Efficient Variable-Coefficient Finite-Volume Stokes Solvers

We investigate several robust preconditioners for solving the saddle-point linear systems that arise from spatial discretization of unsteady and steady variable-coefficient Stokes equations on a uniform staggered grid. Building on the success of using the classical projection method as a preconditioner for the coupled velocity-pressure system [B. E. Griffith, J. Comp. Phys., 228 (2009), pp. 75657595], as well as established techniques for steady and unsteady Stokes flow in the finite-element literature, we construct preconditioners that employ independent generalized Helmholtz and Poisson solvers for the velocity and pressure subproblems. We demonstrate that only a single cycle of a standard geometric multigrid algorithm serves as an effective inexact solver for each of these subproblems. Contrary to traditional wisdom, we find that the Stokes problem can be solved nearly as efficiently as the independent pressure and velocity subproblems, making the overall cost of solving the Stokes system comparable to the cost of classical projection or fractional step methods for incompressible flow, even for steady flow and in the presence of large density and viscosity contrasts. Two of the five preconditioners considered here are found to be robust to GMRES restarts and to increasing problem size, making them suitable for large-scale problems. Our work opens many possibilities for constructing novel unsplit temporal integrators for finite-volume spatial discretizations of the equations of low Mach and incompressible flow dynamics.Comment: Submitted to CiC

Hard and soft probe - medium interactions in a 3D hydro+micro approach at RHIC

We utilize a 3D hybrid hydro+micro model for a comprehensive and consistent description of soft and hard particle production in ultra-relativistic heavy-ion collisions at RHIC. In the soft sector we focus on the dynamics of (multi-)strange baryons, where a clear strangeness dependence of their collision rates and freeze-out is observed. In the hard sector we study the radiative energy loss of hard partons in a soft medium in the multiple soft scattering approximation. While the nuclear suppression factor $R_{AA}$ does not reflect the high quality of the medium description (except in a reduced systematic uncertainty in extracting the quenching power of the medium), the hydrodynamical model also allows to study different centralities and in particular the angular variation of $R_{AA}$ with respect to the reaction plane, allowing for a controlled variation of the in-medium path-length.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, Quark Matter 2006 proceedings, to appear in Journal of Physics

The Effects of Heading on Neurocognitive Function in Female Collegiate Soccer Players During an Entire Soccer Season

Recently, much debate has occurred regarding the effects of repeated heading by soccer players on their neurocognitive function. PURPOSE: To determine the effects of heading on neurocognitive function in female collegiate soccer players during an entire soccer season. METHODS: Twenty-four members of the 2012 Southwestern University Women’s Soccer team completed the ImPACT test during preseason and postseason, and self-reported the number of headers for the week immediately prior to each testing session. Amount of playing time for each player was determined from records obtained from the Southwestern University Athletics Department. The six composite scores and the cognitive efficiency index from the ImPACT test were measured in each session. Paired t tests were used to evaluate neurocognitive performance at each of the testing periods. Multiple regressions were run to compare the independent variables of playing time and number of headers to the seven ImPACT test composite scores from the preseason and postseason testing periods. RESULTS: There was an increase in visual motor speed, a decrease in reaction time, and an increase in cognitive efficiency from preseason to postseason (t(23) = -4.63, p \u3c 0.001), (t(23) = 2.17, p = 0.041), and (t(23) = -2.45, p = 0.022), respectively. During preseason, number of headers performed significantly predicted reaction time (F(1,22) = 5.37, p = 0.03), and explained approximately 20% of the variance in reaction time (r2 = 0.196). Number of headers performed significantly predicted cognitive efficiency (F(1,22) = 5.56, p = 0.03), and explained approximately 20% of the variance in cognitive efficiency (r2 = 0.202). During postseason, number of minutes played significantly predicted visual memory (F(1,22) = 4.71, p = 0.04), and explained approximately 18% of the variance in visual memory (r2 = 0.176). CONCLUSION: The changes in these neurocognitive variables from preseason to postseason indicated that athletes performed better postseason. The number of headers and the total playing time across one season appear to have had no negative effects on neurocognitive function in these soccer players

