Two-equation modeling of turbulent rotating flows

The possibility to take into account the effects of the Coriolis acceleration on turbulence is examined in the framework of two-equation eddy-viscosity models. General results on the physical consistency of such turbulence models are derived from a dynamical-system approach to situations of time-evolving homogeneous turbulence in a rotating frame. Application of this analysis to a (k,epsilon) model fitted with an existing Coriolis correction [J. H. G. Howard, S. V. Patankar, and R. M. Bordynuik, "Flow prediction in rotating ducts using Coriolis-modified turbulence models", ASME Trans. J. Fluids Eng. 102, (1980)] is performed. Full analytical solutions are given for the flow predicted with this model in the situation of homogeneously sheared turbulence subject to rotation. The existence of an unphysical phenomenon of blowup at finite time is demonstrated in some range of the rotation-to-shear ratio. A direct connection is made between the slope of the mean-velocity profile in the plane-channel flow with spanwise rotation, and a particular fixed point of the dynamical system in homogeneously sheared turbulence subject to rotation. The general analysis, and the understanding of typical inaccuracies and misbehavior observed with the existing model, are then used to design a new model which is free from the phenomenon of blowup at finite time and able to account for both of the main influences of rotation on turbulence: the inhibition of the spectral transfer to high wave numbers and the shear/Coriolis instability

Hydraulic design of A-type Piano Key Weirs

Piano Key Weirs (PKWs) are an alternative to linear overflow structures, increasing the unit discharge for similar heads and spillway widths. Thus, they allow to operate reservoirs with elevated supply levels, thereby providing additional storage volume. As they are relatively novel structures, few design criteria are available. Hence, physical model tests of prototypes are required. This study describes comprehensive model tests on a sectional set-up of several A-type PKWs, in which the relevant parameters were systematically varied. Considering data of former studies, a general design equation relating to the head–discharge ratio is derived and discussed. The latter is mainly a function of the approach flow head, the developed crest length, the inlet key height, and the transverse width. To extend its application range, case study model tests were analysed to provide a design approach if reservoir approach flow instead of channel flow is considered

De handel in blanke slavinnen (1880‑1881): een Brussels schandaal?

In 1880 en 1881 was Brussel het toneel van de eerste blanke-slavinnenzaak met internationale weerklank: een vijftigtal Belgische en buitenlandse – vooral Engelse – minderjarige meisjes werkten sinds 1878 in enkele van de vergunde bordelen van de stad. Een handvol van die meisjes werd met valse beloften naar Brussel gelokt. Na verschillende rechtszaken werden een vijftiental leden van de onderwereld veroordeeld, maar degenen die echt verantwoordelijk waren voor de misbruiken waren politieagenten. Daaruit kan evenwel niet worden afgeleid dat de Brusselse politie uitzonderlijk corrupt was: in feite werden de politieagenten door de reglementering van de prostitutie in een situatie geplaatst waarin ze de belangen van de bordeelhouders beschermden. Overal waar dat systeem werd ingevoerd, waren de gevolgen onveranderlijk dezelfde.Bruxelles fut en 1880 et 1881 le théâtre de la première affaire de « traite des blanches » au retentissement international : une cinquantaine des mineures belges et étrangères, anglaises en particulier, avaient été admises depuis 1878 dans quelques-uns des bordels patentés de la ville. Une poignée d’entre elles l’avaient été contre leur gré. Au terme de plusieurs procès, une quinzaine de membres du monde interlope furent condamnés mais les véritables responsables des abus étaient des fonctionnaires de police. Il n’y a pas lieu d’en déduire que la police bruxelloise ait été particulièrement corrompue : en vérité, le système de la réglementation de la prostitution plaçait les policiers en position objective de protecteurs des intérêts des tenanciers de maisons closes. Partout où ce système fut mis en application les mêmes effets se reproduisirent invariablement.Between 1880 and 1881, Brussels was the scene of the first “white slave trade” affair, which had international repercussions: approximately fifty Belgian and foreign underage women – British in particular – had been admitted since 1878 into some of the officially recognised brothels in the city. A handful of them had been brought there against their will. After several trials, fifteen or so shady individuals were sentenced, but those who were truly responsible for the abuse were members of the police. There is no reason to deduce from this that the Brussels police were particularly corrupt: in truth, the system for the regulation of prostitution placed the police in an objective position as the protectors of the brothel keepers’ interests. The same effects were invariably seen wherever this system was implemented

L’affaire de la traite des blanches (1880‑1881) : un scandale bruxellois ?

