higher order matrix: Topics by Science.gov

Sample records for higher order matrix

Fast higher-order MR image reconstruction using singular-vector separation.

PubMed

Wilm, Bertram J; Barmet, Christoph; Pruessmann, Klaas P

2012-07-01

Medical resonance imaging (MRI) conventionally relies on spatially linear gradient fields for image encoding. However, in practice various sources of nonlinear fields can perturb the encoding process and give rise to artifacts unless they are suitably addressed at the reconstruction level. Accounting for field perturbations that are neither linear in space nor constant over time, i.e., dynamic higher-order fields, is particularly challenging. It was previously shown to be feasible with conjugate-gradient iteration. However, so far this approach has been relatively slow due to the need to carry out explicit matrix-vector multiplications in each cycle. In this work, it is proposed to accelerate higher-order reconstruction by expanding the encoding matrix such that fast Fourier transform can be employed for more efficient matrix-vector computation. The underlying principle is to represent the perturbing terms as sums of separable functions of space and time. Compact representations with this property are found by singular-vector analysis of the perturbing matrix. Guidelines for balancing the accuracy and speed of the resulting algorithm are derived by error propagation analysis. The proposed technique is demonstrated for the case of higher-order field perturbations due to eddy currents caused by diffusion weighting. In this example, image reconstruction was accelerated by two orders of magnitude.
Maintenance of a functional higher order chromatin structure: The role of the nuclear matrix in normal and disease states

PubMed Central

Linnemann, Amelia K.; Krawetz, Stephen A.

2010-01-01

Summary The ordered packaging of DNA within the nucleus of somatic cells reflects a dynamic supportive structure that facilitates stable transcription interrupted by intermittent cycles of extreme condensation. This dynamic mode of packing and unpacking chromatin is intimately linked to the ability of the genome to specifically complex with both histones and non-histone proteins. Understanding the underlying mechanism that governs the formation of higher order chromatin structures is a key to understanding how local architecture modulates transcription. In part, the formation of these structures appears to be regulated through genomic looping that is dynamically mediated by attachment to the nuclear scaffold/matrix at S/MARs, i.e., Scaffold/Matrix Attachment Regions. Although the mechanism guiding the formation and use of these higher-ordered structures remains unknown, S/MARs continue to reveal a multitude of roles in development and the pathogenesis of disease. PMID:20948980
Maintenance of a functional higher order chromatin structure: The role of the nuclear matrix in normal and disease states.

PubMed

Linnemann, Amelia K; Krawetz, Stephen A

2009-01-01

The ordered packaging of DNA within the nucleus of somatic cells reflects a dynamic supportive structure that facilitates stable transcription interrupted by intermittent cycles of extreme condensation. This dynamic mode of packing and unpacking chromatin is intimately linked to the ability of the genome to specifically complex with both histones and non-histone proteins. Understanding the underlying mechanism that governs the formation of higher order chromatin structures is a key to understanding how local architecture modulates transcription. In part, the formation of these structures appears to be regulated through genomic looping that is dynamically mediated by attachment to the nuclear scaffold/matrix at S/MARs, i.e., Scaffold/Matrix Attachment Regions. Although the mechanism guiding the formation and use of these higher-ordered structures remains unknown, S/MARs continue to reveal a multitude of roles in development and the pathogenesis of disease.
Magnetic phase separation and unusual scenario of its temperature evolution in porous carbon-based nanomaterials doped with Au and Co

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ryzhov, V. A.; Lashkul, A. V.; Matveev, V. V.; Molkanov, P. L.; Kurbakov, A. I.; Kiselev, I. A.; Lisunov, K. G.; Galimov, D.; Lähderanta, E.

2018-01-01

Two porous glassy carbon-based samples doped with Au and Co were investigated. The magnetization study as well as measurements of the nonlinear longitudinal response to a weak ac field (NLR) and electron magnetic resonance give evidences for a presence of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) embedded in paramagnetic/ferromagnetic matrix respectively, both samples being in magnetically phase-separated state at temperatures above 300 K. Matrix, forming by paramagnetic centers located in matrix outside the MNPs, reveals exchange interactions providing its ferromagnetic (FM) ordering below TC ≈ 210 K in Au-doped sample and well above 350 K in Co-doped one. For the former, NLR data suggest a percolation character of the matrix long-range FM order, which is mainly caused by a porous amorphous sample structure. Temperature dependence of the magnetization in the Au-doped sample evidences presence of antiferromagnetic (AF) interactions of MNPs with surrounding matrix centers. At magnetic ordering below TC these interactions promote origination of "domains" involving matrix fragment and surrounding MNPs with near opposite orientation of their moments that decreases the magnetostatic energy. On further cooling, the domains exhibit AF ordering below Tcr ∼ 140 K < TC, resulting in formation of a peculiar "ferrimagnet". The porous amorphous structure leads to absence of translational and other symmetry features through the samples that allows canted ordering of magnetic moments in domains and in whole sample providing "canted ferrimagnetism". At low temperatures Ttr ∼ 3 K, "order-oder" transition, evidencing the non-Heisenberg character of this magnetic material, occurs from ordering like "canted ferrimagnet" to FM alignment, which is stimulated by external magnetic field. The data for Co-doped sample imply the similar evolution of magnetic state but at higher temperatures above 350 K. This state exhibits more homogeneous arrangement of the FM nanoparticles and the FM matrix. Order-order transition occurs in it at higher Ttr ∼ 10-15 K as well and followed by formation of long-range FM ordering found earlier by neutron diffraction. Doping of carbon-based nanomaterials by magnetic metals provides advantages for their possible practical applications as Co-doped sample with higher TC (>350 K) and larger remanent magnetization evidences.
Placing three-dimensional isoparametric elements into NASTRAN. [alterations in matrix assembly to simplify generation of higher order elements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Newman, M. B.; Filstrup, A. W.

1973-01-01

Linear (8 node), parabolic (20 node), cubic (32 node) and mixed (some edges linear, some parabolic and some cubic) have been inserted into NASTRAN, level 15.1. First the dummy element feature was used to check out the stiffness matrix generation routines for the linear element in NASTRAN. Then, the necessary modules of NASTRAN were modified to include the new family of elements. The matrix assembly was changed so that the stiffness matrix of each isoparametric element is only generated once as the time to generate these higher order elements tends to be much longer than the other elements in NASTRAN. This paper presents some of the experiences and difficulties of inserting a new element or family of elements into NASTRAN.
ppcor: An R Package for a Fast Calculation to Semi-partial Correlation Coefficients.

PubMed

Kim, Seongho

2015-11-01

Lack of a general matrix formula hampers implementation of the semi-partial correlation, also known as part correlation, to the higher-order coefficient. This is because the higher-order semi-partial correlation calculation using a recursive formula requires an enormous number of recursive calculations to obtain the correlation coefficients. To resolve this difficulty, we derive a general matrix formula of the semi-partial correlation for fast computation. The semi-partial correlations are then implemented on an R package ppcor along with the partial correlation. Owing to the general matrix formulas, users can readily calculate the coefficients of both partial and semi-partial correlations without computational burden. The package ppcor further provides users with the level of the statistical significance with its test statistic.
Buckling Analysis of Angle-ply Composite and Sandwich Plates by Combination of Geometric Stiffness Matrix

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhen, Wu; Wanji, Chen

2007-05-01

Buckling response of angle-ply laminated composite and sandwich plates are analyzed using the global-local higher order theory with combination of geometric stiffness matrix in this paper. This global-local theory completely fulfills the free surface conditions and the displacement and stress continuity conditions at interfaces. Moreover, the number of unknowns in this theory is independent of the number of layers in the laminate. Based on this global-local theory, a three-noded triangular element satisfying C1 continuity conditions has also been proposed. The bending part of this element is constructed from the concept of DKT element. In order to improve the accuracy of the analysis, a method of modified geometric stiffness matrix has been introduced. Numerical results show that the present theory not only computes accurately the buckling response of general laminated composite plates but also predicts the critical buckling loads of soft-core sandwiches. However, the global higher-order theories as well as first order theories might encounter some difficulties and overestimate the critical buckling loads for soft-core sandwich plates.
Considering Horn's Parallel Analysis from a Random Matrix Theory Point of View.

PubMed

Saccenti, Edoardo; Timmerman, Marieke E

2017-03-01

Horn's parallel analysis is a widely used method for assessing the number of principal components and common factors. We discuss the theoretical foundations of parallel analysis for principal components based on a covariance matrix by making use of arguments from random matrix theory. In particular, we show that (i) for the first component, parallel analysis is an inferential method equivalent to the Tracy-Widom test, (ii) its use to test high-order eigenvalues is equivalent to the use of the joint distribution of the eigenvalues, and thus should be discouraged, and (iii) a formal test for higher-order components can be obtained based on a Tracy-Widom approximation. We illustrate the performance of the two testing procedures using simulated data generated under both a principal component model and a common factors model. For the principal component model, the Tracy-Widom test performs consistently in all conditions, while parallel analysis shows unpredictable behavior for higher-order components. For the common factor model, including major and minor factors, both procedures are heuristic approaches, with variable performance. We conclude that the Tracy-Widom procedure is preferred over parallel analysis for statistically testing the number of principal components based on a covariance matrix.
Minimal parameter solution of the orthogonal matrix differential equation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bar-Itzhack, Itzhack Y.; Markley, F. Landis

1990-01-01

As demonstrated in this work, all orthogonal matrices solve a first order differential equation. The straightforward solution of this equation requires n sup 2 integrations to obtain the element of the nth order matrix. There are, however, only n(n-1)/2 independent parameters which determine an orthogonal matrix. The questions of choosing them, finding their differential equation and expressing the orthogonal matrix in terms of these parameters are considered. Several possibilities which are based on attitude determination in three dimensions are examined. It is shown that not all 3-D methods have useful extensions to higher dimensions. It is also shown why the rate of change of the matrix elements, which are the elements of the angular rate vector in 3-D, are the elements of a tensor of the second rank (dyadic) in spaces other than three dimensional. It is proven that the 3-D Gibbs vector (or Cayley Parameters) are extendable to other dimensions. An algorithm is developed emplying the resulting parameters, which are termed Extended Rodrigues Parameters, and numerical results are presented of the application of the algorithm to a fourth order matrix.
Minimal parameter solution of the orthogonal matrix differential equation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Baritzhack, Itzhack Y.; Markley, F. Landis

1988-01-01

As demonstrated in this work, all orthogonal matrices solve a first order differential equation. The straightforward solution of this equation requires n sup 2 integrations to obtain the element of the nth order matrix. There are, however, only n(n-1)/2 independent parameters which determine an orthogonal matrix. The questions of choosing them, finding their differential equation and expressing the orthogonal matrix in terms of these parameters are considered. Several possibilities which are based on attitude determination in three dimensions are examined. It is shown that not all 3-D methods have useful extensions to higher dimensions. It is also shown why the rate of change of the matrix elements, which are the elements of the angular rate vector in 3-D, are the elements of a tensor of the second rank (dyadic) in spaces other than three dimensional. It is proven that the 3-D Gibbs vector (or Cayley Parameters) are extendable to other dimensions. An algorithm is developed employing the resulting parameters, which are termed Extended Rodrigues Parameters, and numerical results are presented of the application of the algorithm to a fourth order matrix.
Deploy Nalu/Kokkos algorithmic infrastructure with performance benchmarking.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Domino, Stefan P.; Ananthan, Shreyas; Knaus, Robert C.

The former Nalu interior heterogeneous algorithm design, which was originally designed to manage matrix assembly operations over all elemental topology types, has been modified to operate over homogeneous collections of mesh entities. This newly templated kernel design allows for removal of workset variable resize operations that were formerly required at each loop over a Sierra ToolKit (STK) bucket (nominally, 512 entities in size). Extensive usage of the Standard Template Library (STL) std::vector has been removed in favor of intrinsic Kokkos memory views. In this milestone effort, the transition to Kokkos as the underlying infrastructure to support performance and portability onmore » many-core architectures has been deployed for key matrix algorithmic kernels. A unit-test driven design effort has developed a homogeneous entity algorithm that employs a team-based thread parallelism construct. The STK Single Instruction Multiple Data (SIMD) infrastructure is used to interleave data for improved vectorization. The collective algorithm design, which allows for concurrent threading and SIMD management, has been deployed for the core low-Mach element- based algorithm. Several tests to ascertain SIMD performance on Intel KNL and Haswell architectures have been carried out. The performance test matrix includes evaluation of both low- and higher-order methods. The higher-order low-Mach methodology builds on polynomial promotion of the core low-order control volume nite element method (CVFEM). Performance testing of the Kokkos-view/SIMD design indicates low-order matrix assembly kernel speed-up ranging between two and four times depending on mesh loading and node count. Better speedups are observed for higher-order meshes (currently only P=2 has been tested) especially on KNL. The increased workload per element on higher-order meshes bene ts from the wide SIMD width on KNL machines. Combining multiple threads with SIMD on KNL achieves a 4.6x speedup over the baseline, with assembly timings faster than that observed on Haswell architecture. The computational workload of higher-order meshes, therefore, seems ideally suited for the many-core architecture and justi es further exploration of higher-order on NGP platforms. A Trilinos/Tpetra-based multi-threaded GMRES preconditioned by symmetric Gauss Seidel (SGS) represents the core solver infrastructure for the low-Mach advection/diffusion implicit solves. The threaded solver stack has been tested on small problems on NREL's Peregrine system using the newly developed and deployed Kokkos-view/SIMD kernels. fforts are underway to deploy the Tpetra-based solver stack on NERSC Cori system to benchmark its performance at scale on KNL machines.« less
Combining kernel matrix optimization and regularization to improve particle size distribution retrieval

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, Qian; Xia, Houping; Xu, Qiang; Zhao, Lei

2018-05-01

A new method combining Tikhonov regularization and kernel matrix optimization by multi-wavelength incidence is proposed for retrieving particle size distribution (PSD) in an independent model with improved accuracy and stability. In comparison to individual regularization or multi-wavelength least squares, the proposed method exhibited better anti-noise capability, higher accuracy and stability. While standard regularization typically makes use of the unit matrix, it is not universal for different PSDs, particularly for Junge distributions. Thus, a suitable regularization matrix was chosen by numerical simulation, with the second-order differential matrix found to be appropriate for most PSD types.
The Construct Validity of Higher Order Structure-of-Intellect Abilities in a Battery of Tests Emphasizing the Product of Transformations: A Confirmatory Maximum Likelihood Factor Analysis.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Khattab, Ali-Maher; And Others

1982-01-01

A causal modeling system, using confirmatory maximum likelihood factor analysis with the LISREL IV computer program, evaluated the construct validity underlying the higher order factor structure of a given correlation matrix of 46 structure-of-intellect tests emphasizing the product of transformations. (Author/PN)
Healthy degenerate theories with higher derivatives

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Motohashi, Hayato; Noui, Karim; Suyama, Teruaki; Yamaguchi, Masahide; Langlois, David

2016-07-01

In the context of classical mechanics, we study the conditions under which higher-order derivative theories can evade the so-called Ostrogradsky instability. More precisely, we consider general Lagrangians with second order time derivatives, of the form L(̈phia, dot phia, phia; qi, qi) with a = 1,⋯,n and i = 1,⋯,m. For n = 1, assuming that the qi's form a nondegenerate subsystem, we confirm that the degeneracy of the kinetic matrix eliminates the Ostrogradsky instability. The degeneracy implies, in the Hamiltonian formulation of the theory, the existence of a primary constraint, which generates a secondary constraint, thus eliminating the Ostrogradsky ghost. For n > 1, we show that, in addition to the degeneracy of the kinetic matrix, one needs to impose extra conditions to ensure the presence of a sufficient number of secondary constraints that can eliminate all the Ostrogradsky ghosts. When these conditions that ensure the disappearance of the Ostrogradsky instability are satisfied, we show that the Euler-Lagrange equations, which involve a priori higher order derivatives, can be reduced to a second order system.
Higher rank ABJM Wilson loops from matrix models

DOE PAGES

Cookmeyer, Jonathan; Liu, James T.; Pando Zayas, Leopoldo A.

2016-11-21

We compute the vacuum expectation values of 1/6 supersymmetric Wilson loops in higher dimensional representations of the gauge group in ABJM theory. We then present results for the m-symmetric and m-antisymmetric representations by exploiting standard matrix model techniques. At leading order, in the saddle point approximation, our expressions reproduce holographic results from both D6 and D2 branes corresponding to the antisymmetric and symmetric representations, respectively. We also compute 1/N corrections to the leading saddle point results.
Tensorial Calibration. 2. Second Order Tensorial Calibration.

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-10-12

index is repeated more than once only in one side of an equation, it implies a summation over the index valid range. 12 To avoid confusion of terms...and higher order tensor, the rank can be higher than the maximum dimensionality. 13 ,ON 6 LINEAR SECOND ORDER TENSORIAL CALIBRATION MODEL From...these equations are valid only if all the elements of the diagonal matrix B3 are non-zero because its inverse (-1) must be computed. This implies that M
Thermodynamic properties of water in confined environments: a Monte Carlo study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gladovic, Martin; Bren, Urban; Urbic, Tomaž

2018-05-01

Monte Carlo simulations of Mercedes-Benz water in a crowded environment were performed. The simulated systems are representative of both composite, porous or sintered materials and living cells with typical matrix packings. We studied the influence of overall temperature as well as the density and size of matrix particles on water density, particle distributions, hydrogen bond formation and thermodynamic quantities. Interestingly, temperature and space occupancy of matrix exhibit a similar effect on water properties following the competition between the kinetic and the potential energy of the system, whereby temperature increases the kinetic and matrix packing decreases the potential contribution. A novel thermodynamic decomposition approach was applied to gain insight into individual contributions of different types of inter-particle interactions. This decomposition proved to be useful and in good agreement with the total thermodynamic quantities especially at higher temperatures and matrix packings, where higher-order potential-energy mixing terms lose their importance.
Faculty Teaching Development: Using the Multidimensional Matrix of Teaching Development to Guide Teaching Improvement Activities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Murphy, Cheryl A.; Jensen, Thomas D.

2016-01-01

Higher education faculty learn how to teach through courses, seminars, or workshops during and after their doctoral program. Perhaps the more prevalent way faculty learn to teach is through observational and self-directed learning. In order to assist with self-directed teaching improvements we developed the Multidimensional Matrix of Teaching…
Higher Rank ABJM Wilson Loops from Matrix Models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cookmeyer, Jonathan; Liu, James; Zayas, Leopoldo

2017-01-01

We compute the expectation values of 1/6 supersymmetric Wilson Loops in ABJM theory in higher rank representations. Using standard matrix model techniques, we calculate the expectation value in the rank m fully symmetric and fully antisymmetric representation where m is scaled with N. To leading order, we find agreement with the classical action of D6 and D2 branes in AdS4 ×CP3 respectively. Further, we compute the first subleading order term, which, on the AdS side, makes a prediction for the one-loop effective action of the corresponding D6 and D2 branes. Supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. PHY 1559988 and the US Department of Energy under Grant No. DE-SC0007859.
A review of the matrix-exponential formalism in radiative transfer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Efremenko, Dmitry S.; Molina García, Víctor; Gimeno García, Sebastián; Doicu, Adrian

2017-07-01

This paper outlines the matrix exponential description of radiative transfer. The eigendecomposition method which serves as a basis for computing the matrix exponential and for representing the solution in a discrete ordinate setting is considered. The mathematical equivalence of the discrete ordinate method, the matrix operator method, and the matrix Riccati equations method is proved rigorously by means of the matrix exponential formalism. For optically thin layers, approximate solution methods relying on the Padé and Taylor series approximations to the matrix exponential, as well as on the matrix Riccati equations, are presented. For optically thick layers, the asymptotic theory with higher-order corrections is derived, and parameterizations of the asymptotic functions and constants for a water-cloud model with a Gamma size distribution are obtained.

Relativistic calculation of correlational energy for a helium-like atom

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Palchikov, V.G.

This paper presents an analytical method for calculating the firstorder correlational energy from the electron interaction, taking account of lag effects. Explicit analytical expressions are obtained for radial matrix elements. The nonrelativistic limit is investigated. The given method may be used to calculate correlation effects in higher orders of perturbation theory (second and higher orders with respect to 1/z) using the Strum expansion for the Coulomb Green's functions.
Furosemide removal in constructed wetlands: Comparative efficiency of LECA and Cork granulates as support matrix.

PubMed

Machado, A I; Dordio, A; Fragoso, R; Leitão, A E; Duarte, E

2017-12-01

The removal efficiency of LECA and cork granulates as support matrix for pharmaceuticals active compounds in a constructed wetland system was investigated using the diuretic drug Furosemide. Kinetics studies were performed testing three different concentrations of Furosemide in an ultrapure water matrix, along seven days. LECA achieved higher removal values compared to cork granulates. However, cork granulates presented a higher removal in the first 24 h of contact time compared to the other adsorbent. The kinetic studies showed that LECA and cork granulates have different adsorption behaviours for Furosemide which is controlled by different adsorption mechanisms. Both materials showed good removal efficiencies and a combination of the two should be further explored in order to applied both materials as support matrix to cope with different furosemide concentrations. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Implementation of Improved Transverse Shear Calculations and Higher Order Laminate Theory Into Strain Rate Dependent Analyses of Polymer Matrix Composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zhu, Lin-Fa; Kim, Soo; Chattopadhyay, Aditi; Goldberg, Robert K.

2004-01-01

A numerical procedure has been developed to investigate the nonlinear and strain rate dependent deformation response of polymer matrix composite laminated plates under high strain rate impact loadings. A recently developed strength of materials based micromechanics model, incorporating a set of nonlinear, strain rate dependent constitutive equations for the polymer matrix, is extended to account for the transverse shear effects during impact. Four different assumptions of transverse shear deformation are investigated in order to improve the developed strain rate dependent micromechanics model. The validities of these assumptions are investigated using numerical and theoretical approaches. A method to determine through the thickness strain and transverse Poisson's ratio of the composite is developed. The revised micromechanics model is then implemented into a higher order laminated plate theory which is modified to include the effects of inelastic strains. Parametric studies are conducted to investigate the mechanical response of composite plates under high strain rate loadings. Results show the transverse shear stresses cannot be neglected in the impact problem. A significant level of strain rate dependency and material nonlinearity is found in the deformation response of representative composite specimens.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Microstructure of carbide precipitates in L12-Ni3Al and L10-TiAl

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, Chang Suk

2008-04-01

The crystallographic structures of carbide formed in Ni3Al- and TiAl-based intermetallics containing carbon are investigated in this study using transmission electron microscopy. In an L12-ordered Ni3Al alloy with 4 mol.% of chromium and 0.2 mol.% to 3.0 mol.% of carbon, fine octahedral precipitates of M23C6 type carbide were formed in the matrix by aging at temperatures around 973 K after solution annealing at 1423 K. TEM examination revealed that the M23C6 phase and the matrix lattices have a cube-cube orientation relationship and maintain partial atomic matching at the {111} interface. After prolonged aging or by aging at higher temperatures, the M23C6 precipitates adopt a rod-like morphology elongated parallel to the <100> directions. In L10-ordered TiAl containing from 0.1 mol.% to 2.0 mol.% carbon, TEM observations reveal that needle-like precipitates, which lie only in one direction parallel to the [001] axis of the L10 matrix appear in the matrix mainly at dislocations. Selected-area electron diffraction (SAED) patterns analyses showed that the needle-shaped precipitate is perovskite-type Ti3AlC. The orientation relationship between the Ti3AlC and the L10 matrix was found to be (001)Ti3AlC//(001)L10 matrix and [010]Ti3AlC//[010]L10 matrix. By aging at higher temperatures or for a longer period at 1073 K, plate-like precipitates of Ti2AlC with a hexagonal structure form on the {111} planes of the L10 matrix. The orientation relationship between the Ti2AlC and the L10 matrix is (0001)Ti2AlC//(111)L10 matrix and Ti2AlC//L10 matrix.
Characterization of complex networks by higher order neighborhood properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Andrade, R. F. S.; Miranda, J. G. V.; Pinho, S. T. R.; Lobão, T. P.

2008-01-01

A concept of higher order neighborhood in complex networks, introduced previously [Phys. Rev. E 73, 046101 (2006)], is systematically explored to investigate larger scale structures in complex networks. The basic idea is to consider each higher order neighborhood as a network in itself, represented by a corresponding adjacency matrix, and to settle a plenty of new parameters in order to obtain a best characterization of the whole network. Usual network indices are then used to evaluate the properties of each neighborhood. The identification of high order neighborhoods is also regarded as intermediary step towards the evaluation of global network properties, like the diameter, average shortest path between node, and network fractal dimension. Results for a large number of typical networks are presented and discussed.
A quasi steady state method for solving transient Darcy flow in complex 3D fractured networks accounting for matrix to fracture flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nœtinger, B.

2015-02-01

Modeling natural Discrete Fracture Networks (DFN) receives more and more attention in applied geosciences, from oil and gas industry, to geothermal recovery and aquifer management. The fractures may be either natural, or artificial in case of well stimulation. Accounting for the flow inside the fracture network, and accounting for the transfers between the matrix and the fractures, with the same level of accuracy is an important issue for calibrating the well architecture and for setting up optimal resources recovery strategies. Recently, we proposed an original method allowing to model transient pressure diffusion in the fracture network only [1]. The matrix was assumed to be impervious. A systematic approximation scheme was built, allowing to model the initial DFN by a set of N unknowns located at each identified intersection between fractures. The higher N, the higher the accuracy of the model. The main assumption was using a quasi steady state hypothesis, that states that the characteristic diffusion time over one single fracture is negligible compared with the characteristic time of the macroscopic problem, e.g. change of boundary conditions. In that context, the lowest order approximation N = 1 has the form of solving a transient problem in a resistor/capacitor network, a so-called pipe network. Its topology is the same as the network of geometrical intersections between fractures. In this paper, we generalize this approach in order to account for fluxes from matrix to fractures. The quasi steady state hypothesis at the fracture level is still kept. Then, we show that in the case of well separated time scales between matrix and fractures, the preceding model needs only to be slightly modified in order to incorporate these fluxes. The additional knowledge of the so-called matrix to fracture transfer function allows to modify the mass matrix that becomes a time convolution operator. This is reminiscent of existing space averaged transient dual porosity models.
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sechin, Ivan, E-mail: shnbuz@gmail.com, E-mail: zotov@mi.ras.ru; ITEP, B. Cheremushkinskaya Str. 25, Moscow 117218; Zotov, Andrei, E-mail: shnbuz@gmail.com, E-mail: zotov@mi.ras.ru

In this paper we propose versions of the associative Yang-Baxter equation and higher order R-matrix identities which can be applied to quantum dynamical R-matrices. As is known quantum non-dynamical R-matrices of Baxter-Belavin type satisfy this equation. Together with unitarity condition and skew-symmetry it provides the quantum Yang-Baxter equation and a set of identities useful for different applications in integrable systems. The dynamical R-matrices satisfy the Gervais-Neveu-Felder (or dynamical Yang-Baxter) equation. Relation between the dynamical and non-dynamical cases is described by the IRF (interaction-round-a-face)-Vertex transformation. An alternative approach to quantum (semi-)dynamical R-matrices and related quantum algebras was suggested by Arutyunov, Chekhov,more » and Frolov (ACF) in their study of the quantum Ruijsenaars-Schneider model. The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, we prove that the ACF elliptic R-matrix satisfies the associative Yang-Baxter equation with shifted spectral parameters. Second, we directly prove a simple relation of the IRF-Vertex type between the Baxter-Belavin and the ACF elliptic R-matrices predicted previously by Avan and Rollet. It provides the higher order R-matrix identities and an explanation of the obtained equations through those for non-dynamical R-matrices. As a by-product we also get an interpretation of the intertwining transformation as matrix extension of scalar theta function likewise R-matrix is interpreted as matrix extension of the Kronecker function. Relations to the Gervais-Neveu-Felder equation and identities for the Felder’s elliptic R-matrix are also discussed.« less
Metal-doped semiconductor nanoparticles and methods of synthesis thereof

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ren, Zhifeng (Inventor); Wang, Wenzhong (Inventor); Chen, Gang (Inventor); Dresselhaus, Mildred (Inventor); Poudel, Bed (Inventor); Kumar, Shankar (Inventor)

2009-01-01

The present invention generally relates to binary or higher order semiconductor nanoparticles doped with a metallic element, and thermoelectric compositions incorporating such nanoparticles. In one aspect, the present invention provides a thermoelectric composition comprising a plurality of nanoparticles each of which includes an alloy matrix formed of a Group IV element and Group VI element and a metallic dopant distributed within the matrix.
Metal-doped semiconductor nanoparticles and methods of synthesis thereof

DOEpatents

Ren, Zhifeng [Newton, MA; Chen, Gang [Carlisle, MA; Poudel, Bed [West Newton, MA; Kumar, Shankar [Newton, MA; Wang, Wenzhong [Beijing, CN; Dresselhaus, Mildred [Arlington, MA

2009-09-08

The present invention generally relates to binary or higher order semiconductor nanoparticles doped with a metallic element, and thermoelectric compositions incorporating such nanoparticles. In one aspect, the present invention provides a thermoelectric composition comprising a plurality of nanoparticles each of which includes an alloy matrix formed of a Group IV element and Group VI element and a metallic dopant distributed within the matrix.
Double ionization in R -matrix theory using a two-electron outer region

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wragg, Jack; Parker, J. S.; van der Hart, H. W.

2015-08-01

We have developed a two-electron outer region for use within R -matrix theory to describe double ionization processes. The capability of this method is demonstrated for single-photon double ionization of He in the photon energy region between 80 and 180 eV. The cross sections are in agreement with established data. The extended R -matrix with time dependence method also provides information on higher-order processes, as demonstrated by the identification of signatures for sequential double ionization processes involving an intermediate He+ state with n =2 .
Exact first order scattering correction for vector radiative transfer in coupled atmosphere and ocean systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhai, Peng-Wang; Hu, Yongxiang; Josset, Damien B.; Trepte, Charles R.; Lucker, Patricia L.; Lin, Bing

2012-06-01

We have developed a Vector Radiative Transfer (VRT) code for coupled atmosphere and ocean systems based on the successive order of scattering (SOS) method. In order to achieve efficiency and maintain accuracy, the scattering matrix is expanded in terms of the Wigner d functions and the delta fit or delta-M technique is used to truncate the commonly-present large forward scattering peak. To further improve the accuracy of the SOS code, we have implemented the analytical first order scattering treatment using the exact scattering matrix of the medium in the SOS code. The expansion and truncation techniques are kept for higher order scattering. The exact first order scattering correction was originally published by Nakajima and Takana.1 A new contribution of this work is to account for the exact secondary light scattering caused by the light reflected by and transmitted through the rough air-sea interface.
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Motohashi, Hayato; Noui, Karim; Laboratoire APC - Astroparticule et Cosmologie,Université Paris Diderot Paris 7,75013 Paris

In the context of classical mechanics, we study the conditions under which higher-order derivative theories can evade the so-called Ostrogradsky instability. More precisely, we consider general Lagrangians with second order time derivatives, of the form L(ϕ{sup ¨a}, ϕ-dot {sup a},ϕ{sup a}; q-dot {sup i},q{sup i}) with a=1,⋯,n and i=1,⋯,m. For n=1, assuming that the q{sup i}’s form a nondegenerate subsystem, we confirm that the degeneracy of the kinetic matrix eliminates the Ostrogradsky instability. The degeneracy implies, in the Hamiltonian formulation of the theory, the existence of a primary constraint, which generates a secondary constraint, thus eliminating the Ostrogradsky ghost. Formore » n>1, we show that, in addition to the degeneracy of the kinetic matrix, one needs to impose extra conditions to ensure the presence of a sufficient number of secondary constraints that can eliminate all the Ostrogradsky ghosts. When these conditions that ensure the disappearance of the Ostrogradsky instability are satisfied, we show that the Euler-Lagrange equations, which involve a priori higher order derivatives, can be reduced to a second order system.« less
Piezoresistivity of Resin-Impregnated Carbon Nanotube Film at High Temperatures.

PubMed

Li, Min; Zuo, Tianyi; Wang, Shaokai; Gu, Yizhuo; Gao, Limin; Li, Yanxia; Zhang, Zuoguang

2018-06-13

This paper presents the development of a continuous carbon nanotube (CNT) composite film sensor with a strain detecting range of 0-2% for structural composites. The strain-dependent resistance responses of continuous CNT film and its resin-impregnated composite films were investigated at temperatures as high as 200 °C. The results manifest that impregnation with resin leads to a much larger gauge factor than pristine film. Both the pristine and composite films show an increase in resistivity with increasing temperature. For different composite films, the ordering of gauge factors is consistent with that of the matrix moduli. This indicates that a resin matrix with higher modulus and strong interactions between CNTs/CNT bundles and the resin matrix are beneficial for enhancing the piezoresistive effect. The CNT/PAA composite film has a gauge factor of 4.3 at 150 °C, an order of magnitude higher than the metal foil sensor. Therefore, the CNT composite films have great potential for simultaneous application for reinforcement and as strain sensor to realise a multifunctional composite. © 2018 IOP Publishing Ltd.
Investigation of the Stability of POD-Galerkin Techniques for Reduced Order Model Development

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-01-09

symmetrizing the higher- order PDE with a preconditioning matrix. Rowley et al. also pointed out that defining a proper inner product can be important when...equations. The ROM is obtained by employing Galerkin’s method to reduce the high-order PDEs to a lower-order ODE system by means of POD eigen-bases...employing Galerkin’s method to reduce the high-order PDEs to a lower-order ODE system by means of POD eigen-bases. Possible solutions of the ROM stability
Exploration of POD-Galerkin Techniques for Developing Reduced Order Models of the Euler Equations

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-07-01

modes [1]. Barone et al [15, 16] proposed to stabilize the reduced system by symmetrizing the higher-order PDE with a preconditioning matrix. Rowley et...advection scalar equation. The ROM is obtained by employing Galerkin’s method to reduce the high-order PDEs to a lower- order ODE system by means of POD...high-order PDEs to a lower-order ODE system by means of POD eigen-bases. For purposes of this study, a linearized version of the Euler equations is
Time integration algorithms for the two-dimensional Euler equations on unstructured meshes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Slack, David C.; Whitaker, D. L.; Walters, Robert W.

1994-01-01

Explicit and implicit time integration algorithms for the two-dimensional Euler equations on unstructured grids are presented. Both cell-centered and cell-vertex finite volume upwind schemes utilizing Roe's approximate Riemann solver are developed. For the cell-vertex scheme, a four-stage Runge-Kutta time integration, a fourstage Runge-Kutta time integration with implicit residual averaging, a point Jacobi method, a symmetric point Gauss-Seidel method and two methods utilizing preconditioned sparse matrix solvers are presented. For the cell-centered scheme, a Runge-Kutta scheme, an implicit tridiagonal relaxation scheme modeled after line Gauss-Seidel, a fully implicit lower-upper (LU) decomposition, and a hybrid scheme utilizing both Runge-Kutta and LU methods are presented. A reverse Cuthill-McKee renumbering scheme is employed for the direct solver to decrease CPU time by reducing the fill of the Jacobian matrix. A comparison of the various time integration schemes is made for both first-order and higher order accurate solutions using several mesh sizes, higher order accuracy is achieved by using multidimensional monotone linear reconstruction procedures. The results obtained for a transonic flow over a circular arc suggest that the preconditioned sparse matrix solvers perform better than the other methods as the number of elements in the mesh increases.
A general solution strategy of modified power method for higher mode solutions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang, Peng; Lee, Hyunsuk; Lee, Deokjung, E-mail: deokjung@unist.ac.kr

2016-01-15

A general solution strategy of the modified power iteration method for calculating higher eigenmodes has been developed and applied in continuous energy Monte Carlo simulation. The new approach adopts four features: 1) the eigen decomposition of transfer matrix, 2) weight cancellation for higher modes, 3) population control with higher mode weights, and 4) stabilization technique of statistical fluctuations using multi-cycle accumulations. The numerical tests of neutron transport eigenvalue problems successfully demonstrate that the new strategy can significantly accelerate the fission source convergence with stable convergence behavior while obtaining multiple higher eigenmodes at the same time. The advantages of the newmore » strategy can be summarized as 1) the replacement of the cumbersome solution step of high order polynomial equations required by Booth's original method with the simple matrix eigen decomposition, 2) faster fission source convergence in inactive cycles, 3) more stable behaviors in both inactive and active cycles, and 4) smaller variances in active cycles. Advantages 3 and 4 can be attributed to the lower sensitivity of the new strategy to statistical fluctuations due to the multi-cycle accumulations. The application of the modified power method to continuous energy Monte Carlo simulation and the higher eigenmodes up to 4th order are reported for the first time in this paper. -- Graphical abstract: -- Highlights: •Modified power method is applied to continuous energy Monte Carlo simulation. •Transfer matrix is introduced to generalize the modified power method. •All mode based population control is applied to get the higher eigenmodes. •Statistic fluctuation can be greatly reduced using accumulated tally results. •Fission source convergence is accelerated with higher mode solutions.« less
Lorentz symmetry violation with higher-order operators and renormalization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nascimento, J. R.; Petrov, A. Yu; Reyes, C. M.

2018-01-01

Effective field theory has shown to be a powerful method in searching for quantum gravity effects and in particular for CPT and Lorentz symmetry violation. In this work we study an effective field theory with higher-order Lorentz violation, specifically we consider a modified model with scalars and modified fermions interacting via the Yukawa coupling. We study its renormalization properties, that is, its radiative corrections and renormalization conditions in the light of the requirements of having a finite and unitary S-matrix.
Wigner surmises and the two-dimensional homogeneous Poisson point process.

PubMed

Sakhr, Jamal; Nieminen, John M

2006-04-01

We derive a set of identities that relate the higher-order interpoint spacing statistics of the two-dimensional homogeneous Poisson point process to the Wigner surmises for the higher-order spacing distributions of eigenvalues from the three classical random matrix ensembles. We also report a remarkable identity that equates the second-nearest-neighbor spacing statistics of the points of the Poisson process and the nearest-neighbor spacing statistics of complex eigenvalues from Ginibre's ensemble of 2 x 2 complex non-Hermitian random matrices.
Acoustic vibrations of metal nanoparticles: high order radial mode detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nelet, A.; Crut, A.; Arbouet, A.; Del Fatti, N.; Vallée, F.; Portalès, H.; Saviot, L.; Duval, E.

2004-03-01

The vibrational radial modes of silver nanospheres embedded in a glass matrix are investigated using a high sensitivity femtosecond pump-probe technique. The results yield evidence for coherent launching of the fundamental and higher order radial modes in agreement with a sphere dilation mediated excitation model. The results are consistent with low-frequency Raman scattering experiments.

Multiple choice questions can be designed or revised to challenge learners' critical thinking.

PubMed

Tractenberg, Rochelle E; Gushta, Matthew M; Mulroney, Susan E; Weissinger, Peggy A

2013-12-01

Multiple choice (MC) questions from a graduate physiology course were evaluated by cognitive-psychology (but not physiology) experts, and analyzed statistically, in order to test the independence of content expertise and cognitive complexity ratings of MC items. Integration of higher order thinking into MC exams is important, but widely known to be challenging-perhaps especially when content experts must think like novices. Expertise in the domain (content) may actually impede the creation of higher-complexity items. Three cognitive psychology experts independently rated cognitive complexity for 252 multiple-choice physiology items using a six-level cognitive complexity matrix that was synthesized from the literature. Rasch modeling estimated item difficulties. The complexity ratings and difficulty estimates were then analyzed together to determine the relative contributions (and independence) of complexity and difficulty to the likelihood of correct answers on each item. Cognitive complexity was found to be statistically independent of difficulty estimates for 88 % of items. Using the complexity matrix, modifications were identified to increase some item complexities by one level, without affecting the item's difficulty. Cognitive complexity can effectively be rated by non-content experts. The six-level complexity matrix, if applied by faculty peer groups trained in cognitive complexity and without domain-specific expertise, could lead to improvements in the complexity targeted with item writing and revision. Targeting higher order thinking with MC questions can be achieved without changing item difficulties or other test characteristics, but this may be less likely if the content expert is left to assess items within their domain of expertise.
Correct definition of color singlet P-wave non-perturbative matrix element of heavy quarkonium production

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nayak, Gouranga C.

2017-09-01

Recently we have proved factorization of infrared divergences in NRQCD S-wave heavy quarkonium production at high energy colliders at all orders in coupling constant. One of the problem which still exists in the higher order pQCD calculation of color singlet P-wave heavy quarkonium production/anihillation is the appearance of noncanceling infrared divergences due to real soft gluons exchange, although no such infrared divergences are present in the color singlet S-wave heavy quarkonium. In this paper we find that since the non-perturbative matrix element of the color singlet P-wave heavy quarkonium production contains derivative operators, the gauge links are necessary to make it gauge invariant and be consistent with the factorization of such non-canceling infrared divergences at all orders in coupling constant.
Symbolic Algebra Development for Higher-Order Electron Propagator Formulation and Implementation.

PubMed

Tamayo-Mendoza, Teresa; Flores-Moreno, Roberto

2014-06-10

Through the use of symbolic algebra, implemented in a program, the algebraic expression of the elements of the self-energy matrix for the electron propagator to different orders were obtained. In addition, a module for the software package Lowdin was automatically generated. Second- and third-order electron propagator results have been calculated to test the correct operation of the program. It was found that the Fortran 90 modules obtained automatically with our algorithm succeeded in calculating ionization energies with the second- and third-order electron propagator in the diagonal approximation. The strategy for the development of this symbolic algebra program is described in detail. This represents a solid starting point for the automatic derivation and implementation of higher-order electron propagator methods.
Consensus Algorithms for Networks of Systems with Second- and Higher-Order Dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fruhnert, Michael

This thesis considers homogeneous networks of linear systems. We consider linear feedback controllers and require that the directed graph associated with the network contains a spanning tree and systems are stabilizable. We show that, in continuous-time, consensus with a guaranteed rate of convergence can always be achieved using linear state feedback. For networks of continuous-time second-order systems, we provide a new and simple derivation of the conditions for a second-order polynomials with complex coefficients to be Hurwitz. We apply this result to obtain necessary and sufficient conditions to achieve consensus with networks whose graph Laplacian matrix may have complex eigenvalues. Based on the conditions found, methods to compute feedback gains are proposed. We show that gains can be chosen such that consensus is achieved robustly over a variety of communication structures and system dynamics. We also consider the use of static output feedback. For networks of discrete-time second-order systems, we provide a new and simple derivation of the conditions for a second-order polynomials with complex coefficients to be Schur. We apply this result to obtain necessary and sufficient conditions to achieve consensus with networks whose graph Laplacian matrix may have complex eigenvalues. We show that consensus can always be achieved for marginally stable systems and discretized systems. Simple conditions for consensus achieving controllers are obtained when the Laplacian eigenvalues are all real. For networks of continuous-time time-variant higher-order systems, we show that uniform consensus can always be achieved if systems are quadratically stabilizable. In this case, we provide a simple condition to obtain a linear feedback control. For networks of discrete-time higher-order systems, we show that constant gains can be chosen such that consensus is achieved for a variety of network topologies. First, we develop simple results for networks of time-invariant systems and networks of time-variant systems that are given in controllable canonical form. Second, we formulate the problem in terms of Linear Matrix Inequalities (LMIs). The condition found simplifies the design process and avoids the parallel solution of multiple LMIs. The result yields a modified Algebraic Riccati Equation (ARE) for which we present an equivalent LMI condition.
Supersymmetric gauged matrix models from dimensional reduction on a sphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Closset, Cyril; Ghim, Dongwook; Seong, Rak-Kyeong

2018-05-01

It was recently proposed that N = 1 supersymmetric gauged matrix models have a duality of order four — that is, a quadrality — reminiscent of infrared dualities of SQCD theories in higher dimensions. In this note, we show that the zero-dimensional quadrality proposal can be inferred from the two-dimensional Gadde-Gukov-Putrov triality. We consider two-dimensional N = (0, 2) SQCD compactified on a sphere with the half-topological twist. For a convenient choice of R-charge, the zero-mode sector on the sphere gives rise to a simple N = 1 gauged matrix model. Triality on the sphere then implies a triality relation for the supersymmetric matrix model, which can be completed to the full quadrality.
Semi-automatic sparse preconditioners for high-order finite element methods on non-uniform meshes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Austin, Travis M.; Brezina, Marian; Jamroz, Ben; Jhurani, Chetan; Manteuffel, Thomas A.; Ruge, John

2012-05-01

High-order finite elements often have a higher accuracy per degree of freedom than the classical low-order finite elements. However, in the context of implicit time-stepping methods, high-order finite elements present challenges to the construction of efficient simulations due to the high cost of inverting the denser finite element matrix. There are many cases where simulations are limited by the memory required to store the matrix and/or the algorithmic components of the linear solver. We are particularly interested in preconditioned Krylov methods for linear systems generated by discretization of elliptic partial differential equations with high-order finite elements. Using a preconditioner like Algebraic Multigrid can be costly in terms of memory due to the need to store matrix information at the various levels. We present a novel method for defining a preconditioner for systems generated by high-order finite elements that is based on a much sparser system than the original high-order finite element system. We investigate the performance for non-uniform meshes on a cube and a cubed sphere mesh, showing that the sparser preconditioner is more efficient and uses significantly less memory. Finally, we explore new methods to construct the sparse preconditioner and examine their effectiveness for non-uniform meshes. We compare results to a direct use of Algebraic Multigrid as a preconditioner and to a two-level additive Schwarz method.
Nambu-Poisson gauge theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jurčo, Branislav; Schupp, Peter; Vysoký, Jan

2014-06-01

We generalize noncommutative gauge theory using Nambu-Poisson structures to obtain a new type of gauge theory with higher brackets and gauge fields. The approach is based on covariant coordinates and higher versions of the Seiberg-Witten map. We construct a covariant Nambu-Poisson gauge theory action, give its first order expansion in the Nambu-Poisson tensor and relate it to a Nambu-Poisson matrix model.
Algorithms for Efficient Computation of Transfer Functions for Large Order Flexible Systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Maghami, Peiman G.; Giesy, Daniel P.

1998-01-01

An efficient and robust computational scheme is given for the calculation of the frequency response function of a large order, flexible system implemented with a linear, time invariant control system. Advantage is taken of the highly structured sparsity of the system matrix of the plant based on a model of the structure using normal mode coordinates. The computational time per frequency point of the new computational scheme is a linear function of system size, a significant improvement over traditional, still-matrix techniques whose computational times per frequency point range from quadratic to cubic functions of system size. This permits the practical frequency domain analysis of systems of much larger order than by traditional, full-matrix techniques. Formulations are given for both open- and closed-loop systems. Numerical examples are presented showing the advantages of the present formulation over traditional approaches, both in speed and in accuracy. Using a model with 703 structural modes, the present method was up to two orders of magnitude faster than a traditional method. The present method generally showed good to excellent accuracy throughout the range of test frequencies, while traditional methods gave adequate accuracy for lower frequencies, but generally deteriorated in performance at higher frequencies with worst case errors being many orders of magnitude times the correct values.
Non-Abelian Geometric Phases Carried by the Quantum Noise Matrix

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bharath, H. M.; Boguslawski, Matthew; Barrios, Maryrose; Chapman, Michael

2017-04-01

Topological phases of matter are characterized by topological order parameters that are built using Berry's geometric phase. Berry's phase is the geometric information stored in the overall phase of a quantum state. We show that geometric information is also stored in the second and higher order spin moments of a quantum spin system, captured by a non-abelian geometric phase. The quantum state of a spin-S system is uniquely characterized by its spin moments up to order 2S. The first-order spin moment is the spin vector, and the second-order spin moment represents the spin fluctuation tensor, i.e., the quantum noise matrix. When the spin vector is transported along a loop in the Bloch ball, we show that the quantum noise matrix picks up a geometric phase. Considering spin-1 systems, we formulate this geometric phase as an SO(3) operator. Geometric phases are usually interpreted in terms of the solid angle subtended by the loop at the center. However, solid angles are not well defined for loops that pass through the center. Here, we introduce a generalized solid angle which is well defined for all loops inside the Bloch ball, in terms of which, we interpret the SO(3) geometric phase. This geometric phase can be used to characterize topological spin textures in cold atomic clouds.
Quadratic canonical transformation theory and higher order density matrices.

PubMed

Neuscamman, Eric; Yanai, Takeshi; Chan, Garnet Kin-Lic

2009-03-28

Canonical transformation (CT) theory provides a rigorously size-extensive description of dynamic correlation in multireference systems, with an accuracy superior to and cost scaling lower than complete active space second order perturbation theory. Here we expand our previous theory by investigating (i) a commutator approximation that is applied at quadratic, as opposed to linear, order in the effective Hamiltonian, and (ii) incorporation of the three-body reduced density matrix in the operator and density matrix decompositions. The quadratic commutator approximation improves CT's accuracy when used with a single-determinant reference, repairing the previous formal disadvantage of the single-reference linear CT theory relative to singles and doubles coupled cluster theory. Calculations on the BH and HF binding curves confirm this improvement. In multireference systems, the three-body reduced density matrix increases the overall accuracy of the CT theory. Tests on the H(2)O and N(2) binding curves yield results highly competitive with expensive state-of-the-art multireference methods, such as the multireference Davidson-corrected configuration interaction (MRCI+Q), averaged coupled pair functional, and averaged quadratic coupled cluster theories.
Interacting hadron resonance gas model in the K -matrix formalism

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dash, Ashutosh; Samanta, Subhasis; Mohanty, Bedangadas

2018-05-01

An extension of hadron resonance gas (HRG) model is constructed to include interactions using relativistic virial expansion of partition function. The noninteracting part of the expansion contains all the stable baryons and mesons and the interacting part contains all the higher mass resonances which decay into two stable hadrons. The virial coefficients are related to the phase shifts which are calculated using K -matrix formalism in the present work. We have calculated various thermodynamics quantities like pressure, energy density, and entropy density of the system. A comparison of thermodynamic quantities with noninteracting HRG model, calculated using the same number of hadrons, shows that the results of the above formalism are larger. A good agreement between equation of state calculated in K -matrix formalism and lattice QCD simulations is observed. Specifically, the lattice QCD calculated interaction measure is well described in our formalism. We have also calculated second-order fluctuations and correlations of conserved charges in K -matrix formalism. We observe a good agreement of second-order fluctuations and baryon-strangeness correlation with lattice data below the crossover temperature.
Higher order reconstruction for MRI in the presence of spatiotemporal field perturbations.

PubMed

Wilm, Bertram J; Barmet, Christoph; Pavan, Matteo; Pruessmann, Klaas P

2011-06-01

Despite continuous hardware advances, MRI is frequently subject to field perturbations that are of higher than first order in space and thus violate the traditional k-space picture of spatial encoding. Sources of higher order perturbations include eddy currents, concomitant fields, thermal drifts, and imperfections of higher order shim systems. In conventional MRI with Fourier reconstruction, they give rise to geometric distortions, blurring, artifacts, and error in quantitative data. This work describes an alternative approach in which the entire field evolution, including higher order effects, is accounted for by viewing image reconstruction as a generic inverse problem. The relevant field evolutions are measured with a third-order NMR field camera. Algebraic reconstruction is then formulated such as to jointly minimize artifacts and noise in the resulting image. It is solved by an iterative conjugate-gradient algorithm that uses explicit matrix-vector multiplication to accommodate arbitrary net encoding. The feasibility and benefits of this approach are demonstrated by examples of diffusion imaging. In a phantom study, it is shown that higher order reconstruction largely overcomes variable image distortions that diffusion gradients induce in EPI data. In vivo experiments then demonstrate that the resulting geometric consistency permits straightforward tensor analysis without coregistration. Copyright © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Low-frequency approximation for high-order harmonic generation by a bicircular laser field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Milošević, D. B.

2018-01-01

We present low-frequency approximation (LFA) for high-order harmonic generation (HHG) process. LFA represents the lowest-order term of an expansion of the final-state interaction matrix element in powers of the laser-field frequency ω . In this approximation the plane-wave recombination matrix element which appears in the strong-field approximation is replaced by the exact laser-free recombination matrix element calculated for the laser-field dressed electron momenta. First, we have shown that the HHG spectra obtained using the LFA agree with those obtained solving the time-dependent Schrödinger equation. Next, we have applied this LFA to calculate the HHG rate for inert gases exposed to a bicircular field. The bicircular field, which consists of two coplanar counter-rotating fields having different frequencies (usually ω and 2 ω ), is presently an important subject of scientific research since it enables efficient generation of circularly polarized high-order harmonics (coherent soft x rays). Analyzing the photorecombination matrix element we have found that the HHG rate can efficiently be calculated using the angular momentum basis with the states oriented in the direction of the bicircular field components. Our numerical results show that the HHG rate for atoms having p ground state, for higher high-order harmonic energies, is larger for circularly polarized harmonics having the helicity -1 . For lower energies the harmonics having helicity +1 prevails. The transition between these two harmonic energy regions can appear near the Cooper minimum, which, in the case of Ar atoms, makes the selection of high-order harmonics having the same helicity much easier. This is important for applications (for example, for generation of attosecond pulse trains of circularly polarized harmonics).
Dispersion of speckle suppression efficiency for binary DOE structures: spectral domain and coherent matrix approaches.

PubMed

Lapchuk, Anatoliy; Prygun, Olexandr; Fu, Minglei; Le, Zichun; Xiong, Qiyuan; Kryuchyn, Andriy

2017-06-26

We present the first general theoretical description of speckle suppression efficiency based on an active diffractive optical element (DOE). The approach is based on spectral analysis of diffracted beams and a coherent matrix. Analytical formulae are obtained for the dispersion of speckle suppression efficiency using different DOE structures and different DOE activation methods. We show that a one-sided 2D DOE structure has smaller speckle suppression range than a two-sided 1D DOE structure. Both DOE structures have sufficient speckle suppression range to suppress low-order speckles in the entire visible range, but only the two-sided 1D DOE can suppress higher-order speckles. We also show that a linear shift 2D DOE in a laser projector with a large numerical aperture has higher effective speckle suppression efficiency than the method using switching or step-wise shift DOE structures. The generalized theoretical models elucidate the mechanism and practical realization of speckle suppression.
The role of hydrogels in the radical production of the Fricke-gel-dosimeter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lazzaroni, S.; Liosi, G. M.; D'Agostino, G.; Marconi, R. P.; Mariani, M.; Buttafava, A.; Dondi, D.

2018-01-01

The radiolysis mechanism of the Fricke-gel-dosimeters has been investigated in order to evaluate the role of hydrogels in the radical production. For this purpose, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra were acquired for samples frozen and irradiated at 77 K. The analysis was performed by increasing stepwise the temperature and acquiring the EPR spectra at 120 K in order to follow the radical reaction mechanism. The comparison between aqueous- and gel- dosimeters were performed. Both gelatin from porcine skin and PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) were investigated as gel matrix. Different radical species were identified and qualitatively compared. For gel matrix, peroxyl radicals, stemming from the hydrogel, play an important role in the survival of radicals at higher temperature. Moreover, the Fe3+ EPR signal has been studied and compared with the radicals concentration. From this comparison, it is evident the increase of Fe3+ concentration is shifted toward higher temperatures with respect to the radical decay. To explain this phenomenon, the intervention of EPR silent species like peroxides is supposed.
Characterization of Anisotropic Behavior for High Grade Pipes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Kun; Huo, Chunyong; Ji, Lingkang; Li, Yang; Zhang, Jiming; Ma, Qiurong

With the developing requirement of nature gas, the property needs of steel for pipe line are higher and higher, especially in strength and toughness. It is necessary to improve the steel grade in order to ensure economic demand and safety. However, with the rise of steel grade, the differences on properties in different orientations (anisotropic behaviors) become more and more obvious after the process of hot rolling, which may affect the prediction of fracture for the pipes seriously (Thinking of isotropic mechanical properties for material in traditional predict way). In order to get the reason for anisotropic mechanics, a series of tests are carried out for high grade steel pipes, including not only mechanical properties but also microstructures. Result indicates that there are obviously anisotropic behaviors for high grade steel pipes in two orientations (rolling orientation and transverse orientation). Strength is better in T orientation because Rm is higher and Rt 0.5 rises more in T orientation, and toughness is better in L orientation because of the higher Akv and SA in L orientation under a same temperature. Banded structures are formed in T orientation, and the spatial distribution of inclusion and precipitated phases are different in T, L and S orientation. The anisotropic arrangement for the matrix in space (banded structures), which is formed after the process of hot rolling, may affect the mechanical properties in different orientation. Moreover, the elasticity modulus of particles is different from the elasticity modulus of matrix, deformation between particles and matrix may cause stress concentration, and damage forms in this place. Because of the different distribution of particles in space, the level of damage is anisotropic in different orientations, and the anisotropic mechanical properties occur finally. Therefore, the anisotropic mechanical properties are determined by the anisotropic microstructures, both the anisotropic of matrix and the anisotropic of particles are included.
Microfabricated bulk wave acoustic bandgap device

DOEpatents

Olsson, Roy H.; El-Kady, Ihab F.; McCormick, Frederick; Fleming, James G.; Fleming, Carol

2010-06-08

A microfabricated bulk wave acoustic bandgap device comprises a periodic two-dimensional array of scatterers embedded within the matrix material membrane, wherein the scatterer material has a density and/or elastic constant that is different than the matrix material and wherein the periodicity of the array causes destructive interference of the acoustic wave within an acoustic bandgap. The membrane can be suspended above a substrate by an air or vacuum gap to provide acoustic isolation from the substrate. The device can be fabricated using microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technologies. Such microfabricated bulk wave phononic bandgap devices are useful for acoustic isolation in the ultrasonic, VHF, or UHF regime (i.e., frequencies of order 1 MHz to 10 GHz and higher, and lattice constants of order 100 .mu.m or less).
Microfabricated bulk wave acoustic bandgap device

DOEpatents

Olsson, Roy H.; El-Kady, Ihab F.; McCormick, Frederick; Fleming, James G.; Fleming, legal representative, Carol

2010-11-23

A microfabricated bulk wave acoustic bandgap device comprises a periodic two-dimensional array of scatterers embedded within the matrix material membrane, wherein the scatterer material has a density and/or elastic constant that is different than the matrix material and wherein the periodicity of the array causes destructive interference of the acoustic wave within an acoustic bandgap. The membrane can be suspended above a substrate by an air or vacuum gap to provide acoustic isolation from the substrate. The device can be fabricated using microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technologies. Such microfabricated bulk wave phononic bandgap devices are useful for acoustic isolation in the ultrasonic, VHF, or UHF regime (i.e., frequencies of order 1 MHz to 10 GHz and higher, and lattice constants of order 100 .mu.m or less).
Higher-order rational solitons and rogue-like wave solutions of the (2 + 1)-dimensional nonlinear fluid mechanics equations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wen, Xiao-Yong; Yan, Zhenya

2017-02-01

The novel generalized perturbation (n, M)-fold Darboux transformations (DTs) are reported for the (2 + 1)-dimensional Kadomtsev-Petviashvili (KP) equation and its extension by using the Taylor expansion of the Darboux matrix. The generalized perturbation (1 , N - 1) -fold DTs are used to find their higher-order rational solitons and rogue wave solutions in terms of determinants. The dynamics behaviors of these rogue waves are discussed in detail for different parameters and time, which display the interesting RW and soliton structures including the triangle, pentagon, heptagon profiles, etc. Moreover, we find that a new phenomenon that the parameter (a) can control the wave structures of the KP equation from the higher-order rogue waves (a ≠ 0) into higher-order rational solitons (a = 0) in (x, t)-space with y = const . These results may predict the corresponding dynamical phenomena in the models of fluid mechanics and other physically relevant systems.
Worldline approach to helicity flip in plane waves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ilderton, Anton; Torgrimsson, Greger

2016-04-01

We apply worldline methods to the study of vacuum polarization effects in plane wave backgrounds, in both scalar and spinor QED. We calculate helicity-flip probabilities to one loop order and treated exactly in the background field, and provide a toolkit of methods for use in investigations of higher-order processes. We also discuss the connections between the worldline, S-matrix, and lightfront approaches to vacuum polarization effects.

Calcium modified edible Canna (Canna edulis L) starch for controlled released matrix

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Putri, A. P.; Ridwan, M.; Darmawan, T. A.; Darusman, F.; Gadri, A.

2017-07-01

Canna edulis L starch was modified with calcium chloride in order to form controlled released matrix. Present study aim to analyze modified starch characteristic. Four different formulation of ondansetron granules was used to provide dissolution profile of controlled released, two formula consisted of 15% and 30% modified starch, one formula utilized matrix reference standards and the last granules was negative control. Methocel-hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose was used as controlled released matrix reference standards in the third formula. Calcium starch was synthesized in the presence of sodium hydroxide to form gelatinized mass and calcium chloride as the cross linking agent. Physicochemical and dissolution properties of modified starch for controlled released application were investigated. Modified starch has higher swelling index, water solubility and compressibility index. Three of four different formulation of granules provide dissolution profile of controlled released. The profiles indicate granules which employed calcium Canna edulis L starch as matrix are able to resemble controlled drug released profile of matrix reference, however their bigger detain ability lead to lower bioavailability.
Higher-order triangular spectral element method with optimized cubature points for seismic wavefield modeling

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liu, Youshan, E-mail: ysliu@mail.iggcas.ac.cn; Teng, Jiwen, E-mail: jwteng@mail.iggcas.ac.cn; Xu, Tao, E-mail: xutao@mail.iggcas.ac.cn

2017-05-01

The mass-lumped method avoids the cost of inverting the mass matrix and simultaneously maintains spatial accuracy by adopting additional interior integration points, known as cubature points. To date, such points are only known analytically in tensor domains, such as quadrilateral or hexahedral elements. Thus, the diagonal-mass-matrix spectral element method (SEM) in non-tensor domains always relies on numerically computed interpolation points or quadrature points. However, only the cubature points for degrees 1 to 6 are known, which is the reason that we have developed a p-norm-based optimization algorithm to obtain higher-order cubature points. In this way, we obtain and tabulate newmore » cubature points with all positive integration weights for degrees 7 to 9. The dispersion analysis illustrates that the dispersion relation determined from the new optimized cubature points is comparable to that of the mass and stiffness matrices obtained by exact integration. Simultaneously, the Lebesgue constant for the new optimized cubature points indicates its surprisingly good interpolation properties. As a result, such points provide both good interpolation properties and integration accuracy. The Courant–Friedrichs–Lewy (CFL) numbers are tabulated for the conventional Fekete-based triangular spectral element (TSEM), the TSEM with exact integration, and the optimized cubature-based TSEM (OTSEM). A complementary study demonstrates the spectral convergence of the OTSEM. A numerical example conducted on a half-space model demonstrates that the OTSEM improves the accuracy by approximately one order of magnitude compared to the conventional Fekete-based TSEM. In particular, the accuracy of the 7th-order OTSEM is even higher than that of the 14th-order Fekete-based TSEM. Furthermore, the OTSEM produces a result that can compete in accuracy with the quadrilateral SEM (QSEM). The high accuracy of the OTSEM is also tested with a non-flat topography model. In terms of computational efficiency, the OTSEM is more efficient than the Fekete-based TSEM, although it is slightly costlier than the QSEM when a comparable numerical accuracy is required. - Highlights: • Higher-order cubature points for degrees 7 to 9 are developed. • The effects of quadrature rule on the mass and stiffness matrices has been conducted. • The cubature points have always positive integration weights. • Freeing from the inversion of a wide bandwidth mass matrix. • The accuracy of the TSEM has been improved in about one order of magnitude.« less
Qudit quantum computation on matrix product states with global symmetry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Dongsheng; Stephen, David; Raussendorf, Robert

Resource states that contain nontrivial symmetry-protected topological order are identified for universal measurement-based quantum computation. Our resource states fall into two classes: one as the qudit generalizations of the qubit cluster state, and the other as the higher-symmetry generalizations of the spin-1 Affleck-Kennedy-Lieb-Tasaki (AKLT) state, namely, with unitary, orthogonal, or symplectic symmetry. The symmetry in cluster states protects information propagation (identity gate), while the higher symmetry in AKLT-type states enables nontrivial gate computation. This work demonstrates a close connection between measurement-based quantum computation and symmetry-protected topological order.
Qudit quantum computation on matrix product states with global symmetry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Dong-Sheng; Stephen, David T.; Raussendorf, Robert

2017-03-01

Resource states that contain nontrivial symmetry-protected topological order are identified for universal single-qudit measurement-based quantum computation. Our resource states fall into two classes: one as the qudit generalizations of the one-dimensional qubit cluster state, and the other as the higher-symmetry generalizations of the spin-1 Affleck-Kennedy-Lieb-Tasaki (AKLT) state, namely, with unitary, orthogonal, or symplectic symmetry. The symmetry in cluster states protects information propagation (identity gate), while the higher symmetry in AKLT-type states enables nontrivial gate computation. This work demonstrates a close connection between measurement-based quantum computation and symmetry-protected topological order.
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhu, Cheng; Tsuge, Masashi; Khriachtchev, Leonid, E-mail: leonid.khriachtchev@helsinki.fi

Experimental and theoretical studies of HXeI and HXeH molecules in Ar, Kr, and Xe matrices are presented. HXeI exhibits the H–Xe stretching bands at 1238.0 and 1239.0 cm{sup −1} in Ar and Kr matrices, respectively, that are blue-shifted from the HXeI band observed in a Xe matrix (1193 cm{sup −1}) by 45 and 46 cm{sup −1}. These shifts are larger than those observed previously for HXeCl (27 and 16 cm{sup −1}) and HXeBr (37 and 23 cm{sup −1}); thus, the matrix effect is stronger for less stable molecules. The results for HXeI are qualitatively different from all previous results onmore » noble-gas hydrides with respect to the frequency order between Ar and Kr matrices. For previously studied HXeCl, HXeBr, and HXeCCH, the H–Xe stretching frequency is reliably (by >10 cm{sup −1}) higher in an Ar matrix than in a Kr matrix. In contrast, the H–Xe stretching frequency of HXeI in an Ar matrix is slightly lower than that in a Kr matrix. HXeH absorbs in Ar and Kr matrices at 1203.2 and 1192.1 cm{sup −1} (the stronger band for a Kr matrix), respectively. These bands are blue-shifted from the stronger band of HXeH in a Xe matrix (1166 cm{sup −1}) by 37 and 26 cm{sup −1}, and this frequency order is the same as observed for HXeCl, HXeBr, and HXeCCH but different from HXeI. The present hybrid quantum-classical simulations successfully describe the main experimental findings. For HXeI in the 〈110〉 (double substitution) site, the order of the H–Xe stretching frequencies (ν(Xe) < ν(Ar) < ν(Kr)) is in accord with the experimental observations, and also the frequency shifts in Ar and Kr matrices from a Xe matrix are well predicted (30 and 34 cm{sup −1}). Both in the theory and experiment, the order of the H–Xe stretching frequencies differs from the case of HXeCl, which suggests the adequate theoretical description of the matrix effect. For HXeH in the 〈100〉 (single substitution) site, the order of the frequencies is ν(Xe) < ν(Kr) < ν(Ar), which also agrees with the experiments. The calculated frequency shifts for HXeH in Ar and Kr matrices with respect to a Xe matrix (36 and 23 cm{sup −1}) are in a good agreement with the experiments. The present calculations predict an increase of the H–Xe stretching frequencies in the noble-gas matrices with respect to vacuum.« less
Finite-temperature phase transitions of third and higher order in gauge theories at large N

DOE PAGES

Nishimura, Hiromichi; Pisarski, Robert D.; Skokov, Vladimir V.

2018-02-15

We study phase transitions in SU(∞) gauge theories at nonzero temperature using matrix models. Our basic assumption is that the effective potential is dominated by double trace terms for the Polyakov loops. As a function of the various parameters, related to terms linear, quadratic, and quartic in the Polyakov loop, the phase diagram exhibits a universal structure. In a large region of this parameter space, there is a continuous phase transition whose order is larger than second. This is a generalization of the phase transition of Gross, Witten, and Wadia (GWW). Depending upon the detailed form of the matrix model,more » the eigenvalue density and the behavior of the specific heat near the transition differ drastically. Here, we speculate that in the pure gauge theory, that although the deconfining transition is thermodynamically of first order, it can be nevertheless conformally symmetric at infnite N.« less
Properties of quantum systems via diagonalization of transition amplitudes. II. Systematic improvements of short-time propagation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vidanović, Ivana; Bogojević, Aleksandar; Balaž, Antun; Belić, Aleksandar

2009-12-01

In this paper, building on a previous analysis [I. Vidanović, A. Bogojević, and A. Belić, preceding paper, Phys. Rev. E 80, 066705 (2009)] of exact diagonalization of the space-discretized evolution operator for the study of properties of nonrelativistic quantum systems, we present a substantial improvement to this method. We apply recently introduced effective action approach for obtaining short-time expansion of the propagator up to very high orders to calculate matrix elements of space-discretized evolution operator. This improves by many orders of magnitude previously used approximations for discretized matrix elements and allows us to numerically obtain large numbers of accurate energy eigenvalues and eigenstates using numerical diagonalization. We illustrate this approach on several one- and two-dimensional models. The quality of numerically calculated higher-order eigenstates is assessed by comparison with semiclassical cumulative density of states.
Finite-temperature phase transitions of third and higher order in gauge theories at large N

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nishimura, Hiromichi; Pisarski, Robert D.; Skokov, Vladimir V.

We study phase transitions in SU(∞) gauge theories at nonzero temperature using matrix models. Our basic assumption is that the effective potential is dominated by double trace terms for the Polyakov loops. As a function of the various parameters, related to terms linear, quadratic, and quartic in the Polyakov loop, the phase diagram exhibits a universal structure. In a large region of this parameter space, there is a continuous phase transition whose order is larger than second. This is a generalization of the phase transition of Gross, Witten, and Wadia (GWW). Depending upon the detailed form of the matrix model,more » the eigenvalue density and the behavior of the specific heat near the transition differ drastically. Here, we speculate that in the pure gauge theory, that although the deconfining transition is thermodynamically of first order, it can be nevertheless conformally symmetric at infnite N.« less
A robust method of computing finite difference coefficients based on Vandermonde matrix

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Yijie; Gao, Jinghuai; Peng, Jigen; Han, Weimin

2018-05-01

When the finite difference (FD) method is employed to simulate the wave propagation, high-order FD method is preferred in order to achieve better accuracy. However, if the order of FD scheme is high enough, the coefficient matrix of the formula for calculating finite difference coefficients is close to be singular. In this case, when the FD coefficients are computed by matrix inverse operator of MATLAB, inaccuracy can be produced. In order to overcome this problem, we have suggested an algorithm based on Vandermonde matrix in this paper. After specified mathematical transformation, the coefficient matrix is transformed into a Vandermonde matrix. Then the FD coefficients of high-order FD method can be computed by the algorithm of Vandermonde matrix, which prevents the inverse of the singular matrix. The dispersion analysis and numerical results of a homogeneous elastic model and a geophysical model of oil and gas reservoir demonstrate that the algorithm based on Vandermonde matrix has better accuracy compared with matrix inverse operator of MATLAB.
Rogue-wave solutions of the Zakharov equation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rao, Jiguang; Wang, Lihong; Liu, Wei; He, Jingsong

2017-12-01

Using the bilinear transformation method, we derive general rogue-wave solutions of the Zakharov equation. We present these Nth-order rogue-wave solutions explicitly in terms of Nth-order determinants whose matrix elements have simple expressions. We show that the fundamental rogue wave is a line rogue wave with a line profile on the plane ( x, y) arising from a constant background at t ≪ 0 and then gradually tending to the constant background for t ≫ 0. Higher-order rogue waves arising from a constant background and later disappearing into it describe the interaction of several fundamental line rogue waves. We also consider different structures of higher-order rogue waves. We present differences between rogue waves of the Zakharov equation and of the first type of the Davey-Stewartson equation analytically and graphically.
Spectral function from Reduced Density Matrix Functional Theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Romaniello, Pina; di Sabatino, Stefano; Berger, Jan A.; Reining, Lucia

2015-03-01

In this work we focus on the calculation of the spectral function, which determines, for example, photoemission spectra, from reduced density matrix functional theory. Starting from its definition in terms of the one-body Green's function we derive an expression for the spectral function that depends on the natural occupation numbers and on an effective energy which accounts for all the charged excitations. This effective energy depends on the two-body as well as higher-order density matrices. Various approximations to this expression are explored by using the exactly solvable Hubbard chains.
Specification of matrix cleanup goals in fractured porous media.

