The effect of ACC vehicles to mixed traffic flow consisting of manual and ACC vehicles

This paper studies the effect of adaptive cruise control （ACC） system on traffic flow by using simulations. The multiple headway and velocity difference （MHVD） model is used to depict the motion of ACC vehicles, and the simulation results are compared with the optimal velocity （OV） model which is used to depict the motion of manual vehicles. Compared the cases between the manual and the ACC vehicle flow, the fundamental diagram can be classified into four regions： I, II, III, IV. In low and high density the flux of the two models is the same; in region II the free flow region of the MHVD model is enlarged, and the flux of the MHVD model is larger than that of the OV model; in region III serious jams occur in the OV model while the ACC system suppresses the jams in the MHVD model and the traffic flow is in order, but the flux of the OV model is larger than that of the MHVD model. Similar phenomena also appeared in mixed traffic flow which consists of manual and ACC vehicles. The results indicate that ACC vehicles have significant effect on traffic flow. The improvement induced by ACC vehicles decreases with the increasing proportion of ACC vehicles.     

Discontinuous transition from free flow to synchronized flow induced by short-range interaction between vehicles in a three-phase traffic flow model

In this paper, we incorporate a limitation on the interaction range between neighboring vehicles into the cellular automaton model proposed by Gao and Jiang et al. [K. Gao, R. Jiang, S. X. Hu, B. H. Wang and Q. S. Wu, Phys. Rev. E 76 (2007) 026105], which was established within the framework of Kerner’s three-phase traffic theory and has been shown to be able to reproduce the three-phase traffic flow. This modification eliminates an unrealistic phenomenon found in the previous model, where the velocity-adaptation effect between neighboring vehicles can exist even if those vehicles are infinitely far away from each other. Therefore, in the improved model, we regulate that such interactions can only occur within a finite distance. For simplicity, we suppose a constant value to describe this distance in this paper. As a result, when compared to the previous model, the improved model mainly simulates the following results which are believed to be an improvement. (1) The improved model successfully reproduces the expected discontinuous transition from free flow to synchronized flow and the related “moving synchronized flow pattern”, which are both absent in the original model but have been observed in real traffic. (2) The improved model simulates the correlation functions, time headway distributions and optimal velocity functions which are all more consistent with the empirical data than the previous model and most of the other models published before. (3) Together with the previous two models considering the velocity-difference effect, this model finally accomplishes a significative process of developing traffic flow models from the traditional “fundamental diagram approach” to the three-phase traffic theory. This process should be helpful for us to understand the traffic dynamics and mechanics further and deeper.     

Laser spectroscopy applied to the study of hyperfine interactions

The impact of laser-spectroscopy techniques on the study of hyperfine interactions is illustrated by chosen examples. A brief survey of the theory of hyperfine interactions is given as well as an overview of the available experimental techniques. Results from alkali atoms, alkaline-earth elements and Group III atoms are given with special emphasis on the studies of electronic properties in sequences of Rydberg states and the investigation of nuclear properties for long chains of isotopes of the same element. Recent developments on the theoretical side, particularly what regards the many-body perturbation approach, are also discussed.     

ESR spectroscopy applied to the study of radiation mechanisms

ESR spectroscopy is a powerful tool for detecting radicals or radical-ions trapped in solids, and in many cases “primary” electron-gain and-loss centres can be identified and their structures elucidated. Sometimes these primary centres are trapped in pairs, separated byca. 5 to 15 Å giving triplet state ESR spectra. The significance of pair-trapping in relation to current theories for the action of ionizing radiation will be discussed with reference to several recent examples. Generally, the primary centres are well separated and ESR does not give useful information about spurs or local regions of high radical densities. Reasons for trapping will be summarized with specific reference to DNA and proteins. The question of electron-return will be discussed, and several examples of this will be reported.     

Speckle-pattern interferometry applied to the study of phase objects

If a speckle pattern is photographed through a phase object, the individual speckles are displaced over varying distances depending upon the phase irregularities in the object. A double exposure is made, the object being present during one of the two exposures only. When the processed photographic plate is observed through an aperture stop in the Fourier transform plane, interference fringes representing contours of the optical path gradient are obtained. The sensitivity of the method and the direction along which the gradient is measured can be varied by modifying, respectively, the distance of the Fourier-plane aperture from the optical axis and its azimuth.     

Direct transference applied to the study of room acoustics

In a recent article Kruzins and Fricke [1] applied the method of Markov chains to represent the “random walk” of phonons inside an enclosed space and to predict stationary state acoustic pressure levels, at sufficiently high frequencies, in geometrically complex spaces. In this paper it is demonstrated that with the same initial hypothesis the exact solution can be obtained directly by using the method of direct transference. Explicit expressions for the coefficients of the solution matrix are found, their physical significance is made evident, and a simple method for calculating the solution is presented.     

