Dimensional Reference Research Articles

Analytical Solutions and Optimization of the Exo-Irreversible Schmidt Cycle with Imperfect Regeneration for the 3 Classical Types of Stirling Engine

The “old” Stirling engine is one of the most promising multi-heat source engines for the future. Simple and realistic basic models are useful to aid in optimizing a preliminary engine configuration. In addition to new proper analytical solutions for regeneration that dramatically reduce computing time, this study of the Schmidt-Stirling engine cycle is carried out from an engineer-friendly viewpoint introducing exo-irreversible heat transfers. The reference parameters are the technological or physical constraints: the maximum pressure, the maximum volume, the extreme wall temperatures and the overall thermal conductance, while the adjustable optimization variables are the volumetric compression ratio, the dead volume ratios, the volume phase-lag, the gas characteristics, the hot-to-cold conductance ratio and the regenerator efficiency. The new normalized analytical expressions for the operating characteristics of the engine: power, work, efficiency, mean pressure, maximum speed of revolution are derived, and some dimensionless and dimensional reference numbers are presented as well as power optimization examples with respect to non-dimensional speed, volume ratio and volume phase-lag angle.analytical solutions.

Free energy calculation using molecular dynamics simulation combined with the three dimensional reference interaction site model theory. I. Free energy perturbation and thermodynamic integration along a coupling parameter

This article proposes a free energy calculation method based on the molecular dynamics simulation combined with the three dimensional reference interaction site model theory. This study employs the free energy perturbation (FEP) and the thermodynamic integration (TDI) along the coupling parameters to control the interaction potential. To illustrate the method, we applied it to a complex formation process in aqueous solutions between a crown ether molecule 18-Crown-6 (18C6) and a potassium ion as one of the simplest model systems. Two coupling parameters were introduced to switch the Lennard-Jones potential and the Coulomb potential separately. We tested two coupling procedures: one is a "sequential-coupling" to couple the Lennard-Jones interaction followed by the Coulomb coupling, and the other is a "mixed-coupling" to couple both the Lennard-Jones and the Coulomb interactions together as much as possible. The sequential-coupling both for FEP and TDI turned out to be accurate and easily handled since it was numerically well-behaved. Furthermore, it was found that the sequential-coupling had relatively small statistical errors. TDI along the mixed-coupling integral path was to be carried out carefully, paying attention to a numerical behavior of the integrand. The present model system exhibited a nonmonotonic behavior in the integrands for TDI along the mixed-coupling integral path and also showed a relatively large statistical error. A coincidence within a statistical error was obtained among the results of the free energy differences evaluated by FEP, TDI with the sequential-coupling, and TDI with the mixed-coupling. The last one is most attractive in terms of the computer power and is accurate enough if one uses a proper set of windows, taking the numerical behavior of the integrands into account. TDI along the sequential-coupling integral path would be the most convenient among the methods we tested, since it seemed to be well-balanced between the computational load and the accuracy. The numerical results reported in this article qualitatively agree with the experimental data for the potassium ion recognition by the 18C6 in aqueous solution.

Two-dimensional gel proteome reference map of human small intestine

BackgroundThe small intestine is an important human organ that plays a central role in many physiological functions including digestion, absorption, secretion and defense. Duodenal pathologies include, for instance, the ulcer associated to Helicobacter Pylori infection, adenoma and, in genetically predisposed individuals, celiac disease. Alterations in the bowel reduce its capability to absorb nutrients, minerals and fat-soluble vitamins. Anemia and osteopenia or osteoporosis may develop as a consequence of vitamins malabsorption. Adenoma is a benign tumor that has the potential to become cancerous. Adult celiac disease patients present an overall risk of cancer that is almost twice than that found in the general population. These disease processes are not completely known.To date, a two dimensional (2D) reference map of proteins expressed in human duodenal tissue is not yet available: the aim of our study was to characterize the 2D protein map, and to identify proteins of duodenal mucosa of adult individuals without duodenal illness, to create a protein database. This approach, may be useful for comparing similar protein samples in different laboratories and for the molecular characterization of intestinal pathologies without recurring to the use of surgical material.ResultsThe enrolled population comprised five selected samples (3 males and 2 females, aged 19 to 42), taken from 20 adult subjects, on their first visit at the gastroenterology unit for a suspected celiac disease, who did not turn to be affected by any duodenal pathology after gastrointestinal and histological evaluations. Proteins extracted from the five duodenal mucosal specimens were singly separated by 2D gel electrophoresis. After image analysis of each 2D gel, 179 protein spots, representing 145 unique proteins, from 218 spots tested, were successfully identified by MALDI-TOF ms analysis. Normalized volumes, for each protein, have been reported for every gel. Proteins have been grouped according to their biological/metabolic functions.ConclusionThis study represents to date the first detailed and reproducible 2D protein map of human duodenum. Spots identifications, reported in a database, will be helpful to identify the variability in protein expression levels, in isoforms expression, or in post-translational modifications associated to pathology or to a therapy.