PubMed

Rodríguez, David J; Kueper, Bernard H

2013-01-01

Semianalytical transient solutions have been developed to evaluate what level of fractured porous media (e.g., bedrock or clay) matrix cleanup must be achieved in order to achieve compliance of fracture pore water concentrations within a specified time at specified locations of interest. The developed mathematical solutions account for forward and backward diffusion in a fractured porous medium where the initial condition comprises a spatially uniform, nonzero matrix concentration throughout the domain. Illustrative simulations incorporating the properties of mudstone fractured bedrock demonstrate that the time required to reach a desired fracture pore water concentration is a function of the distance between the point of compliance and the upgradient face of the domain where clean groundwater is inflowing. Shorter distances correspond to reduced times required to reach compliance, implying that shorter treatment zones will respond more favorably to remediation than longer treatment zones in which back-diffusion dominates the fracture pore water response. For a specified matrix cleanup goal, compliance of fracture pore water concentrations will be reached sooner for decreased fracture spacing, increased fracture aperture, higher matrix fraction organic carbon, lower matrix porosity, shorter aqueous phase decay half-life, and a higher hydraulic gradient. The parameters dominating the response of the system can be measured using standard field and laboratory techniques. © 2012, The Author(s). Ground Water © 2012, National Ground Water Association.
Decorin modulates matrix mineralization in vitro

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mochida, Yoshiyuki; Duarte, Wagner R.; Tanzawa, Hideki; Paschalis, Eleftherios P.; Yamauchi, Mitsuo

2003-01-01

Decorin (DCN), a member of small leucine-rich proteoglycans, is known to modulate collagen fibrillogenesis. In order to investigate the potential roles of DCN in collagen matrix mineralization, several stable osteoblastic cell clones expressing higher (sense-DCN, S-DCN) and lower (antisense-DCN, As-DCN) levels of DCN were generated and the mineralized nodules formed by these clones were characterized. In comparison with control cells, the onset of mineralization by S-DCN clones was significantly delayed; whereas it was markedly accelerated and the number of mineralized nodules was significantly increased in As-DCN clones. The timing of mineralization was inversely correlated with the level of DCN synthesis. In these clones, the patterns of cell proliferation and differentiation appeared unaffected. These results suggest that DCN may act as an inhibitor of collagen matrix mineralization, thus modulating the timing of matrix mineralization.
Robustness of Hierarchical Modeling of Skill Association in Cognitive Diagnosis Models

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Templin, Jonathan L.; Henson, Robert A.; Templin, Sara E.; Roussos, Louis

2008-01-01

Several types of parameterizations of attribute correlations in cognitive diagnosis models use the reduced reparameterized unified model. The general approach presumes an unconstrained correlation matrix with K(K - 1)/2 parameters, whereas the higher order approach postulates K parameters, imposing a unidimensional structure on the correlation…
Conservation of Matrix Attachment Region-Binding Filament-Like Protein 1 among Higher Plants1

PubMed Central

Harder, Patricia A.; Silverstein, Rebecca A.; Meier, Iris

2000-01-01

The interaction of chromatin with the nuclear matrix via matrix attachment regions (MARs) on the DNA is considered to be of fundamental importance for higher-order chromatin organization and the regulation of gene expression. We have previously isolated a novel nuclear matrix-localized protein (MFP1) from tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) that preferentially binds to MAR DNA. Tomato MFP1 has a predicted filament-protein-like structure and is associated with the nuclear envelope via an N-terminal targeting domain. Based on the antigenic relationship, we report here that MFP1 is conserved in a large number of dicot and monocot species. Several cDNAs were cloned from tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) and shown to correspond to two tobacco MFP1 genes. Comparison of the primary and predicted secondary structures of MFP1 from tomato, tobacco, and Arabidopsis indicates a high degree of conservation of the N-terminal targeting domain, the overall putative coiled-coil structure of the protein, and the C-terminal DNA-binding domain. In addition, we show that tobacco MFP1 is regulated in an organ-specific and developmental fashion, and that this regulation occurs at the level of transcription or RNA stability. PMID:10631266
Kurtosis Approach Nonlinear Blind Source Separation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Duong, Vu A.; Stubbemd, Allen R.

2005-01-01

In this paper, we introduce a new algorithm for blind source signal separation for post-nonlinear mixtures. The mixtures are assumed to be linearly mixed from unknown sources first and then distorted by memoryless nonlinear functions. The nonlinear functions are assumed to be smooth and can be approximated by polynomials. Both the coefficients of the unknown mixing matrix and the coefficients of the approximated polynomials are estimated by the gradient descent method conditional on the higher order statistical requirements. The results of simulation experiments presented in this paper demonstrate the validity and usefulness of our approach for nonlinear blind source signal separation Keywords: Independent Component Analysis, Kurtosis, Higher order statistics.
Multi-jet Merging with NLO Matrix Elements

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Siegert, Frank; /Freiburg U.; Hoche, Stefan

2011-08-18

In the algorithm presented here, the ME+PS approach to merge samples of tree-level matrix elements into inclusive event samples is combined with the POWHEG method, which includes exact next-to-leading order matrix elements in the parton shower. The advantages of the method are discussed and the quality of its implementation in SHERPA is exemplified by results for e{sup +}e{sup -} annihilation into hadrons at LEP, for deep-inelastic lepton-nucleon scattering at HERA, for Drell-Yan lepton-pair production at the Tevatron and for W{sup +}W{sup -}-production at LHC energies. The simulation of hard QCD radiation in parton-shower Monte Carlos has seen tremendous progress overmore » the last years. It was largely stimulated by the need for more precise predictions at LHC energies where the large available phase space allows additional hard QCD radiation alongside known Standard Model processes or even signals from new physics. Two types of algorithms have been developed, which allow to improve upon the soft-collinear approximations made in the parton shower, such that hard radiation is simulated according to exact matrix elements. In the ME+PS approach [1] higher-order tree-level matrix elements for different final-state jet multiplicity are merged with each other and with subsequent parton shower emissions to generate an inclusive sample. Such a prescription is invaluable for analyses which are sensitive to final states with a large jet multiplicity. The only remaining deficiency of such tree-level calculations is the large uncertainty stemming from scale variations. The POWHEG method [2] solves this problem for the lowest multiplicity subprocess by combining full NLO matrix elements with the parton shower. While this leads to NLO accuracy in the inclusive cross section and the exact radiation pattern for the first emission, it fails to describe higher-order emissions with improved accuracy. Thus it is not sufficient if final states with high jet multiplicities are considered. With the complementary advantages of these two approaches, the question arises naturally whether it would be possible to combine them into an even more powerful one. Such a combined algorithm was independently developed in [5] and [6]. Here a summary of the algorithm is given and predictions from corresponding Monte-Carlo predictions are presented.« less
Dipeptide-based Polyphosphazene and Polyester Blends for Bone Tissue Engineering

PubMed Central

Deng, Meng; Nair, Lakshmi S.; Nukavarapu, Syam P.; Jiang, Tao; Kanner, William A.; Li, Xudong; Kumbar, Sangamesh G.; Weikel, Arlin L.; Krogman, Nicholas R.; Allcock, Harry R.; Laurencin, Cato T.

2010-01-01

Polyphosphazene-polyester blends are attractive materials for bone tissue engineering applications due to their controllable degradation pattern with non-toxic and neutral pH degradation products. In our ongoing quest for an ideal completely miscible polyphosphazene-polyester blend system, we report synthesis and characterization of a mixed-substituent biodegradable polyphosphazene poly[(glycine ethyl glycinato)1(phenyl phenoxy)1phosphazene] (PNGEG/PhPh) and its blends with a polyester. Two dipeptide-based blends namely 25:75 (Matrix1) and 50:50 (Matrix2) were produced at two different weight ratios of PNGEG/PhPh to poly(lactic acid-glycolic acid) (PLAGA). Blend miscibility was confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Both blends resulted in higher tensile modulus and strength than the polyester. The blends showed a degradation rate in the order of Matrix2 < Matrix1 < PLAGA in phosphate buffered saline at 37°C over 12 weeks. Significantly higher pH values of degradation media were observed for blends compared to PLAGA confirming the neutralization of PLAGA acidic degradation by polyphosphazene hydrolysis products. The blend components PLAGA and polyphosphazene exhibited a similar degradation pattern as characterized by the molecular weight loss. Furthermore, blends demonstrated significantly higher osteoblast growth rates compared to PLAGA while maintaining osteoblast phenotype over a 21-day culture. Both blends demonstrated improved biocompatibility in a rat subcutaneous implantation model compared to PLAGA over 12 weeks. PMID:20334909
Metal Matrix Composites Directionally Solidified

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ares, Alicia Esther; Schvezov, Carlos Enrique

The present work is focus on studying the dendritic solidification of metal matrix composites, MMCs, (using zinc-aluminum, ZA, alloys as matrix and the addition of SiC and Al2O3 particles). The compounds were obtained by as-cast solidification, under continuous stirring and in a second stage were directionally solidified in order to obtain different dendritic growth (columnar, equiaxed and columnar-to-equiaxed transition (CET)). The results in MMCs were compared with those obtained in directional solidification of ZA alloys, primarily with regard to structural parameters. The size and evolution of microstructure, according to the size of the MMCs particles and the variation of the thermal parameters was analyzing. In general it was found that the size of the microstructure (secondary dendritic spacing) decreases with the increase of particles in the matrix. When cooling rate increases, particle size decreases, and a higher cooling rate causes finer and more homogeneous dendrites Also, the segregation which was found in the matrix of the composites was significantly less than in the case of ZA alloys.
Possible higher order phase transition in large-N gauge theory at finite temperature

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nishimura, Hiromichi

2017-08-07

We analyze the phase structure of SU(¥) gauge theory at finite temperature using matrix models. Our basic assumption is that the effective potential is dominated by double-trace terms for the Polyakov loops. As a function of the temperature, a background field for the Polyakov loop, and a quartic coupling, it exhibits a universal structure: in the large portion of the parameter space, there is a continuous phase transition analogous to the third-order phase transition of Gross,Witten and Wadia, but the order of phase transition can be higher than third. We show that different confining potentials give rise to drastically differentmore » behavior of the eigenvalue density and the free energy. Therefore lattice simulations at large N could probe the order of phase transition and test our results. Critical« less

Double hard scattering without double counting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Diehl, Markus; Gaunt, Jonathan R.; Schönwald, Kay

2017-06-01

Double parton scattering in proton-proton collisions includes kinematic regions in which two partons inside a proton originate from the perturbative splitting of a single parton. This leads to a double counting problem between single and double hard scattering. We present a solution to this problem, which allows for the definition of double parton distributions as operator matrix elements in a proton, and which can be used at higher orders in perturbation theory. We show how the evaluation of double hard scattering in this framework can provide a rough estimate for the size of the higher-order contributions to single hard scattering that are affected by double counting. In a numeric study, we identify situations in which these higher-order contributions must be explicitly calculated and included if one wants to attain an accuracy at which double hard scattering becomes relevant, and other situations where such contributions may be neglected.
Recognition of Risk Information - Adaptation of J. Bertin's Orderable Matrix for social communication

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ishida, Keiichi

2018-05-01

This paper aims to show capability of the Orderable Matrix of Jacques Bertin which is a visualization method of data analyze and/or a method to recognize data. That matrix can show the data by replacing numbers to visual element. As an example, using a set of data regarding natural hazard rankings for certain metropolitan cities in the world, this paper describes how the Orderable Matrix handles the data set and show characteristic factors of this data to understand it. Not only to see a kind of risk ranking of cities, the Orderable Matrix shows how differently danger concerned cities ones and others are. Furthermore, we will see that the visualized data by Orderable Matrix allows us to see the characteristics of the data set comprehensively and instantaneously.
Intrinsically disordered proteins drive enamel formation via an evolutionarily conserved self-assembly motif.

PubMed

Wald, Tomas; Spoutil, Frantisek; Osickova, Adriana; Prochazkova, Michaela; Benada, Oldrich; Kasparek, Petr; Bumba, Ladislav; Klein, Ophir D; Sedlacek, Radislav; Sebo, Peter; Prochazka, Jan; Osicka, Radim

2017-02-28

The formation of mineralized tissues is governed by extracellular matrix proteins that assemble into a 3D organic matrix directing the deposition of hydroxyapatite. Although the formation of bones and dentin depends on the self-assembly of type I collagen via the Gly-X-Y motif, the molecular mechanism by which enamel matrix proteins (EMPs) assemble into the organic matrix remains poorly understood. Here we identified a Y/F-x-x-Y/L/F-x-Y/F motif, evolutionarily conserved from the first tetrapods to man, that is crucial for higher order structure self-assembly of the key intrinsically disordered EMPs, ameloblastin and amelogenin. Using targeted mutations in mice and high-resolution imaging, we show that impairment of ameloblastin self-assembly causes disorganization of the enamel organic matrix and yields enamel with disordered hydroxyapatite crystallites. These findings define a paradigm for the molecular mechanism by which the EMPs self-assemble into supramolecular structures and demonstrate that this process is crucial for organization of the organic matrix and formation of properly structured enamel.
Ionic Conductivity Increased by Two Orders of Magnitude in Micrometer-Thick Vertical Yttria-Stabilized ZrO 2 Nanocomposite Films

DOE PAGES

Lee, Shinbuhm; Zhang, Wenrui; Khatkhatay, Fauzia; ...

2015-09-03

We design and create a unique cell geometry of templated micrometer-thick epitaxial nanocomposite films which contain ~20 nm diameter yttria-stabilized ZrO 2 (YSZ) nanocolumns, strain coupled to a SrTiO 3 matrix. We also enhanced the ionic conductivity of these nanocolumnsby over 2 orders of magnitude compared to plain YSZ films. Concomitant with the higher ionic conduction is the finding that the YSZ nanocolumns in the films have much higher crystallinity and orientation, compared to plain YSZ films. Hence, “oxygen migration highways” are formed in the desired out-of-plane direction. This improved structure is shown to originate from the epitaxial coupling ofmore » the YSZ nanocolumns to the SrTiO 3 film matrix and from nucleation of the YSZ nanocolumns on an intermediate nanocomposite base layer of highly aligned Sm-doped CeO 2 nanocolumns within the SrTiO 3 matrix. Furthermore, this intermediate layer reduces the lattice mismatch between the YSZ nanocolumns and the substrate. Vertical ionic conduction values as high as 10 –2 Ω –1 cm –1 were demonstrated at 360 °C (300 °C lower than plain YSZ films), showing the strong practical potential of these nanostructured films for use in much lower operation temperature ionic devices.« less
Matrix Effect Compensation in Small-Molecule Profiling for an LC-TOF Platform Using Multicomponent Postcolumn Infusion.

PubMed

González, Oskar; van Vliet, Michael; Damen, Carola W N; van der Kloet, Frans M; Vreeken, Rob J; Hankemeier, Thomas

2015-06-16

The possible presence of matrix effect is one of the main concerns in liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)-driven bioanalysis due to its impact on the reliability of the obtained quantitative results. Here we propose an approach to correct for the matrix effect in LC-MS with electrospray ionization using postcolumn infusion of eight internal standards (PCI-IS). We applied this approach to a generic ultraperformance liquid chromatography-time-of-flight (UHPLC-TOF) platform developed for small-molecule profiling with a main focus on drugs. Different urine samples were spiked with 19 drugs with different physicochemical properties and analyzed in order to study matrix effect (in absolute and relative terms). Furthermore, calibration curves for each analyte were constructed and quality control samples at different concentration levels were analyzed to check the applicability of this approach in quantitative analysis. The matrix effect profiles of the PCI-ISs were different: this confirms that the matrix effect is compound-dependent, and therefore the most suitable PCI-IS has to be chosen for each analyte. Chromatograms were reconstructed using analyte and PCI-IS responses, which were used to develop an optimized method which compensates for variation in ionization efficiency. The approach presented here improved the results in terms of matrix effect dramatically. Furthermore, calibration curves of higher quality are obtained, dynamic range is enhanced, and accuracy and precision of QC samples is increased. The use of PCI-ISs is a very promising step toward an analytical platform free of matrix effect, which can make LC-MS analysis even more successful, adding a higher reliability in quantification to its intrinsic high sensitivity and selectivity.
A First Look at Graphite Grains from Orgueil: Morphology, Carbon, Nitrogen and Neon Isotopic Compositions of Individual, Chemically Separated Grains

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pravdivtseva, O.; Zinner, E.; Meshik, A. P.; Hohenberg, C. M.; Walker, R. W.

2004-01-01

Presolar graphite in Murchison has been extensively studied. It is characterized by a unique Ne isotopic composition, known as the Ne-E(L) component. According to studies by Huss and Lewis, the concentration of Ne-E(L) in Orgueil is about one order of magnitude higher than in Murchison, when normalized to the matrix. This could be due to a higher presolar graphite abundance in Orgueil, or due to a higher Ne-E concentrations per grain. The Ne isotopic compositions in individual presolar graphite grains from Murchison have been measured before. It was shown, that a third of the grains have detectable excesses in 22Ne, characteristic of the Ne-E(L) component. One grain in a hundred had a Ne-22 concentration two orders of magnitude higher than blank.
A Case-Based Reasoning Method with Rank Aggregation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Jinhua; Du, Jiao; Hu, Jian

2018-03-01

In order to improve the accuracy of case-based reasoning (CBR), this paper addresses a new CBR framework with the basic principle of rank aggregation. First, the ranking methods are put forward in each attribute subspace of case. The ordering relation between cases on each attribute is got between cases. Then, a sorting matrix is got. Second, the similar case retrieval process from ranking matrix is transformed into a rank aggregation optimal problem, which uses the Kemeny optimal. On the basis, a rank aggregation case-based reasoning algorithm, named RA-CBR, is designed. The experiment result on UCI data sets shows that case retrieval accuracy of RA-CBR algorithm is higher than euclidean distance CBR and mahalanobis distance CBR testing.So we can get the conclusion that RA-CBR method can increase the performance and efficiency of CBR.
Factors that impact the stability of vitamin C at intermediate temperatures in a food matrix.

PubMed

Herbig, Anna-Lena; Renard, Catherine M G C

2017-04-01

The study comprises a systematic and quantitative evaluation of potential intrinsic and extrinsic factors that impact vitamin C degradation in a real food matrix. The supernatant of centrifuged apple purée was fortified in vitamin C, and degradation was followed without stirring. Model discrimination indicated better fit for the zero order model than the first order model which was hence chosen for determination of rate constants. pH influenced strongly vitamin C degradation in citrate-phosphate buffer but not in the apple purée serum. To get an idea of the impact of the food matrix, stability in apple purée serum was compared with that in carrot purée. In the latter, stability was slightly higher. Vitamin C degradation rates were not influenced by its initial concentration. The temperature effect was only marked in the temperature range 40-60°C. In the range 60-80°C, filling height of tubes had the greatest impact. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Mechanistic evaluation of alginate-HEC gelisphere compacts for controlled intrastriatal nicotine release in Parkinson's disease.

PubMed

Choonara, Yahya E; Pillay, Viness; Khan, Riaz A; Singh, Neha; du Toit, Lisa C

2009-06-01

This study focused on elucidating a mechanistic understanding in support of the multiple mechanisms which govern the formation of crosslinked alginate-hydroxyethylcellulose (Alg-HEC) gelispheres intended for the controlled intrastriatal release of nicotine as a neuroprotectant in Parkinson's Disease. HEC was incorporated as a reinforcing "protective" colloidal polymer to induce interactions between the free carboxyl groups of alginate with hydroxylated HEC monomers. Gelispheres were compressed within an external poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) matrix to further prolong the release of nicotine. Sol-gel interconversion mechanisms, matrix deformability moduli, matrix fracture energies and chemometric models of the associated energy paradigms were analyzed for their influence on the mechanism and extent of nicotine release. Textural profiling demonstrated higher fracture energies (7.94-26.69 x 10(-4) J) and lower deformability moduli (12.24-58.36 N/mm) when gelispheres were cured in 2 M HCl as a postcuring step. Ba(2+) crosslinked gelispheres resulted in superiorly compact matrices with an increase in volume of 201-329% as compared to the Ca(2+) and Zn(2+) crosslinked matrices. The order of matrix compactness was as follows: Zn(2+) < Ca(2+) < Ba(2+). Molecular mechanisms of formation, interaction, conversion, and stability of sol-gel transitions depended on the type of crosslinker, crosslinking time, energy transactions, and interactions with molecules of the hydration medium. Ba(2+) crosslinked gelispheres released nicotine slower than Ca(2+) and Zn(2+) crosslinked gelispheres due to the higher energy requirement for interconversion to sol while the energy requirements for Ca(2+) and Zn(2+) was at a lower demand. Ba(2+) crosslinked gelispheres within PLGA matrices therefore retarded nicotine release in a pseudo-zero-order manner over 21 days. (c) 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Generalized Gibbs state with modified Redfield solution: Exact agreement up to second order

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Thingna, Juzar; Wang, Jian-Sheng; Haenggi, Peter

A novel scheme for the steady state solution of the standard Redfield quantum master equation is developed which yields agreement with the exact result for the corresponding reduced density matrix up to second order in the system-bath coupling strength. We achieve this objective by use of an analytic continuation of the off-diagonal matrix elements of the Redfield solution towards its diagonal limit. Notably, our scheme does not require the provision of yet higher order relaxation tensors. Testing this modified method for a heat bath consisting of a collection of harmonic oscillators we assess that the system relaxes towards its correctmore » coupling-dependent, generalized quantum Gibbs state in second order. We numerically compare our formulation for a damped quantum harmonic system with the nonequilibrium Green's function formalism: we find good agreement at low temperatures for coupling strengths that are even larger than expected from the very regime of validity of the second-order Redfield quantum master equation. Yet another advantage of our method is that it markedly reduces the numerical complexity of the problem; thus, allowing to study efficiently large-sized system Hilbert spaces.« less
Periodic oscillation of higher-order bidirectional associative memory neural networks with periodic coefficients and delays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ren, Fengli; Cao, Jinde

2007-03-01

In this paper, several sufficient conditions are obtained ensuring existence, global attractivity and global asymptotic stability of the periodic solution for the higher-order bidirectional associative memory neural networks with periodic coefficients and delays by using the continuation theorem of Mawhin's coincidence degree theory, the Lyapunov functional and the non-singular M-matrix. Two examples are exploited to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed criteria. These results are more effective than the ones in the literature for some neural networks, and can be applied to the design of globally attractive or globally asymptotically stable networks and thus have important significance in both theory and applications.
Structural and petrophysical characterization: from outcrop rock analogue to reservoir model of deep geothermal prospect in Eastern France

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bertrand, Lionel; Géraud, Yves; Diraison, Marc; Damy, Pierre-Clément

2017-04-01

The Scientific Interest Group (GIS) GEODENERGIES with the REFLET project aims to develop a geological and reservoir model for fault zones that are the main targets for deep geothermal prospects in the West European Rift system. In this project, several areas are studied with an integrated methodology combining field studies, boreholes and geophysical data acquisition and 3D modelling. In this study, we present the results of reservoir rock analogues characterization of one of these prospects in the Valence Graben (Eastern France). The approach used is a structural and petrophysical characterization of the rocks outcropping at the shoulders of the rift in order to model the buried targeted fault zone. The reservoir rocks are composed of fractured granites, gneiss and schists of the Hercynian basement of the graben. The matrix porosity, permeability, P-waves velocities and thermal conductivities have been characterized on hand samples coming from fault zones at the outcrop. Furthermore, fault organization has been mapped with the aim to identify the characteristic fault orientation, spacing and width. The fractures statistics like the orientation, density, and length have been identified in the damaged zones and unfaulted blocks regarding the regional fault pattern. All theses data have been included in a reservoir model with a double porosity model. The field study shows that the fault pattern in the outcrop area can be classified in different fault orders, with first order scale, larger faults distribution controls the first order structural and lithological organization. Between theses faults, the first order blocks are divided in second and third order faults, smaller structures, with characteristic spacing and width. Third order fault zones in granitic rocks show a significant porosity development in the fault cores until 25 % in the most locally altered material, as the damaged zones develop mostly fractures permeabilities. In the gneiss and schists units, the matrix porosity and permeability development is mainly controlled by microcrack density enhancement in the fault zone unlike the granite rocks were it is mostly mineral alteration. Due to the grain size much important in the gneiss, the opening of the cracks is higher than in the schist samples. Thus, the matrix permeability can be two orders higher in the gneiss than in the schists (until 10 mD for gneiss and 0,1 mD for schists for the same porosity around 5%). Combining the regional data with the fault pattern, the fracture and matrix porosity and permeability, we are able to construct a double-porosity model suitable for the prospected graben. This model, combined with seismic data acquisition is a predictable tool for flow modelling in the buried reservoir and helps the prediction of borehole targets and design in the graben.
A Tool for Rethinking Teachers' Questioning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Simpson, Amber; Mokalled, Stefani; Ellenburg, Lou Ann; Che, S. Megan

2014-01-01

In this article, the authors present a tool, the Cognitive Rigor Matrix (CRM; Hess et al. 2009), as a means to analyze and reflect on the type of questions posed by mathematics teachers. This tool is intended to promote and develop higher-order thinking and inquiry through the use of purposeful questions and mathematical tasks. The authors…
Data Collection Design for Equivalent Groups Equating: Using a Matrix Stratification Framework for Mixed-Format Assessment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mbella, Kinge Keka

2012-01-01

Mixed-format assessments are increasingly being used in large scale standardized assessments to measure a continuum of skills ranging from basic recall to higher order thinking skills. These assessments are usually comprised of a combination of (a) multiple-choice items which can be efficiently scored, have stable psychometric properties, and…
Dipeptide-based polyphosphazene and polyester blends for bone tissue engineering.

PubMed

Deng, Meng; Nair, Lakshmi S; Nukavarapu, Syam P; Jiang, Tao; Kanner, William A; Li, Xudong; Kumbar, Sangamesh G; Weikel, Arlin L; Krogman, Nicholas R; Allcock, Harry R; Laurencin, Cato T

2010-06-01

Polyphosphazene-polyester blends are attractive materials for bone tissue engineering applications due to their controllable degradation pattern with non-toxic and neutral pH degradation products. In our ongoing quest for an ideal completely miscible polyphosphazene-polyester blend system, we report synthesis and characterization of a mixed-substituent biodegradable polyphosphazene poly[(glycine ethyl glycinato)(1)(phenyl phenoxy)(1)phosphazene] (PNGEG/PhPh) and its blends with a polyester. Two dipeptide-based blends namely 25:75 (Matrix1) and 50:50 (Matrix2) were produced at two different weight ratios of PNGEG/PhPh to poly(lactic acid-glycolic acid) (PLAGA). Blend miscibility was confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Both blends resulted in higher tensile modulus and strength than the polyester. The blends showed a degradation rate in the order of Matrix2
Influence of the intramedullary nail preparation method on nail's mechanical properties and degradation rate.

PubMed

Morawska-Chochół, Anna; Chłopek, Jan; Szaraniec, Barbara; Domalik-Pyzik, Patrycja; Balacha, Ewa; Boguń, Maciej; Kucharski, Rafael

2015-06-01

When it comes to the treatment of long bone fractures, scientists are still investigating new materials for intramedullary nails and different manufacturing methods. Some of the most promising materials used in the field are resorbable polymers and their composites, especially since there is a wide range of potential manufacturing and processing methods. The aim of this work was to select the best manufacturing method and technological parameters to obtain multiphase, and multifunctional, biodegradable intramedullary nails. All composites were based on a poly(l-lactide) matrix. Either magnesium alloy wires or carbon and alginate fibres were introduced in order to reinforce the nails. The polylactide matrix was also modified with tricalcium phosphate and gentamicin sulfate. The composite nails were manufactured using three different methods: forming from solution, injection moulding and hot pressing. The effect of each method of manufacturing on mechanical properties and degradation rate of the nails was evaluated. The study showed that injection moulding provides higher uniformity and homogeneity of the particle-modified polylactide matrix, whereas hot pressing favours applying higher volume fractions of fibres and their better impregnation with the polymer matrix. Thus, it was concluded that the fabrication method should be individually selected dependently on the nail's desired phase composition. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Perturbative approach to covariance matrix of the matter power spectrum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mohammed, Irshad; Seljak, Uroš; Vlah, Zvonimir

2017-04-01

We evaluate the covariance matrix of the matter power spectrum using perturbation theory up to dominant terms at 1-loop order and compare it to numerical simulations. We decompose the covariance matrix into the disconnected (Gaussian) part, trispectrum from the modes outside the survey (supersample variance) and trispectrum from the modes inside the survey, and show how the different components contribute to the overall covariance matrix. We find the agreement with the simulations is at a 10 per cent level up to k ˜ 1 h Mpc-1. We show that all the connected components are dominated by the large-scale modes (k < 0.1 h Mpc-1), regardless of the value of the wave vectors k, k΄ of the covariance matrix, suggesting that one must be careful in applying the jackknife or bootstrap methods to the covariance matrix. We perform an eigenmode decomposition of the connected part of the covariance matrix, showing that at higher k, it is dominated by a single eigenmode. The full covariance matrix can be approximated as the disconnected part only, with the connected part being treated as an external nuisance parameter with a known scale dependence, and a known prior on its variance for a given survey volume. Finally, we provide a prescription for how to evaluate the covariance matrix from small box simulations without the need to simulate large volumes.
The nuclear higher-order structure defined by the set of topological relationships between DNA and the nuclear matrix is species-specific in hepatocytes.

PubMed

Silva-Santiago, Evangelina; Pardo, Juan Pablo; Hernández-Muñoz, Rolando; Aranda-Anzaldo, Armando

2017-01-15

During the interphase the nuclear DNA of metazoan cells is organized in supercoiled loops anchored to constituents of a nuclear substructure or compartment known as the nuclear matrix. The stable interactions between DNA and the nuclear matrix (NM) correspond to a set of topological relationships that define a nuclear higher-order structure (NHOS). Current evidence suggests that the NHOS is cell-type-specific. Biophysical evidence and theoretical models suggest that thermodynamic and structural constraints drive the actualization of DNA-NM interactions. However, if the topological relationships between DNA and the NM were the subject of any biological constraint with functional significance then they must be adaptive and thus be positively selected by natural selection and they should be reasonably conserved, at least within closely related species. We carried out a coarse-grained, comparative evaluation of the DNA-NM topological relationships in primary hepatocytes from two closely related mammals: rat and mouse, by determining the relative position to the NM of a limited set of target sequences corresponding to highly-conserved genomic regions that also represent a sample of distinct chromosome territories within the interphase nucleus. Our results indicate that the pattern of topological relationships between DNA and the NM is not conserved between the hepatocytes of the two closely related species, suggesting that the NHOS, like the karyotype, is species-specific. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Dynamical analysis of continuous higher-order hopfield networks for combinatorial optimization.

PubMed

Atencia, Miguel; Joya, Gonzalo; Sandoval, Francisco

2005-08-01

In this letter, the ability of higher-order Hopfield networks to solve combinatorial optimization problems is assessed by means of a rigorous analysis of their properties. The stability of the continuous network is almost completely clarified: (1) hyperbolic interior equilibria, which are unfeasible, are unstable; (2) the state cannot escape from the unitary hypercube; and (3) a Lyapunov function exists. Numerical methods used to implement the continuous equation on a computer should be designed with the aim of preserving these favorable properties. The case of nonhyperbolic fixed points, which occur when the Hessian of the target function is the null matrix, requires further study. We prove that these nonhyperbolic interior fixed points are unstable in networks with three neurons and order two. The conjecture that interior equilibria are unstable in the general case is left open.
Emission Properties from ZnO Quantum Dots Dispersed in SiO2 Matrix

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Panigrahi, Shrabani; Basak, Durga

2011-07-01

Dispersion of ZnO quantum dots in SiO2 matrix has been achieved in two techniques based on StÖber method to form ZnO QDs-SiO2 nanocomposites. Sample A is formed with random dispersion by adding tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) to an ethanolic solution of ZnO nanoparticles and sample B is formed with a chain-like ordered dispersion by adding ZnO nanoparticles to an already hydrolyzed ethanolic TEOS solution. The photoluminescence spectra of the as-grown nanocomposites show strong emission in the ultraviolet region. When annealed at higher temperature, depending on the sample type, these show strong red or white emission. Interestingly, when the excitation is removed, the orderly dispersed ZnO QDs-SiO2 composite shows a very bright blue fluorescence visible by naked eyes for few seconds indicating their promise for display applications.

The dynamics and control of large flexible space structures-IV

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bainum, P. M.; Kumar, V. K.; Krishna, R.; Reddy, A. S. S. R.

1981-01-01

The effects of solar radiation pressure as the main environmental disturbance torque were incorporated into the model of the rigid orbiting shallow shell and computer simulation results indicate that within the linear range the rigid modal amplitudes are excited in proportion to the area to mass ratio. The effect of higher order terms in the gravity-gradient torque expressions previously neglected was evaluated and found to be negligible for the size structures under consideration. A graph theory approach was employed for calculating the eigenvalues of a large flexible system by reducing the system (stiffness) matrix to lower ordered submatrices. The related reachability matrix and term rank concepts are used to verify controllability and can be more effective than the alternate numerical rank tests. Control laws were developed for the shape and orientation control of the orbiting flexible shallow shell and numerical results presented.
Modeling and analysis of multiple scattering of acoustic waves in complex media: application to the trabecular bone.

PubMed

Wojcik, J; Litniewski, J; Nowicki, A

2011-10-01

The integral equations that describe scattering in the media with step-rise changing parameters have been numerically solved for the trabecular bone model. The model consists of several hundred discrete randomly distributed elements. The spectral distribution of scattering coefficients in subsequent orders of scattering has been presented. Calculations were carried on for the ultrasonic frequency ranging from 0.5 to 3 MHz. Evaluation of the contribution of the first, second, and higher scattering orders to total scattering of the ultrasounds in trabecular bone was done. Contrary to the approaches that use the μCT images of trabecular structure to modeling of the ultrasonic wave propagation condition, the 3D numerical model consisting of cylindrical elements mimicking the spatial matrix of trabeculae, was applied. The scattering, due to interconnections between thick trabeculae, usually neglected in trabecular bone models, has been included in calculations when the structure backscatter was evaluated. Influence of the absorption in subsequent orders of scattering is also addressed. Results show that up to 1.5 MHz, the influence of higher scattering orders on the total scattered field characteristic can be neglected while for the higher frequencies, the relatively high amplitude interference peaks in higher scattering orders clearly occur. © 2011 Acoustical Society of America
Visualization of chromatin domains created by the gypsy insulator of Drosophila.

PubMed

Byrd, Keith; Corces, Victor G

2003-08-18

Insulators might regulate gene expression by establishing and maintaining the organization of the chromatin fiber within the nucleus. Biochemical fractionation and in situ high salt extraction of lysed cells show that two known protein components of the gypsy insulator are present in the nuclear matrix. Using FISH with DNA probes located between two endogenous Su(Hw) binding sites, we show that the intervening DNA is arranged in a loop, with the two insulators located at the base. Mutations in insulator proteins, subjecting the cells to a brief heat shock, or destruction of the nuclear matrix lead to disruption of the loop. Insertion of an additional gypsy insulator in the center of the loop results in the formation of paired loops through the attachment of the inserted sequences to the nuclear matrix. These results suggest that the gypsy insulator might establish higher-order domains of chromatin structure and regulate nuclear organization by tethering the DNA to the nuclear matrix and creating chromatin loops.
Transformation matrices between non-linear and linear differential equations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sartain, R. L.

1983-01-01

In the linearization of systems of non-linear differential equations, those systems which can be exactly transformed into the second order linear differential equation Y"-AY'-BY=0 where Y, Y', and Y" are n x 1 vectors and A and B are constant n x n matrices of real numbers were considered. The 2n x 2n matrix was used to transform the above matrix equation into the first order matrix equation X' = MX. Specially the matrix M and the conditions which will diagonalize or triangularize M were studied. Transformation matrices P and P sub -1 were used to accomplish this diagonalization or triangularization to return to the solution of the second order matrix differential equation system from the first order system.
Weighted graph based ordering techniques for preconditioned conjugate gradient methods

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Clift, Simon S.; Tang, Wei-Pai

1994-01-01

We describe the basis of a matrix ordering heuristic for improving the incomplete factorization used in preconditioned conjugate gradient techniques applied to anisotropic PDE's. Several new matrix ordering techniques, derived from well-known algorithms in combinatorial graph theory, which attempt to implement this heuristic, are described. These ordering techniques are tested against a number of matrices arising from linear anisotropic PDE's, and compared with other matrix ordering techniques. A variation of RCM is shown to generally improve the quality of incomplete factorization preconditioners.
Higher-order triangular spectral element method with optimized cubature points for seismic wavefield modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Youshan; Teng, Jiwen; Xu, Tao; Badal, José

2017-05-01

The mass-lumped method avoids the cost of inverting the mass matrix and simultaneously maintains spatial accuracy by adopting additional interior integration points, known as cubature points. To date, such points are only known analytically in tensor domains, such as quadrilateral or hexahedral elements. Thus, the diagonal-mass-matrix spectral element method (SEM) in non-tensor domains always relies on numerically computed interpolation points or quadrature points. However, only the cubature points for degrees 1 to 6 are known, which is the reason that we have developed a p-norm-based optimization algorithm to obtain higher-order cubature points. In this way, we obtain and tabulate new cubature points with all positive integration weights for degrees 7 to 9. The dispersion analysis illustrates that the dispersion relation determined from the new optimized cubature points is comparable to that of the mass and stiffness matrices obtained by exact integration. Simultaneously, the Lebesgue constant for the new optimized cubature points indicates its surprisingly good interpolation properties. As a result, such points provide both good interpolation properties and integration accuracy. The Courant-Friedrichs-Lewy (CFL) numbers are tabulated for the conventional Fekete-based triangular spectral element (TSEM), the TSEM with exact integration, and the optimized cubature-based TSEM (OTSEM). A complementary study demonstrates the spectral convergence of the OTSEM. A numerical example conducted on a half-space model demonstrates that the OTSEM improves the accuracy by approximately one order of magnitude compared to the conventional Fekete-based TSEM. In particular, the accuracy of the 7th-order OTSEM is even higher than that of the 14th-order Fekete-based TSEM. Furthermore, the OTSEM produces a result that can compete in accuracy with the quadrilateral SEM (QSEM). The high accuracy of the OTSEM is also tested with a non-flat topography model. In terms of computational efficiency, the OTSEM is more efficient than the Fekete-based TSEM, although it is slightly costlier than the QSEM when a comparable numerical accuracy is required.
Electronic coupling matrix elements from charge constrained density functional theory calculations using a plane wave basis set

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oberhofer, Harald; Blumberger, Jochen

2010-12-01

We present a plane wave basis set implementation for the calculation of electronic coupling matrix elements of electron transfer reactions within the framework of constrained density functional theory (CDFT). Following the work of Wu and Van Voorhis [J. Chem. Phys. 125, 164105 (2006)], the diabatic wavefunctions are approximated by the Kohn-Sham determinants obtained from CDFT calculations, and the coupling matrix element calculated by an efficient integration scheme. Our results for intermolecular electron transfer in small systems agree very well with high-level ab initio calculations based on generalized Mulliken-Hush theory, and with previous local basis set CDFT calculations. The effect of thermal fluctuations on the coupling matrix element is demonstrated for intramolecular electron transfer in the tetrathiafulvalene-diquinone (Q-TTF-Q-) anion. Sampling the electronic coupling along density functional based molecular dynamics trajectories, we find that thermal fluctuations, in particular the slow bending motion of the molecule, can lead to changes in the instantaneous electron transfer rate by more than an order of magnitude. The thermal average, ( {< {| {H_ab } |^2 } > } )^{1/2} = 6.7 {mH}, is significantly higher than the value obtained for the minimum energy structure, | {H_ab } | = 3.8 {mH}. While CDFT in combination with generalized gradient approximation (GGA) functionals describes the intermolecular electron transfer in the studied systems well, exact exchange is required for Q-TTF-Q- in order to obtain coupling matrix elements in agreement with experiment (3.9 mH). The implementation presented opens up the possibility to compute electronic coupling matrix elements for extended systems where donor, acceptor, and the environment are treated at the quantum mechanical (QM) level.
Achieving second order advantage with multi-way partial least squares and residual bi-linearization with total synchronous fluorescence data of monohydroxy-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in urine samples.

PubMed

Calimag-Williams, Korina; Knobel, Gaston; Goicoechea, H C; Campiglia, A D

2014-02-06

An attractive approach to handle matrix interference in samples of unknown composition is to generate second- or higher-order data formats and process them with appropriate chemometric algorithms. Several strategies exist to generate high-order data in fluorescence spectroscopy, including wavelength time matrices, excitation-emission matrices and time-resolved excitation-emission matrices. This article tackles a different aspect of generating high-order fluorescence data as it focuses on total synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy. This approach refers to recording synchronous fluorescence spectra at various wavelength offsets. Analogous to the concept of an excitation-emission data format, total synchronous data arrays fit into the category of second-order data. The main difference between them is the non-bilinear behavior of synchronous fluorescence data. Synchronous spectral profiles change with the wavelength offset used for sample excitation. The work presented here reports the first application of total synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy to the analysis of monohydroxy-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in urine samples of unknown composition. Matrix interference is appropriately handled by processing the data either with unfolded-partial least squares and multi-way partial least squares, both followed by residual bi-linearization. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Matrix vesicles in the fibrous cap of atherosclerotic plaque: possible contribution to plaque rupture.

PubMed

Bobryshev, Y V; Killingsworth, M C; Lord, R S A; Grabs, A J

2008-10-01

Plaque rupture is the most common type of plaque complication and leads to acute ischaemic events such as myocardial infarction and stroke. Calcification has been suggested as a possible indicator of plaque instability. Although the role of matrix vesicles in the initial stages of arterial calcification has been recognized, no studies have yet been carried out to examine a possible role of matrix vesicles in plaque destabilization. Tissue specimens selected for the present study represented carotid specimens obtained from patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy. Serial frozen cross-sections of the tissue specimens were cut and mounted on glass slides. The thickness of the fibrous cap (FCT) in each advanced atherosclerotic lesion, containing a well developed lipid/necrotic core, was measured at its narrowest sites in sets of serial sections. According to established criteria, atherosclerotic plaque specimens were histologically subdivided into two groups: vulnerable plaques with thin fibrous caps (FCT <100 microm) and presumably stable plaques, in which fibrous caps were thicker than 100 microm. Twenty-four carotid plaques (12 vulnerable and 12 presumably stable plaques) were collected for the present analysis of matrix vesicles in fibrous caps. In order to provide a sufficient number of representative areas from each plaque, laser capture microdissection (LCM) was carried out. The quantification of matrix vesicles in ultrathin sections of vulnerable and stable plaques revealed that the numbers of matrix vesicles were significantly higher in fibrous caps of vulnerable plaques than those in stable plaques (8.908+0.544 versus 6.208+0.467 matrix vesicles per 1.92 microm2 standard area; P= 0.0002). Electron microscopy combined with X-ray elemental microanalysis showed that some matrix vesicles in atherosclerotic plaques were undergoing calcification and were characterized by a high content of calcium and phosphorus. The percentage of calcified matrix vesicles/microcalcifications was significantly higher in fibrous caps in vulnerable plaques compared with that in stable plaques (6.705+/-0.436 versus 5.322+/-0494; P= 0.0474). The findings reinforce a view that the texture of the extracellular matrix in the thinning fibrous cap of atherosclerotic plaque is altered and this might contribute to plaque destabilization.
Perturbative approach to covariance matrix of the matter power spectrum

DOE PAGES

Mohammed, Irshad; Seljak, Uros; Vlah, Zvonimir

2016-12-14

Here, we evaluate the covariance matrix of the matter power spectrum using perturbation theory up to dominant terms at 1-loop order and compare it to numerical simulations. We decompose the covariance matrix into the disconnected (Gaussian) part, trispectrum from the modes outside the survey (beat coupling or super-sample variance), and trispectrum from the modes inside the survey, and show how the different components contribute to the overall covariance matrix. We find the agreement with the simulations is at a 10\\% level up tomore » $$k \\sim 1 h {\\rm Mpc^{-1}}$$. We also show that all the connected components are dominated by the large-scale modes ($$k<0.1 h {\\rm Mpc^{-1}}$$), regardless of the value of the wavevectors $$k,\\, k'$$ of the covariance matrix, suggesting that one must be careful in applying the jackknife or bootstrap methods to the covariance matrix. We perform an eigenmode decomposition of the connected part of the covariance matrix, showing that at higher $k$ it is dominated by a single eigenmode. Furthermore, the full covariance matrix can be approximated as the disconnected part only, with the connected part being treated as an external nuisance parameter with a known scale dependence, and a known prior on its variance for a given survey volume. Finally, we provide a prescription for how to evaluate the covariance matrix from small box simulations without the need to simulate large volumes.« less
Benchmark matrix and guide: Part III.

PubMed

1992-01-01

The final article in the "Benchmark Matrix and Guide" series developed by Headquarters Air Force Logistics Command completes the discussion of the last three categories that are essential ingredients of a successful total quality management (TQM) program. Detailed behavioral objectives are listed in the areas of recognition, process improvement, and customer focus. These vertical categories are meant to be applied to the levels of the matrix that define the progressive stages of the TQM: business as usual, initiation, implementation, expansion, and integration. By charting the horizontal progress level and the vertical TQM category, the quality management professional can evaluate the current state of TQM in any given organization. As each category is completed, new goals can be defined in order to advance to a higher level. The benchmarking process is integral to quality improvement efforts because it focuses on the highest possible standards to evaluate quality programs.
A state interaction spin-orbit coupling density matrix renormalization group method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sayfutyarova, Elvira R.; Chan, Garnet Kin-Lic

2016-06-01

We describe a state interaction spin-orbit (SISO) coupling method using density matrix renormalization group (DMRG) wavefunctions and the spin-orbit mean-field (SOMF) operator. We implement our DMRG-SISO scheme using a spin-adapted algorithm that computes transition density matrices between arbitrary matrix product states. To demonstrate the potential of the DMRG-SISO scheme we present accurate benchmark calculations for the zero-field splitting of the copper and gold atoms, comparing to earlier complete active space self-consistent-field and second-order complete active space perturbation theory results in the same basis. We also compute the effects of spin-orbit coupling on the spin-ladder of the iron-sulfur dimer complex [Fe2S2(SCH3)4]3-, determining the splitting of the lowest quartet and sextet states. We find that the magnitude of the zero-field splitting for the higher quartet and sextet states approaches a significant fraction of the Heisenberg exchange parameter.
Fatigue Lifetime of Ceramic Matrix Composites at Intermediate Temperature by Acoustic Emission

PubMed Central

Racle, Elie; Godin, Nathalie; Reynaud, Pascal; Fantozzi, Gilbert

2017-01-01

The fatigue behavior of a Ceramic Matrix Composite (CMC) at intermediate temperature under air is investigated. Because of the low density and the high tensile strength of CMC, they offer a good technical solution to design aeronautical structural components. The aim of the present study is to compare the behavior of this composite under static and cyclic loading. Comparison between incremental static and cyclic tests shows that cyclic loading with an amplitude higher than 30% of the ultimate tensile strength has significant effects on damage and material lifetimes. In order to evaluate the remaining lifetime, several damage indicators, mainly based on the investigation of the liberated energy, are introduced. These indicators highlight critical times or characteristic times, allowing an evaluation of the remaining lifetime. A link is established with the characteristic time around 25% of the total test duration and the beginning of the matrix cracking during cyclic fatigue. PMID:28773019
Production and mechanical properties of Al-SiC metal matrix composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karvanis, K.; Fasnakis, D.; Maropoulos, A.; Papanikolaou, S.

2016-11-01

The usage of Al-SiC Metal Matrix Composites is constantly increasing in the last years due to their unique properties such as light weight, high strength, high specific modulus, high fatigue strength, high hardness and low density. Al-SiC composites of various carbide compositions were produced using a centrifugal casting machine. The mechanical properties, tensile and compression strength, hardness and drop-weight impact strength were studied in order to determine the optimum carbide % in the metal matrix composites. Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the microstructure-property correlation. It was observed that the tensile and the compressive strength of the composites increased as the proportion of silicon carbide became higher in the composites. Also with increasing proportion of silicon carbide in the composite, the material became harder and appeared to have smaller values for total displacement and total energy during impact testing.
Adsorption behavior of plasmid DNA onto perfusion chromatographic matrix.

PubMed

Limonta, Miladys; Zumalacárregui, Lourdes; Soler, Dayana

2012-05-01

Anion exchange chromatography is the most popular chromatographic method for plasmid separation. POROS RI 50 is a perfusion chromatographic support which is a reversed phase matrix and is an alternative to conventional ones due to its mass transfer properties. The adsorption and elution of the pIDKE2 plasmid onto reversed phase POROS R1 50 was studied. Langmuir isotherm model was adjusted in order to get the maximum adsorption capacity and the dissociation constant for POROS R1 50-plasmid DNA (pDNA) system. Breakthrough curves were obtained for volumetric flows between 0.69-3.33 mL/min, given dynamic capacity up to 2.3 times higher than those reported for ionic exchange matrix used during the purification process of plasmids with similar size to that of pIDKE2. The efficiency was less than 45% for the flow conditions and initial concentration studied, which means that the support will not be operated under saturation circumstances.
Exact solution for four-order acousto-optic Bragg diffraction with arbitrary initial conditions.

PubMed

Pieper, Ron; Koslover, Deborah; Poon, Ting-Chung

2009-03-01

An exact solution to the four-order acousto-optic (AO) Bragg diffraction problem with arbitrary initial conditions compatible with exact Bragg angle incident light is developed. The solution, obtained by solving a 4th-order differential equation, is formalized into a transition matrix operator predicting diffracted light orders at the exit of the AO cell in terms of the same diffracted light orders at the entrance. It is shown that the transition matrix is unitary and that this unitary matrix condition is sufficient to guarantee energy conservation. A comparison of analytical solutions with numerical predictions validates the formalism. Although not directly related to the approach used to obtain the solution, it was discovered that all four generated eigenvalues from the four-order AO differential matrix operator are expressed simply in terms of Euclid's Divine Proportion.
Molecular dynamics modeling of helium bubbles in austenitic steels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jelea, A.

2018-06-01

The austenitic steel devices from pressurized water reactors are continuously subjected to neutron irradiation that produces crystalline point defects and helium atoms in the steel matrix. These species evolve into large defects such as dislocation loops and helium filled bubbles. This paper analyzes, through molecular dynamics simulations with recently developed interatomic potentials, the impact of the helium/steel interface on the helium behavior in nanosize bubbles trapped in an austenitic steel matrix. It is shown that the repulsive helium-steel interactions induce higher pressures in the bubble compared to bulk helium at the same temperature and average density. A new equation of state for helium is proposed in order to take into account these interface effects.
A spot-matching method using cumulative frequency matrix in 2D gel images

PubMed Central

Han, Chan-Myeong; Park, Joon-Ho; Chang, Chu-Seok; Ryoo, Myung-Chun

2014-01-01

A new method for spot matching in two-dimensional gel electrophoresis images using a cumulative frequency matrix is proposed. The method improves on the weak points of the previous method called ‘spot matching by topological patterns of neighbour spots’. It accumulates the frequencies of neighbour spot pairs produced through the entire matching process and determines spot pairs one by one in order of higher frequency. Spot matching by frequencies of neighbour spot pairs shows a fairly better performance. However, it can give researchers a hint for whether the matching results can be trustworthy or not, which can save researchers a lot of effort for verification of the results. PMID:26019609
Coupling between shear and bending in the analysis of beam problems: Planar case

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shabana, Ahmed A.; Patel, Mohil

2018-04-01

The interpretation of invariants, such as curvatures which uniquely define the bending and twist of space curves and surfaces, is fundamental in the formulation of the beam and plate elastic forces. Accurate representations of curve and surface invariants, which enter into the definition of the strain energy equations, is particularly important in the case of large displacement analysis. This paper discusses this important subject in view of the fact that shear and bending are independent modes of deformation and do not have kinematic coupling; this is despite the fact that kinetic coupling may exist. The paper shows, using simple examples, that shear without bending and bending without shear at an arbitrary point and along a certain direction are scenarios that higher-order finite elements (FE) can represent with a degree of accuracy that depends on the order of interpolation and/or mesh size. The FE representation of these two kinematically uncoupled modes of deformation is evaluated in order to examine the effect of the order of the polynomial interpolation on the accuracy of representing these two independent modes. It is also shown in this paper that not all the curvature vectors contribute to bending deformation. In view of the conclusions drawn from the analysis of simple beam problems, the material curvature used in several previous investigations is evaluated both analytically and numerically. The problems associated with the material curvature matrix, obtained using the rotation of the beam cross-section, and the fundamental differences between this material curvature matrix and the Serret-Frenet curvature matrix are discussed.
Multi-site Field Verification of Laboratory Derived FDOM Sensor Corrections: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saraceno, J.; Shanley, J. B.; Aulenbach, B. T.

2014-12-01

Fluorescent dissolved organic matter (FDOM) is an excellent proxy for dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in natural waters. Through this relationship, in situ FDOM can be utilized to capture both high frequency time series and long term fluxes of DOC in small streams. However, in order to calculate accurate DOC fluxes for comparison across sites, in situ FDOM data must be compensated for matrix effects. Key matrix effects, include temperature, turbidity and the inner filter effect due to color. These interferences must be compensated for to develop a reasonable relationship between FDOM and DOC. In this study, we applied laboratory-derived correction factors to real time data from the five USGS WEBB headwater streams in order to gauge their effectiveness across a range of matrix effects. The good news is that laboratory derived correction factors improved the predicative relationship (higher r2) between DOC and FDOM when compared to uncorrected data. The relative importance of each matrix effect (i.e. temperature) varied by site and by time, implying that each and every matrix effect should be compensated for when available. In general, temperature effects were more important on longer time scales, while corrections for turbidity and DOC inner filter effects were most prevalent during hydrologic events, when the highest instantaneous flux of DOC occurred. Unfortunately, even when corrected for matrix effects, in situ FDOM is a weaker predictor of DOC than A254, a common surrogate for DOC, implying that either DOC fluoresces at varying degrees (but should average out over time), that some matrix effects (e.g. pH) are either unaccounted for or laboratory-derived correction factors do not encompass the site variability of particles and organics. The least impressive finding is that the inherent dependence on three variables in the FDOM correction algorithm increases the likelihood of record data gaps which increases the uncertainty in calculated DOC flux values.

Graphene-and-Copper Artificial Nacre Fabricated by a Preform Impregnation Process: Bioinspired Strategy for Strengthening-Toughening of Metal Matrix Composite.

PubMed

Xiong, Ding-Bang; Cao, Mu; Guo, Qiang; Tan, Zhanqiu; Fan, Genlian; Li, Zhiqiang; Zhang, Di

2015-07-28

Metals can be strengthened by adding hard reinforcements, but such strategy usually compromises ductility and toughness. Natural nacre consists of hard and soft phases organized in a regular "brick-and-mortar" structure and exhibits a superior combination of mechanical strength and toughness, which is an attractive model for strengthening and toughening artificial composites, but such bioinspired metal matrix composite has yet to be made. Here we prepared nacre-like reduced graphene oxide (RGrO) reinforced Cu matrix composite based on a preform impregnation process, by which two-dimensional RGrO was used as "brick" and inserted into "□-and-mortar" ordered porous Cu preform (the symbol "□" means the absence of "brick"), followed by compacting. This process realized uniform dispersion and alignment of RGrO in Cu matrix simultaneously. The RGrO-and-Cu artificial nacres exhibited simultaneous enhancement on yield strength and ductility as well as increased modulus, attributed to RGrO strengthening, effective crack deflection and a possible combined failure mode of RGrO. The artificial nacres also showed significantly higher strengthening efficiency than other conventional Cu matrix composites, which might be related to the alignment of RGrO.
3D Higher Order Modeling in the BEM/FEM Hybrid Formulation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fink, P. W.; Wilton, D. R.

2000-01-01

Higher order divergence- and curl-conforming bases have been shown to provide significant benefits, in both convergence rate and accuracy, in the 2D hybrid finite element/boundary element formulation (P. Fink and D. Wilton, National Radio Science Meeting, Boulder, CO, Jan. 2000). A critical issue in achieving the potential for accuracy of the approach is the accurate evaluation of all matrix elements. These involve products of high order polynomials and, in some instances, singular Green's functions. In the 2D formulation, the use of a generalized Gaussian quadrature method was found to greatly facilitate the computation and to improve the accuracy of the boundary integral equation self-terms. In this paper, a 3D, hybrid electric field formulation employing higher order bases and higher order elements is presented. The improvements in convergence rate and accuracy, compared to those resulting from lower order modeling, are established. Techniques developed to facilitate the computation of the boundary integral self-terms are also shown to improve the accuracy of these terms. Finally, simple preconditioning techniques are used in conjunction with iterative solution procedures to solve the resulting linear system efficiently. In order to handle the boundary integral singularities in the 3D formulation, the parent element- either a triangle or rectangle-is subdivided into a set of sub-triangles with a common vertex at the singularity. The contribution to the integral from each of the sub-triangles is computed using the Duffy transformation to remove the singularity. This method is shown to greatly facilitate t'pe self-term computation when the bases are of higher order. In addition, the sub-triangles can be further divided to achieve near arbitrary accuracy in the self-term computation. An efficient method for subdividing the parent element is presented. The accuracy obtained using higher order bases is compared to that obtained using lower order bases when the number of unknowns is approximately equal. Also, convergence rates obtained using higher order bases are compared to those obtained with lower order bases for selected sample
Effect of the interconnected network structure on the epidemic threshold.

PubMed

Wang, Huijuan; Li, Qian; D'Agostino, Gregorio; Havlin, Shlomo; Stanley, H Eugene; Van Mieghem, Piet

2013-08-01

Most real-world networks are not isolated. In order to function fully, they are interconnected with other networks, and this interconnection influences their dynamic processes. For example, when the spread of a disease involves two species, the dynamics of the spread within each species (the contact network) differs from that of the spread between the two species (the interconnected network). We model two generic interconnected networks using two adjacency matrices, A and B, in which A is a 2N×2N matrix that depicts the connectivity within each of two networks of size N, and B a 2N×2N matrix that depicts the interconnections between the two. Using an N-intertwined mean-field approximation, we determine that a critical susceptible-infected-susceptible (SIS) epidemic threshold in two interconnected networks is 1/λ(1)(A+αB), where the infection rate is β within each of the two individual networks and αβ in the interconnected links between the two networks and λ(1)(A+αB) is the largest eigenvalue of the matrix A+αB. In order to determine how the epidemic threshold is dependent upon the structure of interconnected networks, we analytically derive λ(1)(A+αB) using a perturbation approximation for small and large α, the lower and upper bound for any α as a function of the adjacency matrix of the two individual networks, and the interconnections between the two and their largest eigenvalues and eigenvectors. We verify these approximation and boundary values for λ(1)(A+αB) using numerical simulations, and determine how component network features affect λ(1)(A+αB). We note that, given two isolated networks G(1) and G(2) with principal eigenvectors x and y, respectively, λ(1)(A+αB) tends to be higher when nodes i and j with a higher eigenvector component product x(i)y(j) are interconnected. This finding suggests essential insights into ways of designing interconnected networks to be robust against epidemics.
Effect of the interconnected network structure on the epidemic threshold

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Huijuan; Li, Qian; D'Agostino, Gregorio; Havlin, Shlomo; Stanley, H. Eugene; Van Mieghem, Piet

2013-08-01

Most real-world networks are not isolated. In order to function fully, they are interconnected with other networks, and this interconnection influences their dynamic processes. For example, when the spread of a disease involves two species, the dynamics of the spread within each species (the contact network) differs from that of the spread between the two species (the interconnected network). We model two generic interconnected networks using two adjacency matrices, A and B, in which A is a 2N×2N matrix that depicts the connectivity within each of two networks of size N, and B a 2N×2N matrix that depicts the interconnections between the two. Using an N-intertwined mean-field approximation, we determine that a critical susceptible-infected-susceptible (SIS) epidemic threshold in two interconnected networks is 1/λ1(A+αB), where the infection rate is β within each of the two individual networks and αβ in the interconnected links between the two networks and λ1(A+αB) is the largest eigenvalue of the matrix A+αB. In order to determine how the epidemic threshold is dependent upon the structure of interconnected networks, we analytically derive λ1(A+αB) using a perturbation approximation for small and large α, the lower and upper bound for any α as a function of the adjacency matrix of the two individual networks, and the interconnections between the two and their largest eigenvalues and eigenvectors. We verify these approximation and boundary values for λ1(A+αB) using numerical simulations, and determine how component network features affect λ1(A+αB). We note that, given two isolated networks G1 and G2 with principal eigenvectors x and y, respectively, λ1(A+αB) tends to be higher when nodes i and j with a higher eigenvector component product xiyj are interconnected. This finding suggests essential insights into ways of designing interconnected networks to be robust against epidemics.
Modulational instability and higher-order rogue waves with parameters modulation in a coupled integrable AB system via the generalized Darboux transformation.

PubMed

Wen, Xiao-Yong; Yan, Zhenya

2015-12-01

We study higher-order rogue wave (RW) solutions of the coupled integrable dispersive AB system (also called Pedlosky system), which describes the evolution of wave-packets in a marginally stable or unstable baroclinic shear flow in geophysical fluids. We propose its continuous-wave (CW) solutions and existent conditions for their modulation instability to form the rogue waves. A new generalized N-fold Darboux transformation (DT) is proposed in terms of the Taylor series expansion for the spectral parameter in the Darboux matrix and its limit procedure and applied to the CW solutions to generate multi-rogue wave solutions of the coupled AB system, which satisfy the general compatibility condition. The dynamical behaviors of these higher-order rogue wave solutions demonstrate both strong and weak interactions by modulating parameters, in which some weak interactions can generate the abundant triangle, pentagon structures, etc. Particularly, the trajectories of motion of peaks and depressions of profiles of the first-order RWs are explicitly analyzed. The generalized DT method used in this paper can be extended to other nonlinear integrable systems. These results may be useful for understanding the corresponding rogue-wave phenomena in fluid mechanics and related fields.
Measuring order in disordered systems and disorder in ordered systems: Random matrix theory for isotropic and nematic liquid crystals and its perspective on pseudo-nematic domains

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Yan; Stratt, Richard M.

2018-05-01

Surprisingly long-ranged intermolecular correlations begin to appear in isotropic (orientationally disordered) phases of liquid crystal forming molecules when the temperature or density starts to close in on the boundary with the nematic (ordered) phase. Indeed, the presence of slowly relaxing, strongly orientationally correlated, sets of molecules under putatively disordered conditions ("pseudo-nematic domains") has been apparent for some time from light-scattering and optical-Kerr experiments. Still, a fully microscopic characterization of these domains has been lacking. We illustrate in this paper how pseudo-nematic domains can be studied in even relatively small computer simulations by looking for order-parameter tensor fluctuations much larger than one would expect from random matrix theory. To develop this idea, we show that random matrix theory offers an exact description of how the probability distribution for liquid-crystal order parameter tensors converges to its macroscopic-system limit. We then illustrate how domain properties can be inferred from finite-size-induced deviations from these random matrix predictions. A straightforward generalization of time-independent random matrix theory also allows us to prove that the analogous random matrix predictions for the time dependence of the order-parameter tensor are similarly exact in the macroscopic limit, and that relaxation behavior of the domains can be seen in the breakdown of the finite-size scaling required by that random-matrix theory.
Hyperunstable matrix proteins in the byssus of Mytilus galloprovincialis.

PubMed

Sagert, Jason; Waite, J Herbert

2009-07-01

The marine mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis is tethered to rocks in the intertidal zone by a holdfast known as the byssus. Functioning as a shock absorber, the byssus is composed of threads, the primary molecular components of which are collagen-containing proteins (preCOLs) that largely dictate the higher order self-assembly and mechanical properties of byssal threads. The threads contain additional matrix components that separate and perhaps lubricate the collagenous microfibrils during deformation in tension. In this study, the thread matrix proteins (TMPs), a glycine-, tyrosine- and asparagine-rich protein family, were shown to possess unique repeated sequence motifs, significant transcriptional heterogeneity and were distributed throughout the byssal thread. Deamidation was shown to occur at a significant rate in a recombinant TMP and in the byssal thread as a function of time. Furthermore, charge heterogeneity presumably due to deamidation was observed in TMPs extracted from threads. The TMPs were localized to the preCOL-containing secretory granules in the collagen gland of the foot and are assumed to provide a viscoelastic matrix around the collagenous fibers in byssal threads.
A Metric-Based System for Evaluating the Productivity of Preclinical Faculty at an Academic Medical Center in the Era of Clinical and Translational Science.

PubMed

Wiegers, Susan E; Houser, Steven R; Pearson, Helen E; Untalan, Ann; Cheung, Joseph Y; Fisher, Susan G; Kaiser, Larry R; Feldman, Arthur M

2015-08-01

Academic medical centers are faced with increasing budgetary constraints due to a flat National Institutes of Health budget, lower reimbursements for clinical services, higher costs of technology including informatics and a changing competitive landscape. As such, institutional stakeholders are increasingly asking whether resources are allocated appropriately and whether there are objective methods for measuring faculty contributions and engagement. The complexities of translational research can be particularly challenging when trying to assess faculty contributions because of team science. For over a decade, we have used an objective scoring system called the Matrix to assess faculty productivity and engagement in four areas: research, education, scholarship, and administration or services. The Matrix was developed to be dynamic, quantitative, and able to insure that a fully engaged educator would have a Matrix score that was comparable to a fully engaged investigator. In this report, we present the Matrix in its current form in order to provide a well-tested objective system of performance evaluation for nonclinical faculty to help academic leaders in decision making. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Behavior of ceramic particles at the solid-liquid metal interface in metal matrix composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stefanescu, D. M.; Dhindaw, B. K.; Kacar, S. A.; Moitra, A.

1988-01-01

Directional solidification results were obtained in order to investigate particle behavior at the solid-liquid interface in Al-2 pct Mg (cellular interface) and Al-6.1 pct Ni (eutectic interface) alloys. It is found that particles can be entrapped in the solid if adequate solidification rates and temperature gradients are used. Model results showed critical velocity values slightly higher than those obtained experimentally.
Efficient Tensor Completion for Color Image and Video Recovery: Low-Rank Tensor Train.

PubMed

Bengua, Johann A; Phien, Ho N; Tuan, Hoang Duong; Do, Minh N

2017-05-01

This paper proposes a novel approach to tensor completion, which recovers missing entries of data represented by tensors. The approach is based on the tensor train (TT) rank, which is able to capture hidden information from tensors thanks to its definition from a well-balanced matricization scheme. Accordingly, new optimization formulations for tensor completion are proposed as well as two new algorithms for their solution. The first one called simple low-rank tensor completion via TT (SiLRTC-TT) is intimately related to minimizing a nuclear norm based on TT rank. The second one is from a multilinear matrix factorization model to approximate the TT rank of a tensor, and is called tensor completion by parallel matrix factorization via TT (TMac-TT). A tensor augmentation scheme of transforming a low-order tensor to higher orders is also proposed to enhance the effectiveness of SiLRTC-TT and TMac-TT. Simulation results for color image and video recovery show the clear advantage of our method over all other methods.
High-Order Automatic Differentiation of Unmodified Linear Algebra Routines via Nilpotent Matrices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dunham, Benjamin Z.

This work presents a new automatic differentiation method, Nilpotent Matrix Differentiation (NMD), capable of propagating any order of mixed or univariate derivative through common linear algebra functions--most notably third-party sparse solvers and decomposition routines, in addition to basic matrix arithmetic operations and power series--without changing data-type or modifying code line by line; this allows differentiation across sequences of arbitrarily many such functions with minimal implementation effort. NMD works by enlarging the matrices and vectors passed to the routines, replacing each original scalar with a matrix block augmented by derivative data; these blocks are constructed with special sparsity structures, termed "stencils," each designed to be isomorphic to a particular multidimensional hypercomplex algebra. The algebras are in turn designed such that Taylor expansions of hypercomplex function evaluations are finite in length and thus exactly track derivatives without approximation error. Although this use of the method in the "forward mode" is unique in its own right, it is also possible to apply it to existing implementations of the (first-order) discrete adjoint method to find high-order derivatives with lowered cost complexity; for example, for a problem with N inputs and an adjoint solver whose cost is independent of N--i.e., O(1)--the N x N Hessian can be found in O(N) time, which is comparable to existing second-order adjoint methods that require far more problem-specific implementation effort. Higher derivatives are likewise less expensive--e.g., a N x N x N rank-three tensor can be found in O(N2). Alternatively, a Hessian-vector product can be found in O(1) time, which may open up many matrix-based simulations to a range of existing optimization or surrogate modeling approaches. As a final corollary in parallel to the NMD-adjoint hybrid method, the existing complex-step differentiation (CD) technique is also shown to be capable of finding the Hessian-vector product. All variants are implemented on a stochastic diffusion problem and compared in-depth with various cost and accuracy metrics.
Characterization of high order spatial discretizations and lumping techniques for discontinuous finite element SN transport

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Maginot, P. G.; Ragusa, J. C.; Morel, J. E.

2013-07-01

We examine several possible methods of mass matrix lumping for discontinuous finite element discrete ordinates transport using a Lagrange interpolatory polynomial trial space. Though positive outflow angular flux is guaranteed with traditional mass matrix lumping in a purely absorbing 1-D slab cell for the linear discontinuous approximation, we show that when used with higher degree interpolatory polynomial trial spaces, traditional lumping does yield strictly positive outflows and does not increase in accuracy with an increase in trial space polynomial degree. As an alternative, we examine methods which are 'self-lumping'. Self-lumping methods yield diagonal mass matrices by using numerical quadrature restrictedmore » to the Lagrange interpolatory points. Using equally-spaced interpolatory points, self-lumping is achieved through the use of closed Newton-Cotes formulas, resulting in strictly positive outflows in pure absorbers for odd power polynomials in 1-D slab geometry. By changing interpolatory points from the traditional equally-spaced points to the quadrature points of the Gauss-Legendre or Lobatto-Gauss-Legendre quadratures, it is possible to generate solution representations with a diagonal mass matrix and a strictly positive outflow for any degree polynomial solution representation in a pure absorber medium in 1-D slab geometry. Further, there is no inherent limit to local truncation error order of accuracy when using interpolatory points that correspond to the quadrature points of high order accuracy numerical quadrature schemes. (authors)« less
Polymer Nanocomposite Films: Dispersion of Polymer Grafted Nanorods and Optical Properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Composto, Russell

2013-03-01

The thermodynamic factors that affect the dispersion of polymer-brush grafted gold nanorods (NR) in polymer matrix films have been studied by experiment and theory. When brush and matrix have a favorable interaction, such as poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-NR/ poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and polystyrene (PS)-NR / poly(2,6-dimethyl-p-phenylene oxide) (PPO), nanorods are uniformly dispersed. For PEO-NRs in PMMA, the NRs are regularly spaced and well dispersed, independent of the ratio of the degree of polymerization of the matrix (P) to that of the brush (N), namely P/N. As the NR volume fraction increases, the local orientation of the nanorods increases, whereas the macroscopic orientation remains isotropic. When the brush and matrix are similar (i.e., PS-NR / PS and PEO-NR / PEO), the nanorods randomly disperse for P/N < 2 (i.e., wet brush), but align side-by-side in aggregates for P/N > 2. UV-visible spectroscopy and discrete dipole approximation (DDA) calculations demonstrate that surface plasmon coupling leads to a blue shift in the longitudinal surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) as P/N increases. For P/N > 2, self-consistent field theory (SCFT) calculations and Monte Carlo (MC) simulations indicate that nanorod aggregation is caused by depletion-attraction forces. Starting with a dry brush system, namely, a PS matrix where P/N = 30, these attractive forces can be mediated by adding a compatibilizing agent (e.g., PPO) that drives the NRs to disperse. Finally, dry and wet brush behavior is observed for NR aspect ratios varying from 2.5 to 7. However, compared at the same volume fraction, long rods for the dry case exhibit much better local order than lower aspect ratio nanorods, suggesting that long rods may exhibit nematic-like ordering at higher loadings. NSF Polymer and CEMRI Programs.
On processed splitting methods and high-order actions in path-integral Monte Carlo simulations.

PubMed

Casas, Fernando

2010-10-21

Processed splitting methods are particularly well adapted to carry out path-integral Monte Carlo (PIMC) simulations: since one is mainly interested in estimating traces of operators, only the kernel of the method is necessary to approximate the thermal density matrix. Unfortunately, they suffer the same drawback as standard, nonprocessed integrators: kernels of effective order greater than two necessarily involve some negative coefficients. This problem can be circumvented, however, by incorporating modified potentials into the composition, thus rendering schemes of higher effective order. In this work we analyze a family of fourth-order schemes recently proposed in the PIMC setting, paying special attention to their linear stability properties, and justify their observed behavior in practice. We also propose a new fourth-order scheme requiring the same computational cost but with an enlarged stability interval.
Tensor-product preconditioners for higher-order space-time discontinuous Galerkin methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Diosady, Laslo T.; Murman, Scott M.

2017-02-01

A space-time discontinuous-Galerkin spectral-element discretization is presented for direct numerical simulation of the compressible Navier-Stokes equations. An efficient solution technique based on a matrix-free Newton-Krylov method is developed in order to overcome the stiffness associated with high solution order. The use of tensor-product basis functions is key to maintaining efficiency at high-order. Efficient preconditioning methods are presented which can take advantage of the tensor-product formulation. A diagonalized Alternating-Direction-Implicit (ADI) scheme is extended to the space-time discontinuous Galerkin discretization. A new preconditioner for the compressible Euler/Navier-Stokes equations based on the fast-diagonalization method is also presented. Numerical results demonstrate the effectiveness of these preconditioners for the direct numerical simulation of subsonic turbulent flows.
Tensor-Product Preconditioners for Higher-Order Space-Time Discontinuous Galerkin Methods

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Diosady, Laslo T.; Murman, Scott M.

