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Simulation Analysis (simulation + analysis)
Selected AbstractsNumerical Analysis and Simulation Analysis for Space-Time DataCONTRIBUTIONS TO PLASMA PHYSICS, Issue 10 2006M. A. Hassouba Abstract Spatio temporal dynamics of the positive column of a dc neon glow discharge is studied and investigated experimentally and theoretically. Spatio temporal analysis by means of biorthogonal decomposition method (BOD) gives insights into the mechanism of irregularity and can be employed for characterization of spatio- temporal complexity. In the weak nonlinear region, the wave dynamics is approximated by an amplitude equation of the Ginzburg-Landau equation (CGLE) with complex coefficients and an additional integral term based on a fluid model. In the present work we deal with irregular spatio-temporal data. A comparison between the numerical analysis of the experimental data and simulation results are studied. A good agreement between the dynamical behaviour for experimental space-time data and theoretical simulation space-time results was obtained. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Two-Level Security Management and the Prospects for New Democracies: A Simulation AnalysisINTERNATIONAL STUDIES QUARTERLY, Issue 3 2000Marc V. Simon Most new democracies face serious internal, ethnic/separatist conflicts; in addition, some face international threats. The literature on the growth of democracy in the global system and its impact on world politics does not fully account for the dual threats all states must address in managing their security. Based on theoretical work by Starr (1994) which describes the "common logic" of conflict processes in war and revolution, we outline a model of how states respond to security threats from both external and internal sources. Using computer simulation, we analyze the model and evaluate the relative importance for state security of factors such as system size, numbers of democracies in the system, extraction/allocation strategy pursued by new democracies, and government legitimacy level. Our results show that new democracies thrive in systems that are predominantly democratic. Also, ally support can provide crucial resources for new democracies facing internal threats. Finally, "endangered" democracies can recover security by attempting to buy off domestic threats rather than deter them, and by improving legitimacy. [source] Simulation analyses of weighted fair bandwidth-on-demand (WFBoD) process for broadband multimedia geostationary satellite systemsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS AND NETWORKING, Issue 4 2005Güray Açar Abstract Advanced resource management schemes are required for broadband multimedia satellite networks to provide efficient and fair resource allocation while delivering guaranteed quality of service (QoS) to a potentially very large number of users. Such resource management schemes must provide well-defined service segregation to the different traffic flows of the satellite network, and they must be integrated with some connection admission control (CAC) process at least for the flows requiring QoS guarantees. Weighted fair bandwidth-on-demand (WFBoD) is a resource management process for broadband multimedia geostationary (GEO) satellite systems that provides fair and efficient resource allocation coupled with a well-defined MAC-level QoS framework (compatible with ATM and IP QoS frameworks) and a multi-level service segregation to a large number of users with diverse characteristics. WFBoD is also integrated with the CAC process. In this paper, we analyse via extensive simulations the WFBoD process in a bent-pipe satellite network. Our results show that WFBoD can be used to provide guaranteed QoS for both non-real-time and real-time variable bit rate (VBR) flows. Our results also show how to choose the main parameters of the WFBoD process depending on the system parameters and on the traffic characteristics of the flows. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Conservation of the Montagu's harrier (Circus pygargus) in agricultural areasANIMAL CONSERVATION, Issue 4 2002Beatriz Arroyo The Montagu's harrier (Circus pygargus) is a ground-nesting raptor that breeds mainly in cereal crops in western Europe. We evaluate how the use of agricultural habitats may affect population sustainability in this species, based on simulation analyses, and explore how conservation measures could be optimized. Probability of extinction increased with decreasing harrier productivity, and this trend was accentuated when the carrying capacity (maximum number of breeding pairs) decreased. Harrier productivity in agricultural habitats is strongly affected by harvesting activities. An average of 60% of nestlings in agricultural areas of France and the Iberian Peninsula would perish in the absence of conservation measures. These losses would make populations unsustainable, if no immigration occurred. Simulation