a finite time lag (non-instantaneous response) and that quasi-periodicities exist. Furthermore, the model results show very long range radial influences, extending over most of the investigated regions, possibly related to coupling effects associated with plasma self-organization. These results clearly show that transport in fusion plasmas is not local andmore » instantaneous, as is sometimes assumed.« less

Designing gradient coils with reduced hot spot temperatures.

PubMed

While, Peter T; Forbes, Larry K; Crozier, Stuart

2010-03-01

Gradient coil temperature is an important concern in the design and construction of MRI scanners. Closely spaced gradient coil windings cause temperature hot spots within the system as a result of Ohmic heating associated with large current being driven through resistive material, and can strongly affect the performance of the coils. In this paper, a model is presented for predicting the spatial temperature distribution of a gradient coil, including the location and extent of temperature hot spots. Subsequently, a method is described for designing gradient coils with improved temperature distributions and reduced hot spot temperatures. Maximum temperature represents a non-linear constraint and a relaxed fixed point iteration routine is proposed to adjust coil windings iteratively to minimise this coil feature. Several examples are considered that assume different thermal material properties and cooling mechanisms for the gradient system. Coil winding solutions are obtained for all cases considered that display a considerable drop in hot spot temperature (>20%) when compared to standard minimum power gradient coils with equivalent gradient homogeneity, efficiency and inductance. The method is semi-analytical in nature and can be adapted easily to consider other non-linear constraints in the design of gradient coils or similar systems. Crown Copyright (c) 2009. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Radiosynthesis of clinical doses of 68Ga-DOTATATE (GalioMedix™) and validation of organic-matrix-based 68Ge/68Ga generators

PubMed Central

Tworowska, Izabela; Ranganathan, David; Thamake, Sanjay; Delpassand, Ebrahim; Mojtahedi, Alireza; Schultz, Michael K.; Zhernosekov, Konstantin; Marx, Sebastian

2017-01-01

Introduction 68Ga-DOTATATE is a radiolabeled peptide-based agonist that targets somatostatin receptors overexpressed in neuroendocrine tumors. Here, we present our results on validation of organic matrix 68Ge/68Ga generators (ITG GmbH) applied for radiosynthesis of the clinical doses of 68Ga-DOTATATE (GalioMedixTM). Methods The clinical grade of DOTATATE (25 µg±5µg) compounded in 1MNaOAc at pH=5.5 was labeled manually with 514±218MBq (13.89±5.9 mCi) of 68Ga eluate in 0.05 N HCl at 95 °C for 10 min. The radiochemical purity of the final dose was validated using radio-TLC. The quality control of clinical doses included tests of their osmolarity, endotoxin level, radionuclide identity, filter integrity, pH, sterility and 68Ge breakthrough. Results The final dose of 272±126MBq (7.35±3.4 mCi) of 68Ga-DOTATATE was produced with a radiochemical yield (RCY) of 99%±1%. The total time required for completion of radiolabeling and quality control averaged approximately 35 min. This resulted in delivery of 50% ± 7% of 68Ga-DOTATATE at the time of calibration (not decay corrected). Conclusions 68Ga eluted from the generator was directly applied for labeling of DOTA-peptide with no additional pre-concentration or pre-purification of isotope. The low acidity of 68Ga eluate allows for facile synthesis of clinical doses with radiochemical and radionuclide purity higher than 98% and average activity of 272 ± 126 MBq (7.3 ± 3 mCi). There is no need for post-labeling C18 Sep-Pak purification of final doses of radiotracer. Advances in knowledge and implications for patient care. The clinical interest in validation of 68Galabeled agents has increased in the past years due to availability of generators from different vendors (Eckert-Ziegler, ITG, iThemba), favorable approach of U.S. FDA agency to initiate clinical trials, and collaboration of U.S. centers with leading EU clinical sites. The list of 68Ga-labeled tracers evaluated in clinical studies should growth because of the sensitivity of PET technique, the simplicity of the shakebake approach for the dose preparation and reliability of 68Ge/68Ga generators. Our studies have confirmed the reproducible elution profile, and high reliability of ITG GmbH generators required for routine doses preparation according to FDA recommendations. PMID:26702783

Radiosynthesis of clinical doses of ⁶⁸Ga-DOTATATE (GalioMedix™) and validation of organic-matrix-based ⁶⁸Ge/⁶⁸Ga generators.

PubMed

Tworowska, Izabela; Ranganathan, David; Thamake, Sanjay; Delpassand, Ebrahim; Mojtahedi, Alireza; Schultz, Michael K; Zhernosekov, Konstantin; Marx, Sebastian

2016-01-01

68Ga-DOTATATE is a radiolabeled peptide-based agonist that targets somatostatin receptors overexpressed in neuroendocrine tumors. Here, we present our results on validation of organic matrix 68Ge/68Ga generators (ITG GmbH) applied for radiosynthesis of the clinical doses of 68Ga-DOTATATE (GalioMedixTM). The clinical grade of DOTATATE (25 μg±5 μg) compounded in 1 M NaOAc at pH=5.5 was labeled manually with 514±218 MBq (13.89±5.9 mCi) of 68Ga eluate in 0.05 N HCl at 95°C for 10 min. The radiochemical purity of the final dose was validated using radio-TLC. The quality control of clinical doses included tests of their osmolarity, endotoxin level, radionuclide identity, filter integrity, pH, sterility and 68Ge breakthrough. The final dose of 272±126 MBq (7.35±3.4 mCi) of 68Ga-DOTATATE was produced with a radiochemical yield (RCY) of 99%±1%. The total time required for completion of radiolabeling and quality control averaged approximately 35 min. This resulted in delivery of 50%±7% of 68Ga-DOTATATE at the time of calibration (not decay corrected). 68Ga eluted from the generator was directly applied for labeling of DOTA-peptide with no additional pre-concentration or pre-purification of isotope. The low acidity of 68Ga eluate allows for facile synthesis of clinical doses with radiochemical and radionuclide purity higher than 98% and average activity of 272±126 MBq (7.3±3 mCi). There is no need for post-labeling C18 Sep-Pak purification of final doses of radiotracer. Advances in knowledge and implications for patient care. The clinical interest in validation of 68Galabeled agents has increased in the past years due to availability of generators from different vendors (Eckert-Ziegler, ITG, iThemba), favorable approach of U.S. FDA agency to initiate clinical trials, and collaboration of U.S. centers with leading EU clinical sites. The list of 68Ga-labeled tracers evaluated in clinical studies should growth because of the sensitivity of PET technique, the simplicity of the shakebake approach for the dose preparation and reliability of 68Ge/68Ga generators. Our studies have confirmed the reproducible elution profile, and high reliability of ITG GmbH generators required for routine doses preparation according to FDA recommendations. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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.

Accelerating gradient improvement using shape-tailor laser front in radiation pressure acceleration progress

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, W. P.; Shen, B. F.; Xu, Z. Z.

2017-05-01

The accelerating gradient of a proton beam is crucial for stable radiation pressure acceleration (RPA) because the multi-dimensional instabilities increase γ times slower in the relativistic region. In this paper, a shape-tailored laser is proposed to significantly accelerate the ions in a controllable high accelerating gradient. In this method, the fastest ions initially rest in the middle of the foil are controlled to catch the compressed electron layer at the end of the hole-boring stage, thus the light-sail stage can start as soon as possible. Then the compressed electron layer is accelerated tightly together with the fastest ions by the shaped laser intensity, which further increases the accelerating gradient in the light-sail stage. Such tailored pulse may be beneficial for the RPA driven by the 10-fs 10 petawatt laser in the future.

Probing plasma wakefields using electron bunches generated from a laser wakefield accelerator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, C. J.; Wan, Y.; Guo, B.; Hua, J. F.; Pai, C.-H.; Li, F.; Zhang, J.; Ma, Y.; Wu, Y. P.; Xu, X. L.; Mori, W. B.; Chu, H.-H.; Wang, J.; Lu, W.; Joshi, C.

2018-04-01

We show experimental results of probing the electric field structure of plasma wakes by using femtosecond relativistic electron bunches generated from a laser wakefield accelerator. Snapshots of laser-driven linear wakes in plasmas with different densities and density gradients are captured. The spatiotemporal evolution of the wake in a plasma density up-ramp is recorded. Two parallel wakes driven by a laser with a main spot and sidelobes are identified in the experiment and reproduced in simulations. The capability of this new method for capturing the electron- and positron-driven wakes is also shown via 3D particle-in-cell simulations.

A microscale turbine driven by diffusive mass flux.

PubMed

Yang, Mingcheng; Liu, Rui; Ripoll, Marisol; Chen, Ke

2015-10-07

An external diffusive mass flux is shown to be able to generate a mechanical torque on a microscale object based on anisotropic diffusiophoresis. In light of this finding, we propose a theoretical prototype micro-turbine driven purely by diffusive mass flux, which is in strong contrast to conventional turbines driven by convective mass flows. The rotational velocity of the proposed turbine is determined by the external concentration gradient, the geometry and the diffusiophoretic properties of the turbine. This scenario is validated by performing computer simulations. Our finding thus provides a new type of chemo-mechanical response which could be used to exploit existing chemical energies at small scales.

Study of Turbulence and Radial Electric Field Transitions in ASDEX Upgrade using Doppler Reflectometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Conway, Garrard

2006-10-01

The radial electric field is recognised as an important factor in the performance of magnetically confined fusion plasmas. On ASDEX Upgrade microwave Doppler reflectometry has been developed to directly measure Er profiles, its shear and its fluctuations. Here a poloidally tilted antenna selects via Bragg a specific turbulence wavenumber giving a frequency shift directly proportional to the perpendicular rotation velocity u= vE xB+ vturb of the turbulence moving in the plasma. Turbulence simulations show vE xBvturb allowing simple extraction of Er with good accuracy. In the scrape-off-layer Er is positive, but reverses across the separatrix due to the pedestal pressure gradient to form a negative well. The strength of the well scales directly with confinement, typically -50V/cm for ohmic/L-mode, rising to -300V/cm for H-mode and in excess of -500V/cm for improved H-modes. Without NBI vE xB vturb which allows the turbulence behaviour to be investigated. For example the core rotation reverses from ion to electron direction when plasma collisionality is raised while matched gyro-kinetic turbulence simulations show the dominant turbulence changing from TEM to ITG with corresponding vturb reversal, which implies the core Er reverses sign with the turbulence. Also of major importance to confinement are zonal flows and GAMs - radially localised oscillating E xB flows. Er fluctuations directly measured by Doppler refl. reveal coherent modes in the edge gradient region where turbulence vorticity and Er shear are largest. The mode frequency scales as sound speed over major radius but is sensitive to plasma shape and local q. So far GAMs have not been seen in H-modes, nor in the plasma core. In each topic, the synergetic combination of experiment, theory and numerical simulation aids interpretation shows Er is interlinked with turbulence and the mean plasma profiles. Collaborators: J.Schirmer, W.Suttrop, C.Angioni, R.Dux, F.Jenko, E.Holzhauer, S.Klenge, B.Kurzan, C.Maggi, A.G.Peeters, M.Reich, F.Ryter, B.Scott, C.Tr"oster, E.Wolfrum, H.Zohm and the ASDEX Upgrade Team.

Electrochemically-Driven Insertion of Biological Nanodiscs into Solid State Membrane Pores as a Basis for "Pore-In-Pore" Membranes.

PubMed

Farajollahi, Farid; Seidenstücker, Axel; Altintoprak, Klara; Walther, Paul; Ziemann, Paul; Plettl, Alfred; Marti, Othmar; Wege, Christina; Gliemann, Hartmut

2018-04-13

Nanoporous membranes are of increasing interest for many applications, such as molecular filters, biosensors, nanofluidic logic and energy conversion devices. To meet high-quality standards, e.g., in molecular separation processes, membranes with well-defined pores in terms of pore diameter and chemical properties are required. However, the preparation of membranes with narrow pore diameter distributions is still challenging. In the work presented here, we demonstrate a strategy, a "pore-in-pore" approach, where the conical pores of a solid state membrane produced by a multi-step top-down lithography procedure are used as a template to insert precisely-formed biomolecular nanodiscs with exactly defined inner and outer diameters. These nanodiscs, which are the building blocks of tobacco mosaic virus-deduced particles, consist of coat proteins, which self-assemble under defined experimental conditions with a stabilizing short RNA. We demonstrate that the insertion of the nanodiscs can be driven either by diffusion due to a concentration gradient or by applying an electric field along the cross-section of the solid state membrane. It is found that the electrophoresis-driven insertion is significantly more effective than the insertion via the concentration gradient.

Electrochemically-Driven Insertion of Biological Nanodiscs into Solid State Membrane Pores as a Basis for “Pore-In-Pore” Membranes

PubMed Central

Farajollahi, Farid; Seidenstücker, Axel; Altintoprak, Klara; Walther, Paul; Ziemann, Paul; Plettl, Alfred; Wege, Christina; Gliemann, Hartmut

2018-01-01

Nanoporous membranes are of increasing interest for many applications, such as molecular filters, biosensors, nanofluidic logic and energy conversion devices. To meet high-quality standards, e.g., in molecular separation processes, membranes with well-defined pores in terms of pore diameter and chemical properties are required. However, the preparation of membranes with narrow pore diameter distributions is still challenging. In the work presented here, we demonstrate a strategy, a “pore-in-pore” approach, where the conical pores of a solid state membrane produced by a multi-step top-down lithography procedure are used as a template to insert precisely-formed biomolecular nanodiscs with exactly defined inner and outer diameters. These nanodiscs, which are the building blocks of tobacco mosaic virus-deduced particles, consist of coat proteins, which self-assemble under defined experimental conditions with a stabilizing short RNA. We demonstrate that the insertion of the nanodiscs can be driven either by diffusion due to a concentration gradient or by applying an electric field along the cross-section of the solid state membrane. It is found that the electrophoresis-driven insertion is significantly more effective than the insertion via the concentration gradient. PMID:29652841

Field theory and diffusion creep predictions in polycrystalline aggregates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Villani, A.; Busso, E. P.; Forest, S.

2015-07-01

In polycrystals, stress-driven vacancy diffusion at high homologous temperatures leads to inelastic deformation. In this work, a novel continuum mechanics framework is proposed to describe the strain fields resulting from such a diffusion-driven process in a polycrystalline aggregate where grains and grain boundaries are explicitly considered. The choice of an anisotropic eigenstrain in the grain boundary region provides the driving force for the diffusive creep processes. The corresponding inelastic strain rate is shown to be related to the gradient of the vacancy flux. Dislocation driven deformation is then introduced as an additional mechanism, through standard crystal plasticity constitutive equations. The fully coupled diffusion-mechanical model is implemented into the finite element method and then used to describe the biaxial creep behaviour of FCC polycrystalline aggregates. The corresponding results revealed for the first time that such a coupled diffusion-stress approach, involving the gradient of the vacancy flux, can accurately predict the well-known macroscopic strain rate dependency on stress and grain size in the diffusion creep regime. They also predict strongly heterogeneous viscoplastic strain fields, especially close to grain boundaries triple junctions. Finally, a smooth transition from Herring and Coble to dislocation creep behaviour is predicted and compared to experimental results for copper.

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

Vaezi, P.; Holland, C.; Thakur, S. C.

The Controlled Shear Decorrelation Experiment (CSDX) linear plasma device provides a unique platform for investigating the underlying physics of self-regulating drift-wave turbulence/zonal flow dynamics. A minimal model of 3D drift-reduced nonlocal cold ion fluid equations which evolves density, vorticity, and electron temperature fluctuations, with proper sheath boundary conditions, is used to simulate dynamics of the turbulence in CSDX and its response to changes in parallel boundary conditions. These simulations are then carried out using the BOUndary Turbulence (BOUT++) framework and use equilibrium electron density and temperature profiles taken from experimental measurements. The results show that density gradient-driven drift-waves are themore » dominant instability in CSDX. However, the choice of insulating or conducting endplate boundary conditions affects the linear growth rates and energy balance of the system due to the absence or addition of Kelvin-Helmholtz modes generated by the sheath-driven equilibrium E × B shear and sheath-driven temperature gradient instability. Moreover, nonlinear simulation results show that the boundary conditions impact the turbulence structure and zonal flow formation, resulting in less broadband (more quasi-coherent) turbulence and weaker zonal flow in conducting boundary condition case. These results are qualitatively consistent with earlier experimental observations.« less

Evidence of the Lower Thermospheric Winter-to-Summer Circulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qian, L.; Burns, A. G.; Yue, J.

2017-12-01

Numerical studies showed that the lower thermospheric winter-to-summer circulation is driven by wave dissipation, and it plays a significant role in trace gas distributions in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT), and in the composition of the thermosphere. Direct observations of this circulation are difficult. However, it leaves clear signatures in tracer distributions. Recent analysis of CO2 observed by the Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry (SABER) onboard the Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics satellite showed dynamically driven dense isolines of CO2 at summer high latitudes. We conduct modeling and observational studies to understand the CO2 distribution and circulation patterns in the MLT. We found that there exists maximum vertical gradient of CO2 at summer high latitudes, driven by the convergence of the upwelling of the mesospheric circulation and the downwelling of the lower thermospheric circulation; this maximum vertical gradient of CO2 is located at a higher altitude in the winter hemisphere, driven by the convergence of the upwelling of the lower thermospheric circulation and the downwelling of the solar-driven thermospheric circulation. Based on SABER CO2 distribution, the bottom of the lower thermospheric circulation is located between 95 km and 100 km, and it has a vertical extent of 10 km. Analysis of the SABER CO2 and temperature at summer high latitudes showed that the bottom of this circulation is consistently higher than the mesopause height by 10 km; and its location does not change much between solar maximum and solar minimum.

The ABC protein turned chloride channel whose failure causes cystic fibrosis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gadsby, David C.; Vergani, Paola; Csanády, László

2006-03-01

CFTR chloride channels are encoded by the gene mutated in patients with cystic fibrosis. These channels belong to the superfamily of ABC transporter ATPases. ATP-driven conformational changes, which in other ABC proteins fuel uphill substrate transport across cellular membranes, in CFTR open and close a gate to allow transmembrane flow of anions down their electrochemical gradient. New structural and biochemical information from prokaryotic ABC proteins and functional information from CFTR channels has led to a unifying mechanism explaining those ATP-driven conformational changes.

Peptide Assembly-Driven Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) Motors for Micro Electric Generator

PubMed Central

Ikezoe, Yasuhiro; Fang, Justin; Wasik, Tomasz L.; Uemura, Takashi; Zheng, Yongtai; Kitagawa, Susumu

2014-01-01

Peptide-MOF motors, whose motions are driven by anisotropic surface gradients created via peptide self-assembly around nanopores of MOFs, can rotate microscopic rotors and magnet fast enough to generate electric power of 0.1 µW. To make the peptide-MOF generator recyclable, a new MOF is applied as a host motor engine, which has a more rigid framework with higher H2O affinity so that peptide release occurs more efficiently via guest exchange without the destruction of MOF. PMID:25418936

Demonstration of the role of turbulence-driven poloidal flow generation in the L-H transition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, C. X.; Xu, Y. H.; Luo, J. R.; Mao, J. S.; Liu, B. H.; Li, J. G.; Wan, B. N.; Wan, Y. X.

2000-05-01

This paper presents the evidence for the role of turbulence-driven poloidal flow generation in the L-H transition induced by a turbulent heating pulse on the HT-6M tokamak. It is found that the poloidal flow υθ plays a key role in developing the electric field Er and triggering the transition. The acceleration of υθ across the transition is clearly correlated with the enhancement of the Reynolds stress gradient.

Relationship between Trends in Land Precipitation and Tropical SST Gradient

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chung, Chul Eddy; Ramanathan, V.

2007-01-01

In this study, we examined global zonal/annual mean precipitation trends. Land precipitation trend from 1951 to 2002 shows widespread drying between 10 S to 20 N but the trend from 1977 to 2002 shows partial recovery. Based on general circulation model sensitivity studies, we suggested that these features are driven largely by the meridional SST gradient trend in the tropics. Our idealized CCM3 experiments substantiated that land precipitation is more sensitive to meridional SST gradient than to an overall tropical warming. Various simulations produced for the IPCC 4th assessment report demonstrate that increasing CO2 increases SST in the entire tropics non-uniformly and increases land precipitation only in certain latitude belts, again pointing to the importance of SST gradient change. Temporally varying aerosols in the IPCC simulations alter meridional SST gradient and land precipitation substantially. Anthropogenic aerosol direct solar forcing without its effects on SST is shown by the CCM3 to have weak but non-negligible influence on land precipitation.

Guanylyl cyclase-dependent chemotaxis of endothelial cells in response to nitric oxide gradients.

PubMed

Isenberg, Jeff S; Ridnour, Lisa A; Thomas, Douglas D; Wink, David A; Roberts, David D; Espey, Michael Graham

2006-03-15

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important regulator of angiogenesis and neovascularization. The nature of endothelial cell motility responses to NO was examined using a Boyden chamber method. NO generated via decomposition of either DEA/NO or DETA/NO produced increases in human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) chemotaxis, which were completely abrogated by ODQ, a soluble guanylyl cyclase inhibitor. Measurements of NO either directly by chemiluminescence or its chemistry with diaminofluorescein revealed that chemotaxis was driven by subtle NO gradients between the lower and the upper wells in this system. In addition to diffusion and volatilization from the upper chambers, the data showed that HUVEC consumption of NO contributed to these sustained gradients. Comparison of DEA/NO- and DETA/NO-mediated responses suggested that the persistence of spatial NO gradients is as significant as the absolute magnitude of NO exposure per unit time. The findings suggest that subnanomolar NO gradients are sufficient to mobilize endothelial cell migration into hypoxic tissue during neovascularization events, such as in wound healing and cancer.

What shapes stellar metallicity gradients of massive galaxies at large radii?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hirschmann, Michaela

2017-03-01

We investigate the differential impact of physical mechanisms, mergers and internal energetic phenomena, on the evolution of stellar metallicity gradients in massive, present-day galaxies employing sets of high-resolution, cosmological zoom simulations. We demonstrate that negative metallicity gradients at large radii (>2Reff) originate from the accretion of metal-poor stellar systems. At larger radii, galaxies become typically more dominated by stars accreted from satellite galaxies in major and minor mergers. However, only strong galactic, stellar-driven winds can sufficiently reduce the metallicity content of the accreted stars to realistically steepen the outer metallicity gradients in agreement with observations. In contrast, the gradients of the models without winds are inconsistent with observations. Moreover, we discuss the impact of additional AGN feedback. This analysis greatly highlights the importance of both energetic processes and merger events for stellar population properties of massive galaxies at large radii. Our results are expected to significantly contribute to the interpretation of current and up-coming IFU surveys (e.g. MaNGA, CALIFA).

Controlling cavitation-based image contrast in focused ultrasound histotripsy surgery.

PubMed

Allen, Steven P; Hall, Timothy L; Cain, Charles A; Hernandez-Garcia, Luis

2015-01-01

To develop MRI feedback for cavitation-based, focused ultrasound, tissue erosion surgery (histotripsy), we investigate image contrast generated by transient cavitation events. Changes in GRE image intensity are observed while balanced pairs of field gradients are varied in the presence of an acoustically driven cavitation event. The amplitude of the acoustic pulse and the timing between a cavitation event and the start of these gradient waveforms are also varied. The magnitudes and phases of the cavitation site are compared with those of control images. An echo-planar sequence is used to evaluate histotripsy lesions in ex vivo tissue. Cavitation events in water cause localized attenuation when acoustic pulses exceed a pressure threshold. Attenuation increases with increasing gradient amplitude and gradient lobe separation times and is isotropic with gradient direction. This attenuation also depends upon the relative timing between the cavitation event and the start of the balanced gradients. These factors can be used to control the appearance of attenuation while imaging ex vivo tissue. By controlling the timing between cavitation events and the imaging gradients, MR images can be made alternately sensitive or insensitive to cavitation. During therapy, these images can be used to isolate contrast generated by cavitation. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

A z-gradient array for simultaneous multi-slice excitation with a single-band RF pulse.

PubMed

Ertan, Koray; Taraghinia, Soheil; Sadeghi, Alireza; Atalar, Ergin

2018-07-01

Multi-slice radiofrequency (RF) pulses have higher specific absorption rates, more peak RF power, and longer pulse durations than single-slice RF pulses. Gradient field design techniques using a z-gradient array are investigated for exciting multiple slices with a single-band RF pulse. Two different field design methods are formulated to solve for the required current values of the gradient array elements for the given slice locations. The method requirements are specified, optimization problems are formulated for the minimum current norm and an analytical solution is provided. A 9-channel z-gradient coil array driven by independent, custom-designed gradient amplifiers is used to validate the theory. Performance measures such as normalized slice thickness error, gradient strength per unit norm current, power dissipation, and maximum amplitude of the magnetic field are provided for various slice locations and numbers of slices. Two and 3 slices are excited by a single-band RF pulse in simulations and phantom experiments. The possibility of multi-slice excitation with a single-band RF pulse using a z-gradient array is validated in simulations and phantom experiments. Magn Reson Med 80:400-412, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

The effect of small temperature gradients on flow in a continuous flow electrophoresis chamber

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rhodes, P. H.; Snyder, R. S.

1982-01-01

Continuous flow electrophoresis employs an electric field to separate biological cells suspended in a flowing liquid buffer solution. Good separations based on differences in electrophoretic mobility are obtained only when a unidirectional flow is maintained. The desired flow has a parabolic structure in the narrow dimension of the chamber and is uniform acros the width, except near the edges where the no-slip condition prevails. However, because of buoyancy, very small laterall or axial temperature gradients deform the flow significantly. The results of experiments conducted with a specially instrumented chamber show the origin and structure of the buoyancy-driven perturbations. It is found that very small temperature gradients can disturb the flow significantly, as was predicted by earlier theoretical work.

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.

Proton gradients produced by glucose oxidase microcapsules containing motor F0F1-ATPase for continuous ATP biosynthesis.

PubMed

Duan, Li; Qi, Wei; Yan, Xuehai; He, Qiang; Cui, Yue; Wang, Kewei; Li, Dongxiang; Li, Junbai

2009-01-15

Glucose oxidase (GOD) microcapsules held together by cross-linker, glutaraldehyde (GA), are fabricated by the layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly technique. The lipid bilayer containing CF(0)F(1)-ATPase was coated on the outer shell of GOD microcapsules. Driven under the proton gradients produced by catalysis of GOD microcapsules for glucose, ATP is synthesized from ADP and inorganic phosphate catalyzed by the ATPase rotary catalysis. The results show here that ATPase reconstituted on the GOD microcapsules retains its catalytic activity.

Event-Driven Random Back-Propagation: Enabling Neuromorphic Deep Learning Machines

PubMed Central

Neftci, Emre O.; Augustine, Charles; Paul, Somnath; Detorakis, Georgios

2017-01-01

An ongoing challenge in neuromorphic computing is to devise general and computationally efficient models of inference and learning which are compatible with the spatial and temporal constraints of the brain. One increasingly popular and successful approach is to take inspiration from inference and learning algorithms used in deep neural networks. However, the workhorse of deep learning, the gradient descent Gradient Back Propagation (BP) rule, often relies on the immediate availability of network-wide information stored with high-precision memory during learning, and precise operations that are difficult to realize in neuromorphic hardware. Remarkably, recent work showed that exact backpropagated gradients are not essential for learning deep representations. Building on these results, we demonstrate an event-driven random BP (eRBP) rule that uses an error-modulated synaptic plasticity for learning deep representations. Using a two-compartment Leaky Integrate & Fire (I&F) neuron, the rule requires only one addition and two comparisons for each synaptic weight, making it very suitable for implementation in digital or mixed-signal neuromorphic hardware. Our results show that using eRBP, deep representations are rapidly learned, achieving classification accuracies on permutation invariant datasets comparable to those obtained in artificial neural network simulations on GPUs, while being robust to neural and synaptic state quantizations during learning. PMID:28680387

Porosity Gradient Development Around Karst Features due to Tidal Pumping in Eastern Yucatan Peninsula

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maqueda, A.; Renard, P.

2016-12-01

Water exchange between karst features and the porous matrix around them has been observed in karst aquifers by previous research. The exchange is driven by hydraulic head gradients caused by stormwater runoff or sea tides and may cause mineral dissolution. The authors of this work proposed a conceptual model of porosity development under tidal variations of hydraulic head is proposed. Simulations of reactive transport and porosity evolution were conducted to explore the porosity gradient development around a karst feature. Simulations account for petrophysical properties of porous media and groundwater geochemical characteristics. Data used in simulations corresponds to an eogenetic karst aquifer found on the eastern coast of Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. Simulations include both analytical and numerical solutions of porosity increase caused by mineral dissolution. The estimated rate of porosity development and associated wall retreat (3-30 cm/100 yr) are large enough to develop karst cavities on time periods relevant to karst formation in the study area (10K yr). The analytical solution could be used to assess porosity increase in rock samples and can be also applied to model slow reactions in porous media under flow driven by sinusoidal hydraulic boundary conditions. The results show a possible alternative mechanism of karst cavity development in a high conductive limestone rock matrix aquifer.

Event-Driven Random Back-Propagation: Enabling Neuromorphic Deep Learning Machines.

PubMed

Neftci, Emre O; Augustine, Charles; Paul, Somnath; Detorakis, Georgios

2017-01-01

An ongoing challenge in neuromorphic computing is to devise general and computationally efficient models of inference and learning which are compatible with the spatial and temporal constraints of the brain. One increasingly popular and successful approach is to take inspiration from inference and learning algorithms used in deep neural networks. However, the workhorse of deep learning, the gradient descent Gradient Back Propagation (BP) rule, often relies on the immediate availability of network-wide information stored with high-precision memory during learning, and precise operations that are difficult to realize in neuromorphic hardware. Remarkably, recent work showed that exact backpropagated gradients are not essential for learning deep representations. Building on these results, we demonstrate an event-driven random BP (eRBP) rule that uses an error-modulated synaptic plasticity for learning deep representations. Using a two-compartment Leaky Integrate & Fire (I&F) neuron, the rule requires only one addition and two comparisons for each synaptic weight, making it very suitable for implementation in digital or mixed-signal neuromorphic hardware. Our results show that using eRBP, deep representations are rapidly learned, achieving classification accuracies on permutation invariant datasets comparable to those obtained in artificial neural network simulations on GPUs, while being robust to neural and synaptic state quantizations during learning.

