Front propagation directed by a line of fast diffusion: large diffusion and large time asymptotics

The system under study is a reaction-diffusion equation in a horizontal strip, coupled to a diffusion equation on its upper boundary via an exchange condition of the Robin type. This class of models was introduced by H. Berestycki, L. Rossi and the second author in order to model biological invasions directed by lines of fast diffusion. They proved, in particular, that the speed of invasion was enhanced by a fast diffusion on the line, the spreading velocity being asymptotically proportional to the square root of the fast diffusion coefficient. These results could be reduced, in the logistic case, to explicit algebraic computations. The goal of this paper is to prove that the same phenomenon holds, with a different type of nonlinearity, which precludes explicit computations. We discover a new transition phenomenon, that we explain in detail

Estimation of poroelastic parameters from seismograms using Biot theory

We investigate the possibility to extract information contained in seismic waveforms propagating in fluid-filled porous media by developing and using a full waveform inversion procedure valid for layered structures. To reach this objective, we first solve the forward problem by implementing the Biot theory in a reflectivity-type simulation program. We then study the sensitivity of the seismic response of stratified media to the poroelastic parameters. Our numerical tests indicate that the porosity and consolidation parameter are the most sensitive parameters in forward and inverse modeling, whereas the permeability has only a very limited influence on the seismic response. Next, the analytical expressions of the sensitivity operators are introduced in a generalized least-square inversion algorithm based on an iterative modeling of the seismic waveforms. The application of this inversion procedure to synthetic data shows that the porosity as well as the fluid and solid parameters can be correctly reconstructed as long as the other parameters are well known. However, the strong seismic coupling between some of the model parameters makes it difficult to fully characterize the medium by a multi-parameter inversion scheme. One solution to circumvent this difficulty is to combine several model parameters according to rock physics laws to invert for composite parameters. Another possibility is to invert the seismic data for the perturbations of the medium properties, such as those resulting from a gas injection

Out-of-equilibrium critical dynamics at surfaces: Cluster dissolution and non-algebraic correlations

We study nonequilibrium dynamical properties at a free surface after the system is quenched from the high-temperature phase into the critical point. We show that if the spatial surface correlations decay sufficiently rapidly the surface magnetization and/or the surface manifold autocorrelations has a qualitatively different universal short time behavior than the same quantities in the bulk. At a free surface cluster dissolution may take place instead of domain growth yielding stationary dynamical correlations that decay in a stretched exponential form. This phenomenon takes place in the three-dimensional Ising model and should be observable in real ferromagnets.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Experimental and numerical evidences of the observation of the Biot slow wave thanks to its electrokinetic conversion

International audienceAs originally described by Biot in 1956, seismic propagation in fluid-filled porous media should include two longitudinal contributions: the fast and slow P waves, the latest being commonly referred to as the 'Biot slow wave'. This seismic wave has been seldom observed in natural rocks at laboratory frequencies due to its low amplitude properties and has never been recognized at seismic frequencies due to its diffusive properties. In porous media, a part of seismic energy mayalso be converted into electromagnetic fieldsbya coupling phenomenon of electrokineticnature: the so-called seismoelectric effect. Most seismoelectric studies focus on the observation of co-seismic or depth-converted electric fields generated bythe propagation of fast P-waves, mainly to detect or to image new physico-chemical contrasts. Based on Pride's theory (1994), numerical modeling of seismo-electromagnetic wave propagation suggests that the observation of the Biot slow wave could be boostedby its electrokinetic conversion, i.e. that it would be easier to record the electric fields accompanying Biot slow waves generated by a mechanical source rather than the seismic fields. In order to confirm these numerical predictions, we designed a specific laboratory experiment involving a silica sand tank excited by using a homemade pneumatic seismic source. The investigated frequency range [0.5-5kHz] contains the Biot (transition) frequency separating the diffusive from the propagation regimes of the slow wave.Numerical seismoelectromagnetic experiments were also performed at this scale to compute the seismoelectric response in homogeneous and partially saturated sand with this acquisition configuration. The comparison of these experimental data to numerical results provides new perspectives for the detection, study and potential use of the Biot slow wave

First laboratory measurements of seismo-magnetic conversions in fluid-filled Fontainebleau sand

International audienceSeismic wave propagation in fluid-filled porous materials induces electromagnetic effects due to small relative pore-fluid motions. In order to detect the seismo-magnetic couplings theoretically predicted by Pride (1994), we have designed a small-scale experiment in a low-noise underground laboratory which presents exceptional electromagnetic shielding conditions. Our experiment included accelerometers, electric dipoles and induction magnetometers to characterize the seismo-electromagnetic propagation phenomena. To assess the electrokinetic origin of the measured electric and magneticfields, we compared records obtained in dry and fluid-filled sand. Extra care has been taken to ensure the mechanical decoupling between the sand column and the magnetometers to avoid spurious vibrations of the magnetometers and misinterpretations of the recorded signals. Our results show that seismo-electric and seismo-magnetic signals are associated with different wave propagation modes, thus emphasizing the electrokinetic origin of these effects

