A subgridding method for the time-domain finite-difference methodto solve Maxwell's equations

A modification to the time-domain finite-difference method (TDFDM) that uses a variable step size is investigated. The entire computational volume is divided into a coarse grid with a large step size. A fine grid with a small step size is introduced only around discontinuities. The corresponding time increments are related to the spatial increments with the same ratio in order to minimize the numerical dispersion. The fields within the coarse and fine grids are found using the TDFDM, while an interpolation in space and time is utilized to calculate the tangential electric field on the coarse-fine grid boundary. This subgridding decreases the required computer memory and therefore expands the capability of the TDFDM. The technique is shown to be numerically stable and does not entail any extra numerical error. The method is applied to the calculation of waveguides and microstrips     

Electrokinetically driven concentration of particles and cells by dielectrophoresis with DC-offset AC electric field

Insulator-based dielectrophoresis (iDEP) has been successfully used for on-chip manipulations of biological samples. Despite its effectiveness, iDEP typically requires high DC voltages to achieve sufficient electric field; this is mainly due to the coupled phenomena among linear electrokinetics: electroosmosis (EO) and electrophoresis (EP) and nonlinear electrokinetics: dielectrophoresis (DEP). This paper presents a microfluidic technique using DC-offset AC electric field for electrokinetic concentration of particles and cells by repulsive iDEP. This technique introduces AC electric field for producing iDEP which is decoupled from electroosmosis (EO) and electrophoresis (EP). The repulsive iDEP is generated in a PDMS tapered contraction channel that induces non-uniform electric field. The benefits of introducing AC electric field component are threefold: (i) it contributes to DEP force acting on particles, (ii) it suppresses EO flow and (iii) it does not cause any EP motion. As a result, the required DC field component that is mainly used to transport particles on the basis of EO and EP can be significantly reduced. Experimental results supported by numerical simulations showed that the total DC-offset AC electric field strength required to concentrate 15-μm particles is significantly reduced up to 85.9% as compared to using sole DC electric field. Parametric experimental studies showed that the higher buffer concentration, larger particle size and higher ratio of AC-to-DC electric field are favorable for particle concentration. In addition, the proposed technique was demonstrated for concentration of yeast cells.     

Structured population genetic algorithms: a literature survey

The Genetic Algorithm (GA) has been one of the most studied topics in evolutionary algorithm literature. Mimicking natural processes of inheritance, mutation, natural selection and genetic operators, GAs have been successful in solving various optimization problems. However, standard GA is often criticized as being too biased in candidate solutions due to genetic drift in search. As a result, GAs sometimes converge on premature solutions. In this paper, we survey the major advances in GA, particularly in relation to the class of structured population GAs, where better exploration and exploitation of the search space is accomplished by controlling interactions among individuals in the population pool. They can be classified as spatial segregation, spatial distance and heterogeneous population. Additionally, secondary factors such as aging, social behaviour, and so forth further guide and shape the reproduction process. Restricting randomness in reproduction has been seen to have positive effects on GAs. It is our hope that by reviewing the many existing algorithms, we shall see even better algorithms being developed.     

Model for drying during fluidized-bed combustion of wet low-rank coals

An unsteady state heat conduction model with a convective boundary condition is proposed for the drying of low-rank, high-porosity coals, such as lignites, during fluidized-bed combustion. The drying front is assumed to be the receding surface of a wet core. The solution technique for this moving boundary problem is based on the heat balance integral approach with immobilization of the moving boundary by a change in space variable. The governing cubic equation describing the drying curve in dimensionless form may be solved easily by the Newton—Raphson method. The model predictions are compared with experimental data for Mississippi lignite with excellent agreement. A correlation for estimation of total drying time is proposed. The temperature profiles obtained may be used for the study of the coupled drying and devolatilization in fluidized-bed combustors. The profiles could also be of importance in the study of formation of fissures/cracks in lignites subjected to intense heating conditions encountered during fluidized-bed combustion.     

