Physical Interpretation (physical + interpretation)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Synthetic diamond films as a platform material for label-free protein sensors

PHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (A) APPLICATIONS AND MATERIALS SCIENCE, Issue 3 2009
Nathalie Bijnens
Abstract In the framework of developing a fast and label-free immunosensor for C-reactive protein (CRP) detection, H-terminated nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) was functionalised with anti-CRP antibodies that were physically adsorbed to the surface. Impedance spectroscopy was used to electronically detect real-time CRP recognition. Different impedance behaviours were observed after CRP addition as compared to after FITC-labelled ssDNA addition at low (100 Hz) as well as at high frequencies (1 MHz). Physical interpretations of the observed impedance changes were obtained by fitting the data to an equivalent electrical circuit. Concentrations of 1 ,M CRP were recognised with a reaction time of 30 minutes. (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source]


Near-fault ground motions, and the response of elastic and inelastic single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) systems

EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS, Issue 9 2004
G. P. Mavroeidis
Abstract In order to investigate the response of structures to near-fault seismic excitations, the ground motion input should be properly characterized and parameterized in terms of simple, yet accurate and reliable, mathematical models whose input parameters have a clear physical interpretation and scale, to the extent possible, with earthquake magnitude. Such a mathematical model for the representation of the coherent (long-period) ground motion components has been proposed by the authors in a previous study and is being exploited in this article for the investigation of the elastic and inelastic response of the single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) system to near-fault seismic excitations. A parametric analysis of the dynamic response of the SDOF system as a function of the input parameters of the mathematical model is performed to gain insight regarding the near-fault ground motion characteristics that significantly affect the elastic and inelastic structural performance. A parameter of the mathematical representation of near-fault motions, referred to as ,pulse duration' (TP), emerges as a key parameter of the problem under investigation. Specifically, TP is employed to normalize the elastic and inelastic response spectra of actual near-fault strong ground motion records. Such normalization makes feasible the specification of design spectra and reduction factors appropriate for near-fault ground motions. The ,pulse duration' (TP) is related to an important parameter of the rupture process referred to as ,rise time' (,) which is controlled by the dimension of the sub-events that compose the mainshock. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Brane tilings and their applications

FORTSCHRITTE DER PHYSIK/PROGRESS OF PHYSICS, Issue 6 2008
M. Yamazaki
Abstract We review recent developments in the theory of brane tilings and four-dimensional ,, = 1 supersymmetric quiver gauge theories. This review consists of two parts. In part I, we describe foundations of brane tilings, emphasizing the physical interpretation of brane tilings as fivebrane systems. In part II, we discuss application of brane tilings to AdS/CFT correspondence and homological mirror symmetry. More topics, such as orientifold of brane tilings, phenomenological model building, similarities with BPS solitons in supersymmetric gauge theories, are also briefly discussed. This paper is a revised version of the author's master's thesis submitted to Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, the University of Tokyo on January 2008, and is based on his several papers and some works in progress [1,7]. [source]


Recharge of aquifers by flood events in an arid region

HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 4 2003
Isabella Shentsis
Abstract The process of aquifer recharge by flood events in an arid region was investigated as applied to the Hazeva Formation (the Karkom graben, the Wadi Paran watershed, Israel). The hydrological model was established as a complex system, with due regard for groundwater and transmission losses of surface runoff. It was based on a previously outlined hydrogeological model of the Karkom graben and a model of transmission losses in arid watercourses under conditions of data deficiency. Proceeding from calculation of groundwater balances, the contribution of surface runoff as a decisive balance component was confirmed. The main characteristics of aquifer regimes, such as changes in storage volume and groundwater level, as well as lateral flow, were all found to be dependent upon the net extraction rate, i.e. pumpage discounting replenishment by flood events. Analysis and physical interpretation of model parameters enabled assessment of the influence of groundwater extraction on aquifer recharge. This became apparent as increasing absorption capacity and recharge availability of the aquifer as a result of the groundwater abstraction. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


A hypoplastic model for mechanical response of unsaturated soils

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL AND ANALYTICAL METHODS IN GEOMECHANICS, Issue 15 2008
David Ma
Abstract A new constitutive model is developed for the mechanical behaviour of unsaturated soils based on the theory of hypoplasticity and the effective stress principle. The governing constitutive relations are presented and their application is demonstrated using several experimental data from the literature. Attention is given to the stiffening effect of suction on the mechanical response of unsaturated soils and the phenomenon of wetting-induced collapse. All model parameters have direct physical interpretation, procedures for their quantification from test data are highlighted. Quantitative predictions of the model are presented for wetting, drying and constant suction tests. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Modelling of hygro-thermal behaviour and damage of concrete at temperature above the critical point of water

