An Improved Differential Evolution Algorithm for Maritime Collision Avoidance Route Planning

High accuracy navigation and surveillance systems are pivotal to ensure efficient ship route planning and marine safety. Based on existing ship navigation and maritime collision prevention rules, an improved approach for collision avoidance route planning using a differential evolution algorithm was developed. Simulation results show that the algorithm is capable of significantly enhancing the optimized route over current methods. It has the potential to be used as a tool to generate optimal vessel routing in the presence of conflicts

Modelling of sediment nutrient fluxes for a pulsed organic load

A sediment model has been developed to simulate the Sediment Oxygen Demand (SOD) and sediment nutrient fluxes after a sudden input of Particulate Organic Matter (POM). Compared with previous sediment models, the main advances are the use of a continuous function to represent the kinetics of POM diagenesis and inclusion of the biomass content in POM diagenesis. Laboratory experiments were also carried out to investigate the SOD dynamics and sediment nutrient fluxes after an input of fish food pellets into the sediment. The simulation results of SOD and nutrient fluxes compared fairly well with the experimental measurements. Copyright © 2011 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.postprin

Organizing the innovation process : complementarities in innovation networking

This paper contributes to the developing literature on complementarities in organizational design. We test for the existence of complementarities in the use of external networking between stages of the innovation process in a sample of UK and German manufacturing plants. Our evidence suggests some differences between the UK and Germany in terms of the optimal combination of innovation activities in which to implement external networking. Broadly, there is more evidence of complementarities in the case of Germany, with the exception of the product engineering stage. By contrast, the UK exhibits generally strong evidence of substitutability in external networking in different stages, except between the identification of new products and product design and development stages. These findings suggest that previous studies indicating strong complementarity between internal and external knowledge sources have provided only part of the picture of the strategic dilemmas facing firms

Available transfer capability calculation with post-contingency generation rescheduling/load curtailment

The available transfer capability (ATC) is an important index indicating the remaining transfer capability in the physical transmission network for further commercial activity above existing commitments. In this paper, ATC mathematical model considering post-contingency generation rescheduling and load curtailment is first formulated. Benders decomposition method is then used to partition the ATC model above into a base case master problem and a series of independent subproblems relevant to various contingencies. Finally, an improved parallel solution scheme is employed to improve the convergence. Numerical results on a 4-bus test system show clearly the effectiveness of the presented method and necessity of considering post-contingency generation rescheduling and load curtailment in calculating ATC.published_or_final_versio

On the tortuosity factor of solid phase in solid oxide fuel cell electrodes

2014-2015 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalAccepted ManuscriptPublishe

Provenance and tectonic setting of the Neoproterozoic Yanbian Group, western Yangtze Block (SW China)

Tectonic evolution of the Yangtze Block of South China during Neoproterozoic time has been a major focus of debate and is important in the reconstruction of the Rodinian supercontinent. The Yanbian Group in the western margin of the Yangtze Block is a well-preserved Neoproterozoic volcanic-sedimentary sequence and provides a rare opportunity to examine the provenance and tectonic setting. It consists of a lower part composed of ∼1500 m thick basaltic lavas and an upper part of ∼3500 m thick flysch deposits. The flysch sequence contains typical deep marine turbidites consisting mainly of fine-grained volcaniclastic sandstones and mudstones, indicating a submarine fan depositional system. Detrital zircon dating yields ages ranging from ca. 865 Ma to 1000 Ma with two peaks at ca. 900 Ma and 920 Ma, respectively. The Yanbian Group is intruded by the ∼860 Ma Guandaoshan dioritic pluton, constraining its depositional age at ca. 870 Ma. The sandstones contain abundant feldspar and lithic fragments with minor amounts of quartz and have an average composition of Q 16F 35L 49, suggesting a proximal source and an undissected to transitional arc setting. The lithic fragments in the sandstones point to andesitic and felsic volcanic rock sources. The sandstones and mudstones have intermediate SiO 2/Al 2O 3 (typically 3-6), high Fe 2O 3 + MgO contents (5-12 wt%), and moderate to high K 2O/Na 2O ratios (generally 0.1-1 and 1-10 for sandstones and mudstones, respectively). In comparison with average upper continental crust, they show strong negative Nb-Ta anomalies, slight depletion of Zr-Hf, La and Th, but moderate enrichment of V, Cr, Ni, and Sc. These rocks show LREE enrichment (La/Yb N = 5.3-7.4) with flat HREE, and pronounced negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu * = 0.6-0.74) in chondrite-normalized REE patterns, similar to post-Archean shales. Geochemical data for these rocks suggest an arc setting and intermediate-felsic volcanic source, consistent with a back-arc basin scenario for the basaltic lavas in the lower Yanbian Group. Together with regional geological evidence, the turbidites of the Yanbian Group strongly support a model in which the western margin of the Yangtze Block was a major magmatic arc, active probably from ∼920 Ma to 740 Ma, a period of more than 180 million years. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.postprin

