Critical Behavior of the Blume-Emery-Griffiths Model for a Simple Cubic Lattice on the Cellular Automaton

The spin-1 Ising model with the nearest-neighbour bilinear and biquadratic interactions and single-ion anisotropy is simulated on a cellular automaton which improved from the Creutz cellular automaton (CCA) for a simple cubic lattice. The simulations have been made for several k=K/J and d=D/J in the 0≤d<3 and −2≤k≤0 parameter regions. We confirm the existence of the re-entrant and the successive re-entrant phase transitions near the phase boundary. The phase diagrams characterizing phase transitions are presented for comparison with those obtained from other calculations. The static critical exponents are estimated within the framework of the finite-size scaling theory at d=0, 1 and 2 in the interval −2≤k≤0. The results are compatible with the universal Ising critical behavior.     

Cellular automata for the spreading of technologies in socio-economic systems

We introduce an agent-based model for the spreading of technological developments in socio-economic systems where the technology is mainly used for the collaboration/interaction of agents. Agents use products of different technologies to collaborate with each other which induce costs proportional to the difference of technological levels. Additional costs arise when technologies of different providers are used. Agents can adopt technologies and providers of their interacting partners in order to reduce their costs leading to microscopic rearrangements of the system. Analytical calculations and computer simulations revealed that starting from a random configuration of different technological levels a complex time evolution emerges where the spreading of advanced technologies and the overall technological progress of the system are determined by the amount of advantages more advanced technologies provide, and by the structure of the social environment of agents. We show that agents tend to form clusters of identical technological level with a power law size distribution. When technological progress arises, the spreading of technologies in the system can be described by extreme order statistics.     

Pragmatical generalized synchronization of chaotic systems with uncertain parameters by adaptive control

A new kind of generalized synchronization of two chaotic systems with uncertain parameters is proposed. Based on a pragmatical asymptotical stability theorem and an assumption of equal probability for ergodic initial conditions, an adaptive control law is derived so that it can be proved strictly that the common null solution of error dynamics and of parameter dynamics is actually asymptotically stable, i.e. these two identical systems are in generalized synchronization and the estimated parameters approach the uncertain values. It is called pragmatical generalized synchronization. Finally, two numerical examples are studied for two Quantum-CNN oscillator chaotic systems to show the effectiveness of the proposed generalized synchronization strategy with a double Duffing chaotic system as a goal system.     

Pattern memory analysis based on stability theory of cellular neural networks

In this paper, several sufficient conditions are obtained to guarantee that the n-dimensional cellular neural network can have even (?2ⁿ) memory patterns. In addition, the estimations of attractive domain of such stable memory patterns are obtained. These conditions, which can be directly derived from the parameters of the neural networks, are easily verified. A new design procedure for cellular neural networks is developed based on stability theory (rather than the well-known perceptron training algorithm), and the convergence in the new design procedure is guaranteed by the obtained local stability theorems. Finally, the validity and performance of the obtained results are illustrated by two examples.     

Genetic algorithms and cellular automata in aquifer management

A groundwater management problem is presented involving pumping cost minimization with both well discharges and well locations as decision variables. A grid of candidate well locations is set up and optimal arrangements of wells are sought within this discrete space. A genetic algorithm approach is presented with the following particular features: (a) A suitable scaling is applied to the objective function in order to alleviate its regionally flat behavior. (b) No penalty functions are involved in constraint handling. Instead, the feasible region is transformed into a rectangular domain. The transformation introduced is proved to be bijective. (c) A binary representation of well configurations is presented and compared to a combinatorial one. The binary representation necessitates the introduction of specially designed genetic operators. Besides purely genetic algorithms, the concept of cellular automaton is introduced as the basis of an alternative formulation of the optimization problem. The lattice of the cellular automaton provides the discrete set of candidate well positions. The well configuration is represented by a group of agents occupying an equal number of lattice sites. The agents change positions as dictated by the structure of the automaton and, also, by an associated genetic algorithm, which directs the evolution of the whole scheme toward an optimal configuration. An improved performance of this approach is noted and discussed in comparison to the purely genetic algorithm schemes of the present work. A simulated annealing approach is also applied to the same problem for comparison purposes. Finally, a new and more efficient hybrid annealing–genetic approach is introduced and discussed.     

A Reader's Guide to Gacs's “Positive Rates” Paper

Peter Gacs's monograph, which follows this article, provides a counterexample to the important Positive Rates Conjecture. This conjecture, which arose in the late 1960's, was based on very plausible arguments, some of which come from statistical mechanics. During the long gestation period of the Gacs example, there has been a great deal of skepticism about the validity of his work. The construction and verification of Gacs's counterexample are unavoidably complex, and as a consequence, his paper is quite lengthy. But because of the novelty of the techniques and the significance of the result, his work deserves to become widely known. This reader's guide is intended both as a cheap substitute for reading the whole thing, as well as a warm-up for those who want to plumb its depths.     

Porous product with reduced apparent density keeps good mechanical properties. Extruded composites of poly(vinyl chloride) blown under microwave irradiation

New foaming method, enhanced by microwave irradiation, was elaborated and applied to obtain porous poly(vinyl chloride) and its composites with fine cell structure. The so called “thermal runaway” effect was observed during the heating of poly(vinyl chloride) under microwave irradiation. The temperature of this effect decreases as a result of additives incorporation into polymer matrix. Microwave irradiation allowed effective heating of extruded poly(vinyl chloride) and its composites with carbon black (CB) filler, behind the extruder head and decomposing azodicarbonamide (ADC) to obtain porous products. The use of CB additive to poly(vinyl chloride) significantly increased its ability to be heated under microwave irradiation as well as improved the cell structure and decreased the apparent density of final products.Among additionally used fillers (1 wt%) the montmorillonite caused the apparent density decrease of foamed materials ca. 10%, however beneficially influenced on the quality of cells structure, giving the products with isotropic cells and the highest cell density as well as keeping the tensile strength on similar level as in the case of the materials with CB and ADC only.     

Simulation numérique des détonations à double structure cellulaireNumerical simulation of detonations with double cellular structure

We present the results of numerical two-dimensional simulations of detonation cellular structures under non-monotonous heat release provided by a chemical reaction comprising two successive exothermic steps. The influence of the rate of the second step of chemical reaction on the detonation cellular structure has been investigated. Our simulations are the first that reproduce a cellular structure composed of two clearly distinct sets of cells with different characteristic sizes where fine cells completely fill up larger ones, as has been observed experimentally. To cite this article: V. Guilly et al., C. R. Mecanique 334 (2006).     

Novel prenylated and geranylated aromatic compounds isolated from Polysphondylium cellular slime molds

We have studied the diversity of secondary metabolites of cellular slime molds to utilize them as new biological resources for natural product chemistry. From the methanol extract of fruiting bodies of Polysphondylium tenuissimum, we obtained five prenylated and geranylated aromatic compounds, Pt-1-5 (1-5). An additional aromatic compound, Ppc-1 (6), was isolated from Polysphondylium pseudo-candidum. The structures of these compounds were determined by spectral analysis, and synthetic routes to 4, 5, and 6 were developed. Compound 5 showed the glucose consumption-promotive activity on 3T3-L1 cells.