Thermodynamic integration at constant pressure from the nonlocal Einstein crystal

The Gibbs free energy of a periodic, d-dimensional crystalline assembly can be estimated using thermodynamic integration at constant pressure from a nonlocal Einstein crystal. The method is demonstrated using a two-dimensional, harmonic crystal with hexagonal symmetry for which the isobaric Gibbs function can be derived analytically.     

A consideration of curved interfaces in stress-assisted martensite formation

A purely mechanical, sharp interface model is developed to consider curved interfaces that have been observed between martensite phase variants. The approach is based on a theory of small strains as distinct from small displacement gradients. It admits a realistic characterization of each phase with standard elasticity tensors and allows for inhomogeneous states of strain within each phase including inhomogeneous, finite rotations. The model indicates that any signficant interface curvature must be due to material rotation because interfaces cannot be finitely curved with respect to the material lattice. It is also found that the interface driving traction is not influenced by local lattice rotations unless inertia affects the reaction.     

Priority assignment: A conditioned sets approach

The author suggests how conditioned sets of fuzzy variables may be used to provide priority weights. A case is presented where the conditioned sets approach is contrasted with the prioritization information generated by the Eigenvalue Priority Assignment Model.     

Nanoengineering defect structures on graphene

We present a new way of nanoengineering graphene by using defect domains. These regions have ring structures that depart from the usual honeycomb lattice, though each carbon atom still has three nearest neighbors. A set of stable domain structures is identified by using density functional theory, including blisters, ridges, ribbons, and metacrystals. All such structures are made solely out of carbon; the smallest encompasses just 16 atoms. Blisters, ridges, and metacrystals rise up out of the sheet, while ribbons remain flat. In the vicinity of vacancies, the reaction barriers to formation are sufficiently low that such defects could be synthesized through the thermally activated restructuring of coalesced adatoms.     

Performance visualization for parallel programs

Summary We describe here a set of graphical performance visualization tools that have been developed at Argonne National Laboratory for increasing one's understanding of the behavior of parallel programsThis work was supported by the Applied Mathematical Sciences subprogram of the Office of Energy Research, U.S. Department of Energy, under contract W-31-109-Eng-38     

Analysis of Hospital Capital Decision Alternatives: A Priority Assignment Model

In the not-for-profit sector in general and in the hospital industry in particular, the systematic analysis of capital decision alternatives is often not attempted because those decision making criteria which do not have objective measures, but for which judgments must be rendered, are not explicitly integrated into the analysis of decision alternatives. Rather, judgments on these criteria enter the decision making process in some vague manner after an attempt has been made to develop a quantitative profile for each of the decision alternatives. The purpose of this paper is to examine a priority assignment model which (1) uses judgmental transitivity as a measure of the quality of the judgments rendered, and (2) provides for the mathematical integration of the quality adjusted judgmental information into the development of priority weights. Various operational aspects of the model are examined and illustrated and an example of its application provided.