The Rician inverse Gaussian distribution: a new model for non-Rayleigh signal amplitude statistics.

In this paper, we introduce a new statistical distribution for modeling non-Rayleigh amplitude statistics, which we have called the Rician inverse Gaussian (RiIG) distribution. It is a mixture of the Rice distribution and the inverse Gaussian distribution. The probability density function (pdf) is given in closed form as a function of three parameters. This makes the pdf very flexible in the sense that it may be fitted to a variety of shapes, ranging from the Rayleigh-shaped pdf to a noncentral chi2-shaped pdf. The theoretical basis of the new model is quite thoroughly discussed, and we also give two iterative algorithms for estimating its parameters from data. Finally, we include some modeling examples, where we have tested the ability of the distribution to represent locale amplitude histograms of linear medical ultrasound data and single-look synthetic aperture radar data. We compare the goodness of fit of the RiIG model with that of the K model, and, in most cases, the new model turns out as a better statistical model for the data. We also include a series of log-likelihood tests to evaluate the predictive performance of the proposed model.     

Static and Dynamic Spins in Superconducting La2−x Sr x CuO4: The Risø Years

One important area of modern condensed matter research is the investigation of the nature of the superconducting cuprates. Much progress in this field has been obtained with the technique of neutron scattering. We here present a review of neutron scattering studies of the high-temperature superconductor La_2?xSr_xCuO₄, performed at Risø National Laboratory. We review the work on the mapping of the incommensurate spin fluctuations, the investigation of the gap in the fluctuation spectrum, the magnetic properties of the vortices appearing in an applied field, and the quantum critical behaviour of the system. We discuss our findings in the light of results of neutron scattering from other groups, on other cuprate systems, and results from other experimental methods, e.g. NMR, μSR, STM, X-ray diffraction, and ARPES. We end with a discussion on the implications of the experimental results for the progress in the general understanding of high-temperature superconductivity. PACS numbers: 61.12.Ex, 74.20.Mn, 74.72.Dn, 75.25.+z, 78.70.Nx.     

Numerical analysis of IPIRG cracked pipe experiments subjected to dynamic and cyclic loading

This report contains results of a finite element study aiming to identify the influence of loading history and geometry for cracked pipes subjected to complex loading. The experiments have been performed within the International Piping Integrity Research Group (IPIRG) Program. The majority of the numerically analyzed experiments were conducted on straight pipes with an outside diameter of 168 mm and containing a large circumferential through-wall crack. The considered pipes were loaded in four-point bending under displacement control and at a temperature of 288°C. The types of loading were combinations of either quasi-static or dynamic and also monotonic or cyclic loading with different loading ratios R. Some analyses were also performed on surface-cracked pipes subjected to slow, monotonic loading.

In the finite element study, 20-node solid elements were used for the through-wall cracked pipes and a combination of shell and non-linear line spring elements for the surface-cracked pipes. Stable crack growth was simulated by gradual node relaxation and crack closure is accounted for by using simple contact elements. The J-integral for a remote contour is calculated and used as a characterizing fracture parameter although the cyclic loading violates the theoretical basis for this procedure. The near-tip J can not be used for growing cracks because of the weak energy singularity. The results of the numerical study confirm the trends from the experiments in that a high loading rate has a negative influence on the fracture properties of the studied carbon steel and that large cyclic loading, especially at R = −1, lowers the apparent J_R-curve for both carbon and stainless steels. To some extent geometry effects appear to be present when comparing the results from pipes containing surface cracks and through-wall cracks with results from CT specimens. These effects are more pronounced for large amounts of stable crack growth than at initiation.     

Optimization algorithms for calculation of the joint design point in parallel systems

In large structures it is often necessary to estimate the reliability of the system by use of parallel systems. Optimality criteria-based algorithms for calculation of the joint design point in a parallel system are described and efficient active set strategies are developed. Three possible algorithms are tested in two examples against well-known general non-linear optimization algorithms. Especially one of the suggested algorithms seems to be stable and fast.     

Bimanual interference associated with the selection of target locations.

Four experiments were conducted to identify the locus of interference observed during the preparation of bimanual reaching movements. Target locations were specified by color, and the right-hand and left-hand targets could be either the same or a different color. Movements of different amplitudes (Experiment 1) or different directions (Experiment 2) to targets of the same color were initiated more quickly than symmetric movements to targets of different colors. These results indicate that costs observed during bimanual movements arise during target selection rather than during motor programming. Experiments 3 and 4 further examined the interference associated with target selection. Reaction time costs were found with unimanual movements when the target was presented among distractors associated with responses for the other hand. Interference observed during bimanual reaching appears to reflect difficulty in segregating the response rules assigned to each hand. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

From the individual element test to finite element templates: Evolution of the patch test

