We study the uniqueness of solutions of a semilinear elliptic problem obtained from an inverse formulation when the nonlinear terms of the equation are prescribed in a general class of real functions. The inverseproblem arises in the modeling of the magnetic confinement of a plasma in a Stellarator device. The uniqueness proof relies on an L"#infinity# -estimate on the solution of an auxiliary nonlocal problem formulated in terms of the relative rearrangement of a datum with respect to the solution.
A boundary value problem for Laplace?s equation in a bounded two-dimensional domain filled with a piecewise homogeneous medium is considered. The boundary of the inhomogeneity is assumed to be unknown. The inverseproblem of determining the inhomogeneity boundary and the solution of the equation given the solution and its normal derivative on the boundary of the domain is discussed. Numerical methods are proposed for solving the inverseproblem, and the results of numerical experiments are presented.
We investigate an application of the method of fundamental solutions (MFS) to the one-dimensional inverse Stefan problem for the heat equation by extending the MFS proposed in [5] for the one-dimensional direct Stefan problem. The sources are placed outside the space domain of interest and in the time interval (-T,T). Theoretical properties of the method, as well as numerical investigations, are included, showing that accurate and stable results can be obtained efficiently with small computational cost.
The inverseproblem of interpreting the SS 433 optical light curves is solved for a geometrically thick model accretion disk around the compact relativistic object: most likely a black hole.
1 - Description of program or function: This program solves an eigenvalue problem zBx=Ax where A and B are real block tri-diagonal matrices. This eigenvalue problem is derived from a reduced set of linear resistive MHD equations which is often employed to study tokamak plasma stability problem. 2 - Method of solution: Both the determinant and inverse iteration methods are employed. 3 - Restrictions on the complexity of the problem: The eigenvalue z must be real
Compton scatter tomography utilizes the electronic collimation characteristics available through the Compton scattering angle-energy correlation to obtain tomographic images. In this work we present particular aspects of the technique, which are relevant to the inverse radiation transport problem of reducing marginal projection data to radial two-phase flow regime maps. The results indicate a viable technique for the tomographic imaging of tow-phase flow using practical source strengths and reasonably few detectors.
The theory and application of the optimal control of linear systems to stabilize or improve the system stability is well known. For an optimal linear regulator design, the arbitrariness involved in the parameters of the cost function always affects the final control law and the closed-loop system poles which decide the system dynamic characteristics. A new approach, 'The inverseproblem approach' has been developed to overcome this difficulty. The system so designed will have preassigned closed-loop poles and the resulting closed-loop system performance can be ensured. In this paper the inverseproblem approach for optimal regulator design is applied to the power system stabilizer (PSS) design for single-machine infinite-bus systems. The results show that, as far as the linearized model is concerned, systems designed by the inverseproblem ...
Reflection tomography allows in theory the determination of the velocity distribution and the reflector geometries in the subsurface from the travel times of the seismic waves. The solution of the inverseproblem is the model (velocity distribution and reflectors) that minimizes the misfits between observed travel times and travel times computed by raytracing (the forward problem). Two representations of the velocity field are generally used: blocky models (discontinuous) and smooth models. The object of this thesis is the study of tomography with smooth models which offer interesting properties at a practical level as well as at a mathematical and numerical level. We propose an original formulation of the inverseproblem which allow the integration of a priori information adapted to smooth models. This formulation assures the existence, the uniqueness and the stability of the ...
Due to the increased computer power and advanced algorithms, quantum mechanical calculations based on Density Functional Theory are more and more widely used to solve real materials science problems. In this context large nonlinear generalized eigenvalue problems must be solved repeatedly to calculate the electronic ground state of a solid or molecule. Due to the nonlinear nature of this problem, an iterative solution of the eigenvalue problem can be more efficient provided it does not disturb the convergence of the self-consistent-field problem. The blocked Davidson method is one of the widely used and efficient schemes for that purpose, but its performance depends critically on the preconditioning, i.e. the procedure to improve the search space for an accurate solution. For more diagonally dominated problems, which appear typically for plane wave based ...
We present a strong-weak coupling duality for quantum mechanical potentials. Similarly to what happens in quantum field theory, it relates two problems with inverse couplings, leading to a mapping of the strong coupling regime into the weak one, giving information from the nonperturbative region of the parameters space. It can be used to solve exactly power-type potentials and to extract deep information about the energy spectra of polynomial ones. We present a strong-weak coupling duality for quantum mechanical potentials. Similarly to what happens in quantum field theory, it relates two problems with inverse couplings, leading to a mapping of the strong coupling regime into the weak one, giving information from the nonperturbative region of the parameters space. It can be used to solve exactly power-type potentials and to extract deep information about the energy spectra of polynomial ones.
Lie group methods provide a valuable tool for examininginvariance and non-uniqueness associated with geophysical inverseproblems. The techniques are particularly well suited for the study ofnon-linear inverseproblems. Using the infinitesimal generators of thegroup it is possible to move within the null space in an iterativefashion. The key computational step in determining the symmetry groupsassociated with an inverseproblem is the singular value decomposition(SVD) of a sparse matrix. I apply the methodology to the eikonal equationand examine the possible solutions associated with a crosswelltomographic experiment. Results from a synthetic test indicate that it ispossible to vary the velocity model significantly and still fit thereference arrival times. the approach is also applied to data fromcorosswell surveys conducted before and after a CO2 injection at the LostHills field in California. The ...
The method of inversion of the eigenvalue problem previously developped for nuclei with axial symmetry is extended to asymmetric equilibrium shapes. This new approach to the asymmetric rotator model is applied to the odd-mass Iridium isotopes. A satisfactory and coherent description of the observed energy spectra is obtained, especially for the lighter isotopes. (orig.).
A general theorem on the GBDT version of the B\\"acklund-Darboux transformation for systems rationally depending on the spectral parameter is treated and its applications to nonlinear equations are given. Explicit solutions of direct and inverseproblems for Dirac-type systems, including systems with singularities, and for the system auxiliary to the $N$-wave equation are reviewed. New results on explicit construction of the wave functions for radial Dirac equation are obtained.
Generalization of the alternate directions implicit technique is used to compute the pion propagator in quenched QCD on a lattice. The full four-dimensional problem is reduced to a series of partly decoupled two-dimensional inversions. Chiral properties of the theory computed in this approach agree with those found using other methods.
A model of heterogeneous mechanism of nucleation on impurity particles in a fluid volume is proposed. The particle spectrum is reproduced by solving the ''inverse'' problems on stationary outflow of a boiling parahydrogen with the use of experimental data of authors. A relation for a closure of the equation system describing a non-equilibrium outflow is obtained. It is shown that within the investigated parameter range one manages to calculate the characteristics of a stationary outflow with a satisfactory accuracy.
Looking at kriging problems with huge numbers of estimation points and measurements, computational power and storage capacities often pose heavy limitations to the maximum manageable problem size. In the past, a list of FFT-based algorithms for matrix operations have been developed. They allow extremely fast convolution, superposition and inversion of covariance matrices under certain conditions. If adequately used in kriging problems, these algorithms lead to drastic speedup and reductions in storage requirements without changing the kriging estimator. However, they require second-order stationary covariance functions, estimation on regular grids, and the measurements must also form a regular grid. In this study, we show how to alleviate these rather heavy and many times unrealistic restr...
The seismic reflection exploration technique which is one of the geophysical methods for oil exploration became effectively to image the subsurface structure with rapid development of computer. As a tool to perform seismic inversion, seismic forward modeling program using ray tracing should be developed. In this study, we have developed the algorithm that is to calculate the travel time of the complex geological structure using ray tracing by subdividing the geologic model into triangular element (finite element) having the constant velocity. We can analytically calculate Jacobian with some information by this current ray tracing. With this Jacobian, we will develop new algorithm which is to obtain geological properties and to image the subsurface. Since the FEM (Finite Element Method) ray tracing we have developed goes well the inverse velocities structure, we can apply the inversionproblem to complex ...
We consider the inverse optimization problem associated with the polynomial program f^*=\\min \\{f(x): x\\in K\\}$ and a given current feasible solution $y\\in K$. We provide a systematic numerical scheme to compute an inverse optimal solution. That is, we compute a polynomial $\\tilde{f}$ (which may be of same degree as $f$ if desired) with the following properties: (a) $y$ is a global minimizer of $\\tilde{f}$ on $K$ with a Putinar's certificate with an a priori degree bound $d$ fixed, and (b), $\\tilde{f}$ minimizes $\\Vert f-\\tilde{f}\\Vert$ (which can be the $\\ell_1$, $\\ell_2$ or $\\ell_\\infty$-norm of the coefficients) over all polynomials with such properties. Computing $\\tilde{f}_d$ reduces to solving a semidefinite program whose optimal value also provides a bound on how far is $f(\\y)$ from the unknown optimal value $f^*$. The size of the semidefinite program can be adapted to the computational capabilities ...
This presentation concerns our continued research on adjoint--based optimization of viscous incompressible flows (the Navier--Stokes problem) coupled with heat conduction involving change of phase (the Stefan problem), and occurring in domains with variable boundaries. This problem is motivated by optimization of advanced welding techniques used in automotive manufacturing, where the goal is to determine an optimal heat input, so as to obtain a desired shape of the weld pool surface upon solidification. We argue that computation of sensitivities (gradients) in such free--boundary problems requires the use of the shape--differential calculus as a key ingredient. We also show that, with such tools available, the computational solution of the direct and inverse (optimization) problems can in fact be achieved in a similar manner and in a comparable computational ...
In this paper, we prove a uniqueness result in the inverseproblem of determining several non-constant coefficients of one-dimensional reaction-diffusion equations. Such reaction-diffusion equations include the classical model of Kolmogorov, Petrovsky and Piskunov as well as more sophisticated models from biology. When the reaction term contains an unknown polynomial part of degree $N,$ with non-constant coefficients $\\mu_k(x),$ our result gives a sufficient condition for the uniqueness of the determination of this polynomial part. This sufficient condition only involves pointwise measurements of the solution $u$ of the reaction-diffusion equation and of its spatial derivative $\\partial u / \\partial x$ at a single point $x_0,$ during a time interval $(0,\\epsilon).$ In addition to this uniqueness result, we give several counter-examples to uniqueness, which emphasize the optimality of our assumptions. Finally, in the particular cases N=2 and ...
One of the key issues in safety assessment of high-level nuclear waste disposal is evaluating the effects of uncertainty inherent in radionuclide migration parameter values. In this paper, radionuclide transport parameter values and error variances (uncertainties) from in-situ tracer experiments, carried out in a single fracture at the Aespoe Hard Rock Laboratory (HRL) in Sweden, are identified by solving the inverseproblem in a framework of the maximum likelihood theory. From the results, it is found that the parameter value uncertainty caused by a conceptual model of radionuclide migration is greater than that caused by a fluctuation in the observed breakthrough curve data. (author)
Abstract in english We consider the three dimensional electromagnetic inverse scattering problem of determining information about a buried coated object from a knowledge of the electric and magnetic fields measured on the surface of the earth corresponding to time harmonic electric dipoles as incident fields. We assume that the buried object is a perfect conductor that is (possibly) partially coated by a thin dielectric layer. No a priori assumption is made on the extent of the coating, i.e. (more) the object can be fully coated, partially coated or not coated at all. We present an algorithm based on the linear sampling method and reciprocity gap functional for reconstructing the shape of the scattering obstacle together with an estimate of the surface impedance of the coating.
A methods is presented for an accurate numerical determination of eigenvalues of real symmetric para-p diagonal matrices. The method takes advantage of the band structure to break up the matrix into p x p blocks and performing algebraic operations including inversions on these blocks only, no matter what the size of the matrix is. The eigenvalues are determined independently one at a time. Thus any error in the determination of one eigenvalue does not affect the other eigenvalues. The method is ideally suited for the Schroedinger eigenvalue problem of the anharmonic potentials. (author).
Deformation in the overburden proves useful in deducing spatial and temporal changes in the volume of a producing reservoir. Based upon these changes we estimate diffusive travel times associated with the transient flow due to production, and then, as the solution of a linear inverseproblem, the effective permeability of the reservoir. An advantage an approach based upon travel times, as opposed to one based upon the amplitude of surface deformation, is that it is much less sensitive to the exact geomechanical properties of the reservoir and overburden. Inequalities constrain the inversion, under the assumption that the fluid production only results in pore volume decreases within the reservoir. We apply the formulation to satellite-based estimates of deformation in the material overlying a thin gas production zone at the Krechba field in Algeria. The peak displacement after three years of gas production is approximately ...
We propose a new algorithm for two-dimensional magnetotelluric (MT) inversion. Our algorithm is an MT inversion based on the steepest descent method, borrowed from the backpropagation technique of seismic inversion or reverse time migration, introduced in the middle 1980s by Lailly and Tarantola. The steepest descent direction can be calculated efficiently by using the symmetry of numerical Green's function derived from a mixed finite element method proposed by Nedelec for Maxwell's equation, without calculating the Jacobian matrix explicitly. We construct three different objective functions by taking the logarithm of the complex apparent resistivity as introduced in the recent waveform inversion algorithm by Shin and Min. These objective functions can be naturally separated into amplitude inversion, phase inversion and simultaneous ...
We have observed resonant changes in the current-voltage characteristics of miniband semiconductor superlattices when the Bloch frequency is resonant with a terahertz field and its harmonics: the inverse Bloch oscillator effect. The resonant feature consists of a peak in the current which grows with increasing laser intensity accompanied by a decrease of the current at the low bias side. The peak position moves linearly with the laser frequency. When the intensity is increased further the first peak starts to decrease and a second peak at about twice the voltage of the first peak is observed due to a two photon resonance. At the highest intensities we observe up to a four photon resonance. A superlattice is expected to show negative differential conductance due to the strong nonparabolicity of the miniband. In this situation the carriers should undergo Bloch oscillations with a frequency {omega}{sub B} = eEd/h. Transient Bloch oscillations of photo excited carriers ...
The seismic reflection exploration technique which is one of the geophysical methods for oil exploration became effectively to image the subsurface structure with rapid development of computer. As a tool to perform seismic inversion, seismic forward modeling program using ray tracing should be developed. In this study, we have developed the algorithm that is to calculate the travel time of the complex geological structure using ray tracing by subdividing the geologic model into triangular element (finite element) having the constant velocity. We can analytically calculate Jacobian with some information by this current ray tracing. With this Jacobian, we will develop new algorithm which is to obtain geological properties and to image the subsurface. Since the FEM (Finite Element Method) ray tracing we have developed goes well the inverse velocities structure, we can apply the inversionproblem to complex ...
Mineral deposition or alteration is commonly found at fracture-block interfaces is fissured, geothermal reservoirs. In response to pressure reduction in the fissures such mineralization, if less permeable than the matrix rock, will retard the flow of fluid from the blocks to the fissures and is termed fracture skin in this paper. The problem of fluid flow to a production well in a double-porosity reservoir with fracture skin was analyzed theoretically. One of the findings of the analysis was that fully transient block-to-fissure flow can be approximated by pseudo-steady state flow if fracture skin permeability is sufficiently low. Type curves generated by numerical inversion of Laplace transform solutions are used to cooroborate the results of a finite-difference model of steam transport to a well in a naturally fissured, geothermal reservoir with fracture skin.
The EXAFS-study (Fe, Sn and Ge K-edges) of disordered by mechanical activation binary supersaturated nanocrystalline solid solutions Fe-Al, Fe-Ge, Fe-Sn and Fe-Si is presented. The EXAFS-spectra are processed by solving the inverse binary problem, using the EXAFS-spectrum of the Fe K-edge only or combining the EXAFS-spectra on two K-edges, Fe and Ge or Fe and Sn. The parameters of partial correlation functions indicate chemical short-range ordering, high local static distortions in the lattice, increasing with metalloid content. The macrostructure of other type is forming through an initial, 'local' stage within the bcc lattice.
As a result of nuclear power plant accidents, large areas receive radioactive inputs of Cs-137. This cesium accumulates in herbs growing in such territories. The problem is whether the herbs contaminated by radiocesium may be used as a raw material for medicine. The answer depends on the amount of Cs-137 transfered from the contaminated raw material to the medicine. We have presented new results of the transfer of Cs-137 from contaminated Digitalis grandiflora Mill. and Convallaria majalis L. to medicine. We found that the extraction of Cs-137 depends strongly on the hydrophilicity of the solvent. For example 96.5%(vol.) ethyl alcohol extracts less Cs-137 (11.6%) than 40%(vol.) ethyl alcohol or pure water (66.2%). The solubility of the cardiac glycosides is inverse to the solubility of cesium, which may be of use in the technological processes for manufacturing ecologically pure herbal medicine.
Using a quasi-static approach valid for Stefan numbers less than one, we derive approximate equations governing the movement of a phase change front for materials which generate internal heat. These models are applied for both constant surface temperature and constant surface heat flux boundary conditions, in cylindrical, spherical, plane wall and semi-infinite geometries. Exact solutions with the constant surface temperature condition are obtained for the steady-state solidification thickness using the cylinder, sphere, and plane wall geometries which show that the thickness depends on the inverse square root of the internal heat generation. Under constant surface heat flux conditions, closed form equations can be obtained for the three geometries. In the case of the semi-infinite wall, we show that for constant temperature and constant heat flux out of the wall conditions, the solidification layer grows then remelts. (orig.)
Along the Japan Sea coast in Akita Prefecture and in the vicinity, there exist active fault groups, such as the Kitayuri thrust fault group in the south and Noshiro thrust fault group in the north. It is estimated that there is another fault, running from Akita City located between the above-said two thrust fault groups into the Hachiro-kata reclaimed land, roughly connecting the two thrust fault groups. This third fault is supposed to be related to the hypocenter of Tencho Earthquake of 830, but its location and structural configuration are not known, and it is not known whether it is an active fault, either. Investigations are conducted using S- and P-waves. The greatest problem in the use of P-waves is that there exists a layer in which signal attenuation is high and transmission is anomalously slow. This problem is ascribed to the layer pore water rendered unsaturated though slightly by the inclusion of air bubbles, and is explained for the ...
Seismic stratigraphy based chronostratigraphic (SSBC) analysis of the Serbian Banat region allows the delineation of the spatial and stratigraphic relationships of the generally regressive and shallowing upward Neogene depositional fill of a tectonically unstable central portion of the Pannonian Basin. When geometrically restored in time and space, the sediment dispersal directions, sediment source directions, types of sedimentation breaks and the tectonic events influencing basin evolution can be delineated. For such an analysis the time-transgressive lithostratigraphic units used in the neighbouring Hungarian part of the Pannonian Basin are conveniently introduced based upon their characteristic seismic facies and constrained borehole log records as mappable seismic stratigraphic sequence units, termed "seismic operational sequences". The respective Neogene stage and operational sequence equivalents (Hungarian lithostratigraphic units or formations) are the Middle Miocene (Badenian, ...
This paper deals with the computation of sectional curvature for the manifolds of~$N$ landmarks (or feature points) in~$D$ dimensions, endowed with the Riemannian metric induced by the group action of diffeomorphisms. The inverse of the metric tensor for these manifolds (i.e.~the cometric), when written in coordinates, is such that each of its elements depends on at most~$2D$ of the~$ND$ coordinates. This makes the matrices of partial derivatives of the cometric very sparse in nature, thus suggesting solving the highly non-trivial problem of developing a formula that expresses sectional curvature in terms of the cometric and its first and second partial derivatives (we call this Mario's formula). We apply such formula to the manifolds of landmarks and in particular we fully explore the case of geodesics on which only two points have non-zero momenta and compute the sectional curvatures of 2-planes spanned by the tangents to such geodesics. The ...
Flow fields, temperature distributions, and particle trajectories in a 2-stage entrained-flow gasifier are calculated using a CFD code, FLUENT. Realizable k- {epsilon} model is used as a turbulent model. Because of swirling flow there appear recirculation regions near the burners. The characteristics of flow fields and temperature distributions in the gasifier are dependent on the swirl number of the system. Mean residence time of the particles in the reductor is inversely proportional to particle size, particle density and swirl number. As the swirl number is increasing, the particles injected from the combustor burners approach the wall near the combustor burners, which prevents the particles from entering the reductor and thus attaching the reductor wall. If the lower combustor burner angle is larger than the higher combustor burner angle for a given swirl number, the particles may move toward the reductor and cause ash/slag deposition ...
This research involves the development of an analysis which yielded recommendations regarding the plate thickness at which the effects of transverse shear become significant enough to be taken into consideration during vibration testing of composite plates. The specimens designed using this analysis are to be used for the {open_quotes}inverse{close_quotes} problem of determining through-the-thickness elastic constants as well as in-plane elastic constants from modal vibration response data. The effects of transverse shear were studied over the range of practical plate aspect ratios (length to thickness ratios) and mode numbers. Behavior of composite plates ranging from isotropic to highly orthotropic was studied in order to investigate the effects of transverse shear. Orthotropic plates having in-plane dimensions of 254 x 254 mm and thicknesses varying from 10 mm to 80 mm, with free-free edge boundary conditions, were considered. A methodology ...
Metabolic carbon labelling experiments enable a large amount of extracellular fluxes and intracellular carbon isotope enrichments to be measured. Since the relation between the measured quantities and the unknown intracellular metabolic fluxes is given by bilinear balance equations, flux determination from this data set requires the numerical solution of a nonlinear inverseproblem. To this end, a general algorithm for flux estimation from metabolic carbon labelling experiments based on the least squares approach is developed in this contribution and complemented by appropriate tools for statistical analysis. The linearization technique usually applied for the computation of nonlinear confidence regions is shown to be inappropriate in the case of large exchange fluxes. For this reason a sophisticated compactification transformation technique for nonlinear statistical analysis is developed. Statistical analysis is then performed by computing ...
A stable power system stabilizer (PSS) based on the inverse dynamics of the controlled system using an artificial neural network (ANN) is suggested to enhance the dynamic performances of a power system. First, an output feedback control law is driven with some conditions satisfied, which guarantees the internal stability and robustness against the asymptotically stable external disturbances. Then the control law is implemented using the inverse dynamics of the controlled plant. The inverse dynamics of the controlled plant is identified by an ANN, inverse dynamics neural network (IDNN), off-line. The pole-shifting technique and a scaling factor are introduced for the control system to meet the conditions for internal stability and robustness. The proposed controller is applied to a typical single-machine infinite-bus power system. Simulation results under various operation conditions are given which show ...
For good image quality using ultrasound inverse scattering, one alternately solves the well-posed forward scattering equation for an estimated total field and the ill-posed inverse scattering equation for the desired object property function. In estimating the total field, error or noise contaminates the coefficients of both matrix and data of the inverse scattering equation. Previous work on ill-posed inverse ultrasonic scattering commonly used Tikhonov regularization, which considers error only in the data. The solution so obtained is not precise enough to reconstruct the quantitative internal structure of a large or high-contrast object. This paper adopts the truncated total least squares method, simultaneously considering error and noise on both sides of the inverse scattering equation, and compares it with the classical Tikhonov regularization. We show that it can substantially ...
A study is made of the metamorphism of coals in Kuznetsk Basin. To interpret the stages of coalification, measurements were used of the indicators of vitrinite along the hinges of folds, graphic plottings of isometamorphism of coals, analysis of interrelationships of the isolines of coal metamorphism with isopachites covering their deposits. The elevation of the coal mass of Kuzbass in the post-inversion time was accompanied by the formation of steep linear folds and longitudinal bending of their hinges. As a consequence of this, the hinges of the folds in beds of the same name occurred at different depths from the modern surface, however coal metamorphism along the hinges has not changed. In the Kuznetsk Basin there are no traces of post-inversion coalification.
PurposeTo investigate the utility of consistency metrics, such as inverse consistency, in contour based deformable registration error analysis.Full Text Available
Full text: An adaptive response is a decreased biological effect induced by a priming radiation dose given prior to a challenge dose. Adaptive responses contradict the linear-nothreshold model of risk estimation. The pKZ1 mouse chromosomal inversion assay is an extremely sensitive assay for studying the mutagenic effect of low dose radiation. A non-linear dose response for chromosomal inversion has been observed in pKZ1 spleen and prostate after a single whole body irradiation with doses between 1?Gy and 10mGy. Doses between 5-10?Gy resulted in an induction in inversions and doses between 1-10mGy resulted in a reduction below endogenous inversion frequency. These results suggest that doses in the 1-10 mGy range cause host responses which overcompensate by not only preventing inversions that would normally occur as a result of the low doses of radiation but also by preventing some of ...
The effective fraction of delayed photoneutrons ({beta}{sup ph}) has been theoretically defined and experimentally determined in various different configurations of the LWR-PROTEUS critical facility. The peculiarity lies in the fact that the reactor has D{sub 2}O in only one of the four fuelled zones, thus D({gamma},n)H reactions take place mainly in this region. The work is divided into three parts. The first part is devoted to the description of the LWR-PROTEUS facility and to the measurements of {beta}{sup ph}. These experimental values are derived from standard inverse-kinetics analysis of neutron flux decay experiments for each of seven different configurations, with nine additional groups of neutron precursors to account for photoneutron effects. In the second part, the coupled neutron and gamma Boltzmann equations are reduced to exact point kinetics equations using the photon infinite-velocity approximation, and then to the point reactor model. ...
Measurements of the two-body recombination of spin-polarized atomic hydrogen in a magnetic field of 40 kG have been extended to temperatures above 0.5/sup 0/K. The rate constant for the formation of parahydrogen shows an unexpected increase with temperature, which is explained by inverse predissociation into the v = 14,J = 4 level of H/sub 2/. Data indicate the level is bound by 0.7 +- 0.1/sup 0/K.
A brilliant X ray source is proposed for lithography instruments with use of a multi-mirror system. The inverse Compton scattering between the stored electron beam in the storage ring and the stored photon beam in the multi-mirror system, is applied for the X-ray generation. (author)
Subsurface and surface coalfires are a serious problem in many coal-producing countries. Combustion can occur within the coal seams (underground or surface), in piles of stored coal, or in spoil dumps at the surface. While consuming a non renewable energy source, coalfires promote several environmental problems. Among all GHGs that are emitted from coalfires, CO2 is the most significant because of its high quantity. In connection to this environmental problem, the core aim of the present research is to develop a hyperspectral remote sensing and radiative transfer based model that is able to estimate CO2 concentration (ppmv) from coalfires. Since 1960s remote sensing is being used as a tool to detect and monitoring coalfires. With time, remote sensing has proven a reliable tool to identify and monitor coalfires. In the present study multi-temporal, multi-sensor and multi-spectral thermal remote sensing data are being used to ...
Subsurface and surface coalfires are a serious problem in many coal-producing countries. Combustion can occur within the coal seams (underground or surface), in piles of stored coal, or in spoil dumps at the surface. While consuming a non renewable energy source, coalfires promote several environmental problems. Among all GHGs that are emitted from coalfires, CO2 is the most significant because of its high quantity. In connection to this environmental problem, the core aim of the present research is to develop a hyperspectral remote sensing and radiative transfer based model that is able to estimate CO2 concentration (ppmv) from coalfires. Since 1960s remote sensing is being used as a tool to detect and monitoring coalfires. With time, remote sensing has proven a reliable tool to identify and monitor coalfires. In the present study multi-temporal, multi-sensor and multi-spectral thermal remote sensing data are being used to ...
Purpose Nonpoint sources (NPS) pollution has been an important cause for water quality impairment worldwide. To take the temporal variations of both NPS pollution and in-stream attenuation into consideration, an inverse modeling approach and the load duration curve (LDC) method were combined for variable nutrient total maximum daily load (TMDL) development. Methods Water quality and hydrological parameters were monitored monthly along the ChangLe River system in 2004?2008. The catchment NPS export load (EL) and TMDL for total nitrogen (TN) were estimated by the inverse format of an existing stream nutrient transport equation. The LDC method was used to describe the variability of EL, TMDL, requiring load (RLR) and percent (the ratio between the RLR and the EL, RPR) reduction, and then to s...
A power system stabilizer based on GMV (Generalized Minimum Variance), one of the adaptive control techniques, is developed to enhance the dynamic performances of a power system using an Artificial Neural Network (ANN). The stabilizer consists of two parts. One part is Inverse Dynamics Neural Networks (IDNN), which is trained to identify the inverse dynamics of controlled plant and used as a one-step ahead controller, or inverse controller. The other part is Adaptive Reference Model (ARM), which prevents excessive controller output. The ARM produces the modified reference value by minimizing a cost function recursively on the assumption that the IDNN perfectly identifies the controlled plant. The IDNN is used in the minimization procedure to calculate the sensitivities. The proposed controller is simulated in a typical one-machine-infinite-bus power system to show its effectiveness to damp sustained low frequency ...
