Numerical study of Mach number and thermal effects on sound radiation by a mixing layer

Mach number and thermal effects on the mechanisms of sound generation and propagation are investigated in spatially evolving two-dimensional isothermal and non-isothermal mixing layers at Mach number ranging from 0.2 to 0.4 and Reynolds number of 400. A characteristic-based formulation is used to solve by direct numerical simulation the compressible Navier-Stokes equations using high-order schemes. The radiated sound is directly computed in a domain that includes both the near-field aerodynamic source region and the far-field sound propagation. In the isothermal mixing layer, Mach number effects may be identified in the acoustic field through an increase of the directivity associated with the non-compactness of the acoustic sources. Baroclinic instability effects may be recognized in the non-isothermal mixing layer, as the presence of counter-rotating vorticity layers, the resulting acoustic sources being found less efficient. An analysis based on the acoustic analogy shows that the directivity increase with the Mach number can be associated with the emergence of density fluctuations of weak amplitude but very efficient in terms of noise generation at shallow angle. This influence, combined with convection and refraction effects, is found to shape the acoustic wavefront pattern depending on the Mach number.

BRAZILIAN OFFSHORE WAVE CLIMATE BASED ON NWW3 REANALYSIS

This paper provides a description of the wave climate off the Brazilian coast based on an eleven-year time series (Jan/1997-Dec/2007) obtained from the NWW3 operational model hindcast reanalysis. Information about wave climate in Brazilian waters is very scarce and mainly based on occasional short-term observations, the present analysis being the first covering such temporal and spatial scales. To define the wave climate, six sectors were defined and analyzed along the Brazilian shelf-break: South (W1), Southeast (W2), Central (W3), East (W4), Northeast (W5) and North (W6). W1, W2 and W3 wave regimes are determined by the South Atlantic High (SAH) and the passage of synoptic cold fronts; W4, W5 and W6 are controlled by the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and its meridional oscillation. The most energetic waves are from the S, generated by the strong winds associated to the passage of cold fronts, which mainly affect the southern region. Wave power presents a decrease in energy levels from south to north, with its annual variation showing that the winter months are the most energetic in W1 to W4, while in W5 and W6 the most energetic conditions occur during the austral summer. The information presented here provides boundary conditions for studies related to coastal processes, fundamental for a better understanding of the Brazilian coastal zone.

Resolution of isomeric multi-ruthenated porphyrins by travelling wave ion mobility mass spectrometry

The ability of travelling wave ion mobility mass spectrometry (TWIM-MS) to resolve cationic meta/para and cis/trans isomers of mono-, di-, tri- and tetra-ruthenated supramolecular porphyrins was investigated. All meta isomers were found to be more compact than the para isomers and therefore mixtures of all isomeric pairs could be properly resolved with baseline or close to baseline peak-to-peak resolution (Rp-p). Di-substituted cis/trans isomers were found, however, to present very similar drift times and could not be resolved. N-2 and CO2 were tested as the drift gas, and similar a but considerably better values of R-p and Rp-p were always observed for CO2. Copyright (C) 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Continuous-wave watt-level Nd:YLF/KGW Raman laser operating at near-IR, yellow and lime-green wavelengths

A Nd:YLF/KGW Raman laser has been investigated in this work. We have demonstrated CW output powers at six different wavelengths, 1147 nm (0.70 W), 1163 nm (0.95 W), 549 nm (0.65 W), 552 nm (1.90 W), 573 nm (0.60 W) and 581 nm (1.10 W), with higher peak powers achieved under quasi-CW operation. Raman conversion of the 1053 nm fundamental emission is reported for the first time, enabling two new wavelengths in crystalline Raman lasers, 549 nm and 552 nm. The weak thermal lensing associated with Nd:YLF has enabled to achieve good beam quality, M-2 <= 2.0, and stable operation in relatively long cavities. (C) 2012 Optical Society of America

Role of Mie scattering in the seeding of matter-wave superradiance

Matter-wave superradiance is based on the interplay between ultracold atoms coherently organized in momentum space and a backscattered wave. Here, we show that this mechanism may be triggered by Mie scattering from the atomic cloud. We show how the laser light populates the modes of the cloud and thus imprints a phase gradient on the excited atomic dipoles. The interference with the atoms in the ground state results in a grating that in turn generates coherent emission, contributing to the backward light wave onset. The atomic recoil "halos" created by the Mie-scattered light exhibit a strong anisotropy, in contrast to single-atom scattering.

