Ocean feature recognition using genetic algorithms with fuzzy fitness functions (GA/F3)

A model for genetic algorithms with semantic nets is derived for which the relationships between concepts is depicted as a semantic net. An organism represents the manner in which objects in a scene are attached to concepts in the net. Predicates between object pairs are continuous valued truth functions in the form of an inverse exponential function (e sub beta lxl). 1:n relationships are combined via the fuzzy OR (Max (...)). Finally, predicates between pairs of concepts are resolved by taking the average of the combined predicate values of the objects attached to the concept at the tail of the arc representing the predicate in the semantic net. The method is illustrated by applying it to the identification of oceanic features in the North Atlantic

NUMERICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF A TWO-STAGE SAVONIUS WIND TURBINE

This article presents a numerical and experimental study of vertical axis wind turbine performance comparison involving a two-stage Savonius rotor with similar parameters. The experimental study is conducted in the aerodynamic tunnel at the Fluid Mechanics Laboratory of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. The aerodynamics rotors are manufactured by 3D prototyping technique. Numerical simulations are performed using the Finite Volumes Method performed by the solution of the Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) and continuity equations using the SST k-ω turbulence model. The numerical domain is modeled in order to maintain the same characteristics of the experimental model. The mesh quality is evaluated through the GCI (Grid Convergence Index) method. The static and dynamic torque coefficients and the power coefficients are compared. The tests are made without blockage corrections due to the small blockage ratio from 7.5%. Results show that the turbine has a positive static torque coefficient for any rotor angles. The dynamic torque reaches the maximum value for a tip speed ratio (λ) of 0.2 for the experimental and numerical cases. The relative difference between the numerical simulations and the experimental results are between 3.8% and 13.4%

STATORS USE INFLUENCE ON THE PERFORMANCE OF A SAVONIUS WIND ROTOR USING COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS

This paper aims at verifying the influence of using five kinds of stators in the averaged moment and power coefficients of a Savonius wind rotor using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The analyzed stators have cylindrical shape with two and three openings, one and four deflector blades and walls shaped like a wings. The equations of continuity, Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes – RANS and the Eddy Viscosity Model k-ω SST, in its Low-Reynolds approaches, with hybrid near wall treatment; are numerically solved using the commercial software Star-CCM+, based on Finite Volume Method, resulting in the fields of pressure and velocity of the flow and the forces acting on the rotor buckets. The moment and power coefficients are achieved through integration of forces coming from the effects of pressure and viscosity of the wind on the buckets device. The influence of the stators use in the moment and power coefficients is checked by changing the geometry of the device for each simulations series, keeping the Reynolds number based on rotor diameter equal to 433,500. The obtained values for averaged moment and power coefficients indicate that for each type of stator used, there was maximum performance for a given tip speed ratio of rotor. Improvement in performance over the operation without stator was obtained only to the operations using stator with four deflector blades and to the stator with cylindrical shape with three openings. The improvement percentage in performance obtained for the best condition (use of four deflector blades at tip speed ratio equal to 1) is 12% compared to the performance of the rotor operating without stator

Cloud identification using genetic algorithms and massively parallel computation

As a Guest Computational Investigator under the NASA administered component of the High Performance Computing and Communication Program, we implemented a massively parallel genetic algorithm on the MasPar SIMD computer. Experiments were conducted using Earth Science data in the domains of meteorology and oceanography. Results obtained in these domains are competitive with, and in most cases better than, similar problems solved using other methods. In the meteorological domain, we chose to identify clouds using AVHRR spectral data. Four cloud speciations were used although most researchers settle for three. Results were remarkedly consistent across all tests (91% accuracy). Refinements of this method may lead to more timely and complete information for Global Circulation Models (GCMS) that are prevalent in weather forecasting and global environment studies. In the oceanographic domain, we chose to identify ocean currents from a spectrometer having similar characteristics to AVHRR. Here the results were mixed (60% to 80% accuracy). Given that one is willing to run the experiment several times (say 10), then it is acceptable to claim the higher accuracy rating. This problem has never been successfully automated. Therefore, these results are encouraging even though less impressive than the cloud experiment. Successful conclusion of an automated ocean current detection system would impact coastal fishing, naval tactics, and the study of micro-climates. Finally we contributed to the basic knowledge of GA (genetic algorithm) behavior in parallel environments. We developed better knowledge of the use of subpopulations in the context of shared breeding pools and the migration of individuals. Rigorous experiments were conducted based on quantifiable performance criteria. While much of the work confirmed current wisdom, for the first time we were able to submit conclusive evidence. The software developed under this grant was placed in the public domain. An extensive user's manual was written and distributed nationwide to scientists whose work might benefit from its availability. Several papers, including two journal articles, were produced

