Search

We present statistical results for the analysis of 240 Auroral Kilometric Radiation (AKR) dynamical spectra containing 3,750 short–time AKR bursts each, and recorded on‐board Interball–2 mission (POLRAD and MEMO experiments). Data were collected between December 1996 and February 1998. We found that frequency distribution of short AKR bursts as a function of their Power Spectral Density, shows for intense bursts a powerlaw fall. This is the hallmark of the Self–Organized Criticality (SOC) systems. In our case a simple analytical Logistic Growth SOC model can reproduce increments of Electron Cyclotron Maser instability expected for AKR. Key Points: Frequency distribution of short Auroral Kilometric Radiation (AKR) bursts versus their Power Spectral Density (PSD) shows a powerlaw fall for high PSDSuch behavior is characteristic for a Self‐Organized Criticality (SOC) systems and points toward a new property of the AKRSimple analytical Logistic Growth SOC model can reproduce increments of Electron Cyclotron Maser instability expected for AKR [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I investigate the paradoxes associated with the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) point-based ranking of national soccer teams. The ranking has been plagued with paradoxes that incentivize teams to avoid playing friendly matches, i.e., matches that are not part of any official FIFA tournament or preliminaries, and applying other counterintuitive strategies. The most spectacular paradox was the dramatic underrating of the hosts of major tournaments. For a long time, host teams, which were absent from preliminary matches, would play only friendly matches that awarded few points. Here, I present three models that estimate the magnitude of the resulting "host effect" at 14.2–16 positions. Such an estimate counteracts the intuition that a large investment in hosting a tournament should result in an improvement in the host team's standing. However, as discussed here, a given host's low ranking could decrease interest in the tournament, and likely result in a major loss of advertisement revenue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ruling party in Turkey, the AKP, made an ex post mistake by changing the electoral law before the parliamentary elections in 2018. The new apparentement provision allowed parties to make electoral alliances and the alliances' total votes could then be used to meet the threshold. Surprisingly, the MHP met the threshold in the election, while one opposition party, the İP, failed to do so. AKP lost the parliamentary majority as a result. We estimate election results using four alternative scenarios, identify all parties that made ex post mistakes in supporting electoral reform, and evaluate the reform's political consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In descriptions and discussions of the Muslim concept of paradise, much space is always devoted to the famous - as well as infamous - Houris. My article, however, is devoted to another paradise thread, that is, an analysis of fragments of the Koran where "immortal youths" (wildān muḫalladūn) are mentioned. These are verses 56: 17-19 and 76: 19. In slightly different words (ḡilmān muḫalladūn) they are also referred to in verse 52: 24. This topic has not yet been sufficiently covered in the studies in the field of Arabic and Islamic studies. Christian Luxenberg devoted some space to him in his controversial work on the Syro-Aramaic reading of the Koran. Much more space has been devoted to "immortal youths" by Muslim scholars, both classical and modern, not avoiding references to the ambiguities that may arise in connection with these verses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper of a high purity features excellent electric conductivity, but generally very low mechanical properties. Nevertheless, optimized deformation/thermomechanical treatment can introduce favorable combinations of both. The presented study characterizes the correlation of microstructure development and electric properties within copper processed by the severe plastic deformation method of high pressure torsion, the primary advantage of which is that it enables to achieve grains with the sizes in the ultra‐fine, or even nano scales. The study investigates structure development during progressive deformation. In other words, samples processed by single and double high pressure torsion revolutions were evaluated from the viewpoints of grain sizes and grain boundaries, and the results were correlated with the experimentally measured electric conductivity. The single high pressure torsion revolution contributed to grain size decrease, while the structure after double revolution exhibited very fine grains, especially at the sample periphery featuring the highest imposed strain. Both the samples also exhibited increases in microhardness (especially after double revolution), and electric conductivity higher than 100 % IACS. The results confirmed that copper conductors featuring enhanced mechanical properties and favorable electric conductivity can be manufactured by severe plastic deformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Gas maldistribution in random packed bed studied with particle resolved direct numerical simulation. • Packing of rings distribute the flow similarly to full cylinders but with much smaller pressure drop. • At the outlet from packing of full cylinders strong localised jets are formed. • Flow maldistribution is the smallest when the gas inlet is tangential to the wall of the distribution chamber. Abstract In this work, gas maldistribution in random packings of cylinders and Raschig rings is studied with particle-resolved direct numerical simulation (PRDNS) employing a finite volume solver for Cartesian grids and the immersed boundary method for the treatment of complex geometries. The geometry of the random packed bed has been obtained in a separate simulation based on a sequential deposition of particles in a cylindrical column and a simplified mechanics with additional radial force allowing for higher packing densities. The first part of the work focuses on comparison of the packings of cylinders and rings with respect to their ability to distribute the flow uniformly over the cross-section of the column when the gas in the form of a narrow jet enters along the column axis and impinges on the bed directly. The second part is devoted to analysis of three different inlet configurations and their influence on gas maldistribution in the packing of