This paper starts a sequence of three articles that follow an unconventional approach in finite element research. The ultimate objective is to construct high-performance elements and element-level error estimators for those elements. The approach takes off from our previous work in high-performance elements and culminates with the development of finite element templates. The present paper concentrates on the patch test and evolved versions of the test that have played a key role in this research. Following a brief review of the historical roots, we present the Individual Element Test (IET) of Bergan and Hanssen in an expanded context that encompasses several important classes of new elements. The relationship of the IET to the multielement forms A, B and C of the patch test and to the single-element test are investigated. An important consequence of the IET application is that the element stiffness equations decompose naturally into basic and higher-order parts. The application of this decomposition to the “sanitization” of the non-convergent BCIZ element is described and verified with numerical experiments. Two sequel papers in preparation are subtitled ‘the algebraic approach’ and ‘element-level error estimation’. These apply the fundamental decomposition to the derivation of templates for specific mechanical elements and to the construction of element-level error estimators, respectively.     

Treatment of Humic Waters By Ozone

Two different generators for ozone were tested, a traditional electrical discharge generator and a generator based upon UV–irradiation of air at 150–180 nm. It was demonstrated that the traditional generator gave slightly higher reductions in levels of color for equivalent ozone dosages. Both gases affected the molecular weight distribution in the way that the bigger molecules were broken down to smaller ones. No significant difference between the molecular weight reduction efficiency of the gases was found.     

The effect of backbone fluorination on the carrier mobility in alkoxy and alkyl substituted conducting polymers of the poly(phenylenevinylene) type

Summary We report the synthesis of some new backbone fluorinated polymers of the poly(phenylenevinylene) type. The new polymers were characterised by NMR, SEC and X-ray powder diffraction. The charge carrier mobilities were determined using pulse radiolysis time resolved microwave conductivity (PR-TRMC) and the carrier mobilities were compared to the similar non-fluorinated analogues. The changes in charge carrier mobilities as a function of molecular substitution pattern is discussed in terms of other materials properties such as electronic structure and absorption properties. The major result is that it was found possible for this type of material to alter the electronic energy levels by molecular substitution without imparting significant changes in the magnitude of the charge carrier mobilities and the optical properties.     

A Micellar Route to Ordered Arrays of Magnetic Nanoparticles: From Size‐Selected Pure Cobalt Dots to Cobalt–Cobalt Oxide Core–Shell Systems

Starting with Co‐salt‐loaded inverse micelles, which form if the diblock copolymer polystyrene‐block‐poly(2‐vinylpyridine) is dissolved in a selective solvent like toluene and CoCl₂ is added to the solution, monomicellar arrays of such micelles exhibiting a significant hexagonal order can be prepared on top of various substrates with tailored intermicellar distances and structure heights. In order to remove the polymer matrix and to finally obtain arrays of pure Co nanoparticles, the micelles are first exposed to an oxygen plasma, followed by a treatment in a hydrogen plasma. Applying in‐situ X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, it is demonstrated that: 1) The oxygen plasma completely removes the polymer, though conserving the original order of the micellar array. Furthermore, the resulting nanoparticles are entirely oxidized with a chemical shift of the Co 2p_3/2 line pointing to the formation of Co₃O₄. 2) By the subsequent hydrogen plasma treatment the nanoparticles are fully reduced to metallic Co. 3) By exposing the pure Co nanoparticles for 100 s to various oxygen partial pressures pequation/tex2gif-inf-5.gif, a stepwise oxidation is observed with a still metallic Co core surrounded by an oxide shell. The data allow the extraction of the thickness of the oxide shell as a function of the total exposure to oxygen (pequation/tex2gif-inf-7.gif × time), thus giving the opportunity to control the ferromagnetic–antiferromagnetic composition of an exchange‐biased magnetic system.     

Societal Safety: Concept,Borders and Dilemmas

In most industrialized countries, the end of the Cold War marked a change in focus from preparedness for war to an increasing focus on civil society's own vulnerability and safety. To meet new threats and changing risks, there is also a need for new analytical concepts. Societal safety is a concept developed in Norway during the last decade. It could be defined as: ‘The society's ability to maintain critical social functions, to protect the life and health of the citizens and to meet the citizens' basic requirements in a variety of stress situations’. It aims to be a systematic approach for understanding, mitigating and responding to social problems such as extraordinary stresses and losses, interferences in complex and mutual dependent systems, or lack of trust in vital social institutions. Future threats to society are not limited to specific sectors or areas, but stem from complex interactions amongst economic, technological, social and cultural factors. Thus, the main challenges to improve societal safety will be the ability to coordinate, organize and assign clear roles to different actors at the international, national and local levels. Societal safety has interfaces with other safety‐related areas such as national security, sustainable development, human security and incident management (handling of isolated accidents, common illness and ordinary criminal acts). Societal safety is, however, a sensitive political issue containing dilemmas and value choices that are hardly possible to perceive or solve as pure scientific problems.