Multi-scale modelling of granular avalanches

Avalanches, debris flows, and landslides are geophysical hazards, which involve rapid mass movement of granular solids, water and air as a single-phase system. The dynamics of a granular flow involve at least three distinct scales: the micro-scale, meso-scale, and the macro-scale. This study aims to understand the ability of continuum models to capture the micro-mechanics of dry granular collapse. Material Point Method (MPM), a hybrid Lagrangian and Eulerian approach, with Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion is used to describe the continuum behaviour of granular column collapse, while the micromechanics is captured using Discrete Element Method (DEM) with tangential contact force model. The run-out profile predicted by the continuum simulations matches with DEM simulations for columns with small aspect ratios ('h/r' < 2), however MPM predicts larger run-out distances for columns with higher aspect ratios ('h/r' > 2). Energy evolution studies in DEM simulations reveal higher collisional dissipation in the initial free-fall regime for tall columns. The lack of a collisional energy dissipation mechanism in MPM simulations results in larger run-out distances. Micro-structural effects, such as shear band formations, were observed both in DEM and MPM simulations. A sliding flow regime is observed above the distinct passive zone at the core of the column. Velocity profiles obtained from both the scales are compared to understand the reason for a slow flow run-out mobilization in MPM simulations. © 2013 AIP Publishing LLC.

Automatic construction and natural-language description of nonparametric regression models

Copyright © 2014, Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (www.aaai.org). All rights reserved. This paper presents the beginnings of an automatic statistician, focusing on regression problems. Our system explores an open-ended space of statistical models to discover a good explanation of a data set, and then produces a detailed report with figures and natural- language text. Our approach treats unknown regression functions non- parametrically using Gaussian processes, which has two important consequences. First, Gaussian processes can model functions in terms of high-level properties (e.g. smoothness, trends, periodicity, changepoints). Taken together with the compositional structure of our language of models this allows us to automatically describe functions in simple terms. Second, the use of flexible nonparametric models and a rich language for composing them in an open-ended manner also results in state- of-the-art extrapolation performance evaluated over 13 real time series data sets from various domains.

Pipeline Architecture and Parallel Computation-Based Real-Time Stereovision Tracking System for Surgical Navigation

This paper studies the development of a real-time stereovision system to track multiple infrared markers attached to a surgical instrument. Multiple stages of pipeline in field-programmable gate array (FPGA) are developed to recognize the targets in both left and right image planes and to give each target a unique label. The pipeline architecture includes a smoothing filter, an adaptive threshold module, a connected component labeling operation, and a centroid extraction process. A parallel distortion correction method is proposed and implemented in a dual-core DSP. A suitable kinematic model is established for the moving targets, and a novel set of parallel and interactive computation mechanisms is proposed to position and track the targets, which are carried out by a cross-computation method in a dual-core DSP. The proposed tracking system can track the 3-D coordinate, velocity, and acceleration of four infrared markers with a delay of 9.18 ms. Furthermore, it is capable of tracking a maximum of 110 infrared markers without frame dropping at a frame rate of 60 f/s. The accuracy of the proposed system can reach the scale of 0.37 mm RMS along the x- and y-directions and 0.45 mm RMS along the depth direction (the depth is from 0.8 to 0.45 m). The performance of the proposed system can meet the requirements of applications such as surgical navigation, which needs high real time and accuracy capability.

