Nodal probabilistic production cost simulation considering transmission system unavailabilty

A nodal probabilistic production cost simulation method is described for power system long-term expansion planning considering unavailability and delivery limitation constraints of the transmission system. This new nodal production cost simulation model includes capacity constraints and unavailabilities of generators as well as transmission lines. This simulation methodology comes from the nodal composite power system equivalent load duration curve (CMELDC), based on a new effective load model at load points developed by the authors. The nodal CMELDC can be obtained from convolution integral processing of the outage capacity probability distribution function of the fictitious generator and the original LDC. It is expected that the new simulation model based on the nodal CMELDC proposed here will provide solutions to many problems based on nodal and decentralised operation and control of electric power systems under a competition environment. The nodal CMELDC based on the new model at load points can extend application areas of nodal probabilistic production cost simulation, probabilistic congestion cost assessment, analytical outage cost assessment and nodal reliability evaluation and so on at load points. The characteristics and effectiveness of this new proposed methodology are illustrated by a small system case study using a network flow and enumeration method.     

Approximating large convolutions in digital images

Computing discrete two-dimensional (2-D) convolutions is an important problem in image processing. In mathematical morphology, an important variant is that of computing binary convolutions, where the kernel of the convolution is a 0-1 valued function. This operation can be quite costly, especially when large kernels are involved. We present an algorithm for computing convolutions of this form, where the kernel of the binary convolution is derived from a convex polygon. Because the kernel is a geometric object, we allow the algorithm some flexibility in how it elects to digitize the convex kernel at each placement, as long as the digitization satisfies certain reasonable requirements. We say that such a convolution is valid. Given this flexibility we show that it is possible to compute binary convolutions more efficiently than would normally be possible for large kernels. Our main result is an algorithm which, given an mxn image and a k-sided convex polygonal kernel K, computes a valid convolution in O(kmn) time. Unlike standard algorithms for computing correlations and convolutions, the running time is independent of the area or perimeter of K, and our techniques do not rely on computing fast Fourier transforms. Our algorithm is based on a novel use of Bresenham's (1965) line-drawing algorithm and prefix-sums to update the convolution incrementally as the kernel is moved from one position to another across the image.     

香港填海造地对城市发展的影响

在国际享有东方之珠美誉的香港，地理位置优越，拥有内港“维多刹亚港”，水深易达，是世界驰名的良港，由于香港地域狭小，适宜都市建设韵土地十分有限，因此在海港填海是香港城市发展中寻求土地供应的重要一环，填海工程为香港的繁荣提供了宝贵的土地．理进了香港的经济腾飞．让香港得以成为市民的宜居家园和世界主要的贸易及金融中心，但同时。填海也带来影响持续性发展的问题，因此在平衡城市建设．经济发展．保护香港的自然资源，政府已决定停止填海，故香港现有的土地愈加显得珍贵。如何使稀缺的土地资源为社会带来最大翻益，是政府需要关注的问题？     

The wear of copper in single-pass sliding

Copper pins were worn in single passes against glass countersurfaces. By observation through the glass it could be seen that direct interaction between the pin and the countersurface occurred only very close to the leading edge of the pins. Wear particles formed in this region were typically 30 nm in diameter and not more than 17 nm thick. Away from the leading edge wear took place by a series of processes involving first metallic and then oxide wear debris. To aid in the separation of these processes pins were worn from sharp wedges whereupon the wear stages developed sequentially from the trailing edge. The wear rate and coefficient of friction decreased progressively with increasing size of the pin in the direction of sliding and these values were used to calculate local wear constants, coefficients of friction and loading. In spite of appearances to the contrary, wear debris was found to reduce the severity of the interaction between the wearing surfaces.     

Efficient Randomized Algorithms for the Repeated Median Line Estimator

The problem of fitting a straight line to a finite collection of points in the plane is an important problem in statistical estimation. Recently there has been a great deal of interest is robust estimators, because of their lack of sensitivity to outlying data points. The basic measure of the robustness of an estimator is its breakdown point, that is, the fraction (up to 50%) of outlying data points that can corrupt the estimator. One problem with robust estimators is that achieving high breakdown points (near 50%) has proved to be computationally demanding. In this paper we present the best known theoretical algorithm and a practical subquadratic algorithm for computing a 50% breakdown point line estimator, the Siegel or repeated median line estimator. We first present an O(n\log n) randomized expected-time algorithm, where n is the number of given points. This algorithm relies, however, on sophisticated data structures. We also present a very simple O(n log ² n) randomized algorithm for this problem, which uses no complex data structures. We provide empirical evidence that, for many realistic input distributions, the running time of this second algorithm is actually O(n log n) expected time. Received January 25, 1995; revised May 17, 1996. Communciated by L. J. Guibas.     

