Comment on: "Split kinetic energy method for quantum systems with competing potentials", Ann. Phys. 327 (2012) 2061

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fernández, Francisco M.

2018-06-01

We show that the kinetic-energy partition method (KEP) is a particular example of the well known Rayleigh-Ritz variational method. We discuss some of the KEP results and compare them with those coming from other approaches.

78 FR 22622 - Joint Biomedical Laboratory Research and Development and Clinical Science Research and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-04-16

... City. Cardiovascular Studies June 3, 2013 Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City. Cellular and Molecular Medicine..., 2013........ VA Central Office.* Clinical Application of Genetics..... June 18, 2013 Ritz-Carlton...

An Efficient Crankshaft Dynamic Analysis Using Substructuring with Ritz Vectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

MOURELATOS, Z. P.

2000-11-01

A structural analysis using dynamic substructuring with Ritz vectors is presented for predicting the dynamic response of an engine crankshaft, based on the finite-element method. A two-level dynamic substructuring is performed using a set of load-dependent Ritz vectors. The rotating crankshaft is properly coupled with the non-rotating, compliant engine block. The block compliance is represented by a distributed linear elastic foundation at each main bearing location. The stiffness of the elastic foundation can be different in the vertical and horizontal planes, thereby considering the anisotropy of the engine block compliance with respect to the crankshaft rotation. The analysis accounts for the kinematic non-linearity resulting from the crankangle-dependent circumferential contact location between each journal and the corresponding bore of the engine block. Crankshaft “bent” and block “misboring” effects due to manufacturing imperfections are considered in the analysis. The superior accuracy and reduced computational effort of the present method as compared with the equivalent superelement analysis in MSC/NASTRAN, are demonstrated using the free and forced vibrations of a slender cylindrical beam and free vibrations of a four-cylinder engine crankshaft. Subsequently, the accuracy of the present method in calculating the dynamic response of engine crankshafts is shown through comparisons between the analytical predictions and experimental results for the torsional vibrations of an in-line five cylinder engine and the bending vibrations of the crankshaft-flywheel assembly of a V6 engine.

78 FR 66032 - Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-11-04

... applications. Place: The Ritz-Carlton, 1150 22nd Street NW., Washington, DC 20037. Contact Person: Eduardo A.... Place: The Ritz-Carlton, 1150 22nd Street NW., Washington, DC 20037. Contact Person: Eduardo A Montalvo...

Refined hierarchical kinematics quasi-3D Ritz models for free vibration analysis of doubly curved FGM shells and sandwich shells with FGM core

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fazzolari, Fiorenzo A.; Carrera, Erasmo

2014-02-01

In this paper, the Ritz minimum energy method, based on the use of the Principle of Virtual Displacements (PVD), is combined with refined Equivalent Single Layer (ESL) and Zig Zag (ZZ) shell models hierarchically generated by exploiting the use of Carrera's Unified Formulation (CUF), in order to engender the Hierarchical Trigonometric Ritz Formulation (HTRF). The HTRF is then employed to carry out the free vibration analysis of doubly curved shallow and deep functionally graded material (FGM) shells. The PVD is further used in conjunction with the Gauss theorem to derive the governing differential equations and related natural boundary conditions. Donnell-Mushtari's shallow shell-type equations are given as a particular case. Doubly curved FGM shells and doubly curved sandwich shells made up of isotropic face sheets and FGM core are investigated. The proposed shell models are widely assessed by comparison with the literature results. Two benchmarks are provided and the effects of significant parameters such as stacking sequence, boundary conditions, length-to-thickness ratio, radius-to-length ratio and volume fraction index on the circular frequency parameters and modal displacements are discussed.

The Ritz - Sublaminate Generalized Unified Formulation approach for piezoelectric composite plates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

D'Ottavio, Michele; Dozio, Lorenzo; Vescovini, Riccardo; Polit, Olivier

2018-01-01

This paper extends to composite plates including piezoelectric plies the variable kinematics plate modeling approach called Sublaminate Generalized Unified Formulation (SGUF). Two-dimensional plate equations are obtained upon defining a priori the through-thickness distribution of the displacement field and electric potential. According to SGUF, independent approximations can be adopted for the four components of these generalized displacements: an Equivalent Single Layer (ESL) or Layer-Wise (LW) description over an arbitrary group of plies constituting the composite plate (the sublaminate) and the polynomial order employed in each sublaminate. The solution of the two-dimensional equations is sought in weak form by means of a Ritz method. In this work, boundary functions are used in conjunction with the domain approximation expressed by an orthogonal basis spanned by Legendre polynomials. The proposed computational tool is capable to represent electroded surfaces with equipotentiality conditions. Free-vibration problems as well as static problems involving actuator and sensor configurations are addressed. Two case studies are presented, which demonstrate the high accuracy of the proposed Ritz-SGUF approach. A model assessment is proposed for showcasing to which extent the SGUF approach allows a reduction of the number of unknowns with a controlled impact on the accuracy of the result.

Implementation of the block-Krylov boundary flexibility method of component synthesis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Carney, Kelly S.; Abdallah, Ayman A.; Hucklebridge, Arthur A.

1993-01-01

A method of dynamic substructuring is presented which utilizes a set of static Ritz vectors as a replacement for normal eigenvectors in component mode synthesis. This set of Ritz vectors is generated in a recurrence relationship, which has the form of a block-Krylov subspace. The initial seed to the recurrence algorithm is based on the boundary flexibility vectors of the component. This algorithm is not load-dependent, is applicable to both fixed and free-interface boundary components, and results in a general component model appropriate for any type of dynamic analysis. This methodology was implemented in the MSC/NASTRAN normal modes solution sequence using DMAP. The accuracy is found to be comparable to that of component synthesis based upon normal modes. The block-Krylov recurrence algorithm is a series of static solutions and so requires significantly less computation than solving the normal eigenspace problem.

On the problem of modeling for parameter identification in distributed structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Norris, Mark A.; Meirovitch, Leonard

1988-01-01

Structures are often characterized by parameters, such as mass and stiffness, that are spatially distributed. Parameter identification of distributed structures is subject to many of the difficulties involved in the modeling problem, and the choice of the model can greatly affect the results of the parameter identification process. Analogously to control spillover in the control of distributed-parameter systems, identification spillover is shown to exist as well and its effect is to degrade the parameter estimates. Moreover, as in modeling by the Rayleigh-Ritz method, it is shown that, for a Rayleigh-Ritz type identification algorithm, an inclusion principle exists in the identification of distributed-parameter systems as well, so that the identified natural frequencies approach the actual natural frequencies monotonically from above.

On the Benefits of Exposing Mathematics Majors to the Rayleigh-Ritz Procedure

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Savoye, Philippe

2011-01-01

In this article, I summarize how I present the Rayleigh-Ritz procedure, in a second-semester differential equations course that I teach, and describe some benefits that I believe my students have derived from exposure to this topic. (Contains 3 figures.)

Profit U

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Weinstein, Margery

2012-01-01

Preparing employees for the immediate work in front of them is a challenge. While most companies are still mastering effectively training their own workforce, some, such as "Training" magazine Top 10 Hall of Famer The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, have set up for-profit academies open to the public. When Ritz-Carlton won the national Malcolm…

A Strategic Marketing Guide for the

DTIC Science & Technology

1995-12-27

family as opposed to just the major bread-winner. Focusing on total quality in service enabled the Ritz - Carlton to become the first member of the...hospitality community to win the very prestigious Malcom Baldridge Award. By using the award criterion and the advice of Ritz -Canton CEO Horste Schultze

Mixed models and reduction method for dynamic analysis of anisotropic shells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Noor, A. K.; Peters, J. M.

1985-01-01

A time-domain computational procedure is presented for predicting the dynamic response of laminated anisotropic shells. The two key elements of the procedure are: (1) use of mixed finite element models having independent interpolation (shape) functions for stress resultants and generalized displacements for the spatial discretization of the shell, with the stress resultants allowed to be discontinuous at interelement boundaries; and (2) use of a dynamic reduction method, with the global approximation vectors consisting of the static solution and an orthogonal set of Lanczos vectors. The dynamic reduction is accomplished by means of successive application of the finite element method and the classical Rayleigh-Ritz technique. The finite element method is first used to generate the global approximation vectors. Then the Rayleigh-Ritz technique is used to generate a reduced system of ordinary differential equations in the amplitudes of these modes. The temporal integration of the reduced differential equations is performed by using an explicit half-station central difference scheme (Leap-frog method). The effectiveness of the proposed procedure is demonstrated by means of a numerical example and its advantages over reduction methods used with the displacement formulation are discussed.

The Formal Representation of Administrative and Operational Relationships within Defense Organizational Constructs

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-06-01

of the 10th International Command and Control Research and Technology Symposium; Ritz - Carlton Hotel , McLean, VA; 13-16 June 2005. See: http...International Command and Control Research and Technology Symposium; Ritz - Carlton Hotel , McLean, VA; 13-16 June 2005. http://www.dodccrp.org/events/2005

Structural-Thermal-Optical Program (STOP)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lee, H. P.

1972-01-01

A structural thermal optical computer program is developed which uses a finite element approach and applies the Ritz method for solving heat transfer problems. Temperatures are represented at the vertices of each element and the displacements which yield deformations at any point of the heated surface are interpolated through grid points.

Case Study: Puttin' on the Ritz: How to Put Science into Cases

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Herreid, Clyde Freeman

2017-01-01

There are multiple ways to put science into a case. This column provides original articles on innovations in case study teaching, assessment of the method, as well as case studies with teaching notes. This month's issue discusses different ways of presenting science in case studies.

Parallel Symmetric Eigenvalue Problem Solvers

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-05-01

tutoring, and mentoring experience as an undergraduate. Last but not least, I thank my family for their love and support. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST...34 4.6.2 Choice of the Ritz shifts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 4.7 Relationship between TraceMin and...which are determined by the Ritz values of the matrix pencil. We conclude with a discussion of the relationship between TraceMin and simultaneous

Ground-state densities from the Rayleigh-Ritz variation principle and from density-functional theory.

PubMed

Kvaal, Simen; Helgaker, Trygve

2015-11-14

The relationship between the densities of ground-state wave functions (i.e., the minimizers of the Rayleigh-Ritz variation principle) and the ground-state densities in density-functional theory (i.e., the minimizers of the Hohenberg-Kohn variation principle) is studied within the framework of convex conjugation, in a generic setting covering molecular systems, solid-state systems, and more. Having introduced admissible density functionals as functionals that produce the exact ground-state energy for a given external potential by minimizing over densities in the Hohenberg-Kohn variation principle, necessary and sufficient conditions on such functionals are established to ensure that the Rayleigh-Ritz ground-state densities and the Hohenberg-Kohn ground-state densities are identical. We apply the results to molecular systems in the Born-Oppenheimer approximation. For any given potential v ∈ L(3/2)(ℝ(3)) + L(∞)(ℝ(3)), we establish a one-to-one correspondence between the mixed ground-state densities of the Rayleigh-Ritz variation principle and the mixed ground-state densities of the Hohenberg-Kohn variation principle when the Lieb density-matrix constrained-search universal density functional is taken as the admissible functional. A similar one-to-one correspondence is established between the pure ground-state densities of the Rayleigh-Ritz variation principle and the pure ground-state densities obtained using the Hohenberg-Kohn variation principle with the Levy-Lieb pure-state constrained-search functional. In other words, all physical ground-state densities (pure or mixed) are recovered with these functionals and no false densities (i.e., minimizing densities that are not physical) exist. The importance of topology (i.e., choice of Banach space of densities and potentials) is emphasized and illustrated. The relevance of these results for current-density-functional theory is examined.

Air Force Service Procurement. Approaches for Measurement and Management

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-01-01

2003, Ritz - Carlton Hotel , Arlington, Vir- ginia. 15 We used a variety of search terms for the business literature review, including purchased services... Carlton Hotel , Arlington, Va., June 5, 2003. Shirley, Chad, John Ausink, and Laura H. Baldwin, Measuring Changes in Service Costs to Meet the Requirements...Richter, Gene, "Ten Private Sector Best Practices," presentation at the Pro- curement Executive Roundtable sponsored by the SAS Institute, Ritz

SU-F-I-13: Correction Factor Computations for the NIST Ritz Free Air Chamber for Medium-Energy X Rays

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

Bergstrom, P

Purpose: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) uses 3 free-air chambers to establish primary standards for radiation dosimetry at x-ray energies. For medium-energy × rays, the Ritz free-air chamber is the main measurement device. In order to convert the charge or current collected by the chamber to the radiation quantities air kerma or air kerma rate, a number of correction factors specific to the chamber must be applied. Methods: We used the Monte Carlo codes EGSnrc and PENELOPE. Results: Among these correction factors are the diaphragm correction (which accounts for interactions of photons from the x-ray source inmore » the beam-defining diaphragm of the chamber), the scatter correction (which accounts for the effects of photons scattered out of the primary beam), the electron-loss correction (which accounts for electrons that only partially expend their energy in the collection region), the fluorescence correction (which accounts for ionization due to reabsorption ffluorescence photons and the bremsstrahlung correction (which accounts for the reabsorption of bremsstrahlung photons). We have computed monoenergetic corrections for the NIST Ritz chamber for the 1 cm, 3 cm and 7 cm collection plates. Conclusion: We find good agreement with other’s results for the 7 cm plate. The data used to obtain these correction factors will be used to establish air kerma and it’s uncertainty in the standard NIST x-ray beams.« less

Parallel Symmetric Eigenvalue Problem Solvers

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-05-01

get research, tutoring, and mentoring experience as an undergraduate. Last but not least, I thank my family for their love and support. v TABLE OF...32 4.6.2 Choice of the Ritz shifts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 4.7 Relationship between...pencil. I will conclude with a discussion of the relationship between Trace- Min and simultaneous iteration. If both methods solve the linear systems

U.S. Strategic and Defense Relationships in the Asia-Pacific Region

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-01-22

Question and Answer Session Shangri - La Dialogue, Singapore, June 3, 2006. 102 “New Power Dynamics in Southeast Asia,” Policy Memo, The Stanley...Hadley to the National Bureau of Asian Research Strategic Asia Forum,” Ritz Carleton Hotel Washington, April 5, 2006. 25 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs...Strategic Asia Forum,” Ritz Carleton Hotel Washington, April 5, 2006. 97 “Gathering Steam: India and the United States Extend Military Ties,” South

Intensity and Energy Level Analysis of the Vacuum Ultraviolet Spectrum of Four Times Ionize Nickel (Ni V)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ward, Jacob Wolfgang; Nave, Gillian

2016-01-01

Recent measurements of four times ionized iron and nickel (Fe V & Ni V) wavelengths in the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) have been taken using the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) Normal Incidence Vacuum Spectrograph (NIVS) with a sliding spark light source with invar electrodes. The wavelengths observed in those measurements make use of high resolution photographic plates with the majority of observed lines having uncertainties of approximately 3mÅ. In addition to observations made with photographic plates, the same wavelength region was observed with phosphor image plates, which have been demonstrated to be accurate as a method of intensity calibration when used with a deuterium light source. This work will evaluate the use of phosphor image plates and deuterium lamps as an intensity calibration method for the Ni V spectrum in the 1200-1600Å region of the VUV. Additionally, by pairing the observed wavelengths of Ni V with accurate line intensities, it is possible to create an energy level optimization for Ni V providing high accuracy Ritz wavelengths. This process has previously been applied to Fe V and produced Ritz wavelengths that agreed with the above experimental observations.

Quantum confined Stark effects of single dopant in polarized hemispherical quantum dot: Two-dimensional finite difference approach and Ritz-Hassé variation method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

El Harouny, El Hassan; Nakra Mohajer, Soukaina; Ibral, Asmaa; El Khamkhami, Jamal; Assaid, El Mahdi

2018-05-01

Eigenvalues equation of hydrogen-like off-center single donor impurity confined in polarized homogeneous hemispherical quantum dot deposited on a wetting layer, capped by insulated matrix and submitted to external uniform electric field is solved in the framework of the effective mass approximation. An infinitely deep potential is used to describe effects of quantum confinement due to conduction band offsets at surfaces where quantum dot and surrounding materials meet. Single donor ground state total and binding energies in presence of electric field are determined via two-dimensional finite difference approach and Ritz-Hassé variation principle. For the latter method, attractive coulomb correlation between electron and ionized single donor is taken into account in the expression of trial wave function. It appears that off-center single dopant binding energy, spatial extension and radial probability density are strongly dependent on hemisphere radius and single dopant position inside quantum dot. Influence of a uniform electric field is also investigated. It shows that Stark effect appears even for very small size dots and that single dopant energy shift is more significant when the single donor is near hemispherical surface.

Variational Method in the Statistical Theory of Turbulence

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-01-01

3.1.4) where 6 and c are the Kronecker and Levi - Civita tensors, respectively. Th u AB AB functions Z1, Z 2 and Z3 are invariant under rotations around...flow profide and certain two point correlation functions of a cylindrically syrametric free jet were carried out using the Rayleigh-Ritz method. A...reasonable agreement with experimental data. 14. SUBJECT TERMS 15. NUMBER OF PAGES 33 Two Phase Flow, Turbulence, Statistical Turbulence 16. PRICE CODE 17

Computation of free oscillations of the earth

USGS Publications Warehouse

Buland, Raymond P.; Gilbert, F.

1984-01-01

Although free oscillations of the Earth may be computed by many different methods, numerous practical considerations have led us to use a Rayleigh-Ritz formulation with piecewise cubic Hermite spline basis functions. By treating the resulting banded matrix equation as a generalized algebraic eigenvalue problem, we are able to achieve great accuracy and generality and a high degree of automation at a reasonable cost. ?? 1984.

Numerical realization of the variational method for generating self-trapped beams

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Duque, Erick I.; Lopez-Aguayo, Servando; Malomed, Boris A.

2018-03-01

We introduce a numerical variational method based on the Rayleigh-Ritz optimization principle for predicting two-dimensional self-trapped beams in nonlinear media. This technique overcomes the limitation of the traditional variational approximation in performing analytical Lagrangian integration and differentiation. Approximate soliton solutions of a generalized nonlinear Schr\\"odinger equation are obtained, demonstrating robustness of the beams of various types (fundamental, vortices, multipoles, azimuthons) in the course of their propagation. The algorithm offers possibilities to produce more sophisticated soliton profiles in general nonlinear models.

Vibration characteristics of functionally graded carbon nanotube reinforced composite rectangular plates on Pasternak foundation with arbitrary boundary conditions and internal line supports

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhong, Rui; Wang, Qingshan; Tang, Jinyuan; Shuai, Cijun; Liang, Qian

2018-02-01

This paper presents the first known vibration characteristics of moderately thick functionally graded carbon nanotube reinforced composite rectangular plates on Pasternak foundation with arbitrary boundary conditions and internal line supports on the basis of the firstorder shear deformation theory. Different distributions of single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) along the thickness are considered. Uniform and other three kinds of functionally graded distributions of carbon nanotubes along the thickness direction of plates are studied. The solutions carried out using an enhanced Ritz method mainly include the following three points: Firstly, create the Lagrange energy function by the energy principle; Secondly, as the main innovation point, the modified Fourier series are chosen as the basic functions of the admissible functions of the plates to eliminate all the relevant discontinuities of the displacements and their derivatives at the edges; Lastly, solve the natural frequencies as well as the associated mode shapes by means of the Ritz-variational energy method. In this study, the influences of the volume fraction of CNTs, distribution type of CNTs, boundary restrain parameters, location of the internal line supports, foundation coefficients on the natural frequencies and mode shapes of the FG-CNT reinforced composite rectangular plates are presented.

Analysis of three advanced practice roles in emergency nursing.

PubMed

Considine, Julie; Lucas, Elspeth; Payne, Roslyn; Kropman, Matthew; Stergiou, Helen E; Chiu, Herman

2012-11-01

There are many Emergency Department (ED) demand management systems that include advanced practice emergency nursing roles. The aim of this study is to examine and compare three advanced emergency nursing practice roles: ED Fast Track, Clinical Initiatives Nurse (CIN) and Rapid Intervention and Treatment Zone (RITZ). A descriptive exploratory approach was used to conduct this study at an urban district hospital in Melbourne, Australia. The study participants were patients managed in each of the three systems with advanced practice emergency nursing roles: Fast Track, CIN and RITZ. There were a total of 551 patients: 195 Fast Track patients, 163 CIN managed patients and 193 RITZ patients. CIN managed patients were older (p<0.001), with higher levels of clinical urgency (p<0.001), and higher hospital admission rates (p<0.001). CIN managed patients had shorter waiting time for nursing care (p=0.001) and lower incidence of medical assessment within the time associated with their triage category (p<0.0001). ED LOS for discharged patients was significantly longer for CIN managed patients (p<0.001). CIN managed patients had a significantly higher incidence of electrocardiography (p<0.001), blood glucose measurement (p<0.001), intravenous cannulation (p<0.001), pathology testing (p<0.001), and analgesia administration (p<0.001) when compared to Fast Track and RITZ patients. Advanced practice roles in emergency nursing can have different applications in the ED context. Clarity about role intent and scope of practice is important and should inform educational preparation and teams within which these roles operate. Copyright © 2012 College of Emergency Nursing Australasia Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Numerical realization of the variational method for generating self-trapped beams.

PubMed

Duque, Erick I; Lopez-Aguayo, Servando; Malomed, Boris A

2018-03-19

We introduce a numerical variational method based on the Rayleigh-Ritz optimization principle for predicting two-dimensional self-trapped beams in nonlinear media. This technique overcomes the limitation of the traditional variational approximation in performing analytical Lagrangian integration and differentiation. Approximate soliton solutions of a generalized nonlinear Schrödinger equation are obtained, demonstrating robustness of the beams of various types (fundamental, vortices, multipoles, azimuthons) in the course of their propagation. The algorithm offers possibilities to produce more sophisticated soliton profiles in general nonlinear models.

THE SPECTRUM OF THORIUM FROM 250 nm TO 5500 nm: RITZ WAVELENGTHS AND OPTIMIZED ENERGY LEVELS

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

Redman, Stephen L.; Nave, Gillian; Sansonetti, Craig J.

2014-03-01

We have made precise observations of a thorium-argon hollow cathode lamp emission spectrum in the region between 350 nm and 1175 nm using a high-resolution Fourier transform spectrometer. Our measurements are combined with results from seven previously published thorium line lists to re-optimize the energy levels of neutral, singly, and doubly ionized thorium (Th I, Th II, and Th III). Using the optimized level values, we calculate accurate Ritz wavelengths for 19, 874 thorium lines between 250 nm and 5500 nm (40, 000 cm{sup –1} to 1800 cm{sup –1}). We have also found 102 new thorium energy levels. A systematicmore » analysis of previous measurements in light of our new results allows us to identify and propose corrections for systematic errors in Palmer and Engleman and typographical errors and incorrect classifications in Kerber et al. We also found a large scatter with respect to the thorium line list of Lovis and Pepe. We anticipate that our Ritz wavelengths will lead to improved measurement accuracy for current and future spectrographs that make use of thorium-argon or thorium-neon lamps as calibration standards.« less

Various methods of determining the natural frequencies and damping of composite cantilever plates. 3. The Ritz method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ekel'chik, V. S.; Ryabov, V. M.

1997-03-01

The Ritz method was used to determine the frequencies and forms of free vibrations of rectangular cantilever plates made of anisotropic laminated composites. Orthogonal Jacobi and Legendre polynomials were used as coordinate functions. The results of the calculations are in good agreement with the published experimental and calculated data of other authors for plates made of boron and carbon fiber reinforced plastics with different angles of reinforcement of unidirectional layers and different sequence of placing the layers, and also of isotropic plates. The dissipative characteristics in vibrations were determined on the basis of the concept of complex moduli. The solution of the frequency equation with complex coefficients yields a complex frequency; the loss factors are determined from the ratio of the imaginary component of the complex frequency to the real component. For plates of unidirectionally reinforced carbon fiber plastic with different relative length a detailed analysis of the influence of the angle of reinforcement on the interaction and frequency transformation and on the loss factor was carried out. The article shows that the loss factor of a plate depends substantially on the type of vibration mode: bending or torsional. It also examines the asymptotics of the loss factors of plates when their length is increased, and it notes that the binomial model of deformation leads to a noticeable error in the calculation of the loss factor of long plates when the angle of reinforcement lies in the range 20°<φ<70°.

A theoretical analysis of the free vibrations of ring- and/or stringer-stiffened elliptical cylinders with arbitrary end conditions. Volume 1: Analytical derivation and applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Boyd, D. E.; Rao, C. K. P.

1973-01-01

The derivation and application of a Rayleigh-Ritz modal vibration analysis are presented for ring and/or stringer stiffened noncircular cylindrical shells with arbitrary end conditions. Comparisons with previous results from experimental and analytical studies showed this method of analysis to be accurate for a variety of end conditions. Results indicate a greater effect of rings on natural frequencies than of stringers.

Multiple methods integration for structural mechanics analysis and design

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Housner, J. M.; Aminpour, M. A.

1991-01-01

A new research area of multiple methods integration is proposed for joining diverse methods of structural mechanics analysis which interact with one another. Three categories of multiple methods are defined: those in which a physical interface are well defined; those in which a physical interface is not well-defined, but selected; and those in which the interface is a mathematical transformation. Two fundamental integration procedures are presented that can be extended to integrate various methods (e.g., finite elements, Rayleigh Ritz, Galerkin, and integral methods) with one another. Since the finite element method will likely be the major method to be integrated, its enhanced robustness under element distortion is also examined and a new robust shell element is demonstrated.

Legendre spectral-collocation method for solving some types of fractional optimal control problems

PubMed Central

Sweilam, Nasser H.; Al-Ajami, Tamer M.

2014-01-01

In this paper, the Legendre spectral-collocation method was applied to obtain approximate solutions for some types of fractional optimal control problems (FOCPs). The fractional derivative was described in the Caputo sense. Two different approaches were presented, in the first approach, necessary optimality conditions in terms of the associated Hamiltonian were approximated. In the second approach, the state equation was discretized first using the trapezoidal rule for the numerical integration followed by the Rayleigh–Ritz method to evaluate both the state and control variables. Illustrative examples were included to demonstrate the validity and applicability of the proposed techniques. PMID:26257937

Computing interior eigenvalues of nonsymmetric matrices: application to three-dimensional metamaterial composites.

PubMed

Terao, Takamichi

2010-08-01

We propose a numerical method to calculate interior eigenvalues and corresponding eigenvectors for nonsymmetric matrices. Based on the subspace projection technique onto expanded Ritz subspace, it becomes possible to obtain eigenvalues and eigenvectors with sufficiently high precision. This method overcomes the difficulties of the traditional nonsymmetric Lanczos algorithm, and improves the accuracy of the obtained interior eigenvalues and eigenvectors. Using this algorithm, we investigate three-dimensional metamaterial composites consisting of positive and negative refractive index materials, and it is demonstrated that the finite-difference frequency-domain algorithm is applicable to analyze these metamaterial composites.

Use of dirichlet distributions and orthogonal projection techniques for the fluctuation analysis of steady-state multivariate birth-death systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Palombi, Filippo; Toti, Simona

2015-05-01

Approximate weak solutions of the Fokker-Planck equation represent a useful tool to analyze the equilibrium fluctuations of birth-death systems, as they provide a quantitative knowledge lying in between numerical simulations and exact analytic arguments. In this paper, we adapt the general mathematical formalism known as the Ritz-Galerkin method for partial differential equations to the Fokker-Planck equation with time-independent polynomial drift and diffusion coefficients on the simplex. Then, we show how the method works in two examples, namely the binary and multi-state voter models with zealots.

Model-size reduction for the buckling and vibration analyses of anisotropic panels

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Noor, A. K.; Whitworth, S. L.

1986-01-01

A computational procedure is presented for reducing the size of the model used in the buckling and vibration analyses of symmetric anisotropic panels to that of the corresponding orthotropic model. The key elements of the procedure are the application of an operator splitting technique through the decomposition of the material stiffness matrix of the panel into the sum of orthotropic and nonorthotropic (anisotropic) parts and the use of a reduction method through successive application of the finite element method and the classical Rayleigh-Ritz technique. The effectiveness of the procedure is demonstrated by numerical examples.

The Shock and Vibration Digest. Volume 15, Number 6

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-06-01

Numer . Methods Engrg., 14. pp 1813-1850 (1979). 90. Dinis, L.M.S., Martins, R.A.F., and Owen, D.R.J., "Material and Geometrically Nonlinear Analysis ... Numerical Results," J. Appl. Mech., Trans. ASME, 47, pp 133-138 (1980). 145. Sathyamoorthy, M. and Prasad, M.E., Mul- tiple-Mode Nonlinear Analysis of...Andersen, CM., "Two-Stage Rayleigh-Ritz Technique for Non- linear Analysis of Structures," Proc. 2nd Intl. Symp. Innovative Numer . Anal. Appl. Engrg

Variational description of the positive column with two-stem ionization

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Crawford, F. W.

1979-01-01

The ionization balance in diffusion dominated discharges which depends on both one and two step ionization processes is considered. The Spenke diffusion equation (D sq delta n + neutrino n + sq kn =0) describing such conditions is solved by the Rayleigh-Ritz variational method. Simple analytic approximations to the density profile, and the similarity relation between neutrino,k,D and the discharge dimensions, are derived for planar and cylindrical geometry, and compared with exact computations for certain limiting cases.

Improved Design Formulae for Buckling of Orthotropic Plates under Combined Loading

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Weaver, Paul M.; Nemeth, Michael P.

2008-01-01

Simple, accurate buckling interaction formulae are presented for long orthotropic plates with either simply supported or clamped longitudinal edges and under combined loading that are suitable for design studies. The loads include 1) combined uniaxial compression (or tension) and shear, 2) combined pure inplane bending and 3) shear and combined uniaxial compression (or tension) and pure inplane bending. The interaction formulae are the results of detailed regression analysis of buckling data obtained from a very accurate Rayleigh-Ritz method.

Finite Element Analysis of Geodesically Stiffened Cylindrical Composite Shells Using a Layerwise Theory

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gerhard, Craig Steven; Gurdal, Zafer; Kapania, Rakesh K.

1996-01-01

Layerwise finite element analyses of geodesically stiffened cylindrical shells are presented. The layerwise laminate theory of Reddy (LWTR) is developed and adapted to circular cylindrical shells. The Ritz variational method is used to develop an analytical approach for studying the buckling of simply supported geodesically stiffened shells with discrete stiffeners. This method utilizes a Lagrange multiplier technique to attach the stiffeners to the shell. The development of the layerwise shells couples a one-dimensional finite element through the thickness with a Navier solution that satisfies the boundary conditions. The buckling results from the Ritz discrete analytical method are compared with smeared buckling results and with NASA Testbed finite element results. The development of layerwise shell and beam finite elements is presented and these elements are used to perform the displacement field, stress, and first-ply failure analyses. The layerwise shell elements are used to model the shell skin and the layerwise beam elements are used to model the stiffeners. This arrangement allows the beam stiffeners to be assembled directly into the global stiffness matrix. A series of analytical studies are made to compare the response of geodesically stiffened shells as a function of loading, shell geometry, shell radii, shell laminate thickness, stiffener height, and geometric nonlinearity. Comparisons of the structural response of geodesically stiffened shells, axial and ring stiffened shells, and unstiffened shells are provided. In addition, interlaminar stress results near the stiffener intersection are presented. First-ply failure analyses for geodesically stiffened shells utilizing the Tsai-Wu failure criterion are presented for a few selected cases.

Ready: how to keep your customers coming back.

PubMed

Eliscu, A T

2000-01-01

Customer service is a major, but often overlooked, issue in health care today. While other industries and organizations recognize how good customer relations can affect long-term success, many health care providers have yet to learn this valuable lesson. The Ritz-Carlton, which won the prestigious Baldridge Award for service, has a well-earned reputation for excellent customer service. Like health care providers, this hotel industry icon hires hourly workers, puts them in uniform and has them work in teams. Unlike health care, however, The Ritz-Carlton seems to be able to generate a much higher level of customer satisfaction. How? This chapter illustrates the techniques the hotel chain uses to accomplish its goal and how these important tools can apply to the health care industry.

Optimal locations and orientations of piezoelectric transducers on cylindrical shell based on gramians of contributed and undesired Rayleigh-Ritz modes using genetic algorithm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Biglar, Mojtaba; Mirdamadi, Hamid Reza; Danesh, Mohammad

2014-02-01

In this study, the active vibration control and configurational optimization of a cylindrical shell are analyzed by using piezoelectric transducers. The piezoelectric patches are attached to the surface of the cylindrical shell. The Rayleigh-Ritz method is used for deriving dynamic modeling of cylindrical shell and piezoelectric sensors and actuators based on the Donnel-Mushtari shell theory. The major goal of this study is to find the optimal locations and orientations of piezoelectric sensors and actuators on the cylindrical shell. The optimization procedure is designed based on desired controllability and observability of each contributed and undesired mode. Further, in order to limit spillover effects, the residual modes are taken into consideration. The optimization variables are the positions and orientations of piezoelectric patches. Genetic algorithm is utilized to evaluate the optimal configurations. In this article, for improving the maximum power and capacity of actuators for amplitude depreciation of negative velocity feedback strategy, we have proposed a new control strategy, called "Saturated Negative Velocity Feedback Rule (SNVF)". The numerical results show that the optimization procedure is effective for vibration reduction, and specifically, by locating actuators and sensors in their optimal locations and orientations, the vibrations of cylindrical shell are suppressed more quickly.

Critical evaluation of measured line positions of 14N16O in X2П state

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sulakshina, O. N.; Borkov, Yu. G.

2018-04-01

All available line positions for unresolved and resolved Λ-doublets of the 14N16O molecule in the X2 П state were collected from the literature and tested using the RITZ computer code. These data have been critically analysed and used to obtain the most complete set of 1789 experimental energy levels of unresolved Λ-doublets covering the 0-35,866 cm-1 interval. A set of 425 experimental energy levels of resolved Λ-doublets covering the 0-5957 cm-1 interval for two states 2П1/2 and 2П3/2 also have been obtained. These levels together with calculated correlation matrix can be used to generate the precise list of transitions with confidence intervals. Comparisons with the HITRAN as well as with Amiot calculations are discussed. The systematic shift between experimental energy levels of unresolved Λ-doublets and those calculated by Amiot for 2П3/2 state was found. The same systematic shift for transitions frequencies of unresolved Λ-doublets in forbidden subbands 2П1/2↔2П3/2 is also established in the HITRAN database. Comparison of the RITZ energy levels with calculated energy levels by Wong at al. was also done. It was found, that experimental RITZ energy levels for resolved Λ-doublets of 14N16O coincide with those calculated by Wong at al. within experimental uncertainties.

Free vibration of functionally graded carbon nanotube reinforced composite cylindrical panels with general elastic supports

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xie, Fei; Tang, Jinyuan; Wang, Ailun; Shuai, Cijun; Wang, Qingshan

2018-05-01

In this paper, a unified solution for vibration analysis of the functionally graded carbon nanotube reinforced composite (FG-CNTRC) cylindrical panels with general elastic supports is carried out via using the Ritz method. The excellent accuracy and reliability of the present method are compared with the results of the classical boundary cases found in the literature. New results are given for vibration characteristics of FG-CNTRC cylindrical panels with various boundary conditions. The effects of the elastic restraint parameters, thickness, subtended angle and volume fraction of carbon nanotubes on the free vibration characteristic of the cylindrical panels are also reported.

Hotel shows health system keys to service excellence.

PubMed

2003-08-01

Ritz-Carlton partnership part of broader program pursuing service excellence. Nearly 600 system leaders will participate in day-long seminars. GE, Harvard serve as strategic partners for ongoing educational efforts.

75 FR 4576 - Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-01-28

...: Center for Scientific Review Special Emphasis Panel, Academic-Industry Partnership in Cancer Imaging.... Place: Ritz Carlton Hotel, 1150 22nd Street, NW., Washington, DC 20037. Contact Person: Fouad A. El...

76 FR 66912 - Marine Protected Areas Federal Advisory Committee; Public Meeting

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-10-28

... Protected Areas Federal Advisory Committee (Committee) in New Orleans, Louisiana. DATES: The meeting will be... the Ritz Carlton Hotel, 921 Canal Street, New Orleans, 70112. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kara...

76 FR 35223 - Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-06-16

.... Agenda: To review and evaluate grant applications. Place: Ritz Carlton Hotel, 1150 22nd Street, NW.... Agenda: To review and evaluate grant applications. Place: St. Gregory Hotel, 2033 M Street, NW...

Teaching College Students Vocabulary with Rhyme, Rhythm, and Ritzy Characters.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Baechtold, Shirley; Algier, Ann

1986-01-01

Describes vocabulary development in a college reading program that involves students writing and singing lyrics to the tune of "Puttin' on the Ritz." Discusses the theory behind this practice, specifically how rhyme and rhythm aid recall. (SRT)

Ideal-Magnetohydrodynamic-Stable Tilting in Field-Reversed Configurations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kanno, Ryutaro; Ishida, Akio; Steinhauer, Loren

1995-02-01

The tilting mode in field-reversed configurations (FRC) is examined using ideal-magnetohydrodynamic stability theory. Tilting, a global mode, is the greatest threat for disruption of FRC confinement. Previous studies uniformly found tilting to be unstable in ideal theory: the objective here is to ascertain if stable equilibria were overlooked in past work. Solving the variational problem with the Rayleigh-Ritz technique, tilting-stable equilibria are found for sufficiently hollow current profile and sufficient racetrackness of the separatrix shape. Although these equilibria were not examined previously, the present conclusion is quite surprising. Consequently checks of the method are offered. Even so it cannot yet be claimed with complete certainty that stability has been proved: absolute confirmation of ideal-stable tilting awaits the application of more complete methods.

Small amplitude, transverse vibrations of circular plates with an eccentric rectangular perforation elastically restrained against rotation and translation on both edges

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Laura, P. A. A.; Avalos, D. R.

2008-05-01

The Rayleigh-Ritz variational method is applied to the determination of the first four frequency coefficients for small amplitude, transverse vibrations of circular plates with an eccentric, rectangular perforation that is elastically restrained against rotation and translation on both edges. Coordinate functions are used which identically satisfy the boundary conditions at the outer circular edge, while the restraining boundary conditions at the inner edge of the cutout are dealt with directly through the energetic terms in the functional expressions. The procedure seems to show very good numerical stability and convergence properties. As an added bonus, the method allows for increased flexibility in dealing with boundary conditions at the edge of the cutout.

Administrator Bolden Speaks at AIAA and WIA Luncheon

NASA Image and Video Library

2009-12-09

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden speaks during a luncheon co-hosted by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and Women In Aerospace (WIA) Wednesday, Dec., 9, 2009 at the Ritz-Carlton in Arlington, Va. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Vibrations of cantilevered circular cylindrical shells Shallow versus deep shell theory

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lee, J. K.; Leissa, A. W.; Wang, A. J.

1983-01-01

Free vibrations of cantilevered circular cylindrical shells having rectangular planforms are studied in this paper by means of the Ritz method. The deep shell theory of Novozhilov and Goldenveizer is used and compared with the usual shallow shell theory for a wide range of shell parameters. A thorough convergence study is presented along with comparisons to previously published finite element solutions and experimental results. Accurately computed frequency parameters and mode shapes for various shell configurations are presented. The present paper appears to be the first comprehensive study presenting rigorous comparisons between the two shell theories in dealing with free vibrations of cantilevered cylindrical shells.

Formulation of an improved smeared stiffener theory for buckling analysis of grid-stiffened composite panels

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jaunky, Navin; Knight, Norman F., Jr.; Ambur, Damodar R.

1995-01-01

A smeared stiffener theory for stiffened panels is presented that includes skin-stiffener interaction effects. The neutral surface profile of the skin-stiffener combination is developed analytically using the minimum potential energy principle and statics conditions. The skin-stiffener interaction is accounted for by computing the stiffness due to the stiffener and the skin in the skin-stiffener region about the neutral axis at the stiffener. Buckling load results for axially stiffened, orthogrid, and general grid-stiffened panels are obtained using the smeared stiffness combined with a Rayleigh-Ritz method and are compared with results from detailed finite element analyses.

Thermally induced stresses in cross-ply composite tubes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hyer, M. W.; Cooper, D. E.; Tompkins, S. S.

1986-01-01

An approximate solution for determining stresses in cross-ply composite tubes subjected to a circumferential temperature gradient is presented. The solution is based on the principle of complementary virtual work (PCVW) in conjunction with a Ritz approximation on the stress field and accounts for the temperature dependence of material properties. The PCVW method is compared with a planar elasticity solution using temperature-independent material properties and a Navier approach. The net effect of including temperature-dependent material properties is that the peak absolute values of the stresses are reduced. The dependence of the stresses on the circumferential location is also reduced in comparison with the case of temperature-independent properties.

It's All about the People

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lynch, Doug; Worden, Jennifer M.

2010-01-01

Three leading corporations, the Ritz-Carlton, Accenture, and Healthcare Corporation of America, were examined to see how they handled problems that also were faced by school districts. Their strategies for recruiting and retaining employees, measuring performance, and providing professional development differed significantly from those of most…

78 FR 66030 - Center for Scientific Review; Amended Notice of Meeting

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-11-04

... Register on September 09, 2013, 78 FR 174 Pgs. 55086- 55087. The meeting will be held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, 1150 22nd Street NW., Washington, DC 20037. The meeting will start on December 12, 2013 at 4:30 p...

Stagger angle dependence of inertial and elastic coupling in bladed disks

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Crawley, E. F.; Mokadam, D. R.

1984-01-01

Conditions which necessitate the inclusion of disk and shaft flexibility in the analysis of blade response in rotating blade-disk-shaft systems are derived in terms of nondimensional parameters. A simple semianalytical Rayleigh-Ritz model is derived in which the disk possesses all six rigid body degrees of freedom, which are elastically constrained by the shaft. Inertial coupling by the rigid body motion of the disk on a flexible shaft and out-of-plane elastic coupling due to disk flexure are included. Frequency ratios and mass ratios, which depend on the stagger angle, are determined for three typical rotors: a first stage high-pressure core compressor, a high bypass ratio fan, and an advanced turboprop. The stagger angle controls the degree of coupling in the blade-disk system. In the blade-disk-shaft system, the stagger angle determines whether blade-disk motion couples principally to the out-of-plane or in-plane motion of the disk on the shaft. The Ritz analysis shows excellent agreement with experimental results.

Fluid-structure interaction in fast breeder reactors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mitra, A. A.; Manik, D. N.; Chellapandi, P. A.

2004-05-01

A finite element model for the seismic analysis of a scaled down model of Fast breeder reactor (FBR) main vessel is proposed to be established. The reactor vessel, which is a large shell structure with a relatively thin wall, contains a large volume of sodium coolant. Therefore, the fluid structure interaction effects must be taken into account in the seismic design. As part of studying fluid-structure interaction, the fundamental frequency of vibration of a circular cylindrical shell partially filled with a liquid has been estimated using Rayleigh's method. The bulging and sloshing frequencies of the first four modes of the aforementioned system have been estimated using the Rayleigh-Ritz method. The finite element formulation of the axisymmetric fluid element with Fourier option (required due to seismic loading) is also presented.

Studies of Heat Transfer in Complex Internal Flows.

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-01-01

D.C. 20362 (Tel 202-692-6874) Mr. Richard S. Carlton Director, Engines Division, Code 523 NC #4 Naval Sea Systems Command Washington, D.C. 20362...Walter Ritz Code 033C Naval Ships Systems Engineering Station Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19112 (Tel. 215-755-3841) Dr. Simion Kuo United Tech. Res

EMC Enhanced Constant ’Z’ Modulator.

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-06-01

TUTHILL, Colonel, USAF Chief, Relilability & Compatibility Division FOR THE COMMANDER: JOHN A. RITZ Acting Chief, Plans Office 0 * - If your address...supply bypasses. 3.2.6 System Testing Breadboard system tests resulted in the replacement of the HP5082-3340 shunt mounted PIN diodes due to a carrer life

Research on Buckling State of Prestressed Fiber-Strengthened Steel Pipes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Ruheng; Lan, Kunchang

2018-01-01

The main restorative methods of damaged oil and gas pipelines include welding reinforcement, fixture reinforcement and fiber material reinforcement. Owing to the severe corrosion problems of pipes in practical use, the research on renovation and consolidation techniques of damaged pipes gains extensive attention by experts and scholars both at home and abroad. The analysis of mechanical behaviors of reinforced pressure pipelines and further studies focusing on “the critical buckling” and intensity of pressure pipeline failure are conducted in this paper, providing theoretical basis to restressed fiber-strengthened steel pipes. Deformation coordination equations and buckling control equations of steel pipes under the effect of prestress is deduced by using Rayleigh Ritz method, which is an approximation method based on potential energy stationary value theory and minimum potential energy principle. According to the deformation of prestressed steel pipes, the deflection differential equation of prestressed steel pipes is established, and the critical value of buckling under prestress is obtained.

Influence of semiclassical plasma on the energy levels and radiative transitions in highly charged ions★

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, Hong-Wei; Chen, Zhan-Bin; Chen, Wen-Cong; Liu, Xiao-Bin; Fu, Nian; Wang, Kai

2017-11-01

Considering the quantum effects of diffraction and the collective screening effects, the potential of test charge in semiclassical plasmas is derived. It is generalized exponential screened Coulomb potential. Using the Ritz variational method incorporating this potential, the effects of semiclassical plasma on the energy levels and radiative transitions are investigated systematically, taking highly charged H-like ion as an example. The Debye plasma model is also employed for comparison purposes. Comparisons and analysis are made between these two sets of results and the differences are discussed. Contribution to the Topical Issue "Atomic and Molecular Data and their Applications", edited by Gordon W.F. Drake, Jung-Sik Yoon, Daiji Kato, Grzegorz Karwasz.

Nonlinear mode interaction in equal-leg angle struts susceptible to cellular buckling.

PubMed

Bai, L; Wang, F; Wadee, M A; Yang, J

2017-11-01

A variational model that describes the interactive buckling of a thin-walled equal-leg angle strut under pure axial compression is presented. A formulation combining the Rayleigh-Ritz method and continuous displacement functions is used to derive a system of differential and integral equilibrium equations for the structural component. Solving the equations using numerical continuation reveals progressive cellular buckling (or snaking) arising from the nonlinear interaction between the weak-axis flexural buckling mode and the strong-axis flexural-torsional buckling mode for the first time-the resulting behaviour being highly unstable. Physical experiments conducted on 10 cold-formed steel specimens are presented and the results show good agreement with the variational model.

Modal characteristics of a simplified brake rotor model using semi-analytical Rayleigh Ritz method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, F.; Cheng, L.; Yam, L. H.; Zhou, L. M.

2006-10-01

Emphasis of this paper is given to the modal characteristics of a brake rotor which is utilized in automotive disc brake system. The brake rotor is modeled as a combined structure comprising an annular plate connected to a segment of cylindrical shell by distributed artificial springs. Modal analysis shows the existence of three types of modes for the combined structure, depending on the involvement of each substructure. A decomposition technique is proposed, allowing each mode of the combined structure to be decomposed into a linear combination of the individual substructure modes. It is shown that the decomposition coefficients provide a direct and systematic means to carry out modal classification and quantification.

An historical survey of computational methods in optimal control.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Polak, E.

1973-01-01

Review of some of the salient theoretical developments in the specific area of optimal control algorithms. The first algorithms for optimal control were aimed at unconstrained problems and were derived by using first- and second-variation methods of the calculus of variations. These methods have subsequently been recognized as gradient, Newton-Raphson, or Gauss-Newton methods in function space. A much more recent addition to the arsenal of unconstrained optimal control algorithms are several variations of conjugate-gradient methods. At first, constrained optimal control problems could only be solved by exterior penalty function methods. Later algorithms specifically designed for constrained problems have appeared. Among these are methods for solving the unconstrained linear quadratic regulator problem, as well as certain constrained minimum-time and minimum-energy problems. Differential-dynamic programming was developed from dynamic programming considerations. The conditional-gradient method, the gradient-projection method, and a couple of feasible directions methods were obtained as extensions or adaptations of related algorithms for finite-dimensional problems. Finally, the so-called epsilon-methods combine the Ritz method with penalty function techniques.

On the design of innovative heterogeneous tests using a shape optimization approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aquino, J.; Campos, A. Andrade; Souto, N.; Thuillier, S.

2018-05-01

The development of full-field measurement methods enabled a new trend of mechanical tests. By providing the inhomogeneous strain field from the tests, these techniques are being widely used in sheet metal identification strategies, through heterogeneous mechanical tests. In this work, a heterogeneous mechanical test with an innovative tool/specimen shape, capable of producing rich heterogeneous strain paths providing extensive information on material behavior, is aimed. The specimen is found using a shape optimization process where a dedicated indicator that evaluates the richness of strain information is used. The methodology and results here presented are extended to non-specimen geometry dependence and to the non-dependence of the geometry parametrization through the use of the Ritz method for boundary value problems. Different curve models, such as Splines, B-Splines and NURBS, are used and C1 continuity throughout the specimen is guaranteed. Moreover, various optimization methods are used, deterministic and stochastic, in order to find the method or a combination of methods able to effectively minimize the cost function.

Analytical and experimental studies of natural vibrations modes of ring-stiffened truncated-cone shells with variable theoretical ring fixity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Naumann, E. C.; Catherines, D. S.; Walton, W. C., Jr.

1971-01-01

Experimental and analytical investigations of the vibratory behavior of ring-stiffened truncated-cone shells are described. Vibration tests were conducted on 60 deg conical shells having up to four ring stiffeners and for free-free and clamped-free edge constraints and 9 deg conical shells, for two thicknesses, each with two angle rings and for free-free, free-clamped, and clamped-clamped edge constraints. The analytical method is based on linear thin shell theory, employing the Rayleigh-Ritz method. Discrete rings are represented as composed of one or more segments, each of which is a short truncated-cone shell of uniform thickness. Equations of constraint are used to join a ring and shell along a circumferential line connection. Excellent agreement was obtained for comparisons of experimental and calculated frequencies.

The program LOPT for least-squares optimization of energy levels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kramida, A. E.

2011-02-01

The article describes a program that solves the least-squares optimization problem for finding the energy levels of a quantum-mechanical system based on a set of measured energy separations or wavelengths of transitions between those energy levels, as well as determining the Ritz wavelengths of transitions and their uncertainties. The energy levels are determined by solving the matrix equation of the problem, and the uncertainties of the Ritz wavenumbers are determined from the covariance matrix of the problem. Program summaryProgram title: LOPT Catalogue identifier: AEHM_v1_0 Program summary URL:http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/summaries/AEHM_v1_0.html Program obtainable from: CPC Program Library, Queen's University, Belfast, N. Ireland Licensing provisions: Standard CPC licence, http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/licence/licence.html No. of lines in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 19 254 No. of bytes in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 427 839 Distribution format: tar.gz Programming language: Perl v.5 Computer: PC, Mac, Unix workstations Operating system: MS Windows (XP, Vista, 7), Mac OS X, Linux, Unix (AIX) RAM: 3 Mwords or more Word size: 32 or 64 Classification: 2.2 Nature of problem: The least-squares energy-level optimization problem, i.e., finding a set of energy level values that best fits the given set of transition intervals. Solution method: The solution of the least-squares problem is found by solving the corresponding linear matrix equation, where the matrix is constructed using a new method with variable substitution. Restrictions: A practical limitation on the size of the problem N is imposed by the execution time, which scales as N and depends on the computer. Unusual features: Properly rounds the resulting data and formats the output in a format suitable for viewing with spreadsheet editing software. Estimates numerical errors resulting from the limited machine precision. Running time: 1 s for N=100, or 60 s for N=400 on a typical PC.

NASA STEM Event

NASA Image and Video Library

2013-01-19

School children react to food shrinking in a vacuum chamber during an Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education event held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Arlington, VA on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013. Students were able to meet with Astronaut Melvin, conduct experiments, build their own space jab, and touch a mockup space suit. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

New Approaches for Early Detection of Breast Tumor Invasion or Progression

DTIC Science & Technology

2003-05-01

IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL ASSESSMENT OF \\ Breast Disease PRIMARY LESIONS OF BREAST EPITHELIAL February 13-16, 2003 INVASION INTO BLOOD VESSELS Ritz - Carlton , Amelia...Programs, The Idea Award (BCOOI 187) and Career Development m ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ wr g .••• m Vol 16,’ No MEETING March 22 - 28, 2003 Marriott Wardman Park Hotel

77 FR 26300 - Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-05-03

... review and evaluate grant applications. Place: Ritz Carlton Hotel, 1150 22nd Street NW., Washington, DC.... Time: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Agenda: To review and evaluate grant applications. Place: Pier 5 Hotel.... Place: Melrose Hotel, 2430 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20037. Contact Person: Samuel C...

Mechanical and thermal buckling analysis of rectangular sandwich panels under different edge conditions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ko, William L.

1994-01-01

The combined load (mechanical or thermal load) buckling equations were established for orthotropic rectangular sandwich panels under four different edge conditions by using the Rayleigh-Ritz method of minimizing the total potential energy of a structural system. Two-dimensional buckling interaction curves and three-dimensional buckling interaction surfaces were constructed for high-temperature honeycomb-core sandwich panels supported under four different edge conditions. The interaction surfaces provide overall comparison of the panel buckling strengths and the domains of symmetrical and antisymmetrical buckling associated with the different edge conditions. In addition, thermal buckling curves of these sandwich panels are presented. The thermal buckling conditions for the cases with and without thermal moments were found to be identical for the small deformation theory.

A numerical method for solving a nonlinear 2-D optimal control problem with the classical diffusion equation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mamehrashi, K.; Yousefi, S. A.

2017-02-01

This paper presents a numerical solution for solving a nonlinear 2-D optimal control problem (2DOP). The performance index of a nonlinear 2DOP is described with a state and a control function. Furthermore, dynamic constraint of the system is given by a classical diffusion equation. It is preferred to use the Ritz method for finding the numerical solution of the problem. The method is based upon the Legendre polynomial basis. By using this method, the given optimisation nonlinear 2DOP reduces to the problem of solving a system of algebraic equations. The benefit of the method is that it provides greater flexibility in which the given initial and boundary conditions of the problem are imposed. Moreover, compared with the eigenfunction method, the satisfactory results are obtained only in a small number of polynomials order. This numerical approach is applicable and effective for such a kind of nonlinear 2DOP. The convergence of the method is extensively discussed and finally two illustrative examples are included to observe the validity and applicability of the new technique developed in the current work.

NASA STEM Event

NASA Image and Video Library

2013-01-19

NASA Astronaut and Associate Administrator for Education, Leland Melvin, talks to school children during an Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education event held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Arlington, VA on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013. Students were able to meet with Astronaut Melvin, conduct experiments, build their own space jab, and touch a mockup space suit. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA STEM Event

NASA Image and Video Library

2013-01-19

School children are given a hands-on experience with a mock spacesuit during a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education event held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Arlington, VA on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013. Students were able to meet with Astronaut Leland Melvin, conduct experiments, build their own space jab, and touch a mockup space suit. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA STEM Event

NASA Image and Video Library

2013-01-19

School children are taught to build their own spacecraft and habitat during a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education event held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Arlington, VA on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013. Students were able to meet with Astronaut Leland Melvin, conduct experiments, build their own space jab, and touch a mockup space suit. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

75 FR 54156 - Center for Scientific Review; Amended Notice of Meeting

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-09-03

... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES National Institutes of Health Center for Scientific Review; Amended Notice of Meeting Notice is hereby given of a change in the meeting of the Language and Communication Study Section, October 4, 2010, 8 a.m. to October 5, 2010, 5 p.m., Ritz Carlton Hotel, 1150 22nd...

Annual Report on Electronics Research at the University of Texas at Austin.

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-05-15

Beall, E.J. Powers, Roger D. Bengtson and K. Nelin, "Edge Turbulence in TEXT and PRETEXT." Ch.P. Ritz , S.J. Levinson, E.J. Powers, and Roger D...DC 20234 314 Phillips Hall Ithaca, MY 1480 Ori. ay.Harris Office of the Dean Dr. Carlton Walter School of Engineering ElectroScionce Laboratory San

The He+H¯→He p¯+e+ rearrangement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Todd, Allan C.; Armour, Edward A. G.

2006-06-01

In this paper, we present a summary of our work in progress on calculating cross sections for the He+H¯→He p¯+e+ rearrangement process in He H¯ scattering. This has involved a study of the system He p¯ within the Born-Oppenheimer (BO) approximation using the Rayleigh-Ritz variational method. This work has been reported in [A.C. Todd, E.A.G. Armour, J. Phys. B 38 (2005) 3367] and is summarised here. Similar calculations are in progress for the He+H¯ entrance channel. We intend to use the entrance channel and rearrangement channel wave functions to obtain the cross sections for the rearrangement using the distorted wave Born approximation T-matrix method described elsewhere in these proceedings [E.A.G. Armour, S. Jonsell, Y. Liu, A.C. Todd, these Proceedings, doi:10.1016/j.nimb.2006.01.049].

Measurements of Acoustic Properties of Porous and Granular Materials and Application to Vibration Control

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Park, Junhong; Palumbo, Daniel L.

2004-01-01

For application of porous and granular materials to vibro-acoustic controls, a finite dynamic strength of the solid component (frame) is an important design factor. The primary goal of this study was to investigate structural vibration damping through this frame wave propagation for various poroelastic materials. A measurement method to investigate the vibration characteristics of the frame was proposed. The measured properties were found to follow closely the characteristics of the viscoelastic materials - the dynamic modulus increased with frequency and the degree of the frequency dependence was determined by its loss factor. The dynamic stiffness of hollow cylindrical beams containing porous and granular materials as damping treatment was measured also. The data were used to extract the damping materials characteristics using the Rayleigh-Ritz method. The results suggested that the acoustic structure interaction between the frame and the structure enhances the dissipation of the vibration energy significantly.

Fast solution of elliptic partial differential equations using linear combinations of plane waves.

PubMed

Pérez-Jordá, José M

2016-02-01

Given an arbitrary elliptic partial differential equation (PDE), a procedure for obtaining its solution is proposed based on the method of Ritz: the solution is written as a linear combination of plane waves and the coefficients are obtained by variational minimization. The PDE to be solved is cast as a system of linear equations Ax=b, where the matrix A is not sparse, which prevents the straightforward application of standard iterative methods in order to solve it. This sparseness problem can be circumvented by means of a recursive bisection approach based on the fast Fourier transform, which makes it possible to implement fast versions of some stationary iterative methods (such as Gauss-Seidel) consuming O(NlogN) memory and executing an iteration in O(Nlog(2)N) time, N being the number of plane waves used. In a similar way, fast versions of Krylov subspace methods and multigrid methods can also be implemented. These procedures are tested on Poisson's equation expressed in adaptive coordinates. It is found that the best results are obtained with the GMRES method using a multigrid preconditioner with Gauss-Seidel relaxation steps.

An efficient iterative model reduction method for aeroviscoelastic panel flutter analysis in the supersonic regime

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cunha-Filho, A. G.; Briend, Y. P. J.; de Lima, A. M. G.; Donadon, M. V.

2018-05-01

The flutter boundary prediction of complex aeroelastic systems is not an easy task. In some cases, these analyses may become prohibitive due to the high computational cost and time associated with the large number of degrees of freedom of the aeroelastic models, particularly when the aeroelastic model incorporates a control strategy with the aim of suppressing the flutter phenomenon, such as the use of viscoelastic treatments. In this situation, the use of a model reduction method is essential. However, the construction of a modal reduction basis for aeroviscoelastic systems is still a challenge, owing to the inherent frequency- and temperature-dependent behavior of the viscoelastic materials. Thus, the main contribution intended for the present study is to propose an efficient and accurate iterative enriched Ritz basis to deal with aeroviscoelastic systems. The main features and capabilities of the proposed model reduction method are illustrated in the prediction of flutter boundary for a thin three-layer sandwich flat panel and a typical aeronautical stiffened panel, both under supersonic flow.

NASA STEM Event

NASA Image and Video Library

2013-01-19

School children are photographed by their parents during a hands-on experience with a mock spacesuit during a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education event held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Arlington, VA on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013. Students were able to meet with Astronaut Leland Melvin, conduct experiments, build their own space jab, and touch a mockup space suit. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA STEM Event

NASA Image and Video Library

2013-01-19

School children watch a TV program showing how the Mars rover Curiosity landed on Mars during an Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education event held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Arlington, VA on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013. Students were able to meet with Astronaut Melvin, conduct experiments, build their own space jab, and touch a mockup space suit. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Quest for excellence 5

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1992-01-01

The highlights of the 1992 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award winners - AT and T Network Systems Group, Transmission Systems Business Unit; Texas Instrument Defense Systems and Electronics Group; AT and T Universal Card Services; The Ritz Hotel CO; and The Granite Rock Company are presented, along with brief information about the company and their beliefs and business and production strategies for quality manufacturing and products.

Occupational Jet Fuel Exposure and Invasive Cancer Occurrence in the United States Air Force, 1989-2003

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-01-01

Krishnadasan, A., Kennedy, N., Morgenstern, H., Ritz , B. Estimated effects of solvents and mineral oils on cancer incidence and mortality in a cohort of...aerospace workers. Am J Ind Med 2005; 48: 249-58. 25. Carlton , GN and Smith, LB. Exposures to jet fuel and benzene during aircraft fuel tank repair in

Rydberg-Ritz analysis and quantum defects for Rb and Cs atoms on helium nanodroplets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lackner, Florian; Krois, Günter; Ernst, Wolfgang E.

2013-08-01

A Rydberg-Ritz approach is used for the interpretation of Rb-He? and Cs-He? Rydberg states and Rydberg series. Variations of the quantum defects within a Rydberg series give insight into the interaction between the alkali atom's valence electron and the superfluid helium droplet. A screening of the valence electron from the alkali atom core by the helium droplet is observed for high Rydberg states. For states with lower principal quantum number, the effect decreases and the quantum defects are found to lie closer to free atom values, indicating an increased probability for the electron to be found inside the alkali atom core. An investigation of the spin-orbit splitting of the Cs-He? nP(2Π) components reveals that the splitting of the lowest 2Π states is more atom-like [Hund's case (c) coupling] than at higher n states [Hund's case (a) coupling]. In addition, we report a detailed study of the droplet size dependence of Ak-He? Rydberg series on the example of the Rb-He? D(Δ) series. Higher Rydberg states of this series are strongly redshifted, which is also related to the screening effect.

In situ and online monitoring of hydrodynamic flow profiles in microfluidic channels based upon microelectrochemistry: concept, theory, and validation.

PubMed

Amatore, Christian; Oleinick, Alexander; Klymenko, Oleksiy V; Svir, Irina

2005-08-12

Herein, we propose a method for reconstructing any plausible macroscopic hydrodynamic flow profile occurring locally within a rectangular microfluidic channel. The method is based on experimental currents measured at single or double microband electrodes embedded in one channel wall. A perfectly adequate quasiconformal mapping of spatial coordinates introduced in our previous work [Electrochem. Commun. 2004, 6, 1123] and an exponentially expanding time grid, initially proposed [J. Electroanal. Chem. 2003, 557, 75] in conjunction with the solution of the corresponding variational problem approached by the Ritz method are used for the numerical reconstruction of flow profiles. Herein, the concept of the method is presented and developed theoretically and its validity is tested on the basis of the use of pseudoexperimental currents emulated by simulation of the diffusion-convection problem in a channel flow cell, to which a random Gaussian current noise is added. The flow profiles reconstructed by our method compare successfully with those introduced a priori into the simulations, even when these include significant distortions compared with either classical Poiseuille or electro-osmotic flows.

Optimal Design of Grid-Stiffened Composite Panels Using Global and Local Buckling Analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ambur, Damodar R.; Jaunky, Navin; Knight, Norman F., Jr.

1996-01-01

A design strategy for optimal design of composite grid-stiffened panels subjected to global and local buckling constraints is developed using a discrete optimizer. An improved smeared stiffener theory is used for the global buckling analysis. Local buckling of skin segments is assessed using a Rayleigh-Ritz method that accounts for material anisotropy and transverse shear flexibility. The local buckling of stiffener segments is also assessed. Design variables are the axial and transverse stiffener spacing, stiffener height and thickness, skin laminate, and stiffening configuration. The design optimization process is adapted to identify the lightest-weight stiffening configuration and pattern for grid stiffened composite panels given the overall panel dimensions, design in-plane loads, material properties, and boundary conditions of the grid-stiffened panel.

Energy, fine structure, hyperfine structure, and radiative transition rates of the high-lying multi-excited states for B-like neon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Chun Mei; Chen, Chao; Sun, Yan; Gou, Bing Cong; Shao, Bin

2015-04-01

The Rayleigh-Ritz variational method with multiconfiguration interaction wave functions is used to obtain the energies of high-lying multi-excited quartet states 1 s 22 s2 pnl and 1 s 22 p 2 nl 4Pe,o ( n ≥ 2) in B-like neon, including the mass polarization and relativistic corrections. The fine structure and hyperfine structure of the excited quartet states for this system are investigated. Configuration structures of the high-lying multi-excited series are further identified by relativistic corrections and fine structure splittings. The transition rates and wavelengths are also calculated. Calculated wavelengths include the quantum electrodynamic effects. The results are compared with other theoretical and experimental data in the literature.

Vibrations of single-crystal gold nanorods and nanowires

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saviot, L.

2018-04-01

The vibrations of gold nanowires and nanorods are investigated numerically in the framework of continuum elasticity using the Rayleigh-Ritz variational method. Special attention is paid to identify the vibrations relevant in Raman scattering experiments. A comprehensive description of the vibrations of nanorods is proposed by determining their symmetry, comparing with standing waves in the corresponding nanowires, and estimating their Raman intensity. The role of experimentally relevant parameters such as the anisotropic cubic lattice structure, the presence of faceted lateral surfaces, and the shape of the ends of the nanorods is evaluated. Elastic anisotropy is shown to play a significant role contrarily to the presence of facets. Localized vibrations are found for nanorods with flat ends. Their evolution as the shape of the ends is changed to half-spheres is discussed.

A new formulation for anisotropic radiative transfer problems. I - Solution with a variational technique

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cheyney, H., III; Arking, A.

1976-01-01

The equations of radiative transfer in anisotropically scattering media are reformulated as linear operator equations in a single independent variable. The resulting equations are suitable for solution by a variety of standard mathematical techniques. The operators appearing in the resulting equations are in general nonsymmetric; however, it is shown that every bounded linear operator equation can be embedded in a symmetric linear operator equation and a variational solution can be obtained in a straightforward way. For purposes of demonstration, a Rayleigh-Ritz variational method is applied to three problems involving simple phase functions. It is to be noted that the variational technique demonstrated is of general applicability and permits simple solutions for a wide range of otherwise difficult mathematical problems in physics.

Analysis of the Pre-stack Split-Step Migration Operator Using Ritz Values

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaplan, S. T.; Sacchi, M. D.