Effectiveness of the spot-on combination of moxidectin and imidacloprid (Advocate®) in the treatment of ocular thelaziosis by Thelazia callipaeda in naturally infected cats

Background: The present study evaluated the therapeutic effectiveness of moxidectin 1.0% (w/v) and imidacloprid 10% (w/v) (Advocate® spot-on solution for cats, Bayer Animal Health) against natural infections with the eyeworm Thelazia callipaeda in cats. This study was conducted as a GCP, negative-controlled, blinded and randomised field study in privately owned cats living in an area in southern Italy where T. callipaeda is enzootic. Methods: The study was carried out in 30 cats (19 females and 11 males, aged from 8 months to 5 years, weighing 1.2-5.2 kg) of different breeds, naturally infected by T. callipaeda. At study inclusion (Day 0), animals were physically examined and the infection level was assessed by examination of both eyes for clinical score and live adult T. callipaeda count. Each cat was weighed and randomly assigned to one of the treatment groups (G1: Advocate, G2: untreated control). Clinical assessments and T. callipaeda adult counts were performed on Day 14. At the study completion visit on Day 28, clinical assessments and counts of T. callipaeda adults and larvae were performed. All cats were daily observed by their owners and general health conditions were recorded during the entire period of the study. Results: The primary effectiveness variable was the percentage of animals in G1 group (Advocate) showing a complete elimination (parasitological cure) of adult eye worms at Day 14 and Day 28. The effectiveness of the treatment in the G1 group was 93.3 and 100% at Day 14 and Day 28, respectively, when compared to group G2. Total worm count reduction from both eyes for Advocate was 96.3% on Day 14 and 100% on Day 28. Clinical data were confirmed by the examination of conjunctival pouch flushing. An overall reduction in the number of cats with lacrimation and conjunctivitis was observed following treatment despite the fact that in a few cats treated with Advocate clinical signs persisted due to the chronic nature of the disease. Conclusions: Based on the results of the present trial, a single dose of Advocate was found to be safe and highly effective in the treatment of natural T. callipaeda infection in cats

ANALYSIS OF THE TURBULENCE-RADIATION INTERACTION IN A METHANE-AIR DIFFUSION FLAME

The phenomenon of turbulence-radiation interaction (TRI) has been demonstrated experimentally, theoretically and numerically to be important in a great number of engineering applications. This paper presents a numerical study on the subject, focusing on a methane-air diffusion flame confined in a rectangular enclosure. An open source, Fortran-based code, Fire Dynamics Simulator, is used for the analysis. Large Eddy Simulation (LES) is adopted to model the turbulence, and to resolve the sub-grid scale terms the dynamic Smagorinsky model is employed. To solve the radiative heat transfer, the finite volume method is used alongside the Weighted-Sum-of-Gray-Gases model. The main objective of the present work is to assess the magnitude of TRI effects for the configuration proposed. For this purpose, the time-averaged wall heat fluxes and volumetric radiative heat source, calculated from the LES results, are compared with those same quantities obtained by independent simulations initialized using mean temperature and species concentration fields. TRI effects are found to be responsible for differences up to 30% between results considering and neglecting turbulent fluctuations. These differences are larger for the radiative heat source and for the radiative heat flux to the walls, smaller for the total heat flux, and almost negligible for the convective heat flux. The influence of the fuel stream Reynolds number on the TRI effects is also evaluated, and a slight decrease on the magnitude of TRI is observed with the increase of that parameter

