Displaying scientific graphics on computer

Complex scientific graphics that reproduce well on paper may be difficult to display on computer because of the limited size and resolution of standard desktop monitors. This paper describes several methods for computer display of such large, dense graphics that preserve the usability of the graphics and support the ways users need to interact with the figures. Building on a simple structure of base panels and overlays joined by hypertext links, these methods provide ways of reorganizing figures into smaller graphical units that can be displayed easily, yet communicate all the information the original figure was designed to convey     

Nanoparticles and Their Effective Use in the Technology of Highly Concentrated Binding Suspensions (HCBS) and Refractory Castables. Part 1

General aspects (including terminology) related to the use of ultradisperse particulates (nanosystems) are discussed. The important role of nanoparticles in the technology of highly concentrated binding suspensions (HCBS) and refractory castables is emphasized. Using nanoparticles provides a route toward improving the rheotechnologic properties of HCBS and HCBS-based molding mixtures as well as the structure and service properties of the end product.     

On the crystal structure and magnetic properties of the ternary rare earth compounds RETSb2 with RE rare earth and T Ni, Pd, Cu and Au

Novel compounds RETSb₂ have been prepared and characterized for T Cu (RE rare earth from La to Lu), Ni (RE La to Ho), Pd (RE La to Tb) and Au (RE La to Sm). From X-ray powder diffraction analyses all compounds were found to crystallize as the ZrCuSi₂ type. Magnetic susceptibilities were generally measured in the temperature range from 4 to 100 K. YCuSb₂ and LaTSb_z are temperature-independent paramagnets. RETSb₂ compounds are found to order antiferromagnetically below T = 20 K. PrPdSb₂ and TbPdSb₂ undergo metamagnetic transitions, whereas PrCuSb₂ and ErCuSb₂ are simple ferromagnets. The Sm-containing compounds are typical Van Vleck paramagnets owing to the closely spaced multiplets.     

Evaluating the performance of flood-d: a tool for efficientlyreplicating Internet information services

Internet information services replicate their servers to improve availability, response time, and fault tolerance. Traditional replication algorithms do not address the scale and administrative decentralization of today's internetworks. We have proposed and implemented a scalable and efficient tool to replicate wide-area, autonomously managed services. We target replication degrees of thousands of weakly consistent replicas. The main goal of our replication tool is to make traditional replication services scale in today's exponentially growing, autonomously managed internetworks. Our tool, which we call flood-d, allows servers to be organized in multiple replication groups. For each replication group, flood-d builds a logical update topology that is resilient to server failure, and tries to minimize the communication cost and propagation time needed to transmit updates. Flood-d's logical topologies are computed based on communication latency and available network bandwidth. This paper describes flood-d, and presents simulation results obtained when using flood-d to extend existing replication algorithms. Our results show the gains of organizing service replicas into multiple, smaller replication groups, and using network-cognizant logical topologies to propagate updates. We argue that existing as well as emerging Internet information services can benefit from flood-d's services     

Polarization mode dispersion characterization of single-modeoptical fiber using backscattering technique

This paper presents a completely new method able to characterize polarization mode dispersion (PMD) properties of randomly birefringent single-mode fibers, using polarization sensitive backscattering technique. We show analytical relationships between evolution of polarization state of backscattered signal with respect to state of polarization of forward one. Our technique allows one to measure differential group delay, beat length, and correlation length at the same time over long single-mode fibers using only one fiber end. Experimental data fit very well with numerical results, confirming the capability of our technique for fast routine characterization of PMD during cabling, before and after installation     

Four-wire current-regulated PWM voltage converter

Shunt active power filters are connected in parallel with the electricity supply network. If the AC mains has a neutral conductor, it is desirable to compensate the mains harmonic currents zero-sequence components. This can be achieved with a four-wire pulsewidth modulation voltage converter connected to the AC mains. In this case, the three-phase and the neutral AC currents must be controlled. A generalization of the space-vector-based current controller in the αβo coordinate system is presented in this paper. With this current controller, all the current harmonic systems of positive, negative, and zero sequence can be injected by the converter and, thus, compensated on the AC mains. The system is also useful to compensate unbalanced currents of fundamental frequency. A useful benefit of this system is that it is possible to control the converter four-wire currents with equal hysteresis errors. Simulation and experimental results are presented