Betti Numbers of Path Ideals of Trees

Let R = k[x₁,…, x_n], where k is a field. The path ideal (of length t) of a directed graph G is the monomial ideal, denoted by I_t(G), whose generators correspond to the directed paths of length t in G. We determine all the graded Betti numbers of the path ideal of a directed rooted tree with respect to some graphical terms.     

Computing time investigations for variational multirate integration

Consider a mechanical system that contains slow and fast dynamics. Let it be possible, to split the potential energy into a slow and a fast potential and the configuration vector into slow and fast variables. For such systems, multirate schemes simulate the different parts using different time steps with the goal to save computing time. For the proposed multirate scheme, a time grid consisting of micro and macro nodes is used and the integrator is derived from a discrete variational principle. Variational integrators conserve properties like symplecticity and momentum maps and have good energy behavior. To solve the resulting system of coupled nonlinear equations, a Newton-Raphson iteration with an analytical Jacobian is used. It is demonstrated that the multirate approach leads to less computing time compared to singlerate simulation by means of three example systems, the Fermi-Pasta-Ulam problem, a triple spherical pendulum and a simple atomistic model, where the latter two are subject to constraints. Computing times are compared for different numbers of micro and macro nodes for dynamic simulations during a certain time interval. (© 2013 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Effective eddy viscosity in stratified turbulence

This paper investigates the effective eddy viscosity inferred from direct numerical simulations of decaying stratified and non-stratified turbulence. It is shown that stratification affects the horizontal eddy viscosity dramatically, by increasing non-local energy transfer between large and small horizontal scales. This non-local horizontal energy transfer is around 20% of the local horizontal energy transfer at the cutoff wavenumber k_c = 40. The non-local horizontal energy transfer occurs at large vertical wavenumbers, which may be larger than the buoyancy wavenumber k_b = N/u_rms, where N is the buoyancy frequency and u_rms is the root-mean-square velocity. By increasing the value of the test cutoff wavenumber k_c from large scales to the dissipation range, the non-local horizontal eddy viscosity decreases and the local eddy viscosity is dominant. Overall, the presence of stratification can significantly change the features of subgrid-scale (SGS) motions. Current SGS models should, therefore, be modified for use in large-eddy simulation of stratified turbulence.     

Fabrication and Characterization of Polyethylene Nanocomposite Films Containing Zinc Oxide (ZnO) Nanoparticles Synthesized by a Cost-Effective and Safe Method

ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized through a cost-effective and safe method followed by fabrication and characterization of polyethylene/ZnO nanocomposite films and investigation of their properties. The morphology and size of the synthesized nanoparticles were evaluated by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). It was found that nanoparticles with a plate-like morphology with an average thickness of 50-70?nm were synthesized. The nanocomposites were characterized by using Fourier transform infrared analysis (FTIR) and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV-VIS). In addition, the effects of the amount of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) on the mechanical properties of the films and particles and their antibacterial properties against a gram-negative bacterium (Escherichia coli) and gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) were investigated. In the case of nanoparticles, one more gram-positive bacterium (Staphylococcus aureus) was studied. The results demonstrated an inhibition of growth of all bacteria in a broth medium for both the nanoparticles and nanocomposites. The FE-SEM micrographs revealed that by increasing the nanofiller content an inferior quality of dispersion was obtained which was reflected in the lower tensile strength of the nanocomposites compared to the pure PE. It was demonstrated that the addition of poly ethylene graft maleic anhydride (PE-g-MA), as compatibiliser, improved the dispersion state of the nanoparticles and, consequently, the ultimate mechanical properties. In addition, it was shown that the fabricated nanocomposites exhibited considerable UV-shielding properties.     

Electroosmotic flow in a water column surrounded by an immiscible liquid

In this paper, we conducted numerical simulation of the electroosmotic flow in a column of an aqueous solution surrounded by an immiscible liquid. While governing equations in this case are the same as that in the electroosmotic flow through a microchannel with solid walls, the main difference is the types of interfacial boundary conditions. The effects of electric double layer (EDL) and surface charge (SC) are considered to apply the most realistic model for the velocity boundary condition at the interface of the two fluids. Effects on the flow field of ?-potential and viscosity ratio of the two fluids were investigated. Similar to the electroosmotic flow in microchannels, an approximately flat velocity profile exists in the aqueous solution. In the immiscible fluid phase, the velocity decreases to zero from the interface toward the immiscible fluid phase. The velocity in both phases increases with ?-potential at the interface of the two fluids. The higher values of ?-potential also increase the slip velocity at the interface of the two fluids. For the same applied electric field and the same ?-potential at the interface of the two fluids, the more viscous immiscible fluid, the slower the system moves. The viscosity of the immiscible fluid phase also affects the flatness of the velocity profile in the aqueous solution.     

Enhanced adaptive fuzzy sliding mode control for uncertain nonlinear systems

In this article, a novel Adaptive Fuzzy Sliding Mode Control (AFSMC) methodology is proposed based on the integration of Sliding Mode Control (SMC) and Adaptive Fuzzy Control (AFC). Making use of the SMC design framework, we propose two fuzzy systems to be used as reaching and equivalent parts of the SMC. In this way, we make use of the fuzzy logic to handle uncertainty/disturbance in the design of the equivalent part and provide a chattering free control for the design of the reaching part. To construct the equivalent control law, an adaptive fuzzy inference engine is used to approximate the unknown parts of the system. To get rid of the chattering, a fuzzy logic model is assigned for reaching control law, which acting like the saturation function technique. The main advantage of our proposed methodology is that the structure of the system is unknown and no knowledge of the bounds of parameters, uncertainties and external disturbance are required in advance. Using Lyapunov stability theory and Barbalat’s lemma, the closed-loop system is proved to be stable and convergence properties of the system is assured. Simulation examples are presented to verify the effectiveness of the method. Results are compared with some other methods proposed in the past research.     

Finding common weights based on the DM's preference information

Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is basically a linear programming-based technique used for measuring the relative performance of organizational units, referred to as Decision Making Units (DMUs). The flexibility in selecting the weights in standard DEA models deters the comparison among DMUs on a common base. Moreover, these weights are not suitable to measure the preferences of a decision maker (DM). For dealing with the first difficulty, the concept of common weights was proposed in the DEA literature. But, none of the common weights approaches address the second difficulty. This paper proposes an alternative approach that we term as ‘preference common weights’, which is both practical and intellectually consistent with the DEA philosophy. To do this, we introduce a multiple objective linear programming model in which objective functions are input/output variables subject to the constraints similar to the equations that define production possibility set of standard DEA models. Then by using the Zionts–Wallenius method, we can generate common weights as the DM's underlying value structure about objective functions.