Motion-based wave estimation: Small-scale tests with a crane-barge model

This paper provides additional validation to the problem of estimating wave spectra based on the first-order motions of a moored vessel. Prior investigations conducted by the authors have attested that even a large-volume ship, such as an FPSO unit, could be adopted for on-board estimation of the wave field. The obvious limitation of the methodology concerns filtering of high-frequency wave components, for which the vessel has no significant response. As a result, the estimation range is directly dependent on the characteristics of the vessel response. In order to extend this analysis, further small-scale tests were performed with a model of a pipe-laying crane-barge. When compared to the FPSO case, the results attest that a broader range of typical sea states can be accurately estimated, including crossed-sea states with low peak periods. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A scheme for synchronizing clocks connected by a packet communication network

Consider a communication system in which a transmitter equipment sends fixed-size packets of data at a uniform rate to a receiver equipment. Consider also that these equipments are connected by a packet-switched network, which introduces a random delay to each packet. Here we propose an adaptive clock recovery scheme able of synchronizing the frequencies and the phases of these devices, within specified limits of precision. This scheme for achieving frequency and phase synchronization is based on measurements of the packet arrival times at the receiver, which are used to control the dynamics of a digital phase-locked loop. The scheme performance is evaluated via numerical simulations performed by using realistic parameter values. (C) 2011 Elsevier By. All rights reserved.

Corrole isomers: intrinsic gas-phase shapes via traveling wave ion mobility mass spectrometry and dissociation chemistries via tandem mass spectrometry

Corrole and four of its isomers with subtle structural changes promoted by exchange of nitrogen and carbon atoms in the corrole ring have been studied by traveling wave ion mobility mass spectrometry and collision induced dissociation experiments. Significant differences in shapes and charge distributions for their protonated molecules were found to lead to contrasting gas phase mobilities, most particularly for corrorin, the most "confused" isomer. Accordingly, corrorin was predicted by B3LYP/6-31g(d,p) and collisional cross section calculations to display the most compact tri-dimensional structure, whereas NCC4 and corrole were found to be the most planar isomers. Better resolution between the corrole isomers was achieved using the more polarizable and massive CO2 as the drift gas. Sequential losses of HF molecules were found to dominate the dissociation chemistry of the protonated molecules of these corrole isomers, but their unique structures caused contrasting labilities towards CID, whereas NCC4 showed a peculiar and structurally diagnostic loss of NH3, allowing its prompt differentiation from the other isomers.

SYNCHRONIZATION OF CHAOS AND THE TRANSITION TO WAVE TURBULENCE

We investigated the transition to wave turbulence in a spatially extended three-wave interacting model, where a spatially homogeneous state undergoing chaotic dynamics undergoes spatial mode excitation. The transition to this weakly turbulent state can be regarded as the loss of synchronization of chaos of mode oscillators describing the spatial dynamics.

Controlling chaos in wave-particle interactions

We analyze the behavior of a relativistic particle moving under the influence of a uniform magnetic field and a stationary electrostatic wave. We work with a set of pulsed waves that allows us to obtain an exact map for the system. We also use a method of control for near-integrable Hamiltonians that consists of the addition of a small and simple control term to the system. This control term creates invariant tori in phase space that prevent chaos from spreading to large regions, making the controlled dynamics more regular. We show numerically that the control term just slightly modifies the system but is able to drastically reduce chaos with a low additional cost of energy. Moreover, we discuss how the control of chaos and the consequent recovery of regular trajectories in phase space are useful to improve regular particle acceleration.

Development of a slow-wave MEMS phase shifter on CMOS technology for millimeter wave frequencies

We propose a slow-wave MEMS phase shifter that can be fabricated using the CMOS back-end and an additional maskless post-process etch. The tunable phase shifter concept is formed by a conventional slow-wave transmission line. The metallic ribbons that form the patterned floating shield of this type of structure are released to allow motion when a control voltage is applied, which changes the characteristic impedance and the phase velocity. For this device a quality factor greater than 40 can be maintained, resulting in a figure of merit on the order of 0.7 dB/360 degrees and a total area smaller than 0.14 mm(2) for a 60-GHz working frequency. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Statistical physics approach to dendritic computation: The excitable-wave mean-field approximation

We analytically study the input-output properties of a neuron whose active dendritic tree, modeled as a Cayley tree of excitable elements, is subjected to Poisson stimulus. Both single-site and two-site mean-field approximations incorrectly predict a nonequilibrium phase transition which is not allowed in the model. We propose an excitable-wave mean-field approximation which shows good agreement with previously published simulation results [Gollo et al., PLoS Comput. Biol. 5, e1000402 (2009)] and accounts for finite-size effects. We also discuss the relevance of our results to experiments in neuroscience, emphasizing the role of active dendrites in the enhancement of dynamic range and in gain control modulation.

