219 research outputs found
StaRMAP - A second order staggered grid method for spherical harmonics moment equations of radiative transfer
We present a simple method to solve spherical harmonics moment systems, such
as the the time-dependent and equations, of radiative transfer.
The method, which works for arbitrary moment order , makes use of the
specific coupling between the moments in the equations. This coupling
naturally induces staggered grids in space and time, which in turn give rise to
a canonical, second-order accurate finite difference scheme. While the scheme
does not possess TVD or realizability limiters, its simplicity allows for a
very efficient implementation in Matlab. We present several test cases, some of
which demonstrate that the code solves problems with ten million degrees of
freedom in space, angle, and time within a few seconds. The code for the
numerical scheme, called StaRMAP (Staggered grid Radiation Moment
Approximation), along with files for all presented test cases, can be
downloaded so that all results can be reproduced by the reader.Comment: 28 pages, 7 figures; StaRMAP code available at
http://www.math.temple.edu/~seibold/research/starma
Asymptotic Derivation and Numerical Investigation of Time-Dependent Simplified Pn Equations
The steady-state simplified Pn (SPn) approximations to the linear Boltzmann
equation have been proven to be asymptotically higher-order corrections to the
diffusion equation in certain physical systems. In this paper, we present an
asymptotic analysis for the time-dependent simplified Pn equations up to n = 3.
Additionally, SPn equations of arbitrary order are derived in an ad hoc way.
The resulting SPn equations are hyperbolic and differ from those investigated
in a previous work by some of the authors. In two space dimensions, numerical
calculations for the Pn and SPn equations are performed. We simulate neutron
distributions of a moving rod and present results for a benchmark problem,
known as the checkerboard problem. The SPn equations are demonstrated to yield
significantly more accurate results than diffusion approximations. In addition,
for sufficiently low values of n, they are shown to be more efficient than Pn
models of comparable cost.Comment: 32 pages, 7 figure
Optimal prediction for radiative transfer: A new perspective on moment closure
Moment methods are classical approaches that approximate the mesoscopic
radiative transfer equation by a system of macroscopic moment equations. An
expansion in the angular variables transforms the original equation into a
system of infinitely many moments. The truncation of this infinite system is
the moment closure problem. Many types of closures have been presented in the
literature. In this note, we demonstrate that optimal prediction, an approach
originally developed to approximate the mean solution of systems of nonlinear
ordinary differential equations, can be used to derive moment closures. To that
end, the formalism is generalized to systems of partial differential equations.
Using Gaussian measures, existing linear closures can be re-derived, such as
, diffusion, and diffusion correction closures. This provides a new
perspective on several approximations done in the process and gives rise to
ideas for modifications to existing closures.Comment: 15 pages; version 4: sections removed, major reformulation
Massively Parallel Stencil Strategies for Radiation Transport Moment Model Simulations
The radiation transport equation is a mesoscopic equation in high dimensional
phase space. Moment methods approximate it via a system of partial differential
equations in traditional space-time. One challenge is the high computational
intensity due to large vector sizes (1600 components for P39) in each spatial
grid point. In this work, we extend the calculable domain size in 3D
simulations considerably, by implementing the StaRMAP methodology within the
massively parallel HPC framework NAStJA, which is designed to use current
supercomputers efficiently. We apply several optimization techniques, including
a new memory layout and explicit SIMD vectorization. We showcase a simulation
with 200 billion degrees of freedom, and argue how the implementations can be
extended and used in many scientific domains.Comment: ICCS 2020 Proceeding
