Hybrid approach for loss recovery mechanism in OBS networks

This letter reports a study of a hybrid burst assembly and a hybrid burst loss recovery scheme （delay-based burst assembly and hybrid loss recovery （DBAHLR）） which selectively employs proactive or reactive loss recovery techniques depending on the classification of traffic into short term and long term, respectively. Traffic prediction and segregation of optical burst switching network flows into the long term and short term are conducted based on predicted link holding times using the hidden Markov model （HMM）. The hybrid burst assembly implemented in DBAHLR uses a consecutive average-based burst assembly to handle jitter reduction necessary in real-time applications, with variations in burst sizes due to the non-monotonic nature of the average delay handled by additional burst length thresholding. This dynamic hybrid approach based on HMM prediction provides overall a lower blocking probability and delay and more throughput when compared with forward segment redundancy mechanism or purely HMM prediction-based adaptive burst sizing and wavelength allocation （HMM-TP）.     

Coupled quantum–continuum analysis of crack tip processes in aluminum

A concurrent multiscale method is presented that couples a quantum mechanically governed atomistic domain to a continuum domain. The approach is general in that it is applicable to a wide range of quantum and continuum material modeling methodologies. It also provides quantifiable and controllable coupling errors via a force-based-coupling strategy. The applications presented here utilize an atomistic region that is governed by Kohn–Sham density functional theory and a continuum region governed by linear elasticity with discrete dislocation capabilities. As a validation we compute the core structure of a screw dislocation in aluminum and compare to previously published results. Then we investigate two crack orientations in aluminum and predict the critical load at which crack propagation and crack tip dislocation nucleation occurs. We compute critical loads with both LDA and GGA exchange correlation functionals and compare our results to popular empirical potentials in the context of classical continuum models. Overall this work aims to lay a foundation for future quantum mechanics-based investigations of crack tip processes involving Al alloys and impurity elements.     

A model and solution method for multi-period sales promotion design

This research addresses the optimal design of a series of promotions (which might offer free gifts, discounts, or special services) periodically mailed to potential customers. A model and methodology are presented which maximize the multiple purchases of these customers over time using opinions from both promotion designers and customers. A Genetic Algorithm-based heuristic is developed to efficiently arrive at good promotion designs, and the methodology is applied to a problem using real data.     

Laser ablation of La0.9Sr0.1Ga0·8Mg0.2O2.85 — plume and film characterization

Thin films of La_0.9Sr_0.1Ga_0·8Mg_0.2O_2.85 (LSGMO), an electrolyte material for the solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC), have been prepared by pulsed laser deposition method. Preparation of thin films under high vacuum gives amorphous films, which on annealing at 730 °C in air give stochiometric thin films. Highly oriented, polycrystalline and amorphous films of LSGMO are obtained on SrTiO₃ (001), sapphire (0001) and quartz substrates, respectively. The ionic conductivity value for the film deposited on sapphire substrate is an order of magnitude larger than for the film deposited on SrTiO₃. The plume composition is analyzed by a mass spectrometer. Paper presented at the 2nd International Conference on Ionic Devices, Anna University, Chennai, India, Nov. 28–30, 2003.     

Effect of magnetic Reynolds number on the two‐dimensional hydromagnetic flow around a cylinder

Numerical experiments have been conducted to study the effect of magnetic Reynolds number on the steady, two‐dimensional, viscous, incompressible and electrically conducting flow around a circular cylinder. Besides usual Reynolds number Re, the flow is governed by the magnetic Reynolds number R_m and Alfvén number β. The flow and magnetic field are uniform and parallel at large distances from the cylinder. The pressure Poisson equation is solved to find the pressure fields in the entire flow region. The effects of the magnetic field and electrical conductivity on the recirculation bubble, drag coefficient, standing vortex and pressure are presented and discussed. For low interaction parameter (N<1), the suppression of the flow‐separation is nearly independent of the conductivity of the fluid, whereas for large interaction parameters, the conductivity of the fluid strongly influences the control of flow‐separation. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.