analyses showed that connectivity between populations through natal dispersal could allow persistence of threatened populations even in the absence of conservation measures. The probability of extinction of four hypothetical populations connected through natal dispersal would be lowest if one of those populations were fully protected (or fully productive), even if the other ones were unprotected. Montagu's harriers are semi-colonial, and populations could be considered as a compound of subpopulations (the colonies). Additionally, Montagu's harriers bred more frequently in areas where food abundance was high, and where the number of fledglings produced in the previous reproductive attempt was high. These factors could be used to develop sustainable and efficient conservation plans, identifying and protecting the most productive and stable colonies in agricultural areas, and further exploring experimentally factors that are likely to attract and maintain harriers in protected areas. [source] Dynamic simulation of backdraft phenomena in a townhouse building fireHEAT TRANSFER - ASIAN RESEARCH (FORMERLY HEAT TRANSFER-JAPANESE RESEARCH), Issue 3 2008Shih-Cheng Wang Abstract A backdraft is a unique and extremely dangerous fire phenomenon in buildings with limited ventilation. Backdraft can generate the powerful fire and heavy smoke that hinders firefighter rescues and those escaping the fire. This study investigates a deflagration fire and smoke spread in a townhouse fire that occurred in Taiwan. The fire is reconstructed using the CFAST (ver. 6.0.10) zone model, FDS (ver. 4.0.7) field model, and full-scale fire tests for motorcycles. Computational results reasonably agree qualitatively with the post-accident reports. Simulation analysis for backdraft phenomena demonstrated that window size in the limited-ventilation compartment fire influenced smoke leaking from vents, deflagration induction time, and fire intensity from a new opening. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res, 37(3): 153,164, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience. wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/htj.20196 [source] Portfolio selection, diversification and fund-of-funds: a noteACCOUNTING & FINANCE, Issue 2 2005Simone Brands G23 Abstract The present paper examines the performance and diversification properties of active Australian equity fund-of-funds (FoF). Simulation analysis is employed to examine portfolio performance as a function of the number of funds in the portfolio. The present paper finds that as the number of funds in an FoF portfolio increases, performance improves in a mean,variance setting; however, measures of skewness and kurtosis behave less favourably given an investor's preferences for the higher moments of the return distribution. The majority of diversification benefits are realized when a portfolio of approximately 6 active equity funds are included in the FoF portfolio. [source] Transient stability simulation of wind generator expressed by two-mass modelELECTRICAL ENGINEERING IN JAPAN, Issue 3 2008Yoshikazu Shima Abstract Recently, wind power generation is increasing worldwide. In wind power stations, induction machines are mostly used as generators. Since induction generators have a stability problem similar to the transient stability of synchronous machines, it is important to analyze the transient stability of power systems including wind generators. Although there have been some reports analyzing the transient stability problem, wind turbine and wind generator are, in most cases, modeled as a one-mass shaft system having total inertia constant. This paper presents simulation analyses of transient stability of power system including induction generator which is expressed by a two-mass shaft model and analyzes an effect of shaft system modeling on the transient stability characteristics. Simulations are performed by PSCAD/EMTDC in this study. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 162(3): 27,37, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.20394 [source] Novel mechanism for hair shine with special optical enhancement effect on blonde hairINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COSMETIC SCIENCE, Issue 2 2010S. Iwai J. Cosmet. Sci., 60, 323,336 (May/June 2009) Accepted for publication October 21, 2008. Synopsis Compared with dark or brunette hair, blonde hair has different characteristic features of appearance such as bright shine with a soft tonal color. In this report, novel optical mechanisms of the characteristic blonde hair appearance are reported. Optical analyses of goniophotometric measurements were carried out to elucidate the mechanisms of strong reflections observed in blonde hairs. As a result, reflections with much higher intensity than those from the front surface of a fiber were confirmed to play important roles in the case of blonde hair fibers, and the intensities were found to vary with the cross-sectional shape of a fiber, the