Tribological characteristics of A356 Al alloy-SiC(P) composite discs

The dry sliding wear and friction behaviour of A356 Al alloy and its composites containing 10 and 20 vol.% SiC(P) have been studied using pin-on-disc set up. In these tests, A356 Al alloy and its composites are used as disc whereas brake pad was used in the form of pins. Wear tests were carried out at a load of 192 N and the sliding speed was varied from 1 to 5 m/s. Tests were done for a sliding distance of 15 km. The effects of sliding velocity on the wear rate, coefficient of friction and nature of tribolayers formed on discs have been studied. Wear rates of composites as calculated by weight loss method, found to be negative at sliding speed of more than 2 m/s. Worn surfaces of pins and discs have been analyzed using scanning electron microscope. SEM and EDAX analysis of worn surfaces of composite discs showed formation of tribolayers, consisting of mixture of oxides of Al, Si, Cu, Ca, Ba, Mg, and Fe. In these layers, copper and barium content found to be increase with sliding speed in the case of composites. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Electrical transport characteristics of ZnO-Bi2O3-B2O3 glasses

Optically clear glasses in the ZnO-Bi2O3-B2O3 (ZBBO) system were fabricated via the conventional melt-quenching technique. Dielectric constant and loss measurements carried out on ZBBO glasses unraveled nearly frequency (1 kHz-10 MHz)-independent dielectric characteristics associated with significantly low loss (D = 0.004). However, weak temperature response was found with temperature coefficient of dielectric constant 18 +/- 4 ppm A degrees C-1 in the 35-250 A degrees C temperature range. The conduction and relaxation phenomena were rationalized using universal AC conductivity power law and modulus formalism respectively. The activation energy for relaxation determined using imaginary parts of modulus peaks was 2.54 eV which was close to that of the DC conduction implying the involvement of similar energy barriers in both the processes. Stretched and power exponents were temperature dependent. The relaxation and conduction in these glasses were attributed to the hoping and migration of Bi3+ cations in their own and different local environment.

Effect of catchment characteristics on the relationship between past discharge and the power law recession coefficient

This study concerns the relationship between the power law recession coefficient k (in - dQ/dt = kQ(alpha), Q being discharge at the basin outlet) and past average discharge Q(N) (where N is the temporal distance from the center of the selected time span in the past to the recession peak), which serves as a proxy for past storage state of the basin. The strength of the k-Q(N) relationship is characterized by the coefficient of determination R-N(2), which is expected to indicate the basin's ability to hold water for N days. The main objective of this study is to examine how R-N(2) value of a basin is related with its physical characteristics. For this purpose, we use streamflow data from 358 basins in the United States and selected 18 physical parameters for each basin. First, we transform the physical parameters into mutually independent principal components. Then we employ multiple linear regression method to construct a model of R-N(2) in terms of the principal components. Furthermore, we employ step-wise multiple linear regression method to identify the dominant catchment characteristics that influence R-N(2) and their directions of influence. Our results indicate that R-N(2) is appreciably related to catchment characteristics. Particularly, it is noteworthy that the coefficient of determination of the relationship between R-N(2) and the catchment characteristics is 0.643 for N = 45. We found that topographical characteristics of a basin are the most dominant factors in controlling the value of R-N(2). Our results may be suggesting that it is possible to tell about the water holding capacity of a basin by just knowing about a few of its physical characteristics. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Role of G protein coupled inwardly rectifier K+ channels (GIRK) on the neurobiology depression

353 págs.

Investigation of transient process and steady output of lasing without inversion

The transient evolution processes and steady outputs of continuous wave lasing without inversion (LWI) and self-pulsing LWI in a resonant open V type three-level system are studied. It was found that the two kinds of LWI have some obvious differences not only from the steady outputs but also from the transient evolution processes. The effects of the unsaturated gain coefficient, cavity loss coefficient, ratio of the atomic injection rates and atomic exit rate on the transient evolution processes and steady outputs are discussed.