2016-01-01

space-time discontinuous-Galerkin spectral-element discretization is presented for direct numerical simulation of the compressible Navier-Stokes equat ions. An efficient solution technique based on a matrix-free Newton-Krylov method is developed in order to overcome the stiffness associated with high solution order. The use of tensor-product basis functions is key to maintaining efficiency at high order. Efficient preconditioning methods are presented which can take advantage of the tensor-product formulation. A diagonalized Alternating-Direction-Implicit (ADI) scheme is extended to the space-time discontinuous Galerkin discretization. A new preconditioner for the compressible Euler/Navier-Stokes equations based on the fast-diagonalization method is also presented. Numerical results demonstrate the effectiveness of these preconditioners for the direct numerical simulation of subsonic turbulent flows.
Matrix vesicles in the fibrous cap of atherosclerotic plaque: possible contribution to plaque rupture

PubMed Central

Bobryshev, Y V; Killingsworth, M C; Lord, R S A; Grabs, A J

2008-01-01

Plaque rupture is the most common type of plaque complication and leads to acute ischaemic events such as myocardial infarction and stroke. Calcification has been suggested as a possible indicator of plaque instability. Although the role of matrix vesicles in the initial stages of arterial calcification has been recognized, no studies have yet been carried out to examine a possible role of matrix vesicles in plaque destabilization. Tissue specimens selected for the present study represented carotid specimens obtained from patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy. Serial frozen cross-sections of the tissue specimens were cut and mounted on glass slides. The thickness of the fibrous cap (FCT) in each advanced atherosclerotic lesion, containing a well developed lipid/necrotic core, was measured at its narrowest sites in sets of serial sections. According to established criteria, atherosclerotic plaque specimens were histologically subdivided into two groups: vulnerable plaques with thin fibrous caps (FCT <100 μm) and presumably stable plaques, in which fibrous caps were thicker than 100 μm. Twenty-four carotid plaques (12 vulnerable and 12 presumably stable plaques) were collected for the present analysis of matrix vesicles in fibrous caps. In order to provide a sufficient number of representative areas from each plaque, laser capture microdissection (LCM) was carried out. The quantification of matrix vesicles in ultrathin sections of vulnerable and stable plaques revealed that the numbers of matrix vesicles were significantly higher in fibrous caps of vulnerable plaques than those in stable plaques (8.908±0.544 versus 6.208±0.467 matrix vesicles per 1.92 μm2 standard area; P= 0.0002). Electron microscopy combined with X-ray elemental microanalysis showed that some matrix vesicles in atherosclerotic plaques were undergoing calcification and were characterized by a high content of calcium and phosphorus. The percentage of calcified matrix vesicles/microcalcifications was significantly higher in fibrous caps in vulnerable plaques compared with that in stable plaques (6.705±0.436 versus 5.322±0A94; P= 0.0474). The findings reinforce a view that the texture of the extracellular matrix in the thinning fibrous cap of atherosclerotic plaque is altered and this might contribute to plaque destabilization. PMID:18194456
Water in the presence of inert Lennard-Jones obstacles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kurtjak, Mario; Urbic, Tomaz

2014-04-01

Water confined by the presence of a 'sea' of inert obstacles was examined. In the article, freely mobile two-dimensional Mercedes-Benz (MB) water put to a disordered, but fixed, matrix of Lennard-Jones disks was studied by the Monte Carlo computer simulations. For the MB water molecules in the matrix of Lennard-Jones disks, we explored the structures, hydrogen-bond-network formation and thermodynamics as a function of temperature and size and density of matrix particles. We found that the structure of model water is perturbed by the presence of the obstacles. Density of confined water, which was in equilibrium with the bulk water, was smaller than the density of the bulk water and the temperature dependence of the density of absorbed water did not show the density anomaly in the studied temperature range. The behaviour observed as a consequence of confinement is similar to that of increasing temperature, which can for a matrix lead to a process similar to capillary evaporation. At the same occupancy of space, smaller matrix molecules cause higher destruction effect on the absorbed water molecules than the bigger ones. We have also tested the hypothesis that at low matrix densities the obstacles induce an increased ordering and 'hydrogen bonding' of the MB model molecules, relative to pure fluid, while at high densities the obstacles reduce MB water structuring, as they prevent the fluid to form good 'hydrogen-bonding' networks. However, for the size of matrix molecules similar to that of water, we did not observe this effect.
Degenerate higher derivative theories beyond Horndeski: evading the Ostrogradski instability

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Langlois, David; Noui, Karim, E-mail: langlois@apc.univ-paris7.fr, E-mail: karim.noui@lmpt.univ-tours.fr

2016-02-01

Theories with higher order time derivatives generically suffer from ghost-like instabilities, known as Ostrogradski instabilities. This fate can be avoided by considering ''degenerate'' Lagrangians, whose kinetic matrix cannot be inverted, thus leading to constraints between canonical variables and a reduced number of physical degrees of freedom. In this work, we derive in a systematic way the degeneracy conditions for scalar-tensor theories that depend quadratically on second order derivatives of a scalar field. We thus obtain a classification of all degenerate theories within this class of scalar-tensor theories. The quartic Horndeski Lagrangian and its extension beyond Horndeski belong to these degeneratemore » cases. We also identify new families of scalar-tensor theories with the property that they are degenerate despite the nondegeneracy of the purely scalar part of their Lagrangian.« less
The differences in matrix effect between supercritical fluid chromatography and reversed phase liquid chromatography coupled to ESI/MS.

PubMed

Svan, Alfred; Hedeland, Mikael; Arvidsson, Torbjörn; Pettersson, Curt E

2018-02-13

For many sample matrices, matrix effects are a troublesome phenomenon using the electrospray ionization source. The increasing use of supercritical fluid chromatography with CO 2 in combination with the electrospray ionization source for MS detection is therefore raising questions: is the matrix effect behaving differently using SFC in comparison with reversed phase LC? This was investigated using urine, plasma, influent- and effluent-wastewater as sample matrices. The matrix effect was evaluated using the post-extraction addition method and through post-column infusions. Matrix effect profiles generated from the post-column infusions in combination with time of flight-MS detection provided the most valuable information for the study. The combination of both qualitative and semi-quantitative information with the ability to use HRMS-data for identifying interfering compounds from the same experiment was very useful, and has to the authors' knowledge not been used this way before. The results showed that both LC and SFC are affected by matrix effects, however differently depending on sample matrix. Generally, both suppressions and enhancements were seen, with a higher amount of enhancements for LC, where 65% of all compounds and all sample matrices were enhanced, compared to only 7% for SFC. Several interferences were tentatively identified, with phospholipids, creatinine, and metal ion clusters as examples of important interferences, with different impact depending on chromatographic technique. SFC needs a different strategy for limiting matrix interferences, owing to its almost reverse retention order compared to RPLC. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Adaptive Inverse Control for Rotorcraft Vibration Reduction

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jacklin, Stephen A.

1985-01-01

This thesis extends the Least Mean Square (LMS) algorithm to solve the mult!ple-input, multiple-output problem of alleviating N/Rev (revolutions per minute by number of blades) helicopter fuselage vibration by means of adaptive inverse control. A frequency domain locally linear model is used to represent the transfer matrix relating the higher harmonic pitch control inputs to the harmonic vibration outputs to be controlled. By using the inverse matrix as the controller gain matrix, an adaptive inverse regulator is formed to alleviate the N/Rev vibration. The stability and rate of convergence properties of the extended LMS algorithm are discussed. It is shown that the stability ranges for the elements of the stability gain matrix are directly related to the eigenvalues of the vibration signal information matrix for the learning phase, but not for the control phase. The overall conclusion is that the LMS adaptive inverse control method can form a robust vibration control system, but will require some tuning of the input sensor gains, the stability gain matrix, and the amount of control relaxation to be used. The learning curve of the controller during the learning phase is shown to be quantitatively close to that predicted by averaging the learning curves of the normal modes. For higher order transfer matrices, a rough estimate of the inverse is needed to start the algorithm efficiently. The simulation results indicate that the factor which most influences LMS adaptive inverse control is the product of the control relaxation and the the stability gain matrix. A small stability gain matrix makes the controller less sensitive to relaxation selection, and permits faster and more stable vibration reduction, than by choosing the stability gain matrix large and the control relaxation term small. It is shown that the best selections of the stability gain matrix elements and the amount of control relaxation is basically a compromise between slow, stable convergence and fast convergence with increased possibility of unstable identification. In the simulation studies, the LMS adaptive inverse control algorithm is shown to be capable of adapting the inverse (controller) matrix to track changes in the flight conditions. The algorithm converges quickly for moderate disturbances, while taking longer for larger disturbances. Perfect knowledge of the inverse matrix is not required for good control of the N/Rev vibration. However it is shown that measurement noise will prevent the LMS adaptive inverse control technique from controlling the vibration, unless the signal averaging method presented is incorporated into the algorithm.
Effects of fiber, matrix, and interphase on carbon fiber composite compression strength

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nairn, John A.; Harper, Sheila I.; Bascom, Willard D.

1994-01-01

The major goal of this project was to obtain basic information on compression failure properties of carbon fiber composites. To do this, we investigated fiber effects, matrix effects, and fiber/matrix interface effects. Using each of nine fiber types, we prepared embedded single-fiber specimens, single-ply specimens, and full laminates. From the single-fiber specimens, in addition to the standard fragmentation test analysis, we were able to use the low crack density data to provide information about the distribution of fiber flaws. The single-ply specimens provided evidence of a correlation between the size of kink band zones and the quality of the interface. Results of the laminate compression experiments mostly agreed with the results from single-ply experiments, although the ultimate compression strengths of laminates were higher. Generally, these experiments showed a strong effect of interfacial properties. Matrix effects were examined using laminates subjected to precracking under mixed-mode loading conditions. A large effect of precracking conditions on the mode 1 toughness of the laminates was found. In order to control the properties of the fiber/matrix interface, we prepared composites of carbon fiber and polycarbonate and subjected these to annealing. The changes in interfacial properties directly correlated with changes in compression strength.
Asymptotic One-Point Functions in Gauge-String Duality with Defects.

PubMed

Buhl-Mortensen, Isak; de Leeuw, Marius; Ipsen, Asger C; Kristjansen, Charlotte; Wilhelm, Matthias

2017-12-29

We take the first step in extending the integrability approach to one-point functions in AdS/dCFT to higher loop orders. More precisely, we argue that the formula encoding all tree-level one-point functions of SU(2) operators in the defect version of N=4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory, dual to the D5-D3 probe-brane system with flux, has a natural asymptotic generalization to higher loop orders. The asymptotic formula correctly encodes the information about the one-loop correction to the one-point functions of nonprotected operators once dressed by a simple flux-dependent factor, as we demonstrate by an explicit computation involving a novel object denoted as an amputated matrix product state. Furthermore, when applied to the Berenstein-Maldacena-Nastase vacuum state, the asymptotic formula gives a result for the one-point function which in a certain double-scaling limit agrees with that obtained in the dual string theory up to wrapping order.
B B ¯ angular correlations at the LHC in the parton Reggeization approach merged with higher-order matrix elements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karpishkov, A. V.; Nefedov, M. A.; Saleev, V. A.

2017-11-01

We calculate the angular distribution spectra between beauty (B ) and antibeauty (B ¯) mesons in proton-proton collisions in the leading order approximation of the parton Reggeization approach consistently merged with the next-to-leading order corrections from the emission of an additional hard gluon. To describe b-quark hadronization we use the universal scale-dependent parton-to-meson fragmentation functions extracted from the world e+e- annihilation data. We have obtained good agreement between our predictions and data from the CMS Collaboration at the energy √{S }=7 TeV for B B ¯ angular correlations within uncertainties and without free parameters. Predictions for analogous correlation observables at √{S }=13 TeV are provided.
Design of rapid hardening engineered cementitious composites for sustainable construction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marushchak, Uliana; Sanytsky, Myroslav; Sydor, Nazar

2017-12-01

This paper deals with design of environmentally friendly Rapid Hardening Engineered Cementitious Composite (RHECC) nanomodified with ultrafine mineral additives, polycarboxylate ether based superplasticizer, calcium hydrosilicate nanoparticles and dispersal reinforced by fibers. The incremental coefficient of surface activity was proposed in order to estimation of ultrafine supplementary materials (fly ash, methakaolin, microsilica) efficiency. A characterization of RHECC's compressive and flexural properties at different ages is reported in this paper. Early compressive strength of ECC is 45-50 MPa, standard strength - 84-95 MPa and parameter Rc2/Rc28 - 65-70%. The microstructure of the cement matrix and RHECC was investigated. The use of ultrafine mineral supplementary materials provides reinforcement of structure on micro- and nanoscale level (cementing matrix) due to formation of sub-microreinforcing hydrate phase as AFt- and C-S-H phases in unclinker part of cement matrix, resulting in the phenomena of "self-reinforcement" on the microstructure level. Designed RHECC may be regarded as lower brittle since the crack resistance coefficient is higher comparison to conventional fine grain concrete.
The Effect of Stochastically Varying Creep Parameters on Residual Stresses in Ceramic Matrix Composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pineda, Evan J.; Mital, Subodh K.; Bednarcyk, Brett A.; Arnold, Steven M.

2015-01-01

Constituent properties, along with volume fraction, have a first order effect on the microscale fields within a composite material and influence the macroscopic response. Therefore, there is a need to assess the significance of stochastic variation in the constituent properties of composites at the higher scales. The effect of variability in the parameters controlling the time-dependent behavior, in a unidirectional SCS-6 SiC fiber-reinforced RBSN matrix composite lamina, on the residual stresses induced during processing is investigated numerically. The generalized method of cells micromechanics theory is utilized to model the ceramic matrix composite lamina using a repeating unit cell. The primary creep phases of the constituents are approximated using a Norton-Bailey, steady state, power law creep model. The effect of residual stresses on the proportional limit stress and strain to failure of the composite is demonstrated. Monte Carlo simulations were conducted using a normal distribution for the power law parameters and the resulting residual stress distributions were predicted.
A state interaction spin-orbit coupling density matrix renormalization group method

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sayfutyarova, Elvira R.; Chan, Garnet Kin-Lic

We describe a state interaction spin-orbit (SISO) coupling method using density matrix renormalization group (DMRG) wavefunctions and the spin-orbit mean-field (SOMF) operator. We implement our DMRG-SISO scheme using a spin-adapted algorithm that computes transition density matrices between arbitrary matrix product states. To demonstrate the potential of the DMRG-SISO scheme we present accurate benchmark calculations for the zero-field splitting of the copper and gold atoms, comparing to earlier complete active space self-consistent-field and second-order complete active space perturbation theory results in the same basis. We also compute the effects of spin-orbit coupling on the spin-ladder of the iron-sulfur dimer complex [Fe{submore » 2}S{sub 2}(SCH{sub 3}){sub 4}]{sup 3−}, determining the splitting of the lowest quartet and sextet states. We find that the magnitude of the zero-field splitting for the higher quartet and sextet states approaches a significant fraction of the Heisenberg exchange parameter.« less
The Equivalence between (AB)[dagger] = B[dagger]A[dagger] and Other Mixed-Type Reverse-Order Laws

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tian, Yongge

2006-01-01

The standard reverse-order law for the Moore-Penrose inverse of a matrix product is (AB)[dagger] = B[dagger]A[dagger]. The purpose of this article is to give a set of equivalences of this reverse-order law and other mixed-type reverse-order laws for the Moore-Penrose inverse of matrix products.
Effects of cell-attachment and extracellular matrix on bone formation in vivo in collagen-hydroxyapatite scaffolds.

PubMed

Villa, Max M; Wang, Liping; Rowe, David W; Wei, Mei

2014-01-01

Cell-based tissue engineering can be used to replace missing or damaged bone, but the optimal methods for delivering therapeutic cells to a bony defect have not yet been established. Using transgenic reporter cells as a donor source, two different collagen-hydroxyapatite (HA) scaffolds, and a critical-size calvarial defect model, we investigated the effect of a cell-attachment period prior to implantation, with or without an extracellular matrix-based seeding suspension, on cell engraftment and osteogenesis. When quantitatively compared, the in-house scaffold implanted immediately had a higher mean radiopacity than in-house scaffolds incubated overnight. Both scaffold types implanted immediately had significantly higher area fractions of donor cells, while the in-house collagen-HA scaffolds implanted immediately had higher area fractions of the mineralization label compared with groups incubated overnight. When the cell loading was compared in vitro for each delivery method using the in-house scaffold, immediate loading led to higher numbers of delivered cells. Immediate loading may be preferable in order to ensure robust bone formation in vivo. The use of a secondary ECM carrier improved the distribution of donor cells only when a pre-attachment period was applied. These results have improved our understanding of cell delivery to bony defects in the context of in vivo outcomes.
Recent Developments in SHERPA

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Archibald, Jennifer; /Durham U., IPPP; Gleisberg, Tanju

2011-11-15

Some recent QCD-related developments in the SHERPA event generator are presented. In the past decades, event generators such as PYTHIA [1, 2] and HERWIG [3, 4] have been central for nearly all physics analyses at particle physics experiments at the high-energy frontier. This will also hold true at the LHC, where a large number of interesting signals for new particles or new phenomena (the Higgs boson or any other manifestation of the mechanism behind electro-weak symmetry breaking, supersymmetry, extra dimensions etc.) is hampered by a plethora of severe, sometimes overwhelming backgrounds. Nearly all of them are largely influenced by QCD.more » Therefore it seems fair to say that the success of the LHC in finding new physics may very well depend on a deep and detailed understanding of old physics, like QCD. Examples for this include, among others, the central-jet veto for the vector boson fusion channel for Higgs production or topologies, where gauge bosons emerge in association with many jets, a background for many search channels. In a reflection on increased needs by the experimental community, aiming at higher precision, incorporation of new physics models and so on, the work horses of old have undergone serious renovation efforts, resulting in new, improved versions of the respective codes, namely PYTHIA8 [5] and HERWIG++ [6]. In addition a completely new code, SHERPA [7], has been constructed and is in the process of maturing. The status of this code is the topic of this contribution. SHERPA's hallmark property is the inclusion of higher-order tree-level QCD contributions, leading to an improved modelling of jet production. They are introduced through a full-fledged matrix element generator, AMEGIC++ [8], which is capable of generating matrix elements and corresponding phase space mappings for processes with multi-particle final states in various models, including the Standard Model, anomalous gauge triple and quadruple couplings according to [9, 10], the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model with Feynman rules from [11], the ADD-model of extra dimensions [12, 13], and a model with an extra U(1) singlet coupling to the Higgs boson only [14]. The code has been thoroughly tested and validated [15]. This code, however, is limited, especially in the treatment of many ({ge} 6) external QCD particles. Therefore, in the near future, SHERPA will incorporate another, new matrix element generator, COMIX, which is based on Berends-Giele recursion relations [16] and color-dressing [17] rather than color-ordering. In Tabs. 1 and 2 some example cross sections for gg {yields} ng at fixed energies and pp {yields} b{bar b} + n jets obtained with this program are exhibited and compared to those from other programs. In addition, concerning the calculation of higher-order matrix elements and cross sections, there have been first steps towards an automation of such calculations at truly next-to leading order accuracy. They manifest themselves in the implementation of a procedure [19] to fully automatically construct and evaluate Catani-Seymour dipole subtraction terms [20] for the real part of such NLO calculations. The results from the matrix element calculations are merged with the subsequent parton shower through the formalism of [21, 22]. The results of its implementation in SHERPA [23] has recently been compared with other algorithms [24]. Although there remains some dispute about the theoretical equivalence of the different approaches, the overall results show satisfying agreement with each other, such that they can be used with confidence for data analysis.« less
Nonlinear force dependence on optically bound micro-particle arrays in the evanescent fields of fundamental and higher order microfibre modes

PubMed Central

Maimaiti, Aili; Holzmann, Daniela; Truong, Viet Giang; Ritsch, Helmut; Nic Chormaic, Síle

2016-01-01

Particles trapped in the evanescent field of an ultrathin optical fibre interact over very long distances via multiple scattering of the fibre-guided fields. In ultrathin fibres that support higher order modes, these interactions are stronger and exhibit qualitatively new behaviour due to the coupling of different fibre modes, which have different propagation wave-vectors, by the particles. Here, we study one dimensional longitudinal optical binding interactions of chains of 3 μm polystyrene spheres under the influence of the evanescent fields of a two-mode microfibre. The observation of long-range interactions, self-ordering and speed variation of particle chains reveals strong optical binding effects between the particles that can be modelled well by a tritter scattering-matrix approach. The optical forces, optical binding interactions and the velocity of bounded particle chains are calculated using this method. Results show good agreement with finite element numerical simulations. Experimental data and theoretical analysis show that higher order modes in a microfibre offer a promising method to not only obtain stable, multiple particle trapping or faster particle propulsion speeds, but that they also allow for better control over each individual trapped object in particle ensembles near the microfibre surface. PMID:27451935
The arbitrary order mimetic finite difference method for a diffusion equation with a non-symmetric diffusion tensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gyrya, V.; Lipnikov, K.

2017-11-01

We present the arbitrary order mimetic finite difference (MFD) discretization for the diffusion equation with non-symmetric tensorial diffusion coefficient in a mixed formulation on general polygonal meshes. The diffusion tensor is assumed to be positive definite. The asymmetry of the diffusion tensor requires changes to the standard MFD construction. We present new approach for the construction that guarantees positive definiteness of the non-symmetric mass matrix in the space of discrete velocities. The numerically observed convergence rate for the scalar quantity matches the predicted one in the case of the lowest order mimetic scheme. For higher orders schemes, we observed super-convergence by one order for the scalar variable which is consistent with the previously published result for a symmetric diffusion tensor. The new scheme was also tested on a time-dependent problem modeling the Hall effect in the resistive magnetohydrodynamics.
The arbitrary order mimetic finite difference method for a diffusion equation with a non-symmetric diffusion tensor

DOE PAGES

Gyrya, V.; Lipnikov, K.

2017-07-18

Here, we present the arbitrary order mimetic finite difference (MFD) discretization for the diffusion equation with non-symmetric tensorial diffusion coefficient in a mixed formulation on general polygonal meshes. The diffusion tensor is assumed to be positive definite. The asymmetry of the diffusion tensor requires changes to the standard MFD construction. We also present new approach for the construction that guarantees positive definiteness of the non-symmetric mass matrix in the space of discrete velocities. The numerically observed convergence rate for the scalar quantity matches the predicted one in the case of the lowest order mimetic scheme. For higher orders schemes, wemore » observed super-convergence by one order for the scalar variable which is consistent with the previously published result for a symmetric diffusion tensor. The new scheme was also tested on a time-dependent problem modeling the Hall effect in the resistive magnetohydrodynamics.« less
The arbitrary order mimetic finite difference method for a diffusion equation with a non-symmetric diffusion tensor

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gyrya, V.; Lipnikov, K.

Here, we present the arbitrary order mimetic finite difference (MFD) discretization for the diffusion equation with non-symmetric tensorial diffusion coefficient in a mixed formulation on general polygonal meshes. The diffusion tensor is assumed to be positive definite. The asymmetry of the diffusion tensor requires changes to the standard MFD construction. We also present new approach for the construction that guarantees positive definiteness of the non-symmetric mass matrix in the space of discrete velocities. The numerically observed convergence rate for the scalar quantity matches the predicted one in the case of the lowest order mimetic scheme. For higher orders schemes, wemore » observed super-convergence by one order for the scalar variable which is consistent with the previously published result for a symmetric diffusion tensor. The new scheme was also tested on a time-dependent problem modeling the Hall effect in the resistive magnetohydrodynamics.« less
Efficient Reformulation of the Thermoelastic Higher-order Theory for Fgms

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bansal, Yogesh; Pindera, Marek-Jerzy; Arnold, Steven M. (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

Functionally graded materials (FGMs) are characterized by spatially variable microstructures which are introduced to satisfy given performance requirements. The microstructural gradation gives rise to continuously or discretely changing material properties which complicate FGM analysis. Various techniques have been developed during the past several decades for analyzing traditional composites and many of these have been adapted for the analysis of FGMs. Most of the available techniques use the so-called uncoupled approach in order to analyze graded structures. These techniques ignore the effect of microstructural gradation by employing specific spatial material property variations that are either assumed or obtained by local homogenization. The higher-order theory for functionally graded materials (HOTFGM) is a coupled approach developed by Aboudi et al. (1999) which takes the effect of microstructural gradation into consideration and does not ignore the local-global interaction of the spatially variable inclusion phase(s). Despite its demonstrated utility, however, the original formulation of the higher-order theory is computationally intensive. Herein, an efficient reformulation of the original higher-order theory for two-dimensional elastic problems is developed and validated. The use of the local-global conductivity and local-global stiffness matrix approach is made in order to reduce the number of equations involved. In this approach, surface-averaged quantities are the primary variables which replace volume-averaged quantities employed in the original formulation. The reformulation decreases the size of the global conductivity and stiffness matrices by approximately sixty percent. Various thermal, mechanical, and combined thermomechanical problems are analyzed in order to validate the accuracy of the reformulated theory through comparison with analytical and finite-element solutions. The presented results illustrate the efficiency of the reformulation and its advantages in analyzing functionally graded materials.
Fast DNA sieving through submicrometer cylindrical glass capillary matrix.

PubMed

Cao, Zhen; Yobas, Levent

2014-01-07

Here, we report on DNA electrophoresis through a novel artificial sieving matrix based on the highly regular submicrometer cylindrical glass capillary segments alternatingly arranged with wells. Such round capillaries pose a higher-order confinement resulting in a lower partition coefficient and greater entropic energy barrier while limiting the driving field strength to a small fraction of the applied electric field. In return, the separation can be performed at high average field strengths (up to 1.6 kV/cm) without encountering the field-dependent loss of resolving power. This leads to fast DNA sieving as demonstrated here on the capillaries of 750 nm in diameter. The 600 bp to 21 kbp long chains are shown to resolve within 4 min after having undergone a fairly limited number of entropic barriers (128 in total). The capillary matrix also exhibits a critical field threshold below which DNA bands fail to launch, and this occurs at a considerably greater magnitude than in other matrixes. The submicrometer capillaries are batch-fabricated on silicon through a fabrication process that does not require high-resolution advanced lithography or well-controlled wafer bonding techniques to define their critical dimension.
A new pre-loaded beam geometric stiffness matrix with full rigid body capabilities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bosela, P. A.; Fertis, D. G.; Shaker, F. J.

1992-09-01

Space structures, such as the Space Station solar arrays, must be extremely light-weight, flexible structures. Accurate prediction of the natural frequencies and mode shapes is essential for determining the structural adequacy of components, and designing a controls system. The tension pre-load in the 'blanket' of photovoltaic solar collectors, and the free/free boundary conditions of a structure in space, causes serious reservations on the use of standard finite element techniques of solution. In particular, a phenomenon known as 'grounding', or false stiffening, of the stiffness matrix occurs during rigid body rotation. The authors have previously shown that the grounding phenomenon is caused by a lack of rigid body rotational capability, and is typical in beam geometric stiffness matrices formulated by others, including those which contain higher order effects. The cause of the problem was identified as the force imbalance inherent in the formulations. In this paper, the authors develop a beam geometric stiffness matrix for a directed force problem, and show that the resultant global stiffness matrix contains complete rigid body mode capabilities, and performs very well in the diagonalization methodology customarily used in dynamic analysis.
Monocyte-specific Accessibility of a Matrix Attachment Region in the Tumor Necrosis Factor Locus*

PubMed Central

Biglione, Sebastian; Tsytsykova, Alla V.; Goldfeld, Anne E.

2011-01-01

Regulation of TNF gene expression is cell type- and stimulus-specific. We have previously identified highly conserved noncoding regulatory elements within DNase I-hypersensitive sites (HSS) located 9 kb upstream (HSS−9) and 3 kb downstream (HSS+3) of the TNF gene, which play an important role in the transcriptional regulation of TNF in T cells. They act as enhancers and interact with the TNF promoter and with each other, generating a higher order chromatin structure. Here, we report a novel monocyte-specific AT-rich DNase I-hypersensitive element located 7 kb upstream of the TNF gene (HSS−7), which serves as a matrix attachment region in monocytes. We show that HSS−7 associates with topoisomerase IIα (Top2) in vivo and that induction of endogenous TNF mRNA expression is suppressed by etoposide, a Top2 inhibitor. Moreover, Top2 binds to and cleaves HSS−7 in in vitro analysis. Thus, HSS−7, which is selectively accessible in monocytes, can tether the TNF locus to the nuclear matrix via matrix attachment region formation, potentially promoting TNF gene expression by acting as a Top2 substrate. PMID:22027829
Polarimetric signatures of a canopy of dielectric cylinders based on first and second order vector radiative transfer theory

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tsang, Leung; Chan, Chi Hou; Kong, Jin AU; Joseph, James

1992-01-01

Complete polarimetric signatures of a canopy of dielectric cylinders overlying a homogeneous half space are studied with the first and second order solutions of the vector radiative transfer theory. The vector radiative transfer equations contain a general nondiagonal extinction matrix and a phase matrix. The energy conservation issue is addressed by calculating the elements of the extinction matrix and the elements of the phase matrix in a manner that is consistent with energy conservation. Two methods are used. In the first method, the surface fields and the internal fields of the dielectric cylinder are calculated by using the fields of an infinite cylinder. The phase matrix is calculated and the extinction matrix is calculated by summing the absorption and scattering to ensure energy conservation. In the second method, the method of moments is used to calculate the elements of the extinction and phase matrices. The Mueller matrix based on the first order and second order multiple scattering solutions of the vector radiative transfer equation are calculated. Results from the two methods are compared. The vector radiative transfer equations, combined with the solution based on method of moments, obey both energy conservation and reciprocity. The polarimetric signatures, copolarized and depolarized return, degree of polarization, and phase differences are studied as a function of the orientation, sizes, and dielectric properties of the cylinders. It is shown that second order scattering is generally important for vegetation canopy at C band and can be important at L band for some cases.
Calculation of Moment Matrix Elements for Bilinear Quadrilaterals and Higher-Order Basis Functions

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-01-06

methods are known as boundary integral equation (BIE) methods and the present study falls into this category. The numerical solution of the BIE is...iterated integrals. The inner integral involves the product of the free-space Green’s function for the Helmholtz equation multiplied by an appropriate...Website: http://www.wipl-d.com/ 5. Y. Zhang and T. K. Sarkar, Parallel Solution of Integral Equation -Based EM Problems in the Frequency Domain. New

Generalized lattice Boltzmann model for flow through tight porous media with Klinkenberg's effect

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Li; Fang, Wenzhen; Kang, Qinjun; De'Haven Hyman, Jeffrey; Viswanathan, Hari S.; Tao, Wen-Quan

2015-03-01

Gas slippage occurs when the mean free path of the gas molecules is in the order of the characteristic pore size of a porous medium. This phenomenon leads to Klinkenberg's effect where the measured permeability of a gas (apparent permeability) is higher than that of the liquid (intrinsic permeability). A generalized lattice Boltzmann model is proposed for flow through porous media that includes Klinkenberg's effect, which is based on the model of Guo et al. [Phys. Rev. E 65, 046308 (2002), 10.1103/PhysRevE.65.046308]. The second-order Beskok and Karniadakis-Civan's correlation [A. Beskok and G. Karniadakis, Microscale Thermophys. Eng. 3, 43 (1999), 10.1080/108939599199864 and F. Civan, Transp. Porous Med. 82, 375 (2010), 10.1007/s11242-009-9432-z] is adopted to calculate the apparent permeability based on intrinsic permeability and the Knudsen number. Fluid flow between two parallel plates filled with porous media is simulated to validate the model. Simulations performed in a heterogeneous porous medium with components of different porosity and permeability indicate that Klinkenberg's effect plays a significant role on fluid flow in low-permeability porous media, and it is more pronounced as the Knudsen number increases. Fluid flow in a shale matrix with and without fractures is also studied, and it is found that the fractures greatly enhance the fluid flow and Klinkenberg's effect leads to higher global permeability of the shale matrix.
Path integrals with higher order actions: Application to realistic chemical systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lindoy, Lachlan P.; Huang, Gavin S.; Jordan, Meredith J. T.

2018-02-01

Quantum thermodynamic parameters can be determined using path integral Monte Carlo (PIMC) simulations. These simulations, however, become computationally demanding as the quantum nature of the system increases, although their efficiency can be improved by using higher order approximations to the thermal density matrix, specifically the action. Here we compare the standard, primitive approximation to the action (PA) and three higher order approximations, the Takahashi-Imada action (TIA), the Suzuki-Chin action (SCA) and the Chin action (CA). The resulting PIMC methods are applied to two realistic potential energy surfaces, for H2O and HCN-HNC, both of which are spectroscopically accurate and contain three-body interactions. We further numerically optimise, for each potential, the SCA parameter and the two free parameters in the CA, obtaining more significant improvements in efficiency than seen previously in the literature. For both H2O and HCN-HNC, accounting for all required potential and force evaluations, the optimised CA formalism is approximately twice as efficient as the TIA formalism and approximately an order of magnitude more efficient than the PA. The optimised SCA formalism shows similar efficiency gains to the CA for HCN-HNC but has similar efficiency to the TIA for H2O at low temperature. In H2O and HCN-HNC systems, the optimal value of the a1 CA parameter is approximately 1/3 , corresponding to an equal weighting of all force terms in the thermal density matrix, and similar to previous studies, the optimal α parameter in the SCA was ˜0.31. Importantly, poor choice of parameter significantly degrades the performance of the SCA and CA methods. In particular, for the CA, setting a1 = 0 is not efficient: the reduction in convergence efficiency is not offset by the lower number of force evaluations. We also find that the harmonic approximation to the CA parameters, whilst providing a fourth order approximation to the action, is not optimal for these realistic potentials: numerical optimisation leads to better approximate cancellation of the fifth order terms, with deviation between the harmonic and numerically optimised parameters more marked in the more quantum H2O system. This suggests that numerically optimising the CA or SCA parameters, which can be done at high temperature, will be important in fully realising the efficiency gains of these formalisms for realistic potentials.
Ion conduction in high ion content PEO-based ionomers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Caldwell, David, II; Maranas, Janna

Solid Polymer Electrolytes (SPEs) can enable the design of batteries that are safer and have higher capacity than batteries with traditional volatile organic electrolytes. The current limitation for SPEs is their low conductivity, resulting from a conduction mechanism strongly coupled to the dynamics of the polymer host matrix. Our previous work indicated the possibility of a conduction mechanism through the use of ion aggregates. In order to investigate this mechanism, we performed a series of molecular dynamics simulations of PEO-based ionomers at high ion content. Our results indicate that conduction through ion aggregates are partially decoupled from polymer dynamics and could enable the development of higher conductive SPEs.
A comparison among several P300 brain-computer interface speller paradigms.

PubMed

Fazel-Rezai, Reza; Gavett, Scott; Ahmad, Waqas; Rabbi, Ahmed; Schneider, Eric

2011-10-01

Since the brain-computer interface (BCI) speller was first proposed by Farwell and Donchin, there have been modifications in the visual aspects of P300 paradigms. Most of the changes are based on the original matrix format such as changes in the number of rows and columns, font size, flash/ blank time, and flash order. The improvement in the resulting accuracy and speed of such systems has always been the ultimate goal. In this study, we have compared several different speller paradigms including row-column, single character flashing, and two region-based paradigms which are not based on the matrix format. In the first region-based paradigm, at the first level, characters and symbols are distributed over seven regions alphabetically, while in the second region-based paradigm they are distributed in the most frequently used order. At the second level, each one of the regions is further subdivided into seven subsets. The experimental results showed that the average accuracy and user acceptability for two region-based paradigms were higher than those for traditional paradigms such as row/column and single character.
Magnetic phase diagrams of amorphous (Ni100-xFex)-metalloid alloys: The key role of the electronic density of states at the Fermi level for the onset of magnetic order

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kiss, L. F.; Bakonyi, I.

2017-11-01

There have been extended studies on the appearance of ferromagnetism in transition-metal-metalloid (MD) glasses. In particular, the paramagnetic (PM) to ferromagnetic (FM) transition has been investigated on numerous (Ni100-xFex)-MD alloys upon the introduction of Fe where MD can represent a combination of various metalloid elements, while keeping the metal/metalloid ratio constant. It has been reported that adding a sufficient amount of Fe to a Pauli PM Ni-MD alloy matrix first induces a spin-glass (SG) state at low temperatures which goes over to a PM state at higher temperatures. Beyond a certain Fe content, xc, the SG state transforms to a FM state upon increasing the temperature. By plotting the characteristic transition temperatures as a function of the Fe content, a magnetic phase diagram can be constructed for each Ni-Fe-MD system which has a multicritical point (MCP) at xc. By using the reported magnetic phase diagrams of various Ni-Fe-MD alloy systems, it is shown that the critical Fe content, xc scales inversely with the density of states at the Fermi level, N(EF), of the parent Ni-MD matrix. This means that the higher the N(EF), the lower the critical Fe content to induce ferromagnetism in the Ni-MD matrix. This is then discussed in terms of the Stoner enhancement factor, S, which characterizes the tendency of the matrix to become ferromagnetic.
Robustness of Thirty Meter Telescope primary mirror control

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Macmynowski, Douglas G.; Thompson, Peter M.; Shelton, Chris; Roberts, Lewis C., Jr.

2010-07-01

The primary mirror control system for the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) maintains the alignment of the 492 segments in the presence of both quasi-static (gravity and thermal) and dynamic disturbances due to unsteady wind loads. The latter results in a desired control bandwidth of 1Hz at high spatial frequencies. The achievable bandwidth is limited by robustness to (i) uncertain telescope structural dynamics (control-structure interaction) and (ii) small perturbations in the ill-conditioned influence matrix that relates segment edge sensor response to actuator commands. Both of these effects are considered herein using models of TMT. The former is explored through multivariable sensitivity analysis on a reduced-order Zernike-basis representation of the structural dynamics. The interaction matrix ("A-matrix") uncertainty has been analyzed theoretically elsewhere, and is examined here for realistic amplitude perturbations due to segment and sensor installation errors, and gravity and thermal induced segment motion. The primary influence of A-matrix uncertainty is on the control of "focusmode"; this is the least observable mode, measurable only through the edge-sensor (gap-dependent) sensitivity to the dihedral angle between segments. Accurately estimating focus-mode will require updating the A-matrix as a function of the measured gap. A-matrix uncertainty also results in a higher gain-margin requirement for focus-mode, and hence the A-matrix and CSI robustness need to be understood simultaneously. Based on the robustness analysis, the desired 1 Hz bandwidth is achievable in the presence of uncertainty for all except the lowest spatial-frequency response patterns of the primary mirror.
On the spline-based wavelet differentiation matrix

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jameson, Leland

1993-01-01

The differentiation matrix for a spline-based wavelet basis is constructed. Given an n-th order spline basis it is proved that the differentiation matrix is accurate of order 2n + 2 when periodic boundary conditions are assumed. This high accuracy, or superconvergence, is lost when the boundary conditions are no longer periodic. Furthermore, it is shown that spline-based bases generate a class of compact finite difference schemes.
Free energy and phase transition of the matrix model on a plane wave

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hadizadeh, Shirin; Ramadanovic, Bojan; Semenoff, Gordon W.

2005-03-15

It has recently been observed that the weakly coupled plane-wave matrix model has a density of states which grows exponentially at high energy. This implies that the model has a phase transition. The transition appears to be of first order. However, its exact nature is sensitive to interactions. In this paper, we analyze the effect of interactions by computing the relevant parts of the effective potential for the Polyakov loop operator in the finite temperature plane-wave matrix model to three-loop order. We show that the phase transition is indeed of first order. We also compute the correction to the Hagedornmore » temperature to order two loops.« less
Higher Capacity, Improved Conductive Matrix VB2/Air Batteries (Postprint)

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-02-18

AFRL-RX-WP-JA-2016-0326 HIGHER CAPACITY, IMPROVED CONDUCTIVE MATRIX VB2/AIR BATTERIES (POSTPRINT) Matthew Lefler, Jessica...Interim 8 September 2014 – 20 September 2015 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE HIGHER CAPACITY, IMPROVED CONDUCTIVE MATRIX VB2/AIR BATTERIES (POSTPRINT) 5a... batteries is that resistive oxide products impede the discharge depth, and only thin anode batteries (for example 10 mAh in a 1 cm diameter cell
Subgraph augmented non-negative tensor factorization (SANTF) for modeling clinical narrative text

PubMed Central

Xin, Yu; Hochberg, Ephraim; Joshi, Rohit; Uzuner, Ozlem; Szolovits, Peter

2015-01-01

Objective Extracting medical knowledge from electronic medical records requires automated approaches to combat scalability limitations and selection biases. However, existing machine learning approaches are often regarded by clinicians as black boxes. Moreover, training data for these automated approaches at often sparsely annotated at best. The authors target unsupervised learning for modeling clinical narrative text, aiming at improving both accuracy and interpretability. Methods The authors introduce a novel framework named subgraph augmented non-negative tensor factorization (SANTF). In addition to relying on atomic features (e.g., words in clinical narrative text), SANTF automatically mines higher-order features (e.g., relations of lymphoid cells expressing antigens) from clinical narrative text by converting sentences into a graph representation and identifying important subgraphs. The authors compose a tensor using patients, higher-order features, and atomic features as its respective modes. We then apply non-negative tensor factorization to cluster patients, and simultaneously identify latent groups of higher-order features that link to patient clusters, as in clinical guidelines where a panel of immunophenotypic features and laboratory results are used to specify diagnostic criteria. Results and Conclusion SANTF demonstrated over 10% improvement in averaged F-measure on patient clustering compared to widely used non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) and k-means clustering methods. Multiple baselines were established by modeling patient data using patient-by-features matrices with different feature configurations and then performing NMF or k-means to cluster patients. Feature analysis identified latent groups of higher-order features that lead to medical insights. We also found that the latent groups of atomic features help to better correlate the latent groups of higher-order features. PMID:25862765
Generalised model-independent characterisation of strong gravitational lenses. II. Transformation matrix between multiple images

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wagner, J.; Tessore, N.

2018-05-01

We determine the transformation matrix that maps multiple images with identifiable resolved features onto one another and that is based on a Taylor-expanded lensing potential in the vicinity of a point on the critical curve within our model-independent lens characterisation approach. From the transformation matrix, the same information about the properties of the critical curve at fold and cusp points can be derived as we previously found when using the quadrupole moment of the individual images as observables. In addition, we read off the relative parities between the images, so that the parity of all images is determined when one is known. We compare all retrievable ratios of potential derivatives to the actual values and to those obtained by using the quadrupole moment as observable for two- and three-image configurations generated by a galaxy-cluster scale singular isothermal ellipse. We conclude that using the quadrupole moments as observables, the properties of the critical curve are retrieved to a higher accuracy at the cusp points and to a lower accuracy at the fold points; the ratios of second-order potential derivatives are retrieved to comparable accuracy. We also show that the approach using ratios of convergences and reduced shear components is equivalent to ours in the vicinity of the critical curve, but yields more accurate results and is more robust because it does not require a special coordinate system as the approach using potential derivatives does. The transformation matrix is determined by mapping manually assigned reference points in the multiple images onto one another. If the assignment of the reference points is subject to measurement uncertainties under the influence of noise, we find that the confidence intervals of the lens parameters can be as large as the values themselves when the uncertainties are larger than one pixel. In addition, observed multiple images with resolved features are more extended than unresolved ones, so that higher-order moments should be taken into account to improve the reconstruction precision and accuracy.
An efficient implementation of a high-order filter for a cubed-sphere spectral element model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kang, Hyun-Gyu; Cheong, Hyeong-Bin

2017-03-01

A parallel-scalable, isotropic, scale-selective spatial filter was developed for the cubed-sphere spectral element model on the sphere. The filter equation is a high-order elliptic (Helmholtz) equation based on the spherical Laplacian operator, which is transformed into cubed-sphere local coordinates. The Laplacian operator is discretized on the computational domain, i.e., on each cell, by the spectral element method with Gauss-Lobatto Lagrange interpolating polynomials (GLLIPs) as the orthogonal basis functions. On the global domain, the discrete filter equation yielded a linear system represented by a highly sparse matrix. The density of this matrix increases quadratically (linearly) with the order of GLLIP (order of the filter), and the linear system is solved in only O (Ng) operations, where Ng is the total number of grid points. The solution, obtained by a row reduction method, demonstrated the typical accuracy and convergence rate of the cubed-sphere spectral element method. To achieve computational efficiency on parallel computers, the linear system was treated by an inverse matrix method (a sparse matrix-vector multiplication). The density of the inverse matrix was lowered to only a few times of the original sparse matrix without degrading the accuracy of the solution. For better computational efficiency, a local-domain high-order filter was introduced: The filter equation is applied to multiple cells, and then the central cell was only used to reconstruct the filtered field. The parallel efficiency of applying the inverse matrix method to the global- and local-domain filter was evaluated by the scalability on a distributed-memory parallel computer. The scale-selective performance of the filter was demonstrated on Earth topography. The usefulness of the filter as a hyper-viscosity for the vorticity equation was also demonstrated.
SMARCA4 regulates gene expression and higher-order chromatin structure in proliferating mammary epithelial cells

PubMed Central

Barutcu, A. Rasim; Lajoie, Bryan R.; Fritz, Andrew J.; McCord, Rachel P.; Nickerson, Jeffrey A.; van Wijnen, Andre J.; Lian, Jane B.; Stein, Janet L.; Dekker, Job; Stein, Gary S.; Imbalzano, Anthony N.

2016-01-01

The packaging of DNA into chromatin plays an important role in transcriptional regulation and nuclear processes. Brahma-related gene-1 SMARCA4 (also known as BRG1), the essential ATPase subunit of the mammalian SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex, uses the energy from ATP hydrolysis to disrupt nucleosomes at target regions. Although the transcriptional role of SMARCA4 at gene promoters is well-studied, less is known about its role in higher-order genome organization. SMARCA4 knockdown in human mammary epithelial MCF-10A cells resulted in 176 up-regulated genes, including many related to lipid and calcium metabolism, and 1292 down-regulated genes, some of which encode extracellular matrix (ECM) components that can exert mechanical forces and affect nuclear structure. ChIP-seq analysis of SMARCA4 localization and SMARCA4-bound super-enhancers demonstrated extensive binding at intergenic regions. Furthermore, Hi-C analysis showed extensive SMARCA4-mediated alterations in higher-order genome organization at multiple resolutions. First, SMARCA4 knockdown resulted in clustering of intra- and inter-subtelomeric regions, demonstrating a novel role for SMARCA4 in telomere organization. SMARCA4 binding was enriched at topologically associating domain (TAD) boundaries, and SMARCA4 knockdown resulted in weakening of TAD boundary strength. Taken together, these findings provide a dynamic view of SMARCA4-dependent changes in higher-order chromatin organization and gene expression, identifying SMARCA4 as a novel component of chromatin organization. PMID:27435934
Matrix Methods for Estimating the Coherence Functions from Estimates of the Cross-Spectral Density Matrix

DOE PAGES

Smallwood, D. O.

1996-01-01

It is shown that the usual method for estimating the coherence functions (ordinary, partial, and multiple) for a general multiple-input! multiple-output problem can be expressed as a modified form of Cholesky decomposition of the cross-spectral density matrix of the input and output records. The results can be equivalently obtained using singular value decomposition (SVD) of the cross-spectral density matrix. Using SVD suggests a new form of fractional coherence. The formulation as a SVD problem also suggests a way to order the inputs when a natural physical order of the inputs is absent.
Myc-induced anchorage of the rDNA IGS region to nucleolar matrix modulates growth-stimulated changes in higher-order rDNA architecture

PubMed Central

Shiue, Chiou-Nan; Nematollahi-Mahani, Amir; Wright, Anthony P.H.

2014-01-01

Chromatin domain organization and the compartmentalized distribution of chromosomal regions are essential for packaging of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in the eukaryotic nucleus as well as regulated gene expression. Nucleoli are the most prominent morphological structures of cell nuclei and nucleolar organization is coupled to cell growth. It has been shown that nuclear scaffold/matrix attachment regions often define the base of looped chromosomal domains in vivo and that they are thereby critical for correct chromosome architecture and gene expression. Here, we show regulated organization of mammalian ribosomal ribonucleic acid genes into distinct chromatin loops by tethering to nucleolar matrix via the non-transcribed inter-genic spacer region of the ribosomal DNA (rDNA). The rDNA gene loop structures are induced specifically upon growth stimulation and are dependent on the activity of the c-Myc protein. Matrix-attached rDNA genes are hypomethylated at the promoter and are thus available for transcriptional activation. rDNA genes silenced by methylation are not recruited to the matrix. c-Myc, which has been shown to induce rDNA transcription directly, is physically associated with rDNA gene looping structures and the intergenic spacer sequence in growing cells. Such a role of Myc proteins in gene activation has not been reported previously. PMID:24609384
Myc-induced anchorage of the rDNA IGS region to nucleolar matrix modulates growth-stimulated changes in higher-order rDNA architecture.

PubMed

Shiue, Chiou-Nan; Nematollahi-Mahani, Amir; Wright, Anthony P H

2014-05-01

Chromatin domain organization and the compartmentalized distribution of chromosomal regions are essential for packaging of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in the eukaryotic nucleus as well as regulated gene expression. Nucleoli are the most prominent morphological structures of cell nuclei and nucleolar organization is coupled to cell growth. It has been shown that nuclear scaffold/matrix attachment regions often define the base of looped chromosomal domains in vivo and that they are thereby critical for correct chromosome architecture and gene expression. Here, we show regulated organization of mammalian ribosomal ribonucleic acid genes into distinct chromatin loops by tethering to nucleolar matrix via the non-transcribed inter-genic spacer region of the ribosomal DNA (rDNA). The rDNA gene loop structures are induced specifically upon growth stimulation and are dependent on the activity of the c-Myc protein. Matrix-attached rDNA genes are hypomethylated at the promoter and are thus available for transcriptional activation. rDNA genes silenced by methylation are not recruited to the matrix. c-Myc, which has been shown to induce rDNA transcription directly, is physically associated with rDNA gene looping structures and the intergenic spacer sequence in growing cells. Such a role of Myc proteins in gene activation has not been reported previously. © 2014 The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press [on behalf of Nucleic Acids Research].
Fast live cell imaging at nanometer scale using annihilating filter-based low-rank Hankel matrix approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Min, Junhong; Carlini, Lina; Unser, Michael; Manley, Suliana; Ye, Jong Chul

2015-09-01

Localization microscopy such as STORM/PALM can achieve a nanometer scale spatial resolution by iteratively localizing fluorescence molecules. It was shown that imaging of densely activated molecules can accelerate temporal resolution which was considered as major limitation of localization microscopy. However, this higher density imaging needs to incorporate advanced localization algorithms to deal with overlapping point spread functions (PSFs). In order to address this technical challenges, previously we developed a localization algorithm called FALCON1, 2 using a quasi-continuous localization model with sparsity prior on image space. It was demonstrated in both 2D/3D live cell imaging. However, it has several disadvantages to be further improved. Here, we proposed a new localization algorithm using annihilating filter-based low rank Hankel structured matrix approach (ALOHA). According to ALOHA principle, sparsity in image domain implies the existence of rank-deficient Hankel structured matrix in Fourier space. Thanks to this fundamental duality, our new algorithm can perform data-adaptive PSF estimation and deconvolution of Fourier spectrum, followed by truly grid-free localization using spectral estimation technique. Furthermore, all these optimizations are conducted on Fourier space only. We validated the performance of the new method with numerical experiments and live cell imaging experiment. The results confirmed that it has the higher localization performances in both experiments in terms of accuracy and detection rate.
Textural content in 3T MR: an image-based marker for Alzheimer's disease

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bharath Kumar, S. V.; Mullick, Rakesh; Patil, Uday

2005-04-01

In this paper, we propose a study, which investigates the first-order and second-order distributions of T2 images from a magnetic resonance (MR) scan for an age-matched data set of 24 Alzheimer's disease and 17 normal patients. The study is motivated by the desire to analyze the brain iron uptake in the hippocampus of Alzheimer's patients, which is captured by low T2 values. Since, excess iron deposition occurs locally in certain regions of the brain, we are motivated to investigate the spatial distribution of T2, which is captured by higher-order statistics. Based on the first-order and second-order distributions (involving gray level co-occurrence matrix) of T2, we show that the second-order statistics provide features with sensitivity >90% (at 80% specificity), which in turn capture the textural content in T2 data. Hence, we argue that different texture characteristics of T2 in the hippocampus for Alzheimer's and normal patients could be used as an early indicator of Alzheimer's disease.
Influence of different metal ions on the ultrastructure, biochemical properties, and protein localization of the K562 cell nuclear matrix.

PubMed

Neri, L M; Bortul, R; Zweyer, M; Tabellini, G; Borgatti, P; Marchisio, M; Bareggi, R; Capitani, S; Martelli, A M

1999-06-01

The higher order of chromatin organization is thought to be determined by the nuclear matrix, a mainly proteinaceous structure that would act as a nucleoskeleton. The matrix is obtained from isolated nuclei by a series of extraction steps involving the use of high salt and nonspecific nucleases, which remove chromatin and other loosely bound components. It is currently under debate whether these structures, isolated in vitro by unphysiological extraction buffers, correspond to a nucleoskeleton existing in vivo. In most cell types investigated, the nuclear matrix does not spontaneously resist these extractions steps; rather, it must be stabilized before the application of extracting agents. In this study nuclei, isolated from K562 human erythroleukemia cells, were stabilized by incubation with different metal ions (Ca2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Cd2+), and the matrix was obtained by extraction with 2 M NaCl. By means of ultrastructural analysis of the resulting structures, we determined that, except for Ca2+, all the other metals induced a stabilization of the matrix, which retained the inner fibrogranular network and residual nucleoli. The biochemical composition, analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis separation, exhibited a distinct matrix polypeptide pattern, characteristic of each type of stabilizing ion employed. We also investigated to what extent metal ions could maintain in the final structures the original distribution of three inner matrix components, i.e. NuMA, topoisomerase IIalpha, and RNP. Confocal microscopy analysis showed that only NuMa, and, to a lesser extent, topoisomerase IIalpha, were unaffected by stabilization with divalent ions. On the contrary, the fluorescent RNP patterns detected in the resulting matrices were always disarranged, irrespective of the stabilization procedure. These results indicate that several metal ions are powerful stabilizing agents of the nuclear matrix prepared from K562 erythroleukemia cells and also strengthen the concept that NuMA and topoisomerase IIalpha may act as structural components of the nuclear matrix.
Merging NLO multi-jet calculations with improved unitarization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bellm, Johannes; Gieseke, Stefan; Plätzer, Simon

2018-03-01

We present an algorithm to combine multiple matrix elements at LO and NLO with a parton shower. We build on the unitarized merging paradigm. The inclusion of higher orders and multiplicities reduce the scale uncertainties for observables sensitive to hard emissions, while preserving the features of inclusive quantities. The combination allows further soft and collinear emissions to be predicted by the all-order parton-shower approximation. We inspect the impact of terms that are formally but not parametrically negligible. We present results for a number of collider observables where multiple jets are observed, either on their own or in the presence of additional uncoloured particles. The algorithm is implemented in the event generator Herwig.

[Evoked Potential Blind Extraction Based on Fractional Lower Order Spatial Time-Frequency Matrix].

PubMed

Long, Junbo; Wang, Haibin; Zha, Daifeng

2015-04-01

The impulsive electroencephalograph (EEG) noises in evoked potential (EP) signals is very strong, usually with a heavy tail and infinite variance characteristics like the acceleration noise impact, hypoxia and etc., as shown in other special tests. The noises can be described by a stable distribution model. In this paper, Wigner-Ville distribution (WVD) and pseudo Wigner-Ville distribution (PWVD) time-frequency distribution based on the fractional lower order moment are presented to be improved. We got fractional lower order WVD (FLO-WVD) and fractional lower order PWVD (FLO-PWVD) time-frequency distribution which could be suitable for a stable distribution process. We also proposed the fractional lower order spatial time-frequency distribution matrix (FLO-STFM) concept. Therefore, combining with time-frequency underdetermined blind source separation (TF-UBSS), we proposed a new fractional lower order spatial time-frequency underdetermined blind source separation (FLO-TF-UBSS) which can work in a stable distribution environment. We used the FLO-TF-UBSS algorithm to extract EPs. Simulations showed that the proposed method could effectively extract EPs in EEG noises, and the separated EPs and EEG signals based on FLO-TF-UBSS were almost the same as the original signal, but blind separation based on TF-UBSS had certain deviation. The correlation coefficient of the FLO-TF-UBSS algorithm was higher than the TF-UBSS algorithm when generalized signal-to-noise ratio (GSNR) changed from 10 dB to 30 dB and a varied from 1. 06 to 1. 94, and was approximately e- qual to 1. Hence, the proposed FLO-TF-UBSS method might be better than the TF-UBSS algorithm based on second order for extracting EP signal under an EEG noise environment.
Measurement of the cross section for prompt isolated diphoton production using the full CDF run II data sample.

PubMed

Aaltonen, T; Amerio, S; Amidei, D; Anastassov, A; Annovi, A; Antos, J; Apollinari, G; Appel, J A; Arisawa, T; Artikov, A; Asaadi, J; Ashmanskas, W; Auerbach, B; Aurisano, A; Azfar, F; Badgett, W; Bae, T; Barbaro-Galtieri, A; Barnes, V E; Barnett, B A; Barria, P; Bartos, P; Bauce, M; Bedeschi, F; Behari, S; Bellettini, G; Bellinger, J; Benjamin, D; Beretvas, A; Bhatti, A; Bland, K R; Blumenfeld, B; Bocci, A; Bodek, A; Bortoletto, D; Boudreau, J; Boveia, A; Brigliadori, L; Bromberg, C; Brucken, E; Budagov, J; Budd, H S; Burkett, K; Busetto, G; Bussey, P; Butti, P; Buzatu, A; Calamba, A; Camarda, S; Campanelli, M; Canelli, F; Carls, B; Carlsmith, D; Carosi, R; Carrillo, S; Casal, B; Casarsa, M; Castro, A; Catastini, P; Cauz, D; Cavaliere, V; Cavalli-Sforza, M; Cerri, A; Cerrito, L; Chen, Y C; Chertok, M; Chiarelli, G; Chlachidze, G; Cho, K; Chokheli, D; Ciocci, M A; Clark, A; Clarke, C; Convery, M E; Conway, J; Corbo, M; Cordelli, M; Cox, C A; Cox, D J; Cremonesi, M; Cruz, D; Cuevas, J; Culbertson, R; d'Ascenzo, N; Datta, M; De Barbaro, P; Demortier, L; Deninno, M; Devoto, F; d'Errico, M; Di Canto, A; Di Ruzza, B; Dittmann, J R; D'Onofrio, M; Donati, S; Dorigo, M; Driutti, A; Ebina, K; Edgar, R; Elagin, A; Erbacher, R; Errede, S; Esham, B; Eusebi, R; Farrington, S; Fernández Ramos, J P; Field, R; Flanagan, G; Forrest, R; Franklin, M; Freeman, J C; Frisch, H; Funakoshi, Y; Garfinkel, A F; Garosi, P; Gerberich, H; Gerchtein, E; Giagu, S; Giakoumopoulou, V; Gibson, K; Ginsburg, C M; Giokaris, N; Giromini, P; Giurgiu, G; Glagolev, V; Glenzinski, D; Gold, M; Goldin, D; Golossanov, A; Gomez, G; Gomez-Ceballos, G; Goncharov, M; González López, O; Gorelov, I; Goshaw, A T; Goulianos, K; Gramellini, E; Grinstein, S; Grosso-Pilcher, C; Group, R C; Guimaraes da Costa, J; Hahn, S R; Han, J Y; Happacher, F; Hara, K; Hare, M; Harr, R F; Harrington-Taber, T; Hatakeyama, K; Hays, C; Heinrich, J; Herndon, M; Hocker, A; Hong, Z; Hopkins, W; Hou, S; Hughes, R E; Husemann, U; Huston, J; Introzzi, G; Iori, M; Ivanov, A; James, E; Jang, D; Jayatilaka, B; Jeon, E J; Jindariani, S; Jones, M; Joo, K K; Jun, S Y; Junk, T R; Kambeitz, M; Kamon, T; Karchin, P E; Kasmi, A; Kato, Y; Ketchum, W; Keung, J; Kilminster, B; Kim, D H; Kim, H S; Kim, J E; Kim, M J; Kim, S B; Kim, S H; Kim, Y K; Kim, Y J; Kimura, N; Kirby, M; Knoepfel, K; Kondo, K; Kong, D J; Konigsberg, J; Kotwal, A V; Kreps, M; Kroll, J; Kruse, M; Kuhr, T; Kurata, M; Laasanen, A T; Lammel, S; Lancaster, M; Lannon, K; Latino, G; Lee, H S; Lee, J S; Leo, S; Leone, S; Lewis, J D; Limosani, A; Lipeles, E; Liu, H; Liu, Q; Liu, T; Lockwitz, S; Loginov, A; Lucchesi, D; Lueck, J; Lujan, P; Lukens, P; Lungu, G; Lys, J; Lysak, R; Madrak, R; Maestro, P; Malik, S; Manca, G; Manousakis-Katsikakis, A; Margaroli, F; Marino, P; Martínez, M; Matera, K; Mattson, M E; Mazzacane, A; Mazzanti, P; McNulty, R; Mehta, A; Mehtala, P; Mesropian, C; Miao, T; Mietlicki, D; Mitra, A; Miyake, H; Moed, S; Moggi, N; Moon, C S; Moore, R; Morello, M J; Mukherjee, A; Muller, Th; Murat, P; Mussini, M; Nachtman, J; Nagai, Y; Naganoma, J; Nakano, I; Napier, A; Nett, J; Neu, C; Nigmanov, T; Nodulman, L; Noh, S Y; Norniella, O; Oakes, L; Oh, S H; Oh, Y D; Oksuzian, I; Okusawa, T; Orava, R; Ortolan, L; Pagliarone, C; Palencia, E; Palni, P; Papadimitriou, V; Parker, W; Pauletta, G; Paulini, M; Paus, C; Phillips, T J; Piacentino, G; Pianori, E; Pilot, J; Pitts, K; Plager, C; Pondrom, L; Poprocki, S; Potamianos, K; Prokoshin, F; Pranko, A; Ptohos, F; Punzi, G; Ranjan, N; Redondo Fernández, I; Renton, P; Rescigno, M; Riddick, T; Rimondi, F; Ristori, L; Robson, A; Rodriguez, T; Rolli, S; Ronzani, M; Roser, R; Rosner, J L; Ruffini, F; Ruiz, A; Russ, J; Rusu, V; Safonov, A; Sakumoto, W K; Sakurai, Y; Santi, L; Sato, K; Saveliev, V; Savoy-Navarro, A; Schlabach, P; Schmidt, E E; Schwarz, T; Scodellaro, L; Scuri, F; Seidel, S; Seiya, Y; Semenov, A; Sforza, F; Shalhout, S Z; Shears, T; Shepard, P F; Shimojima, M; Shochet, M; Shreyber-Tecker, I; Simonenko, A; Sinervo, P; Sliwa, K; Smith, J R; Snider, F D; Sorin, V; Song, H; Stancari, M; St Denis, R; Stelzer, B; Stelzer-Chilton, O; Stentz, D; Strologas, J; Sudo, Y; Sukhanov, A; Suslov, I; Takemasa, K; Takeuchi, Y; Tang, J; Tecchio, M; Teng, P K; Thom, J; Thomson, E; Thukral, V; Toback, D; Tokar, S; Tollefson, K; Tomura, T; Tonelli, D; Torre, S; Torretta, D; Totaro, P; Trovato, M; Ukegawa, F; Uozumi, S; Vázquez, F; Velev, G; Vellidis, C; Vernieri, C; Vidal, M; Vilar, R; Vizán, J; Vogel, M; Volpi, G; Wagner, P; Wallny, R; Wang, S M; Warburton, A; Waters, D; Wester, W C; Whiteson, D; Wicklund, A B; Wilbur, S; Williams, H H; Wilson, J S; Wilson, P; Winer, B L; Wittich, P; Wolbers, S; Wolfe, H; Wright, T; Wu, X; Wu, Z; Yamamoto, K; Yamato, D; Yang, T; Yang, U K; Yang, Y C; Yao, W-M; Yeh, G P; Yi, K; Yoh, J; Yorita, K; Yoshida, T; Yu, G B; Yu, I; Zanetti, A M; Zeng, Y; Zhou, C; Zucchelli, S

2013-03-08

This Letter reports a measurement of the cross section for producing pairs of central prompt isolated photons in proton-antiproton collisions at a total energy sqrt[s] = 1.96 TeV using data corresponding to 9.5 fb(-1) integrated luminosity collected with the CDF II detector at the Fermilab Tevatron. The measured differential cross section is compared to three calculations derived from the theory of strong interactions. These include a prediction based on a leading order matrix element calculation merged with a parton shower model, a next-to-leading order calculation, and a next-to-next-to-leading order calculation. The first and last calculations reproduce most aspects of the data, thus showing the importance of higher-order contributions for understanding the theory of strong interaction and improving measurements of the Higgs boson and searches for new phenomena in diphoton final states.
Higher-Order Corrections to Timelike Jets

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Giele, W.T.; /Fermilab; Kosower, D.A.

2011-02-01

We present a simple formalism for the evolution of timelike jets in which tree-level matrix element corrections can be systematically incorporated, up to arbitrary parton multiplicities and over all of phase space, in a way that exponentiates the matching corrections. The scheme is cast as a shower Markov chain which generates one single unweighted event sample, that can be passed to standard hadronization models. Remaining perturbative uncertainties are estimated by providing several alternative weight sets for the same events, at a relatively modest additional overhead. As an explicit example, we consider Z {yields} q{bar q} evolution with unpolarized, massless quarksmore » and include several formally subleading improvements as well as matching to tree-level matrix elements through {alpha}{sub s}{sup 4}. The resulting algorithm is implemented in the publicly available VINCIA plugin to the PYTHIA8 event generator.« less
Achieving Continuous Anion Transport Domains Using Block Copolymers Containing Phosphonium Cations

DOE PAGES

Zhang, Wenxu; Liu, Ye; Jackson, Aaron C.; ...

2016-06-22

Triblock and diblock copolymers based on isoprene (Ip) and chloromethylstyrene (CMS) were synthesized in this paper by sequential polymerization using reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer radical polymerization (RAFT). The block copolymers were quaternized with tris(2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl)phosphine (Ar 3P) to prepare soluble ionomers. The ionomers were cast from chloroform to form anion exchange membranes (AEMs) with highly ordered morphologies. At low volume fractions of ionic blocks, the ionomers formed lamellar morphologies, while at moderate volume fractions (≥30% for triblock and ≥22% for diblock copolymers) hexagonal phases with an ionic matrix were observed. Ion conductivities were higher through the hexagonal phase matrix than inmore » the lamellar phases. Finally, promising chloride conductivities (20 mS/cm) were achieved at elevated temperatures and humidified conditions.« less
A comparison of matrix methods for calculating eigenvalues in acoustically lined ducts

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Watson, W.; Lansing, D. L.

1976-01-01

Three approximate methods - finite differences, weighted residuals, and finite elements - were used to solve the eigenvalue problem which arises in finding the acoustic modes and propagation constants in an absorptively lined two-dimensional duct without airflow. The matrix equations derived for each of these methods were solved for the eigenvalues corresponding to various values of wall impedance. Two matrix orders, 20 x 20 and 40 x 40, were used. The cases considered included values of wall admittance for which exact eigenvalues were known and for which several nearly equal roots were present. Ten of the lower order eigenvalues obtained from the three approximate methods were compared with solutions calculated from the exact characteristic equation in order to make an assessment of the relative accuracy and reliability of the three methods. The best results were given by the finite element method using a cubic polynomial. Excellent accuracy was consistently obtained, even for nearly equal eigenvalues, by using a 20 x 20 order matrix.
Fabrication and Characterization of Surrogate Fuel Particles Using the Spark Erosion Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Metzger, Kathryn E.

In light of the disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant, the Department of Energy's Advanced Fuels Program has shifted its interest from enhanced performance fuels to enhanced accident tolerance fuels. Dispersion fuels possess higher thermal conductivities than traditional light water reactor fuel and as a result, offer improved safety margins. The benefits of a dispersion fuel are due to the presence of the secondary non-fissile phase (matrix), which serves as a barrier to fission products and improves the overall thermal performance of the fuel. However, the presence of a matrix material reduces the fuel volume, which lowers the fissile content of dispersion. This issue can be remedied through the development of higher density fuel phases or through an optimization of fuel particle size and volume loading. The latter requirement necessitates the development of fabrication methods to produce small, micron-order fuel particles. This research examines the capabilities of the spark erosion process to fabricate particles on the order of 10 μm. A custom-built spark erosion device by CT Electromechanica was used to produce stainless steel surrogate fuel particles in a deionized water dielectric. Three arc intensities were evaluated to determine the effect on particle size. Particles were filtered from the dielectric using a polycarbonate membrane filter and vacuum filtration system. Fabricated particles were characterized via field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), laser light particle size analysis, energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), and gas pycnometry. FESEM images reveal that the spark erosion process produces highly spherical particles on the order of 10 microns. These findings are substantiated by the results of particle size analysis. Additionally, EDS and XRD results indicate the presence of oxide phases, which suggests the dielectric reacted with the molten debris during particle formation.
Matrix differentiation formulas

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Usikov, D. A.; Tkhabisimov, D. K.

1983-01-01

A compact differentiation technique (without using indexes) is developed for scalar functions that depend on complex matrix arguments which are combined by operations of complex conjugation, transposition, addition, multiplication, matrix inversion and taking the direct product. The differentiation apparatus is developed in order to simplify the solution of extremum problems of scalar functions of matrix arguments.
Conformations of n-butyl imidazole: matrix isolation infrared and DFT studies.

PubMed

Ramanathan, N; Sundararajan, K; Sankaran, K

2015-03-15

Conformations of n-butyl imidazole (B-IMID) were studied using matrix isolation infrared spectroscopy by trapping in argon, xenon and nitrogen matrixes using an effusive nozzle source. The experimental studies were supported by DFT computations performed at the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level. Computations identified nine unique minima for B-IMID, corresponding to conformers with tg(±)tt, tg(±)g(∓)t, tg(±)g(±)t, tg(±)tg(±), tg(±)tg(∓), tg(±)g(∓)g(∓), tg(±)g(±)g(±), tg(±)g(∓)g(±) and tg(±)g(±)g(∓) structures, given in order of increasing energy. Computations of the transition state structures connecting the higher energy conformers to the global minimum, tg(±)tt structure were carried out. The barriers for the conformer inter-conversion were found to be ∼2 kcal/mol. Natural Bond Orbital (NBO) analysis was performed to understand the reasons for conformational preferences in B-IMID. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
The effect of powder composition on the morphology of in situ TiC composite coating deposited by Laser-Assisted Powder Deposition (LAPD)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Emamian, Ali; Corbin, Stephen F.; Khajepour, Amir

2012-11-01

In this paper, the effect of powder composition on in situ TiC formation within an Fe-based matrix coating during laser cladding was studied. Different atomic ratios of C:Ti (45% and 55%) were selected in order to adjust the matrix from an Fesbnd Ti-based composition to an Fesbnd C-based one. Fe percentages of 70, 60, 50 and 10 wt% were explored to increase the volume fraction of TiC in the clad. Results showed that chemical composition affects the TiC morphology as well as the TiC distribution and hardness profile in the clad. By increasing the C:Ti ratio from 45 at% to 55 at%, the volume fraction of the formed TiC increases. A higher volume fraction of TiC in the clad resulted in increases clad hardness. SEM and EDS analyses were used to characterize the phases in the clad, while increasing the C ratio promoted the formation of excess graphite in the Fe matrix.
Laser Printing of PCL/Progesterone Tablets for Drug Delivery Applications in Hormone Cancer Therapy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Salmoria, G. V.; Klauss, P.; Kanis, L. A.

2017-09-01

In this study, polycaprolactone (PCL) and progesterone (PG) tablets were produced by selective laser sintering (SLS) using different particle sizes and laser energy. The sintered PCL/PG tablets presented uniform morphology, coalescence of particles and interconnected pores distributed in the polymeric matrix. The EDS analysis confirmed the presence of progesterone recrystallized on the surface of the porous PCL matrix. The crystallinity values for the PCL/PG tablets were lower than that for the pure PCL, suggesting the interaction of components at the molecular level. The PCL/PG tablets fabricated with small particles and high laser energy presented a higher value for the flexural modulus compared with the other specimens. The glass transition temperature (Tg) was -37 °C for the PCL/PG tablet with a high degree of sintering. The fatigue test showed that the PCL/PG blend tablets have high fatigue strength. The drug release mechanism of all tablets studied followed a zero-order kinetics, and drug release rates were dependent on sintering degree and, consequently, on matrix erosion, showing a potential application to controlled drug delivery in hormone cancer therapy.
Investigation of cloud point extraction for the analysis of metallic nanoparticles in a soil matrix

PubMed Central

Hadri, Hind El; Hackley, Vincent A.

2017-01-01

The characterization of manufactured nanoparticles (MNPs) in environmental samples is necessary to assess their behavior, fate and potential toxicity. Several techniques are available, but the limit of detection (LOD) is often too high for environmentally relevant concentrations. Therefore, pre-concentration of MNPs is an important component in the sample preparation step, in order to apply analytical tools with a LOD higher than the ng kg−1 level. The objective of this study was to explore cloud point extraction (CPE) as a viable method to pre-concentrate gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), as a model MNP, spiked into a soil extract matrix. To that end, different extraction conditions and surface coatings were evaluated in a simple matrix. The CPE method was then applied to soil extract samples spiked with AuNPs. Total gold, determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) following acid digestion, yielded a recovery greater than 90 %. The first known application of single particle ICP-MS and asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation to evaluate the preservation of the AuNP physical state following CPE extraction is demonstrated. PMID:28507763
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Peric, A.D.

Powder and granules of the high density polyethylene (PEHD) were used to prepare mortar based matrices for immobilization of radioactive waste materials containing {sup 137}Cs, as well as containers for solidified radioactive waste form. Seven types of matrices, differ due to the percentage of granules and filler material added, were investigated. PEHD powder and granules were added to mortar matrix preparations with the objective of improving physico-chemical characteristics of the radwaste-mortar matrix mixtures, in particular the leach-rate of the immobilized radionuclide, as well as mechanical characteristics either of mortar matrix and container. In this paper, only mechanical strength aspect ofmore » the investigated mortar and concrete container formulations, is presented. The equivalent diameter of the PEHD granules used was 2.0 mm. PEHD granules were used to replace 100 volume percent of stone granules, sifted size of 2.0 mm, normally used in the matrix preparation, in order to decrease the porosity and density of the mortar matrix and to avoid segregation of the stone particles at the bottom of the immobilized radioactive waste cylindrical form. PEHD powder, particle size of 250 micrometer, was added as filler to the mortar formulation, replacing 5, 8 and 10 wt% of the total cement weight in matrix formulation and 15 and 18 wt% of the total cement weight in container formulation. Cured samples were investigated on mechanical strength, using 150 MPa hydraulic press, in order to determine influence of added polyethylene granules and powder on samples resistance to mechanical forces that solidified waste materials and concrete containers may experience at the disposal site. Results of performed investigations have shown that samples prepared with polyethylene granules, replacing 100 wt% of the stone granules, have almost twice as much mechanical strength than samples prepared with stone aggregate. Samples prepared with PEHD granules and powder have mechanical strength resistance up to 13.5% higher than ones prepared with PEHD granules, solely. Improved Mechanical strength resistance of tested samples accommodates trend that functionally depends on the percentage of PEHD powder added in formulation.« less
Matrix form of Legendre polynomials for solving linear integro-differential equations of high order

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kammuji, M.; Eshkuvatov, Z. K.; Yunus, Arif A. M.