Evidence of the theoretically predicted seismo-magnetic conversion

We acknowledge the Geophysical Journal International and the Association/Society and Blackwell Publishing. The definitive version is available at www.wileyinterscience.com. The reference is : Bordes, C., L. Jouniaux, S. Garambois, M. Dietrich, J.-P. Pozzi, and S. Gaffet, Evidence of the theoretically predicted seismo-magnetic conversion, G.J.I., 174, issue 2, 489-504, doi:10.1111/j.1365-246X.2008.03828.xInternational audienceSeismo-electromagnetic phenomena in porous media arise from seismic wave-induced fluid motion in the pore space, which perturbs the equilibrium of the electric double layer. This paper describes with details the original experimental apparatus built within the ultra-shielded chamber of the Low Noise Underground Laboratory of Rustrel (France). We measured seismo-magnetic conversions in moist sand using two induction magnetometers, and a pneumatic seismic source to generate the seismic wave propagation. We ensured to avoid the magnetometer vibrations, which could induce strong disturbances from induction origin. Interpretation of the data is improved by an analytical description of phase velocities for fast (P_f) and slow (P_s) longitudinal modes, transverse mode (S) as well as the extensional mode due to the cylindrical geometry of the sample. The purpose of this paper is to provide elements to measure correctly co seismic seismomagnetic fields and to specify their amplitude. The seismic arrivals recorded in the sample showing a 1200$-1300 m/s velocity have been associated to P and extensional waves. The measured seismo-magnetic arrivals show a velocity of about 800 m/s consistent with the calculated phase velocity of S waves. Therefore we show that the seismo-magnetic field is associated to the transverse part of the propagation, as theoretically predicted by Pride (1994), but never measured up to now. Moreover, the combined experimental and analytical approaches lead us to the conclusion that the measured seismo-magnetic field is probably about 0.35 nT for a 1 m/s2 seismic source acceleration (0.1 g)

Relations as patterns: bridging the gap between OBO and OWL.

BACKGROUND: Most biomedical ontologies are represented in the OBO Flatfile Format, which is an easy-to-use graph-based ontology language. The semantics of the OBO Flatfile Format 1.2 enforces a strict predetermined interpretation of relationship statements between classes. It does not allow flexible specifications that provide better approximations of the intuitive understanding of the considered relations. If relations cannot be accurately expressed then ontologies built upon them may contain false assertions and hence lead to false inferences. Ontologies in the OBO Foundry must formalize the semantics of relations according to the OBO Relationship Ontology (RO). Therefore, being able to accurately express the intended meaning of relations is of crucial importance. Since the Web Ontology Language (OWL) is an expressive language with a formal semantics, it is suitable to de ne the meaning of relations accurately. RESULTS: We developed a method to provide definition patterns for relations between classes using OWL and describe a novel implementation of the RO based on this method. We implemented our extension in software that converts ontologies in the OBO Flatfile Format to OWL, and also provide a prototype to extract relational patterns from OWL ontologies using automated reasoning. The conversion software is freely available at http://bioonto.de/obo2owl, and can be accessed via a web interface. CONCLUSIONS: Explicitly defining relations permits their use in reasoning software and leads to a more flexible and powerful way of representing biomedical ontologies. Using the extended langua0067e and semantics avoids several mistakes commonly made in formalizing biomedical ontologies, and can be used to automatically detect inconsistencies. The use of our method enables the use of graph-based ontologies in OWL, and makes complex OWL ontologies accessible in a graph-based form. Thereby, our method provides the means to gradually move the representation of biomedical ontologies into formal knowledge representation languages that incorporates an explicit semantics. Our method facilitates the use of OWL-based software in the back-end while ontology curators may continue to develop ontologies with an OBO-style front-end

Interoperability between biomedical ontologies through relation expansion, upper-level ontologies and automatic reasoning

Researchers design ontologies as a means to accurately annotate and integrate experimental data across heterogeneous and disparate data- and knowledge bases. Formal ontologies make the semantics of terms and relations explicit such that automated reasoning can be used to verify the consistency of knowledge. However, many biomedical ontologies do not sufficiently formalize the semantics of their relations and are therefore limited with respect to automated reasoning for large scale data integration and knowledge discovery. We describe a method to improve automated reasoning over biomedical ontologies and identify several thousand contradictory class definitions. Our approach aligns terms in biomedical ontologies with foundational classes in a top-level ontology and formalizes composite relations as class expressions. We describe the semi-automated repair of contradictions and demonstrate expressive queries over interoperable ontologies. Our work forms an important cornerstone for data integration, automatic inference and knowledge discovery based on formal representations of knowledge. Our results and analysis software are available at http://bioonto.de/pmwiki.php/Main/ReasonableOntologies

How fast is rupture during an earthquake? New insights from the 1999 Turkey Earthquakes

We report that during the two devastating 1999 earthquakes in Turkey, rupture propagated over a large part of the nearly 200km long fault zone at supershear speed approaching 5km/s. We present observations and modeling which confirm the original inference of supershear rupture during the Izmit earthquake and we show that supershear rupture also occurred during the Düzce earthquake. We show that the rupture velocity measured—about √2 times the shear wave velocity—is the value predicted by theoretical studies in fracture dynamics. We look for clues to explain these observations

Seismic imaging of the 1999 Izmit (Turkey) Rupture inferred from the near‐fault recordings

International audienceWe use near-fault accelerograms to infer the space-time history of rupture on the fault during the Izmit earthquake. The records show that the ground displacement and velocity near the fault were surprisingly simple. Rupture propagated toward the west at a velocity of about 3 km/s, and toward the east at a remarkably high average velocity of 4.7 km/s over a distance of about 45 km before decelerating to about 3.1 km/s on the eastern segment. Slip on the fault is particularly large down to a depth of 20 km on the central portion of the fault where it reaches about 7 m. Slip is large also below 10 km on the eastern fault segment, and this may have contributed to the loading of shear stress on the Diizce fault. On the western fault segment, large slip seems confined to shallow depths. is located very close to ARC, and the ground velocities there display waveforms and amplitudes similar to those at ARC. The digital records at ARC are, however, of much better quality than the analog records at GBZ, and, for this reason, we shall use ARC as our modeling station. The other station that we did not use is YPT because records there are more complicated and have a longer duration than records at ARC and SKR, located further from the epicenter. This complexity suggests that at this station the records are more affected by the shallow crustal structure below the site or between the station and the fault