EVALUATION OF THE APPLICABILITY OF A TURBULENT WAKE INLET BOUNDARY CONDITION

With the objective of reducing the computational cost of the iterative processes of aerodynamic components design, tests were carried out to study under what conditions, and with what difference, only part of the calculation domain can be solved using as input information obtained from complete simulations already solved. An experimental study of an airfoil exposed to the wake interference of an upstream airfoil at a Reynolds number of 150,000 was used to verify the solutions of the Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes equations solved applying the k-ω Shear Stress Transport model for turbulence closure. A Grid Convergence Index study was performed to verify if the solution of the equations for the adopted discretization leads to results within the asymptotic range. With the physical coherence of the numerical methodology verified, comparisons between the simulations with the domain comprising the two airfoils and the domain comprising only the downstream airfoil were performed. Computational time reductions in the order of 40% are observed. The differences in the aerodynamic coefficients for the two types of simulation are presented as a function of distances non-dimensionalized by the characteristic length of the body that disturbs the flow forming the wake, showing that the difference between the two methods was inversely proportional to the distance between the two bodies. Behavior that was maintained until a point where the simulation diverges, equivalent to 25% of the characteristic length of the body that generates the wake

DSM-5 criteria for substance use disorders: recommendations and rationale.

Since DSM-IV was published in 1994, its approach to substance use disorders has come under scrutiny. Strengths were identified (notably, reliability and validity of dependence), but concerns have also arisen. The DSM-5 Substance-Related Disorders Work Group considered these issues and recommended revisions for DSM-5. General concerns included whether to retain the division into two main disorders (dependence and abuse), whether substance use disorder criteria should be added or removed, and whether an appropriate substance use disorder severity indicator could be identified. Specific issues included possible addition of withdrawal syndromes for several substances, alignment of nicotine criteria with those for other substances, addition of biomarkers, and inclusion of nonsubstance, behavioral addictions.This article presents the major issues and evidence considered by the work group, which included literature reviews and extensive new data analyses. The work group recommendations for DSM-5 revisions included combining abuse and dependence criteria into a single substance use disorder based on consistent findings from over 200,000 study participants, dropping legal problems and adding craving as criteria, adding cannabis and caffeine withdrawal syndromes, aligning tobacco use disorder criteria with other substance use disorders, and moving gambling disorders to the chapter formerly reserved for substance-related disorders. The proposed changes overcome many problems, while further studies will be needed to address issues for which less data were available

Seabird colonies as relevant sources of pollutants in Antarctic ecosystems: Part 2 - Persistent Organic Pollutants

International audienceDespite typically not being taken into account (usually in favour of the "Global Distillation" process), the input of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) via biological activity can be indeed relevant at the local scale in terrestrial Polar environments when seabird colonies are considered. The fact that seabirds bioaccumulate and biomagnify those POPs, gather in large numbers and excrete on land during their reproductive season can act locally as relevant secondary source of the same contaminants. The first part of this study indicated that these colonies act as so for several essential and non-essential trace elements and this second part tests the same hypothesis concerning POPs using the very same samples. Lichens (n=55), mosses (n=58) and soil (n=37) were collected in 13 locations within the South Shetlands Archipelago during the austral summers of 2013-14 and 2014-15. They were divided in colony (within the colony itself for soil and bordering it for vegetation) and control (at least 150m away from any colony interference), analysed for POPs: organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated byphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs); and stable isotopes (C and N). Results showed that colonies act clearly as a secondary source for PCBs and likely for HCB. As in the first part, probable local sources other than the colonies themselves are hypothesised due to high concentrations found in control sites. Again, soil seemed the most adequate matrix for the intended purposes especially because of some particularities in the absorption of animal derived organic matter by vegetation, pointed out by stable isotope analyses