373 research outputs found
Statistical mechanics of two-dimensional Euler flows and minimum enstrophy states
A simplified thermodynamic approach of the incompressible 2D Euler equation
is considered based on the conservation of energy, circulation and microscopic
enstrophy. Statistical equilibrium states are obtained by maximizing the
Miller-Robert-Sommeria (MRS) entropy under these sole constraints. The
vorticity fluctuations are Gaussian while the mean flow is characterized by a
linear relationship. Furthermore, the maximization of
entropy at fixed energy, circulation and microscopic enstrophy is equivalent to
the minimization of macroscopic enstrophy at fixed energy and circulation. This
provides a justification of the minimum enstrophy principle from statistical
mechanics when only the microscopic enstrophy is conserved among the infinite
class of Casimir constraints. A new class of relaxation equations towards the
statistical equilibrium state is derived. These equations can provide an
effective description of the dynamics towards equilibrium or serve as numerical
algorithms to determine maximum entropy or minimum enstrophy states. We use
these relaxation equations to study geometry induced phase transitions in
rectangular domains. In particular, we illustrate with the relaxation equations
the transition between monopoles and dipoles predicted by Chavanis and Sommeria
[J. Fluid. Mech. 314, 267 (1996)]. We take into account stable as well as
metastable states and show that metastable states are robust and have negative
specific heats. This is the first evidence of negative specific heats in that
context. We also argue that saddle points of entropy can be long-lived and play
a role in the dynamics because the system may not spontaneously generate the
perturbations that destabilize them.Comment: 26 pages, 10 figure
Statistical mechanics of Beltrami flows in axisymmetric geometry: Equilibria and bifurcations
We characterize the thermodynamical equilibrium states of axisymmetric
Euler-Beltrami flows. They have the form of coherent structures presenting one
or several cells. We find the relevant control parameters and derive the
corresponding equations of state. We prove the coexistence of several
equilibrium states for a given value of the control parameter like in 2D
turbulence [Chavanis and Sommeria, J. Fluid Mech. 314, 267 (1996)]. We explore
the stability of these equilibrium states and show that all states are saddle
points of entropy and can, in principle, be destabilized by a perturbation with
a larger wavenumber, resulting in a structure at the smallest available scale.
This mechanism is therefore reminiscent of the 3D Richardson energy cascade
towards smaller and smaller scales. Therefore, our system is truly intermediate
between 2D turbulence (coherent structures) and 3D turbulence (energy cascade).
We further explore numerically the robustness of the equilibrium states with
respect to random perturbations using a relaxation algorithm in both canonical
and microcanonical ensembles. We show that saddle points of entropy can be very
robust and therefore play a role in the dynamics. We evidence differences in
the robustness of the solutions in the canonical and microcanonical ensembles.
A scenario of bifurcation between two different equilibria (with one or two
cells) is proposed and discussed in connection with a recent observation of a
turbulent bifurcation in a von Karman experiment [Ravelet et al., Phys. Rev.
Lett. 93, 164501 (2004)].Comment: 25 pages; 16 figure
Genetic Algorithms in Supply Chain Scheduling of Ready-Mixed Concrete
The coordination of just-in-time production and transportation in a network of partially independent facilities to guarantee timely delivery to distributed customers is one of the most challenging aspects of supply chain management. From the theoretical perspective, the timely production/distribution can be viewed as a hybrid combination of planning, scheduling and routing problem, each notoriously affected by nearly prohibitive combinatorial complexity. From a practical viewpoint, the problem calls for a trade-off between risks and profits. This paper focuses on the ready-made concrete delivery: in addition to the mentioned complexity, strict time-constraints forbid both earliness and lateness of the supply. After developing a detailed model of the considered problem, we propose a novel meta-heuristic approach based on a hybrid genetic algorithm combined with constructive heuristics. A detailed case study derived from industrial data is used to illustrate the potential of the proposed approach
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Neuropathic pain after thoracotomy: tracking signs and symptoms before and at monthly intervals following surgery
Background: Because the development of neuropathic symptoms contributes to pain severity and chronification after surgery, their early prediction is important to allow targeted treatment.
Objectives: We longitudinally investigated trajectories of signs and symptoms in patients undergoing thoracotomy and assessed whether and at which time they were related to the development of neuropathic pain symptoms six months after surgery.
Methods: Presurgical and six, monthly postsurgical assessments included questionnaires for mental and physical well-being (e.g. depression/anxiety, pain catastrophizing, sleep quality, neuropathic pain symptoms), and quantitative sensory testing (QST).
