Second-Order Properties of a Two-Stage Fixed-Size Confidence Region for the Mean Vector of a Multivariate Normal Distribution

We consider the classical fixed-size confidence region estimation problem for the mean vectorμin theN_p(μ, Σ) population where Σ is unknown but positive definite. We writeλ₁for the largest characteristic root of Σ and assume thatλ₁is simple. Moreover, we suppose that, in many practical applications, we will often have available a numberλ*(>0) and that we can assumeλ₁>λ*. Given this addi- tional, and yet very minimal, knowledge regardingλ₁, the two-stage procedure of Chatterjee (Calcutta Statist. Assoc. Bull.8(1959a), 121–148;9(1959b), 20–28;11(1962), 144–159) is revised appropriately. The highlight in this paper involves the verification ofsecond-order propertiesassociated with such revised two-stage estimation techniques, along with the maintenance of the nominal confidence coefficient.     

Arc root dynamics in high power plasma torches — Evidence of chaotic behavior

Although plasma torches have been commercially available for about 50 years, areas such as plasma gun design, process efficiency, reproducibility, plasma stability, torch lives etc. have remained mostly unattended. Recent torch developments have been focusing on the basic understanding of the plasma column and its dynamics inside the plasma torch, the interaction of plasma jet and the powders, the interaction of the plasma jet with surroundings and the impingement of the jet on the substrate. Two of the major causes of erratic and poor performance of a variety of thermal plasma processes are currently identified as the fluctuations arising out of the arc root movement on the electrodes inside the plasma torch and the fluid dynamic instabilities arising out of entrainment of the air into the plasma jet. This paper reviews the current state of understanding of these fluctuations as well as the dynamics of arc root movement in plasma torches. The work done at the author’s laboratory on studying the fluctuations in arc voltage, arc current, acoustic emissions and optical emissions are also presented. These fluctuations are observed to be chaotic and interrelated. Real time monitoring and controlling the arc instabilities through chaos characterization parameters can greatly contribute to the understanding of electrode erosion as well as improvement of plasma torch lifetime.     

测线调查样本密度推定中核函数选择的几点注记

对于半正态探知函数,使用两个最佳带幅宽和六个属于相同的函数族、不同的核函数(其中3个是经常被使用、著名的核函数,另外3个是我们作成的核函数)来进行密度推定,通过计算机数值模拟产生测线调查样本;用统计量RRMSE和RB对密度推定值进行评价,来验证核函数的优劣。     

Computation of two‐dimensional flows past ram‐air parachutes

Computational results for flow past a two‐dimensional model of a ram‐air parachute with leading edge cut are presented. Both laminar (Re=10⁴) and turbulent (Re=10⁶) flows are computed. A well‐proven stabilized finite element method (FEM), which has been applied to various flow problems earlier, is utilized to solve the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations in the primitive variables formulation. The Baldwin–Lomax model is employed for turbulence closure. Turbulent flow computations past a Clarck‐Y airfoil without a leading edge cut, for α=7.5°, result in an attached flow. The leading edge cut causes the flow to become unsteady and leads to a significant loss in lift and an increase in drag. The flow inside the parafoil cell remains almost stagnant, resulting in a high value of pressure, which is responsible for giving the parafoil its shape. The value of the lift‐to‐drag ratio obtained with the present computations is in good agreement with those reported in the literature. The effect of the size and location of the leading edge cut is studied. It is found that the flow on the upper surface of the parafoil is fairly insensitive to the configuration of the cut. However, the flow quality on the lower surface improves as the leading edge cut becomes smaller. The lift‐to‐drag ratio for various configurations of the leading edge cut varies between 3.4 and 5.8. It is observed that even though the time histories of the aerodynamic coefficients from the laminar and turbulent flow computations are quite different, their time‐averaged values are quite similar. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Antioxidant Assessment of Prenylated Stilbenoid-Rich Extracts from Elicited Hairy Root Cultures of Three Cultivars of Peanut (Arachis hypogaea)

Peanut produces prenylated stilbenoids upon biotic stress. However, the role of these compounds against oxidative stress have not been thoroughly elucidated. To this end, the antioxidant capacity of extracts enriched in prenylated stilbenoids and derivatives was studied. To produce these extracts, hairy root cultures of peanut cultivars Hull, Tifrunner, and Georgia Green were co-treated with methyl jasmonate, cyclodextrin, hydrogen peroxide, and magnesium chloride and then the stilbenoids were extracted from the culture medium. Among the three cultivars, higher levels of the stilbenoid derivatives arachidin-1 and arachidin-6 were detected in cultivar Tifrunner. Upon reaction with 2,2-diphenyl-1picrylhydrazyl, extracts from cultivar Tifrunner showed the highest antioxidant capacity with an IC₅₀ of 6.004 µg/mL. Furthermore, these extracts had significantly higher antioxidant capacity at 6.25 µg/mL and 3.125 µg/mL when compared to extracts from cultivars Hull and Georgia Green. The stilbenoid-rich extracts from peanut hairy roots show high antioxidant capacity and merit further study as potential nutraceuticals to promote human health.     

