Competent genetic-evolutionary optimization of water distribution systems

A genetic algorithm has been applied to the optimal design and rehabilitation of a water distribution system. Many of the previous applications have been limited to small water distribution systems, where the computer time used for solving the problem has been relatively small. In order to apply genetic and evolutionary optimization technique to a large-scale water distribution system, this paper employs one of competent genetic-evolutionary algorithms - a messy genetic algorithm to enhance the efficiency of an optimization procedure. A maximum flexibility is ensured by the formulation of a string and solution representation scheme, a fitness definition, and the integration of a well-developed hydraulic network solver that facilitate the application of a genetic algorithm to the optimization of a water distribution system. Two benchmark problems of water pipeline design and a real water distribution system are presented to demonstrate the application of the improved technique. The results obtained show that the number of the design trials required by the messy genetic algorithm is consistently fewer than the other genetic algorithms

Large water-hammer pressure for column separation in pipelines

Water-hammer pressures in a pipeline due to the collapse of a vapor cavity adjacent to a valve are investigated. A water-hammer event is initiated by the closure of a valve in a simple reservoir-pipeline-valve system. The sequence of events following an instantaneous valve closure leading to the formation and collapse of a vapor cavity and the resultant occurrence of a short-duration pressure pulse are described. Short-duration pressure pulses result from the superposition of the valve-closure water-hammer wave and the wave generated by the collapse of the vapor cavity. The resulting maximum pressure may exceed the Joukowsky pressure generated from the initial valve closure. A series of numerical model analyses exhibiting short-duration pressure pulses are presented. In addition, experimental results supporting the findings of the numerical studies are also presented. Experimental plots of hydraulic grade line versus time exhibit short-duration pressure pulses of different shape and characteristics.Angus R. Simpson and E. Benjamin Wyli

A normal paranoia? The emergence of distrust between parents of autistic children and public officials

This paper explores the development of distrust and paranoia among parents and carers of autistic children in their interactions with public officials charged with such children’s diagnosis, education and care. The suspicion and distrust framework of Fein and Hilton (1994), and Kramer’s typology of organisational paranoia (1998, 2001) are used to show how distrust impacts on client experiences. Antecedents of distrust are identified, and the ‘normalcy’ of paranoia in this context is demonstrated. These findings should permit public sector staff dealing with parents and carers of autistic children to address such perceptions and build trust where little seems to exist

Radar studies of the Martian surface

The acquisition, processing, and interpretation of radar from Mars are reported with emphasis on the facilities of the Arecibo observatory. The project is now essentially complete. Results include scattering law studies in the Syrtis Major, Elysium, and Chryse areas of that planet and reflectivity measurements. Software for general use in the radar program at Arecibo was developed. Participation in acquisition and reduction of data from Venus and Mercury is detailed

Data processing and analysis from the University of Chicago charged particle experiment on the OGO-5 spacecraft

The data processing and analysis performed for the charged particle experiment are summarized, and the principal scientific results obtained from the analysis are reported. A bibliography is included of conference reports, and publications based on these results is included

mizar-items: Exploring fine-grained dependencies in the Mizar Mathematical Library

The Mizar Mathematical Library (MML) is a rich database of formalized mathematical proofs (see http://mizar.org). Owing to its large size (it contains more than 1100 "articles" summing to nearly 2.5 million lines of text, expressing more than 50000 theorems and 10000 definitions using more than 7000 symbols), the nature of its contents (the MML is slanted toward pure mathematics), and its classical foundations (first-order logic, set theory, natural deduction), the MML is an especially attractive target for research on foundations of mathematics. We have implemented a system, mizar-items, on which a variety of such foundational experiements can be based. The heart of mizar-items is a method for decomposing the contents of the MML into fine-grained "items" (e.g., theorem, definition, notation, etc.) and computing dependency relations among these items. mizar-items also comes equipped with a website for exploring these dependencies and interacting with them.Comment: Accepted at CICM 2011: Conferences in Intelligent Computer Mathematics, Track C: Systems and Project

Trajectory-capture cell instrumentation for measurement of dust particle mass, velocity and trajectory, and particle capture

The development of the polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) dust detector for space missions--such as the Halley Comet Missions where the impact velocity was very high as well as for missions where the impact velocity is low was extended to include: (1) the capability for impact position determination - i.e., x,y coordinate of impact; and (2) the capability for particle velocity determination using two thin PVDF sensors spaced a given distance apart - i.e., by time-of-flight. These developments have led to space flight instrumentation for recovery-type missions, which will measure the masses (sizes), fluxes and trajectories of incoming dust particles and will capture the dust material in a form suitable for later Earth-based laboratory measurements. These laboratory measurements would determine the elemental, isotopic and mineralogical properties of the captured dust and relate these to possible sources of the dust material (i.e., comets, asteroids), using the trajectory information. The instrumentation described here has the unique advantages of providing both orbital characteristics and physical and chemical properties--as well as possible origin--of incoming dust

Cooper pair correlations and energetic knock-out reactions

Two-nucleon removal (or knock-out) reactions at intermediate energies are a developing tool for both nuclear spectroscopy and for the study of certain nucleon correlations in very exotic and some stable nuclei. We present an overview of these reactions with specific emphasis on the nature of the two-nucleon correlations that can be probed. We outline future possibilities and tests needed to fully establish these sensitivities.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures: Contribution to the Volume 50 years of Nuclear BCS edited by World Scientifi

Thermodynamic and kinetic insights into stop codon recognition by release factor 1.

Stop codon recognition is a crucial event during translation termination and is performed by class I release factors (RF1 and RF2 in bacterial cells). Recent crystal structures showed that stop codon recognition is achieved mainly through a network of hydrogen bonds and stacking interactions between the stop codon and conserved residues in domain II of RF1/RF2. Additionally, previous studies suggested that recognition of stop codons is coupled to proper positioning of RF1 on the ribosome, which is essential for triggering peptide release. In this study we mutated four conserved residues in Escherichia coli RF1 (Gln185, Arg186, Thr190, and Thr198) that are proposed to be critical for discriminating stop codons from sense codons. Our thermodynamic and kinetic analysis of these RF1 mutants showed that the mutations inhibited the binding of RF1 to the ribosome. However, the mutations in RF1 did not affect the rate of peptide release, showing that imperfect recognition of the stop codon does not affect the proper positioning of RF1 on the ribosome