A highly parallelizable integral equation theory for three dimensional solvent distribution function: Application to biomolecules

Three dimensional (3D) hydration structure is informative to clarify the functions of hydrated waters around a protein. We develop a new approach to calculate 3D solvation structure with reasonable computational cost. In the present method, the total solvation structure is obtained using conventional one dimensional reference interaction site model (RISM) followed by integrating the 3D fragment data, which are evaluated around each atom (site) of solute. Thanks to this strategy, time-consuming 3D fast Fourier transformation, which is required in 3D-RISM theory, can be avoided and high-parallel performance is achieved. The method is applied to small molecular systems for comparison with 3D-RISM. The obtained results by the present method and by 3D-RISM show good agreement. The hydration structures for a large protein computed by the present method are also consistent with those obtained by x-ray crystallography.

Prediction and Control of Response Rate to Surveys

Synoptic This paper proposes a technique for survey designers to infer response rates based on the length and the salience (importance of subject to the respondent) of questionnaires. In order to understand the relationship between response rate, salience and the time respondents are willing to spend on a questionnaire, 430 people were surveyed. A statistical analysis was conducted on the data and a set of rules were generated for a fuzzy Inference System (FIS). Implementation of the proposed technique has resulted into a three dimensional reference table which shows the correlation between Time, Importance and Response Rate. The inferred table may be used as a guideline to estimate response rates in surveys. The provision of incentives is also considered in this work.

The potential of mean force of water and ions in aquaporin channels investigated by the 3D-RISM method

The three dimensional (3D) distributions of sodium, chloride, and hydronium ions along with water, in two aquaporin channels, AQP1 and GlpF, were calculated using the three dimensional reference interaction site model (3D-RISM) theory. It was found from the potential of mean force (PMF) obtained from the 3D-distribution that water inside the both channels is slightly more stable than bulk, and that PMF does not have high barriers for a water molecule to cross. The results are completely in harmony with the experimental observations, while they are in accord with none of the molecular simulation studies. All the ions studied are hard to permeate through either of the channels. However, the reasons why the permeability is so low are different depending on the channels and the ions. In the AQP1 channel, the cations, or Na + and H 3O +, are largely excluded from the channel essentially by the electrostatic repulsion due to the positively charged residues, while the Cl − ion is blocked by a high steric barrier at the selective filter (SF) region. In the GlpF, the PMFs of Na + and H 3O + inside the channel are mostly positive, and they have three large barriers to cross, which may be preventing the ions from permeation. On the other hand, the PMF of Cl − is largely negative, but it has wide and deep well which likely prevents the ion from permeating through the channel by “trapping” mechanism.

Design of two-dimensional zero reference codes by means of a global optimization method

A method to obtain the absolute measure of the position is by means of the autocorrelation of two zero reference marks. In one-axis measurement systems one dimensional mark are used and the design of these marks is relatively complex. When the movement is in two-axes, two dimensional reference marks are required and they are even harder to design. We report a method of global optimization to calculate the optimal two dimensional zero reference marks which generate the reference signal with the highest central peak. This method proves to be a powerful tool for solving this problem.

Sensitivity analysis and optimization of thermo-elasto-plastic processes with applications to welding side heater design

A computational scheme is presented to optimize quasi-static weakly coupled thermo-elasto-plastic processes in three dimensional Lagrangian reference frames. Sensitivity formulations are developed from the radial return algorithm based thermo-elasto-plastic finite element equations using the direct differentiation method. These formulations are exemplified in the optimization of the side heaters in the transient thermal tensioning welding process for minimum residual stress. The results of the direct differentiation sensitivity analysis are validated by comparing with finite difference sensitivity calculations. Optimization is performed using the BFGS line search method.

Developing a wireless reference model for interpreting complexity in wireless projects

Mobile Internet applications on ubiquitous mobile networks allows real‐time, anywhere, anytime connectivity to services. Owing to its scalability and potential cost savings, mobile communication is being increasingly applied in the business and consumer communities to create innovative data and voice application, which run over the Internet infrastructure. This paper describes the findings from a case study at an organisation that integrated mobile applications developed by third party developers. This paper presents a five dimensional reference model that provides a measure of project complexity for mobile systems development. This reference model aims to incorporate the unique context of mobile systems projects to: improve skills‐task allocation, allow more accurate development costing and improve project management performance on complex projects.

