Dielectric studies of tin based chalcogenide glasses

The dc conductivity and dielectric parameters of glassy system of a-Se₇₀Te_30−x Sn _x (x = 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10) glasses have been investigated. Frequency and temperature dependence of dielectric constants (ε′) and dielectric loss (ε′′) are studied in the frequency range 120–100 kHz and temperature range 300–390 K. Dielectric dispersion is observed when Tin (Sn) is incorporated to a-Se–Te system in the entire temperature range. These results explain that the dc conduction loss is dominated in the present system. From dc conductivity studies it is observed that the dc conductivity and activation energy increases with increasing tin concentration in the present system.     

Hydrothermally Oxidized Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotube Networks for High Volumetric Electrochemical Energy Storage

Improving volumetric energy density is one of the major challenges in nanostructured carbon electrodes for electrochemical energy storage device applications. Herein, a simple hydrothermal oxidation process of single‐walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) networks in dilute nitric acid is reported, enabling simultaneous physical densification and chemical functionalization of the as‐assembled randomly‐packed SWNT films. After the hydrothermal oxidation process, the density of the SWNT films increases from 0.63 to 1.02 g cm^?3 and a considerable amount of redox‐active oxygen functional groups are introduced on the surface of the SWNTs. The functionalized SWNT films are used as positive electrodes against Li metal negative electrodes for potential Li‐ion capacitors or Li‐ion battery applications. The functionalized SWNT electrodes deliver high volumetric as well as gravimetric capacities, 154 Ah L^?1 and 152 mAh g^?1, respectively, owing to the surface redox reactions between the introduced oxygen functional groups and Li ions. In addition, these electrodes exhibit a remarkable rate‐capability by retaining its high capacity of 94 Ah L^?1 (92 mAh g^?1) at a high discharge rate of 10 A g^?1. These results demonstrate the simple hydrothermal oxidation process as an attractive strategy for improving the volumetric performance of nanostructured carbon electrodes.     

Modelling social norms in multiagent systems

Social norms are cultural phenomena that naturally emerge in human societies and help to prescribe and proscribe normative patterns of behaviour. In recent times, the discipline of multi-agent systems has been used to model social norms in an artificial society of agents. In this paper we review norms in multi-agent systems and then explore a series of norms in a simulated urban traffic setting. Using game-theoretic concepts we define and offer an account of norm stability. Particularly in small groups, a relatively small number of individuals with cooperative attitude are needed for the norm of cooperation to evolve and be stable. In contrast, in larger populations, a larger proportion of cooperating individuals are required to achieve stability.     

Classification of pulsed eddy current GMR data on aircraft structures

This paper presents a technique to automatically detect third-layer cracks at rivet sites in aircraft structures using the response signals collected by giant magneto-resistive (GMR) sensors. The inspection system uses pulsed waveform as the excitation source of a multi-line coil and captures the transient fields associated with the induced eddy currents via a GMR sensor, which was developed to detect cracking and corrosion in multi-layer aircraft structures. An automatic scan of the region around the rivet generates C-scan image data that can be processed to detect cracks under the rivet head. Using a 2-D image of each rivet head, feature extraction and classification schemes based on principal component analysis and the k-means algorithm have been successfully developed to detect cracks of varying size located in the third layers at a depth of up to 10 mm below the surface.     

Optimization of Polishing Conditions for Long Grain <Emphasis Type="Italic">Basmati</Emphasis> Rice in a Laboratory Abrasive Mill

Rice milling operation is a very energy-intensive process. The major qualities of the rice which are taken into consideration while milling are the degree of milling and head rice yield. A laboratory abrasion polisher, modified by attaching a humidifying and cooling unit, was used to polish long-grain Pusa Basmati rice in order to optimize the polishing conditions. Polishing experiments were carried out using central composite design for a factorial with a central point, at different initial grain temperatures (5–25 °C) and milling chamber temperatures (11–25 °C) at a constant humidity level of 95 ± 2% for different time intervals. Models capable of predicting the quality of milled rice were developed using response surface methodology and used to determine optimum processing conditions. Responses such as degree of milling (DOM), broken content, and specific energy consumption were used to assess product quality. Optimum milling conditions of a minimum of 10% DOM, a broken content of 8%, and a specific energy consumption of 11 kJ/DOM were obtained at a milling chamber temperature of 11 °C, an initial grain temperature of 15 °C, and a milling period of 180 s.     

