The Kissing Triangles: The Aesthetics of Mathematical Discovery

Papert's (1978) appeal to reconsider the power and possibilities of the aesthetic in mathematics learning is often ignored in mathematics education research. This paper begins with the premise, put forth by Dewey (1934), that the aesthetic structures many dimensions of inquiry and experience. In the same way that using particular paintings, musical compositions, or even everyday experiences has been instrumental to attempts by philosophers to understand the aesthetic dimensions of meaning and experience in artistic domains, I propose that analysing a particular encounter with mathematics may help reveal the nature and role of the often nebulous responses of elegance, beauty, and `fit' to which mathematicians lay claim in their mathematical activity. To achieve this, I draw on and adapt the defining features of the aesthetic character of experience set forth by the aesthetician Beardsley (1982). This, in turn, sheds light on the role thataesthetics can play in mathematical inquiry and experience, and provides initial categories and conjectures that can be used to investigate the potential roles of aesthetics in mathematics learning contexts.This revised version was published online in September 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

动态激光衍射法测量细丝直径

基于夫琅禾费衍射理论和巴比涅互补原理,提出了利用激光衍射对细丝直径进行动态测量的方法.该方法具有测量精度高、速度快、非接触、使用方便且易于微机联接实现自动化测量等优点.     

波纹纤维混凝土的动力耗散研究

根据曲线纤维的几何特点和受力性能 ,推导了波纹纤维混凝土的本构关系 ,在本构理论的基础上进行动力耗散研究     

从诺贝尔物理学奖看光学的发展

从一个新的角度分析、讨论了光学的发展过程.并对光学今后的发展做了展望.     

ON HYPERBOLIC TIME DISCOUNTING IN EXHAUSTIBLE RESOURCE MODELS: AN APPLICATION TO WORLD OIL RESOURCES

ABSTRACT. Recent research on discounting in long term economic models involves hyperbolic discounting, in which the marginal discount rate shrinks as time passes. To investigate hyperbolic discounting and exhaustible resource allocation, this work develops a discrete‐time world oil model and model solution procedure, then uses the model to examine the consequences of adopting conventional (constant annual) discounting when hyperbolic discounting is appropriate, of adopting one hyperbolic discount rate path when a different hyperbolic path is appropriate, and of adopting hyperbolic discounting when conventional discounting is appropriate. Five conventional and two hyperbolic discount rate paths are considered. One hyperbolic path is that used by Nordhaus and Boyer [2000]; the other is that recommended by Weitzman [2001]. The generality of the findings is also assessed.     

Lower Bounds from State Space Relaxations for Concave Cost Network Flow Problems

In this paper we obtain Lower Bounds (LBs) to concave cost network flow problems. The LBs are derived from state space relaxations of a dynamic programming formulation, which involve the use of non-injective mapping functions guaranteing a reduction on the cardinality of the state space. The general state space relaxation procedure is extended to address problems involving transitions that go across several stages, as is the case of network flow problems. Applications for these LBs include: estimation of the quality of heuristic solutions; local search methods that use information of the LB solution structure to find initial solutions to restart the search (Fontes et al., 2003, Networks, 41, 221–228); and branch-and-bound (BB) methods having as a bounding procedure a modified version of the LB algorithm developed here, (see Fontes et al., 2005a). These LBs are iteratively improved by penalizing, in a Lagrangian fashion, customers not exactly satisfied or by performing state space modifications. Both the penalties and the state space are updated by using the subgradient method. Additional constraints are developed to improve further the LBs by reducing the searchable space. The computational results provided show that very good bounds can be obtained for concave cost network flow problems, particularly for fixed-charge problems.     

Index Heuristics for Multiclass M/G/1 Systems with Nonpreemptive Service and Convex Holding Costs

We consider the optimal service control of a multiclass M/G/1 queueing system in which customers are served nonpreemptively and the system cost rate is additive across classes and increasing convex in the numbers present in each class. Following Whittle's approach to a class of restless bandit problems, we develop a Langrangian relaxation of the service control problem which serves to motivate the development of a class of index heuristics. The index for a particular customer class is characterised as a fair charge for service of that class. The paper develops these indices and reports an extensive numerical investigation which exhibits strong performance of the index heuristics for both discounted and average costs.     

An Efficient Numerical Model for Planar Spiral Inductor On-Chip

In this paper, a very useful numerical technique has been developed for analyzing the transient characteristics of a planar-spiral inductor on-chip. A locally conformal technique and an alternating-direction implicit scheme are applied to the finite-difference time-domain method. A formulation for solving three dimensional Maxwell’s equations is proposed. Using the proposed method, various parameters of the planar-spiral inductors have been analyzed and an equivalent circuit, which includes frequency-independent circuit elements, has been introduced. Highly computational efficiency is implemented. Numerical results show excellent agreement with the measured data over a wide frequency range.     

High precision topographic data on Lop Nor basin's Lake "Great Ear" ? and the timing of its becoming a dry salt lake

High precision elevation measurements using DGPS were carried out along three representative tran- sects for the "Great Ear" area, a dry salt lake within the Lop Nor basin. Results indicate that the Lop Nor basin is only 5.2 m deep and its lowest point occurs at the center of the "Great Ear". In addition, the basin is asymmetric - steeper in the southwest (0.19‰) and gentler in the northeast (0.09‰). Points along the same "Great Ear" ring were found to have an identical elevation value, but different when from different ones (lower towards the center). The spacing of the "Great Ear" rings was found to be closely related with the surface steepness. The closer the "Great Ear" rings are spaced, the steeper the ground surface, and vice versa. These findings support the argument that the "Great Ear" rings are the former shoreline trails left behind by Lop Nor water during the last few episodes of recession towards its total dry up. A comprehensive analysis of the high precision elevation data, historical accounts, aerial and satellite photographs and imagery, and official topographic maps of the study area suggests that the "Great Ear" area in the Lop Nor basin was incorrectly mapped as being covered by a great body of water on the 1963 topographic maps. A re-interpretation of the 1958 aerial photographs and newer remote sensing imagery indicated that the "Great Ear" ring structure was already in place in 1958 and it continued to appear on the subsequent remote sensing data without any major changes. It is estimated that lake water in the "Great Ear" area of the Lop Nor basin disappeared between the late 1930s and early 1940s.     

旅华日本、韩国游客旅游特征及偏好研究

以2004年在北京、上海、广州、桂林、昆明和西安6个热点旅游城市进行的随机抽样调查数据为依据,运用旅游地理学基本原理、心理学分析和比较分析等研究方法,从人口统计、旅游活动及偏好等方面对旅华日本和韩国游客进行了定性和定量的分析,总结出游客基本特征:游客以观光为主要目的,团队多于散客,大部分游客都有1～3次的来华经历;停留时间多为4～7 d;主要目的地是北京、上海和西安;偏好民俗文化类活动和中国传统工艺品.同时通过对比揭示两国游客的共性和差异,并提出一些建议,希望对进一步拓展日韩客源市场提供帮助.