Nogood-FC for solving partitionable constraint satisfaction problems

Many real problems can be naturally modelled as constraint satisfaction problems (CSPs). However, some of these problems are of a distributed nature, which requires problems of this kind to be modelled as distributed constraint satisfaction problems (DCSPs). In this work, we present a distributed model for solving CSPs. Our technique carries out a partition over the constraint network using a graph partitioning software; after partitioning, each sub-CSP is arranged into a DFS-tree CSP structure that is used as a hierarchy of communication by our distributed algorithm. We show that our distributed algorithm outperforms well-known centralized algorithms solving partitionable CSPs.     

Ordinal regression by a gravitational model in the field of educational data mining

Educational data mining (EDM) is a research area where the goal is to develop data mining methods to examine data critically from educational environments. Traditionally, EDM has addressed the following problems: clustering, classification, regression, anomaly detection and association rule mining. In this paper, the ordinal regression (OR) paradigm, is introduced in the field of EDM. The goal of OR problems is the classification of items in an ordinal scale. For instance, the prediction of students' performance in categories (where the different grades could be ordered according to A ? B ? C ? D) is a classical example of an OR problem. The EDM community has not yet explored this paradigm (despite the importance of these problems in the field of EDM). Furthermore, an amenable and interpretable OR model based on the concept of gravitation is proposed. The model is an extension of a recently proposed gravitational model that tackles imbalanced nominal classification problems. The model is carefully adapted to the ordinal scenario and validated with four EDM datasets. The results obtained were compared with state‐of‐the‐art OR algorithms and nominal classification ones. The proposed models can be used to better understand the learning–teaching process in higher education environments.     

HFOLD - A program package for calculating two-body MSSM Higgs decays at full one-loop level

HFOLD (Higgs Full One Loop Decays) is a Fortran program package for calculating all MSSM Higgs two-body decay widths and the corresponding branching ratios at full one-loop level. The package is done in the SUSY Parameter Analysis convention and supports the SUSY Les Houches Accord input and output format.

Program summary

Program title: HFOLDCatalogue identifier: AEJG_v1_0Program summary URL:http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/summaries/AEJG_v1_0.htmlProgram obtainable from: CPC Program Library, Queen?s University, Belfast, N. IrelandLicensing provisions: Standard CPC licence, http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/licence/licence.htmlNo. of lines in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 340 621No. of bytes in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 1 760 051Distribution format: tar.gzProgramming language: Fortran 77Computer: Workstation, PCOperating system: LinuxRAM: 524 288 000 BytesClassification: 11.1External routines: LoopTools 2.2 (http://www.feynarts.de/looptools/), SLHALib 2.2 (http://www.feynarts.de/slha/). The LoopTools code is included in the distribution package.Nature of problem: A future high-energy e⁺e⁻ linear collider will be the best environment for the precise measurements of masses, cross sections, branching ratios, etc. Experimental accuracies are expected at the per-cent down to the per-mile level. These must be matched from the theoretical side. Therefore higher order calculations are mandatory.Solution method: This program package calculates all MSSM Higgs two-body decay widths and the corresponding branching ratios at full one-loop level. The renormalization is done in the DR scheme following the SUSY Parameter Analysis convention. The program supports the SUSY Les Houches Accord input and output format.Running time: The example provided takes only a few seconds to run.     

New multichannel electron energy analyzer with cylindrically symmetrical electrostatic field

This article discusses an electron energy analyzer with a cylindrically symmetrical electrostatic field, designed for rapid Auger analysis. The device was designed and built. The best parameters of the analyzer were estimated and then experimentally verified.     

Application of polymerase chain reaction for the correlation of Salmonella serovars recovered from greyhound feces with their diet

The polymerase chain reaction was employed to correlate Salmonella serovars isolated from fecal material of greyhounds suffering from gastroenteritis with those isolated from the diet fed to the greyhounds prior to onset of diarrhea. Kennels around the Abilene, Kansas, area were contacted and supplied with materials needed to collect a portion of the diet each day. With the onset of diarrhea, the kennels were instructed to ship the fecal material and diet from the previous 10 days to the laboratory for testing. Forty-one fecal samples and corresponding diets were screened for Salmonella, Clostridium perfringens, Campylobacter jejuni, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus intermedius, and pathogenic (piliated) Escherichia coli by direct culture using standard procedures. The fecal material was also screened for coronavirus and parvovirus using electron microscopy. Thirty-five "normal" fecal samples were screened for all of the above mentioned microorganisms as a control. In addition, the fecal material was screened for E. coli verotoxins I and II and clostridial enterotoxins. A total of 61 Salmonella isolates were recovered from the 41 samples of feces and diet submitted for testing; 31 were recovered from the feces and 30 from the diet. Four Salmonella isolates were recovered from the normal fecal samples. Results obtained by PCR, plasmid profiles, antigenic analysis, and antibiogram profiles indicated that 16 of the 31 isolates recovered from the fecal material were the same strain as that recovered from the diet.     

