Simplifying the weft hierarchy

We give simple, self-contained proofs of the basic hardness results for the classes W[t]$W[t]$ of the weft hierarchy. We extend these proofs to higher levels of the hierarchy and illuminate the distinctions among its classes. The anti-monotone collapse at W[1,s]$W[1,s]$ and the normalization of weft-t$t$ formulas arise as by-products of the proofs.     

D.c. and a.c. electrical properties of vacuum evaporated thin SiO/GeO2 films

The d.c. and a.c. electrical properties were studied for various compositions of SiO/GeO₂ co-evaporated thin films carrying aluminium electrodes, in the temperature range 193–413 K. A.c. measurements were made over the frequency range 2x10²–10⁶Hz. The value of the d.c. activation energy was found to decrease with increasing GeO₂ content in the SiO. In the region of high applied field (above 10⁶ Vm^–1, the conduction mechanism is governed by Schottky emission at the blocking contact. The a.c. electrical conductivity, (), varies with frequency according to the relation () ^s, where the exponent s was found to be dependent on temperature and frequency. The a.c. conduction at low temperature was due to an electronic hopping process. The number of localized sites was estimated from the a.c. measurements for different compositions of SiO/GeO₂ using the models proposed by Elliott and by Pollak, and the values are compared. The Elliott model satisfactorily accounts for the observed a.c. electrical results. A correlation was found between activation energy, optical band gap, conductivity and number of localized sites for the various compositions of SiO/GeO₂ films. The relative dielectric constant, _r, and loss factor, tan , were found to increase with the increase of GeO₂ content in the films.     

A single-solenoid pulsed-magnet system for single-crystal scattering studies

We present a pulsed-magnet system that enables x-ray single-crystal diffraction in addition to powder and spectroscopic studies with the magnetic field applied on or close to the scattering plane. The apparatus consists of a single large-bore solenoid, cooled by liquid nitrogen. A second independent closed-cycle cryostat is used for cooling samples near liquid helium temperatures. Pulsed magnetic fields close to ~30 T with a zero-to-peak-field rise time of ~2.9 ms are generated by discharging a 40 kJ capacitor bank into the magnet coil. The unique characteristic of this instrument is the preservation of maximum scattering angle (~23.6°) on the entrance and exit sides of the magnet bore by virtue of a novel double-funnel insert. This instrument will facilitate x-ray diffraction and spectroscopic studies that are impractical, if not impossible, to perform using split-pair and narrow-opening solenoid magnets. Furthermore, it offers a practical solution for preserving optical access in future higher-field pulsed magnets.     

The influences of thermal stratification and flow interaction on the enhanced natural convective heat transfer at low temperatures

This paper applies the modified heat transfer correlation: Nu/Nu_iso = f(S) to horizontal cylinders immersed in the thermally stratified vapour over boiling liquid nitrogen. Correlation of the heat transfer data confirms that the thermal stratification parameter, S is the appropriate parameter to account for the observed heat transfer enhancement.When the data are compared with the theory for natural convection in an extensive environment with a linear thermal stratification, it is found that heat transfer in the cryogenic vapour columns is significantly enhanced. This enhancement appears to arise from a secondary flow circulation inducecd by the interaction of the flow field around the heated cylinder with the primary flow of the cold vapour column. The influence of this flow interaction upon the heat transfer has been studied by varying the cylinder and vapour column diameters. The data have been analysed and correlated with the empirical relation:

$\text{Nu}\text{Nu}{}_{\mathrm{iso}}\text{=0.80}{}^{0.5}\text{(}\text{D}\text{W}\text{)}{}^{-0.4}$

All the results on enhanced convective heat transfer obtained at Southampton are reported and the conditions under which heat transfer enhancement takes place are discussed.     

