URANS calculations for smooth circular cylinder flow in a wide range of Reynolds Numbers: solution verification and validation

The flow around circular smooth fixed cylinder in a large range of Reynolds numbers is considered in this paper. In order to investigate this canonical case, we perform CFD calculations and apply verification & validation (V&V) procedures to draw conclusions regarding numerical error and, afterwards, assess the modeling errors and capabilities of this (U)RANS method to solve the problem. Eight Reynolds numbers between Re = 10 and Re 5 x 10(5) will be presented with, at least, four geometrically similar grids and five discretization in time for each case (when unsteady), together with strict control of iterative and round-off errors, allowing a consistent verification analysis with uncertainty estimation. Two-dimensional RANS, steady or unsteady, laminar or turbulent calculations are performed. The original 1994 k - omega SST turbulence model by Menter is used to model turbulence. The validation procedure is performed by comparing the numerical results with an extensive set of experimental results compiled from the literature. [DOI: 10.1115/1.4007571]

Describing some of the Dimensions that comprise the Profile of the Faculty Staff of Statistics Departments in Brazil

Statistics is a required course in virtually all undergraduate programs in Brazilian universities. In addition, undergraduate programs in Statistics are offered in many public universities. However, despite the importance of this science, there are no systematic studies in the national literature regarding the characterization of the faculty staff, which is responsible for the teaching of statistics in the country. In this context, this paper presents a description of the faculty members of undergraduate courses in Statistics. This description was based on a descriptive sample, related to aspects of their education and scientific production. A prediction of future demand for PhDs in Statistics to fill the vacancies is also provided based on the retirement of faculty members in undergraduate courses in Statistics in the country.

Lower numbers of natural killer T cells in HIV-1 and Mycobacterium leprae co-infected patients

Natural killer T (NKT) cells are a heterogeneous population of lymphocytes that recognize antigens presented by CD1d and have attracted attention because of their potential role linking innate and adaptive immune responses. Peripheral NKT cells display a memory-activated phenotype and can rapidly secrete large amounts of pro-inflammatory cytokines upon antigenic activation. In this study, we evaluated NKT cells in the context of patients co-infected with HIV-1 and Mycobacterium leprae. The volunteers were enrolled into four groups: 22 healthy controls, 23 HIV-1-infected patients, 20 patients with leprosy and 17 patients with leprosy and HIV-1-infection. Flow cytometry and ELISPOT assays were performed on peripheral blood mononuclear cells. We demonstrated that patients co-infected with HIV-1 and M.leprae have significantly lower NKT cell frequencies [median 0.022%, interquartile range (IQR): 0.0070.051] in the peripheral blood when compared with healthy subjects (median 0.077%, IQR: 0.0320.405, P < 0.01) or HIV-1 mono-infected patients (median 0.072%, IQR: 0.0300.160, P < 0.05). Also, more NKT cells from co-infected patients secreted interferon-? after stimulation with DimerX, when compared with leprosy mono-infected patients (P = 0.05). These results suggest that NKT cells are decreased in frequency in HIV-1 and M.leprae co-infected patients compared with HIV-1 mono-infected patients alone, but are at a more activated state. Innate immunity in human subjects is strongly influenced by their spectrum of chronic infections, and in HIV-1-infected subjects, a concurrent mycobacterial infection probably hyper-activates and lowers circulating NKT cell numbers.

Intrinsic ordering, combinatorial numbers and reliability engineering

[EN]A new algorithm for evaluating the top event probability of large fault trees (FTs) is presented. This algorithm does not require any previous qualitative analysis of the FT. Indeed, its efficiency is independent of the FT logic, and it only depends on the number n of basic system components and on their failure probabilities. Our method provides exact lower and upper bounds on the top event probability by using new properties of the intrinsic order relation between binary strings. The intrinsic order enables one to select binary n-tuples with large occurrence probabilities without necessity to evaluate them. This drastically reduces the complexity of the problem from exponential (2n binary n-tuples) to linear (n Boolean variables)...

Estimating persistent Betti numbers for discrete shape analysis

Persistent Topology is an innovative way of matching topology and geometry, and it proves to be an effective mathematical tool in shape analysis. In order to express its full potential for applications, it has to interface with the typical environment of Computer Science: It must be possible to deal with a finite sampling of the object of interest, and with combinatorial representations of it. Following that idea, the main result claims that it is possible to construct a relation between the persistent Betti numbers (PBNs; also called rank invariant) of a compact, Riemannian submanifold X of R^m and the ones of an approximation U of X itself, where U is generated by a ball covering centered in the points of the sampling. Moreover we can state a further result in which, this time, we relate X with a finite simplicial complex S generated, thanks to a particular construction, by the sampling points. To be more precise, strict inequalities hold only in "blind strips'', i.e narrow areas around the discontinuity sets of the PBNs of U (or S). Out of the blind strips, the values of the PBNs of the original object, of the ball covering of it, and of the simplicial complex coincide, respectively.

High numbers of DC-SIGN+ dendritic cells in lesional skin of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma

The role of dendritic cells (DCs) in disease progression of primary cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) is not well understood. With their unique ability to induce primary immune responses as well as immunotolerance, DCs play a critical role in mediation of anti-tumor immune responses. Tumor-infiltrating DCs have been determined to represent important prognostic factors in a variety of human tumors.

Diabetes-related knowledge among medical and nursing house staff

To assess the diabetes-related knowledge of medical and nursing house staff with particular focus on inpatient diabetes management and insulin therapy.

Library and IT Staff Presentations and Publications: Spring 2012

Library and IT Staff presented and published many innovative works of scholarship in the past year.

Lucky numbers: Choice strategies in the Pennsylvania Daily Number game

Examined the amount of money bet during a week of Pennsylvania's Daily Number game. In this game, players receive a predetermined payoff for picking the 3-digit number (000 to 999) drawn on that day. The betting distribution was distinctly nonuniform. Several betting patterns were identified, such as picking triples and avoiding double 9s. In addition, 121 adults and 215 students were asked to rate selected numbers for randomness, luckiness, and perceived history of winning; to categorize numbers; and to free associate to numbers. It is proposed that people seem to choose highly patterned, available, and/or "lucky" numbers. People apparently do not bet numbers that reflect the random process of the game (do not utilize a representativeness heuristic).