Correlation of microhardness and morphology in injection-moulded poly(ethylene terephtalate)

Microindentation hardness has been applied to a series of injection-moulded poly(ethylene terephtalate) samples prepared using a range of mould temperatures, T _c. The morphology of the samples was characterized by X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry. Depending on T _c, it is shown that microhardness is lower at the surface than in the core of the mouldings. Results are discussed in terms of the volume fraction of spherulites filling the mouldings which is shown to be dependent upon T _c. The influence of an annealing treatment on the properties of the mouldings is examined. The microhardness values are correlated with the thickness and with the surface free energy of the lamellar crystals. The results obtained indicate that increasing annealing temperatures first leads to an increase and then to a sudden decrease of hardness. The latter can be associated with the changes occurring in the number of defects on the crystal's surface.     

The sputtering behaviour of calcite

Optical and electron microscopy were used to study the effect of bombarding carbonate single crystals (mainly calcite) with argon ions from a cold cathode d.c. ion source operated at 5 kV. The sputtering yield, S, and the thickness , of the amorphous surface layer formed as a result of ion irradiation were the two quantities which were determined. The electron microscope method for measuring these parameters employed simple tilting and diffraction operations and it should therefore be applicable to other types of crystal. The variation of S as a function of the angle of incidence of the ion beam to the crystal surface was measured, with the crystal rotated to minimize possible channelling effects. In separate experiments it was found that channelling occurred along the 11¯20 and ¯4401 directions and that for these directions S was greatly reduced, while was large. The temperature of the target crystal was also shown to be an important factor in determining S and for calcite. This temperature effect is attributed to the indirect effect of chemical decomposition, with loss of carbon dioxide, rather than sputtering sensu stricto.     

Impact assessment of odours emitted by a wastewater treatment plant

Complaints from the Domingos Martins population about sewage odours in the city made the district attorney order an impact assessment of the odours emitted by the city wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). This study comprised various techniques, models and population surveys. In 2007, an odour emission model proved that the main hydrogen sulphide emitter was the aeration tank of the WWTP (13.5 g h(-1)) and such emissions, according to CALPUFF model, should be perceived in the whole Domingos Martins city centre area. In this area, 58% of those interviewed were annoyed by the WWTP odours. However, in 2009, the odour monitoring panel recorded few odour occurrences. A second population survey showed that hereafter only 20% of those interviewed were annoyed by the WWTP emissions. Odour emission and dispersion models run with 2010 data proved a drastic reduction of the WWTP aeration tank emissions and consequently the city centre was not bothered by WWTP emissions anymore. The odour emission reduction was due to the modification of the WWTP aeration tank system. Despite the odour emission reduction, houses located southeast of the WWTP were still annoyed by sewage odours. However, in this part of the town, other sources of sewage odours have been found.     

A gantry-based tri-modality system for bioluminescence tomography

A gantry-based tri-modality system that combines bioluminescence (BLT), diffuse optical (DOT), and x-ray computed tomography (XCT) into the same setting is presented here. The purpose of this system is to perform bioluminescence tomography using a multi-modality imaging approach. As parts of this hybrid system, XCT and DOT provide anatomical information and background optical property maps. This structural and functional a priori information is used to guide and restrain bioluminescence reconstruction algorithm and ultimately improve the BLT results. The performance of the combined system is evaluated using multi-modality phantoms. In particular, a cylindrical heterogeneous multi-modality phantom that contains regions with higher optical absorption and x-ray attenuation is constructed. We showed that a 1.5 mm diameter bioluminescence inclusion can be localized accurately with the functional a priori information while its source strength can be recovered more accurately using both structural and the functional a priori information.     

Dynamics of flow of c-axis sapphire

The deformation dynamics in uniaxial tension of c-axis sapphire were investigated at temperatures from 1600 to 1850° C in constant strain-rate tests from 0.00007 min^–1 to 0.0036 min^–1. The activation parameters are consistent with thermally-activated overcoming of the Peierls barrier as the rate-controlling process for flow. From SEM, TEM, and HVTEM examinations of deformed specimens it is deduced that the active slip plane is of the {¯4223}-type. The dislocation structure suggests that the 0 ¯110 directions are the most likely slip directions.