A constructive approach to calculate parameter ranges for systems of geometric constraints

Geometric constraints are at the heart of parametric and feature-based CAD systems. Changing values of geometric constraint parameters is one of the most common operations in such systems. However, because allowable parameter values are not known to the user beforehand, this is often a trial-and-error process. We present an approach for automatically determining the allowable range for parameters of geometric constraints. Considered are systems of distance and angle constraints on points in 3D that can be decomposed into triangular and tetrahedral subproblems, by which most practical situations in parametric and feature-based CAD systems can be represented. Our method uses the decomposition to find critical parameter values for which subproblems degenerate. By solving one problem instance for each interval between two subsequent critical values, the exact parameter range is determined for which a solution exists.     

Soil moisture retrieval using thermal inertia, determined with visible and thermal spaceborne data, validated for European forests

Variations in soil moisture strongly affect surface energy balances, regional runoff, land erosion and vegetation productivity (potential crop yield). Hence, the detection of soil moisture content (SMC) is very valuable in the social, economic, humanitarian (food security) and environmental segments of society. A method to estimate SMC from optical and thermal spectral information of METEOSAT imagery based on thermal inertia (TI) is presented. Minimum and maximum TI values from time series are combined in the Soil Moisture Saturation Index (SMSI). To convert surface to soil profile values, a Markov type filter is used, based on a simple two layer water balance equation (the surface layer and the reservoir below) and an autocorrelation function. Ten-daily SMC values are compared with up-scaled (using AVHRR/NDVI) observations on 10 EUROFLUX sites in Europe for the 1997 growing season (March-October). Moreover, the thermal inertia approach is compared for 1997, with ERS Scatterometer data for eight EUROFLUX sites. METEOSAT pixels are up-scaled to accommodate the ERS Scatterometer spatial resolution. The regression coefficients (slope, intercept and R²) of the thermal inertia approach versus the up-scaled soil moisture observations from EUROFLUX sites vary between 0.811-1.148, − 0.0029-0.66 and 0.544-0.877, respectively, with a RRMSE range of 3.9% to 35.7%. The regression coefficients of the comparison of ERS Scatterometer derived Soil Water Index (SWI) versus the up-scaled Soil Moisture Saturation Index for the pooled case (binning the eight EUROFLUX sites) are 0.587, 0.105 and 0.441, respectively, with a RRMSE of 38%. A simple error propagation model applied for the thermal inertia approach reveals that the absolute and relative errors of the obtained soil moisture content is at least 0.010 m³ m^− 3 or 2.0% with a SMC of 0.203 m³ m^− 3. Recommendations are made to test and implement the TI methodology using NOAA/AVHRR imagery.     

A comparison of two paradigms for distributed shared memory

Two paradigms for distributed shared memory on loosely-coupled computing systems are compared: the shared data-object model as used in Orca, a programming language specially designed for loosely-coupled computing systems, and the shared virtual memory model. For both paradigms two systems are described, one using only point-to-point messages, the other using broadcasting as well. The two paradigms and their implementations are described briefly. Their performances are compared on four applications: the travelling-salesman problem, alpha-beta search, matrix multiplication and the all-pairs shortest-paths problem. Measurements were obtained on a system consisting of 10 MC68020 processors connected by an Ethernet. For comparison purposes, the applications have also been run on a system with physical shared memory. In addition, the paper gives measurements for the first two applications above when remote procedure call is used as the communication mechanism. The measurements show that both paradigms can be used efficiently for programming large-grain parallel applications, with significant speed-ups. The structured shared data-object model achieves the highest speed-ups and is easiest to program and to debug.     

Functional recovery of respiratory behavior during axonal regeneration in snails (Lymnaea stagnalis) is experience dependent.

This study investigated the role of experience in recovery of pulmonary respiration during axonal regeneration in Lymnaea stagnalis. Pulmonary respiration occurs when snails break the water surface and open the lung orifice, the pneumostome. It was shown that axotomy of all the axons innervating the pneumostome and surrounding area prevents the occurrence of lung respiration in 69% of snails. In the remaining 31%, lung respiration persisted, indicating that peripheral components alone are capable of initiating pneumostome openings and closures. Five weeks postsurgery, all snails with previous nerve crushes showed opening of the pneumostome with normal latency after breaking the water surface. However, prevention of pulmonary respiration during the recovery period dramatically changed the recovered behavior. Thus, experience in pulmonary respiration during axonal regeneration plays a role in the recovery of this behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Display of profiled sweep objects

A class of free-form solids called profiled sweep objects is defined by four parametric curves: a 2D contour (cross-section), a 3D trajectory (spine), and two profile curves, which control the scaling of the contour as it moves along the trajectory. Subclasses of this are profiled prisms, which have a linear trajectory, and profiled generalized cylinders, which have an arbitrary 3D trajectory. First an exact definition of profiled sweep object, is presented and their relation with common sweep objects is described. Then a method is given for the construction of planar approximations of these objects that can be used for fast display generation. Finally, ray-tracing algorithms are given that directly use the exact definition for high-quality display.     