Activated α4 Integrins are Preferentially Expressed on Immature Thymocytes and Activated T Cells
We have identified a novel mAb, SG31, which recognizes the mouse integrin α4 subunit. Unlike the epitopes recognized by other anti-α4 antibodies, the SG31 epitope is expressed on subpopulations of thymocytes and peripheral T cells. After manganese ion, but not phorbol myristic acetate activation, the epitope is induced and expressed on the majority of peripheral T cells. These data suggest that the SG31 epitope is an activation epitope and that manganese ions activate α4 integrins by inducing a conformational change. Comparative flow cytometric analyses showed that the SG31 epitope as well as the epitope detected by other anti-α4 antibodies is expressed on all B lineage cells. In the T lineage, expression of the α4 integrins is down-regulated during thymocyte development. Although mature thymocytes still express the α4 integrins, they lose almost entirely the activation epitope recognized by SG31. In contrast, the most immature thymocytes express high levels of this epitope. In the periphery, SG31 epitope is expressed mostly by activated T cells, in contrast to the overall population of T cells that express the α4 integrins at homogenous levels. These results suggest that the activation of the α4 integrins is parallel to that of T cells
Ameliorative effect of IDS30, a stinging nettle leaf extract, on chronic colitis
Background and aims: Anti-TNF-α antibodies are very effective in the treatment of acute Crohn's disease, but are limited by the decline of their effectiveness after repeated applications. The stinging nettle leaf extract, IDS30, is an adjuvant remedy in rheumatic diseases dependent on a cytokine suppressive effect. We investigated the effect of IDS30 on disease activity of murine colitis in different models. Methods: C3H.IL-10â/â and BALB/c mice with colitis induced by dextran sodium sulphate (DSS) were treated with either IDS30 or water. Mice were monitored for clinical signs of colitis. Inflammation was scored histologically, and faecal IL-1ÎČ and mucosal cytokines were measured by ELISA. Mononuclear cell proliferation of spleen and Peyer's patches were quantified by 3H-thymidine. Results: Mice with chronic DSS colitis or IL-10â/â mice treated with IDS30 clinically and histologically revealed significantly (p<0.05) fewer signs of colitis than untreated animals. Furthermore, faecal IL-1ÎČ and mucosal TNF-α concentrations were significantly lower (p<0.05) in treated mice. Mononuclear cell proliferation after stimulation with lipopolysaccharide was significantly (p<0.001) reduced in mice treated with IDS30. Conclusions: The long-term use of IDS30 is effective in the prevention of chronic murine colitis. This effect seems to be due to a decrease in the Th1 response and may be a new therapeutic option for prolonging remission in inflammatory bowel diseas
Hannoversche Korruptionsskala Ăsterreich-Version (HKS 38 Ă)
Mit der Hannoverschen Korruptionsskala Ăsterreich-Version (kurz: HKS 38 Ă) kann die Einstellung zu Korruption gemessen werden. Die HKS 38 Ă ist eine Adaption der Hannoverschen Korruptionsskala (kurz: HKS 38) fĂŒr den österreichischen Sprachraum. Die testtheoretische ĂberprĂŒfung der HKS 38 Ă wird unter anderem in diesem Manual beschrieben. Die HKS 38 Ă umfasst 38 Items, die den Einstellungskomponenten kognitiv, affektiv und konativ zugeordnet werden können. Innerhalb dieses Manuals werden drei Datenerhebungen geschildert. In der ersten Datenerhebung (n = 1.617) wurde geprĂŒft, ob die HKS 38 grundsĂ€tzlich fĂŒr eine Anwendung in Ăsterreich geeignet ist und Ă€hnlich zuverlĂ€ssige Messungen wie in Deutschland ermöglicht. Die Erfahrungen aus der ersten Datenerhebung - insbesondere die Hinweise von Testpersonen zur sprachlichen VerstĂ€ndlichkeit - fĂŒhrten zur Erstellung der HKS 38 Ă. Die HKS 38 Ă wurde im Rahmen einer zweiten Datenerhebung entsprechend der klassischen Testtheorie ĂŒberprĂŒft und auf Basis einer bevölkerungsreprĂ€sentativen Telefonbefragung in Ăsterreich (n â 867) normiert. Neu im Vergleich zur ersten Auflage des Manuals ist die dritte Datenerhebung, in der die HKS 38 Ă fĂŒr eine Befragung von PolizeischĂŒlern (n = 1.455) verwendet wurde. Auch die Daten der dritten Erhebung wurden testtheoretisch ĂŒberprĂŒft. Die HKS 38 Ă eignet sich zur Befragung von Testpersonen ab einem Alter von 18 Jahren
- âŠ