Wind-Tunnel Investigations of Blunt-Body Drag Reduction Using Forebody Surface Roughness

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Whitmore, Stephen A.; Sprague, Stephanie; Naughton, Jonathan W.; Curry, Robert E. (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

This paper presents results of wind-tunnel tests that demonstrate a novel drag reduction technique for blunt-based vehicles. For these tests, the forebody roughness of a blunt-based model was modified using micomachined surface overlays. As forebody roughness increases, boundary layer at the model aft thickens and reduces the shearing effect of external flow on the separated flow behind the base region, resulting in reduced base drag. For vehicle configurations with large base drag, existing data predict that a small increment in forebody friction drag will result in a relatively large decrease in base drag. If the added increment in forebody skin drag is optimized with respect to base drag, reducing the total drag of the configuration is possible. The wind-tunnel tests results conclusively demonstrate the existence of a forebody dragbase drag optimal point. The data demonstrate that the base drag coefficient corresponding to the drag minimum lies between 0.225 and 0.275, referenced to the base area. Most importantly, the data show a drag reduction of approximately 15% when the drag optimum is reached. When this drag reduction is scaled to the X-33 base area, drag savings approaching 45,000 N (10,000 lbf) can be realized.

Air Layer Drag Reduction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ceccio, Steven; Elbing, Brian; Winkel, Eric; Dowling, David; Perlin, Marc

2008-11-01

A set of experiments have been conducted at the US Navy's Large Cavitation Channel to investigate skin-friction drag reduction with the injection of air into a high Reynolds number turbulent boundary layer. Testing was performed on a 12.9 m long flat-plate test model with the surface hydraulically smooth and fully rough at downstream-distance-based Reynolds numbers to 220 million and at speeds to 20 m/s. Local skin-friction, near-wall bulk void fraction, and near-wall bubble imaging were monitored along the length of the model. The instrument suite was used to access the requirements necessary to achieve air layer drag reduction (ALDR). Injection of air over a wide range of air fluxes showed that three drag reduction regimes exist when injecting air; (1) bubble drag reduction that has poor downstream persistence, (2) a transitional regime with a steep rise in drag reduction, and (3) ALDR regime where the drag reduction plateaus at 90% ± 10% over the entire model length with large void fractions in the near-wall region. These investigations revealed several requirements for ALDR including; sufficient volumetric air fluxes that increase approximately with the square of the free-stream speed, slightly higher air fluxes are needed when the surface tension is reduced, higher air fluxes are required for rough surfaces, and the formation of ALDR is sensitive to the inlet condition.

The Research of Tax Text Categorization based on Rough Set

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Bin; Xu, Guang; Xu, Qian; Zhang, Nan

To solve the problem of effective of categorization of text data in taxation system, the paper analyses the text data and the size calculation of key issues first, then designs text categorization based on rough set model.

The Study of Imperfection in Rough Set on the Field of Engineering and Education

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sheu, Tian-Wei; Liang, Jung-Chin; You, Mei-Li; Wen, Kun-Li

Based on the characteristic of rough set, rough set theory overlaps with many other theories, especially with fuzzy set theory, evidence theory and Boolean reasoning methods. And the rough set methodology has found many real-life applications, such as medical data analysis, finance, banking, engineering, voice recognition, image processing and others. Till now, there is rare research associating to this issue in the imperfection of rough set. Hence, the main purpose of this paper is to study the imperfection of rough set in the field of engineering and education. First of all, we preview the mathematics model of rough set, and a given two examples to enhance our approach, which one is the weighting of influence factor in muzzle noise suppressor, and the other is the weighting of evaluation factor in English learning. Third, we also apply Matlab to develop a complete human-machine interface type of toolbox in order to support the complex calculation and verification the huge data. Finally, some further suggestions are indicated for the research in the future.

An Efficient Soft Set-Based Approach for Conflict Analysis

PubMed Central

Sutoyo, Edi; Mungad, Mungad; Hamid, Suraya; Herawan, Tutut

2016-01-01

Conflict analysis has been used as an important tool in economic, business, governmental and political dispute, games, management negotiations, military operations and etc. There are many mathematical formal models have been proposed to handle conflict situations and one of the most popular is rough set theory. With the ability to handle vagueness from the conflict data set, rough set theory has been successfully used. However, computational time is still an issue when determining the certainty, coverage, and strength of conflict situations. In this paper, we present an alternative approach to handle conflict situations, based on some ideas using soft set theory. The novelty of the proposed approach is that, unlike in rough set theory that uses decision rules, it is based on the concept of co-occurrence of parameters in soft set theory. We illustrate the proposed approach by means of a tutorial example of voting analysis in conflict situations. Furthermore, we elaborate the proposed approach on real world dataset of political conflict in Indonesian Parliament. We show that, the proposed approach achieves lower computational time as compared to rough set theory of up to 3.9%. PMID:26928627

An Efficient Soft Set-Based Approach for Conflict Analysis.

PubMed

Sutoyo, Edi; Mungad, Mungad; Hamid, Suraya; Herawan, Tutut

2016-01-01

Conflict analysis has been used as an important tool in economic, business, governmental and political dispute, games, management negotiations, military operations and etc. There are many mathematical formal models have been proposed to handle conflict situations and one of the most popular is rough set theory. With the ability to handle vagueness from the conflict data set, rough set theory has been successfully used. However, computational time is still an issue when determining the certainty, coverage, and strength of conflict situations. In this paper, we present an alternative approach to handle conflict situations, based on some ideas using soft set theory. The novelty of the proposed approach is that, unlike in rough set theory that uses decision rules, it is based on the concept of co-occurrence of parameters in soft set theory. We illustrate the proposed approach by means of a tutorial example of voting analysis in conflict situations. Furthermore, we elaborate the proposed approach on real world dataset of political conflict in Indonesian Parliament. We show that, the proposed approach achieves lower computational time as compared to rough set theory of up to 3.9%.

Hailstone classifier based on Rough Set Theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wan, Huisong; Jiang, Shuming; Wei, Zhiqiang; Li, Jian; Li, Fengjiao

2017-09-01

The Rough Set Theory was used for the construction of the hailstone classifier. Firstly, the database of the radar image feature was constructed. It included transforming the base data reflected by the Doppler radar into the bitmap format which can be seen. Then through the image processing, the color, texture, shape and other dimensional features should be extracted and saved as the characteristic database to provide data support for the follow-up work. Secondly, Through the Rough Set Theory, a machine for hailstone classifications can be built to achieve the hailstone samples’ auto-classification.

Rough Set Approach to Incomplete Multiscale Information System

PubMed Central

Yang, Xibei; Qi, Yong; Yu, Dongjun; Yu, Hualong; Song, Xiaoning; Yang, Jingyu

2014-01-01

Multiscale information system is a new knowledge representation system for expressing the knowledge with different levels of granulations. In this paper, by considering the unknown values, which can be seen everywhere in real world applications, the incomplete multiscale information system is firstly investigated. The descriptor technique is employed to construct rough sets at different scales for analyzing the hierarchically structured data. The problem of unravelling decision rules at different scales is also addressed. Finally, the reduct descriptors are formulated to simplify decision rules, which can be derived from different scales. Some numerical examples are employed to substantiate the conceptual arguments. PMID:25276852

Comparison of Tropical and Extratropical Gust Factors Using Observed and Simulated Data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Edwards, R. P.; Schroeder, J. L.

2011-12-01

Questions of whether differences exist between tropical cyclone (TC) and extratropical (ET) wind have been the subject of considerable debate. This study will focus on the behavior of the gust factor (GF), the ratio of a peak wind speed of a certain duration and a mean wind speed of a certain duration, for three types of data: TC, ET, and simulated. For this project, the Universal Spectrum, a normalized, averaged spectrum for wind, was un-normalized and used to create simulated wind speed time series at a variety of wind speeds. Additional time series were created after modifying the spectrum to simulate the additional low-frequency energy observed in the TC wind spectrum as well as the reduction of high-frequency energy caused by a mechanical anemometer. The T and ET data used for this study were collected by Texas Tech University's mobile towers as part of various field efforts since 1998. Before comparisons were made, the database was divided into four roughness regimes based on the roughness length to ensure that differences observed in the turbulence statistics are not caused by differences in upstream terrain. The mean GF for the TC data set (open roughness regime), 1.49, was slightly higher than the ET value of 1.44 (Table 1). The distributions of GFs from each data type show similarities in shape between the base-simulated and ET data sets and between the TC and modified-simulated data set (Figure 1). These similarities are expected given the spectral similarities between the TC and modified-simulated data sets, namely additional low-frequency energy relative to the ET and base-simulated data. These findings suggest that the higher amount of low-frequency energy present in the tropical wind spectrum is partially responsible for the resulting higher GF for the tropical cyclone data. However, the modest increase in GF from the base to the modified simulated data suggest that there are more factors at work.

Effect of ion-implantation on surface characteristics of nickel titanium and titanium molybdenum alloy arch wires.

PubMed

Krishnan, Manu; Saraswathy, Seema; Sukumaran, Kalathil; Abraham, Kurian Mathew

2013-01-01

To evaluate the changes in surface roughness and frictional features of 'ion-implanted nickel titanium (NiTi) and titanium molybdenum alloy (TMA) arch wires' from its conventional types in an in-vitro laboratory set up. 'Ion-implanted NiTi and low friction TMA arch wires' were assessed for surface roughness with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and 3 dimensional (3D) optical profilometry. Frictional forces were studied in a universal testing machine. Surface roughness of arch wires were determined as Root Mean Square (RMS) values in nanometers and Frictional Forces (FF) in grams. Mean values of RMS and FF were compared by Student's 't' test and one way analysis of variance (ANOVA). SEM images showed a smooth topography for ion-implanted versions. 3D optical profilometry demonstrated reduction of RMS values by 58.43% for ion-implanted NiTi (795.95 to 330.87 nm) and 48.90% for TMA groups (463.28 to 236.35 nm) from controls. Nonetheless, the corresponding decrease in FF was only 29.18% for NiTi and 22.04% for TMA, suggesting partial correction of surface roughness and disproportionate reduction in frictional forces with ion-implantation. Though the reductions were highly significant at P < 0.001, relations between surface roughness and frictional forces remained non conclusive even after ion-implantation. The study proved that ion-implantation can significantly reduce the surface roughness of NiTi and TMA wires but could not make a similar reduction in frictional forces. This can be attributed to the inherent differences in stiffness and surface reactivity of NiTi and TMA wires when used in combination with stainless steel brackets, which needs further investigations.

Influence of Surface Roughness on Polymer Drag Reduction

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-11-30

paint (High Build Semi-Gloss 97-130, Aquapon ) with glass bead grit. The particles were tightly packed producing a sand grain type roughness. Based on the... Aquapon High Build Semi-Gloss Epoxy 97-130) with glass bead grit blown into the epoxy. The particles were tightly packed giving an average roughness height

Combined Effect of Surface Roughness and Wake Splitter Plate on the Aerodynamic Characteristics of a Circular Cylinder

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saisanthosh, Iyer; Arunkumar, K.; Ajithkumar, R.; Srikrishnan, A. R.

2017-09-01

This paper is focussed on numerical investigation of flow around a stationary circular cylinder (diameter, D) with selectively applied surface roughness (roughness strips with thickness ‘k’) in the presence of a wake splitter plate (length, L). The plate leading edge is at a distance of ‘G’ from the cylinder base. For this study, the commercial software ANSYS Fluent is used. Fluid considered is water. Study was conducted the following cases (a) plain cylinder (b) cylinder with surface roughness (without splitter plate) (c) Cylinder with splitter plate (without surface roughness) and (d) cylinder with both roughness and splitter plate employed. The study Reynolds number (based on D) is 17,000 and k/δ = 1.25 (in all cases). Results indicate that, for cylinder with splitter plate (no roughness), lift coefficient gradually drops till G/D=1.5 further to which it sharply increases. Whereas, drag coefficient and Strouhal number undergoes slight reduction till G/D=1.0 and thereafter, gradually increase. Circumferential location of strip (α) does not influence the aerodynamic parameters significantly. With roughness alone, drag is magnified by about 1.5 times and lift, by about 2.7 times that of the respective values of the smooth cylinder. With splitter plate, for roughness applied at all ‘α’ values, drag and lift undergoes substantial reduction with the lowest value attained at G/D=1.0.

Horizontal decomposition of data table for finding one reduct

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hońko, Piotr

2018-04-01

Attribute reduction, being one of the most essential tasks in rough set theory, is a challenge for data that does not fit in the available memory. This paper proposes new definitions of attribute reduction using horizontal data decomposition. Algorithms for computing superreduct and subsequently exact reducts of a data table are developed and experimentally verified. In the proposed approach, the size of subtables obtained during the decomposition can be arbitrarily small. Reducts of the subtables are computed independently from one another using any heuristic method for finding one reduct. Compared with standard attribute reduction methods, the proposed approach can produce superreducts that usually inconsiderably differ from an exact reduct. The approach needs comparable time and much less memory to reduce the attribute set. The method proposed for removing unnecessary attributes from superreducts executes relatively fast for bigger databases.

Flu Diagnosis System Using Jaccard Index and Rough Set Approaches

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Efendi, Riswan; Azah Samsudin, Noor; Mat Deris, Mustafa; Guan Ting, Yip

2018-04-01

Jaccard index and rough set approaches have been frequently implemented in decision support systems with various domain applications. Both approaches are appropriate to be considered for categorical data analysis. This paper presents the applications of sets operations for flu diagnosis systems based on two different approaches, such as, Jaccard index and rough set. These two different approaches are established using set operations concept, namely intersection and subset. The step-by-step procedure is demonstrated from each approach in diagnosing flu system. The similarity and dissimilarity indexes between conditional symptoms and decision are measured using Jaccard approach. Additionally, the rough set is used to build decision support rules. Moreover, the decision support rules are established using redundant data analysis and elimination of unclassified elements. A number data sets is considered to attempt the step-by-step procedure from each approach. The result has shown that rough set can be used to support Jaccard approaches in establishing decision support rules. Additionally, Jaccard index is better approach for investigating the worst condition of patients. While, the definitely and possibly patients with or without flu can be determined using rough set approach. The rules may improve the performance of medical diagnosis systems. Therefore, inexperienced doctors and patients are easier in preliminary flu diagnosis.

Application of preprocessing filtering on Decision Tree C4.5 and rough set theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chan, Joseph C. C.; Lin, Tsau Y.

2001-03-01

This paper compares two artificial intelligence methods: the Decision Tree C4.5 and Rough Set Theory on the stock market data. The Decision Tree C4.5 is reviewed with the Rough Set Theory. An enhanced window application is developed to facilitate the pre-processing filtering by introducing the feature (attribute) transformations, which allows users to input formulas and create new attributes. Also, the application produces three varieties of data set with delaying, averaging, and summation. The results prove the improvement of pre-processing by applying feature (attribute) transformations on Decision Tree C4.5. Moreover, the comparison between Decision Tree C4.5 and Rough Set Theory is based on the clarity, automation, accuracy, dimensionality, raw data, and speed, which is supported by the rules sets generated by both algorithms on three different sets of data.

Intelligent System Development Using a Rough Sets Methodology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Anderson, Gray T.; Shelton, Robert O.

1997-01-01

The purpose of this research was to examine the potential of the rough sets technique for developing intelligent models of complex systems from limited information. Rough sets a simple but promising technology to extract easily understood rules from data. The rough set methodology has been shown to perform well when used with a large set of exemplars, but its performance with sparse data sets is less certain. The difficulty is that rules will be developed based on just a few examples, each of which might have a large amount of noise associated with them. The question then becomes, what is the probability of a useful rule being developed from such limited information? One nice feature of rough sets is that in unusual situations, the technique can give an answer of 'I don't know'. That is, if a case arises that is different from the cases the rough set rules were developed on, the methodology can recognize this and alert human operators of it. It can also be trained to do this when the desired action is unknown because conflicting examples apply to the same set of inputs. This summer's project was to look at combining rough set theory with statistical theory to develop confidence limits in rules developed by rough sets. Often it is important not to make a certain type of mistake (e.g., false positives or false negatives), so the rules must be biased toward preventing a catastrophic error, rather than giving the most likely course of action. A method to determine the best course of action in the light of such constraints was examined. The resulting technique was tested with files containing electrical power line 'signatures' from the space shuttle and with decompression sickness data.

Specific anion effects on copper surface through electrochemical treatment: Enhanced photoelectrochemical CO2 reduction activity of derived nanostructures induced by chaotropic anions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Navaee, Aso; Salimi, Abdollah

2018-05-01

Copper derivatives are the most prominent CO2 reduction electrocatalyst. Herein, the metallic copper has been electrochemically treated with some of common ionic salts such as N3bar, HPO2bar, S2bar, Fbar, Clbar, Brbar and Ibar based on the dissolution of a metallic working electrode in an aqueous solution to derive the surface roughness incorporated with nanostructures. Diverse surface morphology can be obtained when the ionic radii of anions are changed. Surface study reveals various roughness shapes based on the size and polarity of the anions, where the ions with higher ionic radii have higher impact on the Cu surface. In comparison, polyatomic oxyanion such as HPO2bar even with large ionic radii do not have enough strength to create the surface roughness than that of oxygen-free anions with large ionic radii. The photoelectrochemical behavior of the modified surfaces toward CO2 reduction is studied at a wide potential window in bicarbonate aqueous solution. Based on our investigations, treated surfaces by Ibar, Clbar and S2bargive a more surface roughness, while Ibar and N3bar offer higher catalytic activity toward CO2 reduction due to possible complexing ability of these anions with Cu cations, followed by formation of the co-catalyst semiconductor and facilitate electron transfer. This methodology can be applied to investigate the effect of ions on transition metals along with obtaining different surface morphologies tailored to different applications.

USE OF ROUGH SETS AND SPECTRAL DATA FOR BUILDING PREDICTIVE MODELS OF REACTION RATE CONSTANTS

EPA Science Inventory

A model for predicting the log of the rate constants for alkaline hydrolysis of organic esters has been developed with the use of gas-phase min-infrared library spectra and a rule-building software system based on the mathematical theory of rough sets. A diverse set of 41 esters ...

On twelve types of covering-based rough sets.

PubMed

Safari, Samira; Hooshmandasl, Mohammad Reza

2016-01-01

Covering approximation spaces are a generalization of equivalence-based rough set theories. In this paper, we will consider twelve types of covering based approximation operators by combining four types of covering lower approximation operators and three types of covering upper approximation operators. Then, we will study the properties of these new pairs and show they have most of the common properties among existing covering approximation pairs. Finally, the relation between these new pairs is studied.

Effect of Surface Roughness on Polymer Drag Reduction with a High-Reynolds-Number Turbulent Boundary Layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Elbing, Brian; Dowling, David; Solomon, Michael; Bian, Sherry; Ceccio, Steven

2007-11-01

A recent experiment at the U.S. Navy's Large Cavitation Channel (LCC) investigated the effect of wall roughness on wall-injection polymer drag reduction (PDR) within a high-Reynolds-number (10^7 to 2x10^8 based on downstream distance) turbulent boundary layer (TBL). Testing was performed in two parts: 1) PDR experiment on a 12.9 m long, 3.05 m wide hydro-dynamically smooth flat plate and 2) PDR experiment on the same model with the entire surface roughened. The roughness was produced by blowing glass beads into epoxy paint that was applied to the entire model. The roughened model had an average roughness height ranging between 307 and 1154 μm. Drag reduction was determined using six, stream-wise located integrated skin-friction balances. In addition to skin-friction measurements, sampling was performed at three stream-wise located ports. The sampling ports were used to determine the amount of degradation, if any, caused by the turbulent flow on the polymer. Both the skin-friction measurements and sampling analysis indicates that wall roughness in a turbulent boundary layer significantly increases degradation of the polymer solution.

A Dual Hesitant Fuzzy Multigranulation Rough Set over Two-Universe Model for Medical Diagnoses

PubMed Central

Zhang, Chao; Li, Deyu; Yan, Yan

2015-01-01

In medical science, disease diagnosis is one of the difficult tasks for medical experts who are confronted with challenges in dealing with a lot of uncertain medical information. And different medical experts might express their own thought about the medical knowledge base which slightly differs from other medical experts. Thus, to solve the problems of uncertain data analysis and group decision making in disease diagnoses, we propose a new rough set model called dual hesitant fuzzy multigranulation rough set over two universes by combining the dual hesitant fuzzy set and multigranulation rough set theories. In the framework of our study, both the definition and some basic properties of the proposed model are presented. Finally, we give a general approach which is applied to a decision making problem in disease diagnoses, and the effectiveness of the approach is demonstrated by a numerical example. PMID:26858772

Impact of Surface Roughness and Soil Texture on Mineral Dust Emission Fluxes Modeling

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Menut, Laurent; Perez, Carlos; Haustein, Karsten; Bessagnet, Bertrand; Prigent, Catherine; Alfaro, Stephane

2013-01-01

Dust production models (DPM) used to estimate vertical fluxes of mineral dust aerosols over arid regions need accurate data on soil and surface properties. The Laboratoire Inter-Universitaire des Systemes Atmospheriques (LISA) data set was developed for Northern Africa, the Middle East, and East Asia. This regional data set was built through dedicated field campaigns and include, among others, the aerodynamic roughness length, the smooth roughness length of the erodible fraction of the surface, and the dry (undisturbed) soil size distribution. Recently, satellite-derived roughness length and high-resolution soil texture data sets at the global scale have emerged and provide the opportunity for the use of advanced schemes in global models. This paper analyzes the behavior of the ERS satellite-derived global roughness length and the State Soil Geographic data base-Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (STATSGO-FAO) soil texture data set (based on wet techniques) using an advanced DPM in comparison to the LISA data set over Northern Africa and the Middle East. We explore the sensitivity of the drag partition scheme (a critical component of the DPM) and of the dust vertical fluxes (intensity and spatial patterns) to the roughness length and soil texture data sets. We also compare the use of the drag partition scheme to a widely used preferential source approach in global models. Idealized experiments with prescribed wind speeds show that the ERS and STATSGO-FAO data sets provide realistic spatial patterns of dust emission and friction velocity thresholds in the region. Finally, we evaluate a dust transport model for the period of March to July 2011 with observed aerosol optical depths from Aerosol Robotic Network sites. Results show that ERS and STATSGO-FAO provide realistic simulations in the region.

Defect inspection in hot slab surface: multi-source CCD imaging based fuzzy-rough sets method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Liming; Zhang, Yi; Xu, Xiaodong; Xiao, Hong; Huang, Chao

2016-09-01

To provide an accurate surface defects inspection method and make the automation of robust image region of interests(ROI) delineation strategy a reality in production line, a multi-source CCD imaging based fuzzy-rough sets method is proposed for hot slab surface quality assessment. The applicability of the presented method and the devised system are mainly tied to the surface quality inspection for strip, billet and slab surface etcetera. In this work we take into account the complementary advantages in two common machine vision (MV) systems(line array CCD traditional scanning imaging (LS-imaging) and area array CCD laser three-dimensional (3D) scanning imaging (AL-imaging)), and through establishing the model of fuzzy-rough sets in the detection system the seeds for relative fuzzy connectedness(RFC) delineation for ROI can placed adaptively, which introduces the upper and lower approximation sets for RIO definition, and by which the boundary region can be delineated by RFC region competitive classification mechanism. For the first time, a Multi-source CCD imaging based fuzzy-rough sets strategy is attempted for CC-slab surface defects inspection that allows an automatic way of AI algorithms and powerful ROI delineation strategies to be applied to the MV inspection field.

a Rough Set Decision Tree Based Mlp-Cnn for Very High Resolution Remotely Sensed Image Classification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, C.; Pan, X.; Zhang, S. Q.; Li, H. P.; Atkinson, P. M.

2017-09-01

Recent advances in remote sensing have witnessed a great amount of very high resolution (VHR) images acquired at sub-metre spatial resolution. These VHR remotely sensed data has post enormous challenges in processing, analysing and classifying them effectively due to the high spatial complexity and heterogeneity. Although many computer-aid classification methods that based on machine learning approaches have been developed over the past decades, most of them are developed toward pixel level spectral differentiation, e.g. Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP), which are unable to exploit abundant spatial details within VHR images. This paper introduced a rough set model as a general framework to objectively characterize the uncertainty in CNN classification results, and further partition them into correctness and incorrectness on the map. The correct classification regions of CNN were trusted and maintained, whereas the misclassification areas were reclassified using a decision tree with both CNN and MLP. The effectiveness of the proposed rough set decision tree based MLP-CNN was tested using an urban area at Bournemouth, United Kingdom. The MLP-CNN, well capturing the complementarity between CNN and MLP through the rough set based decision tree, achieved the best classification performance both visually and numerically. Therefore, this research paves the way to achieve fully automatic and effective VHR image classification.

Fuzzy-Rough Nearest Neighbour Classification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jensen, Richard; Cornelis, Chris

A new fuzzy-rough nearest neighbour (FRNN) classification algorithm is presented in this paper, as an alternative to Sarkar's fuzzy-rough ownership function (FRNN-O) approach. By contrast to the latter, our method uses the nearest neighbours to construct lower and upper approximations of decision classes, and classifies test instances based on their membership to these approximations. In the experimental analysis, we evaluate our approach with both classical fuzzy-rough approximations (based on an implicator and a t-norm), as well as with the recently introduced vaguely quantified rough sets. Preliminary results are very good, and in general FRNN outperforms FRNN-O, as well as the traditional fuzzy nearest neighbour (FNN) algorithm.

Noise reduction in Lidar signal using correlation-based EMD combined with soft thresholding and roughness penalty

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chang, Jianhua; Zhu, Lingyan; Li, Hongxu; Xu, Fan; Liu, Binggang; Yang, Zhenbo

2018-01-01

Empirical mode decomposition (EMD) is widely used to analyze the non-linear and non-stationary signals for noise reduction. In this study, a novel EMD-based denoising method, referred to as EMD with soft thresholding and roughness penalty (EMD-STRP), is proposed for the Lidar signal denoising. With the proposed method, the relevant and irrelevant intrinsic mode functions are first distinguished via a correlation coefficient. Then, the soft thresholding technique is applied to the irrelevant modes, and the roughness penalty technique is applied to the relevant modes to extract as much information as possible. The effectiveness of the proposed method was evaluated using three typical signals contaminated by white Gaussian noise. The denoising performance was then compared to the denoising capabilities of other techniques, such as correlation-based EMD partial reconstruction, correlation-based EMD hard thresholding, and wavelet transform. The use of EMD-STRP on the measured Lidar signal resulted in the noise being efficiently suppressed, with an improved signal to noise ratio of 22.25 dB and an extended detection range of 11 km.

Thin film surface treatments for lowering dust adhesion on Mars Rover calibration targets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sabri, F.; Werhner, T.; Hoskins, J.; Schuerger, A. C.; Hobbs, A. M.; Barreto, J. A.; Britt, D.; Duran, R. A.

The current generation of calibration targets on Mars Rover serve as a color and radiometric reference for the panoramic camera. They consist of a transparent silicon-based polymer tinted with either color or grey-scale pigments and cast with a microscopically rough Lambertian surface for a diffuse reflectance pattern. This material has successfully withstood the harsh conditions existent on Mars. However, the inherent roughness of the Lambertian surface (relative to the particle size of the Martian airborne dust) and the tackiness of the polymer in the calibration targets has led to a serious dust accumulation problem. In this work, non-invasive thin film technology was successfully implemented in the design of future generation calibration targets leading to significant reduction of dust adhesion and capture. The new design consists of a μm-thick interfacial layer capped with a nm-thick optically transparent layer of pure metal. The combination of these two additional layers is effective in burying the relatively rough Lambertian surface while maintaining diffuse properties of the samples which is central to the correct operation as calibration targets. A set of these targets are scheduled for flight on the Mars Phoenix mission.

Hardness and surface roughness of enamel and base layers of resin denture teeth after long-term repeated chemical disinfection.

PubMed

Neppelenbroek, Karin Hermana; Kurokawa, Luciana Ayumi; Procópio, Andréa Lemos Falcão; Pegoraro, Thiago Amadei; Hotta, Juliana; Mello Lima, Jozely Francisca; Urban, Vanessa Migliorini

2015-01-01

To evaluate the effect of successive cycles of disinfection in different denture cleansers on the surface roughness and the Vickers hardness of two layers of acrylic resin (base-BL and enamel-EL) of two commercial cross-linked artificial teeth. The occlusal surfaces of 60 acrylic resin denture posterior teeth (Trilux-TLX and SR Orthosit PE-SRO) embedded in autopolymerizing acrylic resin were ground fat with 1200-grit silicon carbide paper. Specimens were stored in distilled water at 37°C and then submitted to the microhardness (VHN) and roughness (μm) tests. Specimens were stored in distilled water at 37°C for 90 days and submitted to 720 disinfection cycles in sodium hypochlorite at 0.5%, 30% vinegar solution or distilled water (control). Afterward, micro-hardness and roughness tests were again performed. Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA and Tukey's test (α=0.05). Hypochlorite immersion decreased the hardness of BL and EL of SRO teeth, with an average reduction of 10.11% (p<0.008). TLX teeth demonstrated a hardness reduction of 28.96% of both layers for all solutions including water (p<0.0000). The roughness of both teeth was not affected by denture cleansers (p>0.37). Hypochlorite promoted deleterious effects on the hardness of both layers of the artificial teeth tested. Immersion in vinegar and water also resulted in reduction of hardness of TLX teeth. The surface hardness of the different layers of cross-linked artificial teeth can be altered by daily disinfection in denture cleansers commonly indicated for removable dentures.

A rough set approach for determining weights of decision makers in group decision making.

PubMed

Yang, Qiang; Du, Ping-An; Wang, Yong; Liang, Bin

2017-01-01

This study aims to present a novel approach for determining the weights of decision makers (DMs) based on rough group decision in multiple attribute group decision-making (MAGDM) problems. First, we construct a rough group decision matrix from all DMs' decision matrixes on the basis of rough set theory. After that, we derive a positive ideal solution (PIS) founded on the average matrix of rough group decision, and negative ideal solutions (NISs) founded on the lower and upper limit matrixes of rough group decision. Then, we obtain the weight of each group member and priority order of alternatives by using relative closeness method, which depends on the distances from each individual group member' decision to the PIS and NISs. Through comparisons with existing methods and an on-line business manager selection example, the proposed method show that it can provide more insights into the subjectivity and vagueness of DMs' evaluations and selections.

Modeling of the rough spherical nanoparticles manipulation on a substrate based on the AFM nanorobot

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zakeri, M.; Faraji, J.

2014-12-01

In this paper, dynamic behavior of the rough spherical micro/nanoparticles during pulling/pushing on the flat substrate has been investigated and analyzed. For this purpose, at first, two hexagonal roughness models (George and Cooper) were studied and then evaluations for adhesion force were determined for rough particle manipulation on flat substrate. These two models were then changed by using of the Rabinovich theory. Evaluations were determined for contact adhesion force between rough particle and flat substrate; depth of penetration evaluations were determined by the Johnson-Kendall-Roberts contact mechanic theory and the Schwartz method and according to Cooper and George roughness models. Then, the novel contact theory was used to determine a dynamic model for rough micro/nanoparticle manipulation on flat substrate. Finally, simulation of particle dynamic behavior was implemented during pushing of rough spherical gold particles with radii of 50, 150, 400, 600, and 1,000 nm. Results derived from simulations of particles with several rates of roughness on flat substrate indicated that compared to results for flat particles, inherent roughness on particles might reduce the rate of critical force needed for sliding and rolling given particles. Given a fixed radius for roughness value and increased roughness height, evaluations for sliding and rolling critical forces showed greater reduction. Alternately, the rate of critical force was shown to reduce relative to an increased roughness radius. With respect to both models, based on the George roughness model, the predicted rate of adhesion force was greater than that determined in the Cooper roughness model, and as a result, the predicted rate of critical force based on the George roughness model was closer to the critical force value of flat particle.

The prefabricated building risk decision research of DM technology on the basis of Rough Set

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Z. L.; Zhang, W. B.; Ma, L. H.

2017-08-01

With the resources crises and more serious pollution, the green building has been strongly advocated by most countries and become a new building style in the construction field. Compared with traditional building, the prefabricated building has its own irreplaceable advantages but is influenced by many uncertainties. So far, a majority of scholars have been studying based on qualitative researches from all of the word. This paper profoundly expounds its significance about the prefabricated building. On the premise of the existing research methods, combined with rough set theory, this paper redefines the factors which affect the prefabricated building risk. Moreover, it quantifies risk factors and establish an expert knowledge base through assessing. And then reduced risk factors about the redundant attributes and attribute values, finally form the simplest decision rule. This simplest decision rule, which is based on the DM technology of rough set theory, provides prefabricated building with a controllable new decision-making method.

Selection of representative embankments based on rough set - fuzzy clustering method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bin, Ou; Lin, Zhi-xiang; Fu, Shu-yan; Gao, Sheng-song

2018-02-01

The premise condition of comprehensive evaluation of embankment safety is selection of representative unit embankment, on the basis of dividing the unit levee the influencing factors and classification of the unit embankment are drafted.Based on the rough set-fuzzy clustering, the influence factors of the unit embankment are measured by quantitative and qualitative indexes.Construct to fuzzy similarity matrix of standard embankment then calculate fuzzy equivalent matrix of fuzzy similarity matrix by square method. By setting the threshold of the fuzzy equivalence matrix, the unit embankment is clustered, and the representative unit embankment is selected from the classification of the embankment.

On Fuzzy Sets and Rough Sets from the Perspective of Indiscernibility

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chakraborty, Mihir K.

The category theoretic approach of Obtułowicz to Pawlak's rough sets has been reintroduced in a somewhat modified form. A generalization is rendered to this approach that has been motivated by the notion of rough membership function. Thus, a link is established between rough sets and L-fuzzy sets for some special lattices. It is shown that a notion of indistinguishability lies at the root of vagueness. This observation in turn gives a common ground to the theories of rough sets and fuzzy sets.

Surface roughness measurement in the submicrometer range using laser scattering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, S. H.; Quan, Chenggen; Tay, C. J.; Shang, H. M.

2000-06-01

A technique for measuring surface roughness in the submicrometer range is developed. The principle of the method is based on laser scattering from a rough surface. A telecentric optical setup that uses a laser diode as a light source is used to record the light field scattered from the surface of a rough object. The light intensity distribution of the scattered band, which is correlated to the surface roughness, is recorded by a linear photodiode array and analyzed using a single-chip microcomputer. Several sets of test surfaces prepared by different machining processes are measured and a method for the evaluation of surface roughness is proposed.

Modeling Mode Choice Behavior Incorporating Household and Individual Sociodemographics and Travel Attributes Based on Rough Sets Theory

PubMed Central

Chen, Xuewu; Wei, Ming; Wu, Jingxian; Hou, Xianyao

2014-01-01

Most traditional mode choice models are based on the principle of random utility maximization derived from econometric theory. Alternatively, mode choice modeling can be regarded as a pattern recognition problem reflected from the explanatory variables of determining the choices between alternatives. The paper applies the knowledge discovery technique of rough sets theory to model travel mode choices incorporating household and individual sociodemographics and travel information, and to identify the significance of each attribute. The study uses the detailed travel diary survey data of Changxing county which contains information on both household and individual travel behaviors for model estimation and evaluation. The knowledge is presented in the form of easily understood IF-THEN statements or rules which reveal how each attribute influences mode choice behavior. These rules are then used to predict travel mode choices from information held about previously unseen individuals and the classification performance is assessed. The rough sets model shows high robustness and good predictive ability. The most significant condition attributes identified to determine travel mode choices are gender, distance, household annual income, and occupation. Comparative evaluation with the MNL model also proves that the rough sets model gives superior prediction accuracy and coverage on travel mode choice modeling. PMID:25431585

A rough set-based measurement model study on high-speed railway safety operation.

PubMed

Hu, Qizhou; Tan, Minjia; Lu, Huapu; Zhu, Yun

2018-01-01

Aiming to solve the safety problems of high-speed railway operation and management, one new method is urgently needed to construct on the basis of the rough set theory and the uncertainty measurement theory. The method should carefully consider every factor of high-speed railway operation that realizes the measurement indexes of its safety operation. After analyzing the factors that influence high-speed railway safety operation in detail, a rough measurement model is finally constructed to describe the operation process. Based on the above considerations, this paper redistricts the safety influence factors of high-speed railway operation as 16 measurement indexes which include staff index, vehicle index, equipment index and environment. And the paper also provides another reasonable and effective theoretical method to solve the safety problems of multiple attribute measurement in high-speed railway operation. As while as analyzing the operation data of 10 pivotal railway lines in China, this paper respectively uses the rough set-based measurement model and value function model (one model for calculating the safety value) for calculating the operation safety value. The calculation result shows that the curve of safety value with the proposed method has smaller error and greater stability than the value function method's, which verifies the feasibility and effectiveness.

A rough set approach for determining weights of decision makers in group decision making

PubMed Central

Yang, Qiang; Du, Ping-an; Wang, Yong; Liang, Bin

2017-01-01

This study aims to present a novel approach for determining the weights of decision makers (DMs) based on rough group decision in multiple attribute group decision-making (MAGDM) problems. First, we construct a rough group decision matrix from all DMs’ decision matrixes on the basis of rough set theory. After that, we derive a positive ideal solution (PIS) founded on the average matrix of rough group decision, and negative ideal solutions (NISs) founded on the lower and upper limit matrixes of rough group decision. Then, we obtain the weight of each group member and priority order of alternatives by using relative closeness method, which depends on the distances from each individual group member’ decision to the PIS and NISs. Through comparisons with existing methods and an on-line business manager selection example, the proposed method show that it can provide more insights into the subjectivity and vagueness of DMs’ evaluations and selections. PMID:28234974

Computational tool for optimizing the essential oils utilization in inhibiting the bacterial growth

PubMed Central

El-Attar, Noha E; Awad, Wael A

2017-01-01

Day after day, the importance of relying on nature in many fields such as food, medical, pharmaceutical industries, and others is increasing. Essential oils (EOs) are considered as one of the most significant natural products for use as antimicrobials, antioxidants, antitumorals, and anti-inflammatories. Optimizing the usage of EOs is a big challenge faced by the scientific researchers because of the complexity of chemical composition of every EO, in addition to the difficulties to determine the best in inhibiting the bacterial activity. The goal of this article is to present a new computational tool based on two methodologies: reduction by using rough sets and optimization with particle swarm optimization. The developed tool dubbed as Essential Oil Reduction and Optimization Tool is applied on 24 types of EOs that have been tested toward 17 different species of bacteria. PMID:28919787

Application of Rough Sets to Information Retrieval.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Miyamoto, Sadaaki

1998-01-01

Develops a method of rough retrieval, an application of the rough set theory to information retrieval. The aim is to: (1) show that rough sets are naturally applied to information retrieval in which categorized information structure is used; and (2) show that a fuzzy retrieval scheme is induced from the rough retrieval. (AEF)

A Temporal Mining Framework for Classifying Un-Evenly Spaced Clinical Data: An Approach for Building Effective Clinical Decision-Making System.

PubMed

Jane, Nancy Yesudhas; Nehemiah, Khanna Harichandran; Arputharaj, Kannan

2016-01-01

Clinical time-series data acquired from electronic health records (EHR) are liable to temporal complexities such as irregular observations, missing values and time constrained attributes that make the knowledge discovery process challenging. This paper presents a temporal rough set induced neuro-fuzzy (TRiNF) mining framework that handles these complexities and builds an effective clinical decision-making system. TRiNF provides two functionalities namely temporal data acquisition (TDA) and temporal classification. In TDA, a time-series forecasting model is constructed by adopting an improved double exponential smoothing method. The forecasting model is used in missing value imputation and temporal pattern extraction. The relevant attributes are selected using a temporal pattern based rough set approach. In temporal classification, a classification model is built with the selected attributes using a temporal pattern induced neuro-fuzzy classifier. For experimentation, this work uses two clinical time series dataset of hepatitis and thrombosis patients. The experimental result shows that with the proposed TRiNF framework, there is a significant reduction in the error rate, thereby obtaining the classification accuracy on an average of 92.59% for hepatitis and 91.69% for thrombosis dataset. The obtained classification results prove the efficiency of the proposed framework in terms of its improved classification accuracy.

Evolvable rough-block-based neural network and its biomedical application to hypoglycemia detection system.

PubMed

San, Phyo Phyo; Ling, Sai Ho; Nuryani; Nguyen, Hung

2014-08-01

This paper focuses on the hybridization technology using rough sets concepts and neural computing for decision and classification purposes. Based on the rough set properties, the lower region and boundary region are defined to partition the input signal to a consistent (predictable) part and an inconsistent (random) part. In this way, the neural network is designed to deal only with the boundary region, which mainly consists of an inconsistent part of applied input signal causing inaccurate modeling of the data set. Owing to different characteristics of neural network (NN) applications, the same structure of conventional NN might not give the optimal solution. Based on the knowledge of application in this paper, a block-based neural network (BBNN) is selected as a suitable classifier due to its ability to evolve internal structures and adaptability in dynamic environments. This architecture will systematically incorporate the characteristics of application to the structure of hybrid rough-block-based neural network (R-BBNN). A global training algorithm, hybrid particle swarm optimization with wavelet mutation is introduced for parameter optimization of proposed R-BBNN. The performance of the proposed R-BBNN algorithm was evaluated by an application to the field of medical diagnosis using real hypoglycemia episodes in patients with Type 1 diabetes mellitus. The performance of the proposed hybrid system has been compared with some of the existing neural networks. The comparison results indicated that the proposed method has improved classification performance and results in early convergence of the network.

Rough flows and homogenization in stochastic turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bailleul, I.; Catellier, R.

2017-10-01

We provide in this work a tool-kit for the study of homogenisation of random ordinary differential equations, under the form of a friendly-user black box based on the technology of rough flows. We illustrate the use of this setting on the example of stochastic turbulence.

An IDS Alerts Aggregation Algorithm Based on Rough Set Theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Ru; Guo, Tao; Liu, Jianyi

2018-03-01

Within a system in which has been deployed several IDS, a great number of alerts can be triggered by a single security event, making real alerts harder to be found. To deal with redundant alerts, we propose a scheme based on rough set theory. In combination with basic concepts in rough set theory, the importance of attributes in alerts was calculated firstly. With the result of attributes importance, we could compute the similarity of two alerts, which will be compared with a pre-defined threshold to determine whether these two alerts can be aggregated or not. Also, time interval should be taken into consideration. Allowed time interval for different types of alerts is computed individually, since different types of alerts may have different time gap between two alerts. In the end of this paper, we apply proposed scheme on DAPRA98 dataset and the results of experiment show that our scheme can efficiently reduce the redundancy of alerts so that administrators of security system could avoid wasting time on useless alerts.

Priority of road maintenance management based on halda reading range on NAASRA method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Surbakti, M.; Doan, A.

2018-02-01

The road pavement, constantly experiencing stress-strain due to traffic load through it, can cause damage to the pavement. Therefore, early detection and repair of the damage will be able to prevent more severe damage that can develop into pavement failure. A road condition survey is one of the earliest attempts to detect the initial damage of a pavement. In this case the driving comfort is the most important part for the driver in assessing road conditions that are affected by the level of road surface roughness. To determine the level of roughness of the road, one of the methods developed is the measurement using the NAASRA method. In this method the roughness of the road is an accumulation of the average unevenness of the road, with the general setting on halda of 100 m. However, with this 100-meter setting, in some places the final value of the roughness value is too large or too small so that it will result in the priority of the road maintenance. This is what underlies roughness research by comparing halda settings at 50 m and 200 m different from the general settings above.This study uses the International Roughness Index (IRI) method in determining the level of road stability concerning driving discomfort. IRI score obtained from direct survey in field by using Roughometer-NAASRA.The final result shows that there is a significant difference between the reading of halda which is set at 100 m reading with halda set with 50 and 200 meter readings. This may lead to differences in handling priorities, which may impact on the sustainability of road network maintenance management (Sustainaible Road Management)

On the Effects of Surface Roughness on Boundary Layer Transition

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Choudhari, Meelan M.; Li, Fei; Chang, Chau-Lyan; Edwards, Jack

2009-01-01

Surface roughness can influence laminar-turbulent transition in many different ways. This paper outlines selected analyses performed at the NASA Langley Research Center, ranging in speed from subsonic to hypersonic Mach numbers and highlighting the beneficial as well as adverse roles of the surface roughness in technological applications. The first theme pertains to boundary-layer tripping on the forebody of a hypersonic airbreathing configuration via a spanwise periodic array of trip elements, with the goal of understanding the physical mechanisms underlying roughness-induced transition in a high-speed boundary layer. The effect of an isolated, finite amplitude roughness element on a supersonic boundary layer is considered next. The other set of flow configurations examined herein corresponds to roughness based laminar flow control in subsonic and supersonic swept wing boundary layers. A common theme to all of the above configurations is the need to apply higher fidelity, physics based techniques to develop reliable predictions of roughness effects on laminar-turbulent transition.

Potential roughness near lithographically fabricated atom chips

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

Krueger, P.; Laboratoire Kastler Brossel, Ecole Normale Superieure, 24 Rue Lhomond, F-75005 Paris; Andersson, L. M.

2007-12-15

Potential roughness has been reported to severely impair experiments in magnetic microtraps. We show that these obstacles can be overcome as we measure disorder potentials that are reduced by two orders of magnitude near lithographically patterned high-quality gold layers on semiconductor atom chip substrates. The spectrum of the remaining field variations exhibits a favorable scaling. A detailed analysis of the magnetic field roughness of a 100-{mu}m-wide wire shows that these potentials stem from minute variations of the current flow caused by local properties of the wire rather than merely from rough edges. A technique for further reduction of potential roughnessmore » by several orders of magnitude based on time-orbiting magnetic fields is outlined.« less

Spin relaxation in graphene nanoribbons in the presence of substrate surface roughness

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

Chaghazardi, Zahra; Faez, Rahim; Touski, Shoeib Babaee

2016-08-07

In this work, spin transport in corrugated armchair graphene nanoribbons (AGNRs) is studied. We survey combined effects of spin-orbit interaction and surface roughness, employing the non-equilibrium Green's function formalism and multi-orbitals tight-binding model. Rough substrate surfaces have been statistically generated and the hopping parameters are modulated based on the bending and distance of corrugated carbon atoms. The effects of surface roughness parameters, such as roughness amplitude and correlation length, on spin transport in AGNRs are studied. The increase of surface roughness amplitude results in the coupling of σ and π bands in neighboring atoms, leading to larger spin flipping ratemore » and therefore reduction of the spin-polarization, whereas a longer correlation length makes AGNR surface smoother and increases spin-polarization. Moreover, spin diffusion length of carriers is extracted and its dependency on the roughness parameters is investigated. In agreement with experimental data, the spin diffusion length for various substrate ranges between 2 and 340 μm. Our results indicate the importance of surface roughness on spin-transport in graphene.« less

Using Large-Scale Roughness Elements to Control Sand and Dust Flux at the Keeler Dunes, Keeler, CA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gillies, John; McCarley-Holder, Grace

2014-05-01

Controlling dust emission from areas that subsequently degrade air quality and threaten human and animal health and reduce the quality of life for people residing in proximity to such sources is necessary, but also challenging. Recent research has indicated that arrays of large roughness elements (height >0.3 m) can be used effectively to modulate sand transport and the associated dust emissions. Prediction of the rate of sand flux reduction as a function of downwind distance upon entering an array of roughness elements, and the equilibrium flux reduction in the interior of the array is possible using the known geometric properties of the roughness elements, their number, and published relationships. Air quality in the town of Keeler, CA (36 deg 29' 17.92" N, 117 deg 52' 24.62" W) is degraded by levels of particulate matter <10 µm aerodynamic diameter (PM10) during periods of elevated wind speeds due to sand transport and dust emissions in the nearby Keeler Dunes. A demonstration project was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of an array of roughness elements composed of solid elements and managed vegetation to meet sand and dust flux reduction criteria. This project has two major goals: 1) to demonstrate that solid roughness elements placed on areas of the Keeler Dunes immediately arrest sand movement to specified levels (target of 85% reduction), and 2) to assess whether native plant species, planted in the sheltered area of the solid roughness elements can effectively thrive and subsequently replace the solid roughness to achieve the desired sand flux reduction control efficiency. This poster describes the results related mostly to objective one, as considerable time has to pass before sufficient data will be obtained to evaluate the success of the planted and managed vegetation to achieve a control level provided by the solid element roughness array.

Bubble-induced skin-friction drag reduction and the abrupt transition to air-layer drag reduction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Elbing, Brian R.; Winkel, Eric S.; Lay, Keary A.; Ceccio, Steven L.; Dowling, David R.; Perlin, Marc

To investigate the phenomena of skin-friction drag reduction in a turbulent boundary layer (TBL) at large scales and high Reynolds numbers, a set of experiments has been conducted at the US Navy's William B. Morgan Large Cavitation Channel (LCC). Drag reduction was achieved by injecting gas (air) from a line source through the wall of a nearly zero-pressure-gradient TBL that formed on a flat-plate test model that was either hydraulically smooth or fully rough. Two distinct drag-reduction phenomena were investigated; bubble drag reduction (BDR) and air-layer drag reduction (ALDR).The streamwise distribution of skin-friction drag reduction was monitored with six skin-friction balances at downstream-distance-based Reynolds numbers to 220 million and at test speeds to 20.0msinitial zone1. These results indicated that there are three distinct regions associated with drag reduction with air injection: Region I, BDR; Region II, transition between BDR and ALDR; and Region III, ALDR. In addition, once ALDR was established: friction drag reduction in excess of 80% was observed over the entire smooth model for speeds to 15.3ms1 with the surface fully roughened (though approximately 50% greater volumetric air flux was required); and ALDR was sensitive to the inflow conditions. The sensitivity to the inflow conditions can be mitigated by employing a small faired step (10mm height in the experiment) that helps to create a fixed separation line.

A three-way approach for protein function classification

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

The knowledge of protein functions plays an essential role in understanding biological cells and has a significant impact on human life in areas such as personalized medicine, better crops and improved therapeutic interventions. Due to expense and inherent difficulty of biological experiments, intelligent methods are generally relied upon for automatic assignment of functions to proteins. The technological advancements in the field of biology are improving our understanding of biological processes and are regularly resulting in new features and characteristics that better describe the role of proteins. It is inevitable to neglect and overlook these anticipated features in designing more effective classification techniques. A key issue in this context, that is not being sufficiently addressed, is how to build effective classification models and approaches for protein function prediction by incorporating and taking advantage from the ever evolving biological information. In this article, we propose a three-way decision making approach which provides provisions for seeking and incorporating future information. We considered probabilistic rough sets based models such as Game-Theoretic Rough Sets (GTRS) and Information-Theoretic Rough Sets (ITRS) for inducing three-way decisions. An architecture of protein functions classification with probabilistic rough sets based three-way decisions is proposed and explained. Experiments are carried out on Saccharomyces cerevisiae species dataset obtained from Uniprot database with the corresponding functional classes extracted from the Gene Ontology (GO) database. The results indicate that as the level of biological information increases, the number of deferred cases are reduced while maintaining similar level of accuracy. PMID:28234929

A three-way approach for protein function classification.

PubMed

Ur Rehman, Hafeez; Azam, Nouman; Yao, JingTao; Benso, Alfredo

2017-01-01

The knowledge of protein functions plays an essential role in understanding biological cells and has a significant impact on human life in areas such as personalized medicine, better crops and improved therapeutic interventions. Due to expense and inherent difficulty of biological experiments, intelligent methods are generally relied upon for automatic assignment of functions to proteins. The technological advancements in the field of biology are improving our understanding of biological processes and are regularly resulting in new features and characteristics that better describe the role of proteins. It is inevitable to neglect and overlook these anticipated features in designing more effective classification techniques. A key issue in this context, that is not being sufficiently addressed, is how to build effective classification models and approaches for protein function prediction by incorporating and taking advantage from the ever evolving biological information. In this article, we propose a three-way decision making approach which provides provisions for seeking and incorporating future information. We considered probabilistic rough sets based models such as Game-Theoretic Rough Sets (GTRS) and Information-Theoretic Rough Sets (ITRS) for inducing three-way decisions. An architecture of protein functions classification with probabilistic rough sets based three-way decisions is proposed and explained. Experiments are carried out on Saccharomyces cerevisiae species dataset obtained from Uniprot database with the corresponding functional classes extracted from the Gene Ontology (GO) database. The results indicate that as the level of biological information increases, the number of deferred cases are reduced while maintaining similar level of accuracy.

Modeling and evaluating of surface roughness prediction in micro-grinding on soda-lime glass considering tool characterization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheng, Jun; Gong, Yadong; Wang, Jinsheng

2013-11-01

The current research of micro-grinding mainly focuses on the optimal processing technology for different materials. However, the material removal mechanism in micro-grinding is the base of achieving high quality processing surface. Therefore, a novel method for predicting surface roughness in micro-grinding of hard brittle materials considering micro-grinding tool grains protrusion topography is proposed in this paper. The differences of material removal mechanism between convention grinding process and micro-grinding process are analyzed. Topography characterization has been done on micro-grinding tools which are fabricated by electroplating. Models of grain density generation and grain interval are built, and new predicting model of micro-grinding surface roughness is developed. In order to verify the precision and application effect of the surface roughness prediction model proposed, a micro-grinding orthogonally experiment on soda-lime glass is designed and conducted. A series of micro-machining surfaces which are 78 nm to 0.98 μm roughness of brittle material is achieved. It is found that experimental roughness results and the predicting roughness data have an evident coincidence, and the component variable of describing the size effects in predicting model is calculated to be 1.5×107 by reverse method based on the experimental results. The proposed model builds a set of distribution to consider grains distribution densities in different protrusion heights. Finally, the characterization of micro-grinding tools which are used in the experiment has been done based on the distribution set. It is concluded that there is a significant coincidence between surface prediction data from the proposed model and measurements from experiment results. Therefore, the effectiveness of the model is demonstrated. This paper proposes a novel method for predicting surface roughness in micro-grinding of hard brittle materials considering micro-grinding tool grains protrusion topography, which would provide significant research theory and experimental reference of material removal mechanism in micro-grinding of soda-lime glass.

A rough set-based association rule approach implemented on a brand trust evaluation model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liao, Shu-Hsien; Chen, Yin-Ju

2017-09-01

In commerce, businesses use branding to differentiate their product and service offerings from those of their competitors. The brand incorporates a set of product or service features that are associated with that particular brand name and identifies the product/service segmentation in the market. This study proposes a new data mining approach, a rough set-based association rule induction, implemented on a brand trust evaluation model. In addition, it presents as one way to deal with data uncertainty to analyse ratio scale data, while creating predictive if-then rules that generalise data values to the retail region. As such, this study uses the analysis of algorithms to find alcoholic beverages brand trust recall. Finally, discussions and conclusion are presented for further managerial implications.

Effects produced by CDU improvement of resist pattern with PEB temperature control for wiring resistance variation reduction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tadokoro, Masahide; Shinozuka, Shinichi; Ogata, Kunie; Morimoto, Tamotsu

2008-03-01

Semiconductor manufacturing technology has shifted towards finer design rules, and demands for critical dimension uniformity (CDU) of resist patterns have become greater than ever. One of the methods for improving CDU of resist pattern is to control the temperature of post-exposure bake (PEB). When ArF resist is used, there is a certain relationship between critical dimension (CD) and PEB temperature. By utilizing this relationship, Resist Pattern CDU can be improved through control of within-wafer temperature distribution in the PEB process. We have already applied this method to Resist Pattern CDU improvement and have achieved these results. In this evaluation, we aim at: 1. Clarifying the relationship between the improvement in Resist Pattern CDU through PEB temperature control and the improvement in Etching Pattern CDU. 2. Verifying whether Resist Pattern CDU improvement through PEB temperature control has any effect on the reduction in wiring resistance variation. The evaluation procedure is: 1. Preparation of wafers with base film of doped Poly-Si (D-Poly). 2. Creation of two sets of samples on the base, a set of samples with good Resist Pattern CDU and a set of samples with poor Resist Pattern CDU. 3. Etching of the two sets under the same conditions. 4. Measurements of CD and wiring resistance. We used Optical CD Measurement (OCD) for measurement of resist pattern and etching pattern for the reason that OCD is minimally affected by Line Edge Roughness (LER). As a result, we found that; 1. The improvement in Resist Pattern CDU leads to the improvement in Etching Pattern CDU . 2. The improvement in Resist Pattern CDU has an effect on the reduction in wiring resistance variation. There is a cause-and-effect relationship between wiring resistance variation and transistor characteristics. From this relationship, we expect that the improvement in Resist Pattern CDU through PEB temperature control can contribute to device performance improvement.

A new fiber optic sensor for inner surface roughness measurement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Xiaomei; Liu, Shoubin; Hu, Hong

2009-11-01

In order to measure inner surface roughness of small holes nondestructively, a new fiber optic sensor is researched and developed. Firstly, a new model for surface roughness measurement is proposed, which is based on intensity-modulated fiber optic sensors and scattering modeling of rough surfaces. Secondly, a fiber optical measurement system is designed and set up. Under the help of new techniques, the fiber optic sensor can be miniaturized. Furthermore, the use of micro prism makes the light turn 90 degree, so the inner side surface roughness of small holes can be measured. Thirdly, the fiber optic sensor is gauged by standard surface roughness specimens, and a series of measurement experiments have been done. The measurement results are compared with those obtained by TR220 Surface Roughness Instrument and Form Talysurf Laser 635, and validity of the developed fiber optic sensor is verified. Finally, precision and influence factors of the fiber optic sensor are analyzed.

New horizons in selective laser sintering surface roughness characterization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vetterli, M.; Schmid, M.; Knapp, W.; Wegener, K.

2017-12-01

Powder-based additive manufacturing of polymers and metals has evolved from a prototyping technology to an industrial process for the fabrication of small to medium series of complex geometry parts. Unfortunately due to the processing of powder as a basis material and the successive addition of layers to produce components, a significant surface roughness inherent to the process has been observed since the first use of such technologies. A novel characterization method based on an elastomeric pad coated with a reflective layer, the Gelsight, was found to be reliable and fast to characterize surfaces processed by selective laser sintering (SLS) of polymers. With help of this method, a qualitative and quantitative investigation of SLS surfaces is feasible. Repeatability and reproducibility investigations are performed for both 2D and 3D areal roughness parameters. Based on the good results, the Gelsight is used for the optimization of vertical SLS surfaces. A model built on laser scanning parameters is proposed and after confirmation could achieve a roughness reduction of 10% based on the S q parameter. The Gelsight could be successfully identified as a fast, reliable and versatile surface topography characterization method as it applies to all kind of surfaces.

Berkeley Supernova Ia Program - I. Observations, data reduction and spectroscopic sample of 582 low-redshift Type Ia supernovae

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Silverman, Jeffrey M.; Foley, Ryan J.; Filippenko, Alexei V.; Ganeshalingam, Mohan; Barth, Aaron J.; Chornock, Ryan; Griffith, Christopher V.; Kong, Jason J.; Lee, Nicholas; Leonard, Douglas C.; Matheson, Thomas; Miller, Emily G.; Steele, Thea N.; Barris, Brian J.; Bloom, Joshua S.; Cobb, Bethany E.; Coil, Alison L.; Desroches, Louis-Benoit; Gates, Elinor L.; Ho, Luis C.; Jha, Saurabh W.; Kandrashoff, Michael T.; Li, Weidong; Mandel, Kaisey S.; Modjaz, Maryam; Moore, Matthew R.; Mostardi, Robin E.; Papenkova, Marina S.; Park, Sung; Perley, Daniel A.; Poznanski, Dovi; Reuter, Cassie A.; Scala, James; Serduke, Franklin J. D.; Shields, Joseph C.; Swift, Brandon J.; Tonry, John L.; Van Dyk, Schuyler D.; Wang, Xiaofeng; Wong, Diane S.

2012-09-01

In this first paper in a series, we present 1298 low-redshift (z ≲ 0.2) optical spectra of 582 Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) observed from 1989 to 2008 as part of the Berkeley Supernova Ia Program (BSNIP). 584 spectra of 199 SNe Ia have well-calibrated light curves with measured distance moduli, and many of the spectra have been corrected for host-galaxy contamination. Most of the data were obtained using the Kast double spectrograph mounted on the Shane 3 m telescope at Lick Observatory and have a typical wavelength range of 3300-10 400 Å, roughly twice as wide as spectra from most previously published data sets. We present our observing and reduction procedures, and we describe the resulting SN Database, which will be an online, public, searchable data base containing all of our fully reduced spectra and companion photometry. In addition, we discuss our spectral classification scheme (using the SuperNova IDentification code, SNID; Blondin & Tonry), utilizing our newly constructed set of SNID spectral templates. These templates allow us to accurately classify our entire data set, and by doing so we are able to reclassify a handful of objects as bona fide SNe Ia and a few other objects as members of some of the peculiar SN Ia subtypes. In fact, our data set includes spectra of nearly 90 spectroscopically peculiar SNe Ia. We also present spectroscopic host-galaxy redshifts of some SNe Ia where these values were previously unknown. The sheer size of the BSNIP data set and the consistency of our observation and reduction methods make this sample unique among all other published SN Ia data sets and complementary in many ways to the large, low-redshift SN Ia spectra presented by Matheson et al. and Blondin et al. In other BSNIP papers in this series, we use these data to examine the relationships between spectroscopic characteristics and various observables such as photometric and host-galaxy properties.

The effect of various dentifrices on surface roughness and gloss of resin composites.

PubMed

da Costa, Juliana; Adams-Belusko, Anne; Riley, Kelly; Ferracane, Jack L

2010-01-01

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of different levels of abrasiveness (RDA) of dentifrices on the gloss and surface roughness of resin composites after toothbrushing. Sixty disk-shaped composite specimens (D=10.0mm, 2-mm thick, n=15 per material) were made of: microfill (Durafill), nanofill (Filtek Supreme), minifill hybrid (Filtek 250), and nanohybrid (Premise). One side of each specimen was finished with a carbide bur and polished with Enhance and Pogo. Five specimens of each composite were randomly assigned to one of the dentifrices, Colgate Total (CT; RDA 70), Colgate baking soda & peroxide whitening (CBS; RDA 145), and Colgate tartar control & whitening (CTW; RDA 200). Surface gloss was measured with a glossmeter and surface roughness with a profilometer before and after toothbrushing with a 1:2 slurry (dentifrice/deionised water) at 5760 strokes in a brushing machine (approximately 1Hz). Results were analyzed by three-way ANOVA/Tukey's (p<0.05). There was a significant reduction in gloss and increase in surface roughness after brushing with all dentifrices. There was no significant difference in gloss when Durafill was brushed with any dentifrice; the other composites showed less gloss reduction when brushed with CT. Durafill, Supreme and Premise did not show significantly different surface roughness results and CBS and CTW did not produce significantly different results. Dentifrices of lower abrasivity promote less reduction in gloss and surface roughness for composites of different particle sizes after brushing. Composites containing smaller average fillers showed less reduction in gloss and less increase in surface roughness than ones with larger fillers. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

On predicting receptivity to surface roughness in a compressible infinite swept wing boundary layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thomas, Christian; Mughal, Shahid; Ashworth, Richard

2017-03-01

The receptivity of crossflow disturbances on an infinite swept wing is investigated using solutions of the adjoint linearised Navier-Stokes equations. The adjoint based method for predicting the magnitude of stationary disturbances generated by randomly distributed surface roughness is described, with the analysis extended to include both surface curvature and compressible flow effects. Receptivity is predicted for a broad spectrum of spanwise wavenumbers, variable freestream Reynolds numbers, and subsonic Mach numbers. Curvature is found to play a significant role in the receptivity calculations, while compressible flow effects are only found to marginally affect the initial size of the crossflow instability. A Monte Carlo type analysis is undertaken to establish the mean amplitude and variance of crossflow disturbances generated by the randomly distributed surface roughness. Mean amplitudes are determined for a range of flow parameters that are maximised for roughness distributions containing a broad spectrum of roughness wavelengths, including those that are most effective in generating stationary crossflow disturbances. A control mechanism is then developed where the short scale roughness wavelengths are damped, leading to significant reductions in the receptivity amplitude.

Convection from Hemispherical and Conical Model Ice Roughness Elements in Stagnation Region Flows

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hughes, Michael T.; Shannon, Timothy A.; McClain, Stephen T.; Vargas, Mario; Broeren, Andy

2016-01-01

To improve ice accretion prediction codes, more data regarding ice roughness and its effects on convective heat transfer are required. The Vertical Icing Studies Tunnel (VIST) at NASA Glenn Research was used to model realistic ice roughness in the stagnation region of a NACA 0012 airfoil. In the VIST, a test plate representing the leading 2% chord of the airfoil was subjected to flows of 7.62 m/s (25 ft/s), 12.19 m/s (40 ft/s), and 16.76 m/s (55 ft/s). The test plate was fitted with multiple surfaces or sets of roughness panels, each with a different representation of ice roughness. The sets of roughness panels were constructed using two element distribution patterns that were created based on a laser scan of an iced airfoil acquired in the Icing Research Tunnel at NASA Glenn. For both roughness patterns, surfaces were constructed using plastic hemispherical elements, plastic conical elements, and aluminum conical elements. Infrared surface thermometry data from tests run in the VIST were used to calculate area averaged heat transfer coefficient values. The values from the roughness surfaces were compared to the smooth control surface, showing convective enhancement as high as 400% in some cases. The data gathered during this study will ultimately be used to improve the physical modeling in LEWICE or other ice accretion codes and produce predictions of in-flight ice accretion on aircraft surfaces with greater confidence.

Numerical Simulations for Turbulent Drag Reduction Using Liquid Infused Surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arenas-Navarro, Isnardo

Numerical simulations of the turbulent flow over Super Hydrophobic and Liquid Infused Surfaces have been performed in this work. Three different textured surfaces have been considered: longitudinal square bars, transversal square bars and staggered cubes. The numerical code combines an immersed boundary method to mimic the substrate and a level set method to track the interface. Liquid Infused Surfaces reduce the drag by locking a lubricant within structured roughness to facilitate a slip velocity at the surface interface. The conceptual idea is similar to Super Hydrophobic Surfaces, which rely on a lubricant air layer, whereas liquid-infused surfaces use a preferentially wetting liquid lubricant to create a fluid-fluid interface. This slipping interface has been shown to be an effective method of passively reducing skin friction drag in turbulent flows. Details are given on the effect of the viscosity ratio between the two fluids and the dynamics of the interface on drag reduction. An attempt has been made to reconcile Super-Hydrophobic, Liquid Infused and rough wall under the same framework by correlating the drag to the wall normal velocity fluctuations.

Using Optimisation Techniques to Granulise Rough Set Partitions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Crossingham, Bodie; Marwala, Tshilidzi

2007-11-01

This paper presents an approach to optimise rough set partition sizes using various optimisation techniques. Three optimisation techniques are implemented to perform the granularisation process, namely, genetic algorithm (GA), hill climbing (HC) and simulated annealing (SA). These optimisation methods maximise the classification accuracy of the rough sets. The proposed rough set partition method is tested on a set of demographic properties of individuals obtained from the South African antenatal survey. The three techniques are compared in terms of their computational time, accuracy and number of rules produced when applied to the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) data set. The optimised methods results are compared to a well known non-optimised discretisation method, equal-width-bin partitioning (EWB). The accuracies achieved after optimising the partitions using GA, HC and SA are 66.89%, 65.84% and 65.48% respectively, compared to the accuracy of EWB of 59.86%. In addition to rough sets providing the plausabilities of the estimated HIV status, they also provide the linguistic rules describing how the demographic parameters drive the risk of HIV.

Rough sets and Laplacian score based cost-sensitive feature selection

PubMed Central

Yu, Shenglong

2018-01-01

Cost-sensitive feature selection learning is an important preprocessing step in machine learning and data mining. Recently, most existing cost-sensitive feature selection algorithms are heuristic algorithms, which evaluate the importance of each feature individually and select features one by one. Obviously, these algorithms do not consider the relationship among features. In this paper, we propose a new algorithm for minimal cost feature selection called the rough sets and Laplacian score based cost-sensitive feature selection. The importance of each feature is evaluated by both rough sets and Laplacian score. Compared with heuristic algorithms, the proposed algorithm takes into consideration the relationship among features with locality preservation of Laplacian score. We select a feature subset with maximal feature importance and minimal cost when cost is undertaken in parallel, where the cost is given by three different distributions to simulate different applications. Different from existing cost-sensitive feature selection algorithms, our algorithm simultaneously selects out a predetermined number of “good” features. Extensive experimental results show that the approach is efficient and able to effectively obtain the minimum cost subset. In addition, the results of our method are more promising than the results of other cost-sensitive feature selection algorithms. PMID:29912884

Rough sets and Laplacian score based cost-sensitive feature selection.

PubMed

Yu, Shenglong; Zhao, Hong

2018-01-01

Cost-sensitive feature selection learning is an important preprocessing step in machine learning and data mining. Recently, most existing cost-sensitive feature selection algorithms are heuristic algorithms, which evaluate the importance of each feature individually and select features one by one. Obviously, these algorithms do not consider the relationship among features. In this paper, we propose a new algorithm for minimal cost feature selection called the rough sets and Laplacian score based cost-sensitive feature selection. The importance of each feature is evaluated by both rough sets and Laplacian score. Compared with heuristic algorithms, the proposed algorithm takes into consideration the relationship among features with locality preservation of Laplacian score. We select a feature subset with maximal feature importance and minimal cost when cost is undertaken in parallel, where the cost is given by three different distributions to simulate different applications. Different from existing cost-sensitive feature selection algorithms, our algorithm simultaneously selects out a predetermined number of "good" features. Extensive experimental results show that the approach is efficient and able to effectively obtain the minimum cost subset. In addition, the results of our method are more promising than the results of other cost-sensitive feature selection algorithms.

Rough case-based reasoning system for continues casting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Su, Wenbin; Lei, Zhufeng

2018-04-01

The continuous casting occupies a pivotal position in the iron and steel industry. The rough set theory and the CBR (case based reasoning, CBR) were combined in the research and implementation for the quality assurance of continuous casting billet to improve the efficiency and accuracy in determining the processing parameters. According to the continuous casting case, the object-oriented method was applied to express the continuous casting cases. The weights of the attributes were calculated by the algorithm which was based on the rough set theory and the retrieval mechanism for the continuous casting cases was designed. Some cases were adopted to test the retrieval mechanism, by analyzing the results, the law of the influence of the retrieval attributes on determining the processing parameters was revealed. A comprehensive evaluation model was established by using the attribute recognition theory. According to the features of the defects, different methods were adopted to describe the quality condition of the continuous casting billet. By using the system, the knowledge was not only inherited but also applied to adjust the processing parameters through the case based reasoning method as to assure the quality of the continuous casting and improve the intelligent level of the continuous casting.

Knowledge mining from clinical datasets using rough sets and backpropagation neural network.

