Enhanced goal‐oriented error assessment and computational strategies in adaptive reduced basis solver for stochastic problems

This work focuses on providing accurate low‐cost approximations of stochastic finite elements simulations in the framework of linear elasticity. In a previous work, an adaptive strategy was introduced as an improved Monte‐Carlo method for multi‐dimensional large stochastic problems. We provide here a complete analysis of the method including a new enhanced goal‐oriented error estimator and estimates of CPU (computational processing unit) cost gain. Technical insights of these two topics are presented in details, and numerical examples show the interest of these new developments. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Characteristics of WWTP sludge after drying in greenhouse for agricultural purposes

The sludge generated by sewage treatment which meets regulatory standards can be used in agriculture. With this understanding, the focus of this study is the evaluation of the agricultural characteristics and inorganic substances in excess activated sludge, which was subjected to drying in a greenhouse. The variables (factor) evaluated during the drying process were: type of sludge (digested or not digested), addition of lime to the sludge, and the physical layout and rotation of sludge in the greenhouse. The parameters monitored for this assessment were moisture, volatile solids and pH. The greenhouse cover and sides were made of translucent plastic to allow the penetration of solar radiation and prevent water from entering. A impermeable floor was used. The sludge was generated in sewage treatment plants located in the metropolitan region of Grande Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil. The solar drying of wastewater sludge in a greenhouse presented satisfactory results.     

Efficient GPU-based parallelization of solvation calculation for the blind docking problem

The Journal of Supercomputing - Molecular docking techniques are widely used in computational drug discovery. Most of these techniques simulate the way that a ligand interacts with a protein target...     

Twenty Years Beyond the Turing Test: Moving Beyond the Human Judges Too

Minds and Machines - In the last 20 years the Turing test has been left further behind by new developments in artificial intelligence. At the same time, however, these developments have revived...     

Policy reforms and productivity change in the judiciary system: a cost function approach applied to time series of the Dutch judiciary system between 1980 and 2016

The judiciary is constantly undergoing change in order to respond to a wide range of social developments that have brought the sector under increasing pressure. In order to deal with the constant call for enhancing budgets, different policy measures have been taken to downsize the appeal to the judiciary and to improve productivity. One of the central questions hereby is whether these measures have actually contributed to a more productive sector. This paper focuses on the development of productivity in the judiciary and how policy measures have affected productivity. In this empirical analysis, we apply a cost function model to time series data of the Dutch judiciary between 1980 and 2016. The results show a dramatic decline of productivity over the entire period (?50%), in spite of various policy measures. The year 2001 can be regarded as a turning point, as since then productivity has remained more or less stable. It seems that this is largely due to the establishment of the Council for the Judiciary and the associated increase in (financial and operational) autonomy for the judiciary. Another striking result is that technical change is biased toward using more personnel through time.     

Prediction of Generation of High- and Low-Angle Grain Boundaries (HAGB and LAGB) During Severe Plastic Deformation

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A - It is well known that a balance between the generation of low-angle and high-angle grain boundaries (LABG and HAGB) is achieved in materials undergoing...