Axisymmetric magnetorotational instability in ideal and viscous laboratory plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mikhailovskii, A. B.; Lominadze, J. G.; Churikov, A. P.; Erokhin, N. N.; Pustovitov, V. D.; Konovalov, S. V.

2008-10-01

The original analysis of the axisymmetric magnetorotational instability (MRI) by Velikhov (Sov. Phys. JETP 9, 995 (1959)) and Chandrasekhar (Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 46, 253 (1960)), applied to the ideally conducting magnetized medium in the laboratory conditions and restricted to the incompressible approximation, is extended by allowing for the compressibility. Thereby, two additional driving mechanisms of MRI are revealed in addition to the standard drive due to the negative medium rotation frequency gradient (the Velikhov effect). One is due to the squared medium pressure gradient and another is a combined effect of the pressure and density gradients. For laboratory applications, the expression for the MRI boundary with all the above driving mechanisms and the stabilizing magnetoacoustic effect is derived. The effects of parallel and perpendicular viscosities on the MRI in the laboratory plasma are investigated. It is shown that, for strong viscosity, there is a family of MRI driven for the same condition as the ideal one. It is also revealed that the presence of strong viscosity leads to additional family of instabilities called the viscosity-driven MRI. Then the parallel-viscositydriven MRI looks as an overstability (oscillatory instability) possessing both the growth rate and the real part of oscillation frequency, while the perpendicular-viscosity MRI is the aperiodical instability.

LAPD Studies on Kelvin-Helmholtz turbulence and Transport

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Perez, Jean; Horton, Wendel; Carter, Troy; Gekelman, Walter; Bengtson, Roger; Gentle, Kenneth

2004-11-01

New results on the partial transport barrier and turbulence produced by a strong E×B jet of plasma shear flow are reported. By controlled biasing of the cathode-anode structure of the 20 m long, 1 m diameter Large Plasma Device at UCLA, a strongly localized shear flow is driven in the steady state. The fluctuations are shown to be well described by 2D electrostatic potential simulations of the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability in preprint IFSR-1002. Now, we exam the transport of particles and report the particle flux data for transport across the plasma jet. The mean ion saturation current shows that there is a steep density gradient on the core side of the jet with the foot of the density gradient near the shear layer . We consider the motion of test particles launched from the core side of the layer and calculate the probablity distribution of the first exit times. The density gradient of driven drift waves is also discussed. Experimentally, we propose to use optical tagging and laser induced fluorescence to follow particle trajectories across the shear layer in LAPD. Work supported by DOE grant DE-FG02-04ER54742. Experimental work was performed at the UCLA Basic Plasma Science Facility which is funded by NSF and DOE.

Salinity-gradient energy driven microbial electrosynthesis of value-added chemicals from CO2 reduction.

PubMed

Li, Xiaohu; Angelidaki, Irini; Zhang, Yifeng

2018-06-14

Biological conversion of CO 2 to value-added chemicals and biofuels has emerged as an attractive strategy to address the energy and environmental concerns caused by the over-reliance on fossil fuels. In this study, an innovative microbial reverse-electrodialysis electrolysis cell (MREC), which combines the strengths of reverse electrodialysis (RED) and microbial electrosynthesis technology platforms, was developed to achieve efficient CO 2 -to-value chemicals bioconversion by using the salinity gradient energy as driven energy sources. In the MREC, maximum acetate and ethanol concentrations of 477.5 ± 33.2 and 46.2 ± 8.2 mg L -1 were obtained at the cathode, catalyzed by Sporomusa ovata with production rates of 165.79 ± 11.52 and 25.11 ± 4.46 mmol m -2 d -1 , respectively. Electron balance analysis indicates that 94.4 ± 3.9% of the electrons derived from wastewater and salinity gradient were recovered in acetate and ethanol. This work for the first time proved the potential of innovative MREC configuration has the potential as an efficient technology platform for simultaneous CO 2 capture and electrosynthesis of valuable chemicals. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Orthogonally combined motion- and diffusion-sensitized driven equilibrium (OC-MDSDE) preparation for vessel signal suppression in 3D turbo spin echo imaging of peripheral nerves in the extremities.

PubMed

Cervantes, Barbara; Kirschke, Jan S; Klupp, Elizabeth; Kooijman, Hendrik; Börnert, Peter; Haase, Axel; Rummeny, Ernst J; Karampinos, Dimitrios C

2018-01-01

To design a preparation module for vessel signal suppression in MR neurography of the extremities, which causes minimal attenuation of nerve signal and is highly insensitive to eddy currents and motion. The orthogonally combined motion- and diffusion-sensitized driven equilibrium (OC-MDSDE) preparation was proposed, based on the improved motion- and diffusion-sensitized driven equilibrium methods (iMSDE and FC-DSDE, respectively), with specific gradient design and orientation. OC-MDSDE was desensitized against eddy currents using appropriately designed gradient prepulses. The motion sensitivity and vessel signal suppression capability of OC-MDSDE and its components were assessed in vivo in the knee using 3D turbo spin echo (TSE). Nerve-to-vessel signal ratios were measured for iMSDE and OC-MDSDE in 7 subjects. iMSDE was shown to be highly sensitive to motion with increasing flow sensitization. FC-DSDE showed robustness against motion, but resulted in strong nerve signal loss with diffusion gradients oriented parallel to the nerve. OC-MDSDE showed superior vessel suppression compared to iMSDE and FC-DSDE and maintained high nerve signal. Mean nerve-to-vessel signal ratios in 7 subjects were 0.40 ± 0.17 for iMSDE and 0.63 ± 0.37 for OC-MDSDE. OC-MDSDE combined with 3D TSE in the extremities allows high-near-isotropic-resolution imaging of peripheral nerves with reduced vessel contamination and high nerve signal. Magn Reson Med 79:407-415, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

Phase space effects on fast ion transport modeling in tokamaks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Podesta, Mario

2015-11-01

Simulations of burning plasmas require a consistent treatment of energetic particles (EP), possibly including the effects of instabilities. Reduced EP transport models are emerging as an effective tool to account for those effects in long time-scale simulations. Available models essentially differ for the main transport drive, which is associated to gradients in real or phase space. It is crucial to assess to what extent those different assumptions affect computed quantities such as EP profile, Neutral Beam (NB) driven current and energy/momentum transfer to the thermal populations. These issues are investigated through a kick model, which includes modifications of the EP distribution by instabilities in real and velocity space. TRANSP simulations including the kick model are applied to NB-heated NSTX discharges featuring unstable toroidal Alfvén eigenmodes (TAEs). Results show that TAEs mainly affect fast ions with large parallel velocity, i.e. the most effective for NB current drive. Other portions of the EP distribution are nearly unperturbed. Core NB driven current decreases by 10-30%, with even larger relative changes toward the plasma edge. When TAEs evolve in so-called avalanches, the model reproduces measured drops of ~ 10% in the neutron rate. Consistently with previous results, the drop is caused by both EP energy loss and EP redistribution. These results are compared to those from a simple diffusive model and a ``critical gradient'' model, which postulates radial EP gradient as the only transport drive. The importance of EP velocity space modifications is discussed in terms of accuracy of the predictions, with emphasis on Neutral Beam driven current. Work supported by U.S. DOE Contract DE-AC02-09CH11466.

Interactions between solidification and compositional convection in mushy layers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Worster, M. Grae

1994-01-01

Mushy layers are ubiquitous during the solidification of alloys. They are regions of mixed phase wherein solid crystals are bathed in the melt from which they grew. The matrix of crystals forms a porous medium through which the melt can flow, driven either by external forces or by its own buoyancy in a gravitational field. Buoyancy-driven convection of the melt depends both on temperature gradients, which are necessary for solidification, and on compositional gradients, which are generated as certain components of the alloy are preferentially incorporated in the solid phase and the remaining components are expelled into the melt. In fully liquid regions, the combined action of temperature and concentration on the density of the liquid can cause various forms of double-diffusive convection. However, in the interior of mushy regions the temperature and concentration are thermodynamically coupled so only single-diffusive convection can occur. Typically, the effect of composition on the buoyancy of the melt is much greater than the effect of temperature, and thus convection in mushy layers in driven primarily by the computational gradients within them. The rising interstitial liquid is relatively dilute, having come from colder regions of the mushy layer, where the liquidus concentration is lower, and can dissolve the crystal matrix through which it flows. This is the fundamental process by which chimneys are formed. It is a nonlinear process that requires the convective velocities to be sufficiently large, so fully fledged chimneys (narrow channels) might be avoided by means that weaken the flow. Better still would be to prevent convection altogether, since even weak convection will cause lateral, compositional inhomogeneities in castings. This report outlines three studies that examine the onset of convection within mushy layers.

A cognitive behavioral group approach to enhance adherence to hemodialysis fluid restrictions: a randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Sharp, John; Wild, Matt R; Gumley, Andrew I; Deighan, Christopher J

2005-06-01

Adhering to fluid restrictions represents one of the most difficult aspects of the hemodialysis treatment regimen. This report describes a randomized controlled trial of a group-based cognitive behavioral intervention aimed at improving fluid-restriction adherence in patients receiving hemodialysis. It was hypothesized that the intervention would improve adherence, measured by means of interdialytic weight gain (IWG), without impacting negatively on psychosocial functioning. Fifty-six participants receiving hemodialysis from 4 renal outpatient settings were randomly assigned to an immediate-treatment group (ITG; n = 29) or deferred-treatment group (DTG; n = 27). Participants were assessed at baseline, posttreatment, and follow-up stages. Treatment consisted of a 4-week intervention using educational, cognitive, and behavioral strategies to enhance effective self-management of fluid consumption. No significant difference in mean IWGs was found between the ITG and DTG during the acute-phase analysis (F(1,54) = 0.03; P > 0.05). However, in longitudinal analysis, there was a significant main effect for mean IWG (F(1.76,96.80) = 9.10; P < 0.001) and a significant difference between baseline and follow-up IWG values (t55 = 3.85; P < 0.001), reflecting improved adherence over time. No adverse effects of treatment were indicated through measures of psychosocial functioning. Some significant changes were evidenced in cognitions thought to be important in mediating behavioral change. The current study provides evidence for the feasibility and effectiveness of applying group-based cognitive behavior therapy to enhance adherence to hemodialysis fluid restrictions. Results are discussed in the context of the study's methodological limitations.

Quantitative proteomic analysis of bacterial enzymes released in cheese during ripening.

PubMed

Jardin, Julien; Mollé, Daniel; Piot, Michel; Lortal, Sylvie; Gagnaire, Valérie

2012-04-02

Due to increasingly available bacterial genomes in databases, proteomic tools have recently been used to screen proteins expressed by micro-organisms in food in order to better understand their metabolism in situ. While the main objective is the systematic identification of proteins, the next step will be to bridge the gap between identification and quantification of these proteins. For that purpose, a new mass spectrometry-based approach was applied, using isobaric tagging reagent for quantitative proteomic analysis (iTRAQ), which are amine specific and yield labelled peptides identical in mass. Experimental Swiss-type cheeses were manufactured from microfiltered milk using Streptococcus thermophilus ITG ST20 and Lactobacillus helveticus ITG LH1 as lactic acid starters. At three ripening times (7, 20 and 69 days), cheese aqueous phases were extracted and enriched in bacterial proteins by fractionation. Each sample, standardised in protein amount prior to proteomic analyses, was: i) analysed by 2D-electrophoresis for qualitative analysis and ii) submitted to trypsinolysis, and labelled with specific iTRAQ tag, one per ripening time. The three labelled samples were mixed together and analysed by nano-LC coupled on-line with ESI-QTOF mass spectrometer. Thirty proteins, both from bacterial or bovine origin, were identified and efficiently quantified. The free bacterial proteins detected were enzymes from the central carbon metabolism as well as stress proteins. Depending on the protein considered, the quantity of these proteins in the cheese aqueous extract increased from 2.5 to 20 fold in concentration from day 7 to day 69 of ripening. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

HYDRAULIC REDISTRIBUTION OF SOIL WATER: ECOSYSTEM IMPLICATIONS FOR PACIFIC NORTHWEST FORESTS

EPA Science Inventory

The physical process of hydraulic redistribution (HR) is driven by competing soil, tree and atmospheric water potential gradients, and may delay severe water stress for roots and other biota associated with the upper soil profile. We monitored soil moisture characteristics across...

Design for a spin-Seebeck diode based on two-dimensional materials

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

Fu, Hua-Hua; Wu, Dan-Dan; Gu, Lei

2015-07-01

Studies of the spin-Seebeck effect (SSE) are very important for the development of fundamental science and novel low-power-consumption technologies. The spin-Seebeck diode (SSD), in which the spin current can be driven by a forward temperature gradient but not by a reverse temperature gradient, is a key unit in spin caloritronic devices. Here, we propose a SSD design using two-dimensional (2D) materials such as silicene and phosphorene nanoribbons as the source and drain. Due to their unique band structures and magnetic states, thermally driven spin-up and spin-down currents flow in opposite directions. This mechanism is different from that of the previousmore » one, which uses two permalloy circular disks [Phys. Rev. Lett. 112, 047203 (2014)], and the SSD in our design can be easily integrated with gate voltage control. Since the concept of this design is rather general and applicable to many 2D materials, it is promising for the realization and exploitation of SSDs in nanodevices.« less

The Role of Cosmic-Ray Pressure in Accelerating Galactic Outflows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Simpson, Christine M.; Pakmor, Rüdiger; Marinacci, Federico; Pfrommer, Christoph; Springel, Volker; Glover, Simon C. O.; Clark, Paul C.; Smith, Rowan J.

2016-08-01

We study the formation of galactic outflows from supernova (SN) explosions with the moving-mesh code AREPO in a stratified column of gas with a surface density similar to the Milky Way disk at the solar circle. We compare different simulation models for SN placement and energy feedback, including cosmic rays (CRs), and find that models that place SNe in dense gas and account for CR diffusion are able to drive outflows with similar mass loading as obtained from a random placement of SNe with no CRs. Despite this similarity, CR-driven outflows differ in several other key properties including their overall clumpiness and velocity. Moreover, the forces driving these outflows originate in different sources of pressure, with the CR diffusion model relying on non-thermal pressure gradients to create an outflow driven by internal pressure and the random-placement model depending on kinetic pressure gradients to propel a ballistic outflow. CRs therefore appear to be non-negligible physics in the formation of outflows from the interstellar medium.

THE ROLE OF COSMIC-RAY PRESSURE IN ACCELERATING GALACTIC OUTFLOWS

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

Simpson, Christine M.; Pakmor, Rüdiger; Pfrommer, Christoph

We study the formation of galactic outflows from supernova (SN) explosions with the moving-mesh code AREPO in a stratified column of gas with a surface density similar to the Milky Way disk at the solar circle. We compare different simulation models for SN placement and energy feedback, including cosmic rays (CRs), and find that models that place SNe in dense gas and account for CR diffusion are able to drive outflows with similar mass loading as obtained from a random placement of SNe with no CRs. Despite this similarity, CR-driven outflows differ in several other key properties including their overallmore » clumpiness and velocity. Moreover, the forces driving these outflows originate in different sources of pressure, with the CR diffusion model relying on non-thermal pressure gradients to create an outflow driven by internal pressure and the random-placement model depending on kinetic pressure gradients to propel a ballistic outflow. CRs therefore appear to be non-negligible physics in the formation of outflows from the interstellar medium.« less

Electro-diffusion in a plasma with two ion species

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

Kagan, Grigory; Tang Xianzhu

2012-08-15

Electric field is a thermodynamic force that can drive collisional inter-ion-species transport in a multicomponent plasma. In an inertial confinement fusion capsule, such transport causes fuel ion separation even with a target initially prepared to have equal number densities for the two fuel ion species. Unlike the baro-diffusion driven by ion pressure gradient and the thermo-diffusion driven by ion and electron temperature gradients, electro-diffusion has a critical dependence on the charge-to-mass ratio of the ion species. Specifically, it is shown here that electro-diffusion vanishes if the ion species have the same charge-to-mass ratio. An explicit expression for the electro-diffusion ratiomore » is obtained and used to investigate the relative importance of electro- and baro-diffusion mechanisms. In particular, it is found that electro-diffusion reinforces baro-diffusion in the deuterium and tritium mix, but tends to cancel it in the deuterium and helium-3 mix.« less

The temporal evolution of the resistive pressure-gradient-driven turbulence and anomalous transport in shear flow across the magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Hae June; Mikhailenko, Vladmir; Mikhailenko, Vladimir

2017-10-01

The temporal evolution of the resistive pressure-gradient-driven mode in the sheared flow is investigated by employing the shearing modes approach. It reveals an essential difference in the processes, which occur in the case of the flows with velocity shearing rate less than the growth rate of the instability in the steady plasmas, and in the case of the flows with velocity shear larger than the instability growth rate in steady plasmas. It displays the physical content of the empirical ``quench rule'' which predicts the suppression of the turbulence in the sheared flows when the velocity shearing rate becomes larger than the maximum growth rate of the possible instability. We found that the distortion of the perturbations by the sheared flow with such velocity shear introduces the time dependencies into the governing equations, which prohibits the application of the eigenmodes formalism and requires the solution of the initial value problem.

Understanding the impact of insulating and conducting endplate boundary conditions on turbulence in CSDX through nonlocal simulations

DOE PAGES

Vaezi, P.; Holland, C.; Thakur, S. C.; ...

2017-04-01

The Controlled Shear Decorrelation Experiment (CSDX) linear plasma device provides a unique platform for investigating the underlying physics of self-regulating drift-wave turbulence/zonal flow dynamics. A minimal model of 3D drift-reduced nonlocal cold ion fluid equations which evolves density, vorticity, and electron temperature fluctuations, with proper sheath boundary conditions, is used to simulate dynamics of the turbulence in CSDX and its response to changes in parallel boundary conditions. These simulations are then carried out using the BOUndary Turbulence (BOUT++) framework and use equilibrium electron density and temperature profiles taken from experimental measurements. The results show that density gradient-driven drift-waves are themore » dominant instability in CSDX. However, the choice of insulating or conducting endplate boundary conditions affects the linear growth rates and energy balance of the system due to the absence or addition of Kelvin-Helmholtz modes generated by the sheath-driven equilibrium E × B shear and sheath-driven temperature gradient instability. Moreover, nonlinear simulation results show that the boundary conditions impact the turbulence structure and zonal flow formation, resulting in less broadband (more quasi-coherent) turbulence and weaker zonal flow in conducting boundary condition case. These results are qualitatively consistent with earlier experimental observations.« less

Misfit strain driven cation inter-diffusion across an epitaxial multiferroic thin film interface

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

Sankara Rama Krishnan, P. S.; Munroe, Paul; Nagarajan, V.

Cation intermixing at functional oxide interfaces remains a highly controversial area directly relevant to interface-driven nanoelectronic device properties. Here, we systematically explore the cation intermixing in epitaxial (001) oriented multiferroic bismuth ferrite (BFO) grown on a (001) lanthanum aluminate (LAO) substrate. Aberration corrected dedicated scanning transmission electron microscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy reveal that the interface is not chemically sharp, but with an intermixing of ∼2 nm. The driving force for this process is identified as misfit-driven elastic strain. Landau-Ginzburg-Devonshire-based phenomenological theory was combined with the Sheldon and Shenoy formula in order to understand the influence of boundary conditions andmore » depolarizing fields arising from misfit strain between the LAO substrate and BFO film. The theory predicts the presence of a strong potential gradient at the interface, which decays on moving into the bulk of the film. This potential gradient is significant enough to drive the cation migration across the interface, thereby mitigating the misfit strain. Our results offer new insights on how chemical roughening at oxide interfaces can be effective in stabilizing the structural integrity of the interface without the need for misfit dislocations. These findings offer a general formalism for understanding cation intermixing at highly strained oxide interfaces that are used in nanoelectronic devices.« less

Fast ion beta limit measurements by collimated neutron detection in MST plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Capecchi, William; Anderson, Jay; Bonofiglo, Phillip; Kim, Jungha; Sears, Stephanie

2015-11-01

Fast ion orbits in the reversed field pinch (RFP) are well ordered and classically confined despite magnetic field stochasticity generated by multiple tearing modes. Classical TRANSP modeling of a 1MW tangentially injected hydrogen neutral beam in MST deuterium plasmas predicts a core-localized fast ion density that can be up to 25% of the electron density and a fast ion beta of many times the local thermal beta. However, neutral particle analysis of an NBI-driven mode (presumably driven by a fast ion pressure gradient) shows mode-induced transport of core-localized fast ions and a saturated fast ion density. The TRANSP modeling is presumed valid until the onset of the beam-driven mode and gives an initial estimate of the volume-averaged fast ion beta of 1-2% (local core value up to 10%). A collimated neutron detector for fusion product profile measurements will be used to determine the spatial distribution of fast ions, allowing for a first measurement of the critical fast-ion pressure gradient required for mode destabilization. Testing/calibration data and initial fast-ion profiles will be presented. Characterization of both the local and global fast ion beta will be done for deuterium beam injection into deuterium plasmas for comparison to TRANSP predictions. Work supported by US DOE.

Lateral baroclinic forcing enhances sediment transport from shallows to channel in an estuary

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lacy, Jessica R.; Gladding, Steve; Brand, Andreas; Collignon, Audric; Stacey, Mark

2014-01-01

We investigate the dynamics governing exchange of sediment between estuarine shallows and the channel based on field measurements at eight stations spanning the interface between the channel and the extensive eastern shoals of South San Francisco Bay. The study site is characterized by longitudinally homogeneous bathymetry and a straight channel, with friction more important than the Coriolis forcing. Data were collected for 3 weeks in the winter and 4 weeks in the late summer of 2009, to capture a range of hydrologic and meteorologic conditions. The greatest sediment transport from shallows to channel occurred during a pair of strong, late-summer wind events, with westerly winds exceeding 10 m/s for more than 24 h. A combination of wind-driven barotropic return flow and lateral baroclinic circulation caused the transport. The lateral density gradient was produced by differences in temperature and suspended sediment concentration (SSC). During the wind events, SSC-induced vertical density stratification limited turbulent mixing at slack tides in the shallows, increasing the potential for two-layer exchange. The temperature- and SSC-induced lateral density gradient was comparable in strength to salinity-induced gradients in South Bay produced by seasonal freshwater inflows, but shorter in duration. In the absence of a lateral density gradient, suspended sediment flux at the channel slope was directed towards the shallows, both in winter and during summer sea breeze conditions, indicating the importance of baroclinically driven exchange to supply of sediment from the shallows to the channel in South San Francisco Bay and systems with similar bathymetry.

Magnetic skyrmion bubble motion driven by surface acoustic waves

DOE PAGES

Nepal, Rabindra; Güngördü, Utkan; Kovalev, Alexey A.

2018-03-12

Here, we study the dynamical control of a magnetic skyrmion bubble by using counter-propagating surface acoustic waves (SAWs) in a ferromagnet. First, we determine the bubble mass and derive the force due to SAWs acting on a magnetic bubble using Thiele’s method. The force that pushes the bubble is proportional to the strain gradient for the major strain component. We then study the dynamical pinning and motion of magnetic bubbles by SAWs in a nanowire. In a disk geometry, we propose a SAWs-driven skyrmion bubble oscillator with two resonant frequencies.

Passive injection control for microfluidic systems

DOEpatents

Paul, Phillip H.; Arnold, Don W.; Neyer, David W.

2004-12-21

Apparatus for eliminating siphoning, "dead" regions, and fluid concentration gradients in microscale analytical devices. In its most basic embodiment, the present invention affords passive injection control for both electric field-driven and pressure-driven systems by providing additional fluid flow channels or auxiliary channels disposed on either side of a sample separation column. The auxiliary channels are sized such that volumetric fluid flow rate through these channels, while sufficient to move the sample away from the sample injection region in a timely fashion, is less than that through the sample separation channel or chromatograph.

Magnetic skyrmion bubble motion driven by surface acoustic waves

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

Nepal, Rabindra; Güngördü, Utkan; Kovalev, Alexey A.

Here, we study the dynamical control of a magnetic skyrmion bubble by using counter-propagating surface acoustic waves (SAWs) in a ferromagnet. First, we determine the bubble mass and derive the force due to SAWs acting on a magnetic bubble using Thiele’s method. The force that pushes the bubble is proportional to the strain gradient for the major strain component. We then study the dynamical pinning and motion of magnetic bubbles by SAWs in a nanowire. In a disk geometry, we propose a SAWs-driven skyrmion bubble oscillator with two resonant frequencies.

Geometric effects on bilayer convection in cylindrical containers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Johnson, Duane Thomas

The study of convection in two immiscible fluid layers is of interest for reasons both theoretical as well as applied. Recently, bilayer convection has been used as a model of convection in the earth's mantle. It is also an interesting system to use in the study of pattern formation. Bilayer convection also occurs in a process known as liquid encapsulated crystal growth, which is used to grow compound semiconductors. It is the last application which motivates this study. To analyze bilayer convection, theoretical models, numerical calculations and experiments were used. One theoretical model involves the derivation of the Navier- Stokes and energy equation for two immiscible fluid layers, using the Boussinesq approximation. A weakly nonlinear analysis was also performed to study the behavior of the system slightly beyond the onset of convection. Numerical calculations were necessary to solve both models. The experiments involved a single liquid layer of silicone oil, superposed by a layer of air. The radius and height of each fluid layer were changed to observe different flow patterns at the onset of convection. From the experiments and theory, two major discoveries were made as well as several interesting observations. The first discovery is the existence of codimension-two points-particular aspect ratios where two flow patterns coexist-in cylindrical containers. At these points, dynamic switching between different flow patterns was observed. The second discovery was the effect of air convection on the flow pattern in silicone oil. Historically, air has been considered a passive medium that has no effect on the lower fluid. However, experiments were done to show that for large air heights, convection in the air can cause radial temperature gradients at the liquid interface. These temperature gradients then cause surface tension gradient-driven flows. It was also shown that changing the radius of the container can change the driving force of convection from a surface tension gradient-driven to buoyancy-driven and back again. Finally, the weakly nonlinear analysis was able to give a qualitative description of codimension-two points as well as the change in flow patterns due to the convecting air layer.

Nurse plants transfer more nitrogen to distantly related species.

PubMed

Montesinos-Navarro, Alicia; Verdú, Miguel; Querejeta, José Ignacio; Valiente-Banuet, Alfonso

2017-05-01

Plant facilitative interactions enhance co-occurrence between distant relatives, partly due to limited overlap in resource requirements. We propose a different mechanism for the coexistence of distant relatives based on positive interactions of nutrient sharing. Nutrients move between plants following source-sink gradients driven by plant traits that allow these gradients to establish. Specifically, nitrogen (N) concentration gradients can arise from variation in leaf N content across plants species. As many ecologically relevant traits, we hypothesize that leaf N content is phylogenetically conserved and can result in N gradients promoting N transfer among distant relatives. In a Mexican desert community governed by facilitation, we labelled nurse plants (Mimosa luisana) with 15 N and measured its transfer to 14 other species in the community, spanning the range of phylogenetic distances to the nurse plant. Nurses established steeper N source-sink gradients with distant relatives, increasing 15 N transfer toward these species. Nutrient sharing may provide long-term benefits to facilitated plants and may be an overlooked mechanism maintaining coexistence and increasing the phylogenetic diversity of plant communities. © 2017 by the Ecological Society of America.

Cerium migration during PEM fuel cell assembly and operation

DOE PAGES

Baker, Andrew M.; Torraco, Dennis; Judge, Elizabeth J.; ...

2015-09-14

Cerium migration between PEM fuel cell components is influenced by potential-driven mobility, ionic diffusion, and gradients in water content. These factors were investigated in ex situ experiments and in operating fuel cells. Potential-induced migration was measured ex situ in hydrated window cells. Cerium-containing MEAs were also fabricated and tested under ASTs. MEA disassembly and subsequent XRF analysis were used to observe rapid cerium migration during cell assembly and operation. During MEA hot pressing, humidification, and low RH operation at OCV, ionic diffusion causes uniform migration from the membrane into the catalyst layers. During high RH operation at OCV, in-plane ceriummore » gradients arise due to variations in water content. These gradients may diminish the scavenging efficacy of cerium by reducing its proximity to generated radicals.« less

Colloidal attraction induced by a temperature gradient.

PubMed

Di Leonardo, R; Ianni, F; Ruocco, G

2009-04-21

Colloidal crystals are of extreme importance for applied research and for fundamental studies in statistical mechanics. Long-range attractive interactions, such as capillary forces, can drive the spontaneous assembly of such mesoscopic ordered structures. However, long-range attractive forces are very rare in the colloidal realm. Here we report a novel strong, long-ranged attraction induced by a thermal gradient in the presence of a wall. By switching the thermal gradient on and off, we can rapidly and reversibly form stable hexagonal 2D crystals. We show that the observed attraction is hydrodynamic in nature and arises from thermally induced slip flow on particle surfaces. We used optical tweezers to measure the force law directly and compare it to an analytical prediction based on Stokes flow driven by Marangoni-like forces.

Experimental observation of electron-temperature-gradient turbulence in a laboratory plasma.

PubMed

Mattoo, S K; Singh, S K; Awasthi, L M; Singh, R; Kaw, P K

2012-06-22

We report the observation of electron-temperature-gradient (ETG) driven turbulence in the laboratory plasma of a large volume plasma device. The removal of unutilized primary ionizing and nonthermal electrons from uniform density plasma and the imposition and control of the gradient in the electron temperature (T[Symbol: see text] T(e)) are all achieved by placing a large (2 m diameter) magnetic electron energy filter in the middle of the device. In the dressed plasma, the observed ETG turbulence in the lower hybrid range of frequencies ν = (1-80 kHz) is characterized by a broadband with a power law. The mean wave number k perpendicular ρ(e) = (0.1-0.2) satisfies the condition k perpendicular ρ(e) ≤ 1, where ρ(e) is the electron Larmor radius.