2017-04-01

This paper presents an effective approximate solution of high order of Fredholm-Volterra integro-differential equations (FVIDEs) with boundary condition. Legendre truncated series is used as a basis functions to estimate the unknown function. Matrix operation of Legendre polynomials is used to transform FVIDEs with boundary conditions into matrix equation of Fredholm-Volterra type. Gauss Legendre quadrature formula and collocation method are applied to transfer the matrix equation into system of linear algebraic equations. The latter equation is solved by Gauss elimination method. The accuracy and validity of this method are discussed by solving two numerical examples and comparisons with wavelet and methods.
Retention of aroma compounds: an interlaboratory study on the effect of the composition of food matrices on thermodynamic parameters in comparison with water.

PubMed

Kopjar, Mirela; Andriot, Isabelle; Saint-Eve, Anne; Souchon, Isabelle; Guichard, Elisabeth

2010-06-01

Partition coefficients give an indication of the retention of aroma compounds by the food matrix. Data in the literature are obtained by various methods, under various conditions and expressed in various units, and it is thus difficult to compare the results. The aim of the present study was first to obtain gas/water and gas/matrix partition coefficients of selected aroma compounds, at different temperatures, in order to calculate thermodynamic parameters and second to compare the retention of these aroma compounds in different food matrices. Yogurts containing lipids and proteins induced a higher retention of aroma compounds than model gel matrices. The observed effects strongly depend on hydrophobicity of aroma compounds showing a retention for ethyl hexanoate and a salting out effect for ethyl acetate. A small but noticeable decrease in enthalpy of affinity is observed for ethyl butyrate and ethyl hexanoate between water and food matrices, suggesting that the energy needed for the volatilization is lower in matrices than in water. The composition and complexity of a food matrix influence gas/matrix partition coefficients or aroma compounds in function of their hydrophobicity and to a lower extent enthalpy of vaporization. Copyright (c) 2010 Society of Chemical Industry.
The Effect of Fiber Architecture on Matrix Cracking in Sic/sic Cmc's

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Morscher, Gregory N.

2005-01-01

Applications incorporating silicon carbide fiber reinforced silicon carbide matrix composites (CMC's) will require a wide range of fiber architectures in order to fabricate complex shape. The stress-strain response of a given SiC/SiC system for different architectures and orientations will be required in order to design and effectively life-model future components. The mechanism for non-linear stress-strain behavior in CMC's is the formation and propagation of bridged-matrix cracks throughout the composite. A considerable amount of understanding has been achieved for the stress-dependent matrix cracking behavior of SiC fiber reinforced SiC matrix systems containing melt-infiltrated Si. This presentation will outline the effect of 2D and 3D architectures and orientation on stress-dependent matrix-cracking and how this information can be used to model material behavior and serve as the starting point foe mechanistic-based life-models.
Mueller matrix imaging study to detect the dental demineralization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Qingguang; Shen, Huanbo; Wang, Binqiang

2018-01-01

Mueller matrix is an optical parameter invasively to reveal the structure information of anisotropic material. Dental tissue has the ordered structure including dental enamel prism and dentinal tubule. The ordered structure of teeth surface will be destroyed by demineralization. The structure information has the possibility to reflect the dental demineralization. In the paper, the experiment setup was built to obtain the Mueller matrix images based on the dual- wave plate rotation method. Two linear polarizer and two quarter-wave plate were rotated by electric control revolving stage respectively to capture 16 images at different group of polarization states. Therefore, Mueller matrix image can be calculated from the 16 images. On this basis, depolarization index, the diattenuation index and retardance index of the Mueller matrix were analyzed by Lu-Chipman polarization decomposition method. Mueller matrix images of artificial demineralized enamels at different stages were analyzed and the results show the possibility to detect the dental demineralization using Mueller matrix imaging method.
Algorithms for computing solvents of unilateral second-order matrix polynomials over prime finite fields using lambda-matrices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burtyka, Filipp

2018-01-01

The paper considers algorithms for finding diagonalizable and non-diagonalizable roots (so called solvents) of monic arbitrary unilateral second-order matrix polynomial over prime finite field. These algorithms are based on polynomial matrices (lambda-matrices). This is an extension of existing general methods for computing solvents of matrix polynomials over field of complex numbers. We analyze how techniques for complex numbers can be adapted for finite field and estimate asymptotic complexity of the obtained algorithms.
Hydrocortisone effect on hyaluronate synthesis in a self-assembled human dermal equivalent.

PubMed

Deshpande, Madhura; Papp, Suzanne; Schaffer, Lana; Pouyani, Tara

2016-10-01

Human dermal matrix is a 'self-assembled' dermal equivalent containing large amounts of the glycosaminoglycan hyaluronic acid (hyaluronate, hyaluronan, HA). We sought to investigate the actions of the hormone hydrocortisone on hyaluronate synthesis in the human dermal matrix. To this end, human dermal fibroblasts were cultured under serum-free conditions, and in the absence of a three-dimensional matrix, in the presence of varying amounts of hydrocortisone. The resultant human dermal matrices were characterized. We report that low concentrations of hydrocortisone enhance hyaluronate synthesis in the human dermal equivalent and higher concentrations cause inhibition of hyaluronate synthesis. Other glycosaminoglycan (chondroitin sulphate) synthesis is not affected by changing hydrocortisone concentrations up to 500× (200 µg/ml) of the base value. In order to gain preliminary insight into the molecular mechanism of hyaluronate inhibition, a differential gene array analysis was conducted of human dermal matrix grown in the presence of 200 µg/ml hydrocortisone and in a physiological concentration (0.4 µg/ml, normal conditions). The results of these experiments demonstrate the differential expression of 43 genes in the 500× (200 µg/ml) hydrocortisone construct as compared to the construct grown under normal conditions (0.4 µg/ml hydrocortisone). These preliminary experiments suggest that hydrocortisone at higher concentrations may exert its inhibitory effect on hyaluronate synthesis early in the glycolytic pathway, leading to HA biosynthesis by downregulation of phosphoglucomutase and glucose phosphate isomerase, possibly leading to depletion of the cellular pool of UDP-sugar precursors necessary for HA synthesis. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Microsphere-based scaffolds encapsulating chondroitin sulfate or decellularized cartilage

PubMed Central

Gupta, Vineet; Tenny, Kevin M; Barragan, Marilyn; Berkland, Cory J; Detamore, Michael S

2016-01-01

Extracellular matrix materials such as decellularized cartilage (DCC) and chondroitin sulfate (CS) may be attractive chondrogenic materials for cartilage regeneration. The goal of the current study was to investigate the effects of encapsulation of DCC and CS in homogeneous microsphere-based scaffolds, and to test the hypothesis that encapsulation of these extracellular matrix materials would induce chondrogenesis of rat bone marrow stromal cells. Four different types of homogeneous scaffolds were fabricated from microspheres of poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid): Blank (poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) only; negative control), transforming growth factor-β3 encapsulated (positive control), DCC encapsulated, and CS encapsulated. These scaffolds were then seeded with rat bone marrow stromal cells and cultured for 6 weeks. The DCC and CS encapsulation altered the morphological features of the microspheres, resulting in higher porosities in these groups. Moreover, the mechanical properties of the scaffolds were impacted due to differences in the degree of sintering, with the CS group exhibiting the highest compressive modulus. Biochemical evidence suggested a mitogenic effect of DCC and CS encapsulation on rat bone marrow stromal cells with the matrix synthesis boosted primarily by the inherently present extracellular matrix components. An important finding was that the cell seeded CS and DCC groups at week 6 had up to an order of magnitude higher glycosaminoglycan contents than their acellular counterparts. Gene expression results indicated a suppressive effect of DCC and CS encapsulation on rat bone marrow stromal cell chondrogenesis with differences in gene expression patterns existing between the DCC and CS groups. Overall, DCC and CS were easily included in microsphere-based scaffolds; however, there is a requirement to further refine their concentrations to achieve the differentiation profiles we seek in vitro. PMID:27358376
Symmetric Positive 4th Order Tensors & Their Estimation from Diffusion Weighted MRI⋆

PubMed Central

Barmpoutis, Angelos; Jian, Bing; Vemuri, Baba C.; Shepherd, Timothy M.

2009-01-01

In Diffusion Weighted Magnetic Resonance Image (DW-MRI) processing a 2nd order tensor has been commonly used to approximate the diffusivity function at each lattice point of the DW-MRI data. It is now well known that this 2nd-order approximation fails to approximate complex local tissue structures, such as fibers crossings. In this paper we employ a 4th order symmetric positive semi-definite (PSD) tensor approximation to represent the diffusivity function and present a novel technique to estimate these tensors from the DW-MRI data guaranteeing the PSD property. There have been several published articles in literature on higher order tensor approximations of the diffusivity function but none of them guarantee the positive semi-definite constraint, which is a fundamental constraint since negative values of the diffusivity coefficients are not meaningful. In our methods, we parameterize the 4th order tensors as a sum of squares of quadratic forms by using the so called Gram matrix method from linear algebra and its relation to the Hilbert’s theorem on ternary quartics. This parametric representation is then used in a nonlinear-least squares formulation to estimate the PSD tensors of order 4 from the data. We define a metric for the higher-order tensors and employ it for regularization across the lattice. Finally, performance of this model is depicted on synthetic data as well as real DW-MRI from an isolated rat hippocampus. PMID:17633709

Study on the Algorithm of Judgment Matrix in Analytic Hierarchy Process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Zhiyong; Qin, Futong; Jin, Yican

2017-10-01

A new algorithm is proposed for the non-consistent judgment matrix in AHP. A primary judgment matrix is generated firstly through pre-ordering the targeted factor set, and a compared matrix is built through the top integral function. Then a relative error matrix is created by comparing the compared matrix with the primary judgment matrix which is regulated under the control of the relative error matrix and the dissimilar degree of the matrix step by step. Lastly, the targeted judgment matrix is generated to satisfy the requirement of consistence and the least dissimilar degree. The feasibility and validity of the proposed method are verified by simulation results.
Multi-color incomplete Cholesky conjugate gradient methods for vector computers

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Poole, E.L.

1986-01-01

This research is concerned with the solution on vector computers of linear systems of equations. Ax = b, where A is a large, sparse symmetric positive definite matrix with non-zero elements lying only along a few diagonals of the matrix. The system is solved using the incomplete Cholesky conjugate gradient method (ICCG). Multi-color orderings are used of the unknowns in the linear system to obtain p-color matrices for which a no-fill block ICCG method is implemented on the CYBER 205 with O(N/p) length vector operations in both the decomposition of A and, more importantly, in the forward and back solvesmore » necessary at each iteration of the method. (N is the number of unknowns and p is a small constant). A p-colored matrix is a matrix that can be partitioned into a p x p block matrix where the diagonal blocks are diagonal matrices. The matrix is stored by diagonals and matrix multiplication by diagonals is used to carry out the decomposition of A and the forward and back solves. Additionally, if the vectors across adjacent blocks line up, then some of the overhead associated with vector startups can be eliminated in the matrix vector multiplication necessary at each conjugate gradient iteration. Necessary and sufficient conditions are given to determine which multi-color orderings of the unknowns correspond to p-color matrices, and a process is indicated for choosing multi-color orderings.« less
Metal- and intermetallic-matrix composites for aerospace propulsion and power systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Doychak, J.

1992-06-01

Successful development and deployment of metal-matrix composites and intermetallic- matrix composites are critical to reaching the goals of many advanced aerospace propulsion and power development programs. The material requirements are based on the aerospace propulsion and power system requirements, economics, and other factors. Advanced military and civilian aircraft engines will require higher specific strength materials that operate at higher temperatures, and the civilian engines will also require long lifetimes. The specific space propulsion and power applications require hightemperature, high-thermal-conductivity, and high-strength materials. Metal-matrix composites and intermetallic-matrix composites either fulfill or have the potential of fulfilling these requirements.
Oral matrix tablet formulations for concomitant controlled release of anti-tubercular drugs: design and in vitro evaluations.

PubMed

Hiremath, Praveen S; Saha, Ranendra N

2008-10-01

The aim of the present investigation was to develop controlled release (C.R.) matrix tablet formulations of rifampicin and isoniazid combination, to study the design parameters and to evaluate in vitro release characteristics. In the present study, a series of formulations were developed with different release rates and duration using hydrophilic polymers hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC). The duration of rifampicin and isoniazid release could be tailored by varying the polymer type, polymer ratio and processing techniques. Further, Eudragit L100-55 was incorporated in the matrix tablets to compensate for the pH-dependent release of rifampicin. Rifampicin was found to follow linear release profile with time from HPMC formulations. In case of formulations with HPC, there was an initial higher release in simulated gastric fluid (SGF) followed by zero order release profiles in simulated intestinal fluid (SIFsp) for rifampicin. The release of isoniazid was found to be predominantly by diffusion mechanism in case of HPMC formulations, and with HPC formulations release was due to combination of diffusion and erosion. The initial release was sufficiently higher for rifampicin from HPC thus ruling out the need to incorporate a separate loading dose. The initial release was sufficiently higher for isoniazid in all formulations. Thus, with the use of suitable polymer or polymer combinations and with the proper optimization of the processing techniques it was possible to design the C.R. formulations of rifampicin and isoniazid combination that could provide the sufficient initial release and release extension up to 24h for both the drugs despite of the wide variations in their physicochemical properties.
Fatigue crack propagation behavior of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene.

PubMed

Connelly, G M; Rimnac, C M; Wright, T M; Hertzberg, R W; Manson, J A

1984-01-01

The relative fatigue crack propagation resistance of plain and carbon fiber-reinforced ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) was determined from cyclic loading tests performed on compact tension specimens machined from the tibial components of total knee prostheses. Both materials were characterized by dynamic mechanical spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and differential scanning calorimetry. The cyclic tests used loading in laboratory air at 5 Hz using a sinusoidal wave form. Dynamic mechanical spectroscopy showed that the reinforced UHMWPE had a higher elastic storage modulus than the plain UHMWPE, whereas X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry showed that the percent crystallinity and degree of order in the crystalline regions were similar for the two materials. Fatigue crack propagation in both materials proved to be very sensitive to small changes in the applied cyclic stress intensity range. A 10% increase in stress intensity resulted in approximately an order of magnitude increase in fatigue crack growth rate. The fatigue crack propagation resistance of the reinforced UHMWPE was found to be significantly worse than that of the plain UHMWPE. This result was attributed to poor bonding between the carbon fibers and the UHMWPE matrix and the ductile nature of the matrix itself.
A new family of high-order compact upwind difference schemes with good spectral resolution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Qiang; Yao, Zhaohui; He, Feng; Shen, M. Y.

2007-12-01

This paper presents a new family of high-order compact upwind difference schemes. Unknowns included in the proposed schemes are not only the values of the function but also those of its first and higher derivatives. Derivative terms in the schemes appear only on the upwind side of the stencil. One can calculate all the first derivatives exactly as one solves explicit schemes when the boundary conditions of the problem are non-periodic. When the proposed schemes are applied to periodic problems, only periodic bi-diagonal matrix inversions or periodic block-bi-diagonal matrix inversions are required. Resolution optimization is used to enhance the spectral representation of the first derivative, and this produces a scheme with the highest spectral accuracy among all known compact schemes. For non-periodic boundary conditions, boundary schemes constructed in virtue of the assistant scheme make the schemes not only possess stability for any selective length scale on every point in the computational domain but also satisfy the principle of optimal resolution. Also, an improved shock-capturing method is developed. Finally, both the effectiveness of the new hybrid method and the accuracy of the proposed schemes are verified by executing four benchmark test cases.
Pre-release biological control agent recommendations for swallow-wort (Vincetoxicum spp.) informed by demographic matrix models

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Weed biological control workers have advocated for the advance assessment of agent efficacy in order to minimize the release of host-specific but ineffective agents. One method involves demographic matrix modeling of target weed populations in order to identify plant life stage transitions that cont...
The Approximation of Two-Mode Proximity Matrices by Sums of Order-Constrained Matrices.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hubert, Lawrence; Arabie, Phipps

1995-01-01

A least-squares strategy is proposed for representing a two-mode proximity matrix as an approximate sum of a small number of matrices that satisfy certain simple order constraints on their entries. The primary class of constraints considered defines Q-forms for particular conditions in a two-mode matrix. (SLD)
Mueller matrix mapping of biological polycrystalline layers using reference wave

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dubolazov, A.; Ushenko, O. G.; Ushenko, Yu. O.; Pidkamin, L. Y.; Sidor, M. I.; Grytsyuk, M.; Prysyazhnyuk, P. V.

2018-01-01

The paper consists of two parts. The first part is devoted to the short theoretical basics of the method of differential Mueller-matrix description of properties of partially depolarizing layers. It was provided the experimentally measured maps of differential matrix of the 1st order of polycrystalline structure of the histological section of brain tissue. It was defined the statistical moments of the 1st-4th orders, which characterize the distribution of matrix elements. In the second part of the paper it was provided the data of statistic analysis of birefringence and dichroism of the histological sections of mice liver tissue (normal and with diabetes). It were defined the objective criteria of differential diagnostics of diabetes.
Retrieval of all effective susceptibilities in nonlinear metamaterials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Larouche, Stéphane; Radisic, Vesna

2018-04-01

Electromagnetic metamaterials offer a great avenue to engineer and amplify the nonlinear response of materials. Their electric, magnetic, and magnetoelectric linear and nonlinear response are related to their structure, providing unprecedented liberty to control those properties. Both the linear and the nonlinear properties of metamaterials are typically anisotropic. While the methods to retrieve the effective linear properties are well established, existing nonlinear retrieval methods have serious limitations. In this work, we generalize a nonlinear transfer matrix approach to account for all nonlinear susceptibility terms and show how to use this approach to retrieve all effective nonlinear susceptibilities of metamaterial elements. The approach is demonstrated using sum frequency generation, but can be applied to other second-order or higher-order processes.
Comparison of QuEChERS sample preparation methods for the analysis of pesticide residues in canned and fresh peach.

PubMed

Costa, Fabiane Pinho; Caldas, Sergiane Souza; Primel, Ednei Gilberto

2014-12-15

Original, citrate and acetate QuEChERS methods were studied in order to evaluate the extraction efficiency and the matrix effect in the extraction of pesticides from canned peach samples. Determinations were performed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The proposed method with extraction using the original QuEChERS method and determination by GC-MS was validated. LOQs ranged between 1 and 10 μg kg(-1) and all analytical curves showed r values higher than 0.99. Recovery values varied from 69% to 125% with RSDs less than 20%. The matrix effect was evaluated and most compounds showed signal enrichment. Robustness was demonstrated using fresh peaches, which provided recovery values within acceptable limits. The applicability of the method was verified and residues of tebuconazole and dimethoate were found in the samples. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Curvature and gravity actions for matrix models: II. The case of general Poisson structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Blaschke, Daniel N.; Steinacker, Harold

2010-12-01

We study the geometrical meaning of higher order terms in matrix models of Yang-Mills type in the semi-classical limit, generalizing recent results (Blaschke and Steinacker 2010 Class. Quantum Grav. 27 165010 (arXiv:1003.4132)) to the case of four-dimensional spacetime geometries with general Poisson structure. Such terms are expected to arise e.g. upon quantization of the IKKT-type models. We identify terms which depend only on the intrinsic geometry and curvature, including modified versions of the Einstein-Hilbert action as well as terms which depend on the extrinsic curvature. Furthermore, a mechanism is found which implies that the effective metric G on the spacetime brane {\\cal M}\\subset \\mathds{R}^D 'almost' coincides with the induced metric g. Deviations from G = g are suppressed, and characterized by the would-be U(1) gauge field.
Thermodynamics of fission products in UO(2 ± x).

PubMed

Nerikar, P V; Liu, X-Y; Uberuaga, B P; Stanek, C R; Phillpot, S R; Sinnott, S B

2009-10-28

The stabilities of selected fission products-Xe, Cs, and Sr-are investigated as a function of non-stoichiometry x in UO(2 ± x). In particular, density functional theory (DFT) is used to calculate the incorporation and solution energies of these fission products at the anion and cation vacancy sites, at the divacancy, and at the bound Schottky defect. In order to reproduce the correct insulating state of UO(2), the DFT calculations are performed using spin polarization and with the Hubbard U term. In general, higher charge defects are more soluble in the fuel matrix and the solubility of fission products increases as the hyperstoichiometry increases. The solubility of fission product oxides is also explored. Cs(2)O is observed as a second stable phase and SrO is found to be soluble in the UO(2) matrix for all stoichiometries. These observations mirror experimentally observed phenomena.
Physicochemical aspects involved in methotrexate release kinetics from biodegradable spray-dried chitosan microparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mesquita, Philippe C.; Oliveira, Alice R.; Pedrosa, Matheus F. Fernandes; de Oliveira, Anselmo Gomes; da Silva-Júnior, Arnóbio Antônio

2015-06-01

Spray dried methotrexate (MTX) loaded chitosan microparticles were prepared using different drug/copolymer ratios (9%, 18%, 27% and 45% w/w). The physicochemical aspects were assessed in order to select particles that were able to induce a sustained drug release effect. Particles were successfully produced which exhibited desired physicochemical aspects such as spherical shape and high drug loading. XRD and FT-IR analysis demonstrated that drug is not bound to copolymer and is only homogeneously dispersed in an amorphous state into polymeric matrix. Even the particles with higher drug loading levels presented a sustained drug release profile, which were mathematically modeled using adjusted Higuchi model. The drug release occurred predominantly with drug dissolution and diffusion through swollen polymeric matrix, with the slowest release occurring with particles containing 9% of drug, demonstrating an interesting and promising drug delivery system for MTX.
Alternative dimensional reduction via the density matrix

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Carvalho, C. A.; Cornwall, J. M.; da Silva, A. J.

2001-07-01

We give graphical rules, based on earlier work for the functional Schrödinger equation, for constructing the density matrix for scalar and gauge fields in equilibrium at finite temperature T. More useful is a dimensionally reduced effective action (DREA) constructed from the density matrix by further functional integration over the arguments of the density matrix coupled to a source. The DREA is an effective action in one less dimension which may be computed order by order in perturbation theory or by dressed-loop expansions; it encodes all thermal matrix elements. We term the DREA procedure alternative dimensional reduction, to distinguish it from the conventional dimensionally reduced field theory (DRFT) which applies at infinite T. The DREA is useful because it gives a dimensionally reduced theory usable at any T including infinity, where it yields the DRFT, and because it does not and cannot have certain spurious infinities which sometimes occur in the density matrix itself or the conventional DRFT; these come from ln T factors at infinite temperature. The DREA can be constructed to all orders (in principle) and the only regularizations needed are those which control the ultraviolet behavior of the zero-T theory. An example of spurious divergences in the DRFT occurs in d=2+1φ4 theory dimensionally reduced to d=2. We study this theory and show that the rules for the DREA replace these ``wrong'' divergences in physical parameters by calculable powers of ln T; we also compute the phase transition temperature of this φ4 theory in one-loop order. Our density-matrix construction is equivalent to a construction of the Landau-Ginzburg ``coarse-grained free energy'' from a microscopic Hamiltonian.
Spin generalization of the Calogero–Moser hierarchy and the matrix KP hierarchy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pashkov, V.; Zabrodin, A.

2018-05-01

We establish a correspondence between rational solutions to the matrix KP hierarchy and the spin generalization of the Calogero–Moser system on the level of hierarchies. Namely, it is shown that the rational solutions to the matrix KP hierarchy appear to be isomorphic to the spin Calogero–Moser system in a sense that the dynamics of poles of solutions to the matrix KP hierarchy in the higher times is governed by the higher Hamiltonians of the spin Calogero–Moser integrable hierarchy with rational potential.
Stochastic model of the NASA/MSFC ground facility for large space structures with uncertain parameters: The maximum entropy approach, part 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hsia, Wei Shen

1989-01-01

A validated technology data base is being developed in the areas of control/structures interaction, deployment dynamics, and system performance for Large Space Structures (LSS). A Ground Facility (GF), in which the dynamics and control systems being considered for LSS applications can be verified, was designed and built. One of the important aspects of the GF is to verify the analytical model for the control system design. The procedure is to describe the control system mathematically as well as possible, then to perform tests on the control system, and finally to factor those results into the mathematical model. The reduction of the order of a higher order control plant was addressed. The computer program was improved for the maximum entropy principle adopted in Hyland's MEOP method. The program was tested against the testing problem. It resulted in a very close match. Two methods of model reduction were examined: Wilson's model reduction method and Hyland's optimal projection (OP) method. Design of a computer program for Hyland's OP method was attempted. Due to the difficulty encountered at the stage where a special matrix factorization technique is needed in order to obtain the required projection matrix, the program was successful up to the finding of the Linear Quadratic Gaussian solution but not beyond. Numerical results along with computer programs which employed ORACLS are presented.
Turbine repair process, repaired coating, and repaired turbine component

DOEpatents

Das, Rupak; Delvaux, John McConnell; Garcia-Crespo, Andres Jose

2015-11-03

A turbine repair process, a repaired coating, and a repaired turbine component are disclosed. The turbine repair process includes providing a turbine component having a higher-pressure region and a lower-pressure region, introducing particles into the higher-pressure region, and at least partially repairing an opening between the higher-pressure region and the lower-pressure region with at least one of the particles to form a repaired turbine component. The repaired coating includes a silicon material, a ceramic matrix composite material, and a repaired region having the silicon material deposited on and surrounded by the ceramic matrix composite material. The repaired turbine component a ceramic matrix composite layer and a repaired region having silicon material deposited on and surrounded by the ceramic matrix composite material.
Prospects for using carbon-carbon composites for EMI shielding

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gaier, James R.

1990-01-01

Since pyrolyzed carbon has a higher electrical conductivity than most polymers, carbon-carbon composites would be expected to have higher electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding ability than polymeric resin composites. A rule of mixtures model of composite conductivity was used to calculate the effect on EMI shielding of substituting a pyrolyzed carbon matrix for a polymeric matrix. It was found that the improvements were small, no more than about 2 percent for the lowest conductivity fibers (ex-rayon) and less than 0.2 percent for the highest conductivity fibers (vapor grown carbon fibers). The structure of the rule of mixtures is such that the matrix conductivity would only be important in those cases where it is much higher than the fiber conductivity, as in metal matrix composites.
Mode suppression in metal filled photonic crystal vertical cavity lasers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Griffin, Benjamin G.; Arbabi, Amir; Goddard, Lynford L.

2012-03-01

Simulation results for an etched air hole photonic crystal (PhC) vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) structure with various thicknesses of metal deposited inside the holes are presented. The higher-order modes of the structure are more spread out than the fundamental mode, and penetrate into the metal-filled holes. Due to the lossy nature of the metal, these higher-order modes experience a greater loss than the fundamental mode, resulting in an enhanced side mode suppression ratio (SMSR). A figure of merit for determining which metals would have the greatest impact on the SMSR is derived and validated using a transmission matrix method calculation. A full three-dimensional simulation of the PhC VCSEL structure is performed using the plane wave admittance method, and SMSRs are calculated for increasing metal thicknesses. Of the metals simulated, chromium provided the greatest SMSR enhancement with more than a 4 dB improvement with 500 nm of metal for an operating current of 12 times threshold.

SU(3) Landau gauge gluon and ghost propagators using the logarithmic lattice gluon field definition

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ilgenfritz, Ernst-Michael; Humboldt-Universitaet zu Berlin, Institut fuer Physik, 12489 Berlin; Menz, Christoph

2011-03-01

We study the Landau gauge gluon and ghost propagators of SU(3) gauge theory, employing the logarithmic definition for the lattice gluon fields and implementing the corresponding form of the Faddeev-Popov matrix. This is necessary in order to consistently compare lattice data for the bare propagators with that of higher-loop numerical stochastic perturbation theory. In this paper we provide such a comparison, and introduce what is needed for an efficient lattice study. When comparing our data for the logarithmic definition to that of the standard lattice Landau gauge we clearly see the propagators to be multiplicatively related. The data of themore » associated ghost-gluon coupling matches up almost completely. For the explored lattice spacings and sizes discretization artifacts, finite size, and Gribov-copy effects are small. At weak coupling and large momentum, the bare propagators and the ghost-gluon coupling are seen to be approached by those of higher-order numerical stochastic perturbation theory.« less
Effects of sputtering mode on the microstructure and ionic conductivity of yttria-stabilized zirconia films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yeh, Tsung-Her; Lin, Ruei-De; Cherng, Bo-Ruei; Cherng, Jyh-Shiarn

2018-05-01

The microstructure and ionic conductivity of reactively sputtered yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) films are systematically studied. Those films were reactively sputtered in various sputtering modes using a closed-loop controlled system with plasma emission monitoring. A transition-mode sputtering corresponding to 45% of target poisoning produces a microstructure with ultrafine crystallites embedded in an amorphous matrix, which undergoes an abnormal grain growth upon annealing at 800 °C. At 500 °C, the measured ionic conductivity of this annealed film is higher, by about a half order of magnitude, than those of its poisoned-mode counterparts, which are in turn significantly higher than that of the YSZ bulk by about two orders of magnitude. The abnormally-grown ultra-large grain size of the film deposited in the transition mode and then annealed is believed to be responsible for the former comparison due to the suppression of the grain boundary blocking effect, while the latter comparison can be attributed to the interface effect.
Higher Order, Hybrid BEM/FEM Methods Applied to Antenna Modeling

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fink, P. W.; Wilton, D. R.; Dobbins, J. A.

2002-01-01

In this presentation, the authors address topics relevant to higher order modeling using hybrid BEM/FEM formulations. The first of these is the limitation on convergence rates imposed by geometric modeling errors in the analysis of scattering by a dielectric sphere. The second topic is the application of an Incomplete LU Threshold (ILUT) preconditioner to solve the linear system resulting from the BEM/FEM formulation. The final tOpic is the application of the higher order BEM/FEM formulation to antenna modeling problems. The authors have previously presented work on the benefits of higher order modeling. To achieve these benefits, special attention is required in the integration of singular and near-singular terms arising in the surface integral equation. Several methods for handling these terms have been presented. It is also well known that achieving he high rates of convergence afforded by higher order bases may als'o require the employment of higher order geometry models. A number of publications have described the use of quadratic elements to model curved surfaces. The authors have shown in an EFIE formulation, applied to scattering by a PEC .sphere, that quadratic order elements may be insufficient to prevent the domination of modeling errors. In fact, on a PEC sphere with radius r = 0.58 Lambda(sub 0), a quartic order geometry representation was required to obtain a convergence benefi.t from quadratic bases when compared to the convergence rate achieved with linear bases. Initial trials indicate that, for a dielectric sphere of the same radius, - requirements on the geometry model are not as severe as for the PEC sphere. The authors will present convergence results for higher order bases as a function of the geometry model order in the hybrid BEM/FEM formulation applied to dielectric spheres. It is well known that the system matrix resulting from the hybrid BEM/FEM formulation is ill -conditioned. For many real applications, a good preconditioner is required to obtain usable convergence from an iterative solver. The authors have examined the use of an Incomplete LU Threshold (ILUT) preconditioner . to solver linear systems stemming from higher order BEM/FEM formulations in 2D scattering problems. Although the resulting preconditioner provided aD excellent approximation to the system inverse, its size in terms of non-zero entries represented only a modest improvement when compared with the fill-in associated with a sparse direct solver. Furthermore, the fill-in of the preconditioner could not be substantially reduced without the occurrence of instabilities. In addition to the results for these 2D problems, the authors will present iterative solution data from the application of the ILUT preconditioner to 3D problems.
Release from or through a wax matrix system. IV. Generalized expression of the release process for a reservoir device tablet.

PubMed

Yonezawa, Yorinobu; Ishida, Sumio; Suzuki, Shinobu; Sunada, Hisakazu

2002-09-01

Generalization of the release process through the wax matrix layer was examined by use of a reservoir device tablet. The wax matrix layer of the reservoir device tablet was prepared from a physical mixture of lactose and hydrogenated castor oil to simplify the release properties. Release through the wax matrix layer showed zero-order kinetics in a steady state after a given lag time, and could be divided into two stages. The first stage was the formation process of water channel by dissolving the soluble component in the wax matrix layer. The lag time obtained by applying the square root law equation was well connected with the amount of the matrix layer and mixed weight ratio of components in this layer. The second stage was the zero-order release process of drug in the reservoir through the wax matrix layer, because the effective surface area was fixed. The release rate constants were connected with thickness of the matrix layer and permeability coefficient, and the permeability coefficients were connected with the diffusion coefficient of drug and porosity. Hence the release rate constant could be connected with the amount of matrix layer and the mixed weight ratio of components in the matrix layer. It was therefore suggested that the release process could be generalized using the amount of matrix layer and the mixed weight ratio of components in the matrix layer.
Comparison of orthorhombic and alpha-two titanium aluminides as matrices for continuous SiC-reinforced composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smith, P. R.; Graves, J. A.; Rhodes, Cg.

1994-06-01

The attributes of an orthorhombic Ti aluminide alloy, Ti-21Al-22Nb (at. pct), and an alpha-two Ti aluminide alloy, Ti-24Al-11Nb (at. pct), for use as a matrix with continuous SiC (SCS-6) fiber reinforcement have been compared. Foil-fiber-foil processing was used to produce both unreinforced (“neat”) and unidirectional “SCS-6” reinforced panels. Microstructure of the Ti-24A1-11Nb matrix consisted of ordered Ti3Al ( α 2) + disordered beta (β), while the Ti-21 Al-22Nb matrix contained three phases: α2, ordered beta ( β 0), and ordered orthorhombic (O). Fiber/ matrix interface reaction zone growth kinetics at 982 °C were examined for each composite system. Although both systems exhibited similar interface reaction products (i.e., mixed Ti carbides, silicides, and Ti-Al carbides), growth kinetics in the α 2 + β matrix composite were much more rapid than in the O + β 0 + α 2 matrix composite. Additionally, interfacial reaction in the α 2 + β} composite resulted in a relatively large brittle matrix zone, depleted of beta phase, which was not present in the O + β 0+ α 2 matrix composite. Mechanical property measurements included room and elevated temperature tensile, thermal stability, thermal fatigue, thermo-mechanical fatigue (TMF), and creep. The three-phase orthorhombic-based alloy outperformed the α2+ β alloy in all of these mechanical behavioral areas, on both an absolute and a specific (i.e., density corrected) basis.
Matrix Management Structures in Higher Education. Coombe Lodge Working Paper. Information Bank Number 1394.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cuthbert, Rob

The matrix structure as an alternative to the departmental structure for colleges and universities is discussed, and the matrix system at Middlesex Polytechnic in England is used as illustration. The major impact of the introduction of a matrix structure is its effect on teaching activities within the institution. The matrix structure formally…
Application of the fuzzy topsis multi-attribute decision making method to determine scholarship recipients

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Irvanizam, I.

2018-03-01

Some scholarships have been routinely offered by Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education of the Republic of Indonesia for students at Syiah Kuala University. In reality, the scholarship selection process is becoming subjective and highly complex problem. Multi-Attribute Decision Making (MADM) techniques can be a solution in order to solve scholarship selection problem. In this study, we demonstrated the application of a fuzzy TOPSIS as an MADM technique by using a numerical example in order to calculate a triangular fuzzy number for the fuzzy data onto a normalized weight. We then use this normalized value to construct the normalized fuzzy decision matrix. We finally use the fuzzy TOPSIS to rank alternatives in descending order based on the relative closeness to the ideal solution. The result in terms of final ranking shows slightly different from the previous work.
Quark mixing and exponential form of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhukovsky, K. V., E-mail: zhukovsk@phys.msu.ru; Dattoli, D., E-mail: dattoli@frascati.enea.i

2008-10-15

Various forms of representation of the mixing matrix are discussed. An exponential parametrization e{sup A} of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix is considered in the context of the unitarity requirement, this parametrization being the most general form of the mixing matrix. An explicit representation for the exponential mixing matrix in terms of the first and second degrees of the matrix A exclusively is obtained. This representation makes it possible to calculate this exponential mixing matrix readily in any order of the expansion in the small parameter {lambda}. The generation of new unitary parametric representations of the mixing matrix with the aid ofmore » the exponential matrix is demonstrated.« less
First-order transitions and thermodynamic properties in the 2D Blume-Capel model: the transfer-matrix method revisited

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jung, Moonjung; Kim, Dong-Hee

2017-12-01

We investigate the first-order transition in the spin-1 two-dimensional Blume-Capel model in square lattices by revisiting the transfer-matrix method. With large strip widths increased up to the size of 18 sites, we construct the detailed phase coexistence curve which shows excellent quantitative agreement with the recent advanced Monte Carlo results. In the deep first-order area, we observe the exponential system-size scaling of the spectral gap of the transfer matrix from which linearly increasing interfacial tension is deduced with decreasing temperature. We find that the first-order signature at low temperatures is strongly pronounced with much suppressed finite-size influence in the examined thermodynamic properties of entropy, non-zero spin population, and specific heat. It turns out that the jump at the transition becomes increasingly sharp as it goes deep into the first-order area, which is in contrast to the Wang-Landau results where finite-size smoothing gets more severe at lower temperatures.
Multi-color incomplete Cholesky conjugate gradient methods for vector computers. Ph.D. Thesis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Poole, E. L.

1986-01-01

In this research, we are concerned with the solution on vector computers of linear systems of equations, Ax = b, where A is a larger, sparse symmetric positive definite matrix. We solve the system using an iterative method, the incomplete Cholesky conjugate gradient method (ICCG). We apply a multi-color strategy to obtain p-color matrices for which a block-oriented ICCG method is implemented on the CYBER 205. (A p-colored matrix is a matrix which can be partitioned into a pXp block matrix where the diagonal blocks are diagonal matrices). This algorithm, which is based on a no-fill strategy, achieves O(N/p) length vector operations in both the decomposition of A and in the forward and back solves necessary at each iteration of the method. We discuss the natural ordering of the unknowns as an ordering that minimizes the number of diagonals in the matrix and define multi-color orderings in terms of disjoint sets of the unknowns. We give necessary and sufficient conditions to determine which multi-color orderings of the unknowns correpond to p-color matrices. A performance model is given which is used both to predict execution time for ICCG methods and also to compare an ICCG method to conjugate gradient without preconditioning or another ICCG method. Results are given from runs on the CYBER 205 at NASA's Langley Research Center for four model problems.
[Preparation of hydrophilic matrix sustained release tablets of total lactones from Andrographis paniculata and study on its in vitro release mechanism].

PubMed

Xu, Fang-Fang; Shi, Wei; Zhang, Hui; Guo, Qing-Ming; Wang Zhen-Zhong; Bi, Yu-An; Wang, Zhi-Min; Xiao, Wei

2015-01-01

In this study, hydrophilic matrix sustained release tablets of total lactones from Andrographis paniculata were prepared and the in vitro release behavior were also evaluated. The optimal prescription was achieved by studying the main factor of the type and amount of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) using single factor test and evaluating through cumulative release of three lactones. No burst drug release from the obtained matrix tablets was observed. Drug release sustained to 14 h. The release mechanism of three lactones from A. paniculata was accessed by zero-order, first-order, Higuchi and Peppas equation. The release behavior of total lactones from A. paniculata was better agreed with Higuchi model and the drug release from the tablets was controlled by degradation of the matrix. The preparation of hydrophilic matrix sustained release tablets of total lactones from A. paniculata with good performance of drug release was simple.
Synthesis and morphology of hydroxyapatite/polyethylene oxide nanocomposites with block copolymer compatibilized interfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Ji Hoon; Shofner, Meisha

2012-02-01

In order to exploit the promise of polymer nanocomposites, special consideration should be given to component interfaces during synthesis and processing. Previous results from this group have shown that nanoparticles clustered into larger structures consistent with their native shape when the polymer matrix crystallinity was high. Therefore in this research, the nanoparticles are disguised from a highly-crystalline polymer matrix by cloaking them with a matrix-compatible block copolymer. Specifically, spherical and needle-shaped hydroxyapatite nanoparticles were synthesized using a block copolymer templating method. The block copolymer used, polyethylene oxide-b-polymethacrylic acid, remained on the nanoparticle surface following synthesis with the polyethylene oxide block exposed. These nanoparticles were subsequently added to a polyethylene oxide matrix using solution processing. Characterization of the nanocomposites indicated that the copolymer coating prevented the nanoparticles from assembling into ordered clusters and that the matrix crystallinity was decreased at a nanoparticle spacing of approximately 100 nm.
Constructing service-oriented architecture adoption maturity matrix using Kano model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hamzah, Mohd Hamdi Irwan; Baharom, Fauziah; Mohd, Haslina

2017-10-01

Commonly, organizations adopted Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) because it can provide a flexible reconfiguration and can reduce the development time and cost. In order to guide the SOA adoption, previous industry and academia have constructed SOA maturity model. However, there is a limited number of works on how to construct the matrix in the previous SOA maturity model. Therefore, this study is going to provide a method that can be used in order to construct the matrix in the SOA maturity model. This study adapts Kano Model to construct the cross evaluation matrix focused on SOA adoption IT and business benefits. This study found that Kano Model can provide a suitable and appropriate method for constructing the cross evaluation matrix in SOA maturity model. Kano model also can be used to plot, organize and better represent the evaluation dimension for evaluating the SOA adoption.
Identifying Functional Neighborhoods within the Cell Nucleus: Proximity Analysis of Early S-Phase Replicating Chromatin Domains to Sites of Transcription, RNA Polymerase II, HP1γ, Matrin 3 and SAF-A

PubMed Central

Malyavantham, Kishore S; Bhattacharya, Sambit; Barbeitos, Marcos; Mukherjee, Lopamudra; Xu, Jinhui; Fackelmayer, Frank O; Berezney, Ronald

2009-01-01

Higher order chromatin organization in concert with epigenetic regulation is a key process that determines gene expression at the global level. The organization of dynamic chromatin domains and their associated protein factors is intertwined with nuclear function to create higher levels of functional zones within the cell nucleus. As a step towards elucidating the organization and dynamics of these functional zones, we have investigated the spatial proximities among a constellation of functionally related sites that are found within euchromatic regions of the cell nucleus including: HP1γ, nascent transcript sites (TS), active DNA replicating sites in early S phase (PCNA) and RNA polymerase II sites. We report close associations among these different sites with proximity values specific for each combination. Analysis of matrin 3 and SAF-A sites demonstrates that these nuclear matrix proteins are highly proximal with the functionally related sites as well as to each other and display closely aligned and overlapping regions following application of the minimal spanning tree (MST) algorithm to visualize higher order network-like patterns. Our findings suggest that multiple factors within the nuclear microenvironment collectively form higher order combinatorial arrays of function. We propose a model for the organization of these functional neighborhoods which takes into account the proximity values of the individual sites and their spatial organization within the nuclear architecture. PMID:18618731
Formation of Metal-Related Ions in Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization.

PubMed

Lee, Chuping; Lu, I-Chung; Hsu, Hsu Chen; Lin, Hou-Yu; Liang, Sheng-Ping; Lee, Yuan-Tseh; Ni, Chi-Kung

2016-09-01

In a study of the metal-related ion generation mechanism in matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI), crystals of matrix used in MALDI were grown from matrix- and salt-containing solutions. The intensities of metal ion and metal adducts of the matrix ion obtained from unwashed crystals were higher than those from crystals washed with deionized water, indicating that metal ions and metal adducts of the matrix ions are mainly generated from the surface of crystals. The contributions of preformed metal ions and metal adducts of the matrix ions inside the matrix crystals were minor. Metal adducts of the matrix and analyte ion intensities generated from a mixture of dried matrix, salt, and analyte powders were similar to or higher than those generated from the powder of dried droplet crystals, indicating that the contributions of the preformed metal adducts of the matrix and analyte ions were insignificant. Correlation between metal-related ion intensity fluctuation and protonated ion intensity fluctuation was observed, indicating that the generation mechanism of the metal-related ions is similar to that of the protonated ions. Because the thermally induced proton transfer model effectively describes the generation of the protonated ions, we suggest that metal-related ions are mainly generated from the salt dissolution in the matrix melted by the laser. Graphical Abstract ᅟ.
Influence of yield surface curvature on the macroscopic yielding and ductile failure of isotropic porous plastic materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dæhli, Lars Edvard Bryhni; Morin, David; Børvik, Tore; Hopperstad, Odd Sture

2017-10-01

Numerical unit cell models of an approximative representative volume element for a porous ductile solid are utilized to investigate differences in the mechanical response between a quadratic and a non-quadratic matrix yield surface. A Hershey equivalent stress measure with two distinct values of the yield surface exponent is employed as the matrix description. Results from the unit cell calculations are further used to calibrate a heuristic extension of the Gurson model which incorporates effects of the third deviatoric stress invariant. An assessment of the porous plasticity model reveals its ability to describe the unit cell response to some extent, however underestimating the effect of the Lode parameter for the lower triaxiality ratios imposed in this study when compared to unit cell simulations. Ductile failure predictions by means of finite element simulations using a unit cell model that resembles an imperfection band are then conducted to examine how the non-quadratic matrix yield surface influences the failure strain as compared to the quadratic matrix yield surface. Further, strain localization predictions based on bifurcation analyses and imperfection band analyses are undertaken using the calibrated porous plasticity model. These simulations are then compared to the unit cell calculations in order to elucidate the differences between the various modelling strategies. The current study reveals that strain localization analyses using an imperfection band model and a spatially discretized unit cell are in reasonable agreement, while the bifurcation analyses predict higher strain levels at localization. Imperfection band analyses are finally used to calculate failure loci for the quadratic and the non-quadratic matrix yield surface under a wide range of loading conditions. The underlying matrix yield surface is demonstrated to have a pronounced influence on the onset of strain localization.
Hydrocortisone and triiodothyronine regulate hyaluronate synthesis in a tissue-engineered human dermal equivalent through independent pathways.

PubMed

Deshpande, Madhura; Papp, Suzanne; Schaffer, Lana; Pouyani, Tara

2015-02-01

Hydrocortisone (HC) and triiodothyronine (T3) have both been shown to be capable of independently inhibiting hyaluronate (HA, hyaluronic acid) synthesis in a self-assembled human dermal equivalent (human dermal matrix). We sought to investigate the action of these two hormones in concert on extracellular matrix formation and HA inhibition in the tissue engineered human dermal matrix. To this end, neonatal human dermal fibroblasts were cultured in defined serum-free medium for 21 days in the presence of each hormone alone, or in combination, in varying concentrations. Through a process of self-assembly, a substantial dermal extracellular matrix formed that was characterized. The results of these studies demonstrate that combinations of the hormones T3 and hydrocortisone showed significantly higher levels of hyaluronate inhibition as compared to each hormone alone in the human dermal matrix. In order to gain preliminary insight into the genes regulating HA synthesis in this system, a differential gene array analysis was conducted in which the construct prepared in the presence of 200 μg/mL HC and 0.2 nM T3 was compared to the normal construct (0.4 μg/mL HC and 20 pM T3). Using a GLYCOv4 gene chip containing approximately 1260 human genes, we observed differential expression of 131 genes. These data suggest that when these two hormones are used in concert a different mechanism of inhibition prevails and a combination of degradation and inhibition of HA synthesis may be responsible for HA regulation in the human dermal matrix. Copyright © 2014 The Society for Biotechnology, Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Mechanical Properties and Fatigue Behavior of Unitized Composite Airframe Structures at Elevated Temperature

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-09-01

investigated. The unitized composite consisted of a polymer matrix composite (PMC) co-cured with a ceramic matrix composite (CMC). The PMC portion...ply non- crimp 3D orthogonal weave composite consisting of a ceramic matrix reinforced with glass fibers. In order to assess the performance and...2.3 Ceramic Matrix Composites ...................................................................................5 2.4 2D vs 3D Reinforcement
Thermoelectrics in Coulomb-coupled quantum dots: Cotunneling and energy-dependent lead couplings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Walldorf, Nicklas; Jauho, Antti-Pekka; Kaasbjerg, Kristen

2017-09-01

We study thermoelectric effects in Coulomb-coupled quantum-dot (CCQD) systems beyond lowest-order tunneling processes and the often applied wide-band approximation. To this end, we present a master-equation (ME) approach based on a perturbative T -matrix calculation of the charge and heat tunneling rates and transport currents. Applying the method to transport through a noninteracting single-level QD, we demonstrate excellent agreement with the Landauer-Büttiker theory when higher-order (cotunneling) processes are included in the ME. Next, we study the effect of cotunneling and energy-dependent lead couplings on the heat currents in a system of two CCQDs. We find that cotunneling processes (i) can dominate the off-resonant heat currents at low temperature and bias compared to the interdot interaction, and (ii) give rise to a pronounced reduction of the cooling power achievable with the recently demonstrated Maxwell's demon cooling mechanism. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the cooling power can be boosted significantly by carefully engineering the energy dependence of the lead couplings to filter out undesired transport processes. Our findings emphasize the importance of higher-order cotunneling processes as well as engineered energy-dependent lead couplings in the optimization of the thermoelectric performance of CCQD systems.
Role of segregation and precipitates on interfacial strengthening mechanisms in metal matrix composites when subjected to thermo-mechanical processing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Myriounis, Dimitrios

Metal Matrix ceramic-reinforced composites are rapidly becoming strong candidates as structural materials for many high temperatures and aerospace applications. Metal matrix composites combine the ductile properties of the matrix with a brittle phase of the reinforcement, leading to high stiffness and strength with a reduction in structural weight. The main objective of using a metal matrix composite system is to increase service temperature or improve specific mechanical properties of structural components by replacing existing superalloys.The satisfactory performance of metal matrix composites depends critically on their integrity, the heart of which is the quality of the matrix-reinforcement interface. The nature of the interface depends on the processing of the metal matrix composite component. At the micro-level the development of local stress concentration gradients around the ceramic reinforcement, as the metal matrix attempts to deform during processing, can be very different to the nominal conditions and play a crucial role in important microstructural events such as segregation and precipitation at the matrix-reinforcement interface. These events dominate the cohesive strength and subsequent mechanical properties of the interface.At present the relationship between the strength properties of metal matrix composites and the details of the thermo-mechanical forming processes is not well understood.The purpose of the study is to investigate several strengthening mechanisms and the effect of thermo-mechanical processing of SiCp reinforced A359 aluminium alloy composites on the particle-matrix interface and the overall mechanical properties of the material. From experiments performed on composite materials subjected to various thermo-mechanical conditions and by observation using SEM microanalysis and mechanical testing, data were obtained, summarised and mathematically/statistically analysed upon their significance.The Al/SiCp composites studied, processed in specific thermo-mechanical conditions in order to attain higher values of interfacial fracture strength, due to precipitation hardening and segregation mechanisms, also exhibited enhanced bulk mechanical and fracture resistant properties.An analytical model to predict the interfacial fracture strength in the presence of material segregation was also developed during this research effort. Its validity was determined based on the data gathered from the experiments.The tailoring of the properties due to the microstructural modification of the composites was examined in relation to the experimental measurements obtained, which define the macroscopical behaviour of the material.

A weighted least squares approach to retrieve aerosol layer height over bright surfaces applied to GOME-2 measurements of the oxygen A band for forest fire cases over Europe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nanda, Swadhin; Pepijn Veefkind, J.; de Graaf, Martin; Sneep, Maarten; Stammes, Piet; de Haan, Johan F.; Sanders, Abram F. J.; Apituley, Arnoud; Tuinder, Olaf; Levelt, Pieternel F.

2018-06-01

This paper presents a weighted least squares approach to retrieve aerosol layer height from top-of-atmosphere reflectance measurements in the oxygen A band (758-770 nm) over bright surfaces. A property of the measurement error covariance matrix is discussed, due to which photons travelling from the surface are given a higher preference over photons that scatter back from the aerosol layer. This is a potential source of biases in the estimation of aerosol properties over land, which can be mitigated by revisiting the design of the measurement error covariance matrix. The alternative proposed in this paper, which we call the dynamic scaling method, introduces a scene-dependent and wavelength-dependent modification in the measurement signal-to-noise ratio in order to influence this matrix. This method is generally applicable to other retrieval algorithms using weighted least squares. To test this method, synthetic experiments are done in addition to application to GOME-2A and GOME-2B measurements of the oxygen A band over the August 2010 Russian wildfires and the October 2017 Portugal wildfire plume over western Europe.
Stochastic hyperfine interactions modeling library-Version 2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zacate, Matthew O.; Evenson, William E.

2016-02-01

The stochastic hyperfine interactions modeling library (SHIML) provides a set of routines to assist in the development and application of stochastic models of hyperfine interactions. The library provides routines written in the C programming language that (1) read a text description of a model for fluctuating hyperfine fields, (2) set up the Blume matrix, upon which the evolution operator of the system depends, and (3) find the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the Blume matrix so that theoretical spectra of experimental techniques that measure hyperfine interactions can be calculated. The optimized vector and matrix operations of the BLAS and LAPACK libraries are utilized. The original version of SHIML constructed and solved Blume matrices for methods that measure hyperfine interactions of nuclear probes in a single spin state. Version 2 provides additional support for methods that measure interactions on two different spin states such as Mössbauer spectroscopy and nuclear resonant scattering of synchrotron radiation. Example codes are provided to illustrate the use of SHIML to (1) generate perturbed angular correlation spectra for the special case of polycrystalline samples when anisotropy terms of higher order than A22 can be neglected and (2) generate Mössbauer spectra for polycrystalline samples for pure dipole or pure quadrupole transitions.
Substrate Screening Effects in ab initio Many-body Green's Function Calculations of Doped Graphene on SiC

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vigil-Fowler, Derek; Lischner, Johannes; Louie, Steven

2013-03-01

Understanding many-electron interaction effects and the influence of the substrate in graphene-on-substrate systems is of great theoretical and practical interest. Thus far, both model Hamiltonian and ab initio GW calculations for the quasiparticle properties of such systems have employed crude models for the effect of the substrate, often approximating the complicated substrate dielectric matrix by a single constant. We develop a method in which the spatially-dependent dielectric matrix of the substrate (e.g., SiC) is incorporated into that of doped graphene to obtain an accurate total dielectric matrix. We present ab initio GW + cumulant expansion calculations, showing that both the cumulant expansion (to include higher-order electron correlations) and a proper account of the substrate screening are needed to achieve agreement with features seen in ARPES. We discuss how this methodology could be used in other systems. This work was supported by NSF Grant No. DMR10-1006184 and U.S. DOE Contract No. DE-AC02-05CH11231. Computational resources have been provided by the NERSC and NICS. D.V-F. acknowledges funding from the DOD's NDSEG fellowship.
Fast and simple high-capacity quantum cryptography with error detection

PubMed Central

Lai, Hong; Luo, Ming-Xing; Pieprzyk, Josef; Zhang, Jun; Pan, Lei; Li, Shudong; Orgun, Mehmet A.

2017-01-01

Quantum cryptography is commonly used to generate fresh secure keys with quantum signal transmission for instant use between two parties. However, research shows that the relatively low key generation rate hinders its practical use where a symmetric cryptography component consumes the shared key. That is, the security of the symmetric cryptography demands frequent rate of key updates, which leads to a higher consumption of the internal one-time-pad communication bandwidth, since it requires the length of the key to be as long as that of the secret. In order to alleviate these issues, we develop a matrix algorithm for fast and simple high-capacity quantum cryptography. Our scheme can achieve secure private communication with fresh keys generated from Fibonacci- and Lucas- valued orbital angular momentum (OAM) states for the seed to construct recursive Fibonacci and Lucas matrices. Moreover, the proposed matrix algorithm for quantum cryptography can ultimately be simplified to matrix multiplication, which is implemented and optimized in modern computers. Most importantly, considerably information capacity can be improved effectively and efficiently by the recursive property of Fibonacci and Lucas matrices, thereby avoiding the restriction of physical conditions, such as the communication bandwidth. PMID:28406240
Fast and simple high-capacity quantum cryptography with error detection.

PubMed

Lai, Hong; Luo, Ming-Xing; Pieprzyk, Josef; Zhang, Jun; Pan, Lei; Li, Shudong; Orgun, Mehmet A

2017-04-13

Quantum cryptography is commonly used to generate fresh secure keys with quantum signal transmission for instant use between two parties. However, research shows that the relatively low key generation rate hinders its practical use where a symmetric cryptography component consumes the shared key. That is, the security of the symmetric cryptography demands frequent rate of key updates, which leads to a higher consumption of the internal one-time-pad communication bandwidth, since it requires the length of the key to be as long as that of the secret. In order to alleviate these issues, we develop a matrix algorithm for fast and simple high-capacity quantum cryptography. Our scheme can achieve secure private communication with fresh keys generated from Fibonacci- and Lucas- valued orbital angular momentum (OAM) states for the seed to construct recursive Fibonacci and Lucas matrices. Moreover, the proposed matrix algorithm for quantum cryptography can ultimately be simplified to matrix multiplication, which is implemented and optimized in modern computers. Most importantly, considerably information capacity can be improved effectively and efficiently by the recursive property of Fibonacci and Lucas matrices, thereby avoiding the restriction of physical conditions, such as the communication bandwidth.
Molecular dimensions and surface diffusion assisted mechanically robust slippery perfluoropolyether impregnated mesoporous alumina interfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rowthu, Sriharitha; Balic, Edin E.; Hoffmann, Patrik

2017-12-01

Accomplishing mechanically robust omniphobic surfaces is a long-existing challenge, and can potentially find applications in bioengineering, tribology and paint industries. Slippery liquid impregnated mesoporous α-Al2O3 interfaces are achieved with water, alkanes, water based and oil based high viscosity acrylic paints. Incredibly high abrasion-resistance (wear coefficients ≤10-8 mm3 N-1 m-1) and ultra-low friction coefficients (≥0.025) are attained, attributing to the hard alumina matrix and continuous replenishment of perfluoropolyether aided by capillarity and surface diffusion processes. A variety of impregnating liquids employed suggest that large molecules, faster surface diffusion and lowest evaporation rate generate the rare combination of high wear-resistance and omniphobicity. It is noteworthy that these novel liquid impregnated Al2O3 composites exhibit outstanding load bearing capacity up to 350 MPa; three orders of magnitude higher than achievable by the state of the art omniphobic surfaces. Further, our developed thermodynamic calculations suggest that the relative thermodynamic stability of liquid impregnated composites is linearly proportional to the spreading coefficient (S) of the impregnating liquid with the matrix material and is an important tool for the selection of an appropriate matrix material for a given liquid.
Fast and simple high-capacity quantum cryptography with error detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lai, Hong; Luo, Ming-Xing; Pieprzyk, Josef; Zhang, Jun; Pan, Lei; Li, Shudong; Orgun, Mehmet A.

2017-04-01

Quantum cryptography is commonly used to generate fresh secure keys with quantum signal transmission for instant use between two parties. However, research shows that the relatively low key generation rate hinders its practical use where a symmetric cryptography component consumes the shared key. That is, the security of the symmetric cryptography demands frequent rate of key updates, which leads to a higher consumption of the internal one-time-pad communication bandwidth, since it requires the length of the key to be as long as that of the secret. In order to alleviate these issues, we develop a matrix algorithm for fast and simple high-capacity quantum cryptography. Our scheme can achieve secure private communication with fresh keys generated from Fibonacci- and Lucas- valued orbital angular momentum (OAM) states for the seed to construct recursive Fibonacci and Lucas matrices. Moreover, the proposed matrix algorithm for quantum cryptography can ultimately be simplified to matrix multiplication, which is implemented and optimized in modern computers. Most importantly, considerably information capacity can be improved effectively and efficiently by the recursive property of Fibonacci and Lucas matrices, thereby avoiding the restriction of physical conditions, such as the communication bandwidth.
Visualizing cell extracellular matrix (ECM) deposited by cells cultured on aligned bacteriophage M13 thin films.

PubMed

Wu, Laying; Lee, L Andrew; Niu, Zhongwei; Ghoshroy, Soumitra; Wang, Qian

2011-08-02

Topographical features ranging from micro- to nanometers can affect cell orientation and migratory pathways, which are important factors in tissue engineering and tumor migration. In our previous study, a convective assembly of bacteriophage M13 resulted in thin films which could be used to control the alignment of cells. However, several questions regarding its underlying reasons to dictate cell alignment remained unanswered. Here, we further study the nanometer topographical features generated by the bacteriophage M13 crystalline film, which results in the alignment of the cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. Sequential imaging analyses at micro- and nanoscale levels of aligned cells and fibrillar matrix proteins were documented using scanning electron microscopy and immunofluorescence microscopy. As a result, we observed baby hamster kidney cells with higher degree of alignment on the ordered M13 substrates than NIH-3T3 fibroblasts, a difference which could be attributed to the intrinsic nature of the cells' production of ECM proteins. The results from this study provide a crucial insight into the topographical features of a biological thin film, which can be utilized to control the orientation of cells and surrounding ECM proteins.
A Higher-Order Generalized Singular Value Decomposition for Comparison of Global mRNA Expression from Multiple Organisms

PubMed Central

Ponnapalli, Sri Priya; Saunders, Michael A.; Van Loan, Charles F.; Alter, Orly

2011-01-01

The number of high-dimensional datasets recording multiple aspects of a single phenomenon is increasing in many areas of science, accompanied by a need for mathematical frameworks that can compare multiple large-scale matrices with different row dimensions. The only such framework to date, the generalized singular value decomposition (GSVD), is limited to two matrices. We mathematically define a higher-order GSVD (HO GSVD) for N≥2 matrices , each with full column rank. Each matrix is exactly factored as Di = UiΣiVT, where V, identical in all factorizations, is obtained from the eigensystem SV = VΛ of the arithmetic mean S of all pairwise quotients of the matrices , i≠j. We prove that this decomposition extends to higher orders almost all of the mathematical properties of the GSVD. The matrix S is nondefective with V and Λ real. Its eigenvalues satisfy λk≥1. Equality holds if and only if the corresponding eigenvector vk is a right basis vector of equal significance in all matrices Di and Dj, that is σi,k/σj,k = 1 for all i and j, and the corresponding left basis vector ui,k is orthogonal to all other vectors in Ui for all i. The eigenvalues λk = 1, therefore, define the “common HO GSVD subspace.” We illustrate the HO GSVD with a comparison of genome-scale cell-cycle mRNA expression from S. pombe, S. cerevisiae and human. Unlike existing algorithms, a mapping among the genes of these disparate organisms is not required. We find that the approximately common HO GSVD subspace represents the cell-cycle mRNA expression oscillations, which are similar among the datasets. Simultaneous reconstruction in the common subspace, therefore, removes the experimental artifacts, which are dissimilar, from the datasets. In the simultaneous sequence-independent classification of the genes of the three organisms in this common subspace, genes of highly conserved sequences but significantly different cell-cycle peak times are correctly classified. PMID:22216090
Development and Evaluation of an Order-N Formulation for Multi-Flexible Body Space Systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ghosh, Tushar K.; Quiocho, Leslie J.

2013-01-01

This paper presents development of a generic recursive Order-N algorithm for systems with rigid and flexible bodies, in tree or closed-loop topology, with N being the number of bodies of the system. Simulation results are presented for several test cases to verify and evaluate the performance of the code compared to an existing efficient dense mass matrix-based code. The comparison brought out situations where Order-N or mass matrix-based algorithms could be useful.
Higher-order compositional modeling of three-phase flow in 3D fractured porous media based on cross-flow equilibrium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moortgat, Joachim; Firoozabadi, Abbas

2013-10-01

Numerical simulation of multiphase compositional flow in fractured porous media, when all the species can transfer between the phases, is a real challenge. Despite the broad applications in hydrocarbon reservoir engineering and hydrology, a compositional numerical simulator for three-phase flow in fractured media has not appeared in the literature, to the best of our knowledge. In this work, we present a three-phase fully compositional simulator for fractured media, based on higher-order finite element methods. To achieve computational efficiency, we invoke the cross-flow equilibrium (CFE) concept between discrete fractures and a small neighborhood in the matrix blocks. We adopt the mixed hybrid finite element (MHFE) method to approximate convective Darcy fluxes and the pressure equation. This approach is the most natural choice for flow in fractured media. The mass balance equations are discretized by the discontinuous Galerkin (DG) method, which is perhaps the most efficient approach to capture physical discontinuities in phase properties at the matrix-fracture interfaces and at phase boundaries. In this work, we account for gravity and Fickian diffusion. The modeling of capillary effects is discussed in a separate paper. We present the mathematical framework, using the implicit-pressure-explicit-composition (IMPEC) scheme, which facilitates rigorous thermodynamic stability analyses and the computation of phase behavior effects to account for transfer of species between the phases. A deceptively simple CFL condition is implemented to improve numerical stability and accuracy. We provide six numerical examples at both small and larger scales and in two and three dimensions, to demonstrate powerful features of the formulation.
A new fracture mechanics model for multiple matrix cracks of SiC fiber reinforced brittle-matrix composites

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Okabe, T.; Takeda, N.; Komotori, J.

1999-11-26

A new model is proposed for multiple matrix cracking in order to take into account the role of matrix-rich regions in the cross section in initiating crack growth. The model is used to predict the matrix cracking stress and the total number of matrix cracks. The model converts the matrix-rich regions into equivalent penny shape crack sizes and predicts the matrix cracking stress with a fracture mechanics crack-bridging model. The estimated distribution of matrix cracking stresses is used as statistical input to predict the number of matrix cracks. The results show good agreement with the experimental results by replica observations.more » Therefore, it is found that the matrix cracking behavior mainly depends on the distribution of matrix-rich regions in the composite.« less
Improved Identification of Membrane Proteins by MALDI-TOF MS/MS Using Vacuum Sublimated Matrix Spots on an Ultraphobic Chip Surface

PubMed Central

Poetsch, Ansgar; Schlüsener, Daniela; Florizone, Christine; Eltis, Lindsay; Menzel, Christoph; Rögner, Matthias; Steinert, Kerstin; Roth, Udo

2008-01-01

Integral membrane proteins are notoriously difficult to identify and analyze by mass spectrometry because of their low abundance and limited number of trypsin cleavage sites. Our strategy to address this problem is based on a novel technology for MALDI-MS peptide sample preparation that increases the success rate of membrane protein identification by increasing the sensitivity of the MALDI-TOF system. For this, we used sample plates with predeposited matrix spots of CHCA crystals prepared by vacuum sublimation onto an extremely low wettable (ultraphobic) surface. In experiments using standard peptides, an up to 10-fold gain of sensitivity was found for on-chip preparations compared with classical dried-droplet preparations on a steel target. In order to assess the performance of the chips with membrane proteins, three model proteins (bacteriorhodopsin, subunit IV(a) of ATP synthase, and the cp47 subunit from photosystem II) were analyzed. To mimic realistic analysis conditions, purified proteins were separated by SDS-PAGE and digested with trypsin. The digest MALDI samples were prepared either by dried-droplet technique on steel plates using CHCA as matrix, or applied directly onto the matrix spots of the chip surface. Significantly higher signal-to-noise ratios were observed for all of the spectra resulting from on-chip preparations of different peptides. In a second series of experiments, the membrane proteome of Rhodococcus jostii RHA1 was investigated by AIEC/SDS-PAGE in combination with MALDI-TOF MS/MS. As in the first experiments, Coomassie-stained SDS-PAGE bands were digested and the two different preparation methods were compared. For preparations on the Mass·Spec·Turbo Chip, 43 of 60 proteins were identified, whereas only 30 proteins were reliably identified after classical sample preparation. Comparison of the obtained Mascot scores, which reflect the confidence level of the protein identifications, revealed that for 70% of the identified proteins, higher scores were obtained by on-chip sample preparation. Typically, this gain was a consequence of higher sequence coverage due to increased sensitivity. PMID:19137096
Bioresorbable composite screws manufactured via forging process: pull-out, shear, flexural and degradation characteristics.

PubMed

Felfel, R M; Ahmed, I; Parsons, A J; Rudd, C D

2013-02-01

Bioresorbable screws have the potential to overcome some of the complications associated with metallic screws currently in use. Removal of metallic screws after bone has healed is a serious issue which can lead to refracture due to the presence of screw holes. Poly lactic acid (PLA), fully 40 mol% P(2)O(5) containing phosphate unidirectional (P40UD) and a mixture of UD and short chopped strand random fibre mats (P40 70%UD/30%RM) composite screws were prepared via forging composite bars. Water uptake and mass loss for the composite screws manufactured increased significantly to ∼1.25% (P=0.0002) and ∼1.1% (P<0.0001), respectively, after 42 days of immersion in PBS at 37 °C. The initial maximum flexural load for P40 UD/RM and P40 UD composite screws was ∼60% (P=0.0047) and ∼100% (P=0.0037) higher than for the PLA screws (∼190 N), whilst the shear load was slightly higher in comparison to PLA (∼2.2 kN). The initial pull-out strengths for the P40 UD/RM and PLA screws were similar whereas that for P40 UD screws was ∼75% higher (P=0.022). Mechanical properties for the composite screws decreased initially after 3 days of immersion and this reduction was ascribed to the degradation of the fibre/matrix interface. After 3 days interval the mechanical properties (flexural, shear and pull-out) maintained their integrity for the duration of the study (at 42 days). This property retention was attributed to the chemical durability of the fibres used and stability of the matrix properties during the degradation process. It was also deemed necessary to enhance the fibre/matrix interface via use of a coupling agent in order to maintain the initial mechanical properties acquired for the required period of time. Lastly, it is also suggested that the degrading reinforcement fibres may have the potential to buffer any acidic products released from the PLA matrix. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Fast evaluation of scaled opposite spin second-order Møller-Plesset correlation energies using auxiliary basis expansions and exploiting sparsity.

PubMed

Jung, Yousung; Shao, Yihan; Head-Gordon, Martin

2007-09-01

The scaled opposite spin Møller-Plesset method (SOS-MP2) is an economical way of obtaining correlation energies that are computationally cheaper, and yet, in a statistical sense, of higher quality than standard MP2 theory, by introducing one empirical parameter. But SOS-MP2 still has a fourth-order scaling step that makes the method inapplicable to very large molecular systems. We reduce the scaling of SOS-MP2 by exploiting the sparsity of expansion coefficients and local integral matrices, by performing local auxiliary basis expansions for the occupied-virtual product distributions. To exploit sparsity of 3-index local quantities, we use a blocking scheme in which entire zero-rows and columns, for a given third global index, are deleted by comparison against a numerical threshold. This approach minimizes sparse matrix book-keeping overhead, and also provides sufficiently large submatrices after blocking, to allow efficient matrix-matrix multiplies. The resulting algorithm is formally cubic scaling, and requires only moderate computational resources (quadratic memory and disk space) and, in favorable cases, is shown to yield effective quadratic scaling behavior in the size regime we can apply it to. Errors associated with local fitting using the attenuated Coulomb metric and numerical thresholds in the blocking procedure are found to be insignificant in terms of the predicted relative energies. A diverse set of test calculations shows that the size of system where significant computational savings can be achieved depends strongly on the dimensionality of the system, and the extent of localizability of the molecular orbitals. Copyright 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Data-resolution matrix and model-resolution matrix for Rayleigh-wave inversion using a damped least-squares method

USGS Publications Warehouse

Xia, J.; Miller, R.D.; Xu, Y.

2008-01-01

Inversion of multimode surface-wave data is of increasing interest in the near-surface geophysics community. For a given near-surface geophysical problem, it is essential to understand how well the data, calculated according to a layered-earth model, might match the observed data. A data-resolution matrix is a function of the data kernel (determined by a geophysical model and a priori information applied to the problem), not the data. A data-resolution matrix of high-frequency (>2 Hz) Rayleigh-wave phase velocities, therefore, offers a quantitative tool for designing field surveys and predicting the match between calculated and observed data. We employed a data-resolution matrix to select data that would be well predicted and we find that there are advantages of incorporating higher modes in inversion. The resulting discussion using the data-resolution matrix provides insight into the process of inverting Rayleigh-wave phase velocities with higher-mode data to estimate S-wave velocity structure. Discussion also suggested that each near-surface geophysical target can only be resolved using Rayleigh-wave phase velocities within specific frequency ranges, and higher-mode data are normally more accurately predicted than fundamental-mode data because of restrictions on the data kernel for the inversion system. We used synthetic and real-world examples to demonstrate that selected data with the data-resolution matrix can provide better inversion results and to explain with the data-resolution matrix why incorporating higher-mode data in inversion can provide better results. We also calculated model-resolution matrices in these examples to show the potential of increasing model resolution with selected surface-wave data. ?? Birkhaueser 2008.
Design of distributed PID-type dynamic matrix controller for fractional-order systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Dawei; Zhang, Ridong

2018-01-01

With the continuous requirements for product quality and safety operation in industrial production, it is difficult to describe the complex large-scale processes with integer-order differential equations. However, the fractional differential equations may precisely represent the intrinsic characteristics of such systems. In this paper, a distributed PID-type dynamic matrix control method based on fractional-order systems is proposed. First, the high-order approximate model of integer order is obtained by utilising the Oustaloup method. Then, the step response model vectors of the plant is obtained on the basis of the high-order model, and the online optimisation for multivariable processes is transformed into the optimisation of each small-scale subsystem that is regarded as a sub-plant controlled in the distributed framework. Furthermore, the PID operator is introduced into the performance index of each subsystem and the fractional-order PID-type dynamic matrix controller is designed based on Nash optimisation strategy. The information exchange among the subsystems is realised through the distributed control structure so as to complete the optimisation task of the whole large-scale system. Finally, the control performance of the designed controller in this paper is verified by an example.
Variational second order density matrix study of F3-: importance of subspace constraints for size-consistency.

