Gradient recovery in adaptive finite-element methods for parabolic problems

We derive energy-norm a posteriori error bounds, using gradient recovery (ZZ) estimators to control the spatial error, for fully discrete schemes for the linear heat equation. This appears to be the �rst completely rigorous derivation of ZZ estimators for fully discrete schemes for evolution problems, without any restrictive assumption on the timestep size. An essential tool for the analysis is the elliptic reconstruction technique.Our theoretical results are backed with extensive numerical experimentation aimed at (a) testing the practical sharpness and asymptotic behaviour of the error estimator against the error, and (b) deriving an adaptive method based on our estimators. An extra novelty provided is an implementation of a coarsening error "preindicator", with a complete implementation guide in ALBERTA in the appendix.

Business cycle asymmetries: characterisation and testing based on Markov-switching autoregressions

Tests for business cycle asymmetries are developed for Markov-switching autoregressive models. The tests of deepness, steepness, and sharpness are Wald statistics, which have standard asymptotics. For the standard two-regime model of expansions and contractions, deepness is shown to imply sharpness (and vice versa), whereas the process is always nonsteep. Two and three-state models of U.S. GNP growth are used to illustrate the approach, along with models of U.S. investment and consumption growth. The robustness of the tests to model misspecification, and the effects of regime-dependent heteroscedasticity, are investigated.

Systematic model forecast error in Rossby wave structure

Diabatic processes can alter Rossby wave structure; consequently errors arising from model processes propagate downstream. However, the chaotic spread of forecasts from initial condition uncertainty renders it difficult to trace back from root mean square forecast errors to model errors. Here diagnostics unaffected by phase errors are used, enabling investigation of systematic errors in Rossby waves in winter-season forecasts from three operational centers. Tropopause sharpness adjacent to ridges decreases with forecast lead time. It depends strongly on model resolution, even though models are examined on a common grid. Rossby wave amplitude reduces with lead time up to about five days, consistent with under-representation of diabatic modification and transport of air from the lower troposphere into upper-tropospheric ridges, and with too weak humidity gradients across the tropopause. However, amplitude also decreases when resolution is decreased. Further work is necessary to isolate the contribution from errors in the representation of diabatic processes.

On the application of optimal wavelet filter banks for ECG signal classification

This paper discusses ECG signal classification after parametrizing the ECG waveforms in the wavelet domain. Signal decomposition using perfect reconstruction quadrature mirror filter banks can provide a very parsimonious representation of ECG signals. In the current work, the filter parameters are adjusted by a numerical optimization algorithm in order to minimize a cost function associated to the filter cut-off sharpness. The goal consists of achieving a better compromise between frequency selectivity and time resolution at each decomposition level than standard orthogonal filter banks such as those of the Daubechies and Coiflet families. Our aim is to optimally decompose the signals in the wavelet domain so that they can be subsequently used as inputs for training to a neural network classifier.

A route to systematic error in forecasts of Rossby waves

Recent work has shown that both the amplitude of upper-level Rossby waves and the tropopause sharpness decrease with forecast lead time for several days in some operational weather forecast systems. In this contribution, the evolution of error growth in a case study of this forecast error type is diagnosed through analysis of operational forecasts and hindcast simulations. Potential vorticity (PV) on the 320-K isentropic surface is used to diagnose Rossby waves. The Rossby-wave forecast error in the operational ECMWF high-resolution forecast is shown to be associated with errors in the forecast of a warm conveyor belt (WCB) through trajectory analysis and an error metric for WCB outflows. The WCB forecast error is characterised by an overestimation of WCB amplitude, a location of the WCB outflow regions that is too far to the southeast, and a resulting underestimation of the magnitude of the negative PV anomaly in the outflow. Essentially the same forecast error development also occurred in all members of the ECMWF Ensemble Prediction System and the Met Office MOGREPS-15 suggesting that in this case model error made an important contribution to the development of forecast error in addition to initial condition error. Exploiting this forecast error robustness, a comparison was performed between the realised flow evolution, proxied by a sequence of short-range simulations, and a contemporaneous forecast. Both the proxy to the realised flow and the contemporaneous forecast a were produced with the Met Office Unified Model enhanced with tracers of diabatic processes modifying potential temperature and PV. Clear differences were found in the way potential temperature and PV are modified in the WCB between proxy and forecast. These results demonstrate that differences in potential temperature and PV modification in the WCB can be responsible for forecast errors in Rossby waves.

