Isotropic and anisotropic heat transfer in active wall porous media foam type

Positive buildings in energy are, nowadays, a recurrent objective of many researches in the construction and energetic efficiency domain. Furthermore, to achieve this objective, some studies about active and reactive walls have been carried out employing porous medium as a main structure. Nevertheless, transfer characterization in a foam type sample is not fully understood. The goal of this study is to improve the characterization of heat transfer in isotropic and anisotropic configurations of a porous medium. Thus, a finite volume method was implemented to study a heat transfer through these media, in the interest of achieving their ratio equivalent to fluid thermal conductivity (i.e. Nusselt number). Finally, the results indicate a notable influence of the ratio of the contact and the total inlet area on the isotropic configuration as well as strong influence given by the different axis on the anisotropic model. Moreover, the analysis shows that in an active wall constituted by two solid phases, these effects will be preponderant for their characterization.Comment: 18\`eme Journ\'ees Internationales de Thermique (JITH 2017), Oct 2017, Monastir, Tunisi

An unconditionally stable nonstandard finite difference method applied to a mathematical model of HIV infection

We formulate and analyze an unconditionally stable nonstandard finite difference method for a mathematical model of HIV transmission dynamics. The dynamics of this model are studied using the qualitative theory of dynamical systems. These qualitative features of the continuous model are preserved by the numerical method that we propose in this paper. This method also preserves the positivity of the solution, which is one of the essential requirements when modeling epidemic diseases. Robust numerical results confirming theoretical investigations are provided. Comparisons are also made with the other conventional approaches that are routinely used for such problems.IS

10401 Abstracts Collection -- Learning, Planning and Sharing Robot Knowledge for Human-Robot Interaction

From 03.10.10 to 08.10.10,the Dagstuhl Seminar 10401 ``Learning, Planning and Sharing Robot Knowledge for Human-Robot Interaction \u27\u27 was held in Schloss Dagstuhl~--~Leibniz Center for Informatics. During the seminar, several participants presented their current research, and ongoing work and open problems were discussed. Abstracts of the presentations given during the seminar as well as abstracts of seminar results and ideas are put together in this paper. The first section describes the seminar topics and goals in general. Links to extended abstracts or full papers are provided, if available

On F-theory Quiver Models and Kac-Moody Algebras

We discuss quiver gauge models with bi-fundamental and fundamental matter obtained from F-theory compactified on ALE spaces over a four dimensional base space. We focus on the base geometry which consists of intersecting F0=CP1xCP1 Hirzebruch complex surfaces arranged as Dynkin graphs classified by three kinds of Kac-Moody (KM) algebras: ordinary, i.e finite dimensional, affine and indefinite, in particular hyperbolic. We interpret the equations defining these three classes of generalized Lie algebras as the anomaly cancelation condition of the corresponding N =1 F-theory quivers in four dimensions. We analyze in some detail hyperbolic geometries obtained from the affine A base geometry by adding a node, and we find that it can be used to incorporate fundamental fields to a product of SU-type gauge groups and fields.Comment: 13 pages; new equations added in section 3, one reference added and typos correcte

Characterization of a human coagulation factor Xa-binding site on Viperidae snake venom phospholipases A2 by affinity binding studies and molecular bioinformatics

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The snake venom group IIA secreted phospholipases A₂(SVPLA₂), present in the <it>Viperidae </it>snake family exhibit a wide range of toxic and pharmacological effects. They exert their different functions by catalyzing the hydrolysis of phospholipids (PL) at the membrane/water interface and by highly specific direct binding to: (i) presynaptic membrane-bound or intracellular receptors; (ii) natural PLA₂-inhibitors from snake serum; and (iii) coagulation factors present in human blood.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) protein-protein interaction measurements and an <it>in vitro </it>biological test of inhibition of prothrombinase activity, we identify a number of <it>Viperidae </it>venom SVPLA₂s that inhibit blood coagulation through direct binding to human blood coagulation factor Xa (FXa) via a non-catalytic, PL-independent mechanism. We classify the SVPLA₂s in four groups, depending on the strength of their binding.</p> <p>Molecular electrostatic potentials calculated at the surface of 3D homology-modeling models show a correlation with inhibition of prothrombinase activity. In addition, molecular docking simulations between SVPLA₂and FXa guided by the experimental data identify the potential FXa binding site on the SVPLA₂s. This site is composed of the following regions: helices A and B, the Ca²⁺loop, the helix C-β-wing loop, and the C-terminal fragment. Some of the SVPLA₂binding site residues belong also to the interfacial binding site (IBS). The interface in FXa involves both, the light and heavy chains.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We have experimentally identified several strong FXa-binding SVPLA₂s that disrupt the function of the coagulation cascade by interacting with FXa by the non-catalytic PL-independent mechanism. By theoretical methods we mapped the interaction sites on both, the SVPLA₂s and FXa. Our findings may lead to the design of novel, non-competitive FXa inhibitors.</p

Coalescence of Anderson-localized modes at an exceptional point in 2D random media

