Existence and approximation of probability measure solutions to models of collective behaviors

In this paper we consider first order differential models of collective behaviors of groups of agents based on the mass conservation equation. Models are formulated taking the spatial distribution of the agents as the main unknown, expressed in terms of a probability measure evolving in time. We develop an existence and approximation theory of the solutions to such models and we show that some recently proposed models of crowd and swarm dynamics fit our theoretic paradigm.Comment: 31 pages, 1 figur

Generalized Wasserstein distance and its application to transport equations with source

In this article, we generalize the Wasserstein distance to measures with different masses. We study the properties of such distance. In particular, we show that it metrizes weak convergence for tight sequences. We use this generalized Wasserstein distance to study a transport equation with source, in which both the vector field and the source depend on the measure itself. We prove existence and uniqueness of the solution to the Cauchy problem when the vector field and the source are Lipschitzian with respect to the generalized Wasserstein distance

Design and Fabrication of Terahertz Metallic Gratings on a Two-Wire Waveguide

In this study, we present the design, fabrication and experimental characterization of waveguide-integrated gratings operating at THz frequencie

Vein-type graphite deposits in Sri Lanka: the ultimate fate of granulite fluids

The world-best vein graphite deposits in Sri-Lanka occur scattered through the high-grade terrain of the Wanni and Highland Complexes of Sri-Lanka. The Wanni Complex (amphibolite to granulite grade) consists of ~770-1100 Ma metagranitoids, metagabbro, charnockite, enderbitic gneisses, migmatites, clastic metasediments, including garnet-cordierite gneisses, rare to minor calc-silicate rocks as well as late to post-tectonic granites (Kröner et al., 2013). Higher metamorphic grade, reaching in places UHT-conditions (T>1000 °C) characterizes the Highland Complex. Peak metamorphism occurred during the Neoproterozoic Pan-African orogeny (~620-535 Ma), which led to the accretion of terrains in Sri Lanka and played a key role for the amalgamation of the Gondwana supercontinent (Tsunogae and Santosh, 2010). Structurally disposed in extensional fractures post-dating the Pan-African ductile structures (Kehelpannala, 1999), the graphite veins equilibrated at relatively low temperature (500-600 °C). However, the presence of mesoperthites indicate that graphite precipitation may have started at higher temperature. Samples from khondalite host rocks and quartz co-precipitated with graphite from the Bogala and Kahatagana graphite mines in the Wanni Complex were studied. Host-rocks show spectacular decompression reaction aureoles around feldspars and garnet. They contain small CO2 inclusions in garnet cores or quartz in decompression reaction aureoles. Larger, highly transposed brine inclusions are more abundant and are responsible for metasomatic features (feldspar leaching and deposition) observed in the aureoles. Fluid inclusions in vein minerals are dominantly aqueous, rarely mixed H2O+CO2. Fluid inclusions and petrographic data suggest that graphite has been deposited from fluids at decreasing pressure and temperature at relatively reduced redox conditions. Carbon isotope data indicate a dominant mantle source, mixed with small quantities of light C-bearing fluids. It has been proposed that large quantities of mantle-derived CO2 fluid have infiltrated the lower crust during the final stage of Gondwana supercontinent amalgamation (Touret et al., 2016). Formed during strong decompression at the end of a long (up to a few 10 Ma) period of isobaric cooling, the graphite veins in Sri-Lanka (and elsewhere in the former Gondwana) reflects the escape of these granulite fluids to higher crustal levels. In this respect, they are comparable to the quartz-carbonates mega-shear zones found in other granulite terranes (Newton and Manning, 2002). Depending on the redox conditions, former lower crustal fluids (mantle-derived CO2 and/or brines) may either result in mid to upper-crustal quartz-carbonate or graphite veins

Anti-biofim and antibacterial effect of essential oils and their major compounds

Essential oils are plant secondary metabolites commonly used in traditional medicine to treat infectious diseases. Along with their compounds, oils can contribute to development of new antimicrobial/antibiofilm products. Our study evaluated antibacterial activity of essential oils and their major compounds on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus planktonic cells and anti-biofilm activity. The effect of essential oils and their major compounds on biofilm and planktonic cells was assessed by quantifying the number of viable cells (CFU). Biomass quantification (absorbance=OD570nm) was also performed to evaluate anti-biofilm activity. Planktonic cells were more susceptible to the action of agents. Escherichia coli was reduced by 100\% with cinnamon and palmarosa oil. The treatment showed an interesting anti-biofilm activity, whereas green tea essential oil and its major compound, terpinen-4-ol, yielded less effective results. Reduction of viable cells in biofilm biomass was significant. Although our research is one of the first experiments in anti-biofilm activity of essential oils and their compounds against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, pharmacological data confirm that the materials used in the trial do not pose health risk. Thus, essential oils and their compounds can be safely used in research to identify new antibacterial and anti-biofilm products against pathogenic bacteria.The authors thank the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) for the first author’s scholarship, the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG) for the financial support, the Foundation for Science and Technology and European Community fund European Regional Development Fund (FEDER), in the ambit of the Project PTDC/SAUESA/ 6460912006/ FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-00748

