Utilizing theory of mind for action selection applied in the domain of fighter pilot training

When developing intelligent agents, approaches that allow the anticipation of other agents is of utmost importance. For humans, this has also been shown to be crucial to establish good interactions. In this paper, a design for an agent that is equipped with theory of mind based reasoning capabilities is presented. The approach moves beyond the state of the art from several angles: first, it allows for the expression of certainties with respect to the predicted states of the other agents. Second, it allows the prediction during a substantial number of time steps in the future, thereby utilizing the theory of mind model multiple times. The approach has been applied to the domain of fighter pilots whereby intelligent opponents are developed to facilitate dedicated training for F16 fighter pilots.     

An analytical solution for the consideration of the effect of adjacent fuel elements

A new analytical method is described to deal with the Leakage Environmental Effect – the influence of the adjacent fuel element on the cross-section preparation. The method is discussed and classified in comparison with other methods given in the literature. The new method is based on the analytical solution of the two group diffusion equation for two adjacent fuel elements. The specifics needed to create a highly efficient analytical solution are discussed. The very promising quality of the results for this highly efficient method is demonstrated on a homogeneous test case and on several heterogeneous combinations of two fuel elements described in the PWR MOX/UO2 CORE TRANSIENT BENCHMARK. One important advantage is the unproblematic extension of the solution to two-dimensional problems, since the analytical solution for each fuel element will be of the identical structure. Only the filled in data for the four fuel element quarters will vary. The coupling of the fuel elements does not affect the exponential solutions, only the constants attached to the single exponentials. Thus, the coupling will be solved in a system of linear equations.     

Entwicklung einer kontinuierlichen Mikrowellen‐Vakuumtrocknungsanlage mit hexagonalem Verfahrensraum

A continuous microwave vacuum drying processor with a hexagonal cross‐section of the cavity was constructed. Due to the geometry of the cavity and the continuous movement of the product, homogeneous microwave power absorption of the product can be favored. By the expansion and simultaneous dehydration of non‐expanded, starch‐based extrudates, the applicability of the constructed processor could be shown.     

Ageing in the LHCb outer tracker: Aromatic hydrocarbons and wire cleaning

The LHCb Outer Tracker straw tubes have shown to suffer from gain loss after irradiation in the laboratory at moderate intensities. Under irradiation an insulating layer is formed on the anode wire. The ageing is caused by contamination of the counting gas due to outgassing of the plastifier di-isopropyl-naphthalene in araldite AY103-1 used at construction. This paper presents irradiation results with and without the plastifier, together with the mass spectra of the glue samples. In addition, the effects of wire heating and large currents are presented.     

Analysis of the influence of different arrangements for ZrH moderator material on the performance of a SFR core

Different arrangements for the development of a fuel element design with reduced sodium void achieved by the use of the moderating material ZrH are investigated. In the study, the sodium void effect and the major feedback coefficients are analyzed. Besides the feedback coefficients, the influence on the operational parameters like neutron flux distribution, power distribution, and burnup distribution is investigated for the different possibilities of arranging the moderating material in the fuel element. Additionally, the fuel cycle parameters—breeding and minor actinide production—are analyzed. For a first evaluation of the behavior during transients, the influence of temperature changes in the ZrH is studied.     

Eine Echtzeit-Online-Methode zur Beurteilung der künstlichen Grundwasseranreicherung und Grundwasserentnahme

Grundwasser - Eine nachhaltige Wasserversorgung in urbanen Gebieten stellt aufgrund des Nutzungsdrucks sowie vielfältiger anthropogener Einträge eine große Herausforderung dar....     

Business sans frontieres? Cultural diversity and the engineer inEurope

Business relationships between people of differing cultures, even within the confines of Europe, are fraught with opportunities for misunderstanding. The UK engineer doing business with mainland Europe is likely to be confronted with many differences in business customs, conventions and etiquette. Many of these are cultural. Indeed, it is said that about 20% of a business relationship is based on cultural human and interpersonal aspects. This 20% can make a negotiation succeed or fail. Time is one of these aspects. Will the British engineer be able to organise his/her business and schedule appointments in the same way as at home? The Spanish or French business partner may well have a completely different perception of time and working style. In many respects the cultural divergence corresponds to the geographic north/south divide in Europe. The author concentrates on a number of the social, cultural and linguistic factors, and offer some conclusions and solutions for the engineer     

Competitative adsorption of two dissolved organics onto activated carbon—II: Adsorption kinetics in batch reactors

Bi-solute adsorption of dissolved organics by activated carbon was studied in a finite bath system. The batch tests with strongly adsorbable species show that at low concentrations (X < 0.1 mmol/1) only external mass transfer resistance is rate-determining. For higher concentrations internal mass transfer becomes increasingly important. This behavior indicates that the diffusional process within the particle occurs predominantly in the adsorbed phase.Bi-solute calculations were performed, using only single-solute data. Systems with differing equilibrium behavior, but similar diffusive properties of both solutes, were described adequately by a model which takes into account diffusion in the liquid-filled pores and in the adsorbed phase, as well as external mass transfer. Deviations between measured and predicted rates can be observed for systems with large differences in the mobility of the diffusing molecules, or if counter diffusion inside the particles occurs. It is likely that the discrepancies in these cases are caused by diffusional interactions between the two different species in the adsorbed phase.