Distributions of Time- and Distance-Headways in the Nagel-Schreckenberg Model of Vehicular Traffic: Effects of Hindrances

In the Nagel-Schreckenberg model of vehicular traffic on single-lane highways vehicles are modelled as particles which hop forward from one site to another on a one dimensional lattice and the inter-particle interactions mimic the manner in which the real vehicles influence each other's motion. In this model the number of empty lattice sites in front of a particle is taken to be a measure of the corresponding distance-headway(DH). The time-headway(TH) is defined as the time interval between the departures (or arrivals) of two successive particles recorded by a detector placed at a fixed position on the model highway. We investigate the effects of spatial inhomogeneities of the highway (static hindrances) on the DH and TH distributions in the steady-state of this model.Comment: 21 pages LATEX, 5 postscript figures; European Physical Journal B, vol.5, 781 (1998

Partial Crystallinity in Alkyl Side Chain Polymers Dictates Surface Freezing

We have studied the structure of a novel crystalline surface monolayer on top of a disordered melt of the same material [poly(n-alkyl acrylate)s] using grazing incidence x-ray diffraction. The grazing incidence x-ray diffraction, surface tension, and bulk latent heat results show that side chains crystallize except the nine methylene units of the alkyl side chains closest to the polymer backbone. The partial crystallinity along with a thicker surface layer, due to the additional length of the linker group, explains why the difference between the surface order-to-disorder transition temperature and bulk melting temperature increases with a decrease in the length of the alkyl side chain

Effect of Surface Freezing on Meniscus Relaxation in Side Chain Comb Polymers

We have observed a sharp slowing down of the relaxation of the liquid meniscus for polydn-alkyl acrylate) at temperatures where there are no abrupt changes in bulk viscosity or surface tension. This slowing down is due to the formation of a surface-ordered monolayer above the bulk melting temperatures. X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy measurements reveal that the surface capillary fluctuations are also significantly slower due to the formation of the ordered monolayer for film thicknesses comparable to that of the precursor films. The slowing down of the precursor film dynamics is responsible for slower meniscus relaxation below the surface ordering transition temperature

Particle-hopping Models of Vehicular Traffic: Distributions of Distance Headways and Distance Between Jams

We calculate the distribution of the distance headways (i.e., the instantaneous gap between successive vehicles) as well as the distribution of instantaneous distance between successive jams in the Nagel-Schreckenberg (NS) model of vehicular traffic. When the maximum allowed speed, $V_{max}$, of the vehicles is larger than unity, over an intermediate range of densities of vehicles, our Monte Carlo (MC) data for the distance headway distribution exhibit two peaks, which indicate the coexistence of "free-flowing" traffic and traffic jams. Our analytical arguments clearly rule out the possibility of occurrence of more than one peak in the distribution of distance headways in the NS model when $V_{max} = 1$ as well as in the asymmetric simple exclusion process. Modifying and extending an earlier analytical approach for the NS model with $V_{max} = 1$, and introducing a novel transfer matrix technique, we also calculate the exact analytical expression for the distribution of distance between the jams in this model; the corresponding distributions for $V_{max} > 1$ have been computed numerically through MC simulation.Comment: To appear in Physica

Phase Change Materials for Renewable Energy Storage Applications

Solar energy is utilizing in diverse thermal storage applications around the world. To store renewable energy, superior thermal properties of advanced materials such as phase change materials are essentially required to enhance maximum utilization of solar energy and for improvement of energy and exergy efficiency of the solar absorbing system. This chapter deals with basics of phase change material which reflects, selection criteria, PCM works, distinguish thermal energy storage system, commercially available PCM, development of PCM thermal properties and durability of PCM. In addition to this chapter focused on PCM in solar water heating system for buildings particularly in India because 20–30% of electricity is used for hot water in urban households, residential and institutional buildings. Discussed Flat plate collectors (FTC) in detail which is suitable for warm water production in household temperature 55 to 70 °C owing to cost effective than the Evacuated Tube collectors (ETC), Concentrated collector (CC) and integration of different methods PCM in solar water heating system

Progressive-Regressive Strategy for Biometrical Authentication

This chapter thoroughly investigates the use of the progressive–regressive strategy for biometrical authentication through the use of human gait and face images. A considerable amount of features were extracted and relevant parameters computed for such an investigation and a vast number of datasets developed. The datasets consist of features and computed parameters extracted from human gait and face images from various subjects of different ages. Soft-computing techniques, discrete wavelet transform (DWT), principal component analysis and the forward–backward dynamic programming method were applied for the best-fit selection of parameters and the complete matching process. The paretic and non-paretic characteristics were classified through Naïve Bayes’ classification theorem. Both classification and recognition were carried out in parallel with test and trained datasets and the whole process of investigation was successfully carried out through an algorithm developed in this chapter. The success rate of biometrical authentication is 89%

Fugitive emission studies of workplace air of an opencast mining locality to know the overall impacts on ambient air quality - A case study

Dust generated by the wheels of dumper, trucks, etc of granular materials exposed to the air known as fugitive emission because it is not discharged to the atmosphere in a confined flow stream. Study has been conducted at Block – II OCP for the evaluation of emission due to area source in order to assess its impact over general ambient air quality. Application of Oak Ridge Air Quality Index (ORAQI) highlight about the status of workplace air as well as overall impacts on the quality of its surrounding atmosphere of the region

Correlation of serum androgen and gonadotropin with anti-mullerian hormone in polycystic ovarian syndrome in Eastern Indian population

Background: Ovarian steroidogenesis requires gonadotropin stimulation, Luteinizing Hormone (LH) is a key factor in the hyperandrogenaemia of the polycystic ovary syndrome. Progesterone is the primary regulator of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) pulse frequency; however, in the polycystic ovary syndrome, the GnRH pulse generator is relatively resistant to the negative feedback effects of progesterone.  Study aims to evaluate the association of Anti-mullerian hormone with serum androgen and gonadotropin level in adolescents and young women of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).Methods: This was a single centre observational Cross-sectional study carried out in the department of Endocrinology and metabolism, Medical College, Kolkata from March 2017 to January 2019. Total number of study subjects were 207 out of which 138 were cases.Results: The AMH had strong positive correlation with serum testosterone in both case and control groups (r 0.542, p<0.001 and r 0.57, p<0.001) respectively .After the adjustment of age and BMI , the AMH moderately positive  but extremely significant correlation with serum testosterone as compare to control.Conclusions: Hyperandrogenaemia and higher ratio of LH and FSH associated with higher serum AMH level is associated with the higher serum AMH in polycystic ovarian syndrome