Hydrodynamic Model for Density Gradients Instability in Hall Plasmas Thrusters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, Sukhmander

2017-10-01

There is an increasing interest for a correct understanding of purely growing electromagnetic and electrostatic instabilities driven by a plasma gradient in a Hall thruster devices. In Hall thrusters, which are typically operated with xenon, the thrust is provided by the acceleration of ions in the plasma generated in a discharge chamber. The goal of this paper is to study the instabilities due to gradients of plasma density and conditions for the growth rate and real part of the frequency for Hall thruster plasmas. Inhomogeneous plasmas prone a wide class of eigen modes induced by inhomogeneities of plasma density and called drift waves and instabilities. The growth rate of the instability has a dependences on the magnetic field, plasma density, ion temperature and wave numbers and initial drift velocities of the plasma species.

Hydrodynamic fabrication of structurally gradient ZnO nanorods.

PubMed

Kim, Hyung Min; Youn, Jae Ryoun; Song, Young Seok

2016-02-26

We studied a new approach where structurally gradient nanostructures were fabricated by means of hydrodynamics. Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods were synthesized in a drag-driven rotational flow in a controlled manner. The structural characteristics of nanorods such as orientation and diameter were determined by momentum and mass transfer at the substrate surface. The nucleation of ZnO was induced by shear stress which plays a key role in determining the orientation of ZnO nanorods. The nucleation and growth of such nanostructures were modeled theoretically and analyzed numerically to understand the underlying physics of the fabrication of nanostructures controlled by hydrodynamics. The findings demonstrated that the precise control of momentum and mass transfer enabled the formation of ZnO nanorods with a structural gradient in diameter and orientation.

Single Molecule Imaging of Conformational Dynamics in Sodium-Coupled Transporters

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Terry, Daniel S.

2013-01-01

Neurotransmitter:sodium symporter (NSS) proteins remove neurotransmitters released into the synapse through a transport process driven by the physiological sodium ion (Na[superscript +]) gradient. NSSs for dopamine, noradrenaline, and serotonin are targeted by the psychostimulants cocaine and amphetamines, as well as by antidepressants. The…

Establishing Functional Relationships between Abiotic Environment, Macrophyte Coverage, Resource Gradients and the Distribution of Mytilus trossulus in a Brackish Non-Tidal Environment.

PubMed

Kotta, Jonne; Oganjan, Katarina; Lauringson, Velda; Pärnoja, Merli; Kaasik, Ants; Rohtla, Liisa; Kotta, Ilmar; Orav-Kotta, Helen

2015-01-01

Benthic suspension feeding mussels are an important functional guild in coastal and estuarine ecosystems. To date we lack information on how various environmental gradients and biotic interactions separately and interactively shape the distribution patterns of mussels in non-tidal environments. Opposing to tidal environments, mussels inhabit solely subtidal zone in non-tidal waterbodies and, thereby, driving factors for mussel populations are expected to differ from the tidal areas. In the present study, we used the boosted regression tree modelling (BRT), an ensemble method for statistical techniques and machine learning, in order to explain the distribution and biomass of the suspension feeding mussel Mytilus trossulus in the non-tidal Baltic Sea. BRT models suggested that (1) distribution patterns of M. trossulus are largely driven by separate effects of direct environmental gradients and partly by interactive effects of resource gradients with direct environmental gradients. (2) Within its suitable habitat range, however, resource gradients had an important role in shaping the biomass distribution of M. trossulus. (3) Contrary to tidal areas, mussels were not competitively superior over macrophytes with patterns indicating either facilitative interactions between mussels and macrophytes or co-variance due to common stressor. To conclude, direct environmental gradients seem to define the distribution pattern of M. trossulus, and within the favourable distribution range, resource gradients in interaction with direct environmental gradients are expected to set the biomass level of mussels.

Establishing Functional Relationships between Abiotic Environment, Macrophyte Coverage, Resource Gradients and the Distribution of Mytilus trossulus in a Brackish Non-Tidal Environment

PubMed Central

Kotta, Jonne; Oganjan, Katarina; Lauringson, Velda; Pärnoja, Merli; Kaasik, Ants; Rohtla, Liisa; Kotta, Ilmar; Orav-Kotta, Helen

2015-01-01

Benthic suspension feeding mussels are an important functional guild in coastal and estuarine ecosystems. To date we lack information on how various environmental gradients and biotic interactions separately and interactively shape the distribution patterns of mussels in non-tidal environments. Opposing to tidal environments, mussels inhabit solely subtidal zone in non-tidal waterbodies and, thereby, driving factors for mussel populations are expected to differ from the tidal areas. In the present study, we used the boosted regression tree modelling (BRT), an ensemble method for statistical techniques and machine learning, in order to explain the distribution and biomass of the suspension feeding mussel Mytilus trossulus in the non-tidal Baltic Sea. BRT models suggested that (1) distribution patterns of M. trossulus are largely driven by separate effects of direct environmental gradients and partly by interactive effects of resource gradients with direct environmental gradients. (2) Within its suitable habitat range, however, resource gradients had an important role in shaping the biomass distribution of M. trossulus. (3) Contrary to tidal areas, mussels were not competitively superior over macrophytes with patterns indicating either facilitative interactions between mussels and macrophytes or co-variance due to common stressor. To conclude, direct environmental gradients seem to define the distribution pattern of M. trossulus, and within the favourable distribution range, resource gradients in interaction with direct environmental gradients are expected to set the biomass level of mussels. PMID:26317668

Interaction of Energetic Particles with Discontinuities Upstream of Strong Shocks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Malkov, Mikhail; Diamond, Patrick

2008-11-01

Acceleration of particles in strong astrophysical shocks is known to be accompanied and promoted by a number of instabilities which are driven by the particles themselves. One of them is an acoustic (also known as Drury's) instability driven by the pressure gradient of accelerated particles upstream. The generated sound waves naturally steepen into shocks thus forming a shocktrain. Similar magnetoacoustic or Alfven type structures may be driven by pick-up ions, for example. We consider the solutions of kinetic equation for accelerated particles within the shocktrain. The accelerated particles are assumed to be coupled to the flow by an intensive pitch-angle scattering on the self-generated Alfven waves. The implications for acceleration and confinement of cosmic rays in this shock environment will be discussed.

Membraneless seawater desalination

DOEpatents

Crooks, Richard A.; Knust, Kyle N.; Perdue, Robbyn K.

2018-04-03

Disclosed are microfluidic devices and systems for the desalination of water. The devices and systems can include an electrode configured to generate an electric field gradient in proximity to an intersection formed by the divergence of two microfluidic channels from an inlet channel. Under an applied bias and in the presence of a pressure driven flow of saltwater, the electric field gradient can preferentially direct ions in saltwater into one of the diverging microfluidic channels, while desalted water flows into second diverging channel. Also provided are methods of using the devices and systems described herein to decrease the salinity of water.

Operation regimes of a dielectric laser accelerator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hanuka, Adi; Schächter, Levi

2018-04-01

We investigate three operation regimes in dielectric laser driven accelerators: maximum efficiency, maximum charge, and maximum loaded gradient. We demonstrate, using a self-consistent approach, that loaded gradients of the order of 1 to 6 [GV/m], efficiencies of 20% to 80%, and electrons flux of 1014 [el/s] are feasible, without significant concerns regarding damage threshold fluence. The latter imposes that the total charge per squared wavelength is constant (a total of 106 per μm2). We conceive this configuration as a zero-order design that should be considered for the road map of future accelerators.

Evidence of the Lower Thermospheric Winter-to-Summer Circulation From SABER CO2 Observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qian, Liying; Burns, Alan; Yue, Jia

2017-10-01

Numerical studies have shown that there is a lower thermospheric winter-to-summer circulation that is driven by wave dissipation and that it plays a significant role in trace gas distributions in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere, and in the composition of the thermosphere. However, the characteristics of this circulation are poorly known. Direct observations of it are difficult, but it leaves clear signatures in tracer distributions. The Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry (SABER) onboard the Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics satellite has obtained CO2 concentration from 2002 to present. This data set, combined with simulations by the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model, provides an unprecedented opportunity to infer the morphology of this circulation in both the summer and winter hemispheres. Our study show that there exists a maximum vertical gradient of CO2 at summer high latitudes, driven by the convergence of the upwelling of the mesospheric circulation and the downwelling of the lower thermospheric circulation; in the winter hemisphere, the maximum vertical gradient of CO2 is located at a higher altitude, driven by the convergence of the upwelling of the lower thermospheric circulation and the downwelling of the solar-driven thermospheric circulation; the bottom of the lower thermospheric circulation is located between 95 km and 100 km, and it has a vertical extent of 10 km. Analysis of the SABER CO2 and temperature at summer high latitudes showed that the bottom of this circulation is consistently higher than the mesopause height by 10 km.

Atmospheric stability and diurnal patterns of aeolian saltation on the Llano Estacado

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Aeolian transport is driven by aerodynamic surface stress imposed by turbulent winds in the Earth’s atmospheric boundary layer (ABL). ABL regime is influenced by stratification, which can either enhance or suppress production of turbulence by shear associated with the vertical gradient of streamwise...

Observations of Time-Dependent Behavior in the Two-Layer Rayleigh-Benard System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Andereck, C. David; Colovas, Peter W.; Degen, Michael M.

1996-01-01

In this paper we present results from experiments with a system consisting of two immiscible fluid layers in rectangular and annular geometries, driven by a vertical temperature gradient. Time-dependent variations in the type of coupling observed between the two layers are described and characterized.

Metallicity Gradients in the Intracluster Gas of Abell 496

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dupke, Renato A.; White, Raymond E., III

2000-07-01

Analysis of spatially resolved ASCA spectra of the intracluster gas in Abell 496 confirms there are mild metal abundance enhancements near the center, as previously found in a joint analysis of spectra from Ginga Large Area Counter and Einstein solid state spectrometer. Simultaneous analysis of spectra from all ASCA instruments (SIS+GIS) shows that the iron abundance is 0.36+/-0.03 solar 3'-12' from the center of the cluster and rises ~50% to 0.53+/-0.04 solar within the central 2'. The F-test shows that this abundance gradient is significant at the more than 99.99% level. Nickel and sulfur abundances are also centrally enhanced. We use a variety of elemental abundance ratios to assess the relative contribution of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) and Type II supernovae (SNe II) to the metal enrichment of the intracluster gas. We find spatial gradients in several abundance ratios, indicating that the fraction of iron from SNe Ia increases toward the cluster center, with SNe Ia accounting for ~50% of the iron mass 3'-12' from the center and ~70% within 2'. The increased proportion of SN Ia ejecta at the center is such that the central iron abundance enhancement can be attributed wholly to SNe Ia; we find no significant gradient in SN II ejecta. These spatial gradients in the proportion of SN Ia/II ejecta imply that the dominant metal enrichment mechanism near the center is different than in the outer parts of the cluster. We show that the central abundance enhancement is unlikely to be due to ram pressure stripping of gas from cluster galaxies or to secularly accumulated stellar mass loss within the central cD. We suggest that the additional SN Ia ejecta near the center is the vestige of a secondary SN Ia-driven wind from the cD (following a more energetic protogalactic SN II-driven wind phase), which was partially smothered in the cD due to its location at the cluster center.

On the dominant impact of vertical moisture gradient on mesoscale cloud cellular organization of stratocumulus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, X.; Ackerman, A. S.; Fridlind, A. M.; Kollias, P.

2016-12-01

Large-eddy simulations are performed to study the mechanisms of stratocumulus organization. Precipitation tends to increase horizontal cloud scales, but is not required for cloud mesoscale organization. A study of the terms in the prognostic equation for total water mixing ratio variance shows the critical impact of vertical moisture gradient on cloud scale. For precipitating clouds, the organization originates from the negative moisture gradient in the boundary layer resulting from evaporation of precipitation. This hypothesis is supported by simulations in which thermodynamics profiles are nudged to their initial well-mixed state, which reduces cloud scales. Cold pools effect are surprisingly found to respond to rather than determine the cloud mesoscale variability. For non-precipitating clouds, organization results from turbulent transport of moisture variance originating primarily from cloud top, where dry air is entrained into the boundary layer through convection driven by cloud top longwave (LW) cooling. Both LW cooling and a moisture gradient above cloud top are essential for the growth of mesoscale fluctuations.

Observations and analysis of a stratification-destratification event in a tropical estuary

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Uncles, R. J.; Ong, J. E.; Gong, W. K.

1990-11-01

A data set comprising 31 continuous tidal cycles was collected in the Sungai Merbok Estuary, Malaysia, in June 1987 as part of an ecological study of nutrient fluxes from a tropical mangrove estuary. Currents, salinity and salinity stratification at a deep-channel (15 m) station near the mouth of the Merbok Estuary showed a pronounced spring-neap variability. The slow currents and weak vertical mixing at neap tides favoured the formation of a stratified water column and generated a neap-spring cycle of water column stabilization and destabilization. A strong stratification event occurred during the period of observations. This was partly driven by a modest freshwater spate which coincided with neap tides. An eddy viscosity-diffusivity model of the stratification, which assumed a constant, longitudinal salinity gradient, demonstrated a pronounced stratification-destratification cycle due to neap-spring variations in vertical mixing. Larger and more realistic stratification was modelled when the estimated, time-varying longitudinal salinity gradient was incorporated. This gradient maximized in response to the peak in freshwater runoff. The measured and modelled density-driven circulations showed qualitative similarities and were of the order of 10 cm s -1 at neap tides. The circulation was weaker during spring tides. The tidally-filtered salt transport due to vertical shear was directed up-estuary and was an order of magnitude smaller during spring tides. The results are discussed in terms of their relevance to mangrove system oceanography.

Characteristics of Muti-pulsing CHI driven ST plasmas on HIST

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ishihara, M.; Hanao, T.; Ito, K.; Matsumoto, K.; Higashi, T.; Kikuchi, Y.; Fukumoto, N.; Nagata, M.

2011-10-01

The flux amplification and sustainment of the ST configurations by operating in Multi-pulsing Coaxial Helicity Injection (M-CHI) method have been demonstrated on HIST. The multi-pulsing experiment was demonstrated in the SSPX spheromak device at LLNL. In the double pulsing discharges, we have observed that the plasma current has been sustained much longer against the resistive decay as compared to the single CHI. We have measured the radial profiles of the flow velocities by using Ion Doppler Spectrometer and Mach probes. The result shows that poloidal shear flow exists between the open flux column and the most outer closed flux surface. The poloidal velocity shear at the interface may be caused by the ion diamagnetic drift, because of a steep density gradient there. The radial electric field is determined by the flow velocities and the ion pressure gradient through the radial momentum balance equation. We have investigated the contribution of ExB or the ion pressure gradient on the poloidal velocity shear by comparing the impurity ion flow obtained from the IDS with the bulk ion flow from the Mach probe. It should be noted that the diamagnetic drift velocity of the impurity is much smaller than ExB drift velocity. We will discuss characteristics of M-CHI-driven ST plasmas by varying TF coil current and the line averaged electron density.

Carrier-Mediated Transport of Nicotine Across the Inner Blood-Retinal Barrier: Involvement of a Novel Organic Cation Transporter Driven by an Outward H(+) Gradient.

PubMed

Tega, Yuma; Kubo, Yoshiyuki; Yuzurihara, Chihiro; Akanuma, Shin-Ichi; Hosoya, Ken-Ichi

2015-09-01

The present study was carried out to investigate the blood-to-retina transport of nicotine across the inner blood-retinal barrier (BRB). Using the in vivo vascular injection method, the blood-to-retina influx clearance of nicotine across the BRB was determined as 131 μL/(min?g retina), which is much higher than that of a nonpermeable paracellular marker, and blood-to-retina transport of nicotine was inhibited by organic cations such as pyrilamine and verapamil. The nicotine uptake by a conditionally immortalized rat retinal capillary endothelial cell line (TR-iBRB2 cells), an in vitro model of the inner BRB, exhibited time, temperature, and concentration dependence with a Km of 492 μM. These results suggest the involvement of a carrier-mediated transport process in nicotine transport in the inner BRB. The nicotine uptake by TR-iBRB2 cells was stimulated by an outwardly directed H(+) gradient, and the uptake was significantly inhibited by bulky and hydrophobic cationic drugs, whereas inhibitors of organic cation transporters did not show inhibitory effect. These results suggest that the novel organic cation transport system driven by an outwardly directed H(+) gradient is involved in the blood-to-retina transport of nicotine across the inner BRB. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association.

A Guillemin type E pulse forming network as the driver for a pulsed, high density plasma source.

PubMed

Rathod, Priyavandna J; Anitha, V P; Sholapurwala, Z H; Saxena, Y C

2014-06-01

A Guillemin type E pulse forming network (PFN) has been designed, developed, and tested for its application in generating high density (~1 × 10(18) m(-3)) plasmas. In the present study, plasma thus generated is utilized to investigate the interaction of high power microwaves (HPMs) with plasma in an experimental architecture known as SYMPLE (System for Microwave PLasma Experiment). Plasma discharges of ~100 μs (max) duration are to be produced, by delivering energy of 5 kJ stored in a PFN to the plasma source, a washer gun. The output of the PFN, in terms of its rise time, flat top and amplitude, needs to be tailored, depending on the experimental requirements. An ignitron (NL8900) trigger generator (ITG) is developed in-house to control the PFN discharge through the gun. This ITG is also to be used in a circuit that synchronizes the HPM and plasma shots, to ensure that HPM-plasma interaction takes place during a temporal regime where appropriate parametric conditions are satisfied. Hence it is necessary to retain the jitter within ±2.5 μs. Further, requirement on plasma quiescence (~10%) necessitates maintaining the ripple within 5%. The developmental work of the PFN, keeping in view the above criteria and the test results, is presented in this paper. The parameters of the PFN have been analytically approximated and verified with PSPICE simulation. The test results presented include rise time ~5-8 μs, flat top variable in the range 20-100 μs, ripple within ~1.5%, and jitter within ±2.5 μs, producing quiescent (<10%) plasma discharge meeting the experimental requirements.

Testing of Selected Geopotential Models in Terms of GOCE Satellite Orbit Determination Using Simulated GPS Observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bobojc, Andrzej; Drozyner, Andrzej

2016-04-01

This work contains a comparative study of performance of twenty geopotential models in an orbit estimation process of the satellite of the Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) mission. For testing, among others, such models as JYY_GOCE02S, ITG-GOCE02, ULUX_CHAMP2013S, GOGRA02S, ITG-GRACE2010S, EIGEN-51C, EGM2008, EGM96, JGM3, OSU91a, OSU86F were adopted. A special software package, called the Orbital Computation System (OCS), based on the classical method of least squares was used. In the frame of OCS, initial satellite state vector components are corrected in an iterative process, using the given geopotential model and the models describing the remaining gravitational perturbations. An important part of the OCS package is the 8th order Cowell numerical integration procedure, which enables a satellite orbit computation. Different sets of pseudorange simulations along reference GOCE satellite orbital arcs were obtained using real orbits of the Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites. These sets were the basic observation data used in the adjustment. The centimeter-accuracy Precise Science Orbit (PSO) for the GOCE satellite provided by the European Space Agency (ESA) was adopted as the GOCE reference orbit. Comparing various variants of the orbital solutions, the relative accuracy of geopotential models in an orbital aspect is determined. Full geopotential models were used in the adjustment process. However, the solutions were also determined taking into account truncated geopotential models. In such case, an accuracy of the orbit estimated was slightly enhanced. The obtained solutions refer to the orbital arcs with the lengths of 90-minute and 1-day.

Periodontal Pathogens Invade Gingiva and Aortic Adventitia and Elicit Inflammasome Activation in αvβ6 Integrin-Deficient Mice

PubMed Central

Velsko, Irina M.; Chukkapalli, Sasanka S.; Rivera-Kweh, Mercedes F.; Zheng, Donghang; Aukhil, Ikramuddin; Lucas, Alexandra R.; Larjava, Hannu

2015-01-01

The American Heart Association supports an association between periodontal diseases and atherosclerosis but not a causal association. This study explores the use of the integrin β6−/− mouse model to study the causality. We investigated the ability of a polymicrobial consortium of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola, Tannerella forsythia, and Fusobacterium nucleatum to colonize the periodontium and induce local and systemic inflammatory responses. Polymicrobially infected Itgβ6−/− mice demonstrate greater susceptibility to gingival colonization/infection, with severe gingival inflammation, apical migration of the junctional epithelium, periodontal pocket formation, alveolar bone resorption, osteoclast activation, bacterial invasion of the gingiva, a greater propensity for the bacteria to disseminate hematogenously, and a strong splenic T cell cytokine response. Levels of atherosclerosis risk factors, including serum nitric oxide, oxidized low-density lipoprotein, serum amyloid A, and lipid peroxidation, were significantly altered by polybacterial infection, demonstrating an enhanced potential for atherosclerotic plaque progression. Aortic gene expression revealed significant alterations in specific Toll-like receptor (TLR) and nucleotide-binding domain- and leucine-rich-repeat-containing receptor (NLR) pathway genes in response to periodontal bacterial infection. Histomorphometry of the aorta demonstrated larger atherosclerotic plaques in Itgβ6−/− mice than in wild-type (WT) mice but no significant difference in atherosclerotic plaque size between mice with polybacterial infection and mice with sham infection. Fluorescence in situ hybridization demonstrated active invasion of the aortic adventitial layer by P. gingivalis. Our observations suggest that polybacterial infection elicits distinct aortic TLR and inflammasome signaling and significantly increases local aortic oxidative stress. These results are the first to demonstrate the mechanism of the host aortic inflammatory response induced by polymicrobial infection with well-characterized periodontal pathogens. PMID:26371120

Broadening of Analyte Streams due to a Transverse Pressure Gradient in Free-Flow Isoelectric Focusing

PubMed Central

Dutta, Debashis

2017-01-01

Pressure-driven cross-flows can arise in free-flow isoelectric focusing systems (FFIEF) due to a non-uniform electroosmotic flow velocity along the channel width induced by the pH gradient in this direction. In addition, variations in the channel cross-section as well as unwanted differences in hydrostatic heads at the buffer/sample inlet ports can also lead to such pressure-gradients which besides altering the equilibrium position of the sample zones have a tendency to substantially broaden their widths deteriorating the separations. In this situation, a thorough assessment of stream broadening due to transverse pressure-gradients in FFIEF devices is necessary in order to establish accurate design rules for the assay. The present article describes a mathematical framework to estimate the noted zone dispersion in FFIEF separations based on the method-of-moments approach under laminar flow conditions. A closed-form expression has been derived for the spatial variance of the analyte streams at their equilibrium positions as a function of the various operating parameters governing the assay performance. This expression predicts the normalized stream variance under the chosen conditions to be determined by two dimensionless Péclet numbers evaluated based on the transverse pressure-driven and electrophoretic solute velocities in the separation chamber, respectively. Moreover, the analysis shows that while the stream width can be expected to increase with an increase in the value of the first Péclet number, the opposite trend will be followed with respect to the latter. The noted results have been validated using Monte Carlo simulations that also establish a time/length scale over which the predicted equilibrium stream width is attained in the system. PMID:28081900

Streamer formation and transport for parameters characteristic of H-mode pedestals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Blackmon, Austin; Hatch, D. R.; Kotschenreuther, M.; Mahajan, S.; Hazeltine, R. D.

2017-10-01

We investigate, through gyrokinetic simulations, the formation of streamers as a consequence of electron temperature gradient driven, electron scale instabilities. We also study the interaction of velocity shear with streamers for parameters typical of H-mode pedestals, exploring both the higher as well as lower temperature gradient regions. Without ExB shear, the streamers form at the pedestal top causing large heat fluxes; the modes, however, did not saturate. When ExB shear was turned on, the streamers dissipated, and heat flux was lowered, though still of significant magnitude. In the middle of the pedestal, with high temperature gradient, heat flux was insignificant. There was no evidence of streamers in this region, leading to a conclusion that streamers have a strong influence on heat flux. Work supported by US DOE under DE-FG02-04ER54742.

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

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

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.

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

Suppressing Electron Turbulence and Triggering Internal Transport Barriers with Reversed Magnetic Shear in the National Spherical Torus Experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peterson, Jayson Luc

2011-10-01

Observations in the National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX) have found electron temperature gradients that greatly exceed the linear threshold for the onset for electron temperature gradient-driven (ETG) turbulence. These discharges, deemed electron internal transport barriers (e-ITBs), coincide with a reversal in the shear of the magnetic field and with a reduction in electron-scale density fluctuations, qualitatively consistent with earlier gyrokinetic predictions. To investigate this phenomenon further, we numerically model electron turbulence in NSTX reversed-shear plasmas using the gyrokinetic turbulence code GYRO. These first-of-a-kind nonlinear gyrokinetic simulations of NSTX e-ITBs confirm that reversing the magnetic shear can allow the plasma to reach electron temperature gradients well beyond the critical gradient for the linear onset of instability. This effect is very strong, with the nonlinear threshold for significant transport approaching three times the linear critical gradient in some cases, in contrast with moderate shear cases, which can drive significant ETG turbulence at much lower gradients. In addition to the experimental implications of this upshifted nonlinear critical gradient, we explore the behavior of ETG turbulence during reversed shear discharges. This work is supported by the SciDAC Center for the Study of Plasma Microturbulence, DOE Contract DE-AC02-09CH11466, and used the resources of NCCS at ORNL and NERSC at LBNL. M. Ono et al., Nucl. Fusion 40, 557 (2000).

Longitudinal gradient coils with enhanced radial uniformity in restricted diameter: Single-current and multiple-current approaches.

PubMed

Romero, Javier A; Domínguez, Gabriela A; Anoardo, Esteban

2017-03-01

An important requirement for a gradient coil is that the uniformity of the generated magnetic field gradient should be maximal within the active volume of the coil. For a cylindrical geometry, the radial uniformity of the gradient turns critic, particularly in cases where the gradient-unit has to be designed to fit into the inner bore of a compact magnet of reduced dimensions, like those typically used in fast-field-cycling NMR. In this paper we present two practical solutions aimed to fulfill this requirement. We propose a matrix-inversion optimization algorithm based on the Biot-Savart law, that using a proper cost function, allows maximizing the uniformity of the gradient and power efficiency. The used methodology and the simulation code were validated in a single-current design, by comparing the computer simulated field map with the experimental data measured in a real prototype. After comparing the obtained results with the target field approach, a multiple-element coil driven by independent current sources is discussed, and a real prototype evaluated. Opposed equispaced independent windings are connected in pairs conforming an arrangement of independent anti-Helmholtz units. This last coil seizes 80% of its radial dimension with a gradient uniformity better than 5%. The design also provides an adaptable region of uniformity along with adjustable coil efficiency. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

New Model for Ionospheric Irregularities at Mars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Keskinen, M. J.

2018-03-01

A new model for ionospheric irregularities at Mars is presented. It is shown that wind-driven currents in the dynamo region of the Martian ionosphere can be unstable to the electromagnetic gradient drift instability. This plasma instability can generate ionospheric density and magnetic field irregularities with scale sizes of approximately 15-20 km down to a few kilometers. We show that the instability-driven magnetic field fluctuation amplitudes relative to background are correlated with the ionospheric density fluctuation amplitudes relative to background. Our results can explain recent observations made by the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN spacecraft in the Martian ionosphere dynamo region.

Stable solutions of inflation driven by vector fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Emami, Razieh; Mukohyama, Shinji; Namba, Ryo; Zhang, Ying-li

2017-03-01

Many models of inflation driven by vector fields alone have been known to be plagued by pathological behaviors, namely ghost and/or gradient instabilities. In this work, we seek a new class of vector-driven inflationary models that evade all of the mentioned instabilities. We build our analysis on the Generalized Proca Theory with an extension to three vector fields to realize isotropic expansion. We obtain the conditions required for quasi de-Sitter solutions to be an attractor analogous to the standard slow-roll one and those for their stability at the level of linearized perturbations. Identifying the remedy to the existing unstable models, we provide a simple example and explicitly show its stability. This significantly broadens our knowledge on vector inflationary scenarios, reviving potential phenomenological interests for this class of models.

Nanophytoplankton Diversity Across the Oligohaline Lake Pontchartrain Basin Estuary: A Preliminary Investigation Utlizing psbA Sequences

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The Lake Pontchartrain basin estuary is shallow, wind-driven and comprised of two large embayments (1645 km2). Salinities range from freshwater in the west to 8 ppt in the east near the Gulf of Mexico. Phytoplankton investigations spanning this salinity gradient or examining small photoautotrophs ar...

Laboratory plate tectonics: a new experiment.

PubMed

Gans, R F

1976-03-26

A "continent" made of a layer of hexagonally packed black polyethylene spheres floating in clear silicon oil breaks into subcontinents when illuminated by an ordinary incandescent light bulb. This experiment may be a useful model of plate tectonics driven by horizontal temperature gradients. Measurements of the spreading rate are made to establish the feasibility of this model.

Fabrication of back-contacted silicon solar cells using thermomigration to create conductive vias

DOEpatents

Gee, James M; Schmit, Russell R.

2007-01-30

Methods of manufacturing back-contacted silicon solar cells fabricated using a gradient-driven solute transport process, such as thermomigration or electromigration, to create n-type conductive vias connecting the n-type emitter layer on the front side to n-type ohmic contacts located on the back side.

Study of heat transfer on physiological driven movement with CNT nanofluids and variable viscosity.