Swift's razor

The razors, knives and “tools for cutting” that appear so often in Jonathan Swift’s writings represent linguistic instruments for the performance of speech acts. Swift often imagines them being deployed for some identifiable purpose, typically the discouragement of “fools” or “knaves” by anatomization. Their sharpness is associated with linguistic acuity, and specifically with the refinement, keenness and power of Swift’s own writing. The focus of this article, however, is on another set of associations that Swift attaches to his blades. They tend also to involve ideas of latency, divagation, bluntness, and misappropriation.

Influence of interlayer tunneling on the quantized Hall phases in intentionally disordered multilayer structures

Stability of the quantized Hall phases is studied in weakly coupled multilayers as a function of the interlayer correlations controlled by the interlayer tunneling and by the random variation of the well thicknesses. A strong enough interlayer disorder destroys the symmetry responsible for the quantization of the Hall conductivity, resulting in the breakdown of the quantum Hall effect. A clear difference between the dimensionalities of the metallic and insulating quantum Hall phases is demonstrated. The sharpness of the quantized Hall steps obtained in the coupled multilayers with different degrees of randomization was found consistent with the calculated interlayer tunneling energies. The observed width of the transition between the quantized Hall states in random multilayers is explained in terms of the local fluctuations of the electron density.

Colorizing Grey Scale Images

The purpose of this thesis is to develop a working methodology to color a grey scale image. This thesis is based on approach of using a colored reference image. Coloring grey scale images has no exact solution till date and all available methods are based on approximation. This technique of using a color reference image for approximating color information in grey scale image is among most modern techniques.Method developed here in this paper is better than existing methods of approximation of color information addition in grey scale images in brightness, sharpness, color shade gradients and distribution of colors over objects.Color and grey scale images are analyzed for statistical and textural features. This analysis is done only on basis of luminance value in images. These features are then segmented and segments of color and grey scale images are mapped on basis of distances of segments from origin. Then chromatic values are transferred between these matched segments from color image to grey scale image.Technique proposed in this paper uses better mechanism of mapping clusters and mapping colors between segments, resulting in notable improvement in existing techniques in this category.

Competitividade de indústrias e a certificação ambiental

A conformidade com padrões de certificação ambiental, especialmente da série ISO 14000 (em formulação), deverá trazer impactos de diversos tipos sobre a competitividade das empresas industriais. Este projeto visa analisar tais impactos através de indicadores de desempenho, como custo de produção, penetração de mercado, alteração de processos e de produtos, entre outros. O projeto objetiva também analisar os ganhos de competitividade que podem ser obtidos por empresas industriais que se anteciparem às normas, adotando um sistema próprio de gestão ambiental.

Método de Otimização Topológica em Estruturas Tridimensionais

The topology optimization problem characterize and determine the optimum distribution of material into the domain. In other words, after the definition of the boundary conditions in a pre-established domain, the problem is how to distribute the material to solve the minimization problem. The objective of this work is to propose a competitive formulation for optimum structural topologies determination in 3D problems and able to provide high-resolution layouts. The procedure combines the Galerkin Finite Elements Method with the optimization method, looking for the best material distribution along the fixed domain of project. The layout topology optimization method is based on the material approach, proposed by Bendsoe & Kikuchi (1988), and considers a homogenized constitutive equation that depends only on the relative density of the material. The finite element used for the approach is a four nodes tetrahedron with a selective integration scheme, which interpolate not only the components of the displacement field but also the relative density field. The proposed procedure consists in the solution of a sequence of layout optimization problems applied to compliance minimization problems and mass minimization problems under local stress constraint. The microstructure used in this procedure was the SIMP (Solid Isotropic Material with Penalty). The approach reduces considerably the computational cost, showing to be efficient and robust. The results provided a well defined structural layout, with a sharpness distribution of the material and a boundary condition definition. The layout quality was proporcional to the medium size of the element and a considerable reduction of the project variables was observed due to the tetrahedrycal element