Comparison of Gradually Varied Flow Computation Algorithms for Open-Channel Network

This paper presents a comparison of two algorithms—the forward-elimination and branch-segment transformation equations—for separating out end-node variables for each branch to model both steady and unsteady flows in branched and looped canal networks. In addition, the performance of the recursive forward-elimination method is compared with the standard forward-elimination method. The Saint–Venant equations are discretized using the four-point implicit Preissmann scheme, and the resulting nonlinear system of equations is solved using the Newton–Raphson method. The algorithm using branch-segment transformation equations is found to be at least five times faster than the algorithm using the forward-elimination method. Further, the algorithm using branch-segment transformation equations requires less computer storage than the algorithm using the forward-elimination method, particularly when only nonzero elements of the global matrix are stored. Comparison between the Gauss-elimination method and the sparse matrix solution technique for the solution of the global matrix revealed that the sparse matrix solution technique takes less computational time than the Gauss-elimination method.     

A new external sorting algorithm with no additional disk space

This paper is concerned with an external sorting algorithm with no additional disk space. The proposed algorithm is a hybrid one that uses Quicksort and special merging process in two distinct phases. The algorithm excels in sorting a huge file, which is many times larger than the available memory of the computer. This algorithm creates no extra backup file for manipulating huge records. For this, the algorithm saves huge disk space, which is needed to hold the large file. Also our algorithm switches to special merging process after the first phase that uses Quicksort. This reduces the time complexity and makes the algorithm faster.     

Customizing system software using OO frameworks

Today's applications have exploded in their diversity, but most operating systems are still general-purpose and inefficient. One of the benefits of using an OO approach is the ability to modify very small details of an operating system, which makes it easy to tailor the system to the application. My experience indicates that optimizing an operating system for the general case can result in mediocre performance for specialized applications, especially parallel applications. Therefore, I envision a customizable operating system built from components that will allow an optimal match between application behavior and hardware architecture. I propose an object-oriented operating system in which design frameworks support alternative implementations of key systems software services     

Mixed convective heat transfer enhancement in a ventilated cavity by flow modulation via rotating plate

The present study numerically explores the mixed convection phenomena in a differentially heated ventilated square cavity with active flow modulation via a rotating plate. Forced convection flow in the cavity is attained by maintaining external fluid flow through an opening at the bottom of the left cavity wall while leaving it through another opening at the right cavity wall. A counter-clockwise rotating plate at the center of the cavity acts as an active flow modulator. Moving mesh approach is used for the rotation of the plate and the numerical solution is achieved using arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian finite element formulation with a quadrilateral discretization scheme. Transient parametric simulations have been performed for various frequency of the rotating plate for a fixed Reynolds number (Re) of 100 based on maximum inlet flow velocity while the Richardson number (Ri) is maintained at unity. Heat transfer performance has been evaluated in terms of spatially averaged Nusselt number and time-averaged Nusselt number along the heated wall. Power spectrum analysis in the frequency domain obtained from the fast Fourier transform analysis indicates that thermal frequency and plate frequency start to deviate from each other at higher values of velocity ratio (>4).     

Doping Dependence of the Effects of In-Plane Disorder on T c and the Pseudogap in Single Layer La214 and Double Layer Y123: a Comparative Study

High-T _c emerges from an strongly electronically correlated normal state in hole doped cuprates. In this paper, the comparative effect of Zn on the superconducting transition temperature, T _c , was studied for the La_2?x Sr _x Cu_1?y Zn _y O₄ (Zn-La214) and YBa₂(Cu_1?y Zn _y )₃O_7?δ (Zn-Y123) compounds as a function of hole concentration, p, and Zn content (y) in order to explore the interplay among different electronic ground states in different cuprate systems. Zn induced rate of suppression of T _c , dT _c (p)/dy, for Zn-La214 was found to be strongly p-dependent and showed a monotonic variation, except in the vicinity of p～0.125 (i.e., near the 1/8th anomaly where the charge/spin stripe correlations are at their strongest). Magnitude of dT _c (p)/dy decreased markedly around p～0.125. The same feature, at a somewhat reduced scale, was also observed for Zn-Y123. We have also reviewed the p-dependent pseudogap energy scale, ε _g (p), which shows a quasilinear decrease with increasing p, without any noticeable feature at p～0.125. The magnitude and the evolution of ε _g (p) are quite similar for both Zn-La214 and Zn-Y123 compounds even though T _c and structural and electronic anisotropies are significantly different.