Implementing lattice Boltzmann computation on graphics hardware

The Lattice Boltzmann Model (LBM) is a physically-based approach that simulates the microscopic movement of fluid particles by simple, identical, and local rules. We accelerate the computation of the LBM on general-purpose graphics hardware, by grouping particle packets into 2D textures and mapping the Boltzmann equations completely to the rasterization and frame buffer operations. We apply stitching and packing to further improve the performance. In addition, we propose techniques, namely range scaling and range separation, that systematically transform variables into the range required by the graphics hardware and thus prevent overflow. Our approach can be extended to acceleration of the computation of any cellular automata model.     

Biographical, physiological, and personality variables as predictors of performance under sickness-inducing motion.

Developed a screening procedure for the early identification of individuals whose performance is likely to be damaged by sickness-inducing motion by collecting from 199 US Navy seamen (Exp I) biographical, personality (Rotter's Internal–External Locus of Control Scale and the Repression–Sensitization Scale), and physiological (nystagmic eye movement and spiral aftereffect) data. In addition, each S's performance under sickness-inducing motion was assessed by self- (the Pensacola Motion Sickness Questionnaire), peer, and officer ratings. Results show that a combination of biographical data and eye nystagmus explained 40% of performance variance. The remaining variables failed to add significantly to the proportion of explained variance. In Exp II, the biographical inventory and the test of eye nystagmus were administered to 71 new Navy recruits, and the quality of Ss' performance was assessed 8 mo later. The multiple correlation between predictors and criterion was .51, thereby indicating that this screening procedure is highly effective. (54 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Persistency of excitation in continuous-time systems

For the class of linear time-invariant single-input continuous systems we find conditions on the input under which the state is persistently exciting for adaptive identification purposes. These conditions are expressed through time-domain properties of the filtered input. They are both necessary and sufficient and no prior constraints are placed on the structure of the input wave or its boundedness.     

Structure revealing techniques based on parallel coordinates plot

Parallel coordinates plot (PCP) is an excellent tool for multivariate visualization and analysis, but it may fail to reveal inherent structures for complex and large datasets. Therefore, polyline clustering and coordinate sorting are inevitable for the accurate data exploration and analysis. In this paper, we propose a suite of novel clustering and dimension sorting techniques in PCP, to reveal and highlight hidden trend and correlation information of polylines. Spectrum theory is first introduced to specifically design clustering and sorting techniques for a clear view of clusters in PCP. We also provide an efficient correlation based sorting technique to optimize the ordering of coordinates to reveal correlated relations, and show how our view-range metrics, generated based on the aggregation constraints, can be used to make a clear view for easy data perception and analysis. Experimental results generated using our framework visually represent meaningful structures to guide the user, and improve the efficiency of the analysis, especially for the complex and noisy data.     

Storing and retrieving multiple images in 3D nonlinear photonic crystals

A nonlinear hologram enables to record the amplitude and phase of a waveform by spatially modulating the second order nonlinear coefficient, so that when a pump...     

Deep learning for location prediction on noisy trajectories

Pattern Analysis and Applications - Precise tracking of a point-target on a nonlinear trajectory is challenging and has applications ranging from traffic analysis to microscopic particle tracking....     

Dicarboxy-Starch by Sodium Hypochlorite/Bromide Oxidation and Its Calcium Binding Properties

Various aspects of the glycolic oxidation of the glucose units of starch with stoichiometric amounts of sodium hypochlorite applying sodium bromide as the catalyst have been investigated. The main objective of the study was to optimize the reaction conditions for the preparation of dicarboxy-starch and to establish the calcium sequestering capacity of the material. The products, polycarboxylates, are obtained in high yields (90-95%) and they have a sequestering capacity up to 1.4 mmole Ca/g, which is somewhat higher than that of the materials obtained in a non-catalyzed oxidation. This result is attributed to the facts that the reaction with sodium bromide may be carried out at higher pH (>9) than the non-catalyzed reaction and that a relatively low concentration of hypochlorite throughout the process could be maintained. In this way the decomposition of hypochlorous acid/hypochlorite, especially occurring at high concentration of hypochlorous acid at lower pH (6-8) is prevented. Other advantages of this procedure are the colourless appearance of the materials and the higher reaction rate. The feasibility for largescale preparation follows from the results of a few exploratory experiments, including an electrochemical preparation.     

Assessing migratory bottlenecks and escapement of silver eel (Anguilla anguilla) in the highly urbanized North Sea Canal basin,the Netherlands

Habitat fragmentation and migration barriers have attributed to the decline of European eel (Anguilla anguilla). The migration of silver eels through pumping stations, ship locks, and migration facilities within the North Sea Canal basin using acoustic telemetry and overall escapement by mark–recapture was studied. A network of 61 acoustic receivers and three PIT-tag stations was built, and 305 silver eels were tagged with acoustic transmitters and 3923 with PIT-tags. Of all the silver eels that were detected, 55% passed barriers between the polders and the canal and 46% also passed the barrier complex at IJmuiden to sea, mainly via the ship locks. Overall, silver eel escapement to the North Sea per year averaged 81,629 silver eels and 14.3% suffered mortality in the pumping station at IJmuiden. Migration speed was lower for silver eels that initiated their migration upstream compared with silver eels further downstream, higher for silver eels passing barriers later in the migration period, and highest at sea. This study of silver eel movement and escapement in the North Sea canal basin indicated several bottlenecks. Passage success along barriers varied strongly between sites and types of barriers. While at two smaller locations, silver eels migrated through the pedal valves in the ship lock gates, a small passage facility and the pedal valves in a ship lock at complex IJmuiden did not enhance silver eel migration. The barriers and unnatural canal system caused additional delay during silver eel migrations. Mitigation measures for management could include installing fish-friendly pumps, using pumping stations only during the day, and in addition opening ship locks and pedal valves at the beginning of the night.