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At least 1,801 records · Page 100

Can Dirac quantization of constrained systems be fulfilled within the intrinsic geometry?

For particles constrained on a curved surface, how to perform quantization within Dirac’s canonical quantization scheme is a long-standing problem. On one hand, Dirac stressed that the Cartesian coordinate system has fundamental importance in passing from the classical Hamiltonian to its quantum mechanical form while preserving the classical algebraic structure between positions, momenta and Hamiltonian to the extent possible. On the other, on the curved surface, we have no exact Cartesian coordinate system within intrinsic geometry. These two facts imply that the three-dimensional Euclidean space in which the curved surface is embedded must be invoked otherwise no proper canonical quantization is attainable. In this paper, we take a minimum surface, helicoid, on which the motion is constrained, to explore whether the intrinsic geometry offers a proper framework in which the quantum theory can be established in a self-consistent way. Results show that not only an inconsistency within Dirac theory occurs, but also an incompatibility with Schrödinger theory happens. In contrast, in three-dimensional Euclidean space, the Dirac quantization turns out to be satisfactory all around, and the resultant geometric momentum and potential are then in agreement with those given by the Schrödinger theory. -- Highlights: • Quantum motion on a minimum surface, helicoid, is examined within canonical quantization. • Both geometric momentum and geometric potential are embedding quantities. • No canonical quantization can be fulfilled within the intrinsic geometry.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Geometrical aspects on the dark matter problem

In the present paper we apply Nash’s theory of perturbative geometry to the study of dark matter gravity in a higher-dimensional space–time. It is shown that the dark matter gravitational perturbations at local scale can be explained by the extrinsic curvature of the standard cosmology. In order to test our model, we use a spherically symmetric metric embedded in a five-dimensional bulk. As a result, considering a sample of 10 low surface brightness and 6 high surface brightness galaxies, we find a very good agreement with the observed rotation curves of smooth hybrid alpha-HI measurements. - Highlights: • The metric perturbation and the embedding lead naturally to a “brane-world”-like higher dimensional structure. • Nash’s theorem as a cornerstone of the formation of geometrical structures. • The dark matter gravitational perturbations at local scale can be explained by the extrinsic curvature. • A good agreement was found with the observed rotation curves of smooth hybrid alpha-HI measurements.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Anisotropic stars for spherically symmetric spacetimes satisfying the Karmarkar condition

A new class of solution describing an anisotropic stellar configuration satisfying Karmarkar’s condition i.e. spherically symmetric metric of embedding class 1, is reported. It has been shown that the compact star model is physically well-behaved and meet all the physical requirements for a stable configuration in hydrostatic equilibrium. Our model describes compact stars like Vela X-1 and 4U1608-52 to a very good approximation. - Highlights: • We consider the Einstein field equations for spherically symmetric spacetimes of embedding class one. • We explore the Karmarkar condition for spherically symmetric, bounded matter configurations. • The Karmarkar condition reduces the solution-generating method to the Einstein field equations to a single metric function. • By specifying this metric function we generate physically plausible stellar configurations with anisotropic pressure.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Anomalous elasticity, fluctuations and disorder in elastic membranes

Motivated by freely suspended graphene and polymerized membranes in soft and biological matter we present a detailed study of a tensionless elastic sheet in the presence of thermal fluctuations and quenched disorder. The manuscript is based on an extensive draft dating back to 1993, that was circulated privately. It presents the general theoretical framework and calculational details of numerous results, partial forms of which have been published in brief Letters (Le Doussal and Radzihovsky, 1992; 1993). The experimental realization atom-thin graphene sheets (Novoselov et al., 2004) have driven a resurgence in this fascinating subject, making our dated predictions and their detailed derivations timely. To this end we analyze the statistical mechanics of a generalized D-dimensional elastic “membrane” embedded in d dimensions using a self-consistent screening approximation (SCSA), that has proved to be unprecedentedly accurate in this system, exact in three complementary limits: (i) d→∞, (ii) D→4, and (iii) D=d. Focusing on the critical “flat” phase, for a homogeneous two-dimensional (D=2) membrane embedded in three dimensions (d=3), we predict its universal roughness exponent ζ=0.590, length-scale dependent elastic moduli exponents η=0.821 and η{sub u}=0.358, and an anomalous Poisson ratio, σ = - 1/3. In the presence of random uncorrelated heterogeneity the membrane exhibits a glassy wrinkled ground state, characterized by ζ'=0.775,η' = 0.449,η{sub u}'=1.101 and a Poisson ratio σ ' = - 1/3. Motivated by a number of physical realizations (charged impurities, disclinations and dislocations) we also study power-law correlated quenched disorder that leads to a variety of distinct glassy wrinkled phases. Finally, neglecting self-avoiding interaction we demonstrate that at high temperature a “phantom” sheet undergoes a continuous crumpling transition, characterized by a radius of gyration exponent, ν=0.732 and η=0.535. Many of these universal predictions have received considerable support from simulations. We hope that this detailed presentation of the SCSA theory will be useful to further theoretical developments and corresponding experimental investigations on freely suspended graphene.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

