A comparison of transformation methods for evaluating two‐dimensional weakly singular integrals

Accurate numerical evaluation of integrals arising in the boundary element method is fundamental to achieving useful results via this solution technique. In this paper, a number of techniques are considered to evaluate the weakly singular integrals which arise in the solution of Laplace's equation in three dimensions and Poisson's equation in two dimensions. Both are two‐dimensional weakly singular integrals and are evaluated using (in a product fashion) methods which have recently been used for evaluating one‐dimensional weakly singular integrals arising in the boundary element method. The methods used are based on various polynomial transformations of conventional Gaussian quadrature points where the transformation polynomial has zero Jacobian at the singular point. Methods which split the region of integration into sub‐regions are considered as well as non‐splitting methods. In particular, the newly introduced and highly accurate generalized composite subtraction of singularity and non‐linear transformation approach (GSSNT) is applied to various two‐dimensional weakly singular integrals. A study of the different methods reveals complex relationships between transformation orders, position of the singular point, integration kernel and basis function. It is concluded that the GSSNT method gives the best overall results for the two‐dimensional weakly singular integrals studied. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of select parameters on the properties of edible film from water-soluble fish proteins in surimi wash-water

Edible film from water-soluble fish proteins were developed by casting film solution on leveled trays and effects of pH (9.5, 10.0 and 10.5), heating temperature (60, 70 and 80 °C), and heating time (10, 20 and 30 min) of the film solution on various film properties were determined using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The impact of pH and heating temperature of film solution was more significant, overall, on the film's properties than heating time. Contour plots of tensile strength and elongation at break was highest at pH of 10.0 at 70 °C (2.75-3.02 MPa) but low in elongation at break (6.35-9.16%), while water vapor permeability and oxygen permeability were at their lowest (58.55-65.96 g mm/m² d kPa and 351.33-624.18 cm³ μm/m² d kPa). There was a direct correlation between the films’ and proteins’ solubility on one hand, and heating temperature of film solution on the other, which reversed with change in pH of film solution. Film color was darker and more yellowish with increase in the pH of film solution.     

Integration framework for intelligent manufacturing processes

In this article, we describe a new approach to applying distributed artificial intelligence techniques to manufacturing processes. The construction of intelligent systems is one of the most important techniques among artificial intelligence research. Our goal is to develop an integrated intelligent system for real time manufacturing processes. An integrated intelligent system is a large knowledge integration environment that consists of several symbolic reasoning systems (expert systems) and numerical computation packages. These software programs are controlled by a meta-system which manages the selection, operation and communication of these programs. A meta-system can be implemented in different language environments and applied to many disciplines. This new architecture can serve as a universal configuration to develop high performance intelligent systems for many complicated industrial applications in real world domains.To whom all correspondence should be addressed.     

Results of a User Study on 2D Hurricane Visualization

We present the results from a user study looking at the ability of observers to mentally integrate wind direction and magnitude over a vector field. The data set chosen for the study is an MM5 (PSU/NCAR Mesoscale Model) simulation of Hurricane Lili over the Gulf of Mexico as it approaches the southeastern United States. Nine observers participated in the study. This study investigates the effect of layering on the observer's ability to determine the magnitude and direction of a vector field. We found a tendency for observers to underestimate the magnitude of the vectors and a counter‐clockwise bias when determining the average direction of a vector field. We completed an additional study with two observers to try to uncover the source of the counter‐clockwise bias. These results have direct implications to atmospheric scientists, but may also be able to be applied to other fields that use 2D vector fields.     

Protein Extraction from Heat-stabilized Defatted Rice Bran: II. The Role of Amylase, Celluclast, and Viscozyme

ABSTRACT: The effectiveness of 3 carbohydrases for protein extraction from heat-stabilized defatted rice bran (HDRB) was evaluated. Amylase, viscozyme and celluclast extracted a maximum of 45.4, 12.1, and 28.5% protein, respectively. Further study showed that extracted protein ranged from 9.5 to 58.4% under conditions of water to bran ratio (5:1 to 20:1), α-amylase (0 to 110000 units/10 g rice bran), temperature (35 to 55 °C), and time (1 to 8 h). The maximum protein extracted was 58.4% with a water to bran ratio of 17:1, 87637 units amylase, and 50.9 °C. These results suggest that impure food-grade amylase containing protease is more effective than celluclast and viscozyme in protein extraction from HDRB.     