Numerical Investigation of Transonic Flow-Induced Spontaneous Condensation in Micro-Ejector Nozzles

Micro-cooling systems are compact refrigeration systems widely applicable in microchemical analysis, biomedicine, and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). These systems rely on the use of micro-ejectors to achieve precise, fast, and reliable flow and temperature control. However, the efficiency of micro-cooling systems is hindered by spontaneous condensation occurring downstream of the nozzle throat and within the nozzle itself, impacting the performance of the micro-ejector. A micro-scale ejector mathematical model describing wet steam flow was simulated to investigate the steam condensation phenomenon and its influence on flow, incorporating equations for liquid phase mass fraction and droplet number density transfer. The simulation results of wet vapor flow and ideal gas flow were compared and analyzed. The findings revealed that the pressure at the micro-nozzle outlet exceeded predictions based on the ideal gas assumption, while the velocity fell below it. These discrepancies indicated that condensation of the working fluid reduces the pumping capacity and the efficiency of the micro-cooling system. Furthermore, simulations explored the impact of inlet pressure and temperature conditions on spontaneous condensation within the nozzle. The results demonstrated that the properties of the working fluid directly influence transonic flow condensation, underscoring the importance of selecting appropriate working fluid parameters for nozzle design to ensure nozzle stability and optimal micro-ejector operation

Extreme rejuvenation and softening in a bulk metallic glass.

Rejuvenation of metallic glasses, bringing them to higher-energy states, is of interest in improving their plasticity. The mechanisms of rejuvenation are poorly understood, and its limits remain unexplored. We use constrained loading in compression to impose substantial plastic flow on a zirconium-based bulk metallic glass. The maximum measured effects are that the hardness of the glass decreases by 36%, and its excess enthalpy (above the relaxed state) increases to 41% of the enthalpy of melting. Comparably high degrees of rejuvenation have been reported only on microscopic scales at the centre of shear bands confined to low volume fractions. This extreme rejuvenation of a bulk glass gives a state equivalent to that obtainable by quenching the liquid at ~1010 K s-1, many orders of magnitude faster than is possible for bulk specimens. The contrast with earlier results showing relaxation in similar tests under tension emphasizes the importance of hydrostatic stress

Transplanted Olfactory Ensheathing Cells Reduce Retinal Degeneration in Royal College of Surgeons Rats

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a group of genetic disorders and a slow loss of vision that is caused by a cascade of retinal degenerative events. We examined whether these retinal degenerative events were reduced after cultured mixtures of adult olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) and olfactory nerve fibroblasts (ONFs) were transplanted into the subretinal space of 1-month-old RCS rat, a classic model of RP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The changes in retinal photoreceptors and Müller cells of RCS rats after cell transplantation were observed by the expression of recoverin and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), counting peanut agglutinin (PNA)-positive cone outer segments and calculating the relative apoptotic area. The retinal function was also evaluated by Flash electroretinography (ERG). To further investigate the mechanisms, by which OECs/ONFs play important roles in the transplanted retinas, nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) secretion of the cultured cells were analyzed by ELISA. The ability of OECs/ONFs to ingest porcine retinal outer segments and the amount of phagocytosis were compared with retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. RESULTS: Our research showed that the transplantation of OECs/ONFs mixtures restored recoverin expression, protected retinal outer segments, increased PNA-positive cone outer segments, reduced caspase-positive apoptotic figures, downregulated GFAP, and maintained the b-wave of the ERG. Cultured OECs/ONFs expressed and secreted NGF, BDNF, and bFGF which made contributions to assist survival of the photoreceptors. An in vitro phagocytosis assay showed that OECs, but not ONFs, phagocytosed porcine retinal outer segments, and the phagocytic ability of OECs was even superior to that of RPE cells. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that transplantation of OECs/ONFs cleaned up the accumulated debris in subretinal space, and provided an intrinsic continuous supply of neurotrophic factors. It suggested that transplantation of OECs/ONFs might be a possible future route for protection of the retina and reducing retinal degeneration in RP

Magnetoresistance in LaFe11.2Co0.7Si1.1 compound

Magnetoresistance has been studied in LaFe/sub 11.2/Co/sub 0.7/Si/sub 1.1/ compound. The ferromagnetic ordering at Curie temperature T/sub C/ of 274 K was found being accompanied by a drastic negative lattice expansion due to the strong structural and magnetic interplay. Such a simultaneous magnetic and lattice change would cause changes in transport properties. The measured transport properties indicate that the transition can be induced by temperature or applied magnetic field. The sample shows a metallic character below T/sub C/, whereas the electrical resistance decreases dramatically and then recovers the metal-like behavior above T/sub C/. Application of a magnetic field retains the transitions via increasing the ferromagnetic ordering temperature. An isothermal increase of field leads to an increase of resistance at temperatures near but above T/sub C/, which is a result of the field-induced metamagnetic transition from paramagnetic to ferromagnetic state.published_or_final_versio