A generalized family of anisotropic compact object in general relativity

Highlights: • We present model for anisotropic compact star under general relativity. • Here a 4-dimensional spacetime is embedded into the 5-dimensional flat metric. • The spherically symmetric metric has class 1 under which solution set is obtained. • Interesting and physically viable results are found out. • Investigations on the physical features of the model are performed. - Abstract: We present model for anisotropic compact star under the general theory of relativity of Einstein. In the study a 4-dimensional spacetime has been considered which is embedded into the 5-dimensional flat metric so that the spherically symmetric metric has class 1. A set of solutions for the field equations are found depending on the index n involved in the physical parameters. The interior solutions have been matched smoothly at the boundary of the spherical distribution to the exterior Schwarzschild solution which necessarily provides values of the unknown constants. We have chosen the values of n as n=2 and n=10 to 20000 for which interesting and physically viable results can be found out. The investigations on the physical features of the model include several astrophysical issues, like (i) regularity behaviour of stars at the centre, (ii) well behaved condition for velocity of sound, (iii) energy conditions, (iv) stability of the system via the following three techniques — adiabatic index, Herrera cracking concept and TOV equation, (v) total mass, effective mass and compactification factor and (vi) surface redshift. Specific numerical values of the compact star candidates LMC X-4 and SMC X-1 are calculated for central and surface densities as well as central pressure to compare the model value with actual observational data.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Gravastars in (3+1) dimensions admitting Karmarkar condition

Highlights: • Model of Gravastar in (3+1) dimensions is studied under GR. • Karmarkar condition of Embedding class 1 has been incorporated. • The class 1 condition provides an exact solution of three regions of gravastar. • Surface redshift confirms the stability of the model which is non-singular. - Abstract: The development of gravastar model by Mazur and Mottola (2004) is one of the most acceptable alternatives of conventional classical black hole. They have studied phase transition of the collapsing stellar objects at low temperature near event horizon which leads to the condensate phase, i.e. Bose–Einstein condensation. In the present study we have obtained a unique solution of this gravastar model under Einstein’s GR in (3+1) dimensions by incorporating the Karmarkar condition for embedding class 1. The most important motive of this work is to find an exact solution of the shell without taking the thin shell approximation. We have obtained singularity free finite solutions for the interior of the gravastar.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Mn- and N- doped carbon as promising catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction: Theoretical prediction and experimental validation

Development of platinum group metal (PGM)-free as well as iron-free electrocatalysts is imperative to achieve low-cost and long-term durability of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. Here in this paper, we combined computational and experimental studies to investigate the mechanism, activity, and durability of Mn and N co-doped carbon (denoted as Mn-N-C) as promising catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in challenging acid medium. The first-principles density functional theory calculations predict that it is favorable for O 2 to be reduced into H 2 O via four-electron pathway on MnN 4 sites embedded in carbon layer. Using the reaction energies calculated from DFT, microkinetic analysis predicts that the MnN 4 sites could catalyze ORR with a half-wave potential only 60 mV lower than that of Pt (111) and 80 mV lower than that of the FeN 4 sites embedded in carbon layer, assuming the same density of active sites in the catalysts. Motivated by the computational prediction, we synthesized a Mn-N-C catalyst using a polymer (i.e., polyaniline-PANI) hydrogel precursors via a high temperature approach. Structural characterization indicates that atomically dispersed Mn sites coordinated with N are very likely formed in the catalyst. Electrochemical measurements show that the synthesized Mn-N-C catalyst can promote four-electron ORR with a catalytic activity in acids comparable to that of the Fe-N-C catalyst prepared using the same procedure. More importantly, the Mn-N-C catalyst exhibits superior potential cyclic stability, only losing 20 mV after 10000 cycles (0.6 to 1.0 V in O 2 saturated electrolyte). In comparison, the Fe-N-C catalyst would loss 80 mV after only 5000 cycles under the same testing conditions. Our computational and experimental results strongly suggest that the Mn and N co-doped carbon could be promising high-performance catalysts for ORR in acidic medium.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