Raschig rings. It has been found that the random packing of rings has comparable properties of flow uniformisation to the same arrangement of full cylinders with significantly lower pressure drop and much less pronounced effect of formation of localised jets at the bed outlet. Among the considered inlet configurations the most beneficial is the one in which the gas duct is tangential to the walls of the distribution chamber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gene therapy and its role in the medical field have evolved drastically in recent decades. Studies aim to define DNA-based medicine as well as encourage innovation and the further development of novel approaches. Gene therapy has been established as an alternative approach to treat a variety of diseases. Its range of mechanistic applicability is wide; gene therapy has the capacity to address the symptoms of disease, the body's ability to fight disease, and in some cases has the ability to cure disease, making it a more attractive intervention than some traditional approaches to treatment (i.e., medicine and surgery). Such versatility also suggests gene therapy has the potential to address a greater number of indications than conventional treatments. Many DNA-based therapies have shown promise in clinical trials, and several have been approved for use in humans. Whereas current treatment regimens for chronic disease often require frequent dosing, DNA-based therapies can produce robust and durable expression of therapeutic genes with fewer treatments. This benefit encourages the application of DNA-based gene therapy to manage chronic diseases, an area where improving efficiency of current treatments is urgent. Here, we provide an overview of two DNA-based gene therapies as well as their delivery methods: adeno associated virus (AAV)-based gene therapy and plasmid DNA (pDNA)-based gene therapy. We will focus on how these therapies have already been utilized to improve treatment of chronic disease, as well as how current literature supports the expansion of these therapies to treat additional chronic indications in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Validation and verification (V&V) is important and receives significant attention during the design and analysis of the nuclear power plant. As the first commercial modular high temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTR) demonstration plant, during the regulatory review of the preliminary safety analysis report (PSAR) and the final safety analysis report (FSAR) of the 200 MWe Pebble-bed Modular High Temperature gas-cooled Reactor (HTR-PM), the authorities also pay high attention to the code validation and verification. Within the cooperation between the Nuclear Research Group (NRG) of Netherland and Institute of Nuclear and new Energy Technology (INET), Tsinghua University of China, a code to code verification was carried out between the TINTE code, a thermal-hydraulic design and accident analysis tool for the Pebble-bed High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor (HTGR), and the SPECTRA code, a thermal-hydraulic analysis code developed at the NRG. Three typical accident s scenarios, two depressurized loss of forced cooling (DLOFC) accident s scenarios and one pressurized loss of forced cooling (PLOFC) accident scenario, have been analyzed both with the TINTE code and the SPECTRA code. The simulation results show good agreement between TINTE code and SPECTRA code. The results also indicate that, due to the inherent safety feature of the HTR-PM design, the maximal fuel temperature during above accidents would never exceed the limitation of 1620 °C, below which there is no additional damage for the TRISO particles, and the SiC layer of each particle can guarantee the fission-product-retention capacity. This work will be helpful to the further study of the HTGR, and more code to code verification is planned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wahhabism is a fundamentalist branch of Islam, which was founded in the eighteenth century. It built its stronghold mainly in the region where it was established, on the Arabian Peninsula. Attempts to spread and gain popularity elsewhere in the Islamic world were made by various rulers from the House of Al Su'ud, but never yielded any great results. One such attempt was a letter sent in 1811 by Abd Allah Ibn Su'ud to the ruler of Morocco, Sulayman (known for adopting Salafi ideas), in which Ibn Su'ud elaborated on the nature of his religious doctrine and encouraged its adoption. These events were described by the most important Moroccan historians of the nineteenth century, including Al-Kansusi, Az-Zayyani, and An-Nasiri. This article is an attempt to recapitulate and arrange these records in order. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circadian rhythm misalignment has been increasingly recognized to pose health risk for a wide range of diseases, particularly metabolic disorders. The liver maintains metabolic homeostasis and expresses many circadian genes, such as differentiated embryo chondrocyte-1 (DEC1) and small heterodimer partner (SHP). DEC1 is established to repress transcription through E-box elements, and SHP belongs to the superfamily of nuclear receptors and has multiple E-box elements in its promoter. Importantly, DEC1 and SHP are inversely oscillated. This study was performed to test the hypothesis that the SHP gene is a target gene of DEC1. Cotransfection demonstrated that DEC1 repressed the SHP promoter and attenuated the transactivation of the classic circadian activator complex of Clock/Bmal1. Site-directed mutagenesis, electrophoretic mobility shift assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation established that the repression was achieved through the E-box in the proximal promoter. Transfection of DEC1 suppressed the expression of SHP. In circadian-inducing cells, the epileptic agent valproate inversely altered the expression of DEC1 and SHP. Both DEC1 and SHP are involved in energy balance and valproate is known to induce hepatic steatosis. Our findings collectively establish that DEC1 participates in the negative loop of SHP oscillating expression with potential implications in metabolic homeostasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the article, a model is proposed for a single-phase flow in a random packed bed of arbitrary particles – Raschig rings in particular. The Navier-Stokes flow equations are solved using a projection method on a structured grid and the complex geometry of the