PubMed

Akbar, Noreen Sher; Kazmi, Naeem; Tripathi, Dharmendra; Mir, Nazir Ahmed

2016-11-01

With ongoing interest in CNT nanofluids and materials in biotechnology, energy and environment, microelectronics, composite materials etc., the current investigation is carried out to analyze the effects of variable viscosity and thermal conductivity of CNT nanofluids flow driven by cilia induced movement through a circular cylindrical tube. Metachronal wave is generated by the beating of cilia and mathematically modeled as elliptical wave propagation by Blake (1971). The problem is formulated in the form of nonlinear partial differential equations, which are simplified by using the dimensional analysis to avoid the complicacy of dimensional homogeneity. Lubrication theory is employed to linearize the governing equations and it is also physically appropriate for cilia movement. Analytical solutions for velocity, temperature and pressure gradient and stream function are obtained. The analytical results are numerically simulated by using the Mathematica Software and plotted the graphs for velocity profile, temperature profile, pressure gradient and stream lines for better discussion and visualization. This model is applicable in physiological transport phenomena to explore the nanotechnology in engineering the artificial cilia and ciliated tube/pipe. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Reversible beam heater for suppression of microbunching instability by transverse gradient undulators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Tao; Qin, Weilun; Wang, Dong; Huang, Zhirong

2017-08-01

The microbunching instability driven by beam collective effects in a linear accelerator of a free-electron laser (FEL) facility significantly degrades the electron beam quality and FEL performance. A conventional method to suppress this instability is to introduce an additional uncorrelated energy spread by laser-electron interaction, which has been successfully operated in the Linac Coherent Light Source and Fermi@Elettra, etc. Some other ideas are recently proposed to suppress the instability without increasing energy spread, which could benefit the seeded FEL schemes. In this paper, we propose a reversible electron beam heater using two transverse gradient undulators to suppress the microbunching instability. This scheme introduces both an energy spread increase and a transverse-to-longitudinal phase space coupling, which suppress the microbunching instabilities driven by both longitudinal space charge and coherent synchrotron radiation before and within the system. Finally the induced energy spread increase and emittance growth are reversed. Theoretical analysis and numerical simulations are presented to verify the feasibility of the scheme and indicate the capability to improve the seeded FEL radiation performance.

Semi-automated segmentation of neuroblastoma nuclei using the gradient energy tensor: a user driven approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kromp, Florian; Taschner-Mandl, Sabine; Schwarz, Magdalena; Blaha, Johanna; Weiss, Tamara; Ambros, Peter F.; Reiter, Michael

2015-02-01

We propose a user-driven method for the segmentation of neuroblastoma nuclei in microscopic fluorescence images involving the gradient energy tensor. Multispectral fluorescence images contain intensity and spatial information about antigene expression, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) signals and nucleus morphology. The latter serves as basis for the detection of single cells and the calculation of shape features, which are used to validate the segmentation and to reject false detections. Accurate segmentation is difficult due to varying staining intensities and aggregated cells. It requires several (meta-) parameters, which have a strong influence on the segmentation results and have to be selected carefully for each sample (or group of similar samples) by user interactions. Because our method is designed for clinicians and biologists, who may have only limited image processing background, an interactive parameter selection step allows the implicit tuning of parameter values. With this simple but intuitive method, segmentation results with high precision for a large number of cells can be achieved by minimal user interaction. The strategy was validated on handsegmented datasets of three neuroblastoma cell lines.

Reversible beam heater for suppression of microbunching instability by transverse gradient undulators

DOE PAGES

Liu, Tao; Qin, Weilun; Wang, Dong; ...

2017-08-02

The microbunching instability driven by beam collective effects in a linear accelerator of a free-electron laser (FEL) facility significantly degrades the electron beam quality and FEL performance. A conventional method to suppress this instability is to introduce an additional uncorrelated energy spread by laser-electron interaction, which has been successfully operated in the Linac Coherent Light Source and Fermi@Elettra, etc. Some other ideas are recently proposed to suppress the instability without increasing energy spread, which could benefit the seeded FEL schemes. In this paper, we propose a reversible electron beam heater using two transverse gradient undulators to suppress the microbunching instability.more » This scheme introduces both an energy spread increase and a transverse-to-longitudinal phase space coupling, which suppress the microbunching instabilities driven by both longitudinal space charge and coherent synchrotron radiation before and within the system. Finally the induced energy spread increase and emittance growth are reversed. In conclusion, theoretical analysis and numerical simulations are presented to verify the feasibility of the scheme and indicate the capability to improve the seeded FEL radiation performance.« less

A basic plasma test for gyrokinetics: GDC turbulence in LAPD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pueschel, M. J.; Rossi, G.; Told, D.; Terry, P. W.; Jenko, F.; Carter, T. A.

2017-02-01

Providing an important step towards validating gyrokinetics under comparatively little-explored conditions, simulations of pressure-gradient-driven plasma turbulence in the Large Plasma Device (LAPD) are compared with experimental observations. The corresponding signatures confirm the existence of a novel regime of turbulence, based on the recently-discovered gradient-driven drift coupling (GDC) instability, which is thus confirmed as a candidate mechanism for turbulence in basic, space and astrophysical plasmas. Despite the limitations of flux-tube gyrokinetics for this scenario, when accounting for box size scaling by applying a scalar factor η =6, agreement between simulations and experiment improves to within a factor of two for key observables: compressional magnetic, density, and temperature fluctuations, both in amplitude and structure. Thus, a first, strong indication is presented that the GDC instability seen in gyrokinetics appears to operate in the experiment and that the essential instability physics is present in the numerical model. Overall, the gyrokinetic framework and its numerical implementation in the Gene code therefore perform well for LAPD plasmas very different from their brethren in fusion experiments.

Segregation physics of a macroscale granular ratchet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bhateja, Ashish; Sharma, Ishan; Singh, Jayant K.

2017-05-01

New experiments with multigrain mixtures in a laterally shaken, horizontal channel show complete axial segregation of species. The channel consists of multiple concatenated trapeziums, and superficially resembles microratchets wherein asymmetric geometries and potentials transport, and sort, randomly agitated microscopic particles. However, the physics of our macroscale granular ratchet is fundamentally different, as macroscopic segregation is gravity driven. Our observations are not explained by classical granular segregation theories either. Motivated by the experiments, extensive parallelized discrete element simulations reveal that the macroratchet differentiates grains through hierarchical bidirectional segregation over two different time scales: Grains rapidly sort vertically into horizontal bands spanning the channel's length that, subsequently, slowly separate axially, driven by strikingly gentle, average interfacial pressure gradients acting over long distances. At its maximum, the pressure gradient responsible for axial separation was due to a change in height of about two big grain diameters (d =7 mm) over a meter-long channel. The strong directional segregation achieved by the granular macroratchet has practical importance, while identifying the underlying new physics will further our understanding of granular segregation in industrial and geophysical processes.

Mixed convection of magnetohydrodynamic nanofluids inside microtubes at constant wall temperature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moshizi, S. A.; Zamani, M.; Hosseini, S. J.; Malvandi, A.

2017-05-01

Laminar fully developed mixed convection of magnetohydrodynamic nanofluids inside microtubes at a constant wall temperature (CWT) under the effects of a variable directional magnetic field is investigated numerically. Nanoparticles are assumed to have slip velocities relative to the base fluid owing to thermophoretic diffusion (temperature gradient driven force) and Brownian diffusion (concentration gradient driven force). The no-slip boundary condition is avoided at the fluid-solid mixture to assess the non-equilibrium region at the fluid-solid interface. A scale analysis is performed to estimate the relative significance of the pertaining parameters that should be included in the governing equations. After the effects of pertinent parameters on the pressure loss and heat transfer enhancement were considered, the figure of merit (FoM) is employed to evaluate and optimize the thermal performance of heat exchange equipment. The results indicate the optimum thermal performance is obtained when the thermophoresis overwhelms the Brownian diffusion, which is for larger nanoparticles. This enhancement boosts when the buoyancy force increases. In addition, increasing the magnetic field strength and slippage at the fluid-solid interface enhances the thermal performance.

Influences of a temperature gradient and fluid inertia on acoustic streaming in a standing wave.

PubMed

Thompson, Michael W; Atchley, Anthony A; Maccarone, Michael J

2005-04-01

Following the experimental method of Thompson and Atchley [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 117, 1828-1838 (2005)] laser Doppler anemometry (LDA) is used to investigate the influences of a thermoacoustically induced axial temperature gradient and of fluid inertia on the acoustic streaming generated in a cylindrical standing-wave resonator filled with air driven sinusoidally at a frequency of 308 Hz. The axial component of Lagrangian streaming velocity is measured along the resonator axis and across the diameter at acoustic-velocity amplitudes of 2.7, 4.3, 6.1, and 8.6 m/s at the velocity antinodes. The magnitude of the axial temperature gradient along the resonator wall is varied between approximately 0 and 8 K/m by repeating measurements with the resonator either surrounded by a water jacket, suspended within an air-filled tank, or wrapped in foam insulation. A significant correlation is observed between the temperature gradient and the behavior of the streaming: as the magnitude of the temperature gradient increases, the magnitude of the streaming decreases and the shape of the streaming cell becomes increasingly distorted. The observed steady-state streaming velocities are not in agreement with any available theory.

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.

Kinetic electromagnetic instabilities in an ITB plasma with weak magnetic shear

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, W.; Yu, D. L.; Ma, R. R.; Shi, P. W.; Li, Y. Y.; Shi, Z. B.; Du, H. R.; Ji, X. Q.; Jiang, M.; Yu, L. M.; Yuan, B. S.; Li, Y. G.; Yang, Z. C.; Zhong, W. L.; Qiu, Z. Y.; Ding, X. T.; Dong, J. Q.; Wang, Z. X.; Wei, H. L.; Cao, J. Y.; Song, S. D.; Song, X. M.; Liu, Yi.; Yang, Q. W.; Xu, M.; Duan, X. R.

2018-05-01

Kinetic Alfvén and pressure gradient driven instabilities are very common in magnetized plasmas, both in space and the laboratory. These instabilities will be easily excited by energetic particles (EPs) and/or pressure gradients in present-day fusion and future burning plasmas. This will not only cause the loss and redistribution of the EPs, but also affect plasma confinement and transport. Alfvénic ion temperature gradient (AITG) instabilities with the frequency ω_BAE<ω<ω_TAE and the toroidal mode numbers n=2{-}8 are found to be unstable in NBI internal transport barrier plasmas with weak shear and low pressure gradients, where ω_BAE and ω_TAE are the frequencies of the beta- and toroidicity-induced Alfvén eigenmodes, respectively. The measured results are consistent with the general fishbone-like dispersion relation and kinetic ballooning mode equation, and the modes become more unstable the smaller the magnetic shear is in low pressure gradient regions. The interaction between AITG activity and EPs also needs to be investigated with greater attention in fusion plasmas, such as ITER (Tomabechi and The ITER Team 1991 Nucl. Fusion 31 1135), since these fluctuations can be enhanced by weak magnetic shear and EPs.

Heat and mass transfer analogy for condensation of humid air in a vertical channel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Desrayaud, G.; Lauriat, G.

This study examines energy transport associated with liquid film condensation in natural convection flows driven by differences in density due to temperature and concentration gradients. The condensation problem is based on the thin-film assumptions. The most common compositional gradient, which is encountered in humid air at ambient temperature is considered. A steady laminar Boussinesq flow of an ideal gas-vapor mixture is studied for the case of a vertical parallel plate channel. New correlations for the latent and sensible Nusselt numbers are established, and the heat and mass transfer analogy between the sensible Nusselt number and Sherwood number is demonstrated.

U(1) current from the AdS/CFT: diffusion, conductivity and causality

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bu, Yanyan; Lublinsky, Michael; Sharon, Amir

2016-04-01

For a holographically defined finite temperature theory, we derive an off-shell constitutive relation for a global U(1) current driven by a weak external non-dynamical electromagnetic field. The constitutive relation involves an all order gradient expansion resummed into three momenta-dependent transport coefficient functions: diffusion, electric conductivity, and "magnetic" conductivity. These transport functions are first computed analytically in the hydrodynamic limit, up to third order in the derivative expansion, and then numerically for generic values of momenta. We also compute a diffusion memory function, which, as a result of all order gradient resummation, is found to be causal.

Nonequilibrium dynamic phases in driven vortex lattices with periodic pinning

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reichhardt, Charles Michael

1998-12-01

We present the results of an extensive series of simulations of flux-gradient and current driven vortices interacting with either random or periodically arranged pinning sites. First, we consider flux-gradient-driven simulations of superconducting vortices interacting with strong randomly-distributed columnar pinning defects, as an external field H(t) is quasi-statically swept from zero through a matching field Bsb{phi}. Here, we find significant changes in the behavior of the local flux density B(x, y, H(t)), magnetization M(H(t)), critical current Jsb{c}(B(t)), and the individual vortex flow paths, as the local flux density crosses Bsb{phi}. Further, we find that for a given pin density, Jsb{c}(B) can be enhanced by maximizing the distance between the pins for B < Bsb{phi}. For the case of periodic pinning sites as a function of applied field, we find a rich variety of ordered and partially-ordered vortex lattice configurations. We present formulas that predict the matching fields at which commensurate vortex configurations occur and the vortex lattice orientation with respect to the pinning lattice. Our results are in excellent agreement with recent imaging experiments on square pinning arrays (K. Harada et al., Science 274, 1167 (1996)). For current driven simulations with periodic pinning we find a remarkable number of dynamical plastic flow phases. Signatures of the transitions between these different dynamical phases include sudden jumps in the current-voltage curves, hysteresis, as well as marked changes in the vortex trajectories and vortex lattice order. These phases are outlined in a series of dynamic phase diagrams. We show that several of these phases and their phase-boundaries can be understood in terms of analytical arguments. Finally, when the vortex lattice is driven at varying angles with respect to the underlying periodic pinning array, the transverse voltage-current V(I) curves show a series of mode-locked plateaus with the overall V(I) forming a devil's staircase structure.

GPS Tides and Datums

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-07-01

REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE Form Ap~ovd -qmp Pu~~~~~~~~~~hc~~~~~ omef.A Nu0001U~ 0Itg O Mcq ~n, ’tmoa1a q 0 0 fft *cuqIO~ ’W𔃻i.q~ii os .ete .7qO0t.Aqea...water level heights. Using OTF technology it should be possible to obtain a time series of water surface heights to an accuracy of 1 to 2 ymfa...receiver location. 14. SUBJECT TERMS 15. NUMBER OF PAGES On-the-Fly, study of water levels , datum, Bay of Fundy 10 16. PRICE CODE 17. SECURITY

Analytical study of mixed electroosmotic-pressure-driven flow in rectangular micro-channels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Movahed, Saeid; Kamali, Reza; Eghtesad, Mohammad; Khosravifard, Amir

2013-09-01

Operational state of many miniaturized devices deals with flow field in microchannels. Pressure-driven flow (PDF) and electroosmotic flow (EOF) can be recognized as the two most important types of the flow field in such channels. EOF has many advantages in comparison with PDF, such as being vibration free and not requiring any external mechanical pumps or moving parts. However, the disadvantages of this type of flow such as Joule heating, electrophoresis demixing, and not being suitable for mobile devices must be taken into consideration carefully. By using mixed electroosmotic/pressure-driven flow, the role of EOF in producing desired velocity profile will be reduced. In this way, the advantages of EOF can be exploited, and its disadvantages can be prevented. Induced pressure gradient can be utilized in order to control the separation in the system. Furthermore, in many complicated geometries such as T-shape microchannels, turns may induce pressure gradient to the electroosmotic velocity. While analytical formulas are completely essential for analysis and control of any industrial and laboratory microdevices, lack of such formulas in the literature for solving Poisson-Boltzmann equation and predicting electroosmotic velocity field in rectangular domains is evident. In the present study, first a novel method is proposed to solve Poisson-Boltzmann equation (PBE). Subsequently, this solution is utilized to find the electroosmotic and the mixed electroosmotic/pressure-driven velocity profile in a rectangular domain of the microchannels. To demonstrate the accuracy of the presented analytical method in solving PBE and finding electroosmotic velocity, a general nondimensional example is analyzed, and the results are compared with the solution of boundary element method. Additionally, the effects of different nondimensional parameters and also aspect ratio of channels on the electroosmotic part of the flow field will be investigated.

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

Automated apparatus for producing gradient gels

DOEpatents

Anderson, N.L.

1983-11-10

Apparatus for producing a gradient gel which serves as a standard medium for a two-dimensional analysis of proteins, the gel having a density gradient along its height formed by a variation in gel composition, with the apparatus including first and second pumping means each including a plurality of pumps on a common shaft and driven by a stepping motor capable of providing small incremental changes in pump outputs for the gel ingredients, the motors being controlled, by digital signals from a digital computer, a hollow form or cassette for receiving the gel composition, means for transferring the gel composition including a filler tube extending near the bottom of the cassette, adjustable horizontal and vertical arms for automatically removing and relocating the filler tube in the next cassette, and a digital computer programmed to automatically control the stepping motors, arm movements, and associated sensing operations involving the filling operation.

Automated apparatus for producing gradient gels

DOEpatents

Anderson, Norman L.

1986-01-01

Apparatus for producing a gradient gel which serves as a standard medium for a two-dimensional analysis of proteins, the gel having a density gradient along its height formed by a variation in gel composition, with the apparatus including first and second pumping means each including a plurality of pumps on a common shaft and driven by a stepping motor capable of providing small incremental changes in pump outputs for the gel ingredients, the motors being controlled, by digital signals from a digital computer, a hollow form or cassette for receiving the gel composition, means for transferring the gel composition including a filler tube extending near the bottom of the cassette, adjustable horizontal and vertical arms for automatically removing and relocating the filler tube in the next cassette, and a digital computer programmed to automatically control the stepping motors, arm movements, and associated sensing operations involving the filling operation.

Hydrodynamic Stability of Multicomponent Droplet Gasification in Reduced Gravity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Aharon, I.; Shaw, B. D.

1995-01-01

This investigation addresses the problem of hydrodynamic stability of a two-component droplet undergoing spherically-symmetrical gasification. The droplet components are assumed to have characteristic liquid species diffusion times that are large relative to characteristic droplet surface regression times. The problem is formulated as a linear stability analysis, with a goal of predicting when spherically-symmetric droplet gasification can be expected to be hydrodynamically unstable from surface-tension gradients acting along the surface of a droplet which result from perturbations. It is found that for the conditions assumed in this paper (quasisteady gas phase, no initial droplet temperature gradients, diffusion-dominated gasification), surface tension gradients do not play a role in the stability characteristics. In addition, all perturbations are predicted to decay such that droplets were hydrodynamically stable. Conditions are identified, however, that deserve more analysis as they may lead to hydrodynamic instabilities driven by capillary effects.

Designing a Dielectric Laser Accelerator on a Chip

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Niedermayer, Uwe; Boine-Frankenheim, Oliver; Egenolf, Thilo

2017-07-01

Dielectric Laser Acceleration (DLA) achieves gradients of more than 1GeV/m, which are among the highest in non-plasma accelerators. The long-term goal of the ACHIP collaboration is to provide relativistic (>1 MeV) electrons by means of a laser driven microchip accelerator. Examples of ’’slightly resonant” dielectric structures showing gradients in the range of 70% of the incident laser field (1 GV/m) for electrons with beta=0.32 and 200% for beta=0.91 are presented. We demonstrate the bunching and acceleration of low energy electrons in dedicated ballistic buncher and velocity matched grating structures. However, the design gradient of 500 MeV/m leads to rapid defocusing. Therefore we present a scheme to bunch the beam in stages, which does not only reduce the energy spread, but also the transverse defocusing. The designs are made with a dedicated homemade 6D particle tracking code.

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

The role of turbulence-flow interactions in L- to H-mode transition dynamics: recent progress

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schmitz, L.

2017-02-01

Recent experimental and simulation work has substantially advanced the understanding of L-mode plasma edge turbulence and plasma flows and their mutual interaction across the L-H transition. Flow acceleration and E   ×   B shear flow amplification via the turbulent Reynolds stress have been directly observed in multiple devices, using multi-tip probe arrays, Doppler backscattering, beam emission spectroscopy, and gas puff imaging diagnostics. L-H transitions characterized by limit-cycle oscillations (LCO) allow probing of the trigger dynamics and the synergy of turbulence-driven and pressure-gradient-driven flows with high spatio-temporal resolution. L-mode turbulent structures exhibit characteristic changes in topology (tilting) and temporal and radial correlation preceding the L-H transition. Long-range toroidal flow correlations increase preceding edge-transport-barrier formation. The energy transfer from the turbulence spectrum to large-scale axisymmetric flows has been quantified in L-LCO and fast L-H transitions in several devices. After formation of a transient barrier, the increasing ion pressure gradient (via the E   ×   B flow shear associated with diamagnetic flow) sustains fluctuation suppression and secures the transition to H-mode. Heuristic models of the L-H trigger dynamics have progressed from 0D predator-prey models to 1D extended models, including neoclassical ion flow-damping and pressure-gradient evolution. Initial results from 2D and 3D reduced fluid models have been obtained for high-collisionality regimes.

Bio-inspired magnetic swimming microrobots for biomedical applications.

PubMed

Peyer, Kathrin E; Zhang, Li; Nelson, Bradley J

2013-02-21

Microrobots have been proposed for future biomedical applications in which they are able to navigate in viscous fluidic environments. Nature has inspired numerous microrobotic locomotion designs, which are suitable for propulsion generation at low Reynolds numbers. This article reviews the various swimming methods with particular focus on helical propulsion inspired by E. coli bacteria. There are various magnetic actuation methods for biomimetic and non-biomimetic microrobots, such as rotating fields, oscillating fields, or field gradients. They can be categorized into force-driven or torque-driven actuation methods. Both approaches are reviewed and a previous publication has shown that torque-driven actuation scales better to the micro- and nano-scale than force-driven actuation. Finally, the implementation of swarm or multi-agent control is discussed. The use of multiple microrobots may be beneficial for in vivo as well as in vitro applications. Thus, the frequency-dependent behavior of helical microrobots is discussed and preliminary experimental results are presented showing the decoupling of an individual agent within a group of three microrobots.

Facilitation- vs. competition-driven succession: the key role of resource-ratio.

PubMed

Koffel, Thomas; Boudsocq, Simon; Loeuille, Nicolas; Daufresne, Tanguy

2018-05-02

Symbiotic nitrogen (N)-fixing plants are abundant during primary succession, as typical bedrocks lack available N. In turn, fixed N accumulates in soils through biomass turnover and recycling, favouring more nitrophilous organisms. Yet, it is unclear how this facilitation mechanism interacts with competition for other limiting nutrients such as phosphorus (P) and how this affects succession. Here, we introduce a resource-explicit, community assembly model of N-fixing species and analyze successional trajectories along resource availability gradients using contemporary niche theory. We show that facilitation-driven succession occurs under low N and high enough P availabilities, and is characterised by autogenic ecosystem development and relatively ordered trajectories. We show that late facilitation-driven succession is sensitive to catastrophic shifts, highlighting the need to invoke other mechanisms to explain ecosystem stability near the climax. Put together with competition-driven succession, these results lead to an enriched version of Tilman's resource-ratio theory of succession. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd/CNRS.

SDSS-IV MaNGA: modelling the metallicity gradients of gas and stars - radially dependent metal outflow versus IMF

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lian, Jianhui; Thomas, Daniel; Maraston, Claudia; Goddard, Daniel; Parikh, Taniya; Fernández-Trincado, J. G.; Roman-Lopes, Alexandre; Rong, Yu; Tang, Baitian; Yan, Renbin

2018-05-01

In our previous work, we found that only two scenarios are capable of reproducing the observed integrated mass-metallicity relations for the gas and stellar components of local star-forming galaxies simultaneously. One scenario invokes a time-dependent metal outflow loading factor with stronger outflows at early times. The other scenario uses a time-dependent initial mass function (IMF) slope with a steeper IMF at early times. In this work, we extend our study to investigate the radial profile of gas and stellar metallicity in local star-forming galaxies using spatially resolved spectroscopic data from the SDSS-IV MaNGA survey. We find that most galaxies show negative gradients in both gas and stellar metallicity with steeper gradients in stellar metallicity. The stellar metallicity gradients tend to be mass dependent with steeper gradients in more massive galaxies while no clear mass dependence is found for the gas metallicity gradient. Then we compare the observations with the predictions from a chemical evolution model of the radial profiles of gas and stellar metallicities. We confirm that the two scenarios proposed in our previous work are also required to explain the metallicity gradients. Based on these two scenarios, we successfully reproduce the radial profiles of gas metallicity, stellar metallicity, stellar mass surface density, and star formation rate surface density simultaneously. The origin of the negative gradient in stellar metallicity turns out to be driven by either radially dependent metal outflow or IMF slope. In contrast, the radial dependence of the gas metallicity is less constrained because of the degeneracy in model parameters.

Stability and instability of axisymmetric droplets in thermocapillary-driven thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nicolaou, Zachary G.

2018-03-01

The stability of compactly supported, axisymmetric droplet states is considered for driven thin viscous films evolving on two-dimensional surfaces. Stability is assessed using Lyapunov energy methods afforded by the Cahn-Hilliard variational form of the governing equation. For general driving forces, a criterion on the gradient of profiles at the boundary of their support (their contact slope) is shown to be a necessary condition for stability. Additional necessary and sufficient conditions for stability are established for a specific driving force corresponding to a thermocapillary-driven film. It is found that only droplets of sufficiently short height that satisfy the contact slope criterion are stable. This destabilization of droplets with increasing height is characterized as a saddle-node bifurcation between a branch of tall, unstable droplets and a branch of short, stable droplets.

Experimental Study of a Three-Dimensional Shear-Driven Turbulent Boundary Layer with Streamwise Adverse Pressure Gradient

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Driver, David M.; Johnston, James P.

1990-01-01

The effects of a strong adverse pressure gradient on a three-dimensional turbulent boundary layer are studied in an axisymmetric spinning cylinder geometry. Velocity measurements made with a three-component laser Doppler velocimeter include all three mean flow components, all six Reynolds stress components, and all ten triple-product correlations. Reynolds stress diminishes as the flow becomes three-dimensional. Lower levels of shear stress were seen to persist under adverse pressure gradient conditions. This low level of stress was seen to roughly correlate with the magnitude of cross-flow (relative to free stream flow) for this experiment as well as most of the other experiments in the literature. Variations in pressure gradient do not appear to alter this correlation. For this reason, it is hypothesized that a three-dimensional boundary layer is more prone to separate than a two-dimensional boundary layer, although it could not be directly shown here. None of the computations performed with either a Prandtl mixing length, k-epsilon, or a Launder-Reece-Rodi full Reynolds-stress model were able to predict the reduction in Reynolds stress.

Accumulation of Colloidal Particles in Flow Junctions Induced by Fluid Flow and Diffusiophoresis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shin, Sangwoo; Ault, Jesse T.; Warren, Patrick B.; Stone, Howard A.

2017-10-01

The flow of solutions containing solutes and colloidal particles in porous media is widely found in systems including underground aquifers, hydraulic fractures, estuarine or coastal habitats, water filtration systems, etc. In such systems, solute gradients occur when there is a local change in the solute concentration. While the effects of solute gradients have been found to be important for many applications, we observe an unexpected colloidal behavior in porous media driven by the combination of solute gradients and the fluid flow. When two flows with different solute concentrations are in contact near a junction, a sharp solute gradient is formed at the interface, which may allow strong diffusiophoresis of the particles directed against the flow. Consequently, the particles accumulate near the pore entrance, rapidly approaching the packing limit. These colloidal dynamics have important implications for the clogging of a porous medium, where particles that are orders of magnitude smaller than the pore width can accumulate and block the pores within a short period of time. We also show that this effect can be exploited as a useful tool for preconcentrating biomolecules for rapid bioassays.

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.

Thermodiffusion as a means to manipulate liquid film dynamics on chemically patterned surfaces

PubMed Central

Kalpathy, Sreeram K.; Shreyes, Amrita Ravi

2017-01-01

The model problem examined here is the stability of a thin liquid film consisting of two miscible components, resting on a chemically patterned solid substrate and heated from below. In addition to surface tension gradients, the temperature variations also induce gradients in the concentration of the film by virtue of thermodiffusion/Soret effects. We study the stability and dewetting behaviour due to the coupled interplay between thermal gradients, Soret effects, long-range van der Waals forces, and wettability gradient-driven flows. Linear stability analysis is first employed to predict growth rates and the critical Marangoni number for chemically homogeneous surfaces. Then, nonlinear simulations are performed to unravel the interfacial dynamics and possible locations of the film rupture on chemically patterned substrates. Results suggest that appropriate tuning of the Soret parameter and its direction, in conjunction with either heating or cooling, can help manipulate the location and time scales of the film rupture. The Soret effect can either potentially aid or oppose film instability depending on whether the thermal and solutal contributions to flow are cooperative or opposed to each other. PMID:28595391

Experiments on Electron-Plasma Vortex Motion Driven by a Background Vorticity Gradient.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kabantsev, A. A.; Driscoll, C. F.

2000-10-01

The interaction of self-trapped vortices with a background vorticity gradient plays an important role in 2D hydrodynamics, including various aspects of relaxation and self-organization of 2D turbulence. In the present experiments, electron plasma columns with monotonically decreasing density profiles provide a vorticity background with (negative) shear in the rotational flow. Clumps of extra electrons are then retrograde vortices, rotating against the background shear; and regions with a deficit of electrons (holes) are prograde vortices. Theory predicts that clumps move up the background gradient, and holes move down the gradient, with velocities which depend differently on the ratio of the vortex trapping length to vortex radius, l / r_v. The present experiments show quantitative agreement with recent theory and simulations,(D.A. Schecter and D.H.E. Dubin, Phys. Rev. Lett. 83), 2191 (1999). for the accessible regime of 0.2 < l/rv < 2. The experiments also show that moving clumps leave a spiral density wake, and that instability of these wakes results in a large number of long-lived holes.

