Acoustic characterization and prediction for fan-duct-plenum-room integrations

This paper investigates mutual influence of duct and room acoustics in the whole fan-duct-plenum-room integrations. Applying the parametric design language of finite element software ANSYS (APDL), dimensional and positional influence on system acoustics has been studied. Models with different room dimensions, duct lengths, duct cross-sections, duct locations, duct discharges and duct elbow were constructed, and their characteristics were compared qualitatively. Results show that small rooms, short ducts, large duct cross-sections and bell mouth duct discharges help to increase room sound pressure levels (SPLs); SPLs in ducts and plenums are sensitive to duct dimensions and duct discharge types but insensitive to duct locations and room dimensions; duct elbows have relatively indistinct acoustic influence in each component. Based on the calculation results, a semi-experimental method was proposed for simply and approximately evaluating indoor acoustic spectra of fan-duct-plenum-room integrations, then an example was used to demonstrate the prediction process. Finally, by adopting several ideal models, sound field constitutions, duct and room wall admittances and duct end reflection were explored quantitatively. This study may give a detailed understanding of fan-duct-plenum-room acoustics for researchers, also it might provide a new, simple and approximate prediction method for professionals to evaluate and improve fan-ducted acoustics.     

Effect of end groups on complexation kinetics between cyclodextrins and guest polymers

α‐Cyclodextrin (α‐CD) has been complexed with various poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) derivatives in aqueous solution. It has been found that the end groups of PEG derivatives affect the complexation kinetics greatly, but have only a little influence on the thermodynamic behavior. By increasing the hydrophobicity of end groups, the complexation speeds up rapidly. On the other hand, the bulky end groups slow down the threading of polymeric guests into the cavity of CD. By changing the hydrophobicity and the size of end groups, the complexation rate can be adjusted in the range of several orders of magnitudes, which should be quite useful in the design of new supramolecular systems. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 2050–2057, 2006     

Controlling global stochasticity of Hamiltonian systems by nonlinear perturbation

A method of controlling global stochasticity in Hamiltonian systems by applying nonlinear perturbation is proposed. With the well-known standard map we demonstrate that this control method can convert global stochasticity into regular motion in a wide chaotic region for arbitrary initial condition, in which the control signal remains very weak after a few kicks. The system in which chaos has been controlled approximates to the original Hamiltonian system, and this approach appears robust against small external noise. The mechanism underlying this high control efficiency is intuitively explained. Received 15 January 2002 Published online 6 June 2002     

Improving the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra

Theorems 2 and 3 establish the minimum algebraic conditions necessary for a field to be algebraically closed, and they can therefore be said to “optimize” the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra. But each specific“degree implication” is a first-order consequence of the axioms for fields, and could have been discovered two centuries ago; the existence of these finitary relationships appears to have been unsuspected by practically everyone, with one important exception.     

A TVD Type Wavelet-Galerkin Method for Hamilton-Jacobi Equations

In this paper,we use Daubechies scaling functions as test functions for the Galerkin method,and discuss Wavelet-Galerkin solutions for the Hamilton-Jacobi equations.It can be proved that the schemesare TVD schemes.Numerical tests indicate that the schemes are suitable for the Hamilton-Jacobi equations.Furthermore,they have high-order accuracy in smooth regions and good resolution of singularities.     

Network externalities in a dynamic monopoly

We reconsider the role of network externalities in a dynamic spatial monopoly where the firm must invest in order to accumulate capacity, while consumers may have either linear or quadratic preferences. We (1) characterise saddle point equilibria, (2) prove that the extent of market coverage is increasing in the network effect and (3) unlike the existing static literature on the same problem, the monopolist may not make introductory price offers. Then, we briefly deal with the socially optimal solution, showing that, in general, a planner would serve more consumers than a profit-seeking monopolist.      

Developing professional judgement with the aid of a ‘low-profile’ group support system

This paper reports positive results from an application of one type of group support system (GSS) to a training application. Reviews of the findings of other trials of GSS have been mixed, and inconclusive. We describe the results of a series of seven training sessions in a field-based application of group process support. The subjects were professionals working in various agencies concerned with the welfare of older people. A ‘low-profile’ type of group support system, based on wireless handsets, was used. This design enabled responses from each participant to be input and displayed anonymously. Each session was aimed at stimulating a dialogue focused on the reasons for differences of judgement, as displayed on a single projected feedback screen. Changes of individual judgements were recorded for subsequent analysis and comparison with already known ‘expert judgements’. Frequent changes of judgement were recorded. A significant proportion of these were related to an improvement, which could not be explained as simply the result of conforming behaviour. We propose that the mode of operation and design of a ‘low-profile’ GSS have the potential to create a learning environment by reducing personal anxieties while encouraging group-based learning with focussed conversation. We conclude that this type of GSS design is particularly suited to ‘selective’-type tasks in groups.     

On Lattices of Uniformities

We study lattice theoretical properties of lattices of uniformities such as modularity, distributive laws and the existence of (relative) complements. For this the concepts of permutable uniformities (see Definition 3.1) and independent uniformities (see Definition 4.1) are important. Moreover, we show that e.g. the lattice of all lattice uniformities on a lattice L is a closed sublattice of the lattice of all uniformities on L.     

Quotient probabilistic normed spaces and completeness results

We introduce the concept of quotient in PN spaces and give some examples. We prove some theorems with regard to the completeness of a quotient.