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL AND ANALYTICAL METHODS IN GEOMECHANICS, Issue 6 2002
D. Gawin
Abstract In this paper, a model for the analysis of the behaviour of concrete at temperature largely exceeding critical point of water, is presented. In this temperature range liquid phase, i.e. capillary phase, and gas phase cannot be distinguished and only the latter exists. Consequently, capillary pressure has no more physical meaning above this point and liquid water is present only as physically adsorbed water. In this work, we give a different physical interpretation to the capillary pressure and use it still for the description of the hygrometric state of concrete in the zone, where temperature exceeds the critical point of water. Considerable thermal dilatation of the liquid water and the real behaviour of water vapour close to critical temperature are taken into account. Moreover, a special switching procedure in order to avoid the Stefan-like problem, which subsequently arises, is described and employed in the calculations. Finally, several numerical examples demonstrating the robustness of the adopted solution have been shown. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


General two-electron exponential type orbital integrals in polyatomics without orbital translations,

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF QUANTUM CHEMISTRY, Issue 13 2009
Philip E. Hoggan
Abstract This article advocates the use of atomic orbitals which have direct physical interpretation, i.e., hydrogen-like orbitals. They are exponential type orbitals (ETOs). Convenient nodeless linear combinations are used, namely Slater type orbitals (STOs) (with a product of a single power of r and an exponential as radial factor). Until 2008, such orbital products on different atoms were difficult to manipulate for the evaluation of two-electron integrals. The difficulty was mostly due to cumbersome orbital translations involving slowly convergent infinite sums. These are completely eliminated using Coulomb resolutions. They provide an excellent approximation that reduces these integrals to a sum of one-electron overlap-like integral products that each involve orbitals on at most two centers. Such two-center integrals are separable in prolate spheroidal coordinates. They are thus readily evaluated. Only these integrals need to be re-evaluated to change basis functions. The above is still valid or three-center integrals. In four-center integrals, the resolutions require translating one potential term per product. This is outlined here and detailed elsewhere. Numerical results are reported for the H2 dimer and CH3F molecule. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2009 [source]


Accuracy of orientation distribution function determination based on EBSD data-A case study of a recrystallized low alloyed Zr sheet

JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY, Issue 3 2007
N. BOZZOLO
Summary The question of the statistical accuracy of EBSD data for global texture calculation was re-explored on the basis of a very large grain population (83 000 grains measured on a recrystallized low-alloyed Zr sheet). Previous works aimed mainly at identifying and quantifying the main texture components and were based on much smaller data sets. The present work attempts to quantify the accuracy of the complete texture, including low-density regions of the orientation space. For that purpose, a new statistical parameter, V,, based on the calculation of texture difference functions is proposed. This parameter has two main advantages: it is equally sensitive to both high and low peaks of the orientation density function (ODF), and it has a physical interpretation because it is the material volume fraction corresponding to the difference between a given ODF and a reference ODF (considered, or known to be close to the truth). Two main variables were studied: the number of grains taken into account and the peak width ,0 of Bunge's ,Gaussian' model density used as kernel for the actual analysis. The orientation distribution functions were computed by nonparametric kernel density estimation with harmonics up to the order of 34. Minimizing the value of V, serves as the objective function for optimizing the peak width ,0 as a function of the number of grains. The properties of the V, parameter also allows for the definition of a method for estimating the accuracy of a given texture that has been obtained from a limited number of grains, without knowing the true texture of the investigated material. [source]


Structures in the fundamental plane of early-type galaxies

MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, Issue 4 2010
D. Fraix-Burnet
ABSTRACT The fundamental plane of early-type galaxies is a rather tight three-parameter correlation discovered more than 20 yr ago. It has resisted both a global and precise physical interpretation despite a consequent number of works, observational, theoretical or using numerical simulations. It appears that its precise properties depend on the population of galaxies in study. Instead of selecting a priori these populations, we propose to objectively construct homologous populations from multivariate analyses. We have undertaken multivariate cluster and cladistic analyses of a sample of 56 low-redshift galaxy clusters containing 699 early-type galaxies, using four parameters: effective radius, velocity dispersion, surface brightness averaged over effective radius and Mg2 index. All our analyses are consistent with seven groups that define separate regions on the global fundamental plane, not across its thickness. In fact, each group shows its own fundamental plane, which is more loosely defined for less diversified groups. We conclude that the global fundamental plane is not a bent surface, but made of a collection of several groups characterizing several fundamental planes with different thicknesses and orientations in the parameter space. Our diversification scenario probably indicates that the level of diversity is linked to the number and the nature of transforming events and that the fundamental plane is the result of several transforming events. We also show that our classification, not the fundamental planes, is universal within our redshift range (0.007,0.053). We find that the three groups with the thinnest fundamental planes presumably formed through dissipative (wet) mergers. In one of them, this(ese) merger(s) must have been quite ancient because of the relatively low metallicity of its galaxies, Two of these groups have subsequently undergone dry mergers to increase their masses. In the k-space, the third one clearly occupies the region where bulges (of lenticular or spiral galaxies) lie and might also have formed through minor mergers and accretions. The two least diversified groups probably did not form by major mergers and must have been strongly affected by interactions, some of the gas in the objects of one of these groups having possibly been swept out. The interpretation, based on specific assembly histories of galaxies of our seven groups, shows that they are truly homologous. They were obtained directly from several observables, thus independently of any a priori classification. The diversification scenario relating these groups does not depend on models or numerical simulations, but is objectively provided by the cladistic analysis. Consequently, our classification is more easily compared to models and numerical simulations, and our work can be readily repeated with additional observables. [source]