Changing our view on design evaluation meetings methodology: a study of software technical review meetings

By contrast to design meetings, design evaluation meetings (DEMs) have generally been considered as situations in which, according to DEM methodologies, design activities are quite marginal. In a study of DEMs in software development, i.e. in technical review meetings following a particular review methodology, we showed: (i) the occurrence of design activities as part of an argumentation process; (ii) the relative importance of cognitive synchronisation as a prerequisite for evaluation; (iii) the important role played in evaluation by argumentation that makes explicit the underlying design rationale (DR). On the basis of our results, we discuss the potential for using DR methodologies in this kind of meetings.     

Reduced modified quadratures for quadratic membrane finite elements

Reduced integration is frequently used in evaluating the element stiffness matrix of quadratically interpolated finite elements. Typical examples are the serendipity (Q8) and Lagrangian (Q9) membrane finite elements, for which a reduced 2 × 2 Gauss–Legendre integration rule is frequently used, as opposed to full 3 × 3 Gauss–Legendre integration. This ‘softens’ these element, thereby increasing accuracy, albeit at the introduction of spurious zero energy modes on the element level. This is in general not considered problematic for the ‘hourglass’ mode common to Q8 and Q9 elements, since this spurious mode is non‐communicable. The remaining two zero energy modes occurring in the Q9 element are indeed communicable. However, in topology optimization for instance, conditions may arise where the non‐communicable spurious mode associated with the elements becomes activated. To effectively suppress these modes altogether in elements employing quadratic interpolation fields, two modified quadratures are employed herein. For the Q8 and Q9 membrane elements, the respective rules are a five and an eight point rule. As compared to fully integrated elements, the new rules enhance element accuracy due to the introduction of soft, higher‐order deformation modes. A number of standard test problems reveal that element accuracy remains comparable to that of the under‐integrated counterparts. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Healing the psyche through music, myth, and ritual.

According to Carl Jung, a person's symptoms occur as a result of the psyche's creative attempt to self-regulate. These symptoms are viewed as the symbol-making function of the psyche. Music therapy as a therapeutic tool is also viewed as having a symbol-making function in that the physical act of making music involves conceptualizing one's symptoms into sounds. The sound serves as a musical symbol of the symptom. The myth of Orpheus is offered as an example of how early man amplified the creative potential contained in music to heal from life's woes. The Orphic archetype illustrates that music serves as a medium for healing and as an expression of Self. That psyche can be healed by music is a reminder of the connection between music therapy and the myth of Orpheus. In using the therapeutic tool of music one can transcend, through the symbol making process inherent in music therapy, the tension of opposites that are created at the crossroads of disease and wellness. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Applications of the discrete element method in mechanical engineering

Compared to other fields of engineering, in mechanical engineering, the Discrete Element Method (DEM) is not yet a well known method. Nevertheless, there is a variety of simulation problems where the method has obvious advantages due to its meshless nature. For problems where several free bodies can collide and break after having been largely deformed, the DEM is the method of choice. Neighborhood search and collision detection between bodies as well as the separation of large solids into smaller particles are naturally incorporated in the method. The main DEM algorithm consists of a relatively simple loop that basically contains the three substeps contact detection, force computation and integration. However, there exists a large variety of different algorithms to choose the substeps to compose the optimal method for a given problem. In this contribution, we describe the dynamics of particle systems together with appropriate numerical integration schemes and give an overview over different types of particle interactions that can be composed to adapt the method to fit to a given simulation problem. Surface triangulations are used to model complicated, non-convex bodies in contact with particle systems. The capabilities of the method are finally demonstrated by means of application examples. Commemorative Contribution.