PubMed

Nahato, Kindie Biredagn; Harichandran, Khanna Nehemiah; Arputharaj, Kannan

2015-01-01

The availability of clinical datasets and knowledge mining methodologies encourages the researchers to pursue research in extracting knowledge from clinical datasets. Different data mining techniques have been used for mining rules, and mathematical models have been developed to assist the clinician in decision making. The objective of this research is to build a classifier that will predict the presence or absence of a disease by learning from the minimal set of attributes that has been extracted from the clinical dataset. In this work rough set indiscernibility relation method with backpropagation neural network (RS-BPNN) is used. This work has two stages. The first stage is handling of missing values to obtain a smooth data set and selection of appropriate attributes from the clinical dataset by indiscernibility relation method. The second stage is classification using backpropagation neural network on the selected reducts of the dataset. The classifier has been tested with hepatitis, Wisconsin breast cancer, and Statlog heart disease datasets obtained from the University of California at Irvine (UCI) machine learning repository. The accuracy obtained from the proposed method is 97.3%, 98.6%, and 90.4% for hepatitis, breast cancer, and heart disease, respectively. The proposed system provides an effective classification model for clinical datasets.

Diffusion of Drag-Reducing Polymers within a High-Reynolds-Number, Rough-Wall Turbulent Boundary Layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Elbing, Brian; Perlin, Marc; Dowling, David; Solomon, Michael; Ceccio, Steven

2008-11-01

Two experiments were conducted to investigate polymer drag reduction (PDR) within high Reynolds number (to 200 million based on downstream distance), rough-wall turbulent boundary layers. The first experiment was conducted at the U.S. Navy's Large Cavitation Channel on a 12.9 m long flat-plate at speeds to 20 m/s with the surface hydraulically smooth and fully rough. Local skin-friction measurements on the smooth and rough surfaces had maximum PDR levels of 65 and 75 percent, respectively. However, PDR decreased with increasing downstream distance and flow speed more rapidly on the rough surface, and at the top speed no measureable level of PDR was observed. The roughness-induced increased diffusion was quantified with near-wall concentration measurements and the second experiment, which measured concentration profiles on a 0.94 m long flat-plate with three surface conditions: smooth, 240-grit, and 60-grit sandpaper. The increased diffusion does not fully explain the smooth-rough PDR differences observed in the first experiment. Rheological analysis of drawn samples from the first experiment indicates that polymer degradation (chain scission) could be responsible for the remaining loss of rough-wall PDR. These results have implications for the cost effectiveness of PDR for surface ships.

SiGe derivatization by spontaneous reduction of aryl diazonium salts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Girard, A.; Geneste, F.; Coulon, N.; Cardinaud, C.; Mohammed-Brahim, T.

2013-10-01

Germanium semiconductors have interesting properties for FET-based biosensor applications since they possess high surface roughness allowing the immobilization of a high amount of receptors on a small surface area. Since SiGe combined low cost of Si and intrinsic properties of Ge with high mobility carriers, we focused the study on this particularly interesting material. The comparison of the efficiency of a functionalization process involving the spontaneous reduction of diazonium salts is studied on Si(1 0 0), SiGe and Ge semiconductors. XPS analysis of the functionalized surfaces reveals the presence of a covalent grafted layer on all the substrates that was confirmed by AFM. Interestingly, the modified Ge derivatives have still higher surface roughness after derivatization. To support the estimated thickness by XPS, a step measurement of the organic layers is done by AFM or by profilometer technique after a O2 plasma etching of the functionalized layer. This original method is well-adapted to measure the thickness of thin organic films on rough substrates such as germanium. The analyses show a higher chemical grafting on SiGe substrates compared with Si and Ge semiconductors.

Prediction of protein interaction hot spots using rough set-based multiple criteria linear programming.

PubMed

Chen, Ruoying; Zhang, Zhiwang; Wu, Di; Zhang, Peng; Zhang, Xinyang; Wang, Yong; Shi, Yong

2011-01-21

Protein-protein interactions are fundamentally important in many biological processes and it is in pressing need to understand the principles of protein-protein interactions. Mutagenesis studies have found that only a small fraction of surface residues, known as hot spots, are responsible for the physical binding in protein complexes. However, revealing hot spots by mutagenesis experiments are usually time consuming and expensive. In order to complement the experimental efforts, we propose a new computational approach in this paper to predict hot spots. Our method, Rough Set-based Multiple Criteria Linear Programming (RS-MCLP), integrates rough sets theory and multiple criteria linear programming to choose dominant features and computationally predict hot spots. Our approach is benchmarked by a dataset of 904 alanine-mutated residues and the results show that our RS-MCLP method performs better than other methods, e.g., MCLP, Decision Tree, Bayes Net, and the existing HotSprint database. In addition, we reveal several biological insights based on our analysis. We find that four features (the change of accessible surface area, percentage of the change of accessible surface area, size of a residue, and atomic contacts) are critical in predicting hot spots. Furthermore, we find that three residues (Tyr, Trp, and Phe) are abundant in hot spots through analyzing the distribution of amino acids. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Supersonic turbulent boundary layers with periodic mechanical non-equilibrium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ekoto, Isaac Wesley

Previous studies have shown that favorable pressure gradients reduce the turbulence levels and length scales in supersonic flow. Wall roughness has been shown to reduce the large-scales in wall bounded flow. Based on these previous observations new questions have been raised. The fundamental questions this dissertation addressed are: (1) What are the effects of wall topology with sharp versus blunt leading edges? and (2) Is it possible that a further reduction of turbulent scales can occur if surface roughness and favorable pressure gradients are combined? To answer these questions and to enhance the current experimental database, an experimental analysis was performed to provide high fidelity documentation of the mean and turbulent flow properties along with surface and flow visualizations of a high-speed (M = 2.86), high Reynolds number (Retheta ≈ 60,000) supersonic turbulent boundary layer distorted by curvature-induced favorable pressure gradients and large-scale ( k+s ≈ 300) uniform surface roughness. Nine models were tested at three separate locations. Three pressure gradient models strengths (a nominally zero, a weak, and a strong favorable pressure gradient) and three roughness topologies (aerodynamically smooth, square, and diamond shaped roughness elements) were used. Highly resolved planar measurements of mean and fluctuating velocity components were accomplished using particle image velocimetry. Stagnation pressure profiles were acquired with a traversing Pitot probe. Surface pressure distributions were characterized using pressure sensitive paint. Finally flow visualization was accomplished using schlieren photographs. Roughness topology had a significant effect on the boundary layer mean and turbulent properties due to shock boundary layer interactions. Favorable pressure gradients had the expected stabilizing effect on turbulent properties, but the improvements were less significant for models with surface roughness near the wall due to increased tendency towards flow separation. It was documented that proper roughness selection coupled with a sufficiently strong favorable pressure gradient produced regions of "negative" production in the transport of turbulent stress. This led to localized areas of significant turbulence stress reduction. With proper roughness selection and sufficient favorable pressure gradient strength, it is believed that localized relaminarization of the boundary layer is possible.

Drag penalty due to the asperities in the substrate of super-hydrophobic and liquid infused surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Garcia Cartagena, Edgardo J.; Arenas, Isnardo; Leonardi, Stefano

2017-11-01

Direct numerical simulations of two superposed fluids in a turbulent channel with a textured surface made of pinnacles of random height have been performed. The viscosity ratio between the two fluids are N =μo /μi = 50 (μo and μi are the viscosities of outer and inner fluid respectively) mimicking a super-hydrophobic surface (water over air) and N=2.5 (water over heptane) resembling a liquid infused surface. Two set of simulations have been performed varying the Reynolds number, Reτ = 180 and Reτ = 390 . The interface between the two fluids is flat simulating infinite surface tension. The position of the interface between the two fluids has been varied in the vertical direction from the base of the substrate (what would be a rough wall) to the highest point of the roughness. Drag reduction is very sensitive to the position of the interface between the two fluids. Asperities above the interface induce a large form drag and diminish considerably the drag reduction. When the mean height of the surface measured from the interface in the outer fluid is greater than one wall unit, k+ > 1 , the drag increases with respect to a smooth wall. Present results provide a guideline to the accuracy required in manufacturing super-hydrophobic and liquid infused surfaces. This work was supported under ONR MURI Grants N00014-12-0875 and N00014-12- 1-0962, Program Manager Dr. Ki-Han Kim. Numerical simulations were performed on the Texas Advanced Computer Center.

Comparative evaluation of topographical data of dental implant surfaces applying optical interferometry and scanning electron microscopy.

PubMed

Kournetas, N; Spintzyk, S; Schweizer, E; Sawada, T; Said, F; Schmid, P; Geis-Gerstorfer, J; Eliades, G; Rupp, F

2017-08-01

Comparability of topographical data of implant surfaces in literature is low and their clinical relevance often equivocal. The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of scanning electron microscopy and optical interferometry to assess statistically similar 3-dimensional roughness parameter results and to evaluate these data based on predefined criteria regarded relevant for a favorable biological response. Four different commercial dental screw-type implants (NanoTite Certain Prevail, TiUnite Brånemark Mk III, XiVE S Plus and SLA Standard Plus) were analyzed by stereo scanning electron microscopy and white light interferometry. Surface height, spatial and hybrid roughness parameters (Sa, Sz, Ssk, Sku, Sal, Str, Sdr) were assessed from raw and filtered data (Gaussian 50μm and 5μm cut-off-filters), respectively. Data were statistically compared by one-way ANOVA and Tukey-Kramer post-hoc test. For a clinically relevant interpretation, a categorizing evaluation approach was used based on predefined threshold criteria for each roughness parameter. The two methods exhibited predominantly statistical differences. Dependent on roughness parameters and filter settings, both methods showed variations in rankings of the implant surfaces and differed in their ability to discriminate the different topographies. Overall, the analyses revealed scale-dependent roughness data. Compared to the pure statistical approach, the categorizing evaluation resulted in much more similarities between the two methods. This study suggests to reconsider current approaches for the topographical evaluation of implant surfaces and to further seek after proper experimental settings. Furthermore, the specific role of different roughness parameters for the bioresponse has to be studied in detail in order to better define clinically relevant, scale-dependent and parameter-specific thresholds and ranges. Copyright © 2017 The Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Access Selection Algorithm of Heterogeneous Wireless Networks for Smart Distribution Grid Based on Entropy-Weight and Rough Set

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiang, Min; Qu, Qinqin; Chen, Cheng; Tian, Li; Zeng, Lingkang

2017-11-01

To improve the reliability of communication service in smart distribution grid (SDG), an access selection algorithm based on dynamic network status and different service types for heterogeneous wireless networks was proposed. The network performance index values were obtained in real time by multimode terminal and the variation trend of index values was analyzed by the growth matrix. The index weights were calculated by entropy-weight and then modified by rough set to get the final weights. Combining the grey relational analysis to sort the candidate networks, and the optimum communication network is selected. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm can implement dynamically access selection in heterogeneous wireless networks of SDG effectively and reduce the network blocking probability.

Dynamic mortar finite element method for modeling of shear rupture on frictional rough surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tal, Yuval; Hager, Bradford H.

2017-09-01

This paper presents a mortar-based finite element formulation for modeling the dynamics of shear rupture on rough interfaces governed by slip-weakening and rate and state (RS) friction laws, focusing on the dynamics of earthquakes. The method utilizes the dual Lagrange multipliers and the primal-dual active set strategy concepts, together with a consistent discretization and linearization of the contact forces and constraints, and the friction laws to obtain a semi-smooth Newton method. The discretization of the RS friction law involves a procedure to condense out the state variables, thus eliminating the addition of another set of unknowns into the system. Several numerical examples of shear rupture on frictional rough interfaces demonstrate the efficiency of the method and examine the effects of the different time discretization schemes on the convergence, energy conservation, and the time evolution of shear traction and slip rate.

A Granular Self-Organizing Map for Clustering and Gene Selection in Microarray Data.

PubMed

Ray, Shubhra Sankar; Ganivada, Avatharam; Pal, Sankar K

2016-09-01

A new granular self-organizing map (GSOM) is developed by integrating the concept of a fuzzy rough set with the SOM. While training the GSOM, the weights of a winning neuron and the neighborhood neurons are updated through a modified learning procedure. The neighborhood is newly defined using the fuzzy rough sets. The clusters (granules) evolved by the GSOM are presented to a decision table as its decision classes. Based on the decision table, a method of gene selection is developed. The effectiveness of the GSOM is shown in both clustering samples and developing an unsupervised fuzzy rough feature selection (UFRFS) method for gene selection in microarray data. While the superior results of the GSOM, as compared with the related clustering methods, are provided in terms of β -index, DB-index, Dunn-index, and fuzzy rough entropy, the genes selected by the UFRFS are not only better in terms of classification accuracy and a feature evaluation index, but also statistically more significant than the related unsupervised methods. The C-codes of the GSOM and UFRFS are available online at http://avatharamg.webs.com/software-code.

Rough Evaluation Structure: Application of Rough Set Theory to Generate Simple Rules for Inconsistent Preference Relation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gehrmann, Andreas; Nagai, Yoshimitsu; Yoshida, Osamu; Ishizu, Syohei

Since management decision-making becomes complex and preferences of the decision-maker frequently becomes inconsistent, multi-attribute decision-making problems were studied. To represent inconsistent preference relation, the concept of evaluation structure was introduced. We can generate simple rules to represent inconsistent preference relation by the evaluation structures. Further rough set theory for the preference relation was studied and the concept of approximation was introduced. One of our main aims of this paper is to introduce a concept of rough evaluation structure for representing inconsistent preference relation. We apply rough set theory to the evaluation structure, and develop a method for generating simple rules for inconsistent preference relations. In this paper, we introduce concepts of totally ordered information system, similarity class of preference relation, upper and lower approximation of preference relations. We also show the properties of rough evaluation structure and provide a simple example. As an application of rough evaluation structure, we analyze questionnaire survey of customer preferences about audio players.

Roughness Based Crossflow Transition Control for a Swept Airfoil Design Relevant to Subsonic Transports

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Li, Fei; Choudhari, Meelan M.; Carpenter, Mark H.; Malik, Mujeeb R.; Eppink, Jenna; Chang, Chau-Lyan; Streett, Craig L.

2010-01-01

A high fidelity transition prediction methodology has been applied to a swept airfoil design at a Mach number of 0.75 and chord Reynolds number of approximately 17 million, with the dual goal of an assessment of the design for the implementation and testing of roughness based crossflow transition control and continued maturation of such methodology in the context of realistic aerodynamic configurations. Roughness based transition control involves controlled seeding of suitable, subdominant crossflow modes in order to weaken the growth of naturally occurring, linearly more unstable instability modes via a nonlinear modification of the mean boundary layer profiles. Therefore, a synthesis of receptivity, linear and nonlinear growth of crossflow disturbances, and high-frequency secondary instabilities becomes desirable to model this form of control. Because experimental data is currently unavailable for passive crossflow transition control for such high Reynolds number configurations, a holistic computational approach is used to assess the feasibility of roughness based control methodology. Potential challenges inherent to this control application as well as associated difficulties in modeling this form of control in a computational setting are highlighted. At high Reynolds numbers, a broad spectrum of stationary crossflow disturbances amplify and, while it may be possible to control a specific target mode using Discrete Roughness Elements (DREs), nonlinear interaction between the control and target modes may yield strong amplification of the difference mode that could have an adverse impact on the transition delay using spanwise periodic roughness elements.

Signal Processing Methods for Liquid Rocket Engine Combustion Spontaneous Stability and Rough Combustion Assessments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kenny, R. Jeremy; Casiano, Matthew; Fischbach, Sean; Hulka, James R.

2012-01-01

Liquid rocket engine combustion stability assessments are traditionally broken into three categories: dynamic stability, spontaneous stability, and rough combustion. This work focuses on comparing the spontaneous stability and rough combustion assessments for several liquid engine programs. The techniques used are those developed at Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) for the J-2X Workhorse Gas Generator program. Stability assessment data from the Integrated Powerhead Demonstrator (IPD), FASTRAC, and Common Extensible Cryogenic Engine (CECE) programs are compared against previously processed J-2X Gas Generator data. Prior metrics for spontaneous stability assessments are updated based on the compilation of all data sets.

Exploration of a Capability-Focused Aerospace System of Systems Architecture Alternative with Bilayer Design Space, Based on RST-SOM Algorithmic Methods

PubMed Central

Li, Zhifei; Qin, Dongliang

2014-01-01

In defense related programs, the use of capability-based analysis, design, and acquisition has been significant. In order to confront one of the most challenging features of a huge design space in capability based analysis (CBA), a literature review of design space exploration was first examined. Then, in the process of an aerospace system of systems design space exploration, a bilayer mapping method was put forward, based on the existing experimental and operating data. Finally, the feasibility of the foregoing approach was demonstrated with an illustrative example. With the data mining RST (rough sets theory) and SOM (self-organized mapping) techniques, the alternative to the aerospace system of systems architecture was mapping from P-space (performance space) to C-space (configuration space), and then from C-space to D-space (design space), respectively. Ultimately, the performance space was mapped to the design space, which completed the exploration and preliminary reduction of the entire design space. This method provides a computational analysis and implementation scheme for large-scale simulation. PMID:24790572

Exploration of a capability-focused aerospace system of systems architecture alternative with bilayer design space, based on RST-SOM algorithmic methods.

PubMed

Li, Zhifei; Qin, Dongliang; Yang, Feng

2014-01-01

In defense related programs, the use of capability-based analysis, design, and acquisition has been significant. In order to confront one of the most challenging features of a huge design space in capability based analysis (CBA), a literature review of design space exploration was first examined. Then, in the process of an aerospace system of systems design space exploration, a bilayer mapping method was put forward, based on the existing experimental and operating data. Finally, the feasibility of the foregoing approach was demonstrated with an illustrative example. With the data mining RST (rough sets theory) and SOM (self-organized mapping) techniques, the alternative to the aerospace system of systems architecture was mapping from P-space (performance space) to C-space (configuration space), and then from C-space to D-space (design space), respectively. Ultimately, the performance space was mapped to the design space, which completed the exploration and preliminary reduction of the entire design space. This method provides a computational analysis and implementation scheme for large-scale simulation.

Allowable SEM noise for unbiased LER measurement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Papavieros, George; Constantoudis, Vassilios; Gogolides, Evangelos

2018-03-01

Recently, a novel method for the calculation of unbiased Line Edge Roughness based on Power Spectral Density analysis has been proposed. In this paper first an alternative method is discussed and investigated, utilizing the Height-Height Correlation Function (HHCF) of edges. The HHCF-based method enables the unbiased determination of the whole triplet of LER parameters including besides rms the correlation length and roughness exponent. The key of both methods is the sensitivity of PSD and HHCF on noise at high frequencies and short distance respectively. Secondly, we elaborate a testbed of synthesized SEM images with controlled LER and noise to justify the effectiveness of the proposed unbiased methods. Our main objective is to find out the boundaries of the method in respect to noise levels and roughness characteristics, for which the method remains reliable, i.e the maximum amount of noise allowed, for which the output results cope with the controllable known inputs. At the same time, we will also set the extremes of roughness parameters for which the methods hold their accuracy.

Lateral heat flow distribution and defect-dependent thermal resistance in an individual silicon nanowire.

PubMed

Lee, Seung-Yong; Lee, Won-Yong; Thong, John T L; Kim, Gil-Sung; Lee, Sang-Kwon

2016-03-18

Studies aiming to significantly improve thermal properties, such as figure-of-merit, of silicon nanowires (SiNW) have focused on diameter reduction and surface or interface roughness control. However, the mechanism underlying thermal conductivity enhancement of roughness controlled NWs remains unclear. Here, we report a significant influence of stacking faults (SFs) on the lateral thermal conductivity of a single SiNW, using a combination of newly developed in situ spatially-resolved thermal resistance experiments and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy measurements. We used as-grown SiNWs tapered along the growth direction with progressively lower roughness and SFs density. The results clearly confirmed that both surface roughness and twins or SFs densities suppress the thermal conductivity of an individual SiNW. The results and measurement techniques presented here hold great potential for inspecting minute changes in thermal resistance along an individual SiNW, caused by induced SFs on the nanostructure, and for improving one-dimensional nanowire-based thermoelectric device performance.

Optimization of Surface Roughness and Wall Thickness in Dieless Incremental Forming Of Aluminum Sheet Using Taguchi

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hamedon, Zamzuri; Kuang, Shea Cheng; Jaafar, Hasnulhadi; Azhari, Azmir

2018-03-01

Incremental sheet forming is a versatile sheet metal forming process where a sheet metal is formed into its final shape by a series of localized deformation without a specialised die. However, it still has many shortcomings that need to be overcome such as geometric accuracy, surface roughness, formability, forming speed, and so on. This project focus on minimising the surface roughness of aluminium sheet and improving its thickness uniformity in incremental sheet forming via optimisation of wall angle, feed rate, and step size. Besides, the effect of wall angle, feed rate, and step size to the surface roughness and thickness uniformity of aluminium sheet was investigated in this project. From the results, it was observed that surface roughness and thickness uniformity were inversely varied due to the formation of surface waviness. Increase in feed rate and decrease in step size will produce a lower surface roughness, while uniform thickness reduction was obtained by reducing the wall angle and step size. By using Taguchi analysis, the optimum parameters for minimum surface roughness and uniform thickness reduction of aluminium sheet were determined. The finding of this project helps to reduce the time in optimising the surface roughness and thickness uniformity in incremental sheet forming.

Fast Spatial Resolution Analysis of Quadratic Penalized Least-Squares Image Reconstruction With Separate Real and Imaginary Roughness Penalty: Application to fMRI.

PubMed

Olafsson, Valur T; Noll, Douglas C; Fessler, Jeffrey A

2018-02-01

Penalized least-squares iterative image reconstruction algorithms used for spatial resolution-limited imaging, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), commonly use a quadratic roughness penalty to regularize the reconstructed images. When used for complex-valued images, the conventional roughness penalty regularizes the real and imaginary parts equally. However, these imaging methods sometimes benefit from separate penalties for each part. The spatial smoothness from the roughness penalty on the reconstructed image is dictated by the regularization parameter(s). One method to set the parameter to a desired smoothness level is to evaluate the full width at half maximum of the reconstruction method's local impulse response. Previous work has shown that when using the conventional quadratic roughness penalty, one can approximate the local impulse response using an FFT-based calculation. However, that acceleration method cannot be applied directly for separate real and imaginary regularization. This paper proposes a fast and stable calculation for this case that also uses FFT-based calculations to approximate the local impulse responses of the real and imaginary parts. This approach is demonstrated with a quadratic image reconstruction of fMRI data that uses separate roughness penalties for the real and imaginary parts.

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

McKemmish, Laura K., E-mail: laura.mckemmish@gmail.com; Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Canberra

Algorithms for the efficient calculation of two-electron integrals in the newly developed mixed ramp-Gaussian basis sets are presented, alongside a Fortran90 implementation of these algorithms, RAMPITUP. These new basis sets have significant potential to (1) give some speed-up (estimated at up to 20% for large molecules in fully optimised code) to general-purpose Hartree-Fock (HF) and density functional theory quantum chemistry calculations, replacing all-Gaussian basis sets, and (2) give very large speed-ups for calculations of core-dependent properties, such as electron density at the nucleus, NMR parameters, relativistic corrections, and total energies, replacing the current use of Slater basis functions or verymore » large specialised all-Gaussian basis sets for these purposes. This initial implementation already demonstrates roughly 10% speed-ups in HF/R-31G calculations compared to HF/6-31G calculations for large linear molecules, demonstrating the promise of this methodology, particularly for the second application. As well as the reduction in the total primitive number in R-31G compared to 6-31G, this timing advantage can be attributed to the significant reduction in the number of mathematically complex intermediate integrals after modelling each ramp-Gaussian basis-function-pair as a sum of ramps on a single atomic centre.« less

Automated extraction of decision rules for leptin dynamics--a rough sets approach.

PubMed

Brtka, Vladimir; Stokić, Edith; Srdić, Biljana

2008-08-01

A significant area in the field of medical informatics is concerned with the learning of medical models from low-level data. The goals of inducing models from data are twofold: analysis of the structure of the models so as to gain new insight into the unknown phenomena, and development of classifiers or outcome predictors for unseen cases. In this paper, we will employ approach based on the relation of indiscernibility and rough sets theory to study certain questions concerning the design of model based on if-then rules, from low-level data including 36 parameters, one of them leptin. To generate easy to read, interpret, and inspect model, we have used ROSETTA software system. The main goal of this work is to get new insight into phenomena of leptin levels while interplaying with other risk factors in obesity.

With a little help from a computer: discriminating between bacterial and viral meningitis based on dominance-based rough set approach analysis

PubMed Central

Gowin, Ewelina; Januszkiewicz-Lewandowska, Danuta; Słowiński, Roman; Błaszczyński, Jerzy; Michalak, Michał; Wysocki, Jacek

2017-01-01

Abstract Differential Diagnosis of bacterial and viral meningitis remains an important clinical problem. A number of methods to assist in the diagnoses of meningitis have been developed, but none of them have been found to have high specificity with 100% sensitivity. We conducted a retrospective analysis of the medical records of 148 children hospitalized in St. Joseph Children's Hospital in Poznań. In this study, we applied for the first time the original methodology of dominance-based rough set approach (DRSA) to diagnostic patterns of meningitis data and represented them by decision rules useful in discriminating between bacterial and viral meningitis. The induction algorithm is called VC-DomLEM; it has been implemented as software package called jMAF (http://www.cs.put.poznan.pl/jblaszczynski/Site/jRS.html), based on java Rough Set (jRS) library. In the studied group, there were 148 patients (78 boys and 70 girls), and the mean age was 85 months. We analyzed 14 attributes, of which only 4 were used to generate the 6 rules, with C-reactive protein (CRP) being the most valuable. Factors associated with bacterial meningitis were: CRP level ≥86 mg/L, number of leukocytes in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) ≥4481 μL−1, symptoms duration no longer than 2 days, or age less than 1 month. Factors associated with viral meningitis were CRP level not higher than 19 mg/L, or CRP level not higher than 84 mg/L in a patient older than 11 months with no more than 1100 μL−1 leukocytes in CSF. We established the minimum set of attributes significant for classification of patients with meningitis. This is new set of rules, which, although intuitively anticipated by some clinicians, has not been formally demonstrated until now. PMID:28796045

With a little help from a computer: discriminating between bacterial and viral meningitis based on dominance-based rough set approach analysis.

PubMed

Gowin, Ewelina; Januszkiewicz-Lewandowska, Danuta; Słowiński, Roman; Błaszczyński, Jerzy; Michalak, Michał; Wysocki, Jacek

2017-08-01

Differential Diagnosis of bacterial and viral meningitis remains an important clinical problem. A number of methods to assist in the diagnoses of meningitis have been developed, but none of them have been found to have high specificity with 100% sensitivity.We conducted a retrospective analysis of the medical records of 148 children hospitalized in St. Joseph Children's Hospital in Poznań. In this study, we applied for the first time the original methodology of dominance-based rough set approach (DRSA) to diagnostic patterns of meningitis data and represented them by decision rules useful in discriminating between bacterial and viral meningitis. The induction algorithm is called VC-DomLEM; it has been implemented as software package called jMAF (http://www.cs.put.poznan.pl/jblaszczynski/Site/jRS.html), based on java Rough Set (jRS) library.In the studied group, there were 148 patients (78 boys and 70 girls), and the mean age was 85 months. We analyzed 14 attributes, of which only 4 were used to generate the 6 rules, with C-reactive protein (CRP) being the most valuable.Factors associated with bacterial meningitis were: CRP level ≥86 mg/L, number of leukocytes in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) ≥4481 μL, symptoms duration no longer than 2 days, or age less than 1 month. Factors associated with viral meningitis were CRP level not higher than 19 mg/L, or CRP level not higher than 84 mg/L in a patient older than 11 months with no more than 1100 μL leukocytes in CSF.We established the minimum set of attributes significant for classification of patients with meningitis. This is new set of rules, which, although intuitively anticipated by some clinicians, has not been formally demonstrated until now.

Aerosol pH buffering in the southeastern US: Fine particles remain highly acidic despite large reductions in sulfate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weber, R. J.; Guo, H.; Russell, A. G.; Nenes, A.

2015-12-01

pH is a critical aerosol property that impacts many atmospheric processes, including biogenic secondary organic aerosol formation, gas-particle phase partitioning, and mineral dust or redox metal mobilization. Particle pH has also been linked to adverse health effects. Using a comprehensive data set from the Southern Oxidant and Aerosol Study (SOAS) as the basis for thermodynamic modeling, we have shown that particles are currently highly acidic in the southeastern US, with pH between 0 and 2. Sulfate and ammonium are the main acid-base components that determine particle pH in this region, however they have different sources and their concentrations are changing. Over 15 years of network data show that sulfur dioxide emission reductions have resulted in a roughly 70 percent decrease in sulfate, whereas ammonia emissions, mainly link to agricultural activities, have been largely steady, as have gas phase ammonia concentrations. This has led to the view that particles are becoming more neutralized. However, sensitivity analysis, based on thermodynamic modeling, to changing sulfate concentrations indicates that particles have remained highly acidic over the past decade, despite the large reductions in sulfate. Furthermore, anticipated continued reductions of sulfate and relatively constant ammonia emissions into the future will not significantly change particle pH until sulfate drops to clean continental background levels. The result reshapes our expectation of future particle pH and implies that atmospheric processes and adverse health effects linked to particle acidity will remain unchanged for some time into the future.

Assessment of physiological performance and perception of pushing different wheelchairs on indoor modular units simulating a surface roughness often encountered in under-resourced settings.

PubMed

Sasaki, Kotaro; Rispin, Karen

2017-01-01

In under-resourced settings where motorized wheelchairs are rarely available, manual wheelchair users with limited upper-body strength and functionalities need to rely on assisting pushers for their mobility. Because traveling surfaces in under-resourced settings are often unpaved and rough, wheelchair pushers could experience high physiological loading. In order to evaluate pushers' physiological loading and to improve wheelchair designs, we built indoor modular units that simulate rough surface conditions, and tested a hypothesis that pushing different wheelchairs would result in different physiological performances and pushers' perception of difficulty on the simulated rough surface. Eighteen healthy subjects pushed two different types of pediatric wheelchairs (Moti-Go manufactured by Motivation, and KidChair by Hope Haven) fitted with a 50-kg dummy on the rough and smooth surfaces at self-selected speeds. Oxygen uptake, traveling distance for 6 minutes, and the rating of difficulty were obtained. The results supported our hypothesis, showing that pushing Moti-Go on the rough surface was physiologically less loading than KidChair, but on the smooth surface, the two wheelchairs did not differ significantly. These results indicate wheelchair designs to improve pushers' performance in under-resourced settings should be evaluated on rough surfaces.

A computational intelligent approach to multi-factor analysis of violent crime information system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Hongbo; Yang, Chao; Zhang, Meng; McLoone, Seán; Sun, Yeqing

2017-02-01

Various scientific studies have explored the causes of violent behaviour from different perspectives, with psychological tests, in particular, applied to the analysis of crime factors. The relationship between bi-factors has also been extensively studied including the link between age and crime. In reality, many factors interact to contribute to criminal behaviour and as such there is a need to have a greater level of insight into its complex nature. In this article we analyse violent crime information systems containing data on psychological, environmental and genetic factors. Our approach combines elements of rough set theory with fuzzy logic and particle swarm optimisation to yield an algorithm and methodology that can effectively extract multi-knowledge from information systems. The experimental results show that our approach outperforms alternative genetic algorithm and dynamic reduct-based techniques for reduct identification and has the added advantage of identifying multiple reducts and hence multi-knowledge (rules). Identified rules are consistent with classical statistical analysis of violent crime data and also reveal new insights into the interaction between several factors. As such, the results are helpful in improving our understanding of the factors contributing to violent crime and in highlighting the existence of hidden and intangible relationships between crime factors.

Modification of surface morphology of Ti6Al4V alloy manufactured by Laser Sintering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Draganovská, Dagmar; Ižariková, Gabriela; Guzanová, Anna; Brezinová, Janette; Koncz, Juraj

2016-06-01

The paper deals with the evaluation of relation between roughness parameters of Ti6Al4V alloy produced by DMLS and modified by abrasive blasting. There were two types of blasting abrasives that were used - white corundum and Zirblast at three levels of air pressure. The effect of pressure on the value of individual roughness parameters and an influence of blasting media on the parameters for samples blasted by white corundum and Zirblast were evaluated by ANOVA. Based on the measured values, the correlation matrix was set and the standard of correlation statistic importance between the monitored parameters was determined from it. The correlation coefficient was also set.

Exploring KM Features of High-Performance Companies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Wei-Wen

2007-12-01

For reacting to an increasingly rival business environment, many companies emphasize the importance of knowledge management (KM). It is a favorable way to explore and learn KM features of high-performance companies. However, finding out the critical KM features of high-performance companies is a qualitative analysis problem. To handle this kind of problem, the rough set approach is suitable because it is based on data-mining techniques to discover knowledge without rigorous statistical assumptions. Thus, this paper explored KM features of high-performance companies by using the rough set approach. The results show that high-performance companies stress the importance on both tacit and explicit knowledge, and consider that incentives and evaluations are the essentials to implementing KM.

Changes in sodium levels in processed and restaurant foods, 2005 to 2011.

PubMed

Jacobson, Michael F; Havas, Stephen; McCarter, Robert

2013-07-22

Excess consumption of sodium is an important cause of hypertension, a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. The higher the level of consumption, the greater is a person's likelihood of developing hypertension. Numerous organizations have recommended reductions in sodium intake in the United States. Roughly 80% of the sodium consumed by Americans has been added by food manufacturers and restaurants. To compare the mean (SD) levels of sodium for identical products ascertained in 2005, 2008, and 2011. Comparison study in an academic research setting. Center for Science in the Public Interest staff have monitored sodium levels in selected processed foods and fast-food restaurant foods for many years. The sodium content in identical foods, as measured in 2005, 2008, and 2011. Between 2005 and 2011, the sodium content in 402 processed foods declined by approximately 3.5%, while the sodium content in 78 fast-food restaurant products increased by 2.6%. Although some products showed decreases of at least 30%, a greater number of products showed increases of at least 30%. The predominant finding is the absence of any appreciable or statistically significant changes in sodium content during 6 years. Based on our sample, reductions in sodium levels in processed and restaurant foods are inconsistent and slow. These findings are in accord with other data indicating the slow pace of voluntary reductions in sodium levels in processed and restaurant foods. Stronger action (eg, phased-in limits on sodium levels set by the federal government) is needed to lower sodium levels and reduce the prevalence of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.

Effects of roughness height, pressure and streamwise distance on stress profiles in the inner part of turbulent boundary layer over super-hydrophobic surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ling, Hangjian; Katz, Joseph; Srinivasan, Siddarth; McKinley, Gareth; Golovin, Kevin; Tuteja, Anish; Pillutla, Venkata; Abhijeet, Abhijeet; Choi, Wonjae

2016-11-01

Digital holographic microscopy is used for measuring the mean velocity and stress in the inner part of turbulent boundary layers over sprayed or etched super-hydrophobic surfaces (SHSs). The slip velocity and wall friction are calculated directly from the mean velocity and its gradient along with the Reynolds shear stress at the top of SHSs "roughness". Effects of the normalized rms roughness height krms+, facility pressure p and streamwise distance x from the beginning of SHSs on mean flow are examined. For krms+<1 and pkrms / σ <1 (σ is surface tension), the SHSs show 10-28% wall friction reduction, 15-30% slip velocity and λ+ = 3-10 slip length. Increasing Reynolds number and/or krms to establish krms+>1, and increasing p to achieve pkrms / σ >1 suppress the drag reduction, as roughness effects and associated near wall Reynolds stress increase. When the roughness effect is not dominant, the measurements agree with previous theoretical predictions of the relationships between drag reduction and slip velocity. The significance of spanwise slip relative to streamwise slip varies with the SHSs texture. Transitions from a smooth wall to a SHS involve overshoot of Reynolds stress and undershoot of viscous stress, trends that diminish with x. Sponsored by ONR.

Bacterial plaque retention on oral hard materials: effect of surface roughness, surface composition, and physisorbed polycarboxylate.

PubMed

McConnell, Marla D; Liu, Yu; Nowak, Andrew P; Pilch, Shira; Masters, James G; Composto, Russell J

2010-03-15

Bacterial adhesion to oral hard materials is dependent on various factors, for example, surface roughness and surface composition. In this study, bacteria retention on three oral hard substrates, hydroxyapatite (HAP), enamel, and polished enamel (p-enamel) were investigated. The surface morphology and roughness of the three substrates were measured by scanning probe microscopy. HAP had the roughest surface, followed by enamel and polished enamel. For each individual substrate type, the roughness was shown to increase with scan size up to 50 microm x 50 microm. For HAP and enamel, roughness decreased considerably after formation of a pellicle, while addition of polymer coating to the pellicle layer reduced roughness much less in comparison. Bacterial surface coverage was measured at 30 min, 3 h, and 24 h on both native and surface-modified substrates, which were coated with two different polycarboxylate-based polymers, Gantrez S97 and Carbopol 940. As a result, the polymer coated surfaces had reduced bacteria coverage compared with the native surfaces over all time points and substrates measured. The reduction is the combined effect of electrostatic repulsion and sequestering of Ca(2+) ions at the surface, which plays a key role in the initial adhesion of bacteria to enamel surfaces in models of plaque formation. (c) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Analog laboratory experiments on the influence of substrate roughness on the run out distance of pyroclastic flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roche, O.; Chedevile, C.

2012-12-01

We carried out scaled experiments on gas-particles flows propagating on a rough substrate in order to investigate the emplacement of pyroclastic flows. The flows were generated from the release of non-fluidized or gas-fluidized columns of fine (80 μm) glass beads of height of 30 cm into a 3 m-long horizontal channel. The base of the channel was either smooth or was made rough by gluing a monodisperse layer of spherical particles of diameter of 80 μm to 3 mm. We defined the substrate roughness as the size of the glued particles, which corresponded to up to several tens of centimeters when scaled to the natural system. The flow front kinematics and the detailed interactions between the base of the flow and the rough substrate were investigated from high speed videos. We measured systematically the run out distance of the flows, and experiments were repeated 8-10 times for each configuration to obtain a mean value. The run out distance increased with the substrate roughness for both initially non-fluidized and fluidized flows. The run out had a minimum value for a smooth base and was about twice that value for the highest roughness of 3 mm. Analysis of the flow kinematics revealed that the increase in run out was caused by higher front velocities essentially at late stages of emplacement, during which the head of the flows stretched considerably. High speed videos made at the base of the flows showed that their head first slid over the substrate before aggregates of particles fell into the interstices between the particles forming the rough substrate, at a mean speed of several centimeters per second. In contrast, complementary experiments on flows of coarse beads of 350 μm showed that the substrate roughness did not influence their run out, and at the flow base their particles bumped into those of the substrate before falling individually into the interstices. These observations suggest that the positive correlation between the flow run out and the substrate roughness for flows of fine particles could result from two mechanisms. The first was the reduction of the contact area between the flow base and the substrate as the roughness increased because of the reduced number of particles per unit length. The second, main mechanism was auto-fluidization generated as the fine particles falling into the interstices expulsed the air upward at a velocity much larger than the minimum fluidization velocity. This promoted at least partial fluidization or additional pore pressure in case of initially non-fluidized or fluidized flows, respectively. This experimental investigation provides some counterintuitive results and has implication for hazards assessment. Other things being equal, the run out distance of fines-rich pyroclastic flows is expected to increase with the roughness of the terrain on which they propagate.

Potential impacts of robust surface roughness indexes on DTM-based segmentation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Trevisani, Sebastiano; Rocca, Michele

2017-04-01

In this study, we explore the impact of robust surface texture indexes based on MAD (median absolute differences), implemented by Trevisani and Rocca (2015), in the unsupervised morphological segmentation of an alpine basin. The area was already object of a geomorphometric analysis, consisting in the roughness-based segmentation of the landscape (Trevisani et al. 2012); the roughness indexes were calculated on a high resolution DTM derived by means of airborne Lidar using the variogram as estimator. The calculated roughness indexes have been then used for the fuzzy clustering (Odeh et al., 1992; Burrough et al., 2000) of the basin, revealing the high informative geomorphometric content of the roughness-based indexes. However, the fuzzy clustering revealed a high fuzziness and a high degree of mixing between textural classes; this was ascribed both to the morphological complexity of the basin and to the high sensitivity of variogram to non-stationarity and signal-noise. Accordingly, we explore how the new implemented roughness indexes based on MAD affect the morphological segmentation of the studied basin. References Burrough, P.A., Van Gaans, P.F.M., MacMillan, R.A., 2000. High-resolution landform classification using fuzzy k-means. Fuzzy Sets and Systems 113, 37-52. Odeh, I.O.A., McBratney, A.B., Chittleborough, D.J., 1992. Soil pattern recognition with fuzzy-c-means: application to classification and soil-landform interrelationships. Soil Sciences Society of America Journal 56, 505-516. Trevisani, S., Cavalli, M. & Marchi, L. 2012, "Surface texture analysis of a high-resolution DTM: Interpreting an alpine basin", Geomorphology, vol. 161-162, pp. 26-39. Trevisani, S. & Rocca, M. 2015, "MAD: Robust image texture analysis for applications in high resolution geomorphometry", Computers and Geosciences, vol. 81, pp. 78-92.

A density based algorithm to detect cavities and holes from planar points

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Jie; Sun, Yizhong; Pang, Yueyong

2017-12-01

Delaunay-based shape reconstruction algorithms are widely used in approximating the shape from planar points. However, these algorithms cannot ensure the optimality of varied reconstructed cavity boundaries and hole boundaries. This inadequate reconstruction can be primarily attributed to the lack of efficient mathematic formulation for the two structures (hole and cavity). In this paper, we develop an efficient algorithm for generating cavities and holes from planar points. The algorithm yields the final boundary based on an iterative removal of the Delaunay triangulation. Our algorithm is mainly divided into two steps, namely, rough and refined shape reconstructions. The rough shape reconstruction performed by the algorithm is controlled by a relative parameter. Based on the rough result, the refined shape reconstruction mainly aims to detect holes and pure cavities. Cavity and hole are conceptualized as a structure with a low-density region surrounded by the high-density region. With this structure, cavity and hole are characterized by a mathematic formulation called as compactness of point formed by the length variation of the edges incident to point in Delaunay triangulation. The boundaries of cavity and hole are then found by locating a shape gradient change in compactness of point set. The experimental comparison with other shape reconstruction approaches shows that the proposed algorithm is able to accurately yield the boundaries of cavity and hole with varying point set densities and distributions.

Temporal Stability of Surface Roughness Effects on Radar Based Soil Moisture Retrieval During the Corn Growth Cycle

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Joseph, A.T.; Lang, R.; O'Neill, P.E.; van der Velde, R.; Gish, T.

2008-01-01

A representative soil surface roughness parameterization needed for the retrieval of soil moisture from active microwave satellite observation is difficult to obtain through either in-situ measurements or remote sensing-based inversion techniques. Typically, for the retrieval of soil moisture, temporal variations in surface roughness are assumed to be negligible. Although previous investigations have suggested that this assumption might be reasonable for natural vegetation covers (Moran et al. 2002, Thoma et al. 2006), insitu measurements over plowed agricultural fields (Callens et al. 2006) have shown that the soil surface roughness can change considerably over time. This paper reports on the temporal stability of surface roughness effects on radar observations and soil moisture retrieved from these radar observations collected once a week during a corn growth cycle (May 10th - October 2002). The data set employed was collected during the Optimizing Production Inputs for Economic and Environmental Enhancement (OPE3) field campaign covering this 2002 corn growth cycle and consists of dual-polarized (HH and VV) L-band (1.6 GHz) acquired at view angles of 15, 35, and 55 degrees. Cross-polarized L baud radar data were also collected as part of this experiment, but are not used in the analysis reported on here. After accounting for vegetation effects on radar observations, time-invariant optimum roughness parameters were determined using the Integral Equation Method (IEM) and radar observations acquired over bare soil and cropped conditions (the complete radar data set includes entire corn growth cycle). The optimum roughness parameters, soil moisture retrieval uncertainty, temporal distribution of retrieval errors and its relationship with the weather conditions (e.g. rainfall and wind speed) have been analyzed. It is shown that over the corn growth cycle, temporal roughness variations due to weathering by rain are responsible for almost 50% of soil moisture retrieval uncertainty depending on the sensing configuration. The effects of surface roughness variations are found to be smallest for observations acquired at a view angle of 55 degrees and HH polarization. A possible explanation for this result is that at 55 degrees and HH polarization the effect of vertical surface height changes on the observed radar response are limited because the microwaves travel parallel to the incident plane and as a result will not interact directly with vertically oriented soil structures.

Line edge roughness (LER) mitigation studies specific to interference-like lithography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baylav, Burak; Estroff, Andrew; Xie, Peng; Smith, Bruce W.

2013-04-01

Line edge roughness (LER) is a common problem to most lithography approaches and is seen as the main resolution limiter for advanced technology nodes1. There are several contributors to LER such as chemical/optical shot noise, random nature of acid diffusion, development process, and concentration of acid generator/base quencher. Since interference-like lithography (IL) is used to define one directional gridded patterns, some LER mitigation approaches specific to IL-like imaging can be explored. Two methods investigated in this work for this goal are (i) translational image averaging along the line direction and (ii) pupil plane filtering. Experiments regarding the former were performed on both interferometric and projection lithography systems. Projection lithography experiments showed a small amount of reduction in low/mid frequency LER value for image averaged cases at pitch of 150 nm (193 nm illumination, 0.93 NA) with less change for smaller pitches. Aerial image smearing did not significantly increase LER since it was directional. Simulation showed less than 1% reduction in NILS (compared to a static, smooth mask equivalent) with ideal alignment. In addition, description of pupil plane filtering on the transfer of mask roughness is given. When astigmatism-like aberrations were introduced in the pupil, transfer of mask roughness is decreased at best focus. It is important to exclude main diffraction orders from the filtering to prevent contrast and NILS loss. These ideas can be valuable as projection lithography approaches to conditions similar to IL (e.g. strong RET methods).

Non-Contact Surface Roughness Measurement by Implementation of a Spatial Light Modulator

PubMed Central

Aulbach, Laura; Salazar Bloise, Félix; Lu, Min; Koch, Alexander W.

2017-01-01

The surface structure, especially the roughness, has a significant influence on numerous parameters, such as friction and wear, and therefore estimates the quality of technical systems. In the last decades, a broad variety of surface roughness measurement methods were developed. A destructive measurement procedure or the lack of feasibility of online monitoring are the crucial drawbacks of most of these methods. This article proposes a new non-contact method for measuring the surface roughness that is straightforward to implement and easy to extend to online monitoring processes. The key element is a liquid-crystal-based spatial light modulator, integrated in an interferometric setup. By varying the imprinted phase of the modulator, a correlation between the imprinted phase and the fringe visibility of an interferogram is measured, and the surface roughness can be derived. This paper presents the theoretical approach of the method and first simulation and experimental results for a set of surface roughnesses. The experimental results are compared with values obtained by an atomic force microscope and a stylus profiler. PMID:28294990

Diffusion of drag-reducing polymer solutions within a rough-walled turbulent boundary layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Elbing, Brian R.; Dowling, David R.; Perlin, Marc; Ceccio, Steven L.

2010-04-01

The influence of surface roughness on diffusion of wall-injected, drag-reducing polymer solutions within a turbulent boundary layer was studied with a 0.94 m long flat-plate test model at speeds of up to 10.6 m s-1 and Reynolds numbers of up to 9×106. The surface was hydraulically smooth, transitionally rough, or fully rough. Mean concentration profiles were acquired with planar laser induced fluorescence, which was the primary flow diagnostic. Polymer concentration profiles with high injection concentrations (≥1000 wppm) had the peak concentration shifted away from the wall, which was partially attributed to a lifting phenomenon. The diffusion process was divided into three zones—initial, intermediate, and final. Studies of polymer injection into a polymer ocean at concentrations sufficient for maximum drag reduction indicated that the maximum initial zone length is of the order of 100 boundary layer thicknesses. The intermediate zone results indicate that friction velocity and roughness height are important scaling parameters in addition to flow and injection conditions. Lastly, the current results were combined with those in Petrie et al. ["Polymer drag reduction with surface roughness in flat-plate turbulent boundary layer flow," Exp. Fluids 35, 8 (2003)] to demonstrate that the influence of polymer degradation increases with increased surface roughness.

Research on classified real-time flood forecasting framework based on K-means cluster and rough set.

PubMed

Xu, Wei; Peng, Yong

2015-01-01

This research presents a new classified real-time flood forecasting framework. In this framework, historical floods are classified by a K-means cluster according to the spatial and temporal distribution of precipitation, the time variance of precipitation intensity and other hydrological factors. Based on the classified results, a rough set is used to extract the identification rules for real-time flood forecasting. Then, the parameters of different categories within the conceptual hydrological model are calibrated using a genetic algorithm. In real-time forecasting, the corresponding category of parameters is selected for flood forecasting according to the obtained flood information. This research tests the new classified framework on Guanyinge Reservoir and compares the framework with the traditional flood forecasting method. It finds that the performance of the new classified framework is significantly better in terms of accuracy. Furthermore, the framework can be considered in a catchment with fewer historical floods.

Accelerating oak air drying by presurfacing

Treesearch

W. T. Simpson; R. C. Baltes

1972-01-01

A comparison was made between the air-drying rates of rough and presurfaced northern red oak and white oak. In both species, the presurfaced material was about 1/8 inch thinner than the rough material and dried faster than the rough material. The reduction in drying time depends on the method of analyzing the drying curves, but is slightly less than 10 percent.

Measuring vibrational motion in the presence of speckle using off-axis holography.

PubMed

Redding, Brandon; Davis, Allen; Kirkendall, Clay; Dandridge, Anthony

2016-02-20

We present a holographic laser vibrometer designed to mitigate the effects of speckle noise when measuring the vibrational motion of a rough object. We show that multiplexing the interferometric measurement across 10⁵ pixels provides a 50 dB reduction in the incoherent noise. Using a high-speed camera, this enables a displacement sensitivity of 50  fm/√Hz with a bandwidth of 12.5 kHz when measuring rough objects, representing a 20 dB improvement compared with a commercially available single-detector-based laser vibrometer. Finally, we show that the holographic vibrometer system is capable of stand-off acoustic sensing by measuring the acoustic-induced vibrations of a piece of paper with sensitivity as low as 10 dB (re 20 μPa). The ability to sensitively and noninvasively measure the vibrations of arbitrary rough surfaces could enable new applications in laser vibrometry.

Probabilistic flood inundation mapping at ungauged streams due to roughness coefficient uncertainty in hydraulic modelling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Papaioannou, George; Vasiliades, Lampros; Loukas, Athanasios; Aronica, Giuseppe T.

2017-04-01

Probabilistic flood inundation mapping is performed and analysed at the ungauged Xerias stream reach, Volos, Greece. The study evaluates the uncertainty introduced by the roughness coefficient values on hydraulic models in flood inundation modelling and mapping. The well-established one-dimensional (1-D) hydraulic model, HEC-RAS is selected and linked to Monte-Carlo simulations of hydraulic roughness. Terrestrial Laser Scanner data have been used to produce a high quality DEM for input data uncertainty minimisation and to improve determination accuracy on stream channel topography required by the hydraulic model. Initial Manning's n roughness coefficient values are based on pebble count field surveys and empirical formulas. Various theoretical probability distributions are fitted and evaluated on their accuracy to represent the estimated roughness values. Finally, Latin Hypercube Sampling has been used for generation of different sets of Manning roughness values and flood inundation probability maps have been created with the use of Monte Carlo simulations. Historical flood extent data, from an extreme historical flash flood event, are used for validation of the method. The calibration process is based on a binary wet-dry reasoning with the use of Median Absolute Percentage Error evaluation metric. The results show that the proposed procedure supports probabilistic flood hazard mapping at ungauged rivers and provides water resources managers with valuable information for planning and implementing flood risk mitigation strategies.

Uncertainty Modeling for Database Design using Intuitionistic and Rough Set Theory

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-01-01

Definition. An intuitionistic rough relation R is a sub- set of the set cross product P(D1)× P(D2) × · · ·× P( Dm )× Dµ.× Dv. For a specific relation, R...that aj ∈ dij for all j. The interpretation space is the cross product D1× D2 × · · ·× Dm × Dµ× Dv but is limited for a given re- lation R to the set...systems, Journal of Information Science 11 (1985), 77–87. [7] T. Beaubouef and F. Petry, Rough Querying of Crisp Data in Relational Databases, Third

The description of friction of silicon MEMS with surface roughness: virtues and limitations of a stochastic Prandtl-Tomlinson model and the simulation of vibration-induced friction reduction.

PubMed

van Spengen, W Merlijn; Turq, Viviane; Frenken, Joost W M

2010-01-01

We have replaced the periodic Prandtl-Tomlinson model with an atomic-scale friction model with a random roughness term describing the surface roughness of micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) devices with sliding surfaces. This new model is shown to exhibit the same features as previously reported experimental MEMS friction loop data. The correlation function of the surface roughness is shown to play a critical role in the modelling. It is experimentally obtained by probing the sidewall surfaces of a MEMS device flipped upright in on-chip hinges with an AFM (atomic force microscope). The addition of a modulation term to the model allows us to also simulate the effect of vibration-induced friction reduction (normal-force modulation), as a function of both vibration amplitude and frequency. The results obtained agree very well with measurement data reported previously.

Assessing artificial neural networks and statistical methods for infilling missing soil moisture records

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dumedah, Gift; Walker, Jeffrey P.; Chik, Li

2014-07-01

Soil moisture information is critically important for water management operations including flood forecasting, drought monitoring, and groundwater recharge estimation. While an accurate and continuous record of soil moisture is required for these applications, the available soil moisture data, in practice, is typically fraught with missing values. There are a wide range of methods available to infilling hydrologic variables, but a thorough inter-comparison between statistical methods and artificial neural networks has not been made. This study examines 5 statistical methods including monthly averages, weighted Pearson correlation coefficient, a method based on temporal stability of soil moisture, and a weighted merging of the three methods, together with a method based on the concept of rough sets. Additionally, 9 artificial neural networks are examined, broadly categorized into feedforward, dynamic, and radial basis networks. These 14 infilling methods were used to estimate missing soil moisture records and subsequently validated against known values for 13 soil moisture monitoring stations for three different soil layer depths in the Yanco region in southeast Australia. The evaluation results show that the top three highest performing methods are the nonlinear autoregressive neural network, rough sets method, and monthly replacement. A high estimation accuracy (root mean square error (RMSE) of about 0.03 m/m) was found in the nonlinear autoregressive network, due to its regression based dynamic network which allows feedback connections through discrete-time estimation. An equally high accuracy (0.05 m/m RMSE) in the rough sets procedure illustrates the important role of temporal persistence of soil moisture, with the capability to account for different soil moisture conditions.

Effect of primary amines on magnetic properties of Fe-Ni films electroplated in a DES-based plating bath

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yanai, T.; Akiyoshi, T.; Yamaguchi, T.; Takashima, K.; Morimura, T.; Nakano, M.; Fukunaga, H.

2018-05-01

Fe-Ni alloy films were electroplated in DES-based plating baths with various primary amines, and we investigated the effect of the primary amines on the magnetic and the structural properties of the films. The primary amines of ammonium sulfamate, DL-α-alanine and L-glutamic acid reduced the coercivity and the surface roughness of the Fe-rich films (Fe > 70 at.%), and the reduction tendencies of the coercivity and the roughness show good agreement with the result of our previous study on another primary amine of glycine. From the results for the TEM observation, we found that the texture of the Fe-rich film is clearly different from that for the Fe-poor one (Fe < 30 at.%), and we concluded that the primary amines are effective additives for the Fe-rich films electroplated in the DES-based plating baths.

Flexible conformable hydrophobized surfaces for turbulent flow drag reduction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brennan, Joseph C.; Geraldi, Nicasio R.; Morris, Robert H.; Fairhurst, David J.; McHale, Glen; Newton, Michael I.

2015-05-01

In recent years extensive work has been focused onto using superhydrophobic surfaces for drag reduction applications. Superhydrophobic surfaces retain a gas layer, called a plastron, when submerged underwater in the Cassie-Baxter state with water in contact with the tops of surface roughness features. In this state the plastron allows slip to occur across the surface which results in a drag reduction. In this work we report flexible and relatively large area superhydrophobic surfaces produced using two different methods: Large roughness features were created by electrodeposition on copper meshes; Small roughness features were created by embedding carbon nanoparticles (soot) into Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Both samples were made into cylinders with a diameter under 12 mm. To characterize the samples, scanning electron microscope (SEM) images and confocal microscope images were taken. The confocal microscope images were taken with each sample submerged in water to show the extent of the plastron. The hydrophobized electrodeposited copper mesh cylinders showed drag reductions of up to 32% when comparing the superhydrophobic state with a wetted out state. The soot covered cylinders achieved a 30% drag reduction when comparing the superhydrophobic state to a plain cylinder. These results were obtained for turbulent flows with Reynolds numbers 10,000 to 32,500.

Effects of friction reduction of micro-patterned array of rough slider bearing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, M.; Lee, D. W.; Jeong, J. H.; Chung, W. S.; Park, J. K.

2017-08-01

Complex micro-scale patterns have attracted interest because of the functionality that can be created using this type of patterning. This study evaluates the frictional reduction effects of various micro patterns on a slider bearing surface which is operating under mixed lubrication. Due to the rapid growth of contact area under mixed lubrication, it has become important to study the phenomenon of asperity contact in bearings with a heavy load. New analysis using the modified Reynolds equation with both the average flow model and the contact model of asperities is conducted for the rough slider bearing. A numerical analysis is performed to determine the effects of surface roughness on a lubricated bearing. Several dented patterns such as, dot pattern, dashed line patterns are used to evaluate frictional reduction effects. To verify the analytical results, friction test for the micro-patterned samples are performed. From comparing the frictional reduction effects of patterned arrays, the design of them can control the frictional loss of bearings. Our results showed that the design of pattern array on the bearing surface was important to the friction reduction of bearings. To reduce frictional loss, the longitudinal direction of them was better than the transverse direction.

TOPSIS based parametric optimization of laser micro-drilling of TBC coated nickel based superalloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Parthiban, K.; Duraiselvam, Muthukannan; Manivannan, R.

2018-06-01

The technique for order of preference by similarity ideal solution (TOPSIS) approach was used for optimizing the process parameters of laser micro-drilling of nickel superalloy C263 with Thermal Barrier Coating (TBC). Plasma spraying was used to deposit the TBC and a pico-second Nd:YAG pulsed laser was used to drill the specimens. Drilling angle, laser scan speed and number of passes were considered as input parameters. Based on the machining conditions, Taguchi L8 orthogonal array was used for conducting the experimental runs. The surface roughness and surface crack density (SCD) were considered as the output measures. The surface roughness was measured using 3D White Light Interferometer (WLI) and the crack density was measured using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The optimized result achieved from this approach suggests reduced surface roughness and surface crack density. The holes drilled at an inclination angle of 45°, laser scan speed of 3 mm/s and 400 number of passes found to be optimum. From the Analysis of variance (ANOVA), inclination angle and number of passes were identified as the major influencing parameter. The optimized parameter combination exhibited a 19% improvement in surface finish and 12% reduction in SCD.

Improved heavy-duty vehicle fuel efficiency in India, benefits, costs and environmental impacts

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

Gopal, Anand R.; Karali, Nihan; Sharpe, Ben

The main objectives of this analysis are to examine the benefits and costs of fuel-saving technologies for new heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) in India over the next 10 years and, to explore how various scenarios for the deployment of vehicles with these technologies will impact petroleum consumption and carbon dioxide (CO 2) emissions over the next three decades. The study team developed simulation models for three representative HDV types—a 40-tonne tractor-trailer, 25-tonne rigid truck, and 16-tonne transit bus—based on top-selling vehicle models in the Indian market. The baseline technology profiles for all three vehicles were developed using India-specific engine data andmore » vehicle specification information from manufacturer literature and input from industry experts. For each of the three vehicles we developed a comprehensive set of seven efficiency technology packages drawing from five major areas: engine, transmission and driveline, tires, aerodynamics, and weight reduction. Our analysis finds that India has substantial opportunity to improve HDV fuel efficiency levels using cost-effective technologies. Results from our simulation modeling of three representative HDV types—a tractor-trailer, rigid truck, and transit bus—reveal that per-vehicle fuel consumption reductions between roughly 20% and 35% are possible with technologies that provide a return on the initial capital investment within 1 to 2 years. Though most of these technologies are currently unavailable in India, experiences in other more advanced markets such as the US and EU suggest that with sufficient incentives and robust regulatory design, significant progress can be made in developing and deploying efficiency technologies that can provide real-world fuel savings for new commercial vehicles in India over the next 10 years. Bringing HDVs in India up to world-class technology levels will yield substantial petroleum and GHG reductions. By 2030, the fuel and CO2 reductions of the scenarios range from 10% to 34%, and at the end of 2050, these reductions grow to 13% and 41%. If we constrain the analysis to select the most efficient technology package that provides the fleets with payback times of 3 years or less, there are annual fleet-wide savings of roughly 11 MTOE of diesel and 34 MMT of CO 2 in 2030, and this grows to 31 MTOE and 97 MMT by 2050.« less

Scaling of Polymer Degradation Rate within a High-Reynolds-Number Turbulent Boundary Layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Elbing, Brian; Solomon, Michael; Perlin, Marc; Dowling, David; Ceccio, Steven

2009-11-01

An experiment conducted at the U.S. Navy's Large Cavitation Channel on a 12.9 m long flat-plate test model produced the first quantitative measurements of polymer molecular weight within a turbulent boundary layer. Testing was conducted at speeds to 20 m/s and downstream distance based Reynolds numbers to 220 million. These results showed that the rate of polymer degradation by scission of the polymer chains increases with increased speed, downstream distance and surface roughness. With the surface fully rough at 20 m/s there was no measureable level of drag reduction at the first measurement location (0.56 m downstream of injection). These results are scaled with the assumption that the rate of degradation is dependent on the polymer residence time in the flow and the local shear rate. A successful collapse of the data within the measurement uncertainty was achieved over a range of flow speed (6.6 to 20 m/s), surface roughness (smooth and fully rough) and downstream distance from injection (0.56 to 9.28 m).

On-machine precision preparation and dressing of ball-headed diamond wheel for the grinding of fused silica

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Mingjun; Li, Ziang; Yu, Bo; Peng, Hui; Fang, Zhen

2013-09-01

In the grinding of high quality fused silica parts with complex surface or structure using ball-headed metal bonded diamond wheel with small diameter, the existing dressing methods are not suitable to dress the ball-headed diamond wheel precisely due to that they are either on-line in process dressing which may causes collision problem or without consideration for the effects of the tool setting error and electrode wear. An on-machine precision preparation and dressing method is proposed for ball-headed diamond wheel based on electrical discharge machining. By using this method the cylindrical diamond wheel with small diameter is manufactured to hemispherical-headed form. The obtained ball-headed diamond wheel is dressed after several grinding passes to recover geometrical accuracy and sharpness which is lost due to the wheel wear. A tool setting method based on high precision optical system is presented to reduce the wheel center setting error and dimension error. The effect of electrode tool wear is investigated by electrical dressing experiments, and the electrode tool wear compensation model is established based on the experimental results which show that the value of wear ratio coefficient K' tends to be constant with the increasing of the feed length of electrode and the mean value of K' is 0.156. Grinding experiments of fused silica are carried out on a test bench to evaluate the performance of the preparation and dressing method. The experimental results show that the surface roughness of the finished workpiece is 0.03 μm. The effect of the grinding parameter and dressing frequency on the surface roughness is investigated based on the measurement results of the surface roughness. This research provides an on-machine preparation and dressing method for ball-headed metal bonded diamond wheel used in the grinding of fused silica, which provides a solution to the tool setting method and the effect of electrode tool wear.

Application of a roughness-length representation to parameterize energy loss in 3-D numerical simulations of large rivers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sandbach, S. D.; Lane, S. N.; Hardy, R. J.; Amsler, M. L.; Ashworth, P. J.; Best, J. L.; Nicholas, A. P.; Orfeo, O.; Parsons, D. R.; Reesink, A. J. H.; Szupiany, R. N.

2012-12-01

Recent technological advances in remote sensing have enabled investigation of the morphodynamics and hydrodynamics of large rivers. However, measuring topography and flow in these very large rivers is time consuming and thus often constrains the spatial resolution and reach-length scales that can be monitored. Similar constraints exist for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) studies of large rivers, requiring maximization of mesh- or grid-cell dimensions and implying a reduction in the representation of bedform-roughness elements that are of the order of a model grid cell or less, even if they are represented in available topographic data. These "subgrid" elements must be parameterized, and this paper applies and considers the impact of roughness-length treatments that include the effect of bed roughness due to "unmeasured" topography. CFD predictions were found to be sensitive to the roughness-length specification. Model optimization was based on acoustic Doppler current profiler measurements and estimates of the water surface slope for a variety of roughness lengths. This proved difficult as the metrics used to assess optimal model performance diverged due to the effects of large bedforms that are not well parameterized in roughness-length treatments. However, the general spatial flow patterns are effectively predicted by the model. Changes in roughness length were shown to have a major impact upon flow routing at the channel scale. The results also indicate an absence of secondary flow circulation cells in the reached studied, and suggest simpler two-dimensional models may have great utility in the investigation of flow within large rivers.

Experimental Measurements of Permeability Evolution along Faults during Progressive Slip

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Strutz, M.; Mitchell, T. M.; Renner, J.

2010-12-01

Little is currently known about the dynamic changes in fault-parallel permeability along rough faults during progressive slip. With increasing slip, asperities are worn to produce gouge which can dramatically reduce along fault permeability within the slip zone. However, faults can have a range of roughness which can affect both the porosity and both the amount and distribution of fault wear material produced in the slipping zone during the early stages of fault evolution. In this novel study we investigate experimentally the evolution of permeability along a fault plane in granite sawcut sliding blocks with a variety of intial roughnesses in a triaxial apparatus. Drillholes in the samples allow the permeability to be measured along the fault plane during loading and subsequent fault displacement. Use of the pore pressure oscillation technique (PPO) allows the continuous measurement of permeability without having to stop loading. To achieve a range of intial starting roughnesses, faults sawcut surfaces were prepared using a variety of corundum powders ranging from 10 µm to 220 µm, and for coarser roughness were air-blasted with glass beads up to 800µm in size. Fault roughness has been quantified with a laser profileometer. During sliding, we measure the acoustic emissions in order to detect grain cracking and asperity shearing which may relate to both the mechanical and permeability data. Permeability shows relative reductions of up to over 4 orders of magnitude during stable sliding as asperities are sheared to produce a fine fault gouge. This variation in permeability is greatest for the roughest faults, reducing as fault roughness decreases. The onset of permeability reduction is contemporaneous with a dramatic reduction in the amount of detected acoustic emissions, where a continuous layer of fault gouge has developed. The amount of fault gouge produced is related to the initial roughness, with the rough faults showing larger fault gouge layers at the end of slip. Following large stress drops and stick slip events, permeability can both increase and decrease due to dynamic changes in pore pressure during fast sliding events. We present a summary of preliminary data to date, and discuss some of the problems and unknowns when using the PPO method to measure permeability.

Fingerprinting the type of line edge roughness

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fernández Herrero, A.; Pflüger, M.; Scholze, F.; Soltwisch, V.

2017-06-01

Lamellar gratings are widely used diffractive optical elements and are prototypes of structural elements in integrated electronic circuits. EUV scatterometry is very sensitive to structure details and imperfections, which makes it suitable for the characterization of nanostructured surfaces. As compared to X-ray methods, EUV scattering allows for steeper angles of incidence, which is highly preferable for the investigation of small measurement fields on semiconductor wafers. For the control of the lithographic manufacturing process, a rapid in-line characterization of nanostructures is indispensable. Numerous studies on the determination of regular geometry parameters of lamellar gratings from optical and Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) scattering also investigated the impact of roughness on the respective results. The challenge is to appropriately model the influence of structure roughness on the diffraction intensities used for the reconstruction of the surface profile. The impact of roughness was already studied analytically but for gratings with a periodic pseudoroughness, because of practical restrictions of the computational domain. Our investigation aims at a better understanding of the scattering caused by line roughness. We designed a set of nine lamellar Si-gratings to be studied by EUV scatterometry. It includes one reference grating with no artificial roughness added, four gratings with a periodic roughness distribution, two with a prevailing line edge roughness (LER) and another two with line width roughness (LWR), and four gratings with a stochastic roughness distribution (two with LER and two with LWR). We show that the type of line roughness has a strong impact on the diffuse scatter angular distribution. Our experimental results are not described well by the present modelling approach based on small, periodically repeated domains.

A Numerical Study of 2-D Surface Roughness Effects on the Growth of Wave Modes in Hypersonic Boundary Layers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fong, Kahei Danny

The current understanding and research efforts on surface roughness effects in hypersonic boundary-layer flows focus, almost exclusively, on how roughness elements trip a hypersonic boundary layer to turbulence. However, there were a few reports in the literature suggesting that roughness elements in hypersonic boundary-layer flows could sometimes suppress the transition process and delay the formation of turbulent flow. These reports were not common and had not attracted much attention from the research community. Furthermore, the mechanisms of how the delay and stabilization happened were unknown. A recent study by Duan et al. showed that when 2-D roughness elements were placed downstream of the so-called synchronization point, the unstable second-mode wave in a hypersonic boundary layer was damped. Since the second-mode wave is typically the most dangerous and dominant unstable mode in a hypersonic boundary layer for sharp geometries at a zero angle of attack, this result has pointed to an explanation on how roughness elements delay transition in a hypersonic boundary layer. Such an understanding can potentially have significant practical applications for the development of passive flow control techniques to suppress hypersonic boundary-layer transition, for the purpose of aero-heating reduction. Nevertheless, the previous study was preliminary because only one particular flow condition with one fixed roughness parameter was considered. The study also lacked an examination on the mechanism of the damping effect of the second mode by roughness. Hence, the objective of the current research is to conduct an extensive investigation of the effects of 2-D roughness elements on the growth of instability waves in a hypersonic boundary layer. The goal is to provide a full physical picture of how and when 2-D roughness elements stabilize a hypersonic boundary layer. Rigorous parametric studies using numerical simulation, linear stability theory (LST), and parabolized stability equation (PSE) are performed to ensure the fidelity of the data and to study the relevant flow physics. All results unanimously confirm the conclusion that the relative location of the synchronization point with respect to the roughness element determines the roughness effect on the second mode. Namely, a roughness placed upstream of the synchronization point amplifies the unstable waves while placing a roughness downstream of the synchronization point damps the second-mode waves. The parametric study also shows that a tall roughness element within the local boundary-layer thickness results in a stronger damping effect, while the effect of the roughness width is relatively insignificant compared with the other roughness parameters. On the other hand, the fact that both LST and PSE successfully predict the damping effect only by analyzing the meanflow suggests the mechanism of the damping is by the meanflow alteration due to the existence of roughness elements, rather than new mode generation. In addition to studying the unstable waves, the drag force and heating with and without roughness have been investigated by comparing the numerical simulation data with experimental correlations. It is shown that the increase in drag force generated by the Mach wave around a roughness element in a hypersonic boundary layer is insignificant compared to the reduction of drag force by suppressing turbulent flow. The study also shows that, for a cold wall flow which is the case for practical flight applications, the Stanton number decreases as roughness elements smooth out the temperature gradient in the wall-normal direction. Based on the knowledge of roughness elements damping the second mode gained from the current study, a novel passive transition control method using judiciously placed roughness elements has been developed, and patented, during the course of this research. The main idea of the control method is that, with a given geometry and flow condition, it is possible to find the most unstable second-mode frequency that can lead to transition. And by doing a theoretical analysis such as LST, the synchronization location for the most unstable frequency can be found. Roughness elements are then strategically placed downstream of the synchronization point to damp out this dangerous second-mode wave, thus stabilizing the boundary layer and suppressing the transition process. This method is later experimentally validated in Purdue's Mach 6 quiet wind tunnel. Overall, this research has not only provided details of when and how 2-D roughness stabilizes a hypersonic boundary layer, it also has led to a successful application of numerical simulation data to the development of a new roughness-based transition delay method, which could potentially have significant contributions to the design of future generation hypersonic vehicles.