ellipticity (=minor axis/major axis). From light path simulation analyses, these strong reflections were verified to result from total reflection from the back surface of a fiber. Furthermore, since each hair fiber acts as a lens and/or a reflector, intricate reflection behaviors are suggested to occur as a consequence of the combination of light condensation and total reflection. [source] ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Coalescent analyses support multiple mainland-to-island dispersals in the evolution of Malagasy Triaenops bats (Chiroptera: Hipposideridae)JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY, Issue 6 2008Amy L. Russell Abstract Aim, We investigate the directionality of mainland-to-island dispersals, focusing on a case study of an African-Malagasy bat genus, Triaenops (Hipposideridae). Taxa include T. persicus from east Africa and three Triaenops species from Madagascar (T. auritus, T. furculus, and T. rufus). The evolution of this bat family considerably post-dated the tectonic division of Madagascar from Africa, excluding vicariance as a viable hypothesis. Therefore, we consider three biogeographical scenarios to explain these species' current ranges: (A) a single dispersal from Africa to Madagascar with subsequent speciation of the Malagasy species; (B) multiple, unidirectional dispersals from Africa to Madagascar resulting in multiple, independent Malagasy lineages; or (C) early dispersal of a proto-species from Africa to Madagascar, with later back-dispersal of a descendant Malagasy taxon to Africa. Location, East Africa, Madagascar, and the Mozambique Channel. Methods, We compare the utility of phylogenetic and coalescent methodologies to address the question of directionality in a mainland-to-island dispersal event for recently diverged taxa. We also emphasize the application of biologically explicit demographic systems, such as the non-equilibrium isolation-with-migration model. Here, these methods are applied to a four-species haploid genetic data set, with simulation analyses being applied to validate this approach. Results, Coalescent simulations favour scenario B: multiple, unidirectional dispersals from Africa to Madagascar resulting in multiple, independent Malagasy bat lineages. From coalescent dating, we estimate that the genus Triaenops was still a single taxon approximately 2.25 Ma. The most recent Africa to Madagascar dispersal occurred much more recently (c. 660 ka), and led to the formation of the extant Malagasy species, T. rufus. Main conclusions, Haploid genetic data from four species of Triaenops are statistically most consistent with multiple, unidirectional dispersals from mainland Africa to Madagascar during the late Pleistocene. [source] THE EVOLUTION OF PRODUCTIVITY GAPS AND SPECIALIZATION PATTERNSMETROECONOMICA, Issue 4 2006Bart Los ABSTRACT This paper presents an industry-level model of growth and trade, in which evolving specialization patterns are the endogenous result of innovation, international technology spillovers, learning-by-doing and balance of payments-restricted growth. Differences between industries with regard to their share in consumption are shown to reinforce or mitigate the effects of specialization on aggregate productivity convergence patterns, depending on other parameters. The implications of the model are studied by means of simulation analyses for a wide range of parameter configurations. [source] An optimal adaptive design to address local regulations in global clinical trials,PHARMACEUTICAL STATISTICS: THE JOURNAL OF APPLIED STATISTICS IN THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY, Issue 3 2010Xiaolong Luo Abstract After multi-regional clinical trials (MRCTs) have demonstrated overall significant effects, evaluation for a region-specific effect is often important. Recent guidance (see, e.g. 1) from regulatory authorities regarding evaluation for possible country-specific effects has led to research on statistical designs that incorporate such evaluations in MRCTs. These statistical designs are intended to use the MRCTs to address the requirements for global registration of a medicinal product. Adding a regional requirement could change the probability for declaring positive effect for the region when there is indeed no treatment difference as well as when there is in fact a true difference within the region. In this paper, we first quantify those probability structures based on the guidance issued by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) of Japan. An adaptive design is proposed to consider those probabilities and to optimize the efficiency for regional objectives. This two-stage approach incorporates comprehensive global objectives into an integrated study design and may mitigate the need for a separate local bridging study. A procedure is used to optimize region-specific enrollment based on an objective function. The overall sample size requirement is assessed. We will use simulation analyses to illustrate the performance of the proposed study design. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Conservation of the Montagu's harrier (Circus pygargus) in agricultural areasANIMAL CONSERVATION, Issue 4 2002Beatriz Arroyo The Montagu's harrier (Circus pygargus) is a ground-nesting raptor that breeds mainly in cereal crops in western Europe. We evaluate how the use of agricultural habitats may affect population sustainability in this species, based on simulation analyses, and explore how conservation measures could be optimized. Probability of extinction increased with decreasing harrier productivity, and this trend was accentuated when the carrying capacity (maximum number of breeding pairs) decreased. Harrier productivity in agricultural habitats is strongly affected by harvesting activities. An average of 60% of nestlings in agricultural areas of France and the Iberian Peninsula would perish in the absence of conservation measures. These losses would make populations unsustainable, if no immigration occurred. Simulation analyses showed that connectivity between populations through natal dispersal could allow persistence of threatened populations even in the absence of conservation measures. The probability of extinction of four hypothetical populations connected through natal dispersal would be lowest if one of those populations were fully protected (or fully productive), even if the other ones were unprotected. Montagu's harriers are semi-colonial, and populations could be considered as a compound of subpopulations (the colonies). Additionally, Montagu's harriers bred more frequently in areas where food abundance was high, and where the number of fledglings produced in the previous reproductive attempt was high. These factors could be used to develop sustainable and efficient conservation plans, identifying and protecting the most productive and stable colonies in agricultural areas, and further exploring experimentally factors that are likely to attract and maintain harriers in protected areas. [source] An order-based algorithm for implementing multiparty synchronizationCONCURRENCY AND COMPUTATION: PRACTICE & EXPERIENCE, Issue 12 2004José A. Pérez Abstract Multiparty interactions are a powerful mechanism for coordinating several entities that need to cooperate in order to achieve a common goal. In this paper, we present an algorithm for implementing them that improves on previous results in that it does not require the whole set of entities or interactions to be known at compile- or run-time, and it can deal with both terminating and non-terminating systems. We also present a comprehensive simulation analysis that shows how sensitive to changes our algorithm is, and compare the results with well-known proposals by other authors. This study proves that our algorithm still performs comparably to other proposals in which the set of entities and interactions is known beforehand, but outperforms them in some situations that are clearly identified. In addition, these results prove that our algorithm can be combined with a technique called synchrony loosening without having an effect on efficiency. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Competition for light and nitrogen among grassland species: a simulation analysisFUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY, Issue 2 2001Schippers P. Abstract 1.,A plant competition model to analyse the competition among perennial grassland species was developed. It was used to find out whether complex perennial competition processes could be simulated accurately on the basis of ecophysiological principles; what crucial parameters and processes determine succession; and how spatial heterogeneity affects interspecies competition for light and nitrogen. 2.,Simulation results were compared with results of a 2-year replacement experiment involving Holcus lanatus, Anthoxanthum odoratum and Festuca ovina. Sensitivity analyses were performed to evaluate the importance of processes and parameters. 3.,The model's sensitivity to plant height, specific leaf area and turnover and the large interspecific differences indicated that these were key determinants of competition between species. Festuca's low shoot turnover enabled it to survive the winter better and gave it an advantage in spring; this resulted in an unexpected recovery after winter in the second year. 4.,Spatially explicit simulations showed that species patchiness reduced competitive asymmetry, especially under nutrient-poor conditions. 