Reynolds number influence on turbulent blocking effects of a rigid plane boundary (3rd report, direct numerical simulation on wall blocking effects for anisotropic turbulence)

The Reynolds number influence on turbulent blocking effects by a rigid plane boundary is studied using direct numerical simulation (DNS). A new forcing method proposed in the second report using Townsend's "simple model eddies" for DNS was extended to generate axisymmetric anisotropic turbulence. A force field is obtained in real space by sprinkling many space-filling "simple model eddies" whose centers are randomly but uniformly distributed in space. The axes of rotation are controlled in this study to generate axisymmetric anisotropic turbulence. The method is applied to a shear-free turbulent boundary layer over a rigid plane boundary and the blocking effects for anisotropic turbulence are investigated. The results show that stationary axisymmetric anisotropic turbulence is generated using the present method. Turbulence intensities near the wall showed good agreements with the rapid distortion theory (RDT) for small t (t ≪ TL), where TL. is the eddy turnover time. The splat effect (i. e. turbulence intensities of the components parallel to the surface are amplified) occurs near the boundary and the viscous effect attenuates the splat effect at the quasi steady state at low Reynolds number as for Isotropic turbulence. Prandtl's secondary flow of the second kind does not occur for low Reynolds number flows, which qualitatively agrees with previous observetion in a mixing-box.

Physical Blocking Neural Tube Closure Affects Radial Intercalation and Neural Crest Midline-directed Migration in Xenopus Dorsal Explants

神经管闭合缺陷(NTDs)是一种严重的先天畸形疾病,在新生儿中有千分之一的发病率.神经管融合前后,多种组织参与形态发生运动.神经管一经融合,神经嵴细胞就会向背侧中线方向产生单极突出并向此方向迁移形成神经管的顶部.与此同时,神经管从腹侧开始发生辐射状切入以实现单层化.在此,我们在非洲爪蟾的移植体中机械阻断神经管的闭合以检测其细胞运动及随后的图式形成.结果显示神经管闭合缺陷的移植体不能形成单层化的神经管,并且神经嵴细胞滞留在侧面区域不能向背侧中线迁移,而对神经前体标记基因的检测显示神经管的背腹图式形成并未受到影响.以上结果表明神经管的融合对于辐射状切入和神经嵴细胞向背侧中线方向的迁移过程是必需的,而对于神经管的沿背腹轴方向的图式形成是非必需的.

Chitosan as a water clarifying agent

Chitosan may be used to reduce the bacterial load of water. Material prepared according to the method of Radhakrishnan & Prahu described in Res. & Ind., 16(4), pp. 265, used in 1% solution in 1% acetic acid was added at 10 ppm level to contaminated water and allowed to stand for 45 min. Cultures of E. coli, Staphylococci and a mixture of the 2 were inoculated into ordinary and muddy water. Bacterial load was determined, and it is shown that chitosan has excellent qualities as a coagulant/water clarifying agent, especially for muddy waters or those contaminated with suspended matter or bacteria.

Xanthohumol, a novel anti-HIV-1 agent purified from Hops Humulus lupulus

Xanthohumol, prenylchacone flavonoid, is a natural product with multi-biofunctions purified from Hops Humulus lupulus. Its anti-HIV-1 activity was tested in the present study. Results showed that xanthohumol inhibited HIV-1 induced cytopathic effects, the production of viral p24 antigen and reverse transcriptase in C8166 lymphocytes at non-cytotoxic concentration. The EC50 values were 0.82, 1.28 and 0.50 mug/ml, respectively. The therapeutic index (TI) was about 10.8. Xanthohumol also inhibited HIV-1 replication in PBMC with EC50 value of 20.74 mug/ml. The activity of recombinant HIV-1 reverse transcriptase and the HIV-1 entry were not inhibited by xanthohumol. The results from this study suggested that xanthohumol is effective against HIV-1 and might serve as an interesting lead compound. It may represent a novel chemotherapeutic agent for HIV-1 infection. However, the mechanism of its anti-HIV-1 effect needs to be further clarified. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The water stability of shrimp diets with various polysaccharides as a binding agent

The water stability of shrimp (Penaeus monodon) diets with various polysaccharides as binding agents were tested without steaming. The diet with alginate showed the best water stability and did not completely disintegrate in 24 hours. However, the use of alginate is dependent on cost and availability, so alternate choices may be a combination of sago palm starch and wheat flour or glutinous rice flour.

Concentricolide, an anti-HIV agent from the ascomycete Daldinia concentrica

A novel benzofuran lactone, named concentricolide (=rel-(6R)-6-ethylbenzo[2.1-b:3,4-c']difuran-8(6H)-one; 1), was isolated along with four known compounds (friedelin, cytochalasin L-696.474, armillaramide, and russulamide) from the fruiting bodies of the

Selecting a multi-agent system development tool for industrial applications: A case study of self-serving aircraft assets

Industrialists have few example processes they can benchmark against in order to choose a multi-agent development kit. In this paper we present a review of commercial and academic agent tools with the aim of selecting one for developing an intelligent, self-serving asset architecture. In doing so, we map and enhance relevant assessment criteria found in literature. After a preliminary review of 20 multiagent platforms, we examine in further detail those of JADE, JACK and Cougaar. Our findings indicate that Cougaar is well suited for our requirements, showing excellent support for criteria such as scalability, persistence, mobility and lightweightness. © 2010 IEEE.

Robust variable horizon MPC with move blocking

This paper introduces a new formulation of variable horizon model predictive control (VH-MPC) that utilises move blocking for reducing computational complexity. Various results pertaining to move blocking are derived, following which, a generalised blocked VH-MPC controller is formulated for linear discrete-time systems. Robustness to bounded disturbances is ensured through the use of tightened constraints. The resulting time-varying control scheme is shown to guarantee robust recursive feasibility and finite-time completion. An example is then presented for a particular choice of blocking regime, as would be applicable to vehicle manœuvring problems. Simulations demonstrate the efficacy of the formulation. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A path-following driver-vehicle model with neuromuscular dynamics, including measured and simulated responses to a step in steering angle overlay

An existing driver-vehicle model with neuromuscular dynamics is improved in the areas of cognitive delay, intrinsic muscle dynamics and alpha-gamma co-activation. The model is used to investigate the influence of steering torque feedback and neuromuscular dynamics on the vehicle response to lateral force disturbances. When steering torque feedback is present, it is found that the longitudinal position of the lateral disturbance has a significant influence on whether the drivers reflex response reinforces or attenuates the effect of the disturbance. The response to angle and torque overlay inputs to the steering system is also investigated. The presence of the steering torque feedback reduced the disturbing effect of torque overlay and angle overlay inputs. Reflex action reduced the disturbing effect of a torque overlay input, but increased the disturbing effect of an angle overlay input. Experiments on a driving simulator showed that measured handwheel angle response to an angle overlay input was consistent with the response predicted by the model with reflex action. However, there was significant intra-and inter-subject variability. The results highlight the significance of a drivers neuromuscular dynamics in determining the vehicle response to disturbances. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.