Correlation of bond strength with surface roughness using a new roughness measurement technique.

PubMed

Winkler, M M; Moore, B K

1994-07-01

The correlation between shear bond strength and surface roughness was investigated using new surface measurement methods. Bonding agents and associated resin composites were applied to set amalgam after mechanically roughening its surface. Surface treatments were noe (as set against glass), 80 grit, and 600 grit abrasive paper. Surface roughness (R(a) as measured parallel and perpendicular (+) to the direction of the polishing scratches and true profile length were measured. A knife-edge was applied (rate = 2.54 mm/min) at the bonding agent/amalgam interface of each sample until failure. Coefficients of determination for mean bond strength vs either roughness (R(a), of profile length were significantly higher for measurements in parallel directions than for those measurements in (+) directions. The shear bond strength to set amalgam for a PENTA-containing adhesives system (L.D. Caulk Division) was not significantly different from that of a PENTA-free adhesive (3M Dental Products Division), even though PENTA has been reported to increase bond strength to nonprecious metals. The shear bond strength of resin composite to amalgam is correlated to surface roughness when it is measured parallel to the polishing scratches. This correlation is significantly lower when surface roughness is measured in the typical manner, perpendicular to the polishing scratches.

Shear Model Development of Limestone Joints with Incorporating Variations of Basic Friction Coefficient and Roughness Components During Shearing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mehrishal, Seyedahmad; Sharifzadeh, Mostafa; Shahriar, Korosh; Song, Jae-Jon

2017-04-01

In relation to the shearing of rock joints, the precise and continuous evaluation of asperity interlocking, dilation, and basic friction properties has been the most important task in the modeling of shear strength. In this paper, in order to investigate these controlling factors, two types of limestone joint samples were prepared and CNL direct shear tests were performed on these joints under various shear conditions. One set of samples were travertine and another were onyx marble with slickensided surfaces, surfaces ground to #80, and rough surfaces were tested. Direct shear experiments conducted on slickensided and ground surfaces of limestone indicated that by increasing the applied normal stress, under different shearing rates, the basic friction coefficient decreased. Moreover, in the shear tests under constant normal stress and shearing rate, the basic friction coefficient remained constant for the different contact sizes. The second series of direct shear experiments in this research was conducted on tension joint samples to evaluate the effect of surface roughness on the shear behavior of the rough joints. This paper deals with the dilation and roughness interlocking using a method that characterizes the surface roughness of the joint based on a fundamental combined surface roughness concept. The application of stress-dependent basic friction and quantitative roughness parameters in the continuous modeling of the shear behavior of rock joints is an important aspect of this research.

Danish Breast Cancer Cooperative Group--DBCG: History, organization, and status of scientific achievements at 30-year anniversary.

PubMed

Blichert-Toft, Mogens; Christiansen, Peer; Mouridsen, Henning T

2008-01-01

DBCG (Danish Breast Cancer Cooperative Group) constitutes a multidisciplinary organization established in 1975 by the Danish Surgical Society. The purpose involves first and foremost a nation-wide standardization of breast cancer treatment based on novel therapeutic principles, collaboration between experts handling diagnostic work-up, surgery, radiotherapy, medical oncology, and basic research, and, further, complete registration of relevant clinical data in a national data base attached to DBCG. Data are processed by the Secretariat personnel composed of statisticians, data managers, and data secretaries making current analyses of outcome results feasible. DBCG is run by the Executive Committee consisting of expert members appointed by their respective society. From 1978 the DBCG project gained widely accession from participating units, and since then nearly all newly diagnosed breast cancer incident cases are reported and registered in the national data base. Today, the data base includes approximately 80 000 incidents of primary breast cancer. Annually, the Secretariat receives roughly 1.5 million parameters to be entered into the data base. Over time DBCG has generated seven treatment programmes including in situ lesions and primary invasive breast cancer. Probands are subdivided into risk groups based on a given risk pattern and allocated to various treatment programmes accordingly. The scientific initiatives are conducted in the form of register- and cohort analysis or randomized trials in national or international protocolized settings. Yearly, about 4 000 new incident cases of primary invasive breast cancer and about 200 in situ lesions enter the national programmes. Further, about 600 women with hereditary disposition of breast cancer are registered and evaluated on a risk scale. The main achievements resulted in a reduction of relative risk of death amounting up to 20% and increased 5-year overall survival ascending from 60% to roughly 80%. This article is partly based on a Danish paper to be published in the Centenary Jubilee book of the Danish Surgical Society, 2008.

Measuring uncertainty by extracting fuzzy rules using rough sets and extracting fuzzy rules under uncertainty and measuring definability using rough sets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Worm, Jeffrey A.; Culas, Donald E.

1991-01-01

Computers are not designed to handle terms where uncertainty is present. To deal with uncertainty, techniques other than classical logic must be developed. This paper examines the concepts of statistical analysis, the Dempster-Shafer theory, rough set theory, and fuzzy set theory to solve this problem. The fundamentals of these theories are combined to provide the possible optimal solution. By incorporating principles from these theories, a decision-making process may be simulated by extracting two sets of fuzzy rules: certain rules and possible rules. From these rules a corresponding measure of how much we believe these rules is constructed. From this, the idea of how much a fuzzy diagnosis is definable in terms of its fuzzy attributes is studied.

Surface Roughness and Morphology Customization of Additive Manufactured Open Porous Ti6Al4V Structures

PubMed Central

Pyka, Grzegorz; Kerckhofs, Greet; Papantoniou, Ioannis; Speirs, Mathew; Schrooten, Jan; Wevers, Martine

2013-01-01

Additive manufacturing (AM) is a production method that enables the building of porous structures with a controlled geometry. However, there is a limited control over the final surface of the product. Hence, complementary surface engineering strategies are needed. In this work, design of experiments (DoE) was used to customize post AM surface treatment for 3D selective laser melted Ti6Al4V open porous structures for bone tissue engineering. A two-level three-factor full factorial design was employed to assess the individual and interactive effects of the surface treatment duration and the concentration of the chemical etching solution on the final surface roughness and beam thickness of the treated porous structures. It was observed that the concentration of the surface treatment solution was the most important factor influencing roughness reduction. The designed beam thickness decreased the effectiveness of the surface treatment. In this case study, the optimized processing conditions for AM production and the post-AM surface treatment were defined based on the DoE output and were validated experimentally. This allowed the production of customized 3D porous structures with controlled surface roughness and overall morphological properties, which can assist in more controlled evaluation of the effect of surface roughness on various functional properties. PMID:28788357

Surface Roughness and Morphology Customization of Additive Manufactured Open Porous Ti6Al4V Structures.

PubMed

Pyka, Grzegorz; Kerckhofs, Greet; Papantoniou, Ioannis; Speirs, Mathew; Schrooten, Jan; Wevers, Martine

2013-10-22

Additive manufacturing (AM) is a production method that enables the building of porous structures with a controlled geometry. However, there is a limited control over the final surface of the product. Hence, complementary surface engineering strategies are needed. In this work, design of experiments (DoE) was used to customize post AM surface treatment for 3D selective laser melted Ti6Al4V open porous structures for bone tissue engineering. A two-level three-factor full factorial design was employed to assess the individual and interactive effects of the surface treatment duration and the concentration of the chemical etching solution on the final surface roughness and beam thickness of the treated porous structures. It was observed that the concentration of the surface treatment solution was the most important factor influencing roughness reduction. The designed beam thickness decreased the effectiveness of the surface treatment. In this case study, the optimized processing conditions for AM production and the post-AM surface treatment were defined based on the DoE output and were validated experimentally. This allowed the production of customized 3D porous structures with controlled surface roughness and overall morphological properties, which can assist in more controlled evaluation of the effect of surface roughness on various functional properties.

EUV patterning using CAR or MOX photoresist at low dose exposure for sub 36nm pitch

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thibaut, Sophie; Raley, Angélique; Lazarrino, Frederic; Mao, Ming; De Simone, Danilo; Piumi, Daniele; Barla, Kathy; Ko, Akiteru; Metz, Andrew; Kumar, Kaushik; Biolsi, Peter

2018-04-01

The semiconductor industry has been pushing the limits of scalability by combining 193nm immersion lithography with multi-patterning techniques for several years. Those integrations have been declined in a wide variety of options to lower their cost but retain their inherent variability and process complexity. EUV lithography offers a much desired path that allows for direct print of line and space at 36nm pitch and below and effectively addresses issues like cycle time, intra-level overlay and mask count costs associated with multi-patterning. However it also brings its own sets of challenges. One of the major barrier to high volume manufacturing implementation has been hitting the 250W power exposure required for adequate throughput [1]. Enabling patterning using a lower dose resist could help move us closer to the HVM throughput targets assuming required performance for roughness and pattern transfer can be met. As plasma etching is known to reduce line edge roughness on 193nm lithography printed features [2], we investigate in this paper the level of roughness that can be achieved on EUV photoresist exposed at a lower dose through etch process optimization into a typical back end of line film stack. We will study 16nm lines printed at 32 and 34nm pitch. MOX and CAR photoresist performance will be compared. We will review step by step etch chemistry development to reach adequate selectivity and roughness reduction to successfully pattern the target layer.

The influence of surface roughness of deserts on the July circulation - A numerical study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sud, Y. C.; Smith, W. E.

1985-01-01

The effect of the low surface roughness characteristics of deserts on atmospheric circulation in July is examined using numerical simulations with the GCM of the Goddard Laboratory for Atmospheric Science (GLAS). Identical sets of simulations were carried out with the model starting from the initial state of the atmosphere on June 15, for the years 1979 and 1980. The first simulation included a surface roughness factor of 45 cm, and the second set had a surface roughness factor of 0.02 cm for desert regions, and 45 cm for all other land. A comparative analysis of the numerical data was carried out in order to study the variations for the desert regions. It is shown that rainfall in the Sahara desert was reduced significantly in the data set with the nonuniform surface roughness factor in comparison with the other data set. The inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ) moved southward to about 15 degrees, which was close to its observed location at about 10 degrees N. In other deserts, the North American Great Plains, Rajputana in India, and the Central Asian desert, no similar changes were observed. Detailed contour maps of the weather conditions in the different desert regions are provided.

Rough Set Theory based prognostication of life expectancy for terminally ill patients.

PubMed

Gil-Herrera, Eleazar; Yalcin, Ali; Tsalatsanis, Athanasios; Barnes, Laura E; Djulbegovic, Benjamin

2011-01-01

We present a novel knowledge discovery methodology that relies on Rough Set Theory to predict the life expectancy of terminally ill patients in an effort to improve the hospice referral process. Life expectancy prognostication is particularly valuable for terminally ill patients since it enables them and their families to initiate end-of-life discussions and choose the most desired management strategy for the remainder of their lives. We utilize retrospective data from 9105 patients to demonstrate the design and implementation details of a series of classifiers developed to identify potential hospice candidates. Preliminary results confirm the efficacy of the proposed methodology. We envision our work as a part of a comprehensive decision support system designed to assist terminally ill patients in making end-of-life care decisions.

Determining the Effect of Material Hardness During the Hard Turning of AISI4340 Steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kambagowni, Venkatasubbaiah; Chitla, Raju; Challa, Suresh

2018-05-01

In the present manufacturing industries hardened steels are most widely used in the applications like tool design and mould design. It enhances the application range of hard turning of hardened steels in manufacturing industries. This study discusses the impact of workpiece hardness, feed and depth of cut on Arithmetic mean roughness (Ra), root mean square roughness (Rq), mean depth of roughness (Rz) and total roughness (Rt) during the hard turning. Experiments have been planned according to the Box-Behnken design and conducted on hardened AISI4340 steel at 45, 50 and 55 HRC with wiper ceramic cutting inserts. Cutting speed is kept constant during this study. The analysis of variance was used to determine the effects of the machining parameters. 3-D response surface plots drawn based on RSM were utilized to set up the input-output relationships. The results indicated that the feed rate has the most significant parameter for Ra, Rq and Rz and hardness has the most critical parameter for the Rt. Further, hardness shows its influence over all the surface roughness characteristics.

Role of roughness parameters on the tribology of randomly nano-textured silicon surface.

PubMed

Gualtieri, E; Pugno, N; Rota, A; Spagni, A; Lepore, E; Valeri, S

2011-10-01

This experimental work is oriented to give a contribution to the knowledge of the relationship among surface roughness parameters and tribological properties of lubricated surfaces; it is well known that these surface properties are strictly related, but a complete comprehension of such correlations is still far to be reached. For this purpose, a mechanical polishing procedure was optimized in order to induce different, but well controlled, morphologies on Si(100) surfaces. The use of different abrasive papers and slurries enabled the formation of a wide spectrum of topographical irregularities (from the submicro- to the nano-scale) and a broad range of surface profiles. An AFM-based morphological and topographical campaign was carried out to characterize each silicon rough surface through a set of parameters. Samples were subsequently water lubricated and tribologically characterized through ball-on-disk tribometer measurements. Indeed, the wettability of each surface was investigated by measuring the water droplet contact angle, that revealed a hydrophilic character for all the surfaces, even if no clear correlation with roughness emerged. Nevertheless, this observation brings input to the purpose, as it allows to exclude that the differences in surface profile affect lubrication. So it is possible to link the dynamic friction coefficient of rough Si samples exclusively to the opportune set of surface roughness parameters that can exhaustively describe both height amplitude variations (Ra, Rdq) and profile periodicity (Rsk, Rku, Ic) that influence asperity-asperity interactions and hydrodynamic lift in different ways. For this main reason they cannot be treated separately, but with dependent approach through which it was possible to explain even counter intuitive results: the unexpected decreasing of friction coefficient with increasing Ra is justifiable by a more consistent increasing of kurtosis Rku.

Optical microtopographic inspection of the surface of tooth subjected to stripping reduction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Costa, Manuel F.; Pereira, Pedro B.

2011-05-01

In orthodontics, the decreasing of tooth-size by reducing interproximal enamel surfaces (stripping) of teeth is a common procedure which allows dental alignment with minimal changes in the facial profile and no arch expansion. In order to achieve smooth surfaces, clinicians have been testing various methods and progressively improved this therapeutic technique. In order to evaluate the surface roughness of teeth subject to interproximal reduction through the five most commonly used methods, teeth were inspected by scanning electron microscopy and microtopographically measured using the optical active triangulation based microtopographer MICROTOP.06.MFC. The metrological procedure will be presented as well as the comparative results concluding on the most suitable tooth interproximal reduction method.

Flexible conformable hydrophobized surfaces for turbulent flow drag reduction

PubMed Central

Brennan, Joseph C; Geraldi, Nicasio R; Morris, Robert H; Fairhurst, David J; McHale, Glen; Newton, Michael I

2015-01-01

In recent years extensive work has been focused onto using superhydrophobic surfaces for drag reduction applications. Superhydrophobic surfaces retain a gas layer, called a plastron, when submerged underwater in the Cassie-Baxter state with water in contact with the tops of surface roughness features. In this state the plastron allows slip to occur across the surface which results in a drag reduction. In this work we report flexible and relatively large area superhydrophobic surfaces produced using two different methods: Large roughness features were created by electrodeposition on copper meshes; Small roughness features were created by embedding carbon nanoparticles (soot) into Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Both samples were made into cylinders with a diameter under 12 mm. To characterize the samples, scanning electron microscope (SEM) images and confocal microscope images were taken. The confocal microscope images were taken with each sample submerged in water to show the extent of the plastron. The hydrophobized electrodeposited copper mesh cylinders showed drag reductions of up to 32% when comparing the superhydrophobic state with a wetted out state. The soot covered cylinders achieved a 30% drag reduction when comparing the superhydrophobic state to a plain cylinder. These results were obtained for turbulent flows with Reynolds numbers 10,000 to 32,500. PMID:25975704

Identifying Degenerative Brain Disease Using Rough Set Classifier Based on Wavelet Packet Method.

PubMed

Cheng, Ching-Hsue; Liu, Wei-Xiang

2018-05-28

Population aging has become a worldwide phenomenon, which causes many serious problems. The medical issues related to degenerative brain disease have gradually become a concern. Magnetic Resonance Imaging is one of the most advanced methods for medical imaging and is especially suitable for brain scans. From the literature, although the automatic segmentation method is less laborious and time-consuming, it is restricted in several specific types of images. In addition, hybrid techniques segmentation improves the shortcomings of the single segmentation method. Therefore, this study proposed a hybrid segmentation combined with rough set classifier and wavelet packet method to identify degenerative brain disease. The proposed method is a three-stage image process method to enhance accuracy of brain disease classification. In the first stage, this study used the proposed hybrid segmentation algorithms to segment the brain ROI (region of interest). In the second stage, wavelet packet was used to conduct the image decomposition and calculate the feature values. In the final stage, the rough set classifier was utilized to identify the degenerative brain disease. In verification and comparison, two experiments were employed to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method and compare with the TV-seg (total variation segmentation) algorithm, Discrete Cosine Transform, and the listing classifiers. Overall, the results indicated that the proposed method outperforms the listing methods.

Inner and outer layer turbulence over a superhydrophobic surface with low roughness level at low Reynolds number

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abu Rowin, W.; Hou, J.; Ghaemi, S.

2017-09-01

The inner and outer layers of a turbulent channel flow over a superhydrophobic surface (SHS) are characterized using simultaneous long-range microscopic particle tracking velocimetry (micro-PTV) and particle image velocimetry, respectively. The channel flow is operated at a low Reynolds number of ReH = 4400 (based on full channel height and 0.174 m/s bulk velocity), equivalent to Reτ = 140 (based on half channel height and friction velocity). The SHS is produced by spray coating, and the root-mean-square of wall roughness normalized by wall-unit is k+rms = 0.11. The micro-PTV shows 0.023 m/s slip velocity over the SHS (about 13% of the bulk velocity), which corresponds to a slip-length of ˜200 μm. A drag reduction of ˜19% based on the slope of the linear viscous sublayer and 22% based on an analytical expression of Rastegari and Akhavan [J. Fluid Mech. 773, R4 (2015)] realized. The reduced Reτ over the SHS based on the corresponding friction velocity is ˜125, which is in the lower limit of a turbulence regime. The results show the increase of streamwise Reynolds stresses for the SHS in the linear viscous sublayer due to the slip boundary condition. The peak does not change in magnitude while it is displaced closer to the wall in physical distance. The wall-normal Reynolds stress over the SHS and smooth surface is observed to overlap near the wall at y+ < 10, while for the SHS is smaller further away from the wall in physical dimensions. At y+ = 30, is 30% smaller for the SHS. A small increase of Reynolds shear stress for the SHS is observed at y+ < 10, while about 30% reduction is observed at y+ = 30. The observed variation of Reynolds stresses is associated with the relatively small roughness of the surface. If Reynolds stresses are normalized based on the corresponding friction velocity, the non-dimensional stresses show a large increase of and a small increase of over the SHS at y+ < 20. Farther away from the wall at y+ > 20, the scaling of Reynolds stresses based on the corresponding uτ results in their overlap for the smooth and SHSs. The drag reduction is mainly associated with the reduction of viscous wall-shear stress, while the variation in Reynolds shear stress at the wall is negligible. The quadrant analysis of turbulent fluctuations shows attenuation of stronger sweep motions at y+ < 15, while ejections are attenuated in the buffer layer at y+ = 20 until 30.

Design of cognitive engine for cognitive radio based on the rough sets and radial basis function neural network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Yanchao; Jiang, Hong; Liu, Congbin; Lan, Zhongli

2013-03-01

Cognitive radio (CR) is an intelligent wireless communication system which can dynamically adjust the parameters to improve system performance depending on the environmental change and quality of service. The core technology for CR is the design of cognitive engine, which introduces reasoning and learning methods in the field of artificial intelligence, to achieve the perception, adaptation and learning capability. Considering the dynamical wireless environment and demands, this paper proposes a design of cognitive engine based on the rough sets (RS) and radial basis function neural network (RBF_NN). The method uses experienced knowledge and environment information processed by RS module to train the RBF_NN, and then the learning model is used to reconfigure communication parameters to allocate resources rationally and improve system performance. After training learning model, the performance is evaluated according to two benchmark functions. The simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the model and the proposed cognitive engine can effectively achieve the goal of learning and reconfiguration in cognitive radio.

Standard Sizes for Rough-Dimension Exports to Europe and Japan

Treesearch

Philip A. Araman

1987-01-01

In this article, European and Japanese standard-sized rough dimension products are described, and their apparent sizes are listed. One set of proposed standard sizes of rough dimension that could be manufactured in the United States for these markets is presented. Also, the benefits of the production and sale of standard sizes of export rough dimension are highlighted...

Spectral Analysis and Experimental Modeling of Ice Accretion Roughness

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Orr, D. J.; Breuer, K. S.; Torres, B. E.; Hansman, R. J., Jr.

1996-01-01

A self-consistent scheme for relating wind tunnel ice accretion roughness to the resulting enhancement of heat transfer is described. First, a spectral technique of quantitative analysis of early ice roughness images is reviewed. The image processing scheme uses a spectral estimation technique (SET) which extracts physically descriptive parameters by comparing scan lines from the experimentally-obtained accretion images to a prescribed test function. Analysis using this technique for both streamwise and spanwise directions of data from the NASA Lewis Icing Research Tunnel (IRT) are presented. An experimental technique is then presented for constructing physical roughness models suitable for wind tunnel testing that match the SET parameters extracted from the IRT images. The icing castings and modeled roughness are tested for enhancement of boundary layer heat transfer using infrared techniques in a "dry" wind tunnel.

Studies of reaction geometry in oxidation and reduction of the alkaline silver electrode

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Butler, E. A.; Blackham, A. U.

1971-01-01

Two methods of surface area estimations of sintered silver electrodes have given roughness factors of 58 and 81. One method is based on constant current oxidation, the other is based on potentiostatic oxidation. Examination of both wire and sintered silver electrodes via scanning electron microscopy at various stages of oxidation have shown that important structural features are mounds of oxide. In potentiostatic oxidations these appear to form on sites instantaneously nucleated while in constant current oxidations progressive nucleation is indicated.

Heat Transfer Measurements on Surfaces with Natural Ice Castings and Modeled Roughness

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Breuer, Kenneth S.; Torres, Benjamin E.; Orr, D. J.; Hansman, R. John

1997-01-01

An experimental method is described to measure and compare the convective heat transfer coefficient of natural and simulated ice accretion roughness and to provide a rational means for determining accretion-related enhanced heat transfer coefficients. The natural ice accretion roughness was a sample casting made from accretions at the NASA Lewis Icing Research Tunnel (IRT). One of these castings was modeled using a Spectral Estimation Technique (SET) to produce three roughness elements patterns that simulate the actual accretion. All four samples were tested in a flat-plate boundary layer at angle of attack in a "dry" wind tunnel test. The convective heat transfer coefficient was measured using infrared thermography. It is shown that, dispite some problems in the current data set, the method does show considerable promise in determining roughness-induced heat transfer coefficients, and that, in addition to the roughness height and spacing in the flow direction, the concentration and spacing of elements in the spanwise direction are important parameters.

Analysis of accuracy in photogrammetric roughness measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Olkowicz, Marcin; Dąbrowski, Marcin; Pluymakers, Anne

2017-04-01

Regarding permeability, one of the most important features of shale gas reservoirs is the effective aperture of cracks opened during hydraulic fracturing, both propped and unpropped. In a propped fracture, the aperture is controlled mostly by proppant size and its embedment, and fracture surface roughness only has a minor influence. In contrast, in an unpropped fracture aperture is controlled by the fracture roughness and the wall displacement. To measure fracture surface roughness, we have used the photogrammetric method since it is time- and cost-efficient. To estimate the accuracy of this method we compare the photogrammetric measurements with reference measurements taken with a White Light Interferometer (WLI). Our photogrammetric setup is based on high resolution 50 Mpx camera combined with a focus stacking technique. The first step for photogrammetric measurements is to determine the optimal camera positions and lighting. We compare multiple scans of one sample, taken with different settings of lighting and camera positions, with the reference WLI measurement. The second step is to perform measurements of all studied fractures with the parameters that produced the best results in the first step. To compare photogrammetric and WLI measurements we regrid both data sets onto a regular 10 μm grid and determined the best fit, followed by a calculation of the difference between the measurements. The first results of the comparison show that for 90 % of measured points the absolute vertical distance between WLI and photogrammetry is less than 10 μm, while the mean absolute vertical distance is 5 μm. This proves that our setup can be used for fracture roughness measurements in shales.

Feasibility of Integrated Menu Recommendation and Self-Order System for Small-Scale Restaurants

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kashima, Tomoko; Matsumoto, Shimpei; Ishii, Hiroaki

2010-10-01

In recent years, point of sales (POS) systems with order function have been developed for restaurants. Since expensive apparatus and system are required for installing POS systems, usually only large-scale restaurant chains can afford to introduce them. In this research, we consider the POS management in a restaurant, which cooperates with an automatic order function by using a personal digital device aiming at the safety of the food, pursuit of service, and further operational efficiency improvements, such as foods management, accounting treatment, and ordering work. In traditional POS systems, information recommendation technology is not taken into consideration. We realize the recommendation of a menu according to the user's preference using rough sets and menu planning based on stock status by applying information recommendation technology. Therefore, we believe that this system can be used in comfort with regard to freshness of foods, allergy, diabetes, etc. Furthermore, due to the reduction of the personnel expenses by an operational efficiency improvement such technology becomes even feasible for small-scale stores.

Intrusion detection using rough set classification.

PubMed

Zhang, Lian-hua; Zhang, Guan-hua; Zhang, Jie; Bai, Ying-cai

2004-09-01

Recently machine learning-based intrusion detection approaches have been subjected to extensive researches because they can detect both misuse and anomaly. In this paper, rough set classification (RSC), a modern learning algorithm, is used to rank the features extracted for detecting intrusions and generate intrusion detection models. Feature ranking is a very critical step when building the model. RSC performs feature ranking before generating rules, and converts the feature ranking to minimal hitting set problem addressed by using genetic algorithm (GA). This is done in classical approaches using Support Vector Machine (SVM) by executing many iterations, each of which removes one useless feature. Compared with those methods, our method can avoid many iterations. In addition, a hybrid genetic algorithm is proposed to increase the convergence speed and decrease the training time of RSC. The models generated by RSC take the form of "IF-THEN" rules, which have the advantage of explication. Tests and comparison of RSC with SVM on DARPA benchmark data showed that for Probe and DoS attacks both RSC and SVM yielded highly accurate results (greater than 99% accuracy on testing set).

Preventing preterm births: analysis of trends and potential reductions with interventions in 39 countries with very high human development index.

PubMed

Chang, Hannah H; Larson, Jim; Blencowe, Hannah; Spong, Catherine Y; Howson, Christopher P; Cairns-Smith, Sarah; Lackritz, Eve M; Lee, Shoo K; Mason, Elizabeth; Serazin, Andrew C; Walani, Salimah; Simpson, Joe Leigh; Lawn, Joy E

2013-01-19

Every year, 1·1 million babies die from prematurity, and many survivors are disabled. Worldwide, 15 million babies are born preterm (<37 weeks' gestation), with two decades of increasing rates in almost all countries with reliable data. The understanding of drivers and potential benefit of preventive interventions for preterm births is poor. We examined trends and estimate the potential reduction in preterm births for countries with very high human development index (VHHDI) if present evidence-based interventions were widely implemented. This analysis is to inform a rate reduction target for Born Too Soon. Countries were assessed for inclusion based on availability and quality of preterm prevalence data (2000-10), and trend analyses with projections undertaken. We analysed drivers of rate increases in the USA, 1989-2004. For 39 countries with VHHDI with more than 10,000 births, we did country-by-country analyses based on target population, incremental coverage increase, and intervention efficacy. We estimated cost savings on the basis of reported costs for preterm care in the USA adjusted using World Bank purchasing power parity. From 2010, even if all countries with VHHDI achieved annual preterm birth rate reductions of the best performers for 1990-2010 (Estonia and Croatia), 2000-10 (Sweden and Netherlands), or 2005-10 (Lithuania, Estonia), rates would experience a relative reduction of less than 5% by 2015 on average across the 39 countries. Our analysis of preterm birth rise 1989-2004 in USA suggests half the change is unexplained, but important drivers include non-medically indicated labour induction and caesarean delivery and assisted reproductive technologies. For all 39 countries with VHHDI, five interventions modelling at high coverage predicted a 5% relative reduction of preterm birth rate from 9·59% to 9·07% of livebirths: smoking cessation (0·01 rate reduction), decreasing multiple embryo transfers during assisted reproductive technologies (0·06), cervical cerclage (0·15), progesterone supplementation (0·01), and reduction of non-medically indicated labour induction or caesarean delivery (0·29). These findings translate to roughly 58,000 preterm births averted and total annual economic cost savings of about US$3 billion. We recommend a conservative target of a relative reduction in preterm birth rates of 5% by 2015. Our findings highlight the urgent need for research into underlying mechanisms of preterm births, and development of innovative interventions. Furthermore, the highest preterm birth rates occur in low-income settings where the causes of prematurity might differ and have simpler solutions such as birth spacing and treatment of infections in pregnancy than in high-income countries. Urgent focus on these settings is also crucial to reduce preterm births worldwide. March of Dimes, USA, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, and National Institutes of Health, USA. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Performance review of the ROMI-RIP rough mill simulator

Treesearch

Edward Thomas; Urs Buehlmann

2003-01-01

The USDA Forest Service's ROMI-RIP version 2.0 (RR2) rough mill rip-first simulation program was validated in a recent study. The validation study found that when RR2 was set to search for optimum yield without considering actual rough mill strip solutions, it produced yields that were as much as 7 percent higher (71.1% versus 64.0%) than the actual rough mill....

Numerical modeling of interaction in the dynamic system "gas-structure" with harmonic motion of the piston in the variable section pipe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Butymova, L. N.; Modorskii, V. Ya.; Petrov, V. Yu.

2016-10-01

The Helmholtz resonator is an instrument to create low-frequency natural oscillations whose wavelength is substantially larger than the dimensions of the resonator itself. Some modern insulating materials are a set of Helmholtz resonators made in the form of a multilayer composite structure with a layer of cells between the carrier layers. The cells have an outlet hole drilled in the support layer. Improving effectiveness of such structures in terms of noise reduction is an urgent task [1 - 7]. It is found that the resonator with a throat of higher surface roughness damps noise more effectively.

Electrocatalytic Transformation of Carbon Dioxide into Low Carbon Compounds on Conducting Polymers Derived from Multimetallic Porphyrins.

PubMed

Dreyse, Paulina; Honores, Jessica; Quezada, Diego; Isaacs, Mauricio

2015-11-01

The electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide is studied herein by using conducting polymers based on metallotetraruthenated porphyrins (MTRPs). The polymers on glassy carbon electrodes were obtained by electropolymerization processes of the monomeric MTRP. The linear sweep voltammetry technique resulted in polymeric films that showed electrocatalytic activity toward carbon dioxide reduction with an onset potential of -0.70 V. The reduction products obtained were hydrogen, formic acid, formaldehyde, and methanol, with a tendency for a high production of methanol with a maximum value of turnover frequency equal to 15.07 when using a zinc(II) polymeric surface. Studies of the morphology (AFM) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy results provide an adequate background to explain that the electrochemical reduction is governed by the roughness of the polymer, for which the possible mechanism involves a series of one-electron reduction reactions. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Additional Smooth and Rough Water Trials of SKI-CAT.

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-08-01

REPORT & PERIOD COVERED ADDITIONAL SMOOTH AND ROUGH WATER TRIALS OF FINAL SKI- CAT S. PERFORMING ORO. REPORT NUMSER 7. AUTHOR() I. CONTRACT OR GRANT NUMUr...Identif by bloc membe) ’ " -Further tests of SKI- CAT were made in smooth and rough water. Smooth water results confirmed the performance results of...reductions in the accelerations and motions of SKI- CAT over against the head seasreut DD , +A ,3 1473 EDITION OF I NOVS IS OBSOLETE UNCIbSJFIED SIME 0102-014

Fabrication of Flex Joint Utilizing Additively Manufactured Parts

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Eddleman, David; Richard, Jim

2015-01-01

The Selective Laser Melting (SLM) manufacturing technique has been utilized in the manufacture of a flex joint typical of those found in rocket engine and main propulsion system ducting. The SLM process allowed for the combination of parts that are typically machined separately and welded together. This resulted in roughly a 65% reduction of the total number of parts, roughly 70% reduction in the total number of welds, and an estimated 60% reduction in the number of machining operations. The majority of the new design was in three SLM pieces. These pieces, as well as a few traditionally fabricated parts, were assembled into a complete unit, which has been pressure tested. The design and planned cryogenic testing of the unit will be presented.

Selection of an evaluation index for water ecological civilizations of water-shortage cities based on the grey rough set

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, X. Y.; Zhu, J. W.; Xie, J. C.; Liu, J. L.; Jiang, R. G.

2017-08-01

According to the characteristics and existing problems of water ecological civilization of water-shortage cities, the evaluation index system of water ecological civilization was established using a grey rough set. From six aspects of water resources, water security, water environment, water ecology, water culture and water management, this study established the prime frame of the evaluation system, including 28 items, and used rough set theory to undertake optimal selection of the index system. Grey correlation theory then was used for weightings in order that the integrated evaluation index system for water ecology civilization of water-shortage cities could be constituted. Xi’an City was taken as an example, for which the results showed that 20 evaluation indexes could be obtained after optimal selection of the preliminary framework of evaluation index. The most influential indices were the water-resource category index and water environment category index. The leakage rate of the public water supply pipe network, as well as the disposal, treatment and usage rate of polluted water, urban water surface area ratio, the water quality of the main rivers, and so on also are important. It was demonstrated that the evaluation index could provide an objectively reflection of regional features and key points for the development of water ecology civilization for cities with scarce water resources. It is considered that the application example has universal applicability.

A Mathematical Approach in Evaluating Biotechnology Attitude Scale: Rough Set Data Analysis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Narli, Serkan; Sinan, Olcay

2011-01-01

Individuals' thoughts and attitudes towards biotechnology have been investigated in many countries. A Likert-type scale is the most commonly used scale to measure attitude. However, the weak side of a likert-type scale is that different responses may produce the same score. The Rough set method has been regarded to address this shortcoming. A…

Laser polishing of 3D printed mesoscale components

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bhaduri, Debajyoti; Penchev, Pavel; Batal, Afif; Dimov, Stefan; Soo, Sein Leung; Sten, Stella; Harrysson, Urban; Zhang, Zhenxue; Dong, Hanshan

2017-05-01

Laser polishing of various engineered materials such as glass, silica, steel, nickel and titanium alloys, has attracted considerable interest in the last 20 years due to its superior flexibility, operating speed and capability for localised surface treatment compared to conventional mechanical based methods. The paper initially reports results from process optimisation experiments aimed at investigating the influence of laser fluence and pulse overlap parameters on resulting workpiece surface roughness following laser polishing of planar 3D printed stainless steel (SS316L) specimens. A maximum reduction in roughness of over 94% (from ∼3.8 to ∼0.2 μm Sa) was achieved at the optimised settings (fluence of 9 J/cm2 and overlap factors of 95% and 88-91% along beam scanning and step-over directions respectively). Subsequent analysis using both X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy (GDOES) confirmed the presence of surface oxide layers (predominantly consisting of Fe and Cr phases) up to a depth of ∼0.5 μm when laser polishing was performed under normal atmospheric conditions. Conversely, formation of oxide layers was negligible when operating in an inert argon gas environment. The microhardness of the polished specimens was primarily influenced by the input thermal energy, with greater sub-surface hardness (up to ∼60%) recorded in the samples processed with higher energy density. Additionally, all of the polished surfaces were free of the scratch marks, pits, holes, lumps and irregularities that were prevalent on the as-received stainless steel samples. The optimised laser polishing technology was consequently implemented for serial finishing of structured 3D printed mesoscale SS316L components. This led to substantial reductions in areal Sa and St parameters by 75% (0.489-0.126 μm) and 90% (17.71-1.21 μm) respectively, without compromising the geometrical accuracy of the native 3D printed samples.

An audiovisual emotion recognition system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, Yi; Wang, Guoyin; Yang, Yong; He, Kun

2007-12-01

Human emotions could be expressed by many bio-symbols. Speech and facial expression are two of them. They are both regarded as emotional information which is playing an important role in human-computer interaction. Based on our previous studies on emotion recognition, an audiovisual emotion recognition system is developed and represented in this paper. The system is designed for real-time practice, and is guaranteed by some integrated modules. These modules include speech enhancement for eliminating noises, rapid face detection for locating face from background image, example based shape learning for facial feature alignment, and optical flow based tracking algorithm for facial feature tracking. It is known that irrelevant features and high dimensionality of the data can hurt the performance of classifier. Rough set-based feature selection is a good method for dimension reduction. So 13 speech features out of 37 ones and 10 facial features out of 33 ones are selected to represent emotional information, and 52 audiovisual features are selected due to the synchronization when speech and video fused together. The experiment results have demonstrated that this system performs well in real-time practice and has high recognition rate. Our results also show that the work in multimodules fused recognition will become the trend of emotion recognition in the future.

Rough Set Based Splitting Criterion for Binary Decision Tree Classifiers

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-09-26

Alata O. Fernandez-Maloigne C., and Ferrie J.C. (2001). Unsupervised Algorithm for the Segmentation of Three-Dimensional Magnetic Resonance Brain ...instinctual and learned responses in the brain , causing it to make decisions based on patterns in the stimuli. Using this deceptively simple process...2001. [2] Bohn C. (1997). An Incremental Unsupervised Learning Scheme for Function Approximation. In: Proceedings of the 1997 IEEE International

Composite Pillars with a Tunable Interface for Adhesion to Rough Substrates

PubMed Central

2016-01-01

The benefits of synthetic fibrillar dry adhesives for temporary and reversible attachment to hard objects with smooth surfaces have been successfully demonstrated in previous studies. However, surface roughness induces a dramatic reduction in pull-off stresses and necessarily requires revised design concepts. Toward this aim, we introduce cylindrical two-phase single pillars, which are composed of a mechanically stiff stalk and a soft tip layer. Adhesion to smooth and rough substrates is shown to exceed that of conventional pillar structures. The adhesion characteristics can be tuned by varying the thickness of the soft tip layer, the ratio of the Young’s moduli and the curvature of the interface between the two phases. For rough substrates, adhesion values similar to those obtained on smooth substrates were achieved. Our concept of composite pillars overcomes current practical limitations caused by surface roughness and opens up fields of application where roughness is omnipresent. PMID:27997118

Bed roughness of palaeo-ice streams: insights and implications for contemporary ice sheet dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Falcini, Francesca; Rippin, David; Selby, Katherine; Krabbendam, Maarten

2017-04-01

Bed roughness is the vertical variation of elevation along a horizontal transect. It is an important control on ice stream location and dynamics, with a correspondingly important role in determining the behaviour of ice sheets. Previous studies of bed roughness have been limited to insights derived from Radio Echo Sounding (RES) profiles across parts of Antarctica and Greenland. Such an approach has been necessary due to the inaccessibility of the underlying bed. This approach has led to important insights, such as identifying a general link between smooth beds and fast ice flow, as well as rough beds and slow ice flow. However, these insights are mainly derived from relatively coarse datasets, so that links between roughness and flow are generalised and rather simplistic. Here, we explore the use of DTMs from the well-preserved footprints of palaeo-ice streams, coupled with high resolution models of palaeo-ice flow, as a tool for investigating basal controls on the behaviour of contemporary, active ice streams in much greater detail. Initially, artificial transects were set up across the Minch palaeo-ice stream (NW Scotland) to mimic RES flight lines from past studies in Antarctica. We then explored how increasing data-resolution impacted upon the roughness measurements that were derived. Our work on the Minch palaeo-ice stream indicates that different roughness signatures are associated with different glacial landforms, and we discuss the potential for using these insights to infer, from RES-based roughness measurements, the occurrence of particular landform assemblages that may exist beneath contemporary ice sheets.

Preference Mining Using Neighborhood Rough Set Model on Two Universes.

PubMed

Zeng, Kai

2016-01-01

Preference mining plays an important role in e-commerce and video websites for enhancing user satisfaction and loyalty. Some classical methods are not available for the cold-start problem when the user or the item is new. In this paper, we propose a new model, called parametric neighborhood rough set on two universes (NRSTU), to describe the user and item data structures. Furthermore, the neighborhood lower approximation operator is used for defining the preference rules. Then, we provide the means for recommending items to users by using these rules. Finally, we give an experimental example to show the details of NRSTU-based preference mining for cold-start problem. The parameters of the model are also discussed. The experimental results show that the proposed method presents an effective solution for preference mining. In particular, NRSTU improves the recommendation accuracy by about 19% compared to the traditional method.

Processing and filtrating of driver fatigue characteristic parameters based on rough set

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ye, Wenwu; Zhao, Xuyang

2018-05-01

With the rapid development of economy, people become increasingly rich, and cars have become a common means of transportation in daily life. However, the problem of traffic safety is becoming more and more serious. And fatigue driving is one of the main causes of traffic accidents. Therefore, it is of great importance for us to study the detection of fatigue driving to improve traffic safety. In the cause of determining whether the driver is tired, the characteristic quantity related to the steering angle of the steering wheel and the characteristic quantity of the driver's pulse are all important indicators. The fuzzy c-means clustering is used to discretize the above indexes. Because the characteristic parameters are too miscellaneous, rough set is used to filtrate these characteristics. Finally, this paper finds out the highest correlation with fatigue driving. It is proved that these selected characteristics are of great significance to the evaluation of fatigue driving.

High-frequency Born synthetic seismograms based on coupled normal modes

USGS Publications Warehouse

Pollitz, Fred F.

2011-01-01

High-frequency and full waveform synthetic seismograms on a 3-D laterally heterogeneous earth model are simulated using the theory of coupled normal modes. The set of coupled integral equations that describe the 3-D response are simplified into a set of uncoupled integral equations by using the Born approximation to calculate scattered wavefields and the pure-path approximation to modulate the phase of incident and scattered wavefields. This depends upon a decomposition of the aspherical structure into smooth and rough components. The uncoupled integral equations are discretized and solved in the frequency domain, and time domain results are obtained by inverse Fourier transform. Examples show the utility of the normal mode approach to synthesize the seismic wavefields resulting from interaction with a combination of rough and smooth structural heterogeneities. This approach is applied to an ∼4 Hz shallow crustal wave propagation around the site of the San Andreas Fault Observatory at Depth (SAFOD).

Rough Play: One of the Most Challenging Behaviors

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carlson, Frances M.

2011-01-01

Most children engage in rough play, and research demonstrates its physical, social, emotional, and cognitive value. Early childhood education settings have the responsibility to provide children with what best serves their developmental needs. One of the best ways teachers can support rough play is by modeling it for children. When adults model…

Rheological State Diagrams for Rough Colloids in Shear Flow.

PubMed

Hsiao, Lilian C; Jamali, Safa; Glynos, Emmanouil; Green, Peter F; Larson, Ronald G; Solomon, Michael J

2017-10-13

To assess the role of particle roughness in the rheological phenomena of concentrated colloidal suspensions, we develop model colloids with varying surface roughness length scales up to 10% of the particle radius. Increasing surface roughness shifts the onset of both shear thickening and dilatancy towards lower volume fractions and critical stresses. Experimental data are supported by computer simulations of spherical colloids with adjustable friction coefficients, demonstrating that a reduction in the onset stress of thickening and a sign change in the first normal stresses occur when friction competes with lubrication. In the quasi-Newtonian flow regime, roughness increases the effective packing fraction of colloids. As the shear stress increases and suspensions of rough colloids approach jamming, the first normal stresses switch signs and the critical force required to generate contacts is drastically reduced. This is likely a signature of the lubrication films giving way to roughness-induced tangential interactions that bring about load-bearing contacts in the compression axis of flow.

Rheological State Diagrams for Rough Colloids in Shear Flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hsiao, Lilian C.; Jamali, Safa; Glynos, Emmanouil; Green, Peter F.; Larson, Ronald G.; Solomon, Michael J.

2017-10-01

To assess the role of particle roughness in the rheological phenomena of concentrated colloidal suspensions, we develop model colloids with varying surface roughness length scales up to 10% of the particle radius. Increasing surface roughness shifts the onset of both shear thickening and dilatancy towards lower volume fractions and critical stresses. Experimental data are supported by computer simulations of spherical colloids with adjustable friction coefficients, demonstrating that a reduction in the onset stress of thickening and a sign change in the first normal stresses occur when friction competes with lubrication. In the quasi-Newtonian flow regime, roughness increases the effective packing fraction of colloids. As the shear stress increases and suspensions of rough colloids approach jamming, the first normal stresses switch signs and the critical force required to generate contacts is drastically reduced. This is likely a signature of the lubrication films giving way to roughness-induced tangential interactions that bring about load-bearing contacts in the compression axis of flow.

Image Statistics and the Representation of Material Properties in the Visual Cortex

PubMed Central

Baumgartner, Elisabeth; Gegenfurtner, Karl R.

2016-01-01

We explored perceived material properties (roughness, texturedness, and hardness) with a novel approach that compares perception, image statistics and brain activation, as measured with fMRI. We initially asked participants to rate 84 material images with respect to the above mentioned properties, and then scanned 15 of the participants with fMRI while they viewed the material images. The images were analyzed with a set of image statistics capturing their spatial frequency and texture properties. Linear classifiers were then applied to the image statistics as well as the voxel patterns of visually responsive voxels and early visual areas to discriminate between images with high and low perceptual ratings. Roughness and texturedness could be classified above chance level based on image statistics. Roughness and texturedness could also be classified based on the brain activation patterns in visual cortex, whereas hardness could not. Importantly, the agreement in classification based on image statistics and brain activation was also above chance level. Our results show that information about visual material properties is to a large degree contained in low-level image statistics, and that these image statistics are also partially reflected in brain activity patterns induced by the perception of material images. PMID:27582714

Image Statistics and the Representation of Material Properties in the Visual Cortex.

PubMed

Baumgartner, Elisabeth; Gegenfurtner, Karl R

2016-01-01

We explored perceived material properties (roughness, texturedness, and hardness) with a novel approach that compares perception, image statistics and brain activation, as measured with fMRI. We initially asked participants to rate 84 material images with respect to the above mentioned properties, and then scanned 15 of the participants with fMRI while they viewed the material images. The images were analyzed with a set of image statistics capturing their spatial frequency and texture properties. Linear classifiers were then applied to the image statistics as well as the voxel patterns of visually responsive voxels and early visual areas to discriminate between images with high and low perceptual ratings. Roughness and texturedness could be classified above chance level based on image statistics. Roughness and texturedness could also be classified based on the brain activation patterns in visual cortex, whereas hardness could not. Importantly, the agreement in classification based on image statistics and brain activation was also above chance level. Our results show that information about visual material properties is to a large degree contained in low-level image statistics, and that these image statistics are also partially reflected in brain activity patterns induced by the perception of material images.

H2RM: A Hybrid Rough Set Reasoning Model for Prediction and Management of Diabetes Mellitus.

PubMed

Ali, Rahman; Hussain, Jamil; Siddiqi, Muhammad Hameed; Hussain, Maqbool; Lee, Sungyoung

2015-07-03

Diabetes is a chronic disease characterized by high blood glucose level that results either from a deficiency of insulin produced by the body, or the body's resistance to the effects of insulin. Accurate and precise reasoning and prediction models greatly help physicians to improve diagnosis, prognosis and treatment procedures of different diseases. Though numerous models have been proposed to solve issues of diagnosis and management of diabetes, they have the following drawbacks: (1) restricted one type of diabetes; (2) lack understandability and explanatory power of the techniques and decision; (3) limited either to prediction purpose or management over the structured contents; and (4) lack competence for dimensionality and vagueness of patient's data. To overcome these issues, this paper proposes a novel hybrid rough set reasoning model (H2RM) that resolves problems of inaccurate prediction and management of type-1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). For verification of the proposed model, experimental data from fifty patients, acquired from a local hospital in semi-structured format, is used. First, the data is transformed into structured format and then used for mining prediction rules. Rough set theory (RST) based techniques and algorithms are used to mine the prediction rules. During the online execution phase of the model, these rules are used to predict T1DM and T2DM for new patients. Furthermore, the proposed model assists physicians to manage diabetes using knowledge extracted from online diabetes guidelines. Correlation-based trend analysis techniques are used to manage diabetic observations. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed model outperforms the existing methods with 95.9% average and balanced accuracies.

H2RM: A Hybrid Rough Set Reasoning Model for Prediction and Management of Diabetes Mellitus

PubMed Central

Ali, Rahman; Hussain, Jamil; Siddiqi, Muhammad Hameed; Hussain, Maqbool; Lee, Sungyoung

2015-01-01

Diabetes is a chronic disease characterized by high blood glucose level that results either from a deficiency of insulin produced by the body, or the body’s resistance to the effects of insulin. Accurate and precise reasoning and prediction models greatly help physicians to improve diagnosis, prognosis and treatment procedures of different diseases. Though numerous models have been proposed to solve issues of diagnosis and management of diabetes, they have the following drawbacks: (1) restricted one type of diabetes; (2) lack understandability and explanatory power of the techniques and decision; (3) limited either to prediction purpose or management over the structured contents; and (4) lack competence for dimensionality and vagueness of patient’s data. To overcome these issues, this paper proposes a novel hybrid rough set reasoning model (H2RM) that resolves problems of inaccurate prediction and management of type-1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). For verification of the proposed model, experimental data from fifty patients, acquired from a local hospital in semi-structured format, is used. First, the data is transformed into structured format and then used for mining prediction rules. Rough set theory (RST) based techniques and algorithms are used to mine the prediction rules. During the online execution phase of the model, these rules are used to predict T1DM and T2DM for new patients. Furthermore, the proposed model assists physicians to manage diabetes using knowledge extracted from online diabetes guidelines. Correlation-based trend analysis techniques are used to manage diabetic observations. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed model outperforms the existing methods with 95.9% average and balanced accuracies. PMID:26151207

Mars radar clutter and surface roughness characteristics from MARSIS data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Campbell, Bruce A.; Schroeder, Dustin M.; Whitten, Jennifer L.

2018-01-01

Radar sounder studies of icy, sedimentary, and volcanic settings can be affected by reflections from surface topography surrounding the sensor nadir location. These off-nadir ;clutter; returns appear at similar time delays to subsurface echoes and complicate geologic interpretation. Additionally, broadening of the radar echo in delay by surface returns sets a limit on the detectability of subsurface interfaces. We use MARSIS 4 MHz data to study variations in the nadir and off-nadir clutter echoes, from about 300 km to 1000 km altitude, R, for a wide range of surface roughness. This analysis uses a new method of characterizing ionospheric attenuation to merge observations over a range of solar zenith angle and date. Mirror-like reflections should scale as R-2, but the observed 4 MHz nadir echoes often decline by a somewhat smaller power-law factor because MARSIS on-board processing increases the number of summed pulses with altitude. Prior predictions of the contributions from clutter suggest a steeper decline with R than the nadir echoes, but in very rough areas the ratio of off-nadir returns to nadir echoes shows instead an increase of about R1/2 with altitude. This is likely due in part to an increase in backscatter from the surface as the radar incidence angle at some round-trip time delay declines with increasing R. It is possible that nadir and clutter echo properties in other planetary sounding observations, including RIME and REASON flyby data for Europa, will vary in the same way with altitude, but there may be differences in the nature and scale of target roughness (e.g., icy versus rocky surfaces). We present global maps of the ionosphere- and altitude-corrected nadir echo strength, and of a ;clutter; parameter based on the ratio of off-nadir to nadir echoes. The clutter map offers a view of surface roughness at ∼75 m length scale, bridging the spatial-scale gap between SHARAD roughness estimates and MOLA-derived parameters.

Fault region localization (FRL): collaborative product and process improvement based on field performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mannar, Kamal; Ceglarek, Darek

2005-11-01

Customer feedback in the form of warranty/field performance is an important and direct indicator of quality and robustness of a product. Linking warranty information to manufacturing measurements can identify key design parameters and process variables (DPs and PVs) that are related to warranty failures. Warranty data has been traditionally used in reliability studies to determine failure distributions and warranty cost. This paper proposes a novel Fault Region Localization (FRL) methodology to map warranty failures to manufacturing measurements (hence to DPs/PVs) to diagnose warranty failures and perform tolerance revaluation. The FRL methodology consists of two parts: 1. Identifying relations between warranty failures and DPs and PVs using the Generalized Rough Set (GRS) method. GRS is a supervised learning technique to identify specific DPs and PVs related to the given warranty failures and then determining the corresponding Warranty Fault Regions (WFR), Normal Region (NR) and Boundary region (BND). GRS expands traditional Rough Set method by allowing inclusion of noise and uncertainty of warranty data classes. 2. Revaluating the original tolerances of DPs/PVs based on the WFR and BND region identified. The FRL methodology is illustrated using case studies based on two warranty failures from the electronics industry.

Assessing Rural Sustainable Development potentialities using a Dominance-based Rough Set Approach.

PubMed

Boggia, Antonio; Rocchi, Lucia; Paolotti, Luisa; Musotti, Francesco; Greco, Salvatore

2014-11-01

Rural Development is a priority in Europe and it is supported by specific, financial programmes. At the same time, sustainability is the key word for the European Union to construct programmes and policies for all human activities. However, measuring sustainability of rural areas is not easy, due to their particular features. The improvement of knowledge on sustainability in rural areas is important to build long term policies and strategies for those territories. The objective of this study is the development of a decision support system based on the Dominance-based Rough Set Approach (DRSA), to assess the level of Rural Sustainable Development in specific areas. We used DRSA to analyze the level of sustainability of the 92 municipalities of the Region of Umbria, Italy. The results were synthesized in a final ranking, taking into account the equilibrium and the integration between development and sustainability of each municipality. DRSA showed a high potential in the context of management or planning, and for supporting Decision Makers. DRSA is able to give a ranking as well as an explanation of the main factors driving sustainable development in rural areas. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

An intelligent knowledge mining model for kidney cancer using rough set theory.

PubMed

Durai, M A Saleem; Acharjya, D P; Kannan, A; Iyengar, N Ch Sriman Narayana

2012-01-01

Medical diagnosis processes vary in the degree to which they attempt to deal with different complicating aspects of diagnosis such as relative importance of symptoms, varied symptom pattern and the relation between diseases themselves. Rough set approach has two major advantages over the other methods. First, it can handle different types of data such as categorical, numerical etc. Secondly, it does not make any assumption like probability distribution function in stochastic modeling or membership grade function in fuzzy set theory. It involves pattern recognition through logical computational rules rather than approximating them through smooth mathematical functional forms. In this paper we use rough set theory as a data mining tool to derive useful patterns and rules for kidney cancer faulty diagnosis. In particular, the historical data of twenty five research hospitals and medical college is used for validation and the results show the practical viability of the proposed approach.

Dutch Perspective on Coastal Louisiana Flood Risk Reduction and Landscape Stabilization

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-04-01

man-made conditions. In the Netherlands, these interventions span ages dating back to roughly the 23 April, 2007 First Interim Report Dutch...Dutch Case (see below). Doing the right thing after 1953 was based on ages of thinking and acting to cultivate the Delta, to store fresh water and to...through the ages developed to its present state through reclamation of marshlands, increasing water management technologies and through response

Contact stiffness of regularly patterned multi-asperity interfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Shen; Yao, Quanzhou; Li, Qunyang; Feng, Xi-Qiao; Gao, Huajian

2018-02-01

Contact stiffness is a fundamental mechanical index of solid surfaces and relevant to a wide range of applications. Although the correlation between contact stiffness, contact size and load has long been explored for single-asperity contacts, our understanding of the contact stiffness of rough interfaces is less clear. In this work, the contact stiffness of hexagonally patterned multi-asperity interfaces is studied using a discrete asperity model. We confirm that the elastic interaction among asperities is critical in determining the mechanical behavior of rough contact interfaces. More importantly, in contrast to the common wisdom that the interplay of asperities is solely dictated by the inter-asperity spacing, we show that the number of asperities in contact (or equivalently, the apparent size of contact) also plays an indispensable role. Based on the theoretical analysis, we propose a new parameter for gauging the closeness of asperities. Our theoretical model is validated by a set of experiments. To facilitate the application of the discrete asperity model, we present a general equation for contact stiffness estimation of regularly rough interfaces, which is further proved to be applicable for interfaces with single-scale random roughness.

Assessment of Ice Shape Roughness Using a Self-Orgainizing Map Approach

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mcclain, Stephen T.; Kreeger, Richard E.

2013-01-01

Self-organizing maps are neural-network techniques for representing noisy, multidimensional data aligned along a lower-dimensional and nonlinear manifold. For a large set of noisy data, each element of a finite set of codebook vectors is iteratively moved in the direction of the data closest to the winner codebook vector. Through successive iterations, the codebook vectors begin to align with the trends of the higher-dimensional data. Prior investigations of ice shapes have focused on using self-organizing maps to characterize mean ice forms. The Icing Research Branch has recently acquired a high resolution three dimensional scanner system capable of resolving ice shape surface roughness. A method is presented for the evaluation of surface roughness variations using high-resolution surface scans based on a self-organizing map representation of the mean ice shape. The new method is demonstrated for 1) an 18-in. NACA 23012 airfoil 2 AOA just after the initial ice coverage of the leading 5 of the suction surface of the airfoil, 2) a 21-in. NACA 0012 at 0AOA following coverage of the leading 10 of the airfoil surface, and 3) a cold-soaked 21-in.NACA 0012 airfoil without ice. The SOM method resulted in descriptions of the statistical coverage limits and a quantitative representation of early stages of ice roughness formation on the airfoils. Limitations of the SOM method are explored, and the uncertainty limits of the method are investigated using the non-iced NACA 0012 airfoil measurements.

Study on Huizhou architecture of point cloud registration based on optimized ICP algorithm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Runmei; Wu, Yulu; Zhang, Guangbin; Zhou, Wei; Tao, Yuqian

2018-03-01

In view of the current point cloud registration software has high hardware requirements, heavy workload and moltiple interactive definition, the source of software with better processing effect is not open, a two--step registration method based on normal vector distribution feature and coarse feature based iterative closest point (ICP) algorithm is proposed in this paper. This method combines fast point feature histogram (FPFH) algorithm, define the adjacency region of point cloud and the calculation model of the distribution of normal vectors, setting up the local coordinate system for each key point, and obtaining the transformation matrix to finish rough registration, the rough registration results of two stations are accurately registered by using the ICP algorithm. Experimental results show that, compared with the traditional ICP algorithm, the method used in this paper has obvious time and precision advantages for large amount of point clouds.

a Traffic-Dependent Acoustical Grinding Criterion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

DINGS, P.; VERHEIJEN, E.; KOOTWIJK-DAMMAN, C.

2000-03-01

On most lines of the Dutch railway network, where a substantial amount of block-braked trains have rough wheels, the average wheel roughness dominates over the rail roughness. Therefore, reducing wheel roughness is top priority in the Netherlands. However, for the situations where rail roughness exceeds wheel roughness, this roughness can be lowered at acceptable cost. The high rail roughness is often due to rail corrugation which can be removed by grinding. A method has been developed to assess periodically the rail roughness on each railway line of the network, to compare it with the average wheel roughness for that line and to determine whether a noise reduction can be achieved by grinding the rail. Roughness measurements can be carried out with an instrumented coach. The two axle-boxes of a measurement wheelset are equipped with accelerometers. Together with the train speed and the right frequency filter, the accelerometer signal is used to produce a wavelength spectrum of the rail roughness. To determine the average wheel roughness on a given line, the so-called Acoustical Timetable can be used. This database comprises train types, train intensities and train speeds for each track section in the Netherlands. An average wheel roughness spectrum is known for each type of braking system. The number of trains of each type passing by on a certain track section determine the average roughness. Analysis of the data shows on which track sections the rail roughness exceeds the wheel roughness by a specified level difference. If this track section lies in a residential area, the decision can be made to grind this piece of track to reduce the noise production locally. Using this methodology, the noise production can be kept to a minimum, determined by the local average wheel roughness.

Measuring Skew in Average Surface Roughness as a Function of Surface Preparation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stahl, Mark

2015-01-01

Characterizing surface roughness is important for predicting optical performance. Better measurement of surface roughness reduces polishing time, saves money and allows the science requirements to be better defined. This study characterized statistics of average surface roughness as a function of polishing time. Average surface roughness was measured at 81 locations using a Zygo white light interferometer at regular intervals during the polishing process. Each data set was fit to a normal and Largest Extreme Value (LEV) distribution; then tested for goodness of fit. We show that the skew in the average data changes as a function of polishing time.

Effect of Finishing and Polishing on Roughness and Gloss of Lithium Disilicate and Lithium Silicate Zirconia Reinforced Glass Ceramic for CAD/CAM Systems.

PubMed

Vichi, A; Fonzar, R Fabian; Goracci, C; Carrabba, M; Ferrari, M

To assess the efficacy of dedicated finishing/polishing systems on roughness and gloss of VITA Suprinity and IPS e.max CAD. A total of 24 blocks of Suprinity and 24 of e.max were cut into a wedge shape using an InLab MC-XL milling unit. After crystallization, the 24 Suprinity wedges were divided into four subgroups: group A.1: Suprinity Polishing Set Clinical used for 30 seconds and group A.2: for 60 seconds; group A.3: VITA Akzent Plus Paste; and group A.4: spray. The 24 e.max wedges (group B) were divided into four subgroups according to the finishing procedure: group B.1: Optrafine Ceramic Polishing System for 30 seconds and group B.2: for 60 seconds; group B.3: IPS e.max CAD Crystall/Glaze paste; and group B.4: spray. After finishing/polishing, gloss was assessed with a glossmeter and roughness evaluated with a profilometer. Results were analyzed by applying a two-way analysis of variance for gloss and another for roughness (α=0.05). One specimen per each subgroup was observed with a scanning electron microscope. For roughness, materials and surface were significant factors ( p<0.001). Suprinity exhibited significantly lower roughness than e.max. Also the Material-Surface Treatment interaction was statistically significant ( p=0.026). For gloss, both material and surface treatment were significant factors ( p<0.001). VITA Suprinity showed significantly higher gloss than e.max. Also the Material-Surface Treatment interaction was statistically significant ( p<0.001). Manual finishing/polishing for 60 seconds and glazing paste are the most effective procedures in lowering the roughness of CAD/CAM silica-based glass ceramics. Manual finishing/polishing for 60 seconds allows milled silica-based glass ceramics to yield a higher gloss. VITA Suprinity displayed higher polishability than IPS e.max CAD.

Experimental test of an online ion-optics optimizer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Amthor, A. M.; Schillaci, Z. M.; Morrissey, D. J.; Portillo, M.; Schwarz, S.; Steiner, M.; Sumithrarachchi, Ch.

2018-07-01

A technique has been developed and tested to automatically adjust multiple electrostatic or magnetic multipoles on an ion optical beam line - according to a defined optimization algorithm - until an optimal tune is found. This approach simplifies the process of determining high-performance optical tunes, satisfying a given set of optical properties, for an ion optical system. The optimization approach is based on the particle swarm method and is entirely model independent, thus the success of the optimization does not depend on the accuracy of an extant ion optical model of the system to be optimized. Initial test runs of a first order optimization of a low-energy (<60 keV) all-electrostatic beamline at the NSCL show reliable convergence of nine quadrupole degrees of freedom to well-performing tunes within a reasonable number of trial solutions, roughly 500, with full beam optimization run times of roughly two hours. Improved tunes were found both for quasi-local optimizations and for quasi-global optimizations, indicating a good ability of the optimizer to find a solution with or without a well defined set of initial multipole settings.

Surface roughness of composite resin veneer after application of herbal and non-herbal toothpaste

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nuraini, S.; Herda, E.; Irawan, B.

2017-08-01

The aim of this study was to find out the surface roughness of composite resin veneer after brushing. In this study, 24 specimens of composite resin veneer are divided into three subgroups: brushed without toothpaste, brushed with non-herbal toothpaste, and brushed with herbal toothpaste. Brushing was performed for one set of 5,000 strokes and continued for a second set of 5,000 strokes. Roughness of composite resin veneer was determined using a Surface Roughness Tester. The results were statistically analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric test and Post Hoc Mann-Whitney. The results indicate that the highest difference among the Ra values occurred within the subgroup that was brushed with the herbal toothpaste. In conclusion, the herbal toothpaste produced a rougher surface on composite resin veneer compared to non-herbal toothpaste.

Characterization of Ice Roughness From Simulated Icing Encounters

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Anderson, David N.; Shin, Jaiwon

1997-01-01

Detailed measurements of the size of roughness elements on ice accreted on models in the NASA Lewis Icing Research Tunnel (IRT) were made in a previous study. Only limited data from that study have been published, but included were the roughness element height, diameter and spacing. In the present study, the height and spacing data were found to correlate with the element diameter, and the diameter was found to be a function primarily of the non-dimensional parameters freezing fraction and accumulation parameter. The width of the smooth zone which forms at the leading edge of the model was found to decrease with increasing accumulation parameter. Although preliminary, the success of these correlations suggests that it may be possible to develop simple relationships between ice roughness and icing conditions for use in ice-accretion-prediction codes. These codes now require an ice-roughness estimate to determine convective heat transfer. Studies using a 7.6-cm-diameter cylinder and a 53.3-cm-chord NACA 0012 airfoil were also performed in which a 1/2-min icing spray at an initial set of conditions was followed by a 9-1/2-min spray at a second set of conditions. The resulting ice shape was compared with that from a full 10-min spray at the second set of conditions. The initial ice accumulation appeared to have no effect on the final ice shape. From this result, it would appear the accreting ice is affected very little by the initial roughness or shape features.

An experimental study on the effects of rough hydrophobic surfaces on the flow around a circular cylinder

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Nayoung; Kim, Hyunseok; Park, Hyungmin

2015-08-01

The present study investigates the effect that rough hydrophobic (or superhydrophobic) surfaces have on the flow separation and subsequent vortex structures in a turbulent wake behind a circular cylinder. The velocity fields were measured using two-dimensional particle image velocimetry in a water tunnel with Reynolds numbers of 0.7-2.3 × 104. The spray-coating of hydrophobic nanoparticles and roughened Teflon was used to produce the rough hydrophobic surfaces, and sandpapers with two different grit sizes were used to sand the Teflon into streamwise and spanwise directions, respectively, in order to examine the effect of the slip direction. The rough hydrophobic surface was found to enhance the turbulence in the flows above the circular cylinder and along the separating shear layers, resulting in a delay of the flow separation and early vortex roll-up in the wake. As a result, the size of the recirculation bubble in the wake was reduced by up to 40%, while the drag reduction of less than 10% is estimated from a wake survey. However, these effects are reversed as the Reynolds number increases. The surface texture normal to the flow direction (spanwise slip) was found to be more effective than that aligned to the flow (streamwise slip), supporting the suggested mechanism. In addition, the superhydrophobic surface is locally applied by varying the installation angle and that applied around the separation point is most effective, indicating that the rough hydrophobic surface directly affects the boundary layer at flow separation. In order to control the flow around a circular cylinder using rough hydrophobic surfaces, it is suggested to have a smaller roughness width, which can stably retain air pockets. In addition, a higher gas fraction and a more uniform distribution of the roughness size are helpful to enhance the performance such as the separation delay and drag reduction.

Can We Make Definite Categorization of Student Attitudes? A Rough Set Approach to Investigate Students' Implicit Attitudinal Typologies toward Living Things

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Narli, Serkan; Yorek, Nurettin; Sahin, Mehmet; Usak, Muhammet

2010-01-01

This study investigates the possibility of analyzing educational data using the theory of rough sets which is mostly employed in the fields of data analysis and data mining. Data were collected using an open-ended conceptual understanding test of the living things administered to first-year high school students. The responses of randomly selected…

Effects of size reduction on deformation, microstructure, and surface roughness of micro components for micro metal injection molding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Lin; Wang, Xin-da; Li, Xiang; Qi, Xiao-tong; Qu, Xuan-hui

2017-09-01

The fabrication of 17-4PH micro spool mandrils by micro metal injection molding was described here. The effects of size reduction on deformation, microstructure and surface roughness were studied by comparing a ϕ500 μm micro post and a ϕ1.7 mm cylinder after debinding and sintering. Experimental results show that slumping of the micro posts occurred due to a dramatic increase in outlet vapor pressure initiated at the thermal degradation onset temperature and the moment of gravity. Asymmetrical stress distribution within the micro component formed during the cooling stage may cause warping. Prior solvent debinding and adjustment in a thermal debinding scheme were useful for preventing the deformation of the micro components. Smaller grain size and higher micro hardness due to impeded grain growth were observed for the micro posts compared with the ϕ1.7 mm cylinder. Surface roughness increased with distance from the gate of the micro spool mandril due to melt front advancement during mold filling and the ensuing pressure distribution. At each position, surface roughness was dictated by injection molding and increased slightly after sintering.

Flow over a Biomimetic Surface Roughness Microgeometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Warncke Lang, Amy; Hidalgo, Pablo; Westcott, Matthew

2006-11-01

Certain species of sharks (e.g. shortfin mako and common hammerhead) have a skin structure that could result in a bristling of their denticles (scales) during increased swimming speeds (Bechert, D. W., Bruse, M., Hage, W. and Meyer, R. 2000, Fluid mechanics of biological surfaces and their technological application. Naturwissenschaften 80:157-171). This unique surface geometry results in a three-dimensional array of cavities* (d-type roughness geometry) forming within the surface and has been given the acronym MAKO (Micro-roughness Array for Kinematic Optimization). Possible mechanisms leading to drag reduction over the shark's body by this unique roughness geometry include separation control thereby reducing pressure drag, skin friction reduction (via the `micro-air bearing' effect first proposed by Bushnell (AIAA 83-0227)), as well as possible transition delay in the boundary layer. Initial work is confined to scaling up the geometry from 0.2 mm on the shark skin to 2 cm, with a scaling down in characteristic velocity from 10 - 20 m/s to 10 - 20 cm/s for laminar flow boundary layer water tunnel studies. Support for this research by NSF SGER grant CTS-0630489 and a University of Alabama RAC grant is gratefully acknowledged. * Patent pending.