PubMed

van Aggelen, Helen; Verstichel, Brecht; Bultinck, Patrick; Van Neck, Dimitri; Ayers, Paul W; Cooper, David L

2011-02-07

Variational second order density matrix theory under "two-positivity" constraints tends to dissociate molecules into unphysical fractionally charged products with too low energies. We aim to construct a qualitatively correct potential energy surface for F(3)(-) by applying subspace energy constraints on mono- and diatomic subspaces of the molecular basis space. Monoatomic subspace constraints do not guarantee correct dissociation: the constraints are thus geometry dependent. Furthermore, the number of subspace constraints needed for correct dissociation does not grow linearly with the number of atoms. The subspace constraints do impose correct chemical properties in the dissociation limit and size-consistency, but the structure of the resulting second order density matrix method does not exactly correspond to a system of noninteracting units.
Real-Time Wavefront Control for the PALM-3000 High Order Adaptive Optics System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Truong, Tuan N.; Bouchez, Antonin H.; Dekany, Richard G.; Guiwits, Stephen R.; Roberts, Jennifer E.; Troy, Mitchell

2008-01-01

We present a cost-effective scalable real-time wavefront control architecture based on off-the-shelf graphics processing units hosted in an ultra-low latency, high-bandwidth interconnect PC cluster environment composed of modules written in the component-oriented language of nesC. The architecture enables full-matrix reconstruction of the wavefront at up to 2 KHz with latency under 250 us for the PALM-3000 adaptive optics systems, a state-of-the-art upgrade on the 5.1 meter Hale Telescope that consists of a 64 x 64 subaperture Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor and a 3368 active actuator high order deformable mirror in series with a 241 active actuator tweeter DM. The architecture can easily scale up to support much larger AO systems at higher rates and lower latency.
Subclinical atherosclerosis is linked to small intestinal bacterial overgrowth via vitamin K2-dependent mechanisms.

PubMed

Ponziani, Francesca Romana; Pompili, Maurizio; Di Stasio, Enrico; Zocco, Maria Assunta; Gasbarrini, Antonio; Flore, Roberto

2017-02-21

To assess the rate of matrix Gla-protein carboxylation in patients with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and to decipher its association with subclinical atherosclerosis. Patients with suspected SIBO who presented with a low risk for cardiovascular disease and showed no evidence of atherosclerotic plaques were included in the study. A glucose breath test was performed in order to confirm the diagnosis of SIBO and vascular assessment was carried out by ultrasound examination. Plasma levels of the inactive form of MGP (dephosphorylated-uncarboxylated matrix Gla-protein) were quantified by ELISA and vitamin K2 intake was estimated using a food frequency questionnaire. Thirty-nine patients were included in the study. SIBO was confirmed in 12/39 (30.8%) patients who also presented with a higher concentration of dephosphorylated-uncarboxylated matrix Gla-protein (9.5 μg/L vs 4.2 μg/L; P = 0.004). Arterial stiffness was elevated in the SIBO group (pulse-wave velocity 10.25 m/s vs 7.68 m/s; P = 0.002) and this phenomenon was observed to correlate linearly with the levels of dephosphorylated-uncarboxylated matrix Gla-protein (β = 0.220, R 2 = 0.366, P = 0.03). Carotid intima-media thickness and arterial calcifications were not observed to be significantly elevated as compared to controls. SIBO is associated with reduced matrix Gla-protein activation as well as arterial stiffening. Both these observations are regarded as important indicators of subclinical atherosclerosis. Hence, screening for SIBO, intestinal decontamination and supplementation with vitamin K2 has the potential to be incorporated into clinical practice as additional preventive measures.

Differential 3D Mueller-matrix mapping of optically anisotropic depolarizing biological layers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ushenko, O. G.; Grytsyuk, M.; Ushenko, V. O.; Bodnar, G. B.; Vanchulyak, O.; Meglinskiy, I.

2018-01-01

The paper consists of two parts. The first part is devoted to the short theoretical basics of the method of differential Mueller-matrix description of properties of partially depolarizing layers. It was provided the experimentally measured maps of differential matrix of the 2nd order of polycrystalline structure of the histological section of rectum wall tissue. It was defined the values of statistical moments of the1st-4th orders, which characterize the distribution of matrix elements. In the second part of the paper it was provided the data of statistic analysis of birefringence and dichroism of the histological sections of connecting component of vagina wall tissue (normal and with prolapse). It were defined the objective criteria of differential diagnostics of pathologies of vagina wall.
Cross-linked κ-carrageenan polymer/zinc nanoporous composite matrix for expanded bed application: Fabrication and hydrodynamic characterization.

PubMed

Mohsenkhani, Sadaf; Jahanshahi, Mohsen; Rahimpour, Ahmad

2015-08-21

Expanded bed adsorption (EBA) is a reliable separation technique for the purification of bioproducts from complex feedstocks. The specifically designed adsorbent is necessary to form a stable expanded bed. In the present work, a novel custom-designed composite matrix has been prepared through the method of water-in-oil emulsification. In order to develop an adsorbent with desirable qualities and reduce the costs, κ-carrageenan and zinc powder were used as the polymeric skeleton and the densifier, respectively. The prepared composite matrix was named as KC-Zn. Optical microscope (OM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were applied to characterize the morphology and structure of prepared composite matrix. These analyses approved good spherical shape and porous structure with nano-scale pores in the range of about 60-180nm. The results from the particle size analyzer (PSA) revealed that all the KC-Zn beads followed logarithmic normal size distribution with the range of 50-350μm and average diameter of 160-230μm, respectively. Main physical properties of KC-Zn matrices were measured as a function of zinc powder ratio to κ-carrageenan slurry, which showed an appropriate wet density in the range of 1.39-2.27g/ml, water content of 72.67-36.41% and porosity of 98.07-80.24%, respectively. The effects of matrix density and liquid phase viscosity on hydrodynamic behavior of prepared matrix have been investigated by residence time distribution (RTD) experiments in an expanded bed. The results indicated that in a constant liquid velocity as the matrix density was increased, the expansion factor of bed decreased and the axial mixing coefficient increased. Moreover, an enhancement in the fluid viscosity led to an increase in the bed expansion and a decrease in the stability of expanded bed. Therefore using a matrix with higher density seems necessary to face viscous feedstocks. All the results demonstrated that proper physical properties and hydrodynamic characteristics of KC-Zn matrix confirm good potential for possible use in high flow rate expanded bed operations. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Mechanical Properties of Oxide Films on Electrolytic In-process Dressing (ELID) Copper-based Grinding Wheel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuai, J. C.; Wang, J. W.; Jiang, C. R.; Zhang, H. L.; Yang, Z. B.

2018-05-01

The mechanical properties of oxide films on copper based grinding wheel were studied by nanoindentation technique. The analysis of load displacement shows that the creep phenomenon occurs during the loading stage. Results show that the oxide film and the matrix have different characteristics, and the rigidity of the copper based grinding wheel is 0.6-1.3mN/nm, which is weaker than that of the matrix; the hardness of the oxide film is 2000-2300MPa, which is higher than the matrix; and the elastic modulus of the oxide film is 100-120GPa, also higher than the matrix.
Improving tissue preparation for matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry imaging. Part 1: using microspotting.

PubMed

Franck, Julien; Arafah, Karim; Barnes, Alan; Wisztorski, Maxence; Salzet, Michel; Fournier, Isabelle

2009-10-01

Nowadays, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI MSI) is a powerful technique to obtain the distribution of endogenous and exogenous molecules within tissue sections. It can, thus, be used to study the evolution of molecules across different physiological stages in order to find out markers or get knowledge on signaling pathways. In order to provide valuable information, we must carefully control the sample preparation to avoid any delocalization of molecules of interest inside the tissue during this step. Currently, two strategies can be used to deposit chemicals, such as the MALDI matrix, onto the tissue both involving generation of microdroplets that will be dropped off onto the surface. First strategy involves microspraying of solutions. Here, we have been interested in the development of a microspotting strategy, where nanodroplets of solvent are ejected by a piezoelectric device to generate microspots at the tissue level. Such systems allow one to precisely control sample preparation by creating an array of spots. In terms of matrix crystallization, a microspotting MALDI matrix is hardly compatible with the results by classical (pipetting) methods. We have thus synthesized and studied new solid ionic matrixes in order to obtain high analytical performance using such a deposition system. These developments have enabled optimization of the preparation time because of the high stability of the printing that is generated in these conditions. We have also studied microspotting for performing on-tissue digestion in order to go for identification of proteins or to work from formalin fixed and paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissue samples. We have shown that microspotting is an interesting approach for on tissue digestion. Peptides, proteins, and lipids were studied under this specific preparation strategy to improve imaging performances for this class of molecules.
A generalized graph-theoretical matrix of heterosystems and its application to the VMV procedure.

PubMed

Mozrzymas, Anna

2011-12-14

The extensions of generalized (molecular) graph-theoretical matrix and vector-matrix-vector procedure are considered. The elements of the generalized matrix are redefined in order to describe molecules containing heteroatoms and multiple bonds. The adjacency, distance, detour and reciprocal distance matrices of heterosystems, and corresponding vectors are derived from newly defined generalized graph matrix. The topological indices, which are most widely used in predicting physicochemical and biological properties/activities of various compounds, can be calculated from the new generalized vector-matrix-vector invariant. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Matrix metabolism rate differs in functionally distinct tendons.

PubMed

Birch, Helen L; Worboys, Sarah; Eissa, Sabry; Jackson, Brendan; Strassburg, Sandra; Clegg, Peter D

2008-04-01

Tendon matrix integrity is vital to ensure adequate mechanical properties for efficient function. Although historically tendon was considered to be relatively inert, recent studies have shown that tendon matrix turnover is active. During normal physiological activities some tendons are subjected to stress and strains much closer to their failure properties than others. Tendons with low safety margins are those which function as energy stores such as the equine superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) and human Achilles tendon (AT). We postulate therefore that energy storing tendons suffer a higher degree of micro-damage and thus have a higher rate of matrix turnover than positional tendons. The hypothesis was tested using tissue from the equine SDFT and common digital extensor tendon (CDET). Matrix turnover was assessed indirectly by a combination of measurements for matrix age, markers of degradation, potential for degradation and protein expression. Results show that despite higher cellularity, the SDFT has lower relative levels of mRNA for collagen types I and III. Non-collagenous proteins, although expressed at different levels per cell, do not appear to differ between tendon types. Relative levels of mRNA for MMP1, MMP13 and both pro-MMP3 and MMP13 protein activity were significantly higher in the CDET. Correspondingly levels of cross-linked carboxyterminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP) were higher in the CDET and tissue fluorescence lower suggesting more rapid turnover of the collagenous component. Reduced or inhibited collagen turnover in the SDFT may account for the high level of degeneration and subsequent injury compared to the CDET.
On the regularity of the covariance matrix of a discretized scalar field on the sphere

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bilbao-Ahedo, J.D.; Barreiro, R.B.; Herranz, D.

2017-02-01

We present a comprehensive study of the regularity of the covariance matrix of a discretized field on the sphere. In a particular situation, the rank of the matrix depends on the number of pixels, the number of spherical harmonics, the symmetries of the pixelization scheme and the presence of a mask. Taking into account the above mentioned components, we provide analytical expressions that constrain the rank of the matrix. They are obtained by expanding the determinant of the covariance matrix as a sum of determinants of matrices made up of spherical harmonics. We investigate these constraints for five different pixelizationsmore » that have been used in the context of Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) data analysis: Cube, Icosahedron, Igloo, GLESP and HEALPix, finding that, at least in the considered cases, the HEALPix pixelization tends to provide a covariance matrix with a rank closer to the maximum expected theoretical value than the other pixelizations. The effect of the propagation of numerical errors in the regularity of the covariance matrix is also studied for different computational precisions, as well as the effect of adding a certain level of noise in order to regularize the matrix. In addition, we investigate the application of the previous results to a particular example that requires the inversion of the covariance matrix: the estimation of the CMB temperature power spectrum through the Quadratic Maximum Likelihood algorithm. Finally, some general considerations in order to achieve a regular covariance matrix are also presented.« less
The Rigid Orthogonal Procrustes Rotation Problem

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

ten Berge, Jos M. F.

2006-01-01

The problem of rotating a matrix orthogonally to a best least squares fit with another matrix of the same order has a closed-form solution based on a singular value decomposition. The optimal rotation matrix is not necessarily rigid, but may also involve a reflection. In some applications, only rigid rotations are permitted. Gower (1976) has…
Transfer matrix calculation for ion optical elements using real fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mishra, P. M.; Blaum, K.; George, S.; Grieser, M.; Wolf, A.

2018-03-01

With the increasing importance of ion storage rings and traps in low energy physics experiments, an efficient transport of ion species from the ion source area to the experimental setup becomes essential. Some available, powerful software packages rely on transfer matrix calculations in order to compute the ion trajectory through the ion-optical beamline systems of high complexity. With analytical approaches, so far the transfer matrices are documented only for a few ideal ion optical elements. Here we describe an approach (using beam tracking calculations) to determine the transfer matrix for any individual electrostatic or magnetostatic ion optical element. We verify the procedure by considering the well-known cases and then apply it to derive the transfer matrix of a 90-degree electrostatic quadrupole deflector including its realistic geometry and fringe fields. A transfer line consisting of a quadrupole deflector and a quadrupole doublet is considered, where the results from the standard first order transfer matrix based ion optical simulation program implementing the derived transfer matrix is compared with the real field beam tracking simulations.
The large-N Yang-Mills S matrix is ultraviolet finite, but the large-N QCD S matrix is only renormalizable

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bochicchio, Marco

2017-03-01

Yang-Mills (YM) theory and QCD are known to be renormalizable, but not ultraviolet (UV) finite, order by order, in perturbation theory. It is a fundamental question whether YM theory or QCD is UV finite, or only renormalizable, order by order, in the large-N 't Hooft or Veneziano expansions. We demonstrate that the renormalization group (RG) and asymptotic freedom imply that in 't Hooft large-N expansion the S matrix in YM theory is UV finite, while in both 't Hooft and Veneziano large-N expansions, the S matrix in confining massless QCD is renormalizable but not UV finite. By the same argument, the large-N N =1 supersymmetry (SUSY) YM S matrix is UV finite as well. Besides, we demonstrate that, in both 't Hooft and Veneziano large-N expansions, the correlators of local gauge-invariant operators, as opposed to the S matrix, are renormalizable but, in general, not UV finite, either in YM theory and N =1 SUSY YM theory or a fortiori in massless QCD. Moreover, we compute explicitly the counterterms that arise from renormalizing the 't Hooft and Veneziano expansions by deriving in confining massless QCD-like theories a low-energy theorem of the Novikov-Shifman-Vainshtein-Zakharov type that relates the log derivative with respect to the gauge coupling of a k -point correlator, or the log derivative with respect to the RG-invariant scale, to a (k +1 )-point correlator with the insertion of Tr F2 at zero momentum. Finally, we argue that similar results hold in the large-N limit of a vast class of confining massive QCD-like theories, provided a renormalization scheme exists—as, for example, MS ¯ —in which the beta function is not dependent on the masses. Specifically, in both 't Hooft and Veneziano large-N expansions, the S matrix in confining massive QCD and massive N =1 SUSY QCD is renormalizable but not UV finite.
The role of alpha3beta1 integrin in determining the supramolecular organization of laminin-5 in the extracellular matrix of keratinocytes.

PubMed

deHart, Gregory W; Healy, Kevin E; Jones, Jonathan C R

2003-02-01

Analyses of mice with targeted deletions in the genes for alpha3 and beta1 integrin suggest that the alpha3beta1 integrin heterodimer likely determines the organization of the extracellular matrix within the basement membrane of skin. Here we tested this hypothesis using keratinocytes derived from alpha3 integrin-null mice. We have compared the organizational state of laminin-5, a ligand of alpha3beta1 integrin, in the matrix of wild-type keratinocytes with that of laminin-5 in the matrix of alpha3 integrin-null cells. Laminin-5 distributes diffusely in arc structures in the matrix of wild-type mouse keratinocytes, whereas laminin-5 is organized into linear, spike-like arrays by the alpha3 integrin-null cells. The fact that alpha3 integrin-null cells are deficient in their ability to assemble a proper laminin-5 matrix is also shown by their failure to remodel laminin-5 when plated onto surfaces coated with purified laminin-5 protein. In sharp contrast, wild-type keratinocytes organize exogenously added laminin-5 into discrete ring-like organizations. These findings led us next to assess whether differences in laminin-5 organization in the matrix of the wild-type and alpha3 integrin-null cells impact cell behavior. Our results indicate that alpha3 integrin-null cells are more motile than their wild-type counterparts and leave extensive trails of laminin-5 over the surface on which they move. Moreover, HEK 293 cells migrate significantly more on the laminin-5-rich matrix derived from the alpha3 integrin-null cells than on the wild-type keratinocyte laminin-5 matrix. In addition, alpha3 integrin-null cells show low strength of adhesion to surfaces coated with purified laminin-5 compared to wild-type cells although both the wild type and the alpha3 integrin-null keratinocytes adhere equally strongly to laminin-5 that has been organized into arrays by other epithelial cells. These data suggest: (1) that alpha3beta1 integrin plays an important role in determining the incorporation of laminin-5 into its proper higher-order structure within the extracellular matrix of keratinocytes and (2) that the organizational state of laminin-5 has an influence on laminin-5 matrix function. Copyright 2003 Elsevier Science (USA)
Surface ordering of (In,Ga)As quantum dots controlled by GaAs substrate indexes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wang, Zh.M.; Seydmohamadi, Sh.; Lee, J.H.

Self-organized surface ordering of (In,Ga)As quantum dots in a GaAs matrix was investigated using stacked multiple quantum dot layers prepared by molecular-beam epitaxy. While one-dimensional chain-like ordering is formed on singular and slightly misorientated GaAs(100) surfaces, we report on two-dimensional square-like ordering that appears on GaAs(n11)B, where n is 7, 5, 4, and 3. Using a technique to control surface diffusion, the different ordering patterns are found to result from the competition between anisotropic surface diffusion and anisotropic elastic matrix, a similar mechanism suggested before by Solomon [Appl. Phys. Lett. 84, 2073 (2004)].
First order coupled dynamic model of flexible space structures with time-varying configurations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Jie; Li, Dongxu; Jiang, Jianping

2017-03-01

This paper proposes a first order coupled dynamic modeling method for flexible space structures with time-varying configurations for the purpose of deriving the characteristics of the system. The model considers the first time derivative of the coordinate transformation matrix between the platform's body frame and the appendage's floating frame. As a result it can accurately predict characteristics of the system even if flexible appendages rotate with complex trajectory relative to the rigid part. In general, flexible appendages are fixed on the rigid platform or forced to rotate with a slow angular velocity. So only the zero order of the transformation matrix is considered in conventional models. However, due to neglecting of time-varying terms of the transformation matrix, these models introduce severe error when appendages, like antennas, for example, rotate with a fast speed relative to the platform. The first order coupled dynamic model for flexible space structures proposed in this paper resolve this problem by introducing the first time derivative of the transformation matrix. As a numerical example, a central core with a rotating solar panel is considered and the results are compared with those given by the conventional model. It has been shown that the first order terms are of great importance on the attitude of the rigid body and dynamic response of the flexible appendage.
Microstructure and high-temperature oxidation resistance of TiN/Ti3Al intermetallic matrix composite coatings on Ti6Al4V alloy surface by laser cladding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Xiaowei; Liu, Hongxi; Wang, Chuanqi; Zeng, Weihua; Jiang, Yehua

2010-11-01

A high-temperature oxidation resistant TiN embedded in Ti3Al intermetallic matrix composite coating was fabricated on titanium alloy Ti6Al4V surface by 6kW transverse-flow CO2 laser apparatus. The composition, morphology and microstructure of the laser clad TiN/Ti3Al intermetallic matrix composite coating were characterized by optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). In order to evaluate the high-temperature oxidation resistance of the composite coatings and the titanium alloy substrate, isothermal oxidation test was performed in a conventional high-temperature resistance furnace at 600°C and 800°C respectively. The result shows that the laser clad intermetallic composite coating has a rapidly solidified fine microstructure consisting of TiN primary phase (granular-like, flake-like, and dendrites), and uniformly distributed in the Ti3Al matrix. It indicates that a physical and chemical reaction between the Ti powder and AlN powder occurred completely under the laser irradiation. In addition, the microhardness of the TiN/Ti3Al intermetallic matrix composite coating is 844HV0.2, 3.4 times higher than that of the titanium alloy substrate. The high-temperature oxidation resistance test reveals that TiN/Ti3Al intermetallic matrix composite coating results in the better modification of high-temperature oxidation behavior than the titanium substrate. The excellent high-temperature oxidation resistance of the laser cladding layer is attributed to the formation of the reinforced phase TiN and Al2O3, TiO2 hybrid oxide. Therefore, the laser cladding TiN/Ti3Al intermetallic matrix composite coating is anticipated to be a promising oxidation resistance surface modification technique for Ti6Al4V alloy.
The asymptotic spectra of banded Toeplitz and quasi-Toeplitz matrices

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Beam, Richard M.; Warming, Robert F.

1991-01-01

Toeplitz matrices occur in many mathematical, as well as, scientific and engineering investigations. This paper considers the spectra of banded Toeplitz and quasi-Toeplitz matrices with emphasis on non-normal matrices of arbitrarily large order and relatively small bandwidth. These are the type of matrices that appear in the investigation of stability and convergence of difference approximations to partial differential equations. Quasi-Toeplitz matrices are the result of non-Dirichlet boundary conditions for the difference approximations. The eigenvalue problem for a banded Toeplitz or quasi-Toeplitz matrix of large order is, in general, analytically intractable and (for non-normal matrices) numerically unreliable. An asymptotic (matrix order approaches infinity) approach partitions the eigenvalue analysis of a quasi-Toeplitz matrix into two parts, namely the analysis for the boundary condition independent spectrum and the analysis for the boundary condition dependent spectrum. The boundary condition independent spectrum is the same as the pure Toeplitz matrix spectrum. Algorithms for computing both parts of the spectrum are presented. Examples are used to demonstrate the utility of the algorithms, to present some interesting spectra, and to point out some of the numerical difficulties encountered when conventional matrix eigenvalue routines are employed for non-normal matrices of large order. The analysis for the Toeplitz spectrum also leads to a diagonal similarity transformation that improves conventional numerical eigenvalue computations. Finally, the algorithm for the asymptotic spectrum is extended to the Toeplitz generalized eigenvalue problem which occurs, for example, in the stability of Pade type difference approximations to differential equations.
Continuum limit of Bk from 2+1 flavor domain wall QCD

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Soni, A.; T. Izubuchi, et al.

2011-07-01

We determine the neutral kaon mixing matrix element B{sub K} in the continuum limit with 2+1 flavors of domain wall fermions, using the Iwasaki gauge action at two different lattice spacings. These lattice fermions have near exact chiral symmetry and therefore avoid artificial lattice operator mixing. We introduce a significant improvement to the conventional nonperturbative renormalization (NPR) method in which the bare matrix elements are renormalized nonperturbatively in the regularization invariant momentum scheme (RI-MOM) and are then converted into the MS{sup -} scheme using continuum perturbation theory. In addition to RI-MOM, we introduce and implement four nonexceptional intermediate momentum schemesmore » that suppress infrared nonperturbative uncertainties in the renormalization procedure. We compute the conversion factors relating the matrix elements in this family of regularization invariant symmetric momentum schemes (RI-SMOM) and MS{sup -} at one-loop order. Comparison of the results obtained using these different intermediate schemes allows for a more reliable estimate of the unknown higher-order contributions and hence for a correspondingly more robust estimate of the systematic error. We also apply a recently proposed approach in which twisted boundary conditions are used to control the Symanzik expansion for off-shell vertex functions leading to a better control of the renormalization in the continuum limit. We control chiral extrapolation errors by considering both the next-to-leading order SU(2) chiral effective theory, and an analytic mass expansion. We obtain B{sub K}{sup MS{sup -}} (3 GeV) = 0.529(5){sub stat}(15){sub {chi}}(2){sub FV}(11){sub NPR}. This corresponds to B{sup -}{sub K}{sup RGI{sup -}} = 0.749(7){sub stat}(21){sub {chi}}(3){sub FV}(15){sub NPR}. Adding all sources of error in quadrature, we obtain B{sup -}{sub K}{sup RGI{sup -}} = 0.749(27){sub combined}, with an overall combined error of 3.6%.« less
Long-term effect of surface light scattering and glistenings of intraocular lenses on visual function.

PubMed

Hayashi, Ken; Hirata, Akira; Yoshida, Motoaki; Yoshimura, Koichi; Hayashi, Hideyuki

2012-08-01

To investigate the long-term effect of surface light scattering and glistenings of various intraocular lenses (IOLs) on visual function and optical aberrations after cataract surgery. Case-control study. Thirty-five eyes that underwent implantation of a hydrophobic acrylic, silicone, or polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) IOL more than 10 years ago were recruited. The scattering light intensity of the surface and internal matrix of the optic was measured using Scheimpflug photography. Visual acuity (VA) was measured using VA charts, and contrast VA and that with glare (glare VA) were examined using a contrast sensitivity tester. Ocular higher-order aberrations (HOAs) were measured using a Hartmann-Shack aberrometer. Mean scattering light intensity of the surface and internal matrix of the optic was significantly higher in the acrylic group than in the silicone and PMMA groups (P < .0001). Mean uncorrected VA, photopic and mesopic contrast VA and glare VA, and HOAs did not differ significantly among groups, although mean corrected VA in the acrylic group was significantly better than that in the other groups (P = .0023). Scattering light intensity of the surface and internal matrix did not correlate with VA, contrast VA, or glare VA, and did not correlate with ocular and internal optic HOAs in the acrylic group. At more than 10 years postoperatively, visual function, including contrast sensitivity, and ocular HOAs were comparable among eyes that received acrylic, silicone, and PMMA IOLs. Surface scattering and glistenings with the acrylic IOLs were not significantly correlated with visual function and optical aberrations. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Extracting factors for interest rate scenarios

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Molgedey, L.; Galic, E.

2001-04-01

Factor based interest rate models are widely used for risk managing purposes, for option pricing and for identifying and capturing yield curve anomalies. The movements of a term structure of interest rates are commonly assumed to be driven by a small number of orthogonal factors such as SHIFT, TWIST and BUTTERFLY (BOW). These factors are usually obtained by a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of historical bond prices (interest rates). Although PCA diagonalizes the covariance matrix of either the interest rates or the interest rate changes, it does not use both covariance matrices simultaneously. Furthermore higher linear and nonlinear correlations are neglected. These correlations as well as the mean reverting properties of the interest rates become crucial, if one is interested in a longer time horizon (infrequent hedging or trading). We will show that Independent Component Analysis (ICA) is a more appropriate tool than PCA, since ICA uses the covariance matrix of the interest rates as well as the covariance matrix of the interest rate changes simultaneously. Additionally higher linear and nonlinear correlations may be easily incorporated. The resulting factors are uncorrelated for various time delays, approximately independent but nonorthogonal. This is in contrast to the factors obtained from the PCA, which are orthogonal and uncorrelated for identical times only. Although factors from the ICA are nonorthogonal, it is sufficient to consider only a few factors in order to explain most of the variation in the original data. Finally we will present examples that ICA based hedges outperforms PCA based hedges specifically if the portfolio is sensitive to structural changes of the yield curve.
Composite material pedestrian bridge for the Port of Bilbao

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gorrochategui, I.; Manteca, C.; Yedra, A.; Miguel, R.; del Valle, F. J.

2012-09-01

Composite materials in comparison to traditional ones, steel and concrete, present advantages in civil works construction: lower weight, higher corrosion resistance (especially in the marine environment), and ease of installation. On the other hand, fabrication costs are generally higher. This is the reason why this technology is not widely used. This work illustrates the process followed for the design, fabrication and installation of a composite material pedestrian bridge in the Port of Bilbao (Northern Spain). In order to reduce the price of the bridge, the use of low cost materials was considered, therefore polyester resin was selected as the polymeric matrix, and glass fibres as reinforcement. Two material choices were studied. Currently in the market there is high availability of carbon nanoparticles: carbon nanotubes (CNT) and carbon nanofibres (CNF), so it was decided to add this kind of nanoparticles to the reference material with the objective of improving its mechanical properties. The main challenge was to transfer the CNT and CNF excellent properties to the polymeric matrix. This requires dispersing the nanoreinforcements as individual particles in the polymeric matrix to avoid agglomerates. For this reason, an advanced high shear forces dispersion technique (called "three roll mills") was studied and implemented. Also surface functionalization of the nanoreinforcements by chemical treatment was carried out. Herein, a comparison is performed between both materials studied, the explanation of the employment of the reference material (without nanoreinforcement) as the one used in the fabrication of the pedestrian bridge is justified and, finally, the main characteristics of the final design of the structural element are described.
How perfect can a gluon plasma be in perturbative QCD?

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chen, Jiunn-Wei; Deng Jian; Dong Hui

2011-02-01

The shear viscosity to entropy density ratio, {eta}/s, characterizes how perfect a fluid is. We calculate the leading order {eta}/s of a gluon plasma in perturbation using the kinetic theory. The leading order contribution only involves the elastic gg{r_reversible}gg (22) process and the inelastic gg{r_reversible}ggg (23) process. The hard-thermal-loop (HTL) treatment is used for the 22 matrix element, while the exact matrix element in vacuum is supplemented by the gluon Debye mass insertion for the 23 process. Also, the asymptotic mass is used for the external gluons in the kinetic theory. The errors from not implementing HTL and the Landau-Pomeranchuk-Migdalmore » effect in the 23 process, and from the uncalculated higher order corrections, are estimated. Our result smoothly connects the two different approximations used by Arnold, Moore, and Yaffe (AMY) and Xu and Greiner (XG). At small {alpha}{sub s} ({alpha}{sub s}<<1), our result is closer to AMY's collinear result while at larger {alpha}{sub s} the finite angle noncollinear configurations become more important and our result is closer to XG's soft bremsstrahlung result. In the region where perturbation is reliable ({alpha}{sub s} < or approx. 0.1), we find no indication that the proposed perfect fluid limit {eta}/s{approx_equal}1/(4{pi}) can be achieved by perturbative QCD alone. Whether this can be achieve for {alpha}{sub s} > or approx. 0.1 is still an open question.« less

Kurtosis Approach for Nonlinear Blind Source Separation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Duong, Vu A.; Stubbemd, Allen R.

2005-01-01

In this paper, we introduce a new algorithm for blind source signal separation for post-nonlinear mixtures. The mixtures are assumed to be linearly mixed from unknown sources first and then distorted by memoryless nonlinear functions. The nonlinear functions are assumed to be smooth and can be approximated by polynomials. Both the coefficients of the unknown mixing matrix and the coefficients of the approximated polynomials are estimated by the gradient descent method conditional on the higher order statistical requirements. The results of simulation experiments presented in this paper demonstrate the validity and usefulness of our approach for nonlinear blind source signal separation.
Simple and suitable immunosensor for β-lactam antibiotics analysis in real matrixes: milk, serum, urine.

PubMed

Merola, Giovanni; Martini, Elisabetta; Tomassetti, Mauro; Campanella, Luigi

2015-03-15

The anti-penicillin G was conjugated to avidin-peroxidase and biotin to obtain immunogen and competitor which were then used to develop a competitive immunosensor assay for the detection of penicillin G and other β-lactam antibiotics, with Kaff values of the order of 10(8) M(-1). The new immunosensor appears to afford a number of advantages in terms of sensitivity, possibility of "in situ" analysis, but especially of simplicity and lower costs, compared with other existing devices, or different chemical instrumental methods reported in the literature and used for the analysis of β-lactam compounds. Satisfactory results were found in the analysis of real matrixes and good recoveries were obtained by applying the standard addition method to spiked milk, urine, serum and drug samples. The new device uses an amperometric electrode for hydrogen peroxide as transducer, the BSA-penicillin G immobilized on polymeric membrane overlapping the amperometric transducer and the peroxidase enzyme as marker. It proved to be highly sensitive, inexpensive and easily reproducible; LOD was of the order of 10(-11)M. Lastly, the new immunosensor displayed low selectivity versus the entire class of β-lactam antibiotics and higher selectivity toward other classes of non-β-lactam antibiotics. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Orbit covariance propagation via quadratic-order state transition matrix in curvilinear coordinates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hernando-Ayuso, Javier; Bombardelli, Claudio

2017-09-01

In this paper, an analytical second-order state transition matrix (STM) for relative motion in curvilinear coordinates is presented and applied to the problem of orbit uncertainty propagation in nearly circular orbits (eccentricity smaller than 0.1). The matrix is obtained by linearization around a second-order analytical approximation of the relative motion recently proposed by one of the authors and can be seen as a second-order extension of the curvilinear Clohessy-Wiltshire (C-W) solution. The accuracy of the uncertainty propagation is assessed by comparison with numerical results based on Monte Carlo propagation of a high-fidelity model including geopotential and third-body perturbations. Results show that the proposed STM can greatly improve the accuracy of the predicted relative state: the average error is found to be at least one order of magnitude smaller compared to the curvilinear C-W solution. In addition, the effect of environmental perturbations on the uncertainty propagation is shown to be negligible up to several revolutions in the geostationary region and for a few revolutions in low Earth orbit in the worst case.
Orientational ordering of a banana-shaped solute molecule in a nematic calamitic solvent by {sup 2}H-NMR spectroscopy: An indication of glasslike behavior

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cinacchi, Giorgio; Domenici, Valentina

The Saupe ordering matrix of a banana-shaped mesogenic molecule as a solute in a common nematic calamitic solvent has been determined by {sup 2}H-NMR spectroscopy as a function of temperature. The temperature dependence of the Saupe ordering matrix element associated with the principal molecular axis is consistent with a glassy behavior in the reorientational motion of this particular solute molecule. The Haller expression, appropriately modified, provides a good fit to the experimental data.
Multidimensional Hermite-Gaussian quadrature formulae and their application to nonlinear estimation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mcreynolds, S. R.

1975-01-01

A simplified technique is proposed for calculating multidimensional Hermite-Gaussian quadratures that involves taking the square root of a matrix by the Cholesky algorithm rather than computation of the eigenvectors of the matrix. Ways of reducing the dimension, number, and order of the quadratures are set forth. If the function f(x) under the integral sign is not well approximated by a low-order algebraic expression, the order of the quadrature may be reduced by factoring f(x) into an expression that is nearly algebraic and one that is Gaussian.
A Comparison of Surface Acoustic Wave Modeling Methods

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wilson, W. c.; Atkinson, G. M.

2009-01-01

Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) technology is low cost, rugged, lightweight, extremely low power and can be used to develop passive wireless sensors. For these reasons, NASA is investigating the use of SAW technology for Integrated Vehicle Health Monitoring (IVHM) of aerospace structures. To facilitate rapid prototyping of passive SAW sensors for aerospace applications, SAW models have been developed. This paper reports on the comparison of three methods of modeling SAWs. The three models are the Impulse Response Method a first order model, and two second order matrix methods; the conventional matrix approach, and a modified matrix approach that is extended to include internal finger reflections. The second order models are based upon matrices that were originally developed for analyzing microwave circuits using transmission line theory. Results from the models are presented with measured data from devices.
Zero-order release of aspirin, theophylline and atenolol in water from novel methylcellulose glutarate matrix tablets.

PubMed

Khairuzzaman, A; Ahmed, S U; Savva, M; Patel, N K

2006-08-02

A novel hydrocolloidal polymer, methylcellulose glutarate (MC-GA), was prepared by esterifying methylcellulose with glutaric anhydride. The formation of ester was confirmed by FTIR and NMR spectroscopy, DSC and elemental analysis. The physicochemical properties such as, rate of swelling in water, viscosity and hygroscopicity of MC-GA were determined and compared with those of methycellulose A (MC). Aspirin, theophylline and atenolol tablets were compacted on a Carver press using the wet granulation method. Each tablet contained: 200 mg active, 80 mg anhydrous lactose, 8 mg povidone, 4 mg magnesium stearate, 4 mg talc, 50mg MC or MC-GA (drug-to-polymer ratio, 4:1). Contrary to the first-order release profile of all the drugs from the MC matrix tablets, a zero-order release was obtained from the MC-GA matrix tablets in water.
On distribution reduction and algorithm implementation in inconsistent ordered information systems.

PubMed

Zhang, Yanqin

2014-01-01

As one part of our work in ordered information systems, distribution reduction is studied in inconsistent ordered information systems (OISs). Some important properties on distribution reduction are studied and discussed. The dominance matrix is restated for reduction acquisition in dominance relations based information systems. Matrix algorithm for distribution reduction acquisition is stepped. And program is implemented by the algorithm. The approach provides an effective tool for the theoretical research and the applications for ordered information systems in practices. For more detailed and valid illustrations, cases are employed to explain and verify the algorithm and the program which shows the effectiveness of the algorithm in complicated information systems.
Matrix Management: An Organizational Alternative for Libraries.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johnson, Peggy

1990-01-01

Describes various organizational structures and models, presents matrix management as an alternative to traditional hierarchical structures, and suggests matrix management as an appropriate organizational alternative for academic libraries. Benefits that are discussed include increased flexibility, a higher level of professional independence, and…
In vitro dissolution kinetic study of theophylline from hydrophilic and hydrophobic matrices.

PubMed

Maswadeh, Hamzah M; Semreen, Mohammad H; Abdulhalim, Abdulatif A

2006-01-01

Oral dosage forms containing 300 mg theophylline in matrix type tablets, were prepared by direct compression method using two kinds of matrices, glycerylbehenate (hydrophobic), and (hydroxypropyl)methyl cellulose (hydrophilic). The in vitro release kinetics of these formulations were studied at pH 6.8 using the USP dissolution apparatus with the paddle assemble. The kinetics of the dissolution process were studied by analyzing the dissolution data using four kinetic equations, the zero-order equation, the first-order equation, the Higuchi square root equation and the Hixson-Crowell cube root law. The analysis of the dissolution kinetic data for the theophylline preparations in this study shows that it follows the first order kinetics and the release process involves erosion / diffusion and an alteration in the surface area and diameter of the matrix system, as well as in the diffusion path length from the matrix drug load during the dissolution process. This relation is best described by the use of both the first-order equation and the Hixson-Crowell cube root law.
Overcoming Challenges in Kinetic Modeling of Magnetized Plasmas and Vacuum Electronic Devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Omelchenko, Yuri; Na, Dong-Yeop; Teixeira, Fernando

2017-10-01

We transform the state-of-the art of plasma modeling by taking advantage of novel computational techniques for fast and robust integration of multiscale hybrid (full particle ions, fluid electrons, no displacement current) and full-PIC models. These models are implemented in 3D HYPERS and axisymmetric full-PIC CONPIC codes. HYPERS is a massively parallel, asynchronous code. The HYPERS solver does not step fields and particles synchronously in time but instead executes local variable updates (events) at their self-adaptive rates while preserving fundamental conservation laws. The charge-conserving CONPIC code has a matrix-free explicit finite-element (FE) solver based on a sparse-approximate inverse (SPAI) algorithm. This explicit solver approximates the inverse FE system matrix (``mass'' matrix) using successive sparsity pattern orders of the original matrix. It does not reduce the set of Maxwell's equations to a vector-wave (curl-curl) equation of second order but instead utilizes the standard coupled first-order Maxwell's system. We discuss the ability of our codes to accurately and efficiently account for multiscale physical phenomena in 3D magnetized space and laboratory plasmas and axisymmetric vacuum electronic devices.
Design of multivariable feedback control systems via spectral assignment using reduced-order models and reduced-order observers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mielke, R. R.; Tung, L. J.; Carraway, P. I., III

1984-01-01

The feasibility of using reduced order models and reduced order observers with eigenvalue/eigenvector assignment procedures is investigated. A review of spectral assignment synthesis procedures is presented. Then, a reduced order model which retains essential system characteristics is formulated. A constant state feedback matrix which assigns desired closed loop eigenvalues and approximates specified closed loop eigenvectors is calculated for the reduced order model. It is shown that the eigenvalue and eigenvector assignments made in the reduced order system are retained when the feedback matrix is implemented about the full order system. In addition, those modes and associated eigenvectors which are not included in the reduced order model remain unchanged in the closed loop full order system. The full state feedback design is then implemented by using a reduced order observer. It is shown that the eigenvalue and eigenvector assignments of the closed loop full order system rmain unchanged when a reduced order observer is used. The design procedure is illustrated by an actual design problem.
Design of multivariable feedback control systems via spectral assignment using reduced-order models and reduced-order observers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mielke, R. R.; Tung, L. J.; Carraway, P. I., III

1985-01-01

The feasibility of using reduced order models and reduced order observers with eigenvalue/eigenvector assignment procedures is investigated. A review of spectral assignment synthesis procedures is presented. Then, a reduced order model which retains essential system characteristics is formulated. A constant state feedback matrix which assigns desired closed loop eigenvalues and approximates specified closed loop eigenvectors is calculated for the reduced order model. It is shown that the eigenvalue and eigenvector assignments made in the reduced order system are retained when the feedback matrix is implemented about the full order system. In addition, those modes and associated eigenvectors which are not included in the reduced order model remain unchanged in the closed loop full order system. The fulll state feedback design is then implemented by using a reduced order observer. It is shown that the eigenvalue and eigenvector assignments of the closed loop full order system remain unchanged when a reduced order observer is used. The design procedure is illustrated by an actual design problem.
Free fatty acids chain length distribution affects the permeability of skin lipid model membranes.

PubMed

Uchiyama, Masayuki; Oguri, Masashi; Mojumdar, Enamul H; Gooris, Gert S; Bouwstra, Joke A

2016-09-01

The lipid matrix in the stratum corneum (SC) plays an important role in the barrier function of the skin. The main lipid classes in this lipid matrix are ceramides (CERs), cholesterol (CHOL) and free fatty acids (FFAs). The aim of this study was to determine whether a variation in CER subclass composition and chain length distribution of FFAs affect the permeability of this matrix. To examine this, we make use of lipid model membranes, referred to as stratum corneum substitute (SCS). We prepared SCS containing i) single CER subclass with either a single FFA or a mixture of FFAs and CHOL, or ii) a mixture of various CER subclasses with either a single FFA or a mixture of FFAs and CHOL. In vitro permeation studies were performed using ethyl-p-aminobenzoic acid (E-PABA) as a model drug. The flux of E-PABA across the SCS containing the mixture of FFAs was higher than that across the SCS containing a single FA with a chain length of 24 C atoms (FA C24), while the E-PABA flux was not effected by the CER composition. To select the underlying factors for the changes in permeability, the SCSs were examined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). All lipid models demonstrated a similar phase behavior. However, when focusing on the conformational ordering of the individual FFA chains, the shorter chain FFA (with a chain length of 16, 18 or 20 C atoms forming only 11m/m% of the total FFA level) had a higher conformational disordering, while the conformational ordering of the chains of the CER and FA C24 and FA C22 hardly did not change irrespective of the composition of the SCS. In conclusion, the conformational mobility of the short chain FFAs present only at low levels in the model SC lipid membranes has a great impact on the permeability of E-PABA. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Multidimensional Compressed Sensing MRI Using Tensor Decomposition-Based Sparsifying Transform

PubMed Central

Yu, Yeyang; Jin, Jin; Liu, Feng; Crozier, Stuart

2014-01-01

Compressed Sensing (CS) has been applied in dynamic Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to accelerate the data acquisition without noticeably degrading the spatial-temporal resolution. A suitable sparsity basis is one of the key components to successful CS applications. Conventionally, a multidimensional dataset in dynamic MRI is treated as a series of two-dimensional matrices, and then various matrix/vector transforms are used to explore the image sparsity. Traditional methods typically sparsify the spatial and temporal information independently. In this work, we propose a novel concept of tensor sparsity for the application of CS in dynamic MRI, and present the Higher-order Singular Value Decomposition (HOSVD) as a practical example. Applications presented in the three- and four-dimensional MRI data demonstrate that HOSVD simultaneously exploited the correlations within spatial and temporal dimensions. Validations based on cardiac datasets indicate that the proposed method achieved comparable reconstruction accuracy with the low-rank matrix recovery methods and, outperformed the conventional sparse recovery methods. PMID:24901331
Kinetic analysis of dihydroxyacetone production from crude glycerol by immobilized cells of Gluconobacter oxydans MTCC 904.

PubMed

Dikshit, Pritam Kumar; Moholkar, Vijayanand S

2016-09-01

The present study has investigated kinetic features of bioconversion of biodiesel-derived crude glycerol to dihydroxyacetone with immobilized Gluconobacter oxydans cells using modified Haldane substrate-inhibition model. The results have been compared against free cells and pure glycerol. Relative variations in the kinetic parameters KS, KI, Vmax, n and X reveal that immobilized G. oxydans cells (on PU foam substrate) with crude glycerol as substrate give higher order of inhibition (n) and lower maximum reaction velocities (Vmax). These results are essentially implications of substrate transport restrictions across immobilization matrix, which causes retention of substrate in the matrix and reduction in fractional available substrate (X) for the cells. This causes reduction in both KS (substrate concentration at Vmax/2) and KI (inhibition constant) as compared to free cells. For immobilized cells, substrate concentration (Smax) corresponding to Vmax is practically same for both pure and crude glycerol as substrate. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Application of higher order SVD to vibration-based system identification and damage detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chao, Shu-Hsien; Loh, Chin-Hsiung; Weng, Jian-Huang

2012-04-01

Singular value decomposition (SVD) is a powerful linear algebra tool. It is widely used in many different signal processing methods, such principal component analysis (PCA), singular spectrum analysis (SSA), frequency domain decomposition (FDD), subspace identification and stochastic subspace identification method ( SI and SSI ). In each case, the data is arranged appropriately in matrix form and SVD is used to extract the feature of the data set. In this study three different algorithms on signal processing and system identification are proposed: SSA, SSI-COV and SSI-DATA. Based on the extracted subspace and null-space from SVD of data matrix, damage detection algorithms can be developed. The proposed algorithm is used to process the shaking table test data of the 6-story steel frame. Features contained in the vibration data are extracted by the proposed method. Damage detection can then be investigated from the test data of the frame structure through subspace-based and nullspace-based damage indices.
High-pressure Phase Ge nanoparticles and Si-ZnS nanocomposites: New Paradigms to Improve the Efficiency of MEG Solar Cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wippermann, Stefan; Voros, Marton; Somogyi, Balint; Gali, Adam; Rocca, Dario; Gygi, Francois; Zimanyi, Gergely; Galli, Giulia

2014-03-01

The efficiency of nanoparticle (NP) solar cells may substantially exceed the Shockley-Queisser limit by exploiting multi-exciton generation. However, (i) quantum confinement tends to increase the electronic gap and thus the MEG threshold beyond the solar spectrum and (ii) charge extraction through NP networks may be hindered by facile recombination. Using ab initio calculations we found that (i) Ge NPs with exotic core structures such as BC8 exhibit significantly lower gaps and MEG thresholds than particles with diamond cores, and an order of magnitude higher MEG rates. (ii) We also investigated Si NPs embedded in a ZnS host matrix and observed complementary charge transport networks, where electron transport occurs by hopping between NPs and hole transport through the ZnS-matrix. Such complementary pathways may substantially reduce recombination, as was indeed observed in recent experiments. We employed several levels of theory, including DFT with hybrid functionals and GW calculations.
Linear and Nonlinear Optical Properties of Spherical Quantum Dots: Effects of Hydrogenic Impurity and Conduction Band Non-Parabolicity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rezaei, G.; Vaseghi, B.; Doostimotlagh, N. A.

2012-03-01

Simultaneous effects of an on-center hydrogenic impurity and band edge non-parabolicity on intersubband optical absorption coefficients and refractive index changes of a typical GaAs/AlxGa1-x As spherical quantum dot are theoretically investigated, using the Luttinger—Kohn effective mass equation. So, electronic structure and optical properties of the system are studied by means of the matrix diagonalization technique and compact density matrix approach, respectively. Finally, effects of an impurity, band edge non-parabolicity, incident light intensity and the dot size on the linear, the third-order nonlinear and the total optical absorption coefficients and refractive index changes are investigated. Our results indicate that, the magnitudes of these optical quantities increase and their peaks shift to higher energies as the influences of the impurity and the band edge non-parabolicity are considered. Moreover, incident light intensity and the dot size have considerable effects on the optical absorption coefficients and refractive index changes.
Designing dairy desserts for weight management: Structure, physical properties and in vitro gastric digestion.

PubMed

Borreani, Jennifer; Llorca, Empar; Quiles, Amparo; Hernando, Isabel

2017-04-01

The first aim of this study was to observe the effect of adding dairy proteins and reducing the cream content in order to obtain healthier dairy desserts for use in weight management. The extra-whey protein low-cream sample had the densest, firmest matrix, which is related to increased satiety. The second aim was to investigate the in vitro gastric digestion behavior of whey and casein proteins in a heat-treated semisolid real food. The extra-casein protein sample matrix broke down more slowly than the others because the caseins clotted at the gastric pH. Despite being heated, the whey proteins in the panna cottas were more resistant to pepsin digestion than caseins; this is related with a higher satiety capacity. These findings suggest that the combination of reducing fat content (to obtain a reduced energy density product) and adding whey protein (to increase satiety capacity) allows obtaining dairy desserts for weight management. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Three dimensional iterative beam propagation method for optical waveguide devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, Changbao; Van Keuren, Edward

2006-10-01

The finite difference beam propagation method (FD-BPM) is an effective model for simulating a wide range of optical waveguide structures. The classical FD-BPMs are based on the Crank-Nicholson scheme, and in tridiagonal form can be solved using the Thomas method. We present a different type of algorithm for 3-D structures. In this algorithm, the wave equation is formulated into a large sparse matrix equation which can be solved using iterative methods. The simulation window shifting scheme and threshold technique introduced in our earlier work are utilized to overcome the convergence problem of iterative methods for large sparse matrix equation and wide-angle simulations. This method enables us to develop higher-order 3-D wide-angle (WA-) BPMs based on Pade approximant operators and the multistep method, which are commonly used in WA-BPMs for 2-D structures. Simulations using the new methods will be compared to the analytical results to assure its effectiveness and applicability.
Matrix stiffness-upregulated LOXL2 promotes fibronectin production, MMP9 and CXCL12 expression and BMDCs recruitment to assist pre-metastatic niche formation.

PubMed

Wu, Sifan; Zheng, Qiongdan; Xing, Xiaoxia; Dong, Yinying; Wang, Yaohui; You, Yang; Chen, Rongxin; Hu, Chao; Chen, Jie; Gao, Dongmei; Zhao, Yan; Wang, Zhiming; Xue, Tongchun; Ren, Zhenggang; Cui, Jiefeng

2018-05-04

Higher matrix stiffness affects biological behavior of tumor cells, regulates tumor-associated gene/miRNA expression and stemness characteristic, and contributes to tumor invasion and metastasis. However, the linkage between higher matrix stiffness and pre-metastatic niche in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still largely unknown. We comparatively analyzed the expressions of LOX family members in HCC cells grown on different stiffness substrates, and speculated that the secreted LOXL2 may mediate the linkage between higher matrix stiffness and pre-metastatic niche. Subsequently, we investigated the underlying molecular mechanism by which matrix stiffness induced LOXL2 expression in HCC cells, and explored the effects of LOXL2 on pre-metastatic niche formation, such as BMCs recruitment, fibronectin production, MMPs and CXCL12 expression, cell adhesion, etc. RESULTS: Higher matrix stiffness significantly upregulated LOXL2 expression in HCC cells, and activated JNK/c-JUN signaling pathway. Knockdown of integrin β1 and α5 suppressed LOXL2 expression and reversed the activation of above signaling pathway. Additionally, JNK inhibitor attenuated the expressions of p-JNK, p-c-JUN, c-JUN and LOXL2, and shRNA-c-JUN also decreased LOXL2 expression. CM-LV-LOXL2-OE and rhLOXL2 upregulated MMP9 expression and fibronectin production obviously in lung fibroblasts. Moreover, activation of Akt pathway contributed to LOXL2-induced fibronectin upregulation. LOXL2 in CM as chemoattractant increased motility and invasion of BMCs, implicating a significant role of LOXL2 in BMCs recruitment. Except that, CM-LV-LOXL2-OE as chemoattractant also increased the number of migrated HCC cells, and improved chemokine CXCL12 expression in lung fibroblasts. The number of HCC cells adhered to surface of lung fibroblasts treated with CM-LV-LOXL2-OE was remarkably higher than that of the control cells. These results indicated that the secreted LOXL2 facilitated the motility of HCC cells and strengthened CTCs settlement on the remodeled matrix "soil". Integrin β1/α5/JNK/c-JUN signaling pathway participates in higher matrix stiffness-induced LOXL2 upregulation in HCC cells. The secreted LOXL2 promotes fibronectin production, MMP9 and CXCL12 expression and BMDCs recruitment to assist pre-metastatic niche formation.
Study of Interpolated Timing Recovery Phase-Locked Loop with Linearly Constrained Adaptive Prefilter for Higher-Density Optical Disc

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kajiwara, Yoshiyuki; Shiraishi, Junya; Kobayashi, Shoei; Yamagami, Tamotsu

2009-03-01

A digital phase-locked loop (PLL) with a linearly constrained adaptive filter (LCAF) has been studied for higher-linear-density optical discs. LCAF has been implemented before an interpolated timing recovery (ITR) PLL unit in order to improve the quality of phase error calculation by using an adaptively equalized partial response (PR) signal. Coefficient update of an asynchronous sampled adaptive FIR filter with a least-mean-square (LMS) algorithm has been constrained by a projection matrix in order to suppress the phase shift of the tap coefficients of the adaptive filter. We have developed projection matrices that are suitable for Blu-ray disc (BD) drive systems by numerical simulation. Results have shown the properties of the projection matrices. Then, we have designed the read channel system of the ITR PLL with an LCAF model on the FPGA board for experiments. Results have shown that the LCAF improves the tilt margins of 30 gigabytes (GB) recordable BD (BD-R) and 33 GB BD read-only memory (BD-ROM) with a sufficient LMS adaptation stability.
Morphological Diversity and Polymorphism of Self-Assembling Collagen Peptides Controlled by Length of Hydrophobic Domains

PubMed Central

2015-01-01

Synthetic collagen mimetic peptides are used to probe the role of hydrophobic forces in mediating protein self-assembly. Higher order association is an integral property of natural collagens, which assemble into fibers and meshes that comprise the extracellular matrix of connective tissues. The unique triple-helix fold fully exposes two-thirds of positions in the protein to solvent, providing ample opportunities for engineering interaction sites. Inclusion of just a few hydrophobic groups in a minimal peptide promotes a rich variety of self-assembly behaviors, resulting in hundred-nanometer to micron size nanodiscs and nanofibers. Morphology depends primarily on the length of hydrophobic domains. Peptide discs contain lipophilic domains capable of sequestering small hydrophobic dyes. Combining multiple peptide types result in composite structures of discs and fibers ranging from stars to plates-on-a-string. These systems provide valuable tools to shed insight into the fundamental principles underlying hydrophobicity-driven higher order protein association that will facilitate the design of self-assembling systems in biomaterials and nanomedical applications. PMID:25390880
Noniterative MAP reconstruction using sparse matrix representations.

PubMed

Cao, Guangzhi; Bouman, Charles A; Webb, Kevin J

2009-09-01

We present a method for noniterative maximum a posteriori (MAP) tomographic reconstruction which is based on the use of sparse matrix representations. Our approach is to precompute and store the inverse matrix required for MAP reconstruction. This approach has generally not been used in the past because the inverse matrix is typically large and fully populated (i.e., not sparse). In order to overcome this problem, we introduce two new ideas. The first idea is a novel theory for the lossy source coding of matrix transformations which we refer to as matrix source coding. This theory is based on a distortion metric that reflects the distortions produced in the final matrix-vector product, rather than the distortions in the coded matrix itself. The resulting algorithms are shown to require orthonormal transformations of both the measurement data and the matrix rows and columns before quantization and coding. The second idea is a method for efficiently storing and computing the required orthonormal transformations, which we call a sparse-matrix transform (SMT). The SMT is a generalization of the classical FFT in that it uses butterflies to compute an orthonormal transform; but unlike an FFT, the SMT uses the butterflies in an irregular pattern, and is numerically designed to best approximate the desired transforms. We demonstrate the potential of the noniterative MAP reconstruction with examples from optical tomography. The method requires offline computation to encode the inverse transform. However, once these offline computations are completed, the noniterative MAP algorithm is shown to reduce both storage and computation by well over two orders of magnitude, as compared to a linear iterative reconstruction methods.
Effect of Nano-TiC Dispersed Particles and Electro-Codeposition Parameters on Morphology and Structure of Hybrid Ni/TiC Nanocomposite Layers.

PubMed

Benea, Lidia; Celis, Jean-Pierre

2016-04-06

This research work describes the effect of dispersed titanium carbide (TiC) nanoparticles into nickel plating bath on Ni/TiC nanostructured composite layers obtained by electro-codeposition. The surface morphology of Ni/TiC nanostructured composite layers was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The composition of coatings and the incorporation percentage of TiC nanoparticles into Ni matrix were studied and estimated by using energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). X-ray diffractometer (XRD) has been applied in order to investigate the phase structure as well as the corresponding relative texture coefficients of the composite layers. The results show that the concentration of nano-TiC particles added in the nickel electrolyte affects the inclusion percentage of TiC into Ni/TiC nano strucured layers, as well as the corresponding morphology, relative texture coefficients and thickness indicating an increasing tendency with the increasing concentration of nano-TiC concentration. By increasing the amount of TiC nanoparticles in the electrolyte, their incorporation into nickel matrix also increases. The hybrid Ni/nano-TiC composite layers obtained revealed a higher roughness and higher hardness; therefore, these layers are promising superhydrophobic surfaces for special application and could be more resistant to wear than the pure Ni layers.
Oral Delivery of Probiotics in Poultry Using pH-Sensitive Tablets.

PubMed

Jiang, Tao; Li, Hui-Shan; Han, Geon Goo; Singh, Bijay; Kang, Sang-Kee; Bok, Jin-Duck; Kim, Dae-Duk; Hong, Zhong-Shan; Choi, Yun-Jaie; Cho, Chong-Su

2017-04-28

As alternatives to antibiotics in livestocks, probiotics have been used, although most of them in the form of liquid or semisolid formulations, which show low cell viability after oral administration. Therefore, suitable dry dosage forms should be developed for livestocks to protect probiotics against the low pH in the stomach such that the products have higher probiotics survivability. Here, in order to develop a dry dosage forms of probiotics for poultry, we used hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate 55 (HPMCP 55) as a tablet-forming matrix to develop probiotics in a tablet form for poultry. Here, we made three different kinds of probiotics-loaded tablet under different compression forces and investigated their characteristics based on their survivability, morphology, disintegration time, and kinetics in simulated gastrointestinal fluid. The results indicated that the probiotics formulated in the tablets displayed higher survival rates in acidic gastric conditions than probiotics in solution. Rapid release of the probiotics from the tablets occurred in simulated intestinal fluid because of fast swelling of the tablets in neutral pH. As a matrix of tablet, HPMCP 55 provided good viability of probiotics after 6 months under refrigeration. Moreover, after oral administration of probiotics-loaded tablets to chicken, more viable probiotics were observed, than with solution type, through several digestive areas of chicken by the tablets.
Chemical disorder and 207Pb hyperfine fields in the magnetoelectric multiferroic Pb (F e1 /2S b1 /2 ) O3 and its solid solution with Pb (F e1 /2N b1 /2) O3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zagorodniy, Yu. O.; Kuzian, R. O.; Kondakova, I. V.; Maryško, M.; Chlan, V.; Štěpánková, H.; Olekhnovich, N. M.; Pushkarev, A. V.; Radyush, Yu. V.; Raevski, I. P.; Zalar, B.; Laguta, V. V.; Stephanovich, V. A.

2018-01-01

We report on the results of magnetic susceptibility, electron paramagnetic resonance, and 207Pb nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies of the magnetoelectric multiferroic Pb (F e1 /2S b1 /2 ) O3 (PFS) ceramic, as well as its solid solution with Pb (F e1 /2N b1 /2) O3 (PFN) of different degrees of the 1:1 ordering of magnetic F e3 + and nonmagnetic S b5 + ions. The ordering has been studied by x-ray diffraction (XRD) and NMR methods. In particular, two spectral lines, originating from the ordered and disordered regions, respectively, are resolved in the 207Pb NMR spectra. This demonstrates the presence of spatially heterogeneous ordering where ordered regions are embedded into a disordered matrix. Combining XRD and NMR data, we have determined both the long-range order parameter s and the volume fraction of ordered regions s' for all investigated samples. The values vary in the range s =0 -0.93 and s'=0 -1 . We have found that the 207Pb Fermi contact interaction strongly depends on the disorder in the Fe/Sb positions: whereas it reaches 7.08 MHz in the ordered lattice, it is almost zero in the disordered environment. These results are further supported by the studies of PFS-PFN solid solutions. The analysis of experimental data in terms of density functional theory reveals a noticeably higher hybridization between Pb 6s and Fe 3d orbitals in the ordered case. The ordering of magnetic and nonmagnetic ions has a strong impact on the magnetic properties of PFS, leading to a transformation of the long-range ordered antiferromagnetic phase in chemically ordered samples to the spin glass state already in partially (s =0.35 ) disordered specimens. In our opinion, the difference in the magnetic properties of PFN and PFS is related to the fact that PFN is completely disordered, in contrast to PFS, which is only partially disordered, with small ordered regions existing in the disordered matrix that prevent the percolation of the nearest-neighbor Fe-Fe exchange interaction across the lattice.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Precipitation behavior of B2-ordered aluminide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, Chang-Suk

2006-12-01

Fine dispersion of disordered phases is obtained in Ni-Al-Cr and Fe-Al-Co temary systems. A transmission electron microscope investigation has been performed on the precipitation of α-Cr in B2-ordered β-NiAl with different stoichiometry and α-Fe in B2-FeAl(Co) compound. Precipitation behavior and hardening were investigated by measuring the hardness variation. The hardness of NiAl and FeAl increases appreciably with the fine precipitation of α-Cr and α-Fe, and over-age softening occurs after prolonged aging. In the case of B2-NiAl(Cr), perfect lattice coherency is maintained at the interfaces between the α-Cr particles and the matrix during the initial stage of aging. After prolonged aging, a loss of coherency occurs by the attraction of matrix dislocations to the particle/matrix interface, followed by climbing around the particles. On the other hand, in the case of B2-FeAl(Co), the disordered α-Fe phase is present as a precipitate in the B2-FeAl(Co) matrix and has a cubic-cubic orientation with the matrix. At the early aging periods, prismatic dislocation loops formed in the B2-FeAl(Co) matrix. B2-FeAl(Co) matrix is typically hardened by the precipitation of α-Fe.
Comparison of Cyclic Hysteresis Behavior between Cross-Ply C/SiC and SiC/SiC Ceramic-Matrix Composites

PubMed Central

Li, Longbiao

2016-01-01

In this paper, the comparison of cyclic hysteresis behavior between cross-ply C/SiC and SiC/SiC ceramic-matrix composites (CMCs) has been investigated. The interface slip between fibers and the matrix existed in the matrix cracking mode 3 and mode 5, in which matrix cracking and interface debonding occurred in the 0° plies are considered as the major reason for hysteresis loops of cross-ply CMCs. The hysteresis loops of cross-ply C/SiC and SiC/SiC composites corresponding to different peak stresses have been predicted using present analysis. The damage parameter, i.e., the proportion of matrix cracking mode 3 in the entire matrix cracking modes of the composite, and the hysteresis dissipated energy increase with increasing peak stress. The damage parameter and hysteresis dissipated energy of C/SiC composite under low peak stress are higher than that of SiC/SiC composite; However, at high peak stress, the damage extent inside of cross-ply SiC/SiC composite is higher than that of C/SiC composite as more transverse cracks and matrix cracks connect together. PMID:28787861
Comparison of Cyclic Hysteresis Behavior between Cross-Ply C/SiC and SiC/SiC Ceramic-Matrix Composites.

PubMed

Li, Longbiao

2016-01-19

In this paper, the comparison of cyclic hysteresis behavior between cross-ply C/SiC and SiC/SiC ceramic-matrix composites (CMCs) has been investigated. The interface slip between fibers and the matrix existed in the matrix cracking mode 3 and mode 5, in which matrix cracking and interface debonding occurred in the 0° plies are considered as the major reason for hysteresis loops of cross-ply CMCs. The hysteresis loops of cross-ply C/SiC and SiC/SiC composites corresponding to different peak stresses have been predicted using present analysis. The damage parameter, i.e. , the proportion of matrix cracking mode 3 in the entire matrix cracking modes of the composite, and the hysteresis dissipated energy increase with increasing peak stress. The damage parameter and hysteresis dissipated energy of C/SiC composite under low peak stress are higher than that of SiC/SiC composite; However, at high peak stress, the damage extent inside of cross-ply SiC/SiC composite is higher than that of C/SiC composite as more transverse cracks and matrix cracks connect together.
Fast Low-Rank Bayesian Matrix Completion With Hierarchical Gaussian Prior Models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Linxiao; Fang, Jun; Duan, Huiping; Li, Hongbin; Zeng, Bing

2018-06-01

The problem of low rank matrix completion is considered in this paper. To exploit the underlying low-rank structure of the data matrix, we propose a hierarchical Gaussian prior model, where columns of the low-rank matrix are assumed to follow a Gaussian distribution with zero mean and a common precision matrix, and a Wishart distribution is specified as a hyperprior over the precision matrix. We show that such a hierarchical Gaussian prior has the potential to encourage a low-rank solution. Based on the proposed hierarchical prior model, a variational Bayesian method is developed for matrix completion, where the generalized approximate massage passing (GAMP) technique is embedded into the variational Bayesian inference in order to circumvent cumbersome matrix inverse operations. Simulation results show that our proposed method demonstrates superiority over existing state-of-the-art matrix completion methods.
Hybrid Elastin-like Polypeptide–Polyethylene Glycol (ELP-PEG) Hydrogels with Improved Transparency and Independent Control of Matrix Mechanics and Cell Ligand Density

PubMed Central

2015-01-01

Hydrogels have been developed as extracellular matrix (ECM) mimics both for therapeutic applications and basic biological studies. In particular, elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) hydrogels, which can be tuned to mimic several biochemical and physical characteristics of native ECM, have been constructed to encapsulate various types of cells to create in vitro mimics of in vivo tissues. However, ELP hydrogels become opaque at body temperature because of ELP’s lower critical solution temperature behavior. This opacity obstructs light-based observation of the morphology and behavior of encapsulated cells. In order to improve the transparency of ELP hydrogels for better imaging, we have designed a hybrid ELP-polyethylene glycol (PEG) hydrogel system that rapidly cross-links with tris(hydroxymethyl) phosphine (THP) in aqueous solution via Mannich-type condensation. As expected, addition of the hydrophilic PEG component significantly improves the light transmittance. Coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy reveals that the hybrid ELP-PEG hydrogels have smaller hydrophobic ELP aggregates at 37 °C. Importantly, this hydrogel platform enables independent tuning of adhesion ligand density and matrix stiffness, which is desirable for studies of cell–matrix interactions. Human fibroblasts encapsulated in these hydrogels show high viability (>98%) after 7 days of culture. High-resolution confocal microscopy of encapsulated fibroblasts reveals that the cells adopt a more spread morphology in response to higher RGD ligand concentrations and softer gel mechanics. PMID:25111283
Hybrid elastin-like polypeptide-polyethylene glycol (ELP-PEG) hydrogels with improved transparency and independent control of matrix mechanics and cell ligand density.

PubMed

Wang, Huiyuan; Cai, Lei; Paul, Alexandra; Enejder, Annika; Heilshorn, Sarah C

2014-09-08

Hydrogels have been developed as extracellular matrix (ECM) mimics both for therapeutic applications and basic biological studies. In particular, elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) hydrogels, which can be tuned to mimic several biochemical and physical characteristics of native ECM, have been constructed to encapsulate various types of cells to create in vitro mimics of in vivo tissues. However, ELP hydrogels become opaque at body temperature because of ELP's lower critical solution temperature behavior. This opacity obstructs light-based observation of the morphology and behavior of encapsulated cells. In order to improve the transparency of ELP hydrogels for better imaging, we have designed a hybrid ELP-polyethylene glycol (PEG) hydrogel system that rapidly cross-links with tris(hydroxymethyl) phosphine (THP) in aqueous solution via Mannich-type condensation. As expected, addition of the hydrophilic PEG component significantly improves the light transmittance. Coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy reveals that the hybrid ELP-PEG hydrogels have smaller hydrophobic ELP aggregates at 37 °C. Importantly, this hydrogel platform enables independent tuning of adhesion ligand density and matrix stiffness, which is desirable for studies of cell-matrix interactions. Human fibroblasts encapsulated in these hydrogels show high viability (>98%) after 7 days of culture. High-resolution confocal microscopy of encapsulated fibroblasts reveals that the cells adopt a more spread morphology in response to higher RGD ligand concentrations and softer gel mechanics.
Procollagen III N-terminal Propeptide and Desmosine are Released by Matrix Destruction in Pulmonary Tuberculosis

PubMed Central

Seddon, Jo; Kasprowicz, Victoria; Walker, Naomi F.; Yuen, Ho Ming; Sunpath, Henry; Tezera, Liku; Meintjes, Graeme; Wilkinson, Robert J.; Bishai, William R.; Friedland, Jon S.; Elkington, Paul T.

2013-01-01

Background. Tuberculosis is transmitted by patients with pulmonary disease. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) drive lung destruction in tuberculosis but the resulting matrix degradation products (MDPs) have not been studied. We investigate the hypothesis that MMP activity generates matrix turnover products as correlates of lung pathology. Methods. Induced sputum and plasma were collected prospectively from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive and negative patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and controls. Concentrations of MDPs and MMPs were analyzed by ELISA and Luminex array in 2 patient cohorts. Results. Procollagen III N-terminal propeptide (PIIINP) was 3.8-fold higher in induced sputum of HIV-uninfected tuberculosis patients compared to controls and desmosine, released during elastin degradation, was 2.4-fold higher. PIIINP was elevated in plasma of tuberculosis patients. Plasma PIIINP correlated with induced sputum MMP-1 concentrations and radiological scores, demonstrating that circulating MDPs reflect lung destruction. In a second patient cohort of mixed HIV seroprevalence, plasma PIIINP concentration was increased 3.0-fold above controls (P < .001). Plasma matrix metalloproteinase-8 concentrations were also higher in tuberculosis patients (P = .001). Receiver operating characteristic analysis utilizing these 2 variables demonstrated an area under the curve of 0.832 (P < .001). Conclusions. In pulmonary tuberculosis, MMP-driven immunopathology generates matrix degradation products. PMID:23922364
Improved Quality in Aerospace Testing Through the Modern Design of Experiments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

DeLoach, R.

2000-01-01

This paper illustrates how, in the presence of systematic error, the quality of an experimental result can be influenced by the order in which the independent variables are set. It is suggested that in typical experimental circumstances in which systematic errors are significant, the common practice of organizing the set point order of independent variables to maximize data acquisition rate results in a test matrix that fails to produce the highest quality research result. With some care to match the volume of data required to satisfy inference error risk tolerances, it is possible to accept a lower rate of data acquisition and still produce results of higher technical quality (lower experimental error) with less cost and in less time than conventional test procedures, simply by optimizing the sequence in which independent variable levels are set.
Development of advanced polymer nanocomposite capacitors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mendoza, Miguel

The current development of modern electronics has driven the need for new series of energy storage devices with higher energy density and faster charge/discharge rate. Batteries and capacitors are two of the most widely used energy storage devices. Compared with batteries, capacitors have higher power density and significant higher charge/discharge rate. Therefore, high energy density capacitors play a significant role in modern electronic devices, power applications, space flight technologies, hybrid electric vehicles, portable defibrillators, and pulse power applications. Dielectric film capacitors represent an exceptional alternative for developing high energy density capacitors due to their high dielectric constants, outstanding breakdown voltages, and flexibility. The implementation of high aspect ratio dielectric inclusions such as nanowires into polymer capacitors could lead to further enhancement of its energy density. Therefore, this research effort is focused on the development of a new series of dielectric capacitors composed of nanowire reinforced polymer matrix composites. This concept of nanocomposite capacitors combines the extraordinary physical and chemical properties of the one-dimension (1D) nanoceramics and high dielectric strength of polymer matrices, leading to a capacitor with improved dielectric properties and energy density. Lead-free sodium niobate (NaNbO3) and lead-containing lead magnesium niobate-lead titanate (0.65PMN-0.35PT) nanowires were synthesized following hydrothermal and sol-gel approaches, respectively. The as-prepared nanowires were mixed with a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) matrix using solution-casting method for nanocomposites fabrication. The dielectric constants and breakdown voltages of the NaNbO3/PVDF and 0.65PMN-0.35PT/PVDF nanocomposites were measured under different frequency ranges and temperatures in order to determine their maximum energy (J/cm3) and specific (J/g) densities. The electrical properties of the synthesized nanoceramics were compared with commercially available barium titanate (BaTiO3) and lead zirconate titanate Pb(ZrxTi1-x)O3 powders embedded into a PVDF matrix. The resulting dielectric film capacitors represent an excellent alternative energy storage device for future high energy density applications.
Biphasic response of cell invasion to matrix stiffness in 3-dimensional biopolymer networks

PubMed Central

Lang, Nadine R.; Skodzek, Kai; Hurst, Sebastian; Mainka, Astrid; Steinwachs, Julian; Schneider, Julia; Aifantis, Katerina E.; Fabry, Ben

2015-01-01

When cells come in contact with an adhesive matrix, they begin to spread and migrate with a speed that depends on the stiffness of the extracellular matrix. On a flat surface, migration speed decreases with matrix stiffness mainly due to an increased stability of focal adhesions. In a 3-dimensional (3D) environment, cell migration is thought to be additionally impaired by the steric hindrance imposed by the surrounding matrix. For porous 3D biopolymer networks such as collagen gels, however, the effect of matrix stiffness on cell migration is difficult to separate from effects of matrix pore size and adhesive ligand density, and is therefore unknown. Here we used glutaraldehyde as a crosslinker to increase the stiffness of self-assembled collagen biopolymer networks independently of collagen concentration or pore size. Breast carcinoma cells were seeded onto the surface of 3D collagen gels, and the invasion depth was measured after 3 days of culture. Cell invasion in gels with pore sizes larger than 5 μm increased with higher gel stiffness, whereas invasion in gels with smaller pores decreased with higher gel stiffness. These data show that 3D cell invasion is enhanced by higher matrix stiffness, opposite to cell behavior in 2D, as long as the pore size does not fall below a critical value where it causes excessive steric hindrance. These findings may be important for optimizing the recellularization of soft tissue implants or for the design of 3D invasion models in cancer research. PMID:25462839
Pump RIN-induced impairments in unrepeatered transmission systems using distributed Raman amplifier.

