Littérature scientifique sur le sujet « Installation MADMAX »

The article engages with the video installation Madame B by Mieke Bal and Michelle Williams Gamaker. The work was premiered in the city of Łódź in Poland (between 6 Dec. 2013 and 9 Feb. 2014). The author makes use of the exhibition brochure by two artists published by the Museum of Modern Art, and the recording of a seminar held by Bal and Williams Gamaker after launching their work. The article focuses on the innovative audiovisual interpretation of Flaubert’s famous novel. Basing the argument on the concept of framing created by Bal, the author applies it to Bal and Williams Gamaker’s exhibition by relating it to the history and culture of the Polish location where it was first shown. Above all, however, the article discusses the importance of quotation and indistinction in Madame B, where the artists quote from (among others): Louise Bourgeois, Maya Deren, Artemisia Gentileschi, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, William Kentridge and Sol LeWitt.

The article discusses the construction of space and the position of the viewer in the video installation Madame B. Explorations in Emotional Capitalism, presented at the turn of 2013 at the Museum of Art in Łódź. Directed and designed by Mieke Bal and Michelle Williams Gamaker, the installation was produced in parallel with a full feature film of the same title. Both the installation and the film constitute an intersemiotic translation of a literary work – Gustave Flaubert’sMadame Bovary. Part of the inspiration for this experiment was the proto-cinematic quality of Flaubert’s style (narrative simultaneity resembling parallel editing, the suppression of drama, dissolution of the time-flow). The museum installation, with its use of dark exhibition space and multiscreen projection, provided an innovative interpretation of the novel by bringing to the fore its acute audio-visuality: the non-verbal level of meaning found in the presentation of material surroundings, fashion, gesture, facial expressions, sound, tone, and tempo of action. In this respect, the exhibition had an advantage over the continuous version of the feature film, which tends to focus the viewer’s attention more directly on the plot. In the case of the museum installation, the narrative continuity was disregarded in favor of the affective resonance of selected scenes from Emma’s life. Walking through a series of episodes split across nineteen screens, the viewer had to choose his or her own way through a complex narrative (the whole comprised 450 min. of filmic material), so in a sense it was the viewer who “performed the piece”. The narrative of Madame B. partly diverged from Flaubert’s story to bring it closer to our times. The anachronistic intermingling of the 19th century and contemporary realities set it away from the conventions of costume movies and suggested the actuality of Emma’s story – its relevance for contemporary questions of “emotional capitalism”. These anachronisms and the spatialization of the narrative occasioned a specific position for the viewer, who, despite the immersive effect of the images, remained conscious of his or her participatory presence here and now. Thus, while attending to the scenes of Emma’s life, the viewer might also reflect on the emotional effects they raised in him/herself. This analytic outlook did not necessarily inhibit the viewer’s sympathetic engagement with the protagonists’ emotions and experiences, but gave it a more informed character. The spatial arrangement of images, as well as the situations performed in several episodes, also invited reflections on the social function of looking and being seen. In this sense, the installation may be counted as a part of Mieke Bal’s practice of visual culture analysis.

This article reflects on the author’s research-creation project entitled After Hours Chez Madame Arthur as a speculative practice of archival media bricolage. After Hours was a multimedia installation returning to the 1970s lesbian bar Chez Madame Arthur mounted at the Centre Never Apart in summer 2019. Made possible by the support of co-researchers, community groups, technicians, research assistants and artists who share my fascination with local queer women’s history, After Hours restaged this storied bar deploying diverse archival media traces and period objects. This essay discusses some of the possibilities of research-creation and non-representational theory for lesbian, feminist, and queer historical projects. I explore the affordances of archival media traces for forging affective and erotic relationships between past and present, with a particular emphasis on presence, metonymy, storytelling, and space.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease involving chronic and recurring colon inflammation. Current management protocols are limited by adverse effects or short-term symptomatic relief. We aimed to investigate the possible therapeutic prospect of low dose gamma (γ) irradiation or apigenin treatment in acetic acid-induced UC in rats. Induction of UC was carried out by installation of acetic acid intra-rectally. One hour post-induction, rats received a sole dose of γ-radiation (0.5 Gray) or were treated with apigenin (3 mg/kg/day, peroral) for 7 successive days. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of both agents were assessed via determination of colon malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), total nitrate/nitrite (NOx), mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule-1 (MAdCAM-1), and interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) contents as well as myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. Body weight (BW), colon weight/length (W/L) ratio, disease activity index (DAI), and histopathological changes were evaluated. Gamma irradiation and apigenin significantly ameliorated the acetic acid-induced biochemical and histopathological changes. Both therapeutic approaches significantly restored colon contents of the investigated biomarkers. They modulated BW, colon W/L ratio and DAI. This study proposes low dose γ-irradiation as a new therapeutic candidate for the management of UC. We also concluded that apigenin exhibited therapeutic benefits in UC management.

