Prediction of Aerodynamic Coefficients of Road Vehicles on Bridge Deck with and without Wind Protection by Means of CFD for Crosswind Stability Investigations

While planning a new bridge construction the risk of traffic accidents due to critical wind conditions should be carefully considered. The determination of aerodynamic forces and moments on vehicles is indispensable for stability investigations. However, the aerodynamic coefficients of vehicle-bridge systems depend on many factors which make it difficult to generalise the procedure. This paper is focusing on analysing a particular bridge geometry whereby aerodynamic coefficients were predicted by means of CFD. The accuracy of the numerical model was validated with the aid of experimental data from wind tunnel tests. Specifically, this work was conducted to investigate the effect of the wind barrier considering various wind flow angles and vehicle speeds. Mean forces and moments on the vehicle were analysed depending on both absolute and relative wind flows. The impact of performing relative motion between vehicle and bridge deck was investigated. Simulation results without wind barrier are qualitatively in good agreement with results found in literature. Nevertheless, the flow situation with wind barrier and relative motion is significantly more complex. Thus, CFD modelling has dominating advantages over wind tunnel tests in terms of both parameter variation and model accuracy. In this particular case CFD modelling is indeed essential in order to represent all possible wind flow angles and the relative motion between the vehicle and the bridge deck which remains difficult or rather hardly possible to perform in the wind tunnel

On a initial value problem arising in mechanics

We study initial value problem for a system consisting of an integer order and distributed-order fractional differential equation describing forced oscillations of a body attached to a free end of a light viscoelastic rod. Explicit form of a solution for a class of linear viscoelastic solids is given in terms of a convolution integral. Restrictions on storage and loss moduli following from the Second Law of Thermodynamics play the crucial role in establishing the form of the solution. Some previous results are shown to be special cases of the present analysis

Uncle Traps: Harvesting Rewards in a Queue-based Ethereum Mining Pool

Mining pools in Proof-of-Work cryptocurrencies allow miners to pool their computational resources as a means of reducing payout variance. In Ethereum, uncle blocks are valid Proof-of-Work solutions which do not become the head of the blockchain, yet yield rewards if later referenced by main chain blocks. Mining pool operators are faced with the non-trivial task of fairly distributing rewards for both block types among pool participants. Inspired by empirical observations, we formally reconstruct a Sybil attack exploiting the uncle block distribution policy in a queue-based mining pool. To ensure fairness of the queue-based payout scheme, we propose a mitigation. We examine the effectiveness of the attack strategy under the current and the proposed policy via a discrete-event simulation. Our findings show that the observed attack can indeed be obviated by altering the current reward scheme

Evaluation of ELISA and haemagglutination inhibition as screening tests in serosurveillance for H5/H7 avian influenza in commercial chicken flocks

Avian influenza virus (AIV) subtypes H5 and H7 can infect poultry causing low pathogenicity (LP) AI, but these LPAIVs may mutate to highly pathogenic AIV in chickens or turkeys causing high mortality, hence H5/H7 subtypes demand statutory intervention. Serological surveillance in the European Union provides evidence of H5/H7 AIV exposure in apparently healthy poultry. To identify the most sensitive screening method as the first step in an algorithm to provide evidence of H5/H7 AIV infection, the standard approach of H5/H7 antibody testing by haemagglutination inhibition (HI) was compared with an ELISA, which detects antibodies to all subtypes. Sera (n = 1055) from 74 commercial chicken flocks were tested by both methods. A Bayesian approach served to estimate diagnostic test sensitivities and specificities, without assuming any 'gold standard'. Sensitivity and specificity of the ELISA was 97% and 99.8%, and for H5/H7 HI 43% and 99.8%, respectively, although H5/H7 HI sensitivity varied considerably between infected flocks. ELISA therefore provides superior sensitivity for the screening of chicken flocks as part of an algorithm, which subsequently utilises H5/H7 HI to identify infection by these two subtypes. With the calculated sensitivity and specificity, testing nine sera per flock is sufficient to detect a flock seroprevalence of 30% with 95% probability

K/UR; 35

The following report provides results from a geochemical survey for Thomas Range-Wasatch, Utah. Field and laboratory data are presented for 15 groundwater and 79 stream sediment samples

K/UR ; 29

Results of the Chinati Mountains project area of the detailed geochemical survey fro Trans-Pecos, Texas are reported

K/UR ; 29

Results of the Dryden project area of the detailed geochemical survey for Trans-Pecos, Texas are reported

K/UR ; 29

Results of the Stillwell Mountains project area of the detailed geochemical survey for Trans-Pecos, Texas are reported