Optimized silyl ester diblock methacrylic copolymers: A new class of binders for chemically active antifouling coatings

This work focuses on the assessment of the erosion properties and antifouling (AF) performance of silyl ester copolymer-based coatings through laboratory and field tests. Silyl ester diblock copolymers were synthesized via the reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization and were selected as binders for developing copper-free chemically active coatings. AF coatings were subsequently prepared using biocides (Sea-Nine™ 211, Preventol^® A4S, and zinc pyrithione). Laboratory-based bioassays, targeting the growth of selected microorganisms (bacteria and microalgae) and barnacle settlement, highlighted that the silyl ester methacrylic-based binders did not inhibit the growth of microorganisms, are essentially non-toxic to nauplii and reduced the settlement of Amphibalanus amphitrite cyprids. The corresponding biocidal coatings are potent toward bacteria and diatoms but were demonstrated to be toxic against the barnacle larvae. Field test results showed variations with geographical locations: in sub-tropical area, the silyl ester methacrylic-based coatings failed to inhibit the settlement of barnacles; however, field tests performed in Mediterranean Sea for 18 months demonstrated that biocidal silyl ester methacrylic-based coatings were promising candidates.     

Fuzzy inference systems: An integrated modeling environment for collaboration between expert knowledge and data using FisPro

The present paper aims to demonstrate the interest of fuzzy inference systems in system modeling when human interaction is important. It discusses the originality of FIS and their capability to integrate expertise and rule learning from data into a single framework, analyzing their place relatively to concurrent approaches. An open source software implementation is presented, with a focus on the useful features for modeling. Two real world case studies are presented to illustrate the approach and the software utility.     

Students’ expectations of,and experiences in e-learning: Their relation to learning achievements and course satisfaction

Within only a few years, the use of e-learning has increased rapidly in Austria. In certain subjects, up to 60% of university students report using e-learning platforms at least ‘sometimes’ or ‘frequently’ (Unger & Wroblewski, 2006). Yet, which aspects of e-learning do students consider important for their learning achievements and course satisfaction? This question was addressed by surveying 2196 students from 29 universities in Austria about their expectations of, and experiences in e-learning. Multiple regression analyses using Mplus 4.21 were carried out to investigate how different facets of students’ expectations and experiences are related to perceived learning achievements and course satisfaction.     

Erratum to “Dynamical Sources in Information Theory: Fundamental Intervals and Word Prefixes”

In [V] the third author studied statistical properties of words generated by dynamical sources by using generalized Ruelle operators. This erratum aims to show that a supplementary condition should be added in Definition 2.1 of dynamical sources. This supplementary condition (called (d4) below) is closely related to the so-called Bounded Distortion Property and should be used at two different stages of the paper: first in the definition of the generalized operator G_s, second in the proof of Proposition 2 that deals with the Positivity Theorem of Krasnoselskii. We also prove that this condition is actually necessary and provide an example of a source which does not satisfy condition (d4) and for which G_s is not well-defined.     

The dynamic neural filter: a binary model of spatiotemporal coding

We describe and discuss the properties of a binary neural network that can serve as a dynamic neural filter (DNF), which maps regions of input space into spatiotemporal sequences of neuronal activity. Both deterministic and stochastic dynamics are studied, allowing the investigation of the stability of spatiotemporal sequences under noisy conditions. We define a measure of the coding capacity of a DNF and develop an algorithm for constructing a DNF that can serve as a source of given codes. On the basis of this algorithm, we suggest using a minimal DNF capable of generating observed sequences as a measure of complexity of spatiotemporal data. This measure is applied to experimental observations in the locust olfactory system, whose reverberating local field potential provides a natural temporal scale allowing the use of a binary DNF. For random synaptic matrices, a DNF can generate very large cycles, thus becoming an efficient tool for producing spatiotemporal codes. The latter can be stabilized by applying to the parameters of the DNF a learning algorithm with suitable margins.     

Analyzing the Reliability of Degradable Networks

The reachability of a strongly connected network may be destroyed after link damage,Since many networds have directed links with the potential for reversal,the reachability may be restored by reversing the direction of links.In this paper,the reliability of a network that allows reversal of links in discussed.     

