We present the thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) measurement technology of compensating for the effect of variations in the refractive index based on a Nd: YA G laser feedback system, the beam frequency is shifte...We present the thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) measurement technology of compensating for the effect of variations in the refractive index based on a Nd: YA G laser feedback system, the beam frequency is shifted by a pair of aeousto-optic modulators and then the heterodyne phase measurement technique is used. The sample measured is placed in a muffle furnace with two coaxial holes opened on the opposite furnace walls. The measurement beams hit perpendicularly and coaxially on each surface of the sample. The reference beams hit on the reference mirror and the high-refiectivity mirror, respectively. By the heterodyne configuration and computing, the influences of the vibration, distortion of the sample supporter and the effect of variations in the refractive index are measured and largely minimized. For validation, the TECs of aluminum samples are determined in the temperature range of 29-748K, confirming not only the precision within 5 × 10-7 K-1 and the accuracy within 0.4% from 298K to 448K but also the high sensitivity non-contact measurement of the lower reflectivity surface induced by the sample oxidization from 448 K to 748 K.展开更多
A new computation scheme proposed to tackle commensurate problems is devel- oped by modifying the semi-analytic approach for minimizing computational complexity. Using the proposed scheme, the limit state equations, u...A new computation scheme proposed to tackle commensurate problems is devel- oped by modifying the semi-analytic approach for minimizing computational complexity. Using the proposed scheme, the limit state equations, usually referred to as the failure surface, are obtained from transformation of an interval variable to a normalized one. In order to minimize the computational cost, two algorithms for optimizing the calculation steps have been proposed. The monotonicity of the objective function can be determined from narrowing the scope of interval variables in normalized infinite space by incorporating the algorithms into the computational scheme. Two examples are used to illustrate the operation and computational efficiency of the approach. The results of these examples show that the proposed algorithms can greatly reduce the computation complexity without sacrificing the computational accuracy. The advantage of the proposed scheme can be even more efficient for analyzing sophistic structures.展开更多
The effectiveness of evaluating an investment project based on predicting cash flows depends on the uncertainty of its future cash flows. The remoter the cash flows are, the higher the uncertainty is. Because of this,...The effectiveness of evaluating an investment project based on predicting cash flows depends on the uncertainty of its future cash flows. The remoter the cash flows are, the higher the uncertainty is. Because of this, this paper suggests to discount cash flows by applying risky index of time (RIT). Thus, the discount rate used to discount the distant cash flows is higher that the discount rate used to discount the near cash flows. By this systematic method, the risk caused by the uncertainty of future cash flows can be hedged in making investment decision. To a certain degree, this approach is reasonable in evaluating investment alternatives under uncertainty. Furthermore, the paper puts forward a practical approach on determining RIT in practice.展开更多
Land surface temperature (LST) is a phenomenon that significantly affects the environment, the cities’ liveability, and the citizens’ well-being. This Study aims to perform a comparative study of the microclimate an...Land surface temperature (LST) is a phenomenon that significantly affects the environment, the cities’ liveability, and the citizens’ well-being. This Study aims to perform a comparative study of the microclimate and Surface Urban Heat Island (SUHI) phenomenon of two metropolitan cities of India, i.e. Jaipur and Ahmedabad, using MODIS Satellite data, whereas Landsat Data was used to analyse the Land Surface Characteristics by an index-based approach. The Study’s findings reveal that Ahmedabad has 35.53 per cent of the total area classified as having a low potential, and 13.55 per cent is designated as a high potential LST zone. Meanwhile, in Jaipur, 30.45 per cent of the city’s total area is identified as a low potential LST zone and 12.69 per cent as a high potential LST zone. This Study highlights the importance of mitigating the UHI phenomenon in urban centres for the overall well-being of city dwellers. It will help policymakers and stakeholders comprehend plans and take initiatives to minimise the effects of the UHI phenomenon on rapidly growing cities. .展开更多
Intensity and variability of droughts are considered inIranduring the period 1951 to 2005. Four variables are considered: the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI), the soil moisture, the temperature and the precipitat...Intensity and variability of droughts are considered inIranduring the period 1951 to 2005. Four variables are considered: the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI), the soil moisture, the temperature and the precipitation (products used for the analysis are downloaded from the NCAR website). Link with the climatic indexLa Ninais also considered (NOAA downloadable products is used). The analysis is based on basic statistical approaches (correlation, linear regressions and Principal Component Analysis). The analysis shows that PDSI is highly correlated to the soil moisture and poorly correlated to the other variables—although the temperature in the warm season shows high correlation to the PDSI and that a severe drought was experienced during 1999-2002 inthe country.展开更多
In leading petroleum-producing countries like Kuwait, Brazil, Iran, Iraq and Mexico oil spills frequently occur on land, causing serious damage to crop fields. Soil remediation requires constant monitoring of the poll...In leading petroleum-producing countries like Kuwait, Brazil, Iran, Iraq and Mexico oil spills frequently occur on land, causing serious damage to crop fields. Soil remediation requires constant monitoring of the polluted area. One common monitoring method involves two-dimensional systematic sampling, which can be used to estimate the proportion of the contaminated soil and study the oil spills’ geographic distribution. A well-known issue using this sampling design involves the analytical derivation of variance of the sample mean (proportion), which requires at least two independent samples. To address the problem, this research proposed a variance estimator based on regression and a corrected estimator using the autocorrelation Geary Index under the model-assisted approach. The construction of the estimators was assisted by geo-statistical models by simulating an auxiliary variable. Similar populations to those in real oil spills were recreated, and the accuracy of proposed estimators was evaluated by comparing their performance with other well-known estimators. The factors considered in this simulation study were: a) the model for simulating the populations (exponential and wave), b) the mean and the variance of the process, c) the level of autocorrelation among units. Given the statistical and computing burdens (bias, ratio between estimated and real variance, convergence and computer time), under the exponential model, the regression estimator showed the best performance;and for the wave model, the corrected version performed even better.展开更多