Efficient methods for empirical tests of behavioral economics theories in laboratory and field experiments

<p>In the quest for a descriptive theory of decision-making, the rational actor model in economics imposes rather unrealistic expectations and abilities on human decision makers. The further we move from idealized scenarios, such as perfectly competitive markets, and ambitiously extend the reach of the theory to describe everyday decision making situations, the less sense these assumptions make. Behavioural economics has instead proposed models based on assumptions that are more psychologically realistic, with the aim of gaining more precision and descriptive power. Increased psychological realism, however, comes at the cost of a greater number of parameters and model complexity. Now there are a plethora of models, based on different assumptions, applicable in differing contextual settings, and selecting the right model to use tends to be an ad-hoc process. In this thesis, we develop optimal experimental design methods and evaluate different behavioral theories against evidence from lab and field experiments. </p> <p>We look at evidence from controlled laboratory experiments. Subjects are presented with choices between monetary gambles or lotteries. Different decision-making theories evaluate the choices differently and would make distinct predictions about the subjects' choices. Theories whose predictions are inconsistent with the actual choices can be systematically eliminated. Behavioural theories can have multiple parameters requiring complex experimental designs with a very large number of possible choice tests. This imposes computational and economic constraints on using classical experimental design methods. We develop a methodology of adaptive tests: Bayesian Rapid Optimal Adaptive Designs (BROAD) that sequentially chooses the "most informative" test at each stage, and based on the response updates its posterior beliefs over the theories, which informs the next most informative test to run. BROAD utilizes the Equivalent Class Edge Cutting (EC²) criteria to select tests. We prove that the EC² criteria is adaptively submodular, which allows us to prove theoretical guarantees against the Bayes-optimal testing sequence even in the presence of noisy responses. In simulated ground-truth experiments, we find that the EC² criteria recovers the true hypotheses with significantly fewer tests than more widely used criteria such as Information Gain and Generalized Binary Search. We show, theoretically as well as experimentally, that surprisingly these popular criteria can perform poorly in the presence of noise, or subject errors. Furthermore, we use the adaptive submodular property of EC² to implement an accelerated greedy version of BROAD which leads to orders of magnitude speedup over other methods.</p> <p>We use BROAD to perform two experiments. First, we compare the main classes of theories for decision-making under risk, namely: expected value, prospect theory, constant relative risk aversion (CRRA) and moments models. Subjects are given an initial endowment, and sequentially presented choices between two lotteries, with the possibility of losses. The lotteries are selected using BROAD, and 57 subjects from Caltech and UCLA are incentivized by randomly realizing one of the lotteries chosen. Aggregate posterior probabilities over the theories show limited evidence in favour of CRRA and moments' models. Classifying the subjects into types showed that most subjects are described by prospect theory, followed by expected value. Adaptive experimental design raises the possibility that subjects could engage in strategic manipulation, i.e. subjects could mask their true preferences and choose differently in order to obtain more favourable tests in later rounds thereby increasing their payoffs. We pay close attention to this problem; strategic manipulation is ruled out since it is infeasible in practice, and also since we do not find any signatures of it in our data.</p> <p>In the second experiment, we compare the main theories of time preference: exponential discounting, hyperbolic discounting, "present bias" models: quasi-hyperbolic (&#945;, &#946;) discounting and fixed cost discounting, and generalized-hyperbolic discounting. 40 subjects from UCLA were given choices between 2 options: a smaller but more immediate payoff versus a larger but later payoff. We found very limited evidence for present bias models and hyperbolic discounting, and most subjects were classified as generalized hyperbolic discounting types, followed by exponential discounting.</p> <p>In these models the passage of time is linear. We instead consider a psychological model where the perception of time is subjective. We prove that when the biological (subjective) time is positively dependent, it gives rise to hyperbolic discounting and temporal choice inconsistency.</p> <p>We also test the predictions of behavioral theories in the "wild". We pay attention to prospect theory, which emerged as the dominant theory in our lab experiments of risky choice. Loss aversion and reference dependence predicts that consumers will behave in a uniquely distinct way than the standard rational model predicts. Specifically, loss aversion predicts that when an item is being offered at a discount, the demand for it will be greater than that explained by its price elasticity. Even more importantly, when the item is no longer discounted, demand for its close substitute would increase excessively. We tested this prediction using a discrete choice model with loss-averse utility function on data from a large eCommerce retailer. Not only did we identify loss aversion, but we also found that the effect decreased with consumers' experience. We outline the policy implications that consumer loss aversion entails, and strategies for competitive pricing.</p> <p>In future work, BROAD can be widely applicable for testing different behavioural models, e.g. in social preference and game theory, and in different contextual settings. Additional measurements beyond choice data, including biological measurements such as skin conductance, can be used to more rapidly eliminate hypothesis and speed up model comparison. Discrete choice models also provide a framework for testing behavioural models with field data, and encourage combined lab-field experiments.</p>

