Vectorized garbage collection

Garbage collection can be done in vector mode on supercomputers like the CRAY-2 and the Cyber 205. Both copying collection and mark-and-sweep can be expressed as breadth-first searches in which the queue can be processed in parallel. We have designed a copying garbage collector whose inner loop works entirely in vector mode. We give performance measurements of the algorithm as implemented for Lisp CONS cells on the Cyber 205. Vector-mode garbage collection performs up to nine times faster than scalar-mode collection-a worthwhile improvement.Supported in part by NSF Grants DCR-8603543 and CCR-8806121, and by a Digital Equipment Corp. Faculty Incentive Grant.Supported by the NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates program.     

Molecular thermodynamics of solutions in the normal and critical regions — II. Activity coefficients for the ArN2, C2H6C2H4 and C3H6CO2 systems

Activity coefficients for the ArN₂, C₂H₆C₂H₄, and C₃H₆CO₂ systems are calculated from published vapour-liquid equilibrium compositions at various pressures and temperatures. The activity coefficients are correlated using a two parameter model based on the principles of molecular thermodynamics. The method is used both in the normal liquid and critical regions. The parameters of the model are shown to be reasonably independent of the temperature for the three systems.     

3D interactive topology optimization on hand-held devices

This educational paper describes the implementation aspects, user interface design considerations and workflow potential of the recently published TopOpt 3D App. The app solves the standard minimum compliance problem in 3D and allows the user to change design settings interactively at any point in time during the optimization. Apart from its educational nature, the app may point towards future ways of performing industrial design. Instead of the usual geometrize, then model and optimize approach, the geometry now automatically adapts to the varying boundary and loading conditions. The app is freely available for iOS at Apple’s App Store and at http://www.topopt.dtu.dk/TopOpt3D for Windows and OSX.     

Parallel framework for topology optimization using the method of moving asymptotes

The complexity of problems attacked in topology optimization has increased dramatically during the past decade. Examples include fully coupled multiphysics problems in thermo-elasticity, fluid-structure interaction, Micro-Electro Mechanical System (MEMS) design and large-scale three dimensional problems. The only feasible way to obtain a solution within a reasonable amount of time is to use parallel computations in order to speed up the solution process. The focus of this article is on a fully parallel topology optimization framework implemented in C++, with emphasis on utilizing well tested and simple to implement linear solvers and optimization algorithms. However, to ensure generality, the code is developed to be easily extendable in terms of physical models as well as in terms of solution methods, without compromising the parallel scalability. The widely used Method of Moving Asymptotes optimization algorithm is parallelized and included as a fundamental part of the code. The capabilities of the presented approaches are demonstrated on topology optimization of a Stokes flow problem with target outflow constraints as well as the minimum compliance problem with a volume constraint from linear elasticity.     

Interactive topology optimization on hand-held devices

This paper presents an interactive topology optimization application designed for hand-held devices running iOS or Android. The TopOpt app solves the 2D minimum compliance problem with interactive control of load and support positions as well as volume fraction. Thus, it is possible to change the problem settings on the fly and watch the design evolve to a new optimum in real time. The use of an interactive app makes it extremely simple to learn and understand the influence of load-directions, support conditions and volume fraction. The topology optimization kernel is written in C# and the graphical user interface is developed using the game engine Unity3D. The underlying code is inspired by the publicly available 88 and 99 line Matlab codes for topology optimization but does not utilize any low-level linear algebra routines such as BLAS or LAPACK. The TopOpt App can be downloaded on iOS devices from the Apple App Store, at Google Play for the Android platform, and a web-version can be run from www.topopt.dtu.dk.     