High spatial resolution temperature profile measurements of solid-oxide fuel cells

Temperature gradients resulting from local electrochemical reactions, current distribution and geometry of gas flow channels in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) create thermal stresses, localized thermophysical property gradients and uneven property evolution, contributing to SOFC degradation. This paper presents a new method to perform temperature measurements (up to 800°C) at high spatial resolutions to monitor the operation of SOFCs. Using femtosecond laser irradiation, distributed fiber sensors were hardened for high temperature environment applications. Distributed fiber sensors were embedded in interconnected plates using an additive manufacturing method to perform temperature measurements with 4-mm spatial resolution during the operation of a planar fuel cell. The measurement revealed the impact of various H 2 fuel concentrations and current loads have on temperature profiles of the SOFC tested. Temperature variation on the anode side was found to be less than 5°C, and 3°C on the cathode side. The measurements were compared to results from a multiphysics fuel cell performance model simulating similar conditions. These simulations predicted similar temperature gradients, indicating the experimental data obtained is reasonable. The model also predicts that the effect of the embedded sensor has on the local temperature will be minimal and that the gradient of temperature in the gas channels will be captured despite the separation between the sensor and the gas flow. Finally, the high spatial resolution data harnessed by these distributed fiber sensors provides experimental support for model-based design and optimization to improve the operational efficiency and longevity of solid oxide fuel cells and fuel cell assemblies.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Multi-objective design of microvascular panels for battery cooling applications

Building on a recently developed optimization method based on an interface-enriched generalized finite element method, multiple objective functions are considered for the optimization of 2D networks of microchannels embedded in battery-cooling panels. The objective functions considered in this study are a differentiable alternative to the maximum temperature (the p-mean of the temperature), the pressure drop and the variance of the temperature. The -constraint method and the normalized normal constraint method are used to generate the pressure-temperature Pareto optimal front of the multi-objective optimization problem. The effects of different operating constraints/conditions such as localization of heat sources, prescribed pump power and imposed flow rate on the optimal designs are investigated. In addition to the topology of the embedded network, the cross sections of the microchannels are also introduced as design parameters to further improve the pressure drop of the designs. The resulting variable-cross-section optimized design is validated with experiment.

energy storage (including batteries and capacitors↗

Comparison of electro-thermal performance of advanced cooling techniques for electric vehicle motors

Permanent magnet synchronous motors are commonly used in the powertrain of electric vehicles because of their high power and torque densities. Attempts to increase power and torque densities beyond the state-of-the-art often suffer from thermal limitations of the adopted winding-wire insulation class. In this paper, overall effectiveness of four different cooling technologies, namely conventional stator jacket cooling, embedded circular and rectangular cooling channels within stator core, and direct winding heat exchangers have been studied numerically. Here, by realizing temperature dependent magnetic and material properties, winding and core losses, a two-way coupling algorithm has been utilized to study the detailed electro-magnetic and thermal performance of BMW i3 motor with aforementioned cooling techniques. The numerical results illustrated that the direct winding heat exchangers approach provides better electro-thermal performance in comparison to the other cooling techniques analyzed. On the contrary, embedded rectangular and circular channel in stator core adversely affect the electro-magnetic performance and overall efficiency of the motor, despite their superior thermal performance compared to the jacket cooling

42 ENGINEERING↗

Measurement of 227 Ac impurity in 225 Ac using decay energy spectroscopy

225 Ac is a valuable medical radionuclide for targeted $\alpha$ therapy, but 227 Ac is an undesirable byproduct of an accelerator-based synthesis method under investigation. Sufficient detector sensitivity is critical for quantifying the trace impurity of 227 Ac, with the 227 Ac/ 225 Ac activity ratio predicted to be approximately 0.15% by end-of-bombardment (EOB). Superconducting transition edge sensor (TES) microcalorimeters offer high resolution energy spectroscopy using the normal-to-superconducting phase transition to measure small changes in temperature. By embedding 225 Ac production samples in a gold foil thermally coupled to a TES microcalorimeter we can measure the decay energies of the radionuclides embedded with high resolution and 100% detection efficiency. This technique, known as decay energy spectroscopy (DES), collapses several peaks from $\alpha$ decays into single Q-value peaks. In practice there are more complex factors in the interpretation of data using DES, which we will discuss in this paper. Using this technique we measured the EOB 227 Ac impurity to be (0.142 ± 0.005)% for a single production sample. This demonstration has shown that DES is a useful tool for quantitative measurements of complicated spectra.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗

