Data Parallel Implementation of Belief Propagation in Factor Graphs on Multi-core Platforms

We investigate data parallel techniques for belief propagation in acyclic factor graphs on multi-core systems. Belief propagation is a key inference algorithm in factor graph, a probabilistic graphical model that has found applications in many domains. In this paper, we explore data parallelism for basic operations over the potential tables in belief propagation. Data parallel techniques for these table operations are developed for shared memory platforms. We then propose a complete belief propagation algorithm using these table operations to perform exact inference in factor graphs. The proposed algorithms are implemented on state-of-the-art multi-socket multi-core systems with additional NUMA-aware optimizations. Our proposed algorithms exhibit good scalability using a representative set of factor graphs. On a four-socket Intel Westmere-EX system with 40 cores, we achieve 39.5 $\times $ speedup for the table operations and 39 $\times $ speedup for the complete algorithm using factor graphs with large potential tables.     

Wet oxidation of wastewater containing hydrocarbons by novel supported Pd catalysts

Pd catalysts supported on TiO₂, ZrO₂, ZSM-5, MCM-41 and activated carbon were used in catalytic wet oxidation of hydrocarbons such as phenol, m-cresol and m-xylene. It was found that the Pd/TiO₂ catalyst was highly effective in the wet oxidation of hydrocarbon. The activities of catalysts with various hydrocarbon species, catalyst support, oxidation state of catalyst performed in a 3-phase slurry reactor show that reaction on Pd surface is more favorable than that in aqueous phase and that the active site is oxidized Pd in catalytic wet air oxidation of hydrocarbons. Based on the experimental results, a plausible reaction mechanism of wet oxidation of hydrocarbons catalyzed over Pd/TiO₂ catalyst was proposed. This catalyst is superior to other oxide catalysts because it suppressed the formation of hardly-degradable organic intermediates and polymer.     

Oxidative stability of high-fatty acid rice bran oil at different stages of refining

The contents of natural antioxidants and the oxidative stability of rice bran oils at different refining steps were determined. Tocopherols and oryzanols were constant in crude and degummed oils but decreased in alkali-refined, bleached and deodorized oils. The process of degumming, alkali-refining, bleaching and deodorization removed 34% of the tocopherols and 51% of the oryzanols. During storage of deodorized oil for 7 wk, 34% of the tocopherols and 19% of the oryzanols were lost. The maximum weight gain, peroxide value and anisidine value were obtained from alkali-refined oil during storage. The order of oxidation stability was crude ≥ degummed > bleached = deodorized > alkali-refined oil.     

Decane reforming reaction over Pt,Ir, Pt-Ir and Pt-Ni bimetallic catalysts supported on Y-zeolite

Pt, Ir, Pt-Ir and Pt-Ni bimetallic catalysts supported on NaY- and HY-zeolite were examined as a catalyst for producing gasoline from n-decane via simultaneous reforming and cracking. The catalysts were prepared by calcining and reducing metal-ion-exchanged Y-zeolite with O₂ and H₂ at 300°C., respectively. Thus prepared catalysts were characterized by hydrogen chemisorption and temperature programmed desorption of ammonia. Pt-Ni/NaY and Pt-Ir/NaY bimetallic catalysts offered the improved activity maintenance compared to Pt/NaY monometallic catalyst. The catalysts supported on HY-zeolite showed higher selectivity toward C₅–C₇ and skeletal isomers of C₅–C₇- and C₈–C₁₀ than those of the catalysts supported on NaY-zeolite, which is a desired characteristic for increasing octane value of gasoline these days. However, deactivation with reaction time was much more pronounced on HY-zeolite-supported catalyst. When the catalyst was prcsulfided with H,S, the stability with time on stream was enhanced and the selectivity was quite different from that of the catalyst before presulfiding. The acidity of Y-zeolite and presulfiding of catalyst greatly influenced the activny, selectivity and stability of Pt, Ir, Pt-Ir and Pt-Ni bimetallic catalysts supported on Y-zeolite in n-decane reforming reaction.     

Effect of temperature on polymer migration II: Concentration equation

Polymer migration is a generally well-known phenomenon in a flow field, and it has been verified that the sources of such phenomena are nonhomogeneity of the flow, concentration effects and hydrodynamic interactions between the polymer molecules. In addition, temperature effects were found to be another source of polymer migration. The Langevin equation for a polymer molecule was first derived from single chain dynamics using a kinetic theory for the bead-spring elastic harmonic dumbbell model, as described in part I (reference [1]). In this paper the diffusion equation and concentration profile of the polymer molecules induced by a temperature gradient are obtained from the Fokker-Planck equation. A new differential operator is also introduced to calculate the concentration profile. From the concentration equation obtained in the general flow geometry, we find that in dilute polymer solution there are significant effects on the polymer migration not only due to the nonhomogeneity of the flow field but also due to temperature gradients.     

