Judge Robert R. Merhige, Jr. - Strict Constructionist Weathers the Storm

On August 27, 1967, Robert R. Merhige, Jr., was commissioned as a United States District Court Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia, the embarkment upon what many members of the legal community have labeled a controversial judicial career. However, examination of Judge Merhige\u27s numerous decisions reveals that his image as a disputatius public figure has been more than a function of his flare for vehemently enforcing pronouncements and policies of the Supreme Court. The man, who created fervor throughout this state and the South with his publicly chastised busing decisions of the early 1970s, has been a victim of timing rather than an implementor of unprecedented legal reasoning. He was appointed to the bench amidst the turmoil of an emotionally charged social climate and at a time when the federal forum was beginning to expand and blossom for a host of grievances such as school busing, sexual discrimination and prisoners rights. Oddly, throughout his judicial career, Judge Merhige has perceived himself as a strict constructionist \u27 striving avidly to adhere to judicial precedents in decisions transcending the spectrum of constitutional issues. It is the intent of this note to examine Judge Merhige\u27s judicial philosophy in the areas of equal protection, the first amendment, due process and administrative law as compared to federal precedents and trends existing at the time of his opinions

Analysis of transient radiative heat transfer using high bounded scheme of the FTn finite volume method

Paper presented to the 10th International Conference on Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics, Florida, 14-16 July 2014.In this work, the transient behavior of the absorbing, emitting, and isotropically scattering medium in radiative equilibrium is examined, using the FTn Finite Volume Method (FTnFVM), in terms of temporal and spatial evolutions of the incident radiation, radiative heat flux, and temperature of the medium. Commonly used convection schemes in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) such as STEP and CLAM are introduced for spatial discetization of the transient radiative transfer equation (TRTE). Also a non-uniform (FTn) angular scheme is used to capture the physics of the radiative wave propagation. The present approach is then validated by comparing with published data and applied to problems of three-dimensional isotropically participating media. It is shown that the FTn FVM reduces largely the ray effects. Also, the false scattering is largely remedied using the CLAM scheme is applied for the angular discretization. In all computations, the CLAM scheme produces more accurate results (with coarse grid) than the step scheme. Using the same (relatively coarse) spatial grid, the CLAM scheme captures the steep gradients and penetration depths more accurately than the step scheme. Then, effects of the scattering albedo and the optical thickness on the incident radiation distributions are presented and discussed.cf201

Modelling and experimental results of a biomass pyrolysis pilot plant

Paper presented to the 10th International Conference on Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics, Florida, 14-16 July 2014.Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) and global modelling are used to solve numerically pyrolysis, combustion and heat recuperation in a pilot plant of biomass pyrolysis using pyrolysis products as fuel. Obtained results are validated with experimental measurements. In the case of FDS modelling three different treatments of radiation are considered: without radiation, with gray gas radiation and with non gray gas radiation. The results of numerical simulations are compared with the global model results and with the experimental results. It was shown that the FDS results are in good qualitative and quantitative agreement with the experimental results. The global model gives qualitative results in agreement with experimental results with less CPU time compared with FDS results. Whereas FDS results are more accurate than those of the global model. At the end of the process FDS results are better than global model results this is due to the fact that global model doesn’t take into account the thermal inertia of the pilot plant. The global model is used to study the racing reaction in the pilot plant and to study the case with and without catalyser. FDS is used to predict CO and CO2 emissions. The effect of the non gray gas behaviour is emphasised and demonstrated to affect pollutant emissions.cf201

Low cost metamodel for robust design of periodic nonlinear coupled micro-systems

To achieve robust design, in presence of uncertainty, nonlinearity and structural periodicity, a metamodel combining the Latin Hypercube Sampling (LHS) method for uncertainty propagation and an enriched Craig-Bampton Component Mode Synthesis approach (CB-CMS) for model reduction is proposed. Its application to predict the time responses of a stochastic periodic nonlinear micro-system proves its efficiency in terms of accuracy and reduction of computational cost

Dynamics of tangent-hyperbolic nanoliquids configured by stratified extending surface: effects of transpiration, Robin conditions and dual stratifications

