Morphology,conductivity, and mechanical properties of polypyrrole-containing composites

An electrical-conducting polypropylene/polypyrrole (PP/PPy) composite was prepared by the chemically oxidative modification reaction of pyrrole on the surface of PP particles in suspension. Another type of PP/PPy composite was prepared by mixing the coated PP particles with noncoated PP particles at room temperature. The composites were processed by compression molding or by injection molding. The injection-molded composites exhibited better mechanical properties compared to compression-molded samples, while these composites showed better antistatic behavior and electrical conductivity. The differences in the behavior of the two types of composites were caused by the different structure of the PPy phase, which was studied by hot-stage optical microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).     

Diffusion,peer pressure,and tailed distributions

We present a general, physically motivated nonlinear and nonlocal advection equation in which the diffusion of interacting random walkers competes with a local drift arising from a kind of peer pressure. We show, using a mapping to an integrable dynamical system, that on varying a parameter the steady-state behavior undergoes a transition from the standard diffusive behavior to a localized stationary state characterized by a tailed distribution. Finally, we show that recent empirical laws on economic growth can be explained as a collective phenomenon due to peer pressure interaction.     

Percolation,morphogenesis, and burgers dynamics in blood vessels formation

Experiments of in vitro formation of blood vessels show that cells randomly spread on a gel matrix autonomously organize to form a connected vascular network. We propose a simple model which reproduces many features of the biological system. We show that both the model and the real system exhibit a fractal behavior at small scales, due to the process of migration and dynamical aggregation, followed at large scale by a random percolation behavior due to the coalescence of aggregates. The results are in good agreement with the analysis performed on the experimental data.     

Nucleon structure functions,resonance form factors,and duality

The behavior of nucleon structure functions in the resonance region is explored. For form factors that describe resonance production, expressions are obtained that are dependent on the photon virtuality Q², which have a correct threshold behavior, and which take into account available experimental data on resonance decay. Resonance contributions to nucleon structure functions are calculated. The resulting expressions are used to investigate quark-hadron duality in electron-nucleon scattering by taking the example of the structure function F₂.     

Phase equilibria of charge-, size-, and shape-asymmetric model electrolytes

The low-temperature phase behavior of two 2:1 hard-core electrolyte models has been investigated by Monte Carlo simulations. In the first model, both bivalent cations and monovalent anions are spherical, and the charges are located at the ion's centers; in the second model, bivalent cations are modeled as rigid dimers composed of two tangent hard spheres, each carrying a positive charge at the center. It is found that the critical temperature and the critical density are strongly affected by the size asymmetry and the shape of the ions. The results presented in this work provide insights into the behavior of charged colloidal suspensions and polyelectrolytes, where large, symmetric or asymmetric ionic species carrying like charges can attract each other and give rise to thermodynamically unstable conditions.     

Periodic orbit analysis demonstrates genetic constraints, variability, and switching in Drosophila courtship behavior

We use symbolic dynamics to describe Drosophila courtship communication. We posit that behavior should be defined in terms of irreducible periodic orbits of fundamental acts. This leads to a first operational definition of behavior, which allows for a fine grained quantitative analysis of behavior. We obtain evidence that during Drosophila courtship, individual characteristics of the protagonists are exchanged (predominantly from the male to the female) and that males in the presence of fruitless males perform a behavioral switch from male to female behavior.     

Sudden Jumps,Hysteresis, and Negative Resistance in an Argon Plasma Discharge. II. Discharges in Magnetic Fields

Experimental observations on the behavior of low-pressure, thermionic argon discharges in magnetic cusp and mirror configurations are presented. I–B characteristics showing jump and hysteresis behavior were found. In some cases, the sudden sharp decreases in discharge current that were observed were preceded by the onset of coherent, low-frequency plasma oscillations, suggesting the possible role of instabilities.     

Studying the mechanical behavior of a plastic, shock-resisting, antitank landmine

Modal behavior in landmines has recently become a topic of interest for acoustic landmine detection. It is well known that landmines exhibit mechanical resonance behavior that enhances the soil velocity over a buried landmine. Recent experimental work by Zagrai et al. [A. Zagrai, D. Donskoy, and A. Ekimov, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 118 (6), 3619-3628 (2005)] demonstrates the existence of structural modes in several landmines. The work reported herein parallels the work of Zagrai et al. in studying the structural modes of the pressure plate of a plastic, cylindrically symmetric, antitank landmine. The pressure plate is considered to act as an elastically supported thin elastic plate. An observed perturbation of the first symmetric mode of the pressure plate is caused by the landmine's shock-resisting mechanism. This is validated by a lumped element model for the first symmetric mode coupled to the shock-resisting mechanism.     