2009-05-01

The Born approximation for the acoustic wave-field is often used as a basis for developing algorithms in seismic imaging (migration). The approximation is linear, and, as such, can be written as a matrix-vector multiplication (Am=d). In the seismic imaging problem, d is seismic data (the recorded wave-field), and we aim to find the seismic reflectivity m (a representation of earth structure and properties) so that Am=d is satisfied. This is the often studied inverse problem of seismic migration, where given A and d, we solve for m. This can be done in a least-squares sense, so that the equation of interest is, AHAm = AHd. Hence, the solution m is largely dependent on the properties of AHA. The imaging Jacobian J provides an approximation to AHA, so that J-1AHA is, in a broad sense, better behaved then AHA. We attempt to quantify this last statement by providing an analysis of AHA and J-1AHA using their Ritz values, and for the particular case where A is built using a pre-stack split-step migration algorithm. Typically, one might try to analyze the behaviour of these matrices using their eigenvalue spectra. The difficulty in the analysis of AHA and J-1AHA lie in their size. For example, a subset of the relatively small Marmousi data set makes AHA a complex valued matrix with, roughly, dimensions of 45 million by 45 million (requiring, in single-precision, about 16 Peta-bytes of computer memory). In short, the size of the matrix makes its eigenvalues difficult to compute. Instead, we compute the leading principal minors of similar tridiagonal matrices, Bk=Vk-1AHAVk and Ck = Uk-1 J-1 AHAUk. These can be constructed using, for example, the Lanczos decomposition. Up to some value of k it is feasible to compute the eigenvalues of Bk and Ck which, in turn, are the Ritz values of, respectively, AHA and J-1 AHA, and may allow us to make quantitative statements about their behaviours.

A component modes projection and assembly model reduction methodology for articulated, multi-flexible body structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lee, Allan Y.; Tsuha, Walter S.

1993-01-01

A two-stage model reduction methodology, combining the classical Component Mode Synthesis (CMS) method and the newly developed Enhanced Projection and Assembly (EP&A) method, is proposed in this research. The first stage of this methodology, called the COmponent Modes Projection and Assembly model REduction (COMPARE) method, involves the generation of CMS mode sets, such as the MacNeal-Rubin mode sets. These mode sets are then used to reduce the order of each component model in the Rayleigh-Ritz sense. The resultant component models are then combined to generate reduced-order system models at various system configurations. A composite mode set which retains important system modes at all system configurations is then selected from these reduced-order system models. In the second stage, the EP&A model reduction method is employed to reduce further the order of the system model generated in the first stage. The effectiveness of the COMPARE methodology has been successfully demonstrated on a high-order, finite-element model of the cruise-configured Galileo spacecraft.

Response of space shuttle insulation panels to acoustic noise pressure

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vaicaitis, R.

1976-01-01

The response of reusable space shuttle insulation panels to random acoustic pressure fields are studied. The basic analytical approach in formulating the governing equations of motion uses a Rayleigh-Ritz technique. The input pressure field is modeled as a stationary Gaussian random process for which the cross-spectral density function is known empirically from experimental measurements. The response calculations are performed in both frequency and time domain.

Dynamics of runaway tails with time-dependent sub-Dreicer dc fields in magnetized plasmas

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Moghaddam-Taaheri, E.; Vlahos, L.

1987-01-01

The evolution of runaway tails driven by sub-Dreicer time-dependent dc fields in a magnetized plasma are studied numerically using a quasi-linear code based on the Ritz-Galerkin method and finite elements. It is found that the runaway tail maintained a negative slope during the dc field increase. Depending on the values of the dc electric field at t = 0 and the electron gyrofrequency to the plasma frequency ratio the runaway tail became unstable to the anomalous Doppler resonance or remained stable before the saturation of the dc field at some maximum value. The systems that remained stable during this stage became unstable to the anomalous Doppler or the Cerenkov resonances when the dc field was kept at the saturation level or decreased. Once the instability is triggered, the runaway tail is isotropized.

Approximation methods for inverse problems involving the vibration of beams with tip bodies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rosen, I. G.

1984-01-01

Two cubic spline based approximation schemes for the estimation of structural parameters associated with the transverse vibration of flexible beams with tip appendages are outlined. The identification problem is formulated as a least squares fit to data subject to the system dynamics which are given by a hybrid system of coupled ordinary and partial differential equations. The first approximation scheme is based upon an abstract semigroup formulation of the state equation while a weak/variational form is the basis for the second. Cubic spline based subspaces together with a Rayleigh-Ritz-Galerkin approach were used to construct sequences of easily solved finite dimensional approximating identification problems. Convergence results are briefly discussed and a numerical example demonstrating the feasibility of the schemes and exhibiting their relative performance for purposes of comparison is provided.

Systematization of experimental data on the spectra of 3s--3p and 3p--3d transitions of Ar IX (436--861 A)

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

Kramida, A.E.

1985-04-01

The article correlates and systematizes published data on the wavelengths of lines in the spectra of argon obtained by various authors by the so-called beam-foil method. The energies of the levels are compared with the results of an extrapolation along an isoelectronic sequence, and the lifetimes of the levels are compared with theoretical calculations. The energies of all 26 energy levels of the 2p/sup 5/3s, 3p and 3d configurations of Ar IX are determined and refined. Forty-five transitions between these configurations in the 436--861 A region are identified. The identifications are supported by combinations according to the Ritz principle andmore » by a semiempirical calculation of the energies of the levels.« less

Free-vibration acoustic resonance of a nonlinear elastic bar

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tarumi, Ryuichi; Oshita, Yoshihito

2011-02-01

Free-vibration acoustic resonance of a one-dimensional nonlinear elastic bar was investigated by direct analysis in the calculus of variations. The Lagrangian density of the bar includes a cubic term of the deformation gradient, which is responsible for both geometric and constitutive nonlinearities. By expanding the deformation function into a complex Fourier series, we derived the action integral in an analytic form and evaluated its stationary conditions numerically with the Ritz method for the first three resonant vibration modes. This revealed that the bar shows the following prominent nonlinear features: (i) amplitude dependence of the resonance frequency; (ii) symmetry breaking in the vibration pattern; and (iii) excitation of the high-frequency mode around nodal-like points. Stability of the resonant vibrations was also addressed in terms of a convex condition on the strain energy density.

Simplified modelling and analysis of a rotating Euler-Bernoulli beam with a single cracked edge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yashar, Ahmed; Ferguson, Neil; Ghandchi-Tehrani, Maryam

2018-04-01

The natural frequencies and mode shapes of the flapwise and chordwise vibrations of a rotating cracked Euler-Bernoulli beam are investigated using a simplified method. This approach is based on obtaining the lateral deflection of the cracked rotating beam by subtracting the potential energy of a rotating massless spring, which represents the crack, from the total potential energy of the intact rotating beam. With this new method, it is assumed that the admissible function which satisfies the geometric boundary conditions of an intact beam is valid even in the presence of a crack. Furthermore, the centrifugal stiffness due to rotation is considered as an additional stiffness, which is obtained from the rotational speed and the geometry of the beam. Finally, the Rayleigh-Ritz method is utilised to solve the eigenvalue problem. The validity of the results is confirmed at different rotational speeds, crack depth and location by comparison with solid and beam finite element model simulations. Furthermore, the mode shapes are compared with those obtained from finite element models using a Modal Assurance Criterion (MAC).

Eigensensitivity analysis of rotating clamped uniform beams with the asymptotic numerical method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bekhoucha, F.; Rechak, S.; Cadou, J. M.

2016-12-01

In this paper, free vibrations of a rotating clamped Euler-Bernoulli beams with uniform cross section are studied using continuation method, namely asymptotic numerical method. The governing equations of motion are derived using Lagrange's method. The kinetic and strain energy expression are derived from Rayleigh-Ritz method using a set of hybrid variables and based on a linear deflection assumption. The derived equations are transformed in two eigenvalue problems, where the first is a linear gyroscopic eigenvalue problem and presents the coupled lagging and stretch motions through gyroscopic terms. While the second is standard eigenvalue problem and corresponds to the flapping motion. Those two eigenvalue problems are transformed into two functionals treated by continuation method, the Asymptotic Numerical Method. New method proposed for the solution of the linear gyroscopic system based on an augmented system, which transforms the original problem to a standard form with real symmetric matrices. By using some techniques to resolve these singular problems by the continuation method, evolution curves of the natural frequencies against dimensionless angular velocity are determined. At high angular velocity, some singular points, due to the linear elastic assumption, are computed. Numerical tests of convergence are conducted and the obtained results are compared to the exact values. Results obtained by continuation are compared to those computed with discrete eigenvalue problem.

Women in Aerospace Awards

NASA Image and Video Library

2010-10-26

NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver speaks after being given the Women in Aerospace's Outstanding Member Award at the organization's annual awards ceremony and banquet held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Arlington, VA on Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2010. Four current NASA leaders and one retiree were recognized for their work by Women in Aerospace. The event celebrates women's professional excellence in aerospace and honors women who have made outstanding contributions to the aerospace community. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Women in Aerospace Awards

NASA Image and Video Library

2010-10-26

NASA's Langley Research Center Lesa Roe speaks after being given the Women in Aerospace's Leadership Award at the organization's annual awards ceremony and banquet held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Arlington, VA on Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2010. Four current NASA leaders and one retiree were recognized for their work by Women in Aerospace. The event celebrates women's professional excellence in aerospace and honors women who have made outstanding contributions to the aerospace community. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Targeting: Social Network Analysis in Counter IED Operations

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-06-01

members caused havoc amongst both French and Algerian citizens by placing bombs in public buildings, police stations, cafes, cinemas , and dance halls in...lifted the city’s curfew, schools were reopened and people were no longer afraid to fill shopping malls or go to the cinemas . The actions taken by...was able to carry out the 2009 JW Marriot and Ritz-Carlton hotel bombings in Jakarta before being killed by Malaysian forces in 2009

Magnetic field effect on the energy levels of an exciton in a GaAs quantum dot: Application for excitonic lasers.

PubMed

Jahan, K Luhluh; Boda, A; Shankar, I V; Raju, Ch Narasimha; Chatterjee, Ashok

2018-03-22

The problem of an exciton trapped in a Gaussian quantum dot (QD) of GaAs is studied in both two and three dimensions in the presence of an external magnetic field using the Ritz variational method, the 1/N expansion method and the shifted 1/N expansion method. The ground state energy and the binding energy of the exciton are obtained as a function of the quantum dot size, confinement strength and the magnetic field and compared with those available in the literature. While the variational method gives the upper bound to the ground state energy, the 1/N expansion method gives the lower bound. The results obtained from the shifted 1/N expansion method are shown to match very well with those obtained from the exact diagonalization technique. The variation of the exciton size and the oscillator strength of the exciton are also studied as a function of the size of the quantum dot. The excited states of the exciton are computed using the shifted 1/N expansion method and it is suggested that a given number of stable excitonic bound states can be realized in a quantum dot by tuning the quantum dot parameters. This can open up the possibility of having quantum dot lasers using excitonic states.

Static and Vibration Analyses of General Wing Structures Using Equivalent Plate Models

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kapania, Rakesh K.; Liu, Youhua

1999-01-01

An efficient method, using equivalent plate model, is developed for studying the static and vibration analyses of general built-up wing structures composed of skins, spars, and ribs. The model includes the transverse shear effects by treating the built-up wing as a plate following the Reissner-Mindlin theory, the so-called First-order Shear Deformation Theory (FSDT). The Ritz method is used with the Legendre polynomials being employed as the trial functions. This is in contrast to previous equivalent plate model methods which have used simple polynomials, known to be prone to numerical ill-conditioning, as the trial functions. The present developments are evaluated by comparing the results with those obtained using MSC/NASTRAN, for a set of examples. These examples are: (i) free-vibration analysis of a clamped trapezoidal plate with (a) uniform thickness, and (b) non-uniform thickness varying as an airfoil, (ii) free-vibration and static analyses (including skin stress distribution) of a general built-up wing, and (iii) free-vibration and static analyses of a swept-back box wing. The results obtained by the present equivalent plate model are in good agreement with those obtained by the finite element method.

Comparative Modal Analysis of Sieve Hardware Designs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thompson, Nathaniel

2012-01-01

The CMTB Thwacker hardware operates as a testbed analogue for the Flight Thwacker and Sieve components of CHIMRA, a device on the Curiosity Rover. The sieve separates particles with a diameter smaller than 150 microns for delivery to onboard science instruments. The sieving behavior of the testbed hardware should be similar to the Flight hardware for the results to be meaningful. The elastodynamic behavior of both sieves was studied analytically using the Rayleigh Ritz method in conjunction with classical plate theory. Finite element models were used to determine the mode shapes of both designs, and comparisons between the natural frequencies and mode shapes were made. The analysis predicts that the performance of the CMTB Thwacker will closely resemble the performance of the Flight Thwacker within the expected steady state operating regime. Excitations of the testbed hardware that will mimic the flight hardware were recommended, as were those that will improve the efficiency of the sieving process.

Plasma-screening effects on the electron-impact excitation of hydrogenic ions in dense plasmas

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jung, Young-Dae

1993-01-01

Plasma-screening effects are investigated on electron-impact excitation of hydrogenic ions in dense plasmas. Scaled cross sections Z(exp 4) sigma for 1s yields 2s and 1s yields 2p are obtained for a Debye-Hueckel model of the screened Coulomb interaction. Ground and excited bound wave functions are modified in the screened Coulomb potential (Debye-Hueckel model) using the Ritz variation method. The resulting atomic wave functions and their eigenenergies agree well with the numerical and high-order perturbation theory calculations for the interesting domain of the Debye length not less than 10. The Born approximation is used to describe the continuum states of the projectile electron. Plasma screening effects on the atomic electrons cannot be neglected in the high-density cases. Including these effects, the cross sections are appreciably increased for 1s yields 2s transitions and decreased for 1s yields 2p transitions.

Simulating Thin Sheets: Buckling, Wrinkling, Folding and Growth

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vetter, Roman; Stoop, Norbert; Wittel, Falk K.; Herrmann, Hans J.

2014-03-01

Numerical simulations of thin sheets undergoing large deformations are computationally challenging. Depending on the scenario, they may spontaneously buckle, wrinkle, fold, or crumple. Nature's thin tissues often experience significant anisotropic growth, which can act as the driving force for such instabilities. We use a recently developed finite element model to simulate the rich variety of nonlinear responses of Kirchhoff-Love sheets. The model uses subdivision surface shape functions in order to guarantee convergence of the method, and to allow a finite element description of anisotropically growing sheets in the classical Rayleigh-Ritz formalism. We illustrate the great potential in this approach by simulating the inflation of airbags, the buckling of a stretched cylinder, as well as the formation and scaling of wrinkles at free boundaries of growing sheets. Finally, we compare the folding of spatially confined sheets subject to growth and shrinking confinement to find that the two processes are equivalent.

Optimal Design of Grid-Stiffened Panels and Shells With Variable Curvature

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ambur, Damodar R.; Jaunky, Navin

2001-01-01

A design strategy for optimal design of composite grid-stiffened structures with variable curvature subjected to global and local buckling constraints is developed using a discrete optimizer. An improved smeared stiffener theory is used for the global buckling analysis. Local buckling of skin segments is assessed using a Rayleigh-Ritz method that accounts for material anisotropy and transverse shear flexibility. The local buckling of stiffener segments is also assessed. Design variables are the axial and transverse stiffener spacing, stiffener height and thickness, skin laminate, and stiffening configuration. Stiffening configuration is herein defined as a design variable that indicates the combination of axial, transverse and diagonal stiffeners in the stiffened panel. The design optimization process is adapted to identify the lightest-weight stiffening configuration and stiffener spacing for grid-stiffened composite panels given the overall panel dimensions. in-plane design loads, material properties. and boundary conditions of the grid-stiffened panel or shell.

Blocked Force and Loading Calculations for LaRC THUNDER Actuators

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Campbell, Joel F.

2007-01-01

An analytic approach is developed to predict the performance of LaRC Thunder actuators under load and under blocked conditions. The problem is treated with the Von Karman non-linear analysis combined with a simple Raleigh-Ritz calculation. From this, shape and displacement under load combined with voltage are calculated. A method is found to calculate the blocked force vs voltage and spring force vs distance. It is found that under certain conditions, the blocked force and displacement is almost linear with voltage. It is also found that the spring force is multivalued and has at least one bifurcation point. This bifurcation point is where the device collapses under load and locks to a different bending solution. This occurs at a particular critical load. It is shown this other bending solution has a reduced amplitude and is proportional to the original amplitude times the square of the aspect ratio.

Compressive and shear buckling analysis of metal matrix composite sandwich panels under different thermal environments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ko, William L.; Jackson, Raymond H.

1993-01-01

Combined inplane compressive and shear buckling analysis was conducted on flat rectangular sandwich panels using the Raleigh-Ritz minimum energy method with a consideration of transverse shear effect of the sandwich core. The sandwich panels were fabricated with titanium honeycomb core and laminated metal matrix composite face sheets. The results show that slightly slender (along unidirectional compressive loading axis) rectangular sandwich panels have the most desirable stiffness-to-weight ratios for aerospace structural applications; the degradation of buckling strength of sandwich panels with rising temperature is faster in shear than in compression; and the fiber orientation of the face sheets for optimum combined-load buckling strength of sandwich panels is a strong function of both loading condition and panel aspect ratio. Under the same specific weight and panel aspect ratio, a sandwich panel with metal matrix composite face sheets has much higher buckling strength than one having monolithic face sheets.

Effects of poroelastic coefficients on normal vibration modes in vocal-fold tissues.

PubMed

Tao, Chao; Liu, Xiaojun

2011-02-01

The vocal-fold tissue is treated as a transversally isotropic fluid-saturated porous material. Effects of poroelastic coefficients on eigenfrequencies and eigenmodes of the vocal-fold vibration are investigated using the Ritz method. The study demonstrates that the often-used elastic model is only a particular case of the poroelastic model with an infinite fluid-solid mass coupling parameter. The elastic model may be considered appropriate for the vocal-fold tissue when the absolute value of the fluid-solid mass coupling parameter is larger than 10(5) kg/m(3). Otherwise, the poroelastic model may be more accurate. The degree of compressibility of the vocal tissue can also been described by the poroelastic coefficients. Finally, it is revealed that the liquid and solid components in a poroelastic model could have different modal shapes when the coupling between them is weak. The mode decoupling could cause desynchronization and irregular vibration of the folds.

Study of a vibrating plate: comparison between experimental (ESPI) and analytical results

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Romero, G.; Alvarez, L.; Alanís, E.; Nallim, L.; Grossi, R.

2003-07-01

Real-time electronic speckle pattern interferometry (ESPI) was used for tuning and visualization of natural frequencies of a trapezoidal plate. The plate was excited to resonant vibration by a sinusoidal acoustical source, which provided a continuous range of audio frequencies. Fringe patterns produced during the time-average recording of the vibrating plate—corresponding to several resonant frequencies—were registered. From these interferograms, calculations of vibrational amplitudes by means of zero-order Bessel functions were performed in some particular cases. The system was also studied analytically. The analytical approach developed is based on the Rayleigh-Ritz method and on the use of non-orthogonal right triangular co-ordinates. The deflection of the plate is approximated by a set of beam characteristic orthogonal polynomials generated by using the Gram-Schmidt procedure. A high degree of correlation between computational analysis and experimental results was observed.

Women in Aerospace Awards

NASA Image and Video Library

2010-10-26

NASA Headquarters Program Planning Specialist Beth Beck speaks after being given the Women in Aerospace's Aerospace Awareness Award at the organization's annual awards ceremony and banquet held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Arlington, VA on Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2010. Four current NASA leaders and one retiree were recognized for their work by Women in Aerospace. The event celebrates women's professional excellence in aerospace and honors women who have made outstanding contributions to the aerospace community. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

A Simple Sensor Model for THUNDER Actuators

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Campbell, Joel F.; Bryant, Robert G.

2009-01-01

A quasi-static (low frequency) model is developed for THUNDER actuators configured as displacement sensors based on a simple Raleigh-Ritz technique. This model is used to calculate charge as a function of displacement. Using this and the calculated capacitance, voltage vs. displacement and voltage vs. electrical load curves are generated and compared with measurements. It is shown this model gives acceptable results and is useful for determining rough estimates of sensor output for various loads, laminate configurations and thicknesses.

An Independent Evaluation of the Engineer Proving Ground.

DTIC Science & Technology

1995-03-01

includes such prestigious hotels as the Ritz - Carlton . The Reston/Dulles corridor includes a major international airport. As such, one would expect...Development Plan 2-9 Next Steps 2-10 Chapter 3. Market Analysis of Planned EPG Land Uses 3-1 Office Space 3-1 Housing 3-10 Hotels /Motels 3-13... hotel and retail space. The proposed land use allo- cation is currently under review by Fairfax County. Table 2-1 summarizes the Army’s proposed

A new approach to flow through a region bounded by two ellipses of the same ellipticity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lal, K.; Chorlton, F.

1981-05-01

A new approach is presented to calculate steady flow of a laminar viscous incompressible fluid through a channel whose cross section is bounded by two ellipses with the same ellipticity. The Milne-Thomas approach avoids the stream function and is similar to the Rayleigh-Ritz approximation process of the calculus of variations in its first satisfying boundary conditions and then adjusting constants or multiplying functions to fit the differential equation.

An improved numerical method for the kernel density functional estimation of disperse flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smith, Timothy; Ranjan, Reetesh; Pantano, Carlos

2014-11-01

We present an improved numerical method to solve the transport equation for the one-point particle density function (pdf), which can be used to model disperse flows. The transport equation, a hyperbolic partial differential equation (PDE) with a source term, is derived from the Lagrangian equations for a dilute particle system by treating position and velocity as state-space variables. The method approximates the pdf by a discrete mixture of kernel density functions (KDFs) with space and time varying parameters and performs a global Rayleigh-Ritz like least-square minimization on the state-space of velocity. Such an approximation leads to a hyperbolic system of PDEs for the KDF parameters that cannot be written completely in conservation form. This system is solved using a numerical method that is path-consistent, according to the theory of non-conservative hyperbolic equations. The resulting formulation is a Roe-like update that utilizes the local eigensystem information of the linearized system of PDEs. We will present the formulation of the base method, its higher-order extension and further regularization to demonstrate that the method can predict statistics of disperse flows in an accurate, consistent and efficient manner. This project was funded by NSF Project NSF-DMS 1318161.

Women in Aerospace Awards

NASA Image and Video Library

2010-10-26

NASA Langley Aerospace Engineer Jill Lynette Hanna Prince receives the Women in Aerospace Achievement in Aerospace award from North Carolina State Professor Robert Tolson during the Women in Aerospace organization's annual awards ceremony and banquet held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Arlington, VA on Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2010. Four current NASA leaders and one retiree were recognized for their work by Women in Aerospace. The event celebrates women's professional excellence in aerospace and honors women who have made outstanding contributions to the aerospace community. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Women in Aerospace Awards

NASA Image and Video Library

2010-10-26

NASA's Associate Administrator of the Science Mission Directorate Dr. Edward J. Weiler presents the Women in Aerospace's Lifetime Achievement Award to retired NASA chief astronomer Nancy Grace Roman at the organization's annual awards ceremony and banquet held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Arlington, VA on Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2010. Four current NASA leaders and one retiree were recognized for their work by Women in Aerospace. The event celebrates women's professional excellence in aerospace and honors women who have made outstanding contributions to the aerospace community. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

A Study of the Geographic Origin, Education, and Experience of Hotel General Managers. RHI 590 Individual Project

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-04-01

Chicago Hilton and Towers. Among the four-star properties are those of Ritz - Carlton , Nikko, Four Seasons, and other famous properties such as the famed...COVERED April 1993 THESIS/D O_ _ 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5. FUNDING NUMBERS A Study of the Geographic Origin, Education, and Experience of Hotel General...GEOGRAPHIC ORIGIN, EDUCATION, AND EXPERIENCE OF HOTEL GENERAL MANAGERS RHI 590 INDIVIDUAL PROJECT BY: Alan Christopher Gnann April 30, 1993 PURDUE UNIVERSITY

Women in Aerospace Awards

NASA Image and Video Library

2010-10-26

NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden holds up a photograph showing four female Astronauts onboard the Space Station during his presentation at the Women in Aerospace (WIA) organization's annual awards ceremony and banquet at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Arlington, VA on Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2010. Bolden presented Women in Aerospace's Outstanding Member Award to NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver, noting her ongoing leadership and participation in Women in Aerospace and her passion and dedication to opening the high frontier of space to the everyday person. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

SREM (Software Requirements Engineering Methodology) Evaluation. Volume 2. Specifications and Technical Data.

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-02-01

and is approved for publication. APPROVED: ’"" " Project Engineer APPROVED:k 1 4 RAYMOND P. URTZ, JR. Acting Technical Director Command and Control ...Technical Director Command and Control Division FOR THE COMMANDER: JOHN A. RITZ Acting Chief, Plans Office If your address has changed or if you wish to be...179 55812203 Denver CO 80201 55812203 I. CONTROLLING OFFICE NAME AND ADDRESS 12. REPORT DATE Rome Air Development Center (COEE) February 1984 Griffiss

Quadratic Zeeman effect for hydrogen: A method for rigorous bound-state error estimates

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

Fonte, G.; Falsaperla, P.; Schiffrer, G.

1990-06-01

We present a variational method, based on direct minimization of energy, for the calculation of eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of a hydrogen atom in a strong uniform magnetic field in the framework of the nonrelativistic theory (quadratic Zeeman effect). Using semiparabolic coordinates and a harmonic-oscillator basis, we show that it is possible to give rigorous error estimates for both eigenvalues and eigenfunctions by applying some results of Kato (Proc. Phys. Soc. Jpn. 4, 334 (1949)). The method can be applied in this simple form only to the lowest level of given angular momentum and parity, but it is also possible tomore » apply it to any excited state by using the standard Rayleigh-Ritz diagonalization method. However, due to the particular basis, the method is expected to be more effective, the weaker the field and the smaller the excitation energy, while the results of Kato we have employed lead to good estimates only when the level spacing is not too small. We present a numerical application to the {ital m}{sup {ital p}}=0{sup +} ground state and the lowest {ital m}{sup {ital p}}=1{sup {minus}} excited state, giving results that are among the most accurate in the literature for magnetic fields up to about 10{sup 10} G.« less

Image denoising by a direct variational minimization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Janev, Marko; Atanacković, Teodor; Pilipović, Stevan; Obradović, Radovan

2011-12-01

In this article we introduce a novel method for the image de-noising which combines a mathematically well-posdenes of the variational modeling with the efficiency of a patch-based approach in the field of image processing. It based on a direct minimization of an energy functional containing a minimal surface regularizer that uses fractional gradient. The minimization is obtained on every predefined patch of the image, independently. By doing so, we avoid the use of an artificial time PDE model with its inherent problems of finding optimal stopping time, as well as the optimal time step. Moreover, we control the level of image smoothing on each patch (and thus on the whole image) by adapting the Lagrange multiplier using the information on the level of discontinuities on a particular patch, which we obtain by pre-processing. In order to reduce the average number of vectors in the approximation generator and still to obtain the minimal degradation, we combine a Ritz variational method for the actual minimization on a patch, and a complementary fractional variational principle. Thus, the proposed method becomes computationally feasible and applicable for practical purposes. We confirm our claims with experimental results, by comparing the proposed method with a couple of PDE-based methods, where we get significantly better denoising results specially on the oscillatory regions.

A recursive approach to the equations of motion for the maneuvering and control of flexible multi-body systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kwak, Moon K.; Meirovitch, Leonard

1991-01-01

Interest lies in a mathematical formulation capable of accommodating the problem of maneuvering a space structure consisting of a chain of articulated flexible substructures. Simultaneously, any perturbations from the 'rigid body' maneuvering and any elastic vibration must be suppressed. The equations of motion for flexible bodies undergoing rigid body motions and elastic vibrations can be obtained conveniently by means of Lagrange's equations in terms of quasi-coordinates. The advantage of this approach is that it yields equations in terms of body axes, which are the same axes that are used to express the control forces and torques. The equations of motion are nonlinear hybrid differential quations. The partial differential equations can be discretized (in space) by means of the finite element method or the classical Rayleigh-Ritz method. The result is a set of nonlinear ordinary differential equations of high order. The nonlinearity can be traced to the rigid body motions and the high order to the elastic vibration. Elastic motions tend to be small when compared with rigid body motions.

Influence of dense plasma on the energy levels and transition properties in highly charged ions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Zhan-Bin; Hu, Hong-Wei; Ma, Kun; Liu, Xiao-Bin; Guo, Xue-Ling; Li, Shuang; Zhu, Bo-Hong; Huang, Lian; Wang, Kai

2018-03-01

The studies of the influence of plasma environments on the level structures and transition properties for highly charged ions are presented. For the relativistic treatment, we implemented the multiconfiguration Dirac-Fock method incorporating the ion sphere (IS) model potential, in which the plasma screening is taken into account as a modified interaction potential between the electron and the nucleus. For the nonrelativistic treatment, analytical solutions of the Schrödinger equation with two types of the IS screened potential are proposed. The Ritz variation method is used with hydrogenic wave function as a trial wave function that contains two unknown variational parameters. Bound energies are derived from an energy equation, and the variational parameters are obtained from the minimisation condition of the expectation value of the energy. Numerical results for hydrogen-like ions in dense plasmas are presented as examples. A detailed analysis of the influence of relativistic effects on the energy levels and transition properties is also reported. Our results are compared with available results in the literature showing a good quantitative agreement.

Frequency Analysis of Wing-Rotor System Considering Flexibility in Capsule Based on High-Accurate Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Xiayang; Zhu, Ming; Zhao, Meijuan; Wu, Zhe

2018-05-01

Based on a typical wing-rotor thrust model on the airship, the dynamic influence of the gyroscopic effects from the tip rotor acting on the overall coupled system has been analyzed. Meanwhile, the flexibility at the capsule boundary has been studied, as well. Hamilton's principle is employed to derive the general governing equations and the numerical Rayleigh-Ritz method is finally chosen in actual frequency computations. A new set of shape functions are put forward and verified which take most of the couplings among dimensions into account. The parameter studies are also conducted to make deep investigations. The results demonstrate that the inherent frequencies are significantly affected by the rotor speed and the flexible capsule condition. When rotor revolves, the modal shapes have reached into complex states and the components of each mode will change with the increment of rotor speed. The flexibility will also greatly reduce the entire frequencies compared with the rigid case. It is also demonstrated that the inherent property will be significantly affected by the mounting geometry, rotor inertia, the structural stiffness, and rotor speed.

Novel modeling technique for the stator of traveling wave ultrasonic motors.

PubMed

Pons, José L; Rodríguez, Humberto; Ceres, Ramón; Calderón, Leopoldo

2003-11-01

Traveling wave ultrasonic motors (TWUM) are a promising type of piezoelectric transducers, which are based on the friction transmission of mechanical propagating waves. These waves are excited on the stator by using high Q piezoelectric ceramics. This article presents a modeling strategy, which allows for a quick and precise modal and forced analysis of the stator of TWUM. First-order shear deformation laminated plate theory is applied to annular subdomains (super-elements) of the stator. In addition to shear deformations, the model takes into account the effect of rotary inertia, the stiffness contribution of the teeth, and the linear varying thickness of the stator. Moreover, the formulation considers a more realistic function for the electric field inside the piezoelectric ceramic, i.e., a linear function, instead of the generally assumed constant electric field. The Ritz method is used to find an approximated solution for the dynamic equations. Finally, the modal response is obtained and compared against the results from classical simplified models and the finite element method. Thus, the high accuracy and short computation times of the novel strategy were demonstrated.

An alternative approach for computing seismic response with accidental eccentricity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fan, Xuanhua; Yin, Jiacong; Sun, Shuli; Chen, Pu

2014-09-01

Accidental eccentricity is a non-standard assumption for seismic design of tall buildings. Taking it into consideration requires reanalysis of seismic resistance, which requires either time consuming computation of natural vibration of eccentric structures or finding a static displacement solution by applying an approximated equivalent torsional moment for each eccentric case. This study proposes an alternative modal response spectrum analysis (MRSA) approach to calculate seismic responses with accidental eccentricity. The proposed approach, called the Rayleigh Ritz Projection-MRSA (RRP-MRSA), is developed based on MRSA and two strategies: (a) a RRP method to obtain a fast calculation of approximate modes of eccentric structures; and (b) an approach to assemble mass matrices of eccentric structures. The efficiency of RRP-MRSA is tested via engineering examples and compared with the standard MRSA (ST-MRSA) and one approximate method, i.e., the equivalent torsional moment hybrid MRSA (ETM-MRSA). Numerical results show that RRP-MRSA not only achieves almost the same precision as ST-MRSA, and is much better than ETM-MRSA, but is also more economical. Thus, RRP-MRSA can be in place of current accidental eccentricity computations in seismic design.

Modelling of a bridge-shaped nonlinear piezoelectric energy harvester

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gafforelli, G.; Xu, R.; Corigliano, A.; Kim, S. G.

2013-12-01

Piezoelectric MicroElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS) energy harvesting is an attractive technology for harvesting small magnitudes of energy from ambient vibrations. Increasing the operating frequency bandwidth of such devices is one of the major issues for real world applications. A MEMS-scale doubly clamped nonlinear beam resonator is designed and developed to demonstrate very wide bandwidth and high power density. In this paper a first complete theoretical discussion of nonlinear resonating piezoelectric energy harvesting is provided. The sectional behaviour of the beam is studied through the Classical Lamination Theory (CLT) specifically modified to introduce the piezoelectric coupling and nonlinear Green-Lagrange strain tensor. A lumped parameter model is built through Rayleigh-Ritz Method and the resulting nonlinear coupled equations are solved in the frequency domain through the Harmonic Balance Method (HBM). Finally, the influence of external load resistance on the dynamic behaviour is studied. The theoretical model shows that nonlinear resonant harvesters have much wider power bandwidth than that of linear resonators but their maximum power is still bounded by the mechanical damping as is the case for linear resonating harvesters.

Novel analytical approach for strongly coupled waveguide arrays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kohli, Niharika; Srivastava, Sangeeta; Sharma, Enakshi K.

2018-02-01

Coupled Mode theory and Variational methods are the most extensively used analytical methods for the study of coupled optical waveguides. In this paper we have discussed a variation of the Ritz Galerkin Variational method (RGVM) wherein the trial field is a superposition of an orthogonal basis set which in turn is generated from superposition of the individual waveguide modal fields using Gram Schmidt Orthogonalization Procedure (GSOP). The conventional coupled mode theory (CCMT), a modified coupled mode theory (MCMT) incorporating interaction terms that are neglected in CCMT, and an RGVM using orthogonal basis set (RG-GSOP) are compared for waveguide arrays of different materials. The exact effective indices values for these planar waveguide arrays are also studied. The different materials have their index-contrasts ranging between the GaAs/ AlGaAs system to Si/SiO2 system. It has been shown that the error in the effective indices values obtained from MCMT and CCMT is higher than RGVM-GSOP especially in the case of higher index-contrast. Therefore, for accurate calculations of the modal characteristics of planar waveguide arrays, even at higher index-contrasts, RGVM-GSOP is the best choice. Moreover, we obtain obviously orthogonal supermode fields and Hermitian matrix from RGVM-GSOP.

Free vibration of functionally graded carbon-nanotube-reinforced composite plates with cutout

PubMed Central

Mirzaei, Mostafa

2016-01-01

Summary During the past five years, it has been shown that carbon nanotubes act as an exceptional reinforcement for composites. For this reason, a large number of investigations have been devoted to analysis of fundamental, structural behavior of solid structures made of carbon-nanotube-reinforced composites (CNTRC). The present research, as an extension of the available works on the vibration analysis of CNTRC structures, examines the free vibration characteristics of plates containing a cutout that are reinforced with uniform or nonuniform distribution of carbon nanotubes. The first-order shear deformation plate theory is used to estimate the kinematics of the plate. The solution method is based on the Ritz method with Chebyshev basis polynomials. Such a solution method is suitable for arbitrary in-plane and out-of-plane boundary conditions of the plate. It is shown that through a functionally graded distribution of carbon nanotubes across the thickness of the plate, the fundamental frequency of a rectangular plate with or without a cutout may be enhanced. Furthermore, the frequencies are highly dependent on the volume fraction of carbon nanotubes and may be increased upon using more carbon nanotubes as reinforcement. PMID:27335742

Clinical Trials Update: CAPRICORN, COPERNICUS, MIRACLE, STAF, RITZ-2, RECOVER and RENAISSANCE and cachexia and cholesterol in heart failure. Highlights of the Scientific Sessions of the American College of Cardiology, 2001.

PubMed

Louis, A; Cleland, J G; Crabbe, S; Ford, S; Thackray, S; Houghton, T; Clark, A

2001-06-01

This is a synopsis of presentations made at the American College of Cardiology (ACC) in 2001 summarising recent research developments relating to heart failure. Clinical studies of particular interest to physicians with an interest in heart failure and its prevention are reviewed. The COPERNICUS trial lends further support to the use of the beta-blocker, carvedilol, in severe heart failure and the CAPRICORN trial to its use in patients with post-infarction left ventricular systolic dysfunction. The MIRACLE study reinforces the evidence from three smaller trials that cardiac resynchronisation therapy is an effective treatment for the relief of symptoms in patients with severe heart failure and cardiac dyssynchrony. The STAF trial casts further doubt on the wisdom of cardioversion as a routine strategy for the management of chronic atrial fibrillation. The RITZ-2 trial suggests that an intravenous, non-selective endothelin antagonist is effective in improving haemodynamics and symptoms and possibly in reducing morbidity in severe heart failure. Observational studies in heart failure suggest that a moderate excess of body fat and elevated blood cholesterol may be desirable in patients with heart failure, challenging the current non-evidenced-based vogue for cholesterol lowering therapy in heart failure. The RENAISSANCE and RECOVER outcome studies of etanercept, a tumour necrosis factor (TNF) receptor analogue that blocks the effect of TNF, were stopped because of lack of evidence of benefit shortly after the ACC.

Equivalent Skin Analysis of Wing Structures Using Neural Networks

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Liu, Youhua; Kapania, Rakesh K.

2000-01-01

An efficient method of modeling trapezoidal built-up wing structures is developed by coupling. in an indirect way, an Equivalent Plate Analysis (EPA) with Neural Networks (NN). Being assumed to behave like a Mindlin-plate, the wing is solved using the Ritz method with Legendre polynomials employed as the trial functions. This analysis method can be made more efficient by avoiding most of the computational effort spent on calculating contributions to the stiffness and mass matrices from each spar and rib. This is accomplished by replacing the wing inner-structure with an "equivalent" material that combines to the skin and whose properties are simulated by neural networks. The constitutive matrix, which relates the stress vector to the strain vector, and the density of the equivalent material are obtained by enforcing mass and stiffness matrix equities with rec,ard to the EPA in a least-square sense. Neural networks for the material properties are trained in terms of the design variables of the wing structure. Examples show that the present method, which can be called an Equivalent Skin Analysis (ESA) of the wing structure, is more efficient than the EPA and still fairly good results can be obtained. The present ESA is very promising to be used at the early stages of wing structure design.

Critically Evaluated Energy Levels, Spectral Lines, Transition Probabilities, and Intensities of Neutral Vanadium (V i)

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

Saloman, Edward B.; Kramida, Alexander

2017-08-01

The energy levels, observed spectral lines, and transition probabilities of the neutral vanadium atom, V i, have been compiled. Also included are values for some forbidden lines that may be of interest to the astrophysical community. Experimental Landé g -factors and leading percentage compositions for the levels are included where available, as well as wavelengths calculated from the energy levels (Ritz wavelengths). Wavelengths are reported for 3985 transitions, and 549 energy levels are determined. The observed relative intensities normalized to a common scale are provided.

The State of Western Research on Soviet Military Strategy and Policy.

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-10-01

34 Ritz - Carlton theory," which speculates about the sort of caricature untutored Soviet analysts 41 might form of the American "threat" were they to be...was that offered some years ago by the late Senator Henry Jackson, who likened the USSR to a hotel thief prowling the hallways in search of unlocked...when it took me over an hour to pay my hotel bill--to people who wanted my money! 2 ’After the event, Brezhnev recounted that one major concern among the

A curved electrode electrostatic actuator designed for large displacement and force in an underwater environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Preetham, B. S.; Lake, Melinda A.; Hoelzle, David J.

2017-09-01

There is a need for the development of large displacement (O (10-6) m) and force (O (10-6) N) electrostatic actuators with low actuation voltages (<  ±8 V) for underwater bio-MEMS applications. In this paper, we present the design, fabrication, and characterization of a curved electrode electrostatic actuator in a clamped-clamped beam configuration meant to operate in an underwater environment. Our curved electrode actuator is unique in that it operates in a stable manner past the pull-in instability. Models based on the Rayleigh-Ritz method accurately predict the onset of static instability and the displacement versus voltage function, as validated by quasistatic experiments. We demonstrate that the actuator is capable of achieving a large peak-to-peak displacement of 19.5 µm and force of 43 µN for a low actuation voltage of less than  ±8 V and is thus appropriate for underwater bio-MEMS applications.

Determination of elastic constants of a generally orthotropic plate by modal analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lai, T. C.; Lau, T. C.

1993-01-01

This paper describes a method of finding the elastic constants of a generally orthotropic composite thin plate through modal analysis based on a Rayleigh-Ritz formulation. The natural frequencies and mode shapes for a plate with free-free boundary conditions are obtained with chirp excitation. Based on the eigenvalue equation and the constitutive equations of the plate, an iteration scheme is derived using the experimentally determined natural frequencies to arrive at a set of converged values for the elastic constants. Four sets of experimental data are required for the four independent constants: namely the two Young's moduli E1 and E2, the in-plane shear modulus G12, and one Poisson's ratio nu12. The other Poisson's ratio nu21 can then be determined from the relationship among the constants. Comparison with static test results indicate good agreement. Choosing the right combinations of natural modes together with a set of reasonable initial estimates for the constants to start the iteration has been found to be crucial in achieving convergence.

Mechanical and thermal buckling analysis of sandwich panels under different edge conditions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ko, William L.

1993-01-01

By using the Rayleigh-Ritz method of minimizing the total potential energy of a structural system, combined load (mechanical or thermal load) buckling equations are established for orthotropic rectangular sandwich panels supported under four different edge conditions. Two-dimensional buckling interaction curves and three dimensional buckling interaction surfaces are constructed for high-temperature honeycomb-core sandwich panels supported under four different edge conditions. The interaction surfaces provide easy comparison of the panel buckling strengths and the domains of symmetrical and antisymmetrical buckling associated with the different edge conditions. Thermal buckling curves of the sandwich panels also are presented. The thermal buckling conditions for the cases with and without thermal moments were found to be identical for the small deformation theory. In sandwich panels, the effect of transverse shear is quite large, and by neglecting the transverse shear effect, the buckling loads could be overpredicted considerably. Clamping of the edges could greatly increase buckling strength more in compression than in shear.

Nonlinear Aeroelastic Analysis of the HIAD TPS Coupon in the NASA 8' High Temperature Tunnel: Theory and Experiment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Goldman, Benjamin D.; Scott, Robert C,; Dowell, Earl H.

2014-01-01

The purpose of this work is to develop a set of theoretical and experimental techniques to characterize the aeroelasticity of the thermal protection system (TPS) on the NASA Hypersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator (HIAD). A square TPS coupon experiences trailing edge oscillatory behavior during experimental testing in the 8' High Temperature Tunnel (HTT), which may indicate the presence of aeroelastic flutter. Several theoretical aeroelastic models have been developed, each corresponding to a different experimental test configuration. Von Karman large deflection theory is used for the plate-like components of the TPS, along with piston theory for the aerodynamics. The constraints between the individual TPS layers and the presence of a unidirectional foundation at the back of the coupon are included by developing the necessary energy expressions and using the Rayleigh Ritz method to derive the nonlinear equations of motion. Free vibrations and limit cycle oscillations are computed and the frequencies and amplitudes are compared with accelerometer and photogrammetry data from the experiments.

Studies of plant colonisation by closely related Bacillus amyloliquefaciens biocontrol agents using strain specific quantitative PCR assays.

PubMed

Johansson, Anna H; Bejai, Sarosh; Niazi, Adnan; Manzoor, Shahid; Bongcam-Rudloff, Erik; Meijer, Johan

2014-12-01

Certain strains of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens can colonize plants and improve growth and stress management. In order to study these effects, bacterial growth dynamics on plants and in the rhizosphere are of interest calling for specific analytical tools. For that purpose, quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assays were developed in order to differentiate among three closely related B. amyloliquefaciens subsp. plantarum strains (UCMB5033, UCMB5036, UCMB5113) and to determine their levels with high accuracy. Oligonucleotide primers were designed for strain unique gene sequences and used for SYBR green based qPCR analysis. Standard curves covered a wide linear range (10(6)) of DNA amounts with the lowest detection level at 50 fg. Post-reaction melting curve analysis showed only a single product. Accurate threshold cycles were obtained, even in the presence of high excess of related Bacillus strains and total bacterial DNA from soil. Analysis of Bacillus colonisation after seed treatment of two oilseed rape cultivars (Oase and Ritz) grown on agar support showed a time dependent effect but that the bacteria mostly were found on root tissues and little on green tissues. The colonisation on plants grown in soil varied among the Bacillus strains where Oase seemed to house more bacteria than Ritz. Applied as a mixture, all three Bacillus strains co-existed on the roots of plants grown in soil. The qPCR assay in combination with other techniques will be a powerful tool to study plant interactions of these B. amyloliquefaciens biocontrol agents to further understand the requirements for successful interactions and improvement of plant properties.

High-resolution synchrotron-based Fourier transform spectroscopy of [image omitted] in the 120-350 cm-1 far-infrared region

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moruzzi, G.; Murphy, R. J.; Lees, R. M.; Predoi-Cross, A.; Billinghurst, B. E.

2010-09-01

The Fourier transform spectrum of the ? isotopologue of methanol has been recorded in the 120-350 cm-1 far-infrared region at a resolution of 0.00096 cm-1 using synchrotron source radiation at the Canadian Light Source. The study, motivated by astrophysical applications, is aimed at generating a sufficiently accurate set of energy level term values for the ground vibrational state to allow prediction of the centres of the quadrupole hyperfine multiplets for astronomically observable sub-millimetre transitions to within an uncertainty of a few MHz. To expedite transition identification, a new function was added to the Ritz program in which predicted spectral line positions were generated by an adjustable interpolation between the known assignments for the ? and ? isotopologues. By displaying the predictions along with the experimental spectrum on the computer monitor and adjusting the predictions to match observed features, rapid assignment of numerous ? sub-bands was possible. The least squares function of the Ritz program was then used to generate term values for the identified levels. For each torsion-K-rotation substate, the term values were fitted to a Taylor-series expansion in powers of J(J + 1) to determine the substate origin energy and effective B-value. In this first phase of the study we did not attempt a full global fit to the assigned transitions, but instead fitted the sub-band J-independent origins to a restricted Hamiltonian containing the principal torsional and K-dependent terms. These included structural and torsional potential parameters plus quartic distortional and torsion-rotation interaction terms.

Dynamic behaviour of a rotating cracked beam

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yashar, Ahmed; Ghandchi-Tehrani, Maryam; Ferguson, Neil

2016-09-01

This paper presents a new approach to investigate and analyse the vibrational behaviour of cracked rotating cantilever beams, which can for example represent helicopter or wind turbine blades. The analytical Hamiltonian method is used in modelling the rotating beam and two numerical methods, the Rayleigh-Ritz and FEM, are used to study the natural frequencies and the mode shapes of the intact rotating beams. Subsequently, a crack is introduced into the FE model and simulations are performed to identify the modal characteristics for an open cracked rotating beam. The effect of various parameters such as non-dimensional rotating speed, hub ratio and slenderness ratio are investigated for both the intact and the cracked rotating beam, and in both directions of chordwise and flapwise motion. The veering phenomena in the natural frequencies as a function of the rotational speed and the buckling speed are considered with respect to the slenderness ratio. In addition, the mode shapes obtained for the flapwise vibration are compared using the modal assurance criterion (MAC). Finally, a new three dimensional design chart is produced, showing the effect of crack location and depth on the natural frequencies of the rotating beam. This chart will be subsequently important in identifying crack defects in rotating blades.

Dynamic response and stability of a gas-lubricated Rayleigh-step pad

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cheng, C.; Cheng, H. S.

1973-01-01

The quasi-static, pressure characteristics of a gas-lubricated thrust bearing with shrouded, Rayleigh-step pads are determined for a time-varying film thickness. The axial response of the thrust bearing to an axial forcing function or an axial rotor disturbance is investigated by treating the gas film as a spring having nonlinear restoring and damping forces. These forces are related to the film thickness by a power relation. The nonlinear equation of motion in the axial mode is solved by the Ritz-Galerkin method as well as the direct, numerical integration. Results of the nonlinear response by both methods are compared with the response based on the linearized equation. Further, the gas-film instability of an infinitely wide Rayleigh step thrust pad is determined by solving the transient Reynolds equation coupled with the equation of the motion of the pad. Results show that the Rayleigh-step geometry is very stable for bearing number A up to 50. The stability threshold is shown to exist only for ultrahigh values of Lambda equal to or greater than 100, where the stability can be achieved by making the mass heavier than the critical mass.

The coupling effects of kinematics and flexibility on the Lagrangian dynamic formulation of open chain deformable links

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Changizi, Koorosh

1989-01-01

A nonlinear Lagrangian formulation for the spatial kinematic and dynamic analysis of open chain deformable links consisting of cylindrical joints that connect pairs of flexible links is developed. The special cases of revolute or prismatic joint can also be obtained from the kinematic equations. The kinematic equations are described using a 4x4 matrix method. The configuration of each deformable link in the open loop kinematic chain is identified using a coupled set of relative joint variables, constant geometric parameters, and elastic coordinates. The elastic coordinates define the link deformation with respect to a selected joint coordinate system that is consistent with the kinematic constraints on the boundary of the deformable link. These coordinates can be introduced using approximation techniques such as Rayleigh-Ritz method, finite element technique or any other desired approach. The large relative motion between two neighboring links are defined by a set of joint coordinates which describes the large relative translational and rotational motion between two neighboring joint coordinate systems. The origin of these coordinate systems are rigidly attached to the neighboring links at the joint definition points along the axis of motion.

Nonlinear oscillator with power-form elastic-term: Fourier series expansion of the exact solution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beléndez, Augusto; Francés, Jorge; Beléndez, Tarsicio; Bleda, Sergio; Pascual, Carolina; Arribas, Enrique

2015-05-01

A family of conservative, truly nonlinear, oscillators with integer or non-integer order nonlinearity is considered. These oscillators have only one odd power-form elastic-term and exact expressions for their period and solution were found in terms of Gamma functions and a cosine-Ateb function, respectively. Only for a few values of the order of nonlinearity, is it possible to obtain the periodic solution in terms of more common functions. However, for this family of conservative truly nonlinear oscillators we show in this paper that it is possible to obtain the Fourier series expansion of the exact solution, even though this exact solution is unknown. The coefficients of the Fourier series expansion of the exact solution are obtained as an integral expression in which a regularized incomplete Beta function appears. These coefficients are a function of the order of nonlinearity only and are computed numerically. One application of this technique is to compare the amplitudes for the different harmonics of the solution obtained using approximate methods with the exact ones computed numerically as shown in this paper. As an example, the approximate amplitudes obtained via a modified Ritz method are compared with the exact ones computed numerically.

Symbolic manipulation techniques for vibration analysis of laminated elliptic plates

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Andersen, C. M.; Noor, A. K.

1977-01-01

A computational scheme is presented for the free vibration analysis of laminated composite elliptic plates. The scheme is based on Hamilton's principle, the Rayleigh-Ritz technique and symmetry considerations and is implemented with the aid of the MACSYMA symbolic manipulation system. The MACYSMA system, through differentiation, integration, and simplification of analytic expressions, produces highly-efficient FORTRAN code for the evaluation of the stiffness and mass coefficients. Multiple use is made of this code to obtain not only the frequencies and mode shapes of the plate, but also the derivatives of the frequencies with respect to various material and geometric parameters.

Wavelengths and intensities of a platinum/neon hollow cathode lamp in the region 1100-4000 A

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Reader, Joseph; Acquista, Nicolo; Sansonetti, Craig J.; Sansonetti, Jean E.

1990-01-01

The spectrum of a platinum hollow cathode lamp containing neon carrier gas was recorded photographically and photoelectrically with a 10.7 m normal-incidence vacuum spectrograph. Wavelengths and intensities were determined for about 3000 lines in the region 1100-4000 A. The uncertainty of the measured wavelengths is estimated to be + or - 0.0020 A. Ritz-type wavelengths are given for about 550 classified lines of Pt II with uncertainites varying from + or - 0.0004 A to + or - 0.0025 A. The uncertainty of the relative intensities is estimated to be about 20 percent.

Buckling Analysis of Anisotropic Curved Panels and Shells with Variable Curvature

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jaunky, Navin; Knight, Norman F., Jr.; Ambur, Damodar R.

1998-01-01

A buckling formulation for anisotropic curved panels with variable curvature is presented in this paper. The variable curvature panel is assumed to consists of two or more panels of constant but different curvatures. Bezier functions are used as Ritz functions Displacement (C(sup 0)), and slope (C(sup 1)) continuities between segments are imposed by manipulation of the Bezier control points. A first-order shear-deformation theory is used in the buckling formulation. Results obtained from the present formulation are compared with those from finite element simulations and are found to be in good agreement.

Thermal stresses in composite tubes using complementary virtual work

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hyer, M. W.; Cooper, D. E.

1988-01-01

This paper addresses the computation of thermally induced stresses in layered, fiber-reinforced composite tubes subjected to a circumferential gradient. The paper focuses on using the principle of complementary virtual work, in conjunction with a Ritz approximation to the stress field, to study the influence on the predicted stresses of including temperature-dependent material properties. Results indicate that the computed values of stress are sensitive to the temperature dependence of the matrix-direction compliance and matrix-direction thermal expansion in the plane of the lamina. There is less sensitivity to the temperature dependence of the other material properties.

Fast calculation of the `ILC norm' in iterative learning control

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rice, Justin K.; van Wingerden, Jan-Willem

2013-06-01

In this paper, we discuss and demonstrate a method for the exploitation of matrix structure in computations for iterative learning control (ILC). In Barton, Bristow, and Alleyne [International Journal of Control, 83(2), 1-8 (2010)], a special insight into the structure of the lifted convolution matrices involved in ILC is used along with a modified Lanczos method to achieve very fast computational bounds on the learning convergence, by calculating the 'ILC norm' in ? computational complexity. In this paper, we show how their method is equivalent to a special instance of the sequentially semi-separable (SSS) matrix arithmetic, and thus can be extended to many other computations in ILC, and specialised in some cases to even faster methods. Our SSS-based methodology will be demonstrated on two examples: a linear time-varying example resulting in the same ? complexity as in Barton et al., and a linear time-invariant example where our approach reduces the computational complexity to ?, thus decreasing the computation time, for an example, from the literature by a factor of almost 100. This improvement is achieved by transforming the norm computation via a linear matrix inequality into a check of positive definiteness - which allows us to further exploit the almost-Toeplitz properties of the matrix, and additionally provides explicit upper and lower bounds on the norm of the matrix, instead of the indirect Ritz estimate. These methods are now implemented in a MATLAB toolbox, freely available on the Internet.

Vibration and buckling of rotating, pretwisted, preconed beams including Coriolis effects

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Subrahmanyam, K. B.; Kaza, K. R. V.

1985-01-01

The effects of pretwist, precone, setting angle and Coriolis forces on the vibration and buckling behavior of rotating, torsionally rigid, cantilevered beams were studied. The beam is considered to be clamped on the axis of rotation in one case, and off the axis of rotation in the other. Two methods are employed for the solution of the vibration problem: (1) one based upon a finite-difference approach using second order central differences for solution of the equations of motion, and (2) based upon the minimum of the total potential energy functional with a Ritz type of solution procedure making use of complex forms of shape functions for the dependent variables. The individual and collective effects of pretwist, precone, setting angle, thickness ratio and Coriolis forces on the natural frequencies and the buckling boundaries are presented. It is shown that the inclusion of Coriolis effects is necessary for blades of moderate to large thickness ratios while these effects are not so important for small thickness ratio blades. The possibility of buckling due to centrifugal softening terms for large values of precone and rotation is shown.

Vibration and buckling of rotating, pretwisted, preconed beams including Cooriolis effects

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Subrahmanyam, K. B.; Kaza, K. R. V.

1985-01-01

The effects of pretwist, precone, setting angle and Coriolis forces on the vibration and buckling behavior of rotating, torsionally rigid, cantilevered beams were studied. The beam is considered to be clamped on the axis of rotation in one case, and off the axis of rotation in the other. Two methods are employed for the solution of the vibration problem: (1) one based upon a finite-difference approach using second order central differences for solution of the equations of motion, and (2) based upon the minimum of the total potential energy functional with a Ritz type of solution procedure making use of complex forms of shape functions for the dependent variables. The individual and collective effects of pretwist, precone, setting angle, thickness ratio and Coriolis forces on the natural frequencies and the buckling boundaries are presented. It is shown that the inclusion of Coriolis effects is necessary for blades of moderate to large thickness ratios while these effects are not so important for small thickness ratio blades. The possibility of buckling due to centrifugal softening terms for large values of precone and rotation is shown.

Wrinkling of flexoelectric nano-film/substrate systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Su, Shengkai; Huang, Huaiwei; Liu, Yijie; Zhu, Zheng H.

2018-02-01

The study of wrinkling mechanisms essentially helps to establish stable and controllable performance in electronic products. To gain some basic understanding of the wrinkling process in flexoelectric dielectrics, this paper models the wrinkling of nano-film/substrate systems, typically seen in stretchable electronics, subjected to substrate prestrain and voltage loading on electrodes. Flexoelectricity is considered through the constitutive equations proposed by Shen and Hu, and Euler-Bernoulli beam theory is applied to formulate the expressions of wrinkling wavelength and amplitude through the Ritz method. The effects of flexoelectricity, surface parameters, prestrain, applied voltage, structural scale etc on wrinkling behaviors, including wrinkling deformation and the wrinkling critical condition, are discussed. Results reveal that the action of both flexoelectric and surface effects is significant over only a small scale range, with film thickness less than 10 nm. Alongside these issues, the fundamental difference between flexoelectric and piezoelectric effects on wrinkling behaviors is highlighted. Piezoelectricity may act as a promoter or suppressor of wrinkling initiation and amplitude, depending on the applied voltage, while flexoelectricity not only reduces the critical prestrain or voltage required for wrinkling, but also decreases the wrinkling wavelength and amplitude.

Relativistic corrections to the ground state of H2 calculated without using the Born-Oppenheimer approximation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, L. M.; Yan, Z.-C.

2018-06-01

The Schrödinger equation for the ground state of the hydrogen molecule H2 is solved by applying the Rayleigh-Ritz variational method in Hylleraas coordinates without using the Born-Oppenheimer approximation. The nonrelativistic energy eigenvalue is converged to -1.164 025 030 880 (7 ) atomic units. The leading-order relativistic corrections, including the mass-velocity, Darwin, orbit-orbit, spin-spin, and relativistic recoil terms, are evaluated perturbatively. Together with the higher-order relativistic and quantum electrodynamic corrections obtained by Puchalski et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 117, 263002 (2016), 10.1103/PhysRevLett.117.263002], we determine the dissociation energy of the hydrogen molecule, D0=36 118.069 71 (33 ) cm-1 , which agrees with the two recent experimental results of Liu et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 130, 174306 (2009), 10.1063/1.3120443], 36 118.069 62 (37 ) cm-1 , and Altmann et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 120, 043204 (2018), 10.1103/PhysRevLett.120.043204], 36 118.069 45 (31 ) cm-1 .

Sound radiation modes of cylindrical surfaces and their application to vibro-acoustics analysis of cylindrical shells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Yao; Yang, Tiejun; Chen, Yuehua

2018-06-01

In this paper, sound radiation modes of baffled cylinders have been derived by constructing the radiation resistance matrix analytically. By examining the characteristics of sound radiation modes, it is found that radiation coefficient of each radiation mode increases gradually with the increase of frequency while modal shapes of sound radiation modes of cylindrical shells show a weak dependence upon frequency. Based on understandings on sound radiation modes, vibro-acoustics behaviors of cylindrical shells have been analyzed. The vibration responses of cylindrical shells are described by modified Fourier series expansions and solved by Rayleigh-Ritz method involving Flügge shell theory. Then radiation efficiency of a resonance has been determined by examining whether the vibration pattern is in correspondence with a sound radiation mode possessing great radiation efficiency. Furthermore, effects of thickness and boundary conditions on sound radiation of cylindrical shells have been investigated. It is found that radiation efficiency of thicker shells is greater than thinner shells while shells with a clamped boundary constraint radiate sound more efficiently than simply supported shells under thin shell assumption.

Vibration sensitivity of the scanning near-field optical microscope with a tapered optical fiber probe.

PubMed

Chang, Win-Jin; Fang, Te-Hua; Lee, Haw-Long; Yang, Yu-Ching

2005-01-01

In this paper the Rayleigh-Ritz method was used to study the scanning near-field optical microscope (SNOM) with a tapered optical fiber probe's flexural and axial sensitivity to vibration. Not only the contact stiffness but also the geometric parameters of the probe can influence the flexural and axial sensitivity to vibration. According to the analysis, the lateral and axial contact stiffness had a significant effect on the sensitivity of vibration of the SNOM's probe, each mode had a different level of sensitivity and in the first mode the tapered optical fiber probe was the most acceptive to higher levels of flexural and axial vibration. Generally, when the contact stiffness was lower, the tapered probe was more sensitive to higher levels of both axial and flexural vibration than the uniform probe. However, the situation was reversed when the contact stiffness was larger. Furthermore, the effect that the probe's length and its tapered angle had on the SNOM's probe axial and flexural vibration were significant and these two conditions should be incorporated into the design of new SNOM probes.

Computerized symbolic manipulation in structural mechanics Progress and potential

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Noor, A. K.; Andersen, C. M.

1978-01-01

Status and recent applications of computerized symbolic manipulation to structural mechanics problems are summarized. The applications discussed include; (1) generation of characteristic arrays of finite elements; (2) evaluation of effective stiffness and mass coefficients of continuum models for repetitive lattice structures; and (3) application of Rayleigh-Ritz technique to free vibration analysis of laminated composite elliptic plates. The major advantages of using computerized symbolic manipulation in each of these applications are outlined. A number of problem areas which limit the realization of the full potential of computerized symbolic manipulation in structural mechanics are examined and some of the means of alleviating them are discussed.

On an integro-differential equation model for the study of the response of an acoustically coupled panel

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yen, D. H. Y.; Maestrello, L.; Padula, S.

1975-01-01

The response of a clamped panel to supersonically convected turbulence is considered. A theoretical model in the form of an integro-differential equation is employed that takes into account the coupling between the panel motion and the surrounding acoustic medium. The kernels of the integrals, which represent induced pressures due to the panel motion, are Green's functions for sound radiations under various moving and stationary sources. An approximate analysis is made by following a finite-element Ritz-Galerkin procedure. Preliminary numerical results, in agreement with experimental findings, indicate that the acoustic damping is the controlling mechanism of the response.

Projection-operator calculations of the lowest e(-)-He resonance

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Berk, A.; Bhatia, A. K.; Junker, B. R.; Temkin, A.

1986-01-01

The 1s (2s)2:2S Schulz resonance of He(-) is investigated theoretically, applying the full projection-operator formalism developed by Temkin and Bhatia (1985) in a Rayleigh-Ritz variational calculation. The technique is described in detail, and results for five different approximations of the He target state are presented in a table. Good convergence is obtained, but it is found that even the best calculated value of the resonance is about 130 meV higher than the experimentally measured value of 19.367 + or - 0.007 eV (Brunt et al., 1977), a discrepancy attributed to the contribution of the shift in the Feshbach formalism.

AGU honored for Antarctic book

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

AGU has won an honorable mention award at the Fifteenth Annual Awards Program for Excellence in Professional and Scholarly Publishing sponsored by the Association of American Publishers for the book Volcanoes of the Antarctic Plate and Southern Oceans. The book is part of AGU's Antarctic Research Series, an outgrowth of research done during the International Geophysical Year that was begun in 1963 with a grant from the National Science Foundation. The award was presented at the AAP Annual Awards Dinner on February 6 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Washington, D.C. The award consists of a medallion and a plate on which the names of the publisher, title, and authors are engraved.

Shape optimization of electrostatically driven microcantilevers using simulated annealing to enhance static travel range

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Trivedi, R. R.; Joglekar, M. M.; Shimpi, R. P.; Pawaskar, D. N.

2013-12-01

The objective of this paper is to present a systematic development of the generic shape optimization of elec- trostatically actuated microcantilever beams for extending their static travel range. Electrostatic actuators are widely used in micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) devices because of low power density and ease of fab- rication. However, their useful travel range is often restricted by a phenomenon known as pull-in instability. The Rayleigh- Ritz energy method is used for computation of pull-in parameters which includes electrostatic potential and fringing field effect. Appropriate width function and linear thickness functions are employed along the length of the non-prismatic beam to achieve enhanced travel range. Parameters used for varying the thick- ness and width functions are optimized using simulated annealing with pattern search method towards the end to refine the results. Appropriate penalties are imposed on the violation of volume, width, thickness and area constraints. Nine test cases are considered for demonstration of the said optimization method. Our results indicate that around 26% increase in the travel range of a non-prismatic beam can be achieved after optimiza- tion compared to that in a prismatic beam having the same volume. Our results also show an improvement in the pull-in displacement of around 5% compared to that of a variable width constant thickness actuator. We show that simulated annealing is an effective and flexible method to carry out design optimization of structural elements under electrostatic loading.

A robust component mode synthesis method for stochastic damped vibroacoustics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tran, Quang Hung; Ouisse, Morvan; Bouhaddi, Noureddine

2010-01-01

In order to reduce vibrations or sound levels in industrial vibroacoustic problems, the low-cost and efficient way consists in introducing visco- and poro-elastic materials either on the structure or on cavity walls. Depending on the frequency range of interest, several numerical approaches can be used to estimate the behavior of the coupled problem. In the context of low frequency applications related to acoustic cavities with surrounding vibrating structures, the finite elements method (FEM) is one of the most efficient techniques. Nevertheless, industrial problems lead to large FE models which are time-consuming in updating or optimization processes. A classical way to reduce calculation time is the component mode synthesis (CMS) method, whose classical formulation is not always efficient to predict dynamical behavior of structures including visco-elastic and/or poro-elastic patches. Then, to ensure an efficient prediction, the fluid and structural bases used for the model reduction need to be updated as a result of changes in a parametric optimization procedure. For complex models, this leads to prohibitive numerical costs in the optimization phase or for management and propagation of uncertainties in the stochastic vibroacoustic problem. In this paper, the formulation of an alternative CMS method is proposed and compared to classical ( u, p) CMS method: the Ritz basis is completed with static residuals associated to visco-elastic and poro-elastic behaviors. This basis is also enriched by the static response of residual forces due to structural modifications, resulting in a so-called robust basis, also adapted to Monte Carlo simulations for uncertainties propagation using reduced models.