A mathematical study is presented to evaluate double stratification effects on the dual convected flow of a non-Newtonian (tangent-hyperbolic) nanoliquids persuaded by porous stretching surface. Thermal radiation along with transpiration (wall suction/injection) and heat source/sink are included. Buongiorno’s model is employed for nanoscale effects and a Rosseland diffusion approximation for nonlinear radiative heat transfer. Appropriate similarity transformations are deployed to alter the dimensional governing nonlinear PDEs (partial differential equations) to a nonlinear differential one with physically viable boundary conditions. The transformed dimensionless BVP (boundary value problem) is computed analytically by a HAM (homotopic analysis method) algorithm and a symbolic software. Validation with earlier studies employing the numerical method (Runge-Kutta-Fehlberg) is included. The evolution in velocity, thermal and solutal (nanoparticle) fields are interpreted through graphical outcomes for the impact of significant sundry parameters. Tabular outcomes are also presented for skin-friction, local Nusselt and Sherwood numbers. A rise in material variable (Weissenberg number), the flow is decelerated while it is accelerated with increasing nonlinear thermal convective parameter, mixed convection parameter and buoyancy ratio values. Temperatures are boosted with increment in radiative, thermophoresis, Brownian motion, thermal Biot number and heat generation parameters whereas they are reduced with increasing thermal stratification parameter. Nanoparticle concentration values are suppressed with higher Schmidt number, Brownian movement and solutal stratification variable however they are boosted with greater values of thermophoresis and concentration Biot number. Local Sherwood number is improved with Schmidt number, concentration stratification parameter and concentration Biot number. Local Nusselt number is strongly increased with greater Prandtl number, thermal stratification number, thermal Biot number and radiative parameter. The study finds applications in thermal nanopolymeric coating flows in materials processing operations

Uncertainties propagation through robust reduced model

International audienceDesigning large-scale systems in which parametric uncertainties and localized nonlinearities are incorporated requires the implementation of bothuncertainty propagation and robust model condensation methods. In this context, we propose to propagate uncertainties through a model, which combines the statistical Latin Hypercube Sampling (LHS) technique and a robust condensation method. The latter is based on the enrichment of a truncated eigenvectors bases using static residuals taking into account parametric uncertainty and localized nonlinearity effects. The efficiency, in terms of accuracy and time consuming, of the proposed method is evaluated on the nonlinear time response of a 2D framestructure

Administering ketoconazole (25mg/Kg) For 14 Days in male wistar rat provokes testicular damage accompanied by changes in testosterone levels and immune function

The objective of this study is to explore the effects of subchronic treatment of male Wistar rats with a high dose of KTCZ on immune and gonadal changes (testes). KTCN (25mg/kg) was administered to male Wistar rats orally for 14 days.Ketoconazole generated weight changes (increased relative weight of thymus, adrenals and brain and decreased weight of testes), testicular tissue damage and a decrease in testosterone serum accompanied by immunosuppression (decrease in lymphocytes and increase in neutrophilia levels).These changes in body weight and tissue could have several origins which glucocorticoids play the role of conductor. Keywords: Ketoconazole - Testosterone - Immunosuppression - Testicular damage. L'objectif de cette étude est d'explorer les effets du traitement subchronique des rats males Wistar par une forte dose de KTCZ sur les systèmes immunitaires et gonadotropes (testicules). Le KTCN (25mg/kg) á été administre par voie orale á des rats Wistar males pendant 14 jours.Le ketoconazole á entraine un changement dans le poids (augmentation du poids relatif du thymus, des glandes surrénales et du cerveau et une diminution du poids des testicules), des dommages au niveau des tissus testiculaires et enfin une diminution de la testostéronémie accompagnée d'une immunodépression (diminution des lymphocytes et augmentation des neutrophiles).Ces modifications du poids corporel et des tissus pourraient avoir plusieurs origines avec les glucocorticoïdes comme chef d'orchestre.Mots clés: Ketoconazole -Testostérone - Immunosuppression - Dommages testiculaires

La gestation chez le rat wistar a-t-elle un effet modérateur sur la neurotoxicité du toluène ?

