Enhancing Multiple Routing Configurations through systematic analysis of topological characteristics

Previous studies show that topological characteristics in IP networks significantly influence the performance of networking algorithms, which therefore should be systematically analyzed using diverse topologies prior to their deployments. In this paper, we present an elaborate topological dependency analysis of a multi‐topology routing‐based IP fast re‐route technology, namely, Multiple Routing Configurations (MRC), using a large topology pool with diverse properties. Through an extensive analysis using our automated topological analysis tool, we discover a significant correlation between the performance of MRC and topological characteristics. MRC needs to construct a higher number of virtual topologies to provide full alternate path coverage if a network topology tends to have more hub nodes, whose degree is much higher than the rest of the network. Inspired by our topological analysis results, we propose a new heuristic algorithm enhancing MRC. Numerical experiments demonstrate that our heuristic significantly improves the performance of MRC confirming the effectiveness of the systematic analysis of topological characteristics. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Portable Automated Radio-Frequency Scanner for Non-destructive Testing of Carbon-Fibre-Reinforced Polymer Composites

A portable automated scanner for non-destructive testing of carbon-fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites has been developed. Measurement head has been equipped with an array of newly developed radio-frequency (RF) inductive sensors mounted on a flexible arm, which allows the measurement of curved CFRP samples. The scanner is also equipped with vacuum sucks providing mechanical stability. RF sensors operate in a frequency range spanning from 10 up to 300 MHz, where the largest sensitivity to defects buried below the front CFRP surface is expected. Unlike to ultrasonic testing, which will be used for reference, the proposed technique does not require additional couplants. Moreover, negligible cost and high repeatability of inductive sensors allows developing large scanning arrays, thus, substantially speeding up the measurements of large surfaces. The objective will be to present the results of an extensive measurement campaign undertaken for both planar and curved large CFRP samples, pointing out major achievements and potential challenges that still have to be addressed.     

Do tests of divergent thinking have an experiential bias?

Divergent thinking (DT) tests are widely used as an estimate of creativity. However, tests of DT may be biased by experience. Scores from these tests may depend on the amount and types of experiences of examinees. This investigation was designed to determine the degree to which personal and social experiences influence DT scores. Two different tasks were administered: Uses task and Problem Generation (PG). Fluency and originality scores were calculated for each. Analyses indicated that the impact of experience was similar in the PG and Uses tasks. Personal and social experience explained 44% and 30% of fluency scores for PG and Uses tasks, respectively, and 65% of originality scores for both PG and Uses. The differences between uncorrected scores (all ideas, including those reflecting experience) and corrected scores (where ideas tied to personal or social experiences were eliminated) were statistically significant, with the largest discrepancy in Uses fluency and lowest in Uses originality. Findings supported the claim that divergent thinking tests may depend heavily on experience. Alternatives for using DT tests without an experiential bias are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Object and Combination Shedding Schemes for Adaptive Media Workflow Execution

Complex media fusion operations can be costly in terms of the time they need to process input objects. If data arrive faster to fusion nodes than the speed with which they can consume the inputs, this will result in some input objects not being processed. In this paper, we develop load shedding mechanisms which take into consideration both data quality and expensive nature of media fusion operators. In particular, we present quality assessment models for objects and multistream fusion operators and highlight that such quality assessments may impose partial orders on objects. We highlight that the most effective load control approach for fusion operators involves shedding of (not the individual input objects but) combinations of objects. Yet, identifying suitable combinations of objects in real time will not be possible if efficient combination selection algorithms do not exist. We develop efficient combination selection schemes for scenarios with different quality assessment and target characteristics. We first develop efficient combination-based load shedding when the fusion operator has unambiguously monotone semantics. We then extend this to the more general ambiguously monotone case and present experimental results that show the performance gains using quality-aware combination-based load shedding strategies under the various fusion scenarios.     

Influence of solutes on hydration and lubricity of dextran brushes

The characteristic lubricity and non-fouling behavior of polymer brushes is critically dependent on the solvation of the polymer chains, as well as the chain-chain interactions. Dextran brushes have shown promise as non-toxic aqueous lubricant films, and are similar in composition to natural lubricating systems, while their comparative simplicity allows for controlled preparation and fine characterization. This project entails measuring the solvation and lubricity of dextran brushes in the presence of additives which modify the inter-chain hydrogen bonding. The thickness and refractive index of the film were measured during adsorption of the brush layer onto a silica substrate and the subsequent immersion in solutions of potassium sulfate and α, α-trehalose. We also studied the lubricity of the system as a function of normal loading using colloidal-probe AFM. Both solutes are shown to have a minimal effect on the hydration of the brush while significantly reducing the brush lubricity, indicating that inter-chain hydrogen bonding supports the load-bearing capacity of polysaccharide brushes.     

Assessment of permeability and injection depth at the Atasu dam site (Turkey) based on experimental and numerical analyses

This study was performed in order to evaluate the permeability of the basalts and pyroclastics and the maximum depth of grout injection at the Atasu dam site, Turkey, using the equations of Kiraly and Hoek and Bray based on values obtained from Lugeon tests. In order to evaluate maximum discharge values and depth of injection, seepage analyses were performed using the finite element technique for each 10 m up to 100 m. The results indicate that to establish an impermeable zone at the dam site, the depth of injection should be taken as 50 m for the left and right slopes and 40 m for the river bed.     

