Correlating low energy impact damage with changes in modal parameters: a preliminary study on composite beams

This paper is an experimental study of the effects of multi-site damage on the vibration response of a composite beam damaged by low energy impact. The variation of the modal parameters with different levels of impact energy and density of impact is studied. Specimens are impacted symmetrically in order to induce a global rate of damage. A damage detection tool Damage Index is introduced in order to verify the estimation of damping ratios. Design of Experiments is used to establish the sensitivity of both energy of impact and density of damage. The DOE analysis results (using natural frequency only) indicate that impact energy for 2nd, 3rd and 4th bending modes is the most significant factor contributing to the changes in the modal parameters for this kind of symmetrical dynamic test

Lean-Burn Stationary Natural Gas Reciprocating Engine Operation with a Prototype Miniature Diode Side Pumped Passively Q-switched Laser Spark Plug

To meet the ignition system needs of large bore lean burn stationary natural gas engines a laser diode side pumped passively Q-switched laser igniter was developed and used to ignite lean mixtures in a single cylinder research engine. The laser design was produced from previous work. The in-cylinder conditions and exhaust emissions produced by the miniaturized laser were compared to that produced by a laboratory scale commercial laser system used in prior engine testing. The miniaturized laser design as well as the combustion and emissions data for both laser systems was compared and discussed. It was determined that the two laser systems produced virtually identical combustion and emissions data

Type 1 Diabetes: Current Advances in High-Throughput Technologies and Computational Biology for Biomarker Studies

Biomarkers are essential for the identification of high-risk populations as well as the monitoring of preventive and therapeutic outcomes for type 1 diabetes (T1D). In this chapter, we will discuss the progress made in T1D biomarker discovery using high throughput genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic technologies collectively called as omic technologies. We also discuss the potential of artificial intelligence and omics data in the early prediction of T1D. Readers will gain an overview of the status of T1D biomarkers based on omic technologies. High throughput omic technologies combined with computational biology offer great opportunities for biomarker discovery. As we move forward, the utilization of a biomarker panel for the prediction and prevention of T1D is needed

An SBVR Framework for RESTful Web Applications

We propose a framework that can be used to produce functioning web applications from SBVR models. To achieve this, we begin by discussing the concept of declarative application generation and examining the commonalities between SBVR and the RESTful architectural style of the web. We then show how a relational database schema and RESTful interface can be generated from an SBVR model. In this context, we discuss how SBVR can be used to semantically describe hypermedia on the Web and enhance its evolvability and loose coupling properties. Finally, we show that this system is capable of exhibiting process-like behaviour without requiring explicitly defined processes

Conformal mapping methods for interfacial dynamics

The article provides a pedagogical review aimed at graduate students in materials science, physics, and applied mathematics, focusing on recent developments in the subject. Following a brief summary of concepts from complex analysis, the article begins with an overview of continuous conformal-map dynamics. This includes problems of interfacial motion driven by harmonic fields (such as viscous fingering and void electromigration), bi-harmonic fields (such as viscous sintering and elastic pore evolution), and non-harmonic, conformally invariant fields (such as growth by advection-diffusion and electro-deposition). The second part of the article is devoted to iterated conformal maps for analogous problems in stochastic interfacial dynamics (such as diffusion-limited aggregation, dielectric breakdown, brittle fracture, and advection-diffusion-limited aggregation). The third part notes that all of these models can be extended to curved surfaces by an auxilliary conformal mapping from the complex plane, such as stereographic projection to a sphere. The article concludes with an outlook for further research.Comment: 37 pages, 12 (mostly color) figure

Herwig++ 2.1 Release Note

A new release of the Monte Carlo program Herwig++ (version 2.1) is now available. This version includes a number of significant improvements including: an eikonal multiple parton-parton scattering model of the underlying event; the inclusion of Beyond the Standard Model (BSM) physics; and a new hadronic decay model tuned to LEP data. This version of the program is now fully ready for the simulation of events in hadron-hadron collisions

