An algorithm for LES of premixed compressible flows using the Conditional Moment Closure model

A novel numerical method has been developed to couple a recent high order accurate fully compressible upwind method with the Conditional Moment Closure combustion model. The governing equations, turbulence modelling and numerical methods are presented in full. The new numerical method is validated against direct numerical simulation (DNS) data for a lean premixed methane slot burner. Although the modelling approaches are based on non-premixed flames and hence not expected to be valid for a wide range of premixed flames, the predicted flame is just 10% longer than that in the DNS and excellent agreement of mean mass fractions, conditional mass fractions and temperature is demonstrated. This new numerical method provides a very useful framework for future application of CMC to premixed as well as non-premixed combustion.     

LES/CMC modelling of ignition and flame propagation in a non-premixed methane jet

The Large Eddy Simulation (LES) / Conditional Moment Closure (CMC) model with detailed chemistry is used for modelling spark ignition and flame propagation in a turbulent methane jet in ambient air. Two centerline and one off-axis ignition locations are simulated. We focus on predicting the flame kernel formation, flame edge propagation and stabilization. The current LES/CMC computations capture the three stages reasonably well compared to available experimental data. Regarding the formation of flame kernel, it is found that the convection dominates the propagation of its downstream edge. The simulated initial downstream and radial flame propagation compare well with OH-PLIF images from the experiment. Additionally, when the spark is deposited at off-centerline locations, the flame first propagates downstream and then back upstream from the other side of the stoichiometric iso-surface. At the leading edge location, the chemical source term is larger than others in magnitude, indicating its role in the flame propagation. The time evolution of flame edge position and the final lift-off height are compared with measurements and generally good agreement is observed. The conditional quantities at the stabilization point reflect a balance between chemistry and micro-mixing. This investigation, which focused on model validation for various stages of spark ignition of a turbulent lifted jet flame through comparison with measurements, demonstrates that turbulent edge flame propagation in non-premixed systems can be reasonably well captured by LES/CMC.     

Mixing of meson isosinglets in SU(5) and an extension to SU(N)

The mixing angles of meson isosinglets belonging to the 24-dimensional and singlet representations of SU(5) are calculated under specific assumptions in the non-relativistic quark model. The procedure to extend the scheme to SU(N) has been outlined. The results have been compared with other earlier estimates.     

The usage of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) to control food-borne pathogens in hummus

ABSTRACT

With the increasing demand for fresher, higher quality, minimally processed and safer food, there is a strong necessity to develop non-thermal processing techniques. Also for hummus, which is popular all around the world. In this work, the effect of refrigerated storage on the survival of pathogens in hummus treated by high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) (500?MPa/10?min/room temperature) was evaluated. The cocktail of two Salmonella, four Listeria monocytogenes and two Escherichia coli strains was used in this study. All pathogen types were able to survive in hummus during 60 days of refrigerated storage. HHP-treated samples plated on day 0 successfully achieved a?>?5 log cfu/g reduction for all pathogen types. No residual survivors were present after 30 and 60 days in any of the HHP-treated samples. These results demonstrate that HHP may be a useful technique for the inactivation of pathogens and therefore helpful in designing non-thermal HHP conditions for pressurization of hummus.     

Long correlations and Levy models applied to the study of memory effects in high frequency (tick) data

This work is devoted to the study of long correlations, memory effects and other statistical properties of high frequency (tick) data. We use a sample of 25 stocks for this purpose.We verify that the behavior of the return is compatible with that of continuous time Levy processes. We also study the presence of memory effects and long-range correlations in the values of the return.     

Combined of ultrasound irradiation with high hydrostatic pressure (US/HHP) as a new method to improve immobilization of dextranase onto alginate gel

In this research work, dextranase was immobilized onto calcium alginate beads by the combination of ultrasonic irradiation and high hydrostatic pressure (US/HHP) treatments. Effects of US/HHP treatments on loading efficiency and immobilization yield of dextranase enzyme onto calcium alginate beads were investigated. Furthermore, the activities of immobilized enzymes prepared with and without US/HHP treatments and that prepared with ultrasonic irradiation (US) and high hydrostatic pressure (HHP), as a function of pH, temperature, recyclability and enzyme kinetic parameters, were compared with that for free enzyme. The maximum loading efficiency and the immobilization yield were observed when the immobilized dextranase was prepared with US (40 W at 25 kHz for 15 min) combined with HHP (400 MPa for 15 min), under which the loading efficiency and the immobilization yield increased by 88.92% and 80.86%, respectively, compared to immobilized enzymes prepared without US/HHP treatment. On the other hand, immobilized enzyme prepared with US/HHP treatment showed V_max, K_M, catalytic and specificity constants values higher than that for the immobilized enzyme prepared with HHP treatment, indicated that, this new US/HHP method improved the catalytic kinetics activity of immobilized dextranase at all the reaction conditions studied. Compared to immobilized enzyme prepared either with US or HHP, the immobilized enzymes prepared with US/HHP method exhibited a higher: pH optimum, optimal reaction temperature, thermal stability and recyclability, and lower activation energy, which, illustrating the effectiveness of the US/HHP method. These results indicated that, the combination of US and HHP treatments could be an effective method for improving the immobilization of enzymes in polymers.     

The effects of magnetic moment collapse under high pressure,on physical properties in mono-borides TMB (TM = Mn,Fe): a first-principles

In this paper, spin polarization and pressure effects on the structure, magnetic and anisotropic elastic properties of the 3d transition-metal mono-borides TMB (TM = Mn, Fe) have been investigated by using generalized gradient approximation within the framework of density functional theory. It seems that manganese in MnB carries a higher magnetic moment (1.83 μ_B) than iron in FeB (1.12 μ_B). Applied pressure ranges from 0 to 150 GPa, these ferromagnetic compounds show at a certain pressure (143 GPa for MnB and 77 GPa for FeB) a pronounced abrupt collapse of the magnetic moment (first-order quantum phase transitions). Furthermore, elastic properties, including bulk, shear and Young moduli as well as the Poisson ratio are obtained by Voigt–Reuss–Hill approximation. By the elastic stability criteria, it is predicted that MnB and FeB are stable up to the selected pressures. In both cases, mechanical anisotropies are discussed by calculating different anisotropic indexes and factors. The three-dimensional surfaces and planar contours of Young, and bulk moduli of compounds are plotted, at several crystallographic planes ((100), (010) and (001)) to reveal their elastic anisotropy.     

Absence of a spontaneous long-range order in a mixed spin-(1/2, 3/2) Ising model on a decorated square lattice due to anomalous spin frustration driven by a magnetoelastic coupling

The mixed spin-(1/2, 3/2) Ising model on a decorated square lattice, which takes into account lattice vibrations of the spin-3/2 decorating magnetic ions at a quantum-mechanical level under the assumption of a perfect lattice rigidity of the spin-1/2 nodal magnetic ions, is examined via an exact mapping correspondence with the effective spin-1/2 Ising model on a square lattice. Although the considered magnetic structure is in principle unfrustrated due to bipartite nature of a decorated square lattice, the model under investigation may display anomalous spin frustration driven by a magnetoelastic coupling. It turns out that the magnetoelastic coupling is a primary cause for existence of the frustrated antiferromagnetic phases, which exhibit a peculiar coexistence of antiferromagnetic long-range order of the nodal spins with a partial disorder of the decorating spins with possible reentrant critical behavior. Under certain conditions, the anomalous spin frustration caused by the magnetoelastic coupling is responsible for unprecedented absence of spontaneous long-range order in the mixed-spin Ising model composed from half-odd-integer spins only.