Bond graph based control and substructuring

A bond graph framework giving a unified treatment of both physical-model based control and hybrid experimental–numerical simulation (also known as real-time dynamic substructuring) is presented. The framework consists of two subsystems, one physical and one numerical, connected by a transfer system representing non-ideal actuators and sensors. Within this context, a two-stage design procedure is proposed: firstly, design and/or analysis of the numerical and physical subsystem interconnection as if the transfer system were not present; and secondly removal of as much as possible of the transfer system dynamics while having regard for the stability margins established in the first stage. The approach allows the use of engineering insight backed up by well-established control theory; a number of possibilities for each stage are given. The approach is illustrated using two laboratory systems: an experimental mass-spring-damper substructured system and swing up and hold control of an inverted pendulum. Experimental results are provided in the latter case

N-body simulations of gravitational dynamics

We describe the astrophysical and numerical basis of N-body simulations, both of collisional stellar systems (dense star clusters and galactic centres) and collisionless stellar dynamics (galaxies and large-scale structure). We explain and discuss the state-of-the-art algorithms used for these quite different regimes, attempt to give a fair critique, and point out possible directions of future improvement and development. We briefly touch upon the history of N-body simulations and their most important results.Comment: invited review (28 pages), to appear in European Physics Journal Plu

Comparative analysis of the genes UL1 through UL7 of the duck enteritis virus and other herpesviruses of the subfamily Alphaherpesvirinae

The nucleotide sequences of eight open reading frames (ORFs) located at the 5' end of the unique long region of the duck enteritis virus (DEV) Clone-03 strain were determined. The genes identified were designated UL1, UL2, UL3, UL4, UL5, UL6 and UL7 homologues of the herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1). The DEV UL3.5 located between UL3 and UL4 had no homologue in the HSV-1. The arrangement and transcription orientation of the eight genes were collinear with their homologues in the HSV-1. Phylogenetic trees were constructed based on the alignments of the deduced amino acids of eight proteins with their homologues in 12 alpha-herpesviruses. In the UL1, UL3, UL3.5, UL5 and UL7 proteins trees, the branches were more closely related to the genus Mardivirus. However, the UL2, UL4, and UL6 proteins phylogenetic trees indicated a large distance from Mardivirus, indicating that the DEV evolved differently from other viruses in the subfamily Alphaherpesvirinae and formed a single branch within this subfamily

The Physics of Star Cluster Formation and Evolution

© 2020 Springer-Verlag. The final publication is available at Springer via https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-020-00689-4.Star clusters form in dense, hierarchically collapsing gas clouds. Bulk kinetic energy is transformed to turbulence with stars forming from cores fed by filaments. In the most compact regions, stellar feedback is least effective in removing the gas and stars may form very efficiently. These are also the regions where, in high-mass clusters, ejecta from some kind of high-mass stars are effectively captured during the formation phase of some of the low mass stars and effectively channeled into the latter to form multiple populations. Star formation epochs in star clusters are generally set by gas flows that determine the abundance of gas in the cluster. We argue that there is likely only one star formation epoch after which clusters remain essentially clear of gas by cluster winds. Collisional dynamics is important in this phase leading to core collapse, expansion and eventual dispersion of every cluster. We review recent developments in the field with a focus on theoretical work.Peer reviewe

Sheep rumen digestion and transmission of weedy Malva parviflora seeds

The effect of sheep digestion and mastication on Malva parviflora L. seed transmission, viability and germination was investigated. Mature M. parviflora seeds were subjected to 2 seed treatments: ‘scarified’, where the hard seed coat was manually cut to allow imbibition, and ‘unscarified’, where the hard seed coat was not cut. Seeds were placed directly into the rumen of fistulated sheep and removed at 0, 12, 24, 36 and 48 h of rumen digestion. After 12 h of in sacco exposure to digestion in the rumen, the germination of seeds that were initially scarified dropped from 99.2 to 1.4% and longer exposure periods produced no germinable seeds. In contrast, seeds that were unscarified when placed in the rumen produced over 92% germination regardless of in sacco digestion time, although manual scarification after retrieval was essential to elicit germination. In a second experiment, unscarified seeds (29 000) were fed in a single meal to fistulated sheep and feces were collected at regular intervals between 6 and 120 h after feeding. Fecal subsamples were taken to determine number of seeds excreted, seed germination on agar and seed germination from feces. Major seed excretion in the feces commenced after 12 h and continued until 144 h, with peaks between 36 and 72 h after consumption. Although mastication and gut passage killed the majority of unscarified seeds, about 20% were recovered intact and over 90% of these recovered seeds were viable and could, thus, potentially form an extensive seed bank. A few excreted seeds (1%) were able to germinate directly from feces, which increased to a maximum of 10% after subsequent dry summer storage (3 months). Through information gained in this study, there is a potential to utilise livestock in an integrated weed management program for the control of M. parviflora, provided additional measures of weed control are in place such as holding periods (>7 days) for movement of livestock from weed infested areas

Multispectral remote sensing of nearshore suspended sediments: a pilot study

The till that comprises the coastal cliffs at Holderness is being eroded and transported southwards by waves and currents within the nearshore zone. As a first step towards estimating the magnitude of this movement, airborne multispectral scanner data were collected. The spectral radiance ( Lλ ) recorded by this sensor was positively correlated with the suspended sediment concentration ( SSC) at the 95 percent confidence level. However, when the relationships between SSC and Lλ were inverted for the estimation of SSC, errors of the order of 343-494 percent were observed. It is recommended that for future studies there is a need to reduce the errors consequent upon the areal, vertical and temporal variability in SSC, the problems of inversion and the presence of white-caps

Forest ecosystem chlorophyll, content: implications for remotely sensed estimates of net primary productivity, 2003

Current methods for estimating photosynthesis and hence net primary productivity (NPP) of forest ecosystems from remote sensing are based on the relationship between (i) the fraction of incident photosynthetically-active radiation absorbed by the canopy (fPAR) and (ii) spectral indices (e.g. NDVI). However, ground-based estimates of fPAR used to quantify this relationship for a specific vegetation type are derived from measurements of canopy structure only (e.g. using light interception methods such as hemispherical photography). Using a coupled leaf-canopy model of radiative transfer, we demonstrated that NDVI is highly sensitive to both canopy foliar and understorey chlorophyll content, which could account for significant errors in remotely sensed estimates of fPAR and hence NP