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No F050306
文摘We present the thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) measurement technology of compensating for the effect of variations in the refractive index based on a Nd: YA G laser feedback system, the beam frequency is shifted by a pair of aeousto-optic modulators and then the heterodyne phase measurement technique is used. The sample measured is placed in a muffle furnace with two coaxial holes opened on the opposite furnace walls. The measurement beams hit perpendicularly and coaxially on each surface of the sample. The reference beams hit on the reference mirror and the high-refiectivity mirror, respectively. By the heterodyne configuration and computing, the influences of the vibration, distortion of the sample supporter and the effect of variations in the refractive index are measured and largely minimized. For validation, the TECs of aluminum samples are determined in the temperature range of 29-748K, confirming not only the precision within 5 × 10-7 K-1 and the accuracy within 0.4% from 298K to 448K but also the high sensitivity non-contact measurement of the lower reflectivity surface induced by the sample oxidization from 448 K to 748 K.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.10972084)
文摘A new computation scheme proposed to tackle commensurate problems is devel- oped by modifying the semi-analytic approach for minimizing computational complexity. Using the proposed scheme, the limit state equations, usually referred to as the failure surface, are obtained from transformation of an interval variable to a normalized one. In order to minimize the computational cost, two algorithms for optimizing the calculation steps have been proposed. The monotonicity of the objective function can be determined from narrowing the scope of interval variables in normalized infinite space by incorporating the algorithms into the computational scheme. Two examples are used to illustrate the operation and computational efficiency of the approach. The results of these examples show that the proposed algorithms can greatly reduce the computation complexity without sacrificing the computational accuracy. The advantage of the proposed scheme can be even more efficient for analyzing sophistic structures.
文摘The effectiveness of evaluating an investment project based on predicting cash flows depends on the uncertainty of its future cash flows. The remoter the cash flows are, the higher the uncertainty is. Because of this, this paper suggests to discount cash flows by applying risky index of time (RIT). Thus, the discount rate used to discount the distant cash flows is higher that the discount rate used to discount the near cash flows. By this systematic method, the risk caused by the uncertainty of future cash flows can be hedged in making investment decision. To a certain degree, this approach is reasonable in evaluating investment alternatives under uncertainty. Furthermore, the paper puts forward a practical approach on determining RIT in practice.
文摘Land surface temperature (LST) is a phenomenon that significantly affects the environment, the cities’ liveability, and the citizens’ well-being. This Study aims to perform a comparative study of the microclimate and Surface Urban Heat Island (SUHI) phenomenon of two metropolitan cities of India, i.e. Jaipur and Ahmedabad, using MODIS Satellite data, whereas Landsat Data was used to analyse the Land Surface Characteristics by an index-based approach. The Study’s findings reveal that Ahmedabad has 35.53 per cent of the total area classified as having a low potential, and 13.55 per cent is designated as a high potential LST zone. Meanwhile, in Jaipur, 30.45 per cent of the city’s total area is identified as a low potential LST zone and 12.69 per cent as a high potential LST zone. This Study highlights the importance of mitigating the UHI phenomenon in urban centres for the overall well-being of city dwellers. It will help policymakers and stakeholders comprehend plans and take initiatives to minimise the effects of the UHI phenomenon on rapidly growing cities. .
文摘Intensity and variability of droughts are considered inIranduring the period 1951 to 2005. Four variables are considered: the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI), the soil moisture, the temperature and the precipitation (products used for the analysis are downloaded from the NCAR website). Link with the climatic indexLa Ninais also considered (NOAA downloadable products is used). The analysis is based on basic statistical approaches (correlation, linear regressions and Principal Component Analysis). The analysis shows that PDSI is highly correlated to the soil moisture and poorly correlated to the other variables—although the temperature in the warm season shows high correlation to the PDSI and that a severe drought was experienced during 1999-2002 inthe country.
文摘In leading petroleum-producing countries like Kuwait, Brazil, Iran, Iraq and Mexico oil spills frequently occur on land, causing serious damage to crop fields. Soil remediation requires constant monitoring of the polluted area. One common monitoring method involves two-dimensional systematic sampling, which can be used to estimate the proportion of the contaminated soil and study the oil spills’ geographic distribution. A well-known issue using this sampling design involves the analytical derivation of variance of the sample mean (proportion), which requires at least two independent samples. To address the problem, this research proposed a variance estimator based on regression and a corrected estimator using the autocorrelation Geary Index under the model-assisted approach. The construction of the estimators was assisted by geo-statistical models by simulating an auxiliary variable. Similar populations to those in real oil spills were recreated, and the accuracy of proposed estimators was evaluated by comparing their performance with other well-known estimators. The factors considered in this simulation study were: a) the model for simulating the populations (exponential and wave), b) the mean and the variance of the process, c) the level of autocorrelation among units. Given the statistical and computing burdens (bias, ratio between estimated and real variance, convergence and computer time), under the exponential model, the regression estimator showed the best performance;and for the wave model, the corrected version performed even better.