Wave diffraction using finite and infinite elements

An experimental technique and configuration has been developed by the author to simulate and measure (using short range photogrammetric techniques) the wave heights of waves diffracting into a model basin of infinite extent. The finite and infinite element program ‘WAVE’ developed in the Department of Civil Engineering, University College of Wales, Swansea, has been modified to run on the UNIVAC1100 at U.C.T. The program is used to mathematically model the experimental configuration being tested. The finite element diffraction results are compared to: (i) the experimental results; (ii) classical wave diffraction theory.It is concluded that there is a good correlation between the finite element and the experimental results and that the differences are due to experimental second-order phenomena.     

Color determinants of surface stratification

Although color plays a crucial role in the demarcation of surfaces in the visual field, its role in depth perception is not well understood. Certain special effects of color on depth perception that arise from optical factors such as chromatic aberration (chromostereopsis) have been studied, but less is known about the role of perceptual factors of color in determining depth relations. The present study explores the role that the different attributes of color such as hue, chroma, and lightness play in the stratification of surfaces in depth. In two experiments, subjects manipulated specific dimensions of colors (hue, chroma, lightness, and whiteness) while making judgments of coplanarity of either two or more abutting surfaces. The results demonstrate that for surfaces to appear coplanar, their lightness has to be proportional to the natural (intrinsic) lightness of the hues. No meaningful effects of chroma, whiteness, or blackness were found in depth stratification. The results suggest a primary role of the natural lightness of hues in depth perception.     

Hot repair of coke batteries at Chinese plants

The restoration of coke batteries is described, with partial replacement of the refractory lining in the upper region and replacement of the worn sections of the anchor system. The repairs were conducted under the guidance of specialists from ZAO Ogneuporkokservis (OKOS), on the basis of ZAO OKOS technology, without disrupting production. This technology is currently being used for extensive hot repair of 13 coke batteries at Chinese plants. The quality of the repair work has been praised by plant management.     

Secondary γ Transitions in 159Gd After Neutron Capture at Isolated Resonances

The ¹⁵⁸Gd(n,γ)¹⁵⁹Gd reaction was studied at 12 isolated neutron resonances by the TOF method at the IBR-30 Fast Pulse Reactor at JINR Dubna. Totally 15 secondary γ transitions in ¹⁵⁹Gd were recorded in the range from 450 keV to 750 keV. Of these, six previously unseen transitions were placed on the established ¹⁵⁹Gd level scheme. The depopulation of strongly populated levels at 507.7 keV and 558.2 keV (the head and the first excited members of band 1/2⁻ [521]) was observed for the first time. It was shown that the observed 507.7 keV γ line, masked by the annihilation peak, originates from an unresolved doublet of transitions from the 507.7 keV level to the ground state and from the 558.2 keV level to the level at 50.7 keV. The 507.7 keV level decays exclusively to the ground state, while the 558.2 keV level decays via two transitions with a branching ratio that agrees well with the prediction according to Alaga’s rule.     

Identification of an Na+-dependent malonate transporter of Malonomonas rubra and its dependence on two separate genes

Two membrane proteins encoded by the malonate fermentation gene cluster of Malonomonas rubra, MadL and MadM, have been synthesized in Escherichia coli. MadL and MadM were shown to function together as a malonate transport system, whereas each protein alone was unable to catalyze malonate transport. Malonate transport by MadLM is Na+ dependent, and imposition of a DeltapNa+ markedly enhanced the rate of malonate uptake. The kinetics of malonate uptake into E. coli BL21(DE3) cells synthesizing MadLM at different pH values indicated that Hmalonate- is the transported malonate species. The stimulation of malonate uptake by Na+ ions showed Michaelis-Menten kinetics, and a Km for Na+ of 1.2 mM was determined. These results suggest that MadLM is an electroneutral Na+/Hmalonate- symporter and that it is dependent on two separate genes.     

