Application of a novel formulation to the MFIE using RWG basis functions in method of moments

We investigate the inaccuracy of the traditional magnetic field integral equation (MFIE) in the analysis of scattering of small conducting objects, with the use of Rao–Wilton–Glisson (RWG) basis functions. As a remedy to such problems, we propose to use a novel impedance matrix elements (IME) formulation of the MFIE, which is suitable to use RWG basis functions. Techniques to calculate the IME of the new formulation are outlined. It is shown that similar technique to compute the IME of the MFIE resulted from the use of curl-conforming basis functions can also be used here. Based on the examples of several relatively small conducting objects, it is demonstrated that significant improvement in the accuracy of the MFIE can be obtained for this new IME formulation with the use of RWG basis functions.     

Using an accurate singularity extraction technique to the MFIE for the scattering analysis of small objects

The method of moments (MoM) solution on the magnetic field integral equation (MFIE) for electromagnetic scattering problems of conducting objects with Rao–Wilton–Glisson (RWG) basis functions requires the evaluation of almost singular double surface integrals over triangular subdomains. Calculating these integrals accurately is essential for the successful solution of the MFIE by MoM especially for small sharp-edged conducting objects. This paper studies the singularity of the MFIE and uses an accurate singularity extraction technique to avoid logarithmic singularity of the integration on the testing triangles for the MFIE. Based on the numerical examples of several small sharp-edged conducting objects, it is demonstrated that the accuracy of the MFIE is improved greatly with the use of the new singularity extraction technique.     

Electrochemical and spectroscopic characterization of a Benzo[c]cinnoline electrografted platinum surface

In this work, a platinum surface was modified with benzo[c]cinnoline (BCC) to get new insight into the metal modification area. By potential scanning from + 0.4 V to - 0.8 V, the diazotized BCC was reduced electrochemically and grafted onto the platinum electrode surface to form benzo[c]cinnoline modified platinum electrode (Pt-BCC). Electrochemical reduction of benzo[c]cinnoline diazonium salt on the electrode surface yielded a relatively stable organic film. The introduction of BCC molecules onto the platinum surface was verified by cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and ellipsometry. The stability and the potential range of the Pt-BCC electrode were also studied.     

Episodic memory and metamemory in Parkinson’s disease patients.

This study investigated episodic memory and metamemory for verbs and nouns in patients who have cognitive impairments associated with Parkinson’s disease (PD). PD patients and healthy control participants were asked to recall word pairs and provide feeling-of-knowing (FOK) judgments for the items they were unable to recall. This was followed by a 4-alternative recognition test. PD patients were impaired in both recall and recognition, compared with controls. In terms of metamemory, PD patients were less confident in their ability to recognize the unrecalled items in a future recognition test. Most important, accuracy of PD patients’ FOK judgments was not above chance and was lower than that of control participants. The PD group correctly recognized fewer verbs than nouns, but type of material (verb vs. noun) had no impact on recall or FOK judgments. In addition, contribution of executive functions to FOK accuracy was different in PD patients and controls. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Finite element analysis of deformation and fracture of an exploded gas cylinder

This paper presents the finite element simulations of deformation and fracture of a gas cylinder which catastrophically failed as a result of an accidental explosion. The results of a previous detailed investigation of this incident indicated that detonation of a low-pressure oxygen-rich mixture of hydrogen and oxygen was the cause of the cylinder failure. In the current study, the finite element method was used to provide a more realistic modeling of geometry, material behavior, and boundary conditions of the cylinder. The overall transient dynamic response of the cylinder to gaseous detonation loading was studied using the ANSYS/LS-DYNA V10 package and the crack growth simulations were performed using the WARP3D-R15 research code. The crack growth analyses were performed using interface cohesive elements. The finite element results were validated using analytical solutions and data collected from the remains of the cylinder. The simulations clearly showed that the stresses caused by the assumed loading profile were indeed capable of creating local ruptures at the actual crack initiation sites. It was also shown that the self-similar growth of the initial axial crack in the main body of the cylinder was a fatigue-type incremental growth governed by the structural waves. The subsequent cyclic bulging of the crack flaps and the resultant crack curving and branching were also simulated.     

Discrete dynamic convexized method for nonlinearly constrained nonlinear integer programming

This paper considers the nonlinearly constrained nonlinear integer programming problem over a bounded box. An auxiliary function is constructed based on a penalty function. By increasing the value of a parameter, minimization of the function by a discrete local search method can escape successfully from a previously converged discrete local minimizer. An algorithm is designed based on minimizing the auxiliary function with increasing values of the parameter. Numerical experiments show that the algorithm is robust and efficient.     

Water hydraulic manipulator for fail safe and fault tolerant remote handling operations at ITER

Department of Intelligent Hydraulics and Automation (IHA) of Tampere University of Technology has been involved in the European Fusion program since 1994 within the ITER reactor maintenance activities. In this paper we discuss the design and development of a six degrees of freedom water hydraulic manipulator with a force feedback for teleoperation tasks. The manipulator is planned to be delivered to Divertor Test Platform 2 (DTP2) during year 2008. The paper also discusses the possibility to improve the fail safe and redundant operation of the manipulator. During the design of the water hydraulic manipulator, special provisions have been made in order to meet the safety requirements such as servo valve block for redundant operation and safety vane brakes for fail safe operation.     

A genetic programming model for bankruptcy prediction: Empirical evidence from Iran

Prediction of corporate bankruptcy is a phenomenon of increasing interest to investors/creditors, borrowing firms, and governments alike. Timely identification of firms’ impending failure is indeed desirable. By this time, several methods have been used for predicting bankruptcy but some of them suffer from underlying shortcomings. In recent years, Genetic Programming (GP) has reached great attention in academic and empirical fields for efficient solving high complex problems. GP is a technique for programming computers by means of natural selection. It is a variant of the genetic algorithm, which is based on the concept of adaptive survival in natural organisms. In this study, we investigated application of GP for bankruptcy prediction modeling. GP was applied to classify 144 bankrupt and non-bankrupt Iranian firms listed in Tehran stock exchange (TSE). Then a multiple discriminant analysis (MDA) was used to benchmarking GP model. Genetic model achieved 94% and 90% accuracy rates in training and holdout samples, respectively; while MDA model achieved only 77% and 73% accuracy rates in training and holdout samples, respectively. McNemar test showed that GP approach outperforms MDA to the problem of corporate bankruptcy prediction.