Aerodynamics and thermal physics of helicopter ice accretion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, Yiqiang

Ice accretion on aircraft introduces significant loss in airfoil performance. Reduced lift-to- drag ratio reduces the vehicle capability to maintain altitude and also limits its maneuverability. Current ice accretion performance degradation modeling approaches are calibrated only to a limited envelope of liquid water content, impact velocity, temperature, and water droplet size; consequently inaccurate aerodynamic performance degradations are estimated. The reduced ice accretion prediction capabilities in the glaze ice regime are primarily due to a lack of knowledge of surface roughness induced by ice accretion. A comprehensive understanding of the ice roughness effects on airfoil heat transfer, ice accretion shapes, and ultimately aerodynamics performance is critical for the design of ice protection systems. Surface roughness effects on both heat transfer and aerodynamic performance degradation on airfoils have been experimentally evaluated. Novel techniques, such as ice molding and casting methods and transient heat transfer measurement using non-intrusive thermal imaging methods, were developed at the Adverse Environment Rotor Test Stand (AERTS) facility at Penn State. A novel heat transfer scaling method specifically for turbulent flow regime was also conceived. A heat transfer scaling parameter, labeled as Coefficient of Stanton and Reynolds Number (CSR = Stx/Rex --0.2), has been validated against reference data found in the literature for rough flat plates with Reynolds number (Re) up to 1x107, for rough cylinders with Re ranging from 3x104 to 4x106, and for turbine blades with Re from 7.5x105 to 7x106. This is the first time that the effect of Reynolds number is shown to be successfully eliminated on heat transfer magnitudes measured on rough surfaces. Analytical models for ice roughness distribution, heat transfer prediction, and aerodynamics performance degradation due to ice accretion have also been developed. The ice roughness prediction model was developed based on a set of 82 experimental measurements and also compared to existing predictions tools. Two reference predictions found in the literature yielded 76% and 54% discrepancy with respect to experimental testing, whereas the proposed ice roughness prediction model resulted in a 31% minimum accuracy in prediction. It must be noted that the accuracy of the proposed model is within the ice shape reproduction uncertainty of icing facilities. Based on the new ice roughness prediction model and the CSR heat transfer scaling method, an icing heat transfer model was developed. The approach achieved high accuracy in heat transfer prediction compared to experiments conducted at the AERTS facility. The discrepancy between predictions and experimental results was within +/-15%, which was within the measurement uncertainty range of the facility. By combining both the ice roughness and heat transfer predictions, and incorporating the modules into an existing ice prediction tool (LEWICE), improved prediction capability was obtained, especially for the glaze regime. With the available ice shapes accreted at the AERTS facility and additional experiments found in the literature, 490 sets of experimental ice shapes and corresponding aerodynamics testing data were available. A physics-based performance degradation empirical tool was developed and achieved a mean absolute deviation of 33% when compared to the entire experimental dataset, whereas 60% to 243% discrepancies were observed using legacy drag penalty prediction tools. Rotor torque predictions coupling Blade Element Momentum Theory and the proposed drag performance degradation tool was conducted on a total of 17 validation cases. The coupled prediction tool achieved a 10% predicting error for clean rotor conditions, and 16% error for iced rotor conditions. It was shown that additional roughness element could affect the measured drag by up to 25% during experimental testing, emphasizing the need of realistic ice structures during aerodynamics modeling and testing for ice accretion.

Parameterized Spectral Bathymetric Roughness Using the Nonequispaced Fast Fourier Transform

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fabre, David Hanks

The ocean and acoustic modeling community has specifically asked for roughness from bathymetry. An effort has been undertaken to provide what can be thought of as the high frequency content of bathymetry. By contrast, the low frequency content of bathymetry is the set of contours. The two-dimensional amplitude spectrum calculated with the nonequispaced fast Fourier transform (Kunis, 2006) is exploited as the statistic to provide several parameters of roughness following the method of Fox (1996). When an area is uniformly rough, it is termed isotropically rough. When an area exhibits lineation effects (like in a trough or a ridge line in the bathymetry), the term anisotropically rough is used. A predominant spatial azimuth of lineation summarizes anisotropic roughness. The power law model fit produces a roll-off parameter that also provides insight into the roughness of the area. These four parameters give rise to several derived parameters. Algorithmic accomplishments include reviving Fox's method (1985, 1996) and improving the method with the possibly geophysically more appropriate nonequispaced fast Fourier transform. A new composite parameter, simply the overall integral length of the nonlinear parameterizing function, is used to make within-dataset comparisons. A synthetic dataset and six multibeam datasets covering practically all depth regimes have been analyzed with the tools that have been developed. Data specific contributions include possibly discovering an aspect ratio isotropic cutoff level (less than 1.2), showing a range of spectral fall-off values between about -0.5 for a sandybottomed Gulf of Mexico area, to about -1.8 for a coral reef area just outside of the Saipan harbor. We also rank the targeted type of dataset, the best resolution gridded datasets, from smoothest to roughest using a factor based on the kernel dimensions, a percentage from the windowing operation, all multiplied by the overall integration length.

Setting up a proper power spectral density (PSD) and autocorrelation analysis for material and process characterization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rutigliani, Vito; Lorusso, Gian Francesco; De Simone, Danilo; Lazzarino, Frederic; Rispens, Gijsbert; Papavieros, George; Gogolides, Evangelos; Constantoudis, Vassilios; Mack, Chris A.

2018-03-01

Power spectral density (PSD) analysis is playing more and more a critical role in the understanding of line-edge roughness (LER) and linewidth roughness (LWR) in a variety of applications across the industry. It is an essential step to get an unbiased LWR estimate, as well as an extremely useful tool for process and material characterization. However, PSD estimate can be affected by both random to systematic artifacts caused by image acquisition and measurement settings, which could irremediably alter its information content. In this paper, we report on the impact of various setting parameters (smoothing image processing filters, pixel size, and SEM noise levels) on the PSD estimate. We discuss also the use of PSD analysis tool in a variety of cases. Looking beyond the basic roughness estimate, we use PSD and autocorrelation analysis to characterize resist blur[1], as well as low and high frequency roughness contents and we apply this technique to guide the EUV material stack selection. Our results clearly indicate that, if properly used, PSD methodology is a very sensitive tool to investigate material and process variations

Effect of various tooth whitening modalities on microhardness, surface roughness and surface morphology of the enamel.

PubMed

Kwon, So Ran; Kurti, Steven R; Oyoyo, Udochukwu; Li, Yiming

2015-09-01

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of four whitening modalities on surface enamel as assessed with microhardness tester, profilometer, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Whitening was performed according to manufacturer's directions for over-the-counter (OTC), dentist dispensed for home use (HW) and in-office (OW) whitening. Do-it-yourself (DIY) whitening consisted of a strawberry and baking soda mix. Additionally, negative and positive controls were used. A total of 120 enamel specimens were used for microhardness testing at baseline and post-whitening. Following microhardness testing specimens were prepared for SEM observations. A total of 120 enamel specimens were used for surface roughness testing at baseline and post-whitening (n = 20 per group). Rank-based Analysis of Covariance was performed to compare microhardness and surface roughness changes. Tests of hypotheses were two-sided with α = 0.05. There was a significant difference in Knoop hardness changes (ΔKHN) among the groups (Kruskal-Wallis test, p < 0.0001). Significant hardness reduction was observed in the positive control and DIY group (p < 0.0001). Mean surface roughness changes (ΔRa) were significantly different among the groups (Kruskal-Wallis test, p < 0.0001). Surface roughness increased in the OTC group (p = 0.03) and in the positive control (p < 0.0001). The four whitening modalities-DIY, OTC, HW and OW induced minimal surface morphology changes when observed with SEM. It can be concluded that none of the four whitening modalities adversely affected enamel surface morphology. However, caution should be advised when using a DIY regimen as it may affect enamel microhardness and an OTC product as it has the potential to increase surface roughness.

Rough set approach for accident chains exploration.

PubMed

Wong, Jinn-Tsai; Chung, Yi-Shih

2007-05-01

This paper presents a novel non-parametric methodology--rough set theory--for accident occurrence exploration. The rough set theory allows researchers to analyze accidents in multiple dimensions and to model accident occurrence as factor chains. Factor chains are composed of driver characteristics, trip characteristics, driver behavior and environment factors that imply typical accident occurrence. A real-world database (2003 Taiwan single auto-vehicle accidents) is used as an example to demonstrate the proposed approach. The results show that although most accident patterns are unique, some accident patterns are significant and worth noting. Student drivers who are young and less experienced exhibit a relatively high possibility of being involved in off-road accidents on roads with a speed limit between 51 and 79 km/h under normal driving circumstances. Notably, for bump-into-facility accidents, wet surface is a distinctive environmental factor.

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

Yadav, Praveen Kumar, E-mail: praveenyadav@rrcat.gov.in; Nayak, Maheswar; Rai, Sanjay Kumar

The authors report the effect of argon ion to molybdenum atom ratio (r) on the microstructure of low energy (70 eV) argon ion assisted electron beam evaporated Mo thin films. Surface roughness, morphology, and crystallinity of Mo films are found to strongly depend on “r.” Increase of “r” from 0 to 100 induces gradual loss in crystallinity, reduction in surface roughness and systematic increase in density of the film. For “r” ∼ 100, average atomic density of the film approaches the bulk value (97%) with lowest surface roughness. Further, increasing “r” up to 170 reduces the atomic density, increases roughness, and increase inmore » crystallinity induced by low energy Ar ion beam. The observed surface roughness and grain size determined by x-ray reflectivity and glancing incidence x-ray diffraction correlate well with atomic force microscopy measurements. This study demonstrates that for r = 100 one gets lowest roughness Mo film with highest density and nearly amorphous microstructure. The growth model is discussed by structural zone model.« less

Effect of repeated sterilization by different methods on strength of carbon fiber rods used in external fixator systems.

PubMed

Unal, Omer Kays; Poyanli, Oguz Sukru; Unal, Ulku Sur; Mutlu, Hasan Huseyin; Ozkut, Afsar Timucin; Esenkaya, Irfan

2018-05-16

We set out to reveal the effects of repeated sterilization, using different methods, on the carbon fiber rods of external fixator systems. We used a randomized set of forty-four unused, unsterilized, and identical carbon fiber rods (11 × 200 mm), randomly assigned to two groups: unsterilized (US) (4 rods) and sterilized (40 rods). The sterilized rods were divided into two groups, those sterilized in an autoclave (AC) and by hydrogen peroxide (HP). These were further divided into five subgroups based on the number of sterilization repetition to which the fibers were subjected (25-50-75-100-200). A bending test was conducted to measure the maximum bending force (MBF), maximum deflection (MD), flexural strength (FS), maximum bending moment (MBM) and bending rigidity (BR). We also measured the surface roughness of the rods. An increase in the number of sterilization repetition led to a decrease in MBF, MBM, FS, BR, but increased MD and surface roughness (p < 0.01). The effect of the number of sterilization repetition was more prominent in the HP group. This study revealed that the sterilization method and number of sterilization repetition influence the strength of the carbon fiber rods. Increasing the number of sterilization repetition degrades the strength and roughness of the rods.

Reduction of vortex induced forces and motion through surface roughness control

DOEpatents

Bernitsas, Michael M; Raghavan, Kamaldev

2014-04-01

Roughness is added to the surface of a bluff body in a relative motion with respect to a fluid. The amount, size, and distribution of roughness on the body surface is controlled passively or actively to modify the flow around the body and subsequently the Vortex Induced Forces and Motion (VIFM). The added roughness, when designed and implemented appropriately, affects in a predetermined way the boundary layer, the separation of the boundary layer, the level of turbulence, the wake, the drag and lift forces, and consequently the Vortex Induced Motion (VIM), and the fluid-structure interaction. The goal of surface roughness control is to decrease/suppress Vortex Induced Forces and Motion. Suppression is required when fluid-structure interaction becomes destructive as in VIM of flexible cylinders or rigid cylinders on elastic support, such as underwater pipelines, marine risers, tubes in heat exchangers, nuclear fuel rods, cooling towers, SPAR offshore platforms.

Measuring skew in average surface roughness as a function of surface preparation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stahl, Mark T.

2015-08-01

Characterizing surface roughness is important for predicting optical performance. Better measurement of surface roughness reduces polishing time, saves money and allows the science requirements to be better defined. This study characterized statistics of average surface roughness as a function of polishing time. Average surface roughness was measured at 81 locations using a Zygo® white light interferometer at regular intervals during the polishing process. Each data set was fit to a normal and Largest Extreme Value (LEV) distribution; then tested for goodness of fit. We show that the skew in the average data changes as a function of polishing time.

In Situ Experiments To Reveal the Role of Surface Feature Sidewalls in the Cassie–Wenzel Transition

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Waterproof and self-cleaning surfaces continue to attract much attention as they can be instrumental in various different technologies. Such surfaces are typically rough, allowing liquids to contact only the outermost tops of their asperities, with air being entrapped underneath. The formed solid–liquid–air interface is metastable and, hence, can be forced into a completely wetted solid surface. A detailed understanding of the wetting barrier and the dynamics of this transition is critically important for the practical use of the related surfaces. Toward this aim, wetting transitions were studied in situ at a set of patterned perfluoropolyether dimethacrylate (PFPEdma) polymer surfaces exhibiting surface features with different types of sidewall profiles. PFPEdma is intrinsically hydrophobic and exhibits a refractive index very similar to water. Upon immersion of the patterned surfaces into water, incident light was differently scattered at the solid–liquid–air and solid–liquid interface, which allows for distinguishing between both wetting states by dark-field microscopy. The wetting transition observed with this methodology was found to be determined by the sidewall profiles of the patterned structures. Partial recovery of the wetting was demonstrated to be induced by abrupt and continuous pressure reductions. A theoretical model based on Laplace’s law was developed and applied, allowing for the analytical calculation of the transition barrier and the potential to revert the wetting upon pressure reduction. PMID:25496232

In-situ observation of the growth of individual silicon wires in the zinc reduction reaction of SiCl4

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Inasawa, Susumu

2015-02-01

We conducted in-situ monitoring of the formation of silicon wires in the zinc reduction reaction of SiCl4 at 950 °C. Tip growth with a constant growth rate was observed. Some wires showed a sudden change in the growth direction during their growth. We also observed both the lateral faces and cross sections of formed wires using a scanning electron microscope. Although wires with smooth lateral faces had a smooth hexagonal cross section, those with rough lateral faces had a polygonal cross section with a radial pattern. The transition of lateral faces from smooth to rough was found even in a single wire. Because the diameter of the rough part became larger than that of the smooth part, we consider that the wire diameter is a key factor for the lateral faces. Our study revealed that both dynamic and static observations are still necessary to further understand the VLS growth of wires and nanowires.

Exploiting active subspaces to quantify uncertainty in the numerical simulation of the HyShot II scramjet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Constantine, P. G.; Emory, M.; Larsson, J.; Iaccarino, G.

2015-12-01

We present a computational analysis of the reactive flow in a hypersonic scramjet engine with focus on effects of uncertainties in the operating conditions. We employ a novel methodology based on active subspaces to characterize the effects of the input uncertainty on the scramjet performance. The active subspace identifies one-dimensional structure in the map from simulation inputs to quantity of interest that allows us to reparameterize the operating conditions; instead of seven physical parameters, we can use a single derived active variable. This dimension reduction enables otherwise infeasible uncertainty quantification, considering the simulation cost of roughly 9500 CPU-hours per run. For two values of the fuel injection rate, we use a total of 68 simulations to (i) identify the parameters that contribute the most to the variation in the output quantity of interest, (ii) estimate upper and lower bounds on the quantity of interest, (iii) classify sets of operating conditions as safe or unsafe corresponding to a threshold on the output quantity of interest, and (iv) estimate a cumulative distribution function for the quantity of interest.

Optimizing best management practices to control anthropogenic sources of atmospheric phosphorus deposition to inland lakes.

PubMed

Weiss, Lee; Thé, Jesse; Winter, Jennifer; Gharabaghi, Bahram

2018-04-18

Excessive phosphorus loading to inland freshwater lakes around the globe has resulted in nuisance plant growth along the waterfronts, degraded habitat for cold water fisheries, and impaired beaches, marinas and waterfront property. The direct atmospheric deposition of phosphorus can be a significant contributing source to inland lakes. The atmospheric deposition monitoring program for Lake Simcoe, Ontario indicates roughly 20% of the annual total phosphorus load (2010-2014 period) is due to direct atmospheric deposition (both wet and dry deposition) on the lake. This novel study presents a first-time application of the Genetic Algorithm (GA) methodology to optimize the application of best management practices (BMPs) related to agriculture and mobile sources to achieve atmospheric phosphorus reduction targets and restore the ecological health of the lake. The novel methodology takes into account the spatial distribution of the emission sources in the airshed, the complex atmospheric long-range transport and deposition processes, cost and efficiency of the popular management practices and social constraints related to the adoption of BMPs. The optimization scenarios suggest that the optimal overall capital investment of approximately $2M, $4M, and $10M annually can achieve roughly 3, 4 and 5 tonnes reduction in atmospheric P load to the lake, respectively. The exponential trend indicates diminishing returns for the investment beyond roughly $3M per year and that focussing much of this investment in the upwind, nearshore area will significantly impact deposition to the lake. The optimization is based on a combination of the lowest-cost, most-beneficial and socially-acceptable management practices that develops a science-informed promotion of implementation/BMP adoption strategy. The geospatial aspect to the optimization (i.e. proximity and location with respect to the lake) will help land managers to encourage the use of these targeted best practices in areas that will most benefit from the phosphorus reduction approach.

Rough-Fuzzy Clustering and Unsupervised Feature Selection for Wavelet Based MR Image Segmentation

PubMed Central

Maji, Pradipta; Roy, Shaswati

2015-01-01

Image segmentation is an indispensable process in the visualization of human tissues, particularly during clinical analysis of brain magnetic resonance (MR) images. For many human experts, manual segmentation is a difficult and time consuming task, which makes an automated brain MR image segmentation method desirable. In this regard, this paper presents a new segmentation method for brain MR images, integrating judiciously the merits of rough-fuzzy computing and multiresolution image analysis technique. The proposed method assumes that the major brain tissues, namely, gray matter, white matter, and cerebrospinal fluid from the MR images are considered to have different textural properties. The dyadic wavelet analysis is used to extract the scale-space feature vector for each pixel, while the rough-fuzzy clustering is used to address the uncertainty problem of brain MR image segmentation. An unsupervised feature selection method is introduced, based on maximum relevance-maximum significance criterion, to select relevant and significant textural features for segmentation problem, while the mathematical morphology based skull stripping preprocessing step is proposed to remove the non-cerebral tissues like skull. The performance of the proposed method, along with a comparison with related approaches, is demonstrated on a set of synthetic and real brain MR images using standard validity indices. PMID:25848961

Bias present in US federal agency power plant CO2 emissions data and implications for the US clean power plan

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gurney, K. R.; Huang, J.; Coltin, K.

2016-06-01

Power plants constitute roughly 40% of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the United States. Climate change science, air pollution regulation, and potential carbon trading policies rely on accurate, unbiased quantification of these large point sources. Two US federal agencies—the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency—tabulate the emissions from US power plants using two different methodological approaches. We have analyzed those two data sets and have found that when averaged over all US facilities, the median percentage difference is less than 3%. However, this small difference masks large, non-Gaussian, positive and negative differences at individual facilities. For example, over the 2001-2009 time period, nearly one-half of the facilities have monthly emission differences that exceed roughly ±6% and one-fifth exceed roughly ±13%. It is currently not possible to assess whether one, or both, of the datasets examined here are responsible for the emissions difference. Differences this large at the individual facility level raise concerns regarding the operationalization of policy within the United States such as the recently announced Clean Power Plan. This policy relies on the achievement of state-level CO2 emission rate targets. When examined at the state-level we find that one-third of the states have differences that exceed 10% of their assigned reduction amount. Such levels of uncertainty raise concerns about the ability of individual states to accurately quantify emission rates in order to meet the regulatory targets.

Investigation of the influence of coolant-lubricant modification on selected effects of pull broaching

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adamczuk, Krzysztof; Legutko, Stanisław; Laber, Alicja; Serwa, Wojciech

2017-10-01

The paper presents the results of testing the wear of the tool (pull broach) and a gear wheel splineway surface roughness after the friction node of pull broach/gear wheel (CuSn12Ni2) had been lubricated with metal machining oil and the same oil modified with chemically active exploitation additive. To designate the influence of modifying metal machining oil by the exploitation additive on the lubricating properties, anti-wear and antiseizure indicators have been appointed. Exploitation tests have proved purposefulness of modifying metal machining oil. Modification of the lubricant has contributed to reduction of the wear of the tools - pull broaches and to reduction of roughness of the splineway surfaces.

Surface roughness evaluation on mandrels and mirror shells for future X-ray telescopes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sironi, Giorgia; Spiga, D.

2008-07-01

More X-ray missions that will be operating in near future, like particular SIMBOL-X, e-Rosita, Con-X/HXT, SVOM/XIAO and Polar-X, will be based on focusing optics manufactured by means of the Ni electroforming replication technique. This production method has already been successfully exploited for SAX, XMM and Swift-XRT. Optical surfaces for X-ray reflection have to be as smooth as possible also at high spatial frequencies. Hence it will be crucial to take under control microroughness in order to reduce the scattering effects. A high rms microroughness would cause the degradation of the angular resolution and loss of effective area. Stringent requirements have therefore to be fixed for mirror shells surface roughness depending on the specific energy range investigated, and roughness evolution has to be carefully monitored during the subsequent steps of the mirror-shells realization. This means to study the roughness evolution in the chain mandrel, mirror shells, multilayer deposition and also the degradation of mandrel roughness following iterated replicas. Such a study allows inferring which phases of production are the major responsible of the roughness growth and could help to find solutions optimizing the involved processes. The exposed study is carried out in the context of the technological consolidation related to SIMBOL-X, along with a systematic metrological study of mandrels and mirror shells. To monitor the roughness increase following each replica, a multiinstrumental approach was adopted: microprofiles were analysed by means of their Power Spectral Density (PSD) in the spatial frequency range 1000-0.01 μm. This enables the direct comparison of roughness data taken with instruments characterized by different operative ranges of frequencies, and in particular optical interferometers and Atomic Force Microscopes. The performed analysis allowed us to set realistic specifications on the mandrel roughness to be achieved, and to suggest a limit for the maximum number of a replica a mandrel can undergo before being refurbished.

Numerical study of the effects of lamp configuration and reactor wall roughness in an open channel water disinfection UV reactor.

PubMed

Sultan, Tipu

2016-07-01

This article describes the assessment of a numerical procedure used to determine the UV lamp configuration and surface roughness effects on an open channel water disinfection UV reactor. The performance of the open channel water disinfection UV reactor was numerically analyzed on the basis of the performance indictor reduction equivalent dose (RED). The RED values were calculated as a function of the Reynolds number to monitor the performance. The flow through the open channel UV reactor was modelled using a k-ε model with scalable wall function, a discrete ordinate (DO) model for fluence rate calculation, a volume of fluid (VOF) model to locate the unknown free surface, a discrete phase model (DPM) to track the pathogen transport, and a modified law of the wall to incorporate the reactor wall roughness effects. The performance analysis was carried out using commercial CFD software (ANSYS Fluent 15.0). Four case studies were analyzed based on open channel UV reactor type (horizontal and vertical) and lamp configuration (parallel and staggered). The results show that lamp configuration can play an important role in the performance of an open channel water disinfection UV reactor. The effects of the reactor wall roughness were Reynolds number dependent. The proposed methodology is useful for performance optimization of an open channel water disinfection UV reactor. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Lung segmentation from HRCT using united geometric active contours

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Junwei; Li, Chuanfu; Xiong, Jin; Feng, Huanqing

2007-12-01

Accurate lung segmentation from high resolution CT images is a challenging task due to various detail tracheal structures, missing boundary segments and complex lung anatomy. One popular method is based on gray-level threshold, however its results are usually rough. A united geometric active contours model based on level set is proposed for lung segmentation in this paper. Particularly, this method combines local boundary information and region statistical-based model synchronously: 1) Boundary term ensures the integrality of lung tissue.2) Region term makes the level set function evolve with global characteristic and independent on initial settings. A penalizing energy term is introduced into the model, which forces the level set function evolving without re-initialization. The method is found to be much more efficient in lung segmentation than other methods that are only based on boundary or region. Results are shown by 3D lung surface reconstruction, which indicates that the method will play an important role in the design of computer-aided diagnostic (CAD) system.

31 CFR 592.801 - Paperwork Reduction Act notice.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 31 Money and Finance:Treasury 3 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Paperwork Reduction Act notice. 592.801 Section 592.801 Money and Finance: Treasury Regulations Relating to Money and Finance (Continued) OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY ROUGH DIAMONDS CONTROL REGULATIONS Paperwork...

31 CFR 592.801 - Paperwork Reduction Act notice.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 31 Money and Finance: Treasury 3 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Paperwork Reduction Act notice. 592.801 Section 592.801 Money and Finance: Treasury Regulations Relating to Money and Finance (Continued) OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY ROUGH DIAMONDS CONTROL REGULATIONS Paperwork...

31 CFR 592.801 - Paperwork Reduction Act notice.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 31 Money and Finance:Treasury 3 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Paperwork Reduction Act notice. 592.801 Section 592.801 Money and Finance: Treasury Regulations Relating to Money and Finance (Continued) OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY ROUGH DIAMONDS CONTROL REGULATIONS Paperwork...

31 CFR 592.801 - Paperwork Reduction Act notice.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 31 Money and Finance:Treasury 3 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Paperwork Reduction Act notice. 592.801 Section 592.801 Money and Finance: Treasury Regulations Relating to Money and Finance (Continued) OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY ROUGH DIAMONDS CONTROL REGULATIONS Paperwork...

31 CFR 592.801 - Paperwork Reduction Act notice.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 31 Money and Finance:Treasury 3 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Paperwork Reduction Act notice. 592.801 Section 592.801 Money and Finance: Treasury Regulations Relating to Money and Finance (Continued) OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY ROUGH DIAMONDS CONTROL REGULATIONS Paperwork...

CERES: A Set of Automated Routines for Echelle Spectra

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brahm, Rafael; Jordán, Andrés; Espinoza, Néstor

2017-03-01

We present the Collection of Elemental Routines for Echelle Spectra (CERES). These routines were developed for the construction of automated pipelines for the reduction, extraction, and analysis of spectra acquired with different instruments, allowing the obtention of homogeneous and standardized results. This modular code includes tools for handling the different steps of the processing: CCD image reductions; identification and tracing of the echelle orders; optimal and rectangular extraction; computation of the wavelength solution; estimation of radial velocities; and rough and fast estimation of the atmospheric parameters. Currently, CERES has been used to develop automated pipelines for 13 different spectrographs, namely CORALIE, FEROS, HARPS, ESPaDOnS, FIES, PUCHEROS, FIDEOS, CAFE, DuPont/Echelle, Magellan/Mike, Keck/HIRES, Magellan/PFS, and APO/ARCES, but the routines can be easily used to deal with data coming from other spectrographs. We show the high precision in radial velocity that CERES achieves for some of these instruments, and we briefly summarize some results that have already been obtained using the CERES pipelines.

On the genetic parameter determining the efficiency of purging: an estimate for Drosophila egg-to-pupae viability.

PubMed

Bersabé, D; García-Dorado, A

2013-02-01

The consequences of inbreeding on fitness can be crucial in evolutionary and conservation grounds and depend upon the efficiency of purging against deleterious recessive alleles. Recently, analytical expressions have been derived to predict the evolution of mean fitness, taking into account both inbreeding and purging, which depend on an 'effective purging coefficient (d(e) )'. Here, we explore the validity of that predictive approach and assay the strength of purging by estimating d(e) for egg-to-pupae viability (EPV) after a drastic reduction in population size in a recently captured base population of Drosophila melanogaster. For this purpose, we first obtained estimates of the inbreeding depression rate (δ) for EPV in the base population, and we found that about 40% was due to segregating recessive lethals. Then, two sets of lines were founded from this base population and were maintained with different effective size throughout the rest of the experiment (N = 6; N = 12), their mean EPV being assayed at different generations. Due to purging, the reductions in mean EPV experienced by these lines were considerably smaller than the corresponding neutral predictions. For the 60% of δ attributable to nonlethal deleterious alleles, our results suggest an effective purging coefficient d(e) > 0.02. Similarly, we obtain that d(e) > 0.09 is required to roughly account for purging against the pooled inbreeding depression from lethal and nonlethal deleterious alleles. This implies that purging should be efficient for population sizes of the order of a few tens and larger, but might be inefficient against nonlethal deleterious alleles in smaller populations. © 2012 The Authors. Journal of Evolutionary Biology © 2012 European Society For Evolutionary Biology.

The Improvement of the Closed Bounded Volume (CBV) Evaluation Methods to Compute a Feasible Rough Machining Area Based on Faceted Models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hadi Sutrisno, Himawan; Kiswanto, Gandjar; Istiyanto, Jos

2017-06-01

The rough machining is aimed at shaping a workpiece towards to its final form. This process takes up a big proportion of the machining time due to the removal of the bulk material which may affect the total machining time. In certain models, the rough machining has limitations especially on certain surfaces such as turbine blade and impeller. CBV evaluation is one of the concepts which is used to detect of areas admissible in the process of machining. While in the previous research, CBV area detection used a pair of normal vectors, in this research, the writer simplified the process to detect CBV area with a slicing line for each point cloud formed. The simulation resulted in three steps used for this method and they are: 1. Triangulation from CAD design models, 2. Development of CC point from the point cloud, 3. The slicing line method which is used to evaluate each point cloud position (under CBV and outer CBV). The result of this evaluation method can be used as a tool for orientation set-up on each CC point position of feasible areas in rough machining.

Hybrid machine learning technique for forecasting Dhaka stock market timing decisions.

PubMed

Banik, Shipra; Khodadad Khan, A F M; Anwer, Mohammad

2014-01-01

Forecasting stock market has been a difficult job for applied researchers owing to nature of facts which is very noisy and time varying. However, this hypothesis has been featured by several empirical experiential studies and a number of researchers have efficiently applied machine learning techniques to forecast stock market. This paper studied stock prediction for the use of investors. It is always true that investors typically obtain loss because of uncertain investment purposes and unsighted assets. This paper proposes a rough set model, a neural network model, and a hybrid neural network and rough set model to find optimal buy and sell of a share on Dhaka stock exchange. Investigational findings demonstrate that our proposed hybrid model has higher precision than the single rough set model and the neural network model. We believe this paper findings will help stock investors to decide about optimal buy and/or sell time on Dhaka stock exchange.

Hybrid Machine Learning Technique for Forecasting Dhaka Stock Market Timing Decisions

PubMed Central

Banik, Shipra; Khodadad Khan, A. F. M.; Anwer, Mohammad

2014-01-01

Forecasting stock market has been a difficult job for applied researchers owing to nature of facts which is very noisy and time varying. However, this hypothesis has been featured by several empirical experiential studies and a number of researchers have efficiently applied machine learning techniques to forecast stock market. This paper studied stock prediction for the use of investors. It is always true that investors typically obtain loss because of uncertain investment purposes and unsighted assets. This paper proposes a rough set model, a neural network model, and a hybrid neural network and rough set model to find optimal buy and sell of a share on Dhaka stock exchange. Investigational findings demonstrate that our proposed hybrid model has higher precision than the single rough set model and the neural network model. We believe this paper findings will help stock investors to decide about optimal buy and/or sell time on Dhaka stock exchange. PMID:24701205

High-frequency Born synthetic seismograms based on coupled normal modes

USGS Publications Warehouse

Pollitz, F.

2011-01-01

High-frequency and full waveform synthetic seismograms on a 3-D laterally heterogeneous earth model are simulated using the theory of coupled normal modes. The set of coupled integral equations that describe the 3-D response are simplified into a set of uncoupled integral equations by using the Born approximation to calculate scattered wavefields and the pure-path approximation to modulate the phase of incident and scattered wavefields. This depends upon a decomposition of the aspherical structure into smooth and rough components. The uncoupled integral equations are discretized and solved in the frequency domain, and time domain results are obtained by inverse Fourier transform. Examples show the utility of the normal mode approach to synthesize the seismic wavefields resulting from interaction with a combination of rough and smooth structural heterogeneities. This approach is applied to an ~4 Hz shallow crustal wave propagation around the site of the San Andreas Fault Observatory at Depth (SAFOD). ?? The Author Geophysical Journal International ?? 2011 RAS.

Fabricating Superhydrophobic and Superoleophobic Surfaces with Multiscale Roughness Using Airbrush and Electrospray

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

AL-Milaji, Karam N.

Examples of superhydrophobic surfaces found in nature such as self-cleaning property of lotus leaf and walking on water ability of water strider have led to an extensive investigation in this area over the past few decades. When a water droplet rests on a textured surface, it may either form a liquid-solid-vapor composite interface by which the liquid droplet partially sits on air pockets or it may wet the surface in which the water replaces the trapped air depending on the surface roughness and the surface chemistry. Super water repellent surfaces have numerous applications in our daily life such as drag reduction, anti-icing, anti-fogging, energy conservation, noise reduction, and self-cleaning. In fact, the same concept could be applied in designing and producing surfaces that repel organic contaminations (e.g. low surface tension liquids). However, superoleophobic surfaces are more challenging to fabricate than superhydrophobic surfaces since the combination of multiscale roughness with re-entrant or overhang structure and surface chemistry must be provided. In this study, simple, cost-effective and potentially scalable techniques, i.e., airbrush and electrospray, were employed for the sake of making superhydrophobic and superoleophobic coatings with random and patterned multiscale surface roughness. Different types of silicon dioxide were utilized in this work to in order to study and to characterize the effect of surface morphology and surface roughness on surface wettability. The experimental findings indicated that super liquid repellent surfaces with high apparent contact angles and extremely low sliding angles were successfully fabricated by combining re-entrant structure, multiscale surface roughness, and low surface energy obtained from chemically treating the fabricated surfaces. In addition to that, the experimental observations regarding producing textured surfaces in mask-assisted electrospray were further validated by simulating the actual working conditions and geometries using COMSOL Multiphysics.

Application of the wavelet packet transform to vibration signals for surface roughness monitoring in CNC turning operations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

García Plaza, E.; Núñez López, P. J.

2018-01-01

The wavelet packet transform method decomposes a time signal into several independent time-frequency signals called packets. This enables the temporary location of transient events occurring during the monitoring of the cutting processes, which is advantageous in monitoring condition and fault diagnosis. This paper proposes the monitoring of surface roughness using a single low cost sensor that is easily implemented in numerical control machine tools in order to make on-line decisions on workpiece surface finish quality. Packet feature extraction in vibration signals was applied to correlate the sensor signals to measured surface roughness. For the successful application of the WPT method, mother wavelets, packet decomposition level, and appropriate packet selection methods should be considered, but are poorly understood aspects in the literature. In this novel contribution, forty mother wavelets, optimal decomposition level, and packet reduction methods were analysed, as well as identifying the effective frequency range providing the best packet feature extraction for monitoring surface finish. The results show that mother wavelet biorthogonal 4.4 in decomposition level L3 with the fusion of the orthogonal vibration components (ax + ay + az) were the best option in the vibration signal and surface roughness correlation. The best packets were found in the medium-high frequency DDA (6250-9375 Hz) and high frequency ADA (9375-12500 Hz) ranges, and the feed acceleration component ay was the primary source of information. The packet reduction methods forfeited packets with relevant features to the signal, leading to poor results for the prediction of surface roughness. WPT is a robust vibration signal processing method for the monitoring of surface roughness using a single sensor without other information sources, satisfactory results were obtained in comparison to other processing methods with a low computational cost.

Substrate texture affects female cricket walking response to male calling song

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sarmiento-Ponce, E. J.; Sutcliffe, M. P. F.; Hedwig, B.

2018-03-01

Field crickets are extensively used as a model organism to study female phonotactic walking behaviour, i.e. their attraction to the male calling song. Laboratory-based phonotaxis experiments generally rely on arena or trackball-based settings; however, no attention has been paid to the effect of substrate texture on the response. Here, we tested phonotaxis in female Gryllus bimaculatus, walking on trackballs machined from methyl-methacrylate foam with different cell sizes. Surface height variations of the trackballs, due to the cellular composition of the material, were measured with profilometry and characterized as smooth, medium or rough, with roughness amplitudes of 7.3, 16 and 180 µm. Female phonotaxis was best on a rough and medium trackball surface, a smooth surface resulted in a significant lower phonotactic response. Claws of the cricket foot were crucial for effective walking. Females insert their claws into the surface pores to allow mechanical interlocking with the substrate texture and a high degree of attachment, which cannot be established on smooth surfaces. These findings provide insight to the biomechanical basis of insect walking and may inform behavioural studies that the surface texture on which walking insects are tested is crucial for the resulting behavioural response.

Ultrasound - Aided ejection in micro injection molding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Masato, D.; Sorgato, M.; Lucchetta, G.

2018-05-01

In this work, an ultrasound-aided ejection system was designed and tested for different polymers (PS, COC and POM) and mold topographies. The proposed solution aims at reducing the ejection friction by decreasing the adhesion component of the frictional force, which is controlled by the contact area developed during the filling stage of the injection molding process. The experimental results indicate a positive effect of ultrasound vibration on the friction force values, with a maximum reduction of 16. Moreover, it is demonstrated that the ultrasound effect is strictly related to both polymer selection and mold roughness. The combined effect on the ejection force of mold surface roughness, melt viscosity during filling and polymer elastic modulus at ejection was modeled to the experimental data, in order to demonstrate that the effect of ultrasound vibration on the ejection friction reduction is due to the heating of the contact interface and the consequent reduction of the polymer elastic modulus.

Soil roughness, slope and surface storage relationship for impervious areas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Borselli, Lorenzo; Torri, Dino

2010-11-01

SummaryThe study of the relationships between surface roughness, local slope gradient and maximum volume of water storage in surface depressions is a fundamental element in the development of hydrological models to be used in soil and water conservation strategies. Good estimates of the maximum volume of water storage are important for runoff assessment during rainfall events. Some attempts to link surface storage to parameters such as indices of surface roughness and, more rarely, local gradient have been proposed by several authors with empirical equations often conflicting between them and usually based on a narrow range of slope gradients. This suggests care in selecting any of the proposed equations or models and invites one to verify the existence of more realistic experimental relationships, based on physical models of the surfaces and valid for a larger range of gradients. The aim of this study is to develop such a relation for predicting/estimating the maximum volume of water that a soil surface, with given roughness characteristics and local slope gradient, can store. Experimental work has been carried out in order to reproduce reliable rough surfaces able to maintain the following properties during the experimental activity: (a) impervious surface to avoid biased storage determination; (b) stable, un-erodible surfaces to avoid changes of retention volume during tests; (c) absence of hydrophobic behaviour. To meet the conditions a-c we generate physical surfaces with various roughness magnitude using plasticine (emulsion of non-expansible clay and oil). The plasticine surface, reproducing surfaces of arable soils, was then wetted and dirtied with a very fine timber sawdust. This reduced the natural hydrophobic behaviour of the plasticine to an undetectable value. Storage experiments were conducted with plasticine rough surfaces on top of large rigid polystyrene plates inclined at different slope gradient: 2%, 5%, 10%, 20%, 30%. Roughness data collected on the generated plasticine surfaces were successfully compared with roughness data collected on real soil surfaces for similar conditions. A set of roughness indices was computed for each surface using roughness profiles measured with a laser profile meter. Roughness indices included quantiles of the Abbot-Firestone curve, which is used in surface metrology for industrial application to characterize surface roughness in a non-parametric approach ( Whitehouse, 1994). Storage data were fitted with an empirical equation (double negative exponential of roughness and slope). Several roughness indices resulted well related to storage. The better results were obtained using the Abbot-Firestone curve parameter P100. Beside this storage empirical model (SEM) a geometrical model was also developed, trying to give a more physical basis to the result obtained so far. Depression geometry was approximated with spherical cups. A general physical model was derived (storage cup model - SCM). The cup approximation identifies where roughness elevation comes in and how it relates to slope gradient in defining depression volume. Moreover, the exponential decay used for assessing slope effect on storage volume in the empirical model of Eqs. (8) and (9) emerges as consistent with distribution of cup sizes.

Immune pathways and defence mechanisms in honey bees Apis mellifera

PubMed Central

Evans, J D; Aronstein, K; Chen, Y P; Hetru, C; Imler, J-L; Jiang, H; Kanost, M; Thompson, G J; Zou, Z; Hultmark, D

2006-01-01

Social insects are able to mount both group-level and individual defences against pathogens. Here we focus on individual defences, by presenting a genome-wide analysis of immunity in a social insect, the honey bee Apis mellifera. We present honey bee models for each of four signalling pathways associated with immunity, identifying plausible orthologues for nearly all predicted pathway members. When compared to the sequenced Drosophila and Anopheles genomes, honey bees possess roughly one-third as many genes in 17 gene families implicated in insect immunity. We suggest that an implied reduction in immune flexibility in bees reflects either the strength of social barriers to disease, or a tendency for bees to be attacked by a limited set of highly coevolved pathogens. PMID:17069638

A Transport Equation Approach to Modeling the Influence of Surface Roughness on Boundary Layer Transition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Langel, Christopher Michael

A computational investigation has been performed to better understand the impact of surface roughness on the flow over a contaminated surface. This thesis highlights the implementation and development of the roughness amplification model in the flow solver OVERFLOW-2. The model, originally proposed by Dassler, Kozulovic, and Fiala, introduces an additional scalar field roughness amplification quantity. This value is explicitly set at rough wall boundaries using surface roughness parameters and local flow quantities. This additional transport equation allows non-local effects of surface roughness to be accounted for downstream of rough sections. This roughness amplification variable is coupled with the Langtry-Menter model and used to modify the criteria for transition. Results from flat plate test cases show good agreement with experimental transition behavior on the flow over varying sand grain roughness heights. Additional validation studies were performed on a NACA 0012 airfoil with leading edge roughness. The computationally predicted boundary layer development demonstrates good agreement with experimental results. New tests using varying roughness configurations are being carried out at the Texas A&M Oran W. Nicks Low Speed Wind Tunnel to provide further calibration of the roughness amplification method. An overview and preliminary results are provided of this concurrent experimental investigation.

Low-power, high-uniform, and forming-free resistive memory based on Mg-deficient amorphous MgO film with rough surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Jiajun; Ren, Shuxia; Wu, Liqian; Kang, Xin; Chen, Wei; Zhao, Xu

2018-03-01

Saving energy and reducing operation parameter fluctuations remain crucial for enabling resistive random access memory (RRAM) to emerge as a universal memory. In this work, we report a resistive memory device based on an amorphous MgO (a-MgO) film that not only exhibits ultralow programming voltage (just 0.22 V) and low power consumption (less than 176.7 μW) but also shows excellent operative uniformity (the coefficient of variation is only 1.7% and 2.2% for SET and RESET voltage, respectively). Moreover, it also shows a forming-free characteristic. Further analysis indicates that these distinctive properties can be attributed to the unstable local structures and the rough surface of the Mg-deficient a-MgO film. These findings show the potential of using a-MgO in high-performance nonvolatile memory applications.

Effect of truncated cone roughness element density on hydrodynamic drag

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Womack, Kristofer; Schultz, Michael; Meneveau, Charles

2017-11-01

An experimental study was conducted on rough-wall, turbulent boundary layer flow with roughness elements whose idealized shape model barnacles that cause hydrodynamic drag in many applications. Varying planform densities of truncated cone roughness elements were investigated. Element densities studied ranged from 10% to 79%. Detailed turbulent boundary layer velocity statistics were recorded with a two-component LDV system on a three-axis traverse. Hydrodynamic roughness length (z0) and skin-friction coefficient (Cf) were determined and compared with the estimates from existing roughness element drag prediction models including Macdonald et al. (1998) and other recent models. The roughness elements used in this work model idealized barnacles, so implications of this data set for ship powering are considered. This research was supported by the Office of Naval Research and by the Department of Defense (DoD) through the National Defense Science & Engineering Graduate Fellowship (NDSEG) Program.

Retrieval of Soil Moisture and Roughness from the Polarimetric Radar Response

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sarabandi, Kamal; Ulaby, Fawwaz T.

1997-01-01

The main objective of this investigation was the characterization of soil moisture using imaging radars. In order to accomplish this task, a number of intermediate steps had to be undertaken. In this proposal, the theoretical, numerical, and experimental aspects of electromagnetic scattering from natural surfaces was considered with emphasis on remote sensing of soil moisture. In the general case, the microwave backscatter from natural surfaces is mainly influenced by three major factors: (1) the roughness statistics of the soil surface, (2) soil moisture content, and (3) soil surface cover. First the scattering problem from bare-soil surfaces was considered and a hybrid model that relates the radar backscattering coefficient to soil moisture and surface roughness was developed. This model is based on extensive experimental measurements of the radar polarimetric backscatter response of bare soil surfaces at microwave frequencies over a wide range of moisture conditions and roughness scales in conjunction with existing theoretical surface scattering models in limiting cases (small perturbation, physical optics, and geometrical optics models). Also a simple inversion algorithm capable of providing accurate estimates of soil moisture content and surface rms height from single-frequency multi-polarization radar observations was developed. The accuracy of the model and its inversion algorithm is demonstrated using independent data sets. Next the hybrid model for bare-soil surfaces is made fully polarimetric by incorporating the parameters of the co- and cross-polarized phase difference into the model. Experimental data in conjunction with numerical simulations are used to relate the soil moisture content and surface roughness to the phase difference statistics. For this purpose, a novel numerical scattering simulation for inhomogeneous dielectric random surfaces was developed. Finally the scattering problem of short vegetation cover above a rough soil surface was considered. A general scattering model for grass-blades of arbitrary cross section was developed and incorporated in a first order random media model. The vegetation model and the bare-soil model are combined and the accuracy of the combined model is evaluated against experimental observations from a wheat field over the entire growing season. A complete set of ground-truth data and polarimetric backscatter data were collected. Also an inversion algorithm for estimating soil moisture and surface roughness from multi-polarized multi-frequency observations of vegetation-covered ground is developed.

Structural Dynamics and Evolution of Bismuth Electrodes during Electrochemical Reduction of CO 2 in Imidazolium-Based Ionic Liquid Solutions

DOE PAGES

Medina-Ramos, Jonnathan; Lee, Sang Soo; Fister, Timothy T.; ...

2017-09-12

Real-time changes in the composition and structure of bismuth electrodes used for catalytic conversion of CO 2 into CO were examined via X-ray absorption spectroscopy (including XANES and EXAFS), electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) and in situ X-ray reflectivity (XR). Measurements were performed with bismuth electrodes immersed in acetonitrile (MeCN) solutions containing a 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium ([BMIM] +) ionic liquid promoter or electrochemically inactive tetrabutylammonium supporting electrolytes (TBAPF 6 or TBAOTf). Altogether, these measurements show that bismuth electrodes are originally a mixture of bismuth oxides (including Bi 2O 3) and metallic bismuth (Bi 0), and that the reduction of oxidized bismuth speciesmore » to Bi 0 is fully achieved under potentials at which CO 2 activation takes place. Furthermore, EQCM measurements conducted during cyclic voltammetry revealed that a bismuth-coated quartz crystal exhibits significant shifts in resistance (ΔR) prior to the onset of CO 2 reduction near -1.75 V vs. Ag/AgCl and pronounced hysteresis in frequency (Δf) and ΔR, which suggests significant changes in roughness or viscosity at the Bi/[BMIM] + solution interface. In situ XR performed on rhombohedral Bi (001) oriented films indicates extensive restructuring of the bismuth film cathodes takes place upon polarization to potentials more negative than -1.6 V vs. Ag/AgCl, which is characterized by a decrease of the Bi (001) Bragg peak intensity of ≥50% in [BMIM]OTf solutions in the presence and absence of CO 2. Over 90% of the reflectivity is recovered during the anodic half-scan, suggesting that the structural changes are mostly reversible. By contrast, such a phenomenon is not observed for thin Bi (001) oriented films in solutions of tetrabutylammonium salts that do not promote CO 2 reduction. In conclusion, these results highlight that Bi electrodes undergo significant potential-dependent chemical and structural transformations in the presence of [BMIM] + based electrolytes, including the reduction of bismuth oxide to bismuth metal, changes in roughness and near-surface viscosity.« less

Simple model of surface roughness for binary collision sputtering simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lindsey, Sloan J.; Hobler, Gerhard; Maciążek, Dawid; Postawa, Zbigniew

2017-02-01

It has been shown that surface roughness can strongly influence the sputtering yield - especially at glancing incidence angles where the inclusion of surface roughness leads to an increase in sputtering yields. In this work, we propose a simple one-parameter model (the "density gradient model") which imitates surface roughness effects. In the model, the target's atomic density is assumed to vary linearly between the actual material density and zero. The layer width is the sole model parameter. The model has been implemented in the binary collision simulator IMSIL and has been evaluated against various geometric surface models for 5 keV Ga ions impinging an amorphous Si target. To aid the construction of a realistic rough surface topography, we have performed MD simulations of sequential 5 keV Ga impacts on an initially crystalline Si target. We show that our new model effectively reproduces the sputtering yield, with only minor variations in the energy and angular distributions of sputtered particles. The success of the density gradient model is attributed to a reduction of the reflection coefficient - leading to increased sputtering yields, similar in effect to surface roughness.

Surface Features Parameterization and Equivalent Roughness Height Estimation of a Real Subglacial Conduit in the Arctic

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Y.; Liu, X.; Mankoff, K. D.; Gulley, J. D.

2016-12-01

The surfaces of subglacial conduits are very complex, coupling multi-scale roughness, large sinuosity, and cross-sectional variations together. Those features significantly affect the friction law and drainage efficiency inside the conduit by altering velocity and pressure distributions, thus posing considerable influences on the dynamic development of the conduit. Parameterizing the above surface features is a first step towards understanding their hydraulic influences. A Matlab package is developed to extract the roughness field, the conduit centerline, and associated area and curvature data from the conduit surface, acquired from 3D scanning. By using those data, the characteristic vertical and horizontal roughness scales are then estimated based on the structure functions. The centerline sinuosities, defined through three concepts, i.e., the traditional definition of a fluvial river, entropy-based sinuosity, and curvature-based sinuosity, are also calculated and compared. The cross-sectional area and equivalent circular diameter along the centerline are also calculated. Among those features, the roughness is especially important due to its pivotal role in determining the wall friction, and thus an estimation of the equivalent roughness height is of great importance. To achieve such a goal, the original conduit is firstly simplified into a straight smooth pipe with the same volume and centerline length, and the roughness field obtained above is then reconstructed into the simplified pipe. An OpenFOAM-based Large-eddy-simulation (LES) is then performed based on the reconstructed pipe. Considering that the Reynolds number is of the order 106, and the relative roughness is larger than 5% for 60% of the conduit, we test the validity of the resistance law for completely rough pipe. The friction factor is calculated based on the pressure drop and mean velocity in the simulation. Working together, the equivalent roughness height can be calculated. However, whether the assumption is applicable for the current case, i.e., high relative roughness, is a question. Two other roughness heights, i.e., the vertical roughness scale based on structure functions and viscous sublayer thickness determined from the wall boundary layer are also calculated and compared with the equivalent roughness height.

The Speckle Toolbox: A Powerful Data Reduction Tool for CCD Astrometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harshaw, Richard; Rowe, David; Genet, Russell

2017-01-01

Recent advances in high-speed low-noise CCD and CMOS cameras, coupled with breakthroughs in data reduction software that runs on desktop PCs, has opened the domain of speckle interferometry and high-accuracy CCD measurements of double stars to amateurs, allowing them to do useful science of high quality. This paper describes how to use a speckle interferometry reduction program, the Speckle Tool Box (STB), to achieve this level of result. For over a year the author (Harshaw) has been using STB (and its predecessor, Plate Solve 3) to obtain measurements of double stars based on CCD camera technology for pairs that are either too wide (the stars not sharing the same isoplanatic patch, roughly 5 arc-seconds in diameter) or too faint to image in the coherence time required for speckle (usually under 40ms). This same approach - using speckle reduction software to measure CCD pairs with greater accuracy than possible with lucky imaging - has been used, it turns out, for several years by the U. S. Naval Observatory.

Mitigation of multipath effect in GNSS short baseline positioning by the multipath hemispherical map

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dong, D.; Wang, M.; Chen, W.; Zeng, Z.; Song, L.; Zhang, Q.; Cai, M.; Cheng, Y.; Lv, J.

2016-03-01

Multipath is one major error source in high-accuracy GNSS positioning. Various hardware and software approaches are developed to mitigate the multipath effect. Among them the MHM (multipath hemispherical map) and sidereal filtering (SF)/advanced SF (ASF) approaches utilize the spatiotemporal repeatability of multipath effect under static environment, hence they can be implemented to generate multipath correction model for real-time GNSS data processing. We focus on the spatial-temporal repeatability-based MHM and SF/ASF approaches and compare their performances for multipath reduction. Comparisons indicate that both MHM and ASF approaches perform well with residual variance reduction (50 %) for short span (next 5 days) and maintains roughly 45 % reduction level for longer span (next 6-25 days). The ASF model is more suitable for high frequency multipath reduction, such as high-rate GNSS applications. The MHM model is easier to implement for real-time multipath mitigation when the overall multipath regime is medium to low frequency.

Permeability-porosity relationships in sedimentary rocks

USGS Publications Warehouse

Nelson, Philip H.

1994-01-01

In many consolidated sandstone and carbonate formations, plots of core data show that the logarithm of permeability (k) is often linearly proportional to porosity (??). The slope, intercept, and degree of scatter of these log(k)-?? trends vary from formation to formation, and these variations are attributed to differences in initial grain size and sorting, diagenetic history, and compaction history. In unconsolidated sands, better sorting systematically increases both permeability and porosity. In sands and sandstones, an increase in gravel and coarse grain size content causes k to increase even while decreasing ??. Diagenetic minerals in the pore space of sandstones, such as cement and some clay types, tend to decrease log(k) proportionately as ?? decreases. Models to predict permeability from porosity and other measurable rock parameters fall into three classes based on either grain, surface area, or pore dimension considerations. (Models that directly incorporate well log measurements but have no particular theoretical underpinnings from a fourth class.) Grain-based models show permeability proportional to the square of grain size times porosity raised to (roughly) the fifth power, with grain sorting as an additional parameter. Surface-area models show permeability proportional to the inverse square of pore surface area times porosity raised to (roughly) the fourth power; measures of surface area include irreducible water saturation and nuclear magnetic resonance. Pore-dimension models show permeability proportional to the square of a pore dimension times porosity raised to a power of (roughly) two and produce curves of constant pore size that transgress the linear data trends on a log(k)-?? plot. The pore dimension is obtained from mercury injection measurements and is interpreted as the pore opening size of some interconnected fraction of the pore system. The linear log(k)-?? data trends cut the curves of constant pore size from the pore-dimension models, which shows that porosity reduction is always accompanied by a reduction in characteristic pore size. The high powers of porosity of the grain-based and surface-area models are required to compensate for the inclusion of the small end of the pore size spectrum.

Two orders of magnitude reduction in silicon membrane thermal conductivity by resonance hybridizations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Honarvar, Hossein; Hussein, Mahmoud I.

2018-05-01

The thermal conductivity of a freestanding single-crystal silicon membrane may be reduced significantly by attaching nanoscale pillars on one or both surfaces. Atomic resonances of the nanopillars form vibrons that intrinsically couple with the base membrane phonons causing mode hybridization and flattening at each coupling location in the phonon band structure. This in turn causes group velocity reductions of existing phonons, in addition to introducing new modes that get excited but are localized and do not transport energy. The nanopillars also reduce the phonon lifetimes at and around the hybridization zones. These three effects, which in principle may be tuned to take place across silicon's full spectrum, lead to a lowering of the in-plane thermal conductivity in the base membrane. Using equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations, and utilizing the concept of vibrons compensation, we report a staggering two orders of magnitude reduction in the thermal conductivity at room temperature by this mechanism. Specifically, a reduction of a factor of 130 is demonstrated for a roughly 10-nm-thick pillared membrane compared to a corresponding unpillared membrane. This amounts to a record reduction of a factor of 481 compared to bulk crystalline silicon and nearly a factor of 2 compared to bulk amorphous silicon. These results are obtained while providing a path for preserving performance with upscaling.

Topographic Features of Malyy Naryn River Watershed Based on Different Data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, M.; Chen, L.; Cui, Y.; Zhang, M.

2018-04-01

This paper researched the influence on the topographical characteristics of watersheds by setting different catchment area thresholds based on different data sets, namely ZY3 DSM, SRTM DEM and ASTER GDEM. Slope, hypsometric integral, river network density and river network discrepancy are analyzed and compared. The results are as follows: a) Three data sets all can express the same rough terrain characteristics and the same degree of watershed topography development; b) ZY3 DSM can reflect terrain information over the Malyy Naryn River watershed in most detail and it has the best expression effect on the terrain among the three data sets of ZY3 DSM, SRTM DEM and ASTER GDEM, followed by SRTM DEM, and the effect of ASTER GDEM is the worst; c) The similarity of river networks extracted by ZY3 DSM and SRTM DEM is the highest, and the similarity between ZY3 DSM and ASTER GDEM is the lowest one.

Optical coherence tomography applied to tests of skin care products in humans--a case study.

PubMed

Vasquez-Pinto, L M C; Maldonado, E P; Raele, M P; Amaral, M M; de Freitas, A Z

2015-02-01

When evaluating skin care products for human skin, quantitative test methods need to be simple, precise and reliable. Optical coherence tomography (OCT), provides high-resolution sectional images of translucent materials to a depth of a few millimeters, a technique usually applied to medical measurements in ophthalmology and dermatology. This study aimed to demonstrate the application of OCT as the main technique for monitoring changes in skin topography during tests of a wrinkle-reduction product in humans. We used a commercial OCT apparatus to perform clinical examinations of skin roughness in treated and non-treated sites in the periorbital region of thirty human voluntaries who were using an anti-aging product commercially available: Natura Chronos® Flavonóides de Passiflora 45+ FPS15, from Natura Cosméticos, Brazil. Measurements were performed days 0, 7, 14 and 28 of treatment. Equipment and software allowed real-time recording of skin roughness parameters and wrinkle depths. The OCT measurements have allowed the monitoring of changes in skin roughness, which have shown reduction in treated sites around 10%. The obtained depth distributions also indicate reduction in the occurrence of wrinkles deeper than 170 μm. The verified results are consistent with those typically obtained after successful treatment with modern anti-aging products. By using the OCT technique, it was possible to quantify changes in skin roughness and in the distribution of depths of skin wrinkles, with adequate sensitivity. OCT imaging allows the direct visualization of the skin topography with resolution of micrometers, a reliable and interactive tool for clinical use. Therefore, for the first time, we demonstrated the use of OCT technique to verify the efficacy of cosmetic products in real time. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Benefits and Limitations of iPads in the High School Science Classroom and a Trophic Cascade Lesson Plan

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ward, Nicholas D.; Finley, Rachel J.; Keil, Richard G.; Clay, Tansy G.

2013-01-01

This study explores the utility of a set of tablet-based personal computers in the K-12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics classroom. Specifically, a lesson on food-chain dynamics and predator-prey population controls was designed on the Apple® iPad platform and delivered to three sophomore-level ecology classes (roughly 30 students…

A stereo-vision hazard-detection algorithm to increase planetary lander autonomy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Woicke, Svenja; Mooij, Erwin

2016-05-01

For future landings on any celestial body, increasing the lander autonomy as well as decreasing risk are primary objectives. Both risk reduction and an increase in autonomy can be achieved by including hazard detection and avoidance in the guidance, navigation, and control loop. One of the main challenges in hazard detection and avoidance is the reconstruction of accurate elevation models, as well as slope and roughness maps. Multiple methods for acquiring the inputs for hazard maps are available. The main distinction can be made between active and passive methods. Passive methods (cameras) have budgetary advantages compared to active sensors (radar, light detection and ranging). However, it is necessary to proof that these methods deliver sufficiently good maps. Therefore, this paper discusses hazard detection using stereo vision. To facilitate a successful landing not more than 1% wrong detections (hazards that are not identified) are allowed. Based on a sensitivity analysis it was found that using a stereo set-up at a baseline of ≤ 2 m is feasible at altitudes of ≤ 200 m defining false positives of less than 1%. It was thus shown that stereo-based hazard detection is an effective means to decrease the landing risk and increase the lander autonomy. In conclusion, the proposed algorithm is a promising candidate for future landers.

Remote sensing of soil moisture content over bare fields at 1.4 GHz frequency

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wang, J. R.; Choudhury, B. J.

1980-01-01

A simple method of estimating moisture content (W) of a bare soil from the observed brightness temperature (T sub B) at 1.4 GHz is discussed. The method is based on a radiative transfer model calculation, which has been successfully used in the past to account for many observational results, with some modifications to take into account the effect of surface roughness. Besides the measured T sub B's, the three additional inputs required by the method are the effective soil thermodynamic temperature, the precise relation between W and the smooth field brightness temperature T sub B and a parameter specifying the surface roughness characteristics. The soil effective temperature can be readily measured and the procedures of estimating surface roughness parameter and obtaining the relation between W and smooth field brightness temperature are discussed in detail. Dual polarized radiometric measurements at an off-nadir incident angle are sufficient to estimate both surface roughness parameter and W, provided that the relation between W and smooth field brightness temperature at the same angle is known. The method of W estimate is demonstrated with two sets of experimental data, one from a controlled field experiment by a mobile tower and the other, from aircraft overflight. The results from both data sets are encouraging when the estimated W's are compared with the acquired ground truth of W's in the top 2 cm layer. An offset between the estimated and the measured W's exists in the results of the analyses, but that can be accounted for by the presently poor knowledge of the relationship between W and smooth field brightness temperature for various types of soils. An approach to quantify this relationship for different soils and thus improve the method of W estimate is suggested.

Fracture sealing caused by mineral precipitation: The role of aperture and mineral heterogeneity on precipitation-induced permeability loss

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jones, T.; Detwiler, R. L.

2017-12-01

Fractures act as dominant pathways for fluid flow in low-permeability rocks. However, in many subsurface environments, fluid rock reactions can lead to mineral precipitation, which alters fracture surface geometry and reduces fracture permeability. In natural fractures, surface mineralogy and roughness are often heterogeneous, leading to variations in both velocity and reactive surface area. The combined effects of surface roughness and mineral heterogeneity can lead to large disparities in local precipitation rates that are difficult to predict due to the strong coupling between dissolved mineral transport and reactions at the fracture surface. Recent experimental observations suggest that mineral precipitation in a heterogeneous fracture may promote preferential flow and focus large dissolved ion concentrations into regions with limited reactive surface area. Here, we build on these observations using reactive transport simulations. Reactive transport is simulated with a quasi-steady-state 2D model that uses a depth-averaged mass-transfer relationship to describe dissolved mineral transport across the fracture aperture and local precipitation reactions. Mineral precipitation-induced changes to fracture surface geometry are accounted for using two different approaches: (1) by only allowing reactive minerals to grow vertically, and (2) by allowing three-dimensional mineral growth at reaction sites. Preliminary results from simulations using (1) suggest that precipitation-induced aperture reduction focuses flow into thin flow paths. This flow focusing causes a reduction in the fracture-scale precipitation rate, and precipitation ceases when the reaction zone extends the entire length of the fracture. This approach reproduces experimental observations at early time reasonably well, but as precipitation proceeds, reaction sites can grow laterally along the fracture surfaces, which is not predicted by (1). To account for three-dimensional mineral growth (2), we have incorporated a level-set-method based approach for tracking the mineral interfaces in three dimensions. This provides a mechanistic approach for simulating the dynamics of the formation, and eventual closing, of preferential flow paths by precipitation-induced aperture alteration, that do not occur using (1).

Above room temperature operation of InGaAs/AlGaAs/GaAs quantum cascade lasers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pierścińska, D.; Gutowski, P.; Hałdaś, G.; Kolek, A.; Sankowska, I.; Grzonka, J.; Mizera, J.; Pierściński, K.; Bugajski, M.

2018-03-01

In this work we report on the performance of mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) based on strained InGaAs/AlGaAs grown by molecular beam epitaxy on GaAs substrate. Structures were grown with indium content from 1% to 6% in GaAs quantum wells (QW) and 45% of Al in AlGaAs barrier layers. The design results in strained heterostructure, however, no strain relaxation was observed as documented by x-ray diffraction measurements up to ∼3% of In content in QWs. The investigation of heterostructures and devices was performed, including structural measurements and electrooptical characterization of devices. Devices fabricated from epi wafers with 2.64% of In exhibited performance largely improved over GaAs/AlGaAs QCLs. Roughly two times reduction of the threshold current density was observed at lasing wavelength ∼9.45 μm. The lasers operated in pulsed mode up to T = 50 °C with characteristic temperature T 0 = 115 K. The decrease of the threshold current density has been mainly attributed to the reduction of interface roughness scattering and the increase of activation energy for the escape of carriers from the upper laser level to the 3D continuum. Further increase of In content in QWs resulted in the deterioration of device parameters.

SU-E-J-128: Two-Stage Atlas Selection in Multi-Atlas-Based Image Segmentation

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

Zhao, T; Ruan, D

2015-06-15

Purpose: In the new era of big data, multi-atlas-based image segmentation is challenged by heterogeneous atlas quality and high computation burden from extensive atlas collection, demanding efficient identification of the most relevant atlases. This study aims to develop a two-stage atlas selection scheme to achieve computational economy with performance guarantee. Methods: We develop a low-cost fusion set selection scheme by introducing a preliminary selection to trim full atlas collection into an augmented subset, alleviating the need for extensive full-fledged registrations. More specifically, fusion set selection is performed in two successive steps: preliminary selection and refinement. An augmented subset is firstmore » roughly selected from the whole atlas collection with a simple registration scheme and the corresponding preliminary relevance metric; the augmented subset is further refined into the desired fusion set size, using full-fledged registration and the associated relevance metric. The main novelty of this work is the introduction of an inference model to relate the preliminary and refined relevance metrics, based on which the augmented subset size is rigorously derived to ensure the desired atlases survive the preliminary selection with high probability. Results: The performance and complexity of the proposed two-stage atlas selection method were assessed using a collection of 30 prostate MR images. It achieved comparable segmentation accuracy as the conventional one-stage method with full-fledged registration, but significantly reduced computation time to 1/3 (from 30.82 to 11.04 min per segmentation). Compared with alternative one-stage cost-saving approach, the proposed scheme yielded superior performance with mean and medium DSC of (0.83, 0.85) compared to (0.74, 0.78). Conclusion: This work has developed a model-guided two-stage atlas selection scheme to achieve significant cost reduction while guaranteeing high segmentation accuracy. The benefit in both complexity and performance is expected to be most pronounced with large-scale heterogeneous data.« less

The Cost-Effectiveness of Surgical Fixation of Distal Radial Fractures: A Computer Model-Based Evaluation of Three Operative Modalities.

PubMed

Rajan, Prashant V; Qudsi, Rameez A; Dyer, George S M; Losina, Elena

2018-02-07

There is no consensus on the optimal fixation method for patients who require a surgical procedure for distal radial fractures. We used cost-effectiveness analyses to determine which of 3 modalities offers the best value: closed reduction and percutaneous pinning, open reduction and internal fixation, or external fixation. We developed a Markov model that projected short-term and long-term health benefits and costs in patients undergoing a surgical procedure for a distal radial fracture. Simulations began at the patient age of 50 years and were run over the patient's lifetime. The analysis was conducted from health-care payer and societal perspectives. We estimated transition probabilities and quality-of-life values from the literature and determined costs from Medicare reimbursement schedules in 2016 U.S. dollars. Suboptimal postoperative outcomes were determined by rates of reduction loss (4% for closed reduction and percutaneous pinning, 1% for open reduction and internal fixation, and 11% for external fixation) and rates of orthopaedic complications. Procedural costs were $7,638 for closed reduction and percutaneous pinning, $10,170 for open reduction and internal fixation, and $9,886 for external fixation. Outputs were total costs and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), discounted at 3% per year. We considered willingness-to-pay thresholds of $50,000 and $100,000. We conducted deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses to evaluate the impact of data uncertainty. From the health-care payer perspective, closed reduction and percutaneous pinning dominated (i.e., produced greater QALYs at lower costs than) open reduction and internal fixation and dominated external fixation. From the societal perspective, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for closed reduction and percutaneous pinning compared with open reduction and internal fixation was $21,058 per QALY and external fixation was dominated. In probabilistic sensitivity analysis, open reduction and internal fixation was cost-effective roughly 50% of the time compared with roughly 45% for closed reduction and percutaneous pinning. When considering data uncertainty, there is only a 5% to 10% difference in the frequency of probability combinations that find open reduction and internal fixation to be more cost-effective. The current degree of uncertainty in the data produces difficulty in distinguishing either strategy as being more cost-effective overall and thus it may be left to surgeon and patient shared decision-making. Economic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Surface roughness manifestations of deep-seated landslide processes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Booth, A. M.; Roering, J. J.; Lamb, M. P.

2012-12-01

In many mountainous drainage basins, deep-seated landslides evacuate large volumes of sediment from small surface areas, leaving behind a strong topographic signature that sets landscape roughness over a range of spatial scales. At long spatial wavelengths of hundreds to thousands of meters, landslides tend to inhibit channel incision and limit topographic relief, effectively smoothing the topography at this length scale. However, at short spatial wavelengths on the order of meters, deformation of deep-seated landslides generates surface roughness that allows expert mappers or automated algorithms to distinguish landslides from the surrounding terrain. Here, we directly connect the characteristic spatial wavelengths and amplitudes of this fine scale surface roughness to the underlying landslide deformation processes. We utilize the two-dimensional wavelet transform with high-resolution, airborne LiDAR-derived digital elevation models to systematically document the characteristic length scales and amplitudes of different kinematic units within slow moving earthflows, a common type of deep-seated landslide. In earthflow source areas, discrete slumped blocks generate high surface roughness, reflecting an extensional deformation regime. In earthflow transport zones, where material translates with minimal surface deformation, roughness decreases as other surface processes quickly smooth short wavelength features. In earthflow depositional toes, compression folds and thrust faults again increase short wavelength surface roughness. When an earthflow becomes inactive, roughness in all of these kinematic zones systematically decreases with time, allowing relative dating of earthflow deposits. We also document how each of these roughness expressions depends on earthflow velocity, using sub-pixel change detection software (COSI-Corr) and pairs of orthorectified aerial photographs to determine spatially extensive landslide surface displacements. In source areas, the wavelength of slumped blocks tends to correlate with velocity as predicted by a simple sliding block model, but the amplitude is insensitive to velocity, suggesting that landslide depth rather than velocity sets this characteristic block amplitude. In both transport zones and depositional toes, the amplitude of the surface roughness is higher where the longitudinal gradient in velocity is higher, confirming that differential movement generates and maintains this fine scale roughness.