One-Dimensional Cobalt(II) and Zinc(II) Succinato Coordination Polymers with Nicotinamide: Synthesis, Structural, Spectroscopic, Fluorescent and Thermal Properties

Cobalt(II) and zinc(II) succinato (suc) coordination polymers with nicotinamide (nia), {[Co(μ-suc)(H₂O)₂(nia)₂] · 2H₂O} _n (1) and {[Zn(μ-suc)(H₂O)₂(nia)₂] · 2H₂O} _n (2) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, magnetic moments, IR and TG-DTA. Single-crystal X-ray analyses of 1 and 2 reveal that these complexes are isostructural and crystallize in triclinic space group Complexes 1 and 2 are 1-D coordination polymers, in which the metal(II) ions exhibit an octahedral geometry with two suc, two nia and two aqua ligands. The nia ligand is N-bonded, while the suc ligand bridges the metal centers through the carboxylate groups. The 1D chains are further assembled to form 3D networks by strong N–H···O and OW–H···O hydrogen bonds. IR spectra confirm the coordination modes of both suc and nia ligands, while TG-DTA data are in agreement with the crystal structures. Fluorescent analysis in the solid state shows that all complexes display intraligand (π–π*) emissions of nia.     

Aerosol Capture in Granular Beds in the Sedimentation and Diffusion Dominated Regimes

Single grain capture efficiencies η for low speed gas flow through clean granular beds are reported. The aerosol particles were liquid dioctyl phthalate droplets ranging in diameter D _p from 0.15 to 4.7 μm. The grains were spheres of diameter D _G equal to 2.13, 3.69, or 15.6 mm and crushed oil shale rock with volume equivalent spherical diameter of 2.2 or 17 mm. The superficial gas velocity was downward and varied from 2.5 to 80 mm/s. Sedimentation and Brownian diffusion are the dominant capture mechanisms for these conditions. Consequently, the Gravity number Grv = ρ_pD² _pC_pg/18μU and the Peclet number Pe = D_GU/ D _p=3πμD_pD_GU/KTC_p are important dimensionless groups for correlating data. An approximate solution to the convective diffusion equation for point particles shows that η/Grv is a function of the combination 2^1/3A^1/3Pe^?2/3Grv^?1 only, when Grv « 1 and Pe » 1. A(α_G, Re) is a known function of the fraction solids α_G in the bed and the grain Reynolds number Re = ρD_GU/μ. Our data are successfully correlated by this approach. In the sedimentation dominated regime, theory (η=Grv) is in quantitative agreement with the data. In the diffusion dominated regime, theory (η = 3.97 A^1/3 Pe^?2/3) gives quantitaive agreement with the data, provided the numerical coefficient 3.97 is changed to 2.4. When capture efficiencies for both sedimentation and diffusion are very small (of order 0.001), measured efficiencies are several times larger than the predictions for point particles. If this increase is attributed to interception, then the present theory, extended to include interception, significantly underestimates its influence at small values of the interception number R=D_p/D_G. The discrepancy may be due to deficiencies of present flow models or to some other weak capture mechanism coming into play. Results obtained for beds of spheres can be applied to beds of crushed shale rock, provided a suitable “effective” grain diameter is chosen.     

Flow in Two-Dimensional Model Filters

Model filters consist of cylindrical collectors of diameter 2a spanning the gap 2s between parallel walls. This paper presents a theoretical flow model based on the unit cell approach of Kuwabara and Happel but accounts for the channel walls in an approximate way. When a/s » 1, as is the case for most model filters, the pressure drop significantly exceeds that due to the channel walls alone, or that due to the cylinders alone in fibrous media. The present calculation is in good agreement with Yoshida and Tien's measurements for filters with hexagonal arrangement of the cylinders of solids fraction 0.675 and a/s = 15.6. Channel walls may also influence capture efficiencies and penetrations for model filters.     

Effect of bio‐oil and epoxidized linseed oil on physical,mechanical, and biological properties of treated wood

In this article, the effects of bio‐oil and epoxidized linseed oil (ELO) on water absorption, tangential swelling, decay and insect resistance, thermo‐gravimetric analysis, and mechanical properties of treated wood samples were studied. The bio‐oil used in this article was by‐product of ThermoWood thermal modification process. Linseed oil and hydrogen peroxide were used to prepare ELO. The results indicated that the samples treated with bio‐oil had lower water absorption than that of the control group. The second treatment with ELO significantly reduced further the water absorption. The decay resistance of treated wood samples with 20% of bio‐oil against brown (Coniophora puteana) and white rot (Trametes versicolor) fungi was very high. According to the insect test results, increasing bio‐oil concentration from 10% to 20% significantly decreased surviving rate of Hylotrupes bajulus. Thermo‐gravimetric analysis showed that all treated samples had higher initial deterioration temperature than that of the control group. Regarding the wood strength, the impregnated bio‐oil generally reduced the mechanical properties of wood except modulus of elasticity (MOE). © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 1562–1569, 2013