PubMed

Cheng, Jingchi; Tang, Ming; Lau, Alan Pak Tao; Lu, Chao; Wang, Liang; Dong, Zhenhua; Bilal, Syed Muhammad; Fu, Songnian; Shum, Perry Ping; Liu, Deming

2015-05-04

High spectral efficiency modulation format based unrepeatered transmission systems using distributed Raman amplifier (DRA) have attracted much attention recently. To enhance the reach and optimize system performance, careful design of DRA is required based on the analysis of various types of impairments and their balance. In this paper, we study various pump RIN induced distortions on high spectral efficiency modulation formats. The vector theory of both 1st and higher-order stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) effect using Jones-matrix formalism is presented. The pump RIN will induce three types of distortion on high spectral efficiency signals: intensity noise stemming from SRS, phase noise stemming from cross phase modulation (XPM), and polarization crosstalk stemming from cross polarization modulation (XPolM). An analytical model for the statistical property of relative phase noise (RPN) in higher order DRA without dealing with complex vector theory is derived. The impact of pump RIN induced impairments are analyzed in polarization-multiplexed (PM)-QPSK and PM-16QAM-based unrepeatered systems simulations using 1st, 2nd and 3rd-order forward pumped Raman amplifier. It is shown that at realistic RIN levels, negligible impairments will be induced to PM-QPSK signals in 1st and 2nd order DRA, while non-negligible impairments will occur in 3rd order case. PM-16QAM signals suffer more penalties compared to PM-QPSK with the same on-off gain where both 2nd and 3rd order DRA will cause non-negligible performance degradations. We also investigate the performance of digital signal processing (DSP) algorithms to mitigate such impairments.
Protein structure similarity from Principle Component Correlation analysis.

PubMed

Zhou, Xiaobo; Chou, James; Wong, Stephen T C

2006-01-25

Owing to rapid expansion of protein structure databases in recent years, methods of structure comparison are becoming increasingly effective and important in revealing novel information on functional properties of proteins and their roles in the grand scheme of evolutionary biology. Currently, the structural similarity between two proteins is measured by the root-mean-square-deviation (RMSD) in their best-superimposed atomic coordinates. RMSD is the golden rule of measuring structural similarity when the structures are nearly identical; it, however, fails to detect the higher order topological similarities in proteins evolved into different shapes. We propose new algorithms for extracting geometrical invariants of proteins that can be effectively used to identify homologous protein structures or topologies in order to quantify both close and remote structural similarities. We measure structural similarity between proteins by correlating the principle components of their secondary structure interaction matrix. In our approach, the Principle Component Correlation (PCC) analysis, a symmetric interaction matrix for a protein structure is constructed with relationship parameters between secondary elements that can take the form of distance, orientation, or other relevant structural invariants. When using a distance-based construction in the presence or absence of encoded N to C terminal sense, there are strong correlations between the principle components of interaction matrices of structurally or topologically similar proteins. The PCC method is extensively tested for protein structures that belong to the same topological class but are significantly different by RMSD measure. The PCC analysis can also differentiate proteins having similar shapes but different topological arrangements. Additionally, we demonstrate that when using two independently defined interaction matrices, comparison of their maximum eigenvalues can be highly effective in clustering structurally or topologically similar proteins. We believe that the PCC analysis of interaction matrix is highly flexible in adopting various structural parameters for protein structure comparison.

Comparison of Transmission Line Methods for Surface Acoustic Wave Modeling

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wilson, William; Atkinson, Gary

2009-01-01

Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) technology is low cost, rugged, lightweight, extremely low power and can be used to develop passive wireless sensors. For these reasons, NASA is investigating the use of SAW technology for Integrated Vehicle Health Monitoring (IVHM) of aerospace structures. To facilitate rapid prototyping of passive SAW sensors for aerospace applications, SAW models have been developed. This paper reports on the comparison of three methods of modeling SAWs. The three models are the Impulse Response Method (a first order model), and two second order matrix methods; the conventional matrix approach, and a modified matrix approach that is extended to include internal finger reflections. The second order models are based upon matrices that were originally developed for analyzing microwave circuits using transmission line theory. Results from the models are presented with measured data from devices. Keywords: Surface Acoustic Wave, SAW, transmission line models, Impulse Response Method.
Quark Physics without Quarks: A Review of Recent Developments in S-Matrix Theory.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Capra, Fritjof

1979-01-01

Reviews the developments in S-matrix theory over the past five years which have made it possible to derive results characteristic of quark models without any need to postulate the existence of physical quarks. In the new approach, the quark patterns emerge as a consequence of combining the general S-matrix principles with the concept of order.…
Subclinical atherosclerosis is linked to small intestinal bacterial overgrowth via vitamin K2-dependent mechanisms

PubMed Central

Ponziani, Francesca Romana; Pompili, Maurizio; Di Stasio, Enrico; Zocco, Maria Assunta; Gasbarrini, Antonio; Flore, Roberto

2017-01-01

AIM To assess the rate of matrix Gla-protein carboxylation in patients with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and to decipher its association with subclinical atherosclerosis. METHODS Patients with suspected SIBO who presented with a low risk for cardiovascular disease and showed no evidence of atherosclerotic plaques were included in the study. A glucose breath test was performed in order to confirm the diagnosis of SIBO and vascular assessment was carried out by ultrasound examination. Plasma levels of the inactive form of MGP (dephosphorylated-uncarboxylated matrix Gla-protein) were quantified by ELISA and vitamin K2 intake was estimated using a food frequency questionnaire. RESULTS Thirty-nine patients were included in the study. SIBO was confirmed in 12/39 (30.8%) patients who also presented with a higher concentration of dephosphorylated-uncarboxylated matrix Gla-protein (9.5 μg/L vs 4.2 μg/L; P = 0.004). Arterial stiffness was elevated in the SIBO group (pulse-wave velocity 10.25 m/s vs 7.68 m/s; P = 0.002) and this phenomenon was observed to correlate linearly with the levels of dephosphorylated-uncarboxylated matrix Gla-protein (β = 0.220, R2 = 0.366, P = 0.03). Carotid intima-media thickness and arterial calcifications were not observed to be significantly elevated as compared to controls. CONCLUSION SIBO is associated with reduced matrix Gla-protein activation as well as arterial stiffening. Both these observations are regarded as important indicators of subclinical atherosclerosis. Hence, screening for SIBO, intestinal decontamination and supplementation with vitamin K2 has the potential to be incorporated into clinical practice as additional preventive measures. PMID:28275304
Investigation of orifice aeroacoustics by means of multi-port methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sack, Stefan; Åbom, Mats

2017-10-01

Comprehensive methods to cascade active multi-ports, e.g., for acoustic network prediction, have until now only been available for plane waves. This paper presents procedures to combine multi-ports with an arbitrary number of considered duct modes. A multi-port method is used to extract complex mode amplitudes from experimental data of single and tandem in-duct orifice plates for Helmholtz numbers up to around 4 and, hence, beyond the cut-on of several higher order modes. The theory of connecting single multi-ports to linear cascades is derived for the passive properties (the scattering of the system) and the active properties (the source cross-spectrum matrix of the system). One scope of this paper is to investigate the influence of the hydrodynamic near field on the accuracy of both the passive and the active predictions in multi-port cascades. The scattering and the source cross-spectrum matrix of tandem orifice configurations is measured for three cases, namely, with a distance between the plates of 10 duct diameter, for which the downstream orifice is outside the jet of the upstream orifice, 4 duct diameter, and 2 duct diameter (both inside the jet). The results are compared with predictions from single orifice measurements. It is shown that the scattering is only sensitive to disturbed inflow in certain frequency ranges where coupling between the flow and sound field exists, whereas the source cross-spectrum matrix is very sensitive to disturbed inflow for all frequencies. An important part of the analysis is based on an eigenvalue analysis of the scattering matrix and the source cross-spectrum matrix to evaluate the potential of sound amplification and dominant source mechanisms.
Fibronectin-tethered graphene oxide as an artificial matrix for osteogenesis.

PubMed

Subbiah, Ramesh; Du, Ping; Van, Se Young; Suhaeri, Muhammad; Hwang, Mintai P; Lee, Kangwon; Park, Kwideok

2014-10-20

An artificial matrix (Fn-Tigra), consisting of graphene oxide (GO) and fibronectin (Fn), is developed on pure titanium (Ti) substrates via an electrodropping technique assisted with a custom-made coaxial needle. The morphology and topography of the resulting artificial matrix is orderly aligned and composed of porous microcavities. In addition, Fn is homogenously distributed and firmly bound onto GO as determined via immunofluorescence and elemental mapping, respectively. The artificial matrix is moderately hydrophobic (63.7°), and exhibits an average roughness of 546 nm and a Young's modulus (E) of approximately 4.8 GPa. The biocompatibility, cellular behavior, and osteogenic potential of preosteoblasts on Fn-Tigra are compared to those of cells cultured on Ti and Ti-GO (Tigra). Cell proliferation and viability are significantly higher on Fn-Tigra and Tigra than that of cells grown on Ti. Focal adhesion molecule (vinculin) expression is highly activated at the central and peripheral area of preosteoblasts when cultured on Fn-Tigra. Furthermore, we demonstrate enhanced in vitro osteogenic differentiation of preosteoblasts cultured on Fn-Tigra over those cultured on bare Ti, as determined via Alizarin red and von Kossa staining, and the analysis of osteocalcin, type I collagen, alkaline phosphatase activity, and calcium contents. Finally, we investigate the biophysical and biomechanical properties of the cells using AFM. While the height and roughness of preosteoblasts increased with time, cell surface area decreased during in vitro osteogenesis over 2 weeks. In addition, the E of cells cultured on Tigra and Fn-Tigra increase in a statistically significant and time-dependent manner by 30%, while those cultured on bare Ti retain a relatively consistent E. In summary, we engineer a biocompatible artificial matrix (Fn-Tigra) capable of osteogenic induction and consequently demonstrate its potential in bone tissue engineering applications.
Decellularized Cartilage May Be a Chondroinductive Material for Osteochondral Tissue Engineering

PubMed Central

Sutherland, Amanda J.; Beck, Emily C.; Dennis, S. Connor; Converse, Gabriel L.; Hopkins, Richard A.; Berkland, Cory J.; Detamore, Michael S.

2015-01-01

Extracellular matrix (ECM)-based materials are attractive for regenerative medicine in their ability to potentially aid in stem cell recruitment, infiltration, and differentiation without added biological factors. In musculoskeletal tissue engineering, demineralized bone matrix is widely used, but recently cartilage matrix has been attracting attention as a potentially chondroinductive material. The aim of this study was thus to establish a chemical decellularization method for use with articular cartilage to quantify removal of cells and analyze the cartilage biochemical content at various stages during the decellularization process, which included a physically devitalization step. To study the cellular response to the cartilage matrix, rat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (rBMSCs) were cultured in cell pellets containing cells only (control), chondrogenic differentiation medium (TGF-β), chemically decellularized cartilage particles (DCC), or physically devitalized cartilage particles (DVC). The chemical decellularization process removed the vast majority of DNA and about half of the glycosaminoglycans (GAG) within the matrix, but had no significant effect on the amount of hydroxyproline. Most notably, the DCC group significantly outperformed TGF-β in chondroinduction of rBMSCs, with collagen II gene expression an order of magnitude or more higher. While DVC did not exhibit a chondrogenic response to the extent that DCC did, DVC had a greater down regulation of collagen I, collagen X and Runx2. A new protocol has been introduced for cartilage devitalization and decellularization in the current study, with evidence of chondroinductivity. Such bioactivity along with providing the ‘raw material’ building blocks of regenerating cartilage may suggest a promising role for DCC in biomaterials that rely on recruiting endogenous cell recruitment and differentiation for cartilage regeneration. PMID:25965981
Double-Vacuum-Bag Process for Making Resin-Matrix Composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bradford, Larry J.

2007-01-01

A double-vacuum-bag process has been devised as a superior alternative to a single-vacuum-bag process used heretofore in making laminated fiber-reinforced resin-matrix composite-material structural components. This process is applicable to broad classes of high-performance matrix resins including polyimides and phenolics that emit volatile compounds (solvents and volatile by-products of resin-curing chemical reactions) during processing. The superiority of the double-vacuum-bag process lies in enhanced management of the volatile compounds. Proper management of volatiles is necessary for making composite-material components of high quality: if not removed and otherwise properly managed, volatiles can accumulate in interior pockets as resins cure, thereby forming undesired voids in the finished products. The curing cycle for manufacturing a composite laminate containing a reactive resin matrix usually consists of a two-step ramp-and-hold temperature profile and an associated single-step pressure profile as shown in Figure 1. The lower-temperature ramp-and-hold step is known in the art as the B stage. During the B stage, prepregs are heated and volatiles are generated. Because pressure is not applied at this stage, volatiles are free to escape. Pressure is applied during the higher-temperature ramp-and-hold step to consolidate the laminate and impart desired physical properties to the resin matrix. The residual volatile content and fluidity of the resin at the beginning of application of consolidation pressure are determined by the temperature and time parameters of the B stage. Once the consolidation pressure is applied, residual volatiles are locked in. In order to produce a void-free, high-quality laminate, it is necessary to design the curing cycle to obtain the required residual fluidity and the required temperature at the time of application of the consolidation pressure.
Efficient electronic structure theory via hierarchical scale-adaptive coupled-cluster formalism: I. Theory and computational complexity analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lyakh, Dmitry I.

2018-03-01

A novel reduced-scaling, general-order coupled-cluster approach is formulated by exploiting hierarchical representations of many-body tensors, combined with the recently suggested formalism of scale-adaptive tensor algebra. Inspired by the hierarchical techniques from the renormalisation group approach, H/H2-matrix algebra and fast multipole method, the computational scaling reduction in our formalism is achieved via coarsening of quantum many-body interactions at larger interaction scales, thus imposing a hierarchical structure on many-body tensors of coupled-cluster theory. In our approach, the interaction scale can be defined on any appropriate Euclidean domain (spatial domain, momentum-space domain, energy domain, etc.). We show that the hierarchically resolved many-body tensors can reduce the storage requirements to O(N), where N is the number of simulated quantum particles. Subsequently, we prove that any connected many-body diagram consisting of a finite number of arbitrary-order tensors, e.g. an arbitrary coupled-cluster diagram, can be evaluated in O(NlogN) floating-point operations. On top of that, we suggest an additional approximation to further reduce the computational complexity of higher order coupled-cluster equations, i.e. equations involving higher than double excitations, which otherwise would introduce a large prefactor into formal O(NlogN) scaling.
A frequency domain global parameter estimation method for multiple reference frequency response measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shih, C. Y.; Tsuei, Y. G.; Allemang, R. J.; Brown, D. L.

1988-10-01

A method of using the matrix Auto-Regressive Moving Average (ARMA) model in the Laplace domain for multiple-reference global parameter identification is presented. This method is particularly applicable to the area of modal analysis where high modal density exists. The method is also applicable when multiple reference frequency response functions are used to characterise linear systems. In order to facilitate the mathematical solution, the Forsythe orthogonal polynomial is used to reduce the ill-conditioning of the formulated equations and to decouple the normal matrix into two reduced matrix blocks. A Complex Mode Indicator Function (CMIF) is introduced, which can be used to determine the proper order of the rational polynomials.
Silver metal nano-matrixes as high efficiency and versatile catalytic reactors for environmental remediation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dumée, Ludovic F.; Yi, Zhifeng; Tardy, Blaise; Merenda, Andrea; Des Ligneris, Elise; Dagastine, Ray R.; Kong, Lingxue

2017-03-01

Nano-porous metallic matrixes (NMMs) offer superior surface to volume ratios as well as enhanced optical, photonic, and electronic properties to bulk metallic materials. Such behaviours are correlated to the nano-scale inter-grain metal domains that favour the presence of electronic vacancies. In this work, continuous 3D NMMs were synthesized for the first time through a simple diffusion-reduction process whereby the aerogel matrix was functionalized with (3-Mercaptopropyl)trimethoxysilane. The surface energy of the silica monolith templates was tuned to improve the homogeneity of the reduction process while thiol functionalization facilitated the formation of a high density of seeding points for metal ions to reduce. The diameter of NMMs was between 2 and 1000 nm, corresponding to a silver loading between 1.23 and 41.16 at.%. A rates of catalytic degradation kinetics of these NMMS which is three orders of magnitude higher than those of the non-functionalized silver-silica structures. Furthermore, the enhancement in mechanical stability at nanoscale which was evaluated by Atomic Force Microscopy force measurements, electronic density and chemical inertness was assessed and critically correlated to their catalytic potential. This strategy opens up new avenues for design of complex architectures of either single or multi-metal alloy NMMs with enhanced surface properties for various applications.
Silver metal nano-matrixes as high efficiency and versatile catalytic reactors for environmental remediation

PubMed Central

Dumée, Ludovic F.; Yi, Zhifeng; Tardy, Blaise; Merenda, Andrea; des Ligneris, Elise; Dagastine, Ray R.; Kong, Lingxue

2017-01-01

Nano-porous metallic matrixes (NMMs) offer superior surface to volume ratios as well as enhanced optical, photonic, and electronic properties to bulk metallic materials. Such behaviours are correlated to the nano-scale inter-grain metal domains that favour the presence of electronic vacancies. In this work, continuous 3D NMMs were synthesized for the first time through a simple diffusion-reduction process whereby the aerogel matrix was functionalized with (3-Mercaptopropyl)trimethoxysilane. The surface energy of the silica monolith templates was tuned to improve the homogeneity of the reduction process while thiol functionalization facilitated the formation of a high density of seeding points for metal ions to reduce. The diameter of NMMs was between 2 and 1000 nm, corresponding to a silver loading between 1.23 and 41.16 at.%. A rates of catalytic degradation kinetics of these NMMS which is three orders of magnitude higher than those of the non-functionalized silver-silica structures. Furthermore, the enhancement in mechanical stability at nanoscale which was evaluated by Atomic Force Microscopy force measurements, electronic density and chemical inertness was assessed and critically correlated to their catalytic potential. This strategy opens up new avenues for design of complex architectures of either single or multi-metal alloy NMMs with enhanced surface properties for various applications. PMID:28332602
Mueller-matrix of laser-induced autofluorescence of polycrystalline films of dried peritoneal fluid in diagnostics of endometriosis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ushenko, Yuriy A.; Koval, Galina D.; Ushenko, Alexander G.; Dubolazov, Olexander V.; Ushenko, Vladimir A.; Novakovskaia, Olga Yu.

2016-07-01

This research presents investigation results of the diagnostic efficiency of an azimuthally stable Mueller-matrix method of analysis of laser autofluorescence of polycrystalline films of dried uterine cavity peritoneal fluid. A model of the generalized optical anisotropy of films of dried peritoneal fluid is proposed in order to define the processes of laser autofluorescence. The influence of complex mechanisms of both phase (linear and circular birefringence) and amplitude (linear and circular dichroism) anisotropies is taken into consideration. The interconnections between the azimuthally stable Mueller-matrix elements characterizing laser autofluorescence and different mechanisms of optical anisotropy are determined. The statistical analysis of coordinate distributions of such Mueller-matrix rotation invariants is proposed. Thereupon the quantitative criteria (statistic moments of the first to the fourth order) of differentiation of polycrystalline films of dried peritoneal fluid, group 1 (healthy donors) and group 2 (uterus endometriosis patients), are determined.
R4 terms in supergravities via T -duality constraint

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Razaghian, Hamid; Garousi, Mohammad R.

2018-05-01

It has been speculated in the literature that the effective actions of string theories at any order of α' should be invariant under the Buscher rules plus their higher covariant-derivative corrections. This may be used as a constraint to find effective actions at any order of α', in particular, the metric, the B -field, and the dilaton couplings in supergravities at order α'3 up to an overall factor. For the simple case of zero B -field and diagonal metric in which we have done the calculations explicitly, we have found that the constraint fixes almost all of the seven independent Riemann curvature couplings. There is only one term which is not fixed, because when metric is diagonal, the reduction of two R4 terms becomes identical. The Riemann curvature couplings that the T -duality constraint produces for both type II and heterotic theories are fully consistent with the existing couplings in the literature which have been found by the S-matrix and by the sigma-model approaches.
A sparse matrix-vector multiplication based algorithm for accurate density matrix computations on systems of millions of atoms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghale, Purnima; Johnson, Harley T.

2018-06-01

We present an efficient sparse matrix-vector (SpMV) based method to compute the density matrix P from a given Hamiltonian in electronic structure computations. Our method is a hybrid approach based on Chebyshev-Jackson approximation theory and matrix purification methods like the second order spectral projection purification (SP2). Recent methods to compute the density matrix scale as O(N) in the number of floating point operations but are accompanied by large memory and communication overhead, and they are based on iterative use of the sparse matrix-matrix multiplication kernel (SpGEMM), which is known to be computationally irregular. In addition to irregularity in the sparse Hamiltonian H, the nonzero structure of intermediate estimates of P depends on products of H and evolves over the course of computation. On the other hand, an expansion of the density matrix P in terms of Chebyshev polynomials is straightforward and SpMV based; however, the resulting density matrix may not satisfy the required constraints exactly. In this paper, we analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the Chebyshev-Jackson polynomials and the second order spectral projection purification (SP2) method, and propose to combine them so that the accurate density matrix can be computed using the SpMV computational kernel only, and without having to store the density matrix P. Our method accomplishes these objectives by using the Chebyshev polynomial estimate as the initial guess for SP2, which is followed by using sparse matrix-vector multiplications (SpMVs) to replicate the behavior of the SP2 algorithm for purification. We demonstrate the method on a tight-binding model system of an oxide material containing more than 3 million atoms. In addition, we also present the predicted behavior of our method when applied to near-metallic Hamiltonians with a wide energy spectrum.
Matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) levels are increased in active acromegaly patients.

PubMed

Karci, Alper Cagri; Canturk, Zeynep; Tarkun, Ilhan; Cetinarslan, Berrin

2017-07-01

During follow-up of acromegaly patients, there is a discordance rate of 30% between the measurements of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1 levels. Further tests are required to determine disease activity in patients with discordant results. This study was planned to investigate an association of serum levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2, matrix metalloproteinase-9, and cathepsin B with disease activity in acromegaly patients. In this study, 64 acromegaly patients followed in our clinic were divided into two groups according to the 2010 consensus criteria for cure of acromegaly as patients with active disease (n = 24) and patients with controlled disease (n = 40). Serum matrix metalloproteinase-2, matrix metalloproteinase-9, and cathepsin B levels were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. The mean serum matrix metalloproteinase-2 level was significantly higher in the active acromegaly patients than in the controlled acromegaly patients (150.1 ± 54.5 ng/mL vs. 100.2 ± 44.6 ng/mL; p < 0.0001). There was no significant difference between the active and controlled acromegaly patients regarding serum matrix metalloproteinase-9 and cathepsin B levels (p = 0.205 and p = 0.598, respectively). Serum matrix metalloproteinase-2 levels of 118.3 ng/mL and higher had a sensitivity of 75% and a specificity of 77.5% in determining active disease. The risk of active acromegaly was 3.3 fold higher in the patients with a matrix metalloproteinase-2 level of >118.3 ng/mL than in the patients with a matrix metalloproteinase-2 level of <118.3 ng/mL. In this study, serum matrix metalloproteinase-2 level is increased in the active acromegaly patients and a threshold value in determining active disease was defined for serum matrix metalloproteinase-2 level. This study is the first to compare acromegaly patients having active or controlled disease in terms of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 levels. The results need to be confirmed by a study that will be conducted in a larger patient group also including a healthy control group to demonstrate the value of this novel marker in disease activity.
Development of 10×10 Matrix-anode MCP-PMT

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Jie; Li, Yongbin; Xu, Pengxiao; Zhao, Wenjin

2018-02-01

10×10 matrix-anode is developed by high-temperature co-fired ceramics (HTCC) technology. Based on the new matrix-anode, a new kind of photon counting imaging detector - 10×10 matrix-anode MCP-PMT is developed, and its performance parameters are tested. HTCC technology is suitable for the MCP-PMT's air impermeability and its baking process. Its response uniformity is better than the metal-ceramic or metal-glass sealing anode, and it is also a promising method to realize a higher density matrix-anode.
Reduced graphene oxide aerogel networks with soft interfacial template for applications in bone tissue regeneration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Asha, S.; Ananth, A. Nimrodh; Jose, Sujin P.; Rajan, M. A. Jothi

2018-05-01

Reduced Graphene Oxide aerogels (A-RGO), functionalized with chitosan, were found to induce and/or accelerate the mineralization of hydroxyapatite. The functionalized chitosan acts as a soft interfacial template on the surface of A-RGO assisting the growth of hydroxyapatite particles. The mineralization on these soft aerogel networks was performed by soaking the aerogels in simulated body fluid, relative to time. Polymer-induced mineralization exhibited an ordered arrangement of hydroxyapatite particles on reduced graphene oxide aerogel networks with a higher crystalline index (IC) of 1.7, which mimics the natural bone formation indicating the importance of the polymeric interfacial template. These mineralized aerogels which mimic the structure and composition of natural bone exhibit relatively higher rate of cell proliferation, osteogenic differentiation and osteoid matrix formation proving it to be a potential scaffold for bone tissue regeneration.
Efficient diagonalization of the sparse matrices produced within the framework of the UK R-matrix molecular codes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Galiatsatos, P. G.; Tennyson, J.

2012-11-01

The most time consuming step within the framework of the UK R-matrix molecular codes is that of the diagonalization of the inner region Hamiltonian matrix (IRHM). Here we present the method that we follow to speed up this step. We use shared memory machines (SMM), distributed memory machines (DMM), the OpenMP directive based parallel language, the MPI function based parallel language, the sparse matrix diagonalizers ARPACK and PARPACK, a variation for real symmetric matrices of the official coordinate sparse matrix format and finally a parallel sparse matrix-vector product (PSMV). The efficient application of the previous techniques rely on two important facts: the sparsity of the matrix is large enough (more than 98%) and in order to get back converged results we need a small only part of the matrix spectrum.
Strategies to overcome pH-dependent solubility of weakly basic drugs by using different types of alginates.

PubMed

Gutsche, S; Krause, M; Kranz, H

2008-12-01

Weakly basic drugs demonstrate higher solubility at lower pH, thus often leading to faster drug release at lower pH. The objective of this study was to achieve pH-independent release of weakly basic drugs from extended release formulations based on the naturally occurring polymer sodium alginate. Three approaches to overcome the pH-dependent solubility of the weakly basic model drug verapamil hydrochloride were investigated. First, matrix tablets were prepared by direct compression of drug substance with different types of sodium alginate only. Second, pH-modifiers were added to the drug/alginate matrix systems. Third, press-coated tablets consisting of an inner pH-modifier tablet core and an outer drug/sodium alginate coat were prepared. pH-Independent drug release was achieved from matrix tablets consisting of selected alginates and drug substance only. Alginates are better soluble at higher pH. Therefore, they are able to compensate the poor solubility of weakly basic drugs at higher pH as the matrix of the tablets dissolves faster. This approach was successful when using alginates that demonstrated fast hydration and erosion at higher pH. The approach failed for alginates with less-pronounced erosion at higher pH. The addition of fumaric acid to drug/alginate-based matrix systems decreased the microenvironmental pH within the tablets thus increasing the solubility of the weakly basic drug at higher pH. Therefore, pH-independent drug release was achieved irrespective of the type of alginate used. Drug release from press-coated tablets did not provide any further advantages as compound release remained pH-dependent.
Development of sustained release antipsychotic tablets using novel polysaccharide isolated from Delonix regia seeds and its pharmacokinetic studies

PubMed Central

Krishnaraj, Kaliaperumal; Chandrasekar, Mulla Joghi Nanjan; Nanjan, Mulla Joghi; Muralidharan, Selvadurai; Manikandan, Duraikannu

2011-01-01

A natural polysaccharide was isolated from the seeds of Delonix regia. The isolated polysaccharide could maintain aqueous equilibrium between the dosage form and the surrounding medium due to its massive competence of water absorption (80.72%) and swelling index (266.7%). The Scanning Electron Micrograph of a polysaccharide exhibits rough surface with pores and crevices, hence, the drug release will be retarded because of the drug particles entrapment in the pores and crevices. Further, the surface tension of polysaccharide is higher than that of water, which may facilitate sustained release of drugs from dosage forms. An antipsychotic drug, quetiapine fumarate has a short half-life of 6 h and administered multiple times per day. Hence the quetiapine fumarate oral sustained release tablets were formulated using this polysaccharide in the concentration of 5–30% to avoid the side effects and increase patient compliance. Dissolution of the developed tablets with 25% polysaccharide content showed a better release profile than the other batches (5–20%) at the end of 12 h. The strong matrix complex has low solubility in water, it does not dissolve rapidly and the drug continues to diffuse through the gel layer at a consistent rate. Drug release from the matrix tablets follows matrix type except F-4 and F-5 which follow first order and Hix.crow type. The bioavailability study was carried out using healthy male New Zealand white rabbits that show the AUC(0–inf) value for developed SR tablets is 1.44 times higher than the reference thus, indicating more efficient and sustained drug delivery capable of maintaining plasma drug levels better. PMID:24115903

Wavelet analysis of biological tissue's Mueller-matrix images

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tomka, Yu. Ya.

2008-05-01

The interrelations between statistics of the 1st-4th orders of the ensemble of Mueller-matrix images and geometric structure of birefringent architectonic nets of different morphological structure have been analyzed. The sensitivity of asymmetry and excess of statistic distributions of matrix elements Cik to changing of orientation structure of optically anisotropic protein fibrils of physiologically normal and pathologically changed biological tissues architectonics has been shown.
A Requirements Analysis for an Integrated Maintenance Information System Application Into Theater Air Control System Maintenance

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-09-01

133 v List of Tables Table Page 1. Line Item Changes in Proposed Ground TACS SSS Matrix...39 2. Percentage of Line Item Changes in Proposed SSS Matrix for G round T A C S...modified to meet Theater Air Control System requirements. The small amount of changes required to modify the aircraft matrix in order to satisfy ground
Arikan and Alamouti matrices based on fast block-wise inverse Jacket transform

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Moon Ho; Khan, Md Hashem Ali; Kim, Kyeong Jin

2013-12-01

Recently, Lee and Hou (IEEE Signal Process Lett 13: 461-464, 2006) proposed one-dimensional and two-dimensional fast algorithms for block-wise inverse Jacket transforms (BIJTs). Their BIJTs are not real inverse Jacket transforms from mathematical point of view because their inverses do not satisfy the usual condition, i.e., the multiplication of a matrix with its inverse matrix is not equal to the identity matrix. Therefore, we mathematically propose a fast block-wise inverse Jacket transform of orders N = 2 k , 3 k , 5 k , and 6 k , where k is a positive integer. Based on the Kronecker product of the successive lower order Jacket matrices and the basis matrix, the fast algorithms for realizing these transforms are obtained. Due to the simple inverse and fast algorithms of Arikan polar binary and Alamouti multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) non-binary matrices, which are obtained from BIJTs, they can be applied in areas such as 3GPP physical layer for ultra mobile broadband permutation matrices design, first-order q-ary Reed-Muller code design, diagonal channel design, diagonal subchannel decompose for interference alignment, and 4G MIMO long-term evolution Alamouti precoding design.
On the Possibility of Ill-Conditioned Covariance Matrices in the First-Order Two-Step Estimator

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Garrison, James L.; Axelrod, Penina; Kasdin, N. Jeremy

1997-01-01

The first-order two-step nonlinear estimator, when applied to a problem of orbital navigation, is found to occasionally produce first step covariance matrices with very low eigenvalues at certain trajectory points. This anomaly is the result of the linear approximation to the first step covariance propagation. The study of this anomaly begins with expressing the propagation of the first and second step covariance matrices in terms of a single matrix. This matrix is shown to have a rank equal to the difference between the number of first step states and the number of second step states. Furthermore, under some simplifying assumptions, it is found that the basis of the column space of this matrix remains fixed once the filter has removed the large initial state error. A test matrix containing the basis of this column space and the partial derivative matrix relating first and second step states is derived. This square test matrix, which has dimensions equal to the number of first step states, numerically drops rank at the same locations that the first step covariance does. It is formulated in terms of a set of constant vectors (the basis) and a matrix which can be computed from a reference trajectory (the partial derivative matrix). A simple example problem involving dynamics which are described by two states and a range measurement illustrate the cause of this anomaly and the application of the aforementioned numerical test in more detail.
Efficient Computation of Closed-loop Frequency Response for Large Order Flexible Systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Maghami, Peiman G.; Giesy, Daniel P.

1997-01-01

An efficient and robust computational scheme is given for the calculation of the frequency response function of a large order, flexible system implemented with a linear, time invariant control system. Advantage is taken of the highly structured sparsity of the system matrix of the plant based on a model of the structure using normal mode coordinates. The computational time per frequency point of the new computational scheme is a linear function of system size, a significant improvement over traditional, full-matrix techniques whose computational times per frequency point range from quadratic to cubic functions of system size. This permits the practical frequency domain analysis of systems of much larger order than by traditional, full-matrix techniques. Formulations are given for both open and closed loop loop systems. Numerical examples are presented showing the advantages of the present formulation over traditional approaches, both in speed and in accuracy. Using a model with 703 structural modes, a speed-up of almost two orders of magnitude was observed while accuracy improved by up to 5 decimal places.
Revisiting the comparison between the Shack-Hartmann and the pyramid wavefront sensors via the Fisher information matrix.

PubMed

Plantet, C; Meimon, S; Conan, J-M; Fusco, T

2015-11-02

Exoplanet direct imaging with large ground based telescopes requires eXtreme Adaptive Optics that couples high-order adaptive optics and coronagraphy. A key element of such systems is the high-order wavefront sensor. We study here several high-order wavefront sensing approaches, and more precisely compare their sensitivity to noise. Three techniques are considered: the classical Shack-Hartmann sensor, the pyramid sensor and the recently proposed LIFTed Shack-Hartmann sensor. They are compared in a unified framework based on precise diffractive models and on the Fisher information matrix, which conveys the information present in the data whatever the estimation method. The diagonal elements of the inverse of the Fisher information matrix, which we use as a figure of merit, are similar to noise propagation coefficients. With these diagonal elements, so called "Fisher coefficients", we show that the LIFTed Shack-Hartmann and pyramid sensors outperform the classical Shack-Hartmann sensor. In photon noise regime, the LIFTed Shack-Hartmann and modulated pyramid sensors obtain a similar overall noise propagation. The LIFTed Shack-Hartmann sensor however provides attractive noise properties on high orders.
Sparse Gaussian elimination with controlled fill-in on a shared memory multiprocessor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Alaghband, Gita; Jordan, Harry F.

1989-01-01

It is shown that in sparse matrices arising from electronic circuits, it is possible to do computations on many diagonal elements simultaneously. A technique for obtaining an ordered compatible set directly from the ordered incompatible table is given. The ordering is based on the Markowitz number of the pivot candidates. This technique generates a set of compatible pivots with the property of generating few fills. A novel heuristic algorithm is presented that combines the idea of an order-compatible set with a limited binary tree search to generate several sets of compatible pivots in linear time. An elimination set for reducing the matrix is generated and selected on the basis of a minimum Markowitz sum number. The parallel pivoting technique presented is a stepwise algorithm and can be applied to any submatrix of the original matrix. Thus, it is not a preordering of the sparse matrix and is applied dynamically as the decomposition proceeds. Parameters are suggested to obtain a balance between parallelism and fill-ins. Results of applying the proposed algorithms on several large application matrices using the HEP multiprocessor (Kowalik, 1985) are presented and analyzed.
Undoped p-type GaN1-xSbx alloys: Effects of annealing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Segercrantz, N.; Baumgartner, Y.; Ting, M.; Yu, K. M.; Mao, S. S.; Sarney, W. L.; Svensson, S. P.; Walukiewicz, W.

2016-12-01

We report p-type behavior for undoped GaN1-xSbx alloys with x ≥ 0.06 grown by molecular beam epitaxy at low temperatures (≤400 °C). Rapid thermal annealing of the GaN1-xSbx films at temperatures >400 °C is shown to generate hole concentrations greater than 1019 cm-3, an order of magnitude higher than typical p-type GaN achieved by Mg doping. The p-type conductivity is attributed to a large upward shift of the valence band edge resulting from the band anticrossing interaction between localized Sb levels and extended states of the host matrix.
Path-integral approach to the Wigner-Kirkwood expansion.

PubMed

Jizba, Petr; Zatloukal, Václav

2014-01-01

We study the high-temperature behavior of quantum-mechanical path integrals. Starting from the Feynman-Kac formula, we derive a functional representation of the Wigner-Kirkwood perturbation expansion for quantum Boltzmann densities. As shown by its applications to different potentials, the presented expansion turns out to be quite efficient in generating analytic form of the higher-order expansion coefficients. To put some flesh on the bare bones, we apply the expansion to obtain basic thermodynamic functions of the one-dimensional anharmonic oscillator. Further salient issues, such as generalization to the Bloch density matrix and comparison with the more customary world-line formulation, are discussed.
Matrix polyelectrolyte capsules based on polysaccharide/MnCO₃ hybrid microparticle templates.

PubMed

Wei, Qingrong; Ai, Hua; Gu, Zhongwei

2011-06-15

An efficient strategy for biomacromolecule encapsulation based on spontaneous deposition into polysaccharide matrix-containing capsules is introduced in this study. First, hybrid microparticles composed of manganese carbonate and ionic polysaccharides including sodium hyaluronate (HA), sodium alginate (SA) and dextran sulfate sodium (DS) with narrow size distribution were synthesized to provide monodisperse templates. Incorporation of polysaccharide into the hybrid templates was successful as verified by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Matrix polyelectrolyte microcapsules were fabricated through layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes (PEs) onto the hybrid particles, followed by removal of the inorganic part of the cores, leaving polysaccharide matrix inside the capsules. The loading and release properties of the matrix microcapsules were investigated using myoglobin as a model biomacromolecule. Compared to matrix-free capsules, the matrix capsules had a much higher loading capacity up to four times; the driving force is mostly due to electrostatic interactions between myoglobin and the polysaccharide matrix. From our observations, for the same kind of polysaccharide, a higher amount of polysaccharide inside the capsules usually led to better loading capacity. The release behavior of the loaded myoglobin could be readily controlled by altering the environmental pH. These matrix microcapsules may be used as efficient delivery systems for various charged water-soluble macromolecules with applications in biomedical fields. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
18F-FDG PET radiomics approaches: comparing and clustering features in cervical cancer.

PubMed

Tsujikawa, Tetsuya; Rahman, Tasmiah; Yamamoto, Makoto; Yamada, Shizuka; Tsuyoshi, Hideaki; Kiyono, Yasushi; Kimura, Hirohiko; Yoshida, Yoshio; Okazawa, Hidehiko

2017-11-01

The aims of our study were to find the textural features on 18 F-FDG PET/CT which reflect the different histological architectures between cervical cancer subtypes and to make a visual assessment of the association between 18 F-FDG PET textural features in cervical cancer. Eighty-three cervical cancer patients [62 squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) and 21 non-SCCs (NSCCs)] who had undergone pretreatment 18 F-FDG PET/CT were enrolled. A texture analysis was performed on PET/CT images, from which 18 PET radiomics features were extracted including first-order features such as standardized uptake value (SUV), metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG), second- and high-order textural features using SUV histogram, normalized gray-level co-occurrence matrix (NGLCM), and neighborhood gray-tone difference matrix, respectively. These features were compared between SCC and NSCC using a Bonferroni adjusted P value threshold of 0.0028 (0.05/18). To assess the association between PET features, a heat map analysis with hierarchical clustering, one of the radiomics approaches, was performed. Among 18 PET features, correlation, a second-order textural feature derived from NGLCM, was a stable parameter and it was the only feature which showed a robust trend toward significant difference between SCC and NSCC. Cervical SCC showed a higher correlation (0.70 ± 0.07) than NSCC (0.64 ± 0.07, P = 0.0030). The other PET features did not show any significant differences between SCC and NSCC. A higher correlation in SCC might reflect higher structural integrity and stronger spatial/linear relationship of cancer cells compared with NSCC. A heat map with a PET feature dendrogram clearly showed 5 distinct clusters, where correlation belonged to a cluster including MTV and TLG. However, the association between correlation and MTV/TLG was not strong. Correlation was a relatively independent PET feature in cervical cancer. 18 F-FDG PET textural features might reflect the differences in histological architecture between cervical cancer subtypes. PET radiomics approaches reveal the association between PET features and will be useful for finding a single feature or a combination of features leading to precise diagnoses, potential prognostic models, and effective therapeutic strategies.
Future geodesy missions: Tethered systems and formation flying

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fontdecaba, Jordi; Sanjurjo, Manuel; Pelaez, Jesus; Metris, Gilles; Exertier, Pierre

Recent gravity field determination missions have shown the possibility of improving our Earth knowledge from space. GRACE has helped to the determination of temporal variations of low and mean degrees of the field while GOCE will improve the precision in the determination of higher degrees. But there is still some needs for geophysics which are not satisfied by these missions. Two areas where improvements must be done are (i) perenniality of the observations, and (ii) determination of temporal variations of higher degrees of the gravity field. These improvements can be achieved thanks to new measurement technologies with higher precision, but also using new observables. Historically, space determination of the gravity field has been done observing the perturbations of the orbit of the satellites. More recently, GRACE has introduced the use of satellite-tosatellite ranging. Goce will use onboard gradiometry. The authors have explored the possibilities of two new technologies for the determination of the gravity field: (i) tethered systems, and (ii) formation flying for all kind of configurations (not just leader-follower). To analyze the possibilities of these technologies, we obtain the covariance matrix of the coefficients of the gravity field for the different observables. This can be done providing some very reasonable hypothesis are accepted. This matrix contains a lot of information concerning the behavior of the observable. In order to obtain the matrix, we use the so-called lumped coefficients approach. We have used this method for three observables (i) tethered systems, (ii) formation flying and (iii) gradiometry (for comparison purposes). Tethers appear as a very long base gradiometers, with very interesting properties, but also very challenging from a technological point of view. One of the major advantages of the tethered systems is their multitask design. Indeed, the same cable can be used for propulsion purposes in some phases of the mission, and for geodesy purposes in other phases. Several studies have been presented using formation flying, but none of them is exhaustive in terms of number of satellites, configuration, and plan of the motion. We study formation flying using differential orbital elements in order to be as general as possible. The advantage of this representation is the possibility to study all sort of initial conditions and reference orbits with a posterior analysis of covariance matrices. Our results show the intrinsic possibilities of these new two systems and their comparison with existing ones. We also define some baseline scenarios for future missions.
Characterizations of matrix and operator-valued Φ-entropies, and operator Efron-Stein inequalities.

PubMed

Cheng, Hao-Chung; Hsieh, Min-Hsiu

2016-03-01

We derive new characterizations of the matrix Φ-entropy functionals introduced in Chen & Tropp (Chen, Tropp 2014 Electron. J. Prob. 19 , 1-30. (doi:10.1214/ejp.v19-2964)). These characterizations help us to better understand the properties of matrix Φ-entropies, and are a powerful tool for establishing matrix concentration inequalities for random matrices. Then, we propose an operator-valued generalization of matrix Φ-entropy functionals, and prove the subadditivity under Löwner partial ordering. Our results demonstrate that the subadditivity of operator-valued Φ-entropies is equivalent to the convexity. As an application, we derive the operator Efron-Stein inequality.
Application of SOJA and InforMatrix in practice: interactive web and workshop tools.

PubMed

Brenninkmeijer, Rob; Janknegt, Robert

2007-10-01

System of Objectified Judgement Analysis (SOJA) and InforMatrix are decision-matrix techniques designed to support a rational selection of drugs. Both SOJA and InforMatrix can be considered as strategic tools in the practical implementation of rational pharmacotherapy. In order to apply the matrix techniques to drug selection, strategic navigation through essential information (with the aim of reaching consensus in pharmacotherapy) is required. The consensus has to be reached in an interactive, communicative, collegial manner, within a professional environment. This environment is realised in the form of interactive applications in workshops and on the internet. Such interactive applications are illustrated and discussed in this article.
Estimating gene function with least squares nonnegative matrix factorization.

PubMed

Wang, Guoli; Ochs, Michael F

2007-01-01

Nonnegative matrix factorization is a machine learning algorithm that has extracted information from data in a number of fields, including imaging and spectral analysis, text mining, and microarray data analysis. One limitation with the method for linking genes through microarray data in order to estimate gene function is the high variance observed in transcription levels between different genes. Least squares nonnegative matrix factorization uses estimates of the uncertainties on the mRNA levels for each gene in each condition, to guide the algorithm to a local minimum in normalized chi2, rather than a Euclidean distance or divergence between the reconstructed data and the data itself. Herein, application of this method to microarray data is demonstrated in order to predict gene function.
The use of an analytic Hamiltonian matrix for solving the hydrogenic atom

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bhatti, Mohammad

2001-10-01

The non-relativistic Hamiltonian corresponding to the Shrodinger equation is converted into analytic Hamiltonian matrix using the kth order B-splines functions. The Galerkin method is applied to the solution of the Shrodinger equation for bound states of hydrogen-like systems. The program Mathematica is used to create analytic matrix elements and exact integration is performed over the knot-sequence of B-splines and the resulting generalized eigenvalue problem is solved on a specified numerical grid. The complete basis set and the energy spectrum is obtained for the coulomb potential for hydrogenic systems with Z less than 100 with B-splines of order eight. Another application is given to test the Thomas-Reiche-Kuhn sum rule for the hydrogenic systems.
Surface Topography and Mechanical Strain Promote Keratocyte Phenotype and Extracellular Matrix Formation in a Biomimetic 3D Corneal Model.

PubMed

Zhang, Wei; Chen, Jialin; Backman, Ludvig J; Malm, Adam D; Danielson, Patrik

2017-03-01

The optimal functionality of the native corneal stroma is mainly dependent on the well-ordered arrangement of extracellular matrix (ECM) and the pressurized structure. In order to develop an in vitro corneal model, it is crucial to mimic the in vivo microenvironment of the cornea. In this study, the influence of surface topography and mechanical strain on keratocyte phenotype and ECM formation within a biomimetic 3D corneal model is studied. By modifying the surface topography of materials, it is found that patterned silk fibroin film with 600 grooves mm -1 optimally supports cell alignment and ECM arrangement. Furthermore, treatment with 3% dome-shaped mechanical strain, which resembles the shape and mechanics of native cornea, significantly enhances the expression of keratocyte markers as compared to flat-shaped strain. Accordingly, a biomimetic 3D corneal model, in the form of a collagen-modified, silk fibroin-patterned construct subjected to 3% dome-shaped strain, is created. Compared to traditional 2D cultures, it supports a significantly higher expression of keratocyte and ECM markers, and in conclusion better maintains keratocyte phenotype, alignment, and fusiform cell shape. Therefore, the novel biomimetic 3D corneal model developed in this study serves as a useful in vitro 3D culture model to improve current 2D cultures for corneal studies. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.
How to Study a Matrix

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jairam, Dharmananda; Kiewra, Kenneth A.; Kauffman, Douglas F.; Zhao, Ruomeng

2012-01-01

This study investigated how best to study a matrix. Fifty-three participants studied a matrix topically (1 column at a time), categorically (1 row at a time), or in a unified way (all at once). Results revealed that categorical and unified study produced higher: (a) performance on relationship and fact tests, (b) study material satisfaction, and…
Detecting higher spin fields through statistical anisotropy in the CMB and galaxy power spectra

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bartolo, Nicola; Kehagias, Alex; Liguori, Michele; Riotto, Antonio; Shiraishi, Maresuke; Tansella, Vittorio

2018-01-01

Primordial inflation may represent the most powerful collider to test high-energy physics models. In this paper we study the impact on the inflationary power spectrum of the comoving curvature perturbation in the specific model where massive higher spin fields are rendered effectively massless during a de Sitter epoch through suitable couplings to the inflaton field. In particular, we show that such fields with spin s induce a distinctive statistical anisotropic signal on the power spectrum, in such a way that not only the usual g2 M-statistical anisotropy coefficients, but also higher-order ones (i.e., g4 M,g6 M,…,g(2 s -2 )M and g(2 s )M) are nonvanishing. We examine their imprints in the cosmic microwave background and galaxy power spectra. Our Fisher matrix forecasts indicate that the detectability of gL M depends very weakly on L : all coefficients could be detected in near future if their magnitudes are bigger than about 10-3.
Elasticity-mediated nematiclike bacterial organization in model extracellular DNA matrix.

PubMed

Smalyukh, Ivan I; Butler, John; Shrout, Joshua D; Parsek, Matthew R; Wong, Gerard C L

2008-09-01

DNA is a common extracellular matrix component of bacterial biofilms. We find that bacteria can spontaneously order in a matrix of aligned concentrated DNA, in which rod-shaped cells of Pseudomonas aeruginosa follow the orientation of extended DNA chains. The alignment of bacteria is ensured by elasticity and liquid crystalline properties of the DNA matrix. These findings show how behavior of planktonic bacteria may be modified in extracellular polymeric substances of biofilms and illustrate the potential of using complex fluids to manipulate embedded nanosized and microsized active particles.

Research on the application of a decoupling algorithm for structure analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Denman, E. D.

1980-01-01

The mathematical theory for decoupling mth-order matrix differential equations is presented. It is shown that the decoupling precedure can be developed from the algebraic theory of matrix polynomials. The role of eigenprojectors and latent projectors in the decoupling process is discussed and the mathematical relationships between eigenvalues, eigenvectors, latent roots, and latent vectors are developed. It is shown that the eigenvectors of the companion form of a matrix contains the latent vectors as a subset. The spectral decomposition of a matrix and the application to differential equations is given.
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Aaboud, M.; Aad, G.; Abbott, B.

Measurements of the production cross section of a Z boson in association with jets in proton–proton collisions at √s = 13 TeV are presented, using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.16 fb –1 collected by the ATLAS experiment at the CERN Large Hadron Collider in 2015. Inclusive and differential cross sections are measured for events containing a Z boson decaying to electrons or muons and produced in association with up to seven jets with p T > 30 GeV and |y| < 2.5. Predictions from different Monte Carlo generators based on leading-order and next-to-leading-order matrix elements for upmore » to two additional partons interfaced with parton shower and fixed-order predictions at next-to-leading order and next-to-next-to-leading order are compared with the measured cross sections. Good agreement within the uncertainties is observed for most of the modelled quantities, in particular with the generators which use next-to-leading-order matrix elements and the more recent next-to-next-to-leading-order fixed-order predictions.« less
Multi-Dimensional Asymptotically Stable 4th Order Accurate Schemes for the Diffusion Equation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Abarbanel, Saul; Ditkowski, Adi

1996-01-01

An algorithm is presented which solves the multi-dimensional diffusion equation on co mplex shapes to 4th-order accuracy and is asymptotically stable in time. This bounded-error result is achieved by constructing, on a rectangular grid, a differentiation matrix whose symmetric part is negative definite. The differentiation matrix accounts for the Dirichlet boundary condition by imposing penalty like terms. Numerical examples in 2-D show that the method is effective even where standard schemes, stable by traditional definitions fail.
Frequency domain system identification methods - Matrix fraction description approach

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Horta, Luca G.; Juang, Jer-Nan

1993-01-01

This paper presents the use of matrix fraction descriptions for least-squares curve fitting of the frequency spectra to compute two matrix polynomials. The matrix polynomials are intermediate step to obtain a linearized representation of the experimental transfer function. Two approaches are presented: first, the matrix polynomials are identified using an estimated transfer function; second, the matrix polynomials are identified directly from the cross/auto spectra of the input and output signals. A set of Markov parameters are computed from the polynomials and subsequently realization theory is used to recover a minimum order state space model. Unevenly spaced frequency response functions may be used. Results from a simple numerical example and an experiment are discussed to highlight some of the important aspect of the algorithm.
Optical properties and diffraction effects in opal photonic crystals.

PubMed

Balestreri, Alessandra; Andreani, Lucio Claudio; Agio, Mario

2006-09-01

Optical properties of fcc opals oriented along the [111] direction are calculated by means of a scattering-matrix approach based on approximating each sphere with cylindrical slices. The use of a plane-wave basis in each layer allows distinguishing zero-order reflection and transmission from higher-order (diffraction) spectra. Optical spectra at large values of the angle of incidence indicate the presence of diffraction effects and of polarization mixing along the LW orientation. Reflectance and transmittance in the high-energy region show a rich spectral dependence and compare reasonably well with recent experimental observations on polystyrene opals. Diffraction spectra as a function of the number of layers display an oscillatory behavior, pointing to the existence of a Pendellösung phenomenon, related to the exchange of energy between two propagating modes in the investigated three-dimensional photonic crystal. This phenomenon could be observed in transmittance experiments on high-quality opals with controlled thickness.
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Arya, Anil; Sharma, Sweety; Sharma, A. L., E-mail: alsharmaiitkgp@gmail.com

Blend polymer electrolytes are prepared for salt concentration (Ö/Li = 4) with the constant ratio (0.5 gm) of PEO and PAN using solution casting technique. The prepared free standing solid polymeric film is characterized by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) which confirms the homogeneous distribution of dissociated salt in blend polymer matrix. After addition of salt the ionic conductivity value is found to be of the order of 7.13 × 10{sup −5} Scm{sup −1} which is three orders higher when compared with pure blend polymer films. The microscopic interaction among the polymer-ion, ion-ion has been confirmed by the Fouriermore » Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy. A very fine correlation has been built in the electrical conductivity and FTIR result. On the basis of above finding, a prepared free standing solid polymeric film appears to be appropriate for the energy storage/conversion device applications.« less
Higgs boson decay into b-quarks at NNLO accuracy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Del Duca, Vittorio; Duhr, Claude; Somogyi, Gábor; Tramontano, Francesco; Trócsányi, Zoltán

2015-04-01

We compute the fully differential decay rate of the Standard Model Higgs boson into b-quarks at next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO) accuracy in αs. We employ a general subtraction scheme developed for the calculation of higher order perturbative corrections to QCD jet cross sections, which is based on the universal infrared factorization properties of QCD squared matrix elements. We show that the subtractions render the various contributions to the NNLO correction finite. In particular, we demonstrate analytically that the sum of integrated subtraction terms correctly reproduces the infrared poles of the two-loop double virtual contribution to this process. We present illustrative differential distributions obtained by implementing the method in a parton level Monte Carlo program. The basic ingredients of our subtraction scheme, used here for the first time to compute a physical observable, are universal and can be employed for the computation of more involved processes.
Simulating the effect of non-linear mode coupling in cosmological parameter estimation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kiessling, A.; Taylor, A. N.; Heavens, A. F.

2011-09-01

Fisher Information Matrix methods are commonly used in cosmology to estimate the accuracy that cosmological parameters can be measured with a given experiment and to optimize the design of experiments. However, the standard approach usually assumes both data and parameter estimates are Gaussian-distributed. Further, for survey forecasts and optimization it is usually assumed that the power-spectrum covariance matrix is diagonal in Fourier space. However, in the low-redshift Universe, non-linear mode coupling will tend to correlate small-scale power, moving information from lower to higher order moments of the field. This movement of information will change the predictions of cosmological parameter accuracy. In this paper we quantify this loss of information by comparing naïve Gaussian Fisher matrix forecasts with a maximum likelihood parameter estimation analysis of a suite of mock weak lensing catalogues derived from N-body simulations, based on the SUNGLASS pipeline, for a 2D and tomographic shear analysis of a Euclid-like survey. In both cases, we find that the 68 per cent confidence area of the Ωm-σ8 plane increases by a factor of 5. However, the marginal errors increase by just 20-40 per cent. We propose a new method to model the effects of non-linear shear-power mode coupling in the Fisher matrix by approximating the shear-power distribution as a multivariate Gaussian with a covariance matrix derived from the mock weak lensing survey. We find that this approximation can reproduce the 68 per cent confidence regions of the full maximum likelihood analysis in the Ωm-σ8 plane to high accuracy for both 2D and tomographic weak lensing surveys. Finally, we perform a multiparameter analysis of Ωm, σ8, h, ns, w0 and wa to compare the Gaussian and non-linear mode-coupled Fisher matrix contours. The 6D volume of the 1σ error contours for the non-linear Fisher analysis is a factor of 3 larger than for the Gaussian case, and the shape of the 68 per cent confidence volume is modified. We propose that future Fisher matrix estimates of cosmological parameter accuracies should include mode-coupling effects.
Intermediate Temperature Stress Rupture of Woven SiC Fiber, BN Interphase, SiC Matrix Composites in Air

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Morscher, Gregory N.; Levine, Stanley (Technical Monitor)

2000-01-01

Tensile stress-rupture experiments were performed on woven Hi-Nicalon reinforced SiC matrix composites with BN interphases in air. Modal acoustic emission (AE) was used to monitor the damage accumulation in the composites during the tests and microstructural analysis was performed to determine the amount of matrix cracking that occurred for each sample. Fiber fractograph), was also performed for individual fiber failures at the specimen fracture surface to determine the strengths at which fibers failed. The rupture strengths were significantly worse than what would have been expected front the inherent degradation of the fibers themselves when subjected to similar rupture conditions. At higher applied stresses the rate of rupture "?as larger than at lower applied stresses. It was observed that the change in rupture rate corresponded to the onset of through-thickness cracking in the composites themselves. The primary cause of the sen,ere degradation was the ease with which fibers would bond to one another at their closest separation distances, less than 100 nanometers, when exposed to the environment. The near fiber-to-fiber contact in the woven tows enabled premature fiber failure over large areas of matrix cracks due to the stress-concentrations created b), fibers bonded to one another after one or a few fibers fail. i.e. the loss of global load sharing. An@, improvement in fiber-to-fiber separation of this composite system should result in improved stress- rupture properties. A model was den,eloped in order to predict the rupture life-time for these composites based on the probabilistic nature of indin,idual fiber failure at temperature. the matrix cracking state during the rupture test, and the rate of oxidation into a matrix crack. Also incorporated into the model were estimates of the stress-concentration that would occur between the outer rim of fibers in a load-bearing bundle and the unbridged region of a matrix crack after Xia et al. For the lower stresses, this source of stress-concentration was the likely cause for initial fiber failure that would trigger catastrophic failure of the composite.
Towards an accurate representation of electrostatics in classical force fields: Efficient implementation of multipolar interactions in biomolecular simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sagui, Celeste; Pedersen, Lee G.; Darden, Thomas A.

2004-01-01

The accurate simulation of biologically active macromolecules faces serious limitations that originate in the treatment of electrostatics in the empirical force fields. The current use of "partial charges" is a significant source of errors, since these vary widely with different conformations. By contrast, the molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) obtained through the use of a distributed multipole moment description, has been shown to converge to the quantum MEP outside the van der Waals surface, when higher order multipoles are used. However, in spite of the considerable improvement to the representation of the electronic cloud, higher order multipoles are not part of current classical biomolecular force fields due to the excessive computational cost. In this paper we present an efficient formalism for the treatment of higher order multipoles in Cartesian tensor formalism. The Ewald "direct sum" is evaluated through a McMurchie-Davidson formalism [L. McMurchie and E. Davidson, J. Comput. Phys. 26, 218 (1978)]. The "reciprocal sum" has been implemented in three different ways: using an Ewald scheme, a particle mesh Ewald (PME) method, and a multigrid-based approach. We find that even though the use of the McMurchie-Davidson formalism considerably reduces the cost of the calculation with respect to the standard matrix implementation of multipole interactions, the calculation in direct space remains expensive. When most of the calculation is moved to reciprocal space via the PME method, the cost of a calculation where all multipolar interactions (up to hexadecapole-hexadecapole) are included is only about 8.5 times more expensive than a regular AMBER 7 [D. A. Pearlman et al., Comput. Phys. Commun. 91, 1 (1995)] implementation with only charge-charge interactions. The multigrid implementation is slower but shows very promising results for parallelization. It provides a natural way to interface with continuous, Gaussian-based electrostatics in the future. It is hoped that this new formalism will facilitate the systematic implementation of higher order multipoles in classical biomolecular force fields.
Commutability of Cytomegalovirus WHO International Standard in Different Matrices

PubMed Central

Jones, Sara; Webb, Erika M.; Barry, Catherine P.; Choi, Won S.; Abravaya, Klara B.; Schneider, George J.

2016-01-01

Commutability of quantitative standards allows patient results to be compared across molecular diagnostic methods and laboratories. This is critical to establishing quantitative thresholds for use in clinical decision-making. A matrix effect associated with the 1st cytomegalovirus (CMV) WHO international standard (IS) was identified using the Abbott RealTime CMV assay. A commutability study was performed to compare the CMV WHO IS and patient specimens diluted in plasma and whole blood. Patient specimens showed similar CMV DNA quantitation values regardless of the diluent or extraction procedure used. The CMV WHO IS, on the other hand, exhibited a matrix effect. The CMV concentration reported for the WHO IS diluted in plasma was within the 95% prediction interval established with patient samples. In contrast, the reported DNA concentration of the CMV WHO IS diluted in whole blood was reduced approximately 0.4 log copies/ml, and values fell outside the 95% prediction interval. Calibrating the assay by using the CMV WHO IS diluted in whole blood would introduce a bias for CMV whole-blood quantitation; samples would be reported as having higher measured concentrations, by approximately 0.4 log IU/ml. Based on the commutability study with patient samples, the RealTime CMV assay was standardized based on the CMV WHO IS diluted in plasma. A revision of the instructions for use of the CMV WHO IS should be considered to alert users of the potential impact from the diluent matrix. The identification of a matrix effect with the CMV WHO IS underscores the importance of assessing commutability of the IS in order to achieve consistent results across methods. PMID:27030491
Energetic Consistency and Coupling of the Mean and Covariance Dynamics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cohn, Stephen E.

2008-01-01

The dynamical state of the ocean and atmosphere is taken to be a large dimensional random vector in a range of large-scale computational applications, including data assimilation, ensemble prediction, sensitivity analysis, and predictability studies. In each of these applications, numerical evolution of the covariance matrix of the random state plays a central role, because this matrix is used to quantify uncertainty in the state of the dynamical system. Since atmospheric and ocean dynamics are nonlinear, there is no closed evolution equation for the covariance matrix, nor for the mean state. Therefore approximate evolution equations must be used. This article studies theoretical properties of the evolution equations for the mean state and covariance matrix that arise in the second-moment closure approximation (third- and higher-order moment discard). This approximation was introduced by EPSTEIN [1969] in an early effort to introduce a stochastic element into deterministic weather forecasting, and was studied further by FLEMING [1971a,b], EPSTEIN and PITCHER [1972], and PITCHER [1977], also in the context of atmospheric predictability. It has since fallen into disuse, with a simpler one being used in current large-scale applications. The theoretical results of this article make a case that this approximation should be reconsidered for use in large-scale applications, however, because the second moment closure equations possess a property of energetic consistency that the approximate equations now in common use do not possess. A number of properties of solutions of the second-moment closure equations that result from this energetic consistency will be established.
Metal matrix-metal nanoparticle composites with tunable melting temperature and high thermal conductivity for phase-change thermal storage.

PubMed

Liu, Minglu; Ma, Yuanyu; Wu, Hsinwei; Wang, Robert Y

2015-02-24

Phase-change materials (PCMs) are of broad interest for thermal storage and management applications. For energy-dense storage with fast thermal charging/discharging rates, a PCM should have a suitable melting temperature, large enthalpy of fusion, and high thermal conductivity. To simultaneously accomplish these traits, we custom design nanocomposites consisting of phase-change Bi nanoparticles embedded in an Ag matrix. We precisely control nanoparticle size, shape, and volume fraction in the composite by separating the nanoparticle synthesis and nanocomposite formation steps. We demonstrate a 50-100% thermal energy density improvement relative to common organic PCMs with equivalent volume fraction. We also tune the melting temperature from 236-252 °C by varying nanoparticle diameter from 8.1-14.9 nm. Importantly, the silver matrix successfully prevents nanoparticle coalescence, and no melting changes are observed during 100 melt-freeze cycles. The nanocomposite's Ag matrix also leads to very high thermal conductivities. For example, the thermal conductivity of a composite with a 10% volume fraction of 13 nm Bi nanoparticles is 128 ± 23 W/m-K, which is several orders of magnitude higher than typical thermal storage materials. We complement these measurements with calculations using a modified effective medium approximation for nanoscale thermal transport. These calculations predict that the thermal conductivity of composites with 13 nm Bi nanoparticles varies from 142 to 47 W/m-K as the nanoparticle volume fraction changes from 10 to 35%. Larger nanoparticle diameters and/or smaller nanoparticle volume fractions lead to larger thermal conductivities.
Soil organic carbon response to shrub encroachment regulated by soil aggregates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Y.; Li, H.; Shen, H.; Feng, Y.; Fang, J.

2017-12-01

Shrub encroachment leads to change in soil organic carbon content, but there still exists a lot of uncertainty in its mechanism as it relates to deep soil research. Soil organic carbon is usually associated with stable aggregate quantity. In this study, we conducted a field investigation for typical steppe and desert steppe in Inner Mongolia with the view to examining the impact of shrub encroachment on soil organic carbon with soil aggregate at a depth of 0-500 cm. The results show that in the desert steppe, the particle size of soil aggregate content level in different depth are presented the trend of shrub patches is lower than the herb matrix, organic carbon content of soil aggregate under 50 cm deeper presents the trend of shrub patches is higher than herb matrix, eventually leading to shrub patches whole soil organic carbon in the 0 to 50 cm depth lower than the herb matrix, and in deeper soil below 50 cm higher than the herb matrix. In the typical steppe, there is no significant difference between soil aggregate structure of shrub patches and herb matrix, but organic carbon content of soil aggregate, especially large aggregate organic carbon content in the shrub patches is significantly higher than the herb matrix, so that the whole soil organic carbon content in the shrub patches is significantly higher than herb matrix. The rate of soil organic carbon content change (0-100 cm) by shrub encroachment showed significant negative correlation with the mean weight diameter of soil aggregate of herb matrix. We also found that the variations of soil organic carbon in desert steppe is not dominant by aggregates of some size, but the change of the typical steppe soil organic carbon mainly contributed by > 0.25 mm and 0.053-0.25 mm aggregates. The results suggested that the effects of shrub encroachment on soil organic carbon is regulated by soil aggregate, but it is varied for different type of grassland, which should provide some insights into our understanding on regional carbon budget under global environment change.
A high-order spatial filter for a cubed-sphere spectral element model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kang, Hyun-Gyu; Cheong, Hyeong-Bin

2017-04-01

A high-order spatial filter is developed for the spectral-element-method dynamical core on the cubed-sphere grid which employs the Gauss-Lobatto Lagrange interpolating polynomials (GLLIP) as orthogonal basis functions. The filter equation is the high-order Helmholtz equation which corresponds to the implicit time-differencing of a diffusion equation employing the high-order Laplacian. The Laplacian operator is discretized within a cell which is a building block of the cubed sphere grid and consists of the Gauss-Lobatto grid. When discretizing a high-order Laplacian, due to the requirement of C0 continuity along the cell boundaries the grid-points in neighboring cells should be used for the target cell: The number of neighboring cells is nearly quadratically proportional to the filter order. Discrete Helmholtz equation yields a huge-sized and highly sparse matrix equation whose size is N*N with N the number of total grid points on the globe. The number of nonzero entries is also almost in quadratic proportion to the filter order. Filtering is accomplished by solving the huge-matrix equation. While requiring a significant computing time, the solution of global matrix provides the filtered field free of discontinuity along the cell boundaries. To achieve the computational efficiency and the accuracy at the same time, the solution of the matrix equation was obtained by only accounting for the finite number of adjacent cells. This is called as a local-domain filter. It was shown that to remove the numerical noise near the grid-scale, inclusion of 5*5 cells for the local-domain filter was found sufficient, giving the same accuracy as that obtained by global domain solution while reducing the computing time to a considerably lower level. The high-order filter was evaluated using the standard test cases including the baroclinic instability of the zonal flow. Results indicated that the filter performs better on the removal of grid-scale numerical noises than the explicit high-order viscosity. It was also presented that the filter can be easily implemented on the distributed-memory parallel computers with a desirable scalability.
An order (n) algorithm for the dynamics simulation of robotic systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chun, H. M.; Turner, J. D.; Frisch, Harold P.

1989-01-01

The formulation of an Order (n) algorithm for DISCOS (Dynamics Interaction Simulation of Controls and Structures), which is an industry-standard software package for simulation and analysis of flexible multibody systems is presented. For systems involving many bodies, the new Order (n) version of DISCOS is much faster than the current version. Results of the experimental validation of the dynamics software are also presented. The experiment is carried out on a seven-joint robot arm at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. The algorithm used in the current version of DISCOS requires the inverse of a matrix whose dimension is equal to the number of constraints in the system. Generally, the number of constraints in a system is roughly proportional to the number of bodies in the system, and matrix inversion requires O(p exp 3) operations, where p is the dimension of the matrix. The current version of DISCOS is therefore considered an Order (n exp 3) algorithm. In contrast, the Order (n) algorithm requires inversion of matrices which are small, and the number of matrices to be inverted increases only linearly with the number of bodies. The newly-developed Order (n) DISCOS is currently capable of handling chain and tree topologies as well as multiple closed loops. Continuing development will extend the capability of the software to deal with typical robotics applications such as put-and-place, multi-arm hand-off and surface sliding.
Iterative approach as alternative to S-matrix in modal methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Semenikhin, Igor; Zanuccoli, Mauro

2014-12-01

The continuously increasing complexity of opto-electronic devices and the rising demands of simulation accuracy lead to the need of solving very large systems of linear equations making iterative methods promising and attractive from the computational point of view with respect to direct methods. In particular, iterative approach potentially enables the reduction of required computational time to solve Maxwell's equations by Eigenmode Expansion algorithms. Regardless of the particular eigenmodes finding method used, the expansion coefficients are computed as a rule by scattering matrix (S-matrix) approach or similar techniques requiring order of M3 operations. In this work we consider alternatives to the S-matrix technique which are based on pure iterative or mixed direct-iterative approaches. The possibility to diminish the impact of M3 -order calculations to overall time and in some cases even to reduce the number of arithmetic operations to M2 by applying iterative techniques are discussed. Numerical results are illustrated to discuss validity and potentiality of the proposed approaches.
Blueberry consumption prevents loss of collagen in bone matrix and inhibits senescence pathways in osteoblastic cells

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Ovariectomy (OVX)-induced bone loss has been linked to increased bone turnover and higher bone matrix collagen degradation as the result of osteoclast activation. However, the role of degraded collagen matrix in the fate of resident bone-forming cells is unclear. In this report, we show that OVX-i...
Effect of Nano-TiC Dispersed Particles and Electro-Codeposition Parameters on Morphology and Structure of Hybrid Ni/TiC Nanocomposite Layers

PubMed Central

Benea, Lidia; Celis, Jean-Pierre

2016-01-01

This research work describes the effect of dispersed titanium carbide (TiC) nanoparticles into nickel plating bath on Ni/TiC nanostructured composite layers obtained by electro-codeposition. The surface morphology of Ni/TiC nanostructured composite layers was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The composition of coatings and the incorporation percentage of TiC nanoparticles into Ni matrix were studied and estimated by using energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). X-ray diffractometer (XRD) has been applied in order to investigate the phase structure as well as the corresponding relative texture coefficients of the composite layers. The results show that the concentration of nano-TiC particles added in the nickel electrolyte affects the inclusion percentage of TiC into Ni/TiC nano strucured layers, as well as the corresponding morphology, relative texture coefficients and thickness indicating an increasing tendency with the increasing concentration of nano-TiC concentration. By increasing the amount of TiC nanoparticles in the electrolyte, their incorporation into nickel matrix also increases. The hybrid Ni/nano-TiC composite layers obtained revealed a higher roughness and higher hardness; therefore, these layers are promising superhydrophobic surfaces for special application and could be more resistant to wear than the pure Ni layers. PMID:28773395
Effects of magnetic field treatment on dielectric properties of CCTO@Ni/PVDF composite with low concentration of ceramic fillers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chi, Q. G.; Gao, L.; Wang, X.; Chen, Y.; Dong, J. F.; Cui, Y.; Lei, Q. Q.

2015-11-01

Using melt mixing, we produced a ceramic/polymer composite with a matrix of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and a filler of 5 vol.% Ni-deposited CaCu3Ti4O12 core-shell ceramic particles (CCTO@Ni), and studied its prominent dielectric characteristics for the first. Its phase composition and morphology were analyzed by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. After treating the composite films with various durations of a magnetic field treatment, we compared their dielectric properties. We found that the CCTO@Ni ceramic had a typical urchin-like core-shell structure, and that different durations of the magnetic field treatment produced different distributions of ceramic particles in the PVDF matrix. The dielectric permittivity of the untreated CCTO@Ni/PVDF composite was 20% higher than that of neat PVDF, and it had a low loss tangent. However, only the composite treated for 30 min in the magnetic field had an ultra-high dielectric permittivity of 1.41 × 104 at 10 Hz, three orders of magnitude higher than the untreated composite, which declined dramatically with increasing frequency, accompanied by an insulating-conducting phase transition and an increase in loss tangent. Our results demonstrate that changes in the dielectric properties of PVDF composites with magnetic field treatment are closely related to the percolation effect and interfacial polarization.