bed is captured with the immersed boundary method and direct forcing approach. The model allows for analysis of flows in complex geometries with classical and widely available finite volume or finite difference solvers for Cartesian grids. The generation of unstructured computational grids fitted to the bed particles is not necessary. The realistic bed geometry has been obtained in the simulation of the filling process in which the particles are sequentially introduced into a cylindrical container and move until mechanical equilibrium is attained. The pressure drop in the bed as the function of gas velocity has been found to be in good agreement with empirical formulas for beds of Raschig rings and sample results on detailed flow characteristics are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoscale chemical mapping of newly-synthesised phospholipid molecules inside a mammalian cell is demonstrated using tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) for the first time using mouse pre-adipocyte cells as a model system. Newly-synthesised membrane phospholipid distribution within a pre-adipocyte cell is mapped with ＜20 nm spatial resolution, overcoming the diffraction limit of confocal Raman spectroscopy via plasmonic enhancement of Raman signals at a TERS tip-apex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantum transport simulations often use explicit, yet finite, electronic reservoirs. These should converge to the correct continuum limit, albeit with a trade-off between discretization and computational cost. Here, we study this interplay for extended reservoir simulations, where relaxation maintains a bias or temperature drop across the system. Our analysis begins in the non-interacting limit, where we parameterize different discretizations to compare them on an even footing. For many-body systems, we develop a method to estimate the relaxation that best approximates the continuum by controlling virtual transitions in Kramers turnover for the current. While some discretizations are more efficient for calculating currents, there is little benefit with regard to the overall state of the system. Any gains become marginal for many-body, tensor network simulations, where the relative performance of discretizations varies when sweeping other numerical controls. These results indicate that typical reservoir discretizations have little impact on numerical costs for certain computational tools. The choice of a relaxation parameter is nonetheless crucial, and the method we develop provides a reliable estimate of the optimal relaxation for finite reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the work performed to find the sorption coefficients that represent well the available experimental data for cesium, iodine, and silver on dust particles. The purpose of this work is to generate a set of coefficients that may be recommended for computer code users. The following data was correlated: • I-131 on AVR dust. • Ag-110m on AVR dust. • Cs-134 and Cs-137 on AVR dust. The results are summarized as follows: • The available data can be correlated. The data scatter is about 4 orders of magnitude. Therefore the coefficients of the Langmuir isotherms vary by 4 orders of magnitude. • Sorption rates are higher at low temperatures and lower at high temperatures. This tendency has been observed in the data compiled at Oak Ridge. It is therefore surmised that the highest value of the sorption coefficients are appropriate for the low temperatures and the lowest value of the sorption coefficients are appropriate for the high temperatures. The recommended sorption coefficients are presented in this paper. • The present set of coefficients is very rough and should be a subject for future verification against experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radionuclide synovectomy is a minimally invasive method of treating persistent joint inflammation. It involves intra-articular injection of radioactive colloids which induce necrosis and fibrosis of hypertrophic synovial membrane. The most common indication for radiosynovectomy is rheumatoid arthritis, although patients with seronegative spondyloarthropathies, unclassified arthritis, haemophilic arthropathy and other less common arthropathies can also benefit from this method. Radiosynovectomy is safe, well tolerated and efficacious. About 70-80% of patients respond well to the therapy. However, the therapeutic effects are considerably worse in patients with co-existent osteoarthritis and advanced joint degeneration. Despite its advantages, radionuclide synovectomy is not performed as often as it could be, so greater knowledge and understanding of this method are needed. The authors present the most important facts about radiosynovectomy that may help rheumatologists in their daily clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capillaroscopy is a non-invasive, easy and safe diagnostic technique designed to evaluate small vessels of the microcirculation in the nailfold. It can reveal both the general architecture of capillary rows and fine details of particular vessels. The most important indications for performing capillaroscopy include differential diagnosis of primary and secondary Raynaud's phenomenon, as well as assessment of scleroderma spectrum disorders. In systemic sclerosis capillary abnormalities appear and evolve in a clearly defined sequence called the scleroderma pattern, which correlates with internal organ involvement. Capillaroscopy is also listed as a systemic sclerosis classification criterion recognized by the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR). With digitized equipment, capillaroscopy allows for precise qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the microcirculation and is a valuable tool in the rheumatologists' daily practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We discuss how to analytically obtain an essentially infinite matrix product state (MPS) representation of the ground state of the XY model. On one hand this allows us to illustrate how the Ornstein-Zernike form of the correlation function emerges in the exact case using standard MPS language. On the other hand we study the consequences of truncating the bond dimension of the exact MPS, which is also part of many tensor network algorithms, and analyze how the truncated MPS transfer matrix is representing the dominant part of the exact quantum transfer matrix. In the gapped phase we observe that the correlation length obtained from a truncated MPS approaches the exact value