Power law burst and inter-burst interval distributions in the solar wind: turbulence or dissipative SOC ?

We calculate for the first time the probability density functions (PDFs) P of burst energy e, duration T and inter-burst interval tau for a known turbulent system in nature. Bursts in the earth-sun component of the Poynting flux at 1 AU in the solar wind were measured using the MFI and SWE experiments on the NASA WIND spacecraft. We find P(e) and P(T) to be power laws, consistent with self-organised criticality (SOC). We find also a power law form for P(tau) that distinguishes this turbulent cascade from the exponential P(tau) of ideal SOC, but not from some other SOC-like sandpile models. We discuss the implications for the relation between SOC and turbulence.Comment: 3 pages, 1 figure. Submitted to PRL on 25th February 2000. Revised version re-submitted on 9th May 2000. Second revised version submitted Phys. Rev. E on 26th June, 200

A study of early stopping, ensembling, and patchworking for cascade correlation neural networks

The constructive topology of the cascade correlation algorithm makes it a popular choice for many researchers wishing to utilize neural networks. However, for multimodal problems, the mean squared error of the approximation increases significantly as the number of modes increases. The components of this error will comprise both bias and variance and we provide formulae for estimating these values from mean squared errors alone. We achieve a near threefold reduction in the overall error by using early stopping and ensembling. Also described is a new subdivision technique that we call patchworking. Patchworking, when used in combination with early stopping and ensembling, can achieve an order of magnitude improvement in the error. Also presented is an approach for validating the quality of a neural network’s training, without the explicit use of a testing dataset

The Influence of Heat Input Ratio on Electrical Power Output of a Dual-Core Travelling-Wave Thermoacoustic Engine

This paper presents an analytical and experimental investigation of an electricity generator that employs a two-stage looped tube travellin -wave thermoacoustic prime-mover to deliver acoustic power from heat energy, a loudspeaker to extract electricity from sound energy and a tuning stub to compensate the changes in the acoustic field within the engine to enable close to travelling wave operation at the loudspeaker. Furthermore, the paper explains how to enhance the output power utilizing different heat input ratios through the engine cores. A well-known thermoacoustic design tool called Delta EC is used to simulate the wave propagation through the different parts of the system. The electrical power predicted from the low-cost prototype was 24.4 W acoustic power which confirms the potential for developing low-cost thermoacoustic electricity generator for heat recov ery from low-grade heat sources. The electrical power can be increased to 31.3 W using different heating power percentages through the two units. The verified experimental data shows good agreement with DeltaEC results

Sensitivity of mixing layers to three-dimensional forcing

It is well known that turbulent mixing layers are dominated by large scale, fairly coherent structures, and that these structures are related to the stability characteristics of the flow. These facts have led researchers to attempt controlling such flows by selectively forcing certain unstable modes, which can in addition have the effect of suppressing other modes. Much of the work on controlling the mixing layer has relied on forcing 2-D instabilities. The results of forcing 3-D instabilities are addressed. The objectives of the work are twofold: to understand how a mixing layer responds to 3-D perturbations, and to test the validity of an amplitude expansion in predicting the mixing layer development. The amplitude expansion could be very useful in understanding and predicting the 3-D response of the flow to a variety of initial conditions

Metrology: Measurement Assurance Program Guidelines

The 5300.4 series of NASA Handbooks for Reliability and Quality Assurance Programs have provisions for the establishment and utilization of a documented metrology system to control measurement processes and to provide objective evidence of quality conformance. The intent of these provisions is to assure consistency and conformance to specifications and tolerances of equipment, systems, materials, and processes procured and/or used by NASA, its international partners, contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers. This Measurement Assurance Program (MAP) guideline has the specific objectives to: (1) ensure the quality of measurements made within NASA programs; (2) establish realistic measurement process uncertainties; (3) maintain continuous control over the measurement processes; and (4) ensure measurement compatibility among NASA facilities. The publication addresses MAP methods as applied within and among NASA installations and serves as a guide to: control measurement processes at the local level (one facility); conduct measurement assurance programs in which a number of field installations are joint participants; and conduct measurement integrity (round robin) experiments in which a number of field installations participate to assess the overall quality of particular measurement processes at a point in time

The occurrence of cadmium in seawater and in marine organisms and sediments

Methods have been developed for determining cadmium in seawater, marine organisms, and marine sediments. The procedure, based on the dithizone extraction method of Saltzman, is capable of detecting less than 10 mµg of the element and can be used for determining cadmium in silicate rocks; only thallium interferes. To confirm the presence of cadmium and to ensure freedom from contamination, the dithizone extracts were examined spectrographically

Goal driven optimization of process parameters for maximum efficiency in laser bending of advanced high strength steels

Laser forming or bending is fast becoming an attractive option for the forming of advanced high strength steels (AHSS), due primarily to the reduced formability of AHSS when compared with conventional steels in traditional contact-based forming processes. An inherently iterative process, laser forming must be optimized for efficiency in order to compete with contact based forming processes; as such, a robust and accurate method of optimal process parameter prediction is required. In this paper, goal driven optimization is conducted, utilizing numerical simulations as the basis for the prediction of optimal process parameters for the laser bending of DP 1000 steel. A key consideration of the optimization process is the requirement for minimal microstructural transformation in automotive grade high strength steels such as DP 1000

Population Update, Report, Number 10: South Dakota Population, Housing, and Farm Census Facts

This fact book has been prepared because of many requests for 1980 population, housing, and farm information for the counties in South Dakota. Requests for an earlier publication based on the 1960 and 1970 U.S. Censuses indicate that South Dakotans feel a very strong need for this type of basic population data to keep abreast of rapid social and economic changes in the state. This is particularly true for those in such positions as community leaders, county agents, educators, legislators, business, professional, and labor leaders. An ever present concern these leaders face is obtaining reliable up-to-date information upon which to make decisions. This is particularly true for information that is readily available in a useful form and permits comparison with other counties and the state. This new publication attempts to perform that kind of service. The data contained in this publication are based on the most recent official United States Census Reports for South Dakota\u27s population, housing, and farms. The findings for the 1982 Census of Agriculture will be in a new Up-Date when available. The present publication presents information for each county of the state, and the counties are ranked in order to show the relative position of each county with respect to the particular item under consideration. State totals or averages are given so the position of the county can be compared with that of the state as a whole. Users of census data are cautioned regarding the nature of information in the tables of this publication. Many tables involve use of terms which have special definitions developed by the United States Census Bureau to provide concise, basic definitions of census concepts which appear in their printed reports. Definitions of these concepts (terms) and explanations of tables are provided in the Appendix. Some tables are based on sample data. Samples involve collection of information from a randomly selected portion of the population with the assumption that the characteristics noted in the sample acurately reflect those of the whole population. Persons using sample data in statistical analysis are reminded that caution must be exercised when results are evaluated

The Hutterites: South Dakota\u27s Communal Farmers

This publication is divided into two major parts: the first part attempts to answer such questions as who are the Hutterites, what they believe, and where they are located in South Dakota. The second part reports on the 1964 census of these communal farms and summarized the sect’s agricultural enterprises and changes in farm operations