Locally periodic unfolding method and two-scale convergence on surfaces of locally periodic microstructures

In this paper we generalize the periodic unfolding method and the notion of two-scale convergence on surfaces of periodic microstructures to locally periodic situations. The methods that we introduce allow us to consider a wide range of non-periodic microstructures, especially to derive macroscopic equations for problems posed in domains with perforations distributed non-periodically. Using the methods of locally periodic two-scale convergence (l-t-s) on oscillating surfaces and the locally periodic (l-p) boundary unfolding operator, we are able to analyze differential equations defined on boundaries of non-periodic microstructures and consider non-homogeneous Neumann conditions on the boundaries of perforations, distributed non-periodically

Source amplitudes for active exterior cloaking

The active cloak comprises a discrete set of multipole sources that destructively interfere with an incident time harmonic scalar wave to produce zero total field over a finite spatial region. For a given number of sources and their positions in two dimensions it is shown that the multipole amplitudes can be expressed as infinite sums of the coefficients of the incident wave decomposed into regular Bessel functions. The field generated by the active sources vanishes in the infinite region exterior to a set of circles defined by the relative positions of the sources. The results provide a direct solution to the inverse problem of determining the source amplitudes. They also define a broad class of non-radiating discrete sources.Comment: 21 pages, 17 figure

New collections of p-subgroups and homology decompositions for classifying spaces of finite groups

Let G be a finite group and p a prime dividing its order. We define new collections of p-subgroups of G. We study the homotopy relations among them and with the standard collections of p-subgroups. We determine their ampleness and sharpness properties.Comment: 14 pages, some revisions made, final version to appear in Communications in Algebr

Convergence Rates in L^2 for Elliptic Homogenization Problems

We study rates of convergence of solutions in L^2 and H^{1/2} for a family of elliptic systems {L_\epsilon} with rapidly oscillating oscillating coefficients in Lipschitz domains with Dirichlet or Neumann boundary conditions. As a consequence, we obtain convergence rates for Dirichlet, Neumann, and Steklov eigenvalues of {L_\epsilon}. Most of our results, which rely on the recently established uniform estimates for the L^2 Dirichlet and Neumann problems in \cite{12,13}, are new even for smooth domains.Comment: 25 page

Managing toxicities associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors: consensus recommendations from the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) Toxicity Management Working Group.

Cancer immunotherapy has transformed the treatment of cancer. However, increasing use of immune-based therapies, including the widely used class of agents known as immune checkpoint inhibitors, has exposed a discrete group of immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Many of these are driven by the same immunologic mechanisms responsible for the drugs\u27 therapeutic effects, namely blockade of inhibitory mechanisms that suppress the immune system and protect body tissues from an unconstrained acute or chronic immune response. Skin, gut, endocrine, lung and musculoskeletal irAEs are relatively common, whereas cardiovascular, hematologic, renal, neurologic and ophthalmologic irAEs occur much less frequently. The majority of irAEs are mild to moderate in severity; however, serious and occasionally life-threatening irAEs are reported in the literature, and treatment-related deaths occur in up to 2% of patients, varying by ICI. Immunotherapy-related irAEs typically have a delayed onset and prolonged duration compared to adverse events from chemotherapy, and effective management depends on early recognition and prompt intervention with immune suppression and/or immunomodulatory strategies. There is an urgent need for multidisciplinary guidance reflecting broad-based perspectives on how to recognize, report and manage organ-specific toxicities until evidence-based data are available to inform clinical decision-making. The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) established a multidisciplinary Toxicity Management Working Group, which met for a full-day workshop to develop recommendations to standardize management of irAEs. Here we present their consensus recommendations on managing toxicities associated with immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy

Regional development gaps in Argentina: A multidimensional approach to identify the location of policy priorities

Spatial inequalities within Latin American countries have historically attracted the interest ofacademics, policy-makers, and international agencies. This article aims to provide amultidimensional diagnosis of provincial development gaps in Argentina, in order to identifythe location of policy priorities. Therefore, we built a large database, which covers sevendevelopment dimensions, and applied multivariate analysis techniques to overcome someanalytical limitations of previous studies. Results show the stability of provincial developmentgaps between 2003 and 2013 and some heterogeneity within geographic regions. Instead,cluster analysis offers a better classification of Argentine provinces according to theirdevelopment gaps, which can help the government to prioritize the places wheredevelopment policies are strategic.Fil: Niembro, Andrés Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Río Negro; ArgentinaFil: Sarmiento, Jesica Isabel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Río Negro; Argentin

