Breakdown of the fractional Stokes–Einstein relation in silicate liquids

The fractional Stokes–Einstein relation postulates a direct relationship between conductivity and shear flow. Like viscosity, the electrical resistivity of a glass-forming liquid exhibits a non-Arrhenius scaling with temperature. However, while both viscosity and resistivity are non-Arrhenius, here we show that these two properties follow distinct functional forms. Through analysis of 821 unique silicate liquids, we show that viscosity is best represented using the Mauro–Yue–Ellison–Gupta–Allan (MYEGA) model, whereas the resistivity of the same compositions more closely follows the Avramov–Milchev (AM) equation. Our results point to two fundamentally different mechanisms governing viscous flow and conductivity and therefore cast doubt on the general validity of the fractional Stokes–Einstein relation.     

基于多项式模型法的低端数码相机的颜色特性化

近年来随着数字技术,以及彩色数字图像输入输出设备的不断发展和广泛使用,颜色在不同的设备之间精确的传递或再现成为该领域的重要课题。本论文以彩色数码相机特性化为研究内容,采用多项式转换方法,研究了多项式回归模型不同系数矩阵、不同训练样本对数码相机特性化精度的影响,得出了系数矩阵为11×3多项式模型时误差较小(2.874ΔE*ab)的结论,达到了实用水平。     

Analyzing the prices of the most expensive sheet iron all over the world: Modeling, prediction and regime change

The private car license plates issued in Shanghai are bestowed the title of “the most expensive sheet iron all over the world”, more expensive than gold. A citizen has to bid in a monthly auction to obtain a license plate for his new private car. We perform statistical analysis to investigate the influence of the minimal price P_min of the bidding winners, the quota of private car license plates, the number of bidders, as well as two external shocks including the legality debate of the auction in 2004 and the auction regime reform in January 2008 on the average price of all bidding winners. It is found that the legality debate of the auction had marginal transient impact on the average price in a short time period. In contrast, the change of the auction rules has significant permanent influence on the average price, which reduces the price by about 3020 yuan Renminbi. It means that the average price exhibits nonlinear behaviors with a regime change. The evolution of the average price is independent of the number of bidders in both regimes. In the early regime before January 2008, the average price was influenced only by the minimal price P_min in the preceding month with a positive correlation. In the current regime since January 2008, the average price is positively correlated with the minimal price and the quota in the preceding month and negatively correlated with the quota in the same month. We test the predictive power of the two models using 2-year and 3-year moving windows and find that the latter outperforms the former. It seems that the auction market becomes more efficient after the auction reform since the prediction error increases.     

Modification of three dimensional topography of the machined KDP crystal surface using wavelet analysis method

The wavelet analysis method has been extensively employed to analyze the surface structures and evaluate the surface roughness. In this work, however, the wavelet analysis method was introduced to decompose and reconstruct the sampled surface profile signals in the cutting direction that achieved by SPDT (single point diamond turning) operation, and the surface profile signals in tool feeding direction were reconstructed with the approximate harmonic functions directly. And moreover, the orthogonal design method, i.e. the combination design of general rotary method, was resorted to model the variations of the independent frequency and amplitude of different simulated harmonic signals in the cutting and tool feeding directions. As expected resultantly, a novel 3D surface topography modeling solution was established, which aims to predict and modify the finished KDP (potassium dihydrogen phosphate or KH₂PO₄) crystal surfaces. The validation tests were carried out finally under different cutting conditions, and the collected average surface roughness in any case was compared with the corresponding value as predicted. The results indicated the experimental data were well consistent with the predictions, and only an average relative error of 11.4% occurred in predicting the average surface roughness.     

Matrix multiplication and transformations: an APOS approach

This study presents a contribution to research in undergraduate teaching and learning of linear algebra, in particular, the learning of matrix multiplication. A didactical experience consisting on a modeling situation and a didactical sequence to guide students’ work on the situation were designed and tested using APOS theory. We show results of research on students’ activity and learning while using the sequence and through analysis of student’s work and assessment questions. The didactic sequence proved to have potential to foster students’ learning of function, matrix transformations and matrix multiplication. A detailed analysis of those constructions that seem to be essential for students understanding of this topic including linear transformations is presented. These results are contributions of this study to the literature.     

Analytical modeling of active magnetic bearing geometry

The aim of this paper is to present a new graphical approach to the shape design of the active magnetic bearing (AMB) stator. The AMB is a tool to levitate the rotor without contact. The standard design method uses a computer-aided design (CAD) software in the modeling process. Therefore the designed AMB shape consists of graphical primitives like lines and arcs with fixed properties. For the advanced interdisciplinary analysis of the AMB construction the shape generation and modifications ought to be done automatically. The proposed method is based on mathematical analysis and representation of the AMB stator by curves. Second and third order Bézier curves given in polynomial and rational form are compared to the circle and arc based arcs. The fitting quality is considered for the selection of the appropriate arc representation. The obtained shapes are ready to be used in the magnetic field analysis and optimization procedures to find an optimal form of the AMB construction. The author’s experience in modeling and vector graphics was a motivation to look at the AMB construction from mathematical and programming point of view. The AMB components are modeled with parametric curves under constraints defined by the AMB static and dynamic properties. Such a described 2D or 3D model can be generated automatically in a programming way for a wide range of AMB configurations in further research. Selected configurations are presented to show features of the proposed method and realized algorithm. The selected features of the proposed solution as well as feedback from industry are discussed.     

GIS-based model of stable hydrogen isotope ratios in North American growing-season precipitation for use in animal movement studies

Stable hydrogen isotope ratios of precipitation (δD_p) show distinct geographic patterns across North America. Over the last decade, ecologists have utilized growing-season δD_p patterns to study the movements of migratory animals. The accuracy and precision of such studies is, in part, contingent upon the accuracy and precision of growing-season δD_p maps. Previous mapping efforts have employed simple kriging procedures to produce smooth contor maps of growing-season δD_p. We attempted to improve these maps by incorporating the effects of altitude on both δD_p values and growing season length. This involved producing elevation-corrected monthly δD_p, temperature, and precipitation amount values for 1-km grid cells across the continental United States and Canada using recently developed interpolation procedures. We used a geographic information system (GIS) to calculate a weighted-average growing-season δD_p value for each grid cell using δD_p and precipitation amount values for all months in which the mean temperature was greater than 0 °C. We used seven independent data sets to compare the precision of the resulting altitude-corrected map with another that did not account for altitude. Overall, predicted δD_p values from the altitude-corrected map more closely matched observed values, and correspondence was more pronounced at finer spatial scales. Digital versions of the GIS-based maps generated during this effort are available via the Internet at http://biology.unm.edu/wolf/precipitationD.htm. These δD_p layers can be combined with other types of spatial information, such as species' geographic ranges and habitat associations, to further improve our understanding of animal movements.     

Binary phase gratings for star couplers with high splitting ratio

Binary phase transmission gratings exhibiting a certain number N of central diffraction orders of equal intensity can be used to construct star couplers of the 1-to-N and N-to-N type. The calculation of the grating's groove structure is described, and first experimental results are presented.     

The present state of modeling entrainment defects in the shape casting process

The entrainment of oxide films into the bulk material has been shown to have a detrimental effect on casting integrity. A number of mechanisms have been shown to initiate the entrainment of oxide films, including: returning waves, plunging jets, bubble trails and fountains. Therefore, the assessment of the casting system for these features by the foundry engineer is critical in improving casting quality.