Landscape genetic connectivity in a riparian foundation tree is jointly driven by climatic gradients and river networks

Treesearch

Samuel A. Cushman; Tamara Max; Nashelly Meneses; Luke M. Evans; Sharon Ferrier; Barbara Honchak; Thomas G. Whitham; Gerard J. Allan

2014-01-01

Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremonti) is a foundation riparian tree species that drives community structure and ecosystem processes in southwestern U.S. ecosystems. Despite its ecological importance, little is known about the ecological and environmental processes that shape its genetic diversity, structure, and landscape connectivity. Here, we combined...

Mimicking Nonequilibrium Steady States with Time-Periodic Driving

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-08-29

nonequilibrium steady states, and vice versa, within the theoretical framework of discrete-state stochastic thermodynamics . Nonequilibrium steady states...equilibrium [2], spontaneous relaxation towards equilibrium [3], nonequilibrium steady states generated by fixed thermodynamic forces [4], and stochastic pumps...paradigm, a system driven by fixed thermodynamic forces—such as temperature gradients or chemical potential differences— reaches a steady state in

Low-to-moderate nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations accelerate microbially driven litter breakdown rates

Treesearch

John S. Kominoski; Amy D. Rosemond; Jonathan P. Benstead; Vladislav Gulis; John C. Maerz; David Manning

2015-01-01

Particulate organic matter (POM) processing is an important driver of aquatic ecosystem productivity that is sensitive to nutrient enrichment and drives ecosystem carbon (C) loss. Although studies of single concentrations of nitrogen (N) or phosphorus (P) have shown effects at relatively low concentrations, responses of litter breakdown rates along gradients of low-to-...

Long-term response of oak-hickory regeneration to partial harvest and repeated fires: influence of light and moisture

Treesearch

Louis R. Iverson; Todd F. Hutchinson; Matthew P. Peters; Daniel A. Yaussy

2017-01-01

By tracking oak-hickory (Quercus-Carya) regeneration for 13 yr across management-manipulated light and topographically driven moisture gradients after partial harvest and three prescribed fires, we document best-case conditions to promote advanced oak regeneration, and thereby provide a promising management tool to reverse the downward spiral in...

Near-wall similarity in a pressure-driven three-dimensional turbulent boundary layer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pierce, F. J.; Mcallister, J. E.

1980-01-01

Mean velocity, measured wall pressure and wall shear stress fields were made in a three dimensional pressure-driven turbulent boundary layer created by a cylinder with trailing edge placed normal to a flat plate floor. The direct force wall shear stress measurements were made with floating element direct force sensing shear meter that responded to both the magnitude and direction of the local wall shear stress. The ability of 10 near wall similarity models to describe the near wall velocity field for the measured flow under a wide range of skewing conditions and a variety of pressure gradient and wall shear vector orientations was used.

Behavior of Caulobacter Crescentus Diagnosed Using a 3-Channel Microfluidic Device

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tang, Jay; Morse, Michael; Colin, Remy; Wilson, Laurence

2015-03-01

Many motile microorganisms are able to detect chemical gradients in their surroundings in order to bias their motion towards more favorable conditions. We study the biased motility of Caulobacter crescentus, a singly flagellated bacteria, which alternate between forward and backward swimming, driven by its flagella motor, which switches in rotation direction. We observe the swimming patterns of C. crescents in an oxygen gradient, which is established by flowing atmospheric air and pure nitrogen through a 3 parallel channel microfluidic device. In this setup, oxygen diffuses through the PDMS device and the bacterial medium, creating a linear gradient. Using low magnification, dark field microscopy, individual cells are tracked over a large field of view, with particular interest in the cells' motion relative to the oxygen gradient. Utilizing observable differences between backward and forward swimming motion, motor switching events can be identified. By analyzing these run time intervals between motor switches as a function of a cell's local oxygen level, we demonstrate that C. crescentus displays aerotacitc behavior by extending forward swimming run times while moving up an oxygen gradient, resulting in directed motility towards oxygen sources. Additionally, motor switching response is sensitive to both the steepness of the gradient experienced and background oxygen levels with cells exhibiting a logarithmic response to oxygen levels. Work funded by the United States National Science Foundation and by the Rowland Institute at Harvard University.

Radar observations of density gradients, electric fields, and plasma irregularities near polar cap patches in the context of the gradient-drift instability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lamarche, Leslie J.; Makarevich, Roman A.

2017-03-01

We present observations of plasma density gradients, electric fields, and small-scale plasma irregularities near a polar cap patch made by the Super Dual Auroral Radar Network radar at Rankin Inlet (RKN) and the northern face of Resolute Bay Incoherent Scatter Radar (RISR-N). RKN echo power and occurrence are analyzed in the context of gradient-drift instability (GDI) theory, with a particular focus on the previously uninvestigated 2-D dependencies on wave propagation, electric field, and gradient vectors, with the latter two quantities evaluated directly from RISR-N measurements. It is shown that higher gradient and electric field components along the wave vector generally lead to the higher observed echo occurrence, which is consistent with the expected higher GDI growth rate, but the relationship with echo power is far less straightforward. The RKN echo power increases monotonically as the predicted linear growth rate approaches zero from negative values but does not continue this trend into positive growth rate values, in contrast with GDI predictions. The observed greater consistency of echo occurrence with GDI predictions suggests that GDI operating in the linear regime can control basic plasma structuring, but measured echo strength may be affected by other processes and factors, such as multistep or nonlinear processes or a shear-driven instability.

Simulation of sloshing dynamics induced forces and torques actuated on dewar container driven by gravity gradient and jitter accelerations in microgravity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hung, R. J.; Pan, H. L.

1993-01-01

Some experimental spacecraft use superconducting sensors for gyro read-out and so must be maintained at a very low temperature. The boil-off from the cryogenic liquid used to cool the sensors can also be used, as the Gravity Probe B (GP-B) spacecraft does, as propellant to maintain attitude control and drag-free operation of the spacecraft. The cryogenic liquid for such spacecraft is, however, susceptible to both slosh-like motion and non-axisymmetric configurations under the influence of various kinds of gravity jitter and gravity gradient accelerations. Hence, it is important to quantify the magnitude of the liquid-induced perturbations on the spacecraft. We use the example of the GP-B to investigate such perturbations by numerical simulations. For this spacecraft disturbances can be imposed on the liquid by atmospheric drag, spacecraft attitude control maneuvers, and the earth's gravity gradient. More generally, onboard machinery vibrations and crew motion can also create disturbances. Recent studies suggest that high frequency disturbances are relatively unimportant in causing liquid motions in comparison to low frequency ones. The results presented here confirm this conclusion. After an initial calibration period, the GP-B spacecraft rotates in orbit at 0.1 rpm about the tank symmetry axis. For this rotation rate, the equilibrium liquid free surface shape is a 'doughnut' configuration for all residual gravity levels of 10(exp -6) g(sub 0) or less, as shown by experiments and by numerical simulations; furthermore, the superfluid behavior of the 1.8 K liquid helium used in GP-B eliminates temperature gradients and therefore such effects as Marangoni convection do not have to be considered. Classical fluid dynamics theory is used as the basis of the numerical simulations here, since Mason's experiments show that the theory is applicable for cryogenic liquid helium in large containers. To study liquid responses to various disturbances, we investigate and simulate three levels of gravity jitter (10(exp -6), 10(exp -7), and 10(exp -8) g(sub 0)) each at three predominant frequencies (0.1, 1.0, and 10 Hz), combined with a gravity gradient appropriate for the GP-B orbit. Dynamical evolution of sloshing dynamics excited fluid forces and torque fluctuations exerted on the dewar container driven by the combined gravity gradient and jitter accelerations are also investigated and simulated.

Microscale solution manipulation using photopolymerized hydrogel membranes and induced charge electroosmosis micropumps

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paustian, Joel Scott

Microfluidic technology is playing an ever-expanding role in advanced chemical and biological devices, with diverse applications including medical diagnostics, high throughput research tools, chemical or biological detection, separations, and controlled particle fabrication. Even so, local (microscale) modification of solution properties within microchannels, such as pressure, solute concentration, and voltage remains a challenge, and improved spatiotemporal control would greatly enhance the capabilities of microfluidics. This thesis demonstrates and characterizes two microfluidic tools to enhance local solution control. I first describe a microfluidic pump that uses an electrokinetic effect, Induced-Charge Electroosmosis (ICEO), to generate pressure on-chip. In ICEO, steady flows are driven by AC fields along metal-electrolyte interfaces. I design and microfabricate a pump that exploits this effect to generate on-chip pressures. The ICEO pump is used to drive flow along a microchannel, and the pressure is measured as a function of voltage, frequency, and electrolyte composition. This is the first demonstration of chip-scale flows driven by ICEO, which opens the possibility for ICEO pumping in self-contained microfluidic devices. Next, I demonstrate a method to create thin local membranes between microchannels, which enables local diffusive delivery of solute. These ``Hydrogel Membrane Microwindows'' are made by photopolymerizing a hydrogel which serves as a local ``window'' for solute diffusion and electromigration between channels, but remains a barrier to flow. I demonstrate three novel experimental capabilities enabled by the hydrogel membranes: local concentration gradients, local electric currents, and rapid diffusive composition changes. I conclude by applying the hydrogel membranes to study solvophoresis, the migration of particles in solvent gradients. Solvent gradients are present in many chemical processes, but migration of particles within these gradients is not well understood. An improved understanding would allow solvophoresis to be engineered (e.g. for coatings and thin film deposition) or reduced (e.g. in fouling processes during reactions and separations). Toward this end, I perform velocity measurements of colloidal particles at various ethanol-water concentrations and gradient strengths. The velocity was found to depend on the mole fraction via the equation u = DSP▿ln X, where u is the velocity, DSP is the mobility, and X is the ethanol mole fraction.

Anomalous magnon Nernst effect of topological magnonic materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, X. S.; Wang, X. R.

2018-05-01

The magnon transport driven by a thermal gradient in a perpendicularly magnetized honeycomb lattice is studied. The system with the nearest-neighbor pseudodipolar interaction and the next-nearest-neighbor Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction has various topologically nontrivial phases. When an in-plane thermal gradient is applied, a transverse in-plane magnon current is generated. This phenomenon is termed as the anomalous magnon Nernst effect that closely resembles the anomalous Nernst effect for an electronic system. The anomalous magnon Nernst coefficient and its sign are determined by the magnon Berry curvature distributions in the momentum space and magnon populations in the magnon bands. We predict a temperature-induced sign reversal in anomalous magnon Nernst effect under certain conditions.

Experimental Nanofluidics in an individual Nanotube

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Siria, Alessandro; Poncharal, Philippe; Biance, Anne Laure; Fulcrand, Remy; Purcell, Stephen; Bocquet, Lyderic

2012-11-01

Building new devices that benefit from the strange transport behavior of fluids at nanoscales is an open and worthy challenge that may lead to new scientific and technological paradigms. We present here a new class of nanofluidic device, made of individual Boron-Nitride (BN) nanotube inserted in a pierced membrane and connecting two macroscopic reservoirs. We explore fluidic transport inside a single BN nanotube under electric fields, pressure drops, chemical gradients, and combinations of these. We show that in this transmembrane geometry, the pressure-driven streaming current is voltage gated, with an apparent electro-osmotic zeta potential raising up to one volt. Further, we measured the current induced by ion concentration gradients and show its dependency on the surface charge.

Tracing the Pathway from Drift-Wave Turbulence with Broken Symmetry to the Production of Sheared Axial Mean Flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hong, R.; Li, J. C.; Chakraborty Thakur, S.; Hajjar, R.; Diamond, P. H.; Tynan, G. R.

2018-05-01

This study traces the emergence of sheared axial flow from collisional drift-wave turbulence with broken symmetry in a linear plasma device—the controlled shear decorrelation experiment. As the density profile steepens, the axial Reynolds stress develops and drives a radially sheared axial flow that is parallel to the magnetic field. Results show that the nondiffusive piece of the Reynolds stress is driven by the density gradient, results from spectral asymmetry of the turbulence, and, thus, is dynamical in origin. Taken together, these findings constitute the first simultaneous demonstration of the causal link between the density gradient, turbulence, and stress with broken spectral symmetry and the mean axial flow.

Viscous relaxation of impact crater relief on Venus - Constraints on crustal thickness and thermal gradient

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Grimm, Robert E.; Solomon, Sean C.

1988-01-01

Models for the viscous relaxation of impact crater topography are used to constrain the crustal thickness (H) and the mean lithospheric thermal gradient beneath the craters on Venus. A general formulation for gravity-driven flow in a linearly viscous fluid has been obtained which incorporates the densities and temperature-dependent effective viscosities of distinct crust and mantle layers. An upper limit to the crustal volume of Venus of 10 to the 10th cu km is obtained which implies either that the average rate of crustal generation has been much smaller on Venus than on earth or that some form of crustal recycling has occurred on Venus.

Pathways of fluid transport and reabsorption across the peritoneal membrane.

PubMed

Asghar, R B; Davies, S J

2008-05-01

The three-pore model of peritoneal fluid transport predicts that once the osmotic gradient has dissipated, fluid reabsorption will be due to a combination of small-pore reabsorption driven by the intravascular oncotic pressure, and an underlying disappearance of fluid from the cavity by lymphatic drainage. Our study measured fluid transport by these pathways in the presence and absence of an osmotic gradient. Paired hypertonic and standard glucose-dwell studies were performed using radio-iodinated serum albumin as an intraperitoneal volume marker and changes in intraperitoneal sodium mass to determine small-pore versus transcellular fluid transport. Disappearance of iodinated albumin was considered to indicate lymphatic drainage. Variability in transcellular ultrafiltration was largely explained by the rate of small-solute transport across the membrane. In the absence of an osmotic gradient, fluid reabsorption occurred via the small-pore pathway, the rate being proportional to the small-solute transport characteristics of the membrane. In most cases, fluid removal from the peritoneal cavity by this pathway was faster than by lymphatic drainage. Our study shows that the three-pore model describes the pathways of peritoneal fluid transport well. In the presence of high solute transport, poor transcellular ultrafiltration was due to loss of the osmotic gradient and an enhanced small-pore reabsorption rate after this gradient dissipated.

Leaf gas films, underwater photosynthesis and plant species distributions in a flood gradient.

PubMed

Winkel, Anders; Visser, Eric J W; Colmer, Timothy D; Brodersen, Klaus P; Voesenek, Laurentius A C J; Sand-Jensen, Kaj; Pedersen, Ole

2016-07-01

Traits for survival during flooding of terrestrial plants include stimulation or inhibition of shoot elongation, aerenchyma formation and efficient gas exchange. Leaf gas films form on superhydrophobic cuticles during submergence and enhance underwater gas exchange. The main hypothesis tested was that the presence of leaf gas films influences the distribution of plant species along a natural flood gradient. We conducted laboratory experiments and field observations on species distributed along a natural flood gradient. We measured presence or absence of leaf gas films and specific leaf area of 95 species. We also measured, gas film retention time during submergence and underwater net photosynthesis and dark respiration of 25 target species. The presence of a leaf gas film was inversely correlated to flood frequency and duration and reached a maximum value of 80% of the species in the rarely flooded locations. This relationship was primarily driven by grasses that all, independently of their field location along the flood gradient, possess gas films when submerged. Although the present study and earlier experiments have shown that leaf gas films enhance gas exchange of submerged plants, the ability of species to form leaf gas films did not show the hypothesized relationship with species composition along the flood gradient. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Hydraulic redistribution: limitations for plants in saline soils.

PubMed

Bazihizina, Nadia; Veneklaas, Erik J; Barrett-Lennard, Edward G; Colmer, Timothy D

2017-10-01

Hydraulic redistribution (HR), the movement of water from wet to dry patches in the soil via roots, occurs in different ecosystems and plant species. By extension of the principle that HR is driven by gradients in soil water potential, HR has been proposed to occur for plants in saline soils. Despite the inherent spatial patchiness and salinity gradients in these soils, the lack of direct evidence of HR in response to osmotic gradients prompted us to ask the question: are there physical or physiological constraints to HR for plants in saline environments? We propose that build-up of ions in the root xylem sap and in the leaf apoplast, with the latter resulting in a large predawn disequilibrium of water potential in shoots compared with roots and soil, would both impede HR. We present a conceptual model that illustrates how processes in root systems in heterogeneous salinity with water potential gradients, even if equal to those in non-saline soils, will experience a dampened magnitude of water potential gradients in the soil-plant continuum, minimizing or preventing HR. Finally, we provide an outlook for understanding the relevance of HR for plants in saline environments by addressing key research questions on plant salinity tolerance. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Functional units and lead topologies: a hierarchical framework for observing and modeling the interplay of structures, storage dynamics and integral mass and energy flows in lower mesoscale catchments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zehe, Erwin; Jackisch, Conrad; Blume, Theresa; Haßler, Sibylle; Allroggen, Niklas; Tronicke, Jens

2013-04-01

The CAOS Research Unit recently proposed a hierarchical classification scheme to subdivide a catchment into what we vaguely name classes of functional entities that puts the gradients driving mass and energy flows and their controls on top of the hierarchy and the arrangement of landscape attributes controlling flow resistances along these driving gradients (for instance soil types and apparent preferential pathways) at the second level. We name these functional entities lead topology classes, to highlight that they are characterized by a spatially ordered arrangement of landscape elements along a superordinate driving gradient. Our idea is that these lead topology classes have a distinct way how their structural and textural architecture controls the interplay of storage dynamics and integral response behavior that is typical for all members of a class, but is dissimilar between different classes. This implies that we might gain exemplary understanding of the typical dynamic behavior of the class, when thoroughly studying a few class members. We propose that the main integral catchment functions mass export and drainage, mass redistribution and storage, energy exchange with the atmosphere, as well as energy redistribution and storage - result from spatially organized interactions of processes within lead topologies that operate at different scale levels and partly dominate during different conditions. We distinguish: 1) Lead topologies controlling the land surface energy balance during radiation driven conditions at the plot/pedon scale level. In this case energy fluxes dominate and deplete a vertical temperature gradient that is build up by depleting a gradient in radiation fluxes. Water is a facilitator in this concert due to the high specific heat of vaporization. Slow vertical water fluxes in soil dominate, which are driven by vertical gradients in atmospheric water potential, chemical potential in the plant and in soil hydraulic potentials. 2) Lead topologies controlling fast drainage and generation stream flow during rainfall events at the hillslope scale level: Fast vertical and lateral mass fluxes dominate. They are driven by vertical and lateral gradients in pressure heads which build up by depleting the kinetic energy/velocity gradient of rainfall when it hits the ground or of vertical subsurface flows that "hit" a layer of low permeability. 3) Lead topologies controlling slow drainage and its supply, and thus creating memory at the catchment scale level: These are the groundwater system and the stream including the riparian zone. Permanent lateral water flows dominate that are driven by permanently active lateral gradients in pressure heads. Event scale stream flow generation and energy exchange with the atmospheric boundary layer are organized by the first two types of lead topologies, and their dominance changes with prevailing type of boundary conditions. We furthermore propose that lead topologies at the plot and the hillslope scale levels can be further subdivided into least functional entities we name call classes of elementary functional units. These classes of elementary functional units co-evolved being exposed to similar superordinate vertical gradients in a self-reinforcing manner. Being located either at the hilltop (sediment source area), midslope (sediment transport area) or hillfoot/riparian zone (sediment deposit area) they experienced similar weathering processes (past water, energy and nutrient flows), causing formation of similar soil texture in different horizons. This implies, depending on hillslope position and aspect, formation of distinct niches (with respect to water, nutrient and sun light availability) and thus "similar filters" to select distinct natural communities of animal and vegetation species. This in turn implies similarity with respect to formation of biotic flow networks (ant-, worm-, mole- and whole burrow systems, as well as root systems), which feeds back on vertical and lateral water/mass and thermal energy flows and so on. The idea is that members of EFU classes interact within lead topologies along a hierarchy of driving potential gradients and that these interactions are mediated by a hierarchy of connected flow networks like macropores, root networks or lateral pipe systems. We hypothesize that members of a functional unit class are similar with respect to the time invariant controls of the vertical gradients (soil hydraulic potentials, soil temperature, plant water potential) and the flow resistances in vertical direction (plant and soil albedo, soil hydraulic and thermal conductivity, vertical macropore networks). This implies that members of an EFU class behave functionally similar at least with respect to vertical flows of water and heat: we may gain exemplary understanding of the typical dynamic behavior of the class, by thoroughly studying a few class members. In the following we will thus use the term "elementary functional units, EFUs" and "elementary functional unit class, EFU class" as synonyms. We propose that a thorough understanding of the behavior of a few representatives of the most important EFU classes and of their interactions within a hierarchy of lead topology classes is sufficient for understanding and distributed modeling of event scale stream flow production under rainfall driven conditions and energy exchange with the atmosphere under radiation driven conditions. Good and not surprising news is that lead topologies controlling stream flow contribution, are an interconnected, ordered arrangement of the lead topologies that control energy exchange. We suggests that a combination of the related model approaches which simplified but physical based approaches to simulate dynamics in the saturated zone, riparian zone and the river network results in a structurally more adequate model framework for catchments of organized complexity. The feasibility of this concept is currently tested in the Attert catchment by setting up pseudo replica of field experiments and a distributed monitoring network in several members of first guess EFUs and superordinate lead topology classes. We combine geophysical and soil physical survey, artificial tracer tests and analysis of stable isotopes and ecological survey with distributed sensor clusters that permanently monitor meteorological variables, soil moisture and matric potential, piezometric heads etc. Within the proposed study we will present first results especially from the sensor clusters and geophysical survey. By using geostatistical methods we will work out to which extend members within a candidate EFU class are similar with respect to subsurface structures like depth to bedrock and soil properties as well as with respect to soil moisture/storage dynamics. Secondly, we will work out whether structurally similar hillslopes produce a similar event scale stream flow contribution, which of course is dependent on the degree of similarity of a) the rainfall forcing they receive and b) of their wetness state. To this end we will perform virtual experiments with the physically based model CATFLOW by perturbing behavioral model structures. These have been shown to portray system behavior and its architecture in a sense that they reproduce distributed observations of soil moisture and subsurface storm flow and represent the observed structural and textural signatures of soils, flow networks and vegetation.

Mimicking Nonequilibrium Steady States with Time-Periodic Driving (Open Source)

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-05-18

nonequilibrium steady states, and vice versa, within the theoretical framework of discrete-state stochastic thermodynamics . Nonequilibrium steady states...equilibrium [2], spontaneous relaxation towards equilibrium [3], nonequilibrium steady states generated by fixed thermodynamic forces [4], and stochastic pumps...paradigm, a system driven by fixed thermodynamic forces—such as temperature gradients or chemical potential differences— reaches a steady state in

Gyrokinetic projection of the divertor heat-flux width from present tokamaks to ITER

DOE PAGES

Chang, Choong Seock; Ku, Seung -Hoe; Loarte, Alberto; ...

2017-07-11

Here, the XGC1 edge gyrokinetic code is used to study the width of the heat-flux to divertor plates in attached plasma condition. The flux-driven simulation is performed until an approximate power balance is achieved between the heat-flux across the steep pedestal pressure gradient and the heat-flux on the divertor plates.

Remote Sensing of Selected Water-Quality Indicators with the Hyperspectral Imager for the Coastal Ocean (HICO) Sensor

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-01-01

monitoring wind -driven re-suspension events (Chen 2006), a predictive factor for patho- gens such as E. coli (Nevers and Whitman 2005), and a...properties where HICO imagery could be acquired as well as along the major salinity gradients of each estuary (Figure 2). A Sea- Bird 25 CTD (Sea- Bird

Social Deprivation, Community Cohesion, Denominational Education and Freedom of Choice: A Marxist Perspective on Poverty and Exclusion in the District of Thanet

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Welsh, Paul J.

2008-01-01

Thanet suffers from severe deprivation, mainly driven by socio-economic factors. Efforts to remediate this through economic regeneration plans have largely been unsuccessful, while a combination of selective and denominational education creates and maintains a gradient of disadvantage that mainly impacts upon already-deprived young people. Some of…

Base flow-driven shifts in tropical stream temperature regimes across a mean annual rainfall gradient

Treesearch

Ayron M. Strauch; Richard A. MacKenzie; Ralph W. Tingley

2017-01-01

Climate change is expected to affect air temperature and watershed hydrology, but the degree to which these concurrent changes affect stream temperature is not well documented in the tropics. How stream temperature varies over time under changing hydrologic conditions is difficult to isolate from seasonal changes in air temperature. Groundwater and bank storage...

Forests, shrubs, and terrain: top-down and bottom-up controls on forest structure

Treesearch

Paul V. Bolstad; Katherine J. Elliott; Chelcy F. Miniat

2018-01-01

Overstory forest structure responds to terrain‐related abiotic factors and to biotic interactions among overstory and understory plants. Unlike species abundance, tree height, biomass, and leaf area in many regions have been poorly quantified in relation to terrain‐driven environmental gradients. In addition, the magnitude of understory influences on overstory...

Flooding impacts on responses of a riparian consumer to cross-ecosystem subsidies.

PubMed

Greenwood, Michelle J; McIntosh, Angus R

2008-06-01

Landscape-driven processes impact the magnitude and direction of cross-ecosystem resource subsidies, but they may also control consumers' numerical and functional responses by altering habitat availability. We investigated effects of the interaction between habitat availability and subsidy level on populations of a riparian fishing spider, Dolomedes aquaticus, using a flood disturbance gradient in the Waimakariri River catchment, New Zealand. D. aquaticus predominantly eat aquatic prey as they hunt from the water surface. However, D. aquaticus biomass peaked at rivers with intermediate flood disturbance, rather than at less flood-prone rivers where the biomass of aquatic insect prey was markedly higher. Flooding positively influenced spider habitat quality, and an experimental manipulation at stable rivers indicated that unembedded cobbles, preferred D. aquaticus habitat, were a limiting factor, preventing response to the increased prey resource at stable sites. Potential terrestrial prey abundance was low, did not vary across the disturbance gradient, and is likely to have been a much smaller component of the fishing spiders' diet than aquatic insect prey. Thus landscape-driven factors not only controlled the magnitude of resource subsidies, but also influenced the ability of consumers to respond to them by altering the physical nature of the ecosystem boundary.

Lagrangian transport in a class of three-dimensional buoyancy-driven flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Contreras, Sebastian; Speetjens, Michel; Clercx, Herman

2017-11-01

The study concerns the Lagrangian dynamics of three-dimensional (3D) buoyancy-driven cavity flows under steady and laminar conditions due to a global temperature gradient imposed via an opposite hot and cold sidewall. This serves as archetypal configuration for natural-convection flows in which gravity is perpendicular to the global temperature gradient. Limited insight into the Lagrangian properties of this class of flows motivates this study. The 3D Lagrangian dynamics are investigated in terms of the generic structure of the Lagrangian flow topology that is described in terms of the Grashof number (Gr) and the Prandtl number (Pr). Gr is the principal control parameter for the flow topology: vanishing Gr yields a state of closed streamlines (integrable state); increasing Gr causes the formation of toroidal coherent structures embedded in chaotic streamlines governed by Hamiltonian mechanisms. Fluid inertia prevails for ``smaller'' Gr. A buoyancy-induced bifurcation of the flow topology occurs for ``larger'' Gr and underlies the emergence of ``secondary rolls'' and secondary tori for ``larger'' Pr. Stagnation points and corresponding manifold interactions are key to the dynamics. S.C. acknowledges financial support from Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT).

Scaling Law for Cross-stream Diffusion in Microchannels under Combined Electroosmotic and Pressure Driven Flow.

PubMed

Song, Hongjun; Wang, Yi; Pant, Kapil

2013-01-01

This paper presents an analytical study of the cross-stream diffusion of an analyte in a rectangular microchannel under combined electroosmotic flow (EOF) and pressure driven flow to investigate the heterogeneous transport behavior and spatially-dependent diffusion scaling law. An analytical model capable of accurately describing 3D steady-state convection-diffusion in microchannels with arbitrary aspect ratios is developed based on the assumption of the thin Electric Double Layer (EDL). The model is verified against high-fidelity numerical simulation in terms of flow velocity and analyte concentration profiles with excellent agreement (<0.5% relative error). An extensive parametric analysis is then undertaken to interrogate the effect of the combined flow velocity field on the transport behavior in both the positive pressure gradient (PPG) and negative pressure gradient (NPG) cases. For the first time, the evolution from the spindle-shaped concentration profile in the PPG case, via the stripe-shaped profile (pure EOF), and finally to the butterfly-shaped profile in the PPG case is obtained using the analytical model along with a quantitative depiction of the spatially-dependent diffusion layer thickness and scaling law across a wide range of the parameter space.

Scaling Law for Cross-stream Diffusion in Microchannels under Combined Electroosmotic and Pressure Driven Flow

PubMed Central

Song, Hongjun; Wang, Yi; Pant, Kapil

2012-01-01

This paper presents an analytical study of the cross-stream diffusion of an analyte in a rectangular microchannel under combined electroosmotic flow (EOF) and pressure driven flow to investigate the heterogeneous transport behavior and spatially-dependent diffusion scaling law. An analytical model capable of accurately describing 3D steady-state convection-diffusion in microchannels with arbitrary aspect ratios is developed based on the assumption of the thin Electric Double Layer (EDL). The model is verified against high-fidelity numerical simulation in terms of flow velocity and analyte concentration profiles with excellent agreement (<0.5% relative error). An extensive parametric analysis is then undertaken to interrogate the effect of the combined flow velocity field on the transport behavior in both the positive pressure gradient (PPG) and negative pressure gradient (NPG) cases. For the first time, the evolution from the spindle-shaped concentration profile in the PPG case, via the stripe-shaped profile (pure EOF), and finally to the butterfly-shaped profile in the PPG case is obtained using the analytical model along with a quantitative depiction of the spatially-dependent diffusion layer thickness and scaling law across a wide range of the parameter space. PMID:23554584

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.

Direct Numerical Simulation of Fingering Instabilities in Coating Flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eres, Murat H.; Schwartz, Leonard W.