In non-hermitian systems, the particular position at which two eigenstates coalesce under a variation of a parameter in the complex plane is called an exceptional point. A non-perturbative theory is proposed which describes the evolution of modes in 2D open dielectric systems when permittivity distribution is modified. We successfully test this theory in a 2D disordered system to predict the position in the parameter space of the exceptional point between two Anderson-localized states. We observe that the accuracy of the prediction depends on the number of localized states accounted for. Such an exceptional point is experimentally accessible in practically relevant disordered photonic systems. Losses are inherent to most physical systems, either because of dissipation or as a result of openness. These systems are described mathematically by a non-hermitian Hamiltonian, where eigenvalues are complex and eigen-states form a nonorthogonal set. In such systems, interaction between pairs of eigenstates when a set of external parameters is varied is essentially driven by the existence of exceptional points (EP). At an EP, eigenstates coa-lesce: Complex eigenvalues degenerate and spatial distributions become collinear. In its vicinity, eigenvalues display a singular topology [1] and encircling the EP in the parameter space leads to a residual geometrical phase [2, 3]. Since their introduction by Kato in 1966 [4], EPs have turned to be involved in a rich variety of physical effects: Level repulsion [5], mode hybridization [6], quantum phase transition [7], lasing mode switching [8], PT symmetry breaking [9, 10] or even strong coupling [11]. They have been observed experimentally in different systems such as microwave billiards [12], chaotic optical mi-crocavities [13] or two level atoms in high-Q cavities [11]. Open random media are a particular class of non-hermitian systems. Here, modal confinement may be solely driven by the degree of scattering. For sufficiently strong scattering, the spatial extension of the modes becomes smaller than the system size, resulting in transport inhibition and Anderson localization [14]. Disordered-induced localized states have raised increasing interest. They provide with natural optical cavities in random lasers [15, 16]. They recently appeared to be good candidate for cavity QED [17, 18], with the main advantage of being inherently disorder-robust. These modes can be manipulated by a local change of the disorder and can be coupled to form necklace states [19-21], which open channels in a nominally localized system [22, 23]. These necklace states are foreseen as a key mechanism in the transition from localization to diffusive regime [24]. PT symmetry has been studied in the context of disordered media and Anderson localization [25-27] but so far EPs between localized modes have not been investigated. In this letter, coalescence at an EP between two Anderson-localized optical modes is demonstrated in a two dimensional (2D) dielectric random system. To bring the system in the vicinity of an EP, the dielectric permit-tivity is varied at two different locations in the random system. We first propose a general theory to follow the spectral and spatial evolution of modes in 2D dielectric open media. This theory is applied to the specific case of Anderson-localized modes to identify the position of an EP in the parameter space. This prediction is confirmed by Finite Element Method (FEM) simulations. We show that this is a highly complex problem of multiple mode interaction where a large number of modes are involved. We believe that our theory opens the way to a controlled local manipulation of the permittivity and the possibility to engineer the modes. Furthermore, we think this approach can be easily extended to others kinds of networks e.g. coupled arrays of cavities [28, 29]. We first consider the general case of a finite-size dielec-tric medium in 2D space, with inhomogeneous dielectric constant distribution, ǫ(r). In the frequency domain, the electromagnetic field follows the Helmholtz equation: ∆E(r, ω) + ǫ(r)ω 2 E(r, ω) = 0 (1) where E(r, ω) stands for the electrical field and the speed of light, c = 1. Eigensolutions of eq. (1), define the modes or eigenstates of the problem: (Ω i , |Ψ i) i∈N | ∆|Ψ i + ǫ(r)Ω 2 i |Ψ i = 0 (2) Because of its openness, the system has inherent losses, thus is described by a non-hermitian Hamiltonian. For non-hermitian systems, modes are a priori non-orthogonal, complex and their completeness is not ensured. Here, we consider open systems with finite range permittivity ǫ(r) and where a discontinuity in the permit-tivity provides a natural demarcation of the problem. Fo

Synthetic Biotechnology to Study and Engineer Ribosomal Bottromycin Biosynthesis

SummaryBottromycins represent a promising class of antibiotics binding to the therapeutically unexploited A-site of the bacterial ribosome. By inhibiting translation they are active against clinically important pathogens, such as vancomycin-resistant Enterococci. Structurally, bottromycins are heavily modified peptides exhibiting various unusual biosynthetic features. To set the stage for compound modification and yield optimization, we identified the biosynthetic gene cluster, used synthetic biotechnology approaches to establish and improve heterologous production, and generated analogs by pathway genetic engineering. We unambiguously identified three radical SAM methyltransferase-encoding genes required for various methylations at unactivated carbons yielding tert-butyl valine, methyl-proline, and β-methyl-phenylalanine residues, plus a gene involved in aspartate methyl-ester formation. Evidence for the formation of the exo-thiazole unit and for a macrocyclodehydration mechanism leading to amidine ring formation is provided

Potential inundation of Lisbon downtown by a 1755-like tsunami

In this study, we present 10 m resolution tsunami flooding maps for Lisbon downtown and the Tagus estuary. To compute these maps we use the present bathymetry and topographic maps and a reasonable estimate for the maximum credible tsunami scenario. Tsunami modeling was made with a non-linear shallow water model using four levels of nested grids. The tsunami flood is discussed in terms of flow depth, run-up height and maximum inundation area. The results show that, even today, in spite of the significant morphologic changes in the city river front after the 1755 earthquake, a similar event would cause tsunami flow depths larger than one meter in a large area along the Tagus estuary and Lisbon downtown. Other areas along the estuary with a high population density would also be strongly affected. The impact of the tide on the extent of tsunami inundation is discussed, due to the large amplitude range of the tide in Lisbon, and compared with the historical descriptions of the 1755 event. The results presented here can be used to identify the potential tsunami inundation areas in Lisbon; this identification comprises a key element of the Portuguese tsunami emergency management system