DYANA: Best-first hierarchical diagnosis based on differential equation models

In this paper we evaluate and extend existing methods for an intended application for monitoring and diagnosis of a combined heat-power system. Only a few methods in model based diagnosis take advantage of the available design model by using (semi-)qualitative abstractions of ordinary differential equations, e.g. by Dvorak and Kuipers (1989), Ng (1990) and Lackinger and Nejdl (1991). Diagnosis of complex devices benefits from hierarchical models, both from a modelling perspective and from a computational perspective. This leads us to prefer the hierarchical diagnosis methoddiamon (Lackinger and Nejdl, 1991). We propose an extension of diamon, calleddyana, that is suitable for on-line diagnosis and uses an alternative method for dynamic model zooming which is based on heuristics regarding parsimony of diagnoses and consistency of fault models.dyana also uses numerical simulation, based on differential equations, instead of qualitative simulation.This article is dedicated to the memory of Martin Reinders. During the preparation of this paper, Martin died in an air accident. Please send any correspondence concerning this article to Hans Akkermans, at the above address (E-mail: akkermans@ecn.nl or akkerman@cs.utwente.nl).     

Emotional Processing During Experiential Treatment of Depression.

This study explored the importance of early and late emotional processing to change in depressive and general symptomology, self-esteem, and interpersonal problems for 34 clients who received 16-20 sessions of experiential treatment for depression. The independent contribution to outcome of the early working alliance was also explored. Early and late emotional processing predicted reductions in reported symptoms and gains in self-esteem. More important, emotional-processing skill significantly improved during treatment. Hierarchical regression models demonstrated that late emotional processing both mediated the relationship between clients' early emotional processing capacity and outcome and was the sole emotional-processing variable that independently predicted improvement. After controlling for emotional processing, the working alliance added an independent contribution to explaining improvement in reported symptomology only. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Color names,stimulus color,and their subjective links

The aim of the research reported by this study was on the one hand to identify what colors were associated with particular words in relation to a specific language (Italian), by portraying them in color stimuli on the screen of a monitor; and on the other hand to verify whether some words of that language denoted colors that were either particularly well defined or confused with others. In an experiment using special software, the subjects were asked to produce colors directly, instead of choosing among a number of colors presented on the screen. The results showed that (i) it is possible to identify the color‐stimuli to which the terms of a language refer; that (ii) the “best” colors Giallo (Yellow), Rosso (Red), Blu (Blue), and Verde (Green) which the subjects were requested to produce were very similar to the corresponding unique hues; that (iii) among the mixed hues there were perceptually intermediate colors, that is, ones exactly midway between two consecutive unique colors: Arancione (Orange) and Viola (bluish Purple); that (iv) Turquoise and Lime were clearly positioned in the mental space of color of the participants; and that (v) for Italian speakers some hues coincide: Azzurro (Azure) and Celeste (Cerulean); Arancione (Orange), RossoGiallo (RedYellow) and Carota (Carrot); Lime and GialloVerde (YellowGreen), so that their color terms can be considered synonyms. Our most interesting finding, however, is that for Italian speakers these four mixed colors with their specific names (Lime, Turchese (Turquoise), Viola (bluish Purple) and Arancione (Orange) fall perceptually in the middle of each of the four quadrants formed in the hue circle by the four unique hues. The resulting circle is therefore characterized by eight colors of which four are unique and four are intermediate mixed. It would be advisable to repeat the study cross‐culturally to test for possible similarities and differences in color meanings with speakers of different languages. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 42, 89–101, 2017     

Testing a model of change in the experiential treatment of depression.

In this study, we measured emotional processing and the alliance across 3 phases of therapy (beginning, working, and termination) for 74 clients who each received brief experiential psychotherapy for depression. Using path analysis, we proposed and tested a model of relationships between these 2 processes across phases of therapy and how these processes relate to predict improvement in the domains of depressive and general symptoms, self-esteem, and interpersonal problems after experiential treatment. Both therapy processes significantly increased across phases of therapy. Controlling for both client processes at the beginning of therapy, working phase emotional processing was found to directly and best predict reductions in depressive and general symptoms, and it could directly predict gains in self-esteem. Within working and termination phases of therapy, the alliance significantly contributed to emotional processing and indirectly contributed to outcome. Surprisingly, beginning therapy alliance (measured after Session 1) also directly predicted all outcomes. Furthermore, only clients’ beginning therapy process predicted reductions in interpersonal problems. Therefore, although the proposed theory of change was supported, clients’ beginning therapy processes may constrain clients’ success in experiential treatment and in particular their outcomes in some problem domains related to depression. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)