5.,The model's ability to simulate complex perennial competition processes as observed in the experiment indicates its potential for analysing vegetation processes related to succession. [source] Responses of dryland soil respiration and soil carbon pool size to abrupt vs. gradual and individual vs. combined changes in soil temperature, precipitation, and atmospheric [CO2]: a simulation analysisGLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY, Issue 9 2009WEIJUN SHEN Abstract With the large extent and great amount of soil carbon (C) storage, drylands play an important role in terrestrial C balance and feedbacks to climate change. Yet, how dryland soils respond to gradual and concomitant changes in multiple global change drivers [e.g., temperature (Ts), precipitation (Ppt), and atmospheric [CO2] (CO2)] has rarely been studied. We used a process-based ecosystem model patch arid land simulator to simulate dryland soil respiration (Rs) and C pool size (Cs) changes to abrupt vs. gradual and single vs. combined alterations in Ts, Ppt and CO2 at multiple treatment levels. Results showed that abrupt perturbations generally resulted in larger Rs and had longer differentiated impacts than did gradual perturbations. Rs was stimulated by increases in Ts, Ppt, and CO2 in a nonlinear fashion (e.g., parabolically or asymptotically) but suppressed by Ppt reduction. Warming mainly stimulated heterotrophic Rs (i.e., Rh) whereas Ppt and CO2 influenced autotrophic Rs (i.e., Ra). The combined effects of warming, Ppt, and CO2 were nonadditive of primary single-factor effects as a result of substantial interactions among these factors. Warming amplified the effects of both Ppt addition and CO2 elevation whereas Ppt addition and CO2 elevation counteracted with each other. Precipitation reduction either magnified or suppressed warming and CO2 effects, depending on the magnitude of factor's alteration and the components of Rs (Ra or Rh) being examined. Overall, Ppt had dominant influence on dryland Rs and Cs over Ts and CO2. Increasing Ppt individually or in combination with Ts and CO2 benefited soil C sequestration. We therefore suggested that global change experimental studies for dryland ecosystems should focus more on the effects of precipitation regime changes and the combined effects of Ppt with other global change factors (e.g., Ts, CO2, and N deposition). [source] System dynamics modelling for supply-chain management: A case study on a supermarket chain in the UKINTERNATIONAL TRANSACTIONS IN OPERATIONAL RESEARCH, Issue 5 2004Y. Ge Abstract This paper presents a system dynamics (SD) approach for the analysis of the demand amplification problem, also known as the bullwhip effect, which has been studied fairly extensively in the literature. The construction of an SD model is reported using a part of a supermarket chain system in the UK as an example. Based on the model, the causes of the dynamic behaviour of the system and the sources of amplification from the downstream to the upstream of the chain are investigated. The impact of information delays, demand forecasting and information sharing on the performance of the multi-echelon supply chain is analysed. Some implementation issues are also addressed based on the simulation analysis. [source] How costly is clutch formation in the Audouin's Gull Larus audouinii?JOURNAL OF AVIAN BIOLOGY, Issue 4 2000Xavier Ruiz During the Audouin's Gull's breeding season at the Ebro Delta in 1993, 24 fresh eggs from eight three-egg clutches (modal clutch-size) were collected at the peak of the laying period. Eggs were processed to obtain formalin-fixed yolks, which were halved and stained using the potassium dichromate method. Digitized images of the yolks were examined to assess the daily rates of yolk deposition. We used these data in combination with egg compositional analysis to build a model of energy demands during the formation of an average clutch in Audouin's Gull. To show how the different parameters of clutch formation affect the daily energy investment peak, we performed a simulation analysis in which the rapid yolk development (RYD) period, the follicle triggering interval (FTI), the laying interval (LI) and the albumen synthesis period (ASP) were allowed to vary simultaneously. In our sample, the mean RYD period was seven days with a range from six to eight days. There were no significant differences in yolk volume among eggs in a clutch, but albumen volume was significantly smaller in third eggs. According to our model the albumen synthesis of the a-egg coincides with the energy demand peak for clutch formation. This peak represents an increase by ca. 42% in female energy requirements. Values obtained from the simulation analysis showed that only the ASP of the a-egg and the RYD durations of the second and third follicles produced noticeable reductions in peak energy investment. We predict that in gulls, whose laying intervals seem to be kept constant, significant increases of the durations of the RYD periods of second and third eggs, or even significant reductions of yolk size of these eggs, may operate simultaneously to match the energy demands during clutch formation to the prevailing food conditions. [source] Measuring the effectiveness of U.S. rice export promotion programsAGRIBUSINESS : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL, Issue 2 2009Pimbucha Rusmevichientong Three issues are examined relating to U.S. rice export