BackgroundThere have been reports both supporting and refuting an inverse relationship between hip fracture and hip osteoarthritis (OA). We explore this relationship using a case-control...Full Text Available
BackgroundThere is a strong inverse relationship between final vessel diameter and subsequent risk of treatment failure after coronary stent deployment. The aim of this study was...Full Text Available
There are 173 three quasiparticle rotational bands, out of which 38 bands display signature splitting and sometimes a signature inversion also. The observed signature splitting is basically due to the higher order Coriolis coupling and calculation based on particle rotor model (PRM) are in progress
In conducting aircraft surveys for uranium, it is found that temperature inversions can give spurious results because they promote accumulation of radon gas in the atmosphere. The "2"1"4Bi (daughter product of radon) gamma-rays detected from the atmosphere-borne radon are difficult to separate from the "2"1"4Bi gamma-rays originating from the ground, and providing a signature for uranium deposits. The purpose of the present study was to examine the feasibility of making remote temperature soundings of the atmosphere below a low-flying aircraft (140 m or less above ground) by the inversion of radiance measurements taken in the 15-micron carbon dioxide absorption band. Such measurements would identify those temperature inversion conditions possibly leading to an unacceptably large background of gamma-rays from the atmospheric radon. Thus, the incidence of spurious aerial survey data could be greatly reduced. An atmospheric ...
The A(..pi../sup +/,/sup 3/He)B reaction near threshold is studied in a model where the pion is absorbed by an /sup 4/He constituent of the target nucleus. The predictions of this model using harmonic oscillator cluster wave functions agree semi-quantitatively with the experimental data on the inverse reaction.
An interdisciplinary workshop on inversion methodology and applications within geophysics, astronomy, and geodesy was held in Aarhus on May 19th, 1992. 41 scientists participated in four sessions, with 3 review lectures, an open poster session, 4 specialist contributions, and a round table discussion. (EG)
Smoothness-constrained least-squares technique with ABIC minimization was applied to the inversion of phase velocity of surface waves during geophysical exploration, to confirm its usefulness. Since this study aimed mainly at the applicability of the technique, Love wave was used which is easier to treat theoretically than Rayleigh wave. Stable successive approximation solutions could be obtained by the repeated improvement of velocity model of S-wave, and an objective model with high reliability could be determined. While, for the inversion with simple minimization of the residuals squares sum, stable solutions could be obtained by the repeated improvement, but the judgment of convergence was very hard due to the smoothness-constraint, which might make the obtained model in a state of over-fitting. In this study, Love wave was used to examine the applicability of the smoothness-constrained least-squares technique with ABIC minimization. ...
... trees, data showing a better fit to a power model than to a negative exponential model. Invading Pinus ... power law models were significantly negative. The inverse power model accounted for a considerabl...
In the past, the fermentation activity of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in substrates with a high concentration of sucrose (HSuc), such as sweet bread doughs, has been linked inversely to invertase activity...Full Text Available
Chromosomal translocation, deletion, and inversion/duplication directly linked to hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA integration occur frequently in host DNA of human hepatocellular carcinomas. To test the...Full Text Available
Adaptive Neural Augmentation , AIAA Guidance, Navigation, and. Control Conference, Aug. 1998. [2] J. T. Kaneshige, J. Bull, and J. J. Totah, Generic Neural ...
The purpose of computer program NetMoment (Appendix I) is to utilize fundamental knowledge of earthquake sources, propagation attenuation, and site response in a simultaneous inversion of network data to determine the moment and source corner frequency of earthquakes, and site specific t*. The source parameters are especially difficult to determine for small earthquakes. A fundamental problem in determining the source corner frequencies of small earthquakes is that site response can result in spectral corner frequencies in the range that may be expected from the earthquakes themselves. Several authors have identified this as fmax (Hanks, 1982), a constant corner frequency for small events so that below threshold moment (about 1.0 x 10{sup 21} dyne-cm) the corner frequency remains constant the size of events diminishes. Hutchings and Wu (1990) found that for the southern California region, events with moment less than about 1.5 x 10{sup 21} ...
The activities and results of a Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project entitled ''Rapid Tools for Joint Inversion and Imaging'' are presented. Research and development on three-dimensional methods to recover distributions of material property values from sparse data are reported. Innovations using artificial neural networks and extended Kalman filtering are described. The report also covers investigations on upscaling and downscaling, segmentation for data processing, and applications to ground penetrating radar and geohydraulic tomography.
In the inflationary scenario of loop quantum cosmology (LQC) in the presence of inverse-volume corrections, we give analytic formulas for the power spectra of scalar and tensor perturbations convenient to confront with observations. Since inverse-volume corrections can provide strong contributions to the running spectral indices, inclusion of terms higher than the second-order runnings in the power spectra is crucially important. Using the recent data of cosmic microwave background (CMB) and other cosmological experiments, we place bounds on the quantum corrections for a quadratic inflaton potential.
The authors have measured the noise of MOS transistors of the United Technology Microelectronics Center (UTMC) 1.2 [mu]m radiation hardened CMOS P-well process from the weak to moderate inversion region. The noise power spectral densities of both NMOS and PMOS devices were measured from 1 KHz to 50 MHz. The bandwidth was chosen such that the important components of the spectral densities such as the white thermal noise and the 1/f noise could be easily resolved and analyzed in detail. In this paper the effects of different device terminal DC biases and channel geometries on the noise are described.
A calculation on the stabilization of the sideband instability in the free electron laser (FEL) and inverse FEL (IFEL) was completed. The issue arises in connection with the use of a tapered (''variable-parameter'') undulator of extended length, such as might be used in an ''enhanced efficiency'' traveling-wave FEL or an IFEL accelerator. In addition, the FEL facility at Columbia was configured as a traveling wave amplifier for a 10-kW signal from a 24-GHz magnetron. The space charge field in the bunches of the FEL was measured. Completed work has been published.
The algorithmic, or consistent, tangent stiffness was introduced to improve the asymptotic convergence rate of the iterative correction algorithm for the evolutive analysis of elastoplastic structures. The original approach is based on a formulation of the elastoplastic law in terms of a plastic multiplier with an analysis which, in general, requires an operator inversion. A geometric description of the method, based on hypersurface theory, is proposed here to provide a clear picture of the algorithmic properties. An estimate of the tangent stiffness associated with finite step elastoplastic and elastoviscoplastic constitutive models is given. It is based on the properties of the projection operator on the elastic domain and avoids operator inversions retaining the beneficial properties of...
Distributed denial of service attacks are often considered a security problem. While this may be the way to view the problem with today's Internet, new network architectures attempting to address the issue should view it as a scalability problem. In addition, they need to address the problem based on a rigorous foundation.
Purpose: An inverse treatment planning algorithm for tomotherapy is described. Methods and Materials: The algorithm iteratively computes a set of nonnegative beam intensity profiles that minimizes the least-squares residual dose defined in the target and selected normal tissue regions of interest. At each iteration the residual dose distribution is transformed into a set of residual beam profiles using an inversion method derived from filtered backprojection image reconstruction theory. These 'residual' profiles are used to correct the current beam profile estimates resulting in new profile estimates. Adaptive filtering is incorporated into the inversion model so that the gross structure of the dose distribution is optimized during initial iterations of the algorithm, and the fine structure corresponding to edges is obtained at later iterations. A three dimensional, kernel based, convolution/superposition dose model is used ...
The Model for the Assessment of Psychosocial Problems (MAPP) can help family medicine residents effectively assess patients with psychosocial problems. Following a patient-centred clinical method, MAPP...Full Text Available
We describe a stochastic inversion method for mapping subsurface regions where the electrical resistivity is changing. The technique combines prior information, electrical resistance data and forward models to produce subsurface resistivity models that are most consistent with all available data. Bayesian inference and a Metropolis simulation algorithm form the basis for this approach. Attractive features include its ability to: (1) provide quantitative measures of the uncertainty of a generated estimate and, (2) allow alternative model estimates to be identified, compared and ranked. Methods that monitor convergence and summarize important trends of the posterior distribution are introduced. Results from a physical model test and a field experiment were used to assess performance. The stochastic inversions presented provide useful estimates of the most probable location, shape, and volume of the changing region, and the most likely resistivity ...
The flow of water through a dam of fairly arbitrary shape is examined in the limit of large frictional drag on the flow. The relation of the problem to the one-phase Stefan problem and a problem of anodic smoothing is explored. Monotonicity and uniqueness...
This report gives an overview of KIDS (Kestrel Interactive Development System). We describe a program derived with KIDS to solve the Missionaries and Cannibals problem (MC PROBLEM), a classical AI planning problem. Our interest in this problem arose as th...
When a certain void fraction value is reached in the two-phase flow regime, a problem occurs in the COBRA-EN code. This problem was observed in the drift-flux model option and interrupts code execution. Two solutions are proposed to solve the problem.
We review the current status of resolved X-ray emission associated with extragalactic radio jets and hotspots. The primary question for any particular jet is to decide if the X-rays come from the synchrotron process or from inverse Compton scattering. There is considerable evidence supporting synchrotron emission for knots in the jets of FRI galaxies. For FRII terminal hotspots detected in the X-ray band, synchrotron self-Compton emission continues to provide viable models with one possible exception (so far). Inverse Compton scattering on photons of the cosmic microwave background is indicated for a few powerful jets, and is expected to be an important contributor if not the dominating mechanism for higher redshift objects. The application of a model generally yields physical parameters and in many cases, these include the Doppler boosting factor.
Monopolar charge disorder effects are studied in the context of fluctuation-induced interactions between neutral dielectric slabs. It is shown that quenched bulk charge disorder gives rise to an additive contribution to the net interaction force which decays as the inverse distance between dielectric surfaces. This effect may thus completely mask the standard Casimir--van der Waals effect. By contrast, annealed (bulk or surface) charge disorder leads to a net interaction force whose large-distance behavior coincides with the universal Casimir force between perfect conductors, which scales as inverse cubic distance, and the dielectric properties enter only in subleading corrections.
This series of measurements with a mixed Pu-U nitrate solution (280 g Pu/liter, 180 g U/liter) in a 35.54-cm-diam cylindrical tank provides a wide variety of experimental data for subcritical configurations that can be used to verify calculational methods and nuclear data. The Pu contained 7.85 wt% {sup 240}Pu and the uranium was natural uranium. The measurements performed were: inverse count rate, prompt neutron decay constants, inverse kinetics, and frequency analysis by the {sup 252}Cf source driven method. These data are presented in sufficient detail that the results of the experiments can be calculated directly. For purposes of extrapolating to the delayed critical height the ratio of spectral densities was linear with height and thus provided the best estimate of critical height.
Synthesis, morphology, structural and optical characteristics of SiC NWs and SiC/C nanocomposites with an inverse opal lattice have been investigated. The samples were prepared by carbothermal reduction of silica (SiC NWs) and by thermo-chemical treatment of opal matrices (SiC/C) filled with carbon compounds which was followed by silicon dioxide dissolution. It was shown that the nucleation of SiC NWs occurs at the surface of carbon fibers felt. It was observed three preferred growth direction of the NWs: [111], [110] and [112]. HRTEM studies revealed the mechanism of the wires growth direction change. SiC/C- HRTEM revealed in the structure of the composites, except for silicon carbide, graphite and amorphous carbon, spherical carbon particles containing concentric graphite shells (onion-like particles).
We have succeeded in aligning self-assembled structures by using a lithographically defined stripe. The 140 nm wide by 100 nm high SiO{sub 2} strip is shown to guide the assembly of 500 nm latex spheres so that spheres are aligned along the strip and are in registration on either side of the strip. This method can be used to increase long-range ordering in magnetic storage systems without compromising the density. Inverse sphere Ni arrays were made by electrodeposition through the latex template. We also show that the hexagonal symmetry of the resulting inverse sphere Ni arrays can be simulated using the approach presented below.
We have succeeded in aligning self-assembled structures by using a lithographically defined stripe. The 140 nm wide by 100 nm high SiO_2 strip is shown to guide the assembly of 500 nm latex spheres so that spheres are aligned along the strip and are in registration on either side of the strip. This method can be used to increase long-range ordering in magnetic storage systems without compromising the density. Inverse sphere Ni arrays were made by electrodeposition through the latex template. We also show that the hexagonal symmetry of the resulting inverse sphere Ni arrays can be simulated using the approach presented below.
We have succeeded in aligning self-assembled structures by using a lithographically defined stripe. The 140nm wide by 100nm high SiO2 strip is shown to guide the assembly of 500nm latex spheres so that spheres are aligned along the strip and are in registration on either side of the strip. This method can be used to increase long-range ordering in magnetic storage systems without compromising the density. Inverse sphere Ni arrays were made by electrodeposition through the latex template. We also show that the hexagonal symmetry of the resulting inverse sphere Ni arrays can be simulated using the approach presented below.
Inverse and direct methods have been used to analyze a large number of borehole temperature logs in order to infer past climatic changes. Results indicate a warming of 1-2[degree]C in eastern and central Canada during the past 150 years. A period of cooling between 500 and 200 years before present, corresponding to the time of the Little Ice Age, has also been identified in the same areas. A regional ground temperature history is estimated for eastern and central Canada from the simultaneous inversion of several temperature logs. The inferred temperature changes appear correlated with the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide as reported from a Greenland ice core, and agree with existing meteorological and dendrochronological records for the area.
The inverse Compton scattering between positron bunches and the Free Electron Laser (FEL) of the SuperAco storage ring generates a collimated and tunable gamma-ray beam. The use of the FEL instead of a conventional laser, automatically provides the transverse alignment and synchronisation of the electron and optical beams. The Super-ACO FEL is operated in the 300-430 nm range at 800 MeV with a high repetition rate (8 MHz) and an average transmitted power of 300 mW at 350 nm. High energy gamma rays of 35 MeV are produced with a rate of 1.5 10 7 photons/second and good monocromaticity (about 10%). Applications of the SuperAco FEL installation for diamond irradiation and biological studies are envisaged. (author)
An artificial neural network (ANN), trained as an inverse of the controlled plant, to function as a power system stabilizer (PSS) is presented in this paper. In order to make the proposed ANN PSS work properly, it was trained over the full working range of the generating unit with a large variety of disturbances. Data used to train the ANN PSS consists of the control input and the synchronous machine response with an adaptive PSS (APSS) controlling the generator. During training, the ANN was required to memorize the reverse input/output mapping of the synchronous machine. After the training, the output of the synchronous machine was applied as the input of the ANN PSS and the output of the ANN PSS was used as the control signal. Simulation results show that the proposed ANN PSS can provide good damping of the power system over a wide operating range and significantly improve the system performance.
If two loops are isomorphic, then it is shown that their holomorphs are also isomorphic. Conversely, it is shown that if their holomorphs are isomorphic, then the loops are isotopic. It is shown that a loop is a Smarandache loop if and only if its holomorph is a Smarandache loop. This statement is also shown to be true for some weak Smarandache loops(inverse property, weak inverse property) but false for others(conjugacy closed, Bol, central, extra, Burn, A-, homogeneous) except if their holomorphs are nuclear or central. A necessary and sufficient condition for the Nuclear-holomorph of a Smarandache Bol loop to be a Smarandache Bruck loop is shown. Whence, it is found also to be a Smarandache Kikkawa loop if in addition the loop is a Smarandache A-loop with a centrum holomorph. Under this same necessary and sufficient condition, the Central-holomorph of a Smarandache A-loop is shown to be a Smarandache K-loop.
BACKGROUND: Calibration by inverse modelling was performed with the MACRO transport and fate model using long-term (>10 years) drainflow and isoproturon (IPU) data from western France. Two lack-of-fit (LOF) indices were used to control the inverse modelling: sum of squares (SS) and an alternative statistic called the vertical-horizontal distance integrator (VHDI), which is designed to account for offsets in observed and predicted arrival times of peak IPU concentration. With these data, SS was artificially inflated because it is limited to comparison of predicted and observed IPU concentrations that are concurrent in time. The LOFs were used along with the index of agreement (d) and the correlation coefficient (r) to ascertain the fit of the calibrated models. RESULTS: Predicted arrival ti...
BackgroundThe average nitrogen-to-phosphorus ratio (N∶P) of insect herbivores is less than that of leaves, suggesting that P may mediate plant-insect interactions more often...Full Text Available
This paper deals with the control of an electromechanical valves engine. The control uses neural networks in order to build a non-linear model of engine filing which depends on the driven inlets. The aim is to build this real-time model and to integrate this model to a control system which performs an iterative inversion. (J.S.)
We report acceleration of electrons moving in free space near an active Nd:YAG slab. The power of a non-relativistic beam of electrons has increased by more than 30% when the medium was excited. It is demonstrated experimentally that the energy gained by the electrons is linearly proportional to the energy stored in the medium. Moreover, the energy gain traces closely the population inversion inferred by monitoring the spontaneous radiation.
By an example we show that Olaf Mueller's assertion about his new theorems being able to give anew some classical results previously obtained via applications of Nash--Moser type theorems is unfounded. We also give another example indicating that the premises in related new inverse function theorems may be too restrictive.
A method of auxiliary spectrum is modified so that matrix elements of the reaction matrix in final nuclei are determined by means of algebraic operations alone (inversion of matrices). No differential equations need to be solved; Pauli's exclusion principle is accurately taken into account. A single-particle potential may be of any kind, but a two-particle interaction must have no solid core.
Biased above threshold (VT), pulsed photocurrent (u) measurements on windowed silicon Pd gate MOS capacitors are shifted (DV) negatively by H2/N2, whereas Au gates shift positively under NO2/air. Below VT, the shifts are reversed by adjustments of interface state population. Minor temperature increases may coax the device from inversion to depletion, inducing sign reversal of the chemical response.
The consistently observed inverse relationship of allergic conditions with glioma risk and our previous demonstration that IgE levels also were lower in glioma patients than controls suggest...Full Text Available
The expression status of the estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and that of the epidermal growth factor receptor Her-2/neu frequently correlate inversely in breast cancers. While ERα-dependent...Full Text Available
Migration-based methods have been recently proposed to improve the estimation of angle-dependent reflectivity in the presence of complex structures. An anisotropic prestack reverse-time migration is developed to estimate the reflectivity as function of the local illumination angle. This migration method generates four simultaneous images which corresponds to the in-depth (local) plane-wave response for PP, PS, SP and SS reflections, and can be used in a Zoeppritz-based elastic inversion scheme. (author)
BackgroundOmega-3 fatty acid (n-3 FA) blood levels and intakes have been inversely associated with risk for sudden cardiac death, but their relationship with all-cause...Full Text Available
The objective of the present study was to test the hypothesis that circulating levels of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) are inversely associated with inflammatory processes in an elderly background population.
Implementation of quantum logical gates for multilevel systems is demonstrated through decoherence control under the quantum adiabatic method using simple phase modulated laser pulses. We make use of selective population inversion and Hamiltonian evolution with time to achieve such goals robustly instead of the standard unitary transformation language. (letter to the editor)
The Ni(H_2O)_6 ion is located at an inversion center. Six octahedral water molecules surround the Ni"I"I ion and form hydrogen bonds with the sulfate groups. Each ammonium group binds to the sulfate groups through hydrogen bonds. (orig.).
We discuss the determination of the infrared singularities of massive one-loop 5-point functions with Mellin-Barnes (MB) representations. Massless internal lines may lead to poles in the {epsilon} expansion of the Feynman diagram, while unresolved massless final state particles give endpoint singularities of the phase space integrals. MB integrals are an elegant tool for their common treatment. An evaluation by taking residues leads to inverse binomial sums. (orig.)
Topics of this proceedings are: DNA damage and repair; Space research; Cell and tissue radiobiology; Treatment planning 1: The role of clinical RBEs; Treatment planning 2: Dose optimization and inverse planning; Dosimetry; Clinical results of particle therapy and new techniques; Status reports and future developments. Separate abstracts were prepared for 79 chapters. (orig./SR)
Optimization methods are applied to complex problems power systems, economics, and geodesy. Transformation methods and conjugated gradient methods are used to solve the constrained problems in power systems and economics. Conjugated gradient methods are used to solve the unconstrained geodesy problem. Broad applications of the transformation methods are emphasized. In the geodesy problem, the computational efficiency of the Fletcher-Reeves method for optimization of quadratic functions is emphasized. In this problem special storage schemes were used. The method of solution of the economics problem is compared with Beale's method.
Optimization is a powerful paradigm for expressing and solving problems in a wide range of areas, and has been successfully applied to many vision problems. Discrete optimization techniques are especially interesting since, by carefully exploiting problem structure, they often provide nontrivial guarantees concerning solution quality. In this paper, we review dynamic programming and graph algorithms, and discuss representative examples of how these discrete optimization techniques have been applied to some classical vision problems. We focus on the low-level vision problem of stereo, the mid-level problem of interactive object segmentation, and the high-level problem of model-based recognition. PMID:20660950
Spinal Ewing's sarcomas are rare and cause problems in differential diagnosis. The radiologic, nuclear medicine and CT findings in two children with histologically proven Ewing's sarcoma are presented and problems in differential diagnosis discussed. Biopsy should be done early. (orig.).
Approximate methods are presented for solving nonlinear boundary value problems with an unknown (free) boundary, such as the Stefan problem in heat conductivity. Examples of this kind of problems in thermal physics, hydrodynamics, elasticity, and plasma physics are examined. Attention is given to the principal computational methods for solving stationary problems for second- and fourth-order elliptic equations, such as the domain transformation and penalty methods. To illustrate the capabilities of the methods presented here, examples of numerical solutions are presented for various specific applied problems. 255 references.
Abstracts are presented of 63 papers on the following topics: large-scale optimization, interior-point methods, algorithms for optimization, problems in control, network optimization methods, and parallel algorithms for optimization problems.
In this survey paper, we present open problems and conjectures on visibility graphs of points, segments and polygons along with necessary backgrounds for understanding them.
We investigate the solar neutrino problem in the scenario of three generation neutrino oscillation hypothesis, taking into account other phenomenological constraints to the neutrino mixing and mass parameters.
The author reviews the growth of the insecticide-resistance problem throughout the world during the period between July 1956 and November 1957, and the developments in research on the subject during...Full Text Available
IntroductionShoulder pain covers a wide range of problems and affects up to 20% of the population. It is not a specific diagnosis. Shoulder pain can be caused by problems with the...Full Text Available
... Finally, the one dimensional, one phase Stefan problem is well known as a model for the melting of ice (see, eg, [5]). There are many approaches to ...
The physical demands of performing on musical instruments can cause pain, sensory loss, and lack of coordination. Five cases illustrate common problems. Knowledge of the interaction between the technique...Full Text Available
Superparamagnetic MFe{sub 2}{sup 3+}O{sub 4} (M=Mn{sup 2+}, Fe{sup 2+} and Co{sup 2+}) inverse spinel ferrite (ISF) nanoparticles with narrow size distribution having average diameters of 6-8 nm were synthesized by a diol reduction of organic metals and the surface was modified to be hydrophilic by coating with succimer. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast enhancement by dipolar coupling defined interactions between the synthesized ISFs and protons in the bulk water was investigated with initial susceptibility, magnetization and anisotropy of the succimer-coated ISFs. The relaxivity ratios, r{sub 2}/r{sub 1}, for MnFe{sub 2}O{sub 4}, Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} and CoFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} were measured to be 12.2, 23.1 and 62.3, respectively, which demonstrate the potential usefulness of these magnetic nanoparticles as T{sub 2} contrast agents for MRI.
The high temperature solid-state reaction between LiNiO{sub 2} and V{sub 2}O{sub 3} (or V{sub 2}O{sub 5}) in air used to prepare LiNiVO{sub 4} has been further studied. This quaternary Li-Ni-V-O reaction is strongly dependent on reaction temperature and lithium stoichiometry in Li{sub x}Ni{sub 2-x}O{sub 2} and has produced a highly crystalline LiNiVO{sub 4} material whose structure has been confirmed to be an inverse spinel by Rietveld analysis with a Bragg R-factor of 1.18 in the absence of crystal orientation preference. The cell performance of LiNiVO{sub 4} prepared at various temperatures or by varying x-values in Li{sub x}Ni{sub 2-x}O{sub 2} has been examined in lithium coin cells and indicated that preparation at low temperatures or when x=0.89 provided an electrode material with higher cell capacity. (orig.)
A compact, quasi-4? position sensitive silicon array, TIARA, designed to study direct reactions induced by radioactive beams in inverse kinematics is described here. The Transfer and Inelastic All-angle Reaction Array (TIARA) consists of 8 resistive charge division detectors forming an octagonal barrel around the target and a set of double-sided silicon-strip annular detectors positioned at each end of the barrel. The detector was coupled to the ?-ray array EXOGAM and the spectrometer VAMOS at the GANIL Laboratory to demonstrate the potential of such an apparatus with radioactive beams. The 14N(d,p)15N reaction, well known in direct kinematics, has been carried out in inverse kinematics for that purpose. The observation of the 15N ground state and excited states at 7.16 and 7.86 MeV is presented here as well as the comparison of the measured proton angular distributions with DWBA calculations. Transferred l-values are in very good agreement ...
Superparamagnetic MFe23+O4 (M=Mn2+, Fe2+ and Co2+) inverse spinel ferrite (ISF) nanoparticles with narrow size distribution having average diameters of 6-8 nm were synthesized by a diol reduction of organic metals and the surface was modified to be hydrophilic by coating with succimer. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast enhancement by dipolar coupling defined interactions between the synthesized ISFs and protons in the bulk water was investigated with initial susceptibility, magnetization and anisotropy of the succimer-coated ISFs. The relaxivity ratios, r2/r1, for MnFe2O4, Fe3O4 and CoFe2O4 were measured to be 12.2, 23.1 and 62.3, respectively, which demonstrate the potential usefulness of these magnetic nanoparticles as T2 contrast agents for MRI.
In the case where sources and receivers are not distributed on a 2-D plane, seismic tomography inversion was studied. In tomography experiments, the existing wells are generally used. In such case, sources and receivers are frequently not distributed on a 2-D plane. The 2.5-D analysis method including 2-D structure and 3-D ray-tracing was thus developed. This method is featured by less memory necessary for ray-tracing calculation, and the same algorithm for velocity determination as 2-D analysis method. In previous methods, since analysis is generally carried out by projecting sources and receivers on a certain assumed 2-D plane, it can derive correct results in the case of constant velocity and straight ray, however, in the other case, it derives incorrect results. Application of 3-D tomography requires a large amount of memory, and falls into poor convergence because of various parameters. The 2.5-D analysis method can avoid these demerits. This analysis method ...
A Smarandache quasigroup(loop) is shown to be universal if all its f,g-principal isotopes are Smarandache f,g-principal isotopes. Also, weak Smarandache loops of Bol-Moufang type such as Smarandache: left(right) Bol, Moufang and extra loops are shown to be universal if all their f,g-principal isotopes are Smarandache f,g-principal isotopes. Conversely, it is shown that if these weak Smarandache loops of Bol-Moufang type are universal, then some autotopisms are true in the weak Smarandache sub-loops of the weak Smarandache loops of Bol-Moufang type relative to some Smarandache elements. Futhermore, a Smarandache left(right) inverse property loop in which all its f,g-principal isotopes are Smarandache f,g-principal isotopes is shown to be universal if and only if it is a Smarandache left(right) Bol loop in which all its f,g-principal isotopes are Smarandache f,g-principal isotopes. Also, it is established that a Smarandache inverse property loop ...
The influence of Cr on the structure and electrochemical properties of LiCoVO{sub 4} was studied using X-Ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Raman Spectroscopy and cycle tests. Doping levels up to 10 mol% were achieved, which improved the electrochemical stability of the structure of LiCoVO{sub 4}, resulting in a significant increase in the initial charge and discharge capacity. The Raman spectroscopy data for the Cr-doped LiCoVO{sub 4} is similar as for LiCoVO{sub 4}. The replacement of a dopant for the Co-ion in the inverse spinel structure causes several Raman shifts. The X-ray diffraction patterns show no new phases and combined with the Raman spectroscopy data it is concluded that the Cr dopant will be located at the octahedral site (16d) where they create an electronic pathway that enhances the electronic conductivity. However, the capacity dropped significantly after prolonged cycling, which is due to the diffusion of V{sup 5+} ions from the ...