The eigenfrequency spectrum of linear magnetohydrodynamic perturbations in stationary equilibria: A variational principle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Andries, Jesse

2010-11-01

The frequencies of the normal modes of oscillation of linear magnetohydrodynamic perturbations of a stationary equilibrium are related to the stationary points of a quadratic functional over the Hilbert space of Lagrangian displacement vectors, which is subject to a constraint. In the absence of a background flow (or of a uniform flow), the relation reduces to the well-known Rayleigh-Ritz variational principle. In contrast to the existing variational principles for perturbations of stationary equilibria, the present treatment does neither impose additional symmetry restrictions on the equilibrium, nor does it involve the generalization to bilinear functionals instead of quadratic forms. This allows a more natural interpretation of the quadratic forms as energy functionals.

Identifying traction-separation behavior of self-adhesive polymeric films from in situ digital images under T-peeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nase, Michael; Rennert, Mirko; Naumenko, Konstantin; Eremeyev, Victor A.

2016-06-01

In this paper procedures are developed to identify traction-separation curves from digital images of the deformed flexible films during peeling. T-peel tests were performed for self-adhesive polymeric films. High quality photographs of the deformed shape within and outside the zone of adhesive interaction were made in situ by the digital light microscope. The deformed line is approximated by a power series with coefficients computed by minimizing a least squares functional. Two approaches to identify the traction-separation curve for the given deformation line are proposed. The first one is based on the energy integral of the non-linear theory of rods and allows the direct evaluation of the adhesion force potential. The second one utilizes the complementary energy type variational equation and the Ritz method to compute the adhesion force. The accuracy of both approaches is analyzed with respect to different approximations for the deformed line and the force of interaction. The obtained traction vs. axial coordinate and the traction-separation curves provide several properties of the adhesive system including the maximum adhesion force, the length of the adhesive zone and the equilibrium position, where the adhesive force is zero while the separation is positive.

Modeling and design of a capacitive microwave power sensor for X-band applications based on GaAs technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cui, Yan; Liao, Xiaoping

2012-05-01

In the work, modeling and design of a capacitive microwave power sensor employing the MEMS plate with clamped-clamped and free-free edges are presented. A novel analytical model of the sensor is established in detail. Through the function of mode shapes presented, the natural frequency can be solved by the Rayleigh-Ritz method. And based on the generalized coordinate introduced, the displacement of the plate with the irradiation of microwave power can be solved. Furthermore, the sensitivity for the power is also derived. Then the detailed consideration of the design and simulation of the microwave characteristic of the sensor are also presented. The linearly graded ground planar in the coplanar waveguide is employed to avoid step discontinuity. The fabrication process is compatible with GaAs MMIC technology completely, also described in detail. The measurement of the proposed sensor indicates a sensitivity of 7.2 fF W-1 and superior return and insertion losses (S11 and S21), less than -22.16 dB and -0.25 dB, respectively, up to 12 GHz, suggesting that it can be available for microwave power detecting in the X-band frequency range.

Dynamics and control of high precision magnetically levitated vibration isolation systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Youcef-Toumi, K.; Yeh, T-J.

1992-01-01

Vibration control of flexible structures has received a great deal of interest in recent years. Several authors have investigated this topic in the areas of robot manipulators, space structures, and flexible rotors. Key issues associated with the dynamics and control of vibration isolation systems are addressed. Among other important issues to consider in the control of such systems, the location and number of actuators and sensors are essential to effectively control and suppress vibration. We first address the selection of proper actuator and sensor locations leading to a controllable and observable system. The Rayleigh-Ritz modal analysis method is used to develop a lumped-parameter model of a flexible vibration isolation table top. This model is then used to investigate the system's controllability and observability including the coupling effects introduced by the magnetic bearing. This analysis results in necessary and sufficient conditions for proper selection of actuator and sensor locations. These locations are also important for both controller system's complexity and stability of point of views. A favorable pole-zero plot of the open loop transfer functions is presented. Necessary and sufficient conditions for reducing the controller complexity are derived. The results are illustrated by examples using approximate mode shape functions.

Traction-free vibrations of finite trigonal elastic cylinders.

PubMed

Heyliger, Paul R; Johnson, Ward L

2003-04-01

The unrestrained, traction-free vibrations of finite elastic cylinders with trigonal material symmetry are studied using two approaches, based on the Ritz method, which formulate the weak form of the equations of motion in cylindrical and rectangular coordinates. Elements of group theory are used to divide approximation functions into orthogonal subsets, thus reducing the size of the computational problem and classifying the general symmetries of the vibrational modes. Results for the special case of an isotropic cylinder are presented and compared with values published by other researchers. For the isotropic case, the relative accuracy of the formulations in cylindrical and rectangular coordinates can be evaluated, because exact analytical solutions are known for the torsional modes. The calculation in cylindrical coordinates is found to be more accurate for a given number of terms in the series approximation functions. For a representative trigonal material, langatate, calculations of the resonant frequencies and the sensitivity of the frequencies on each of the elastic constants are presented. The dependence on geometry (ratio of length to diameter) is briefly explored. The special case of a transversely isotropic cylinder (with the elastic stiffness C14 equal to zero) is also considered.

Size-dependent axisymmetric vibration of functionally graded circular plates in bifurcation/limit point instability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ashoori, A. R.; Vanini, S. A. Sadough; Salari, E.

2017-04-01

In the present paper, vibration behavior of size-dependent functionally graded (FG) circular microplates subjected to thermal loading are carried out in pre/post-buckling of bifurcation/limit-load instability for the first time. Two kinds of frequently used thermal loading, i.e., uniform temperature rise and heat conduction across the thickness direction are considered. Thermo-mechanical material properties of FG plate are supposed to vary smoothly and continuously throughout the thickness based on power law model. Modified couple stress theory is exploited to describe the size dependency of microplate. The nonlinear governing equations of motion and associated boundary conditions are extracted through generalized form of Hamilton's principle and von-Karman geometric nonlinearity for the vibration analysis of circular FG plates including size effects. Ritz finite element method is then employed to construct the matrix representation of governing equations which are solved by two different strategies including Newton-Raphson scheme and cylindrical arc-length method. Moreover, in the following a parametric study is accompanied to examine the effects of the several parameters such as material length scale parameter, temperature distributions, type of buckling, thickness to radius ratio, boundary conditions and power law index on the dimensionless frequency of post-buckled/snapped size-dependent FG plates in detail. It is found that the material length scale parameter and thermal loading have a significant effect on vibration characteristics of size-dependent circular FG plates.

Hamiltonian lattice field theory: Computer calculations using variational methods

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

Zako, Robert L.

1991-12-03

I develop a variational method for systematic numerical computation of physical quantities -- bound state energies and scattering amplitudes -- in quantum field theory. An infinite-volume, continuum theory is approximated by a theory on a finite spatial lattice, which is amenable to numerical computation. I present an algorithm for computing approximate energy eigenvalues and eigenstates in the lattice theory and for bounding the resulting errors. I also show how to select basis states and choose variational parameters in order to minimize errors. The algorithm is based on the Rayleigh-Ritz principle and Kato`s generalizations of Temple`s formula. The algorithm could bemore » adapted to systems such as atoms and molecules. I show how to compute Green`s functions from energy eigenvalues and eigenstates in the lattice theory, and relate these to physical (renormalized) coupling constants, bound state energies and Green`s functions. Thus one can compute approximate physical quantities in a lattice theory that approximates a quantum field theory with specified physical coupling constants. I discuss the errors in both approximations. In principle, the errors can be made arbitrarily small by increasing the size of the lattice, decreasing the lattice spacing and computing sufficiently long. Unfortunately, I do not understand the infinite-volume and continuum limits well enough to quantify errors due to the lattice approximation. Thus the method is currently incomplete. I apply the method to real scalar field theories using a Fock basis of free particle states. All needed quantities can be calculated efficiently with this basis. The generalization to more complicated theories is straightforward. I describe a computer implementation of the method and present numerical results for simple quantum mechanical systems.« less

Norm-Optimal ILC Applied to a High-Speed Rack Feeder

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schindele, Dominik; Aschemann, Harald; Ritzke, Jöran

2010-09-01

Rack feeders as automated conveying systems for high bay rackings are of high practical importance. To shorten the transport times by using trajectories with increased kinematic values accompanying control measures for a reduction of the excited structural vibrations are necessary. In this contribution, the model-based design of a norm-optimal iterative learning control structure is presented. The rack feeder is modelled as an elastic multibody system. For the mathematical description of the bending deflections a Ritz ansatz is introduced. The tracking control design is performed separately for both axes using decentralised state space representations. Both the achievable performance and the resulting tracking accuracy of the proposed control concept are shown by measurement results from the experimental set-up.

Precise energy eigenvalues of hydrogen-like ion moving in quantum plasmas

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

Dutta, S.; Saha, Jayanta K.; Mukherjee, T. K.

2015-06-15

The analytic form of the electrostatic potential felt by a slowly moving test charge in quantum plasma is developed. It has been shown that the electrostatic potential is composed of two parts: the Debye-Huckel screening term and the near-field wake potential. The latter depends on the velocity of the test charge as well as on the number density of the plasma electrons. Rayleigh-Ritz variational calculation has been done to estimate precise energy eigenvalues of hydrogen-like carbon ion under such plasma environment. A detailed analysis shows that the energy levels gradually move to the continuum with increasing plasma electron density whilemore » the level crossing phenomenon has been observed with the variation of ion velocity.« less

The use of locally optimal trajectory management for base reaction control of robots in a microgravity environment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lin, N. J.; Quinn, R. D.

1991-01-01

A locally-optimal trajectory management (LOTM) approach is analyzed, and it is found that care should be taken in choosing the Ritz expansion and cost function. A modified cost function for the LOTM approach is proposed which includes the kinetic energy along with the base reactions in a weighted and scale sum. The effects of the modified functions are demonstrated with numerical examples for robots operating in two- and three-dimensional space. It is pointed out that this modified LOTM approach shows good performance, the reactions do not fluctuate greatly, joint velocities reach their objectives at the end of the manifestation, and the CPU time is slightly more than twice the manipulation time.

Nonlinear equations of dynamics for spinning paraboloidal antennas

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Utku, S.; Shoemaker, W. L.; Salama, M.

1983-01-01

The nonlinear strain-displacement and velocity-displacement relations of spinning imperfect rotational paraboloidal thin shell antennas are derived for nonaxisymmetrical deformations. Using these relations with the admissible trial functions in the principle functional of dynamics, the nonlinear equations of stress inducing motion are expressed in the form of a set of quasi-linear ordinary differential equations of the undetermined functions by means of the Rayleigh-Ritz procedure. These equations include all nonlinear terms up to and including the third degree. Explicit expressions are given for the coefficient matrices appearing in these equations. Both translational and rotational off-sets of the axis of revolution (and also the apex point of the paraboloid) with respect to the spin axis are considered. Although the material of the antenna is assumed linearly elastic, it can be anisotropic.

Strong convergence and convergence rates of approximating solutions for algebraic Riccati equations in Hilbert spaces

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ito, Kazufumi

1987-01-01

The linear quadratic optimal control problem on infinite time interval for linear time-invariant systems defined on Hilbert spaces is considered. The optimal control is given by a feedback form in terms of solution pi to the associated algebraic Riccati equation (ARE). A Ritz type approximation is used to obtain a sequence pi sup N of finite dimensional approximations of the solution to ARE. A sufficient condition that shows pi sup N converges strongly to pi is obtained. Under this condition, a formula is derived which can be used to obtain a rate of convergence of pi sup N to pi. The results of the Galerkin approximation is demonstrated and applied for parabolic systems and the averaging approximation for hereditary differential systems.

Effect of Thermal Gradient on Vibration of Non-uniform Visco-elastic Rectangular Plate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khanna, Anupam; Kaur, Narinder

2016-04-01

Here, a theoretical model is presented to analyze the effect of bilinear temperature variations on vibration of non-homogeneous visco-elastic rectangular plate with non-uniform thickness. Non-uniformity in thickness of the plate is assumed linear in one direction. Since plate's material is considered as non-homogeneous, authors characterized non-homogeneity in poisson ratio and density of the plate's material exponentially in x-direction. Plate is supposed to be clamped at the ends. Deflection for first two modes of vibration is calculated by using Rayleigh-Ritz technique and tabulated for various values of plate's parameters i.e. taper constant, aspect ratio, non-homogeneity constants and thermal gradient. Comparison of present findings with existing literature is also provided in tabular and graphical manner.

Calculation of the room-temperature shapes of unsymmetric laminates

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hyer, M. W.

1981-01-01

A theory explaining the characteristics of the cured shapes of unsymmetric laminates is presented. The theory is based on an extension of classical lamination theory which accounts for geometric nonlinearities. A Rayleigh-Ritz approach to minimizing the total potential energy is used to obtain quantitative information regarding the room temperature shapes of square T300/5208 (0(2)/90(2))T and (0(4)/90(4))T graphite-epoxy laminates. It is shown that, depending on the thickness of the laminate and the length of the side the square, the saddle shape configuration is actually unstable. For values of length and thickness that render the saddle shape unstable, it is shown that two stable cylindrical shapes exist. The predictions of the theory are compared with existing experimental data.

Comprehensive dynamic analysis of a bladed disk-turborotor-bearing system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaushal, Ashok

The dynamic behavior of a bladed disk-turborotor-bearing system is studied employing analytical, numerical, and experimental methods. The system consists of several subsystems such as turbine disk, blades, bearings, support pedestals etc. In order to completely understand the dynamic behavior of the turborotor system an appropriate model for each individual component of the system is first developed. The individual components are modeled to include various design parameters and the effect of these parameters on the vibrational behavior is studied. The vibration studies on the individual components are carried out using Rayleigh-Ritz method boundary characteristic orthogonal polynomials as assumed shape functions. The individual components are then assembled using the finite element technique. The turborotor system is studied from a system point of view and the natural frequencies and mode shapes are obtained for various rotational speeds. The results show that the natural frequencies of the system are different from those obtained by analyzing individual components, suggesting that a system approach must be adopted for proper design of a turborotor system. The amplitude of vibration and stresses due to harmonic and centrifugal loading on the blades and the disk are also obtained. The results indicate that for the turborotor speed of operation, the centrifugal loading is the major factor in determining the critical stresses in comparison to the gas forces on the blade modeled as harmonic loading. Experimental validation of the analytical model is carried out and suggestions for future work are given.

The Effect of Solar Forcing on the Greenland Ice Sheet during the Holocene - A Model Study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bügelmayer, Marianne; Roche, Didier; Renssen, Hans

2014-05-01

Abrupt climate changes did not only happen during glacials but also during interglacials such as the Holocene. Marine sediments provide evidence for the periodic occurrence of centennial-scale events with enhanced iceberg discharge during the past 11.000 years (Bond et al., 2001). These events were chronologically linked to reduced solar activity as reconstructed using cosmogenic isotopes (Bond et al., 2001), indicating that even an external forcing that is considered to be small, has a potential impact on climate due to several feedback mechanisms (Renssen et al., 2006). The interactions between climate and solar irradiance have been investigated using numerical models (e.g. Haigh, 1996; Renssen et al, 2006), but so far without dynamically computing the Greenland ice sheet and iceberg calving. Thus, the impact of solar variations on iceberg discharge and the underlying mechanisms have not been analysed so far. To analyse the effect of variations in solar activity on the Greenland ice sheet (GIS) and the iceberg calving, as well as possible feedback mechanisms that enhance the impact of the total solar irradiance, we use the earth system model of intermediate complexity (iLOVECLIM, Roche et al., 2013), coupled to the ice sheet/ice shelf model GRISLI (Ritz et al., 2001) and to a dynamic-thermodynamic iceberg module (Jongma et al., 2009, Bügelmayer et al., 2014) to perform transient experiments of the last 6000 years. The experiments are conducted applying reconstructed atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations, volcanic aerosol loads, orbital parameters and variations in the total solar irradiance. We present the response of the coupled model to different solar irradiance scenarios to evaluate modeled GIS sensitivity to relatively modest variations in radiative forcing. Moreover, we investigate the dependence of the model results on the chosen model sensitivity. References: Bond, G., Kromer, B., Beer, J., Muscheler, R., Evans, M. N., Showers, W., … Bonani, G. (2001): Persistent solar influence on North Atlantic climate during the Holocene. Science (New York, N.Y.), 294(5549), 2130-6. doi:10.1126/science.1065680 Bügelmayer, M., Roche, D.M., Renssen, H. (2014): How do icebergs affect the Greenland ice sheet under pre-industrial conditions? - A model study with a fully coupled ice sheet-climate model. The Cryosphere Discussions 8, 187-228. Haigh, J. D. (1996): The Impact of Solar Variability on Climate. Science, 272, 981-984. Jongma, J.I., Driesschaert, E., Fichefet, T., Goosse, H., Renssen, H., (2009): The effect of dynamic-thermodynamic icebergs on the Southern Ocean climate in a three-dimensional model. Ocean Modelling 26, 104-113. Renssen, H., Goosse, H., Muscheler, R., & Branch, R. (2006): Coupled climate model simulation of Holocene cooling events: oceanic feedback amplifies solar forcing. Climate of the Past, 2, 79-90. Ritz, C., Rommelaere, V. and Dumas, C.(2001): Modeling the evolution of Antarctic ice sheet over the last 420,000 years: Implications for altitude changes in the Vostok region, Journal of Geophysical Research, 106, 31943-31964, doi:10.1029/2001JD900232. Roche, D.M., Dumas, C., Bügelmayer, M., Charbit, S., Ritz, C. (2013): Adding a dynamical cryosphere into iLOVECLIM (version 1.0) - Part 1: Coupling with the GRISLI ice-sheet model, Geoscientific Model Development Discussion, 6, 5215-5249.

Optimal Design of General Stiffened Composite Circular Cylinders for Global Buckling with Strength Constraints

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jaunky, N.; Ambur, D. R.; Knight, N. F., Jr.

1998-01-01

A design strategy for optimal design of composite grid-stiffened cylinders subjected to global and local buckling constraints and strength constraints was developed using a discrete optimizer based on a genetic algorithm. An improved smeared stiffener theory was used for the global analysis. Local buckling of skin segments were assessed using a Rayleigh-Ritz method that accounts for material anisotropy. The local buckling of stiffener segments were also assessed. Constraints on the axial membrane strain in the skin and stiffener segments were imposed to include strength criteria in the grid-stiffened cylinder design. Design variables used in this study were the axial and transverse stiffener spacings, stiffener height and thickness, skin laminate stacking sequence and stiffening configuration, where stiffening configuration is a design variable that indicates the combination of axial, transverse and diagonal stiffener in the grid-stiffened cylinder. The design optimization process was adapted to identify the best suited stiffening configurations and stiffener spacings for grid-stiffened composite cylinder with the length and radius of the cylinder, the design in-plane loads and material properties as inputs. The effect of having axial membrane strain constraints in the skin and stiffener segments in the optimization process is also studied for selected stiffening configurations.

Optimal Design of General Stiffened Composite Circular Cylinders for Global Buckling with Strength Constraints

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jaunky, Navin; Knight, Norman F., Jr.; Ambur, Damodar R.

1998-01-01

A design strategy for optimal design of composite grid-stiffened cylinders subjected to global and local buckling constraints and, strength constraints is developed using a discrete optimizer based on a genetic algorithm. An improved smeared stiffener theory is used for the global analysis. Local buckling of skin segments are assessed using a Rayleigh-Ritz method that accounts for material anisotropy. The local buckling of stiffener segments are also assessed. Constraints on the axial membrane strain in the skin and stiffener segments are imposed to include strength criteria in the grid-stiffened cylinder design. Design variables used in this study are the axial and transverse stiffener spacings, stiffener height and thickness, skin laminate stacking sequence, and stiffening configuration, where herein stiffening configuration is a design variable that indicates the combination of axial, transverse, and diagonal stiffener in the grid-stiffened cylinder. The design optimization process is adapted to identify the best suited stiffening configurations and stiffener spacings for grid-stiffened composite cylinder with the length and radius of the cylinder, the design in-plane loads, and material properties as inputs. The effect of having axial membrane strain constraints in the skin and stiffener segments in the optimization process is also studied for selected stiffening configuration.

In-Flight Aeroelastic Stability of the Thermal Protection System on the NASA HIAD, Part I: Linear Theory

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Goldman, Benjamin D.; Dowell, Earl H.; Scott, Robert C.

2014-01-01

Conical shell theory and piston theory aerodynamics are used to study the aeroelastic stability of the thermal protection system (TPS) on the NASA Hypersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator (HIAD). Structural models of the TPS consist of single or multiple orthotropic conical shell systems resting on several circumferential linear elastic supports. The shells in each model may have pinned (simply-supported) or elastically-supported edges. The Lagrangian is formulated in terms of the generalized coordinates for all displacements and the Rayleigh-Ritz method is used to derive the equations of motion. The natural modes of vibration and aeroelastic stability boundaries are found by calculating the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of a large coefficient matrix. When the in-flight configuration of the TPS is approximated as a single shell without elastic supports, asymmetric flutter in many circumferential waves is observed. When the elastic supports are included, the shell flutters symmetrically in zero circumferential waves. Structural damping is found to be important in this case. Aeroelastic models that consider the individual TPS layers as separate shells tend to flutter asymmetrically at high dynamic pressures relative to the single shell models. Several parameter studies also examine the effects of tension, orthotropicity, and elastic support stiffness.

Role of charged impurities in thermoelectric transport in molybdenum disulfide monolayers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Patil, Sukanya B.; Sankeshwar, N. S.; Mulimani, B. G.

2017-12-01

A theoretical study of the electronic properties, namely, electrical conductivity (EC), electronic thermal conductivity (ETC) and thermoelectric power (TEP) in 2D MoS2 monolayers (MLs), over a wide range of temperatures (10  <  T  <  300 K), is presented employing Boltzmann transport formalism. Considering the electrons to be scattered by screened charged impurities and the acoustic, optical and remote phonons, the transport equation is solved using Ritz iterative method. Numerical calculations of EC, ETC and TEP presented for supported and free-standing MLs with high electron concentrations, as a function of temperature, bring out the relative importance of the various scattering mechanisms operative. The role of CIs, with regard to both concentration and separation from the substrate-ML interface, in determining the properties of supported MLs is demonstrated for the first time. Validity of Wiedemann-Franz law and Mott formula are examined for supported and free standing MLs. Calculations are in consonance with recent experimental data on mobility and TEP of exfoliated SiO2-supported MoS2 ML samples. In the case of TEP it is found that though the diffusion contribution is dominant the inclusion of the drag component, incorporating contributions from all relevant phonon scattering mechanisms, is needed to obtain good agreement with the data.

Vibro-acoustic modeling and analysis of a coupled acoustic system comprising a partially opened cavity coupled with a flexible plate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shi, Shuangxia; Su, Zhu; Jin, Guoyong; Liu, Zhigang

2018-01-01

This paper is concerned with the modeling and solution method of a three-dimensional (3D) coupled acoustic system comprising a partially opened cavity coupled with a flexible plate and an exterior field of semi-infinite size, which is ubiquitously encountered in architectural acoustics and is a reasonable representation of many engineering occasions. A general solution method is presented to predict the dynamic behaviors of the three-dimensional (3D) acoustic coupled system, in which the displacement of the plate and the sound pressure in the cavity are respectively constructed in the form of the two-dimensional and three-dimensional modified Fourier series with several auxiliary functions introduced to ensure the uniform convergence of the solution over the entire solution domain. The effect of the opening is taken into account via the work done by the sound pressure acting at the coupling aperture that is contributed from the vibration of particles on the acoustic coupling interface and on the structural-acoustic coupling interface. Both the acoustic coupling between finite cavity and exterior field and the structural-acoustic coupling between flexible plate and interior acoustic field are considered in the vibro-acoustic modeling of the three-dimensional acoustic coupled acoustic system. The dynamic responses of the coupled structural-acoustic system are obtained using the Rayleigh-Ritz procedure based on the energy expressions for the coupled system. The accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed method are validated through numerical examples and comparison with results obtained by the boundary element analysis. Furthermore, the influence of the opening and the cavity volume on the acoustic behaviors of opened cavity system is studied.

Vibration of a Singly-curved Thin Shell Reflector with a Unidirectional Tension Field

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Williams, R. Brett; Klein, Kerry J.; Agnes, Gregory S.

2006-01-01

Increased science requirements for space-based instruments over the past few decades have lead to the increased popularity of deployable space structures constructed from thin, lightweight films. Such structures offer both low mass and the ability to be stowed inside conventional launch vehicles. The analysis in this work pertains to large, singly-curved lightweight deployable reflectors commonly used in radar antennas and space telescopes. These types of systems, which can vary a great deal in size, often have frequency requirement that must be met. This work discusses two missions that utilize this type of aperture technology, and then develops a Rayleigh-Ritz model that predicts the natural frequencies and mode shapes for a (nearly) flat and singly-curved reflector with unidirectional in-plane loading. The results are compared with NASTRAN analyses.

Buckling Analysis for Stiffened Anisotropic Circular Cylinders Based on Sanders Nonlinear Shell Theory

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nemeth, Michael P.

2014-01-01

Nonlinear and bifurcation buckling equations for elastic, stiffened, geometrically perfect, right-circular cylindrical, anisotropic shells subjected to combined loads are presented that are based on Sanders' shell theory. Based on these equations, a three-parameter approximate Rayleigh-Ritz solution and a classical solution to the buckling problem are presented for cylinders with simply supported edges. Extensive comparisons of results obtained from these solutions with published results are also presented for a wide range of cylinder constructions. These comparisons include laminated-composite cylinders with a wide variety of shell-wall orthotropies and anisotropies. Numerous results are also given that show the discrepancies between the results obtained by using Donnell's equations and variants of Sanders' equations. For some cases, nondimensional parameters are identified and "master" curves are presented that facilitate the concise representation of results.

Heterogeneous dissipative composite structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ryabov, Victor; Yartsev, Boris; Parshina, Ludmila

2018-05-01

The paper suggests mathematical models of decaying vibrations in layered anisotropic plates and orthotropic rods based on Hamilton variation principle, first-order shear deformation laminated plate theory (FSDT), as well as on the viscous-elastic correspondence principle of the linear viscoelasticity theory. In the description of the physical relationships between the materials of the layers forming stiff polymeric composites, the effect of vibration frequency and ambient temperature is assumed as negligible, whereas for the viscous-elastic polymer layer, temperature-frequency relationship of elastic dissipation and stiffness properties is considered by means of the experimentally determined generalized curves. Mitigation of Hamilton functional makes it possible to describe decaying vibration of anisotropic structures by an algebraic problem of complex eigenvalues. The system of algebraic equation is generated through Ritz method using Legendre polynomials as coordinate functions. First, real solutions are found. To find complex natural frequencies of the system, the obtained real natural frequencies are taken as input values, and then, by means of the 3rd order iteration method, complex natural frequencies are calculated. The paper provides convergence estimates for the numerical procedures. Reliability of the obtained results is confirmed by a good correlation between analytical and experimental values of natural frequencies and loss factors in the lower vibration tones for the two series of unsupported orthotropic rods formed by stiff GRP and CRP layers and a viscoelastic polymer layer. Analysis of the numerical test data has shown the dissipation & stiffness properties of heterogeneous composite plates and rods to considerably depend on relative thickness of the viscoelastic polymer layer, orientation of stiff composite layers, vibration frequency and ambient temperature.

Acceleration of runaway electrons in solar flares

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Moghaddam-Taaheri, E.; Goertz, C. K.

1990-01-01

The dc electric field acceleration of electrons out of a thermal plasma and the evolution of the runaway tail are studied numerically, using a relativistic quasi-linear code based on the Ritz-Galerkin method and finite elements. A small field-aligned electric field is turned on at a certain time. The resulting distribution function from the runaway process is used to calculate the synchrotron emission during the evolution of the runaway tail. It is found that, during the runaway tail formation, which lasts a few tens of seconds for typical solar flare conditions, the synchrotron emission level is low, almost ot the same order as the emission from the thermal plasma, at the high-frequency end of the spectrum. However, the emission is enhanced explosively in a few microseconds by several orders of magnitude at the time the runaway tail stops growing along the magnetic field and tends toward isotropy due to the pitch-angle scattering of the fast particles. Results indicate that, in order to account for the observed synchrotron emission spectrum of a typical solar flare, the electric field acceleration phase must be accompanied or preceded by a heating phase which yields an enhanced electron temperature of about 2-15 keV in the flare region if the electric field is 0.1-0.2 times the Dreicer field and cyclotron-to-plasma frequency ratios are of order 1-2.

Two Dimensional Finite Element Model to Study Calcium Distribution in Oocytes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Naik, Parvaiz Ahmad; Pardasani, Kamal Raj

2015-06-01

Cytosolic free calcium concentration is a key regulatory factor and perhaps the most widely used means of controlling cellular function. Calcium can enter cells through different pathways which are activated by specific stimuli including membrane depolarization, chemical signals and calcium depletion of intracellular stores. One of the important components of oocyte maturation is differentiation of the Ca2+ signaling machinery which is essential for egg activation after fertilization. Eggs acquire the ability to produce the fertilization-specific calcium signal during oocyte maturation. The calcium concentration patterns required during different stages of oocyte maturation are still not completely known. Also the mechanisms involved in calcium dynamics in oocyte cell are still not well understood. In view of above a two dimensional FEM model has been proposed to study calcium distribution in an oocyte cell. The parameters such as buffers, ryanodine receptor, SERCA pump and voltage gated calcium channel are incorporated in the model. Based on the biophysical conditions the initial and boundary conditions have been framed. The model is transformed into variational form and Ritz finite element method has been employed to obtain the solution. A program has been developed in MATLAB 7.10 for the entire problem and executed to obtain numerical results. The numerical results have been used to study the effect of buffers, RyR, SERCA pump and VGCC on calcium distribution in an oocyte cell.

The use of an active controlled enclosure to attenuate sound radiation from a heavy radiator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Yao; Yang, Tiejun; Zhu, Minggang; Pan, Jie

2017-03-01

Active structural acoustical control usually experiences difficulty in the control of heavy sources or sources where direct applications of control forces are not practical. To overcome this difficulty, an active controlled enclosure, which forms a cavity with both flexible and open boundary, is employed. This configuration permits indirect implementation of active control in which the control inputs can be applied to subsidiary structures other than the sources. To determine the control effectiveness of the configuration, the vibro-acoustic behavior of the system, which consists of a top plate with an open, a sound cavity and a source panel, is investigated in this paper. A complete mathematical model of the system is formulated involving modified Fourier series formulations and the governing equations are solved using the Rayleigh-Ritz method. The coupling mechanisms of a partly opened cavity and a plate are analysed in terms of modal responses and directivity patterns. Furthermore, to attenuate sound power radiated from both the top panel and the open, two strategies are studied: minimizing the total radiated power and the cancellation of volume velocity. Moreover, three control configurations are compared, using a point force on the control panel (structural control), using a sound source in the cavity (acoustical control) and applying hybrid structural-acoustical control. In addition, the effects of boundary condition of the control panel on the sound radiation and control performance are discussed.

Further studies of propellant sloshing under low-gravity conditions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dodge, F. T.

1971-01-01

A variational integral is formulated from Hamilton's Principle and is proved to be equivalent to the usual differential equations of low-gravity sloshing in ellipsoidal tanks. It is shown that for a zero-degree contact angle the contact line boundary condition corresponds to the stuck condition, a result that is due to the linearization of the equations and the ambiguity in the definition of the wave height at the wall. The variational integral is solved by a Rayleigh-Ritz technique. Results for slosh frequency when the free surface is not bent-over compare well with previous numerical solutions. When the free surface is bent over, however, the results for slosh frequency are considerably larger than those predicted by previous finite-difference, numerical approaches: the difference may be caused by the use of a zero degree contact angle in the present theory in contrast to the nonzero contact angle used in the numerical approaches.

Atlas of the spectrum of a platinum/neon hollow-cathode reference lamp in the region 1130-4330 A

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sansonetti, Jean E.; Reader, Joseph; Sansonetti, Craig J.; Acquista, Nicolo

1992-01-01

The spectrum of a platinum hollow-cathode lamp containing neon carrier gas was recorded photographically and photoelectrically with a 10.7 m normal-incidence vacuum spectrograph. Wavelengths and intensities were determined for about 5600 lines in the region 1130-4330 A. An atlas of the spectrum is given, with the spectral lines marked and their intensities, wavelengths, and classifications listed. Lines of impurity species are also identified. The uncertainty of the photographically measured wavelengths is estimated to be +/- 0.0020 A. The uncertainty of lines measured in the photoelectric scans is 0.01 A for wavelengths shorter than 2030 A and 0.02 A for longer wavelengths. Ritz-type wavelengths are given for many of the classified lines of Pt II with uncertainties varying from +/- 0.0004 to +/- 0.0025 A. The uncertainty of the relative intensities is estimated to be about 20 percent.

Finite-dimensional approximation for optimal fixed-order compensation of distributed parameter systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bernstein, Dennis S.; Rosen, I. G.

1988-01-01

In controlling distributed parameter systems it is often desirable to obtain low-order, finite-dimensional controllers in order to minimize real-time computational requirements. Standard approaches to this problem employ model/controller reduction techniques in conjunction with LQG theory. In this paper we consider the finite-dimensional approximation of the infinite-dimensional Bernstein/Hyland optimal projection theory. This approach yields fixed-finite-order controllers which are optimal with respect to high-order, approximating, finite-dimensional plant models. The technique is illustrated by computing a sequence of first-order controllers for one-dimensional, single-input/single-output, parabolic (heat/diffusion) and hereditary systems using spline-based, Ritz-Galerkin, finite element approximation. Numerical studies indicate convergence of the feedback gains with less than 2 percent performance degradation over full-order LQG controllers for the parabolic system and 10 percent degradation for the hereditary system.

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

Dutta, S.; Saha, J. K.; Chandra, R.

The Rayleigh-Ritz variational technique with a Hylleraas basis set is being tested for the first time to estimate the structural modifications of a lithium atom embedded in a weakly coupled plasma environment. The Debye-Huckel potential is used to mimic the weakly coupled plasma environment. The wave functions for both the helium-like lithium ion and the lithium atom are expanded in the explicitly correlated Hylleraas type basis set which fully takes care of the electron-electron correlation effect. Due to the continuum lowering under plasma environment, the ionization potential of the system gradually decreases leading to the destabilization of the atom. Themore » excited states destabilize at a lower value of the plasma density. The estimated ionization potential agrees fairly well with the few available theoretical estimates. The variation of one and two particle moments, dielectric susceptibility and magnetic shielding constant, with respect to plasma density is also been discussed in detail.« less

Wing Weight Optimization Under Aeroelastic Loads Subject to Stress Constraints

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kapania, Rakesh K.; Issac, J.; Macmurdy, D.; Guruswamy, Guru P.

1997-01-01

A minimum weight optimization of the wing under aeroelastic loads subject to stress constraints is carried out. The loads for the optimization are based on aeroelastic trim. The design variables are the thickness of the wing skins and planform variables. The composite plate structural model incorporates first-order shear deformation theory, the wing deflections are expressed using Chebyshev polynomials and a Rayleigh-Ritz procedure is adopted for the structural formulation. The aerodynamic pressures provided by the aerodynamic code at a discrete number of grid points is represented as a bilinear distribution on the composite plate code to solve for the deflections and stresses in the wing. The lifting-surface aerodynamic code FAST is presently being used to generate the pressure distribution over the wing. The envisioned ENSAERO/Plate is an aeroelastic analysis code which combines ENSAERO version 3.0 (for analysis of wing-body configurations) with the composite plate code.

A Coupled Approach for Structural Damage Detection with Incomplete Measurements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

James, George; Cao, Timothy; Kaouk, Mo; Zimmerman, David

2013-01-01

This historical work couples model order reduction, damage detection, dynamic residual/mode shape expansion, and damage extent estimation to overcome the incomplete measurements problem by using an appropriate undamaged structural model. A contribution of this work is the development of a process to estimate the full dynamic residuals using the columns of a spring connectivity matrix obtained by disassembling the structural stiffness matrix. Another contribution is the extension of an eigenvector filtering procedure to produce full-order mode shapes that more closely match the measured active partition of the mode shapes using a set of modified Ritz vectors. The full dynamic residuals and full mode shapes are used as inputs to the minimum rank perturbation theory to provide an estimate of damage location and extent. The issues associated with this process are also discussed as drivers of near-term development activities to understand and improve this approach.

Three-dimensional vibrations of cylindrical elastic solids with V-notches and sharp radial cracks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McGee, O. G.; Kim, J. W.

2010-02-01

This paper provides free vibration data for cylindrical elastic solids, specifically thick circular plates and cylinders with V-notches and sharp radial cracks, for which no extensive previously published database is known to exist. Bending moment and shear force singularities are known to exist at the sharp reentrant corner of a thick V-notched plate under transverse vibratory motion, and three-dimensional (3-D) normal and transverse shear stresses are known to exist at the sharp reentrant terminus edge of a V-notched cylindrical elastic solid under 3-D free vibration. A theoretical analysis is done in this work utilizing a variational Ritz procedure including these essential singularity effects. The procedure incorporates a complete set of admissible algebraic-trigonometric polynomials in conjunction with an admissible set of " edge functions" that explicitly model the 3-D stress singularities which exist along a reentrant terminus edge (i.e., α>180°) of the V-notch. The first set of polynomials guarantees convergence to exact frequencies, as sufficient terms are retained. The second set of edge functions—in addition to representing the corner stress singularities—substantially accelerates the convergence of frequency solutions. This is demonstrated through extensive convergence studies that have been carried out by the investigators. Numerical analysis has been carried out and the results have been given for cylindrical elastic solids with various V-notch angles and depths. The relative depth of the V-notch is defined as (1- c/ a), and the notch angle is defined as (360°- α). For a very small notch angle (1° or less), the notch may be regarded as a "sharp radial crack." Accurate (four significant figure) frequencies are presented for a wide spectrum of notch angles (360°- α), depths (1- c/ a), and thickness ratios ( a/ h for plates and h/ a for cylinders). An extended database of frequencies for completely free thick sectorial, semi-circular, and segmented plates and cylinders are also reported herein as interesting special cases. A generalization of the elasticity-based Ritz analysis and findings applicable here is an arbitrarily shaped V-notched cylindrical solid, being a surface traced out by a family of generatrix, which pass through the circumference of an arbitrarily shaped V-notched directrix curve, r( θ), several of which are described for future investigations and close extensions of this work.

The Microseismicity of Glacier Sliding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Walter, Fabian; Röösli, Claudia; Kissling, Edi

2017-04-01

Our understanding of glacier and ice sheet basal motion remains incomplete. The past decades have witnessed a shift away from initially proposed hard bed theories towards soft, till-laden beds, which deform and thus participate in basal motion. The theoretical treatment of deformable beds is subject to debate, yet our capability to predict ice sheet flow and ultimately sea level rise is contingent upon correct parameterization of basal motion (Ritz et al., 2015). Both hard and soft bed theories neglect frictional sliding across distinct basal fault planes and elastic deformation in response to sudden dislocation. Over recent years, this view has been repeatedly challenged as more and more studies report seismogenic faulting associated with basal sliding. For instance, large parts of the Whillans Ice Stream at Antarctica's Siple Coast move nearly exclusively during sudden sliding episodes (Wiens et al., 2008). This "stick-slip motion" is difficult to explain with traditional glacier sliding theories but more analogous to earthquake dislocation on tectonic faults. Although the Whillans Ice Stream motion may be an extreme example, there exists evidence for much smaller microseismic stick-slip events beneath the Greenland Ice Sheet and non-polar glaciers (Podolskiy and Walter, 2016). This raises the question how relevant and widespread the stick-slip phenomenon is and if it is necessary to include it into ice sheet models. Here we discuss recent seismic deployments, which focused on detection of stick-slip events beneath the Greenland Ice Sheet and European Alpine Glaciers. For all deployments, a considerable challenge lies in detection of stick-slip seismograms in the presence of a dominant background seismicity associated with surface crevassing. Nevertheless, automatic search algorithms and waveform characteristics provide important insights into temporal variation of stick-slip activity as well as information about fault plane geometry and co-seismic sliding direction. REFERENCES E.A. Podolskiy and F. Walter (2016). Cryo-seismology. Reviews of Geophysics. Ritz, C., Edwards, T. L., Durand, G., Payne, A. J., Peyaud, V., & Hindmarsh, R. C. (2015). Potential sea-level rise from Antarctic ice-sheet instability constrained by observations. Nature, 528(7580), 115-118. Wiens, D. A., Anandakrishnan, S., Winberry, J. P., & King, M. A. (2008). Simultaneous teleseismic and geodetic observations of the stick-slip motion of an Antarctic ice stream. Nature, 453(7196), 770-774.

Analytical and experimental comparisons of electromechanical vibration response of a piezoelectric bimorph beam for power harvesting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lumentut, M. F.; Howard, I. M.

2013-03-01

Power harvesters that extract energy from vibrating systems via piezoelectric transduction show strong potential for powering smart wireless sensor devices in applications of health condition monitoring of rotating machinery and structures. This paper presents an analytical method for modelling an electromechanical piezoelectric bimorph beam with tip mass under two input base transverse and longitudinal excitations. The Euler-Bernoulli beam equations were used to model the piezoelectric bimorph beam. The polarity-electric field of the piezoelectric element is excited by the strain field caused by base input excitation, resulting in electrical charge. The governing electromechanical dynamic equations were derived analytically using the weak form of the Hamiltonian principle to obtain the constitutive equations. Three constitutive electromechanical dynamic equations based on independent coefficients of virtual displacement vectors were formulated and then further modelled using the normalised Ritz eigenfunction series. The electromechanical formulations include both the series and parallel connections of the piezoelectric bimorph. The multi-mode frequency response functions (FRFs) under varying electrical load resistance were formulated using Laplace transformation for the multi-input mechanical vibrations to provide the multi-output dynamic displacement, velocity, voltage, current and power. The experimental and theoretical validations reduced for the single mode system were shown to provide reasonable predictions. The model results from polar base excitation for off-axis input motions were validated with experimental results showing the change to the electrical power frequency response amplitude as a function of excitation angle, with relevance for practical implementation.

Abs-initio, Predictive Calculations for Optoelectronic and Advanced Materials Research

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bagayoko, Diola

2010-10-01

Most density functional theory (DFT) calculations find band gaps that are 30-50 percent smaller than the experimental ones. Some explanations of this serious underestimation by theory include self-interaction and the derivative discontinuity of the exchange correlation energy. Several approaches have been developed in the search for a solution to this problem. Most of them entail some modification of DFT potentials. The Green function and screened Coulomb approximation (GWA) is a non-DFT formalism that has led to some improvements. Despite these efforts, the underestimation problem has mostly persisted in the literature. Using the Rayleigh theorem, we describe a basis set and variational effect inherently associated with calculations that employ a linear combination of atomic orbitals (LCAO) in a variational approach of the Rayleigh-Ritz type. This description concomitantly shows a source of large underestimation errors in calculated band gaps, i.e., an often dramatic lowering of some unoccupied energies on account of the Rayleigh theorem as opposed to a physical interaction. We present the Bagayoko, Zhao, and Williams (BZW) method [Phys. Rev. B 60, 1563 (1999); PRB 74, 245214 (2006); and J. Appl. Phys. 103, 096101 (2008)] that systematically avoids this effect and leads (a) to DFT and LDA calculated band gaps of semiconductors in agreement with experiment and (b) theoretical predictions of band gaps that are confirmed by experiment. Unlike most calculations, BZW computations solve, self-consistently, a system of two coupled equations. DFT-BZW calculated effective masses and optical properties (dielectric functions) also agree with measurements. We illustrate ten years of success of the BZW method with its results for GaN, C, Si, 3C-SIC, 4H-SiC, ZnO, AlAs, Ge, ZnSe, w-InN, c-InN, InAs, CdS, AlN and nanostructures. We conclude with potential applications of the BZW method in optoelectronic and advanced materials research.

Planar dynamics of a uniform beam with rigid bodies affixed to the ends

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Storch, J.; Gates, S.

1983-01-01

The planar dynamics of a uniform elastic beam subject to a variety of geometric and natural boundary conditions and external excitations were analyzed. The beams are inextensible and capable of small transverse bending deformations only. Classical beam vibration eigenvalue problems for a cantilever with tip mass, a cantilever with tip body and an unconstrained beam with rigid bodies at each are examined. The characteristic equations, eigenfunctions and orthogonality relations for each are derived. The forced vibration of a cantilever with tip body subject to base acceleration is analyzed. The exact solution of the governing nonhomogeneous partial differential equation with time dependent boundary conditions is presented and compared with a Rayleigh-Ritz approximate solution. The arbitrary planar motion of an elastic beam with rigid bodies at the ends is addressed. Equations of motion are derived for two modal expansions of the beam deflection. The motion equations are cast in a first order form suitable for numerical integration. Selected FORTRAN programs are provided.

Sum rules and other properties involving resonance projection operators. [for optical potential description of electron scattering from atoms and ions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Berk, A.; Temkin, A.

1985-01-01

A sum rule is derived for the auxiliary eigenvalues of an equation whose eigenspectrum pertains to projection operators which describe electron scattering from multielectron atoms and ions. The sum rule's right-hand side depends on an integral involving the target system eigenfunctions. The sum rule is checked for several approximations of the two-electron target. It is shown that target functions which have a unit eigenvalue in their auxiliary eigenspectrum do not give rise to well-defined projection operators except through a limiting process. For Hylleraas target approximations, the auxiliary equations are shown to contain an infinite spectrum. However, using a Rayleigh-Ritz variational principle, it is shown that a comparatively simple aproximation can exhaust the sum rule to better than five significant figures. The auxiliary Hylleraas equation is greatly simplified by conversion to a square root equation containing the same eigenfunction spectrum and from which the required eigenvalues are trivially recovered by squaring.

Wave scattering by an axisymmetric ice floe of varying thickness

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bennetts, Luke G.; Biggs, Nicholas R. T.; Porter, David

2009-04-01

The problem of water wave scattering by a circular ice floe, floating in fluid of finite depth, is formulated and solved numerically. Unlike previous investigations of such situations, here we allow the thickness of the floe (and the fluid depth) to vary axisymmetrically and also incorporate a realistic non-zero draught. A numerical approximation to the solution of this problem is obtained to an arbitrary degree of accuracy by combining a Rayleigh-Ritz approximation of the vertical motion with an appropriate variational principle. This numerical solution procedure builds upon the work of Bennets et al. (2007, J. Fluid Mech., 579, 413-443). As part of the numerical formulation, we utilize a Fourier cosine expansion of the azimuthal motion, resulting in a system of ordinary differential equations to solve in the radial coordinate for each azimuthal mode. The displayed results concentrate on the response of the floe rather than the scattered wave field and show that the effects of introducing the new features of varying floe thickness and a realistic draught are significant.

Extended Analysis of the Spectrum and Term System of Be III

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jupén, C.; Meigs, A.; von Hellermann, M.; Morsi, H. W.; Beringer, M.; Mannervik, S.; Martinson, I.

We report an extended and partly revised analysis of doubly ionized beryllium, Be III. Spectra of Be were recorded at the JET fusion facility where beryllium was used as surface material in the divertor. Observations of the divertor plasma have revealed many previously unknown Be lines, of which 28 (in the range 2100-5300 Å) have been classified as Be III transitions. We have also reanalyzed beam-foil spectra of Be (1900-5500 Å), recorded during a study of inner-shell excited levels in Be II. This yielded 7 additional Be III lines. These data, together with 32 previously known lines now represent an observed term system comprising 46 levels, with relative energy value uncertainties of around 1 cm-1. The ionization energy of 1s2 1S has been determined to 1,241,243.5 ± 14 cm-1 with an estimated Lamb shift of -43 ± 14 cm-1. A complete description of the term scheme deduced from polarization and Ritz formulae is presented.

A robust variant of block Jacobi-Davidson for extracting a large number of eigenpairs: Application to grid-based real-space density functional theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, M.; Leiter, K.; Eisner, C.; Breuer, A.; Wang, X.

2017-09-01

In this work, we investigate a block Jacobi-Davidson (J-D) variant suitable for sparse symmetric eigenproblems where a substantial number of extremal eigenvalues are desired (e.g., ground-state real-space quantum chemistry). Most J-D algorithm variations tend to slow down as the number of desired eigenpairs increases due to frequent orthogonalization against a growing list of solved eigenvectors. In our specification of block J-D, all of the steps of the algorithm are performed in clusters, including the linear solves, which allows us to greatly reduce computational effort with blocked matrix-vector multiplies. In addition, we move orthogonalization against locked eigenvectors and working eigenvectors outside of the inner loop but retain the single Ritz vector projection corresponding to the index of the correction vector. Furthermore, we minimize the computational effort by constraining the working subspace to the current vectors being updated and the latest set of corresponding correction vectors. Finally, we incorporate accuracy thresholds based on the precision required by the Fermi-Dirac distribution. The net result is a significant reduction in the computational effort against most previous block J-D implementations, especially as the number of wanted eigenpairs grows. We compare our approach with another robust implementation of block J-D (JDQMR) and the state-of-the-art Chebyshev filter subspace (CheFSI) method for various real-space density functional theory systems. Versus CheFSI, for first-row elements, our method yields competitive timings for valence-only systems and 4-6× speedups for all-electron systems with up to 10× reduced matrix-vector multiplies. For all-electron calculations on larger elements (e.g., gold) where the wanted spectrum is quite narrow compared to the full spectrum, we observe 60× speedup with 200× fewer matrix-vector multiples vs. CheFSI.

A robust variant of block Jacobi-Davidson for extracting a large number of eigenpairs: Application to grid-based real-space density functional theory.

PubMed

Lee, M; Leiter, K; Eisner, C; Breuer, A; Wang, X

2017-09-21

In this work, we investigate a block Jacobi-Davidson (J-D) variant suitable for sparse symmetric eigenproblems where a substantial number of extremal eigenvalues are desired (e.g., ground-state real-space quantum chemistry). Most J-D algorithm variations tend to slow down as the number of desired eigenpairs increases due to frequent orthogonalization against a growing list of solved eigenvectors. In our specification of block J-D, all of the steps of the algorithm are performed in clusters, including the linear solves, which allows us to greatly reduce computational effort with blocked matrix-vector multiplies. In addition, we move orthogonalization against locked eigenvectors and working eigenvectors outside of the inner loop but retain the single Ritz vector projection corresponding to the index of the correction vector. Furthermore, we minimize the computational effort by constraining the working subspace to the current vectors being updated and the latest set of corresponding correction vectors. Finally, we incorporate accuracy thresholds based on the precision required by the Fermi-Dirac distribution. The net result is a significant reduction in the computational effort against most previous block J-D implementations, especially as the number of wanted eigenpairs grows. We compare our approach with another robust implementation of block J-D (JDQMR) and the state-of-the-art Chebyshev filter subspace (CheFSI) method for various real-space density functional theory systems. Versus CheFSI, for first-row elements, our method yields competitive timings for valence-only systems and 4-6× speedups for all-electron systems with up to 10× reduced matrix-vector multiplies. For all-electron calculations on larger elements (e.g., gold) where the wanted spectrum is quite narrow compared to the full spectrum, we observe 60× speedup with 200× fewer matrix-vector multiples vs. CheFSI.

Critically Evaluated Energy Levels, Spectral Lines, Transition Probabilities, and Intensities of Singly Ionized Vanadium (V II)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saloman, Edward B.; Kramida, Alexander

2017-08-01

The energy levels, observed spectral lines, and transition probabilities of singly ionized vanadium, V II, have been compiled. The experimentally derived energy levels belong to the configurations 3d 4, 3d 3 ns (n = 4, 5, 6), 3d 3 np, and 3d 3 nd (n = 4, 5), 3d 34f, 3d 24s 2, and 3d 24s4p. Also included are values for some forbidden lines that may be of interest to the astrophysical community. Experimental Landé g-factors and leading percentages for the levels are included when available, as well as Ritz wavelengths calculated from the energy levels. Wavelengths and transition probabilities are reported for 3568 and 1896 transitions, respectively. From the list of observed wavelengths, 407 energy levels are determined. The observed intensities, normalized to a common scale, are provided. From the newly optimized energy levels, a revised value for the ionization energy is derived, 118,030(60) cm-1, corresponding to 14.634(7) eV. This is 130 cm-1 higher than the previously recommended value from Iglesias et al.

KSC-08pd1603

NASA Image and Video Library

2008-06-09

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At NASA's Kennedy Space Center, key personnel brief the media on NASA's Gamma-Ray Large Area Space Telescope, or GLAST, launch scheduled for June 11. From left are Dr. Jon Morse, director of NASA's Astrophysics Division; Omar Baez, NASA launch director/launch manager at Kennedy; Kris Walsh, director of the Delta NASA and Commercial Programs with United Launch Alliance; Kevin Grady, GLAST project manager at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center; Dr. Steven Ritz, GLAST project scientist/astrophysicist at Goddard; and Joel Tumbiolo, the U.S. Air Force Delta II launch weather officer with the 45th Weather Squadron at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. GLAST is a powerful space observatory that will explore the Universe's ultimate frontier, where nature harnesses forces and energies far beyond anything possible on Earth; probe some of science's deepest questions, such as what our Universe is made of, and search for new laws of physics; explain how black holes accelerate jets of material to nearly light speed; and help crack the mystery of stupendously powerful explosions known as gamma-ray bursts. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

KSC-08pd1604

NASA Image and Video Library

2008-06-09

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At left, Public Information Officer George Diller moderates a media briefing on NASA's Gamma-Ray Large Area Space Telescope, or GLAST, launch scheduled for June 11. On the panel next to Diller are Dr. Jon Morse, director of NASA's Astrophysics Division; Omar Baez, NASA launch director/launch manager at Kennedy; Kris Walsh, director of the Delta NASA and Commercial Programs with United Launch Alliance; Kevin Grady, GLAST project manager at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center; Dr. Steven Ritz, GLAST project scientist/astrophysicist at Goddard; and Joel Tumbiolo, the U.S. Air Force Delta II launch weather officer with the 45th Weather Squadron at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. GLAST is a powerful space observatory that will explore the Universe's ultimate frontier, where nature harnesses forces and energies far beyond anything possible on Earth; probe some of science's deepest questions, such as what our Universe is made of, and search for new laws of physics; explain how black holes accelerate jets of material to nearly light speed; and help crack the mystery of stupendously powerful explosions known as gamma-ray bursts. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

A projected preconditioned conjugate gradient algorithm for computing many extreme eigenpairs of a Hermitian matrix [A projected preconditioned conjugate gradient algorithm for computing a large eigenspace of a Hermitian matrix

DOE PAGES

Vecharynski, Eugene; Yang, Chao; Pask, John E.

2015-02-25

Here, we present an iterative algorithm for computing an invariant subspace associated with the algebraically smallest eigenvalues of a large sparse or structured Hermitian matrix A. We are interested in the case in which the dimension of the invariant subspace is large (e.g., over several hundreds or thousands) even though it may still be small relative to the dimension of A. These problems arise from, for example, density functional theory (DFT) based electronic structure calculations for complex materials. The key feature of our algorithm is that it performs fewer Rayleigh–Ritz calculations compared to existing algorithms such as the locally optimalmore » block preconditioned conjugate gradient or the Davidson algorithm. It is a block algorithm, and hence can take advantage of efficient BLAS3 operations and be implemented with multiple levels of concurrency. We discuss a number of practical issues that must be addressed in order to implement the algorithm efficiently on a high performance computer.« less

An experimental-theoretical study of free vibrations of plates on elastic point supports

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Leuner, T. R.

1972-01-01

A theoretical and experimental study is made to investigate the effect on plate vibrations of varying the stiffness of corner elastic point supports. A theoretical model is developed using a Rayleigh-Ritz analysis which approximates the plate mode shapes as products of free-free beam modes. The elastic point supports are modelled both as massless translational springs, and springs with tip masses. The tip masses are included to better represent the experimental supports. An experiment is constructed using the bending stiffness of horizontal beams to support a square plate at its four corners. The stiffness of these supports can be varied over such a range that the plate fundamental frequency is lowered to 40% of the rigid support frequency. The variation with support stiffness of the frequencies of the first eight plate modes is measured, and compared with the theoretical results. The plate mode shapes for rigid supports are analyzed using holographic interferometry. There is excellent agreement between the theoretical and experimental results, except for high plate modes where the theoretical model is demonstrated to be inadequate.

A Systematic Approach for Computing Zero-Point Energy, Quantum Partition Function, and Tunneling Effect Based on Kleinert's Variational Perturbation Theory.

PubMed

Wong, Kin-Yiu; Gao, Jiali

2008-09-09

In this paper, we describe an automated integration-free path-integral (AIF-PI) method, based on Kleinert's variational perturbation (KP) theory, to treat internuclear quantum-statistical effects in molecular systems. We have developed an analytical method to obtain the centroid potential as a function of the variational parameter in the KP theory, which avoids numerical difficulties in path-integral Monte Carlo or molecular dynamics simulations, especially at the limit of zero-temperature. Consequently, the variational calculations using the KP theory can be efficiently carried out beyond the first order, i.e., the Giachetti-Tognetti-Feynman-Kleinert variational approach, for realistic chemical applications. By making use of the approximation of independent instantaneous normal modes (INM), the AIF-PI method can readily be applied to many-body systems. Previously, we have shown that in the INM approximation, the AIF-PI method is accurate for computing the quantum partition function of a water molecule (3 degrees of freedom) and the quantum correction factor for the collinear H(3) reaction rate (2 degrees of freedom). In this work, the accuracy and properties of the KP theory are further investigated by using the first three order perturbations on an asymmetric double-well potential, the bond vibrations of H(2), HF, and HCl represented by the Morse potential, and a proton-transfer barrier modeled by the Eckart potential. The zero-point energy, quantum partition function, and tunneling factor for these systems have been determined and are found to be in excellent agreement with the exact quantum results. Using our new analytical results at the zero-temperature limit, we show that the minimum value of the computed centroid potential in the KP theory is in excellent agreement with the ground state energy (zero-point energy) and the position of the centroid potential minimum is the expectation value of particle position in wave mechanics. The fast convergent property of the KP theory is further examined in comparison with results from the traditional Rayleigh-Ritz variational approach and Rayleigh-Schrödinger perturbation theory in wave mechanics. The present method can be used for thermodynamic and quantum dynamic calculations, including to systematically determine the exact value of zero-point energy and to study kinetic isotope effects for chemical reactions in solution and in enzymes.

Large Paleo Landslides Along the Western Part of the Gobi-Altay Fault System in Southwestern Mongolia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mushkin, A.; Javkhlanbold, D.; Bayasgalan, A.; Gillespie, A.

2004-12-01

A sequence of paleo landslides at the Namalzah Hills, ˜70 km south of the town of Altay in southwestern Mongolia (45.8\\deg N, 96.5\\deg E) is associated with tectonic activity along the western part of the Gobi-Altay Fault system (GAFS). Three mobilized blocks of 0.5, 2.5 and 110 km2 suggest multiple events of sliding, and displaced alluvial fans across an adjacent fault trace at the front of the mountain range indicate left-lateral offset. The 110-km2 block has been translated ˜4.5 km down-slope north from the mountain range, with prominent scarps defining both the eastern and western boundaries of the landslide. Neogene deposits unconformably overlain by Quaternary alluvial sediments up to 200 m thick in places comprise this block, which is structurally characterized by a set of internally drained basins trending east-west, and corresponding terminal lake beds. Well-developed desert pavements characterize its surface. The 0.5- and 2.5-km2 blocks, which lie between the 110-km2 block and the source area, appear to be younger and thus suggest sliding events that postdate the mobilization of the large block. Elevated alluvial fans found along the mountain front indicate significant antithetic uplift north of the mountain-front fault trace as well as ˜2 km of cumulative left-lateral offset. Surface-composition mapping of the largest block suggests 1.0-1.5 km of left-lateral offset between it and the mountain range, while westward translation of the smallest mobilized block indicates ˜0.6 km of post-sliding, left-lateral offset. OSL samples were collected from the bottom of a lake bed on the largest block and from the underlying alluvial sediments to provide age constraints for the initiation of these sliding events. The good preservation of carbon recovered from the bottom of the lake bed suggests that the lake is relatively young. Accordingly, slip-rates higher than the 1.2 mm/yr constrained by Ritz et al. (1995) along the eastern part of the GAFS, may be required to accommodate the 1.0-1.5 km of inferred offset between the largest block and the mountain range. While another landslide of similar magnitude has been described by Philip and Ritz (1999) ˜400 km to the east along the GAFS, the well-preserved sequence of mobilized blocks and closely related offset alluvial fans of the Namalzah Hills offers a good opportunity to improve our understanding of Quaternary displacement along this part of the GAFS, as well as study the complex relation between tectonic activity and landsliding in such intra-continental environments.

Energy harvesting efficiency optimization via varying the radius of curvature of a piezoelectric THUNDER

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Fengxia; Wang, Zengmei; Soroush, Mahmoudiandehkordi; Abedini, Amin

2016-09-01

In this work the energy harvesting performance of a piezoelectric curved energy generator (THin layer UNimorph DrivER (THUNDER)) is studied via experimental and analytical methods. The analytical model of the THUNDER is created based on the linear mechanical electrical constitutive law of the piezoelectric material, the linear elastic constitutive law of the substrate, and the Euler-Bernoulli beam theory. With these linear modal functions, the Rayleigh-Ritz approach was used to obtain the reduced mechanical-electrical coupled modulation equations. The analytical model is verified by the experimental results. Both the experimental and analytical results of the THUNDER’s AC power output, DC power output with Rectifier Bridge and a capacitor, as well as the power output with a microcontroller energy harvesting circuit are reported. Based on the theoretical model, the analytical solution of the DC power is derived in terms of the vibration amplitude, frequency, and the electrical load. To harvest energy from low-frequency vibration source by a piezoelectric generator requires the piezoelectric device possessing low resonance frequency and good flexibility. The THUNDER developed by Langley Research Center exhibits high power when it is used as an energy generator and large displacement when it is used as an actuator. Compared to the less flexible PZT, although THUNDER is more difficult to model, THUNDER has better vibration absorption capacity and higher energy recovery efficiency. The effect of the THUNDER’s radius of curvature on energy harvesting efficiency is mainly investigated. We set the THUNDER’s radius of curvature as a dynamic tuning parameter which can tune the piezoelectric generators’ frequency with the source excitation frequency.

Influence of Material Distribution on Impact Resistance of Hybrid Composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Abatan, Ayu; Hu, Hurang

1998-01-01

Impact events occur in a wide variety of circumstances. A typical example is a bullet impacting a target made of composite material. These impact events produce time-varying loads on a structure that can result in damage. As a first step to understanding the damage resistance issue in composite laminates, an accurate prediction of the transient response during an impact event is necessary. The analysis of dynamic loadings on laminated composite plates has undergone considerable development recently. Rayleigh-Ritz energy method was used to determine the impact response of laminated plates. The impact response of composite plates using shear deformation plate theory was analyzed. In recent work a closed-form solution was obtained for a rectangular plate with four edges simply supported subjected to a center impact load using classical plate theory. The problem was further investigated and the analysis results compared of both classical plate theory and shear deformation theory, and found that classical plate theory predicts very accurate results for the range of small deformations considered. In this study, the influence of cross sectional material distribution on the comparative impact responses of hybrid metal laminates subjected to low and medium velocity impacts is investigated. A simple linear model to evaluate the magnitude of the impact load is proposed first, and it establishes a relation between the impact velocity and the impact force. Then a closed-form solution for impact problem is presented. The results were compared with the finite element analysis results. For an 11 layer-hybrid laminate, the impact response as a function of material distribution in cross-section is presented. With equal areal weight, the effect of the number of laminate layers on the impact resistance is also investigated. Finally, the significance of the presented results is discussed.

An alternative to Guyan reduction of finite-element models

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lin, Jiguan Gene

1988-01-01

Structural modeling is a key part of structural system identification for large space structures. Finite-element structural models are commonly used in practice because of their general applicability and availability. The initial models generated by using a standard computer program such as NASTRAN, ANSYS, SUPERB, STARDYNE, STRUDL, etc., generally contain tens of thousands of degrees of freedom. The models must be reduced for purposes of identification. Not only does the magnitude of the identification effort grow exponentially as a function of the number of degrees of freedom, but numerical procedures may also break down because of accumulated round-off errors. Guyan reduction is usually applied after a static condensation. Misapplication of Guyan reduction can lead to serious modeling errors. It is quite unfortunate and disappointing, since the accuracy of the original detailed finite-element model one tries very hard to achieve is lost by the reduction. First, why and how Guyan reduction always causes loss of accuracy is examined. An alternative approach is then introduced. The alternative can be thought of as an improvement of Guyan reduction, the Rayleigh-Ritz method, and in particular the recent algorithm of Wilson, Yuan, and Dickens. Unlike Guyan reduction, the use of the alternative does not need any special insight, experience, or skill for partitioning the structural degrees of freedom. In addition to model condensation, this alternative approach can also be used for predicting analytically, quickly, and economically, what are those structural modes that are excitable by a force actuator at a given trial location. That is, in the excitation of the structural modes for identification, it can be used for guiding the placement of the force actuators.

On the thermodynamic properties of thermal plasma in the flame kernel of hydrocarbon/air premixed gases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Askari, Omid; Beretta, Gian Paolo; Eisazadeh-Far, Kian; Metghalchi, Hameed

2016-07-01

Thermodynamic properties of hydrocarbon/air plasma mixtures at ultra-high temperatures must be precisely calculated due to important influence on the flame kernel formation and propagation in combusting flows and spark discharge applications. A new algorithm based on the complete chemical equilibrium assumption is developed to calculate the ultra-high temperature plasma composition and thermodynamic properties, including enthalpy, entropy, Gibbs free energy, specific heat at constant pressure, specific heat ratio, speed of sound, mean molar mass, and degree of ionization. The method is applied to compute the thermodynamic properties of H2/air and CH4/air plasma mixtures for different temperatures (1000-100 000 K), different pressures (10-6-100 atm), and different fuel/air equivalence ratios within flammability limit. In calculating the individual thermodynamic properties of the atomic species needed to compute the complete equilibrium composition, the Debye-Huckel cutoff criterion has been used for terminating the series expression of the electronic partition function so as to capture the reduction of the ionization potential due to pressure and the intense connection between the electronic partition function and the thermodynamic properties of the atomic species and the number of energy levels taken into account. Partition functions have been calculated using tabulated data for available atomic energy levels. The Rydberg and Ritz extrapolation and interpolation laws have been used for energy levels which are not observed. The calculated plasma properties are then presented as functions of temperature, pressure and equivalence ratio, in terms of a new set of thermodynamically self-consistent correlations that are shown to provide very accurate fits suitable for efficient use in CFD simulations. Comparisons with existing data for air plasma show excellent agreement.