following a power law in effective bond dimension. In the gapless phase we find a good match between a state obtained numerically from standard MPS techniques with finite bond dimension and a state obtained by effective finite imaginary time evolution in our framework. This provides a direct hint for a geometric interpretation of finite entanglement scaling at the critical point in this case. Finally, by analyzing the spectra of transfer matrices, we support the interpretation put forward by V. Zauner et al. [New J. Phys. 17, 053002 (2015)] that the MPS transfer matrix emerges from the quantum transfer matrix though the application of Wilson's numerical renormalization group along the imaginary-time direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abscisic acid ((+)-ABA) is a phytohormone involved in the modulation of developmental processes and stress responses in plants. A chemical proteomics approach using an ABA mimetic probe was combined with in vitro assays, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), x-ray crystallography and in silico modelling to identify putative (+)-ABA binding-proteins in crude extracts of Arabidopsis thaliana. Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) was identified as a putative ABA-binding protein. Radiolabelled-binding assays yielded a Kd of 47 nM for (+)-ABA binding to spinach Rubisco, which was validated by ITC, and found to be similar to reported and experimentally derived values for the native ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) substrate. Functionally, (+)-ABA caused only weak inhibition of Rubisco catalytic activity (Ki of 2.1 mM), but more potent inhibition of Rubisco activation (Ki of ~ 130 μM). Comparative structural analysis of Rubisco in the presence of (+)-ABA with RuBP in the active site revealed only a putative low occupancy (+)-ABA binding site on the surface of the large subunit at a location distal from the active site. However, subtle distortions in electron density in the binding pocket and in silico docking support the possibility of a higher affinity (+)-ABA binding site in the RuBP binding pocket. Overall we conclude that (+)-ABA interacts with Rubisco. While the low occupancy (+)-ABA binding site and weak non-competitive inhibition of catalysis may not be relevant, the high affinity site may allow ABA to act as a negative effector of Rubisco activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been previously shown that European mountain ash ringspot-associated virus ( EMARaV), a multipartite, negative-strand RNA plant virus, is pathogenic for European mountain ash ( Sorbus aucuparia L.). However, its transmissibility to and replication in other host species remains poorly understood. In this work, we performed experimental inoculations of seventeen virus-tested species and interspecies hybrids of subfamily Maloideae (family: Rosaceae) with buds from EMARaV-infected S. aucuparia trees. Surprisingly, a majority of the graft-inoculated tree species, for instance Sorbaronia, Aronia and Amelanchier, developed symptoms typical for EMARaV infection. These symptoms included chlorotic spots of various size and shape and mottling on leaves but not on flowers and fruits. The propagation of EMARaV in graft-inoculated tree species was subsequently confirmed by molecular detection tools. Based on these results, we carried out a systematic survey throughout the Czech Republic and identified the presence of EMARaV in wild growing trees in all explored regions, with massive disease infestation in several locations. More importantly, EMARaV infection was newly detected in S. aucuparia subsp. moravica, S. aucuparia × Crataegus sanguinea cv. Granatnaja, ( Sorbus aria × Aronia arbutifolia) × S. aucuparia cv. Burka, cv. Finskaja (a Sorbus hybrid of unknown origin) and Aronia melanocarpa; all these EMARaV-infested trees were grown in production orchards. The sequencing of the nucleocapsid ( NC)-coding gene from several of these EMARaV isolates provided insight into the population structure and phylogenetic relationships of the EMARaV variants occurring in the Czech Republic. Together, our biological and molecular findings extend our knowledge on the host range of EMARaV and provide the first evidence of its natural occurrence in hosts dissimilar to S. aucuparia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent genome wide association studies have linked tribbles pseudokinase 1 (TRIB1) to the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). Based on the observations that increased expression of TRIB1 reduces secretion of VLDL and is associated with lower plasma levels of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, higher plasma levels of HDL cholesterol and reduced risk for myocardial infarction, we carried out a high throughput phenotypic screen based on quantitative RT-PCR assay to identify compounds that induce TRIB1 expression in human HepG2 hepatoma cells. In a screen of a collection of diversity-oriented synthesis (DOS)-derived compounds, we identified a series of benzofuran-based compounds that upregulate TRIB1 expression and phenocopy the effects of TRIB1 cDNA overexpression, as they inhibit triglyceride synthesis and apoB secretion in cells. In addition, the compounds downregulate expression of MTTP and APOC3, key components of the lipoprotein assembly pathway. However, CRISPR-Cas9 induced chromosomal disruption of the TRIB1 locus in HepG2 cells, while confirming its regulatory role in lipoprotein metabolism, demonstrated that the effects of benzofurans persist in TRIB1-null cells indicating that TRIB1 is sufficient but not necessary to transmit the effects of the drug. Remarkably, active benzofurans, as well as natural products capable of TRIB1 upregulation, also modulate hepatic cell cholesterol metabolism by elevating the expression of LDLR transcript and LDL receptor protein, while reducing the levels of PCSK9 transcript and secreted PCSK9 protein and stimulating LDL uptake. The effects of benzofurans are not masked by cholesterol depletion and are independent of the SREBP-2 regulatory circuit, indicating that these compounds represent a novel class of chemically tractable small-molecule modulators that shift cellular lipoprotein metabolism in HepG2 cells from lipogenesis to scavenging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focal lesions of brainstem, thalamus, and subcortical white matter may cause movement disorders that are clinically indistinguishable from cerebellar symptoms. It is suspected that ataxia in these cases is due