Modal analysis and harmonic response of resonators: An extension of a mapped orthogonal functions technique

A mapped orthogonal functions technique is extended for solving three-dimensional acoustical wave problems with taking into account electrical sources. For validation and illustration purposes, it is applied to the determination of the frequency spectrum of a piezoelectric disc resonator. Formulation is given for the calculation of the electric input admittance along with specializations for open- and short-circuit boundary conditions. In view of validation, normal frequencies and electric input admittance are obtained for specific geometries where a one-dimensional analytical model is working and compared against results from the analytical approach. Illustrative results, dispersion curves for a PZT5A resonator and electromechanical coupling coefficients as a function of the diameter to thickness ratio for the first radial mode of a respectively PZT5A, AlN and SiC resonator are also given.     

A chemical genetics approach reveals H,K-ATPase-mediated membrane voltage is required for planarian head regeneration

Biophysical signaling is required for both embryonic polarity and regenerative outgrowth. Exploiting endogenous ion transport for regenerative therapies will require direct regulation of membrane voltage. Here, we develop a pharmacological method to target ion transporters, uncovering a role for membrane voltage as a key regulator of anterior polarity in regenerating planaria. Utilizing the highly specific inhibitor, SCH-28080, our data reveal that H(+),K(+)-ATPase-mediated membrane depolarization is essential for anterior gene expression and brain induction. H(+),K(+)-ATPase-independent manipulation of membrane potential with ivermectin confirms that depolarization drives head formation, even at?posterior-facing wounds. Using this chemical genetics approach, we demonstrate that membrane voltage controls head-versus-tail identity during planarian regeneration. Our data suggest well-characterized drugs (already approved for human use) might be exploited to control adult stem cell-driven pattern formation during the regeneration of complex structures.     

Dominance-based heuristics for one-machine total cost scheduling problems

We study the one-machine scheduling problem with release dates and we look at several objective functions including total (weighted) tardiness and total (weighted) completion time. We describe dominance rules for these criteria, as well as techniques for using these dominance rules to build heuristic solutions. We use them to improve certain well-known greedy heuristic algorithms from the literature. Finally, we introduce a Tabu Search method with a neighborhood based on our dominance rules. Experiments show the effectiveness of our techniques in obtaining very good solutions for all studied criteria.     

On a weighted total variation minimization problem

The present article is devoted to the study of a constrained weighted total variation minimization problem, which may be viewed as a relaxation of a generalized Cheeger problem and is motivated by landslide modeling. Using the fact that the set of minimizers is invariant by a wide class of monotone transformations, we prove that level sets of minimizers are generalized Cheeger sets and obtain qualitative properties of the minimizers: they are all bounded and all achieve their essential supremum on a set of positive measure.     

Absolute rate constants for the gas‐phase ozonolysis of isoprene and methylbutenol

The reactions of the biogenic organic compounds isoprene and 2‐methyl‐3‐buten‐2‐ol (MBO) with ozone have been investigated under controlled conditions for pressure (atmospheric pressure) and temperature (293 ± 2 K), using FTIR spectrometry. CO was added to scavenge hydroxyl radical formation during the ozonolysis experiments. Reaction rate constants were determined by absolute rate technique, by measuring both ozone and the organic compound concentrations. The measured values were k₁ = (1.19 ± 0.09) × 10^?17 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 for the reaction between ozone and isoprene and k₂ = (8.3 ± 1.0) × 10_?18 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 for the reaction between ozone and MBO. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 36: 152–156 2004     

Scheduling subject to nonrenewable-resource constraints

Polynomially bounded solution methods are presented to solve a class of precedence constrained scheduling problems in which each job requires a certain amount of nonrenewable resource that is being consumed during its execution.     

In vitro 4 MHz NMR proton relaxation times and in vitro mechanical behavior at low extension of human common carotid arterial wall

We investigated the influence of the biomechanical behavior of human common carotid arterial wall on the NMR proton relaxation times using a Bruker Minispec at 4 MHz. The study was limited to low extension in simple longitudinal elongation of the carotid wall (the maximum loading stretch ratio being 40%). Twenty-five carotid samples divided into 2 longitudinal strips were tested. The first strip was used to determine the nondimensional elastic parameter alpha according to the mechanical model of Fung. The second strip was used to measure the proton relaxation times. T1 value was 316.8 ms +/- 27.6 and T2 value was 59.9 ms +/- 6.8. A significant linear correlation was found between T1 and Ln alpha (p = 0.02). T1 and T2 were not correlated to the age but linearly correlated to the tissue water content (p less than 0.0001), however the age and alpha were not correlated to the tissue water content. These results may reflect the differences in the amount of water binding sites of the elastin which is involved in the elasticity of the carotid wall at low extension.