Stochastic aspects of bridge deck aeroelasticity under turbulent flow

Returning to an earlier frequency-domain analysis of the problem of long-span bridge response to ambient winds, the paper emphasizes the indispensable experimental information necessary to bring results into conformity with full-scale prototype action. Focus is placed upon the use of a sectional wind tunnel model under simulated turbulent flow as the prime source of this information, which consists principally of the flutter derivatives and the spectra of the wind forces, both obtained under turbulent flow. The effect of three-dimensional turbulence upon the flutter derivatives is observed to influence structural stability in a manner consistent with that observed in full-bridge wind tunnel models.     

Nanorod heterostructures showing photoinduced charge separation

Size- and shape-dependent property modifications of semiconductor nanocrystals have been a subject of intense interest because of their potential for future engineering devices. The bandgap and related optical-property tuning of these materials are mainly governed by the nature of their band edges. In addition, fusing one type of nanocrystal over another enables further control of material properties that are dependent on the relative alignments of their energy levels. On a molecular scale, the synthesis of supramolecular compounds has inspired advances in theories for photoinduced charge transfer. Heterostructured nanocrystals potentially provide a nanoscale analog of such systems. A method for preparing heterostructured nanocrystals of complex morphologies showing photoinduced charge separation is presented. It is shown that the energy and lifetime of the charge-transfer photoluminescence band can be tuned by changing the relative alignment of band edges in CdSe/CdTe heterostructure nanorods. The long-lived charge transfer states in these type II semiconductors may make them attractive for photovoltaic applications.     

Business intelligence success: The roles of BI capabilities and decision environments

This study examines the role of the decision environment in how well business intelligence (BI) capabilities are leveraged to achieve BI success. We examine the decision environment in terms of the types of decisions made and the information processing needs of the organization. Our findings suggest that technological capabilities such as data quality, user access and the integration of BI with other systems are necessary for BI success, regardless of the decision environment. However, the decision environment does influence the relationship between BI success and capabilities, such as the extent to which BI supports flexibility and risk in decision making.     

Contrast-based evaluation of mar resistance of thermoplastic olefins

The physical aspect of mar behavior is studied by applying a standardized progressive sliding load methodology to smooth and textured automotive-grade thermoplastic olefins. It is shown that surface texture has a strong effect on light scattering and, hence, the propensity for mar visibility. It is also shown that digital imaging via a desktop scanner can be used to quantitatively and objectively assess mar resistance using contrast as a basis. Incorporation of slip agent definitively improves the mar resistance for both types of surfaces. Relationships between contrast, gloss and surface roughness in relation to mar visibility are discussed.     

Integration of Low-Impact Development into the International Stormwater BMP Database

Low impact development (LID) strategies are being encouraged in many communities as an approach to reduce potential adverse impacts of development on receiving streams. Many questions exist regarding how well various LID strategies perform in different settings, just as similar questions have been raised regarding performance of traditional stormwater best management practices (BMPs). Whereas historical focus on BMP performance has been water quality concentrations or loads, characterization of volume reduction benefits for both conventional and LID practices is increasingly an objective of researchers and stormwater managers. More than a decade ago, Urban Water Resources Research Council (UWRRC) members worked to develop a set of standardized monitoring and reporting protocols for traditional BMPs and to establish a master database for the purpose of evaluating BMP performance and the factors affecting performance. This effort culminated in the International Stormwater BMP Database (www.bmpdatabase.org), which contains data for more than 360 BMPs and continues to operate as a clearinghouse for stormwater BMP data and performance analyses. During 2008–2009, the International Stormwater BMP Database project expanded to better integrate LID into the database and develop a set of metrics that can be used to characterize BMP performance with regard to surface runoff volume reduction. This paper provides a condensed overview and progress report on the LID-focused effort, including the following topics: (1)?monitoring guidance for LID at the overall site development level, (2)?an overview of recent changes to the International Stormwater BMP Database to better accommodate LID studies, (3)?a summary of LID studies currently included in the database, and (4)?a proposed approach for evaluating performance of LID studies with regard to reducing surface runoff volumes.     

Transverse wakefield suppression using cell detuning assisted by manifold damping for high gradient linear colliders

Transverse wakefields excited by multiple bunches in ultra-relativistic charged particle beams in a linear collider must be adequately damped in order to preserve the luminosity of the colliding beams and to prevent a beam break up instability developing. Means of achieving this wakefield suppression are discussed in detail for high gradient normal conducting linacs. In particular the features of a damped and detuned series of structures (DDS) are described. Analytical expressions for the wakefield on short time scales are presented together with the circuit analysis required to rapidly analyse the general long-range behaviour in these linacs. A conspectus of experimental results along with theoretical predictions for this series of accelerating structures developed for the NLC/GLC is presented together with recent results on wakefield suppression for CLIC.     