Ecological assessment of Phragmites australis wetlands using multi-season SPOT-5 scenes

Ecologists and conservationists need accurate and replicable tools for monitoring wetland conditions in order to develop and implement adaptive management strategies efficiently. The Rhone Delta (Camargue) in southern France encloses 9200 ha of fragmented reed marshes actively managed for reed harvesting, waterfowl hunting or cattle grazing, and holding significant numbers of vulnerable European birds. We used multi-season SPOT-5 data in conjunction with ground survey to assess the predictive power of satellite imagery in modelling indicators of reed structure (height, diameter, density and cover of green/dry stems) relevant to ecosystem management and bird ecology. All indicators could be predicted accurately with a combination of bands (SWIR, NIR) and indices (SAVI, OSAVI, NDWI, DVI, DVW, MSI) issued from scenes of March, June, July, September or December and subtraction between these. All models were robust when validated with an independent set of satellite and field data. The high spatial resolution of SPOT-5 scenes (pixel of 10 × 10 m) permits the monitoring of detailed attributes characterizing the reed ecosystem across a large spatial extent, providing a scientifically-based, replicable tool for managers, stakeholders and decision-makers to follow wetland conditions in the short and long-term. Combined with models on the ecological requirements of vulnerable bird species, these tools can provide maps of potential species ranges at spatial extents that are relevant to ecosystem functioning and bird populations.     

Continuous-time quantum Monte Carlo impurity solvers

Continuous-time quantum Monte Carlo impurity solvers are algorithms that sample the partition function of an impurity model using diagrammatic Monte Carlo techniques. The present paper describes codes that implement the interaction expansion algorithm originally developed by Rubtsov, Savkin, and Lichtenstein, as well as the hybridization expansion method developed by Werner, Millis, Troyer, et al. These impurity solvers are part of the ALPS-DMFT application package and are accompanied by an implementation of dynamical mean-field self-consistency equations for (single orbital single site) dynamical mean-field problems with arbitrary densities of states.

Program summary

Program title: dmftCatalogue identifier: AEIL_v1_0Program summary URL:http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/summaries/AEIL_v1_0.htmlProgram obtainable from: CPC Program Library, Queen's University, Belfast, N. IrelandLicensing provisions: ALPS LIBRARY LICENSE version 1.1No. of lines in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 899 806No. of bytes in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 32 153 916Distribution format: tar.gzProgramming language: C++Operating system: The ALPS libraries have been tested on the following platforms and compilers:

• • 

  Linux with GNU Compiler Collection (g++ version 3.1 and higher), and Intel C++ Compiler (icc version 7.0 and higher)

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  MacOS X with GNU Compiler (g++ Apple-version 3.1, 3.3 and 4.0)

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  IBM AIX with Visual Age C++ (xlC version 6.0) and GNU (g++ version 3.1 and higher) compilers

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  Compaq Tru64 UNIX with Compq C++ Compiler (cxx)

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  SGI IRIX with MIPSpro C++ Compiler (CC)

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  HP-UX with HP C++ Compiler (aCC)

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  Windows with Cygwin or coLinux platforms and GNU Compiler Collection (g++ version 3.1 and higher)

RAM: 10 MB–1 GBClassification: 7.3External routines: ALPS [1], BLAS/LAPACK, HDF5Nature of problem: (See [2].) Quantum impurity models describe an atom or molecule embedded in a host material with which it can exchange electrons. They are basic to nanoscience as representations of quantum dots and molecular conductors and play an increasingly important role in the theory of “correlated electron” materials as auxiliary problems whose solution gives the “dynamical mean field” approximation to the self-energy and local correlation functions.Solution method: Quantum impurity models require a method of solution which provides access to both high and low energy scales and is effective for wide classes of physically realistic models. The continuous-time quantum Monte Carlo algorithms for which we present implementations here meet this challenge. Continuous-time quantum impurity methods are based on partition function expansions of quantum impurity models that are stochastically sampled to all orders using diagrammatic quantum Monte Carlo techniques. For a review of quantum impurity models and their applications and of continuous-time quantum Monte Carlo methods for impurity models we refer the reader to [2].Additional comments: Use of dmft requires citation of this paper. Use of any ALPS program requires citation of the ALPS [1] paper.Running time: 60 s–8 h per iteration.References:

• [1] 

  A. Albuquerque, F. Alet, P. Corboz, et al., J. Magn. Magn. Mater. 310 (2007) 1187.

• [2] 

  http://arxiv.org/abs/1012.4474, Rev. Mod. Phys., in press.