10,137 research outputs found
Deteriorated Concrete Foundation on the Gulf Coast
An investigation into the deteriorated condition of a concrete mat foundation under saline water table on a coastal sabkha sand in Qatar, the Arabian Gulf coast, was undertaken. The investigation aided by visual examination, testing (destructive and non-destructive), analysis and consideration of different soil-structure interaction schemes resulted in re-approval of the foundation from a structural integrity point of view; however its water tightness role was judged inadequate and required remedial works. Options for repair of the foundation were examined and proposed. To safeguard against the adverse effects of salts on foundation concrete, appropriate design and construction measures are required
Detection of vibronic bands of C in a translucent cloud towards HD 169454
We report the detection of eight vibronic bands of C, seven of which have
been hitherto unobserved in astrophysical objects, in the translucent cloud
towards HD~169454. Four of these bands are also found towards two additional
objects: HD~73882 and HD~154368. Very high signal-to-noise ratio (1000
and higher) and high resolving power () UVES-VLT spectra (Paranal,
Chile) allow for detecting novel spectral features of C, even revealing
weak perturbed features in the strongest bands. The work presented here
provides the most complete spectroscopic survey of the so far largest carbon
chain detected in translucent interstellar clouds. High-quality laboratory
spectra of C are measured using cavity ring-down absorption spectroscopy in
a supersonically expanding hydrocarbon plasma, to support the analysis of the
identified bands towards HD~169454. A column density of N(C) = cm is inferred and the excitation of the molecule
exhibits two temperature components; K for the low-
states and K for the high- tail. The rotational
excitation of C is reasonably well explained by models involving a
mechanism including inelastic collisions, formation and destruction of the
molecule, and radiative pumping in the far-infrared. These models yield gas
kinetic temperatures comparable to those found for . The assignment of
spectral features in the UV-blue range 3793-4054 \AA\ may be of relevance for
future studies aiming at unravelling spectra to identify interstellar molecules
associated with the diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs).Comment: 15 pages, 13 figures, submitted to MNRA
Robotic 3D printing with earth: A case study for optimisation of 3D printing building blocks
The interest in 3D printed earthen buildings in developed countries has increased due to the demand for healthy, comfortable and sustainable buildings constructed with low carbon materials and laboursaving methods. However, the amount of research about this field is still limited. Our research aims to contribute to this field by optimising the robotic 3D printing process by investigating issues such as buckling while printing, adequate soil mix recipe for printing, print and extrusion speed calibration. This paper illustrates the process and the results of the temporary research project and the Robotic Cob Printing Workshop with MSc Computational Methods in Architecture (CMA) students at the Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University, in March 2022. The project aims to achieve structural stability with less material by using the geometry and the infill of the building block while exploring the role of computational design, robotic extrusion and material understanding in robotic 3D printing with earth as a low-carbon novel building method
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Development of an IT Balanced Scorecard
There is a generally acknowledged dearth of metrics for effectively measuring organizational performance. This is particularly true of the IT function, whose contribution to a firm’s “bottom line” has been frequently called to question. This paper describes the development of a performance measurement tool called the Balanced Scorecard, which can be used to assess IT performance within the context of overall corporate strategy and financial performance. Data for the scorecard was obtained via a survey of senior IT executives in various organizations. The paper concludes with a set of guidelines for successfully implementing an IT Balanced Scorecard, as well as potential pitfalls to avoid in the process
Training deep neural density estimators to identify mechanistic models of neural dynamics
Mechanistic modeling in neuroscience aims to explain observed phenomena in terms of underlying causes. However, determining which model parameters agree with complex and stochastic neural data presents a significant challenge. We address this challenge with a machine learning tool which uses deep neural density estimators-- trained using model simulations-- to carry out Bayesian inference and retrieve the full space of parameters compatible with raw data or selected data features. Our method is scalable in parameters and data features, and can rapidly analyze new data after initial training. We demonstrate the power and flexibility of our approach on receptive fields, ion channels, and Hodgkin-Huxley models. We also characterize the space of circuit configurations giving rise to rhythmic activity in the crustacean stomatogastric ganglion, and use these results to derive hypotheses for underlying compensation mechanisms. Our approach will help close the gap between data-driven and theory-driven models of neural dynamics
Small gain versus positive real modeling of real parameter uncertainty
Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/76326/1/AIAA-20872-692.pd
Applicability of Modified Effective-Range Theory to positron-atom and positron-molecule scattering
We analyze low-energy scattering of positrons on Ar atoms and N2 molecules
using Modified Effective-Range Theory (MERT) developped by O'Malley, Spruch and
Rosenberg [Journal of Math. Phys. 2, 491 (1961)]. We use formulation of MERT
based on exact solutions of Schroedinger equation with polarization potential
rather than low-energy expansions of phase shifts into momentum series. We show
that MERT describes well experimental data, provided that effective-range
expansion is performed both for s- and p-wave scattering, which dominate in the
considered regime of positron energies (0.4 - 2 eV). We estimate the values of
the s-wave scattering lenght and the effective range for e+ - Ar and e+ - N2
collisions.Comment: RevTeX, 4 pages, 2 figure
Optimal discrete-time control for non-linear cascade systems
In this paper we develop an optimality-based framework for designing controllers for discrete-time nonlinear cascade systems. Specifically, using a nonlinear-nonquadratic optimal control framework we develop a family of globally stabilizing backstepping-type controllers parameterized by the cost functional that is minimized. Furthermore, it is shown that the control Lyapunov function guaranteeing closed-loop stability is a solution to the steady-state Bellman equation for the controlled system and thus guarantees both optimality and stability
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