Résumé Les conséquences neuro-comportementales et physiologiques, suite à l’administration sub chronique du toluène (Tol), ont été examinées chez le rat Wistar femelle gestante. Un quart de la concentration de la DL50 du Tol a été injecté en IP chez les rattes gestante, du 4ème au 14ème jour de la gestation. Les prélèvements de sang et la mesure des taux sériques de progestérone et de LH (hormone lutéinisante) ont été réalisées au 7ème jour de gestation (3ème jour du traitement), au 14ème jour (dernier jour du traitement) et après la mise bas (10ème jour après l'arrêt du traitement). Après la mise bas qui coïncide avec le 21ème jour, nous avons testé l’efficacité d’un agoniste GABAergique, le Clonazepam au cours de la nage forcée (modélisation animal de la dépression). Après décapitation, le cerveau, les surrénales et les ovaires ont été pesés et nous avons calculé les poids relatifs de ces organes. Nos résultats montrent que l'application d'un stress chronique sous toluène a entraîné des perturbations du système endocrinien (taux plasmatiques de LH et de progestérone) et pondérale (poids relatif du cerveau, ovaires et surrénales) qui semblent être irréversibles chez les rattes non gestantes traitées au Tol. Par contre, le même traitement associé à la gestation révèle un effet de rétablissement dix jours après l'arrêt du traitement. L'inefficacité du traitement au Clonazépam enregistrée chez les animaux Tol s'avère efficace chez le lot TolG. La gestation semble jouer un effet modérateur sur la nocivité et la neurotoxicité du toluène, probablement par des neurostéroïdes.Mots clés: Gestation - Toluène - Progestérone - LH - Neurostéroides - Nage forcée The neuro behavior and physiological consequences, following the sub chronic administration of toluene (Tol), were examined in the pregnant Wistar rats. A quarter lethal dose concentration (LD50) of Tol was injected in IP at the pregnant rats from day 4 to day 14 of gestation. The blood samples and the measurement of the plasma levels of progesterone and luteinizing hormone (LH) were carried out at the 7th day of gestation (3rd day of the treatment), with the 14th day (last day of the treatment) and after delivery (10th day after discontinuation of therapy). After delivery, at the 21st day, the effectiveness of an agonist GABAergique (clonazepam) during the forced swimming test (modelling animal of the depression) was tested. After decapitation, the brain, the adrenals and the ovaries were weighed and the relative weight of these organs was calculated. Our results showed that the application of a sub chronic stress (10 days) by toluene caused endocrine disruption (plasma LH and progesterone) and weight (brain, ovaries and adrenal glands) that appear to be irreversible in non-pregnant animals treated with toluene. However, the same treatment associated with pregnancy reveals a healing effect ten days after stopping treatment. Inefficiency of the treatment with Clonazepam in the Tol animals (virgin treated with toluene), this treatment is effective in TolG group (Pregnant treated with Tol). Gestation appears to play a moderating effect on the harmfulness and the neurotoxicity of toluene, probably by neurosteroids. Key words: Pregnancy – Toluene – Progesterone – LH - Neurosteroids – Forced swimming tes

Radiation heat transfer in a complex geometry containing anisotropically-scattering mie particles

This study aims to numerically investigate the radiation heat transfer in a complex, 3-D biomass pyrolysis reactor which is consisted of two pyrolysis chambers and a heat recuperator. The medium assumes to be gray, absorbs, emits, and Mie-anisotropically scatters the radiation energy. The finite volume method (FVM) is applied to solve the radiation transfer equation (RTE) using the step scheme. To treat the complex geometry, the blocked-off-region procedure is employed. Mie equations (ME) are applied to evaluate the scattering phase function and analyze the angular distribution of the anisotropically scattered radiation by particles. In this study, three different states are considered to test the anisotropic scattering impacts on the temperature and radiation heat flux distribution. These states are as: (i) Isotropic scattering, (ii) forward and backward scattering and (iii) scattering with solid particles of different coals and fly ash. The outcomes demonstrate that the radiation heat flux enhances by an increment of the albedo and absorption coefficients for the coals and fly ash, unlike the isotropic case and the forward and backward scattering functions. Moreover, the particle size parameter does not have an important influence on the radiation heat flux, when the medium is thin optical. Its effect is more noticeable for higher extinction coefficients.</jats:p

Fuzzy Control Modeling to Optimize the Hardness and Geometry of Laser Cladded Fe-Based MG Single Track on Stainless Steel Substrate Prepared at Different Surface Roughness

Metallic glass (MG) is a promising coating material developed to enhance the surface hardness of metallic substrates, with laser cladding having become popular to develop such coatings. MGs properties are affected by the laser cladding variables (laser power, scanning speed, spot size). Meanwhile, the substrate surface roughness significantly affects the geometry and hardness of the laser-cladded MG. In this research, Fe-based MG was laser-cladded on substrates with different surface roughness. For this purpose, the surfaces of the substrate were prepared for cladding using two methods: sandpaper polishing (SP) and sandblasting (SB), with two levels of grit size used for each method (SP150, SP240, SB40, SB100). The experiment showed that substrate surface roughness affected the geometry and hardness of laser-cladded Fe-based MG. To predict and optimize the geometry and hardness of laser-cladded Fe-based MG single tracks at different substrate surface roughness, a fuzzy logic control system (FLCS) was developed. The FLCS results indicate that it is an efficient tool to select the proper preparation technique of the substrate surface for higher clad hardness and maximum geometry to minimize the number of cladding tracks for full surface cladding