1998-11-01

We consider stability and finger formation in free surface flows. Gravity driven downhill drainage and temperature gradient driven climbing flows are two examples of such problems. The former situation occurs when a mound of viscous liquid on a vertical wall is allowed to flow. Constant surface shear stress due to temperature gradients (Marangoni stress) can initiate the latter problem. The evolution equations are derived using the lubrication approximation. We also include the effects of finite-contact angles in the evolution equations using a disjoining pressure model. Evolution equations for both problems are solved using an efficient alternating-direction-implicit method. For both problems a one-dimensional base state is established, that is steady in a moving reference frame. This base state is unstable to transverse perturbations. The transverse wavenumbers for the most rapidly growing modes are found through direct numerical solution of the nonlinear evolution equations, and are compared with published experimental results. For a range of finite equilibrium contact angles, the fingers can grow without limit leading to semi-finite steady fingers in a moving coordinate system. A computer generated movie of the nonlinear simulation results, for several sets of input parameters, will be shown.

Effects of stochastic field lines on the pressure driven MHD instabilities in the Large Helical Device

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ohdachi, Satoshi; Watanabe, Kiyomasa; Sakakibara, Satoru; Suzuki, Yasuhiro; Tsuchiya, Hayato; Ming, Tingfeng; Du, Xiaodi; LHD Expriment Group Team

2014-10-01

In the Large Helical Device (LHD), the plasma is surrounded by the so-called magnetic stochastic region, where the Kolmogorov length of the magnetic field lines is very short, from several tens of meters and to thousands meters. Finite pressure gradient are formed in this region and MHD instabilities localized in this region is observed since the edge region of the LHD is always unstable against the pressure driven mode. Therefore, the saturation level of the instabilities is the key issue in order to evaluate the risk of this kind of MHD instabilities. The saturation level depends on the pressure gradient and on the magnetic Reynolds number; there results are similar to the MHD mode in the closed magnetic surface region. The saturation level in the stochastic region is affected also by the stocasticity itself. Parameter dependence of the saturation level of the MHD activities in the region is discussed in detail. It is supported by NIFS budget code ULPP021, 028 and is also partially supported by the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture, Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research 26249144, by the JSPS-NRF-NSFC A3 Foresight Program NSFC: No. 11261140328.

A Data Driven Model for Predicting RNA-Protein Interactions based on Gradient Boosting Machine.

PubMed

Jain, Dharm Skandh; Gupte, Sanket Rajan; Aduri, Raviprasad

2018-06-22

RNA protein interactions (RPI) play a pivotal role in the regulation of various biological processes. Experimental validation of RPI has been time-consuming, paving the way for computational prediction methods. The major limiting factor of these methods has been the accuracy and confidence of the predictions, and our in-house experiments show that they fail to accurately predict RPI involving short RNA sequences such as TERRA RNA. Here, we present a data-driven model for RPI prediction using a gradient boosting classifier. Amino acids and nucleotides are classified based on the high-resolution structural data of RNA protein complexes. The minimum structural unit consisting of five residues is used as the descriptor. Comparative analysis of existing methods shows the consistently higher performance of our method irrespective of the length of RNA present in the RPI. The method has been successfully applied to map RPI networks involving both long noncoding RNA as well as TERRA RNA. The method is also shown to successfully predict RNA and protein hubs present in RPI networks of four different organisms. The robustness of this method will provide a way for predicting RPI networks of yet unknown interactions for both long noncoding RNA and microRNA.

Flux-driven simulations of turbulence collapse

DOE PAGES

Park, G. Y.; Kim, S. S.; Jhang, Hogun; ...

2015-03-12

In this study, using self-consistent three-dimensional nonlinear simulations of tokamak turbulence, we show that an edge transport barrier (ETB) forms naturally due to mean E x B shear feedback through evolving pressure gradient once input power exceeds a threshold value. The temporal evolution and development of the transition are elucidated. Profiles, turbulence-driven flows and neoclassical coefficients are evolved self-consistently. A slow power ramp-up simulation shows that ETB transition is triggered by the turbulence-driven flows via an intermediate phase which involves coherent oscillation of turbulence intensity and E x B flow shear. A novel observation of the evolution is that themore » turbulence collapses and the ETB transition begins when R T > 1 at t = t R (R T : normalized Reynolds power), while the conventional transition criterion (ω E x B > γlin) is satisfied only after t = t C (> t R), when the mean ow shear grows due to positive feedback.« less

A charge-driven molecular water pump.

PubMed

Gong, Xiaojing; Li, Jingyuan; Lu, Hangjun; Wan, Rongzheng; Li, Jichen; Hu, Jun; Fang, Haiping

2007-11-01

Understanding and controlling the transport of water across nanochannels is of great importance for designing novel molecular devices, machines and sensors and has wide applications, including the desalination of seawater. Nanopumps driven by electric or magnetic fields can transport ions and magnetic quanta, but water is charge-neutral and has no magnetic moment. On the basis of molecular dynamics simulations, we propose a design for a molecular water pump. The design uses a combination of charges positioned adjacent to a nanopore and is inspired by the structure of channels in the cellular membrane that conduct water in and out of the cell (aquaporins). The remarkable pumping ability is attributed to the charge dipole-induced ordering of water confined in the nanochannels, where water can be easily driven by external fields in a concerted fashion. These findings may provide possibilities for developing water transport devices that function without osmotic pressure or a hydrostatic pressure gradient.

A pressure-driven flow analysis of gas trapping behavior in nanocomposite thermite films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sullivan, K. T.; Bastea, S.; Kuntz, J. D.; Gash, A. E.

2013-10-01

This article is in direct response to a recently published article entitled Electrophoretic deposition and mechanistic studies of nano-Al/CuO thermites (K. T. Sullivan et al., J. Appl. Phys., 112(2), 2012), in which we introduced a non-dimensional parameter as the ratio of gas production to gas escape within a thin porous thermite film. In our original analysis, we had treated the problem as Fickian diffusion of gases through the porous network. However, we believe a more physical representation of the problem is to treat this as pressure-driven flow of gases in a porous medium. We offer a new derivation of the non-dimensional parameter which calculates gas velocity using the well-known Poiseuille's Law for pressure-driven flow in a pipe. This updated analysis incorporates the porosity, gas viscosity, and pressure gradient into the equation.

Generalized two-temperature model for coupled phonon-magnon diffusion.

PubMed

Liao, Bolin; Zhou, Jiawei; Chen, Gang

2014-07-11

We generalize the two-temperature model [Sanders and Walton, Phys. Rev. B 15, 1489 (1977)] for coupled phonon-magnon diffusion to include the effect of the concurrent magnetization flow, with a particular emphasis on the thermal consequence of the magnon flow driven by a nonuniform magnetic field. Working within the framework of the Boltzmann transport equation, we derive the constitutive equations for coupled phonon-magnon transport driven by gradients of both temperature and external magnetic fields, and the corresponding conservation laws. Our equations reduce to the original Sanders-Walton two-temperature model under a uniform external field, but predict a new magnon cooling effect driven by a nonuniform magnetic field in a homogeneous single-domain ferromagnet. We estimate the magnitude of the cooling effect in an yttrium iron garnet, and show it is within current experimental reach. With properly optimized materials, the predicted cooling effect can potentially supplement the conventional magnetocaloric effect in cryogenic applications in the future.

Demonstration of current drive by a rotating magnetic dipole field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Giersch, L.; Slough, J. T.; Winglee, R.

2007-04-01

Abstract.A dipole-like rotating magnetic field was produced by a pair of circular, orthogonal coils inside a metal vacuum chamber. When these coils were immersed in plasma, large currents were driven outside the coils: the currents in the plasma were generated and sustained by the rotating magnetic dipole (RMD) field. The peak RMD-driven current was at roughly two RMD coil radii, and this current (60 kA m-) was sufficient to reverse the ambient magnetic field (33 G). Plasma density, electron temperature, magnetic field and current probes indicated that plasma formed inside the coils, then expanded outward until the plasma reached equilibrium. This equilibrium configuration was adequately described by single-fluid magnetohydrodynamic equilibrium, wherein the cross product of the driven current and magnetic filed was approximately equal to the pressure gradient. The ratio of plasma pressure to magnetic field pressure, β, was locally greater than unity.

The evolution of conditional dispersal and reproductive isolation along environmental gradients

PubMed Central

Payne, Joshua L.; Mazzucco, Rupert; Dieckmann, Ulf

2011-01-01

Dispersal modulates gene flow throughout a population’s spatial range. Gene flow affects adaptation at local spatial scales, and consequently impacts the evolution of reproductive isolation. A recent theoretical investigation has demonstrated that local adaptation along an environmental gradient, facilitated by the evolution of limited dispersal, can lead to parapatric speciation even in the absence of assortative mating. This and other studies assumed unconditional dispersal, so individuals start dispersing without regard to local environmental conditions. However, many species disperse conditionally; their propensity to disperse is contingent upon environmental cues, such as the degree of local crowding or the availability of suitable mates. Here, we use an individual-based model in continuous space to investigate by numerical simulation the relationship between the evolution of threshold-based conditional dispersal and parapatric speciation driven by frequency-dependent competition along environmental gradients. We find that, as with unconditional dispersal, parapatric speciation occurs under a broad range of conditions when reproduction is asexual, and under a more restricted range of conditions when reproduction is sexual. In both the asexual and sexual cases, the evolution of conditional dispersal is strongly influenced by the slope of the environmental gradient: shallow environmental gradients result in low dispersal thresholds and high dispersal distances, while steep environmental gradients result in high dispersal thresholds and low dispersal distances. The latter, however, remain higher than under unconditional dispersal, thus undermining isolation by distance, and hindering speciation in sexual populations. Consequently, the speciation of sexual populations under conditional dispersal is triggered by a steeper gradient than under unconditional dispersal. Enhancing the disruptiveness of frequency-dependent selection, more box-shaped competition kernels dramatically lower the speciation-enabling slope of the environmental gradient. PMID:21194533

The evolution of conditional dispersal and reproductive isolation along environmental gradients.

PubMed

Payne, Joshua L; Mazzucco, Rupert; Dieckmann, Ulf

2011-03-21

Dispersal modulates gene flow throughout a population's spatial range. Gene flow affects adaptation at local spatial scales, and consequently impacts the evolution of reproductive isolation. A recent theoretical investigation has demonstrated that local adaptation along an environmental gradient, facilitated by the evolution of limited dispersal, can lead to parapatric speciation even in the absence of assortative mating. This and other studies assumed unconditional dispersal, so individuals start dispersing without regard to local environmental conditions. However, many species disperse conditionally; their propensity to disperse is contingent upon environmental cues, such as the degree of local crowding or the availability of suitable mates. Here, we use an individual-based model in continuous space to investigate by numerical simulation the relationship between the evolution of threshold-based conditional dispersal and parapatric speciation driven by frequency-dependent competition along environmental gradients. We find that, as with unconditional dispersal, parapatric speciation occurs under a broad range of conditions when reproduction is asexual, and under a more restricted range of conditions when reproduction is sexual. In both the asexual and sexual cases, the evolution of conditional dispersal is strongly influenced by the slope of the environmental gradient: shallow environmental gradients result in low dispersal thresholds and high dispersal distances, while steep environmental gradients result in high dispersal thresholds and low dispersal distances. The latter, however, remain higher than under unconditional dispersal, thus undermining isolation by distance, and hindering speciation in sexual populations. Consequently, the speciation of sexual populations under conditional dispersal is triggered by a steeper gradient than under unconditional dispersal. Enhancing the disruptiveness of frequency-dependent selection, more box-shaped competition kernels dramatically lower the speciation-enabling slope of the environmental gradient. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Comparative In Situ Measurements of Plasma Instabilities in the Equatorial and Auroral Electrojets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pfaff, Robert F.

2008-01-01

This presentation provides a comparison of in situ measurements of plasma instabilities gathered by rocket-borne probes in the equatorial and auroral electrojets. Specifically, using detailed measurements of the DC electric fields, current density, and plasma number density within the unstable daytime equatorial electrojet from Brazil (Guara Campaign) and in the auroral electrojet from Sweden (ERRIS Campaign), we present comparative observations and general conclusions regarding the observed physical properties of Farley-Buneman two-stream waves and large scale, gradient drift waves. The two stream observations reveal coherent-like waves propagating near the E x B direction but at reduced speeds (nearer to the presumed acoustic velocity) with wavelengths of approximately 5-10m in both the equatorial and auroral electrojet, as measured using the spaced-receiver technique. The auroral electrojet data generally shows extensions to shorter wavelengths, in concert with the fact that these waves are driven harder. With respect to gradient-drift driven waves, observations of this instability are much more pronounced in the equatorial electrojet, given the more favorable geometry for growth provided by the vertical gradient and horizontal magnetic field lines. We present new analysis of Guara rocket observations of electric field and plasma density data that reveal considerable structuring in the middle and lower portion of the electrojet (90-105 km) where the ambient plasma density gradient is unstable. Although the electric field amplitudes are largest (approximately 10-15 mV/m) in the zonal direction, considerable structure (approximately 5-10 mV/m) is also observed in the vertical electric field component as well, implying that the dominant large scale waves involve significant vertical interaction and coupling within the narrow altitude range where they are observed. Furthermore, a detailed examination of the phase of the waveforms show that on some, but not all occasions, locally enhanced eastward fields are associated with locally enhanced upwards (polarization) electric fields. The measurements are discussed in terms of theories involving the non-linear evolution and structuring of plasma waves.

Groundwater/Seawater Exchange over Multiple Time Scales: Two Years of High-Frequency Data from the Coastal Seabed

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karam, H. N.; Mulligan, A. E.; Abarca, E.; Gardner, A.; Hemond, H.; Harvey, C. F.

2013-12-01

We present time series of vertical pressure gradients in the sea floor at Waquoit Bay, MA, collected along a transect of locations perpendicular to shore, with a 10-minute resolution over two years. The custom-made instruments used for data collection measure pressure differences with an accuracy of 0.5 mm freshwater head, and record pore water and surface water salinities, allowing a robust calculation of the direction and magnitude of flux across the sediment-water interface given an estimate of sediment permeability. Distinct processes of seawater circulation in the subsurface driven by different forcings, including storms, tides, variations in fresh groundwater head, and salinity gradients in coastal groundwater, are manifest as different frequency components in the time series. We characterize the relative contributions of these different forcings to seafloor fluxes at our site, as a function of the time of year and the distance from shore. We find that: 1) Sea level variations drive variations in seafloor flux at time scales of hours to weeks, around a mean flux that is produced by processes with longer time scales, including the seasonal cycle in fresh groundwater head and the density-driven circulation of seawater through the coastal aquifer. 2) Seafloor flux responds non-linearly to shifts in seawater level. Furthermore, this response is asymmetric, with very low tides producing an amplified response in submarine groundwater discharge relative to the recharge produced by equivalently high tides. 3) The amplitude of seafloor pressure gradients shows a three-fold increase during winters relative to summers. We present a model to explain this effect based on the increase in shallow pore water viscosity at colder temperatures. We generalize our findings to help guide the design of sampling studies of seafloor fluxes at other sites. Finally, we present the distribution of subsurface residence times for seawater in Waquoit Bay, derived from our pressure gradient data sets, and discuss the implications for surface water and sediment chemistry.

Intraguild predation may reinforce a species-environment gradient

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

MacNeil, Calum; Dick, Jaimie T. A.

2012-05-01

Species-environment gradients are ubiquitous in nature, with studies often partially explaining the replacement of species along such gradients by autecological factors such as differential physiological tolerances. However, lacking direct evidence, the majority of studies only infer some form of inter-specific interaction, often competition, as reinforcing these gradients. There is usually the further implication that environmental factors mediate asymmetries in the interaction. Recognising the lack of explicit experimental considerations of how key inter-specific interactions are modified by the environment, we chose a study system where we were able to bring the species in question into the laboratory and conduct experiments to test hypotheses about gradient-induced asymmetries in an inter-specific interaction. To this end, we tested the hypothesis that a species-salinity gradient may be reinforced by changes in the asymmetry of intraguild predation between two species of amphipod crustaceans with wide salinity tolerances. River and estuary surveys showed that Gammarus duebeni and Gammarus zaddachi have overlapping distributions, with both surviving and reproducing in salinities ranging from freshwater to fully marine. However, the former species is relatively more abundant in low salinities and the latter in higher salinities. In the laboratory, survival of both species was high in all salinities and cannibalism occurred at low frequencies. However, intraguild predation by males on moulted females was asymmetric in favour of G. duebeni at low salinities, this asymmetry completely reversing to favour G. zaddachi at higher salinities. Thus, we provide evidence that this species-environment gradient occurs due to overlapping physiological tolerances and salinity-driven shifts in the asymmetry of a key inter-specific interaction, intraguild predation.

Sheared-flow induced confinement transition in a linear magnetized plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, S.; Heidbrink, W. W.; Boehmer, H.; McWilliams, R.; Carter, T. A.; Vincena, S.; Friedman, B.; Schaffner, D.

2012-01-01

A magnetized plasma cylinder (12 cm in diameter) is induced by an annular shape obstacle at the Large Plasma Device [W. Gekelman, H. Pfister, Z. Lucky, J. Bamber, D. Leneman, and J. Maggs, Rev. Sci. Instrum. 62, 2875 (1991)]. Sheared azimuthal flow is driven at the edge of the plasma cylinder through edge biasing. Strong fluctuations of density and potential (δn /n~eδφ/kTe~0.5) are observed at the plasma edge, accompanied by a large density gradient (Ln=|∇lnn |-1~2cm) and shearing rate (γ ~300kHz). Edge turbulence and cross-field transport are modified by changing the bias voltage (Vbias) on the obstacle and the axial magnetic field (Bz) strength. In cases with low Vbias and large Bz, improved plasma confinement is observed, along with steeper edge density gradients. The radially sheared flow induced by E ×B drift dramatically changes the cross-phase between density and potential fluctuations, which causes the wave-induced particle flux to reverse its direction across the shear layer. In cases with higher bias voltage or smaller Bz, large radial transport and rapid depletion of the central plasma density are observed. Two-dimensional cross-correlation measurement shows that a mode with azimuthal mode number m =1 and large radial correlation length dominates the outward transport in these cases. Linear analysis based on a two-fluid Braginskii model suggests that the fluctuations are driven by both density gradient (drift wave like) and flow shear (Kelvin-Helmholtz like) at the plasma edge.

River Flow Impacts Bacterial and Archaeal Community Structure in Surface Sediments in the Northern Gulf of Mexico.

PubMed

Ortmann, Alice C; Brannock, Pamela M; Wang, Lei; Halanych, Kenneth M

2018-04-17

Meiobenthic community structure in the northern Gulf of Mexico has been shown to be driven by geographical differences due to inshore-offshore gradients and location relative to river discharge. Samples collected along three transects spanning Mobile Bay, Alabama, showed significant differences in meiobenthic communities east of the bay compared to those sampled from the west. In contrast, analysis of bacterial and archaeal communities from the same sediment samples shows that the inshore-offshore gradient has minimal impact on their community structure. Significant differences in community structure were observed for Bacteria and Archaea between the east and west samples, but there was no difference in richness or diversity. Grouped by sediment type, higher richness was observed in silty samples compared to sandy samples. Significant differences were also observed among sediment types for community structure with bacteria communities in silty samples having more anaerobic sulfate reducers compared to aerobic heterotrophs, which had higher abundances in sandy sediments. This is likely due to increased organic matter in the silty sediments from the overlying river leading to low oxygen habitats. Most archaeal sequences represented poorly characterized high-level taxa, limiting interpretation of their distributions. Overlap between groups based on transect and sediment characteristics made determining which factor is more important in structuring bacterial and archaeal communities difficult. However, both factors are driven by discharge from the Mobile River. Although inshore-offshore gradients do not affect Bacteria or Archaea to the same extent as the meiobenthic communities, all three groups are strongly affected by sediment characteristics.

Plasma density characterization at SPARC_LAB through Stark broadening of Hydrogen spectral lines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Filippi, F.; Anania, M. P.; Bellaveglia, M.; Biagioni, A.; Chiadroni, E.; Cianchi, A.; Di Giovenale, D.; Di Pirro, G.; Ferrario, M.; Mostacci, A.; Palumbo, L.; Pompili, R.; Shpakov, V.; Vaccarezza, C.; Villa, F.; Zigler, A.

2016-09-01

Plasma-based acceleration techniques are of great interest for future, compact accelerators due to their high accelerating gradient. Both particle-driven and laser-driven Plasma Wakefield Acceleration experiments are foreseen at the SPARC_LAB Test Facility (INFN National Laboratories of Frascati, Italy), with the aim to accelerate high-brightness electron beams. In order to optimize the efficiency of the acceleration in the plasma and preserve the quality of the accelerated beam, the knowledge of the plasma electron density is mandatory. The Stark broadening of the Hydrogen spectral lines is one of the candidates used to characterize plasma density. The implementation of this diagnostic for plasma-based experiments at SPARC_LAB is presented.

Stability of magnetohydrodynamic Dean Flow as applied to centrifugally confined plasmas

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

Hassam, A.B.

1999-10-01

Dean Flow is the azimuthal flow of fluid between static concentric cylinders. In a magnetized plasma, there may also be radial stratification of the pressure. The ideal magnetohydrodynamic stability of such a flow in the presence of a strong axial magnetic field and an added radial gravitational force is examined. It is shown that both the Kelvin{endash}Helmholtz instability and pressure-gradient-driven interchanges can be stabilized if the flow is driven by a unidirectional external force and if the plasma annulus is sufficiently thin (large aspect ratio). These results find application in schemes using centrifugal confinement of plasma for fusion. {copyright} {italmore » 1999 American Institute of Physics.}« less

Particle drift model for Z-pinch-driven magneto-Rayleigh-Taylor instability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dan, Jia Kun; Xu, Qiang; Wang, Kun Lun; Ren, Xiao Dong; Huang, Xian Bin

2016-09-01

A theoretical model of Z-pinch driven magneto-Rayleigh-Taylor instability is proposed based on the particle drift point of view, which can explain the helical instability structure observed in premagnetized imploding liner experiments. It is demonstrated that all possible drift motions, including polarization drift, gradient drift, and curvature drift, which can lead to charge separations, each will attribute to an effective gravity acceleration. Theoretical predictions given by this model are dramatically different from those given by previous theories which have been readily recovered in the theory presented here as a limiting case. The theory shows qualitative agreement with available experimental data of the pitch angle and provides certain predictions to be verified.

Avalanches and Criticality in Driven Magnetic Skyrmions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Díaz, S. A.; Reichhardt, C.; Arovas, D. P.; Saxena, A.; Reichhardt, C. J. O.

2018-03-01

We show using numerical simulations that slowly driven Skyrmions interacting with random pinning move via correlated jumps or avalanches. The avalanches exhibit power-law distributions in their duration and size, and the average avalanche shape for different avalanche durations can be scaled to a universal function, in agreement with theoretical predictions for systems in a nonequilibrium critical state. A distinctive feature of Skyrmions is the influence of the nondissipative Magnus term. When we increase the ratio of the Magnus term to the damping term, a change in the universality class of the behavior occurs, the average avalanche shape becomes increasingly asymmetric, and individual avalanches exhibit motion in the direction perpendicular to their own density gradient.

Elevational Gradients in β-Diversity Reflect Variation in the Strength of Local Community Assembly Mechanisms across Spatial Scales

PubMed Central

Tello, J. Sebastián; Myers, Jonathan A.; Macía, Manuel J.; Fuentes, Alfredo F.; Cayola, Leslie; Arellano, Gabriel; Loza, M. Isabel; Torrez, Vania; Cornejo, Maritza; Miranda, Tatiana B.; Jørgensen, Peter M.

2015-01-01

Despite long-standing interest in elevational-diversity gradients, little is known about the processes that cause changes in the compositional variation of communities (β-diversity) across elevations. Recent studies have suggested that β-diversity gradients are driven by variation in species pools, rather than by variation in the strength of local community assembly mechanisms such as dispersal limitation, environmental filtering, or local biotic interactions. However, tests of this hypothesis have been limited to very small spatial scales that limit inferences about how the relative importance of assembly mechanisms may change across spatial scales. Here, we test the hypothesis that scale-dependent community assembly mechanisms shape biogeographic β-diversity gradients using one of the most well-characterized elevational gradients of tropical plant diversity. Using an extensive dataset on woody plant distributions along a 4,000-m elevational gradient in the Bolivian Andes, we compared observed patterns of β-diversity to null-model expectations. β-deviations (standardized differences from null values) were used to measure the relative effects of local community assembly mechanisms after removing sampling effects caused by variation in species pools. To test for scale-dependency, we compared elevational gradients at two contrasting spatial scales that differed in the size of local assemblages and regions by at least an order of magnitude. Elevational gradients in β-diversity persisted after accounting for regional variation in species pools. Moreover, the elevational gradient in β-deviations changed with spatial scale. At small scales, local assembly mechanisms were detectable, but variation in species pools accounted for most of the elevational gradient in β-diversity. At large spatial scales, in contrast, local assembly mechanisms were a dominant force driving changes in β-diversity. In contrast to the hypothesis that variation in species pools alone drives β-diversity gradients, we show that local community assembly mechanisms contribute strongly to systematic changes in β-diversity across elevations. We conclude that scale-dependent variation in community assembly mechanisms underlies these iconic gradients in global biodiversity. PMID:25803846

Investigating spin-transfer torques induced by thermal gradients in magnetic tunnel junctions by using micro-cavity ferromagnetic resonance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cansever, H.; Narkowicz, R.; Lenz, K.; Fowley, C.; Ramasubramanian, L.; Yildirim, O.; Niesen, A.; Huebner, T.; Reiss, G.; Lindner, J.; Fassbender, J.; Deac, A. M.

2018-06-01

Similar to electrical currents flowing through magnetic multilayers, thermal gradients applied across the barrier of a magnetic tunnel junction may induce pure spin-currents and generate ‘thermal’ spin-transfer torques large enough to induce magnetization dynamics in the free layer. In this study, we describe a novel experimental approach to observe spin-transfer torques induced by thermal gradients in magnetic multilayers by studying their ferromagnetic resonance response in microwave cavities. Utilizing this approach allows for measuring the magnetization dynamics on micron/nano-sized samples in open-circuit conditions, i.e. without the need of electrical contacts. We performed first experiments on magnetic tunnel junctions patterned into 6  ×  9 µm2 ellipses from Co2FeAl/MgO/CoFeB stacks. We conducted microresonator ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) under focused laser illumination to induce thermal gradients in the layer stack and compared them to measurements in which the sample was globally heated from the backside of the substrate. Moreover, we carried out broadband FMR measurements under global heating conditions on the same extended films the microstructures were later on prepared from. The results clearly demonstrate the effect of thermal spin-torque on the FMR response and thus show that the microresonator approach is well suited to investigate thermal spin-transfer-driven processes for small temperatures gradients, far below the gradients required for magnetic switching.

Seasonal and weekly variability of Atlantic inflow into the northern North Sea

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sheehan, Peter; Berx, Bee; Gallego, Alejandro; Hall, Rob; Heywood, Karen

2017-04-01

Quantifying the variability of Atlantic inflow is necessary for managing the North Sea ecosystem and for producing accurate models for forecasting, for example, oil spill trajectories. The JONSIS hydrographic section (2.23°W to 0° at 59.28°N) crosses the path of the main inflow of Atlantic water into the northwestern North Sea. 122 occupations between 1989 and 2015 are examined to determine the annual cycle of thermohaline-driven volume transport into the North Sea. Thermohaline transport is at a minimum (0.1 Sv) during winter when it is driven by a horizontal salinity gradient across a zonal bottom front; it is at a maximum (0.35 Sv) in early autumn when it is driven by a horizontal temperature gradient that develops across the same front. The amplitude of the annual cycle of temperature-driven transport (0.15 Sv) is bigger than the amplitude of the annual cycle of salinity-driven transport (0.025 Sv). The annual cycles are approximately six months out of phase. Our quantitative results are the first to be based on a long-term dataset, and we advance previous understanding by identifying a salinity-driven flow in winter. Week-to-week variability of the Atlantic inflow is examined from ten Seaglider occupations of the JONSIS section in October and November 2013. Tidal ellipses produced from glider dive-average current observations are in good agreement with ellipses produced from tide model predictions. Total transport is derived by referencing geostrophic shear to dive-average-current observations once the tidal component of the flow has been removed. Total transport through the section during the deployment (0.5-1 Sv) is bigger than the thermohaline component (0.1-0.2 Sv), suggesting non-thermohaline forcings (e.g. wind forcing) are important at that time of year. Thermohaline transport during the glider deployment is in agreement with the annual cycle derived from the long-term observations. The addition of the glider-derived barotropic current permits a more accurate estimate of the transport than is possible from long-term hydrographic monitoring, and enables the separation of barotropic and depth-varying components. These results refine our understanding of the variability of Atlantic inflow into the North Sea on key timescales, and of the contribution of frontal flow to shelf sea circulation.

Stabilizing effect of helical current drive on tearing modes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yuan, Y.; Lu, X. Q.; Dong, J. Q.; Gong, X. Y.; Zhang, R. B.

2018-01-01

The effect of helical driven current on the m = 2/n = 1 tearing mode is studied numerically in a cylindrical geometry using the method of reduced magneto-hydro-dynamic simulation. The results show that the local persistent helical current drive from the beginning time can be applied to control the tearing modes, and will cause a rebound effect called flip instability when the driven current reaches a certain value. The current intensity threshold value for the occurrence of flip instability is about 0.00087I0. The method of controlling the development of tearing mode with comparative economy is given. If the local helical driven current is discontinuous, the magnetic island can be controlled within a certain range, and then, the tearing modes stop growing; thus, the flip instability can be avoided. We also find that the flip instability will become impatient with delay injection of the driven current because the high order harmonics have been developed in the original O-point. The tearing mode instability can be controlled by using the electron cyclotron current drive to reduce the gradient of the current intensity on the rational surfaces.