Estudo comparativo entre a agressividade superficial obtida na retificação com rebolos de óxido de alumínio e CBN, fabricados com ligantes resinóide e vitrificado

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Aspectos anatômicos do olho e neuroquímicos da retina do mocó (Kerodon rupestris)

The visual system is an important link between the animal and the environment, com profound influences on the habits and lifestyle in various habitats. Adaptive mechanismsto the temporal niche are present in the visual system of many vertebrates, involving changins in ocular dimensios and design, retinal cell distribution and organization of neurochemical circuits related to the retinal resolution or sensitivity. The sensory system of the eye is represented by the retina, whose organization is responsible by receipty, initial analysis, and transmission of the information to the brain. The knowledge of the position of the eyes in the head and the distribution of retinal cells allow to identify adaptive aspects of each species to its visual field, which is characteristic to the ecological niche it occupies. In this research, we study eye anatomical characteristics and retina neurochemical features of the rock cavy (Kerodon rupestris), a tipical Brazilian rodent from the suborder Hystricomorpha, family Caviidae. The rock cavy has lateral eyes well constitute bony orbit and well differentiated extrinsic muscle. The study of the descriptive and morphometric anatomy of the showed mean values of axial diameter 10.7±0,5mm and equatorial diameter 11.6±0.7mm. The pupil is slit shaped and the lens has mean axial diameter 5.4±0.03 mm, corresponding to ~45% of the axial diameter of the eye. The posterior nodal distance and the retinal magnification factor were estimated at 6.74 mm e 118 μm/grau, respectively. Flat mounts were processed for Nissl stain, and the topographic distribution of ganglion cells showed a moderate visual band, just below the optic disc, with higher density in the ventral retina. Retinal vertical sections and flat mounts were processed for immunohistochemistry to visualize tyrosine hydroxilase (TH) and thus two types of TH+ cells were detected. Type 1 cells had strong TH-immunoreactivity, the body cell varied from 120.047 to 269.373 μm2 stratifying in the sublamina 1 of the IPL. Type 2 cells were weakly TH-imunoreactive, had cell body located mostly in the IPL, varying from 54.848 to 177.142 μm2, constituting ~10% of the TH+ cells. Both cell types exhibited similar topographic distribution with higher density found in a horizontal band along of the naso-temporal axis in the dorsal retina. The total population of dopaminergic cells was 2,156±469,4 cells, occupying an average area of 198,164 μm2. The presence of cones and rods was detected by immunohistochemistry in vertical sections and flat mounts. S cones density is around 10 times smaller than L cones, with different degree of spatial organization. Other retinal neuronal populations of the rock cavy were also detected in vertical sections with specific markers. Comparative analysis of the anatomical characteristics of the rock cavy eye 12 suggest that it was designed to acquire higher sensitivity to light, at expense of image sharpness, compatible with a vision at mesopic conditions. Additionally, the distribution of the 2 subtypes of dopaminergic cells in a naso-temporal band in the dorsal retina seems suitable to a gain in sensitivity, coherent with an animal with predominantly crepuscular activity pattern

MRT letter: Extended depth from focus reconstruction method for stretch zone measurement in 15-5PH steel