Vortex multiplication in applied flow: A precursor to superfluid turbulence

A surface-mediated process is identified in 3He-B which generates vortices at a roughly constant rate. It precedes a faster form of turbulence where intervortex interactions dominate. This precursor becomes observable when vortex loops are introduced in low-velocity rotating flow at sufficiently low mutual friction dissipation at temperatures below 0.5Tc. Our measurements indicate that the formation of new loops is associated with a single vortex interacting in the applied flow with the sample boundary. Numerical calculations show that the single-vortex instability arises when a helical Kelvin wave expands from a reconnection kink at the wall and then intersects again with the wall.     

Morphometric model of lymphocyte as applied to scanning flow cytometry

The peripheral blood lymphocytes of normal individuals are investigated by methods of specialized light microscopy. Lymphocytes as a whole and T-cell subpopulation are considered. Lymphocyte structure is characterized with reference to polarizing scanning flow cytometry. The lymphocyte and lymphocyte nucleus shapes are analyzed. Linear correlation dependence between sizes of lymphocyte and its nucleus is indicated. A morphometric model of a lymphocyte is constructed using the obtained data. The findings can be used, for instance, as input parameters to solve the direct and inverse light-scattering problems of turbidimetry, nephelometry, and flow cytometry.     

Kinetic theory of situated agents applied to pedestrian flow in a corridor

A situated agent-based model for simulation of pedestrian flow in a corridor is presented. In this model, pedestrians choose their paths freely and make decisions based on local criteria for solving collision conflicts. The crowd consists of multiple walking agents equipped with a function of perception as well as a competitive rule-based strategy that enables pedestrians to reach free access areas. Pedestrians in our model are autonomous entities capable of perceiving and making decisions. They apply socially accepted conventions, such as avoidance rules, as well as individual preferences such as the use of specific exit points, or the execution of eventual comfort turns resulting in spontaneous changes of walking speed. Periodic boundary conditions were considered in order to determine the density-average walking speed, and the density-average activity with respect to specific parameters: comfort angle turn and frequency of angle turn of walking agents. The main contribution of this work is an agent-based model where each pedestrian is represented as an autonomous agent. At the same time the pedestrian crowd dynamics is framed by the kinetic theory of biological systems.     

Photothermal techniques applied to the study of thermal properties in biodegradable films

The objective of the present work was to determine the thermal diffusivity and effusivity of biodegradable films by using photothermal techniques. The thermal diffusivity was studied by using the open photoacoustic cell technique. On the other hand the thermal effusivity was obtained by the photopyroelectric technique in a front detection configuration. The films were elaborated from mixtures of low density polyethylene (LDPE) and corn starch. The results showed that at high moisture values, the thermal diffusivity increased as the starch concentration was higher in the film. However at low moisture conditions (<9%) the thermal diffusivity diminished when the starch content in the sample was increased. On the other hand the thermal effusivity has a behavior in opposition to the thermal diffusivity. The thermal effusivity increased with the increase of the starch content in the film, at low extrusion moisture conditions (6.55%). As the moisture and starch concentration in the films were increased, the thermal effusivity diminished.     

Algebraic methods applied to the study of energy transfer in anharmonic systems

We make use of two different methodologies to study the transition probabilities in a molecular anharmonic system in the presence of an external perturbation. For the first method, we use a series expansion of the displacement coordinate keeping up to fourth order terms; for the second method we use a deformed algebra to approximate the anharmonic Hamiltonian via a harmonic oscillator's Hamiltonian written in terms of deformed operators. We evaluate vibrational transition probabilities as a function of the collision energy and compare the results obtained with the two approaches.     

微重力条件下不同截面形状管中毛细流动的实验研究

利用落塔设施创造的短时间微重力条件, 研究了不同尺寸的正方形和三角形截面的毛细管中的流体在微重力条件下的流动行为, 并与圆形毛细管中的毛细流动进行了对比, 总结出了毛细管尺寸和截面形状对界面张力主导的毛细流动行为的影响规律. 结果显示, 对于同样形状的毛细管, 其尺寸对于毛细流动的影响规律基本相同; 而对于不同的截面形状, 方形管和三角形管都与截面积小得多的圆形管有一定的类似性. 相关结果对于深入理解不同条件下的界面张力主导的毛细流动特性, 以及在空间微重力条件下通过改变毛细管的形状来实现流速和流量的独 立控制等方面都具有明显的现实意义. 关键词： 微重力 毛细流动 毛细管形状     

A control method applied to mixed traffic flow for the coupled-map car-following model