promotion. First, the responsiveness of U.S. rice export demand with respect to U.S. rice export promotion is measured to determine the quantity impacts of these programs. Second, the overall effectiveness of the programs is examined in terms of whether the benefits exceed the cost. Finally, the optimality of U.S. rice export promotion in terms of expenditure levels is investigated. A double logarithmic econometric export demand equation is estimated to compute the export promotion elasticity while controlling for other demand determinants such as own price, the export price of competing countries, incomes, and exchange rates. Average benefit,cost ratios are computed for U.S. rice export promotion based on a range of excess supply own-price elasticities to compute the effectiveness of the programs. Finally, a marginal simulation analysis is conducted to explore the optimality of the investment in rice export promotion. [JEL Codes: Q17, Q18, Q13]. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] The distributive consequences of machismo: a simulation analysis of intra-household discrimination,JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, Issue 8 2006José Cuesta Abstract Empirical evidence questions the unitary allocation model of the household that underpins the standard measurement of monetary poverty and inequality. Intra-household gender discrimination has been widely shown to shape expenditure decisions, nutrition status, and human capital accumulation of household members. However, conventional poverty and inequality analyses are conducted for the household as a whole, which might lead to different conclusions compared with studies based on individuals. Using recent developments in intra-household bargaining modelling, this paper constructs non-cooperative allocation rules dominated by gender discrimination among household members. Estimates for Chile show a substantial worsening of poverty and inequality under such allocation rules. This suggests that intra-household discrimination deserves some of the attention typically directed to extra-household discrimination in labour markets, access to public services or political participation. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Dendrimer complexes: Fine control of metal assembly in macromoleculesJOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (IN TWO SECTIONS), Issue 17 2005Kimihisa Yamamoto Abstract New phenylazomethine dendrimers have been developed, with each dendrimer having a unique single structure. From ultraviolet,visible absorption spectra, we determined that stannous chloride added to dendritic polyphenylaz omethine (DPA) was assembled in a stepwise manner from the core shell to the periphery. The selective binding was achieved by the electron density gradient formed in the dendrimer, and it was confirmed by shell-selective imine reduction, transmission electron microscopy, and NMR measurements. The complex formation constants of the respective shells were estimated to be considerably different by a simulation analysis of ultraviolet,visible absorption spectra. The reversible assembly and release of iron into and out of the dendrimer were possible by electrochemical oxidation and reduction, respectively. DPA with a porphyrin at the core was found to function as an effective reduction catalyst of carbon dioxide. DPA with aryl amine at the core was demonstrated to function as a hole-transporting material in electroluminescent devices. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 3719,3727, 2005 [source] Effects of altered plasma ,-1-acid glycoprotein levels on pharmacokinetics of some basic antibiotics in pigs: simulation analysisJOURNAL OF VETERINARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 6 2001M. Kuroha Effects of altered plasma , -1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) levels on pharmacokinetic parameters of basic antimicrobials, erythromycin (EM), lincomycin (LM) and clindamycin (CM) were evaluated in pigs by simulation analysis. Intravenous (i.v.) injections of EM, LM and CM were performed to obtain pharmacokinetic parameters in healthy conditions. Binding parameters were obtained from an in vitro study using ultrafiltration. Simulation studies indicated that an increase of plasma AGP levels resulted in a decrease of both volume of distribution at steady state (Vdss) and total body clearance (Cltot) for all the drugs. Elimination rate constant for LM was almost unchanged by an increase of plasma AGP levels, whereas those for EM and CM were increased. Plasma concentration,time profiles at a high AGP level (often observed in pathophysiological conditions) were also simulated. All of the total plasma concentration,time profiles were different from those at normal AGP level. The differences were characterized by a higher initial concentration with faster or similar elimination. Unbound plasma concentration,time profile of LM was unaffected by AGP levels, whereas EM and CM were eliminated from plasma