Addressing self-similarity in optical switching networks by means of ant colony optimization

In this work, we propose the use of an Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) algorithm to mitigate packet loss in an optical packet switching network that carries self-similar traffic, which is known to have a great impact in the buffer performance in terms of loss probability as exemplified in this work. By adaptively routing the packets and balancing the network load, we demonstrate by some simulations the effectiveness of this approach when compared with a shortest-path routing scheme, achieving a performance that is comparable to the Poisson traffic scenario in some cases. The proposed algorithm can be used as a viable alternative to traffic shaping techniques.     

High temperature flexural strength and fracture toughness of AlN with Y<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> ceramic

The effects of temperature on the fast fracture behavior of aluminum nitride with 5 wt% Y₂O₃ ceramic were investigated. Four-point flexural strength and fracture toughness were measured in air at several temperatures (30–1,300 °C). The flexural strength gradually decreased with the increase of temperature up to 1,000 °C due to the change in the fracture mode from transgranular to intergranular, and then became almost constant up to 1,300 °C. Two main flaw types as fracture origin were identified: small surface flaw and large pores. The volume fraction of the large pores was only 0.01%; however, they limited the strength on about 50% of the specimens. The fracture toughness decreased slightly up to 800 °C controlled by the elastic modulus change, and then decreased significantly at 1,000 °C due to the decrease in the grain-boundary toughness. Above 1,000 °C, the fracture toughness increased significantly, and at 1,300 °C, its value was close to that measured at room temperature.     

Operational strategy for a partial nitritation–sequencing batch reactor treating urban landfill leachate to achieve a stable influent for an anammox reactor

BACKGROUND: In recent years, new technologies have been developed to deal with streams with high nitrogen loads, most of them based on the anammox process. As a first step in this process, ammonium has to be partially oxidized to nitrite. This partial nitritation is usually carried out through the SHARON process. However, it can also be achieved using other configurations (sequencing batch reactor or biofilm airlift, among others). The aim of this paper is to compare two different feeding strategies (fed‐batch and step‐feed) for the operation of a partial nitritation–sequencing batch reactor (PN‐SBR) treating raw urban landfill leachate. RESULTS: A PN‐SBR treating urban landfill leachate was started up and operated using two different feeding strategies: fed‐batch and step‐feed. When the experimental results were compared, it could be seen that during the step‐feed strategy the system was more stable and presented a better performance. In addition, a cycle profile evolution of the reactor in each strategy was carried out to study the dynamics of the main chemical compounds, as well as different physical parameters. The profiles were similar for the nitrogen compounds, but with a difference in behaviour of pH, inorganic carbon and oxygen uptake ratio, which could explain the better performance and stability of the step‐feed strategy. CONCLUSIONS: This study has demonstrated that the step‐feed strategy is more suitable than the fed‐batch because it performs better overall, there is less fluctuation in its operation and it has higher effluent quality stabilization. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Start‐up and enrichment of a granular anammox SBR to treat high nitrogen load wastewaters

BACKGROUND: Landfill leachate is characterized by low biodegradable organic matter that presents difficulties for the complete biological nitrogen removal usually performed by conventional biological nitrification/denitrification processes. To achieve this, the anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) process is a promising biological treatment. This paper presents an anammox start‐up and enrichment methodology for treating high nitrogen load wastewaters using sequencing batch reactor (SBR) technology. RESULTS: The methodology is based on the gradual increase of the nitrite‐to‐ammonium molar ratio in the influent (from 0.76 to 1.32 mole NO₂^?‐N mole^?1NH₄⁺‐N) and on the exponential increase of the nitrogen loading rate (NLR, from 0.01 to 1.60 kg N m^?3 d^?1). 60 days after start‐up, anammox organisms were identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique as Candidatus Brocadia anammoxidans. After one year of operation, NLR had reached a value of 1.60 kg N m^?3 d^?1 with a nitrogen (ammonium plus nitrite) removal efficiency of 99.7%. The anammox biomass activity was verified by nitrogen mass balances with 1.32 ± 0.05 mole of nitrite removed per mole of ammonium removed and 0.23 ± 0.05 mole of nitrate produced per mole of ammonium removed. Also, enrichment of anammox bacteria was quantified by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis as 85.0 ± 1.8%. CONCLUSIONS: This paper provides a methodology for the enrichment of the anammox biomass in a SBR to treat high nitrogen loaded wastewaters. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

The congress that never was: The Madrid International Congress of Psychology (1936).

The 11th International Congress of Psychology did not take place in Madrid in September 1936, as initially planned. Instead, it was held in Paris in July of the following year. The finding of a so-far unpublished correspondence between the main organizers of the event, the Spanish psychologists José Germain and Emilio Mira, and the Swiss psychologist Edouard Claparéde, makes it possible to gain new insight into the circumstances preventing its celebration in Madrid. This paper aims at shedding some light on such circumstances by unraveling the social and political context alluded to in these letters, and connecting their contents with other significant events and documents on the various organizational aspects of the congress. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The Cerro Prieto IV (Mexico) geothermal reservoir: Pre-exploitation thermodynamic conditions and main processes related to exploitation (2000–2005)

The Cerro Prieto IV (CP IV) reservoir, located in the northeastern part of the Cerro Prieto (Mexico) geothermal field, was studied in order to define its pre-exploitation conditions and initial (2000–2005) response to exploitation. Bottomhole thermodynamic conditions were estimated by modeling heat and fluid flows using the WELLSIM program and well production data. Produced fluid chemical and isotopic data were also analyzed to investigate characteristic patterns of behavior over time, which were then compared against simulation results to obtain a conceptual model of the CP IV reservoir. According to the proposed model, two zones in the reservoir – separated by Fault H and producing fluids of different characteristics – were identified under pre-exploitation conditions. Wells in the area to the east-southeast (south block) produce very high-enthalpy fluids (≥2000 kJ/kg), with very low chloride (≤7000 mg/kg) and high CO₂ (>6‰ molar) and δD (<−94‰). In contrast, wells toward the west-northwest (north block) show moderate-enthalpy fluids (1400–1800 kJ/kg), with high chloride (∼12,000 mg/kg) and relatively low CO₂ (<6‰ molar) and δD (<−94‰). Dilution caused by cooler water entry, boiling due to steam gain, both occurring in the north block, and steam condensation in the south block were identified as the three main reservoir processes associated with exploitation. Also, it was found that the dynamics of the CP IV reservoir is controlled by the Fault H system.