Stable isotope-assisted NMR characterization of interaction between lipid A and sarcotoxin IA, a cecropin-type antibacterial peptide

Highlights: ► Recombinant sarcotoxin IA was successfully produced with {sup 13}C- and {sup 15}N-labeling. ► Sarcotoxin IA adopts an N-terminal α-helix upon binding to lipid A-embedding micelles. ► Two lysine residues are involved in lipid A-mediated antibacterial activities. -- Abstract: Sarcotoxin IA is a 39-residue cecropin-type peptide from Sarcophaga peregrina. This peptide exhibits antibacterial activity against Gram-negative bacteria through its interaction with lipid A, a core component of lipopolysaccharides. To acquire detailed structural information on this specific interaction, we performed NMR analysis using bacterially expressed sarcotoxin IA analogs with {sup 13}C- and {sup 15}N-labeling along with lipid A-embedding micelles composed of dodecylphosphocholine. By inspecting the stable isotope-assisted NMR data, we revealed that the N-terminal segment (Leu3–Arg18) of sarcotoxin IA formed an amphiphilic α-helix upon its interaction with the aqueous micelles. Furthermore, chemical shift perturbation data indicated that the amino acid residues displayed on this α-helix were involved in the specific interaction with lipid A. On the basis of these data, we successfully identified Lys4 and Lys5 as key residues in the interaction with lipid A and the consequent antibacterial activity. Therefore, these results provide unique information for designing chemotherapeutics based on antibacterial peptide structures.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Mechanism of action and in vitro activity of short hybrid antimicrobial peptide PV3 against Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Antimicrobial peptides are attractive candidates for developing novel therapeutic agents, since they are lethal to a broad spectrum of pathogens and have a unique low tendency for resistance development. In this study, mechanism of action and in vitro anti-pseudomonal activity of previously designed short hybrid antimicrobial peptide PV3 were investigated. Compared to ceftazidime, PV3 had not only higher antibacterial activity but also faster bactericidal activity. PV3 reduced biofilm biomass and viability of biofilm embedded bacteria in a concentration-dependent manner. Although the antimicrobial activity of PV3 was reduced in Mueller-Hinton broth (MHB) containing human serum, it was still active enough to eradication of bacteria at low concentrations. Compared with standard condition (MHB only), there was no significant decrease in antibacterial activity of PV3 against P. aeruginosa strains under 150 mM NaCl (p = 0.615) and 1 mM MgCl{sub 2} (p = 0.3466). Fluorescence microscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy further indicated that PV3 killed bacteria by disrupting the cell membrane. Since PV3 has potent anti-pseudomonal activity and has little cytotoxicity in vitro, it seems plausible that the peptide should be further investigated with animal studies to support future pharmacological formulations and potential topical applications. - Highlights: • PV3 killed Pseudomonas aeruginosa by membrane-disrupting mechanism. • PV3 reduced biofilm biomass and viability of biofilm embedded bacteria in a concentration-dependent manner. • Short hybrid antimicrobial peptide PV3 exhibited higher and faster bactericidal activity comparing to ceftazidime.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Data-driven prediction of α IIb β 3 integrin activation paths using manifold learning and deep generative modeling

The integrin heterodimer is a transmembrane protein critical for driving cellular process and is a therapeutic target in the treatment of multiple diseases linked to its malfunction. Activation of integrin involves conformational transitions between bent and extended states. Some of the conformations that are intermediate between bent and extended states of the heterodimer have been experimentally characterized, but the full activation pathways remain unresolved both experimentally due to their transient nature and computationally due to the challenges in simulating rare barrier crossing events in these large molecular systems. An understanding of the activation pathways can provide new fundamental understanding of the biophysical processes associated with the dynamic interconversions between bent and extended states and unveil new putative therapeutic targets. In this work, we apply nonlinear manifold learning to coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations of bent, extended, and two intermediate states of αI I b β3 integrin to learn a low-dimensional embedding of the configurational phase space. We then train deep generative models to learn an inverse mapping between the low-dimensional embedding and high-dimensional molecular space and use these models to interpolate the molecular configurations constituting the activation pathways between the experimentally characterized states. Furthermore, this work furnishes plausible predictions of integrin activation pathways and reports a generic and transferable multi-scale technique to predict transition pathways for biomolecular systems.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Implicit–explicit multirate infinitesimal stage-restart methods

