Measurement of the total and differential cross sections for the reaction π − p → ηn with the Crystal Ball detector

The first results obtained in 1998 by the Crystal Ball collaboration from a measurement of the total and differential cross sections for the reaction π ^? p → ηn are presented. These new experimental results for the total cross sections are compared with the predictions of the K-matrix model for pion-nucleon scattering. The angular distribution at momenta near the reaction threshold (685 MeV/c) is determined by the S-wave contribution. The P-wave contribution begins to manifest itself from a momentum of 720 MeV/c.     

Determining the effective parameters of a Shallow-Water bottom from wideband signal spectra under conditions of hydrodynamic variability

We propose a method for determining the effective parameters of the upper marine sediment layer on extended tracks from the spectra of wideband signals in conditions of hydrodynamic variability. As an example, we consider the Shallow Water 2006 experiment on the Atlantic shelf of the United States, which used signals with a band of 300 ± 30 Hz received by a vertical array. The length of the track was ~20 km at a sea depth of ~80 m. Frequency-mode analysis of the received signals showed that spatiotemporal fluctuations of the wave medium lead to random changes in mode amplitudes while retaining the relative stability of the mode phase difference. This is the basis of the proposed method, which makes it possible to determine the track-averaged values of the sound velocity in the bottom and density of the bottom under conditions of hydrodynamic variability.     

Towards an engineering-oriented strategy for building microbial anodes for microbial fuel cells

The objective of the work was to give some first insight into an engineering-oriented approach to MFC design by focusing on anode optimisation. The effect of various parameters was firstly investigated in half cell set-ups under well-controlled conditions. Microbial anodes were formed from soil leachate under polarisation at -0.2 V vs. SCE with different concentrations of substrate, salt and buffer. It was shown that non-turnover CV could be used to assess the electroactive maturity of the anodes during polarisation. This first phase resulted in the definition of a set of optimal parameter values. In the second phase, an optimal anode was formed in a half-cell under the defined optimal conditions. A numerical approach was then developed to calculate the theoretical maximum power that the anode could provide in an ideal MFC. The concept of "ideal MFC" introduced here allowed the theoretical maximum power to be calculated on the sole basis of the kinetic characteristics of the anode. Finally, a MFC designed in the aim of approaching such ideal conditions generated stable power densities of 6.0 W m(-2), which were among the highest values reported so far. The discrepancy between the theoretical maximum (8.9 W m(-2)) and the experimental results pointed out some limit due to the source of inoculum and suggested possible paths to improvement.     

Temperature dependence of liquid volume

It is shown that the temperature dependence of the liquid volume is well described by the equation $ V = A + BT + CT^2 + V_e \exp ( - E/RT), $ V = A + BT + CT^2 + V_e \exp ( - E/RT), where A, B, C, V _e , and E are constants. This equation reflects two processes owing to which the liquid volume increases with temperature, namely, anharmonic oscillations of molecules and formation of “holes.”     

On the utilization of acoustic diffraction in monitoring cetaceans

An active acoustic technique for monitoring the whales is proposed. The technique allows one to monitor the whales’ crossing of a conventional borderline extending for several tens of kilometers in a shallow-water area. The potentialities of the technique are demonstrated in the framework of a numerical experiment by solving the problem of diffraction by model scatterers in an acoustic waveguide. The scatterers are selected in the form of soft spheroids with dimensions characteristic of various kinds of cetaceans.     

Matrix method of asymptotic integration of a system of linear ordinary differential equations with one elementary divisor of arbitrary multiplicity

We use N.N. Moiseev’s idea for the integration. His substitution is modified and rewritten in matrix form, after which the exposition becomes theoretically justified and clear. The terms of the asymptotic series are computed consecutively (without quadratures) by a recursive formula.     

Geobacter species enhances pit depth on 304L stainless steel in a medium lacking with electron donor

Geobacter sulfurreducens bacteria increased the open circuit potential of 304L stainless steel by around 320 mV in only a few hours after inoculation. This represents a significant increase in the corrosion risk. In contrast, the oxidation of acetate, which is catalysed by well-established biofilms, shifted the pitting potential towards positive values. In acetate-lacking media, pitting occurred with and without bacteria in the same range of potential values, but the presence of bacteria drastically increased the size of pits. AFM showed pits more than 10 times broader and deeper due to the presence of bacteria.In the absence of acetate, the masking effect due to acetate oxidation disappeared and the full corrosive effect of the biofilm was revealed.This also fully explains why pitting was predominantly observed close to surface areas where bacterial settlement was the densest.     

Acoustic effects caused by high-intensity internal waves in a shelf zone

The sound field fluctuations caused by high-intensity, solitonlike, quasi-plane internal waves crossing a fixed acoustic path at different angles are numerically modeled for natural conditions of the shelf zone of the Sea of Japan. The horizontal refraction of sound is considered for the case of an acoustic path parallel to the internal wave front.     

Evolution of the Pd-Ta-H alloy structure in the Edwards thermodynamic representation

It is shown that the time evolution of x-ray diffraction patterns of a deformed Pd-Ta alloy after its saturation with hydrogen can be determined by the multiwell energy profile of the states of the system. Within the Lorenz synergetic approach, a phenomenological model is proposed in which the evolution of the alloy structure is represented as a random walk of the nonergodic system from one internal-energy minimum to another. In this case, the order parameter is the fraction of states with minimum energy occupied by the system, the conjugate field is associated with the Edwards entropy, and the control parameter is the internal energy. The evolution of the Pd-Ta-H alloy structure is interpreted as that of a complex nonergodic system in terms of thermodynamics.     

Characteristics of the diffraction of acoustic waves in stratified sound channels

The results of calculations performed in the framework of the approximate approach developed by the authors are presented for the diffraction of sound waves by a stiff spheroid in an acoustic waveguide. The scattered sound field is analyzed as a function of the following parameters of the problem: the spheroid dimensions, its position relative to the sound source and the receiver, the vertical profile of sound velocity in the waveguide, and the acoustic parameters of the waveguide bottom.