Development of an automated testing system for vehicle infotainment system

A current premium vehicle is implemented with a variety of information, entertainment, and communication functions, which are generally referred as an infotainment system. During vehicle development, testing of the infotainment system at an overall level is conventionally carried out manually by an expert who can observe at a customer level. This approach has significant limitations with regard to test coverage and effectiveness due to the complexity of the system functions and human’s capability. Hence, it is highly demanded by car manufacturers for an automated infotainment testing system, which replicates a human expert encompassing relevant sensory modalities relating to control (i.e., touch) and observation (i.e., sight and sound) of the system under test. This paper describes the design, development, and evaluation of such a system that consists of simulation of vehicle network, vision-based inspection, automated navigation of features, random cranking waveform generation, sound detection, and test automation. The system developed is able to: stimulate a vehicle system across a wide variety of initialisation conditions, exercise each function, check for system responses, and record failure situations for post-testing analysis.     

The effects of withholding feed and water on carcass shrinkage and meat quality in beef cattle

Eighty beef crossbred steers with an average weight of 493 kg (4·66 kg SD) were allocated at random to one of five treatments to assess the effects of withholding feed and water on carcass shrinkage and meat quality. The five treatments were: slaughter from the feedlot (T1); and 12, 24, 36 and 48 h periods without feed and water prior to slaughter (T2-5).Weights were taken of the live animal and the carcass to monitor shrinkage along with relevant meat quality measurements. There were no treatment differences (P > 0·05) in initial farm weight, but plant weight shrinkage increased from 31gkg(-1) for T1 to 106 g kg(-1) for T5. Warm carcass weight decreased (P < 0·05) from 278·8 kg for T1, to 270·7 kg for T3 and 261·9 kg for T5. Liver, alimentary tract components, hide and head decreased as a proportion of farm weight as time without feed and water increased. Muscle pH at 6 days post mortem was increased (P < 0·05) in T3-5 compared to T1, with the result that muscle colour became darker, and steaks had less drip loss. Shear values increased (P < 0·05) from 6·3 kg in T1 to 7·7 kg in T4 and T5 indicating an increase in muscle toughness as time without feed and water increased. It was concluded that steers lose live weight rapidly within the first 24 h without feed and water, and that these relatively short periods of time (24 h) can have detrimental effects on carcass shrinkage and muscle quality.     

Enhancement of deep epileptiform activity in the EEG via 3-Dadaptive spatial filtering

The detection of epileptiform discharges (ED's) in the electroencephalogram (EEG) is an important component in the diagnosis of epilepsy. However, when the epileptogenic source is located deep in the brain, the ED's at the scalp are often masked by more superficial, higher-amplitude EEG activity. A noninvasive technique which uses an adaptive "beamformer" spatial filter has been investigated for the enhancement of signals from deep sources in the brain suspected of containing ED's. A forward three-layer spherical model was used to relate a dipolar source to recorded signals to determine the beamformer's spatial response constraints. The beamformer adapts, using the least-mean-squares (LMS) algorithm, to reduce signals from sources distant to some arbitrarily defined location in the brain. The beamformer produces three outputs, being the orthogonal components of the signal estimated to have arisen at or near the assumed location. Simulations were performed by using the same forward model to superimpose realistic ED's on normal EEG recordings. The simulations show the beamformer's ability to enhance signals emanating from deep foci by way of an enhancement ratio (ER), being the improvement in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) to that observed at any of the scalp electrodes. The performance of the beamformer has been evaluated for 1) the number of scalp electrodes, 2) the recording montage, 3) dependence on the background EEG, 4) dependence on magnitude, depth, and orientation of epileptogenic focus, and 5) sensitivity to inaccuracies in the estimated location of the focus. Results from the simulations show the beamformer's performance to be dependent on the number of electrodes and moderately sensitive to variations in the EEG background. Conversely, its performance appears to be largely independent of the amplitude and morphology of the ED. The dependence studies indicated that the beamformer's performance was moderately dependent on eccentricity with the ER increasing as the dipolar source and the beamformer were moved from the center to the surface of the brain (1.51-2.26 for radial dipoles and 1.17-2.69 for tangential dipoles). The beamformer was also moderately dependent on variations in polar or azimuthal angle for radial and tangential dipoles. Higher ER's tended to be seen for locations between electrode sites. The beamformer was more sensitive to inaccuracies in both polar and azimuthal location than depth of the dipolar source. For polar locations, an ER > 1.0 was achieved when the beamformer was located within +/- 25 degrees of a radial dipole and +/- 35 degrees of a tangential dipole. Similarly, angular ranges of +/- 37.5 degrees and +/- 45 degrees, respectively, for inaccuracies in azimuthal locations. Preliminary results from real EEG records, comprising 12 definite or questionable epileptiform events, from four patients, demonstrated the beamformer's ability to enhance these events by a mean 100% (52%-215%) for referential data and a mean 104% (50%-145%) for bipolar data.