Hybrid reordering strategies for ILU preconditioning of indefinite sparse matrices

Incomplete LU factorization preconditioning techniques often have difficulty on indefinite sparse matrices. We present hybrid reordering strategies to deal with such matrices, which include new diagonal reorderings that are in conjunction with a symmetric nondecreasing degree algorithm. We first use the diagonal reorderings to efficiently search for entries of single element rows and columns and/or the maximum absolute value to be placed on the diagonal for computing a nonsymmetric permutation. To augment the effectiveness of the diagonal reorderings, a nondecreasing degree algorithm is applied to reduce the amount of fill-in during the ILU factorization. With the reordered matrices, we achieve a noticeable improvement in enhancing the stability of incomplete LU factorizations. Consequently, we reduce the convergence cost of the preconditioned Krylov subspace methods on solving the reordered indefinite matrices.     

Coxeter complexes and graph-associahedra

Given a graph Γ, we construct a simple, convex polytope, dubbed graph-associahedra, whose face poset is based on the connected subgraphs of Γ. This provides a natural generalization of the Stasheff associahedron and the Bott-Taubes cyclohedron. Moreover, we show that for any simplicial Coxeter system, the minimal blow-ups of its associated Coxeter complex has a tiling by graph-associahedra. The geometric and combinatorial properties of the complex as well as of the polyhedra are given. These spaces are natural generalizations of the Deligne-Knudsen-Mumford compactification of the real moduli space of curves.     

氪灯和氙灯光谱强度分布和光谱效率测量

氪灯、氙灯光谱强度分布和光谱效率测量是反映氪灯、氙灯性能的关键指标。介绍了一套新型的氪灯、氙灯光谱强度分布和光谱效率检测系统。该系统是一套测量连续发光灯和脉冲闪光灯发光性能及效果的综合检测设备。该检测单元采用计算机进行操控,人机界面良好,便于检验人员进行氪灯和氙灯光谱强度分布和光谱效率的批量检测。检验人员利用该系统可进行装机模拟试验和可靠性试验,可对氪灯和氙灯的性能进行必要的分析研究,不断地积累了氪灯和氙灯的检验数据和经验。     

Tagging of the Magnetization with the Transition Zones of 360° Rotations Generated by a Tandem of Two Adiabatic DANTE Inversion Sequences

A new technique is presented for generating myocardial tagging using the signal intensity minima of the transition zones between the bands of 0° and 360° rotations, induced by a tandem of two adiabatic delays alternating with nutations for tailored excitation (DANTE) inversion sequences. With this approach, the underlying matrix corresponds to magnetization that has experienced 0° or 360° rotations. The DANTE sequences were implemented from adiabatic parent pulses for insensitivity of the underlying matrix to B₁ inhomogeneity. The performance of the proposed tagging technique is demonstrated theoretically with computer simulations and experimentally on phantom and on the canine heart, using a surface coil for both RF transmission and signal reception. The simulations and the experimental data demonstrated uniform grid contrast and sharp tagging profiles over a twofold variation of the B₁ field magnitude.     

The Lefschetz number of an involution on the space of harmonic cusp forms ofSL 3

Inventiones mathematicae -     

Pediatric Laryngotracheal Stenosis and Airway Reconstruction: A Review of Voice Outcomes, Assessment, and Treatment Issues

Laryngotracheal stenosis is defined as a congenital or acquired narrowing of the airway. Congenital causes may include subglottic membranous or cartilaginous narrowing. Acquired causes may include trauma due to prolonged endotracheal or tracheal intubation or laryngotracheal injury. Although advances have been made over the past 30 years in reconstructive surgeries to improve airway patency in these patients, long-term laryngeal function for voice production is not well defined in this population. This review examines causes, symptoms and signs, and methods for diagnosing laryngotracheal stenosis. Surgical management procedures are briefly summarized. The current literature on voice outcomes is summarized. The predominant voice characteristics in the population are presented, although results are challenged by the heterogeneity of voice presentation and paucity of data from instrumental measures. Considerations for subjective and instrumental assessment, measures of quality of life, instrumental methods, and treatment options specific to the needs of this population are discussed. Research strategies to identify long-term outcomes of surgical and behavioral treatments in this population are posed.     

Structural-acoustic coupling effect on the nonlinear natural frequency of a rectangular box with one flexible plate

The nonlinear natural frequency of a rectangular box, which consists of one flexible plate and five rigid plates, is studied in this paper. The flexible plate is assumed to vibrate like a simple piston. The behavior of the structural-acoustic coupling between the flexible plate and the air cavity is analyzed by using the proposed finite element modal method. The system finite element equation is reduced and expressed in terms of the modal coordinates with small degrees of freedom by using the proposed reduction method. The system nonlinear stiffness matrix representing the large amplitude vibration can be transformed to be a constant modal matrix. The natural frequencies are determined by using the harmonic balance method to solve the eigenvalue equations of the structural-acoustic system. The effect of the cavity depth on the natural frequencies and convergence studies are discussed in detail.     

Every diassociative A-loop is Moufang

An A-loop is a loop in which every inner mapping is an automorphism. A problem which had been open since 1956 is settled by showing that every diassociative A-loop is Moufang.

     

Patterns and Symmetries in the Visual Cortex and in Natural Images

As borders between different entities, lines are an important element of natural images. Indeed, the neurons of the mammalian visual cortex are tuned to respond best to lines of a given orientation. This preferred orientation varies continuously across most of the cortex, but also has vortex-like singularities known as pinwheels. In attempting to describe such patterns of orientation preference, we are led to consider underlying rotation symmetries: Oriented segments in natural images tend to be collinear; neurons are more likely to be connected if their preferred orientations are aligned to their topographic separation. These are indications of a reduced symmetry requiring joint rotations of both orientation preference and the underlying topography. This is verified by direct statistical tests in both natural images and in cortical maps. Using the statistics of natural scenes we construct filters that are best suited to extracting information from such images, and find qualitative similarities to mammalian vision. PACS84.35+i 89.70.+c 87.57.Nk     

Timing and detuning studies of a synchronously pumped mode-locked dye laser

The timing relationship between a synchronously pumped mode-locked dye laser and its pump laser is explored experimentally and theoretically. The experimental data is in quantitative agreement with numerical solutions of a semiclassical model that includes no free parameters. The data also agrees qualitatively with an approximate, analytic distillation of this model which is presented here for the first time. Our study has a direct bearing on the jitter and the long term stability of these important ultrashort pulse lasers.