Structure,unelastic properties,and deformation behavior of ultrafine-grained titanium

The results of investigations into the structure, unelastic properties, deformation behavior, strength, and plasticity of ultrafine-grained titanium produced by equichannel angular pressing are discussed. Particlular emphasis has been placed on the grain-boundary unelasticity and the effects of external thermal and thermal-force actions on the deformation behavior and plastic deformation localization at the meso- and macroscale levels. The influence of cold plastic deformation of ultrafine-grained titanium on the grain-boundary unelasticity and temperature dependence of the mechanical properties is considered.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 9, pp. 33–43, September, 2004.     

Viscosity of Collagen Solutions: Influence of Concentration,Temperature, Adsorption,and Role of Intermolecular Interactions

An investigation of the influences of the adsorption, electrolyte, shear rate, and temperature on the viscometric behavior of collagen solutions was performed using a photoelectric viscometer. The experimental results showed an abnormal behavior of the reduced viscosity (η_sp/C) of dilute collagen solutions measured by a viscometer with or without a hydrophobic surface treatment; the reduced viscosity increased with decreasing concentration. This phenomenon can be completely eliminated by increasing the concentration of an added salt. It indicated that the abnormal viscosity resulted from a long-ranged, inter-molecular electrostatic force. The reduced viscosity decreased as the shear rate increased. The shear-thinning cavitation phenomenon resulted from the high aspect ratio of the collagen molecules. The reduced viscosity of the collagen solutions increased with an increase in temperature, which was due to the association of collagen molecules at high temperature.     

层层递进,妙趣横生——谈物理大师费恩曼的教学风格

以《费曼物理学讲义》中"量子行为"一章为例,研究费恩曼的物理教学风格;指出费恩曼"量子行为"的教学体现了层层递进,渐入佳境的教学特点.     

Exons, introns, and DNA thermodynamics

The genes of eukaryotes are characterized by protein coding fragments, the exons, interrupted by introns, i.e., stretches of DNA which do not carry useful information for protein synthesis. We have analyzed the melting behavior of randomly selected human cDNA sequences obtained from genomic DNA by removing all introns. A clear correspondence is observed between exons and melting domains. This finding may provide new insights into the physical mechanisms underlying the evolution of genes.     

Diffusion-induced instability in chemically reacting systems: Steady-state multiplicity,oscillation, and chaos

The dynamical behavior of two coupled cells or reactors is described. The cells are coupled by diffusion, e.g., through a semipermeable membrane, and the chemical reactions and initial or feed concentrations of all species are the same in the two cells. Each cell has only a single stable steady state in the absence of coupling, and the coupled system may exhibit multiple steady states, periodic oscillation, or chaos. The attractors of the coupled system may be either homogeneous (the two cells have equal concentrations) or inhomogeneous. Three two-variable kinetic models are examined: the Brusselator, a model of the chlorine dioxide-iodine-malonic acid reaction, and the Degn-Harrison model. The dynamical behavior of the coupled system is determined by the nonlinearities in the uncoupled subsystems and by two ratios, that of the diffusion constants of the two species and that of the area of the membrane to the product of the membrane thickness and the volume of a cell.     

Direct imaging of Cu dimer formation, motion, and interaction with Cu atoms on Ag(111)

We have investigated the formation and motion of copper adatoms and addimers on Ag(111) between 6 and 25 K with low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy. The presence of atoms and dimers alters the motion of atoms and dimers via the long-range interaction mediated by the electrons in the two-dimensional surface state band. Above 16 K, dimers show quantum rotor behavior with altered rotational behavior in the presence of an additional adatom. The most favorable diffusional motion of the dimer is identified in combination with molecular dynamics calculations to be a zigzag out-of-cell motion starting above 24 K.     

