Moment equations for a spatially extended system of two competing species

The dynamics of a spatially extended system of two competing species in the presence of two noise sources is studied. A correlated dichotomous noise acts on the interaction parameter and a multiplicative white noise affects directly the dynamics of the two species. To describe the spatial distribution of the species we use a model based on Lotka-Volterra (LV) equations. By writing them in a mean field form, the corresponding moment equations for the species concentrations are obtained in Gaussian approximation. In this formalism the system dynamics is analyzed for different values of the multiplicative noise intensity. Finally by comparing these results with those obtained by direct simulations of the time discrete version of LV equations, that is coupled map lattice (CML) model, we conclude that the anticorrelated oscillations of the species densities are strictly related to non-overlapping spatial patterns.     

Step structure on the fivefold Al-Pd-Mn quasicrystal surface, and on related surfaces

We compare step morphologies on surfaces of Al-rich metallic alloys, both quasicrystalline and crystalline. We present evidence that the large-scale step structure observed on Al-rich quasicrystals after quenching to room temperature reflects equilibrium structure at an elevated temperature. These steps are relatively rough, i.e., have high diffusivity, compared to those on crystalline surfaces. For the fivefold quasicrystal surface, step diffusivity increases as step height decreases, but this trend is not obeyed in a broader comparison between quasicrystals and crystals. On a shorter scale, the steps on Al-rich alloys tend to exhibit local facets (short linear segments), with different facet lengths, a feature which could develop during quenching to room temperature. Facets are shortest and most difficult to identify for the fivefold quasicrystal surface.     

Effect of Surfactant Type and Concentration on Surfactant Migration,Surface Tension,and Adhesion of Latex Films

The effect of surfactant type and concentration on the migration behavior of surfactant in a latex film was investigated. Two types of surfactant, including an anionic (sodium lauryl sulfate, SLS) and a non-ionic (nonylphenol ethoxylate, average number of ethylene oxide units = 40, NP-40) surfactant, were used in an emulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate butyl acrylate copolymer (MMA–BA). The total amount of surfactant was varied in three levels, i.e., 1.5, 3, and 4.5 wt%, and the surfactants were used both pure and in a mixture state. The surfactant migration to the film–air (F–A) and film–substrate (F–S) interfaces of the latex films was determined by using an attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) method. In addition, the adhesion of the latex films to glass substrates was measured by a pull-off test. The results showed that the migration of anionic surfactant to the interfaces was greater than the non-ionic one. It was also found that the use of non-ionic surfactant along with anionic surfactant could decrease the migration of the anionic surfactant to the interfaces.     

Edge-wave-driven durable variations in the thickness of the surfactant film and concentration of surface floats

By employing a simple model for small-scale linear edge waves propagating along a homogeneous sloping beach, we demonstrate that certain combinations of linear wave components may lead to durable changes in the thickness of the surfactant film, equivalently, in the concentration of various substances (debris, litter) floating on the water surface. Such changes are caused by high-amplitude transient elevations that resemble rogue waves and occur during dispersive focusing of wave fields with a continuous spectrum. This process can be treated as an intrinsic mechanism of production of patches in the surface layer of an otherwise homogeneous coastal environment impacted by linear edge waves.     

UV filter 2‐ethylhexyl 4‐methoxycinnamate: a structure,energetic and UV–vis spectral analysis based on density functional theory

2‐Ethylhexyl 4‐methoxycinnamate (EHMC) is a very commonly used UVB filter that is known to isomerize from the (E) to the (Z) isomer in the presence of light. In this study, we have performed high level quantum chemical calculations using density functional theory (DFT) with the B3LYP density functional and extended basis sets to study the gas‐phase molecular structure of EHMC and its energetic stability. Calculations were also performed for related smaller molecules cinnamic acid and 4‐methoxycinnamic acid. Charge delocalization has been analyzed using natural charges and Wiberg bond indexes within the natural bond orbital analysis and using nucleus independent chemical shifts. Density functional theory calculations reveal that the (E) isomer of EHMC is more stable than the (Z) by about 20 kJ mol^?1 in both the gas and aqueous phases. The enthalpy of formation in the gas phase of (E)‐EHMC was derived from an isodesmic bond separation reaction. Long‐range corrected DFT calculations in implicit water were made in order to understand the excited state properties of the (E) and (Z) isomers of EHMC. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Generation of minimally persistent circle formation for a multi-agent system

In this paper, two methods of generating minimally persistent circle formation are presented. The proposed methods adopt a leader-follower strategy and all followers are firstly motivated to move into the leader＇s interaction range. Based on the information about relative angle and relative distance, two numbering schemes are proposed to generate minimally persistent circle formation. Distributed control laws are also designed to maintain the desired relative distance between agents. The distinctive features of the proposed methods are as follows. First, only 2n - 3 unilateral communication links for n agents are needed during the circle formation process and thus the communication complexity can be reduced. In addition, the formation topology is kept fixed for the whole motion and achieves a self-stability property. Finally, each follower keeps a regualr interval with its neighbors and the formation converges to a uniform circle formation. Simulation results are also provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methods.     

Fairness in opinion dynamics

The opinion dynamics studies how a final consensus emerges from a diversified initial configuration. The final result can be an artifact arising in the voting processes and overlook the features of the initial configuration, which leads to the unfair result. We explore the concept of fairness in opinion dynamics and propose a quantitative measurement in a model system, which allows us to reach a final consensus reflecting impartially the major opinion. For a two-choice system, the unfairness alternates with the increase of meeting agents M. With an odd M, the fair results can be expected; with an even M, the unfairness decays monotonically with an increasing M. When the number of choices is larger than two, such an alternating is smeared out. The fairness at an odd M can no longer be reached. The unfairness increases a bit with the increasing number of choices. Similar M-dependence can be observed for different number of choices. We conclude that the number of choices plays a minor role in reaching a fair final consensus. The fairness is mainly controlled by the meeting size.     

Terahertz emission in tenuous gases irradiated by ultrashort laser pulses

Mechanism of terahertz (THz) pulse generation in gases irradiated by ultrashort laser pulses is investigated theoretically. Quasi-static transverse currents produced by laser field ionization of gases and the longitudinal modulation in formed plasmas are responsible for the THz emission at the electron plasma frequency, as demonstrated by particle-in-cell simulations including field ionization. The THz field amplitude scaling with the laser amplitude within a large range is also discussed.     

以最大原子密度定义合金相中的第一近邻团簇

本文提出利用不同壳层所包含的径向原子密度, 即单位体积内的原子个数随着径向的分布, 来方便而精确地定义团簇, 即具有最大径向原子密度的且表面呈现三角密堆结构的完整壳层为第一近邻团簇. 最后以Al-Ni-Zr合金相为例说明了该方法的合理性与适用性, 及此方法所定义的团簇与非晶形成的关系.     

基于动态溶胀法制备中空聚合物微球

以表面带正电荷的m级聚苯乙烯微球为种子,经过甲苯、二乙烯基苯溶胀,聚合与包覆等过程制备了直径约5 m的中空聚合物微球。研究了溶剂类型、溶剂用量对动态溶胀法制备的中空聚合物微球粒径、分布和结构的影响,讨论了中空聚合物微球的形成机理。结果表明:添加一定量甲苯、二甲苯等挥发性溶剂是动态溶胀法形成中空聚合物微球的前提;甲苯用量越多,溶胀后形成的中空结构越明显,孔径越大;选择低溶解性的二甲苯溶剂更有利于中空结构的形成。