Quantifying the hydrological effects of stream restoration in a montane meadow,northern California,USA

Stream restoration efforts, particularly within meadow systems, increasingly rely on ‘pond and plug’ type methods in which (a) alluvial materials are excavated from the floodplain, forming ponds; (b) excavated alluvial materials are used to plug incised channels and (c) smaller dimension channels are restored to the floodplain surface. A commonly stated objective of these efforts is to restore ecologically significant hydrological processes to degraded riparian systems. However, little research has been conducted to evaluate and quantify the restoration of these hydrological processes. Direct comparisons of pre‐ and post‐restoration hydrological observations are often misleading due to an inter‐annual climatic variability. To overcome this issue and accurately quantify the hydrological effects of restoration, we developed, calibrated and validated a hydrological model of a 230 ha mountain meadow along a 3.6 km restored reach of Bear Creek in the northeastern California. We then applied the model to simulate the pre‐ and post‐restoration scenarios by altering the floodplain topography and stream channel networks. Our results document three general hydrological responses to the meadow restoration effort: (1) increased groundwater levels and volume of subsurface storage; (2) increased frequency/duration of floodplain inundation and decreased magnitude of flood peaks and (3) decreased annual runoff and duration of baseflow. This study supports and quantifies the hypothesis that ‘pond and plug’ type stream restoration projects have the capacity to re‐establish hydrological processes necessary to sustain riparian systems. In addition, the results of this study can be used to improve quantitative objectives for ‘pond and plug’ type stream restoration activities in similar settings. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Plasticity of tonotopic maps in auditory midbrain following partial cochlear damage in the developing chinchilla

In order to analyze the immunopathologic mechanisms of Beh?et's disease, the gene (bes-1) encoding a streptococcal antigen correlated with the disease was cloned and sequenced, and protein produced by this clone was identified by Western immunoblotting using serum antibody from the patient. Cellular DNA of Streptococcus (S.) sanguis serotype KTH-1 (uncommon serotype 1, strain 113-20) from the patient was extracted and digested with EcoRI. The digested fragments were cloned into the cloning vector lambda gt11, and then the resulting DNA library was immunoscreened using the patient's serum antibody to serotype KTH-1. The immunopositive clone of the 1.5 kbp fragment was subcloned into pUC 118 plasmid (pU8BeS1-1) and sequenced. The sequence showed that the 3'-terminal half side region of this insert contained 962bp of open-reading frame (ORF) discontinued at the EcoRI restriction site, and the stop codon was not found. The nucleotide sequence of the remaining additional 3'-terminal region of this gene encoding whole BES-1 was determined by genome walking. The whole ORF of bes-1 consisted of 849 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular mass of 95 kDa. The residues in a portion of the amino acid sequence showed a 60% correspondence to those of the human intraocular peptide Brn-3b.     

Ballistic response of polymer composites

A new microvelocity sensor unit was developed to measure the instantaneous velocity of a projectile during the penetration process. The concept of this device is based on the induced current generated in a coil resulting from the passage of a magnet. A special digital circuit was designed to yield a spatial resolution of better than 2.5 mm by elimiating the problem of signal overlap. The time delays obtained from these signals were used to determine the slowing down or energy loss of a high velocity projectile. A light gas gun was used to propel aluminum projectiles to velocities up to 320 m/s. Energy loss of these high velocity projectiles in composites reinforced with polyethylene, polyester, and graphite fabrics was investigated. Two distinct energy loss mechanisms were detected, one due to the actual fracture process and the other to the generation of frictional heat. Extensive delamination was observed in the more ductile PE and PET composites, but not in graphite. Low velocity instrumented drop-tower impact tests were also conducted, using identical specimens and similar impact geometries.     

Low-palmitic,low-linolenic soybean development

Plant breeding research efforts are currently focused on developing breeding procedures to decrease the saturated FA palmitic acid (16∶0) and the PUFA linolenic acid (18∶3) in U.S. soybean cultivars. Soybean oil with lower 16∶0 may provide cardiovascular benefits to health-conscious consumers, and lower 18∶3 could contribute to better flavor and stability of the oil. The purpose of this study was to determine genetic parameters that indicate the potential for breeding success and to characterize the correlated effect of the incorporation of the modified oil traits on the agronomic and seed quality traits of a soybean breeding population formed from a cross between the soybean cultivar Anand (normal) and germplasm N97-3708-13 (low 16∶0, low 18∶3). Although lines with only one modified oil quality trait (low 16∶0 or 18∶3) are useful as parents, commercial utilization requires productive cultivars with the combination of both oil traits. This paper shows the ease with which they may be combined with seed yield and other traits. Measurements were obtained from 179 F₂ single plants grown in 1999 and 121 F_2∶4 lines grown in replicated plots in 2000. Modified FA lines were developed with ca. 4% 16∶0 and 18∶3, respectively. Very weak positive correlations were found between 16∶0 concentration and seed yield (r=0.12) and between 16∶0 and seed oil concentration (r=0.13). No correlation was found between 18∶3 levels and seed yield, or between 18∶3 levels and seed oil concentration. These results indicate that breeding for reduced 16∶0 and 18∶3 should not have a negative impact on seed yield or oil concentration. 16∶0 and 18∶3 had moderately high heritabilities of 0.65 and 0.73, respectively. This indicates that breeders using low 16∶0, low 18∶3 germplasm in crosses with normal, elite lines can expect to recover low 16∶0 and low 18∶3 in pure line progenies via selection and generation advancement of F₂ individuals that express low levels of these FA.     

Neurosurgery 1977: problems and attainments. The 1977 AANS presidential address

The President of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) discusses the many elements that appear to restrict the professional activities of neurosurgeons and other physicians. He stresses the importance of the active role required of the AANS, the American Medical Association, and the American College of Surgeons in finding solutions to problems related to neurosurgery.