A MEMS square Chladni plate resonator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pala, Sedat; Azgın, Kıvanç

2016-10-01

This paper presents the design, fabrication and tests of a micro-fabricated MEMS ‘Chladni’ plate resonator. The proposed MEMS resonator has a square plate geometry having a side length of 1400 µm and a height of 35 µm. Its geometry and electrode layout are designed to analyze and test as many modes as possible. The MEMS plate is fabricated using a silicon-on-insulator process with a 35 µm thick < \\text{1} \\text{1} \\text{1}> silicon layer on a glass substrate. Transverse vibration of the plate is investigated to obtain closed form natural frequencies and mode shapes, which are derived using the Rayleigh-Ritz energy method, with an electrostatic softening effect included. Closed form equations for the calculation of effective stiffness’, masses and natural frequencies of the two modes (mode (1,1) and mode (2,0)-(0,2)) are presented, with and without electrostatic softening. The analytical model is verified for those modes by finite-element simulations, frequency response tests in vacuum and laser Doppler vibrometer (LDV) experiments. The derived model deviates from the finite-element analysis by 3.35% for mode (1,1) and 6.15% for mode (2,0)-(0,2). For verification, the frequency responses of the plates are measured with both electrostatic excitation-detection at around 20 mTorr vacuum ambient and LDV at around 0.364 mTorr vacuum ambient. The resonance frequency and Q-factor of mode (1,1) are measured to be 104.2 kHz and 14 300, respectively. For mode (2,0)-(0,2), the measured resonance frequency and Q-factor are 156.68 kHz and 10 700, respectively. The presented LDV results also support both natural frequencies of interest and corresponding mode shapes of the plate structure.

First translational 'Think Tank' on cerebrovascular disease, cognitive impairment and dementia.

PubMed

Barone, Frank C; Gustafson, Deborah; Crystal, Howard A; Moreno, Herman; Adamski, Mateusz G; Arai, Ken; Baird, Alison E; Balucani, Clotilde; Brickman, Adam M; Cechetto, David; Gorelick, Philip; Biessels, Geert Jan; Kiliaan, Amanda; Launer, Lenore; Schneider, Julie; Sorond, Farzaneh A; Whitmer, Rachel; Wright, Clinton; Zhang, Zheng Gang

2016-02-13

As the human population continues to age, an increasing number of people will exhibit significant deficits in cognitive function and dementia. It is now recognized that cerebrovascular, metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases all play major roles in the evolution of cognitive impairment and dementia. Thus with our more recent recognition of these relationships and our need to understand and more positively impact on this world health problem, "The Leo and Anne Albert Charitable Trust" (Gene Pranzo, Trustee with significant support from Susan Brogan, Meeting Planner) provided generous support for this inaugural international workshop that was held from April 13-16, 2015 at the beautiful Ritz Carlton Golf Resort in North Naples, Florida. Researchers from SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY organized the event by selecting the present group of translationally inclined preclinical, clinical and population scientists focused on cerebrovascular disease (CVD) risk and its progression to vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) and dementia. Participants at the workshop addressed important issues related to aging, cognition and dementia by: (1) sharing new data, information and perspectives that intersect vascular, metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases, (2) discussing gaps in translating population risk, clinical and preclinical information to the progression of cognitive loss, and (3) debating new approaches and methods to fill these gaps that can translate into future therapeutic interventions. Participants agreed on topics for group discussion prior to the meeting and focused on specific translational goals that included promoting better understanding of dementia mechanisms, the identification of potential therapeutic targets for intervention, and discussed/debated the potential utility of diagnostic/prognostic markers. Below summarizes the new data-presentations, concepts, novel directions and specific discussion topics addressed by this international translational team at our "First Leo and Anne Albert Charitable Trust 'Think Tank' VCI workshop".

Extension-torsion coupling behavior of advanced composite tilt-rotor blades

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kosmatka, J. B.

1989-01-01

An analytic model was developed to study the extension-bend-twist coupling behavior of an advanced composite helicopter or tilt-rotor blade. The outer surface of the blade is defined by rotating an arbitrary cross section about an initial twist axis. The cross section can be nonhomogeneous and composed of generally anisotropic materials. The model is developed based upon a three dimensional elasticity approach that is recast as a coupled two-dimensional boundary value problem defined in a curvilinear coordinate system. Displacement solutions are written in terms of known functions that represent extension, bending, and twisting and unknown functions for local cross section deformations. The unknown local deformation functions are determined by applying the principle of minimum potential energy to the discretized two-dimensional cross section. This is an application of the Ritz method, where the trial function family is the displacement field associated with a finite element (8-node isoparametric quadrilaterals) representation of the section. A computer program was written where the cross section is discretized into 8-node quadrilateral subregions. Initially the program was verified using previously published results (both three-dimensional elasticity and technical beam theory) for pretwisted isotropic bars with an elliptical cross section. In addition, solid and thin-wall multi-cell NACA-0012 airfoil sections were analyzed to illustrate the pronounced effects that pretwist, initial twist axis location, and spar location has on coupled behavior. Currently, a series of advanced composite airfoils are being modeled in order to assess how the use of laminated composite materials interacts with pretwist to alter the coupling behavior of the blade. These studies will investigate the use of different ply angle orientations and the use of symmetric versus unsymmetric laminates.

Progress in calculating the potential energy surface of H3+.

PubMed

Adamowicz, Ludwik; Pavanello, Michele

2012-11-13

The most accurate electronic structure calculations are performed using wave function expansions in terms of basis functions explicitly dependent on the inter-electron distances. In our recent work, we use such basis functions to calculate a highly accurate potential energy surface (PES) for the H(3)(+) ion. The functions are explicitly correlated Gaussians, which include inter-electron distances in the exponent. Key to obtaining the high accuracy in the calculations has been the use of the analytical energy gradient determined with respect to the Gaussian exponential parameters in the minimization of the Rayleigh-Ritz variational energy functional. The effective elimination of linear dependences between the basis functions and the automatic adjustment of the positions of the Gaussian centres to the changing molecular geometry of the system are the keys to the success of the computational procedure. After adiabatic and relativistic corrections are added to the PES and with an effective accounting of the non-adiabatic effects in the calculation of the rotational/vibrational states, the experimental H(3)(+) rovibrational spectrum is reproduced at the 0.1 cm(-1) accuracy level up to 16,600 cm(-1) above the ground state.

A Ritz approach for the static analysis of planar pantographic structures modeled with nonlinear Euler-Bernoulli beams

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Andreaus, Ugo; Spagnuolo, Mario; Lekszycki, Tomasz; Eugster, Simon R.

2018-04-01

We present a finite element discrete model for pantographic lattices, based on a continuous Euler-Bernoulli beam for modeling the fibers composing the pantographic sheet. This model takes into account large displacements, rotations and deformations; the Euler-Bernoulli beam is described by using nonlinear interpolation functions, a Green-Lagrange strain for elongation and a curvature depending on elongation. On the basis of the introduced discrete model of a pantographic lattice, we perform some numerical simulations. We then compare the obtained results to an experimental BIAS extension test on a pantograph printed with polyamide PA2200. The pantographic structures involved in the numerical as well as in the experimental investigations are not proper fabrics: They are composed by just a few fibers for theoretically allowing the use of the Euler-Bernoulli beam theory in the description of the fibers. We compare the experiments to numerical simulations in which we allow the fibers to elastically slide one with respect to the other in correspondence of the interconnecting pivot. We present as result a very good agreement between the numerical simulation, based on the introduced model, and the experimental measures.

Helium-like magnesium embedded in strongly coupled plasma

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

Bhattacharyya, Sukhamoy

2016-05-06

In recent days, with the advent of the x-ray free electron laser (FEL) with Linac coherent light source (LCLS) and the Orion laser, experimental studies on atomic systems within strongly coupled plasma environment with remarkable improvement in accuracy as compared to earlier experiments have become possible. In these kinds of experiments, hydrogen-like and helium-like spectral lines are used for determination of plasma parameters such as temperature, density. Accurate theoretical calculations are, therefore, necessary for such kind of studies within a dense plasma environment. In this work, ab initio calculations are carried out in the framework of the Rayleigh-Ritz variation principlemore » to estimate the ground state energy of helium-like magnesium within strongly coupled plasma environment. Explicitly correlated wave functions in Hylleraas coordinates have been used to incorporate the effect of electron correlation. The ion-sphere model potential that confines the central positive ion in a finite domain filled with plasma electrons has been adopted to mimic the strongly coupled plasma environment. Thermodynamic pressure ’felt’ by the ion in the ground states due to the confinement inside the ion spheres is also estimated.« less

VizieR Online Data Catalog: Energy levels of ionized vanadium (V II) (Saloman+, 2017)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saloman, E. B.; Kramida, A.

2017-09-01

The energy levels, observed spectral lines, and transition probabilities of singly ionized vanadium, V II, have been compiled. The experimentally derived energy levels belong to the configurations 3d4, 3d3ns (n=4,5,6), 3d3np, and 3d3nd (n=4,5), 3d34f, 3d24s2, and 3d24s4p. Also included are values for some forbidden lines that may be of interest to the astrophysical community. Experimental Lande g-factors and leading percentages for the levels are included when available, as well as Ritz wavelengths calculated from the energy levels. Wavelengths and transition probabilities are reported for 3568 and 1896 transitions, respectively. From the list of observed wavelengths, 407 energy levels are determined. The observed intensities, normalized to a common scale, are provided. From the newly optimized energy levels, a revised value for the ionization energy is derived, 118,030(60)cm-1, corresponding to 14.634(7)eV. This is 130cm-1 higher than the previously recommended value from Iglesias+ (1988, Publ. Inst. Opt. Madrid 47 1). (3 data files).

Open-Source Software for Modeling of Nanoelectronic Devices

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Oyafuso, Fabiano; Hua, Hook; Tisdale, Edwin; Hart, Don

2004-01-01

The Nanoelectronic Modeling 3-D (NEMO 3-D) computer program has been upgraded to open-source status through elimination of license-restricted components. The present version functions equivalently to the version reported in "Software for Numerical Modeling of Nanoelectronic Devices" (NPO-30520), NASA Tech Briefs, Vol. 27, No. 11 (November 2003), page 37. To recapitulate: NEMO 3-D performs numerical modeling of the electronic transport and structural properties of a semiconductor device that has overall dimensions of the order of tens of nanometers. The underlying mathematical model represents the quantum-mechanical behavior of the device resolved to the atomistic level of granularity. NEMO 3-D solves the applicable quantum matrix equation on a Beowulf-class cluster computer by use of a parallel-processing matrix vector multiplication algorithm coupled to a Lanczos and/or Rayleigh-Ritz algorithm that solves for eigenvalues. A prior upgrade of NEMO 3-D incorporated a capability for a strain treatment, parameterized for bulk material properties of GaAs and InAs, for two tight-binding submodels. NEMO 3-D has been demonstrated in atomistic analyses of effects of disorder in alloys and, in particular, in bulk In(x)Ga(1-x)As and in In(0.6)Ga(0.4)As quantum dots.

Numerical Modeling of Nanoelectronic Devices

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Klimeck, Gerhard; Oyafuso, Fabiano; Bowen, R. Chris; Boykin, Timothy

2003-01-01

Nanoelectronic Modeling 3-D (NEMO 3-D) is a computer program for numerical modeling of the electronic structure properties of a semiconductor device that is embodied in a crystal containing as many as 16 million atoms in an arbitrary configuration and that has overall dimensions of the order of tens of nanometers. The underlying mathematical model represents the quantummechanical behavior of the device resolved to the atomistic level of granularity. The system of electrons in the device is represented by a sparse Hamiltonian matrix that contains hundreds of millions of terms. NEMO 3-D solves the matrix equation on a Beowulf-class cluster computer, by use of a parallel-processing matrix vector multiplication algorithm coupled to a Lanczos and/or Rayleigh-Ritz algorithm that solves for eigenvalues. In a recent update of NEMO 3-D, a new strain treatment, parameterized for bulk material properties of GaAs and InAs, was developed for two tight-binding submodels. The utility of the NEMO 3-D was demonstrated in an atomistic analysis of the effects of disorder in alloys and, in particular, in bulk In(x)Ga(l-x)As and in In0.6Ga0.4As quantum dots.

A multi-archive coherent chronology: from Greenland to the Mediterranean sea

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bazin, Lucie; Landais, Amaelle; Lemieux-Dudon, Bénédicte; Siani, Giuseppe; Michel, Elisabeth; Combourieu-Nebout, Nathalie; Blamart, Dominique; Genty, Dominique

2015-04-01

Understanding the climate mechanisms requires a precise knowledge of the sequence of events during major climate changes. In order to provide precise relationships between changes in orbital and/or greenhouse gases concentration forcing, sea level changes and high vs low latitudes temperatures, a common chronological framework for different paleoclimatic archives is required. Coherent chronologies for ice cores have been recently produced using a bayesian dating tool, DATICE (Lemieux-Dudon et al., 2010, Bazin et al., 2013, Veres et al., 2013). Such tool has been recently developed to include marine cores and speleothems in addition to ice cores. This new development should enable one to test the coherency of different chronologies using absolute and stratigraphic links as well as to provide relationship between climatic changes recorded in different archives. We present here a first application of multi-archive coherent dating including paleoclimatic archives from (1) Greenland (NGRIP ice core), (2) Mediterranean sea (marine core MD90-917, 41° N17° E, 1010 m) and (3) speleothems from the South of France and North Tunisia (Chauvet, Villars and La Mine speleothems, Genty et al., 2006). Thanks to the good absolute chronological constraints from annual layer counting in NGRIP, 14C and tephra layers in MD90-917 and U-Th dating in speleothems, we can provide a precise chronological framework for the last 50 ka (ie. thousand years before present). Then, we present different tests on how to combine the records from the different archives and give the most plausible scenario for the sequence of events at different latitudes over the last deglaciation. Bazin, L., Landais, A. ; Lemieu¬-Dudon, B. ; Kele, H. T. M. ; Veres, D. ; Parrenin, F. ; Martinerie, P. ; Ritz, C. ; Capron, E. ; Lipenkov, V. ; Loutre, M.-F. ; Raynaud, D. ; Vinther, B. ; Svensson, A. ; Rasmussen, S. ; Severi, M. ; Blunier, T. ; Leuenberger, M. ; Fischer, H. ; Masson-¬-Delmotte, V. ; Chappellaz, J. & Wolff, E., An optimized multi-proxy, multi-site Antarctic ice and gas orbital chronology (AICC2012): 120-800 ka,Clim. Past 9, 1715-1731, 2013. Genty, D., Blamart, D., Ghaleb B., Plagnes, V., Causse, Ch., Bakalowicz, M., Zouari, K., Chkir, N., Hellstrom, J., Wainer, K., Bourges, F., Timing and dynamics of the last deglaciation from European and North African δ13C stalagmite profiles - comparison with Chinese ans South Hemisphere stalagmites, Quat. Sci. Rev. 25, 2118-2142, 2006. Lemieux-Dudon, B. ; Blayo, E. ; Petit, J.-R. ; Waelbroeck, C. ;Svensson, A. ; Ritz, C. ; Barnola, J.-M. ; Narcisi, B.M. ; Parrenin, F., Consitent dating for Antarctic and Greenland ice cores, Quat. Sci. Rev. 29(1-2), 2010. Veres, D. ; Bazin, L. ; Landais, A. ; Lemieux-Dudon, B. ; Parrenin, F. ; Martinerie, P. ; Toyé Mahamadou Kele, H. ; Capron, E. ; Chappellaz, J. ; Rasmussen, S. ; Severi, M. ; Svensson, A. ; Vinther, B. & Wolff, E., The Antarctic ice core chronology (AICC2012): an optimized multi-parameter and multi-site dating approach for the last 120 thousand years, Clim. Past, 9, 1733-1748, 2013.

Elasticity of fluorite at high temperatures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eke, J.; Tennakoon, S.; Mookherjee, M.

2017-12-01

Fluorite (CaF2) is a simple halide with cubic space group symmetry (Fm-3m) and is often used as an internal pressure calibrant in moderate high-pressure/high-temperature experiments [1]. In order to gain insight into the elastic behavior of fluorite, we have conducted Resonant Ultrasound Spectroscopy (RUS) on a single crystal of fluorite with rectangular parallelepiped geometry. Using single crystal X-ray diffraction, we aligned the edges of the rectangular parallelepiped with [-1 1 1], [-1 1 -2], and [-1 -1 0] crystallographic directions. We conducted the RUS measurements up to 620 K. RUS spectra are influenced by the geometry, density, and the full elastic moduli tensor of the material. In our high-temperature RUS experiments, the geometry and density were constrained using thermal expansion from previous studies [2]. We determined the elasticity by minimizing the difference between observed resonance and calculated Eigen frequency using Rayleigh-Ritz method [3]. We found that at room temperature, the single crystal elastic moduli for fluorite are 170, 49, and 33 GPa for C11, C12, and C44 respectively. At room temperatures, the aggregate bulk modulus (K) is 90 GPa and the shear modulus (G) is 43 GPa. We note that the elastic moduli and sound wave velocities decrease linearly as a function of temperature with dVP /dT and dVS /dT being -9.6 ×10-4 and -5.0 ×10-4 km/s/K respectively. Our high-temperature RUS results are in good agreement with previous studies on fluorite using both Ultrasonic methods and Brillouin scattering [4,5]. Acknowledgement: This study is supported by US NSF awards EAR-1639552 and EAR-1634422. References: [1] Speziale, S., Duffy, T. S. 2002, Phys. Chem. Miner., 29, 465-472; [2] Roberts, R. B., White, G. K., 1986, J. Phys. C: Solid State Phys., 19, 7167-7172. [3] Migliori, A., Maynard, J. D., 2005, Rev. Sci. Instrum., 76, 121301. [4] Catlow, C. R. A., Comins, J. D., Germano, F. A., Harley, R. T., Hayes, W., 1978, J. Phys. C Solid State Phys., 11, 3197; [5] Jones, L. E. A., 1977, Phys. Earth Planet. Inter., 15(1), 77-89.

Three-dimensional fracture instability of a displacement-weakening planar interface under locally peaked nonuniform loading

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Uenishi, Koji

2018-06-01

We consider stability of fracture on a three-dimensional planar interface subjected to a loading stress that is locally peaked spatially, the level of which increases quasi-statically in time. Similar to the earlier study on the two-dimensional case (Uenishi and Rice, 2003; Rice and Uenishi, 2010), as the loading stress increases, a crack, or a region of displacement discontinuity (opening gap in tension or slip for shear fracture), develops on the interface where the stress is presumed to decrease according to a displacement-weakening constitutive relation. Upon reaching the instability point at which no further quasi-static solution for the extension of the crack on the interface exists, dynamic fracture follows. For the investigation of this instability point, we employ a dimensional analysis as well as an energy approach that gives a Rayleigh-Ritz approximation for the dependence of crack size and maximum displacement discontinuity on the level and quadratic shape of the loading stress distribution. We show that, if the linear displacement-weakening law is applied and the crack may be assumed of an elliptical form, the critical crack size at instability is independent of the curvature of the loading stress distribution and it is of the same order for all two- and three-dimensional cases.

Critically Evaluated Energy Levels, Spectral Lines, Transition Probabilities, and Intensities of Singly Ionized Vanadium (V ii)

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

Saloman, Edward B.; Kramida, Alexander

2017-08-01

The energy levels, observed spectral lines, and transition probabilities of singly ionized vanadium, V ii, have been compiled. The experimentally derived energy levels belong to the configurations 3 d {sup 4}, 3 d {sup 3} ns ( n  = 4, 5, 6), 3 d {sup 3} np , and 3 d {sup 3} nd ( n  = 4, 5), 3 d {sup 3}4 f , 3 d {sup 2}4 s {sup 2}, and 3 d {sup 2}4 s 4 p . Also included are values for some forbidden lines that may be of interest to the astrophysical community. Experimental Landé g -factorsmore » and leading percentages for the levels are included when available, as well as Ritz wavelengths calculated from the energy levels. Wavelengths and transition probabilities are reported for 3568 and 1896 transitions, respectively. From the list of observed wavelengths, 407 energy levels are determined. The observed intensities, normalized to a common scale, are provided. From the newly optimized energy levels, a revised value for the ionization energy is derived, 118,030(60) cm{sup −1}, corresponding to 14.634(7) eV. This is 130 cm{sup −1} higher than the previously recommended value from Iglesias et al.« less

Book Review: Book review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martínez, Alberto A.

The title Einstein's Generation immediately suggests names such as Ehrenfest, Ritz, Kaufmann, Born, Laue, and Laub. Staley's book discusses these individuals, but it actually has a broader scope. Both the title and the subtitle are not quite appropriate. A much more fitting title would be Michelson, Electrons, and the Rise of "Modern" Physics. The emphasis on Albert Michelson is evident in the Index: almost four columns on him, compared to just one and a half on Einstein. Likewise, "Einstein's generation" includes, for Staley, many other physicists who were quite older than Einstein, such as Lorentz, Planck, Poincaré, and Minkowski. The book exhibits a composite character because it includes and expands upon four articles that Staley had published earlier on Michelson, relativity, and the co-creation of modern and classical physics. Hence the book is partly a bridging work; it ambitiously connects areas in the history of physics, from the 1880s until 1911. Staley identifies how diverse interests produced crossfertilization, and how various disciplinary boundaries were crossed. He wants to discuss material culture, experiment, and theory, all on the same footing. Every page of the introduction seems to quadruple the scope; he writes about individuals and communities, consolidation and diversification, power and weakness, memory and neglect, the cultural and the material, the classical and the modern, and the absolute and the relative.

Control and characterization of a bistable laminate generated with piezoelectricity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Andrew J.; Moosavian, Amin; Inman, Daniel J.

2017-08-01

Extensive research has been conducted on utilizing smart materials such as piezoelectric and shape memory alloy actuators to induce snap through of bistable structures for morphing applications. However, there has only been limited success in initiating snap through from both stable states due to the lack of actuation authority. A novel solution in the form of a piezoelectrically generated bistable laminate consisting of only macro fiber composites (MFC), allowing complete configuration control without any external assistance, is explored in detail here. Specifically, this paper presents the full analytical, computational, and experimental results of the laminate’s design, geometry, bifurcation behavior, and snap through capability. By bonding two actuated MFCs in a [0MFC/90MFC]T layup and releasing the voltage post cure, piezoelectric strain anisotropy and the resulting in-plane residual stresses yield two statically stable states that are cylindrically shaped. The analytical model uses the Rayleigh-Ritz minimization of total potential energy and finite element analysis is implemented in MSC Nastran. The [0MFC/90MFC]T laminate is then manufactured and experimentally characterized for model validation. This paper demonstrates the adaptive laminate’s unassisted forward and reverse snap through capability enabled by the efficiencies gained from simultaneously being the actuator and the primary structure.

Lithium atoms on helium nanodroplets: Rydberg series and ionization dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lackner, Florian; Krois, Günter; Ernst, Wolfgang E.

2017-11-01

The electronic excitation spectrum of lithium atoms residing on the surface of helium nanodroplets is presented and analyzed employing a Rydberg-Ritz approach. Utilizing resonant two-photon ionization spectroscopy, two different Rydberg series have been identified: one assigned to the nS(Σ) series and the other with predominantly nP(Π) character. For high Rydberg states, which have been resolved up to n = 13, the surrounding helium effectively screens the valence electron from the Li ion core, as indicated by the apparent red-shift of Li transitions and lowered quantum defects on the droplet with respect to their free atom counterparts. For low n states, the screening effect is weakened and the prevailing repulsive interaction gives rise to strongly broadened and blue-shifted transitions. The red-shifts originate from the polarization of nearby He atoms by the positive Li ion core. As a consequence of this effect, the ionization threshold is lowered by 116 ± 10 cm-1 for Li on helium droplets with a radius of about 40 Å. Upon single-photon ionization, heavy complexes corresponding to Li ions attached to intact helium droplets are detected. We conclude that ionization close to the on-droplet ionization threshold triggers a dynamic process in which the Li ion core undergoes a transition from a surface site into the droplet.

The Spectrum and Term Analysis of Co III Measured Using Fourier Transform and Grating Spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smillie, D. G.; Pickering, J. C.; Nave, G.; Smith, P. L.

2016-03-01

The spectrum of Co III has been recorded in the region 1562-2564 Å (64,000 cm-1-39,000 cm-1) by Fourier transform (FT) spectroscopy, and in the region 1317-2500 Å (164,000 cm-1-40,000 cm-1) using a 10.7 m grating spectrograph with phosphor image plate detectors. The spectrum was excited in a cobalt-neon Penning discharge lamp. We classified 514 Co III lines measured using FT spectroscopy, the strongest having wavenumber uncertainties approaching 0.004 cm-1 (approximately 0.2 mÅ at 2000 Å, or 1 part in 107), and 240 lines measured with grating spectroscopy with uncertainties between 5 and 10 mÅ. The wavelength calibration of 790 lines of Raassen & Ortí Ortin and 87 lines from Shenstone has been revised and combined with our measurements to optimize the values of all but one of the 288 previously reported energy levels. Order of magnitude reductions in uncertainty for almost two-thirds of the 3d64s and almost half of the 3d64p revised energy levels are obtained. Ritz wavelengths have been calculated for an additional 100 forbidden lines. Eigenvector percentage compositions for the energy levels and predicted oscillator strengths have been calculated using the Cowan code.

Fourier transform synchrotron spectroscopy of torsional and CO-stretching bands of CH 3 17 OH

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moruzzi, G.; Murphy, R. J.; Vos, J.; Lees, R. M.; Predoi-Cross, A.; Billinghurst, B. E.

2011-07-01

The Fourier transform spectrum of the CH 317OH isotopologue of methanol has been recorded in the 65-1200 cm -1 spectral region at a resolution of 0.00096 cm -1 using synchrotron source radiation at the Canadian Light Source. Here we present an extension to higher torsional states of our investigation of the torsion-rotation transitions within the small-amplitude vibrational ground state, now including assignments of more than 16 500 lines involving quantum numbers in the ranges v t ⩽ 3, J ⩽ 30 and | K| ⩽ 12, as well as a study of the strong CO-stretching band centered at 1020 cm -1. Energy term values have been determined for assigned ground and CO-stretching levels by use of the Ritz program, and have been fitted to series expansions in powers of J( J + 1) to determine substate origins and effective B values. Several Fermi anharmonic and Coriolis level-crossing resonances coupling the CO stretch with high torsional ground-state levels have been identified and characterized. The study is motivated by astrophysical applications, with a principal aim being the compilation of an extensive set of energy term values to permit prediction of astronomically observable sub-millimetre transitions to within an uncertainty of a few MHz.

Robust Seismic Normal Modes Computation in Radial Earth Models and A Novel Classification Based on Intersection Points of Waveguides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ye, J.; Shi, J.; De Hoop, M. V.

2017-12-01

We develop a robust algorithm to compute seismic normal modes in a spherically symmetric, non-rotating Earth. A well-known problem is the cross-contamination of modes near "intersections" of dispersion curves for separate waveguides. Our novel computational approach completely avoids artificial degeneracies by guaranteeing orthonormality among the eigenfunctions. We extend Wiggins' and Buland's work, and reformulate the Sturm-Liouville problem as a generalized eigenvalue problem with the Rayleigh-Ritz Galerkin method. A special projection operator incorporating the gravity terms proposed by de Hoop and a displacement/pressure formulation are utilized in the fluid outer core to project out the essential spectrum. Moreover, the weak variational form enables us to achieve high accuracy across the solid-fluid boundary, especially for Stoneley modes, which have exponentially decaying behavior. We also employ the mixed finite element technique to avoid spurious pressure modes arising from discretization schemes and a numerical inf-sup test is performed following Bathe's work. In addition, the self-gravitation terms are reformulated to avoid computations outside the Earth, thanks to the domain decomposition technique. Our package enables us to study the physical properties of intersection points of waveguides. According to Okal's classification theory, the group velocities should be continuous within a branch of the same mode family. However, we have found that there will be a small "bump" near intersection points, which is consistent with Miropol'sky's observation. In fact, we can loosely regard Earth's surface and the CMB as independent waveguides. For those modes that are far from the intersection points, their eigenfunctions are localized in the corresponding waveguides. However, those that are close to intersection points will have physical features of both waveguides, which means they cannot be classified in either family. Our results improve on Okal's classification, demonstrating that dispersion curves from independent waveguides should be considered to break at intersection points.

Compression behavior of delaminated composite plates

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Peck, Scott O.; Springer, George S.

1989-01-01

The response of delaminated composite plates to compressive in-plane loads was investigated. The delaminated region may be either circular or elliptical, and may be located between any two plies of the laminate. For elliptical delaminations, the axes of the ellipse may be arbitrarily oriented with respect to the applied loads. A model was developed that describes the stresses, strains, and deformation of the sublaminate created by the delamination. The mathematical model is based on a two dimensional nonlinear plate theory that includes the effects of transverse shear deformation. The model takes into account thermal and moisture induced strains, transverse pressures acting on the sublaminate, and contact between the sublaminate and plate. The solution technique used is the Ritz method. A computationally efficient computer implementation of the model was developed. The code can be used to predict the nonlinear-load-strain behavior of the sublaminate including the buckling load, postbuckling behavior, and the onset of delamination growth. The accuracy of the code was evaluated by comparing the model results to benchmark analytical solutions. A series of experiments was conducted on Fiberite T300/976 graphite/epoxy laminates bonded to an aluminum honeycomb core forming a sandwich panel. Either circles or ellipses made from Teflon film were embedded in the laminates, simulating the presence of a delamination. Each specimen was loaded in compression and the strain history of the sublaminate was recorded far into the postbuckling regime. The extent of delamination growth was evaluated by C-scan examination of each specimen. The experimental data were compared to code predictions. The code was found to describe the data with reasonable accuracy. A sensitivity study examined the relative importance of various material properties, the delamination dimensions, the contact model, the transverse pressure differential, the critical strain energy release rate, and the relative growth direction on the buckling load, the postbuckling behavior, and the growth load of the sublaminate.

Traffic-Related Air Pollution and Parkinson’s Disease in Denmark: A Case–Control Study

PubMed Central

Ritz, Beate; Lee, Pei-Chen; Hansen, Johnni; Lassen, Christina Funch; Ketzel, Matthias; Sørensen, Mette; Raaschou-Nielsen, Ole

2015-01-01

Background Very little is currently known about air pollutants’ adverse effects on neurodegenerative diseases even though recent studies have linked particulate exposures to brain pathologies associated with Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. Objective In the present study, we investigated long-term exposure to traffic-related air pollution and Parkinson’s disease. Methods In a case–control study of 1,696 Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients identified from Danish hospital registries and diagnosed 1996–2009 and 1,800 population controls matched by sex and year of birth, we assessed long-term traffic-related air pollutant exposures (represented by nitrogen dioxide; NO2) from a dispersion model, using residential addresses from 1971 to the date of diagnosis or first cardinal symptom for cases and the corresponding index date for their matched controls. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated with logistic regression, adjusting for matching factors and potential confounders. Results We found ambient air pollution from traffic sources to be associated with risk of PD, with a 9% higher risk (95% CI: 3, 16.0%) per interquartile range increase (2.97 μg/m3) in modeled NO2. For participants living for ≥ 20 years in the capital city, ORs were larger (OR = 1.21; 95% CI: 1.11, 1.31) than in provincial towns (OR = 1.10; 95% CI: 0.97, 1.26), whereas there was no association among rural residents. Conclusions Our findings raise concerns about potential effects of air pollution from traffic and other sources on the risk of PD, particularly in populations with high or increasing exposures. Citation Ritz B, Lee PC, Hansen J, Funch Lassen C, Ketzel M, Sørensen M, Raaschou-Nielsen O. 2016. Traffic-related air pollution and Parkinson’s disease in Denmark: a case–control study. Environ Health Perspect 124:351–356; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1409313 PMID:26151951

Continuation of tailored composite structures of ordered staple thermoplastic material

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Santare, Michael H.; Pipes, R. Byron

1992-01-01

The search for the cost effective composite structure has motivated the investigation of several approaches to develop composite structure from innovative material forms. Among the promising approaches is the conversion of a planar sheet to components of complex curvature through sheet forming or stretch forming. In both cases, the potential for material stretch in the fiber direction appears to offer a clear advantage in formability over continuous fiber systems. A framework was established which allows the simulation of the anisotropic mechanisms of deformation of long discontinuous fiber laminates wherein the matrix phase is a viscous fluid. Predictions for the effective viscosities of a hyper-anisotropic medium consisting of collimated, discontinuous fibers suspended in viscous matrix were extended to capture the characteristics of typical polymers including non-Newtonian behavior and temperature dependence. In addition, the influence of fiber misorientation was also modeled by compliance averaging to determine ensemble properties for a given orientation distribution. A design tool is presented for predicting the effect of material heterogeneity on the performance of curved composite beams such as those used in aircraft fuselage structures. Material heterogeneity can be induced during manufacturing processes such as sheet forming and stretch forming of thermoplastic composites. This heterogeneity can be introduced in the form of fiber realignment and spreading during the manufacturing process causing radial and tangential gradients in material properties. Two analysis procedures are used to solve the beam problems. The first method uses separate two-dimensional elasticity solutions for the stresses in the flange and web sections of the beam. The separate solutions are coupled by requiring that forces and displacements match section boundaries. The second method uses an approximate Rayleigh-Ritz technique to find the solutions for more complex beams. Analyses are performed for curved beams of various cross-sections loaded in pure bending and with a uniform distributed load. Preliminary results show that the geometry of the beam dictates the effect of heterogeneity on performance. The role of heterogeneity is larger in beams with a small average radius-to-depth ration, R/t, where R is the average radius of the beam and t is the difference between the inside and outside radii. Results of the anlysis are in the form of stresses and displacements and are compared to both mechanics of materials and numerical solutions obtained using finite element analysis.

Aeolian sands and buried soils in the Mecklenburg Lake District, NE Germany: Holocene land-use history and pedo-geomorphic response

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Küster, Mathias; Fülling, Alexander; Kaiser, Knut; Ulrich, Jens

2014-04-01

The present study is a pedo-geomorphic approach to reconstructing Holocene aeolian sand dynamics in the Mecklenburg Lake District (NE Germany). Stratigraphical, sedimentological and soil research supplemented by morphogenetic interpretations of the genesis of dunes and aeolian sands are discussed. A complex Late Holocene aeolian stratigraphy within a drift sand area was developed at the shore of Lake Müritz. The results were confirmed using palynological records, archaeological data and regional history. Accelerated aeolian activity was triggered by the intensification of settlement and land-use activities during the 13th and in the 15th to 16th century AD. After a period of stability beginning with population decline during the ‘Thirty Years War' and continuing through the 18th century, a final aeolian phase due to the establishment of glassworks was identified during the 19th century AD. We assume a direct link between Holocene aeolian dynamics and human activities. Prehistoric Holocene drift sands on terrestrial sites have not been documented in the Mecklenburg Lake District so far. This might be explained either by erosion and incorporation of older aeolian sediments during younger aeolian phases and/or a lower regional land-use intensity in older periods of the Holocene. The investigated drift sands are stratigraphically and sedimentologically characterised by a high degree of heterogeneity, reflecting the spatial and temporal variability of Holocene human impact.

Generalized topology for resonators having N commensurate harmonics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Danzi, Francesco; Gibert, James M.; Frulla, Giacomo; Cestino, Enrico

2018-04-01

Despite the ubiquity of both linear and nonlinear multimember resonators in MEMS and kinetic energy harvesting devices very few research efforts examine the orientation of members in the resonator on its dynamic behavior. Previous efforts to design this type of resonator constrains the members to have relative orientations that are 0○ or 90○ to each other, i.e., the elements are connected inline with adjoining members or are perpendicular to adjoining members. The work expands upon the existing body of research by considering the effect of the relative orientation between members on the dynamic behavior of the system. In this manuscript, we derive a generalized reduced-order model for the design of a multi-member planar resonator that has integer multiple modal frequencies. The model is based on a Rayleigh Ritz approximation where the number of degrees of freedom equals the number of structural members in the resonator. The analysis allows the generation of design curves, representing all the possible solutions for modal frequencies that are commensurate. The generalized model, valid for an N-DOF structure, is then restricted for a 2- and 3-DOF system/member resonator, where the linear dynamic behavior of the resonator is investigated in depth. Furthermore, this analysis demonstrates a rule of thumb; relaxing restrictions on the relative orientation of members in a planar structure, allows the structure to exhibit exactly N commensurable frequencies if it contains N members.

Spectrum and Energy Levels of Five-Times Ionized Zirconium (Zr VI)

PubMed Central

Lindsay, Mark D.

2016-01-01

We carried out a new analysis of the spectrum of five-times-ionized zirconium Zr VI. For this we used sliding-spark discharges together with normal- and grazing-incidence spectrographs to observe the spectrum from 160 to 2000 Å. These observations showed that the analysis of this spectrum by Khan Z. A. et al. 1985 Phys. Scr. 31 837 contained a significant number of incorrect energy levels. We have now classified ∼420 lines as transitions between 23 even-parity levels 73 odd-parity levels. The 4s24p5, 4s4p6, 4s24p44d, 5s, 5d, 6s configurations are now complete, although a few levels of 4s24p45d are tentative. We determined Ritz-type wavelengths for ∼135 lines from the optimized energy levels. The uncertainties range from 0.0003 to 0.0020 Å. Hartree-Fock calculations and least-squares fits of the energy parameters to the observed levels were used to interpret the observed configurations. Oscillator strengths for all classified lines were calculated with the fitted parameters. The results are compared with values for the level energies, percentage compositions, and transition probabilities from recent ab initio theoretical calculations. The ionization energy was revised to 777380±300 cm-1 (96.38±0.04 eV). PMID:27325903

Spectrum and Energy Levels of Five-Times Ionized Zirconium (Zr VI).

PubMed

Reader, Joseph; Lindsay, Mark D

2016-02-01

We carried out a new analysis of the spectrum of five-times-ionized zirconium Zr VI. For this we used sliding-spark discharges together with normal- and grazing-incidence spectrographs to observe the spectrum from 160 to 2000 Å. These observations showed that the analysis of this spectrum by Khan Z. A. et al. 1985 Phys. Scr. 31 837 contained a significant number of incorrect energy levels. We have now classified ∼420 lines as transitions between 23 even-parity levels 73 odd-parity levels. The 4s 2 4p 5 , 4s4p 6 , 4s 2 4p 4 4d, 5s, 5d, 6s configurations are now complete, although a few levels of 4s 2 4p 4 5d are tentative. We determined Ritz-type wavelengths for ∼135 lines from the optimized energy levels. The uncertainties range from 0.0003 to 0.0020 Å. Hartree-Fock calculations and least-squares fits of the energy parameters to the observed levels were used to interpret the observed configurations. Oscillator strengths for all classified lines were calculated with the fitted parameters. The results are compared with values for the level energies, percentage compositions, and transition probabilities from recent ab initio theoretical calculations. The ionization energy was revised to 777380±300 cm -1 (96.38±0.04 eV).

Spectrum and energy levels of five-times ionized zirconium (Zr VI)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reader, Joseph; Lindsay, Mark D.

2016-02-01

We carried out a new analysis of the spectrum of five-times-ionized zirconium Zr VI. For this we used sliding-spark discharges together with normal- and grazing-incidence spectrographs to observe the spectrum from 160 to 2000 Å. These observations showed that the analysis of this spectrum by Khan et al (1985 Phys. Scr. 31 837) contained a significant number of incorrect energy levels. We have now classified ˜420 lines as transitions between 23 even-parity levels 73 odd-parity levels. The 4s24p5, 4s4p6, 4s24p44d, 5s, 5d, 6s configurations are now complete, although a few levels of 4s24p45d are tentative. We determined Ritz-type wavelengths for ˜135 lines from the optimized energy levels. The uncertainties range from 0.0003 to 0.0020 Å. Hartree-Fock calculations and least-squares fits of the energy parameters to the observed levels were used to interpret the observed configurations. Oscillator strengths for all classified lines were calculated with the fitted parameters. The results are compared with values for the level energies, percentage compositions, and transition probabilities from recent ab initio theoretical calculations. The ionization energy was revised to 777 380 ± 300 cm-1 (96.38 ± 0.04 eV).

Influence of imperfect end boundary condition on the nonlocal dynamics of CNTs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fathi, Reza; Lotfan, Saeed; Sadeghi, Morteza H.

2017-03-01

Imperfections that unavoidably occur during the fabrication process of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have a significant influence on the vibration behavior of CNTs. Among these imperfections, the boundary condition defect is studied in this investigation based on the nonlocal elasticity theory. To this end, a mathematical model of the non-ideal end condition in a cantilever CNT is developed by a strongly non-linear spring to study its effect on the vibration behavior. The weak form equation of motion is derived via Hamilton's principle and solved based on Rayleigh-Ritz approach. Once the frequency response function (FRF) of the CNT is simulated, it is found that the defect parameter injects noise to the FRF in the range of lower frequencies and as a result the small scale effect on the FRF remains undisturbed in high frequency ranges. Besides, in this work a process is introduced to estimate the nonlocal and defect parameters for establishing the mathematical model of the CNT based on FRF, which can be competitive because of its lower instrumentation and data analysis costs. The estimation process relies on the resonance frequencies and the magnitude of noise in the frequency response function of the CNT. The results show that the constructed dynamic response of the system based on estimated parameters is in good agreement with the original response of the CNT.

Hail statistic in Western Europe based on a hyrid cell-tracking algorithm combining radar signals with hailstone observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fluck, Elody

2015-04-01

Hail statistic in Western Europe based on a hybrid cell-tracking algorithm combining radar signals with hailstone observations Elody Fluck¹, Michael Kunz¹ , Peter Geissbühler², Stefan P. Ritz² With hail damage estimated over Billions of Euros for a single event (e.g., hailstorm Andreas on 27/28 July 2013), hail constitute one of the major atmospheric risks in various parts of Europe. The project HAMLET (Hail Model for Europe) in cooperation with the insurance company Tokio Millennium Re aims at estimating hail probability, hail hazard and, combined with vulnerability, hail risk for several European countries (Germany, Switzerland, France, Netherlands, Austria, Belgium and Luxembourg). Hail signals are obtained from radar reflectivity since this proxy is available with a high temporal and spatial resolution using several hail proxies, especially radar data. The focus in the first step is on Germany and France for the periods 2005- 2013 and 1999 - 2013, respectively. In the next step, the methods will be transferred and extended to other regions. A cell-tracking algorithm TRACE2D was adjusted and applied to two dimensional radar reflectivity data from different radars operated by European weather services such as German weather service (DWD) and French weather service (Météo-France). Strong convective cells are detected by considering 3 connected pixels over 45 dBZ (Reflectivity Cores RCs) in a radar scan. Afterwards, the algorithm tries to find the same RCs in the next 5 minute radar scan and, thus, track the RCs centers over time and space. Additional information about hailstone diameters provided by ESWD (European Severe Weather Database) is used to determine hail intensity of the detected hail swaths. Maximum hailstone diameters are interpolated along and close to the individual hail tracks giving an estimation of mean diameters for the detected hail swaths. Furthermore, a stochastic event set is created by randomizing the parameters obtained from the tracking approach of the historical event catalogue (length, width, orientation, diameter). This stochastic event set will be used to quantify hail risk and to estimate probable maximum loss (e.g., PML200) for a given industry motor or property (building) portfolio.

Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Prenatal Residential Proximity to Agricultural Pesticides: The CHARGE Study

PubMed Central

Geraghty, Estella M.; Tancredi, Daniel J.; Delwiche, Lora D.; Schmidt, Rebecca J.; Ritz, Beate; Hansen, Robin L.; Hertz-Picciotto, Irva

2014-01-01

Background: Gestational exposure to several common agricultural pesticides can induce developmental neurotoxicity in humans, and has been associated with developmental delay and autism. Objectives: We evaluated whether residential proximity to agricultural pesticides during pregnancy is associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) or developmental delay (DD) in the Childhood Autism Risks from Genetics and Environment (CHARGE) study. Methods: The CHARGE study is a population-based case–control study of ASD, DD, and typical development. For 970 participants, commercial pesticide application data from the California Pesticide Use Report (1997–2008) were linked to the addresses during pregnancy. Pounds of active ingredient applied for organophophates, organochlorines, pyrethroids, and carbamates were aggregated within 1.25-km, 1.5-km, and 1.75-km buffer distances from the home. Multinomial logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) of exposure comparing confirmed cases of ASD (n = 486) or DD (n = 168) with typically developing referents (n = 316). Results: Approximately one-third of CHARGE study mothers lived, during pregnancy, within 1.5 km (just under 1 mile) of an agricultural pesticide application. Proximity to organophosphates at some point during gestation was associated with a 60% increased risk for ASD, higher for third-trimester exposures (OR = 2.0; 95% CI: 1.1, 3.6), and second-trimester chlorpyrifos applications (OR = 3.3; 95% CI: 1.5, 7.4). Children of mothers residing near pyrethroid insecticide applications just before conception or during third trimester were at greater risk for both ASD and DD, with ORs ranging from 1.7 to 2.3. Risk for DD was increased in those near carbamate applications, but no specific vulnerable period was identified. Conclusions: This study of ASD strengthens the evidence linking neurodevelopmental disorders with gestational pesticide exposures, particularly organophosphates, and provides novel results of ASD and DD associations with, respectively, pyrethroids and carbamates. Citation: Shelton JF, Geraghty EM, Tancredi DJ, Delwiche LD, Schmidt RJ, Ritz B, Hansen RL, Hertz-Picciotto I. 2014. Neurodevelopmental disorders and prenatal residential proximity to agricultural pesticides: the CHARGE study. Environ Health Perspect 122:1103–1109; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1307044 PMID:24954055

West Nile Virus workshop: scientific considerations for tissue donors.

PubMed

Brubaker, Scott A; Robert Rigney, P

2012-08-01

This report contains selected excerpts, presented as a summary, from a public workshop sponsored by the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB) held to discuss West Nile Virus (WNV) and scientific considerations for tissue donors. The daylong workshop was held 9 July 2010 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel at Tyson's Corner in McLean, Virginia, United States (U.S.). The workshop was designed to determine and discuss scientific information that is known, and what is not known, regarding WNV infection and transmission. The goal is to determine how to fill gaps in knowledge of WNV and tissue donation and transplantation by pursuing relevant scientific studies. This information should ultimately support decisions leading to appropriate tissue donor screening and testing considerations. Discussion topics were related to identifying these gaps and determining possible solutions. Workshop participants included subject-matter experts from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada, AATB-accredited tissue banks including reproductive tissue banks, accredited eye banks of the Eye Bank Association of America, testing laboratories, and infectious disease and organ transplantation professionals. After all presentations concluded, a panel addressed this question: "What are the scientific considerations for tissue donors and what research could be performed to address those considerations?" The slide presentations from the workshop are available at: http://www.aatb.org/2010-West-Nile-Virus-Workshop-Presentations.

Reporting requirements for skeletal digital radiography: comparison of soft-copy and hard-copy presentation.

PubMed

O'Connor, P J; Davies, A G; Fowler, R C; Lintott, D J; Bury, R F; Parkin, G J; Martinez, D; Saifuddin, A; Cowen, A R

1998-04-01

To assess diagnostic performance and reader preference when reporting results from digital hard-copy and two soft-copy formats of skeletal digital radiography. The data comprised hand radiographs of patients undergoing renal dialysis. Normal hand radiographs obtained in trauma patients were assessed as control images. One hundred fifteen images acquired with a photostimulable-phosphor computed radiography system were analyzed. Image selection and initial assessment were by consensus of two experienced radiologists, who graded the radiographic changes of hyperparathyroidism with the Ritz scoring system. The images were then presented to four readers in three formats: hard-copy output and soft-copy presentations at 2K2 and 1K2 resolutions. These readers scored pathologic change and image preference. The results were analyzed with the receiver operating characteristic technique. There was a significant improvement in diagnostic performance for both soft-copy formats relative to the hard-copy format (P < .001). No significant difference in diagnostic performance was found between the two soft-copy formats. There was a significant preference for both soft-copy formats relative to the hard-copy format (P < .01), with the 2K2 soft-copy images preferred to the 1K2 images (P < .01). Soft-copy reporting can provide superior diagnostic performance even for images viewed at a modest (1K2) resolution. The lack of difference between the two soft-copy formats has important economic implications with respect to departmental hardware requirements.

THE SPECTRUM AND TERM ANALYSIS OF CO iii MEASURED USING FOURIER TRANSFORM AND GRATING SPECTROSCOPY

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

Smillie, D. G.; Pickering, J. C.; Nave, G.

The spectrum of Co iii has been recorded in the region 1562–2564 Å (64,000 cm{sup −1}–39,000 cm{sup −1}) by Fourier transform (FT) spectroscopy, and in the region 1317–2500 Å (164,000 cm{sup −1}–40,000 cm{sup −1}) using a 10.7 m grating spectrograph with phosphor image plate detectors. The spectrum was excited in a cobalt–neon Penning discharge lamp. We classified 514 Co iii lines measured using FT spectroscopy, the strongest having wavenumber uncertainties approaching 0.004 cm{sup −1} (approximately 0.2 mÅ at 2000 Å, or 1 part in 10{sup 7}), and 240 lines measured with grating spectroscopy with uncertainties between 5 and 10 mÅ. Themore » wavelength calibration of 790 lines of Raassen and Ortí Ortin and 87 lines from Shenstone has been revised and combined with our measurements to optimize the values of all but one of the 288 previously reported energy levels. Order of magnitude reductions in uncertainty for almost two-thirds of the 3d{sup 6}4s and almost half of the 3d{sup 6}4p revised energy levels are obtained. Ritz wavelengths have been calculated for an additional 100 forbidden lines. Eigenvector percentage compositions for the energy levels and predicted oscillator strengths have been calculated using the Cowan code.« less

Hartree-Fock theory of the inhomogeneous electron gas at a jellium metal surface: Rigorous upper bounds to the surface energy and accurate work functions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sahni, V.; Ma, C. Q.

1980-12-01

The inhomogeneous electron gas at a jellium metal surface is studied in the Hartree-Fock approximation by Kohn-Sham density functional theory. Rigorous upper bounds to the surface energy are derived by application of the Rayleigh-Ritz variational principle for the energy, the surface kinetic, electrostatic, and nonlocal exchange energy functionals being determined exactly for the accurate linear-potential model electronic wave functions. The densities obtained by the energy minimization constraint are then employed to determine work-function results via the variationally accurate "displaced-profile change-in-self-consistent-field" expression. The theoretical basis of this non-self-consistent procedure and its demonstrated accuracy for the fully correlated system (as treated within the local-density approximation for exchange and correlation) leads us to conclude these results for the surface energies and work functions to be essentially exact. Work-function values are also determined by the Koopmans'-theorem expression, both for these densities as well as for those obtained by satisfaction of the constraint set on the electrostatic potential by the Budd-Vannimenus theorem. The use of the Hartree-Fock results in the accurate estimation of correlation-effect contributions to these surface properties of the nonuniform electron gas is also indicated. In addition, the original work and approximations made by Bardeen in this attempt at a solution of the Hartree-Fock problem are briefly reviewed in order to contrast with the present work.

Mechanical behavior of cells in microinjection: a minimum potential energy study.

PubMed

Liu, Fei; Wu, Dan; Chen, Ken

2013-08-01

Microinjection is a widely used technique to deliver foreign materials into biological cells. We propose a mathematical model to study the mechanical behavior of a cell in microinjection. Firstly, a cell is modeled by a hyperelastic membrane and interior cytoplasm. Then, based on the fact that the equilibrium configuration of a cell would minimize the potential energy, the energy function during microinjection is analyzed. With Lagrange multiplier and Rayleigh-Ritz technique, we successfully minimize the potential energy and obtain the equilibrium configuration. Upon this model, the injection force, the injection distance, the radius of the microinjector and the membrane stress are studied. The analysis demonstrates that the microinjector radius has a significant influence on the cell mechanical behavior: (1) the larger radius generates larger injection force and larger interior pressure at the same injection distance; (2) the radius determines the place where the membrane is most likely to rupture by governing the membrane stress distribution. For a fine microinjector with radius less than 20% of the cell radius, the most likely rupture point located at the edge of the contact area between the microinjector and the membrane; however, it may move to the middle of the equilibrium configuration as the radius increases. To verify our model, some experiments were conducted on zebrafish egg cells. The results show that the computational analysis agrees with the experimental data, which supports the findings from the theoretical model. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Fourier transform spectroscopy of the CO-stretching band of O-18 methanol

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lees, R. M.; Murphy, Reba-Jean; Moruzzi, Giovanni; Predoi-Cross, Adriana; Xu, Li-Hong; Appadoo, D. R. T.; Billinghurst, B.; Goulding, R. R. J.; Zhao, Saibei

2009-07-01

The high-resolution Fourier transform spectrum of the ν8 CO-stretching band of CH 318OH between 900 and 1100 cm -1 has been recorded at the Canadian Light Source (CLS) synchrotron facility in Saskatoon, and the majority of the torsion-rotation structure has been analyzed. For the ν t = 0 torsional ground state, subbands have been identified for K values from 0 to 11 for A and E torsional symmetries up to J values typically well over 30. For ν t = 1, A and E subbands have been assigned up to K = 7, and several ν t = 2 subbands have also been identified. Upper-state term values determined from the assigned transitions using the Ritz program have been fitted to J( J + 1) power-series expansions to obtain substate origins and sets of state-specific parameters giving a compact representation of the substate J-dependence. The ν t = 0 subband origins have been fitted to effective molecular constants for the excited CO-stretching state and a torsional barrier of 377.49(32) cm -1 is found, representing a 0.89% increase over the ground-state value. The vibrational energy for the CO-stretch state was found to be 1007.49(7) cm -1. A number of subband-wide and J-localized perturbations have been seen in the spectrum, arising both from anharmonic and Coriolis interactions, and several of the interacting states have been identified.

In-Flight Aeroelastic Stability of the Thermal Protection System on the NASA HIAD, Part II: Nonlinear Theory and Extended Aerodynamics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Goldman, Benjamin D.; Dowell, Earl H.; Scott, Robert C.

2015-01-01

Conical shell theory and a supersonic potential flow aerodynamic theory are used to study the nonlinear pressure buckling and aeroelastic limit cycle behavior of the thermal protection system for NASA's Hypersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator. The structural model of the thermal protection system consists of an orthotropic conical shell of the Donnell type, resting on several circumferential elastic supports. Classical Piston Theory is used initially for the aerodynamic pressure, but was found to be insufficient at low supersonic Mach numbers. Transform methods are applied to the convected wave equation for potential flow, and a time-dependent aerodynamic pressure correction factor is obtained. The Lagrangian of the shell system is formulated in terms of the generalized coordinates for all displacements and the Rayleigh-Ritz method is used to derive the governing differential-algebraic equations of motion. Aeroelastic limit cycle oscillations and buckling deformations are calculated in the time domain using a Runge-Kutta method in MATLAB. Three conical shell geometries were considered in the present analysis: a 3-meter diameter 70 deg. cone, a 3.7-meter 70 deg. cone, and a 6-meter diameter 70 deg. cone. The 6-meter configuration was loaded statically and the results were compared with an experimental load test of a 6-meter HIAD. Though agreement between theoretical and experimental strains was poor, the circumferential wrinkling phenomena observed during the experiments was captured by the theory and axial deformations were qualitatively similar in shape. With Piston Theory aerodynamics, the nonlinear flutter dynamic pressures of the 3-meter configuration were in agreement with the values calculated using linear theory, and the limit cycle amplitudes were generally on the order of the shell thickness. The effect of axial tension was studied for this configuration, and increasing tension was found to decrease the limit cycle amplitudes when the circumferential elastic supports were neglected, but resulted in more complex behavior when the supports were included. The nominal flutter dynamic pressure of the 3.7-meter configuration was significantly lower than that of the 3-meter, and it was found that two sets of natural modes coalesce to flutter modes near the same dynamic pressure. This resulted in a significant drop in the limit cycle frequencies at higher dynamic pressures, where the flutter mode with the lower frequency becomes more critical. Pre-buckling pressure loads and the aerodynamic pressure correction factor were studied for all geometries, and these effects resulted in significantly lower flutter boundaries compared with Piston Theory alone. The maximum dynamic pressure predicted by aerodynamic simulations of a proposed 3.7-meter HIAD vehicle was still lower than any of the calculated flutter dynamic pressures, suggesting that aeroelastic effects for this vehicle are of little concern.

Quantum Effects in Biology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mohseni, Masoud; Omar, Yasser; Engel, Gregory S.; Plenio, Martin B.

2014-08-01

List of contributors; Preface; Part I. Introduction: 1. Quantum biology: introduction Graham R. Fleming and Gregory D. Scholes; 2. Open quantum system approaches to biological systems Alireza Shabani, Masoud Mohseni, Seogjoo Jang, Akihito Ishizaki, Martin Plenio, Patrick Rebentrost, Alàn Aspuru-Guzik, Jianshu Cao, Seth Lloyd and Robert Silbey; 3. Generalized Förster resonance energy transfer Seogjoo Jang, Hoda Hossein-Nejad and Gregory D. Scholes; 4. Multidimensional electronic spectroscopy Tomáš Mančal; Part II. Quantum Effects in Bacterial Photosynthetic Energy Transfer: 5. Structure, function, and quantum dynamics of pigment protein complexes Ioan Kosztin and Klaus Schulten; 6. Direct observation of quantum coherence Gregory S. Engel; 7. Environment-assisted quantum transport Masoud Mohseni, Alàn Aspuru-Guzik, Patrick Rebentrost, Alireza Shabani, Seth Lloyd, Susana F. Huelga and Martin B. Plenio; Part III. Quantum Effects in Higher Organisms and Applications: 8. Excitation energy transfer in higher plants Elisabet Romero, Vladimir I. Novoderezhkin and Rienk van Grondelle; 9. Electron transfer in proteins Spiros S. Skourtis; 10. A chemical compass for bird navigation Ilia A. Solov'yov, Thorsten Ritz, Klaus Schulten and Peter J. Hore; 11. Quantum biology of retinal Klaus Schulten and Shigehiko Hayashi; 12. Quantum vibrational effects on sense of smell A. M. Stoneham, L. Turin, J. C. Brookes and A. P. Horsfield; 13. A perspective on possible manifestations of entanglement in biological systems Hans J. Briegel and Sandu Popescu; 14. Design and applications of bio-inspired quantum materials Mohan Sarovar, Dörthe M. Eisele and K. Birgitta Whaley; 15. Coherent excitons in carbon nanotubes Leonas Valkunas and Darius Abramavicius; Glossary; References; Index.

Aeroelastic tailoring and structural optimization of joined-wing configurations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Dong-Hwan

2002-08-01

Methodology for integrated aero-structural design was developed using formal optimization. ASTROS (Automated STRuctural Optimization System) was used as an analyzer and an optimizer for performing joined-wing weight optimization with stress, displacement, cantilever or body-freedom flutter constraints. As a pre/post processor, MATLAB was used for generating input file of ASTROS and for displaying the results of the ASTROS. The effects of the aeroelastic constraints on the isotropic and composite joined-wing weight were examined using this developed methodology. The aeroelastic features of a joined-wing aircraft were examined using both the Rayleigh-Ritz method and a finite element based aeroelastic stability and weight optimization procedure. Aircraft rigid-body modes are included to analyze of body-freedom flutter of the joined-wing aircraft. Several parametric studies were performed to determine the most important parameters that affect the aeroelastic behavior of a joined-wing aircraft. The special feature of a joined-wing aircraft is body-freedom flutter involving frequency interaction of the first elastic mode and the aircraft short period mode. In most parametric study cases, the body-freedom flutter speed was less than the cantilever flutter speed that is independent of fuselage inertia. As fuselage pitching moment of inertia was increased, the body-freedom flutter speed increased. When the pitching moment of inertia reaches a critical value, transition from body-freedom flutter to cantilever flutter occurred. The effects of composite laminate orientation on the front and rear wings of a joined-wing configuration were studied. An aircraft pitch divergence mode, which occurred because of forward movement of center of pressure due to wing deformation, was found. Body-freedom flutter and cantilever-like flutter were also found depending on combination of front and rear wing ply orientations. Optimized wing weight behaviors of the planar and non-planar configurations with isotropic and composite materials were investigated. Wing weight optimization of the composite joined-wing result in less weight compared to the metallic wing. Fuselage flexibility affects joined-wing flutter characteristics. Elastic mode shapes of the wing were affected by fuselage deformation and change the flutter speeds compared to the rigid fuselage. Body-freedom flutter speeds decrease as fuselage flexibility increases. Optimum wing weights increase as fuselage flexibility increases. Flutter analysis of a box wing configuration investigated the effects of center of gravity location and pitch moment of inertia on flutter speed.

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Childhood Autism in Association with Prenatal Exposure to Perfluoroalkyl Substances: A Nested Case–Control Study in the Danish National Birth Cohort

PubMed Central

Liew, Zeyan; Ritz, Beate; von Ehrenstein, Ondine S.; Bech, Bodil Hammer; Nohr, Ellen Aagaard; Fei, Chunyuan; Bossi, Rossana; Henriksen, Tine Brink; Bonefeld-Jørgensen, Eva Cecilie

2014-01-01

Background: Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are persistent pollutants found to be endocrine disruptive and neurotoxic in animals. Positive correlations between PFASs and neurobehavioral problems in children were reported in cross-sectional data, but findings from prospective studies are limited. Objectives: We investigated whether prenatal exposure to PFASs is associated with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or childhood autism in children. Methods: Among 83,389 mother–child pairs enrolled in the Danish National Birth Cohort during 1996–2002, we identified 890 ADHD cases and 301 childhood autism cases from the Danish National Hospital Registry and the Danish Psychiatric Central Registry. From this cohort, we randomly selected 220 cases each of ADHD and autism, and we also randomly selected 550 controls frequency matched by child’s sex. Sixteen PFASs were measured in maternal plasma collected in early or mid-pregnancy. We calculated risk ratios (RRs) using generalized linear models, taking into account sampling weights. Results: Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) were detected in all samples; four other PFASs were quantified in ≥ 90% of the samples. We did not find consistent evidence of associations between mother’s PFAS plasma levels and ADHD [per natural log nanograms per milliliter increase: PFOS RR = 0.87 (95% CI: 0.74, 1.02); PFOA RR = 0.98 (95% CI: 0.82, 1.16)] or autism [per natural log nanograms per milliliter increase: PFOS RR = 0.92 (95% CI: 0.69, 1.22); PFOA RR = 0.98 (95% CI: 0.73, 1.31)]. We found positive as well as negative associations between higher PFAS quartiles and ADHD in models that simultaneously adjusted for all PFASs, but these estimates were imprecise. Conclusions: In this study we found no consistent evidence to suggest that prenatal PFAS exposure increases the risk of ADHD or childhood autism in children. Citation: Liew Z, Ritz B, von Ehrenstein OS, Bech BH, Nohr EA, Fei CY, Bossi R, Henriksen TB, Bonefeld-Jørgensen EC, Olsen J. 2015. Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and childhood autism in association with prenatal exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances: a nested case–control study in the Danish National Birth Cohort. Environ Health Perspect 123:367–373; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1408412 PMID:25616253

A two-pronged approach to detecting ICB Stoneley modes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jasperson, H. A.; Ye, J.; Shi, J.; De Hoop, M. V.

2017-12-01

Stoneley modes are special kinds of normal modes that are confined to the boundary between a fluid layer and a solid layer inside the Earth. Thus, these modes theoretically occur at the core-mantle boundary (CMB) and inner core boundary (ICB). CMB Stoneley modes were identified in observational data by Koelemeijer, et al. in 2013, but ICB Stoneley modes have remained relatively unexplored. Here we use a joint numerical and data-driven approach to identify ICB Stoneley modes from the deep 2013 Mw 8.3 Sea of Okhotsk earthquake. For the data-driven portion, we use 50 stacked traces from the USArray to identify potential occurrences of ICB Stoneley modes. Next, we verify each occurrence by comparing the spectrum to its equivalent from the shallow 2011 Mw 9.1 Tohoku earthquake. We also develop a novel computational approach to compute normal modes in a spherically symmetric non-rotating Earth building on the work of Wiggins (1976) and Buland and Gilbert (1984). We successfully resolve the clustering eigenvalue problem with non-orthogonal eigenfunctions from which Mineos suffers. By choosing the displacement/pressure formulation in the fluid outer core and handling boundary conditions properly, we remarkably project out the essential spectrum and provide the correct point spectrum. The utilization of weak variational form to perform the Rayleigh-Ritz procedure contributes to preserving the high accuracy across the solid-fluid boundary, which makes it possible to capture Stoneley modes' exponentially decaying behavior across the solid-fluid boundary, leading to more accurate and reliable eigenvalues and eigenfunctions. This allows us to compare the observation data and numerical computations. With this approach, we eliminate false signals from consideration, leaving only true ICB Stoneley mode peaks. In the future, information from these modes can be used to study the properties of the ICB and inner core.

Improved documentation of spectral lines for inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Doidge, Peter S.

2018-05-01

An approach to improving the documentation of weak spectral lines falling near the prominent analytical lines used in inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) is described. Measurements of ICP emission spectra in the regions around several hundred prominent lines, using concentrated solutions (up to 1% w/v) of some 70 elements, and comparison of the observed spectra with both recent published work and with the output of a computer program that allows calculation of transitions between the known energy levels, show that major improvements can be made in the coverage of spectral atlases for ICP-OES, with respect to "classical" line tables. It is argued that the atomic spectral data (wavelengths, energy levels) required for the reliable identification and documentation of a large majority of the weak interfering lines of the elements detectable by ICP-OES now exist, except for most of the observed lines of the lanthanide elements. In support of this argument, examples are provided from a detailed analysis of a spectral window centered on the prominent Pb II 220.353 nm line, and from a selected line-rich spectrum (W). Shortcomings in existing analyses are illustrated with reference to selected spectral interferences due to Zr. This approach has been used to expand the spectral-line library used in commercial ICP-ES instruments (Agilent 700-ES/5100-ES). The precision of wavelength measurements is evaluated in terms of the shot-noise limit, while the absolute accuracy of wavelength measurement is characterised through comparison with a small set of precise Ritz wavelengths for Sb I, and illustrated through the identification of Zr III lines; it is further shown that fractional-pixel absolute wavelength accuracies can be achieved. Finally, problems with the wavelengths and classifications of certain Au I lines are discussed.