Structures of the magnetoionic media around the Fanaroff,Riley Class I radio galaxies 3C 31 and Hydra A

MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, Issue 2 2008
R. A. Laing
ABSTRACT We use high-quality Very Large Array (VLA) images of the Fanaroff,Riley Class I radio galaxy 3C 31 at six frequencies in the range 1365,8440 MHz to explore the spatial scale and origin of the rotation measure (RM) fluctuations on the line of sight to the radio source. We analyse the distribution of the degree of polarization to show that the large depolarization asymmetry between the north and south sides of the source seen in earlier work largely disappears as the resolution is increased. We show that the depolarization seen at low resolution results primarily from unresolved gradients in a Faraday screen in front of the synchrotron-emitting plasma. We establish that the residual degree of polarization in the short-wavelength limit should follow a Burn law and we fit such a law to our data to estimate the residual depolarization at high resolution. We discuss how to interpret the structure function of RM fluctuations in the presence of a finite observing beam and how to address the effects of incomplete sampling of RM distribution using a Monte Carlo approach. We infer that the observed RM variations over selected areas of 3C 31, and the small residual depolarization found at high resolution, are consistent with a power spectrum of magnetic fluctuations in front of 3C 31 whose power-law slope changes significantly on the scales sampled by our data. The power spectrum P(f) can only have the form expected for Kolmogorov turbulence [P(f) ,f,11/3] on scales ,5 kpc. On larger scales, we find . We briefly discuss the physical interpretation of these results. We also compare the global variations of RM across 3C 31 with the results of three-dimensional simulations of the magnetic-field fluctuations in the surrounding magnetoionic medium. We infer that the RM variation across 3C 31 is qualitatively as expected from relativistic-jet models of the brightness asymmetry wherein the apparently brighter jet is on the near side of the nucleus and is seen through less magnetoionic material than the fainter jet. We show that our data are inconsistent with observing 3C 31 through a spherically symmetric magnetoionic medium, but that they are consistent with a field distribution that favours the plane perpendicular to the jet axis , probably because the radio source has evacuated a large cavity in the surrounding medium. We also apply our analysis techniques to the case of Hydra A, where the shape and the size of the cavities produced by the source in the surrounding medium are known from X-ray data. We emphasize that it is essential to account for the potential exclusion of magnetoionic material from a large volume containing the radio source when using the RM variations to derive statistical properties of the fluctuations in the foreground magnetic field. [source]


Analysis of parameterized quadratic eigenvalue problems in computational acoustics with homotopic deviation theory

NUMERICAL LINEAR ALGEBRA WITH APPLICATIONS, Issue 6 2006
F. Chaitin-Chatelin
Abstract This paper analyzes a family of parameterized quadratic eigenvalue problems from acoustics in the framework of homotopic deviation theory. Our specific application is the acoustic wave equation (in 1D and 2D) where the boundary conditions are partly pressure release (homogeneous Dirichlet) and partly impedance, with a complex impedance parameter ,. The admittance t = 1/, is the classical homotopy parameter. In particular, we study the spectrum when t , ,. We show that in the limit part of the eigenvalues remain bounded and converge to the so-called kernel points. We also show that there exist the so-called critical points that correspond to frequencies for which no finite value of the admittance can cause a resonance. Finally, the physical interpretation that the impedance condition is transformed into a pressure release condition when |t| , , enables us to give the kernel points in closed form as eigenvalues of the discrete Dirichlet problem. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