Field‐based evidence for intra‐slab high‐permeability channel formation at eclogite‐facies conditions during subduction

International audienceFluid release from subducting oceanic lithosphere is a key process for subduction zone geodynamics, from controlling arc volcanism to seismicity and tectonic exhumation. However, many fundamental details of fluid composition, flow pathways, and reactivity with slab-forming rocks remain to be thoroughly understood. In this study we investigate a multi-kilometer-long, high-pressure metasomatic system preserved in the lawsonite-eclogite metamorphic unit of Alpine Corsica, France. The fluid-mediated process was localized along a major intra-slab interface, which is the contact between basement and cover unit. Two distinct metasomatic stages are identified and discussed. We show that these two stages resulted from the infiltration of deep fluids that were derived from the same source and had the same slab-parallel, updip flow direction. By mass balance analysis, we quantify metasomatic mass changes along this fluid pathway and the time-integrated fluid fluxes responsible for them. In addition, we also assess carbon fluxes associated with these metasomatic events. The magnitude of the estimated fluid fluxes (104-105) indicates that major intra-slab interfaces such as lithological boundaries acted as fluid channels facilitating episodic pulses of fluid flow. We also show that when fluids are channelized, high time-integrated fluid fluxes lead to carbon fluxes several orders of magnitude higher than carbon fluxes generated by local dehydration reactions. Given the size and geologic features of the investigated metasomatic system, we propose that it represents the first reported natural analogue of the so-called high permeability channels predicted by numerical simulations

Accuracy of genotype imputation with different low density panels in Braford and Hereford cattle.

The main objective of this research was to test alternative low density SNP panels to impute Illumina 50K SNP panel genotypes in Braford and Hereford cattle. Genotypes from 3,768 Hereford, Braford and Nellore animals were used for testing imputation from low density SNP panels (3K, 6K, 8K, 15K and 20K) to the Illumina 50K SNP panel, under four different scenarios: including or not Nellore genotypes in the reference population in combination with the use or not of pedigree information. There were no significant differences in imputation accuracy among these four scenarios within each panel. However, significant differences between panels were found. The best accuracy was given by a customized 15K SNP panel, with an overall genotype concordance rate of 0.977, with 93.3% of the animals imputed with a concordance rate above 0.95. The concordance rates for the other SNP panels were 0.872, 0.952, 0.957 and 0.958 for 3K, 6K, 8K and 20K SNP panel, respectively. Therefore, in the Braford/Hereford population considered in this study, all the alternative panels denser than 3K could be used for imputing to the 50K SNP panel with an overall high imputation accuracy. However, the best results were obtained with the customized 15K SNP instead of the alternative commercial panels. The use of Nellore sire genotypes and pedigree information did not increase accuracy of imputation in this population

Impact of a catch-up strategy of DT-IPV vaccination during hospitalization on vaccination coverage among people over 65 years of age in france: The HOSPIVAC study (Vaccination during hospitalization)

In France, diphtheria tetanus and inactivated polio vaccine (DT-IPV) coverage and immunization are insufficient in the elderly and decrease with age. The principal objective of this study was to assess the impact of a strategy of catch-up DT-IPV vaccination during hospitalization in people over the age of 65 years in central France (the Sarthe region). We performed a prospective, single-center, cluster-randomized study (four hospital wards). We included patients aged ≥65 years, without mental impairment, contraindication and who accepted to participate, hospitalized in the internal medicine wards in Le Mans Hospital from 28 May 2018 to 27 May 2019. The DT-IPV vaccination status of the patients was determined at inclusion and the wards were randomized (intervention and control). In the intervention group, vaccination was up-dated during hospitalization. In case of temporary contraindication, vaccination was prescribed at hospital discharge. Patients hospitalized in the control wards received oral information only. Final immunization status was determined by calling the patient’s general practitioner two months after hospital discharge. One hundred and fifty seven patients were included: 73 in the intervention and 84 in the control arm. Baseline immunization coverage was 46.5%. Vaccination coverage increased from 56.2% to 80.8% in the intervention group and from 38.1% to 40.5% in the control group (p < 0.001). Having received sufficient information from the general practitioner was the only factor associated with vaccination being up-to-date in uni- and multivariate analysis: OR = 5.07 [2.45–10.51]. In a setting of low vaccination coverage DT-IPV vaccination during hospitalization is an effective catch-up strategy