An experimental comparison of four graph drawing algorithms

In this paper we present an extensive experimental study comparing four general-purpose graph drawing algorithms. The four algorithms take as input general graphs (with no restrictions whatsoever on connectivity, planarity, etc.) and construct orthogonal grid drawings, which are widely used in software and database visualization applications. The test data (available by anonymous ftp) are 11,582 graphs, ranging from 10 to 100 vertices, which have been generated from a core set of 112 graphs used in “real-life” software engineering and database applications. The experiments provide a detailed quantitative evaluation of the performance of the four algorithms, and show that they exhibit trade-offs between “aesthetic” properties (e.g., crossings, bends, edge length) and running time.     

Effect of baffle on gravity-gradient-excited slosh waves and spacecraft moment and angular-momentum fluctuations in microgravity

Summary The dynamical behavior of fluids affected by the asymmetric gravity gradient acceleration has been investigated. In particular, the effects of surface tension on partially filled rotating fluids applicable to a full-scale Gravity Probe-B Spacecraft dewar tank with and without baffles are studied. Results of slosh wave excitation along the liquid-vapor interface induced by gravity gradient acceleration indicate that the gravity gradient acceleration is equivalent to the combined effect of a twisting force and a torsional moment acting on the spacecraft. The results are clearly seen from one-up one-down and one-down one-up oscillations in the cross-section profiles of two bubbles in the vertical (r, z)-plane of the rotating dewar, and from the eccentric contour of the bubble rotating around the axis of the dewar in a horizontal (r, θ)-plane. As the viscous force, between liquid and solid interface, greatly contributes to the damping of slosh wave excitation, a rotating dewar with baffles provides more areas of liquid-solid interface than that of a rotating dewar without baffles. Results show that the damping effect provided by the baffles reduces the amplitude of slosh wave excitation and lowers the degree of asymmetry in liquid-vapor distribution. Fluctuations of angular momentum and fluid moment caused by the slosh wave excited by gravity gradient acceleration with and without baffle boards are also investigated. It is also shown that the damping effect provided by the baffles greatly reduces the amplitudes of angular momentum and fluid moment fluctuations.     

计算机直接试验设计

根据试验设计的原则，直接按因素－水平的实际组合随机安排若干个试验方案，按五种优良性或均匀性准则从中选出较优者，用回归分析方法分析试验结果．     

Experimental investigation and numerical validation of explosion suppression by inert particles in large-scale duct

A large-scale duct with an explosion suppressor was designed to investigate experimentally the explosion suppression by inert particles for a CH₄/O₂/N₂ mixture. The duct is 25 m long and has an internal diameter of 700 mm. Pressure and flame signals were recorded some distance away from ignitor in the duct. Pressure tracking lines of the shock front for the different inert particle cloud densities and the inert particle diameters were made. The measured results indicate that the shock front is decoupled from the flame front in the inert particle cloud, which leads to a suppression of explosion. Also, the experiments suggest that increasing the inert particle cloud density or decreasing the inert particle diameter can enhance the ability to suppress explosion. For the purpose of validation, a two-dimensional numerical model coupled with the element chemical reaction mechanism for the simulations of the CH₄/O₂/N₂ mixture explosion suppression by the inert particles has been developed. This model makes use of the second-order TVD scheme and the MacCormack scheme to calculate gas-phase and particle-phase equations, respectively. The Strang splitting technique is used to treat the stiffness due to the coupling of the governing equations, while the implicit Gear algorithm is used to treat the stiffness due to the chemical reactions. The effect of inert particle cloud density on explosion suppression was investigated using the model. The calculated results indicate that the accumulation of inert particles slows the propagation of the gas-phase shock front and results in explosion suppression. With increased inert particle cloud density, the explosion suppression is more prominent. The calculated results show a qualitative agreement with the measured results in the large-scale duct experiment.     

Entangled quantum clocks for measuring proper-time difference

We report that entangled pairs of quantum clocks (non-degenerate quantum bits) can be used as a specialized detector for precisely measuring difference of proper-times that each constituent quantum clock experiences. We describe why the proposed scheme would be more precise in the measurement of proper-time difference than a scheme of two-separate-quantum-clocks. We consider possibilities that the proposed scheme can be used in precision test of the relativity theory. Received 7 November 2001     

Fast GC analysis of major volatile compounds in distilled alcoholic beverages: Optimisation of injection and chromatographic conditions

The principal secondary flavour compounds in distilled spirits can be successfully quantified by split injection to a 0.15 mm internal diameter (I.D.) capillary column. Initial conditions for split ratio, gas velocity, initial oven temperature and oven ramp rate are given by method translation from a similar method on a standard 0.25 mm internal diameter column with the same phase. These parameters were then investigated in an experimental design comprising a series of experiments in which the responses were the resolution of two critical peak pairs, the analysis time and the limit of quantification (LOQ) of the eight major compounds. The LOQ is the concentration corresponding to a signal 10 times greater than the noise. The experiments were replicated at two different concentration levels, which encompassed the natural levels of the compounds of interest found in distilled spirits. From the chemometric evaluation of these data, a validated model was constructed, which allowed the prediction of conditions for optimum chromatographic analysis. Three additional concentration levels were then added to the model to establish linearity, repeatability and sensitivity. Modern gas chromatographic hardware allows the use of these narrow-bore capillary columns for routine use without operational difficulties. Major advantages are a substantial decrease in analysis time allowing high throughput processing of samples.     