Optimization of Coolant Technique Conditions for Machining A319 Aluminium Alloy Using Response Surface Method (RSM)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zainal Ariffin, S.; Razlan, A.; Ali, M. Mohd; Efendee, A. M.; Rahman, M. M.

2018-03-01

Background/Objectives: The paper discusses about the optimum cutting parameters with coolant techniques condition (1.0 mm nozzle orifice, wet and dry) to optimize surface roughness, temperature and tool wear in the machining process based on the selected setting parameters. The selected cutting parameters for this study were the cutting speed, feed rate, depth of cut and coolant techniques condition. Methods/Statistical Analysis Experiments were conducted and investigated based on Design of Experiment (DOE) with Response Surface Method. The research of the aggressive machining process on aluminum alloy (A319) for automotive applications is an effort to understand the machining concept, which widely used in a variety of manufacturing industries especially in the automotive industry. Findings: The results show that the dominant failure mode is the surface roughness, temperature and tool wear when using 1.0 mm nozzle orifice, increases during machining and also can be alternative minimize built up edge of the A319. The exploration for surface roughness, productivity and the optimization of cutting speed in the technical and commercial aspects of the manufacturing processes of A319 are discussed in automotive components industries for further work Applications/Improvements: The research result also beneficial in minimizing the costs incurred and improving productivity of manufacturing firms. According to the mathematical model and equations, generated by CCD based RSM, experiments were performed and cutting coolant condition technique using size nozzle can reduces tool wear, surface roughness and temperature was obtained. Results have been analyzed and optimization has been carried out for selecting cutting parameters, shows that the effectiveness and efficiency of the system can be identified and helps to solve potential problems.

Bacterial attachment on titanium surfaces is dependent on topography and chemical changes induced by nonthermal atmospheric pressure plasma.

PubMed

Jeong, Won-Seok; Kwon, Jae-Sung; Lee, Jung-Hwan; Uhm, Soo-Hyuk; Ha Choi, Eun; Kim, Kwang-Mahn

2017-07-26

Here, we investigated the antibacterial effects of chemical changes induced by nonthermal atmospheric pressure plasma (NTAPP) on smooth and rough Ti. The morphologies of smooth and rough surfaces of Ti were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Both Ti specimens were then treated for 10 min by NTAPP with nitrogen gas. The surface roughness, chemistry, and wettability were examined by optical profilometry, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and water contact angle analysis, respectively. Bacterial attachment was measured by determining the number of colony forming units and by SEM analysis. The rough Ti showed irregular micropits, whereas smooth Ti had a relatively regular pattern on the surface. There were no differences in morphology between samples before and after NTAPP treatment. NTAPP treatment resulted in changes from hydrophobic to hydrophilic properties on rough and smooth Ti; rough Ti showed relatively higher hydrophilicity. Before NTAPP treatment, Streptococcus sanguinis (S. sanguinis) showed greater attachment on rough Ti, and after NTAPP treatment, there was a significant reduction in bacterial attachment. Moreover, the bacterial attachment rate was significantly lower on rough Ti, and the structure of S. sanguinis colonies were significantly changed on NTAPP-treated Ti. NTAPP treatment inhibited bacterial attachment surrounding titanium implants, regardless of surface topography. Therefore, NTAPP treatment on Ti is a next-generation tool for antibacterial applications in the orthopaedic and dental fields.

A trace ratio maximization approach to multiple kernel-based dimensionality reduction.

PubMed

Jiang, Wenhao; Chung, Fu-lai

2014-01-01

Most dimensionality reduction techniques are based on one metric or one kernel, hence it is necessary to select an appropriate kernel for kernel-based dimensionality reduction. Multiple kernel learning for dimensionality reduction (MKL-DR) has been recently proposed to learn a kernel from a set of base kernels which are seen as different descriptions of data. As MKL-DR does not involve regularization, it might be ill-posed under some conditions and consequently its applications are hindered. This paper proposes a multiple kernel learning framework for dimensionality reduction based on regularized trace ratio, termed as MKL-TR. Our method aims at learning a transformation into a space of lower dimension and a corresponding kernel from the given base kernels among which some may not be suitable for the given data. The solutions for the proposed framework can be found based on trace ratio maximization. The experimental results demonstrate its effectiveness in benchmark datasets, which include text, image and sound datasets, for supervised, unsupervised as well as semi-supervised settings. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Estimates of chemical compaction and maximum burial depth from bedding parallel stylolites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gasparrini, Marta; Beaudoin, Nicolas; Lacombe, Olivier; David, Marie-Eleonore; Youssef, Souhail; Koehn, Daniel

2017-04-01

Chemical compaction is a diagenetic process affecting sedimentary series during burial that develops rough dissolution surfaces named Bedding Parallel Stylolites (BPS). BPS are related to the dissolution of important rock volumes and can lead to porosity reduction around them due to post-dissolution cementation. Our understanding of the effect of chemical compaction on rock volume and porosity evolution during basin burial is however too tight yet to be fully taken into account in basin models and thermal or fluid-flow simulations. This contribution presents a novel and multidisciplinary approach to quantify chemical compaction and to estimate maximum paleodepth of burial, applied to the Dogger carbonate reservoirs from the Paris Basin sub-surface. This succession experienced a relatively simple burial history (nearly continuous burial from Upper Jurassic to Upper Cretaceous, followed by a main uplift phase), and mainly underwent normal overburden (inducing development of BPS), escaping major tectonic stress episodes. We considered one core from the depocentre and one from the eastern margin of the basin in the same stratigraphic interval (Bathonian Sup. - Callovian Inf.; restricted lagoonal setting), and analysed the macro- and micro-facies to distinguish five main depositional environments. Type and abundance of BPS were continuously recorded along the logs and treated statistically to obtain preliminary rules relying the occurrence of the BPS as a function of the contrasting facies and burial histories. The treatment of high resolution 2D images allowed the identification and separation of the BPS to evaluate total stylolitization density and insoluble thickness as an indirect measure of the dissolved volume, with respect to the morphology of the BPS considered. Based on the morphology of the BPS roughness, we used roughness signal analysis method to reconstruct the vertical paleo-stress (paleo-depth) recorded by the BPS during chemical compaction. The comparison between amount of compaction and dissolved volume as a function of the macro- and micro-facies, as well as estimates of maximum paleodepth of burial, deepen our knowledge of the factors controlling BPS development, the total thickness of carbonate dissolved and the occurrence of induced cementation in sedimentary basins.

Measuring Skew in Average Surface Roughness as a Function of Surface Preparation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stahl, Mark T.

2015-01-01

Characterizing surface roughness is important for predicting optical performance. Better measurement of surface roughness reduces grinding saving both time and money and allows the science requirements to be better defined. In this study various materials are polished from a fine grind to a fine polish. Each sample's RMS surface roughness is measured at 81 locations in a 9x9 square grid using a Zygo white light interferometer at regular intervals during the polishing process. Each data set is fit with various standard distributions and tested for goodness of fit. We show that the skew in the RMS data changes as a function of polishing time.

Reduction of Crosshatch Roughness and Threading Dislocation Density in Metamorphic GaInP Buffers and GaInAs Solar Cells

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

France, R. M.; Geisz, J. F.; Steiner, M. A.

Surface crosshatch roughness typically develops during the growth of lattice-mismatched compositionally graded buffers and can limit misfit dislocation glide. In this study, the crosshatch roughness during growth of a compressive GaInP/GaAs graded buffer is reduced by increasing the phosphine partial pressure throughout the metamorphic growth. Changes in the average misfit dislocation length are qualitatively determined by characterizing the threading defect density and residual strain. The decrease of crosshatch roughness leads to an increase in the average misfit dislocation glide length, indicating that the surface roughness is limiting dislocation glide. Growth rate is also analyzed as a method to reduce surfacemore » crosshatch roughness and increase glide length, but has a more complicated relationship with glide kinetics. Using knowledge gained from these experiments, high quality inverted GaInAs 1 eV solar cells are grown on a GaInP compositionally graded buffer with reduced roughness and threading dislocation density. The open circuit voltage is only 0.38 V lower than the bandgap potential at a short circuit current density of 15 mA/cm{sup 2}, suggesting that there is very little loss due to the lattice mismatch.« less

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

Canavan, G.H.

Attack allocation optimizations produce stability indices for unsymmetrical forces that indicate significant regions of both stability and instability and that have their minimum values roughly when the two sides have equal forces. This note derives combined stability indices for unsymmetrical offensive force configurations. The indices are based on optimal allocations of offensive missiles between vulnerable missiles and value based on the minimization of first strike cost, which is done analytically. Exchanges are modeled probabalistically and their results are converted into first and second strike costs through approximations to the damage to the value target sets held at risk. The stabilitymore » index is the product of the ratio of first to second strike costs seen by the two sides. Optimal allocations scale directly on the opponent`s vulnerable missiles, inversely on one`s own total weapons, and only logarithmically on the attacker`s damage preference, kill probability, and relative target set. The defender`s allocation scales in a similar manner on the attacker`s parameters. First and second strike magnitudes increase roughly linearly for the side with greater forces and decrease linearly for the side with fewer. Conversely, the first and second strike magnitudes decrease for the side with greater forces and increase for the side with fewer. These trends are derived and discussed analytically. The resulting stability indices exhibit a minimum where the two sides have roughly equal forces. If one side has much larger forces than the other, his costs drop to levels low enough that he is relatively insensitive to whether he strikes first or second. These calculations are performed with the analytic attack allocation appropriate for moderate forces, so some differences could be expected for the largest of the forces considered.« less

Roughness of human enamel surface submitted to different prophylaxis methods.

PubMed

Castanho, Gisela Muassab; Arana-Chavez, Victor E; Fava, Marcelo

2008-01-01

The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate alterations in the surface roughness and micromorphology of human enamel submitted to three prophylaxis methods. Sixty-nine caries-free molars with exposed labial surfaces were divided into three groups. Group I was treated with a rotary instrument set at a low speed, rubber cup and a mixture of water and pumice; group II with a rotary instrument set at a low speed, rubber cup and prophylaxis paste Herjos-F (Vigodent S/A Indústria e Comércio, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil); and group III with sodium bicarbonate spray Profi II Ceramic (Dabi Atlante Indústrias Médico Odontológicas Ltda, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil). All procedures were performed by the same operator for 10 s, and samples were rinsed and stored in distilled water Pre and post-treatment surface evaluation was completed using a surface profilometer (Perthometer S8P, Marh, Perthen, Germany) in 54 samples. In addition, the other samples were coated with gold and examined in a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results of this study were statistically analyzed with the paired t-test (Student), the Kruskal-Wallis test and the Dunn (5%) test. The sodium bicarbonate spray led to significantly rougher surfaces than the pumice paste. The use of prophylaxis paste showed no statistically significant difference when compared with the other methods. Based on SEM analysis, the sodium bicarbonate spray presented an irregular surface with granular material and erosions. Based on this study, it can be concluded that there was an increased enamel surface roughness when teeth were treated with sodium bicarbonate spray when compared with teeth treated with pumice paste.

Viking bistatic radar observations of the hellas basin on Mars: preliminary results.

PubMed

Simpson, R A; Tyler, G L; Brenkle, J P; Sue, M

1979-01-05

Preliminary reduction of Viking bistatic radar data gives root-mean-square surface slopes in the Hellas basin on Mars of about 4 degrees on horizontal scales averaged over 10 centimeters to 100 meters. This roughness decreases slightly with position along the ground track, south to north. The dielectric constant in this area appears to be approximately 3.1, greater than the martian average. These values are characteristic of lunar maria and are similar to those found near the Viking lander site in Chryse with the use of Earth-based radar.

Effect of denture cleansers on color stability, surface roughness, and hardness of different denture base resins

PubMed Central

Porwal, Anand; Khandelwal, Meenakshi; Punia, Vikas; Sharma, Vivek

2017-01-01

Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of different denture cleansers on the color stability, surface hardness, and roughness of different denture base resins. Materials and Methods: Three denture base resin materials (conventional heat cure resin, high impact resin, and polyamide denture base resin) were immersed for 180 days in commercially available two denture cleansers (sodium perborate and sodium hypochlorite). Color, surface roughness, and hardness were measured for each sample before and after immersion procedure. Statistical Analysis: One-way analysis of variance and Tukey's post hoc honestly significant difference test were used to evaluate color, surface roughness, and hardness data before and after immersion in denture cleanser (α =0.05). Results: All denture base resins tested exhibited a change in color, surface roughness, and hardness to some degree in both denture cleansers. Polyamides resin immersed in sodium perborate showed a maximum change in color after immersion for 180 days. Conventional heat cure resin immersed in sodium hypochlorite showed a maximum change in surface roughness and conventional heat cure immersed in sodium perborate showed a maximum change in hardness. Conclusion: Color changes of all denture base resins were within the clinically accepted range for color difference. Surface roughness change of conventional heat cure resin was not within the clinically accepted range of surface roughness. The choice of denture cleanser for different denture base resins should be based on the chemistry of resin and cleanser, denture cleanser concentration, and duration of immersion. PMID:28216847

Regarding to the Variance Analysis of Regression Equation of the Surface Roughness obtained by End Milling process of 7136 Aluminium Alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

POP, A. B.; ȚÎȚU, M. A.

2016-11-01

In the metal cutting process, surface quality is intrinsically related to the cutting parameters and to the cutting tool geometry. At the same time, metal cutting processes are closely related to the machining costs. The purpose of this paper is to reduce manufacturing costs and processing time. A study was made, based on the mathematical modelling of the average of the absolute value deviation (Ra) resulting from the end milling process on 7136 aluminium alloy, depending on cutting process parameters. The novel element brought by this paper is the 7136 aluminium alloy type, chosen to conduct the experiments, which is a material developed and patented by Universal Alloy Corporation. This aluminium alloy is used in the aircraft industry to make parts from extruded profiles, and it has not been studied for the proposed research direction. Based on this research, a mathematical model of surface roughness Ra was established according to the cutting parameters studied in a set experimental field. A regression analysis was performed, which identified the quantitative relationships between cutting parameters and the surface roughness. Using the variance analysis ANOVA, the degree of confidence for the achieved results by the regression equation was determined, and the suitability of this equation at every point of the experimental field.

Effect of surface roughness on the heating rates of large-angled hypersonic blunt cones

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Irimpan, Kiran Joy; Menezes, Viren

2018-03-01

Surface-roughness caused by the residue of an ablative Thermal Protection System (TPS) can alter the turbulence level and surface heating rates on a hypersonic re-entry capsule. Large-scale surface-roughness that could represent an ablated TPS, was introduced over the forebody of a 120° apex angle blunt cone, in order to test for its influence on surface heating rates in a hypersonic freestream of Mach 8.8. The surface heat transfer rates measured on smooth and roughened models under the same freestream conditions were compared. The hypersonic flow-fields of the smooth and rough-surfaced models were visualized to analyse the flow physics. Qualitative numerical simulations and pressure measurements were carried out to have an insight into the high-speed flow physics. Experimental observations under moderate Reynolds numbers indicated a delayed transition and an overall reduction of 17-46% in surface heating rates on the roughened model.

Evolution of real contact area under shear and the value of static friction of soft materials.

PubMed

Sahli, R; Pallares, G; Ducottet, C; Ben Ali, I E; Al Akhrass, S; Guibert, M; Scheibert, J

2018-01-16

The frictional properties of a rough contact interface are controlled by its area of real contact, the dynamical variations of which underlie our modern understanding of the ubiquitous rate-and-state friction law. In particular, the real contact area is proportional to the normal load, slowly increases at rest through aging, and drops at slip inception. Here, through direct measurements on various contacts involving elastomers or human fingertips, we show that the real contact area also decreases under shear, with reductions as large as 30[Formula: see text], starting well before macroscopic sliding. All data are captured by a single reduction law enabling excellent predictions of the static friction force. In elastomers, the area-reduction rate of individual contacts obeys a scaling law valid from micrometer-sized junctions in rough contacts to millimeter-sized smooth sphere/plane contacts. For the class of soft materials used here, our results should motivate first-order improvements of current contact mechanics models and prompt reinterpretation of the rate-and-state parameters.

Comparison between performances of three types of manual wheelchairs often distributed in low-resource settings.

PubMed

Rispin, Karen; Wee, Joy

2015-07-01

This study was conducted to compare the performance of three types of chairs in a low-resource setting. The larger goal was to provide information which will enable more effective use of limited funds by wheelchair manufacturers and suppliers in low-resource settings. The Motivation Rough Terrain and Whirlwind Rough Rider were compared in six skills tests which participants completed in one wheelchair type and then a day later in the other. A hospital-style folding transport wheelchair was also included in one test. For all skills, participants rated the ease or difficulty on a visual analogue scale. For all tracks, distance traveled and the physiological cost index were recorded. Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance. The Motivation wheelchair outperformed Whirlwind wheelchair on rough and smooth tracks, and in some metrics on the tight spaces track. Motivation and Whirlwind wheelchairs significantly outperformed the hospital transport wheelchair in all metrics on the rough track skills test. This comparative study provides data that are valuable for manufacturers and for those who provide wheelchairs to users. The comparison with the hospital-style transport chair confirms the cost to users of inappropriate wheelchair provision. Implications for Rehabilitation For those with compromised lower limb function, wheelchairs are essential to enable full participation and improved quality of life. Therefore, provision of wheelchairs which effectively enable mobility in the cultures and environments in which people with disabilities live is crucial. This includes low-resource settings where the need for appropriate seating is especially urgent. A repeated measures study to measure wheelchair performances in everyday skills in the setting where wheelchairs are used gives information on the quality of mobility provided by those wheelchairs. This study highlights differences in the performance of three types of wheelchairs often distributed in low-resource settings. This information can improve mobility for wheelchair users in those settings by enabling wheelchair manufacturers to optimize wheelchair design and providers to optimize the use of limited funds.

Potential fire behavior in pine flatwood forests following three different fuel reduction techniques

Treesearch

Patrick Brose; Dale Wade

2002-01-01

A computer modeling study to determine the potential fire behavior in pine flatwood forests following three fuel hazard reduction treatments: herbicide, prescribed fire and thinning was conducted in Florida following the 1998 wildfire season. Prescribed fire provided immediate protection but this protection quickly disappeared as the rough recovered. Thinning had a...

Measuring uncertainty by extracting fuzzy rules using rough sets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Worm, Jeffrey A.

1991-01-01

Despite the advancements in the computer industry in the past 30 years, there is still one major deficiency. Computers are not designed to handle terms where uncertainty is present. To deal with uncertainty, techniques other than classical logic must be developed. The methods are examined of statistical analysis, the Dempster-Shafer theory, rough set theory, and fuzzy set theory to solve this problem. The fundamentals of these theories are combined to possibly provide the optimal solution. By incorporating principles from these theories, a decision making process may be simulated by extracting two sets of fuzzy rules: certain rules and possible rules. From these rules a corresponding measure of how much these rules is believed is constructed. From this, the idea of how much a fuzzy diagnosis is definable in terms of a set of fuzzy attributes is studied.

Non-linear scale interactions in a forced turbulent boundary layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Duvvuri, Subrahmanyam; McKeon, Beverley

2015-11-01

A strong phase-organizing influence exerted by a single synthetic large-scale spatio-temporal mode on directly-coupled (through triadic interactions) small scales in a turbulent boundary layer forced by a spatially-impulsive dynamic wall-roughness patch was previously demonstrated by the authors (J. Fluid Mech. 2015, vol. 767, R4). The experimental set-up was later enhanced to allow for simultaneous forcing of multiple scales in the flow. Results and analysis are presented from a new set of novel experiments where two distinct large scales are forced in the flow by a dynamic wall-roughness patch. The internal non-linear forcing of two other scales with triadic consistency to the artificially forced large scales, corresponding to sum and difference in wavenumbers, is dominated by the latter. This allows for a forcing-response (input-output) type analysis of the two triadic scales, and naturally lends itself to a resolvent operator based model (e.g. McKeon & Sharma, J. Fluid Mech. 2010, vol. 658, pp. 336-382) of the governing Navier-Stokes equations. The support of AFOSR (grant #FA 9550-12-1-0469, program manager D. Smith) is gratefully acknowledged.

Swept Mechanism of Micro-Milling Tool Geometry Effect on Machined Oxygen Free High Conductivity Copper (OFHC) Surface Roughness

PubMed Central

Shi, Zhenyu; Liu, Zhanqiang; Li, Yuchao; Qiao, Yang

2017-01-01

Cutting tool geometry should be very much considered in micro-cutting because it has a significant effect on the topography and accuracy of the machined surface, particularly considering the uncut chip thickness is comparable to the cutting edge radius. The objective of this paper was to clarify the influence of the mechanism of the cutting tool geometry on the surface topography in the micro-milling process. Four different cutting tools including two two-fluted end milling tools with different helix angles of 15° and 30° cutting tools, as well as two three-fluted end milling tools with different helix angles of 15° and 30° were investigated by combining theoretical modeling analysis with experimental research. The tool geometry was mathematically modeled through coordinate translation and transformation to make all three cutting edges at the cutting tool tip into the same coordinate system. Swept mechanisms, minimum uncut chip thickness, and cutting tool run-out were considered on modeling surface roughness parameters (the height of surface roughness Rz and average surface roughness Ra) based on the established mathematical model. A set of cutting experiments was carried out using four different shaped cutting tools. It was found that the sweeping volume of the cutting tool increases with the decrease of both the cutting tool helix angle and the flute number. Great coarse machined surface roughness and more non-uniform surface topography are generated when the sweeping volume increases. The outcome of this research should bring about new methodologies for micro-end milling tool design and manufacturing. The machined surface roughness can be improved by appropriately selecting the tool geometrical parameters. PMID:28772479

Does college alcohol consumption impact employment upon graduation? Findings from a prospective study.

PubMed

Bamberger, Peter A; Koopmann, Jaclyn; Wang, Mo; Larimer, Mary; Nahum-Shani, Inbal; Geisner, Irene; Bacharach, Samuel B

2018-01-01

[Correction Notice: An Erratum for this article was reported in Vol 103(1) of Journal of Applied Psychology (see record 2017-44578-001). In the article, the authors incorrectly used the term "probability" instead of the term "odds" when relating to the impact of drinking in college on post-graduation employment. The abstract should note "a roughly 10% reduction in the odds...", and in the 2nd paragraph of the Discussion section, (a) "a roughly 10% lower probability" should be "a roughly 10% lower odds", and (b) "their probability of full-time employment upon graduation is roughly 6% lower than..." should be "their odds of full-time employment upon graduation is roughly 6% lower than..." All versions of this article have been corrected.] Although scholars have extensively studied the impact of academic and vocational factors on college students' employment upon graduation, we still know little as to how students' health-related behaviors influence such outcomes. Focusing on student alcohol use as a widely prevalent, health-related behavior, in the current study, we examined the employment implications of student drinking behavior. Drawing from literature examining the productivity effects of drinking and research on job search, we posited that modal quantity and frequency of alcohol consumption, as well as the frequency of heavy episodic drinking (HED) adversely impact the probability of employment upon graduation. Using data from 827 graduating seniors from 4 geographically diverse universities in the United States collected in the context of a prospective study design, we found modal alcohol consumption to have no adverse effect on the likelihood of employment upon graduation. However, we did find a significant adverse effect for the frequency of heavy drinking, with the data suggesting a roughly 10% reduction in the odds of employment upon graduation among college seniors who reported engaging in the average level of HED. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

Component extraction on CT volumes of assembled products using geometric template matching

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Muramatsu, Katsutoshi; Ohtake, Yutaka; Suzuki, Hiromasa; Nagai, Yukie

2017-03-01

As a method of non-destructive internal inspection, X-ray computed tomography (CT) is used not only in medical applications but also for product inspection. Some assembled products can be divided into separate components based on density, which is known to be approximately proportional to CT values. However, components whose densities are similar cannot be distinguished using the CT value driven approach. In this study, we proposed a new component extraction algorithm from the CT volume, using a set of voxels with an assigned CT value with the surface mesh as the template rather than the density. The method has two main stages: rough matching and fine matching. At the rough matching stage, the position of candidate targets is identified roughly from the CT volume, using the template of the target component. At the fine matching stage, these candidates are precisely matched with the templates, allowing the correct position of the components to be detected from the CT volume. The results of two computational experiments showed that the proposed algorithm is able to extract components with similar density within the assembled products on CT volumes.

Feedback effect of base roughness on particle size segregation in bidisperse granular avalanche

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jing, L.; Kwok, F.

2017-12-01

Particle size segregation in a geophysical flow interplays with base roughness, leading to rich behaviors such as bouldery front formation and fingering instability. The interplay originates mainly from the fact that larger particles slip more easily on a slope, the slip affects the progress of segregation, and segregation changes the size of particles contacting the slope. Recent studies show that slip velocity scales with geometric roughness (which involves both the size and spacing of base particles), and the roughness becomes a function of time during segregation. However, at least two questions remain unanswered: 1) In addition to geometric roughness, what is the role of mechanical parameters at boundaries? 2) To what extent the findings from steady flows are valid in a transient system, which is more common in actual geophysical flows? Here we study two configurations using the discrete element method, the first being a steady flow with periodic boundaries, where we vary the size, spatial arrangement, and contact parameters of base particles. The second consists in dambreak-type bidisperse granular avalanches over inclined planes, where the degree of segregation, base roughness, flow thickness, and base velocity are measured locally as the flow evolves. We found that: 1) On a frictional plane in the absence of geometric roughness, the friction parameter μ controls the amount of basal slip. A lower μ leads to a slower segregation. 2) On a bumpy base with low geometric roughness (where slip still occurs), the effect of μ becomes marginal, while the coefficient of restitution e controls the slip velocity; this indicates the significance of normal collision in the working mechanism of a bumpy base. Upon sliding, large particles near the base may exhibit an ordered state where shear is poorly developed, which delays the onset of segregation. 3) Both μ and e have no influence when the geometric roughness is sufficient to sustain a nonslip condition. Our results suggest the feedback effect of base roughness on segregation, which has a theoretical significance in the boundary treatment when modeling geophysical flows. The study also shows the possibility to establish a universal scaling law correlating slip velocity, base roughness, and the degree of segregation in both steady and unsteady flows.

EM Bias-Correction for Ice Thickness and Surface Roughness Retrievals over Rough Deformed Sea Ice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, L.; Gaiser, P. W.; Allard, R.; Posey, P. G.; Hebert, D. A.; Richter-Menge, J.; Polashenski, C. M.

2016-12-01

The very rough ridge sea ice accounts for significant percentage of total ice areas and even larger percentage of total volume. The commonly used Radar altimeter surface detection techniques are empirical in nature and work well only over level/smooth sea ice. Rough sea ice surfaces can modify the return waveforms, resulting in significant Electromagnetic (EM) bias in the estimated surface elevations, and thus large errors in the ice thickness retrievals. To understand and quantify such sea ice surface roughness effects, a combined EM rough surface and volume scattering model was developed to simulate radar returns from the rough sea ice `layer cake' structure. A waveform matching technique was also developed to fit observed waveforms to a physically-based waveform model and subsequently correct the roughness induced EM bias in the estimated freeboard. This new EM Bias Corrected (EMBC) algorithm was able to better retrieve surface elevations and estimate the surface roughness parameter simultaneously. In situ data from multi-instrument airborne and ground campaigns were used to validate the ice thickness and surface roughness retrievals. For the surface roughness retrievals, we applied this EMBC algorithm to co-incident LiDAR/Radar measurements collected during a Cryosat-2 under-flight by the NASA IceBridge missions. Results show that not only does the waveform model fit very well to the measured radar waveform, but also the roughness parameters derived independently from the LiDAR and radar data agree very well for both level and deformed sea ice. For sea ice thickness retrievals, validation based on in-situ data from the coordinated CRREL/NRL field campaign demonstrates that the physically-based EMBC algorithm performs fundamentally better than the empirical algorithm over very rough deformed sea ice, suggesting that sea ice surface roughness effects can be modeled and corrected based solely on the radar return waveforms.

In situ evaluation of surface roughness and micromorphology of temporary soft denture liner materials at different time intervals.

PubMed

Araújo, Célio U; Basting, Roberta T

2018-03-01

To perform an in situ evaluation of surface roughness and micromorphology of two soft liner materials for dentures at different time intervals. The surface roughness of materials may influence the adhesion of micro-organisms and inflammation of the mucosal tissues. The in situ evaluation of surface roughness and the micromorphology of soft liner materials over the course of time may present results different from those of in vitro studies, considering the constant presence of saliva and food, the changes in temperature and the pH level in the oral cavity. Forty-eight rectangular specimens of each of the two soft liner materials were fabricated: a silicone-based material (Mucopren Soft) and an acrylic resin-based material (Trusoft). The specimens were placed in the dentures of 12 participants (n = 12), and the materials were evaluated for surface roughness and micromorphology at different time intervals: 0, 7, 30 and 60 days. Roughness (Ra) was evaluated by means of a roughness tester. Surface micromorphology was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy. Analysis of variance for randomised block design and Tukey's test showed that surface roughness values were lower in the groups using the silicone-based material at all the time intervals (P < .0001). The average surface roughness was higher at time interval 0 than at the other intervals, for both materials (P < .0001). The surface micromorphology showed that the silicone material presented a more regular and smoother surface than the acrylic resin-based material. The surface roughness of acrylic resin-based and silicone-based denture soft liner materials decreased after 7 days of evaluation, leading to a smoother surface over time. The silicone-based material showed lower roughness values and a smoother surface than the acrylic resin-based material, thereby making it preferred when selecting more appropriate material, due its tendency to promote less biofilm build-up. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons A/S and The Gerodontology Association. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Effect of saliva and blood contamination after etching upon the shear bond strength between composite resin and enamel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Armadi, A. S.; Usman, M.; Suprastiwi, E.

2017-08-01

The aim of this study was to find out the surface roughness of composite resin veneer after brushing. In this study, 24 specimens of composite resin veneer are divided into three subgroups: brushed without toothpaste, brushed with non-herbal toothpaste, and brushed with herbal toothpaste. Brushing was performed for one set of 5,000 strokes and continued for a second set of 5,000 strokes. Roughness of composite resin veneer was determined using a Surface Roughness Tester. The results were statistically analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric test and Post Hoc Mann-Whitney. The results indicate that the highest difference among the Ra values occurred within the subgroup that was brushed with the herbal toothpaste. In conclusion, the herbal toothpaste produced a rougher surface on composite resin veneer compared to non-herbal toothpaste.

Mineral loss and morphological changes in dental enamel induced by a 16% carbamide peroxide bleaching gel.

PubMed

Soares, Diana Gabriela; Ribeiro, Ana Paula Dias; Sacono, Nancy Tomoko; Loguércio, Alessandro Dourado; Hebling, Josimeri; Costa, Carlos Alberto de Souza

2013-01-01

The aim of this study was to compare the effect of a 16% carbamide peroxide (CP) gel and a 10% CP gel on mineralized enamel content and morphology. Enamel blocks from bovine incisors were subjected to a 14-day treatment (8 h/day) with 10% or 16% CP gels. Knoop microhardness was evaluated before bleaching and at 1, 7 or 14 days after this treatment (50 g/15 s). Mineral content (energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy), surface roughness and topography (atomic force microscopy) were evaluated at the 14-day period. Data were analyzed statistically by two-way ANOVA and Tukey's test (α=0.05). Significant microhardness reduction was observed at the 7 th and 14 th days for 10% CP gel, and for all bleaching times for 16% CP gel (p<0.05). At the 14-day period, a significant decrease in Ca and P content, increase on surface roughness (p<0.05) as well as on picks and valleys distance were observed when both bleaching gels were used. These enamel alterations were more intense for 16% CP gel. It was concluded that both CP-based gels promoted loss of mineral structure from enamel, resulting in a rough and porous surface. However, 16% CP gel caused the most intense adverse effects on enamel.

Assessment of morphology, topography and chemical composition of water-repellent films based on polystyrene/titanium dioxide nanocomposites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bolvardi, Beleta; Seyfi, Javad; Hejazi, Iman; Otadi, Maryam; Khonakdar, Hossein Ali; Drechsler, Astrid; Holzschuh, Matthias

2017-02-01

In this study, polystyrene (PS)/titanium dioxide (TiO2) films were fabricated through simple solution casting technique via a modified phase separation process. The presented approach resulted in a remarkable reduction in the required amount of nanoparticles for achieving superhydrophobicity. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and 3D confocal microscopy were utilized to characterize surface morphology and topography of samples, respectively. An attempt was made to give an in-depth analysis on the surface rough structure using 3D roughness profiles. It was found that high inclusions of non-solvent and nanoparticles resulted in a stable self-cleaning behavior due to the strong presence of hydrophobic TiO2 nanoparticles on the surface. Quite unexpectedly, low inclusions of nanoparticles and non-solvent also resulted in superhydrophobic property mainly due to the proper level of induced surface roughness. XPS analysis was also utilized to determine the chemical composition of the films' surfaces. The results of falling drop experiments showed that the sample containing a higher level of nanoparticles had a much lower mechanical resistance against the induced harsh conditions. All in all, the presented method has shown promising potential in fabrication of superhydrophobic surfaces with self-cleaning behavior using the lowest content of nanoparticles.

Benchmarking performance measurement and lean manufacturing in the rough mill

Treesearch

Dan Cumbo; D. Earl Kline; Matthew S. Bumgardner

2006-01-01

Lean manufacturing represents a set of tools and a stepwise strategy for achieving smooth, predictable product flow, maximum product flexibility, and minimum system waste. While lean manufacturing principles have been successfully applied to some components of the secondary wood products value stream (e.g., moulding, turning, assembly, and finishing), the rough mill is...

Cross-Modal Perception of Noise-in-Music: Audiences Generate Spiky Shapes in Response to Auditory Roughness in a Novel Electroacoustic Concert Setting

PubMed Central

Liew, Kongmeng; Lindborg, PerMagnus; Rodrigues, Ruth; Styles, Suzy J.

2018-01-01

Noise has become integral to electroacoustic music aesthetics. In this paper, we define noise as sound that is high in auditory roughness, and examine its effect on cross-modal mapping between sound and visual shape in participants. In order to preserve the ecological validity of contemporary music aesthetics, we developed Rama, a novel interface, for presenting experimentally controlled blocks of electronically generated sounds that varied systematically in roughness, and actively collected data from audience interaction. These sounds were then embedded as musical drones within the overall sound design of a multimedia performance with live musicians, Audience members listened to these sounds, and collectively voted to create the shape of a visual graphic, presented as part of the audio–visual performance. The results of the concert setting were replicated in a controlled laboratory environment to corroborate the findings. Results show a consistent effect of auditory roughness on shape design, with rougher sounds corresponding to spikier shapes. We discuss the implications, as well as evaluate the audience interface. PMID:29515494

Cross-Modal Perception of Noise-in-Music: Audiences Generate Spiky Shapes in Response to Auditory Roughness in a Novel Electroacoustic Concert Setting.

PubMed

Liew, Kongmeng; Lindborg, PerMagnus; Rodrigues, Ruth; Styles, Suzy J

2018-01-01

Noise has become integral to electroacoustic music aesthetics. In this paper, we define noise as sound that is high in auditory roughness, and examine its effect on cross-modal mapping between sound and visual shape in participants. In order to preserve the ecological validity of contemporary music aesthetics, we developed Rama , a novel interface, for presenting experimentally controlled blocks of electronically generated sounds that varied systematically in roughness, and actively collected data from audience interaction. These sounds were then embedded as musical drones within the overall sound design of a multimedia performance with live musicians, Audience members listened to these sounds, and collectively voted to create the shape of a visual graphic, presented as part of the audio-visual performance. The results of the concert setting were replicated in a controlled laboratory environment to corroborate the findings. Results show a consistent effect of auditory roughness on shape design, with rougher sounds corresponding to spikier shapes. We discuss the implications, as well as evaluate the audience interface.

Method for Reducing the Drag of Increasing Forebody Roughness Blunt-Based Vehicles by Adaptively Increasing Forebody Roughness

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Whitmore, Stephen A. (Inventor); Saltzman, Edwin J. (Inventor); Moes, Timothy R. (Inventor); Iliff, Kenneth W. (Inventor)

2005-01-01

A method for reducing drag upon a blunt-based vehicle by adaptively increasing forebody roughness to increase drag at the roughened area of the forebody, which results in a decrease in drag at the base of this vehicle, and in total vehicle drag.

Target-based coherent beam combining of an optical phased array fed by a broadband laser source

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hyde, Milo W., IV; McCrae, Jack E.; Tyler, Glenn A.

2017-11-01

The target-based phasing of an optical phased array (OPA) fed by a broadband master oscillator laser source is investigated. The specific scenario examined here considers an OPA phasing through atmospheric turbulence on a rough curved object. An analytical expression for the detected or received intensity is derived. Gleaned from this expression are the conditions under which target-based phasing is possible. A detailed OPA wave optics simulation is performed to validate the theoretical findings. Key aspects of the simulation set-up as well as the results are thoroughly discussed.

CFD Based Prediction of Discharge Coefficient of Sonic Nozzle with Surface Roughness

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bagaskara, Agastya; Agoes Moelyadi, Mochammad

2018-04-01

Due to its simplicity and accuracy, sonic nozzle is widely used in gas flow measurement, gas flow meter calibration standard, and flow control. The nozzle obtains mass flow rate by measuring temperature and pressure in the inlet during choked flow condition and calculate the flow rate using the one-dimensional isentropic flow equation multiplied by a discharge coefficient, which takes into account multiple non-isentropic effects, which causes the reduction in mass flow. Proper determination of discharge coefficient is crucial to ensure the accuracy of mass flow measurement by the nozzle. Available analytical solution for the prediction of discharge coefficient assumes that the nozzle wall is hydraulically smooth which causes disagreement with experimental results. In this paper, the discharge coefficient of sonic nozzle is determined using computational fluid dynamics method by taking into account the roughness of the wall. It is found that the result shows better agreement with the experiment data compared to the analytical result.

Development of chitosan-coated gold nanoflowers as SERS-active probes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Dan; Gu, Jiangjiang; Wang, Weina; Yu, Xuehai; Xi, Kai; Jia, Xudong

2010-09-01

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has been intensely researched for many years as a potential technique for highly sensitive detection. This work, through the reduction of HAuCl4 with pyrrole in aqueous solutions, investigated a facile one-pot synthesis of flower-like Au nanoparticles with rough surfaces. The formation process of the Au nanoflowers (AuNFs) was carefully studied, and a spontaneous assembly mechanism was proposed based on the time-course experimental results. The key synthesis strategy was to use pyrrole as a weak particle stabilizing and reducing agent to confine crystal growth in the limited ligand protection region. The nanometer-scale surface roughness of AuNFs provided several hot spots on a single particle, which significantly increased SERS enhancement. Good biocompatible stable Raman-active probes were synthesized by coating AuNFs with chitosan. The conservation of the SERS effects in living cells suggested that the chitosan-capped AuNFs could be suitable for highly sensitive detection and have potential for targeting of tumors in vivo.

Surface kinetic roughening caused by dental erosion: An atomic force microscopy study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Quartarone, Eliana; Mustarelli, Piercarlo; Poggio, Claudio; Lombardini, Marco

2008-05-01

Surface kinetic roughening takes place both in case of growth and erosion processes. Teeth surfaces are eroded by contact with acid drinks, such as those used to supplement mineral salts during sporting activities. Calcium-phosphate based (CPP-ACP) pastes are known to reduce the erosion process, and to favour the enamel remineralization. In this study we used atomic force microscopy (AFM) to investigate the surface roughening during dental erosion, and the mechanisms at the basis of the protection role exerted by a commercial CPP-ACP paste. We found a statistically significant difference (p<0.01) in the roughness of surfaces exposed and not exposed to the acid solutions. The treatment with the CPP-ACP paste determined a statistically significant reduction of the roughness values. By interpreting the AFM results in terms of fractal scaling concepts and continuum stochastic equations, we showed that the protection mechanism of the paste depends on the chemical properties of the acid solution.

Light scattering techniques for the characterization of optical components

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hauptvogel, M.; Schröder, S.; Herffurth, T.; Trost, M.; von Finck, A.; Duparré, A.; Weigel, T.

2017-11-01

The rapid developments in optical technologies generate increasingly higher and sometimes completely new demands on the quality of materials, surfaces, components, and systems. Examples for such driving applications are the steadily shrinking feature sizes in semiconductor lithography, nanostructured functional surfaces for consumer optics, and advanced optical systems for astronomy and space applications. The reduction of surface defects as well as the minimization of roughness and other scatter-relevant irregularities are essential factors in all these areas of application. Quality-monitoring for analysing and improving those properties must ensure that even minimal defects and roughness values can be detected reliably. Light scattering methods have a high potential for a non-contact, rapid, efficient, and sensitive determination of roughness, surface structures, and defects.

An Interactive Medical Knowledge Assistant

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Czejdo, Bogdan D.; Baszun, Mikolaj

This paper describes an interactive medical knowledge assistant that can help a doctor or a patient in making important health related decisions. The system is Web based and consists of several modules, including a medical knowledge base, a doctor interface module, patient interface module and a the main module of the medical knowledge assistant. The medical assistant is designed to help interpret the fuzzy data using rough sets approach. The patient interface includes sub-system for real time monitoring of patients' health parameters and sending them to the main module of the medical knowledge assistant.

Stability of smooth and rough mini-implants: clinical and biomechanical evaluation - an in vivostudy

PubMed Central

Vilani, Giselle Naback Lemes; Ruellas, Antônio Carlos de Oliveira; Elias, Carlos Nelson; Mattos, Cláudia Trindade

2015-01-01

Objective: To compare in vivo orthodontic mini-implants (MI) of smooth (machined) and rough (acid etched) surfaces, assessing primary and secondary stability. Methods: Thirty-six (36) MI were inserted in the mandibles of six (6) dogs. Each animal received six (6) MI. In the right hemiarch, three (3) MI without surface treatment (smooth) were inserted, whereas in the left hemiarch, another three (3) MI with acid etched surfaces (rough) were inserted. The two distal MI in each hemiarch received an immediate load of 1.0 N for 16 weeks, whereas the MI in the mesial extremity was not subject to loading. Stability was measured by insertion and removal torque, initial and final mobility and by inter mini-implant distance. Results: There was no statistical behavioral difference between smooth and rough MI. High insertion torque and reduced initial mobility were observed in all groups, as well as a reduction in removal torques in comparison with insertion torque. Rough MI presented higher removal torque and lower final mobility in comparison to smooth MI. MI did not remain static, with displacement of rough MI being smaller in comparison with smooth MI, but with no statistical difference. Conclusions: MI primary stability was greater than stability measured at removal. There was no difference in stability between smooth and rough MI when assessing mobility, displacement and insertion as well as removal torques. PMID:26560819

The Backscattering Phase Function for a Sphere with a Two-Scale Relief of Rough Surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Klass, E. V.

2017-12-01

The backscattering of light from spherical surfaces characterized by one and two-scale roughness reliefs has been investigated. The analysis is performed using the three-dimensional Monte-Carlo program POKS-RG (geometrical-optics approximation), which makes it possible to take into account the roughness of objects under study by introducing local geometries of different levels. The geometric module of the program is aimed at describing objects by equations of second-order surfaces. One-scale roughness is set as an ensemble of geometric figures (convex or concave halves of ellipsoids or cones). The two-scale roughness is modeled by convex halves of ellipsoids, with surface containing ellipsoidal pores. It is shown that a spherical surface with one-scale convex inhomogeneities has a flatter backscattering phase function than a surface with concave inhomogeneities (pores). For a sphere with two-scale roughness, the dependence of the backscattering intensity is found to be determined mostly by the lower-level inhomogeneities. The influence of roughness on the dependence of the backscattering from different spatial regions of spherical surface is analyzed.

The software application and classification algorithms for welds radiograms analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sikora, R.; Chady, T.; Baniukiewicz, P.; Grzywacz, B.; Lopato, P.; Misztal, L.; Napierała, L.; Piekarczyk, B.; Pietrusewicz, T.; Psuj, G.

2013-01-01

The paper presents a software implementation of an Intelligent System for Radiogram Analysis (ISAR). The system has to support radiologists in welds quality inspection. The image processing part of software with a graphical user interface and a welds classification part are described with selected classification results. Classification was based on a few algorithms: an artificial neural network, a k-means clustering, a simplified k-means and a rough sets theory.

Nuclear Terrorism: Calibrating Funding for Defensive Programs in Response to the Threat

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-12-01

fertilizer , ceramic tile, and bananas, slow the cargo screening process and in some cases have even led officials to reduce the sensitivity settings...kilograms of HEU or 8 kilograms of plutonium (weights roughly equated to the size of a melon and a plum respectively).234 Terrorists would likely...ed. Schwartz, 214. 69 On February 26, 1993, terrorists detonated 1,400 pounds of fertilizer -based explosives in the underground parking garage of

Effect of nano-scale morphology on micro-channel wall surface and electrical characterization in lead silicate glass micro-channel plate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cai, Hua; Li, Fangjun; Xu, Yanglei; Bo, Tiezhu; Zhou, Dongzhan; Lian, Jiao; Li, Qing; Cao, Zhenbo; Xu, Tao; Wang, Caili; Liu, Hui; Li, Guoen; Jia, Jinsheng

2017-10-01

Micro-channel plate (MCP) is a two dimensional arrays of microscopic channel charge particle multiplier. Silicate composition and hydrogen reduction are keys to determine surface morphology of micro-channel wall in MCP. In this paper, lead silicate glass micro-channel plates in two different cesium contents (0at%, 0.5at%) and two different hydrogen reduction temperatures (400°C,450°C) were present. The nano-scale morphology, elements content and chemical states of microporous wall surface treated under different alkaline compositions and reduction conditions was investigated by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), respectively. Meanwhile, the electrical characterizations of MCP, including the bulk resistance, electron gain and the density of dark current, were measured in a Vacuum Photoelectron Imaging Test Facility (VPIT).The results indicated that the granular phase occurred on the surface of microporous wall and diffuses in bulk glass is an aggregate of Pb atom derived from the reduction of Pb2+. In micro-channel plate, the electron gain and bulk resistance were mainly correlated to particle size and distribution, the density of dark current (DDC) went up with the increasing root-mean-square roughness (RMS) on the microporous wall surface. Adding cesiums improved the size of Pb atomic aggregation, lowered the relative concentration of [Pb] reduced from Pb2+ and decreased the total roughness of micro-channel wall surface, leading a higher bulk resistance, a lower electron gain and a less dark current. Increasing hydrogen reduction temperature also improved the size of Pb atomic aggregation, but enhanced the relative concentration of [Pb] and enlarged the total roughness of micro-channel wall surface, leading a higher bulk resistance, a lower electron gain and a larger dark current. The reasons for the difference of electrical characteristics were discussed.

Dependence of toxicity of silver nanoparticles on Pseudomonas putida biofilm structure.

PubMed

Thuptimdang, Pumis; Limpiyakorn, Tawan; Khan, Eakalak

2017-12-01

Susceptibility of biofilms with different physical structures to silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was studied. Biofilms of Pseudomonas putida KT2440 were formed in batch conditions under different carbon sources (glucose, glutamic acid, and citrate), glucose concentrations (5 and 50 mM), and incubation temperatures (25 and 30 °C). The biofilms were observed using confocal laser scanning microscopy for their physical characteristics (biomass amount, thickness, biomass volume, surface to volume ratio, and roughness coefficient). The biofilms forming under different growth conditions exhibited different physical structures. The biofilm thickness and the roughness coefficient were found negatively and positively correlated with the biofilm susceptibility to AgNPs, respectively. The effect of AgNPs on biofilms was low (1-log reduction of cell number) when the biofilms had high biomass amount, high thickness, high biomass volume, low surface to volume ratio, and low roughness coefficient. Furthermore, the extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) stripping process was applied to confirm the dependence of susceptibility to AgNPs on the structure of biofilm. After the EPS stripping process, the biofilms forming under different conditions showed reduction in thickness and biomass volume, and increases in surface to volume ratio and roughness coefficient, which led to more biofilm susceptibility to AgNPs. The results of this study suggest that controlling the growth conditions to alter the biofilm physical structure is a possible approach to reduce the impact of AgNPs on biofilms in engineered and natural systems. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Surface Fatigue Lives of Case-Carburized Gears With an Improved Surface Finish

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Krantz, T. L.; Alanou, M. P.; Evans, H. P.; Snidle, R. W.; Krantz, T. L. (Technical Monitor)

2000-01-01

Previous research provides qualitative evidence that an improved surface finish can increase the surface fatigue lives of gears. To quantify the influence of surface roughness on life, a set of AISI 93 10 steel gears was provided with a nearmirror finish by superfinishing. The effects of the superfinishing on the quality of the gear tooth surfaces were determined using data from metrology, profilometry, and interferometric microscope inspections. The superfinishing reduced the roughness average by about a factor of 5. The superfinished gears were subjected to surface fatigue testing at 1.71 -GPa (248-ksi) Hertz contact stress, and the data were compared with the NASA Glenn gear fatigue data base. The lives of gears with superfinished teeth were about four times greater compared with the lives of gears with ground teeth but with otherwise similar quality.

In vivo measurement of skin surface strain and sub-surface layer deformation induced by natural tissue stretching.

PubMed

Maiti, Raman; Gerhardt, Lutz-Christian; Lee, Zing S; Byers, Robert A; Woods, Daniel; Sanz-Herrera, José A; Franklin, Steve E; Lewis, Roger; Matcher, Stephen J; Carré, Matthew J

2016-09-01

Stratum corneum and epidermal layers change in terms of thickness and roughness with gender, age and anatomical site. Knowledge of the mechanical and tribological properties of skin associated with these structural changes are needed to aid in the design of exoskeletons, prostheses, orthotics, body mounted sensors used for kinematics measurements and in optimum use of wearable on-body devices. In this case study, optical coherence tomography (OCT) and digital image correlation (DIC) were combined to determine skin surface strain and sub-surface deformation behaviour of the volar forearm due to natural tissue stretching. The thickness of the epidermis together with geometry changes of the dermal-epidermal junction boundary were calculated during change in the arm angle, from flexion (90°) to full extension (180°). This posture change caused an increase in skin surface Lagrange strain, typically by 25% which induced considerable morphological changes in the upper skin layers evidenced by reduction of epidermal layer thickness (20%), flattening of the dermal-epidermal junction undulation (45-50% reduction of flatness being expressed as Ra and Rz roughness profile height change) and reduction of skin surface roughness Ra and Rz (40-50%). The newly developed method, DIC combined with OCT imaging, is a powerful, fast and non-invasive methodology to study structural skin changes in real time and the tissue response provoked by mechanical loading or stretching. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

An anti-bacterial approach to nanoscale roughening of biomimetic rice-like pattern PP by thermal annealing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jafari Nodoushan, Emad; Ebrahimi, Nadereh Golshan; Ayazi, Masoumeh

2017-11-01

In this paper, we introduced thermal annealing treatment as an effective way of increasing the nanoscale roughness of a semi-crystalline polymer surface. Annealing treatment applied to a biomimetic microscale pattern of rice leaf to achieve a superhydrophobic surface with a hierarchical roughness. Resulted surfaces was characterized by XRD, AFM and FE-SEM instruments and showed an increase of roughness and cristallinity within both time and temperature of treatment. These two parameters also impact on measured static contact angle up to 158°. Bacterial attachment potency has an inverse relationship with the similarity of surface pattern dimensions and bacterial size and due to that, thermal annealing could be an effective way to create anti-bacterial surface beyond its effect on water repellency. Point in case, the anti-bacterial properties of produced water-repellence surfaces of PP were measured and counted colonies of both gram-negative (E. coli) and gram-positive (S. aureus) bacteria reduced with the nature of PP and hierarchical pattern on that. Anti-bacterial characterization of the resulted surface reveals a stunning reduction in adhesion of gram-positive bacteria to the surface. S. aureus reduction rates equaled to 95% and 66% when compared to control blank plate and smooth surface of PP. Moreover, it also could affect the other type of bacteria, gram-negative (E. coli). In the latter case, adhesion reduction rates calculated 66% and 53% when against to the same controls, respectively.

a Voxel-Based Filtering Algorithm for Mobile LIDAR Data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qin, H.; Guan, G.; Yu, Y.; Zhong, L.

2018-04-01

This paper presents a stepwise voxel-based filtering algorithm for mobile LiDAR data. In the first step, to improve computational efficiency, mobile LiDAR points, in xy-plane, are first partitioned into a set of two-dimensional (2-D) blocks with a given block size, in each of which all laser points are further organized into an octree partition structure with a set of three-dimensional (3-D) voxels. Then, a voxel-based upward growing processing is performed to roughly separate terrain from non-terrain points with global and local terrain thresholds. In the second step, the extracted terrain points are refined by computing voxel curvatures. This voxel-based filtering algorithm is comprehensively discussed in the analyses of parameter sensitivity and overall performance. An experimental study performed on multiple point cloud samples, collected by different commercial mobile LiDAR systems, showed that the proposed algorithm provides a promising solution to terrain point extraction from mobile point clouds.

Comparison of two metrological approaches for the prediction of human haptic perception

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Neumann, Annika; Frank, Daniel; Vondenhoff, Thomas; Schmitt, Robert

2016-06-01

Haptic perception is regarded as a key component of customer appreciation and acceptance for various products. The prediction of customers’ haptic perception is of interest both during product development and production phases. This paper presents the results of a multivariate analysis between perceived roughness and texture related surface measurements, to examine whether perceived roughness can be accurately predicted using technical measurements. Studies have shown that standardized measurement parameters, such as the roughness coefficients (e.g. Rz or Ra), do not show a one-dimensional linear correlation with the human perception (of roughness). Thus, an alternative measurement method was compared to standard measurements of roughness, in regard to its capability of predicting perceived roughness through technical measurements. To estimate perceived roughness, an experimental study was conducted in which 102 subjects evaluated four sets of 12 different geometrical surface structures regarding their relative perceived roughness. The two different metrological procedures were examined in relation to their capability to predict the perceived roughness of the subjects stated within the study. The standardized measurements of the surface roughness were made using a structured light 3D-scanner. As an alternative method, surface induced vibrations were measured by a finger-like sensor during robot-controlled traverse over a surface. The presented findings provide a better understanding of the predictability of human haptic perception using technical measurements.

The role of connectedness in haptic object perception.

PubMed

Plaisier, Myrthe A; van Polanen, Vonne; Kappers, Astrid M L

2017-03-02

We can efficiently detect whether there is a rough object among a set of smooth objects using our sense of touch. We can also quickly determine the number of rough objects in our hand. In this study, we investigated whether the perceptual processing of rough and smooth objects is influenced if these objects are connected. In Experiment 1, participants were asked to identify whether there were exactly two rough target spheres among smooth distractor spheres, while we recorded their response times. The spheres were connected to form pairs: rough spheres were paired together and smooth spheres were paired together ('within pairs arrangement'), or a rough and a smooth sphere were connected ('between pairs arrangement'). Participants responded faster when the spheres in a pair were identical. In Experiment 2, we found that the advantage for within pairs arrangements was not driven by feature saliency. Overall our results show that haptic information is processed faster when targets were connected together compared to when targets were connected to distractors.

Crossover from capillary fingering to viscous fingering in a rough fracture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, R.; Chen, Y.; Wu, D. S.

2017-12-01

Controlled by the competition between capillary and viscous forces, the displacement patterns of one fluid displacing another more viscous one exhibit capillary fingering, viscous fingering, and the crossover between the two. Although extensive studies have investigated viscous and capillary fingerings in porous and fractured media, a few studies focused on the crossover in rough fractures, and how viscous and capillary forces affect the crossover remains unclear. Using a transparent fracture visualization system, we studied how the competition impacts the crossover in a horizontal rough fracture. Drainage experiments of water displacing oil were conducted at seven flow rates (capillary number log10Ca ranging from -7.07 to -3.07) and four viscosity ratios (M = 1/1000, 1/500, 1/100 and 1/50). We consistently observed lower invading fluid saturations in the crossover zone. In addition, we proposed a phase diagram for the displacement patterns in a rough fracture that is consistent with similar studies in porous media. Based on real-time imaging and statistical analysis of the invasion morphology, we showed that the competition between the capillary and viscous forces is responsible for the saturation reduction in the crossover zone. In this zone, finger propagation toward the outlet (characteristic of viscous fingering) as well as void-filling in the transverse and backward directions (characteristic of capillary fingering), are both suppressed. Therefore, the invading fluid tends to occupy larger apertures with higher characteristic front velocity, promoting void-filling toward the outlet with thinner finger growth and resulting in a larger volume of defending fluid left behind.

A process-based investigation into the impact of the Congo basin deforestation on surface climate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bell, Jean P.; Tompkins, Adrian M.; Bouka-Biona, Clobite; Sanda, I. Seidou

2015-06-01

The sensitivity of climate to the loss of the Congo basin rainforest through changes in land cover properties is examined using a regional climate model. The complete removal of the Congo basin rainforest results in a dipole rainfall anomaly pattern, characterized by a decrease (˜-42%) in rainfall over the western Congo and an increase (˜10%) in the basin's eastern part. Three further experiments systematically examine the individual response to the changes in albedo, surface roughness, and evapotranspiration efficiency that accompany deforestation. The increased albedo (˜) caused by the Congo basin rainforest clearance results in cooler and drier climate conditions over the entire basin. The drying is accompanied with a reduction in available surface energy. Reducing evapotranspiration efficiency or roughness length produces similar positive air temperature anomaly patterns. The decreased evapotranspiration efficiency leads to a dipole response in rainfall, similar to that resulting from a reduced surface roughness following Congo basin rainforest clearance. This precipitation anomaly pattern is strongly linked to the change in low-level water vapor transport, the influence of the Rift valley highlands, and the spatial pattern of water recycling activity. The climate responds linearly to the separate albedo, surface roughness, and evapotranspiration efficiency changes, which can be summed to produce a close approximation to the impact of the full deforestation experiment. It is suggested that the widely contrasting climate responses to deforestation in the literature could be partly due to the relative magnitude of change of the radiative and nonradiative parameterizations in their respective land surface schemes.

ROMI-RIP: Rough Mill RIP-first simulator user's guide

Treesearch

R. Edward Thomas

1995-01-01

The ROugh Mill RIP-first simulator (ROMI-RIP) is a computer software package for IBM compatible personal computers that simulates current industrial practices for gang-ripping lumber. This guide shows the user how to set and examine the results of simulations regarding current or proposed mill practices. ROMI-RIP accepts cutting bills with up to 300 different part...

Toolpath Strategy and Optimum Combination of Machining Parameter during Pocket Mill Process of Plastic Mold Steels Material

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wibowo, Y. T.; Baskoro, S. Y.; Manurung, V. A. T.

2018-02-01

Plastic based products spread all over the world in many aspects of life. The ability to substitute other materials is getting stronger and wider. The use of plastic materials increases and become unavoidable. Plastic based mass production requires injection process as well Mold. The milling process of plastic mold steel material was done using HSS End Mill cutting tool that is widely used in a small and medium enterprise for the reason of its ability to be re sharpened and relatively inexpensive. Study on the effect of the geometry tool states that it has an important effect on the quality improvement. Cutting speed, feed rate, depth of cut and radii are input parameters beside to the tool path strategy. This paper aims to investigate input parameter and cutting tools behaviors within some different tool path strategy. For the reason of experiments efficiency Taguchi method and ANOVA were used. Response studied is surface roughness and cutting behaviors. By achieving the expected quality, no more additional process is required. Finally, the optimal combination of machining parameters will deliver the expected roughness and of course totally reduced cutting time. However actually, SMEs do not optimally use this data for cost reduction.

A robust sparse-modeling framework for estimating schizophrenia biomarkers from fMRI.

PubMed

Dillon, Keith; Calhoun, Vince; Wang, Yu-Ping

2017-01-30

Our goal is to identify the brain regions most relevant to mental illness using neuroimaging. State of the art machine learning methods commonly suffer from repeatability difficulties in this application, particularly when using large and heterogeneous populations for samples. We revisit both dimensionality reduction and sparse modeling, and recast them in a common optimization-based framework. This allows us to combine the benefits of both types of methods in an approach which we call unambiguous components. We use this to estimate the image component with a constrained variability, which is best correlated with the unknown disease mechanism. We apply the method to the estimation of neuroimaging biomarkers for schizophrenia, using task fMRI data from a large multi-site study. The proposed approach yields an improvement in both robustness of the estimate and classification accuracy. We find that unambiguous components incorporate roughly two thirds of the same brain regions as sparsity-based methods LASSO and elastic net, while roughly one third of the selected regions differ. Further, unambiguous components achieve superior classification accuracy in differentiating cases from controls. Unambiguous components provide a robust way to estimate important regions of imaging data. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Ray Tracing and Modal Methods for Modeling Radio Propagation in Tunnels With Rough Walls

PubMed Central

Zhou, Chenming

2017-01-01

At the ultrahigh frequencies common to portable radios, tunnels such as mine entries are often modeled by hollow dielectric waveguides. The roughness condition of the tunnel walls has an influence on radio propagation, and therefore should be taken into account when an accurate power prediction is needed. This paper investigates how wall roughness affects radio propagation in tunnels, and presents a unified ray tracing and modal method for modeling radio propagation in tunnels with rough walls. First, general analytical formulas for modeling the influence of the wall roughness are derived, based on the modal method and the ray tracing method, respectively. Second, the equivalence of the ray tracing and modal methods in the presence of wall roughnesses is mathematically proved, by showing that the ray tracing-based analytical formula can converge to the modal-based formula through the Poisson summation formula. The derivation and findings are verified by simulation results based on ray tracing and modal methods. PMID:28935995

Molecular recognition of DNA by ligands: Roughness and complexity of the free energy profile

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheng, Wenwei; Vargiu, Attilio Vittorio; Rohrdanz, Mary A.; Carloni, Paolo; Clementi, Cecilia

2013-10-01

Understanding the molecular mechanism by which probes and chemotherapeutic agents bind to nucleic acids is a fundamental issue in modern drug design. From a computational perspective, valuable insights are gained by the estimation of free energy landscapes as a function of some collective variables (CVs), which are associated with the molecular recognition event. Unfortunately the choice of CVs is highly non-trivial because of DNA's high flexibility and the presence of multiple association-dissociation events at different locations and/or sliding within the grooves. Here we have applied a modified version of Locally-Scaled Diffusion Map (LSDMap), a nonlinear dimensionality reduction technique for decoupling multiple-timescale dynamics in macromolecular systems, to a metadynamics-based free energy landscape calculated using a set of intuitive CVs. We investigated the binding of the organic drug anthramycin to a DNA 14-mer duplex. By performing an extensive set of metadynamics simulations, we observed sliding of anthramycin along the full-length DNA minor groove, as well as several detachments from multiple sites, including the one identified by X-ray crystallography. As in the case of equilibrium processes, the LSDMap analysis is able to extract the most relevant collective motions, which are associated with the slow processes within the system, i.e., ligand diffusion along the minor groove and dissociation from it. Thus, LSDMap in combination with metadynamics (and possibly every equivalent method) emerges as a powerful method to describe the energetics of ligand binding to DNA without resorting to intuitive ad hoc reaction coordinates.

Rough set soft computing cancer classification and network: one stone, two birds.

PubMed

Zhang, Yue

2010-07-15

Gene expression profiling provides tremendous information to help unravel the complexity of cancer. The selection of the most informative genes from huge noise for cancer classification has taken centre stage, along with predicting the function of such identified genes and the construction of direct gene regulatory networks at different system levels with a tuneable parameter. A new study by Wang and Gotoh described a novel Variable Precision Rough Sets-rooted robust soft computing method to successfully address these problems and has yielded some new insights. The significance of this progress and its perspectives will be discussed in this article.

Mindfulness meditation-based stress reduction: experience with a bilingual inner-city program.

PubMed

Roth, B; Creaser, T

1997-03-01

This article describes a bilingual mindfulness meditation-based stress reduction program in an inner-city setting. Mindfulness meditation is defined, and the practices of breathing meditation, eating meditation, walking meditation, and mindful yoga are described. Data analysis examined compliance, medical and psychologic symptom reduction, and changes in self-esteem, of English- and Spanish-speaking patients who completed the 8-week Stress Reduction and Relaxation Program at the Community Health Center in Meriden, Conn. Statistically significant decreases in medical and psychologic symptoms and improvement in self-esteem were found. Many program completers reported dramatic changes in attitudes, beliefs, habits, and behaviors. Despite the limitations of the research design, these findings suggest that a mindfulness meditation course can be an effective health care intervention when utilized by English- and Spanish-speaking patients in an inner-city community health center. The article includes a discussion of factors to be considered when establishing a mindfulness meditation-based stress reduction program in a health care setting.

Effect of sealer coating and storage methods on the surface roughness of soft liners.

PubMed

Usta Kutlu, Ilknur; Yanikoğlu, Nuran Dinckal; Kul, Esra; Duymuş, Zeynep Yesïl; Sağsöz, Nurdan Polat

2016-03-01

A soft lining is applied under a removable prosthesis for various reasons. The porosity of the lining material may increase colonization by microorganisms and cause tissue inflammation. The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of sealer coating on the surface roughness of soft lining materials under 4 different conditions. A total of 125 specimens were prepared. One high-temperature silicone-based soft lining material and 2 room-temperature-polymerized soft lining materials (1 silicone-based and 1 methacrylate-based) were used. Twenty-five specimens of each room-temperature soft lining material were coated with 2 layers of surface sealer. Additionally, 5 specimens of each material were stored in either distilled water, Coca-Cola, denture cleanser, saliva, or air. The surface roughness was measured at baseline and after 1, 7, 14, and 28 days. Surface roughness values were analyzed with repeated measures analysis of variance, and the Bonferroni multiple comparison test was performed using time-dependent groups and storage methods. In the time-dependent groups, methacrylate-based sealer-coated soft liners exhibited a significant increase in roughness (1.74-2.09 μm, P<.001), and silicone-based sealer-coated soft liners exhibited a decrease in roughness, but it was not significant (2.16-2.02 μm, P>.05). Therefore, the sealer coating was not effective in reducing surface roughness. Among the time-dependent storage methods, the denture cleanser exhibited an almost significant increase in roughness (1.83-1.99 μm, P=.054). Coca-Cola and artificial saliva did not show a significant difference (P>.05). However, a significant decrease in roughness was found with distilled water (P=.02) and air (P<.001). Statistically significant differences in surface roughness were found among the different types of soft liners. The sealer coating had no significant effect, and denture cleanser slightly increased the surface roughness. Contrary to expectations, the roughness did not increase in all groups over time. Copyright © 2016 Editorial Council for the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Investigation on frictional characteristics and drawbead restraining force of steel with/without coating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Lianfeng; Zheng, Tianran; Chen, Qing; Zhang, Jun

2013-12-01

Advanced high strength steels (AHSS) are used more and more in automotive industry for increasing crashworthiness and weight reduction. Improving metal flow and reduce friction are important to forming the part and decrease part reject rates of AHSS. The present study focused on friction characteristics and drawbead restraining force of Dual Phase (DP) steels with or without coating, such as DP980, DP780, DP590, DP780+Z, DP780+ZF, DP590+Z, using experimental approach. The effect of material properties, temperature, sliding velocity, surface roughness, dry and lubricant on friction behavior of DP steels is investigated. The contrast of DP steels with mild IF steel is carried out. The restraining force draw through different radius of drawbead is evaluated. This study is benefit to the set up of technique parameters during sheet metal forming simulation.

Impact of machining on the flexural fatigue strength of glass and polycrystalline CAD/CAM ceramics.

PubMed

Fraga, Sara; Amaral, Marina; Bottino, Marco Antônio; Valandro, Luiz Felipe; Kleverlaan, Cornelis Johannes; May, Liliana Gressler

2017-11-01

To assess the effect of machining on the flexural fatigue strength and on the surface roughness of different computer-aided design, computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) ceramics by comparing machined and polished after machining specimens. Disc-shaped specimens of yttria-stabilized polycrystalline tetragonal zirconia (Y-TZP), leucite-, and lithium disilicate-based glass ceramics were prepared by CAD/CAM machining, and divided into two groups: machining (M) and machining followed by polishing (MP). The surface roughness was measured and the flexural fatigue strength was evaluated by the step-test method (n=20). The initial load and the load increment for each ceramic material were based on a monotonic test (n=5). A maximum of 10,000 cycles was applied in each load step, at 1.4Hz. Weibull probability statistics was used for the analysis of the flexural fatigue strength, and Mann-Whitney test (α=5%) to compare roughness between the M and MP conditions. Machining resulted in lower values of characteristic flexural fatigue strength than machining followed by polishing. The greatest reduction in flexural fatigue strength from MP to M was observed for Y-TZP (40%; M=536.48MPa; MP=894.50MPa), followed by lithium disilicate (33%; M=187.71MPa; MP=278.93MPa) and leucite (29%; M=72.61MPa; MP=102.55MPa). Significantly higher values of roughness (Ra) were observed for M compared to MP (leucite: M=1.59μm and MP=0.08μm; lithium disilicate: M=1.84μm and MP=0.13μm; Y-TZP: M=1.79μm and MP=0.18μm). Machining negatively affected the flexural fatigue strength of CAD/CAM ceramics, indicating that machining of partially or fully sintered ceramics is deleterious to fatigue strength. Copyright © 2017 The Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Scaling effects in a non-linear electromagnetic energy harvester for wearable sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Geisler, M.; Boisseau, S.; Perez, M.; Ait-Ali, I.; Perraud, S.

2016-11-01

In the field of inertial energy harvesters targeting human mechanical energy, the ergonomics of the solutions impose to find the best compromise between dimensions reduction and electrical performance. In this paper, we study the properties of a non-linear electromagnetic generator at different scales, by performing simulations based on an experimentally validated model and real human acceleration recordings. The results display that the output power of the structure is roughly proportional to its scaling factor raised to the power of five, which indicates that this system is more relevant at lengths over a few centimetres.

Federal timber restrictions, interregional spillovers, and the impact on US softwood markets

Treesearch

David N. Wear; Brian C. Murray

2004-01-01

An econometric model of the US softwood lumber and timber markets is estimated and used to simulate the price, trade, and welfare effects of reductions in federal timber sales in the western US commencing in the late 1980s. Results indicate that the timber sale reductions increased lumber prices by roughly 15 percent in the mid-1990s. Lumber consumers were the...

Effects of uniform surface roughness on vortex-induced vibration of towed vertical cylinders

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kiu, K. Y.; Stappenbelt, B.; Thiagarajan, K. P.