Vitamin A microencapsulation within poly(methyl methacrylate)‐g‐polyethylenimine microspheres: Localized proton buffering effect on vitamin A stability

To stabilize vitamin A in a cosmetic/dermatological formulation, we present here a new encapsulation method based on polymer microspheres having a localized “proton‐buffering” capacity. Poly(methyl methacrylate)‐g‐polyethylenimine (PMMA‐g‐PEI) was prepared by direct condensation grafting of PEI onto poly(methyl methacrylate‐co‐methyl acrylic acid). The reaction was confirmed by FT‐IR analysis showing the amide vibration at 1,550 cm^?1. Elemental analysis indicated that the weight content of the grafted PEI was 1.6% (w/w). Vitamin A was encapsulated into PMMA‐g‐PEI microspheres by using an oil‐in‐water (O/W) single emulsion method. The presence of PEI moiety dramatically improved the chemical stability of vitamin A in microspheres. Vitamin A encapsulated within PMMA‐g‐PEI microspheres maintained 91% of its initial activity after 30‐day incubation at 40°C, while only maintaining 60% within plain PMMA microspheres. This study demonstrates that proton‐buffering within hydrophobic polymer matrix is a useful strategy for stabilizing “acid‐labile” active ingredients. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 92: 517–522, 2004     

Statistical properties of interparticle/void distance for amorphous plastics toughening

Statistical properties of interparticle/void distance (ID) for various particle/void and dispersion types are studied in relation with toughening of plastics using computer‐generated three‐dimensional models. Particle/void size groups adopted were either of constant diameter or of log‐normal distribution. Particles/voids were dispersed at uniform‐random or flocculated with multiple clusters. It was found that IDs are (a) of approximately Gaussian distribution for particles/voids of either a constant diameter or a log‐normal distribution, when they are dispersed at uniform‐random, but (b) not of Gaussian distribution for particle/void sizes of bimodal log‐normal distribution, nor for flocculated log‐normal distribution of particles/voids dispersed with multiple clusters. It was also found that the degree of ID uniformity for a single group of log‐normally sized particles/voids is not sensitive to standard deviation of particle/void size. Mixing effect on ID properties using two groups of log‐normally distributed particles/voids with similar mean particle/void diameters was simulated. It was found that, when a significant amount (36 vol %) of particles/voids of a small mean and standard deviation of ID was mixed with a group of particles/voids of a large mean and standard deviation of ID, mean and standard deviation of ID for the mixture were not substantially lower than those of the group of particles/voids of the large mean and standard deviation of ID. It was also found that the degree of ID uniformity for the mixture of the two groups was lower than those of individual groups, indicating that the mixing has deleterious effect on toughening. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 4256–4262, 2006     

A novel layered Li [Li0.12NizMg0.32−zMn0.56]O2 cathode material for lithium-ion batteries

Layered Li[Li_0.12Ni_zMg_0.32−zMn_0.56]O₂ oxide cathodes containing lithium atoms in the transition metal layers were synthesized and characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), galvanostatic cycling, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The Li[Li_0.12Ni_zMg_0.32−zMn_0.56]O₂ cathodes deliver a specific discharge capacity of about 190 mAh/g at room temperature and 236 mAh/g at 55 °C when cycled between 2.7 and 4.6 V versus Li/Li⁺. Excellent capacity retention and smooth potential profiles at room and elevated temperatures over extended cycles suggest that this material does not convert into a spinel structure.     

Manufacturing and foaming of high melt viscosity of polypropylene by using electron beam radiation technology

The high melt viscosity of polypropylene was studied by grafting bifunctional monomers, 1,6‐hexanediol diacrylate (HDDA) and tripropylene glycol diacrylate (TPGDA), onto homopolypropylene (HPP) and random ter‐polypropylene (RTPP) under electron‐beam irradiation. Creation of the high‐melt‐viscosity polypropylene was possible at low radiation dosage and low monomer content, under a prohibition of both radiation degradation and homopolymerization. TPGDA monomer was more effective in increasing the melt viscosity of HPP compared with RTPP, whereas HDDA monomer was more effective for enhancing the melt viscosity of RTPP. Such different effects of monomers on melt viscosity may arise from different monomer structures, namely, TPGDA has additional three methyl groups, but HDDA has no methyl groups. Electron‐beam radiation technology, on an increase of the melt viscosity, was much more effective in HPP than RTPP, when compared with virgin polymers. Modified RTPP and HPP with high melt viscosity were capable of foaming with numerous fine cells, of which the modified HPP with 1.5 mmol TPGDA and 0.5 kGy could create more spherical foam cells and its bending strength was 1.5 times more than that of the foamed RTPP. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 46:431–437, 2006. © 2006 Society of Plastics Engineers.     

Characteristics of selective adsorption using D-phenylalanine imprinted terpolymer beads

A D-Phenylalanine (Phe) imprinted terpolymer, Polyacrylonitrile-Poly(acrylic acid)-Poly(acryl amide) (Poly(AN-AA-AAm)) bead was prepared by the wet-phase inversion method. Acrylamide (AAm) and acrylic acid (AA) were used as the functional monomer and acrylonitrile (AN) was used as a physical cross linker. The characteristics of selective adsorption by the D-Phe imprinted terpolymer beads were investigated at high concentrations of Phe racemate solution, 1 g Phe/L, and 10 g Phe/L. The adsorption selectivity of the D-Phe imprinted terpolymer beads prepared by anin-situ implanting method reached 0.82 and 0.8 at 1.0 g and 10 g Phe/L racemate solution, respectively, and almost all of the adsorbed D-Phe and about 43% of the adsorbed L-Phe were desorbed by 4% acetic acid. The uptake capacities of the terpolymer beads were maintained for several repeated batches.