High-energy gravitational antennas: A theoretical approach

Summary Devices exploiting nuclear resonances are believed to be very promising in detecting weak gravitational-wave perturbations. The main difficulty with these systems is that the high-energy photons which induce the nuclear transitions need to travel over distances comparable with the gravity wave wave-lengths (∼100 km) in order to lead to the absorption the largest frequency shift, due to gravitational radiation. Here we show that, if these high-energy photons are not produced by nuclear de-excitation, but by inverse Compton scattering of laser light with ultrarelativistic electrons, a deviation from the resonant frequencies of the order of the gravity wave amplitude is still attained without the photon travel time being comparable with the gravitational-wave periods.

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Riassunto L'uso di apparati che sfruttano i processi di risonanza nucleare sembra essere promettente nella rivelazione delle onde gravitazionali. La difficoltà maggiore in questi apparati è che i fotoni di alta energia che inducono le risonanze devono viaggiare per distanze confrontabili con la lunghezza d'onda delle onde gravitazionali (∼100 km) per poter risentire della variazione di frequenza massima dovuta all'interazione con le onde gravitazionali. Qui si mostra che se questi fotoni di alta energia sono prodotti non dalla diseccitazione nucleare ma da urti Compton inverso di laser con particelle relativistiche, una deviazione dalla frequenza di risonanza dell'ordine dell'ampiezza delle onde gravitazionali è ottenuta senza che il tempo di volo dei fotoni sia confrontabile con il periodo delle onde gravitazionali stesse.

     

Parallel computing in experimental mechanics and optical measurement: A review

Because of the merits of non-destruction, high speed, and high sensitivity, optical techniques have been developed for experimental mechanics and optical measurement. In commercial optical systems, the speed performance becomes more important and real-time systems are pursued. Among many acceleration methods, using parallel computing hardware is proven effective. In this paper, the main principles of parallel computing at an application level are introduced; the hardware platforms that support parallel computing are compared; the applications of parallel computing in experimental mechanics and optical measurement are reviewed. Parallel hardware platforms are seen to be useful for the acceleration of various problems. When the computation is time-consuming or real-time performance is required, hardware acceleration is a possible approach for consideration.     

Estimate of the background of a gravitational-wave detector due to cosmic rays

Summary The authors examine once more the effect of cosmic rays on a resonating gravitational-wave antenna in view of the very high sensitivities that are required for detecting the supernovae of the Virgo Cluster. They show that, at sea-level, the secondaries generated in the bar by the electromagnetic interaction of high-energy muons produce signals with rates much larger than that expected from supernovae. This inconvenience is eliminated in an underground laboratory.

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Riassunto Gli autori esaminano nuovamente l'effetto dei raggi cosmici su di una antenna gravitazionale risonante, in considerazione della elevata sensibilità che è necessario raggiungere per rivelare le supernovae del Virgo Cluster. Essi mostrano che al livello del mare i secondari generati nella sbarra dalla interazione electtromagnetica dei muoni di alta energia producono segnali con frequenza statistica maggiore di quella prevista per le supernovae. Questo inconveniente è eliminato in un laboratorio sotterraneo.

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Резюме В работе исследуется влияние космических лучей на резонансную антенну гравитационнын волн, в виду высокой чувствиельности, необходимой для детектирования сверхновых в созвездии Девы. Доказывается, что на уровне моря вторичные частицы, образованные в результате электромагнитного взаимодействия высокоэнергетических мюонов произодят сигналы с интенсивностями, много большими, чем ожидаемые интенсивности сигналов от сверхновых. Это противоречие устраняется в подземной лабоатории.

     

Robust and non-parametric statistics in the evaluation of figures of merit of analytical methods. Practices for students

A set of laboratory practices is proposed in which evaluation of the quality of the analytical measurements is incorporated explicitly by applying systematically suitable methodology for extracting the useful information contained in chemical data. Non-parametric and robust techniques useful for detecting outliers have been used to evaluate different figures of merit in the validation and optimization of analytical methods. In particular, they are used for determination of the capability of detection according to ISO 11843 and IUPAC and for determination of linear range, for assessment of the response surface fitted using an experimental design to optimize an instrumental technique, and for analysis of a proficiency test carried out by different groups of students. The tools used are robust regression, least median of squares (LMS) regression, and some robust estimators as median absolute deviation (m.a.d.) or Huber estimator, which are very useful as an alternatives to the usual centralization and dispersion estimators.