Lipase PS-catalyzed transesterification of citronellyl butyrate and geranyl caproate: Effect of reaction parameters

Pseudomonas sp. lipase PS was immobilized by adsorption and tested for its ability to catalyze the synthesis of citronellyl butyrate and geranyl caproate by transesterification in n-hexane. The reaction parameters investigated were: enzyme load, effect of substrate concentration, added water, temperature, time course, organic solvent, pH memory, and enzyme reuse. Yields as high as 96 and 99% were obtained for citronellyl butyrate and geranyl caproate, respectively, with 300 units (approx. 15% w/w of reactants) of lipase PS. Increasing amounts of terpene alcohol inhibited lipase activity, while excess acyl donor (triacylglycerol) concentration enhanced ester production. Optimal yields were obtained at temperatures from 30–50°C after 24-h incubation time. Yields of 90 and 99% were obtained for citronellyl and geranyl esters, respectively, with 2% added water. Solvents with log P values ≥ 2.5 showed the highest conversion yields. pH 7 and 6–8 seemed to be ideal for citronellyl butyrate and geraniol caproate, respectively. The lipase remained active after reusing 12 times.     

针对环状流形数据的非线性降维

近年来出现了多种新型的非线性降维方法,且在一些应用中体现出良好的效果.然而,当面对球体、柱体等环状流形产生的非线性流形数据时,这些方法往往会失效.针对这一问题,提出了针对环状流形数据的环结构检测算法与非线性降维方法.理论上,基于目前极受关注的Isomap降维方法的运行原理,给出了一个判断环状流形的充要条件;算法上利用所得的判断定理,制订了基于数据的环状流形检测算法:最后基于所找到的环结构,利用极坐标展开的思想设计了针对环状流形数据的非线性降维策略.针对一系列典型环状流形数据集的仿真实验结果表明,与其他流形学习降维方法相比,该方法对环状流形数据进行降维具有显著优势.     

On Generalized Fuzzy Belief Functions in Infinite Spaces

Determined by a fuzzy implication operator, a general type of fuzzy belief structure and its induced dual pair of fuzzy belief and plausibility functions in infinite universes of discourse are first defined. Relationship between the belief-structure-based and the belief-space-based fuzzy Dempster-Shafer models is then established. It is shown that the lower and upper fuzzy probabilities induced by the fuzzy belief space yield a dual pair of fuzzy belief and plausibility functions. For any fuzzy belief structure, there must exist a fuzzy belief space such that the fuzzy belief and plausibility functions defined by the given fuzzy belief structure are just the lower and upper fuzzy probabilities induced by the fuzzy belief space, respectively. Essential properties of the fuzzy belief and plausibility functions are also examined. The fuzzy belief and plausibility functions are, respectively, a fuzzy monotone Choquet capacity and a fuzzy alternating Choquet capacity of infinite order.     

The all-sky camera revitalized

An all-sky camera, a ground imager used since the 1950's in the aeronomy and space physics studies, was refurbished with a modern control, digitization, and archiving system. Monochromatic and broadband digital images of airglow and aurora are continuously integrated and recorded by the low-cost unmanned system, which is located in northern Canada. Radiometric corrections applied to the data include noise subtraction, normalization to a flat-field response, and absolute calibration. The images are geometrically corrected with star positions and projected onto a geographic or geomagnetic coordinate system. An illustration of the application of corrected all-sky camera images to the study of auroral spirals is given.     

The effects of cytotoxic entorhinal lesions and electrolytic medial septal lesions on the acquisition and retention of a spatial working memory task

This study assesses how social desirability affects responses in clinical self-report inventories. Six hundred items gathered from four normal personality questionnaires were adapted to devise a pre-experimental personality questionnaire (pre-EMHQ). Results obtained from administering Ko's Mental Health Questionnaire (KMHQ) and the pre-EMHQ to separate samples were the proportion of individuals answering "true" to each item (i.e., P(t)) and the social desirability scale value (i.e., SDSV) of each item. The Experimental Mental Health Questionnaire (EMHQ) was established from the pre-EMHQ by closely matching the P(t)s and the SDSVs of the two questionnaires. Administering the KMHQ and the EMHQ concurrently to another sample provided results for factor analysis and other statistical analyses. The SDSVs and the P(t)s for each of the KMHQ items certainly displayed a linearly increasing relation. The two sets of corresponding subscales also correlated significantly. By applying the polynomial regression analysis, the tendency to score might be expressed as a quadratic function of SDSVs. Two iterative principal-factor analyses of the two sets of subscales each resulted in two factors, and Factor 1 is similar in both the KMHQ and the EMHQ. In brief, social desirability plays a critical role in affecting responses in a clinical self-report inventory. The factors involved and suggestions proposed will be of value for further research.