more rapidly at high AGP level. These results suggested that adjustment of dosage regimen of EM and CM is required in pathophysiological conditions, but that of LM is not required. [source] Oil-immersion or solid-immersion power enhancement of very-small-aperture lasersLASER PHYSICS LETTERS, Issue 6 2006Q. Gan Abstract An analysis of the enhancement of light transmission through a sub-wavelength aperture by oil- or solid-immersion is presented in this letter. An output power enhancement phenomenon related to the oil-immersion or solid-immersion mechanism is realized experimentally and reported for a very-smallaperture laser, which is in agreement with simulation analysis. This phenomenon could be useful for future optical data storage, microscopy and lithography. (© 2006 by Astro, Ltd. Published exclusively by WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA) [source] Image-based coronary tracking and beat-to-beat motion compensation: Feasibility for improving coronary MR angiographyMAGNETIC RESONANCE IN MEDICINE, Issue 3 2008Maneesh Dewan Abstract A method to reduce the effect of motion variability in MRI of the coronary arteries is proposed. It involves acquiring real-time low-resolution images in specific orthogonal orientations, extracting coronary motion from these images, and then using this motion information to guide high-resolution MR image acquisition on a beat-to-beat basis. The present study establishes the feasibility and efficacy of the proposed approach using human motion data in an offline implementation, prior to future online implementation on an MRI scanner. To track the coronary arteries in low-resolution real-time MR images in an accurate manner, a tracking approach is presented and validated. The tracking algorithm was run on real-time images acquired at 15,20 frames per second in four-chamber, short-axis, and coronal views in five volunteers. The systolic and diastolic periods in the cardiac cycles, computed from the extracted motion information, had significant variability during the short time periods typical of cardiac MRI. It is also demonstrated through simulation analysis using human tracked coronary motion data that accounting for this cardiac variability by adaptively changing the trigger delay for acquisition on a beat-to-beat basis improves overall motion compensation and hence MR image quality evaluated in terms of SNR and CNR values. Magn Reson Med 60:604,615, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Design, process, and performance of all-epitaxial normally-off SiC JFETsPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (A) APPLICATIONS AND MATERIALS SCIENCE, Issue 10 2009Rajesh K. Malhan Abstract This paper reviews the normally-off (N - off) and normally-on (N - on) SiC junction field effect transistor (JFET) concepts and presents an innovative all-epitaxial double-gate trench JFET (DGTJFET) structure. The DGTJFET design combines the advantages of lateral and buried gate JFET concepts. The lateral JFET advantage is the epitaxial definition of the channel width and the buried gate JFET advantage is the small cell size. In the DGTJFET process the epitaxial embedded growth in trenches facilitates the small cell pitch and the vertical direction of the channel. A detailed numerical simulation analysis compares the potential of the DGTJFET design with reported lateral channel and buried gate JFET structures. Migration enhanced embedded epitaxy (ME3) and planarization processes were developed to realize narrow cell pitch DGTJFETs for high-density power integration. The highly doped vertical channel of the DGTJFET defined by the ME3 growth process makes it possible to accurately control the sub-micron channel dimensions in order to realize a low specific on-state resistance (RON) and a high saturation current capability. The anisotropic nature of SiC is taken into account for the channel design considerations. The successful application of the new process technologies for the development of the all-epitaxial DGTJFETs is discussed. Fabricated 5.5 ,m cell pitch 4H-SiC DGTJFETs demonstrate the saturation current density capability of more than 1000 A/cm2. N - off and N - on DGTJFETs with 2.25 mm squared chip size and 9.5 ,m cell pitch output 15 A and 20 A at gate voltage of 2.5 V and drain voltage of 5.0 V. The specific RON of the N - off and N - on DGTJFETs is at room temperature 8.1 m , cm2 and 6.3 m, cm2, respectively, indicating that N - off devices can be realized at the expense of a slight increase in specific RON of approximately 25%. DGTJFETs with a 13 ,m drift layer doped to 5.0 × 1015 cm,3 are demonstrated with a breakdown voltage in the range of 1200 V to 1550 V at the wafer level with a leakage current below 10 ,A. (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] A note on the choice and the estimation of Kriging models for the analysis of deterministic computer experimentsAPPLIED STOCHASTIC MODELS IN BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY, Issue 