20,980 research outputs found
A Direct Elliptic Solver Based on Hierarchically Low-rank Schur Complements
A parallel fast direct solver for rank-compressible block tridiagonal linear
systems is presented. Algorithmic synergies between Cyclic Reduction and
Hierarchical matrix arithmetic operations result in a solver with arithmetic complexity and memory footprint. We provide a
baseline for performance and applicability by comparing with well known
implementations of the -LU factorization and algebraic multigrid
with a parallel implementation that leverages the concurrency features of the
method. Numerical experiments reveal that this method is comparable with other
fast direct solvers based on Hierarchical Matrices such as -LU and
that it can tackle problems where algebraic multigrid fails to converge
Dose-dependent new bone formation by extracorporeal shock wave application on the intact femur of rabbits
Background: Whereas various molecular working mechanisms of shock waves have been demonstrated, no study has assessed in detail the influence of varying energy flux densities (EFD) on new bone formation in vivo. Methods: Thirty Chinchilla bastard rabbits were randomly assigned to 5 groups (EFD 0.0, 0.35, 0.5, 0.9 and 1.2 mJ/mm(2)) and treated with extracorporeal shock waves at the distal femoral region (1,500 pulses; 1 Hz frequency). To investigate new bone formation, animals were injected with oxytetracycline at days 5-9 after shock wave application and sacrificed on day 10. Histological sections of all animals were examined using broad-band epifluorescent illumination, contact microradiography and Giemsa-Eosin staining. Results: Application of shock waves induced new bone formation beginning with 0.5 mJ/mm(2) EFD and increasing with 0.9 mJ/mm(2) and 1.2 mJ/mm(2). The latter EFD resulted in new bone formation also on the dorsal cortical bone; cortical fractures and periosteal detachment also occurred. Conclusion: Here, for the first time, a threshold level is presented for new bone formation after applying shock waves to intact bone in vivo. The findings of this study are of considerable significance for preventing unwanted side effects in new approaches in the clinical application of shock waves. Copyright (c) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel
Reaching the lower stratosphere: Validating an extended vertical grid for COSMO
This study presents an extended vertical grid for the regional atmospheric model COSMO (COnsortium for Small-scale MOdeling) reaching up to 33 km. The extended setup has been used to stably simulate 11 months in a domain covering central and northern Europe. Temperature and relative humidity have been validated using radiosonde data in polar and temperate latitudes, focussing on the polar and mid-latitude stratosphere over Europe. Temperature values are reproduced very well by the model. Relative humidity could only be met in the mean over the whole time period after excluding data from Russian stations, which showed significantly higher values. A sensitivity study shows the stability of the model against different forcing intervals and damping layer heights. © Author(s) 2015
Capillary-Wave Model for the Solidification of Dilute Binary Alloys
Starting from a phase-field description of the isothermal solidification of a
dilute binary alloy, we establish a model where capillary waves of the
solidification front interact with the diffusive concentration field of the
solute. The model does not rely on the sharp-interface assumption, and includes
non-equilibrium effects, relevant in the rapid-growth regime. In many
applications it can be evaluated analytically, culminating in the appearance of
an instability which, interfering with the Mullins-Sekerka instability, is
similar to that, found by Cahn in grain-boundary motion.Comment: 17 pages, 12 figure
Self-normalizing phase measurement in multimode terahertz spectroscopy based on photomixing of three lasers
Photomixing of two near-infrared lasers is well established for
continuous-wave terahertz spectroscopy. Photomixing of three lasers allows us
to measure at three terahertz frequencies simultaneously. Similar to Fourier
spectroscopy, the spectral information is contained in an nterferogram, which
is equivalent to the waveform in time-domain spectroscopy. We use one fixed
terahertz frequency \nu_ref to monitor temporal drifts of the setup, i.e., of
the optical path-length difference. The other two frequencies are scanned for
broadband high-resolution spectroscopy. The frequency dependence of the phase
is obtained with high accuracy by normalizing it to the data obtained at
\nu_ref, which eliminates drifts of the optical path-length difference. We
achieve an accuracy of about 1-2 microns or 10^{-8} of the optical path length.
This method is particularly suitable for applications in nonideal environmental
conditions outside of an air-conditioned laboratory.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure
Design of multihundredwatt DIPS for robotic space missions
Design of a dynamic isotope power system (DIPS) general purpose heat source (GPHS) and small free piston Stirling engine (FPSE) is being pursued as a potential lower cost alternative to radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTG's). The design is targeted at the power needs of future unmanned deep space and planetary surface exploration missions ranging from scientific probes to SEI precursor missions. These are multihundredwatt missions. The incentive for any dynamic system is that it can save fuel which reduces cost and radiological hazard. However, unlike a conventional DIPS based on turbomachinery converions, the small Stirling DIPS can be advantageously scaled to multihundred watt unit size while preserving size and weight competitiveness with RTG's. Stirling conversion extends the range where dynamic systems are competitive to hundreds of watts (a power range not previously considered for dynamic systems). The challenge of course is to demonstrate reliability similar to RTG experience. Since the competative potential of FPSE as an isotope converter was first identified, work has focused on the feasibility of directly integrating GPHS with the Stirling heater head. Extensive thermal modeling of various radiatively coupled heat source/heater head geometries were performed using data furnished by the developers of FPSE and GPHS. The analysis indicates that, for the 1050 K heater head configurations considered, GPHS fuel clad temperatures remain within safe operating limits under all conditions including shutdown of one engine. Based on these results, preliminary characterizations of multihundred watt units were established
Spacelab 3: Research in microgravity
The Spacelab 3 mission, which focused on research in microgravity, took place during the period April 29 through May 6, 1985. Spacelab 3 was the second flight of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's modular Shuttle-borne research facility. An overview of the mission is presented. Preliminary scientific results from the mission were presented by investigators at a symposium held at Marshall Space Flight Center on December 4, 1985. This special issue is based on reports presented at that symposium
An example of long-term variability for subsurface current and hydrographic patterns in the western North Atlantic
An example of long-term variability along 55W, perhaps interannual, for current and temperature distributions during mid-1975-1977 is presented. The existence of significant energy in the 55W data set at time scales longer than mesoscale (50-150 days) has been clear for , some time, but this is a first description of the latitudinal and vertical configuration of this low-frequency variability...
A technique for the direct measurement of transport with application to the Straits of Florida
A method is described by which the volume transport per unit width of a water column is obtained from measurements of the run time, depth, and horizontal d efl ection of a freely falling instrument. Measurements of the north-south component of transport in the Straits of Florida using this technique gave 35.5 ± 1.2 x 106 m3/sec on August 16 and 17, 1964. The surface currents and east-west components of transport are also given
Exchange bias in GeMn nanocolumns: the role of surface oxidation
We report on the exchange biasing of self-assembled ferromagnetic GeMn
nanocolumns by GeMn-oxide caps. The x-ray absorption spectroscopy analysis of
this surface oxide shows a multiplet fine structure that is typical of the Mn2+
valence state in MnO. A magnetization hysteresis shift |HE|~100 Oe and a
coercivity enhancement of about 70 Oe have been obtained upon cooling (300-5 K)
in a magnetic field as low as 0.25 T. This exchange bias is attributed to the
interface coupling between the ferromagnetic nanocolumns and the
antiferromagnetic MnO-like caps. The effect enhancement is achieved by
depositing a MnO layer on the GeMn nanocolumns.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figure
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