An X‐FEM‐based numerical–asymptotic expansion for simulating a Stokes flow near a sharp corner

A numerical technique that is based on the integration of the asymptotic solution in the numerical framework for computing the local singular behavior of Stokes flow near a sharp corner is presented. Moffat's asymptotic solution is used, and special enriched shape functions are developed and integrated in the extended finite element method (X‐FEM) framework to solve the Navier–Stokes equations. The no‐slip boundary condition on the walls of the corner is enforced via the use of Lagrange multipliers. Flows around corners with different angles are simulated, and the results are compared with both those of the known analytic solution and the X‐FEM with no special enrichment near the corner. The results of the present technique are shown to greatly reduce the error made in computing the pressure and velocity fields near a corner tip without the need for mesh refinement near the corner. The method is then applied to the estimation of the permeability of a network of fibers, where it is shown that the local small‐scale pressure singularities have a large impact on the large‐scale network permeability. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

King oil: a speculative opinion

This speculative opinion is based on an apparent dream caused by Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Agreement. The account includes a comparison between arguments against the abolition of slavery and those against ending a fossil-fuel based economy in favor of sustainability through a green approach. Recent social disturbance in France shows that a carbon tax has not been persuasively advocated. But it should be clear that unchanged laissez-faire economics will produce disaster in light of the facts about global heating and climate change. This account is based on historical and contemporary quotations from American political figures from both the XIX and XXI centuries. The parallels raise fundamental issues of human rights.     

Decision rules for determining terrestrial movement and the consequences for filtering high-resolution global positioning system tracks: a case study using the African lion (Panthera leo)

The combined use of global positioning system (GPS) technology and motion sensors within the discipline of movement ecology has increased over recent years. This is particularly the case for instrumented wildlife, with many studies now opting to record parameters at high (infra-second) sampling frequencies. However, the detail with which GPS loggers can elucidate fine-scale movement depends on the precision and accuracy of fixes, with accuracy being affected by signal reception. We hypothesized that animal behaviour was the main factor affecting fix inaccuracy, with inherent GPS positional noise (jitter) being most apparent during GPS fixes for non-moving locations, thereby producing disproportionate error during rest periods. A movement-verified filtering (MVF) protocol was constructed to compare GPS-derived speed data with dynamic body acceleration, to provide a computationally quick method for identifying genuine travelling movement. This method was tested on 11 free-ranging lions (Panthera leo) fitted with collar-mounted GPS units and tri-axial motion sensors recording at 1 and 40 Hz, respectively. The findings support the hypothesis and show that distance moved estimates were, on average, overestimated by greater than 80% prior to GPS screening. We present the conceptual and mathematical protocols for screening fix inaccuracy within high-resolution GPS datasets and demonstrate the importance that MVF has for avoiding inaccurate and biased estimates of movement.     

Rock brittleness indices and their applications to different fields of rock engineering:A review

Brittleness is an important parameter controlling the mechanical behavior and failure characteristics of rocks under loading and unloading conditions,such as fracability,cutability,drillability and rockburst proneness.As such,it is of high practical value to correctly evaluate rock brittleness.However,the definition and measurement method of rock brittleness have been very diverse and not yet been standardized.In this paper,the definitions of rock brittleness are firstly reviewed,and several representative definitions of rock brittleness are identified and briefly discussed.The development and role of rock brittleness in different fields of rock engineering are also studied.Eighty brittleness indices publicly available in rock mechanics literature are compiled,and the measurement method,applicability and limitations of some indices are discussed.The results show that(1)the large number of brittleness indices and brittleness definitions is attributed to the different foci on the rock behavior when it breaks;(2)indices developed in one field usually are not directly applicable to other fields;and(3)the term“brittleness”is sometimes misused,and many empirically-obtained brittleness indices,which lack theoretical basis,fail to truly reflect rock brittleness.On the basis of this review,three measurement methods are identified,i.e.(1)elastic deformation before fracture,(2)shape of post-peak stressestrain curves,and(3)methods based on fracture mechanics theory,which have the potential to be further refined and unified to become the standard measurement methods of rock brittleness.It is highly beneficial for the rock mechanics community to develop a robust definition of rock brittleness.This study will undoubtedly provide a comprehensive timely reference for selecting an appropriate brittleness index for their applications,and will also pave the way for the development of a standard definition and measurement method of rock brittleness in the long term.     

Histone Deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) Inhibitors Containing Boron

Histone deacetylase enzymes (HDACs) are responsible for the global silencing of tumour-suppressor genes. Treatment with a histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) can reverse this process and restore normal cell function. Herein, we report a small series of boron-based (boronic acid, boronate ester and closo-1,2-carborane) HDAC2 inhibitors with IC₅₀ values in the nanomolar range. The boronate ester 4 b was the most potent compound assessed in this study (IC₅₀=40.6±1.5 nM), followed closely by the 1,2-closo-carborane (IC₅₀=42.9±1.5 nM). Compound 4 b exceeds the potency of the related gold-standard HDAC pan-inhibitor vorinostat ( 1 ) toward this particular HDAC isoform.     

ON THE DYNAMIC PROPERTIES OF THE EXTENSIVE VARIABLE CONTROL STRUCTURES

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the dynamic properties of controller structures synthesized using extensive thermodynamic variables of a process. Several state-space and frequency domain multivariable techniques, including INA, and Modal Interaction Analysis, are used in order to evaluate the dynamic properties of these control structures. These structures show zero steady state interaction and minimal dynamic interaction for all processes examined. Dynamic simulation of several application examples, including distillation columns and a network of two stirred tank heaters in series, shows that the loops in these structures can also be tuned with minimum effort. Comparison of the proposed structures, with the conventional parallel single-input single-output control structures, shows the advantages of the proposed method.