In light of previous work [Phys. Rev. E 60 4000 （1999）], a modified coupled-map car-following model is proposed by considering the headways of two successive vehicles in front of a considered vehicle described by the optimal velocity function. The non-jam conditions are given on the basis of control theory. Through simulation, we find that our model can exhibit a better effect as p = 0.65, which is a parameter in the optimal velocity function. The control scheme, which was proposed by Zhao and Gao, is introduced into the modified model and the feedback gain range is determined. In addition, a modified control method is applied to a mixed traffic system that consists of two types of vehicle. The range of gains is also obtained by theoretical analysis. Comparisons between our method and that of Zhao and Gao are carried out, and the corresponding numerical simulation results demonstrate that the temporal behavior of traffic flow obtained using our method is better than that proposed by Zhao and Gao in mixed traffic systems.     

多速混合车辆单车道元胞自动机交通流模型的研究

在交通流NS模型的基础上，建立了多速混合车辆单车道元胞自动机交通流模型， 通过计算机数值模拟，得到了混合车辆在不同参数下交通流模型的基本图，并对混合交通的 特性进行了分析和讨论. 关键词： 元胞自动机 混合交通流模型 计算机模拟     

Complex 3D blood flow pathways in two cases of aorta to right heart fistulae: a 4D flow MRI study

We present an analysis of 3D blood flow in two cases of Sinus of Valsalva to right heart fistulae based on 4D flow MRI. Despite similar underlying pathology, 3D visualization revealed intricate differences in flow patterns connecting the systemic and pulmonary circulation. The cases illustrates the potential of 4D flow MRI to complement the evaluation of complex structural heart disease by assessing complex flow dynamics and providing quantitative information of flow ratios and flow rates.     

Fundamental diagram in traffic flow of mixed vehicles on multi-lane highway

We study the fundamental diagram for traffic flow of vehicular mixture on a multi-lane highway. We present the car-following model of multi-lane traffic in which slow and fast vehicles flow with changing lanes. We investigate the traffic states of the vehicular mixture under the periodic boundary. Two values of the current appear at a density and two current curves are obtained. Vehicles move with changing lanes in the traffic state of high current, while vehicles move without changing lanes in the traffic state of low current. They depend on the density, the fraction of slow vehicles, and the initial condition. In the high-current curve, the jamming transition between the free flow and the jammed state occurs at a low density. The fundamental diagrams (current-density diagrams) are shown for the single-lane, two-lane, three-lane, and four-lane traffics.     

Normalized truncated Levy walks applied to the study of financial indices

This work is devoted to the study of the statistical properties of financial indices from developed and emergent markets.     

Digital holographic interferometry applied to the study of tympanic membrane displacements

Quantitative studies of the mechanical properties of tympanic membrane (TM) are needed for better understanding of its role in detailed clinical evaluation, its research being of extreme importance because it is one of the most important structures of the middle ear. By finding the membrane's vibration patterns and quantifying the induced displacement it is possible to characterize and determine its physiological status. Digital holographic interferometry (DHI) has proved to be a reliable optical non-invasive and full-field-of-view technique for the investigation of different mechanical parameters of biological tissues, i.e., DHI has demonstrated an ability to detect displacement changes in quasi-real time and without the need to contact the sample's surface under study providing relevant information, such as clinical and mechanical sample properties. In this research fresh tympanic membrane specimens taken from post-mortem cats are subjected to acoustic stimuli in the audible frequency range producing resonant vibration patterns on the membrane, a feature that results in an ideal application for DHI. An important feature of this approach over other techniques previously used to study the tympanic membrane vibrations is that it only requires two images and less hardware to carry out the measurements, making of DHI a simpler and faster technique as compared to other proposed approaches. The results found show a very good agreement between the present and past measurements from previous research work, showing that DHI is a technique that no doubt will help to improve the understanding of the tympanic membrane's working mechanisms.     

Modeling the heterogeneous traffic flow considering the effect of self-stabilizing and autonomous vehicles

With the increasing maturity of automatic driving technology,the homogeneous traffic flow will gradually evolve into the heterogeneous traffic flow,which consists of human-driving and autonomous vehicles.To better study the characteristics of the heterogeneous traffic system,this paper proposes a new car-following model for autonomous vehicles and heterogeneous traffic flow,which considers the self-stabilizing effect of vehicles.Through linear and nonlinear methods,this paper deduces and analyzes the stability of such a car-following model with the self-stabilizing effect.Finally,the model is verified by numerical simulation.Numerical results show that the self-stabilizing effect can make the heterogeneous traffic flow more stable,and that increasing the self-stabilizing coefficient or historical time length can strengthen the stability of heterogeneous traffic flow and alleviate traffic congestion effectively.In addition,the heterogeneous traffic flow can also be stabilized with a higher proportion of autonomous vehicles.