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Very Good Agreement (very + good_agreement)
Selected AbstractsInterobserver Agreement on Dermoscopic Features of Pigmented Basal Cell CarcinomaDERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 7 2002Ketty Peris MD background. A dermoscopic method based on the absence of a pigment network and the presence of at least one of six positive features has been described for diagnosis of pigmented basal cell carcinoma (BCC). objective. To evaluate the observers' global agreement and interobserver agreement on each dermoscopic parameter of the method recently proposed. methods. Dermoscopic images of 56 pigmented BCCs were examined by five observers with different degrees of experience in dermoscopy. results. An overall full agreement was reached for the absence of pigment network (k = 1). Very good agreement was detected for the presence of spoke wheel areas (k = 0.85) and arborizing vessels (k = 0.72), and good agreement was shown for ulceration (k = 0.49) and multiple blue-gray globules (k = 0.41). No agreement was identified on large blue-gray ovoid nests (k = 0.28) and leaflike areas (k = 0.26). conclusion. We confirm the reproducibility of the method and show that ulceration, spoke wheel areas, and arborizing tel- angiectases represent the most robust positive parameters. [source] Dual-band microstrip-line BPFs using tap-coupling resonatorsELECTRONICS & COMMUNICATIONS IN JAPAN, Issue 6 2010Nobuhiko Okuzaki Abstract We focused on various dual-band microstrip-line bandpass filters (BPFs) based on tap-coupled resonators. Three types of BPFs, the basic type, multiple-pole type, and wideband type, were proposed and designed by classical filter theory based on the narrowband approximation method. These filters were analyzed by original computation programs and commercial circuit and electromagnetic simulators. The proposed BPFs were then fabricated and measured in the laboratory. The results confirm that the proposed BPFs produce dual passband response, multiple attenuation poles, and wide-passband characteristics. Very good agreement is found between the results of simulations and experiments. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn, 93(6): 25,33, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecj.10212 [source] Modified method of characteristics for solving population balance equationsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN FLUIDS, Issue 11 2003Laurent Pilon Abstract This paper presents a new numerical method for solving the population balance equation using the modified method of characteristics. Aggregation and break-up are neglected but the density function variations in the three-dimensional space and its dependence on the external fields are accounted for. The method is an interpretation of the Lagrangian approach. Based on a pre-specified grid, it follows the particles backward in time as opposed to forward in the case of traditional method of characteristics. Unlike the direct marching method, the inverse marching method uses a fixed grid thus, making it compatible with other numerical schemes (e.g. finite-volume, finite elements) that may be used to solve other coupled equations such as the mass, momentum, and energy conservation equations. The numerical solutions are compared with the exact analytical solutions for simple one-dimensional flow cases. Very good agreement between the numerical and the theoretical solutions has been obtained confirming the validity of the numerical procedure and the associated computer program. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] A 10 year cloud climatology over Scandinavia derived from NOAA Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer imageryINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATOLOGY, Issue 9 2003Karl-Göran Karlsson Abstract Results from a satellite-based method to compile regional cloud climatologies covering the Scandinavian region are presented. Systematic processing of multispectral image data from the NOAA Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) instrument has been utilized to provide monthly cloud climatologies covering the period 1991,2000. Considerable local-scale variation of cloud amounts was found in the region. The inland Baltic Sea and adjacent land areas exhibited a large-amplitude annual cycle in cloudiness (high cloud amounts in winter, low cloud amounts in summer) whereas a weak-amplitude reversed annual cycle (high cloud amounts with a weak maximum in summer) was found for the Scandinavian mountain range. As a contrast, conditions over the Norwegian Sea showed high and almost unchanged cloud amounts during the course of the year. Some interesting exceptions to these patterns were also seen locally. The quality of the satellite-derived cloud climatology was examined through comparisons with climatologies derived from surface cloud observations, from the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) and from the European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasts ERA-40 data set. In general, cloud amount deviations from surface observations were smaller than 10% except for some individual winter months, when the separability between clouds and snow-covered cold land surfaces is often poor. The ISCCP data set showed a weaker annual cycle in cloudiness, generally caused by higher summer-time cloud amounts