Implicit–Explicit (IMEX) methods are flexible numerical time integration methods which solve an initial-value problem (IVP) that is split into stiff and nonstiff processes with the goal of lower computational costs than a purely implicit or explicit approach. A complementary form of flexible IVP solvers are multirate infinitesimal methods for problems split into fast- and slow-changing dynamics, that solve a multirate IVP by evolving a sequence of “fast” IVPs using any suitably accurate algorithm. This article introduces a new class of high-order implicit–explicit multirate methods that are designed for multirate IVPs in which the slow-changing dynamics are further split in an IMEX fashion. This new class, which we call implicit–explicit multirate infinitesimal stage-restart (IMEX-MRI-SR), both improves upon the previous implicit–explicit multirate infinitesimal generalized-structure additive Runge Kutta (IMEX-MRI-GARK) methods by allowing for far easier creation of new embedded methods, and extends multirate exponential Runge Kutta (MERK) methods by allowing the fast-changing dynamics to be nonlinear and the methods to be implicit. We leverage GARK theory to derive conditions for orders of accuracy up to four, and we provide second- and third-order accurate example methods, which are the first known embedded MRI methods with IMEX structure. We then perform numerical simulations demonstrating convergence rates and computational performance in both fixed-step and adaptive-step settings.

96 KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND PRESERVATION↗

Lattice distortion and electron charge redistribution induced by defects in graphene

Lattice distortion and electronic charge localization induced by vacancy and embedded-atom defects in graphene were studied by tight-binding (TB) calculations using the recently developed three-center TB potential model. We showed that the formation energies of the defects are strongly correlated with the number of dangling bonds and number of embedded atoms, as well as the magnitude of the graphene lattice distortion induced by the defects. Lastly, we also showed that the defects introduce localized electronic states in the graphene which would affect the electron transport properties of graphene.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Real-time measurements of temperature, pressure and moisture profiles in High-Performance Concrete exposed to high temperatures during neutron radiography imaging

High-Performance Concrete (HPC) is particularly prone to explosive spalling when exposed to high temperature. Although the exact causes that lead to spalling are still being debated, moisture transport during heating plays an important role in all proposed mechanisms. In this study, slabs made of high-performance, low water-to-binder ratio mortars with addition of superabsorbent polymers (SAP) and polypropylene fibers (PP) were heated from one side on a temperature-controlled plate up to 550 °C. A combination of measurements was performed simultaneously on the same sample: moisture profiles via neutron radiography, temperature profiles with embedded thermocouples and pore pressure evolution with embedded pressure sensors. Spalling occurred in the sample with SAP, where sharp profiles of moisture and temperature were observed. No spalling occurred when PP-fibers were introduced in addition to SAP. The experimental procedure described here is essential for developing and verifying numerical models and studying measures against fire spalling risk in HPC.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Utilization of rice husk ash in green natural fiber-reinforced cement composites: Mitigating degradation of sisal fiber

This study aims to explore a novel approach to improve the durability of sisal fiber in cement composites by using by-products of biomass power plant: rice husk ash (RHA). The effects of two RHAs on the fiber's degradation were investigated indirectly by testing flexural behavior of sisal fiber-cement composite beams and directly by means of uniaxial tensile properties, thermal decomposition, crystallinity indices and microstructures of embedded fibers, after exploring up to 30 wetting and drying cycles. Allowing the distinction between pozzolanic activities, the efficiency of RHA was compared with two fly ashes and combinations of two clay minerals (metakaolin and nanoclay) with a cement substitution level of 30 wt.%. The durability of composites was improved considerably by incorporating RHA owing to the mitigation of fiber's degradation: the ultimate tensile strength and cellulose fraction of embedded fibers were improved by 384% and 45%, respectively. Fine RHA and the combination of metakaolin and nanoclay yield similar efficiency in mitigating degradation of sisal fiber, and are better than the coarse RHA and fly ashes. The correlations between cement hydration and sisal fiber degradation were analyzed. The results indicate that degree of hydration, calcium hydroxide content and alkalinity of the cement matrix play decisive roles in alkali attacks and mineralization of fiber's cell walls.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

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