Kinetic theory for the density plateau in the granular flow down an inclined plane

The striking lack of observable variation of the volume fraction with height in the center of a granular flow down an inclined plane is analysed using constitutive relations obtained from kinetic theory. It is shown that the rate of conduction in the granular energy balance equation is O(delta(2)) smaller than the rate of production of energy due to mean shear and the rate of dissipation due to inelastic collisions, where the small parameter delta = (d/(1 - e(n))H-1/2), d is the particle diameter, en is the normal coefficient of restitution and H is the thickness of the flowing layer. This implies that the volume fraction is a constant in the leading approximation in an asymptotic analysis in small delta. Numerical estimates of both the parameter delta and its pre-factor are obtained to show that the lack of observable variation of the volume fraction with height can be explained by constitutive relations obtained from kinetic theory.

Anti-apoptotic Protein BCL2 Down-regulates DNA End Joining in Cancer Cells

Cancer cells are often associated with secondary chromosomal rearrangements, such as deletions, inversions, and translocations, which could be the consequence of unrepaired/misrepaired DNA double strand breaks (DSBs). Nonhomologous DNA end joining is one of the most common pathways to repair DSBs in higher eukaryotes. By using oligomeric DNA substrates mimicking various endogenous DSBs in a cell-free system, we studied end joining (EJ) in different cancer cell lines. We found that the efficiency of EJ varies among cancer cells; however, there was no remarkable difference in the mechanism and expression of EJ proteins. Interestingly, cancer cells with lower levels of EJ possessed elevated expression of BCL2 and vice versa. Removal of BCL2 by immunoprecipitation or protein fractionation led to elevated EJ. More importantly, we show that overexpression of BCL2 or the addition of purified BCL2 led to the down-regulation of EJ. Further, we found that BCL2 interacts with KU proteins both in vitro and in vivo. Hence, our results suggest that EJ in cancer cells could be negatively regulated by the anti-apoptotic protein, BCL2, and this may contribute toward increased chromosomal abnormalities in cancer.

Dense granular flow down an inclined plane A comparison between the hard particle model and soft particle simulations

The granular flow down an inclined plane is simulated using the discrete element (DE) technique to examine the extent to which the dynamics of an unconfined dense granular flow can be well described by a hard particle model First, we examine the average coordination number for the particles in the flow down an inclined plane using the DE technique using the linear contact model with and without friction, and the Hertzian contact model with friction The simulations show that the average coordination number decreases below 1 for values of the spring stiffness corresponding to real materials, such as sand and glass, even when the angle of inclination is only 10 larger than the angle of repose Additional measures of correlations in the system, such as the fraction of particles with multibody contact, the force ratio (average ratio of the magnitudes of the largest and the second largest force on a particle), and the angle between the two largest forces on the particle, show no evidence of force chains or other correlated motions in the system An analysis of the bond-orientational order parameter indicates that the flow is in the random state, as in event-driven (ED) simulations V Kumaran, J Fluid Mech 632, 107 (2009), J Fluid Mech 632, 145 (2009)] The results of the two simulation techniques for the Bagnold coefficients (ratio of stress and square of the strain rate) and the granular temperature (mean square of the fluctuating velocity) are compared with the theory V Kumaran, J Fluid Mech 632, 107 (2009), J Fluid Mech 632, 145 (2009)] and are found to be in quantitative agreement In addition, we also conduct a comparison of the collision frequency and the distribution of the precollisional relative velocities of particles in contact The strong correlation effects exhibited by these two quantities in event-driven simulations V Kumaran, J Fluid Mech 632, 145 (2009)] are also found in the DE simulations (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics doi 10 1063/1 3504660]

Numerical Electromagnetic Analysis of Current and Voltage Distribution along Down Conductors and Towers Hit by Direct Lightning