Taiheiyo coal deashed using acid treatment and loaded with potassium or calcium was hydro-cracked under gaseous phase to discuss effects of these metals on liquefaction reaction. In addition, the loaded coal was added with red mud catalyst to examine effects of the addition. The loaded potassium has a softening power, and particularly the potassium adsorbed into surface and micropores in the coal decomposes selectively HI-BS and BI-PS and generates gas and HS. On the other hand, potassium deposited on coal surface promotes direct gas production from the coal. Irrespective of its loading modes, calcium has a catalytic nature to produce HI-BS selectively. Calcium also acts to impede decomposition of HI-BS into HS. Adding red mud catalyst to potassium loaded coal increases the inversion rate and the liquefaction yield, and most of the increase is accounted for by HI -BS, and BI-PS. When red mud catalyst is added to calcium loaded coal, the ...
Absorption spectra of the CT bands of I_2 complexes with Et_2O, Et_2S, and Et_2Se in heptane have been measured up to 4400 bar at 25"0C. The equilibrium constants and the volume changes accompanying complex formation, and the molar extinction coefficients and absorption maxima have been estimated. The volume changes were comparable with those estimated by the visible I_2 bands and by the X-ray data of the I_2 complexes in the crystalline state. In the CT bands of Et_2S-I_2 and Et_2Se-I_2 complexes inversion of shift from red to blue has been observed with increasing pressure though the CT band of Et_2O-I_2 complex shifted only through red. This inversion appears to be characteristic of the strong CT complex. Enhancement of the molar extinction coefficient of the CT band has been found with increasing pressure suggesting enhancement of the CT interaction between I_2 and the n-donor. (author).
We have investigated CeTSi{sub 3} and CeTGe{sub 3} (T = Rh and Ir) by measuring the magnetic susceptibility, specific heat, electrical resistivity, the resonant inverse photoemission (RIPES) and M{sub IV,V} x-ray absorption spectra (XAS). The germanides showed a very weak Kondo effect, but the silicides exhibited a negatively large Weiss temperature (approx. = -130 K) and a lnT dependence of magnetic resistivity above 100 K, suggesting that they are a Kondo-lattice compound with a high Kondo temperature T{sub K} (approx. = 100 K). The Curie-Weiss law suggests that Ce atoms in these compounds remain close to 3+ down to about 150 K in spite of their high T{sub K}. In general, both RIPES and M{sub IV,V} XAS support their apparently stable valency. (author)
Application to carbon fiber started in this Year. In this paper, a spinning and calcination process are explained. Fiber was obtained by wet spinning of the PAN solution. Ten solvents were tested and the results proved that dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was the best solvent. Glycerine was used as a coagulating bath. The thin fiber (10 to 50 denier) was produced under the conditions of about 20wt% concentration at about 110degC. Heat-treat temperature was about 270 to 275degC. The viscosity-tacticity relationship and T{sub sol} vs. inverse tacticity were shown in the paper. (S.Y.)
Atoms in very high Rydberg states, 100 approx-lt n approx-lt 1100, are used to investigate electron-molecule interactions at electron energies extending down to a few microelectronvolts. At such energies the cross section for electron capture by CCl_4 is observed to vary inversely with electron velocity, indicative of an s-wave process. Studies with the polar target CH_3Cl suggest that dipole-supported states may be important in inelastic electron-polar molecule scattering at very low electron energies.
We consider non-relativistic systems in quantum mechanics interacting through the Coulomb potential, and discuss the existence of bound states which are stable against spontaneous dissociation into smaller atoms or ions. We review the studies that have been made of specific mass configurations and also the properties of the domain of stability in the space of masses or inverse masses. These rigorous results are supplemented by numerical investigations using accurate variational methods. A section is devoted to systems of three arbitrary charges and another to molecules in a world with two space-dimensions.
A line-to-plate reactor was set-up in the experimental study on the application of nanosecond pulsed corona discharge plasma technology in environmental pollution control. Investigation on the attenuation and distortion of the amplitude of the pulse wave front and the discharge image as well as the waveform along the corona wire was conducted. The results show that the wave front decreases sharply during the corona discharge along the corona wire. The higher the amplitude of the applied pulse is, the more the amplitude of the wave front decreased. The wave attenuation responds in a lower corona discharge inversely. To get a higher efficiency of the line-to-plate reactor a sharp attenuation of the corona has to be considered in practical design.
This paper introduces a new way of estimating parameters in a Brownian motion regime switching asset model to incorporate volatility clustering. The regime switching model is then applied to pricing of up-and-in barrier call options. We take the probability of crossing the barrier between simulation points into account, and we increase accuracy in simulations by importance sampling. The regime switching model is compared to the Normal Inverse Gaussian model and the traditional Black-Scholes model, and option prices from the regime switching model are compared to the closed form expression of up-and-in barrier calls in a Black-Scholes market.
We present the synthesis, magnetic and UV spectrometry of NiZn-ferrite nanofiber. The single phase of spinel ferrite was obtained at 600 {sup o}C. The NiZn-ferrite fibers fabricated by an electrospinning process were formed as a polygonal grain growth with firing temperature in fiber matrix. It appeared that the saturation magnetization (M{sub S}) of NiZn-ferrite nanofiber was dependent on Ni/Zn molar ratio which is similar to that of the inverse spinel ferrites. The NiZn-ferrite fibers showed good DNA adsorption efficiency that can be modified and utilized for DNA separation with magnetic nanofiber as a novel material in clinical applications.
The method of reactivity determination using noise analysis correlation measurements with /sup 252/Cf was used to determine the reactivity for subcritical 17.77-cm-dia uranium (93.2 wt percent /sup 235/U) metal cylinders with reactivities as low as 25 dollars. Far subcritical tests were performed with right circular cylinders of uranium metal for which the subcritical reactivity was known from other inverse kinetics and prompt neutron decay constant measurements.
Efforts has been made to specify surface ozone production in photochemical reaction due to the high concentration of NO_x and photon rays. The secondary reactions has been considered via optical measurements using actinometry and pyranometry which was followed for photochemical reactions at high temperature and because of air pollutants due to the traffic load and because of the inversion in certain days. The concentration of surface ozone which was measured in Tehran city center was in the range of 24- 45 ppb in 1991-1992 and a higher concentration of 45-65 ppb was measured in 1999-2000. This high surface ozone concentration could cause a severe damage to biota, fauna and human health.
Meteorological and radon concentration data referring to a measurement campaign carried out in Urbino, Central Italy, are reported and discussed. This study presents a method allowing monitoring of the vertical atmospheric stability using continuous measurements of radon gas near ground. In particular radon evidences the presence of temperature inversion such as the formation of the nocturnal stable layer and gives information on the vertical turbulence and the motion of air masses. This technique is very useful in describing the temporal evolution of the pollutants in the atmosphere. (author)
The author presents a mathematical model for analysis of the impact of scrubber bed length, porosity, and gas flow rate on the absorption of CO{sub 2} in a breathing apparatus. The model accounts for the decrease in available absorbent through chemical conversion. The predicted efflux of CO{sub 2} from a canister containing LiOH compared favorably with measured values reported elsewhere. It was determined from a computational study that the time for breakthrough of CO{sub 2} at a prescribed level is nearly directly proportional to bed length and inversely proportional to gas flow and porosity.
A classical linear group GJ between the graded ring S= d=0^~Sd, where Sd is the character group of the symmetric group Sd, and the inverse limit J with respect to n of rings of symmetric polynomials in n variables. As a consequence, we complete the description of relations between generators for O(n)-invariants as well as the description of relations for invariants of mixed representations of quivers. We also obtain an independent proof of the result that the ideal of free relations for GL(n)-invariants is zero, which was proved by Donkin in [S. Donkin, Invariant functions on matrices, Math. Proc. Cambridge Philos. Soc. 113 (1993) 23-43].
It is shown that the direct Fourier synthesization of light beams allows one to create polarity-asymmetric waves, which are able, in the process of nonlinear interaction with a medium, to break its inversion symmetry. As a result, these "polar" waves may show the effect of optical rectification in nonlinear centrosymmetric media by generating light-induced dc electric polarization. At the same time, the waves of this type, due to their unusual symmetry properties, can be used for detecting the direction and sign of a dc electric field applied to the medium. The prospects of application of polar waves to data recording and processing are discussed.
Measurements of the expansion rate of pure-electron plasmas have been performed on the Electron Diffusion Gauge (EDG) device at background helium gas pressures in the 5 x 10(superscript -8) Torr to 1 x 10(superscript -5) Torr range, where plasma expansion due to electron-neutral collisions dominates over plasma expansion due to trap asymmetries. It is found that the expansion rate, defined as the time rate of change of the particles' mean-square radius, scales approximately linearly with pressure and inversely as the square of the magnetic field strength in this regime, in agreement with classical predictions.
In robotics inverse dynamics is a standard control concept for highly nonlinear multibody systems. It is shown, however, that inverse dynamics results in a high energy demand. Therefore, linear energy efficient state feedback controllers are designed in a way that a performance index representing the energy consumption is minimized. At the same time inequality constraints such as control error and limited input variables have to be met. For the control design an analytical solution by pole placement is presented as well as a numerical controller optimization. This control design includes small motions in the neighborhood of the operating point. Then, linear controllers are tested with respect to control error and energy consumption when undergoing large displacement motion. It is shown that linear state feedback can only save energy if large control errors are accepted. Therefore, nonlinear systems are optimized as a whole by implementation of ...
Nonparabolicity of the heavy hole band in diamond-like semiconductors, which occurs within the framework of the three band model with the perturbation from the other bands taken into account according to the Loewdin procedure, is studied. A direct dependence of nonparabolicity on the band anisotropy (caused by the different effect of Gamma/sub 15c/ and Gamma/sub 12c/ bands) and the inverse dependence on the magnitude of the spin-orbit splittiing is established. A connection between the effective mass of heavy holes and their energy is obtained, which is valid for the majority of diamond-like semiconductors, except for materials with a very strong nonparabolicity of the band of silicon type
Nonparabolicity of the heavy hole band in diamond-like semiconductors, which occurs within the framework of the three band model with the perturbation from the other bands taken into account according to the Loewdin procedure, is studied. A direct dependence of nonparabolicity on the band anisotropy (caused by the different effect of Gamma/sub 15c/ and Gamma/sub 12c/ bands) and the inverse dependence on the magnitude of the spin-orbit splittiing is established. A connection between the effective mass of heavy holes and their energy is obtained, which is valid for the majority of diamond-like semiconductors, except for materials with a very strong nonparabolicity of the band of silicon type.
The intention is to define what is required as evidence of continuous resistance to malfunction to ensure operational safety according to Rule KTA 3706 'Proof of electrical component safety under leakage conditions'. As a supporting part of this task, a recognized scientific and engineering basis on which to define the requirements has to be set up. The report is a compilation of studies and development work which could contribute useful improvements to the assessment methodology applied to thermal aging (Arrhenius model, ndeg-rule, Eyring model, Inverse-power model, according to KTA Rule 3505) of electronic controls or electrical components. (orig./DG).
A discrete time control algorithm using the damped least squares is introduced for acceleration and energy exchange controls in nonlinear vibrating systems. It is shown that the damping constant of least squares and sampling time step of the controller must be inversely related to insure that vanishing the time step has little effect on the results. The algorithm is illustrated on two linearly coupled Duffing oscillators near the 1:1 internal resonance. In particular, it is shown that varying the dissipation ratio of one of the two oscillators can significantly suppress the nonlinear beat phenomenon.
A proposal is made to test Newton's inverse-square law using the perihelion shift of test masses (planets) in free fall within a spacecraft located at the Earth-Sun L2 point. Such an Artificial Planetary System In Space (APSIS) will operate in a drag-free environment with controlled experimental conditions and minimal interference from terrestrial sources of contamination. We demonstrate that such a space experiment can probe the presence of a "hidden" fifth dimension on the scale of a micron, if the perihelion shift of a "planet" can be measured to sub-arc-second accuracy. Some suggestions for spacecraft design are made.
We perform a complete analytical reduction of general one-loop Feynman integrals with five and six external legs for tensors up to rank R=3 and 4, respectively. An elegant formalism with extensive use of signed minors is developed for the cancellation of inverse Gram determinants. The 6-point tensor functions of rank R are expressed in terms of 5-point tensor functions of rank R-1, and the latter are reduced to scalar four-, three-, and two-point functions. The resulting compact formulae allow both for a study of analytical properties and for efficient numerical programming. They are implemented in Fortran and Mathematica. (orig.)
The seismic reflection exploration technique which is one of the geophysical methods for oil exploration became effectively to image the subsurface structure with rapid development of computer. As a tool to perform seismic inversion, seismic forward modeling program using ray tracing should be developed. In this study, we have developed the algorithm that is to calculate the travel time of the complex geological structure using ray tracing by subdividing the geologic model into triangular element (finite element) having the constant velocity. We can analytically calculate Jacobian with some information by this current ray tracing. With this Jacobian, we will develop new algorithm which is to obtain geological properties and to image the subsurface. After subdividing subsurface into triangular element we shoot off the ray into subsurface by the Snell`s law. And then after taking the ray path which is similar to proper assumption we can calculate travel time. With ...
An experiment was performed with a mock-up of the core of the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) reactor to evaluate three reactivity measurement methods for application to liquid-metal fast breeder reactors (LMFBR): modified source multiplication measurements with the low-level flux monitor for refueling (35 dollars subcritical) of FFTF, noise analysis to 35 dollars subcritical, and inverse kinetics rod drop to 12 dollars subcritical. To investigate the spatial dependence of these measurement methods and to resolve discrepancies previously reported, detectors were placed in the core, reflector, and radial shield, and experimental data were collected with the reactivity at near delayed criticality to 35 dollars subcritical. Conclusions from this experiment are the following. Low-level flux monitors in the shield of the FFTF will be adequate for reactivity surveillance during refueling, using the modified source multiplication method calibrated near critical by an ...
To understand more fully the mechanism of enzyme-catalyzed phospho group transfer, the stereochemical course at phosphorus of four enzymes has been determined. First, using adenosine (..gamma..-(S)-/sup 16/O, /sup 17/O, /sup 18/O)triphosphate as the substrate, the reaction catalyzed by creatine kinase has been found to proceed with overall inversion of configuration at phosphorus. Second, using adenosine (..beta..-(S)-/sup 16/O, /sup 17/O, /sup 18/O)diphosphate as the substrate, the reaction catalyzed by adenylate kinase has been found also to proceed with overall inversion. Third, the reaction catalyzed by phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase has been studied using ((S/sub p/)-/sup 16/O, /sup 17/O)thiophospoenolpyruvate as the substrate in H/sub 2/ /sup 18/O. Fourth, using adenosine 5'-O-((..gamma..S/sub p/)-..beta gamma..-/sup 17/O,..gamma..-/sup 17/O,/sup 18/O)(3-thiotriphosphate) as the substrate, the reaction catalyzed by pyruvate ...
The alumina industry is facing worldwide a growing disposal problem. Red mud creates increasingly technical, economic and environmental problems. Available solutions are reviewed and an old idea using a new approach with pressurized disc or drum filters for red mud is herewith presented and submitted for consideration as a potential and prospective solution to the problem.
... been possible to prove the existence and uniqueness of a classical solution which tends to the well-known solution of the Stefan problem as the ...
Overloaded transmission lines are only part of the problem. The ability of the network to carry power is also limited by the supply of reactive power and by frequency stability. Reactive power problems must be corrected in minutes, frequency stability problems in seconds. There is no way that market forces can handle these problems. Reactive power must be supplied to all long transmission and distribution lines to compensate for the loss of reactive volt-amperes - and resulting voltage drop - in the reactance along the line`s length. 7 figs.
Recreational Programming (RecPro) is the discipline that encourages the study of computer programming through ludic problems. Problems that are typically studied within this discipline are similar to those of Recreational Mathematics (RecMat), which sometimes leads to the confusion of these two disciplines. The objective for RecPro is to write programs, while RecMat practitioners can use these programs to state (and prove if possible) conjectures about the solution. This interaction leads to a mathematical quality production. In an educational framework, problems in elemental number theory (those that are formulated with a basic knowledge of arithmetic) are very interesting, leading to the revision of classical unsolved problems. One of these problems is the general form of Zumkeller numbe...
Computer simulations of agricultural finance and management may be helpful to students preparing for agricultural careers. Simulations would provide problem definition and problem solving in realistic interactions with complex and ambiguous situations similar to those encountered in farming. The paper describes a major financial problem for farmers, explores the implications of that problem for students, and outlines a computer-based simulation model which would give students experience in dealing with the problem. Data sources for simulations, potentials of interactive exercises among students, and advantages of using real data with existing ambiguities are described. The board game "AGRICULTURE" is discussed as a prototype for simulation. (LFL)
A series of studies conducted to identify the factors that block and unblock problem solving is described. Through the construction of an isomorph of the classic "water jar" problems developed by A. S. Luchins (1942) as a dynamic graphic micro-world, several factors involved in producing blocked states were identified. Subjects included 10 individuals and 10 pairs of subjects. By comparing the behavior of individuals tackling the "missionaries and cannibals" problem to that of pairs of subjects solving this problem, a study identified means by which problem solvers operating in a social context are able to overcome blocks that discourage individuals. These studies point to the importance of "reflection" (evaluation of problem-solving results) for flexible problem solving. This research suggests that teaching students to analyze what they ...
Let us call a sequence of numbers heapable if they can be sequentially inserted to form a binary tree with the heap property, where each insertion subsequent to the first occurs at a leaf of the tree, i.e. below a previously placed number. In this paper we consider a variety of problems related to heapable sequences and subsequences that do not appear to have been studied previously. Our motivation for introducing these concepts is two-fold. First, such problems correspond to natural extensions of the well-known secretary problem for hiring an organization with a hierarchical structure. Second, from a purely combinatorial perspective, our problems are interesting variations on similar longest increasing subsequence problems, a problem paradigm that has led to many deep mathematical connections. We provide several basic results. We obtain an efficient algorithm ...
The use of global three-dimensional (3-D) models with satellite observations of CO2 in inverse modeling studies is an area of growing importance for understanding Earth s carbon cycle. Here we use the GEOS-Chem model (version 8-02-01) CO2 mode with multiple modifications in order to assess their impact on CO2 forward simulations. Modifications include CO2 surface emissions from shipping (0.19 PgC yr 1), 3-D spatially-distributed emissions from aviation (0.16 PgC yr 1), and 3-D chemical production of CO2 (1.05 PgC yr 1). Although CO2 chemical production from the oxidation of CO, CH4 and other carbon gases is recognized as an important contribution to global CO2, it is typically accounted for by conversion from its precursors at the surface rather than in the free troposphere. We base our model 3-D spatial distribution of CO2 chemical production on monthly-averaged loss rates of CO (a key precursor and intermediate in the oxidation of organic carbon) and apply an ...
PurposeThis study aimed to evaluate weight and height status and their relationship with psychological problems among elementary schoolchildren.Materials and...Full Text Available
This paper considers the time dependent Stefan problem with convection in the fluid phase governed by the Stokes equation, and with adherence of the fluid on the lateral boundaries. The existence of a weak solution is obtained via the introduction of a te...
A certain model of one-dimensional detonation waves leads to a Stefan problem: the unknown f satisfies Burgers equations on the two sides of a moving discontinuity at which it is given (f, say) and the jump in it derivative (corresponding to the exothermi...
In systems of fast decimal counters, there are three problems to be resolved: to study a bistable having a short switching time, to form with the aid of three bistables a circuit divisible by 5, and to normalize the input pulses. The solutions to these problems for the nonsecond scaler are presented. (J.S.R.)
Dependent variables in research on problem behavior typically are based on measures of response repetition, but these measures may be problematic when behavior poses high risk or when its occurrence...Full Text Available
A new model for computations is considered which combines the quantum computer with the chaotic dynamics amplifier, based on the logistic map. We discuss the satisfiability problem and argue that the problem can, in principle, be solved in polynomial time if one uses the new model for computations.
We study a rapidly convergent modification of a two-sided method for the approximate integration of a boundary-value problem with parameters in boundary conditions for a system of quasilinear second-order differential equations.
The scope of our problems with nuclear waste management is outlined. Present and future inventories of nuclear wastes are assessed for risk. A discussion of what is presently being done to solve waste management problems and what might be done in the future are presented. (DC)
The induction of voltages on pipelines and railroad signal wires can be a problem when high-voltage transmission lines share the right of way. A handbook and two computer programs provide the analytic tools for utilities to avoid the problem.
Main results of the 40-year experience gained from operation of horizontal steam generators in VVER-type reactor installations used in Russia and many foreign countries are described. Existing unresolved problems are pointed out.
The supersymmetry in quantum mechanics and shape invariance condition are applied as an algebraic method to solving the Dirac-Coulomb problem. The ground state and the excited states are investigated via new generalized ladder operators. (author)
College students are more at-risk for developing a gambling problem than the general adult U.S. population. Information behavior and information seeking theories, as well as empirical evidence, indicate that one resource that may provide guidance for students dealing with this issue is the college counseling center website (CCW). This study addressed the presence and nature of problem gambling messages on CCWs. As a random sample, 203 CCWs were selected to assess how frequently they provided any information about problem gambling, as well as the specific types of communications CCWs offered on this topic. Results showed that CCWs rarely included any messages about problem gambling. Specifically, only 15% of all CCWs contained information about problem gambling. Furthermore, messages about problem gambling were presented significantly less frequently than ...
The report gives a comprehensive summary of the experience gained and the problems encountered during the Cat-Ox demonstration program. The report outlines the process design and construction, as well as operating experience and problems. Test results and conclusions derived from...
BackgroundThe purpose of the study was to compare the knowledge scores of medical students in Problem-based Learning and traditional curriculum on public health topics.Full Text Available
BackgroundThe search for cluster structure in microarray datasets is a base problem for the so-called "-omic sciences". A difficult problem in clustering is how to handle data with...Full Text Available
Objectives This paper examines the determinants of the insureds decision to use their health insurance card when seeking outpatient and inpatient health care in Vietnam. Methods Uses Vietnams latest Household Living Standard Survey data and random-intercept logistic regression to assess the influence of the observed individual, household and commune/ward factors on the insureds decision to access health insurance benefits while controlling for the unobserved commune/ward-specific factors. Results Compared to the compulsory enrollees, the voluntary enrollees and the beneficiaries of the Health Care Fund for the Poor are less likely to use their card when seeking inpatient care. An individuals likelihood of accessing insurance benefits varies inversely with income and the level of education,...
The radio, optical, x-ray and gamma-ray nebulae that surround many pulsars are thought to arise from synchrotron and inverse Compton emission. The energy powering this emission as well as the magnetic fields and relativistic particles are supplied by a 'wind' driven by the central object. The inner parts of the wind can be described using the equations of MHD, but these break down in the outer parts, when the density of charge carriers drops below a critical value. This paper reviews the wave properties of the inner part (striped wind), and uses a relativistic two-fluid model (cold electrons and positrons) to re-examine the nonlinear electromagnetic modes that propagate in the outer parts. It is shown that in a radial wind, two solutions exist for circularly polarized electromagnetic modes. At large distances one of them turns into a freely expanding flow containing a vacuum wave, whereas the other decelerates, corresponding to a confined flow.
This report covers the progress made on the title project for the project period. Four major areas of inquiry are being pursued. Advanced solid state NMR methods are being developed to assay the distribution of the various important functional groups that determine the reactivity of coals. Special attention is being paid to methods that are compatible with the very high magic angle sample spinning rates needed for operation at the high magnetic field strengths available today. Polarization inversion methods utilizing the difference in heat capacities of small groups of spins are particularly promising. Methods combining proton-proton spin diffusion with [sup 13]C CPMAS readout are being developed to determine the connectivity of functional groups in coals in a high sensitivity relay type of experiment. Additional work is aimed at delineating the role of methyl group rotation in the proton NMR relaxation behavior of coals.
Molar excess volumes have been determined by means of a vibrating-tube densimeter for binary liquid mixtures of cycloalkanones (cyclopentanone and cyclohexanone) + cyclohexane, + benzene, and + tetrachloromethane. The V/sup E/ data are reported over the complete mole fraction range at 288.15, 298.15, and 308.15{Kappa}. The obtained excess volumes are positive for mixtures of cyclopentanone with cyclohexane and are negative for mixtures of the cycloalkanones with benzene and tetrachloromethane; for the system cyclohexanone-cyclohexane the V/sup E/ values are positive for a wide range of mole fraction, but at very low cyclohexane mole fraction an inversion of the sign of V/sup E/ is observed. The data show that in the considered range of temperature the values of the temperature coefficient ({partial derivative}V/sup E//{partial derivative}T) are negative for mixtures of the cycloalkanones with benzene and are almost zero for mixtures with cyclohexane and with ...
Knowledge and awareness of past and future autobiographical events may be mediated by a common system that supports intentional, goal-directed behavior. The purpose of this study was to assess the correspondence of past and future autobiographical thought. In Experiment 1, 300 undergraduates aged 19 years generated and assigned dates to past and f utu re autobiographical events. Thetemporal distribution of past events replicated a power function for retention as has been described in past research. The intention function of future autobiographical events fit the inverse of this same power function, reflecting a temporality of past and future mental time travel centered around the present moment. In Experiment 2, these findings were extended to young, middle-aged, and older groups. These data provide empirical support for the notion that thinking outside of "now" is mediated by a common system, regardless of whether one is thinking about the past or the future. ...
We have measured the almost-pure incoherent scattering function of liquid and solid parahydrogen, using inelastic neutron scattering. The experiments were carried out on TOSCA, a time-of-flight, inverse-geometry, crystal-analyzer spectrometer, operating on the pulsed neutron source at ISIS (UK). The experiments have been planned taking advantage of the intrinsic incoherence introduced in the scattering process by the rotational transitions. The measured double-differential cross section gives a direct experimental access to the microscopic dynamics of condensed hydrogen. From the high-energy region of the spectrum, where the impulse approximation for the center of mass motion applies, we have been able to extract the translational mean kinetic energy. In the low-energy region, using the Gaussian approximation, we compare the experimental data in the liquid phase with the results of a model for the velocity autocorrelation function. The results are encouraging, but ...
The Kernel Polynomial Method (KPM) has been successfully applied to tight-binding electronic structure calculations as an O(N) method. Here the authors extend this method to nonorthogonal basis sets with a sparse overlap matrix S and a sparse Hamiltonian H. Since the KPM method utilizes matrix vector multiplications it is necessary to apply S{sup {minus}1}H onto a vector. The multiplication of S{sup {minus}1} is performed using a preconditioned conjugate gradient method and does not involve the explicit inversion of S. Hence the method scales the same way as the original KPM method, i.e. O(N), although there is an overhead due to the additional conjugate gradient part. The authors show an application of this method to defects in a titanate/platinum interface and to a large scale electronic structure calculation of amorphous diamond.
In this article, we studied the effects of variable viscosity and thermal conductivity on an unsteady two-dimensional laminar flow of a viscous incompressible conducting fluid past a semi-infinite vertical porous moving plate taking into account the effect of a magnetic field in the presence of variable suction. The fluid viscosity is assumed to vary as an inverse linear function of temperature but the thermal conductivity is assumed to vary as a linear function of temperature. It is assumed that the porous plate moves with a constant velocity in the direction of fluid flow, and the free stream velocity follows the exponentially increasing small perturbation law. The governing equations for the flow are transformed into a system of nonlinear ordinary differential equations by perturbation ...
A new in vivo method has been developed for the precise observation of RES activity. Both Escherichia coli endotoxin 100 #mu#g/100 g i.v. (LPS) and radiodetoxified endotoxin 100 #mu#g/100 g body weight i.v. (RD-LPS, TOLERIN) increased the granulopectic activity of RES. The RD-LPS was more effective. The preparation containing trace elements also increased the activity of RES. The treatment consisting of the use of both trace elements and RD-LPS proved to be the most effective. The activity of RES was inversely proportional to various doses of X-ray irradiation (7, 8, 9 Gy). Trace elements and RD-LPS even improved the immunity system of animals having deteriorated RES. (N.T.).
The environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis (EKC) predicts an inverse U-shaped relationship between environmental pollution and per capita income. The literature with respect to the EKC is vast but far from conclusive. This paper adds firm size to the standard EKC reduced form regression and analyses whether firm size matters once income and composition are controlled for. Results suggest that large firm countries are initially associated with higher levels of environmental damage. However, as economies develop, large firm countries find it easier to adopt more stringent environmental legislation. Once environmental damage starts to decrease, the decrease is much larger in large firm countries.
Moss-Schottky plots and photoelectrochemical measurements were made on films formed at different potentials on AISI 304 stainless steel in a borate/boric acid solution, pH 9.2. The results allowed the determination of the semiconductive properties and band structure of the films, which account for the existence of two kinds of films depending on the formation potential. For potentials below 0 V (SCE), the results point out for a film with an inverse spinel structure constituted by Cr-substituted magnetite with two donor levels. Above 0 V only one donor level is detected, which should be Fe{sup 2 +} on tetrahedral sites.
Moss-Schottky plots and photoelectrochemical measurements were made on films formed at different potentials on AISI 304 stainless steel in a borate/boric acid solution, pH 9.2. The results allowed the determination of the semiconductive properties and band structure of the films, which account for the existence of two kinds of films depending on the formation potential. For potentials below 0 V (SCE), the results point out for a film with an inverse spinel structure constituted by Cr-substituted magnetite with two donor levels. Above 0 V only one donor level is detected, which should be Fe"2 "+ on tetrahedral sites.
We have performed extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis for artificial Cr-goethite to elucidate the local structure around Cr in Cr-goethite. The spectra were obtained using synchrotron radiation X-rays at the Photon Factory in Tsukuba. The first shell contributions were isolated by Fourier filtering EXAFS data, and the inverse Fourier transformed single-shell data were analyzed using a curve fitting method. The results show that Cr is coordinated with (7#+-#1)O"2"- ions. The protective characteristics of the Cr-goethite protective rust layer on weathering steel can be interpreted in terms of the O"2"- coordination around Cr"3"+ resulting in the creation of negative fixed charge in the Cr-goethite particles. (author)
Synthesis of protein molecules in a cell are carried out by ribosomes. A ribosome can be regarded as a molecular motor which utilizes the input chemical energy to move on a messenger RNA (mRNA) track that also serves as a template for the polymerization of the corresponding protein. The forward movement, however, is characterized by an alternating sequence of translocation and pause. Using a quantitative model, which captures the mechanochemical cycle of an individual ribosome, we derive an {\\it exact} analytical expression for the distribution of its dwell times at the successive positions on the mRNA track. Inverse of the average dwell time satisfies a ``Michaelis-Menten-like'' equation and is consistent with the general formula for the average velocity of a molecular motor with an unbranched mechano-chemical cycle. Extending this formula appropriately, we also derive the exact force-velocity relation for a ribosome. Often many ribosomes simultaneously move on ...
We report here results of an application of single-nucleon stripping reactions at high energies (65 MeV/u) in inverse kinematics to obtain spectroscopic factors. From measurements of the partial cross-sections for ground and excited states in residual nuclei formed in one-proton stripping reactions, single particle orbits and occupancies of light nuclei have been studied in the s-d shell. Single proton stripping cross-sections of {sup 25}Al and {sup 26,27,28}P on a Be target have been measured using the S800 spectrograph and the NaI(Tl) array at the NSCL. These results indicate that this technique may provide a general tool for the intermediate energy range analogous to transfer (pick-up) reactions at low-energy.
We report here results of an application of single-nucleon stripping reactions at high energies (65 MeV/u) in inverse kinematics to obtain spectroscopic factors. From measurements of the partial cross-sections for ground and excited states in residual nuclei formed in one-proton stripping reactions, single particle orbits and occupancies of light nuclei have been studied in the s-d shell. Single proton stripping cross-sections of "2"5Al and "2"6","2"7","2"8P on a Be target have been measured using the S800 spectrograph and the NaI(Tl) array at the NSCL. These results indicate that this technique may provide a general tool for the intermediate energy range analogous to transfer (pick-up) reactions at low-energy.
Judd-Ofelt parameters (?2 = 5.09?10-20, ?4 0.92?10-20, and ?6 = 0.63?10-20 cm2) and oscillator strengths of fundamental optical transitions involved in lasing at wavelength 1.54 ?m have been calculated for borosilicophosphate glass co-activated with Er3+ and Tb3+ ions based on experimental luminescence and absorption spectra and refractive indices. The results were used to determine the emission (6?10-23 cm2) and absorption (5?10-21 cm2) cross sections for lambda = 1.54 ?m and the gain cross section as a function of inverse population levels. (authors)
Abstract Intrasexual selection can occur through direct aggressive interactions between males for access to females. We tested the relationship between social dominance and male reproductive success among meadow voles, Microtus pennsylvanicus. Dominance ranks of wild-caught males were determined using neutral arena trials, with the winner of two of three trials considered dominant. These males were then released into field enclosures and allowed to visit females housed in nestboxes for 8 wk, and males' home range sizes were determined using weekly grid trapping. Male reproductive success was determined using molecular paternity analysis (six microsatellite primers) for all pups born during the field experiment. Males with higher dominance ranks had larger home ranges. However, male dominan...
The growth and properties of Si{sub 1{minus}y}C{sub y} and Si{sub 1{minus}x{minus}y}Ge{sub x}C{sub y} alloys pseudomorphically strained on Si(001) will be reviewed. Although the bulk solubility of carbon in silicon is small, epitaxial layers with more than 1 at.% C can be fabricated. The relation between substitutional and interstitial carbon incorporation will be presented. Substitutionally incorporated C atoms allow strain manipulation, including the growth of strain-free or inversely strained Si{sub 1{minus}x{minus}y}Ge{sub x}C{sub y} layers. The mechanical properties, microscopic structure, thermal stability, as well as the influence of C atoms on band structure will be discussed.
Elastic and inelastic proton scattering has been measured in inverse kinematics on the unstable nucleus {sup 40}S. A phenomenological DWBA analysis yields a quadrupole deformation parameter {beta}{sub 2} = 0.35 {+-} 0.05 for the 2{sup +}{sub 1} state. Consistent phenomenological and microscopic proton scattering analyses have been applied to all even-even Sulfur isotopes from A = 32 to A = 40. The microscopic analysis used microscopic collective model densities and a modified Jeukenne-Lejeune-Mahaux effective interaction. This analysis suggests the presence of a neutron skin in the heavy sulfur isotopes. The analysis is consistent with normalization values for {lambda}{sub {upsilon}} and {lambda}{sub {omega}} of 0.95 for both the real and imaginary parts of the JLM potential. (author)
Drug particle size distribution has a profound impact to the content uniformity in low-dose solid drug products. We derived theoretically the skewness of potency distribution as a function of particle size distribution and target dose. It was demonstrated that both skewness and coefficient of variation diverge simultaneously with inverse square root of the target dose. This scaling relation was observed in recent experiment and was verified by Monte Carlo (MC) simulation, which was employed for the first time to solve for the full potency distribution from a random retrieving model. When tested against the criteria from USP uniformity of dosage units, MC simulation showed a striking anisotropic distribution of the data. This suggests a full-scale consideration of the potency distribu...
We analyzed 16 radiographic features of primary Ewing's sarcoma in 342 patients from the IESS 7299 (Intergroup Ewing's Sarcoma Study) for prognostic significance. Of these, 3 features demonstrated a statistically significant relationship to survival: maximal tumor dimension, tumor location, and an appearance of honeycombing within the lesion. Those individuals with primary lesions centered in the pelvis, femur, or humerus had a worse survival rate than those with lesions centered elsewhere. Similarly, we observed an inverse relationship between the greatest dimension of the osseous portion of the lesion and survival. The radiographic finding of honeycombing also showed a statistical association with improved survival. However, this feature was observed infrequently, and its significance should be assessed further. Otherwise, no other feature that we analyzed showed any relationship to patient prognosis. (orig.).
Exploding bridgewire detonators with fine PETN powder were fabricated by the almost same method as the assembling process of ordinary electric detonators and the relationship between the detonating condition (bridge current waveform) in the single detonator initiation and the transmission time was studied. In addition, its jitter was also examined by simultaneous initiation of the detonators connected in series. It was revealed that the transmission time varied almost linearly against the inverse number of the rate of current rise and this variation was mainly due to the time needed for the bridgewire explosion. The jitter of the transmission time was within 0.1 microsecond. Although the cause of the jitter could not be determined, it was considered feasible to reduce the time jitter further by minimizing dimentional tolerances of fixing plugs and improving the loading process of PETN powder. 11 refs., 6 figs.
A few studies have found poor semen quality in sons whose mothers have received fertility treatment, but it is unknown whether the poor semen quality is related to the infertility treatment or to infertility per se, for example, whether it is caused by hereditable factors. Using data from a population-based, Danish follow-up study conducted in 2005-2006, the authors of the present study examined whether sons of subfertile couples who had not received fertility treatment had poorer semen quality than sons of fertile couples. Among the 311 participants, an inverse association between parental waiting time to pregnancy and both semen volume and total sperm count was observed (p trend = 0.04 and p trend = 0.046, respectively). Semen volume in sons of subfertile parents (pregnant after ?1 ye...
Long term indoor radon gas measurements using a passive monitor are now being conducted in the basement HVAC machine rooms of about fifty commercial buildings, which are built in the Tokyo and Nagoya metropolitan area. Ventilation rates are also measured during the monitoring period. The earliest results show that the highest concentration was about twice of the EPA Standards and was obtained at Nagoya in autumn and no clear seasonal change was seen in radon concentration so far, and that the correlation between radon concentration and inverse number of ventilation rate was positive but not high. (orig.). (2 refs., 4 figs., 2 tabs.).
In terms of the reduced potential energy barrier ? = ?uTS/kT, the rate coefficients for chemical reactions are usually expressed as proportional to e-?. The coupling between vibrational modes of the medium to the reaction coordinate leads to a proportionality of the regularized gamma function of Euler Q(a,?) = ?(a,?)/?(a), with a being the number of modes coupled to the reaction coordinate. In this work, the experimental rate coefficients at various temperatures for several chemical reactions were fitted to the theoretical expression in terms of Q(a,?) to determine the extent of its validity and generality. The new expression affords lower deviations from the experimental points in 29 cases out of 38 and it accounts for the curvature in the logarithmic plots of rate coefficients versus inverse temperature. In the absence of tunneling, conventional theories predict the curvature of these plots to be identically zero.
In a new series of modulated electron cyclotron heating (MECH) on RTP the MECH power was deposited either on-axis or off-axis in plasmas with different values of the plasma current (I{sub p}). Besides confirming all previous MECH results on RTP, the new data can be simulated by assuming a radial profile of the incremental diffusivity ({chi}{sup inc}) that is constant ({chi}{sup inc} < 1 m{sup 2}/s) inside the sawtooth region, makes a sharp step near the inversion radius, and has an offset parabolic profile elsewhere with a value of {chi}{sup inc} {approx} 6 m{sup 2}/s at r/a {approx} 0.6. No significant dependence of {chi}{sup inc} on q{sub a} is observed apart from the position of the transition from low to high {chi}{sup inc}. (author) 5 refs., 4 figs.
In this article we model a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) in a Schwarzschild space-time, as a first approximation of the relativistic geometry around the Earth. The closed time-like and scattering light-like geodesics are obtained analytically, describing respectively trajectories of satellites and electromagnetic signals. We implement an algorithm to calculate Schwarzschild coordinates of a GNSS user who receives proper times sent by four satellites, knowing their orbital parameters; the inverse procedure is implemented to check for consistency. The constellation of satellites therefore realizes a geocentric inertial reference system with no \\emph{a priori} realization of a terrestrial reference frame. We show that the calculation is very fast and could be implemented in a real GNSS, as an alternative to usual post-Newtonian corrections. Effects of non-gravitational perturbations on positioning errors are assessed, and methods to reduce them are ...
In vibration control field, magneto-rheological (MR) fluid dampers are semi-active control devices that have recently begun to receive more attention. This paper presents a nonlinear black-box model (BBM) and an inverse black-box model (IBBM) for the identification of a MR fluid damper and their application to design a novel force-sensorless control method for any damping system using that damper. The nonlinear model named 'black-box' is a simple direct modeling method which was designed based on fuzzy-neural technique. Characteristics of the damper in study are directly estimated through a fuzzy mapping system. In order to improve the model accuracy, neural network technique including back-propagation and gradient descent method were used to train the fuzzy parameters to minimize the mode...
The original objective of our EMSP research was to design, develop, and test new in situ field permeameters for use in spatial variability studies of unsaturated hydraulic properties. We initially focused on activities related to development and testing of techniques for inverting permeameter data, development of numerical tools for data inversion, error evaluation for permeameter design, and permeameter component design. However, the results of error evaluations for permeameter design caused us to redirect our research, and reformulate our research objectives. We discovered that small, simple measurement errors lead to significant bias in the estimated hydraulic properties and their spatial statistics. Our reformulated research objective became the evaluation of the origin, impact and relevance of spatial bias in field-and laboratory-estimated unsaturate hydraulic properties, with an emphasis on spatial statistics and the resulting predictions of stochastic models ...
Lateral plume dispersion in deep river valleys during neutral and stable lapse rate conditions can be exceptionally high due to the intense horizontal turbulence generated by prominent variations in the width, orientation and surface roughness of the valley walls. Use of the standard Gaussian dispersion equation to represent this enhanced lateral plume spread in a narrow valley may be inappropriate since consideration should also be given to the restriction of the horizontal plume spread due to impingement against the valley walls. The basic concept employed in the modification of the Gaussian dispersion equation was to assume that multiple eddy reflections occur between the valley walls in a manner similar to the vertical eddy reflections between the ground plane and an inversion layer aloft. The expressions are developed, but no attempt has been made to validate them with actual measured field data. 4 references, 3 figures, 1 table.
The magnetization of a series of intermetallic compounds Au_3R, where R is Gd through Yb, was investigated at 2.5 to 300"0K in applied fields up to 26 kOe. All the compounds studied exhibited the orthorhombic TiCu_3--Do/sub a/ type structure. For high temperatures, the temperature dependence of the inverse susceptibility followed a Curie--Weiss law, yielding effective paramagnetic moments in good agreement with the values calculated for free tripositive rare earth ions. At low temperatures, deviations from Curie--Weiss behavior were observed in all cases. These deviations are ascribed to the influence of crystal-field and exchange interactions. (auth).
Globular clusters are quite compact (size {proportional_to}10 pc) objects distributed spherically around the galaxy. They contain about 10{sup 5}-10{sup 6} mostly old stars. The number of millisecond pulsars in typical globular cluster is expected to be large (of the order of 100). We investigate the possible mechanism of production of high energy gamma-rays in those objects. Part of the wind energy of pulsars (energy conversion factor) is converted into relativistic leptons. Those leptons can upscatter in inverse Compton process low energy starlight and CMB photons and produce gamma-rays. MAGIC is an Imaging Atmospheric Cerenkov Telescopes located at Canary island of La Palma. We present results and discussion of the MAGIC observations of globular cluster M13.
Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) powder from waste bottles was degraded at atmospheric pressure in 7--13 M nitric acid at 70--100 C for 72 h, to clarify the mechanism of a feed stock recycling process. Terephthalic acid (TPA) and ethylene glycol (EG) were produced by the acid-catalyzed heterogeneous hydrolysis of PET in nitric acid, and the resulting EG was simultaneously oxidized to oxalic acid. The kinetics of the hydrolysis of PET in nitric acid could be explained by a modified shrinking core model of chemical reaction control, in which the effective surface area is proportional to the degree of unreacted PET, affected by the deposition of the product TPA. The apparent rate constant was inversely proportional to particle size and to the concentration of the nitric acid. The activation energy of the reaction was 101.3 kJ/mol.
In order to promote environmental damage monitoring and environmental impacts assessment caused by mining in China, the most significant project that uses advanced Earth Observation technology to assess environmental impacts caused by mining, namely MINEO (assessment and monitoring the environmental impact of mining activities in Europe using advanced Earth Observation technology) was introduced and its enlightenment to China were investigated. It was proposed that an integrated technical framework of monitoring environmental impacts caused by mining be designed, quantitative inversion of biological and environmental parameters from RS data be emphasised, hyperspectral Remote Sensing be applied, RS and GIS be integrated with professional models, multi-object applications of RS be implemented, and related standards and specification be drawn up based on typical case study sites. 23 refs., 1 fig.
This paper presents two imaging methods by using cross correlation. The one method images the subsurface by cross-correlation of the observed data and partial derivative seismograms calculated for a guessed model. The other method images the interface by use of cross-correlation of the virtual sources and the back propagated wave fields calculated from the observed data. Experimental tests show that both methods image subsurface interfaces well even if the guessed model is different from the true one. These imaging methods are reverse time migration that we perform cross-correlation as an imaging condition and have an advantage, as compared to conventional waveform inversion method, that images subsurface structure without iterative perturbation of the assumed model. (author). 18 refs., 15 figs.
The effect of various hydrogen concentrations on the crystal lattice period and the hardness of titanium alloy was examined, the alloy containing about 16 at.% Mo (27.5 wt. % Mo) and having #beta# structure. The peculiar features of the mechanism of plastic deformation of the alloy were studied after adding hydrogen to it. A dependence of the crystal lattice period on the concentration of hydrogen was obtained for TixMoxH_2 alloy. It has been established that the hardness of the Ti-Mo alloy does not change when hydrogen is added to it. The presence of hydrogen introduces changes into the mechanism of deformation of #beta#-titanium alloy. The configuration of the inverse pole figures after rolling proves that the transverse slip process in an alloy with hydrogen is hampered, and that the coplanar slip process is developing in it.
Aims To study the effect of fish consumption on the risk of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in healthy subjects. Methods and results This Danish follow-up study included 57 053 men and women between 50 and 64 years. Intake of lean and fatty fish was estimated from a detailed and validated food frequency questionnaire. Potential cases of ACS were identified through nationwide medical databases. A total of 1122 cases of ACS were verified during a mean follow-up period of 7.6 years. Among men, intake of fatty fish was associated with a lower risk of ACS. For men in the highest quintile of fish intake compared with the lowest quintile, the hazard ratio was 0.67 (95% confidence interval: 0.53-0.85). The inverse association was observed for intakes >6 g of fatty fish per day with no obvious additi...
Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) is employed to study the changes in enthalpy of natural rubber latex samples when heated under a controlled temperature program. It is found that the mass normalized areas of the DSC curves between room temperature and 170??C for different latex samples are inversely proportional to the dry rubber content (DRC) of the samples, measured following the weighing and drying method. The changes in total enthalpy of the samples in this temperature range are interpreted as due to the variations in the quantity of water present in the samples. The measurements have been repeated by diluting selected samples with known quantities of water, and it is found that the normalized areas of the DSC curves are directly proportional to the amount of water added to the ...
The effects of intradot electron-electron interaction on the photon-assisted Andreev tunneling of a superconductor/carbon-nanotube/superconductor system are studied by using nonequilibrium Green's function technique. The inverse supercurrent reflecting the #pi#-junction transition emerges in the spin-split energy-levels regime polarized by the Coulomb interaction. For the positive tunneling case, the supercurrent reaches its maximum when the spin-degenerate energy-levels are nearest to the Fermi surface. Conversely, for the negative tunneling case, the supercurrent reaches its maximum when two split energy-levels are symmetric with respect of the Fermi surface. The sign and the amplitude of the Andreev tunneling depend distinctly on the energy-level spacing tuned by photon-assisted tunneling. In order to fully understand the transport characteristics, the current-carrying density of states are investigated, which clearly shows the enhancement, suppression or even ...
The effect of weak dissipation on drift orbits has been investigated making use of a simple mapping model in a helical magnetic field. It is found that, after many mapping iterations, any orbit tends to an attractor forming a vortex line even with very small dissipation. The convergence is faster for larger dissipation, i.e., the number of iteration N to converge within a certain distance from the attractor is inversely proportional to the amount of the dissipation. Although the behavior of orbits completely change, the basic stability characteristics of the system does not change, i.e, the coordinate of the attractors are determined by the stable fixed points in the area preserving system because the dissipation is very small. Since wide range of orbits are concentrated around the attractors after many toroidal circulations, a pinch effect is created by a small dissipation. Application of this pinch effect to fusion plasmas is discussed. (author)
We investigate the effect of the intrinsic spin of a fundamental spinor field on the surrounding spacetime geometry. We show that despite the lack of a rotating stress-energy source (and despite claims to the contrary) the intrinsic spin of a spin-half fermion gives rise to a frame-dragging effect analogous to that of orbital angular momentum, even in Einstein-Hilbert gravity where torsion is constrained to be zero. This resolves a paradox regarding the counter-force needed to restore Newton's third law in the well known spin-orbit interaction. In addition, the frame-dragging effect gives rise to a {\\it long-range} gravitationally mediated spin-spin dipole interaction coupling the {\\it internal} spins of two sources. We argue that despite the weakness of the interaction, the spin-spin interaction will dominate over the ordinary inverse square Newtonian interaction in any process of sufficiently high-energy for quantum field theoretical effects to be ...
A 33-year-old male of proven fertility suffered six attacks of malaria while resident in an African country. For this he received anti-malarial drugs. Semen analysis performed after the fourth attack, and repeated during the following 2 years after his return to Israel, revealed severe oligozoospermia, necrozoospermia and occasionally even azoospermia. Immunological examination of the patient revealed an inverse ratio of T-cell subsets and mast cell degranulation in response to palludrin. Twenty-five months after the last attack of malaria a significant improvement was found in semen quality and there was an increase in the ratio of T-helper to T-suppressor cytotoxic cells. These observations indicate that although malaria and its treatment may affect spermatogenesis, recovery may be expected eventually. PMID:3500921
We investigate decoherence in quantum systems coupled via dephasing-type interactions to an arbitrary environment with chaotic underlying classical dynamics. The coherences of the reduced state of the central system written in the preferential energy eigenbasis are quantum Loschmidt echoes, which in the strong coupling regime are characterized at long times scales by fluctuations around a constant mean value. We show that due to the chaotic dynamics of the environment, the mean value and the width of the Loschmidt echo fluctuations are inversely proportional to the quantity we define as the effective Hilbert space dimension of the environment, which in general is smaller than the dimension of the entire available Hilbert space. Nevertheless, in the semiclassical regime this effective Hilbert space dimension is in general large, in which case even a chaotic environment with few degrees of freedom produces decoherence without revivals. Moreover we show that in this ...
A conformational analysis of ethyl azidoformate (EAF) has been carried out by the MINDO/3 quantum-chemical method. It has been shown that EAF exists in the form of two conformers differing with respect to rotation around the C-N bond. Complete optimization of the geometry has been carried out for both conformers. It has been found that the transoid conformation is planar and that the cisoid conformation is nonplanar. The height of the rotation barrier is 15.4 kcal/mole. The optimal geometry of the transition state has been calculated. It has been noted that a significant role in the mechanism of the conformational transition is played by the inversion of a nitrogen, which facilitates the transition. The results of the calculation have been confirmed by IR-spectroscopic data.
A fully consistent linear perturbation theory for cosmology is derived in the presence of quantum corrections as they are suggested by properties of inverse volume operators in loop quantum gravity. The underlying constraints present a consistent deformation of the classical system, which shows that the discreteness in loop quantum gravity can be implemented in effective equations without spoiling space-time covariance. Nevertheless, non-trivial quantum corrections do arise in the constraint algebra. Since correction terms must appear in tightly controlled forms to avoid anomalies, detailed insights for the correct implementation of constraint operators can be gained. The procedures of this article thus provide a clear link between fundamental quantum gravity and phenomenology.
The local Yb3+ magnetic susceptibility tensor was recently measured in the frustrated pyrochlore compound Yb2Ti2O7 by means of in-field polarized neutron scattering in a single crystal. A very anisotropic effective exchange tensor was derived for the Yb3+ ion. Using this result, we reinterpret here the data for the powder susceptibility in Yb2Ti2O7. We show that, in the case of a well-isolated Kramers doublet with anisotropic g and exchange tensors, the inverse susceptibility for a powder sample does not strictly obey a Curie-Weiss law at low temperature. We discuss the consequences regarding the paramagnetic Curie temperature, usually taken as a measure of the exchange/dipolar interaction, and the exotic 'slow fluctuation' ground state of Yb2Ti2O7. (fast track communication)
Abstract Acute lung injury (ALI) in sepsis is characterized by an increase in microvascular permeability, resulting in pulmonary edema. Several studies have suggested that angiopoietin-1 and -2 play a contributory role in the pathogenesis of ALI. Polymyxin B-immobilized fiber column hemoperfusion is effective for sepsis-induced ALI. We investigated the angiopoietin levels before and after direct hemoperfusion with polymyxin B-immobilized fiber column (PMX) therapy. Enzyme-linked immunoassay was used to measure the serum angiopoietin-1 and -2 levels in 25 patients with septic shock treated with PMX. Eleven of the 25 patients were diagnosed with ALI. There was a significant positive correlation between the angiopoietin-1 level and the PaO2/FiO2 ratio, but there was a significant inverse corr...
The gliding modes of a duplex Ti-6Al-4V titanium alloy were investigated through in situ (scanning electron microscopy) tensile tests. A method based on electron back-scattering diffraction (EBSD) measurements was used to identify activated slip systems. The approach applied to a large number of grains allowed a statistical analysis of the nature (basal, prismatic, pyramidal) and distribution of the slip systems according to the crystallographic texture. A discussion concerning the pertinence of Schmid's law to explain the occurrence and succession of slip events is then proposed. The domain in favor of each type of slip system is finally presented by using inverse pole figures mapped with Schmid's factor iso-curves.
This paper investigates the relationship between environmental pollution and economic growth in China based on the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis, using Chinese provincial data over 1985?2005. Waste gas, waste water and solid wastes are used as environmental indicators and GDP is used as the economic indicator. It is found by panel cointegration test that there is a long-run cointegrating relationship between the per capita emission of three pollutants and the per capita GDP. According to comparisons with the dynamic OLS estimator and the Within OLS estimator, we find that panel cointegration estimation is preferable for all pollutants except for solid wastes. The results also show that all three pollutants are inverse U-shaped, and water pollution has been improved earlier than ga...
An improved method of generating angle-domain common-image gathers (ADCIGs) by VSP reverse time migration (RTM) is introduced in this paper. The formula which is used to compute the receiver wavefield for VSP RTM is modified by adding an amplitude correction term in order to conveniently output amplitude-preserved ADCIGs. Compared with the surface seismic data, VSP data contains much richer wavefields. However, the direct and downgoing waves can bring about serious imaging artifacts in ADCIGs, especially the direct wave. The feasibility and validity of this method is demonstrated by both numerical and real VSP data from western China. Thus, the ADCIGs from this method can provide reliable basic data for VSP migration velocity analysis, VSP AVO/AVA analysis, and inversion.
Ultra-short-pulse reflectometry is studied by means of the numerical integration of a one-dimensional full-wave equation for ordinary modes propagating in a plasma. The numerical calculations illustrate the potential of using the reflection of ultra-short-pulse, microwaves as an effective probe of the density profile even in the presence of significant density fluctuations. The difference in time delays of differing frequency components of the microwaves can be used to deduce the density profile. The modification of the reflected pulses in the presence of density fluctuations is examined and can be understood based on considerations of Bragg resonance. A simple and effective profile-reconstruction algorithm using the zero-crossings of the reflected pulse and subsequent Abel inversion is demonstrated. The robustness of the profile reconstruction algorithm in the presence of a sufficiently small amplitude density perturbation is assessed.
Problems of classification and regression estimation in which objects are represented by multidimensional arrays of features are considered. Many practical statements can be reduced to such problems, for example, the popular approach to the description of images as a set of patches and a set of descriptors in each patch or the description of an object in the form of a set of distances from it to certain support objects selected based on a set of features. For solving problems concerning the objects thus described, a generalization of the relevance vector model is proposed. In this generalization, specific regularization coefficients are defined for each dimension of the multidimensional array of the object description; the resultant regularization coefficient for a given element in the mul...
A study was undertaken of problems encountered in the use of thermal power station coal ash and red mud (an aluminium smelting residue) as a banking or filling material, the aim being the effective utilization of these substances. Like clinker, coal ash and red mud can also be used as improvers, but there are various problems such as absorption swelling, strong alkalinity, and the difficulty of controlling the moisture content. Certain measures have to be carried out in on-site use to combat these problems. (11 refs.)