Exploring the coordination chemistry of isomerizable terpyridine derivatives for successful analyses of cis and trans isomers by travelling wave ion mobility mass spectrometry

The photochemical cis-trans isomerization of the 4-{4-[2-(pyridin-4-yl)ethenyl]phenyl}-2,2': 6',2''-terpyridine ligand (vpytpy) was investigated by UV-vis, NMR and TWIM-MS. Ion mobility mass spectrometry was performed pursuing the quantification of the isomeric composition during photolysis, however an in-source trans-to-cis isomerization process was observed. In order to overcome this inherent phenomenon, the isomerization of the vpytpy species was suppressed by complexation, reacting with iron(II) ions, and forming the [Fe(vpytpy)(2)](2+) complex. The strategy of "freezing" the cis-trans isomerizable ligand at a given geometric conformation was effective, preventing further isomerization, thus allowing the distinction of each one of the isomers in the photolysed mixture. In addition, the experimental drift times were related to the calculated surface areas of the three possible cis-cis, cis-trans and trans-trans iron(II) complex isomers. The stabilization of the ligand in a given conformation also allows us to obtain the cis-cis and cis-trans complexes exhibiting the ligand in the metastable cis-conformation, as well as in the thermodynamically stable trans-conformation.

Protomers: formation, separation and characterization via travelling wave ion mobility mass spectrometry

Travelling wave ion mobility mass spectrometry (TWIM-MS) with post-TWIM and pre-TWIM collision-induced dissociation (CID) experiments were used to form, separate and characterize protomers sampled directly from solutions or generated in the gas phase via CID. When in solution equilibria, these species were transferred to the gas phase via electrospray ionization, and then separated by TWIM-MS. CID performed after TWIM separation (post-TWIM) allowed the characterization of both protomers via structurally diagnostic fragments. Protonated aniline (1) sampled from solution was found to be constituted of a ca. 5:1 mixture of two gaseous protomers, that is, the N-protonated (1a) and ring protonated (1b) molecules, respectively. When dissociated, 1a nearly exclusively loses NH3, whereas 1b displays a much diverse set of fragments. When formed via CID, varying populations of 1a and 1b were detected. Two co-existing protomers of two isomeric porphyrins were also separated and characterized via post-TWIM CID. A deprotonated porphyrin sampled from a basic methanolic solution was found to be constituted predominantly of the protomer arising from deprotonation at the carboxyl group, which dissociates promptly by CO2 loss, but a CID-resistant protomer arising from deprotonation at a porphyrinic ring NH was also detected and characterized. The doubly deprotonated porphyrin was found to be constituted predominantly of a single protomer arising from deprotonation of two carboxyl groups. Copyright (C) 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Aortic distensibility measured by pulse-wave velocity is not modified in patients with Chagas' disease

Abstract Background Experimental studies demonstrate that infection with trypanosoma cruzi causes vasculitis. The inflammatory lesion process could hypothetically lead to decreased distensibility of large and small arteries in advanced Chagas' disease. We tested this hypothesis. Methods and results We evaluated carotid-femoral pulse-wave velocity (PWV) in 53 Chagas' disease patients compared with 31 healthy volunteers (control group). The 53 patients were classified into 3 groups: 1) 16 with indeterminate form of Chagas' disease; 2) 18 with Chagas' disease, electrocardiographic abnormalities, and normal systolic function; 3) 19 with Chagas' disease, systolic dysfunction, and mild-to-moderate congestive heart failure. No difference was noted between the 4 groups regarding carotid-femoral PWV (8.4 ± 1.1 vs 8.2 ± 1.5 vs 8.2 ± 1.4 vs 8.7 ± 1.6 m/s, P = 0.6) or pulse pressure (39.5 ± 7.6 vs 39.3 ± 8.1 vs 39.5 ± 7.4 vs 39.7 ± 6.9 mm Hg, P = 0.9). A positive, significant, similar correlation occurred between PWV and age in patients with Chagas' disease (r = 0.42, P = 0.002), in controls (r = 0.48, P = 0.006), and also between PWV and systolic blood pressure in both groups (patients with Chagas' disease, r = 0.38, P = 0.005; healthy subjects, r = 0.36, P = 0.043). Conclusion Carotid femoral pulse-wave velocity is not modified in patients with Chagas' disease, suggesting that elastic properties of large arteries are not affected in this disorder.