to damage of efferent or afferent pathways of the cerebellum. However, the precise anatomical correlate often remains undefined. We used deterministic diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DTI) tractography to study the anatomical relationship between lesions causing ataxia and efferent cerebellar pathways. Study subjects were six male patients with focal lesions of different etiology (demyelination, hemorrhage, ischemia, neoplasm) outside the cerebellum. Five patients had cerebellar-like ataxia with prominent contralateral upper limb involvement. One patient with an almost midline mesencephalic lesion had a symmetrical ataxic syndrome. We used 3T MRI (Intera, Philips Medical Systems, Best, Netherlands) and DTI tractography (32 directions, StealthViz DTI, Medtronic Navigation, Louisville, USA) to delineate the dentato-rubro-thalamo-cortical tract (DRT). In all patients, tractography demonstrated focal lesions affecting the DRT in different locations. We conclude that in vivo mapping of cerebral pathways using DTI tractography in patients with focal extracerebellar brain lesions may provide direct evidence of circumscribed damage to the DRT, causing unilateral cerebellar-like ataxia. Also, a unilateral mesencephalic lesion at the level of the crossing of the DRT may cause bilateral ataxia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Bursaphelenchus genus ( Nematoda: Parasitaphelenchidae) comprises mostly wood-inhabiting nematodes that feed on various tree-colonizing fungi. One species of the genus, B. xylophilus, has been proven as an agent causing pine wilt disease ( PWD). However, involvement of other Bursaphelenchus species in the PWD remains enigmatic. In the current paper, comparative molecular analysis is performed based on nuclear ribosomal DNA (r DNA) of B. vallesianus, a species that was recently isolated from pine trees ( Pinus sylvestris) exhibiting wilting and declining symptoms in the Czech Republic. Sequencing of the nuclear-encoded ITS1-5·8S- ITS2 r DNA region confirmed previous taxonomic conclusions based on morphology. Evolutionary reconstructions resulted in a phylogenetic tree, where the Czech isolate of B. vallesianus occupied a common clade together with other species belonging to the so-called B. sexdentati group. Unexpectedly, comprehensive analysis of the sequence data revealed a genetic variation distinguishing the Czech isolate of B. vallesianus from all other species of the B. sexdentati group. This dissimilarity consists of the presence of a four nucleotide exchange found in the 5·8S r RNA-coding gene. The newly identified genetic variation appears to affect the 5·8S r RNA folding, as deduced from secondary structure models. Additionally, it is shown that for the first time, to the authors' knowledge, both bursaphelenchid internal transcribed spacers ( ITS1 and ITS2) fold into the multibranched closed loops. While the ITS2 closed loop is formed with help of canonical 5·8 S-28 S r RNA pairing, the ITS1 forms the thermodynamically stable closed loop with no support of flanking r RNA sequences. The current information on bursaphelenchid ITS r DNA sequence diversity and structure is further discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We derive an exact closed-form expression for fidelity susceptibility of evenand odd-sized quantum Ising chains in a transverse field. To this aim, we diagonalize the Ising Hamiltonian and study the gap between its positive and negative parity subspaces. We derive an exact closed-form expression for the gap and use it to identify the parity of the ground state. We point out the misunderstanding in some of the former studies of fidelity susceptibility and discuss its consequences. Last but not least, we rigorously analyze the properties of the gap. For example, we derive analytical expressions showing its exponential dependence on the ratio between the system size and the correlation length. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In the paper, a new analytical model of drop deformation and secondary breakup is presented. The model is a direct extension of the TAB (Taylor Analogy Breakup) model of O’Rourke and Amsden [P. O’Rourke, A.A. Amsden, The TAB method for numerical calculation of spray droplet breakup, SAE Paper No 872089, 1987] [9]. The drop is represented by the system of two masses connected by a spring, allowed to oscillate and move along a specified axis. Two versions of the model are analyzed: linear – offering analytical solution for drop oscillations, and nonlinear – defined in terms of parameters with clear, physical interpretation, and more interesting from the point of view of applications. Conditions of stability of a drop subjected to impulsive acceleration by ambient flow are discussed and a new criterion is introduced including droplet Weber number, Ohnesorge number and density ratio. The role of the density ratio proves to be prominent for large Ohnesorge numbers or when the drop density approaches the ambient density. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Growth processes simulated on a regular cellular automaton grid with simple capture rules are considerably influenced by the structure of the grid. Some of the growth directions are favored over others leading to highly anisotropic or, at least, orientation-dependent growth pattern. A new method is proposed for significant reduction of artificial grid anisotropy in 2D and 3D cellular automata with continuous state variable. The method employs additional diffusion process controlling the growth rate and allows for isotropic or anisotropic growth where the anisotropy is decoupled from the grid structure. Verification of the method is provided in the case of isotropic circular growth, isotropic growth of various shapes in uniform and spatially varying fields, and anisotropic growth with respect to orientation and symmetry of the pattern. Finally, the reduction of grid anisotropy is demonstrated in 2D simulation of dendritic grain growth in pure metal. The shape of the grain is shown to be virtually independent of the orientation. An example growth of a grain with six-fold symmetry is also included. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Air ingress into to the core after the primary circuit depressurization due to large breaks of the pressure boundary is considered as one of the severe hypothetical accidents for the high temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTR). If the air source and the natural convection cannot be impeded, the continuous graphite oxidation reaction along with the formation of burnable gas mixtures resulting in the corrosion of the fuel elements and the reflectors might damage the reactor structure integrity and endanger the reactor safety. In order to study the effects of air flow driven by natural convection as well as to investigate the corrosion of graphite, the NACOK (Naturzug im Core mit Korrosion) facility was built at Jülich Research Center in Germany. A complete 2A-rupture of the coaxial duct in the HTR primary system, as well as the chimney effect caused by breaks in both upper and lower parts of the pressure boundary was simulated in the test facility. Several series of experiments and the related code validations (TINTE, DIREKT, THERMIX/REACT, etc.) have been performed on this facility since the 1990s. In this paper, the latest NACOK air ingress experiment, carried out on October 23, 2008 to simulate the chimney effect, was preliminarily analyzed at NRG with the SPECTRA code, as well as at INET, Tsinghua University of China with the TINTE code. The calculating results of air flow rate of natural convection, time-dependent graphite corrosion, and temperature distribution are compared with the NACOK test results. The preliminary code-to-experiment and code-to-code validation successfully proves the code capability to simulate and predict the air-ingress accident. In addition, more research work, including parameter sensitivity analysis, modeling refinement, code amelioration, etc., should be performed to improve the simulation accuracy in the future. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The dynamics of a quantum phase transition is inextricably woven with the formation of excitations, as a result of critical slowing down in the neighborhood of the critical point. We design a transitionless quantum driving through a quantum critical point, allowing one to access the ground state of the broken-symmetry phase by a finite-rate quench of the control parameter. The method is illustrated in the one-dimensional quantum Ising model in a transverse field. Driving through the critical point is assisted by an auxiliary Hamiltonian, for which the interplay between the range of the interaction and the modes where excitations are suppressed is elucidated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the determination and computer-assisted characterization of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequence data were performed to improve classification and diagnostics of nematodes of the genus Ditylenchus. Dot-plot analyses of the ITS1-5·8S-ITS2 segments revealed the presence of short repeated DNA motifs localized in the ITS1 region of D.  destructor, whilst no similar DNA repeats were identified in other members of the genus. Additionally, three-domain secondary structure models were inferred for ITS2 transcripts, providing a valuable resource for complex phylogenetic studies. Finally, alignment of the ITS-rDNA sequence data and subsequent oligonucleotide combinations trials led to the development of taxon-specific amplified regions. Together, this is the first report in which the three most common taxa of crop-parasitic nematodes of the genus Ditylenchus, namely D.  dipsaci sensu stricto, Ditylenchus sp. B and D.  destructor, have been simultaneously detected using a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based approach. This novel DNA technology is particularly valuable for the precise molecular diagnostics applicable to phytosanitary control and marker-assisted selection (MAS)-based plant breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We argue that, in a second-order quantum phase transition driven by an inhomogeneous quench, the density of quasi-particle excitations is suppressed when velocity at which a critical point propagates across a system falls below a threshold velocity equal to the Kibble-Zurek correlation length times the energy gap at freeze-out divided by ħ. This general prediction is supported by an analytic solution in the quantum Ising chain. Our results suggest, in particular, that adiabatic quantum computers can be made more adiabatic when operated in an 'inhomogeneous' way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Diesel particulate filter (DPF) is regarded as the most useful technology to reduce particulate matter from exhaust gas of a diesel engine, with filtration efficiencies in excess of 90%. Exhaust gas entering the channel is forced to flow through the ceramic porous walls into the adjoining cells and thus leaving the particulates behind. The collected particulate matter inside the trap has to be periodically oxidized to regenerate the DPF. We have developed a transient spatially 2D model of the filter, soot deposition and its regeneration. The momentum, mass and enthalpy balances of the gas and the solid phase were employed in the model including the description of heat conduction, diffusion in the solid phase and complex soot combustion kinetics. Detailed kinetics of soot combustion is considered: combustion by O2—both the thermal initiated one and the catalyzed one and the oxidation by NO2. The results of simulations include the prediction of development of concentrations, temperature, pressure, flow pattern and soot layer thickness along the filter. Effect of NO2-assisted soot oxidation coupled with catalytic NO/NO2transformation is examined. The filtration model includes cake and deep-bed filtration and it is used to predict porosity, permeability, filtration efficiency of the soot layer and the wall. Optimized numerical methods and software for the solution of the above mentioned models are described and results for various operation conditions are presented and discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The molecular structure of [Cp*2Mo2P2S3] (1; Cp* = η5-C5Me5) has been reinvestigated. In DFT studies a series of various positional isomers A−Ehave been calculated for the model complex [(C5H5)2Mo2P2S3]. The energetically favored isomer [Cp*2Mo2(μ,η2:2-PS)2(μ-S)] (1B) reacts with W(CO)5THF to give [Cp*2Mo2P2S3·W(CO)5] (2). X-ray diffraction analysis of 2confirms the presence of two η2:2-PS dumbbells and one singly bridging sulfur ligand, the W(CO)5fragment being coordinated at one of the P atoms. Arrangement Bis also found in the structure of the diadduct [Cp°2Mo2P2S3{W(CO)5}2] (3; Cp° = t-BuMe2C5H2), which is more stable than its Cp* analogue. 