1,912 research outputs found
Numerical evaluation of three non-coaxial kinematic models using the distinct element method for elliptical granular materials
This is the accepted version of the following article: [Jiang, M. J., Liu, J. D., and Arroyo, M. (2016) Numerical evaluation of three non-coaxial kinematic models using the distinct element method for elliptical granular materials. Int. J. Numer. Anal. Meth. Geomech., 40: 2468â2488. doi: 10.1002/nag.2540.], which has been published in final form at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/nag.2540/fullThis paper presents a numerical evaluation of three non-coaxial kinematic models by performing Distinct Element Method (DEM) simple shear tests on specimens composed of elliptical particles with different aspect ratios of 1.4 and 1.7. The models evaluated are the double-shearing model, the double-sliding free-rotating model and the double slip and rotation rate model (DSR2 model). Two modes of monotonic and cyclic simple shear tests were simulated to evaluate the role played by the inherent anisotropy of the specimens. The main findings are supported by all the DEM simple shear tests, irrespective of particle shape, specimen density or shear mode. The evaluation demonstrates that the assumption in the double-shearing model is inconsistent with the DEM results and that the energy dissipation requirements in the double-sliding free-rotating model appear to be too restrictive to describe the kinematic flow of elliptical particle systems. In contrast, the predictions made by the DSR2 model agree reasonably well with the DEM data, which demonstrates that the DSR2 model can effectively predict the non-coaxial kinematic behavior of elliptical particle systems.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft
Charged current weak production of the Delta resonance
The charge changing weak production of Delta in nucleons and nuclei is
studied. The reactions e^{-} p -> Delta^{0} \nu_{e} and e^{+} p -> Delta^{++}
\bar{\nu}_{e} are considered as a possible source of information about the weak
N-Delta transition form factors. The low q^2 BNL data on neutrino production of
Delta are used to extract the axial vector N-Delta coupling, taking into
account the deuteron structure and the Delta width. Finally, pion production
induced by neutrinos in ^{16}O in the Delta region, relevant to atmospheric
neutrino experiments, is investigated.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures. To appear in Proceedings of PANIC9
Potential peptidic proteasome inhibitors by incorporation of an electrophilic trap based on amino acid derived α-substituted sulfonyl fluorides
Peptido sulfonyl fluoride derivatives were designed and synthesized containing a substituent on the alpha position (αPSFs) with respect to the sulfonyl fluoride electrophilic trap. The chemical reactivity of these α-substituted amino sulfonyl fluorides was studied and compared with the previously described ÎČ-substituted amino sulfonyl fluorides in order to get a deeper insight into the importance of the immediate structural environment of the sulfonyl fluoride moiety. Unfortunately, the poor solubility of the resulting αPSFs precluded a proper evaluation of their biological activity
Exact solution of variable coefficient mixed hyperbolic partial differential problems
AbstractThis paper is concerned with the construction of exact series solution of mixed variable coefficient hyperbolic problems
Renormalized Kaluza-Klein theories
Using six-dimensional quantum electrodynamics () as an example we
study the one-loop renormalization of the theory both from the six and
four-dimensional points of view. Our main conclusion is that the properly
renormalized four dimensional theory never forgets its higher dimensional
origin. In particular, the coefficients of the neccessary extra counterterms in
the four dimensional theory are determined in a precise way. We check our
results by studying the reduction of on a two-torus.Comment: LaTeX, 36 pages. A new section added; references improved, typos
fixe
A probabilistic Bayesian methodology for the strain-rate correction of dynamic CPTu data
Dynamic Cone Penetration Tests (CPTu) profile offshore sediments by impact penetration. To exploit their results in full the measured data is converted to obtain a quasi-static equivalent profile. Dynamic CPTu conversion requires calibrated correction models. Calibration is currently done by using paired (i.e., very close) quasi-static and dynamic tests. It is shown here that paired test data, which may be inconvenient to acquire offshore, are not strictly necessary to convert dynamic CPTu data. A new probabilistic methodology is proposed to call upon quasi-static results from a much wider area in the conversion procedure. Those results feed the prior distribution of a converted profile, within a Bayesian updating scheme where strain rate coefficient and correction model error are also described by updated stochastic variables. The updating scheme is solved numerically using the Transitional Markov Chain MonteCarlo sampling algorithm. To avoid undue influence of local profile heterogeneity, the statistic treatment of the quasi-static CPTu data takes place in the frequency domain, using a discrete cosine transform (DCT). The new procedure is applied to a CPTu campaign offshore Nice (France): dynamic tests are converted with equal precision using quasi-static data acquired at distances orders of magnitude larger than what was previously employed.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft
Objective Quantification of Posterior Capsule Opacification after Cataract Surgery, with Optical Coherence Tomography
PURPOSE: To evaluate posterior capsule opacification (PCO) in humans after
cataract surgery with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation, by using optical
coherence tomography (OCT-1). METHODS: Sixty-six eyes with PCO and 20 eyes with a
normal posterior capsule were analyzed. A 3-mm-long horizontal scan of the
posterior capsule was obtained. Measurements at three points and their average
were recorded. Intraoperator and interoperator reliabilities were assessed.