z -Transform and adaptive signal processing in analysis of tracer data

THE CANADIAN JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, Issue 3 2002
Leszek Furman
Abstract In the field of data processing, the common practice is to interpret tracer-determined residence time distributions (RTDs) of particles through different arrangements of elementary flow models. However, such analysis needs an a priori chosen arrangement of these models, and some information carried by the RTD curve may be lost. This paper presents a competitive method based on adaptive filtering in a z -transform domain, and it may give better insight into flow patterns in a steady-state flow system. A physical interpretation of the transfer function was developed. The application of this modelling to the interpretation of radiotracer data from recent studies in different industry sectors is presented. Dans le domaine du traitement des données, la pratique courante consiste à interpréter les distributions de temps de séjour (DTS) déterminées par traceur de particules à travers différents arrangements de modèles d'écoulements élémentaires. Toutefois, une telle analyse implique de choisir a priori l'arrangement de ces modèles. Ainsi, certaines informations données par la courbe de DTS peuvent se perdre. On présente dans cet article une méthode compétitive basée sur le filtrage adaptatif dans le domaine de la transformée en z, qui peut permettre une meilleure compréhension des schémas d'écoulement pour un système en écoulement permanent. Une interprétation physique de la fonction de transfert a été développée. On présente l'application de cette modélisation de l'interprétation des données de traceurs radioactifs provenant d'études récentes dans différents secteurs industriels. [source]


Post-wildfire changes in suspended sediment rating curves: Sabino Canyon, Arizona

HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 11 2007
Sharon L. E. Desilets
Abstract Wildfire has been shown to increase erosion by several orders of magnitude, but knowledge regarding short-term variations in post-fire sediment transport processes has been lacking. We present a detailed analysis of the immediate post-fire sediment dynamics in a semi-arid basin in the southwestern USA based on suspended sediment rating curves. During June and July 2003, the Aspen Fire in the Coronado National Forest of southern Arizona burned an area of 343 km2. Surface water samples were collected in an affected watershed using an event-based sampling strategy. Sediment rating parameters were determined for individual storm events during the first 18 months after the fire. The highest sediment concentrations were observed immediately after the fire. Through the two subsequent monsoon seasons there was a progressive change in rating parameters related to the preferential removal of fine to coarse sediment. During the corresponding winter seasons, there was a lower supply of sediment from the hillslopes, resulting in a time-invariant set of sediment rating parameters. A sediment mass-balance model corroborated the physical interpretations. The temporal variability in the sediment rating parameters demonstrates the importance of storm-based sampling in areas with intense monsoon activity to characterize post-fire sediment transport accurately. In particular, recovery of rating parameters depends on the number of high-intensity rainstorms. These findings can be used to constrain rapid assessment fire-response models for planning mitigation activities. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


The nature of X-ray spectral variability in Seyfert galaxies

MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, Issue 2 2003
Richard D. Taylor
ABSTRACT We use a model-independent technique to investigate the nature of the 2,15 keV X-ray spectral variability in four Seyfert galaxies and distinguish between spectral pivoting and the two-component model for spectral variability. Our analysis reveals conclusively that the softening of the X-ray continuum with increasing flux in MCG,6-30-15 and NGC 3516 is a result of summing two spectral components: a soft varying component (SVC) with spectral shape independent of flux and a hard constant component (HCC). In contrast, the spectral variability in NGC 4051 can be well described by simple pivoting of one component, together with an additional hard constant component. The spectral variability model for NGC 5506 is ambiguous, due to the smaller range of fluxes sampled by the data. We investigate the shape of the hard spectral component in MCG,6-30-15 and find that it appears similar to a pure reflection spectrum, but requires a large reflected fraction (R > 3). We briefly discuss physical interpretations of the different modes of spectral variability. [source]


,,, Energy Separation in Homodesmotic Reactions

CHEMPHYSCHEM, Issue 12 2005
Georg Hohlneicher Dr.
Abstract A well-established quantity for specifying the aromaticity or antiaromaticity of cyclic conjugated molecules is the so-called aromatic stabilization energy (ASE), which can be derived,either experimentally or theoretically,from appropriate homodesmotic reactions. To gain further insight into the origin of aromaticity, several schemes have been devised to partition ASE into nuclear and electronic as well as , and , contributions, some of which have resulted in contradictory statements about the driving force of aromatic stabilization. Currently, these contradictions have not been resolved and have resulted in a confusing distinction between two different types of aromaticity: extrinsic and intrinsic aromaticity. By investigating different homodesmotic reactions we show that, in contrast to ASE itself, the individual contributions that enter the ASE can strongly depend on the type of reaction. Caution is therefore advised if conclusions or physical interpretations are derived from the individual components. The contradictions result from the fact that some reactions suffer from an imbalance in the number of interaction terms at the two sides of the reaction equation. The concept of isointeractional reactions is introduced and results in the elimination of the imbalance. For these reactions, the contradictions disappear and the distinction between intrinsic and extrinsic aromaticity becomes unnecessary. As far as the ,,, partitioning is concerned, several schemes proposed in the literature are compared. Contradictory results are obtained depending on the partitioning scheme and reaction used. In this context, it is demonstrated that for the partitioning of the electron,electron interaction, the scheme introduced by Jug and Köster is the one that is most theoretically grounded. [source]