Mean-Field Analysis of the q-Voter Model on Networks

We present a detailed investigation of the behavior of the nonlinear q-voter model for opinion dynamics. At the mean-field level we derive analytically, for any value of the number q of agents involved in the elementary update, the phase diagram, the exit probability and the consensus time at the transition point. The mean-field formalism is extended to the case that the interaction pattern is given by generic heterogeneous networks. We finally discuss the case of random regular networks and compare analytical results with simulations.     

Hardware-in-the-loop simulation of wave energy converters based on dielectric elastomer generators

Dielectric elastomer generators (DEGs) are soft electrostatic generators based on low-cost electroactive polymer materials. These devices have attracted the attention of the marine energy community as a promising solution to implement economically viable wave energy converters (WECs). This paper introduces a hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulation framework for a class of WECs that combines the concept of the oscillating water columns (OWCs) with the DEGs. The proposed HIL system replicates in a laboratory environment the realistic operating conditions of an OWC/DEG plant, while drastically reducing the experimental burden compared to wave tank or sea tests. The HIL simulator is driven by a closed-loop real-time hydrodynamic model that is based on a novel coupling criterion which allows rendering a realistic dynamic response for a diversity of scenarios, including large scale DEG plants, whose dimensions and topologies are largely different from those available in the HIL setup. A case study is also introduced, which simulates the application of DEGs on an OWC plant installed in a mild real sea laboratory test-site. Comparisons with available real sea-test data demonstrated the ability of the HIL setup to effectively replicate a realistic operating scenario. The insights gathered on the promising performance of the analysed OWC/DEG systems pave the way to pursue further sea trials in the future.

     

Semi-preparative HPLC purification of δ-tocotrienol (δ-T3) from Elaeis guineensis Jacq. and Bixa orellana L. and evaluation of its in vitro anticancer activity in human A375 melanoma cells

In this work, we report a rapid and convenient HPLC-UV-DAD method for the isolation of δ-T3 on semi-preparative scale from two different vitamin E rich processed, commercially available products obtained from the fruits of Elaeis guineensis Jacq. (oil palm) and from the seeds of Bixa orellana L. (achiote tree). Chromatography was run using reverse phase (RP) C-18 columns and HPLC-grade acetonitrile as mobile phase. The purity of the isolated δ-T3, assessed by GC–MS and ¹H NMR was above 98%. The δ-T3 cytotoxic activity found in vitro against the proliferation of human A375 melanoma cells compared to that of the other δ-T3 free tocols mixture suggest its primary role in the experimental anticancer activity observed for palm oil derived products. Taken altogether, the results of this study highlight the importance of the application of suitable purification systems for the preparations of tocotrienols prior to their experimental or clinical testing.     

The process e + e − → bb̅W + W − at the next linear collider in the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model

The complete matrix element for e ⁺ e^? → bb?W⁺ W^? is computed at tree-level within the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model. Rates of interest to phenomenological analyses at the Next Linear Collider are given. In particular, we study:

• ? tt? production and decay tt? →(bW ⁺)(b?W ^?)
• ? ZH production followed by Z → bb? and H → W ⁺ W^?
• ? AH production followed by A→ bb? and H → W ⁺ W^?
• ? hW ⁺ W^? production followed by h→ bb?.

Top and Higgs finite width effects are included, as well as all those of the irreducible backgrounds.     

Formation of planar optical waveguides in the new nonlinear gadolinium calcium oxoborate, Ca(4)GdO(BO(3))(3), crystal by 2-MeV He(+) implantation

A planar waveguide composed of the new nonlinear material, Ca(4)GdO(BO(3))(3) (GdCOB), is reported. This crystal belongs to the calcium oxoborate family. It has attractive nonlinear properties that can be of great interest in integrated optics applications. We used a method of He(+) implantation to fabricate waveguides in GdCOB crystals by creating a buried layer of lowered refractive index a few micrometers beneath the surface. Both TE and TM modes were observed. Therefore, according to the Y cut of the crystal, refractive-index values of n(x) , n(y) , and n(z) were obtained. Index profiles were reconstructed by an improved inverse WKB method. The profiles showed a steplike index behavior, indicating that the guiding region obtained was of good optical quality.     

Thermally induced self-focusing and optical beam interactions in planar strontium barium niobate waveguides

We present an experimental study of thermally induced self-focusing effects and interactions of incoherent light beams in strontium barium niobate waveguides. Depending on the input power, a single parallel beam is strongly focused inside the sample up to diameters of several micrometers. For higher input power we observe the splitting of the beam in a sequence of several spots. We demonstrate that these thermally induced refractive-index patterns can be used to focus and deflect an incoherent guided probe beam in the waveguide with time constants below 1 ms.     

Fatty acid composition and volatile compounds of caviar from farmed white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus)

The present study was conducted to characterize caviar obtained from farmed white sturgeons (Acipenser transmontanus) subjected to different dietary treatments. Twenty caviar samples from fish fed two experimental diets containing different dietary lipid sources have been analysed for chemical composition, fatty acids and flavour volatile compounds. Fatty acid make up of caviar was only minimally influenced by dietary fatty acid composition. Irrespective of dietary treatments, palmitic acid (16:0) and oleic acid (OA, 18:1 n-9) were the most abundant fatty acid followed by docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6 n-3) and eicopentaenoic (EPA, 20:5 n-3). Thirty-three volatile compounds were isolated using simultaneous distillation-extraction (SDE) and identified by GC-MS. The largest group of volatiles were represented by aldehydes with 20 compounds, representing the 60% of the total volatiles. n-Alkanals, 2-alkenals and 2,4-alkadienals are largely the main responsible for a wide range of flavours in caviar from farmed white surgeon.     

Analytic Dependence is an Unnecessary Requirement in Renormalization of Locally Covariant QFT

Finite renormalization freedom in locally covariant quantum field theories on curved spacetime is known to be tightly constrained, under certain standard hypotheses, to the same terms as in flat spacetime up to finitely many curvature dependent terms. These hypotheses include, in particular, locality, covariance, scaling, microlocal regularity and continuous and analytic dependence on the metric and coupling parameters. The analytic dependence hypothesis is somewhat unnatural, because it requires that locally covariant observables (which are simultaneously defined on all spacetimes) depend continuously on an arbitrary metric, with the dependence strengthened to analytic on analytic metrics. Moreover the fact that analytic metrics are globally rigid makes the implementation of this requirement at the level of local \({*}\)-algebras of observables rather technically cumbersome. We show that the conditions of locality, covariance, scaling and a naturally strengthened microlocal spectral condition, are actually sufficient to constrain the allowed finite renormalizations equally strongly, thus eliminating both the continuity and the somewhat unnatural analyticity hypotheses. The key step in the proof uses the Peetre–Slovák theorem on the characterization of (in general non-linear) differential operators by their locality and regularity properties.