Self-organization of developing embryo using scale-invariant approach

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background Self-organization is a fundamental feature of living organisms at all hierarchical levels from molecule to organ. It has also been documented in developing embryos. Methods In this study, a scale-invariant power law (SIPL) method has been used to study self-organization in developing embryos. The SIPL coefficient was calculated using a centro-axial skew symmetrical matrix (CSSM) generated by entering the components of the Cartesian coordinates; for each component, one CSSM was generated. A basic square matrix (BSM) was constructed and the determinant was calculated in order to estimate the SIPL coefficient. This was applied to developing C. elegans during early stages of embryogenesis. The power law property of the method was evaluated using the straight line and Koch curve and the results were consistent with fractal dimensions (fd). Diffusion-limited aggregation (DLA) was used to validate the SIPL method. Results and conclusion The fractal dimensions of both the straight line and Koch curve showed consistency with the SIPL coefficients, which indicated the power law behavior of the SIPL method. The results showed that the ABp sublineage had a higher SIPL coefficient than EMS, indicating that ABp is more organized than EMS. The fd determined using DLA was higher in ABp than in EMS and its value was consistent with type 1 cluster formation, while that in EMS was consistent with type 2. PMID:21635789
Self-organization of developing embryo using scale-invariant approach.

PubMed

Tiraihi, Ali; Tiraihi, Mujtaba; Tiraihi, Taki

2011-06-03

Self-organization is a fundamental feature of living organisms at all hierarchical levels from molecule to organ. It has also been documented in developing embryos. In this study, a scale-invariant power law (SIPL) method has been used to study self-organization in developing embryos. The SIPL coefficient was calculated using a centro-axial skew symmetrical matrix (CSSM) generated by entering the components of the Cartesian coordinates; for each component, one CSSM was generated. A basic square matrix (BSM) was constructed and the determinant was calculated in order to estimate the SIPL coefficient. This was applied to developing C. elegans during early stages of embryogenesis. The power law property of the method was evaluated using the straight line and Koch curve and the results were consistent with fractal dimensions (fd). Diffusion-limited aggregation (DLA) was used to validate the SIPL method. The fractal dimensions of both the straight line and Koch curve showed consistency with the SIPL coefficients, which indicated the power law behavior of the SIPL method. The results showed that the ABp sublineage had a higher SIPL coefficient than EMS, indicating that ABp is more organized than EMS. The fd determined using DLA was higher in ABp than in EMS and its value was consistent with type 1 cluster formation, while that in EMS was consistent with type 2. © 2011 Tiraihi et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
High attenuation areas on chest computed tomography in community-dwelling adults: the MESA study.

PubMed

Podolanczuk, Anna J; Oelsner, Elizabeth C; Barr, R Graham; Hoffman, Eric A; Armstrong, Hilary F; Austin, John H M; Basner, Robert C; Bartels, Matthew N; Christie, Jason D; Enright, Paul L; Gochuico, Bernadette R; Hinckley Stukovsky, Karen; Kaufman, Joel D; Hrudaya Nath, P; Newell, John D; Palmer, Scott M; Rabinowitz, Dan; Raghu, Ganesh; Sell, Jessica L; Sieren, Jered; Sonavane, Sushil K; Tracy, Russell P; Watts, Jubal R; Williams, Kayleen; Kawut, Steven M; Lederer, David J

2016-11-01

Evidence suggests that lung injury, inflammation and extracellular matrix remodelling precede lung fibrosis in interstitial lung disease (ILD). We examined whether a quantitative measure of increased lung attenuation on computed tomography (CT) detects lung injury, inflammation and extracellular matrix remodelling in community-dwelling adults sampled without regard to respiratory symptoms or smoking.We measured high attenuation areas (HAA; percentage of lung voxels between -600 and -250 Hounsfield Units) on cardiac CT scans of adults enrolled in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.HAA was associated with higher serum matrix metalloproteinase-7 (mean adjusted difference 6.3% per HAA doubling, 95% CI 1.3-11.5), higher interleukin-6 (mean adjusted difference 8.8%, 95% CI 4.8-13.0), lower forced vital capacity (FVC) (mean adjusted difference -82 mL, 95% CI -119--44), lower 6-min walk distance (mean adjusted difference -40 m, 95% CI -1--80), higher odds of interstitial lung abnormalities at 9.5 years (adjusted OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.43-2.65), and higher all cause-mortality rate over 12.2 years (HR 1.58, 95% CI 1.39-1.79).High attenuation areas are associated with biomarkers of inflammation and extracellular matrix remodelling, reduced lung function, interstitial lung abnormalities, and a higher risk of death among community-dwelling adults. Copyright ©ERS 2016.
A B-spline Galerkin method for the Dirac equation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Froese Fischer, Charlotte; Zatsarinny, Oleg

2009-06-01

The B-spline Galerkin method is first investigated for the simple eigenvalue problem, y=-λy, that can also be written as a pair of first-order equations y=λz, z=-λy. Expanding both y(r) and z(r) in the B basis results in many spurious solutions such as those observed for the Dirac equation. However, when y(r) is expanded in the B basis and z(r) in the dB/dr basis, solutions of the well-behaved second-order differential equation are obtained. From this analysis, we propose a stable method ( B,B) basis for the Dirac equation and evaluate its accuracy by comparing the computed and exact R-matrix for a wide range of nuclear charges Z and angular quantum numbers κ. When splines of the same order are used, many spurious solutions are found whereas none are found for splines of different order. Excellent agreement is obtained for the R-matrix and energies for bound states for low values of Z. For high Z, accuracy requires the use of a grid with many points near the nucleus. We demonstrate the accuracy of the bound-state wavefunctions by comparing integrals arising in hyperfine interaction matrix elements with exact analytic expressions. We also show that the Thomas-Reiche-Kuhn sum rule is not a good measure of the quality of the solutions obtained by the B-spline Galerkin method whereas the R-matrix is very sensitive to the appearance of pseudo-states.
Staggered chiral random matrix theory

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Osborn, James C.

2011-02-01

We present a random matrix theory for the staggered lattice QCD Dirac operator. The staggered random matrix theory is equivalent to the zero-momentum limit of the staggered chiral Lagrangian and includes all taste breaking terms at their leading order. This is an extension of previous work which only included some of the taste breaking terms. We will also present some results for the taste breaking contributions to the partition function and the Dirac eigenvalues.
Characterizations of matrix and operator-valued Φ-entropies, and operator Efron–Stein inequalities

PubMed Central

Cheng, Hao-Chung; Hsieh, Min-Hsiu

2016-01-01

We derive new characterizations of the matrix Φ-entropy functionals introduced in Chen & Tropp (Chen, Tropp 2014 Electron. J. Prob. 19, 1–30. (doi:10.1214/ejp.v19-2964)). These characterizations help us to better understand the properties of matrix Φ-entropies, and are a powerful tool for establishing matrix concentration inequalities for random matrices. Then, we propose an operator-valued generalization of matrix Φ-entropy functionals, and prove the subadditivity under Löwner partial ordering. Our results demonstrate that the subadditivity of operator-valued Φ-entropies is equivalent to the convexity. As an application, we derive the operator Efron–Stein inequality. PMID:27118909
Surface functionalization of metal organic frameworks for mixed matrix membranes

DOEpatents

Albenze, Erik; Lartey, Michael; Li, Tao; Luebke, David R.; Nulwala, Hunaid B.; Rosi, Nathaniel L.; Venna, Surendar R.

2017-03-21

Mixed Matrix Membrane (MMM) are composite membranes for gas separation and comprising a quantity of inorganic filler particles, in particular metal organic framework (MOF), dispersed throughout a polymer matrix comprising one or more polymers. This disclosure is directed to MOF functionalized through addition of a pendant functional group to the MOF, in order to improve interaction with a surrounding polymer matrix in a MMM. The improved interaction aids in avoiding defects in the MMM due to incompatible interfaces between the polymer matrix and the MOF particle, in turn increasing the mechanical and gas separation properties of the MMM. The disclosure is also directed to a MMM incorporating the surface functionalized MOF.
Continued-fraction representation of the Kraus map for non-Markovian reservoir damping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Wonderen, A. J.; Suttorp, L. G.

2018-04-01

Quantum dissipation is studied for a discrete system that linearly interacts with a reservoir of harmonic oscillators at thermal equilibrium. Initial correlations between system and reservoir are assumed to be absent. The dissipative dynamics as determined by the unitary evolution of system and reservoir is described by a Kraus map consisting of an infinite number of matrices. For all Laplace-transformed Kraus matrices exact solutions are constructed in terms of continued fractions that depend on the pair correlation functions of the reservoir. By performing factorizations in the Kraus map a perturbation theory is set up that conserves in arbitrary perturbative order both positivity and probability of the density matrix. The latter is determined by an integral equation for a bitemporal matrix and a finite hierarchy for Kraus matrices. In the lowest perturbative order this hierarchy reduces to one equation for one Kraus matrix. Its solution is given by a continued fraction of a much simpler structure as compared to the non-perturbative case. In the lowest perturbative order our non-Markovian evolution equations are applied to the damped Jaynes–Cummings model. From the solution for the atomic density matrix it is found that the atom may remain in the state of maximum entropy for a significant time span that depends on the initial energy of the radiation field.
Effect of impregnation pressure and time on the porosity, structure and properties of polyacrylonitrile-fiber based carbon composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Venugopalan, Ramani; Roy, Mainak; Thomas, Susy; Patra, A. K.; Sathiyamoorthy, D.; Tyagi, A. K.

2013-02-01

Carbon-carbon composites may find applications in critical parts of advanced nuclear reactors. A series of carbon-carbon composites were prepared using polyacrylonitrile (PAN) based carbon fibers. The materials were densified by impregnating two-dimensional (2D) preforms with liquid phenol formaldehyde resin at different pressures and for different periods of time and then carbonizing those by slowly heating at 1000 °C. Effects of the processing parameters on the structure of the composites were extensively studied. The study showed conclusively that open porosity decreased with increasing impregnation pressure, whereas impregnation time had lesser effect. Matrix-resin bonding also improved at higher pressure. d002 spacing decreased and ordering along c-axis increased with concomitant increase in sp2-carbon fraction at higher impregnation pressures. The fiber reinforced composites exhibited short range ordering of carbon atoms and satisfied structural conditions (d002 values) of amorphous carbon according to the turbostratic model for non-graphitic carbon materials. The composites had pellet-density of ˜85% of the theoretical value, low thermal expansion and negligible neutron-poisoning. They maintained structural integrity and retained disordered nature even on heat-treatment at ca. 1800 °C.
The controversial nuclear matrix: a balanced point of view.

PubMed

Martelli, A M; Falcieri, E; Zweyer, M; Bortul, R; Tabellini, G; Cappellini, A; Cocco, L; Manzoli, L

2002-10-01

The nuclear matrix is defined as the residual framework after the removal of the nuclear envelope, chromatin, and soluble components by sequential extractions. According to several investigators the nuclear matrix provides the structural basis for intranuclear order. However, the existence itself and the nature of this structure is still uncertain. Although the techniques used for the visualization of the nuclear matrix have improved over the years, it is still unclear to what extent the isolated nuclear matrix corresponds to an in vivo existing structure. Therefore, considerable skepticism continues to surround the nuclear matrix fraction as an accurate representation of the situation in living cells. Here, we summarize the experimental evidence in favor of, or against, the presence of a diffuse nucleoskeleton as a facilitating organizational nonchromatin structure of the nucleus.
Direct identification of bacteria in blood culture by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry: a new methodological approach.

PubMed

Kroumova, Vesselina; Gobbato, Elisa; Basso, Elisa; Mucedola, Luca; Giani, Tommaso; Fortina, Giacomo

2011-08-15

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has recently been demonstrated to be a powerful tool for the rapid identification of bacteria from growing colonies. In order to speed up the identification of bacteria, several authors have evaluated the usefulness of this MALDI-TOF MS technology for the direct and quick identification bacteria from positive blood cultures. The results obtained so far have been encouraging but have also shown some limitations, mainly related to the bacterial growth and to the presence of interference substances belonging to the blood cultures. In this paper, we present a new methodological approach that we have developed to overcome these limitations, based mainly on an enrichment of the sample into a growing medium before the extraction process, prior to mass spectrometric analysis. The proposed method shows important advantages for the identification of bacterial strains, yielding an increased identification score, which gives higher confidence in the results. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Room-temperature resonant quantum tunneling transport of macroscopic systems.

PubMed

Xiong, Zhengwei; Wang, Xuemin; Yan, Dawei; Wu, Weidong; Peng, Liping; Li, Weihua; Zhao, Yan; Wang, Xinmin; An, Xinyou; Xiao, Tingting; Zhan, Zhiqiang; Wang, Zhuo; Chen, Xiangrong

2014-11-21

A self-assembled quantum dots array (QDA) is a low dimensional electron system applied to various quantum devices. This QDA, if embedded in a single crystal matrix, could be advantageous for quantum information science and technology. However, the quantum tunneling effect has been difficult to observe around room temperature thus far, because it occurs in a microcosmic and low temperature condition. Herein, we show a designed a quasi-periodic Ni QDA embedded in a single crystal BaTiO3 matrix and demonstrate novel quantum resonant tunneling transport properties around room-temperature according to theoretical calculation and experiments. The quantum tunneling process could be effectively modulated by changing the Ni QDA concentration. The major reason was that an applied weak electric field (∼10(2) V cm(-1)) could be enhanced by three orders of magnitude (∼10(5) V cm(-1)) between the Ni QDA because of the higher permittivity of BaTiO3 and the 'hot spots' of the Ni QDA. Compared with the pure BaTiO3 films, the samples with embedded Ni QDA displayed a stepped conductivity and temperature (σ-T curves) construction.
Electrically conductive nano graphite-filled bacterial cellulose composites.

PubMed

Erbas Kiziltas, Esra; Kiziltas, Alper; Rhodes, Kevin; Emanetoglu, Nuri W; Blumentritt, Melanie; Gardner, Douglas J

2016-01-20

A unique three dimensional (3D) porous structured bacterial cellulose (BC) can act as a supporting material to deposit the nanofillers in order to create advanced BC-based functional nanomaterials for various technological applications. In this study, novel nanocomposites comprised of BC with exfoliated graphite nanoplatelets (xGnP) incorporated into the BC matrix were prepared using a simple particle impregnation strategy to enhance the thermal properties and electrical conductivity of the BC. The flake-shaped xGnP particles were well dispersed and formed a continuous network throughout the BC matrix. The temperature at 10% weight loss, thermal stability and residual ash content of the nanocomposites increased at higher xGnP loadings. The electrical conductivity of the composites increased with increasing xGnP loading (attaining values 0.75 S/cm with the addition of 2 wt.% of xGnP). The enhanced conductive and thermal properties of the BC-xGnP nanocomposites will broaden applications (biosensors, tissue engineering, etc.) of BC and xGnP. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Damage location and quantification of a pretensioned concrete beam using stochastic subspace identification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cancelli, Alessandro; Micheli, Laura; Laflamme, Simon; Alipour, Alice; Sritharan, Sri; Ubertini, Filippo

2017-04-01

Stochastic subspace identification (SSID) is a first-order linear system identification technique enabling modal analysis through the time domain. Research in the field of structural health monitoring has demonstrated that SSID can be used to successfully retrieve modal properties, including modal damping ratios, using output-only measurements. In this paper, the utilization of SSID for indirectly retrieving structures' stiffness matrix was investigated, through the study of a simply supported reinforced concrete beam subjected to dynamic loads. Hence, by introducing a physical model of the structure, a second-order identification method is achieved. The reconstruction is based on system condensation methods, which enables calculation of reduced order stiffness, damping, and mass matrices for the structural system. The methods compute the reduced order matrices directly from the modal properties, obtained through the use of SSID. Lastly, the reduced properties of the system are used to reconstruct the stiffness matrix of the beam. The proposed approach is first verified through numerical simulations and then validated using experimental data obtained from a full-scale reinforced concrete beam that experienced progressive damage. Results show that the SSID technique can be used to diagnose, locate, and quantify damage through the reconstruction of the stiffness matrix.
Well-conditioned fractional collocation methods using fractional Birkhoff interpolation basis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiao, Yujian; Wang, Li-Lian; Huang, Can

2016-01-01

The purpose of this paper is twofold. Firstly, we provide explicit and compact formulas for computing both Caputo and (modified) Riemann-Liouville (RL) fractional pseudospectral differentiation matrices (F-PSDMs) of any order at general Jacobi-Gauss-Lobatto (JGL) points. We show that in the Caputo case, it suffices to compute F-PSDM of order μ ∈ (0 , 1) to compute that of any order k + μ with integer k ≥ 0, while in the modified RL case, it is only necessary to evaluate a fractional integral matrix of order μ ∈ (0 , 1). Secondly, we introduce suitable fractional JGL Birkhoff interpolation problems leading to new interpolation polynomial basis functions with remarkable properties: (i) the matrix generated from the new basis yields the exact inverse of F-PSDM at "interior" JGL points; (ii) the matrix of the highest fractional derivative in a collocation scheme under the new basis is diagonal; and (iii) the resulted linear system is well-conditioned in the Caputo case, while in the modified RL case, the eigenvalues of the coefficient matrix are highly concentrated. In both cases, the linear systems of the collocation schemes using the new basis can be solved by an iterative solver within a few iterations. Notably, the inverse can be computed in a very stable manner, so this offers optimal preconditioners for usual fractional collocation methods for fractional differential equations (FDEs). It is also noteworthy that the choice of certain special JGL points with parameters related to the order of the equations can ease the implementation. We highlight that the use of the Bateman's fractional integral formulas and fast transforms between Jacobi polynomials with different parameters, is essential for our algorithm development.
Three-Dimensional Scaffold from Decellularized Human Gingiva for Cell Cultures: Glycoconjugates and Cell Behavior

PubMed Central

Naderi, Somayeh; Khayat Zadeh, Jina; Mahdavi Shahri, Nasser; Nejad Shahrokh Abady, Khadijeh; Cheravi, Mojtaba; Baharara, Javad; Banihashem Rad, Seyed Ali; Bahrami, Ahmad Reza

2013-01-01

Objective: We studied both the presence of some carbohydrate compounds in a threedimensional (3D) matrix harvested from human gingiva and the cell behavior in this matrix. Materials and Methods: In this experimental research, in order to prepare 3D scaffolds, human palatal gingival biopsies were harvested and physically decellularized by freezethawing and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The scaffolds were placed within the rings of blastema tissues obtained from a pinna rabbit, in vitro. We evaluated the presence of glycoconjugatesand cellular behavior according to histological, histochemical and spectrophotometry techniques at one, two and three weeks after culture. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA)comparedthe groups. Results: Extracellular matrix (ECM) remained after decellularization of tissue with 1% SDS. Glycoconjugate contents decreased meaningfully at a higher SDS concentration (p<0.0001). After culture of the ECM scaffold with blastema, we observed increased staining of alcian blue, periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and toluidine blue in the scaffold and a number of other migrant cells which was caused by cell penetrationinto the scaffold. Spectrophotometry results showed an increase in glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) of the decellularized scaffolds at three weeks after culture. Conclusion: The present study has shown that a scaffold generated from palatal gingival tissue ECM is a suitable substrate for blastema cell migration and activity.This scaffold maypotentially be useful as a biological scaffold in tissue engineering applications. PMID:23862119
Mucin and carbon nanotube-based biosensor for detection of glucose in human plasma.

PubMed

Comba, Fausto N; Romero, Marcelo R; Garay, Fernando S; Baruzzi, Ana M

2018-06-01

This work reports an amperometric enzyme-electrode prepared with glucose oxidase, which have been immobilized by a cross-linking step with glutaraldehyde in a mixture containing albumin and a novel carbon nanotubes-mucin composite (CNT-muc). The obtained hydrogel matrix was trapped between two polycarbonate membranes and then fixed at the surface of a Pt working electrode. The developed biosensor was optimized by evaluating different compositions and the analytical properties of an enzymatic matrix with CNT-muc. Then, the performance of the resulting enzymatic matrix was evaluated for direct glucose quantification in human blood plasma. The novel CNT-muc composite provided a sensitivity of 0.44 ± 0.01 mA M -1 and a response time of 28 ± 2 s. These values were respectively 20% higher and 40% shorter than those obtained with a sandwich-type biosensor prepared without CNT. Additionally, CNT-muc based biosensor exhibited more than 3 orders of magnitude of linear dynamic calibration range and a detection limit of 3 μM. The short-term and long-term stabilities of the biosensors were also examined and excellent results were obtained through successive experiments performed within the first 60 days from their preparation. Finally, the storage stability was remarkable during the first 300 days. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Ultrasonic-promoted rapid preparation of PVC/TiO2-BSA nanocomposites: Characterization and photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue.

PubMed

Mallakpour, Shadpour; Shamsaddinimotlagh, Sima

2018-03-01

In the present project in order to prevent agglomeration and better dispersion of TiO 2 nanoparticles (NPs) in the poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) matrix, initially, the surface of TiO 2 NPs was covered by bovine serum albumin protein (BSA) via sonication method. Then, the TiO 2 -BSA powders were embedded into the PVC matrix using ultrasonic irradiations. With mechanical and magnetic stirring homogenous mixture was not obtained. So sonication process was very essential and vital. Physical, chemical and structural properties of the samples were investigated with various tools. Morphology studies showed the well distribution of spherical TiO 2 NPs in the PVC matrix. TGA analysis showed that nanocomposites (NCs) have higher thermal stability than the pristine polymer. The photocatalytic activity tests by destroying the methylene blue dye on the pristine TiO 2 NPs, TiO 2 -BSA NPs and PVC/TiO 2 -BSA NC 6 wt% were examined. The results showed that the photocatalytic activity of TiO 2 NPs was reduced in the presence of BSA and PVC. It can be concluded that the TiO 2 -BSA NPs and PVC/TiO 2 -BSA NC 6 wt% have UV shielding properties and can protect film from degradation by UV. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Low energy ion irradiation studies of fullerene C70 thin films - An emphasis on mapping the local structure modifications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singhal, Rahul; Bhardwaj, Jyotsna; Vishnoi, Ritu; Aggarwal, S.; Sharma, Ganesh D.; Pivin, J. C.

2018-06-01

Metal matrix composites have a diverse range of applications. We have probed local structural modifications taking fullerene C70 as a model matrix material. In this study, thin films of fullerene C70 were grown on polished silicon and quartz substrates by resistive heating of fullerene C70. In order to understand local structural changes, these semi-crystalline films were irradiated with 120 keV N+ ions at different fluences ranging from 1 × 1013 to 3 × 1016 ions.cm-2. Microscopic analysis shows an increase in topological roughness up to a fluence of 1 × 1015 ions.cm-2 and then a decrease. The size of the particles decreases with increase in the fluence. Various spectroscopic analyses conducted on differently irradiated fullerene C70 films show that the bandgap decreases with the increase in the fluence which will increase the conductivity of the irradiated thin films. These results are proved by I-V measurements showing the decrease in the resistivity at higher fluences. Therefore, this characteristic trait makes fullerene C70 to be used as a prominent matrix component in the composites. Raman spectroscopic investigations reveal that C70 is completely transformed into amorphous carbon at a fluence of 3 × 1016 ions.cm-2. Different vibrational modes in FT-IR are also reported in the present work.
Multivariate Analysis of Two-Dimensional 1H, 13C Methyl NMR Spectra of Monoclonal Antibody Therapeutics To Facilitate Assessment of Higher Order Structure.

PubMed

Arbogast, Luke W; Delaglio, Frank; Schiel, John E; Marino, John P

2017-11-07

Two-dimensional (2D) 1 H- 13 C methyl NMR provides a powerful tool to probe the higher order structure (HOS) of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), since spectra can readily be acquired on intact mAbs at natural isotopic abundance, and small changes in chemical environment and structure give rise to observable changes in corresponding spectra, which can be interpreted at atomic resolution. This makes it possible to apply 2D NMR spectral fingerprinting approaches directly to drug products in order to systematically characterize structure and excipient effects. Systematic collections of NMR spectra are often analyzed in terms of the changes in specifically identified peak positions, as well as changes in peak height and line widths. A complementary approach is to apply principal component analysis (PCA) directly to the matrix of spectral data, correlating spectra according to similarities and differences in their overall shapes, rather than according to parameters of individually identified peaks. This is particularly well-suited for spectra of mAbs, where some of the individual peaks might not be well resolved. Here we demonstrate the performance of the PCA method for discriminating structural variation among systematic sets of 2D NMR fingerprint spectra using the NISTmAb and illustrate how spectral variability identified by PCA may be correlated to structure.

Notch sensitivity and stress redistribution in three ceramic-matrix composites

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mackin, T.J.; He, M.Y.; Evans, A.G.

Fiber-reinforced ceramic-matrix composites (CMCs) depend upon inelastic mechanisms to diffuse stress concentrations associated with holes, notches, and cracks. These mechanisms consist of fiber debonding and pullout, multiple matrix cracking, and shear band formation. In order to understand these effects, experiments have bee conducted on several double-edge-notched CMCs that exhibit different stress redistribution mechanisms. Stresses have been measured an d mechanisms identified by using a combination of methods including X0-ray imaging, edge replication, and thermoelastic analysis. Multiple matrix cracking was found to be the most effective stress redistribution mechanism.
NLTE steady-state response matrix method.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Faussurier, G.; More, R. M.

2000-05-01

A connection between atomic kinetics and non-equilibrium thermodynamics has been recently established by using a collisional-radiative model modified to include line absorption. The calculated net emission can be expressed as a non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (NLTE) symmetric response matrix. In the paper, this connection is extended to both cases of the average-atom model and the Busquet's model (RAdiative-Dependent IOnization Model, RADIOM). The main properties of the response matrix still remain valid. The RADIOM source function found in the literature leads to a diagonal response matrix, stressing the absence of any frequency redistribution among the frequency groups at this order of calculation.
A real time spectrum to dose conversion system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Farmer, B. J.; Johnson, J. H.; Bagwell, R. G.

1972-01-01

A system has been developed which permits the determination of dose in real time or near real time directly from the pulse-height output of a radiation spectrometer. The technique involves the use of the resolution matrix of a spectrometer, the radiation energy-to-dose conversion function, and the geometrical factors, although the order of matrix operations is reversed. The new technique yields a result which is mathematically identical to the standard method while requiring no matrix manipulations or resolution matrix storage in the remote computer. It utilizes only a single function for each type dose required and each geometric factor involved.
Reduced order feedback control equations for linear time and frequency domain analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Frisch, H. P.

1981-01-01

An algorithm was developed which can be used to obtain the equations. In a more general context, the algorithm computes a real nonsingular similarity transformation matrix which reduces a real nonsymmetric matrix to block diagonal form, each block of which is a real quasi upper triangular matrix. The algorithm works with both defective and derogatory matrices and when and if it fails, the resultant output can be used as a guide for the reformulation of the mathematical equations that lead up to the ill conditioned matrix which could not be block diagonalized.
Aseptic Freeze-Dried versus Sterile Wet-Packaged Human Cadaveric Acellular Dermal Matrix in Immediate Tissue Expander Breast Reconstruction: A Propensity Score Analysis.

PubMed

Hanson, Summer E; Meaike, Jesse D; Selber, Jesse C; Liu, Jun; Li, Liang; Hassid, Victor J; Baumann, Donald P; Butler, Charles E; Garvey, Patrick B

2018-05-01

Although multiple acellular dermal matrix sources exist, it is unclear how its processing impacts complication rates. The authors compared complications between two preparations of human cadaveric acellular dermal matrix (freeze dried and ready-to-use) in immediate tissue expander breast reconstruction to analyze the effect of processing on complications. The authors retrospectively reviewed all alloplastic breast reconstructions with freeze-dried or ready-to-use human acellular dermal matrices between 2006 and 2016. The primary outcome measure was surgical-site occurrence defined as seroma, skin dehiscence, surgical-site infection, or reconstruction failure. The two groups were compared before and after propensity score matching. The authors included 988 reconstructions (freeze-dried, 53.8 percent; ready-to-use, 46.2 percent). Analysis of 384 propensity score-matched pairs demonstrated a slightly higher rate of surgical-site occurrence (21.4 percent versus 16.7 percent; p = 0.10) and surgical-site infection (9.6 percent versus 7.8 percent; p = 0.13) in the freeze-dried group than in the ready-to-use group, but the difference was not significant. However, failure was significantly higher for the freeze-dried versus ready-to-use group (7.8 percent versus 4.4 percent; p = 0.050). This is the largest study comparing the outcomes of alloplastic breast reconstruction using human acellular dermal matrix materials prepared by different methods. The authors demonstrated higher early complications with aseptic, freeze-dried matrix than with sterile ready-to-use matrix; reconstructive failure was the only outcome to achieve statistical significance. The authors conclude that acellular dermal matrix preparation has an independent impact on patient outcomes in their comparison of one company's product. Therapeutic, III.
Limitation of Cell Adhesion by the Elasticity of the Extracellular Matrix

PubMed Central

Nicolas, Alice; Safran, Samuel. A.

2006-01-01

Cell/matrix adhesions are modulated by cytoskeletal or external stresses and adapt to the mechanical properties of the extracellular matrix. We propose that this mechanosensitivity arises from the activation of a mechanosensor located within the adhesion itself. We show that this mechanism accounts for the observed directional growth of focal adhesions and the reduction or even cessation of their growth when cells adhere to a soft extracellular matrix. We predict quantitatively that both the elasticity and the thickness of the matrix play a key role in the dynamics of focal adhesions. Two different types of dynamics are expected depending on whether the thickness of the matrix is of order of or much larger than the adhesion size. In the latter situation, we predict that the adhesion region reaches a saturation size that can be tuned by the mechanical properties of the matrix. PMID:16581840
Stress as an order parameter for the glass transition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Visscher, P. B.; Logan, W. T.

1990-09-01

The stress tensor has been considered as a possible order parameter for the liquid-glass transition, and its autocorrelation matrix (elements of which are the integrands in the Green-Kubo formulas for bulk and shear viscosity) have been measured in simulations. However, only the k=0 spatial Fourier component has apparently been previously measured. We have measured four Fourier components of all matrix elements of the stress-stress correlation function, and we find that some of those with nonzero wave vector are significantly more persistent (slower decaying) than the k=0 component.
Modeling fatigue crack growth in cross ply titanium matrix composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bakuckas, J. G., Jr.; Johnson, W. S.

1993-01-01

In this study, the fatigue crack growth behavior of fiber bridging matrix cracks in cross-ply SCS-6/Ti-15-3 and SCS-6/Timetal-21S laminates containing center holes was investigated. Experimental observations revealed that matrix cracking was far more extensive and wide spread in the SCS-6/Ti-15-3 laminates compared to that in the SCS-6/Timetal-21S laminates. In addition, the fatigue life of the SCS-6/Ti-15-3 laminates was significantly longer than that of the SCS-6/Timetal-21S laminates. The matrix cracking observed in both material systems was analyzed using a fiber bridging (FB) model which was formulated using the boundary correction factors and weight functions for center hole specimen configurations. A frictional shear stress is assumed in the FB model and was used as a curve fitting parameter to model matrix crack growth data. The higher frictional shear stresses calculated in the SCS-6/Timetal-21S laminates resulted in lower stress intensity factors in the matrix and higher axial stresses in the fibers compared to those in the SCS-6/Ti-15-3 laminates at the same applied stress levels.
Pulmonary lung surfactant synthetic peptide concentration-dependent modulation of DPPC and POPG acyl chain order in a DPPC:POPG:palmitic acid lipid mixture.

PubMed

Krill, S L; Gupta, S L; Smith, T

1994-05-06

Lung surfactant-associated protein interaction with lipid matrices and the effects on lipid thermotropic phase behavior are areas of active research. Many studies limit the lipids to a single or two-component system. The current investigation utilizes a three-lipid component matrix (DPPC:POPG:palmitic acid) to investigate the impact of a synthetic surfactant protein B fragment (SP-B 53-78 DiACM) on the dynamic surface activity of the lipid admixture as measured by a Wilhelmy surface balance. Also, the modulation of the individual lipid acyl chain order by the peptide within the lipid matrix is studied through the use of thermal perturbation FTIR spectroscopy. The data clearly demonstrate a concentration-dependent effect of the peptide on the surface activity with an improvement in the dynamic surface tension diagram characteristics (decreased surface tension and increased collapse plateau) especially at low, 0.36 M%, peptide concentrations. These effects are diminished upon further addition of the peptide. FTIR spectral data demonstrate that the peptide addition results in a significant increase in the acyl chain order of the DPPC and POPG components as measured by the position of the methylene stretching vibrational bands. DPPC is most sensitive to the peptide presence, while the palmitic acid is least affected. The transition temperatures of the individual lipids are also increased with the addition of the peptide. The presence of POPG in the matrix achieves the surface activity similarly seen with natural lung surfactant relative to a DPPC/palmitic acid lipid matrix alone. Its presence increases the sensitivity of the DPPC acyl chains to the presence of the peptide. These effects on the chain order are most probably related to the increased acyl chain fluidity which POPG imparts to the lipid matrix because of the presence of the cis double bond. The phosphatidylglycerol headgroup also adds a negative charge to the lipid matrix which enhances the peptide-lipid interaction. Although the palmitic acid is minimally affected by the peptide, its presence, as suggested by surface balance measurements, results in the establishment of a stable lipid film with DPPC, capable of achieving low surface tension values.
Matrix Management: Is It Really Conflict Management.

DTIC Science & Technology

1976-11-01

ru— A036 516 DEFENSE SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT COLL FORT BELVOIR VA - FIG 5/1 MATRIX MANAGEMENT: IS IT REALLY CONFLICT MANAGEMENT . (U) NOV 76 R P... conflict management .” As a result , sensitivity training for managers and their subordinates was conducted in order to implement the matrix concept...Wilemon. “ Conflict Management in ProJect Life Cycles ,” Sloan ~anagement Review , Vol. 16,Spring , 1975, pp . 3 1—5 0. Thamhain , Hans J. and David L
A unified model for transfer alignment at random misalignment angles based on second-order EKF

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cui, Xiao; Mei, Chunbo; Qin, Yongyuan; Yan, Gongmin; Liu, Zhenbo

2017-04-01

In the transfer alignment process of inertial navigation systems (INSs), the conventional linear error model based on the small misalignment angle assumption cannot be applied to large misalignment situations. Furthermore, the nonlinear model based on the large misalignment angle suffers from redundant computation with nonlinear filters. This paper presents a unified model for transfer alignment suitable for arbitrary misalignment angles. The alignment problem is transformed into an estimation of the relative attitude between the master INS (MINS) and the slave INS (SINS), by decomposing the attitude matrix of the latter. Based on the Rodriguez parameters, a unified alignment model in the inertial frame with the linear state-space equation and a second order nonlinear measurement equation are established, without making any assumptions about the misalignment angles. Furthermore, we employ the Taylor series expansions on the second-order nonlinear measurement equation to implement the second-order extended Kalman filter (EKF2). Monte-Carlo simulations demonstrate that the initial alignment can be fulfilled within 10 s, with higher accuracy and much smaller computational cost compared with the traditional unscented Kalman filter (UKF) at large misalignment angles.
Assessment of heavy metal pollution and human health risk in urban soils of steel industrial city (Anshan), Liaoning, Northeast China.

PubMed

Qing, Xiao; Yutong, Zong; Shenggao, Lu

2015-10-01

The purpose of this study was to determine the concentrations and health risk of heavy metals in urban soils from a steel industrial district in China. A total of 115 topsoil samples from Anshan city, Liaoning, Northeast China were collected and analyzed for Cr, Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu, and Ni. The geoaccumulation index (Igeo), pollution index (PI), and potential ecological risk index (PER) were calculated to assess the pollution level in soils. The hazard index (HI) and carcinogenic risk (RI) were used to assess human health risk of heavy metals. The average concentration of Cr, Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu, and Ni were 69.9, 0.86, 45.1, 213, 52.3, and 33.5mg/kg, respectively. The Igeo and PI values of heavy metals were in the descending order of Cd>Zn>Cu>Pb>Ni>Cr. Higher Igeo value for Cd in soil indicated that Cd pollution was moderate. Pollution index indicated that urban soils were moderate to highly polluted by Cd, Zn, Cu, and Pb. The spatial distribution maps of heavy metals revealed that steel industrial district was the contamination hotspots. Principal component analysis (PCA) and matrix cluster analysis classified heavy metals into two groups, indicating common industrial sources for Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd. Matrix cluster analysis classified the sampling sites into four groups. Sampling sites within steel industrial district showed much higher concentrations of heavy metals compared to the rest of sampling sites, indicating significant contamination introduced by steel industry on soils. The health risk assessment indicated that non-carcinogenic values were below the threshold values. The hazard index (HI) for children and adult has a descending order of Cr>Pb>Cd>Cu>Ni>Zn. Carcinogenic risks due to Cr, Cd, and Ni in urban soils were within acceptable range for adult. Carcinogenic risk value of Cr for children is slightly higher than the threshold value, indicating that children are facing slight threat of Cr. These results provide basic information of heavy metal pollution control and environment management in steel industrial regions. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Mechanical and microwave absorbing properties of carbon-filled polyurethane.

PubMed

Kucerová, Z; Zajícková, L; Bursíková, V; Kudrle, V; Eliás, M; Jasek, O; Synek, P; Matejková, J; Bursík, J

2009-01-01

Polyurethane (PU) matrix composites were prepared with various carbon fillers at different filler contents in order to investigate their structure, mechanical and microwave absorbing properties. As fillers, flat carbon microparticles, carbon microfibers and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNT) were used. The microstructure of the composite was examined by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Mechanical properties, namely universal hardness, plastic hardness, elastic modulus and creep were assessed by means of depth sensing indentation test. Mechanical properties of PU composite filled with different fillers were investigated and the composite always exhibited higher hardness, elastic modulus and creep resistance than un-filled PU. Influence of filler shape, content and dispersion was also investigated.
Numerical Manifold Method for the Forced Vibration of Thin Plates during Bending

PubMed Central

Jun, Ding; Song, Chen; Wei-Bin, Wen; Shao-Ming, Luo; Xia, Huang

2014-01-01

A novel numerical manifold method was derived from the cubic B-spline basis function. The new interpolation function is characterized by high-order coordination at the boundary of a manifold element. The linear elastic-dynamic equation used to solve the bending vibration of thin plates was derived according to the principle of minimum instantaneous potential energy. The method for the initialization of the dynamic equation and its solution process were provided. Moreover, the analysis showed that the calculated stiffness matrix exhibited favorable performance. Numerical results showed that the generalized degrees of freedom were significantly fewer and that the calculation accuracy was higher for the manifold method than for the conventional finite element method. PMID:24883403
Modeling the formation of cell-matrix adhesions on a single 3D matrix fiber.

PubMed

Escribano, J; Sánchez, M T; García-Aznar, J M

2015-11-07

Cell-matrix adhesions are crucial in different biological processes like tissue morphogenesis, cell motility, and extracellular matrix remodeling. These interactions that link cell cytoskeleton and matrix fibers are built through protein clutches, generally known as adhesion complexes. The adhesion formation process has been deeply studied in two-dimensional (2D) cases; however, the knowledge is limited for three-dimensional (3D) cases. In this work, we simulate different local extracellular matrix properties in order to unravel the fundamental mechanisms that regulate the formation of cell-matrix adhesions in 3D. We aim to study the mechanical interaction of these biological structures through a three dimensional discrete approach, reproducing the transmission pattern force between the cytoskeleton and a single extracellular matrix fiber. This numerical model provides a discrete analysis of the proteins involved including spatial distribution, interaction between them, and study of the different phenomena, such as protein clutches unbinding or protein unfolding. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
An updated Lagrangian discontinuous Galerkin hydrodynamic method for gas dynamics

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wu, Tong; Shashkov, Mikhail Jurievich; Morgan, Nathaniel Ray

Here, we present a new Lagrangian discontinuous Galerkin (DG) hydrodynamic method for gas dynamics. The new method evolves conserved unknowns in the current configuration, which obviates the Jacobi matrix that maps the element in a reference coordinate system or the initial coordinate system to the current configuration. The density, momentum, and total energy (ρ, ρu, E) are approximated with conservative higher-order Taylor expansions over the element and are limited toward a piecewise constant field near discontinuities using a limiter. Two new limiting methods are presented for enforcing the bounds on the primitive variables of density, velocity, and specific internal energymore » (ρ, u, e). The nodal velocity, and the corresponding forces, are calculated by solving an approximate Riemann problem at the element nodes. An explicit second-order method is used to temporally advance the solution. This new Lagrangian DG hydrodynamic method conserves mass, momentum, and total energy. 1D Cartesian coordinates test problem results are presented to demonstrate the accuracy and convergence order of the new DG method with the new limiters.« less
An updated Lagrangian discontinuous Galerkin hydrodynamic method for gas dynamics

DOE PAGES

Wu, Tong; Shashkov, Mikhail Jurievich; Morgan, Nathaniel Ray; ...

2018-04-09

Here, we present a new Lagrangian discontinuous Galerkin (DG) hydrodynamic method for gas dynamics. The new method evolves conserved unknowns in the current configuration, which obviates the Jacobi matrix that maps the element in a reference coordinate system or the initial coordinate system to the current configuration. The density, momentum, and total energy (ρ, ρu, E) are approximated with conservative higher-order Taylor expansions over the element and are limited toward a piecewise constant field near discontinuities using a limiter. Two new limiting methods are presented for enforcing the bounds on the primitive variables of density, velocity, and specific internal energymore » (ρ, u, e). The nodal velocity, and the corresponding forces, are calculated by solving an approximate Riemann problem at the element nodes. An explicit second-order method is used to temporally advance the solution. This new Lagrangian DG hydrodynamic method conserves mass, momentum, and total energy. 1D Cartesian coordinates test problem results are presented to demonstrate the accuracy and convergence order of the new DG method with the new limiters.« less
Measurement of the differential cross sections for isolated direct photon pair production in ppbar collisions at √{ s} = 1.96 TeV

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abazov, V. M.; Abbott, B.; Acharya, B. S.; Adams, M.; Adams, T.; Alexeev, G. D.; Alkhazov, G.; Alton, A.; Anikeev, V. B.; Askew, A.; Atkins, S.; Augsten, K.; Avila, C.; Badaud, F.; Bagby, L.; Baldin, B.; Bandurin, D. V.; Banerjee, S.; Barberis, E.; Baringer, P.; Bartlett, J. F.; Bassler, U.; Bazterra, V.; Bean, A.; Begalli, M.; Bellantoni, L.; Beri, S. B.; Bernardi, G.; Bernhard, R.; Bertram, I.; Besançon, M.; Beuselinck, R.; Bhat, P. C.; Bhatia, S.; Bhatnagar, V.; Blazey, G.; Blessing, S.; Bloom, K.; Boehnlein, A.; Boline, D.; Boos, E. E.; Borissov, G.; Brandt, A.; Brandt, O.; Brock, R.; Bross, A.; Brown, D.; Bu, X. B.; Buehler, M.; Buescher, V.; Bunichev, V.; Burdin, S.; Buszello, C. P.; Camacho-Pérez, E.; Casey, B. C. K.; Castilla-Valdez, H.; Caughron, S.; Chakrabarti, S.; Chakraborty, D.; Chan, K. M.; Chandra, A.; Chapon, E.; Chen, G.; Cho, S. W.; Choi, S.; Choudhary, B.; Cihangir, S.; Claes, D.; Clutter, J.; Cooke, M.; Cooper, W. E.; Corcoran, M.; Couderc, F.; Cousinou, M.-C.; Cutts, D.; Das, A.; Davies, G.; de Jong, S. J.; De La Cruz-Burelo, E.; Déliot, F.; Demina, R.; Denisov, D.; Denisov, S. P.; Desai, S.; Deterre, C.; DeVaughan, K.; Diehl, H. T.; Diesburg, M.; Ding, P. F.; Dominguez, A.; Dubey, A.; Dudko, L. V.; Duperrin, A.; Dutt, S.; Dyshkant, A.; Eads, M.; Edmunds, D.; Ellison, J.; Elvira, V. D.; Enari, Y.; Evans, H.; Evdokimov, V. N.; Feng, L.; Ferbel, T.; Fiedler, F.; Filthaut, F.; Fisher, W.; Fisk, H. E.; Fortner, M.; Fox, H.; Fuess, S.; Garcia-Bellido, A.; García-González, J. A.; García-Guerra, G. A.; Gavrilov, V.; Geng, W.; Gerber, C. E.; Gershtein, Y.; Ginther, G.; Golovanov, G.; Grannis, P. D.; Greder, S.; Greenlee, H.; Grenier, G.; Gris, Ph.; Grivaz, J.-F.; Grohsjean, A.; Grünendahl, S.; Grünewald, M. W.; Guillemin, T.; Gutierrez, G.; Gutierrez, P.; Haley, J.; Han, L.; Harder, K.; Harel, A.; Hauptman, J. M.; Hays, J.; Head, T.; Hebbeker, T.; Hedin, D.; Hegab, H.; Heinson, A. P.; Heintz, U.; Hensel, C.; Heredia-De La Cruz, I.; Herner, K.; Hesketh, G.; Hildreth, M. D.; Hirosky, R.; Hoang, T.; Hobbs, J. D.; Hoeneisen, B.; Hogan, J.; Hohlfeld, M.; Howley, I.; Hubacek, Z.; Hynek, V.; Iashvili, I.; Ilchenko, Y.; Illingworth, R.; Ito, A. S.; Jabeen, S.; Jaffré, M.; Jayasinghe, A.; Jeong, M. S.; Jesik, R.; Jiang, P.; Johns, K.; Johnson, E.; Johnson, M.; Jonckheere, A.; Jonsson, P.; Joshi, J.; Jung, A. W.; Juste, A.; Kajfasz, E.; Karmanov, D.; Katsanos, I.; Kehoe, R.; Kermiche, S.; Khalatyan, N.; Khanov, A.; Kharchilava, A.; Kharzheev, Y. N.; Kiselevich, I.; Kohli, J. M.; Kozelov, A. V.; Kraus, J.; Kumar, A.; Kupco, A.; Kurča, T.; Kuzmin, V. A.; Lammers, S.; Lebrun, P.; Lee, H. S.; Lee, S. W.; Lee, W. M.; Lei, X.; Lellouch, J.; Li, D.; Li, H.; Li, L.; Li, Q. Z.; Lim, J. K.; Lincoln, D.; Linnemann, J.; Lipaev, V. V.; Lipton, R.; Liu, H.; Liu, Y.; Lobodenko, A.; Lokajicek, M.; Lopes de Sa, R.; Luna-Garcia, R.; Lyon, A. L.; Maciel, A. K. A.; Magaña-Villalba, R.; Malik, S.; Malyshev, V. L.; Mansour, J.; Martínez-Ortega, J.; McCarthy, R.; McGivern, C. L.; Meijer, M. M.; Melnitchouk, A.; Menezes, D.; Mercadante, P. G.; Merkin, M.; Meyer, A.; Meyer, J.; Miconi, F.; Mondal, N. K.; Mulhearn, M.; Nagy, E.; Naimuddin, M.; Narain, M.; Nayyar, R.; Neal, H. A.; Negret, J. P.; Neustroev, P.; Nguyen, H. T.; Nunnemann, T.; Orduna, J.; Osman, N.; Osta, J.; Padilla, M.; Pal, A.; Parashar, N.; Parihar, V.; Park, S. K.; Partridge, R.; Parua, N.; Patwa, A.; Penning, B.; Perfilov, M.; Peters, Y.; Petridis, K.; Petrillo, G.; Pétroff, P.; Pleier, M.-A.; Podesta-Lerma, P. L. M.; Podstavkov, V. M.; Popov, A. V.; Prewitt, M.; Price, D.; Prokopenko, N.; Qian, J.; Quadt, A.; Quinn, B.; Rangel, M. S.; Ratoff, P. N.; Razumov, I.; Ripp-Baudot, I.; Rizatdinova, F.; Rominsky, M.; Ross, A.; Royon, C.; Rubinov, P.; Ruchti, R.; Sajot, G.; Salcido, P.; Sánchez-Hernández, A.; Sanders, M. P.; Santos, A. S.; Savage, G.; Sawyer, L.; Scanlon, T.; Schamberger, R. D.; Scheglov, Y.; Schellman, H.; Schwanenberger, C.; Schwienhorst, R.; Sekaric, J.; Severini, H.; Shabalina, E.; Shary, V.; Shaw, S.; Shchukin, A. A.; Shivpuri, R. K.; Simak, V.; Skubic, P.; Slattery, P.; Smirnov, D.; Smith, K. J.; Snow, G. R.; Snow, J.; Snyder, S.; Söldner-Rembold, S.; Sonnenschein, L.; Soustruznik, K.; Stark, J.; Stoyanova, D. A.; Strauss, M.; Suter, L.; Svoisky, P.; Titov, M.; Tokmenin, V. V.; Trusov, V.; Tsai, Y.-T.; Tsybychev, D.; Tuchming, B.; Tully, C.; Uvarov, L.; Uvarov, S.; Uzunyan, S.; Van Kooten, R.; van Leeuwen, W. M.; Varelas, N.; Varnes, E. W.; Vasilyev, I. A.; Verkheev, A. Y.; Vertogradov, L. S.; Verzocchi, M.; Vesterinen, M.; Vilanova, D.; Vokac, P.; Wahl, H. D.; Wang, M. H. L. S.; Warchol, J.; Watts, G.; Wayne, M.; Weichert, J.; Welty-Rieger, L.; White, A.; Wicke, D.; Williams, M. R. J.; Wilson, G. W.; Wobisch, M.; Wood, D. R.; Wyatt, T. R.; Xie, Y.; Yamada, R.; Yang, S.; Yasuda, T.; Yatsunenko, Y. A.; Ye, W.; Ye, Z.; Yin, H.; Yip, K.; Youn, S. W.; Yu, J. M.; Zennamo, J.; Zhao, T. G.; Zhou, B.; Zhu, J.; Zielinski, M.; Zieminska, D.; Zivkovic, L.

2013-08-01

We present measurements of direct photon pair production cross sections using 8.5fb-1 of data collected with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron ppbar collider. The results are presented as differential distributions of the photon pair invariant mass dσ / dMγγ, pair transverse momentum dσ / d pTγγ, azimuthal angle between the photons dσ / dΔϕγγ, and polar scattering angle in the Collins-Soper frame dσ / d | cosθ* |. Measurements are performed for isolated photons with transverse momenta pTγ > 18 (17) GeV for the leading (next-to-leading) photon in pT, pseudorapidities |ηγ | < 0.9, and a separation in η-ϕ space ΔRγγ > 0.4. We present comparisons with the predictions from Monte Carlo event generators DIPHOX and RESBOS implementing QCD calculations at next-to-leading order, 2γNNLO at next-to-next-to-leading order, and SHERPA using matrix elements with higher-order real emissions matched to parton shower.
A numerical scheme based on radial basis function finite difference (RBF-FD) technique for solving the high-dimensional nonlinear Schrödinger equations using an explicit time discretization: Runge-Kutta method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dehghan, Mehdi; Mohammadi, Vahid

2017-08-01

In this research, we investigate the numerical solution of nonlinear Schrödinger equations in two and three dimensions. The numerical meshless method which will be used here is RBF-FD technique. The main advantage of this method is the approximation of the required derivatives based on finite difference technique at each local-support domain as Ωi. At each Ωi, we require to solve a small linear system of algebraic equations with a conditionally positive definite matrix of order 1 (interpolation matrix). This scheme is efficient and its computational cost is same as the moving least squares (MLS) approximation. A challengeable issue is choosing suitable shape parameter for interpolation matrix in this way. In order to overcome this matter, an algorithm which was established by Sarra (2012), will be applied. This algorithm computes the condition number of the local interpolation matrix using the singular value decomposition (SVD) for obtaining the smallest and largest singular values of that matrix. Moreover, an explicit method based on Runge-Kutta formula of fourth-order accuracy will be applied for approximating the time variable. It also decreases the computational costs at each time step since we will not solve a nonlinear system. On the other hand, to compare RBF-FD method with another meshless technique, the moving kriging least squares (MKLS) approximation is considered for the studied model. Our results demonstrate the ability of the present approach for solving the applicable model which is investigated in the current research work.
The nuclear matrix prepared by amine modification

PubMed Central

Wan, Katherine M.; Nickerson, Jeffrey A.; Krockmalnic, Gabriela; Penman, Sheldon

1999-01-01

The nucleus is spatially ordered by attachments to a nonchromatin nuclear structure, the nuclear matrix. The nuclear matrix and chromatin are intimately connected and integrated structures, and so a major technical challenge in nuclear matrix research has been to remove chromatin while retaining a native nuclear matrix. Most methods for removing chromatin require first a nuclease digestion and then a salt extraction to remove cut chromatin. We have hypothesized that cut chromatin is held in place by charge interactions involving nucleosomal amino groups. We have tested this hypothesis by chemically modifying amino groups after nuclease digestion. By using this protocol, chromatin could be effectively removed at physiological ionic strength. We compared the ultrastructure and composition of this nuclear matrix preparation with the traditional high-salt nuclear matrix and with the third nuclear matrix preparation that we have developed from which chromatin is removed after extensive crosslinking. All three matrix preparations reveal internal nuclear matrix structures that are built on a network of branched filaments of about 10 nm diameter. That such different chromatin-removal protocols reveal similar principles of nuclear matrix construction increases our confidence that we are observing important architectural elements of the native structure in the living cell. PMID:9927671

Two-way regulation between cells and aligned collagen fibrils: local 3D matrix formation and accelerated neural differentiation of human decidua parietalis placental stem cells.

PubMed

Li, Wen; Zhu, Bofan; Strakova, Zuzana; Wang, Rong

2014-08-08

It has been well established that an aligned matrix provides structural and signaling cues to guide cell polarization and cell fate decision. However, the modulation role of cells in matrix remodeling and the feedforward effect on stem cell differentiation have not been studied extensively. In this study, we report on the concerted changes of human decidua parietalis placental stem cells (hdpPSCs) and the highly ordered collagen fibril matrix in response to cell-matrix interaction. With high-resolution imaging, we found the hdpPSCs interacted with the matrix by deforming the cell shape, harvesting the nearby collagen fibrils, and reorganizing the fibrils around the cell body to transform a 2D matrix to a localized 3D matrix. Such a unique 3D matrix prompted high expression of β-1 integrin around the cell body that mediates and facilitates the stem cell differentiation toward neural cells. The study offers insights into the coordinated, dynamic changes at the cell-matrix interface and elucidates cell modulation of its matrix to establish structural and biochemical cues for effective cell growth and differentiation. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Preparation and characterization of polysulfone/zeolite mixed matrix membranes for removal of low-concentration ammonia from aquaculture wastewater.

PubMed

Moradihamedani, Pourya; Abdullah, Abdul Halim

2018-01-01

Removal of low-concentration ammonia (1-10 ppm) from aquaculture wastewater was investigated via polysulfone (PSf)/zeolite mixed matrix membrane. PSf/zeolite mixed matrix membranes with different weight ratios (90/10, 80/20, 70/30 and 60/40 wt.%) were prepared and characterized. Results indicate that PSf/zeolite (80/20) was the most efficient membrane for removal of low-concentration ammonia. The ammonia elimination by PSf/zeolite (80/20) from aqueous solution for 10, 7, 5, 3 and 1 ppm of ammonia was 100%, 99%, 98.8%, 96% and 95% respectively. The recorded results revealed that pure water flux declined in higher loading of zeolite in the membrane matrix due to surface pore blockage caused by zeolite particles. On the other hand, ammonia elimination from water was decreased in higher contents of zeolite because of formation of cavities and macrovoids in the membrane substructure.
Experimental investigation of the ordering pathway in a Ni-33 at.%Cr alloy

DOE PAGES

Gwalani, B.; Alam, T.; Miller, C.; ...

2016-06-17

The present study involves a detailed experimental investigation of the concurrent compositional clustering and long-range ordering tendencies in a Ni-33 at.%Cr alloy, carried out by coupling synchrotron-based X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and atom probe tomography (APT). Synchrotron-based XRD results clearly exhibited progressively increasing lattice contraction in the matrix with increasing isothermal aging time, at 475 degrees C, eventually leading to the development of long-range ordering (LRO) of the Pt2Mo-type. Detailed TEM and APT investigations revealed that this LRO in the matrix is manifested in the form of nanometer-scale ordered domains, and the spatial distribution, size, morphology andmore » compositional evolution of these domains have been carefully investigated. Here, the APT results also revealed the early stages of compositional clustering prior to the onset of long-range ordering in this alloy and such compositional clustering can potentially be correlated to the lattice contraction and previously proposed short-range ordering tendencies.« less
Ubiquitination of specific mitochondrial matrix proteins

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lehmann, Gilad; Ziv, Tamar; Braten, Ori

2016-06-17

Several protein quality control systems in bacteria and/or mitochondrial matrix from lower eukaryotes are absent in higher eukaryotes. These are transfer-messenger RNA (tmRNA), The N-end rule ATP-dependent protease ClpAP, and two more ATP-dependent proteases, HslUV and ClpXP (in yeast). The lost proteases resemble the 26S proteasome and the role of tmRNA and the N-end rule in eukaryotic cytosol is performed by the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS). Therefore, we hypothesized that the UPS might have substituted these systems – at least partially – in the mitochondrial matrix of higher eukaryotes. Using three independent experimental approaches, we demonstrated the presence of ubiquitinatedmore » proteins in the matrix of isolated yeast mitochondria. First, we show that isolated mitochondria contain ubiquitin (Ub) conjugates, which remained intact after trypsin digestion. Second, we demonstrate that the mitochondrial soluble fraction contains Ub-conjugates, several of which were identified by mass spectrometry and are localized to the matrix. Third, using immunoaffinity enrichment by specific antibodies recognizing digested ubiquitinated peptides, we identified a group of Ub-modified matrix proteins. The modification was further substantiated by separation on SDS-PAGE and immunoblots. Last, we attempted to identify the ubiquitin ligase(s) involved, and identified Dma1p as a trypsin-resistant protein in our mitochondrial preparations. Taken together, these data suggest a yet undefined role for the UPS in regulation of the mitochondrial matrix proteins. -- Highlights: •Mitochondrial matrix contains ubiquitinated proteins. •Ubiquitination occurs most probably in the matrix. •Dma1p is a ubiquitin ligase present in mitochondrial preparations.« less
A space efficient flexible pivot selection approach to evaluate determinant and inverse of a matrix.

PubMed

Jafree, Hafsa Athar; Imtiaz, Muhammad; Inayatullah, Syed; Khan, Fozia Hanif; Nizami, Tajuddin

2014-01-01

This paper presents new simple approaches for evaluating determinant and inverse of a matrix. The choice of pivot selection has been kept arbitrary thus they reduce the error while solving an ill conditioned system. Computation of determinant of a matrix has been made more efficient by saving unnecessary data storage and also by reducing the order of the matrix at each iteration, while dictionary notation [1] has been incorporated for computing the matrix inverse thereby saving unnecessary calculations. These algorithms are highly class room oriented, easy to use and implemented by students. By taking the advantage of flexibility in pivot selection, one may easily avoid development of the fractions by most. Unlike the matrix inversion method [2] and [3], the presented algorithms obviate the use of permutations and inverse permutations.
A review of failure models for unidirectional ceramic matrix composites under monotonic loads

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tripp, David E.; Hemann, John H.; Gyekenyesi, John P.

1989-01-01

Ceramic matrix composites offer significant potential for improving the performance of turbine engines. In order to achieve their potential, however, improvements in design methodology are needed. In the past most components using structural ceramic matrix composites were designed by trial and error since the emphasis of feasibility demonstration minimized the development of mathematical models. To understand the key parameters controlling response and the mechanics of failure, the development of structural failure models is required. A review of short term failure models with potential for ceramic matrix composite laminates under monotonic loads is presented. Phenomenological, semi-empirical, shear-lag, fracture mechanics, damage mechanics, and statistical models for the fast fracture analysis of continuous fiber unidirectional ceramic matrix composites under monotonic loads are surveyed.
Corrosion of Titanium Matrix Composites

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Covino, B.S., Jr.; Alman, D.E.

2002-09-22

The corrosion behavior of unalloyed Ti and titanium matrix composites containing up to 20 vol% of TiC or TiB{sub 2} was determined in deaerated 2 wt% HCl at 50, 70, and 90 degrees C. Corrosion rates were calculated from corrosion currents determined by extrapolation of the tafel slopes. All curves exhibited active-passive behavior but no transpassive region. Corrosion rates for Ti + TiC composites were similar to those for unalloyed Ti except at 90 degrees C where the composites were slightly higher. Corrosion rates for Ti + TiB{sub 2} composites were generally higher than those for unalloyed Ti and increasedmore » with higher concentrations of TiB{sub 2}. XRD and SEM-EDS analyses showed that the TiC reinforcement did not react with the Ti matrix during fabrication while the TiB{sub 2} reacted to form a TiB phase.« less
A Note on Substructuring Preconditioning for Nonconforming Finite Element Approximations of Second Order Elliptic Problems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Maliassov, Serguei

1996-01-01

In this paper an algebraic substructuring preconditioner is considered for nonconforming finite element approximations of second order elliptic problems in 3D domains with a piecewise constant diffusion coefficient. Using a substructuring idea and a block Gauss elimination, part of the unknowns is eliminated and the Schur complement obtained is preconditioned by a spectrally equivalent very sparse matrix. In the case of quasiuniform tetrahedral mesh an appropriate algebraic multigrid solver can be used to solve the problem with this matrix. Explicit estimates of condition numbers and implementation algorithms are established for the constructed preconditioner. It is shown that the condition number of the preconditioned matrix does not depend on either the mesh step size or the jump of the coefficient. Finally, numerical experiments are presented to illustrate the theory being developed.
A solver for General Unilateral Polynomial Matrix Equation with Second-Order Matrices Over Prime Finite Fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burtyka, Filipp

2018-03-01

The paper firstly considers the problem of finding solvents for arbitrary unilateral polynomial matrix equations with second-order matrices over prime finite fields from the practical point of view: we implement the solver for this problem. The solver’s algorithm has two step: the first is finding solvents, having Jordan Normal Form (JNF), the second is finding solvents among the rest matrices. The first step reduces to the finding roots of usual polynomials over finite fields, the second is essentially exhaustive search. The first step’s algorithms essentially use the polynomial matrices theory. We estimate the practical duration of computations using our software implementation (for example that one can’t construct unilateral matrix polynomial over finite field, having any predefined number of solvents) and answer some theoretically-valued questions.
Filamin A regulates the organization and remodeling of the pericellular collagen matrix.

PubMed

Mezawa, Masaru; Pinto, Vanessa I; Kazembe, Mwayi P; Lee, Wilson S; McCulloch, Christopher A

2016-10-01

Extracellular matrix remodeling by cell adhesion-related processes is critical for proliferation and tissue homeostasis, but how adhesions and the cytoskeleton interact to organize the pericellular matrix (PCM) is not understood. We examined the role of the actin-binding protein, filamin A (FLNa), in pericellular collagen remodeling. Compared with wild-type (WT), mice with fibroblast-specific deletion of FLNa exhibited higher density but reduced organization of collagen fibers after increased loading of the periodontal ligament for 2 wk. In cultured fibroblasts, FLNa knockdown (KD) did not affect collagen mRNA, but after 24 h of culture, FLNa WT cells exhibited ∼2-fold higher cell-surface collagen KD cells and 13-fold higher levels of activated β1 integrins. In FLNa WT cells, there was 3-fold more colocalization of talin with pericellular cleaved collagen than in FLNa KD cells. MMP-9 mRNA and protein expression were >2-fold higher in FLNa KD cells than in WT cells. Cathepsin B, which is necessary for intracellular collagen digestion, was >3-fold higher in FLNa WT cells than in KD cells. FLNa WT cells exhibited 2-fold more collagen phagocytosis than KD cells, which involved the FLNa actin-binding domain. Evidently, FLNa regulates PCM remodeling through its effects on degradation pathways that affect the abundance and organization of collagen.-Mezawa, M., Pinto, V. I., Kazembe, M. P., Lee, W. S., McCulloch, C. A. Filamin A regulates the organization and remodeling of the pericellular collagen matrix. © FASEB.
Biomimetic Mineralization on a Macroporous Cellulose-Based Matrix for Bone Regeneration

PubMed Central

Petrauskaite, Odeta; Gomes, Pedro de Sousa; Fernandes, Maria Helena; Juodzbalys, Gintaras; Maminskas, Julius

2013-01-01

The aim of this study is to investigate the biomimetic mineralization on a cellulose-based porous matrix with an improved biological profile. The cellulose matrix was precalcified using three methods: (i) cellulose samples were treated with a solution of calcium chloride and diammonium hydrogen phosphate; (ii) the carboxymethylated cellulose matrix was stored in a saturated calcium hydroxide solution; (iii) the cellulose matrix was mixed with a calcium silicate solution in order to introduce silanol groups and to combine them with calcium ions. All the methods resulted in a mineralization of the cellulose surfaces after immersion in a simulated body fluid solution. Over a period of 14 days, the matrix was completely covered with hydroxyapatite crystals. Hydroxyapatite formation depended on functional groups on the matrix surface as well as on the precalcification method. The largest hydroxyapatite crystals were obtained on the carboxymethylated cellulose matrix treated with calcium hydroxide solution. The porous cellulose matrix was not cytotoxic, allowing the adhesion and proliferation of human osteoblastic cells. Comparatively, improved cell adhesion and growth rate were achieved on the mineralized cellulose matrices. PMID:24163816
Cryogenic regenerator including sarancarbon heat conduction matrix

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jones, Jack A. (Inventor); Petrick, S. Walter (Inventor); Britcliffe, Michael J. (Inventor)

1989-01-01

A saran carbon matrix is employed to conduct heat through the heat storing volume of a cryogenic regenerator. When helium is adsorbed into the saran carbon matrix, the combination exhibits a volumetric specific heat much higher than previously used lead balls. A helium adsorbed saran regenerator should allow much lower refrigerator temperatures than those practically obtainable with lead based regenerators for regenerator type refrigeration systems.
Functionalized gold nanoparticles as additive to form polymer/metal composite matrix for improved DNA sequencing by capillary electrophoresis.

PubMed

Zhou, Dan; Yang, Liping; Yang, Runmiao; Song, Weihua; Peng, Shuhua; Wang, Yanmei

2009-11-15

A new matrix additive, poly (N,N-dimethylacrylamide)-functionalized gold nanoparticle (GNP-PDMA), was prepared by "grafting-to" approach, and then incorporated into quasi-interpenetrating network (quasi-IPN) composed of linear polyacrylamide (LPA, 3.3 MDa) and PDMA to form novel polymer/metal composite sieving matrix (quasi-IPN/GNP-PDMA) for DNA sequencing by capillary electrophoresis. Without complete optimization, quasi-IPN/GNP-PDMA yielded a readlength of 801 bases at 98% accuracy in about 64 min by using the ABI 310 Genetic Analyzer at 50 degrees C and 150 V/cm. Compared with previous quasi-IPN/GNPs, quasi-IPN/GNP-PDMA can further improve DNA sequencing performances. This is because the presence of GNP-PDMA can improve the compatibility of GNPs with the whole sequencing system, enhance the entanglement degree of networks, and increase the GNP concentration in system, which consequently lead to higher restriction and stability, higher apparent molecular weight (MW), and smaller pore size of the total sieving networks. Furthermore, the composite matrix was also compared with quasi-IPN containing higher-MW LPA and commercial POP-6. The results indicate that the composite matrix is a promising one for DNA sequencing to achieve full automation due to the separation provided with high resolution, speediness, excellent reproducibility, and easy loading in the presence of GNP-PDMA.
Natural vegetation cover in the landscape and edge effects: differential responses of insect orders in a fragmented forest.

PubMed

González, Ezequiel; Salvo, Adriana; Valladares, Graciela

2017-10-01

Human activities have led to global simplification of ecosystems, among which Neotropical dry forests are some of the most threatened. Habitat loss as well as edge effects may affect insect communities. Here, we analyzed insects sampled with pan traps in 9 landscapes (at 5 scales, in 100-500 m diameter circles) comprising cultivated fields and Chaco Serrano forests, at overall community and taxonomic order level. In total 7043 specimens and 456 species of hexapods were captured, with abundance and richness being directly related to forest cover at 500 m and higher at edges in comparison with forest interior. Community composition also varied with forest cover and edge/interior location. Different responses were detected among the 8 dominant orders. Collembola, Hemiptera, and Orthoptera richness and/or abundance were positively related to forest cover at the larger scale, while Thysanoptera abundance increased with forest cover only at the edge. Hymenoptera abundance and richness were negatively related to forest cover at 100 m. Coleoptera, Diptera, and Hymenoptera were more diverse and abundant at the forest edge. The generally negative influence of forest loss on insect communities could have functional consequences for both natural and cultivated systems, and highlights the relevance of forest conservation. Higher diversity at the edges could result from the simultaneous presence of forest and matrix species, although "resource mapping" might be involved for orders that were richer and more abundant at edges. Adjacent crops could benefit from forest proximity since natural enemies and pollinators are well represented in the orders showing positive edge effects. © 2016 Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Pyroclastic Flow (Post-)Emplacement Thermal History Derived From Titanomagnetite Curie Temperatures: Mt. St. Helens and Soufrière Hills as Test Cases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bowles, J.; Jackson, M.; Lappe, S. C. L. L.; Solheid, P.; Stinton, A. J.

2014-12-01

Pumice blocks and ash matrix sampled from the 1980 pyroclastic flows at Mt. St. Helens and the 2010 flow at Soufrière Hills, Montserrat, display magnetic Curie temperatures (TC) that vary strongly with depth in the flow. We demonstrate that these TC variations result from variable degrees of cation ordering within Mg- and Al-bearing titanomagnetites, and that the degree of ordering is dependent on the emplacement temperature and post-emplacement thermal history of the sample. Curie temperatures are lowest at the tops of flows where rapid cooling has quenched in a relatively low degree of cation order. Samples that cooled more slowly at depth in the flow evolved towards a higher degree of cation order with a correspondingly higher TC. Isothermal annealing experiments in the laboratory have allowed us to document the time-temperature evolution of the cation ordering and Curie temperature, and we use this data in combination with conductive cooling calculations to forward model stratigraphic variations in TC as a function of emplacement temperature (e.g., Fig.1). Preliminary results show that modeled emplacement temperatures (Templ) are reasonably close to measured or estimated emplacement temperatures. Thermal demagnetization data from lithic clasts incorporated into some flows supports the modeled emplacement temperatures; a low-temperature overprint in the direction of the present-day field is removed at ~Templ. However, the documented variation of TC with thermal history means that care should be taken in interpreting this more traditional lithic-based paleomagnetic paleothermometry data. Modification of Curie and blocking temperatures both during natural cooling and during laboratory thermal treatments could affect lithic-based emplacement temperature estimates.
Heat exchanger and method of making. [bonding rocket chambers with a porous metal matrix

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fortini, A.; Kazaroff, J. M. (Inventor)

1978-01-01

A heat exchanger of increased effectiveness is disclosed. A porous metal matrix is disposed in a metal chamber or between walls through which a heat-transfer fluid is directed. The porous metal matrix has internal bonds and is bonded to the chamber in order to remove all thermal contact resistance within the composite structure. Utilization of the invention in a rocket chamber is disclosed as a specific use. Also disclosed is a method of constructing the heat exchanger.
Modular Exhaust Design and Manufacturing Techniques for Low Cost Mid Volume Rapid Buidl to Order Systems

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-08-06

the pressure field is uniform across them, but which allow mass flow to be diverted. Series elements have a constant mass flow across the ports...they can be used to calculate the pressure and mass flow after the element from the pressure and mass flow prior to the element, as shown in...the matrix product of each transfer matrix in turn. The final matrix gives no information about the pressures and mass flows within the element
Microstructure Evolution and Mechanical Behavior of Ultrafine Ti-6Al-4V During Low Temperature Superplastic Deformation (Postprint)

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-09-13

through the deformed β matrix . A total elongation of 1000% and strain-rate-sensitivity exponent m = 0.48 were obtained at 550 °C and 2 × 10−4 s−1...two orders of magnitude faster than the corresponding static behaviors due to enhanced diffusion through the deformed b matrix . A total elongation of...various metallic materials, including titanium alloys, is usually the result of concurrent grain- or interphase-boundary sliding, grain- matrix
Metal matrix composite fabrication processes for high performance aerospace structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ponzi, C.

A survey is conducted of extant methods of metal matrix composite (MMC) production in order to serve as a basis for prospective MMC users' selection of a matrix/reinforcement combination, cost-effective primary fabrication methods, and secondary fabrication techniques for the achievement of desired performance levels. Attention is given to the illustrative cases of structural fittings, control-surface connecting rods, hypersonic aircraft air inlet ramps, helicopter swash plates, and turbine rotor disks. Methods for technical and cost analysis modeling useful in process optimization are noted.
Second level semi-degenerate fields in W_3 Toda theory: matrix element and differential equation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Belavin, Vladimir; Cao, Xiangyu; Estienne, Benoit; Santachiara, Raoul

2017-03-01

In a recent study we considered W_3 Toda 4-point functions that involve matrix elements of a primary field with the highest-weight in the adjoint representation of sl_3 . We generalize this result by considering a semi-degenerate primary field, which has one null vector at level two. We obtain a sixth-order Fuchsian differential equation for the conformal blocks. We discuss the presence of multiplicities, the matrix elements and the fusion rules.

Preliminary characterisation of new glass reference materials (GSA-1G, GSC-1G, GSD-1G and GSE-1G) by laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry using 193 nm, 213 nm and 266 nm wavelengths

USGS Publications Warehouse

Guillong, M.; Hametner, K.; Reusser, E.; Wilson, S.A.; Gunther, D.