Symbolic dynamics of one-dimensional maps: Entropies,finite precision,and noise

In the study of nonlinear physical systems, one encounters apparently random or chaotic behavior, although the systems may be completely deterministic. Applying techniques from symbolic dynamics to maps of the interval, we compute two measures of chaotic behavior commonly employed in dynamical systems theory: the topological and metric entropies. For the quadratic logistic equation, we find that the metric entropy converges very slowly in comparison to maps which are strictly hyperbolic. The effects of finite precision arithmetric and external noise on chaotic behavior are characterized with the symbolic dynamics entropies. Finally, we discuss the relationship of these measures of chaos to algorithmic complexity, and use algorithmic information theory as a framework to discuss the construction of models for chaotic dynamics.     

Black swans,power laws,and dragon-kings: Earthquakes,volcanic eruptions,landslides, wildfires,floods, and SOC models

Extreme events that change global society have been characterized as black swans. The frequency-size distributions of many natural phenomena are often well approximated by power-law (fractal) distributions. An important question is whether the probability of extreme events can be estimated by extrapolating the power-law distributions. Events that exceed these extrapolations have been characterized as dragon-kings. In this paper we consider extreme events for earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, wildfires, landslides and floods. We also consider the extreme event behavior of three models that exhibit self-organized criticality (SOC): the slider-block, forest-fire, and sand-pile models. Since extrapolations using power-laws are widely used in probabilistic hazard assessment, the occurrence of dragon-king events have important practical implications.     

The Van Vleck formula,Maslov theory,and phase space geometry

The Van Vleck formula is an approximate, semiclassical expression for the quantum propagator. It is the starting point for the derivation of the Gutzwiller trace formula, and through this, a variety of other expansions representing eigenvalues, wave functions, and matrix elements in terms of classical periodic orbits. These are currently among the best and most promising theoretical tools for understanding the asymptotic behavior of quantum systems whose classical analogs are chaotic. Nevertheless, there are currently several questions remaining about the meaning and validity of the Van Vleck formula, such as those involving its behavior for long times. This article surveys an important aspect of the Van Vleck formula, namely, the relationship between it and phase space geometry, as revealed by Maslov's theory of wave asymptotics. The geometrical constructions involved are developed with a minimum of mathematical formalism.     

Spectroscopic study of optical centers formed in Bi-, Pb-, Sb-, Sn-, Te-, and In-doped germanate glasses

We have shown that the broadband near-IR (NIR) fluorescence recently discovered in Bi-doped glasses is not specific due solely to Bi ions. Glasses doped with different 6p (Bi, Pb) and 5p (Sn, Sb) ions exhibit very similar behavior characterized by four major spectral peaks observed in two-dimensional excitation-emission plots and the lifetime of metastable level of about 400 mus. Our results challenge the existing models of optical centers in Bi-doped glasses. Point defect optical centers caused by the presence of 6p (Bi, Pb) and 5p (Sn, Sb) ions are proposed for the explanation of NIR emission in these laser materials.     

Effects of sample history,time, and temperature on the sorption of monomer vapor by PVC

The sorption of vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) vapor by poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) resin powders has been studied as a function of time, VCM pressure, temperature, and previous PVC history. In fine powders, sorption occurs in two separable stages, a rapid Fickean diffusion and a slow relaxation-controlled process. Hysteresis in interval sorption-desorption experiments and variable resorption behavior can be related to the relaxation-controlled process. The amount of VCM sorbed shows a pronounced variation with postpolymerization thermal history of the PVC sample; this effect seems to result from the freezing-in of differing “hole volumes” under varied conditions of glassification. The heat of VCM sorption by glassy PVC, ?4.3 kcal/mole, is nearly equal to the heat of condensation of VCM. The complex dependence of sorption behavior upon experimental variables can reasonably be interpreted as reflecting changes in hole volume with postpolymerization history.     

Monopoles, magnetricity, and the stray field from spin ice

An analysis is presented of the behavior of muons in the low-temperature state in spin ice. It is shown in detail how the behavior observed in some previous muon experiments on spin ice in a weak transverse field may result from the macroscopic stray field of magnetized spin ice. A model is presented which allows these macroscopic field effects to be simulated and the results agree with experiment. The persistent spin dynamics at low temperature originate from the sample and could be a muon-induced implantation effect that is operative in out-of-equilibrium systems with long relaxation times.