Validating for Liveness in Hidden Adversary Systems

Multi-stream interactive systems can be seen as “hidden adversary” systems (HAS), where the observable behaviour on any interaction channel is affected by interactions happening on other channels. One way of modelling HAS is in the form of a multi-process I/O automata, where each interacting process appears as a token in a shared state space. Constraints in the state space specify how the dynamics of one process affects other processes. We define the “liveness criterion” of each process as the end objective to be achieved by the process. The problem now for each process is to achieve this objective in the face of unforeseen interferences from other processes. In an earlier paper, it was proposed that this uncertainty can be mitigated by collaboration among the disparate processes. Two types of collaboration philosophies were also suggested: altruistic collaboration and pragmatic collaboration. This paper addresses the HAS validation problem where processes collaborate altruistically.     

Shock deformation of coarse grain alumina above Hugoniot elastic limit

Symmetric shock experiments were conducted on a 10 μm grain size coarse alumina ceramic with a gas gun to identify its Hugoniot elastic limit (HEL). To understand the damage initiation and their subsequent growth mechanisms in coarse grain alumina subjected to shock impact at levels much above the HEL, additional asymmetric shock recovery experiments with the same gas gun were then deliberately conducted on the same alumina at shock pressure levels more than three times as high as the HEL and the fragments collected by a dedicated catcher system. Detailed characterization of the shock recovered alumina fragments by X-ray diffraction, nanoindentation, scanning electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy were utilized to understand the nature and process of failure initiation, incubational growth, coalescence and propagation leading to fragmentation. Based on these data a new qualitative damage model was developed to explain the deformation mechanism.     

Psychological functioning among mothers of children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: A longitudinal study.

Mothers of children with newly diagnosed insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) were assessed repeatedly over a period of 6 years in order to determine the psychological correlates of managing this chronic illness. Both maternal depression and overall emotional distress after the 1st year of the IDDM increased slightly with illness duration and were also influenced by other factors. Mothers' adjustment shortly after their children were diagnosed with IDDM was a strong predictor of their long-term emotional symptomatology. However, mothers' symptoms over time were not related to medical aspects of IDDM (i.e., the extent of the children's metabolic control, number of rehospitalizations, or their compliance with the medical regimen) and were also unrelated to the levels of depression or anxiety reported by their children. Mothers generally found it easier to cope with the IDDM the longer their children had the illness. However, the degree to which mothers perceived the IDDM to be bothersome or difficult to manage at any given point in time was associated with their overall levels of emotional distress. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Near surface stress analysis strategies for axisymmetric fretting

Fretting is essentially a surface phenomenon, but bulk stresses and material properties contribute to subsequent failure. This feature of fretting demands a thorough understanding of near surface stresses under the joint action of normal, shear and thermal loading. Axisymmetric fretting is of great concern in piping and coupling design. In this paper, we develop design tools for Near Surface Analysis (NSA) for understanding axisymmetric fretting. Axisymmetric Fretting Analysis (AFA) becomes formidable owing to localised tractions that call for Fourier transform techniques. We develop two different NSA strategies based on two-dimensional plane strain models: 2D strip model (2DS) and half-plane Flamant model (2DF). We compare the results of 2DS and 2DF with the exact results for AFA obtained using Love’s stress function in conjunction with Fourier transform. There is a good correspondence between stress components obtained from 2D-models.     

Traffic Volume Time-Series Analysis According to the Type of Road Use

Problems related to highway traffic operation and congestion management can be alleviated with the use of modern intelligent transportation systems (ITSs). Advanced Traveler Information Systems (ATIS) is one of the emerging technologies that will help travelers plan routes and schedules of their trips so as to redistribute the traffic over the highway network. Such redistribution will try to maximize the use of available highway capacity. Collections of real-time data and short-term predictions of traffic volumes are among the critical needs of an ATIS. This article studies characteristics of different traffic volume time series. In particular, time-series analysis is applied to the prediction of daily traffic volumes. The daily traffic volume is estimated by using the previous 13 daily traffic volumes. The study involves a comparison of statistical and neural network techniques for time series analysis. The analysis is applied to different types of road groups according to the trip purpose and trip length distribution. It is hoped that this study will provide a better understanding of various issues involved in the short-term prediction of traffic volumes on different types of highways.