Solving Sequences of Refined Multistage Stochastic Linear Programs

Multistage stochastic programs with continuous underlying distributions involve the obstacle of high-dimensional integrals where the integrands' values again are given by solutions of stochastic programs. A common solution technique consists of discretizing the support of the original distributions leading to scenario trees and corresponding LPs which are – up to a certain size – easy to solve. In order to improve the accuracy of approximation, successive refinements of the support result in rapidly expanding scenario trees and associated LPs. Hence, the solvability of the multistage stochastic program is limited by the numerical solvability of sequences of such expanding LPs. This work describes an algorithmic technique for solving the large-scale LP of refinement ν based on the solutions at the previous ν?1 refinements. Numerical results are presented for practical problem statements within financial applications demonstrating significant speedup (depending on the size of the LP instances).     

The determination of coal combustion kinetics with thermogravimetry

This investigation concerns the determination of the kinetics of coal combustion. It is not well possible to use an exact analytical formula for the rate equation. For that reason a stepwise method is proposed, giving the activation energy as function of the reaction parameter , without assumption of any specific rate equation.

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Zusammenfassung Diese Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit der Kinetik der Kohleverbrennung. Für die Reaktionsgeschwindigkeit ist es jedoch nicht möglich, eine exakte analytische Gleichung anzuwenden. Aus diesem Grunde wird ein schrittweises Vorgehen vorgeschlagen, das die Aktivierungsenergie ohne Voraussetzung jeglicher spezifischer Geschwindigkeitsgleichungen als Funktion des Reaktionsparameters liefert.

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The authors wish to thank Mr. L. J. M. van der Valk for doing a lot of the experiments and Mr J. J. B. van, Hoist for making the drawings.     

Azimuthal orientational correlations due to excluded volume epitaxy in growing anisotropic grains

The microstructure of anisotropically shaped grains can strongly influence a range of material properties, including transport, mechanical and electro-optical. A grain-structure-related phenomenon, known as excluded volume epitaxy (EVE), is reported in this study. EVE is a local, inter-grain orientational correlations effect, which results from a combination of continuous nucleation of anisotropic grains and impingement of growing grains. Due to EVE, anisotropically shaped grains have a tendency to be similarly aligned in a local neighbourhood, despite the absence of any forced global orientation in the sample. The effect has been repeatedly observed by the authors in block copolymers, as illustrated by a representative TEM image. Optical microscopy of anisotropically shaped non-polymeric crystals revealed the generality of this effect. The simulation study revealed a tendency for azimuthal, inter-grain orientational correlation and re-confirmed the experimental observation of EVE.     

DSC Calibration During Cooling. A survey of possible compounds

A number of compounds is investigated for DSC calibration during cooling. Adamantane and Zn show fast reversible transitions and can be applied both for temperature and for heat calibrations. A third compound, namely 4,4’-azoxyanisole, has a liquid crystal to isotropic liquid transition at 409K. This compound can be used for temperature calibration. Heat calibration with this compound is more problematic because of the small heat effect and the construction of the baseline. Other compounds like NaNO₃, In, Hg and Pb, show a slight supercooling. Nevertheless they can be used for heat calibration. The use of large samples of NaNO₃ and In gives the possibility to construct the equilibrium onset temperatures of the cooling peaks, so these two compounds are also appropriate for temperature calibration on cooling. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Stigmergy in comparative settlement choice and palaeoenvironment simulation

Decisions on settlement location in the face of climate change and coastal inundation may have resulted in success, survival or even catastrophic failure for early settlers in many parts of the world. In this study, we investigate various questions related to how individuals respond to a palaeoenvironmental simulation, on an interactive tabletop device where participants have the opportunity to build a settlement on a coastal landscape, balancing safety, and access to resources, including sea and terrestrial foodstuffs, while taking into consideration the threat of rising sea levels. The results of the study were analyzed to consider whether decisions on settlement were predicated to be near to locations where previous structures were located, stigmergically, and whether later settler choice would fare better, and score higher, as time progressed. The proximity of settlements was investigated and the reasons for clustering were considered. The interactive simulation was exhibited to thousands of visitors at the 2012 Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition at the “Europe's Lost World” exhibit. 347 participants contributed to the simulation, providing a sufficiently large sample of data for analysis. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 21: 59–73, 2016     

Chain homogeneous Souslin algebras

Assuming Jensen's principle ?⁺ we construct Souslin algebras all of whose maximal chains are pairwise isomorphic as total orders, thereby answering questions of Koppelberg and Todor?evi?.     

DSC Calibration During Cooling

A number of compounds are investigated for DSC calibration during cooling. Adamantane and Zn show fast reversible transitions and can be applied both for temperature and for heat calibration. A third compound, namely 4,4′-azoxyanisole, has a liquid crystal to isotropic liquid transition at 409 K. This compound can be used for temperature calibration. Heat calibration with this compound is more problematic because of the small heat effect and the construction of the baseline. Two other compounds, namely Hg and Pb, show a slight undercooling. Nevertheless they can be used for heat calibration, and possibly also for temperature calibration during cooling. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Methanol formation on Cu/ZnO catalysts,measured by High Pressure DSC

The activity of copper containing catalysts for the formation of methanol from CO and H₂ is investigated with High Pressure DSC. The activity is measured at 40 atm. and 230 C. The DSC signal has been calibrated with melting experiments with tin under reaction conditions. Comparison with flow reactor measurements shows a good relation with the DSC experiments.

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Zusammenfassung Die Aktivität kupferhaltiger Katalysatoren bei der Bildung von Methanol aus CO und H₂ wurde mittels Hochdruck-DSC untersucht. Sie wurde bei 40 bar und 230 C gemessen.Die Eichung des DSC-Signals erfolgt mittels Schmelzen von Zinn unter Reaktionsbedingungen. Ein Vergleich mit Messungen im Strömungsreaktor zeigte eine gute Korrelation mit den DSC-Ergebnissen.

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We express our thanks to Dr. E. C. Kruissink and Drs. W. Glasz for delivery of the catalysts and measurement of the reactor activities.     

DSC Investigation of some Testing and Calibration Compounds, Particularly During Cooling

Two compounds are described with interesting properties for use in DSC. The first compound is adamantane (C₁₀H¹⁶), with a reversible solid-solid transition at 208.62 K [1], suitable for DSC calibration at this low temperature [2]. The second compound is 4,4'-azoxyanisole (C₁₄H₁₄N₂O₃), with a liquid crystal range between 390 and 407 K [3]. This compound shows two transitions on heating, with a large heat effect at 390 K and a small heat effect at 407 K. For this reason, this substance is well suitable for testing the sensitivity and the resolution of DSC instruments [4]. For both compounds not only the heating, but also the cooling behaviour is investigated.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.