Scale Factor Self-Dual Cosmological Models

We implement a conformal time scale factor duality for Friedmann-Robertson-Walker cosmological models, which is consistent with the weak energy condition. The requirement for self-duality determines the equations of state for a broad class of barotropic fluids. We study the example of a universe filled with two interacting fluids, presenting an accelerated and a decelerated period, with manifest UV/IR duality. The associated self-dual scalar field interaction turns out to coincide with the "radiation-like" modified Chaplygin gas models. We present an equivalent realization of them as gauged K\"ahler sigma models (minimally coupled to gravity) with very specific and interrelated K\"ahler- and super-potentials. Their applications in the description of hilltop inflation and also as quintessence models for the late universe are discussed.Comment: v3, improved and extended version to be published in JHEP; new results added to sect.2; 4 figures; 17pg

Comparison of wind turbine tower failure modes under seismic and wind loads

This paper studies the structural responses and failure modes of a 1.5-MW horizontal-axis wind turbine under strong ground motions and wind loading. Ground motions were selected and scaled to match the two design response spectra given by the seismic code, and wind loads were generated considering tropical cyclone scenarios. Nonlinear dynamic time-history analyses were conducted and structural performances under wind loads as well as short- and long-period ground motions compared. The results show that under strong wind loads the collapse of the wind turbine tower is driven by the formation of a plastic hinge at the lower section of the tower. This area is also critical when the tower is subject to most ground motions. However, some short-period earthquakes trigger the collapse of the middle and upper parts of the tower due to the increased contribution of high-order vibration modes. Although long-period ground motions tend to result in greater structural responses, short-period earthquakes may cause brittle failure modes in which the full plastic hinge develops quickly in regions of the tower with only a moderate energy dissipation capacity. Based on these results, recommendations for future turbine designs are proposed

Survey of junior high school music in Massachusetts.

Thesis (M.M.E.)--Boston Universit

Analysis and Control of Cable-Stayed Bridges Subject to Seismic Action

Cable-stayed bridges are key points in transport networks and at present one of the most challenging structures for the civil engineering community. The integrity of these bridges should be guaranteed even under extremely large earthquakes. This paper begins with a discussion of the advantages of a new non-linear static “Pushover” procedure that includes the three-dimensional contribution of the governing vibration modes. The efficacy and the accuracy of the proposed Pushover in the non-linear seismic analysis of bridges with significant coupling between the towers, deck and cable system is verified. In the second part of this paper, the seismic responses of several cable-stayed bridges have been studied, verifying the influence of the tower shape, cable arrangement and the main span length on the structural behaviour under strong ground motions. Severe damage is identified at critical tower sections by means of extensive non-linear dynamic analyses. Finally, retrofit solutions with viscous dampers (VDs) and yielding metallic dampers (MDs) connecting the deck and the tower in the transverse direction are explored. The proposed connection with dampers effectively prevents yielding of the reinforcement and cracking in the tower legs

Approximate Bayesian Confidence Intervals For The Variance Of A Gaussian Distribution

The aim of the present study is to obtain and compare confidence intervals for the variance of a Gaussian distribution. Considering respectively the square error and the Higgins-Tsokos loss functions, approximate Bayesian confidence intervals for the variance of a normal population are derived. Using normal data and SAS software, the obtained approximate Bayesian confidence intervals will then be compared to the ones obtained with the well known classical method. The Bayesian approach relies only on the observations. It is shown that the proposed approximate Bayesian approach relies only on the observations. The classical method, that uses the Chi-square statistic, does not always yield the best confidence intervals

Using advanced statistical tools to better understand students’ expectation of teaching

Technological developments, social movements, economic shifts and their effect on our daily lives can pose real challenges to education. As educators we need to adapt our teaching approaches to enhance students’ learning at the University level and beyond. This paper presents a comprehensive study of students’ feedback across engineering disciplines at City University of London. Advanced statistical tools are used to extract relevant indicators of students’ expectations. The results show how the students’ perception of the learning experience has changed in the last 10 years and how this is linked to students’ age, gender and background. The outcomes of this study can help academics and institutions tuning their teaching approaches to societal needs

A New Approximate Bayesian Approach for Decision Making About the Variance of a Gaussian Distribution Versus the Classical Approach

Rules of decision-making about the variance of a Gaussian distribution are obtained and compared. Considering the square error loss function, an approximate Bayesian decision rule for the variance of a normal population is derived. Using normal data and SAS software, the obtained approximate Bayesian test results were compared to their counterparts obtained with the well-known classical decision rule. It is shown that the proposed approximate Bayesian decision rule relies only on observations. The classical decision rule, which uses the Chi-square statistic, does not always yield the best results: the proposed approach often performs better