2005-01-01

New glass reference materials GSA-1G, GSC-1G, GSD-1G and GSE-1G have been characterised using a prototype solid state laser ablation system capable of producing wavelengths of 193 nm, 213 nm and 266 nm. This system allowed comparison of the effects of different laser wavelengths under nearly identical ablation and ICP operating conditions. The wavelengths 213 nm and 266 nm were also used at higher energy densities to evaluate the influence of energy density on quantitative analysis. In addition, the glass reference materials were analysed using commercially available 266 nm Nd:YAG and 193 nm ArF excimer lasers. Laser ablation analysis was carried out using both single spot and scanning mode ablation. Using laser ablation ICP-MS, concentrations of fifty-eight elements were determined with external calibration to the NIST SRM 610 glass reference material. Instead of applying the more common internal standardisation procedure, the total concentration of all element oxide concentrations was normalised to 100%. Major element concentrations were compared with those determined by electron microprobe. In addition to NIST SRM 610 for external calibration, USGS BCR-2G was used as a more closely matrix-matched reference material in order to compare the effect of matrix-matched and non matrix-matched calibration on quantitative analysis. The results show that the various laser wavelengths and energy densities applied produced similar results, with the exception of scanning mode ablation at 266 nm without matrix-matched calibration where deviations up to 60% from the average were found. However, results acquired using a scanning mode with a matrix-matched calibration agreed with results obtained by spot analysis. The increased abundance of large particles produced when using a scanning ablation mode with NIST SRM 610, is responsible for elemental fractionation effects caused by incomplete vaporisation of large particles in the ICP.
Structure of the first order reduced density matrix in three electron systems: A generalized Pauli constraints assisted study.

PubMed

Theophilou, Iris; Lathiotakis, Nektarios N; Helbig, Nicole

2018-03-21

We investigate the structure of the one-body reduced density matrix of three electron systems, i.e., doublet and quadruplet spin configurations, corresponding to the smallest interacting system with an open-shell ground state. To this end, we use configuration interaction (CI) expansions of the exact wave function in Slater determinants built from natural orbitals in a finite dimensional Hilbert space. With the exception of maximally polarized systems, the natural orbitals of spin eigenstates are generally spin dependent, i.e., the spatial parts of the up and down natural orbitals form two different sets. A measure to quantify this spin dependence is introduced and it is shown that it varies by several orders of magnitude depending on the system. We also study the ordering issue of the spin-dependent occupation numbers which has practical implications in reduced density matrix functional theory minimization schemes, when generalized Pauli constraints (GPCs) are imposed and in the form of the CI expansion in terms of the natural orbitals. Finally, we discuss the aforementioned CI expansion when there are GPCs that are almost "pinned."
Dispersion relations of elastic waves in one-dimensional piezoelectric/piezomagnetic phononic crystal with functionally graded interlayers.

PubMed

Guo, Xiao; Wei, Peijun; Lan, Man; Li, Li

2016-08-01

The effects of functionally graded interlayers on dispersion relations of elastic waves in a one-dimensional piezoelectric/piezomagnetic phononic crystal are studied in this paper. First, the state transfer equation of the functionally graded interlayer is derived from the motion equation by the reduction of order (from second order to first order). The transfer matrix of the functionally graded interlayer is obtained by solving the state transfer equation with the spatial-varying coefficient. Based on the transfer matrixes of the piezoelectric slab, the piezomagnetic slab and the functionally graded interlayers, the total transfer matrix of a single cell is obtained. Further, the Bloch theorem is used to obtain the resultant dispersion equations of in-plane and anti-plane Bloch waves. The dispersion equations are solved numerically and the numerical results are shown graphically. Five kinds of profiles of functionally graded interlayers between a piezoelectric slab and a piezomagnetic slab are considered. It is shown that the functionally graded interlayers have evident influences on the dispersion curves and the band gaps. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
A proposed standard method for polarimetric calibration and calibration verification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Persons, Christopher M.; Jones, Michael W.; Farlow, Craig A.; Morell, L. Denise; Gulley, Michael G.; Spradley, Kevin D.

2007-09-01

Accurate calibration of polarimetric sensors is critical to reducing and analyzing phenomenology data, producing uniform polarimetric imagery for deployable sensors, and ensuring predictable performance of polarimetric algorithms. It is desirable to develop a standard calibration method, including verification reporting, in order to increase credibility with customers and foster communication and understanding within the polarimetric community. This paper seeks to facilitate discussions within the community on arriving at such standards. Both the calibration and verification methods presented here are performed easily with common polarimetric equipment, and are applicable to visible and infrared systems with either partial Stokes or full Stokes sensitivity. The calibration procedure has been used on infrared and visible polarimetric imagers over a six year period, and resulting imagery has been presented previously at conferences and workshops. The proposed calibration method involves the familiar calculation of the polarimetric data reduction matrix by measuring the polarimeter's response to a set of input Stokes vectors. With this method, however, linear combinations of Stokes vectors are used to generate highly accurate input states. This allows the direct measurement of all system effects, in contrast with fitting modeled calibration parameters to measured data. This direct measurement of the data reduction matrix allows higher order effects that are difficult to model to be discovered and corrected for in calibration. This paper begins with a detailed tutorial on the proposed calibration and verification reporting methods. Example results are then presented for a LWIR rotating half-wave retarder polarimeter.
Coulomb matrix elements in multi-orbital Hubbard models.

PubMed

Bünemann, Jörg; Gebhard, Florian

2017-04-26

Coulomb matrix elements are needed in all studies in solid-state theory that are based on Hubbard-type multi-orbital models. Due to symmetries, the matrix elements are not independent. We determine a set of independent Coulomb parameters for a d-shell and an f-shell and all point groups with up to 16 elements (O h , O, T d , T h , D 6h , and D 4h ). Furthermore, we express all other matrix elements as a function of the independent Coulomb parameters. Apart from the solution of the general point-group problem we investigate in detail the spherical approximation and first-order corrections to the spherical approximation.
Cause and cure of sloppiness in ordinary differential equation models.

PubMed

Tönsing, Christian; Timmer, Jens; Kreutz, Clemens

2014-08-01

Data-based mathematical modeling of biochemical reaction networks, e.g., by nonlinear ordinary differential equation (ODE) models, has been successfully applied. In this context, parameter estimation and uncertainty analysis is a major task in order to assess the quality of the description of the system by the model. Recently, a broadened eigenvalue spectrum of the Hessian matrix of the objective function covering orders of magnitudes was observed and has been termed as sloppiness. In this work, we investigate the origin of sloppiness from structures in the sensitivity matrix arising from the properties of the model topology and the experimental design. Furthermore, we present strategies using optimal experimental design methods in order to circumvent the sloppiness issue and present nonsloppy designs for a benchmark model.
Cause and cure of sloppiness in ordinary differential equation models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tönsing, Christian; Timmer, Jens; Kreutz, Clemens

2014-08-01

Data-based mathematical modeling of biochemical reaction networks, e.g., by nonlinear ordinary differential equation (ODE) models, has been successfully applied. In this context, parameter estimation and uncertainty analysis is a major task in order to assess the quality of the description of the system by the model. Recently, a broadened eigenvalue spectrum of the Hessian matrix of the objective function covering orders of magnitudes was observed and has been termed as sloppiness. In this work, we investigate the origin of sloppiness from structures in the sensitivity matrix arising from the properties of the model topology and the experimental design. Furthermore, we present strategies using optimal experimental design methods in order to circumvent the sloppiness issue and present nonsloppy designs for a benchmark model.
Impact of cyclic mechanical stimulation on the expression of extracellular matrix proteins in human primary rotator cuff fibroblasts.

PubMed

Lohberger, Birgit; Kaltenegger, Heike; Stuendl, Nicole; Rinner, Beate; Leithner, Andreas; Sadoghi, Patrick

2016-12-01

Mechanical stimulation plays an important role in the development and remodelling of tendons. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of mechanical stimulation on the expression of extracellular matrix proteins in human primary rotator cuff (RC) fibroblasts. RC fibroblasts were isolated from patients with degenerative RC tears and characterized using flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. Cells were stimulated using the Flexcell FX5K™ Tension System. The stimulation regime was a uniaxial sinusoidal waveform with 10 % elongation and a frequency of 0.5 Hz, whereby each cycle consists of 10-s strain and 30-s relaxation. Data were normalized to mechanically unstimulated control groups for every experimental condition. RT-qPCR was performed to determine relative mRNA levels, and collagen production was measured by a colorimetric assay. The positive expression of CD91 and CD10, and negativity for CD45 and CD4 confirmed the fibroblast phenotype of RC primary cells. RT-qPCR revealed that 10 % continuous cyclic strain for 7 and 14 days induced a significant increase in the mRNA expression both on the matrix metalloproteinases MMP1, MMP3, MMP13, and MMP14 and on the extracellular matrix proteins decorin, tenascin-C, and scleraxis. Furthermore, mechanically stimulated groups produced significantly higher amounts of total collagen. These results may contribute to a better understanding of strain-induced tendon remodelling and will form the basis for the correct choice of applied force in rehabilitation after orthopaedic surgery. These findings underline the fact that early passive motion of the joint in order to induce remodelling of the tendon should be included within a rehabilitation protocol for rotator cuff repair.
In situ investigation of supercritical CO2 assisted impregnation of drugs into a polymer by high pressure FTIR micro-spectroscopy.

PubMed

Champeau, M; Thomassin, J-M; Jérôme, C; Tassaing, T

2015-02-07

An original experimental set-up combining a FTIR micro-spectrometer with a high pressure cell has been built in order to analyze in situ the impregnation of a solute into microscopic polymer samples, such as fibers or films, subjected to supercritical CO2. Thanks to this experimental set-up, key factors governing the impregnation process can be simultaneously followed such as the swelling of the polymeric matrix, the CO2 sorption, the kinetics of impregnation and the drug loading into the matrix. Moreover, the solute/polymer interactions and the speciation of the solute can be analyzed. We have monitored in situ the impregnation of aspirin and ketoprofen into PEO (Polyethylene Oxide) platelets at T = 40 °C and P = 5; 10 and 15 MPa. The kinetics of impregnation of aspirin was quicker than the one of ketoprofen and the final drug loading was also higher in the case of aspirin. Whereas the CO2 sorption and the PEO swelling remain constant when PEO is just subjected to CO2 under isobaric conditions, we noticed that both parameters can increase while the drug impregnates PEO. Coupling these results with DSC measurements, we underlined the plasticizing effect of the drug that also leads to a decrease in the crystallinity of PEO in situ thus favoring the sorption of CO2 molecules into the matrix and the swelling of the matrix. The plasticizing effect increases with the drug loading. Finally, the speciation of drugs was investigated considering the shift of the carboxyl bands of the drugs. Both drugs were found to be mainly homogeneously dispersed into PEO.
Modelling of Tc migration in an un-oxidized fractured drill core from Äspö, Sweden

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huber, F. M.; Totskiy, Y.; Montoya Garcia, V.; Enzmann, F.; Trumm, M.; Wenka, A.; Geckeis, H.; Schaefer, T.

2015-12-01

The radionuclide retention of redox sensitive radionuclides (e.g. Pu, Np, U, Tc) in crystalline host rock greatly depends on the rock matrix and the rock redox capacity. Preservation of drill cores concerning oxidation is therefore of paramount importance to reliably predict the near-natural radionuclide retention properties. Here, experimental results of HTO and Tc laboratory migration experiments in a naturally single fractured Äspö un-oxidized drill core are modelled using two different 2D models. Both models employ geometrical information obtained by μ-computed tomography (μCT) scanning of the drill core. The models differ in geometrical complexity meaning the first model (PPM-MD) consists of a simple parallel plate with a porous matrix adjacent to the fracture whereas the second model (MPM) uses the mid-plane of the 3D fracture only (no porous matrix). Simulation results show that for higher flow rates (Peclet number > 1), the MPM satisfactorily describes the HTO breakthrough curves (BTC) whereas the PPM-MD model nicely reproduces the HTO BTC for small Pe numbers (<1). These findings clearly highlight the influence of fracture geometry/flow field complexity on solute transport for Pe numbers > 1 and the dominating effect of matrix diffusion for Peclet numbers < 1. Retention of Tc is modelled using a simple Kd-approach in case of the PPM-MD and including 1st order sorptive reduction/desorption kinetics in case of the MPM. Batch determined sorptive reduction/desorption kinetic rates and Kd values for Tc on non-oxidized Äspö diorite are used in the model and compared to best fit values. By this approach, the transferability of kinetic data concerning sorptive reduction determined in static batch experiments to dynamic transport experiments is examined.
Gas and Liquid Permeability Measurements in Wolfcamp Samples

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bhandari, A. R.; Flemings, P. B.; Ramiro-Ramirez, S.; Polito, P. J.

2017-12-01

Argon gas and liquid (dodecane) permeability measurements in three mixed quality Wolfcamp samples demonstrate it is possible to close multiple bedding parallel open artificial micro-fractures and obtain representative matrix permeability by applying two confining stress cycles at a constant pore pressure under effective stresses ranging from 6.9 MPa to 59.7 MPa. The fractured sample (with no bridging-cement in fractures) exhibited a three order decrease in permeability from 4.4×10-17 m2 to 2.1×10-20 m2. In contrast, the most intact sample exhibited initial liquid permeability of 1.61×10-19 m2 that declined gradually to 2.0×10-20 m2 over the same effective stress range. A third sample, that contained a bridging-cement (gypsum) fracture, exhibited much higher initial liquid permeability of 2.8×10-15 m2 and declined gradually to 1.3×10-17 m2 with stress; this suggested that it is difficult to close partially cemented fractures and that the permeability we measured was impacted by the presence of a propped-fracture and not the matrix. We developed a new permeability testing protocol and analytical approaches to interpret the evolution of fractures and resolve the matrix permeability using matrix permeability estimates based on initial pulse decay gas permeability measurements at effective stress of 6.9 MPa. The tested samples are an argillaceous siliceous siltstone facies within the Wolfcamp Formation. A better understanding of permeability will lead to new approaches to determine the best completion and production strategies and, more importantly, to reduce the high water cut problem in Wolfcamp reservoirs.
Matrix Solution of Coupled Differential Equations and Looped Car Following Models

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McCartney, Mark

2008-01-01

A simple mathematical model for the behaviour of how vehicles follow each other along a looped stretch of road is described. The resulting coupled first order differential equations are solved using appropriate matrix techniques and the physical significance of the model is discussed. A number possible classroom exercises are suggested to help…
Patterns of coordinated cortical remodeling during adolescence and their associations with functional specialization and evolutionary expansion.

PubMed

Sotiras, Aristeidis; Toledo, Jon B; Gur, Raquel E; Gur, Ruben C; Satterthwaite, Theodore D; Davatzikos, Christos

2017-03-28

During adolescence, the human cortex undergoes substantial remodeling to support a rapid expansion of behavioral repertoire. Accurately quantifying these changes is a prerequisite for understanding normal brain development, as well as the neuropsychiatric disorders that emerge in this vulnerable period. Past accounts have demonstrated substantial regional heterogeneity in patterns of brain development, but frequently have been limited by small samples and analytics that do not evaluate complex multivariate imaging patterns. Capitalizing on recent advances in multivariate analysis methods, we used nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF) to uncover coordinated patterns of cortical development in a sample of 934 youths ages 8-20, who completed structural neuroimaging as part of the Philadelphia Neurodevelopmental Cohort. Patterns of structural covariance (PSCs) derived by NMF were highly reproducible over a range of resolutions, and differed markedly from common gyral-based structural atlases. Moreover, PSCs were largely symmetric and showed correspondence to specific large-scale functional networks. The level of correspondence was ordered according to their functional role and position in the evolutionary hierarchy, being high in lower-order visual and somatomotor networks and diminishing in higher-order association cortex. Furthermore, PSCs showed divergent developmental associations, with PSCs in higher-order association cortex networks showing greater changes with age than primary somatomotor and visual networks. Critically, such developmental changes within PSCs were significantly associated with the degree of evolutionary cortical expansion. Together, our findings delineate a set of structural brain networks that undergo coordinated cortical thinning during adolescence, which is in part governed by evolutionary novelty and functional specialization.
Homogeneous Matrix Deposition on Dried Agar for MALDI Imaging Mass Spectrometry of Microbial Cultures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hoffmann, Thomas; Dorrestein, Pieter C.

2015-11-01

Matrix deposition on agar-based microbial colonies for MALDI imaging mass spectrometry is often complicated by the complex media on which microbes are grown. This Application Note demonstrates how consecutive short spray pulses of a matrix solution can form an evenly closed matrix layer on dried agar. Compared with sieving dry matrix onto wet agar, this method supports analyte cocrystallization, which results in significantly more signals, higher signal-to-noise ratios, and improved ionization efficiency. The even matrix layer improves spot-to-spot precision of measured m/z values when using TOF mass spectrometers. With this technique, we established reproducible imaging mass spectrometry of myxobacterial cultures on nutrient-rich cultivation media, which was not possible with the sieving technique.
Nano-sized Superlattice Clusters Created by Oxygen Ordering in Mechanically Alloyed Fe Alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, Yong-Jie; Li, Jing; Darling, Kristopher A.; Wang, William Y.; Vanleeuwen, Brian K.; Liu, Xuan L.; Kecskes, Laszlo J.; Dickey, Elizabeth C.; Liu, Zi-Kui

2015-07-01

Creating and maintaining precipitates coherent with the host matrix, under service conditions is one of the most effective approaches for successful development of alloys for high temperature applications; prominent examples include Ni- and Co-based superalloys and Al alloys. While ferritic alloys are among the most important structural engineering alloys in our society, no reliable coherent precipitates stable at high temperatures have been found for these alloys. Here we report discovery of a new, nano-sized superlattice (NSS) phase in ball-milled Fe alloys, which maintains coherency with the BCC matrix up to at least 913 °C. Different from other precipitates in ferritic alloys, this NSS phase is created by oxygen-ordering in the BCC Fe matrix. It is proposed that this phase has a chemistry of Fe3O and a D03 crystal structure and becomes more stable with the addition of Zr. These nano-sized coherent precipitates effectively double the strength of the BCC matrix above that provided by grain size reduction alone. This discovery provides a new opportunity for developing high-strength ferritic alloys for high temperature applications.
A trade-off between model resolution and variance with selected Rayleigh-wave data

USGS Publications Warehouse

Xia, J.; Miller, R.D.; Xu, Y.

2008-01-01

Inversion of multimode surface-wave data is of increasing interest in the near-surface geophysics community. For a given near-surface geophysical problem, it is essential to understand how well the data, calculated according to a layered-earth model, might match the observed data. A data-resolution matrix is a function of the data kernel (determined by a geophysical model and a priori information applied to the problem), not the data. A data-resolution matrix of high-frequency (??? 2 Hz) Rayleigh-wave phase velocities, therefore, offers a quantitative tool for designing field surveys and predicting the match between calculated and observed data. First, we employed a data-resolution matrix to select data that would be well predicted and to explain advantages of incorporating higher modes in inversion. The resulting discussion using the data-resolution matrix provides insight into the process of inverting Rayleigh-wave phase velocities with higher mode data to estimate S-wave velocity structure. Discussion also suggested that each near-surface geophysical target can only be resolved using Rayleigh-wave phase velocities within specific frequency ranges, and higher mode data are normally more accurately predicted than fundamental mode data because of restrictions on the data kernel for the inversion system. Second, we obtained an optimal damping vector in a vicinity of an inverted model by the singular value decomposition of a trade-off function of model resolution and variance. In the end of the paper, we used a real-world example to demonstrate that selected data with the data-resolution matrix can provide better inversion results and to explain with the data-resolution matrix why incorporating higher mode data in inversion can provide better results. We also calculated model-resolution matrices of these examples to show the potential of increasing model resolution with selected surface-wave data. With the optimal damping vector, we can improve and assess an inverted model obtained by a damped least-square method.
Multispectral decomposition for the removal of out-of-band effects of visible/infrared imaging radiometer suite visible and near-infrared bands.

PubMed

Gao, Bo-Cai; Chen, Wei

2012-06-20

The visible/infrared imaging radiometer suite (VIIRS) is now onboard the first satellite platform managed by the Joint Polar Satellite System of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and NASA. It collects scientific data from an altitude of approximately 830 km in 22 narrow bands located in the 0.4-12.5 μm range. The seven visible and near-infrared (VisNIR) bands in the wavelength interval between 0.4-0.9 μm are known to suffer from the out-of-band (OOB) responses--a small amount of radiances far away from the center of a given band that can pass through the filter and reach detectors in the focal plane. A proper treatment of the OOB effects is necessary in order to obtain calibrated at-sensor radiance data [referred to as the Sensor Data Records (SDRs)] from measurements with these bands and subsequently to derive higher-level data products [referred to as the Environmental Data Records (EDRs)]. We have recently developed a new technique, called multispectral decomposition transform (MDT), which can be used to correct/remove the OOB effects of VIIRS VisNIR bands and to recover the true narrow band radiances from the measured radiances containing OOB effects. An MDT matrix is derived from the laboratory-measured filter transmittance functions. The recovery of the narrow band signals is performed through a matrix multiplication--the production between the MDT matrix and a multispectral vector. Hyperspectral imaging data measured from high altitude aircraft and satellite platforms, the complete VIIRS filter functions, and the truncated VIIRS filter functions to narrower spectral intervals, are used to simulate the VIIRS data with and without OOB effects. Our experimental results using the proposed MDT method have demonstrated that the average errors after decomposition are reduced by more than one order of magnitude.
Compaction and gas loss in welded pyroclastic deposits as revealed by porosity, permeability, and electrical conductivity measurements of the Shevlin Park Tuff

USGS Publications Warehouse

Wright, Heather M.; Cashman, Katharine V.

2014-01-01

Pyroclastic flows produced by large volcanic eruptions commonly densify after emplacement. Processes of gas escape, compaction, and welding in pyroclastic-flow deposits are controlled by the physical and thermal properties of constituent material. Through measurements of matrix porosity, permeability, and electrical conductivity, we provide a framework for understanding the evolution of pore structure during these processes. Using data from the Shevlin Park Tuff in central Oregon, United States, and from the literature, we find that over a porosity range of 0%–70%, matrix permeability varies by almost 10 orders of magnitude (from 10–20 to 10–11 m2), with over three orders of magnitude variation at any given porosity. Part of the variation at a given porosity is due to permeability anisotropy, where oriented core samples indicate higher permeabilities parallel to foliation (horizontally) than perpendicular to foliation (vertically). This suggests that pore space is flattened during compaction, creating anisotropic crack-like networks, a geometry that is supported by electrical conductivity measurements. We find that the power law equation: k1 = 1.3 × 10–21 × ϕ5.2 provides the best approximation of dominant horizontal gas loss, where k1 = permeability, and ϕ = porosity. Application of Kozeny-Carman fluid-flow approximations suggests that permeability in the Shevlin Park Tuff is controlled by crack- or disk-like pore apertures with minimum widths of 0.3 and 7.5 μm. We find that matrix permeability limits compaction over short times, but deformation is then controlled by competition among cooling, compaction, water resorption, and permeable gas escape. These competing processes control the potential for development of overpressure (and secondary explosions) and the degree of welding in the deposit, processes that are applicable to viscous densification of volcanic deposits in general. Further, the general relationships among porosity, permeability, and pore geometry are relevant for flow of any fluid through an ignimbritic host.
Can positive matrix factorization help to understand patterns of organic trace gases at the continental Global Atmosphere Watch site Hohenpeissenberg?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leuchner, M.; Gubo, S.; Schunk, C.; Wastl, C.; Kirchner, M.; Menzel, A.; Plass-Dülmer, C.

2015-02-01

From the rural Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) site Hohenpeissenberg in the pre-alpine area of southern Germany, a data set of 24 C2-C8 non-methane hydrocarbons over a period of 7 years was analyzed. Receptor modeling was performed by positive matrix factorization (PMF) and the resulting factors were interpreted with respect to source profiles and photochemical aging. Differing from other studies, no direct source attribution was intended because, due to chemistry along transport, mass conservation from source to receptor is not given. However, at remote sites such as Hohenpeissenberg, the observed patterns of non-methane hydrocarbons can be derived from combinations of factors determined by PMF. A six-factor solution showed high stability and the most plausible results. In addition to a biogenic and a background factor of very stable compounds, four additional anthropogenic factors were resolved that could be divided into two short- and two long-lived patterns from evaporative sources/natural gas leakage and incomplete combustion processes. The volume or mass contribution at the site over the entire period was, in decreasing order, from the following factor categories: background, gas leakage and long-lived evaporative, residential heating and long-lived combustion, short-lived evaporative, short-lived combustion, and biogenic. The importance with respect to reactivity contribution was generally in reverse order, with the biogenic and the short-lived combustion factors contributing most. The seasonality of the factors was analyzed and compared to results of a simple box model using constant emissions and the photochemical decay calculated from the measured annual cycles of OH radicals and ozone. Two of the factors, short-lived combustion and gas leakage/long-lived evaporative, showed winter/summer ratios of about 9 and 7, respectively, as expected from constant source estimations. Contrarily, the short-lived evaporative emissions were about 3 times higher in summer than in winter, while residential heating/long-lived combustion emissions were about 2 times higher in winter than in summer.
Genetic parameters of legendre polynomials for first parity lactation curves.

PubMed

Pool, M H; Janss, L L; Meuwissen, T H

2000-11-01

Variance components of the covariance function coefficients in a random regression test-day model were estimated by Legendre polynomials up to a fifth order for first-parity records of Dutch dairy cows using Gibbs sampling. Two Legendre polynomials of equal order were used to model the random part of the lactation curve, one for the genetic component and one for permanent environment. Test-day records from cows registered between 1990 to 1996 and collected by regular milk recording were available. For the data set, 23,700 complete lactations were selected from 475 herds sired by 262 sires. Because the application of a random regression model is limited by computing capacity, we investigated the minimum order needed to fit the variance structure in the data sufficiently. Predictions of genetic and permanent environmental variance structures were compared with bivariate estimates on 30-d intervals. A third-order or higher polynomial modeled the shape of variance curves over DIM with sufficient accuracy for the genetic and permanent environment part. Also, the genetic correlation structure was fitted with sufficient accuracy by a third-order polynomial, but, for the permanent environmental component, a fourth order was needed. Because equal orders are suggested in the literature, a fourth-order Legendre polynomial is recommended in this study. However, a rank of three for the genetic covariance matrix and of four for permanent environment allows a simpler covariance function with a reduced number of parameters based on the eigenvalues and eigenvectors.

φq-field theory for portfolio optimization: “fat tails” and nonlinear correlations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sornette, D.; Simonetti, P.; Andersen, J. V.

2000-08-01

Physics and finance are both fundamentally based on the theory of random walks (and their generalizations to higher dimensions) and on the collective behavior of large numbers of correlated variables. The archetype examplifying this situation in finance is the portfolio optimization problem in which one desires to diversify on a set of possibly dependent assets to optimize the return and minimize the risks. The standard mean-variance solution introduced by Markovitz and its subsequent developments is basically a mean-field Gaussian solution. It has severe limitations for practical applications due to the strongly non-Gaussian structure of distributions and the nonlinear dependence between assets. Here, we present in details a general analytical characterization of the distribution of returns for a portfolio constituted of assets whose returns are described by an arbitrary joint multivariate distribution. In this goal, we introduce a non-linear transformation that maps the returns onto Gaussian variables whose covariance matrix provides a new measure of dependence between the non-normal returns, generalizing the covariance matrix into a nonlinear covariance matrix. This nonlinear covariance matrix is chiseled to the specific fat tail structure of the underlying marginal distributions, thus ensuring stability and good conditioning. The portfolio distribution is then obtained as the solution of a mapping to a so-called φq field theory in particle physics, of which we offer an extensive treatment using Feynman diagrammatic techniques and large deviation theory, that we illustrate in details for multivariate Weibull distributions. The interaction (non-mean field) structure in this field theory is a direct consequence of the non-Gaussian nature of the distribution of asset price returns. We find that minimizing the portfolio variance (i.e. the relatively “small” risks) may often increase the large risks, as measured by higher normalized cumulants. Extensive empirical tests are presented on the foreign exchange market that validate satisfactorily the theory. For “fat tail” distributions, we show that an adequate prediction of the risks of a portfolio relies much more on the correct description of the tail structure rather than on their correlations. For the case of asymmetric return distributions, our theory allows us to generalize the return-risk efficient frontier concept to incorporate the dimensions of large risks embedded in the tail of the asset distributions. We demonstrate that it is often possible to increase the portfolio return while decreasing the large risks as quantified by the fourth and higher-order cumulants. Exact theoretical formulas are validated by empirical tests.
Magnetocaloric effect in amorphous and partially crystallized Fe{sub 40}Ni{sub 38}Mo{sub 4}B{sub 18} alloys

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Thanveer, T.; Thomas, S., E-mail: senoythomas@gmail.com; Ramanujan, R. V.

A study of magnetocaloric effect in amorphous and partially crystallized Fe{sub 40}Ni{sub 38}Mo{sub 4}B{sub 18} alloys is reported. Amorphous Fe{sub 40}Ni{sub 38}Mo{sub 4}B{sub 18}, near its magnetic ordering temperature (600 K) showed a magnetic entropy change ΔS{sub M} of 1.1 J/KgK and a relative cooling power of 36 J/Kg in a field change of 10 kOe. Amorphous samples were partially crystallized by annealing at 700 K at different time intervals. Partially crystallized samples showed two distinct magnetic ordering temperature, one corresponding to the precipitated FeNi nanocrystals and the other one corresponding to the boron rich amorphous matrix. Magnetic ordering temperaturemore » of the residual amorphous matrix got shifted to the lower temperatures on increasing the annealing duration. Partially crystallised samples showed a magnetic entropy change of about 0.27 J/kgK near the magnetic ordering temperature of the amorphous matrix (540 K) in a field change of 10 kOe. The decrease in ΔS{sub M} on partial crystallisation is attributed to the biphasic magnetic nature of the sample.« less
A single dynamic observer-based module for design of simultaneous fault detection, isolation and tracking control scheme

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Davoodi, M.; Meskin, N.; Khorasani, K.

2018-03-01

The problem of simultaneous fault detection, isolation and tracking (SFDIT) control design for linear systems subject to both bounded energy and bounded peak disturbances is considered in this work. A dynamic observer is proposed and implemented by using the H∞/H-/L1 formulation of the SFDIT problem. A single dynamic observer module is designed that generates the residuals as well as the control signals. The objective of the SFDIT module is to ensure that simultaneously the effects of disturbances and control signals on the residual signals are minimised (in order to accomplish the fault detection goal) subject to the constraint that the transfer matrix from the faults to the residuals is equal to a pre-assigned diagonal transfer matrix (in order to accomplish the fault isolation goal), while the effects of disturbances, reference inputs and faults on the specified control outputs are minimised (in order to accomplish the fault-tolerant and tracking control goals). A set of linear matrix inequality (LMI) feasibility conditions are derived to ensure solvability of the problem. In order to illustrate and demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed design methodology, the developed and proposed schemes are applied to an autonomous unmanned underwater vehicle (AUV).
Texture one zero Dirac neutrino mass matrix with vanishing determinant or trace condition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, Madan

2018-06-01

In the light of non-zero and relatively large value of rector mixing angle (θ13), we have performed a detailed analysis of texture one zero neutrino mass matrix Mν in the scenario of vanishing determinant/trace conditions, assuming the Dirac nature of neutrinos. In both the scenarios, normal mass ordering is ruled out for all the six possibilities of Mν, however for inverted mass ordering, only two are found to be viable with the current neutrino oscillation data at 3σ confidence level. Numerical and some approximate analytical results are presented.
High content reduced graphene oxide reinforced copper with a bioinspired nano-laminated structure and large recoverable deformation ability

PubMed Central

Xiong, Ding-Bang; Cao, Mu; Guo, Qiang; Tan, Zhanqiu; Fan, Genlian; Li, Zhiqiang; Zhang, Di

2016-01-01

By using CuO/graphene-oxide/CuO sandwich-like nanosheets as the building blocks, bulk nacre-inspired copper matrix nano-laminated composite reinforced by molecular-level dispersed and ordered reduced graphene oxide (rGO) with content as high as ∼45 vol% was fabricated via a combined process of assembly, reduction and consolidation. Thanks to nanoconfinement effect, reinforcing effect, as well as architecture effect, the nanocomposite shows increased specific strength and at least one order of magnitude greater recoverable deformation ability as compared with monolithic Cu matrix. PMID:27647264
Basic principles of Hasse diagram technique in chemistry.

PubMed

Brüggemann, Rainer; Voigt, Kristina

2008-11-01

Principles of partial order applied to ranking are explained. The Hasse diagram technique (HDT) is the application of partial order theory based on a data matrix. In this paper, HDT is introduced in a stepwise procedure, and some elementary theorems are exemplified. The focus is to show how the multivariate character of a data matrix is realized by HDT and in which cases one should apply other mathematical or statistical methods. Many simple examples illustrate the basic theoretical ideas. Finally, it is shown that HDT is a useful alternative for the evaluation of antifouling agents, which was originally performed by amoeba diagrams.
Data-Driven Sampling Matrix Boolean Optimization for Energy-Efficient Biomedical Signal Acquisition by Compressive Sensing.

PubMed

Wang, Yuhao; Li, Xin; Xu, Kai; Ren, Fengbo; Yu, Hao

2017-04-01

Compressive sensing is widely used in biomedical applications, and the sampling matrix plays a critical role on both quality and power consumption of signal acquisition. It projects a high-dimensional vector of data into a low-dimensional subspace by matrix-vector multiplication. An optimal sampling matrix can ensure accurate data reconstruction and/or high compression ratio. Most existing optimization methods can only produce real-valued embedding matrices that result in large energy consumption during data acquisition. In this paper, we propose an efficient method that finds an optimal Boolean sampling matrix in order to reduce the energy consumption. Compared to random Boolean embedding, our data-driven Boolean sampling matrix can improve the image recovery quality by 9 dB. Moreover, in terms of sampling hardware complexity, it reduces the energy consumption by 4.6× and the silicon area by 1.9× over the data-driven real-valued embedding.
Sparsity of the normal matrix in the refinement of macromolecules at atomic and subatomic resolution.

PubMed

Jelsch, C

2001-09-01

The normal matrix in the least-squares refinement of macromolecules is very sparse when the resolution reaches atomic and subatomic levels. The elements of the normal matrix, related to coordinates, thermal motion and charge-density parameters, have a global tendency to decrease rapidly with the interatomic distance between the atoms concerned. For instance, in the case of the protein crambin at 0.54 A resolution, the elements are reduced by two orders of magnitude for distances above 1.5 A. The neglect a priori of most of the normal-matrix elements according to a distance criterion represents an approximation in the refinement of macromolecules, which is particularly valid at very high resolution. The analytical expressions of the normal-matrix elements, which have been derived for the coordinates and the thermal parameters, show that the degree of matrix sparsity increases with the diffraction resolution and the size of the asymmetric unit.
Biological Matrix Effects in Quantitative Tandem Mass Spectrometry-Based Analytical Methods: Advancing Biomonitoring

PubMed Central

Panuwet, Parinya; Hunter, Ronald E.; D’Souza, Priya E.; Chen, Xianyu; Radford, Samantha A.; Cohen, Jordan R.; Marder, M. Elizabeth; Kartavenka, Kostya; Ryan, P. Barry; Barr, Dana Boyd

2015-01-01

The ability to quantify levels of target analytes in biological samples accurately and precisely, in biomonitoring, involves the use of highly sensitive and selective instrumentation such as tandem mass spectrometers and a thorough understanding of highly variable matrix effects. Typically, matrix effects are caused by co-eluting matrix components that alter the ionization of target analytes as well as the chromatographic response of target analytes, leading to reduced or increased sensitivity of the analysis. Thus, before the desired accuracy and precision standards of laboratory data are achieved, these effects must be characterized and controlled. Here we present our review and observations of matrix effects encountered during the validation and implementation of tandem mass spectrometry-based analytical methods. We also provide systematic, comprehensive laboratory strategies needed to control challenges posed by matrix effects in order to ensure delivery of the most accurate data for biomonitoring studies assessing exposure to environmental toxicants. PMID:25562585
Consistent force field modeling of matrix isolated molecules. V. Minimum energy path potential to the conformer conversion of 1,2-difluoroethane: Ar 364, ab initio calculation of electric multipole moments and electric polarization contribution to the conversion barrier

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gunde, R.; Ha, T.-K.; Günthard, H. H.

1990-08-01

In this paper results of consistent force field modeling (CFF) of the potential function to conversion of the gauche (g) to the trans (t) conformer of 1,2-difluoroethane (DFE) isolated in an argon matrix will be reported. Starting point are locally stable configurations gDFE:Ar 364 (defect GH1) and tDFE:Ar 364 (TH1) obtained in previous work from CFF modeling of a cube shaped Ar 364 fragment containing one DFE molecule in its center. Using the dihedral angle of DFE as an independent parameter the minimum energy path of the conversion process gDFE:Ar 364→tDFE:Ar 364 will be determined by CFF energy minimization. Determination of the minimum energy path is found to require large numbers of energy minimization steps and to lead to a rather complicated motion of the molecule with respect to the crystal fragment. Surprisingly the molecule-matrix interactions lead to a reduction of the g-t barrier by ≈500 cal/mol and to a stabilization of the trans species by ≈500 cal/mol. This finding is a consequence of a delicate interplay of matrix-molecule and matrix-matrix interactions. Calculation of the electric polarization energy (induced dipole-first-order polarization approximation) is based on extended ab initio calculations of dipole and quadrupole moments and a bond polarizability estimate of the first-order polarizability of DFE as a function of the internal rotation angle, on Fourier expansion of multipole components and use of symmetry for reduction of the order of the linear system defining the (self-consistent) induced dipole moments of all Ar atoms. Electric polarization is found to alter the potential function of the conversion process in a profound way: the g-t barrier and the t-g energy difference are increased to ≈3000 cal/mol and to ≈1500 cal/mol respectively (≈2500 and ≈530 cal/mol respectively for free DFE). Further applications of the technique developed in this work to related problems of matrix isolated molecules, e.g., vibrational matrix shifts will be discussed.
Solute Migration from the Aquifer Matrix into a Solution Conduit and the Reverse.

PubMed

Li, Guangquan; Field, Malcolm S

2016-09-01

A solution conduit has a permeable wall allowing for water exchange and solute transfer between the conduit and its surrounding aquifer matrix. In this paper, we use Laplace Transform to solve a one-dimensional equation constructed using the Euler approach to describe advective transport of solute in a conduit, a production-value problem. Both nonuniform cross-section of the conduit and nonuniform seepage at the conduit wall are considered in the solution. Physical analysis using the Lagrangian approach and a lumping method is performed to verify the solution. Two-way transfer between conduit water and matrix water is also investigated by using the solution for the production-value problem as a first-order approximation. The approximate solution agrees well with the exact solution if dimensionless travel time in the conduit is an order of magnitude smaller than unity. Our analytical solution is based on the assumption that the spatial and/or temporal heterogeneity in the wall solute flux is the dominant factor in the spreading of spring-breakthrough curves, and conduit dispersion is only a secondary mechanism. Such an approach can lead to the better understanding of water exchange and solute transfer between conduits and aquifer matrix. Euler and Lagrangian approaches are used to solve transport in conduit. Two-way transfer between conduit and matrix is investigated. The solution is applicable to transport in conduit of persisting solute from matrix. © 2016, National Ground Water Association.
Effect of pore size of three-dimensionally ordered macroporous chitosan-silica matrix on solubility, drug release, and oral bioavailability of loaded-nimodipine.

PubMed

Gao, Yikun; Xie, Yuling; Sun, Hongrui; Zhao, Qinfu; Zheng, Xin; Wang, Siling; Jiang, Tongying

2016-01-01

To explore the effect of the pore size of three-dimensionally ordered macroporous chitosan-silica (3D-CS) matrix on the solubility, drug release, and oral bioavailability of the loaded drug. 3D-CS matrices with pore sizes of 180 nm, 470 nm, and 930 nm were prepared. Nimodipine (NMDP) was used as the drug model. The morphology, specific surface area, and chitosan mass ratio of the 3D-CS matrices were characterized before the effect of the pore size on drug crystallinity, solubility, release, and in vivo pharmacokinetics were investigated. With the pore size of 3D-CS matrix decreasing, the drug crystallinity decreased and the aqueous solubility increased. The drug release was synthetically controlled by the pore size and chitosan content of 3D-CS matrix in a pH 6.8 medium, while in a pH 1.2 medium the erosion of the 3D-CS matrix played an important role in the decreased drug release rate. The area under the curve of the drug-loaded 3D-CS matrices with pore sizes of 930 nm, 470 nm, and 180 nm was 7.46-fold, 5.85-fold, and 3.75-fold larger than that of raw NMDP respectively. Our findings suggest that the oral bioavailability decreased with a decrease in the pore size of the matrix.
Effect of two hydrophobic polymers on the release of gliclazide from their matrix tablets.

PubMed

Hussain, Talib; Saeed, Tariq; Mumtaz, Ahmad M; Javaid, Zeeshan; Abbas, Khizar; Awais, Azeema; Idrees, Hafiz Arfat

2013-01-01

Gliclazide is an oral hypoglycemic agent, indicated in non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus and in patients with diabetic retinopathy. It has good tolerability and is a short acting sulfonyl urea that requires large dose to maintain the blood glucose level. So development of a sustained release formulation of gliclazide (GLZ) is required for better patient compliance. This study was conducted to assess the effects of different drug polymer ratios on the release profile of gliclazide from the matrix. Oral matrix tablets of gliclazide were prepared by hot melt method, using pure and blended mixture of glyceryl monostearate (GMS) and stearic acid (SA) in different ratios. In vitro release pattern was studied for 8 h in phosphate buffer media (pH 7.4). Different kinetic models including zero order, first order, Higuchi and Peppas were applied to evaluate drug release behavior. Drug excipient compatibility was evaluated by scanning with DSC and FTIR. Higuchi model was found the most appropriate model for describing the release profile of GLZ and non-Fickian release was found predominant mechanism of drug release. The release of drug from the matrix was greatly controlled by GMS while SA appeared to facilitate the release of drug from matrix tablets. FTIR results showed no chemical interaction between drug and the polymers, and DSC results indicated amorphous state of GLZ and polymers without significant complex formation. The results indicate that matrix tablets of gliclazide using glyceryl monostearate and stearic acid showed marked sustained release properties.
On the influence of surface patterning on tissue self-assembly and mechanics.

PubMed

Coppola, Valerio; Ventre, Maurizio; Natale, Carlo F; Rescigno, Francesca; Netti, Paolo A

2018-04-28

Extracellular matrix assembly and composition influence the biological and mechanical functions of tissues. Developing strategies to control the spatial arrangement of cells and matrix is of central importance for tissue engineering-related approaches relying on self-assembling and scaffoldless processes. Literature reports demonstrated that signals patterned on material surfaces are able to control cell positioning and matrix orientation. However, the mechanisms underlying the interactions between material signals and the structure of the de novo synthesized matrix are far from being thoroughly understood. In this work, we investigated the ordering effect provided by nanoscale topographic patterns on the assembly of tissue sheets grown in vitro. We stimulated MC3T3-E1 preosteoblasts to produce and assemble a collagen-rich matrix on substrates displaying patterns with long- or short-range order. Then, we investigated microstructural features and mechanical properties of the tissue in uniaxial tension. Our results demonstrate that patterned material surfaces are able to control the initial organization of cells in close contact to the surface; then cell-generated contractile forces profoundly remodel tissue structure towards mechanically stable spatial patterns. Such a remodelling effect acts both locally, as it affects cell and nuclear shape and globally, by affecting the gross mechanical response of the tissue. Such an aspect of dynamic interplay between cells and the surrounding matrix must be taken into account when designing material platform for the in vitro generation of tissue with specific microstructural assemblies. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Study on a Single-Stage 120 HZ Pulse Tube Cryocooler

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Y. Z.; Gan, Z. H.; Qiu, L. M.; Chen, J.; Li, Z. P.

2010-04-01

Miniaturization of pulse tube cryocoolers is required for some particular applications where size and mass for devices are limited. In order to pack more cooling power in a small volume, higher operating frequencies are commonly used for Stirling-type pulse tube cryocoolers. To maintain high efficiency of the regenerator with a higher frequency, a higher charging pressure, smaller hydraulic diameters of regenerator material and a shorter regenerator length should be applied. A rapid growth of research and development on pulse tube cryocoolers operating at a high frequency over 100 Hz in the last 3 years has occurred. In this study, a single stage pulse tube cryocooler with 120 Hz to provide 10 W of lift at 80 K has been developed by using the numerical model, known as REGEN 3.2. Experiments performed on this cryocooler driven by a CFIC linear compressor show that a no-load temperature of 49.6 K was achieved and the net refrigeration power at 78.5 K was 8.0 W. The effect of pulse tube orientation was tested, and the copper velvet as a regenerator matrix was proposed for high frequency operation.
A Partitioning Algorithm for Block-Diagonal Matrices With Overlap

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Guy Antoine Atenekeng Kahou; Laura Grigori; Masha Sosonkina

2008-02-02

We present a graph partitioning algorithm that aims at partitioning a sparse matrix into a block-diagonal form, such that any two consecutive blocks overlap. We denote this form of the matrix as the overlapped block-diagonal matrix. The partitioned matrix is suitable for applying the explicit formulation of Multiplicative Schwarz preconditioner (EFMS) described in [3]. The graph partitioning algorithm partitions the graph of the input matrix into K partitions, such that every partition {Omega}{sub i} has at most two neighbors {Omega}{sub i-1} and {Omega}{sub i+1}. First, an ordering algorithm, such as the reverse Cuthill-McKee algorithm, that reduces the matrix profile ismore » performed. An initial overlapped block-diagonal partition is obtained from the profile of the matrix. An iterative strategy is then used to further refine the partitioning by allowing nodes to be transferred between neighboring partitions. Experiments are performed on matrices arising from real-world applications to show the feasibility and usefulness of this approach.« less
Bovine versus porcine acellular dermal matrix for complex abdominal wall reconstruction.

PubMed

Clemens, Mark W; Selber, Jesse C; Liu, Jun; Adelman, David M; Baumann, Donald P; Garvey, Patrick B; Butler, Charles E

2013-01-01

Abdominal wall reconstruction with bioprosthetic mesh is associated with lower rates of mesh infection, fistula formation, and mesh explantation than reconstruction with synthetic mesh. The authors directly compared commonly used bioprosthetic meshes in terms of clinical outcomes and complications. A database of consecutive patients who underwent abdominal wall reconstruction with porcine or bovine acellular dermal matrix and midline musculofascial closure at their institution between January of 2008 and March of 2011 was reviewed. Surgical outcomes were compared. One hundred twenty patients were identified who underwent a nonbridged, inlay abdominal wall reconstruction with porcine [69 patients (57.5 percent)] or bovine acellular dermal matrix (51 patients (42.5 percent)]. The mean follow-up time was 21.0 ± 9.9 months. The overall complication rate was 36.6 percent; the porcine matrix group had a significantly higher complication rate (44.9 percent) than the bovine matrix group (25.5 percent; p = 0.04) and statistically equivalent surgical complications (29.2 percent versus 21.6 percent; p = 0.34). There were no significant differences in rates of recurrent hernia (2.9 percent versus 3.9 percent; p = 0.99) or bulge (7.2 percent versus 0 percent; p = 0.07). However, the rate of intraoperative adverse events in the porcine matrix group [seven events (10.1 percent)] was significantly higher than that in the bovine matrix group (0 percent; p = 0.02). In patients who undergo complex abdominal wall reconstruction, both bovine and porcine acellular dermal matrix are associated with similar rates of postoperative surgical complications and appear to result in similar outcomes. Porcine acellular dermal matrix may be prone to intraoperative device failure. Therapeutic, III.
Critical Evaluation of Risk Factors and Early Complications in 564 Consecutive Two-Stage Implant-Based Breast Reconstructions Using Acellular Dermal Matrix at a Single Center.

PubMed

Selber, Jesse C; Wren, James H; Garvey, Patrick B; Zhang, Hong; Erickson, Cameron; Clemens, Mark W; Butler, Charles E

2015-07-01

Acellular dermal matrix for implant-based breast reconstruction appears to cause higher early complication rates, but long-term outcomes are perceived to be superior. This dichotomy is the subject of considerable debate. The authors hypothesized that patient characteristics and operative variables would have a greater impact on complications than the type of acellular dermal matrix used. A retrospective cohort study was performed of consecutive patients who underwent two-stage, implant-based breast reconstruction with human cadaveric or bovine acellular dermal matrix from 2006 to 2012 at a single institution. Patient characteristics and operative variables were analyzed using logistic regression analyses to identify risk factors for complications. The authors included 564 reconstructions in the study. Radiation therapy and obesity increased the odds of all complications. Every 100-ml increase in preoperative breast volume increased the odds of any complication by 1 percent, the odds of infection by 27 percent, and the risk of explantation by 16 percent. The odds of seroma increased linearly with increasing surface area of acellular dermal matrix. Odds of infection were higher with an intraoperative expander fill volume greater than 50 percent of the total volume. Risk of explantation was twice as high when intraoperative expander fill volume was greater than 300 ml. Radiation therapy, obesity, larger breasts, higher intraoperative fill volumes, and larger acellular dermal matrices are all independent risk factors for early complications. Maximizing the initial mastectomy skin envelope fill must be balanced with the understanding that higher complication rates may result from a larger intraoperative breast mound. Risk, III.
Chemical composition of matrix-embedded ternary II-VI nanocrystals derived from first- and second-order Raman spectra

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Azhniuk, Yu. M.; Hutych, Yu. I.; Lopushansky, V. V.; Prymak, M. V.; Gomonnai, A. V.; Zahn, D. R. T.

2016-12-01

A one- and multiphonon Raman scattering study is performed for an extensive set of CdS1-xSex, Cd1-yZnyS, Cd1-yZnySe, and CdSe1-xTex nanocrystals to investigate the applicability of first- and second-order Raman spectra for the determination of the matrix-embedded ternary nanocrystal composition. For one-mode ternary systems both the LO and 2LO phonon frequencies in the Raman spectra are shown to be a good measure of the nanocrystal composition. For two-mode systems, the approaches based on the difference of the LO phonon frequencies (first-order Raman spectra) or double LO overtone and combination tone frequencies (second-order Raman spectra) as well as on the LO phonon band intensity ratios are analysed. The weak electron-phonon coupling in the II-VI nanocrystals and the polaron constant values for the nanocrystal sublattices are discussed.
Topology-driven phase transitions in the classical monomer-dimer-loop model.

PubMed

Li, Sazi; Li, Wei; Chen, Ziyu

2015-06-01

In this work, we investigate the classical loop models doped with monomers and dimers on a square lattice, whose partition function can be expressed as a tensor network (TN). In the thermodynamic limit, we use the boundary matrix product state technique to contract the partition function TN, and determine the thermodynamic properties with high accuracy. In this monomer-dimer-loop model, we find a second-order phase transition between a trivial monomer-condensation and a loop-condensation (LC) phase, which cannot be distinguished by any local order parameter, while nevertheless the two phases have distinct topological properties. In the LC phase, we find two degenerate dominating eigenvalues in the transfer-matrix spectrum, as well as a nonvanishing (nonlocal) string order parameter, both of which identify the topological ergodicity breaking in the LC phase and can serve as the order parameter for detecting the phase transitions.

SU-D-206-02: Evaluation of Partial Storage of the System Matrix for Cone Beam Computed Tomography Using a GPU Platform

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Matenine, D; Cote, G; Mascolo-Fortin, J

2016-06-15

Purpose: Iterative reconstruction algorithms in computed tomography (CT) require a fast method for computing the intersections between the photons’ trajectories and the object, also called ray-tracing or system matrix computation. This work evaluates different ways to store the system matrix, aiming to reconstruct dense image grids in reasonable time. Methods: We propose an optimized implementation of the Siddon’s algorithm using graphics processing units (GPUs) with a novel data storage scheme. The algorithm computes a part of the system matrix on demand, typically, for one projection angle. The proposed method was enhanced with accelerating options: storage of larger subsets of themore » system matrix, systematic reuse of data via geometric symmetries, an arithmetic-rich parallel code and code configuration via machine learning. It was tested on geometries mimicking a cone beam CT acquisition of a human head. To realistically assess the execution time, the ray-tracing routines were integrated into a regularized Poisson-based reconstruction algorithm. The proposed scheme was also compared to a different approach, where the system matrix is fully pre-computed and loaded at reconstruction time. Results: Fast ray-tracing of realistic acquisition geometries, which often lack spatial symmetry properties, was enabled via the proposed method. Ray-tracing interleaved with projection and backprojection operations required significant additional time. In most cases, ray-tracing was shown to use about 66 % of the total reconstruction time. In absolute terms, tracing times varied from 3.6 s to 7.5 min, depending on the problem size. The presence of geometrical symmetries allowed for non-negligible ray-tracing and reconstruction time reduction. Arithmetic-rich parallel code and machine learning permitted a modest reconstruction time reduction, in the order of 1 %. Conclusion: Partial system matrix storage permitted the reconstruction of higher 3D image grid sizes and larger projection datasets at the cost of additional time, when compared to the fully pre-computed approach. This work was supported in part by the Fonds de recherche du Quebec - Nature et technologies (FRQ-NT). The authors acknowledge partial support by the CREATE Medical Physics Research Training Network grant of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (Grant No. 432290).« less
Inner Space Perturbation Theory in Matrix Product States: Replacing Expensive Iterative Diagonalization.

PubMed

Ren, Jiajun; Yi, Yuanping; Shuai, Zhigang

2016-10-11

We propose an inner space perturbation theory (isPT) to replace the expensive iterative diagonalization in the standard density matrix renormalization group theory (DMRG). The retained reduced density matrix eigenstates are partitioned into the active and secondary space. The first-order wave function and the second- and third-order energies are easily computed by using one step Davidson iteration. Our formulation has several advantages including (i) keeping a balance between the efficiency and accuracy, (ii) capturing more entanglement with the same amount of computational time, (iii) recovery of the standard DMRG when all the basis states belong to the active space. Numerical examples for the polyacenes and periacene show that the efficiency gain is considerable and the accuracy loss due to the perturbation treatment is very small, when half of the total basis states belong to the active space. Moreover, the perturbation calculations converge in all our numerical examples.
Application of Improved 5th-Cubature Kalman Filter in Initial Strapdown Inertial Navigation System Alignment for Large Misalignment Angles.

PubMed

Wang, Wei; Chen, Xiyuan

2018-02-23

In view of the fact the accuracy of the third-degree Cubature Kalman Filter (CKF) used for initial alignment under large misalignment angle conditions is insufficient, an improved fifth-degree CKF algorithm is proposed in this paper. In order to make full use of the innovation on filtering, the innovation covariance matrix is calculated recursively by an innovative sequence with an exponent fading factor. Then a new adaptive error covariance matrix scaling algorithm is proposed. The Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) method is used for improving the numerical stability of the fifth-degree CKF in this paper. In order to avoid the overshoot caused by excessive scaling of error covariance matrix during the convergence stage, the scaling scheme is terminated when the gradient of azimuth reaches the maximum. The experimental results show that the improved algorithm has better alignment accuracy with large misalignment angles than the traditional algorithm.
Fluorescent biopsy of biological tissues in differentiation of benign and malignant tumors of prostate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Trifoniuk, L. I.; Ushenko, Yu. A.; Sidor, M. I.; Minzer, O. P.; Gritsyuk, M. V.; Novakovskaya, O. Y.

2014-08-01

The work consists of investigation results of diagnostic efficiency of a new azimuthally stable Mueller-matrix method of analysis of laser autofluorescence coordinate distributions of biological tissues histological sections. A new model of generalized optical anisotropy of biological tissues protein networks is proposed in order to define the processes of laser autofluorescence. The influence of complex mechanisms of both phase anisotropy (linear birefringence and optical activity) and linear (circular) dichroism is taken into account. The interconnections between the azimuthally stable Mueller-matrix elements characterizing laser autofluorescence and different mechanisms of optical anisotropy are determined. The statistic analysis of coordinate distributions of such Mueller-matrix rotation invariants is proposed. Thereupon the quantitative criteria (statistic moments of the 1st to the 4th order) of differentiation of histological sections of uterus wall tumor - group 1 (dysplasia) and group 2 (adenocarcinoma) are estimated.
Complex Langevin simulation of a random matrix model at nonzero chemical potential

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bloch, J.; Glesaaen, J.; Verbaarschot, J. J. M.; Zafeiropoulos, S.

2018-03-01

In this paper we test the complex Langevin algorithm for numerical simulations of a random matrix model of QCD with a first order phase transition to a phase of finite baryon density. We observe that a naive implementation of the algorithm leads to phase quenched results, which were also derived analytically in this article. We test several fixes for the convergence issues of the algorithm, in particular the method of gauge cooling, the shifted representation, the deformation technique and reweighted complex Langevin, but only the latter method reproduces the correct analytical results in the region where the quark mass is inside the domain of the eigenvalues. In order to shed more light on the issues of the methods we also apply them to a similar random matrix model with a milder sign problem and no phase transition, and in that case gauge cooling solves the convergence problems as was shown before in the literature.
Principal regression analysis and the index leverage effect

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reigneron, Pierre-Alain; Allez, Romain; Bouchaud, Jean-Philippe

2011-09-01

We revisit the index leverage effect, that can be decomposed into a volatility effect and a correlation effect. We investigate the latter using a matrix regression analysis, that we call ‘Principal Regression Analysis' (PRA) and for which we provide some analytical (using Random Matrix Theory) and numerical benchmarks. We find that downward index trends increase the average correlation between stocks (as measured by the most negative eigenvalue of the conditional correlation matrix), and makes the market mode more uniform. Upward trends, on the other hand, also increase the average correlation between stocks but rotates the corresponding market mode away from uniformity. There are two time scales associated to these effects, a short one on the order of a month (20 trading days), and a longer time scale on the order of a year. We also find indications of a leverage effect for sectorial correlations as well, which reveals itself in the second and third mode of the PRA.
Methods and means of Fourier-Stokes polarimetry and the spatial-frequency filtering of phase anisotropy manifestations in endometriosis diagnostics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ushenko, A. G.; Dubolazov, O. V.; Ushenko, Vladimir A.; Ushenko, Yu. A.; Sakhnovskiy, M. Yu.; Prydiy, O. G.; Lakusta, I. I.; Novakovskaya, O. Yu.; Melenko, S. R.

2016-12-01

This research presents investigation results of diagnostic efficiency of a new azimuthally stable Mueller-matrix method of laser autofluorescence coordinate distributions analysis of dried polycrystalline films of uterine cavity peritoneal fluid. A new model of generalized optical anisotropy of biological tissues protein networks is proposed in order to define the processes of laser autofluorescence. The influence of complex mechanisms of both phase anisotropy (linear birefringence and optical activity) and linear (circular) dichroism is taken into account. The interconnections between the azimuthally stable Mueller-matrix elements characterizing laser autofluorescence and different mechanisms of optical anisotropy are determined. The statistic analysis of coordinate distributions of such Mueller-matrix rotation invariants is proposed. Thereupon the quantitative criteria (statistic moments of the 1st to the 4th order) of differentiation of dried polycrystalline films of peritoneal fluid - group 1 (healthy donors) and group 2 (uterus endometriosis patients) are estimated.
Second derivative time integration methods for discontinuous Galerkin solutions of unsteady compressible flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nigro, A.; De Bartolo, C.; Crivellini, A.; Bassi, F.

2017-12-01

In this paper we investigate the possibility of using the high-order accurate A (α) -stable Second Derivative (SD) schemes proposed by Enright for the implicit time integration of the Discontinuous Galerkin (DG) space-discretized Navier-Stokes equations. These multistep schemes are A-stable up to fourth-order, but their use results in a system matrix difficult to compute. Furthermore, the evaluation of the nonlinear function is computationally very demanding. We propose here a Matrix-Free (MF) implementation of Enright schemes that allows to obtain a method without the costs of forming, storing and factorizing the system matrix, which is much less computationally expensive than its matrix-explicit counterpart, and which performs competitively with other implicit schemes, such as the Modified Extended Backward Differentiation Formulae (MEBDF). The algorithm makes use of the preconditioned GMRES algorithm for solving the linear system of equations. The preconditioner is based on the ILU(0) factorization of an approximated but computationally cheaper form of the system matrix, and it has been reused for several time steps to improve the efficiency of the MF Newton-Krylov solver. We additionally employ a polynomial extrapolation technique to compute an accurate initial guess to the implicit nonlinear system. The stability properties of SD schemes have been analyzed by solving a linear model problem. For the analysis on the Navier-Stokes equations, two-dimensional inviscid and viscous test cases, both with a known analytical solution, are solved to assess the accuracy properties of the proposed time integration method for nonlinear autonomous and non-autonomous systems, respectively. The performance of the SD algorithm is compared with the ones obtained by using an MF-MEBDF solver, in order to evaluate its effectiveness, identifying its limitations and suggesting possible further improvements.
Mixed Matrix Membranes for O2/N2 Separation: The Influence of Temperature

PubMed Central

Fernández-Barquín, Ana; Casado-Coterillo, Clara; Valencia, Susana; Irabien, Angel

2016-01-01

In this work, mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) composed of small-pore zeolites with various topologies (CHA (Si/Al = 5), LTA (Si/Al = 1 and 5), and Rho (Si/Al = 5)) as dispersed phase, and the hugely permeable poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) (PTMSP) as continuous phase, have been synthesized via solution casting, in order to obtain membranes that could be attractive for oxygen-enriched air production. The O2/N2 gas separation performance of the MMMs has been analyzed in terms of permeability, diffusivity, and solubility in the temperature range of 298–333 K. The higher the temperature of the oxygen-enriched stream, the lower the energy required for the combustion process. The effect of temperature on the gas permeability, diffusivity, and solubility of these MMMs is described in terms of the Arrhenius and Van’t Hoff relationships with acceptable accuracy. Moreover, the O2/N2 permselectivity of the MMMs increases with temperature, the O2/N2 selectivities being considerably higher than those of the pure PTMSP. In consequence, most of the MMMs prepared in this work exceeded the Robeson’s upper bound for the O2/N2 gas pair in the temperature range under study, with not much decrease in the O2 permeabilities, reaching O2/N2 selectivities of up to 8.43 and O2 permeabilities up to 4,800 Barrer at 333 K. PMID:27196937
Compressive evaluation of homogeneous and graded epoxy-glass particulate composites.

PubMed

Seaglar, J; Rousseau, C-E

2015-04-01

The propagation of stress waves in epoxy-glass particulate composites and graded materials was studied experimentally. Materials tested in this study consisted of an epoxy matrix with various concentrations of spherical glass particles having a mean diameter of 42μm. Plate impact experiments were performed using a gas gun. Embedded within the specimens were manganin stress gauges used to record propagating compressive longitudinal stress waves through the material. High strain rate experiments using a Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) apparatus were also performed to evaluate the dynamic strength of the specimens, while quasi-static compression tests were undertaken to characterize their quasi-static behavior. Ultrasonic wave speed measurements were carried-out in order to obtain additional material properties and characterize the gradation in functionally graded materials (FGM). It was found that low volume fractions of particles are detrimental to the performance of the material under impact loading, while concentrations in the range of about 30 to 45% by volume exhibit characteristics of higher degrees of scattering. This suggests that materials in this latter range would be more effective in the thwarting of destructive shock waves than the homogeneous matrix material. Impact testing of FGM specimens suggests that impact loading on the stiff (high volume fraction) face results in much higher levels of scattering. Therefore, such materials would be effective for use in light weight armor or as shielding materials due to their effective attenuation of mechanical impulses. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Effects of magnetic field treatment on dielectric properties of CCTO@Ni/PVDF composite with low concentration of ceramic fillers

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chi, Q. G., E-mail: qgchi@hotmail.com, E-mail: empty-cy@l63.com; State Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Power Equipment, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049; Gao, L.

2015-11-15

Using melt mixing, we produced a ceramic/polymer composite with a matrix of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and a filler of 5 vol.% Ni-deposited CaCu{sub 3}Ti{sub 4}O{sub 12} core-shell ceramic particles (CCTO@Ni), and studied its prominent dielectric characteristics for the first. Its phase composition and morphology were analyzed by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. After treating the composite films with various durations of a magnetic field treatment, we compared their dielectric properties. We found that the CCTO@Ni ceramic had a typical urchin-like core-shell structure, and that different durations of the magnetic field treatment produced different distributions of ceramic particles inmore » the PVDF matrix. The dielectric permittivity of the untreated CCTO@Ni/PVDF composite was 20% higher than that of neat PVDF, and it had a low loss tangent. However, only the composite treated for 30 min in the magnetic field had an ultra-high dielectric permittivity of 1.41 × 10{sup 4} at 10 Hz, three orders of magnitude higher than the untreated composite, which declined dramatically with increasing frequency, accompanied by an insulating-conducting phase transition and an increase in loss tangent. Our results demonstrate that changes in the dielectric properties of PVDF composites with magnetic field treatment are closely related to the percolation effect and interfacial polarization.« less
A fast multigrid-based electromagnetic eigensolver for curved metal boundaries on the Yee mesh

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bauer, Carl A., E-mail: carl.bauer@colorado.edu; Werner, Gregory R.; Cary, John R.

For embedded boundary electromagnetics using the Dey–Mittra (Dey and Mittra, 1997) [1] algorithm, a special grad–div matrix constructed in this work allows use of multigrid methods for efficient inversion of Maxwell’s curl–curl matrix. Efficient curl–curl inversions are demonstrated within a shift-and-invert Krylov-subspace eigensolver (open-sourced at ([ofortt]https://github.com/bauerca/maxwell[cfortt])) on the spherical cavity and the 9-cell TESLA superconducting accelerator cavity. The accuracy of the Dey–Mittra algorithm is also examined: frequencies converge with second-order error, and surface fields are found to converge with nearly second-order error. In agreement with previous work (Nieter et al., 2009) [2], neglecting some boundary-cut cell faces (as is requiredmore » in the time domain for numerical stability) reduces frequency convergence to first-order and surface-field convergence to zeroth-order (i.e. surface fields do not converge). Additionally and importantly, neglecting faces can reduce accuracy by an order of magnitude at low resolutions.« less
System matrix computation vs storage on GPU: A comparative study in cone beam CT.

PubMed

Matenine, Dmitri; Côté, Geoffroi; Mascolo-Fortin, Julia; Goussard, Yves; Després, Philippe

2018-02-01

Iterative reconstruction algorithms in computed tomography (CT) require a fast method for computing the intersection distances between the trajectories of photons and the object, also called ray tracing or system matrix computation. This work focused on the thin-ray model is aimed at comparing different system matrix handling strategies using graphical processing units (GPUs). In this work, the system matrix is modeled by thin rays intersecting a regular grid of box-shaped voxels, known to be an accurate representation of the forward projection operator in CT. However, an uncompressed system matrix exceeds the random access memory (RAM) capacities of typical computers by one order of magnitude or more. Considering the RAM limitations of GPU hardware, several system matrix handling methods were compared: full storage of a compressed system matrix, on-the-fly computation of its coefficients, and partial storage of the system matrix with partial on-the-fly computation. These methods were tested on geometries mimicking a cone beam CT (CBCT) acquisition of a human head. Execution times of three routines of interest were compared: forward projection, backprojection, and ordered-subsets convex (OSC) iteration. A fully stored system matrix yielded the shortest backprojection and OSC iteration times, with a 1.52× acceleration for OSC when compared to the on-the-fly approach. Nevertheless, the maximum problem size was bound by the available GPU RAM and geometrical symmetries. On-the-fly coefficient computation did not require symmetries and was shown to be the fastest for forward projection. It also offered reasonable execution times of about 176.4 ms per view per OSC iteration for a detector of 512 × 448 pixels and a volume of 384 3 voxels, using commodity GPU hardware. Partial system matrix storage has shown a performance similar to the on-the-fly approach, while still relying on symmetries. Partial system matrix storage was shown to yield the lowest relative performance. On-the-fly ray tracing was shown to be the most flexible method, yielding reasonable execution times. A fully stored system matrix allowed for the lowest backprojection and OSC iteration times and may be of interest for certain performance-oriented applications. © 2017 American Association of Physicists in Medicine.
Driving pressure and mechanical power: new targets for VILI prevention.

PubMed

Tonetti, Tommaso; Vasques, Francesco; Rapetti, Francesca; Maiolo, Giorgia; Collino, Francesca; Romitti, Federica; Camporota, Luigi; Cressoni, Massimo; Cadringher, Paolo; Quintel, Michael; Gattinoni, Luciano

2017-07-01

Several factors have been recognized as possible triggers of ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). The first is pressure (thus the 'barotrauma'), then the volume (hence the 'volutrauma'), finally the cyclic opening-closing of the lung units ('atelectrauma'). Less attention has been paid to the respiratory rate and the flow, although both theoretical considerations and experimental evidence attribute them a significant role in the generation of VILI. The initial injury to the lung parenchyma is necessarily mechanical and it could manifest as an unphysiological distortion of the extracellular matrix and/or as micro-fractures in the hyaluronan, likely the most fragile polymer embedded in the matrix. The order of magnitude of the energy required to break a molecular bond between the hyaluronan and the associated protein is 1.12×10 -16 Joules (J), 70-90% higher than the average energy delivered by a single breath of 1L assuming a lung elastance of 10 cmH 2 O/L (0.5 J). With a normal statistical distribution of the bond strength some polymers will be exposed each cycle to an energy large enough to rupture. Both the extracellular matrix distortion and the polymer fractures lead to inflammatory increase of capillary permeability with edema if a pulmonary blood flow is sufficient. The mediation analysis of higher vs. lower tidal volume and PEEP studies suggests that the driving pressure, more than tidal volume, is the best predictor of VILI, as inferred by increased mortality. This is not surprising, as both tidal volume and respiratory system elastance (resulting in driving pressure) may independently contribute to the mortality. For the same elastance driving pressure is a predictor similar to plateau pressure or tidal volume. Driving pressure is one of the components of the mechanical power, which also includes respiratory rate, flow and PEEP. Finding the threshold for mechanical power would greatly simplify assessment and prevention of VILI.
Structure and component dynamics in binary mixtures of poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) with water and tetrahydrofuran: A diffraction, calorimetric, and dielectric spectroscopy study

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Goracci, G., E-mail: sckgorag@ehu.es; Arbe, A.; Alegría, A.

2016-04-21

We have combined X-ray diffraction, neutron diffraction with polarization analysis, small angle neutron scattering, differential scanning calorimetry, and broad band dielectric spectroscopy to investigate the structure and dynamics of binary mixtures of poly (2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) with either water or tetrahydrofuran (THF) at different concentrations. Aqueous mixtures are characterized by a highly heterogeneous structure where water clusters coexist with an underlying nano-segregation of main chains and side groups of the polymeric matrix. THF molecules are homogeneously distributed among the polymeric nano-domains for concentrations of one THF molecule/monomer or lower. A more heterogeneous situation is found for higher THF amounts, but withoutmore » evidences for solvent clusters. In THF-mixtures, we observe a remarkable reduction of the glass-transition temperature which is enhanced with increasing amount of solvent but seems to reach saturation at high THF concentrations. Adding THF markedly reduces the activation energy of the polymer β-relaxation. The presence of THF molecules seemingly hinders a slow component of this process which is active in the dry state. The aqueous mixtures present a strikingly broad glass-transition feature, revealing a highly heterogeneous behavior in agreement with the structural study. Regarding the solvent dynamics, deep in the glassy state all data can be described by an Arrhenius temperature dependence with a rather similar activation energy. However, the values of the characteristic times are about three orders of magnitude smaller for THF than for water. Water dynamics display a crossover toward increasingly higher apparent activation energies in the region of the onset of the glass transition, supporting its interpretation as a consequence of the freezing of the structural relaxation of the surrounding matrix. The absence of such a crossover (at least in the wide dynamic window here accessed) in THF is attributed to the lack of cooperativity effects in the relaxation of these molecules within the polymeric matrix.« less
On Reconstruction of a Matrix by Its Minors

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Akhtyamov, Azamat; Amram, Meirav; Mouftakhov, Artour

2018-01-01

In this paper, we reconstruct matrices from their minors, and give explicit formulas for the reconstruction of matrices of orders 2 × 3, 2 × 4, 2 × n, 3 × 6 and m × n. We also formulate the Plücker relations, which are the conditions of the existence of a matrix related to its given minors.
Graph-Theoretic Representations for Proximity Matrices through Strongly-Anti-Robinson or Circular Strongly-Anti-Robinson Matrices.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hubert, Lawrence; Arabie, Phipps; Meulman, Jacqueline

1998-01-01

Introduces a method for fitting order-constrained matrices that satisfy the strongly anti-Robinson restrictions (SAR). The method permits a representation of the fitted values in a (least-squares) SAR approximating matrix as lengths of paths in a graph. The approach is illustrated with a published proximity matrix. (SLD)
Identity Formation of Teacher-Mentors: An Analysis of Contrasting Experiences Using a Wengerian Matrix Framework

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kwan, Tammy; Lopez-Real, Francis

2010-01-01

In order to understand the process of identity formation in a community of practice, Wenger (2002) proposes a matrix framework whereby three qualities (connectedness, expansiveness and effectiveness) are matched against three modes of belonging (engagement, imagination and alignment). In this paper we use this framework to analyse the experiences…
The Matrix Analogies Test: A Validity Study with the K-ABC.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smith, Douglas K.

The Matrix Analogies Test-Expanded Form (MAT-EF) and Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (K-ABC) were administered in counterbalanced order to two randomly selected samples of students in grades 2 through 5. The MAT-EF was recently developed to measure non-verbal reasoning. The samples included 26 non-handicapped second graders in a rural…
On reconstruction of a matrix by its minors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akhtyamov, Azamat; Amram, Meirav; Mouftakhov, Artour

2018-02-01

In this paper, we reconstruct matrices from their minors, and give explicit formulas for the reconstruction of matrices of orders 2 × 3, 2 × 4, 2 × n, 3 × 6 and m × n. We also formulate the Plücker relations, which are the conditions of the existence of a matrix related to its given minors.

Some links on this page may take you to non-federal websites. Their policies may differ from this site.