2 2009David Ginsbourger Abstract Our goal in the present article to give an insight on some important questions to be asked when choosing a Kriging model for the analysis of numerical experiments. We are especially concerned about the cases where the size of the design of experiments is relatively small to the algebraic dimension of the inputs. We first fix the notations and recall some basic properties of Kriging. Then we expose two experimental studies on subjects that are often skipped in the field of computer simulation analysis: the lack of reliability of likelihood maximization with few data and the consequences of a trend misspecification. We finally propose an example from a porous media application, with the introduction of an original Kriging method in which a non-linear additive model is used as an external trend. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] MAD phasing using the (Ta6Br12)2+ cluster: a retrospective studyACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION D, Issue 5 2008Oliwia Pasternak The crystal structure of cytokinin-specific binding protein (CSBP) containing four independent molecules with 4 × 155 = 620 residues in the asymmetric unit of the P64 unit cell has been solved by three-wavelength MAD using 1.8,Å resolution data recorded from a crystal derivatized with the dodecabromohexatantalum cation (Ta6Br12)2+. The diffraction data contained a very strong anomalous signal (allowing successful phasing even using peak SAD data alone) despite the fact that the five (Ta6Br12)2+ clusters found in the asymmetric unit have low occupancy (about 0.3). The derivative structure has been successfully refined to R = 0.158, providing interesting details on the geometry of the (Ta6Br12)2+ cluster, its interactions with the protein and on the backsoaking of a cytokinin ligand that was originally part of a CSBP,cytokinin complex in the native crystals used for (Ta6Br12)2+ derivatization. A simulation analysis of the phasing power of the (Ta6Br12)2+ ions at artificially imposed resolution limits shows that it is not possible to resolve the individual Ta atoms if the dmin limit of the data is higher than 2.9,Å. Additionally, for successful Ta identification the (Ta6Br12)2+ complex should be specifically bound and ordered. Good binding at the protein surface is facilitated by the presence of acidic groups, indicating higher pH buffer conditions to be preferable. In addition, the water channels in the crystal should be sufficiently wide (at least 11,Å) to allow free diffusion of the (Ta6Br12)2+ ions on soaking. A retrospective look at the initial molecular-replacement calculations provides interesting insights into how the peculiar packing mode and strong bias of the molecular-replacement-phased electron-density maps had hindered successful solution of the structure by this method. [source] Higher-level phylogeny of the Ithomiinae (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae): classification, patterns of larval hostplant colonization and diversificationCLADISTICS, Issue 4 2006Keith R. Willmott We present a higher-level phylogenetic hypothesis for the diverse neotropical butterfly subfamily Ithomiinae, inferred from one of the largest non-molecular Lepidoptera data sets to date, including 106 species (105 ingroup) and 353 characters (306 informative) from adult and immature stage morphology and ecology. Initial analyses resulted in 1716 most parsimonious trees, which were reduced to a single tree after successive approximations character weighting. The inferred phylogeny was broadly consistent with other past and current work. Although some deeper relationships are uncertain, tribal-level clades were generally strongly supported, with two changes required to existing classification. The tribe Melinaeini is polyphyletic and Athesis + Patricia require a new tribe. Methona should be removed from Mechanitini into the restored tribe Methonini. Dircennini was paraphyletic in analyses of all data but monophyletic based on adult morphology alone, and its status remains to be confirmed. Hypothyris, Episcada, Godyris, Hypoleria and Greta are paraphyletic. A simulation analysis showed that relatively basal branches tended to have higher partitioned Bremer support for immature stage characters. Larval hostplant records were optimized on to a reduced, generic-level phylogeny and indicate that ithomiines moved from Apocynaceae to Solanaceae twice, or that Tithoreini re-colonized Apocynaceae after a basal shift to Solanaceae. Ithomiine clades have specialized on particular plant clades suggesting repeated colonization of novel hostplant niches consistent with adaptive radiation. The shift to Solanum, comprising 70% of neotropical Solanaceae, occurs at the base of a clade containing 89% of all ithomiines, and is interpreted as the major event in the evolution of ithomiine larval hostplant relationships. © The Willi Hennig Society 2006. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||