The Evolution of Interfaces for Underwater Supersonic Gas Jets

The evolution of interfaces for underwater gas jets is the main morphological manifestation of two-phase unstable interaction. The high-speed transient photographic recording and image post-processing methods are used to obtain the interfacial change in a submerged gaseous jet at different stages after its ejection from the Laval nozzle exit. The relationship between the pressure pulsation in the wake flow field and the interfacial change is further analyzed by combining the experimental results with computational results. A theoretical model is employed to address the competition dominant mechanism of interface instability. The results show that the jet interface of a supersonic gas jet gradually changes from one containing wave structures to a transition structure, and finally forms a steady-state conical jet. The fluctuation of the jet interface results in the pulsation of the back-pressure. The dominant mechanism of the interface changes with the development and distribution of the jet, from Kelvin-Helmholtz (K-H) instability beyond the nozzle exit changing to Rayleigh-Taylor (R-T) instability in the downstream.

Variable Stiffness Mechanism for Suppressing Unintended Forces in Physical Human–Robot Interaction

This paper presents the design of a two-degrees-of-freedom (DoFs) variable stiffness mechanism and demonstrates how its adjustable compliance can enhance the robustness of physical human–robot interaction. Compliance on the grasp handle is achieved by suspending it in between magnets in preloaded repelling configuration to act as nonlinear springs. By adjusting the air gaps between the outer magnets, the stiffness of the mechanism in each direction can be adjusted independently. Moreover, the capability of the proposed design in suppressing unintended interaction forces is evaluated in two different experiments. In the first experiment, improper admittance controller gain leads to unstable interaction, whereas in the second case, high-frequency involuntary forces are caused by the tremor.

Novel Trypanosomatid-Bacterium Association: Evolution of Endosymbiosis in Action

ABSTRACT We describe a novel symbiotic association between a kinetoplastid protist, Novymonas esmeraldas gen. nov., sp. nov., and an intracytoplasmic bacterium, “ Candidatus Pandoraea novymonadis” sp. nov., discovered as a result of a broad-scale survey of insect trypanosomatid biodiversity in Ecuador. We characterize this association by describing the morphology of both organisms, as well as their interactions, and by establishing their phylogenetic affinities. Importantly, neither partner is closely related to other known organisms previously implicated in eukaryote-bacterial symbiosis. This symbiotic association seems to be relatively recent, as the host does not exert a stringent control over the number of bacteria harbored in its cytoplasm. We argue that this unique relationship may represent a suitable model for studying the initial stages of establishment of endosymbiosis between a single-cellular eukaryote and a prokaryote. Based on phylogenetic analyses, Novymonas could be considered a proxy for the insect-only ancestor of the dixenous genus Leishmania and shed light on the origin of the two-host life cycle within the subfamily Leishmaniinae. IMPORTANCE The parasitic trypanosomatid protist Novymonas esmeraldas gen. nov., sp. nov. entered into endosymbiosis with the bacterium “ Ca. Pandoraea novymonadis” sp. nov. This novel and rather unstable interaction shows several signs of relatively recent establishment, qualifying it as a potentially unique transient stage in the increasingly complex range of eukaryotic-prokaryotic relationships.

Evaluating Methods for Control of an Offshore Floating Turbine

Developing wind turbines on floating offshore platforms is a topic of growing interest. By using a floating platform, wind turbines can be located in areas with good resources and near to major load centers. However, there can be technical challenges with this approach, and one is the observed unstable interaction between the pitch speed controller and the platform motions. In this paper, we consider several controls-based methods for resolving this issue for a commercial-scale turbine on a tension-leg platform. The design of each method is reviewed and each is shown to resolve the unstable interaction. The methods are then compared through load suite analysis to assess the strengths and weaknesses of each approach. Finally, we present proposals for refining and combining these methods and further approaches for performance improvement that could be considered.

The Pulsar Pair Plasma

The anisotropic and relativistic features of the pulsar pair plasma are adequately modelled using relativistic one-dimensional Jűttner-Synge distribution functions. The dispersion relation for wave propagation in such a plasma involves coefficients that specifically depend on the distribution function of its particles. An analytical determination of these coefficients allows us to obtain characteristics of quasi-longitudinal waves together with the conditions for the unstable interaction of ultrarelativistic beam and plasma. Similar derivations concern electromagnetic waves.