Early detection of radioactive fallout by gamma spectrometry

Radioactive fallout should be detected as early as possible. A new and efficient method for detection of low-level irradiation from manmade radioactivity is developed. Radiation abnormalities are detectable down to air kerma rates of 0.5 to 1.0 nGy h(-1) for 137Cs and even lower for 131I. For multi-gamma energy radioactivity the detection level is 2.6-3.5 nGy h(-1). A standard NaI detector and a 512-channel analyser are used together with noise adjusted singular value decomposition (NASVD). Statistical noise is removed and the measured spectra are reproduced using spectral components produced by NASVD. Stripping is not used and false alarms due to washout of atmospheric radon progeny are almost eliminated. Detection levels and the criteria for setting warning and alarm levels are discussed. The method may also be useful in other situations, for example where low-level signals from radioactive sources need to be detected.     

Molecular thermodynamics of solutions in the normal and critical regions — I. Theory

The purpose of this work is to obtain parameters suitable for the correlation of activity coefficients which — unlike for example the van Laar constants — are independent of the pressure and the temperature of the system. Thus if the pressure-temperature-composition behaviour of a liquid mixture is known at one temperature, parameters correlated on the basis of these data may be used in the prediction of the pressure-temperature-composition behaviour at all other temperatures and pressures.First a working equation for the calculation of activity coefficients is derived using the methods of molecular thermodynamics. The method is based on the van der Waal's two-fluid model and a statistical mechanical formulation of the principle of corresponding states in conjunction with a simple two parameter equation of state. The two parameters in the equation of state are left as parameters to be determined in the derived working equation. The parameters are determined by fitting the working equation to pressure-temperature-composition data at one isotherm. The parameters obtained in this manner are then used in the derived working equation to predict activity coefficients at all other temperatures and pressures of the system.     

Level set topology and shape optimization by density methods using cut elements with length scale control

Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization - The level set and density methods for topology optimization are often perceived as two very different approaches. This has to some extent led to two...     

Total antioxidant activity in 35 Ugandan fruits and vegetables

The objective of this study was to analyse antioxidant activity (AA) in fruits and vegetables from Uganda and to investigate whether AA in traditional food is sufficiently high to prevent oxidative stress and thus combat disease. We used the FRAP (ferric reducing ability of plasma) procedure. The results showed great variation in AA, ranging from 72.3 ± 13.5 (Syzygium cuminii seed) to 0.09 ± 0.05 (Cucurbita maxima fruit) mmol/100 g fresh weight (FW). We estimated serving sizes and determined the total antioxidant capacity (TDAC) per day of three traditional Ugandan diets. The dietary plants with highest AA per serving size were pomegranate (Punica granatum), Canarium schweinfurthii, guava (Psidium guajava), mango (Mangifera indica) and tree tomato (Cyphomandra betacea) with values ranging from 8.91 to 3.00 mmol/serving. Of the traditional diets, the central/eastern (C/E) and the western (W) diets had almost the same AA (9.31–9.78 and 9.75 mmol/day), while the northern (N) diet had an AA of 7.50–8.02 mmol/day.     

Bottom‐up vs reactive sintering of Al2O3–YAG–YSZ composites via one or three‐phase nanoparticles (NPs). Bottom‐up processing wins this time

The bottom‐up approach describes the synthesis of bulk materials from the finest possible length scales to obtain the best global properties. This approach was adapted to the synthesis of multi‐phase ceramic composites produced from metal oxides produced by liquid‐feed flame spray pyrolysis (LF‐FSP). The effect of length scale of mixing was tested through two processing schemes, mixed single metal‐oxide nanopowders (NPs) and nanocomposite NPs having the desired composition within single particles. For the Al₂O₃–Y₂O₃–ZrO₂ ternary system, composites prepared from nanostructured nanoparticles sinter to finer grain sizes (<410 nm) at equivalent densities of 95%TD than those prepared from mixed nanoparticle processing. These contrast with our previous studies in this area where mixed NP processing gave the best or equivalent results. The nanocomposite NPs produced in this study exhibit novel nanostructures with three phases contained within single particles <26 nm average particle size (APS). This nanostructure may directly explain the enhanced sintering of the nanocomposite NPs and may provide an impetus for future synthesis of similarly structured NPs.