Handling obstacles in pedestrian simulations: Models and optimization

In this paper we are concerned with the simulation of crowds in built environments, where obstacles play a role in the dynamics and in the interactions among pedestrians. First of all, we review the state-of-the-art of the techniques for handling obstacles in numerical simulations. Then, we introduce a new modeling technique which guarantees both impermeability and opacity of the obstacles, and does not require ad hoc runtime interventions to avoid collisions.

Parallel Quasi Exhaustive Search of Optimal Asset Allocation for Pension Funds

We present a solution based on a suitable combination of heuristics and parallel processing techniques for finding the best allocation of the financial assets of a pension fund, taking into account all the specific rules of the fund. We compare the values of an objective function computed with respect to a large set (thousands) of possible scenarios for the evolution of the Net Asset Value (NAV) of the share of each asset class in which the financial capital of the fund is invested.

Numerical approximation of nonhomogeneous boundary conditions on networks for a hyperbolic system of chemotaxis modeling the Physarum dynamics

Many studies have shown that Physarum polycephalum slime mold is able to find the shortest path in a maze. In this paper we study this behavior in a network, using a hyperbolic model of chemotaxis. Suitable transmission and boundary conditions at each node are considered to mimic the behavior of such an organism in the feeding process. Several numerical tests are presented for special network geometries to show the qualitative agreement between our model and the observed behavior of the mold.

Nullomers and high order nullomers in genomic sequences

A nullomer is an oligomer that does not occur as a subsequence in a given DNA sequence, i.e. it is an absent word of that sequence. The importance of nullomers in several applications, from drug discovery to forensic practice, is now debated in the literature. Here, we investigated the nature of nullomers, whether their absence in genomes has just a statistical explanation or it is a peculiar feature of genomic sequences. We introduced an extension of the notion of nullomer, namely high order nullomers, which are nullomers whose mutated sequences are still nullomers.

Invisible control of self-organizing agents leaving unknown environments

In this paper we are concerned with multiscale modeling, control, and simulation of self-organizing agents leaving an unknown area under limited visibility, with special emphasis on crowds. We first introduce a new microscopic model characterized by an exploration phase and an evacuation phase. The main ingredients of the model are an alignment term, accounting for the herding effect typical of uncertain behavior, and a random walk, accounting for the need to explore the environment under limited visibility. We consider both metrical and topological interactions.

Scalar field self-force effects on a particle orbiting a Reissner-Nordstrom black hole

Scalar field self-force effects on a scalar charge orbiting a Reissner-Nordström black hole are investigated. The scalar wave equation is solved analytically in a post-Newtonian framework, and the solution is used to compute the self-field (up to 7.5 post-Newtonian order) as well as the components of the self-force at the particle's location. The energy fluxes radiated to infinity and down the hole are also evaluated. Comparison with previous numerical results in the Schwarzschild case shows a reasonable agreement in both strong field and weak field regimes.

Investigation and modelling of the turbulent wall pressure fluctuations on the bulbous bow of a ship

For the effective operation of sonar systems mounted inside the bulb of fast ships, it is important to reduce all the possible noise and vibration sources that radiate noise and interfere with sonar sensor response. In particular, pressure fluctuations induced by turbulent boundary layers on the sonar dome surface represent the major source of self-noise for on-board sensors. Reliable calculations of structural vibrations and noise radiated inside the dome require valid statistical descriptions of wall pressure fluctuations beneath the turbulent boundary layer.

Petaflop biofluidics simulations on a two million-core system

We present a computational framework for multi-scale simulations of real-life biofluidic problems. The framework allows to simulate suspensions composed by hundreds of millions of bodies interacting with each other and with a surrounding fluid in complex geometries. We apply the methodology to the simulation of blood flow through the human coronary arteries with a spatial resolution comparable with the size of red blood cells, and physiological levels of hematocrit (the red blood cell volume fraction).