Superfluid Contributions to General Turbulence Theory

We analyse a numerical solution of a mathematical model of thermal superfluid turbulence. We elaborate on key points of the statistical phenomenology and point out their impact on fundamental issues of general turbulence theory.     

Face detection and recognition of natural human emotion using Markov random fields

This paper presents an integrated system for emotion detection. In this research effort, we have taken into account the fact that emotions are most widely represented with eye and mouth expressions. The proposed system uses color images and it is consisted of three modules. The first module implements skin detection, using Markov random fields models for image segmentation and skin detection. A set of several colored images with human faces have been considered as the training set. A second module is responsible for eye and mouth detection and extraction. The specific module uses the HLV color space of the specified eye and mouth region. The third module detects the emotions pictured in the eyes and mouth, using edge detection and measuring the gradient of eyes’ and mouth’s region figure. The paper provides results from the system application, along with proposals for further research.     

A well‐conditioned and optimally convergent XFEM for 3D linear elastic fracture

A variation of the extended finite element method for three‐dimensional fracture mechanics is proposed. It utilizes a novel form of enrichment and point‐wise and integral matching of displacements of the standard and enriched elements in order to achieve higher accuracy, optimal convergence rates, and improved conditioning for two‐dimensional and three‐dimensional crack problems. A bespoke benchmark problem is introduced to determine the method's accuracy in the general three‐dimensional case where it is demonstrated that the proposed approach improves the accuracy and reduces the number of iterations required for the iterative solution of the resulting system of equations by 40% for moderately refined meshes and topological enrichment. Moreover, when a fixed enrichment volume is used, the number of iterations required grows at a rate which is reduced by a factor of 2 compared with standard extended finite element method, diminishing the number of iterations by almost one order of magnitude. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dietary patterns analysis using data mining method. An application to data from the CYKIDS study

Data mining is a computational method that permits the extraction of patterns from large databases. We applied the data mining approach in data from 1140 children (9-13years), in order to derive dietary habits related to children's obesity status. Rules emerged via data mining approach revealed the detrimental influence of the increased consumption of soft dinks, delicatessen meat, sweets, fried and junk food. For example, frequent (3-5times/week) consumption of all these foods increases the risk for being obese by 75%, whereas in children who have a similar dietary pattern, but eat >2times/week fish and seafood the risk for obesity is reduced by 33%. In conclusion patterns revealed from data mining technique refer to specific groups of children and demonstrate the effect on the risk associated with obesity status when a single dietary habit might be modified. Thus, a more individualized approach when translating public health messages could be achieved.     

Excimer laser processing of inkjet-printed and sputter-deposited transparent conducting SnO2:Sb for flexible electronics

The feasibility of low-temperature fabrication of transparent electrode elements from thin films of antimony-doped tin oxide (SnO₂:Sb, ATO) has been investigated via inkjet printing, rf magnetron sputtering and post-deposition excimer laser processing. Laser processing of thin films on both glass and plastic substrates was performed using a Lambda Physik 305i excimer laser, with fluences in the range 20-100 mJ cm^− 2 reducing sheet resistance from as-deposited values by up to 3 orders of magnitude. This is consistent with TEM analysis of the films that shows a densification of the upper 200 nm of laser-processed regions.     

Seismic analysis of buried pipeline in a 3D soil continuum

An efficient numerical approach based on both boundary and finite element methods is developed in this work. This development is capable of realistic three dimensional analyses of soil-structure interaction problems in the real time domain and is specifically tailored to buried lifelines. In particular, boundary elements are used in a surface-only representation of the buried cavity problem for determining influence functions at the cavity/pipeline interface for the case of prescribed motions at the control point. Subsequently, these influence functions are converted into loads and are used as input to a finite element model of the pipeline. Following careful validation studies, the present methodology is applied to a real site with known seismological characteristics and the results are gauged against empirical design formulae. It is shown that the seismically induced stress state in a buried pipeline is more pronounced in the case of transverse vibrations than in the case of longitudinal vibrations.     

Triangular C0 bending elements based on the Hu-Washizu principle and orthogonality conditions

This paper deals with simple and effective C⁰ linear triangular bending elements based on the Hu-Washizu variational principle. The following key features are inherent in the proposed formulation: extensional, flexural and transverse shear strains and the corresponding stresses are referred to the directions of the triangle sides. The independent variation of displacements, strains and stresses yields discrete approximations consistent with the continuum theory. Furthermore, a proper identification of the deformational modes and the orthogonality requirements between the assumed transverse shear forces and the undesirable strain fields lead to element formulations with important attributes: minimization of superfluous energy, properly justified assumptions, simplicity of formulation and straightforward extension to non-linear problems. Alternative approximations of strains and stresses, also presented, enhance the element performance in the case of both thick and thin plates and shells. Test examples demonstrate the characteristic properties of the proposed element formulations.     

The Adoption of Mediterranean Diet Attenuates the Development of Acute Coronary Syndromes in People with the Metabolic Syndrome

Objectives  

In this work we investigated the effect of the consumption of the Mediterranean diet on coronary risk, in subjects with the metabolic syndrome.     

Collective Practices in Common Information Spaces: Insight From Two Case Studies

This research explores the design of practice toolkits as components, distinct from community management systems, allowing members of a virtual community to engage in the practice the community is about. Our analysis is informed by two case studies in different application domains each presenting alternative but complementary insights to the design of computer-mediated practice toolkits. The first case study describes how established practices in music performance are encapsulated in a suitably augmented music notation toolkit so as to support the learning objectives of virtual teams engaged in music master classes. The second case study presents experience with the development of a toolkit for engaging in the practice of vacation package assembly. This time the virtual team is a cross-organization virtual community of practice whose members streamline their efforts by internalizing and performing in accordance to a new (virtual) practice. Findings from the two studies reveal two distinct orientations in the design of practice toolkits. Specifically, in application domains where practices are well established (i.e., music performance), the toolkit serves as the medium for reconstructing an existing practice in virtual settings. In contrast, when cross-organization collaboration is involved (i.e., vacation package assembly), the toolkit should be designed so as to encapsulate a “meta”-practice, exhibiting both boundary and locality.