稀土铁双核配合物的合成

本文通过LnCl_3·nTHF和[C_5H_4(SiMe_3)]Na反应得到了两类配合物[C_5H_4(SiMe_3)] LnCl_2·nTHF (Ln = Nd，Sm，Gd；n = 0，1，2)、[C_5H_4(SiMe_3)] LnCl_2·HCl·nTHF (Ln = Nd，Sm，Gd；n = 1，2)。通过元素分析、红外分析、质谱、核磁共振和热重分析确定了配合物的分子组成，特别是带氯化氢的产品在红外光谱中有1250 cm~(-1)，835 cm~(-1)，748 cm~(-1)自的三甲基硅基特征吸收峰。对氯化稀上进行了结构分析，结果发现LnCl_3·4THF (Ln = Sm，Gd)是与NdCl_3·4THF之间存在着变态关系。GdCl_3·4THF。晶体属单斜晶系，空间群为P21/C，晶胞参数为a = 30.765(7)，b = 8.219(3)，C = 17.534(3)A~·，β = 93.71(2)°；SmCl_3·4THF。晶体属单斜晶系，空间群为P21/C，晶胞参数为a = 30.921(13)，b = 8.287(7)，C = 17.665(8)，β = 94.17(4)°。LnCl_3·4THF的单位晶胞中存在着八个分子，每对分子互相等同，但每对分子内部两个分子之间互不等同。SmCl_3·2THF·DME晶体属单斜晶系，空间群为P21/a，晶胞参数为a = 13.547(8)，b = 8.607(4)，C = 16.029(9)A°，β = 90.53(5)°。铲原子与三个氯原子。两个四氢呋喃中的氧原子以及DME中的两个氧原子键合，形成七配位的配合物，但是配位多面体不是理想的五角双锥，而是形成了比五角双锥(D_(5h))对称性更低的多面体(C_(3v))。它能看作是在正八面体的一个面的中心加上第七个原子的结果，而且这八面体主要受到决定上述那个面的三个原子伸展开的畸变。在制备C_5H_5SiMe_3时，如果不用减压蒸馏，而在常压下直接蒸馏，则得到的不是C_5H_5SiMe_3而是它的二聚体(C_5H_5SiMe_3)_2。用红外光谱和核磁共振确定了它的组成和结构，特别是在1650 cm~(-1)处出现(C_5H_5SiMe_3)_2的孤立双键吸收峰。用C_5H_5SiMe_3和Ee(CO)_5回流反应制得了[C_5H_4(SiMe_3) Ee(CO)_2]_2。经过元素分析，红外光谱，质谱，顺磁共振确定了配合物的组成，红外光谱中有桥羰基的吸收峰，质谱图中498的离子峰的出现标志着上述二聚体的存在。用[C_5H_5Fe(CO)_2]_2作为制备双金属配合物的原料，用Na/Hg并还原[C_5H_5Fe(CO)_2]_2。反应时间为6-7小时得到中间体[C_5H_5Fe(CO)_2]_2Na·4THF的深紫红色晶体。反应时间加长，中间体被破坏，反应到15小时时生成了[C_5H_5Fe(CO)_2]Na·TMEDA的黄色晶体，特别是中间体的获得及晶体结构的测定对我们解释反应的机理非常重要。[C_5H_5Fe(CO)_2]_2Na·4THF为单斜晶系，空间群为P21/n，晶胞参数为a = 10.155(5)，b = 17.121(4)，C = 18.667(6)A°，β = 97.61(3)°，V = 3216.9A°~3， 2 = 4。铁的配位数为七，钠的配位数为六，钠离子和桥连羰基氧以配位键结合，每个钠离子连结着两个[C_5H_5Fe(CO)_2]_2~-，而每个[C_5H_5Fe(CO)_2]_2~-又连结着两个钠离子，组成一个无限链状分子，键状分子间以Van de W力结合。[C_5H_5Fe(CO)_2]Na·TMEDA正交晶系，空间群为P_(2,2,2,)。晶胞参数为a = 6.001(4)，b = 10.644(6)，C = 24.214(11)A~·。α = β = r = 90°。z = 4 V = 1546·7A°~3，铁的配位数为五。钠的配位数为四，钠离子和羰基氧以配位键结合，每个钠离子连结着两个[C_5H_5Fe(CO)_2]~-，每个[C_5H_5Fe(CO)_2]~-又连结着两个钠离子，体系就是以这种连结方式或正负电荷交替的形式无限螺旋分子，每个链节存在着两个[C_5H_5Fe(CO)_2]Na·TMEDA分子，链节的长度为a轴的轴长，说明螺旋分子以a轴轴长向上平移。用LnCl_3·nTHF和[C_5H_5Fe(CO)_2]Na反应制得了[C_5H_5Fe(CO)_2] LnCl_2·nTHF (Ln = Nd, Sm, Gd; n = 1, 2)，用[C_5H_5Fe(CO)_2] LnCl_2和[C_5H_4(SiMe_3)]Na或用[C_5H-4(SiMe_3)] LnCl_2和[C_5H_5Fe(CO)_2]Na得到[C_5H_5Fe(CO)_2] [C_5H_4(SiMe_3)] LnCl·nTHF (Ln = Nd, Sm, Gd; n = 0, 1, 3)，配合物[C_5H_5Fe(CO)_2] LnCl_2·nTHF及[C_5H_5Fe(CO)_2] [C_5H_4(SiMe_3)] LnCl·nTHF中存在着2000 cm~(-1)左右的终端羰基吸收峰及1766 cm~(-1)左右的桥连羰基吸收峰。说明稀土和铁之间是以羰基相连的。在TOTOE质谱仪上，配合物[C_5H_5Fe(CO)_2]Gd~·Cl·THF出现[C_5H_5Fe(CO)]GdCl_2、[Fe(CO)_2] Gd~+Cl_2的离子峰，配合物[C_5H_5Fe(CO)_2]-[C_5H_4(SiMe_3)] GdCl·THF出现[C_5H_5Fe(CO)_2] [C_5H_4]Gd~+Cl、[C_5H_5Fe(CO)_2]Gd~+Cl·[C_5H_4C(SiMe_3)] Gd~+Cl等离子峰。所有稀土有机配合物都溶于四氢呋喃、苯，对空气和水敏感。