The stretch zone width (SZW) data for 15-5PH steel CTOD specimens fractured at -150 degrees C to + 23 degrees C temperature were measured based on focused images and 3D maps obtained by extended depth-of-field reconstruction from light microscopy (LM) image stacks. This LM-based method, with a larger lateral resolution, seems to be as effective for quantitative analysis of SZW as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) or confocal scanning laser microscopy (CSLM), permitting to clearly identify stretch zone boundaries. Despite the worst sharpness of focused images, a robust linear correlation was established to fracture toughness (KC) and SZW data for the 15-5PH steel tested specimens, measured at their center region. The method is an alternative to evaluate the boundaries of stretched zones, at a lower cost of implementation and training, since topographic data from elevation maps can be associated with reconstructed image, which summarizes the original contrast and brightness information. Finally, the extended depth-of-field method is presented here as a valuable tool for failure analysis, as a cheaper alternative to investigate rough surfaces or fracture, compared to scanning electron or confocal light microscopes. Microsc. Res. Tech. 75:11551158, 2012. (C) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Effect of alternative photostimulable phosphor plates erasing times on subjective digital image quality

Objective: To evaluate the influence of alternative erasing times of DenOptix (R) (Dentsply/Gendex, Chicargo, IL) digital plates oil subjective image quality and the probability of double exposure image not Occurring.Methods: Human teeth were X-rayed with phosphor plates using tell different erasing times. Two observers evaluated the images for subjective Image quality (sharpness, brightness, contrast, enamel definition, dentin definition and dentin-enamal Junction definition) and for the presence or absence of double exposure image. Spearman's correlation analysis and ANOVA was performed to verify the existence ora linear association between the subjective image quality parameters and the alternative erasing times. A contingency table was constructed to evaluate the agreement among the observers, and a binominal logistic regression was performed to verify the correlation between the erasing time and the probability of double exposure image not occurring.Results: All 6 parameters or image quality were rated high by the examiners for the erasing times between 25 s and 130 s. The same erasing time range, from 25 to 130 s, was considered a safe erasing time interval, with no probability of a double exposure image Occurring.Conclusions: The alternative erasing times from 25 s to 130 s showed high quality and no probability of double image Occurrence. Thus, it is possible to reduce the operating time or the DenOptix (R) digital system Without jeopardizing the diagnostic task.Dentomaxillofacial Radiology (2010) 39, 23-27. doi: 10.1259/dmfr/49065239.

Evaluation of the RB-RB/LB-LB mnemonic rule for recording optimally projected intraoral images of dental implants: an in vitro study

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate a simple mnemonic rule (the RB-RB/LB-LB rule) for recording intra-oral radiographs with optimal projection for the control of dental implants.Methods: 30 third-year dental students received a short lesson in the RB-RB/LB-LB mnemonic rule. The rule is as follows: if right blur then raise beam (RB-RB), i.e. if implant threads are blurred at the right side of the implant, the X-ray beam direction must be raised towards the ceiling to obtain sharp threads on both implant sides; if left blur then lower beam (LB-LB), i.e. if implant threads are blurred at the left side of the implant, the X-ray beam direction must be lowered towards the floor to obtain sharp threads on both implant sides. Intra-oral radiographs of four screw-type implants placed with different inclination in a Frasaco upper or lower jaw dental model (Frasaco GmbH, Tettnang, Germany) were recorded. The students were unaware of the inclination of the implants and were instructed to re-expose each implant, implementing the mnemonic rule, until an image of the implant with acceptable quality (subjectively judged by the instructor) was obtained. Subsequently, each radiograph was blindly assessed with respect to sharpness of the implant threads and assigned to one of four quality categories: (1) perfect, (2) not perfect, but clinically acceptable, (3) not acceptable and (4) hopeless.Results: For all implants, from one non-perfect exposure to the following, a higher score was obtained in 64% of the cases, 28% received the same score and 8% obtained a lower score. Only a small variation was observed among exposures of implants with different inclination. on average, two exposures per implant (range: one to eight exposures) were needed to obtain a clinically acceptable image.Conclusion: The RB-RB/LB-LB mnemonic rule for recording intra-oral radiographs of dental implants with a correct projection was easy to implement by inexperienced examiners. Dentomaxillofacial Radiology (2012) 41, 298-304. doi: 10.1259/dmfr/20861598