Enabling dynamic service delivery in the 3GPP evolved packet core

With the deployment of new wireless access technologies, like LTE or WiMAX which complement the existing accesses such as UMTS or WiFi, the mobile devices are able to establish services having different requirements for network capabilities. However, the services deployed are lacking an efficient mechanism of adaptation to the momentary connectivity conditions which deters the dynamic service delivery according to the momentary preferences of the user's applications. This paper introduces a new mechanism for the adaptation of the services to the momentary network conditions which includes as part of the vertical handover procedures a resource reservation decision according to the preferences of the mobile device and the capabilities of adapatation of the application as advertised during service establishment, enabling a more dynamic service delivery without requiring resource re-reservation procedures. Furthermore, the novel concept is exemplified on the 3GPP Evolved Pa cket Core and evaluated using the Fraunhofer OpenEPC toolkit implementation. ©2010 IEEE

The Effect of Leaching on the Pore Structure of Cement-Based Grouts for Use in Nuclear Fuel Waste Disposal

ABSTRACTResearch on the longevity of cement-based grout materials for sealing a deep geological disposal vault is an important aspect of the Canadian and other nuclear waste management programs. These studies include assessments of the chemical durability of cement grouts, and the effects of leaching and phase transformation on the long-term hydraulic and diffusion characteristics of grouts.This paper presents the results of laboratory studies carried out to assess the effects of leaching of cement phases on the pore structure of hardened grouts. Measurements of mercury intrusion and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive x-ray analysis, have been used to investigate the changes in pore structure of both a reference grout (90% Type 50 cement, 10% silica fume, water-to-cementitious materials ratio between 0.4 and 0.7) and ALOFIX-MC (a fine cement product of Japan), as a function of leaching time.The work discussed here reveals that the porosity of hardened grout does change during leaching, but within limits that depend on grout composition and initial porosity. The results confirm that the materials have the potential to self-seal and maintain their performance for longer periods than those currently predicted by longevity models.Our studies of the porosity and permeability of grouts suggest that pore size distribution rather than total porosity is the more important parameter in determining longevity.</jats:p

Leaching Studies of Non-Metallic Materials for Nuclear Fuel Immobilization Containers

AbstractThe leaching behaviour of various ceramics was studied as part of a program to evaluate their potential use as container material for very long term containment of nuclear fuel waste under conditions of deep geologic disposal.Samples of four grades of Al2O3, stabilized ZrO2, TiO2, a cermet (70% A12O3- 30% TiC) and porcelain have been leached in deionized distilled water, Standard Canadian Shield Saline Solution (SCSSS), and SCSSS plus 20% Na-bentonite under static conditions at 100°C for periods up to 120 d.The results of these ongoing leaching experiments suggest that the controlling features of the ceramic leaching process were leachant composition, and the presence and concentration of ions in the solution capable of preferentially precipitating on the ceramic surface, i.e., silicon, Mg2+, Ca2+, etc. Weight losses were determined after leaching. The initial leach rates showed a dependence upon ceramic purity and the processing used to prepare the ceramics, as well as the leachant composition. Also, it was apparent that the decrease of leach rates with time occurred as a result of the ceramic components in the leachant approaching their saturation limits.</jats:p

The Development of Durable Cementitious Materials for Use in a Nuclear Fuel Waste Disposal Facility

AbstractThis paper describes the work on cement paste development and short-term leaching tests in Standard Canadian Shield Saline Solution (SCSSS) in the presence of bentonite at 150°C. It has been found that:-supplementary cementing materials such as silica fume or fly ash could significantly improve the properties of sulphate resistant portland cement (SRPC), in particular, permeability to water and pore size distribution.-the addition of bentonite suppressed the normal tendency of the pH of groundwater to increase rapidly in the presence of cement.-the presence of bentonite increased the release of potassium ions from the cements.-– SRPC blended with 20% silica fume resulted in a groundwater pH lower than that of SRPC, with and without bentonite. Moreover, its cumulative fraction of release of potassium was significantly lower than that of SRPC.</jats:p