in the region. Very good agreement was found with the ERA-40 data set, especially for the summer season. However, ERA-40 showed higher cloud amounts than SCANDIA and ISCCP during the winter season. The derived cloud climatology is affected by errors due to temporal AVHRR sensor degradation, but they appear to be small for this particular study. The data set is proposed as a valuable data set for validation of cloud description in numerical weather prediction and regional climate simulation models. Copyright © 2003 Royal Meteorological Society [source] Rotation axis analysis of deformed crystals by X-rays and electronsJOURNAL OF APPLIED CRYSTALLOGRAPHY, Issue 4 2008András Borbély X-ray and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) have been applied to investigate misorientation distributions in copper single crystals plastically deformed in single and multiple slip. The misorientation distributions are represented by `rocking curves' about specific rotation axes. Very good agreement for the rocking curves established by the two methods was obtained, despite the large difference between their resolution depths. Following this agreement, a new rotation axis imaging scheme, based on the EBSD data, is proposed in order to visualize the crystallite blocks and characterize the nature of their dislocation boundaries. [source] Automatic indexing of area-detector data of periodic and aperiodic crystalsJOURNAL OF APPLIED CRYSTALLOGRAPHY, Issue 2 2002Katrin Pilz An autoindexing procedure is described that produces the indexing of diffraction data of aperiodic crystals. The procedure has been designed for indexing the data obtained with an area detector, but it can also be applied to data obtained with a single-point detector. The essential step in the indexing process is the ability to discriminate between reflections that fit to a reciprocal lattice, the satellite reflections and possible reflections that do not belong to this indexing. To achieve this goal, the refinement of the orientation matrix and the diffractometer parameters is made an intrinsic part of the process of indexing. The proposed autoindexing procedure has been implemented in a computer program called BAYINDEX. Successful application to data sets of three different one-dimensionally modulated structures, one two-dimensionally modulated structure and a periodic crystal is presented. Very good agreement between experimental and theoretical reflection positions is found. The indexing produced by BAYINDEX can serve as the basis for integration routines. [source] Age Estimation by Pulp/Tooth Ratio in Canines by Peri-Apical X-RaysJOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES, Issue 1 2007Roberto Cameriere Ph.D. ABSTRACT: Estimation of age in individuals has received considerable attention in forensic science, in which it is a widely used method for individual identification, together with paleo-demographic analyses to establish mortality patterns in past populations. The present investigation, which is a continuation of a previously published pilot study, was conducted to examine the possible application of the pulp/tooth area ratio by peri-apical images as an indicator of age at death. A total of 200 peri-apical X-rays of upper and lower canines were assembled from 57 male and 43 female skeletons of Caucasian origin, aged between 20 and 79 years. They belong to the Frassetto osteological collection of Sassari (Sardinia) and are housed in the Museum of Anthropology, Department of Experimental and Evolutionistic Biology, University of Bologna. For each skeleton, dental maturity was evaluated by measuring the pulp/tooth area ratio on upper (x1) and lower (x2) canines. Very good agreement was found between intraobserver measurements. Statistical analysis was performed in order to obtain multiple regression formulae for dental age calculation, with chronological age as dependent variable, and gender, and upper and lower canines as independent variables. Stepwise regression analysis showed that gender did not contribute significantly to the fit (p=0.881) whereas variables x1 and x2 and the first-order interaction between them did. These two variables explained 92.5% of variations in estimated chronological age and the residual standard error was 4.06 years. Lastly, two simple linear regression equations were obtained for age estimation using canines from the maxilla and mandible separately. Both models explained 86% of variations in estimated chronological age and allowed an age-at-death estimate with a residual standard error of about 5.4 years. [source] Organic cyclic difluoramino-nitramines: infrared and Raman spectroscopy of 3,3,7,7-tetrakis(difluoramino)octahydro 1,5-dinitro-1,5-diazocine (HNFX)JOURNAL OF RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY, Issue 8 2009Philippe F. Weck Abstract We present the first vibrational structure investigation of 3,3,7,7-tetrakis(difluoramino)octahydro-1,5-dinitro- 1,5-diazocine (HNFX),and, more generally, of a member of the new class of gem -bis(difluoramino)-substituted heterocyclic nitramine energetic materials,using combined theoretical and experimental approaches. Optimized molecular structure and vibrational spectra of the Ci, symmetry conformer constituting the HNFX crystal were computed using density functional theory methods. Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectra of HNFX crystalline samples were also collected at ambient temperature and pressure. The average deviation of calculated structural parameters from X-ray diffraction data is ,1% at the B3LYP/6-311 + + G(d,p) level of theory, suggesting the absence of significant molecular distortion induced by the crystal field. Very good agreement was found between simulated and measured spectra, allowing reliable assignment of the fundamental normal modes of vibration of the HNFX crystal. Detailed analysis of the normal modes of the C,(NF2)2 and N,NO2 moieties was performed due to their critical importance in the initial steps of the molecular homolytic fragmentation process. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The effect of overall discretization scheme on Jacobian structure, convergence rate, and solution accuracy within the local rectangular refinement methodNUMERICAL LINEAR ALGEBRA WITH APPLICATIONS, Issue 8 2001Beth Anne V. Bennett Abstract The local rectangular refinement (LRR) solution-adaptive gridding method automatically produces orthogonal unstructured adaptive grids and incorporates multiple-scale finite differences to discretize systems of elliptic governing partial differential equations (PDEs). The coupled non-linear discretized equations are solved simultaneously via Newton's method with a Bi-CGSTAB linear system solver. The grids' unstructured nature produces a nonstandard sparsity pattern within the Jacobian. The effects of two discretization schemes (LRR multiple-scale stencils and traditional single-scale stencils) on Jacobian bandwidth, convergence speed, and solution accuracy are studied. With various point orderings, for two simple problems with analytical solutions, the LRR multiple-scale stencils are seen to: (1) produce Jacobians of smaller bandwidths than those resulting from the traditional single-scale stencils; (2) lead to significantly faster Newton's method convergence than the single-scale stencils; and (3) produce more accurate solutions than the single-scale stencils. The LRR method, including the LRR multiple-scale stencils, is finally applied to an engineering problem governed by strongly coupled, highly non-linear PDEs: a steady-state lean Bunsen flame with complex chemistry, multicomponent transport, and radiation modeling. Very good agreement is observed between the computed flame height and previously published experimental data. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Energy-resolved in-source collisionally induced dissociation for the evaluation of the relative stability of noncovalent complexes in the gas phaseRAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY, Issue 23 2005Nataliya Lyapchenko Energy-resolved in-source collisionally induced dissociation (CID) studies on the complexation of alkali metal cations by some crown ethers, nucleic acid bases, and amino acids have been performed. It has been shown that the cone voltage corresponding to the maximum ion abundance (Vc,Imax) of the breakdown curve is characteristic of a given ion and not influenced by the cone desolvation process or the composition of the solution. Very good agreement of the Vc,Imax value with the bond strength of the ion has been observed. Determination of the Vc,Imax values for different ionic species is a useful, simple, and inexpensive way to obtain their relative stabilities in in-source CID conditions. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] A ,-coordinate three-dimensional numerical model for surface wave propagationINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN FLUIDS, Issue 11 2002Pengzhi Lin Abstract A three-dimensional numerical model based on the full Navier,Stokes equations (NSE) in , -coordinate is developed in this study. The , -coordinate transformation is first introduced to map the irregular physical domain with the wavy free surface and uneven bottom to the regular computational domain with the shape of a rectangular prism. Using the chain rule of partial differentiation, a new set of governing equations is derived in the , -coordinate from the original NSE defined in the Cartesian coordinate. The operator splitting method (Li and Yu, Int. J. Num. Meth. Fluids 1996; 23: 485,501), which splits the solution procedure into the advection, diffusion, and propagation steps, is used to solve the modified NSE. The model is first tested for mass and energy conservation as well as mesh convergence by using an example of water sloshing in a confined tank. Excellent agreements between numerical results and analytical solutions are obtained. The model is then used to simulate two- and three-dimensional solitary waves propagating in constant depth. Very good agreements between numerical results and analytical solutions are obtained for both free surface displacements and velocities. Finally, a more realistic case of periodic wave train passing through a submerged breakwater is simulated. Comparisons between numerical results and experimental data are promising. The model is proven to be an accurate tool for consequent studies of wave-structure interaction. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Bubble size distribution modeling in stirred gas,liquid reactors with QMOM augmented by a new correction algorithmAICHE JOURNAL, Issue 1 2010Miriam Petitti Abstract Local gas hold-up and bubbles size distributions have been modeled and validated against experimental data in a stirred gas,liquid reactor, considering two different spargers. An Eulerian multifluid approach coupled with a population balance model (PBM) has been employed to describe the evolution of the bubble size distribution due to break-up and coalescence. The PBM has been solved by resorting to the quadrature method of moments, implemented through user defined functions in the commercial computational fluid dynamics code Fluent v. 6.2. To overcome divergence issues caused by moments corruption, due to numerical problems, a correction scheme for the moments has been implemented; simulation results prove that it plays a crucial role for the stability and the accuracy of the overall approach. Very good agreements between experimental data and simulations predictions are obtained, for a unique set of break-up and coalescence kinetic constants, in a wide range of operating conditions. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2010 [source] Prediction of gas-phase 13C nuclear magnetic shielding constants using ONIOM and optimally selected basis functionsCONCEPTS IN MAGNETIC RESONANCE, Issue 6 2008M. Tafazzoli Abstract The wave functions for calculating gas-phase 13C nuclear magnetic shielding constants of 22 molecules have been optimally selected using factorial design as a multivariate technique. GIAO and CSGT methods were used for computation of shielding constants. Different wave functions for different types of carbons were recommended. A wave function as the best level of the theory is proposed for almost similar carbons. ONIOM approach for molecules with different types of carbons is applied. The results of GIAO method using the proposed wave function are in very good agreement with the experimental values. An additional series (21 carbons) were used as test sets and their results confirmed the validity of the approaches. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Concepts Magn Reson Part A 32A: 449,461, 2008. [source] Microwave Breakdown Field in a Resonant Spherical CavityCONTRIBUTIONS TO PLASMA PHYSICS, Issue 4 2006R. Tomala Abstract In the present work, the microwave breakdown threshold in a gas-filled spherical resonator, is determined for the case when the cavity is excited in its lowest order mode, which implies that the microwave field strength depends on both radius and azimuthal angle. A semi-analytical approximation of the breakdown threshold is found using a direct variational approach. The variational predictions are compared with the results of full numerical calculations and demonstrate very good agreement [source] A mechanical model for elastomeric seismic isolation bearings including the influence of axial loadEARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS, Issue 2 2009Sachie Yamamoto Abstract For the purpose of predicting the large-displacement response of seismically isolated buildings, an analytical model for elastomeric isolation bearings is proposed. The model comprises shear and axial springs and a series of axial springs at the top and bottom boundaries. The properties of elastomeric bearings vary with the imposed vertical load. At large shear deformations, elastomeric bearings exhibit stiffening behavior under low axial stress and buckling under high axial stress. These properties depend on the interaction between the shear and axial forces. The proposed model includes interaction between shear and axial forces, nonlinear hysteresis, and dependence on axial stress. To confirm the validity of the model, analyses are performed for actual static loading tests of lead,rubber isolation bearings. The results of analyses using the new model show very good agreement with the experimental results. Seismic response analyses with the new model are also conducted to demonstrate the behavior of isolated buildings under severe earthquake excitations. The results obtained from the analyses with the new model differ in some cases from those given by existing models. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Spherical sliding isolation bearings with adaptive behavior: Experimental verificationEARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS, Issue 2 2008Daniel M. Fenz Abstract This paper describes an experimental program to examine the force,displacement behavior of a class of multi-spherical sliding bearings. The primary goal of the experiments is to test the validity of the theory developed in a companion paper that describes the behavior of these devices. Experimental work consisted of testing the three primary variations of these bearings in several configurations of different friction and displacement capacities. Most tests were carried out at slow speeds; however, some testing was also conducted at high speed (up to approximately 400,mm/s) to examine the behavior under dynamic conditions. The results of experimental testing were generally found to be in very good agreement with the analytical results. It is shown that the forces and displacements at which transitions in stiffness occur are predictable and therefore controllable in design. Furthermore, the underlying principles of operation were confirmed by the fact that starting and stopping of sliding on the different surfaces occurred as expected from theory. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Structural Characterization and a New One-Pot Synthesis of trans -Chloro(phenyl)bis(triphenylphosphane)nickel(II)EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF INORGANIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 9 2003Alexander Zeller Abstract trans -[NiCl(Ph)(PPh3)2], the organometallic precursor for a new class of neutral polymerization catalysts, has been synthesized via a new synthetic route. The previously used alkylaluminum compounds are replaced by zinc dust for the reduction of the nickel(II) salt in the presence of triphenylphosphane forming the intermediate Ni(PPh3)4. In a one-pot reaction, chlorobenzene then adds oxidatively to the intermediate to form the title compound, which was structurally characterized, in high yields. Its geometry is compared to known structures of the higher homologues of group 10. All complexes adopt a distorted square-planar geometry, but the parent structure shows significantly shorter metal-ligand bond lengths than its Pd and Pt congeners, as expected. Density functional theory calculations (B3LYP/6,31G*) on the full structure are in very good agreement with the solid-state structure. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2003) [source] Adapted Finnish Migraine-Specific Questionnaire for family studies (FMSQFS): a validation study in two languagesEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY, Issue 10 2008M. F. Facheris Background and purpose:, The hypothesis of a genetic component in the etiology of migraine is getting a foothold. However, to explore genetic associations, precision in clinical phenotypization is crucial. For this reason, migraine-specific questionnaires, well discriminating between primary headaches, are required when large numbers of individuals need to be assessed. Methods:, We adapted and translated in two languages, German and Italian, the Finnish Migraine-Specific Questionnaire for use in family studies. Results and conclusions:, This adaptation proved to be reliable when differentiating from primary headaches, and to be in very good agreement with the standard for comparison. However, discriminating between migraine with and without aura still relays on a specialist evaluation. This article describes the validation of this questionnaire. [source] The Acidity of Brřnsted CH Acids in DMSO , The Extreme Acidity of NonacyanocyclononatetraeneEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 24 2004Robert Vianello Abstract The gas-phase (GP) acidity of a large variety of CH organic acids is studied by a carefully selected B3LYP/6-311+G(2d,p)//B3LYP/6-31G(d) theoretical model. Acidities are mirrored by the proton affinities of the corresponding conjugate bases. A very good agreement with available experimental data is achieved. It is concluded that the model applied has a high predictive value and that theoretical PA(anion)GP values can be used instead of measured data in cases where experiments are not feasible or not performed. It is shown, employing the isodensity polarized continuum model (IPCM), that there is a good linear relationship between the enthalpies of the proton-transfer reactions in DMSO and the observed pKa(DMSO) values. This relation can be used in predicting the acidity of strong, neutral organic superacids. As an illustrative case, the acidity of cyclononatetraene-1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9-nonacarbonitrile ("nonacyanocyclononatetraene") is considered. It is conclusively shown that this compound should be a very potent superacid, as evidenced by its PA(anion)GP (260.0 kcal·mol,1) and pKa (,14.8). The origin of high acidity is identified as a very strong anionic resonance effect in the resulting conjugate base. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2004) [source] Tuning and parameter variation effects in MRAS based speed estimator for sensorless vector controlled induction motor drivesEUROPEAN TRANSACTIONS ON ELECTRICAL POWER, Issue 3 2002M. Wang A frequently applied method of speed-sensorless rotor flux oriented control of induction machines relies on utilisation of model reference adaptive system (MRAS) based speed estimation, where the outputs of the reference and the adjustable model are selected as rotor flux space phasors. Accuracy of the method heavily depends on correct setting of the machine parameters and adjustment of the filter and Pl controller parameters within the estimator. The paper at first describes tuning of various parameters of the estimator, using purely experimental data. The speed estimator is operated in parallel with a commercially available rotor flux oriented induction motor drive with speed sensor and sampled stator voltages and currents are used to tune induction motor parameters, various filters and the Pl controller within the estimator. The procedure is described and illustrated using a comparison between the measured actual speed response during acceleration transients and the corresponding speed estimate obtained from the speed estimator. In the second part of the paper, speed estimation error that will take place in the base speed region due to incorrect setting and/or variation of the parameters of the machine (stator resistance, rotor resistance and magnetising inductance) within the speed estimator is assessed using experimentally recorded data. The experimental results are found to be in very good agreement with previously published theoretical results. [source] Closed-form thermal stress intensity factors for an internal