31P solid-state MAS NMR spectroscopic studies of 1and 2confirm the existence of only one isomer, but reveal disorder phenomena in the solid state within the cyclo-P2S3middle deck. Addition of excess W(CO)5THF to 1proceeds via elusive [Cp*2Mo2P2S3{W(CO)5}2] to give the cluster [{Cp*2Mo2W(CO)3(μ2,η2:2-PS)(μ3,η1:1:2-PS)(μ3-S)}{W(CO)5}2] (5). The molecular structure of 5contains a Mo2WS core with attached PS dumbbells. Contrary to the planar P2S3central deck in 2and 3the PS dumbbells are perpendicular to each other in 5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The reaction of (Cp∗ = η 5-C5Me5) with [Pd(DBA)2] (DBA=dibenzylidenacetone) and dppm (bis(diphenylphosphanyl)methane) gave the new tetratelluropalladate cluster (1), which has been characterised by means of elemental analysis, FD-MS and X-ray crystallography. The structure of compound 1 contains a planar PdTe4 rectangle to which two niobocene groups are coordinated. DFT calculations on the hypothetical [PdTe4]2− anion and comparison of the results with those of the W and Ni homologues show that the planar arrangement of Te ligands in 1 is due to the intrinsic property of the central Pd atom. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Truth revelation procedures are evaluated according to various normative criteria. The authors find the concepts of false Conviction and false acquittal more adequate for such evaluation than the conformity with the rule of law and apply a useful classification of truth revelation procedures into incentive-based (ITRs) and evidence-based ones (ETRs). ITRs induce perpetrators and secret agents of the authoritarian regime to reveal the truth about their past, while ETRs rely exclusively on preserved evidence and victims' testimonies. Using a simple decision-making model, the authors show that while both procedures are sensitive to the problem of falsified evidence, ITRs perform better with respect to revealing the identity of collaborators whose files were destroyed. Finally, they discuss the connection between ITRs and two modes of coming to terms with the past, endogenous and exogenous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the transitional justice of every country. Transitional justice refers to formal and informal procedures implemented by a group or institution of accepted legitimacy around the time of a transition out of an oppressive or violent social order, for rendering justice to perpetrators and their collaborators, as well as to their victims. Transitional justice is divided into endogenous and exogenous case. In the endogenous case, the procedures are administered by the society itself without external intervention while exogenous is administered from the outside and often under the auspices of an ongoing institution.

The paper introduces a generalized spatial model that is motivated by the frequent changes in party identity and electoral laws that characterize transitional party systems. In this model, parties may (1) change their platforms, (2) their identities through coalitions and splits and (3) if they form a winning coalition, the electoral law. The equilibrium is defined as a state such that no party or coalition can strictly benefit from changing the electoral law, its platform, or from splitting or coalescing. The results show that while there are games with no institutional or coalitional-split equilibria, such equilibria do exist under relatively undemanding conditions. The main finding is that once an institutional and identity equilibrium is achieved, it is generically robust against small trembles in party platforms or voter preferences. This robustness facilitates greater stability in terms of institutions and party identities in mature party systems where such trembles are smaller than in transitional systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In a rationing problem, a single homogeneous good is allocated among agents with possibly complex characteristics, or types. When types are single positive numbers (agents'' claims), Young''s theorem says that in the presence of continuity, a method of rationing is consistent and symmetric if and only if it can be represented by a continuous parametric function. This theorem is generalized to all separable type spaces. Related results include a characterization of non-continuous parametric methods and a simple criterion for deciding when a two-agent method can be consistently extended to a multi-agent method. An application to the multi-category bankruptcy problem is described. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The reaction of [Cp2*Rh2Cl4] (Cp* = C5Me5) with a slight excess of K3SbS3 in boiling THF gave the neutral clusters [Cp4*Rh4S5] (1), [Cp3*Rh3Sb2S5] (2), and after salt metathesis [Cp3*Rh3SbSn]PF6 (3; n = 5 and 6). The structures of 1-3 are heterocubane clusters with Cp*Rh, S, and Sb vertices but with sulfur inserted into one (1 and 2) or two (3) edges. X-ray diffraction analysis of 2 additionally reveals a very shod Sb-S distance of 2.297(1) Å within the novel μ3-Sb2S4 ligand. Density functional theory calculation of the model compounds [SSbS]3-, [HSSbS]2-, and [HSSbH2S]0 provided strong evidence for the existence of a stable terminal Sb=S double bond in 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Palladium dental casting alloys are alternatives to gold alloys. The aim of this study was to determine the electrochemical behaviour and the corrosion mechanism of binary silver–palladium alloys. Seven binary silver–palladium alloys and pure palladium and silver were tested in a model saliva solution. Electrochemical tests included corrosion potential, polarization resistance, and potentiodynamic polarization measurements. The corrosion products, which may be theoretically formed, were determined by thermodynamic calculation.The behaviour of silver and silver-rich alloys was dominated by the preferential formation of a thiocyanate surface layer, which controlled the free corrosion potential. Palladium dissolved in the form of a thiocyanate complex, but the surface became passivated by either palladium oxide or solid palladium thiocyanate layer, the thermodynamic calculations indicating preference for the oxide. Palladium-rich alloys showed evidence of silver depletion of the surface, resulting in behaviour similar to palladium.Examination of binary silver–palladium alloys has made possible determination of the role of the components of the alloys and model saliva in the corrosion behaviour. The findings are applicable to the more complex commercial dental alloys containing silver and palladium as major components. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The space distribution of the epithermal neutron flux was determined for the epithermal neutron beams of several NCT facilities in USA (FCB at MIT), Europe (HFR at JRC, Petten; FiR at VTT, Espoo; LVR-15 at NRI, Rez) and Japan (JRR-4 at JAERI, Tokai). Using p–n diodes with 6Li radiator and the set of Bonner sphere spectrometer (BSS) the beams were quantified in-air. Axial beam profiles along the beam axes and the radial distributions at two distances from the beam aperture were measured. Except for the well-collimated HFR beam, the spatial characteristics of the other studied beams were found generally similar, which results from their similar designs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The paper introduces the category of algebraic axioms and investigates when a social rule of decision-making can be uniquely characterized with such axioms. The first result shows that every set of axioms that characterize a given rule is equivalent to a set of three algebraic axioms. The second result suggests a method for constructing an algebraic proof of uniqueness via finding an appropriate path of maps. It says that we can characterize a rule if and only if we can find a path. Both theorems are then used to prove and analyze various characterization results in May''s binary social choice, Nash bargaining theory, and Sen''s social choice theory. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The phase I study of the Protocol approved by State Institute for Drug Control and State Office for Nuclear Safety of the Czech Republic has been used to define the limiting toxicity of the BNCT procedure. The group of nine patients received BSH and underwent surgery, five patients with glioblastoma multiforme were treated using BSH and the epithermal neutron facility of LVR-15 reactor in NRI Rez. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Standard methods for evaluating the target specificity of antimicrobial agents often involve the use of microorganisms with altered expression of selected targets and thus either more resistant or more susceptible to target specific inhibitors. In this study we present an alternative approach that utilizes physiological bypass mutants. The Saccharomyces cerevisiae sphingolipid bypass mutant strain AGD is able to grow without making sphingolipids and importantly, tolerates loss-of-function mutations in the otherwise essential genes for both serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT) and inositol phosphorylceramide (IPC) synthase. We found that strain AGD was >1000-fold more resistant than the wild-type strain to selective inhibitors of SPT and IPC synthase. In contrast, strain AGD, which due to abnormal composition of the plasma membrane is sensitive to a variety of environmental stresses, was more susceptible than the wild-type to amphotericin B, voriconazole, and to cycloheximide. We show that in a simple growth assay the AGD strain is an appropriate and useful indicator for inhibitors of IPC synthase, a selective antifungal target. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A new inmate, or 'rookie', who enters a total institution usually faces 'tests' and 'games' organized by the 'old crew'. In this article I argue that such initiation rituals are often designed by inmates in order to uncover a rookie's personal characteristics, such as toughness and cleverness. While such rituals may seem violent, they usually involve more skillful deception and tricks than pain and suffering. The basic idea is to persuade the rookie that he or she: faces some tough choices -- and watch his or her reaction to adverse or unusual circumstances. The mock character of a typical test creates a fundamental problem for its validity, since an informed rookie can simulate both toughness and cleverness. Thus, an informed rookie cannot be distinguished from one with the desired characteristics. This problem is well recognized by most knowledgeable inmates and motivates them to search for new games and tests. The result is a wide variety of competing tests, frequent changes of argot and the secret code of behavior. The initiation rituals are modeled as simple games and decision problems. The ethnographic material was collected by the author as a political prisoner in Poland in 1985. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reaction of various neutral L&z.sbnd;XH bidentate ligands (2-aminobenzoı¨c acid, acetylacetone, dibenzoylmethan and 2-aminobenzenethiol) with [Cp′2TaH2]+, obtained in situ from Cp′2TaH3 treated with triphenylmethan cation, affords after dihydrogen elimination the corresponding cationic species [Cp′2Ta(H)(L&z.sbnd;X)]+ in BF4 or PF6 salts. Complexes [Cp′2TaH(η2-O2CC6H4-o-NH2&z.sbnd;O,O′)]PF6 (3), {Cp′2Ta[η2-OC(Me)CHC(Me)O&z.sbnd;O,O′]}BF4 (4a), {Cp′2TaH[η2-OC(Ph)CHC(Ph)O&z.sbnd;O,O′]}BF4 (4b) and [Cp′2TaH(η2-SC6H4-o-NH2&z.sbnd;S,N)]PF6 (5) are characterised by analytical and spectroscopic methods. With thiopyridine, the kinetic (6) and the thermodynamic (6′) isomers [Cp′2TaH(η2-2-SC5H4N&z.sbnd;S,N)]PF6 are identified. Crystal structures are reported for complexes 3, 5 and 6′. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Electoral reforms had profound political consequences for post-communist Poland. The majoritarian system helped to accelerate the fall of communism, while later changes to the electoral law helped the former communists reclaim power. Despite the high stakes and top priority given to electoral design by political players, their efforts at manipulation were hardly rewarded. Although the political parties were ex ante seat-maximizers, they supported the electoral law that ex post would have given them the most seats about as frequently as they supported its closest competitor. The reasons for their miscalculations included a lack of methodological expertise, unexpected shifts in voter preferences, transition-specific poll biases and new entrants and coalitions that emerged in the period between the introduction of the new electoral law and elections. No significant differences among the various kinds of parties were found. The results do show that the effectiveness of manipulation increased strongly over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports on the selectivity control of the isomerization of 1beta-epimer to the requisite allylic alcohol and its application for a highly efficient synthesis of 1alpha-fluoro A-ring phosphine oxide. Intermediate isolation and purification steps optimization; Catalytic effect of a proton source on the chemoselectivity of beta-hydride elimination.