... If the terminal classes were to be information sources ... current credibility of inputs by classes of terminals; the most ... the stochastic queue lengths. ...
... Effect of checkpointing and queueing on program performance ... and a large class of stochastic linear ... problem is intrinsically related to K-terminal ...
... operation, experimental data reduction, and application of PES results to studies related to estuarine and coastal sediment transport problems are ...
This paper presents a new algorithm for the optimal long-range generation planning for a thermal system with pumped-storage plants. The algorithm is based upon the analytical production costing model developed under the assumption of Gaussian probabilistic distribution of random load fluctuations and plant outages. The optimization problem consists of the master problem to determine the annual investment, and the pumped-storage subproblem to determine the optimal pumped-storage operation. The master problem is formulated as a Hamiltonian minimization problem, and the pumped-storage subproblem is solved using the concept of peak-shaving operation on the original load curve.
This paper presents a new algorithm for the optimal long-range generation planning for a thermal system with pumped-storage plants. The algorithm is based upon the analytical production costing model developed under the assumption of Gaussian probabilistic distribution of random load fluctuations and plant outages. The optimization problem consists of the master problem to determine the annual investment, and the pumped-storage subproblem to determine the optimal pumped-storage operation. The master problem is formulated as a Hamiltonian minimization problem, and the pumped-storage subproblem is solved using the concept of peak-shaving operation on the original load curve.
... Progress: For a one-dimensional two-phase degenerate Stefan problem, it was proved that the boundary and the solutions up to the boundary are C ...
In this paper the reader is asked to engage in some simple problem-solving in classical pure number theory and to then describe, on the basis of a series of questions, what it is like to solve the problems. In the recent philosophy of mind this ?what is it like? question is one way of signaling a turn to phenomenological description. The description of what it is like to solve the problems in this paper, it is argued, leads to several morals about the epistemology and ontology of classical pure mathematical practice. Instead of simply making philosophical judgments about the subject matter in advance, the exercise asks the reader to briefly engage in a mathematical practice and to then reflect on the practice.
The quality of fuel oils is discussed. The problems that the fuel oil marketer must deal with that relate to the quality of the fuel oil are described.
... Problems investigated in various basic hollowness ratios include ultimate compressive strength, fatigue properties, buckling characteristics, and ...
... in the design of such devices as fusion reactors, magnetohydrodynamic generators, magnetically levitated vehicles, magnetic forming devices, and ...
This paper considers location?allocation problem in the real uncertain world and develops a possibilistic non-linear programming model to deal with this problem. Fuzzy decision making in fuzzy environment concept is used to determine possibility distribution of location and allocation variables. To solve this model, a novel approach based on genetic algorithm structure is developed. As the proposed model includes both deterministic (location) and uncertain (allocation) parameters, the developed solution algorithm uses a hybrid chromosome structure. Also, to cover continuous nature of the problem and prevent GA from early convergence, a new crossover operator is introduced. Finally, performance of the developed algorithm is evaluated by an example.
... A control design methodology enabling the adaptive neural augmentation. ... As an example, the problem of designing a neural augmentation system. ...
... A classic example is rewriting the missionaries and cannibals (M and C) problem [Ama68] phrased in terms of individuals into a formulation that is ...
02.10.10 - NASA and Texas Instruments are using the theme of human space exploration to develop digital libraries of math and science problems for high ...
We solve an R -linear problem for a multiple-connected circular domain in a class of doubly periodic functions in analytic form by a method of functional equations. This problem models transport properties of two-dimensional composite materials made from a collection of disks embedded in an otherwise uniform host.
We solve an R -linear problem for a multiple-connected circular domain in a class of doubly periodic functions in analytic form by a method of functional equations. This problem models transport properties of two-dimensional composite materials made from a collection of disks embedded in an otherwise uniform host.
Researchers investigated several supercomputer architectures in the context of assessing their performance in solving PDE problems. Main results are: assessed various classes of paralled and vector supercomputers and parallel software issues toward solving PDE problems; developed a multipipeline networking technique for compound vector processing; developed an orthogonal multiprocessor for large-grain scientific computations; improved parallel efficiency of a domain decomposition method, the DD algorithm.
The spin-up problem of He II in a cylindrical container of infinite and finite height is considered on the basis of the Hall-Vinen-Bekarevich-Khalatnikov equations. The boundary conditions include the assumption of the generation of superfluid vorticity at the walls of the container. In the lowest order approximation with respect to viscosity, the problem is reduced to a Stefan problem for a single diffusion-type equation. Examples of solutions are given which show that the method used gives a good insight into the physical development of the spin-up flow.
The classical stochastic approximation methods are shown to yield algorithms to solve several formulations of the PAC learning problem defined on the domain [o,1]{sup d}. Under some assumptions on different ability of the probability measure functions, simple algorithms to solve some PAC learning problems are proposed based on networks of non-polynomial units (e.g. artificial neural networks). Conditions on the sizes of these samples required to ensure the error bounds are derived using martingale inequalities.
We address the problem of propositional logic-based abduction, i.e., the problem of searching for a best explanation for a given propositional observation according to a given propositional knowledge base. We give a general algorithm, based on the notion of projection; then we study restrictions over the representations of the knowledge base and of the query, and find new polynomial classes of abduction problems.
The paper shortly recapitulates the background to and the importance of the principle of channeling of liability to the operator, contained in the international Conventions in the field of nuclear liability. It tries to outline the main problems involved in the process of backfitting in some more detail and to describe part of the work that has been done in Sweden and elsewhere to try to solve them. Finally, the paper contains some concluding remarks indicating that no entirely satisfactory solution to the problem is presently at hand. (orig./HP)
The current methods used by the tissue analysis program at LASL for the determination of americium and plutonium in autopsy tissue are described. Problems affecting radiochemical yield are discussed. Included are problems associated with sample preparation, separation of plutonium from large amounts of bone ash, and reagent contamination. The average "2"4"2Pu tracer yield for 1800 Pu determinations is 78 +- 12%. The average "2"4"2Am tracer yield is 85 +- 7% for 40 determinations.
The current methods used by the tissue analysis program at LASL for the determination of americium and plutonium in autopsy tissue are described. Problems affecting radiochemical yield are discussed. Included are problems associated with sample preparation, separation of plutonium from large amounts of bone ash, and reagent contamination. The average /sup 242/Pu tracer yield for 1800 Pu determinations is 78 +- 12%. The average /sup 242/Am tracer yield is 85 +- 7% for 40 determinations.
Novice problem solvers are rather sensitive to surface problem features, and they often resort to trial and error formula matching rather than identifying an appropriate solution approach. These observations have been interpreted to imply that novices structure their knowledge according to surface features rather than according to problem type categories. However, it may also be the case that novices do know problem types, but cannot map the problem at hand to a known type, because they fail to create a sufficiently well-elaborated problem representation. This study aims to distinguish between these explanations. In this study novice physics students at high and low levels of proficiency completed two problem-sorting tasks from the domain of electricity and magnetism, one with and one without elaboration support. Results confirm that these ...
The network utility maximization (NUM) problem for multi-path is a problem which is non-strictly convex and non-separable. Using Jensen's inequality, we approximate the NUM to a strictly convex and separable problem which can be solved efficiently by the dual decomposition method. After a series of approximations, the result of the approximation problem converges to the globally optimal solution of the original NUM. Moreover, because of the separable and dual-based natures of the proposed algorithm, we utilize the reverse engineering frameworks of the current TCPs to develop a series of multi-path TCPs which are totally compatible with current TCPs. The multi-path users using our protocols can run simultaneously with the single-path users using the current TCPs. The simulations of our Multi-path Reno on ns-2 show the compatibility and the fairness among multi-path and single-path users.
Very large sparse linear least-squares problems arise in a variety of applications, such as geodetic network adjustments, photogrammetry, earthquake studies, and certain types of finite element analysis. Many of these problems are so large that it is impossible to solve them without using auxiliary storage devices. Some problems are so massive that the storage needed for their solution exceeds the virtual address space of the largest machines. A method for solving such problems on a typical (large) computer is described, and the results of some experiments illustrating the effectiveness of this approach are provided. The method includes an automatic partitioning scheme that is essential to the efficient management of the data on auxiliary files. 8 figures, 2 tables
A nonlinear free boundary-value problem of supercavitating flow past n + 1 hydrofoils is analyzed. To describe the cavities' closure mechanism, the Tulin-Terentev single-spiral-vortex model is employed. The flow domain is considered as the image of an (n + 1)-connected circular domain. The conformal map is constructed in terms of the solutions to two Riemann-Hilbert problems of the theory of symmetric automorphic functions. One of the problems is homogeneous and its coefficients are continuous functions while the second problem is inhomogeneous and has discontinuous coefficients. The exact solutions to the problems are found by using quasiautomorphic and quasimultiplicative analogs of the Cauchy kernel. The case of a single plate is considered in detail and the numerical results are report...
Heterogeneous anisotropic diffusion problems arise in the various areas of science and engineering including plasma physics, petroleum engineering, and image processing. Standard numerical methods can produce spurious oscillations when they are used to solve those problems. A common approach to avoid this difficulty is to design a proper numerical scheme and/or a proper mesh so that the numerical solution validates the discrete counterpart (DMP) of the maximum principle satisfied by the continuous solution. A well known mesh condition for the DMP satisfaction by the linear finite element solution of isotropic diffusion problems is the non-obtuse angle condition that requires the dihedral angles of mesh elements to be non-obtuse. In this paper, a generalization of the condition, the so-called anisotropic non-obtuse angle condition, is developed for the finite element solution of heterogeneous anisotropic diffusion ...
B vitamins and polymorphisms in genes coding for enzymes involved in one-carbon metabolism may affect DNA synthesis and methylation and thereby be implicated in carcinogenesis. Previous data on vitamins B2 and B6 and genetic polymorphisms other than those involving MTHFR as risk factors for gastric cancer (GC) are sparse and inconsistent. In this case-control study nested within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition cohort, cases (n = 235) and controls (n = 601) were matched for study center, age, sex, and time of blood sampling. B2 and B6 species were measured in plasma, and the sum of riboflavin and flavin mononucleotide was used as the main exposure variable for vitamin B2 status, whereas the sum of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, pyridoxal, and 4-pyridoxic acid was used to define vitamin B6 status. In addition, we determined eight polymorphisms related to one-carbon metabolism. Relative risks for GC risk were calculated with conditional logistic regression, ...
A new generation of quasimonochromatic high-flux X-ray sources, based on the X-ray radiation produced through Compton scattering between an electron beam and a laser beam, is under development. One of the possible applications of this source is inline phase contrast mammography, based on the observation of the edge-enhancement effect that can be observed at the border of structures inside the breast in images produced using a partially or totally coherent X-ray beam. In this work we present the results of a set of simulations of inline phase contrast mammography using typical inverse Compton scattering sources parameters. The simulated sample was a tumour-like mass having spherical shape, diameter between 200 {mu}m and 5 mm, placed inside a breast-like matrix, 4 cm thick, and a standard composition of 50% glandular tissue and 50% adipose tissue. We discuss the minimum requirements for mammography using inverse Compton scattering sources and we ...
In the invar alloy (Fe{sub 0.65}Ni{sub 0.35}){sub 1-} {sub x} Mn {sub x} we measured the magnetic form factor s(Q) and the intermediate scattering function s(Q,t) for a sample close to the critical Mn concentration (x {sub c}=0.139), at which the sample turns to a re-entrant spin glass phase. The aim was to check whether the magnetic behaviour would approach the Q-independent relaxation behaviour of a classical spin glass when x=x {sub c}. The experiment showed a quite similar spin freezing as for a more ferromagnetic sample with x=0.113. The intermediate scattering function and the form factor were determined by paramagnetic NSE. The normalized scattering function S(Q,t)=s(Q,t)/s(Q)=exp[(-{gamma}t) {sup n}] was fitted by stretched exponential decay. As a function of temperature T<200 K the inverse time constant {gamma} showed the change of more than four orders of magnitude from frozen spin glass (T=60 K to T=100 K), where the ferromagnetic phase occurred. ...
With accurate calculation algorithms in inverse planning for beamlet-based intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), it takes time to calculate the dose matrix, which represents the dose distribution of each beamlet element to each voxel for unit fluence. To reduce the calculation time, coarse or approximate algorithms are often a choice, but this results in a final dose distribution that cannot reflect the real value. In addition, it is necessary to test if a coarse algorithm is capable of calculating the dose matrix of beamlets. In this work, simulated dynamics optimization algorithm was applied to optimize the segment weight to minish the dose error from the dose matrix calculation. After calculating the dose matrix by ray-tracing algorithm which takes into account just the primary component of absorbed dose, the original beam profile intensity distribution was optimized by using the simulated dynamics algorithm. Before segmentation, the even-spaced algorithm and ...
The single-axis portion of a three-axis superconducting gravity gradiometer has been completed in the course of this research. The theory of the superconducting gravity gradiometer has been generalized and put into a Lagrangian formulation. A condition for frequency-independent common mode balance combined with a multi-stage vibration isolation scheme has enabled a stable operation of the gradiometer for prolonged periods. In a preliminary test, the gradiometer has exhibited a noise level of 1-2 E Hz"-/sup 1/2/ below 1 Hz, limited by seismic noise, where 1 E = 10"-"9 m s"-"2 m"-"1. To perform a test of the inverse square law, the single-axis gradiometer is mounted with its axis tilted from the vertial by an angle tan"-"1 #sq root#2. The device is then turned incrementally by 120"0 around the vertical to carry the gradiometer from one axis to the other two axes of an orthogonal coordinate system. A lead pendulum weighing 1600 kg forms a periodic monopole source of ...
The transmutation of minor actinides in-reactor is one solution currently being studied for the long time management of nuclear waste. In the heterogeneous concept the radionuclides are incorporating in an inert ceramic matrix. The support material must be insensitive to radiation damage. Fission product damage is the main radiation damage source during the transmutation process and therefore it is of the utmost importance to study their effects. We irradiated spinels MgAl_2O_4 (matrix of reference) and ZnAl_2O_4 by fast ions (by example: (86)Kr of approximately 400 MeV) simulating the fission products. Under these conditions, the damage is primarily due to the electronic energy losses (Se). One of the structural features of spinel AB_2O_4 is that the two cations (A(2+) and B(3+)) can exchange their site. This phenomenon is quantified by the inversion parameter. We highlight by XRD in grazing incidence that the structural changes observed in MgAl_2O_4 correspond to ...
Purpose: To analyze p53, bcl-2, c-myc, and cyclooxygenase-2 protein expression changes and examine their relationship with various antioxidant enzymes in esophageal carcinoma patients. Methods and Materials: Patients in Group 1 underwent transhiatal esophagectomy and those in Group 2 were administered chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery after 4 weeks of neoadjuvant therapy. Results: The relationship analysis among the various protein markers and antioxidant enzymes showed an inverse correlation between bcl-2 and superoxide dismutase/catalase in tumor tissues, irrespective of the treatment arm followed. An important positive association was observed between bcl-2 and reduced glutathione levels in the tumor tissue of patients receiving neoadjuvant therapy. Another apoptosis-modulating marker, c-myc, in the tumor tissue of Group 2 patients showed similar pattern levels (high and low) as that of superoxide dismutase/catalase. The association of cyclooxygenase-2 and ...
A method of reconstructing three-dimensional, in vivo dose distributions delivered by intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) is presented. A proof-of-principle experiment is described where an inverse-planned IMRT treatment is delivered to an anthropomorphic phantom. The exact position of the phantom at the time of treatment is measured by acquiring megavoltage CT data with the treatment beam and a research prototype, flat-panel, electronic portal imaging device. Immediately following CT imaging, the planned IMRT beams are delivered using the multiple-static field technique. The delivered fluence is sampled using the same detector as for the CT data. The signal measured by the portal imaging device is converted to primary fluence using an iterative phantom-scatter estimation technique. This primary fluence is back-projected through the previously acquired megavoltage CT model of the phantom, with inverse attenuation correction, to yield an ...
INTRODUCTION. We searched for a pathophysiologically based feature of major water electrolytes, which may define water quality better than the water hardness, respecting urinary calculus formation. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Utilizing a multistage stratified sampling, 2310 patients were diagnosed in the imaging centers of the provincial capitals in Iran between 2007 and 2008. These were composed of 1755 patients who were settled residents of 24 provincial capitals. Data on the regional drinking water composition, obtained from an accredited registry, and their relationships with the region's incidence of urinary calculi were evaluated by metaregression models. The stone risk index (defined as the ratio of calcium to magnesium-bicarbonate product in drinking water) was used to assess the risk of calculus formation. RESULTS. No correlation was found between the urinary calculus incidence and the amount of calcium, bicarbonate, or the total hardness of the drinking water. In contrast, water ...
This thesis develops methods for recording and analysis of seismo-acoustic interface waves for determination of shear wave velocity as a function of depth and includes this in standard refraction seismic surveying. It investigates different techniques for estimation of dispersion characteristics of the interface waves and demonstrates that multi sensor spectral estimation techniques improve the dispersion estimates. The dispersion estimate of the fundamental interface wave mode is used as input to an object function for a model based linearized inversion. The inversion scheme provides an estimate of the shear wave velocity as a function of depth. Three field surveys were performed. Data were acquired with a standard bottom deployed refraction seismic hydrophone array containing 24 or 48 receivers, with a receiver spacing of 2.5 m. Explosive charges were used as sources. The recording time was increased from 0.5 to 8 s, compared to standard ...
Objective. To compare turbo inversion recovery magnitude (TIRM) with standard T1-weighted (T1-W) and T2-weighted (T2-W) MR sequences in the very early detection of acute osteomyelitis in children. Materials and methods. In 15 children with osteomyelitis, 15 sets of T1-W spin-echo (SE) (TR/TE, 400-640/12-17), T2-W turbo spin-echo (TSE) (TR/TE/ETL, 3290-4465/112-120/11), and TIRM (TR/TE/TI, 4000-6120/60/160) images were acquired with a 1.0-T magnet. Contrast-to-noise (C/N) ratios and percentage of signal between lesion and normal bone marrow were analysed with a computer-assisted image analysing system in a region of interest (ROI). Results. In 13 of 15 patients, the absolute signal enhancement in a ROI on the TIRM images was better than on the T1-W SE and T2-W TSE images and in 14 of 15 cases, C/N ratios were also better on the TIRM images than on the other sequences. In the other cases, the TIRM signal was diagnostically equivalent. On the TIRM images, the signal ...
The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of femoral marrow MR imaging as predictor of outcome for hemopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in beta-thalassemia major. MR imaging of the proximal femur, including T1- and T2-weighted spin echo and short-tau inversion recovery and in-phase and out-of-phase fast field echo images, was prospectively performed in 27 thalassemia major patients being prepared for HSCT. The area of red marrow and its percentage of the proximal femur were measured, and the presence of marrow hemosiderosis was assessed. Age-adjusted multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the relationship between red marrow area percentage and marrow hemosiderosis and HSCT outcome. Red area percentage were less in patients with successful (90.25{+-}4.14%) compared to unsuccessful transplants (94.54% {+-}2.93%; p=0.01). Red marrow area percentage correlated positively with duration of symptoms(r=0.428, p=0.026) and serum ferritin ...
We present an image of the rupture propagation of the 2004 M6.0 Parkfield earthquake using records from a dense network of local strong motion stations. We back-propagate high-frequency waveforms in 3D with a method, similar to reverse time migration, to obtain an estimate of the distribution of radiated high-frequency seismic energy in space and time. The image is forced to be coherent at the known hypocenter location and the quake origin time by applying small static time shifts obtained using waveform cross-correlation. We observe that the Parkfield earthquake radiated a distinct secondary high-frequency phase, which is located about 12.5~km northwest of the hypocenter with an onset of seismic radiation about 5~s after the rupture initiation. The time history of the back-projection suggests a rupture velocity of 2.5~km/s between hypocenter and subevent. The back-projection result is confirmed by inversion of picked arrival times of the secondary event clearly ...
The centre of the symmetric group algebra $\\mathbb{C}[\\mathfrak{S}_n]$ has been used successfully for studying important problems in enumerative combinatorics. These include maps in orientable surfaces and ramified covers of the sphere by curves of genus $g$, for example. However, the combinatorics of some equally important $\\mathfrak{S}_n$-factorization problems forces $k$ elements in $\\{1,...,n\\}$ to be distinguished. Examples of such problems include the star factorization problem, for which $k=1,$ and the enumeration of 2-cell embeddings of dipoles with two distinguished edges \\cite{VisentinWieler:2007} associated with Berenstein-Maldacena-Nastase operators in Yang-Mills theory \\cite{ConstableFreedmanHeadrick:2002}, for which $k=2.$ Although distinguishing these elements obstructs the use of central methods, these problems may be encoded algebraically in the centralizer ...
Many problems in physics necessitate the solution of equations which develop sharp gradients, such as shocks. These include atmospheric shocks near the earth's surface, plasma physics phenomena, both in the laboratory and in space, combustion, petroleum reservoir modelling, and light propagation in glass fibers. To deal with this situation, methods are needed which place a high density of nodes in the neighborhoods of the steep gradients. One of the most promising of these methods is the moving finite element method which was first invented by Miller. This approach, in which the nodes are moved so as to minimize the residual error, has been used successfully by Gelinas, Doss, and co-workers to study several different one-dimensional problems and shows great promise as well in dealing with two dimensions. A paper describing the one-dimensional results has already been published, and a paper describing the two-dimensional results is in ...
A fuzzy-decision-making procedure is applied to find the optimal feed policy of a fed-batch fermentation process for fuel ethanol production using a genetically engineered Saccharomyces yeast 1400 (pLNH33). The policy consisted of feed flow rate, feed concentration, and fermentation time. The recombinant yeast 1400 (pLNH33) can utilize glucose and xylose simultaneously to produce ethanol. However, the parent yeast utilizes glucose only. A partially selective model is used to describe the kinetic behavior of the process. In this study, this partially selective fermentation process is formulated as a general multiple-objective optimal control problem. By using an assigned membership function for each of the objectives, the general multiple-objective optimization problem can be converted into a maximizing decision problem. In order to obtain a global solution, a hybrid method of differential evolution is introduced to solve ...
During the 2007 Niigataken Chuetsu-oki earthquake, strong ground motion with the peak acceleration of 680 cm/s/s which was larger than that of the empirical prediction was recorded at the base mat of the No.1 reactor building of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Station (NPS). Furthermore, in the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa NPS, over twice difference of 680 vs. 322 cm/s/s of peak acceleration between the No.1 and the No.6 reactor buildings was observed on the base mat. From the results of recent research, it is suggested that the deep sedimentary layers can be one of the important factors to elucidate these phenomena. In this study, at first, the applicability of microtremor array measurements for estimation of deep S-wave velocity structure (#approx#Vs=3 km/s layer) are discussed. Vertical microtremors were observed in three arrays at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa NPS with the maximum station spacings of 3.04 km, 1.49 km and 0.75 km, respectively. The Rayleigh wave phase velocity in a frequency range ...
The study is concerned with the Stefan problem of evaporation of a volatile component from its solution with a virtually non-volatile material. The analysis provides an analytical solution to the problem based on mass-transfer fundamentals. Results yield the evaporation rate, interfacial mole fractions, concentration profiles in the gas and liquid phases, and the location of the evaporation front. The analysis can be used to provide the binary liquid diffusion coefficient of the volatile component based on experimental data for the liquid gas interface position as a function of time. The requirements for such a measurement are discussed in terms of the volatility of the evaporating component and its initial concentration in the liquid mixture.[Figure not available: see fulltext.
An account of problems arising in the use of coal ash and red mud as filling or banking materials. The soil engineering properties of these materials are explained. Problems encountered in on-site use include difficulty in controlling moisture content, absorption swelling and strongly alkaline atmospheres. For long-term use, it will be necessary to minimize the variations in engineering characteristics and in quality that result from the method of discharge and from the raw materials themselves. There must also be thorough quality control during shipment. (7 refs.) (In Japanese)
Previous research has characterized insight as the product of internal processes, and has thus investigated the cognitive and motivational processes that immediately precede it. In this research, however, we investigate whether insight can be catalyzed by a cultural artifact, an external object imbued with learned meaning. Specifically, we exposed participants to an illuminating lightbulb - an iconic image of insight - prior to or during insight problem-solving. Across four studies, exposing participants to an illuminating lightbulb primed concepts associated with achieving an insight, and enhanced insight problem-solving in three different domains (spatial, verbal, and mathematical), but did not enhance general (non-insight) problem-solving.
The problems in computer vision range from edge detection and segmentation at the lowest level to the problem of cognition at the highest level. This correspondence describes the organization and operation of a semantic network array processor (SNAP) as applicable to high level computer vision problems. The architecture consists of an array of identical cells each containing a content addressable memory, microprogram control, and a communication unit. The applications discussed in this paper are the two general techniques, discrete relaxation and dynamic programming. While the discrete relaxation is discussed with reference to scene labeling and edge interpretation, the dynamic programming is tuned for stereo.
The article presents an approach to interactively solve multi-objective optimization problems. While the identification of efficient solutions is supported by computational intelligence techniques on the basis of local search, the search is directed by partial preference information obtained from the decision maker. An application of the approach to biobjective portfolio optimization, modeled as the well-known knapsack problem, is reported, and experimental results are reported for benchmark instances taken from the literature. In brief, we obtain encouraging results that show the applicability of the approach to the described problem.
Determination of the trajectory of a phase transition front moving in a forward or reverse direction is reduced to the solution of an ordinary differential equation. A numerical check of the results shows the method to be highly accurate. The method was used recently over a period of several years to solve various problems connected with the thawing of frozen rocks and their refreezing; among the problems considered was that of the ablation of rocks during the channeling of well, in which the method invariably proved its effectiveness. This furnishes a basis for recommending it for broader usage.
The various factors that affect the open-circuit voltage ([ital V][sub oc]) of a two-terminal GaInP[sub 2]/GaAs tandem cell are examined. These include a) an anomalous problem associated with the GaAs bottom cell and b) back surface passivation of the thin GaInP[sub 2] top cell. Solutions to these problems are presented and yield tandem [ital V][sub oc]s close to the practical theoretical limits.
In this paper we consider the general, no-wait and no-idle permutation flowshop scheduling problem with deteriorating jobs, i.e., jobs whose processing times are increasing functions of their starting times. We assume a linear deterioration function with identical increasing rates for all the jobs and there are some dominating relationships between the machines. We show that the problems to minimize the makespan and the total completion time remain polynomially solvable when deterioration is considered, although these problems are more complicated than their classical counterparts without deterioration.
Different approaches to expertise and argumentation are discussed. After introducing the problem of expertise and its present day significance in a historical context, various connections with the study of arguments are highlighted. The need for and potential of argumentation analysis to contribute to existing research in social epistemology, science studies, and cognitive science, is discussed, touching on the problems of reasoning and argumentation, embodiment, tacit knowledge, expert context versus public context, expert disagreement, persuasion versus justification, and argument analysis as meta-expertise. As the arguments used by experts constitute a boundary object, we presume that a dialogue format is suitable to address central problems of the special issue ?Rethinking Arguments fr...
Corrosion is increasingly becoming an important factor reducing the reliability of many nuclear power plant components. The significance is evaluated of corrosion phenomena with respect to the reliability of primary circuit components of LWR's, viz., the reactor pressure vessel, primary piping, steam generator, and fuel elements. The mechanism of corrosion phenomena is explained and methods of minimizing their effects are presented. An analysis is made of the needs to solve the corrosion problems of nuclear power plants from the point of view of Czechoslovak producers and research and development activities. International cooperation is reviewed and main problems are formulated on which the solution of corrosion problems of structural materials used in WWER type nuclear power plants should be focussed. (author).
Problem areas in BWRs, PWRs and PHWRs, from the viewpoint of chemistry, and the problem of fission product release in nuclear reactors are discussed. These problem areas are : fuel performance, off-normal water chemistry due to condenser leaks, the transport and deposition of the activated corrosion and fission products, denting in steam generators (in the case of PWRs), ingress of air in the cover gas helium and consequent radiolysis of D_2O in the moderator circuit (in the case of PHWRs). (M.G.B.).
