ρ0\rho^{0}-vector meson elliptic flow (v2v_{2}) in Au+AuAu+Au collisions at sNN=200\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 200 GeV in STAR at RHIC

The first measurement of the $\rho^{0}$ - vector meson elliptic flow $v_{2}$ at mid-rapidity ($|y |$ $<$ 0.5) in $40 - 80$ $$ centrality in $Au+Au$ collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 200$ GeV from the STAR experiment at RHIC is presented. The study is through the $\pi^{+} \pi^{-}$ hadronic decay channel of $\rho^{0}$ which has a branching ratio of $\sim$ 100 %. The analysis is being carried out in two different methods. The $v_{2}$ results obtained in these methods are consistent. Number of Constituent Quark (NCQ) scaling of $v_{2}$ of $\rho^{0}$ meson with respect to other hadrons at intermediate $p_{T}$ is observed. The $\rho^{0}$ $v_{2}$ favors $NCQ = 2$ scaling, supporting the coalescence being the dominant mechanism of hadronization in the intermediate $p_{T}$ region at RHIC.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figures, proceeding for the 6th International Conference on Physics and Astrophysics of Quark Gluon Plasma (ICPAQGP 2010

A Model of Inter-Regional Trade in Grains with Storage

When there is spatial arbitrage between food markets, the price differential between the markets should equal the cost of transfer. This simple arbitrage rule has formed the basis of many empirical tests of the performance of developing countries’ food markets. Here, a more complex structure to regional food markets is hypothesised. By including commodity storage into a model of inter-regional trade, it is shown that, in an optimal dynamic program, trade is intermittent. The possibility of periods without trade casts doubt on the validity of using tests for correlation in market prices as indicators of market performance.Food markets, optimal control, storage, spatial equilibrium.

New directions for Artificial Intelligence (AI) methods in optimum design

Developments and applications of artificial intelligence (AI) methods in the design of structural systems is reviewed. Principal shortcomings in the current approach are emphasized, and the need for some degree of formalism in the development environment for such design tools is underscored. Emphasis is placed on efforts to integrate algorithmic computations in expert systems

SRAT-Distribution Voltage Sags and Reliability Assessment Tool

Interruptions to supply and sags of distribution system voltage are the main aspects causing customer complaints. There is a need for analysis of supply reliability and voltage sag to relate system performance with network structure and equipment design parameters. This analysis can also give prediction of voltage dips, as well as relating traditional reliability and momentary outage measures to the properties of protection systems and to network impedances. Existing reliability analysis software often requires substantial training, lacks automated facilities, and suffers from data availability. Thus it requires time-consuming manual intervention for the study of large networks. A user-friendly sag and reliability assessment tool (SRAT) has been developed based on existing impedance data, protection characteristics, and a model of failure probability. The new features included in SRAT are a) efficient reliability and sag assessments for a radial network with limited loops, b) reliability evaluation associated with realistic protection and restoration schemes, c) inclusion of momentary outages in the same model as permanent outage evaluation, d) evaluation of the sag transfer through meshed subtransmission network, and e) simplified probability distribution model determined from available faults records. Examples of the application of the tools to an Australian distribution network are used to illustrate the application of this model

Applications of artificial neural nets in structural mechanics

A brief introduction to the fundamental of Neural Nets is given, followed by two applications in structural optimization. In the first case, the feasibility of simulating with neural nets the many structural analyses performed during optimization iterations was studied. In the second case, the concept of using neural nets to capture design expertise was studied