Numerical Implementation of Gradient Algorithms

A numerical method for computational implementation of gradient dynamical systems is presented. The method is based upon the development of geometric integration numerical methods, which aim at preserving the dynamical properties of the original ordinary differential equation under discretization. In particular, the proposed method belongs to the class of discrete gradients methods, which substitute the gradient of the continuous equation with a discrete gradient, leading to a map that possesses the same Lyapunov function of the dynamical system, thus preserving the qualitative properties regardless of the step size. In this work, we apply a discrete gradient method to the implementation of Hopfield neural networks. Contrary to most geometric integration methods, the proposed algorithm can be rewritten in explicit form, which considerably improves its performance and stability. Simulation results show that the preservation of the Lyapunov function leads to an improved performance, compared to the conventional discretization.Spanish Government project no. TIN2010-16556 Junta de Andalucía project no. P08-TIC-04026 Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo project no. A2/038418/1

Holographic optical element to generate achromatic vortices

A compound holographic optical element to generate achromatic vortices with high efficiency, based on the combination of two volume phase holograms, is designed and constructed. This element is compact and easy to align. It has high damage threshold, so it can be used with ultraintense laser pulses

True colour Denisyuk-Type hologram recording in Bayfol HX self-developing photopolymer

True colour Denisyuk-type hologram recording of diffusing objects in Bayfol® HX 102 self-developing photopolymer has been studied. In a first stage, monochromatic Denisyuk holograms of a standard white diffuser (Spectralon) have been recorded using lasers with wavelengths 442, 532 and 633 nm to determine the optimum exposure that gives maximum efficiency. The recording of holograms from a diffusing object has the particularity that intermodulation noise due to interference between waves arriving from different object points reduces effective index modulation. A maximum effective efficiency of 80% has been reached for monochromatic recording. In a second stage, a set of experiments has been carried out to determine the adequate relation of exposure for the recording of a Denisyuk hologram of the standard white diffuser with the three lasers simultaneously to get the maximum efficiency for each wavelength. With the determined optimal exposure, a hologram of a polychromatic diffusing object has been recorded, obtaining a good visual coincidence between hologram and original object

Holographic Optical Elements to Generate Achromatic Vortices with Ultra-Short and Ultra-Intense Laser Pulses

The requirements for the generation of optical vortices with ultra-short and ultra-intense laser pulses are considered. Several optical vortice generation procedures are analysed, specifically those based on diffractive elements, such as computer generated holograms (CGH). Optical vortices achromatization techniques are studied. Volume phase holographic (VPH) elements are considered for highly efficient, broad spectrum, high damage-threshold generation of vortices. VPH compound systems, including a compact one, for achromatic vortex generation are presented. Experimental results of vortice generation with ultra-short and ultra-intense pulses are shown

Holographic optical element to generate achromatic vortices

A compound holographic optical element to generate achromatic vortices with high efficiency, based on the combination of two volume phase holograms, is designed and constructed. This element is compact and easy to align. It has high damage threshold, so it can be used with ultraintense laser pulses.This research has been supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (grant FIS2012-35433) and the Diputación General de Aragón (Grupo Consolidado TOL, T76

Improving QPF by blending techniques at the Meteorological Service of Catalonia

The current operational very short-term and short-term quantitative precipitation forecast (QPF) at the Meteorological Service of Catalonia (SMC) is made by three different methodologies: Advection of the radar reflectivity field (ADV), Identification, tracking and forecasting of convective structures (CST) and numerical weather prediction (NWP) models using observational data assimilation (radar, satellite, etc.). These precipitation forecasts have different characteristics, lead time and spatial resolutions. The objective of this study is to combine these methods in order to obtain a single and optimized QPF at each lead time. This combination (blending) of the radar forecast (ADV and CST) and precipitation forecast from NWP model is carried out by means of different methodologies according to the prediction horizon. Firstly, in order to take advantage of the rainfall location and intensity from radar observations, a phase correction technique is applied to the NWP output to derive an additional corrected forecast (MCO). To select the best precipitation estimation in the first and second hour (t+1 h and t+2 h), the information from radar advection (ADV) and the corrected outputs from the model (MCO) are mixed by using different weights, which vary dynamically, according to indexes that quantify the quality of these predictions. This procedure has the ability to integrate the skill of rainfall location and patterns that are given by the advection of radar reflectivity field with the capacity of generating new precipitation areas from the NWP models. From the third hour (t+3 h), as radar-based forecasting has generally low skills, only the quantitative precipitation forecast from model is used. This blending of different sources of prediction is verified for different types of episodes (convective, moderately convective and stratiform) to obtain a robust methodology for implementing it in an operational and dynamic wa