Size and shape recognition using measurement statistics and random 3D reference structures

Three dimensional (3D) reference structures segment source spaces based on whether particular source locations are visible or invisible to the sensor. A lensless 3D reference structure based imaging system measures projections of this source space on a sensor array. We derive and experimentally verify a model to predict the statistics of the measured projections for a simple 2D object. We show that the statistics of the measurement can yield an accurate estimate of the size of the object without ever forming a physical image. Further, we conjecture that the measured statistics can be used to determine the shape of 3D objects and present preliminary experimental measurements for 3D shape recognition.

Seismicity and crustal structure beneath the western Ligurian Sea derived from local earthquake tomography

In this paper, we present and comment on the results of a tomographic inversion of P arrival times of local earthquakes to better understand the structure and features of the Ligurian Sea, an oceanic basin originated in the Oligocene–Miocene. This tomographic inversion is the last step in a long and careful revision of the data available for the Ligurian Sea. An accurate catalogue derived from a controlled compilation of data from the numerous stations monitoring seismic activity in this young oceanic basin has been used for computation of a one dimensional (1D) reference model. A high-quality subset of the new catalogue has been used for the non-linear 3D tomographic inversion by iteratively solving the coupled hypocenter-velocity problem in a least square sense. Careful analysis of the resolution capability of the used data set has revealed the better-resolved features for interpretation. The resulting 3D model shows a high-velocity layer extending from the northeastern side of the model, where it lays about 30 km deep, to the southwestern part where it shallows to 15 km. The shallow part of this high-velocity body is located near the original area of the opening of the Ligurian Sea that took place between the Oligocene and early Miocene. Its velocity is comparable with that of an oceanic Moho (around 7.8 km/s). A lens-shaped high-velocity body, about 25 km long, located at a depth of 8–15 km, is interpreted as a series of ophiolitic bodies intruded into the upper crust.

A probabilistic atlas and reference system for the human brain: International Consortium for Brain Mapping (ICBM).

Motivated by the vast amount of information that is rapidly accumulating about the human brain in digital form, we embarked upon a program in 1992 to develop a four-dimensional probabilistic atlas and reference system for the human brain. Through an International Consortium for Brain Mapping (ICBM) a dataset is being collected that includes 7000 subjects between the ages of eighteen and ninety years and including 342 mono- and dizygotic twins. Data on each subject includes detailed demographic, clinical, behavioural and imaging information. DNA has been collected for genotyping from 5800 subjects. A component of the programme uses post-mortem tissue to determine the probabilistic distribution of microscopic cyto- and chemoarchitectural regions in the human brain. This, combined with macroscopic information about structure and function derived from subjects in vivo, provides the first large scale opportunity to gain meaningful insights into the concordance or discordance in micro- and macroscopic structure and function. The philosophy, strategy, algorithm development, data acquisition techniques and validation methods are described in this report along with database structures. Examples of results are described for the normal adult human brain as well as examples in patients with Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis. The ability to quantify the variance of the human brain as a function of age in a large population of subjects for whom data is also available about their genetic composition and behaviour will allow for the first assessment of cerebral genotype-phenotype-behavioural correlations in humans to take place in a population this large. This approach and its application should provide new insights and opportunities for investigators interested in basic neuroscience, clinical diagnostics and the evaluation of neuropsychiatric disorders in patients.

Electrical linewidth test structures patterned in [100] silicon-on-insulator for use as CD standards

Electrical test structures known as cross-bridge resistors have been patterned in [100] epitaxial silicon material that was grown on Bonded and Etched-back Silicon-On-Insulator (BESOI) substrates. The critical dimensions (CDs) of a selection of their reference segments have been measured electrically, by scanning-electron microscopy (SEM), and by lattice-plane counting. The lattice-plane counting is performed on phase-contrast images of the cross sections of the reference segments that are produced by high-resolution transmission-electron microscopy (HRTEM). The reference-segment features were aligned with [110] directions in the BESOI surface material. They were defined by a silicon micromachining process that resulted in their sidewalls being nearly atomically planar and smooth and inclined at 54.737/spl deg/ to the surface [100] plane of the substrate. SEM, HRTEM, and electrical CD (ECD) linewidth measurements have been made on features of various drawn dimensions on the same substrate to investigate the feasibility of a CD traceability path that combines the low cost, robustness, and repeatability of ECD metrology and the absolute measurement of the HRTEM lattice-plane counting technique. Other novel aspects of the [100] silicon-on-insulator (SOI) implementation that are reported here are the ECD test-structure architecture and the making of lattice-plane counts from cross-sectional HRTEM imaging of the reference features. This paper describes the design details and the fabrication of the cross-bridge resistor test structure. The long-term goal is to develop a technique for the determination of the absolute dimensions of the trapezoidal cross sections of the cross-bridge resistors' reference segments, as a prelude to making them available for dimensional reference applications.