Analysis of a second-order polarization-independent filter made of a single ring resonator and a Sagnac interferometer

A novel second-order polarization-independent filter made of a single ring resonator and a Sagnac interferometer (SRRSI) is proposed, and its filtering characteristics are investigated. By using birefringence in waveguide, a single ring resonator can be used to synthesize a filter with second-order response. Analytical formulas are derived for characteristics of the SRRSI varied with waveguide parameters.. such as the coupling coefficient; and the critical condition of a second-order Butterworth filter is given. The influence of loss in the ring resonator is also analyzed. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Sensitivity to alcohols of a planar waveguide ring resonator fabricated by a sol-gel method

A planar waveguide ring resonator was fabricated by organic-inorganic hybrid sol-gel materials; its sensitivity to ethanol vapor was experimentally investigated. It was found that dips in the transmission spectrum of the device shifted to longer wavelengths with increasing the ethanol concentration, and its sensitivity showed a linear relation with the ethanol concentration, showing a coefficient of 1.13 pm/ppm. In addition, the transmission loss of the ring resonator decreased with increasing the ethanol concentration. The measured characteristics suggest that the device may be considered as one of the candidates of alcohol vapor sensors. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of salinity on food consumption and growth of juvenile Nile tilapia (Oreochromi niloticus L.)

The effect of salinity (0, lO and 20%o, water temperature 28 ± l oC) on food consumption and growth of juvenile Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus L. (9.94 ± 0.15 g) were investigated by feeding group of 20 fish at 2% body weight day. Individual food consumption was measured using X-radiography. There were no significant differences in growth or white muscle protein concentrations among groups. During feed deprivation, weight loss was similar for fish held at O%o and 10 %o salinity, but after 7 days over 50% of the fish maintained at 20%o salinity developed lesions covering 5-25% of the body. No significant relationships were observed between individual specific growth rates and food consumption rates within the groups. The fish in all salinity groups showed a negative correlation between specific growth rate and food conversion ratio. The coefficient of variation for wet weight specific food consumption and the mean share of meal for each fish were used as a measure of social hierarchy strength. A negative correlation was observed between coefficient of variation in food consumption and mean share of meal. The social hierarchy structure was similar in all salinities; 25% of the fish were dominant (18.29% above an equal share of meal) and 30% were subordinate (16.19% below an equal share of meal) and the remainder 45% fish fed theoretical share of meal (MSM, 5.26%).

Effect of hanging coefficient on the efficiency of frame net

Comparative fishing experiments with frame nets of 0.4 and 0.5 hanging coefficients were conducted. Results indicate that net with hanging coefficient of 0.4 as more effective for better catch.

Simulating vision loss: What levels of impairment are actually represented?

Capability loss simulators give designers a brief experience of some of the functional effects of capability loss. They are an effective method of helping people to understand the impact of capability loss on product use. However, it is also important that designers know what levels of loss are being simulated and how they relate to the user population. The study in this paper tested the Cambridge Simulation Glasses with 25 participants to determine the effect of different numbers of glasses on a person's visual acuity. This data is also related to the glasses' use in usability assessment. A procedure is described for determining the number of simulator glasses with which the visual detail on a product is just visible. This paper then explains how to calculate the proportion of the UK population who would be unable to distinguish that detail.