Particle in a box in PT-symmetric quantum mechanics and an electromagnetic analog

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dasarathy, Anirudh; Isaacson, Joshua P.; Jones-Smith, Katherine; Tabachnik, Jason; Mathur, Harsh

2013-06-01

In PT-symmetric quantum mechanics a fundamental principle of quantum mechanics, that the Hamiltonian must be Hermitian, is replaced by another set of requirements, including notably symmetry under PT, where P denotes parity and T denotes time reversal. Here we study the role of boundary conditions in PT-symmetric quantum mechanics by constructing a simple model that is the PT-symmetric analog of a particle in a box. The model has the usual particle-in-a-box Hamiltonian but boundary conditions that respect PT symmetry rather than Hermiticity. We find that for a broad class of PT-symmetric boundary conditions the model respects the condition of unbroken PT symmetry, namely, that the Hamiltonian and the symmetry operator PT have simultaneous eigenfunctions, implying that the energy eigenvalues are real. We also find that the Hamiltonian is self-adjoint under the PT-symmetric inner product. Thus we obtain a simple soluble model that fulfills all the requirements of PT-symmetric quantum mechanics. In the second part of this paper we formulate a variational principle for PT-symmetric quantum mechanics that is the analog of the textbook Rayleigh-Ritz principle. Finally we consider electromagnetic analogs of the PT-symmetric particle in a box. We show that the isolated particle in a box may be realized as a Fabry-Perot cavity between an absorbing medium and its conjugate gain medium. Coupling the cavity to an external continuum of incoming and outgoing states turns the energy levels of the box into sharp resonances. Remarkably we find that the resonances have a Breit-Wigner line shape in transmission and a Fano line shape in reflection; by contrast, in the corresponding Hermitian case the line shapes always have a Breit-Wigner form in both transmission and reflection.

A robust multilevel simultaneous eigenvalue solver

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Costiner, Sorin; Taasan, Shlomo

1993-01-01

Multilevel (ML) algorithms for eigenvalue problems are often faced with several types of difficulties such as: the mixing of approximated eigenvectors by the solution process, the approximation of incomplete clusters of eigenvectors, the poor representation of solution on coarse levels, and the existence of close or equal eigenvalues. Algorithms that do not treat appropriately these difficulties usually fail, or their performance degrades when facing them. These issues motivated the development of a robust adaptive ML algorithm which treats these difficulties, for the calculation of a few eigenvectors and their corresponding eigenvalues. The main techniques used in the new algorithm include: the adaptive completion and separation of the relevant clusters on different levels, the simultaneous treatment of solutions within each cluster, and the robustness tests which monitor the algorithm's efficiency and convergence. The eigenvectors' separation efficiency is based on a new ML projection technique generalizing the Rayleigh Ritz projection, combined with a technique, the backrotations. These separation techniques, when combined with an FMG formulation, in many cases lead to algorithms of O(qN) complexity, for q eigenvectors of size N on the finest level. Previously developed ML algorithms are less focused on the mentioned difficulties. Moreover, algorithms which employ fine level separation techniques are of O(q(sub 2)N) complexity and usually do not overcome all these difficulties. Computational examples are presented where Schrodinger type eigenvalue problems in 2-D and 3-D, having equal and closely clustered eigenvalues, are solved with the efficiency of the Poisson multigrid solver. A second order approximation is obtained in O(qN) work, where the total computational work is equivalent to only a few fine level relaxations per eigenvector.

Automatization of an inverse surface temperature modelling procedure for Greenland ice cores, developed and evaluated using nitrogen and argon isotope data measured on the Gisp2 ice core

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Döring, Michael; Kobashi, Takuro; Leuenberger, Markus

2017-04-01

In order to study Northern Hemisphere climate interactions and variability during the Holocene, access to high resolution surface temperature records of the Greenland ice sheet is an integral condition. Surface temperature reconstruction relies on firn densification combined with gas and heat diffusion [Severinghaus et al. (1998)]. In this study we use the model developed by Schwander et al. (1997). A theoretical δ15N record is generated for different temperature scenarios and compared with measurements by minimizing the mean squared error (MSE). The goal of the presented study is an automatization of this inverse modelling procedure. To solve the inverse problem, the Holocene temperature reconstruction is implemented in three steps. First a rough first guess temperature input (prior) is constructed which serves as the starting point for the optimization. Second, a smooth solution which transects the δ15N measurement data is generated following a Monte Carlo approach. It is assumed that the smooth solution contains all long term temperature trends and (together with the accumulation rate input) drives changes in firn column height, which generate the gravitational background signal in δ15N. Finally, the smooth solution is superimposed with high frequency information directly extracted from the δ15N measurement data. Following the approach, a high resolution Holocene temperature history for the Gisp2 site was extracted (posteriori), which leads to modelled δ15N data that fits the measurements in the low permeg level (MSE) and shows excellent agreement in timing and strength of the measurement variability. To evaluate the reconstruction procedure different synthetic data experiments were conducted underlining the quality of the method. Additionally, a second firn model [Goujon et al. (2003)] was used, which leads to very similar results, that shows the robustness of the presented approach. References: Goujon, C., Barnola, J.-M., Ritz, C. (2003). Modeling the densification of polar firn including heat diffusion: Application to close-off characteristics and gas isotopic fractionation for Antarctica and Greenland sites. J. Geophys. Res.,108, NO. D24, 4792. Severinghaus, J. P., Sowers, T., Brook, E. J., Alley, R. B., and Bender, M. L. (1998). Timing of abrupt climate change at the end of the Younger Dryas interval from thermally fractionated gases in polar ice. Nature, 391:141-146. Schwander, J., Sowers, T., Barnola, J., Blunier, T., Fuchs, A., and Malaizé, B. (1997). Age scale of the air in the summit ice: implication for glacial-interglacial temperature change. J. Geophys. Res-Atmos., 102(D16):19483-19493.

Comparison of Numerical Approaches to a Steady-State Landscape Equation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bachman, S.; Peckham, S.

2008-12-01

A mathematical model of an idealized fluvial landscape has been developed, in which a land surface will evolve to preserve dendritic channel networks as the surface is lowered. The physical basis for this model stems from the equations for conservation of mass for water and sediment. These equations relate the divergence of the 2D vector fields showing the unit-width discharge of water and sediment to the excess rainrate and tectonic uplift on the land surface. The 2D flow direction is taken to be opposite to the water- surface gradient vector. These notions are combined with a generalized Manning-type flow resistance formula and a generalized sediment transport law to give a closed mathematical system that can, in principle, be solved for all variables of interest: discharge of water and sediment, land surface height, vertically- averaged flow velocity, water depth, and shear stress. The hydraulic geometry equations (Leopold et. al, 1964, 1995) are used to incorporate width, depth, velocity, and slope of river channels as powers of the mean-annual river discharge. Combined, they give the unit- width discharge of the stream as a power, γ, of the water surface slope. The simplified steady-state model takes into account three components among those listed above: conservation of mass for water, flow opposite the gradient, and a slope-discharge exponent γ = -1 to reflect mature drainage networks. The mathematical representation of this model appears as a second-order hyperbolic partial differential equation (PDE) where the diffusivity is inversely proportional to the square of the local surface slope. The highly nonlinear nature of this PDE has made it very difficult to solve both analytically and numerically. We present simplistic analytic solutions to this equation which are used to test the validity of the numerical algorithms. We also present three such numerical approaches which have been used in solving the differential equation. The first is based on a nonlinear diffusion filtering technique (Welk et. al, 2007) that has been applied successfully in the context of image processing. The second uses a Ritz finite element approach to the Euler-Lagrange formulation of the PDE in which an eighth degree polynomial is solved whose coefficients are locally dependent on slope and elevation. Lastly, we show a variant to the diffusion filtering approach in which a single-stage Runge-Kutta method is used to iterate a time-derivative to steady- state. The relative merits and drawbacks of these approaches are discussed, as well as stability and consistency requirements.

Reconstructing the post-LGM decay of the Eurasian Ice Sheets with Ice Sheet Models; data-model comparison and focus on the Storfjorden (Svalbard) ice stream dynamics history

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Petrini, Michele; Kirchner, Nina; Colleoni, Florence; Camerlenghi, Angelo; Rebesco, Michele; Lucchi, Renata G.; Forte, Emanuele; Colucci, Renato R.

2017-04-01

The challenge of reconstructing palaeo-ice sheets past growth and decay represent a critical task to better understand mechanisms of present and future global climate change. Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), and the subsequent deglaciation until Pre-Industrial time (PI) represent an excellent testing ground for numerical Ice Sheet Models (ISMs), due to the abundant data available that can be used in an ISM as boundary conditions, forcings or constraints to test the ISMs results. In our study, we simulate with ISMs the post-LGM decay of the Eurasian Ice Sheets, with a focus on the marine-based Svalbard-Barents Sea-Kara Sea Ice Sheet. In particular, we aim to reconstruct the Storfjorden ice stream dynamics history by comparing the model results with the marine geological data (MSGLs, GZWs, sediment cores analysis) available from the area, e.g., Pedrosa et al. 2011, Rebesco et al. 2011, 2013, Lucchi et al. 2013. Two hybrid SIA/SSA ISMs are employed, GRISLI, Ritz et al. 2001, and PSU, Pollard&DeConto 2012. These models differ mainly in the complexity with which grounding line migration is treated. Climate forcing is interpolated by means of climate indexes between LGM and PI climate. Regional climate indexes are constructed based on the non-accelerated deglaciation transient experiment carried out with CCSM3, Liu et al. 2009. Indexes representative of the climate evolution over Siberia, Svalbard and Scandinavia are employed. The impact of such refined representation as opposed to the common use of the NGRIP δ18O index for transient experiments is analysed. In this study, the ice-ocean interaction is crucial to reconstruct the Storfjorden ice stream dynamics history. To investigate the sensitivity of the ice shelf/stream retreat to ocean temperature, we allow for a space-time variation of basal melting under the ice shelves by testing two-equations implementations based on Martin et al. 2011 forced with simulated ocean temperature and salinity from the TraCE-21ka coupled climate simulation. In this presentation, we will show work in progress, address open issues, and sketch future work. In particular, we invite the community to suggest possibilities for model-data comparison and integration. Liu, Z., Otto-Bliesner, B.L., He, F., Brady, E.C., Tomas, R., Clark, P.U., Carlson, A.E., Lynch-Stieglitz, J., Curry, W., Brook, E. and Erickson, D., 2009. Transient simulation of last deglaciation with a new mechanism for Bólling-Alleród warming. Science, 325(5938), pp.310-314. Lucchi, R.G., Camerlenghi, A., Rebesco, M., Colmenero-Hidalgo, E., Sierro, F.J., Sagnotti, L., Urgeles, R., Melis, R., Morigi, C., Bárcena, M.A. and Giorgetti, G., 2013. Postglacial sedimentary processes on the Storfjorden and Kveithola trough mouth fans: Significance of extreme glacimarine sedimentation. Global and planetary change, 111, pp.309-326. Martin, M.A., Winkelmann, R., Haseloff, M., Albrecht, T., Bueler, E., Khroulev, C. and Levermann, A., 2011. The Potsdam Parallel Ice Sheet Model (PISM-PIK)-Part 2: Dynamic equilibrium simulation of the Antarctic ice sheet. The Cryosphere, 5(3), pp.727-740. Pedrosa, M.T., Camerlenghi, A., De Mol, B., Urgeles, R., Rebesco, M. and Lucchi, R.G., 2011. Seabed morphology and shallow sedimentary structure of the Storfjorden and Kveithola trough-mouth fans (north west Barents Sea). Marine Geology, 286(1), pp.65-81. Pollard, D. and DeConto, R.M., 2012. Description of a hybrid ice sheet-shelf model, and application to Antarctica. Geoscientific Model Development, 5(5), pp.1273-1295. Rebesco, M., Liu, Y., Camerlenghi, A., Winsborrow, M., Laberg, J.S., Caburlotto, A., Diviacco, P., Accettella, D., Sauli, C., Wardell, N. and Tomini, I., 2011. Deglaciation of the western margin of the Barents Sea Ice Sheet-a swath bathymetric and sub-bottom seismic study from the Kveithola Trough. Marine Geology, 279(1), pp.141-147. Rebesco, M., Laberg, J., Pedrosa, M., Camerlenghi, A., Lucchi, R., Zgur, F. and Wardell, N., 2013. Onset and growth of Trough-Mouth Fans on the North-Western Barents Sea margin e implications for the evolution of the Barents Sea/Svalbard Ice Sheet. Quaternary Science Reviews, 30, pp.1-8. Ritz, C., Rommelaere, V. and Dumas, C., 2001. Modeling the evolution of Antarctic ice sheet over the last 420,000 years: Implications for altitude changes in the Vostok region. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 106(D23), pp.31943-31964.

Reduced-Order Aerothermoelastic Analysis of Hypersonic Vehicle Structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Falkiewicz, Nathan J.

Design and simulation of hypersonic vehicles require consideration of a variety of disciplines due to the highly coupled nature of the flight regime. In order to capture all of the potential effects on vehicle dynamics, one must consider the aerodynamics, aerodynamic heating, heat transfer, and structural dynamics as well as the interactions between these disciplines. The problem is further complicated by the large computational expense involved in capturing all of these effects and their interactions in a full-order sense. While high-fidelity modeling techniques exist for each of these disciplines, the use of such techniques is computationally infeasible in a vehicle design and control system simulation setting for such a highly coupled problem. Early in the design stage, many iterations of analyses may need to be carried out as the vehicle design matures, thus requiring quick analysis turnaround time. Additionally, the number of states used in the analyses must be small enough to allow for efficient control simulation and design. As a result, alternatives to full-order models must be considered. This dissertation presents a fully coupled, reduced-order aerothermoelastic framework for the modeling and analysis of hypersonic vehicle structures. The reduced-order transient thermal solution is a modal solution based on the proper orthogonal decomposition. The reduced-order structural dynamic model is based on projection of the equations of motion onto a Ritz modal subspace that is identified a priori. The reduced-order models are assembled into a time-domain aerothermoelastic simulation framework which uses a partitioned time-marching scheme to account for the disparate time scales of the associated physics. The aerothermoelastic modeling framework is outlined and the formulations associated with the unsteady aerodynamics, aerodynamic heating, transient thermal, and structural dynamics are outlined. Results demonstrate the accuracy of the reduced-order transient thermal and structural dynamic models under variation in boundary conditions and flight conditions. The framework is applied to representative hypersonic vehicle control surface structures and a variety of studies are conducted to assess the impact of aerothermoelastic effects on hypersonic vehicle dynamics. The results presented in this dissertation demonstrate the ability of the proposed framework to perform efficient aerothermoelastic analysis.

Reconciling projections of the Antarctic contribution to sea level rise

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Edwards, Tamsin; Holden, Philip; Edwards, Neil; Wernecke, Andreas

2017-04-01

Two recent studies of the Antarctic contribution to sea level rise this century had best estimates that differed by an order of magnitude (around 10 cm and 1 m by 2100). The first, Ritz et al. (2015), used a model calibrated with satellite data, giving a 5% probability of exceeding 30cm by 2100 for sea level rise due to Antarctic instability. The second, DeConto and Pollard (2016), used a model evaluated with reconstructions of palaeo-sea level. They did not estimate probabilities, but using a simple assumption here about the distribution shape gives up to a 5% chance of Antarctic contribution exceeding 2.3 m this century with total sea level rise approaching 3 m. If robust, this would have very substantial implications for global adaptation to climate change. How are we to make sense of this apparent inconsistency? How much is down to the data - does the past tell us we will face widespread and rapid Antarctic ice losses in the future? How much is due to the mechanism of rapid ice loss ('cliff failure') proposed in the latter paper, or other parameterisation choices in these low resolution models (GRISLI and PISM, respectively)? How much is due to choices made in the ensemble design and calibration? How do these projections compare with high resolution, grounding line resolving models such as BISICLES? Could we reduce the huge uncertainties in the palaeo-study? Emulation provides a powerful tool for understanding these questions and reconciling the projections. By describing the three numerical ice sheet models with statistical models, we can re-analyse the ensembles and re-do the calibrations under a common statistical framework. This reduces uncertainty in the PISM study because it allows massive sampling of the parameter space, which reduces the sensitivity to reconstructed palaeo-sea level values and also narrows the probability intervals because the simple assumption about distribution shape above is no longer needed. We present reconciled probabilistic projections for the Antarctic contribution to sea level rise from GRISLI, PISM and BISICLES this century, giving results that are meaningful and interpretable by decision-makers.

Planetary Hypothesis, sub-Milankovitch frequencies and Holocene cold events

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Compagnucci, R. H.; Cionco, R. G.; Agosta, E.; Wanner, H.

2013-05-01

The Planetary Hypothesis of solar cycles proposes that the movement of the Sun around the solar system barycenter modulates the solar cycles at several times scales. Using a 3-D model of the solar system (Cionco and Compagnucci, 2012) we derived the solar barycentric motion and various dynamic parameters such as the angular momentum (L= Lx, Ly, Lz) for the Holocene. Angular momentum inversions are sporadic and important events in the dynamics of the MSB: Lz becomes negative and giant planets are nearly aligned. These episodes are related to some grand solar grand minima such as Maunder and Dalton, and also to the recent deep minimum 2007-2010 which was preceded by a Lz inversion in 1990. During the Holocene several negative Lz episodes occur that are grouped in approximately millennia to centuries long periods. Each group is separated by ~2000 years where the Lz values remain positive, both generating a cycle between 1500 and 2500 years. The spectral analysis shows significant peaks at sub-Milankovitch frequencies. Furthermore, the analysis of the spatiotemporal variability of temperature defined six specific cold events (8200, 6300, 4700, 2700, 1550 and 550 years BP) during the Holocene (Wanner et al, 2011). During, and /or before, of these major climates cooling, a group of negative Lz episodes were presented. Oppositely the resulted during the warms periods were the lack of the angular movement inversion together with the extremes of positive Lz . Therefore, the origin of Holocene cold events seems to be linked to the gravitational influence of the planets, that is to say the planetary torque that has a non-negligible effect on the causes of the solar magnetic cycle. Acknowledgements:The support of the Grants PID-UTN1351, UBACYT N_:20020100101049, CONICET PIP PIP 114-201001-00250 and MINCYT-MEYS ARC/11/09. References Cionco, R.G.; Compagnucci,R.H. (2012) Dynamical characterization of the last prolonged solar minima , Advances in Space Research 50(10), 1434-1444 Wanner, H.; Solomina, O.; Grosjean, M.; Ritz, S. P.; Jetel, M. (2011) Structure and origin of Holocene cold events.Quat. Sci. Rev. 30, 3109-3123.;

The buckling response of symmetrically laminated composite plates having a trapezoidal planform area. M.S. Thesis Interim Report No. 98, Aug. 1990 - May 1994

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Radloff, H. D., II; Hyer, M. W.; Nemeth, M. P.

1994-01-01

The focus of this work is the buckling response of symmetrically laminated composite plates having a planform area in the shape of an isosceles trapezoid. The loading is assumed to be inplane and applied perpendicular to the parallel ends of the plate. The tapered edges of the plate are assumed to have simply supported boundary conditions, while the parallel ends are assumed to have either simply supported or clamped boundary conditions. A semi-analytic closed-form solution based on energy principles and the Trefftz stability criterion is derived and solutions are obtained using the Rayleigh-Ritz method. Intrinsic in this solution is a simplified prebuckling analysis which approximates the inplane force resultant distributions by the forms Nx=P/W(x) and Ny=Nxy=0, where P is the applied load and W(x) is the plate width which, for the trapezoidal planform, varies linearly with the lengthwise coordinate x. The out-of-plane displacement is approximated by a double trigonometric series. This analysis is posed in terms of four nondimensional parameters representing orthotropic and anisotropic material properties, and two nondimensional parameters representing geometric properties. For comparison purposes, a number of specific plate geometry, ply orientation, and stacking sequence combinations are investigated using the general purpose finite element code ABAQUS. Comparison of buckling coefficients calculated using the semi-analytical model and the finite element model show agreement within 5 percent, in general, and within 15 percent for the worst cases. In order to verify both the finite element and semi-analytical analyses, buckling loads are measured for graphite/epoxy plates having a wide range of plate geometries and stacking sequences. Test fixtures, instrumentation system, and experimental technique are described. Experimental results for the buckling load, the buckled mode shape, and the prebuckling plate stiffness are presented and show good agreement with the analytical results regarding the buckling load and the prebuckling plate stiffness. However, the experimental results show that for some cases the analysis underpredicts the number of halfwaves in the buckled mode shape. In the context of the definitions of taper ratio and aspect ratio used in this study, it is concluded that the buckling load always increases as taper ratio increases for a given aspect ratio for plates having simply supported boundary conditions on the parallel ends. There are combinations of plate geometry and ply stackling sequences, however, that reverse this trend for plates having clamped boundary conditions on the parallel ends such that an increase in the taper ratio causes a decrease in the buckling load. The clamped boundary conditions on the parallel ends of the plate are shown to increase the buckling load compared to simply supported boundary conditions. Also, anisotropy (the D16 and D26 terms) is shown to decrease the buckling load and skew the buckled mode shape for both the simply supported and clamped boundary conditions.

Carbon transfer from plant roots to soil - NanoSIMS analyses of undisturbed rhizosphere samples

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vidal, Alix; Hirte, Juliane; Bender, S. Franz; Mayer, Jochen; Gattinger, Andreas; Mueller, Carsten W.

2017-04-01

Soils are composed of a wide diversity of organic and mineral compounds, interacting to form complex mosaics of microenvironments. Roots and microorganisms are both key sources of organic carbon (OC). The volume of soil around living roots, i.e. the rhizosphere, is a privileged area for soil microbial activity and diversity. The microscopic observation of embedded soil sections has been applied since the 1950´s and has enabled observation of the rhizosphere at the smallest scale of organism interaction, i.e. at the level of root cells and bacteria (Alexander and Jackson, 1954). However, the observation of microorganisms in their intact environment, especially in soil, remains challenging. Existing microscopic images do not provide clear evidence of the chemical composition of compounds observed in the rhizosphere. Nano-scale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS) is a high spatial resolution method providing elemental and isotopic maps of organic and mineral materials. This technic has been increasingly used in soil science during the last decade (Hermann et al., 2007; Vogel et al., 2014) and more specifically for undisturbed soil sample observations (Vidal et al., 2016). In the present study, NanoSIMS was used to illustrate the biological, physical and chemical processes occurring in the rhizosphere at the microscale. To meet this objective, undisturbed rhizosphere samples were collected from a field experiment in Switzerland where wheat plants were pulse-labelled with 99% 13C-CO2 in weekly intervals throughout the growing season and sampled at flowering. Samples were embedded, sectioned, polished and analyzed with NanoSIMS, obtaining secondary ion images of 12C, 13C, 12C14N, 16O, 31P16O2, and 32S. The δ13C maps were obtained thanks to 12C and 13C images. 13C labelled root cells were clearly distinguished on images and presented highly variable δ13C values. Labelled spots (< 1 µm), identified as bacteria, were located at the root cell surroundings. These microorganisms were intimately associated with soil particles, forming microaggregates tightly bound to root cells. Finally, some images revealed the presence of larger labelled spots (> 4 µm) potentially assignable to arbuscular fungal hyphae. These results illustrate the transfer of carbon from the root tissues towards the microbial communities and the direct fate as organo-mineral associated OC at mineral soil particles. Alexander, F., Jackson, R., 1954. Examination of soil micro-organisms in their natural environment. Nature. 174, 750-751. Herrmann, A.M., Ritz, K., Nunan, N., Clode, P.L., Pett-Ridge, J., Kilburn, M.R., Murphy, D.V., O'Donnell, A.G., Stockdale, E.A., 2007. Nano-scale secondary ion mass spectrometry — A new analytical tool in biogeochemistry and soil ecology: A review article. Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 39, 1835-1850. Vidal, A., Remusat, L., Watteau, F., Derenne, S., Quenea K., 2016. Incorporation of 13C labelled shoot residues in Lumbricus terrestris casts: A combination of Transmission Electron Microscopy and Nanoscale Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry. Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 93, 8-16. Vogel, C., Mueller, C.W., Höschen, C., Buegger, F., Heister, K., Schulz, S., Schloter, M., Kögel-Knabner, I., 2014. Submicron structures provide preferential spots for carbon and nitrogen sequestration in soils. Nature Communications 5.

Let us keep observing and play in sand boxes (Henry Darcy Medal Lecture)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Illangasekare, T. H.

2012-04-01

Henry Darcy was a civil engineer recognized for a number of technical achievements and scientific discoveries. The sand column experiments for which he is known revealed the linear relationship that exists between fluid motion and driving forces at low velocities. Freeze and Back (1983) stated, ''The experiments carried out by Darcy with the help of his assistant, Ritter, in Dijon, France in 1855 and 1856 represent the beginning of groundwater hydrology as a quantitative science." Because of the prominence given to this experiment, two important facts behind Darcy's contributions to subsurface hydrology have not received much attention. First, Darcy was not only a good engineer, but he was also a highly respected scientist whose knowledge of both the fundamentals of fluid mechanics and the natural world of geology led to better conceptualizing and quantifying of groundwater processes at relevant scales to solve practical problems. The experiments for which he is known may have already been conceived, based on his theoretical understanding, and the results were anticipated (Brown 2002). Second, Darcy, through his contributions with Dupuit, showed that they understood hydrologeology at a regional scale and developed methods for quantification at the scale of geologic stratum (Ritz and Bobek, 2008). The primary thesis of this talk is that scientific contributions such as the one Darcy made require appreciation and a thorough understanding of fundamental theory coupled with observation and recording of phenomena both in nature and in the laboratory. Along with all of the significant theoretical, mathematical modeling, and computational advances we have made in the last several decades, laboratory experiments designed to observe phenomena and processes for better insight, accurate data generation, and hypothesis development are critically important to make scientific and engineering advances to address some of the emerging and societally important problems in hydrology and water resources engineering. Kleinhans et al. (2010) convincingly argued the same point, noting, "Many major issues of hydrology are open to experimental investigation." Current and emerging problems with water supply and their hydrologic implications are associated with sustainability of water as a resource for global food production, clean water for potable use, protection of human health, and impacts and implications of global warming and climate change on water resources. This talk will address the subsurface hydrologic science issues that are central to these problems and the role laboratory experimentation can play in helping to advance the basic knowledge. Improved understanding of fundamental flow, transport, reactive, and biological processes that occur at the pore-scale and their manifestation at different modeling and observational scales will continue to advance the subsurface science. Challenges also come from the need to integrate porous media systems with bio-geochemical and atmospheric systems, requiring observing and quantifying complex phenomena across interfaces (e.g., fluid/fluid in pores to land/atmospheric in the field). This talk will discuss how carefully designed and theory driven experiments at various test scales can play a central role in providing answers to critical scientific questions and how they will help to fill knowledge gaps. It will also be shown that careful observations will lead to the refinement of existing theories or the development of new ones. Focusing on the subsurface, the need to keep observing through controlled laboratory experimentation in various test scales from small cells to large sand boxes will be emphasized. How the insights obtained from such experiments will complement modeling and field investigations are highlighted through examples.

Spatial and temporal distribution of 13C labelled plant residues in soil aggregates and Lumbricus terrestris surface casts: A combination of Transmission Electron Microscopy and Nanoscale Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vidal, Alix; Remusat, Laurent; Watteau, Françoise; Derenne, Sylvie; Quenea, Katell

2016-04-01

Earthworms play a central role in litter decomposition, soil structuration and carbon cycling. They ingest both organic and mineral compounds which are mixed, complexed with mucus and dejected in form of casts at the soil surface and along burrows. Bulk isotopic or biochemical technics have often been used to study the incorporation of litter in soil and casts, but they could not reflect the complex interaction between soil, plant and microorganisms at the microscale. However, the heterogeneous distribution of organic carbon in soil structures induces contrasted microbial activity areas. Nano-scale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS), which is a high spatial resolution method providing elemental and isotopic maps of organic and mineral materials, has recently been applied in soil science (Herrmann et al., 2007; Vogel et al., 2014). The combination of Nano-scale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) has proven its potential to investigate labelled residues incorporation in earthworm casts (Vidal et al., 2016). In line of this work, we studied the spatial and temporal distribution of plant residues in soil aggregates and earthworm surface casts. This study aimed to (1) identify the decomposition states of labelled plant residues incorporated at different time steps, in casts and soil, (2) identify the microorganisms implied in this decomposition (3) relate the organic matter states of decomposition with their 13C signature. A one year mesocosm experiment was set up to follow the incorporation of 13C labelled Ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) litter in a soil in the presence of anecic earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris). Soil and surface cast samples were collected after 8 and 54 weeks, embedded in epoxy resin and cut into ultra-thin sections. Soil was fractionated and all and analyzed with TEM and NanoSIMS, obtaining secondary ion images of 12C, 16O, 12C14N, 13C14N and 28Si. The δ13C maps were obtained using the 13C14N-/12C14N- ratio. We identified various states of decomposition within a same sample, associated with a high heterogeneity of δ13C values of plant residues. We also recognized various labelled microorganisms, mainly bacteria and fungi, underlining their participation in residues decomposition. δ13C values were higher in casts than soil aggregates and decreased between 8 and 54 weeks for both samples. Herrmann, A.M., Ritz, K., Nunan, N., Clode, P.L., Pett-Ridge, J., Kilburn, M.R., Murphy, D.V., O'Donnell, A.G., Stockdale, E.A., 2007. Nano-scale secondary ion mass spectrometry - A new analytical tool in biogeochemistry and soil ecology: A review article. Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 39, 1835-1850. Vidal, A., Remusat, L., Watteau, F., Derenne, S., Quenea K., 2016. Incorporation of 13C labelled shoot residues in Lumbricus terrestris casts: A combination of Transmission Electron Microscopy and Nanoscale Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry. Soil Biology and Biochemistry. Vogel, C., Mueller, C.W., Höschen, C., Buegger, F., Heister, K., Schulz, S., Schloter, M., Kögel-Knabner, I., 2014. Submicron structures provide preferential spots for carbon and nitrogen sequestration in soils. Nature Communications 5.

Three-dimensional visualization and analysis of a dual-disk resonator with dielectric misalignment and surface anomaly using edge finite elements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Villalva, Gustavo Jose

The search for life in other planets and solar systems by scientists and engineers brings about an effort to design and develop equipment of high standards which extend the capability to listen for signals which have been traveling in space many light years. In this study the purpose was to provide a more realistic and illustrative scientific understanding of one such piece of precision equipment, the dielectric resonator, which designers seek to extend its frequency stability below 10-15. At such tolerances special cryogenic cooling procedures are required. Due to its accuracy it can be used to set short term time and frequency standards to correct the atomic clock. A theoretical means of studying this type of resonant device is necessary. One contribution made in extending the current understanding of such a device is the scientific tool developed specifically for this dissertation. It applies the Minimum Theorem from variational calculus using edge finite elements for numerical modeling. The use of quasi-linear vector basis functions allowed an implementation of Helmholtz's three-dimensional equation without a penalty term. Furthermore, the intermixing of spurious solutions with the true ones due to a nodal basis was eliminated. Calculation of the average edge electric fields was made possible by applying the Rayleigh-Ritz criterion. Model enclosure was provided by a cylindrical metal shield situated in a rectangular coordinate system. Linear, homogeneous, nonmagnetic, lossless, uniaxial, and anisotropic media were considered. Integration of NASA's Unix Lanczos eigensolver permitted the accurate estimation of the smaller eigenvalues and associated vectors for large matrices on workstations and personal computers in relatively short computational times. Calculation of the lower frequency modes demonstrated the ability to address device imperfections for two selected cases. Both were influenced by problems encountered in the use of crystals constrained by cost, or because of imperfections in the manufacturing process. The first, considered dielectric properties not aligned with the model axis. And, the second inserted a surface variation on the crystal. Numerically, the general decrease in mode frequencies due to misalignment and overall increase due to a surface anomaly were graphed. Visually, the resulting deformation of electromagnetic mode structures with a high energy concentration in the altered material were shown. Those not visibly affected were modes with less energy in the modified material. An expected effect on their quality factors was given. The research presented provides illustrative scientific understanding using models that are more realistic. Moreover, it aids in resonator design by predicting electromagnetic behavior due to media imperfections.

Autism Spectrum Disorder and Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder.

PubMed

Lucarelli, Jennifer; Pappas, Demetra; Welchons, Leah; Augustyn, Marilyn

2017-01-01

Kendra is a 4-year-old girl with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who presents for follow-up of feeding problems to her pediatric clinician. She is an only child in a family where both parents are scientists. Feeding concerns date to infancy, when she was diagnosed with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) associated with persistent bottle refusal and the acceptance of few pureed foods. At 13 months, milk and peanut allergies were diagnosed. Following a feeding clinic evaluation at 24 months, she was prescribed a soy milk supplement and an H2 blocker. There was no concern for oral-motor dysfunction. She was also referred to early intervention for feeding therapy. However, her parents terminated participation after 6 months because she became anxious and had tantrum prior to treatment groups.She was seen in another feeding program at 3 years; zinc, folate, thyroid, and a celiac panel were normal, and an endoscopy was negative for eosinophilic esophagitis. She began individual feeding therapy, where concerns for rigidity, difficulty transitioning, and limited peer interactions led to a neuropsychological evaluation. Kendra was diagnosed with an ASD and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). Her cognitive skills were average, and expressive and receptive language skills were low average.Her diet consisted of French fries, Ritz crackers, pretzels, and 32 ounces of soy formula daily. She had stopped accepting Cheerios and saltines 2 months prior. She controlled other aspects of feeding, insisting on a specific parking spot at a fast food restaurant and drinking from a particular sippy cup. Her parents accepted these demands with concern about her caloric intake, which they tracked daily.Following diagnosis with ARFID, she resumed feeding therapy using a systematic desensitization approach with rewards. At the first session, she kissed and licked 2 new foods without gagging. Her mother appeared receptive to recommendations that included continuing the "food game" at home, replacing 1 ounce of soy formula by offering water each day, limiting between-meal grazing, and refusing specific feeding demands.Currently, her parents plan to discontinue feeding therapy with concerns that the treatment was "too harsh." Her father produces logs of her caloric and micronutrient intake as evidence that she did not replace missed formula with other foods and reports that she subsequently became more difficult to manage behaviorally. Her father now demands to see randomized controlled trials of feeding therapy approaches. Her weight is stable, but she has now limited her pretzel intake to a specific brand. How would you approach her continued care?

Multidisciplinary Optimization and Damage Tolerance of Stiffened Structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jrad, Mohamed

THE structural optimization of a cantilever aircraft wing with curvilinear spars and ribs and stiffeners is described. For the optimization of a complex wing, a common strategy is to divide the optimization procedure into two subsystems: the global wing optimization which optimizes the geometry of spars, ribs and wing skins; and the local panel optimization which optimizes the design variables of local panels bordered by spars and ribs. The stiffeners are placed on the local panels to increase the stiffness and buckling resistance. During the local panel optimization, the stress information is taken from the global model as a displacement boundary condition on the panel edges using the so-called "Global-Local Approach". Particle swarm optimization is used in the integration of global/local optimization to optimize the SpaRibs. Parallel computing approach has been developed in the Python programming language to reduce the CPU time. The license cycle-check method and memory self-adjustment method are two approaches that have been applied in the parallel framework in order to optimize the use of the resources by reducing the license and memory limitations and making the code robust. The integrated global-local optimization approach has been applied to subsonic NASA common research model (CRM) wing, which proves the methodology's application scaling with medium fidelity FEM analysis. The structural weight of the wing has been reduced by 42% and the parallel implementation allowed a reduction in the CPU time by 89%. The aforementioned Global-Local Approach is investigated and applied to a composite panel with crack at its center. Because of composite laminates' heterogeneity, an accurate analysis of these requires very high time and storage space. A possible alternative to reduce the computational complexity is the global-local analysis which involves an approximate analysis of the whole structure followed by a detailed analysis of a significantly smaller region of interest. Buckling analysis of a composite panel with attached longitudinal stiffeners under compressive loads is performed using Ritz method with trigonometric functions. Results are then compared to those from Abaqus FEA for different shell elements. The case of composite panel with one, two, and three stiffeners is investigated. The effect of the distance between the stiffeners on the buckling load is also studied. The variation of the buckling load and buckling modes with the stiffeners' height is investigated. It is shown that there is an optimum value of stiffeners' height beyond which the structural response of the stiffened panel is not improved and the buckling load does not increase. Furthermore, there exist different critical values of stiffener's height at which the buckling mode of the structure changes. Next, buckling analysis of a composite panel with two straight stiffeners and a crack at the center is performed. Finally, buckling analysis of a composite panel with curvilinear stiffeners and a crack at the center is also conducted. Results show that panels with a larger crack have a reduced buckling load and that the buckling load decreases slightly when using higher order 2D shell FEM elements. A damage tolerance framework, EBF3PanelOpt, has been developed to design and analyze curvilinearly stiffened panels. The framework is written with the scripting language Python and it interacts with the commercial software MSC. Patran (for geometry and mesh creation), MSC. Nastran (for finite element analysis), and MSC. Marc (for damage tolerance analysis). The crack location is set to the location of the maximum value of the major principal stress while its orientation is set normal to the major principal axis direction. The effective stress intensity factor is calculated using the Virtual Crack Closure Technique and compared to the fracture toughness of the material in order to decide whether the crack will expand or not. The ratio of these two quantities is used as a constraint, along with the buckling factor, Kreisselmeier and Steinhauser criteria, and crippling factor. The EBF3PanelOpt framework is integrated within a two-step Particle Swarm Optimization in order to minimize the weight of the panel while satisfying the aforementioned constraints and using all the shape and thickness parameters as design variables. The result of the PSO is used then as an initial guess for the Gradient Based Optimization using only the thickness parameters as design variables and employing VisualDOC. Stiffened panel with two curvilinear stiffeners is optimized for two load cases. In both cases, significant reduction has been made for the panel's weight.

‘tripleint_cc’: A program for 2-centre variational leptonic Coulomb potential matrix elements using Hylleraas-type trial functions, with a performance optimization study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Plummer, M.; Armour, E. A. G.; Todd, A. C.; Franklin, C. P.; Cooper, J. N.

2009-12-01

We present a program used to calculate intricate three-particle integrals for variational calculations of solutions to the leptonic Schrödinger equation with two nuclear centres in which inter-leptonic distances (electron-electron and positron-electron) are included directly in the trial functions. The program has been used so far in calculations of He-H¯ interactions and positron H 2 scattering, however the precisely defined integrals are applicable to other situations. We include a summary discussion of how the program has been optimized from a 'legacy'-type code to a more modern high-performance code with a performance improvement factor of up to 1000. Program summaryProgram title: tripleint.cc Catalogue identifier: AEEV_v1_0 Program summary URL:http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/summaries/AEEV_v1_0.html Program obtainable from: CPC Program Library, Queen's University, Belfast, N. Ireland Licensing provisions: Standard CPC licence, http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/licence/licence.html No. of lines in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 12 829 No. of bytes in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 91 798 Distribution format: tar.gz Programming language: Fortran 95 (fixed format) Computer: Modern PC (tested on AMD processor) [1], IBM Power5 [2] Cray XT4 [3], similar Operating system: Red Hat Linux [1], IBM AIX [2], UNICOS [3] Has the code been vectorized or parallelized?: Serial (multi-core shared memory may be needed for some large jobs) RAM: Dependent on parameter sizes and option to use intermediate I/O. Estimates for practical use: 0.5-2 GBytes (with intermediate I/O); 1-4 GBytes (all-memory: the preferred option). Classification: 2.4, 2.6, 2.7, 2.9, 16.5, 16.10, 20 Nature of problem: The 'tripleint.cc' code evaluates three-particle integrals needed in certain variational (in particular: Rayleigh-Ritz and generalized-Kohn) matrix elements for solution of the Schrödinger equation with two fixed centres (the solutions may then be used in subsequent dynamic nuclear calculations). Specifically the integrals are defined by Eq. (16) in the main text and contain terms proportional to r×r/r,i≠j,i≠k,j≠k, with r the distance between leptons i and j. The article also briefly describes the performance optimizations used to increase the speed of evaluation of the integrals enough to allow detailed testing and mapping of the effect of varying non-linear parameters in the variational trial functions. Solution method: Each integral is solved using prolate spheroidal coordinates and series expansions (with cut-offs) of the many-lepton expressions. 1-d integrals and sub-integrals are solved analytically by various means (the program automatically chooses the most accurate of the available methods for each set of parameters and function arguments), while two of the three integrations over the prolate spheroidal coordinates ' λ' are carried out numerically. Many similar integrals with identical non-linear variational parameters may be calculated with one call of the code. Restrictions: There are limits to the number of points for the numerical integrations, to the cut-off variable itaumax for the many-lepton series expansions, and to the maximum powers of Slater-like input functions. For runs near the limit of the cut-off variable and with certain small-magnitude values of variational non-linear parameters, the code can require large amounts of memory (an option using some intermediate I/O is included to offset this). Unusual features: In addition to the program, we also present a summary description of the techniques and ideology used to optimize the code, together with accuracy tests and indications of performance improvement. Running time: The test runs take 1-15 minutes on HPCx [2] as indicated in Section 5 of the main text. A practical run with 729 integrals, 40 quadrature points per dimension and itaumax = 8 took 150 minutes on a PC (e.g., [1]): a similar run with 'medium' accuracy, e.g. for parameter optimization (see Section 2 of the main text), with 30 points per dimension and itaumax = 6 took 35 minutes. References:PC: Memory: 2.72 GB, CPU: AMD Opteron 246 dual-core, 2×2 GHz, OS: GNU/Linux, kernel: Linux 2.6.9-34.0.2.ELsmp. HPCx, IBM eServer 575 running IBM AIX, http://www.hpcx.ac.uk/ (visited May 2009). HECToR, CRAY XT4 running UNICOS/lc, http://www.hector.ac.uk/ (visited May 2009).

IARC Monographs: 40 Years of Evaluating Carcinogenic Hazards to Humans

PubMed Central

Blair, Aaron; Vineis, Paolo; Ahrens, Wolfgang; Andersen, Aage; Anto, Josep M.; Armstrong, Bruce K.; Baccarelli, Andrea A.; Beland, Frederick A.; Berrington, Amy; Bertazzi, Pier Alberto; Birnbaum, Linda S.; Brownson, Ross C.; Bucher, John R.; Cantor, Kenneth P.; Cardis, Elisabeth; Cherrie, John W.; Christiani, David C.; Cocco, Pierluigi; Coggon, David; Comba, Pietro; Demers, Paul A.; Dement, John M.; Douwes, Jeroen; Eisen, Ellen A.; Engel, Lawrence S.; Fenske, Richard A.; Fleming, Lora E.; Fletcher, Tony; Fontham, Elizabeth; Forastiere, Francesco; Frentzel-Beyme, Rainer; Fritschi, Lin; Gerin, Michel; Goldberg, Marcel; Grandjean, Philippe; Grimsrud, Tom K.; Gustavsson, Per; Haines, Andy; Hartge, Patricia; Hansen, Johnni; Hauptmann, Michael; Heederik, Dick; Hemminki, Kari; Hemon, Denis; Hertz-Picciotto, Irva; Hoppin, Jane A.; Huff, James; Jarvholm, Bengt; Kang, Daehee; Karagas, Margaret R.; Kjaerheim, Kristina; Kjuus, Helge; Kogevinas, Manolis; Kriebel, David; Kristensen, Petter; Kromhout, Hans; Laden, Francine; Lebailly, Pierre; LeMasters, Grace; Lubin, Jay H.; Lynch, Charles F.; Lynge, Elsebeth; ‘t Mannetje, Andrea; McMichael, Anthony J.; McLaughlin, John R.; Marrett, Loraine; Martuzzi, Marco; Merchant, James A.; Merler, Enzo; Merletti, Franco; Miller, Anthony; Mirer, Franklin E.; Monson, Richard; Nordby, Karl-Cristian; Olshan, Andrew F.; Parent, Marie-Elise; Perera, Frederica P.; Perry, Melissa J.; Pesatori, Angela Cecilia; Pirastu, Roberta; Porta, Miquel; Pukkala, Eero; Rice, Carol; Richardson, David B.; Ritter, Leonard; Ritz, Beate; Ronckers, Cecile M.; Rushton, Lesley; Rusiecki, Jennifer A.; Rusyn, Ivan; Samet, Jonathan M.; Sandler, Dale P.; de Sanjose, Silvia; Schernhammer, Eva; Costantini, Adele Seniori; Seixas, Noah; Shy, Carl; Siemiatycki, Jack; Silverman, Debra T.; Simonato, Lorenzo; Smith, Allan H.; Smith, Martyn T.; Spinelli, John J.; Spitz, Margaret R.; Stallones, Lorann; Stayner, Leslie T.; Steenland, Kyle; Stenzel, Mark; Stewart, Bernard W.; Stewart, Patricia A.; Symanski, Elaine; Terracini, Benedetto; Tolbert, Paige E.; Vainio, Harri; Vena, John; Vermeulen, Roel; Victora, Cesar G.; Ward, Elizabeth M.; Weinberg, Clarice R.; Weisenburger, Dennis; Wesseling, Catharina; Weiderpass, Elisabete; Zahm, Shelia Hoar

2015-01-01

Background: Recently, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Programme for the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans has been criticized for several of its evaluations, and also for the approach used to perform these evaluations. Some critics have claimed that failures of IARC Working Groups to recognize study weaknesses and biases of Working Group members have led to inappropriate classification of a number of agents as carcinogenic to humans. Objectives: The authors of this Commentary are scientists from various disciplines relevant to the identification and hazard evaluation of human carcinogens. We examined criticisms of the IARC classification process to determine the validity of these concerns. Here, we present the results of that examination, review the history of IARC evaluations, and describe how the IARC evaluations are performed. Discussion: We concluded that these recent criticisms are unconvincing. The procedures employed by IARC to assemble Working Groups of scientists from the various disciplines and the techniques followed to review the literature and perform hazard assessment of various agents provide a balanced evaluation and an appropriate indication of the weight of the evidence. Some disagreement by individual scientists to some evaluations is not evidence of process failure. The review process has been modified over time and will undoubtedly be altered in the future to improve the process. Any process can in theory be improved, and we would support continued review and improvement of the IARC processes. This does not mean, however, that the current procedures are flawed. Conclusions: The IARC Monographs have made, and continue to make, major contributions to the scientific underpinning for societal actions to improve the public’s health. Citation: Pearce N, Blair A, Vineis P, Ahrens W, Andersen A, Anto JM, Armstrong BK, Baccarelli AA, Beland FA, Berrington A, Bertazzi PA, Birnbaum LS, Brownson RC, Bucher JR, Cantor KP, Cardis E, Cherrie JW, Christiani DC, Cocco P, Coggon D, Comba P, Demers PA, Dement JM, Douwes J, Eisen EA, Engel LS, Fenske RA, Fleming LE, Fletcher T, Fontham E, Forastiere F, Frentzel-Beyme R, Fritschi L, Gerin M, Goldberg M, Grandjean P, Grimsrud TK, Gustavsson P, Haines A, Hartge P, Hansen J, Hauptmann M, Heederik D, Hemminki K, Hemon D, Hertz-Picciotto I, Hoppin JA, Huff J, Jarvholm B, Kang D, Karagas MR, Kjaerheim K, Kjuus H, Kogevinas M, Kriebel D, Kristensen P, Kromhout H, Laden F, Lebailly P, LeMasters G, Lubin JH, Lynch CF, Lynge E, ‘t Mannetje A, McMichael AJ, McLaughlin JR, Marrett L, Martuzzi M, Merchant JA, Merler E, Merletti F, Miller A, Mirer FE, Monson R, Nordby KC, Olshan AF, Parent ME, Perera FP, Perry MJ, Pesatori AC, Pirastu R, Porta M, Pukkala E, Rice C, Richardson DB, Ritter L, Ritz B, Ronckers CM, Rushton L, Rusiecki JA, Rusyn I, Samet JM, Sandler DP, de Sanjose S, Schernhammer E, Seniori Costantini A, Seixas N, Shy C, Siemiatycki J, Silverman DT, Simonato L, Smith AH, Smith MT, Spinelli JJ, Spitz MR, Stallones L, Stayner LT, Steenland K, Stenzel M, Stewart BW, Stewart PA, Symanski E, Terracini B, Tolbert PE, Vainio H, Vena J, Vermeulen R, Victora CG, Ward EM, Weinberg CR, Weisenburger D, Wesseling C, Weiderpass E, Zahm SH. 2015. IARC Monographs: 40 years of evaluating carcinogenic hazards to humans. Environ Health Perspect 123:507–514; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1409149 PMID:25712798

Archaeometrical analyses demonstrates that humans excavated clay from mardels on the Luxembourger Gutland plateau to produce ceramics.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vanmourik, Jan; Braekmans, Dennis

2017-04-01

Mardels, small closed depressions, are distinctive landforms on the Luxembourger Gutland plateau. In the present landscape most mardels are shallow fens, filled with colluvial sediments. Slotboom (1963) investigated 108 mardels in the Luxembourger Gutland and ascribed the mardels in the Luxembourger Keuper marl formations to subsurface solution of gypsum inclusions, followed by collapse and subsidence of the overlying beds. The colluvial deposits in the mardels were palynologically dated as Post Roman. Schmalen (2001) published an actualized inventory of mardels in the Gutland. This inventory includes also mardels on the Lias marls, a formation without gypsum inclusions. Etienne et al. (2011) considered beside natural processes also anthropogenic factors as explanation for CD's in the Lorraine landscape. The sediments in the majority of the CD's were palynologically dated as Post Roman. Combined with the open character of the local vegetation this suggest that the majority of the mardels are probably abandoned Roman quarries. Slotboom and van Mourik (2015) showed that the fillings of the mardels on the Lias marls are Post-Roman, just as on the Keuper marls. To answer the question "are mardels natural subsidence basins or abandoned quarries" we need additional information from the soil archives. Firstly we must identify the process, responsible for the deposition of clay in the mardels. The majority of the mardels in the Gutland occur in clusters in deciduous forests. Earthworm activity in the forest soils promote lateral clay leaching and soil erosion and mardels function as sediment traps. Due to this process clay with the best properties for the production of ceramics occurred in mardels. This process was active during the whole Holocene. It is striking that we did not find Pre-Roman but only Post-Roman mardel fillings. Secondly we need information about the practice of clay, excavated from mardels. If mardels are really abandoned quarries, the excavated sediments must have been used, most probably for the production of ceramics. If we can find relicts of ceramics in the vicinity of mardels we can compare the composition of these ceramics with mardel clay. We could collect finds of Roman tile-works on the Lias marls (Kalefeld) and of Roman pottery on the Keuper marls (Biischtert) in the vicinity of mardels. Provenance analysis (XRF) demonstrated the similarity of chemical composition of mardel clay and ceramics. This indicates that the mardels on the Gutland plateau developed initially as natural depressions (sediment traps), on Strassen marls related to soil subsidence, caused by joints in the underlying Luxembourger sandstone, on Keuper marls to subsidence after soil subsurface dissolving of gypsum veins. The colluvial clay was used by the Romans for the production of ceramics. Due to the excavation reached the actual seizes. Colluvial clay accumulation restarted in the abandoned quarries. • Slotboom, R.T. (1963) Comparative geomorphological and palynological investigation of the pingos (Viviers) in the Haute Fagnes (Belgium) and the Mardellen in the Gutland (Luxembourg). Zeitschrift für Geomorphologie 7: 193-231. • Schmalen, C. (2002) Einige Mardellen Luxemburgs auf den Keuper-und Liasschichten des Forstamtbezirks Zentrum. Diplomarbeit in Studiengang Umweltplannung an der Fachhochschule Trier, Standort Birkenfeld, 2002. • Etienne, D., Ruffaldi, P., Goepp, S., Ritz, F., Georges-Leroy, M., Pollier, B., Dambrine, E. (2011) The origin of closed depressions in Northeastern France: A new assessment. Geomorphology 126: 121-131. • Slotboom, R.T., van Mourik, J.M. (2015) Pollen records of mardel deposits; the effects of climatic oscillations and land management on soil erosion in Gutland, Luxembourg. Catena 132 (2015) 72-88.

CHAIRMEN'S FOREWORD: The Seventh International Conference on New Phenomena in Mesoscopic Structures & The Fifth International Conference on Surfaces and Interfaces of Mesoscopic Devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aoyagi, Yoshinobu; Goodnick, Stephen M.

2006-05-01

This special issue of the Journal of Physics: Conference Series contains the proceedings of the joint Seventh International Conference on New Phenomena in Mesoscopic Structures and Fifth International Conference on Surfaces and Interfaces of Mesoscopic Devices, which was held from November 27th - December 2nd, 2005, at the Ritz Carlton Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii. The string of these conferences dates back to the first one in 1989. Of special importance is that this year's conference was dedicated to Professor Gottfried Landwehr, in recognition of his many outstanding contributions to semiconductor physics. A personal tribute to Prof Landwehr by Dr K von Klitzing leads off this issue. The scope of NPMS-7/SIMD-5 spans nano-fabrication through complex phase coherent mesoscopic systems including nano-transistors and nano-scale characterization. Topics of interest include: •Nanoscale fabrication: high-resolution electron lithography, FIB nano-patterning, scanning- force-microscopy (SFM) lithography, SFM-stimulated growth, novel patterning, nano-imprint lithography, special etching, and self-assembled monolayers •Nanocharacterization: SFM characterization, ballistic-electron emission microscopy (BEEM), optical studies of nanostructures, tunneling, properties of discrete impurities, phase coherence, noise, THz studies, and electro-luminescence in small structures •Nanodevices: ultra-scaled FETs, quantum single-electron transistors (SETS), resonant tunneling diodes, ferromagnetic and spin devices, superlattice arrays, IR detectors with quantum dots and wires, quantum point contacts, non-equilibrium transport, simulation, ballistic transport, molecular electronic devices, carbon nanotubes, spin selection devices, spin-coupled quantum dots, and nanomagnetics •Quantum-coherent transport: the quantum Hall effect, ballistic quantum systems, quantum-computing implementations and theory, and magnetic spin systems •Mesoscopic structures: quantum wires and dots, quantum chaos, non-equilibrium transport, instabilities, nano-electro-mechanical systems, mesoscopic Josephson effects, phase coherence and breaking, and the Kondo effect •Systems of nanodevices: Quantum cellular automata, systolic SET processors, quantum neural nets, adaptive effects in circuits, and molecular circuits •Nanomaterials: nanotubes, nanowires, organic and molecular materials, self-assembled nano wires, and organic devices •Nanobioelectronics: electronic properties of biological structures on the nanoscale. This year's conference was organized by Prof Stephen Goodnick, Arizona State University, and Prof Yoshinobu Aoyagi, Tokyo Institute of Technology. The conference benefited from 14 invited speakers, whose topics spanned the above list, and a total of 97 registered attendees. The largest contingent was from Japan, followed closely by the US. In total, there were 49 from Japan, 31 fiom the US, and 17 from Europe. The organizers want to especially thank the sponsors for the meeting: The Office of Naval Research, the Army Research Office, and Arizona State University on the US side, and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, through their 151 Committee, on the Japanese side. PROGRAM COMMITTEE •Prof Gerhard Abstreiter, Technical University of Munich •Prof Tsuneya Ando, Tokyo Institute of Technology •Prof John Barker, University of Glasgow •Prof Jonathan Bird, the University at Buffalo •Prof Robert Blick, University of Wisconsin •Prof David Ferry, Chair, Arizona State University •Dr Yoshiro Hirayama, NTT Basic Research Laboratories •Dr Koji Ishibashi, RIKEN •Prof Carlo Jacoboni, University of Modena •Prof David Janes, Purdue University •Prof Friedl Kuchar, University of Leoben •Prof K. Matsumoto, Osaka University •Prof Wolfgang Porod, Notre Dame University •Prof Michiharu Tabe, Shizuoka University •Prof Joachim Wolter, Eindhoven Institute of Technology •Prof Lukas Worschech, University of Würzburg •Dr Naoki Yokoyama, Fujitsu Research

Soil archives of mardel deposits: the impact of Late Holocene vegetation development, climatic oscillations and historical land use on soil erosion in Luxembourg

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Mourik, Jan; Slotboom, Ruud

2014-05-01

Mardel genesis. Mardels are small scale circular to elongated closed depressions (Ø > 50 m). They occur in Luxembourg on the Lias plateau in the Gutland, but also in other regions with landscapes, developed on Keuper and Lias deposits (as Lorraine). We can distinguish geogenetic and anthropogenic mardels. There are two types of genetic mardels, sink holes (controlled by diaclases in the Luxembourger sandstone and 'true mardels' or subsidence basins (controlled by dissolved gypsic lenses in marls of the Keuper deposits). These mardels developed during the Holocene. The age of the mardel sediments is Subatlantic; the sediments have been deposited on a palaeosol. Anthropogenic mardels are the result of historic clay excavation (Roman Time or younger). The age of these mardels is Subatlantic. The age of the sediments is also Subatlantic; the sediments have been deposited on a truncated soil in excavations. In all the genetic types of mardels, the sediments can consist of peat, peaty loam, or colluvic clayloam and the mardel sediments contain always valuable soil archives for the reconstruction of the impact of vegetation development, climatic oscillations and land use on soil erosion and deposition. Comparison of mardel deposits and valley deposits. - Pre-Holocene mardels have been eroded during the Weichselian. Geogenic mardels have been developed during the Holocene, anthropogenic mardels have been excavated since Roman Time. The age of the clastic (colluvic) deposits in mardels is Subatlantic - In the Late Glacial, valley bottoms were rather broad and covered with a gravelly bed load. Till the Subboreal river incision was active in primary valleys and peat accumulation took place on broad valley bottoms of secondary valleys. Since Celtic/Roman Time deforestation and extension of agriculture. During the Subatlantic colluvic/alluvic sedimentation took place on all the valley bottoms. The Subatlantic is a period of accelerated sedimentation of clastic sediments in closed depressions and (open) valleys This was the impact of two factors. 1. Impact of natural forest evolution on soil erosivity. Fagus arrived in the area, jostled Tilia in the Subboreal and extended in the Subatlantic. The understory and humus forms changed, the erosivity of the surface increased and the consequence was accelerating soil erosion. Stable mardels changed in sediment traps, river valleys got constipated with colluvic/alluvic sediments. 2. Anthropogenic deforestation and extension of agriculture since Roman Time. Conclusions. 1. In a lot of studies, deforestation was considered as the responsible factor for soil erosion. 2. Impact of natural forest evolution (the appearance of Fagus) was not recognized 3. The impact of the Little Ice Age on Subatlantic soil erosion was not recognized 4. Three factors controlled Subatlantic soil erosion and mardel and valley deposition - The (natural) jostle of mixed oak forest by beach forest promoted soil erosivity and erosion - The (anthropogenic) deforestation and expansion of agriculture promoted soil erosion - The temporally move from pasture to arable land during the Little Ice Age promoted soil erosivity References. - Barth B (1996) Mardellen im Lotharingischen Gipskeuper. Delattinia 22: 7-60. - Buisman J (1995-2006) Duizend jaar weer, wind en water in de lage landen, Vols. 1-5. KNMI, Netherlands. - Etienne D, Ruffaldi P, Goepp S, Ritz F, Georges-Leroy M, Pollier B and Dambrine E (2011) The origin of closed depressions in Northeastern France: A new assessment. Geomorphology 126: 121-131. - Loehle C (2007) A 2000-year global temperature reconstruction based on non-treeing proxies. Energy and Environment, 18 No. 7+8 - Poeteray FA, Riezebos PA, Slotboom RT (1984) Rates of Subatlantic lowering calculated from mardel-trapped material (Gutland, Luxembourg). Zeitschrift für Geomorphologie 1984: 467-4821. - Schönwiese C (1995) Klimaänderungen: Daten, Analysen, Prognosen. Springer, Heidelberg - Slotboom RT (1963) Comparative geomorphological and palynological investigation of the pingos (Viviers) in the Haute Fagnes (Belgium) and the Mardellen in the Gutland (Luxembourg). Zeitschift für Geomorphologie 7: 193-231. - Riezebos PA and Slotboom RT (1978) Pollen analysis of the Husterbaach peat (Luxembourg). Boreas 7: 75-82 - Thoen, D. and Hérault, B., 2006. Flore, groups socio-écologique et typologie de mardelles forestières de Lorrainne belge et luxembourgeoise. Bull.Soc. luxemb. 107 (2006), 3-25.

NRAO Teams With NASA Gamma-Ray Satellite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2007-06-01

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) is teaming with NASA's upcoming Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope (GLAST) to allow astronomers to use both the orbiting facility and ground-based radio telescopes to maximize their scientific payoff. Under the new, streamlined process, astronomers can compete for coordinated observing time and support from both GLAST and NRAO's radio telescopes. GLAST satellite Artist's rendering of the GLAST spacecraft in orbit above the Earth. CREDIT: General Dynamics C4 Systems Click on Image for Larger File Images of NRAO Telescopes Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope Very Long Baseline Array Very Large Array Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array GLAST is scheduled for launch no earlier than December 14. It will perform a survey of the entire sky at gamma-ray wavelengths every 3 hours using its primary instrument, the Large Area Telescope (LAT). NRAO operates the Very Large Array (VLA) in New Mexico, the continent-wide Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA), and the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope (GBT) in West Virginia. The NRAO is a research facility of the National Science Foundation (NSF). "Coordinated gamma-ray and radio observations of celestial objects will greatly enhance the ability to fully understand those objects. Astronomy today requires such multiwavelength studies, and this agreement paves the way for exciting, cutting-edge research," said Fred K.Y. Lo, NRAO Director. GLAST will be vastly more capable than previous gamma-ray satellites, and will carry an instrument, the GLAST Burst Monitor, specifically designed to detect gamma-ray bursts. GLAST observers will study objects such as active galaxies, pulsars, and supernova remnants, which are also readily studied with radio telescopes. By working together, NASA's GLAST mission and NSF's NRAO facilities can study flares from blazars over the widest possible range of energies, which is crucial to understanding how black holes, notorious for drawing matter in, can accelerate jets of material to nearly light speed. "The gamma-ray and radio observations will show scientists different aspects of many still-mysterious objects and processes. By providing a simple procedure for astronomers to win observing time on radio telescopes to follow up on our new gamma-ray discoveries, we're ensuring that we get the maximum scientific return from both," said GLAST project scientist Steve Ritz of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. "The importance of this coordinated approach has been highlighted by a recent two-day workshop at Goddard, in which we discussed the scientific benefits and coordination of radio Very Long Baseline Interferometry observations made in conjunction with GLAST." NRAO's radio telescopes have been used for many years as part of multiwavelength observing programs in conjunction with both ground-based and space-based observatories. Usually, however, astronomers had to submit separate observing proposals to two or more review committees, with no guarantee that they would win observing time on all desired telescopes. For its part, NASA spacecraft such as the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory and the Chandra X-ray Observatory have opened wide new windows on the high-energy universe. Astronomers, including those on a recent NSF Senior Review panel, have urged reductions in administrative barriers to gaining observing time at multiple wavelengths. "This NRAO-GLAST agreement eases the process of winning observing time on NRAO telescopes to complement the GLAST all-sky gamma-ray survey. In particular, the continent-wide VLBA is the only existing radio telescope that can image and monitor the sites of extreme gamma-ray flares in distant galaxies," said Jim Ulvestad, NRAO's Director for VLA-VLBA Operations. "We expect to see arrangements like this become much more common in the future, to the benefit of the science." The National Radio Astronomy Observatory is a facility of the National Science Foundation, operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc. NASA's GLAST mission is an astrophysics and particle physics partnership, developed in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy, along with important contributions from academic institutions and partners in France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Sweden, and the U.S.

ESO's Two Observatories Merge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2005-02-01

On February 1, 2005, the European Southern Observatory (ESO) has merged its two observatories, La Silla and Paranal, into one. This move will help Europe's prime organisation for astronomy to better manage its many and diverse projects by deploying available resources more efficiently where and when they are needed. The merged observatory will be known as the La Silla Paranal Observatory. Catherine Cesarsky, ESO's Director General, comments the new development: "The merging, which was planned during the past year with the deep involvement of all the staff, has created unified maintenance and engineering (including software, mechanics, electronics and optics) departments across the two sites, further increasing the already very high efficiency of our telescopes. It is my great pleasure to commend the excellent work of Jorge Melnick, former director of the La Silla Observatory, and of Roberto Gilmozzi, the director of Paranal." ESO's headquarters are located in Garching, in the vicinity of Munich (Bavaria, Germany), and this intergovernmental organisation has established itself as a world-leader in astronomy. Created in 1962, ESO is now supported by eleven member states (Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom). It operates major telescopes on two remote sites, all located in Chile: La Silla, about 600 km north of Santiago and at an altitude of 2400m; Paranal, a 2600m high mountain in the Atacama Desert 120 km south of the coastal city of Antofagasta. Most recently, ESO has started the construction of an observatory at Chajnantor, a 5000m high site, also in the Atacama Desert. La Silla, north of the town of La Serena, has been the bastion of the organization's facilities since 1964. It is the site of two of the most productive 4-m class telescopes in the world, the New Technology Telescope (NTT) - the first major telescope equipped with active optics - and the 3.6-m, which hosts HARPS, a unique instrument capable of measuring stellar radial velocities with an unsurpassed accuracy better than 1 m/s, making it a very powerful tool for the discovery of extra-solar planets. In addition, astronomers have also access to the 2.2-m ESO/MPG telescope with its Wide Field Imager camera. A new control room, the RITZ (Remote Integrated Telescope Zentrum), allows operating all three ESO telescopes at La Silla from a single place. The La Silla Observatory is also the first world-class observatory to have been granted certification for the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001 Quality Management System. Moreover, the infrastructure of La Silla is still used by many of the ESO member states for targeted projects such as the Swiss 1.2-m Euler telescope and the robotic telescope specialized in the follow-up of gamma-ray bursts detected by satellites, the Italian REM (Rapid Eye Mount). In addition, La Silla is in charge of the APEX (Atacama Pathfinder Experiment) 12-m sub-millimetre telescope which will soon start routine observations at Chajnantor, the site of the future Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA). The APEX project is a collaboration between the Max Planck Society in Germany, Onsala Observatory in Sweden and ESO. ESO also operates Paranal, home of the Very Large Telescope (VLT) and the VLT Interferometer (VLTI). Antu, the first 8.2-m Unit Telescope of the VLT, saw First Light in May 1998, starting what has become a revolution in European astronomy. Since then, the three other Unit Telescopes - Kueyen, Melipal and Yepun - have been successfully put into operation with an impressive suite of the most advanced astronomical instruments. The interferometric mode of the VLT (VLTI) is also operational and fully integrated in the VLT data flow system. In the VLTI mode, one state-of-the-art instrument is already available and another will follow soon. With its remarkable resolution and unsurpassed surface area, the VLT is at the forefront of astronomical technology and is one of the premier facilities in the world for optical and near-infrared observations. In addition to the state-of-the-art Very Large Telescope and the four Auxiliary Telescopes of 1.8-m diameter which can move to relocate in up to 30 different locations feeding the interferometer, Paranal will also be home to the 2.6-m VLT Survey telescope (VST) and the 4.2-m VISTA IR survey telescope. Both Paranal and La Silla have a proven record of their unique ability to address most current issues in observational astronomy. In 2004 alone, each observatory provided data for the publication of about 350 peer-reviewed journal articles, more than any other ground-based observatory. With the present merging of these top-ranking astronomical observatories, fostering synergies and harmonizing the many diverse activities, ESO and the entire community of European astronomers will profit even more from these highly efficient research facilities. Images of ESO's observatories and telescopes are available in the ESO gallery.

Evaluation of Two New Smoothing Methods in Equating: The Cubic B-Spline Presmoothing Method and the Direct Presmoothing Method

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cui, Zhongmin; Kolen, Michael J.