Results: QST trajectories indicated nerve impairment of the surgery site with predominant loss of function. Signs of recovery towards the end of the assessment period were observed for some tests. Unsupervised cluster analysis with NPSI scores six months after surgery as clustering variable identified one group with no/low levels of neuropathic symptoms and one with moderate levels. The two groups differed w.r.t. several signs and symptoms already at early time points. Notably, neuropathic pain anywhere in the body differed already preoperatively and sleep impairment differentiated the two groups at all time points. Regression analysis revealed three factors that seemed particularly suited to predicted six months NPSI scores, namely preoperative neuropathic pain symptoms, with contributions from sleep impairment one month after surgery and the presence of dynamic mechanical allodynia three months after surgery.
Conclusions: Clinical routine should focus on the individualâs physiological state, including pre-existing neuropathic pain and sleep quality to identify patients early who might be at risk to develop chronic post-surgical neuropathic pain
Statistical mechanics of Fofonoff flows in an oceanic basin
We study the minimization of potential enstrophy at fixed circulation and
energy in an oceanic basin with arbitrary topography. For illustration, we
consider a rectangular basin and a linear topography h=by which represents
either a real bottom topography or the beta-effect appropriate to oceanic
situations. Our minimum enstrophy principle is motivated by different arguments
of statistical mechanics reviewed in the article. It leads to steady states of
the quasigeostrophic (QG) equations characterized by a linear relationship
between potential vorticity q and stream function psi. For low values of the
energy, we recover Fofonoff flows [J. Mar. Res. 13, 254 (1954)] that display a
strong westward jet. For large values of the energy, we obtain geometry induced
phase transitions between monopoles and dipoles similar to those found by
Chavanis and Sommeria [J. Fluid Mech. 314, 267 (1996)] in the absence of
topography. In the presence of topography, we recover and confirm the results
obtained by Venaille and Bouchet [Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 104501 (2009)] using a
different formalism. In addition, we introduce relaxation equations towards
minimum potential enstrophy states and perform numerical simulations to
illustrate the phase transitions in a rectangular oceanic basin with linear
topography (or beta-effect).Comment: 26 pages, 28 figure
Effect of polyglucosamine on weight loss and metabolic parameters in overweight and obesity: A systemic review and meta-analysis
The use of dietary supplements for weight loss has gained significant momentum. Polyglucosamine, a chitosan derivative, is a dietary supplement increasingly used for weight loss. In this meta-analysis, we systematically summarized and quantified the key findings of four randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials examining the effects of polyglucosamine supplementation and caloric restriction, and physical activity on body weight, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference in subjects with overweight and obesity. The control group was set with a physical activity from 6â7 MET-h/week activity and up to 21 MET-h/week activity with caloric restriction. Compliance in the latter trials was reported via a follow-up questionnaire with the individual participants. The analysis included 399 subjects followed for a period ranging from 12 weeks to one year. Subjectsâ age ranged from 21â75 years, BMI from 26â45 kg/m2, and all were white European or Caucasian in ethnicity. The meta-analyzed mean differences for random effects showed that polyglucosamine supplementation improves weight loss by â1.78 kg [â2.78, â0.79], BMI by â1.52 kg/m2 [â3.58, 0.54], and improves waist circumference reduction by â1.45 cm [â2.77, â0.12]. In conclusion, the use of polyglucosamine supplementation in conjunction with lifestyle behavioral therapies can be effective for weight reduction. Further studies are needed to examine the long-term effects of polyglucosamine supplementation on weight loss and other metabolic parameters
The Paganica Fault and surface coseismic ruptures caused by the 6 april 2009 earthquake (LâAquila, central Italy)
On 6 April 2009, at 01:32 GMT, an Mw 6.3 seismic event hit the
central Apennines, severely damaging the town of LâAquila and
dozens of neighboring villages and resulting in approximately
300 casualties (Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia,
http://www.ingv.it; MedNet, http://mednet.rm.ingv.it/proce-
dure/events/QRCMT/090406_013322/qrcmt.html). This earth-
quake was the strongest in central Italy since the devastating
1915 Fucino event (Mw 7.0). The INGV national seismic net-
work located the hypocenter 5 km southwest of LâAquila, 8â9
km deep. Based on this information and on the seismotectonic
framework of the region, earthquake geologists traveled to the
field to identify possible surface faulting (Emergeo Working
Group 2009a, 2009b). The most convincing evidence of pri-
mary surface rupture is along the Paganica fault, the geometry
of which is consistent with seismological, synthetic aperture
radar (SAR) and GPS data. Investigation of other known nor-
mal faults of the area, i.e., the Mt. Pettino, Mt. San Franco,
and Mt. Stabiata normal faults suggested that these structures
were not activated during the April 6 shock (Emergeo Working
Group 2009a, 2009b).
In this report, we first describe the seismotectonic frame-
work of the area, and then we present the field information that supports the occurrence of surficial displacement on the Paganica fault.Published940-9503.2. Tettonica attivaJCR Journalope
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