Application of a simulation-based dynamic traffic assignment model

The evaluation of on-line intelligent transportation system (ITS) measures, such as adaptive route-guidance and traffic management systems, depends heavily on the use of faster than real time traffic simulation models. Off-line applications, such as the testing of ITS strategies and planning studies, are also best served by fast-running traffic models due to the repetitive or iterative nature of such investigations. This paper describes a simulation-based, iterative dynamic equilibrium traffic assignment model. The determination of time-dependent path flows is modeled as a master problem that is solved using the method of successive averages (MSA). The determination of path travel times for a given set of path flows is the network-loading sub-problem, which is solved using the space-time queuing approach of Mahut. This loading method has been shown to provide reasonably accurate results with very little computational effort. The model was applied to the Stockholm road network, which consists of 2100 links, 1191 nodes, 228 zones, representing and 4964 turns. The results show that this model is applicable to medium-size networks with a very reasonable computation time.     

Applications de la sonde moléculaire aux composites a teneur elevee en solides—I. Determination des temperatures de transition vitreuse et etude des phenomenes de surface

The molecular probe technique has been shown to be useful for measuring the glass transition temperature of a highly-filled composite, or of a polybutadiene prepolymer covering surfaces of varying types. The measured Tg of 193°K is independent of the curing stage as well as of the nature of functional groups. Transitions between 349 and 364°K were detected in a Fe₂O₃-containing composite, showing the general applicability of the technique. Studies of the slope of the curve relating the logarithm of the specific retention volume to the reciprocal of the absolute temperature can lead to useful information concerning the orientation of the polybutadiene prepolymer at the polymer-solid interface.     

Configurational analysis of cyclopropyl fatty acids isolated from Escherichia coli

[reaction: see text] The absolute configuration of methyl lactobacillate and its 9,10 homologue, both isolated from Escherichia coli B-ATCC 11303, was found to be 11R,12S and 9R,10S, respectively.     

Mott transition, antiferromagnetism, and d-wave superconductivity in two-dimensional organic conductors

We study the Mott transition, antiferromagnetism, and superconductivity in layered organic conductors using the cellular dynamical mean-field theory for the frustrated Hubbard model. A d-wave superconducting phase appears between an antiferromagnetic insulator and a metal for t'/t=0.3-0.7 or between a nonmagnetic Mott insulator (spin liquid) and a metal for t'/t>or=0.8, in agreement with experiments on layered organic conductors including kappa-(ET)2Cu2(CN)3. These phases are separated by a strong first-order transition. The phase diagram gives much insight into the mechanism for -wave superconductivity. Two predictions are made.     

Probing Electronic Symmetry Reduction during Charge Migration via Time-Resolved X-Ray Diffraction

The present work focuses on probing ultrafast charge migration after symmetry-breaking excitation using ultrashort laser pulses. LiCN is chosen as prototypical system because it can be oriented in the laboratory frame and it possesses optically-accessible charge transfer states at low energies. The charge migration is simulated within the hybrid time-dependent density functional theory/configuration interaction framework. Time-resolved electronic current densities and simulated time-resolved x-ray diffraction signals are used to unravel the mechanism of charge migration. Our simulations demonstrate that specific choices of laser polarization lead to a control over the symmetry of the induced charge migration. Moreover, time-resolved x-ray diffraction signals are shown to encode transient symmetry reduction at intermediate times.     

Spin susceptibility of interacting electrons in one dimension: Luttinger liquid and lattice effects

The temperature-dependent uniform magnetic susceptibility of interacting electrons in one dimension is calculated using several methods. At low temperature, the renormalization group reveals that the Luttinger liquid spin susceptibility approaches zero temperature with an infinite slope in striking contrast with the Fermi liquid result and with the behavior of the compressibility in the absence of umklapp scattering. This effect comes from the leading marginally irrelevant operator, in analogy with the Heisenberg spin 1/2 antiferromagnetic chain. Comparisons with Monte Carlo simulations at higher temperature reveal that non-logarithmic terms are important in that regime. These contributions are evaluated from an effective interaction that includes the same set of diagrams as those that give the leading logarithmic terms in the renormalization group approach. Comments on the third law of thermodynamics as well as reasons for the failure of approaches that work in higher dimensions are given. Received 2 March 1999     

Modulation of humoral immune response to oral BCG vaccination by Mycobacterium bovis BCG Moreau Rio de Janeiro (RDJ) in healthy adults

We hypothesize that the energy strategy of a cell is a key factor for determining how, or if, the immune system interacts with that cell. Cells have a limited number of metabolic states, in part, depending on the type of fuels the cell consumes. Cellular fuels include glucose (carbohydrates), lipids (fats), and proteins. We propose that the cell's ability to switch to, and efficiently use, fat for fuel confers immune privilege. Additionally, because uncoupling proteins are involved in the fat burning process and reportedly in protection from free radicals, we hypothesize that uncoupling proteins play an important role in immune privilege. Thus, changes in metabolism (caused by oxidative stresses, fuel availability, age, hormones, radiation, or drugs) will dictate and initiate changes in immune recognition and in the nature of the immune response. This has profound implications for controlling the symptoms of autoimmune diseases, for preventing graft rejection, and for targeting tumor cells for destruction.     

High‐order stable interpolations for immersed boundary methods

The analysis and improvement of an immersed boundary method (IBM) for simulating turbulent flows over complex geometries are presented. Direct forcing is employed. It consists in interpolating boundary conditions from the solid body to the Cartesian mesh on which the computation is performed. Lagrange and least squares high‐order interpolations are considered. The direct forcing IBM is implemented in an incompressible finite volume Navier–Stokes solver for direct numerical simulations (DNS) and large eddy simulations (LES) on staggered grids. An algorithm to identify the body and construct the interpolation schemes for arbitrarily complex geometries consisting of triangular elements is presented. A matrix stability analysis of both interpolation schemes demonstrates the superiority of least squares interpolation over Lagrange interpolation in terms of stability. Preservation of time and space accuracy of the original solver is proven with the laminar two‐dimensional Taylor–Couette flow. Finally, practicability of the method for simulating complex flows is demonstrated with the computation of the fully turbulent three‐dimensional flow in an air‐conditioning exhaust pipe. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.