Low Mach Number Modeling of Type Ia Supernovae. IV. White Dwarf Convection

We present the first three-dimensional, full-star simulations of convection in a white dwarf preceding a Type Ia supernova, specifically the last few hours before ignition. For these long-time calculations we use our low Mach number hydrodynamics code, MAESTRO, which we have further developed to treat spherical stars centered in a three-dimensional Cartesian geometry. The main change required is a procedure to map the one-dimensional radial base state to and from the Cartesian grid. Our models recover the dipole structure of the flow seen in previous calculations, but our long-time integration shows that the orientation of the dipole changes with time. Furthermore, we show the development of gravity waves in the outer, stable portion of the star. Finally, we evolve several calculations to the point of ignition and discuss the range of ignition radii.Comment: 42 pages, some figures degraded to conserve space. Accepted to The Astrophysical Journal (http://journals.iop.org/

Hydrodynamical evolution near the QCD critical end point

Hydrodynamical calculations have been successful in describing global observables in ultrarelativistic heavy ion collisions, which aim to observe the production of the quark-gluon plasma. On the other hand, recently, a lot of evidence that there exists a critical end point (CEP) in the QCD phase diagram has been accumulating. Nevertheless, so far, no equation of state with the CEP has been employed in hydrodynamical calculations. In this paper, we construct the equation of state with the CEP on the basis of the universality hypothesis and show that the CEP acts as an attractor of isentropic trajectories. We also consider the time evolution in the case with the CEP and discuss how the CEP affects the final state observables, such as the correlation length, fluctuation, chemical freezeout, kinetic freezeout, and so on. Finally, we argue that the anomalously low kinetic freezeout temperature at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider suggests the possibility of the existence of the CEP.Comment: 13 pages, 12 figures, accepted for publication in Physical Review

Cilia at the node of mouse embryos sense fluid flow for left-right determination via Pkd2

Unidirectional fluid flow plays an essential role in the breaking of left-right (L-R) symmetry in mouse embryos, but it has remained unclear how the flow is sensed by the embryo. We report that the Ca2+ channel Polycystin-2 (Pkd2) is required specifically in the perinodal crown cells for sensing the nodal flow. Examination of mutant forms of Pkd2 shows that the ciliary localization of Pkd2 is essential for correct L-R patterning. Whereas Kif3a mutant embryos, which lack all cilia, failed to respond to an artificial flow, restoration of primary cilia in crown cells rescued the response to the flow. Our results thus suggest that nodal flow is sensed in a manner dependent on Pkd2 by the cilia of crown cells located at the edge of the node.CREST of the Japan Science and Technology Corporation; NIH [P30 DK090744]; Human Frontier Science Program [ST00246/2003C]; Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft [PE 853/2]; Japan Society for the Promotion of Science; American Heart Association [R10682]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Space-time evolution of bulk QCD matter

We introduce a combined fully three-dimensional macroscopic/microscopic transport approach employing relativistic 3D-hydrodynamics for the early, dense, deconfined stage of the reaction and a microscopic non-equilibrium model for the later hadronic stage where the equilibrium assumptions are not valid anymore. Within this approach we study the dynamics of hot, bulk QCD matter, which is being created in ultra-relativistic heavy ion collisions at RHIC. Our approach is capable of self-consistently calculating the freezeout of the hadronic system, while accounting for the collective flow on the hadronization hypersurface generated by the QGP expansion. In particular, we perform a detailed analysis of the reaction dynamics, hadronic freezeout, and transverse flow.Comment: 24 pages, 27 figure

How do cities approach policy innovation and policy learning? A study of 30 policies in Northern Europe and North America

This paper reports on a study of current practice in policy transfer, and ways in which its effectiveness can be increased. A literature review identifies important factors in examining the transfer of policies. Results of interviews in eleven cities in Northern Europe and North America investigate these factors further. The principal motivations for policy transfer were strategic need and curiosity. Local officials and politicians dominated the process of initiating policy transfer, and local officials were also the leading players in transferring experience. A range of information sources are used in the search process but human interaction was the most important source of learning for two main reasons. First, there is too much information available through the Internet and the search techniques are not seen to be wholly effective in identifying the necessary information. Secondly, the information available on websites, portals and even good practice guides is not seen to be of mixed quality with risks of focussing only on successful implementation and therefore subject to some bias. Officials therefore rely on their trusted networks of peers for lessons as here they can access the ‘real implementation’ story and the unwritten lessons. Organisations which have a culture that is supportive of learning from elsewhere had strong and broad networks of external contacts and resourced their development whilst others are more insular or inward looking and reluctant to invest in policy lessons from elsewhere. Solutions to the problems identified in the evidence base are proposed