Hydrogen adsorption induced surface reconstructions on Si(113) studied by LEED

Surface reconstructions on Si(113) induced by dissociated hydrogen adsorption have been studied using low energy electron diffraction (LEED). It has been found that: (1) at 300 K and 80 K temperatures, with the increase of hydrogen coverage on the surface, the (3 x 1) phase transferred continuously into a hydrogen saturated (1 x 1)-2H phase; (2) flashing of the (1 x 1)-2H surface at about 1100 degrees C resulted in a complete new phase of(1 x 3) and further annealing of the sample at 1250 degrees C gave back the starting surface of (3 x 1); (3) saturated hydrogen adsorption at a sample temperature of 700 degrees C resulted in a stable new phase of(1 x 2)-H and further saturation doses of hydrogen at other temperatures below 700 degrees C did not change the (1 x 2) LEED pattern; (4) annealing of the (I x 2)-H surface in the same manner as (2) gave similar results.

氢稀释对非晶硅碳(a-SiC:H)合金薄膜生长和光学特性的影响

用PECVD方法,以固定的甲烷硅烷气体流量比([CH4]/[SiH4]=1.2)和不同的氢稀释比(RH=[H2]/[CH4+SiH4]=12,22,33,102和135)制备了一系列的氢化非晶硅碳合金(a-SiC:H)薄膜.运用紫外-可见光透射谱(UV-VIS)、红外吸收谱(IR)、Raman谱以及光荧光发射谱(PL)测量研究了氢稀释和高温退火对薄膜生长和光学特性的影响.实验发现氢稀释使薄膜光学带隙展宽(从1.92到2.15 eV).高氢稀释条件下制备的薄膜经过1250℃退火后在室温下观察到可见光发光峰,峰位位于2.1 eV.结合Raman谱分析,认为发光峰源于纳米硅的量子限制效应,纳米硅被Si-C和Si-O限制.

古海水pH值代用指标――海洋碳酸盐硼同位素研究进展

IEECAS SKLLQG

Potential global climatic impacts of the North Pacific Ocean

IEECAS SKLLQG

SARS起源于污染对病毒进化的加速诱导

针对当前广为流传的SARS病毒“太空起源说”和“野生动物来源说”两种理论 ,本文根据污染进化生态学原理和SARS病毒发病传染特征 ,以有关实验结果为科学依据 ,阐述了SARS病毒的起源问题 ,指出 :我国当前环境日益严重的复合污染为SARS致病病毒的产生提供了适宜的外部生态条件和物质基础 ,SARS致病病毒可能起源于多个病毒的基因重组或融合 ,更可能是一种来自于感冒病毒进化而形成的超级感冒病毒 .可以预料 ,这一推断将为彻底解决SARS的病源提供有价值的理论指导

林窗模型及其在全球气候变化研究中的应用

林窗模型是基于个体的广泛应用于森林长期动态变化的模拟与预测的模型,是研究森林生态系统对气候变化响应的有效工具。本文把林窗模型的发展与演变过程概括为3个阶段:萌芽阶段、飞速发展阶段和提高阶段;展望了林窗模型的未来发展趋势;简要阐述了在全球气候变化背景下应用模型研究森林与气候间关系的可行性与必要性;对国际上相关的研究热点和前沿问题进行了探讨;综述了国内的研究现状,指出国内林窗模型的预测研究应以改进现有模型、构建新模型、耦合多模型作为未来的发展方向。