Characterization of the surface acoustic wave devices based on ZnO/nanocrystalline diamond structures

Nanocrystalline ZnO films with strong (0002) texture and fine grains were deposited onto ultra-nanocrystalline diamond (UNCD) layers on silicon using high target utilization sputtering technology. The unique characteristic of this sputtering technique allows room temperature growth of smooth ZnO films with a low roughness and low stress at high growth rates. Surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices were fabricated on ZnO/UNCD structure and exhibited good transmission signals with a low insertion loss and a strong side-lobe suppression for the Rayleigh mode SAW. Based on the optimization of the layered structure of the SAW device, a good performance with a coupling coefficient of 5.2% has been realized, promising for improving the microfluidic efficiency in droplet transportation comparing with that of the ZnO/Si SAW device. An optimized temperature coefficient of frequency of -23.4 ppm°C-1 was obtained for the SAW devices with the 2.72 μm-thick ZnO and 1.1 μm-thick UNCD film. Significant thermal effect due to the acoustic heating has been redcued which is related to the temperature stability of the ZnO/UNCD SAW device. © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Energy budget of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in relation to ration size

Nile tilapia weighing 8.29-11.02 g were fed a practical diet at seven ration levels (starvation, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4% body weight per day and satiation) twice a day at 30 degrees C. Feed consumption, apparent digestibility, nitrogenous excretion and growth were determined directly, and heat production was calculated by difference of energy budget. The relationship between specific growth rate in wet weight (SGR(w), percentage per day) and ration size (RL, percentage per day) was a decelerating curve described as SGR(w) = 2.98 (1 - e(-0.61(RL-0.43))). The apparent digestibility coefficients for dry matter and protein showed a decreasing pattern with increasing ration while the apparent digestibility coefficient of energy was not significantly affected by ration size. The proportion of gross energy intake lost in nitrogenous excretion tended to decrease with increasing ration. Feed efficiency was highest, and the proportion of gross energy intake channelled to heat production was lowest, at an intermediate ration level (2% per day). The energy budget at the satiation level was: 100IE = 16.9FE + 1.2(ZE + UE) + 62.3HE + 19.6RE, where IE, FE, (ZE + UE), HE and RE represent gross energy intake, faecal energy, excretory (non-faecal) energy loss, heat production and recovered energy (growth), respectively. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.

Optical properties of UO2 and PuO2

We perform first-principles calculations of electronic structure and optical properties for UO2 and PuO2 based on the density functional theory using the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) + U scheme. The main features in orbital-resolved partial density of states for occupied f and p orbitals, unoccupied d orbitals, and related gaps are well reproduced compared to experimental observations. Based on the satisfactory ground-state electronic structure calculations, the dynamical dielectric function and related optical spectra, i.e., the reflectivity, adsorption coefficient, energy-loss, and refractive index spectrum, are obtained. These results are consistent with the available experiments.

Influence of N doping on the Rashba coefficient, semiconductor-metal transition, and electron effective mass in InSb1-xNx nanowires: Ten-band k center dot p model

The electronic structures of InSb1-xNx nanowires are investigated using the ten-band k center dot p method. It is found that nitrogen increases the Rashba coefficient of the nanowires dramatically. For thick nanowires, the Rashba coefficient may increase by more than 20 times. The semiconductor-metal transition occurs more easily in InSb1-xNx nanowires than in InSb nanowires. The electronic structure of InSb1-xNx nanowires is very different from that of the bulk material. For fixed x the bulk material is a semimetal, while the nanowires are metal-like. In InSb1-xNx bulk material and thick nanowires, an interesting decrease of electron effective mass is observed near k=0 which is induced by the nitrogen, but this phenomenon disappears in thin nanowires.