2011-09-01

The present study was motivated by a desire to understand the vortex-induced vibration (VIV) of cylindrical offshore structures such as spars in strong currents. In particular, the consequences of marine growth on the surface as well as natural surface roughness that occurs with years in service are studied. Of special interest is the effect of surface roughness on the response amplitudes and the forces experienced by these structures while undergoing VIV. The experimental apparatus employed for the present study consisted of an elastically mounted rigid vertical cylinder with no end plates, towed along the length of a water tank. The cylinder was attached to a parallel linkage mechanism allowing motion in the transverse direction only. The cylinder surface was covered by sandpapers with known mean particle diameters, thus providing controlled values of roughness coefficient from 0.28×10 -3 to 1.38×10 -2. The tests covered the subcritical range of Reynolds number from 1.7×10 4 to 8.3×10 4, and a reduced velocity range from 4 to 16. It was found that as the roughness of the cylinder was increased the maximum response amplitude and the maximum mean drag coefficient decreased, levelling off to constant values. The onset of lock-in was progressively delayed for rougher cylinders, and the width of the lock-in region showed remarkable reduction at higher roughness values. The Strouhal number was found to display a modest increase with roughness. The dynamic mean drag of the rough cylinders was also found to be lower than that for a smooth cylinder. It is felt that uniform roughness such as caused in marine environments may act favorably to lower VIV incidence and effects in the range of Reynolds number tested.

Reduction of lymph tissue false positives in pulmonary embolism detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghanem, Bernard; Liang, Jianming; Bi, Jinbo; Salganicoff, Marcos; Krishnan, Arun

2008-03-01

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a serious medical condition, characterized by the partial/complete blockage of an artery within the lungs. We have previously developed a fast yet effective approach for computer aided detection of PE in computed topographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA),1 which is capable of detecting both acute and chronic PEs, achieving a benchmark performance of 78% sensitivity at 4 false positives (FPs) per volume. By reviewing the FPs generated by this system, we found the most dominant type of FP, roughly one third of all FPs, to be lymph/connective tissue. In this paper, we propose a novel approach that specifically aims at reducing this FP type. Our idea is to explicitly exploit the anatomical context configuration of PE and lymph tissue in the lungs: a lymph FP connects to the airway and is located outside the artery, while a true PE should not connect to the airway and must be inside the artery. To realize this idea, given a detected candidate (i.e. a cluster of suspicious voxels), we compute a set of contextual features, including its distance to the airway based on local distance transform and its relative position to the artery based on fast tensor voting and Hessian "vesselness" scores. Our tests on unseen cases show that these features can reduce the lymph FPs by 59%, while improving the overall sensitivity by 3.4%.

An Efficient Non-iterative Bulk Parametrization of Surface Fluxes for Stable Atmospheric Conditions Over Polar Sea-Ice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gryanik, Vladimir M.; Lüpkes, Christof

2018-02-01

In climate and weather prediction models the near-surface turbulent fluxes of heat and momentum and related transfer coefficients are usually parametrized on the basis of Monin-Obukhov similarity theory (MOST). To avoid iteration, required for the numerical solution of the MOST equations, many models apply parametrizations of the transfer coefficients based on an approach relating these coefficients to the bulk Richardson number Rib. However, the parametrizations that are presently used in most climate models are valid only for weaker stability and larger surface roughnesses than those documented during the Surface Heat Budget of the Arctic Ocean campaign (SHEBA). The latter delivered a well-accepted set of turbulence data in the stable surface layer over polar sea-ice. Using stability functions based on the SHEBA data, we solve the MOST equations applying a new semi-analytic approach that results in transfer coefficients as a function of Rib and roughness lengths for momentum and heat. It is shown that the new coefficients reproduce the coefficients obtained by the numerical iterative method with a good accuracy in the most relevant range of stability and roughness lengths. For small Rib, the new bulk transfer coefficients are similar to the traditional coefficients, but for large Rib they are much smaller than currently used coefficients. Finally, a possible adjustment of the latter and the implementation of the new proposed parametrizations in models are discussed.

Fractures in outcrops in the vicinity of drill hole USW G-4. Yucca Mountain, Nevada; data analysis and compilation

USGS Publications Warehouse

Barton, Christopher C.; Page, William R.; Morgan, Terrance L.

1989-01-01

Fractures on outcrops in the vicinity of drill hole USW G-4, Yucca Mountain, Nevada, were studied in order to contribute to characterization of fractures for hydrologjc, geomechanical, and tectonic modeling of the Yucca Mountain block and to characterize fractures prior to the excavation of a proposed exploratory shaft located near USW G-4. Yucca Mountain is a prospective site for the construction of an underground repository for high-level nuclear waste.Measurements were taken and recorded on 5,000 fractures at 50 outcrop stations primarily in the upper lithophysal unit of the Tiva Canyon Member of the Miocene Paintbrush Tuff. Fracture orientation and surface roughness were recorded for each fracture. Additionally, notes were taken on fracture abutting, crossing, and offsetting relations, swarming, curvature, brecciation, slickensides, and fracture fillings. Frequency distributions of orientation and roughness were plotted and analyzed. Fractures with low roughness coefficients (0-4) group tightly into two sets based on orientation. We conclude that such fractures are cooling joints and that all other fractures are tectonic. The development of small-scale fractures adjacent, subparallel, and possibly related to the Ghost Dance fault has been addressed in a preliminary way based on data collected in this study. Such sympathetic fractures are abundant in the upper cliff unit but not in the upper lithophysal unit.

Optimization of tribological performance of SiC embedded composite coating via Taguchi analysis approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maleque, M. A.; Bello, K. A.; Adebisi, A. A.; Akma, N.

2017-03-01

Tungsten inert gas (TIG) torch is one of the most recently used heat source for surface modification of engineering parts, giving similar results to the more expensive high power laser technique. In this study, ceramic-based embedded composite coating has been produced by precoated silicon carbide (SiC) powders on the AISI 4340 low alloy steel substrate using TIG welding torch process. A design of experiment based on Taguchi approach has been adopted to optimize the TIG cladding process parameters. The L9 orthogonal array and the signal-to-noise was used to study the effect of TIG welding parameters such as arc current, travelling speed, welding voltage and argon flow rate on tribological response behaviour (wear rate, surface roughness and wear track width). The objective of the study was to identify optimal design parameter that significantly minimizes each of the surface quality characteristics. The analysis of the experimental results revealed that the argon flow rate was found to be the most influential factor contributing to the minimum wear and surface roughness of the modified coating surface. On the other hand, the key factor in reducing wear scar is the welding voltage. Finally, a convenient and economical Taguchi approach used in this study was efficient to find out optimal factor settings for obtaining minimum wear rate, wear scar and surface roughness responses in TIG-coated surfaces.

Surface characterization of current composites after toothbrush abrasion.

PubMed

Takahashi, Rena; Jin, Jian; Nikaido, Toru; Tagami, Junji; Hickel, Reinhard; Kunzelmann, Karl-Heinz

2013-01-01

The present study was designed to evaluate the surface roughness and the gloss of current composites before and after toothbrush abrasion. We assessed forty dimensionally standardized composite specimens (n=8/group) from five composites: two nanohybrids (i. e., IPS Empress Direct Enamel and IPS Empress Direct Dentin), two microhybrids (i. e., Clearfil AP-X and Filtek Z250) and one organically modified ceramics (Admira). All of the specimens were polished with 4000-grid silicon carbide papers. Surface roughness was measured with a profilometer and gloss was measured with a glossmeter before and after powered toothbrush abrasion with a 1:1 slurry (dentifrice/tap water) at 12,000 strokes in a toothbrush simulator. There was a significant increase in the surface roughness and a reduction in gloss after toothbrush abrasion in all of the composites except Clearfil AP-X (p<0.05). Simple regression analysis showed that there was not an association between the surface roughness and the gloss (R(2)=0.191, p<0.001).

Bio-inspired canopies for the reduction of roughness noise

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clark, Ian A.; Daly, Conor A.; Devenport, William; Alexander, W. Nathan; Peake, Nigel; Jaworski, Justin W.; Glegg, Stewart

2016-12-01

This work takes inspiration from the structure of the down covering the flight feathers of larger species of owls, which contributes to their ability to fly almost silently at frequencies above 1.6 kHz. Microscope photographs of the down show that it consists of hairs that form a structure similar to that of a forest. The hairs initially rise almost perpendicular to the feather surface but then bend over in the flow direction to form a canopy with an open area ratio of about 70 percent. Experiments have been performed to examine the noise radiated by a large open area ratio canopy suspended above a surface. The canopy is found to dramatically reduce pressure fluctuations on the underlying surface. While the canopy can produce its own sound, particularly at high frequencies, the reduction in surface pressure fluctuations can reduce the noise scattered from an underlying rough surface at lower frequencies. A theoretical model is developed which characterizes the mechanism of surface pressure reduction as a result of the mixing layer instability of flow over forest canopies.

Various remote sensing approaches to understanding roughness in the marginal ice zone

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gupta, Mukesh

Multi-platform based measurement approaches to understanding complex marginal ice zone (MIZ) are suggested in this paper. Physical roughness measurements using ship- and helicopter-based laser systems combined with ship-based active microwave backscattering (C-band polarimetric coherences) and dual-polarized passive microwave emission (polarization ratio, PR and spectral gradient ratios, GR at 37 and 89 GHz) are presented to study diverse sea ice types found in the MIZ. Autocorrelation functions are investigated for different sea ice roughness types. Small-scale roughness classes were discriminated using data from a ship-based laser profiler. The polarimetric coherence parameter ρHHVH , is not found to exhibit any observable sensitivity to the surface roughness for all incidence angles. Rubble-ridges, pancake ice, snow-covered frost flowers, and dense frost flowers exhibit separable signatures using GR-H and GR-V at >70° incidence angles. This paper diagnosed changes in sea ice roughness on a spatial scale of ∼0.1-4000 m and on a temporal scale of ∼1-240 days (ice freeze-up to summer melt). The coupling of MIZ wave roughness and aerodynamic roughness in conjunction with microwave emission and backscattering are future avenues of research. Additionally, the integration of various datasets into thermodynamic evolution model of sea ice will open pathways to successful development of inversion models of MIZ behavior.

ROMI 4.0: Rough mill simulator 4.0 users manual

Treesearch

R. Edward Thomas; Timo Grueneberg; Urs Buehlmann

2015-01-01

The Rough MIll simulator (ROMI Version 4.0) is a computer software package for personal computers (PCs) that simulates current industrial practices for rip-first, chop-first, and rip and chop-first lumber processing. This guide shows how to set up the software; design, implement, and execute simulations; and examine the results. ROMI 4.0 accepts cutting bills with as...

The fission yeast cytokinetic contractile ring regulates septum shape and closure

PubMed Central

Thiyagarajan, Sathish; Munteanu, Emilia Laura; Arasada, Rajesh; Pollard, Thomas D.; O'Shaughnessy, Ben

2015-01-01

ABSTRACT During cytokinesis, fission yeast and other fungi and bacteria grow a septum that divides the cell in two. In fission yeast closure of the circular septum hole by the β-glucan synthases (Bgs) and other glucan synthases in the plasma membrane is tightly coupled to constriction of an actomyosin contractile ring attached to the membrane. It is unknown how septum growth is coordinated over scales of several microns to maintain septum circularity. Here, we documented the shapes of ingrowing septum edges by measuring the roughness of the edges, a measure of the deviation from circularity. The roughness was small, with spatial correlations indicative of spatially coordinated growth. We hypothesized that Bgs-mediated septum growth is mechanosensitive and coupled to contractile ring tension. A mathematical model showed that ring tension then generates almost circular septum edges by adjusting growth rates in a curvature-dependent fashion. The model reproduced experimental roughness statistics and showed that septum synthesis sets the mean closure rate. Our results suggest that the fission yeast cytokinetic ring tension does not set the constriction rate but regulates septum closure by suppressing roughness produced by inherently stochastic molecular growth processes. PMID:26240178

The fission yeast cytokinetic contractile ring regulates septum shape and closure.

PubMed

Thiyagarajan, Sathish; Munteanu, Emilia Laura; Arasada, Rajesh; Pollard, Thomas D; O'Shaughnessy, Ben

2015-10-01

During cytokinesis, fission yeast and other fungi and bacteria grow a septum that divides the cell in two. In fission yeast closure of the circular septum hole by the β-glucan synthases (Bgs) and other glucan synthases in the plasma membrane is tightly coupled to constriction of an actomyosin contractile ring attached to the membrane. It is unknown how septum growth is coordinated over scales of several microns to maintain septum circularity. Here, we documented the shapes of ingrowing septum edges by measuring the roughness of the edges, a measure of the deviation from circularity. The roughness was small, with spatial correlations indicative of spatially coordinated growth. We hypothesized that Bgs-mediated septum growth is mechanosensitive and coupled to contractile ring tension. A mathematical model showed that ring tension then generates almost circular septum edges by adjusting growth rates in a curvature-dependent fashion. The model reproduced experimental roughness statistics and showed that septum synthesis sets the mean closure rate. Our results suggest that the fission yeast cytokinetic ring tension does not set the constriction rate but regulates septum closure by suppressing roughness produced by inherently stochastic molecular growth processes. © 2015. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.

Evaluating the Utility of Web-Based Consumer Support Tools Using Rough Sets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maciag, Timothy; Hepting, Daryl H.; Slezak, Dominik; Hilderman, Robert J.

On the Web, many popular e-commerce sites provide consumers with decision support tools to assist them in their commerce-related decision-making. Many consumers will rank the utility of these tools quite highly. Data obtained from web usage mining analyses, which may provide knowledge about a user's online experiences, could help indicate the utility of these tools. This type of analysis could provide insight into whether provided tools are adequately assisting consumers in conducting their online shopping activities or if new or additional enhancements need consideration. Although some research in this regard has been described in previous literature, there is still much that can be done. The authors of this paper hypothesize that a measurement of consumer decision accuracy, i.e. a measurement preferences, could help indicate the utility of these tools. This paper describes a procedure developed towards this goal using elements of rough set theory. The authors evaluated the procedure using two support tools, one based on a tool developed by the US-EPA and the other developed by one of the authors called cogito. Results from the evaluation did provide interesting insights on the utility of both support tools. Although it was shown that the cogito tool obtained slightly higher decision accuracy, both tools could be improved from additional enhancements. Details of the procedure developed and results obtained from the evaluation will be provided. Opportunities for future work are also discussed.

Genomic heritabilities and genomic estimated breeding values for methane traits in Angus cattle.

PubMed

Hayes, B J; Donoghue, K A; Reich, C M; Mason, B A; Bird-Gardiner, T; Herd, R M; Arthur, P F

2016-03-01

Enteric methane emissions from beef cattle are a significant component of total greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture. The variation between beef cattle in methane emissions is partly genetic, whether measured as methane production, methane yield (methane production/DMI), or residual methane production (observed methane production - expected methane production), with heritabilities ranging from 0.19 to 0.29. This suggests methane emissions could be reduced by selection. Given the high cost of measuring methane production from individual beef cattle, genomic selection is the most feasible approach to achieve this reduction in emissions. We derived genomic EBV (GEBV) for methane traits from a reference set of 747 Angus animals phenotyped for methane traits and genotyped for 630,000 SNP. The accuracy of GEBV was tested in a validation set of 273 Angus animals phenotyped for the same traits. Accuracies of GEBV ranged from 0.29 ± 0.06 for methane yield and 0.35 ± 0.06 for residual methane production. Selection on GEBV using the genomic prediction equations derived here could reduce emissions for Angus cattle by roughly 5% over 10 yr.

The impact of the tax system on health insurance coverage.

PubMed

Gruber, J

2001-01-01

A central question in health economics is the extent to which this tax subsidization matters for the health insurance coverage of the U.S. population. I assess the impact of taxes on health insurance by using the considerable existing variation in tax subsidies, both at a point in time and across time. I do so by putting together data from more than a decade of Current Population Survey (CPS) data sets, and matching to workers in those data sets their tax subsidies to health insurance coverage. I find that the elasticity of insurance eligibility of workers is at least -0.6, and that the elasticity of own insurance coverage is roughly similar; the results imply that most of the impact of taxes on insurance coverage arise through firm offering and eligibility decisions. I also find that higher tax rates induce more private coverage through other sources, but less public coverage, so that overall there is a reduction in the rate of uninsurance that is comparable to the change in own employer-provided insurance coverage.

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

Medina-Ramos, Jonnathan; Lee, Sang Soo; Fister, Timothy T.

Real-time changes in the composition and structure of bismuth electrodes used for catalytic conversion of CO 2 into CO were examined via X-ray absorption spectroscopy (including XANES and EXAFS), electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) and in situ X-ray reflectivity (XR). Measurements were performed with bismuth electrodes immersed in acetonitrile (MeCN) solutions containing a 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium ([BMIM] +) ionic liquid promoter or electrochemically inactive tetrabutylammonium supporting electrolytes (TBAPF 6 or TBAOTf). Altogether, these measurements show that bismuth electrodes are originally a mixture of bismuth oxides (including Bi 2O 3) and metallic bismuth (Bi 0), and that the reduction of oxidized bismuth speciesmore » to Bi 0 is fully achieved under potentials at which CO 2 activation takes place. Furthermore, EQCM measurements conducted during cyclic voltammetry revealed that a bismuth-coated quartz crystal exhibits significant shifts in resistance (ΔR) prior to the onset of CO 2 reduction near -1.75 V vs. Ag/AgCl and pronounced hysteresis in frequency (Δf) and ΔR, which suggests significant changes in roughness or viscosity at the Bi/[BMIM] + solution interface. In situ XR performed on rhombohedral Bi (001) oriented films indicates extensive restructuring of the bismuth film cathodes takes place upon polarization to potentials more negative than -1.6 V vs. Ag/AgCl, which is characterized by a decrease of the Bi (001) Bragg peak intensity of ≥50% in [BMIM]OTf solutions in the presence and absence of CO 2. Over 90% of the reflectivity is recovered during the anodic half-scan, suggesting that the structural changes are mostly reversible. By contrast, such a phenomenon is not observed for thin Bi (001) oriented films in solutions of tetrabutylammonium salts that do not promote CO 2 reduction. In conclusion, these results highlight that Bi electrodes undergo significant potential-dependent chemical and structural transformations in the presence of [BMIM] + based electrolytes, including the reduction of bismuth oxide to bismuth metal, changes in roughness and near-surface viscosity.« less

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

Medina-Ramos, Jonnathan; Lee, Sang Soo; Fister, Timothy T.

Real-time changes in the composition and structure of bismuth electrodes used for catalytic conversion of CO2 into CO were examined via X-ray absorption spectroscopy (including XANES and EXAFS), electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM), and in situ X-ray reflectivity (XR). Measurements were performed with bismuth electrodes immersed in acetonitrile (MeCN) solutions containing a 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium ([BMIM]+) ionic liquid promoter or electrochemically inactive tetrabutylammonium supporting electrolytes (TBAPF6 and TBAOTf). Altogether, these measurements show that bismuth electrodes are originally a mixture of bismuth oxides (including Bi2O3) and metallic bismuth (Bi0) and that the reduction of oxidized bismuth species to Bi0 is fully achieved undermore » potentials at which CO2 activation takes place. Furthermore, EQCM measurements conducted during cyclic voltammetry revealed that a bismuth-coated quartz crystal exhibits significant shifts in resistance (ΔR) prior to the onset of CO2 reduction near -1.75 V vs Ag/AgCl and pronounced hysteresis in frequency (Δf) and ΔR, which suggests significant changes in roughness or viscosity at the Bi/[BMIM]+ solution interface. In situ XR performed on rhombohedral Bi (001) oriented films indicates that extensive restructuring of the bismuth film cathodes takes place upon polarization to potentials more negative than -1.6 V vs Ag/AgCl, which is characterized by a decrease of the Bi (001) Bragg peak intensity of ≥50% in [BMIM]OTf solutions in the presence and absence of CO2. Over 90% of the reflectivity is recovered during the anodic half-scan, suggesting that the structural changes are mostly reversible. In contrast, such a phenomenon is not observed for thin Bi (001) oriented films in solutions of tetrabutylammonium salts that do not promote CO2 reduction. Overall, these results highlight that Bi electrodes undergo significant potential-dependent chemical and structural transformations in the presence of [BMIM]+-based electrolytes, including the reduction of bismuth oxide to bismuth metal and changes in roughness and near-surface viscosity.« less

Active-passive synergy for interpreting ocean L-band emissivity: Results from the CAROLS airborne campaigns

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martin, A. C. H.; Boutin, J.; Hauser, D.; Dinnat, E. P.

2014-08-01

The impact of the ocean surface roughness on the ocean L-band emissivity is investigated using simultaneous airborne measurements from an L-band radiometer (CAROLS) and from a C-band scatterometer (STORM) acquired in the Gulf of Biscay (off-the French Atlantic coasts) in November 2010. Two synergetic approaches are used to investigate the impact of surface roughness on the L-band brightness temperature (Tb). First, wind derived from the scatterometer measurements is used to analyze the roughness contribution to Tb as a function of wind and compare it with the one simulated by SMOS and Aquarius roughness models. Then residuals from this mean relationship are analyzed in terms of mean square slope derived from the STORM instrument. We show improvement of new radiometric roughness models derived from SMOS and Aquarius satellite measurements in comparison with prelaunch models. Influence of wind azimuth on Tb could not be evidenced from our data set. However, we point out the importance of taking into account large roughness scales (>20 cm) in addition to small roughness scale (5 cm) rapidly affected by wind to interpret radiometric measurements far from nadir. This was made possible thanks to simultaneous estimates of large and small roughness scales using STORM at small (7-16°) and large (30°) incidence angles.

Approach to the determination of the contact angle in hydrophobic samples with simultaneous correction of the effect of the roughness

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Domínguez, Noemí; Castilla, Pau; Linzoain, María Eugenia; Durand, Géraldine; García, Cristina; Arasa, Josep

2018-04-01

This work presents the validation study of a method developed to measure contact angles with a confocal device in a set of hydrophobic samples. The use of this device allows the evaluation of the roughness of the surface and the determination of the contact angle in the same area of the sample. Furthermore, a theoretical evaluation of the impact of the roughness of a nonsmooth surface in the calculation of the contact angle when it is not taken into account according to Wenzel's model is also presented.

Sea ice roughness: the key for predicting Arctic summer ice albedo

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Landy, J.; Ehn, J. K.; Tsamados, M.; Stroeve, J.; Barber, D. G.

2017-12-01

Although melt ponds on Arctic sea ice evolve in stages, ice with smoother surface topography typically allows the pond water to spread over a wider area, reducing the ice-albedo and accelerating further melt. Building on this theory, we simulated the distribution of meltwater on a range of statistically-derived topographies to develop a quantitative relationship between premelt sea ice surface roughness and summer ice albedo. Our method, previously applied to ICESat observations of the end-of-winter sea ice roughness, could account for 85% of the variance in AVHRR observations of the summer ice-albedo [Landy et al., 2015]. Consequently, an Arctic-wide reduction in sea ice roughness over the ICESat operational period (from 2003 to 2008) explained a drop in ice-albedo that resulted in a 16% increase in solar heat input to the sea ice cover. Here we will review this work and present new research linking pre-melt sea ice surface roughness observations from Cryosat-2 to summer sea ice albedo over the past six years, examining the potential of winter roughness as a significant new source of sea ice predictability. We will further evaluate the possibility for high-resolution (kilometre-scale) forecasts of summer sea ice albedo from waveform-level Cryosat-2 roughness data in the landfast sea ice zone of the Canadian Arctic. Landy, J. C., J. K. Ehn, and D. G. Barber (2015), Albedo feedback enhanced by smoother Arctic sea ice, Geophys. Res. Lett., 42, 10,714-10,720, doi:10.1002/2015GL066712.

The SSME seal test program: Leakage tests for helically-grooved seals

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Childs, D. W.

1983-01-01

Helically grooved annular seal configurations were tested in highly turbulent flow to determine if reduced leakage and enhanced stability would result from the pumping action of the seal. It was found that: (1) leakage of a helically grooved seals decreases with running speed; (2) leakage reduction due to increased running speed is greater at lower values of R sub a; (3) an asymptote for leakage reduction is indicated with increasing running speed; (4) leakage is reduced by reducing the ridge (minimum) and average clearances; (5) leakage increases with increasing pitch angles and with increasing groove depth. Plain seals with smooth rotors and stators will leak more than a helically grooved seal. It was also found that plain seals with a rough rotor and a rough stator leak less than a properly designed helically grooved seal. A properly designed helically grooved seal consumes at least twice as much power as a conventional annular seal.

Interpretation of lunar and planetary electromagnetic scattering using the full wave solutions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bahar, E.; Haugland, M.

1993-01-01

Bistatic radar experiments carried out during the Apollo 14, 15, and 16 missions provide a very useful data set with which to compare theoretical models and experimental data. Vesecky, et al. report that their model for near grazing angles compares favorably with experimental data. However, for angles of incidence around 80 degrees, all the analytical models considered by Vesecky, et al. predict values for the quasi-specular cross sections that are about half the corresponding values taken from the Apollo 16 data. In this work, questions raised by this discrepancy between the reported analytical and experimental results are addressed. The unified full wave solutions are shown to be in good agreement with the bistatic radar taken during Apollo 14 and 16 missions. Using the full wave approach, the quasi-specular contributions to the scattered field from the large scale surface roughness as well as the diffuse Bragg-like scattering from the small scale surface roughness are accounted for in a unified self-consistent manner. Since the full wave computer codes for the scattering cross sections contain ground truth data only, it is shown how it can be reliably used to predict the rough surface parameters of planets based on the measured data.

Effect of Heat Treatment on the Physical Properties of Provisional Crowns during Polymerization: An in Vitro Study

PubMed Central

Mei, May L.; So, Sam Y. C.; Li, Hao; Chu, Chun-Hung

2015-01-01

This study concerned the effect of heat treatment during setting on the physical properties of four resin-based provisional restorative materials: Duralay (polymethyl methacrylate), Trim II (polyethyl methacrylate), Luxatemp (bis-acrylic composite), and Protemp 4 (bis-acrylic composite). Specimens were prepared at 23, 37, or 60 °C for evaluation of flexural strength, surface roughness, color change and marginal discrepancy. Flexural strength was determined by a three-point bending test. Surface profile was studied using atomic force microscopy. Color change was evaluated by comparing the color of the materials before and after placement in coffee. A travelling microscope helped prepare standardized crowns for assessment of marginal discrepancy. Flexural strength of all tested materials cured at 23 °C or 37 °C did not significantly change. The surface roughness and marginal discrepancy of the materials increased at 60 °C curing temperature. Marginal discrepancies, color stability, and other physical properties of materials cured at 23 °C or 37 °C did not significantly change. Flexural strength of certain provisional materials cured at 60 °C increased, but there was also an increase in surface roughness and marginal discrepancy. PMID:28788031

Relationships between lung cancer incidences and air pollutants.

PubMed

Yue, Shihong; Wang, Yaru; Wang, Jianpei; Chen, Jun

2017-07-20

Statistics on lung cancer incidences and air pollutants show a strong correlation between air pollutant concentrations and pulmonary diseases. And environmental effects on lung cancer incidences remain highly unknown and uncertain in China. This study aims to measure the relationships between different air pollutants and lung cancer incidences in Tianjin. One thusand five hundred patients across 27 districts in Tianjin were studied for lung cancer incidences. The patients had come into contact with various air pollutants such as PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, CO, and O3. These pollutants were measured daily and were published via a Geographic Information System across the 27 districts of Tianjin. The air pollutant compositions of environments the patients lived in were determined using the nearest air monitoring station to the patient. And we used rough set theory to measure the relationships between different air pollutants and lung cancer incidences. Different air pollutants and combinations of pollutants impacted lung cancer incidences differently across different districts, sexes, and lung cancer types in Tianjin. Based on data analysis and interpretation, rough set theory provided data relationships that were objective and interpretable. The method is simple, general, and efficient, and lays the foundation for further applications in other cities.

Variability in radar returns from Martian debris-covered glaciers attributed to surface debris layer roughness and composition: implications for the regional distribution of massive subsurface ice and near-surface pore-filling ice.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Petersen, E.; Holt, J. W.; Levy, J. S.; Lalich, D.

2017-12-01

Lobate debris aprons, lineated valley fill, and concentric crater fill are a class of Martian landform thought to be glaciers blanketed by a lithic debris layer. They are found in the mid latitudes (roughly 30-50°N and S) where surface ice is presently unstable. Shallow Radar (SHARAD) sounder observations are in many cases able to resolve the basal contact between the glacier and underlying bedrock, showing that the bulk composition of these features is water ice with < 20% lithic debris; they are thus often referred to as debris-covered glaciers (DCG). The basal contact of candidate glaciers is not always present in SHARAD radargrams, and variable reflection power between glacier sites suggests that non-detections may be due to a reduction of echo power below the noise floor. A likely candidate for signal loss is the variable roughness of different glacial surface textures. We test this mechanism of signal reduction via analysis of SHARAD reflections augmented by surface roughness analyses generated from HiRISE stereo DEMs. This method provides a means of constraining the electrical properties of the surface debris. We show that measured surface roughness is sufficient to explain basal reflection signal loss for five glacier sites in the region of Deuteronilus/Protonilus Mensae (R2 = 0.90), with the dielectric constant for the surface debris layer constrained to 4.9 ± 0.3. Assuming debris formed of basalt rock, this value is consistent with a porous debris layer containing up to 64% ice, or an ice-free debris layer with porosity of 28-34%. From this work, we conclude that (1) weak or non-existent basal reflections at these sites are due to roughness-induced radar signal loss and not due to differing properties of the basal interface, (2) all DCG candidates in this study exhibit similar bulk compositions of relatively pure water ice, and (3) the surface debris layer is formed of porous lithic debris which may contain a significant fraction of pore ice.

Effect of Build Angle on Surface Properties of Nickel Superalloys Processed by Selective Laser Melting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Covarrubias, Ernesto E.; Eshraghi, Mohsen

2018-03-01

Aerospace, automotive, and medical industries use selective laser melting (SLM) to produce complex parts through solidifying successive layers of powder. This additive manufacturing technique has many advantages, but one of the biggest challenges facing this process is the resulting surface quality of the as-built parts. The purpose of this research was to study the surface properties of Inconel 718 alloys fabricated by SLM. The effect of build angle on the surface properties of as-built parts was investigated. Two sets of sample geometries including cube and rectangular artifacts were considered in the study. It was found that, for angles between 15° and 75°, theoretical calculations based on the "stair-step" effect were consistent with the experimental results. Downskin surfaces showed higher average roughness values compared to the upskin surfaces. No significant difference was found between the average roughness values measured from cube and rectangular test artifacts.

Setting the scene for SWOT: global maps of river reach hydrodynamic variables

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schumann, Guy J.-P.; Durand, Michael; Pavelsky, Tamlin; Lion, Christine; Allen, George

2017-04-01

Credible and reliable characterization of discharge from the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission using the Manning-based algorithms needs a prior estimate constraining reach-scale channel roughness, base flow and river bathymetry. For some places, any one of those variables may exist locally or even regionally as a measurement, which is often only at a station, or sometimes as a basin-wide model estimate. However, to date none of those exist at the scale required for SWOT and thus need to be mapped at a continental scale. The prior estimates will be employed for producing initial discharge estimates, which will be used as starting-guesses for the various Manning-based algorithms, to be refined using the SWOT measurements themselves. A multitude of reach-scale variables were derived, including Landsat-based width, SRTM slope and accumulation area. As a possible starting point for building the prior database of low flow, river bathymetry and channel roughness estimates, we employed a variety of sources, including data from all GRDC records, simulations from the long-time runs of the global water balance model (WBM), and reach-based calculations from hydraulic geometry relationships as well as Manning's equation. Here, we present the first global maps of this prior database with some initial validation, caveats and prospective uses.

Evaluation of Surface Roughness and Tensile Strength of Base Metal Alloys Used for Crown and Bridge on Recasting (Recycling).

PubMed

Agrawal, Amit; Hashmi, Syed W; Rao, Yogesh; Garg, Akanksha

2015-07-01

Dental casting alloys play a prominent role in the restoration of the partial dentition. Casting alloys have to survive long term in the mouth and also have the combination of structure, molecules, wear resistance and biologic compatibility. According to ADA system casting alloys were divided into three groups (wt%); high noble, Noble and predominantly base metal alloys. To evaluate the mechanical properties such as tensile strength and surface roughness of the new and recast base metal (nickel-chromium) alloys. Recasting of the base metal alloys derived from sprue and button, to make it reusable has been done. A total of 200 test specimens were fabricated using specially fabricated jig of metal and divided into two groups- 100 specimens of new alloy and 100 specimens of recast alloys, which were tested for tensile strength on universal testing machine and surface roughness on surface roughness tester. Tensile strength of new alloy showed no statistically significant difference (p-value>0.05) from recast alloy whereas new alloy had statistically significant surface roughness (Maximum and Average surface roughness) difference (p-value<0.01) as compared to recast alloy. Within the limitations of the study it is concluded that the tensile strength will not be affected by recasting of nickel-chromium alloy whereas surface roughness increases markedly.

Optimizing the Determination of Roughness Parameters for Model Urban Canopies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huq, Pablo; Rahman, Auvi

2018-05-01

We present an objective optimization procedure to determine the roughness parameters for very rough boundary-layer flow over model urban canopies. For neutral stratification the mean velocity profile above a model urban canopy is described by the logarithmic law together with the set of roughness parameters of displacement height d, roughness length z_0 , and friction velocity u_* . Traditionally, values of these roughness parameters are obtained by fitting the logarithmic law through (all) the data points comprising the velocity profile. The new procedure generates unique velocity profiles from subsets or combinations of the data points of the original velocity profile, after which all possible profiles are examined. Each of the generated profiles is fitted to the logarithmic law for a sequence of values of d, with the representative value of d obtained from the minima of the summed least-squares errors for all the generated profiles. The representative values of z_0 and u_* are identified by the peak in the bivariate histogram of z_0 and u_* . The methodology has been verified against laboratory datasets of flow above model urban canopies.

Development of an expert data reduction assistant

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miller, Glenn E.; Johnston, Mark D.; Hanisch, Robert J.

1992-01-01

We propose the development of an expert system tool for the management and reduction of complex data sets. The proposed work is an extension of a successful prototype system for the calibration of CCD images developed by Dr. Johnston in 1987. The reduction of complex multi-parameter data sets presents severe challenges to a scientist. Not only must a particular data analysis system be mastered, (e.g. IRAF/SDAS/MIDAS), large amounts of data can require many days of tedious work and supervision by the scientist for even the most straightforward reductions. The proposed Expert Data Reduction Assistant will help the scientist overcome these obstacles by developing a reduction plan based on the data at hand and producing a script for the reduction of the data in a target common language.

Extracting fuzzy rules under uncertainty and measuring definability using rough sets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Culas, Donald E.

1991-01-01

Although computers have come a long way since their invention, they are basically able to handle only crisp values at the hardware level. Unfortunately, the world we live in consists of problems which fail to fall into this category, i.e., uncertainty is all too common. A problem is looked at which involves uncertainty. To be specific, attributes are dealt with which are fuzzy sets. Under this condition, knowledge is acquired by looking at examples. In each example, a condition as well as a decision is made available. Based on the examples given, two sets of rules are extracted, certain and possible. Furthermore, measures are constructed of how much these rules are believed in, and finally, the decisions are defined as a function of the terms used in the conditions.

Rough Set Soft Computing Cancer Classification and Network: One Stone, Two Birds

PubMed Central

Zhang, Yue

2010-01-01

Gene expression profiling provides tremendous information to help unravel the complexity of cancer. The selection of the most informative genes from huge noise for cancer classification has taken centre stage, along with predicting the function of such identified genes and the construction of direct gene regulatory networks at different system levels with a tuneable parameter. A new study by Wang and Gotoh described a novel Variable Precision Rough Sets-rooted robust soft computing method to successfully address these problems and has yielded some new insights. The significance of this progress and its perspectives will be discussed in this article. PMID:20706619

ROMI-3: Rough-Mill Simulator Version 3.0: User's Guide

Treesearch

Joel M. Weiss; R. Edward Thomas; R. Edward Thomas

2005-01-01

ROMI-3 Rough-Mill Simulator is a software package that simulates current industrial practices for rip-first and chop-first lumber processing. This guide shows the user how to set up and examine the results of simulations of current or proposed mill practices. ROMI-3 accepts cutting bills with as many as 600 combined solid and/or panel part sizes. Plots of processed...

Use of ALS data for digital terrain extraction and roughness parametrization in floodplain areas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Idda, B.; Nardinocchi, C.; Marsella, M.

2009-04-01

In order to undertake structural and land planning actions aimed at improving risk thresholds and vulnerability associated to floodplain inundation, the evaluation of the area concerning the channel overflowing from his natural embankments it is of essential importance. Floodplain models requires the analysis of historical floodplains extensions, ground's morphological structure and hydraulic measurements. Within this set of information, a more detailed characterization about the hydraulic roughness, which controls the velocity to the hydraulic flow, is a interesting challenge to achieve a 2D spatial distribution into the model. Remote sensing optical and radar sensors techniques can be applied to generate 2D and 3D map products useful to perimeter floodplains extension during the main event and extrapolate river cross-sections. Among these techniques, it is unquestionable the enhancement that the Airborne Laser Scanner (ALS) have brought for its capability to extract high resolution and accurate Digital Terrain Models. In hydraulic applications, a number of studies investigated the use of ALS for DTM generation and approached the quantitative estimations of the hydraulic roughness. The aim of this work is the generation of a digital terrain model and the estimation of hydraulic parameters useful for floodplains models from Airborne Laser Scanner data collected in a test area, which encloses a portion of a drainage basin of the Mela river (Sicily, Italy). From the Airborne Laser Scanner dataset, a high resolution Digital Elevation Model was first created, then after applying filtering and classification processes, a dedicated procedure was implemented to assess automatically a value for the hydraulic roughness coefficient (in Manning's formulation) per each point interested in the floodplain. The obtained results allowed to generate maps of equal roughness, hydraulic level depending, based on the application of empirical formulas for specific-type vegetation at each classified ALS point.

Harm reduction principles for healthcare settings.

PubMed

Hawk, Mary; Coulter, Robert W S; Egan, James E; Fisk, Stuart; Reuel Friedman, M; Tula, Monique; Kinsky, Suzanne

2017-10-24

Harm reduction refers to interventions aimed at reducing the negative effects of health behaviors without necessarily extinguishing the problematic health behaviors completely. The vast majority of the harm reduction literature focuses on the harms of drug use and on specific harm reduction strategies, such as syringe exchange, rather than on the harm reduction philosophy as a whole. Given that a harm reduction approach can address other risk behaviors that often occur alongside drug use and that harm reduction principles have been applied to harms such as sex work, eating disorders, and tobacco use, a natural evolution of the harm reduction philosophy is to extend it to other health risk behaviors and to a broader healthcare audience. Building on the extant literature, we used data from in-depth qualitative interviews with 23 patients and 17 staff members from an HIV clinic in the USA to describe harm reduction principles for use in healthcare settings. We defined six principles of harm reduction and generalized them for use in healthcare settings with patients beyond those who use illicit substances. The principles include humanism, pragmatism, individualism, autonomy, incrementalism, and accountability without termination. For each of these principles, we present a definition, a description of how healthcare providers can deliver interventions informed by the principle, and examples of how each principle may be applied in the healthcare setting. This paper is one of the firsts to provide a comprehensive set of principles for universal harm reduction as a conceptual approach for healthcare provision. Applying harm reduction principles in healthcare settings may improve clinical care outcomes given that the quality of the provider-patient relationship is known to impact health outcomes and treatment adherence. Harm reduction can be a universal precaution applied to all individuals regardless of their disclosure of negative health behaviors, given that health behaviors are not binary or linear but operate along a continuum based on a variety of individual and social determinants.

Development of a self-consistent free-form approach for studying the three-dimensional morphology of a thin film

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kozhevnikov, Igor V.; Peverini, Luca; Ziegler, Eric

2012-03-01

A method capable of extracting the depth distribution of the dielectric constant of a thin film deposited on a substrate and the three power spectral density (PSD) functions characterizing its roughness is presented. It is based on the concurrent analysis of x-ray reflectivity and scattering measurements obtained at different glancing angle values of the probe beam so that the effect of roughness is taken into account during reconstruction of the dielectric constant profile. Likewise, the latter is taken into account when determining the PSD functions describing the film roughness. This approach is using a numerical computation iterative procedure that demonstrated a rapid convergence for the overall set of data leading to a precise description of the three-dimensional morphology of a film. In the case of a tungsten thin film deposited by dc-magnetron sputtering onto a silicon substrate and characterized under vacuum, the analysis of the x-ray data showed the tungsten density to vary with depth from 95% of the bulk density at the top of the film to about 80% near the substrate, where the presence of an interlayer, estimated to be 0.7 nm thick, was evidenced. The latter may be due to diffusion and/or implantation of tungsten atoms into the silicon substrate. In the reconstruction of the depth profile, the resolution (minimum feature size correctly reconstructed) was estimated to be of the order of 0.4-0.5 nm. The depth distribution of the dielectric constant was shown to affect the roughness conformity coefficient extracted from the measured x-ray scattering distributions, while the deposition process increased the film roughness at high spatial frequency as compared to the virgin substrate. On the contrary, the roughness showed a weak influence on the dielectric constant depth profile extracted, as the sample used in our particular experiment was extremely smooth.

Hydrological regime shift in a constructed catchment: Effect of vegetation encroachment on surface runoff

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hinz, C.; Caviedes-Voullieme, D.; Andezhath Mohanan, A.; Brueck, Y.; Zaplata, M.

2017-12-01

The Hühnerwasser catchment (Chicken Creek) was constructed to provide discharge for a small stream in the post-mining landscape of Lusatia, Germany. It has an area of 6 ha and quaternary sands with a thickness of 2-4 m were dumped on to a clay liner to prevent deep drainage. After completion of the construction the catchment was left to develop on its own without intervention and has been monitored since 2005. The upper part of the catchment discharges water and sediment into the lower part forming an alluvial fan. Below the alluvial fan is a pond receiving all surface and subsurface water from the upper catchment. After the formation of the drainage network vegetation started growing and surface runoff decreased until the water balance was dominated by evapotranspiration. This regime shift and the rate at which it happened depends on the vegetation encroachment into the rills and the interrill areas. Based on the hypothesis that vegetation will increase surface roughness and infiltration behavior, aerial photos were used to map rills and vegetation within and outside the rills for the last 10 years to obtain a time series of change. Observational evidence clearly shows that vegetation encroaches from the bottom, from the interrill areas as well as from the top. The rills themselves did not change their topology, however, the width of the erosion rills and gully increased at the bottom. For a subcatchment area a high resolution a physical based numerical model of overland flow was developed to explicitly assess the importance of increasing roughness and infiltration capacity for surface runoff. For the purpose of analyzing the effect of rainfall variability a rainfall generator was developed to carry out large sets of simulations. The simulations provide a means to assess how the roughness/infiltration feedback affects the rate of regime shift for a set of parameters that are consistent with the observed hydrological behavior of the drainage network.

Visualizing and quantifying the crossover from capillary fingering to viscous fingering in a rough fracture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Yi-Feng; Fang, Shu; Wu, Dong-Sheng; Hu, Ran

2017-09-01

Immiscible fluid-fluid displacement in permeable media is important in many subsurface processes, including enhanced oil recovery and geological CO2 sequestration. Controlled by capillary and viscous forces, displacement patterns of one fluid displacing another more viscous one exhibit capillary and viscous fingering, and crossover between the two. Although extensive studies investigated viscous and capillary fingering in porous media, a few studies focused on the crossover in rough fractures, and how viscous and capillary forces affect the crossover remains unclear. Using a transparent fracture-visualization system, we studied how the two forces impact the crossover in a horizontal rough fracture. Drainage experiments of water displacing oil were conducted at seven flow rates (capillary number log10Ca ranging from -7.07 to -3.07) and four viscosity ratios (M=1/1000,1/500,1/100 and 1/50). We consistently observed lower invading fluid saturations in the crossover zone. We also proposed a phase diagram for the displacement patterns in a rough fracture that is consistent with similar studies in porous media. Based on real-time imaging and statistical analysis of the invasion morphology, we showed that the competition between capillary and viscous forces is responsible for the saturation reduction in the crossover zone. In this zone, finger propagation toward the outlet (characteristic of viscous fingering) as well as void-filling in the transverse/backward directions (characteristic of capillary fingering), are both suppressed. Therefore, the invading fluid tends to occupy larger apertures with higher characteristic front velocity, promoting void-filling toward the outlet with thinner finger growth and resulting in a larger volume of defending fluid left behind.

Robust surface roughness indices and morphological interpretation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Trevisani, Sebastiano; Rocca, Michele

2016-04-01

Geostatistical-based image/surface texture indices based on variogram (Atkison and Lewis, 2000; Herzfeld and Higginson, 1996; Trevisani et al., 2012) and on its robust variant MAD (median absolute differences, Trevisani and Rocca, 2015) offer powerful tools for the analysis and interpretation of surface morphology (potentially not limited to solid earth). In particular, the proposed robust index (Trevisani and Rocca, 2015) with its implementation based on local kernels permits the derivation of a wide set of robust and customizable geomorphometric indices capable to outline specific aspects of surface texture. The stability of MAD in presence of signal noise and abrupt changes in spatial variability is well suited for the analysis of high-resolution digital terrain models. Moreover, the implementation of MAD by means of a pixel-centered perspective based on local kernels, with some analogies to the local binary pattern approach (Lucieer and Stein, 2005; Ojala et al., 2002), permits to create custom roughness indices capable to outline different aspects of surface roughness (Grohmann et al., 2011; Smith, 2015). In the proposed poster, some potentialities of the new indices in the context of geomorphometry and landscape analysis will be presented. At same time, challenges and future developments related to the proposed indices will be outlined. Atkinson, P.M., Lewis, P., 2000. Geostatistical classification for remote sensing: an introduction. Computers & Geosciences 26, 361-371. Grohmann, C.H., Smith, M.J., Riccomini, C., 2011. Multiscale Analysis of Topographic Surface Roughness in the Midland Valley, Scotland. IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing 49, 1220-1213. Herzfeld, U.C., Higginson, C.A., 1996. Automated geostatistical seafloor classification - Principles, parameters, feature vectors, and discrimination criteria. Computers and Geosciences, 22 (1), pp. 35-52. Lucieer, A., Stein, A., 2005. Texture-based landform segmentation of LiDAR imagery. International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation 6, 261-270. Ojala, T., Pietikäinen, M. & Mäenpää, T. 2002. "Multiresolution gray-scale and rotation invariant texture classification with local binary patterns", IEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence, vol. 24, no. 7, pp. 971-987. Smith, M.W. 2014. "Roughness in the Earth Sciences", Earth-Science Reviews, vol. 136, pp. 202-225. Trevisani, S., Cavalli, M. & Marchi, L. 2012. "Surface texture analysis of a high-resolution DTM: Interpreting an alpine basin", Geomorphology, vol. 161-162, pp. 26-39. Trevisani, S., Rocca, M. 2015. MAD: robust image texture analysis for applications in high resolution geomorphometry. Comput. Geosci. 81, 78-92. doi:10.1016/j.cageo.2015.04.003.

Numerical simulation of adverse-pressure-gradient boundary layer with or without roughness

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mottaghian, Pouya; Yuan, Junlin; Piomelli, Ugo

2014-11-01

Large-eddy and direct numerical simulations are carried out on flat-plate boundary layer over smooth and rough surfaces, with adverse pressure gradient.The deceleration is achieved by imposing a wall-normal freestream velocity profile, and is strong enough to cause separation at the wall. The Reynolds number based on momentum thickness and freestream velocity at inlet is 600. Numerical sandgrain roughness is applied based on an immersed boundary method, yielding a flow that is transitionally rough. The turbulence intensity increases before separation, and reaches a higher value for the rough case, indicating stronger mixing. Roughness also causes higher momentum deficit near the wall, leading to earlier separation. This is consistent with previous observation made on rough-wall flow separation over a ramp. In both cases, the turbulent kinetic energy peaks inside the shear layer above the detachment region, with higher values in the rough case; it then decreases approaching the reattachment region. Near the wall inside the separation bubble, the near-zero turbulent intensity indicates that the turbulent structures are lifted up in the separation region. Compared with the smooth case, the shear layer is farther from the wall and the reattachment length is longer on the rough wall.

Photopolarimetric Retrievals of Snow Properties

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ottaviani, M.; van Diedenhoven, B.; Cairns, B.

2015-01-01

Polarimetric observations of snow surfaces, obtained in the 410-2264 nm range with the Research Scanning Polarimeter onboard the NASA ER-2 high-altitude aircraft, are analyzed and presented. These novel measurements are of interest to the remote sensing community because the overwhelming brightness of snow plagues aerosol and cloud retrievals based on airborne and spaceborne total reflection measurements. The spectral signatures of the polarized reflectance of snow are therefore worthwhile investigating in order to provide guidance for the adaptation of algorithms currently employed for the retrieval of aerosol properties over soil and vegetated surfaces. At the same time, the increased information content of polarimetric measurements allows for a meaningful characterization of the snow medium. In our case, the grains are modeled as hexagonal prisms of variable aspect ratios and microscale roughness, yielding retrievals of the grains' scattering asymmetry parameter, shape and size. The results agree with our previous findings based on a more limited data set, with the majority of retrievals leading to moderately rough crystals of extreme aspect ratios, for each scene corresponding to a single value of the asymmetry parameter.

Understanding the response of commercial and institutional organizations to the California energy crisis. A report to the California Energy Commission - Sylvia Bender, Project Manager

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

Lutzenhiser, Loren; Janda, Kathryn; Kunkle, Rick

2002-07-24

Beginning in the summer of 2000, California experienced serious energy supply problems, sharp increases in wholesale (and retail) electricity and natural gas prices, and isolated blackouts. In response to the rapidly worsening electricity situation in California in late 2000, the state set, as an initial goal, the reduction of the state's peak demand for the summer of 2001 by 5,000 megawatts. To meet this goal, the governor and legislature took a variety of steps to enhance supply, encourage rapid voluntary reductions in demand, and provide incentives for actions that would result in load reductions. Three bills-Assembly Bill 970, Senate Billmore » X1 5 and Assembly Bill X1 29-allocated roughly $950 million for consumption and demand reduction programs. The governor also enacted a variety of additional measures, including the ''Flex Your Power'' (media awareness and direct business involvement) campaign, requirements for retail sector outdoor lighting reductions, and toughening of energy efficiency building codes. There were, in fact, significant reductions in electricity demand in California during the summer of 2001 and the large number of expected supply disruptions was avoided. To understand the nature of these demand reductions and the motivations for consumer response, Washington State University (WSU) undertook a study for the California Energy Commission (CEC) focusing on conservation behavior in the residential, commercial, and agricultural sectors. The research presented in this report represents an exploration of the response of commercial and institutional organizations to the California energy situation and the unique set of influences that existed during this time. These influences included informational messages and media attention, program interventions, price changes, and external triggering events (e.g., blackouts). To better understand the effects of these influences on organizational response to the energy situation, we conducted 84 semi-structured inter views with members of commercial and institutional organizations (many of which participated in three different California Energy Commission Programs) and with 21 key informants representing program managers, administrators, and aggregators as well as a small number of energy service providers and utilities. Separate reports examine the consumer response in the residential and agricultural sectors.« less

5 CFR 9901.355 - Setting pay upon reduction in band.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... involuntarily, the setting of the employee's base salary rate is subject to the rules in this section. As..., the employee's base salary may be reduced, subject to the requirements in paragraph (b) of this section. The employee may be eligible for an increase to base salary, subject to the requirements in...

Nanolubricant: magnetic nanoparticle based

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Trivedi, Kinjal; Parekh, Kinnari; Upadhyay, Ramesh V.

2017-11-01

In the present study magnetic nanoparticles of Fe3O4 having average particle diameter, 11.7 nm were synthesized using chemical coprecipitation technique and dispersed in alpha olefin hydrocarbon synthetic lubricating oil. The solid weight fraction of magnetic nanoparticles in the lubricating oil was varied from 0 wt% to 10 wt%. The tribological properties were studied using four-ball tester. The results demonstrate that the coefficient of friction and wear scar diameter reduces by 45% and 30%, respectively at an optimal value, i.e. 4 wt% of magnetic nanoparticles concentration. The surface characterization of worn surface was carried out using a scanning electron microscope, and energy dispersive spectroscopy. These results implied that rolling mechanism is responsible to reduce coefficient of friction while magnetic nanoparticles act as the spacer between the asperities and reduces the wear scar diameter. The surface roughness of the worn surface studied using an atomic force microscope shows a reduction in surface roughness by a factor of four when magnetic nanoparticles are used as an additive. The positive response of magnetic nanoparticles in a lubricating oil, shows the potential replacement of conventional lubricating oil.

Water impacts of CO2 emission performance standards for fossil fuel-fired power plants.

PubMed

Talati, Shuchi; Zhai, Haibo; Morgan, M Granger

2014-10-21

We employ an integrated systems modeling tool to assess the water impacts of the new source performance standards recently proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for limiting CO2 emissions from coal- and gas-fired power plants. The implementation of amine-based carbon capture and storage (CCS) for 40% CO2 capture to meet the current proposal will increase plant water use by roughly 30% in supercritical pulverized coal-fired power plants. The specific amount of added water use varies with power plant and CCS designs. More stringent emission standards than the current proposal would require CO2 emission reductions for natural gas combined-cycle (NGCC) plants via CCS, which would also increase plant water use. When examined over a range of possible future emission standards from 1100 to 300 lb CO2/MWh gross, new baseload NGCC plants consume roughly 60-70% less water than coal-fired plants. A series of adaptation approaches to secure low-carbon energy production and improve the electric power industry's water management in the face of future policy constraints are discussed both quantitatively and qualitatively.

Experimental Investigation Nano Particles Influence in NPMEDM to Machine Inconel 800 with Electrolyte Copper Electrode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karunakaran, K.; Chandrasekaran, M.

2017-05-01

The recent technology of machining hard materials is Powder mix dielectric electrical Discharge Machining (PMEDM). This research investigates nano sized (about 5Nm) powders influence in machining Inconel 800 nickel based super alloy. This work is motivated for a practical need for a manufacturing industry, which processes various kinds of jobs of Inconel 800 material. The conventional EDM machining also considered for investigation for the measure of Nano powders performances. The aluminum, silicon and multi walled Carbon Nano tubes powders were considered in this investigation along with pulse on time, pulse of time and input current to analyze and optimize the responses of Material Removal Rate, Tool Wear Rate and surface roughness. The Taguchi general Full Factorial Design was used to design the experiments. The most advance equipments employed in conducting experiments and measuring equipments to improve the accuracy of the result. The MWCNT powder mix was out performs than other powders which reduce 22% to 50% of the tool wear rate, gives the surface roughness reduction from 29.62% to 41.64% and improved MRR 42.91% to 53.51% than conventional EDM.

Experimental investigation of the hydraulic and heat-transfer properties of artificially fractured granite.

PubMed

Luo, Jin; Zhu, Yongqiang; Guo, Qinghai; Tan, Long; Zhuang, Yaqin; Liu, Mingliang; Zhang, Canhai; Xiang, Wei; Rohn, Joachim

2017-01-05

In this paper, the hydraulic and heat-transfer properties of two sets of artificially fractured granite samples are investigated. First, the morphological information is determined using 3D modelling technology. The area ratio is used to describe the roughness of the fracture surface. Second, the hydraulic properties of fractured granite are tested by exposing samples to different confining pressures and temperatures. The results show that the hydraulic properties of the fractures are affected mainly by the area ratio, with a larger area ratio producing a larger fracture aperture and higher hydraulic conductivity. Both the hydraulic apertureand the hydraulic conductivity decrease with an increase in the confining pressure. Furthermore, the fracture aperture decreases with increasing rock temperature, but the hydraulic conductivity increases owing to a reduction of the viscosity of the fluid flowing through. Finally, the heat-transfer efficiency of the samples under coupled hydro-thermal-mechanical conditions is analysed and discussed.

Experimental investigation of the hydraulic and heat-transfer properties of artificially fractured granite

PubMed Central

Luo, Jin; Zhu, Yongqiang; Guo, Qinghai; Tan, Long; Zhuang, Yaqin; Liu, Mingliang; Zhang, Canhai; Xiang, Wei; Rohn, Joachim

2017-01-01

In this paper, the hydraulic and heat-transfer properties of two sets of artificially fractured granite samples are investigated. First, the morphological information is determined using 3D modelling technology. The area ratio is used to describe the roughness of the fracture surface. Second, the hydraulic properties of fractured granite are tested by exposing samples to different confining pressures and temperatures. The results show that the hydraulic properties of the fractures are affected mainly by the area ratio, with a larger area ratio producing a larger fracture aperture and higher hydraulic conductivity. Both the hydraulic apertureand the hydraulic conductivity decrease with an increase in the confining pressure. Furthermore, the fracture aperture decreases with increasing rock temperature, but the hydraulic conductivity increases owing to a reduction of the viscosity of the fluid flowing through. Finally, the heat-transfer efficiency of the samples under coupled hydro-thermal-mechanical conditions is analysed and discussed. PMID:28054594

Effect of Blade-surface Finish on Performance of a Single-stage Axial-flow Compressor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Moses, Jason J; Serovy, George, K

1951-01-01

A set of modified NACA 5509-34 rotor and stator blades was investigated with rough-machine, hand-filed, and highly polished surface finishes over a range of weight flows at six equivalent tip speeds from 672 to 1092 feet per second to determine the effect of blade-surface finish on the performance of a single-stage axial-flow compressor. Surface-finish effects decreased with increasing compressor speed and with decreasing flow at a given speed. In general, finishing blade surfaces below the roughness that may be considered aerodynamically smooth on the basis of an admissible-roughness formula will have no effect on compressor performance.

Float polishing of optical materials.

PubMed

Bennett, J M; Shaffer, J J; Shibano, Y; Namba, Y

1987-02-15

The float-polishing technique has been studied to determine its suitability for producing supersmooth surfaces on optical materials, yielding a roughness of <2 A rms. An attempt was made to polish six different materials including fused quartz, Zerodur, and sapphire. The low surface roughness was achieved on fused quartz, Zerodur, and Corning experimental glass-ceramic materials, and a surface roughness of <1 A rms was obtained on O-cut single-crystal sapphire. Presumably, similar surface finishes can also be obtained on CerVit and ULE quartz, which could not be polished satisfactorily in this set of experiments because of a mismatch between sample mounting and machine configuration.

Quantum cognition based on an ambiguous representation derived from a rough set approximation.

PubMed

Gunji, Yukio-Pegio; Sonoda, Kohei; Basios, Vasileios

2016-03-01

Over the last years, in a series papers by Arecchi and others, a model for the cognitive processes involved in decision making has been proposed and investigated. The key element of this model is the expression of apprehension and judgment, basic cognitive process of decision making, as an inverse Bayes inference classifying the information content of neuron spike trains. It has been shown that for successive plural stimuli this inference, equipped with basic non-algorithmic jumps, is affected by quantum-like characteristics. We show here that such a decision making process is related consistently with an ambiguous representation by an observer within a universe of discourse. In our work the ambiguous representation of an object or a stimuli is defined as a pair of maps from objects of a set to their representations, where these two maps are interrelated in a particular structure. The a priori and a posteriori hypotheses in Bayes inference are replaced by the upper and lower approximations, correspondingly, for the initial data sets that are derived with respect to each map. Upper and lower approximations herein are defined in the context of "rough set" analysis. The inverse Bayes inference is implemented by the lower approximations with respect to the one map and for the upper approximation with respect to the other map for a given data set. We show further that, due to the particular structural relation between the two maps, the logical structure of such combined approximations can only be expressed as an orthomodular lattice and therefore can be represented by a quantum rather than a Boolean logic. To our knowledge, this is the first investigation aiming to reveal the concrete logic structure of inverse Bayes inference in cognitive processes. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

Scalable principles of community-based high-value care for seriously ill individuals: Diamonds in the rough.

PubMed

Parikh, Ravi B; Bowman, Brynn; Dahlin, Constance; Twohig, Jeanne S; Meier, Diane E

2017-03-01

Early, integrated palliative care has been shown to improve quality of life and reduce utilization in both inpatient and outpatient settings. As health systems shift to risk-based payment structures, palliative care will play an increasing role in improving value of care outside of the hospital. Based on successful models of community-based palliative care, we identify six principles - interdisciplinary team-based care; 24/7 access and responsiveness; concurrent palliative care with disease-directed treatment; targeting services to high-risk patients; integrated medical and social supports; and caregiver support - that are widely implemented because of their impact on improving value for seriously ill individuals. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of Surface Roughness and Tensile Strength of Base Metal Alloys Used for Crown and Bridge on Recasting (Recycling)

PubMed Central

Hashmi, Syed W.; Rao, Yogesh; Garg, Akanksha

2015-01-01

Background Dental casting alloys play a prominent role in the restoration of the partial dentition. Casting alloys have to survive long term in the mouth and also have the combination of structure, molecules, wear resistance and biologic compatibility. According to ADA system casting alloys were divided into three groups (wt%); high noble, Noble and predominantly base metal alloys. Aim To evaluate the mechanical properties such as tensile strength and surface roughness of the new and recast base metal (nickel-chromium) alloys. Materials and Methods Recasting of the base metal alloys derived from sprue and button, to make it reusable has been done. A total of 200 test specimens were fabricated using specially fabricated jig of metal and divided into two groups- 100 specimens of new alloy and 100 specimens of recast alloys, which were tested for tensile strength on universal testing machine and surface roughness on surface roughness tester. Results Tensile strength of new alloy showed no statistically significant difference (p-value>0.05) from recast alloy whereas new alloy had statistically significant surface roughness (Maximum and Average surface roughness) difference (p-value<0.01) as compared to recast alloy. Conclusion Within the limitations of the study it is concluded that the tensile strength will not be affected by recasting of nickel-chromium alloy whereas surface roughness increases markedly. PMID:26393194

Surface roughness scattering of electrons in bulk mosfets

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

Zuverink, Amanda Renee

2015-11-01

Surface-roughness scattering of electrons at the Si-SiO 2 interface is a very important consideration when analyzing Si metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs). Scattering reduces the mobility of the electrons and degrades the device performance. 250-nm and 50-nm bulk MOSFETs were simulated with varying device parameters and mesh sizes in order to compare the effects of surface-roughness scattering in multiple devices. The simulation framework includes the ensemble Monte Carlo method used to solve the Boltzmann transport equation coupled with a successive over-relaxation method used to solve the two-dimensional Poisson's equation. Four methods for simulating the surface-roughness scattering of electrons were implemented onmore » both devices and compared: the constant specularity parameter, the momentum-dependent specularity parameter, and the real-space-roughness method with both uniform and varying electric fields. The specularity parameter is the probability of an electron scattering speculariy from a rough surface. It can be chosen as a constant, characterizing partially diffuse scattering of all electrons from the surface the same way, or it can be momentum dependent, where the size of rms roughness and the normal component of the electron wave number determine the probability of electron-momentum randomization. The real-space rough surface method uses the rms roughness height and correlation length of an actual MOSFET to simulate a rough interface. Due to their charge, electrons scatter from the electric field and not directly from the surface. If the electric field is kept uniform, the electrons do not perceive the roughness and scatter as if from a at surface. However, if the field is allowed to vary, the electrons scatter from the varying electric field as they would in a MOSFET. These methods were implemented for both the 50-nm and 250-nm MOSFETs, and using the rms roughness heights and correlation lengths for real devices. The current-voltage and mobility-electric field curves were plotted for each method on the two devices and compared. The conclusion is that the specularity-parameter methods are valuable as simple models for relatively smooth interfaces. However, they have limitations, as they cannot accurately describe the drastic reduction in the current and the electron mobility that occur in MOSFETs with very rough Si-SiO 2 interfaces.« less

Towards predictive models for transitionally rough surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abderrahaman-Elena, Nabil; Garcia-Mayoral, Ricardo

2017-11-01

We analyze and model the previously presented decomposition for flow variables in DNS of turbulence over transitionally rough surfaces. The flow is decomposed into two contributions: one produced by the overlying turbulence, which has no footprint of the surface texture, and one induced by the roughness, which is essentially the time-averaged flow around the surface obstacles, but modulated in amplitude by the first component. The roughness-induced component closely resembles the laminar steady flow around the roughness elements at the same non-dimensional roughness size. For small - yet transitionally rough - textures, the roughness-free component is essentially the same as over a smooth wall. Based on these findings, we propose predictive models for the onset of the transitionally rough regime. Project supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

Rolling Process Modeling Report. Finite-Element Model Validation and Parametric Study on various Rolling Process parameters

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

Soulami, Ayoub; Lavender, Curt A.; Paxton, Dean M.

2015-06-15

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) has been investigating manufacturing processes for the uranium-10% molybdenum alloy plate-type fuel for high-performance research reactors in the United States. This work supports the U.S. Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration’s Office of Material Management and Minimization Reactor Conversion Program. This report documents modeling results of PNNL’s efforts to perform finite-element simulations to predict roll-separating forces for various rolling mill geometries for PNNL, Babcock & Wilcox Co., Y-12 National Security Complex, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and Idaho National Laboratory. The model developed and presented in a previous report has been subjected to further validationmore » study using new sets of experimental data generated from a rolling mill at PNNL. Simulation results of both hot rolling and cold rolling of uranium-10% molybdenum coupons have been compared with experimental results. The model was used to predict roll-separating forces at different temperatures and reductions for five rolling mills within the National Nuclear Security Administration Fuel Fabrication Capability project. This report also presents initial results of a finite-element model microstructure-based approach to study the surface roughness at the interface between zirconium and uranium-10% molybdenum.« less

Parametric effects of turning Ti-6Al-4V alloys with aluminum oxide nanolubricants with SDBS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ali, M. A. M.; Azmi, A. I.; Khalil, A. N. M.

2017-09-01

Applications of nanolubricants have been claimed to improve machinability of aerospace metals due to reduction of friction as a results of the rolling action of billions of nanoparticles at the tool-chip interface. In addition, the need to pursue for an eco-friendly machining has pushed researchers toward implementing alternative lubrication methods through minimal quantity lubrication (MQL). However, the gap in the current literature regarding the performance of nanolubricants via MQL has restricted the widespread use of this lubricant and technique in industries. The present work aims to understand the parametric effects of nanoparticles concentration, cutting speed, feed rate and nozzle angle during machining of titanium alloy, Ti-6AL-4V. Multiple performance of machinability outputs such as surface roughness, tool wear and power consumption were simultaneously determined via Taguchi orthogonal array and grey relational analyses. Prior to machining tests, the nanolubricants stabilities were investigated through the addition of surfactant; sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS). The results clearly indicated that inclusion of SDBS surfactant managed to reduce agglomeration in the base lubricant. Meanwhile, grey relational analyses revealed that the combination of 0.6 % nanoparticles concentration, cutting speed of 85 m/min, feed rate of 0.1 mm/rev and nozzle angle of 60o as desired setting for all the three machining outputs.

Effect of professional dental prophylaxis on the surface gloss and roughness of CAD/CAM restorative materials.

PubMed

Sugiyama, Toshiko; Kameyama, Atsushi; Enokuchi, Tomoka; Haruyama, Akiko; Chiba, Aoi; Sugiyama, Setsuko; Hosaka, Makoto; Takahashi, Toshiyuki

2017-06-01

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of dental prophylaxis on the surface gloss and roughness of different indirect restorative materials for computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM): two types of CAD/CAM composite resin blocks (Shofu Block HC and Estelite Block) and two types of CAD/CAM ceramic blocks (IPS Empress CAD and Celtra DUO). After polishing the CAD/CAM blocks and applying prophylaxis pastes, professional dental prophylaxis was performed using four different experimental protocols (n = 5 each): mechanical cleaning with Merssage Regular for 10 s four times (Group 1); four cycles of mechanical cleaning with Merssage Regular for 10 s and Merssage Fine for 10 s (Group 2); four cycles of mechanical cleaning with Merssage Regular for 10 s and Merssage Fine for 30 s (Group 3); and mechanical cleaning with Merssage Fine for 10 s four times (Group 4). A glossmeter was used to measure surface gloss before and after mechanical cleaning, and a contact stylus profilometer was used to measure surface roughness (Ra). Polishing with prophylactic paste led to a significant reduction in surface gloss and increase in surface roughness among resin composite blocks, whereas the polishing-related change in surface gloss or roughness was smaller in Celtra DUO, a zirconia-reinforced lithium silicate block. Changes in surface gloss and roughness due to polishing with a prophylactic paste containing large particles were not improved by subsequent polishing with a prophylactic paste containing fine particles. Key words: CAD/CAM, professional dental prophylaxis, prophylactic paste, surface gloss, surface roughness.

Effect of professional dental prophylaxis on the surface gloss and roughness of CAD/CAM restorative materials

PubMed Central

Sugiyama, Toshiko; Enokuchi, Tomoka; Haruyama, Akiko; Chiba, Aoi; Sugiyama, Setsuko; Hosaka, Makoto; Takahashi, Toshiyuki

2017-01-01

Background This study aimed to evaluate the effect of dental prophylaxis on the surface gloss and roughness of different indirect restorative materials for computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM): two types of CAD/CAM composite resin blocks (Shofu Block HC and Estelite Block) and two types of CAD/CAM ceramic blocks (IPS Empress CAD and Celtra DUO). Material and Methods After polishing the CAD/CAM blocks and applying prophylaxis pastes, professional dental prophylaxis was performed using four different experimental protocols (n = 5 each): mechanical cleaning with Merssage Regular for 10 s four times (Group 1); four cycles of mechanical cleaning with Merssage Regular for 10 s and Merssage Fine for 10 s (Group 2); four cycles of mechanical cleaning with Merssage Regular for 10 s and Merssage Fine for 30 s (Group 3); and mechanical cleaning with Merssage Fine for 10 s four times (Group 4). A glossmeter was used to measure surface gloss before and after mechanical cleaning, and a contact stylus profilometer was used to measure surface roughness (Ra). Results Polishing with prophylactic paste led to a significant reduction in surface gloss and increase in surface roughness among resin composite blocks, whereas the polishing-related change in surface gloss or roughness was smaller in Celtra DUO, a zirconia-reinforced lithium silicate block. Conclusions Changes in surface gloss and roughness due to polishing with a prophylactic paste containing large particles were not improved by subsequent polishing with a prophylactic paste containing fine particles. Key words:CAD/CAM, professional dental prophylaxis, prophylactic paste, surface gloss, surface roughness. PMID:28638554

Effect of laser parameters on surface roughness of laser modified tool steel after thermal cyclic loading

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lau Sheng, Annie; Ismail, Izwan; Nur Aqida, Syarifah

2018-03-01

This study presents the effects of laser parameters on the surface roughness of laser modified tool steel after thermal cyclic loading. Pulse mode Nd:YAG laser was used to perform the laser surface modification process on AISI H13 tool steel samples. Samples were then treated with thermal cyclic loading experiments which involved alternate immersion in molten aluminium (800°C) and water (27°C) for 553 cycles. A full factorial design of experiment (DOE) was developed to perform the investigation. Factors for the DOE are the laser parameter namely overlap rate (η), pulse repetition frequency (f PRF) and peak power (Ppeak ) while the response is the surface roughness after thermal cyclic loading. Results indicate the surface roughness of the laser modified surface after thermal cyclic loading is significantly affected by laser parameter settings.