Bruxelles fut en 1880 et 1881 le théâtre de la première affaire de « traite des blanches » au retentissement international : une cinquantaine des mineures belges et étrangères, anglaises en particulier, avaient été admises depuis 1878 dans quelques-uns des bordels patentés de la ville. Une poignée d’entre elles l’avaient été contre leur gré. Au terme de plusieurs procès, une quinzaine de membres du monde interlope furent condamnés mais les véritables responsables des abus étaient des fonctionnaires de police. Il n’y a pas lieu d’en déduire que la police bruxelloise ait été particulièrement corrompue : en vérité, le système de la réglementation de la prostitution plaçait les policiers en position objective de protecteurs des intérêts des tenanciers de maisons closes. Partout où ce système fut mis en application les mêmes effets se reproduisirent invariablement.In 1880 en 1881 was Brussel het toneel van de eerste blanke-slavinnenzaak met internationale weerklank: een vijftigtal Belgische en buitenlandse – vooral Engelse – minderjarige meisjes werkten sinds 1878 in enkele van de vergunde bordelen van de stad. Een handvol van die meisjes werd met valse beloften naar Brussel gelokt. Na verschillende rechtszaken werden een vijftiental leden van de onderwereld veroordeeld, maar degenen die echt verantwoordelijk waren voor de misbruiken waren politieagenten. Daaruit kan evenwel niet worden afgeleid dat de Brusselse politie uitzonderlijk corrupt was: in feite werden de politieagenten door de reglementering van de prostitutie in een situatie geplaatst waarin ze de belangen van de bordeelhouders beschermden. Overal waar dat systeem werd ingevoerd, waren de gevolgen onveranderlijk dezelfde.Between 1880 and 1881, Brussels was the scene of the first “white slave trade” affair, which had international repercussions: approximately fifty Belgian and foreign underage women – British in particular – had been admitted since 1878 into some of the officially recognised brothels in the city. A handful of them had been brought there against their will. After several trials, fifteen or so shady individuals were sentenced, but those who were truly responsible for the abuse were members of the police. There is no reason to deduce from this that the Brussels police were particularly corrupt: in truth, the system for the regulation of prostitution placed the police in an objective position as the protectors of the brothel keepers’ interests. The same effects were invariably seen wherever this system was implemented

La recherche dans les universités de l’Ouest

Université d’Angers Habilitation à diriger des recherches Marcilloux, Patrice, Archivistique et histoire : pratique professionnelle et réflexion théorique, garant Y. Denéchère. Thèses Machiels, Christine, Les féminismes face à la prostitution aux 19e et 20e siècles (Belgique, France, Suisse), dir. C. Bard. Bouchoux, Corinne, Si les tableaux pouvaient parler… Le traitement politique et médiatique des retours d’œuvres d’art pillées et spoliées par les nazis (France 1945-2008), dir. Y. Denéchère..

Piano Key Weirs as efficient spillway structure

With increasing of hydrological data records and the development of technologies for flood discharge estimation, as well as higher requirements on dam safety issues, a large number of existing dams require spillway rehabilitation to improve their hydraulic capacity. For such projects, the Piano Key Weir (PKW) is an efficient alternative. When compared to standard labyrinth weirs, this structure provides a longer effective crest length for a given spillway width, with the advantage that a PKW can be mounted on the top of most existing dams, due to its reduced base surface [1, 2]. Although the hydraulic design and optimization process of PKWs are today supported by physical modelling of case studies [3, 4, 5, 6], systematic basic experiments performed in laboratory channels were important to understand their hydraulic behavior [7, 8, 9, 10]. Most of the experiments consider only one sectional part of the PKW, with uniform approach flow conditions. The three-dimensional effect of the lateral weir ends, characterizing a typical reservoir inflow, is consequently not considered. As a result of these systematic tests, some procedures for designing PKWs are proposed in literature. Among these methods, a simplified formulation for calculating the hydraulic capacity of A-type PKWs [10] is based on the most important geometrical dimensionless parameters of PKWs, i.e, L/W, Wi/Wo, Pi/Po and H/Pi, (Fig. 1). The objective of this paper is to present some selected results of systematic experiments performed in a laboratory channel, focusing on the number of PKW units and the influence of the parapet walls

A phase I clinical and pharmacological study evaluating vinflunine in combination with doxorubicin as first line treatment in metastatic breast cancer

Vinfunine (VFL) is a novel bifluorinated tubulin-targeted agent of the vinca alkaloids class active in advanced stage breast cancer. We conducted a phase I study combining VFL with doxorubicin (DXR) to define the recommended dose (RD), safety, pharmacokinetic (PK) interaction and efficacy. Two schedules (day 1 every 3weeks; days 1 and 8 every 3weeks) were investigated as first line chemotherapy in metastatic breast cancer patients. Thirty-two patients received a total of 162 cycles of the VFL-DXR combination (median 6). The RDs were VFL 250mg/m2/DXR 40mg/m2 every 3weeks for schedule 1 and VFL 120mg/m2/DXR 25mg/m2 days 1 and 8 every 3weeks for schedule 2. The main dose-limiting toxicity was neutropenia. The most frequent non-hematological adverse events were nausea, fatigue, constipation, vomiting, anorexia, stomatitis and dyspnea. Objective response rate was reached in 47.1% of the patients. No PK interaction was observed. VFL-DXR combination is feasible with manageable toxicity. The antitumor activity was promising and supports further evaluatio

Nuclear Envelope, Nuclear Lamina, and Inherited Disease

The nuclear envelope is composed of the nuclear membranes, nuclear lamina, and nuclear pore complexes. In recent years, mutations in nuclear-envelope proteins have been shown to cause a surprisingly wide array of inherited diseases. While the mutant proteins are generally expressed in most or all differentiated somatic cells, many mutations cause fairly tissue-specific disorders. Perhaps the most dramatic case is that of mutations in A-type lamins, intermediate filament proteins associated with the inner nuclear membrane. Different mutations in the same lamin proteins have been shown to cause striated muscle diseases, partial lipodystrophy syndromes, a peripheral neuropathy, and disorders with features of severe premature aging. In this review, we summarize fundamental aspects of nuclear envelope structure and function, the inherited diseases caused by mutations in lamins and other nuclear envelope proteins, and possible pathogenic mechanisms

Milestones 1928

1928 yearbook of Ward-Belmont College.https://repository.belmont.edu/wbyearbooks/1014/thumbnail.jp