Investigated was peak intensity (PI) and posterior capsule thickening (PCT), with
PCT indicating the distance between two reflectivity spikes, with an approximate
axial resolution of 10 microm. Results were compared with visual acuity (VA) and
PCO type. RESULTS: Intraoperator reliability was 0.59 and 0.97 for average PI and
PCT, respectively. The interoperator concordance correlation coefficient was 0.70
and 0.82 for average PI and PCT, respectively. Median (interquartile range)
intensities of the reflectivity spike were 16.88 (dB) (range, 12.88-20.41) and
11.9 (8.58-14.28), respectively, in the PCO and control eyes (P = 0.001). PCT was
found in PCO eyes (median: 86.13 microm; range, 46.33-115.33), whereas no second
spike appeared in control eyes (P = 0.001). The area under the receiver operating
characteristic curve of the average PCT for differentiating pearl-type from
fibrosis-type PCO was 0.87 (P = 0.001). For a cutoff point of 55.3 microm, the
sensitivity was 97.5%, and the specificity was 69%. Worse VA correlated
significantly only with larger PCT (r(o) = 0.66; P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: OCT-1
appears useful to quantitate PCO. In addition, this system seems to discriminate
between different types of PCO. PCT may be a previously unrecognized factor in VA
degradation
Bound States of D-Branes and the Non-Abelian Born-Infeld Action
We attempt to settle the issue as to what is the correct non-abelian
generalisation of the Born-Infeld action, via a consideration of the two-loop
--function for the non-abelian background gauge field in open string
theory. An analysis of the bosonic theory alone shows the recent proposal of
Tseytlin's to be somewhat lacking. For the superstring, however, this proposal
would seem to be correct, and not just within the approximation used in
\cite{tseytlin}. Since it is this latter case that is relevant to the
description of D-branes we, in effect, obtain an independent verification of
Tseytlin's result. Some issues involved in the concept of non-abelian
T--duality are discussed; and it is shown how the interaction between separated
and parallel branes, in the form of massive string states, emerges.Comment: 24 pages, 4 eps figures, LaTeX. Further comments concerning earlier
work added, minor typos corrected. Version to be published in Nucl. Phys.
Hydrodynamic Aspects and Correlations for the Design of Draft-Tube Conical Spouted Beds
A study has been carried out on the hydrodynamics of conical spouted beds with draft tube. Correlations have been proposed for calculating minimum spouting velocity, operating pressure drop and peak pressure drop as functions of dimensionless module that take into account geometric factors, particle characteristics and operating conditions
Clustering analysis to improve total unit weight prediction from CPTu
Accurate estimates of soil unit weight are fundamental for correctly post process CPTu data and making use of Soil Behavior Type-based classification systems. Soil-specific and global regressions have been proposed for this purpose. However, soil-specific correlation might pose a problem of pertinence when applied at new sites. On the other hand, global correlations are easy to apply, but generally carry large systematic uncertainties. In this context, this work proposes a data clustering technique applied to geotechnical database aiming to identify hidden linear trends among dimensionless soil unit weight and normalized CPTu parameter according to some unobservable soil classes. Global correlations are then revisited according to such data subdivision aiming to improve accuracy of soil unit weight prediction while reducing transformation uncertainty. A new probabilistic criterion for soil unit weight prediction is also obtained. The potential benefits of the proposed procedure are illustrated with data from a Llobregat delta site (Spain).Postprint (published version
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