Evaluation and parameterization of ATCOR3 topographic correction method for forest cover mapping in mountain areas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Balthazar, Vincent; Vanacker, Veerle; Lambin, Eric F.

2012-08-01

A topographic correction of optical remote sensing data is necessary to improve the quality of quantitative forest cover change analyses in mountainous terrain. The implementation of semi-empirical correction methods requires the calibration of model parameters that are empirically defined. This study develops a method to improve the performance of topographic corrections for forest cover change detection in mountainous terrain through an iterative tuning method of model parameters based on a systematic evaluation of the performance of the correction. The latter was based on: (i) the general matching of reflectances between sunlit and shaded slopes and (ii) the occurrence of abnormal reflectance values, qualified as statistical outliers, in very low illuminated areas. The method was tested on Landsat ETM+ data for rough (Ecuadorian Andes) and very rough mountainous terrain (Bhutan Himalayas). Compared to a reference level (no topographic correction), the ATCOR3 semi-empirical correction method resulted in a considerable reduction of dissimilarities between reflectance values of forested sites in different topographic orientations. Our results indicate that optimal parameter combinations are depending on the site, sun elevation and azimuth and spectral conditions. We demonstrate that the results of relatively simple topographic correction methods can be greatly improved through a feedback loop between parameter tuning and evaluation of the performance of the correction model.

SPH modelling of depth-limited turbulent open channel flows over rough boundaries.

PubMed

Kazemi, Ehsan; Nichols, Andrew; Tait, Simon; Shao, Songdong

2017-01-10

A numerical model based on the smoothed particle hydrodynamics method is developed to simulate depth-limited turbulent open channel flows over hydraulically rough beds. The 2D Lagrangian form of the Navier-Stokes equations is solved, in which a drag-based formulation is used based on an effective roughness zone near the bed to account for the roughness effect of bed spheres and an improved sub-particle-scale model is applied to account for the effect of turbulence. The sub-particle-scale model is constructed based on the mixing-length assumption rather than the standard Smagorinsky approach to compute the eddy-viscosity. A robust in/out-flow boundary technique is also proposed to achieve stable uniform flow conditions at the inlet and outlet boundaries where the flow characteristics are unknown. The model is applied to simulate uniform open channel flows over a rough bed composed of regular spheres and validated by experimental velocity data. To investigate the influence of the bed roughness on different flow conditions, data from 12 experimental tests with different bed slopes and uniform water depths are simulated, and a good agreement has been observed between the model and experimental results of the streamwise velocity and turbulent shear stress. This shows that both the roughness effect and flow turbulence should be addressed in order to simulate the correct mechanisms of turbulent flow over a rough bed boundary and that the presented smoothed particle hydrodynamics model accomplishes this successfully. © 2016 The Authors International Journal for Numerical Methods in Fluids Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Multi-decadal Arctic sea ice roughness.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsamados, M.; Stroeve, J.; Kharbouche, S.; Muller, J. P., , Prof; Nolin, A. W.; Petty, A.; Haas, C.; Girard-Ardhuin, F.; Landy, J.

2017-12-01

The transformation of Arctic sea ice from mainly perennial, multi-year ice to a seasonal, first-year ice is believed to have been accompanied by a reduction of the roughness of the ice cover surface. This smoothening effect has been shown to (i) modify the momentum and heat transfer between the atmosphere and ocean, (ii) to alter the ice thickness distribution which in turn controls the snow and melt pond repartition over the ice cover, and (iii) to bias airborne and satellite remote sensing measurements that depend on the scattering and reflective characteristics over the sea ice surface topography. We will review existing and novel remote sensing methodologies proposed to estimate sea ice roughness, ranging from airborne LIDAR measurement (ie Operation IceBridge), to backscatter coefficients from scatterometers (ASCAT, QUICKSCAT), to multi angle maging spectroradiometer (MISR), and to laser (Icesat) and radar altimeters (Envisat, Cryosat, Altika, Sentinel-3). We will show that by comparing and cross-calibrating these different products we can offer a consistent multi-mission, multi-decadal view of the declining sea ice roughness. Implications for sea ice physics, climate and remote sensing will also be discussed.

Fully Resolved Simulations of Particle-Bed-Turbulence Interactions in Oscillatory Flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Apte, S.; Ghodke, C.

2017-12-01

Particle-resolved direct numerical simulations (DNS) are performed to investigate the behavior of an oscillatory flow field over a bed of closely packed fixed spherical particles for a range of Reynolds numbers in transitional and rough turbulent flow regime. Presence of roughness leads to a substantial modification of the underlying boundary layer mechanism resulting in increased bed shear stress, reduction in the near-bed anisotropy, modification of the near-bed sweep and ejection motions along with marked changes in turbulent energy transport mechanisms. Characterization of such resulting flow field is performed by studying statistical descriptions of the near-bed turbulence for different roughness parameters. A double-averaging technique is employed to reveal spatial inhomogeneities at the roughness scale that provide alternate paths of energy transport in the turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) budget. Spatio-temporal characteristics of unsteady particle forces by studying their spatial distribution, temporal auto-correlations, frequency spectra, cross-correlations with near-bed turbulent flow variables and intermittency intermittency in the forces using the concept of impulse are investigated in detail. These first principle simulations provide substantial insights into the modeling of incipient motion of sediments.

Amplification of intrinsic emittance due to rough metal cathodes: Formulation of a parameterization model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Charles, T. K.; Paganin, D. M.; Dowd, R. T.

2016-08-01

Intrinsic emittance is often the limiting factor for brightness in fourth generation light sources and as such, a good understanding of the factors affecting intrinsic emittance is essential in order to be able to decrease it. Here we present a parameterization model describing the proportional increase in emittance induced by cathode surface roughness. One major benefit behind the parameterization approach presented here is that it takes the complexity of a Monte Carlo model and reduces the results to a straight-forward empirical model. The resulting models describe the proportional increase in transverse momentum introduced by surface roughness, and are applicable to various metal types, photon wavelengths, applied electric fields, and cathode surface terrains. The analysis includes the increase in emittance due to changes in the electric field induced by roughness as well as the increase in transverse momentum resultant from the spatially varying surface normal. We also compare the results of the Parameterization Model to an Analytical Model which employs various approximations to produce a more compact expression with the cost of a reduction in accuracy.

A Description for Rock Joint Roughness Based on Terrestrial Laser Scanner and Image Analysis

PubMed Central

Ge, Yunfeng; Tang, Huiming; Eldin, M. A. M Ez; Chen, Pengyu; Wang, Liangqing; Wang, Jinge

2015-01-01

Shear behavior of rock mass greatly depends upon the rock joint roughness which is generally characterized by anisotropy, scale effect and interval effect. A new index enabling to capture all the three features, namely brightness area percentage (BAP), is presented to express the roughness based on synthetic illumination of a digital terrain model derived from terrestrial laser scanner (TLS). Since only tiny planes facing opposite to shear direction make contribution to resistance during shear failure, therefore these planes are recognized through the image processing technique by taking advantage of the fact that they appear brighter than other ones under the same light source. Comparison with existing roughness indexes and two case studies were illustrated to test the performance of BAP description. The results reveal that the rock joint roughness estimated by the presented description has a good match with existing roughness methods and displays a wider applicability. PMID:26585247

A robust cloud registration method based on redundant data reduction using backpropagation neural network and shift window

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xin, Meiting; Li, Bing; Yan, Xiao; Chen, Lei; Wei, Xiang

2018-02-01

A robust coarse-to-fine registration method based on the backpropagation (BP) neural network and shift window technology is proposed in this study. Specifically, there are three steps: coarse alignment between the model data and measured data, data simplification based on the BP neural network and point reservation in the contour region of point clouds, and fine registration with the reweighted iterative closest point algorithm. In the process of rough alignment, the initial rotation matrix and the translation vector between the two datasets are obtained. After performing subsequent simplification operations, the number of points can be reduced greatly. Therefore, the time and space complexity of the accurate registration can be significantly reduced. The experimental results show that the proposed method improves the computational efficiency without loss of accuracy.

Nanoscale Roughness and Morphology Affect the IsoElectric Point of Titania Surfaces

PubMed Central

Borghi, Francesca; Vyas, Varun; Podestà, Alessandro; Milani, Paolo

2013-01-01

We report on the systematic investigation of the role of surface nanoscale roughness and morphology on the charging behaviour of nanostructured titania (TiO2) surfaces in aqueous solutions. IsoElectric Points (IEPs) of surfaces have been characterized by direct measurement of the electrostatic double layer interactions between titania surfaces and the micrometer-sized spherical silica probe of an atomic force microscope in NaCl aqueous electrolyte. The use of a colloidal probe provides well-defined interaction geometry and allows effectively probing the overall effect of nanoscale morphology. By using supersonic cluster beam deposition to fabricate nanostructured titania films, we achieved a quantitative control over the surface morphological parameters. We performed a systematical exploration of the electrical double layer properties in different interaction regimes characterized by different ratios of characteristic nanometric lengths of the system: the surface rms roughness Rq, the correlation length ξ and the Debye length λD. We observed a remarkable reduction by several pH units of IEP on rough nanostructured surfaces, with respect to flat crystalline rutile TiO2. In order to explain the observed behavior of IEP, we consider the roughness-induced self-overlap of the electrical double layers as a potential source of deviation from the trend expected for flat surfaces. PMID:23874708

Hydraulic resistance of submerged flexible vegetation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stephan, Ursula; Gutknecht, Dieter

2002-12-01

The main research objective consisted in analysing the influence of roughness caused by aquatic vegetation (av), in particular submerged macrophytes, on the overall flow field. These plants are highly flexible and behave differently depending on the flow situation. They also react substantially to the flow field and thus, the roughness becomes variable and dynamic. Conventional flow formulas, such as the Manning or the Strickler formula, are one-dimensional and based on integral flow parameters. They are not suitable for quantifying the roughness of av, because the flow is complex and more dimensional due to the variable behaviour of the plants. Therefore, the present investigation concentrates on the definition of a characteristic hydraulic roughness parameter to quantify the resistance of av. Within this investigation laboratory experiments were carried out with three different types of av, chosen with respect to varying plant structures as well as stem lengths. Velocity measurements above these plants were conducted to determine the relationship between the hydraulic roughness and the deflected plant height. The deflected plant height is used as the geometric roughness parameter, whereas the equivalent sand roughness based on the universal logarithmic law modified by Nikuradse was used as hydraulic roughness parameter. The influence of relative submergence on the hydraulic roughness was also analysed. The analysis of the velocity measurements illustrates that equivalent sand roughness and zero plane displacement of the logarithmic law are correlated to the deflected plant height and are equally to this height.

Field theoretic approach to roughness corrections

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Hua Yao; Schaden, Martin

2012-02-01

We develop a systematic field theoretic description of roughness corrections to the Casimir free energy of a massless scalar field in the presence of parallel plates with mean separation a. Roughness is modeled by specifying a generating functional for correlation functions of the height profile. The two-point correlation function being characterized by its variance, σ2, and correlation length, ℓ. We obtain the partition function of a massless scalar quantum field interacting with the height profile of the surface via a δ-function potential. The partition function is given by a holographic reduction of this model to three coupled scalar fields on a two-dimensional plane. The original three-dimensional space with a flat parallel plate at a distance a from the rough plate is encoded in the nonlocal propagators of the surface fields on its boundary. Feynman rules for this equivalent 2+1-dimensional model are derived and its counterterms constructed. The two-loop contribution to the free energy of this model gives the leading roughness correction. The effective separation, aeff, to a rough plate is measured to a plane that is displaced a distance ρ∝σ2/ℓ from the mean of its profile. This definition of the separation eliminates corrections to the free energy of order 1/a4 and results in unitary scattering matrices. We obtain an effective low-energy model in the limit ℓ≪a. It determines the scattering matrix and equivalent planar scattering surface of a very rough plate in terms of the single length scale ρ. The Casimir force on a rough plate is found to always weaken with decreasing correlation length ℓ. The two-loop approximation to the free energy interpolates between the free energy of the effective low-energy model and that of the proximity force approximation - the force on a very rough plate with σ≳0.5ℓ being weaker than on a planar Dirichlet surface at any separation.

ENSO-based probabilistic forecasts of March-May U.S. tornado and hail activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lepore, Chiara; Tippett, Michael K.; Allen, John T.

2017-09-01

Extended logistic regression is used to predict March-May severe convective storm (SCS) activity based on the preceding December-February (DJF) El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) state. The spatially resolved probabilistic forecasts are verified against U.S. tornado counts, hail events, and two environmental indices for severe convection. The cross-validated skill is positive for roughly a quarter of the U.S. Overall, indices are predicted with more skill than are storm reports, and hail events are predicted with more skill than tornado counts. Skill is higher in the cool phase of ENSO (La Niña like) when overall SCS activity is higher. SCS forecasts based on the predicted DJF ENSO state from coupled dynamical models initialized in October of the previous year extend the lead time with only a modest reduction in skill compared to forecasts based on the observed DJF ENSO state.

EUV-angle resolved scatter (EUV-ARS): a new tool for the characterization of nanometre structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fernández Herrero, Analía.; Mentzel, Heiko; Soltwisch, Victor; Jaroslawzew, Sina; Laubis, Christian; Scholze, Frank

2018-03-01

The advance of the semiconductor industry requires new metrology methods, which can deal with smaller and more complex nanostructures. Particularly for inline metrology a rapid, sensitive and non destructive method is needed. Small angle X-ray scattering under grazing incidence has already been investigated for this application and delivers significant statistical information which tracks the profile parameters as well as their variations, i.e. roughness. However, it suffers from the elongated footprint at the sample. The advantage of EUV radiation, with its longer wavelengths, is that larger incidence angles can be used, resulting in a significant reduction of the beam footprint. Targets with field sizes of 100 μm and smaller are accessible with our experimental set-up. We present a new experimental tool for the measurement of small structures based on the capabilities of soft X-ray and EUV scatterometry at the PTB soft X-ray beamline at the electron storage ring BESSY II. PTB's soft X-ray radiometry beamline uses a plane grating monochromator, which covers the spectral range from 0.7 nm to 25 nm and was especially designed to provide highly collimated radiation. An area detector covers the scattered radiation from a grazing exit angle up to an angle of 30° above the sample horizon and the fluorescence emission can be detected with an energy dispersive X-ray silicon drift detector. In addition, the sample can be rotated and linearly moved in vacuum. This new set-up will be used to explore the capabilities of EUV-scatterometry for the characterization of nanometre-sized structures.

Rupture Dynamics and Seismic Radiation on Rough Faults for Simulation-Based PSHA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mai, P. M.; Galis, M.; Thingbaijam, K. K. S.; Vyas, J. C.; Dunham, E. M.

2017-12-01

Simulation-based ground-motion predictions may augment PSHA studies in data-poor regions or provide additional shaking estimations, incl. seismic waveforms, for critical facilities. Validation and calibration of such simulation approaches, based on observations and GMPE's, is important for engineering applications, while seismologists push to include the precise physics of the earthquake rupture process and seismic wave propagation in 3D heterogeneous Earth. Geological faults comprise both large-scale segmentation and small-scale roughness that determine the dynamics of the earthquake rupture process and its radiated seismic wavefield. We investigate how different parameterizations of fractal fault roughness affect the rupture evolution and resulting near-fault ground motions. Rupture incoherence induced by fault roughness generates realistic ω-2 decay for high-frequency displacement amplitude spectra. Waveform characteristics and GMPE-based comparisons corroborate that these rough-fault rupture simulations generate realistic synthetic seismogram for subsequent engineering application. Since dynamic rupture simulations are computationally expensive, we develop kinematic approximations that emulate the observed dynamics. Simplifying the rough-fault geometry, we find that perturbations in local moment tensor orientation are important, while perturbations in local source location are not. Thus, a planar fault can be assumed if the local strike, dip, and rake are maintained. The dynamic rake angle variations are anti-correlated with local dip angles. Based on a dynamically consistent Yoffe source-time function, we show that the seismic wavefield of the approximated kinematic rupture well reproduces the seismic radiation of the full dynamic source process. Our findings provide an innovative pseudo-dynamic source characterization that captures fault roughness effects on rupture dynamics. Including the correlations between kinematic source parameters, we present a new pseudo-dynamic rupture modeling approach for computing broadband ground-motion time-histories for simulation-based PSHA

Effect of natural ageing on surface of silver loaded TPE and its influence in antimicrobial efficacy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tomacheski, Daiane; Pittol, Michele; Simões, Douglas Naue; Ribeiro, Vanda Ferreira; Santana, Ruth Marlene Campomanes

2017-05-01

The aim of this study is to characterize the modifications in silver loaded TPE surfaces exposed to weathering and their relation to susceptibility to microbial attack. Silver loaded TPE materials were exposed to natural ageing for nine months and modifications in antimicrobial properties and surface characteristics were evaluated. Chemical changes were investigated by using the infrared spectra. The average surface roughness and topography were determined by atomic force microscopy. Contact angle was measured to verify wettability conditions and surface free energy (SFE). After nine months of exposure, a decrease in the antimicrobial properties of loaded TPE compounds was observed. A reduction in surface roughness and improvement in wettability and high values of polar component of SFE were verified. The best antibacterial action was noticed in the sample with high Lewis acid force, lower roughness and lower carbonyl index.

Comparative histomorphometry and resonance frequency analysis of implants with moderately rough surfaces in a loaded animal model.

PubMed

Al-Nawas, B; Groetz, K A; Goetz, H; Duschner, H; Wagner, W

2008-01-01

Test of favourable conditions for osseointegration with respect to optimum bone-implant contact (BIC) in a loaded animal model. The varied parameters were surface roughness and surface topography of commercially available dental implants. Thirty-two implants of six types of macro and microstructure were included in the study (total 196). The different types were: minimally rough control: Branemark machined Mk III; oxidized surface: TiUnite MkIII and MkIV; ZL Ticer; blasted and etched surface: Straumann SLA; rough control: titanium plasma sprayed (TPS). Sixteen beagle dogs were implanted with the whole set of the above implants. After a healing period of 8 weeks, implants were loaded for 3 months. For the evaluation of the BIC areas, adequately sectioned biopsies were visualized by subsurface scans with confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The primary statistical analysis testing BIC of the moderately rough implants (mean 56.1+/-13.0%) vs. the minimally rough and the rough controls (mean 53.9+/-11.2%) does not reveal a significant difference (P=0.57). Mean values of 50-70% BIC were found for all implant types. Moderately rough oxidized implants show a median BIC, which is 8% higher than their minimally rough turned counterpart. The intraindividual difference between the TPS and the blasted and etched counterparts revealed no significant difference. The turned and the oxidized implants show median values of the resonance frequency [implant stability quotients (ISQ)] over 60; the nonself-tapping blasted and etched and TPS implants show median values below 60. In conclusion, the benefit of rough surfaces relative to minimally rough ones in this loaded animal model was confirmed histologically. The comparison of different surface treatment modalities revealed no significant differences between the modern moderately rough surfaces. Resonance frequency analysis seems to be influenced in a major part by the transducer used, thus prohibiting the comparison of different implant systems.

Performance of laser sintered Ti-6Al-4V implants with bone-inspired porosity and micro/nanoscale surface roughness in the rabbit femur

PubMed Central

Cohen, David J.; Cheng, Alice; Sahingur, Kaan; Clohessy, Ryan M.; Hopkins, Louis B.; Boyan, Barbara D.; Schwartz, Zvi

2018-01-01

Long term success of bone-interfacing implants remains a challenge in compromised patients and in areas of low bone quality. While surface roughness at the micro/nanoscale can promote osteogenesis, macro-scale porosity is important for promoting mechanical stability of the implant over time. Currently, machining techniques permit pores to be placed throughout the implant, but the pores are generally uniform in dimension. The advent of laser sintering provides a way to design and manufacture implants with specific porosity and variable dimensions at high resolution. This approach enables production of metal implants that mimic complex geometries found in biology. In this study, we used a rabbit femur model to compare osseointegration of laser sintered solid and porous implants. Ti-6Al-4V implants were laser sintered in a clinically relevant size and shape. One set of implants had a novel porosity based on human trabecular bone; both sets had grit-blasted/acid-etched surfaces. After characterization, implants were inserted transaxially into rabbit femora; mechanical testing, microCT and histomorphometry were conducted 10 weeks postoperatively. There were no differences in pull-out strength or bone-to-implant contact. However, both microCT and histomorphometry showed significantly higher new bone volume for porous compared to solid implants. Bone growth was observed into porous implant pores, especially near apical portions of the implant interfacing with cortical bone. These results show that laser sintered Ti-6Al-4V implants with micro/nanoscale surface roughness and trabecular bone-inspired porosity promote bone growth and may be used as a superior alternative to solid implants for bone-interfacing implants. PMID:28452335

Performance of laser sintered Ti-6Al-4V implants with bone-inspired porosity and micro/nanoscale surface roughness in the rabbit femur.

PubMed

Cohen, David J; Cheng, Alice; Sahingur, Kaan; Clohessy, Ryan M; Hopkins, Louis B; Boyan, Barbara D; Schwartz, Zvi

2017-04-28

Long term success of bone-interfacing implants remains a challenge in compromised patients and in areas of low bone quality. While surface roughness at the micro/nanoscale can promote osteogenesis, macro-scale porosity is important for promoting mechanical stability of the implant over time. Currently, machining techniques permit pores to be placed throughout the implant, but the pores are generally uniform in dimension. The advent of laser sintering provides a way to design and manufacture implants with specific porosity and variable dimensions at high resolution. This approach enables production of metal implants that mimic complex geometries found in biology. In this study, we used a rabbit femur model to compare osseointegration of laser sintered solid and porous implants. Ti-6Al-4V implants were laser sintered in a clinically relevant size and shape. One set of implants had a novel porosity based on human trabecular bone; both sets had grit-blasted/acid-etched surfaces. After characterization, implants were inserted transaxially into rabbit femora; mechanical testing, micro-computed tomography (microCT) and histomorphometry were conducted 10 weeks post-operatively. There were no differences in pull-out strength or bone-to-implant contact. However, both microCT and histomorphometry showed significantly higher new bone volume for porous compared to solid implants. Bone growth was observed into porous implant pores, especially near apical portions of the implant interfacing with cortical bone. These results show that laser sintered Ti-6Al-4V implants with micro/nanoscale surface roughness and trabecular bone-inspired porosity promote bone growth and may be used as a superior alternative to solid implants for bone-interfacing implants.

Evaluate methodology to determine localized roughness.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2016-03-01

The Texas Department of Transportation implements a smoothness specification based on inertial profile : measurements. This specification includes a localized roughness provision to locate defects on the final : surface based on measured surface prof...

Direct Numerical Simulation of Flow Over Passive Geometric Disturbances

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vizard, Alexander

It is well understood that delaying flow separation on a bluff body allows significant drag reduction, which is attractive in many applications. With this in mind, many separation control mechanisms, both active and passive, have been developed and tested to optimize the effects of this phenomenon. Although this idea is generally accepted, the physical occurrences in the near-wall region during transition that lead to separation delay are not well understood. The current study evaluates the impact of both spherical dimples, and sandgrain style roughness on downstream flow by performing direct numerical simulations over such geometries on a zero pressure gradient flat plate. It is shown that although dimples and random roughness of similar characteristic length scales exhibit similar boundary layer characteristics, dimples are more successful in developing high momentum in the vicinity of the wall. Additionally it is shown that increasing the relative size of the rough elements does not increase the near-wall momentum, and is undesirable in controlling separation. Finally, it is shown that the impact of roughness elements on the flow is more immediate, and that, for the case of one row of dimples and an equivalent area of roughness, the roughness patch is more successful in transitioning the near-wall region to a non-laminar state. It can be concluded from variation in the span of the flowfield for a single row of dimples that the size and orientation of the disturbance region is significant to the results.

Roughness Measurement of Dental Materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shulev, Assen; Roussev, Ilia; Karpuzov, Simeon; Stoilov, Georgi; Ignatova, Detelina; See, Constantin von; Mitov, Gergo

2016-06-01

This paper presents a roughness measurement of zirconia ceramics, widely used for dental applications. Surface roughness variations caused by the most commonly used dental instruments for intraoral grinding and polishing are estimated. The applied technique is simple and utilizes the speckle properties of the scattered laser light. It could be easily implemented even in dental clinic environment. The main criteria for roughness estimation is the average speckle size, which varies with the roughness of zirconia. The algorithm used for the speckle size estimation is based on the normalized autocorrelation approach.

Counterintuitive effects of substrate roughness on PDCs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Andrews, B. J.; Manga, M.

2012-12-01

We model dilute pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) using scaled, warm, particle-laden density currents in a 6 m long, 0.6 m wide, 1.8 m tall air-filled tank. In this set of experiments, we run currents over substrates with characteristic roughness scales, hr, ranging over ~3 orders of magnitude from smooth, through 250 μm sandpaper, 0.1-, 1-, 2-, 5-, and 10 cm hemispheres. As substrate roughness increases, runout distance increases until a critical roughness height, hrc, is reached; further increases in roughness height decrease runout. The critical roughness height appears to be 0.25-0.5 htb, the thickness of the turbulent lower layer of the density currents. The dependence of runout on hr is most likely the result of increases in substrate roughness decreasing the average current velocity and converting that energy into increased turbulence intensity. Small values of hr thus result in increased runout as sedimentation is inhibited by the increased turbulence intensity. At larger values of hr current behavior is controlled by much larger decreases in average current velocity, even though sedimentation decreases. Scaling our experiments up to the size of real volcanic eruptions suggests that landscapes must have characteristic roughness hr>10 m to reduce the runout of natural PDCs, smaller roughness scales can increase runout. Comparison of relevant bulk (Reynolds number, densimetric and thermal Richardson numbers, excess buoyant thermal energy density) and turbulent (Stokes and settling numbers) between our experiments and natural dilute PDCs indicates that we are accurately modeling at least the large scale behaviors and dynamics of dilute PDCs.

Comparison of geometric morphometric outline methods in the discrimination of age-related differences in feather shape

PubMed Central

Sheets, H David; Covino, Kristen M; Panasiewicz, Joanna M; Morris, Sara R

2006-01-01

Background Geometric morphometric methods of capturing information about curves or outlines of organismal structures may be used in conjunction with canonical variates analysis (CVA) to assign specimens to groups or populations based on their shapes. This methodological paper examines approaches to optimizing the classification of specimens based on their outlines. This study examines the performance of four approaches to the mathematical representation of outlines and two different approaches to curve measurement as applied to a collection of feather outlines. A new approach to the dimension reduction necessary to carry out a CVA on this type of outline data with modest sample sizes is also presented, and its performance is compared to two other approaches to dimension reduction. Results Two semi-landmark-based methods, bending energy alignment and perpendicular projection, are shown to produce roughly equal rates of classification, as do elliptical Fourier methods and the extended eigenshape method of outline measurement. Rates of classification were not highly dependent on the number of points used to represent a curve or the manner in which those points were acquired. The new approach to dimensionality reduction, which utilizes a variable number of principal component (PC) axes, produced higher cross-validation assignment rates than either the standard approach of using a fixed number of PC axes or a partial least squares method. Conclusion Classification of specimens based on feather shape was not highly dependent of the details of the method used to capture shape information. The choice of dimensionality reduction approach was more of a factor, and the cross validation rate of assignment may be optimized using the variable number of PC axes method presented herein. PMID:16978414

Optimizing surface characteristics for cell adhesion and proliferation on titanium plasma spray coatings on polyetheretherketone.

PubMed

Yoon, Byung Jo Victor; Xavier, Fred; Walker, Brendon R; Grinberg, Samuel; Cammisa, Frank P; Abjornson, Celeste

2016-10-01

Titanium plasma spray coating on polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is a recent innovation to interbody spacer technology. The inherent hydrophobic properties of standard, uncoated PEEK implants can hamper cell attachment and bone healing during fusion. The addition of titanium coating not only offers initial stability due to increased surface roughness but also long-term stability due to bony ongrowth created from osteoconductive microenvironment on the device surface. The previously established hydrophilic and osteophilic properties of commercially pure titanium (CPTi) can potentially provide an ideal environment promoting cell attachment and bony ongrowth when applied at the end plate level of the fusion site. Because the surface material composition and topography is what seems to directly affect cell adhesion, it is important to determine the ideal titanium coating for the highest effectiveness. The purpose of the study is to determine whether there is an optimal surface roughness for the titanium coatings and whether different polishing methods have a greater effect than roughness or topography in mediating cell adhesion to the surface. The study was divided into two phases. In Phase 1, the effects of varying surface roughnesses on identical polishing method were compared. In Phase 2, the effect of varying polishing methods was compared on identical surface roughnesses. Coating thickness, porosity, and surface roughness were characterized using an optical microscope as per ASTM F 1854 standards. For both phases, PEEK coupons with plasma-sprayed CPTi were used, and human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) at an initial density of 25,000 cells/cm 2 were seeded and cultured for 24 hours before fixation in 10% formalin. The cultured hMSCs were visualized by 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining, a fluorescent stain that binds to the DNA of living cells. Samples were imaged using an environmental scanning electron microscope (eSEM) (Carl Zeiss Microscopy, Thornwood, NY, USA) using a backscattered detector. Image analysis of the CPTi coatings showed uniform and rough surfaces. For Phase 1, roughness was evaluated as fine, medium, and coarse. The eSEM image analysis and cell counting by DAPI demonstrated that hMSCs have a tendency to form stronger adhesion and greater pseudopodia extensions on fine roughness surfaces. Individual hMSCs were seen forming cytoplasmic processes extending across the width of a pore. There was a 4- and 20-fold reduction in adhered hMSCs with an increase to medium and coarse roughnesses, respectively. For Phase 2, studied groups are (1) medium CPTi coating with zirconia polishing, (2) medium CPTi coating with CPTi polishing, and (3) fine CPTi coating with CPTi polishing. The eSEM image analysis and cell counting by DAPI demonstrated that hMSCs have a tendency to form stronger adhesion and greater pseudopodia extensions on Group 3 over the other two groups. There was a twofold reduction in adhered hMSCs on medium roughness relative to fine. No difference in cell adhesion was found between Groups 1 and 2. Individual hMSCs were seen forming cytoplasmic processes extending across the width of a pore. Previously, it was accepted without much scrutiny that surface coatings were beneficial. This study begins to discover that surface topography directly affects the potential for cells to adhere and proliferate and lead to greater surgical efficacy. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Experimental study of overland flow resistance coefficient model of grassland based on BP neural network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiao, Peng; Yang, Er; Ni, Yong Xin

2018-06-01

The overland flow resistance on grassland slope of 20° was studied by using simulated rainfall experiments. Model of overland flow resistance coefficient was established based on BP neural network. The input variations of model were rainfall intensity, flow velocity, water depth, and roughness of slope surface, and the output variations was overland flow resistance coefficient. Model was optimized by Genetic Algorithm. The results show that the model can be used to calculate overland flow resistance coefficient, and has high simulation accuracy. The average prediction error of the optimized model of test set is 8.02%, and the maximum prediction error was 18.34%.

Research on Group Decision-Making Mechanism of Internet Emergency Management

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xie, Kefan; Chen, Gang; Qian, Wu; Shi, Zhao

With the development of information technology, internet has become a popular term and internet emergency has an intensive influence on people's life. This article offers a short history of internet emergency management. It discusses the definition, characteristics, and factor of internet emergency management. A group decision-making mechanism of internet emergency is presented based on the discussion. The authors establish a so-called Rough Set Scenario Flow Graphs (RSSFG) of group decision-making mechanism of internet emergency management and make an empirical analysis based on the RSSFG approach. The experimental results confirm that this approach is effective in internet emergency decision-making.

Magnetorheological elastic super-smooth finishing for high-efficiency manufacturing of ultraviolet laser resistant optics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shi, Feng; Shu, Yong; Dai, Yifan; Peng, Xiaoqiang; Li, Shengyi

2013-07-01

Based on the elastic-plastic deformation theory, status between abrasives and workpiece in magnetorheological finishing (MRF) process and the feasibility of elastic polishing are analyzed. The relationship among material removal mechanism and particle force, removal efficiency, and surface topography are revealed through a set of experiments. The chemical dominant elastic super-smooth polishing can be fulfilled by changing the components of magnetorheological (MR) fluid and optimizing polishing parameters. The MR elastic super-smooth finishing technology can be applied in polishing high-power laser-irradiated components with high efficiency, high accuracy, low damage, and high laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT). A 430×430×10 mm fused silica (FS) optic window is polished and surface error is improved from 538.241 nm [peak to valley (PV)], 96.376 nm (rms) to 76.372 nm (PV), 8.295 nm (rms) after 51.6 h rough polishing, 42.6 h fine polishing, and 54.6 h super-smooth polishing. A 50×50×10 mm sample is polished with exactly the same parameters. The roughness is improved from 1.793 nm [roughness average (Ra)] to 0.167 nm (Ra) and LIDT is improved from 9.77 to 19.2 J/cm2 after MRF elastic polishing.

Mesoscale model response to random, surface-based perturbations — A sea-breeze experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Garratt, J. R.; Pielke, R. A.; Miller, W. F.; Lee, T. J.

1990-09-01

The introduction into a mesoscale model of random (in space) variations in roughness length, or random (in space and time) surface perturbations of temperature and friction velocity, produces a measurable, but barely significant, response in the simulated flow dynamics of the lower atmosphere. The perturbations are an attempt to include the effects of sub-grid variability into the ensemble-mean parameterization schemes used in many numerical models. Their magnitude is set in our experiments by appeal to real-world observations of the spatial variations in roughness length and daytime surface temperature over the land on horizontal scales of one to several tens of kilometers. With sea-breeze simulations, comparisons of a number of realizations forced by roughness-length and surface-temperature perturbations with the standard simulation reveal no significant change in ensemble mean statistics, and only small changes in the sea-breeze vertical velocity. Changes in the updraft velocity for individual runs, of up to several cms-1 (compared to a mean of 14 cms-1), are directly the result of prefrontal temperature changes of 0.1 to 0.2K, produced by the random surface forcing. The correlation and magnitude of the changes are entirely consistent with a gravity-current interpretation of the sea breeze.

Effects of setting under air pressure on the number of surface pores and irregularities of dental investment materials.

PubMed

Tourah, Anita; Moshaverinia, Alireza; Chee, Winston W

2014-02-01

Surface roughness and irregularities are important properties of dental investment materials that can affect the fit of a restoration. Whether setting under air pressure affects the surface irregularities of gypsum-bonded and phosphate-bonded investment materials is unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of air pressure on the pore size and surface irregularities of investment materials immediately after pouring. Three dental investments, 1 gypsum-bonded investment and 2 phosphate-bonded investments, were investigated. They were vacuum mixed according to the manufacturers' recommendations, then poured into a ringless casting system. The prepared specimens were divided into 2 groups: 1 bench setting and the other placed in a pressure pot at 172 kPa. After 45 minutes of setting, the rings were removed and the investments were cut at a right angle to the long axis with a diamond disk. The surfaces of the investments were steam cleaned, dried with an air spray, and observed with a stereomicroscope. A profilometer was used to evaluate the surface roughness (μm) of the castings. The number of surface pores was counted for 8 specimens from each group and the means and standard deviations were reported. Two-way ANOVA was used to compare the data. Specimens that set under atmospheric air pressure had a significantly higher number of pores than specimens that set under increased pressure (P<.05). No statistically significant differences for surface roughness were found (P=.078). Also, no significant difference was observed among the 3 different types of materials tested (P>.05). Specimens set under positive pressure in a pressure chamber presented fewer surface bubbles than specimens set under atmospheric pressure. Positive pressure is effective and, therefore, is recommended for both gypsum-bonded and phosphate-bonded investment materials. Copyright © 2014 Editorial Council for the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

Rough surface scattering based on facet model

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Khamsi, H. R.; Fung, A. K.; Ulaby, F. T.

1974-01-01

A model for the radar return from bare ground was developed to calculate the radar cross section of bare ground and the effect of the frequency averaging on the reduction of the variance of the return. It is shown that, by assuming that the distribution of the slope to be Gaussian and that the distribution of the length of the facet to be in the form of the positive side of a Gaussian distribution, the results are in good agreement with experimental data collected by an 8- to 18-GHz radar spectrometer system. It is also shown that information on the exact correlation length of the small structure on the ground is not necessary; an effective correlation length may be calculated based on the facet model and the wavelength of the incident wave.

Compacting de Bruijn graphs from sequencing data quickly and in low memory.

PubMed

Chikhi, Rayan; Limasset, Antoine; Medvedev, Paul

2016-06-15

As the quantity of data per sequencing experiment increases, the challenges of fragment assembly are becoming increasingly computational. The de Bruijn graph is a widely used data structure in fragment assembly algorithms, used to represent the information from a set of reads. Compaction is an important data reduction step in most de Bruijn graph based algorithms where long simple paths are compacted into single vertices. Compaction has recently become the bottleneck in assembly pipelines, and improving its running time and memory usage is an important problem. We present an algorithm and a tool bcalm 2 for the compaction of de Bruijn graphs. bcalm 2 is a parallel algorithm that distributes the input based on a minimizer hashing technique, allowing for good balance of memory usage throughout its execution. For human sequencing data, bcalm 2 reduces the computational burden of compacting the de Bruijn graph to roughly an hour and 3 GB of memory. We also applied bcalm 2 to the 22 Gbp loblolly pine and 20 Gbp white spruce sequencing datasets. Compacted graphs were constructed from raw reads in less than 2 days and 40 GB of memory on a single machine. Hence, bcalm 2 is at least an order of magnitude more efficient than other available methods. Source code of bcalm 2 is freely available at: https://github.com/GATB/bcalm rayan.chikhi@univ-lille1.fr. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press.

50 CFR 229.37 - False Killer Whale Take Reduction Plan.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... Hawaii Pelagic and Hawaii Insular stocks of false killer whales in the Hawaii-based deep-set and shallow... section have the following meanings: (1) Deep-set or Deep-setting has the same meaning as the definition... this title. (c) Gear requirements. (1) While deep-setting, the owner and operator of a vessel...

50 CFR 229.37 - False Killer Whale Take Reduction Plan.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... Hawaii Pelagic and Hawaii Insular stocks of false killer whales in the Hawaii-based deep-set and shallow... section have the following meanings: (1) Deep-set or Deep-setting has the same meaning as the definition... this title. (c) Gear requirements. (1) While deep-setting, the owner and operator of a vessel...

An Automated Road Roughness Detection from Mobile Laser Scanning Data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumar, P.; Angelats, E.

2017-05-01

Rough roads influence the safety of the road users as accident rate increases with increasing unevenness of the road surface. Road roughness regions are required to be efficiently detected and located in order to ensure their maintenance. Mobile Laser Scanning (MLS) systems provide a rapid and cost-effective alternative by providing accurate and dense point cloud data along route corridor. In this paper, an automated algorithm is presented for detecting road roughness from MLS data. The presented algorithm is based on interpolating smooth intensity raster surface from LiDAR point cloud data using point thinning process. The interpolated surface is further processed using morphological and multi-level Otsu thresholding operations to identify candidate road roughness regions. The candidate regions are finally filtered based on spatial density and standard deviation of elevation criteria to detect the roughness along the road surface. The test results of road roughness detection algorithm on two road sections are presented. The developed approach can be used to provide comprehensive information to road authorities in order to schedule maintenance and ensure maximum safety conditions for road users.

Radiative transfer simulations of the two-dimensional ocean glint reflectance and determination of the sea surface roughness.

PubMed

Lin, Zhenyi; Li, Wei; Gatebe, Charles; Poudyal, Rajesh; Stamnes, Knut

2016-02-20

An optimized discrete-ordinate radiative transfer model (DISORT3) with a pseudo-two-dimensional bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) is used to simulate and validate ocean glint reflectances at an infrared wavelength (1036 nm) by matching model results with a complete set of BRDF measurements obtained from the NASA cloud absorption radiometer (CAR) deployed on an aircraft. The surface roughness is then obtained through a retrieval algorithm and is used to extend the simulation into the visible spectral range where diffuse reflectance becomes important. In general, the simulated reflectances and surface roughness information are in good agreement with the measurements, and the diffuse reflectance in the visible, ignored in current glint algorithms, is shown to be important. The successful implementation of this new treatment of ocean glint reflectance and surface roughness in DISORT3 will help improve glint correction algorithms in current and future ocean color remote sensing applications.

Radiative Transfer Simulations of the Two-Dimensional Ocean Glint Reflectance and Determination of the Sea Surface Roughness

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lin, Zhenyi; Li, Wei; Gatebe, Charles; Poudyal, Rajesh; Stamnes, Knut

2016-01-01

An optimized discrete-ordinate radiative transfer model (DISORT3) with a pseudo-two-dimensional bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) is used to simulate and validate ocean glint reflectances at an infrared wavelength (1036 nm) by matching model results with a complete set of BRDF measurements obtained from the NASA cloud absorption radiometer (CAR) deployed on an aircraft. The surface roughness is then obtained through a retrieval algorithm and is used to extend the simulation into the visible spectral range where diffuse reflectance becomes important. In general, the simulated reflectances and surface roughness information are in good agreement with the measurements, and the diffuse reflectance in the visible, ignored in current glint algorithms, is shown to be important. The successful implementation of this new treatment of ocean glint reflectance and surface roughness in DISORT3 will help improve glint correction algorithms in current and future ocean color remote sensing applications.

Quantitative three-dimensional ice roughness from scanning electron microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Butterfield, Nicholas; Rowe, Penny M.; Stewart, Emily; Roesel, David; Neshyba, Steven

2017-03-01

We present a method for inferring surface morphology of ice from scanning electron microscope images. We first develop a novel functional form for the backscattered electron intensity as a function of ice facet orientation; this form is parameterized using smooth ice facets of known orientation. Three-dimensional representations of rough surfaces are retrieved at approximately micrometer resolution using Gauss-Newton inversion within a Bayesian framework. Statistical analysis of the resulting data sets permits characterization of ice surface roughness with a much higher statistical confidence than previously possible. A survey of results in the range -39°C to -29°C shows that characteristics of the roughness (e.g., Weibull parameters) are sensitive not only to the degree of roughening but also to the symmetry of the roughening. These results suggest that roughening characteristics obtained by remote sensing and in situ measurements of atmospheric ice clouds can potentially provide more facet-specific information than has previously been appreciated.

Cleaning of optical surfaces by capacitively coupled RF discharge plasma

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

Yadav, P. K., E-mail: praveenyadav@rrcat.gov.in; Rai, S. K.; Nayak, M.

2014-04-24

In this paper, we report cleaning of carbon capped molybdenum (Mo) thin film by in-house developed radio frequency (RF) plasma reactor, at different powers and exposure time. Carbon capped Mo films were exposed to oxygen plasma for different durations at three different power settings, at a constant pressure. After each exposure, the thickness of the carbon layer and the roughness of the film were determined by hard x-ray reflectivity measurements. It was observed that most of the carbon film got removed in first 15 minutes exposure. A high density layer formed on top of the Mo film was also observedmore » and it was noted that this layer cannot be removed by successive exposures at different powers. A significant improvement in interface roughness with a slight improvement in top film roughness was observed. The surface roughness of the exposed and unexposed samples was also confirmed by atomic force microscopy measurements.« less

Could Crop Height Affect the Wind Resource at Agriculturally Productive Wind Farm Sites?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vanderwende, Brian; Lundquist, Julie K.

2016-03-01

The collocation of cropland and wind turbines in the US Midwest region introduces complex meteorological interactions that could influence both agriculture and wind-power production. Crop management practices may affect the wind resource through alterations of land-surface properties. We use the weather research and forecasting (WRF) model to estimate the impact of crop height variations on the wind resource in the presence of a large turbine array. A hypothetical wind farm consisting of 121 1.8-MW turbines is represented using the WRF model wind-farm parametrization. We represent the impact of selecting soybeans rather than maize by altering the aerodynamic roughness length in a region approximately 65 times larger than that occupied by the turbine array. Roughness lengths of 0.1 and 0.25 m represent the mature soy crop and a mature maize crop, respectively. In all but the most stable atmospheric conditions, statistically significant hub-height wind-speed increases and rotor-layer wind-shear reductions result from switching from maize to soybeans. Based on simulations for the entire month of August 2013, wind-farm energy output increases by 14 %, which would yield a significant monetary gain. Further investigation is required to determine the optimal size, shape, and crop height of the roughness modification to maximize the economic benefit and minimize the cost of such crop-management practices. These considerations must be balanced by other influences on crop choice such as soil requirements and commodity prices.

Could crop height affect the wind resource at agriculturally productive wind farm sites?

DOE PAGES

Vanderwende, Brian; Lundquist, Julie K.

2015-11-07

The collocation of cropland and wind turbines in the US Midwest region introduces complex meteorological interactions that could influence both agriculture and wind-power production. Crop management practices may affect the wind resource through alterations of land-surface properties. We use the weather research and forecasting (WRF) model to estimate the impact of crop height variations on the wind resource in the presence of a large turbine array. A hypothetical wind farm consisting of 121 1.8-MW turbines is represented using the WRF model wind-farm parametrization. We represent the impact of selecting soybeans rather than maize by altering the aerodynamic roughness length inmore » a region approximately 65 times larger than that occupied by the turbine array. Roughness lengths of 0.1 and 0.25 m represent the mature soy crop and a mature maize crop, respectively. In all but the most stable atmospheric conditions, statistically significant hub-height wind-speed increases and rotor-layer wind-shear reductions result from switching from maize to soybeans. Based on simulations for the entire month of August 2013, wind-farm energy output increases by 14 %, which would yield a significant monetary gain. Further investigation is required to determine the optimal size, shape, and crop height of the roughness modification to maximize the economic benefit and minimize the cost of such crop-management practices. As a result, these considerations must be balanced by other influences on crop choice such as soil requirements and commodity prices.« less

Could crop height affect the wind resource at agriculturally productive wind farm sites?

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

Vanderwende, Brian; Lundquist, Julie K.

The collocation of cropland and wind turbines in the US Midwest region introduces complex meteorological interactions that could influence both agriculture and wind-power production. Crop management practices may affect the wind resource through alterations of land-surface properties. We use the weather research and forecasting (WRF) model to estimate the impact of crop height variations on the wind resource in the presence of a large turbine array. A hypothetical wind farm consisting of 121 1.8-MW turbines is represented using the WRF model wind-farm parametrization. We represent the impact of selecting soybeans rather than maize by altering the aerodynamic roughness length inmore » a region approximately 65 times larger than that occupied by the turbine array. Roughness lengths of 0.1 and 0.25 m represent the mature soy crop and a mature maize crop, respectively. In all but the most stable atmospheric conditions, statistically significant hub-height wind-speed increases and rotor-layer wind-shear reductions result from switching from maize to soybeans. Based on simulations for the entire month of August 2013, wind-farm energy output increases by 14 %, which would yield a significant monetary gain. Further investigation is required to determine the optimal size, shape, and crop height of the roughness modification to maximize the economic benefit and minimize the cost of such crop-management practices. As a result, these considerations must be balanced by other influences on crop choice such as soil requirements and commodity prices.« less

Effects of rare earth oxide additive on surface and tribological properties of polyimide composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pan, Zihe; Wang, Tianchang; Chen, Li; Idziak, Stefan; Huang, Zhaohui; Zhao, Boxin

2017-09-01

Rare earth oxide La2O3 microparticles-reinforced polyimide (PI) composites (La-PI-Cs) were fabricated, aiming to improve the tribological property of PI. Surface roughness, surface composition, bulk structure, friction force (Ff) and coefficient of friction (COF) at macro/micro preload, and anti-wear performances of La-PI-Cs were studied and compared with neat PI. With La2O3 microparticles, La-PI-Cs showed larger surface roughness, lower surface energy, and higher hydrophobicity than neat PI, and displayed beneficial layered structure different from the compact structure of PI. Owing to these advantages, La-PI-Cs were found to show a 70% reduction in Ff and COF, and a 30% reduction in wear rate, indicating significantly lowered friction and enhanced anti-wear properties after adding La2O3 microparticles. Our research findings demonstrated an easy and low cost method to fabricate polymer composites with low friction and high wear resistance, and help meet the demanding of polymer composites with high tribological performances in broaden applications.

Effect of polymerization technique and glass fiber addition on the surface roughness and hardness of PMMA denture base material.

PubMed

Gad, Mohammed M; Rahoma, Ahmed; Al-Thobity, Ahmad M

2018-06-20

The current study evaluated the effects of autoclave polymerization both with and without glass fiber (GF) reinforcement on the surface roughness and hardness of acrylic denture base material. Ninety disc specimens (30×2.5 mm) were prepared from Vertex resin and divided according to polymerization techniques into a water bath, short and long autoclave polymerization groups. Tested groups were divided into three subgroups according to the GF concentration (0, 2.5, and 5 wt%). Profilometer and Vickers hardness tests were performed to measure surface roughness and hardness. ANOVA and Tukey-Kramer multiple comparison tests analyzed the results, and p≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. Autoclave polymerization significantly decreased the surface roughness and increased the hardness of acrylic resin without GF reinforcement (p<0.05). However, 5 wt% GF addition significantly increased surface roughness and decreased hardness of the autoclave polymerized denture base resin (p<0.05). Surface properties of Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) denture base material improved with autoclave polymerization and negatively affected with GFs addition.

Multiple-Primitives Hierarchical Classification of Airborne Laser Scanning Data in Urban Areas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ni, H.; Lin, X. G.; Zhang, J. X.

2017-09-01

A hierarchical classification method for Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS) data of urban areas is proposed in this paper. This method is composed of three stages among which three types of primitives are utilized, i.e., smooth surface, rough surface, and individual point. In the first stage, the input ALS data is divided into smooth surfaces and rough surfaces by employing a step-wise point cloud segmentation method. In the second stage, classification based on smooth surfaces and rough surfaces is performed. Points in the smooth surfaces are first classified into ground and buildings based on semantic rules. Next, features of rough surfaces are extracted. Then, points in rough surfaces are classified into vegetation and vehicles based on the derived features and Random Forests (RF). In the third stage, point-based features are extracted for the ground points, and then, an individual point classification procedure is performed to classify the ground points into bare land, artificial ground and greenbelt. Moreover, the shortages of the existing studies are analyzed, and experiments show that the proposed method overcomes these shortages and handles more types of objects.

Ice Sheet Roughness Estimation Based on Impulse Responses Acquired in the Global Ice Sheet Mapping Orbiter Mission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Niamsuwan, N.; Johnson, J. T.; Jezek, K. C.; Gogineni, P.

2008-12-01

The Global Ice Sheet Mapping Orbiter (GISMO) mission was developed to address scientific needs to understand the polar ice subsurface structure. This NASA Instrument Incubator Program project is a collaboration between Ohio State University, the University of Kansas, Vexcel Corporation and NASA. The GISMO design utilizes an interferometric SAR (InSAR) strategy in which ice sheet reflected signals received by a dual-antenna system are used to produce an interference pattern. The resulting interferogram can be used to filter out surface clutter so as to reveal the signals scattered from the base of the ice sheet. These signals are further processed to produce 3D-images representing basal topography of the ice sheet. In the past three years, the GISMO airborne field campaigns that have been conducted provide a set of useful data for studying geophysical properties of the Greenland ice sheet. While topography information can be obtained using interferometric SAR processing techniques, ice sheet roughness statistics can also be derived by a relatively simple procedure that involves analyzing power levels and the shape of the radar impulse response waveforms. An electromagnetic scattering model describing GISMO impulse responses has previously been proposed and validated. This model suggested that rms-heights and correlation lengths of the upper surface profile can be determined from the peak power and the decay rate of the pulse return waveform, respectively. This presentation will demonstrate a procedure for estimating the roughness of ice surfaces by fitting the GISMO impulse response model to retrieved waveforms from selected GISMO flights. Furthermore, an extension of this procedure to estimate the scattering coefficient of the glacier bed will be addressed as well. Planned future applications involving the classification of glacier bed conditions based on the derived scattering coefficients will also be described.

Performance of Color Camera Machine Vision in Automated Furniture Rough Mill Systems

Treesearch

D. Earl Kline; Agus Widoyoko; Janice K. Wiedenbeck; Philip A. Araman

1998-01-01

The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of color camera machine vision for lumber processing in a furniture rough mill. The study used 134 red oak boards to compare the performance of automated gang-rip-first rough mill yield based on a prototype color camera lumber inspection system developed at Virginia Tech with both estimated optimum rough mill...

Combined radar-radiometer surface soil moisture and roughness estimation

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

A robust physics-based combined radar-radiometer, or Active-Passive, surface soil moisture and roughness estimation methodology is presented. Soil moisture and roughness retrieval is performed via optimization, i.e., minimization, of a joint objective function which constrains similar resolution rad...

"Does college alcohol consumption impact employment upon graduation? Findings from a prospective study": Correction to Bamberger et al. (2017).

PubMed

2018-01-01

Reports an error in "Does College Alcohol Consumption Impact Employment Upon Graduation? Findings From a Prospective Study" by Peter A. Bamberger, Jaclyn Koopmann, Mo Wang, Mary Larimer, Inbal Nahum-Shani, Irene Geisner and Samuel B. Bacharach ( Journal of Applied Psychology , Advanced Online Publication, Aug 24, 2017, np). In the article, the authors incorrectly used the term "probability" instead of the term "odds" when relating to the impact of drinking in college on post-graduation employment. The abstract should note "a roughly 10% reduction in the odds...", and in the 2nd paragraph of the Discussion section, (a) "a roughly 10% lower probability" should be "a roughly 10% lower odds", and (b) "their probability of full-time employment upon graduation is roughly 6% lower than..." should be "their odds of full-time employment upon graduation is roughly 6% lower than..." All versions of this article have been corrected. (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 2017-36105-001.) Although scholars have extensively studied the impact of academic and vocational factors on college students' employment upon graduation, we still know little as to how students' health-related behaviors influence such outcomes. Focusing on student alcohol use as a widely prevalent, health-related behavior, in the current study, we examined the employment implications of student drinking behavior. Drawing from literature examining the productivity effects of drinking and research on job search, we posited that modal quantity and frequency of alcohol consumption, as well as the frequency of heavy episodic drinking (HED) adversely impact the probability of employment upon graduation. Using data from 827 graduating seniors from 4 geographically diverse universities in the United States collected in the context of a prospective study design, we found modal alcohol consumption to have no adverse effect on the likelihood of employment upon graduation. However, we did find a significant adverse effect for the frequency of heavy drinking, with the data suggesting a roughly 10% reduction in the odds of employment upon graduation among college seniors who reported engaging in the average level of HED. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

A study of the interactions between glass-ionomer cement and S. sanguis biofilms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hengtrakool, Chanotai

Glass-ionomer cements (GIC) have been used for dental procedures for many years and more recently in other medical applications such as bone cements, for bone reconstruction and also as drug release agents. The postulated caries-preventive activities of GIC are thought to result from their sealing ability, remineralization potential and antibacterial effects. Extensive 'in vitro' investigations have attempted to quantify these effects. In this study, an artificial mouth model, simulating 'in vivo' conditions at the tooth surface, was used to achieve a better understanding of the interaction of oral bacteria with the cements. This study investigated the interaction of Streptococcus sanguis, a common mouth commensal, with two glass-ionomer formulations (one containing fluoride and the other without fluoride ion) with particular reference to bacterial growth, changes in surface roughness and hardness of the glass-ionomer cement with respect to time. Restorative materials with rough surfaces will promote bacterial accumulation 'in vivo' and plaque formation is one factor in surface degradation. The constant depth film fermenter (CDFF) permits the examination of these phenomena and was used to investigate glass-ionomer/S. sanguis biofilm interaction over periods up to 14 days. In conjunction with these studies, surface roughness was measured using a 3-dimension laser profilometer and the surface hardness evaluated using a micro-indenter. Fluoride release from the cement was measured over 84 days. The results showed that autoclaving the CDFF prior to bacterial innoculate did not appear to affect the long-term fluoride release of the GIC. Laser profilometry revealed that the initial roughness and surface area of the GICs was significantly greater than the hydroxyapatite control. S. sanguis viable counts were significantly reduced for both glass-ionomer formulations in the shortterm, the greater reduction being with fluoride-GIC. S. sanguis biofilms produced similar hardness reduction on the surface of GIC:A to those observed with lactic acid pH 5 and artificial saliva whereas the effect on GIC:B was equivalent to that of lactic acid pH between 4 and 5. GICs showed changes in surface roughness after removal the biofilms. This indicates that while S. sanguis biofilm is affected by the GIC, there is also an increase in roughness of the cement indicating some degradation.

Measurement of surface roughness changes of unpolished and polished enamel following erosion

PubMed Central

Austin, Rupert S.; Parkinson, Charles R.; Hasan, Adam; Bartlett, David W.

2017-01-01

Objectives To determine if Sa roughness data from measuring one central location of unpolished and polished enamel were representative of the overall surfaces before and after erosion. Methods Twenty human enamel sections (4x4 mm) were embedded in bis-acryl composite and randomised to either a native or polishing enamel preparation protocol. Enamel samples were subjected to an acid challenge (15 minutes 100 mL orange juice, pH 3.2, titratable acidity 41.3mmol OH/L, 62.5 rpm agitation, repeated for three cycles). Median (IQR) surface roughness [Sa] was measured at baseline and after erosion from both a centralised cluster and four peripheral clusters. Within each cluster, five smaller areas (0.04 mm2) provided the Sa roughness data. Results For both unpolished and polished enamel samples there were no significant differences between measuring one central cluster or four peripheral clusters, before and after erosion. For unpolished enamel the single central cluster had a median (IQR) Sa roughness of 1.45 (2.58) μm and the four peripheral clusters had a median (IQR) of 1.32 (4.86) μm before erosion; after erosion there were statistically significant reductions to 0.38 (0.35) μm and 0.34 (0.49) μm respectively (p<0.0001). Polished enamel had a median (IQR) Sa roughness 0.04 (0.17) μm for the single central cluster and 0.05 (0.15) μm for the four peripheral clusters which statistically significantly increased after erosion to 0.27 (0.08) μm for both (p<0.0001). Conclusion Measuring one central cluster of unpolished and polished enamel was representative of the overall enamel surface roughness, before and after erosion. PMID:28771562

Data mining in soft computing framework: a survey.

PubMed

Mitra, S; Pal, S K; Mitra, P

2002-01-01

The present article provides a survey of the available literature on data mining using soft computing. A categorization has been provided based on the different soft computing tools and their hybridizations used, the data mining function implemented, and the preference criterion selected by the model. The utility of the different soft computing methodologies is highlighted. Generally fuzzy sets are suitable for handling the issues related to understandability of patterns, incomplete/noisy data, mixed media information and human interaction, and can provide approximate solutions faster. Neural networks are nonparametric, robust, and exhibit good learning and generalization capabilities in data-rich environments. Genetic algorithms provide efficient search algorithms to select a model, from mixed media data, based on some preference criterion/objective function. Rough sets are suitable for handling different types of uncertainty in data. Some challenges to data mining and the application of soft computing methodologies are indicated. An extensive bibliography is also included.

Rugometric and microtopographic inspection of teeth enamel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Costa, Manuel F.; Pereira, Pedro B.

2013-06-01

The roughness of teeth' enamel is an important parameter in orthodontics. One example is the application in the process of decreasing tooth-size by reducing the interproximal enamel surfaces (stripping) of teeth. In order to achieve smooth surfaces clinicians have been testing various methods and progressively improved this therapeutic technique. The evaluation the surface roughness following teeth interproximal reduction is fundamental in the process. In general tooth' surface is not flat presenting a variety of complex geometries. In this communication we will report on the metrological procedure employed on the rugometric and microtopographic inspection by optical active triangulation of raw and processed (interproximal stripping) tooth surfaces.

Shuttle orbiter boundary layer transition at flight and wind tunnel conditions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Goodrich, W. D.; Derry, S. M.; Bertin, J. J.

1983-01-01

Hypersonic boundary layer transition data obtained on the windward centerline of the Shuttle orbiter during entry for the first five flights are presented and analyzed. Because the orbiter surface is composed of a large number of thermal protection tiles, the transition data include the effects of distributed roughness arising from tile misalignment and gaps. These data are used as a benchmark for assessing and improving the accuracy of boundary layer transition predictions based on correlations of wind tunnel data taken on both aerodynamically rough and smooth orbiter surfaces. By comparing these two data bases, the relative importance of tunnel free stream noise and surface roughness on orbiter boundary layer transition correlation parameters can be assessed. This assessment indicates that accurate predications of transition times can be made for the orbiter at hypersonic flight conditions by using roughness dominated wind tunnel data. Specifically, times of transition onset and completion is accurately predicted using a correlation based on critical and effective values of a roughness Reynolds number previously derived from wind tunnel data.

The effect of polar end of long-chain fluorocarbon oligomers in promoting the superamphiphobic property over multi-scale rough Al alloy surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saifaldeen, Zubayda S.; Khedir, Khedir R.; Camci, Merve T.; Ucar, Ahmet; Suzer, Sefik; Karabacak, Tansel

2016-08-01

Rough structures with re-entrant property and their subsequent surface energy reduction with long-chain fluorocarbon oligomers are both critical in developing superamphiphobic (SAP, i.e. both super hydrophobic and superoleophobic) surfaces. However, morphology of the low-surface energy layer on a rough re-entrant substrate can strongly depend on the fluorocarbon oligomers used. In this study, the effect of polar end of different kinds of long-chain fluorocarbon oligomers in promoting a self-assembled monolayer with close packed molecules and robust adhesion on multi-scale rough Al alloy surfaces was investigated. Hierarchical Al alloy surfaces with microgrooves and nanograss structures were developed by a simple combination of one-directional mechanical sanding and post treatment in boiling de-ionized water (DIW). Three types of long-chain fluorocarbon oligomers of 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane (PFDTS), 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorodecyltrichlorosilane (PFDCS), and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) were chemically vaporized onto these rough Al alloy surfaces. The PFDCS exhibited the lowest surface free energy of less than 10 mN/m. The contact angle and sliding angle measurements for water, ethylene glycol, and peanut oil verified the SAP property of hierarchical rough Al alloy surfaces treated with alkylsilane oligomers (PFDTS, PFDCS). However, the hierarchical surfaces treated with fluorocarbon oligomer with polar acidic tail (PFOA) showed highly amphiphobic properties but could not reach the threshold for SAP. Chemical stability of the hierarchical Al alloy surfaces treated with the fluorocarbon oligomers was tested under the harsh conditions of ultra-sonication in acetone and annealing at high temperature after different treatment times. Contact angle measurements revealed the robustness of the alkylsilane oligomers and deterioration of the PFOA coating particularly for low surface tension liquids. The robust adhesion and close-packing of the alkylsilane molecules as well as their vertical orientation with exposure of more CF3 groups instead of CF2 groups due to the polar silane-based tail are believed to be the main reasons behind their improved chemical stability. The selection of fluorocarbon oligomer with proper polar tail which can promote a self-assembled monolayer with close-packed molecules could make it possible for utilizing shorter fluorocarbon oligomers, which is environmentally favorable, to develop high surface energy materials with SAP properties.

Variation in bed level shear stress on surfaces sheltered by nonerodible roughness elements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sutton, Stephen L. F.; McKenna-Neuman, Cheryl

2008-09-01

Direct bed level observations of surface shear stress, pressure gradient variability, turbulence intensity, and fluid flow patterns were carried out in the vicinity of cylindrical roughness elements mounted in a boundary layer wind tunnel. Paired corkscrew vortices shed from each of the elements result in elevated shear stress and increased potential for the initiation of particle transport within the far wake. While the size and shape of these trailing vortices change with the element spacing, they persist even for large roughness densities. Wake interference coincides with the impingement of the upwind horseshoe vortices upon one another at a point when their diameter approaches half the distance between the roughness elements. While the erosive capability of the horseshoe vortex has been suggested for a variety of settings, the present study shows that the fluid stress immediately beneath this coherent structure is actually small in comparison to that caused by compression of the incident flow as it is deflected around the element and attached vortex. Observations such as these are required for further refinement of models of stress partitioning on rough surfaces.

Forward and inverse models of electromagnetic scattering from layered media with rough interfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tabatabaeenejad, Seyed Alireza

This work addresses the problem of electromagnetic scattering from layered dielectric structures with rough boundaries and the associated inverse problem of retrieving the subsurface parameters of the structure using the scattered field. To this end, a forward scattering model based on the Small Perturbation Method (SPM) is developed to calculate the first-order spectral-domain bistatic scattering coefficients of a two-layer rough surface structure. SPM requires the boundaries to be slightly rough compared to the wavelength, but to understand the range of applicability of this method in scattering from two-layer rough surfaces, its region of validity is investigated by comparing its output with that of a first principle solver that does not impose roughness restrictions. The Method of Moments (MoM) is used for this purpose. Finally, for retrieval of the model parameters of the layered structure using scattered field, an inversion scheme based on the Simulated Annealing method is investigated and a strategy is proposed to address convergence to local minimum.

Nanocomposite films

DOEpatents

Mitlin, David; , Ophus, Colin; Evoy, Stephane; Radmilovic, Velimir; Mohammadi, Reza; Westra, Ken; Nelson-Fitzpatrick, Nathaniel; Lee, Zonghoon

2010-07-20

A thin-film composition of nanocrystal molybdenum in an amorphous metallic matrix may be formed by co-sputtering Mo with aluminum or nickel. NEMS cantilevers may be formed from the film. The films exhibit high nanoindentation hardness and a reduction in roughness and intrinsic stress, while maintaining resistivity in the metallic range.

A Low-Speed Experimental Investigation of the Effect of a Sandpaper Type of Roughness on Boundary-Layer Transition

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Von Doenhoff, Albert E; Horton, Elmer A

1958-01-01

An investigation was made in the Langley low-turbulence pressure tunnel to determine the effect of size and location of a sandpaper type of roughness on the Reynolds number for transition. Transition was observed by means of a hot-wire anemometer located at various chordwise stations for each position of the roughness. These observations indicated that when the roughness is sufficiently submerged in the boundary layer to provide a substantially linear variation of boundary-layer velocity with distance from the surface up to the top of the roughness, turbulent "spots" begin to appear immediately behind the roughness when the Reynolds number based on the velocity at the top of the roughness height exceeds a value of approximately 600. At Reynolds numbers even slightly below the critical value (value for transition), the sandpaper type of roughness introduced no measurable disturbances into the laminar layer downstream of the roughness. The extent of the roughness area does not appear to have an important effect on the critical value of the roughness Reynolds number.

Examination of Routine Practice Patterns in the Hospital Information Data Warehouse: Use of OLAP and Rough Set Analysis with Clinician Feedback

PubMed Central

Grant, Andrew; Grant, Gwyneth; Gagné, Jean; Blanchette, Carl; Comeau, Émilie; Brodeur, Guillaume; Dionne, Jonathon; Ayite, Alphonse; Synak, Piotr; Wroblewski, Jakub; Apanowitz, Cas

2001-01-01

The patient centred electronic patient record enables retrospective analysis of practice patterns as one means to assist clinicians adjust and improve their practice. An interrogation of the data-warehouse linking test use to Diagnostic Related Group (DRG) of one years data of the Sherbrooke University Hospital showed that one-third of patients used two-thirds of these diagnostic tests. Using RoughSets analysis, zones of repeated tests were demonstrated where results remained within stable limits. It was concluded that 30% of fluid and electrolyte testing was probably unnecessary. These findings led to an endorsement of changing the test request formats in the hospital information system from profiles to individual tests requiring justification.

Comparison of selected approaches for urban roughness determination based on voronoi cells.

PubMed

Ketterer, Christine; Gangwisch, Marcel; Fröhlich, Dominik; Matzarakis, Andreas

2017-01-01

Wind speed is reduced above urban areas due to their high aerodynamic roughness. This not only holds for above the urban canopy. The local vertical wind profile is modified. Aerodynamic roughness (both roughness length and displacement height) therefore is relevant for many fields within human biometeorology, e.g. for the identification of ventilation paths, the concentration and dispersion of air pollutants at street level or to simulate wind speed and direction in urban environments and everything depending on them. Roughness, thus, also shows strong influence on human thermal comfort. Currently, roughness parameters are mostly estimated using classifications. However, such classifications only provide limited assessment of roughness in urban areas. In order to calculate spatially resolved roughness on the micro-scale, three different approaches were implemented in the SkyHelios model. For all of them, the urban area is divided into reference areas for each of the obstacles using a voronoi diagram. The three approaches are based on building and [+one of them also on] vegetation (trees and forests) data. They were compared for the city of Stuttgart, Germany. Results show that the approach after Bottema and Mestayer (J Wind Eng Ind Aerodyn 74-76:163-173 1998) on the spatial basis of a voronoi diagram provides the most plausible results.

Novel MRF fluid for ultra-low roughness optical surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dumas, Paul; McFee, Charles

2014-08-01

Over the past few years there have been an increasing number of applications calling for ultra-low roughness (ULR) surfaces. A critical demand has been driven by EUV optics, EUV photomasks, X-Ray, and high energy laser applications. Achieving ULR results on complex shapes like aspheres and X-Ray mirrors is extremely challenging with conventional polishing techniques. To achieve both tight figure and roughness specifications, substrates typically undergo iterative global and local polishing processes. Typically the local polishing process corrects the figure or flatness but cannot achieve the required surface roughness, whereas the global polishing process produces the required roughness but degrades the figure. Magnetorheological Finishing (MRF) is a local polishing technique based on a magnetically-sensitive fluid that removes material through a shearing mechanism with minimal normal load, thus removing sub-surface damage. The lowest surface roughness produced by current MRF is close to 3 Å RMS. A new ULR MR fluid uses a nano-based cerium as the abrasive in a proprietary aqueous solution, the combination of which reliably produces under 1.5Å RMS roughness on Fused Silica as measured by atomic force microscopy. In addition to the highly convergent figure correction achieved with MRF, we show results of our novel MR fluid achieving <1.5Å RMS roughness on fused silica and other materials.

Investigation of the influence of a step change in surface roughness on turbulent heat transfer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Taylor, Robert P.; Coleman, Hugh W.; Taylor, J. Keith; Hosni, M. H.

1991-01-01

The use is studied of smooth heat flux gages on the otherwise very rough SSME fuel pump turbine blades. To gain insights into behavior of such installations, fluid mechanics and heat transfer data were collected and are reported for a turbulent boundary layer over a surface with a step change from a rough surface to a smooth surface. The first 0.9 m length of the flat plate test surface was roughened with 1.27 mm hemispheres in a staggered, uniform array spaced 2 base diameters apart. The remaining 1.5 m length was smooth. The effect of the alignment of the smooth surface with respect to the rough surface was also studied by conducting experiments with the smooth surface aligned with the bases or alternatively with the crests of the roughness elements. Stanton number distributions, skin friction distributions, and boundary layer profiles of temperature and velocity are reported and are compared to previous data for both all rough and all smooth wall cases. The experiments show that the step change from rough to smooth has a dramatic effect on the convective heat transfer. It is concluded that use of smooth heat flux gages on otherwise rough surfaces could cause large errors.