Abstract Motivation Deep learning algorithms applied to structural biology often struggle to converge to meaningful solutions when limited data is available, since they are required to learn complex physical rules from examples. State-of-the-art force-fields, however, cannot interface with deep learning algorithms due to their implementation. Results We present MadraX, a forcefield implemented as a differentiable PyTorch module, able to interact with deep learning algorithms in an end-to-end fashion Availability and Implementation MadraX documentation, together with tutorials and installation guide, is available at madrax.readthedocs.io.

Cette thèse de doctorat explore la dynamique de propagation des ondes de détente dans les circuits de réacteurs nucléaires, en se concentrant sur une configuration représentative d'un scénario de type Accident par Perte de Réfrigérant Primaire (APRP) dans les Réacteurs à Eau Pressurisée (REP). L'étude examine les charges de pression transitoires sur les structures internes, en particulier le cloisonnement du cœur du réacteur, induites par les ondes de détente générées par la rupture brutale et totale (rupture guillotine) d'une des tuyauteries du circuit primaire de refroidissement du REP. Cette analyse est menée en combinant des mesures expérimentales sur un banc d'essai de géométrie simplifiée mais représentatif du scénario APRP et des simulations numériques. Ces simulations sont réalisées en faisant appel à une hiérarchie de modèles numériques: 1D, 2D axisymétriques et 3D, avec ou sans prise en compte des mécanismes d'interaction fluide-structure. Les modèles 1D incluent des représentations simplifiées ou modèles d'impédance des obstacles présents dans l'écoulement, indispensables pour réduire les coûts de simulation de la propagation des ondes au travers d'un circuit complet. Ces obstacles sont des diaphragmes de diamètre et d'épaisseur variables, représentatifs des singularités géométriques présentes dans les circuits parcourus par les ondes de détente. La comparaison calcul/expérience permet d'évaluer le potentiel prédictif des différentes stratégies mises en oeuvre. Le Chapitre 1 introductif du mémoire détaille le contexte et la motivation de l'étude menée en mettant en évidence l'importance d'une compréhension approfondie des phénomènes physiques associés au scénario APRP et la nécessité de modèles simplifiés pour simuler l'écoulement de fluides dans les géométries complexes d'un REP. Une revue de la littérature récapitule les principaux travaux dans l'analyse par voie numérique des réacteurs nucléaires et les simulations d'écoulement transitoire. Une anlyse des approches numériques développées pour la propagation d'ondes en présence d'obstacles avec description simplifiée est également menée pour des applications hors contexte nucléaire. Les Chapitres 2 et 3 présentent respectivement i) la plateforme expérimentale MADMAX utilisée pour produire les mesures de référence ainsi que l'évolution de ses configurations au cours de la thèse, ii) les modèles disponibles au sein du logiciel EUROPLEXUS et utilisés pour mener les simulations numériques des configurations étudiées expérimentalement. Le Chapitre 4 détaille les résultats des expériences et des simulations de la propagation des ondes de détente à travers un unique diaphragme de géométrie modulaire. L'impact de la géométrie des obstacles sur la propagation des ondes est analysé et les capacités prédictives de modèles numériques de complexité (et de coût) variable sont évaluées pour cette configuration de base. Le Chapitre 5 élargit l'analyse à la configuration complète de MADMAX, incorporant une conduite de dérivation avec plusieurs diaphragmes positionnés dans cette conduite. La comparaison détaillée des données expérimentales et des résultats des simulations révéle un bon accord dans la capture du comportement transitoire et des différentiels de pression entre les conduites du cœur et de la dérivation. Des configurations alternatives de MADMAX sont explorées dans le Chapitre 6, mettant en évidence les effets de variation du nombre des diaphragmes et de leur emplacement. Les expériences sur la plateforme MADMAX et les simulations EUROPLEXUS réalisées dans le présent travail contribuent à une meilleure compréhension des phénomènes d'écoulement transitoire dans les circuits de réacteurs nucléaires. [...]