2009-01-01

This article considers two new smoothing methods in equipercentile equating, the cubic B-spline presmoothing method and the direct presmoothing method. Using a simulation study, these two methods are compared with established methods, the beta-4 method, the polynomial loglinear method, and the cubic spline postsmoothing method, under three sample…

Comparison of DNA extraction methods for meat analysis.

PubMed

Yalçınkaya, Burhanettin; Yumbul, Eylem; Mozioğlu, Erkan; Akgoz, Muslum

2017-04-15

Preventing adulteration of meat and meat products with less desirable or objectionable meat species is important not only for economical, religious and health reasons, but also, it is important for fair trade practices, therefore, several methods for identification of meat and meat products have been developed. In the present study, ten different DNA extraction methods, including Tris-EDTA Method, a modified Cetyltrimethylammonium Bromide (CTAB) Method, Alkaline Method, Urea Method, Salt Method, Guanidinium Isothiocyanate (GuSCN) Method, Wizard Method, Qiagen Method, Zymogen Method and Genespin Method were examined to determine their relative effectiveness for extracting DNA from meat samples. The results show that the salt method is easy to perform, inexpensive and environmentally friendly. Additionally, it has the highest yield among all the isolation methods tested. We suggest this method as an alternative method for DNA isolation from meat and meat products. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Study of New Method Combined Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) Method and Ultrasonic Method on PD Detection for GIS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Yanran; Chen, Duo; Zhang, Jiwei; Chen, Ning; Li, Xiaoqi; Gong, Xiaojing

2017-09-01

GIS (gas insulated switchgear), is an important equipment in power system. Partial discharge plays an important role in detecting the insulation performance of GIS. UHF method and ultrasonic method frequently used in partial discharge (PD) detection for GIS. It is necessary to investigate UHF method and ultrasonic method for partial discharge in GIS. However, very few studies have been conducted on the method combined this two methods. From the view point of safety, a new method based on UHF method and ultrasonic method of PD detection for GIS is proposed in order to greatly enhance the ability of anti-interference of signal detection and the accuracy of fault localization. This paper presents study aimed at clarifying the effect of the new method combined UHF method and ultrasonic method. Partial discharge tests were performed in laboratory simulated environment. Obtained results show the ability of anti-interference of signal detection and the accuracy of fault localization for this new method combined UHF method and ultrasonic method.

The multigrid preconditioned conjugate gradient method

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tatebe, Osamu

1993-01-01

A multigrid preconditioned conjugate gradient method (MGCG method), which uses the multigrid method as a preconditioner of the PCG method, is proposed. The multigrid method has inherent high parallelism and improves convergence of long wavelength components, which is important in iterative methods. By using this method as a preconditioner of the PCG method, an efficient method with high parallelism and fast convergence is obtained. First, it is considered a necessary condition of the multigrid preconditioner in order to satisfy requirements of a preconditioner of the PCG method. Next numerical experiments show a behavior of the MGCG method and that the MGCG method is superior to both the ICCG method and the multigrid method in point of fast convergence and high parallelism. This fast convergence is understood in terms of the eigenvalue analysis of the preconditioned matrix. From this observation of the multigrid preconditioner, it is realized that the MGCG method converges in very few iterations and the multigrid preconditioner is a desirable preconditioner of the conjugate gradient method.

Energy minimization in medical image analysis: Methodologies and applications.

PubMed

Zhao, Feng; Xie, Xianghua

2016-02-01

Energy minimization is of particular interest in medical image analysis. In the past two decades, a variety of optimization schemes have been developed. In this paper, we present a comprehensive survey of the state-of-the-art optimization approaches. These algorithms are mainly classified into two categories: continuous method and discrete method. The former includes Newton-Raphson method, gradient descent method, conjugate gradient method, proximal gradient method, coordinate descent method, and genetic algorithm-based method, while the latter covers graph cuts method, belief propagation method, tree-reweighted message passing method, linear programming method, maximum margin learning method, simulated annealing method, and iterated conditional modes method. We also discuss the minimal surface method, primal-dual method, and the multi-objective optimization method. In addition, we review several comparative studies that evaluate the performance of different minimization techniques in terms of accuracy, efficiency, or complexity. These optimization techniques are widely used in many medical applications, for example, image segmentation, registration, reconstruction, motion tracking, and compressed sensing. We thus give an overview on those applications as well. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

[Comparative study on four kinds of assessment methods of post-marketing safety of Danhong injection].

PubMed

Li, Xuelin; Tang, Jinfa; Meng, Fei; Li, Chunxiao; Xie, Yanming

2011-10-01

To study the adverse reaction of Danhong injection with four kinds of methods, central monitoring method, chart review method, literature study method and spontaneous reporting method, and to compare the differences between them, explore an appropriate method to carry out post-marketing safety evaluation of traditional Chinese medicine injection. Set down the adverse reactions' questionnaire of four kinds of methods, central monitoring method, chart review method, literature study method and collect the information on adverse reactions in a certain period. Danhong injection adverse reaction information from Henan Province spontaneous reporting system was collected with spontaneous reporting method. Carry on data summary and descriptive analysis. Study the adverse reaction of Danhong injection with four methods of central monitoring method, chart review method, literature study method and spontaneous reporting method, the rates of adverse events were 0.993%, 0.336%, 0.515%, 0.067%, respectively. Cyanosis, arrhythmia, hypotension, sweating, erythema, hemorrhage dermatitis, rash, irritability, bleeding gums, toothache, tinnitus, asthma, elevated aminotransferases, constipation, pain are new discovered adverse reactions. The central monitoring method is the appropriate method to carry out post-marketing safety evaluation of traditional Chinese medicine injection, which could objectively reflect the real world of clinical usage.

Ensemble Methods for MiRNA Target Prediction from Expression Data.

PubMed

Le, Thuc Duy; Zhang, Junpeng; Liu, Lin; Li, Jiuyong

2015-01-01

microRNAs (miRNAs) are short regulatory RNAs that are involved in several diseases, including cancers. Identifying miRNA functions is very important in understanding disease mechanisms and determining the efficacy of drugs. An increasing number of computational methods have been developed to explore miRNA functions by inferring the miRNA-mRNA regulatory relationships from data. Each of the methods is developed based on some assumptions and constraints, for instance, assuming linear relationships between variables. For such reasons, computational methods are often subject to the problem of inconsistent performance across different datasets. On the other hand, ensemble methods integrate the results from individual methods and have been proved to outperform each of their individual component methods in theory. In this paper, we investigate the performance of some ensemble methods over the commonly used miRNA target prediction methods. We apply eight different popular miRNA target prediction methods to three cancer datasets, and compare their performance with the ensemble methods which integrate the results from each combination of the individual methods. The validation results using experimentally confirmed databases show that the results of the ensemble methods complement those obtained by the individual methods and the ensemble methods perform better than the individual methods across different datasets. The ensemble method, Pearson+IDA+Lasso, which combines methods in different approaches, including a correlation method, a causal inference method, and a regression method, is the best performed ensemble method in this study. Further analysis of the results of this ensemble method shows that the ensemble method can obtain more targets which could not be found by any of the single methods, and the discovered targets are more statistically significant and functionally enriched. The source codes, datasets, miRNA target predictions by all methods, and the ground truth for validation are available in the Supplementary materials.

Ensemble Methods for MiRNA Target Prediction from Expression Data

PubMed Central

Le, Thuc Duy; Zhang, Junpeng; Liu, Lin; Li, Jiuyong

2015-01-01

Background microRNAs (miRNAs) are short regulatory RNAs that are involved in several diseases, including cancers. Identifying miRNA functions is very important in understanding disease mechanisms and determining the efficacy of drugs. An increasing number of computational methods have been developed to explore miRNA functions by inferring the miRNA-mRNA regulatory relationships from data. Each of the methods is developed based on some assumptions and constraints, for instance, assuming linear relationships between variables. For such reasons, computational methods are often subject to the problem of inconsistent performance across different datasets. On the other hand, ensemble methods integrate the results from individual methods and have been proved to outperform each of their individual component methods in theory. Results In this paper, we investigate the performance of some ensemble methods over the commonly used miRNA target prediction methods. We apply eight different popular miRNA target prediction methods to three cancer datasets, and compare their performance with the ensemble methods which integrate the results from each combination of the individual methods. The validation results using experimentally confirmed databases show that the results of the ensemble methods complement those obtained by the individual methods and the ensemble methods perform better than the individual methods across different datasets. The ensemble method, Pearson+IDA+Lasso, which combines methods in different approaches, including a correlation method, a causal inference method, and a regression method, is the best performed ensemble method in this study. Further analysis of the results of this ensemble method shows that the ensemble method can obtain more targets which could not be found by any of the single methods, and the discovered targets are more statistically significant and functionally enriched. The source codes, datasets, miRNA target predictions by all methods, and the ground truth for validation are available in the Supplementary materials. PMID:26114448

46 CFR 160.077-5 - Incorporation by reference.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

..., Breaking of Woven Cloth; Grab Method. (ii) Method 5132, Strength of Cloth, Tearing; Falling-Pendulum Method. (iii) Method 5134, Strength of Cloth, Tearing; Tongue Method. (iv) Method 5804.1, Weathering Resistance of Cloth; Accelerated Weathering Method. (v) Method 5762, Mildew Resistance of Textile Materials...

46 CFR 160.077-5 - Incorporation by reference.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... Elongation, Breaking of Woven Cloth; Grab Method. (2) Method 5132, Strength of Cloth, Tearing; Falling-Pendulum Method. (3) Method 5134, Strength of Cloth, Tearing; Tongue Method. (4) Method 5804.1, Weathering Resistance of Cloth; Accelerated Weathering Method. (5) Method 5762, Mildew Resistance of Textile Materials...

46 CFR 160.077-5 - Incorporation by reference.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

..., Breaking of Woven Cloth; Grab Method. (ii) Method 5132, Strength of Cloth, Tearing; Falling-Pendulum Method. (iii) Method 5134, Strength of Cloth, Tearing; Tongue Method. (iv) Method 5804.1, Weathering Resistance of Cloth; Accelerated Weathering Method. (v) Method 5762, Mildew Resistance of Textile Materials...

46 CFR 160.077-5 - Incorporation by reference.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... Elongation, Breaking of Woven Cloth; Grab Method. (2) Method 5132, Strength of Cloth, Tearing; Falling-Pendulum Method. (3) Method 5134, Strength of Cloth, Tearing; Tongue Method. (4) Method 5804.1, Weathering Resistance of Cloth; Accelerated Weathering Method. (5) Method 5762, Mildew Resistance of Textile Materials...

Methods for analysis of cracks in three-dimensional solids

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Raju, I. S.; Newman, J. C., Jr.

1984-01-01

Various analytical and numerical methods used to evaluate the stress intensity factors for cracks in three-dimensional (3-D) solids are reviewed. Classical exact solutions and many of the approximate methods used in 3-D analyses of cracks are reviewed. The exact solutions for embedded elliptic cracks in infinite solids are discussed. The approximate methods reviewed are the finite element methods, the boundary integral equation (BIE) method, the mixed methods (superposition of analytical and finite element method, stress difference method, discretization-error method, alternating method, finite element-alternating method), and the line-spring model. The finite element method with singularity elements is the most widely used method. The BIE method only needs modeling of the surfaces of the solid and so is gaining popularity. The line-spring model appears to be the quickest way to obtain good estimates of the stress intensity factors. The finite element-alternating method appears to yield the most accurate solution at the minimum cost.

Development and validation of spectrophotometric methods for estimating amisulpride in pharmaceutical preparations.

PubMed

Sharma, Sangita; Neog, Madhurjya; Prajapati, Vipul; Patel, Hiren; Dabhi, Dipti

2010-01-01

Five simple, sensitive, accurate and rapid visible spectrophotometric methods (A, B, C, D and E) have been developed for estimating Amisulpride in pharmaceutical preparations. These are based on the diazotization of Amisulpride with sodium nitrite and hydrochloric acid, followed by coupling with N-(1-naphthyl)ethylenediamine dihydrochloride (Method A), diphenylamine (Method B), beta-naphthol in an alkaline medium (Method C), resorcinol in an alkaline medium (Method D) and chromotropic acid in an alkaline medium (Method E) to form a colored chromogen. The absorption maxima, lambda(max), are at 523 nm for Method A, 382 and 490 nm for Method B, 527 nm for Method C, 521 nm for Method D and 486 nm for Method E. Beer's law was obeyed in the concentration range of 2.5-12.5 microg mL(-1) in Method A, 5-25 and 10-50 microg mL(-1) in Method B, 4-20 microg mL(-1) in Method C, 2.5-12.5 microg mL(-1) in Method D and 5-15 microg mL(-1) in Method E. The results obtained for the proposed methods are in good agreement with labeled amounts, when marketed pharmaceutical preparations were analyzed.

Reconstruction of fluorescence molecular tomography with a cosinoidal level set method.

PubMed

Zhang, Xuanxuan; Cao, Xu; Zhu, Shouping

2017-06-27

Implicit shape-based reconstruction method in fluorescence molecular tomography (FMT) is capable of achieving higher image clarity than image-based reconstruction method. However, the implicit shape method suffers from a low convergence speed and performs unstably due to the utilization of gradient-based optimization methods. Moreover, the implicit shape method requires priori information about the number of targets. A shape-based reconstruction scheme of FMT with a cosinoidal level set method is proposed in this paper. The Heaviside function in the classical implicit shape method is replaced with a cosine function, and then the reconstruction can be accomplished with the Levenberg-Marquardt method rather than gradient-based methods. As a result, the priori information about the number of targets is not required anymore and the choice of step length is avoided. Numerical simulations and phantom experiments were carried out to validate the proposed method. Results of the proposed method show higher contrast to noise ratios and Pearson correlations than the implicit shape method and image-based reconstruction method. Moreover, the number of iterations required in the proposed method is much less than the implicit shape method. The proposed method performs more stably, provides a faster convergence speed than the implicit shape method, and achieves higher image clarity than the image-based reconstruction method.

A Generalized Pivotal Quantity Approach to Analytical Method Validation Based on Total Error.

PubMed

Yang, Harry; Zhang, Jianchun

2015-01-01

The primary purpose of method validation is to demonstrate that the method is fit for its intended use. Traditionally, an analytical method is deemed valid if its performance characteristics such as accuracy and precision are shown to meet prespecified acceptance criteria. However, these acceptance criteria are not directly related to the method's intended purpose, which is usually a gurantee that a high percentage of the test results of future samples will be close to their true values. Alternate "fit for purpose" acceptance criteria based on the concept of total error have been increasingly used. Such criteria allow for assessing method validity, taking into account the relationship between accuracy and precision. Although several statistical test methods have been proposed in literature to test the "fit for purpose" hypothesis, the majority of the methods are not designed to protect the risk of accepting unsuitable methods, thus having the potential to cause uncontrolled consumer's risk. In this paper, we propose a test method based on generalized pivotal quantity inference. Through simulation studies, the performance of the method is compared to five existing approaches. The results show that both the new method and the method based on β-content tolerance interval with a confidence level of 90%, hereafter referred to as the β-content (0.9) method, control Type I error and thus consumer's risk, while the other existing methods do not. It is further demonstrated that the generalized pivotal quantity method is less conservative than the β-content (0.9) method when the analytical methods are biased, whereas it is more conservative when the analytical methods are unbiased. Therefore, selection of either the generalized pivotal quantity or β-content (0.9) method for an analytical method validation depends on the accuracy of the analytical method. It is also shown that the generalized pivotal quantity method has better asymptotic properties than all of the current methods. Analytical methods are often used to ensure safety, efficacy, and quality of medicinal products. According to government regulations and regulatory guidelines, these methods need to be validated through well-designed studies to minimize the risk of accepting unsuitable methods. This article describes a novel statistical test for analytical method validation, which provides better protection for the risk of accepting unsuitable analytical methods. © PDA, Inc. 2015.

Method Engineering: A Service-Oriented Approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cauvet, Corine

In the past, a large variety of methods have been published ranging from very generic frameworks to methods for specific information systems. Method Engineering has emerged as a research discipline for designing, constructing and adapting methods for Information Systems development. Several approaches have been proposed as paradigms in method engineering. The meta modeling approach provides means for building methods by instantiation, the component-based approach aims at supporting the development of methods by using modularization constructs such as method fragments, method chunks and method components. This chapter presents an approach (SO2M) for method engineering based on the service paradigm. We consider services as autonomous computational entities that are self-describing, self-configuring and self-adapting. They can be described, published, discovered and dynamically composed for processing a consumer's demand (a developer's requirement). The method service concept is proposed to capture a development process fragment for achieving a goal. Goal orientation in service specification and the principle of service dynamic composition support method construction and method adaptation to different development contexts.

Simultaneous determination of a binary mixture of pantoprazole sodium and itopride hydrochloride by four spectrophotometric methods.

PubMed

Ramadan, Nesrin K; El-Ragehy, Nariman A; Ragab, Mona T; El-Zeany, Badr A

2015-02-25

Four simple, sensitive, accurate and precise spectrophotometric methods were developed for the simultaneous determination of a binary mixture containing Pantoprazole Sodium Sesquihydrate (PAN) and Itopride Hydrochloride (ITH). Method (A) is the derivative ratio method ((1)DD), method (B) is the mean centering of ratio spectra method (MCR), method (C) is the ratio difference method (RD) and method (D) is the isoabsorptive point coupled with third derivative method ((3)D). Linear correlation was obtained in range 8-44 μg/mL for PAN by the four proposed methods, 8-40 μg/mL for ITH by methods A, B and C and 10-40 μg/mL for ITH by method D. The suggested methods were validated according to ICH guidelines. The obtained results were statistically compared with those obtained by the official and a reported method for PAN and ITH, respectively, showing no significant difference with respect to accuracy and precision. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Simultaneous determination of a binary mixture of pantoprazole sodium and itopride hydrochloride by four spectrophotometric methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramadan, Nesrin K.; El-Ragehy, Nariman A.; Ragab, Mona T.; El-Zeany, Badr A.

2015-02-01

Four simple, sensitive, accurate and precise spectrophotometric methods were developed for the simultaneous determination of a binary mixture containing Pantoprazole Sodium Sesquihydrate (PAN) and Itopride Hydrochloride (ITH). Method (A) is the derivative ratio method (1DD), method (B) is the mean centering of ratio spectra method (MCR), method (C) is the ratio difference method (RD) and method (D) is the isoabsorptive point coupled with third derivative method (3D). Linear correlation was obtained in range 8-44 μg/mL for PAN by the four proposed methods, 8-40 μg/mL for ITH by methods A, B and C and 10-40 μg/mL for ITH by method D. The suggested methods were validated according to ICH guidelines. The obtained results were statistically compared with those obtained by the official and a reported method for PAN and ITH, respectively, showing no significant difference with respect to accuracy and precision.

Evaluating the efficiency of spectral resolution of univariate methods manipulating ratio spectra and comparing to multivariate methods: An application to ternary mixture in common cold preparation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moustafa, Azza Aziz; Salem, Hesham; Hegazy, Maha; Ali, Omnia

2015-02-01

Simple, accurate, and selective methods have been developed and validated for simultaneous determination of a ternary mixture of Chlorpheniramine maleate (CPM), Pseudoephedrine HCl (PSE) and Ibuprofen (IBF), in tablet dosage form. Four univariate methods manipulating ratio spectra were applied, method A is the double divisor-ratio difference spectrophotometric method (DD-RD). Method B is double divisor-derivative ratio spectrophotometric method (DD-RD). Method C is derivative ratio spectrum-zero crossing method (DRZC), while method D is mean centering of ratio spectra (MCR). Two multivariate methods were also developed and validated, methods E and F are Principal Component Regression (PCR) and Partial Least Squares (PLSs). The proposed methods have the advantage of simultaneous determination of the mentioned drugs without prior separation steps. They were successfully applied to laboratory-prepared mixtures and to commercial pharmaceutical preparation without any interference from additives. The proposed methods were validated according to the ICH guidelines. The obtained results were statistically compared with the official methods where no significant difference was observed regarding both accuracy and precision.

Methods for elimination of dampness in Building walls

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Campian, Cristina; Pop, Maria

2016-06-01

Dampness elimination in building walls is a very sensitive problem, with high costs. Many methods are used, as: chemical method, electro osmotic method or physical method. The RECON method is a representative and a sustainable method in Romania. Italy has the most radical method from all methods. The technology consists in cutting the brick walls, insertion of a special plastic sheeting and injection of a pre-mixed anti-shrinking mortar.

A comparison of several methods of solving nonlinear regression groundwater flow problems

USGS Publications Warehouse

Cooley, Richard L.

1985-01-01

Computational efficiency and computer memory requirements for four methods of minimizing functions were compared for four test nonlinear-regression steady state groundwater flow problems. The fastest methods were the Marquardt and quasi-linearization methods, which required almost identical computer times and numbers of iterations; the next fastest was the quasi-Newton method, and last was the Fletcher-Reeves method, which did not converge in 100 iterations for two of the problems. The fastest method per iteration was the Fletcher-Reeves method, and this was followed closely by the quasi-Newton method. The Marquardt and quasi-linearization methods were slower. For all four methods the speed per iteration was directly related to the number of parameters in the model. However, this effect was much more pronounced for the Marquardt and quasi-linearization methods than for the other two. Hence the quasi-Newton (and perhaps Fletcher-Reeves) method might be more efficient than either the Marquardt or quasi-linearization methods if the number of parameters in a particular model were large, although this remains to be proven. The Marquardt method required somewhat less central memory than the quasi-linearization metilod for three of the four problems. For all four problems the quasi-Newton method required roughly two thirds to three quarters of the memory required by the Marquardt method, and the Fletcher-Reeves method required slightly less memory than the quasi-Newton method. Memory requirements were not excessive for any of the four methods.

Hybrid DFP-CG method for solving unconstrained optimization problems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Osman, Wan Farah Hanan Wan; Asrul Hery Ibrahim, Mohd; Mamat, Mustafa

2017-09-01

The conjugate gradient (CG) method and quasi-Newton method are both well known method for solving unconstrained optimization method. In this paper, we proposed a new method by combining the search direction between conjugate gradient method and quasi-Newton method based on BFGS-CG method developed by Ibrahim et al. The Davidon-Fletcher-Powell (DFP) update formula is used as an approximation of Hessian for this new hybrid algorithm. Numerical result showed that the new algorithm perform well than the ordinary DFP method and proven to posses both sufficient descent and global convergence properties.

Generalization of the Engineering Method to the UNIVERSAL METHOD.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Koen, Billy Vaughn

1987-01-01

Proposes that there is a universal method for all realms of knowledge. Reviews Descartes's definition of the universal method, the engineering definition, and the philosophical basis for the universal method. Contends that the engineering method best represents the universal method. (ML)

Colloidal Electrolytes and the Critical Micelle Concentration

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Knowlton, L. G.

1970-01-01

Describes methods for determining the Critical Micelle Concentration of Colloidal Electrolytes; methods described are: (1) methods based on Colligative Properties, (2) methods based on the Electrical Conductivity of Colloidal Electrolytic Solutions, (3) Dye Method, (4) Dye Solubilization Method, and (5) Surface Tension Method. (BR)

Theoretical analysis of three methods for calculating thermal insulation of clothing from thermal manikin.

PubMed

Huang, Jianhua

2012-07-01

There are three methods for calculating thermal insulation of clothing measured with a thermal manikin, i.e. the global method, the serial method, and the parallel method. Under the condition of homogeneous clothing insulation, these three methods yield the same insulation values. If the local heat flux is uniform over the manikin body, the global and serial methods provide the same insulation value. In most cases, the serial method gives a higher insulation value than the global method. There is a possibility that the insulation value from the serial method is lower than the value from the global method. The serial method always gives higher insulation value than the parallel method. The insulation value from the parallel method is higher or lower than the value from the global method, depending on the relationship between the heat loss distribution and the surface temperatures. Under the circumstance of uniform surface temperature distribution over the manikin body, the global and parallel methods give the same insulation value. If the constant surface temperature mode is used in the manikin test, the parallel method can be used to calculate the thermal insulation of clothing. If the constant heat flux mode is used in the manikin test, the serial method can be used to calculate the thermal insulation of clothing. The global method should be used for calculating thermal insulation of clothing for all manikin control modes, especially for thermal comfort regulation mode. The global method should be chosen by clothing manufacturers for labelling their products. The serial and parallel methods provide more information with respect to the different parts of clothing.

Comparison of five methods for the estimation of methane production from vented in vitro systems.

PubMed

Alvarez Hess, P S; Eckard, R J; Jacobs, J L; Hannah, M C; Moate, P J

2018-05-23

There are several methods for estimating methane production (MP) from feedstuffs in vented in vitro systems. One method (A; "gold standard") measures methane proportions in the incubation bottle's head space (HS) and in the vented gas collected in gas bags. Four other methods (B, C, D and E) measure methane proportion in a single gas sample from HS. Method B assumes the same methane proportion in the vented gas as in HS, method C assumes constant methane to carbon dioxide ratio, method D has been developed based on empirical data and method E assumes constant individual venting volumes. This study aimed to compare the MP predictions from these methods to that of the gold standard method under different incubation scenarios, to validate these methods based on their concordance with a gold standard method. Methods C, D and E had greater concordance (0.85, 0.88 and 0.81), lower root mean square error (RMSE) (0.80, 0.72 and 0.85) and lower mean bias (0.20, 0.35, -0.35) with the gold standard than did method B (concordance 0.67, RMSE 1.49 and mean bias 1.26). Methods D and E were simpler to perform than method C and method D was slightly more accurate than method E. Based on precision, accuracy and simplicity of implementation, it is recommended that, when method A cannot be used, methods D and E are preferred to estimate MP from vented in vitro systems. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Kennard-Stone combined with least square support vector machine method for noncontact discriminating human blood species

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Linna; Li, Gang; Sun, Meixiu; Li, Hongxiao; Wang, Zhennan; Li, Yingxin; Lin, Ling

2017-11-01

Identifying whole bloods to be either human or nonhuman is an important responsibility for import-export ports and inspection and quarantine departments. Analytical methods and DNA testing methods are usually destructive. Previous studies demonstrated that visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy method can realize noncontact human and nonhuman blood discrimination. An appropriate method for calibration set selection was very important for a robust quantitative model. In this paper, Random Selection (RS) method and Kennard-Stone (KS) method was applied in selecting samples for calibration set. Moreover, proper stoichiometry method can be greatly beneficial for improving the performance of classification model or quantification model. Partial Least Square Discrimination Analysis (PLSDA) method was commonly used in identification of blood species with spectroscopy methods. Least Square Support Vector Machine (LSSVM) was proved to be perfect for discrimination analysis. In this research, PLSDA method and LSSVM method was used for human blood discrimination. Compared with the results of PLSDA method, this method could enhance the performance of identified models. The overall results convinced that LSSVM method was more feasible for identifying human and animal blood species, and sufficiently demonstrated LSSVM method was a reliable and robust method for human blood identification, and can be more effective and accurate.

A Novel Method to Identify Differential Pathways in Hippocampus Alzheimer's Disease.

PubMed

Liu, Chun-Han; Liu, Lian

2017-05-08

BACKGROUND Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia. The objective of this paper is to propose a novel method to identify differential pathways in hippocampus AD. MATERIAL AND METHODS We proposed a combined method by merging existed methods. Firstly, pathways were identified by four known methods (DAVID, the neaGUI package, the pathway-based co-expressed method, and the pathway network approach), and differential pathways were evaluated through setting weight thresholds. Subsequently, we combined all pathways by a rank-based algorithm and called the method the combined method. Finally, common differential pathways across two or more of five methods were selected. RESULTS Pathways obtained from different methods were also different. The combined method obtained 1639 pathways and 596 differential pathways, which included all pathways gained from the four existing methods; hence, the novel method solved the problem of inconsistent results. Besides, a total of 13 common pathways were identified, such as metabolism, immune system, and cell cycle. CONCLUSIONS We have proposed a novel method by combining four existing methods based on a rank product algorithm, and identified 13 significant differential pathways based on it. These differential pathways might provide insight into treatment and diagnosis of hippocampus AD.

Improved accuracy for finite element structural analysis via an integrated force method

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Patnaik, S. N.; Hopkins, D. A.; Aiello, R. A.; Berke, L.

1992-01-01

A comparative study was carried out to determine the accuracy of finite element analyses based on the stiffness method, a mixed method, and the new integrated force and dual integrated force methods. The numerical results were obtained with the following software: MSC/NASTRAN and ASKA for the stiffness method; an MHOST implementation method for the mixed method; and GIFT for the integrated force methods. The results indicate that on an overall basis, the stiffness and mixed methods present some limitations. The stiffness method generally requires a large number of elements in the model to achieve acceptable accuracy. The MHOST method tends to achieve a higher degree of accuracy for course models than does the stiffness method implemented by MSC/NASTRAN and ASKA. The two integrated force methods, which bestow simultaneous emphasis on stress equilibrium and strain compatibility, yield accurate solutions with fewer elements in a model. The full potential of these new integrated force methods remains largely unexploited, and they hold the promise of spawning new finite element structural analysis tools.

Study of comparison between Ultra-high Frequency (UHF) method and ultrasonic method on PD detection for GIS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Yanran; Chen, Duo; Li, Li; Zhang, Jiwei; Li, Guang; Liu, Hongxia

2017-11-01

GIS (gas insulated switchgear), is an important equipment in power system. Partial discharge plays an important role in detecting the insulation performance of GIS. UHF method and ultrasonic method frequently used in partial discharge (PD) detection for GIS. However, few studies have been conducted on comparison of this two methods. From the view point of safety, it is necessary to investigate UHF method and ultrasonic method for partial discharge in GIS. This paper presents study aimed at clarifying the effect of UHF method and ultrasonic method for partial discharge caused by free metal particles in GIS. Partial discharge tests were performed in laboratory simulated environment. Obtained results show the ability of anti-interference of signal detection and the accuracy of fault localization for UHF method and ultrasonic method. A new method based on UHF method and ultrasonic method of PD detection for GIS is proposed in order to greatly enhance the ability of anti-interference of signal detection and the accuracy of detection localization.

Comparison of four extraction/methylation analytical methods to measure fatty acid composition by gas chromatography in meat.

PubMed

Juárez, M; Polvillo, O; Contò, M; Ficco, A; Ballico, S; Failla, S

2008-05-09

Four different extraction-derivatization methods commonly used for fatty acid analysis in meat (in situ or one-step method, saponification method, classic method and a combination of classic extraction and saponification derivatization) were tested. The in situ method had low recovery and variation. The saponification method showed the best balance between recovery, precision, repeatability and reproducibility. The classic method had high recovery and acceptable variation values, except for the polyunsaturated fatty acids, showing higher variation than the former methods. The combination of extraction and methylation steps had great recovery values, but the precision, repeatability and reproducibility were not acceptable. Therefore the saponification method would be more convenient for polyunsaturated fatty acid analysis, whereas the in situ method would be an alternative for fast analysis. However the classic method would be the method of choice for the determination of the different lipid classes.

Birth Control Methods

MedlinePlus

... Z Health Topics Birth control methods Birth control methods > A-Z Health Topics Birth control methods fact ... To receive Publications email updates Submit Birth control methods Birth control (contraception) is any method, medicine, or ...

26 CFR 1.381(c)(5)-1 - Inventories.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... the dollar-value method, use the double-extension method, pool under the natural business unit method... double-extension method, pool under the natural business unit method, and value annual inventory... natural business unit method while P corporation pools under the multiple pool method. In addition, O...

26 CFR 1.381(c)(5)-1 - Inventories.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... the dollar-value method, use the double-extension method, pool under the natural business unit method... double-extension method, pool under the natural business unit method, and value annual inventory... natural business unit method while P corporation pools under the multiple pool method. In addition, O...

46 CFR 160.076-11 - Incorporation by reference.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... following methods: (1) Method 5100, Strength and Elongation, Breaking of Woven Cloth; Grab Method, 160.076-25; (2) Method 5132, Strength of Cloth, Tearing; Falling-Pendulum Method, 160.076-25; (3) Method 5134, Strength of Cloth, Tearing; Tongue Method, 160.076-25. Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Underwriters...

Costs and Efficiency of Online and Offline Recruitment Methods: A Web-Based Cohort Study

PubMed Central

Riis, Anders H; Hatch, Elizabeth E; Wise, Lauren A; Nielsen, Marie G; Rothman, Kenneth J; Toft Sørensen, Henrik; Mikkelsen, Ellen M

2017-01-01

Background The Internet is widely used to conduct research studies on health issues. Many different methods are used to recruit participants for such studies, but little is known about how various recruitment methods compare in terms of efficiency and costs. Objective The aim of our study was to compare online and offline recruitment methods for Internet-based studies in terms of efficiency (number of recruited participants) and costs per participant. Methods We employed several online and offline recruitment methods to enroll 18- to 45-year-old women in an Internet-based Danish prospective cohort study on fertility. Offline methods included press releases, posters, and flyers. Online methods comprised advertisements placed on five different websites, including Facebook and Netdoktor.dk. We defined seven categories of mutually exclusive recruitment methods and used electronic tracking via unique Uniform Resource Locator (URL) and self-reported data to identify the recruitment method for each participant. For each method, we calculated the average cost per participant and efficiency, that is, the total number of recruited participants. Results We recruited 8252 study participants. Of these, 534 were excluded as they could not be assigned to a specific recruitment method. The final study population included 7724 participants, of whom 803 (10.4%) were recruited by offline methods, 3985 (51.6%) by online methods, 2382 (30.8%) by online methods not initiated by us, and 554 (7.2%) by other methods. Overall, the average cost per participant was €6.22 for online methods initiated by us versus €9.06 for offline methods. Costs per participant ranged from €2.74 to €105.53 for online methods and from €0 to €67.50 for offline methods. Lowest average costs per participant were for those recruited from Netdoktor.dk (€2.99) and from Facebook (€3.44). Conclusions In our Internet-based cohort study, online recruitment methods were superior to offline methods in terms of efficiency (total number of participants enrolled). The average cost per recruited participant was also lower for online than for offline methods, although costs varied greatly among both online and offline recruitment methods. We observed a decrease in the efficiency of some online recruitment methods over time, suggesting that it may be optimal to adopt multiple online methods. PMID:28249833

Interior-Point Methods for Linear Programming: A Review

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Singh, J. N.; Singh, D.

2002-01-01

The paper reviews some recent advances in interior-point methods for linear programming and indicates directions in which future progress can be made. Most of the interior-point methods belong to any of three categories: affine-scaling methods, potential reduction methods and central path methods. These methods are discussed together with…

The Relation of Finite Element and Finite Difference Methods

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vinokur, M.

1976-01-01

Finite element and finite difference methods are examined in order to bring out their relationship. It is shown that both methods use two types of discrete representations of continuous functions. They differ in that finite difference methods emphasize the discretization of independent variable, while finite element methods emphasize the discretization of dependent variable (referred to as functional approximations). An important point is that finite element methods use global piecewise functional approximations, while finite difference methods normally use local functional approximations. A general conclusion is that finite element methods are best designed to handle complex boundaries, while finite difference methods are superior for complex equations. It is also shown that finite volume difference methods possess many of the advantages attributed to finite element methods.

[Baseflow separation methods in hydrological process research: a review].

PubMed

Xu, Lei-Lei; Liu, Jing-Lin; Jin, Chang-Jie; Wang, An-Zhi; Guan, De-Xin; Wu, Jia-Bing; Yuan, Feng-Hui

2011-11-01

Baseflow separation research is regarded as one of the most important and difficult issues in hydrology and ecohydrology, but lacked of unified standards in the concepts and methods. This paper introduced the theories of baseflow separation based on the definitions of baseflow components, and analyzed the development course of different baseflow separation methods. Among the methods developed, graph separation method is simple and applicable but arbitrary, balance method accords with hydrological mechanism but is difficult in application, whereas time series separation method and isotopic method can overcome the subjective and arbitrary defects caused by graph separation method, and thus can obtain the baseflow procedure quickly and efficiently. In recent years, hydrological modeling, digital filtering, and isotopic method are the main methods used for baseflow separation.

Semi top-down method combined with earth-bank, an effective method for basement construction.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tuan, B. Q.; Tam, Ng M.

2018-04-01

Choosing an appropriate method of deep excavation not only plays a decisive role in technical success, but also in economics of the construction project. Presently, we mainly base on to key methods: “Bottom-up” and “Top-down” construction method. Right now, this paper presents an another method of construction that is “Semi Top-down method combining with earth-bank” in order to take the advantages and limit the weakness of the above methods. The Bottom-up method was improved by using the earth-bank to stabilize retaining walls instead of the bracing steel struts. The Top-down method was improved by using the open cut method for the half of the earthwork quantities.

Marker-based reconstruction of the kinematics of a chain of segments: a new method that incorporates joint kinematic constraints.

PubMed

Klous, Miriam; Klous, Sander

2010-07-01

The aim of skin-marker-based motion analysis is to reconstruct the motion of a kinematical model from noisy measured motion of skin markers. Existing kinematic models for reconstruction of chains of segments can be divided into two categories: analytical methods that do not take joint constraints into account and numerical global optimization methods that do take joint constraints into account but require numerical optimization of a large number of degrees of freedom, especially when the number of segments increases. In this study, a new and largely analytical method for a chain of rigid bodies is presented, interconnected in spherical joints (chain-method). In this method, the number of generalized coordinates to be determined through numerical optimization is three, irrespective of the number of segments. This new method is compared with the analytical method of Veldpaus et al. [1988, "A Least-Squares Algorithm for the Equiform Transformation From Spatial Marker Co-Ordinates," J. Biomech., 21, pp. 45-54] (Veldpaus-method, a method of the first category) and the numerical global optimization method of Lu and O'Connor [1999, "Bone Position Estimation From Skin-Marker Co-Ordinates Using Global Optimization With Joint Constraints," J. Biomech., 32, pp. 129-134] (Lu-method, a method of the second category) regarding the effects of continuous noise simulating skin movement artifacts and regarding systematic errors in joint constraints. The study is based on simulated data to allow a comparison of the results of the different algorithms with true (noise- and error-free) marker locations. Results indicate a clear trend that accuracy for the chain-method is higher than the Veldpaus-method and similar to the Lu-method. Because large parts of the equations in the chain-method can be solved analytically, the speed of convergence in this method is substantially higher than in the Lu-method. With only three segments, the average number of required iterations with the chain-method is 3.0+/-0.2 times lower than with the Lu-method when skin movement artifacts are simulated by applying a continuous noise model. When simulating systematic errors in joint constraints, the number of iterations for the chain-method was almost a factor 5 lower than the number of iterations for the Lu-method. However, the Lu-method performs slightly better than the chain-method. The RMSD value between the reconstructed and actual marker positions is approximately 57% of the systematic error on the joint center positions for the Lu-method compared with 59% for the chain-method.

Novel two wavelength spectrophotometric methods for simultaneous determination of binary mixtures with severely overlapping spectra

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lotfy, Hayam M.; Saleh, Sarah S.; Hassan, Nagiba Y.; Salem, Hesham

2015-02-01

This work presents the application of different spectrophotometric techniques based on two wavelengths for the determination of severely overlapped spectral components in a binary mixture without prior separation. Four novel spectrophotometric methods were developed namely: induced dual wavelength method (IDW), dual wavelength resolution technique (DWRT), advanced amplitude modulation method (AAM) and induced amplitude modulation method (IAM). The results of the novel methods were compared to that of three well-established methods which were: dual wavelength method (DW), Vierordt's method (VD) and bivariate method (BV). The developed methods were applied for the analysis of the binary mixture of hydrocortisone acetate (HCA) and fusidic acid (FSA) formulated as topical cream accompanied by the determination of methyl paraben and propyl paraben present as preservatives. The specificity of the novel methods was investigated by analyzing laboratory prepared mixtures and the combined dosage form. The methods were validated as per ICH guidelines where accuracy, repeatability, inter-day precision and robustness were found to be within the acceptable limits. The results obtained from the proposed methods were statistically compared with official ones where no significant difference was observed. No difference was observed between the obtained results when compared to the reported HPLC method, which proved that the developed methods could be alternative to HPLC techniques in quality control laboratories.

Determination of Slope Safety Factor with Analytical Solution and Searching Critical Slip Surface with Genetic-Traversal Random Method

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

In the current practice, to determine the safety factor of a slope with two-dimensional circular potential failure surface, one of the searching methods for the critical slip surface is Genetic Algorithm (GA), while the method to calculate the slope safety factor is Fellenius' slices method. However GA needs to be validated with more numeric tests, while Fellenius' slices method is just an approximate method like finite element method. This paper proposed a new method to determine the minimum slope safety factor which is the determination of slope safety factor with analytical solution and searching critical slip surface with Genetic-Traversal Random Method. The analytical solution is more accurate than Fellenius' slices method. The Genetic-Traversal Random Method uses random pick to utilize mutation. A computer automatic search program is developed for the Genetic-Traversal Random Method. After comparison with other methods like slope/w software, results indicate that the Genetic-Traversal Random Search Method can give very low safety factor which is about half of the other methods. However the obtained minimum safety factor with Genetic-Traversal Random Search Method is very close to the lower bound solutions of slope safety factor given by the Ansys software. PMID:24782679

Enumeration of total aerobic microorganisms in foods by SimPlate Total Plate Count-Color Indicator methods and conventional culture methods: collaborative study.

PubMed

Feldsine, Philip T; Leung, Stephanie C; Lienau, Andrew H; Mui, Linda A; Townsend, David E

2003-01-01

The relative efficacy of the SimPlate Total Plate Count-Color Indicator (TPC-CI) method (SimPlate 35 degrees C) was compared with the AOAC Official Method 966.23 (AOAC 35 degrees C) for enumeration of total aerobic microorganisms in foods. The SimPlate TPC-CI method, incubated at 30 degrees C (SimPlate 30 degrees C), was also compared with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 4833 method (ISO 30 degrees C). Six food types were analyzed: ground black pepper, flour, nut meats, frozen hamburger patties, frozen fruits, and fresh vegetables. All foods tested were naturally contaminated. Nineteen laboratories throughout North America and Europe participated in the study. Three method comparisons were conducted. In general, there was <0.3 mean log count difference in recovery among the SimPlate methods and their corresponding reference methods. Mean log counts between the 2 reference methods were also very similar. Repeatability (Sr) and reproducibility (SR) standard deviations were similar among the 3 method comparisons. The SimPlate method (35 degrees C) and the AOAC method were comparable for enumerating total aerobic microorganisms in foods. Similarly, the SimPlate method (30 degrees C) was comparable to the ISO method when samples were prepared and incubated according to the ISO method.

Computational time analysis of the numerical solution of 3D electrostatic Poisson's equation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kamboh, Shakeel Ahmed; Labadin, Jane; Rigit, Andrew Ragai Henri; Ling, Tech Chaw; Amur, Khuda Bux; Chaudhary, Muhammad Tayyab

2015-05-01

3D Poisson's equation is solved numerically to simulate the electric potential in a prototype design of electrohydrodynamic (EHD) ion-drag micropump. Finite difference method (FDM) is employed to discretize the governing equation. The system of linear equations resulting from FDM is solved iteratively by using the sequential Jacobi (SJ) and sequential Gauss-Seidel (SGS) methods, simulation results are also compared to examine the difference between the results. The main objective was to analyze the computational time required by both the methods with respect to different grid sizes and parallelize the Jacobi method to reduce the computational time. In common, the SGS method is faster than the SJ method but the data parallelism of Jacobi method may produce good speedup over SGS method. In this study, the feasibility of using parallel Jacobi (PJ) method is attempted in relation to SGS method. MATLAB Parallel/Distributed computing environment is used and a parallel code for SJ method is implemented. It was found that for small grid size the SGS method remains dominant over SJ method and PJ method while for large grid size both the sequential methods may take nearly too much processing time to converge. Yet, the PJ method reduces computational time to some extent for large grid sizes.

Completed Suicide with Violent and Non-Violent Methods in Rural Shandong, China: A Psychological Autopsy Study

PubMed Central

Sun, Shi-Hua; Jia, Cun-Xian

2014-01-01

Background This study aims to describe the specific characteristics of completed suicides by violent methods and non-violent methods in rural Chinese population, and to explore the related factors for corresponding methods. Methods Data of this study came from investigation of 199 completed suicide cases and their paired controls of rural areas in three different counties in Shandong, China, by interviewing one informant of each subject using the method of Psychological Autopsy (PA). Results There were 78 (39.2%) suicides with violent methods and 121 (60.8%) suicides with non-violent methods. Ingesting pesticides, as a non-violent method, appeared to be the most common suicide method (103, 51.8%). Hanging (73 cases, 36.7%) and drowning (5 cases, 2.5%) were the only violent methods observed. Storage of pesticides at home and higher suicide intent score were significantly associated with choice of violent methods while committing suicide. Risk factors related to suicide death included negative life events and hopelessness. Conclusions Suicide with violent methods has different factors from suicide with non-violent methods. Suicide methods should be considered in suicide prevention and intervention strategies. PMID:25111835

A review of propeller noise prediction methodology: 1919-1994

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Metzger, F. Bruce

1995-01-01

This report summarizes a review of the literature regarding propeller noise prediction methods. The review is divided into six sections: (1) early methods; (2) more recent methods based on earlier theory; (3) more recent methods based on the Acoustic Analogy; (4) more recent methods based on Computational Acoustics; (5) empirical methods; and (6) broadband methods. The report concludes that there are a large number of noise prediction procedures available which vary markedly in complexity. Deficiencies in accuracy of methods in many cases may be related, not to the methods themselves, but the accuracy and detail of the aerodynamic inputs used to calculate noise. The steps recommended in the report to provide accurate and easy to use prediction methods are: (1) identify reliable test data; (2) define and conduct test programs to fill gaps in the existing data base; (3) identify the most promising prediction methods; (4) evaluate promising prediction methods relative to the data base; (5) identify and correct the weaknesses in the prediction methods, including lack of user friendliness, and include features now available only in research codes; (6) confirm the accuracy of improved prediction methods to the data base; and (7) make the methods widely available and provide training in their use.

A different approach to estimate nonlinear regression model using numerical methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mahaboob, B.; Venkateswarlu, B.; Mokeshrayalu, G.; Balasiddamuni, P.

2017-11-01

This research paper concerns with the computational methods namely the Gauss-Newton method, Gradient algorithm methods (Newton-Raphson method, Steepest Descent or Steepest Ascent algorithm method, the Method of Scoring, the Method of Quadratic Hill-Climbing) based on numerical analysis to estimate parameters of nonlinear regression model in a very different way. Principles of matrix calculus have been used to discuss the Gradient-Algorithm methods. Yonathan Bard [1] discussed a comparison of gradient methods for the solution of nonlinear parameter estimation problems. However this article discusses an analytical approach to the gradient algorithm methods in a different way. This paper describes a new iterative technique namely Gauss-Newton method which differs from the iterative technique proposed by Gorden K. Smyth [2]. Hans Georg Bock et.al [10] proposed numerical methods for parameter estimation in DAE’s (Differential algebraic equation). Isabel Reis Dos Santos et al [11], Introduced weighted least squares procedure for estimating the unknown parameters of a nonlinear regression metamodel. For large-scale non smooth convex minimization the Hager and Zhang (HZ) conjugate gradient Method and the modified HZ (MHZ) method were presented by Gonglin Yuan et al [12].

Sorting protein decoys by machine-learning-to-rank

PubMed Central

Jing, Xiaoyang; Wang, Kai; Lu, Ruqian; Dong, Qiwen

2016-01-01

Much progress has been made in Protein structure prediction during the last few decades. As the predicted models can span a broad range of accuracy spectrum, the accuracy of quality estimation becomes one of the key elements of successful protein structure prediction. Over the past years, a number of methods have been developed to address this issue, and these methods could be roughly divided into three categories: the single-model methods, clustering-based methods and quasi single-model methods. In this study, we develop a single-model method MQAPRank based on the learning-to-rank algorithm firstly, and then implement a quasi single-model method Quasi-MQAPRank. The proposed methods are benchmarked on the 3DRobot and CASP11 dataset. The five-fold cross-validation on the 3DRobot dataset shows the proposed single model method outperforms other methods whose outputs are taken as features of the proposed method, and the quasi single-model method can further enhance the performance. On the CASP11 dataset, the proposed methods also perform well compared with other leading methods in corresponding categories. In particular, the Quasi-MQAPRank method achieves a considerable performance on the CASP11 Best150 dataset. PMID:27530967

Sorting protein decoys by machine-learning-to-rank.

PubMed

Jing, Xiaoyang; Wang, Kai; Lu, Ruqian; Dong, Qiwen

2016-08-17

Much progress has been made in Protein structure prediction during the last few decades. As the predicted models can span a broad range of accuracy spectrum, the accuracy of quality estimation becomes one of the key elements of successful protein structure prediction. Over the past years, a number of methods have been developed to address this issue, and these methods could be roughly divided into three categories: the single-model methods, clustering-based methods and quasi single-model methods. In this study, we develop a single-model method MQAPRank based on the learning-to-rank algorithm firstly, and then implement a quasi single-model method Quasi-MQAPRank. The proposed methods are benchmarked on the 3DRobot and CASP11 dataset. The five-fold cross-validation on the 3DRobot dataset shows the proposed single model method outperforms other methods whose outputs are taken as features of the proposed method, and the quasi single-model method can further enhance the performance. On the CASP11 dataset, the proposed methods also perform well compared with other leading methods in corresponding categories. In particular, the Quasi-MQAPRank method achieves a considerable performance on the CASP11 Best150 dataset.

Improved accuracy for finite element structural analysis via a new integrated force method

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Patnaik, Surya N.; Hopkins, Dale A.; Aiello, Robert A.; Berke, Laszlo

1992-01-01

A comparative study was carried out to determine the accuracy of finite element analyses based on the stiffness method, a mixed method, and the new integrated force and dual integrated force methods. The numerical results were obtained with the following software: MSC/NASTRAN and ASKA for the stiffness method; an MHOST implementation method for the mixed method; and GIFT for the integrated force methods. The results indicate that on an overall basis, the stiffness and mixed methods present some limitations. The stiffness method generally requires a large number of elements in the model to achieve acceptable accuracy. The MHOST method tends to achieve a higher degree of accuracy for course models than does the stiffness method implemented by MSC/NASTRAN and ASKA. The two integrated force methods, which bestow simultaneous emphasis on stress equilibrium and strain compatibility, yield accurate solutions with fewer elements in a model. The full potential of these new integrated force methods remains largely unexploited, and they hold the promise of spawning new finite element structural analysis tools.

Wideband characterization of the complex wave number and characteristic impedance of sound absorbers.

PubMed

Salissou, Yacoubou; Panneton, Raymond

2010-11-01

Several methods for measuring the complex wave number and the characteristic impedance of sound absorbers have been proposed in the literature. These methods can be classified into single frequency and wideband methods. In this paper, the main existing methods are revisited and discussed. An alternative method which is not well known or discussed in the literature while exhibiting great potential is also discussed. This method is essentially an improvement of the wideband method described by Iwase et al., rewritten so that the setup is more ISO 10534-2 standard-compliant. Glass wool, melamine foam and acoustical/thermal insulator wool are used to compare the main existing wideband non-iterative methods with this alternative method. It is found that, in the middle and high frequency ranges the alternative method yields results that are comparable in accuracy to the classical two-cavity method and the four-microphone transfer-matrix method. However, in the low frequency range, the alternative method appears to be more accurate than the other methods, especially when measuring the complex wave number.

Methods for environmental change; an exploratory study.

PubMed

Kok, Gerjo; Gottlieb, Nell H; Panne, Robert; Smerecnik, Chris

2012-11-28

While the interest of health promotion researchers in change methods directed at the target population has a long tradition, interest in change methods directed at the environment is still developing. In this survey, the focus is on methods for environmental change; especially about how these are composed of methods for individual change ('Bundling') and how within one environmental level, organizations, methods differ when directed at the management ('At') or applied by the management ('From'). The first part of this online survey dealt with examining the 'bundling' of individual level methods to methods at the environmental level. The question asked was to what extent the use of an environmental level method would involve the use of certain individual level methods. In the second part of the survey the question was whether there are differences between applying methods directed 'at' an organization (for instance, by a health promoter) versus 'from' within an organization itself. All of the 20 respondents are experts in the field of health promotion. Methods at the individual level are frequently bundled together as part of a method at a higher ecological level. A number of individual level methods are popular as part of most of the environmental level methods, while others are not chosen very often. Interventions directed at environmental agents often have a strong focus on the motivational part of behavior change.There are different approaches targeting a level or being targeted from a level. The health promoter will use combinations of motivation and facilitation. The manager will use individual level change methods focusing on self-efficacy and skills. Respondents think that any method may be used under the right circumstances, although few endorsed coercive methods. Taxonomies of theoretical change methods for environmental change should include combinations of individual level methods that may be bundled and separate suggestions for methods targeting a level or being targeted from a level. Future research needs to cover more methods to rate and to be rated. Qualitative data may explain some of the surprising outcomes, such as the lack of large differences and the avoidance of coercion. Taxonomies should include the theoretical parameters that limit the effectiveness of the method.

A comparison theorem for the SOR iterative method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Li-Ying

2005-09-01

In 1997, Kohno et al. have reported numerically that the improving modified Gauss-Seidel method, which was referred to as the IMGS method, is superior to the SOR iterative method. In this paper, we prove that the spectral radius of the IMGS method is smaller than that of the SOR method and Gauss-Seidel method, if the relaxation parameter [omega][set membership, variant](0,1]. As a result, we prove theoretically that this method is succeeded in improving the convergence of some classical iterative methods. Some recent results are improved.

A review of parametric approaches specific to aerodynamic design process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Tian-tian; Wang, Zhen-guo; Huang, Wei; Yan, Li

2018-04-01

Parametric modeling of aircrafts plays a crucial role in the aerodynamic design process. Effective parametric approaches have large design space with a few variables. Parametric methods that commonly used nowadays are summarized in this paper, and their principles have been introduced briefly. Two-dimensional parametric methods include B-Spline method, Class/Shape function transformation method, Parametric Section method, Hicks-Henne method and Singular Value Decomposition method, and all of them have wide application in the design of the airfoil. This survey made a comparison among them to find out their abilities in the design of the airfoil, and the results show that the Singular Value Decomposition method has the best parametric accuracy. The development of three-dimensional parametric methods is limited, and the most popular one is the Free-form deformation method. Those methods extended from two-dimensional parametric methods have promising prospect in aircraft modeling. Since different parametric methods differ in their characteristics, real design process needs flexible choice among them to adapt to subsequent optimization procedure.

A Review and Comparison of Methods for Recreating Individual Patient Data from Published Kaplan-Meier Survival Curves for Economic Evaluations: A Simulation Study

PubMed Central

Wan, Xiaomin; Peng, Liubao; Li, Yuanjian

2015-01-01

Background In general, the individual patient-level data (IPD) collected in clinical trials are not available to independent researchers to conduct economic evaluations; researchers only have access to published survival curves and summary statistics. Thus, methods that use published survival curves and summary statistics to reproduce statistics for economic evaluations are essential. Four methods have been identified: two traditional methods 1) least squares method, 2) graphical method; and two recently proposed methods by 3) Hoyle and Henley, 4) Guyot et al. The four methods were first individually reviewed and subsequently assessed regarding their abilities to estimate mean survival through a simulation study. Methods A number of different scenarios were developed that comprised combinations of various sample sizes, censoring rates and parametric survival distributions. One thousand simulated survival datasets were generated for each scenario, and all methods were applied to actual IPD. The uncertainty in the estimate of mean survival time was also captured. Results All methods provided accurate estimates of the mean survival time when the sample size was 500 and a Weibull distribution was used. When the sample size was 100 and the Weibull distribution was used, the Guyot et al. method was almost as accurate as the Hoyle and Henley method; however, more biases were identified in the traditional methods. When a lognormal distribution was used, the Guyot et al. method generated noticeably less bias and a more accurate uncertainty compared with the Hoyle and Henley method. Conclusions The traditional methods should not be preferred because of their remarkable overestimation. When the Weibull distribution was used for a fitted model, the Guyot et al. method was almost as accurate as the Hoyle and Henley method. However, if the lognormal distribution was used, the Guyot et al. method was less biased compared with the Hoyle and Henley method. PMID:25803659

Comparisons of Lagrangian and Eulerian PDF methods in simulations of non-premixed turbulent jet flames with moderate-to-strong turbulence-chemistry interactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jaishree, J.; Haworth, D. C.

2012-06-01

Transported probability density function (PDF) methods have been applied widely and effectively for modelling turbulent reacting flows. In most applications of PDF methods to date, Lagrangian particle Monte Carlo algorithms have been used to solve a modelled PDF transport equation. However, Lagrangian particle PDF methods are computationally intensive and are not readily integrated into conventional Eulerian computational fluid dynamics (CFD) codes. Eulerian field PDF methods have been proposed as an alternative. Here a systematic comparison is performed among three methods for solving the same underlying modelled composition PDF transport equation: a consistent hybrid Lagrangian particle/Eulerian mesh (LPEM) method, a stochastic Eulerian field (SEF) method and a deterministic Eulerian field method with a direct-quadrature-method-of-moments closure (a multi-environment PDF-MEPDF method). The comparisons have been made in simulations of a series of three non-premixed, piloted methane-air turbulent jet flames that exhibit progressively increasing levels of local extinction and turbulence-chemistry interactions: Sandia/TUD flames D, E and F. The three PDF methods have been implemented using the same underlying CFD solver, and results obtained using the three methods have been compared using (to the extent possible) equivalent physical models and numerical parameters. Reasonably converged mean and rms scalar profiles are obtained using 40 particles per cell for the LPEM method or 40 Eulerian fields for the SEF method. Results from these stochastic methods are compared with results obtained using two- and three-environment MEPDF methods. The relative advantages and disadvantages of each method in terms of accuracy and computational requirements are explored and identified. In general, the results obtained from the two stochastic methods (LPEM and SEF) are very similar, and are in closer agreement with experimental measurements than those obtained using the MEPDF method, while MEPDF is the most computationally efficient of the three methods. These and other findings are discussed in detail.

AN EULERIAN-LAGRANGIAN LOCALIZED ADJOINT METHOD FOR THE ADVECTION-DIFFUSION EQUATION

EPA Science Inventory

Many numerical methods use characteristic analysis to accommodate the advective component of transport. Such characteristic methods include Eulerian-Lagrangian methods (ELM), modified method of characteristics (MMOC), and operator splitting methods. A generalization of characteri...

Capital investment analysis: three methods.

PubMed

Gapenski, L C

1993-08-01

Three cash flow/discount rate methods can be used when conducting capital budgeting financial analyses: the net operating cash flow method, the net cash flow to investors method, and the net cash flow to equity holders method. The three methods differ in how the financing mix and the benefits of debt financing are incorporated. This article explains the three methods, demonstrates that they are essentially equivalent, and recommends which method to use under specific circumstances.

Effective description of a 3D object for photon transportation in Monte Carlo simulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suganuma, R.; Ogawa, K.

2000-06-01

Photon transport simulation by means of the Monte Carlo method is an indispensable technique for examining scatter and absorption correction methods in SPECT and PET. The authors have developed a method for object description with maximum size regions (maximum rectangular regions: MRRs) to speed up photon transport simulation, and compared the computation time with that for conventional object description methods, a voxel-based (VB) method and an octree method, in the simulations of two kinds of phantoms. The simulation results showed that the computation time with the proposed method became about 50% of that with the VD method and about 70% of that with the octree method for a high resolution MCAT phantom. Here, details of the expansion of the MRR method to three dimensions are given. Moreover, the effectiveness of the proposed method was compared with the VB and octree methods.

Region of influence regression for estimating the 50-year flood at ungaged sites

USGS Publications Warehouse

Tasker, Gary D.; Hodge, S.A.; Barks, C.S.

1996-01-01

Five methods of developing regional regression models to estimate flood characteristics at ungaged sites in Arkansas are examined. The methods differ in the manner in which the State is divided into subrogions. Each successive method (A to E) is computationally more complex than the previous method. Method A makes no subdivision. Methods B and C define two and four geographic subrogions, respectively. Method D uses cluster/discriminant analysis to define subrogions on the basis of similarities in watershed characteristics. Method E, the new region of influence method, defines a unique subregion for each ungaged site. Split-sample results indicate that, in terms of root-mean-square error, method E (38 percent error) is best. Methods C and D (42 and 41 percent error) were in a virtual tie for second, and methods B (44 percent error) and A (49 percent error) were fourth and fifth best.

Scalable parallel elastic-plastic finite element analysis using a quasi-Newton method with a balancing domain decomposition preconditioner

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yusa, Yasunori; Okada, Hiroshi; Yamada, Tomonori; Yoshimura, Shinobu

2018-04-01

A domain decomposition method for large-scale elastic-plastic problems is proposed. The proposed method is based on a quasi-Newton method in conjunction with a balancing domain decomposition preconditioner. The use of a quasi-Newton method overcomes two problems associated with the conventional domain decomposition method based on the Newton-Raphson method: (1) avoidance of a double-loop iteration algorithm, which generally has large computational complexity, and (2) consideration of the local concentration of nonlinear deformation, which is observed in elastic-plastic problems with stress concentration. Moreover, the application of a balancing domain decomposition preconditioner ensures scalability. Using the conventional and proposed domain decomposition methods, several numerical tests, including weak scaling tests, were performed. The convergence performance of the proposed method is comparable to that of the conventional method. In particular, in elastic-plastic analysis, the proposed method exhibits better convergence performance than the conventional method.

Designing Class Methods from Dataflow Diagrams

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shoval, Peretz; Kabeli-Shani, Judith

A method for designing the class methods of an information system is described. The method is part of FOOM - Functional and Object-Oriented Methodology. In the analysis phase of FOOM, two models defining the users' requirements are created: a conceptual data model - an initial class diagram; and a functional model - hierarchical OO-DFDs (object-oriented dataflow diagrams). Based on these models, a well-defined process of methods design is applied. First, the OO-DFDs are converted into transactions, i.e., system processes that supports user task. The components and the process logic of each transaction are described in detail, using pseudocode. Then, each transaction is decomposed, according to well-defined rules, into class methods of various types: basic methods, application-specific methods and main transaction (control) methods. Each method is attached to a proper class; messages between methods express the process logic of each transaction. The methods are defined using pseudocode or message charts.

Simple Test Functions in Meshless Local Petrov-Galerkin Methods

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Raju, Ivatury S.

2016-01-01

Two meshless local Petrov-Galerkin (MLPG) methods based on two different trial functions but that use a simple linear test function were developed for beam and column problems. These methods used generalized moving least squares (GMLS) and radial basis (RB) interpolation functions as trial functions. These two methods were tested on various patch test problems. Both methods passed the patch tests successfully. Then the methods were applied to various beam vibration problems and problems involving Euler and Beck's columns. Both methods yielded accurate solutions for all problems studied. The simple linear test function offers considerable savings in computing efforts as the domain integrals involved in the weak form are avoided. The two methods based on this simple linear test function method produced accurate results for frequencies and buckling loads. Of the two methods studied, the method with radial basis trial functions is very attractive as the method is simple, accurate, and robust.

Leapfrog variants of iterative methods for linear algebra equations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Saylor, Paul E.

1988-01-01

Two iterative methods are considered, Richardson's method and a general second order method. For both methods, a variant of the method is derived for which only even numbered iterates are computed. The variant is called a leapfrog method. Comparisons between the conventional form of the methods and the leapfrog form are made under the assumption that the number of unknowns is large. In the case of Richardson's method, it is possible to express the final iterate in terms of only the initial approximation, a variant of the iteration called the grand-leap method. In the case of the grand-leap variant, a set of parameters is required. An algorithm is presented to compute these parameters that is related to algorithms to compute the weights and abscissas for Gaussian quadrature. General algorithms to implement the leapfrog and grand-leap methods are presented. Algorithms for the important special case of the Chebyshev method are also given.

Development of a Coordinate Transformation method for direct georeferencing in map projection frames

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Haitao; Zhang, Bing; Wu, Changshan; Zuo, Zhengli; Chen, Zhengchao

2013-03-01

This paper develops a novel Coordinate Transformation method (CT-method), with which the orientation angles (roll, pitch, heading) of the local tangent frame of the GPS/INS system are transformed into those (omega, phi, kappa) of the map projection frame for direct georeferencing (DG). Especially, the orientation angles in the map projection frame were derived from a sequence of coordinate transformations. The effectiveness of orientation angles transformation was verified through comparing with DG results obtained from conventional methods (Legat method and POSPac method) using empirical data. Moreover, the CT-method was also validated with simulated data. One advantage of the proposed method is that the orientation angles can be acquired simultaneously while calculating position elements of exterior orientation (EO) parameters and auxiliary points coordinates by coordinate transformation. These three methods were demonstrated and compared using empirical data. Empirical results show that the CT-method is both as sound and effective as Legat method. Compared with POSPac method, the CT-method is more suitable for calculating EO parameters for DG in map projection frames. DG accuracy of the CT-method and Legat method are at the same level. DG results of all these three methods have systematic errors in height due to inconsistent length projection distortion in the vertical and horizontal components, and these errors can be significantly reduced using the EO height correction technique in Legat's approach. Similar to the results obtained with empirical data, the effectiveness of the CT-method was also proved with simulated data. POSPac method: The method is presented by Applanix POSPac software technical note (Hutton and Savina, 1997). It is implemented in the POSEO module of POSPac software.

Comparison of four USEPA digestion methods for trace metal analysis using certified and Florida soils

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

Chen, M.; Ma, L.Q.

1998-11-01

It is critical to compare existing sample digestion methods for evaluating soil contamination and remediation. USEPA Methods 3050, 3051, 3051a, and 3052 were used to digest standard reference materials and representative Florida surface soils. Fifteen trace metals (Ag, As, Ba, Be, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, and Za), and six macro elements (Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, and P) were analyzed. Precise analysis was achieved for all elements except for Cd, Mo, Se, and Sb in NIST SRMs 2704 and 2709 by USEPA Methods 3050 and 3051, and for all elements except for As, Mo,more » Sb, and Se in NIST SRM 2711 by USEPA Method 3052. No significant differences were observed for the three NIST SRMs between the microwave-assisted USEPA Methods 3051 and 3051A and the conventional USEPA Method 3050 Methods 3051 and 3051a and the conventional USEPA Method 3050 except for Hg, Sb, and Se. USEPA Method 3051a provided comparable values for NIST SRMs certified using USEPA Method 3050. However, for method correlation coefficients and elemental recoveries in 40 Florida surface soils, USEPA Method 3051a was an overall better alternative for Method 3050 than was Method 3051. Among the four digestion methods, the microwave-assisted USEPA Method 3052 achieved satisfactory recoveries for all elements except As and Mg using NIST SRM 2711. This total-total digestion method provided greater recoveries for 12 elements Ag, Be, Cr, Fe, K, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, and Zn, but lower recoveries for Mg in Florida soils than did the total-recoverable digestion methods.« less

[Comparative analysis between diatom nitric acid digestion method and plankton 16S rDNA PCR method].

