Efficient computation of operator‐type response sensitivities for uncertainty quantification and predictive modeling: illustrative application to a spent nuclear fuel dissolver model

This work honors the 75th birthday of Professor Ionel Michael Navon by presenting original results highlighting the computational efficiency of the adjoint sensitivity analysis methodology for function‐valued operator responses by means of an illustrative paradigm dissolver model. The dissolver model analyzed in this work has been selected because of its applicability to material separations and its potential role in diversion activities associated with proliferation and international safeguards. This dissolver model comprises eight active compartments in which the 16 time‐dependent nonlinear differential equations modeling the physical and chemical processes comprise 619 scalar and time‐dependent model parameters, related to the model's equation of state and inflow conditions. The most important response for the dissolver model is the time‐dependent nitric acid in the compartment furthest away from the inlet, where measurements are available at 307 time instances over the transient's duration of 10.5 h. The sensitivities to all model parameters of the acid concentrations at each of these instances in time are computed efficiently by applying the adjoint sensitivity analysis methodology for operator‐valued responses. The uncertainties in the model parameters are propagated using the above‐mentioned sensitivities to compute the uncertainties in the computed responses. A predictive modeling formalism is subsequently used to combine the computational results with the experimental information measured in the compartment furthest from the inlet and then predict optimal values and uncertainties throughout the dissolver. This predictive modeling methodology uses the maximum entropy principle to construct an optimal approximation of the unknown a priori distribution for the a priori known mean values and uncertainties characterizing the model parameters and the computed and experimentally measured model responses. This approximate a priori distribution is subsequently combined using Bayes' theorem with the “likelihood” provided by the multi‐physics computational models. Finally, the posterior distribution is evaluated using the saddle‐point method to obtain analytical expressions for the optimally predicted values for the parameters and responses of both multi‐physics models, along with corresponding reduced uncertainties. This work shows that even though the experimental data pertains solely to the compartment furthest from the inlet (where the data were measured), the predictive modeling procedure used herein actually improves the predictions and reduces the predicted uncertainties for the entire dissolver, including the compartment furthest from the measurements, because this predictive modeling methodology combines and transmits information simultaneously over the entire phase‐space, comprising all time steps and spatial locations. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Differences in Salivary Proteins as a Function of PROP Taster Status and Gender in Normal Weight and Obese Subjects

Taste plays an important role in processes such as food choices, nutrition status and health. Salivary proteins contribute to taste sensitivity. Taste reduction has been associated with obesity. Gender influences the obesity predisposition and the genetic ability to perceive the bitterness of 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP), oral marker for food preferences and consumption. We investigated variations in the profile of salivary proteome, analyzed by HPLC-ESI-MS, between sixty-one normal weight subjects (NW) and fifty-seven subjects with obesity (OB), based on gender and PROP sensitivity. Results showed variations of taste-related salivary proteins between NW and OB, which were differently associated with gender and PROP sensitivity. High levels of Ps-1, II-2 and IB-1 proteins belonging to basic proline rich proteins (bPRPs) and PRP-1 protein belonging to acid proline rich proteins (aPRPs) were found in OB males, who showed a lower body mass index (BMI) than OB females. High levels of Ps-1 protein and Cystatin SN (Cyst SN) were found in OB non-tasters, who had lower BMI than OB super-tasters. These new insights on the role of salivary proteins as a factor driving the specific weight gain of OB females and super-tasters, suggest the use of specific proteins as a strategic tool modifying taste responses related to eating behavior.     

Improved performance of polymer photodetectors using indium–tin-oxide modified by phosphonic acid-based self-assembled monolayer treatment

For organic photodetectors (OPDs), in order to realize high incident-photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) and high on/off ratio, the characteristics of hole-only devices and polymer photodetectors with indium–tin-oxide (ITO) modified by phosphonic acid-based self-assembled monolayer treatment in a short time are investigated. 1H,1H,2H,2H-Perfluorooctanephosphonic acid (FOPA) treatment results not only in lowering of the injection barrier at the ITO/organic layer interface but also in the lowering of the contact resistance between ITO and the organic layer. An OPD based on a blend of a donor, poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene-co-bithiophene) (F8T2), and an acceptor, fullerene derivative [6-6]phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) with FOPA treatment exhibits blue-light sensitivity and IPCE of approximately 75% at −4 V. For the F8T2:PCBM device with FOPA, the IPCE is improved, and the dark current hardly increases. F8T2:PCBM device with FOPA treatment exhibits high on/off ratio, wide detector dynamic range and cut-off frequency of more than 10 MHz under reverse voltage.     