This doctoral thesis explores the dynamics of rarefaction wave propagation in nuclear reactor circuits, focusing on a configuration representative of a Loss of Coolant Accident (LOCA) scenario in Pressurized Water Reactors (PWRs). The study examines transient pressure loads on internal structures, particularly the reactor core baffle, induced by rarefaction waves generated by the sudden and complete rupture (guillotine break) of one of the pipes in the primary cooling circuit of the PWR. This analysis is conducted by combining experimental measurements on a test bench with simplified geometry but representative of the LOCA scenario and numerical simulations. These simulations employ a hierarchy of numerical models: 1D, 2D axisymmetric, and 3D, with or without taking into account fluid-structure interaction mechanisms. The 1D models include simplified representations or impedance models of the obstacles in the flow, essential for reducing the simulation costs of wave propagation through an entire circuit. These obstacles are orifice plates of varying diameter and thickness, representative of the geometric singularities present in the circuits traversed by rarefaction waves. The comparison between calculations and experiments allows for evaluating the predictive potential of the various strategies implemented. Chapter 1 of the thesis introduces the context and motivation of the study, highlighting the importance of a thorough understanding of the physical phenomena associated with the LOCA scenario and the necessity of simplified models for simulating fluid flow in the complex geometries of a PWR. A literature review summarizes the main works in the numerical analysis of nuclear reactors and transient flow simulations. An analysis of the numerical approaches developed for wave propagation in the presence of obstacles with simplified descriptions is also conducted for applications outside the nuclear context. Chapters 2 and 3 respectively present i) the MADMAX experimental platform used to produce the reference measurements and the evolution of its configurations during the thesis, ii) the models available within the EUROPLEXUS software and used to perform the numerical simulations of the experimentally studied configurations. Chapter 4 details the results of the experiments and simulations of rarefaction wave propagation through a single modular orifice plate. The impact of obstacle geometry on wave propagation is analyzed, and the predictive capabilities of numerical models of varying complexity (and cost) are evaluated for this basic configuration. Chapter 5 expands the analysis to the complete MADMAX configuration, incorporating a by-pass pipe with several orifice plates positioned in this pipe. The detailed comparison of experimental data and simulation results reveals good agreement in capturing transient behavior and pressure differentials between the core and by-pass pipes. Alternative configurations of MADMAX are explored in Chapter 6, highlighting the effects of varying the number and placement of the orifice plates. The experiments on the MADMAX platform and the EUROPLEXUS simulations conducted in this work contribute to a better understanding of transient flow phenomena in nuclear reactor circuits. The proposed calculations/experiments comparisons provide quantitative indications on the predictive capacity of the simulation codes based on the choices of geometric singularity descriptions present in the flow. The thesis conclusion proposes some avenues for future analysis and improvements

‘Long Live Anachronism’, written by Mieke Bal, is the first essay in the ‘Novel Rereadings’ section and provides a self-conscious analysis of Bal’s own collaborative art practice and its outcomes. In the essay, Bal makes a passionate plea for the essential role of anachronism in our understanding of contemporaneity in art, and suggests that her collaborative audio-visual installation project ‘Madame B’ (what she calls an ‘unfaithful’ adaptation of Flaubert’s novel) ‘actualizes’ the nineteenth-century text to release ‘its political thrust,’ demonstrating the work’s durable ‘aliveness.’