PubMed

Han, Jun-ge; Wang, Cheng-bao; Li, Xing-biao; Fan, Yan-yan; Feng, Xiang-ping

2013-10-01

To compare and explore the application value of diatom nitric acid digestion method and plankton 16S rDNA PCR method for drowning identification. Forty drowning cases from 2010 to 2011 were collected from Department of Forensic Medicine of Wenzhou Medical University. Samples including lung, kidney, liver and field water from each case were tested with diatom nitric acid digestion method and plankton 16S rDNA PCR method, respectively. The Diatom nitric acid digestion method and plankton 16S rDNA PCR method required 20 g and 2 g of each organ, and 15 mL and 1.5 mL of field water, respectively. The inspection time and detection rate were compared between the two methods. Diatom nitric acid digestion method mainly detected two species of diatoms, Centriae and Pennatae, while plankton 16S rDNA PCR method amplified a length of 162 bp band. The average inspection time of each case of the Diatom nitric acid digestion method was (95.30 +/- 2.78) min less than (325.33 +/- 14.18) min of plankton 16S rDNA PCR method (P < 0.05). The detection rates of two methods for field water and lung were both 100%. For liver and kidney, the detection rate of plankton 16S rDNA PCR method was both 80%, higher than 40% and 30% of diatom nitric acid digestion method (P < 0.05), respectively. The laboratory testing method needs to be appropriately selected according to the specific circumstances in the forensic appraisal of drowning. Compared with diatom nitric acid digestion method, plankton 16S rDNA PCR method has practice values with such advantages as less quantity of samples, huge information and high specificity.

Reliable clarity automatic-evaluation method for optical remote sensing images

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qin, Bangyong; Shang, Ren; Li, Shengyang; Hei, Baoqin; Liu, Zhiwen

2015-10-01

Image clarity, which reflects the sharpness degree at the edge of objects in images, is an important quality evaluate index for optical remote sensing images. Scholars at home and abroad have done a lot of work on estimation of image clarity. At present, common clarity-estimation methods for digital images mainly include frequency-domain function methods, statistical parametric methods, gradient function methods and edge acutance methods. Frequency-domain function method is an accurate clarity-measure approach. However, its calculation process is complicate and cannot be carried out automatically. Statistical parametric methods and gradient function methods are both sensitive to clarity of images, while their results are easy to be affected by the complex degree of images. Edge acutance method is an effective approach for clarity estimate, while it needs picking out the edges manually. Due to the limits in accuracy, consistent or automation, these existing methods are not applicable to quality evaluation of optical remote sensing images. In this article, a new clarity-evaluation method, which is based on the principle of edge acutance algorithm, is proposed. In the new method, edge detection algorithm and gradient search algorithm are adopted to automatically search the object edges in images. Moreover, The calculation algorithm for edge sharpness has been improved. The new method has been tested with several groups of optical remote sensing images. Compared with the existing automatic evaluation methods, the new method perform better both in accuracy and consistency. Thus, the new method is an effective clarity evaluation method for optical remote sensing images.

26 CFR 1.412(c)(1)-2 - Shortfall method.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 26 Internal Revenue 5 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Shortfall method. 1.412(c)(1)-2 Section 1.412(c... Shortfall method. (a) In general—(1) Shortfall method. The shortfall method is a funding method that adapts a plan's underlying funding method for purposes of section 412. As such, the use of the shortfall...

26 CFR 1.412(c)(1)-2 - Shortfall method.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... 26 Internal Revenue 5 2012-04-01 2011-04-01 true Shortfall method. 1.412(c)(1)-2 Section 1.412(c... Shortfall method. (a) In general—(1) Shortfall method. The shortfall method is a funding method that adapts a plan's underlying funding method for purposes of section 412. As such, the use of the shortfall...

26 CFR 1.412(c)(1)-2 - Shortfall method.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... 26 Internal Revenue 5 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Shortfall method. 1.412(c)(1)-2 Section 1.412(c... Shortfall method. (a) In general—(1) Shortfall method. The shortfall method is a funding method that adapts a plan's underlying funding method for purposes of section 412. As such, the use of the shortfall...

26 CFR 1.412(c)(1)-2 - Shortfall method.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 26 Internal Revenue 5 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Shortfall method. 1.412(c)(1)-2 Section 1.412(c... Shortfall method. (a) In general—(1) Shortfall method. The shortfall method is a funding method that adapts a plan's underlying funding method for purposes of section 412. As such, the use of the shortfall...

40 CFR 60.547 - Test methods and procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... materials. In the event of dispute, Method 24 shall be the reference method. For Method 24, the cement or... sample will be representative of the material as applied in the affected facility. (2) Method 25 as the... by the Administrator. (3) Method 2, 2A, 2C, or 2D, as appropriate, as the reference method for...

40 CFR 60.547 - Test methods and procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... materials. In the event of dispute, Method 24 shall be the reference method. For Method 24, the cement or... sample will be representative of the material as applied in the affected facility. (2) Method 25 as the... by the Administrator. (3) Method 2, 2A, 2C, or 2D, as appropriate, as the reference method for...

40 CFR 60.547 - Test methods and procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... materials. In the event of dispute, Method 24 shall be the reference method. For Method 24, the cement or... sample will be representative of the material as applied in the affected facility. (2) Method 25 as the... by the Administrator. (3) Method 2, 2A, 2C, or 2D, as appropriate, as the reference method for...

The Dramatic Methods of Hans van Dam.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

van de Water, Manon

1994-01-01

Interprets for the American reader the untranslated dramatic methods of Hans van Dam, a leading drama theorist in the Netherlands. Discusses the functions of drama as a method, closed dramatic methods, open dramatic methods, and applying van Dam's methods. (SR)

Methods for environmental change; an exploratory study

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background While the interest of health promotion researchers in change methods directed at the target population has a long tradition, interest in change methods directed at the environment is still developing. In this survey, the focus is on methods for environmental change; especially about how these are composed of methods for individual change (‘Bundling’) and how within one environmental level, organizations, methods differ when directed at the management (‘At’) or applied by the management (‘From’). Methods The first part of this online survey dealt with examining the ‘bundling’ of individual level methods to methods at the environmental level. The question asked was to what extent the use of an environmental level method would involve the use of certain individual level methods. In the second part of the survey the question was whether there are differences between applying methods directed ‘at’ an organization (for instance, by a health promoter) versus ‘from’ within an organization itself. All of the 20 respondents are experts in the field of health promotion. Results Methods at the individual level are frequently bundled together as part of a method at a higher ecological level. A number of individual level methods are popular as part of most of the environmental level methods, while others are not chosen very often. Interventions directed at environmental agents often have a strong focus on the motivational part of behavior change. There are different approaches targeting a level or being targeted from a level. The health promoter will use combinations of motivation and facilitation. The manager will use individual level change methods focusing on self-efficacy and skills. Respondents think that any method may be used under the right circumstances, although few endorsed coercive methods. Conclusions Taxonomies of theoretical change methods for environmental change should include combinations of individual level methods that may be bundled and separate suggestions for methods targeting a level or being targeted from a level. Future research needs to cover more methods to rate and to be rated. Qualitative data may explain some of the surprising outcomes, such as the lack of large differences and the avoidance of coercion. Taxonomies should include the theoretical parameters that limit the effectiveness of the method. PMID:23190712

Implementation of an improved adaptive-implicit method in a thermal compositional simulator

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

Tan, T.B.

1988-11-01

A multicomponent thermal simulator with an adaptive-implicit-method (AIM) formulation/inexact-adaptive-Newton (IAN) method is presented. The final coefficient matrix retains the original banded structure so that conventional iterative methods can be used. Various methods for selection of the eliminated unknowns are tested. AIM/IAN method has a lower work count per Newtonian iteration than fully implicit methods, but a wrong choice of unknowns will result in excessive Newtonian iterations. For the problems tested, the residual-error method described in the paper for selecting implicit unknowns, together with the IAN method, had an improvement of up to 28% of the CPU time over the fullymore » implicit method.« less

Approaches to Mixed Methods Dissemination and Implementation Research: Methods, Strengths, Caveats, and Opportunities.

PubMed

Green, Carla A; Duan, Naihua; Gibbons, Robert D; Hoagwood, Kimberly E; Palinkas, Lawrence A; Wisdom, Jennifer P

2015-09-01

Limited translation of research into practice has prompted study of diffusion and implementation, and development of effective methods of encouraging adoption, dissemination and implementation. Mixed methods techniques offer approaches for assessing and addressing processes affecting implementation of evidence-based interventions. We describe common mixed methods approaches used in dissemination and implementation research, discuss strengths and limitations of mixed methods approaches to data collection, and suggest promising methods not yet widely used in implementation research. We review qualitative, quantitative, and hybrid approaches to mixed methods dissemination and implementation studies, and describe methods for integrating multiple methods to increase depth of understanding while improving reliability and validity of findings.

Approaches to Mixed Methods Dissemination and Implementation Research: Methods, Strengths, Caveats, and Opportunities

PubMed Central

Green, Carla A.; Duan, Naihua; Gibbons, Robert D.; Hoagwood, Kimberly E.; Palinkas, Lawrence A.; Wisdom, Jennifer P.

2015-01-01

Limited translation of research into practice has prompted study of diffusion and implementation, and development of effective methods of encouraging adoption, dissemination and implementation. Mixed methods techniques offer approaches for assessing and addressing processes affecting implementation of evidence-based interventions. We describe common mixed methods approaches used in dissemination and implementation research, discuss strengths and limitations of mixed methods approaches to data collection, and suggest promising methods not yet widely used in implementation research. We review qualitative, quantitative, and hybrid approaches to mixed methods dissemination and implementation studies, and describe methods for integrating multiple methods to increase depth of understanding while improving reliability and validity of findings. PMID:24722814

Bond additivity corrections for quantum chemistry methods

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

C. F. Melius; M. D. Allendorf

1999-04-01

In the 1980's, the authors developed a bond-additivity correction procedure for quantum chemical calculations called BAC-MP4, which has proven reliable in calculating the thermochemical properties of molecular species, including radicals as well as stable closed-shell species. New Bond Additivity Correction (BAC) methods have been developed for the G2 method, BAC-G2, as well as for a hybrid DFT/MP2 method, BAC-Hybrid. These BAC methods use a new form of BAC corrections, involving atomic, molecular, and bond-wise additive terms. These terms enable one to treat positive and negative ions as well as neutrals. The BAC-G2 method reduces errors in the G2 method duemore » to nearest-neighbor bonds. The parameters within the BAC-G2 method only depend on atom types. Thus the BAC-G2 method can be used to determine the parameters needed by BAC methods involving lower levels of theory, such as BAC-Hybrid and BAC-MP4. The BAC-Hybrid method should scale well for large molecules. The BAC-Hybrid method uses the differences between the DFT and MP2 as an indicator of the method's accuracy, while the BAC-G2 method uses its internal methods (G1 and G2MP2) to provide an indicator of its accuracy. Indications of the average error as well as worst cases are provided for each of the BAC methods.« less

Comparison of different methods to quantify fat classes in bakery products.

PubMed

Shin, Jae-Min; Hwang, Young-Ok; Tu, Ock-Ju; Jo, Han-Bin; Kim, Jung-Hun; Chae, Young-Zoo; Rhu, Kyung-Hun; Park, Seung-Kook

2013-01-15

The definition of fat differs in different countries; thus whether fat is listed on food labels depends on the country. Some countries list crude fat content in the 'Fat' section on the food label, whereas other countries list total fat. In this study, three methods were used for determining fat classes and content in bakery products: the Folch method, the automated Soxhlet method, and the AOAC 996.06 method. The results using these methods were compared. Fat (crude) extracted by the Folch and Soxhlet methods was gravimetrically determined and assessed by fat class using capillary gas chromatography (GC). In most samples, fat (total) content determined by the AOAC 996.06 method was lower than the fat (crude) content determined by the Folch or automated Soxhlet methods. Furthermore, monounsaturated fat or saturated fat content determined by the AOAC 996.06 method was lowest. Almost no difference was observed between fat (crude) content determined by the Folch method and that determined by the automated Soxhlet method for nearly all samples. In three samples (wheat biscuits, butter cookies-1, and chocolate chip cookies), monounsaturated fat, saturated fat, and trans fat content obtained by the automated Soxhlet method was higher than that obtained by the Folch method. The polyunsaturated fat content obtained by the automated Soxhlet method was not higher than that obtained by the Folch method in any sample. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A CLASS OF RECONSTRUCTED DISCONTINUOUS GALERKIN METHODS IN COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS

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

Hong Luo; Yidong Xia; Robert Nourgaliev

2011-05-01

A class of reconstructed discontinuous Galerkin (DG) methods is presented to solve compressible flow problems on arbitrary grids. The idea is to combine the efficiency of the reconstruction methods in finite volume methods and the accuracy of the DG methods to obtain a better numerical algorithm in computational fluid dynamics. The beauty of the resulting reconstructed discontinuous Galerkin (RDG) methods is that they provide a unified formulation for both finite volume and DG methods, and contain both classical finite volume and standard DG methods as two special cases of the RDG methods, and thus allow for a direct efficiency comparison.more » Both Green-Gauss and least-squares reconstruction methods and a least-squares recovery method are presented to obtain a quadratic polynomial representation of the underlying linear discontinuous Galerkin solution on each cell via a so-called in-cell reconstruction process. The devised in-cell reconstruction is aimed to augment the accuracy of the discontinuous Galerkin method by increasing the order of the underlying polynomial solution. These three reconstructed discontinuous Galerkin methods are used to compute a variety of compressible flow problems on arbitrary meshes to assess their accuracy. The numerical experiments demonstrate that all three reconstructed discontinuous Galerkin methods can significantly improve the accuracy of the underlying second-order DG method, although the least-squares reconstructed DG method provides the best performance in terms of both accuracy, efficiency, and robustness.« less

Optimal back-extrapolation method for estimating plasma volume in humans using the indocyanine green dilution method

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background The indocyanine green dilution method is one of the methods available to estimate plasma volume, although some researchers have questioned the accuracy of this method. Methods We developed a new, physiologically based mathematical model of indocyanine green kinetics that more accurately represents indocyanine green kinetics during the first few minutes postinjection than what is assumed when using the traditional mono-exponential back-extrapolation method. The mathematical model is used to develop an optimal back-extrapolation method for estimating plasma volume based on simulated indocyanine green kinetics obtained from the physiological model. Results Results from a clinical study using the indocyanine green dilution method in 36 subjects with type 2 diabetes indicate that the estimated plasma volumes are considerably lower when using the traditional back-extrapolation method than when using the proposed back-extrapolation method (mean (standard deviation) plasma volume = 26.8 (5.4) mL/kg for the traditional method vs 35.1 (7.0) mL/kg for the proposed method). The results obtained using the proposed method are more consistent with previously reported plasma volume values. Conclusions Based on the more physiological representation of indocyanine green kinetics and greater consistency with previously reported plasma volume values, the new back-extrapolation method is proposed for use when estimating plasma volume using the indocyanine green dilution method. PMID:25052018

Integral methods of solving boundary-value problems of nonstationary heat conduction and their comparative analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kot, V. A.

2017-11-01

The modern state of approximate integral methods used in applications, where the processes of heat conduction and heat and mass transfer are of first importance, is considered. Integral methods have found a wide utility in different fields of knowledge: problems of heat conduction with different heat-exchange conditions, simulation of thermal protection, Stefantype problems, microwave heating of a substance, problems on a boundary layer, simulation of a fluid flow in a channel, thermal explosion, laser and plasma treatment of materials, simulation of the formation and melting of ice, inverse heat problems, temperature and thermal definition of nanoparticles and nanoliquids, and others. Moreover, polynomial solutions are of interest because the determination of a temperature (concentration) field is an intermediate stage in the mathematical description of any other process. The following main methods were investigated on the basis of the error norms: the Tsoi and Postol’nik methods, the method of integral relations, the Gudman integral method of heat balance, the improved Volkov integral method, the matched integral method, the modified Hristov method, the Mayer integral method, the Kudinov method of additional boundary conditions, the Fedorov boundary method, the method of weighted temperature function, the integral method of boundary characteristics. It was established that the two last-mentioned methods are characterized by high convergence and frequently give solutions whose accuracy is not worse that the accuracy of numerical solutions.

Method for producing smooth inner surfaces

DOEpatents

Cooper, Charles A.

2016-05-17

The invention provides a method for preparing superconducting cavities, the method comprising causing polishing media to tumble by centrifugal barrel polishing within the cavities for a time sufficient to attain a surface smoothness of less than 15 nm root mean square roughness over approximately a 1 mm.sup.2 scan area. The method also provides for a method for preparing superconducting cavities, the method comprising causing polishing media bound to a carrier to tumble within the cavities. The method also provides for a method for preparing superconducting cavities, the method comprising causing polishing media in a slurry to tumble within the cavities.

A Hybrid Method for Pancreas Extraction from CT Image Based on Level Set Methods

PubMed Central

Tan, Hanqing; Fujita, Hiroshi

2013-01-01

This paper proposes a novel semiautomatic method to extract the pancreas from abdominal CT images. Traditional level set and region growing methods that request locating initial contour near the final boundary of object have problem of leakage to nearby tissues of pancreas region. The proposed method consists of a customized fast-marching level set method which generates an optimal initial pancreas region to solve the problem that the level set method is sensitive to the initial contour location and a modified distance regularized level set method which extracts accurate pancreas. The novelty in our method is the proper selection and combination of level set methods, furthermore an energy-decrement algorithm and an energy-tune algorithm are proposed to reduce the negative impact of bonding force caused by connected tissue whose intensity is similar with pancreas. As a result, our method overcomes the shortages of oversegmentation at weak boundary and can accurately extract pancreas from CT images. The proposed method is compared to other five state-of-the-art medical image segmentation methods based on a CT image dataset which contains abdominal images from 10 patients. The evaluated results demonstrate that our method outperforms other methods by achieving higher accuracy and making less false segmentation in pancreas extraction. PMID:24066016

Optimal back-extrapolation method for estimating plasma volume in humans using the indocyanine green dilution method.

PubMed

Polidori, David; Rowley, Clarence

2014-07-22

The indocyanine green dilution method is one of the methods available to estimate plasma volume, although some researchers have questioned the accuracy of this method. We developed a new, physiologically based mathematical model of indocyanine green kinetics that more accurately represents indocyanine green kinetics during the first few minutes postinjection than what is assumed when using the traditional mono-exponential back-extrapolation method. The mathematical model is used to develop an optimal back-extrapolation method for estimating plasma volume based on simulated indocyanine green kinetics obtained from the physiological model. Results from a clinical study using the indocyanine green dilution method in 36 subjects with type 2 diabetes indicate that the estimated plasma volumes are considerably lower when using the traditional back-extrapolation method than when using the proposed back-extrapolation method (mean (standard deviation) plasma volume = 26.8 (5.4) mL/kg for the traditional method vs 35.1 (7.0) mL/kg for the proposed method). The results obtained using the proposed method are more consistent with previously reported plasma volume values. Based on the more physiological representation of indocyanine green kinetics and greater consistency with previously reported plasma volume values, the new back-extrapolation method is proposed for use when estimating plasma volume using the indocyanine green dilution method.

Trends in the Contraceptive Method Mix in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Analysis Using a New “Average Deviation” Measure

PubMed Central

Ross, John; Keesbury, Jill; Hardee, Karen

2015-01-01

ABSTRACT The method mix of contraceptive use is severely unbalanced in many countries, with over half of all use provided by just 1 or 2 methods. That tends to limit the range of user options and constrains the total prevalence of use, leading to unplanned pregnancies and births or abortions. Previous analyses of method mix distortions focused on countries where a single method accounted for more than half of all use (the 50% rule). We introduce a new measure that uses the average deviation (AD) of method shares around their own mean and apply that to a secondary analysis of method mix data for 8 contraceptive methods from 666 national surveys in 123 countries. A high AD value indicates a skewed method mix while a low AD value indicates a more uniform pattern across methods; the values can range from 0 to 21.9. Most AD values ranged from 6 to 19, with an interquartile range of 8.6 to 12.2. Using the AD measure, we identified 15 countries where the method mix has evolved from a distorted one to a better balanced one, with AD values declining, on average, by 35% over time. Countries show disparate paths in method gains and losses toward a balanced mix, but 4 patterns are suggested: (1) rise of one method partially offset by changes in other methods, (2) replacement of traditional with modern methods, (3) continued but declining domination by a single method, and (4) declines in dominant methods with increases in other methods toward a balanced mix. Regions differ markedly in their method mix profiles and preferences, raising the question of whether programmatic resources are best devoted to better provision of the well-accepted methods or to deploying neglected or new ones, or to a combination of both approaches. PMID:25745119

A review and comparison of methods for recreating individual patient data from published Kaplan-Meier survival curves for economic evaluations: a simulation study.

PubMed

Wan, Xiaomin; Peng, Liubao; Li, Yuanjian

2015-01-01

In general, the individual patient-level data (IPD) collected in clinical trials are not available to independent researchers to conduct economic evaluations; researchers only have access to published survival curves and summary statistics. Thus, methods that use published survival curves and summary statistics to reproduce statistics for economic evaluations are essential. Four methods have been identified: two traditional methods 1) least squares method, 2) graphical method; and two recently proposed methods by 3) Hoyle and Henley, 4) Guyot et al. The four methods were first individually reviewed and subsequently assessed regarding their abilities to estimate mean survival through a simulation study. A number of different scenarios were developed that comprised combinations of various sample sizes, censoring rates and parametric survival distributions. One thousand simulated survival datasets were generated for each scenario, and all methods were applied to actual IPD. The uncertainty in the estimate of mean survival time was also captured. All methods provided accurate estimates of the mean survival time when the sample size was 500 and a Weibull distribution was used. When the sample size was 100 and the Weibull distribution was used, the Guyot et al. method was almost as accurate as the Hoyle and Henley method; however, more biases were identified in the traditional methods. When a lognormal distribution was used, the Guyot et al. method generated noticeably less bias and a more accurate uncertainty compared with the Hoyle and Henley method. The traditional methods should not be preferred because of their remarkable overestimation. When the Weibull distribution was used for a fitted model, the Guyot et al. method was almost as accurate as the Hoyle and Henley method. However, if the lognormal distribution was used, the Guyot et al. method was less biased compared with the Hoyle and Henley method.

Achieving cost-neutrality with long-acting reversible contraceptive methods.

PubMed

Trussell, James; Hassan, Fareen; Lowin, Julia; Law, Amy; Filonenko, Anna

2015-01-01

This analysis aimed to estimate the average annual cost of available reversible contraceptive methods in the United States. In line with literature suggesting long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) methods become increasingly cost-saving with extended duration of use, it aimed to also quantify minimum duration of use required for LARC methods to achieve cost-neutrality relative to other reversible contraceptive methods while taking into consideration discontinuation. A three-state economic model was developed to estimate relative costs of no method (chance), four short-acting reversible (SARC) methods (oral contraceptive, ring, patch and injection) and three LARC methods [implant, copper intrauterine device (IUD) and levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) 20 mcg/24 h (total content 52 mg)]. The analysis was conducted over a 5-year time horizon in 1000 women aged 20-29 years. Method-specific failure and discontinuation rates were based on published literature. Costs associated with drug acquisition, administration and failure (defined as an unintended pregnancy) were considered. Key model outputs were annual average cost per method and minimum duration of LARC method usage to achieve cost-savings compared to SARC methods. The two least expensive methods were copper IUD ($304 per women, per year) and LNG-IUS 20 mcg/24 h ($308). Cost of SARC methods ranged between $432 (injection) and $730 (patch), per women, per year. A minimum of 2.1 years of LARC usage would result in cost-savings compared to SARC usage. This analysis finds that even if LARC methods are not used for their full durations of efficacy, they become cost-saving relative to SARC methods within 3 years of use. Previous economic arguments in support of using LARC methods have been criticized for not considering that LARC methods are not always used for their full duration of efficacy. This study calculated that cost-savings from LARC methods relative to SARC methods, with discontinuation rates considered, can be realized within 3 years. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

[Analyzing and modeling methods of near infrared spectroscopy for in-situ prediction of oil yield from oil shale].

PubMed

Liu, Jie; Zhang, Fu-Dong; Teng, Fei; Li, Jun; Wang, Zhi-Hong

2014-10-01

In order to in-situ detect the oil yield of oil shale, based on portable near infrared spectroscopy analytical technology, with 66 rock core samples from No. 2 well drilling of Fuyu oil shale base in Jilin, the modeling and analyzing methods for in-situ detection were researched. By the developed portable spectrometer, 3 data formats (reflectance, absorbance and K-M function) spectra were acquired. With 4 different modeling data optimization methods: principal component-mahalanobis distance (PCA-MD) for eliminating abnormal samples, uninformative variables elimination (UVE) for wavelength selection and their combina- tions: PCA-MD + UVE and UVE + PCA-MD, 2 modeling methods: partial least square (PLS) and back propagation artificial neural network (BPANN), and the same data pre-processing, the modeling and analyzing experiment were performed to determine the optimum analysis model and method. The results show that the data format, modeling data optimization method and modeling method all affect the analysis precision of model. Results show that whether or not using the optimization method, reflectance or K-M function is the proper spectrum format of the modeling database for two modeling methods. Using two different modeling methods and four different data optimization methods, the model precisions of the same modeling database are different. For PLS modeling method, the PCA-MD and UVE + PCA-MD data optimization methods can improve the modeling precision of database using K-M function spectrum data format. For BPANN modeling method, UVE, UVE + PCA-MD and PCA- MD + UVE data optimization methods can improve the modeling precision of database using any of the 3 spectrum data formats. In addition to using the reflectance spectra and PCA-MD data optimization method, modeling precision by BPANN method is better than that by PLS method. And modeling with reflectance spectra, UVE optimization method and BPANN modeling method, the model gets the highest analysis precision, its correlation coefficient (Rp) is 0.92, and its standard error of prediction (SEP) is 0.69%.

Relative effectiveness of the Bacteriological Analytical Manual method for the recovery of Salmonella from whole cantaloupes and cantaloupe rinses with selected preenrichment media and rapid methods.

PubMed

Hammack, Thomas S; Valentin-Bon, Iris E; Jacobson, Andrew P; Andrews, Wallace H

2004-05-01

Soak and rinse methods were compared for the recovery of Salmonella from whole cantaloupes. Cantaloupes were surface inoculated with Salmonella cell suspensions and stored for 4 days at 2 to 6 degrees C. Cantaloupes were placed in sterile plastic bags with a nonselective preenrichment broth at a 1:1.5 cantaloupe weight-to-broth volume ratio. The cantaloupe broths were shaken for 5 min at 100 rpm after which 25-ml aliquots (rinse) were removed from the bags. The 25-ml rinses were preenriched in 225-ml portions of the same uninoculated broth type at 35 degrees C for 24 h (rinse method). The remaining cantaloupe broths were incubated at 35 degrees C for 24 h (soak method). The preenrichment broths used were buffered peptone water (BPW), modified BPW, lactose (LAC) broth, and Universal Preenrichment (UP) broth. The Bacteriological Analytical Manual Salmonella culture method was compared with the following rapid methods: the TECRA Unique Salmonella method, the VIDAS ICS/SLM method, and the VIDAS SLM method. The soak method detected significantly more Salmonella-positive cantaloupes (P < 0.05) than did the rinse method: 367 Salmonella-positive cantaloupes of 540 test cantaloupes by the soak method and 24 Salmonella-positive cantaloupes of 540 test cantaloupes by the rinse method. Overall, BPW, LAC, and UP broths were equivalent for the recovery of Salmonella from cantaloupes. Both the VIDAS ICS/SLM and TECRA Unique Salmonella methods detected significantly fewer Salmonella-positive cantaloupes than did the culture method: the VIDAS ICS/SLM method detected 23 of 50 Salmonella-positive cantaloupes (60 tested) and the TECRA Unique Salmonella method detected 16 of 29 Salmonella-positive cantaloupes (60 tested). The VIDAS SLM and culture methods were equivalent: both methods detected 37 of 37 Salmonella-positive cantaloupes (60 tested).

Temperature Profiles of Different Cooling Methods in Porcine Pancreas Procurement

PubMed Central

Weegman, Brad P.; Suszynski, Thomas M.; Scott, William E.; Ferrer, Joana; Avgoustiniatos, Efstathios S.; Anazawa, Takayuki; O’Brien, Timothy D.; Rizzari, Michael D.; Karatzas, Theodore; Jie, Tun; Sutherland, David ER.; Hering, Bernhard J.; Papas, Klearchos K.

2014-01-01

Background Porcine islet xenotransplantation is a promising alternative to human islet allotransplantation. Porcine pancreas cooling needs to be optimized to reduce the warm ischemia time (WIT) following donation after cardiac death, which is associated with poorer islet isolation outcomes. Methods This study examines the effect of 4 different cooling Methods on core porcine pancreas temperature (n=24) and histopathology (n=16). All Methods involved surface cooling with crushed ice and chilled irrigation. Method A, which is the standard for porcine pancreas procurement, used only surface cooling. Method B involved an intravascular flush with cold solution through the pancreas arterial system. Method C involved an intraductal infusion with cold solution through the major pancreatic duct, and Method D combined all 3 cooling Methods. Results Surface cooling alone (Method A) gradually decreased core pancreas temperature to < 10 °C after 30 minutes. Using an intravascular flush (Method B) improved cooling during the entire duration of procurement, but incorporating an intraductal infusion (Method C) rapidly reduced core temperature 15–20 °C within the first 2 minutes of cooling. Combining all methods (Method D) was the most effective at rapidly reducing temperature and providing sustained cooling throughout the duration of procurement, although the recorded WIT was not different between Methods (p=0.36). Histological scores were different between the cooling Methods (p=0.02) and the worst with Method A. There were differences in histological scores between Methods A and C (p=0.02) and Methods A and D (p=0.02), but not between Methods C and D (p=0.95), which may highlight the importance of early cooling using an intraductal infusion. Conclusions In conclusion, surface cooling alone cannot rapidly cool large (porcine or human) pancreata. Additional cooling with an intravascular flush and intraductal infusion results in improved core porcine pancreas temperature profiles during procurement and histopathology scores. These data may also have implications on human pancreas procurement since use of an intraductal infusion is not common practice. PMID:25040217

A comparison of Ki-67 counting methods in luminal Breast Cancer: The Average Method vs. the Hot Spot Method

PubMed Central

Jang, Min Hye; Kim, Hyun Jung; Chung, Yul Ri; Lee, Yangkyu

2017-01-01

In spite of the usefulness of the Ki-67 labeling index (LI) as a prognostic and predictive marker in breast cancer, its clinical application remains limited due to variability in its measurement and the absence of a standard method of interpretation. This study was designed to compare the two methods of assessing Ki-67 LI: the average method vs. the hot spot method and thus to determine which method is more appropriate in predicting prognosis of luminal/HER2-negative breast cancers. Ki-67 LIs were calculated by direct counting of three representative areas of 493 luminal/HER2-negative breast cancers using the two methods. We calculated the differences in the Ki-67 LIs (ΔKi-67) between the two methods and the ratio of the Ki-67 LIs (H/A ratio) of the two methods. In addition, we compared the performance of the Ki-67 LIs obtained by the two methods as prognostic markers. ΔKi-67 ranged from 0.01% to 33.3% and the H/A ratio ranged from 1.0 to 2.6. Based on the receiver operating characteristic curve method, the predictive powers of the KI-67 LI measured by the two methods were similar (Area under curve: hot spot method, 0.711; average method, 0.700). In multivariate analysis, high Ki-67 LI based on either method was an independent poor prognostic factor, along with high T stage and node metastasis. However, in repeated counts, the hot spot method did not consistently classify tumors into high vs. low Ki-67 LI groups. In conclusion, both the average and hot spot method of evaluating Ki-67 LI have good predictive performances for tumor recurrence in luminal/HER2-negative breast cancers. However, we recommend using the average method for the present because of its greater reproducibility. PMID:28187177

A comparison of Ki-67 counting methods in luminal Breast Cancer: The Average Method vs. the Hot Spot Method.

PubMed

Jang, Min Hye; Kim, Hyun Jung; Chung, Yul Ri; Lee, Yangkyu; Park, So Yeon

2017-01-01

In spite of the usefulness of the Ki-67 labeling index (LI) as a prognostic and predictive marker in breast cancer, its clinical application remains limited due to variability in its measurement and the absence of a standard method of interpretation. This study was designed to compare the two methods of assessing Ki-67 LI: the average method vs. the hot spot method and thus to determine which method is more appropriate in predicting prognosis of luminal/HER2-negative breast cancers. Ki-67 LIs were calculated by direct counting of three representative areas of 493 luminal/HER2-negative breast cancers using the two methods. We calculated the differences in the Ki-67 LIs (ΔKi-67) between the two methods and the ratio of the Ki-67 LIs (H/A ratio) of the two methods. In addition, we compared the performance of the Ki-67 LIs obtained by the two methods as prognostic markers. ΔKi-67 ranged from 0.01% to 33.3% and the H/A ratio ranged from 1.0 to 2.6. Based on the receiver operating characteristic curve method, the predictive powers of the KI-67 LI measured by the two methods were similar (Area under curve: hot spot method, 0.711; average method, 0.700). In multivariate analysis, high Ki-67 LI based on either method was an independent poor prognostic factor, along with high T stage and node metastasis. However, in repeated counts, the hot spot method did not consistently classify tumors into high vs. low Ki-67 LI groups. In conclusion, both the average and hot spot method of evaluating Ki-67 LI have good predictive performances for tumor recurrence in luminal/HER2-negative breast cancers. However, we recommend using the average method for the present because of its greater reproducibility.

Estimating Tree Height-Diameter Models with the Bayesian Method

PubMed Central

Duan, Aiguo; Zhang, Jianguo; Xiang, Congwei

2014-01-01

Six candidate height-diameter models were used to analyze the height-diameter relationships. The common methods for estimating the height-diameter models have taken the classical (frequentist) approach based on the frequency interpretation of probability, for example, the nonlinear least squares method (NLS) and the maximum likelihood method (ML). The Bayesian method has an exclusive advantage compared with classical method that the parameters to be estimated are regarded as random variables. In this study, the classical and Bayesian methods were used to estimate six height-diameter models, respectively. Both the classical method and Bayesian method showed that the Weibull model was the “best” model using data1. In addition, based on the Weibull model, data2 was used for comparing Bayesian method with informative priors with uninformative priors and classical method. The results showed that the improvement in prediction accuracy with Bayesian method led to narrower confidence bands of predicted value in comparison to that for the classical method, and the credible bands of parameters with informative priors were also narrower than uninformative priors and classical method. The estimated posterior distributions for parameters can be set as new priors in estimating the parameters using data2. PMID:24711733

Estimating tree height-diameter models with the Bayesian method.

PubMed

Zhang, Xiongqing; Duan, Aiguo; Zhang, Jianguo; Xiang, Congwei

2014-01-01

Six candidate height-diameter models were used to analyze the height-diameter relationships. The common methods for estimating the height-diameter models have taken the classical (frequentist) approach based on the frequency interpretation of probability, for example, the nonlinear least squares method (NLS) and the maximum likelihood method (ML). The Bayesian method has an exclusive advantage compared with classical method that the parameters to be estimated are regarded as random variables. In this study, the classical and Bayesian methods were used to estimate six height-diameter models, respectively. Both the classical method and Bayesian method showed that the Weibull model was the "best" model using data1. In addition, based on the Weibull model, data2 was used for comparing Bayesian method with informative priors with uninformative priors and classical method. The results showed that the improvement in prediction accuracy with Bayesian method led to narrower confidence bands of predicted value in comparison to that for the classical method, and the credible bands of parameters with informative priors were also narrower than uninformative priors and classical method. The estimated posterior distributions for parameters can be set as new priors in estimating the parameters using data2.

A comparison of treatment effectiveness between the CAD/CAM method and the manual method for managing adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

PubMed

Wong, M S; Cheng, J C Y; Lo, K H

2005-04-01

The treatment effectiveness of the CAD/CAM method and the manual method in managing adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) was compared. Forty subjects were recruited with twenty subjects for each method. The clinical parameters namely Cobb's angle and apical vertebral rotation were evaluated at the pre-brace and the immediate in-brace visits. The results demonstrated that orthotic treatments rendered by the CAD/CAM method and the conventional manual method were effective in providing initial control of Cobb's angle. Significant decreases (p < 0.05) were found between the pre-brace and immediate in-brace visits for both methods. The mean reductions of Cobb's angle were 12.8 degrees (41.9%) for the CAD/CAM method and 9.8 degrees (32.1%) for the manual method. An initial control of the apical vertebral rotation was not shown in this study. In the comparison between the CAD/CAM method and the manual method, no significant difference was found in the control of Cobb's angle and apical vertebral rotation. The current study demonstrated that the CAD/CAM method can provide similar result in the initial stage of treatment as compared with the manual method.

A brief introduction to computer-intensive methods, with a view towards applications in spatial statistics and stereology.

PubMed

Mattfeldt, Torsten

2011-04-01

Computer-intensive methods may be defined as data analytical procedures involving a huge number of highly repetitive computations. We mention resampling methods with replacement (bootstrap methods), resampling methods without replacement (randomization tests) and simulation methods. The resampling methods are based on simple and robust principles and are largely free from distributional assumptions. Bootstrap methods may be used to compute confidence intervals for a scalar model parameter and for summary statistics from replicated planar point patterns, and for significance tests. For some simple models of planar point processes, point patterns can be simulated by elementary Monte Carlo methods. The simulation of models with more complex interaction properties usually requires more advanced computing methods. In this context, we mention simulation of Gibbs processes with Markov chain Monte Carlo methods using the Metropolis-Hastings algorithm. An alternative to simulations on the basis of a parametric model consists of stochastic reconstruction methods. The basic ideas behind the methods are briefly reviewed and illustrated by simple worked examples in order to encourage novices in the field to use computer-intensive methods. © 2010 The Authors Journal of Microscopy © 2010 Royal Microscopical Society.

Costs and Efficiency of Online and Offline Recruitment Methods: A Web-Based Cohort Study.

PubMed

Christensen, Tina; Riis, Anders H; Hatch, Elizabeth E; Wise, Lauren A; Nielsen, Marie G; Rothman, Kenneth J; Toft Sørensen, Henrik; Mikkelsen, Ellen M

2017-03-01

The Internet is widely used to conduct research studies on health issues. Many different methods are used to recruit participants for such studies, but little is known about how various recruitment methods compare in terms of efficiency and costs. The aim of our study was to compare online and offline recruitment methods for Internet-based studies in terms of efficiency (number of recruited participants) and costs per participant. We employed several online and offline recruitment methods to enroll 18- to 45-year-old women in an Internet-based Danish prospective cohort study on fertility. Offline methods included press releases, posters, and flyers. Online methods comprised advertisements placed on five different websites, including Facebook and Netdoktor.dk. We defined seven categories of mutually exclusive recruitment methods and used electronic tracking via unique Uniform Resource Locator (URL) and self-reported data to identify the recruitment method for each participant. For each method, we calculated the average cost per participant and efficiency, that is, the total number of recruited participants. We recruited 8252 study participants. Of these, 534 were excluded as they could not be assigned to a specific recruitment method. The final study population included 7724 participants, of whom 803 (10.4%) were recruited by offline methods, 3985 (51.6%) by online methods, 2382 (30.8%) by online methods not initiated by us, and 554 (7.2%) by other methods. Overall, the average cost per participant was €6.22 for online methods initiated by us versus €9.06 for offline methods. Costs per participant ranged from €2.74 to €105.53 for online methods and from €0 to €67.50 for offline methods. Lowest average costs per participant were for those recruited from Netdoktor.dk (€2.99) and from Facebook (€3.44). In our Internet-based cohort study, online recruitment methods were superior to offline methods in terms of efficiency (total number of participants enrolled). The average cost per recruited participant was also lower for online than for offline methods, although costs varied greatly among both online and offline recruitment methods. We observed a decrease in the efficiency of some online recruitment methods over time, suggesting that it may be optimal to adopt multiple online methods. ©Tina Christensen, Anders H Riis, Elizabeth E Hatch, Lauren A Wise, Marie G Nielsen, Kenneth J Rothman, Henrik Toft Sørensen, Ellen M Mikkelsen. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (http://www.jmir.org), 01.03.2017.

A simple high performance liquid chromatography method for analyzing paraquat in soil solution samples.

PubMed

Ouyang, Ying; Mansell, Robert S; Nkedi-Kizza, Peter

2004-01-01

A high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method with UV detection was developed to analyze paraquat (1,1'-dimethyl-4,4'-dipyridinium dichloride) herbicide content in soil solution samples. The analytical method was compared with the liquid scintillation counting (LSC) method using 14C-paraquat. Agreement obtained between the two methods was reasonable. However, the detection limit for paraquat analysis was 0.5 mg L(-1) by the HPLC method and 0.05 mg L(-1) by the LSC method. The LSC method was, therefore, 10 times more precise than the HPLC method for solution concentrations less than 1 mg L(-1). In spite of the high detection limit, the UC (nonradioactive) HPLC method provides an inexpensive and environmentally safe means for determining paraquat concentration in soil solution compared with the 14C-LSC method.

Hybrid finite element and Brownian dynamics method for diffusion-controlled reactions.

PubMed

Bauler, Patricia; Huber, Gary A; McCammon, J Andrew

2012-04-28

Diffusion is often the rate determining step in many biological processes. Currently, the two main computational methods for studying diffusion are stochastic methods, such as Brownian dynamics, and continuum methods, such as the finite element method. This paper proposes a new hybrid diffusion method that couples the strengths of each of these two methods. The method is derived for a general multidimensional system, and is presented using a basic test case for 1D linear and radially symmetric diffusion systems.

Application of multiattribute decision-making methods for the determination of relative significance factor of impact categories.

PubMed

Noh, Jaesung; Lee, Kun Mo

2003-05-01

A relative significance factor (f(i)) of an impact category is the external weight of the impact category. The objective of this study is to propose a systematic and easy-to-use method for the determination of f(i). Multiattribute decision-making (MADM) methods including the analytical hierarchy process (AHP), the rank-order centroid method, and the fuzzy method were evaluated for this purpose. The results and practical aspects of using the three methods are compared. Each method shows the same trend, with minor differences in the value of f(i). Thus, all three methods can be applied to the determination of f(i). The rank order centroid method reduces the number of pairwise comparisons by placing the alternatives in order, although it has inherent weakness over the fuzzy method in expressing the degree of vagueness associated with assigning weights to criteria and alternatives. The rank order centroid method is considered a practical method for the determination of f(i) because it is easier and simpler to use compared to the AHP and the fuzzy method.

Utility of N-Bromosuccinimide for the Titrimetric and Spectrophotometric Determination of Famotidine in Pharmaceutical Formulations

PubMed Central

Zenita, O.; Basavaiah, K.

2011-01-01

Two titrimetric and two spectrophotometric methods are described for the assay of famotidine (FMT) in tablets using N-bromosuccinimide (NBS). The first titrimetric method is direct in which FMT is titrated directly with NBS in HCl medium using methyl orange as indicator (method A). The remaining three methods are indirect in which the unreacted NBS is determined after the complete reaction between FMT and NBS by iodometric back titration (method B) or by reacting with a fixed amount of either indigo carmine (method C) or neutral red (method D). The method A and method B are applicable over the range of 2–9 mg and 1–7 mg, respectively. In spectrophotometric methods, Beer's law is obeyed over the concentration ranges of 0.75–6.0 μg mL−1 (method C) and 0.3–3.0 μg mL−1 (method D). The applicability of the developed methods was demonstrated by the determination of FMT in pure drug as well as in tablets. PMID:21760785

Twostep-by-twostep PIRK-type PC methods with continuous output formulas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cong, Nguyen Huu; Xuan, Le Ngoc

2008-11-01

This paper deals with parallel predictor-corrector (PC) iteration methods based on collocation Runge-Kutta (RK) corrector methods with continuous output formulas for solving nonstiff initial-value problems (IVPs) for systems of first-order differential equations. At nth step, the continuous output formulas are used not only for predicting the stage values in the PC iteration methods but also for calculating the step values at (n+2)th step. In this case, the integration processes can be proceeded twostep-by-twostep. The resulting twostep-by-twostep (TBT) parallel-iterated RK-type (PIRK-type) methods with continuous output formulas (twostep-by-twostep PIRKC methods or TBTPIRKC methods) give us a faster integration process. Fixed stepsize applications of these TBTPIRKC methods to a few widely-used test problems reveal that the new PC methods are much more efficient when compared with the well-known parallel-iterated RK methods (PIRK methods), parallel-iterated RK-type PC methods with continuous output formulas (PIRKC methods) and sequential explicit RK codes DOPRI5 and DOP853 available from the literature.

Which method should be the reference method to evaluate the severity of rheumatic mitral stenosis? Gorlin's method versus 3D-echo.

PubMed

Pérez de Isla, Leopoldo; Casanova, Carlos; Almería, Carlos; Rodrigo, José Luis; Cordeiro, Pedro; Mataix, Luis; Aubele, Ada Lia; Lang, Roberto; Zamorano, José Luis

2007-12-01

Several studies have shown a wide variability among different methods to determine the valve area in patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis. Our aim was to evaluate if 3D-echo planimetry is more accurate than the Gorlin method to measure the valve area. Twenty-six patients with mitral stenosis underwent 2D and 3D-echo echocardiographic examinations and catheterization. Valve area was estimated by different methods. A median value of the mitral valve area, obtained from the measurements of three classical non-invasive methods (2D planimetry, pressure half-time and PISA method), was used as the reference method and it was compared with 3D-echo planimetry and Gorlin's method. Our results showed that the accuracy of 3D-echo planimetry is superior to the accuracy of the Gorlin method for the assessment of mitral valve area. We should keep in mind the fact that 3D-echo planimetry may be a better reference method than the Gorlin method to assess the severity of rheumatic mitral stenosis.

Evaluation and comparison of Abbott Jaffe and enzymatic creatinine methods: Could the old method meet the new requirements?

PubMed

Küme, Tuncay; Sağlam, Barıs; Ergon, Cem; Sisman, Ali Rıza

2018-01-01

The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the analytical performance characteristics of the two creatinine methods based on the Jaffe and enzymatic methods. Two original creatinine methods, Jaffe and enzymatic, were evaluated on Architect c16000 automated analyzer via limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ), linearity, intra-assay and inter-assay precision, and comparability in serum and urine samples. The method comparison and bias estimation using patient samples according to CLSI guideline were performed on 230 serum and 141 urine samples by analyzing on the same auto-analyzer. The LODs were determined as 0.1 mg/dL for both serum methods and as 0.25 and 0.07 mg/dL for the Jaffe and the enzymatic urine method respectively. The LOQs were similar with 0.05 mg/dL value for both serum methods, and enzymatic urine method had a lower LOQ than Jaffe urine method, values at 0.5 and 2 mg/dL respectively. Both methods were linear up to 65 mg/dL for serum and 260 mg/dL for urine. The intra-assay and inter-assay precision data were under desirable levels in both methods. The higher correlations were determined between two methods in serum and urine (r=.9994, r=.9998 respectively). On the other hand, Jaffe method gave the higher creatinine results than enzymatic method, especially at the low concentrations in both serum and urine. Both Jaffe and enzymatic methods were found to meet the analytical performance requirements in routine use. However, enzymatic method was found to have better performance in low creatinine levels. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Comparison of the lysis centrifugation method with the conventional blood culture method in cases of sepsis in a tertiary care hospital.

PubMed

Parikh, Harshal R; De, Anuradha S; Baveja, Sujata M

2012-07-01

Physicians and microbiologists have long recognized that the presence of living microorganisms in the blood of a patient carries with it considerable morbidity and mortality. Hence, blood cultures have become critically important and frequently performed test in clinical microbiology laboratories for diagnosis of sepsis. To compare the conventional blood culture method with the lysis centrifugation method in cases of sepsis. Two hundred nonduplicate blood cultures from cases of sepsis were analyzed using two blood culture methods concurrently for recovery of bacteria from patients diagnosed clinically with sepsis - the conventional blood culture method using trypticase soy broth and the lysis centrifugation method using saponin by centrifuging at 3000 g for 30 minutes. Overall bacteria recovered from 200 blood cultures were 17.5%. The conventional blood culture method had a higher yield of organisms, especially Gram positive cocci. The lysis centrifugation method was comparable with the former method with respect to Gram negative bacilli. The sensitivity of lysis centrifugation method in comparison to conventional blood culture method was 49.75% in this study, specificity was 98.21% and diagnostic accuracy was 89.5%. In almost every instance, the time required for detection of the growth was earlier by lysis centrifugation method, which was statistically significant. Contamination by lysis centrifugation was minimal, while that by conventional method was high. Time to growth by the lysis centrifugation method was highly significant (P value 0.000) as compared to time to growth by the conventional blood culture method. For the diagnosis of sepsis, combination of the lysis centrifugation method and the conventional blood culture method with trypticase soy broth or biphasic media is advocable, in order to achieve faster recovery and a better yield of microorganisms.

Optimization and validation of spectrophotometric methods for determination of finasteride in dosage and biological forms

PubMed Central

Amin, Alaa S.; Kassem, Mohammed A.

2012-01-01

Aim and Background: Three simple, accurate and sensitive spectrophotometric methods for the determination of finasteride in pure, dosage and biological forms, and in the presence of its oxidative degradates were developed. Materials and Methods: These methods are indirect, involve the addition of excess oxidant potassium permanganate for method A; cerric sulfate [Ce(SO4)2] for methods B; and N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) for method C of known concentration in acid medium to finasteride, and the determination of the unreacted oxidant by measurement of the decrease in absorbance of methylene blue for method A, chromotrope 2R for method B, and amaranth for method C at a suitable maximum wavelength, λmax: 663, 528, and 520 nm, for the three methods, respectively. The reaction conditions for each method were optimized. Results: Regression analysis of the Beer plots showed good correlation in the concentration ranges of 0.12–3.84 μg mL–1 for method A, and 0.12–3.28 μg mL–1 for method B and 0.14 – 3.56 μg mL–1 for method C. The apparent molar absorptivity, Sandell sensitivity, detection and quantification limits were evaluated. The stoichiometric ratio between the finasteride and the oxidant was estimated. The validity of the proposed methods was tested by analyzing dosage forms and biological samples containing finasteride with relative standard deviation ≤ 0.95. Conclusion: The proposed methods could successfully determine the studied drug with varying excess of its oxidative degradation products, with recovery between 99.0 and 101.4, 99.2 and 101.6, and 99.6 and 101.0% for methods A, B, and C, respectively. PMID:23781478

John Butcher and hybrid methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mehdiyeva, Galina; Imanova, Mehriban; Ibrahimov, Vagif

2017-07-01

As is known there are the mainly two classes of the numerical methods for solving ODE, which is commonly called a one and multistep methods. Each of these methods has certain advantages and disadvantages. It is obvious that the method which has better properties of these methods should be constructed at the junction of them. In the middle of the XX century, Butcher and Gear has constructed at the junction of the methods of Runge-Kutta and Adams, which is called hybrid method. Here considers the construction of certain generalizations of hybrid methods, with the high order of accuracy and to explore their application to solving the Ordinary Differential, Volterra Integral and Integro-Differential equations. Also have constructed some specific hybrid methods with the degree p ≤ 10.

Critical study of higher order numerical methods for solving the boundary-layer equations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wornom, S. F.

1978-01-01

A fourth order box method is presented for calculating numerical solutions to parabolic, partial differential equations in two variables or ordinary differential equations. The method, which is the natural extension of the second order box scheme to fourth order, was demonstrated with application to the incompressible, laminar and turbulent, boundary layer equations. The efficiency of the present method is compared with two point and three point higher order methods, namely, the Keller box scheme with Richardson extrapolation, the method of deferred corrections, a three point spline method, and a modified finite element method. For equivalent accuracy, numerical results show the present method to be more efficient than higher order methods for both laminar and turbulent flows.

A temperature match based optimization method for daily load prediction considering DLC effect

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

Yu, Z.

This paper presents a unique optimization method for short term load forecasting. The new method is based on the optimal template temperature match between the future and past temperatures. The optimal error reduction technique is a new concept introduced in this paper. Two case studies show that for hourly load forecasting, this method can yield results as good as the rather complicated Box-Jenkins Transfer Function method, and better than the Box-Jenkins method; for peak load prediction, this method is comparable in accuracy to the neural network method with back propagation, and can produce more accurate results than the multi-linear regressionmore » method. The DLC effect on system load is also considered in this method.« less

[Isolation and identification methods of enterobacteria group and its technological advancement].

PubMed

Furuta, Itaru

2007-08-01

In the last half-century, isolation and identification methods of enterobacteria groups have markedly improved by technological advancement. Clinical microbiology tests have changed overtime from tube methods to commercial identification kits and automated identification. Tube methods are the original method for the identification of enterobacteria groups, that is, a basically essential method to recognize bacterial fermentation and biochemical principles. In this paper, traditional tube tests are discussed, such as the utilization of carbohydrates, indole, methyl red, and citrate and urease tests. Commercial identification kits and automated instruments by computer based analysis as current methods are also discussed, and those methods provide rapidity and accuracy. Nonculture techniques of nucleic acid typing methods using PCR analysis, and immunochemical methods using monoclonal antibodies can be further developed.

Comparison of three commercially available fit-test methods.

PubMed

Janssen, Larry L; Luinenburg, D Michael; Mullins, Haskell E; Nelson, Thomas J

2002-01-01

American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard Z88.10, Respirator Fit Testing Methods, includes criteria to evaluate new fit-tests. The standard allows generated aerosol, particle counting, or controlled negative pressure quantitative fit-tests to be used as the reference method to determine acceptability of a new test. This study examined (1) comparability of three Occupational Safety and Health Administration-accepted fit-test methods, all of which were validated using generated aerosol as the reference method; and (2) the effect of the reference method on the apparent performance of a fit-test method under evaluation. Sequential fit-tests were performed using the controlled negative pressure and particle counting quantitative fit-tests and the bitter aerosol qualitative fit-test. Of 75 fit-tests conducted with each method, the controlled negative pressure method identified 24 failures; bitter aerosol identified 22 failures; and the particle counting method identified 15 failures. The sensitivity of each method, that is, agreement with the reference method in identifying unacceptable fits, was calculated using each of the other two methods as the reference. None of the test methods met the ANSI sensitivity criterion of 0.95 or greater when compared with either of the other two methods. These results demonstrate that (1) the apparent performance of any fit-test depends on the reference method used, and (2) the fit-tests evaluated use different criteria to identify inadequately fitting respirators. Although "acceptable fit" cannot be defined in absolute terms at this time, the ability of existing fit-test methods to reject poor fits can be inferred from workplace protection factor studies.

A Tale of Two Methods: Chart and Interview Methods for Identifying Delirium

PubMed Central

Saczynski, Jane S.; Kosar, Cyrus M.; Xu, Guoquan; Puelle, Margaret R.; Schmitt, Eva; Jones, Richard N.; Marcantonio, Edward R.; Wong, Bonnie; Isaza, Ilean; Inouye, Sharon K.

2014-01-01

Background Interview and chart-based methods for identifying delirium have been validated. However, relative strengths and limitations of each method have not been described, nor has a combined approach (using both interviews and chart), been systematically examined. Objectives To compare chart and interview-based methods for identification of delirium. Design, Setting and Participants Participants were 300 patients aged 70+ undergoing major elective surgery (majority were orthopedic surgery) interviewed daily during hospitalization for delirium using the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM; interview-based method) and whose medical charts were reviewed for delirium using a validated chart-review method (chart-based method). We examined rate of agreement on the two methods and patient characteristics of those identified using each approach. Predictive validity for clinical outcomes (length of stay, postoperative complications, discharge disposition) was compared. In the absence of a gold-standard, predictive value could not be calculated. Results The cumulative incidence of delirium was 23% (n= 68) by the interview-based method, 12% (n=35) by the chart-based method and 27% (n=82) by the combined approach. Overall agreement was 80%; kappa was 0.30. The methods differed in detection of psychomotor features and time of onset. The chart-based method missed delirium in CAM-identified patients laacking features of psychomotor agitation or inappropriate behavior. The CAM-based method missed chart-identified cases occurring during the night shift. The combined method had high predictive validity for all clinical outcomes. Conclusions Interview and chart-based methods have specific strengths for identification of delirium. A combined approach captures the largest number and the broadest range of delirium cases. PMID:24512042

Inventory Management for Irregular Shipment of Goods in Distribution Centre

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takeda, Hitoshi; Kitaoka, Masatoshi; Usuki, Jun

2016-01-01

The shipping amount of commodity goods (Foods, confectionery, dairy products, such as public cosmetic pharmaceutical products) changes irregularly at the distribution center dealing with the general consumer goods. Because the shipment time and the amount of the shipment are irregular, the demand forecast becomes very difficult. For this, the inventory control becomes difficult, too. It cannot be applied to the shipment of the commodity by the conventional inventory control methods. This paper proposes the method for inventory control by cumulative flow curve method. It proposed the method of deciding the order quantity of the inventory control by the cumulative flow curve. Here, it proposes three methods. 1) Power method,2) Polynomial method and 3)Revised Holt's linear method that forecasts data with trends that is a kind of exponential smoothing method. This paper compares the economics of the conventional method, which is managed by the experienced and three new proposed methods. And, the effectiveness of the proposal method is verified from the numerical calculations.

Computational Methods in Drug Discovery

PubMed Central

Sliwoski, Gregory; Kothiwale, Sandeepkumar; Meiler, Jens

2014-01-01

Computer-aided drug discovery/design methods have played a major role in the development of therapeutically important small molecules for over three decades. These methods are broadly classified as either structure-based or ligand-based methods. Structure-based methods are in principle analogous to high-throughput screening in that both target and ligand structure information is imperative. Structure-based approaches include ligand docking, pharmacophore, and ligand design methods. The article discusses theory behind the most important methods and recent successful applications. Ligand-based methods use only ligand information for predicting activity depending on its similarity/dissimilarity to previously known active ligands. We review widely used ligand-based methods such as ligand-based pharmacophores, molecular descriptors, and quantitative structure-activity relationships. In addition, important tools such as target/ligand data bases, homology modeling, ligand fingerprint methods, etc., necessary for successful implementation of various computer-aided drug discovery/design methods in a drug discovery campaign are discussed. Finally, computational methods for toxicity prediction and optimization for favorable physiologic properties are discussed with successful examples from literature. PMID:24381236

[Primary culture of human normal epithelial cells].

PubMed

Tang, Yu; Xu, Wenji; Guo, Wanbei; Xie, Ming; Fang, Huilong; Chen, Chen; Zhou, Jun

2017-11-28

The traditional primary culture methods of human normal epithelial cells have disadvantages of low activity of cultured cells, the low cultivated rate and complicated operation. To solve these problems, researchers made many studies on culture process of human normal primary epithelial cell. In this paper, we mainly introduce some methods used in separation and purification of human normal epithelial cells, such as tissue separation method, enzyme digestion separation method, mechanical brushing method, red blood cell lysis method, percoll layered medium density gradient separation method. We also review some methods used in the culture and subculture, including serum-free medium combined with low mass fraction serum culture method, mouse tail collagen coating method, and glass culture bottle combined with plastic culture dish culture method. The biological characteristics of human normal epithelial cells, the methods of immunocytochemical staining, trypan blue exclusion are described. Moreover, the factors affecting the aseptic operation, the conditions of the extracellular environment, the conditions of the extracellular environment during culture, the number of differential adhesion, and the selection and dosage of additives are summarized.

A Modified Magnetic Gradient Contraction Based Method for Ferromagnetic Target Localization

PubMed Central

Wang, Chen; Zhang, Xiaojuan; Qu, Xiaodong; Pan, Xiao; Fang, Guangyou; Chen, Luzhao

2016-01-01

The Scalar Triangulation and Ranging (STAR) method, which is based upon the unique properties of magnetic gradient contraction, is a high real-time ferromagnetic target localization method. Only one measurement point is required in the STAR method and it is not sensitive to changes in sensing platform orientation. However, the localization accuracy of the method is limited by the asphericity errors and the inaccurate value of position leads to larger errors in the estimation of magnetic moment. To improve the localization accuracy, a modified STAR method is proposed. In the proposed method, the asphericity errors of the traditional STAR method are compensated with an iterative algorithm. The proposed method has a fast convergence rate which meets the requirement of high real-time localization. Simulations and field experiments have been done to evaluate the performance of the proposed method. The results indicate that target parameters estimated by the modified STAR method are more accurate than the traditional STAR method. PMID:27999322

Comparison of three explicit multigrid methods for the Euler and Navier-Stokes equations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chima, Rodrick V.; Turkel, Eli; Schaffer, Steve

1987-01-01

Three explicit multigrid methods, Ni's method, Jameson's finite-volume method, and a finite-difference method based on Brandt's work, are described and compared for two model problems. All three methods use an explicit multistage Runge-Kutta scheme on the fine grid, and this scheme is also described. Convergence histories for inviscid flow over a bump in a channel for the fine-grid scheme alone show that convergence rate is proportional to Courant number and that implicit residual smoothing can significantly accelerate the scheme. Ni's method was slightly slower than the implicitly-smoothed scheme alone. Brandt's and Jameson's methods are shown to be equivalent in form but differ in their node versus cell-centered implementations. They are about 8.5 times faster than Ni's method in terms of CPU time. Results for an oblique shock/boundary layer interaction problem verify the accuracy of the finite-difference code. All methods slowed considerably on the stretched viscous grid but Brandt's method was still 2.1 times faster than Ni's method.

Robust numerical solution of the reservoir routing equation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fiorentini, Marcello; Orlandini, Stefano

2013-09-01

The robustness of numerical methods for the solution of the reservoir routing equation is evaluated. The methods considered in this study are: (1) the Laurenson-Pilgrim method, (2) the fourth-order Runge-Kutta method, and (3) the fixed order Cash-Karp method. Method (1) is unable to handle nonmonotonic outflow rating curves. Method (2) is found to fail under critical conditions occurring, especially at the end of inflow recession limbs, when large time steps (greater than 12 min in this application) are used. Method (3) is computationally intensive and it does not solve the limitations of method (2). The limitations of method (2) can be efficiently overcome by reducing the time step in the critical phases of the simulation so as to ensure that water level remains inside the domains of the storage function and the outflow rating curve. The incorporation of a simple backstepping procedure implementing this control into the method (2) yields a robust and accurate reservoir routing method that can be safely used in distributed time-continuous catchment models.

Impact of statistical learning methods on the predictive power of multivariate normal tissue complication probability models.

PubMed

Xu, Cheng-Jian; van der Schaaf, Arjen; Schilstra, Cornelis; Langendijk, Johannes A; van't Veld, Aart A

2012-03-15

To study the impact of different statistical learning methods on the prediction performance of multivariate normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) models. In this study, three learning methods, stepwise selection, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), and Bayesian model averaging (BMA), were used to build NTCP models of xerostomia following radiotherapy treatment for head and neck cancer. Performance of each learning method was evaluated by a repeated cross-validation scheme in order to obtain a fair comparison among methods. It was found that the LASSO and BMA methods produced models with significantly better predictive power than that of the stepwise selection method. Furthermore, the LASSO method yields an easily interpretable model as the stepwise method does, in contrast to the less intuitive BMA method. The commonly used stepwise selection method, which is simple to execute, may be insufficient for NTCP modeling. The LASSO method is recommended. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Construction of exponentially fitted symplectic Runge-Kutta-Nyström methods from partitioned Runge-Kutta methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Monovasilis, Theodore; Kalogiratou, Zacharoula; Simos, T. E.

2014-10-01

In this work we derive exponentially fitted symplectic Runge-Kutta-Nyström (RKN) methods from symplectic exponentially fitted partitioned Runge-Kutta (PRK) methods methods (for the approximate solution of general problems of this category see [18] - [40] and references therein). We construct RKN methods from PRK methods with up to five stages and fourth algebraic order.

Why, and how, mixed methods research is undertaken in health services research in England: a mixed methods study

PubMed Central

O'Cathain, Alicia; Murphy, Elizabeth; Nicholl, Jon

2007-01-01

Background Recently, there has been a surge of international interest in combining qualitative and quantitative methods in a single study – often called mixed methods research. It is timely to consider why and how mixed methods research is used in health services research (HSR). Methods Documentary analysis of proposals and reports of 75 mixed methods studies funded by a research commissioner of HSR in England between 1994 and 2004. Face-to-face semi-structured interviews with 20 researchers sampled from these studies. Results 18% (119/647) of HSR studies were classified as mixed methods research. In the documentation, comprehensiveness was the main driver for using mixed methods research, with researchers wanting to address a wider range of questions than quantitative methods alone would allow. Interviewees elaborated on this, identifying the need for qualitative research to engage with the complexity of health, health care interventions, and the environment in which studies took place. Motivations for adopting a mixed methods approach were not always based on the intrinsic value of mixed methods research for addressing the research question; they could be strategic, for example, to obtain funding. Mixed methods research was used in the context of evaluation, including randomised and non-randomised designs; survey and fieldwork exploratory studies; and instrument development. Studies drew on a limited number of methods – particularly surveys and individual interviews – but used methods in a wide range of roles. Conclusion Mixed methods research is common in HSR in the UK. Its use is driven by pragmatism rather than principle, motivated by the perceived deficit of quantitative methods alone to address the complexity of research in health care, as well as other more strategic gains. Methods are combined in a range of contexts, yet the emerging methodological contributions from HSR to the field of mixed methods research are currently limited to the single context of combining qualitative methods and randomised controlled trials. Health services researchers could further contribute to the development of mixed methods research in the contexts of instrument development, survey and fieldwork, and non-randomised evaluations. PMID:17570838

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

Taylor-Pashow, K.; Fondeur, F.; White, T.

Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) was tasked with identifying and developing at least one, but preferably two methods for quantifying the suppressor in the Next Generation Solvent (NGS) system. The suppressor is a guanidine derivative, N,N',N"-tris(3,7-dimethyloctyl)guanidine (TiDG). A list of 10 possible methods was generated, and screening experiments were performed for 8 of the 10 methods. After completion of the screening experiments, the non-aqueous acid-base titration was determined to be the most promising, and was selected for further development as the primary method. {sup 1}H NMR also showed promising results from the screening experiments, and this method was selected formore » further development as the secondary method. Other methods, including {sup 36}Cl radiocounting and ion chromatography, also showed promise; however, due to the similarity to the primary method (titration) and the inability to differentiate between TiDG and TOA (tri-n-ocytlamine) in the blended solvent, {sup 1}H NMR was selected over these methods. Analysis of radioactive samples obtained from real waste ESS (extraction, scrub, strip) testing using the titration method showed good results. Based on these results, the titration method was selected as the method of choice for TiDG measurement. {sup 1}H NMR has been selected as the secondary (back-up) method, and additional work is planned to further develop this method and to verify the method using radioactive samples. Procedures for analyzing radioactive samples of both pure NGS and blended solvent were developed and issued for the both methods.« less

Novel atomic absorption spectrometric and rapid spectrophotometric methods for the quantitation of paracetamol in saliva: application to pharmacokinetic studies.