A hyperbolic Stefan problem based on the linearized Gurtin-Pipkin heat conduction law is considered. The temperature and free boundary are controlled by a thermostat acting on the boundary. This feedback control is based on temperature measurements performed by real thermal sensors located within the domain containing the two-phase system and/or at its boundary. Three different types of thermostats are analyzed: simple switch, relay switch, and a Preisach hysteresis operator. The resulting models lead to integrodifferential hyperbolic Stefan problems with nonlinear and nonlocal boundary conditions. Existence results are proved in all the cases. Uniqueness is also shown, except in the situation corresponding to the ideal switch.
In this paper we present a new, accurate form of the heat balance integral method, termed the combined integral method (CIM). The application of this method to Stefan problems is discussed. For simple test cases the results are compared with exact and asymptotic limits. In particular, it is shown that the CIM is more accurate than the second order, large Stefan number, perturbation solution for a wide range of Stefan numbers. In the initial examples it is shown that the CIM reduces the standard problem, consisting of a PDE defined over a domain specified by an ODE, to the solution of one or two algebraic equations. The latter examples, where the boundary temperature varies with time, reduce to a set of three first order ODEs.
This work describes a procedure for the adaptive time dependent Finite Element Method using an automatic mesh refinement (H-Version) that efficiently reduces estimated errors ( a posteriori) below pre-assigned limits. Classical model problem for steady-state heat transfer are investigated, and the results are compared with the analytical solution. Then some typical time-dependent problem are qualitatively analysed. (author) 10 refs., 7 figs.
... of Hanoi or Missionaries and Cannibals, It is not immediately obvious what constitutes a "move"--that is, what actual manipulations of the physical ...
W. Wayne Scott and R. G. Alsmiller, Jr. ABSTRACT. Comparisons of the results obtained for a hypothetical problem with four different proton penetration ...
Building complex knowledge based applications requires encoding large amounts of domain knowledge. After acquiring knowledge from domain experts, much of the effort in building a knowledge base goes into verifying that the knowledge is encoded correctly. We consider the problem of verifying hybrid knowledge bases that contain both Horn rules and a terminology in a description logic. Our approach to the verification problem is based on showing a close relationship to the problem of query containment. Our first contribution, based on this relationship, is presenting a thorough analysis of the decidability and complexity of the verification problem, for knowledge bases containing recursive rules and the interpreted predicates =, {le}, < and {ne}. Second, we show that important new classes of constraints on correct inputs and outputs can be expressed in a hybrid setting, in which a description logic ...
The avalanche quantity of the information developed by mankind has led to concept of automation of knowledge extraction - Data Mining ([1]). This direction is connected with a wide spectrum of problems - from recognition of the fuzzy set to creation of search machines. Important component of Data Mining is processing of the text information. Such problems lean on concept of classification and clustering ([2]). Classification consists in definition of an accessory of some element (text) to one of in advance created classes. Clustering means splitting a set of elements (texts) on clusters which quantity are defined by localization of elements of the given set in vicinities of these some natural centers of these clusters. Realization of a problem of classification initially should lean on the given postulates, basic of which - the aprioristic information on primary set of texts and a measure of affinity of elements and ...
The interaction between two metals, which can be either synergistic or antagonistic, implies that the behavior of one is changed by the presence of the other. Possible mechanisms of these interactions,...Full Text Available
Dengue, a major public health problem throughout subtropical and tropical regions, is an acute infectious disease characterized by biphasic fever, headache, pain in various parts of the body, prostration,...Full Text Available
This paper presents an innovative way in which university education can help pre-service teachers become better problem-solvers. The central idea is to use the ?Technology Fair?? as a means for promoting pre-service teachers pedagogical content knowledge about technological problem solving skills. This innovation is supported with results from a study carried out in autumn 2004. The purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of a procedure of working with primary school children to complete and present a technology fair project, on the educational value and meanings attached to problem solving skills by pre-service teachers. Pre-tests, mid-test and post-tests were administered to the pre-service teachers before, during, and after the preparation of the technology fair, respectiv...
The Darrieus-type Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT) presents a variety of unusual structural problems to designers. The level of understanding of these structural problems governs, to a large degree, the success or failure of today's rotor designs. A survey is presented of the technology available for rotor structural design with emphasis on the DOE research program now underway. Itemizations are included of the major structural issues unique to the VAWT along with discussion of available analysis techniques for each problem area. It is concluded that tools are available to at least approximately address the most important problems. However, experimental data for confirmation is rather limited in terms of volume and the range of rotor configurations tested.
The author attempts to clear up the causal 'paradox' often associated with the existence of tacyons. This leads to a discussion of the nature of tachyon messages and the problems involved in their interpretation. (W.D.L.).
Applications of cutting-edge estimation techniques, such as, but not limited to, sigma-point and particle filters, to spaceflight navigation problems. ...
... Missionaries and cannibals [MaC] (Newell, McDermott and Forgy, 1977, p. 63): Three missionaries and three cannibals must cross a river in a two ...
Securing the co-operation of persons supplying information required for medical statistics is essentially a problem in human relations, and an understanding of the motivations, attitudes, and behaviour...Full Text Available
... stenosis. It looks from the transesophageal and the 3-D echo that most of the problem is really ... posterior leaflet, which you can see on the 3-D echo image is a major source. The anterior ...
missionaries and cannibals puzzle. He noted that in order to be able to use a boat to cross a river one would need ... a quali cation that the vertical exhaust stack ...
A strong necessary condition is given for the principal stabiliser of the action of a compact Lie group to have a non-zero centre. An application to the monopole problem in Yang-Mills-Higgs models is discussed.
In order to provide a rational basis for the development of new insecticides, a thorough understanding of resistance mechanisms is necessary and this presupposes a detailed knowledge of the normal...Full Text Available
... And those who study cognition select problems (eg, tower of Hanoi, missionaries and cannibals, logic theorems) with minimal perceptual and motor ...
An almost linear optimization problem of importance in vibration isolation has been identified and algorithms were developed to minimize the forced vibrational response of structural systems. The constraints can be either displacements of accelerations. T...
The purpose of this paper is to relate some of the commonly encountered problems with operational procedures in the nuclear industry and offer practical suggestions for their elimination. The paper is based on recent consultant experience in assisting industry clients with human performance related design and assessment initiatives. Operational procedures are a key part of an integrated system design. Procedures provide the specified instructions for actions people are to undertake in operating a facility to achieve production and safety goals. While organizations continue to make substantial investments in procedure development and maintenance, problems with procedures continue to occur, as evidenced through operating inefficiencies, errors, and events. The paper reviews the role procedures play in facility operations, comments on current development and maintenance practices, discusses the extent of human performance related ...
BackgroundThe ongoing epidemiological transition in Mexico minimizes the relative impact of neurocysticercosis (NC) on public health. However, hard data on the disease frequency...Full Text Available
coupled heat/mass transfer Stefan problem. Taking the diffusion coefficient of Bi as a free parameter, the best fit was observed for the published value, ...
In this paper we present a complete solution to the problem of multifractal analysis of multiple ergodic averages in the case of symbolic dynamics for functions of two variables depending on the first coordinate.
Consider the set of source distributions within a fixed maximum relative entropy with respect to a given nominal distribution. Lossless source coding over this relative entropy ball can be approached in more than one way. A problem previously considered is finding a minimax average length source code. The minimizing players are the codeword lengths --- real numbers for arithmetic codes, integers for prefix codes --- while the maximizing players are the uncertain source distributions. Another traditional minimizing objective is the first one considered here, maximum (average) redundancy. This problem reduces to an extension of an exponential Huffman objective treated in the literature but heretofore without direct practical application. In addition to these, this paper examines the related problem of maximal minimax pointwise redundancy and the problem considered by Gawrychowski and Gagie, which, for a ...
Because resistance to new insecticides may develop rapidly and cross resistance is often encountered, even between insecticides of different classes, there is a continual demand for the development...Full Text Available
Since the last review of the problem of insecticide-resistance was presented in this journal at the beginning of 1958, resistance has been discovered in 16 new species, and in at least 14 species both...Full Text Available
Hexavalent chromium in corrosion preventive coating 64 ...To prevent corrosion of rims, weights can be provided with a coating. ...integrated clips brought up technical problems due to corrosion
X-Plain Heart Valve Replacement Reference Summary Introduction Sometimes people have serious problems with their heart valves. A heart valve repair or ...
... laws between particles (modeling UGV/UAV/UUV collectives) to ... A mobile robot test-bed is used in ... of this work on mobile robots executing pursuit ...
The family physician dealing with gynecologic pelvic pain (acute or chronic) enters at the beginning of the problem as diagnostician, refers the patient to a specialist in the interim, and resumes...Full Text Available
Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often have poor relationships with peers. However, research on this topic has predominantly focused on boys. This study considered child gender, ADHD status, and dimensionally assessed conduct problems as predictors of peer relationship difficulties. Participants were 125 children (ages 6-10; 67% male), 63 with clinical diagnoses of ADHD and 62 non-ADHD comparison youth. Conduct problems were reported by teachers and observed in a lab playgroup. Peer relationships were assessed by parent report, teacher report, and peer sociometric nominations in the playgroup. Results suggested that children with ADHD, as well as those with high conduct problems, displayed more impaired peer relationships than did comparison children and those ...
Two problems of Fourier analysis on GL(n,R) are studied. The first concerns the decomposition of the additive Fourier operator in terms of the group representation...Full Text Available
flow separation occurred at the junction of the tip fin and the fuselage. ...... Systems, presented at the AGARD Guidance and Control and Flight Mechanics ...
... Problem: At a glass ceramic cooktop plant, workers manually lift uncut plates of glass onto a waist-high conveyor belt, where it is then stacked ...
... defense's weapons are Space-based kinetic-kill vehicles ... I ti I obtained by dividing the weapons as ... of the optimal weapon-arge assigntments and ...
Even when a healthy individual is studied, his/her erythrocytes in capillaries continually change their shape in a synchronized erratic fashion. In this work, the problem of characterizing the cell...Full Text Available
Government policies that encourage exploitation--in particular excessive logging and clearing for ranches and farms--are largely to blame for the accelerating destruction of tropical forests. This paper surveys the problem in detail and briefly recommends potential solutions.
The dynamic response characteristics of the VAWT rotor are important factors governing the safety and fatique life of VAWT systems. The principal problems are ...
Chlamydia trachomatis has been recognized as a pathogen of trachoma, nongonococcal urethritis, salpingitis, endocervicitis, pelvic inflammatory disease, inclusion conjunctivitis of...Full Text Available
Cryptococcosis is a systemic fungal disease and meningitis is the most serious complication. The purpose of this study is to define problems related to its diagnosis and treatment. This is a retrospective...Full Text Available
The goal of this effort Composability, Provability, Reusability (CPR) for Survivability is to address the problem of composition of survivable systems. The particular objective of this project is to construct a formal specification of the Java Virtual Mac...
BackgroundNucleotide sequences and the gene arrangements of mitochondrial genomes are effective tools for resolving phylogenetic problems. Hemipteroid insects are known to possess...Full Text Available
We introduce the {\\sc classified stable matching} problem, a problem motivated by academic hiring. Suppose that a number of institutes are hiring faculty members from a pool of applicants. Both institutes and applicants have preferences over the other side. An institute classifies the applicants based on their research areas (or any other criterion), and, for each class, it sets a lower bound and an upper bound on the number of applicants it would hire in that class. The objective is to find a stable matching from which no group of participants has reason to deviate. Moreover, the matching should respect the upper/lower bounds of the classes. In the first part of the paper, we study classified stable matching problems whose classifications belong to a fixed set of ``order types.'' We show that if the set consists entirely of downward forests, there is a polynomial-time algorithm; otherwise, it is NP-complete to decide the ...
A combination of erosion and corrosion at the Victoria Junction coal preparation plant in Sydney, Nova Scotia was causing serious problems. Schedule 80 mild steel pipes were starting to fail as well as some quarter-inch steel plates in the lauders and chutes. Some corrosion tests were carried out and the high chloride level in the process water was felt to be the single most important contribution to the corrosion problem. Cast basalt was selected as a solution to the pipe wear problem. Three different types of abrasion/corrosion-resistant tiling - basalt tiles, kalceram tiles and ceramic tiles were well suited to the chloride conditions at this plant.
SummaryWe consider the problem of estimating the effect of exposure on multiple continuous outcomes, when the outcomes are measured on different scales and are nested within multiple...Full Text Available
New methods for the reduction and remediation of hazardous wastes like carcinogenic organic solvents, toxic materials, and nuclear contamination are vital to environmental health. Procedures for effective...Full Text Available
As medical schools incorporate medical informatics into their curriculum the problems of implementation arise. Because there are no standards regarding a medical informatics curriculum, medical schools...Full Text Available
We consider the problem of minimal (multiplicative) complexity of polynomial multiplication and multiplication in finite extensions of fields. For infinite fields minimal complexities are known [Winograd,...Full Text Available
Human languages evolve continuously, and a puzzling problem is how to reconcile the apparent robustness of most of the deep linguistic structures we use with the evidence that they undergo possibly...Full Text Available
... adaptive method called Shortest Queue plus Bias ... routing problem under stochastic traffic demands have ... of permits allocated to a node or terminal ...
... 3 Illustration of the hidden terminal problem in ... satellite downlink subject to stochastic power demands ... be immediately served, queueing effects are ...
AbstractA young, male miniature poodle was presented with severe neurological problems. Laboratory tests and ultrasonograph examination were consistent with extrahepatic portosystemic...Full Text Available
BackgroundMany difficult problems in evolutionary genomics are related to mutations that have weak effects on fitness, as the consequences of mutations with large effects are often...Full Text Available
This report covers the progress made on the title project for the project period. Four major areas of inquiry are being pursued. Advanced solid state NMR methods are being developed to assay the distribution of the various important functional groups that determine the reactivity of coals. Special attention is being paid to methods that are compatible with the very high magic angle sample spinning rates needed for operation at the high magnetic field strengths available today. Polarization inversion methods utilizing the difference in heat capacities of small groups of spins are particularly promising. Methods combining proton-proton spin diffusion with {sup 13}C CPMAS readout are being developed to determine the connectivity of functional groups in coals in a high sensitivity relay type of experiment. Additional work is aimed at delineating the role of methyl group rotation in the proton NMR relaxation behavior of coals.
Experiments on the depth dependence of transient enhanced diffusion (TED) of boron during rapid thermal annealing of Ge-preamorphized layers reveal a linear decrease in the diffusion enhancement between the end-of-range (EOR) defect band and the surface. This behavior, which indicates a quasi-steady-state distribution of excess interstitials, emitted from the EOR band and absorbed at the surface, is observed for annealing times as short as 1 s at 900 deg. C. Using an etching procedure we vary the distance x{sub EOR} from the EOR band to the surface in the range 80-175 nm, and observe how this influences the interstitial supersaturation, s(x). The supersaturations at the EOR band and the surface remain unchanged, while the gradient ds/dx, and thus the flux to the surface, varies inversely with x{sub EOR}. This confirms the validity of earlier modelling of EOR defect evolution in terms of Ostwald ripening, and provides conclusive evidence that the surface is the ...
Experiments on the depth dependence of transient enhanced diffusion (TED) of boron during rapid thermal annealing of Ge-preamorphized layers reveal a linear decrease in the diffusion enhancement between the end-of-range (EOR) defect band and the surface. This behavior, which indicates a quasi-steady-state distribution of excess interstitials, emitted from the EOR band and absorbed at the surface, is observed for annealing times as short as 1 s at 900 deg. C. Using an etching procedure we vary the distance x_E_O_R from the EOR band to the surface in the range 80-175 nm, and observe how this influences the interstitial supersaturation, s(x). The supersaturations at the EOR band and the surface remain unchanged, while the gradient ds/dx, and thus the flux to the surface, varies inversely with x_E_O_R. This confirms the validity of earlier modelling of EOR defect evolution in terms of Ostwald ripening, and provides conclusive evidence that the surface is the dominant ...
The kinetics of calcium sulfate crystal growth is of importance in various fields, such as geochemistry, desalination technology, petroleum industry, and water and wastewater treatment. The seeded crystal growth rate of calcium sulfate dihydrate was measured as a function of supersaturation in NaCl electrolyte solutions from 0 to 6 m at temperatures of 25, 50, 70, and 90 C. The growth followed a second-order parabolic rate law with activation energies greater than 53 kJ/mol which suggested the surface reaction as the rate-limiting step. It was observed that the rate constant and the activation energy are solution composition dependent. The rate constant increases with NaCl concentration up to 3 molal and then begins to fall slightly. The activation energy dropped from 61 kJ/mol in the pure Ca-SO[sub 4]H[sub 2]O system to 53 kJ/mol in 3.0 m NaCl solutions. The electrolyte effect was similar to the crystal solubility behavior in aqueous electrolyte solutions resulting from the variation ...
The classical theory of collisional broadening and shift parameters (?, ?) of an isolated spectral line was used to obtain simple analytical formulas for calculating both ? and ?. These formulas were obtained on the assumption that the short range interaction is effective only in the broadening while the long range is effective in the shift of the spectral line. These parameters ? and ? depend on the limiting phase shifts responsible for broadening ?b and shift ??. It was found that the values of ?b and ?? are not equal to each other as was proposed by Weisskopf ?b=??=1. The maximum and average values of ?b (?bmax, ?bav) and ?? (??max, ??av) were obtained by numerical evaluation, using different inverse power potentials. By introducing these parameters into the approximated formulas for ? and ? using Van der Waals and Lennard-Jones potential, it was found that the results of calculations for (? and ?) with different atomic transitions perturbed by different inert ...
We present 14 years of contemporaneous photometric and spectroscopic observations of 28 solar analog stars, taken with the Tennessee State University Automatic Photometric Telescopes at Fairborn Observatory and the Solar-Stellar Spectrograph at Lowell Observatory. These are the best observed and most nearly Sun-like of the targets in our magnitude-limited (V #<=# 7.5) sample. The correlations between luminosity and activity reveal the expected inverse activity-brightness correlations for active stars. Strong direct correlations between activity and brightness are not prevalent for the less active solar age stars, but are precision limited. The Sun does not appear to have unusually low photometric variability when compared with the most Sun-like inactive solar analogs. We present evidence that the activity index R'_H_K is not a good discriminant of Maunder Minimum candidate stars. On the basis of a star that appears to have transitioned from a low-variability ...
For the first time a comprehensive level and decay scheme has been obtained for a T=(5/2) nucleus in the s-d shell ("2"7Na) by using a radioactive beam and target. Particle-#gamma# and p-#gamma#-#gamma# coincidences were measured following the "1"4C("1"4C,p#gamma#)"2"7Na reaction at E_l_a_b=22 MeV. The results do not support an inversion of the 2s_1_/_2 and 1d_5_/_2 orbitals, as previously proposed for T_z#>=#3, but they do suggest an increased N=16 gap between the 2s_1_/_2 and 1d_3_/_2 orbitals due to the neutron excess. A consistent interpretation of the level scheme in terms of the s-d shell model using the USD Hamiltonian is possible below 4 MeV, but differences increase at higher excitation energies. Another interpretation is that the influences of both the p_1_/_2 and f_7_/_2 intruder orbitals increase simultaneously with increasing T, an effect not included in the USD Hamiltonian.
Because of the equivalence principle, a global measurement is necessary to distinguish gravity from acceleration of the reference frame. A gravity gradiometer is therefore an essential instrument needed for precision tests of gravity laws and for applications in gravity survey and inertial navigation. Superconductivity and SQUID (superconducting quantum interference device) technology can be used to obtain a gravity gradiometer with very high sensitivity and stability. A superconducting gravity gradiometer has been developed for a null test of the gravitational inverse-square law and space-borne geodesy. Here we present a complete theoretical model of this instrument. Starting from dynamical equations for the device, we derive transfer functions, a common mode rejection characteristic, and an error model of the superconducting instrument. Since a gradiometer must detect a very weak differential gravity signal in the midst of large platform accelerations and other ...
The highly irradiated transiting exoplanet, HAT-P-7b, currently provides one of the best opportunities for studying planetary emission in the optical and infrared wavelengths. We observe six near-consecutive secondary eclipses of HAT-P-7b at optical wavelengths with the EPOXI spacecraft. We place an upper limit on the relative eclipse depth of 0.055% (95% confidence). We also analyze Spitzer observations of the same target in the infrared, obtaining secondary eclipse depths of 0.098+/-0.017%, 0.159+/-0.022%, 0.245+/-0.031% and 0.225+/-0.052% in the 3.6, 4.5, 5.8 and 8.0 micron IRAC bands respectively. We combine these measurements with the recently published Kepler secondary eclipse measurement, and generate atmospheric models for the day-side of the planet that are consistent with both the optical and infrared measurements. The data are best fit by models with a temperature inversion, as expected from the high incident flux. The models predict a low optical albedo ...
The aim of this thesis is to study the coherent transport in semiconducting-superconducting junctions. The SnPb-GaAs system has been studied. It has been shown that the behaviour of this junction is controlled by the disordered area induced by the annealing of the connection near the interface. For a few resistant junction, a conductance anomaly under the gap has been observed and has been explained by a mesoscopic effect in the limit of the very high disorders. The conductance of more resistant junctions has only been bound to the properties of the very disordered area of the semiconductor. The part of the electron-electron interactions on the phase coherence length and on the conductance has been studied. The evolving of the correction of the conductance due to interactions in magnetic field has been followed. The effect of the spin degeneration suppression in CdTe and the GaAs sign inversion in Shubnikov de Haas oscillations rate has been observed. At last has ...
We propose to investigate the in-medium properties of vector $\\omega$ mesons at the normal nuclear density in Ap(pA) collisions and at higher density in AA collisions at the ITEP accelerator facility TWAC. Using of the inverse Ap kinematics will permit us to study the $\\omega$ meson production in a wide momentum interval included the not yet explored range of small meson momenta relative to the projectile nuclei where the mass modification effect in nuclear matter is expected to be the strongest. Momentum dependence of the in-medium $\\omega$ meson width will be studied in the traditional pA kinematics. We intend to use the electromagnetic calorimeter for reconstruction of the $\\omega$ meson invariant mass by detecting photons from the $\\omega \\to \\pi^{0}\\gamma \\to 3\\gamma$ decay. The model calculations and simulations with RQMD generator show feasibility of the proposed experiment. Available now intensity of the ion beams provides a possibility to collect ...
Potassium atoms in selected high-lying np Rydberg states (80 #<=# n #<=# 400) are being used as a tool to examine electron-polar molecule collisions at ultra-low energies (#approx#80 #mu#eV - 1 meV). This energy regime has not been investigated previously and is of interest because the corresponding electron de Broglie wavelength is large, #approx#1300 - 330 Angstrom, and because the collision time is comparable to the period of molecular rotation. A variety of target molecules has been studied, including simple rotors such as HF, and more complex species such as NH_3, CH_3I, CH_2Br_2 and C_6H_5NO_2. These targets encompass a range of dipole moments and rotational behavior, but analysis of the data shows that in each case the cross section #sigma#(#epsilon#) for rotationally-inelastic electron-polar molecule scattering varies approximately as 1/#epsilon# where #epsilon# is the electron energy. Such threshold behavior is not predicted by the Born approximation and possible reasons ...
Several series of pyrimidine nucleosides were evaluated as part of a larger program to develop non-invasive brain imaging agents. The interaction of these antitumor/antiviral nucleosides with an NBMPR-sensitive murine erythroctye nucleoside transporter was evaluated by determining their inhibitory effect (K_i) on zero-trans influx of thymidine. Within each series of compounds, which had F, Cl, Br or I as halogen substituents, an increase in size of the halogen atom or a decrease in electronegativity decreased affinity for the transporter. Partition coefficients (P) of these pyrimidine nucleosides were measured to determine their potential to diffuse across the blood-brain-barrier (BBB). Most of the pyrimidine nucleosides had lower P values (log P < 0.9), and were considered to be poor candidates for simple diffusion across the BBB, although an active BBB transport mechanism for some nucleosides could be operative. For a given series, it was found that log P correlated with log 1/K_i ...
The structure and vibrational properties of high voltage cathode materials, namely LiNi{sub 1-y}CO{sub y}VO{sub 4} solid solution with (0{<=}y{<=}1), have been studied using X-ray diffraction, Raman scattering and FTIR measurements. Rietveld refinements show that LiNi{sub 1-y}Co{sub y}VO{sub 4} vanadates belong to the inverse spinel structure with Fd3m(O{sup 7}{sub h}) space group. Analysis of Raman spectra has been carried out in the molecular approximation using a local environment model including VO{sub 4} tetrahedra, (Ni, Co)O{sub 6} and LiO{sub 6} octahedra as vibrational local units. (orig.)
When a highly collimated beam of particles is aimed along the atomic rows of an aligned single crystal, the averaging effect of high speed motion results, to the lowest order of approximation, in crystal electric fields which are transverse to the atomic rows. The enormous magnitude of the crystal transverse electric fields is unsurpassed by any other known earth-bound macroscopic sources. For example, the field strengths along the <100> axis of tungsten at 77 K approach 9{center dot}10{sup 13}V/m. Thus quantum electrodynamic (QED) processes in strong fields which are thought to occur only in the extra-terrestrial environment can now be investigated in the laboratory. Here we review the results of measurements performed at the SPS facility in CERN using highly collimated beams of electrons, positrons and photons in the 20-200 GeV range, and germanium crystals cooled to 77 K with thicknesses ranging from 0.07 mm to 1.40 mm. The focus is on the simplest electrodynamic processes of ...
In the present study, the authors examine the interactions of pentavalent technetium ions (TcO/sup 3+/) with the basic form of the lasalocid A in pure methanol solvent and in methanol-water mixtures. There are a number of reasons for such a study. First, the interactions of technetium ions with biologically important compounds are of considerable importance owing to the widespread use of /sup 99m/Tc in diagnostic radio-imaging. Second, lasalocid A is known to transport metal ions across phospholipid bilayer membranes and between the aqueous cores of phospholipid inverse micelles. Third, lasalocid A is known to bind and solubilize metal ions in bulk organic liquid phases. Fourth, the conformation adopted by lasalocid A on interaction with TcO/sup 3+/ appears to be different than those found in most other cases and circumstances. Fifth, it may also be possible to use the competition of TcO/sup 3+/ with other, physiologically relevant cations (Na/sup +/, K/sup +/, ...
Recent experimental and theoretical studies of two-dimensional (2D) turbulence reveal that spectrally condensed turbulence which is a system of coupled large-scale coherent flow and broadband turbulence, is similar to plasma turbulence near the L-H transition threshold. Large condensate vortices fed via the turbulent inverse energy cascade, can control both the level of the broadband turbulence by shear decorrelation, and the energy injected into turbulence at the forcing scale via sweeping of the forcing-scale vortices. The interaction between these ingredients of spectrally condensed fluid turbulence is in many aspects similar to the interactions in the zonal flow-GAMs-turbulence system in plasma. In this paper we overview recent results on condensed 2D turbulence and present evidence of interaction between its three components: condensate structures, turbulence and forcing-scale vortices. This is compared with the modifications in the spectra of plasma ...
We study the spin dependence of accretion onto rotating Kerr black holes using analytic techniques. In its linear regime, angular momentum transport in MHD turbulent accretion flow involves the generation of radial magnetic field connecting plasma in a differentially rotating flow. We take a first principles approach, highlighting the constraint that limits the generation and amplification of radial magnetic fields, stemming from the transfer of energy from mechanical to magnetic form. Because the energy transferred in magnetic form is ultimately constrained by gravitational potential energy or Killing energy, the spin dependence of the latter allows us to derive spin-dependent constraints on the success of the accreting plasma to expel its angular momentum. We find an inverse relationship between this ability and black hole spin. If this radial magnetic field generation forms the basis for angular momentum transfer in accretion flows, accretion rates involving ...
The human smooth muscle myosin heavy chain locus (MYH11) was mapped by fluorescence in situ hybridization to the middle of the p arm of chromosome 16 using a genomic cosmid clone containing coding sequences of the gene as probe. Probe from coding sequence, when applied to Southern blots of a panel of hybrids containing different portions of human chromosome 16, localized the gene to 16p13.13-13.12. Coding sequence PCR primers, when used on the DNA from a CHO-mouse hybrid clone mapping panel informative for mouse chromosomes, showed that the gene was located on mouse chromosome 16. These results correct a recent assignment of MYH11 from 16q12.2 to the region of the 16p-arm inversion breakpoint seen in acute myelomonocytic leukemia (AMML) M4Eo and demonstrate that the conflicting data do not result from the presence of additional MYH genes on the q arm of the chromosome. Also, a new region of conserved synteny between human 16p and mouse 16 is established. 10 refs., ...