Refined Epistemic Entrenchment

Epistemic entrenchment, as presented by Gärdenfors and Makinson (1988) and Gärdenfors (1988), is a formalisation of the intuition that, when forced to choose between two beliefs, an agent will giveup the less entrenched one. While their formalisation satisfactorilycaptures the intuitive notion of the entrenchment of beliefs in a number ofaspects, the requirement that all wffs be comparable has drawn criticismfrom various quarters. We define a set of refined versions of theirentrenchment orderings that are not subject to the same criticism, andinvestigate the relationship between the refined entrenched orderings,the entrenchment orderings of Gärdenfors and Makinson, and AGM theorycontraction (Alchourrón et al., 1985). To conclude, we compare refinedentrenchment with two related approaches to epistemic entrenchment.     

Investigation of the Failure Mechanism of HTPB/AP/Al Propellant by In‐situ Uniaxial Tensile Experimentation in SEM

The failure mechanism of a propellant consisting of hydroxyl terminated poly‐butadiene filled with ammonium perchlorate and aluminum (HTPB/AP/Al) was determined by performing in‐situ uniaxial tensile tests in a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The experimental test plan contained uniaxial tensile test experiments performed at room temperature (25 °C) at three different strain rates (30, 150 and 750 μm min⁻¹). The in‐situ images and in‐situ videos collected by the SEM were correlated with the stress‐strain diagrams created with the tensile experiments, in order to relate the failure mechanism to the features found in the stress‐strain diagram. No significant strain rate dependency of the failure mechanism was observed when working with strain rates up to 750 μm min⁻¹ and working at room temperature. The stress‐strain diagram showed indications of existing cracks and voids opening up prior to the creation of new cracks and/or voids in the sample, debonding of binder with AP particles as well as nucleation and coalescence of voids. On the fracture surfaces of the samples, it was apparent that the binder cleanly separated from the large AP particles but had a better bond with the aluminum particles. However, a difference in the appearance of a short drawing phase in the stress‐strain diagram of the propellant is observed at different strain rates. The presented results clearly demonstrate the major advantage of the combination of microscopic tensile tests with microscopic observations, linking the stress‐strain behavior to the mechanical deformation processes taking place in these propellant samples at the microscopic level.     

Comment on Fossil-fuel constraints on global warming by A. Zecca and L. Chiari [Energy Policy 38 (2010) 1–3]

Zecca and Chiari (2010) have sought to challenge the findings of Nel and Cooper (2009), who argued that the impending peak and decline of fossil fuel production will most likely lead to a lower emissions trajectory than the majority of scenarios offered by the IPCC. Zecca and Chiari used their own model to produce a higher projection of atmospheric CO₂ concentration, drawing on the conclusions of Archer (2005) to do so.     

Self-healing capacity of Mullite-Yb2SiO5 environmental barrier coating material with embedded Ti2AlC MAX phase particles

Repetitive heating and cooling cycles inevitably cause crack damage of hot gas components of gas turbine engines, such as blades and vanes. In this study the self-healing capacity is investigated of mullite + ytterbium monosilicate (Yb₂SiO₅) as EBC material with Ti₂AlC MAX phase particles embedded as a crack-healing agent. The effect of Ti₂AlC in the EBC was compared with the self-healing ability of the mullite + Yb₂SiO₅ material. After introducing cracks by Vickers indentation on the surface of each sample, crack healing was realized by controlling the temperature and time during the post-heat-treatment process. For the mullite + Yb₂SiO₅ composite with Ti₂AlC particles, crack healing occurred at 1000 °C, while in the case of the mullite + Yb₂SiO₅ composite without Ti₂AlC, a sustained temperature of 1300 °C or higher was required. Compared with the healing of the mullite + Yb₂SiO₅ composite by the formation of a eutectic phase, the addition of Ti₂AlC promoted healing via the oxidation of Ti and Al. Notably, the surface formation of a ternary oxide of Ti–Yb–O was confirmed, which completely covered the damage area. Consequently, the addition of a Ti₂AlC MAX phase to the EBC composite resulted in a complete strength recovery, while the mullite + Yb₂SiO₅ composite without Ti₂AlC showed a strength recovery of about 80%. Furthermore, by analyzing the indentation load–displacement curve to indicate the role of Ti₂AlC, the addition of Ti₂AlC improved both the hardness and stiffness of the composite.     

Molecular approaches to study probiotic bacteria

Functional foods comprising probiotic bacteria are receiving increasing attention from the scientific community and science funding agencies [1]. An essential aspect relating to the functionality of probiotic-based foods is to develop molecular methods to determine the presence, activity and viability of probiotic bacteria in the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract [2]. The GI tract is composed of a complex ecosystem of various microbial habitats colonized by numerous different commensal micro-organisms. This indigenous gut microbiota is essential to the overall health of the host by performing important physiological functions. In particular, they protect against pathogenic bacteria and drive the development of the immune system during neonatal life. Further metabolic activities of the GI microbiota that beneficially affect the host include continued degradation of food components, vitamin production, and production of short chain fatty acids that feed the colonic mucosa. It is clear that factors such as diet, sickness, stress, or medication can result in loss of well-being of the host, and it is assumed that some of these symptoms are due to perturbation of what is termed the normal balance of the gut microbiota. Knowledge of the structure and function of the standard microbiota, and its response to diet, genetic background and lifetime of the host must be taken into account when designing probiotic-based functional foods. The application of molecular techniques for detection and identification of microbes has provided a major breakthrough in the analysis of microbial ecosystems and their function [3]. The successful application and further potential of these molecular methods to study probiotic bacteria and their impact on the standard GI microbiota is discussed below.