Instability in electromagnetically driven flows Part II

In a previous paper, we have reported numerical simulations of the MHD flow driven by a travelling magnetic field (TMF) in an annular channel, at low Reynolds number. It was shown that the stalling of such induction pump is strongly related to magnetic flux expulsion. In the present article, we show that for larger hydrodynamic Reynolds number, and with more realistic boundary conditions, this instability takes the form of a large axisymmetric vortex flow in the (r,z)-plane, in which the fluid is locally pumped in the direction opposite to the one of the magnetic field. Close to the marginal stability of this vortex flow, a low-frequency pulsation is generated. Finally, these results are compared to theoretical predictions and are discussed within the framework of experimental annular linear induction electromagnetic pumps

Highly efficient synthesis of trans-β,γ-unsaturated-α-keto amides

International audienceA highly efficient, metal-free, and selective access to trans-β,γ-unsaturated-α-keto amides is described via peptidic coupling, involving easy to prepare trans-β,γ-unsaturated-α-keto acids and commercially available amines

An optimal architecture for a multi-standard reconfigurable radio: A network theory re-formulation

International audienceWe provide a procedure for identifying an architecture for a multistandard reconfigurable radio that is optimal in view of cost and performance (latency) considerations. We examine the trade-off between installing complex self-contained components providing high performance at a high cost (as well as size and weight), versus invoking simpler, reusable low level modules, which reduces cost but increases system latency. In the present work, we show that the the problem of finding an optimal design for a multi-standard reconfigurable radio can be reformulated as a “network design problem”. This reformulation provides a wealth of results, algorithms, and experience already available in the scientific literature. We explain the reformulation, give a simple but realistic design example, and discuss some algorithms available in the network design literature

New virologic tools for management of chronic hepatitis B and C.: New Virological Tools

International audienceMolecular biology techniques are routinely used to diagnose and monitor treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. These tools can detect and quantify viral genomes and analyze their sequence to determine their genotype or subtype and to identify nucleotide or amino acid substitutions associated with resistance to antiviral drugs. They include real-time target amplification methods, which have been standardized and are widely used in clinical practice to diagnose and monitor HBV and HCV infections, and next-generation sequencing techniques, which are still restricted to research laboratories. In addition, new enzyme immunoassays can quantify hepatitis B surface and hepatitis C core antigens, and point-of-care tests and alternatives to biologic tests that require whole-blood samples obtained by venipuncture have been developed. We review these new virologic methods and their clinical and research applications to HBV and HCV infections

Development of a nano-Al/CuO based energetic material on silicon substrate

Nanoenergetic materials nEMs have improved performances compared to their bulk counterpart or microcounterpart. The authors propose an approach to synthesize an Al/CuO based nEM that has several advantages over previous investigations such as enhanced contact, reduced impurities and Al oxidation, tailored dimensions, and easier integration into microsystem. CuO nanowires are synthesized by thermally annealing Cu film deposited onto silicon. Nano-Al is integrated with the nanowires to realize an Al/CuO based nEM. The synthesized nEM is characterized by scanning electron microscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, differential thermal analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry

Is Cystatin C a promising marker of renal function, at birth, in neonates prenatally diagnosed with congenital kidney anomalies?

Assessment of neonatal renal function remains a challenge. This study by Paloma et al. suggest that low-molecular weight proteins may indeed serve as promising markers of renal function at birth and in neonates prenatally diagnosed with congenital kidney anomalie

Deterioration modelling of contact surfaces for a friction drive system

International audienceThis article presents a novel model of surface deterioration for a friction drive. For this basic transmission system, the difference between tangential speeds is linked with the production of contact force and at the same time with an energy transfer that deteriorates the contact surfaces. Thus, an optimal management between health state of components and use of energy resources is required. In a first step, the physics of the system is modeled in a deterministic way. Then, considering either random system parameters or random system inputs and usage, a complete stochastic model for the system deterioration is proposed. The developed model allows to link the deterioration evolution to the inputs and operating modes of the system; to assess the behavior of deterioration in critical stages, such as sharp motion and smooth motion. The advantages to design and to analyze such a model are finally discussed in terms of reliability-adaptive systems

Evidence of Titan's Climate History from Evaporite Distribution

Water-ice-poor, 5-$\mu$m-bright material on Saturn's moon Titan has previously been geomorphologically identified as evaporitic. Here we present a global distribution of the occurrences of the 5-$\mu$m-bright spectral unit, identified with Cassini's Visual Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) and examined with RADAR when possible. We explore the possibility that each of these occurrences are evaporite deposits. The 5-$\mu$m-bright material covers 1\% of Titan's surface and is not limited to the poles (the only regions with extensive, long-lived surface liquid). We find the greatest areal concentration to be in the equatorial basins Tui Regio and Hotei Regio. Our interpretations, based on the correlation between 5-$\mu$m-bright material and lakebeds, imply that there was enough liquid present at some time to create the observed 5-$\mu$m-bright material. We address the climate implications surrounding a lack of evaporitic material at the south polar basins: if the south pole basins were filled at some point in the past, then where is the evaporite

Model-based provisioning and management of adaptive distributed communication in mobile cooperative systems

Adaptation of communication is required to maintain the reliable connection and to ensure the minimum quality in collaborative activities. Within the framework of wireless environment, how can host entities be handled in the event of a sudden unexpected change in communication and reliable sources? This challenging issue is addressed in the context of Emergency rescue system carried out by mobile devices and robots during calamities or disaster. For this kind of scenario, this book proposes an adaptive middleware to support reconfigurable, reliable group communications. Here, the system structure has been viewed at two different states, a control center with high processing power and uninterrupted energy level is responsible for global task and entities like autonomous robots and firemen owning smart devices act locally in the mission. Adaptation at control center is handled by semantic modeling whereas at local entities, it is managed by a software module called communication agent (CA). Modeling follows the well-known SWRL instructions which establish the degree of importance of each communication link or component. Providing generic and scalable solutions for automated self-configuration is driven by rule-based reconfiguration policies. To perform dynamically in changing environment, a trigger mechanism should force this model to take an adaptive action in order to accomplish a certain task, for example, the group chosen in the beginning of a mission need not be the same one during the whole mission. Local entity adaptive mechanisms are handled by CA that manages internal service APIs to configure, set up, and monitors communication services and manages the internal resources to satisfy telecom service requirements