Buoyancy-Marangoni convection in confined volatile binary fluids subject to a horizontal temperature gradient

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qin, Tongran; Grigoriev, Roman

2017-11-01

We consider convection in a layer of binary fluid with free surface subject to a horizontal temperature gradient in the presence of noncondensable gases, which is driven by a combination of three different forces: buoyancy, thermocapillarity, and solutocapillarity. Unlike buoyancy, both thermo- and solutocapillary stresses depend sensitively on the local phase equilibrium at the liquid-gas interface. In particular, thermocapillarity associated with the interfacial temperature gradient is controlled by the vapors' concentration along the interface, and solutocapillarity associated with the interfacial concentration gradient is controlled by differential phase change of two components of the liquid, which is strongly influenced by the presence of noncondensables. Therefore, flows in both phases, phase change, and effect of noncondensables all have to be considered. Numerical simulations based on a comprehensive model taking these effects into account show qualitative agreement with recent experiments which identified a number of flow regimes at various compositions of both phases. In particular,we find that the composition of both the gas and liquid phase have a significant effect on the observed convection patterns; this dependence can be understood using a simple analytical model. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 1511470.

Temporal gradients in shear stimulate osteoblastic proliferation via ERK1/2 and retinoblastoma protein

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jiang, Guang-Liang; White, Charles R.; Stevens, Hazel Y.; Frangos, John A.

2002-01-01

Bone cells are subject to interstitial fluid flow (IFF) driven by venous pressure and mechanical loading. Rapid dynamic changes in mechanical loading cause transient gradients in IFF. The effects of pulsatile flow (temporal gradients in fluid shear) on rat UMR106 cells and rat primary osteoblastic cells were studied. Pulsatile flow induced a 95% increase in S-phase UMR106 cells compared with static controls. In contrast, ramped steady flow stimulated only a 3% increase. Similar patterns of S-phase induction were also observed in rat primary osteoblastic cells. Pulsatile flow significantly increased relative UMR106 cell number by 37 and 62% at 1.5 and 24 h, respectively. Pulsatile flow also significantly increased extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) phosphorylation by 418%, whereas ramped steady flow reduced ERK1/2 activation to 17% of control. Correspondingly, retinoblastoma protein was significantly phosphorylated by pulsatile fluid flow. Inhibition of mitogen-activated protein (MAP)/ERK kinase (MEK)1/2 by U0126 (a specific MEK1/2 inhibitor) reduced shear-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation and cell proliferation. These findings suggest that temporal gradients in fluid shear stress are potent stimuli of bone cell proliferation.

Accumulation of Colloidal Particles in Flow Junctions Induced by Fluid Flow and Diffusiophoresis

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

Shin, Sangwoo; Ault, Jesse T.; Warren, Patrick B.

The flow of solutions containing solutes and colloidal particles in porous media is widely found in systems including underground aquifers, hydraulic fractures, estuarine or coastal habitats, water filtration systems, etc. In such systems, solute gradients occur when there is a local change in the solute concentration. While the effects of solute gradients have been found to be important for many applications, we observe an unexpected colloidal behavior in porous media driven by the combination of solute gradients and the fluid flow. When two flows with different solute concentrations are in contact near a junction, a sharp solute gradient is formedmore » at the interface, which may allow strong diffusiophoresis of the particles directed against the flow. Consequently, the particles accumulate near the pore entrance, rapidly approaching the packing limit. These colloidal dynamics have important implications for the clogging of a porous medium, where particles that are orders of magnitude smaller than the pore width can accumulate and block the pores within a short period of time. As a result, we also show that this effect can be exploited as a useful tool for preconcentrating biomolecules for rapid bioassays.« less

Accumulation of Colloidal Particles in Flow Junctions Induced by Fluid Flow and Diffusiophoresis

DOE PAGES

Shin, Sangwoo; Ault, Jesse T.; Warren, Patrick B.; ...

2017-11-16

The flow of solutions containing solutes and colloidal particles in porous media is widely found in systems including underground aquifers, hydraulic fractures, estuarine or coastal habitats, water filtration systems, etc. In such systems, solute gradients occur when there is a local change in the solute concentration. While the effects of solute gradients have been found to be important for many applications, we observe an unexpected colloidal behavior in porous media driven by the combination of solute gradients and the fluid flow. When two flows with different solute concentrations are in contact near a junction, a sharp solute gradient is formedmore » at the interface, which may allow strong diffusiophoresis of the particles directed against the flow. Consequently, the particles accumulate near the pore entrance, rapidly approaching the packing limit. These colloidal dynamics have important implications for the clogging of a porous medium, where particles that are orders of magnitude smaller than the pore width can accumulate and block the pores within a short period of time. As a result, we also show that this effect can be exploited as a useful tool for preconcentrating biomolecules for rapid bioassays.« less

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.

Mass flow and velocity profiles in Neurospora hyphae: partial plug flow dominates intra-hyphal transport.

PubMed

Abadeh, Aryan; Lew, Roger R

2013-11-01

Movement of nuclei, mitochondria and vacuoles through hyphal trunks of Neurospora crassa were vector-mapped using fluorescent markers and green fluorescent protein tags. The vectorial movements of all three were strongly correlated, indicating the central role of mass (bulk) flow in cytoplasm movements in N. crassa. Profiles of velocity versus distance from the hyphal wall did not match the parabolic shape predicted by the ideal Hagen-Poiseuille model of flow at low Reynolds number. Instead, the profiles were flat, consistent with a model of partial plug flow due to the high concentration of organelles in the flowing cytosol. The intra-hyphal pressure gradients were manipulated by localized external osmotic treatments to demonstrate the dependence of velocity (and direction) on pressure gradients within the hyphae. The data support the concept that mass transport, driven by pressure gradients, dominates intra-hyphal transport. The transport occurs by partial plug flow due to the organelles in the cytosol.

Turnover of plant lineages shapes herbivore phylogenetic beta diversity along ecological gradients.

PubMed

Pellissier, Loïc; Ndiribe, Charlotte; Dubuis, Anne; Pradervand, Jean-Nicolas; Salamin, Nicolas; Guisan, Antoine; Rasmann, Sergio

2013-05-01

Understanding drivers of biodiversity patterns is of prime importance in this era of severe environmental crisis. More diverse plant communities have been postulated to represent a larger functional trait-space, more likely to sustain a diverse assembly of herbivore species. Here, we expand this hypothesis to integrate environmental, functional and phylogenetic variation of plant communities as factors explaining the diversity of lepidopteran assemblages along elevation gradients in the Swiss Western Alps. According to expectations, we found that the association between butterflies and their host plants is highly phylogenetically structured. Multiple regression analyses showed the combined effect of climate, functional traits and phylogenetic diversity in structuring butterfly communities. Furthermore, we provide the first evidence that plant phylogenetic beta diversity is the major driver explaining butterfly phylogenetic beta diversity. Along ecological gradients, the bottom up control of herbivore diversity is thus driven by phylogenetically structured turnover of plant traits as well as environmental variables. © 2013 Blackwell Publishing Ltd/CNRS.

Effects of internal structure on equilibrium of field-reversed configuration plasma sustained by rotating magnetic field

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

Yambe, Kiyoyuki; Inomoto, Michiaki; Okada, Shigefumi

The effects of an internal structure on the equilibrium of a field-reversed configuration (FRC) plasma sustained by rotating magnetic field is investigated by using detailed electrostatic probe measurements in the FRC Injection Experiment apparatus [S. Okada, et al., Nucl. Fusion. 45, 1094 (2005)]. An internal structure installed axially on the geometrical axis, which simulates Ohmic transformer or external toroidal field coils on the FRC device, brings about substantial changes in plasma density profile. The internal structure generates steep density-gradients not only on the inner side but on the outer side of the torus. The radial electric field is observed tomore » sustain the ion thermal pressure-gradient in the FRC without the internal structure; however, the radial electric field is not sufficient to sustain the increased ion thermal pressure-gradient in the FRC with the internal structure. Spontaneously driven azimuthal ion flow will be accountable for the imbalance of the radial pressure which is modified by the internal structure.« less

Microturbulence studies of pulsed poloidal current drive discharges in the reversed field pinch

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

Carmody, D., E-mail: dcarmody@wisc.edu; Pueschel, M. J.; Anderson, J. K.

2015-01-15

Experimental discharges with pulsed poloidal current drive (PPCD) in the Madison Symmetric Torus reversed field pinch are investigated using a semi-analytic equilibrium model in the gyrokinetic turbulence code GENE. PPCD cases, with plasma currents of 500 kA and 200 kA, exhibit a density-gradient-driven trapped electron mode (TEM) and an ion temperature gradient mode, respectively. Relative to expectations of tokamak core plasmas, the critical gradients for the onset of these instabilities are found to be greater by roughly a factor of the aspect ratio. A significant upshift in the nonlinear TEM transport threshold, previously found for tokamaks, is confirmed in nonlinear reversed fieldmore » pinch simulations and is roughly three times the threshold for linear instability. The simulated heat fluxes can be brought in agreement with measured diffusivities by introducing a small, resonant magnetic perturbation, thus modeling the residual fluctuations from tearing modes. These fluctuations significantly enhance transport.« less

Characterisation of minimal-span plane Couette turbulence with pressure gradients

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sekimoto, Atsushi; Atkinson, Callum; Soria, Julio

2018-04-01

The turbulence statistics and dynamics in the spanwise-minimal plane Couette flow with pressure gradients, so-called, Couette-Poiseuille (C-P) flow, are investigated using direct numerical simulation. The large-scale motion is limited in the spanwise box dimension as in the minimal-span channel turbulence of Flores & Jiménez (Phys. Fluids, vol. 22, 2010, 071704). The effect of the top wall, where normal pressure-driven Poiseuille flow is realised, is distinguished from the events on the bottom wall, where the pressure gradient results in mild or almost-zero wall-shear stress. A proper scaling of turbulence statistics in minimal-span C-P flows is presented. Also the ‘shear-less’ wall-bounded turbulence, where the Corrsin shear parameter is very weak compared to normal wall-bounded turbulence, represents local separation, which is also observed as spanwise streaks of reversed flow in full-size plane C-P turbulence. The local separation is a multi-scale event, which grows up to the order of the channel height even in the minimal-span geometry.

Gyrokinetic theory of slab universal modes and the non-existence of the gradient drift coupling (GDC) instability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rogers, Barrett N.; Zhu, Ben; Francisquez, Manaure

2018-05-01

A gyrokinetic linear stability analysis of a collisionless slab geometry in the local approximation is presented. We focus on k∥=0 universal (or entropy) modes driven by plasma gradients at small and large plasma β. These are small scale non-MHD instabilities with growth rates that typically peak near k⊥ρi˜1 and vanish in the long wavelength k⊥→0 limit. This work also discusses a mode known as the Gradient Drift Coupling (GDC) instability previously reported in the gyrokinetic literature, which has a finite growth rate γ=√{β/[2 (1 +β)] }Cs/|Lp| with Cs2=p0/ρ0 for k⊥→0 and is universally unstable for 1 /Lp≠0 . We show that the GDC instability is a spurious, unphysical artifact that erroneously arises due to the failure to respect the total equilibrium pressure balance p0+B02/(8 π)=constant , which renders the assumption B0'=0 inconsistent if p0'≠0 .

Electron temperature gradient mode instability and stationary vortices with elliptic and circular boundary conditions in non-Maxwellian plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haque, Q.; Zakir, U.; Qamar, A.

2015-12-01

Linear and nonlinear dynamics of electron temperature gradient mode along with parallel electron dynamics is investigated by considering hydrodynamic electrons and non-Maxwellian ions. It is noticed that the growth rate of ηe-mode driven linear instability decreases by increasing the value of spectral index and increases by reducing the ion/electron temperature ratio along the magnetic field lines. The eigen mode dispersion relation is also found in the ballooning mode limit. Stationary solutions in the form of dipolar vortices are obtained for both circular and elliptic boundary conditions. It is shown that the dynamics of both circular and elliptic vortices changes with the inclusion of inhomogeneity and non-Maxwellian effects.

Gyrokinetic studies on turbulence-driven and neoclassical nondiffusive toroidal-momentum transport and the effect of residual fluctuations in strong E x B shear.

PubMed

Wang, W X; Hahm, T S; Ethier, S; Rewoldt, G; Lee, W W; Tang, W M; Kaye, S M; Diamond, P H

2009-01-23

A significant inward flux of toroidal momentum is found in global gyrokinetic simulations of ion temperature gradient turbulence, leading to core plasma rotation spin-up. The underlying mechanism is identified to be the generation of residual stress due to the k parallel symmetry breaking induced by global quasistationary zonal flow shear. Simulations also show a significant off-diagonal element associated with the ion temperature gradient in the neoclassical momentum flux, while the overall neoclassical flux is small. In addition, the residual turbulence found in the presence of strong E x B flow shear may account for neoclassical-level ion heat and anomalous momentum transport widely observed in experiments.

Upregulation of Integrin-α6 and Integrin-β1 Gene Expressions in Mouse Spermatogonial Stem Cells after Continues and Pulsed Low Intensity Ultrasound Stimulation

PubMed Central

Mohaqiq, Mahdi; Movahedin, Mansoureh; Mokhtari Dizaji, Manijhe; Mazaheri, Zohreh

2018-01-01

Objective low intensity ultrasound (continues and pulsed) is a form of energy. Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are at the base of male fertility. This study investigated the effects of low intensity ultrasound stimulation (LIUS) and low intensity pulsed ultrasound stimulation (LIUPS) on the expression of germ cell-specific and pluripotency genes in SSCs in vitro. Materials and Methods In this experimental study, isolated SSCs from neonatal male mice were cultured in Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle’s Medium (DMEM) with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS). In addition, to confirm identification of SSCs, PLZF protein was detected positively in SSCs derived colonies. SSCs were stimulated by LIUS and LIUPS for 5 days, followed by assessment of expression of integrin-α6 (Itga6) and β1 (Itgβ1), as two germ cell-specific genes, and Oct- 4, as a pluripotency gene, on day 21st by quantitive reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). To investigate the proliferation rate and colonization of SSCs in different groups, counting whole number of the cells and colonies as well as analysis of the respective diameters were performed on days 7th, 14th and 21st. Data was analyzed by ANOVA test. Results LIUS and LIUPS treatment of mouse SSCs increased expression of Itga6 and Itgβ1 genes in the experimental groups, compared to the control group (P<0.05), whereas there was no significant difference between the groups, regarding the expression of Oct-4 gene. These treatments maintained survival rate, while they increased proliferation rate and colonization of SSCs during the first week of culture. However, within the second week, proliferation rate and colonization were decreased in the experimental groups. Conclusion These results suggested that LIUS and LIUPS treatment had good effect on SSCs proliferation and colonization, based on the gene-specific marker expression during 21 days culture in vitro. PMID:29105399

Patterns of Change in Collaboration Are Associated with Baseline Characteristics and Predict Outcome and Dropout Rates in Treatment of Multi-Problem Families. A Validation Study

PubMed Central

Bachler, Egon; Fruehmann, Alexander; Bachler, Herbert; Aas, Benjamin; Nickel, Marius; Schiepek, Guenter K.

2017-01-01

Objective: The present study validates the Multi-Problem Family (MPF)-Collaboration Scale), which measures the progress of goal directed collaboration of patients in the treatment of families with MPF and its relation to drop-out rates and treatment outcome. Method: Naturalistic study of symptom and competence-related changes in children of ages 4–18 and their caregivers. Setting: Integrative, structural outreach family therapy. Measures: The data of five different groups of goal directed collaboration (deteriorating collaboration, stable low collaboration, stable medium collaboration, stable high collaboration, improving collaboration) were analyzed in their relation to treatment expectation, individual therapeutic goals (ITG), family adversity index, severity of problems and global assessment of a caregiver’s functioning, child, and relational aspects. Results: From N = 810 families, 20% displayed stable high collaboration (n = 162) and 21% had a pattern of improving collaboration. The families with stable high or improving collaboration rates achieved significantly more progress throughout therapy in terms of treatment outcome expectancy (d = 0.96; r = 0.43), reaching ITG (d = 1.17; r = 0.50), family adversities (d = 0.55; r = 0.26), and severity of psychiatric symptoms (d = 0.31; r = 0.15). Furthermore, families with stable high or improving collaboration maintained longer treatments and had a bigger chance of finishing the therapy as planned. The odds of having a stable low or deteriorating collaboration throughout treatment were significantly higher for subjects who started treatment with low treatment expectation or high family-related adversities. Conclusion: The positive outcomes of homebased interventions for multi-problem families are closely related to “stable high” and an “improving” collaboration as measured with the MPF-Collaboration Scale. Patients who fall into these groups have a high treatment outcome expectancy and reduce psychological stress. For therapeutic interventions with multi-problem families it seems beneficial to maintain a stable high collaboration or help the collaboration, e.g., by fostering treatment expectation. PMID:28785232

Identification of specific angiotensin-converting enzyme variants and haplotypes that confer risk and protection against type 2 diabetic nephropathy.

PubMed

Ezzidi, Intissar; Mtiraoui, Nabil; Kacem, Maha; Chaieb, Molka; Mahjoub, Touhami; Almawi, Wassim Y

2009-11-01

Cross-sectional and family studies identified angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene as a risk factor for diabetic nephropathy (DN). The contribution of ACE gene variants to DN development and progression is controversial and varies among different ethnic/racial groups. We investigated the association of three ACE gene variants with DN, rs1799752 insertion/deletion (I/D), rs1800764T/C and rs12449782A/G in 917 Tunisian type 2 diabetic (T2DM) patients: 515 with (DN) and 402 without (DWN) nephropathy. ACE genotyping was done by PCR-based assays; haplotype estimation was performed using H-Plus software (chi(2)-test based). Genotype frequency distributions of the three studied variants were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Minor allele frequency of rs1800764 was higher in DN patients than DWN patients or healthy controls, and minor allele frequency of rs1799752 was higher in DN than DWN patients. Higher frequency of rs1799752 and rs1800764 homozygous mutant genotypes was seen in DN compared to DWN patients. Of the three variants, only rs1799752 deletion/deletion (D/D) genotype was associated with a significant increase in albumin to creatinine ratios levels, and D/D carriers had elevated low-density lipoprotein, total cholesterol and urea. Three locus haplotype [rs1799752(I/D)/rs1800764(T/C)/rs12449782(A/G)] analysis revealed that the frequency of DCG haplotype was higher, while that of ITG and ICA haplotypes were lower among unselected type 2 diabetic patients. Taking ITA haplotype as reference, multivariate regression analysis confirmed the negative (ITG), and positive (DCG, DTG, DCA and DTA) association of specific ACE haplotypes with DN, after adjusting for potential nephropathy-linked covariates. Our results support the involvement of specific ACE variants in DN pathogenesis and demonstrate the presence of DN-specific haplotypes at the ACE locus.

Production of Internal Transport Barriers via self-generated flows in Alcator C-Mod

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fiore, Catherine L.

2011-10-01

New results suggest that changes observed in the intrinsic toroidal rotation influence ITB formation in Alcator C-Mod that arise when the resonance for ICRF minority heating is positioned off-axis at or outside of the plasma half-radius. These ITBs form in a reactor relevant regime, without particle or momentum injection, with Ti ~Te, and with monotonic q profiles (qmin < 1). C-Mod H-mode plasmas exhibit strong intrinsic co-current rotation that increases with increasing stored energy without external drive. With the resonance position off-axis, the rotation decreases in the center of the plasma resulting in a radial rotation profile with a central well which deepens and moves farther off-axis when the ICRF resonance is at the plasma half-radius. This profile results in strong ExB shear (>1.5x105 Rad/sec) in the region where the ITB foot is observed. The self generated ExB shearing increases rapidly after the H-mode transition in off-axis ICRF heated discharges, before other profile changes are observed. Gyrokinetic analyses indicate that this spontaneous shearing rate is comparable to the linear ITG growth rate at the ITB location and may be responsible for stabilizing the underlying turbulence. Detailed measurement of the ion temperature demonstrates that the radial profile also flattens as the ICRF resonance position moves off axis. This decreases R/LTi in the barrier region, lessening the drive for the ITG turbulence and the resulting particle transport. The reduction in particle transport resulting from increase in core stability allows the neoclassical pinch to peak the density and pressure on axis. This suggests that spontaneous rotation is a potential tool for plasma profile control in reactor plasmas. The experimental results and corresponding gyrokinetic study will be presented. US-DoE DE-FC02-99ER54512 and DE-FG03-96ER54373.

Frontal Polymerization in Microgravity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pojman, John A.

1999-01-01

Frontal polymerization systems, with their inherent large thermal and compositional gradients, are greatly affected by buoyancy-driven convection. Sounding rocket experiments allowed the preparation of benchmark materials and demonstrated that methods to suppress the Rayleigh-Taylor instability in ground-based research did not significantly affect the molecular weight of the polymer. Experiments under weightlessness show clearly that bubbles produced during the reaction interact very differently than under 1 g.

Plant species distribution in relation to water-table depth and soil redox potential in montane riparian meadows

Treesearch

Kathleen A. Dwire; J. Boone Kauffman; John E. Baham

2006-01-01

The distribution of riparian plant species is largely driven by hydrologic and soil variables, and riparian plant communities frequently occur in relatively distinct zones along streamside elevational and soil textural gradients. In two montane meadows in northeast Oregon, USA, we examined plant species distribution in three riparian plant communities¡ªdefined as wet,...

Transport Barriers in Bootstrap Driven Tokamaks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Staebler, Gary

2017-10-01

Maximizing the bootstrap current in a tokamak, so that it drives a high fraction of the total current, reduces the external power required to drive current by other means. Improved energy confinement, relative to empirical scaling laws, enables a reactor to more fully take advantage of the bootstrap driven tokamak. Experiments have demonstrated improved energy confinement due to the spontaneous formation of an internal transport barrier in high bootstrap fraction discharges. Gyrokinetic analysis, and quasilinear predictive modeling, demonstrates that the observed transport barrier is due to the suppression of turbulence primarily due to the large Shafranov shift. ExB velocity shear does not play a significant role in the transport barrier due to the high safety factor. It will be shown, that the Shafranov shift can produce a bifurcation to improved confinement in regions of positive magnetic shear or a continuous reduction in transport for weak or negative magnetic shear. Operation at high safety factor lowers the pressure gradient threshold for the Shafranov shift driven barrier formation. The ion energy transport is reduced to neoclassical and electron energy and particle transport is reduced, but still turbulent, within the barrier. Deeper into the plasma, very large levels of electron transport are observed. The observed electron temperature profile is shown to be close to the threshold for the electron temperature gradient (ETG) mode. A large ETG driven energy transport is qualitatively consistent with recent multi-scale gyrokinetic simulations showing that reducing the ion scale turbulence can lead to large increase in the electron scale transport. A new saturation model for the quasilinear TGLF transport code, that fits these multi-scale gyrokinetic simulations, can match the data if the impact of zonal flow mixing on the ETG modes is reduced at high safety factor. This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy under DE-FG02-95ER54309 and DE-FC02-04ER54698.

Gradient-driven flux-tube simulations of ion temperature gradient turbulence close to the non-linear threshold

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

Peeters, A. G.; Rath, F.; Buchholz, R.

2016-08-15

It is shown that Ion Temperature Gradient turbulence close to the threshold exhibits a long time behaviour, with smaller heat fluxes at later times. This reduction is connected with the slow growth of long wave length zonal flows, and consequently, the numerical dissipation on these flows must be sufficiently small. Close to the nonlinear threshold for turbulence generation, a relatively small dissipation can maintain a turbulent state with a sizeable heat flux, through the damping of the zonal flow. Lowering the dissipation causes the turbulence, for temperature gradients close to the threshold, to be subdued. The heat flux then doesmore » not go smoothly to zero when the threshold is approached from above. Rather, a finite minimum heat flux is obtained below which no fully developed turbulent state exists. The threshold value of the temperature gradient length at which this finite heat flux is obtained is up to 30% larger compared with the threshold value obtained by extrapolating the heat flux to zero, and the cyclone base case is found to be nonlinearly stable. Transport is subdued when a fully developed staircase structure in the E × B shearing rate forms. Just above the threshold, an incomplete staircase develops, and transport is mediated by avalanche structures which propagate through the marginally stable regions.« less

Aspect has a greater impact on alpine soil bacterial community structure than elevation.

PubMed

Wu, Jieyun; Anderson, Barbara J; Buckley, Hannah L; Lewis, Gillian; Lear, Gavin

2017-03-01

Gradients in environmental conditions, including climate factors and resource availability, occur along mountain inclines, providing a 'natural laboratory' to explore their combined impacts on microbial distributions. Conflicting spatial patterns observed across elevation gradients in soil bacterial community structure suggest that they are driven by various interacting factors at different spatial scales. Here, we investigated the relative impacts of non-resource (e.g. soil temperature, pH) and resource conditions (e.g. soil carbon and nitrogen) on the biogeography of soil bacterial communities across broad (i.e. along a 1500 m mountain elevation gradient) and fine sampling scales (i.e. along sunny and shady aspects of a mountain ridge). Our analysis of 16S rRNA gene data confirmed that when sampling across distances of < 1000 m, bacterial community composition was more closely related to the aspect of a site than its elevation. However, despite large differences in climate and resource-availability factors across elevation- and aspect-related gradients, bacterial community composition and richness were most strongly correlated with soil pH. These findings highlight the need to incorporate knowledge of multiple factors, including site aspect and soil pH for the appropriate use of elevation gradients as a proxy to explore the impacts of climate change on microbial community composition. © FEMS 2016. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Temperature gradient effects on vapor diffusion in partially-saturated porous media

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

Webb, S.W.

1999-07-01

Vapor diffusion in porous media in the presence of its own liquid may be enhanced due to pore-scale processes, such as condensation and evaporation across isolated liquid islands. Webb and Ho (1997) developed one-and two-dimensional mechanistic pore-scale models of these processes in an ideal porous medium. For isothermal and isobaric boundary conditions with a concentration gradient, the vapor diffusion rate was significantly enhanced by these liquid island processes compared to a dry porous media. The influence of a temperature gradient on the enhanced vapor diffusion rate is considered in this paper. The two-dimensional pore network model which is used inmore » the present study is shown. For partially-saturated conditions, a liquid island is introduced into the top center pore. Boundary conditions on the left and right sides of the model are specified to give the desired concentration and temperature gradients. Vapor condenses on one side of the liquid island and evaporates off the other side due to local vapor pressure lowering caused by the interface curvature, even without a temperature gradient. Rather than acting as an impediment to vapor diffusion, the liquid island actually enhances the vapor diffusion rate. The enhancement of the vapor diffusion rate can be significant depending on the liquid saturation. Vapor diffusion is enhanced by up to 40% for this single liquid island compared to a dry porous medium; enhancement factors of up to an order of magnitude have been calculated for other conditions by Webb and Ho (1997). The dominant effect on the enhancement factor is the concentration gradient; the influence of the temperature gradient is smaller. The significance of these results, which need to be confirmed by experiments, is that the dominant model of enhanced vapor diffusion (EVD) by Philip and deVries (1957) predicts that temperature gradients must exist for EVD to occur. If there is no temperature gradient, there is no enhancement. The present results indicate that EVD is predominantly driven by concentration gradients; temperature gradients are less important. Therefore, the EVD model of Philip and deVries may need to be modified to reflect these results.« less

Experimental Study of Current-Driven Turbulence During Magnetic Reconnection

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

Porkolab, Miklos; Egedal-Pedersen, Jan; Fox, William

CMPD Final Report Experimental Study of Current-Driven Turbulence During Magnetic Reconnection Miklos Porkolab, PI, Jan Egedal, co-PI, William Fox, graduate student. This is the final report for Grant DE-FC02-04ER54786, MIT Participation in the Center for Multiscale Plasma Dynamics, which was active from 8/1/2004 to 7/31/2010. This Grant supported the thesis work of one MIT graduate student, William Fox, The thesis research consisted of an experimental study of the fluctuations arising during magnetic reconnection in plasmas on the Versatile Toroidal Facility (VTF) at MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center (PSFC). The thesis was submitted and accepted by the MIT physics Department,.more » Fox, Experimental Study of Current-Driven Turbulence During Magnetic Reconnection, Ph.D. Thesis, MIT (2009). In the VTF experiment reconnection and current-sheet formation is driven by quickly changing currents in a specially arranged set of internal conductors. Previous work on this device [Egedal, et al, PRL 98, 015003, (2007)] identified a spontaneous reconnection regime. In this work fluctuations were studied using impedance-matched, high-bandwidth Langmuir probes. Strong, broadband fluctuations, with frequencies extending from near the lower-hybrid frequency [fLH = (fcefci)1/2] to the electron cyclotron frequency fce were found to arise during the reconnection events. Based on frequency and wavelength measurements, lower-hybrid waves and Trivelpiece-Gould waves were identified. The lower-hybrid waves are easiest to drive with strong perpendicular drifts or gradients which arise due to the reconnection events; an appealing possibility is strong temperature gradients. The Trivelpiece-Gould modes can result from kinetic, bump-on-tail instability of a runaway electron population energized by the reconnection events. We also observed that the turbulence is often spiky, consisting of discrete positive-potential spikes, which were identified as electron phase-space holes, a class of nonlinear solitary wave known to evolve from a strong beam-on-tail instability. We established that fast electrons were produced by magnetic reconnection. Overall, these instabilities were found to be a consequence of reconnection, specifically the strong energization of electrons, leading to steep gradients in both coordinate- and velocity-space. Estimates (using quasi-linear theory) of the anomalous resistivity due to these modes did not appear large enough to substantially impact the reconnection process. Relevant publications: W. Fox, M. Porkolab, et al, Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 255003 (2008). W. Fox, M. Porkolab, et al, Phys. Plasmas 17, 072303, (2010).« less

Cavity Solitons in Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers and their Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Giudici, Massimo; Pedaci, Francesco; Caboche, Emilie; Genevet, Patrice; Barland, Stephane; Tredicce, Jorge; Tissoni, Giovanna; Lugiato, Luigi

Cavity solitons (CS) are single peak localized structures which form over a homogeneous background in the section of broad-area non linear resonator driven by a coherent holding beam. They can be switched on and off by shining a writing/ erasing local laser pulse into the optical cavity. Moreover, when a phase or amplitude gradient is introduced in the holding beam, CS are set in motion along the gradient with a speed that depends on gradient strength. The ability to address CS and to control their location as well as their motion makes them interesting for alloptical processing units. In this chapter we report on several functionalities of CS that have been experimentally implemented in a Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) biased below threshold. We show that CS positions in the transverse section of the resonator can be reconfigured according to a phase landscape introduced in the holding beam. CS drifting propelled by a phase gradient in the holding beam can be used for realizing an all-optical delay line. Information bits are written in form of CS at a point of the device and a time delayed version of the written information can be read elsewhere along the gradient direction. CS existence and functionalities are deeply affected by presence of device defects generated during the fabrication process and randomly distributed through the device section. The sensitivity of CS to parameters gradients can be used to probe these defects, otherwise not detectable, and mapping their positions. Finally, a periodic flow of moving CS can be obtained by the interplay between a device defect and an external parameter gradient. This suggests the possibility of engineering a CS source directly onto the device.