Direct and adjoint global stability analysis of turbulent transonic flows over a NACA0012 profile

In this work, various turbulent solutions of the two‐dimensional (2D) and three‐dimensional compressible Reynolds averaged Navier–Stokes equations are analyzed using global stability theory. This analysis is motivated by the onset of flow unsteadiness (Hopf bifurcation) for transonic buffet conditions where moderately high Reynolds numbers and compressible effects must be considered. The buffet phenomenon involves a complex interaction between the separated flow and a shock wave. The efficient numerical methodology presented in this paper predicts the critical parameters, namely, the angle of attack and Mach and Reynolds numbers beyond which the onset of flow unsteadiness appears. The geometry, a NACA0012 profile, and flow parameters selected reproduce situations of practical interest for aeronautical applications. The numerical computation is performed in three steps. First, a steady baseflow solution is obtained; second, the Jacobian matrix for the RANS equations based on a finite volume discretization is computed; and finally, the generalized eigenvalue problem is derived when the baseflow is linearly perturbed. The methodology is validated predicting the 2D Hopf bifurcation for a circular cylinder under laminar flow condition. This benchmark shows good agreement with the previous published computations and experimental data. In the transonic buffet case, the baseflow is computed using the Spalart–Allmaras turbulence model and represents a mean flow where the high frequency content and length scales of the order of the shear‐layer thickness have been averaged. The lower frequency content is assumed to be decoupled from the high frequencies, thus allowing a stability analysis to be performed on the low frequency range. In addition, results of the corresponding adjoint problem and the sensitivity map are provided for the first time for the buffet problem. Finally, an extruded three‐dimensional geometry of the NACA0012 airfoil, where all velocity components are considered, was also analyzed as a Triglobal stability case, and the outcoming results were compared to the previous 2D limited model, confirming that the buffet onset is well detected. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

X波段中频相参多普勒天气雷达接收机的设计

分析研究了如何设计X波段中频相参多普勒天气雷达接收机方案以及如何计算接收机噪声系数、接收机灵敏度、前端增益与系统动态范围。同时提出了稳定本振的措施,使数字中频接收机具有可靠性高、灵敏度高、增益高、选择性好、动态范围大、适应性广、自动实现数字频率跟踪,数字定相等优点。     

灵敏度可调的光学读出非制冷热像元设计

设计了一种可见光反射型光学读出非制冷热像元结构。理论分析表明热像元的热-机械灵敏度达到0.043deg·K-1,在热像元面积比已有报道减小75%的情况下,热-机械灵敏度反而提高至少79%。通过改变弯折梁底层金膜的面积来调节热像元的灵敏度,使其可在2.36×10-6rad·m2·W-1和9.21×10-6rad·m2·W-1之间变化。ANSYS仿真结果和理论结果吻合较好,验证了设计的正确性。     

基于TCM的安全Windows平台设计与实现

为了解决Windows系统的完整性度量与证明问题,提出了一种基于可信密码模块TCM (trusted cryptography module)的安全Windows平台方案。通过扩展Windows内核实现了2种安全模式：在度量模式下,所有加载的可执行程序都会被度量,度量值由TCM提供保护和对外认证;在管控模式下,度量值会进一步与管理员定制的白名单进行匹配,禁止所有不在白名单中的程序执行。实验分析表明,该方案可以增强Windows系统的安全性,抵抗一些软件攻击行为;同时,系统平均性能消耗在20~30 ms之间,不会影响Windows的正常运行。     

二次雷达数字时间灵敏度控制处理的实现

如何有效剔除二次雷达系统中存在的干扰目标,提升设备的处理能力和效率,一直是系统最关注的方向之一。区别于传统信道接收机灵敏度简单调节的方法,提出了一种基于可编程门阵列( FPGA)实时计算目标应答信号强度的方法,通过设置有效应答信号范围,在应答脉冲处理阶段剔除时间灵敏度控制( STC)门限外由多径及异步等引起的干扰脉冲,减少了后期处理的信息数据,提升了系统效率和系统的多目标处理能力。通过外场实验验证,该方法能有效减少二次雷达系统内70%的虚警目标。     

测量长期光辐射下人眼对比度敏感函数及模型

正常环境下研究得出的对比敏感度函数模型,在人眼受长时间高亮度电脑或手机显示屏光辐射(即视觉异常)时不再适用。文中基于正弦光栅的计算公式在Matlab中编程得到了实验所需的正弦光栅。由于在不同光谱功率分布下的对比敏感度值会有较大差别,实验基于LCD显示器得出视觉异常实验者在不同光谱功率分布(日光,灯光)下的对比敏感度值和CSF曲线。并通过非线性最小二乘法得出视觉异常时CSF模型。其结果表明,视觉异常时人眼最敏感空间频率和光学成像能力均发生了较大变化,且节能灯和显示屏等非自然光源与自然光源日光相比其光谱功率分布对人眼对比敏感度的影响最大。     

敏感工作气体对射流陀螺灵敏度的影响

研究了干燥空气、N2和He等3种常用敏感工作气体对射流陀螺灵敏度的影响。采用有限元法计算了输入角速度ωi=20(°)/s时敏感元件内的流场。计算结果和实验表明,改变敏感元件内敏感工作气体的种类,流场分布也随之变化。ωi=20(°)/s时,两热电阻丝r1、r2处的气流速度差ΔvN2>ΔvAIR>ΔvHe。灵敏度系数KN2>KAIR>KHe,其中KN2=1.05 KAIR,KHe=0.21%KAIR。N2对应的灵敏度最高,热电阻丝抗氧化,稳定性较好,但成本高;干燥空气的灵敏度次之,热电阻丝易氧化,稳定性差;He对应的灵敏度最小,热电阻丝不易氧化,稳定性最好。该文解释了敏感工作气体对射流陀螺灵敏度的影响机理,为提高射流陀螺的实用性,满足不同工程需要开辟了一个新的途径。