A mathematical model for the admission process in intensive care units

A mathematical model is given for the admission process in Intensive Care Units (ICUs). It is shown that the model exhibits bistability for certain values of its parameters. In particular, it is observed that in a two-dimensional parameter space, two saddle-node bifurcation curves terminate at a single point of the cusp bifurcation, creating an enclosed region in which the model has one unstable and two stable states. It is shown that in the presence of bistability, variations in the value of parameters may lead to undesired outcomes in the admission process as the value of state variables abruptly changes. Using numerical simulations, it is also discussed how such outcomes can be avoided by appropriately adjusting the parameter values.     

Asymptotic behaviour of a quasilinear hyperbolic equation with hysteresis

The paper deals with the asymptotic behaviour of the solution of a quasilinear hyperbolic equation with hysteresis. A stability result for solution in L¹(Ω) is derived by the nonlinear semigroup approach.     

A new ferromagnetic hysteresis model for soft magnetic composite materials

A new ferromagnetic hysteresis model for soft magnetic composite materials based on their specific properties is presented. The model relies on definition of new anhysteretic magnetization based on the Cauchy-Lorentz distribution describing the maximum energy state of magnetic moments in material. Specific properties of soft magnetic composite materials (SMC) such as the presence of the bonding material, different sizes and shapes of the Fe particles, level of homogeneity of the Fe particles at the end of the SMC product treatment, and achieved overall material density during compression, are incorporated in both the anhysteretic differential magnetization susceptibility and the irreversible differential magnetization susceptibility. Together they form the total differential magnetization susceptibility that defines the new ferromagnetic hysteresis model. Genetic algorithms are used to determine the optimal values of the proposed model parameters. The simulated results show good agreement with the measured results.     

The effect of polymer type on electric breakdown strength on a nanosecond time scale

Based on the concepts of fast polarization, effective electric field and electron impact ionization criterion, the effect of polymer type on electric breakdown strength (E_BD) on a nanosecond time scale is investigated, and a formula that qualitatively characterizes the relation between the electric breakdown strength and the polymer type is derived. According to this formula, it is found that the electric breakdown strength decreases with an increase in the effective relative dielectric constants of the polymers. By calculating the effective relative dielectric constants for different types of polymers, the theoretical relation for the electric breakdown strengths of common polymers is predicted. To verify the prediction, the polymers of PE (polyethylene), PTFE (polytetrafluoroethelene), PMMA (organic glass) and Nylon are tested with a nanosecond-pulse generator. The experimental result shows E_BD (PTFE) > E_BD (PMMA) > E_BD (Nylon) > E_BD (PE). This result is consistent with the theoretical prediction.     

Harmonic generations in coupled quantum wells with few-cycle pulses

When few-cycle laser field propagates in an asymmetric coupled quantum well by solving the Maxwell-Bloch equations, not only the odd harmonic generations but also the even harmonic generations can be found. Interestingly, when the system is the inversion symmetric by adjusting the right well width, a peak near the position of second harmonic generation will be obtained. The origin of the new phenomenon is the sidebands effects and the resonance enhancement.     

Nano-structured Fabry–Pérot resonators in neutron optics & tunneling of neutron wave-particles

Correlated to the quantum mechanics wave-particle duality, the optical analogy between electromagnetic waves and cold neutrons manifests itself through several interference phenomena particularly the so called Frustrated Total Reflection i.e., the tunneling process in Fabry–Pérot nano-structured cavities. Prominent resonant situations offered by this configuration allow the attainment of numerous fundamental investigations and surface-interface studies as well as to devise new kinds of neutron optics devices. This review contribution reports such possibilities in addition to the recently observed peculiar Goos–Hänchen longitudinal shift of neutron wave-particles which was predicted by Sir Isaac Newton as early as 1730.     

Soft mode dispersion and ‘waterfall’ phenomenon in relaxors revisited

Results of recent inelastic neutron scattering studies of lead-based relaxor ferroelectrics by Gvasaliya et al. [J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 17, 4343 (2005); J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 19, 016219 (2007)] have put in question the existence of the “waterfall” anomaly–an apparent vertical dispersion segment joining the TA and TO branches–observed earlier in low-energy [ξ00] phonon dispersion curves of these materials. In the present article, we review the results of earlier experiments and model calculations together with the outcome of our recent measurements on PMN using the same instrumental set-up as Gvasaliya et al. to conclude that the “waterfall” feature is not an experimental artefact. We also give some hints on a possible explanation of the results of Gvasaliya et al., by exploring the fact that the reported dispersion of the underdamped transverse optic branch follows the longitudinal acoustic (LA) branch dispersion surprisingly closely.     

Hysteresis behavior in Raman intensities in YBa2Cu3O7-y -family superconductors between T c and T o = 234 K

The intensity of the 646 cm^-1 Raman line in YBa₂Cu_3-x V _x O_7-y has been measured for cooling and heating from 77 K to 234 K. The intensity exhibits intensity hysteresis of order 20% in the cooling versus heating values between T _c = 89 K and T _o = 234 K. This effect is unexplained but is extremely similar to that reported by Ledbetter et al. for the bulk modulus and C ₁₁ elastic coefficient. In each case the hysteresis vanishes below T _c , independent of the value of T _c , which may be adjusted from 60 K to 94 K by changing oxygen concentration y. Qualitative interpretation requires that the structural phase transition near 234 K be intimately related to the superconducting transition at T _c presumably through partial ordering of oxygens.     

电化学刻蚀法制备LaB6场发射微尖锥阵列

采用电化学刻蚀方法,成功制备出单尖的六硼化镧、钼、钨及钨铼合金场发射冷阴极尖锥,并对这几种场发射单尖锥阴极的电子发射性能进行了测试比较.结果表明,LaB₆作为场发射阴极,具有良好的发射性能和稳定性.在〈111〉面单晶LaB₆基片上,用PECVD法沉积非晶硅作掩膜,制备出具有一定高度的LaB₆微尖锥场发射阵列,结果发现,LaB₆基底较为平整,尖锥阵列呈现出各向异性.该结论对LaB₆材料在场发射阴极方面的进一步研究具有重要的指导意义.     

High nonlinearities in Langevin transducer: a comprehensive model

The design and simulation of power transducers are difficult since piezoelectric, dielectric and elastic properties of ferroelectric materials differ from linear behavior when driven at large levels. This paper is devoted to modeling of a resonant power transducer at a high level of dynamic mechanical stress. The power transducer is subjected to a sine electrical field E of varying frequency which was considered as the excitation of the transducer.The mechanical equation of the piezoelectric element is written using electrostriction. The dielectric part is written as a nonlinear function of an equivalent electric field including stress influence (scaling relationship between electric field and mechanical stress). Using various simulations, we show then that typical resonance nonlinearities are obtained, such as jump phenomenon of transducer speed amplitude and phase, resonance peak that become asymmetric, and diminution of mechanical quality factor. As a consequence, we state that those typical nonlinearities are only due to dielectric nonlinearities, in good correlation with typical ferroelectric behavior. Moreover, this demonstrates the usefulness of scaling relationships in ferroelectrics, which explain static depoling under stress and butterfly strain hysteresis loop. The same scaling law gives here several nonlinearities for resonant transducers as well.