The human and social dimensions of invasion science and management

Biological invasions are a leading causeof global environmental changegiven their effectson both humansandbiodiversity. Humans introduceinvasive alien species and may facilitate their establishment and spread,which can alter ecosystem services, livelihoods,and human well-being. People perceivethe benefits and costs of these species through thelens of diverse value systems; these perspectives influencedecisions about when and where to manage them. Despite the entanglement of humans with invasivealienspecies,mostresearch on the topic has focusedon their ecologicalaspects. Only relatively recently have thehuman and social dimensions of invasions started to receivesustainedattention in light of theirimportancefor understandingand governing biological invasions.This editorial drawsoncontributions to a special issueon the “Human and Social Dimensions of Invasion Science”and other literatureto elucidatemajortrendsand current contributionsin this research area. Weexamine the relation between humans and biological invasions in terms of fourcrosscuttingthemes:(1) how humans causebiological invasions;(2) how humans conceptualize and perceive them;(3)how humans are affected –both positively and negatively –by them;and (4) how humansrespondto them.We also highlight several ways in which research on the human and social dimensionsof invasion science improves understanding, stakeholder engagement,and managemen

Herwig++ Status Report

Herwig++ is the successor of the event generator HERWIG. In its present version 2.2.1 it provides a program for full LHC event generation which is superior to the previous program in many respects. We briefly summarize its features and describe present work and some future plans

Stakeholder engagement in the study and management of invasive alien species

Invasive alien species are a major driver of global environmental change and a range of management interventions are needed to manage their effects on biodiversity, ecosystem services, human well-being and local livelihoods. Stakeholder engagement is widely advocated to integrate diverse knowledge and perspectives in the management of invasive species and to deal with potential conflicts of interest. We reviewed the literature in the ISI Web of Science on stakeholder engagement (the process of involving stakeholders (actors) in decision making, management actions and knowledge creation) in invasion science to assess and understand what has been done (looking at approaches and methodologies used, stakeholders involved, and outcomes from engagement) and to make recommendations for future work. Research on stakeholder engagement in invasion science has increased over the last decade, helping to improve scientific knowledge and contributing towards policy formulation and co-implementation of management. However, many challenges remain and engagement could be made more effective. For example, most studies engage only one stakeholder group passively using questionnaires, primarily for assessing local knowledge and perceptions. Although useful for management and policy planning, these stakeholders are not active participants and there is no two-way flow of knowledge. To make stakeholder involvement more useful, we encourage more integrative and collaborative engagement to (1) improve co-design, co-creation and co-implementation of research and management actions; (2) promote social learning and provide feedback to stakeholders; (3) enhance collaboration and partnerships beyond the natural sciences and academia (interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary collaboration); and (4) discuss some practical and policy suggestions for improving stakeholder engagement in invasion science research and management. This will help facilitate different stakeholders to work better together, allowing problems associated with biological invasions to be tackled more holistically and successfully

Explaining people’s perceptions of invasive alien species:A conceptual framework

Human perceptions of nature and the environment are increasingly being recognised as important for environmental management and conservation. Understanding people's perceptions is crucial for understanding behaviour and developing effective management strategies to maintain, preserve and improve biodiversity, ecosystem services and human well-being. As an interdisciplinary team, we produced a synthesis of the key factors that influence people's perceptions of invasive alien species, and ordered them in a conceptual framework. In a context of considerable complexity and variation across time and space, we identified six broad-scale dimensions: (1) attributes of the individual perceiving the invasive alien species; (2) characteristics of the invasive alien species itself; (3) effects of the invasion (including negative and positive impacts, i.e. benefits and costs); (4) socio-cultural context; (5) landscape context; and (6) institutional and policy context. A number of underlying and facilitating aspects for each of these six overarching dimensions are also identified and discussed. Synthesising and understanding the main factors that influence people's perceptions is useful to guide future research, to facilitate dialogue and negotiation between actors, and to aid management and policy formulation and governance of invasive alien species. This can help to circumvent and mitigate conflicts, support prioritisation plans, improve stakeholder engagement platforms, and implement control measures