Research on the Rapid and Accurate Positioning and Orientation Approach for Land Missile-Launching Vehicle

PubMed Central

Li, Kui; Wang, Lei; Lv, Yanhong; Gao, Pengyu; Song, Tianxiao

2015-01-01

Getting a land vehicle’s accurate position, azimuth and attitude rapidly is significant for vehicle based weapons’ combat effectiveness. In this paper, a new approach to acquire vehicle’s accurate position and orientation is proposed. It uses biaxial optical detection platform (BODP) to aim at and lock in no less than three pre-set cooperative targets, whose accurate positions are measured beforehand. Then, it calculates the vehicle’s accurate position, azimuth and attitudes by the rough position and orientation provided by vehicle based navigation systems and no less than three couples of azimuth and pitch angles measured by BODP. The proposed approach does not depend on Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), thus it is autonomous and difficult to interfere. Meanwhile, it only needs a rough position and orientation as algorithm’s iterative initial value, consequently, it does not have high performance requirement for Inertial Navigation System (INS), odometer and other vehicle based navigation systems, even in high precise applications. This paper described the system’s working procedure, presented theoretical deviation of the algorithm, and then verified its effectiveness through simulation and vehicle experiments. The simulation and experimental results indicate that the proposed approach can achieve positioning and orientation accuracy of 0.2 m and 20″ respectively in less than 3 min. PMID:26492249

Research on the rapid and accurate positioning and orientation approach for land missile-launching vehicle.

PubMed

Li, Kui; Wang, Lei; Lv, Yanhong; Gao, Pengyu; Song, Tianxiao

2015-10-20

Getting a land vehicle's accurate position, azimuth and attitude rapidly is significant for vehicle based weapons' combat effectiveness. In this paper, a new approach to acquire vehicle's accurate position and orientation is proposed. It uses biaxial optical detection platform (BODP) to aim at and lock in no less than three pre-set cooperative targets, whose accurate positions are measured beforehand. Then, it calculates the vehicle's accurate position, azimuth and attitudes by the rough position and orientation provided by vehicle based navigation systems and no less than three couples of azimuth and pitch angles measured by BODP. The proposed approach does not depend on Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), thus it is autonomous and difficult to interfere. Meanwhile, it only needs a rough position and orientation as algorithm's iterative initial value, consequently, it does not have high performance requirement for Inertial Navigation System (INS), odometer and other vehicle based navigation systems, even in high precise applications. This paper described the system's working procedure, presented theoretical deviation of the algorithm, and then verified its effectiveness through simulation and vehicle experiments. The simulation and experimental results indicate that the proposed approach can achieve positioning and orientation accuracy of 0.2 m and 20″ respectively in less than 3 min.

Inversion of surface parameters using fast learning neural networks

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dawson, M. S.; Olvera, J.; Fung, A. K.; Manry, M. T.

1992-01-01

A neural network approach to the inversion of surface scattering parameters is presented. Simulated data sets based on a surface scattering model are used so that the data may be viewed as taken from a completely known randomly rough surface. The fast learning (FL) neural network and a multilayer perceptron (MLP) trained with backpropagation learning (BP network) are tested on the simulated backscattering data. The RMS error of training the FL network is found to be less than one half the error of the BP network while requiring one to two orders of magnitude less CPU time. When applied to inversion of parameters from a statistically rough surface, the FL method is successful at recovering the surface permittivity, the surface correlation length, and the RMS surface height in less time and with less error than the BP network. Further applications of the FL neural network to the inversion of parameters from backscatter measurements of an inhomogeneous layer above a half space are shown.

Roughness based perceptual analysis towards digital skin imaging system with haptic feedback.

PubMed

Kim, K

2016-08-01

To examine psoriasis or atopic eczema, analyzing skin roughness by palpation is essential to precisely diagnose skin diseases. However, optical sensor based skin imaging systems do not allow dermatologists to touch skin images. To solve the problem, a new haptic rendering technology that can accurately display skin roughness must be developed. In addition, the rendering algorithm must be able to filter spatial noises created during 2D to 3D image conversion without losing the original roughness on the skin image. In this study, a perceptual way to design a noise filter that will remove spatial noises and in the meantime recover maximized roughness is introduced by understanding human sensitivity on surface roughness. A visuohaptic rendering system that can provide a user with seeing and touching digital skin surface roughness has been developed including a geometric roughness estimation method from a meshed surface. In following, a psychophysical experiment was designed and conducted with 12 human subjects to measure human perception with the developed visual and haptic interfaces to examine surface roughness. From the psychophysical experiment, it was found that touch is more sensitive at lower surface roughness, and vice versa. Human perception with both senses, vision and touch, becomes less sensitive to surface distortions as roughness increases. When interact with both channels, visual and haptic interfaces, the performance to detect abnormalities on roughness is greatly improved by sensory integration with the developed visuohaptic rendering system. The result can be used as a guideline to design a noise filter that can perceptually remove spatial noises while recover maximized roughness values from a digital skin image obtained by optical sensors. In addition, the result also confirms that the developed visuohaptic rendering system can help dermatologists or skin care professionals examine skin conditions by using vision and touch at the same time. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Nucleate pool boiling heat transfer characteristics of TiO{sub 2}-water nanofluids at very low concentrations

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

Suriyawong, Adirek; Wongwises, Somchai

2010-11-15

A study of nucleate pool boiling heat transfer of TiO{sub 2}-water nanofluids is experimentally conducted. Nanofluids with various concentrations of 0.00005, 0.0001, 0.0005, 0.005, and 0.01 vol.% are employed. Horizontal circular plates made from copper and aluminium with different roughness values of 0.2 and 4 {mu}m are used as heating surfaces. The experiments are performed to explore the effects of nanofluids concentration as well as heating surface material and roughness on nucleate pool boiling characteristics and the heat transfer coefficient under ambient pressure. The results show that based on the copper heated surface which is tested with a concentration ofmore » 0.0001 vol.%, higher nucleate pool boiling heat transfer coefficient is obtained when compared with the base fluid. A 15% increase is obtained for the surface roughness of 0.2 {mu}m and a 4% increase is obtained for roughness of 4 {mu}m. For concentrations higher than 0.0001 vol.%, however, the higher the concentration, the lower the heat transfer coefficient. In the case of aluminium heated surface, the corresponding heat transfer coefficients are larger than for the copper surface by around 30% with a roughness of 0.2 {mu}m and around 27% with a roughness of 4 {mu}m. Moreover, the results also indicate that the heat transfer coefficient obtained based on a roughness of 4 {mu}m is higher than that for a roughness of 0.2 {mu}m by around 12% for aluminium and by around 13% for copper. (author)« less

Bio-Inspired Control of Roughness and Trailing Edge Noise

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clark, Ian Andrew

Noise from fluid flow over rough surfaces is an important consideration in the design and performance of certain vehicles with high surface-area-to-perimeter ratios. A new method of noise control based on the anatomy of owls is developed and consists of fabric or fibrous canopies suspended above the surface. The method is tested experimentally and is found to reduce the total far-field noise emitted by the surface. The treatment also is found to reduce the magnitude of pressure fluctuations felt by the underlying surface by up to three orders of magnitude. Experimental investigations into the effects of geometric parameters of the canopies lead to an optimized design which maximizes noise reduction. The results obtained during the canopy experiment inspired a separate new device for the reduction of trailing edge noise. This type of noise is generated by flow past the wing of an aircraft or the blades of a wind turbine, and is a source of annoyance for those in surrounding communities. The newly developed treatment consists of small fins, or "finlets," placed near the trailing edge of an airfoil. The treatment is tested experimentally at near-full-scale conditions and is found to reduce the magnitude of far-field noise by up to 10 dB. Geometric parameters of the finlets are tested to determine the optimal size and spacing of the finlets to maximize noise reduction. Follow-up computational and experimental studies reveal the fluid mechanics behind the noise reduction by showing that the finlets produce a velocity deficit in the flow near the trailing edge and limit the magnitude and spanwise correlation lengthscale of turbulence near the trailing edge, factors which determine the magnitude of far-field noise. In a final experiment, the finlets are applied to a marine propeller and are found to reduce not only trailing edge noise, but also noise caused by the bluntness of the trailing edge. The results of this experiment show the potential usefulness of finlets to reduce noise from rotating systems, such as fans or propellers, as well as from structures which feature blunt trailing edges.

The role of floodplain restoration in mitigating flood risk, Lower Missouri River, USA

USGS Publications Warehouse

Jacobson, Robert B.; Lindner, Garth; Bitner, Chance; Hudson, Paul F.; Middelkoop, Hans

2015-01-01

Recent extreme floods on the Lower Missouri River have reinvigorated public policy debate about the potential role of floodplain restoration in decreasing costs of floods and possibly increasing other ecosystem service benefits. The first step to addressing the benefits of floodplain restoration is to understand the interactions of flow, floodplain morphology, and land cover that together determine the biophysical capacity of the floodplain. In this article we address interactions between ecological restoration of floodplains and flood-risk reduction at 3 scales. At the scale of the Lower Missouri River corridor (1300 km) floodplain elevation datasets and flow models provide first-order calculations of the potential for Missouri River floodplains to store floods of varying magnitude and duration. At this same scale assessment of floodplain sand deposition from the 2011 Missouri River flood indicates the magnitude of flood damage that could potentially be limited by floodplain restoration. At the segment scale (85 km), 1-dimensional hydraulic modeling predicts substantial stage reductions with increasing area of floodplain restoration; mean stage reductions range from 0.12 to 0.66 m. This analysis also indicates that channel widening may contribute substantially to stage reductions as part of a comprehensive strategy to restore floodplain and channel habitats. Unsteady 1-dimensional flow modeling of restoration scenarios at this scale indicates that attenuation of peak discharges of an observed hydrograph from May 2007, of similar magnitude to a 10 % annual exceedance probability flood, would be minimal, ranging from 0.04 % (with 16 % floodplain restoration) to 0.13 % (with 100 % restoration). At the reach scale (15–20 km) 2-dimensional hydraulic models of alternative levee setbacks and floodplain roughness indicate complex processes and patterns of flooding including substantial variation in stage reductions across floodplains depending on topographic complexity and hydraulic roughness. Detailed flow patterns captured in the 2-dimensional model indicate that most floodplain storage occurs on the rising limb of the flood as water flows into floodplain bottoms from downstream; at a later time during the rising limb this pattern is reversed and the entire bottom conveys discharge down the valley. These results indicate that flood-risk reduction by attenuation is likely to be small on a large river like the Missouri and design strategies to optimize attenuation and ecological restoration should focus on frequent floods (20–50 % annual exceedance probability). Local stage reductions are a more certain benefit of floodplain restoration but local effects are highly dependent on magnitude of flood discharge and how floodplain vegetation communities contribute to hydraulic roughness. The most certain flood risk reduction benefit of floodplain restoration is avoidance of flood damages to crops and infrastructure.

The impact of volcanic aerosol on the Northern Hemisphere stratospheric polar vortex: mechanisms and sensitivity to forcing structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Toohey, M.; Krüger, K.; Bittner, M.; Timmreck, C.; Schmidt, H.

2014-12-01

Observations and simple theoretical arguments suggest that the Northern Hemisphere (NH) stratospheric polar vortex is stronger in winters following major volcanic eruptions. However, recent studies show that climate models forced by prescribed volcanic aerosol fields fail to reproduce this effect. We investigate the impact of volcanic aerosol forcing on stratospheric dynamics, including the strength of the NH polar vortex, in ensemble simulations with the Max Planck Institute Earth System Model. The model is forced by four different prescribed forcing sets representing the radiative properties of stratospheric aerosol following the 1991 eruption of Mt. Pinatubo: two forcing sets are based on observations, and are commonly used in climate model simulations, and two forcing sets are constructed based on coupled aerosol-climate model simulations. For all forcings, we find that simulated temperature and zonal wind anomalies in the NH high latitudes are not directly impacted by anomalous volcanic aerosol heating. Instead, high-latitude effects result from enhancements in stratospheric residual circulation, which in turn result, at least in part, from enhanced stratospheric wave activity. High-latitude effects are therefore much less robust than would be expected if they were the direct result of aerosol heating. Both observation-based forcing sets result in insignificant changes in vortex strength. For the model-based forcing sets, the vortex response is found to be sensitive to the structure of the forcing, with one forcing set leading to significant strengthening of the polar vortex in rough agreement with observation-based expectations. Differences in the dynamical response to the forcing sets imply that reproducing the polar vortex responses to past eruptions, or predicting the response to future eruptions, depends on accurate representation of the space-time structure of the volcanic aerosol forcing.

(Super)hydrophobic coating of orthodontic dental devices and reduction of early oral biofilm retention.

PubMed

Oliveira, Adauê S; Kaizer, Marina R; Azevedo, Marina S; Ogliari, Fabrício A; Cenci, Maximiliano S; Moraes, Rafael R

2015-11-03

This study was designed to apply (super)hydrophobic crosslinked coatings by means of a sol-gel process on the surface of orthodontic devices and investigate the potential effect of these coatings in reducing the early retention of oral biofilm. Two organosilane-based hydrophobic solutions (HSs) were prepared containing hexadecyltrimethoxysilane diluted in ethanol (HS1) or 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane diluted in dimethyl sulfoxide (HS2). Stainless steel plates and ceramic discs were coated with HS1 or HS2 and heated at 150 °C for 2 h for condensation of a crosslinked SiO x network. Organosilane coatings were applied after previous, or no, surface sandblasting. Commercial stainless steel and ceramic brackets were used to evaluate oral biofilm retention after 12 h or 24 h of biofilm growth, using a microcosm model with human saliva as the inoculum. Surface roughness analysis (Ra, μm) indicated that sandblasting associated with organosilane coatings increased roughness for stainless steel brackets only. Analysis of the water contact angle showed that the stainless steel surface treated with HS1 was hydrophobic (~123°), while the ceramic surface treated with HS2 was superhydrophobic (~155°). Biofilm retention after 24 h was significantly lower in groups treated with hydrophobic coatings. An exponential reduction in biofilm accumulation was associated with increased water contact angle for both stainless steel and ceramic at 24 h. Application of (super)hydrophobic coatings on the surface of stainless steel and ceramic orthodontic devices might reduce the retention of oral biofilm.

System Complexity Reduction via Feature Selection

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Deng, Houtao

2011-01-01

This dissertation transforms a set of system complexity reduction problems to feature selection problems. Three systems are considered: classification based on association rules, network structure learning, and time series classification. Furthermore, two variable importance measures are proposed to reduce the feature selection bias in tree…

Method for reducing the drag of blunt-based vehicles by adaptively increasing forebody roughness

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Whitmore, Stephen A. (Inventor); Saltzman, Edwin J. (Inventor); Moes, Timothy R. (Inventor); Iliff, Kenneth W. (Inventor)

2005-01-01

A method for reducing drag upon a blunt-based vehicle by adaptively increasing forebody roughness to increase drag at the roughened area of the forebody, which results in a decrease in drag at the base of this vehicle, and in total vehicle drag.

Surface roughness of denture bases after immersion in fishcake vinegar solution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kodir, K.; Tanti, I.; Odang, R. W.

2017-08-01

Fishcake is a common food in Palembang city and is usually eaten with fishcake vinegar sauce. Fishcake vinegar solution contains acetic acid and chloride and fluoride ions, all of which cause surface roughness on the denture base material. The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of fishcake vinegar solution on the surface roughness of heat-cured acrylic resin, thermoplastic nylon, and cobalt-chromium alloy denture bases. This laboratory-based experimental study was performed on heat-cured acrylic resins, thermoplastic nylon specimen plates formed in 15 × 10 × 1 mm shapes, and cobalt-chromium alloy specimens in cylinder forms with a 7.7 mm diameter and 17.5-mm height. Each group consisted of 10 pieces. Each specimen was immersed in a fishcake vinegar solution at 37 °C for 4 days. The surface roughness was measured using a profilometer before and after immersion. Statistical analyses showed significant (p < 0.05) changes in heat-cured acrylic resin, thermoplastic nylon, and the cobalt chromium alloy plates after immersion in a fishcake vinegar solution for 4 days. Fishcake vinegar solution affects the surface roughness of heat-cured acrylic resin, thermoplastic nylon, and cobalt-chromium alloy plates after a 4-day immersion period. The greatest surface roughness change occurred in the thermoplastic nylon plate, while the lowest change occurred in the cobalt-chromium alloy.

Principal Angle Enrichment Analysis (PAEA): Dimensionally Reduced Multivariate Gene Set Enrichment Analysis Tool

PubMed Central

Clark, Neil R.; Szymkiewicz, Maciej; Wang, Zichen; Monteiro, Caroline D.; Jones, Matthew R.; Ma’ayan, Avi

2016-01-01

Gene set analysis of differential expression, which identifies collectively differentially expressed gene sets, has become an important tool for biology. The power of this approach lies in its reduction of the dimensionality of the statistical problem and its incorporation of biological interpretation by construction. Many approaches to gene set analysis have been proposed, but benchmarking their performance in the setting of real biological data is difficult due to the lack of a gold standard. In a previously published work we proposed a geometrical approach to differential expression which performed highly in benchmarking tests and compared well to the most popular methods of differential gene expression. As reported, this approach has a natural extension to gene set analysis which we call Principal Angle Enrichment Analysis (PAEA). PAEA employs dimensionality reduction and a multivariate approach for gene set enrichment analysis. However, the performance of this method has not been assessed nor its implementation as a web-based tool. Here we describe new benchmarking protocols for gene set analysis methods and find that PAEA performs highly. The PAEA method is implemented as a user-friendly web-based tool, which contains 70 gene set libraries and is freely available to the community. PMID:26848405

Principal Angle Enrichment Analysis (PAEA): Dimensionally Reduced Multivariate Gene Set Enrichment Analysis Tool.

PubMed

Clark, Neil R; Szymkiewicz, Maciej; Wang, Zichen; Monteiro, Caroline D; Jones, Matthew R; Ma'ayan, Avi

2015-11-01

Gene set analysis of differential expression, which identifies collectively differentially expressed gene sets, has become an important tool for biology. The power of this approach lies in its reduction of the dimensionality of the statistical problem and its incorporation of biological interpretation by construction. Many approaches to gene set analysis have been proposed, but benchmarking their performance in the setting of real biological data is difficult due to the lack of a gold standard. In a previously published work we proposed a geometrical approach to differential expression which performed highly in benchmarking tests and compared well to the most popular methods of differential gene expression. As reported, this approach has a natural extension to gene set analysis which we call Principal Angle Enrichment Analysis (PAEA). PAEA employs dimensionality reduction and a multivariate approach for gene set enrichment analysis. However, the performance of this method has not been assessed nor its implementation as a web-based tool. Here we describe new benchmarking protocols for gene set analysis methods and find that PAEA performs highly. The PAEA method is implemented as a user-friendly web-based tool, which contains 70 gene set libraries and is freely available to the community.

Polarized BRDF measurement of steel E235B in the near-infrared region: Based on a self-designed instrument with absolute measuring method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Yanlei; Yu, Kun; Liu, Zilong; Zhao, Yuejin; Liu, Yufang

2018-06-01

The spectral bidirectional reflectance distribution (BRDF) offers a complete description of the optical properties of the opaque material. Numerous studies on BRDF have been conducted for its important role in scientific research and industrial production. However, most of these studies focus on the visible region and unpolarized BRDF, and the spectral polarized BRDF in the near-infrared region is rarely reported. In this letter, we propose an absolute method to measure the spectral BRDF in the near-infrared region, and the detailed derivation is presented. A self-designed instrument is set up for the absolute measurement of BRDF. The reliability of this method is verified by comparing the experimental data of the three metal (aluminum, silver and gold) mirrors with the reference data. The in-plane polarized BRDF of steel E235B are measured, and the influence of incident angle and roughness on the BRDF are discussed. The degree of linear polarization (DOLP) are determined based on the polarized BRDF. The results indicate that both the roughness and incident angle have distinct influence on the BRDF and DOLP.

Check in the Mail or More in the Paycheck: Does the Effectiveness of Fiscal Stimulus Depend on How It Is Delivered?†

PubMed Central

Sahm, Claudia R.; Shapiro, Matthew D.; Slemrod, Joel

2013-01-01

Recent fiscal policies, including the 2008 stimulus payments and the 2009 Making Work Pay Tax Credit, aimed to increase household spending. This paper quantifies the spending response to these policies and examines differences in spending by whether the stimulus was delivered as a one-time payment or as a flow of payments from reduced withholding. Based on responses from a representative sample of households in the Thomson Reuters University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers, the paper finds that the reduction in withholding in 2009 boosted spending at roughly half the rate (13 percent) as the one-time payments (25 percent) in 2008. PMID:23970951

Experimental investigations on cryogenic cooling by liquid nitrogen in the end milling of hardened steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ravi, S.; Pradeep Kumar, M.

2011-09-01

Milling of hardened steel generates excessive heat during the chip formation process, which increases the temperature of cutting tool and accelerates tool wear. Application of conventional cutting fluid in milling process may not effectively control the heat generation also it has inherent health and environmental problems. To minimize health hazard and environmental problems caused by using conventional cutting fluid, a cryogenic cooling set up is developed to cool tool-chip interface using liquid nitrogen (LN 2). This paper presents results on the effect of LN 2 as a coolant on machinability of hardened AISI H13 tool steel for varying cutting speed in the range of 75-125 m/min during end milling with PVD TiAlN coated carbide inserts at a constant feed rate. The results show that machining with LN 2 lowers cutting temperature, tool flank wear, surface roughness and cutting forces as compared with dry and wet machining. With LN 2 cooling, it has been found that the cutting temperature was reduced by 57-60% and 37-42%; the tool flank wear was reduced by 29-34% and 10-12%; the surface roughness was decreased by 33-40% and 25-29% compared to dry and wet machining. The cutting forces also decreased moderately compared to dry and wet machining. This can be attributed to the fact that LN 2 machining provides better cooling and lubrication through substantial reduction in the cutting zone temperature.

Investigation of roughing machining simulation by using visual basic programming in NX CAM system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hafiz Mohamad, Mohamad; Nafis Osman Zahid, Muhammed

2018-03-01

This paper outlines a simulation study to investigate the characteristic of roughing machining simulation in 4th axis milling processes by utilizing visual basic programming in NX CAM systems. The selection and optimization of cutting orientation in rough milling operation is critical in 4th axis machining. The main purpose of roughing operation is to approximately shape the machined parts into finished form by removing the bulk of material from workpieces. In this paper, the simulations are executed by manipulating a set of different cutting orientation to generate estimated volume removed from the machine parts. The cutting orientation with high volume removal is denoted as an optimum value and chosen to execute a roughing operation. In order to run the simulation, customized software is developed to assist the routines. Operations build-up instructions in NX CAM interface are translated into programming codes via advanced tool available in the Visual Basic Studio. The codes is customized and equipped with decision making tools to run and control the simulations. It permits the integration with any independent program files to execute specific operations. This paper aims to discuss about the simulation program and identifies optimum cutting orientations for roughing processes. The output of this study will broaden up the simulation routines performed in NX CAM systems.

Smoothing of Fault Slip Surfaces by Scale Invariant Wear

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dascher-Cousineau, K.; Kirkpatrick, J. D.

2017-12-01

Fault slip surface roughness plays a determining role in the overall strength, friction, and dynamic behavior of fault systems. Previous wear models and field observations suggest that roughness decreases with increasing displacement. However, measurements have yet to isolate the effect of displacement from other possible controls, such as lithology or tectonic setting. In an effort to understand the effect of displacement, we present comprehensive qualitative and quantitative description of the evolution of fault slip surfaces in and around the San-Rafael Desert, S.E. Utah, United States. In the study area, faults accommodated regional extension at shallow (1 to 3 km) depth and are hosted in the massive, well-sorted, high-porosity Navajo and Entrada sandstones. Existing displacement profiles along with tight displacement controls readily measureable in the field, combined with uniform lithology and tectonic history, allowed us to isolate for the effect of displacement during the embryonic stages of faulting (0 to 60 m in displacement). Our field observations indicate a clear compositional and morphological progression from isolated joints or deformation bands towards smooth, continuous, and mirror-like fault slip surfaces with increasing displacement. We scanned pristine slip surfaces with a white light interferometer, a laser scanner, and a ground-based LiDAR. We produce and analyses more than 120 individual scans of fault slip surfaces. Results for the surfaces with the best displacement constraints indicate that roughness as defined by the power spectral density at any given length scale decreases with displacement according to a power law with an exponent of -1. Roughness measurements associated with only maximum constraints on displacements corroborate this result. Moreover, maximum roughness for any given fault is bounded by a primordial roughness corresponding to that of joint surfaces and deformation band edges. Building upon these results, we propose a multi-scale wear model to explain the evolution of faults with displacement. We suggest that together, asperity failure as a scale invariant process, and the stochastic strength of host rocks are consistent with qualitative and quantitative observational constraints made in this study.

Development of AISI 316L stainless steel coronary stent

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

García-López, Erika; Siller, Héctor R.; Rodríguez, Ciro A.

2018-02-01

Coronary stents are manufactured through a sequence of processes and each step demands the process control to assure surface quality. This study is focused on the influence of laser cutting parameters and electropolishing on average surface roughness and back wall dross percentage for fiber laser cutting of AISI 316L coronary struts. A preliminary test and a design of experiments (DOE) were implemented to determine the limiting cutting conditions and the effect of these parameters on quality indicators. Preliminary results identify four cutting zones from a non-cut zone to a burned zone, in a frequency range between 1000 and 1500 Hz and a peak power between 160 to 180 W for clean cuts. From the DOE results, several interactions between factors were observed; however, a laser frequency of 1000 to 1500 Hz and a cutting speed of 250 mm/min minimize the backwall dross percentage and the surface roughness to values less than 2% and 0.9 μm, respectively. After the laser conditions selection, coronary stents were manufactured and electropolished to reduce the surface roughness on the strut edge. Electropolishing results indicate a surface roughness reduction from 0.9 μm to 0.3 μm after 300 s of electropolishing time.

Generalizing roughness: experiments with flow-oriented roughness

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Trevisani, Sebastiano

2015-04-01

Surface texture analysis applied to High Resolution Digital Terrain Models (HRDTMs) improves the capability to characterize fine-scale morphology and permits the derivation of useful morphometric indexes. An important indicator to be taken into account in surface texture analysis is surface roughness, which can have a discriminant role in the detection of different geomorphic processes and factors. The evaluation of surface roughness is generally performed considering it as an isotropic surface parameter (e.g., Cavalli, 2008; Grohmann, 2011). However, surface texture has often an anisotropic character, which means that surface roughness could change according to the considered direction. In some applications, for example involving surface flow processes, the anisotropy of roughness should be taken into account (e.g., Trevisani, 2012; Smith, 2014). Accordingly, we test the application of a flow-oriented directional measure of roughness, computed considering surface gravity-driven flow. For the calculation of flow-oriented roughness we use both classical variogram-based roughness (e.g., Herzfeld,1996; Atkinson, 2000) as well as an ad-hoc developed robust modification of variogram (i.e. MAD, Trevisani, 2014). The presented approach, based on a D8 algorithm, shows the potential impact of considering directionality in the calculation of roughness indexes. The use of flow-oriented roughness could improve the definition of effective proxies of impedance to flow. Preliminary results on the integration of directional roughness operators with morphometric-based models, are promising and can be extended to more complex approaches. Atkinson, P.M., Lewis, P., 2000. Geostatistical classification for remote sensing: an introduction. Computers & Geosciences 26, 361-371. Cavalli, M. & Marchi, L. 2008, "Characterization of the surface morphology of an alpine alluvial fan using airborne LiDAR", Natural Hazards and Earth System Science, vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 323-333. Grohmann, C.H., Smith, M.J., Riccomini, C., 2011. Multiscale Analysis of Topographic Surface Roughness in the Midland Valley, Scotland. IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing 49, 1220-1213. Herzfeld, U.C., Higginson, C.A., 1996. Automated geostatistical seafloor classification - Principles, parameters, feature vectors, and discrimination criteria. Computers and Geosciences, 22 (1), pp. 35-52. Smith, M.W. 2014, "Roughness in the Earth Sciences", Earth-Science Reviews, vol. 136, pp. 202-225. Trevisani, S., Cavalli, M. & Marchi, L. 2012, "Surface texture analysis of a high-resolution DTM: Interpreting an alpine basin", Geomorphology, vol. 161-162, pp. 26-39. Trevisani S., Rocca M., 2014. Geomorphometric analysis of fine-scale morphology for extensive areas: a new surface-texture operator. Geophysical Research Abstracts, Vol. 16, EGU2014-5612, 2014. EGU General Assembly 2014.

Deviation characteristics of specular reflectivity of micro-rough surface from Fresnel's equation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, W. J.; Qiu, J.; Liu, L. H.

2015-07-01

Specular reflectivity is an important radiative property in thermal engineering applications and reflection-based optical constant determinations, yet it will be influenced by surface micro-roughness which cannot be completely removed during the polishing process. In this work, we examined the deviation characteristics of the specular reflectivity of micro-rough surfaces from that predicted by the Fresnel's equation under the assumption of smooth surface. The effects of incident angle and relative roughness were numerically investigated for both 1D and 2D micro randomly rough surfaces using full wave analysis under the condition that the relative roughness is smaller than 0.05. For transverse magnetic (TM) wave incidence, it is observed that the deviation of specular reflectivity dramatically rises as the incident angle approaches to the pseudo Brewster's angle, which violates the prediction based on Rayleigh criterion. While for the transverse electric (TE) wave incidence, the deviation of the specular reflectivity is much smaller and decreases monotonically with the increase of incident angle, which agrees with the predication from Rayleigh criterion. Generally, the deviation of specular reflectivity for both TM and TE increases with the relative roughness as commonly expected.

Skin friction measurements of systematically-varied roughness: Probing the role of roughness amplitude and skewness

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barros, Julio; Flack, Karen; Schultz, Michael

2017-11-01

Real-world engineering systems which feature either external or internal wall-bounded turbulent flow are routinely affected by surface roughness. This gives rise to performance degradation in the form of increased drag or head loss. However, at present there is no reliable means to predict these performance losses based upon the roughness topography alone. This work takes a systematic approach by generating random surface roughness in which the surface statistics are closely controlled. Skin friction and roughness function results will be presented for two groups of these rough surfaces. The first group is Gaussian (i.e. zero skewness) in which the root-mean-square roughness height (krms) is varied. The second group has a fixed krms, and the skewness is varied from approximately -1 to +1. The effect of the roughness amplitude and skewness on the skin friction will be discussed. Particular attention will be paid to the effect of these parameters on the roughness function in the transitionally-rough flow regime. For example, the role these parameters play in the monotonic or inflectional nature of the roughness function will be addressed. Future research into the details of the turbulence structure over these rough surfaces will also be outlined. Research funded by U.S. Office of Naval Research (ONR).

Yielding physically-interpretable emulators - A Sparse PCA approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Galelli, S.; Alsahaf, A.; Giuliani, M.; Castelletti, A.

2015-12-01

Projection-based techniques, such as Principal Orthogonal Decomposition (POD), are a common approach to surrogate high-fidelity process-based models by lower order dynamic emulators. With POD, the dimensionality reduction is achieved by using observations, or 'snapshots' - generated with the high-fidelity model -, to project the entire set of input and state variables of this model onto a smaller set of basis functions that account for most of the variability in the data. While reduction efficiency and variance control of POD techniques are usually very high, the resulting emulators are structurally highly complex and can hardly be given a physically meaningful interpretation as each basis is a projection of the entire set of inputs and states. In this work, we propose a novel approach based on Sparse Principal Component Analysis (SPCA) that combines the several assets of POD methods with the potential for ex-post interpretation of the emulator structure. SPCA reduces the number of non-zero coefficients in the basis functions by identifying a sparse matrix of coefficients. While the resulting set of basis functions may retain less variance of the snapshots, the presence of a few non-zero coefficients assists in the interpretation of the underlying physical processes. The SPCA approach is tested on the reduction of a 1D hydro-ecological model (DYRESM-CAEDYM) used to describe the main ecological and hydrodynamic processes in Tono Dam, Japan. An experimental comparison against a standard POD approach shows that SPCA achieves the same accuracy in emulating a given output variable - for the same level of dimensionality reduction - while yielding better insights of the main process dynamics.

A Monte Carlo exploration of threefold base geometries for 4d F-theory vacua

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Taylor, Washington; Wang, Yi-Nan

2016-01-01

We use Monte Carlo methods to explore the set of toric threefold bases that support elliptic Calabi-Yau fourfolds for F-theory compactifications to four dimensions, and study the distribution of geometrically non-Higgsable gauge groups, matter, and quiver structure. We estimate the number of distinct threefold bases in the connected set studied to be ˜ 1048. The distribution of bases peaks around h 1,1 ˜ 82. All bases encountered after "thermalization" have some geometric non-Higgsable structure. We find that the number of non-Higgsable gauge group factors grows roughly linearly in h 1,1 of the threefold base. Typical bases have ˜ 6 isolated gauge factors as well as several larger connected clusters of gauge factors with jointly charged matter. Approximately 76% of the bases sampled contain connected two-factor gauge group products of the form SU(3) × SU(2), which may act as the non-Abelian part of the standard model gauge group. SU(3) × SU(2) is the third most common connected two-factor product group, following SU(2) × SU(2) and G 2 × SU(2), which arise more frequently.

Algorithm Sorts Groups Of Data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Evans, J. D.

1987-01-01

For efficient sorting, algorithm finds set containing minimum or maximum most significant data. Sets of data sorted as desired. Sorting process simplified by reduction of each multielement set of data to single representative number. First, each set of data expressed as polynomial with suitably chosen base, using elements of set as coefficients. Most significant element placed in term containing largest exponent. Base selected by examining range in value of data elements. Resulting series summed to yield single representative number. Numbers easily sorted, and each such number converted back to original set of data by successive division. Program written in BASIC.

Asymptotic behaviour of Stokes flow in a thin domain with a moving rough boundary

PubMed Central

Fabricius, J.; Koroleva, Y. O.; Tsandzana, A.; Wall, P.

2014-01-01

We consider a problem that models fluid flow in a thin domain bounded by two surfaces. One of the surfaces is rough and moving, whereas the other is flat and stationary. The problem involves two small parameters ϵ and μ that describe film thickness and roughness wavelength, respectively. Depending on the ratio λ=ϵ/μ, three different flow regimes are obtained in the limit as both of them tend to zero. Time-dependent equations of Reynolds type are obtained in all three cases (Stokes roughness, Reynolds roughness and high-frequency roughness regime). The derivations of the limiting equations are based on formal expansions in the parameters ϵ and μ. PMID:25002820

Effect of surface roughness on substrate-tuned gold nanoparticle gap plasmon resonances.

PubMed

Lumdee, Chatdanai; Yun, Binfeng; Kik, Pieter G

2015-03-07

The effect of nanoscale surface roughness on the gap plasmon resonance of gold nanoparticles on thermally evaporated gold films is investigated experimentally and numerically. Single-particle scattering spectra obtained from 80 nm diameter gold particles on a gold film show significant particle-to-particle variation of the peak scattering wavelength of ±28 nm. The experimental results are compared with numerical simulations of gold nanoparticles positioned on representative rough gold surfaces, modeled based on atomic force microscopy measurements. The predicted spectral variation and average resonance wavelength show good agreement with the measured data. The study shows that nanometer scale surface roughness can significantly affect the performance of gap plasmon-based devices.

Modeling of surface roughness effects on Stokes flow in circular pipes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Song, Siyuan; Yang, Xiaohu; Xin, Fengxian; Lu, Tian Jian

2018-02-01

Fluid flow and pressure drop across a channel are significantly influenced by surface roughness on a channel wall. The present study investigates the effects of periodically structured surface roughness upon flow field and pressure drop in a circular pipe at low Reynolds numbers. The periodic roughness considered exhibits sinusoidal, triangular, and rectangular morphologies, with the relative roughness (i.e., ratio of the amplitude of surface roughness to hydraulic diameter of the pipe) no more than 0.2. Based upon a revised perturbation theory, a theoretical model is developed to quantify the effect of roughness on fully developed Stokes flow in the pipe. The ratio of static flow resistivity and the ratio of the Darcy friction factor between rough and smooth pipes are expressed in four-order approximate formulations, which are validated against numerical simulation results. The relative roughness and the wave number are identified as the two key parameters affecting the static flow resistivity and the Darcy friction factor.

Experimental study of contact edge roughness on sub-100 nm various circular shapes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Tae Y.; Ihm, Dongchul; Kang, Hyo C.; Lee, Jum B.; Lee, Byoung H.; Chin, Soo B.; Cho, Do H.; Song, Chang L.

2005-05-01

The measurement of edge roughness has become a hot issue in the semiconductor industry. Especially the contact roughness is being more critical as design rule shrinks. Major vendors offer a variety of features to measure the edge roughness in their CD-SEMs. For the line and space patterns, features such as Line Edge Roughness (LER) and Line Width Roughness (LWR) are available in current CD-SEMs. However the features currently available in commercial CD-SEM cannot provide a proper solution in monitoring the contact roughness. We had introduced a new parameter R, measurement algorithm and definition of contact edge roughness to quantify CER and CSR in previous paper. The parameter, R could provide an alternative solution to monitor contact or island pattern roughness. In this paper, we investigated to assess optimum number of CD measurement (1-D) and fitting method for CER or CSR. The study was based on a circular contact shape. Some new ideas to quantify CER or CSR were also suggested with preliminary experimental results.

Bioinspired surfaces for turbulent drag reduction

PubMed Central

Golovin, Kevin B.; Gose, James W.; Perlin, Marc; Ceccio, Steven L.; Tuteja, Anish

2016-01-01

In this review, we discuss how superhydrophobic surfaces (SHSs) can provide friction drag reduction in turbulent flow. Whereas biomimetic SHSs are known to reduce drag in laminar flow, turbulence adds many new challenges. We first provide an overview on designing SHSs, and how these surfaces can cause slip in the laminar regime. We then discuss recent studies evaluating drag on SHSs in turbulent flow, both computationally and experimentally. The effects of streamwise and spanwise slip for canonical, structured surfaces are well characterized by direct numerical simulations, and several experimental studies have validated these results. However, the complex and hierarchical textures of scalable SHSs that can be applied over large areas generate additional complications. Many studies on such surfaces have measured no drag reduction, or even a drag increase in turbulent flow. We discuss how surface wettability, roughness effects and some newly found scaling laws can help explain these varied results. Overall, we discuss how, to effectively reduce drag in turbulent flow, an SHS should have: preferentially streamwise-aligned features to enhance favourable slip, a capillary resistance of the order of megapascals, and a roughness no larger than 0.5, when non-dimensionalized by the viscous length scale. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Bioinspired hierarchically structured surfaces for green science’. PMID:27354731

Bioinspired surfaces for turbulent drag reduction.

PubMed

Golovin, Kevin B; Gose, James W; Perlin, Marc; Ceccio, Steven L; Tuteja, Anish

2016-08-06

In this review, we discuss how superhydrophobic surfaces (SHSs) can provide friction drag reduction in turbulent flow. Whereas biomimetic SHSs are known to reduce drag in laminar flow, turbulence adds many new challenges. We first provide an overview on designing SHSs, and how these surfaces can cause slip in the laminar regime. We then discuss recent studies evaluating drag on SHSs in turbulent flow, both computationally and experimentally. The effects of streamwise and spanwise slip for canonical, structured surfaces are well characterized by direct numerical simulations, and several experimental studies have validated these results. However, the complex and hierarchical textures of scalable SHSs that can be applied over large areas generate additional complications. Many studies on such surfaces have measured no drag reduction, or even a drag increase in turbulent flow. We discuss how surface wettability, roughness effects and some newly found scaling laws can help explain these varied results. Overall, we discuss how, to effectively reduce drag in turbulent flow, an SHS should have: preferentially streamwise-aligned features to enhance favourable slip, a capillary resistance of the order of megapascals, and a roughness no larger than 0.5, when non-dimensionalized by the viscous length scale.This article is part of the themed issue 'Bioinspired hierarchically structured surfaces for green science'. © 2016 The Author(s).

Cycle time and cost reduction in large-size optics production

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hallock, Bob; Shorey, Aric; Courtney, Tom

2005-09-01

Optical fabrication process steps have remained largely unchanged for decades. Raw glass blanks have been rough-machined, generated to near net shape, loose abrasive or fine bound diamond ground and then polished. This set of processes is sequential and each subsequent operation removes the damage and micro cracking induced by the prior operational step. One of the long-lead aspects of this process has been the glass polishing. Primarily, this has been driven by the need to remove relatively large volumes of glass material compared to the polishing removal rate to ensure complete damage removal. The secondary time driver has been poor convergence to final figure and the corresponding polish-metrology cycles. The overall cycle time and resultant cost due to labor, equipment utilization and shop efficiency is increased, often significantly, when the optical prescription is aspheric. In addition to the long polishing cycle times, the duration of the polishing time is often very difficult to predict given that current polishing processes are not deterministic processes. This paper will describe a novel approach to large optics finishing, relying on several innovative technologies to be presented and illustrated through a variety of examples. The cycle time reductions enabled by this approach promises to result in significant cost and lead-time reductions for large size optics. In addition, corresponding increases in throughput will provide for less capital expenditure per square meter of optic produced. This process, comparative cycles time estimates and preliminary results will be discussed.

Distributed Function Mining for Gene Expression Programming Based on Fast Reduction.

PubMed

Deng, Song; Yue, Dong; Yang, Le-chan; Fu, Xiong; Feng, Ya-zhou

2016-01-01

For high-dimensional and massive data sets, traditional centralized gene expression programming (GEP) or improved algorithms lead to increased run-time and decreased prediction accuracy. To solve this problem, this paper proposes a new improved algorithm called distributed function mining for gene expression programming based on fast reduction (DFMGEP-FR). In DFMGEP-FR, fast attribution reduction in binary search algorithms (FAR-BSA) is proposed to quickly find the optimal attribution set, and the function consistency replacement algorithm is given to solve integration of the local function model. Thorough comparative experiments for DFMGEP-FR, centralized GEP and the parallel gene expression programming algorithm based on simulated annealing (parallel GEPSA) are included in this paper. For the waveform, mushroom, connect-4 and musk datasets, the comparative results show that the average time-consumption of DFMGEP-FR drops by 89.09%%, 88.85%, 85.79% and 93.06%, respectively, in contrast to centralized GEP and by 12.5%, 8.42%, 9.62% and 13.75%, respectively, compared with parallel GEPSA. Six well-studied UCI test data sets demonstrate the efficiency and capability of our proposed DFMGEP-FR algorithm for distributed function mining.

Brittleness of twig bases in the genus Salix: fracture mechanics and ecological relevance.

PubMed

Beismann, H; Wilhelmi, H; Baillères, H; Spatz, H C; Bogenrieder, A; Speck, T

2000-03-01

The twig bases within the genus Salix were investigated. Brittleness of twig bases as defined in the literature neither correlates with Young's modulus nor with growth strains, which were measured for S. alba, S. fragilis and S. x rubens. For the species S. alba, S. appendiculata, S. eleagnos, S. fragilis, S. purpurea, S. triandra, S. viminalis, and S. x rubens, fracture surfaces of broken twigs were investigated and semiquantitatively described in terms of 'relative roughness' (ratio of rough area of fracture surface over whole area of fracture surface). The relative roughness clearly corresponds with the classification into brittle and nonbrittle species given in the literature. An attempt was made to quantify brittleness with mechanical tests. The absolute values of stress and strain do not correlate with the brittleness of the twig bases as defined by the relative roughness. However, the 'index stress' (ratio of stress at yield over stress at fracture) or the 'index strain' (ratio of strain at yield over strain at fracture), correlate well with the relative roughness. The graphic analysis of index stress against index strain reveals a straight line on which the eight species are ordered according to their brittleness. Depending on growth form and habitat, brittle twig bases of willows may function ecologically as mechanical safety mechanisms and, additionally, as a propagation mechanism.

The influence of machining condition and cutting tool wear on surface roughness of AISI 4340 steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Natasha, A. R.; Ghani, J. A.; Che Haron, C. H.; Syarif, J.

2018-01-01

Sustainable machining by using cryogenic coolant as the cutting fluid has been proven to enhance some machining outputs. The main objective of the current work was to investigate the influence of machining conditions; dry and cryogenic, as well as the cutting tool wear on the machined surface roughness of AISI 4340 steel. The experimental tests were performed using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) coated carbide inserts. The value of machined surface roughness were measured at 3 cutting intervals; beginning, middle, and end of the cutting based on the readings of the tool flank wear. The results revealed that cryogenic turning had the greatest influence on surface roughness when machined at lower cutting speed and higher feed rate. Meanwhile, the cutting tool wear was also found to influence the surface roughness, either improving it or deteriorating it, based on the severity and the mechanism of the flank wear.

Enhanced light output from a nitride-based power chip of green light-emitting diodes with nano-rough surface using nanoimprint lithography.

PubMed

Huang, H W; Lin, C H; Yu, C C; Lee, B D; Chiu, C H; Lai, C F; Kuo, H C; Leung, K M; Lu, T C; Wang, S C

2008-05-07

Enhanced light extraction from a GaN-based power chip (PC) of green light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with a rough p-GaN surface using nanoimprint lithography is presented. At a driving current of 350 mA and with a chip size of 1 mm × 1 mm packaged on transistor outline (TO)-cans, the light output power of the green PC LEDs with nano-rough p-GaN surface is enhanced by 48% when compared with the same device without a rough p-GaN surface. In addition, by examining the radiation patterns, the green PC LED with nano-rough p-GaN surface shows stronger light extraction with a wider view angle. These results offer promising potential to enhance the light output powers of commercial light-emitting devices by using the technique of nanoimprint lithography under suitable nanopattern design.

Surface roughness model based on force sensors for the prediction of the tool wear.

PubMed

de Agustina, Beatriz; Rubio, Eva María; Sebastián, Miguel Ángel

2014-04-04

In this study, a methodology has been developed with the objective of evaluating the surface roughness obtained during turning processes by measuring the signals detected by a force sensor under the same cutting conditions. In this way, the surface quality achieved along the process is correlated to several parameters of the cutting forces (thrust forces, feed forces and cutting forces), so the effect that the tool wear causes on the surface roughness is evaluated. In a first step, the best cutting conditions (cutting parameters and radius of tool) for a certain quality surface requirement were found for pieces of UNS A97075. Next, with this selection a model of surface roughness based on the cutting forces was developed for different states of wear that simulate the behaviour of the tool throughout its life. The validation of this model reveals that it was effective for approximately 70% of the surface roughness values obtained.

Non-CAR resists and advanced materials for Massively Parallel E-Beam Direct Write process integration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pourteau, Marie-Line; Servin, Isabelle; Lepinay, Kévin; Essomba, Cyrille; Dal'Zotto, Bernard; Pradelles, Jonathan; Lattard, Ludovic; Brandt, Pieter; Wieland, Marco

2016-03-01

The emerging Massively Parallel-Electron Beam Direct Write (MP-EBDW) is an attractive high resolution high throughput lithography technology. As previously shown, Chemically Amplified Resists (CARs) meet process/integration specifications in terms of dose-to-size, resolution, contrast, and energy latitude. However, they are still limited by their line width roughness. To overcome this issue, we tested an alternative advanced non-CAR and showed it brings a substantial gain in sensitivity compared to CAR. We also implemented and assessed in-line post-lithographic treatments for roughness mitigation. For outgassing-reduction purpose, a top-coat layer is added to the total process stack. A new generation top-coat was tested and showed improved printing performances compared to the previous product, especially avoiding dark erosion: SEM cross-section showed a straight pattern profile. A spin-coatable charge dissipation layer based on conductive polyaniline has also been tested for conductivity and lithographic performances, and compatibility experiments revealed that the underlying resist type has to be carefully chosen when using this product. Finally, the Process Of Reference (POR) trilayer stack defined for 5 kV multi-e-beam lithography was successfully etched with well opened and straight patterns, and no lithography-etch bias.

Effects of TEA·HCl hardening accelerator on the workability of cement-based materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pan, Wenhao; Ding, Zhaoyang; Chen, Yanwen

2017-03-01

The aim of the test is to research the influence rules of TEA·HCl on the workability of cement paste and concrete. Based on the features of the new hardening accelerator, an experimental analysis system were established through different dosages of hardening accelerator, and the feasibility of such accelerator to satisfy the need of practical engineering was verified. The results show that adding of the hardening accelerator can accelerate the cement hydration, and what’s more, when the dosage was 0.04%, the setting time was the shortest while the initial setting time and final setting time were 130 min and 180 min, respectively. The initial fluidity of cement paste of adding accelerator was roughly equivalent compared with that of blank. After 30 min, fluidity loss would decrease with the dosage increasing, but fluidity may increase. The application of the hardening accelerator can make the early workability of concrete enhance, especially the slump loss of 30 min can improve more significantly. The bleeding rate of concrete significantly decreases after adding TEA·HCl. The conclusion is that the new hardening accelerator can meet the need of the workability of cement-based materials in the optimum dosage range.

Simulation of the mineral dust emission over Northern Africa and Middle East using an aerodynamic roughness length map derived from the ASCAT/PARASOL

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Basart, Sara; Jorba, Oriol; Pérez García-Pando, Carlos; Prigent, Catherine; Baldasano, Jose M.

2014-05-01

Aeolian aerodynamic roughness length in arid regions is a key parameter to predict the vulnerability of the surface to wind erosion, and, as a consequence, the related production of mineral aerosol (e.g. Laurent et al., 2008). Recently, satellite-derived roughness length at the global scale have emerged and provide the opportunity to use them in advanced emission schemes in global and regional models (i.e. Menut et al., 2013). A global map of the aeolian aerodynamic roughness length at high resolution (6 km) is derived, for arid and semi-arid regions merging PARASOL and ASCAT data to estimate aeolian roughness length. It shows very good consistency with the existing information on the properties of these surfaces. The dataset is available to the community, for use in atmospheric dust transport models. The present contribution analyses the behaviour of the NMMB/BSC-Dust model (Pérez et al., 2011) when the ASCAT/PARASOL satellite-derived global roughness length (Prigent et al, 2012) and the State Soil Geographic database Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (STATSGO-FAO) soil texture data set (based on wet techniques) is used. We explore the sensitivity of the drag partition scheme (a critical component of the dust emission scheme) and the dust vertical fluxes (intensity and spatial patterns) to the roughness length. An annual evaluation of NMMB/BSC-Dust (for the year 2011) over Northern Africa and the Middle East using observed aerosol optical depths (AODs) from Aerosol Robotic Network sites and aerosol satellite products (MODIS and MISR) will be discussed. Laurent, B., Marticorena, B., Bergametti, G., Leon, J. F., and Mahowald, N. M.: Modeling mineral dust emissions from the Sahara desert using new surface properties and soil database, J. Geophys. Res., 113, D14218, doi:10.1029/2007JD009484, 2008. Menut, L., C. Pérez, K. Haustein, B. Bessagnet, C. Prigent, and S. Alfaro, Impact of surface roughness and soil texture on mineral dust emission fluxes modeling, J. Geophys. Res. Atmos., 118, 6505-6520, doi:10.1002/jgrd.50313, 2013. Pérez, C., Haustein, K., Janjic, Z., Jorba, O., Huneeus, N., Baldasano, J. M. and Thomson, M. Atmospheric dust modeling from meso to global scales with the online NMMB/BSC-Dust model-Part 1: Model description, annual simulations and evaluation. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 11(24), 13001-13027, 2011. Prigent, C., Jiménez, C., and Catherinot, J.: Comparison of satellite microwave backscattering (ASCAT) and visible/near-infrared reflectances (PARASOL) for the estimation of aeolian aerodynamic roughness length in arid and semi-arid regions, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 5, 2703-2712, doi:10.5194/amt-5-2703-2012, 2012.

Harm reduction and viral hepatitis C in European prisons: a cross-sectional survey of 25 countries.

PubMed

Bielen, Rob; Stumo, Samya R; Halford, Rachel; Werling, Klára; Reic, Tatjana; Stöver, Heino; Robaeys, Geert; Lazarus, Jeffrey V

2018-05-11

Current estimates suggest that 15% of all prisoners worldwide are chronically infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV), and this number is even higher in regions with high rates of injecting drug use. Although harm reduction services such as opioid substitution therapy (OST) and needle and syringe programs (NSPs) are effective in preventing the further spread of HCV and HIV, the extent to which these are available in prisons varies significantly across countries. The Hep-CORE study surveyed liver patient groups from 25 European countries in 2016 and mid-2017 on national policies related to harm reduction, testing/screening, and treatment for HCV in prison settings. Results from the cross-sectional survey were compared to the data from available reports and the peer-reviewed literature to determine the overall degree to which European countries implement evidence-based HCV recommendations in prison settings. Patient groups in nine countries (36%) identified prisoners as a high-risk population target for HCV testing/screening. Twenty-one countries (84%) provide HCV treatment in prisons. However, the extent of coverage of these treatment programs varies widely. Two countries (8%) have NSPs officially available in prisons in all parts of the country. Eleven countries (44%) provide OST in prisons in all parts of the country without additional requirements. Despite the existence of evidence-based recommendations, infectious disease prevention measures such as harm reduction programs are inadequate in European prison settings. Harm reduction, HCV testing/screening, and treatment should be scaled up in prison settings in order to progress towards eliminating HCV as a public health threat.

Ultimate scaling of TiN/ZrO2/TiN capacitors: Leakage currents and limitations due to electrode roughness

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jegert, Gunther; Kersch, Alfred; Weinreich, Wenke; Lugli, Paolo

2011-01-01

In this paper, we investigate the influence of electrode roughness on the leakage current in TiN/high-κ ZrO2/TiN (TZT) thin-film capacitors which are used in dynamic random access memory cells. Based on a microscopic transport model, which is expanded to incorporate electrode roughness, we assess the ultimate scaling potential of TZT capacitors in terms of equivalent oxide thickness, film smoothness, thickness fluctuations, defect density and distribution, and conduction band offset (CBO). The model is based on three-dimensional, fully self-consistent, kinetic Monte Carlo transport simulations. Tunneling transport in the bandgap of the dielectric is treated, which includes defect-assisted transport mechanisms. Electrode roughness is described in the framework of fractal geometry. While the short-range roughness of the electrodes is found not to influence significantly the leakage current, thickness fluctuations of the dielectric have a major impact. For thinner dielectric films they cause a transformation of the dominant transport mechanism from Poole-Frenkel conduction to trap-assisted tunneling. Consequently, the sensitivity of the leakage current on electrode roughness drastically increases on downscaling. Based on the simulations, optimization of the CBO is suggested as the most viable strategy to extend the scalability of TZT capacitors over the next chip generations.

What Is the Return on Investment for Implementation of a Crew Resource Management Program at an Academic Medical Center?

PubMed

Moffatt-Bruce, Susan D; Hefner, Jennifer L; Mekhjian, Hagop; McAlearney, John S; Latimer, Tina; Ellison, Chris; McAlearney, Ann Scheck

Crew Resource Management (CRM) training has been used successfully within hospital units to improve quality and safety. This article presents a description of a health system-wide implementation of CRM focusing on the return on investment (ROI). The costs included training, programmatic fixed costs, time away from work, and leadership time. Cost savings were calculated based on the reduction in avoidable adverse events and cost estimates from the literature. Between July 2010 and July 2013, roughly 3000 health system employees across 12 areas were trained, costing $3.6 million. The total number of adverse events avoided was 735-a 25.7% reduction in observed relative to expected events. Savings ranged from a conservative estimate of $12.6 million to as much as $28.0 million. Therefore, the overall ROI for CRM training was in the range of $9.1 to $24.4 million. CRM presents a financially viable way to systematically organize for quality improvement.

Numerical simulation of high-temperature thermal contact resistance and its reduction mechanism.

PubMed

Liu, Donghuan; Zhang, Jing

2018-01-01

High-temperature thermal contact resistance (TCR) plays an important role in heat-pipe-cooled thermal protection structures due to the existence of contact interface between the embedded heat pipe and the heat resistive structure, and the reduction mechanism of thermal contact resistance is of special interests in the design of such structures. The present paper proposed a finite element model of the high-temperature thermal contact resistance based on the multi-point contact model with the consideration of temperature-dependent material properties, heat radiation through the cavities at the interface and the effect of thermal interface material (TIM), and the geometry parameters of the finite element model are determined by simple surface roughness test and experimental data fitting. The experimental results of high-temperature thermal contact resistance between superalloy GH600 and C/C composite material are employed to validate the present finite element model. The effect of the crucial parameters on the thermal contact resistance with and without TIM are also investigated with the proposed finite element model.

Numerical simulation of high-temperature thermal contact resistance and its reduction mechanism

PubMed Central

Zhang, Jing

2018-01-01

High-temperature thermal contact resistance (TCR) plays an important role in heat-pipe-cooled thermal protection structures due to the existence of contact interface between the embedded heat pipe and the heat resistive structure, and the reduction mechanism of thermal contact resistance is of special interests in the design of such structures. The present paper proposed a finite element model of the high-temperature thermal contact resistance based on the multi-point contact model with the consideration of temperature-dependent material properties, heat radiation through the cavities at the interface and the effect of thermal interface material (TIM), and the geometry parameters of the finite element model are determined by simple surface roughness test and experimental data fitting. The experimental results of high-temperature thermal contact resistance between superalloy GH600 and C/C composite material are employed to validate the present finite element model. The effect of the crucial parameters on the thermal contact resistance with and without TIM are also investigated with the proposed finite element model. PMID:29547651

Molecular phylogenetic relationships among Lemnaceae and Araceae using the chloroplast trnL-trnF intergenic spacer.

PubMed

Rothwell, Gar W; Van Atta, Michelle R; Ballard, Harvey E; Stockey, Ruth A

2004-02-01

We test competing hypotheses of relationships among Aroids (Araceae) and duckweeds (Lemnaceae) using sequences of the trnL-trnF spacer region of the chloroplast genome. Included in the analysis were 22 aroid genera including Pistia and five genera of Lemnaceae including the recently segregated genus Landoltia. Aponogeton was used as an outgroup to root the tree. A data set of 522 aligned nucleotides yielded maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood trees similar to those previously derived from restriction site data. Pistia and the Lemnaceae are placed in two separate and well-supported clades, suggesting at least two independent origins of the floating aquatic growth form within the aroid clade. Within the Lemnaceae there is only partial support for the paradigm of sequential morphological reduction, given that Wolffia is sister to Wolffiella+Lemna. As in the results of the restriction site analysis, pantropical Pistia is placed with Colocasia and Typhonium of southeastern Asia, indicative of Old World affinities. Branch lengths leading to duckweed terminal taxa are much longer relative to other ingroup taxa (including Pistia), evidently as a result of higher rates of nucleotide substitutions and insertion/deletion events. Morphological reduction within the duckweeds roughly correlates with accelerated chloroplast genome evolution.

Computer-Aided Breast Cancer Diagnosis with Optimal Feature Sets: Reduction Rules and Optimization Techniques.

PubMed

Mathieson, Luke; Mendes, Alexandre; Marsden, John; Pond, Jeffrey; Moscato, Pablo

2017-01-01

This chapter introduces a new method for knowledge extraction from databases for the purpose of finding a discriminative set of features that is also a robust set for within-class classification. Our method is generic and we introduce it here in the field of breast cancer diagnosis from digital mammography data. The mathematical formalism is based on a generalization of the k-Feature Set problem called (α, β)-k-Feature Set problem, introduced by Cotta and Moscato (J Comput Syst Sci 67(4):686-690, 2003). This method proceeds in two steps: first, an optimal (α, β)-k-feature set of minimum cardinality is identified and then, a set of classification rules using these features is obtained. We obtain the (α, β)-k-feature set in two phases; first a series of extremely powerful reduction techniques, which do not lose the optimal solution, are employed; and second, a metaheuristic search to identify the remaining features to be considered or disregarded. Two algorithms were tested with a public domain digital mammography dataset composed of 71 malignant and 75 benign cases. Based on the results provided by the algorithms, we obtain classification rules that employ only a subset of these features.

a Predictive Model of Permeability for Fractal-Based Rough Rock Fractures during Shear

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Na; Jiang, Yujing; Liu, Richeng; Li, Bo; Zhang, Zhenyu

This study investigates the roles of fracture roughness, normal stress and shear displacement on the fluid flow characteristics through three-dimensional (3D) self-affine fractal rock fractures, whose surfaces are generated using the modified successive random additions (SRA) algorithm. A series of numerical shear-flow tests under different normal stresses were conducted on rough rock fractures to calculate the evolutions of fracture aperture and permeability. The results show that the rough surfaces of fractal-based fractures can be described using the scaling parameter Hurst exponent (H), in which H = 3 - Df, where Df is the fractal dimension of 3D single fractures. The joint roughness coefficient (JRC) distribution of fracture profiles follows a Gauss function with a negative linear relationship between H and average JRC. The frequency curves of aperture distributions change from sharp to flat with increasing shear displacement, indicating a more anisotropic and heterogeneous flow pattern. Both the mean aperture and permeability of fracture increase with the increment of surface roughness and decrement of normal stress. At the beginning of shear, the permeability increases remarkably and then gradually becomes steady. A predictive model of permeability using the mean mechanical aperture is proposed and the validity is verified by comparisons with the experimental results reported in literature. The proposed model provides a simple method to approximate permeability of fractal-based rough rock fractures during shear using fracture aperture distribution that can be easily obtained from digitized fracture surface information.

The effect of milling and postmilling procedures on the surface roughness of CAD/CAM materials.

PubMed

Mota, Eduardo Gonçalves; Smidt, Laura Nunes; Fracasso, Lisiane Martins; Burnett, Luiz Henrique; Spohr, Ana Maria

2017-11-12

The aim of this study was to evaluate the surface roughness and analyze the surface topography of five different CAD/CAM ceramics and one CAD/CAM composite resin for CEREC after milling and postmilling procedures. Blocks of the ceramics Mark II, IPS Empress CAD, IPS e.max CAD, Suprinity and Enamic, and blocks of the composite resin Lava Ultimate were milled at CEREC MCXL. Ten flat samples of each material were obtained. The surface roughness (Ra) test was performed before and after milling, crystallization, polishing, and glaze when indicated, followed by SEM and AFM analysis. Data were submitted to one-way ANOVA with repeated measures and the Tukey HSD test (α = 0.05). The milling step significantly increased the roughness of all the tested materials (P < .05). Lithium-based ceramics (IPS e.max CAD and Suprinity) were more suitable to roughness than the other tested materials (P < .05). The polishing methods were able to reduce roughness to baseline values, except for lithium-based ceramics. Glaze reduced significantly the roughness of lithium-based ceramics without a difference from the baseline. SEM and AFM images revealed that glazed surfaces are smoother than polished surfaces. All hard-milling CAD/CAM materials, that is, fully sintered, should be only hand polished. The glaze step can be suppressed resulting in time saving. However, the glaze step in soft-milling lithium disilicate is imperative. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Effect of different surface treatments on roughness of IPS Empress 2 ceramic.

PubMed

Kara, Haluk Baris; Dilber, Erhan; Koc, Ozlem; Ozturk, A Nilgun; Bulbul, Mehmet

2012-03-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of different surface treatments (air abrasion, acid etching, laser irradiation) on the surface roughness of a lithium-disilicate-based core ceramic. A total of 40 discs of lithium disilicate-based core ceramic (IPS Empress 2; Ivoclar Vivadent, Schaan, Liechtenstein) were prepared (10 mm in diameter and 1 mm in thickness) according to the manufacturer's instructions. Specimens were divided into four groups (n = 10), and the following treatments were applied: air abrasion with alumina particles (50 μm), acid etching with 5% hydrofluoric acid, Nd:YAG laser irradiation (1 mm distance, 100 mJ, 20 Hz, 2 W) and Er:YAG laser irradiation (1 mm distance, 500 mJ, 20 Hz, 10 W). Following determination of surface roughness (R(a)) by profilometry, specimens were examined with atomic force microscopy. The data were analysed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey HSD test (α = 0.05). One-way ANOVA indicated that surface roughness following air abrasion was significantly different from the surface roughness following laser irradiation and acid etching (P < 0.001). The Tukey HSD test indicated that the air abrasion group had a significantly higher mean value of roughness (P < 0.05) than the other groups. No significant difference was found between the acid etching and laser irradiation (both Er:YAG and Nd:YAG) groups (P > 0.05). Air abrasion increased surface roughness of lithium disilicate-based core ceramic surfaces more effectively than acid-etching and laser irradiation.

Haptic exploratory behavior during object discrimination: a novel automatic annotation method.

PubMed

Jansen, Sander E M; Bergmann Tiest, Wouter M; Kappers, Astrid M L

2015-01-01

In order to acquire information concerning the geometry and material of handheld objects, people tend to execute stereotypical hand movement patterns called haptic Exploratory Procedures (EPs). Manual annotation of haptic exploration trials with these EPs is a laborious task that is affected by subjectivity, attentional lapses, and viewing angle limitations. In this paper we propose an automatic EP annotation method based on position and orientation data from motion tracking sensors placed on both hands and inside a stimulus. A set of kinematic variables is computed from these data and compared to sets of predefined criteria for each of four EPs. Whenever all criteria for a specific EP are met, it is assumed that that particular hand movement pattern was performed. This method is applied to data from an experiment where blindfolded participants haptically discriminated between objects differing in hardness, roughness, volume, and weight. In order to validate the method, its output is compared to manual annotation based on video recordings of the same trials. Although mean pairwise agreement is less between human-automatic pairs than between human-human pairs (55.7% vs 74.5%), the proposed method performs much better than random annotation (2.4%). Furthermore, each EP is linked to a specific object property for which it is optimal (e.g., Lateral Motion for roughness). We found that the percentage of trials where the expected EP was found does not differ between manual and automatic annotation. For now, this method cannot yet completely replace a manual annotation procedure. However, it could be used as a starting point that can be supplemented by manual annotation.

Adaptive density trajectory cluster based on time and space distance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Fagui; Zhang, Zhijie

2017-10-01

There are some hotspot problems remaining in trajectory cluster for discovering mobile behavior regularity, such as the computation of distance between sub trajectories, the setting of parameter values in cluster algorithm and the uncertainty/boundary problem of data set. As a result, based on the time and space, this paper tries to define the calculation method of distance between sub trajectories. The significance of distance calculation for sub trajectories is to clearly reveal the differences in moving trajectories and to promote the accuracy of cluster algorithm. Besides, a novel adaptive density trajectory cluster algorithm is proposed, in which cluster radius is computed through using the density of data distribution. In addition, cluster centers and number are selected by a certain strategy automatically, and uncertainty/boundary problem of data set is solved by designed weighted rough c-means. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm can perform the fuzzy trajectory cluster effectively on the basis of the time and space distance, and obtain the optimal cluster centers and rich cluster results information adaptably for excavating the features of mobile behavior in mobile and sociology network.

A Monte Carlo exploration of threefold base geometries for 4d F-theory vacua

DOE PAGES

Taylor, Washington; Wang, Yi-Nan

2016-01-22

Here, we use Monte Carlo methods to explore the set of toric threefold bases that support elliptic Calabi-Yau fourfolds for F-theory compactifications to four dimensions, and study the distribution of geometrically non-Higgsable gauge groups, matter, and quiver structure. We estimate the number of distinct threefold bases in the connected set studied to be ~ 10 48. Moreover, the distribution of bases peaks around h 1,1 ~ 82. All bases encountered after "thermalization" have some geometric non-Higgsable structure. We also find that the number of non-Higgsable gauge group factors grows roughly linearly in h 1,1 of the threefold base. Typical basesmore » have ~ 6 isolated gauge factors as well as several larger connected clusters of gauge factors with jointly charged matter. Approximately 76% of the bases sampled contain connected two-factor gauge group products of the form SU(3) x SU(2), which may act as the non-Abelian part of the standard model gauge group. SU(3) x SU(2) is the third most common connected two-factor product group, following SU(2) x SU(2) and G2 x SU(2), which arise more frequently.« less

Unbiased roughness measurements: the key to better etch performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liang, Andrew; Mack, Chris; Sirard, Stephen; Liang, Chen-wei; Yang, Liu; Jiang, Justin; Shamma, Nader; Wise, Rich; Yu, Jengyi; Hymes, Diane

2018-03-01

Edge placement error (EPE) has become an increasingly critical metric to enable Moore's Law scaling. Stochastic variations, as characterized for lines by line width roughness (LWR) and line edge roughness (LER), are dominant factors in EPE and known to increase with the introduction of EUV lithography. However, despite recommendations from ITRS, NIST, and SEMI standards, the industry has not agreed upon a methodology to quantify these properties. Thus, differing methodologies applied to the same image often result in different roughness measurements and conclusions. To standardize LWR and LER measurements, Fractilia has developed an unbiased measurement that uses a raw unfiltered line scan to subtract out image noise and distortions. By using Fractilia's inverse linescan model (FILM) to guide development, we will highlight the key influences of roughness metrology on plasma-based resist smoothing processes. Test wafers were deposited to represent a 5 nm node EUV logic stack. The patterning stack consists of a core Si target layer with spin-on carbon (SOC) as the hardmask and spin-on glass (SOG) as the cap. Next, these wafers were exposed through an ASML NXE 3350B EUV scanner with an advanced chemically amplified resist (CAR). Afterwards, these wafers were etched through a variety of plasma-based resist smoothing techniques using a Lam Kiyo conductor etch system. Dense line and space patterns on the etched samples were imaged through advanced Hitachi CDSEMs and the LER and LWR were measured through both Fractilia and an industry standard roughness measurement software. By employing Fractilia to guide plasma-based etch development, we demonstrate that Fractilia produces accurate roughness measurements on resist in contrast to an industry standard measurement software. These results highlight the importance of subtracting out SEM image noise to obtain quicker developmental cycle times and lower target layer roughness.

Monostable superrepellent materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Yanshen; Quéré, David; Lv, Cunjing; Zheng, Quanshui

2017-03-01

Superrepellency is an extreme situation where liquids stay at the tops of rough surfaces, in the so-called Cassie state. Owing to the dramatic reduction of solid/liquid contact, such states lead to many applications, such as antifouling, droplet manipulation, hydrodynamic slip, and self-cleaning. However, superrepellency is often destroyed by impalement transitions triggered by environmental disturbances whereas inverse transitions are not observed without energy input. Here we show through controlled experiments the existence of a “monostable” region in the phase space of surface chemistry and roughness, where transitions from Cassie to (impaled) Wenzel states become spontaneously reversible. We establish the condition for observing monostability, which might guide further design and engineering of robust superrepellent materials.