Visual Maps of the World Wide Web

Summary The difficulties of finding intellectual content in the multidimensional environment of the Internet pose new problems for the LIS professionals and for the users they seek to serve. Many Internet users report the “lost in cyberspace” phenomenon and print publishing has flourished surrounding users' need to find good intellectual content on the World Wide Web. This paper examines the cognitive aspects of arrangement and organization on the Internet and then examines some of the techniques being used to create maps of the intellectual content found there. Through many centuries, maps have been a helpful cognitive aid in providing a practical congruence between a large, three dimensional landscape and a portable, intuitive, two dimensional reference source. Some of the same features of maps are being used to provide some cognitive sense of the contents of special topical areas on the Internet and particularly the World Wide Web.

Biexcitons in Low-Dimensional CdZnSe/ZnSe Structures

The biexciton formation in (Cd, Zn)Se/ZnSe quantum dots (QDs) is studied by using time-resolved photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. Analyzing the spectral lineshape of the biexciton signal, an increase of the biexciton binding energy is observed with decreasing dot size due to the influence of the carrier and the dielectric confinement in QDs. In addition, a faster rise time of the biexciton luminescence signal indicates an enhanced biexciton formation coefficient in totally confined systems as compared to a quasi-two dimensional reference.

Application of a normalization procedure in determining regional geochemical baselines

The regional variability of some geochemical parameters in the Gulf of Trieste is considered in terms of their relationship with Al, used as a normalization factor. Baselines calculated from these relationships are used to determine a simple enrichment factor for each element, defined as the ratio between the actual and predicted baseline value. The normalization procedure permits a new non dimensional reference baseline to be obtained that could help to assess the size of possible anomalies and to provide information on the diffusion and dispersion patterns of pollutants inside the monitored area.

General eigenvalue formula for Casimir invariants of type I quantum superalgebras

Induced invariant forms and the multiplicity labeling problem are investigated for typical summands of the tensor product of an arbitrary finite dimensional irreducible representation and a typical one, for the type I quantum superalgebras. The results are applied to obtain a general eigenvalue formula for Casimir invariants, corresponding to an arbitrary finite dimensional irreducible reference representation.

Evaluation of catheters and metallic catheter markers as calibration standard for measurement of coronary dimension

Measurement of coronary dimension requires an accurate and reproducible dimensional reference. Angiographic catheters are frequently used for this purpose. We measured the angiographic diameters of a broad range of diagnostic and angioplasty guiding catheters by using two commonly used edge-detection algorithms. Angiographic diameters are significantly less than true catheter outer diameter. Therefore the use of contrast-filled catheters as a dimensional reference may lead to considerable error in vessel measurement with overestimation of absolute dimension. Tables of reference values for multiple catheter as calibration standard, tested under a variety of angiographic conditions. The metallic-tipped marker was found to have a better degree of reproducibility than catheters. These findings have implications for studies employing serial measurements of coronary artery dimension and for the clinical practice of estimating vessel diameter for choice of balloon size during angioplasty.

Neuronal analysis of pharyngeal peristalsis in the gastropod Navanax in terms of identified motoneurons innervating identified muscle bands. I. Muscle band identifiability

The neuronal basis of pharyngeal ingestion and swallowing can be conveniently studied in the marine mollusc Navanax inermis because of the small number of neurons involved in the behavior, reproducible identifiability of many individual neurons and simple muscle arrangement. The Navanax pharynx contains 3 approximately orthogonal muscle groups, circumferential, longitudinal and radial, arranged in well defined layers. Pharyngeal peristalsis involves sequential circumferential constriction, apparently with coordinated local pharyngeal expansion produced by radial muscle. Circumferential and longitudinal muscles consist of discrete, well defined bands. The number, position and arrangement of circumferential and longitudinal bands show little interanimal variability; these bands are individually identified by sequential number. Regional morphologic specializations of circumferential bands presumably facilitate peristalsis. Circumferential and longitudinal bands form a two dimensional reference system defining position on the pharyngeal surface. In the accompanying paper circumferential motor fields are described in terms of identified motoneurons innervating identified bands, and radial motor fields are located with respect to the coordinate system of overlying longitudinal and circumferential bands.

「３次元有限歪解析‐沖縄島国頭層群嘉陽層について‐林，１９８８」における誤りとその訂正

「３次元有限歪解析‐沖縄島国頭層群嘉陽層について‐林，１９８８」における誤りとその訂正