PubMed

Issa, M M; Nejem, R M; El-Abadla, N S; Al-Kholy, M; Saleh, Akila A

2008-01-01

A novel atomic absorption spectrometric method and two highly sensitive spectrophotometric methods were developed for the determination of paracetamol. These techniques based on the oxidation of paracetamol by iron (III) (method I); oxidation of p-aminophenol after the hydrolysis of paracetamol (method II). Iron (II) then reacts with potassium ferricyanide to form Prussian blue color with a maximum absorbance at 700 nm. The atomic absorption method was accomplished by extracting the excess iron (III) in method II and aspirates the aqueous layer into air-acetylene flame to measure the absorbance of iron (II) at 302.1 nm. The reactions have been spectrometrically evaluated to attain optimum experimental conditions. Linear responses were exhibited over the ranges 1.0-10, 0.2-2.0 and 0.1-1.0 mug/ml for method I, method II and atomic absorption spectrometric method, respectively. A high sensitivity is recorded for the proposed methods I and II and atomic absorption spectrometric method value indicate: 0.05, 0.022 and 0.012 mug/ml, respectively. The limit of quantitation of paracetamol by method II and atomic absorption spectrometric method were 0.20 and 0.10 mug/ml. Method II and the atomic absorption spectrometric method were applied to demonstrate a pharmacokinetic study by means of salivary samples in normal volunteers who received 1.0 g paracetamol. Intra and inter-day precision did not exceed 6.9%.

Novel Atomic Absorption Spectrometric and Rapid Spectrophotometric Methods for the Quantitation of Paracetamol in Saliva: Application to Pharmacokinetic Studies

PubMed Central

Issa, M. M.; Nejem, R. M.; El-Abadla, N. S.; Al-Kholy, M.; Saleh, Akila. A.

2008-01-01

A novel atomic absorption spectrometric method and two highly sensitive spectrophotometric methods were developed for the determination of paracetamol. These techniques based on the oxidation of paracetamol by iron (III) (method I); oxidation of p-aminophenol after the hydrolysis of paracetamol (method II). Iron (II) then reacts with potassium ferricyanide to form Prussian blue color with a maximum absorbance at 700 nm. The atomic absorption method was accomplished by extracting the excess iron (III) in method II and aspirates the aqueous layer into air-acetylene flame to measure the absorbance of iron (II) at 302.1 nm. The reactions have been spectrometrically evaluated to attain optimum experimental conditions. Linear responses were exhibited over the ranges 1.0-10, 0.2-2.0 and 0.1-1.0 μg/ml for method I, method II and atomic absorption spectrometric method, respectively. A high sensitivity is recorded for the proposed methods I and II and atomic absorption spectrometric method value indicate: 0.05, 0.022 and 0.012 μg/ml, respectively. The limit of quantitation of paracetamol by method II and atomic absorption spectrometric method were 0.20 and 0.10 μg/ml. Method II and the atomic absorption spectrometric method were applied to demonstrate a pharmacokinetic study by means of salivary samples in normal volunteers who received 1.0 g paracetamol. Intra and inter-day precision did not exceed 6.9%. PMID:20046743

An investigation of new methods for estimating parameter sensitivities

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Beltracchi, Todd J.; Gabriele, Gary A.

1989-01-01

The method proposed for estimating sensitivity derivatives is based on the Recursive Quadratic Programming (RQP) method and in conjunction a differencing formula to produce estimates of the sensitivities. This method is compared to existing methods and is shown to be very competitive in terms of the number of function evaluations required. In terms of accuracy, the method is shown to be equivalent to a modified version of the Kuhn-Tucker method, where the Hessian of the Lagrangian is estimated using the BFS method employed by the RQP algorithm. Initial testing on a test set with known sensitivities demonstrates that the method can accurately calculate the parameter sensitivity.

X-ray imaging using amorphous selenium: a photoinduced discharge readout method for digital mammography.

PubMed

Rowlands, J A; Hunter, D M; Araj, N

1991-01-01

A new digital image readout method for electrostatic charge images on photoconductive plates is described. The method can be used to read out images on selenium plates similar to those used in xeromammography. The readout method, called the air-gap photoinduced discharge method (PID), discharges the latent image pixel by pixel and measures the charge. The PID readout method, like electrometer methods, is linear. However, the PID method permits much better resolution than scanning electrometers while maintaining quantum limited performance at high radiation exposure levels. Thus the air-gap PID method appears to be uniquely superior for high-resolution digital imaging tasks such as mammography.

Quantitative naturalistic methods for detecting change points in psychotherapy research: an illustration with alliance ruptures.

PubMed

Eubanks-Carter, Catherine; Gorman, Bernard S; Muran, J Christopher

2012-01-01

Analysis of change points in psychotherapy process could increase our understanding of mechanisms of change. In particular, naturalistic change point detection methods that identify turning points or breakpoints in time series data could enhance our ability to identify and study alliance ruptures and resolutions. This paper presents four categories of statistical methods for detecting change points in psychotherapy process: criterion-based methods, control chart methods, partitioning methods, and regression methods. Each method's utility for identifying shifts in the alliance is illustrated using a case example from the Beth Israel Psychotherapy Research program. Advantages and disadvantages of the various methods are discussed.

A comparative study of interface reconstruction methods for multi-material ALE simulations

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

Kucharik, Milan; Garimalla, Rao; Schofield, Samuel

2009-01-01

In this paper we compare the performance of different methods for reconstructing interfaces in multi-material compressible flow simulations. The methods compared are a material-order-dependent Volume-of-Fluid (VOF) method, a material-order-independent VOF method based on power diagram partitioning of cells and the Moment-of-Fluid method (MOF). We demonstrate that the MOF method provides the most accurate tracking of interfaces, followed by the VOF method with the right material ordering. The material-order-independent VOF method performs some-what worse than the above two while the solutions with VOF using the wrong material order are considerably worse.

Digital photography and transparency-based methods for measuring wound surface area.

PubMed

Bhedi, Amul; Saxena, Atul K; Gadani, Ravi; Patel, Ritesh

2013-04-01

To compare and determine a credible method of measurement of wound surface area by linear, transparency, and photographic methods for monitoring progress of wound healing accurately and ascertaining whether these methods are significantly different. From April 2005 to December 2006, 40 patients (30 men, 5 women, 5 children) admitted to the surgical ward of Shree Sayaji General Hospital, Baroda, had clean as well as infected wound following trauma, debridement, pressure sore, venous ulcer, and incision and drainage. Wound surface areas were measured by these three methods (linear, transparency, and photographic methods) simultaneously on alternate days. The linear method is statistically and significantly different from transparency and photographic methods (P value <0.05), but there is no significant difference between transparency and photographic methods (P value >0.05). Photographic and transparency methods provided measurements of wound surface area with equivalent result and there was no statistically significant difference between these two methods.

Anatomically-Aided PET Reconstruction Using the Kernel Method

PubMed Central

Hutchcroft, Will; Wang, Guobao; Chen, Kevin T.; Catana, Ciprian; Qi, Jinyi

2016-01-01

This paper extends the kernel method that was proposed previously for dynamic PET reconstruction, to incorporate anatomical side information into the PET reconstruction model. In contrast to existing methods that incorporate anatomical information using a penalized likelihood framework, the proposed method incorporates this information in the simpler maximum likelihood (ML) formulation and is amenable to ordered subsets. The new method also does not require any segmentation of the anatomical image to obtain edge information. We compare the kernel method with the Bowsher method for anatomically-aided PET image reconstruction through a simulated data set. Computer simulations demonstrate that the kernel method offers advantages over the Bowsher method in region of interest (ROI) quantification. Additionally the kernel method is applied to a 3D patient data set. The kernel method results in reduced noise at a matched contrast level compared with the conventional ML expectation maximization (EM) algorithm. PMID:27541810

Anatomically-aided PET reconstruction using the kernel method.

PubMed

Hutchcroft, Will; Wang, Guobao; Chen, Kevin T; Catana, Ciprian; Qi, Jinyi

2016-09-21

This paper extends the kernel method that was proposed previously for dynamic PET reconstruction, to incorporate anatomical side information into the PET reconstruction model. In contrast to existing methods that incorporate anatomical information using a penalized likelihood framework, the proposed method incorporates this information in the simpler maximum likelihood (ML) formulation and is amenable to ordered subsets. The new method also does not require any segmentation of the anatomical image to obtain edge information. We compare the kernel method with the Bowsher method for anatomically-aided PET image reconstruction through a simulated data set. Computer simulations demonstrate that the kernel method offers advantages over the Bowsher method in region of interest quantification. Additionally the kernel method is applied to a 3D patient data set. The kernel method results in reduced noise at a matched contrast level compared with the conventional ML expectation maximization algorithm.

[An automatic peak detection method for LIBS spectrum based on continuous wavelet transform].

PubMed

Chen, Peng-Fei; Tian, Di; Qiao, Shu-Jun; Yang, Guang

2014-07-01

Spectrum peak detection in the laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is an essential step, but the presence of background and noise seriously disturb the accuracy of peak position. The present paper proposed a method applied to automatic peak detection for LIBS spectrum in order to enhance the ability of overlapping peaks searching and adaptivity. We introduced the ridge peak detection method based on continuous wavelet transform to LIBS, and discussed the choice of the mother wavelet and optimized the scale factor and the shift factor. This method also improved the ridge peak detection method with a correcting ridge method. The experimental results show that compared with other peak detection methods (the direct comparison method, derivative method and ridge peak search method), our method had a significant advantage on the ability to distinguish overlapping peaks and the precision of peak detection, and could be be applied to data processing in LIBS.

A Method of DTM Construction Based on Quadrangular Irregular Networks and Related Error Analysis

PubMed Central

Kang, Mengjun

2015-01-01

A new method of DTM construction based on quadrangular irregular networks (QINs) that considers all the original data points and has a topological matrix is presented. A numerical test and a real-world example are used to comparatively analyse the accuracy of QINs against classical interpolation methods and other DTM representation methods, including SPLINE, KRIGING and triangulated irregular networks (TINs). The numerical test finds that the QIN method is the second-most accurate of the four methods. In the real-world example, DTMs are constructed using QINs and the three classical interpolation methods. The results indicate that the QIN method is the most accurate method tested. The difference in accuracy rank seems to be caused by the locations of the data points sampled. Although the QIN method has drawbacks, it is an alternative method for DTM construction. PMID:25996691

Anatomically-aided PET reconstruction using the kernel method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hutchcroft, Will; Wang, Guobao; Chen, Kevin T.; Catana, Ciprian; Qi, Jinyi

2016-09-01

This paper extends the kernel method that was proposed previously for dynamic PET reconstruction, to incorporate anatomical side information into the PET reconstruction model. In contrast to existing methods that incorporate anatomical information using a penalized likelihood framework, the proposed method incorporates this information in the simpler maximum likelihood (ML) formulation and is amenable to ordered subsets. The new method also does not require any segmentation of the anatomical image to obtain edge information. We compare the kernel method with the Bowsher method for anatomically-aided PET image reconstruction through a simulated data set. Computer simulations demonstrate that the kernel method offers advantages over the Bowsher method in region of interest quantification. Additionally the kernel method is applied to a 3D patient data set. The kernel method results in reduced noise at a matched contrast level compared with the conventional ML expectation maximization algorithm.

[Theory, method and application of method R on estimation of (co)variance components].

PubMed

Liu, Wen-Zhong

2004-07-01

Theory, method and application of Method R on estimation of (co)variance components were reviewed in order to make the method be reasonably used. Estimation requires R values,which are regressions of predicted random effects that are calculated using complete dataset on predicted random effects that are calculated using random subsets of the same data. By using multivariate iteration algorithm based on a transformation matrix,and combining with the preconditioned conjugate gradient to solve the mixed model equations, the computation efficiency of Method R is much improved. Method R is computationally inexpensive,and the sampling errors and approximate credible intervals of estimates can be obtained. Disadvantages of Method R include a larger sampling variance than other methods for the same data,and biased estimates in small datasets. As an alternative method, Method R can be used in larger datasets. It is necessary to study its theoretical properties and broaden its application range further.

Multiple zeros of polynomials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wood, C. A.

1974-01-01

For polynomials of higher degree, iterative numerical methods must be used. Four iterative methods are presented for approximating the zeros of a polynomial using a digital computer. Newton's method and Muller's method are two well known iterative methods which are presented. They extract the zeros of a polynomial by generating a sequence of approximations converging to each zero. However, both of these methods are very unstable when used on a polynomial which has multiple zeros. That is, either they fail to converge to some or all of the zeros, or they converge to very bad approximations of the polynomial's zeros. This material introduces two new methods, the greatest common divisor (G.C.D.) method and the repeated greatest common divisor (repeated G.C.D.) method, which are superior methods for numerically approximating the zeros of a polynomial having multiple zeros. These methods were programmed in FORTRAN 4 and comparisons in time and accuracy are given.

Evaluation of the methods for enumerating coliform bacteria from water samples using precise reference standards.

PubMed

Wohlsen, T; Bates, J; Vesey, G; Robinson, W A; Katouli, M

2006-04-01

To use BioBall cultures as a precise reference standard to evaluate methods for enumeration of Escherichia coli and other coliform bacteria in water samples. Eight methods were evaluated including membrane filtration, standard plate count (pour and spread plate methods), defined substrate technology methods (Colilert and Colisure), the most probable number method and the Petrifilm disposable plate method. Escherichia coli and Enterobacter aerogenes BioBall cultures containing 30 organisms each were used. All tests were performed using 10 replicates. The mean recovery of both bacteria varied with the different methods employed. The best and most consistent results were obtained with Petrifilm and the pour plate method. Other methods either yielded a low recovery or showed significantly high variability between replicates. The BioBall is a very suitable quality control tool for evaluating the efficiency of methods for bacterial enumeration in water samples.

Wilsonian methods of concept analysis: a critique.

PubMed

Hupcey, J E; Morse, J M; Lenz, E R; Tasón, M C

1996-01-01

Wilsonian methods of concept analysis--that is, the method proposed by Wilson and Wilson-derived methods in nursing (as described by Walker and Avant; Chinn and Kramer [Jacobs]; Schwartz-Barcott and Kim; and Rodgers)--are discussed and compared in this article. The evolution and modifications of Wilson's method in nursing are described and research that has used these methods, assessed. The transformation of Wilson's method is traced as each author has adopted his techniques and attempted to modify the method to correct for limitations. We suggest that these adaptations and modifications ultimately erode Wilson's method. Further, the Wilson-derived methods have been overly simplified and used by nurse researchers in a prescriptive manner, and the results often do not serve the purpose of expanding nursing knowledge. We conclude that, considering the significance of concept development for the nursing profession, the development of new methods and a means for evaluating conceptual inquiry must be given priority.

The Application of Continuous Wavelet Transform Based Foreground Subtraction Method in 21 cm Sky Surveys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gu, Junhua; Xu, Haiguang; Wang, Jingying; An, Tao; Chen, Wen

2013-08-01

We propose a continuous wavelet transform based non-parametric foreground subtraction method for the detection of redshifted 21 cm signal from the epoch of reionization. This method works based on the assumption that the foreground spectra are smooth in frequency domain, while the 21 cm signal spectrum is full of saw-tooth-like structures, thus their characteristic scales are significantly different. We can distinguish them in the wavelet coefficient space easily and perform the foreground subtraction. Compared with the traditional spectral fitting based method, our method is more tolerant to complex foregrounds. Furthermore, we also find that when the instrument has uncorrected response error, our method can also work significantly better than the spectral fitting based method. Our method can obtain similar results with the Wp smoothing method, which is also a non-parametric method, but our method consumes much less computing time.

Study report on a double isotope method of calcium absorption

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1978-01-01

Some of the pros and cons of three methods to study gastrointestinal calcium absorption are briefly discussed. The methods are: (1) a balance study; (2) a single isotope method; and (3) a double isotope method. A procedure for the double isotope method is also included.

Comparison on genomic predictions using three GBLUP methods and two single-step blending methods in the Nordic Holstein population

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background A single-step blending approach allows genomic prediction using information of genotyped and non-genotyped animals simultaneously. However, the combined relationship matrix in a single-step method may need to be adjusted because marker-based and pedigree-based relationship matrices may not be on the same scale. The same may apply when a GBLUP model includes both genomic breeding values and residual polygenic effects. The objective of this study was to compare single-step blending methods and GBLUP methods with and without adjustment of the genomic relationship matrix for genomic prediction of 16 traits in the Nordic Holstein population. Methods The data consisted of de-regressed proofs (DRP) for 5 214 genotyped and 9 374 non-genotyped bulls. The bulls were divided into a training and a validation population by birth date, October 1, 2001. Five approaches for genomic prediction were used: 1) a simple GBLUP method, 2) a GBLUP method with a polygenic effect, 3) an adjusted GBLUP method with a polygenic effect, 4) a single-step blending method, and 5) an adjusted single-step blending method. In the adjusted GBLUP and single-step methods, the genomic relationship matrix was adjusted for the difference of scale between the genomic and the pedigree relationship matrices. A set of weights on the pedigree relationship matrix (ranging from 0.05 to 0.40) was used to build the combined relationship matrix in the single-step blending method and the GBLUP method with a polygenetic effect. Results Averaged over the 16 traits, reliabilities of genomic breeding values predicted using the GBLUP method with a polygenic effect (relative weight of 0.20) were 0.3% higher than reliabilities from the simple GBLUP method (without a polygenic effect). The adjusted single-step blending and original single-step blending methods (relative weight of 0.20) had average reliabilities that were 2.1% and 1.8% higher than the simple GBLUP method, respectively. In addition, the GBLUP method with a polygenic effect led to less bias of genomic predictions than the simple GBLUP method, and both single-step blending methods yielded less bias of predictions than all GBLUP methods. Conclusions The single-step blending method is an appealing approach for practical genomic prediction in dairy cattle. Genomic prediction from the single-step blending method can be improved by adjusting the scale of the genomic relationship matrix. PMID:22455934

Roka Listeria detection method using transcription mediated amplification to detect Listeria species in select foods and surfaces. Performance Tested Method(SM) 011201.

PubMed

Hua, Yang; Kaplan, Shannon; Reshatoff, Michael; Hu, Ernie; Zukowski, Alexis; Schweis, Franz; Gin, Cristal; Maroni, Brett; Becker, Michael; Wisniewski, Michele

2012-01-01

The Roka Listeria Detection Assay was compared to the reference culture methods for nine select foods and three select surfaces. The Roka method used Half-Fraser Broth for enrichment at 35 +/- 2 degrees C for 24-28 h. Comparison of Roka's method to reference methods requires an unpaired approach. Each method had a total of 545 samples inoculated with a Listeria strain. Each food and surface was inoculated with a different strain of Listeria at two different levels per method. For the dairy products (Brie cheese, whole milk, and ice cream), our method was compared to AOAC Official Method(SM) 993.12. For the ready-to-eat meats (deli chicken, cured ham, chicken salad, and hot dogs) and environmental surfaces (sealed concrete, stainless steel, and plastic), these samples were compared to the U.S. Department of Agriculture/Food Safety and Inspection Service-Microbiology Laboratory Guidebook (USDA/FSIS-MLG) method MLG 8.07. Cold-smoked salmon and romaine lettuce were compared to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration/Bacteriological Analytical Manual, Chapter 10 (FDA/BAM) method. Roka's method had 358 positives out of 545 total inoculated samples compared to 332 positive for the reference methods. Overall the probability of detection analysis of the results showed better or equivalent performance compared to the reference methods.

A propagation method with adaptive mesh grid based on wave characteristics for wave optics simulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tang, Qiuyan; Wang, Jing; Lv, Pin; Sun, Quan

2015-10-01

Propagation simulation method and choosing mesh grid are both very important to get the correct propagation results in wave optics simulation. A new angular spectrum propagation method with alterable mesh grid based on the traditional angular spectrum method and the direct FFT method is introduced. With this method, the sampling space after propagation is not limited to propagation methods no more, but freely alterable. However, choosing mesh grid on target board influences the validity of simulation results directly. So an adaptive mesh choosing method based on wave characteristics is proposed with the introduced propagation method. We can calculate appropriate mesh grids on target board to get satisfying results. And for complex initial wave field or propagation through inhomogeneous media, we can also calculate and set the mesh grid rationally according to above method. Finally, though comparing with theoretical results, it's shown that the simulation result with the proposed method coinciding with theory. And by comparing with the traditional angular spectrum method and the direct FFT method, it's known that the proposed method is able to adapt to a wider range of Fresnel number conditions. That is to say, the method can simulate propagation results efficiently and correctly with propagation distance of almost zero to infinity. So it can provide better support for more wave propagation applications such as atmospheric optics, laser propagation and so on.

Reliability and accuracy of real-time visualization techniques for measuring school cafeteria tray waste: validating the quarter-waste method.

PubMed

Hanks, Andrew S; Wansink, Brian; Just, David R

2014-03-01

Measuring food waste is essential to determine the impact of school interventions on what children eat. There are multiple methods used for measuring food waste, yet it is unclear which method is most appropriate in large-scale interventions with restricted resources. This study examines which of three visual tray waste measurement methods is most reliable, accurate, and cost-effective compared with the gold standard of individually weighing leftovers. School cafeteria researchers used the following three visual methods to capture tray waste in addition to actual food waste weights for 197 lunch trays: the quarter-waste method, the half-waste method, and the photograph method. Inter-rater and inter-method reliability were highest for on-site visual methods (0.90 for the quarter-waste method and 0.83 for the half-waste method) and lowest for the photograph method (0.48). This low reliability is partially due to the inability of photographs to determine whether packaged items (such as milk or yogurt) are empty or full. In sum, the quarter-waste method was the most appropriate for calculating accurate amounts of tray waste, and the photograph method might be appropriate if researchers only wish to detect significant differences in waste or consumption of selected, unpackaged food. Copyright © 2014 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Modified flotation method with the use of Percoll for the detection of Isospora suis oocysts in suckling piglet faeces.

PubMed

Karamon, Jacek; Ziomko, Irena; Cencek, Tomasz; Sroka, Jacek

2008-10-01

The modification of flotation method for the examination of diarrhoeic piglet faeces for the detection of Isospora suis oocysts was elaborated. The method was based on removing fractions of fat from the sample of faeces by centrifugation with a 25% Percoll solution. The investigations were carried out in comparison to the McMaster method. From five variants of the Percoll flotation method, the best results were obtained when 2ml of flotation liquid per 1g of faeces were used. The limit of detection in the Percoll flotation method was 160 oocysts per 1g, and was better than with the McMaster method. The efficacy of the modified method was confirmed by results obtained in the examination of the I. suis infected piglets. From all faecal samples, positive samples in the Percoll flotation method were double the results than that of the routine method. Oocysts were first detected by the Percoll flotation method on day 4 post-invasion, i.e. one-day earlier than with the McMaster method. During the experiment (except for 3 days), the extensity of I. suis invasion in the litter examined by the Percoll flotation method was higher than that with the McMaster method. The obtained results show that the modified flotation method with the use of Percoll could be applied in the diagnostics of suckling piglet isosporosis.

Comparison of concentration methods for rapid detection of hookworm ova in wastewater matrices using quantitative PCR.

PubMed

Gyawali, P; Ahmed, W; Jagals, P; Sidhu, J P S; Toze, S

2015-12-01

Hookworm infection contributes around 700 million infections worldwide especially in developing nations due to increased use of wastewater for crop production. The effective recovery of hookworm ova from wastewater matrices is difficult due to their low concentrations and heterogeneous distribution. In this study, we compared the recovery rates of (i) four rapid hookworm ova concentration methods from municipal wastewater, and (ii) two concentration methods from sludge samples. Ancylostoma caninum ova were used as surrogate for human hookworm (Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus). Known concentration of A. caninum hookworm ova were seeded into wastewater (treated and raw) and sludge samples collected from two wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Brisbane and Perth, Australia. The A. caninum ova were concentrated from treated and raw wastewater samples using centrifugation (Method A), hollow fiber ultrafiltration (HFUF) (Method B), filtration (Method C) and flotation (Method D) methods. For sludge samples, flotation (Method E) and direct DNA extraction (Method F) methods were used. Among the four methods tested, filtration (Method C) method was able to recover higher concentrations of A. caninum ova consistently from treated wastewater (39-50%) and raw wastewater (7.1-12%) samples collected from both WWTPs. The remaining methods (Methods A, B and D) yielded variable recovery rate ranging from 0.2 to 40% for treated and raw wastewater samples. The recovery rates for sludge samples were poor (0.02-4.7), although, Method F (direct DNA extraction) provided 1-2 orders of magnitude higher recovery rate than Method E (flotation). Based on our results it can be concluded that the recovery rates of hookworm ova from wastewater matrices, especially sludge samples, can be poor and highly variable. Therefore, choice of concentration method is vital for the sensitive detection of hookworm ova in wastewater matrices. Crown Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Achieving cost-neutrality with long-acting reversible contraceptive methods⋆

PubMed Central

Trussell, James; Hassan, Fareen; Lowin, Julia; Law, Amy; Filonenko, Anna

2014-01-01

Objectives This analysis aimed to estimate the average annual cost of available reversible contraceptive methods in the United States. In line with literature suggesting long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) methods become increasingly cost-saving with extended duration of use, it aimed to also quantify minimum duration of use required for LARC methods to achieve cost-neutrality relative to other reversible contraceptive methods while taking into consideration discontinuation. Study design A three-state economic model was developed to estimate relative costs of no method (chance), four short-acting reversible (SARC) methods (oral contraceptive, ring, patch and injection) and three LARC methods [implant, copper intrauterine device (IUD) and levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) 20 mcg/24 h (total content 52 mg)]. The analysis was conducted over a 5-year time horizon in 1000 women aged 20–29 years. Method-specific failure and discontinuation rates were based on published literature. Costs associated with drug acquisition, administration and failure (defined as an unintended pregnancy) were considered. Key model outputs were annual average cost per method and minimum duration of LARC method usage to achieve cost-savings compared to SARC methods. Results The two least expensive methods were copper IUD ($304 per women, per year) and LNG-IUS 20 mcg/24 h ($308). Cost of SARC methods ranged between $432 (injection) and $730 (patch), per women, per year. A minimum of 2.1 years of LARC usage would result in cost-savings compared to SARC usage. Conclusions This analysis finds that even if LARC methods are not used for their full durations of efficacy, they become cost-saving relative to SARC methods within 3 years of use. Implications Previous economic arguments in support of using LARC methods have been criticized for not considering that LARC methods are not always used for their full duration of efficacy. This study calculated that cost-savings from LARC methods relative to SARC methods, with discontinuation rates considered, can be realized within 3 years. PMID:25282161

A method for addressing differences in concentrations of fipronil and three degradates obtained by two different laboratory methods

USGS Publications Warehouse

Crawford, Charles G.; Martin, Jeffrey D.

2017-07-21

In October 2012, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) began measuring the concentration of the pesticide fipronil and three of its degradates (desulfinylfipronil, fipronil sulfide, and fipronil sulfone) by a new laboratory method using direct aqueous-injection liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (DAI LC–MS/MS). This method replaced the previous method—in use since 2002—that used gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The performance of the two methods is not comparable for fipronil and the three degradates. Concentrations of these four chemical compounds determined by the DAI LC–MS/MS method are substantially lower than the GC/MS method. A method was developed to correct for the difference in concentrations obtained by the two laboratory methods based on a methods comparison field study done in 2012. Environmental and field matrix spike samples to be analyzed by both methods from 48 stream sites from across the United States were sampled approximately three times each for this study. These data were used to develop a relation between the two laboratory methods for each compound using regression analysis. The relations were used to calibrate data obtained by the older method to the new method in order to remove any biases attributable to differences in the methods. The coefficients of the equations obtained from the regressions were used to calibrate over 16,600 observations of fipronil, as well as the three degradates determined by the GC/MS method retrieved from the USGS National Water Information System. The calibrated values were then compared to over 7,800 observations of fipronil and to the three degradates determined by the DAI LC–MS/MS method also retrieved from the National Water Information System. The original and calibrated values from the GC/MS method, along with measures of uncertainty in the calibrated values and the original values from the DAI LC–MS/MS method, are provided in an accompanying data release.

24 CFR 291.90 - Sales methods.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 2 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Sales methods. 291.90 Section 291....90 Sales methods. HUD will prescribe the terms and conditions for all methods of sale. HUD may, in... following methods of sale: (a) Future REO acquisition method. The Future Real Estate-Owned (REO) acquisition...

24 CFR 291.90 - Sales methods.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 2 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Sales methods. 291.90 Section 291....90 Sales methods. HUD will prescribe the terms and conditions for all methods of sale. HUD may, in... following methods of sale: (a) Future REO acquisition method. The Future Real Estate-Owned (REO) acquisition...

24 CFR 291.90 - Sales methods.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 2 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Sales methods. 291.90 Section 291....90 Sales methods. HUD will prescribe the terms and conditions for all methods of sale. HUD may, in... following methods of sale: (a) Future REO acquisition method. The Future Real Estate-Owned (REO) acquisition...

24 CFR 291.90 - Sales methods.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 2 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Sales methods. 291.90 Section 291....90 Sales methods. HUD will prescribe the terms and conditions for all methods of sale. HUD may, in... following methods of sale: (a) Future REO acquisition method. The Future Real Estate-Owned (REO) acquisition...

77 FR 48733 - Transitional Program for Covered Business Method Patents-Definitions of Covered Business Method...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-08-14

... Office 37 CFR Part 42 Transitional Program for Covered Business Method Patents--Definitions of Covered Business Method Patent and Technological Invention; Final Rule #0;#0;Federal Register / Vol. 77 , No. 157... Business Method Patents-- Definitions of Covered Business Method Patent and Technological Invention AGENCY...

24 CFR 291.90 - Sales methods.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 2 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Sales methods. 291.90 Section 291....90 Sales methods. HUD will prescribe the terms and conditions for all methods of sale. HUD may, in... following methods of sale: (a) Future REO acquisition method. The Future Real Estate-Owned (REO) acquisition...

40 CFR 136.6 - Method modifications and analytical requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... person or laboratory using a test procedure (analytical method) in this Part. (2) Chemistry of the method... (analytical method) provided that the chemistry of the method or the determinative technique is not changed... prevent efficient recovery of organic pollutants and prevent the method from meeting QC requirements, the...

A Review of Methods for Missing Data.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pigott, Therese D.

2001-01-01

Reviews methods for handling missing data in a research study. Model-based methods, such as maximum likelihood using the EM algorithm and multiple imputation, hold more promise than ad hoc methods. Although model-based methods require more specialized computer programs and assumptions about the nature of missing data, these methods are appropriate…

The Views of Turkish Pre-Service Teachers about Effectiveness of Cluster Method as a Teaching Writing Method

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kitis, Emine; Türkel, Ali

2017-01-01

The aim of this study is to find out Turkish pre-service teachers' views on effectiveness of cluster method as a writing teaching method. The Cluster Method can be defined as a connotative creative writing method. The way the method works is that the person who brainstorms on connotations of a word or a concept in abscence of any kind of…

Assay of fluoxetine hydrochloride by titrimetric and HPLC methods.

PubMed

Bueno, F; Bergold, A M; Fröehlich, P E

2000-01-01

Two alternative methods were proposed to assay Fluoxetine Hydrochloride: a titrimetric method and another by HPLC using as mobile phase water pH 3.5: acetonitrile (65:35). These methods were applied to the determination of Fluoxetine as such or in formulations (capsules). The titrimetric method is an alternative for pharmacies and small industries. Both methods showed accuracy and precision and are an alternative to the official methods.

Thermophysical Properties of Matter - The TPRC Data Series. Volume 3. Thermal Conductivity - Nonmetallic Liquids and Gases

DTIC Science & Technology

1970-01-01

design and experimentation. I. The Shock- Tube Method Smiley [546] introduced the use of shock waves...one of the greatest disadvantages of this technique. Both the unique adaptability of the shock tube method for high -temperature measurement of...Line-Source Flow Method H. The Hot-Wire Thermal Diffusion Column Method I. The Shock- Tube Method J. The Arc Method K. The Ultrasonic Method .

New methods for the numerical integration of ordinary differential equations and their application to the equations of motion of spacecraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Banyukevich, A.; Ziolkovski, K.

1975-01-01

A number of hybrid methods for solving Cauchy problems are described on the basis of an evaluation of advantages of single and multiple-point numerical integration methods. The selection criterion is the principle of minimizing computer time. The methods discussed include the Nordsieck method, the Bulirsch-Stoer extrapolation method, and the method of recursive Taylor-Steffensen power series.

Comparison of measurement methods for capacitive tactile sensors and their implementation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tarapata, Grzegorz; Sienkiewicz, Rafał

2015-09-01

This paper presents a review of ideas and implementations of measurement methods utilized for capacity measurements in tactile sensors. The paper describes technical method, charge amplification method, generation and as well integration method. Three selected methods were implemented in dedicated measurement system and utilised for capacitance measurements of ourselves made tactile sensors. The tactile sensors tested in this work were fully fabricated with the inkjet printing technology. The tests result were presented and summarised. The charge amplification method (CDC) was selected as the best method for the measurement of the tactile sensors.

On time discretizations for spectral methods. [numerical integration of Fourier and Chebyshev methods for dynamic partial differential equations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gottlieb, D.; Turkel, E.

1980-01-01

New methods are introduced for the time integration of the Fourier and Chebyshev methods of solution for dynamic differential equations. These methods are unconditionally stable, even though no matrix inversions are required. Time steps are chosen by accuracy requirements alone. For the Fourier method both leapfrog and Runge-Kutta methods are considered. For the Chebyshev method only Runge-Kutta schemes are tested. Numerical calculations are presented to verify the analytic results. Applications to the shallow water equations are presented.

Comparison of Response Surface Construction Methods for Derivative Estimation Using Moving Least Squares, Kriging and Radial Basis Functions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Krishnamurthy, Thiagarajan

2005-01-01

Response construction methods using Moving Least Squares (MLS), Kriging and Radial Basis Functions (RBF) are compared with the Global Least Squares (GLS) method in three numerical examples for derivative generation capability. Also, a new Interpolating Moving Least Squares (IMLS) method adopted from the meshless method is presented. It is found that the response surface construction methods using the Kriging and RBF interpolation yields more accurate results compared with MLS and GLS methods. Several computational aspects of the response surface construction methods also discussed.

Two smart spectrophotometric methods for the simultaneous estimation of Simvastatin and Ezetimibe in combined dosage form

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Magdy, Nancy; Ayad, Miriam F.

2015-02-01

Two simple, accurate, precise, sensitive and economic spectrophotometric methods were developed for the simultaneous determination of Simvastatin and Ezetimibe in fixed dose combination products without prior separation. The first method depends on a new chemometrics-assisted ratio spectra derivative method using moving window polynomial least square fitting method (Savitzky-Golay filters). The second method is based on a simple modification for the ratio subtraction method. The suggested methods were validated according to USP guidelines and can be applied for routine quality control testing.

Application of LC/MS/MS Techniques to Development of US ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

This presentation will describe the U.S. EPA’s drinking water and ambient water method development program in relation to the process employed and the typical challenges encountered in developing standardized LC/MS/MS methods for chemicals of emerging concern. The EPA’s Drinking Water Contaminant Candidate List and Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Regulations, which are the driving forces behind drinking water method development, will be introduced. Three drinking water LC/MS/MS methods (Methods 537, 544 and a new method for nonylphenol) and two ambient water LC/MS/MS methods for cyanotoxins will be described that highlight some of the challenges encountered during development of these methods. This presentation will provide the audience with basic understanding of EPA's drinking water method development program and an introduction to two new ambient water EPA methods.

The Roche Immunoturbidimetric Albumin Method on Cobas c 501 Gives Higher Values Than the Abbott and Roche BCP Methods When Analyzing Patient Plasma Samples.

PubMed

Helmersson-Karlqvist, Johanna; Flodin, Mats; Havelka, Aleksandra Mandic; Xu, Xiao Yan; Larsson, Anders

2016-09-01

Serum/plasma albumin is an important and widely used laboratory marker and it is important that we measure albumin correctly without bias. We had indications that the immunoturbidimetric method on Cobas c 501 and the bromocresol purple (BCP) method on Architect 16000 differed, so we decided to study these methods more closely. A total of 1,951 patient requests with albumin measured with both the Architect BCP and Cobas immunoturbidimetric methods were extracted from the laboratory system. A comparison with fresh plasma samples was also performed that included immunoturbidimetric and BCP methods on Cobas c 501 and analysis of the international protein calibrator ERM-DA470k/IFCC. The median difference between the Abbott BCP and Roche immunoturbidimetric methods was 3.3 g/l and the Roche method overestimated ERM-DA470k/IFCC by 2.2 g/l. The Roche immunoturbidimetric method gave higher values than the Roche BCP method: y = 1.111x - 0.739, R² = 0.971. The Roche immunoturbidimetric albumin method gives clearly higher values than the Abbott and Roche BCP methods when analyzing fresh patient samples. The differences between the two methods were similar at normal and low albumin levels. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Manual tracing versus smartphone application (app) tracing: a comparative study.

PubMed

Sayar, Gülşilay; Kilinc, Delal Dara

2017-11-01

This study aimed to compare the results of conventional manual cephalometric tracing with those acquired with smartphone application cephalometric tracing. The cephalometric radiographs of 55 patients (25 females and 30 males) were traced via the manual and app methods and were subsequently examined with Steiner's analysis. Five skeletal measurements, five dental measurements and two soft tissue measurements were managed based on 21 landmarks. The durations of the performances of the two methods were also compared. SNA (Sella, Nasion, A point angle) and SNB (Sella, Nasion, B point angle) values for the manual method were statistically lower (p < .001) than those for the app method. The ANB value for the manual method was statistically lower than that of app method. L1-NB (°) and upper lip protrusion values for the manual method were statistically higher than those for the app method. Go-GN/SN, U1-NA (°) and U1-NA (mm) values for manual method were statistically lower than those for the app method. No differences between the two methods were found in the L1-NB (mm), occlusal plane to SN, interincisal angle or lower lip protrusion values. Although statistically significant differences were found between the two methods, the cephalometric tracing proceeded faster with the app method than with the manual method.

Contraceptive Method Choice Among Young Adults: Influence of Individual and Relationship Factors.

PubMed

Harvey, S Marie; Oakley, Lisa P; Washburn, Isaac; Agnew, Christopher R

2018-01-26

Because decisions related to contraceptive behavior are often made by young adults in the context of specific relationships, the relational context likely influences use of contraceptives. Data presented here are from in-person structured interviews with 536 Black, Hispanic, and White young adults from East Los Angeles, California. We collected partner-specific relational and contraceptive data on all sexual partnerships for each individual, on four occasions, over one year. Using three-level multinomial logistic regression models, we examined individual and relationship factors predictive of contraceptive use. Results indicated that both individual and relationship factors predicted contraceptive use, but factors varied by method. Participants reporting greater perceived partner exclusivity and relationship commitment were more likely to use hormonal/long-acting methods only or a less effective method/no method versus condoms only. Those with greater participation in sexual decision making were more likely to use any method over a less effective method/no method and were more likely to use condoms only or dual methods versus a hormonal/long-acting method only. In addition, for women only, those who reported greater relationship commitment were more likely to use hormonal/long-acting methods or a less effective method/no method versus a dual method. In summary, interactive relationship qualities and dynamics (commitment and sexual decision making) significantly predicted contraceptive use.

[A study for testing the antifungal susceptibility of yeast by the Japanese Society for Medical Mycology (JSMM) method. The proposal of the modified JSMM method 2009].

PubMed

Nishiyama, Yayoi; Abe, Michiko; Ikeda, Reiko; Uno, Jun; Oguri, Toyoko; Shibuya, Kazutoshi; Maesaki, Shigefumi; Mohri, Shinobu; Yamada, Tsuyoshi; Ishibashi, Hiroko; Hasumi, Yayoi; Abe, Shigeru

2010-01-01

The Japanese Society for Medical Mycology (JSMM) method used for testing the antifungal susceptibility of yeast, the MIC end point for azole antifungal agents, is currently set at IC(80). It was recently shown, however that there is an inconsistency in the MIC value between the JSMM method and the CLSI M27-A2 (CLSI) method, in which the end- point was to read as IC(50). To resolve this discrepancy and reassess the JSMM method, the MIC for three azoles, fluconazole, itraconazole and voriconazole were compared to 5 strains of each of the following Candida species: C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis and C. krusei, for a total of 25 comparisons, using the JSMM method, a modified JSMM method, and the CLSI method. The results showed that when the MIC end- point criterion of the JSMM method was changed from IC(80) to IC(50) (the modified JSMM method) , the MIC value was consistent and compatible with the CLSI method. Finally, it should be emphasized that the JSMM method, using a spectrophotometer for MIC measurement, was superior in both stability and reproducibility, as compared to the CLSI method in which growth was assessed by visual observation.

Modified Fully Utilized Design (MFUD) Method for Stress and Displacement Constraints

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Patnaik, Surya; Gendy, Atef; Berke, Laszlo; Hopkins, Dale

1997-01-01

The traditional fully stressed method performs satisfactorily for stress-limited structural design. When this method is extended to include displacement limitations in addition to stress constraints, it is known as the fully utilized design (FUD). Typically, the FUD produces an overdesign, which is the primary limitation of this otherwise elegant method. We have modified FUD in an attempt to alleviate the limitation. This new method, called the modified fully utilized design (MFUD) method, has been tested successfully on a number of designs that were subjected to multiple loads and had both stress and displacement constraints. The solutions obtained with MFUD compare favorably with the optimum results that can be generated by using nonlinear mathematical programming techniques. The MFUD method appears to have alleviated the overdesign condition and offers the simplicity of a direct, fully stressed type of design method that is distinctly different from optimization and optimality criteria formulations. The MFUD method is being developed for practicing engineers who favor traditional design methods rather than methods based on advanced calculus and nonlinear mathematical programming techniques. The Integrated Force Method (IFM) was found to be the appropriate analysis tool in the development of the MFUD method. In this paper, the MFUD method and its optimality are presented along with a number of illustrative examples.

Accuracy of two geocoding methods for geographic information system-based exposure assessment in epidemiological studies.

PubMed

Faure, Elodie; Danjou, Aurélie M N; Clavel-Chapelon, Françoise; Boutron-Ruault, Marie-Christine; Dossus, Laure; Fervers, Béatrice

2017-02-24

Environmental exposure assessment based on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and study participants' residential proximity to environmental exposure sources relies on the positional accuracy of subjects' residences to avoid misclassification bias. Our study compared the positional accuracy of two automatic geocoding methods to a manual reference method. We geocoded 4,247 address records representing the residential history (1990-2008) of 1,685 women from the French national E3N cohort living in the Rhône-Alpes region. We compared two automatic geocoding methods, a free-online geocoding service (method A) and an in-house geocoder (method B), to a reference layer created by manually relocating addresses from method A (method R). For each automatic geocoding method, positional accuracy levels were compared according to the urban/rural status of addresses and time-periods (1990-2000, 2001-2008), using Chi Square tests. Kappa statistics were performed to assess agreement of positional accuracy of both methods A and B with the reference method, overall, by time-periods and by urban/rural status of addresses. Respectively 81.4% and 84.4% of addresses were geocoded to the exact address (65.1% and 61.4%) or to the street segment (16.3% and 23.0%) with methods A and B. In the reference layer, geocoding accuracy was higher in urban areas compared to rural areas (74.4% vs. 10.5% addresses geocoded to the address or interpolated address level, p < 0.0001); no difference was observed according to the period of residence. Compared to the reference method, median positional errors were 0.0 m (IQR = 0.0-37.2 m) and 26.5 m (8.0-134.8 m), with positional errors <100 m for 82.5% and 71.3% of addresses, for method A and method B respectively. Positional agreement of method A and method B with method R was 'substantial' for both methods, with kappa coefficients of 0.60 and 0.61 for methods A and B, respectively. Our study demonstrates the feasibility of geocoding residential addresses in epidemiological studies not initially recorded for environmental exposure assessment, for both recent addresses and residence locations more than 20 years ago. Accuracy of the two automatic geocoding methods was comparable. The in-house method (B) allowed a better control of the geocoding process and was less time consuming.

Comparison of reproducibility of natural head position using two methods.

PubMed

Khan, Abdul Rahim; Rajesh, R N G; Dinesh, M R; Sanjay, N; Girish, K S; Venkataraghavan, Karthik

2012-01-01

Lateral cephalometric radiographs have become virtually indispensable to orthodontists in the treatment of patients. They are important in orthodontic growth analysis, diagnosis, treatment planning, monitoring of therapy and evaluation of final treatment outcome. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the maximum reproducibility with minimum variation of natural head position using two methods, i.e. the mirror method and the fluid level device method. The study included two sets of 40 lateral cephalograms taken using two methods of obtaining natural head position: (1) The mirror method and (2) fluid level device method, with a time interval of 2 months. Inclusion criteria • Subjects were randomly selected aged between 18 to 26 years Exclusion criteria • History of orthodontic treatment • Any history of respiratory tract problem or chronic mouth breathing • Any congenital deformity • History of traumatically-induced deformity • History of myofacial pain syndrome • Any previous history of head and neck surgery. The result showed that both the methods for obtaining natural head position-the mirror method and fluid level device method were comparable, but maximum reproducibility was more with the fluid level device as shown by the Dahlberg's coefficient and Bland-Altman plot. The minimum variance was seen with the fluid level device method as shown by Precision and Pearson correlation. The mirror method and the fluid level device method used for obtaining natural head position were comparable without any significance, and the fluid level device method was more reproducible and showed less variance when compared to mirror method for obtaining natural head position. Fluid level device method was more reproducible and shows less variance when compared to mirror method for obtaining natural head position.

Comparing four non-invasive methods to determine the ventilatory anaerobic threshold during cardiopulmonary exercise testing in children with congenital heart or lung disease.

PubMed

Visschers, Naomi C A; Hulzebos, Erik H; van Brussel, Marco; Takken, Tim

2015-11-01

The ventilatory anaerobic threshold (VAT) is an important method to assess the aerobic fitness in patients with cardiopulmonary disease. Several methods exist to determine the VAT; however, there is no consensus which of these methods is the most accurate. To compare four different non-invasive methods for the determination of the VAT via respiratory gas exchange analysis during a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET). A secondary objective is to determine the interobserver reliability of the VAT. CPET data of 30 children diagnosed with either cystic fibrosis (CF; N = 15) or with a surgically corrected dextro-transposition of the great arteries (asoTGA; N = 15) were included. No significant differences were found between conditions or among testers. The RER = 1 method differed the most compared to the other methods, showing significant higher results in all six variables. The PET-O2 method differed significantly on five of six and four of six exercise variables with the V-slope method and the VentEq method, respectively. The V-slope and the VentEq method differed significantly on one of six exercise variables. Ten of thirteen ICCs that were >0.80 had a 95% CI > 0.70. The RER = 1 method and the V-slope method had the highest number of significant ICCs and 95% CIs. The V-slope method, the ventilatory equivalent method and the PET-O2 method are comparable and reliable methods to determine the VAT during CPET in children with CF or asoTGA. © 2014 Scandinavian Society of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Evaluation of Four Methods for Predicting Carbon Stocks of Korean Pine Plantations in Heilongjiang Province, China

PubMed Central

Gao, Huilin; Dong, Lihu; Li, Fengri; Zhang, Lianjun

2015-01-01

A total of 89 trees of Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis) were destructively sampled from the plantations in Heilongjiang Province, P.R. China. The sample trees were measured and calculated for the biomass and carbon stocks of tree components (i.e., stem, branch, foliage and root). Both compatible biomass and carbon stock models were developed with the total biomass and total carbon stocks as the constraints, respectively. Four methods were used to evaluate the carbon stocks of tree components. The first method predicted carbon stocks directly by the compatible carbon stocks models (Method 1). The other three methods indirectly predicted the carbon stocks in two steps: (1) estimating the biomass by the compatible biomass models, and (2) multiplying the estimated biomass by three different carbon conversion factors (i.e., carbon conversion factor 0.5 (Method 2), average carbon concentration of the sample trees (Method 3), and average carbon concentration of each tree component (Method 4)). The prediction errors of estimating the carbon stocks were compared and tested for the differences between the four methods. The results showed that the compatible biomass and carbon models with tree diameter (D) as the sole independent variable performed well so that Method 1 was the best method for predicting the carbon stocks of tree components and total. There were significant differences among the four methods for the carbon stock of stem. Method 2 produced the largest error, especially for stem and total. Methods 3 and Method 4 were slightly worse than Method 1, but the differences were not statistically significant. In practice, the indirect method using the mean carbon concentration of individual trees was sufficient to obtain accurate carbon stocks estimation if carbon stocks models are not available. PMID:26659257

A LSQR-type method provides a computationally efficient automated optimal choice of regularization parameter in diffuse optical tomography.

PubMed

Prakash, Jaya; Yalavarthy, Phaneendra K

2013-03-01

Developing a computationally efficient automated method for the optimal choice of regularization parameter in diffuse optical tomography. The least-squares QR (LSQR)-type method that uses Lanczos bidiagonalization is known to be computationally efficient in performing the reconstruction procedure in diffuse optical tomography. The same is effectively deployed via an optimization procedure that uses the simplex method to find the optimal regularization parameter. The proposed LSQR-type method is compared with the traditional methods such as L-curve, generalized cross-validation (GCV), and recently proposed minimal residual method (MRM)-based choice of regularization parameter using numerical and experimental phantom data. The results indicate that the proposed LSQR-type and MRM-based methods performance in terms of reconstructed image quality is similar and superior compared to L-curve and GCV-based methods. The proposed method computational complexity is at least five times lower compared to MRM-based method, making it an optimal technique. The LSQR-type method was able to overcome the inherent limitation of computationally expensive nature of MRM-based automated way finding the optimal regularization parameter in diffuse optical tomographic imaging, making this method more suitable to be deployed in real-time.

A New Online Calibration Method Based on Lord's Bias-Correction.

PubMed

He, Yinhong; Chen, Ping; Li, Yong; Zhang, Shumei

2017-09-01

Online calibration technique has been widely employed to calibrate new items due to its advantages. Method A is the simplest online calibration method and has attracted many attentions from researchers recently. However, a key assumption of Method A is that it treats person-parameter estimates θ ^ s (obtained by maximum likelihood estimation [MLE]) as their true values θ s , thus the deviation of the estimated θ ^ s from their true values might yield inaccurate item calibration when the deviation is nonignorable. To improve the performance of Method A, a new method, MLE-LBCI-Method A, is proposed. This new method combines a modified Lord's bias-correction method (named as maximum likelihood estimation-Lord's bias-correction with iteration [MLE-LBCI]) with the original Method A in an effort to correct the deviation of θ ^ s which may adversely affect the item calibration precision. Two simulation studies were carried out to explore the performance of both MLE-LBCI and MLE-LBCI-Method A under several scenarios. Simulation results showed that MLE-LBCI could make a significant improvement over the ML ability estimates, and MLE-LBCI-Method A did outperform Method A in almost all experimental conditions.

Qualitative versus quantitative methods in psychiatric research.

PubMed

Razafsha, Mahdi; Behforuzi, Hura; Azari, Hassan; Zhang, Zhiqun; Wang, Kevin K; Kobeissy, Firas H; Gold, Mark S

2012-01-01

Qualitative studies are gaining their credibility after a period of being misinterpreted as "not being quantitative." Qualitative method is a broad umbrella term for research methodologies that describe and explain individuals' experiences, behaviors, interactions, and social contexts. In-depth interview, focus groups, and participant observation are among the qualitative methods of inquiry commonly used in psychiatry. Researchers measure the frequency of occurring events using quantitative methods; however, qualitative methods provide a broader understanding and a more thorough reasoning behind the event. Hence, it is considered to be of special importance in psychiatry. Besides hypothesis generation in earlier phases of the research, qualitative methods can be employed in questionnaire design, diagnostic criteria establishment, feasibility studies, as well as studies of attitude and beliefs. Animal models are another area that qualitative methods can be employed, especially when naturalistic observation of animal behavior is important. However, since qualitative results can be researcher's own view, they need to be statistically confirmed, quantitative methods. The tendency to combine both qualitative and quantitative methods as complementary methods has emerged over recent years. By applying both methods of research, scientists can take advantage of interpretative characteristics of qualitative methods as well as experimental dimensions of quantitative methods.

Methods of Farm Guidance

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vir, Dharm

1971-01-01

A survey of teaching methods for farm guidance workers in India, outlining some approaches developed by and used in other nations. Discusses mass educational methods, group educational methods, and the local leadership method. (JB)

Using mixed methods research designs in health psychology: an illustrated discussion from a pragmatist perspective.

PubMed

Bishop, Felicity L

2015-02-01

To outline some of the challenges of mixed methods research and illustrate how they can be addressed in health psychology research. This study critically reflects on the author's previously published mixed methods research and discusses the philosophical and technical challenges of mixed methods, grounding the discussion in a brief review of methodological literature. Mixed methods research is characterized as having philosophical and technical challenges; the former can be addressed by drawing on pragmatism, the latter by considering formal mixed methods research designs proposed in a number of design typologies. There are important differences among the design typologies which provide diverse examples of designs that health psychologists can adapt for their own mixed methods research. There are also similarities; in particular, many typologies explicitly orient to the technical challenges of deciding on the respective timing of qualitative and quantitative methods and the relative emphasis placed on each method. Characteristics, strengths, and limitations of different sequential and concurrent designs are identified by reviewing five mixed methods projects each conducted for a different purpose. Adapting formal mixed methods designs can help health psychologists address the technical challenges of mixed methods research and identify the approach that best fits the research questions and purpose. This does not obfuscate the need to address philosophical challenges of mixing qualitative and quantitative methods. Statement of contribution What is already known on this subject? Mixed methods research poses philosophical and technical challenges. Pragmatism in a popular approach to the philosophical challenges while diverse typologies of mixed methods designs can help address the technical challenges. Examples of mixed methods research can be hard to locate when component studies from mixed methods projects are published separately. What does this study add? Critical reflections on the author's previously published mixed methods research illustrate how a range of different mixed methods designs can be adapted and applied to address health psychology research questions. The philosophical and technical challenges of mixed methods research should be considered together and in relation to the broader purpose of the research. © 2014 The British Psychological Society.

Why, and how, mixed methods research is undertaken in health services research in England: a mixed methods study.

PubMed

O'Cathain, Alicia; Murphy, Elizabeth; Nicholl, Jon

2007-06-14

Recently, there has been a surge of international interest in combining qualitative and quantitative methods in a single study--often called mixed methods research. It is timely to consider why and how mixed methods research is used in health services research (HSR). Documentary analysis of proposals and reports of 75 mixed methods studies funded by a research commissioner of HSR in England between 1994 and 2004. Face-to-face semi-structured interviews with 20 researchers sampled from these studies. 18% (119/647) of HSR studies were classified as mixed methods research. In the documentation, comprehensiveness was the main driver for using mixed methods research, with researchers wanting to address a wider range of questions than quantitative methods alone would allow. Interviewees elaborated on this, identifying the need for qualitative research to engage with the complexity of health, health care interventions, and the environment in which studies took place. Motivations for adopting a mixed methods approach were not always based on the intrinsic value of mixed methods research for addressing the research question; they could be strategic, for example, to obtain funding. Mixed methods research was used in the context of evaluation, including randomised and non-randomised designs; survey and fieldwork exploratory studies; and instrument development. Studies drew on a limited number of methods--particularly surveys and individual interviews--but used methods in a wide range of roles. Mixed methods research is common in HSR in the UK. Its use is driven by pragmatism rather than principle, motivated by the perceived deficit of quantitative methods alone to address the complexity of research in health care, as well as other more strategic gains. Methods are combined in a range of contexts, yet the emerging methodological contributions from HSR to the field of mixed methods research are currently limited to the single context of combining qualitative methods and randomised controlled trials. Health services researchers could further contribute to the development of mixed methods research in the contexts of instrument development, survey and fieldwork, and non-randomised evaluations.

New hybrid conjugate gradient methods with the generalized Wolfe line search.

PubMed

Xu, Xiao; Kong, Fan-Yu

2016-01-01

The conjugate gradient method was an efficient technique for solving the unconstrained optimization problem. In this paper, we made a linear combination with parameters β k of the DY method and the HS method, and putted forward the hybrid method of DY and HS. We also proposed the hybrid of FR and PRP by the same mean. Additionally, to present the two hybrid methods, we promoted the Wolfe line search respectively to compute the step size α k of the two hybrid methods. With the new Wolfe line search, the two hybrid methods had descent property and global convergence property of the two hybrid methods that can also be proved.

Research on the calibration methods of the luminance parameter of radiation luminance meters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheng, Weihai; Huang, Biyong; Lin, Fangsheng; Li, Tiecheng; Yin, Dejin; Lai, Lei

2017-10-01

This paper introduces standard diffusion reflection white plate method and integrating sphere standard luminance source method to calibrate the luminance parameter. The paper compares the effects of calibration results by using these two methods through principle analysis and experimental verification. After using two methods to calibrate the same radiation luminance meter, the data obtained verifies the testing results of the two methods are both reliable. The results show that the display value using standard white plate method has fewer errors and better reproducibility. However, standard luminance source method is more convenient and suitable for on-site calibration. Moreover, standard luminance source method has wider range and can test the linear performance of the instruments.

The change and development of statistical methods used in research articles in child development 1930-2010.

PubMed

Køppe, Simo; Dammeyer, Jesper

2014-09-01

The evolution of developmental psychology has been characterized by the use of different quantitative and qualitative methods and procedures. But how does the use of methods and procedures change over time? This study explores the change and development of statistical methods used in articles published in Child Development from 1930 to 2010. The methods used in every article in the first issue of every volume were categorized into four categories. Until 1980 relatively simple statistical methods were used. During the last 30 years there has been an explosive use of more advanced statistical methods employed. The absence of statistical methods or use of simple methods had been eliminated.

Social network extraction based on Web: 1. Related superficial methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khairuddin Matyuso Nasution, Mahyuddin

2018-01-01

Often the nature of something affects methods to resolve the related issues about it. Likewise, methods to extract social networks from the Web, but involve the structured data types differently. This paper reveals several methods of social network extraction from the same sources that is Web: the basic superficial method, the underlying superficial method, the description superficial method, and the related superficial methods. In complexity we derive the inequalities between methods and so are their computations. In this case, we find that different results from the same tools make the difference from the more complex to the simpler: Extraction of social network by involving co-occurrence is more complex than using occurrences.

Performance of a proposed determinative method for p-TSA in rainbow trout fillet tissue and bridging the proposed method with a method for total chloramine-T residues in rainbow trout fillet tissue

USGS Publications Warehouse

Meinertz, J.R.; Stehly, G.R.; Gingerich, W.H.; Greseth, Shari L.

2001-01-01

Chloramine-T is an effective drug for controlling fish mortality caused by bacterial gill disease. As part of the data required for approval of chloramine-T use in aquaculture, depletion of the chloramine-T marker residue (para-toluenesulfonamide; p-TSA) from edible fillet tissue of fish must be characterized. Declaration of p-TSA as the marker residue for chloramine-T in rainbow trout was based on total residue depletion studies using a method that used time consuming and cumbersome techniques. A simple and robust method recently developed is being proposed as a determinative method for p-TSA in fish fillet tissue. The proposed determinative method was evaluated by comparing accuracy and precision data with U.S. Food and Drug Administration criteria and by bridging the method to the former method for chloramine-T residues. The method accuracy and precision fulfilled the criteria for determinative methods; accuracy was 92.6, 93.4, and 94.6% with samples fortified at 0.5X, 1X, and 2X the expected 1000 ng/g tolerance limit for p-TSA, respectively. Method precision with tissue containing incurred p-TSA at a nominal concentration of 1000 ng/g ranged from 0.80 to 8.4%. The proposed determinative method was successfully bridged with the former method. The concentrations of p-TSA developed with the proposed method were not statistically different at p < 0.05 from p-TSA concentrations developed with the former method.

Standard setting: comparison of two methods.

PubMed

George, Sanju; Haque, M Sayeed; Oyebode, Femi

2006-09-14

The outcome of assessments is determined by the standard-setting method used. There is a wide range of standard-setting methods and the two used most extensively in undergraduate medical education in the UK are the norm-reference and the criterion-reference methods. The aims of the study were to compare these two standard-setting methods for a multiple-choice question examination and to estimate the test-retest and inter-rater reliability of the modified Angoff method. The norm-reference method of standard-setting (mean minus 1 SD) was applied to the 'raw' scores of 78 4th-year medical students on a multiple-choice examination (MCQ). Two panels of raters also set the standard using the modified Angoff method for the same multiple-choice question paper on two occasions (6 months apart). We compared the pass/fail rates derived from the norm reference and the Angoff methods and also assessed the test-retest and inter-rater reliability of the modified Angoff method. The pass rate with the norm-reference method was 85% (66/78) and that by the Angoff method was 100% (78 out of 78). The percentage agreement between Angoff method and norm-reference was 78% (95% CI 69% - 87%). The modified Angoff method had an inter-rater reliability of 0.81-0.82 and a test-retest reliability of 0.59-0.74. There were significant differences in the outcomes of these two standard-setting methods, as shown by the difference in the proportion of candidates that passed and failed the assessment. The modified Angoff method was found to have good inter-rater reliability and moderate test-retest reliability.

Women's Contraceptive Preference-Use Mismatch

PubMed Central

He, Katherine; Dalton, Vanessa K.; Zochowski, Melissa K.

2017-01-01

Abstract Background: Family planning research has not adequately addressed women's preferences for different contraceptive methods and whether women's contraceptive experiences match their preferences. Methods: Data were drawn from the Women's Healthcare Experiences and Preferences Study, an Internet survey of 1,078 women aged 18–55 randomly sampled from a national probability panel. Survey items assessed women's preferences for contraceptive methods, match between methods preferred and used, and perceived reasons for mismatch. We estimated predictors of contraceptive preference with multinomial logistic regression models. Results: Among women at risk for pregnancy who responded with their preferred method (n = 363), hormonal methods (non-LARC [long-acting reversible contraception]) were the most preferred method (34%), followed by no method (23%) and LARC (18%). Sociodemographic differences in contraception method preferences were noted (p-values <0.05), generally with minority, married, and older women having higher rates of preferring less effective methods, compared to their counterparts. Thirty-six percent of women reported preference-use mismatch, with the majority preferring more effective methods than those they were using. Rates of match between preferred and usual methods were highest for LARC (76%), hormonal (non-LARC) (65%), and no method (65%). The most common reasons for mismatch were cost/insurance (41%), lack of perceived/actual need (34%), and method-specific preference concerns (19%). Conclusion: While preference for effective contraception was common among this sample of women, we found substantial mismatch between preferred and usual methods, notably among women of lower socioeconomic status and women using less effective methods. Findings may have implications for patient-centered contraceptive interventions. PMID:27710196

Validation of various adaptive threshold methods of segmentation applied to follicular lymphoma digital images stained with 3,3’-Diaminobenzidine&Haematoxylin

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

The comparative study of the results of various segmentation methods for the digital images of the follicular lymphoma cancer tissue section is described in this paper. The sensitivity and specificity and some other parameters of the following adaptive threshold methods of segmentation: the Niblack method, the Sauvola method, the White method, the Bernsen method, the Yasuda method and the Palumbo method, are calculated. Methods are applied to three types of images constructed by extraction of the brown colour information from the artificial images synthesized based on counterpart experimentally captured images. This paper presents usefulness of the microscopic image synthesis method in evaluation as well as comparison of the image processing results. The results of thoughtful analysis of broad range of adaptive threshold methods applied to: (1) the blue channel of RGB, (2) the brown colour extracted by deconvolution and (3) the ’brown component’ extracted from RGB allows to select some pairs: method and type of image for which this method is most efficient considering various criteria e.g. accuracy and precision in area detection or accuracy in number of objects detection and so on. The comparison shows that the White, the Bernsen and the Sauvola methods results are better than the results of the rest of the methods for all types of monochromatic images. All three methods segments the immunopositive nuclei with the mean accuracy of 0.9952, 0.9942 and 0.9944 respectively, when treated totally. However the best results are achieved for monochromatic image in which intensity shows brown colour map constructed by colour deconvolution algorithm. The specificity in the cases of the Bernsen and the White methods is 1 and sensitivities are: 0.74 for White and 0.91 for Bernsen methods while the Sauvola method achieves sensitivity value of 0.74 and the specificity value of 0.99. According to Bland-Altman plot the Sauvola method selected objects are segmented without undercutting the area for true positive objects but with extra false positive objects. The Sauvola and the Bernsen methods gives complementary results what will be exploited when the new method of virtual tissue slides segmentation be develop. Virtual Slides The virtual slides for this article can be found here: slide 1: http://diagnosticpathology.slidepath.com/dih/webViewer.php?snapshotId=13617947952577 and slide 2: http://diagnosticpathology.slidepath.com/dih/webViewer.php?snapshotId=13617948230017. PMID:23531405

Validation of various adaptive threshold methods of segmentation applied to follicular lymphoma digital images stained with 3,3'-Diaminobenzidine&Haematoxylin.

PubMed

Korzynska, Anna; Roszkowiak, Lukasz; Lopez, Carlos; Bosch, Ramon; Witkowski, Lukasz; Lejeune, Marylene

2013-03-25

The comparative study of the results of various segmentation methods for the digital images of the follicular lymphoma cancer tissue section is described in this paper. The sensitivity and specificity and some other parameters of the following adaptive threshold methods of segmentation: the Niblack method, the Sauvola method, the White method, the Bernsen method, the Yasuda method and the Palumbo method, are calculated. Methods are applied to three types of images constructed by extraction of the brown colour information from the artificial images synthesized based on counterpart experimentally captured images. This paper presents usefulness of the microscopic image synthesis method in evaluation as well as comparison of the image processing results. The results of thoughtful analysis of broad range of adaptive threshold methods applied to: (1) the blue channel of RGB, (2) the brown colour extracted by deconvolution and (3) the 'brown component' extracted from RGB allows to select some pairs: method and type of image for which this method is most efficient considering various criteria e.g. accuracy and precision in area detection or accuracy in number of objects detection and so on. The comparison shows that the White, the Bernsen and the Sauvola methods results are better than the results of the rest of the methods for all types of monochromatic images. All three methods segments the immunopositive nuclei with the mean accuracy of 0.9952, 0.9942 and 0.9944 respectively, when treated totally. However the best results are achieved for monochromatic image in which intensity shows brown colour map constructed by colour deconvolution algorithm. The specificity in the cases of the Bernsen and the White methods is 1 and sensitivities are: 0.74 for White and 0.91 for Bernsen methods while the Sauvola method achieves sensitivity value of 0.74 and the specificity value of 0.99. According to Bland-Altman plot the Sauvola method selected objects are segmented without undercutting the area for true positive objects but with extra false positive objects. The Sauvola and the Bernsen methods gives complementary results what will be exploited when the new method of virtual tissue slides segmentation be develop. The virtual slides for this article can be found here: slide 1: http://diagnosticpathology.slidepath.com/dih/webViewer.php?snapshotId=13617947952577 and slide 2: http://diagnosticpathology.slidepath.com/dih/webViewer.php?snapshotId=13617948230017.