The adaptation rate of a quantitative trait in an environmental gradient

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hermsen, R.

2016-12-01

The spatial range of a species habitat is generally determined by the ability of the species to cope with biotic and abiotic variables that vary in space. Therefore, the species range is itself an evolvable property. Indeed, environmental gradients permit a mode of evolution in which range expansion and adaptation go hand in hand. This process can contribute to rapid evolution of drug resistant bacteria and viruses, because drug concentrations in humans and livestock treated with antibiotics are far from uniform. Here, we use a minimal stochastic model of discrete, interacting organisms evolving in continuous space to study how the rate of adaptation of a quantitative trait depends on the steepness of the gradient and various population parameters. We discuss analytical results for the mean-field limit as well as extensive stochastic simulations. These simulations were performed using an exact, event-driven simulation scheme that can deal with continuous time-, density- and coordinate-dependent reaction rates and could be used for a wide variety of stochastic systems. The results reveal two qualitative regimes. If the gradient is shallow, the rate of adaptation is limited by dispersion and increases linearly with the gradient slope. If the gradient is steep, the adaptation rate is limited by mutation. In this regime, the mean-field result is highly misleading: it predicts that the adaptation rate continues to increase with the gradient slope, whereas stochastic simulations show that it in fact decreases with the square root of the slope. This discrepancy underscores the importance of discreteness and stochasticity even at high population densities; mean-field results, including those routinely used in quantitative genetics, should be interpreted with care.

The adaptation rate of a quantitative trait in an environmental gradient.

PubMed

Hermsen, R

2016-11-30

The spatial range of a species habitat is generally determined by the ability of the species to cope with biotic and abiotic variables that vary in space. Therefore, the species range is itself an evolvable property. Indeed, environmental gradients permit a mode of evolution in which range expansion and adaptation go hand in hand. This process can contribute to rapid evolution of drug resistant bacteria and viruses, because drug concentrations in humans and livestock treated with antibiotics are far from uniform. Here, we use a minimal stochastic model of discrete, interacting organisms evolving in continuous space to study how the rate of adaptation of a quantitative trait depends on the steepness of the gradient and various population parameters. We discuss analytical results for the mean-field limit as well as extensive stochastic simulations. These simulations were performed using an exact, event-driven simulation scheme that can deal with continuous time-, density- and coordinate-dependent reaction rates and could be used for a wide variety of stochastic systems. The results reveal two qualitative regimes. If the gradient is shallow, the rate of adaptation is limited by dispersion and increases linearly with the gradient slope. If the gradient is steep, the adaptation rate is limited by mutation. In this regime, the mean-field result is highly misleading: it predicts that the adaptation rate continues to increase with the gradient slope, whereas stochastic simulations show that it in fact decreases with the square root of the slope. This discrepancy underscores the importance of discreteness and stochasticity even at high population densities; mean-field results, including those routinely used in quantitative genetics, should be interpreted with care.

Air Force Human Resources Laboratory Annual Report - Fiscal Year 1979.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-09-01

Nut ’ilt’. I itg l I ntI it I v aten voi b% ch p l t. he r stit, bo’vijt rli i’lei . tt oill’tt i u atas : l t iittil ti hual for )it If ffri~i% an( v...and logistivs factors in weapon system design and dv. ch ,lnent studies (Dol) Iirectives 5000.1 and Benefits: The models of Maintenance Resources 5(1o.2...miii or s.kills. Ili o.i~vced a ie’’’. inis’’tine as thlt first gricizp of tit-e F-l0 %veajiiiil -Stlemi. training skills 1-i h r ch lo ’oclq . hIsr the

Transport, noise, and conservation properties in gyrokinetic plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jenkins, Thomas

2005-10-01

The relationship between various transport properties (such as particle and heat flux, entropy production, heating, and collisional dissipation) [1] is examined in electrostatic gyrokinetic simulations of ITG modes in simple geometry. The effect of the parallel velocity nonlinearity on the achievement of steady-state solutions and the transport properties of these solutions is examined; the effects of nonadiabatic electrons are also considered. We also examine the effectiveness of the electromagnetic split-weight scheme [2] in reducing the noise and improving the conservation properties (energy, momentum, particle number, etc.) of gyrokinetic plasmas. [1] W. W. Lee and W. M. Tang, Phys. Fluids 31, 612 (1988). [2] W. W. Lee, J. L. V. Lewandowski, T. S. Hahm, and Z.Lin, Phys. Plasmas 8, 4435 (2001).

Plasma Radiation and Acceleration Effectiveness of CME-driven Shocks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gopalswamy, N.; Schmidt, J. M.

2008-05-01

CME-driven shocks are effective radio radiation generators and accelerators for Solar Energetic Particles (SEPs). We present simulated 3 D time-dependent radio maps of second order plasma radiation generated by CME- driven shocks. The CME with its shock is simulated with the 3 D BATS-R-US CME model developed at the University of Michigan. The radiation is simulated using a kinetic plasma model that includes shock drift acceleration of electrons and stochastic growth theory of Langmuir waves. We find that in a realistic 3 D environment of magnetic field and solar wind outflow of the Sun the CME-driven shock shows a detailed spatial structure of the density, which is responsible for the fine structure of type II radio bursts. We also show realistic 3 D reconstructions of the magnetic cloud field of the CME, which is accelerated outward by magnetic buoyancy forces in the diverging magnetic field of the Sun. The CME-driven shock is reconstructed by tomography using the maximum jump in the gradient of the entropy. In the vicinity of the shock we determine the Alfven speed of the plasma. This speed profile controls how steep the shock can grow and how stable the shock remains while propagating away from the Sun. Only a steep shock can provide for an effective particle acceleration.

Plasma radiation and acceleration effectiveness of CME-driven shocks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schmidt, Joachim

CME-driven shocks are effective radio radiation generators and accelerators for Solar Energetic Particles (SEPs). We present simulated 3 D time-dependent radio maps of second order plasma radiation generated by CME-driven shocks. The CME with its shock is simulated with the 3 D BATS-R-US CME model developed at the University of Michigan. The radiation is simulated using a kinetic plasma model that includes shock drift acceleration of electrons and stochastic growth theory of Langmuir waves. We find that in a realistic 3 D environment of magnetic field and solar wind outflow of the Sun the CME-driven shock shows a detailed spatial structure of the density, which is responsible for the fine structure of type II radio bursts. We also show realistic 3 D reconstructions of the magnetic cloud field of the CME, which is accelerated outward by magnetic buoyancy forces in the diverging magnetic field of the Sun. The CME-driven shock is reconstructed by tomography using the maximum jump in the gradient of the entropy. In the vicinity of the shock we determine the Alfven speed of the plasma. This speed profile controls how steep the shock can grow and how stable the shock remains while propagating away from the Sun. Only a steep shock can provide for an effective particle acceleration.

Density gradient free electron collisionally excited x-ray laser

DOEpatents

Campbell, E.M.; Rosen, M.D.

1984-11-29

An operational x-ray laser is provided that amplifies 3p-3s transition x-ray radiation along an approximately linear path. The x-ray laser is driven by a high power optical laser. The driving line focused optical laser beam illuminates a free-standing thin foil that may be associated with a substrate for improved structural integrity. This illumination produces a generally cylindrically shaped plasma having an essentially uniform electron density and temperature, that exists over a long period of time, and provides the x-ray laser gain medium. The x-ray laser may be driven by more than one optical laser beam. The x-ray laser has been successfully demonstrated to function in a series of experimental tests.

Laser experiments to simulate coronal mass ejection driven magnetospheres and astrophysical plasma winds on compact magnetized stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Horton, W.; Ditmire, T.; Zakharov, Yu. P.

2010-06-01

Laboratory experiments using a plasma wind generated by laser-target interaction are proposed to investigate the creation of a shock in front of the magnetosphere and the dynamo mechanism for creating plasma currents and voltages. Preliminary experiments are shown where measurements of the electron density gradients surrounding the obstacles are recorded to infer the plasma winds. The proposed experiments are relevant to understanding the electron acceleration mechanisms taking place in shock-driven magnetic dipole confined plasmas surrounding compact magnetized stars and planets. Exploratory experiments have been published [P. Brady, T. Ditmire, W. Horton, et al., Phys. Plasmas 16, 043112 (2009)] with the one Joule Yoga laser and centimeter sized permanent magnets.

A comparison of Data Driven models of solving the task of gender identification of author in Russian language texts for cases without and with the gender deception

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sboev, A.; Moloshnikov, I.; Gudovskikh, D.; Rybka, R.

2017-12-01

In this work we compare several data-driven approaches to the task of author’s gender identification for texts with or without gender imitation. The data corpus has been specially gathered with crowdsourcing for this task. The best models are convolutional neural network with input of morphological data (fl-measure: 88%±3) for texts without imitation, and gradient boosting model with vector of character n-grams frequencies as input data (f1-measure: 64% ± 3) for texts with gender imitation. The method to filter the crowdsourced corpus using limited reference sample of texts to increase the accuracy of result is discussed.

Idealized debris flow in flume with bed driven by a conveyor belt

USGS Publications Warehouse

Ling, Chi-Hai; Chen, Cheng-lung

1989-01-01

The generalized viscoplastic fluid (GVF) model is used to derive the theoretical expressions of two-dimensional velocities and surface profile for debris flow established in a flume with bed driven by a conveyor belt. The rheological parameters of the GVF model are evaluated through the comparison of theoretical results with measured data. A slip velocity of the established (steady) nonuniform flow on the moving bed (i.e., the conveyor belt) is observed, and a relation between the slip velocity and the velocity gradient at the bed is derived. Two belts, one rough and the other smooth, were tested. The flow profile in the flume is found to be linear and dependent on the roughness of the belt, but not much on its speed.

Hybrid simulations of radial transport driven by the Rayleigh-Taylor instability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Delamere, P. A.; Stauffer, B. H.; Ma, X.

2017-12-01

Plasma transport in the rapidly rotating giant magnetospheres is thought to involve a centrifugally-driven flux tube interchange instability, similar to the Rayleigh-Taylor (RT) instability. In three dimensions, the convective flow patterns associated with the RT instability can produce strong guide field reconnection, allowing plasma mass to move radially outward while conserving magnetic flux (Ma et al., 2016). We present a set of hybrid (kinetic ion / fluid electron) plasma simulations of the RT instability using high plasma beta conditions appropriate for Jupiter's inner and middle magnetosphere. A density gradient, combined with a centrifugal force, provide appropriate RT onset conditions. Pressure balance is achieved by initializing two ion populations: one with fixed temperature, but varying density, and the other with fixed density, but a temperature gradient that offsets the density gradient from the first population and the centrifugal force (effective gravity). We first analyze two-dimensional results for the plane perpendicular to the magnetic field by comparing growth rates as a function of wave vector following Huba et al. (1998). Prescribed perpendicular wave modes are seeded with an initial velocity perturbation. We then extend the model to three dimensions, introducing a stabilizing parallel wave vector. Boundary conditions in the parallel direction prohibit motion of the magnetic field line footprints to model the eigenmodes of the magnetodisc's resonant cavity. We again compare growth rates based on perpendicular wave number, but also on the parallel extent of the resonant cavity, which fixes the size of the largest parallel wavelength. Finally, we search for evidence of strong guide field magnetic reconnection within the domain by identifying areas with large parallel electric fields or changes in magnetic field topology.

Radial and local time structure of the Saturnian ring current, revealed by Cassini

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sergis, N.; Jackman, C. M.; Thomsen, M. F.; Krimigis, S. M.; Mitchell, D. G.; Hamilton, D. C.; Dougherty, M. K.; Krupp, N.; Wilson, R. J.

2017-02-01

We analyze particle and magnetic field data obtained between July 2004 and December 2013 in the equatorial magnetosphere of Saturn, by the Cassini spacecraft. The radial and local time distribution of the total (thermal and suprathermal) particle pressure and total plasma beta (ratio of particle to magnetic pressure) over radial distances from 5 to 16 Saturn radii (RS = 60,258 km) is presented. The average azimuthal current density Jϕ and its separate components (inertial, pressure gradient, and anisotropy) are computed as a function of radial distance and local time and presented as equatorial maps. We explore the relative contribution of different physical mechanisms that drive the ring current at Saturn. Results show that (a) the particle pressure is controlled by thermal plasma inside of 8 RS and by the hot ions beyond 12 RS, exhibiting strong local time asymmetry with higher pressures measured at the dusk and night sectors; (b) the plasma beta increases with radial distance and remains >1 beyond 8-10 RS for all local times; (c) the ring current is asymmetric in local time and forms a maximum region between 7 and 13 RS, with values up to 100-115 pA/m2; and (d) the ring current is inertial everywhere inside of 7 RS, exhibits a mixed nature between 7 and 11 RS and is pressure gradient driven beyond 11 RS, with the exception of the noon sector where the mixed nature persists. In the dawn sector, it appears strongly pressure gradient driven for a wider range of radial distance, consistent with fast return flow of hot, tenuous magnetospheric plasma following tail reconnection.

Plasma transport in an Eulerian AMR code

DOE PAGES

Vold, E. L.; Rauenzahn, R. M.; Aldrich, C. H.; ...

2017-04-04

A plasma transport model has been implemented in an Eulerian AMR radiation-hydrodynamics code, xRage, which includes plasma viscosity in the momentum tensor, viscous dissipation in the energy equations, and binary species mixing with consistent species mass and energy fluxes driven by concentration gradients, ion and electron baro-diffusion terms and temperature gradient forces. The physics basis, computational issues, numeric options, and results from several test problems are discussed. The transport coefficients are found to be relatively insensitive to the kinetic correction factors when the concentrations are expressed with the molar fractions and the ion mass differences are large. The contributions tomore » flow dynamics from plasma viscosity and mass diffusion were found to increase significantly as scale lengths decrease in an inertial confinement fusion relevant Kelvin-Helmholtz instability mix layer. The mixing scale lengths in the test case are on the order of 100 μm and smaller for viscous effects to appear and 10 μm or less for significant ion species diffusion, evident over durations on the order of nanoseconds. The temperature gradient driven mass flux is seen to deplete a high Z tracer ion at the ion shock front. The plasma transport model provides the generation of the atomic mix per unit of interfacial area between two species with no free parameters. The evolution of the total atomic mix then depends also on an accurate resolution or estimate of the interfacial area between the species mixing by plasma transport. High resolution simulations or a more Lagrangian-like treatment of species interfaces may be required to distinguish plasma transport and numerical diffusion in an Eulerian computation of complex and dynamically evolving mix regions.« less

Plasma transport in an Eulerian AMR code

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vold, E. L.; Rauenzahn, R. M.; Aldrich, C. H.; Molvig, K.; Simakov, A. N.; Haines, B. M.

2017-04-01

A plasma transport model has been implemented in an Eulerian AMR radiation-hydrodynamics code, xRage, which includes plasma viscosity in the momentum tensor, viscous dissipation in the energy equations, and binary species mixing with consistent species mass and energy fluxes driven by concentration gradients, ion and electron baro-diffusion terms and temperature gradient forces. The physics basis, computational issues, numeric options, and results from several test problems are discussed. The transport coefficients are found to be relatively insensitive to the kinetic correction factors when the concentrations are expressed with the molar fractions and the ion mass differences are large. The contributions to flow dynamics from plasma viscosity and mass diffusion were found to increase significantly as scale lengths decrease in an inertial confinement fusion relevant Kelvin-Helmholtz instability mix layer. The mixing scale lengths in the test case are on the order of 100 μm and smaller for viscous effects to appear and 10 μm or less for significant ion species diffusion, evident over durations on the order of nanoseconds. The temperature gradient driven mass flux is seen to deplete a high Z tracer ion at the ion shock front. The plasma transport model provides the generation of the atomic mix per unit of interfacial area between two species with no free parameters. The evolution of the total atomic mix then depends also on an accurate resolution or estimate of the interfacial area between the species mixing by plasma transport. High resolution simulations or a more Lagrangian-like treatment of species interfaces may be required to distinguish plasma transport and numerical diffusion in an Eulerian computation of complex and dynamically evolving mix regions.

NIMROD calculations of energetic particle driven toroidal Alfvén eigenmodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hou, Yawei; Zhu, Ping; Kim, Charlson C.; Hu, Zhaoqing; Zou, Zhihui; Wang, Zhengxiong; Nimrod Team

2018-01-01

Toroidal Alfvén eigenmodes (TAEs) are gap modes induced by the toroidicity of tokamak plasmas in the absence of continuum damping. They can be excited by energetic particles (EPs) when the EP drive exceeds other dampings, such as electron and ion Landau damping, and collisional and radiative damping. A TAE benchmark case, which was proposed by the International Tokamak Physics Activity group, is studied in this work. The numerical calculations of linear growth of TAEs driven by EPs in a circular-shaped, large aspect ratio tokamak have been performed using the Hybrid Kinetic-MHD (HK-MHD) model implemented in the NIMROD code. This HK-MHD model couples a δf particle-in-cell representation of EPs with the 3D MHD representation of the bulk plasma through moment closure for the momentum conservation equation. Both the excitation of TAEs and their transition to energetic particle modes (EPMs) have been observed. The influence of EP density, temperature, density gradient, and position of the maximum relative density gradient, on the frequency and the growth rate of TAEs are obtained, which are consistent with those from the eigen-analysis calculations, kinetic-MHD, and gyrokinetic simulations for an initial Maxwellian distribution of EPs. The relative pressure gradient of EP at the radial location of the TAE gap, which represents the drive strength of EPs, can strongly affect the growth rate of TAEs. It is demonstrated that the mode transition due to EP drive variation leads to not only the change of frequency but also the change of the mode structure. This mechanism can be helpful in understanding the nonlinear physics of TAE/EPM, such as frequency chirping.

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.

Gas turbine engine fuel control

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gold, H. S. (Inventor)

1973-01-01

A variable orifice system is described that is responsive to compressor inlet pressure and temperature, compressor discharge pressure and rotational speed of a gas-turbine engine. It is incorporated into a hydraulic circuit that includes a zero gradient pump driven at a speed proportional to the speed of the engine. The resulting system provides control of fuel rate for starting, steady running, acceleration and deceleration under varying altitudes and flight speeds.

Early Student Support for a Process Study of Oceanic Responses to Typhoons

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-06-21

responses to tropical cyclone forcing are surface waves, wind-driven currents, shear and turbulence, and inertial currents. Quantifying the effect ...Cd is estimated assuming a balance between the time rate change of the depth-integrated horizontal momentum, Coriolis force, and the wind stress. This...negligible pressure gradient effect . Most of the observed horizontal kinetic energy is within the upper 100 m. The available potential energy and

Global Well-posedness of the Spatially Homogeneous Kolmogorov-Vicsek Model as a Gradient Flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Figalli, Alessio; Kang, Moon-Jin; Morales, Javier

2018-03-01

We consider the so-called spatially homogenous Kolmogorov-Vicsek model, a non-linear Fokker-Planck equation of self-driven stochastic particles with orientation interaction under the space-homogeneity. We prove the global existence and uniqueness of weak solutions to the equation. We also show that weak solutions exponentially converge to a steady state, which has the form of the Fisher-von Mises distribution.

Long-range Electron Transport in Geobacter sulfurreducens Biofilms is Redox Gradient-Driven

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-01-01

modified version of the Nernst Equation (Eq. 2): ðXOxÞz=0; j = exp g nF RT Ej − Eo′ avg 1+ exp g nF RT Ej − Eo′ avg : [2] j= 1...www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1209829109 Snider et al. that follows directly from equation 21 in the work by Strycharz- Glaven et al. (14, 63

Competition drives trait evolution and character displacement between Mimulus species along an environmental gradient.

PubMed

Kooyers, Nicholas J; James, Brooke; Blackman, Benjamin K

2017-05-01

Closely related species may evolve to coexist stably in sympatry through niche differentiation driven by in situ competition, a process termed character displacement. Alternatively, past evolution in allopatry may have already sufficiently reduced niche overlap to permit establishment in sympatry, a process called ecological sorting. The relative importance of each process to niche differentiation is contentious even though they are not mutually exclusive and are both mediated via multivariate trait evolution. We explore how competition has impacted niche differentiation in two monkeyflowers, Mimulus alsinoides and M. guttatus, which often co-occur. Through field observations, common gardens, and competition experiments, we demonstrate that M. alsinoides is restricted to marginal habitats in sympatry and that the impacts of character displacement on niche differentiation are complex. Competition with M. guttatus alters selection gradients and has favored taller M. alsinoides with earlier seasonal flowering at low elevation and floral shape divergence at high elevation. However, no trait exhibits the pattern typically associated with character displacement, higher divergence between species in sympatry than allopatry. Thus, although character displacement was unlikely the process driving initial divergence along niche axes necessary for coexistence, we conclude that competition in sympatry has likely driven trait evolution along additional niche axes. © 2017 The Author(s). Evolution © 2017 The Society for the Study of Evolution.

Vibration isolation technology: Sensitivity of selected classes of experiments to residual accelerations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Alexander, J. Iwan D.

1990-01-01

The solution was sought of a 2-D axisymmetric moving boundary problem for the sensitivity of isothermal and nonisothermal liquid columns and the sensitivity of thermo-capillary flows to buoyancy driven convection caused by residual accelerations. The sensitivity of a variety of space experiments to residual accelerations are examined. In all the cases discussed, the sensitivity is related to the dynamic response of a fluid. In some cases the sensitivity can be defined by the magnitude of the response of the velocity field. This response may involve motion of the fluid associated with internal density gradients, or the motion of a free liquid surface. For fluids with internal density gradients, the type of acceleration to which the experiment is sensitive will depend on whether buoyancy driven convection must be small in comparison to other types of fluid motion (such as thermocapillary flow), or fluid motion must be suppressed or eliminated (such as in diffusion studies, or directional solidification experiments). The effect of the velocity on the composition and temperature field must be considered, particularly in the vicinity of the melt crystal interface. As far as the response to transient disturbances is concerned the sensitivity is determined by both the magnitude and frequency the acceleration and the characteristic momentum and solute diffusion times.

Electrokinetically driven continuous-flow enrichment of colloidal particles by Joule heating induced temperature gradient focusing in a convergent-divergent microfluidic structure.

PubMed

Zhao, Cunlu; Ge, Zhengwei; Song, Yongxin; Yang, Chun

2017-09-07

Enrichment of colloidal particles in continuous flow has not only numerous applications but also poses a great challenge in controlling physical forces that are required for achieving particle enrichment. Here, we for the first time experimentally demonstrate the electrokinetically-driven continuous-flow enrichment of colloidal particles with Joule heating induced temperature gradient focusing (TGF) in a microfluidic convergent-divergent structure. We consider four mechanisms of particle transport, i.e., advection due to electroosmosis, electrophoresis, dielectrophoresis and, and further clarify their roles in the particle enrichment. It is experimentally determined and numerically verified that the particle thermophoresis plays dominant roles in enrichment of all particle sizes considered in this study and the combined effect of electroosmosis-induced advection and electrophoresis is mainly to transport particles to the zone of enrichment. Specifically, the enrichment of particles is achieved with combined DC and AC voltages rather than a sole DC or AC voltage. A numerical model is formulated with consideration of the abovementioned four mechanisms, and the model can rationalize the experimental observations. Particularly, our analysis of numerical and experimental results indicates that thermophoresis which is usually an overlooked mechanism of material transport is crucial for the successful electrokinetic enrichment of particles with Joule heating induced TGF.

Distribution and Kinematics of the HCN (3-2) Emission Down to the Innermost Region in the Envelope of the O-rich Star W Hydrae

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Muller, Sébastien; Dinh-V-Trung; He, Jin-Hua; Lim, Jeremy

2008-09-01

We report high angular resolution observations of the HCN (3-2) line emission in the circumstellar envelope of the O-rich star W Hya with the Submillimeter Array. The proximity of this star allows us to image its molecular envelope with a spatial resolution of just ~40 AU, corresponding to about 10 times the stellar diameter. We resolve the HCN (3-2) emission and find that it is centrally peaked and has a roughly spherically symmetrical distribution. This shows that HCN is formed in the innermost region of the envelope (within ~10 stellar radii), which is consistent with predictions from pulsation-driven shock chemistry models, and rules out the scenario in which HCN forms through photochemical reactions in the outer envelope. Our model suggests that the envelope decreases steeply in temperature and increases smoothly in velocity with radius, inconsistent with the standard model for mass-loss driven by radiative pressure on dust grains. We detect a velocity gradient of ~5 km s-1 in the northwest-southeast direction over the central 40 AU. This velocity gradient is reminiscent of that seen in OH maser lines, and could be caused by the rotation of the envelope or by a weak bipolar outflow.

Advancing from Rules of Thumb: Quantifying the Effects of Small Density Changes in Mass Transport to Electrodes. Understanding Natural Convection.

PubMed

Ngamchuea, Kamonwad; Eloul, Shaltiel; Tschulik, Kristina; Compton, Richard G

2015-07-21

Understanding mass transport is prerequisite to all quantitative analysis of electrochemical experiments. While the contribution of diffusion is well understood, the influence of density gradient-driven natural convection on the mass transport in electrochemical systems is not. To date, it has been assumed to be relevant only for high concentrations of redox-active species and at long experimental time scales. If unjustified, this assumption risks misinterpretation of analytical data obtained from scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) and generator-collector experiments, as well as analytical sensors utilizing macroelectrodes/microelectrode arrays. It also affects the results expected from electrodeposition. On the basis of numerical simulation, herein it is demonstrated that even at less than 10 mM concentrations and short experimental times of tens of seconds, density gradient-driven natural convection significantly affects mass transport. This is evident from in-depth numerical simulation for the oxidation of hexacyanoferrate (II) at various electrode sizes and electrode orientations. In each case, the induced convection and its influence on the diffusion layer established near the electrode are illustrated by maps of the velocity fields and concentration distributions evolving with time. The effects of natural convection on mass transport and chronoamperometric currents are thus quantified and discussed for the different cases studied.

Key parameters controlling the performance of catalytic motors.

PubMed

Esplandiu, Maria J; Afshar Farniya, Ali; Reguera, David

2016-03-28

The development of autonomous micro/nanomotors driven by self-generated chemical gradients is a topic of high interest given their potential impact in medicine and environmental remediation. Although impressive functionalities of these devices have been demonstrated, a detailed understanding of the propulsion mechanism is still lacking. In this work, we perform a comprehensive numerical analysis of the key parameters governing the actuation of bimetallic catalytic micropumps. We show that the fluid motion is driven by self-generated electro-osmosis where the electric field originates by a proton current rather than by a lateral charge asymmetry inside the double layer. Hence, the surface potential and the electric field are the key parameters for setting the pumping strength and directionality. The proton flux that generates the electric field stems from the proton gradient induced by the electrochemical reactions taken place at the pump. Surprisingly the electric field and consequently the fluid flow are mainly controlled by the ionic strength and not by the conductivity of the solution, as one could have expected. We have also analyzed the influence of the chemical fuel concentration, electrochemical reaction rates, and size of the metallic structures for an optimized pump performance. Our findings cast light on the complex chemomechanical actuation of catalytic motors and provide important clues for the search, design, and optimization of novel catalytic actuators.

The LTX- β Research Program

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Majeski, R.; Bell, R. E.; Boyle, D. P.; Hughes, P. E.; Kaita, R.; Kozub, T.; Merino, E.; Zhang, X.; Biewer, T. M.; Canik, J. M.; Elliott, D. B.; Reinke, M. L.; Bialek, J.; Hansen, C.; Jarboe, T.; Kubota, S.; Rhodes, T.; Dorf, M. A.; Rognlien, T.; Scotti, F.; Soukhanovskii, V. A.; Koel, B. E.; Donovan, D.; Maan, A.

2017-10-01

LTX- β, the upgrade to the Lithium Tokamak Experiment, approximately doubles the toroidal field (to 3.4 kG) and plasma current (to 150 - 175 kA) of LTX. Neutral beam injection at 20 kV, 30 A will be added in February 2018, with systems provided by Tri-Alpha Energy. A 9.3 GHz, 100 kW, short-pulse (5-10 msec) source will be available in summer 2018 for electron Bernstein wave heating. New lithium evaporation sources will allow between-shots recoating of the walls. Upgrades to the diagnostic set are intended to strengthen the research program in the critical areas of equilibrium, core transport, scrape-off layer physics, and plasma-material interactions. The LTX- β research program will combine the capability for gradient-free temperature profiles, to stabilize ion and electron temperature gradient-driven modes, with approaches to stabilization of ∇n-driven modes, such as the trapped electron mode (TEM). Candidate stabilization mechanisms for the TEM include sheared flow stabilization, which can be tested on LTX- β. The goal will be to minimize anomalous transport in a low aspect ratio tokamak, which would lead to a very compact, tokamak-based fusion core. This work supported by US DOE contracts DE-AC02-09CH11466 and DE-AC05-00OR22725.