Bakhtiari, Leskinen and Torma Reply

This is a Reply to: Comment on "Spectral Signatures of the Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov Order Parameter in One-Dimensional Optical Lattices" R. A. Molina J. Dukelksy, and P. Schmitteckert, Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 168901 (2009)Comment: 1 page, published versio

Operations planning for agricultural harvesters using ant colony optimization

An approach based on ant colony optimization for the generation for optimal field coverage plans for the harvesting operations using the optimal track sequence principle B-patterns was presented. The case where the harvester unloads to a stationary facility located out of the field area, or in the field boundary, was examined. In this operation type there are capacity constraints to the load that a primary unit, or a harvester in this specific case, can carry and consequently, it is not able to complete the task of harvesting a field area and therefore it has to leave the field area, to unload, and return to continue the task one or more times. Results from comparing the optimal plans with conventional plans generated by operators show reductions in the in-field nonworking distance in the range of 19.3-42.1% while the savings in the total non-working distance were in the range of 18-43.8%. These savings provide a high potential for the implementation of the ant colony optimization approach for the case of harvesting operations that are not supported by transport carts for the out-of-the-field removal of the crops, a practice case that is normally followed in developing countries, due to lack of resources

Optimal route planning of agricultural field operations using ant colony optimization

Farming operations efficiency is a crucial factor that determines the overall operational cost in agricultural production systems.  Improved efficiency can be achieved by implementing advanced planning methods for the execution of field operations dealing, especially with the routing and area coverage optimisation aspects. Recently, a new type of field area coverage patterns, the B-patterns, has been introduced.  B-patterns are the result of a combinatorial optimisation process that minimizes operational criterions such as, the operational time, non-working travelled distance, fuel consumption etc.  In this paper an algorithmic approach for the generation of B-patterns based on ant colony optimisation is presented.  Ant colony optimization metaheuristic was chosen for the solution of the graph optimisation problem inherent in the generation of B-patterns.  Experimental results on two selected fields were presented for the demonstration of the effectiveness of the proposed approach. Based on the results, it was shown that it is feasible to use ant colony optimization for the generation of optimal routes for field area coverage while tests made on the resulting routes indicated that they can be followed by any farm machine equipped with auto-steering and navigation systems

Spectral signatures of the Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov order parameter in one-dimensional optical lattices

We address an imbalanced two-component atomic Fermi gas restricted by a one-dimensional (1D) optical lattice and an external harmonic potential, within the mean-field Bogoliubov-de Gennes (BdG) formalism. We show that characteristic features of the Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) state are visible in the RF-spectra and in the momentum resolved photoemission spectra of the gas. Specially, Andreev states or mid-gap states can be clearly resolved, which gives a direct experimentally observable signature of the oscillating order parameter.Comment: published versio

Speeding up TOMAWAC by means of improved numerical methods

Hydrodynamic

Microwave Diagnosis of Rubber Compounds

The results of a study investigating the dielectric properties of rubber compounds and their constituents in the frequency range of 5 to 24 GHz are presented. A completely filled short circuited waveguide technique was used to conduct these dielectric measurements. The influence of carbon black content in rubber was investigated for carefully prepared rubber samples. The results showed that for all frequencies, the dielectric constant increases as a function of increasing carbon black content. The variation of dielectric constant values decreases as frequency increases. The presence of curatives in uncured rubber samples was also detected, which indicates the sensitivity of microwaves to the chemical reaction triggered by curatives

Identification of influential parameters for NTRU decryption failure and recommendation of extended parameter selection criteria for elimination of decryption failure

NTRU is the leading alternative to ECC and RSA in the post-quantum era. However, it has a probability of decryption failure of 2-k (with k being the security level) according to Philip S. Hirschhorn, Jeffrey Hoffstein, Nick Howgrave-Graham and William Whyte, 2009. This probability was provided for parameters selected using an algorithm which provides security against lattice reduction and MITM attacks, with particular emphasis on parameter size and coefficients of the private key. The recommendations for selection of polynomials in NTRU described by Hoffstein, Jeff Howgrave-Graham, Nick Pipher, Jill Whyte and William in 2010 prescribed that for polynomial f of binary form. In this paper, we re-evaluate the prescribed parameter selection criteria by rigorous testing of different polynomial combinations of f, g, m and φ as well as q for varied security levels. The testing experimentally verifies the influential parameters for NTRU operation whose results are used to propose an extended correlated parameter selection criteria for the private key, which ensures that a randomly selected polynomial f is invertible and that an accurate selection of the minimum size of q required for successful decryption is made

Prediction of failure pressure and leak rate of stress corrosion.

An ''equivalent rectangular crack'' approach was employed to predict rupture pressures and leak rates through laboratory generated stress corrosion cracks and steam generator tubes removed from the McGuire Nuclear Station. Specimen flaws were sized by post-test fractography in addition to a pre-test advanced eddy current technique. The predicted and observed test data on rupture and leak rate are compared. In general, the test failure pressures and leak rates are closer to those predicted on the basis of fractography than on nondestructive evaluation (NDE). However, the predictions based on NDE results are encouraging, particularly because they have the potential to determine a more detailed geometry of ligamented cracks, from which failure pressure and leak rate can be more accurately predicted. One test specimen displayed a time-dependent increase of leak rate under constant pressure

Computer-aided analysis of eddy current rotating probe data.

Eddy current (EC) estimate of flaw size obtained from inservice inspection is often the primary means of assessing the structural integrity of steam generator tubes. Reliable prediction of failure pressure and leak rate in tubes with complex cracking requires more detailed information about the geometry and extent of degradation than is generally available from conventional bobbin coil examinations. High-resolution inspections with EC rotating probes are thus carried out on selected regions of tubing to provide the more extensive nondestructive evaluation (NDE) information that is needed to better assess flaw size and distribution. Interpretation of signals from complex cracking that are often distorted by coherent and incoherent noise can be a challenging NDE task. Studies at Argonne National Laboratory have demonstrated that computer-aided data analysis can be used for more accurate and efficient processing of the large amounts of data collected by such probes. The basic structure of a rule-based multiparameter data analysis algorithm is described in this paper. Multiple-frequency inspection data from a standard rotating pancake coil were used for the analyses. The codes were implemented as MATLAB scripts and provide, as the final outcome, profiles of flaw depth in a section of tube. Graphical user interface tools were devised to read the information needed to carry out various stages of data processing. These interactive tools allow conversion, calibration, analysis, and display of data in various formats. Representative cases of estimated flaw profiles are shown for tube specimens with laboratory-grown cracks (with and without simulated artifacts) that were used to assess sizing accuracy. The statistical analyses used to determine NDE performance are also discussed briefly. Results of investigations to date suggest that improved resolution and sizing accuracy can be obtained in a fraction of the time required for manual analysis