A streamwise upwind algorithm applied to vortical flow over a delta wing

Improvements were made to a streamwise upwind algorithm so that it can be used for calculating flows with vortices. A calculation is shown of flow over a delta wing at an angle of attack. The laminar, thin layer, Navier-Stokes equations are used for the calculation. The results are compared with another upwind method, a central differencing method, and experimental data. The present method shows improvements in accuracy and convergence properties

Extension of a streamwise upwind algorithm to a moving grid system

A new streamwise upwind algorithm was derived to compute unsteady flow fields with the use of a moving-grid system. The temporally nonconservative LU-ADI (lower-upper-factored, alternating-direction-implicit) method was applied for time marching computations. A comparison of the temporally nonconservative method with a time-conservative implicit upwind method indicates that the solutions are insensitive to the conservative properties of the implicit solvers when practical time steps are used. Using this new method, computations were made for an oscillating wing at a transonic Mach number. The computed results confirm that the present upwind scheme captures the shock motion better than the central-difference scheme based on the beam-warming algorithm. The new upwind option of the code allows larger time-steps and thus is more efficient, even though it requires slightly more computational time per time step than the central-difference option

P-wave tomography of the mantle beneath the South Pacific Superswell revealed by joint ocean floor and islands broadband seismic experiments

International audienceThree-dimensional P-wave velocity structure of the mantle beneath the South Pacific Superswell is determined through passive broadband seismic experiments on the ocean floor and islands between 2003 and 2005. We collected approximately 1500 relative times of long-period teleseismic P-waves by using a waveform cross-correlation. We analyzed this data set with relative time tomography to depths of 2000 km. The resultant structure shows lateral heterogeneity of approximately +/- 2%, in which a distinct low velocity region is found beneath the center of the Superswell at a depth of 1600 km. At 1200km depth, an elongated low velocity region is found beneath the Society to Pitcairn hotspots. At 800 km depth, two linear low velocity regions are located beneath Tuamotu and Austral islands. Isolated low velocity regions are identified beneath the Society, Marquesas, and Macdonald hotspots at 400 km depth. Our new tomographic images reveal that the large low velocity region rooted in the deep lower mantle is split into two sheets at 1200 km depth and these terminate at approximately 800 km depth. This feature appears to be consistent with the characteristics of a thermo-chemical pile or dome

Probing the structure of a birthplace of intermediate-mass stars: Ammonia cores in Lynds 1340

Lynds 1340, a molecular cloud forming intermediate-mass stars, has been mapped in the NH_3(1,1) and (2,2) transitions with the Effelsberg 100m telescope. We observed the whole area of the cloud where C18O emission was detected earlier, at a 40 arcsec grid, with additional positions towards the C18O peaks and optically invisible IRAS point sources. Our observations covered an area of 170 arcmin^2, corresponding to about 5.15 pc^2 at a distance of 600 pc, and revealed 10 ammonia cores. The cores, occupying some 7% of the mapped area, probably represent the highest density regions of L1340. Their total mass is 80 solar mass, about 6% of the mass traced by C18O. Six cores are associated with optically invisible IRAS point sources. Their average nonthermal line width is 0.78 kms^{-1}, while the same quantity for the four starless cores is 0.28 kms^{-1}. We suggest that the narrow-line cores are destined to form low-mass stars, whereas small groups of intermediate-mass stars are being formed in the turbulent cores. The features traced by NH_3, 13CO, C18O and HI obey the line width-size relation log Delta v_{NT} = 0.41(0.06)log R_{1/2}+ 0.12(0.06). Comparison of sizes, densities and nonthermal line widths of ammonia cores with those of C18O and 13CO structures supports the scenario in which core formation has been induced by turbulent fragmentation. The typical physical properties of the ammonia cores of L1340, R_{1/2} =0.08 pc, T_{kin}=13.8 K, Delta v_{total}=0.64 kms^{-1}, and M =9 solar mass are close to those of the high-mass star forming Perseus and Orion B clouds.Comment: 13 pages, 11 figures. Accepted by A&

Proper Orthogonal Decomposition Methods for the Analysis of Real-Time Data: Exploring Peak Clustering in a Secondhand Smoke Exposure Intervention

This work explores a method for classifying peaks appearing within a data-intensive time-series. We summarize a case study from a clinical trial aimed at reducing secondhand smoke exposure via the installation of air particle monitors in households. Proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) in conjunction with a k-means clustering algorithm assigns each data peak to one of two clusters. Aversive feedback from the monitors increased the proportion of short-duration, attenuated peaks from 38.8% to 96.6%. For each cluster, a distribution of parameters from a physics-based model of airborne particles is estimated. Peaks generated from these distributions are correctly identified by POD/clustering with \u3e60% accuracy

The resting human brain and motor learning.

Functionally related brain networks are engaged even in the absence of an overt behavior. The role of this resting state activity, evident as low-frequency fluctuations of BOLD (see [1] for review, [2-4]) or electrical [5, 6] signals, is unclear. Two major proposals are that resting state activity supports introspective thought or supports responses to future events [7]. An alternative perspective is that the resting brain actively and selectively processes previous experiences [8]. Here we show that motor learning can modulate subsequent activity within resting networks. BOLD signal was recorded during rest periods before and after an 11 min visuomotor training session. Motor learning but not motor performance modulated a fronto-parietal resting state network (RSN). Along with the fronto-parietal network, a cerebellar network not previously reported as an RSN was also specifically altered by learning. Both of these networks are engaged during learning of similar visuomotor tasks [9-22]. Thus, we provide the first description of the modulation of specific RSNs by prior learning--but not by prior performance--revealing a novel connection between the neuroplastic mechanisms of learning and resting state activity. Our approach may provide a powerful tool for exploration of the systems involved in memory consolidation