11,498 research outputs found
A Generic Conceptual Model for Risk Analysis in a Multi-agent Based Collaborative Design Environment
Organised by: Cranfield UniversityThis paper presents a generic conceptual model of risk evaluation in order to manage the risk through
related constraints and variables under a multi-agent collaborative design environment. Initially, a hierarchy
constraint network is developed to mapping constraints and variables. Then, an effective approximation
technique named Risk Assessment Matrix is adopted to evaluate risk level and rank priority after probability
quantification and consequence validation. Additionally, an Intelligent Data based Reasoning Methodology
is expanded to deal with risk mitigation by combining inductive learning methods and reasoning
consistency algorithms with feasible solution strategies. Finally, two empirical studies were conducted to
validate the effectiveness and feasibility of the conceptual model.Mori Seiki – The Machine Tool Compan
Newtonian Flow in Converging-Diverging Capillaries
The one-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations are used to derive analytical
expressions for the relation between pressure and volumetric flow rate in
capillaries of five different converging-diverging axisymmetric geometries for
Newtonian fluids. The results are compared to previously-derived expressions
for the same geometries using the lubrication approximation. The results of the
one-dimensional Navier-Stokes are identical to those obtained from the
lubrication approximation within a non-dimensional numerical factor. The
derived flow expressions have also been validated by comparison to numerical
solutions obtained from discretization with numerical integration. Moreover,
they have been certified by testing the convergence of solutions as the
converging-diverging geometries approach the limiting straight geometry.Comment: 23 pages, 5 figures, 1 table. This is an extended and improved
version. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1006.151
Identifying network communities with a high resolution
Community structure is an important property of complex networks. An
automatic discovery of such structure is a fundamental task in many
disciplines, including sociology, biology, engineering, and computer science.
Recently, several community discovery algorithms have been proposed based on
the optimization of a quantity called modularity (Q). However, the problem of
modularity optimization is NP-hard, and the existing approaches often suffer
from prohibitively long running time or poor quality. Furthermore, it has been
recently pointed out that algorithms based on optimizing Q will have a
resolution limit, i.e., communities below a certain scale may not be detected.
In this research, we first propose an efficient heuristic algorithm, Qcut,
which combines spectral graph partitioning and local search to optimize Q.
Using both synthetic and real networks, we show that Qcut can find higher
modularities and is more scalable than the existing algorithms. Furthermore,
using Qcut as an essential component, we propose a recursive algorithm, HQcut,
to solve the resolution limit problem. We show that HQcut can successfully
detect communities at a much finer scale and with a higher accuracy than the
existing algorithms. Finally, we apply Qcut and HQcut to study a
protein-protein interaction network, and show that the combination of the two
algorithms can reveal interesting biological results that may be otherwise
undetectable.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figures. 1 supplemental file at
http://cic.cs.wustl.edu/qcut/supplemental.pd
Happiness is assortative in online social networks
Social networks tend to disproportionally favor connections between
individuals with either similar or dissimilar characteristics. This propensity,
referred to as assortative mixing or homophily, is expressed as the correlation
between attribute values of nearest neighbour vertices in a graph. Recent
results indicate that beyond demographic features such as age, sex and race,
even psychological states such as "loneliness" can be assortative in a social
network. In spite of the increasing societal importance of online social
networks it is unknown whether assortative mixing of psychological states takes
place in situations where social ties are mediated solely by online networking
services in the absence of physical contact. Here, we show that general
happiness or Subjective Well-Being (SWB) of Twitter users, as measured from a 6
month record of their individual tweets, is indeed assortative across the
Twitter social network. To our knowledge this is the first result that shows
assortative mixing in online networks at the level of SWB. Our results imply
that online social networks may be equally subject to the social mechanisms
that cause assortative mixing in real social networks and that such assortative
mixing takes place at the level of SWB. Given the increasing prevalence of
online social networks, their propensity to connect users with similar levels
of SWB may be an important instrument in better understanding how both positive
and negative sentiments spread through online social ties. Future research may
focus on how event-specific mood states can propagate and influence user
behavior in "real life".Comment: 17 pages, 9 figure
Compressive behavior of luffa sponge material at high strain rate
The strain rate effect of luffa sponge material is an indispensable property for it to be used for acoustic, vibration, and impact energy absorption. Compressive tests at different strain rates on cylindrical column specimens of luffa sponge material were conducted over a wide density ranging from 24 to 64 kg/m3. A photographic technique was applied to measure the section area of the specimen with irregular shape. The mechanical properties of luffa sponge material at various strain rates were obtained based on this measurement. The dynamic data were compared to those of quasi-static experiments. It was found that compressive strength, plateau stress and specific energy absorption of luffa sponge material were sensitive to the rate of loading. Empirical formulae were developed for strength, densification strain and specific energy absorption at various strain rates in the macroscopic level by considering the luffa fiber as base material
Dirac-Schr\"odinger equation for quark-antiquark bound states and derivation of its interaction kerne
The four-dimensional Dirac-Schr\"odinger equation satisfied by
quark-antiquark bound states is derived from Quantum Chromodynamics. Different
from the Bethe-Salpeter equation, the equation derived is a kind of first-order
differential equations of Schr\"odinger-type in the position space. Especially,
the interaction kernel in the equation is given by two different closed
expressions. One expression which contains only a few types of Green's
functions is derived with the aid of the equations of motion satisfied by some
kinds of Green's functions. Another expression which is represented in terms of
the quark, antiquark and gluon propagators and some kinds of proper vertices is
derived by means of the technique of irreducible decomposition of Green's
functions. The kernel derived not only can easily be calculated by the
perturbation method, but also provides a suitable basis for nonperturbative
investigations. Furthermore, it is shown that the four-dimensinal
Dirac-Schr\"odinger equation and its kernel can directly be reduced to rigorous
three-dimensional forms in the equal-time Lorentz frame and the
Dirac-Schr\"odinger equation can be reduced to an equivalent
Pauli-Schr\"odinger equation which is represented in the Pauli spinor space. To
show the applicability of the closed expressions derived and to demonstrate the
equivalence between the two different expressions of the kernel, the t-channel
and s-channel one gluon exchange kernels are chosen as an example to show how
they are derived from the closed expressions. In addition, the connection of
the Dirac-Schr\"odinger equation with the Bethe-Salpeter equation is discussed
Inertia effect on buckling-induced auxetic metamaterials
Auxetic metamaterials have enhanced indentation and penetration resistance due to their high shear strength and modulus. Its auxetic performance under dynamic loading cases is an important property for shields and armour applications. In the present study, compressive tests at different impact velocities on buckling-induced auxetic metamaterials were conducted for two different initial geometries. A photographic technique was applied to measure the Poisson's ratio. When the dynamic data were compared with those of quasi-static experiments, it was found that the negative Poisson's ratio for the buckling-induced metamaterial is sensitive to the rate of loading, while the negative Poisson's ratio for the metamaterial with initial auxetic behaviour is insensitive to the loading rate. It was also found that the deformation pattern is similar to that in the quasi-static loading condition when the impact force measured by the test machine is dominated by the inertia force of the metamaterials
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