Elevation of Liquidus Temperature in a Gel-Derived Na2O-SiO2 Glass

The liquidus temperatures of a 19 wt% soda-silica glass prepared by gel and conventional techniques were determined. X-ray diffraction measurements of the glasses which were heat-treated at several temperatures were used to experimentally determine the liquidus temperatures. It was found that the gel-derived glass has an elevated liquidus. This result is discussed in relation to the previous discovery that the immiscibility temperature of this gel-derived glass is elevated.     

A Review of: “THE ALGORITHMIC BEAUTY OF PLANTS” by Przemyslaw Prusinkiewicz and Aristid Lindenmayer,Springer-Verlag,New York, 1990. XII+ 228 pages.

Uncertainty in Dempster-Shafer framework can be considered to consist of two components; one arising due to randomness. and the other arising due to the lack of specificity in evidence. One facet of uncertainty due to randomness is conflict in the evidence. Here we establish the need for a new measure of conflict and follow a fresh approach to achieve the same. We view the conflict between propositions as being proportional to the “distance” between them. We expect this “distance” to obey the laws of a metric. With this motivation we formulate a set of axioms that we expect a metric distance to satisfy, in order lo quantify the conflict between two propositions. Based on this we derive a unique expression for the conflict between propositions. The average of conflict between propositions gives a measure of total conflict in the body of evidence. We then prove various properties of this conflict measure     

A PRINCIPLE OF UNCERTAINTY AND INFORMATION INVARIANCE*

The paper introduces a new principle, referred to as the principle of uncertainty and information invariance, for making transformations between different mathematical theories by which situations under uncertainty can be characterized. This principle requires that the amount of uncertainty (and related information) be preserved under these transformations. The principle is developed in sufficient details for transformations between probability theory and possibility theory under interval, log-interval and ordinal scales. Its broader use is discussed only in general terms and illustrated by an example.     

Two-port control system: a generalized predictive controller

The two-port control system is introduced to develop the design framework for multivariable predictive controllers. It constitutes a general form for all two-degrees-of-freedom control systems and is particularly suited for the optimum resolution of controller design trade-offs, such as performance to command following versus disturbance rejection, and performance in the presence of various disturbance inputs. It allows the handling of systems with non-minimum phase characteristics or inherently unstable open-loop dynamics. Finally, it offers the necessary and sufficient conditions for the design of effective adaptive control strategies.     

The use of a spectroradiometer to study aerial photographs of ozone-treated soybeans

Abstract

Abstract. A scanning spectroradiometer was used to measure the optical densities of an aerial photograph of an experimental field in which soybeans were growing in response to different concentrations of ozone, an air pollutant. The plants were growing in 3 m diameter, 2.4 m high open-top exposure chambers. Correlation coefficients among the film densities, plant yield and visual estimates of non-green leaf area for the 16 test plots were highly significant (p<001); those with ozone treatment concentrations were significant (p<0-05). The early senescence induced by this form of environmental stress can thus be detected by film density differences, and these differences are well correlated with ground indicators of crop condition.     

Protein Quality of Cheddar Cheese Compared with Casein and Fabricated Cheese in the Rat

The protein quality of freeze-dried cheddar cheese, spray-dried cheddar cheese, freeze-dried fabricated cheddar cheese (with casein as the main protein source), and sodium caseinate was evaluated in rats using the protein efficiency ratio (PER) assay (AOAC procedures) in two feeding experiments with casein as the control. Biological evaluation of the products showed that PER values for freeze-dried cheddar cheese were significantly higher than casein (3.7 vs 2.5). Freeze-dried cheddar also had a PER value significantly higher than spray-dried cheddar cheese (3.7 vs 3.0). Freeze-dried fabricated cheddar cheese and sodium caseinate had PER values not significantly different from the casein control.     

On the best location of signal detectors

An event may occur anywhere in a planar area or on a linear region such as a route. One or more detectors are to be located within this region with the objective of maximizing the smallest probability of the detection of an event anywhere in the region. In other words, the minimum protection in the region is to be maximized. The probability that an event is detected by a detector is a decreasing function of the distance. For example, the probability may decrease with some power (say, 2) of distance, or this decrease could be approximately exponential with distance. Two solution procedures are proposed for the problem on a line segment: a mathematical programming model and a specially designed algorithm. The problem in an area is solved by a univariate search, a Demjanov-type algorithm, a mathematical programming model, and simulated annealing. Computational experience is reported.     

AN ENERGY USE ANALYSIS of A FRESH and FROZEN FISH PROCESSING COMPANY

An energy use analysis was performed on a fresh and frozen fish processing company to identify current levels of energy consumption and establish an energy conservation program. Electrical energy constituted 79% and 87% of the fish and ice plants’energy consumption, respectively. Baseload electricity in the fish plant was 88% and 30% in the ice plant. the fish plant's intensity index was 1,882.3 BTU/Ib (4,371.9 KJ/Kg) of product while the ice plant's 172.5 BTU/lb (399.6 KJ/Kg) of ice. the trucking fleet had a fuel intensity index of 29,910.6 BTU/mile (19,630.6 KJ/Km) and was the largest energy consumer accounting for 60% of the company's total energy usage. Proposed energy conservation measures can lead to significant reductions in the current levels of energy consumption.