Finite element formulation by parametrized hybrid variational principles: Variable stiffness and removal of locking

In this paper, a new one-parameter hybrid functional is obtained as a special case of Felippa and Militello's parametrized variational principles. The functional contains stress, strain and compatible displacement as the primary fields. It will be proved that some of the existing variable stiffness formulations fall into the framework of the new functional. Novel applications of the functional are also suggested, mainly for removal of locking. Solid element, destabilized 8-node and stabilized 9-plate elements are designed. All of them can handle thin plate/shell analysis. In particular, a prominent method is devised for constructing stabilization vectors. The vectors are explicit linear functions of the nodal coordinates and can be implemented without resorting to Gram–Schmidt orthogonalization or numerical integration. Results of the new elements in popular benchmark tests are encouraging.     

Optical local area network technologies

To utilize the large bandwidth of optical fiber, optical LANs must employ architectures that fundamentally differ from current single-channel LAN architectures. With computer processor speeds continuing to grow exponentially and multimedia applications growing even faster, there is a strong need for higher-speed local area networks (LANs) that can handle the traffic generated by tomorrow's LAN users. Optical fiber is well suited for high-speed traffic transport, but the busty nature of computer traffic and large number of users makes it difficult to utilize the fiber's capacity in LANs. The incorporation of multiple payload channels in future LANs is seen as a necessity; WDM is a good candidate for achieving this. The rapidly improving optical component technologies allow more flexible WDM architecture designs for various emerging applications     

Condom use: A self-efficacy model.

A survey of heterosexually active college students gathered information about condom use, self-efficacy (SE), outcome expectancies, sexual attitudes, peer group influences, AIDS knowledge, and a perceived vulnerability to AIDS. On the basis of A. Bandura's (1986) social-cognitive theory, a structural model with SE as the central mediator was formulated and evaluated with LISREL. This model explained 46% of the variance in condom use from judgments of SE and effects attributable to peers and 53% of the variance in SE from outcome expectancies and peer group influences. Sexual attitudes, AIDS knowledge, and perceived vulnerability did not predict condom use. Most students were well-informed about HIV transmission but reported not feeling at risk, even though many engaged in risky sexual behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

黑河干流中游地区耗水量变化的历史分析

黑河流域水资源极其匮乏，加之地区上的配置不均衡和中游地区水土资源的过度开发，导致黑河下游出现了严重的生态环境问题，已影响到我国北方广大地区生态环境质量，受到国家的高度重视和全社会的广泛关注。黑河水资源开发利用主要集中在中游地区，该区是全国重要的商品粮、蔬菜和经济作物生产基地之一，耗水量占流域耗水量的85％以上，是黑河的主要耗水区和径流利用区。利用黑河上游控制站莺落峡站和中游控制站正义峡站水文资料，分析了黑河中游耗水量的变化，结果表明：20世纪80年代以前黑河中游耗水量在4．4亿m^3左右，比较稳定；进入20世纪80年代以后，耗水量明显增加，80年代耗水量比70年代以前增加了1．97亿－2.49亿m^3;90年代耗水量又比80年代增加了1.64亿m^3左右；80年代以来流域耗水量呈明显增加的趋势，这是以人类活动影响为主的结果。     

高海拔长日低温条件下选择水稻光温敏核不育系的效果和方法研究

在高海拔长日低温、低海拔日高温、低海拔长日高温和人工气候室长光低温条件下，进行了光温敏不育水稻分离世代的不育株出现频率以及选择实用型不育系的效果和选择方法的研究。     

Series analysis of valid sequences in calculation of synchronisation delay for T-codes

An analysis of the series encountered in Higgie's algorithm of computing average synchronisation delay for T-codes is presented. Convergence for the limiting case of those series is established and an analytical method is developed to verify a result previously found by simulation. These lead to significant improvement in the algorithm, facilitating the search for optimal T-codes for any information source.     

A New Variable Diffusion Drying Model for the Second Falling Rate Period of Paddy Dried in a Rapid Bin Dryer

The objectives of this article is to propose a new drying model for the second falling rate period known as the variable diffusion controlled period that follows after the first falling rate period and to propose a new method to determine the second critical moisture content that separates these two periods. Experimental work on paddy drying at minimum fluidization velocity was carried out in a rapid bin dryer. The effects of operating temperatures (60-120°C) and bed depths (2-6 cm) on the paddy drying characteristics were investigated. It was found that the normalized drying rate of paddy was proportional to the normalized moisture content in the first falling rate period but in the second falling rate period, the normalized drying rate of the material varies exponentially with the normalized moisture content. The different relationship between the normalized drying rate and the normalized moisture content in the first and second falling rate periods indicate that two different mechanism of moisture transport are at work. The new exponential model of the second falling rate period and the linear model of the first falling rate period were found to fit the experimental data very well. Derivation from variable diffusion equation shows that the linear model is the result of constant diffusion coefficient whereas the new exponential model is the result of linear diffusion coefficient. This also implies that the first falling rate period is a constant diffusion controlled period and the second falling rate period is a variable diffusion controlled period. In addition, drying kinetics data of a drying process that fits the exponential model over a very slow drying period will show that the drying process is under the effect of a linear diffusion coefficient. It was also found that the proposed new method to determine the second critical moisture content that distinguishes between the first and second falling rate periods by using a sudden change in the value of the drying rate gradient to a much lower value at that point is more rigorous and yet simpler than the method of determining the specific location of the receding drying boundary since it is based on the behavior of the actual drying kinetic data.     

Preparation of cross-section specimens for transmission electron microscopy from alpha-Al2O3/Ni solid state bonded bicrystal interfaces.

The technique which is described combines the advantages of the techniques formerly proposed in the literature in each stage of the preparation of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) specimens including a single metal-ceramic interface. It allows easy handling of the thin foils in spite of their brittleness. Preferential thinning of the softer material in the two-phase foil is prevented, and both sides of the interface are thinned down to comparable thicknesses. The nickel-alumina bicrystal interface observed in TEM is neat and free from any reaction layer. This method is easily adaptable to other metal-ceramic systems.     

Transmission outage models for sub-transmission network reliabilityevaluation

Methods are presented for modeling the failure and repair of transmission equipment and their impact on subtransmission system reliability. The methods account for arbitrary load variation and nonexponential downtime distribution for components. The effects of single independent outages common-mode outages and independent overlapping outages are studied. The results are used to identify conditions when nonexponentially distributed downtimes can lead to significant errors if the method of analysis does not take this factor into account     

Beyond Wiener–Askey Expansions: Handling Arbitrary PDFs

In this paper we present a Multi-Element generalized Polynomial Chaos (ME-gPC) method to deal with stochastic inputs with arbitrary probability measures. Based on the decomposition of the random space of the stochastic inputs, we construct numerically a set of orthogonal polynomials with respect to a conditional probability density function (PDF) in each element and subsequently implement generalized Polynomial Chaos (gPC) locally. Numerical examples show that ME-gPC exhibits both p- and h-convergence for arbitrary probability measures