The meeting was arranged into the following sessions: introductory; advanced ceramics and ceramic composites; ceramic and metal matrix composites; electronic materials and devices; acoustoelasticity, stress, and texture; composites-porosity, strength, and UT propagation; process modeling and monitoring; thermal wave physics; material properties, composites, surfaces, and interfaces; acoustic emission; ferromagnetic materials; new sensors; NDE reliability assessment; elastic wave scattering and propagation; image analysis, data storage, and signal processing; UT transducers; weldments and bonded materials; eddy current models; unified life cycle engineering; x rays, CT, and NMR; eddy current probes and instruments; acoustic microscopy imaging, and reconstruction; signal processing, measurement techniques, and systems; NDE applications of artificial intelligence; crack behavior influenced by history; inversion procedures for UT and EC; process control and material ...
One of the most effective removing processes of iodine species is what is called ''Iodox Process'', which contains oxidation and absorption of iodine species by highly concentrated nitric acid. The result of fundamental test with bubble column in this process had been reported. Present paper describes the fundamental experiment by the use of packed column. This experiment has been carried out to clear the effect of feed gas flow rate, nitric acid flow rate, nitric acid concentration, and methyl iodide concentration on removal efficiency of methyl iodide. The following results were obtained. The decontamination factor of methyl iodide (DF) increases exponentially with nitric acid concentration, which agrees with the result obtained by using the bubble column. The factor is in inverse proportion to feed gas flow rate, and is also almost independent of nitric acid flow rate and methyl iodide concentration. The relation between the decontamination factor and the ...
We systematically develop real Paley-Wiener theory for the Fourier transform on R^d for Schwartz functions, L^p-functions and distributions, in an elementary treatment based on the inversion theorem. As an application, we show how versions of classical Paley-Wiener theorems can be derived from the real ones via an approach which does not involve domain shifting and which may be put to good use for other transforms of Fourier type as well. An explanation is also given why the easily applied classical Paley-Wiener theorems are unlikely to be able to yield information about the support of a function or distribution which is more precise than giving its convex hull, whereas real Paley-Wiener theorems can be used to reconstruct the support precisely, albeit at the cost of combinatorial complexity. We indicate a possible application of real Paley-Wiener theory to partial differential equations in this vein and furthermore we give evidence that a number of real ...
The statistical properties of the bid-ask spread of a frequently traded Chinese stock listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange are investigated using the limit-order book data. Three different definitions of spread are considered based on the time right before transactions, the time whenever the highest buying price or the lowest selling price changes, and a fixed time interval. The results are qualitatively similar no matter linear prices or logarithmic prices are used. The average spread exhibits evident intraday patterns consisting of a big L-shape in the morning and a small L-shape in the afternoon. The distributions of the spread with different definitions decay as power laws. The tail exponents of spreads at transaction level are well within the interval $(2,3)$ and that of average spreads are well in line with the inverse cubic law for different time intervals. Based on the detrended fluctuation analysis, we find evidence of long memory in the bid-ask spread ...
We examined whether proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) could provide accurate information on histological grade and cell proliferation in astrocytomas. We studied 23 patients with astrocytomas: five grade II, 10 grade III and eight with grade IV (glioblastoma multiforme). We performed proton MRS and determined the Ki-67 labeling index (LI), a tumour proliferation marker, in the same areas of the astrocytomas, and examined the statistical relationship between proton MRS and Ki-67 LI. The N-acetylaspartate (NAA)/creatine-phosphocreatine (Cr) and NAA/choline (Cho)-containing compound ratios were always significantly lower and the Cho/Cr ratios significantly higher than those for normal brain. The Cho/Cr ratio correlated positively and the NAA/Cho ratio inversely with Ki-67 LI. These findings suggest that the Cho signal in proton MRS reflects cellular proliferation. In Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, there was no significant difference between high (> 2.0, ...
Abstract Lithium-indium oxide is one of the candidate materials as solid-state scintillators for solar neutrinos due to an inverse --decay of 115In to 115Sn. On the other hand, when doped with rare-earth ions such as Eu3+ or Sm3+, it becomes a promising phosphor material. In this report we present a simple solid-state procedure for preparation of LiInO2:Eu3+ powders. X-ray diffraction confirmed prod-uct in tetragonal structural form (space group: I41/amd) and no impurity phases were detected. Then, high resolution photoluminescence emission measurements were performed at room and low temperatures to find 5D0 - 7FJ. Emission kinetics from 5D0 level exhibited pure single exponential behavior with lifetime of about 1.5 ms. Maximum energy splitting of 7F1 manifold is recorded as a function of ...
It is shown that the physical interpretation of Elie Cartan three-dimensional space torsion as couple asymmetric stress, has the effect of damping, previously Riemannian unstable Couette planar shear flow, leading to stability of the flow in the Lagrangean sense. Actually, since the flow speed is inversely proportional to torsion, it has the effect of causing a damping in the planar flow atenuating the instability effect. In this sense we may say that Cartan torsion induces shear viscous asymmetric stresses in the fluid, which are able to damp the instability of the flow. The stability of the flow is computed from the sectional curvature in non-Riemannian three-dimensional manifold. Marginal stability is asssumed by making the sectional non-Riemannian curvature zero, which allows us to determine the speeds of flows able to induce this stability. The ideas discussed here show that torsion plays the geometrical role of magnetic field in hydromagnetic instability of ...
A dilute tungsten heavy alloy consisting of 50W-35Ni-15Fe (wt pct) was liquid phase sintered at 1,500 C for times ranging from 30 to 960 minutes. This alloy corresponds to a nominal solid content of 20 vol pct at the sintering temperature. Because of the excess liquid, the alloy densified easily and exhibited extensive liquid-solid separation due to the density difference between the phases. The solid content at the compact bottom ranged from 45 to 70 vol pct over position and time. The microstructure of the settled region was quantified for volume fraction of tungsten, grain size, connectivity, and settled solid angle of repose. These results provide a basis for extending the microstructural parameters to possible microgravity conditions. The grain growth rate constant varies with the inverse 2/3 power of the volume fraction of liquid, possibly reflecting combined coalescence and solution-reprecipitation processes. This volume-fraction effect on the ...
A dilute tungsten heavy alloy consisting of 50W-35Ni-15Fe (wt pct) was liquid phase sintered at 1,500 C for times ranging from 30 to 960 minutes. This alloy corresponds to a nominal solid content of 20 vol pct at the sintering temperature. Because of the excess liquid, the alloy densified easily and exhibited extensive liquid-solid separation due to the density difference between the phases. The solid content at the compact bottom ranged from 45 to 70 vol pct over position and time. The microstructure of the settled region was quantified for volume fraction of tungsten, grain size, connectivity, and settled solid angle of repose. These results provide a basis for extending the microstructural parameters to possible microgravity conditions. The grain growth rate constant varies with the inverse 2/3 power of the volume fraction of liquid, possibly reflecting combined coalescence and solution-reprecipitation processes. This volume-fraction effect on the ...
The National Survey and Cadastre - Denmark (KMS) has for several years produced gravity anomaly maps over the oceans derived from satellite altimetry. During the last four years, KMS has also conducted airborne gravity surveys along the coast of Greenland dedicated to complement the existing onshore gravity coverage and fill in new data in the very-near coastal area, where altimetry data may contain gross errors. The airborne surveys extend from the coastline to approximately 100 km offshore, along 6000 km of coastline. An adequate merging of these different data sources is important for the use of gravity data especially, when computing geoid models in coastal regions. The presence of reliable marine gravity data for independent control offers an opportunity to study procedures for the merging of airborne and satellite data around Greenland. Two different merging techniques, both based on collocation, are investigated in this paper. Collocation offers a way of combining the individual ...
To evaluate the yield of SPIR sequences with fat suppression in the diagnosis of optic nerve lesions. T1 and T2 weighted fat suppressed SPIR imaging of the optic nerve improves anatomical definition, lesion detection and characterization in optic nerve conditions. [Italian] L'articolo analizza i vantaggi ricavabili dall'utilizzazione delle sequenze SPIR nella documentazione del decorso del nervo ottico e delle sue alterazioni nei pazienti con sospetto clinico e strumentale di malattia retrobulbare. L'utilizzo delle sequenze SPIR consente ottimale visualizzazione del nervo ottico e delle sue eventuali alterazioni senza gli artefatti che limitavano la qualita' delle immagini nelle prime sequenze RM con soppressione del segnale del grasso.
Intramuscular hermorrhage was induced by injecting autologous blood into the paraspinal muscle of 8 rabbits. In order to evaluate the time-dependent changes of hemorrhage observed on MRI, the animals were imaged at different stages of blood resolution at 0.02 tesla (T), and control examined with ultrasound using a 7.5 MHz linear transducer. Six inversion recovery sequences (TR=1 000 ms. TE=30 ms, and TI=18, 48, 148, 201, 302, and 398 ms) were used for the invivo calculation of T1 relaxation times. IR 1 000 (398)/30 imaging was performed before and after the Gd-DOTA administration. The hemorrhage was evident on MR images throughout the study, especially on the T2 weighted (SE 1 000/100) images. MRI showed the healing lesion longer than ultrasound. The T1 relaxation time increased during the time of resolution. Lesions on days 4 to 7 enhanced in intensity after the injection of Gd-DOTA. (orig.).
The Westerbork Northern Sky Survey (WENSS) and the NRAO/VLA Sky Survey (NVSS) were used to determine an upper limit to the diffuse radio flux from the nearby cluster Abell 2199. For the entire cluster, this limit is <3.25 Jy at 327 MHz from WENSS; for the inner 15' radius, the limit is <168 mJy at 1.4 GHz. These limits are used to constrain the cluster magnetic field by requiring that the radio flux be consistent with the hard X-ray (HXR) flux observed by BeppoSAX, assuming that the observed HXR excess is due to inverse Compton (IC) scattering of cosmic microwave background photons by relativistic electrons in the intracluster gas. We find that the magnetic field must be very weak (<0.073 uG) in order to avoid producing an observable radio halo. We also consider the possibility that the HXR excess is due to nonthermal bremsstrahlung (NTB) by a population of suprathermal electrons which are being accelerated to higher energies. We find that a NTB model ...
While levels of weight bias vary among individuals, it is not clear why one person possesses stronger anti-fat attitudes than another person. This investigation examined whether individual differences commonly associated with greater anti-fat bias are also associated with a greater preference for thinness among people of varying levels of weight. Young adults (62% women; 84% Caucasian) recruited from psychology classes (N=308) rated four male and female figures with approximate BMIs of 18.5, 25, 30, and 40, on measures of dislike and personality characteristics and completed measures assessing weight controllability, attitudes toward the obese, and perceptual reliance. Greater negative attitudes, weight controllability beliefs, and perceptual reliance were positively associated with greater dislike and negative personality attributes among obese/severely obese figures, but inversely related among low normal weight figures. Individuals who judge others based on ...
Computer programs have been written to allow the analysis of different types of eddy-current probes and their performance under different steam generator test conditions. The probe types include the differential bobbin probe, the absolute bobbin probe, the pancake probe and the reflection probe. The generator test conditions include tube supports, copper deposits, magnetite deposits, denting, wastage, pitting, cracking and IGA. These studies are based mostly on computed values, with the limited number of test specimens available used to verify the computed results. The instrument readings were computed for a complete matrix of the different test conditions, and then the test conditions determined as a function of the readings by a least-squares technique. A comparison was made of the errors in fit and instrument drift for the different probe types. The computations of the change in instrument reading due to the defects have led to an inversion'' ...
We discuss the impact for light neutralinos in an effective Minimal Supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model of the recent results presented by the CMS and ATLAS Collaborations at the CERN Large Hadron Collider for a search of supersymmetry in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 7 TeV with an integrated luminosity of 35 inverse pb. We find that, in the specific case of light neutralinos, efficiencies for the specific signature searched by ATLAS (jets+missing transverse energy and an isolated lepton) imply a lower sensitivity compared to CMS (which searches for jets +missing transverse energy). Focusing on the CMS bound, if squark soft masses of the three families are assumed to be degenerate, the combination of the ensuing constraint on squark and gluino masses with the experimental limit on the b to s + gamma decay imply a lower bound on the neutralino mass that can reach the value of 11.9 GeV, depending on the gluino mass. On the other ...
Coastal zones are among the most productive and vulnerable areas on the planet. An example of impact on these fragile environments was shown in the case of the Sea Empress oil tanker, which ran aground in the Bristol Channel in 1996, spilling 72,000 tonnes of Forties crude oil. The objective was to investigate the sub-lethal cellular pathology and tissue hydrocarbon contamination in marine mussel populations, 4 months after the initial spill, using the neutral red retention (NRR) assay for lysosomal stability in blood cells. NRR was reduced in mussels, and indicative of cell injury, from the two sites closest to the spill in comparison with more distant and reference sites. Lysosomal stability was inversely correlated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations in mussel tissues. Reduced lysosomal stability has previously been shown to contribute to impaired immunocompetence and to autophagic loss of body tissues. The use of this type of technique is ...
Abstract Sam68 (Src-associated protein in mitosis 68-kDa) is a multifunctional protein, known to govern cellular signal transduction, transcription, RNA metabolism, proliferation, apoptosis, and HIV-1 replication. Although intrinsic mechanisms that modulate Sam68 function are beginning to emerge, the regulatory events contributing to its expression remain elusive. We previously reported that heat shock protein-22 (Hsp22) antagonizes Sam68 function in rev-response element (RRE)-mediated gene expression. We now demonstrate that Sam68 levels correlate inversely with Hsp22 in a variety of cells, including U87, Jurkat, 293T, and U-937. In U87 glioblastoma cells, which contained high levels of Hsp22 than other cell lines tested, Hsp22 knockdown dramatically increased both Sam68 mRNA and protein,...
The inverse susceptibilities of the monopnictides and monochalcogenides of the light rare earths plotted vs. temperature flatten off at high temperatures. This behaviour is well explained by van Vleck paramagnetism of the excited states of the multiplet. For almost all actinide pnictides and chalcogenides a similar flattening-off is observed. Since spin orbit coupling is much stronger than in the light rare earth compounds an analogous interpretation is not possible. Susceptibility curves for uranium compounds can be fitted by adding a temperature dependent enhanced Pauli paramagnetism to the Curie-Weiss term (modified Curie-Weiss law). The high temperature susceptibility behaviour of neptunium compounds is very similar to uranium compounds i.e. an appreciable deviation from the Curie-Weiss law is only visible for the chalcogenides. The plutonium chalcogenides show a temperature independent paramagnetism, which can be explained either by a model of mixed valency, ...
Fault analysis is required in addition to the ordinary process of structural analysis (CDP stacking) for the examination of discontinuity in the reflection horizon in question. The fault shape restoration principle is that the reflection point of a reflection wave observed at a certain receiving point is on an ellipse with the shock point and receiving point at its focal points and that the sum of the distances between the reflection point and the focal points is equal to the reflection wave propagation time. The DMO velocity is worked out by calculation using the positive travel time and inverse travel time from the common reflection surface. When the reflection surface is inclined by {theta}, the average interval velocity/cos{theta} is called the DMO velocity. When the reflection surface inclination and the average interval velocities are determined separately in this way, the position of the reflection point may be worked out, and this enables the calculation of ...
Target vessel materials used in spallation neutron source will be exposed to proton and neutron irradiation and mercury immersion environments. In order to evaluate the surface degradation of the vessel candidate materials due to such environment, the triple-ion beam irradiation taking the spallation reaction into account and mercury immersion tests were carried out. Mechanical properties of the gradient surface layer were evaluated by the inverse analysis with multi-layer model that considers distribution of surface characteristic was applied to the load and depth curves measured by using the instrumented indentation machine. Transmission electron microscopic observations were performed to evaluate the changes of microstructure in irradiated surface layer using focused ion-beam cut micro-specimen. The mechanical properties distributions in the surface layer were evaluated quantitatively and the changes in microstructures were correspondent to the property ...
This paper deals with electron flux densities and electron energy flux densities in positive column discharges. Recent kinetic calculations by Uhrlandt and Winkler have revealed the interesting physical phenomenon of radially inward directed energy flux densities in positive column plasmas. We have used a self-consistent positive column model, based on an accurate and highly detailed Monte Carlo code, to study this effect in more depth. The results of this study show a rather complex physical picture of electron particle and energy flux densities. Electrons with low energies usually exhibit radially outward directed particle and energy flux densities. At energies above the threshold for electronic excitation particle and energy flux densities are usually inward directed. Only close to the wall, at total energies above the wall potential energy, do these flux densities point towards the wall. The thickness of this 'wall loss region' scales with the electron ...
Data are presented on the insulating properties and capacitance-voltage (CV) characteristics of metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) device-thickness (below approx. 100 nm) native oxides formed by wet thermal oxidation of thin InAlP epilayers lattice matched to GaAs. Low leakage current densities of J=1.4 x 10-9 A/cm2 and J=8.7 x 10-11 A/cm2 are observed at an applied field of 1 MV/cm for MOS capacitors fabricated with 17 nm and 48 nm oxides, respectively. TEM images show that the In-rich interfacial particles which exist in 110 nm oxides are absent in 17 nm oxide films. Quasi-static capacitance-voltage measurements of MOS capacitors fabricated on both n-type and p-type GaAs show that the InAlP oxide-GaAs interface is sufficiently free of traps to support inversion, indicating an unpinned Fermi level. These data suggest that InAlP native oxides may be a viable insulator for GaAs MOS device applications.
Effects of soil pH on damping-off of sugar beet by R. solani (AG2-2) and soil suppressiveness against the disease were studied by comparing disease incidences in pasteurized versus non-pasteurized, infested soils. Soil pH was correlated neither to disease incidence in five soils ranging from pH?4.5 to 7.2 nor to indigenous disease suppressiveness, the difference in disease incidences between non-treated soil and its pasteurized counterpart. When an alkaline soil was acidified with H2SO4, disease suppression markedly declined, increasing disease incidence in the non-pasteurized soil. Inversely, disease suppression was enhanced when an acidic soil was neutralized by adding Ca(OH)2. Soil amendment with dried peanut plant residue suppressed the disease in two pasteurized, near-neutral soils, l...
The ion-velocity dependence of the ionization probability for an atom ejected from a surface is examined by using a quantum approach in which the coupled motion between electrons and the outgoing nucleus is followed along the whole trajectory by solving the stationary Schroedinger equation. We choose a very-small-cluster-model system in which the motion of the atom is restricted to one dimension, and with energy potential curves corresponding to the involved channels varying appreciably with the atom position. We found an exponential dependence on the inverse of the asymptotic ion velocity for high emission energies, and a smoother behavior with slight oscillations at low energies. These results are compared with those obtained within a dynamical-trajectory approximation using either a constant velocity equal to the asymptotic ionic value, or expressions for the velocity derived from the eikonal approximation and from the classical limit of the current vector. Both ...
The values of -{delta}G{sub A}{sup O} of n-alkanes on calcite are lower on the stearic acid treated calcite than on the untreated calcite. The value of -{delta}G{sub A}{sup O} of n-alkanes on calcite increase with increasing carbon numbers of n-alkanes. The values of -{delta}G{sub A}{sup O} measured on the treated calcite are significantly lower than those measured on the untreated calcite. The -{delta}G{sub A}{sup O} of n-alkanes on the treated calcite are close to the heat of liquefaction of n-alkanes. All the experimental values of -{delta}G{sub A}{sup O} of n-alkanes on calcite are larger than theoretical entropy decrease particularly for the higher molecular mass n-alkanes. Thus the important entropy decrease observed upon adsorption can not only be attributed to the loss of one degree of freedom of the adsorbed molecules. The values of {gamma}{sub S}{sup D} of the treated and untreated calcite decrease with increasing temperature. {gamma}{sub S}{sup D} for the treated calcite is ...
Data processing method was studied for mise-a-la-masse survey. Mise-a-la-masse method using wells as current sources measures resultant ground surface potential difference, and detects underground local resistivity anomaly. To extract resistivity anomaly largely different from surroundings, the anomaly is extracted as difference between the estimated value of regular resistivity structure (background) and potential difference or apparent resistivity. The following three approximations were attempted to estimate the background: the theoretical equation assuming isotropic homogeneous resistivity structure, that assuming horizontal multi-layered structure and the exponential function of distance from linear electrode for apparent resistivity, and these were compared with each other by numerical model experiment. The data processing method which determines the resistivity structure of the background and the residual of apparent resistivity distribution by inversion ...
The present paper deals with the fouling process of calcium sulfate dehydrate on heat-transfer surfaces. The crystallization of calcium sulfate showed typical asymptotic fouling curves, the asymptotic value of which was greatly influenced by the surface temperature and fluid velocity. The fouling mechanism was discussed with a generalized fouling model and proved to be surface process controlled, where the activation energy was 6.2 {times} 10{sup 4} J/mol. The availability of mechanical cleaning against the formed scale was quantitatively evaluated by applying the particle abrasion method. The removal test verified that the removing rate per unit particle concentration decreased in an inverse proportion to the overall particle load, to the power of 0.8, and that it was affected by the fluid velocity. The observed final residual fouling resistance decreased asymptotically with an increase in particle concentration. The suitable concentration of the abrasive ...
The consistency of different instruments and methods for measuring two-dimensional (2D) power spectral density (PSD) distributions are investigated. The instruments are an interferometric microscope, an atomic force microscope (AFM) and the X-ray Reflectivity and Scattering experimental facility, all available at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The measurements were performed with a gold-coated mirror with a highly polished stainless steel substrate. It was shown that these three techniques provide essentially consistent results. For the stainless steel mirror, an envelope over all measured PSD distributions can be described with an inverse power-law PSD function. It is also shown that the measurements can be corrected for the specific spatial frequency dependent systematic errors of the instruments. The AFM and the X-ray scattering measurements were used to determine the modulation transfer function of the interferometric microscope. The corresponding ...
The consistency of different instruments and methods for measuring two-dimensional (2D) power spectral density (PSD) distributions are investigated. The instruments are an interferometric microscope, an atomic force microscope (AFM) and the X-ray Reflectivity and Scattering experimental facility, all available at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The measurements were performed with a gold-coated mirror with a highly polished stainless steel substrate. It was shown that these three techniques provide essentially consistent results. For the stainless steel mirror, an envelope over all measured PSD distributions can be described with an inverse power-law PSD function. It is also shown that the measurements can be corrected for the specific spatial frequency dependent systematic errors of the instruments. The AFM and the X-ray scattering measurements were used to determine the modulation transfer function of the interferometric microscope. The corresponding ...
Pfirsch-Schlueter (P-S) current is an inherent property of a finite pressure toroidal equilibrium of tokamak and stellarator. However, it was pointed out recently (V.D. Pustovitov, Nuclear Fusion 36 (1996) 583) that the P-S current would be suppressed completely if the external vertical field could be adjusted to satisfy the condition {omega}=<{omega}> in an l=3 stellarator. Here {omega}=<B tilde{sup 2}>/B{sub 0}{sup 2}-2{epsilon} cos{theta}, l is a pole number, |B tilde| the vacuum helical magnetic field, B{sub 0} the toroidal field, {epsilon} the inverse aspect ratio, {theta} the poloidal angle and <...> denotes the average over the toroidal angle. An example of such a stellarator equilibrium is presented in this paper. For this stellarator equilibrium, behavior of rotational transform and Boozer magnetic spectrum is clarified when the pressure is increased. Both formation of helical magnetic axis and reduction of ...
Abstract TLR9 recognizes unmethylated CpG-containing DNA commonly found in bacteria. Synthetic oligonucleotides containing CpG-motifs (CpG ODNs) recapitulate the activation of TLR9 by microbial DNA, whereas inversion of the CG dinucleotide within the CpG motif to GC (GpC ODNs) renders such ODNs inactive. This difference cannot be attributed to binding of ODNs to the full-length TLR9 ectodomain, as both CpG and GpC ODNs bind comparably. Activation of murine TLR9 requires cleavage into an active C-terminal fragment, which binds CpG robustly. We therefore compared the ability of CpG and GpC ODNs to bind to full-length and C-terminal TLR9, and their impact on the cleavage of TLR9. We found that CpG binds better to C-terminal TLR9 when compared with GpC, despite comparably low binding of both O...
We evaluated the role of tea and coffee and substances added (sugar/honey, creamers, and milk) on endometrial cancer risk in a population-based case?control study in six counties in New Jersey, including 417 cases and 395 controls. Multivariate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were computed using unconditional logistic regression. There was a moderate inverse association with coffee consumption, with an adjusted OR of 0.65 (95% CI: 0.36?1.17) for women who reported more than two cups/day of coffee compared to none. Tea consumption appeared to increase risk (OR: 1.93; 95% CI: 1.08?3.45), but after including the variables sugar/honey and cream/milk added to tea in the model, the risk estimate was attenuated and no longer statistically significant (OR: 1.77; 95% CI: 0.96?3.2...
The dependences of kinetic energies and peak profiles of multicharged ions of I "q"+ (q = 2-3) and C"2"+ on the laser intensity have been studied in detail by time-of-flight mass spectrometry, those multicharged ions are produced by irradiation of methyl iodide cluster beam with a nanosecond 532 nm Nd-YAG laser. Our experiments show that the kinetic energies released of multicharged ions increase linearly with the laser intensity in the range of 3 x 10"9-2 x 10"1"1 W/cm"2. The peaks of multicharged ions are split to forward ions and backward ions, and the ratio of the backward ions to forward ions decreases exponentially with laser intensity. The decreasing of backward ions is probably due to Coulomb scattering by the heavier I"+ ions when they turn around through the laser focus point. The linear dependence of kinetic energy of multicharged ions on laser intensity is interpreted by the ionization mechanism, in which the laser induced inverse bremsstrahlung heating ...
In our evaluation we utilized the Asahi Mark-J NMR-CT system, with a resistive vertical quadrupolar electromagnet (0.1 Tesla) and a proton resonance frequency of 4.5 MHz. Our main imaging methods are the inversion-recovery or IR, saturation-recovery, or SR, and calculated T/sub 1/. Difference, or D images, constructed by subtracting the data of the IR signal from that of the SR signal, have also been obtained in some cases. The system allows averaging of raw data. Hybrid images were constructed from two or more images to obtain clear definition of areas of interest. By using the hybrid image, several tissues of different relaxation times can be shown in the same image. Application in our study of the newly developed hybrid image indicates its importance in the detection and diagnosis of lesion, especially the detection of the differentiation of an edematous lesion from a tumor, and also abnormal fluid collection such as the pleural effusion or ascites. We hope that ...
We assessed the age-related changes in magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) value and the ratio of water content in rat brain (frontal lobe and pons) during normal development. All studies were done on 42 normal Wistar rats. MTR was calculated by using the equation (M_o_f_f-M_o_n)/M_o_f_f, where M_o_f_f and M_o_n were the measured signal intensities on the conventional and MT-prepared SPGR images, respectively. The ratios of water content were measured by comparing the wet weight with the dry weight of the frontal lobe and the pons, which were extracted from a rat brain soon after MTR measurements. The ratio of water content was calculated by using the equation 100 x (wet weight-dry weight)/wet weight (%). The ratio of water content decreased markedly during the first 30 days, but the decrease was very slight there after both in the frontal lobe and the pons. The change in MTR was similar to that of the ratio of water content, though the direction of change was opposite. Statistically ...
With an objective to discuss applicability of resistivity imaging using electromagnetic migration to detection of underground cavity, an applicability test was carried out on calculation of a numerical model and measurement data. By using the numerical model, a calculation was performed on a hypothetical case that a cubic cavity with sides each at 40 m exists in a homogenous medium of 200 ohm-m, with the cavity top located 20 m below the ground surface. As a result, it was possible to structure in a very short calculation time an image of the cavity which cannot be identified by one-dimensional inverse analysis. In the case of this cavity, a center of the image was structured on its lower face. It was shown that a location to indicate the image must be changed according to difference in the measurement locations. In a test on data measured in an underground cavity in the city of Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture, it was found that the result may vary largely depending ...