Chemical and Mechanical Characterization of Licorice Root and Palm Leaf Waste Incorporated into Poly(urethane-acrylate) (PUA)

A poly(urethane-acrylate) polymer (PUA) was synthesized, and a sufficiently high molecular weight starting from urethane-acrylate oligomer (UAO) was obtained. PUA was then loaded with two types of powdered ligno-cellulosic waste, namely from licorice root and palm leaf, in amounts of 1, 5 and 10%, and the obtained composites were chemically and mechanically characterized. FTIR analysis of final PUA synthesized used for the composite production confirmed the new bonds formed during the polymerization process. The degradation temperatures of the two types of waste used were in line with what observed in most common natural fibers with an onset at 270 °C for licorice waste, and at 290 °C for palm leaf one. The former was more abundant in cellulose (44% vs. 12% lignin), whilst the latter was richer in lignin (30% vs. 26% cellulose). In the composites, only a limited reduction of degradation temperature was observed for palm leaf waste addition and some dispersion issues are observed for licorice root, leading to fluctuating results. Tensile performance of the composites indicates some reduction with respect to the pure polymer in terms of tensile strength, though stabilizing between data with 5 and 10% filler. In contrast, Shore A hardness of both composites slightly increases with higher filler content, while in stiffness-driven applications licorice-based composites showed potential due to an increase up to 50% compared to neat PUA. In general terms, the fracture surfaces tend to become rougher with filler introduction, which indicates the need for optimizing interfacial adhesion.     

Production of long,laminar plasma jets at atmospheric pressure with multiple cathodes

Plasma jets from conventional non‐transferred arc plasma devices are usually operated in turbulent flows at atmospheric pressure. In this paper, a novel non‐transferred arc plasma device with multiple cathodes is introduced to produce long, laminar plasma jets at atmospheric pressure. A pure helium atmosphere is used to produce a laminar plasma jet with a maximum length of >60 cm. The influence of gas components, arc currents, anode nozzle diameter, and gas flow rate on the jet characteristics is experimentally studied. The results reveal that the length of the plasma jet increases with increasing helium content and arc current but decreases with increasing nozzle diameter. As the gas flow rate increases, the length of the plasma jet initially increases and then decreases. Accordingly, the plasma jet is transformed from a laminar state to a transitional state and finally to a turbulent state. Furthermore, the anode arc root behaviours corresponding to different plasma jet flows are studied. In conclusion, the multiple stationary arc roots that exist on the anode just inside the nozzle entrance are favourable for the generation of a laminar plasma jet in this device.     

导数同步荧光光谱对不同产区熟地黄的鉴别

实验测定了不同产区熟地黄的三维同步荧光光谱,提取其特征参数,发现不同产区熟地黄的有效荧光成分相似,并建立了谱-效关系,为临床用药剂量提供参考。进一步,对不同产区熟地黄的同步荧光发射光谱分别求一阶导数和二阶导数,放大了同步荧光发射谱的肩带,可区分光谱的细微变化,建立了鉴别不同产区熟地黄的导数同步荧光光谱方法。     

基于Micromegas探测技术的中子CT可行性研究(英文)

在培育新品种过程中能够实时掌握了解土壤中植物根系的形态以及其生长情况将为植物学家提供很多不可或缺的信息。对基于 micromegas 探测技术的中子 CT 在这一新应用的试验环境进行了仿真模拟, 通过三维图像重建后,得到了令人满意的预期结果。首先通过 Geant4 和 Garfield 模拟计算利用聚乙烯薄膜作为中子转换层的 micromegas 中子探测器, 得到了非常理想的位置分辨, 说明基于micromegas 探测技术建立中子 CT 照相系统的可行性。 然后利用MCNP仿真模拟14 MeV 中子CT 的实验环境, 最后由Matlab程序进行图像重建。In this paper, the possibility using micromegas(Micro Mesh Gaseous Structure) as neutron detector in 14 MeV neutron computed tomography(CT) has been simulated. The results show that the micromegas neutron detector has high spatial resolution and is a good candidate for neutron radiography. The three dimensional images of plant roots in soil are successfully and clearly obtained by the 14 MeV neutron CT with micromegas as a neutron detector. In the present simulation, MCNP is employed for 14 MeV neutron transport in the sample and Matlab for the 3 D photograph reconstruction.     

Generalized Hermitian Algebras

We refer to the real Jordan Banach algebra of bounded Hermitian operators on a Hilbert space as a Hermitian algebra. In this paper we define and launch a study of a class of generalized Hermitian (GH) algebras. Among the examples of GH-algebras are ordered special Jordan algebras, JW-algebras, and AJW-algebras, but unlike these more restricted cases, a GH-algebra is not necessarily a Banach space and its lattice of projections is not necessarily complete. In this paper we develop the basic theory of GH-algebras, identify their unit intervals as effect algebras, and observe that their projection lattices are sigma-complete orthomodular lattices. We show that GH-algebras are spectral order-unit spaces and that they admit a substantial spectral theory. The second author was supported by Research and Development Support Agency under the contract No. APVV-0071-06, grant VEGA 2/0032/09 and Center of Excellence SAS, CEPI I/2/2005.