Determination of the time resolution for neutron scintillation detectors by multi-coincidence measurement

Based on the multi-coincidence measurement, the time resolution of three liquid scintillation detectors (BC501A) were determined strictly by solving the coincidence equations, where the influence from electronics estimated by self coincidence measurement as well as the background had been considered. The result of this work agreed well with the result that was deduced from the traditional method, and it will be helpful to analyze the energy resolution of neutron time of flight spectra measured by using such detectors at CIAE (China Institute of Atomic Energy).     

Escape process and stochastic resonance under noise intensity fluctuation

We study the effects of noise intensity fluctuations on the stationary and dynamical properties of an overdamped Langevin model with a bistable potential and external periodical driving force. We calculated the stationary distributions, mean-first passage time (MFPT) and the spectral amplification factor using a complete set expansion (CSE) technique. We found resonant activation (RA) and stochastic resonance (SR) phenomena in the system under investigation. Moreover, the strength of RA and SR phenomena exhibit non-monotonic behavior and their trade-off relation as a function of the squared variation coefficient of the noise intensity process. The reliability of CSE is verified with Monte Carlo simulations.     

Assessment of pulmonary artery stiffness using velocity-encoding magnetic resonance imaging: evaluation of techniques

The loss of pulmonary artery (PA) compliance has significant pathophysiological effect on the right ventricle. Noninvasive and reliable assessment of PA wall stiffness would be an essential determiner of right heart load and a clinically useful factor to assess cardiovascular risk. Two MRI techniques have been proposed for assessing PA stiffness by measuring pulse wave velocity (PWV): transit time (TT) and flow area (QA). However, no data are available that compares the two techniques and evaluates their performance, especially over a wide range of PWV values or at 3.0-T, which is the purpose of the present study. Thirty-three patients with different heart conditions were imaged using optimized high-temporal resolution and high-spatial resolution velocity-encoding MRI sequences. Statistical analysis was conducted to study intermethod, interobserver and intraobserver variabilities. The PWV measurements using TT and QA techniques showed good agreement (P>0.1). The Bland-Altman analysis showed negligible differences between the two methods (mean±S.D.=0.11±0.35 m/s, correlation coefficient r=0.94). The repeated measurements showed low interobserver and intraobserver variabilities, although the S.D. of the differences was larger in the QA technique. The mean±S.D. of the TT/QA measurement differences were −0.05±0.2/0.0±0.36 m/s and 0.02±0.26/0.02±0.39 m/s for the interobserver and intraobserver differences, respectively. In conclusion, each technique has its own advantages and disadvantages. The two techniques result in similar measurements, although the QA method is more subjective due to its dependency on operator intervention.     

Long time behavior of the Fokker-Planck-Boltzmann equation

This paper is devoted to the existence and long time behavior of the global classical solution to Fokker-Planck-Boltzmann equation with initial data near the absolute Maxwellian.     

Nonlinear fractional differential equations of Sobolev type

Sobolev type nonlinear equations with time fractional derivatives are considered. Using the test function method, limiting exponents for nonexistence of solutions are found. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On the Tanaka formula for the derivative of self-intersection local time of fractional Brownian motion

The derivative of self-intersection local time (DSLT) for Brownian motion was introduced by Rosen (2005) and subsequently used by others to study the L²$L^2$ and L³$L^3$ moduli of continuity of Brownian local time. A version of the DSLT for fractional Brownian motion (fBm) was introduced in Yan et al. (2008); however, the definition given there presents difficulties, since it is motivated by an incorrect application of the fractional Itô formula. To rectify this, we introduce a modified DSLT for fBm and prove existence using an explicit Wiener chaos expansion. We will then argue that our modification is the natural version of the DSLT by rigorously proving the corresponding Tanaka formula. This formula corrects a formal identity given in both Rosen (2005) and Yan et al. (2008). In the course of this endeavor we prove a Fubini theorem for integrals with respect to fBm. The Fubini theorem may be of independent interest, as it generalizes (to Hida distributions) similar results previously seen in the literature. As a further byproduct of our investigation, we also provide a small correction to an important technical second-moment bound for fBm which has appeared in the literature many times.     

A new fractional finite volume method for solving the fractional diffusion equation

The inherent heterogeneities of many geophysical systems often gives rise to fast and slow pathways to water and chemical movement. One approach to model solute transport through such media is by fractional diffusion equations with a space–time dependent variable coefficient. In this paper, a two-sided space fractional diffusion model with a space–time dependent variable coefficient and a nonlinear source term subject to zero Dirichlet boundary conditions is considered.Some finite volume methods to solve a fractional differential equation with a constant dispersion coefficient have been proposed. The spatial discretisation employs fractionally-shifted Grünwald formulas to discretise the Riemann–Liouville fractional derivatives at control volume faces in terms of function values at the nodes. However, these finite volume methods have not been extended to two-dimensional and three-dimensional problems in a natural manner. In this paper, a new weighted fractional finite volume method with a nonlocal operator (using nodal basis functions) for solving this two-sided space fractional diffusion equation is proposed. Some numerical results for the Crank–Nicholson fractional finite volume method are given to show the stability, consistency and convergence of our computational approach. This novel simulation technique provides excellent tools for practical problems even when a complex transition zone is involved. This technique can be extend to two-dimensional and three-dimensional problems with complex regions.     

Competition through capacity investment under asymmetric existing capacities and costs

This paper discusses the way that different operational characteristics including existing capacity, scale economies, and production policy have an important influence on the capacity outcomes when firms compete in the market place. We formulate a game-theoretical model where each firm has an existing capacity and faces both fixed and variable costs in purchasing additional capacity. Specifically, the firms simultaneously (or sequentially) make their expansion decisions, and then simultaneously decide their production decisions with these outputs being capacity constrained. We also compare our results with cases where production has to match capacity. By characterizing the firms’ capacity and production choices in equilibrium, our analysis shows that the operational factors play a crucial role in determining what happens. The modeling and analysis in the paper gives insight into the way that the ability to use less production capacity than has been built will undermine the commitment value of existing capacity. If a commitment to full production is not possible, sinking operational costs can enable a firm to keep some preemptive advantage. We also show that the existence of fixed costs can introduce cases where there are either no pure strategy equilibrium or multiple equilibria. The managerial implications of our analysis are noted in the discussion. Our central contribution in this paper is the innovative integration of the strategic analysis of capacity expansion and well-known (s,S)$(s\text{,}S)$ policy in operations and supply chain theory.