circumferential crack in a thick-walled cylinderFATIGUE & FRACTURE OF ENGINEERING MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES, Issue 8 2010R. GHAJAR ABSTRACT In this paper the method of weight functions is employed to calculate the stress intensity factors for an internal circumferential crack in a thick-walled cylinder. The pressurized cylinder is also subjected to convection cooling on the inner surface. Finite element method is used to determine an accurate weight function for the crack and a closed-form thermal stress intensity factor with the aid of the weight function method is extracted. The influence of crack parameter and the heat transfer coefficient on the stress intensity factors are determined. Comparison of the results in the special cases with those cited in the literature and the finite element data shows that the results are in very good agreement. [source] Experimental and numerical studies on dynamic crack growth in layered slate rock under wedge impact loads: part II , non-plane strain problemFATIGUE & FRACTURE OF ENGINEERING MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES, Issue 10 2007M. R. ALAM ABSTRACT Dynamic crack propagation in non-plane strain (or 3D) slate blocks under wedge impact loads was investigated numerically in this part of the paper. A parabolic-shaped crack trajectory was taken into consideration to model the crack propagation in slate blocks for analyzing the impact splitting of layered slate rock. Major and minor axes of the parabola were determined from the condition of equal mode I stress intensity factors (SIFs) along the crack front. Mode I SIFs were determined for experimental breaking loads for each increment of crack growth in a manner similar to that mentioned in part I of this paper. These values were compared with the plane strain material fracture toughness value obtained from experimental studies and very good agreement was obtained between them, for the case of actual load applied on the specimen. Numerical analysis of a field problem, i.e., separation of a large-sized slate slab from the rock strata in a slate quarry using wedge impacting, was also carried out in this paper. It can be observed that a large magnitude of load is required to break large-sized slate blocks; but this load is applied through a number of smaller load-capacity actuators-in-parallel, requiring large power capacity for the hydraulic pumps. However, this required power could be reduced considerably if the load applied on the line of hydraulic actuators is cascaded across the (line of) actuators (starting from centrally placed actuators) with a small time delay (equal to the initial crushing time in slate rock). [source] A preliminary study of crustal structure in Taiwan region using receiver function analysisGEOPHYSICAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2004Kwang-Hee Kim SUMMARY Selected teleseismic data observed at temporary and permanent broad-band stations have been analysed using the receiver function method in order to investigate the very complex crustal structure in Taiwan region. Very significant azimuthal variations of radial and transverse receiver function responses from broad-band stations could be attributed to, among other things, the sampling of incoming seismic waves across the nearby subduction zone, a subsurface dipping interface, or a localized anisotropic region. A mid-crust discontinuity, interpreted as the Conrad discontinuity, can be identified at 18,20 km depth beneath TATO and TPUB stations in the Western Foothills, but is absent beneath the two nearby stations SSLB and TDCB in the Central Mountain Range. The separation of upper and lower crust beneath the Western Foothills and the steady increase in crustal velocity as a function of depth across the entire thicker crust beneath the Central Mountain Range suggest that the tectonic evolution of the crust may be significantly different for these two adjacent regions. Although a ,thin-skinned' model may be associated with the tectonic evolution of the upper crust of the Western Foothills and Western Coastal Plain, a ,thick-skinned' or ,lithospheric deformation' model can probably be applied to explain the crustal evolution of the Central Mountain Range. A trend of crustal thinning from east (50,52 km) to west (28,32 km) is in very good agreement with the results from two east,west-trending deep seismic profiles obtained using airgun sources. The thinner crust (20,30 km) beneath TWB1 station in northeastern Taiwan can be associated with the high-heat-flow backarc opening at the western terminus of the Okinawa trough behind the subduction of the Philippine Sea plate. The relatively simple crustal structure beneath KMNB station, offshore southeastern China, depicts typical continental crust, with the Moho depth at 28,32 km. An apparent offset of the thickest Moho beneath NACB station from the topographic high in the central Central Mountain Range suggests that the Taiwan orogeny has probably not reached its isostatic status. [source] BIOMOD , optimizing predictions of species distributions and projecting potential future shifts under global changeGLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY, Issue 10 2003Wilfried ThuillerArticle first published online: 9 OCT 200 Abstract A new computation framework (BIOMOD: BIOdiversity MODelling) is presented, which aims to maximize the predictive