Successful acclimatization of mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx) translocated to Conkouati-Douli National Park, Republic of Congo, as measured by fecal glucocorticoid metabolites

Translocation and reintroduction are common tools in conservation management and can be very successful. However, translocation can be stressful for the animals involved, and stress is implicated as a major cause of failure in release programs. Conservation managers should therefore seek to understand how the stages of translocation impact stress physiology in the animals involved. We quantified fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fGCMs) as a noninvasive measure of response to potential stressors during a translocation of 15 mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx) into Conkouati-Douli National Park, Republic of Congo. The mandrills were initially housed in a sanctuary, transferred to a pre-release enclosure in the National Park and then released into the forest. We collected repeated fecal samples (n = 1101) from known individuals and quantified fGCMs using a previously validated enzyme immunoassay. Transfer from the sanctuary to the pre-release enclosure correlated with a significant 1.93-fold increase in fGCMs, suggesting that transfer was a stressor for the mandrills. fGCM values decreased over time in the pre-release enclosure, suggesting that the mandrills recovered from the transfer and acclimatized to the enclosure. Release to the forest was not linked to a significant increase in fGCMs over the final values in the enclosure. Following release, fGCMs continued to decrease, fell below sanctuary values after just over a month and were about half the sanctuary values after 1 year. Overall, our results suggest that the translocation, although initially presenting a physiological challenge to the animals, was not detrimental to the well-being of the animals over the timescale of the study and, in fact, may have been beneficial. Our findings show the value of non-invasive physiology in monitoring, evaluating and designing wildlife translocations and, ultimately, contributing to their success

Dynamics of gravity driven three-dimensional thin films on hydrophilic-hydrophobic patterned substrates

We investigate numerically the dynamics of unstable gravity driven three-dimensional thin liquid films on hydrophilic-hydrophobic patterned substrates of longitudinal stripes and checkerboard arrangements. The thin film can be guided preferentially on hydrophilic longitudinal stripes, while fingers develop on adjacent hydrophobic stripes if their width is large enough. On checkerboard patterns, the film fingering occurs on hydrophobic domains, while lateral spreading is favoured on hydrophilic domains, providing a mechanism to tune the growth rate of the film. By means of kinematical arguments, we quantitatively predict the growth rate of the contact line on checkerboard arrangements, providing a first step towards potential techniques that control thin film growth in experimental setups.Comment: 30 pages, 12 figure

Influence of the calcination temperature on the activity of hydroxyapatite-supported palladium catalyst in the methane oxidation reaction

In the present study, a series of four hydroxyapatite (HAP) supported palladium samples, with a Pd loading close to 0.5 %, obtained through their calcination at 773, 873, 973, or 1073 K has been investigated. These samples have been characterized using a wide battery of complementary techniques. From these studies, it was found that the rise of the calcination temperature induces a progressive dehydroxylation of the support and a structure evolution of the species containing Pd 2+ , from tetrahedral (Td) to square planar geometry (D 4h ). Moreover, this enhances markedly the metal-support interactions. For instance, at the highest temperature (1073 K), Pd particles were found encapsulated by a thin support layer. Consequently, two distinct reducible species have been identified; one of them manifests SMSI. This increase in the Pd-HAP interaction strength seems to (i) expand the HAP lattice, (ii) change the Pd 2+ coordination from Td to D 4h geometry, (iii) promote PdO reduction and (iv) suppress CO chemisorption. These entire properties do compensate the poor textural properties and benefit the efficiency and stability of the Pd active phase in methane oxidation reaction.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (CTQ2015-73219-JIN (AEI/FEDER/UE) and CTQ2016-80253-R (AEI/FEDER/UE)) // Basque Government (GIC IT-1297-19) // University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU (PIF15/335