In this paper, we investigate the dynamic behaviors of a two-prey two-predator system with impulsive effect concerning biological and chemical control strategy-periodic releasing natural enemies and spraying pesticide at different fixed time. By applying the Floquet theory of linear periodic impulsive equation and small amplitude perturbation method, we prove that there exists a globally asymptotically stable two-prey-eradication periodic solution when the impulsive period is less than some critical value. The conditions for the permanence of the system are given, and meanwhile the conditions for the extinction of one of the two prey species and permanence of the remaining three species are given. Our results suggest a new approach in pest control. The target pest population can be driven to extinction and the non-target pest can be permanent by choosing impulsive period. With the increasing of the predation rate for the super competitor and impulsive period, the system displays ...
Radiation necrosis of normal CNS tissue represents one of the main risk factors of brain irradiation, occurring more frequently and earlier at higher total doses and higher doses per fraction. At present, it is believed that the necrosis results due to increasing capillary permeability caused by cytokine release leading to extracellular edema. This process is sustained by endothelial dysfunction, tissue hypoxia, and subsequent necrosis. Consequently, blocking the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) at an early stage could be an option to reduce the development of radiation necrosis by decreasing the vascular permeability. This might help to reverse the pathological mechanisms, improve the symptoms and prevent further progression. A patient with radiation-induced necrosis was treated with an anti-VEGF antibody (bevacizumab), in whom neurologic signs and symptoms improved in accordance with a decrease in T1-weighted fluid-attenuated inversion recovery signals. ...
An adjustment support system using computer for start-up operation of cyclotron is being developed in order to support operators who, using their experiences and intuition, tune up dozens of components to maximize beam efficiency. This paper describes a method of beam pattern diagnosis and adjustment guidance based on fuzzy relation as one function of the adjustment support system. The followings are the basic processes of this method. (1) The computer extracts features of beam pattern which correspond with operators' criteria. (2) The computer calculates causative possibility of each adjustment parameters by inverse operation of fuzzy relational equation, which formulates the relationship between criteria of beam pattern and adjustment parameters. (3) The computer displays those causative probabilities in a graphical manner as a operation guidance. Not only the probabilities but also the criteria of beam pattern and their relationship are displayed in one ...
One of the most profound features of electricity spot prices are the price spikes. Markov regime-switching (MRS) models seem to be a natural candidate for modeling this spiky behavior. However, in the studies published so far, the goodness-of-fit of the proposed models has not been a major focus. While most of the models were elegant, their fit to empirical data has either been not examined thoroughly or the signs of a bad fit ignored. With this paper we want to fill the gap. We calibrate and test a range of MRS models in an attempt to find parsimonious specifications that not only address the main characteristics of electricity prices but are statistically sound as well. We find that the best structure is that of an independent spike 3-regime model with time-varying transition probabilities, heteroscedastic diffusion-type base regime dynamics and shifted spike regime distributions. Not only does it allow for a seasonal spike intensity throughout the year and consecutive spikes or ...
High-spin states (I < or approx. 50(#Planck constant#/2#pi#)) of the odd-odd nucleus "1"7"0Ta have been investigated with the "1"2"4Sn("5"1V,5n) reaction. The resolving power of Gammasphere has allowed for the observation of eleven rotational bands (eight of which are new) and over 430 transitions (#approx#350 of which are new) in this nucleus. Many interband transitions have been observed such that the relative spins and excitation energies of the 11 bands have been established. This is an unusual circumstance in an odd-odd study. Configurations have been assigned to most of these bands based upon features such as alignment properties, band crossings, B(M1)/B(E2) ratios, and the additivity of Routhians. A systematic study of the frequency at which normal signature ordering occurs in the #pi#h_9_/_2#nu#i_1_3_/_2 band has been performed and it is found that its trend is opposite to that observed in the #pi#h_1_1_/_2#nu#i_1_3_/_2 bands. A possible interpretation of these trends is ...
Huntington?s disease (HD) is caused by an expansion of a polyglutamine repeat of more than 35?units in the huntingtin protein. The expanded repeat length is inversely correlated with the age at onset (AAO); however, additional genetic factors apart from the expanded CAG repeat length can modify the course and the AAO in HD. Aberrations in macroautophagy have been observed in Huntington, Alzheimer, Parkinson, motor neuron and prion diseases. Therefore, we hypothesized that polymorphisms in autophagy-related (Atg) genes might contribute to the variation in the AAO. We initially tested eight single nucleotide polymorphisms in five Atg genes (Atg3, Atg5, Atg7, Atg16L1 and Beclin-1) for their frequency of ?1%. Subsequently, we investigated the polymorphisms Atg7 V471A and Atg16L1 T281A for a di...
The purpose of this work was to evaluate the quality of a rural area near Faenza (Italy) by using an active biomonitoring approach, i.e., by placing homogeneous individuals of the perennial shrub Rosa rugosa in different sites throughout the area. Further sites, within the city or its environs, were used for comparison. Soil and leaves of R. rugosa were analyzed for their heavy metal content. The total heavy metal pattern of leaves closely paralleled the pattern registered in soil, with the highest content (both in total and assimilable forms) at the site in the urban area, which is exposed to heavy traffic. Pollen quality (abortiveness and viability) was also tested as a potential indicator of pollution. Pollen abortiveness was strictly related to Pb levels in leaves, while viability was inversely related to leaf Cr content. Our results suggest that R. rugosa has the potential to be a good biomonitoring system. - Rosa rugosa leaves and pollen are - to different ...
The purpose of this work was to evaluate the quality of a rural area near Faenza (Italy) by using an active biomonitoring approach, i.e., by placing homogeneous individuals of the perennial shrub Rosa rugosa in different sites throughout the area. Further sites, within the city or its environs, were used for comparison. Soil and leaves of R. rugosa were analyzed for their heavy metal content. The total heavy metal pattern of leaves closely paralleled the pattern registered in soil, with the highest content (both in total and assimilable forms) at the site in the urban area, which is exposed to heavy traffic. Pollen quality (abortiveness and viability) was also tested as a potential indicator of pollution. Pollen abortiveness was strictly related to Pb levels in leaves, while viability was inversely related to leaf Cr content. Our results suggest that R. rugosa has the potential to be a good biomonitoring system. - Rosa rugosa leaves and pollen are - to different ...
We examine the accretion properties in a sample of 42 hard (3-60keV) X-ray selected nearby broad-line AGNs. The energy range in the sample is harder than that usually used in the similar previous studies. These AGNs are mainly complied from the RXTE All Sky Survey (XSS), and complemented by the released INTEGRAL AGN catalog. The black hole masses, bolometric luminosities of AGN, and Eddington ratios are derived from their optical spectra in terms of the broad H$\\beta$ emission line. The tight correlation between the hard X-ray (3-20keV) and bolometric/line luminosity is well identified in our sample. Also identified is a strong inverse Baldwin relationship of the H$\\beta$ emission line. In addition, all these hard X-ray AGNs are biased toward luminous objects with high Eddington ratio (mostly between 0.01 to 0.1) and low column density ($<10^{22} \\mathrm{cm^{-2}}$), which is most likely due to the selection effect of the surveys. The hard X-ray luminosity is ...
Experiments on aqueous TiO{sup 2} photocatalytic reaction characteristics of 4 nitrogen-containing and 12 aromatic organic compounds were carried out. Based on the values calculated for the distribution of ionic species and atomic charge, the characteristics of their photocatalytic decomposition were estimated. It was shown that the dependence of decomposition of the N-containing compounds were linearly proportional to their nitrogen atomic charge values, while that of the aromatic compounds were inversely proportional. The effects of aqueous pH, oxygen content and concentration on the TiO{sup 2} photocatalytic characteristics of EDTA-Cu(II) and EDTA-Fe(III) were experimentally investigated. All EDTA systems were decomposed better in the pH range of 2.5{approx}3.0 and with more dissolved oxygen. These results could be applied to a unit process for removal of organic impurities dissolved in a source water of the system water, and for treatment of EDTA-containing ...
A new preparation method for LiNiVO{sub 4} has been developed. LiNiVO{sub 4} can be readily obtained from the solid state reaction of LiNiO{sub 2} and V{sub 2}O{sub 3} or V{sub 2}O{sub 5} at 700 C for 2 h in air. The quarternary Li-Ni-V-O reaction is strongly dependent on vanadium starting materials, reaction environment atmosphere, reactant stoichiometry and synthesis temperature. Individual particles of LiNiVO{sub 4} powders are well-formed crystallites shown clearly by scanning electron microscopy results to be in the shape of an octahedron. Powder X-ray diffraction studies of this crystalline material indicate that LiNiVO{sub 4} has an inverse spinel structure different from that of known cathode materials such as LT-LiCoO{sub 2} and LiMn{sub 2}O{sub 4}. The Li/LiNiVO{sub 4} cell can be charged and discharged at about 4.8 V versus metallic Li. To our knowledge, this is the Li intercalation reaction with the highest voltage known. (orig.) 14 refs.
IMRT with inverse planning allows simultaneous integrated boost strategies that exploit the heterogeneous dose distribution within the planning target volumes (PTVs). In this scenario, the location of cold spots within the target becomes a crucial issue and has to be related to the distribution of the clonogenic cell density (CCD). The main aim of this work is to provide the means to calculate the optimal prescription dose in a relative inhomogeneous dose distribution. To achieve this, the prescription dose has to be assigned to obtain the same tumor control probability (TCP) as the ideal homogeneous distribution, taking into account different CCDs in different PTVs (i.e. visible and subclinical regions). An adapted formulation of the linear-quadratic model, within the F-factor formalism, has been derived to preserve a chosen TCP value for the whole target volume. The F-factor has been investigated to show its potential applications in clinical practice.
We report on the results of a simultaneous monitoring campaign employing eight Chandra X-ray (0.5-10 keV) and six VLA/EVLA (8.4 GHz) radio observations of NGC 4051 over seven months. Evidence for compact jets is observed in the 8.4 GHz radio band; This builds on mounting evidence that jet production may be prevalent even in radio-quiet Seyferts. Assuming comparatively negligible local diffuse emission in the nucleus, the results also demonstrate an inverse correlation of L_radio proportional to L_X-ray ^(-0.72+/-0.04) . Current research linking the mass of supermassive black holes and stellar-mass black holes in the "low/hard" state to X-ray luminosities and radio luminosities suggest a "fundamental plane of accretion onto black holes" that has a positive correlation of L_radio proportional to L_X-ray^(0.67+/-0.12) . Our simultaneous results differ from this relation by more than 11 sigma, indicating that a separate mode of accretion and ejection may operate in ...
The absolute cross sections of "2"3Na(p,n)"2"3Mg, "2"7Al(p,n)"2"7Si and "3"0Si(#alpha#,n)"3"3S reactions were measured in the incident energy range of 5.05 to 5.80, 5.80 to 6.25 and 3.975 to 6.235 MeV respectively using a spherically shaped 4#pi# neutron detector. In the energy range 5.80 to 7.80 and 6.235 to 11.30 MeV the absolute cross sections of "2"3Na(p,n)"2"3Mg and "3"0Si-(#alpha#,n)"3"3S reactions were determined by optical model calculations. The cross sections of the inverse reactions "2"3Mg(n,p)"2"3Na and "3"3S(n,#alpha#)"3"0Si were also calculated by the same method for the neutron energy range of 10 keV to 7.50 MeV for each reaction. The cross section of the latter reaction in the neutron energy range of 10 keV to 840 keV was also determined from its inverse reaction "3"0Si(#alpha#,n)"3"3S by the application of the detailed balance theorem. The reactions for which the cross sections were determined are of importance in stellar ...
This study aims to investigate the difference in the interaction of antimicrobial peptides with two classes of zwitterionic peptides, phosphatidylethanolamines (PE) and phosphatidylcholines (PC). Further experiments were performed on model membranes prepared from specific bacterial lipids, lipopolysaccharides (LPS) isolated from Salmonella minnesota. The structure of the lipid-peptide aqueous dispersions was studied by small-and wide-angle X-ray diffraction during heating and cooling from 5 to 85 C. The lipids and peptides were mixed at lipid-to-peptide ratios 10-10000 (POPE and POPC) or 2-50 (LPS). All experiments were performed at synchrotron soft condensed matter beamline A2 in Hasylab at Desy in Hamburg, Germany. The phases were identified and the lattice parameters were calculated. Alamethicin and melittin interact in similar ways with the lipids. Pure POPC forms only lamellar phases. POPE forms lamellar phases at low temperatures that upon heating transform into a highly curved ...
We have studied the application of direct aperture optimization (DAO) as an inverse planning tool for breast IMRT. Additionally, we have analysed the impact of respiratory motion on the quality of the delivered dose distribution. From this analysis, we have developed guidelines for balancing the desire for a high-quality optimized plan with the need to create a plan that will not degrade significantly in the presence of respiratory motion. For a DAO optimized breast IMRT plan, the tangential fields incorporate a flash field to cover the range of respiratory motion. The inverse planning algorithm then optimizes the shapes and weights of additional segments that are delivered in combination with the open fields. IMRT plans were generated using DAO with the relative weights of the open segments varied from 0% to 95%. To assess the impact of breathing motion, the dose distribution for the optimized IMRT plan was recalculated with the isocentre ...
The role played by planetary boundary layer (PBL) in the development and evolution of a severe convective storm is studied by means of meso-scale modeling and surface and upper air observations. The severe convective precipitation event that occurred on 14 September 1999 in the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula was simulated by means of the mesoscale model MM5 (version 3) using three different PBL schemes. The numerical results show a large impact of the PBL schemes on the precipitation fields associated to the convective storm. The schemes are based on different physical assumptions: the nonlocal first order medium-range forecast (MRF) and blackadar (BLA) scheme and the local, one-and-a-half order ETA scheme. Surface and radar observations are used to validate the model results. The comparison focuses on three aspects: the evolution, the spatial distribution and the 24-h accumulated precipitation. The comparison with rain gauge observations shows that the MRF, BLA and ETA schemes ...
In boron mining and processing operations, large amounts of clay containing tailings have to be discarded. Being rich in boron, the tailings do not only cause economical loss but also pose serious environmental problems. Large areas have to be allocated for waste disposal. In order to alleviate this problem, the possibility of using clayey tailings from a borax concentrator in red brick manufacturing was investigated. Up to 30% by weight tailings addition was found to improve the brick quality.
EPRI's Steam Generator Strategic Management Project issues an annual report on the progress being made in tackling steam generator problems worldwide, containing a wealth of detailed statistics on the status of operating units and degradation mechanisms encountered. A few highlights are presented from the latest report, issued in October 1993, which covers the period to 31 December 1992. (Author).
The failure of receivers has been one of the main operating problems at the White Cliffs solar thermal power plant. This Technical Note reports the results of an initial investigation that identifies the cause as having been their thermal fatiguing of the tube walls. The fatigue appears to be caused by unstable heat transfer at vapor qualities below the point where critical heat flux is generally exceeded. Methods for avoiding this problem are tested.
The authors solve the two-dimensional stefan problem of solidification in a half-space, where the heat flux at the wall is a slightly varying function of positioning along the wall, by means of a large Stefan number approximation (which turns out to be equivalent to a small time solution), and then by means of the Heat Balance Integral Method, which is valid for all time, and which agrees with the large Stefan number solution for small times. A representative solution is given for a particular form of the heat flux perturbation.
A community health survey of 438 individuals was taken to detect health problems related to high voltage electrical transmission among an adjacent residential population. Results revealed no significant or consistent relationships between exposure to a high voltage DC power line and the perceived health problems that were measured. The sample was not, however, large enough to draw statistically significant conclusions regarding possible health effects with a very low incidence.
The International Index of Erectile Function is a well-worded and psychometrically valid self-report questionnaire widely used as the standard for the evaluation of male sexual function. However, some conceptual and statistical problems arise when using the measure with men who are not sexually active. These problems are illustrated using 2 empirical examples, and the authors provide recommended solutions to further strengthen the efficacy and validity of this measure.
Epidemiological studies of psychopathology in the first years of life are few, and the association between mental health problems in infancy and psychiatric disturbances later in life has not been systematically investigated. The aim of the present project was to study mental health problems and possibilities of intervention from infancy and onward.
We present a summary of the discussions in the Exotic Collider Concepts Group. Most of the discussions were centered around the status and open problems for muon-muon and gamma-gamma colliders. In addition the group discussed some general problems and new results of accelerator physics. {copyright} 1995 {ital American Institute of Physics}.
We present a summary of the discussions in the Exotic Collider Concepts Group. Most of the discussions were centered around the status and open problems for muon-muon and gamma-gamma colliders. In addition the group discussed some general problems and new results of accelerator physics. copyright 1995 American Institute of Physics.
We study the one-phase Stefan problem on a semi-infinite strip x> or =0, with the convective boundary condition -KT/sub x/(0,t) = h[T/sub L/--T(0,t)]. Points of intrest include: a) behavior of the surface temperature T(0,t); b) asymptotic behavior as h#->#infinity; c) uniqueness, and d) bounds on the phase change front and total system energy.
We discuss the Sundman-Weierstrass theorem of total collapse in its historical context. This remarkable and relatively simple result, a type of stability criterion, is at the crossroads of some interesting developments in the gravitation Newtonian N-body problem. We use it as motivation to explore the connections to such important concepts as integrability, singularities and tyipicality in order to gain some insight on the transition from a predominantly quantitative to a novel qualitative approach to dynamical problems that took place at the end of the 19th century.
A new multigrid algorithm based on the method of self-correction for the solution of elliptic problems is described. The method exploits information contained in the residual to dynamically modify the source term (right-hand side) of the elliptic problem. It is shown that the self-correcting solver is more efficient at damping the short wavelength modes of the algebraic error than its standard equivalent. When used in conjunction with a multigrid method, the resulting solver displays an improved convergence rate with no additional computational work.
Room air quality and thus thermal comfort for the occupiers in closed spaces depend on several factors: temperature and humidity of the air, temperature of the surrounding surfaces, content of foreign matter of the air, acoustical perceptions, electric fields and ions as well as colours and light. Air humidification, cleaning and ionization largely contributes to improved room air quality. The article goes into problems of too dry and polluted air as well as into measures with which these problems can be solved. (BWI).
RISI SQ-80 ignitor is a thermite filled exploding bridgewire ignitor. Eleven shots were fired. Film development time was the major time problem. Other problems also existed. These EBW ignitors should enhance safety in igniting rocket propellant. 11 figs.
While prior research has examined family, school, and peer factors as potential predictors of problem behavior, less attention has been given to studying when these factors are most predictive...Full Text Available
This book is organized under the following headings: Electrohydrodynamic heat transfer augmentation; Forced convection augmentation and heat transfer control; Turbulent heat transfer; Thermal problems in the environment; Energy conversion systems; Measurement, visualization, and imaging; Thermal problems in space technology; and Thermal properties.
Solutions have been found for the problems encountered with the coil power and switching systems of the International Fusion Superconducting Magnet Test Facility (IFSMTF). The coil power system provides the filtered dc sources (+- 12 V dc; 25,000 A) for charging and discharging the coils of the IFSMTF experiment. The switching system provides the means of transferring the coil current into a dump resistor when a rapid discharge of a coil is required due to a coil failure (quench) or other system abnormalities.
This paper suggests how nonlinear periodic optimal control of a pumped storage plant can be realized. The control problem consists in maximization of the plant benefits over an operational period. An optimal control law is proposed, yielding a bang-off-bang mode of operation. An algorithm for numerical solution of the problem was developed, and its effectiveness was demonstrated by simulation experiments.
One of the main goals in the operation of a cupola furnace is to keep the molten iron properties within prescribed bounds while maintaining the most economical operation for the cupola. In this paper the authors present a procedure to obtain the nominal values for the manipulated process variables. The nominal values are calculated by solving a constrained nonlinear programming optimization problem. Two different optimization problems are discussed and examples for using the procedure are presented.
This paper describes a maintenance problem in a fusion power plant. The problem is to specify which life limited parts should be replaced when there is an opportunity. The objective is to minimize the cost rate of replacement parts and of maintenance actions while satisfying a power plant availability constraint. The maintenance policy is to look ahead and replace all parts that will reach their life limits within a time called a screen. Longer screens yield greater system availabilities because more parts are replaced prior to their life limits.
Diffraction by an impermeable scatterer in ?3 with a Dirichlet boundary condition is considered. It is shown that the null field equation is equivalent to the original diffraction problem. The general theoretical constructions are illustrated by analyzing the excitation of a sphere by a point source. The evolution of the residual of the null field equation as the scatterer surface is approached by an auxiliary surface is estimated.
The formulation of the problem of classification of lithologically heterogeneous rocks and rocks with mixed capacity space is analyzed under conditions of self-teaching. Using the example of one of the boreholes of the Pripyat trough we illustrated the possibilities of the Kompakt algorithm to classify deposits of the Frasnian stage without using standard data. Problems are listed for further study on the development of methods of application of self-teaching classification systems in the petroleum industry.
Potential strategic missions for laser weapons, particularly those involving space-based lasers, are discussed. The functions of space-based lasers and the history of their conceptual development are summarized, and the problems of implementing such systems, including the building of a suitable laser and power source, and resolving the problem of optics, are discussed. Ongoing development programs are described, and the contrasting views of the necessity and usefulness of strategic laser systems are set forth.
The special geodetic problems encountered during the construction of the Paks nuclear power plants are treated. The main building with its hermetically connected components including the reactor, the steam generators, the circulation pumps etc. impose special requirements on the control net of datum points. The geodesy tasks solved during the construction of the main building are presented in details.
Certain problems of gamma-absorption method of measuring the thickness of layers in multi-layer items are analyzed. Two examples of solving the above-mentioned problems have been considered. One of them deals with a two-layer item, its integral thickness being known or measured in advance, the second example is referred to a two-layer item with unknown integral value
Families of regimes for discrete control systems are studied possessing a special quasi-controllability property that is similar to the Kalman controllability property. A new approach is proposed to estimate the amplitudes of transient regimes in quasi-controllable systems. Its essence is in obtaining of constructive a priori bounds for degree of overshooting in terms of the quasi-controllability measure. The results are applicable for analysis of transients, classical absolute stability problem and, especially, for stability problem for desynchronized (asynchronous, switching) systems.
Besides industrial agglomerations suffering from excessive pollution of water, air, and soil, there are areas in the German Democratic Republic where beautiful scenery at first glance seems to be intact owing to the absence of large industries. That environmental problems exist also in the coastal regions of the German Democratic Republic is shown in this report. Some of the environmental sins mentioned, which are due to human failure, would seem to the editor to be not just GDR specific. (orig.).
Four solutions of the Cauchy problem for Mathieu?s equation away from parametric resonance domains are analytically constructed using an asymptotic averaging method in the fourth approximation. Three solutions occur near fractional parameter values at which slow combination phases exist. The fourth solution occurs in the absence of slow phases away from parametric resonance domains and the fractional parameter values.
Beryllium has been in use in aircraft brakes for ten years. During the original design phases of the several aircraft programs using beryllium a number of problems requiring solution confronted the designers. In actual service the solution to these problems performed much better than had been anticipated. A summary is presented. (author).
Three studies were conducted on the validity of instruments adopted for student assessment in problem-based learning at the Maastricht School of Economics and Business Administration (the Netherlands). Results with 109 students suggest the importance of the breadth and depth of the student's knowledge profile and the extent to which the knowledge is usable. (SLD)
Electric cars have long been seen as science fiction. This may be changing. As the 1990s began, several companies chose to launch publicity campaigns for electric vehicles. In California, experimental programmes are gaining momentum, in the context of LA's appalling air pollution problems and tightening clean air standards. Supporters claim that electric motive power is a key to solving several environmental problems involving atmospheric pollution. These claims are examined. (author).
This paper demonstrates how maglev technology solves the classic problem of integrating two airports in a metropolitan area. So far, this has never been attempted because the mode of transportation that could handle this challenge effectively had not been invented yet. This also means that maglev technology is no longer 'the solution in search of a problem'. (orig.)
The authors present design methodology and initial experimental results for a high power microwave switch. The switch is designed for application to the pulse compression system associated with the Next Linear Collider Test Accelerator (NLCTA). The switch is based on the excitation of a plasma layer within a silicon wafer by either a laser or an electron beam. They investigate problems associated with high power operation of such a switch. They explore solutions to the problems of thermal runaway, avalanche breakdown, photo-emission, and secondary emission.
In this paper we apply stochastic programming modelling and solution techniques to planning problems for a consortium of oil companies. A multiperiod supply, transformation and distribution scheduling problem - the Depot and Refinery Optimization Problem (DROP) - is formulated for strategic or tactical level planning of the consortium's activities. This deterministic model is used as a basis for implementing a stochastic programming formulation with uncertainty in the product demands and spot supply costs (DROPS), whose solution process utilizes the deterministic equivalent linear programming problem. We employ our STOCHGEN general purpose stochastic problem generator to 'recreate' the decision (scenario) tree for the unfolding future as this deterministic equivalent. To project random demands for oil products at different spatial locations into the future and to generate random ...
This paper presents a new approach for solving multistage decision problems in power system operation by using a new fuzzy dynamic programming technique. To investigate its validity, the hydrothermal scheduling problem is used as an example problem. Within this problem, uncertainty elements exist such as load demand and natural hydraulic inflows to reservoirs exist which can be expressed by fuzzy numbers. Two new fuzzy decision making techniques for selecting the optimal operating states at each stage are introduced. Further, the hydrothermal scheduling solution obtained had an operating band defined by upper and lower bounds. To further enhance the information that this operating band provides, a midpoint operation technique that applies both forward and backward fuzzy DP is also introduced. This allows the system operator to consider current operating conditions to determine a suitable stage by stage ...
Formulation is introduced for discretizing a boundary integral equation into an indirect boundary element method for the solution of 3-dimensional topographic problems. Yokoi and Takenaka propose an analytical solution-capable reference solution (solution for the half space elastic body with flat free surface) to problems of topographic response to seismic motion in a 2-dimensional in-plane field. That is to say, they propose a boundary integral equation capable of effectively suppressing the non-physical waves that emerge in the result of computation in the wake of the truncation of the discretized ground surface making use of the wave field in a semi-infinite elastic body with flat free surface. They apply the proposed boundary integral equation discretized into the indirect boundary element method to solve some examples, and succeed in proving its validity. In this report, the equation is expanded to deal with 3-dimensional topographic ...
In this paper we analyze the Hilbert boundary-value problem of the theory of analytic functions for an $(N+1)$-connected circular domain. An exact series-form solution has already been derived for the case of continuous coefficients. Motivated by the study of the Hall effect in a multiply connected plate we extend these results by examining the case of discontinuous coefficients. The Hilbert problem maps into the Riemann-Hilbert problem for symmetric piece-wise meromorphic functions invariant with respect to a symmetric Schottky group. The solution to this problem is derived in terms of two analogues of the Cauchy kernel, quasiautomorphic and quasimultiplicative kernels. The former kernel is known for any symmetry Schottky group. We prove the existence theorem for the second, quasimultiplicative, kernel for any Schottky group (its series representation is known for the first class groups only). We also ...
Role-limiting approaches support knowledge acquisition (KA) by centering knowledge base construction on common types of tasks or domain-independent problem-solving strategies. Within a particular problem-solving strategy, domain-dependent knowledge plays specific roles. A KA tool then helps a user to fill these roles. Although role-limiting approaches are useful for guiding KA, they are limited because they only support users in filling knowledge roles that have been built in by the designers of the KA system. EXPECT takes a different approach to KA by representing problem-solving knowledge explicitly, and deriving from the current knowledge base the knowledge gaps that must be resolved by the user during KA. This paper contrasts role-limiting approaches and EXPECT`s approach, using the propose-and-revise strategy as an example. EXPECT not only supports users in filling knowledge roles, but also provides support in making ...
In Internet Routing, the static shortest path (SP) problem has been addressed using well known intelligent optimization techniques like artificial neural networks, genetic algorithms (GAs) and particle swarm optimization. Advancement in wireless communication lead more and more mobile wireless networks, such as mobile networks [mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs)] and wireless sensor networks. Dynamic nature of the network is the main characteristic of MANET. Therefore, the SP routing problem in MANET turns into dynamic optimization problem (DOP). Here the nodes ae made aware of the environmental condition, thereby making it intelligent, which goes as the input for GA. The implementation then uses GAs with immigrants and memory schemes to solve the dynamic SP routing problem (DSPRP) in MANETS. In our paper, once the network topology changes, the optimal solutions in the new environment can be searched using ...