In order to answer the practically important question of whether the down conductors of lightning protection systems to tall towers and buildings can be electrically isolated from the structure itself, this work is conducted. As a first step in this regard, it is presumed that the down conductor placed on metallic tower will be a pessimistic representation of the actual problem. This opinion was based on the fact that the proximity of heavy metallic structure will have a large damping effect. The post-stroke current distributions along the down conductors and towers, which can be quite different from that in the lightning channel, govern the post-stroke near field and the resulting gradient in the soil. Also, for a reliable estimation of the actual stroke current from the measured down conductor currents, it is essential to know the current distribution characteristics along the down conductors. In view of these, the present work attempts to deduce the post-stroke current and voltage distribution along typical down conductors and towers. A solution of the governing field equations on an electromagnetic model of the system is sought for the investigation. Simulation results providing the spatio-temporal distribution of the post-stroke current and voltage has provided very interesting results. It is concluded that it is almost impossible to achieve electrical isolation between the structure and the down conductor. Furthermore, there will be significant induction into the steel matrix of the supporting structure.

A Sub-Nyquist Sampling Method For Computing The Level-crossing-times Of An Analog Signal: Theory And Applications

We address the problem of computing the level-crossings of an analog signal from samples measured on a uniform grid. Such a problem is important, for example, in multilevel analog-to-digital (A/D) converters. The first operation in such sampling modalities is a comparator, which gives rise to a bilevel waveform. Since bilevel signals are not bandlimited, measuring the level-crossing times exactly becomes impractical within the conventional framework of Shannon sampling. In this paper, we propose a novel sub-Nyquist sampling technique for making measurements on a uniform grid and thereby for exactly computing the level-crossing times from those samples. The computational complexity of the technique is low and comprises simple arithmetic operations. We also present a finite-rate-of-innovation sampling perspective of the proposed approach and also show how exponential splines fit in naturally into the proposed sampling framework. We also discuss some concrete practical applications of the sampling technique.

An Efficient Random Walk Strategy for Sampling Based Robot Motion Planners

Sampling based planners have been successful in path planning of robots with many degrees of freedom, but still remains ineffective when the configuration space has a narrow passage. We present a new technique based on a random walk strategy to generate samples in narrow regions quickly, thus improving efficiency of Probabilistic Roadmap Planners. The algorithm substantially reduces instances of collision checking and thereby decreases computational time. The method is powerful even for cases where the structure of the narrow passage is not known, thus giving significant improvement over other known methods.

Nonequilibrium phase transition in the kinetic Ising model: Critical slowing down and the specific-heat singularity

The nonequilibrium dynamic phase transition, in the kinetic Ising model in the presence of an oscillating magnetic field has been studied both by Monte Carlo simulation and by solving numerically the mean-field dynamic equation of motion for the average magnetization. In both cases, the Debye ''relaxation'' behavior of the dynamic order parameter has been observed and the ''relaxation time'' is found to diverge near the dynamic transition point. The Debye relaxation of the dynamic order parameter and the power law divergence of the relaxation time have been obtained from a very approximate solution of the mean-field dynamic equation. The temperature variation of appropriately defined ''specific heat'' is studied by the Monte Carlo simulation near the transition point. The specific heat has been observed to diverge near the dynamic transition point.

Incentive mechanism to control customer buy-down behaviour

Airlines have successfully practiced revenue management over the past four decades and enhanced their revenue. Most of the traditional models that are applied assume that customers buying a high-fare class ticket will not purchase a low-fare class ticket even if it is available. This is not a very realistic assumption and has led to revenue leakage due to customers exhibiting buy-down behaviour. This paper aims at devising a suitable incentive mechanism that would incite the customer to reveal his nature. This helps in reducing revenue leakage. We show that the proposed incentive mechanism is profitable to both the buyer and seller and hence ensures the buyers participation in the mechanism. Journal of the Operational Research Society (2011) 62, 1566-1573. doi:10.1057/jors.2010.57 Published online 11 August 2010

Substitutional Self-Assembly of Alkanethiol and Selenol SAMs from a Lying-Down Doubly Tethered Butanedithiol SAM on Gold

Substitutional self-assembly of thiol and selenol SAMs from a lying-down phase of butanedithiol (C4DT) (SAM) were investigated using thiols, disulfide, and diselenide molecules. The intent was to address the question if formation of a lying-down dithiol phase is an impediment to formation of standing-up dithiol phases as it has been assumed. It is demonstrated that this is not the case, and the C4DT SAM, where both the sulfur atoms are chemisorbed on gold, is removed and replaced in all cases. Differences in substitution kinetics are observed.