accuracy of current species distributions and the reliability of future potential distributions using different types of statistical modelling methods. BIOMOD capitalizes on the different techniques used in static modelling to provide spatial predictions. It computes, for each species and in the same package, the four most widely used modelling techniques in species predictions, namely Generalized Linear Models (GLM), Generalized Additive Models (GAM), Classification and Regression Tree analysis (CART) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN). BIOMOD was applied to 61 species of trees in Europe using climatic quantities as explanatory variables of current distributions. On average, all the different modelling methods yielded very good agreement between observed and predicted distributions. However, the relative performance of different techniques was idiosyncratic across species, suggesting that the most accurate model varies between species. The results of this evaluation also highlight that slight differences between current predictions from different modelling techniques are exacerbated in future projections. Therefore, it is difficult to assess the reliability of alternative projections without validation techniques or expert opinion. It is concluded that rather than using a single modelling technique to predict the distribution of several species, it would be more reliable to use a framework assessing different models for each species and selecting the most accurate one using both evaluation methods and expert knowledge. [source] Evaluating MT3DMS for Heat Transport Simulation of Closed Geothermal SystemsGROUND WATER, Issue 5 2010Jozsef Hecht-Méndez Owing to the mathematical similarities between heat and mass transport, the multi-species transport model MT3DMS should be able to simulate heat transport if the effects of buoyancy and changes in viscosity are small. Although in several studies solute models have been successfully applied to simulate heat transport, these studies failed to provide any rigorous test of this approach. In the current study, we carefully evaluate simulations of a single borehole ground source heat pump (GSHP) system in three scenarios: a pure conduction situation, an intermediate case, and a convection-dominated case. Two evaluation approaches are employed: first, MT3DMS heat transport results are compared with analytical solutions. Second, simulations by MT3DMS, which is finite difference, are compared with those by the finite element code FEFLOW and the finite difference code SEAWAT. Both FEFLOW and SEAWAT are designed to simulate heat flow. For each comparison, the computed results are examined based on residual errors. MT3DMS and the analytical solutions compare satisfactorily. MT3DMS and SEAWAT results show very good agreement for all cases. MT3DMS and FEFLOW two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) results show good to very good agreement, except that in 3D there is somewhat deteriorated agreement close to the heat source where the difference in numerical methods is thought to influence the solution. The results suggest that MT3DMS can be successfully applied to simulate GSHP systems, and likely other systems with similar temperature ranges and gradients in saturated porous media. [source] Modelling hydrodynamics in Yachiyo Lake using a non-hydrostatic general circulation model with spatially and temporally varying meteorological conditionsHYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 14 2009Han Soo Lee Abstract In this study, a three-dimensional (3D) non-hydrostatic circulation model was applied to study the thermal structure, its evolution and water circulation of Yachiyo Lake in Hiroshima, Japan. The simulations were conducted for 1 month during July 2006. The meteorological forcing variables such as wind stress, surface atmospheric pressure and heat flux transfer through the lake surface were provided by an atmospheric mesoscale model run. The vertical mixing process of the lake was calculated using the Mellor-Yamada turbulence model. The 1-month numerical simulation revealed the wind-induced currents of the lake, two gyres in the mid-layer, and depth-averaged monthly mean currents. Further numerical experiments studying the mechanism of the two gyres in the lake showed the important role of topography in gyre formation. The thermal structure of the lake and its evolution both in space and in time as predicted by the model showed very good agreement with the observed values and characteristics of Yachiyo Lake. The internal gravity waves, which are crucial for mixing in the stratified lake, are depicted by the vertical fluctuation of isotherms. Using the non-dimensional gradient Richardson number, Yachiyo Lake was determined to be stable under strong stratification during the study period, and therefore very sensitive to wind stress. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Simulation of ice phenology on Great Slave Lake, Northwest Territories, CanadaHYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 18 2002Patrick Ménard Abstract A one-dimensional thermodynamic lake ice model (Canadian Lake Ice Model or CLIMo) is used to simulate ice phenology on Great Slave Lake (GSL) in the Mackenzie River basin, Northwest Territories, Canada. Model simulations are validated against freeze-up and break-up dates, as well as ice thickness and on-ice snow depth measurements made in situ at three sites on GSL (Back Bay near Yellowknife, 1960,91; Hay River, 1965,91; Charlton Bay near Fort Reliance, 1977,90). Freeze-up and break-up dates from the lake ice model are also compared with those derived from SSM/I 85 GHz passive microwave imagery over the entire lake surface (1988,99). Results show a very good agreement between observed and simulated ice thickness and freeze-up/break-up dates over the 30,40 years of observations, particularly for the Back Bay and Hay River sites. CLIMo simulates the ice thickness and annual freeze-up/break-dates with a mean error of 7 cm and 4 days respectively. However, some limitations have been identified regarding the rather simplistic approach used to characterize the temporal evolution of snow cover on ice. Future model improvements will therefore focus on this particular aspect, through linkage or coupling to a snow model. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Numerical modelling of hydro-mechanical behaviour of collapsible soilsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING, Issue 12 2008L. M. Costa Abstract This paper presents a numerical simulation of the response of unsaturated soil under different loads, with special attention devoted to the phenomenon of pore collapse during wetting. A coupled hydro-mechanical formulation, implemented in the computational code CODE_BRIGHT, is first presented. Then the model is applied to assess material parameter from laboratory tests and to simulate, as boundary value problems, new and appealing in situ tests designed in the Federal University of Pernambuco. The soil considered is a collapsible soil located in the semi-arid region of the northeast of Brazil. Two situations are analysed: (i) the soil is initially at its natural water content and then flooded at some determined stress level, (ii) the soil is previously flooded and then loaded. Comparison between output results of numerical simulations and experimental data shows a very good agreement, which validate to some extent the proposed experimental procedure and the model formulation. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Dynamic response of intrinsic continua for use in biological and molecular modeling: Explicit finite element formulationINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN ENGINEERING, Issue 9 2009Michael J. Leamy Abstract An intrinsic beam formulation has recently appeared (AIAA J. 2003; 41(6):1131,1137), which presents the three-dimensional equations of motion governing spatial and temporal changes in a one-dimensional continua's curvature, strain, rectilinear velocity, and angular velocity. The formulation would suggest several computational advantages over more-traditional displacement-based continua approaches: low-order interpolation functions can describe generally curved and twisted continua configurations; inter-element displacements, slopes, strains, and curvatures can be matched; and finite rotational variables and their complexities are absent. Here, we present a completed intrinsic continua finite element development and critical analysis, which follows from an earlier preliminary treatment as applied to carbon nanotubes (Int. J. Solids Struct. 2007; 44:874,894). Modeling of nodal displacements and rotations are included. Explicit time stepping, with desired high-frequency damping, is accomplished using an implementation of the generalized-, method. Zero-energy modes inherent in the formulation are also identified and rectified. Finally, we document very good agreement between results predicted with the intrinsic continua finite element simulator and results generated using more-traditional finite element simulations. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Discrete element method for modelling solid and particulate materialsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN ENGINEERING, Issue 4 2007Federico A. Tavarez Abstract The discrete element method (DEM) is developed in this study as a general and robust technique for unified two-dimensional modelling of the mechanical behaviour of solid and particulate materials, including the transition from solid phase to particulate phase. Inter-element parameters (contact stiffnesses and failure criteria) are theoretically established as functions of element size and commonly accepted material parameters including Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio, ultimate tensile strength, and fracture toughness. A main feature of such an approach is that it promises to provide convergence with refinement of a DEM discretization. Regarding contact failure, an energy criterion based on the material's ultimate tensile strength and fracture toughness is developed to limit the maximum contact forces and inter-element relative displacement. This paper also addresses the issue of numerical stability in DEM computations and provides a theoretical method for the determination of a stable time-step. The method developed herein is validated by modelling several test problems having analytic solutions and results show that indeed convergence is obtained. Moreover, a very good agreement with the theoretical results is obtained in both elastic behaviour and fracture. An example application of the method to high-speed penetration of a concrete beam is also given. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||